Chapter 496: Immortal Sound Purifies the Soul

If this power truly originates from Yunmeng Marsh, then Xu Yang's team might face threats from it when they enter the marsh soon. Necessary preventive measures must be taken.

"Currently, the only method capable of suppressing this corrupting soul power is our Fanyin Temple's Sacred Heavenly Melody. However, this secret art is the foundation of our temple's existence. Our lineage has strict injunctions passed down through generations, forbidding us from teaching the Sacred Heavenly Melody to outsiders. This puts me in a difficult position."

Xu Yang indeed smiled, as if he had already thought of a solution for the abbot.

"I have a suggestion, and I wonder if you, Master, would agree! The Sacred Heavenly Melody is a supreme Buddhist inheritance. Although I am not a Buddhist practitioner and therefore not qualified to inherit this lineage, Miss Shi is already the Saintess of Cixin Monastery, a true inheritor of Buddhist traditions. Furthermore, with the spiritual essence of Master Yunhui's Nirvana relics, her profound Buddhist affinity makes her a fitting recipient of the Sacred Heavenly Melody. It would not tarnish Fanyin Temple's reputation."

"I propose that you, Master Abbot, accept Miss Shi as your personal disciple in the name of Fanyin Temple and teach her the Sacred Heavenly Melody. In the future, Cixin Monastery and Fanyin Temple can support each other, making everything legitimate. You should know that Miss Shi possesses the Nine-Aperture Exquisite Heart, one of the most spiritually perceptive individuals in this world. Once this matter is settled, if Miss Shi comes to Fanyin Temple and assists in a few spiritual teachings, the blessings of the Nine-Aperture Exquisite Heart will ultimately benefit all Buddhist disciples in your temple's lineage. This cooperation would undoubtedly be a win-win situation!"

Frankly, the Fanyin Temple abbot simply wanted to secure some benefits for his lineage. Otherwise, no one would readily agree to pass on their supreme inheritance to an outsider without cause.

With Xu Yang's intervention, the abbot immediately felt reassured. Gaining the protection of Shi Lingyun, who possessed the Nine-Aperture Exquisite Heart, meant that the Fanyin Temple lineage would surely become preeminent among the eight hundred Buddhist sects in the future.

"Very well," the abbot conceded. "The rise and fall of all things are predetermined. It seems that this time, Fanyin Temple's Sacred Heavenly Melody has finally found its true host!"

Hearing the abbot's words, Xu Yang and Shi Lingyun were astonished.

"You two might not know this, but the cultivation requirements for the Sacred Heavenly Melody are extremely stringent. Only someone with an exceptionally pure soul can perfectly master it. For tens of thousands of years since my time, Fanyin Temple has not produced a Buddhist disciple with such talent. This is why Fanyin Temple's status has been subtly surpassed by Jialan Temple in recent years."

"Now that Jialan Temple has faced such a calamity, the Sacred Heavenly Melody's reappearance on the continent is a great honor for the entire Buddhist tradition!"

Shi Lingyun herself had not expected this. Xu Yang had first helped her achieve the perfect Nine-Aperture Exquisite Heart, completely healing her spiritual injuries, and now he had helped her obtain Fanyin Temple's supreme inheritance, the Sacred Heavenly Melody. She was unable to express her gratitude to Xu Yang in words.

Without further hesitation, Shi Lingyun followed the abbot into the depths of Immortal Chirp Valley to undergo seven days and seven nights of secluded cultivation, inheriting the complete and perfect Sacred Heavenly Melody.

Meanwhile, Xu Yang did not remain idle. He sat in meditation in the valley, contemplating and experiencing the wondrous rhythms of the purest Universal Dao interwoven throughout the surroundings.

Having finally found a moment of peace, Xu Yang began to re-evaluate his current self.

Undoubtedly, Xu Yang's foundation was now no weaker than that of a true divine-level powerhouse. All he lacked was that crucial final step: transcending to achieve divinity and condensing a divine essence.

However, Xu Yang currently had no clue how to break through this barrier. Yet, he understood that the path to godhood would never be easy, and he wouldn't make any breakthroughs in this regard before his journey to Yunmeng Marsh.

This continent was vast beyond measure. After dealing with the eerie soul curse this time, Xu Yang realized that while he stood at the pinnacle of cultivators in terms of his cultivation system, there were still many unknown and undiscovered powers across the immense continent. To claim true invincibility was still a distant goal.

Rumble!

Seven days later, the massive central array before him seemed to erupt with an earth-shattering roar!

Countless lights of various kinds simultaneously emanated from the array's core. The perfect Sacred Heavenly Melody, combined with the perfect Nine-Aperture Exquisite Heart, seemed to have produced an extremely special transformation, achieving an unprecedented level of sublimation!

At that moment, countless Sanskrit characters shimmered around Shi Lingyun's body, as if worshipping this godlike woman in their unique way.

Simultaneously, as the Sacred Heavenly Melody's complete notes fully integrated into Shi Lingyun's body, an immensely powerful divine artifact fluctuation suddenly emerged from the deepest part of the waterfall at the end of the valley! It was an ancient guqin, yet each string seemed to contain soul power akin to a dragon's spirit—a true divine artifact!

"Amitabha Buddha," the Fanyin Temple abbot exclaimed, "it is just as you said, esteemed Sir! This woman truly possesses immense Buddhist affinity, having even awakened the Sacred Heavenly Melody divine artifact that has been slumbering for tens of thousands of years! The most powerful soul purification technique, combined with the strongest soul-type divine artifact, and the perfect synergy with the Nine-Aperture Exquisite Heart—with such fortune converging upon her, it might not be long before Shi Lingyun's name echoes throughout the entire continent. And all of this was bestowed upon her by you, esteemed Xu Yang. The bond between you two has likely just begun!"

The Fanyin Temple abbot's words seemed to be a subtle attempt to curry favor with Xu Yang, clearly aiming to draw closer to him through the bond established with Shi Lingyun.

The old abbot clearly understood that gaining Xu Yang's support meant gaining the support of the entire Three Thousand Dao Provinces—a formidable top-tier power not to be underestimated!

However, Xu Yang currently had no time to ponder other matters. His only immediate priority was to quickly suppress the unforeseen developments here, then swiftly return to Free and Easy Dao Sect with Shi Lingyun, assemble their team, and depart for Yunmeng Marsh.

Upon the completion of the task, Shi Lingyun did not rush to leave the center of Immortal Chirp Valley. Instead, as instructed by the Fanyin Temple abbot, she, now embodying three heaven-defying blessings, settled into the core of the ancient array. She gently caressed the Sacred Heavenly Melody divine artifact before her.

Enchanting melodies traveled through the array, spreading throughout the entire valley and naturally enveloping the souls of the demonized monks. Silently, the spiritual wounds of the Jialan Temple monks began to heal rapidly! This outcome was something the Fanyin Temple abbot had never anticipated!