Plum Blossom Forest.
Master i Hua watched the falling blossoms, each petal embodying a unique rhythm of the Great Dao.
Heaven and earth’s natural laws, the cycle of life and death.
From the blooming to the withering of a petal, all transformations played out flawlessly.
All of existence, contained within a single plum blossom.
While others had moved to the Donghua Jungle, only i Hua remained at the original location.
i Hua’s seniority and vast network allowed him to disregard the Heavenly Master’s attitude. Coupled with his mastery of divination, he rarely feared retaliation, always slipping away before trouble arrived.
He, too, had received an invitation to the magic eting.
The golden-etched invitation bore intricate Daoist patterns. The cover displayed the aphorism of the Donghua Jungle: "The grand qi of the heavens prevails, my Dao thrives daily."
Such self-assured words in their dedication to the Dao often stirred admiration among many cultivators.
"A Law Debate Assembly? Interesting."
This Law Debate Assembly would likely attract many participants.
Of course, the majority weren’t drawn by Song Lin’s skills but by sheer curiosity about this man who dared stand openly against the Heavenly Master.
It was also Song Lin’s chance to make a na for himself.
As long as he could demonstrate sufficient strength and gain so recognition and allies, the benefits of growing influence would naturally follow.
Everything unfolds in stages. If this gathering were highly successful, the Shadow Heavenly Master title might truly beco one of renown.
In the past, it had been little more than a jest or teasing moniker.
"I’d like to see how you’ll pull it off," i Hua thought to himself.
To be fair, Donghua Jungle was the most harmonious cultivation environnt he had ever experienced. Those dedicated to aningful work or focused on refining their abilities could thrive without concerns of scheming or rivalry.
The Earth Evil and Heavenly Slaughter of the Spirit Prohibition Mansion and Soldier Mansion each received invitations as well.
"Haha, the Shadow Heavenly Master’s debate is about to begin," Earth Evil chuckled.
Since their open confrontation with the Taoist School, Song Lin had surprised them on several occasions.
They hoped this ti would be no different.
As mbers of the Shadow Heavenly Master Mansion, they naturally wished for Song Lin to beco ever stronger, perhaps even ascend to beco the Heavenly Master in due ti. Such a rise would guarantee them, as loyal supporters, substantial rewards.
Heavenly Slaughter smiled faintly but said nothing.
Earth Evil suddenly remarked, "By the way, I’ve been enforcing the Donghua Rules, and there’s grumbling within the mansion. How are things on your side?"
Song Lin had given them a three-year tifra.
In three years, they were to reform from within, mandating every disciple to adhere to the Donghua Rules. Afterward, the Evil Exorcism Altar would oversee the enforcent—penalties for violators, with the gravest offenders facing execution.
"It’s manageable on my side. Worst case, we just kill more demons."
Heavenly Slaughter’s Demon Extermination and Sword Cultivation Path was one of massacre. The more it killed, the stronger its sword and techniques beca.
Previously, it focused on killing cultivators. Now, it shifted to slaughtering demons.
If there was no alternative, Heavenly Slaughter would heartlessly expel or imprison offenders.
Tis had changed.
Previously, their formidable strength could easily suppress Song Lin.
Since Song Lin had broken through to the late-stage Purple Mansion Realm, achieving the sixth transformation of the Undamaged Body, his power already rivaled theirs—a cultivator who had just stepped into the tribulation-crossing phase.
As the Lords of the Spirit Prohibition Mansion, Heavenly and Earthly Slaughter cultivators on the Wind Tribulation path, they appeared prestigious but had yet to survive the very tribulation they studied. In fact, they had evaded it twice.
By rights, their chances of successfully overcoming it were slim. Both tis they survived thanks to Zhi Xin, owing her a significant debt of gratitude.
Though they enjoyed much autonomy now, on principle matters, they still followed Song Lin’s decisions.
"I’ve still got trouble brewing in Sanhe Forest. The reactions there are strong. Never mind, I’ll bring them to the magic eting and let them witness the Shadow Heavenly Master’s strength."
Though billed as a discussion gathering, it was nearly impossible to avoid a duel.
When a particular spell was debated, soone would dispute it and demand proof of superiority. "If you’re that impressive, prove it!" It was hard to ignore such challenges.
Song Lin would undoubtedly need to showcase his skills.
...
Capital Institute Mansion within Donghua Jungle.
This was the residence of Capital Institute Qingyu.
