This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 456 I am the True Martial Master of the North, the Ancestor Who Subdues Demons of the Nine Heavens

The altar square for the sacrificial ceremony suddenly fell into dead silence.

It's like when a chaotic self-study session suddenly turns into a commotion and the homeroom teacher is standing outside the window. The emperor and all his officials immediately shut up, no longer crying, making a fuss, or laughing, and even their breathing becomes extremely low.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the immortal with bloodshot eyes, chatting with the official with his arm around his shoulder. The official seemed to have lost his soul, answering every question without question, like a puppet on strings, completely devoid of self.

The scene was too creepy; it seemed, possibly, or perhaps not to be any kind of benevolent deity.

Did they open the wrong door, or invite the wrong deity?

There are also cultivators in the Great Zhou Dynasty court, but they are limited by the laws of the Chongting Realm, with an upper limit of the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. They cannot even find a Grandmaster of the Profound Realm. However, Xiang Yuan's way of forcibly opening his heart to communicate does not require a high level of cultivation; ordinary people can see that there is something wrong with it.

Evil door!

Where is the ethereal and otherworldly demeanor I was promised? Where is the venerable and dignified presence I was promised? Why does the immortal give off such a domineering vibe, like... well, a combination of wisdom and courage?

Did the historians make a mistake, or did they over-embellish the story?

Everyone fell silent, not uttering a sound.

At the same time, they were both extremely relieved that they hadn't foolishly rushed to the front to pay their respects just because the gods were there and the Great Zhou was saved. Otherwise, they would have become the puppets on the strings.

In truth, Xiang Yuan misunderstood these 'mortals'. The rituals related to the Heavenly Court, such as offering sacrifices to the heavens and inviting gods to descend to earth, are clearly recorded and explicitly stipulated in the history books of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

How to invite them, how to pay homage, and how to receive them after they descend to earth—all these are explained in black and white.

It's not that everyone is a hypocrite who only pretends to love dragons, but rather that etiquette cannot be disregarded, and even in urgent situations, procedures must be followed according to rules and regulations.

Otherwise, offending the immortals would be a grave sin.

Like the Qianyuan Realm, the Upper Heavenly Court of the Chongting Realm has been away for many years. It is highly likely that the two realms originally belonged to the same Heavenly Court. The Great Zhou Dynasty has been offering sacrifices to Heaven for many years without success. Under the circumstances of going through the formalities, their skills have become somewhat rusty.

For example, the officials in charge of sacrifices today have lost their status and become rusty because they have not been blessed with divine favor for many years.

They were supposed to walk ahead of the emperor and be the first to bow and welcome the immortals descending to earth, but lacking experience and seeing deities for the first time, they were completely bewildered and forgot what the next step in the process should be.

If the officials in charge of ceremonies don't take the lead, the emperor will be in an awkward position. If he steps forward, it will make it seem as if the imperial power of the Great Zhou Dynasty is superior to the divine authority...

this is not right!
Although it is now, it was because the upper realm was slow to respond, and for the sake of the Great Zhou dynasty, the imperial power had to step forward.

I'll change it back tonight!

The emperor had already come up with a reason, but when he saw Xiang Yuan's bloodshot eyes controlling the puppet, he immediately stopped and began to play dead.

He's just a nobody; the methods of an immortal are no different from those of a demon emperor.

Could it be another Demon Emperor?

What virtue or ability do I, Chongting Realm, possess to have two Demon Emperors serving me in turn!
While everyone was lost in thought, Xiang Yuan and the official in charge of rites finished their heart-to-heart talk and roughly understood the current situation in Chongting Realm.

The Demon Emperor descended, plunging the world into chaos. The Great Zhou Dynasty teetered on the brink of collapse, and people prayed to the heavens and gods...

Xiang Yuan narrowed his eyes and spread his spiritual senses. It was his first time encountering the laws and principles of this world, and he vaguely sensed that something was amiss.

It went so well!

It wasn't bad, but rather too good. The primordial spirit's perception spread out, and the laws of heaven and earth showed no sign of rejection. Moreover, due to the manifestation of the laws of heaven and earth in this world, the range of the primordial spirit's perception expanded more than a hundredfold, covering the entire capital in just a breath.

It's not over yet. The more one masters the laws and principles of this world, the wider the range of one's primordial spirit's perception becomes, expanding wildly without end.

Having traveled through the Yanfu Sect several times, Xiang Yuan could be considered a veteran. He had seen all sorts of versions, but this was the first time he had ever seen a world so friendly to outsiders that it was almost fawning.

