Demon Cultivator with Celestial Book

Chapter 358: Chapter 253: High God’s Envoy, I Wish to Ascend to Immortality

Jiang Yi watched the people from across the river. His Divine Sense swept over Tuoba Long, one of the so-called "Twin Dragons of Liyang," and Yan Fei, the current successor of Zhixuan Temple.

’They’re about on par with the Inner Peak Disciples of the Qianji Sect. If they were to face Xu Yan or Han Li, they wouldn’t be guaranteed a win.’

’However, they cultivate qi and blood, so their bodies are powerful. They are indeed fine raw material for my "personnel".’

Jiang Yi fell into thought. The Ancient Demon Cultivators had left traces on Juku Continent, but he hadn’t found the slightest sign of them.

’Could it be that the mortal realm is a "Resource Land"?’

’Are the so-called Twelve Transformations of the Mortal Realm all just farmed livestock?’

’In that case, I fear the so-called "ascended" people who shattered the void throughout history have met with grim fates.’

After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Yi began to study the three-way standoff on the surface of the Da Long River.

Seeing Sheng Hailong’s severed head, Yan Fei’s gaze flickered and then froze.

When he looked again at the figure who made the river water stand erect and the clouds hang low, a look of astonishment crossed his face.

’The Twelfth Transformation of the Mortal Realm, a Grandmaster of Spirit Refining?’

The successor of Zhixuan Temple found it hard to believe.

The reason was simple: Yao Yun was a new face.

And she was far, far too young!

’Even if she started her Cultivation in the womb, how could she have possibly reached the Twelfth Transformation of the Mortal Realm without a single word getting out, hidden from the eyes and ears of the world?’

"A Celestial Lord? Which sacred land’s successor are you? How dare you impersonate an emissary of a Celestial Lord?!"

Tuoba Long, truly a hero of Liyang, quickly composed himself and said coldly:

"Sheng Hailong may have been one of the People Inside the Pass, but he was a great talent highly valued by Liyang. More than that, he was the adopted son of the Grand General of the North and a Court official commended by His Majesty."

"Regardless of your origins, assassinating Sheng Hailong in public is equivalent to the high crime of treason!"

"No one in heaven or on earth can save you!"

These words, each like a clap of thunder, echoed across the Da Long River.

Upon hearing this, Yao Yun couldn’t help but scoff.

"Frog in a well, so short-sighted! I am of the imperial bloodline of the Great Enterprise. Why couldn’t I be an emissary of a Celestial Lord?"

The moment these words were spoken, it was as if a giant boulder had crashed into the area for dozens of miles around Swallow’s Rock, stirring up thousand-foot-high waves.

’A remnant of the Great Enterprise?’

Tuoba Long’s face twitched. He had never expected this woman to actually possess imperial blood.

’Among the Great Enterprise’s imperial clan, all the exceptionally talented ones were dealt with cleanly.’

’The rest were mostly mediocre, incompetent, and virtueless, kept penned up in the "Former Dynasty’s Imperial Clan Court"... Where did this one suddenly pop out from?’

’Furthermore, the Great Enterprise hasn’t produced an emissary of a Celestial Lord in a very long time. Not even the noble scions of the Direct Lineage who inherited the main line could complete the "Body-Offering Ritual".’

In contrast to Tuoba Long’s astonishment, a sharp glint flashed in Yan Fei’s eyes, and a hint of joy appeared.

His purpose in coming down from the mountain this time, and in openly sending a message to the Great General’s manor, was precisely to find an orphan of the Great Enterprise’s imperial family and bring them back to Zhixuan Temple.

It would also serve to resolve the past karma between the Celestial Lord and the Great Enterprise.

And now, with Yao Yun’s appearance, it was as if the heavens themselves were helping him.

"Are you truly an orphan of the Great Enterprise’s imperial family?"

Yan Fei took an Incense Stick from his sleeve, lit it by rubbing it lightly between two fingers.

Wisps of blue smoke congealed without dispersing, drifting like a floating cloud toward the woman and forming the shape of a black bird.

’It’s confirmed.’ Yan Fei’s heart stirred. ’If a member of the Great Enterprise’s imperial family successfully performed the "Body-Offering Method" and beseeched a Celestial Lord to descend...’

’...then the state of the world would surely be thrown into turmoil, even affecting the four great sacred lands!’

’If Zhixuan Temple were to emerge and assist this young woman, drive out Liyang, and restore the empire, it would be as easy as flipping one’s hand!’

’This is a golden opportunity...’

Yan Fei stood with his hands behind his back, his thoughts racing. His Qi Mechanism suddenly changed, like a rising tide gathering ferocious momentum.

It was clear he intended to join forces with Yao Yun!

’Zhixuan Temple, the Great Enterprise’s imperial family, an emissary of a Celestial Lord...’

Tuoba Long gripped his crimson spear tightly, his heart pounding wildly.

’If this woman is truly an orphan of the Great Enterprise’s imperial family, then her claim to be an emissary of a Celestial Lord might not be false either.’

’A Celestial Lord from beyond the heavens... has descended to the mortal world?’

