fynovel Chapter 883 The Abbot of Qingxu Temple and the Abbot of Jingang Temple forge their own paths!
Chapter 883 The Abbot of Qingxu Temple and the Abbot of Jingang Temple forge their own paths!
The residence of the Marquis of Dongling.
[Source Point]: 173.1
Jiang Ning sat cross-legged under an ancient pine tree by the lake, his gaze sweeping over the control panel again.
"One hundred and seventy-three points," he muttered to himself. "That should be enough for the breakthrough of the Taixu Yin-Yang Sword."
Then, he closed his eyes slightly.
next moment.
When he opened his eyes.
Above us was a circular sky, and all around us was a vast expanse of heaven and earth.
Beyond heaven and earth, there are surging clouds and mist.
This is the interior location of the film.
It is the spiritual world.
He was already extremely familiar with this world.
After achieving the status of a Primordial Spirit Immortal, the inner world becomes even more vast.
He also felt that he was fully capable of stepping out of his own inner world.
But he still didn't dare to try.
Because the interior locations are too mysterious.
There is very little information about the interior scenery in various ancient books.
On this path, there is no one to guide him.
For him, the Inner Realm is now simply a place to enhance his cultivation of certain techniques.
Techniques that involve internal cultivation have a certain enhancement effect when practiced in the inner realm where a hundred days feel like a fleeting moment.
However, the sense of unreality regarding time prevented him from staying there without restraint.
next moment.
The sword light surged like a tide, spreading across the void like ripples.
The black and white energies condensed out of thin air and manifested in all directions.
He could sense that with the appearance of the black and white energies, his inner world was also undergoing subtle changes, becoming more realistic.
Vajra Temple.
The ancient temple, with its bells ringing out for a thousand years, still resonates in the distance.
Deep within the Mahavira Hall, a gaunt old monk slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with the image of a golden lotus blooming, radiating Buddhist aura.
He sat on a prayer mat, wearing an old but clean robe.
At this moment, the gilded Buddha statue in the hall, illuminated by the sunlight overhead, resembled a Buddha awakening, its dazzling light bathing the entire hall in golden glory.
The old monk was also radiating golden light, which sometimes spread and sometimes transformed into a golden bell phantom.
Suddenly.
The temple door slid open silently, and a middle-aged monk bowed as he entered, presenting a scroll of silk with both hands: "Abbot, someone just delivered a brocade book outside the temple gate, saying it was from an old friend of yours."
"Old friend!" the old monk murmured.
Then he said, "Bring it here."
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged monk bowed and stepped forward, approaching the old monk. Holding the brocade book in his hands, he bent down and respectfully presented it to him.
The old monk raised his eyes, and the brocade book flew from the middle-aged monk's hand, slowly unfolding in front of him.
The old monk glanced at it, and the more than one hundred words on it instantly caught his eye.
Then, his gaze darkened slightly, and he remained silent for a long while.
Inside the hall, golden light flowed and incense smoke curled, with only the distant sound of an ancient bell drifting slowly from outside.
“Benefactor Xia is indeed shrewd in his calculations.” The old monk spoke slowly, his voice hoarse from years of silence. “He is using my Vajra Temple to investigate the background of the Marquis of Dongling, and he intends to stir up trouble and disrupt the new order of the Great Xia.”
The middle-aged monk lowered his head and remained silent.
Because the person in front of him was the abbot of the Vajra Temple, the second strongest person in the world, someone he could not communicate with.
"Kongxiang, what do you think?" The old monk asked the middle-aged monk in front of him, his eyes lowered.
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged monk became even more respectful and then said, "Abbot, in my opinion, this matter involves a wide range of people. Marquis Jiang Ning of Dongling is currently enjoying great popularity and has been favored by the Martial Saint. Moreover, it is rumored that Marquis Jiang Ning's strength is comparable to that of the peerless King Ji Xuan, ranking second in the world."
