The True Lord has arrived

Chapter 152 Roll off her

Zhou Yan looked at Yin Zichuan.

At Wuyin Peak, Yin Zichuan stayed by Zhou Yan's side the whole time. After that, he provided a lot of help, whether it was guiding him, helping him, or going through Ganquanyuan, Ao Xuantao, and Wofo Temple.

However, when Zhou Yan met Lian Niang, he had a vague feeling that this talkative but quite capable scholar probably wouldn't be able to travel with them.

His obsession lies here, and his heart is here.

Yin Zichuan said, "I was just a poor scholar. After I died, I was turned into a ghost by Wang Chun. If it weren't for you, my lord, I should have already vanished into thin air when I was at Wuyin Peak. I should have been willing to give my life for you, my lord."

"But, I..."

Zhou Yan helped Yin Zichuan up, placing his hand on Yin Zichuan's shoulder:
"Alright, you don't need to say anything, I understand."

“Lianniang has waited for you for decades, from black hair to white hair. Her life has passed, and you should spend time with her. However, you are, after all, a ghost, and if you leave me, I'm afraid you won't be able to hold on for long.”

Yin Zichuan said, "Accompanying her to the very end is enough."

"I don't know if there is a path of reincarnation, but if there is..."

"I can't bear to let her go alone..."

Zhou Yan looked at the gentle, smiling scholar's spirit and nodded.

Lianniang was calling Yin Zichuan to help with the cooking. Zhou Yan said, "Go ahead." Yin Zichuan bowed, turned, and quickly went over. Zhou Yan watched his retreating figure, a hint of melancholy in his eyes. He stood quietly for a moment, then said:

"Eavesdropping is not a good habit."

"Your Highness."

Behind a tree on one side of the courtyard, Li Zhiwei, dressed as a man, came out embarrassedly and said, "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. Huaiyin went to help that young Taoist priest treat Master Shen's injuries, and I was feeling rather bored by myself."

The young princess stood on tiptoe, slightly embarrassed.

Then, they immediately changed the subject.

She said, "That scholar and Lianniang..."

Zhou Yan told Li Zhiwei their story.

The young Miss Li looked somewhat melancholy and said, "This..." She didn't know what to say. She was still young, only turning sixteen after the New Year, and she was not very tall, especially since she was in the palace.

Although, if it weren't for the An Lushan Rebellion, this princess would most likely have already married, after more than two years of war and fleeing, Li Zhiwei really didn't know much about relationships.

All I know is that Consort Cui was once deeply loved, but now she is lonely and desolate.

His own mother was personally chosen by the Holy Emperor Sanlang to be his father's concubine, and she was also abandoned. What he saw before him was that all the relationships in the royal family were based on scheming, even his great-grandfather...

Therefore, seeing the relationship between Yin Zichuan and Lian Niang inevitably evoked some emotions.

"He has the body of a ghost, he won't last long."

Zhou Yan said, "Lianniang's life force is also constantly dissipating."

This is a harsh reality, and it is also the fundamental reason why Yin Zichuan decided to stay.

Lianniang could not wait any longer.

Decades ago, the sage Sun Simiao gave Lian Niang a pill. Lian Niang took it and that's how she endured so much suffering for so long. Zhou Yan once asked Xuan Zhu Zi what kind of medicine it was, and Xuan Zhu Zi replied, "It is the heart."

Xuan Zhuzi carefully chose his words: "Brother Zhou, do you know the legend of Bigan? Bigan's heart was cut open, but he did not die. After leaving the palace, he asked the first person he met on the road, 'Can vegetables live without hearts? Can people live without hearts?'"

The vegetable farmer replied, "Vegetables can live without a heart, but people will certainly die without a heart."

"So Bi Gan, who was able to hold on before, died immediately."

"There are also legends of monsters. When an executioner is about to behead someone, he tells the person being beheaded that he will not be killed, but that he will only cut the ropes binding him. When the knife comes down, he should run away immediately and he will live."

"That man immediately fled home and survived, but he had actually been killed. Later, someone revealed the truth about his death, and the man's soul immediately dissipated. The common point in these two stories is the medicine that my master gave to that Lotus Maiden."

“It is said to be the heart.”

“This Lianniang’s body was already lacking in vital energy.”

"The medicine of the heart is the spell. This pill only requires two sincere hearts. Lianniang has been waiting for Yin Zichuan. Now that the scholar has returned, it is as if that person has revealed the truth about Bigan. However, that kind of ecstasy is still supporting her body. Once her emotions calm down, she will die."

Xuan Zhuzi, carrying the green pouch on his back, formed a hand seal with one hand, his expression becoming somewhat ethereal:
“The obsession has been removed, and the mantra has been broken.”

