The national might of Ji Xiang surged, and a vast national destiny descended, infusing into the physical body.
The surrounding purple Dharma Realm began to recede. Ji Xiang saw that the severely damaged area on the ceiling of the former Dharma Realm, amidst the dense darkness, revealed nine-colored clouds. Following this, the phantom image of a small Forbidden City emerged, with the heavens and earth inverted – the rooftops facing downwards and the foundations facing upwards.
That was the projection of the Northern Forbidden City, now appearing in the most damaged area, signifying that the Forbidden City in the north had completed its final transformation, becoming the sole Dharma Realm in the human world that could bear the transition between heaven and man and possessed the power of the dynastic Great Dao.
This made things clear.
The pillars of wishes and aspirations all supported this sky and surged towards the inverted small Forbidden City. All the positions and aspirations in the world were offered to one person. To prevent the Inner Mountains and Rivers from interfering with the dynastic Great Dao again and tearing apart the dragon脉 of the human world, they adopted a method opposite to that of the Yuan Dynasty, melting everything internally. This resulted in problems, causing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to deplete and leading to self-sealing.
This was why the Forbidden City Dharma Realm was said to have not truly been completed.
It was only half-completed.
The only objective achieved was "blocking interference from the Inner Mountains and Rivers."
In this process, the so-called problem was encountering interference from certain Heavenly Heart Realm beings and a Yuqing evil entity. This prevented the originally designated "person who touches the Heavenly Dao" from appearing, rendering all preparations futile.
From that point on, the vast national destiny obtained by the founding of the Ming Dynasty began to continuously leak away.
It flowed towards the myriad Dharma Realms within the starry sky.
"The phantom image of the Northern Forbidden City has appeared. Does this mean the person who touches the Heavenly Dao has appeared? Who? Zhang Tianshi? Wanli? Jiajing? Will the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers be liberated then?"
Ji Xiang asked the shadowy figure. The figure shook its head. "The national destiny left by the previous dynasty is called 'De Ze' (virtuous grace). It attracts good fortune or misfortune and appears in different forms on certain emperors of the next dynasty."
"The establishment of this Human Dao Dharma Realm began in the Tang Dynasty, fractured in the Five Dynasties, transformed in the Song, moved in the Jin, failed in the Yuan, and perished in my era."
"The act of touching the Heavenly Dao was successful, but the result was the same as always – failure. What remains is merely superfluous heavenly mandate."
"The Way of Heaven reduces the abundant and supplements the deficient."
The shadowy figure pointed at the small phantom image of the Forbidden City and spoke in a low voice.
What was obtained from the Heavenly Dao was merely a portion of power distributed by the Heavenly Dao due to the weakness of the Human Dao, extending the time of losing the Dao, gaining at least a few more decades of dynastic lifespan. The function of the Forbidden City Dharma Realm was to actively touch the Heavenly Dao, acting as a springboard, making an otherwise impossible act of touching the Heavenly Dao feasible.
Since a certain dynasty, the Heavenly Dao no longer descended, and the power remaining in the human world was gradually consumed. After the turmoil of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, those who claimed the imperial title all received a portion of the Heavenly Dao's great power to strengthen their small courts. Later, the division of Song, Liao, Jin, Western Xia, and Dali, and in the Yuan Dynasty, the plundering of residual Heavenly Dao power from the outside, ultimately failed and dispersed. The power left behind, through another opportunity, formed a type of monster transformed from the power of the Heavenly Dao.
Was this monster the so-called Yuqing evil entity?
As Ji Xiang listened to the murmuring whispers, his consciousness paused for a moment amidst the passage of time.
In this instant, myriad nebulae floated by from the void.
In this fleeting moment, millions of divine beings chanted the Sutra of Salvation.
The divine plaque of Primordial Heavenly Venerate appeared in his consciousness, occupying the entire space. Azure clouds obscured everything, leaving only two massive characters!
"RECLAIM!"
The divine position of Primordial Heavenly Venerate had a great connection with Yuqing cultivators. All Yuqing cultivators had once received the divine plaque of Primordial Heavenly Venerate. To put it more bluntly, Yuqing only existed after Primordial.
His consciousness returned, and the national destiny condensed into his body, forging an immortal nature that shared the same destiny as the nation.
Ji Xiang instantly understood how to wield it.
One who possesses great national destiny, unless the emperor orders its forfeiture, will not suffer fatal harm as long as they are within the heaven and earth of their own country. Upon leaving the territory governed by the country, relying on national destiny, they will not be affected by the national destiny and might of other countries.
In specific circumstances, strong national destiny can even crush weaker national destiny.
This kind of great national destiny is not something anyone can possess. Even the close confidants of emperors cannot obtain it. Theoretically, only the emperor himself and his descendants possess the same level of protection.
It was because he sent the treasure basin back and helped this Forbidden City Dharma Realm that such immense national destiny was bestowed. Those without great national destiny would find it extremely difficult even to harm someone who possessed it.
It was the same reason Qin Nüxiu could not enter the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.
However, the drawback was also obvious. This was akin to moral blackmail. While one could gain the advantage of standing on a moral high ground and pointing fingers, when that moral high ground collapsed, one would no longer have the qualification to do so.
