Chapter 572: Question and Answer at the Summit

Wuu~

The night sky was deep, the breeze blowing gently.

"Junior Li Yuan pays respects to the elder."

Li Yuan set down the heavy hammer, bowed deeply, and simultaneously switched the spiritual control enhancement to perceive the old man sitting on the strange stone from the corner of his eye.

The body of a Spirit Puppet contained various divine runes within.

At first glance, it made no difference from what he had seen before; only the defect in the chest had been filled, yet the feeling it gave him was entirely different.

Dong Dong Ershisan, who had filled the defect, gave him a sense of perfect completeness in his perception; the various divine runes contained within his body constantly flowed and combined, even giving off a feeling of vibrant life.

Like a living person...

"Li Yuan."

Dong Dong Ershisan's face was expressionless, flames reflecting in his ink-black pupils the image of the Daoist before him:

"Practicing martial arts for ten years, transforming over two thousand forms into the Dao; though lacking the body of a God or Saint, it is passable to be rated as excellent."

"The elder overpraises."

Li Yuan did not mind his unmasked scrutiny, merely pondering Dong Dong Ershisan's words and actions in his heart.

A Spirit Puppet is not human; no matter how lifelike, it is not a person.

Spirit Puppets belong to a type of Dao Soldier; because they are not flesh-and-blood living beings, they can endure in the world for a long time, thus they are mostly used for sect inheritance.

Judging by Dong Dong Ershisan's words and actions, it could also corroborate some things; opening and closing his mouth with the rules of the Eight Directions Temple, to communicate with him, one must follow the rules.

"My awakening this time relied on your Spirit Puppet Heart; according to the rules of the Eight Directions Temple, there must be compensation."

While speaking, Dong Dong Ershisan flicked his finger.

Voom~

Li Yuan heard a trembling sound; in the next instant, he was enveloped by a dim light.

In a trance, he felt as if placed beneath a starry sky, countless points of light like stars covering the peaks of the Eight Directions Mountain, even the entire night sky.

Exactly the same as what he saw when receiving an award upon climbing the mountain.

"The Eight Directions Secret Vault!"

Seeing this scene, the Human-Headed Strange Bird felt somewhat envious.

"This is the Eastern Region Secret Vault, containing various heavenly treasures and earthly gems left by the Master in the Eastern Region."

Dong Dong Ershisan said calmly, "You may choose any one from the Secret Vault."

"Thank you, elder."

Li Yuan clasped his hands to express thanks; he had prepared for that Spirit Puppet Heart to be wasted, yet he did not expect compensation.

This was indeed very proper.

Daoist Li did not know what politeness was; having received permission, he immediately focused his spirit to perceive the lights filling the sky, yet even with ten bone ornaments enhancing him, he could not see clearly what these lights corresponded to.

"This..."

Li Yuan did not choose lightly, but looked at Dong Dong Ershisan.

"The Spirit Puppet Heart is also precious within this Secret Vault; among the lights you see now, some are not as precious, while others are ten or a hundred times more precious."

Dong Dong Ershisan naturally knew what this young man meant, and said lightly:

"What each light corresponds to, I do not know either; everything depends solely on your fate and fortune."

'That is to say, it is purely based on luck...'

Li Yuan was not very disappointed, but Dong Dong Ershisan's words also reminded him; immediately, his mind moved slightly, and he had already swapped out the ten bone ornaments.

He spiritually controlled the incense burners on the gray stone platform one by one that could enhance luck.

The benefit of multiple sets of spiritual control combinations lies here: flexibly switching according to different needs.

Afterwards, he did not hesitate, casually reaching out to grab at the air.

Voom~

Hearing a single trembling sound, the lights filling the sky instantly scattered; only a ball of light fell from the air, caught in Li Yuan's palm.

"What did you get? Let me see quickly!"

As soon as the light ball was in hand, the Human-Headed Strange Bird flapped its wings and flew up, but soon, under Dong Dong Ershisan's gaze, it sheepishly fell back onto the shoulder.

Yet it still stared with wide eyes.

