Chapter 210: Book of Life and Death (4K)

Zhang Jian had already obtained the secret method of sensing the Five Cities from the Slay Demon lineage.

It was merely a simple marking spell, condensing a rune deep in the sea of consciousness; the yin spirit could follow this rune to connect with the Five Cities and enter it.

This was no different from entering the Divine Mountain through the Heaven and Earth Mystic Gate.

On the Observation Platform, Zhang Jian made a few preparations, and this was his first true yin spirit journey to the Five Cities.

Only seen, a clear and substantial radiance burst forth from deep between his eyebrows, and in an instant, he passed through a special gateway and vanished into it.

Zhang Jian had summoned the Heaven and Earth Mystic Gate with his own 《Treasure Record》 mana to traverse the void, so he felt no novelty in this.

He only felt the heavens and stars shifting before his eyes, following a thread of unseen pull, his form shooting swiftly toward an illusory region.

In the boundless dark cosmos, that bright area initially resembled a lamp, then a cluster of stars; upon drawing near, Zhang Jian realized a vast, ancient divine city stood as if upon the long river of distant ages.

It was immense and boundless, as if severing life and death, a necessary passage to longevity.

Zhang Jian indeed felt this way.

Upon this divine city, at this moment, there was a great six-segment wheel symbol.

Zhang Jian had encountered this symbol when he passed through the Yin Fire Tribulation.

"Wu Ming!"

At this moment, on the city walls of this divine city, there were two ancient characters written in archaic gold script.

Zhang Jian noticed that before the city gate, there was also a small pavilion, inside which at this moment were two yin spirit venerables whose bodies circulated with intense, clear radiance, meditating within, seeming to hesitate.

These two yin spirits also saw the sudden descent of another intense yin spirit radiance; merely seeing Zhang Jian's towering yin spirit, the two yin spirit venerables were startled.

Any yin spirit venerable who entered Wu Ming City was mostly one who had just broken through to yin spirit venerable status, with cultivation barely reaching this junction, before attempting to come to Wu Ming City to try their luck.

However, the yin spirit venerable before them now had yin spirit radiance around their body as if substantial.

Not to mention yin spirit venerables who had not even passed the first tribulation; even those who had passed the third and fourth tribulations did not possess such substantially condensed yin spirit power.

At this moment, Zhang Jian also noticed the gaze of these two yin spirit venerables; his yin spirit, now substantially condensed, had withdrawn most of its power, but the soul radiance emanating from his yin spirit was still immensely strong.

Compared to ordinary yin spirit venerables, it was vastly stronger.

Zhang Jian thought for a moment, then stepped forward and asked.

"May I ask, how should I address you two, fellow Daoists?"

Seeing Zhang Jian approach, the two yin spirit mighty ones hastily rose and bowed respectfully.

"I dare not accept such praise; I am Ling Lingzi of the Lingxiao Sword Sect!"

"Jin Xi of the Qianlong Sect, paying respects to my senior!"

Hearing this, Zhang Jian's eyes flickered; speaking truthfully, he had never before been called 'senior,' and this address truly felt novel.

Unconsciously, he too began to be addressed as senior.

In his mind, two pieces of information about the sects flashed.

Lingxiao Sword Sect, Qianlong Sect—Zhang Jian had vaguely heard of them; they were two cultivation sects established in the Two Realms region.

In Dongxuan Divine Prefecture, besides the known Great Qian court, there were many ancient cultivation sects establishing their orthodoxy in the vast, fertile regions; those regions also had some secular dynasties, but lacking the radiance of state gods and Dao, only individual ancient sects left behind their means of rule.

Within them were also deities, but most were filled with a savage flavor.

These places bordered many unexplored dangerous areas, called the Two Realms region.

This was the term given by many cultivators: one side of the Two Realms region had the power of state gods radiating outward, most high-level cultivators unwilling to enter and accept divine surveillance, merely choosing appropriate cooperation with the gods.

