Chapter 690
Gathering the wisdom of the ancients and the talents of two realms, the "Huang Ting Jing" (Yellow Court Classic) is a creation that, if one cannot surpass this hurdle, what is there left to cultivate?
...
The Daoist Master, the Tianhe Master, and the Lu Zhenxian exchanged glances, their expressions revealing a hint of pride, as if they were reluctant to act simultaneously.
The Tianhe Master remained still, while Lu Zhenxian leaned slightly, preparing to strike. But just then, a flash of purple light darted by, and the Daoist Master, seemingly delighted by the hunt, made the first move!
He pointed at the Tai Chi diagram above his head, where the dual energies of yin and yang swirled.
Suddenly, the Sun and Moon Bell in the medicinal garden rang out with a series of loud thuds, as if it had encountered a formidable foe. The chaotic bell tolls filled the air with an unsettling urgency.
In the Jiushan realm, all beings, whether cultivators or mortals, felt a weight in their hearts. They looked up to see the Tai Chi diagram soaring through the sky, surrounded by countless beings kneeling in reverence, as myriad worlds flickered in and out of existence.
"The Tai Chi diagram of the Daoist Master is a divine ability he acquired long ago, and it embodies his path to enlightenment. Everything he has learned throughout his life is contained within it. It is not merely a life treasure; it surpasses one."
In the guest courtyard, Li Shangxian's expression was a mix of restraint and excitement.
"What power does it hold?"
"I've never seen the Daoist Master in action, so I can only glean a few insights from the ancestral texts and the sect's teachings," Li Shangxian said, his eyes fixed on the Tai Chi diagram, as if trying to discern its secrets. "I speculate that this Tai Chi diagram can stabilize the elements of earth, fire, water, and wind, mastering the forces of yin and yang."
Uncle Pang furrowed his brow.
The statement was vague, clearly indicating that Li Shangxian was reluctant to reveal all the secrets of their sect.
However, Uncle Pang had studied many courses at Jiushan University, and now, comparing his understanding of the Tai Chi diagram's might, he began to grasp its significance:
This Tai Chi diagram seemed capable of generating matter and controlling space, subtly replacing the position of the Sun and Moon Bell in the Jiushan realm?
Li Shangxian continued, "The greatest power of this Tai Chi diagram lies in its invulnerability to all methods, serving as a defense and suppression—unmatched throughout history."
Uncle Pang's heart trembled. Indeed, he saw the Tai Chi diagram crossing the sky, pressing down on Zheng Fa. Wherever it passed, space rippled like a delicate curtain, creating folds and cracks.
Through the cracks, various strange sights could be glimpsed, as if peering into another world.
Zheng Fa found himself beneath it, as if trapped in an invisible cage, unable to advance or retreat.
Uncle Pang's mind raced as he sought a way for Zheng Fa to break free. Zheng Fa had his own innate abilities, but they were not suited for offense. Moreover, his research into various divine abilities paled in comparison to the Daoist Master's deep understanding of the Tai Chi diagram.
It wasn't that Zheng Fa lacked effort; it was simply that time was too short:
Zheng Fa had cultivated rapidly, and in just thirty years, perfecting the "Huang Ting Jing" had consumed all his focus, leaving him no room for anything else.
He pondered, thinking that perhaps the True Fire of the Great Sun could be a match, but it was not without risks:
After all, Zheng Fa had only recently acquired the True Fire of the Great Sun.
"...Is it really possible?"
Just as he was consumed with worry for Zheng Fa, he heard Li Shangxian exclaim in surprise, his tone filled with complex emotions.
Confused, Uncle Pang saw Zheng Fa raise a beam of five-element spiritual light, not directed at the Daoist Master, but rather flying toward the illusion of the Tianhe Master.
It seemed that Li Shangxian, being a loose immortal, had noticed Zheng Fa's movement before him.
In the next moment, he looked at the Tianhe Master, who appeared momentarily stunned in the sky, then glanced at the "Qingping Sword" in Zheng Fa's hand, opening his mouth as if to ask a similar question that got stuck in his throat:
"Can it be done this way?"
...
As Zheng Fa grasped the Qingping Sword, his spirit surged.
No magic treasure? Others have them!
What others hold, isn't that mine?
Faced with the Tai Chi diagram's isolating space and its ability to rewrite the rules, he truly had no good means—
In a contest of divine abilities, Zheng Fa's understanding of his own powers was far inferior to the Daoist Master's mastery of the Tai Chi diagram.
Even though the Jade Tablet of Creation had transformative powers, it was ultimately not a weapon for offense, and Zheng Fa was reluctant to risk damaging it.
But he had no such reservations about the Qingping Sword!
He was far too familiar with it!
He could recite the "Qingping Sword Technique" from memory.
Looking up at the Tai Chi diagram, Zheng Fa pointed the sword tip skyward, merging with the sword, its light piercing through the dualities.
With a single strike, the Tai Chi diagram shattered!
Throughout history, the art of offense had been recognized as unparalleled among the sword cultivators of Tianhe!