Xiao Lingyue, Chan'er, and Bai Wuyan were almost drooling with envy.

They have been repeatedly weakened and restricted in various ways, and have never fought such a rich war before!
Xiang Yuan had a vague feeling that he was incredibly strong now. Even if the Chongting Realm had not opened the ascension channel, the supernatural abilities he displayed were comparable to those of the True Martial Emperor... the female secretary in the office.

At first glance, it seems like a random long thing on an office desk, like a firearm. But this is the firearm of the True Martial Emperor—or rather, the female secretary of the True Martial Emperor. Blessed by the divine power of the Emperor, she is an invincible existence in any lower realm.

The Qianyuan Realm is an exception; the waters there are too deep.

Xiang Yuan's spiritual senses spread out, flooding the entire capital like a tide.

In an instant, a myriad of scenes came into view.

The tattered straw mats stretched along the long street in a gray-yellow wave, and on each mat was a emaciated body curled up.

In the queue for porridge, there were skin and bones of men who were too weak to walk and could only crawl; there were sallow-faced and emaciated women and children sharing plain white porridge, their sunken cheeks reflected at the bottom of the bowl; there were infants who were unusually quiet, their bluish-purple little hands hanging down at the edge of the straw mat, like a withered branch.

The streets and alleys were a scene of hell on earth.

Xiang Yuan frowned, thinking of the wasteland he once knew, and instantly felt a sense of disgust towards this world.

He was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see such a tragedy.

Hypocritical kindness believes in "out of sight, out of mind," and as long as they can't see human tragedies, the world will be peaceful and beautiful.

By driving the refugees out of the capital, the tragedy was averted, and my conscience could finally be at peace.

Xiang Yuan was truly kind-hearted. In the Wasteland Realm, he was powerless to change the world. He obtained a jade belt from Jing Yun, opened the ascension passage, and summoned the divine power of the True Martial Emperor to sweep away the demonic energy of heaven and earth. He also borrowed Guanyin Bodhisattva's pure bottle to wash away the impurities and transform the Wasteland into a newly born pure land.

This time, it won't be so complicated.

Having grasped the laws and principles of this world, and understanding his own abilities, he acted decisively.

boom!
Xiang Yuan's body slowly floated up, his small world emanating from his body, where Yin and Yang energies converged and the power of the Five Elements evolved...

The clear air rises, dispelling the shadows over the capital, gently wiping the jade plate, brushing away the haze and turbidity, so that the bright moon can shine in the sky again;
The bright moonlight swept across, purifying evil spirits and driving back the dark river in the distance;

The five elements cycle and generate each other. Earth, with its yellow light, symbolizes virtue and sustains all things. Wood, with its green light, transforms into plants sprouting. Water, with its black light, fire, with its red light, and metal, with its white light, bursts out of the soil and grows wildly.

In the blink of an eye, the fruit trees were laden with fruit, turning the illusory into the real, from nothing to something, spreading throughout every street and alley of the capital.

From a high altitude, with Xiang Yuan as the center, the light of the five elements is distorted everywhere, and the light bands spread and flow, with food that is inexhaustible.

A miracle has occurred!

The refugees frantically scrambled for the fruit, swallowing it in large gulps; some even choked so badly their eyes rolled back.

"A person who is too weak to tolerate tonics will die from eating too much..."

Xiang Yuan shook his head and raised his hand to prick his fingertip.

Tick!
A wisp of divine and demonic blood spilled out and merged into the small world.

Crash———

The spring rain continued, covering the sky above the capital.

The raindrops contain the power of creation, filling gaps and nourishing all things silently.

The refugees' withered bodies gradually filled out, color returned to their pale faces, their illnesses were washed away, and their heavy bodies felt lighter. Even the dying infants began to cry loudly...

Su Ran Sword Master's sarcastic remark that Xiang Yuan was the Queen Mother of the West's elixir of immortality was based on fact, not just random talk.

"A god! It's a god!"

In the capital, people knelt and kowtowed, tears streaming down their faces.

Xiang Yuan floated to the ground, unwilling to accept such a grand gift.

In the square, the emperor and his officials were excited, bowing and kowtowing one by one. Although they did not see the vibrant scene of life and flourishing things in the capital, the spring rain had swept away their chronic illnesses, and they all realized that they had been thinking too much.

Please consult the immortals!
The historical records are accurate, and the historians did not exaggerate. The immortals in the celestial realm are indeed dignified, virtuous, and solemn.

"Emperor Zhou, Ji Bai, respectfully worshipped the immortal, and by the grace of Heaven, sent down sweet wind and rain..."

