"What the Evil Sword Immortal left behind was only an avatar. It is likely that his true body fled after learning about the Three Sovereigns Divine Artifacts."
"Besides, we are not from Mount Shu. 'Raising strange creatures to harm humanity'—that's your assessment of us, isn't it?"
The weight of Jing Tian's words far exceeded what Chang Hao was currently bearing.
"It's all my fault, everything is my fault!"
Chang Hao, with his head held high despite the veins bulging, refused to lower it, and at that moment, he crashed heavily into the Azure Jade Steps.
The blue was tinged with crimson.
Jing Tian had removed the heavy burden from Chang Hao, but Chang Hao did not get up.
It seems they'll be kneeling until the very end of the world.
Until the light.
Liquid Jin Guang gushed from the cracks in the jade bricks, and the star map that had once been corroded by blood now flowed into a sky full of scriptures.
The Earth Vein trembled like a chant, and the seventy-two peaks simultaneously lit up with seal script.
Gold fragments swirled into the cracks in the bricks, while the black mist on the iron pillar screamed and shrank back.
The Mountain Protection Array descended from the Cloud Top; it was no longer fine golden patterns, but rather scales formed from the shimmering light of countless waves.
The source of the crimson light that filled the sky with purple flames and permeated the entire sky was a wisp of pure energy emerging from the spot where the Demon Locking Tower had collapsed.
The figure of an old man in blue robes appeared from within.
"The Demon Suppressing Sword has truly disappeared."
This person was Qing Wei. After confirming that what the Evil Sword Immortal said was true, he flew to Chang Hao's side.
Perhaps because the Evil Sword Immortal had used Qing Wei's appearance before, Chang Hao subconsciously raised his arm, turned around and stepped back, but had no choice but to get up.
"Changqing is still alive; that evil spirit deliberately spared his life."
Zi Xuan 'just happened' to wake up at that moment, "Is what the Daoist priest said true?"
"That's wonderful!" Chang Hao cried tears of joy.
"Of course it's true," Jing Tian said. "The Evil Sword Immortal didn't kill him in order to exhaust our energy and make us unable to search for the Three Sovereigns Divine Artifacts."
"How is Changqing?" Zi Xuan dared not look Jing Tian in the eye. She no longer loved Xu Changqing, but she also hoped that Xu Changqing was safe and sound.
"Soul and body separated," Qing Wei's expression darkened. "Changqing's body was suppressed by the evil sword, leaving only a trace of life. Changqing's soul, having lost the pull of his physical body, has fallen into the Ghost Realm."
"Young friend, could you please provide a detailed introduction to the Three Sovereigns Divine Artifacts?"
"The divine Divine Aura that is engraved on the back of Changqing's hand is indeed not found in the human realm."
"Oh, it seems he has passed part of the test in the Xuan Guang Illusion. No wonder the Evil Sword Immortal was in such a hurry to kill him." Jing Tian suddenly realized.
Whether in the TV series or the game, the Evil Sword Evil Sword Immortal, who possesses the memories of the Shu Mountain Five Elders and is essentially their evil embodiment, also shares the same affection for Xu Changqing.
In the game storyline, the Evil Sword Immortal plans to kill the Five Elders and take their place.
In the end, he only killed Qing Wei and unexpectedly discovered Xue Jian as a bonus. After killing Xuejian, he stole Xue Jian still-living body, intending to merge with her.
They didn't lay a hand on Xu Changqing at all.
The television line also conveyed Xu Changqing's earnest teachings on life principles. In the end, it seemed that swallowing Xu Changqing was just using his body as a prison to confine Xu Changqing.
"Xuan Guang, yes, Uncle Changqing stayed overnight at the Xuan Guang Hall yesterday." Ming Qing realized.
"Xuan Guang Hall? Let me go and break through the formation!" Chang Hao said.
The disciples of Shu Mountain are no strangers to formations.
The protective barrier covering the Shu Mountain where they lived was a large array.
The Thirty-Six Heavenly Dipper Sword Formation, a unique formation that requires multiple people to wield swords, is also a daily practice for the disciples of Mount Shu.
Jing Tian shook his head. "You're not good enough. According to the rules of your Founders, Taiqing, if you're not the right person, you need to pass the test of the Seven Star Demon Subduing Array to obtain the Three Sovereigns Divine Artifacts' Divine Artifacts."
