Chapter 652: Buddhist Beads (For Alliance Leader Xingqing Buyu! )
Chapter 652: Buddhist Beads (For Alliance Leader Xingqing Buyu! )
A moment ago.
Outside Li Gou Immortal City.
A Nascent Soul female cultivator drew her sword from its scabbard.
The sword rumbled, and it actually drew forth heavenly lightning and thunder, transforming the entire hundred-li radius into a lightning prison!
Zzzzt!
Streaks of azure-gold lightning struck down, sending the late-stage Nascent Soul purple-robed cultivator crashing to the ground.
At this critical moment, Buddhist chants resounded.
A wondrous form of a Celestial Maiden manifested between heaven and earth, blocking the last streak of azure-gold lightning.
The woman gazed at the valiant and spirited Nascent Soul female sword cultivator, and couldn't help but press her palms together in a Buddhist salute: "I hadn't expected your sect to still possess someone capable of drawing the 'Taiqing Divine Firmament Sword' and mastering the 'Divine Firmament Thunder Art'. In this battle, this humble nun concedes defeat on behalf of the Free and Unfettered Alliance leader. . ."
"Haha, a generous concession!"
Old Ghost Min cupped his hands and bowed, and immediately had two nearby cultivators help the female Nascent Soul cultivator back.
It was clear that wielding the Taiqing Divine Firmament Sword had almost completely exhausted her spiritual power and divine consciousness.
Had that Grand Cultivator been able to withstand the final bolt of lightning, she would have almost certainly secured victory!
Alas, there are no 'what ifs' in this world. . .
"Now that your side has lost both rounds, what about the grand auction. . . ? " Old Ghost Min, feeling smug, pressed again.
"Naturally, it will be handed over to the Taiqing Sect to host."
Zhui Yue Chan Master closed her eyes.
For the Taiqing Sect, this matter was merely a small bonus, but it cut off a significant source of income for Li Gou Immortal City.
However, she had no choice but to agree, otherwise, she feared the Taiqing Divine Thunder Warship would raze the entire Li Gou Immortal City to the ground!
Fortunately, Soul Transformation cultivators generally don't completely fall out with each other. Zhui Yue Chan Master's eyes flashed with golden light as she gazed at the female Nascent Soul cultivator: "I have yet to congratulate Fellow Daoist Min on taking in such a disciple. . . I fear she possesses the rumored 'Divine Firmament Body', doesn't she? Otherwise, how could this fifth-rank Numinous Treasure willingly acknowledge her as its master?"
"Indeed, Ying'er is truly a Divine Firmament Thunder Body; cultivating the Divine Firmament Thunder Art with her is simply a perfect match. . . In the future, who else but her could hold sway over my Taiqing Sect?"
Old Ghost Min burst into laughter.
This was the true heritage of a great sect!
Because they had many disciples, they could select the best of the best, teaching according to individual aptitude, and even had matching cultivation techniques and treasures!
Among rogue cultivators, even if one fortuitously succeeded and advanced to the Nascent Soul or even Soul Transformation realm, they could not ensure the same for their disciples. . .
Because their success was often due to many serendipitous encounters, and genuinely hard to replicate.
However, within large sects, this was possible!
As long as they continued to recruit sufficiently talented disciples, they could basically guarantee an endless succession of Soul Transformation cultivators through the generations.
As for rogue cultivators, even if there were geniuses, or even those who overshadowed an entire era, thousands of years later, they would inevitably turn to dust. . .
Towards Li Gou Immortal City, the three great sects generally adopted an attitude of suppression and disregard; taking away a major source of their wealth this time was already enough.
Old Ghost Min also harbored some apprehension towards Zhui Yue Chan Master, after all, this woman also belonged to the Buddhist lineage and had some connection with Guang Lei Temple.
Thus, he let her do as she pleased; anyway, once this woman passed away or ascended, the Free and Unfettered Alliance would sooner or later become a fleeting cloud. . . Such things had happened many times in the history of the Minghuan World.
Just as Zhui Yue Chan Master was about to say something more, her and Old Ghost Min's expressions subtly changed, as they looked up at the sky.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Gale-force winds howled, as if ghosts and gods were wailing!
