"The decree of the Heavenly Emperor."
"A demon has emerged in the southern continent, possessing strength equivalent to a Great Luo Golden Immortal. The Heavenly Emperor now commands Erlang Shen, the True Lord of Manifestation, to join forces with the Three Holy Mothers of Mount Hua to eliminate this threat."
Holding the decree, Tai Bai Jin Xing read it aloud with a solemn voice.
"With so many people in the Celestial Court, why must I be the one to act?" Yang Jian raised an eyebrow and responded coldly.
"True Lord, you may not be aware," Tai Bai Jin Xing explained. "This demon is incredibly elusive and possesses immense power, along with numerous supreme treasures. The Heavenly Emperor has already dispatched celestial troops multiple times. First, General Wu De was slain by this demon, and now even the Four Heavenly Kings have fallen. Apart from you, True Lord, there is no one else in the Celestial Court capable of subduing this being."
"Is the Heavenly Emperor certain he wants me to take action?" Yang Jian scrutinized Tai Bai Jin Xing with a piercing gaze.
"The decree has been issued. How could it be false?" Tai Bai Jin Xing immediately affirmed.
"Very well," Yang Jian replied. "Then let the Heavenly Emperor issue another decree, granting my domain an additional ten million miles for faith propagation. Within my domain, celestial beings of the Heavenly Court and the sects must retreat and not interfere. Can this condition be met?"
"This... this..." Tai Bai Jin Xing hesitated, clearly uneasy.
"That is my condition," Yang Jian stated firmly. "If the Heavenly Emperor is unwilling, then let him find someone else for the task." He waved his hand dismissively, unwilling to engage further.
"Then… I shall return to the Celestial Court and report this to His Majesty," Tai Bai Jin Xing said, knowing he lacked the authority to make such a decision.
After all, when Yang Jian had previously claimed a million miles of territory around Guanjiangkou, refusing Heavenly Court's influence, many celestial beings opposed him.
Without bothering to accept the decree, Yang Jian turned away. Seeing this, Tai Bai Jin Xing had no choice but to depart with the decree in hand.
"Second Master," Kang Anyu, leader of the Six Monsters of Meishan, asked curiously, "Is this demon truly as formidable as they say, requiring your intervention?"
"What demon?" Yang Jian sneered. "It's just a label the Heavenly Court uses. Back when I stood against them, didn't they also brand me a demon?"
"So this person must have caused the Celestial Court great trouble," Kang Anyu chuckled. "Otherwise, they wouldn't be so desperate to get you involved."
"Exactly," Yang Jian smirked. "Once the Heavenly Emperor agrees to my conditions, the number of people under my divine protection will surpass a hundred million. When that happens, we must purge all demonic beings from our domain." A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
For Yang Jian, "demonic beings" referred to those who harmed humans, consumed their flesh and blood, and cultivated through malevolent means.
Across the entire Earthly Immortal Realm, Dongsheng Divine Continent was relatively stable. The sects there, despite their facade of righteousness, still exploited humans under the guise of "ascension ceremonies."
However, the Southern Continent was far more chaotic. Apart from sects, numerous evil cultivators preyed on humans, extracting their spiritual energy and consuming their blood. The so-called "righteous sects" turned a blind eye, treating mortals as nothing more than insects.
"Rest assured, Second Master," Kang Anyu declared. "Once the Heavenly Court agrees to your terms, we will eradicate all evildoers from our domain. These beings deserve death."
"But, Second Master," Kang Anyu hesitated, "are we going to hunt this person down?"
"The Third Prince mentioned that the so-called 'plague' this individual spread saved countless humans. While the Heavenly Court sees it as a disaster, for mortals, it was a blessing."
"Do you think I am someone who kills indiscriminately?" Yang Jian chuckled.
"Then what do you plan to do?" Kang Anyu asked.
"I will do as little as possible," Yang Jian smirked. "The more the Heavenly Court wants someone dead, the more I will ensure they survive."
"Brilliant, Second Master," Kang Anyu grinned.
"However..." Yang Jian mused. "Why did the Heavenly Emperor summon my younger sister as well? What is he plotting?"
"The Three Holy Mothers wield the Lotus Lantern, a sacred treasure once belonging to Nuwa. It contains the power of a saint. The Heavenly Emperor likely wants to exploit its power," Kang Anyu speculated.
"The Heavenly Emperor..." Yang Jian muttered coldly.
Mount Hua, Southern Continent
Like Guanjiangkou, Mount Hua was a sanctuary a peaceful haven in a chaotic world.
Yang Jian and his sister, Yang Chan, were born as ordinary humans and had ascended through sheer determination. Unlike the celestial beings of the Heavenly Court who feasted on human flesh and drained spiritual energy, the siblings deeply resented such atrocities.
Within the sacred grounds of the Three Holy Mothers, no sects existed. No so-called "ascension ceremonies" were allowed. If any demons or cultivators dared to capture humans, Yang Chan would personally eliminate them.
