Two… Meng Qi felt his heart race, yet found the other’s wording strange, as if it were a newly created puppet still learning to speak, prone to making amusing mistakes.
He exchanged glances with Jiang Zhiwei and feigned contemplation: “Divine Master, although the secret mechanisms are powerful, their techniques are singular, their uses limited, and their flaws obvious. They may not be of much significance to us two…”
This puppet-like Divine Master showed no emotional fluctuation, speaking in a calm, mechanical tone: “Among the thirty-six secret mechanisms, some excel in offense, such as ‘Zhu Long’; others are adept at harnessing the forces of heaven and earth, like ‘Yu Bo.’ There are also mysterious and eerie ones like ‘Wu Dang,’ and those skilled in divination like ‘Long Ma.’ There are many such varieties, more than enough to meet your needs.”
Mysterious and eerie, skilled in divination—could it also specialize in curses? Meng Qi struggled to suppress his rising excitement.
In these areas, he had only just begun, and the gap between himself and formidable enemies like Gu Xiaosang was vast. Even though the “Yu Xu Divine Calculation” within the “Yuan Shi Golden Treatise” was profound and wondrous, his foundation was weak. It would take considerable effort to make up for this deficiency before he could even begin to grasp its basics. If he could obtain an appropriate secret mechanism as an aid, why not take advantage of it?
Even if it proved useless later, he could always sell it to someone else or hand it directly over to the Six Paths in exchange for merit!
Before Meng Qi could speak, Jiang Zhiwei lightly frowned and said, “Judging by its intrinsic value alone, the ten-thousand-year-old ‘Qing Hua Spiritwood’ may not be worth even a mid-grade treasure weapon, but since the chaos of the Demon Buddha, it has rarely appeared in the world. A senior of our sect once spent ten years searching the Eastern Sea to find just a section for forging the ‘Ten-Thousand-Trees-Connecting-Heaven Sword.'”
“It’s so rare that we can only do our best.”
The puppet-like Divine Master replied, “If the cost of acquiring the ten-thousand-year-old ‘Qing Hua Spiritwood’ exceeds the value of two secret mechanisms, we will naturally make up the difference and add further compensation.”
I didn’t know Zhiwei was such a skilled bargainer… Meng Qi was suddenly filled with admiration.
To others, the ‘Qing Hua Spiritwood’ was indeed difficult to find, but the two of them had the Six Paths as backup. If they really couldn’t manage it, they could simply exchange for it anyway—the Divine Master had already promised not to let them suffer any loss!
In any case, they should first search through the Six Gates, the Xijian Pavilion, and other channels, and post a request in the Immortal Trace. Only as a last resort would they resort to the Six Paths.
After finalizing the cooperation, Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei left Camp Mo and headed toward the Myriad Manifestations Sect.
…
The mountain was surrounded by white clouds, with immortal cranes soaring and auspicious beasts roaming the ground, dotted with strange and beautiful flowers, brimming with celestial charm. This was outside the Biyou Palace, the place Meng Qi thought most resembled a dwelling of immortals.
Upon stepping into the grand hall, the two beheld the esteemed Master Yunhe, whose hair and beard were silver-white, yet his countenance remained youthful and radiant, his posture upright without a trace of aging. By his side stood two young Daoists in their early twenties—one male and one female. The male was tall and slender, his lean frame barely filling his Daoist robe, his features sharp, with eyebrows slightly too thick and bushy. The female was delicate and charming, her skin as flawless as fine porcelain.
“Young friends, this old Daoist has been waiting for you for quite some time,” said Cloud Crane Zhenren with a smile, showing no airs. Compared to their last meeting, he appeared much more ordinary.
Was he deliberately displaying his aura to intimidate last time? Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei exchanged knowing glances as they bowed.
Cloud Crane Zhenren pointed to the two young Daoists: “These are the most outstanding disciples of this generation in our sect. Though only in their early twenties, they have already grasped the forces of heaven and earth and condensed true talismanic seals. Hmm, as our paths differ, it’s difficult to make precise comparisons. In any case, they are still far from achieving the state of External Manifestation. His Daoist title is ‘Mingxu,’ and hers is ‘Mingguang.’ They will accompany you two on your journey, to broaden their horizons and deliver a letter to the Jiangdong region.”
