Gathering Origin Stage (Part 3)

The Heavenly Dragon Temple, one of the Nine Great Sects of the Great Qin Empire, is a sacred Buddhist Sect Heavenly Dragon Temple in the Cultivation World. Only sects with over a hundred Void Realm or above can become Large Sect. Naturally, the Heavenly Dragon Temple's foundation is incredibly rich...

On this day, all the monks at Heavenly Dragon Temple Void Returning Stage, and even many disciples who had achieved success in Heavenly Dragon Temple cultivation, were gathered together at Tianlong Heavenly Dragon Temple Abbot. The abbot, who had been in seclusion for a century, had spoken, summoning all the disciples to assemble in the Great Hero Hall of Heavenly Dragon Temple. With the abbot's words, who dared to delay?

"Having secluded himself for a century, he has summoned us today. Is it possible that he is about to achieve complete integration and enter the Mahayana Stage?"

"Be careful what you say. How could we presume to comment on the master's cultivation?"

"If one has truly entered the Mahayana Stage, then ascension is not far off. Is the abbot preparing to explain what will happen after ascension?"

Inside the Great Hero Hall, the high-ranking members of Heavenly Dragon Temple, summoned by the abbot, were whispering amongst themselves, each holding their own opinion. As for the outstanding disciples at the Deity Transformation stage, they all lowered their heads and dared not interrupt.

Even though they were Genius Disciple of Heavenly Dragon Temple, they had no right to interrupt in front of these Void Returning Stage experts and their seniors.

"Is everyone here?" A calm voice suddenly rang out in the Great Hero Hall of Heavenly Dragon Temple. Upon hearing this voice, all sounds in the hall fell silent, and everyone's eyes turned to the speaker, who was none other than Abbot Da Wu of Heavenly Dragon Temple.

Wearing a simple, clean, Moon White monk's robe and white straw sandals, he held a string of wooden prayer beads. His attire was very simple. The white-haired and bearded monk walked in with an air of understated elegance, exuding a dignified and peaceful aura that brought tranquility and ease. His simple attire belied his status as the renowned Heavenly Dragon Temple Abbot in the Great Qin Empire, Zen Master Da Wu.

"Greetings, Abbot," all the monks in the hall greeted the newly arrived Zen Master Da Wu, dressed in a Moon White robe, as he entered the Great Hero Hall. They bowed to him, whether they were ordinary Deity Transformation Stage disciples or Buddhist giants who had already reached the Void Returning Stage.

"We are all disciples of the Sect, no need for formalities," Zen Master Da Wu, his expression calm. He gently raised his hand, his voice carrying Distant Resonance, as if it came from the clouds above the heavens.

As he gently raised his hand, everyone in the hall felt their bodies being lifted up by a gentle yet incredibly powerful force.

"The abbot's cultivation has indeed become even more profound..." The Deity Transformation Stage disciples might not be able to sense anything, but the monks in the Void Returning Stage present could feel the power of this force.

Simultaneously supporting over a hundred Void Returning Stage powerhouses requires immense power, and an extraordinary level of self-control.

"I have gathered you all here today to announce something important," Zen Master Da Wu Dawu said casually, lifting everyone up with a wave of his hand. His voice, which had been calm throughout, now held a hint of unease.

"Please give your instructions, Abbot," the powerful cultivators at the Void Returning Stage on the throne hall said in unison.

"The Heavenly Demon Zen Sound is a closely guarded secret of my Heavenly Dragon Temple, and it is Cultivation Technique that is no less powerful than the Three Great Peerless Divine Skills of my Heavenly Dragon Heavenly Dragon Temple. Unfortunately, in my entire life, I have only been able to comprehend eight of the Nine Diagrams of Heavenly Demon Zen Sound. The last one, I have never been able to Mastery Level..." Zen Master Da Wu Dawu said, and the Cultivator in the hall listened quietly.

They were familiar with the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound Cultivation Technique, the strongest Cultivation Technique of Heavenly Dragon Temple. Unfortunately, very few could master it, and even the current Zen Master Da Wu had not fully comprehended it. Although they didn't know why the abbot was talking about the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound, no one interrupted, but listened quietly...

"Although I haven't fully comprehended or Mastery Level the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound, I'm absolutely certain I can't be wrong about it. Just now, I sensed the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound Cultivation Technique appear, and it was at the highest level— the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound that has mastered Nine Diagrams..."