The officials in charge of ceremonies were obsequious and incompetent, so the emperor disregarded etiquette, bowed and kowtowed, and rambled on and on. Because he was often flattered, he had become quite eloquent.

Oh, you also have the surname Ji?

Xiang Yuan raised an eyebrow. The last Zhou dynasty in the Qianyuan Realm had a long history, leaving behind only a bunch of ruins. If he remembered correctly, the royal family of the last Zhou dynasty was surnamed Ji.

The Zhou Dynasty in the Lower Abyss Realm and the Chongting Realm also had a royal family with the surname Ji.

The lineage of the Zhou emperor Ji is widespread, with traces found throughout the three thousand worlds, indicating that his origins were extremely significant and not accidental.

Xiang Yuan asked Su Ran Sword Master about this issue. The idiot took the money and did nothing. He said that forgetting it would make him vomit blood. He also said that no one would be so stupid as to renege on their debt.

Xiang Yuan decisively went to find the White Palace Master who was willing to vomit blood, but unfortunately, he happened to be caught up in the rumors about the Queen Mother of the West and King Mu of Zhou. The White Palace Master had been in a bad mood lately, and every time he came to his door, he was scratched and clawed. He had not been able to find an opportunity to make the White Palace Master vomit blood.

The problem remains unresolved.

After hearing what Ji Bai said today, Hakimi started to feel anxious again.

Never mind, I'll make the White House Chief Executive vomit blood when I get back!

Being scratched by the White House is much more comfortable than being scratched by Hakimi.

"We humbly beseech the Immortal to bestow upon us an honorific title, so that our Great Zhou Dynasty may worship him for generations to come and forever be grateful for his grace!"

The emperor knelt on the ground, pleading repeatedly, while the civil and military officials behind him knelt in waves, their pleas rising and falling.

"I am the True Martial of the North, the Ancestor Who Subdues Demons in the Nine Heavens!"

Xiang Yuan didn't mince words and directly revealed his name in the Celestial Realm. It was perfectly reasonable for him to reveal the name of the True Martial Emperor on this official business trip.

Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Ancestor!

Upon hearing this, everyone wept with joy.

The Demon Emperor wreaked havoc on the world. The Heavenly Court sent down a master to vanquish the demons. His expertise was a perfect match, and the Great Zhou Dynasty was saved. Peace returned to the land.

"Get up. I will not stay in Chongting Realm for long. I will leave after subduing the Demon Emperor. You don't need to be extravagant about the sacrifice..." Xiang Yuan stopped midway and thought of something. He said with a serious face, "If there is any construction, remember to build two temples next to the Zhenwu Hall to worship the two great supernatural beings, Lishan Laomu and Antarctic Guanyin, respectively."

One respects the teacher, and the other values ​​the Way; his respect for the teacher and the Way has always been commendable.

Xiang Yuan waved his hand, signaling the emperor and all the civil and military officials to rise. Seeing the corpses of the starving people scattered throughout the capital, the cries of the dying, and the ubiquitous refugees, he could tell that Ji Bai was a good emperor.

Those who have been emperors before know how terrible the consequences can be when displaced people become powerful.

Ji Bai was willing to let refugees into the capital and even distributed porridge everywhere. Regardless of whether he was stupid or foolish, at least he had a kind heart.

There aren't many emperors this crazy anymore.

As for the rice porridge being so clear it could be called plain water, this can't be blamed on Ji Bai. With the Demon Emperor causing chaos, the Great Zhou Dynasty was reduced to just the capital city, and even the wealthy families had no surplus grain. He had really tried his best.

……

Deep within the imperial palace.

Xiang Yuan sits cross-legged in mid-air, breathing in and out the yin and yang energies, and sorting out the laws and principles of heaven and earth in the Chongting realm.

A worker must first sharpen his tools if he wants to do well.

There's no rush to subdue the Demon Emperor. First, figure out your own limits and decide on a plan to subdue the demon based on the situation.

If you can defeat them, you can directly push them to the Demon King's castle and justice will descend from the heavens; if you can't defeat them, you'll infiltrate the Demon King's castle and spend half your life wandering aimlessly.

He's always used the same old trick, just a different name, and it works wonders.

Silent all night.

Ji Bai deeply felt that the immortal was of high moral character and prestige, who saved the people from suffering and had great compassion. Such a sage was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Sending two princesses over to wait would only desecrate the immortal's reputation, so he didn't want to make things difficult for himself.

The Xiao family of Shendu found it ridiculous, the Liu family of Tai'an smiled but said nothing, and the Li family of Shangyuan beat their chests and stamped their feet, regretting that they had arrived too late.