"The medicine will naturally disappear."

"Even if the founder were to come back to life, there would be no way to help him."

Zhou Yan thought to himself, "The Buddhist mind is to transform attachment into emptiness, and the Taoist mind is to transform attachment into medicine."

Perhaps, persistence is not necessarily right or wrong.

It's just that the two paths, Yin and Yang, are used differently.

He felt the jade seal hidden in his arms. Over the past few days, he had been studying the jade seal and had gradually discovered its deeper capabilities, which were not as simple as advancing one level.

Advancement is just a facade.

Zhou Yan's lineage at this moment is very special.

He possesses the status of the Lord of Mount Tai, has mastered the military lineage, has three hundred years of cultivation, and is endowed with the Buddhist Eight Heavenly Dragon Fire bestowed by Manjushri Bodhisattva, as well as the purple aura of Li Longji.

When Zhou Yan realized that the advancement of the Imperial Seal was a further step forward based on his mastery of all his knowledge, the soul from another world finally realized the true purpose of this thing.

[Deducing the lineage of the Dharma].

After mastering all the means available to the holder, one can advance to the next level.

In other words, it means that Zhou Yan was given a preview of what the next level of his cultivation path would be like. Unless he foolishly wore it randomly, he would realize what it meant.

Innovation and pioneering new paths!
It's practically equivalent to a completely new lineage of Dharma, and this new lineage is perfectly suited to the holder, as if it were tailor-made for the holder's own condition.

This is the true Kunlun treasure, the real miracle of what is known as the eighth lineage of magic in the world.

Shen Cangming once told Zhou Yan that it would be difficult for him to continue down the path of the military lineage, because the seventh-rank Xuan official of the military lineage would further emphasize the concept of leading troops, rather than just fighting alone. To reach the sixth rank, one would need to lead troops on the battlefield and experience the magnificence and ferocity of the battle.

This is why the lineage of military strategy only appears in the military.

The Imperial Seal of the State represents the seventh stage.

Zhou Yan clenched his fist, sensing the next level that the jade seal was simulating for him.

The forces of Taoism, Buddhism, and military strategy converged, creating a powerful and surging force.

He had a vague feeling that, in order to reach the most suitable seventh rank simulated by the Jade Seal Dharma Lineage with his current eighth-rank true body, he needed two of the three powers to be perfected in order to achieve the seventh rank simulated by the Jade Seal that was unique to Zhou Yan.

At this moment, with the Buddhist spiritual essence entrusted by Xuanzang's relics and Manjushri Bodhisattva, Zhou Yan felt that advancing to the sixth rank would be more than enough, let alone the seventh. As for the Taoist path, although it had the cultivation entrusted by Xuanzang, it still needed the Taoist spiritual essence to suppress and purify it.

Military strategists, on the other hand, have a headache: how can they establish their military lineage without soldiers?

If one obtains two of these three forces, one can advance to the seventh rank.

At present, we can only focus our efforts on the power of the Taoist sect.

Louguandao, huh...

As Zhou Yan was thinking, laughter came from afar.

He calmed himself down and looked around with Li Zhiwei. Lianniang smiled as she helped them prepare some dry food for the journey and packed their things. Yin Zichuan also smiled. Li Zhiwei saw the warm and happy smiles on the two of them, a pure joy without any fear of death.

Li Zhiwei subconsciously said, "That's so nice..."

The Taoist priest said, "Is this considered good?"

Li Zhiwei said, "What's wrong with getting what you want, Master Zhou?"

She smiled slightly, as dignified as a princess, her eyes scrutinizing Zhou Yan: "However, is there something you're hiding from me, Daoist Zhou?"

Zhou Yan said, "...I will also tell you about this in my dream."

Li Zhi smiled and said, "Okay."

"But it's really good."

Li Zhiwei said "That's good" again, but this time the meaning seemed different. Zhou Yan turned to look at her and asked, "What?"

Li Zhiwei gently touched her chest with her palm, and her smile was adorable.

"I was thinking that even if it was to avoid the power struggles in Chang'an, coming to a royal Taoist temple like Louguan would still be an unfamiliar environment. The legendary Tian Gu Ten were all highly skilled Taoist masters who lived in seclusion."

"When I'm in such an unfamiliar place, I always have to be careful and I'm always afraid and worried."

"But now that you're here, I suddenly feel at ease."

As he said this, Xuan Zhuzi was carrying the green bag over and calling Zhou Yan to heal his injuries. Upon hearing this, the little Taoist's smile froze. He looked at Li Zhiwei, then at Zhou Yan, pondering what he had just heard.

Li Zhiwei hid behind the Taoist priest, her sleeve raised to cover her lips, her eyes darting from left to right:
"Oh no, did someone hear us?"

