Chapter 1700: Toward Buddha

The Mortal Realm

The Mortal Realm

The Central Plains.

Saint Huiguang and Saint King Azurefox were sitting quietly on meditation cushions. A yellow cloud hovered above their heads, seemingly composed of swirling rings of yellow sand. It slowly revolved around them, reflecting their indistinct forms. This was the method they used to project their consciousness into the Hundred Rivers Nexus.

After Saint King Azurefox mentioned the ancient spirit-gathering formation, Saint Huiguang opened his eyes and looked over.

Noticing Saint Huiguang's gaze, Saint King Azurefox smiled playfully, "You want the ancient spirit-gathering formation too? This formation contains profound mysteries; it's only effective for humans. For other races, using it would be harmful rather than beneficial. If I give you this formation, and then the human race prospers, conquers the East Sea, and annihilates the demon race, wouldn't I become a sinner against my own kind?"

Saint Huiguang did not reply. Given Saint King Azurefox's demeanor, it was clear she wouldn't care about the fate of the East Sea demon race, unless she had merely been feigning indifference before.

"Old monk, don't waste your efforts. If this formation had such great value, I would have used it long ago to force you to comply," Saint King Azurefox spoke frankly and calmly. "I discovered this formation, which was originally incomplete, in a secret realm called Jingkong Island in the East Sea before I broke through to the Soul Transformation stage. I once tried to modify the ancient spirit-gathering formation to suit the demon race, but I repeatedly failed. I can assure you that no one in this realm can modify or repair this formation. Even if you make a copy, your human race cannot recreate it, and it's not just due to a lack of suitable rare materials."

Saint King Azurefox's certainty surely stemmed from a solid basis. Saint Huiguang knew well Saint King Azurefox's profound mastery of formations and restrictions, which extended far beyond demonic traditions, as demonstrated in the Hall of No Regrets. During the Demon Subjugation War, the suspended lake and the bright moon that trapped the demon's body were powerful divine abilities created by Saint King Azurefox, who had thoroughly integrated this path; their power was evident to all.

"This formation possesses powerful effects that other spirit-gathering formations lack. Besides gathering spiritual energy, it also purifies it. It's a pity I haven't been able to fully comprehend its mysteries," Saint King Azurefox lamented. Contemporary cultivators would find it difficult to understand how such a unique spirit-gathering formation operated. However, there were countless mysterious phenomena in this realm. The Immortal Palace contained even stranger existences that completely defied their imagination and understanding, all remaining unsolved mysteries.

"After I've experimented with it several times, adding insult to injury, this ancient spirit-gathering formation will gradually self-destruct with use. Of course, it's more than enough for his individual cultivation." A hint of sarcasm suddenly appeared in Saint King Azurefox's smile, "Observing this person's aura, he must have just broken through to the late Nascent Soul stage recently, yet he possesses such formidable combat strength. Regardless of his cultivation level, it makes no difference. In this realm, besides you and me, he has few rivals. Once you and I journey east to the Abyssal Ruins, no one will be able to stop him. Isn't it exactly what you want for him to break through to the Soul Transformation stage as quickly as possible?"

Saint Huiguang lowered his gaze and remained silent.

Their conversation did not affect the communication taking place in the Hundred Rivers Nexus. After Saint King Azurefox's brief description, the avatar understood the ancient spirit-gathering formation's power. It would be false to say he wasn't tempted. If Saint King Azurefox wasn't exaggerating and the effect was truly that good, it would significantly save the main body's cultivation time, allowing more room for breaking through to Soul Transformation. No one would ever complain about cultivating too quickly. However, the avatar did not relent, asking, "And what else?"

"You're looking for a treasure that can help break through the Soul Transformation bottleneck, aren't you?" Saint King Azurefox saw through his thoughts and smiled ambiguously, "Such treasures are absolutely the rarest existences in this realm. Even among the renowned sects, most can only rely on their own talent to break through, otherwise, why would there be so few Soul Transformation cultivators in this realm? This King and the old monk searched for hundreds of years in the Hall of No Regrets and only obtained one Five-Element Pill. I do have a secret demonic breakthrough art, but it's not suitable for humans. However, if you know of any clues, I can help you acquire it."

