Chapter 1895: Great Vehicle Dojo

The Human World

Qin Sang had been completely unaware of the woman's presence, though she had been there for an unknown time.

She wore a set of blood-red battle attire, enveloped by a faint sanguine aura. Her already illusory body appeared even more indistinct, and her features were also somewhat blurry.

However, Qin Sang could sense the aura emanating from the woman.

It was an aura filled with unease and ferocity, which the woman could not conceal, even with her utmost effort to suppress it.

It was as if Qin Sang was facing a fierce beast, ready to devour anyone at any moment, causing a shiver of fear.

The sensation Qin Sang felt was strikingly similar to the Blood Moon that had hunted him in the Storm Realm!

The woman offered no comment, merely looking at Qin Sang's dantian before saying softly, "Lend me your sword!"

The Earth-Slaying Sword in his dantian trembled without cause, startling Qin Sang, who found himself completely powerless to stop it.

*Swoosh!*

With a flash of sword light, the Earth-Slaying Sword shot out from his dantian and hovered upside down between the two of them.

This sword had been with Qin Sang for many years, always dormant unless its sword spirit was roused. Its ancient hilt had a dim luster, not resembling a treasure.

At this moment, the Earth-Slaying Sword trembled slightly, emitting a brilliant divine light and displaying a splendor Qin Sang had never seen. The cracks on its blade seemed to have mended, as if it were a different sword altogether.

The woman gazed intently at the Earth-Slaying Sword, her expression complex, as she murmured, "You're finally awake, and it's not too late..."

The sword light flickered, and a figure materialized from the blade: a green-robed boy, who appeared to be sleeping with his eyes closed.

The green-robed boy's eyelids twitched slightly. He slowly opened his eyes and said apologetically, "Someone has been trying to divine my location, and I haven't fully recovered, so I had to seal myself off. I didn't sense your call..."

As he spoke, the green-robed boy discerned the woman's condition. His voice faltered, and his face showed urgency as he exclaimed, "How could you..."

"To find you all," the woman said, "I've swum in the River of Karma for far too long and fallen into its depths..."

The woman's eyes showed sadness, and her voice was low.

She couldn't recall how many years had passed, nor did she know if her quest would yield results. An unyielding belief in her heart sustained her as she swam alone in the River of Karma, gradually losing herself and sinking deeper.

She spared no effort and persevered relentlessly. Heaven indeed had eyes, and finally, she saw a glimmer of hope.

Although, she had only found that person's personal sword!

The green-robed boy knew the woman's experiences over the years, and pity and sorrow flashed in his eyes.

Suddenly, the woman's expression changed. Her gaze burning, she stared at the green-robed boy, hesitating to speak, her eyes filled with uneasy anticipation.

She wanted to ask, yet feared receiving the worst possible answer.

The green-robed boy froze for a moment, his face showing unbearable pain and infinite sorrow. His lips moved slightly, saying something silently.

The woman trembled, revealing profound sorrow.

Her sorrow was so profound it touched heaven and earth. The tribulation clouds had just dispersed, and now dark clouds gathered once more.

Dark clouds rolled, a biting cold wind blew, creating a desolate and deadly scene.

"Hoo hoo hoo hoo..."

The woman's hair and clothes danced wildly, as if she had fallen into a demonic path, and she emitted a strange laugh.

The laughter was incomparably shrill, like a wailing ghost, transforming the Divine Court into the netherworld.

The blood aura around her suddenly shook violently, her aura becoming unstable. Her illusory figure twisted, and she seemed on the verge of losing her mind and falling into madness, making her extremely dangerous!

Qin Sang couldn't help but be horrified and subconsciously retreated.

The green-robed boy sighed softly, about to say something more.

Suddenly, the woman cast aside her sorrow, transforming into boundless killing intent, and bellowed, "Is the sword still sharp?!"

The green-robed boy's expression became serious. Without a word, he flashed and merged into the sword.

*Swoosh!*

The divine blade emerged.

The sword intent shook the heavens!

The woman looked towards the Nine Heavens Thunder City.

"The Divine Court has appeared, and the Great Dao returns to the Grand World, which is truly cause for celebration! Things happened abruptly, and I, this Empress, haven't prepared any congratulatory gifts. Therefore, I specially present a Great Vehicle Daoist Temple, but the Celestial Master must personally come and retrieve it. Celestial Master... do you dare to accept it?"

Her voice was like thunder, piercing through the clouds!

Zhongmao Prefecture, the Dharma Altar.

War raged everywhere, both above and below the earth.

The chaos had not affected this place.

The Zhongmao Prefecture's Rite Conferral Hall remained quiet; no one dared to disturb True Monarch Zhang's seclusion.