After a night of cultivation, Xiang Yuan confirmed one thing once again: he was now terrifyingly strong.

The upper limit of Chongting Realm is the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. There is no Grandmaster level in the Profound Realm. The laws of heaven and earth do not support the strength of a Grandmaster. Anyone who exceeds the limit will cause spatial rifts when they make a move. If it gets worse, it may destroy Chongting Realm.

However, the Demon Emperor can unleash supernatural powers far exceeding the limits of the Nascent Soul stage without damaging the foundation of the Chongting Realm.

Xiang Yuan can do that now too.

At first, he thought it was due to the version, as the way the laws of heaven and earth in Chongting Realm were presented supported exaggerated special effects that could destroy the world. After studying the laws of heaven and earth all night, he found that the situation was more complicated than he had imagined.

Xiang Yuan only had a vague understanding of the specific reasons and, without any relevant cases, could not provide a correct answer.

In the previous version, the benefits were in the wasteland world. After Xiang Yuan mastered the laws of heaven and earth, he was as strong as Frieza, sweeping through dungeons and treating the final boss as a mere soldier.

The Chongting Realm version is somewhat similar to the Wasteland Realm, with even more exaggerated perks and special effects that are practically free, making Xiang Yuan feel like he could kill a bull with one punch.

The Bull Demon King's Bull!
The specific reason is unknown, but it may be related to the Demon Emperor.

Extraterrestrial demons have invaded, distorting the laws of heaven and earth. The Chongting Realm has just ascended to a higher dimension and is unclear about its own position, hence its chaotic behavior, which is very suitable for a physical education student to stand up and kick.

After a period of reflection and a clear understanding of themselves, physical education students can no longer push themselves up.

"Perhaps, but I always feel..."

Something's not right!

Xiang Yuan couldn't figure it out. So he used the old method: if he couldn't understand it, he would move to the side and forget about it.

The most urgent task is to eliminate the Demon Emperor!
Xiang Yuan's intuition told him that the Demon Emperor, who could unleash overwhelming special effects and was as powerful as the Bull Demon King, must know the truth about the Chongting Realm.

The Demon Emperor placed everything in the Demon King's City, and it is highly likely that the opportunity mentioned by Master Jingyun was also hidden in the Demon King's City by the Demon Emperor.

Xiang Yuan's figure faded and disappeared into the palace.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Demon City.

Bah, Imperial City.

No one knows how the Demon Emperor came to be, nor can anyone explain what kind of demonic arts he cultivated.

According to rumors circulating in the capital, the Demon Emperor was originally a feudal lord with a poor fiefdom and an ordinary family background. Leaving the capital was equivalent to leaving the country.

They barely survived between the great powers, living off meager taxes. Even the roof tiles of their palace leaked year-round, and their lives were very impoverished.

Three years ago, everything changed.

First, news came from the border that this vassal king had suddenly become incredibly powerful, single-handedly annihilating hundreds of cavalrymen from neighboring countries, declaring himself emperor and establishing his capital, thus embarking on an unscrupulous path to hegemony.

The Demon Emperor's territory grew larger and larger, spreading like a plague, and his power expanded at an alarming rate.

At first, he could only defeat a hundred men, but he was able to fight against top-tier masters of his time.
Three months later, he had already killed a thousand people, and breaking into the city alone was as easy as taking candy from a baby;

Another six months later, he was already a match for ten thousand men, and could change the color of mountains and rivers with a wave of his hand;
Now, he has long transcended the realm of mortals, able to blot out the sky with a flick of his finger and swallow the sea with a breath; the title of Demon Emperor is well-deserved.

He merged his will with heaven and earth, and within the territory of the Demon Kingdom, the Demon Emperor was as irresistible as a god.

On this cursed land, every gust of wind carries his whispers, every drop of rain reflects his pupils, mountains and rivers will actively strangle those who resist, and even the sun, moon and stars that pass by must turn into a colorful black to satisfy the Demon Emperor's aesthetics before they are allowed to pass.

The common people on the Demon Kingdom's territory became sacrifices for the Demon Emperor to unleash his power. Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants, and people from all walks of life—all the frameworks of order were erased. Demonic energy entered their bodies, their flesh and blood twisted, and they became neither human nor ghost.

The Demon Emperor did not rule the Demon Kingdom, but instead refined the entire Demon Kingdom into a part of himself. In the world of cultivation, this is called weapon crafting.