As the sword light dissipated, Zheng Fa's figure slowly became visible, but the Qingping Sword returned to the Tianhe Master's hand, and the five-element divine light could only control the Qingping Sword.
The Tianhe Master looked down at the Qingping Sword now back in his palm, seemingly deep in thought.
Then, he turned his gaze toward the Daoist Master. Though his features were obscured, his posture exuded an air of smug satisfaction.
"Did it break?" Li Shangxian murmured, almost to himself, as if trying to convince himself. "Well, it was something the Tianhe Master achieved back in the day, so it makes sense that Zheng Fa could do the same."
Uncle Pang silently agreed. The Tianhe Master had also contended with the Daoist Master, so it was likely he had done something similar in the past.
Zheng Fa was like a student who had copied someone else's exam...
No, wait, it was more like he had snatched someone else's paper, changed the name, and submitted it.
...
Having failed to land a blow, the Daoist Master extended his hand, and the Tai Chi diagram reformed, but then retreated a step, seemingly unwilling to engage further.
Lu Zhenxian, unable to contain himself, saw the retreat and stepped forward, striking at Zheng Fa with nothing but a palm!
At first glance, this move seemed plain and unadorned, but as the palm traveled halfway, it transformed into a towering mountain, crashing toward Zheng Fa.
A sense of overwhelming fear arose in the hearts of the onlookers, compelling them to bow in submission.
Uncle Pang heard Li Shangxian sigh, "It is said that the original法身 (fashen, dharma body) only seeks..."
"What does it seek?"
"The ultimate power."
Uncle Pang's heart stirred as he recalled that Senior Brother Yuan had also mentioned that his dharma body could eventually shatter everything. He hadn't expected Lu Zhenxian to be ahead of the curve.
Zheng Fa, however, felt a deeper resonance. Power was indeed one of the most apparent attributes of the physical body, and it was only natural for the dharma body to develop in this direction.
But Lu Zhenxian before him was not merely about power!
To outsiders, it seemed he had only unleashed a single palm.
But beneath the force of that palm, Zheng Fa knew that in an instant, he had unleashed thousands upon thousands of strikes!
At that moment, Zheng Fa's mind was still clear enough to entertain another thought—this Lu Zhenxian seemed educated, understanding that sometimes, speed and power are one and the same!
But when it came to speed, Zheng Fa had never feared anyone!
He transformed into a rainbow light, attempting to evade the overwhelming onslaught.
In his view, with the speed of the rainbow transformation, Lu Zhenxian's technique was actually the easiest for him to counter.
Who would have thought that Lu Zhenxian would also transform into a long rainbow, his speed not much slower than Zheng Fa's, with his fist hot on Zheng Fa's heels.
The two rainbow lights raced through the air, leaving the onlookers below in awe.
Zheng Fa felt as if he was facing retribution—
I used my divine ability to steal a sword, and now you're stealing my divine ability?
But as he sensed further, he realized that this rainbow light, while resembling his own transformation, was actually a spell—an incredibly wondrous one that could keep pace with his rainbow transformation.
Zheng Fa couldn't help but marvel:
Ultimate power, peak speed—able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Daoist Master and the Tianhe Master, this Lu Zhenxian was no mere pretender.
But why was this person still a true immortal when the Haori Mountain had long been established...?
This thought flashed through his mind, and seeing Lu Zhenxian relentlessly pursuing him, Zheng Fa's sun spirit held the Jade Tablet of Creation in his left hand and drew a circle in the air with his right.
Li Shangxian stood in the courtyard, his tone filled with deep confusion: "So... is that the Tai Chi diagram?"
Uncle Pang noticed the people from the Taishang Dao casting sidelong glances at him, and with an awkward smile, he quickly explained, "Actually... the others in our Jiushan Sect don't do this."
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 481: Huang Ting Miao Jue, Three Flowers Gather at the Crown (Supplement)
For Li Shangxian and the others, using techniques to evolve the Tai Chi diagram and simulate a fraction of the Daoist Master's innate divine abilities was not a difficult task—one might even say it was one of the Taishang Dao's most adept secrets.
In fact, this was not unfamiliar to Uncle Pang either: back in the day, the ghostly immortal Qin Mu had employed a similar technique.
However, this was not a trivial matter; it was specifically aimed at disciples of the Taishang Dao, particularly those who were true inheritors.
Now, Zheng Fa, the leader of the Jiushan Sect, had unleashed the secret arts of the Taishang Dao, leaving Li Shangxian and the others utterly dumbfounded, even causing them to doubt.
Seeing Uncle Pang's awkward and puzzled expression, Li Shangxian furrowed his brow and turned to Zheng Fa, his eyes filled with swirling purple energy, as if he were grasping something profound. After a long moment, he finally spoke:
"It seems similar yet different."
"Master?"
"Zheng Fa's Tai Chi diagram appears to be quite different from ours," Li Shangxian paused, then continued, "But..."
He closed his mouth, seemingly reluctant to elaborate further.
The old man of the transformation stage frowned and said, "But what? Master, this is a closely guarded secret of our Taishang Dao."
"It resembles the move the Daoist Master just used."
Table of Contents