Whether it was summoning the Grand Yin Primordial Lord or inviting down the Thunder Ancestor, no matter how grand the celestial phenomena, the Rite Conferral Grand Hall remained tightly shut.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

The demons from Guifang Nation were beating their demonic drums again.

The border war had not yet subsided. Although many fierce beasts were scared away by the Thunder Ancestor's aura, many more were still dominated by their innate ferocity.

However, the momentum of the drumbeats was clearly much weaker than before, indicating a lack of confidence.

The Thunder Ancestor's divine might was too terrifying; the sight of thunder dragons converging from all directions was deeply imprinted in the hearts of all demons, impossible to erase.

Daoist cultivators, on the contrary, had their fighting spirit greatly boosted, even taking advantage of the beast tide's chaos to actively sally forth from the city and fight fiercely.

With the Thunder Ancestor's aid, what was there to fear from mere demons!

However, the two Great True Monarchs guarding the Zhongmao Prefecture's Dharma Altar knew well that the situation was still fraught with hidden dangers.

Foreign realm powerhouses were eyeing the Divine Court; they might return at any moment, and there might even be more than one.

Furthermore, the Thunder Ancestor had only a single strike left, and True Monarch Wei, the Duke of Baishi Prefecture, who summoned the Thunder Ancestor, was on the verge of exhaustion and would be unable to act for a short while.

Currently, all hope for the entire Daoist sect rested upon True Monarch Zhang!

The two sat cross-legged on their respective talismans altars, took elixirs, and quickly adjusted their breathing, from time to time casting worried glances towards the Rite Conferral Hall.

*Whoosh!*

Brilliant light illuminated the sky; it was the Baishi Prefecture Duke Seal.

The Duke Seal hung high in the sky, seemingly intending to echo the Zhongmao Prefecture Duke Seal.

Unfortunately, the Rite Conferral Hall showed no unusual signs.

Just then, the two Great True Monarchs' expressions shifted slightly. Both felt an unusual fluctuation in the vital energy of heaven and earth, immediately realizing something, their faces revealing wild joy.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

A violent wind surged through the Rite Conferral Grand Hall.

A spiritual tide covered the sky.

This phenomenon had appeared not long ago, when True Monarch Zhang broke through to the middle stage.

Now, with the celestial phenomenon reappearing, there was only one possibility.

True Monarch Zhang had continuously broken through, directly entering the late stage of the River Chart Dharma position. Just one more step would make him a Celestial Master!

*Boom!*

The spiritual tide surged, emitting a momentum that startled the two Great True Monarchs, continuously pouring into the Rite Conferral Grand Hall.

Before long, the spiritual tide suddenly dispersed, and the celestial phenomenon vanished.

The Rite Conferral Grand Hall became quiet, with no activity.

The two Great True Monarchs exchanged glances, and worry resurfaced.

"The True Monarch might be consolidating his cultivation..." one murmured.

Before the words finished, a figure suddenly appeared above the Rite Conferral Grand Hall—it was True Monarch Zhang.

The two were overjoyed and were about to rise and salute when True Monarch Zhang raised a hand to stop them.

True Monarch Zhang stood with his hands behind his back in the void. Having made a hasty breakthrough, his aura had not yet fully stabilized, but his cultivation was already vastly different from before. He was the first True Monarch to reach the late stage of the River Chart since the decline of the Daoist Court!

His eyes gleamed with divine light as his gaze swept over the two Daoist prefectures, over the northern and southern battlefields, over Jushan Prefecture, and he cast a glance across the void towards the Great Sage's Residence.

The drumbeats suddenly paused.

The demon king who was beating the drums felt an inexplicable chill in its heart, a sense of impending doom. Its arm holding the drumstick trembled uncontrollably.

True Monarch Zhang paid them no mind. His gaze shifted upwards, seeing Venerable Tianyue and the Demon Race Great Sage locked in an intense battle, and observing the scenes inside and outside the Divine Court. He had a clear understanding of the situation.

Lightly shaking his Daoist robe, True Monarch Zhang held the Zhongmao Prefecture Duke Seal in his hand and stepped towards the heavens.

After summoning the Thunder Ancestor, True Monarch Wei had not dispersed the Heaven and Earth Mystic Altar. True Monarch Zhang took over the Mystic Altar, and his actions immediately triggered a resonance with it.

True Monarch Zhang walked through the void. With each step he took, the divine light of the Heaven and Earth Mystic Altar brightened by a degree, soon surpassing its previous peak.

He was still not satisfied. After ascending the Heaven and Earth Mystic Altar, he bowed from afar towards Baishi Prefecture and said, "Fellow Daoist Wei, assist me!"