Ming Xu and Ming Guang bowed respectfully, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Beyond the cave-heavens, behind the Myriad Manifestations Gate—these were all things they had never even heard of before, truly mysterious and enticing!
And the legacy of the ancient cultivators was no different!
As he spoke, Yunhe Zhenren took out a pile of items and held up a list: “This is a list of the rare treasures, self-cultivated talismans, and medicinal pills our sect offers, as well as the items we require. Please take the trouble to check them.”
This time, the items were not numerous, after all, it was their first collaboration. Although Cloud Crane Zhenren had impressed Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei with his “Divine Talismans,” he still considered that their seniors were extraordinary and were waiting outside. No one dared to simply take everything outright, so he decided to proceed gradually, building a solid relationship of mutual benefit through initial cooperation.
This time, the items were mainly talismans and medicinal pills, not lacking in longevity-enhancing treasures that even External Manifestation experts would fight over. Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei carefully inspected the list and then stored the items into their own Juzi rings respectively.
After completing this, Cloud Crane Zhenren took out two jade boxes once more: “Young friends, these are a small token of appreciation from our sect.”
Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei accepted them and opened the boxes to find two dark yellow talismans covered in swirling cloud patterns, giving off no discernible aura, strangely silent.
“The ‘Capturing the Mysterious Substitute Talisman’ can avert one calamity, roughly equivalent to your External Manifestation fifth or sixth level,” Cloud Crane Zhenren pondered for a moment before smiling at the two. “If our cooperation proceeds smoothly, in the future, this old Daoist will personally inscribe talismans for you.”
This was blatant temptation… but Meng Qi couldn’t refuse! He solemnly replied, “Please rest assured, Master. This junior will spare no effort!”
Cloud Crane Zhenren summoned a radiant light and sent Meng Qi, Jiang Zhiwei, along with his two disciples to Huowu Mountain. He watched as Meng Qi used his token to deactivate the hidden Myriad Manifestations Gate.
The familiar door, yet an unfamiliar aura—Cloud Crane Zhenren’s thoughts wandered, his expression tinged with nostalgia.
Indeed, it wasn’t that the outside world was dangerous, but rather what lay beyond that door!
…
The secret chamber remained unchanged, empty before the Myriad Manifestations Gate.
Ming Xu and Ming Guang stepped out the gate, looking around like fledglings seeing the world for the first time.
Meng Qi closed the gate, barely managing to store it in his Juzi ring, then called to the two young Daoists and, together with Jiang Zhiwei, left the secret chamber, silently exiting the courtyard.
On the bustling street, people came and went, many dressed as desert merchants, selling various treasures from the vast sea, with colorful gemstones everywhere, leaving Ming Xu and Ming Guang wide-eyed with wonder.
But Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei exchanged glances, seeing the same confusion reflected in each other’s eyes:
The atmosphere in Yuhai was off!
The entire Yuhai was like the sea before a storm—seemingly calm, yet deeply oppressive. Occasionally, External Manifestation experts flew overhead, some wearing short swords with ice-crystal snowflakes embedded in their knuckles, others clad in robes unlike those of the Central Plains…
“There are so many Celestial Masters here…” Ming Xu and Ming Guang looked up at the sky, stunned.
What exactly had happened?
Cautiously, Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei chose not to leave openly but instead entered a lowly mud house at the back of Lao Cao’s tavern, seeking out the perpetually disheveled drunkard, Xie the Wine Ghost.
Xie still looked like a mess, reeking of alcohol, but Meng Qi knew he was definitely a formal member of the Immortal Trace. He tossed some gems and asked bluntly, “What month is it now? What’s happening in Yuhai?”
Xie, living up to his name, wiped the table with his face before slowly straightening up: “The third month of the new emperor’s reign in the Great Jin.”
So, the passage of time inside the cave-heaven was not significantly different from outside… Meng Qi first confirmed this point.
