"Truly... I never expected this."
Ji Xiang was stunned!
Previously, the ghosts from the Song Dynasty court had seen the mark of the Huiji Vajra on his palm, calling out the name of Prince Lu. The Wenxiang Sect, whom he encountered first, also had a Huiji Vajra ghost face appear underground.
The Milong Casino and the Dongda Cheng Temple of the Wenxiang Sect were both money houses of Prince Lu, interconnected with each other. It was impossible to imagine that Huiji Vajra was Prince Lu's enemy.
However, some things didn't need to be said. What Mr. Yao was currently narrating confirmed Ji Xiang's guess.
Although he didn't know why.
It seemed that Prince Lu's subordinates, and Prince Lu himself, did not know that the destruction of Dongda Cheng Temple and Milong Casino was related to him.
This was truly strange. Milong should have conveyed some message before dying, or was it a test?
"...I know you must be very surprised. You are an immortal. You must have heard of the four Heavenly Heart realm experts closest to the human world. Huiji Vajra is one of the Four Heavenly Hearts."
"A very long time ago, during the reign of Emperor Zhengde, there was a leopard spirit in the Imperial Zoo that cultivated by absorbing dragon qi. After Emperor Zhengde's sudden death, this leopard spirit, under the guise of a fake Zhu imperial family member, was mistakenly sent to Fengyang as one of one hundred and twenty-seven adopted sons. Not long after entering Fengyang, an immortal found this leopard spirit and instructed it to return to the Forbidden City to teach the then two-year-old Prince Lu in the cultivation of magic."
"When the Prince was born, his innate talent was not excellent. He and Emperor Wanli inherited the inferior bloodline of Emperor Jiajing, making it difficult to achieve success in cultivation in this life. However, royalty should not dwell on such matters."
"However, the achievements of the imperial family's offspring are not judged by whether they have immortal bones for cultivation, but by their destiny."
Ji Xiang: "Prince Lu's destiny also qualified him to ascend the dragon throne? A hidden dragon?"
Mr. Yao: "When the Prince was born, among the stars in the sky, the Five Emperor Seats shone brightly. In the celestial phenomenon, the Five Emperor Seats are a combination of five stars arranged in a cross shape, representing the positions where the Heavenly Emperor resides throughout the four seasons."
"With the destiny of an imperial seat, even if the innate talent is poor, someone will naturally come to assist."
Ji Xiang understood that this so-called assistance referred to the cultivators from the Inner River. They could not manifest in the human world and could only communicate with cultivators in the Outer River through dreams, illusions, or in a state of mere presence. To descend, they would need special means and certain formations and rituals.
"The Prince cultivated in the Forbidden City for over ten years, consumed Moon Paste Heavenly Marrow, and underwent a transformation akin to rebirth, finally possessing an innate talent worthy of this destiny. However, someone did not wish to see the Prince rise..."
"That Buddha Lord personally took action, using incredible Buddhist dharma to manifest in the mortal world through a single thought, growing into adulthood in just three months, possessing supreme Buddhist power. He appeared in the Forbidden City and found the Prince... planting a curse."
"This curse prevents the Prince from completing the Solar Refinement of Form in this life."
"And the monk who grew into adulthood in three months, immediately after planting the curse, became withered in body and spirit, his flesh and blood dried up, as if his vital essence of a hundred years had been exhausted, all for this fleeting moment of brilliance."
"This is the great divine power of Buddhism, 'One Thought Awakening Buddha'."
"This 'One Thought Awakening Buddha' then gave birth to a son. This son was born knowing the past and future, his true nature, and came into the world only to accomplish what was destined in this thought. After his death, this Buddha's son will achieve a lotus platform and enter the Pure Land of Buddhism."
"A fleeting three months in the next life, to do one thing, and upon death, one can immediately become a Buddha. This is the karmic promise of Buddhism."
"However, by harming this single thought, Huiji Vajra is one inch further away from the mortal world. With only one inch of earthly realm, his influence on the world is greatly weakened. The limit for Heavenly Heart realm experts to personally intervene is thus reached. It also means that a living being shaped by a Heavenly Heart realm expert can only act once in the human world and cannot directly kill. However, the power displayed in this single action, and the level of its curse, are already on par with immortals and Buddhas."
"And the immortal behind the Prince paid a great price to suppress this curse..."
Mr. Yao's tone was filled with emotion, as if lamenting Prince Lu's past fate. However, there was also a hint of arrogance, as it was enough to prove how formidable their Prince's destiny was, to have a Heavenly Heart realm expert use forbidden means to manifest in the world, take human form, and come to obstruct him, even at the cost of depleting his own realm.
