Chapter 539: Plans and Preparations

In front of Long Xi Xiang, Li Zhou was very much at ease!

This was a habit he had picked up back when the old dragon-head was forgetful!

"Spirit pills!"

Long Xi Xiang was not surprised, but he did not agree outright either; instead, he gave a great sweep of his sleeve.

A sheet of white mist rose up, enveloping Li Zhou within it: "Come in!"

Hum!

Li Zhou did not resist; he gathered his spirit and followed along into Long Xi Xiang's divine realm!

The clouds were light and the wind was high—this was atop a lone peak!

On the narrow summit, strewn with snow and frost, beneath a green pine wreathed in vines, Long Xi Xiang sat cross-legged; at first glance, his divine realm looked different from before!

But when Li Zhou focused his spirit and observed closely, he noticed the difference!

It was still a lone peak wreathed in mist; what was different was that beneath the clouds lay dense forests, and in the wilds old elephants roamed, while in the sea of clouds a grey dragon soared!

"Dragon in the clouds, elephant on the earth; dragon and elephant merging into one—this is the Vajra Heaven!"

A thought flashed through Li Zhou's mind—the scene before him was almost identical to what the general outline of the "Dragon Elephant Vajra Heaven" recorded; the old dragon-head's Fang Shen Jing was already catching up to the Dragon Seal Ancestor!

Judging by the divine realm grading he had learned from Qin Yun, this would count as a Spirit grade?

If the dragon and elephant fully merged, turning dragon and elephant into heaven, that would be Heaven grade,

wouldn't it?

"Have you seen your brother and sister-in-law?"

Beneath the green pine, Long Xi Xiang's heart and qi were calm and even!

"Many thanks to Master for your care!"

Li Zhou bowed and gave thanks; he had seen his second brother's family as soon as he returned to Dragon Gate, and they now lived in the place opposite the small temple—his former dwelling!

Only outwardly it was said they had gone off to unknown parts!

"What's there to thank this old man for?"

Long Xi Xiang was slightly displeased—the boy was fine in every way, except that sometimes he was fussy and long-winded; even such a small matter was worth thanking over?

Hum~

As he spoke, he beckoned with a hand; the clouds and mist rolled, and the grey dragon, letting out a long cry, transformed into a streak of flowing light that landed atop the peak, taking the form of a fair-skinned, red-lipped little monk: "Come, let this old man see the moves of a 'Supreme Grandmaster'!"

"Master, you—!"

Li Zhou was a little embarrassed, with not a trace of fighting spirit!

"What? Look down on this old man?"

Long Xi Xiang glared at him; he had harbored this idea ever since witnessing the Spirit-Forging Sacrifice: "If you want the spirit pills, then have a bout with this old man!"

As he spoke, he raised a hand, grabbed a handful of true qi, transformed it into a heavy hammer, and flung it over!

"Then, please, Master, guide me!"

Li Zhou could only catch the hammer, bow, and accept!

Hum~

Long Xi Xiang raised a hand, and the wind and clouds around them changed abruptly; a familiar iron chain hung above the lonely cliff, and the little monk transformed from the grey dragon, hammer in hand, stood upon the iron chain!

"Come."

Hearing the urging, Li Zhou drew in a deep breath, steadied his spirit, and at once lifted the hammer and stepped forward!

"In years past, when Wan Wan Zhuliu was undergoing blood exchange, he could fight upward against a Grandmaster; today this old man shall use the force of the Earthly Fiends to weigh you."

From behind, Long Xi Xiang's voice came!

Boom.

Before his words had fallen, the little monk on the iron chain had already struck; the long hammer in his palm swept across the sky, its qi force coiling like a dragon, and in an instant it struck out a hundred zhang.

Fighting upward against a Grandmaster has been rare since ancient times—why is that?

A martial artist whose inner force extends one chi and whose inner qi reaches three zhang, whose inner qi transforms into true—

such a one, a single strike reaches no more than ten zhang; without a divine art, one cannot break past this limit!

