Chapter 224: Hell Imparts the Dao

Pure Soul Azure Lotus Dharma Chant!

In the Zhuangyuan Mansion, at this moment Zhang Jian cast the spell, his entire body's yin spirit mana circulated, and one could see pure lotuses drifting out, the Pure Soul treasure light filling the void and dharma realm, illuminating the courtyard.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Jian's eyes flickered.

The Pure Soul Azure Lotus Dharma Chant, like the Pure Soul Dharma Chant, is based on the Ten Directions Salvation Heavenly Venerable, communicating with the divine power of this compassionate Heavenly Venerable deep in the Nine Nether Underworld, and performing the purification dharma.

But there are also differences.

Even when cultivated to a profound level, the Pure Soul Dharma Chant can only borrow more of the Heavenly Venerable's divine power to expand the scope of the technique.

Zhang Jian, however, derived from this dharma a method of cultivation belonging to his own great vow.

Once cultivated, the Pure Soul Azure Lotus will become his dharma aspect, and possess more possibilities, ultimately able to cultivate into a primordial spirit dharma aspect.

Unlike the Pure Soul Dharma Chant, which, if cultivated to a certain level, will be drawn by the Ten Directions Salvation Pure Land into the Nine Nether Underworld, ultimately becoming a 'devoted follower' beside the Great Elder.

Of course, for many cultivators, if they could become a devoted follower beside the Ten Directions Salvation Heavenly Venerable, they would probably be ecstatic.

But Zhang Jian felt that stepping into the primordial spirit realm was not difficult, so there was no need to take this path.

At this moment, wishing to re-modify this technique model, Zhang Jian felt he could start from the aspect of the dao-heart.

The last time he modified it, he retained most of the soul's feedback power after guiding souls to rebirth into the Pure Soul Azure Lotus, with a small portion given as dividends to the Ten Directions Salvation Heavenly Venerable.

This time he still needs to rack his brains, greatly strengthening the purification and rebirth capabilities at the core of the Pure Soul Azure Lotus.

Because what he will face next is the Dragon Resentment.

The yin souls and evil ghosts soaked in the Dragon Resentment are more ferocious than ordinary ghosts and harder to liberate.

"As for purification runes, I remember the Transmission Elder mentioning a few ancient god inscriptions left over from the Sage King era that are related to purification!"

"The second rune for rebirth seems a bit off; could it be replaced with reincarnation, forced reincarnation, rather than a slightly gentler rebirth, and then add an annihilation rune at the end—if one is unwilling to be reborn, they are forcibly destroyed… but that seems wrong too, as it loses the compassionate intent and would conflict with the Pure Soul Azure Lotus dharma aspect..."

Zhang Jian at this moment looked exactly like a deeply immersed cultivation 'researcher'!

Qi Yuhua originally approached holding Zhang Chang'an, seeing Zhang Jian's surrounding phenomena, her beautiful eyes widened slightly, then, holding Yuyu and Qu Lian, she slowly departed, a hint of a smile appearing in her eyes; she fully supports Zhang Jian's cultivation.

She also hopes Zhang Jian can achieve his wishes and attain longevity and the Dao.

……

Before the Chengguang Gate, before Dongxiao Daoist entered this place, he was spring wind proud and horse hooves swift, because Jingming Daoist had let him lead the Dao orthodoxy of the world as High True One, presiding over the Jingtai Peaceful Rite and Retreat Dharma Assembly to liberate the Dragon Resentment.

In his view, this was his moment of glory; completing this matter need not be elaborated, and perhaps with this great momentum aiding him, his cultivation might advance further, surging past the next two Yin Spirit Tribulations.

But after merely passing through the Dragon Resentment once, Dongxiao Daoist's smile gradually faded from his face, yet deep in his back he was drenched in cold sweat.

The resentment and slaughter contained deep in the Dragon Resentment are too intense; after penetrating just a few dozen zhang, he felt miscellaneous thoughts arising endlessly, nearly becoming a demon on the spot.

And leading the myriad Daoists of the world to accomplish such a feat, can he do it?

Dongxiao Daoist lost his confidence.

Dongxiao Daoist originally wanted to find Jingming Daoist to complain and seek aid, but hindered by face, yet again feeling he could not lose face before the younger generation, after all he had previously sworn an oath before Jingming Daoist.

Dongxiao Daoist thought it over, and the next day he came on foot to the vicinity of the Zhuangyuan Mansion.

But soon he was given the cold shoulder at the Zhuangyuan Mansion.

"Daoist Dongxiao, your husband nowadays spends most of his time on night duty in the imperial city, rarely returning home; please, Daoist, understand!"

Dongxiao Daoist immediately rose and said he dared not.

Leaving the Zhuangyuan Mansion, Dongxiao Daoist wore a face of helplessness, knowing Zhang Jian had politely refused him.