The other side was the cultivators' sphere of influence, plus many peculiar regions inhabited by demons and monsters, intricately intertwined.

Zhang Jian had heard of the names Lingxiao Sword Sect and Qianlong Sect; they should be a major orthodox Dao lineage dominant in some region.

After thinking, Zhang Jian also announced his own lineage.

"Tongshan Dao Lineage, Zhang Jian!"

Zhang Jian did not mention Slay Demon Peak, after all, his master's reputation was too great.

"So it is the Divine Mountain Dao Lineage!"

Upon mention of the Tongshan Dao Lineage, the two yin spirit venerables' faces rose with solemn respect.

Seeing the expressions of the two yin spirit venerables, Zhang Jian's pupils flickered; it seemed he had still underestimated the influence of the Tongshan Dao Lineage.

"You two fellow Daoists here, you must have already passed through this Wu Ming City several times; it seems you have gained much!"

Seeing Zhang Jian's gentle expression, appearing not difficult to speak with, the two yin spirit venerables exchanged a glance; the female cultivator Jin Xi spoke in a soft tone.

"Senior, to speak shamefully, the Wu Ming karma fire in this Wu Ming City is too fierce; we of low cultivation have struck at it several times, returning empty-handed, gaining some, but to break through this city, we still need to accumulate!"

The yin spirit sword cultivator of the Lingxiao Sword Sect also sighed.

"This Wu Ming karma fire gate is too difficult for us sword cultivators; senior, I speak no falsehood, I too have tried several times, not only failing to pass this tribulation, but injuring my yin spirit, only able to rest here for a while, then try again!"

After sighing, he turned his gaze toward Zhang Jian; at this moment, his voice carried a hint of hesitation.

"Senior, junior dares to ask impertinently: your cultivation far exceeds the first tribulation, yet why do you appear in this first gate?"

Ling Lingzi still could not suppress his inner doubt.

In fact, what he said was already rather restrained!

Zhang Jian gave him the impression of being a rather traditional cultivator.

Many cultivators, though they knew of the existence of the Five Cities, were unwilling to take shortcuts and wander here, instead adhering to the oldest path of ascetic cultivation, walking the most traditional road, assaulting the five yin spirit tribulations.

But such beings were now few.

Most cultivators could accept the emergence of new things.

Zhang Jian sensed the doubt in these two yin spirit venerables' eyes; in his heart, he pondered, and roughly guessed what they were thinking.

He merely smiled: "I too am entering this place for the first time; usually I silently cultivate, never having contacted this Illusory Five Cities!"

"Today I also prepare to attempt the trial, to test my fortune!"

The two yin spirit venerables exchanged a glance at this moment; the Jin Xi Daoist sighed.

"Senior, your Dao heart is firm and resilient, actually able to resist this cultivation temptation; I admire you!"

Zhang Jian heard the words and smiled inwardly.

Admiring a hammer? He was probably cursing the old fogey in his heart, a blockhead.

Daoist Jinxī obviously had far superior social skills compared to Línglíngzi beside him.

Zhang Jian didn't care; the initial camaraderie among cultivators was precisely how it came about.

He stepped forward, not merely out of novelty, to exchange a few words with several peers of equal standing.

Zhang Jian's emotional intelligence was equally outstanding; after a few sentences, he learned part of the profound mysteries of Wúmíng City from these two Yīnshén Zūnzhě, and after a brief chat with them, he strode into Wúmíng City.

After Zhang Jian left, the two Yīnshén Zūnzhě finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although in the Five Cities of the Xu Jìng, these Yīnshén could come and go freely, withdrawing at a thought, facing such formidable Yīnshén Zūnzhě, they still felt some pressure.

This Yīnshén Zūnzhě of the Tóngshān Dao Tōng radiated such intense Yīnshén light that he must have immersed himself in the Yīnshén realm for thousands of years to attain such cultivation.

Such beings were utterly beyond their ability to match.