But a Rudao Sect Grandmaster, whose true qi transforms into sin, launches strikes of a hundred zhang from the very first move.

"The advantage of realm is still enormous!"

A hundred zhang away, Li Zhou's body turned abruptly; he did want to take the chance to test the augmentation of the Sea-Suppressing Black Tortoise's shell, but to use a Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing while being tested by his own master would be far too discourteous!

In a flash, he stepped on the Cloud Dragon Nine Appearances and dodged this Yi Shi Zhong hammer strike!

Boom.

The hammer struck empty air with a thunderous roar, ripples spreading in layers; the little monk's moves changed with extreme speed—his first strike missed, and the second hammer fell in succession!

"Whether it be an ultimate art or a divine skill, only upon entering the Dao can one display

its true power. Be careful."

Long Xi Xiang's voice came through!

The hammer's sound was like a dragon's cry, shaking the long sky for ten li!

The little monk transformed from the grey dragon struck with savage violence; his hammer

was immensely heavy and powerful, further wrapped in Feng Feng Mantian wind and clouds, and upon that iron chain it was like wall after wall of qi barriers, keeping Li Zhou from breaking through!

Clearly, this battlefield too had been deliberately chosen by the old dragon-head, aimed at the Cloud Dragon Nine Appearances!

"This is forcing me to meet force head-on!"

Li Zhou dodged several times in a row, but each time was held back beyond a hundred zhang;

he muttered to himself, understood Long Xi Xiang's intention, and simply stopped dodging!

Boom.

Li Yuan exerted force beneath his feet; the thick iron chain straightened instantly under his stomp, as if about to burst. Harnessing the power of that step, Li Yuan leaped into the air!

The heavy hammer in his palm swept horizontally, leaving a faint trace in the air

as it rose like a meteor, colliding with the heavy hammer pressing down from above!

Even without the various enhancements of the Palm of Weapons Talisman, with his Blood Exchange fully accomplished and the Thousand Forms within him, Li Yuan feared no one in a direct clash.

Boom.

The two hammers met, emitting a deafening roar!

"Such great strength?"

Beneath the Green Pine, Long Xi Xiang raised an eyebrow slightly. Using Disha to replace Blood Exchange, and yet he still suffered a loss in a direct clash?

Bang.

After a brief stalemate, the two heavy hammers exploded simultaneously, shattering into scattered streams of light!

In a flash, Li Yuan surged forward. For his current lightness skill, a hundred zhang made no difference from face-to-face;

in one strike, he broke through to within ten zhang of the little monk!

"My turn."

Li Yuan exhaled and voiced his intent, both to remind Old Dragon Head and to stir his true qi!

Hum~

While stepping forward to advance, Li Yuan raised his arm high. His five fingers clenched without intricate variation; he wielded his fist as a hammer and struck down heavily!

The little monk reacted quickly, leaning his body backward and countering with an upward punch from his reverse hand,

sweeping up!

Thud.

Beneath the Green Pine, Long Xi Xiang's eyelid twitched. Hearing only a dull thud, Li Yuan stood unmoving, while the little monk formed from his spiritual aspect was struck into the air, transforming from human to dragon, emitting

a high-pitched dragon cry: "Roar."

The azure dragon roared, its voice shaking a hundred li, yet it had already returned to the sea of clouds!

"Not bad!"

Long Xi Xiang felt considerable surprise in his heart, as if he had just remembered

something, and looked Li Yuan up and down:

"Practicing all forms together is truly extraordinary. Your physique is only one notch inferior to my own current state. Good, very good!"

"I have merely practiced a few external hardening arts; how dare I compare to you, elder?"

Li Yuan's qi mechanism responded to his will; there was not a single trace of combat on his person. Compared to the ferocity of the trial at the Black Whale Sect, Old Dragon Head's testing seemed far too gentle!

For his current realm and Wu Gong!

