Chapter 72: Heaven is Round, Earth is Square, the Nine Chapters of Law and Command

The Divine Mirror Scripture, heretical path arrives here.

Jiang Hu’s solemn gaze settled on Shen Qingli; the bright moonlight shattered, rendering her more beautiful and captivating than ever before.

Yet Jiang Hu had never before felt that the Shen Qingli before him was so utterly alien.

“Throughout history, how many sought immortality? How many attained pure yang?” Shen Qingli murmured softly, her jet-black evening gown swaying in the wind, lending her an air of grace.

“In this modern age of Dao’s decline, the mortal world is polluted and corrupt, and the elusive path to eternal life is nowhere to be seen… Yet now, the road to immortality lies right before us? Then this is the true Dao…”

A trace of resolve shone in Shen Qingli’s beautiful eyes.

At the age of nine, she and Shen Xiangrong had watched their father unhesitatingly offer his Nascent Soul to the Divine Mirror Scripture…

That courage and decisiveness born of devotion to the Dao still burned like a brand, often replaying in her mind.

“The blood of the Shen family exists for the hope and glory of eternal life!”

“Ten thousand talismans must coalesce into one… When the Divine Mirror Scripture evolves the Nascent Soul code…”

“The Shen family… we shall all be together forever…”

The words of ancestors, the generations-long hope of the Shen family—etched into bone and blood—finally bloomed this very night.

“You’re mad…” Jiang Hu gritted his teeth.

“Jiang Hu… I told you… life is bound by obsession…”

“That is the only truth!”

Boom…

At that moment, a thunderous crash split the air—Qi Ji had already moved. He formed seals with both hands, stepped the Heavenly Stance, and chanted incantations.

“The Three Five merge in qi, merging with the void of sun and moon.”

“Armored and bearing talismans, the killing gate opens wide.”

“Grant me the Foul Pool, cleanse it with ghostly holes.”

“Bind the ghostly souls; the Five Dragons turn to annihilation.”

…

“Kill!”

Qi Ji’s eyes widened, his piercing gaze like a three-foot divine sword, suddenly erupting—five streaks of light shot from his palms, their Nascent Soul radiance resembling five long rainbows, wrapped in blazing true yang fire, spreading across five distinct positions of the Talisman Refining Pavilion.

“Five Dragons Annihilation Talisman!?” Jiang Hu’s face paled as he cried out.

The Five Dragons Annihilation Talisman originated from the Maoshan Dan Book Fire Talisman, immensely powerful—once activated, infused with true yang, it took the form of five dragons, rotating in the five directions, capable of incinerating all yin spirits and Nascent Souls.

“Maoshan’s Shangqing Sect…” Shen Qingli watched coldly: “Qi Ji, you’re just as decisive and unyielding as you were as a child… you care nothing for those inside.”

“No wonder my grandfather said you’re one of the fiercest rising talents among Maoshan’s newer generation.”

“Qi Ji… there are still people inside…” Jiang Hu growled.

“Those bound by others are no longer people… they’ve been seeded with demonic talismans. Release one, and the calamity will be endless.” Qi Ji replied coldly.

Those talisman masters were like the man just slain—unaware they bore demonic talismans, which spread like viruses; if let loose, the consequences would be incalculable.

Thinking of this, Qi Ji’s eyes flashed with ruthless determination. He stepped forward, ready to unleash true yang and ignite the Five Dragons Annihilation Talisman.

“Wait…”

Jiang Hu’s face darkened. He stepped sideways, blocking Qi Ji’s path.

“Do you wish to be a savior—or to atone?” Qi Ji raised an eyebrow, coldly.

“Those you killed weren’t ghosts… they were people… living, breathing people.”

That night, Wu Ma’s words echoed in Jiang Hu’s ears, merging with the scene before him—he seemed to hear countless tormented souls wailing from within the Talisman Refining Pavilion.

“I…” Jiang Hu gritted his teeth.

“Get out of my way!”

Qi Ji coldly commanded, a bright yellow talisman already appearing in his hand.

At nearly the same instant, Jiang Hu’s hand also held a talisman.

“Your talisman arts are long ruined—still think you can fight me!?” Qi Ji sneered.

“Red Snake Fire Talisman!!”

