As Meng Qi was shocked and solemn, the grand and indifferent voice of the Master of the Sixfold Samsara continued to narrate calmly:
“To prove the ultimate Dao, seizing the opportunity when the celestial thrones were vacant, Yuanshi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun, Daode Tianzun, Jiayin Daoren, and Zhunti Daoren each sent their disciples down the mountains, some to protect merchants, some to support the Zhou dynasty, engaging in fierce battles. The fallen were recorded in the Fengshen Bang, becoming celestial deities. As the conflict intensified, Yuanshi Tianzun and Lingbao Tianzun descended to the mortal realm one after another. By the time of the Myriad Immortal Formation, Lingbao was defeated, and the four swords nearly shattered the heavens and earth, attempting to recreate the land, water, wind, and fire. Fortunately, they were stopped by the Four Venerables, preventing total devastation, though the celestial court fell, and all matters abruptly ceased. This event is known as the ‘Fengshen.'”
The Master briefly explained the Fengshen to ensure Jiang Zhiwei and others understood its meaning.
I know the first half, but the latter half… Meng Qi’s mouth twitched slightly. It seemed this was a version of Fengshen without Hongjun, leading to the destruction of the world. He wondered what the current world looked like…
“Yuanshi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun, Daode Tianzun…” Jiang Zhiwei, with half a Daoist identity, murmured in shock.
These were the top three among the Daoist Nine Venerables, each possibly surpassing the ancient celestial emperors, with Yuanshi symbolizing the creation of the world!
That their mission was connected to such figures was hard to believe, evoking a sense of entering a mythological legend.
Zhao Heng could not hide his surprise, Ruan Yushu looked slightly dazed, and Qi Zhengyan’s face twitched before quickly regaining composure.
After a while, Jiang Zhiwei chuckled self-mockingly: “Our mission definitely won’t involve the Tianzuns, but who are Jiayin Daoren and Zhunti Daoren that they could contend with the three Tianzuns…”
“I haven’t heard of them…” Ruan Yushu replied after deep contemplation.
Meng Qi coughed: “From what I know, Jiayin Daoren is a Buddhist sage known as Amitabha Buddha, and Zhunti Daoren is the ancient Bodhi Buddha.”
This was half from the books of his previous life and half from Meng Qi’s speculation based on myths and legends of his own world, otherwise where else could he find the ancient Bodhi Buddha.
“Amitabha Buddha? Bodhi Buddha?” Zhao Heng was both startled and solemn.
Amitabha Buddha was a great Buddhist figure from before the ancient times, who established the Western Paradise, guiding all beings, together with Sakyamuni Buddha and Bhaisajyaguru forming the Three Horizontal Buddhas, clearly surpassing Bhaisajyaguru and almost equal to the Buddha himself, said to have attained enlightenment even before the Buddha.
As for Bodhi Buddha, in ancient times, he was capable of overpowering the past Buddha, Dipankara, and was said to be the “Buddha Mother,” with legends suggesting his deep connections with the ancient holy Buddhas.
Of course, even the events of ancient times had long been buried in time, with only a few stories surviving. They were now seen only in myths and legends, with the Shaolin’s incomplete “Great Dream True Sutra” seemingly offering some confirmation.
Such great Buddhist figures having Daoist identities left Jiang Zhiwei and others astonished, finding it hard to believe.
However, they did not question how Meng Qi knew such secrets; after all, he was the only “monk” among the five!
“Really?” Jiang Zhiwei pursed her lips and looked at Meng Qi.
Meng Qi, of course, dared not be certain, frowning: “I just happened to see some scriptures, with no other evidence.”
“Alright, let’s not dwell on this matter. Whatever the great beings do has nothing to do with us for now.” Jiang Zhiwei nodded.
Meng Qi hesitated slightly before reminding: “I heard from elsewhere that the Fengshen world excels in crafting treasures, such as the Immortal Binding Rope. We must be prepared.”
He spoke vaguely, making others think he learned it from celestial traces.
Moreover, he believed the celestial traces indeed knew about the Fengshen, planning to inquire at the Celestial Trace Bazaar after leaving the cycle.
