Courtyard House: I'm an engineer, and a fairy godmother transferred me to a different position.

The phantom had no intention of taking his life—in the eyes of this ancient being, the person before him was merely a young junior, so small in stature that he should naturally be classified as a junior who needed some care.

This is merely a wishful judgment made by the illusion.

Seeing that Minister Jiang looked young, they naturally regarded him as a junior.

When he learns of Minister Jiang's true background in the future, he will probably laugh at his own thoughts at this moment.

However, that's a story for another time.

At this moment, the phantom only wanted to punish this arrogant young man slightly, to teach him a lesson and help him to restrain his temper.

Just as the flames were about to touch Minister Jiang's robes, the phantom saw—he was smiling.

His smile was relaxed and at ease, as if nothing in the world mattered to him.

Just then, the phantom noticed that Minister Jiang had an extra item in his hand.

Upon seeing the shape of the object clearly, the illusory giant pupils suddenly contracted.

He was very familiar with that thing.

Because of his familiarity with it, he was well aware of its power.

In an instant, the power released by the phantom was abruptly stopped in mid-air.

At this moment, the object was being held in Minister Jiang's palm.

The Immortal-Slaying Sword.

"Don't assume victory is assured."

Minister Jiang's voice came calmly, "Even if you are Guang Chengzi, it won't work."

From the moment the other party produced that precious seal, Minister Jiang had already roughly guessed his identity.

However, they never expected that the person in front of them was Guang Chengzi, whom all the immortals in the Investiture of the Gods feared.

Minister Jiang had never seen his true face.

I've heard too many legends about this man, and it's hard to tell if they're true or false. Minister Jiang has never been one to easily believe rumors.

Now that I have seen it with my own eyes, I am actually glad that I was not misled by those rumors beforehand—otherwise, it would have been impossible to associate the famous Guang Chengzi with the phantom before me.

Minister Jiang had sensed something upon entering this place, but he was not sure until now.

At this moment, the Immortal Execution Sword and the Heaven-Turning Seal faced each other in the air, resulting in a stalemate.

Minister Jiang suddenly exerted his strength, and the sword slashed down with immense force.

boom--

A muffled roar came from the sky, and the opposing force fields were forcibly broken.

The aftershocks swept across the surroundings, destroying everything in their path; palaces and pavilions collapsed like sandcastles.

The space is shattered inch by inch.

The Taoist temple, which was already teetering on the brink of collapse due to the tremors, was completely reduced to ruins by this attack.

Minister Jiang stood amidst the billowing smoke and dust, surrounded by ruins.

His expression was calm and indifferent; he seemed unsurprised by the scene before him, as if he had expected it all along.

This outcome was not without reason—even immortals and gods could not survive a direct hit from the Zhuxian Sword, let alone a mortal body.

In the distance, the illusory figure flickered uncertainly.

Minister Jiang stared intently, only to find that the figure was gradually fading away.

As my thoughts raced, the surrounding noise gradually subsided, and the billowing dust began to slowly settle.

Minister Jiang raised his head and, through the dissipating dust and mist, saw the dark and hazy sky above.

The previous illusions had affected the celestial phenomena, leaving a lingering gloom in the sky.

A cold wind swept across the open field, stirring up fine dust.

Minister Jiang stood alone between heaven and earth, his clothes and hair fluttering slightly in the air currents, naturally exuding a calm yet powerful aura.

He remained focused, his gaze fixed on the empty ground ahead.

Not long after, a wisp of faint blue smoke rose again from there.

The wisp of smoke gathered and gradually revealed a hazy shadow again.

However, the form that had been formed this time was much thinner than before, almost transparent—Minister Jiang could even vaguely see the scenery behind it through it.

He stood silently, but clearly remembered the perilous nature of the confrontation he had just experienced.

That Heaven-Turning Seal possessed immense power; if it weren't for the Immortal-Slaying Sword in his hand and his profound foundation, he might have been the one falling right now.

The phantom finally stabilized its form slightly, slowly raised its head, and met Minister Jiang's gaze.

Minister Jiang met that gaze with composure.

The contest ended in a draw, and he felt no fear, not even from the beginning.

However, he was puzzled as to why the phantom gradually dissipated.

The ghostly figure before them was swaying and about to dissipate, as if a slight gust of wind could blow it away without a trace.

Minister Jiang pondered to himself that without the Immortal Execution Sword in hand, he might not be able to gain the upper hand against this phantom.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel secretly fortunate.

At the same time, a sense of regret also crossed his mind—if he had not received guidance from the Tongtian Sect Leader and wielded this sword, he might not have had the chance to meet Guang Chengzi, this lingering remnant of his spirit, here.

Everything seemed to be connected by chance.

He was deep in thought, still silently facing the phantom.

The air around him seemed still, but he remained calm and composed.

Just as Minister Jiang was confronting the illusory figure, the outcome of the battle on the other side, Teng Yin, had already been decided.

The aftershocks of Minister Jiang's previous attack caused all the illusory figures in the arena to dim slightly.

The impact on the soul level is evident.

Minister Jiang noticed out of the corner of his eye that the conflict between Teng Yin and Hei Long was nearing its end, but he did not intervene.

He trusted Teng Yin's abilities and recognized that power.

As Minister Jiang's efforts to subside here gradually came to an end, victory was finally achieved there as well.

He knew that he, standing here at this moment, was the one truly in control of the situation.