“Our Vajra Temple has always remained aloof from worldly affairs, detached from court disputes. If we were to go to Jiangning at the invitation of the Xia family, we might get involved in unnecessary karma and even displease the Martial Saint. Therefore, I believe we should uphold the principle of ‘purity and inaction’ and politely decline this matter.”
The old monk shook his head.
"Second best in the world, but someone is secretly pulling the strings behind the scenes!"
He then added, "I owed the Xia family a favor before, and now they're asking me to help under the pretext of that favor. There's no reason for me to refuse!"
"Very well!" The old monk slowly rose, his withered figure appearing incredibly tall under the Buddha's light, as if he had merged into the gilded Buddha statue behind him.
The robe moved without wind, and faint golden Sanskrit characters seemed to flow around it.
"This old monk also wants to see for himself what kind of astonishing foundation this junior, who is not yet twenty years old, can be on par with Fellow Daoist Ji Xuan at the Nascent Soul Immortal realm, is. Yin and Yang as the foundation, a superior immortal foundation... Such a person is rarely seen in ancient records. If I don't see such a person with my own eyes, I will always have something on my mind."
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged monk Kongxiang became even more respectful and whispered, "Is the abbot's intention correct?"
"Go and make preparations." The old monk closed his eyes again, and the golden light around him gradually faded. "This old monk will personally go to the capital to meet this Marquis of Dongling. Not because of the Xia family's invitation, nor to compete for empty fame, but only to see the Dao."
Kong Xiang bowed deeply: "This disciple understands. But please, Master, if you are a Martial Saint, then..."
“It’s alright.” The old monk interrupted him, his voice calm. “The Martial Saint’s realm has long transcended worldly disputes. As long as it does not violate righteousness or harm the harmony of heaven, he will not interfere. This journey is only for discussing and verifying the Dao, not for fighting to the death.”
Kong Xiang bowed again: "This disciple will go and prepare."
The old monk nodded slightly: "Inform Jin Chan and Fen Deng."
"Yes!" Kong Xiang replied again.
Then, silence returned to the hall.
Meanwhile, at the top of the sea of clouds on the back mountain of Qingxu Temple.
An ancient Taoist temple hangs quietly in the clouds and mist, seemingly real yet illusory.
The stone platform in front of the temple is as smooth as a mirror, with several gnarled ancient pines standing along the edge, their needles emerald green and glistening with dewdrops.
A streak of yellow light streaked across the sky and landed silently in front of the temple, transforming into a middle-aged man dressed in a long, dark yellow robe—none other than Xia Xuanyan.
"Brother Qingxu, how have you been?" Xia Xuanyan spoke loudly to the tightly closed temple gate. His voice was not loud, but it clearly pierced through the clouds and entered the temple.
A moment later, the gate slid open silently.
A young Taoist priest in blue robes stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Master Xia, the abbot invites you."
Xia Xuanyan nodded slightly and stepped inside.
The temple was simply furnished, with only a Taoist priest sitting on a prayer mat in the center.
The Taoist's hair and beard were all white, but his face was as rosy and delicate as a baby's, without the slightest wrinkle.
He was dressed in a simple gray Taoist robe, his eyes slightly closed, and his aura blended with the entire Taoist temple and even the surrounding sea of clouds, as if he were a part of this natural world.
It was none other than the Abbot of Qingxu Temple, another supreme expert in the world widely recognized as being on par with the "second strongest in the world." "Judging from your aura, it seems you have made further progress!" Xia Xuan said.
"Fellow Daoist Xia, what brings you to this tranquil place, Qingxu Temple, today?" The abbot of Qingxu Temple slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear as a deep pool, reflecting Xia Xuanyan's figure. He spoke directly and to the point.
Upon hearing this, Xia Xuanyan didn't stand on ceremony and directly took out a jade slip, sending it to the abbot of Qingxu Temple with his true essence: "Brother Dao, please take a look at this first."