In the temple of the Three Holy Mothers, amidst a courtyard in full bloom with peach blossoms, two stunning women sat across from each other, sipping tea.
"Hearing, every time you visit, you never stay for more than two days. Can't you stay in Mount Hua a little longer to keep me company?" the woman in the light green dress sighed helplessly.
She was Yang Chan, the Three Holy Mothers.
"Chan'er," the other woman, dressed in deep blue, sighed. "I am not as free as you."
"Our dragon clan is in grave danger. We must appease both the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Sect."
"Alas," Ao Tingxin sighed deeply, filled with helplessness.
"How did the world become like this?"
Yang Chan could only express her sympathy, unsure of how to comfort her friend.
The dragon clan once the mightiest among divine beasts now struggled to survive.
However, in the present day,
The Dragon Clan could no longer be considered a great race.
They had even become nothing more than fish on the chopping block of the celestial gods.
For the celestial gods, dragons had even turned into a delicacy.
Yet despite this,
The Dragon Clan had no means of resisting. If they refused to obey the celestial gods, their fate might be complete annihilation.
"I wonder when my Dragon Clan will finally be able to live openly and honorably in this world, without having to struggle for survival like this," Ao Tingxin sighed with deep emotion.
At that moment
A radiance flickered across the sky.
A group of celestial officials descended.
Taibai Jinxing arrived at Mount Hua.
"By the decree of the Heavenly Emperor!"
"Three Holy Mother of Mount Hua, receive the decree!"
Taibai Jinxing stood upon the clouds and proclaimed loudly.
From his attitude, it was clear that he did not regard Yang Chan with the same reverence as he had for Yang Jian.
After all, the personalities of the two siblings were vastly different.
Upon hearing this,
Yang Chan did not dare to be negligent.
She stepped forward immediately and said, "I humbly receive the decree."
"The will of the Heavenly Emperor!"
"A monstrous fiend is wreaking havoc in the southern continent, spreading plagues and bringing disaster to the heavens and earth. Now, the Three Holy Mother is ordered to descend and exterminate this fiend."
Taibai Jinxing held the decree and read it aloud.
Then
The decree in his hands transformed into a beam of golden light and flew toward Yang Chan.
"I accept the decree."
Yang Chan responded in a loud and clear voice.
"Three Holy Mother."
"Make haste and subdue the fiend."
"I have already been to Guanjiangkou, and the Second Lord will also take action soon," Taibai Jinxing said.
"Understood," Yang Chan nodded, then asked, "May I know what kind of fiend this is? And where does it reside?"
"The details are recorded in the decree, along with the fiend's aura. With the power of your Lotus Lantern, you should be able to sense its location."
"If you succeed in capturing the fiend, the Heavenly Emperor will bestow great rewards."
With that,
Taibai Jinxing turned and left.
"A monstrous fiend in the southern continent? They directly summoned me for this?"
"The Celestial Court has countless immortals. Why did they summon only me?"
Holding the decree, Yang Chan felt puzzled.
She had always stayed within Mount Hua, rarely leaving. The farthest she had ever traveled was to nearby towns within the Mount Hua region. She had little knowledge of the events occurring in the southern continent.
"Chan'er, you may not know,"
"But the southern continent is indeed in turmoil," Ao Tingxin said with a solemn expression.
"What happened?" Yang Chan asked curiously.
"A plague has spread across the southern continent, targeting celestial beings. It is said that the plague originates from mortals. If immortals absorb spiritual essence or slaughter mortals, they will contract the disease. In mild cases, they suffer demonic deviation and regression in cultivation. In severe cases, they perish completely."
"Countless immortals from both the Celestial Court and the southern continent have already died," Ao Tingxin explained.
Yang Chan's eyes lit up. "In that case, if celestial beings refrain from killing mortals or stealing their spiritual essence, wouldn't that prevent them from contracting this plague?"
"Wouldn't this be a great blessing for mortals?"
Hearing this,
Ao Tingxin smiled bitterly and shook her head. "Chan'er, you are still too naive about the Celestial Court. Spiritual essence has become the ultimate treasure in this world for prolonging life and warding off calamities. Who would be willing to give it up?"
"Moreover"
"Perhaps this is good news for mortals, but for my Dragon Clan, it is a disaster."
At these words,
Ao Tingxin's face revealed a trace of bitterness.
"Why is that?" Yang Chan asked, confused.
"In the past, the Celestial Court required my Dragon Clan to send five thousand dragons to the heavens each year, regardless of their bloodline. But ever since the plague spread in the southern continent, the Celestial Court has been unable to extract spiritual essence from mortals. So now, they have set their sights on my Dragon Clan.
"They have increased the tribute to ten thousand dragons annually, including one thousand pure-blooded dragons."
Ao Tingxin's voice was filled with bitterness, resentment, and helplessness.
"Tingxin."
"The world will change one day."
Yang Chan tried to comfort her.