"In the past, hearing of these reclusive Dao traditions' masters each mastering formidable secret arts, their strength far surpassing ordinary Yīnshén, seeing them today is truly shocking!"

Línglíngzi at this moment wore an expression of sigh.

Daoist Jinxī glanced at Línglíngzi; this elder of the Língxiāo Jiàn Zōng had only recently been promoted, never having interacted with true reclusive Dao tradition masters, his horizons not yet caught up.

Such Yīnshén Zūnzhě, let alone those of the reclusive Dao traditions, are extremely rare even among cultivators across heaven and earth who are said to have great hope of stepping into the Yuánshén realm.

……

Zhang Jian walked to the city gate; Yīnshén mana flowed, smoothly pushing open the gate of Wúmíng City.

He stepped inside.

In Wúmíng City, everywhere was an ancient, rustic scene, no different from other ancient cities in Zhang Jian's impression.

Likewise spacious, streets orderly, surroundings filled with residential houses, only now desolate and empty.

It was as if a bustling city had fallen silent overnight, having hit pause.

Yet deep in Zhang Jian's Dao heart, he gradually sensed something amiss; in this extreme gloom, the divine sense condensed in his innermost depths seemed to feel disturbance.

Gradually, in his sight, he saw a layer of invisible flame forming beneath his feet.

This spark ignited, as if fierce flames had fallen into an oil barrel, countless homes around, even beneath his feet, had layers of fire snakes exhaling and inhaling.

"So that's how it is..."

At this moment, Zhang Jian perceived the mystery: the various scenes in Wúmíng City were not its true form, but rather random illusions; his state of mind at this time was exceptionally calm, thus manifesting this scene of stillness like dead water.

As for these fierce flames, they were likely the manifestation of the Yuànshà Qì within his body.

Everywhere visible were intensely fierce invisible flames; Zhang Jian gazed upon them and instantly felt a previously unknown agitation.

This agitation came from deep within the Yīnshén itself.

In the Yīnshén's divine sense, countless thoughts at this moment seemed stained with a layer of invisible flame; this layer caused Zhang Jian's divine sense to undergo change, as if unable to control, falling into a state of anger.

Endless streams of intense black-red qi flowed from within his Yīnshén body.

The Yuànshà Qì became substantiated, and under the erosion of Wúmíng Yèhuǒ power, began to backlash against his Yīnshén.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian's expression remained completely calm.

Although over these years he had accumulated boundless merit, the cultivators, demons, and monsters he had slain were not few, some even originating from deep within the Yīnshén, as if accumulated over countless lifetimes.

Perhaps in one life he had served as an executioner or a battlefield general, slaughtering extensively.

These Yuànshà Qì were fully exposed under the power of Wúmíng Yèhuǒ.

Boom—!

From the depths of the void, it seemed the boundless Dao thunder rumbled, with the wailing of ghosts from the Nine Nether Hell arriving; one saw the phantom of the six-fold wheel manifest in the boundless karmic fire.

"Fēngdū Lúnpán!"

Gazing upon this magnificent wheel phantom, his pupils slightly focused.

To reclaim his soul imprint, the Wúmíng Yèhuǒ gathering before him was precisely an opportunity.

Wúmíng Yèhuǒ is not only a trial for Yīnshén, but also a bridge connecting Yīnshén to the Nine Nether Hell.

Any Yīnshén Zūnzhě who passes this tribulation can, during the time Wúmíng Yèhuǒ burns, infiltrate Yīnshén power into the Fēngdū Lúnpán, thereby finding his own soul imprint, retrieving the soul imprint left in the Fēngdū Lúnpán from past lives, merging the Yīnshén, and taking a preliminary step beyond life and death.

That is, one must first endure the burning of Wúmíng Yèhuǒ, reclaim the soul imprint, then seek to extinguish Wúmíng Yèhuǒ.

Or wait for Wúmíng Yèhuǒ to naturally extinguish.

When Wúmíng Yèhuǒ naturally extinguishes, it also means the Yīnshén's deep-seated, entwined Yuànshà Qì has been completely burned away.

