Chapter 440: Sacred Fire

Xu Jia asked again, "The Four Messengers said you were practicing an invincible Daoist divine ability; why is it not working, and how did it lead you to suffer a Qi deviation?"

The Sacred Fire Sect Leader gave a bitter smile: "That is a great supernatural power I obtained by chance, written in innate Talismans. Over these years, I have translated some of it; it is called the 'Qiankun Monong Great Supernatural Power'."

"This method can grasp a thousand mountains, shrink the sun and moon, shift stars, and simulate the Dharma Power and True Qi of others to execute their supernatural powers with eighty or ninety percent similarity. It can also absorb the Dharma Power and primordial Qi of others to return to oneself, filling the Three Treasures of essence, Qi, and spirit. In its deeper aspects, it even has the ability to distort space and traverse the universe."

"It is just that this method requires the Heavenly Immortal level to practice, and it seems to be incomplete, or perhaps it is a trap in itself. When I practiced it, I always felt it was topsy-turvy, yet mysteriously profound. It was like scooping the moon from water or looking at flowers in a mirror. This time, forcing the practice caused my Dharma Power to reverse, paralyzing my physical body, snapping my meridians, and causing my great dragon to wither... it was all snapped by the power of Qiankun."

"Is this a convergence of the Sword Hero World and the Heaven Sword and Dragon Slaying Saber?" Xu Jia thought to himself. The period of the Shushan Swordsman Biography is roughly the late Ming and early-to-mid Qing dynasties, while this Heaven Sword and Dragon Slaying Saber is set in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. Furthermore, one has Xianxia power levels, while the other has Wuxia power levels.

The only thing that connects them is that here, one first practices martial arts, cultivates Postnatal True Qi, then opens the Ren and Du Meridians to transform into Innate True Qi, entering the "Qi Refiner" stage, and begins to turn to cultivating Immortality, forging swords, controlling swords, and becoming a sword hero.

This so-called "Universe Great Shift" has also been magically altered into the supernatural power "Qiankun Monong".

This Sacred Fire Sect Persian Teachings leader has actually managed to cultivate a Spirit Embryo.

Then... Zhang Wuji seems to have discovered a Cave Heaven Blessed Land in Kunlun Mountain, which contains ancient Spirit Roots and Flat Peaches; eating them can increase cultivation and prevent hunger, and the fish in the spring water also seem to be good things.

Xu Jia immediately performed a calculation of heavenly secrets. Whether in Wuxia or Xianxia, Kunlun is the Mythological Center of Taoism, with many records of Cave Heaven Blessed Lands; it is rumored to be the residence of Xi Wangmu and the garden of the Heavenly Emperor.

"You should show me the original copy of this method."

The Sacred Fire Sect Leader somewhat reluctantly handed over a page of golden text. This golden text was clearly not gold, yet it was golden and bright, with Talismans flowing upon it. Upon seeing it, one entered a nameless space where only wisdom could flow.

Innate Talismans, each with eight corners and hanging rays, constructed the entirety of the supernatural power.

It was indeed Qiankun Monong.

Unlike the Sacred Fire Sect Leader who felt it was a chaotic mess, Xu Jia, who possessed the Lingbao lineage, sensed what it was in an instant.

The Talismans began to sort themselves automatically, decomposing into smaller, easier-to-understand Talismans.

"Yuanshi Tianzun's Scripture of the Divine Seal of Opening Heaven and Earth"

Yuanshi Tianzun, the god of creation in Taoism; it is rumored that Pangu is his incarnation.

This Qiankun Monong is indeed inspired by the story of Yuanshi Tianzun opening heaven and earth. It is rumored that Yuanshi Tianzun has nine seal methods, encompassing the opening of heaven and earth, the creation of all living things, and even the destruction of the world.

Of course, this is certainly not a direct transmission from Yuanshi Tianzun; it is written above that it is "Annotated by Zhang Jiao, Great Libationer of the Desire Realm of the Yellow Heaven Holy Venerable".

Well, it is another inheritance of the Yellow Heaven Sect.

Put it away, put it away, I will not learn it for now.

Although he would not learn it himself, Xu Jia was selfless by nature and immediately began to explain it to the Sacred Fire Sect Leader: "You suffered a Qi deviation from this method simply because your accumulation is insufficient; it is not the orthodox Daluo, nor is it even the Taiyi Profound Gate."