Even without activating the Palm of Weapons Talisman, he could engage a Grandmaster. If he fully activated the Palm of Weapons Talisman! I wonder if he could clash with Old Dragon Head as he is now?

Li Yuan's mind became active, but he only thought it; a Disha Grandmaster's opening move spans a hundred zhang, while a Great Grandmaster's gesture covers ten li; he wouldn't even have a chance to break through and get close!

Ignoring his disciple's modesty, Long Xi Xiang formed his own judgment in his heart: "Your foundation is solid enough; you may attempt to enter the Dao!"

Those who entered the Dao before the age of thirty were not unheard of in the Jianghu, but what were their backgrounds?

Li Yuan only began to contact Wu Gong at sixteen!

Regarding this, Long Xi Xiang was very satisfied. After the testing, he began to ask Li Yuan about his experiences during this period!

"Replying to Master, this disciple descended the mountain with Qin Yun!"

Li Yuan bowed and answered, recounting everything from carrying the spirit pill down the mountain to enter the Star-Picking Tower, meeting the Dragon Demon Daoist, cultivating the Sitting in Forgetfulness Heart Sutra, including all he had seen and heard on the path of the Black Whale and the Black Whale Hammer, concealing nothing except the traces of the Palm of Weapons Talisman!

He only said that after altering his root and bone, the Black Whale Hammer fully recognized him as master, followed by the summons from the Eight Directions Temple and so on!

"Li Li Yuanba, the master of the Black Whale Hammer!"

Long Xi Xiang glanced at him; Li Yuan felt somewhat embarrassed: "This disciple did not intend to conceal it!"

"Success depends on secrecy; do not worry about it!"

Long Xi Xiang did not care; regarding the identity of the Black Whale Hammer's master, he had long known, and did not need Li Yuan's verbal confirmation!

His thoughts were not focused there: "From what you say, this Eight Directions Temple has quite the flavor of a trial ground!!!"

"This disciple also thinks so!"

Li Yuan agreed!

He naturally knew that a legacy of a supreme expert was hidden within the Eight Directions Temple, but since even the ancient token was unknown to anyone, he could not explain its source and could only remain silent!

"Since it is a trial, there must be an assessment!! As you say, after entering the temple, one must climb a high mountain, endure qi pressure, and also comprehend a diagram?"

Long Xi Xiang frowned in thought!

"According to the stone tablet, it is the Eight Directions Diagram!"

Li Yuan nodded!

The transformation of his talent allowed him to reach the summit instantly; the Eight Directions Diagram had not even been comprehended!

"Perhaps, this Eight Directions Diagram is the key to the next trial?"

Long Xi Xiang guessed, taking great interest in the matter!

"This disciple also feels so!"

Li Yuan activated his true qi and, relying on his memory, roughly sketched the Eight Directions Diagram he saw while climbing the mountain in the air!

A towering high mountain, a mountain path stretching endlessly, a azure dragon faintly visible amidst swirling clouds and mist, and the shadow of an ancient temple barely visible at the peak!

"This diagram!!"

Long Xi Xiang focused his gaze; after a moment, he shook his head: "This diagram should be merely the surface; the key should be the divine patterns contained within!"

"Divine patterns?"

Li Yuan felt a stir in his heart!

"After entering the Dao, one must gather the wondrous phenomena of heaven and earth to fill one's own Divine Realm. These phenomena of heaven and earth, in their essence, are Divine Patterns!"

Long Xi Xiang waved his hand; the surrounding clouds and mist surged, then quickly dimmed: "Look!"

Li Yuan focused his spirit, feeling only that this Fang Shen Jing had grown dim; beneath the clouds, mist, solitary peaks, and even the void, there were suddenly countless faint, barely-there patterns!

Varying in color, thickness, and length, they intertwined and flowed, complex and mysterious—precisely the foundation composing the Divine Realm!

"Why are Di Sha and Tian Gang called 'Entering the Dao'?"

