Chapter 468: Chapter 424: Imperial Decree Golden Book
On the way back to the Mountain God Temple with the white-robed ghost, Jiang Yuebai learned from her that this realm is called the Iron Palm Realm, named by the previous Realm Lord, Iron Palm Master.
Master, Wanderer, or similar titles are suffixes for Daoist names. That Iron Palm Master was a Divinity Transformation Martial Cultivator who led this realm for less than three hundred years before leaving with a few disciples.
The Iron Palm Realm is small, with only three continents, the largest of which is Xiting Continent, where the Iron Palm Sect is located.
The white-robed ghost has never been there, but she heard there’s still an untapped spirit vein there, rich in spiritual energy for cultivation.
The disciples of the Iron Palm Sect who did not follow Iron Palm Master remain there cultivating; the current Sect Leader is a Golden Core Peak cultivator about to attempt the Nascent Soul Stage.
They are currently in the tiniest area of the realm, Dongyue Continent. According to the white-robed ghost’s description, Dongyue Continent spans thousands of miles, with only one main mountain range and a dozen peaks covering ninety percent of its area, with fewer than a hundred thousand mortals and over twenty Mountain Gods.
The Divine Dao is prevalent in Dongyue Continent, where so-called gods are mountain spirits and wild ghosts enshrined by Iron Palm Master to reap mortal incense fire offerings.
While Iron Palm Master was present, he appointed an Emperor Dongyue to govern the entire continent’s expanse, with divine cultivation nearly rivaling Nascent Soul Cultivators.
Sadly, Iron Palm Master departed, followed by Emperor Dongyue, leading to the decline of Divine Dao in Dongyue Continent.
"Is there a transmission array in Xiting Continent leading to other realms?" Jiang Yuebai asked the white-robed ghost.
The white-robed ghost floating ahead paused, "In the past hundred years, I haven’t heard of anyone leaving the Iron Palm Realm, so I don’t know, Immortal. The temple of the Little Mountain God is just ahead."
Following the direction indicated by the white-robed ghost, Jiang Yuebai saw a dilapidated temple nestled in the forest, its rooftop punctured, and walls peeling, surrounded by wild grass and desolate.
By the temple was a crooked old tree covered with dirty, faded red prayer ribbons fluttering in the wind.
The white-robed ghost shyly covered half her face with her hair, saying, "Let the Immortal forgive my embarrassment. In recent years, it’s been hard to gather followers, leaving the temple in ruins due to neglect."
Jiang Yuebai entered the temple, seeing a stone statue in the center resembling the white-robed ghost, though its expression was solemn rather than eerie.
"My temple is small and has nothing. If the Immortal wishes to inquire about Immortal Dao matters, perhaps visiting Xiting Continent to consult the Iron Palm Sect would be advisable."
The white-robed ghost spoke cautiously.
"Are you trying to send me away?" Jiang Yuebai raised an eyebrow.
The white-robed ghost hastily denied, "No, no, absolutely not, I..."
"Mountain God of Guihun Ridge, hear the command!"
Suddenly, black smoke surged in, enveloping the entire dilapidated temple instantly, a sharp voice resonating from the smoky depths.
"By the order of Lord Guangling, promptly deliver this year’s incense fire offerings; violators will have their divine status revoked and be executed without mercy!"
Upon hearing this, the white-robed ghost fell into panic, kneeling and covering her face in tears, pleading, "I beg the Divine Envoy to extend my time, I see hardly anyone at Guihun Ridge all year, where can I find incense to offer?"
No reply came from the black smoke, and the white-robed ghost peeked fearfully, noticing something emerging from the swirling black mist, immediately raising her cries.
"I truly have no incense left, truly none... sob sob..."
"Who is this Lord Guangling?"
Jiang Yuebai emerged from the black smoke, holding a dead yellow skin.
The white-robed ghost stared in shock, blood tears pouring from her eyes, for this yellow skin was Lord Guangling’s top lackey, frequently bullying the Little Mountain Gods like herself.
Though he relied on Lord Guangling’s power, his capabilities were formidable, and they, without Dharma Bodies, were no match.
Reassessing Jiang Yuebai, the white-robed ghost found no detectable spiritual energy fluctuations, unable to discern her depth, was she, like Lord Guangling, at Foundation Establishment?
The white-robed ghost’s eyes twitched, bowing low, "Guihun Ridge Mountain God Yann Hongyu thanks the Immortal for the rescue, at your command, I shall serve loyally to the death."
Jiang Yuebai sat at a reasonably clean spot under the statue, discarding the yellow skin’s body, taking out a corner of a golden page almost taken by the wind when she killed it.