This is not Zhang Jian's fault; during this period, many cultivators from the Dongshen Guan entered the Zhuangyuan Mansion seeking ink treasures and calligraphy models, not lacking nobles and officials from the city, and Zhang Jian, being pestered, had become somewhat annoyed, thus refusing all.

The ink treasure of the Zhuangyuan Mansion nowadays is a hard-to-obtain sheet.

Dongxiao Daoist, having been given the cold shoulder, still unwilling to give up, thus devised a way to enter the Imperial City Literary and Martial Arts Institute.

Zhang Jian's reply still required only two words.

"No!"

Dongxiao Daoist helplessly could only go to find Dongjue Daoist to vent his bitterness.

"Fifth Senior Brother, Zhang Shidu's ink treasure is indeed hard to obtain; not to mention you and I, even the Sect Master's nephew going might possibly suffer a setback; if you wish to obtain Zhang Shidu's ink treasure, I can give you an idea!"

Dongjue Daoist at this moment had a smile on his face.

"Oh, then please, Junior Sister, make it clear?"

Dongxiao Daoist's eyes involuntarily brightened, yet his face bore a fawning smile.

Dongjue Daoist glanced at Dongxiao Daoist; she originally did not wish to meddle in this matter, but earlier she had inquired and found that Dongxiao Daoist had early on discerned the foundations of the two young masters of the Zhuangyuan Mansion, yet had tightly kept it secret, instead secretly reporting to Huanghe Shushu, from whom he gained benefits.

This Fifth Senior Brother is so shrewd; if he had the ability, he should not need to rely on others.

However, the Grand Peaceful Rite and Retreat Dharma Assembly held this time by the Qian Dynasty is truly no small matter; if the liberation fails, it will inevitably damage the prestige of Dongshen Guan, which is likely what many cultivators on this journey hope for.

The face of Dongshen Guan cannot be lost.

"You can go find Qingfeng!"

"Qingfeng?"

Dongxiao Daoist blinked in surprise.

Dongjue Daoist lightly snorted and said: "Princess Qingfeng, the Long Princess, is also considered a junior of our palace; looking out for my sake, she will also lend Senior Brother a hand!"

"But Fifth Senior Brother, next time there are benefits, Senior Brother must not forget Junior Sister!"

"Cough, certainly, certainly!"

……

Zhuangyuan Mansion, when in the afternoon Princess Qingfeng and her husband came to call, Qi Yuhua had already prepared; after receiving Qi Yuanwu and his wife, moments later she ordered her personal maid to fetch a scroll of ink treasure from the room and hand it to the two, smiling.

"Your husband had already anticipated this; this morning before the early court audience, he left a painting at home, saying it would be useful this afternoon; fortunately, Uncle and Aunt have arrived, so this item comes in handy!"

Hearing this, Qi Yuanwu and his wife were somewhat surprised and bewildered.

This son-in-law of theirs is becoming increasingly unfathomable to them!

But since they obtained the treasure map, they also count as having fulfilled the other party's entrustment.

After Qi Yuanwu and his wife left the zhuangyuan's mansion, they went straight to the residence of Daoist Dongjue in the mundane world and presented the treasure map.

At this moment, Daoist Dongxiao was somewhat impatient; seeing Daoist Dongjue take the treasure map and casually unfold it, he could not help but lean forward.

But after merely glancing at it, his expression immediately darkened, and he sensed something amiss.

Only then did a line of small characters appear in the lower right corner of this painting.

"If I do not enter hell, who will enter hell!"

This line of text radiated righteous vigor that pierced the heavens, yet within this luminous and righteous atmosphere lay a profound sense of compassion and self-sacrifice, embodying a fearless spirit of giving oneself.

Above it was a depiction of the Hell Bestowing the Dao diagram; the various scenes made Daoist Dongxiao's scalp tingle.

Yet he still felt a trace of annoyance in his heart.

He thought that this Zhang Shidu was simply too aloof; even if he did not give him this painting and calligraphic treasure, why must he use such a painting to mock him?

Was he being asked to sacrifice himself and become benevolent?

……

Suburbs of Haojing City, Southern Mountain

Zhang Jian's figure appeared in the mountain foothills; not long ago, someone had delivered a letter to his home, and from it Zhang Jian sensed a special qi mechanism, so he entered Southern Mountain.

Shortly after entering Southern Mountain, Zhang Jian saw strands of intense black vengeful qi drifting from the mountain foothills.

"Dragon resentment?"

Zhang Jian furrowed his brows.

According to his reasoning, after the vengeful qi dispersed from the Shu Kingdom's dragon veins, it would only flow backward into the Great Qian dragon veins—how could it have come here?

But in an instant Zhang Jian understood: perhaps it was the doing of that Divine True Person Qian, deep within the Eastern Mausoleum of Great Qian.

Unable to suppress these dragon resentments, he instead dispersed their power first, scattering them across various places to find scapegoats, thereby relieving the pressure on the Eastern Mausoleum dragon veins.