Wet viviparity

Chapter 940 Heavenly Palace, Ji Family Immortals
Gouqu Cave Heaven, Jintan Mausoleum, Huayang Heavenly Palace.

Huayang Heavenly Palace is the key point of the Gouqu Cave Heaven Golden Altar Mausoleum.

This palace is not prized for its magnificent buildings and pavilions, but for its extraordinary creation, built in accordance with the natural world.

From a distance, one can see a pillar of green rock piercing the sky, reaching a height of ten thousand feet, leaning against the clouds. At its top is a giant palace, shaped like a lotus pod, as if it were growing out of the thick earth and hanging down amidst the strong winds and flowing clouds.

This lotus-shaped heavenly palace spans thousands of acres, with a main lotus chamber in the center and twelve surrounding lotus chambers, each several tens of acres in size, resembling lotus seeds embedded in the walls.

Among them, "Zi Shu Lian Shi" is located in the North Kan position, and its shape is like a mysterious pearl concealed within.

This lotus chamber is as clear and bright as a crystal cup, with flowing water that meanders around it, forming a cold spring pool. Several thatched huts and stone chambers are built along the river and pool, which is the place of quiet cultivation for several true immortals of the Ji family.

Among them, there is a dwelling with a clear stream beside it. More than ten fields of sesame seeds, formed by the formation of stone marrow, stretch for miles. Cranes often come to drink, pecking at the stones like striking a chime, with a clear and continuous sound. Several Taoist disciples of the True Spirit Sect are busy in these sesame fields.

Inside the dwelling, there is a stone altar that is 26 feet wide.

A handful of real water gathered in the concave center of the jar. Although the water was only an inch deep, it reflected the scenery of many mountains and rivers in Baoguang Prefecture, making it seem as if heaven and earth were inverted on the surface of the water.

A true immortal from the Ji family sat on a stone altar, gently stroking his three-stranded beard with one hand and holding a scroll in the other. The scroll was covered with many small characters, arranged in detail according to the specific year and month.

The True Immortal's gaze focused on the last line of small characters, where the ink was freshest, reading: "In the winter of the Jiazi year, the Grand Council of the Divine Palace on Taiping Mountain has concluded. The Little Saint Lingxu first triumphed in the treasure-hunting trial, and then in the salvation trial."

On that day, Prince Linghan of Jinbi Water Palace was the first to sign the decree.

Soon after, Man Shenying, one of the four villains of Yunyu Temple, presented the "Danmeng Lingchi Water Affection Treasure Map" and offered to accept the control of Taiping Treasure Coins.

This True Immortal from the Ji family carefully examined the rows of text on the scroll, looking extremely serious. His expression seemed to be more interesting than any Taoist scripture or supernatural power. He would praise it repeatedly one moment and slap his thigh and sigh the next.

At this moment, ripples appeared on the water at the center of the altar, and a wisp of ink rose from the water and landed on the scroll in the immortal's hand, where it landed in the last blank space, revealing brand new characters.

The immortal's eyes narrowed as he carefully examined the newly delivered intelligence.

"In the spring of the ninety-third year of Lingzang."

A year after the Great Council, Venerable Nazhen of the Thunder Department's Xuantan Palace, on the orders of Commander Zhao, presented the Three Lights Thunder Pool and nineteen bolts of cloud brocade to the Divine Gang Palace to seek forgiveness for past grievances. Lingxuzi refused to accept him, saying, "The time has passed, what is there to make amends for?"

That year, Lingxuzi went to the Huoxu Cave in Jiheng Mountain for seclusion, deeply studying the Five Elements Escape Technique, with the local master personally overseeing and protecting him.

"Three Lights Thunder Pool!"

The immortal paused in stroking his beard, then looked at him carefully again to make sure he wasn't mistaken.

He slowly put down the scroll in his hand, recalling the invitation sent by the Taiping Mountain Ancestor before the New Year. Although the invitation only mentioned coming to Huayang Cave to reminisce, upon seeing this new information, he was instantly inspired and knew that it must be related to that Shenxiao Deputy Commander and the Fourth Ancestor of the sect.

The sheer intensity of this instantaneous inspiration suggests that the matter Master Yang came to discuss must be significant, and he must have a very high degree of confidence in it. Otherwise, he would have concealed the secrets beforehand, preventing his spirit from experiencing such a strong and direct inspiration.

What could possibly be so compelling as to order Zhao Tan's subordinate, Na Zhenxian, to offer up the Three Lights Thunder Pool?

Although this item is not a spiritual treasure or divine gem, it has a very different meaning for Zhao Tan. During the reign of Emperor Tianzhou, when he was cultivating under the guidance of the Great Sage Yuan Dan, the Great Sage saw that he was diligent and hardworking, but because of his profound cultivation and long life, he suffered from the three calamities. The Great Sage specially granted him a Thunder Pool to help him overcome the calamities.