Tuoba Long’s gaze grew colder, and the killing intent in his chest surged.

What kind of existence was a Celestial Lord?

A living myth who could blot out the sky with one hand, alter the world, and control the grand course of events!

The four great sacred lands, which looked down upon the vast rivers and mountains, could all trace their origins back to a Celestial Lord.

To this day, Great Snow Mountain still enshrined a Celestial Lord’s dharma bowl, named the "Great Formless Bowl of Observing Life and Death."

Before each generation’s Great Dharma Master passed into nirvana, they would pour their life’s Power into it to empower their successor.

It was precisely because they understood the power of the sacred lands that they feared the Celestial Lords all the more.

Even though no Celestial Lord had set foot in the mortal realm for hundreds of years, the mere mention of those two words still made people fall silent like cicadas in winter, trembling in fear.

’She can be the Celestial Lord’s emissary, but so can someone else.’

Tuoba Long’s chest heaved as he slowly gathered his internal breath.

’The Celestial Lord’s karma is tied to the imperial bloodline of the Great Enterprise, not to any single person.’

’If I can eliminate this woman, even if the Celestial Lord becomes enraged, the worst that can happen is that he takes my life.’

’But without her, Liyang will have room to maneuver.’

Tuoba Long understood perfectly: if an orphan of the Great Enterprise’s imperial family received the Celestial Lord’s personal anointment, they could restore the empire even if they were alone. This woman had to be eliminated!

’Force the Celestial Lord to choose another vessel and perform the ritual of invitation again.’

These myriad thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. The crimson spear, like an enraged Jiao raising its head, suddenly exploded with a shockwave and shot toward Yao Yun!

The surface of the Da Long River sank several feet. Waves were pushed aside layer by layer, forming a deep, hundred-foot-wide crater!

Yan Fei sensed the attack and immediately brandished his three-foot-long green-edged sword, intending to help.

Although Tuoba Long and Sheng Hailong were known as the Twin Dragons of Liyang, seen by the outside world as equals and heroes among men.

The former was actually a cut above the latter and absolutely not to be underestimated.

’Yao Yun was able to kill Sheng Hailong, but she’s young and inexperienced. In a life-or-death moment, she’s bound to lose her composure.’

In the flash of a thought, Yan Fei’s three-foot sword rang out, cleaving through the air as he tried to block the oppressive edge of the crimson spear.

"Does Zhixuan Temple want to be razed to the ground?! Your temple master, Li Xiangyi, is already a pile of bones in a grave, yet you still dare to act so arrogant!"

Tuoba Long had anticipated this. The spear, infused with his full Power, suddenly accelerated, transforming into a streak of harsh light that forcefully knocked aside Yan Fei’s sword.

"The Blood-Burning Secret Manual?"

Yan Fei felt his internal breath surge and roil through his body. His Qi Mechanism stagnated for a moment, and his sword technique collapsed instantly.

He had never imagined that Tuoba Long would be so determined to perish together with his enemy!

The Blood-Burning Secret Manual was a martial art from Great Snow Mountain, a well-known technique for mutual destruction.

Once activated, all the qi and blood hidden within the body would reverse its flow, causing one’s Essence Qi to boil and churn like flames until the body was burned to ash.

During this process, his internal breath would seem to stack like overlapping waves, constantly rising higher, bringing him infinitely close to a Spirit Refining Grandmaster of the Twelfth Transformation of the Mortal Realm!

RUMBLE!

Tuoba Long’s Army-Breaking True Form seemed to sublimate to its peak, transitioning from illusory to real. Ten million iron cavalry charged forth, their war cries like thunder.

The flair of this spear strike was already among the top ten in the world.

’His temperament is quite decisive. He’s planning to take Yao Yun down with him.’

Jiang Yi, sitting calmly in his underwater manor, raised an eyebrow slightly.

’The various martial arts prevalent in this mortal realm have certainly put a lot of effort into excavating the potential of the human body.’

His torch-like gaze, cast from afar, instantly saw through it all. ’The difference of a single line is a world apart.’

Jiang Yi remained unperturbed, waiting with great interest to see how Yao Yun would perform.

’The "Turbulent Wave True Form" I created for her incorporates the meaning of "Ren Water," allowing her to command the Da Long River with her spiritual will.’

’Even if Tuoba Long is willing to be smashed to pieces, the gap in their Realm level won’t be erased by his determination.’

But Yao Yun remained poised and calm. She released her spiritual will, and roiling clouds streamed down in all directions while the torrential river water swept across heaven and earth.

She felt like the Dragon King of the river, commanding the clouds and rain, baring its fangs and claws, utterly invincible!

She clenched her five fingers into a fist and punched out at the air, directly confronting Tuoba Long’s crimson spear!

Empowered by the Turbulent Wave True Form, it was as if Yao Yun had ripped up the entire Da Long River and was smashing it down upon Tuoba Long!

BOOM! The explosion was like thunder!

Yao Yun punched from a distance, and the fierce, domineering force of her fist cleanly and decisively crushed Tuoba Long’s crimson spear.

No matter how unparalleled the might of his Army-Breaking True Form, this punch was like an advancing bronze wall as large as a mountain.

