Dumu Yuanjun slightly processed the jade tablet, sealing away the true essence of the remaining Dharma Body techniques, before handing it to Meng Qi.
This time, Meng Qi did not need to press it against his brow. His consciousness naturally extended outward, probing into the tablet.
Boom!
Meng Qi felt his Yuan Shen soar, entering a wondrous state of emptiness. Time and space merged into one, neither existing nor non-existing.
The “Yuan Shen” opened its eyes—formless yet taking form, emerging from chaos, dividing into Yin and Yang, unfolding everything step by step!
The transformations were wondrous and rapid. Meng Qi could barely grasp a hint of their secrets. To truly comprehend them, he would need the “Yuanshi Jinzhang—Dharma Body Chapter!”
However, Meng Qi also possessed the “Yin-Yang Seal,” which detailed the process of Yin and Yang dividing, serving as each other’s foundation and transforming into one another. It elaborated on numerous cosmic principles, captivating Meng Qi deeply.
Before him, the “Yuan Shen” extended both hands, interweaving with the cosmic principles, forming indescribable mudras—chaotic and dim.
The seals shifted, and the hands struck forward one after the other. Yin and Yang emerged, transforming in ways so profound that it became impossible to distinguish which hand was Yang and which was Yin, making the technique unpredictable and hard to defend against.
As this mudra was unleashed, the front of the chaos split, separating clarity from turbidity, illustrating various principles of Yin and Yang!
After an unknown length of time, Meng Qi finally opened his eyes. One eye had a bright iris with a pitch-black pupil, while the other had a dark iris with a pure-white pupil, resembling two inverted “Yin-Yang Fish.”
He blinked a few times, and his eyes returned to normal.
The Yin-Yang Seal truly lived up to being one of the “Nine Seals of Yuanshi,” encompassing the fundamental principles of the universe and concealing the roots of the Dao. Meng Qi had only grasped its surface.
This was only possible because he had already created techniques such as “Yin and Yang in Three Harmonies, What is the Origin and Transformation?” and “Reversing Yin and Yang” dual-weapon techniques, as well as the evolving “Internal Heaven and Earth Technique—Pangu’s Creation.” His prior exploration of Yin and Yang allowed him to grasp even a bit of the Yin-Yang Seal.
As for the “Yuanshi Jinzhang—External Manifestation Chapter,” it required calm and careful study to comprehend its principles and cultivation methods. It made Meng Qi fully realize that once the inner and outer worlds converged and the inner scenery manifested externally, martial arts and spiritual cultivation had essentially become one path. He could now employ various magical effects through externally manifested inner scenery, such as summoning winds and rains or controlling lightning.
As for the “Three Treasures Ruyi Fist,” Meng Qi had already mastered its external manifestation portion. Now with deeper understanding, he urgently needed to cultivate it using the Qi of any three of the Five Virtues.
I wonder if the Six Dao offers an option to exchange for the Qi of the Five Virtues… Meng Qi mused.
As if sensing his thoughts, Dumu Yuanjun spoke calmly, “The Qi of the Five Virtues includes Merit, Morality, Blessing, Sanctity, and Yin Virtue. They are rewards from the Dao corresponding to one’s deeds. If you use Qi obtained by others to cultivate your own techniques, there might be flaws.”
In other words, it would be better to gather them yourself… Meng Qi nodded lightly and asked, “If Heaven and Earth are impartial, how can there be rewards?”
The Dao of Heaven and Earth is not a living being—how could it autonomously bestow rewards?
Dumu Yuanjun held up a jade tablet. “All things in the world generate and restrain each other, influencing one another. The Dao and cosmic laws are no different. For example, take a dormant volcano. If you strike its core with full force, it will erupt again. That eruption is the ‘reward’ for your strike.”
Ah, so it’s like punching a wall and the wall punching back? Meng Qi recalled the physics he had learned in his previous life.
Seeing Meng Qi nod in understanding, Dumu continued, “Whatever influence you exert on the Dao and cosmic laws will naturally bring corresponding rewards. However, ordinary people possess limited strength, so their actions have minimal impact. Thus, such ‘rewards’ are extremely weak and hard to notice.”
“I see,” Meng Qi fully understood now.
Dumu Yuanjun glanced at him, “The closer your actions align with a certain Dao or cosmic law, the greater the reward you receive, which can nourish your cultivation. When you completely align, you become one with that Dao or law, fully integrating into Heaven and Earth, wielding a part of its authority, achieving an alternative Dharma Body. The Dao Sect’s Merit Body and Blessing Dao Body are examples. Hmm, you come from a Buddhist sect—you should know about the ‘Reward Body,’ right? This is the cultivation method for it.”
No wonder she’s a sect leader and a seasoned reincarnation expert… Meng Qi shook his head, indicating he was just an amateur monk.
Behind her mask, Dumu Yuanjun’s expression was unreadable. “A monk making vows before Buddha and fulfilling them is a way to align with a certain Dao, thereby receiving rewards. However, one must not aim too high. First, if one is not yet sufficiently aligned, making grand vows is just empty talk, yielding no reward. Second, if the vow is too grand, the reward might exceed one’s capacity, becoming a calamity that hinders progress.”
“Before ancient times, Amitabha made forty-eight great vows, receiving the Dao’s reward, breaking through to achieve the perfect Reward Body Pure Land—the Western Paradise.”
“So, as long as one sincerely believes in Buddhism, one will return to the Western Paradise after death—Isn’t this becoming part of Heaven and Earth?”