"This is the Evil Sword Immortal's intention. If we want to obtain the Three Sovereigns Divine Artifacts, we must rescue Xu Changqing. But to rescue Xu Changqing, we need to go to Fengdu and enter the Ghost Realm. However, that will take up our energy and give him more time."
"The Seven Star Demon Subduing Array, me?" Chang Hao instantly lost his confidence.
The seven stars are the Big Dipper Seven Stars Tianshu Star of the Big Dipper, namely, Tianxuan Star, Tianji Star, Tianquan Star, Yuheng Star, Kaiyang Star, Yaoguang Star.
Xuan Guang Hall was formerly known as Tianxuan Hall.
The Seven Star Demon Subduing Array uses seven halls, including the Xuan Guang Hall, to draw upon the power of the Big Dipper Seven Stars. Even the sect leader cannot activate it on his own; he needs the permission of the Star God.
"But the Evil Sword Immortal miscalculated," Jing Tian said. "Now there are four people on Mount Shu who are the right ones."
"Four? From what you're saying, it's the four of you?" Another old man appeared.
He is Cang Gu, the most learned of the Shu Mountain Five Elders, proficient in all immortal arts. He eliminated his desire for power through the [Supreme Purity Method], and his strength is second only to Qing Wei.
In the original timeline, after Qing Wei's death, he became the sect leader.
On the verge of collapse, he abolished the sect rule that lay disciples could not serve as sect leaders, and allowed Xu Changqing, whom he believed could revive the Shu Mountain sect, to succeed him.
If Xu Changqing hadn't been unable to accept the stone tablet in the Earth Vein and hadn't ascended to immortality after handing over the leadership to the unreliable Chang Hao, perhaps Mount Shu could have truly been revived.
Cang Gu now has three elders who have recovered. Since they no longer need to support the Demon Locking Tower, they can hear the commotion outside. They can no longer sense or even perceive the entire [Wuji Pavilion] as they did before.
"I suggest you change your tone," Jing Tian said.
"A Miao girl, a demon, and a celestial beast—can one of them be the one?" Cang Gu shook his head. He believed that Jing Tian, Long Kui, and Xue Jian were qualified, but he still had doubts about the identity of the remaining person.
After Jing Tian's three spirits merged into one body, their mutually reinforcing and restraining spiritual energies expanded and leaked out constantly, making it impossible to conceal their naturally formed spiritual bones.
After obtaining the Earth Spirit Pearl, Xue Jian gradually uncovered its true nature as the Fruit of the Divine Tree.
Long Kui, who has been reborn as a human, gradually reveals her holy appearance, which was previously concealed by her eerie Ghost Qi.
In fact, Zi Xuan has now regained the spiritual power of Mother Earth.
However, due to personal prejudice, Cang Gu subconsciously ignored it.
"Junior brother, take the six of them to the Xuan Guang Hall," Qing Wei said, showing that he had no such prejudice.
Although each successive sect leader could communicate with the first sect leader, who had already become an immortal, in the Three Emperors Hall to learn about the secret of Shu Mountain called "Heavenly Hearing and Earthly Seeing," which only the successive sect leaders could understand, he couldn't even meet the minimum requirements.
But just now, he saw the inscription left by the True Person Taiqing.
The Shu Mountain is hollow like a gourd, the Demon Locking Tower is like the Gourd Handle, Li Shu Mountain is the Gourd Belly, connected from top to bottom as one.
The Five Spiritual Earth Vein, like the Gourd Skin, separate the human and demon realms, preventing them from interfering with each other. The Shu Mountain Sect, like the Gourd Pivot, balances Yin and Yang, harmonizes humans and demons, and connects all things, thus bringing peace to the human world.
If the demons of the Li Shu Mountain grow too strong, they will scatter to the outside world and disturb the human realm. The Shu Mountain warriors will wield their swords to protect the righteous path, subdue the demons, and imprison them in the Demon Locking Tower. The inferior will be eliminated, and the superior will return to the Li Shu Mountain. This cycle continues endlessly.
If Mount Shu is too weak to defeat the demons, the celestial and immortal realms will still offer assistance. However, if the Monster Realm is too weak to defeat Mount Shu, then the balance of Yin and Yang will be disrupted, the world will crumble, Mount Shu will collapse, and the damage will be irreversible. Although since the beginning of time, humans have been weaker than demons, we should always be mindful of the impending doom and be prepared for danger even in times of peace—this is the way of harmony between humanity Unity of Heaven and Man.