True Monarch Wei cast aside her fatigued expression and nodded gravely.

She knew that the talisman god to be summoned next was no small matter; it required the establishment of one of the three highest Daoist rites—the Grand All-Heaven Offering!

True Monarch Zhang feared he might be unable to support it alone and needed her assistance.

She had not yet recovered and could not do more, but she could serve as the Director of the Altar and concurrently hold the position of Overseer of Fasts, assisting True Monarch Zhang, the High Priest.

High Priest, Director, and Overseer are the three main officiant roles in fasting and offering rites.

The High Priest performs the celestial paces and communicates with gods and humans, holding the foremost position. The Director, as an assistant, becomes more indispensable for more important rites.

True Monarch Wei calmed her aura, flew towards the Baishi Prefecture Duke Seal she had previously cast, and stood beneath it, her expression solemn.

Next, True Monarch Zhang pointed from the air towards Mount Hemin in Jushan Prefecture. A ball of spiritual light flew out from the Yin Heaven Palace, which was part of the fragments of the Jushan Prefecture Duke Seal.

The three seals shone together!

The order was transmitted to the three prefectures, and all main altar cultivators immediately followed it to circulate their power and perform the rites.

True Monarch Zhang commanded the three seals, held spiritual incense between his fingers, its fragrance ascending to the azure heavens, and bowed to the Divine Court.

A ritual, more complex and grand than before, was immediately initiated.

As the Grand All-Heaven Offering proceeded, major immortal cities left some cultivators to guard them, while the remaining Daoist cultivators all summoned their talismans altars and gradually merged into the Heaven and Earth Mystic Altar.

"Six dragons to the left of the imperial steps, nine tigers within the passes.Displaying the awe-inspiring form of three heads and six arms, wielding the grand creation of the seven luminaries and eight spirits.As the Imperial Bell resonates, all saints arrive; as the axe is lightly wielded, all demons are shattered.His divine light blazes, constantly saving all beings;His true nature is majestic, vowing to eternally prosper the righteous path.Cleaving corpses for a thousand li, slaying ghosts of five forms.Great Compassion, Great Vows, Great Sage, Great Benevolence.Communicating with heaven for blessings, extending auspiciousness, purifying calamities, protecting lives, Great Marshal Tianpeng of the Eighty-One Armies of the North Pole, Law Cloud Pervading Heavenly Venerable!"

True Monarch Zhang led the other True Ones, their chanting shaking the Three Realms.

At this moment, the incantation recited by the True Ones was called the "Precious Edict of Tianpeng," used to summon the legendary Great Marshal Tianpeng, one of the Four Sages of the North Pole!

As the final incantation note sounded, the Heaven and Earth Mystic Altar burst forth with dazzling golden light.

Countless Daoist cultivators watched the heavens with excitement, for after the Thunder Ancestor, they were about to invite another supreme celestial deity!

What was unexpected was that the golden light quickly faded, with only the incantation reverberating between heaven and earth, but no celestial deity descended!

"What's happening?"

"Where is Great Marshal Tianpeng?"

All Daoist cultivators felt doubt and an inexplicable panic.

The shrewd ones already realized something was wrong; even a remnant deity, if summoned by the Grand All-Heaven Offering, would elicit a faint response.

There was only one possibility: the talisman god was shattered; Great Marshal Tianpeng no longer existed!

Panic, sorrow, fear...

All sorts of emotions spread among the Daoist cultivators.

True Monarch Zhang acted as if he hadn't noticed, paused for a moment, and continued chanting.

"In the Marvelous Heaven, to the right of the Tongming Palace.Leading the subordinate marshals of Tian Gang, arrayed as lords of the lower lands.One of the Four Sages of the North Pole, Marshal Tianyou!"

"The Imperial Gate is completed, and he is ranked in the Heavenly Court.Commanding the three caverns and five thunders, holding the balance of the eight heavens and nine earths.The Precious Edict of Yisheng!"

After the three Precious Edicts were recited, it was just like before.

Countless Daoist cultivators looked up at the sky, seemingly questioning why the celestial deities had abandoned them. Their expressions were filled with sorrow and indignation, and their chanting was imbued with a profound sense of tragic grandeur.

Until the "Precious Edict of Zhenwu" for Zhenwu the Great, the last of the Four Sages of the North Pole, was recited, there was still no response.

The Four Sages of the North Pole were all gone!

The Daoist cultivators' tragic emotions shook the heavens. Some couldn't help but let out hoarse roars, venting the sorrow, indignation, and despair in their hearts.

Stirred by this divine will, the Heaven and Earth Mystic Altar became even more solid and dazzling.