Every word and action of Saint King Azurefox exuded dominance. She did want to tempt Saint Huiguang into trading the Ganlu Zen Temple's treasures with Qin Sang. But such treasures were extremely precious; even with the Heavenly Dao Demonic Sound looming, they couldn't be easily given away. Moreover, Buddhist secret treasures required the cultivation of Buddhist Dharma, which wasn't suitable for Qin Sang. Who knew if the Heavenly Dao Demonic Sound would inexplicably disappear, or if a solution might fortuitously be found? Saint Huiguang valued the Spirit-Suppressing Incense formula so highly because he held a glimmer of hope that the improved, superior Spirit-Suppressing Incense might have effects beyond expectations, possibly securing a lifeline for future generations.

Seeing this request was fruitless, the avatar pressed on, "Are there any whereabouts of the Ten Divine Woods in the East Sea?"

Qin Sang hadn't integrated any spiritual wood into the Wandering Sword for many years because it contained the true spirit of Wandering Scholar, and he feared defiling it. For this reason, Qin Sang was more occupied with his own cultivation during the Nascent Soul stage and didn't spend much effort collecting spiritual wood. Fortunately, the Wandering Sword had a strong foundation, having successively absorbed the Interstitial Blood Mulberry and Soul-Nourishing Wood, both among the Ten Divine Woods, making its material far superior to ordinary magical artifacts. With the "Sacrificial Yuan Art," the nurturing progress had become much faster. In the future, once the Wandering Sword developed sentience, it could continue to absorb spiritual wood, so collecting them in advance would save him trouble later.

"The Ten Divine Woods? You have quite an appetite!" Saint King Azurefox snorted, growing impatient. Unfortunately, circumstances were against her. Now she was the one seeking the trade, so she could only suppress her anger and say, "There were rumors of the Ten Divine Woods before, but once such exotic treasures appear, they are either secretly taken by someone, remaining unknown, or seized by powerful individuals, refined into useful artifacts, and taken from this realm upon ascension. However, in my palace, there is a seventh-grade Azure Spirit Bamboo that has already bloomed. Although it's not among the Ten Divine Woods, it is still a rare heavenly material and earthly treasure in this world."

The avatar's expression shifted slightly. Seventh-grade Azure Spirit Bamboo—he had seen that name in a certain ancient text. He didn't know much about the bamboo's power, but even if the Wandering Sword couldn't use it, the entire seventh-grade Azure Spirit Bamboo could serve as a spiritual medium for cultivating the "Post-Heaven Wooden Figure Stele," which should be superior to the Crimson Profound Ancient Tree. This way, he wouldn't have to choose between a spiritual wood body and an outer avatar.

Without waiting for the avatar's response, Saint King Azurefox then proactively offered other treasures, "I observe that your spiritual sense is unusually strong for a cultivator of your stage. Are you a spirit cultivator, or do you practice similar secret arts? I heard that you once sought such treasures at a treasure exchange, trading Spirit-Suppressing Incense for Near-Dragon Saliva. I also have a few items beneficial for spirit cultivators. Of course, if you are confident in breaking through to Soul Transformation, I also possess human secret manuals for the Soul Transformation stage..."

Next, Saint King Azurefox quickly listed several names and briefly introduced them. Her attitude was quite proper; she simply listed them, allowing Qin Sang to choose.

At this moment, Saint Huiguang spoke, reminding him that the secret art's duration was nearing its end and he should make a decision quickly.

Mo Xingdao silently watched all this from the side. From the moment he learned about the Heavenly Dao Demonic Sound, his every action was no longer his own to control. Watching Qin Sang, who was unaware of the true situation, bargain with Saint King Azurefox, it was unclear what Mo Xingdao was thinking. However, at this moment, none of the three could see the avatar's current expression.