To seize control of the dynasty's great path, one must resort to any means necessary.
However, once the trapped dragon ascends, those who should be killed and those who should be retaliated against will all face retribution!
"Fortunately, the curse is not irresolvable."
"In ancient texts of the past, there is a passage."
"Emperor Wuzong of Tang used the hearts of young boys and girls to refine elixirs for consumption. In his lifetime, he consumed eighty human hearts."
"It is said that elixirs refined using the hearts of young boys and girls are as effective as the Solar Refinement of Form!"
"Have you read the folk tale 'Journey to the West'? The King of the Kingdom of Biqiu, guided by the White Deer Spirit, ate the hearts and livers of young children as medicine. The prototype for this story is actually Emperor Wuzong of Tang consuming the hearts of children."
"However, a massive amount of vows is needed to assist, and the timing of ascension must be grasped properly. One cannot ascend during the day, but rather when the full moon hangs high, using the moonlight to neutralize the curse within the body, thus having a chance to become an immortal!"
"The execution of vows also requires a type of magic..."
Mr. Yao briefly introduced this magic, and Ji Xiang's gaze suddenly shifted.
When everyone else thinks it's possible, doing something can lead to success?
This magic... it's not indigenous!
Isn't this precisely... the Witness of Vows technique of the celestial Adam!
When encountering a problem, use "I don't think it's possible" to counter.
When encountering a good thing, use "I think it's possible" to gain benefits.
No wonder they only started operating in the south recently. Prince Lu's money houses were all in the north. It turns out that the law of Christ had not been fully introduced here in the past!
But this is perfect.
He also possesses the Witness of Vows technique, and as is widely known, the strength of a Ascended realm expert's vows, that is, the strength of the vows of all people.
To counter, it might not be possible to counter the deaths of a group of people.
But to counter the death of one person is still possible.
Isn't this... a coincidence!
"Truly... marvelous."
Ji Xiang said something nonsensical, and Mr. Yao followed up with:
"Of course, it is extremely marvelous."
Although their brainwaves were completely out of sync, and their words were on entirely different wavelengths.
But it didn't matter. If I think I understand you, then I already understand you.
.......
The night receded, and dawn broke in the east.
In the abbot's chamber of the Great Retribution Temple, located in the deepest part of the grand temple, surrounded by a barrier, Prince Lu was present. His appearance flickered between a monstrous form and his human state.
The layout of the abbot's chamber was identical to that of the Great Hall of Heroes in front, except the statues were much smaller. The power of the Six Paths Ksitigarbha and the Invincible Ming King covered Prince Lu. Behind Prince Lu was a mark of the Fiery Bodhi Tree, like a scar, extending from his hip to the back of his neck.
And around the Fiery Bodhi Tree were the dharma spells of the Invincible Ming King, used to suppress the expansion of this Fiery Bodhi Tree.
After an unknown period, the Fiery Bodhi Tree began to contract inwards, and Prince Lu also began to perform a magical art.
In front of him was a small alchemy furnace, the child's heart within had been refined into an elixir. He opened his mouth and swallowed it, then circulated his dharma.
"One Thousand Nature Aspects, disperse!"
One Thousand Nature Aspects originated from Buddhist magic. There are three worlds, each with one thousand Buddha-natures. Three worlds have three thousand Buddha-natures, three thousand Buddha-forms, collectively known as Three Thousand Nature Aspects.
Prince Lu's divine position began to operate. The ferocious, fanged appearance of the Invincible Ming King was fully revealed. Six golden wheels flew out from the six statues of the Six Paths Ksitigarbha, drawing upon the great power of the Buddhist dharma realm, drawing Buddhist power from the "World of Sentient Beings" among the three worlds to appease the Fiery Bodhi Curse.
The Huiji Buddha Fire caused by the Fiery Bodhi Curse was largely dispersed after the One Thousand Nature Aspects were scattered.
"Using this Buddhist incense and fire to resolve the Fiery Bodhi Curse is very effective. Ordinary people who believe in Buddhism always hope for a next life free from illness and disaster. Unfortunately, they do not know that whether they reincarnate or not is not up to them. The so-called underworld is even less of a good place."
"The Song Dynasty court frequently invited me for help, but I have important matters to attend to now. Besides, even if I obtain the world, it will be my own world. I would rather the sun and moon split the land than give even a single piece of land to these dead people. They are already past travelers, yet they still wish to restore their dynasty, even to the point of falling into the underworld and becoming the ruler of the Ghost Immortal Path."