Without another word, both men simultaneously unleashed their talismans, pouring true yang into them—the talismans burned away instantly, transforming into blazing true fire that surged like serpents, crashing together.

Fire serpents hissed, fangs bared, their sparks illuminating the dark night.

Yet Qi Ji’s “fire serpent” was more than five times larger than Jiang Hu’s—and in an instant, the latter was swallowed whole…

A colossal wave of flame surged forth, hurling Jiang Hu backward. He slammed hard against the wall, crashing to the ground with a thud, spewing a mouthful of blood.

Over these years, his inner demon had taken root, his cultivation regressed—he was now far too weak compared to Qi Ji…

“You no longer have the right to challenge me…” Qi Ji looked down coldly at Jiang Hu.

In his eyes now, Jiang Hu was no longer the rival who once matched him evenly on the mountain.

“Jiang Hu, you always err—killing those you shouldn’t, trying to save those you shouldn’t…” Qi Ji shook his head.

“Do you think saving them can wash away your sins?”

“No. Those sins will follow you your whole life. You can’t save anyone—not even yourself.”

Qi Ji’s words pierced Jiang Hu’s heart like knives, striking the softest part within him.

He curled his body, as if hearing again the countless cries and roars echoing from the Talisman Refining Pavilion…

In this moment, he felt as if he had returned to that night…

The moonlight was chilling; the mass grave, blood flowing freely—the dead he had slain rose from the earth, their bones stark and pale, their resentful qi surging skyward—old men, children, men, women…

Their arms, like withered vines, coiled around Jiang Hu’s Nascent Soul, dragging it down into the ground, into the bottomless, pitch-black abyss…

“So dark…”

Jiang Hu’s Nascent Soul murmured softly; as he sank deeper, the last sliver of light before his eyes grew ever fainter.

“This is fine…”

Jiang Hu’s Nascent Soul finally abandoned all struggle, ready to vanish with the countless dead into the eternal darkness.

Snap…

At that moment, a broad hand suddenly reached down from above, gripping Jiang Hu’s wrist firmly.

Within his Nascent Soul’s inner vision, a blurred figure appeared in the last remaining light, pulling him back from the darkness.

“Zhang… Zhang Fan…”

Jiang Hu’s eyes widened in disbelief—Zhang Fan… how could he appear within Jiang Hu’s own Nascent Soul vision?

“People… in this lifetime, there is both petty scheming and noble greatness…”

“That is your inseparable self… your present self…”

A sigh rang out like a startled bell, shaking Jiang Hu’s Nascent Soul—his vision brightened, and when he looked back, the endless abyss of darkness receded farther and farther…

“Zhang Fan…”

Boom…

Before the Talisman Refining Pavilion, Qi Ji walked past Jiang Hu without emotion, casting a warning glance at Shen Qingli afar, then prepared to activate the Five Dragons Annihilation Talisman.

“Qi Ji… you’re right…”

At that moment, Jiang Hu’s voice echoed softly.

“Huh!?”

Qi Ji turned to look—under his indifferent gaze, Jiang Hu, head bowed, staggered to his feet.

“The sins on my body can never be washed clean… yet…”

“This is me.”

Jiang Hu whispered softly, his gaze now clearer than ever—no confusion, no hesitation, only the present.

“He’s going to kill himself!?”

Far away, Shen Qingli’s beautiful eyes narrowed. Through her Nascent Soul observation, Jiang Hu’s life flickered like a candle, burning furiously—the rising smoke resembled the patterns on talismans, winding toward the sealed pavilion.

“I can save them!”

Jiang Hu murmured firmly, his eyes shining with unwavering confidence.

“His inner light…”

Qi Ji frowned—he clearly sensed Jiang Hu’s Nascent Soul had been on the verge of dimming, yet now it blazed like a roaring fire once more.

“Little Qi Ji, remember… cultivation is seeing your true self… when you see your true self, you become powerful…”

At this moment, for no discernible reason, the words of his former master echoed in Qi Ji’s mind.

“Heaven is round, earth is square, the Nine Chapters of Law and Command—I now inscribe, all ghosts shall hide!”

At that moment, a whisper-like chant drifted through the air…

Jiang Hu’s fingertip shimmered with light, rippling golden waves as he traced a harmonious, graceful mark in the air.

(End of Chapter)