Within the Jade Emptiness Palace, lotus flowers were still in bud. Meng Qi had been sitting in meditation for a long time when his figure suddenly vanished, having broken through the barrier and descended into the Fengshen World, arriving at the palace of the Qi Kingdom.
As he approached the main gate, Meng Qi heard the familiar voice of Duke Huan of Qi: “We haven’t seen each other in over two years, yet you’ve already entered the Earth Immortal realm. Even ancient immortals couldn’t match your rapid progress.”
The restrictions silently lifted, and Meng Qi leisurely stepped forward into the meditation chamber. He saw the white-browed and white-bearded Master Xiaobai, who remained spirited and vigorous. Meng Qi chuckled, “Master Uncle, you’ve also mended your foundation, perfected your Jade Clarity Primordial Origin Body, transcended the limits of heaven and earth, and achieved the Earth Immortal realm.”
“You brat, you know how many years it took this old Daoist to break through,” Duke Huan of Qi replied with a half-scolding, half-wistful tone.
Lacking the general outline of the Primordial Gold Scripture’s Dharma Body Chapter and the corresponding Nine Seals, he, being the eldest among the Six Lords, had progressed far slower in his post-Dharma Body cultivation compared to the other five. As his lifespan neared its end, the Earth Immortal realm seemed increasingly distant. Just as he was caught in anxiety and hesitation, Meng Qi appeared, turning his fortune around. His lifespan was extended, he obtained the general outline, and cultivated the Pangu Seal, Four Symbols Seal, and Primordial Mind Seal. His cultivation techniques were even comparable to those of the twelve immortals of Kunlun.
Grateful for this, Duke Huan also noticed the gradual weakening of the Fengshen World’s restrictions.
“Enduring hardship before enjoying comfort is also a good thing,” Meng Qi said cheerfully, as if returning home, sitting down casually.
Duke Huan of Qi snorted, “Back then, this old Daoist wasn’t exactly suffering. I’ve been a monarch, dominated the world, experienced beauty, and indulged freely. I’ve had it better than you. But now, I’ve long since become indifferent to these things and focus only on cultivating my body and mind, becoming a true Daoist priest.”
Unfortunately, the Jade Clarity Primordial Origin Body had its focus, lacking the Primordial Chaos Essence of the Primordial True Body, making it impossible to directly cultivate the Wuji Seal, the first of the Nine Seals, unless he scattered his Dharma Body and started anew.
“Better than you… better than you…” Each word from Duke Huan pierced Meng Qi’s heart like a blade. Meng Qi chuckled dryly, “Master Nephew has long harbored lofty ambitions. How could worldly illusions disturb my true nature?”
He quickly changed the subject, summoning auspicious clouds that enveloped the meditation chamber in chaos: “Master Uncle, I’ve come today because I have a request.”
The chamber darkened and deepened, isolating them from the outside world. Duke Huan, being extremely shrewd, immediately realized this was no small matter. He asked seriously, “What is it?”
“I’d like to request Master Uncle’s assistance with the Divine-Striking Whip,” Meng Qi stated his primary objective upfront, then elaborated in detail: “The Fengshen World was severed from the historical river of the Real World by the Patriarch’s immense power and divine abilities in ancient times. This is why many Golden Immortals speak of ‘returning’—referring to their desire to return to the Real World. As for Master Nephew, he was born in the Real World but was pulled into the Six Paths of Reincarnation due to the conflict between the Jade Emptiness and the Demon Buddha, ultimately arriving in the Fengshen World…”
He wanted to use the Divine-Striking Whip, leveraging its connection with the Fengshen Scroll, to seize this opportunity and forcibly take the Fengshen Scroll from Luyan, thereby completely freeing Xiaochihuo and Zhao Laowu and rescuing the true spirit of Master Chonghe. Luyan, known as the Dao Lord, was no ordinary opponent. Even if he was likely sealed and suppressed, he remained formidable. Inviting Duke Huan to participate in such a high-risk endeavor, Meng Qi felt it was only fair to clearly explain everything so Duke Huan could make his own decision.
Duke Huan listened with rising emotions, feeling as though each word Meng Qi spoke was like thunder, overturning his previous understanding. He couldn’t suppress his astonishment.
Could Meng Qi really know so many secrets?
The Fengshen World was originally an offshoot of the Real World’s history, which explained why many Golden Immortals spoke of “returning”!