"If you are willing to take me as your master, I can help you resolve the disaster of your Qi deviation and assist you in re-practicing this technique."

The Sacred Fire Sect Leader pondered for a moment. Although he had also achieved Pure Yang, it was only a Pure Yang Spirit Embryo, the weakest stage of the Yang Spirit, not like Xu Jia, whose Spirit Embryo had long since matured into an adult.

Moreover, if he remained like this, stopping at the Yang Spirit Embryo, his future path would likely be bleak.

He immediately said straightforwardly: "Disciple pays respects to Master."

"Very good. Under my seat, there are True Transmission Disciples and Outer Disciples. You are joining as a disciple with a previous master, so you cannot be a True Transmission Disciple and can only enter the Outer Sect. However, I treat the Outer Sect equally. Among the Outer Disciples, one has already been designated as the Outer Sect Senior Brother, and this will not change. Therefore, even if your Daoist Practice and merit are outstanding, you can only be the Outer Sect Second Senior Brother. What do you think?"

"This disciple is willing."

Xu Jia nodded: "I do not know your name?"

"This disciple has abandoned my Persian name; it was too cumbersome. After arriving in the Western Regions, I took the name Muni, the Muni of Sakyamuni, using this to signify the light of holiness. I wanted to seize that golden Sarira also because it has the meaning of light, and it is very similar to the legendary Mani Bead."

Xu Jia nodded. Huogong Toutuo had created the Diamond Gate in the Western Regions, and the Sacred Fire Sect had also been subdued; both were taken care of without conflict.

"Then I shall give you a Daoist name, Dinguang." Xu Jia asked: "How do you feel about it?"

Muni nodded: "Thank you, Master, for the name."

Xu Jia was not stingy and immediately bestowed the Lingbao Divine Immortal Register method, and also passed down the scripture of the Qiankun Monong Talismans.

Seeing that Xu Jia had mastered the transmission after only a glance or two, the Sacred Fire Sect Leader was completely convinced, feeling a deep sense of frustration: I had already considered myself a genius seen once in five hundred years; it turns out the gap between me and such a true genius is like the distance between the Ninth Heaven and the Ninth Nether.

Another aspect was his breadth of mind. Xu Jia was so selfless in passing it to him. He himself had considered that after obtaining good things, such as the Earthly Evil Spirit Root treasure tree, he had only cultivated the Forty-Seven Bandits and the four messengers, and even these Earthly Fiend Minor Arts could be taken back at any time... plundering the experience they had worked hard to comprehend.

For a moment, the feeling of being crushed in every aspect—realm, comprehension, Dharma Power, and Daoist Practice—made him feel like a wretched, dark rat, while Xu Jia was a bright and brilliant genius. Although there was some jealousy, there was more helplessness.

For a moment, his intention of the blazing Sacred Fire also wavered, and his Pure Yang Primordial Spirit Embryo gradually began to produce dark impurities, actually starting to reverse his cultivation, vaguely on the verge of another Qi deviation.

Xu Jia was speechless. He had just thought he had received a high-level talent, and now he was giving him this, increasing his cost of subjugation?

He immediately used Buddhist sound to reprimand: "Om!"

A Sanskrit Sound of "Om" like a great bell immediately reprimanded and drove away all internal demons and external demons.

"Have you been sailing smoothly all this time, without encountering any Outer Path demonic tribulations?" Xu Jia asked. He remained silent.

Xu Jia shook his head and immediately passed him the "Pure Heart Incantation", "Pure Mouth Incantation", "Pure Body Incantation", and "Cleansing Heaven Mantra".

"Your physical body is stiffened. If you were an ordinary person, I would treat it normally, but you have already achieved the status of a God Immortal, and your body is a semi-Immortal body. You need to use an Immortal Pill for treatment, and for your Primordial Spirit, it is best to have an ice-and-snow treasure to help you clear your heart and restrain your thoughts."

"It is rumored that there is Immortal Medicine on Kunlun Mountain; I shall go and gather some."

Afterward, he asked again: "Where is the Sacred Fire you brought from Persia, which has been passed down for ten thousand years?"