"Thank you, elder, for the guidance."

Daoist Li's manners were naturally very thorough; after taking the light ball, he first bowed to thank, and only then crushed the light ball.

Voom~

A deep black light reflected in Li Yuan's eyes.

【Hundred Spirits Red Treasure Mud (Thirteenth Tier)】

【... A precious mud born in the divine war lands of You Jing, nourished by the blood of the Hundred Spirits... absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the essence of sun and moon, enduring wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, undergoing the changes of the four seasons... can serve as a vessel for a God...】

【Spiritual Control Condition: Defect cannot be spiritually controlled】

【Spiritual Control Effect: Thirteenth Tier: Red Treasure Nurtures the Holy Spirit】

Thirteenth Tier!

Li Yuan's eyes brightened; he immediately focused his spirit to observe. Under the black light was a fist-sized, dark red mud ball, looking utterly ordinary, yet emitting a strong aura of blood qi.

This scent was not pungent; instead, it had an indescribable fresh fragrance, like a fine herbal spirit pill.

"Red Treasure Mud!"

While Li Yuan was examining it, the Human-Headed Strange Bird had already recognized it; if not for the awe of Dong Dong Ershisan, it would have almost pounced over!

"Red Treasure Mud, Hundred Spirits level, hmm, your luck is good."

Dong Dong Ershisan glanced over and said:

"Red Treasure Clay is a product of You Jing. Legend has it that it is born from the soil of You Jing nourished by the flesh and blood of deities. It is a top-grade rarity for refining spirit treasures and avatars."

"Your luck, boy, is just too good!"

The human-headed strange bird could not help but cry out.

Within the Eastern Realm's secret vault, the Hundred Spirit Red Treasure Clay was hardly a top-tier item, but to pick this thing out among the countless specks of light still required tremendous luck.

"Refining an avatar!"

Li Yuan's heart skipped a beat. He had immense interest in matters of clones and avatars:

"May I dare ask, Senior, how does one refine an avatar with this thing?"

"If it's slightly incomplete, just nurture it with incense and fire for several decades, and that should be about right. As for how to refine an avatar, this old man does not know either."

Dong Dong Ershisan was very rigid; matters outside the rules, he would not answer.

"Nurturing with incense and fire."

Li Yuan took his words to heart. He carefully put away the Red Treasure Clay, and was still satisfied in his heart.

In terms of grade alone, this Red Treasure Clay was two grades higher than the incomplete Dong Dong Ershisan, so this trade was naturally a bargain.

"I am the guide of the Eastern Realm. As the one who opened the temple this time, if you have any doubts, you may ask them all."

Dong Dong Ershisan raised his hand and slapped the human-headed strange bird into the void, sending it back to the Dao Soldier Pagoda. His gaze fell on Li Yuan:

"However, this old man may not be able to answer everything."

"Many thanks, Senior."

Li Yuan thanked him as usual, mulled it over briefly in his heart, and asked:

"Senior, that Thousand-Eyed Old Ghost from earlier—did it die completely?"

On the fighting arena, when that Thousand-Eyed stone stele rose, he had seen it clearly. Toward such a deity, he felt genuinely wary.

This was an old monster who had nearly lived out a second life…

"It did not come in person; how could it have died completely?"

Dong Dong Ershisan shook his head: "However, its true body also seems about to fall. With this avatar-slash-incarnation destroyed this time, it may once again have to walk the line between life and death."

'As expected, it didn't die!'

Li Yuan's heart sank slightly. Hearing the latter half of the words, only then did he feel a little at ease.

"A mere remnant god; no need to fear."

Dong Dong Ershisan brushed past it lightly, and reminded him: "Questions unrelated to the Eastern Realm, this old man will no longer answer."

"This junior understands."

Li Yuan grumbled inwardly, but he also knew this was probably another rule of the Eight Directions Temple. He could only suppress his worries and began asking questions about the Eight Directions Temple.

At this point, Dong Dong Ershisan was, on the contrary, forthcoming with answers.