Within five breaths, the crimson spear began to emit a dense series of cracking and shattering sounds.

Immediately after, it fractured inch by inch and then exploded in an instant!

PTHOO!

Tuoba Long, whose spear had been like a dragon with an unrivaled edge, saw his Army-Breaking True Form crumble and disintegrate in a mere instant.

The ten million iron cavalry seemed to have suffered a great defeat, scattering and fleeing as their heaven-shaking war cries faded into nothing.

Tuoba Long’s body, inch by inch, suddenly developed clear cracks, like shattered porcelain.

He gave a bitter smile as thick qi and blood oozed from his seven orifices.

"The methods of a Celestial Lord are truly terrifying."

Then he turned to ash and scattered in the wind.

Witnessing this scene, Yao Yun was both shocked and overjoyed, as if in a dream.

’The Twin Dragons of Liyang are this weak after all... It might not be impossible to kill Jin Wushu with a single punch!’

...

...

「Zhenbei Province, Great General’s Manor.」

Jin Wushu, who was perennially clad in armor, sat in the main hall. He was supposed to have gone to Swallow’s Rock to attend the Da Long River Martial Arts Tournament.

However, an important guest had arrived just before his departure, inevitably delaying him.

Seated below him was a young monk wearing a five-leaf lotus crown. A pigeon’s-blood ruby was embedded at its peak, from which several strands of bright yellow tassels hung down, reaching his eyebrows.

A string of nine-eyed Dzi beads was wrapped around his left wrist, each one round and lustrous with a thick, aged patina.

The man was from Great Snow Mountain, the current "Walker" of his generation and the chosen successor to the title of Great Dharma Master.

Even though Jin Wushu was second to only one man and above ten thousand in Liyang, he still had to show some deference to a successor from Great Snow Mountain and did not dare to slight him.

Such was the weight of a Martial Dao sacred land!

The grand state of the world was never determined by any dynasty, but only by the rise and fall of the sacred lands!

When Zhixuan Temple was resurgent, it produced four Spirit Refining Grandmasters in succession. The reign of the Great Enterprise became impregnable, and Liyang willingly acted as its vassal, paying tribute annually and presenting themselves at Court every year.

Later, when Zhixuan Temple declined and Great Snow Mountain rose to power, Liyang led an army of a million strong on a long march to invade the Pass.

Jin Wushu was about sixty years old, yet he showed no signs of age. His eyes glinted with a sharp, fierce light.

Sitting in the hall, he was like a tiger resting on a hill, exuding an aura of authority without being angry.

"Dharma Master, for what purpose have you come to Zhenbei Province?"

The young monk seated below, named "Sangji," was the eighth Disciple of the Great Dharma Master of Great Snow Mountain.

Due to his outstanding spiritual roots and extraordinary talent, he was greatly favored and granted the status of "Walker."

Sangji’s face was handsome, especially his eyes, which were like a turquoise lake beyond the Pass, possessing the power of Soul Capturing and Spirit Stealing.

He broke into a smile, like a Bodhisattva holding a flower, and said slowly:

"Three years ago, my master sensed an anomaly with the ’Great Formless Bowl of Observing Life and Death’ and thus speculated that a Celestial Lord had appeared in the world."

These words were like a clap of thunder, making it difficult for a formidable figure like Jin Wushu, who was used to great storms, to remain calm.

It even made him forget his place and speak presumptuously:

"Absolutely impossible! The last dregs of the Great Enterprise are all under tight watch. If anyone were to secretly perform the Body-Offering Ritual to beseech a Celestial Lord, they would never escape the eyes and ears of the Imperial Clan Court!"

Sangji’s expression didn’t change. Still smiling, he kindly reminded him:

"Great General, this was my master’s conclusion."

Jin Wushu came to his senses and hastily tried to smooth things over.

"What the Great Dharma Master says is, of course, true. But I have long since discussed this with His Majesty, and we have been vigilant in preventing the Great Enterprise’s imperial family from beseeching a Celestial Lord..."

Sangji said softly:

"There is something you don’t know, Great General. The karma between the Great Enterprise and the Celestial Lord exists within the bloodline, hidden in the surname Yao."

"The Body-Offering Ritual is not something only the Direct Lineage can perform."

"When Liyang stormed the Pass and sacked the capital, in such a chaotic scene, it would be normal for a few fish to have escaped the net."

Jin Wushu frowned deeply. ’Such a crucial matter... why didn’t Great Snow Mountain give us a warning?’

’One must understand, Liyang’s invasion of the Pass was secretly instructed and promoted by the Great Dharma Master.’

’We only just managed to secure our rule over the lands inside the Pass and enjoy this rich and fertile territory.’

’Once the Great Enterprise successfully beseeches a Celestial Lord, this heaven-sent fortune will vanish in an instant...’

"Great General, you need not worry. The karma of a Celestial Lord cannot be severed by human effort. Rather than guarding against it obsessively, it is better to let nature take its course."

Sangji smiled.

"My master’s intention is to welcome the Celestial Lord’s descent into the mortal realm, to reopen the gates of ascension, and thus help my master ascend to become an Immortal!"