Chapter 576: The Immortal Points the Way

"Last night, within the Divine Capital, a great sun suddenly appeared, its light dazzling. This minister sensed something amiss, ascended the Star-Switching Terrace, and saw a crimson sun plummet into the imperial city, flames raging to the heavens…"

In the Huangchengpiandian, Wu Wu Yingxing lowered his head, his face dark:

"In but a few moments, Commander Wang coughed blood and crashed to the ground, and the Dun Tian Zhou was already lost…"

In the Piandian, Wang Jin knelt prostrate on the ground, his face deathly pale, the smell of gunpowder still lingering on him as if he had been scorched by fierce flames for a day and a night, his voice hoarse to the extreme:

"Your Majesty, this minister is guilty!"

Silence!

The great hall fell terrifyingly silent in an instant, only the breathing growing increasingly Cu Zhong.

"It pains me to death!"

The desk was smashed with a single palm-strike, Emperor Qian trembling all over with rage: "Old thief, how dare you steal my Dun Tian Zhou!"

"Your Majesty, quell your anger!"

Wu Wu Yingxing did not dare raise his head.

Two Grandmasters guarding the Divine Capital, with the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing in hand, yet the Dun Tian Zhou was still lost—even he felt the shame unbearable.

"Deserve death, deserve death!"

Emperor Qian's fury was hard to suppress, and he felt even more a heartache like a knife twisting, finally understanding the Liu De Xin Jing Wan Wan Zhuliu had felt that day.

"Your Majesty, pardon the offense."

Wang Jin also lowered his head.

Wan Wan Zhuliu, who had been standing to the side listening quietly, also wore a cold expression, and asked: "Did you see clearly who it was?"

"Flames wreathed his body, couldn't make out his features…"

Wang Jin grew even more ashamed, but recalling the terrifying figure who descended from the heavens that night, a crimson sun illuminating his form, he felt a chill in his heart:

"This person's Wu Gong has reached a realm beyond even ghosts and gods. In but a single exchange, the Dun Tian Zhou was taken by him. This humble minister, this humble minister was injured by those flames,

and if not for having the 'Longhu Longhu Dadan' in hand, I fear I would have been burned to death on the spot…"

"A single exchange…"

Emperor Qian's fury subsided slightly, and he looked toward Wu Wu Yingxing, who could only nod bitterly.

"This person is likely that traitor from sixty years ago who assassinated the late Emperor…"

There was no need for Wu Wu Yingxing to say it; everyone present could more or less guess the man's identity—there were not many in the world who could surpass Wang Jin.

With him clad in divine armor and wielding the Dun Tian Zhou, yet still able to gravely wound him and seize the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing in a single exchange—there was likely only one person in the world capable of this.

'Wan Wan Zhuliu might not necessarily be able to do it either…'

Shen Shen Qisheng's peripheral gaze swept over Wan Wan Zhuliu, and upon meeting the latter's eyes, he shifted away without a trace, saying:

"A crimson sun falls upon the city, flames raging to the heavens. Among all the Tian Xia Wu Gong, only cultivating the 'Great Sun Golden Form' to the 'Great Sun Golden Yang' realm can achieve this…"

Great Sun Golden Form.

As Shen Shen Qisheng spoke, the hall fell silent once more.

Wang Jin lowered his head, not letting anyone see the strange glint in his eyes, but in truth many present felt something odd in their hearts.

It was no wonder—this Great Sun Golden Form was the Cheng De Shen Gong passed down within the imperial clan, originating from the Great Ancestor Pang Pang Wenlong, yet over these thousand years, not a single member of the imperial clan had managed to cultivate this divine art.

Instead, the one who cultivated this divine art had assassinated the Emperor and seized the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing…

"Qin Yun!"

Emperor Qian's voice was very cold. Looking at Wang Jin kneeling on one knee, he was inclined to question how he had managed to escape from that old thief.

But as the words reached his lips, they turned into consolation:

"Qin Yun is a beast with no lord, no father, yet his Wu Gong is exceedingly high… this is no fault of battle. Commander Wang need not take it too much to heart. I shall bestow upon you three 'Longhu Longhu Dadan'—go and tend to your wounds."

"Many thanks, Your Majesty."

Wang Jin bowed in gratitude and withdrew.

Wu Wu Yingxing wished to say something, but upon meeting Emperor Qian's gaze could not help feeling a chill in his heart, and also bowed and took his leave.

The two departed in succession. Shen Shen Qisheng and Yan Yan Tianxiong had no intention of lingering either, and withdrew one after another. Huang Huang Longzi, holding his black umbrella, said not a word, but as he walked out of the hall, his mood was very good.