After hearing the power of one of the secret manuals mentioned by Saint King Azurefox, the avatar fell completely silent, not uttering a single word. His eyes flickered uncertainly, as if he was constantly deducing something. His expression showed surprise, astonishment, and a touch of nervousness.

Reminded by Saint Huiguang, the avatar composed himself and feigned normalcy, asking a few questions. He almost blurted out his agreement. Of course, he still had that much self-control. He had to wait until he returned to Luye to jointly deduce with his main body the fortune and misfortune of this trip, and whether the risk was truly worth it.

The avatar cast aside distracting thoughts and continued to ask questions. He had too many doubts in his mind, and a direct opportunity to consult with a Soul Transformation cultivator was rare, so he had to seize it.

The avatar's subsequent questions were no longer about the trade. "Why did the fierce beasts suddenly rampage within the storm? As far as I know, fierce beasts never appeared around the cultivation world before; they always lived in their nests, within the Abyssal Ruins. Could something have changed in the Abyssal Ruins?" When Qin Sang met Liuli, he naturally learned secrets from her, including the name of the ascension ground and its general direction. According to the records of Moon Veil Temple, the beacon was located in the East Sea's Abyssal Ruins, where fierce beasts lurked and dangers abounded, making even Soul Transformation cultivators wary of trespassing. For many years, fierce beasts seemed to be restrained by some force, generally not leaving the Abyssal Ruins to cause chaos elsewhere. Qin Sang had traveled through the Canglang Sea, Demon Sea, Central Plains, and North Sea, but had never heard rumors of fierce beast appearances. Perhaps there were exceptions, but such a dense appearance of fierce beasts was absolutely abnormal. Saint King Azurefox was determined to obtain the Spirit-Suppressing Incense formula. A thought suddenly arose in the avatar's mind: Could it be related to this matter?

"I am also very curious why the fierce beasts are rampaging. I have already dispatched my subordinates, along with the old monk's disciples, to patrol the outer perimeter of the storm belt. We plan to capture a fierce beast to determine the cause. If you are willing to act, I'll reserve a spot for you during the hunt." Saint King Azurefox was surprisingly trying to persuade him to contribute during the hunt, and she wasn't surprised that he had thought of this. In fact, everyone who knew about the relationship between the East Sea Abyssal Ruins and the beacon was speculating about what had changed in the Ruins. But no one could have imagined that the anomaly wasn't in the Abyssal Ruins, but the entire Minor Thousand World! What was broken wasn't the path to ascension, but the path to Soul Transformation!

Saint Huiguang explained, "In the past, they were called fierce beasts precisely because they were inherently bloodthirsty, low in intelligence, and driven by cruel instincts, making them one of the most dangerous threats in the Abyssal Ruins." So, the fierce beasts hadn't suddenly gone mad. The avatar thought, this was normal. Given the terrifying strength of fierce beast clans, if they possessed intelligence, the cultivation world would have long since become their lair.

"During the fierce beast hunt, I might be able to send an outer avatar to assist the Saint Monk. However, if the Saint Monk obtains any information from the fierce beasts, I hope you will share it with me." The avatar proposed a condition.

"Agreed!" Saint Huiguang agreed, "Master Qin has accepted?"

"My avatar is alone outside; I need to discuss it with my main body first. I will give the Saint Monk a reply as soon as possible." With that, the glow of the talisman in Mo Xingdao's hand faded.

Silence returned to the immortal's cave. The two sand figures melted like ice and snow. Saint Huiguang left a parting message. "Master Mo, please return to Little Fangcun Mountain."

'Crack!' The talisman cracked. The avatar emerged from his hiding place.

The moonlight was like water. This place was far from the Hundred Rivers Nexus, so he couldn't see its scenery. The avatar didn't even glance in the direction of the Hundred Rivers Nexus before disappearing in a flash.