When the country collapses or perishes, those who bear great national destiny will also suffer backlash.
Ji Xiang tapped his forehead and left the Forbidden City Dharma Realm. Soon, the mystical power within the Southern Forbidden City completely vanished, reducing it to an ordinary palace, with only the floating national might remaining, no other anomalies.
Thirty-six Guards of Ying Tian, Southeast Jinwu Guard. Ji Xiang used the Earth Evasion technique to reach the outskirts of this location, then broke in. However, there were neither soldiers nor White Lotus cultists within the guard post; it was already deserted. Many scriptures were left scattered on the ground, indicating they had left in a hurry.
Ji Xiang collected the scriptures and, using the same method, gathered all the remaining White Lotus cult items from the thirty-six guards. Then, he sacrificed twenty high-level spells in one go, exchanging the True Meanings of the Three Teachings for a high-level, immediately learnable flying technique!
Whoosh—!
A gust of wind howled, shaking the sea of clouds for a thousand miles, lifting Ji Xiang into the sky. He soared lightly around the moon halo, and the clouds and mist in the heavens and earth took form, creating a magnificent white horse that ascended through the mist and rosy clouds.
Heavenly Horse Soaring Through the Sky!
In Journey to the West, Sun Wukong once served as the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses, who were extremely fast and could chase clouds and gallop past the moon. In the current Ming Dynasty, legends of folk magic claimed that with a sincere heart, the heavens would lament, and Taiyi would dispatch heavenly horses from the azure sky, scattering lightning and raising dust!
Heavenly horses emerge from the Yuezhi caves, their backs like tiger patterns, their wings like dragon bones.
They neigh through green clouds, shake their verdant manes, their lan-like tendons moving with agility, their steps vanishing.
Soaring over Kunlun, traversing the western extreme, their four hooves never faltering.
They drink green clouds, and at dusk, they graze beyond the Yuezhi. Their divine speed is like lightning, their strides fleeting and elusive.
The heavens and earth disappeared beneath the sea of clouds in the blink of an eye. The moonlight was bright, and the heavenly horse galloped like a meteor, swift as lightning. In an instant, Ji Xiang saw the fleeing White Lotus cult Earth Immortals!
"Five Thunders Strike the Top!"
Ji Xiang immediately summoned heavenly lightning. At this moment, on the ground, the Earth Immortals and others were leading White Lotus cultivators to a stronghold. Unexpectedly, thunder roared from the sky. Although it was a clear night, heavenly sounds descended!
The lightning swept across the ground, killing several Earth Immortals, scattering the remaining low-level cultivators like startled birds! Looking up at the sky, they saw a heavenly horse passing by, trailing rolling thunder!
The heavenly horse was extremely fast. In another blink of an eye, Ji Xiang arrived at the first location, but there were signs of a struggle.
The temple had been burned down, and the White Lotus cultists were nowhere to be found. A raging fire had consumed everything, turning it all to ashes.
"Huh? The aura of Lord Fire? And the other one is... Silver Bottle Maiden?"
Ji Xiang was astonished. How did these two end up fighting?
One had just fled from Ying Tian, and the other's temple was in Qiantang. They were worlds apart. Although he had intended for the Silver Bottle Maiden to control the position of the Fire God among the common people, he hadn't expected these two to meet so soon.
However, if they escaped by fire evasion, his gold evasion couldn't catch them. After all, gold evasion was the last among the thirteen great evasions, with significant limitations. Therefore, Ji Xiang no longer bothered with these matters.
Following the method provided in the divine plaque, he searched and lifted the entire foundation of the temple. Under the lightning strike, it all turned to dust. Then, he found the first incense stick.
Yellowish-white, the Incense of Mílí.
Legend had it that Emperor Wu of Han burned this incense once in the Hall of Summoning Immortals, and its fragrance lingered for three months without dissipating.
The heavenly horse galloped, and by dawn, Ji Xiang arrived at the second stronghold. This location was to the north, approaching Henan, and Henan was the location of Prince Lu's royal mansion, although Prince Lu himself no longer lived in that mansion.
Clouds and thunder rumbled. Mortals thought it was the anger of Heaven and looked up at the sky. Luoshan County was clear and cloudless.
However, some felt uneasy and cast divinations.
In a secret temple, Wang Sen, the leader of the Wenxiang Cult, reflected his image in a bronze mirror and found his 印堂 (area between the eyebrows) black, signifying a calamity of blood!
Not only that, but everyone in the entire cult had the same omen!
Wang Sen was the master of Xu Hongru, who had died at Ji Xiang's hands just two months prior. Wang Sen still believed that Monk Hu Yan had killed him and was searching for this person everywhere.
"Someone from the government is coming to take the incense!"
His first thought was this. Prince Lu's wishes had been conveyed to these followers. As the leader of the White Lotus main cult, Prince Lu had contacted the leaders of all private cults that the imperial court had labeled as White Lotus cults. He had subdued a considerable portion of them. As for those who were not subdued, they naturally would no longer exist in the world.
