Great Red Immortal Sect

Chapter 508 Heavenly Root
The sea.

This sea is located in the northern region of Tianchi Lake. In the past, Japan called it the Great Wilderness. It was the first sea to be returned to the rule of the Dragon Court.

In the center of the vast sea, an ancient black jade palace stands on the island, connected by jade bridges and crisscrossed by waterways. Outside the palace, a hazy gray halo flows, exuding an ancient and primitive atmosphere.

The bright pearls in the hall shone brilliantly, creating a bright and clear space that reflected the image of a woman in a long dress made of dark blue satin and gold.

She was tall and slender, with her eyes slightly closed, and the shadow behind her sometimes transformed into a nine-headed monster bird, ferocious and savage.

Fu Dong waited quietly for the arrival of the Heavenly Pool Master, her face remaining calm and composed, as if nothing could disturb her.

The void opened, purple lightning surged, and rolling thunder roared from the ground, announcing the arrival of that dragon, and a deep and heavy dragon's might faintly emanated from it.

She opened her eyes, her gray pupils slightly narrowed.

On the main seat in front of the hall, a person appeared at some unknown time, wearing a black robe with a purple dragon pattern, with jade horns spiraling like a crown, and the reverse scale on his neck radiating bursts of mysterious yin light, deep and dark, interspersed with thunder.

Xu Xuan did not speak, but instead swept his scrutinizing gaze over the demon king who had suddenly arrived. He vaguely sensed that the other party's aura had already reached the Purple Mansion level, which made him feel even more apprehensive.

'His breakthrough was too fast; it defies common sense.'

He first met her in Fengyan. At that time, she was a Foundation Establishment cultivator under the Soul Gathering Demon King. Although she was quite extraordinary, it was impossible for her to have reached such a level of cultivation in such a short period of time!

'At least two divine abilities, enough to make even a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator wary; I wonder what kind of methods they possess.'

Upon seeing the visitor, Fu Dong rose and bowed, saying only:

"Greetings, [Changmu Youhai Dragon King], I am Fu Dong, Daoist name Jiu Cang, or you may call me by my former name."

She paused slightly, her grey eyes radiating an even more ancient and mysterious aura as she looked at him. She spoke slowly, her voice clear and melodious:

"Azure Falcon".

The atmosphere in the hall changed instantly. Purple currents surged, gray light blurred, and two opposing forces subtly confronted each other, radiating an extremely terrifying divine power.

"A celestial demon?"

Xu Xuan's tone grew serious. He had naturally heard of this name. It was a great demon on par with Kui Long and Tian Tuo, and even more ancient in its active period, predating Tian Tuo. It was a great demon that had survived since the Feng Dynasty!

'No wonder the [Wonderful and Majestic Flower] left behind by the Heavenly Monk had a powerful response; it turns out it was suppressed along with him.'

If Tian Tuo was able to reshape his life and completely sever his old body through reincarnation, then Fu Dong in front of him felt more like a withered tree coming back to life and regaining vitality.

'It wasn't reincarnation, but rather a direct recovery from a fragment of his remnant soul.'

Xu Xuan was surprised, not only by the other person's background, but also by her willingness to openly state her name and move about freely.

This former Fairy Canglu must have had a powerful backer. The Tomb Mountain alone could not have protected such a celestial demon. It is more likely that a Golden Core cultivator intervened!
Should I address you as "senior," or...?

"Dragon King, there's no need for such formalities. Just call me Jiu Cang. You are a descendant of the Great Sage, far more noble than my bloodline."

Fu Dong's voice was clear and melodious, like spring water splashing on stones.

Her aura was half witch and half god, with some supernatural qualities, but it was not close to the path of immortality. Instead, it resembled the rituals of Sindhu.

"Fellow Daoist Jiu Cang, is the method of the Three Witches practiced?"

Xu Xuan's tone grew serious; he dared not underestimate the woman before him.

Even though the other party's current cultivation level may not be as high as his, being a former Heavenly Demon means that he is a person with hope of obtaining gold, and is the top level among all demons of his generation.

This title was given by Bai Ze and originally encompassed all demons. However, the descendants of the Great Sage did not like to be included, so there was no Heavenly Demon among the dragons. But there must be dragons at the peak of the Purple Mansion in the sea, which is no less than Heavenly Demons.

