Chapter 1004: Stop Lust

Sparrow Carp Monk was full of ambition, but Nuzi Mohe grew anxious.

"My Lord, please be careful..."

Nuzi Mohe was a Compassion under Sparrow Carp Monk's command. Back then, relying on Sparrow Carp Monk and the forces behind him, he not only received immense help but also became someone ordinary people dared not offend. His status was far superior to that of common Compassions, and he enjoyed great fortune. Unwilling to easily lose this, upon seeing the current situation, he worriedly said:

"While achieving this is certainly important, this matter, after all, isn't something to be openly discussed. It relies entirely on a subtle spiritual connection, with no explicit agreement. If that Lord truly intends to kill, it might be difficult to handle."

"Even if you manage to escape... it would still cost My Lord a century of your dharma body..."

Sparrow Carp Monk's journey south seemed impressive, but Nuzi knew in his heart that this was a major undertaking fraught with both danger and benefit. It might even be a scheme by several factions colluding to cripple the Peacock Clan further. For many years, the Lords of the Peacock Clan had been slow to respond, and the numerous Peacocks, having repeatedly met with obstacles, were already full of vigilance.

Even if Yang Zhuo had only just broken through to the Purple Mansion realm, his essence was that of Heavenly Martial Golden Nature. The three armors from back then had caused heavy losses in the North, leaving lingering fears to this day, making people naturally apprehensive. It was no wonder Nuzi was worried, but Sparrow Carp Monk shook his head and chuckled.

From his sleeve, he took out a small porcelain bowl, only half the size of a palm. He held it quietly in his hand, clear water sloshing within, sending out ripples.

"This is..."

Nuzi Mohe took one look, and his expression froze. He blinked, somewhat disbelievingly.

The spiritual energy within the bowl was so dazzling it seemed almost tangible, even causing the very void to subtly tremble. It was indeed Purple Mansion spiritual water, a full six streams of Purple Mansion-grade Yin Water!

"Tianyi, Zanya, Qingye, Baimou, Guixi, Muyi."

These six streams of Yin Water complemented each other, and seemed to be mixed with other substances of extremely rich spiritual energy, giving rise to powerful vitality. The dense Yin Water almost overflowed the small bowl, transforming into swirling gray winds.

"This!"

Even with some status in the North, Nuzi Mohe was still dirt poor. Forget spiritual water or spiritual fire; his only Purple Mansion spiritual artifact was kept as a last resort. He had never seen so much spiritual water, and for a moment, he stared in a daze.

Then he saw the monk chuckle:

"You're mistaken. This isn't a question of whether or not to kill. The so-called 'Righteous Nature Restrains Lust' isn't just a saying; once you reach outside the commandery, you are destined to die, utterly annihilated in body and spirit, never to be reborn."

Nuzi was speechless for a moment, staring blankly at him. Then he saw the monk squint slightly and chuckle:

"Precisely why this matter must be done by my Great Desire Path, and by me. The Peacock Clan has obtained the Symbol of Desire, and my Great Desire Path possesses the Great Virtue Golden Lotus..."

"Do you think I don't know? Few in the North mean well. Each one urged me to travel south, claiming I could gain a demon's status, but in reality, they all hoped I'd go there to die. Even our own Great Desire Master - he, too, has never been without his misgivings about me!"

Nuzi didn't know why he brought this up, feeling a prickle on his scalp. Yet he heard the monk before him laugh:

"But I've been waiting for this day. They think I'm personally risking myself, but that's not true. This Great Virtue Golden Lotus planted in Spring House has been blessed by a Lord. My true body sits upon the Great Virtue Golden Lotus in the Buddhist Land, while only a minor Peacock karma and my karmic root descend the mountain, step by step, all the way outside the commandery."

"This karmic root will take the guest seat of 'Righteous Nature Restrains Lust'! It will become the demon to be subdued and eliminated, and achieve a grand karma unseen in a thousand years!"

Nuzi listened, startled, and turned slightly, his face paling as he said:

"Karmic root? My Lord intends to sever the Peacock karmic root?! This... this..."

Nuzi lowered his head, his face pale, only to see Sparrow Carp Monk sitting atop the mountain, slowly drinking the spiritual water from the bowl. The Great Virtue Golden Lotus descended, emitting waves of shimmering light. He spoke faintly:

"Years ago, when our Ultimate Zen returned to Buddhism, he was enlightened by a Lord, and from then on, his path diverged concerning fire. But He was, after all, a son of Dunwu, and Dunwu was once the master of all fires, with infinite divine power, still bearing a share of karma."

"After years of cultivation, He could not advance further. He then consulted Great Ultimate Zen and only then realized that He still had the Dunwu karmic root within Him. Unless this root was removed, He would forever be trapped by fire, unable to progress further."

"The Lord removed His karmic root in the sea. Now, as the foremost Peacock, I too shall remove mine to achieve enlightenment."

He raised his head, his face rapidly aging, dense wrinkles crawling across it, transforming him into a solidified shell. From his chest and abdomen, fire erupted, grand and continuous, like countless small serpents writhing in the air. In an instant, it enveloped the entire mountain range, coalescing before him and landing to form a monk.

