Chapter 34: Heavenly Canopy Divine Mantra, Meeting Jiang Lai Again

Of all the methods in the world, the Northern Emperor comes first.

The Northern Emperor sect was founded by the early Tang Daoist Deng Ziyang, who is the Deng Three Three Tian Shi, one of the Four Heavenly Masters in Journey to the West.

With the 【Northern Pole Ziwei Great Emperor】 as the Dharma Lord, under his command are the Four Holy True Lords: Marshal Tian Peng, True Lord Tianyou, General Heisha, and Great Emperor Zhenwu.

The well-known 【Heavenly Canopy Divine Mantra】 is the core great method of the Northern Emperor sect, because Marshal Tian Peng is the number one protector of the Northern Emperor sect, responding to every plea and eliminating every disaster.

Zhu Bajie in Journey to the West is the reincarnation of Marshal Tian Peng.

When Sun Wukong was subduing Zhu Bajie at Gao Village, he once transformed into Gao Cuilan to fool Zhu Bajie, saying that her father had invited a Dharma Master to subdue him...

As a result, Zhu Bajie spoke wildly, saying that even if your father invited the 【Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Ancestor】, he wouldn't dare do anything to me.

The Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Ancestor is the incarnation of Great Emperor Zhenwu. According to Zhu Bajie's past life, Marshal Tian Peng and Great Emperor Zhenwu were both among the Four Saints of the Northern Pole, and Marshal Tian Peng's rank was even above Great Emperor Zhenwu.

So, this really wasn't just wild talk.

The Northern Emperor sect's 【Heavenly Canopy Mantra】 records the thirty-six Heavenly Dipper Divine Generals, the seventy-two Earthly Fiend Five Thunder Fierce Generals, the Nine Origin Killing Child Great General, as well as the Demon-Bombing Method, Demon-Subduing Method, Ghost-Swallowing and Demon-Eating Method, and various other methods fused within it.

This mantra is number one in killing and is the prototype of later thunder arts. Even the Shenxiao sect and the Qingwei sect once absorbed its essence and integrated it into their own Dharma lineages.

Therefore, there is an old saying in the Daoist world: "Without the Heavenly Canopy, one cannot command the Thunder Gods."

"Is it that awesome?"

Zhang Fan whispered, this post completely overturned his stereotypical impression of Zhu Bajie in Journey to the West.

Previously, he had seen a post online saying that the author of Journey to the West, Old Wu, because he tarnished the reputation of Marshal Tian Peng, was judged by the Left Judge of the Northern Pole Exorcism Court after death for the crime of slandering and insulting the saint, and was sent to the Yin Mountain to serve an eight-hundred-year sentence.

"How exactly does one cultivate it?" Zhang Fan saw the key point and couldn't help but be stunned, only to see the post say:

The following is paid content, please pay 1288 yuan to continue watching...

"You damn scammer!!!" Zhang Fan threw his mouse and cursed.

The refund application for the 888 yuan from last time still hasn't arrived. This Millennium Old Demon really has no other tricks; one trick is enough to conquer the world!!!

Zhang Fan calmed his mood and dragged the post to the very bottom. At the end, there was only one sentence...

"Great practitioners never show off their supernatural powers in the human world..."

The Millennium Old Demon changed the subject and wrote in the post: "Practitioners, if you are obsessed with the mysteries of arts and supernatural powers, it is like entering the demonic path. Your consciousness will be restless, and the Great Night-Never-Bright will be right before your eyes."

"Remember! Remember! Remember!!!"

"Great Night-Never-Bright... Great Night-Never-Bright..." Zhang Fan was lost in thought.

Obsession with the mysteries of arts and the pursuit of powerful strength is itself a form of obsession...

As long as there is obsession, the consciousness will never be extinguished.

Just like practitioners pursuing immortality and longing for Pure Yang... as long as this thought exists, one can never return the consciousness to stillness, and thus can never reach that realm.

But if there is no such thought, what is the point of cultivating, what is the point of practicing the Dao?