The Abbot of Qingxu Temple scanned the jade slip with his divine sense, understanding the information within: Jiang Ning's battle with Ji Xuan at Chengqian Palace in the capital, the intervention of the Martial Saint, and the rumors circulating outside that he was "the second best in the world, with six others tied for the top spot." His expression remained unchanged.
"Fellow Daoist Xia, have you come for the Marquis of Dongling?"
“Exactly.” Xia Xuanyan nodded. “I just went to the Vajra Temple, and the person there has already agreed. Jiang Ning is currently too prominent, and his foundation is unfathomable. His background is unknown. If he is allowed to advance further, the future landscape may change drastically. I request that you, brother, take action and exchange a few blows with Jiang Ning at the Great Xia Emperor’s coronation ceremony tomorrow. Afterward, stop and acknowledge that the rumors about him are true. This will confirm that his current strength is indeed on par with yours, and at the same time, make him the target of everyone’s criticism.”
The abbot of Qingxu Temple remained silent for a moment, his gaze seemingly piercing through the temple roof to the endless sea of clouds: "Fellow Daoist Xia is very wary of him!"
Xia Xuanyan readily admitted, "Brother Dao is wise. This young man from Jiang Ning is unparalleled in both immortal and martial arts, and his potential is terrifying. If left to grow unchecked, he will surely become a major threat in the future. However, with the Martial Saint still alive, it is inconvenient for us to use our true bodies to launch a full-scale attack to eliminate him. The only option is to use the title of 'Second in the World' to attract attention from all sides, putting him in the eye of the storm and slowing down his growth. When the time is right, we will take swift and decisive action."
"Moreover," Xia Xuan said in a slightly somber tone, "Brother Dao, do you not wish to witness firsthand the power of that superior immortal foundation, 'Yin and Yang as its foundation, with nine layers of profound light'? Such a foundation is rare even in ancient records. Fighting against it might allow you to glimpse some of the true meaning of the immortal path, which may not be of no benefit to your cultivation."
A very subtle ripple appeared in the eyes of the Abbot of Qingxu Temple, but he quickly regained his composure.
He slowly rose, his gray robe fluttering without wind, and the Daoist aura flowing naturally around him grew even deeper.
"What Fellow Daoist Xia said is not without reason." The abbot of Qingxu Temple said in a faint voice, "I am indeed quite curious about that Marquis of Dongling. At the age of less than twenty, he achieved a superior immortal foundation and fought against Ji Xuan! Such a person is rare throughout the ages. To see him, discuss him, and verify him is also a kind of enlightenment on the path of Dao."
He paused, then looked at Xia Xuanyan: "I may make a trip to the capital. But it will only be for a discussion of Dao, limited to three moves, to fulfill your plan. I will not deliberately lose and tarnish the thousand-year-old reputation of Qingxu Temple. You should understand this, Fellow Daoist Xia."
A glint flashed in Xia Xuanyan's eyes, and he cupped his hands, saying, "That's enough! With your words, I'm relieved. After three moves, you can gracefully retreat, and the outside world will have its own judgment. Jiang Ning's position as the second best in the world will be undisputed, and the vortex surrounding him will deepen even further."
The abbot of Qingxu Temple nodded slightly and said no more.
He took a step forward, and his figure was already above the sea of clouds outside the pavilion, as if he had merged into the vast expanse of clouds and mist.
"In that case, I will make a trip to the capital and meet this young 'second best in the world'."
As soon as he finished speaking, the abbot of Qingxu Temple gradually faded away, transforming into a wisp of breeze that merged into the sea of clouds and disappeared.
Only the lingering Taoist chants remained, slowly flowing across the stone platform in front of the temple.
Xia Xuanyan stood inside the temple, gazing in the direction where the Abbot of Qingxu Temple had disappeared, a deep smile playing on his lips.
"Jiangning, this throne of 'second best in the world' is not easy to sit on."
The old monk of Jingang Temple, the abbot of Qingxu Temple.
Now, let's see how you handle these storms from all sides.