Fu Dong's gray eyes brightened slightly, and that extremely restrained primal aura gradually emanated. He spoke slowly:
"The path I cultivate originates from the Chu region. It does not incorporate the Five Virtues, nor does it enter the Four Symbols. It is the path of 'Heavenly Questions,' using the five categories of Heaven, Earth, Humanity, Ghosts, and Spirits to study the Dao."

"Among the three witches, 'Ling Sa' governs spirits, 'Huo Zhu' governs ghosts, and 'Tian Wen' governs gods. The Dragon King can be used as a reference for this distinction."

Xu Xuan listened silently, but he had a plan in mind. These three witchcrafts could all be incorporated into the divine path, but their fundamentals were not the same. Among them, the Chu witchcraft was even more mysterious and profound.

"I wonder, fellow Daoist, what brings you to my Dragon Court? I'm afraid it's not just to offer congratulations?"

He then asked the other party directly about his purpose in coming here. Such an ancient celestial demon must have some ulterior motive for coming here, and may even represent the will of some great being.

"Since the Dragon King cultivates Thunderclap, does he know the method of substitution in this path?"

Fu Dong did not answer, but instead asked Xu Xuan. His gray eyes narrowed slightly, and the shadow behind him transformed into a ferocious and strange nine-headed bird, as if the cries of infants and women could be heard.

Xu Xuan's mind stirred slightly. His understanding of thunder was now quite thorough, so he replied:

"The Shenxiao Society has substitutes for the ginseng; for the rest, one should seek them in Ren water and Jia wood."

"The Dragon King of the Netherworld is indeed highly skilled."

Fu Dong smiled slightly and continued:
"The thunder of the sky [the awakening of hibernating creatures] can represent the sound of heaven; the divine thunder [the laughter of the heavenly emperor] transforms into fierce light; the earth thunder [the calamity of the heart pool] and the Ren water [the beginning of the vastness] can both transform into thunder marshes and become the pivot of thunder."

"As for the last Jia wood divine power, it is [Yang Xu Fen]. Thunder rises from the earth, and wood grows from the earth. It is the nature of thunder to rise by borrowing the root of heaven. The divine power it represents is [Fan Dao Shu].

"Jia wood, likes spring and dislikes autumn, thunder, Mao starts and Shen ends, all are the same principle."

As he spoke, the ancient demon's gaze sharpened slightly, and he smiled:

"I have come to see the Dragon King today because I have an opportunity with the Dao of Jia Wood, and I wish to discuss it with Mingze."

Xu Xuan sensed something unusual from the other party's words. Among the scriptures left by Ye Guang Dragon Palace, there was no "Cheng Wu Jiu" but "Fan Dao Shu".

In other words, if one seeks the [Huo Shan], this supernatural power also needs to be explored.

The so-called Jia Wood opportunity made Xu Xuan vaguely sense that something was amiss. The [Great Zhenyang Xutian Root] given to him by Jinwu might have been a hint.

Not only is the final stage of [Self-Reflection] suspicious, but his current achievement of [Riding Without Blame] is also raising suspicions!

"I wonder what kind of serendipity has led you to seek out my Heavenly Pool?"

Xu Xuan's tone grew serious. To be honest, given the background of the Tomb Mountain and the presence of this ancient celestial demon, there was no need for him to conspire with others.

After all, the Owl lineage also had a Golden Elixir in ancient times, namely the [Heavenly Owl], and the legacy it left behind was also very profound.

"It is a remnant of the ancient Wood Virtue Immortal Path [Tianye Palace]. It should be a grotto-heaven, hanging in the South China Sea, protected by [Jianmu], and cannot be found by ordinary people."

A smile gradually appeared on Fu Dong's face as he looked at Xu Xuan and continued:
"Whenever a celestial palace falls into a cave, there must be a favorable time. This Jia wood celestial palace needs to be supported by Yi wood, with thunderous roars and Bing fire shining upon it. Naturally, there will be an opportunity for the Dragon King."

"If we wish to transform into the [Return to the Dao Pivot] and follow the ancient methods, we will likely need something from this Jiamu Heavenly Palace. I wonder what the Dragon King thinks?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Xuan's heart sank slightly. The power behind Fu Dong was unclear, but judging from his words and actions, he probably hoped Xu Xuan would seek help from Huo Shan, or even send this Heavenly Demon to negotiate. 'Not giving me a chance'

After reaching the Purple Mansion, refining one's supernatural powers is extremely difficult. If one is a direct descendant of a lineage, it is relatively easy, but if the essence is not compatible, unless one obtains a great opportunity, re-cultivating is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

【乘无咎】 did not show any affinity with Jia wood, and is probably very different from 【返道枢】, even in terms of the sound and energy of thunder and the difference between yin and yang, representing the divergence between the ancient saint of thunder and the true lord of suspended chaos.

