Chapter 20

"Those of us from the Laoshan Sect have inherited the Dao of the ancient great deities, but we do not concern ourselves with such matters," Xuan Kong boasted. "Imbibing the mysteries of the sun and moon, seizing the transformations of heaven and earth—this is the cultivation method of the ancient great deities."

He asked, "Have you ever heard that the Three Pure Ones of Daoism achieved divinity through the formation of a yuan ying (spirit embryo)?"

Xiang Yu shook her head and said with reverence, "The Three Pure Ones are the Supreme Lord of Heaven, the Grand Supreme Elder Lord, and the Primordial Heavenly Venerable. They are all great beings who have achieved the status of Immortal Saints, how could they possibly become deities through a spirit embryo?"

Xuan Kong asked again, "Then among figures like the Queen Mother of the West, the Eastern Emperor, and the Four Heavenly Teachers, which one became a deity through a spirit embryo?"

Jiang Xue and Xiang Yu shook their heads again.

Xuan Kong clapped his hands and laughed, "So, you see, those cultivators in the mortal world only need to guard against the Fourth Nine Heavenly Tribulation. But our Laoshan Sect follows the methods of the Supreme Clarity, and we must know about the 'Three Disasters'!" He had mentioned the "Three Disasters" to Xiang Yu and Jiang Xue in the mental space before.

These were the calamities that even the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, had to avoid, let alone these two small flower spirits.

Xiang Yu bit her finger, her face showing difficulty. "What can we do?"

After cultivating for so long, if they were to switch to cultivating a spirit embryo, how could they bear it? But if they did not face the heavenly tribulation, they would not be able to transform into human form and would remain as plants, drifting in the wind and rain forever.

Xuan Kong thought to himself that his farthest journey out of the mountain had only been to the capital. If he could meet the True Person of Compassion and Salvation, that would be best. Even if he couldn't, he would at least find out where the Lansi Temple was. This round trip would take about a year.

He decided and said, "How about this: the two of you suppress your cultivation and wait for me for a year. After a year, I will return to Laoshan, and we can think of a solution together!" These two immortal flowers, though transplanted by Xuan Kong, had lived for countless years on Kunlun Mountain.

They had lived much longer than Xuan Kong's forty to fifty years, so calling them "sisters" was not inappropriate.

Hearing that Xuan Kong had them and their sister in his heart, Xiang Yu felt sweet inside but said softly, "The heavenly tribulation is severe. Even with one more person, how much help could it be?"

Xuan Kong laughed, "I've heard that in ancient times, the demon race governed the heavens and the witch race governed the earth. At that time, countless demons became immortals through tribulations. I don't believe we can't avoid it now." Indeed, the key was in the art of "dodging."

Thirty-six stratagems, dodging is the best.

I can't provoke the heavenly tribulation, but can't I dodge it?

In ancient times, which demon didn't know a few magical transformations? A roll on the ground, and they would transform into another shape. After a day and night, the heavenly tribulation would lose its target and dissipate. Then they would transform back to their original form, having safely passed the tribulation.

Over the years, Xuan Kong had studied many side techniques but found the art of magical transformations beyond his grasp.

So he wanted to delay for a year to see if he could learn a few transformation techniques to teach Xiang Yu and Jiang Xue, to help them avoid the heavenly tribulation and achieve their goals. He couldn't say this yet, as he wasn't sure.

He just said, "One person's plan is short, three people's plan is long. If all else fails, I can carry your original forms to Maoshan, which is one of the few blessed lands in the world. Even the heavenly tribulation can't find its way there."

There were some special places in the three realms.

For example, the thirty-six blessed lands and seventy-two blessed sites of Daoism. Unless the owner of these lands allows it, no outsider can find the way in for a hundred years. In these places, one is essentially outside the three realms and the five elements, and the heavenly tribulation cannot enter without a way in.

Jiang Xue also thought to herself that this was the only way.

Fortunately, they had known Xuan Kong for about ten years and had built trust. Though they didn't thank him verbally, they were happy in their hearts. With Xuan Kong's help, the two flower immortals had a better chance of avoiding the heavenly tribulation. They slowly faded from Xuan Kong's mental space, determined to return to their cultivation.

They were going back to cultivate, and though Xuan Kong was reluctant, he didn't let it show.

He still had some things to do. He closed his eyes and repeatedly replayed the battle with the Elder Deng Li of the Kongtong Sect in his mind. He had some insights and realized that there were many mistakes he could avoid when fighting someone like Deng Li.

The path of cultivation is repetitive and monotonous. All the excitement is just for show. Only those who cultivate can understand how dull and boring the process is, which is why the junior disciples of the Laoshan Sect are not keen on doing their homework.

Xuan Kong's consciousness sank into a meditative state, and he took a deep, long breath, forming the Thunder God Dharma Body in his chest. According to the ancient techniques of the Laoshan Sect, small bolts of lightning continuously appeared around him.

Occasionally, some foreign demons, envious of Xuan Kong's high cultivation, would project their forms to attack him, but they were instantly reduced to ashes by the Supreme Clarity Thunder surrounding Xuan Kong.

He recited the true words, and at that moment, Xuan Kong's face showed no emotion. He looked like a celestial being, or a deity in a temple, with no joy or anger, but his presence exuded the solemnity of a high sage who has seen through the world.

All worldly illusions were shattered, and only the profound mysteries flowed through his heart.

The orthodox methods have their excellence. Once one reaches a certain realm, cultivation naturally progresses. Having seen the ugliness of the world and enjoyed all the pleasures, Xuan Kong, having obtained the immortal arts, naturally devoted himself to the Dao.

In the depths of his mind, he aligned with the saying, "No self, no dharma, no sentient beings."

I have experienced everything in the world; everything I have experienced, I can let go. It is laughable that the monks who teach cultivation in the Central Plains only teach people to let go, without realizing that they have never truly held on to anything to begin with.

Xuan Kong's experiences, however, had allowed him to skip this step. Only by holding on can one truly let go, which aligns with the thread of life in the universe and the ultimate truth of heaven and earth. A thread of power slowly emerged from the purple mansion and the golden elixir, transforming into the true fire of the elixir cauldron, slowly burning the golden elixir.

The golden elixir, originally the size of a thumb, slowly melted and softened under the true fire. Xuan Kong then drew more heavenly qi from the air, causing the elixir to expand and then be refined by the true fire. With enough effort, there would be a harvest.

Although the expansion of the golden elixir was almost imperceptible, a gentle smile appeared on Xuan Kong's face. Every cell, every acupoint, every meridian was filled with heavenly qi, making Xuan Kong feel like a man dying of thirst in the desert who suddenly found himself in an oasis.

He drank and absorbed the qi in large gulps, and the smile on his face was like that of a baby who has had enough milk and is naturally satisfied.

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