"The Eight Directions Temple comprises eight realms in total. In the Eastern Realm, the total number of challengers is fourteen thousand two hundred and thirty-seven, among whom the number of temple-openers is eighty-one."

"To enter the temple through the Eastern Realm, there are various paths. Dengshan is one; comprehending the Eight Directions Diagram is two; reaching the top of the Dao Soldier Pagoda is three. Besides these, there are also some other paths, such as challenging a temple-opener who has already ascended the mountain peak…"

"The various strange stones on the mountain peak are the marks of all those who have ascended to the top. Among them, some may have entered the temple, while others may not have…"

……

Having been inside the Eight Directions Cave Heaven for so long, Li Yuan had accumulated far too many questions. At this moment, he naturally threw them all out at once, seeking answers from Dong Dong Ershisan.

After a round of conversation, his understanding of the Eight Directions Temple had greatly improved.

Comparing it with what he had previously gleaned from Ling Yin, he felt even more enlightened in his heart.

"That supreme great being used the Eight Directions Temple to seek an inheritor… The Eight Directions Temple split into eight, and who knows how many realms it has drifted through. Entering the temple is the beginning of the inheritance…"

Recording everything Dong Dong Ershisan had said in his heart, Li Yuan could not help clicking his tongue inwardly.

The demands of that supreme great being who had created the Eight Directions Temple were truly harsh beyond compare. Those who opened the temple and ascended the mountain had to at least be Zhao Tianxing-level prodigies, yet they had to compete with one another to enter the temple.

And to become the final inheritor, one would probably have to compete with other temple-enterers, and even the strongest of the Qi Ta Qi Jing…

'This is too much trouble.'

Li Yuan's heart went cold by half. No wonder this Eight Directions Temple had drifted for so many years—it was truly too harsh and troublesome.

Setting aside whether there was an inheritor who met the conditions among the myriad worlds, even if there were, would such a figure really be lacking an inheritance?

"Do you still have any doubts?"

Dong Dong Ershisan inquired.

Li Yuan gathered his thoughts, looked toward the ancient temple behind the strange stone forest, and said: "This temple-entry trial…"

"Regarding the trial itself, this old man cannot inform you. However, once this temple-entry trial fails, one Eight Directions Token will be consumed."

Dong Dong Ershisan answered stiffly and to the point.

'Harder to deal with than that human-headed strange bird…'

Li Yuan sighed inwardly, but did not press further. After all, he had never intended to force his way in to begin with—at the very least, he had to try stacking talents first.

"May I dare ask, Senior, how does one leave this stretch of You Jing sealed by the Eight Directions Temple?"

Li Yuan inquired.

"Temple-openers may come and go as they please."

Dong Dong Ershisan answered.

"Besides that?"

"Outsiders who have not yet been bathed long in the light of the Heavenly Sun may offer incense and fire as sacrifice, and under the guidance of an outer god, leave You Jing."

"Bathed in the light of the Heavenly Sun…"

Li Yuan's heart sank: "Senior, this junior has heard that when the Eight Directions Temple opens wide, there will be a great sun eruption that illuminates the starry skies?"

"Correct."

"Then that great sun eruption…"

Li Yuan's brow furrowed tightly; this matched perfectly with what Chi He Lian had said. He asked again how to avoid it, and whether the eruption of the Heavenly Sun posed any danger.

Dong Dong Ershisan merely shook his head without answering.

"When will the Heavenly Sun erupt?"

"As little as a Jiazi cycle, as much as a hundred years."

"So short…"

Li Yuan's expression was not very pleasant.

"If you have no further questions, this old man shall return to the temple gate."

Dong Dong Ershisan rose to his feet.

"Wait."

Li Yuan took a deep breath, called out to him, and asked about the person 'born through wondrous phenomena.'

"Before the Eight Directions Temple is opened, even the deities cannot perceive its location. Not every time is there an opener who opens it. And if no opener is encountered for ten thousand years, then a person born through wondrous phenomena descends into the world, bearing the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing to open the temple."

Dong Dong Ershisan paused slightly. Seeing that Li Yuan asked no further, he gave his sleeve a shake and vanished from sight.