The foremost anti-cult fighter of the Great Ming Dynasty, Prince Lu, was undeniable. If you didn't want to be a White Lotus cultist, then you shouldn't establish any other cults.
"Sect Leader, your complexion doesn't look good. Didn't you sleep well?"
A disciple saw Wang Sen's expression and asked.
Wang Sen immediately put on a calm and composed face:
"No, this Sect Leader has cast a divination, and something good will happen today. It's just a pity that this good fortune won't fall upon me. However, each of you has a chance."
The disciple's eyes lit up: "Oh? Sect Leader, can you reveal it?"
"Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed. If it's a blessing, it's not a disaster. You should all stay here and not move. I'm feeling depressed because I won't get the good fortune, so I'm going out for a walk to clear my head."
Wang Sen appeased his followers, telling them to wait for the heavenly bestowed treasure, and then left the secret temple with a stick of purple incense.
Although Wang Sen did not know the opponent's strength, the divination indicated that the entire cult would perish. At the first opportunity, he left with the incense and found several local territories, seeking the protection of a great demon.
As he ran to a territory, Ji Xiang found the secret location.
"Who are you, daring to trespass into the temple of the Wenxiang Cult!"
The guarding disciples outside saw Ji Xiang approaching and intended to stop him. With a casual wave of his hand, Ji Xiang sent these two sixth-realm cultivators flying, their whereabouts unknown.
The commotion at the entrance naturally alerted other disciples. They were praying to the Lifeless Mother when the main hall door was torn open. Ji Xiang entered, spewing a beam of white light that shattered the statue of the Lifeless Mother on the altar!
The disciples glared in anger!
Ji Xiang stomped his foot, and the entire hall instantly split apart, sending all the disciples tumbling!
Ji Xiang glared!
The disciples lowered their heads submissively!
"Dao... Dao Dao Dao Dao Dao... Daoist brother, are you here to... to lodge or to believe..."
The temple priest of the Wenxiang Cult nervously tried to negotiate with Ji Xiang. Ji Xiang glanced at him: "I am neither lodging nor believing. I am here to rob."
The temple priest was speechless. Behind him, a disciple let out a faint cry: The supreme scripture of the Wenxiang Cult will never be handed over to a robber like you!
"Daoist brother, may I know who you are? Let's talk things over. Why resort to violence? Robbery is a bad behavior."
"If Daoist brother needs money, just say the word. I still have some savings."
The temple priest attempted to pacify Ji Xiang.
Who would rob now?
If you lack money, you should understand our teachings better. Deception earns money much faster than robbery.
Ji Xiang chuckled:
"Foolishness. If I kill you, the money and the scriptures will all be mine."
And the incense offerings in your temple, these are ill-gotten gains, and they are also mine!
...
In a deep green mountain filled with demonic energy, Wang Sen, carrying the purple incense, fled to this place and requested the protection of a great demon. Small demons poked their heads out from the mountain, and soon, the entire mountainside was filled with them.
"I implore my elder brother, for the sake of my frequent offerings of incense, to help me resist the enemy!"
Wang Sen shouted. Before long, the demon king appeared, clad in silver armor, wearing a mask, majestic and imposing, with tiger bones wrapped around his waist, holding two large steel sabers. He invited Wang Sen into the cave.
Inside the demon cave, Wang Sen did not dare to mention Prince Lu's death. He merely said that after this matter, he would definitely help this demon king gain merit and rewards from Prince Lu. The demon king curiously asked:
"Why is that person chasing you?"
Wang Sen sighed: "That person is a lackey of the imperial court. He covets a treasure I possess, something given to me by the Prince. If my elder brother can help me guard it, whatever reward my elder brother desires, I can help my elder brother obtain it from the Prince."
He then showed the purple incense to the great demon and said: "This is the divine incense of the Great Yuezhi from the time of Emperor Wu of Han. Anyone who smells its fragrance and has been dead for less than three days can be revived immediately."
The great demon was immediately astonished: "Does my brother truly possess such a treasure!"
Then, he drew his saber! The cold light flashed!
Wang Sen was greatly alarmed and shouted: "Elder brother, what are you doing!"
The great demon joyfully said: "Actually, I already know that Prince Lu is dead. Because my internal five strains and seven injuries have been removed, the rewards you speak of are mere empty words. The world is changing, and with Prince Lu dead, it is time to change allegiance. I heard the imperial court wishes to recruit powerful cultivators. Although I am a demon, the imperial court also has fox and dragon great demons in charge. I am about to go and pledge allegiance, no longer being a mountain bandit here!"
"Brother, lend me your head for a future endeavor. Please introduce me to that imperial court lackey!"
When Ji Xiang arrived, he saw countless small demons filling the mountain in this deep mountain. A great demon, clad in silver armor and majestic, was waiting.
Ji Xiang was about to raise his hand to summon lightning, but the great demon suddenly bowed with a bang, releasing Wang Sen's head and presenting a bundle of purple incense with both hands!
"The small demon of Guihua Mountain is named Gan Lang. I have killed Wang Sen, the Sect Leader of the Wenxiang Cult. His head and treasure are both here. Please inspect them, your superior!"