Long Xi Xiang taught: "Heaven and earth give birth to all things; the Dao is hidden within. It manifests outwardly as various phenomena, and inwardly as Divine Patterns. Gathering the phenomena of heaven and earth is tracing the Divine Patterns, and also the beginning for a martial artist to comprehend heaven and earth!"

"Disciple receives the teaching!"

Li Yuan pondered: "As you say, to comprehend the secrets of the Eight Directions Map, one must first enter the Dao?"

"Correct!"

Long Xi Xiang nodded: "Without entering the Dao, how can one see heaven and earth? The map you just manifested with your true qi has only its form, not its spirit; how can one comprehend it?"

"So that is how it is!"

Li Yuan understood in his heart!

Every trial must have a purpose; since the Eight Directions Map appeared in that temple, it was clearly not without reason!

Long Xi Xiang was still examining the Eight Directions Map formed by Li Yuan's true qi, feeling quite envious: "Ancient legends say all methods originate from the Eight Directions Temple. Since you have this fortune, you must not slacken!"

"Disciple understands!"

Li Yuan bowed to show he received the teaching, then took out a token: "This token was obtained by the disciple after reaching the summit. You, elder, just need to drip a drop of blood onto it; afterwards, we can enter the temple together!"

"This token!"

Long Xi Xiang was quite tempted: "How many do you have?"

"One!"

Li Yuan answered honestly!

"Only one?"

Long Xi Xiang took it, played with it for a while, then returned it to Li Yuan!

"You, elder, do not wish to enter?"

Li Yuan was stunned!

"The Eight Directions Temple is a place containing methods; naturally, this old man wishes to enter. But the imperial court relies on incense and sacrifices, paying a huge price to send people into the temple. If I suddenly enter, what if it makes people connect it to you!!!"

Long Xi Xiang was very calm!

Although he also very much wanted to enter, he did not wish to break the balance between the imperial court and the Dao Sects because of it!

That temple-entry ritual is not unique to the imperial court!

"No rush for now!"

Long Xi Xiang waved his hand!

Previously, he wanted to enter the temple because he feared the imperial court would harm Li Yuan; now seeing this young man jumping around alive before him, what was there left to worry about?

The Eight Directions Temple won't run away; entering a few years earlier or a few years later, what difference does it make?

"Then, wait until the disciple finds another passage, and I will take you into the temple!"

Li Yuan, unable to argue, could only agree!

"After you leave the temple this time, do you intend to gather a batch of spiritual pills, and then"

"close your door to cultivate in seclusion?"

Long Xi Xiang asked!

"Yes!"

Li Yuan nodded, though in truth, not entirely!

Besides spiritual pills, he also wanted to gather weapons, boots, bone ornaments, and the like, to deal with that temple trial; incidentally, he must also eliminate the influence of that Gaze-At-The-Divine Sacrifice!

To prepare for exploring the You Jing!

"In that case, you must go meet those two old seniors!"

Long Xi Xiang raised his hand to disperse the Divine Realm and advised Li Yuan: "Among the Five Great Dao Sects, besides us, the Green Dragon Pavilion is best at refining pills. Furthermore, the Xinyi Sect is the wealthiest under heaven... no need to worry about that so-called Gaze-At-The-Divine Sacrifice; barring unexpected events, those two old seniors won't live another fifty years!"

What he said naturally referred to the Heavenly Silkworm Daoist and the Bald Monk!

"Disciple understands!"

Li Yuan nodded; he had been thinking of those two old seniors for a long time!

It was not only because these two families were the wealthiest under heaven, but also because of the Wu Gong of those two old seniors, especially the Heavenly Silkworm Daoist!

The Wu Gong learned by this former head of the Green Dragon Pavilion is named 'Heavenly Silkworm Nine Transformations', possessing the ability to transform into various divine beasts!

The Wu Gong learned by this old Pavilion Master of the Azure Dragon Pavilion is called "Heavenly Silkworm Nine Transformations," which grants the ability to transform into various Divine Beasts!