This Thunder Pool has been refined by Zhao Tan for a long time. In addition to being able to ward off the three calamities, it also has the effects of refining the soul and bringing the dead back to life.

It's conceivable that Zhao Tan's presentation of this Thunder Pool indicates a deep-seated grudge between him and Lingxuzi of Taiping Mountain. Even more interesting is that Lingxuzi refused the offering, claiming the time had passed, suggesting the grudge arose during the Grand Council's trial of deliverance. "Zhao Tan, the Zhao family, and Ancestor Yang of Taiping Mountain."

Ji Family Immortal silently calculated, his eyes fixed on the calm surface of the water in the center of the altar. As the calculation deepened, countless ripples surged and collided with each other, making the surface of the water resemble a crumpled piece of paper.

"My skills in numerology are still too shallow to fathom such mysteries."

Although the Ji family immortal was nothing special, he still had some speculations. He touched the surface of the water in the center of the altar with his finger, and the turbulent ripples subsided. The calm water reflected a scene, which was the place above the Yin Mansion's Wujian Throat Gully, below the Taiyin Heaven Cave, where the Heaven, Earth, and Water Officials' Palaces were located.

"Young True Lord, there may be changes in matters within the sect."

What has changed?

A gentle voice came from within the scene of the Three Officials Cave Palace reflected on the water's surface.

"Taipingshan and Zhaotan have a long-standing feud, and judging from the current situation, this feud has even alarmed the patriarchs of Taipingshan."

The old Master Yang, with whom I have a past relationship, has already sent an invitation, saying he will come to Huayang Heavenly Palace to discuss Taoism and metaphysics with me, and to appreciate medicine and elixirs. It seems he has ulterior motives; it's highly likely he's using our unresolved issues to further his plans for Taiping Mountain.

"Lei Yin, it's rare to find someone as vigilant as you."

The voice praised, saying, "During the Grand Council of Tiannan last year, the Yin Palace suddenly descended upon Taiping Mountain Grotto, alarming many gods and ghosts. I also had some experience while studying the Dharma in the Three Small Grotto Palaces. In the grotto, besides immortals like Wuling and Qingnang, the Immovable Venerable also stirred a thought of Dharma."

If he was behind this, Zhao Tan is in grave danger.

Ji Leiyin, the True Immortal of the Ji Family, first showed joy, then a look of emotion.

"It seems that the outside world has already speculated about my True Spirit Sect's intention to follow the story of Taiwu in order to eliminate the ills."

Since Taiping Mountain is willing to do this, the chances of success are much greater. Whether it's Fei Zhangxian, You Rongzi, or even the Victorious Butcher Luo Xingshu, they can all be the swift blade to wipe out all the lawless disciples within the sect, restoring order and justice to Baoguang Prefecture.

"Is a single sharp knife enough?"

The voice on the water drew out, then began to criticize, "You, Ji Lei, are skilled in cultivation, but when it comes to worldly matters and matters of human nature, you always start grandly but end poorly. Your mind soars to the highest clouds, yet your feet are trapped in a five-mile fog. You are adept at painting dragons and snakes, but you cannot even touch the eye of metal and stone."

If all that was needed was a sharp knife, the Zhao and Zheng families, along with the foolish and wicked members of their Wu Ma and Xu Gou branches, would have been wiped out long ago. Why wait until now?

This matter requires an exceptional individual, someone even enlightened immortals would respect in their presence. Such a person exists only in Taiping Mountain, and that is the young sage Lingxu.

Will he take on this task?

Ji Leiyin, feeling uncertain, said, "The reason we are enlisting people from our own lineage to handle this matter is twofold: firstly, our disciples are not up to the task, and secondly, we do not want our few outstanding members to be involved in such a perilous situation."

Even if the feud between Taiping Mountain and Zhao Tan began with Ling Xuzi, a Daoist immortal being of such exceptional talent, would Taiping Mountain truly be willing to risk his life for someone so rare?

"Then we'll see what price our Ji family has to pay. Taiping Mountain must have already decided on that price."

"Haha, there is no price in the world that my Ji family cannot afford."

Ji Leiyin picked up the "Detailed Rules for the Estimation of Spiritual Resources" beside him and immediately flipped to the "Regulations for the Allocation and Mutual Assistance of Spiritual Resources." There were many markings and annotations on it, which showed that he had done a lot of research on the Taiping Mountain reform regulations. "When Ling Xuzi comes, I will definitely have a long talk with him all night long. How could he come up with such a wonderful strategy for governing the clan and managing the government?"

(End of this chapter)