Xie glanced around and took a sip of wine: “As for what’s happening in Yuhai, you could ask anyone on the street and they’d know.”
He continued slowly: “Two months ago, the ‘Luoshu’ of the Wang Clan in Jiangdong suddenly shone with brilliant light, visible from a hundred miles away. Meanwhile, in the Yuhai to Tahan region, mysterious Buddhist lights have been appearing frequently.”
“After half a month of calculations, Clan Leader Wang and other External Manifestation experts like ‘Calculating All Fates’ Wang Siyuan nearly exhausted their minds before finally reaching a conclusion.”
“Within half a year, the complete ‘Buddha’s Palm’ manual will appear in the Yuhai and Tahan regions!”
“The complete ‘Buddha’s Palm’ manual?!” Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei stared at each other, almost unable to believe their ears.
It wasn’t that they weren’t shocked—they had at least obtained the first move—but the news came too suddenly!
“How did it become common knowledge?” Meng Qi couldn’t pretend he wasn’t tempted by the manual, but how could it be spreading through every alley and street?
Xie belched: “Who knows what the Wang Clan was thinking—they just announced it openly. With so many External Manifestation experts rushing here, news spreads much faster than usual.”
Hearing Xie’s explanation, Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei simultaneously thought of four words:
“A Dharma Body Battle!”
As if guessing their thoughts, Xie said while lying back down: “No Dharma Body has arrived yet. Surely you don’t believe everything the Wang Clan says?”
“For now, it’s only the External Manifestation experts from various factions investigating—like the Snow Mountain Sect, the Vajra Temple, the Joyful Temple, and the Asura Temple. But when the palm technique finally appears, hehe…”
Ming Xu and Ming Guang had no idea what was happening, only seeing Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei walk solemnly into the street.
“I won’t compete for the ‘manual,'” Meng Qi suddenly said, cutting off his greedy thoughts.
Now that everyone knew, in the end, it would inevitably become a battle between Dharma Bodies. What did he have to compete with them? Luck? Or virtue?
One must know oneself.
“Nor will I,” Jiang Zhiwei said without hesitation.
Meng Qi continued, “I plan to escort these two Daoist masters beyond the Jade Gate Pass and then change my appearance to return, because ‘Myth’ will surely get involved in this matter, and I can settle an old grudge with the Nine Heavens Thunder God.”
Moreover, the “Immortal Trace” would definitely come. If he assisted them in obtaining the manual, wouldn’t that be equivalent to gaining insight for himself?
“There are many External Manifestation experts here. How can we leave?” Jiang Zhiwei, having recently entered the External Manifestation realm, had not yet had a proper fight beyond solo missions, her eyes burning with eagerness.
As they spoke, the four turned into a bustling street, where many Central Plains faces had appeared. Ahead, a four-person palanquin approached.
As Meng Qi brushed past the green palanquin, he suddenly shivered. The surroundings became empty and void-like, and a faint thread of karmic connection linked him to the person inside the palanquin!
A bad karma?
Flee!
If it weren’t for the Karmic Binding Body Technique and the cultivation of the “Cause of All Effects,” Meng Qi wouldn’t have even noticed this. Yet, only these two thoughts had time to surface in his mind before he felt a powerful presence descend upon him, completely locking him down, making even the slightest movement difficult!
The palanquin stopped, the curtain lifted, and a slender, delicate white boot stepped out, followed by a fluttering white robe, elegant and pure.
“So beautiful…” Even having seen the radiant Jiang Zhiwei, Ming Xu and Ming Guang were stunned by the sight, as if witnessing a celestial fairy descending into the mortal world.
This woman was as pure and ethereal as an immortal, her aura distant and untainted, making others feel ashamed of their own inadequacy.
“Worn out shoes could not find it, yet it came without effort. That we should meet by chance in Yuhai proves our deep fate. All karmic connections and destinies must now manifest,” the woman said softly. The mundane world around her seemed to fade, leaving only serene purity.
Meng Qi’s right hand gripped his saber, neither loose nor tight, his back straight, his eyes narrowed, already knowing who this woman was.
The current Xuan Nu!
But whether it was her true body or a manifestation remained unknown!
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