Whoosh~

Before nightfall, Mount Hengshan City welcomed a heavy snow; by dawn, heaven and earth were a blanket of white!

"Li Yuan, the Temple Opener!"

At a window seat in a tavern, the Heavenly Silkworm Daoist stood with hands behind his back, gazing at the Dragon-Tiger Temple archway amidst the wind and snow: "The fortune of the Dragon-Tiger Temple is truly at its peak; the only Temple Opener in ten thousand years has actually emerged from the Dragon-Tiger Temple."

He turned around, and the Bald Monk flicked his finger, forming characters with true qi: "Fortune and misfortune are hard to predict!"

"How much truth is in the imperial court's prophecy? Even if it is true, what if that young man kills his master and seizes the sect fifty years later? The Dragon-Tiger Temple's lineage will remain, and it might even become the number one sect under heaven!"

The Heavenly Silkworm Daoist stroked his long beard: "In the imperial court's prophecy, when Li Yuan challenges the world fifty years later, Wan Wan Zhuliu will be wearing armor and wielding a blade; yet according to intelligence from the Divine Capital, he has already lost the Sea-Calming Black Tortoise Armor!"

The Bald Monk showed no expression, simply flicking his finger: "Do you wish to enter the Eight Directions Temple?"

When Hou Disciple Li Yuan challenged the world, Wan Wan Zhuliu was clad in armor and wielding a blade, but according to the intelligence sent from the Divine Capital, he has already lost his Sea-Suppressing Mystic Tortoise Armor!

The scabby-headed Monk's face was expressionless. He simply crooked a finger and tapped: "You want to enter the Eight Directions Temple?"

"You don't?"

Tiancan Fuxiu Daoren countered, "According to that visitor from beyond the heavens, the Grand Master originally had a lifespan of a thousand years; it was only severed by the qi mechanisms of the Eight Directions Temples. If one could enter the temple..."

"A thousand-year lifespan, indeed."

Tiancan Fuxiu Daoren found it truly hard to restrain himself; if the news had not arrived too late, he would have gone to the Divine Capital by all means to fight for a spot to enter the temple!

What a pity!

"You believe this again."

The Leprous Monk shook his head repeatedly, forming characters with true qi: "If you wish to enter the temple, you should seek it from the imperial court!"

"It's not the same!"

"How is it not the same?"

"Even divine weapons choose their masters; how much more so the Eight Directions Temples?"

Tiancan Fuxiu Daoren's gaze grew dark and deep: "Even Wan Wan Zhuliu could not forcibly suppress and claim the Azure Sea Mystic Turtle Shell as his own. If the Eight Directions Temples choose Li Yuan, on what grounds would he seize another's fortune?"

"Hmm?"

The Leprous Monk frowned!

"In the imperial court's prophecy, Wan Wan Zhuliu exclusively possessed the Eight Directions Temples for fifty years, but in the end of the prophecy..."

"Do you not believe the imperial court's prophecy?"

"It's not the same!"

The Leprous Monk felt quite speechless and did not even want to reply to him!

"Alas, I was born at the wrong time!"

Tiancan Fuxiu Daoren sighed; the prophecy mentioned him from beginning to end, which meant what was obvious!

"If I obtain it, it is my fate; what is there to regret?"

The Leprous Monk was very calm; he held his tea, sipped it, and did not delay in replying!

The Eight Directions Temples, ah!

Tiancan Fuxiu Daoren silently shook his head, lost all interest in conversation, and lifted his wine cup to take a sip!

He did not speak, and the Leprous Monk was even more silent!

One drank tea, the other drank wine; after a moment, the heavy snow stopped, and the two rose separately, preparing to return to their sects!

Grandmaster.

At this moment, a disciple from the Azure Dragon Pavilion hurried up the stairs, bowed deeply, and said, "People from the Dragon-Tiger Temple have arrived; they say Master Master Fulong has an urgent matter to discuss!"