Yann Hongyu’s eyes gleamed at the sight of the golden page.
"Tell me, who is this Lord Guangling, what is his cultivation?"
Suppressing her desire for the golden page, Yann Hongyu quickly spoke, "Lord Guangling was an Immortal Dao Cultivator, paradoxically perished during Foundation Establishment, usurped a nearby Mountain God’s position, cultivated in the mountains for centuries, achieving a Divine Dao Dharma Body, equivalent to late-stage Foundation Establishment in Immortal Dao."
"He holds the greatest power in Dongyue Continent, constantly extorting incense fire offerings from us small Mountain Gods for cultivation, his oppression weighs on us dreadfully, Immortal, you must stand up for us..."
Jiang Yuebai frowned, lifting the golden page corner, asking, "And what is this?"
She sensed a strong incense fire Qi within the golden page, similar to the stamp she previously acquired from Lin Jingyue.
Yann Hongyu swallowed, "We self-titled Little Mountain Gods are wild gods; the legitimate divine status requires an Imperial Decree Golden Book from the Immortal Sect. This was the golden book decree of Emperor Dongyue, allowing its bearer to truly command Dongyue Continent’s terrain, all beings and spirits in the mountains follow the orders."
"Such great power?" Jiang Yuebai was skeptical, yet she hadn’t encountered such an item in the Earth Spiritual Realm.
Yann Hongyu felt Jiang Yuebai was like a barbarian, ignorant of such matters, but dared only think it inwardly due to her might.
"The golden book created by Iron Palm Master with Immortal Sect’s method contains the power of Heaven and Earth Laws and Realm Lord’s control over a realm, under these forces within the realm, all beings below Divinity Transformation cannot resist."
Jiang Yuebai realized, understanding the Realm Lord wielded absolute life and death authority within the realm.
No wonder the Supreme Elder mentioned that in the Upper Realm, the Sect structure no longer mattered.
She must take care when traversing in the Upper Realm, avoiding conflict with beings like Realm Lords, else she’d be caught like a turtle in a jar, slayed as doors close.
"Immortal, you hold merely a fragment of the golden book; Emperor Dongyue forsook his divine position to follow Iron Palm Master away, the golden book remained in Dongyue Continent, fought over by wild gods, fragmented, incomplete. Having a fragment allows quicker, more effective gathering of incense fire to cultivate a Dharma Body, formally embarking on the Divine Dao; barring external destruction, maintained incense offerings lead to endless life akin to Heaven and Earth."
"Do you possess such an item?" Jiang Yuebai asked Yann Hongyu.
Yann Hongyu’s expression froze, finally gritting her teeth to summon a thumbnail-sized golden page shard from within, presenting it with both hands.
"The small god offers a golden page fragment to the Immortal, imploring to accompany you."
Jiang Yuebai accepted the fragment, lowered her gaze, "Whether you accompany, we’ll see. Leave your Divine Dao Cultivation Technique for me to review, then help me deliver a gift to Lord Guangling, inviting him to meet me."
Jiang Yuebai tossed the yellow skin’s corpse to the white-robed ghost.
The white-robed ghost understood, realizing this was a suicide mission; if she dared present the yellow skin’s body to Lord Guangling, he would kill her instantly.
"Immortal, this... wouldn’t it be unwise?"
Jiang Yuebai smiled, "Little Green, accompany her. If Lord Guangling refuses, explain things well to him, you understand?"
Little Green manifested, emitting gathering phosphorescence around the lantern.
[Kill, kill, kill]
The white-robed ghost felt the fearsome Yin Fire aura from Little Green, already surpassing Foundation Establishment Stage, delight surging, hurriedly picking up the yellow skin’s corpse rising.
"Immortal, rest assured, the small god swears to ’invite’ that scoundrel Lord Guangling to you."
"Alright, off you go."
The white-robed ghost left her Divine Dao Cultivation Technique behind, valiantly marching off with Little Green, Jiang Yuebai released Jixiang, feeding it a bit of Golden Spiritual Energy.
"Survey the surroundings within three hundred miles for any spirit veins or other Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, primarily seeking these golden book fragments, don’t consume them, I need them."
Chirp chirp!
Jixiang departed on assignment, while Jiang Yuebai picked up the bamboo scroll, unfolding a record of "Incense Fire Refining Divine Method."
"This approach is genuinely rare in the Earth Spiritual Realm, where mortal incense is predominantly harvested by Daoist Temples and Buddhist Temples established by sects before mountain spirits and wild ghosts get a chance, new knowledge to explore!"