This monk was radiant, with an eerie smile, standing quietly in the air. Behind him, Sparrow Carp Monk's chest lay wide open, revealing dry, pale internal organs. His flesh and skin had disintegrated, turning into a silent skeleton.

Nuzi felt his scalp tingle. He still hadn't fully comprehended the sheer magnitude of the monk's burning ambition, his mind a blank:

'Using my karmic root, to take the guest seat of True Qi...'

"True Qi's Righteous Nature Restrains Lust" was known throughout the land. That Lord naturally needed a demon, but once this demon entered the game, it would become an opposing force to the Lord. Even as a demon, its status and destiny would be that of an immeasurable Heavenly Demon!

Such profound karma was enough to drive any Buddhist cultivator mad!

The Great Desire Path descended upon hearing the news, intending to be this demon, to ensure Sparrow Carp Monk's confrontation with True Qi, and solidify his reputation as a demon. However, this matter was not without danger—even though the Great Virtue Golden Lotus, capable of gathering true spirits, had already been planted before Simin Commandery's gates, there was no guarantee that the Underworld did not possess Exiled Qi!

A single stream of Exiled Qi meant ultimate oblivion. If that Lord possessed any powerful Exiled Qi treasures, even a slight illumination could still put him to death!

Even if successful, having taken the Heavenly Martial Demonic Extermination guest seat, becoming the demon to be subdued and eliminated, and then successfully escaping, it would indeed be an excellent status and destiny... but also an extremely dangerous position. Who knew when the Lord might be one step short of completion, and this demon might be pushed out to finish the unfinished work, filling in another's path of cultivation?

'One must know that the entire world is pushing this matter. The Lords can no longer wait. The Seven Ministers may seem glorious, but how much influence do they truly hold at such a height? Should such a situation arise, no matter how high Sparrow Carp Monk's destiny, he would still have to go!'

Sparrow Carp Monk was right; the Great Desire Path could indeed calmly journey south because it had the Great Virtue Golden Lotus, allowing for a confident attempt. But the other factions that made concessions were all watching coldly... just waiting for a future opportunity to push him into the abyss!

Even the Great Desire Path's Master of Measure, who supported Sparrow Carp Monk, now seemed to be wary of his immense strength and his backing from the Peacock Clan, secretly wishing for his death in the south.

But Sparrow Carp Monk's move was so brilliant and audacious that ordinary people wouldn't even dare to conceive of it. He actually dared to let the Heavenly Martial Golden Nature remove his karmic root for him, adding to his status and destiny!

This way, with status and destiny secured, this great karma would bear few negative consequences—the demon was Sparrow Carp Monk's karmic root, completely eliminated. The more formidable "Righteous Nature Restrains Lust" became, wouldn't it simply mean his true body grew even more luminous?

'He actually had such a plan!'

Yet, things had reached this point: the Great Virtue Golden Lotus was already planted on the mountain, all conditions were met, and the entire world was facilitating this matter... Nuzi pondered carefully, momentarily lost in a daze, finally understanding why Sparrow Carp Monk had subtly hinted at sarcasm when mentioning Guang Chan.

'He's right, this is a grand karma unseen in a thousand years. If this scheme succeeds... not only will it succeed, but figures like Guang Chan and Beigu won't even come close. It will also pave an incredibly bright path for him to remain in a high position...'

If Yuan Huzhong, having joined Buddhism and cultivated to the Mohe realm, could speak at the Dayang Mountain Dharma Assembly, then upon Sparrow Carp Monk's success, it was highly probable that in a few centuries, he would be a great figure seated in a position of authority, expounding the Dharma!

'Could such a major undertaking happen without a Lord pushing it from behind? If there were no Lord's hint, where would he have gotten the six streams of Yin Water under the very nose of the Master of Measure?!'

At that instant, Nuzi's heart turned cold, and his mind instantly became clear.

'Did that Lord truly not react? The Peacock Sea's secret treasure was stolen, and several Peacocks died successively—could that be without reason? It must have been a hidden test by some Lord...'

'The Lord's continued lack of response was precisely to allow the Peacocks to be gradually manipulated, waiting for Sparrow Carp Monk to enter the game himself and bring about today's events!'

His heart was utterly cold. He silently lowered his head.

'Such a long-standing plot, the Lord must have received news in advance... Who was warning him? Who wanted to further divide the Seven Ministers? Was it from heaven or the underworld...'

But the demonic monk before him had already shaken his sleeves, not sparing him a glance. He stepped forward, and in a few strides, transformed into a yellow dot at the foot of the mountain, gradually receding into the distance.

He walked across the land, seemingly taking ordinary steps, yet shrinking distances, moving south at an astonishing speed. Wherever he passed, music swelled loudly, and the ground, whether muddy or barren, bloomed with lotus flowers. Wild beasts prostrated themselves, and pools glowed with light, as if it were an earthly Buddhist Pure Land.

Simin Commandery.