"I'm really sorry."

Xuan Zhuzi opened her mouth and said, "It's nothing, I just went to the wrong place."

Back home, Xuan Zhuzi ground the medicine into a powder mill until sparks flew.

"Damn it, damn it!"

"I'm so envious, so incredibly envious!!!"

Zhou Yan sighed, and Li Zhiwei came out from behind him.

Zhou Yan looked at her and said, "So, what I'm saying is that eavesdropping on other people's conversations is an extremely impolite act, isn't it?"

Li Zhiwei smiled and said, "Ah? What are you talking about, Daoist Zhou?"

Zhou Yan pressed the Earth Soul Heaven-Shattering Blade against the ground, and dark golden ripples instantly spread from his pupils. The earth's veins surged, and golden Buddhist Eight Heavenly Dragon Fire flowed along the blade, all while he stared at Li Zhiwei.
"Get off her."

The flames of Buddhism, and specifically the flames that originated from the combined power of Xuanzang and Manjushri.

Li Zhiwei swayed, and a figure detached from the girl.

The girl was panting heavily. Looking at the woman who had appeared from the side, Zhou Yan saw a subtle look of embarrassment and anger on Li Zhiwei's face, which added a touch of playfulness to this usually composed girl.
"You, you, you possessed me again?!"

Before Li Zhiwei could speak, Zhou Yan stretched out his left arm, pressed down on the girl's shoulder, and pulled Li Zhiwei behind him. Li Zhiwei took a step back, looking at the figure blocking her way. The Taoist priest held out his knife, his tone calm:
"State your identity and purpose."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't mind having another soul under my blade."

The woman's spirit blinked, then suddenly laughed. When she laughed, her eyes sparkled, and compared to Li Zhiwei's previous act, she was far more charming, a truly captivating and straightforward display of allure.

Zhou Yan saw the Buddha's heart, the Tao's heart, and the human heart.

His mindset had matured considerably since he first came into this world and was almost sold off. Yet, even he couldn't help but feel a ripple of emotion, a ticklish feeling, when he smiled at that moment.

Spell?!
Zhou Yan gripped the knife, his body radiating magical power, yet no magical abilities were perceived.

In other words, a simple smile was enough to stir Zhou Yan's heart and make him waver; pure charm had an effect similar to magic and supernatural powers.

Zhou Yan, holding his knife, shielded himself and Li Zhiwei, and whispered:

"Be careful."

Li Zhiwei was blocked behind him. She wanted to speak loudly, but the shoulder that had just been pressed by his palm was still warm, and her voice became softer for some reason.

"Oh."

The woman's spirit smiled and said, "Little Taoist priest, don't be so nervous. Oh, you're so worried about this child, could it be that the two of you..."

Zhou Yan said coldly, "We are friends."

The woman smiled and said, "Oh? My friend..."

Zhou Yan's sleeves billowed, and on his hand gripping the knife, drought demon fire, human fire, and Buddhist fire converged simultaneously. In that instant, Zhou Yan's Taoist robe even turned slightly black. He was about to strike when Li Zhiwei stopped him.
"No, no, she meant no harm, Zhou Yan!"

The woman's spirit smiled happily.

She was clearly a soul, yet she wore a veil. Even so, her smile was breathtakingly beautiful. If it were Zhou Yan before he experienced the Sleeping Buddha Tribulation, before his Dao heart was forged, he would probably fall in love with this woman immediately.

Damn it, who is it?!
Damn, who put a supernatural power on me?
Zhou Yan maintained his Daoist mind.

Supernatural powers, magic? Or some kind of bewitching technique?
The Taoist priest simply couldn't believe he would waver like this, until Li Zhiwei pulled Zhou Yan aside, stood in front of him, and angrily said, "Great-Grandma, stop playing around like this!"

Grandma?
Zhou Yan subconsciously thought that the female ghost was very old.

Then, after doing some calculations, he suddenly stopped. Li Zhiwei was the daughter of Marshal Guangping, which meant she was Li Heng's granddaughter. Her great-grandfather was the old man who had passionately fought with Zhou Yan, Li Sanlang.

Li Longji's wife?

Wait, that’s not right!
Zhou Yan watched as the woman smiled and removed her veil, revealing a truly unparalleled beauty. Qingming Fangzhu and Zhiniang each had their own unique characteristics and were both beauties of their time, but in front of this face, they seemed to appear ordinary and vulgar.

The woman swept her spirit whisk away, made a hand seal with one hand, and said with a gentle smile:
"This humble Taoist is the Supreme Lord of the Three Mountains of Penglai, the Jade True Primordial Lord."

"Yang Taizhen".

It was Yang Yuhuan.

(End of this chapter)