He turned around and transformed into a streak of dark yellow light, disappearing quietly.
The place instantly returned to tranquility, with only the churning sea of clouds and the rustling of pine trees.
The residence of the Marquis of Dongling, beneath an ancient pine tree.
Jiang Ning sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his body surrounded by a continuous flow of black and white light.
Inside and outside the inner world, time flows almost to a standstill; a moment outside is equivalent to a hundred days, or even a thousand days, passing here.
He has been practicing swordsmanship since he first started, and now his mind is completely immersed in comprehending the Taixu Yin Yang Sword.
In his mind, that profound sword technique continued to evolve.
From the initial sword splitting Yin and Yang, to the sword light transforming into nothingness and merging into space.
Each movement embodies the principles and concepts of space and yin and yang.
“The Yin governs stillness, while the Yang governs movement. Between stillness and movement lies the alternation of Yin and Yang.” Jiang Ning’s thoughts stirred slightly, and the power of his primordial spirit surged forth like a tide, manifesting a black and white interwoven longsword phantom in his inner world.
The sword flashed lightly.
laugh--
A thin crack silently appeared in the void, the left side as bright white as the sun, the right side as dark as the moon.
At the edge of the crack, tiny ripples of space spread out, only to be quickly smoothed out by the yin and yang energies.
Afterwards, he dispersed the sword's shadow and began to comprehend it anew.
After achieving the primordial spirit, the speed of thought increases by more than a hundredfold.
The sword principles that were once obscure and difficult to understand are now as clear as lines on the palm of your hand.
Countless insights about space and yin and yang surfaced from the depths of his memory, corroborating each other with the Taixu Yin Yang Sword.
Much later.
After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Ning once again condensed his sword.
This time, the sword shadow became hazy and illusory, as if it existed between existence and non-existence.
Before the sword was even moved, the surrounding space spontaneously distorted, forming a miniature chaotic domain.
Within this realm, the Yin and Yang energies flow naturally, sometimes giving rise to the world of dust, and sometimes returning to nothingness.
“Using the sword as a guide, transforming the illusory into the real, and incorporating yin and yang into space, a small world of its own is formed.” A glint flashed in Jiang Ning’s eyes.
He pointed his fingers into a sword shape and slowly thrust it out in the inner scene.
This sword strike was extremely slow, yet it carried a certain mysterious rhythm.
Wherever the sword pointed, ripples spread across the void like water, with a blazing white light on the left and a dark moonlight on the right.
The light and moonlight intertwined, condensing into a simplified Tai Chi diagram in the void.
In an instant, he could feel that his understanding of the Taixu Yin Yang Sword had reached a new level.
This sword strike is no longer a mere offensive technique, but rather touches the edge of the "Tao".
The sword embodies the Dao, and the Dao transforms Yin and Yang.
At this point, he truly relied on his own abilities, without taking advantage of the panel's mystical power.
At this moment, he felt boundless joy.
Although he already knew where the panel's mystique came from.
The panel is just an aid, an aid that helps him reach a higher level.
But he also wanted to see if he could gain anything or gain any insights on his own.
And today, at this moment, he has truly done it.
He knew that his achievements were due to his attainment of the Primordial Spirit Immortal realm, which resulted in a geometric increase in both his thinking and comprehension.
It was precisely because of this improvement that he was able to comprehend his own insights based on the profound and obscure swordsmanship of the Taixu Yin Yang Sword.
Just then, a prompt quietly appeared before his eyes.
[Tai Xu Yin Yang Sword Experience Points +50000]
"Fifty thousand!" Jiang Ning was shocked and slightly surprised, then smiled wryly.
He knew this was what he deserved.
According to the Martial Saint and the others, his recent step was based on the perfection of the Taixu Yin Yang Sword, and he forged his own path.
Just as Ji Xuan forged his own path in the Imperial Supreme Suppressing World Merit, transforming himself into a unique entity. (End of Chapter)