Of course, the premise is that the Yīnshén can endure.

Some Yīnshén Zūnzhě have weak Yīnshén and cannot necessarily withstand the continuous burning of Wúmíng Yèhuǒ, only able to retreat and leave Wúmíng City.

Just like Línglíngzi and Daoist Jinxī seen earlier outside the city.

This is the benefit of spiritually touring Wúmíng City.

If one forcibly passes the first Yīnshén tribulation outside, there will be no chance for regret, being directly devoured by Wúmíng Yèhuǒ, refined into nothingness.

The great being who established the Yùjīng Five Cities indeed performed a deed of boundless merit.

At this moment, Wúmíng Yèhuǒ continuously burned every inch of Zhang Jian's Yīnshén flesh, yet he felt as if nothing were amiss.

His substantiated Yīnshén naturally manifested, radiating diamond-like radiance; the nameless karmic fire could not harm him in the slightest.

He smiled faintly; a ring of intense cloud-light appeared behind his head, and beneath his feet bloomed one after another blue lotuses—these were the Pure Soul Qinglián he condensed based on the Pure Soul Mantra, capable of purifying wandering souls, aiding rebirth, and protecting his own Yīnshén from all manner of malign influences.

These Pure Soul Qinglián protected him.

Zhang Jian's gaze then turned to the Fēngdū Lúnpán above; he poured a grand stream of mana into it, and through the Wúmíng Yèhuǒ, it was as if he entered some nameless profound place, where he saw a strange book.

Black and white distinct, flashing with an indescribable life-death atmosphere, it seemed condensed from the life-death laws of the Nine Nether Hell.

"Could this object not be the Book of Life and Death from myth? Yet I heard my master mention that in the Fēngdū Lúnpán years ago, she saw only a void imprint, which upon retrieval would suffice? How then do I see the scene of the Book of Life and Death?"

Zhang Jian's heart stirred; he felt it might relate to his own cognition.

Since he had the concept of the Book of Life and Death in his mind, the Fēngdū Lúnpán within gave birth to the Book of Life and Death.

Or perhaps his yin spirit is extremely powerful, thus he saw through some truths and falsehoods deep within the Fengdu Wheel of Reincarnation?

Following the pull, his yin spirit's divine sense entered this book of life and death; for a moment, deep within his yin spirit, an invisible spiritual light flowed along the pull and merged into the depths of his yin spirit.

This spiritual light merged into the depths of his yin spirit's origin; he instantly felt his yin spirit, at this moment, as if finally completed, his whole body radiating a round and harmonious radiance.

At the same time, on Zhang Jian's yin spirit's exterior, the karmic fire of ignorance burned away all the resentful evil qi, gradually extinguishing.

The karmic fire of ignorance could not harm him; after burning away all the resentful evil qi, it became like rootless wood, water without source!

Zhang Jian felt that at this moment his yin spirit seemed much lighter.

As if he had shed many inexplicable burdens.

At this moment in the city, the boundless karmic fire of ignorance gradually faded; the city regained tranquility, though now the city was no longer a pool of dead water—Zhang Jian's gaze seemed to see countless households lighting lamps.

The myriad lamps symbolized peace and joy, symbolizing hope and prosperity.

Zhang Jian glanced down, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his eyes; he did not continue into the second level of Shen Shen City, Tai Xu, but in a single thought left Ming City and returned to Tai Xu Guan.

And outside Ming City, Ling Lingzi and Jin Xi Daoist saw that above Ming City, the Great Dao Heavenly Sound faintly appeared, celestial music distant and ethereal; their expressions were instantly moved.

"It seems this senior of the Tong Shan Dao Tong successfully passed the karmic fire of ignorance tribulation!"

Those omens clearly indicate someone passed through successfully.

The two yin spirit venerables' eyes filled with envy.

On the observation platform, Zhang Jian's yin spirit returned to his physical body, immediately giving rise to a change.