Getting back to the main point, Xiang Yuan stood atop the black city wall of the imperial city, looking down at the pitch-black city. His robes fluttered in the wind, and his aura was as blazing as the sun, pouring down without restraint.

Justice bestowed by heaven needs no cover-up; this positive figure should stand upright and honorable.

Beneath their feet, the entire city was submerged in thick darkness. The buildings twisted like jagged fangs, the streets writhed like the intestines of a giant beast, and even the black plants were covered in tumors, overflowing with viscous, putrid sap.

The city was deserted, yet it was teeming with people everywhere.

For example, there is a 'person' who thinks he is well hidden right under your feet.

"The decor is really tasteless..."

As Xiang Yuan shook his head, the bricks of the city wall beneath his feet suddenly cracked open, revealing a large mouth full of sharp teeth that bit down on his ankle.

With a snap, sharp teeth shattered on the ground, and a baby-like cry came from the cracks in the bricks, as the bricks gathered up and left.

Xiang Yuan did not stop him. Looking down, he noticed a twisted life force moving through the city walls, which quickly burrowed into the earth and merged into the entire Demon Kingdom.

The Demon Emperor refined the Demon Kingdom into a part of himself, and his will is omnipresent. The people who were once alive are now forcibly transformed into parasites.

The idea is very creative, but the style is not flattering. As I said before, the taste in interior design is terrible.

Xiang Yuan, as bright as the sun, stood atop the imperial capital's city wall, the most dazzling figure in the entire Demon Kingdom.

Last night, he used a little trick to project the laws of heaven and earth inherited by the Silver Moon Palace into a small world, purifying the sky and driving away the dark river that covered the heavens. The Demon Emperor must have sensed this and knew that a mortal enemy had appeared in the Chongting Realm.

Moreover, the Demon Kingdom is filled with the Demon Emperor's will, so there's little point in lying in wait. So they openly challenged the Demon Emperor and waited for him to show up.

I am coming!
where are you?
Rumble————

Crimson thunder tore through the sky, and three demonic figures shattered the void as they arrived. Amidst churning black clouds, terrifying pressure poured down like a tidal wave, causing the buildings throughout the imperial city to creak and groan.

The scene was grand, but it wasn't the Demon Emperor; it was...

Xiang Yuan raised an eyebrow, unsure of how to address them. Other factions typically had five members: Four Guardians, Four Vajras, and Four Heavenly Kings. But the Demon Emperor's side only had three...

Oh, the three giants, the three generals, they've all played by the rules.

Xiang Yuan looked at the three giants of the Demon Kingdom with great interest. They were very recognizable and looked just like humans.

The one on the left is a two-zhang-tall skeleton demon general, with eyes and a tongue, but no skin or flesh. Inside its chest cavity are clumps of writhing fleshy tumors, and black blood vessels and muscles meander and climb on its skeleton, interwoven in layers, making it look less bony.

The one in the center resembled an eight-armed demon, with eight slender arms spread out like spider legs, each palm split open into a gaping maw. Three heads were crammed onto its neck: one with a blue face and fangs, one rotting and oozing pus, and the other simply a skeleton.

It's very similar to Xiang Yuan's three heads and six arms configuration, and even has an extra pair of hands, but its appearance is far inferior to that of a pretty boy.

The one on the right is the only one of the three whose gender can be identified by appearance. He is about ten feet tall and has a graceful and enchanting figure. His curves are amazing under his flowing black latex suit. His face is very delicate and clean, and his eyes are red and bewitching, as if two rubies are embedded in them. He is the one who looks the most human.

This pale white skin is quite eye-catching. If it weren't for the latex suit on his body resembling a flowing asphalt ghost face, with black liquid constantly dripping from his toes, Xiang Yuan would have taken back his comment that the Demon Emperor's decorating style was terrible.

"Who is coming?"

The eight-armed Rakshasa in the center spoke in a booming voice, and each of its three heads had something to say: "So you are the deity who descended from the upper realm?"

"Which little deity are you? State your name at once!"

"I am the True Martial of the North, the Ancestor of the Nine Heavens Demon Slayers," Xiang Yuan replied calmly.

"Northern Zhenwu..."

The eight-armed Rakshasa was silent for a brief moment, seemingly in thought, or perhaps accepting the Demon Emperor's will.

A moment later, the three heads burst into laughter: "Hahaha, you really are a minor god. I have never heard of such a title before."

"It doesn't matter if you don't know. Respect for the dead is paramount, and I never hold grudges against them."

Xiang Yuan smiled slightly and slowly slid his palm down.

An indescribable flash of light appeared before the eight-armed Rakshasa...

(End of this chapter)