In the eyes of the world, Guang Chengzi may be as lofty as a god, but to Minister Jiang, he was nothing more than that—not out of contempt, but out of calm acceptance.

After the phantom reappeared, it stared at Minister Jiang in silence for a long time, its eyes seemingly filled with complex and unfathomable emotions.

The situation temporarily fell into a delicate stagnation.

The two stood a few steps apart, scrutinizing each other.

Minister Jiang could clearly see the indescribable dark color in the other person's eyes.

"You've already realized it."

The moment Minister Jiang opened his mouth, Guang Chengzi knew there was no need to hide it any longer.

With such cultivation, one's eyesight is naturally exceptional, let alone that of Minister Jiang.

"I sensed something the moment I stepped into this place."

Minister Jiang nodded calmly.

"I don't understand why the light has led you here."

Guang Chengzi's voice came through the illusory image, direct and calm, "But I must tell you: only members of the Chan Sect are allowed to enter this place."

You are not my disciple, so the Heaven-Turning Seal cannot be passed on to you.

Leave.

All the previous tests were just to see what kind of people were under the Jie Sect.

It seems that the Chan Sect still needs to put in more effort in the future.

"Yeah?"

Minister Jiang's lips curled slightly, but his gaze remained calm and unfathomable. "But I feel that I have come at the perfect time and place."

Minister Jiang ignored Guang Chengzi's words of refusal.

"Since that spiritual light led me here, today's outcome was already predetermined."

This is not a matter of your choice.

His voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable determination, leaving no room for discussion.

Guang Chengzi was speechless for a moment.

As the other party said—if it weren't for some unseen guidance, how could this person have found this ancient site? But why him of all people? Guang Chengzi's original intention was to select disciples for the Chan Sect, not to help outsiders.

After Teng Yin finished dealing with the remnants of the black dragon, he strolled over to Minister Jiang's side.

When he looked up and saw the ethereal figure not far away, his whole body suddenly stiffened.

"Hiroshige...is that you?"

He never expected that the person appearing before him would be the same old friend who had sealed him in the cave for more than ten years.

The illusory figure was also taken aback, its gaze falling on the face of the Teng Seal, remaining silent for a long time.

Suddenly, the astonishment on that hazy face gradually dissipated, replaced by a clear and enlightened expression.

So that's how it is... So everything is the workings of fate.

Guang Chengzi felt a mix of emotions, a mixture of melancholy and relief, which ultimately culminated in a long laugh.

"Haha...it really is all fate!"

Minister Jiang's strength always stemmed from his own hard work and good fortune; he owed no one anything.

He knew that the Chan and Jie sects would eventually clash, and the person before him was indeed a future adversary. But for some reason, Minister Jiang always felt that this person had an extraordinary aura.

That statement was less a discussion of victory or defeat and more a way of offering comfort to the other party.

"Let me see—what realm I can reach in the future! Or rather... Minister Jiang, let me witness with my own eyes where your path truly leads!"

The phantom raised its head to the sky, and its long howl revealed a carefree and unrestrained spirit.

After a moment of silence, a faint smile seemed to appear on that hazy face, the corners of his mouth barely visible.

"Accept this gift from me."

Before he could finish speaking, the phantom transformed into a streak of light and shot towards him, disappearing into Minister Jiang's body without hesitation.

Minister Jiang closed his eyes and concentrated.

A warm and gentle force surged into his mind, without any hindrance or discomfort. Only a vast aura rose steadily through his meridians, like a surging river, endless and boundless.

-

When I opened my eyes again, an ancient seal was already resting quietly in my palm.

The seal exudes a calm and gentle radiance, as if containing stars or mountains and seas.

Guang Chengzi's Fan Tian Seal was ultimately passed down to him.

Minister Jiang closed his eyes and sensed, his divine sense spreading outwards like a tide, easily sweeping over the walls of the Taoist temple and covering the surrounding area for several miles.

The dust-filled path, the rustling of hibernating insects in the dark soil, the presence of creatures dwelling in caves more than ten miles away... all these are like reflections in a mirror, clearly mirrored in the depths of my heart.

If anyone were to look directly at this golden seal at this moment, their very soul would likely be captivated by its profound light.

The outward changes are merely superficial; Minister Jiang is undergoing a true rebirth within himself.

The power of the universe, which had previously been circulating according to the method left by Guang Chengzi, now naturally began to flow along a completely different trajectory—the **Heavenly Skill Heart Sutra** that Guang Chengzi had previously displayed.

Unlike the previous subtle sluggishness, this time it moved smoothly and freely, as if this set of equipment was born to belong to him.

This is the true match for his opportunity, his power, and his path.

Everything blended in so naturally, as if it had been returned to its rightful owner.

Minister Jiang could even "see"

Under the nourishment of the golden light, one's own muscles, bones, and internal organs shone with a warm and lustrous glow, and every inch of flesh and blood radiated with vigorous vitality.

Guang Chengzi achieved physical sainthood, and the **Heavenly Merit** was the foundation of his success.

Now, this foundation has quietly taken root and sprouted within Minister Jiang's body.

Minister Jiang's physical body transcended the boundaries of the mortal world, which was already going against the will of Heaven, yet it seemed to be preordained in the dark.

At this moment, he looked inward and realized that his muscles, bones and meridians were undergoing an incredible transformation—every inch of flesh was being reorganized and every breath was being solidified.