The Sacred Fire of the Sacred Fire Sect, like in Greek mythology, was stolen from the Heavenly Emperor, and through this, they entered the era of civilization.

The fire burning in that fire pit, although quite sacred, was nowhere near the level of stealing the fire seed of the Heavenly Emperor.

In Chinese mythology, the one who stole from the Heavenly Emperor was Gun, who stole the Breath Soil to control the floods. Fire does not need to be stolen; it has already been drilled out.

"The Sacred Fire is suspended above the Volcano of the Kunlun Earth Vein."

The Spirit Embryo led Xu Jia toward it, thinking secretly: "If you develop greed and covetousness, and take it for your own, then you are still just a human..."

The Sacred Fire is called the Sacred Fire, but it is actually a crystal, like the "Li Fire" in the movie Shushan.

It hung above the snow-capped volcano, crystal clear, emitting the sound of ice cracking like "ding-dong".

This is "Heavenly Fire".

Xu Jia's Three Treasure Ruyi already possessed the Human Three Treasures of essence, Qi, and spirit; the Earth Three Treasures were still lacking the treasures of water and fire.

This Heavenly Fire divine crystal could be embedded within it.

Xu Jia felt no guilt and took it for direct use.

It was just that as soon as his Dharma Power touched it, it turned into Pure Yang fire. It could not be scooped out.

"The Sacred Fire can only be contained by the Holy Grail; the original fire thief hid the fire seed in the Holy Grail to bring it into the mortal world."

Xu Jia did not listen to his Holy Grail or whatever it was, directly channeling his Divine Ability; in an instant, the Immortal Sword flicked lightly, snatching the chestnut from the fire.

This Sacred Fire can burn everything, and among the Five Elements, there is the saying that "fire overcomes metal."

Yet the Weiji Immortal Sword is based on the principle of "Water Fire Not Yet Completed," so how could it be damaged by it?

Xu Jia opened his mouth, and the fire seed entered his belly at once.

The Sacred Fire Sect Leader screamed: "No! This Sacred Fire will burn everything to ashes!"

But it was already too late; Xu Jia inhaled and exhaled the flames, taking them into the Fire Official, the Fire Mansion, and the Six Ding and Six Jia deities, all together to subdue them.

For a time, true Qi surged from his whole body, as if he were a boiling kettle.

Tiangang Great Sage, Sun Moon Star Lords, Jiujiang Shuidi, Five Directions Great Demons, Huofu Xingjun, Sanbei Doumu Zhenjun...

All the Body Gods within Xu Jia manifested externally to subdue the fire seed.

For a moment, the bright mysteries of the Sacred Fire Sect, passed down for who knows how many years, radiated from the fire seed, and the faith of generations who worshipped the Sacred Fire erupted from within it.

"Sacred Fire shines bright, Sacred Fire glows bright, all my disciples, meow meow meow meow?"

Xu Jia even had the mood to mock it, and only when the fire seed was reduced to the size of a bean did he spit it out, leaving it above the Volcano to absorb earth fire and faith to grow.

As for Xu Jia, he had already cultivated a single "Fire Talisman Inner Elixir"; though called an Inner Elixir, it was actually a precious pearl.

The elixir and pearl were one, much like the Inner Elixir of that thousand-year centipede dragon, or like a Wind-Fixing Pearl.

Seeing that there was still some Sacred Fire left, Muni Dingguang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

If the Sacred Fire were to have its roots severed in his generation, not to mention the blame of the Venerable One, even the past Sect Leaders would likely crawl out of their graves.

At the same time, he also felt that Xu Jia still had a "greedy heart" and was still human; otherwise, he would have thought he had encountered a "Virtuous" sage.

Little did he know that Xu Jia had always followed his own heart, unconstrained by rules.

The Buddha Treasure Sarira was of little use to him, so he kept it; as for these Divine Abilities and Daoist techniques, he could never finish practicing them all himself, so it was better to let others practice them; what was useful to him, he would surely take, not because of morality, and what was useless to him, he naturally had no desire or craving for, never being coy or saying things like "it belongs to the virtuous."

Of course, Xu Jia still had the common people in his heart; at the very least, not practicing the "theory of ants" was already far, far better.

"This world is indeed closest to the Form Realm, and its natural resources are abundant." Xu Jia nodded, feeling he had not come to the wrong place.

(End of chapter)