Zhao Heng and others had no doubts, nodding slightly: “It seems we must exchange for some treasures before entering the mission…”
Otherwise, possessing formidable martial arts skills but being killed by villains using treasures would be a great injustice!
Everyone fell silent for a moment, pondering how to exchange for treasures, while only Jiang Zhiwei, being free of financial burdens, watched with a smile.
“After becoming the Crown Prince, although I have gained more, I am not as free as before. I can’t be too obvious, so I might not accumulate much merit before the next mission. This time, I must reserve some for treasures.” Zhao Heng sighed lightly.
After ascending to the position of Crown Prince, he was granted a treasured weapon and a secret artifact, enabling him to absorb greater power from all living beings. Additionally, his supply of elixirs and celestial treasures for cultivation had increased. However, he was now under close surveillance by the major noble families, no longer able to freely exchange his possessions for merit as he once could. Should the treasured weapon go missing or the secret artifact vanish, he would inevitably face interrogation from the political council. Consequently, he had no choice but to conserve his elixirs and celestial treasures for cultivation.
However, in critical moments, if he needed to use secret treasures, he would not hesitate, at worst exchanging for another identical one from the Six Paths afterward.
—After becoming a half-step external scene cultivator, cultivation often required refining heavenly treasures or corresponding exotic energies, such as Meng Qi needing to guide heavenly lightning essence into his body to fuse with his “Shenxiao True Qi” if he truly wanted to fully master “Shenxiao Jiulie,” or needing Wuwu feathers and solar stones for the Solar Buddha Sword Technique, or directly absorbing solar true fire (which would merely take more time). Qi Zhengyan’s cultivation using the meteorite core was an example of this.
Of course, cultivating the Eight-Nine technique itself required refining various energies, such as solar true fire, star power, and heavenly lightning essence, embodying the meaning of embracing countless transformations, allowing simulated techniques to approach their original power.
Ruan Yushu lightly frowned: “I’m the same. After wandering the martial world, I haven’t gained much. I must reserve some merit for the next secret treasure exchange.”
For her, unlike Qi Zhengyan, who was skilled at gathering resources in the martial world, and with the value of opening-related items greatly reduced, wandering the martial world might not yield more merit than staying at home. Like this time, when her Bi Luo Immortal Talisman broke, her family quickly provided a new one. However, her cultivation was nearing the union with heaven and earth, and she must go out to hone her understanding of the world.
“I don’t need to.”
“Neither do I.”
Qi Zhengyan and Meng Qi almost spoke in unison, both believing that a year and a half would be enough to accumulate the merit needed for secret treasures.
After exchanging opinions, Zhao Heng said: “With the insights from the Wu Zi Stele, I should be able to merge internal and external in the next mission, reaching the external scene without needing to exchange for additional time. Now, I plan to refine a treasure weapon. Hmm, my current two treasure weapons aren’t very good…”
After advancing to perfect half-step, he only needed to adjust his inner world, and in about two or three years, he could break through to the external scene. Zhao Heng had the True Emperor Seal and insights from the Wu Zi Stele, and his previous cultivation had stabilized his realm. He was confident he could break through within a year and a half.
The treasure weapon he planned to refine was, of course, not the newly acquired “Long She Sheng Shou,” otherwise he couldn’t explain to the political council. So he placed his previous sword, “Yu Long Jian,” into the central light column, confidently choosing the corresponding forging diagram and exchanging for a wisp of the atmosphere of ten thousand homes and a dragon shadow stone.
The light points danced, like illusions becoming real, and Yu Long Jian reappeared before Zhao Heng, even more profound and restrained, like an iron sword:
“Yu Long Jian, a treasure weapon (middle grade), refined from a lower-grade treasure weapon, infused with the atmosphere of ten thousand homes and transformed with the dragon shadow stone, is a human path sword. It has extraordinary effects in slaying demons, monsters, and gods, can disrupt the enemy’s soul, weaken their control over heavenly power and their proximity to the laws of the Dao. If fully activated, it can command heaven and earth, transform yin into yang, change softness into hardness, and through its aura, borrow part of its power to display various divine wonders, worth 4,200 merits.”