Many doubts were resolved, and the matters concerning the Demon Buddha and the Six Dao Reincarnation also became clearer. Duke Huan couldn’t help but sigh deeply, “As the final calamity approaches, all sorts of monsters emerge.”
“Later, Master Nephew met the True Lord of the Clear Source and Wonderful Dao,” Meng Qi mentioned his previous meeting with Yang Jian.
“The True Lord of the Clear Source and Wonderful Dao,” Duke Huan nodded slightly, then suddenly froze, “What did you say? The True Lord of the Clear Source and Wonderful Dao? He’s still alive?”
This was one of the most outstanding figures of the third generation of Jade Emptiness, a mighty being who had dominated during the Fengshen era!
Meng Qi’s experiences were truly awe-inspiring!
“And he’s alive and well,” Meng Qi, reluctant to talk more about Yang Jian, shifted focus, “The foundation of the Six Dao Reincarnation lies in the Reincarnation Seal and the Fengshen Scroll. Several of my friends are inscribed on the scroll.”
Duke Huan, having lived and grown up in the Fengshen World, fully understood what being inscribed on the scroll meant and its implications. He slowly nodded, “So, you want to borrow the Divine-Striking Whip, leveraging the cause of all effects, to forcibly seize the Fengshen Scroll? Do you know who currently possesses the Fengshen Scroll?”
“Luyan Dao Lord,” Meng Qi finally revealed the name, with chaotic and obscure causal forces obscuring their senses.
“Luyan Dao Lord?” Duke Huan furrowed his brow, “According to my ancestor, he should have been sealed by the Patriarch.”
Luyan was sealed by the Primordial Heaven Venerable? Meng Qi was startled. He had always suspected that Luyan had been sealed and suppressed, hence only able to exert a bit of power through the Flying Decapitation Sword. But he hadn’t expected it to be the Primordial Heaven Venerable who sealed him!
No wonder he mentioned having some grudges with the Primordial Heaven lineage…
But could these grudges even be described as such?
Being sealed for years, missing the best timing for planning, and suffering from the erosion of time, preventing him from maintaining his optimal state, Luyan’s resentment toward the Primordial Heaven Venerable for hindering his path to immortality was justified. His words about “retribution having a head and debt having a master, not involving the innocent” were suspicious, hinting at ulterior motives.
Meng Qi reined in his thoughts, which only strengthened his resolve to seize the Fengshen Scroll. Once the three tasks were completed, Luyan might be fully prepared to turn against him mercilessly, and the third task might bring him immense danger.
“The Luyan Dao Lord Master Nephew encountered was indeed only a fragment of his power, manifesting through the Flying Decapitation Sword,” Meng Qi confirmed Duke Huan’s assertion.
“It seems that after years of suppression, there’s finally some loosening, but the power he can exert remains limited,” Duke Huan mused thoughtfully, as if talking to himself. Finally, he looked at Meng Qi, “What’s your plan? The Flying Decapitation Sword is a world-renowned supreme treasure.”
He had already agreed, merely concerned about the Flying Decapitation Sword.
Meng Qi exhaled in relief, smiled slightly, and drew a pitch-black, heavy long saber. Suddenly, the saber became translucent, crackling with purple lightning. Each bolt contained universes being born and destroyed, demonstrating its overwhelming power surpassing the Flying Decapitation Sword. The terrifying aura made Duke Huan tremble inwardly.
“A supreme divine weapon!” Duke Huan finally understood Meng Qi’s confidence. He possessed a supreme divine weapon no less formidable than the Flying Decapitation Sword.
After the events of ancient times, the Saber of Annihilation seemed to have benefited as well, with the Demon Buddha’s mark further diminished. It had awakened to the level of a Celestial Immortal.
Meng Qi smiled without responding, tacitly acknowledging. He didn’t reveal that the Saber of Annihilation was merely a decoy. His true trump card couldn’t yet be disclosed to Duke Huan, lest Luyan possess secret techniques capable of piercing the current level of the Chaosless Supreme Seal.
His real ultimate technique was the Moonlight Bodhisattva!
This legendary figure had survived the ancient calamity and lived until now!
And after so many years, He might have advanced even further!
Meng Qi had a “debt of gratitude” to the Moonlight Bodhisattva and now was not the time to be stingy or to expect future favors. He would use this power when needed, to avoid regret.