Now he doesn't even discriminate against demons anymore, let alone Zi Xuan, who is of a different race, Hua Ying, who is a celestial beast.
"Six—" Cang Gu gasped for breath. He wanted to say that there were demons among these six, but under Qing Wei's prompting gaze, he had no choice but to lead the way. "Come on."
The stone path leading to the Xuan Guang Hall winds eastward from the ruins of the Demon-Suppressing Tower.
"So beautiful," Xue Jian couldn't help but exclaim.
As you approach the latter part of the Xuan Guang Hall, the jade bricks turn into seemingly ordinary bluestone bricks.
But Stardust is embedded in the cracks of the blue bricks, and with each step, a ripple of deep blue spreads out.
The closer you get to the mountain peak, the heavier the mist becomes.
Over the long years, the star map carved into the rock wall has gleamed with silver light, as if trying to entwine the clothes of passersby.
Compared to this, Penglai is like a rural town compared to a royal palace.
She finally understood what Jing Tian meant when he casually mentioned that there were benefits to Shushan serving as dogs for the God Realm.
As they passed the meteorite boundary marker inscribed with the words "Tianxuan," the group suddenly felt a weight around them.
"The Earth Vein here coincide with the trajectory of the Tianxuan Star," Cang Gu said. "If the Big Dipper Demon Subduing Array is activated, you will need the flickering of the second star of the Big Dipper as a trigger to get out. I suggest you wait a little longer."
"There's no need to wait until tonight. We won't fail. Ah Tian's words are never wrong." Xue Jian strode confidently forward amidst the starlight.
Hua Ying made a face at Cang Gu and squeaked twice.
"I also believe in Jing Jing Jingjing," the little monkey added.
"You—" Cang Gu waved his sleeve and left.
The group of people with their backs to him disappeared into the silvery starlight.
After passing through the starlight, a magnificent palace standing above the sea of clouds finally came into view.
The Seven-Edged Profound Crystal Hall Base pierces through the sea of clouds, with each edge precisely corresponding to the tail of the Tianxuan Star.
The palace is made of meteorite iron mixed with Kunlun Cold Jade, and its bluish-gray surface is covered with vortex patterns formed by Star Sand.
The main hall's dome is shaped like an inverted bucket, with 36,000 Ice Glazed Tiles forming Hun Tian Star Chart, except for the Tianxuan position, which is presumably filled with the actual Starlight of the Tianxuan Star.
A two-zhang-tall plaque bearing the inscription "Xuan Guang" hangs above the main gate, radiating circles of blue light.
The bells hanging from the eaves were not ordinary copper bells; instead, they were scattering starlight fragments as the wind blew them down.
"This is so beautiful!" Xue Jian had lost count of how many times she had said it was too beautiful.
"The materials used in this main hall are more precious than those used in most of the disciples' Flying Sword," Jing Tian said speechlessly. "Didn't they ever think of dismantling it and rebuilding it?"
Even from the perspective of Fei Peng, the First Divine General, he couldn't help but marvel at how incredibly wealthy the Shu Mountain sect was.
It seems that Taiqing's attainment of immortality through the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir and his subsequent reception by the Heavenly Emperor were of exceptionally high quality.
He strongly suspected that the materials for the Seven Star Coiled Dragon Pillars came from this place after the Five Elements Grand Array of the Demon Locking Tower broke down again.
After entering the main hall, he became even more certain of this idea.
Twelve dragon-shaped pillars with natural patterns resembling swirling galaxies support the entire Xuan Guang Hall.
This makes Zi Xuan's sacrifice even more hilarious.
The floor tiles there are made of divine materials; why would a love-struck Descendant of Nuwa need to sacrifice herself?
"Perhaps it can't be dismantled?" Zi Xuan said. "Taiqing, who possessed the Demon-Suppressing Demon Suppressing Sword and spent seventy-seventy-four-nine days to form Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Core and become an immortal, is the head of the Immortal Sword Sect. Although the Shu Mountain Immortal Sword Sect mainly inherited the lineage of the Immortal Sword Sect, it can't even find a proper disciple who Qi Refining and Core Formation."
"Oh, right, this method of cultivation is External Path; it's too easy to become an immortal!"