True Monarch Zhang paused his actions for a moment, slightly closed his eyes, and carefully sensed the Heaven and Earth Mystic Altar.

Thinking back to those years, when the Daoist sect was in its prime, the Talismanic Dao and Divine Dao coexisted, and the Talismanic Dao was not inferior to the Divine Dao.

The Divine Dao produced a Sovereign Earth Deity who imitated the heavens.

Within the Talismanic Dao, the Dipper Division not only deduced the Four Sages of the North Pole, whose positions were equivalent to the Thunder Ancestor, but also achieved accomplishments beyond the Thunder Division, deducing the talisman god of the second step of the Cavern True realm—the Great Emperor of Heaven, Gouchen of the Upper Palace.

His position was equivalent to the Sovereign Earth Deity who imitated the heavens!

The Four Sages of the North Pole were destroyed in the chaos of those years, but Emperor Gouchen still remained!

But with his cultivation, summoning Emperor Gouchen would not be easy.

Moreover, he couldn't be like True Monarch Wei before, only having the power for one strike.

The Divine Court had appeared, and the world barrier would soon vanish.

This realm would rejoin the Grand World!

The hope of the Daoist sect rested solely on him.

He must gather the merits of the Daoist sect, transform into the Imperial Avatar of Gouchen, control the talisman god, resist foreign enemies, deter villains, and lead the Daoist sect to establish itself in the Grand World, protecting the millions of people behind him!

"The will of the people can be used!"

True Monarch Zhang's expression shifted slightly as he opened his lips and recited another Precious Edict.

"In the Purple Imperial Palace, the Gouchen Celestial Palace.Within the Nine Light Treasure Garden, above the Five Qi Mystic Capital.Embodying the Prime Emperor to assist in profound transformations, governing both poles and jointly managing the Three Powers.Presiding over the balance of military affairs, widely promoting great virtues;Commanding the courses of stars, never losing the constant laws.His celestial image is majestic, his true essence vast and boundless.Great Compassion, Great Vows, Great Sage, Great Benevolence.Great Emperor of Heaven, Gouchen of the Upper Palace!"

Ten thousand cultivators chanted in unison, their incantations vast and powerful, reaching straight to the Celestial Palace!

Inside the Divine Court, within the Purple Forbidden Enclosure, a divine hall suddenly emitted divine light. The sacred image within the hall was complete, radiating boundless majesty, unlike the Thunder Ancestor, which was covered in cracks.

After the heavenly thunder, the firmament once again revealed a celestial phenomenon.

Moonlight dimmed, as if deep night had fallen. Hidden stars appeared one after another, their light intertwining, and constellations arrayed.

This was the night sky familiar to all beings on earth.

However, at this moment, the stars were brighter than ever before. The galaxy was brilliant, with stars densely packed and sparsely scattered. Even the dim heavenly stars were clearly visible, as if within reach.

Starlight filled the sky!

Not just the stars, but also the manifestation of the Divine Court's power.

With the thirty-two heavens as the felloe, the twenty-eight mansions as the spokes, the seven luminaries as the axle box, the sun and moon as the linchpins, and the North Pole as the pivot, it governed the four directions, firmly rooted and connected!

In the position of the Three Enclosures, within the Purple Forbidden Enclosure, there seemed to be a palace with multiple stories, marking the position of the celestial heart, the residence of the Emperor.

The sky-filling starlight gathered in the Purple Forbidden Enclosure, with the stars of the Big Dipper position being particularly dazzling.

The Big Dipper had long been known as the Emperor's Chariot.

As the Dipper turned and stars shifted, its handle pointed directly at the Heaven and Earth Mystic Altar.

The next moment, starlight descended, actually transforming into an Imperial Chariot.

*Swoosh!*

The chariot traveled along the Celestial River, descending from the Nine Heavens.

Above the Mystic Altar, radiance shone.

True Monarch Zhang was bathed in starlight, transforming into the Imperial Avatar of Gouchen.

An imperial crown adorned him, the sea of stars was absorbed into his imperial robe, and he rode the Imperial Chariot, soaring up into the Nine Heavens!

Passing by the gate of the Divine Court.

The Imperial Chariot stopped.

Venerable Tianyue and the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, who were battling, ceased hostilities and looked at the Imperial Chariot, their expressions varied.

From beginning to end, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon had not been able to step half a pace into the Divine Court!

True Monarch Zhang solemnly bowed to Venerable Tianyue, then looked at the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon and bellowed, "You villain, surrender now!"

The Five-Clawed Golden Dragon's expression was desolate; knowing that the tide had turned, it could no longer muster any will to resist.

Its dragon body prostrated, its fierce might gone.

"I beg the Celestial Master for forgiveness!"