Regarding this matter, while meditating in the lotus pond, Meng Qi had already communicated with the Moonlight Bodhisattva.
“Alright, old Daoist will accompany you on this journey,” Duke Huan smiled, “By the way, let me remind you of something. Previously, a cave mansion was discovered in the Fengshen World. It belonged to the Taixi Immortal, one of the twelve senior immortals of Kunlun in ancient times. His disciple, Nezha, is the second most powerful figure among the third generation of Jade Emptiness, second only to the True Lord of the Clear Source and Wonderful Dao.”
“What’s inside the cave mansion?” Meng Qi focused on the key point.
Duke Huan replied, “Nothing at all. It had already been completely looted. Initially, I had no thoughts about it, but now, after hearing your words about the Six Paths of Reincarnation, I suspect it might have been the work of a group of reincarnators. The remains and treasures of Immortal Taixi likely fell into their hands. Therefore, I’m warning you to be cautious of the Nine Dragon Sacred Fire Cover in the future.”
“Thank you, Master Uncle, for the warning,” Meng Qi expressed his gratitude.
To be honest, while the legend of Taixi Immortal was extraordinary, the Nine Dragon Sacred Fire Cover might not be on par with supreme treasures like the Saber of Annihilation. Having attained the Earth Immortal realm, the fusion of the Supreme Primordial Auspicious Clouds with the indestructible physique of the Eight-Nine Mystical Art made it far from impossible to withstand a Celestial Immortal-level treasure.
After finalizing their plans, Meng Qi waved his sleeve, drawing Duke Huan into it. He first chose to return to the Real World before descending into the Fengshen World again.
This time, he didn’t use the Supreme Seal to confuse the causal forces or conceal heavenly omens, nor did he secretly activate the Wuji Seal to eliminate traces. As soon as he entered, a vermilion small gourd leaped out, transforming into the diminutive, ancient-looking Dao Lord Luyan, wearing a fish-tail crown and a crimson robe.
Seeing Luyan, Meng Qi’s thoughts surged, recalling the matter of the Green Emperor.
In this affair, what role had Luyan played?
His first task was to have Meng Qi retrieve the core fragment of the Heaven-Scanning Mirror, seemingly to confront the Demon Sovereign and hasten his awakening. Looking back now, combined with the second task, it likely also involved the Green Emperor. If Meng Qi hadn’t secretly kept a fragment, during ancient times, the Moonlight Bodhisattva might not have responded to him, and the endeavor would have likely failed. But would Luyan not have known Meng Qi’s nature? If Meng Qi had perished after realizing he was being used against the Demon Sovereign, wouldn’t Luyan have made some form of compensation?
Perhaps, Luyan had foreseen that Meng Qi would take a fragment of the Heaven-Scanning Mirror, thus seamlessly enabling Meng Qi to qualify for entry into the Eastern Lapis Lazuli World.
From this perspective, he was an ally of the Green Emperor.
However, if viewed differently, he had foreseen that Meng Qi would take a fragment of the Heaven-Scanning Mirror but deliberately sent him to seek out the Green Emperor, instructing him to convey the phrase “the highest level of the Nine Heavens.” If not for the events at the Golden Tortoise Island and returning to ancient times, Meng Qi might have encountered the Green Emperor earlier, spoken those words, and presented the Heaven-Scanning Mirror fragment, possibly causing the Green Emperor to recover prematurely, making it impossible to awaken his past Buddha self.
If that were the case, Luyan would be the enemy of the Green Emperor.
Thoughts swirling, Meng Qi found it hard to judge. But at this moment, the Fengshen Scroll was the utmost priority. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Luyan and said, “Dao Lord, I have already met the Green Emperor and conveyed your message.”
While speaking, he covertly activated the power of the Divine-Striking Whip. Deep within his spiritual core, the Dao-Illuminating Crystal Lamp glowed silently, awaiting Luyan to unveil the Fengshen Scroll.
Luyan chuckled, “You’ve done well. Where did you meet the Green Emperor?”
He showed no doubt toward Meng Qi’s words, seemingly having his own means of verification. As he spoke, he took out the Fengshen Scroll.
The Fengshen Scroll… As Meng Qi prepared to grasp the causal connection, a voice suddenly echoed in his ear from the Moonlight Bodhisattva: “Don’t move!”
“This Luyan is the real body!”
“It seems he has already escaped!”
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