This time, the treasure weapon description added words like middle grade and lower grade, seemingly because Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei had advanced to the external scene, making the details more refined.
“A total of 1,800 merits spent, leaving 415 merits for the next time.” Zhao Heng swung the Yu Long Jian a few times, feeling very satisfied.
Meng Qi, currently relaxed, marveled: “I wonder what grade my treasure weapon is?”
He placed Tian Zhi Shang and Liu Huo in, discovering that Tian Zhi Shang was lower grade and Liu Huo was middle grade, but already close to upper grade, its value increased by 800 from last time, likely due to absorbing the blood of the Wolf King and Liu Mi Ren Mo.
Tian Zhi Shang’s grade was too low; it seemed he needed to consider upgrading it… Meng Qi nodded thoughtfully.
“I also plan to upgrade my Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword, and use the remaining merits to exchange for time to digest the insights from the Wu Zi Stele, striving to achieve the union with heaven and earth and complete the Purple Stars River Skill by the time we leave the Six Paths.” Qi Zhengyan said steadily, “In the next year and a half, I will comprehend the world and explore my own path, but I won’t rush to reach the peak in one step, following other seniors, taking one step at a time.”
He had a clear self-awareness; physical transformation was unrelated to enlightenment. Currently, he still had a noticeable gap compared to Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei. Rushing to the peak was not within his capability. Steady progress was the most suitable path for him!
“If I don’t insist on reaching the peak in one step, perhaps I can achieve perfect half-step before the next mission.” Meng Qi nodded.
It seemed Senior Qi had already decided on his path, which was not his own. He should not persuade him…
Upgrading the Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword didn’t offer many choices. Qi Zhengyan exchanged for a young Han Chi scale and other auxiliary materials, requesting the Six Paths to forge it, spending a total of 1,400 merits.
The light surged, coldness spread, and the Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword transformed into a Han Chi!
“Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword (Han Chi), a treasure weapon (middle grade), this is a sword that has been refined multiple times, primarily infused with Han Chi essence, forged with a young Han Chi scale, exuding a dragon-like aura, repelling evil and demons, instilling awe, and chilling the wielder. The blade is sharp, cutting through gold and stone, freezing the blood of those struck, even affecting their souls. If fully activated, it can swallow clouds and mist, sweeping thirty miles, changing the seasons and freezing rivers. By harnessing its aura, one can borrow part of its power to display various divine wonders, worth 3,300 merits.”
With the remaining merits, Qi Zhengyan exchanged for three months of time, leaving only 145 merits.
“My collection of musical scores is sufficient for now; there’s nothing worth exchanging. What I lack most is time.” Ruan Yushu said briefly, “I plan to exchange for six months to achieve and stabilize the union with heaven and earth, then comprehend the Wu Zi Stele, travel outside, and reserve the remaining merits for the next secret treasure exchange.”
Her musical heart was naturally attuned, very close to achieving the union with heaven and earth, needing only a few more months even without insights from the Wu Zi Stele.
Moreover, with the royal family weakened, it wouldn’t be difficult for the Ruan family to borrow the Wu Zi Stele, as long as they made the appropriate exchanges.
“Alright, I also need to exchange for three months to cultivate the Eight-Nine External Scene Chapter, initially mastering the Yuxu Qingyuan Sword Technique and the Solar Buddha Sword Technique, and use the remaining merits to upgrade Tian Zhi Shang.” Meng Qi nodded in agreement.
Cultivating here at the Six Paths, the primal energy was abundant, not lacking in exotic energies like solar true fire.
“Why must you cultivate here at the Six Paths?” Jiang Zhiwei was slightly puzzled. Given Meng Qi’s current state, a year and a half would be enough to stabilize his realm and advance to the second heaven of the external scene.
Of course, if pure retreat alone could elevate one’s cultivation, Jiang Zhiwei would also choose that path, exchanging for a year for each realm advancement!
Unfortunately, without the corresponding application experience and personal tempering, the cultivation would ultimately lack the necessary refinement; mere retreat would be of no use.
Meng Qi smiled, revealing his white teeth: “The hermit has his own deep intentions.”
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