There was a hint of resentment in her words.
Back then, she believed in the prestige of the Direct Descendant of the Heavenly Emperor and the Taiqing lineage, which is why she sent the infant Xu Changqing to Mount Shu.
When he later met the five elders of Mount Shu, he again closed his spiritual energy and could not see their true strength.
Looking at it today, it seems that with this level of skill, one can only barely be considered Half-Immortal.
This is even after practicing the Forbidden Technique, the "Supreme Purity Method".
"The Shu Mountain Immortal Sword Sect has inherited so many immortal techniques and treasures, and it's truly unique that they can still gather such a high level of immortal materials and artifacts," Jing Tian exclaimed. "They can probably rival Qiong Hua."
Qiong Hua is also a direct descendant of the gods, and the Nine Heavens Xuannü is their ancestor.
Cultivation methods can also lead to immortality.
Even in Xuan Xiao's generation, they gathered three disciples with the potential to become immortals: Xuan Xiao, Yun Tianqing, Su Yu, along with two divine swords that could be used for their cultivation to achieve immortality: [Wang Shu] and [Xi He].
As a result, he insisted on taking the crooked path of cultivation, wanting to Sect Ascension and seize all the benefits of the world.
The Nine Heavens Xuannü is only one of the Three Great Xuannü of the Divine Realm, not Fuxi.
The fact that she was able to preserve Qiong Hua's legacy within her authority and patiently explain things multiple times already shows the compassion of this ancestor.
"How do we enter the illusion?" Xue Jian tried to steer the conversation back to the main topic.
"It's very simple." Jing Tian flashed to the gap in the star map of the dome—the location of Tianxuan Star. "Close your eyes, concentrate, visualize the star map above your head, and let the [Starlight] enter your body."
This Starlight is not real Starlight, but rather the entrance to an illusion.
"Ah, so many stars—" Xue Jian looked up, about to say it was too difficult, but her eyes glazed over, clearly entering an illusion.
This startled the little monkey and the Hua Ying, who also looked up and knew they weren't qualified.
But they discovered that they had not entered the illusion.
"Indeed, this illusion is more for the gods than for the disciples of Shu Mountain." Jing Tian was not surprised.
Of the four qualified individuals, only Xue Jian is a complete god, though extremely weak.
The Descendant of Nuwa inherited the [demon] body that Nuwa had after losing her divine status and merging with the Turbid Qi of the Dadi.
Jing Tian is now merely a powerful immortal.
Long Kui possesses only the divinity derived from Kui Yu.
Now, Zi Xuan has also fallen into the illusion.
"It's my turn." Jing Tian became slightly more serious and focused.
A beam of Starlight descended from the dome.
"Is this what the illusion is like?"
Jing Tian did not fall into the illusion.
He could clearly see the contents of Xue Jian and Zi Xuan's illusion.
In the illusion Xue Jian was in, her grandfather died, and there was no Jing Tian. She was to be married off to Luo Rulie. She escaped from Tang Family Fortress and was chased all the way.
Zi Xuan was besieged and killed by Shu Mountain because of Xu Changqing. The light of the heavens in the divine realm was opened, and the figures of Taiqing and even Fuxi could be vaguely seen in it.
"That's outrageous. If Fuxi really appeared, he would destroy the Shu Mountain."
Fuxi and Nuwa were husband and wife, and although Descendant of Nuwa suffered tragic fates, they all entered the Immortal Realm within the Holy Spirit Pearl after death. This is similar to a father-in-law who looks down on his son-in-law using methods to separate his daughter and son-in-law, which also allows the daughter to be tempered and see through love and the Ugly Nature of Humanity.
Jing Tian shook his head, stopping his wild thoughts.
He looked at the illusion he was in, or more accurately, the real appearance within the illusion.
This is another Xuan Guang Hall.
The Fuxi Sword spewed forth brilliant, star-like sword energy from the dome, recreating a real starry sky.
The Nuwa Blood Jade is located in the southeast Li Fire Position, embedded in the Crystal Wall, reflecting the Ancient Heaven Mending Scene under the Starlight.
The Shennong Cauldron is rooted at the bottom of the Kan Water Position. Beast Shadows appear on its body, covering the Abyssal Trench and exuding a murderous aura. Inside the cauldron, Exotic Flowers and Strange Herbs compete for beauty, displaying a vibrant life.