Meng Qi was stunned, recalling novels he had read before. Isn’t this making grand vows to achieve Dao cultivation?
Suddenly, Meng Qi remembered someone: “Yuanjun, I once met Hong Neng, the current successor of Lanke Temple in the Vast Sea. He was fulfilling a vow by building shelters for travelers in the Vast Sea. Could it be… he is cultivating the Reward Body?”
Dumu Yuanjun nodded slightly, “Yes. Lanke Temple is one of the few Buddhist sects in our world cultivating the Reward Body. Although I’ve never been there, I’m certain it has a Bodhisattva or Buddha presiding over it. No, rather, Lanke Temple itself is His Reward Body Pure Land, already part of Heaven and Earth.”
“The cosmic laws and Dao principles exist everywhere around us, serving as the basis for our inner scenery and cultivation. But can you directly sense them?”
Meng Qi pondered, “I can sense their existence through external appearances, but cannot directly perceive them.”
“That’s why Lanke Temple, already part of the cosmic Dao, exists everywhere—turning distant lands into close proximity. For those without a connection, even proximity feels distant. Without achieving Dharma Body, one can only hope they open their doors.”
Meng Qi exhaled, feeling the wonder of the world, ever filled with mysteries waiting to be explored.
After meeting Zhiwei, he planned to visit Hong Neng. Though he himself did not cultivate the Reward Body, learning from others might offer insights, perhaps even allowing him to visit Lanke Temple…
Before he could finish his thoughts, Dumu Yuanjun handed him another jade tablet.
“What is this?” Meng Qi asked, puzzled.
Dumu’s tone remained calm, “The surface circulation routes of all techniques within Xianji.”
“You cultivate the Bayao Xuangong, following the path of the Indestructible Dao Body that embraces transformation. Studying various techniques will aid your progress. In critical moments, you might even mimic and impersonate a member, gaining great advantage.”
Feeling the vast number of techniques within the tablet, Meng Qi took a deep breath, feeling more committed to joining Xianji. Without these techniques, he would have to painstakingly gather them himself, to fill different acupoints with techniques from different universes, thus embracing transformation and achieving immortality.
No wonder so few reincarnators choose the Bayao Xuangong. Despite its formidable defensive capabilities and exceptional skills in deception, mimicry, and disguise during the Qi Condensation stage, it lacks offensive techniques. Advancing to the External Manifestation stage demands an enormous amount of resources. Had he not joined Xianji, he might have had to expend dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of times more effort, resulting in painfully slow progress and likely meeting his end either in reincarnation or from old age.
Meng Qi solemnly bowed, thanking Xianji.
Dumu Yuanjun gazed at him deeply, “In the coming days, we may assign you a formal member task.”
“What kind of task?” Meng Qi asked cautiously.
Dumu pointed toward Biyou Palace, “Biyou Heaven actually has more than nine exits. Another lies deep within Biyou Palace, leading to another world. In that world, Biyou Palace symbolizes mystery and power.”
“Our supported faction there has encountered some issues, but we are unsure if they can resolve it themselves. If we need to send someone, we will notify you.”
Meng Qi nodded, agreeing, then bid farewell to Dumu Yuanjun and flew toward Xianji Bazaar. He had many items awaiting appraisal by Liu Dao and much to exchange for Virtue Points.
At the central jade pillar of Xianji Bazaar, Meng Qi encountered “Bixia Yuanjun” Qu Jiuniang. She clicked her tongue in admiration, “The ‘Celestial Venerable’ is indeed impressive. Any gains?”
She mentioned Meng Qi’s killing of Zeluo Ju, whose wealth was renowned throughout the瀚海.
Wearing the mask of “Primordial Heavenly Lord,” Meng Qi chuckled as he presented Zeluo Ju’s sinister blade, various celestial treasures, and dozens upon dozens of carefree flowers.
“This… so much…” Qu Jiuniang’s voice trembled with shock and envy. Her eyes fixed on the floating items before her, unable to look away. “I wish I had assassinated Zeluo Ju earlier…”
Before her breakthrough, her strength couldn’t rival Zeluo Ju’s. Moreover, had Meng Qi not struck at the most unexpected time and place, Zeluo Ju’s caution and vigilance might have prevented success.
As Qu Jiuniang stared at the items, Meng Qi quietly added the Xuan Shui Dao Mo Flag and the hand bone obtained from Old Zhong into the appraisal request.
“Xuan Shui Dao Mo Flag, Divine Weapon (Damaged), originally belonging to the Black Emperor Zhenwu, crafted from Primordial Xuan Water born with him. It can command water and mist, protect the user, and dispel evil. Due to severe damage, its External Manifestation-level power can only last three years. If forcefully activated, it can unleash half of its original power twice.”
“Currently valued at 12,000 Virtue Points. To fully restore it, 70,000 Virtue Points are required.”
“Note: If the user hasn’t crossed the first Celestial Ladder, the flag cannot be activated.”
…
“Yellow Spring” Hand Bone, Divine Weapon-grade artifact, originally the possession of the innate evil deity “Yellow Spring,” a native malevolent god of the Nine Netherworlds. However, for reasons unknown, it has lost its original power and can no longer manifest its divine wonders. Current value undetermined.
“To uncover the reason behind this loss, 8,000 Virtue Points are required.”
So it truly is the hand bone of ‘Yellow Spring’… Meng Qi furrowed his brows.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage