Mythology

Chapter 535 It would be better if Yang He were in Heaven.
The great calamity is approaching. According to Zhunti, both the Heavenly Court and the Spirit Mountain will eventually fall into the Void. However, the Thirty Heavens still hang high in the sky, and the immortals and gods are still leisurely and carefree.

The young Taoist planted spiritual herbs among the mountains, while a crane preened its feathers, its red crest lightly touching the surface of the pond, creating colorful ripples.

The alchemy and weapon crafting never ceased, and the Heavenly Court was filled with a unique fragrance.

The fragrance is ever-changing; at first, it smells of the cool, refreshing scent of snow-capped lotus stamens, then transforms into the rich, mellow aroma of ancient agarwood, and suddenly becomes the sweet, savory taste of fine wine.

Master Qingfeng was in a hurry, his anxious expression contrasting sharply with the other immortals.

Before long, he passed through the Heavenly Ladder without any hindrance and arrived at the heavily guarded Lingxiao Palace, or more accurately, the Lingxiao Main Hall.

Currently, only the main hall and side halls of Lingxiao Palace are open to the public; the rest of the area is shrouded in thick fog.

Qingfeng and Mingyue cautiously stepped into the main hall. Even though it had been closed for thousands of years, its former grandeur was still evident.

The star map on the dome rotated, and the ground was covered with spiritual jade, with profound and mysterious Daoist charm flowing through it at all times.

"This humble immortal, Qingfeng, greets all the esteemed immortals."

Master Qingfeng bowed respectfully. The remaining eight righteous gods gathered in Lingxiao Palace, and even the swirling immortal light could not conceal the solemn atmosphere.

The eye between the brows of Wen Zhong, the Heavenly Venerable of the Thunder Department, was half-open; within three feet of Luo Xuan, the Heavenly Venerable of the Fire Department, the air was slightly distorted; Yang Ren of the Tai Sui Department remained silent with a solemn expression.

The leaders of the other five departments have disappeared without a trace. Since the end of the Investiture of the Gods, the entire Heavenly Court has declined to the point where there are no more than a hundred immortals and gods.

Wen Zhong let out a long breath. "Junior Brother Qingfeng, come in."

Everyone's gaze fell upon the Haotian Mirror on the southwest wall.

Master Qingfeng looked around and recognized only Qiongxiao. He stood beside her and they gazed together at the mirror-like surface, which reflected the scene of the 108 side halls surrounding Lingxiao Palace.

The side halls are arranged according to the eight trigrams, and most of them are quiet and deserted.

Thirty-two of them were shrouded in heavy restrictions, faintly emanating chilling fluctuations.

Master Qingfeng asked softly, "Lady Qiongxiao, did Lady Yunxiao return safely?"

Qiongxiao shook her head with a worried expression, but didn't say anything more.

When Master Qingfeng heard the immortals discussing the troubles in Lingxiao Palace, it seemed that no one expected that even the Four Emperors and Five Elders were trapped inside.

"Junior Brother Qingfeng, did you bring your senior brother's head?"

Wen Zhong's voice broke the silence. Daoist Qingfeng quickly took out a brocade box, opened it, and found the head of the Corpse Celestial Venerable inside.

The brain, though long since lifeless, remains remarkably lifelike.

The head that Yang He specially crafted for Daoist Qingfeng before descending to the mortal realm was no longer considered a remnant, but a spiritual treasure, to prevent lending the head to outsiders from affecting the Corpse Celestial Venerable.

"Thank you."

"I dare not accept such praise! My senior brother instructed me that I must not refuse if Grand Tutor Wen speaks up."

Master Qingfeng hesitated for a few moments, "May I ask a few more questions? What kind of magic array do you need to set up with Senior Brother's head? And what is the reason for it?"

Upon seeing this, Yang Ren responded, "It's used to seal off a group of insane immortals and gods."

After Yin Jiao's death, Yang Ren took over the Tai Sui Department, but his cultivation level was ultimately inferior, and he barely reached the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal by relying on the support of his immortal position.

Yang Ren touched Qingfeng Daoist's brow, and the latter gradually became connected with Haotian Mirror.

The Haotian Mirror reflected the condition of the thirty-two side halls.

Twenty-eight of these cells held beings whose existence was beyond description.

Master Qingfeng recognized them at a glance as the twenty-eight Eighth Generals of the Eight Divisions, some of whom he had even interacted with before. Yet now they were in an indescribable state, which sent chills down his spine.

The flesh of the Water Official had turned into transparent mucus, and his internal organs could be vaguely seen wriggling inside him like sea anemones. When he struggled, his entire body would scatter and splash like waves, only to reassemble under the restraint of the chains.

The Plague God was covered in pustules, his chest and abdomen were exposed, and his internal organs were rotting away. He lay prostrate on the ground, barely able to breathe.

Besides these, there were also the Fire Gods, charred black like charcoal; the Smallpox Gods, their skin covered in smallpox; and the Tai Sui Gods, their wrinkled skin filling the side halls…

They had long since lost their minds and would occasionally ram the side hall gates, trying to break through the seals inscribed on the walls by the Eight Tribes.

Master Qingfeng's face turned deathly pale, and he stared incredulously at the last four side halls.

Inside are four... the leaders of the Eight Divisions.

Master Qingfeng trembled all over. In addition, with Lady Yunxiao missing in Lingxiao Palace, wouldn't most of the Eight Departments have been lost?

Is the Heavenly Court... about to fall?

Wen Zhong turned to look at Yang Ren, "How is Old Plague Ghost doing?"

Yang Ren activated the Haotian Mirror, and the side hall revealed by the mirror was filled with ever-expanding and writhing colorful creatures. The colors were so vibrant that they seemed to be out of place in the human world. After looking at them for a while, even the eyes of several righteous gods with slightly weaker Dao hearts became dazed and their bodies swayed slightly.

"The Plague Old Ghost in Kunjiu Palace was the first of the Eight Divisions to go mad with evil spirits."

Master Qingfeng learned that before the leaders of the eight tribes lost control, they had all entered the depths of the Lingxiao Palace, which seemed to be a place called Jade Steps. When they came out, they were already delirious.

To be on the safe side, Wen Zhong sealed them in a side hall, but so far they have not been able to find a solution. They can only hope that the missing Lady Yunxiao will return safely and provide useful information.

Yang Ren explained, "The Plague Demon's form is becoming increasingly inhuman, and the protective clouds around it are no longer auspicious. Once the seal is broken, the entire Thirty Heavens will be eroded by the plague, and even those who are watching with slightly weak minds will experience hallucinations."

Luo Xuan added, "Yesterday, a celestial soldier on duty only caught a glimpse of crimson in the distance before disappearing into the Lingxiao Palace with a silly grin, leaving no trace."

Amid the discussion, Yang Ren threw the Haotian Mirror into another side hall.

"The condition of the Water Deity Star Lord is almost the same as that of the Plague Old Ghost. If the seal is not reinforced, he will surely escape within ten days, which is extremely dangerous."

Master Qingfeng looked at the mirror. Inside the side hall, there was a layer of pitch-black liquid, which seemed to be alive, with a large number of eyeballs floating on the surface.

“There is definitely a large amount of Guixu aura accumulating deep within Lingxiao Palace. Perhaps the Plague Old Ghost is not quite clear about it yet, but Shui De Xingjun was clearly eroded by the Guixu aura.”

Upon hearing Zhong's words, all the immortals showed surprise.

It is an undeniable fact that the Void has already submerged the Underworld, but they did not expect that the Void would spread to the Thirtieth Heaven so quickly.

Wen Zhong took the head of Corpse Celestial Venerable and said in a deep voice, "With Fellow Daoist Yang He's remains reinforcing the seal, the situation will not worsen."

One of the immortals was so frightened that he hysterically grabbed Qingfeng Daoist's shoulders.

"Where is the Corpse Celestial Venerable? You must be able to contact him. With the profound mysteries of the Corpse Celestial Venerable's Daoist temple, he can surely stop the Heavenly Court's current decline..."

"I…I don't know."

The immortal's eyes turned red. The Four Emperors and Five Elders either went to the Jade Steps or descended to the mortal realm. The Three Pure Ones no longer cared about the affairs of the Heavenly Court. It seemed that the only thing they could rely on was this disciple of the Sage.

It's known that Yang He's Daoist temple is said to have absorbed the energy of the Void, so the Lingxiao Palace certainly couldn't possibly trap Yang He. The Heavenly Court can still be saved!

"enough!!"

Wen Zhong pushed the immortal aside and said to Lei Zhenzi, "Lei Zhenzi, this man's Dao heart is unstable. Take him down to cultivate in seclusion for a few days."

Lei Zhenzi nodded, grabbed the immortal, and transformed into a bolt of lightning that flashed past.

Wen Zhong pinched the bridge of his nose, his head aching. In the past, an immortal on the verge of collapse would never have been qualified to become one of the Eight True Gods.

Unfortunately, the Heavenly Court was in complete disarray, with very few capable Golden Immortals left.

Wen Zhong also hoped that Yang He could return to the Heavenly Court to help them suppress the Lingxiao Palace, but... it was unrealistic. The eight chieftains knew that Yang He's current situation was more troublesome than that of the Lingxiao Palace.

Almost the entire Pure Land emerged, with five of the six saints descending to earth.

It's all for Yang He!!!
In Wen Zhong's view, Yang He was doomed unless he could become a member of Buddhism, relinquishing his other identities and willingly becoming the Immaculate Buddha. Could he escape unscathed?

Unlike the leaders of the Eight Departments who have celestial positions to assist them, Yang He probably hasn't even advanced to the level of a Primordial Golden Immortal. How could he possibly escape unscathed from a sage?

Wen Zhong glanced at Qiongxiao, who was trying to appear calm, and looked around the Heavenly Court. Only the two sisters, Yunxiao and Qiongxiao, firmly believed that Yang He was safe and sound.

He suppressed his distracting thoughts and said, "There is no time to lose. Fellow Daoist Luo Xuan, come with me to the side hall and reinforce the seal as soon as possible before we discuss the matter further."

"kindness."

Master Qingfeng, considering that he was the only one who frequently set up formations to capture Corpse Celestial Venerable's head, volunteered, "Grand Tutor Wen, I'll go too."

"Fellow Daoist Qingfeng, thank you for your trouble."

"fine."

Yang Ren stayed behind in the main hall, using the Haotian Mirror to keep a close eye on their movements and to warn them immediately if there was any danger.

After preparing the necessary materials, Wen Zhong set off immediately without delay.

The passageway leading to the side hall was exceptionally spacious, paved with millennia-old cold jade, and the walls on both sides were inlaid with luminous pearls that emitted a soft white light.

The surroundings were eerily quiet; the only sound was the echo of footsteps in the empty space.

However, as they approached the side hall, shouts reached their ears, clashing with the deathly silence.

"Let me out! I've suppressed my demonic possession and I'm fine!"

"It's me, Luo Tianzun! Open the door! There's something inside watching us!"

"Save me! I can tell you the secrets of the Jade Steps!"

His voice was urgent, yet his logic was remarkably clear, even carrying a familiar tone, making him seem nothing like a madman who had lost his mind.

Master Qingfeng felt a chill run down his spine, as if the Haotian Mirror itself was a fake.

Wen Zhong explained, “Fellow Daoist Qingfeng, do not be deceived. They, or rather the lingering obsessions within them, will instinctively pretend to have just regained their senses when they sense a stranger approaching, inducing us to open the seal.”

At this moment, Yang Ren's telepathic message rang in the ears of the three.

"Hurry up, the thick fog deep inside the Lingxiao Palace is churning, it is very likely that eight righteous gods are escaping the jade steps. It is not clear whether they have lost control, but we must guide them in no matter what."

Upon seeing this, Wen Zhong quickened his pace and arrived at the side hall where the Water Deity Star Lord was imprisoned.

Looking through the window, the pitch-black, viscous atmosphere that had filled the hall had vanished, and a seemingly ordinary figure leaned against the door.

Master Qingfeng could discern the slightly pale face of the Water Deity Star Lord.

"Brother Wen! Brother Luo! You've finally arrived!"

The Water Deity's voice trembled with relief, "Just now, for some reason, my mind was momentarily distracted, and I was almost taken advantage of by evil thoughts. Fortunately, my foundation is solid, and I managed to pull through."