Dense gray flames ascended into the sky, accompanied by boisterous music that drifted lightly into the commandery. Inside the grand hall, however, it was exceptionally quiet, with only the faint glimmer of decorative lights.

The main seat at the head was empty, but the sides were filled with young talents from various clans, seated in order. Some bowed their heads, sipping tea, others remained silent, with only the clinking of porcelain cups audible.

Most of them were not nervous, waiting calmly. Only Li Jiangliang's brow remained tightly furrowed as he stared at the map on the table. Attendants below occasionally came forward to deliver messages, allowing him to trace the black Buddhist cultivation route.

'Past Spring House... a single move could affect tens of thousands, or even more...'

Li Jiangliang lifted his teacup, looking somewhat agitated. He raised his eyebrows and glanced around.

He had been tasked with formulating rites and hadn't visited the hall for a long time. The people present in this grand hall had changed considerably, but as expected, they were all descendants of immortal clans and Purple Mansion cultivators.

As he was pondering, he heard a commotion. From outside the hall, a middle-aged man in plain cloth robes entered. His hair and beard were half-white, his face stern, and a gourd was tied to his waist. As soon as he stepped into the hall, several people immediately came forward to congratulate him:

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Linggu! Congratulations!"

"Achieving divine ability, truly astonishing to all quarters..."

Li Jiangliang knew who he was: Linggu Lie from the Linggu clan. He had originally been an unregarded clan elder who wandered the world, but now he was the clan head.

The Linggu clan's talent pool was certainly dwindling. Back then, many Foundation Establishment cultivators would immediately go into seclusion in Linhai Commandery if they had even a sliver of an opportunity. All those talented individuals who had the ability were lost. Only Linggu Lie, a clan elder who broke through Foundation Establishment close to a hundred years old, was called back to the clan and forced to take on this heavy responsibility.

As soon as Linggu Lanying achieved success, he immediately became a sought-after figure. A crowd came forward to flatter him, but Linggu Lie took a moment to look at Li Jiangliang and bowed from a distance.

Li Jiangliang smiled in acknowledgment. Linggu Lie immediately moved closer and chuckled:

"Greetings, Lord Li!"

"Senior, you are too kind!"

Li Jiangliang put down what he was doing and responded warmly. Linggu Lie said with emotion:

"My clan has some connection with your esteemed clan. A True Person from my family once fought alongside yours, and was a true contemporary of True Person Zhaojing. It's a very warm connection; they asked me to visit!"

Li Jiangliang smiled:

"With the Buddhist cultivators moving south, a great war is imminent. The congratulatory gifts from various families might be delayed... Since you and I are both in the hall, allow me to offer my congratulations in advance!"

Just as the man was about to ramble on about old stories, he subtly stiffened. Li Jiangliang also dropped his smile, having sensed something.

"Bang... Bang bang..."

The water in the teacups on the table inexplicably boiled, making the cup lids hum. Layers of overlapping water and fire appeared everywhere, and a faint rustling sound of scales could be heard. Li Jiangliang reacted extremely quickly, startled, and rushed out of the main hall in two steps.

He saw white cranes circling in the sky, and layers upon layers of water and fire shimmering like stars across the firmament, summoning falling streaks of immortal light. Li Jiangliang only turned around to look at the cultivators still in the hall, at a loss.

"Come down and pay respects to the Lord."

Everyone hastily descended from the hall and, led by Li Jiangliang, bowed together. Feathered robes and splendid attire spread across the ground, reflecting the light of the water and fire in the sky, gleaming brilliantly.

"Rumble!"

Eerie blue and indigo water and fire intertwined with black, crimson, yellow, and pale colors in the sky. Countless white cranes descended from above, neutralizing the surging, endless karmic flames, illuminating the entire commandery with a vibrant glow.

Li Jiangliang slightly raised his head, only to find a pair of black boots standing before him.

His heart skipped a beat, and he slowly lifted his gaze, his eyes sweeping over the man's richly patterned black robe, finally resting on his face.

An extremely ordinary, unremarkable face.

Yet, it was this perfectly ordinary face that left one's mind blank, making it impossible to recall any of his features. His aura, furthermore, showed no fluctuations, as if he were a mortal.

However, Li Jiangliang could discern that the man's attire was similar to that of his wife, Yang Tianyou. He slightly lowered his brows, realizing that those around him showed no surprise at the man's appearance, as if they hadn't noticed him. Only then did he rise and say:

"Greetings, Senior."

The man before him nodded slightly and smiled:

"You are the son of Mingyang."

Li Jiangliang bowed and said:

"My father is True Person Minghuang."

The man nodded with satisfaction and softly said:

"Please convey a message for me to the lake... Tell them... Yang Ruiyi of the Yang clan of Simin Commandery invites the True Person of the Lake to Simin to discuss important matters."

Li Jiangliang hesitated for a moment, but then saw the Yang clan man smile, looking deeply at him, and added:

"True Person Guanxuan, Yang Tianya, is also in Simin. He has been waiting for your esteemed clan for a long time and wishes to reminisce with a descendant of an old friend."