A sudden downpour relentlessly fell, stained with a vast, blood-like hue!
"Blood rain from the heavens, ghosts and gods wailing. . ."
Zhui Yue Chan Master murmured, her face filled with disbelief.
"Could this be the phenomenon recorded in ancient texts, that only appears when a cultivator successfully cultivates some heaven-defying divine ability and grand art?"
Old Ghost Min seemed to recall something, and swiftly looked at Zhui Yue Chan Master: "Abbess, you hide things very deeply indeed. To think that such a powerful Grand Cultivator actually exists within Li Gou Immortal City? Might this Abbess introduce them to me?"
"Amitābha. . ."
Zhui Yue Chan Master's heart wavered for a moment, but ultimately, her Zen heart cut through all inner demons: "This humble nun only knows of a fellow Daoist 'Yun Jizi' who cultivates in seclusion within this city, but I had no idea they had cultivated such a secret art. . ."
"Yun Jizi. . . among the Soul Transformation cultivators of the Minghuan World, or even among late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, there seems to be no such person. . ."
Old Ghost Min furrowed his brow, a trace of killing intent in his eyes.
Unlike Zhui Yue Chan Master, this Soul Transformation cultivator appeared to have terrifying cultivation, to the point of shaking the Taiqing Sect's rule.
If Zhui Yue Chan Master dared to be evasive now, he would surely kill this nun!
"This humble nun once discussed Daoist principles with this Fellow Daoist, who once stated that they were a Realm Descent individual. . ."
Zhui Yue Chan Master was very sensitive to killing intent, and immediately pressed her palms together in a Buddhist salute as she spoke.
"So, it turns out they are a Realm Descent individual?"
Old Ghost Min nodded, as this was the only explanation.
In this way, everything made sense.
This phenomenon of wailing ghosts and gods and blood rain from the heavens persisted for three days and three nights.
By the dawn of the fourth day, the downpour finally ceased, and the sky cleared after the rain.
Fang Xi stretched lazily and comfortably walked out of his cave abode.
Although the process was somewhat circuitous, with the assistance of the 'Eternal Evergreen Body', he finally managed to initiate cultivation of the 'Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light' divine ability.
From then on, he possessed a means to contend with Return to Void cultivators!
"Still, I mustn't be careless. . . Return to Void cultivators in the Earthly Immortal World generally have lifespans of ten thousand years!"
"And my divine ability is currently only at the introductory level; it takes ten years of my lifespan to exchange for one year of theirs. . . Unless I encounter those nearing the end of their lifespan, otherwise, if it's a Return to Void cultivator who has only lived for four or five thousand years, I'd be at a disadvantage. . . After all, my lifespan is only a few tens of thousands of years. If I encounter multiple young Return to Void cultivators acting together, I will inevitably find it hard to escape. . . Furthermore, the same applies to long-lived races like demons and monsters."
Fang Xi secretly cautioned himself to stay steady and not be reckless.
At this moment, his divine consciousness swept out, and he saw two Soul Transformation cultivators approaching together. He couldn't help but smile faintly, and with a flash of green light around his body, he went to greet them: "Zhui Yue Chan Master. . . and this is?"
"I am Min Hongru. Greetings, Fellow Daoist."
Old Ghost Min, gazing at Fang Xi, a hint of awe involuntarily appeared on his face: "Fellow Daoist's cultivation has indeed reached the late-stage Soul Transformation realm, only a step away from ascending on your own. . . And to have cultivated such an earth-shattering, ghost-wailing divine ability, this old man truly admires you!"
"I merely fortuitously cultivated a secret art. As for how all this came about, I'm truly a bit unclear myself. . ."
A hint of confusion appeared on Fang Xi's face.
Nevertheless, he still invited the two into his cave abode to enjoy some tea and discuss the Dao.
As a Soul Transformation Ancestor of the Taiqing Sect, Min Hongru's insights into cultivation far surpassed those of Zhui Yue Chan Master.
Even so, he was often swayed by Fang Xi's perspectives, and a look of awe would appear on his face. . .