It should be known that the great man in the North Sea is named Zhenxing Wujiu Xuanhun Zhenjun, and the virtue of Wujiu is the very foundation of his being.

For now, he could only feign interest and said in a deep voice:
"Such an opportunity! We must go inside and explore!"

Xu Xuan's dark eyes were bright. He gripped the jade handrail tightly, and the dragon aura around him fluctuated slightly, revealing a hint of longing, which Fu Dong, standing beside him, sensed.

'He did indeed request [Huo Shan], Your Excellency's deduction was correct.'

Fu Dong's thoughts turned slightly downward. Putting himself in his shoes, he realized that he would also seek the position of the ancient Tianhuo Dragon Lord. He already had the advantage of being a dragon, and this golden position had no flaws or worries.

However, [Jianhe] is different; even if he ascends to the throne, he is still in danger of falling due to changes in the Dao.

"I wonder what the origin of this [Tianye Palace] is? I hope you can explain it to me in detail, fellow Daoist?"

Xu Xuan stared thoughtfully at the remnant of the Heavenly Demon.

As the gray light shifted, Fu Dong's voice remained calm as he simply said:

"This path was established by the ancient Wood Virtue Chief, the [Ancient Crack] True Lord, who held the position of Jia Wood Venerable. He was a disciple of an immortal and his cultivation was extremely high. Later, someone listed the ten meridians among the Five Virtues, all of which are called Heavenly Palaces. [Heavenly Leaf] and [Eternal Star] are in the same rank."

'Living in the Demon Palace for a Long Time.'

Xu Xuan focused his mind slightly. This lineage of the Demon Palace still existed, and it was even destined to be a major enemy on his path to enlightenment. The [Panmi] True Monarch was the only Golden Core cultivator who directly targeted the Dragon Court.

If this celestial palace is to fall, this demonic path will inevitably be involved.

"If this palace falls, the heavier the Jia wood in the world, the lighter the thunder. The Dragon King can sense this with his supernatural powers and will surely respond. At that time, my tomb mountain will probably have to ask the Dragon King for help."

Fu Dong's words were quite eloquent, but the underlying meaning is worth considering.

'Whether they seek to join forces with me, or to monitor my cultivation of supernatural powers, is hard to say.'

Xu Xuan did not react at the moment. The change of thunder should not be related to this witch doctor. This celestial demon must have come on the orders of the master.

"Thank you for the news, fellow Daoist. We will join forces once the Azure Leaf Sky descends from the sky."

His mind raced, and he made a guess: at least the one behind the cemetery must want him to beg [Huo Shan], and may have even taken some action.

Is it the one from the old days of Motoki, or...?

Now, the only person he could think of was the one who had confronted Pan Mi in the past, who should be the one from the Yuanmu sect, the one who was responsible for the wind disaster.

“Very well, I will not disturb the Dragon King’s happy occasion any longer. I will only help the King to complete the Five Laws as soon as possible, and the Golden Throne will be within reach, so that the Dragon King’s ceremony can be performed again for the heavens and earth.”

Fu Dong's voice was calm, seemingly offering congratulations, but it took on a different meaning in Xu Xuan's ears.

This former celestial demon broke through the void and departed, leaving only Xu Xuan in the side hall, with purple currents swirling around him and thunder rumbling.

"【Zhen Tian Qu】is only at the initial stage of completion, not yet perfect. It will likely take another ten years or so, during which time the problem of 【Cheng Wu Jiu】must also be resolved."

If the final [Self-Cultivation and Reflection] could still be concealed by the [Secret Essentials of the Chaotic Thunder], the current [Riding Without Blame] hazard is imminent, and the [Azure Leaf Sky] hanging high above is like a death warrant.

His mind settled slightly. He needed to discuss this matter with Tian Tuo, as the old demon might have some trick up his sleeve.

Putting this matter aside for the time being, Xu Xuan took out the congratulatory gifts he had received, among which the first item of the Purple Mansion level was the [Heavenly Killing Thunder].