This seems to be a contradiction, a paradox, an irreconcilable demonic obstacle!!!

"Millennium Old Demon... how much money did you scam from him?"

Just then, a burst of gloating laughter came from behind him.

Zhang Fan turned around with a start and saw Bai Buran standing behind him, staring at the computer screen, not knowing how long he had been watching.

"Boss, I... do you also know this person?"

"Years ago, when he was most active online, I followed him..." A flash of unpleasantness crossed Bai Buran's eyes.

"Were you also scammed out of money by him?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.

"Just kidding, I watched others get scammed..." Bai Buran changed the subject and said lightly: "However, what he said isn't entirely nonsense..."

"Consciousness restless, Great Night-Never-Bright... this is the trial of a practitioner, a trial that exists every moment..."

At this point, Bai Buran was no longer as lazy as usual. A touch of solemnity appeared in his deep eyes. Even after attaining the rank of 【Three Three Tian Shi】, there is still the risk of a restless consciousness. Once the seven emotions become madness and the six desires become demonic, even with world-shaking cultivation, one will fall in a single day, and the Great Night-Never-Bright will be right before one's eyes.

"Even a Three Three Tian Shi will face trials?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.

Of the nine ranks, Three Three Tian Shi is the highest. Once one crosses it, it is the path of Pure Yang Limitless.

Such an existence is as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns in the entire Daoist world.

Can such cultivation actually regress and encounter the Great Night-Never-Bright!? "I have seen it before..." Bai Buran said in a deep voice.

"A Three Three Tian Shi!?" Zhang Fan said subconsciously.

"A Three Three Tian Shi... actually, early in his cultivation, a hidden danger had already been planted in his heart... a seed, not easily noticed, and as a result, someone took advantage of it..."

"That was probably his only obsession, and as a result..."

"As a result, what?" Zhang Fan pressed.

"Great Night-Never-Bright, body dead and Dao vanished!" Bai Buran's gaze sank slightly as he spat out these eight words.

"Dead!?"

"So... don't think that just because you've seen your soul-aspect and stepped into cultivation, there are no more risks..."

Bai Buran stared at Zhang Fan and warned solemnly: "The trials of a practitioner exist at every moment, unless one day, you can attain the path of Pure Yang Limitless..."

"Otherwise, this entire life may be accompanied by trials..."

"Especially those with world-class talent, rapid cultivation, and smooth sailing... they progress too fast. As their Dao cultivation deepens, once their consciousness becomes restless, the trials are even stronger than those of ordinary people..."

"By that time, the Great Night-Never-Bright will be right before your eyes."

As he spoke, Bai Buran pointed to the computer screen and said in a deep voice: "Remember! Remember!"

"I will remember."

Zhang Fan nodded. He felt that Bai Buran was a pretty good boss. Not only was it easy to work here, but he could also learn a lot of knowledge and experience about Daoist cultivation.

Following such a boss, his ancestral grave must have been smoking with good fortune.

"Wen He, deduct two hundred yuan from him."

Just then, Bai Buran's voice pulled Zhang Fan's thoughts back.

"Why... why?" Zhang Fan was stunned for a moment, then said urgently.

"Slacking off at work, looking at posts... shouldn't it be deducted?" Bai Buran pointed to Zhang Fan's computer screen.

"..."

After saying this, Bai Buran hugged his thermos and turned to walk toward his office.

"Wicked capitalist." Zhang Fan looked at Bai Buran's back and spat.

"We're back..."

Just then, a voice that sounded long-awaited came from the door.

"Welcome home!"

Wen He's kind voice responded.

Zhang Fan subconsciously turned his head to look. He had heard Wen He say that two other colleagues who went out to purchase supplies would be back today.

However, the moment he turned his head, the first thing that caught his eye was a girl with shoulder-length short hair, fair skin, and an ethereal temperament...

"Little Fanfan, come, let me introduce you, this is..."

"Jiang Lai!?"

Zhang Fan stood up, staring blankly at this old acquaintance he hadn't seen in a long time!!!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 35 =====