Fang Xi took another sip of spirit tea and said, seemingly casually: "I reside in Li Gou Immortal City, and I hear that this city is about to hold a grand auction, which sounds quite lively. . ."
Min Hongru's face twitched slightly, and he immediately said: "Indeed, Li Gou Immortal City is about to hold a grand auction; this is a centennial grand event in the Minghuan World. Fellow Daoist should find some gains from it. . ."
"Many thanks!"
Fang Xi knew that the other party was giving him face, and couldn't help but cup his hands in a salute, showing his gratitude.
Min Hongru exchanged a few more polite words before taking his leave.
"Ancestor. . ."
Aboard the Taiqing Divine Thunder Warship, several Nascent Soul cultivators looked towards Min Hongru.
"We'll return to the sect first!"
Min Hongru flicked his sleeve and ordered the spirit warship to return.
Boom!
The colossal spirit warship rumbled, faintly emitting the sound of thunder, and transformed into a streak of lightning, vanishing into the horizon in an instant. . .
"Ancestor. . ."
The female sword cultivator, bearing the Taiqing Divine Firmament Sword on her back, stepped forward: "What are that person's origins?"
"Only that they are not from this realm. . ."
Min Hongru's expression was grim: "But they mingle among rogue cultivators. Our sects might have a tough time in the future. . ."
Although both were late-stage Soul Transformation cultivators, just by witnessing the earth-shattering, ghost-wailing cosmic phenomenon when the other party cultivated their divine ability, he knew he was absolutely no match.
If that person insisted on staying in the Minghuan World, then this world would likely be dictated by them.
"Heh heh, what are you all afraid of? No matter how arrogant and overbearing this person is, how do they compare to 'Emperor Yun Tian' and 'Old Demon Ling'?"
Min Hongru sneered: "When those two Soul Transformation cultivators were alive, they nearly unified the Minghuan World, but so what? As long as we guard our gates tightly and do not leave, relying on our sect-protecting grand formation and the sixth-rank methods left by our ancestors. . . those two dared not do anything, and later, one ascended while the other suffered cultivation deviation and perished, completely vanishing without a trace. . . Where are the forces they established today?"
When encountering truly powerful enemies, they could simply fortify their sect and slowly outlast them—this was also the heritage and survival wisdom of such great sects!
"Ancestor is wise. . ."
All the Nascent Soul cultivators spoke with heartfelt conviction, as if they had just swallowed a calming pill.
...
Small Moon Lake.
"Amitābha, this humble nun thanks Fellow Daoist for your assistance!"
After Min Hongru left, Zhui Yue Chan Master respectfully thanked Fang Xi.
"No need to thank me. I merely mentioned it casually."
Fang Xi waved his hand.
In reality, he also knew that from the moment he revealed his cultivation and the celestial phenomenon, he could not escape the notice of these sects.
Rather than that, it was better to seize this opportunity to gain more benefits.
Zhui Yue Chan Master was very astute, and immediately pressed her palms together again, saluting as she took her leave.
Fang Xi watched the nun leave, and saw a string of Buddhist beads left on the meditation cushion.
It was precisely that string of beads refined from ten-thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood!
"Truly excellent. . ."
He immediately struck out with a spell seal and found that this Buddhist artifact had no trace of a spiritual power imprint. It was clear that Zhui Yue Chan Master had already secretly erased it. He couldn't help but feel even more satisfied: "This little nun is quite perceptive and understanding. . ."
Fang Xi toyed with the string of beads, feeling the cool sensation in his sea of consciousness, and his heart stirred slightly.
As he began to twirl the Buddhist beads, the golden patterns on each bead began to emit light, and various minor Buddhist divine abilities appeared one after another, giving a distinct feeling of flowers falling from the heavens and golden lotuses rising from the earth.
"Indeed, having been blessed day and night with Buddhist power by a fifth-rank Buddhist cultivator, it is an excellent treasure for dispelling inner demons. . . Even against the Heart Demon Tribulations of Nascent Soul and Soul Transformation cultivators, it should have some effect. . . Unfortunately, it's not of much use to Return to Void cultivators."
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