Soon, only Wan Wan Zhuliu remained in the great hall.

"Wang Jin…"

Gazing deeply at Wang Jin's retreating figure outside the hall, Emperor Qian withdrew his gaze, his voice very cold: "Great Sun Golden Form… Qin Yun, Qin Yun…

Over a thousand years—could Pang Pang Wenlong still have a lineage that wasn't severed?"

"Divine Palace…"

Wan Wan Zhuliu did not care about Qin Yun's origins. After everyone had left the hall, he lightly pressed a finger to his brow, his spirit merging with heaven and earth, searching for the traces Qin Yun had left behind.

Hum—

Wan Wan Zhuliu slowly closed his eyes, and before long had 'seen' the scene of the crimson sun descending the previous night—flames blazing to the heavens, the entire city trembling.

A figure descended from the sky, a crimson sun suspended behind him, making him appear as a god, as a demon.

"This is no longer a Spirit Manifestation…"

Wan Wan Zhuliu's eyelids trembled violently. Even glimpsing this scene from the scattered Qi, he seemed to feel the scorching heat wave rushing toward him.

That crimson sun was naturally not the true sun, but a Spirit Manifestation condensed to the extreme, bearing within it a will. According to the True Form Diagram of the Heaven-Piercing Blade,

"This is a Dharma Manifestation!"

Wan Wan Zhuliu's eyes snapped open.

Threads of silver light wove together before him, and Yun Mo's voice echoed through the great hall:

"Without a True Form Diagram, he actually cultivated a Dharma Manifestation… This man's talent is no less than Pang Pang Wenlong of that year—no, even greater than Pang Pang Wenlong!"

Watching that silver figure that gathered and dispersed without form, Wan Wan Zhuliu pressed the divine blade at his waist, his Expression solemn.

Compared to Qin Yun, he was even more wary of this old ghost.

"Senior."

Emperor Qian's expression shifted, yet he bowed and saluted:

"May I ask how this junior should address you, Senior?"

"Many years ago, in a state of stupor, I was drawn to this realm of heaven and earth…"

Silver radiance wove and shifted, assembling into a cold, fierce old face. He hovered in the air, looking down at the two within the hall:

"A thousand years ago, Pang Pang Wenlong performed the ritual at the Divine Capital. On that day, I descended with the heavenly fire, and after gravely wounding him, I left behind a wisp of bone and blood…"

"You two are the descendants bred from that wisp of bone and blood with the people of this realm. You may also be counted as members of my Cloud Demon clan!"

Whoo—

A flash of silver light transformed into a human figure that landed within the great hall:

"I am not your ancestor, but I can be considered of the same clan. Calling me 'Senior' is fine, and calling me 'Old Ancestor' is not unacceptable either!"

Wan Wan Zhuliu slightly furrowed his brow: "Pang Pang Wenlong also condensed a Dharma Aspect?"

"He did not."

The figure of the Cloud Demon Daoist blurred: "A Spirit Aspect is the union of spirit and Qi, gathering the wondrous scenes of heaven and earth to fill itself. A Dharma Aspect is the metamorphosis of the Spirit Aspect; it can truly interfere with heaven and earth, possessing all manner of inconceivable might!"

He looked at Wan Wan Zhuliu:

"If the He Yi Jing is the union of the three primordial essences, then the Dharma Aspect is built upon that foundation—the union of self with heaven and earth…"

"Union with heaven and earth?"

Wan Wan Zhuliu raised an eyebrow.

"Dharma Aspect—as the name implies, the aspect that embodies the Dao."

The Cloud Demon Daoist's blurred figure gradually sharpened:

"This realm of heaven and earth is cut off from the outside. Though there are legacies passed down from the Eight Directions Temple, they stop at He Yi. For someone here to cultivate a Dharma Aspect—this achievement has already surpassed Pang Pang Wenlong…"

"Another one—a Dragon Demon Daoist!"

"Dragon Demon Daoist?"

Emperor Qian frowned. Ever since this old ghost had appeared, his gaze had merely swept over him; nearly all of it had been spent conversing with Wan Wan Zhuliu.

"For such a barren land to give birth to a 'Dao-Comprehending Body,' what a pity the person's bone age is too great. Otherwise, over a thousand years earlier, the Eight Directions Temple would already have been opened."

A nameless emotion colored the Cloud Demon Daoist's voice, but it was quickly reined in. He looked toward Wan Wan Zhuliu:

"The Door-Sitting Puppets have already awakened. It is no longer possible to seize the identity of the Temple-Opener. It is time to make a choice!"

"A bloodline sacrifice is absolutely out of the question!"

Wan Wan Zhuliu refused outright.