This lightning is extremely powerful, embodying heavenly killing intent, transforming into solidified metal. According to the Eastern Han, it should be the remnant of a great demon at the Purple Peak of Divine Lightning, a condensation of the killing intent of divine lightning.

However, Xu Xuan had other considerations. The [Boundless Thunder] could be divided into Zhenshe. Even though its power was diminished, adding this divine thunder would at least complete the foundation of the [Thunder Grip Formation], making it a perfect formation.

'This spell must be performed by a cultivator specializing in thunder magic; only then can its profound mysteries reach their peak.'

He felt a stirring in his heart. The Thunder Palace valued the authority of law and reason above all else, and neither could be lacking. However, since he had not yet cultivated his dragon body into the Primordial Order, he lacked the support of heavenly laws and the completeness of legal principles, making it difficult for him to fully demonstrate the profoundness of this spell.

Its real use is to allow him to comprehend the mysteries of Yin Thunder and Yang Thunder, which will benefit his cultivation of the [Hunyi Xuan Thunder Secret Technique].

If a human were to cultivate this technique and reach the pinnacle of enlightenment, its effects would likely be no less than those of an ancient, pure land or divine kingdom! At that time, the heavenly soldiers and immortal generals, as well as the wondrous thunder palaces that one could command, would far surpass those of a dragon, and might even be able to sense the might of an adult.

'If the dragon's body ascends to gold, this entire thunder formation could be secretly passed down through generations, allowing humans to devise its plans.'

With his mind somewhat settled, he then looked at the magical artifact that Fu Dong had given him, the bronze spearhead surrounded by clouds and thunder, which was now in his hand.

This spear is cast in bronze, with a bluish-green color. It is a triangular pyramid shape, engraved with cloud and thunder patterns, and has ancient characters hidden at the bottom that read "The Divine Lord of the Clouds, His Majestic Spirit Descends," which echoes the Thunder Bureau.

According to Fu Dong, this object must be a witchcraft artifact, with residual divine thoughts on it, recording the spear's function and name.

The [Yunmeng Guardian Spear] is forged from the [Wind and Cloud Hidden Thunder Gold] of the sky and the [Great Marsh Cave Origin] of the Ren Water. It is one of the three artifacts used in ancient sacrifices to the [Lord of the Clouds], and is completely different from the spiritual artifacts of the present world.

This thing does not consume magical power when activated, and its power is constant. It requires the sacrifice of a life at the Purple Mansion level to [Taiyi] to sense the divine court and achieve its profound mystery.

After approximately nine days of worship, the Yunmeng Guardian Spear can be activated for half a day. It not only has the function of raising thunder from clouds and transforming it into celestial phenomena, but also the wonder of concealing one's form and avoiding spiritual consciousness.

'This perfectly complements the shortcomings of [Thunderous Lake], giving us a slight advantage in celestial phenomena.'

Xu Xuan's heart stirred slightly. The [Thunderous Marsh] possessed the nature of a boundary supernatural power, but the thunderous marsh it transformed into often rose from the ground, making it inferior to the She Thunder and Xiao Thunder in terms of celestial phenomena. This item could make up for that.

As for its concealment function, it is also quite practical. The commotion caused by the Thunderclap Path is extremely great, and it is often possible for the opponent to sense it before they even leave the area. This item can be considered to make up for this deficiency.

'As expected of a celestial demon, the items it chose are extraordinary.'

This path reminded him of the Maya righteous path of India, and the rituals were more like some kind of artifact, passed down from generation to generation. When held by one person, it completely imitated the life and status of the people of the past.

The golden dragon that Xu Xuan had acquired was still in the Dao Realm. This demon had a [Sea-Splitting] ritual on its body, which was constantly suppressed by the pure energy, and Xu Xuan couldn't understand it either.

The method of asking about the Dao in this world is more like Buddhist practice, and the source it reveres is [Taiyi], which is on par with the World Honored One.

It governs many deities, such as the Awakened One and Bodhi, and the Divine Court is the land of Buddha.

'【Taiyi】is probably on the same level as 【Beast Lord】, surpassing the Golden Core stage, but it's unclear whether it's a human or a weapon.'

Now that he had put away the ancient spear, he paced slowly in the hall, pondering the matter of supernatural powers, wondering how to deceive the other cultivators.

(End of this chapter)