Inside the practice hall, a graceful woman clad in light gauze bathed in moonlight, breathing in and out nature’s spiritual energy.
Amid the misty clouds of three feet of blue sky hovered a faintly red, translucent treasure sword.
This was the Spirit Sword.
After so ti, her cultivation session ended.
Qingyu exhaled softly, her star-like eyes shimring brilliantly in the night.
As a relative of Wu Qingxuan, Qingyu had found herself in an awkward position within the Jungle recently.
There were persistent rumors that she was a spy sent by the Ziyun faction.
Fortunately, the Taoist trusted her deeply, and those in the Jungle transitioned from suspicion to understanding.
When she first heard about her aunt Wu Qingxuan’s misdeeds, Qingyu had felt sorrow, but she eventually ca to terms with it.
Having been born into the Royal Family and raised in Donghua, her values greatly aligned with those of the Jungle.
The once arrogant Commandery Princess had long undergone a transformation.
Compared to that, her royal status appeared insignificant.
She couldn’t choose her relatives, but she could decide where her heart belonged.
"Commandery Princess!"
A maid’s knock interrupted her thoughts.
The grand door opened on its own, and the maid respectfully presented two letters.
Qingyu opened them and imdiately showed a peculiar expression.
One was from the Thirteenth Prince, asking Song Lin to assist him. If he succeeded in achieving greatness, he promised to petition the Dragon Head Heavenly Master to have Donghua split off into an independent Taoist faction.
Qingyu read only a glance and tossed it away.
Delusional! Plainly trying to swindle support with nothing but empty promises.
Within Wu Country’s political frawork, the Taoist Alliance backed princes, and upon ascension, a new Dragon Head alliance would be ford.
Everyone followed this unwritten rule, and no Heavenly Master could intervene—in the end, one must accept the wager and the outco.
This balance rotated control of Wu Country’s Great Dao.
Otherwise, if strength alone dictated rule, the Heavenly Masters’ power would ravage the land into ruin.
Thus, struggles for the throne were typically conducted by subordinates rather than the Heavenly Masters themselves.
At present, ten princes vied for the throne, with the Crown Prince backed by the Xuanzong Shangqing Dao Alliance. The Upper Pure Heavenly Masters, having supported eight consecutive terms, wielded extraordinary influence, and the Crown Prince seed the likely victor.
As for the other nine princes, they were relegated to the shadows.
And those beyond the ten stood no chance.
The second letter ca from another prince.
"The thirty-second younger brother? Has he left the palace?"
The Thirty-second Prince, Wu Yi, had always shared a good relationship with Qingyu. According to royal protocol, princes would cut their hair upon reaching age fifteen, marking their eligibility for official duties, studies, and travel.
His position as thirty-second in line ant there were no benefits awaiting him.
Born to a brothel courtesan, he was derided by others. Qingyu had always taken pity on him and offered him care.
The letter expressed his desire to visit the Donghua Jungle for scholarly and spiritual pursuits.
Qingyu initially considered refusing but then reflected on his poor circumstances—motherless from a young age, always the target of ridicule...
"Sigh, fine, I suppose..."
Perhaps she was the only one he could rely on in this world.
The ti for the Law Debate Assembly drew near.
Only ten days remained.
By the ten-to-one ratio of blessed land ti dilation, Song Lin should complete his task before the eting.
...
Within the story’s realm.
Inside the Lord’s Eight Trigrams Furnace, True Fire tempered the Golden Body. Five auras coalesced within his chest, on the verge of forming.
The Golden Body had reached the eighth transformation, and the Five Qi were nearing ergence.
Song Lin altered his approach.
Five Qi Chaoyuan traditionally erged together, but since this lacked balance, he resolved to cultivate all five simultaneously, costing him additional ti.
Now, with the year nearly over, the outside world anxiously awaited.
At this mont, fifteen thousand miles away in Lishan, Fire Mother’s unusual activity finally drew notice.
The Lishan Mother, revered as the Heavenly Venerate of World Order, urgently dispatched her vanguard army, with Taoist Golden Lotus and Taoist White Lotus leading the charge.
Danger lood, yet Song Lin remained in seclusion.
Jin Bifeng appeared to sense the threat—Song Lin’s aura showed he had yet to break through; he was missing sothing crucial.
It seed ti had run out!
"Tempered by True Fire... does this Randeng Buddha Body’s Infinite Light Fla count as fire?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)