The Cloud Demon Daoist was not angered. He merely looked toward Emperor Qian again. Though the latter's brows were tightly knit as well, he did not refuse directly.

"Your Majesty!"

Wan Wan Zhuliu's brow furrowed.

"That Yellow Dragon Son once said that performing the ritual could summon the descent of the Poison Dragon Academy…"

Emperor Qian hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

"It is true."

The Cloud Demon Daoist seemed to know what he wished to ask. Longhu Longhu Dandan said: "It's just that you don't even trust me, an old man—could you possibly trust the Poison Dragon Academy?"

"Senior misunderstands."

Emperor Qian explained: "What this junior means is, is it possible to summon the descent of my Cloud Demon clan?"

"Your Majesty!"

Wan Wan Zhuliu's expression tightened.

"Summon…"

The Cloud Demon Daoist's face darkened. Yu Yu Xuanji had already transformed into wisps of silver light that sank into Wan Wan Zhuliu's brow:

"There is only this one path to take!"

……

……

【Within the great hall, the Cloud Demon appears and urges Emperor Qian to make a choice quickly. After hesitating, Emperor Qian inquires whether the Cloud Demon clan can be summoned to descend ahead of time?

The Cloud Demon Daoist sweeps his sleeve and departs. Emperor Qian's expression shifts, and only then does he realize that the Cloud Demon clan has no god to worship… (Thirteenth Order)】

【Within the Divine Capital, Yellow Dragon Son still sets up his fortune-telling stall by the roadside. He no longer reads just three or five fortunes, but accepts all comers, and every reading proves accurate. His fame grows immense… (Tenth Order)】

【In Tian Shi Yuan there is a saying: martial study can lead to the Dao. Once the Spirit Aspect is formed, one becomes a True Person. And among True Persons, those of extraordinary comprehension may, at this stage, cultivate 'Dao Arts'…

In the Eight Directions Temple grotto-heaven, beneath an old tree, Chi He Lian—his true Qi and Spirit Aspect sealed away—stared blankly in a daze, yet in his heart he was silently visualizing, attempting to practice the Dao Art 'Immortal Points the Way.' (Tenth Order)】

……

On the peak of Eight Directions Mountain, as a gentle breeze blew, Xu Xu sat cross-legged before a strange rock, dividing his attention many ways. While circulating his true Qi, he was also listening.

After the union of body and spirit, nourished by his vigorous Qi and blood true Qi, Xu Xu's spirit grew day by day. Dividing his attention many ways was as natural as instinct.

"The Cloud Demon has no god of worship?"

Xu Xu patted the Dragon-Belt at his waist.

"Hmph!"

The little mother dragon did not want to pay him any attention.

"You don't know this either?"

Xu Xu sighed: "Very well, then I'll go find Chi He Lian and ask. After all, disciples of the Poison Dragon Academy have seen a bit more of the world."

This little mother dragon had perhaps not been a sharp sort in life, and after being refined into a divine weapon she became even duller. For him, she was very easy to handle.

Sure enough, the little mother dragon immediately grew annoyed:

"She knows, but I don't?"

"I'd like to hear the details."

Li Yuan quickly struck a pose of all-ears listening attentively.

"The Cloud Demon clan is nothing but a small clan. Even if quite a few prodigies and outstanding figures have emerged from it, with such a sparse population, how could they afford to support a single deity?"

The little mother dragon was rather disdainful: "I've heard that in earlier years, the Cloud Demon clan had a formidable figure who gathered the whole clan's worship for himself, intending at the end of his lifespan to stake it all in You Jing, aiming to become a god…"

"Mm?"

Li Yuan's heart stirred slightly as he recalled the Shan Xuan Jing Gate Master Cang Long Zi; in the manuscript he left behind, it seemed he too had set his sights on 'Soul Transformation.'

"Did he fail?"

"What a stupid question!"

Li Yuan pondered inwardly: "Does the Mirage Dragon clan have a deity in its worship?"

"Of course!"

The Mirage Dragon's sash raised its head like a snake, with a touch of pride:

"My Mirage Dragon clan once worshipped the Dragon God of the Heavens — how could a measly little Cloud Demon clan compare? I…"

Once?

Li Yuan automatically tuned out her bragging; in his heart he had more or less figured it out.

'This native…'

After bragging for quite a while without getting a response, the little mother dragon grew a bit deflated: "When exactly are you leaving?"

"Mm…"

Li Yuan stood up. Looking down from here, he could just see Chi He Lian standing dazed under the tree at the foot of the mountain.

"I wonder if this immortal's finger-pointing can point me a path straight to Tian Shi Yuan within You Jing…"