Then, the avatar flew across the Northern Barrens for a month. He appeared aimless, as if touring the mountains and waters of the Northern Barrens, rarely pausing. Neither treacherous mountains and dangerous waters nor regions ravaged by the Nine Disasters of the Northern Barrens could halt his steps. It was during this period of wandering that the avatar had already communicated with his main body. No physical contact was required. From a distance, Qin Sang's main body, hidden in Luye, stealthily learned of the avatar's encounters and the details of his discussions with the two Soul Transformation cultivators through mental connection. After the communication, the main body didn't recall the avatar, who had already prepared for a long stay away before his departure.

Upon learning the inside story, the main body in the immortal's cave stood up, his expression constantly changing. After all, they were one entity, so the main body's expression while deliberating was very similar to the avatar's at that time. It had to be said, the terms offered by Saint Huiguang and Saint King Azurefox were too tempting. Being able to escape the threat and gain time for peaceful cultivation was exactly what Qin Sang desired most. But he knew even more clearly that he had to be prepared to abandon this avatar. The key was whether the benefits were great enough to be worth the gamble.

Shortly after the avatar's negotiation with the two Soul Transformation cultivators, the high-ranking members of the Daoist, Buddhist, and Demonic sects left the Ghost Rock Plateau together. Some personnel were left in the immortal's remnant mansion to continue exploration, but the three sects' focus was clearly no longer there. Afterwards, the high-ranking members of the three sects made frequent moves. Various signs indicated that a major event was about to occur, causing well-informed individuals to notice the anomaly and feel uneasy.

Surprisingly, the three sects' first move was to jointly clear a person's name, with Saint Huiguang personally coming forward: Old Ancestor Xie, Daoist Qingfeng! Only then did the world realize that the rumors were true: at a critical moment, Daoist Qingfeng saved the collapsing edifice, contributing a demon-subduing supreme treasure, thereby suppressing the demonic fiend and preventing widespread devastation. Even more enviable were the subsequent rewards. Three prefectures, including Bo Prefecture, were given to the Xie family, with the forces within them arranged by all parties to evacuate. Additionally, various sects expressed their support in numerous ways; it was no exaggeration to say it was an instant ascent to glory. Aside from being honored guests by various sects, Daoist Qingfeng himself seemed not to have received significant benefits. Only a few knew that the greatest benefit, the Five-Element Pill, had been taken by him. Given Daoist Qingfeng's current prestige, probably no one would dare openly contend for the Five-Element Pill.

Saint Huiguang fulfilled his promise. Qin Sang, far away in the Northern Barrens, knew everything.

Three years later, the Ganlu Zen Temple suddenly rang its welcoming dharma bell. The bell tolled eighty-one times, clearly audible even in Fei Yun Du. Fei Yun Du was in an uproar. This was the Ganlu Zen Temple's signal for welcoming its most distinguished guest. The last time it rang was when Old Demon Lu, with the power of Soul Transformation, drifted south on a small boat. However, the various sects in the Central Plains had already learned the news through various channels. The mysterious Daoist Qingfeng finally appeared, visiting the Ganlu Zen Temple. Indeed, many curious individuals from various sects arrived early at the Ganlu Zen Temple to catch a glimpse.

The mountain temple was serene. Yet, today it bustled with an unusual liveliness.

A figure ascended the steps, unhurried and graceful, captivating all who beheld him. The bell tolled eighty-one times. The gates of Ganlu Zen Temple swung wide open. Master Xingji personally came out to greet him. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, both parties exchanged greetings. Qin Sang's avatar proclaimed loudly, "This humble Daoist has been devoted to the Buddha since childhood. Although I joined the Daoist sect, I have never forgotten my original vow. I wish to reside in your temple for a while, to comprehend Buddhist principles, and seek pure and wondrous methods in this holy land. May the Saint Monk grant this?" Master Xingji was slightly taken aback, then happily said, "Excellent! Excellent! Our Buddha is compassionate and always accommodates all sentient beings, opening the gates of convenience. With wisdom and expedient means, we deliver beings from the burning house of the Three Realms."