"Let me out of here! I can't stand this awful place any longer!"

His tone was sincere, as if he had truly experienced a false alarm.

Master Qingfeng was almost convinced, thanks to his own experience in the Haotian Mirror earlier.

Wen Zhong remained expressionless, then gave Luo Xuan a wink. The latter quietly began to comb through the spiritual patterns of the magic array, searching for the location to bury the head.

"Lu Xiong, please unleash your supernatural powers and show me your immortal strength."

Water Deity Star Lord nodded hurriedly: "Wen Zhong, look, my Xuanming True Water is crystal clear, there is no abnormality at all."

He stretched out his palm, and a stream of water flowed in his palm, emitting a faint spiritual light.

As soon as the supernatural power was unleashed, the Water Deity Star Lord suddenly discovered that Luo Xuan was reinforcing the magic array, and immediately began frantically banging on the gate.

Bang bang bang! !

"You are all imposters, demons in disguise. We are the true Eight Departments of Heaven. What good is it if we forcibly seal you away? When the Jade Emperor is resurrected, you will surely suffer a terrible death!"

The Water Deity grinned, his tone filled with deep despair.

Master Qingfeng subconsciously looked at Wen Zhong and the other person. If what the Water Deity Star Lord said was true, could it be that Wen Zhong and the others were the imposters?

After all, how could the Eight Departments of Heaven have fallen to such a wretched state?

Luo Xuan snorted coldly, flames flickering in his palm, melting the corresponding materials and injecting them into the key nodes of the magic array. The spiritual patterns covering the ground and walls turned blood red.

The roar of the Water Deity subsided, and the noise from the collision also lessened considerably.

Wen Zhong opened his three eyes and repeatedly confirmed that there was no problem.

"Let's go. Next up is Yu Hualong, the leader of the Smallpox Clan. After he seals off the four side halls, we'll figure out how to deal with the remains of the Corpse Celestial Venerable."

Master Qingfeng regained his senses, suppressed the trembling in his heart, and followed Wen Zhong and Luo Xuan to continue forward, passing in turn the side hall where Yu Hualong, the head of the Smallpox Division, Wen Laogui, the head of the Plague Division, and Zhao Gongming, the head of the Finance Division, were imprisoned.

The performance of the three was almost identical to that of those I had encountered before.

Zhao Gongming, in particular, remained silent and stayed in the side hall.

Master Qingfeng was filled with doubt and uncertainty, but since he was only at the Xuanxian realm, it seemed that he was powerless to reverse the situation, so he could only take it one step at a time.

"Fellow Daoist Qingfeng, how is this place?"

Wen Zhong carefully examined the surrounding environment and finally stopped at the corner of the three side halls, pointing to an abandoned ancient well.

After observing for a long time, Master Qingfeng discovered that the Yin veins surrounding the Lingxiao Palace were indeed gathered at the bottom of the well, making it the perfect core of the array.

Wen Zhong's judgment was incredibly accurate, and his doubts dissipated somewhat.

"Grand Tutor Wen is absolutely right; the ancient well is the best choice."

Master Qingfeng was just about to take out the brocade box.

Just now.

Yang Ren's urgent telepathic message exploded in the three's ears like thunder: "Be careful! There's unusual activity deep within the Lingxiao Palace! A figure is heading in your direction! The aura is at least that of a Hunyuan Golden Immortal!!"

"Take cover in the side hall first!"

Wen Zhong's expression changed drastically, and he pushed open the door of an empty side hall next to him.

The three quickly went inside, and then the door closed again.

The hall was completely empty.

Master Qingfeng leaned against the cold wall, his heart pounding. He was about to ask what was going on when he suddenly froze, completely bewildered!
Wen Zhong and Luo Xuan, who were just standing in front of him, have vanished!

There was no one else in the side hall except for himself!
Cold sweat instantly soaked through Master Qingfeng's Taoist robe.

"Are they...humans or ghosts?"

Snapped.

The brocade box was opened from the inside out, and the head of the Corpse Celestial Venerable opened its eyes.

“Junior Brother Qingfeng, if you ask them, they’ll probably all think they have no problem.”

(End of this chapter)