"It is a pity that Emperor Taizu of Song was a hero for half his life, but his descendants are so incompetent. The three emperors meeting even sought to return to the world and recreate a world of singing and dancing, but they have already disgraced the one hundred thousand who leaped into the sea at Yashan."
"If all the deceased in the past are unwilling, then Emperor Qin and Emperor Wu, in ancient times, have records of transforming into immortals or splitting into immortal bodies after death. Perhaps at any moment, they will emerge from somewhere to restore the Qin and Han dynasties. How can we exist then?"
Prince Lu recovered his breath and saw that some spiritual talismans had turned black. This was the underworld contacting him through the dharma realm, but the Buddhist dharma suppressed and eliminated all the yin energy here, so no messages could be received.
Let alone read receipts, under the effect of Buddhist dharma, the messages were sent but rejected. If they tried to send more messages, they would find themselves blacklisted.
"However, these guys are no longer important. Perhaps I no longer need them."
"The achievements of these ghost immortals, throughout their lives, will not reach the realm I am about to attain. The sun and moon, mountains and rivers will split into two parts tonight."
It was still daytime, but it was already the fifteenth day of the eighth month. Two hours had passed since dawn, and it was now the hour of Chen.
Gently shaking a small bell, monks soon appeared. Prince Lu indicated that the students from the Imperial Academy who were staying on the pleasure boat could be summoned now, as he wished to encourage them properly. He then walked out of the abbot's chamber, and with a thought, he used his movement technique, instantly appearing in the Great Hall of Heroes.
In the Great Hall of Heroes, Ji Xiang and Mr. Yao were conversing happily. Prince Lu appeared and let out a hearty laugh:
"This King has long wished to meet the True Person of the North Star!"
.......
On the pleasure boat on the Qinhuai River, when Prince Lie Jie returned, he heard some rumors. The fox and snake spirits from last night appeared and said that they had seen Ji Xiang on another street earlier, but before they could catch up, he had disappeared. They regretted not being able to help.
Prince Lie Jie chuckled.
Ji Xiang's whereabouts were indeed difficult to trace. Even if they found him, they couldn't catch up to him. His disappearance later was because he had taken Ji Xiang away.
There was nothing wrong with the words; everything was reasonable.
The pleasure boat sailed towards the Great Retribution Temple. The students from the Imperial Academy woke up from their drinks. Upon hearing that Prince Lu wanted to summon them, they became elated. Huo Jun was responsible for receiving them, but her sense of unease grew.
When the pleasure boat docked at a riverbank, the magnificent Great Retribution Temple could be seen. At the same time, three people were approaching from afar. Huo Jun blinked, a chill ran through her body, and killing intent surfaced in her mind, but it was suppressed by her forcefully in just an instant. She forced a smile with the students, not daring to see them off, because she saw Ji Xiang appearing beside Prince Lu.
"Why do you not dare to go out?"
Prince Lie Jie glanced at her. Huo Jun gritted her teeth, "If I go out, how can I be his opponent?"
"Now he is one of us, and he will be your superior. What are you afraid of?"
"Now we are comrades on the same path, and besides, you transformed first, then disguised yourself. If you appear like this, he may not even recognize you."
Huo Jun pondered and then said to Prince Lie Jie, "Do you remember what I told you before?"
Prince Lie Jie thought for a moment and recalled, "Are you referring to his claim that he descended from the Azure Sky of the Netherworld?"
When Huo Jun heard about the celestial demon descending from the Azure Sky, she felt great fear and revealed this to Prince Lie Jie. Prince Lie Jie still dismissed it, as he had never seen a true celestial demon descending from the Azure Sky of the Netherworld.
He was just boasting to scare you. Why are you still taking it seriously?
"Puzhao, in your current state, you truly do not resemble the demoness who dared to burn down the Forbidden City. You even dared to kill your way into the imperial palace back then when you had only reached the Three Flowers Gathering on the Crown. Now that you have entered the Earth Immortal realm, you have become timid, trembling upon seeing him. If you do not overcome this fear, how can you work with him in the future?"
"As for the Azure Sky of the Netherworld, that's just talk. You wouldn't say he's a demon king in disguise, would you?"
Huo Jun paused and adjusted her mindset, "Well... that's unlikely."
There are many absurd things, but the descent of a demon king is utterly preposterous. Even if the old sow at the village entrance suddenly learned to cultivate and sat on a Bodhisattva's lotus platform with her hindquarters, such a thing might be possible, as an old sow could also be a pig demon. But a demon king in disguise is absolutely impossible.