How could she not understand the plight of the Dragon Clan?
At the end of the day,
They were only slightly better off than mortals.
"It's difficult."
"As long as my Dragon Clan can survive, that is enough." Ao Tingxin gave a bitter smile.
....
The Mortal Realm!
"The Twelve-Rank Pure World White Lotus."
"It can purify all negative forces in the world."
"And it also possesses defensive power."
"I wonder if gathering all twelve-rank lotus platforms would allow me to recreate the legendary thirty-six-rank Chaos Green Lotus of the past."
After refining the Pure World White Lotus, Zhao Feng successfully gained control over this supreme treasure.
A top-tier innate spiritual treasure, capable of suppressing fate and serving as an impenetrable shield.
A treasure is worthy of its name.
Of course,
It stood at the opposite extreme compared to the Black Lotus Zhao Feng had obtained before.
"This harvest is quite remarkable."
"The Pangu essence blood is also impressive."
"It directly increased my physical strength by 700,000, bringing me close to breaking through. With just my physical power, I can now battle a peak Great Luo cultivator."
"As expected of Pangu's essence blood."
"Moreover, as I integrate this blood into myself, I feel a deeper connection with this vast primordial world. The laws of heaven and earth seem easier to comprehend."
"Pangu truly deserves his title as the creator of this world."
After merging with Pangu's essence blood, Zhao Feng could sense the transformations within himself.
He opened his attribute panel.
Host: Zhao Feng
Age: 45 years
Entries: ...
Law Qi Essence: 253,000 points [Martial Dao Supreme, Second Realm]
Great Wu Strength: 914,300 points [One punch unleashes the full power of a Great Wu Ninth Realm expert, body comparable to Great Wu Ninth Realm, enhanced with the power of laws]
Void Step Divine Ability: 253,000 points [With a single step, travel tens of millions of miles through space]
Innate Dao Body: 253,000 points [Naturally attuned to the world, absolute affinity with spiritual energy, greatly enhancing comprehension of heavenly laws]
Divine Sense Power: 253,000 points [Able to probe 20 million miles across the land and deep into the Netherworld]
Immortal Yuan Spirit: 253,000 points [Even if the physical body perishes, the Yuan Spirit can divide into thousands and never be extinguished]
Lifespan: Infinite [Tribulations descend with each breakthrough; surviving them grants endless life until the ninth tribulation is fully overcome]
Merit: 111,302,304 points
Karmic Sin: 430,203 points
Personal Space: Infinite [Cannot store living beings]
Cultivation Technique: Nine Revolutions Chaos Canon [Seventh Revolution]
…
This was Zhao Feng's current full attribute another leap in power.
"In this vast primordial world, no one can match my rate of improvement."
"The Heavenly Court."
"Heh."
Zhao Feng let out a cold chuckle.
"Your Highness!"
"The monk has awakened."
Ren Chuan hurriedly entered the hall and reported respectfully.
"He has finally awakened."
"This Golden Cicada is quite interesting one Buddhist teaching kept him in deep contemplation for a full three years."
Zhao Feng chuckled.
Indeed,
Three years had passed since Zhao Feng brought Golden Cicada to the mortal world.
For three years, Golden Cicada had stood in meditation at the Grand Assembly Square.
Now, he had finally awakened.
With a single step,
Zhao Feng instantly arrived at the Grand Assembly Square.
He looked at Golden Cicada once again.
At this moment, golden Buddhist light radiated from Golden Cicada's body, and his cultivation seemed to have stepped into the threshold of the Quasi-Saint realm, inching ever closer.
Clearly,
Over the past three years, Golden Cicada has gained immense enlightenment.
"In three years, your cultivation has advanced."
"It seems you have truly comprehended the essence of my Great Qin Buddhism." Zhao Feng asked with a smile.
Upon hearing this,
Golden Cicada smiled slightly, his gaze toward Zhao Feng filled with gratitude.
"I will never forget the benefactor's guidance."
"Thanks to you, I have now witnessed the true essence of Buddhism."
"Only now do I understand what pure Buddhism truly is."
"Compared to Great Qin's Buddhism, my sect's teachings seem to fall short." Golden Cicada spoke slowly, clearly having reached full enlightenment.
"What do you think sets Great Qin Buddhism apart?" Zhao Feng asked with a smile.
"Great Qin Buddhism is about self-sacrifice for the sake of others, delivering salvation to all beings. All beings suffer, but Buddhism alleviates this suffering, planting the seed of Buddha within everyone's heart."
"Buddha has no fixed form. As long as the heart holds Buddha, all beings can be Buddhas. There is no need for forced faith or devotion."
Golden Cicada pressed his hands together in reverence, a glow of enlightenment on his face.
Zhao Feng smiled.
"It worked."
"Golden Cicada has been fully influenced by Great Qin Buddhism."
"This is good."
"The future holy monk of Buddhism shall belong to Great Qin."
Zhao Feng was highly satisfied with Golden Cicada's transformation.
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