As expected, the powerful figures in the hall were right not to interrupt Zen Master Da Wu's words. Soon, Zen Master Da Wu dropped a bombshell on them, leaving them dumbfounded, and then a great deal of discussion broke out.

"How is that possible? The scroll of the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound has been kept by the abbots of my Heavenly Dragon Temple for generations. It's impossible for it to be lost. How could an outsider have learned the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound?"

"This is impossible. Even Senior Brother Da Wu couldn't comprehend the final image of the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound. Who could possibly learn it all? Throughout history, no one has ever successfully cultivated Nine Heavenly Demon Zen Sounds."

"Could it be that Patriarch Bodhidharma has descended to the Human Realm?"

There was much discussion; almost everyone in the hall was deeply shocked by the news that Zen Master Da Wu had revealed.

The scroll of the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound, left behind by Patriarch Bodhidharma, has been kept by the abbots of Heavenly Dragon Temple throughout the ages. How could someone have actually learned it? Moreover, have even cultivated it to the highest level? No wonder the monks in the Great Hero Hall are all incredulous.

"It's impossible for Patriarch Bodhidharma to descend to the Human Realm. When powerful beings from the Immortal and Demonic Realms descend, they will be resisted by the Heavenly Laws, making success almost impossible. Moreover, if they succeed, there will definitely be extraordinary phenomena in the Heaven and Earth," Zen Master Da Wu shook his head and denied the conjecture about Patriarch Bodhidharma's descent.

"Then how exactly did they obtain the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound Cultivation Technique?" Since it wasn't Patriarch Bodhidharma, then someone else must have successfully cultivated Nine Heavenly Demon Zen Sounds. But a new question arises: how exactly did they obtain the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound Cultivation Technique?

"Do you all still remember the Heavenly Dragon Town Evil Pagoda?" After a moment of contemplation, Zen Master Da Wu Dawu addressed the high-ranking members of the Heavenly Dragon Temple in the main hall.

"The Heavenly Dragon Town Evil Pagoda? It does indeed contain the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound Cultivation Technique, but the Heavenly Dragon Town Evil Pagoda's doors are tightly closed. Without the key, no one can enter. Besides, isn't the Heavenly Dragon Town Evil Pagoda in the hands of Purgatory Elder of the Asura Sect? Could it be that he has the ability to open the Heavenly Dragon Town Evil Pagoda and completely master Nine Heavenly Demon Zen Sounds diagrams?"

Speaking of the Heavenly Dragon Town Evil Pagoda, it is indeed a way to learn the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound, but all the Void Returning Stage cultivators present shook their heads, feeling that it was impossible.

Who has the ability to enter the Heavenly Dragon Town Evil Pagoda from the hands of the Purgatory Elder? And who can open the gates of the Heavenly Dragon Town Evil Pagoda? Furthermore, who can successfully cultivate all Nine Heavenly Demon Zen Sounds Diagrams?

Purgatory Elder, Void Realm Great Expert, has been searching for so many years, yet even Heavenly Dragon Temple couldn't find where he hid the Heavenly Dragon Town Evil Pagoda. How did the other party know? And how did they sneak in right under Purgatory Elder's nose? This is a huge problem.

For so many years, Heavenly Dragon Temple has not found the key to open the Heavenly Dragon Town Evil Pagoda. So how did those who entered get in? This is the second mystery.

Finally, since Patriarch Bodhidharma's ascension, every abbot of Heavenly Dragon Temple has been a Buddhist Sect genius, yet none of them have been able to fully cultivate the Nine Heavenly Demon Zen Sounds Diagrams. So how did the other party manage to do so? This is the third problem.

Each of the three problems is extremely difficult to solve, let alone when they are piled up together. Therefore, the monks of the Great Hero Hall Heavenly Dragon Temple all felt that this possibility was almost impossible.

"That makes sense..." Although this might have been Zen Master Da Wu's own idea, after careful consideration of the difficulty involved, Zen Master Da Wu himself nodded, thinking it impossible.

After much thought, these people still couldn't figure out how the person who learned the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound had managed to do it. Unfortunately, they didn't know that the Zen Master Da Wu's previous conjecture was actually close to the truth.

"Let's set aside for now how he learned the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound. Right now, I only hope that a few of my fellow disciples can make a trip to the Great Tang Dynasty and, ideally, invite him to my Heavenly Dragon Temple."

"If I can't figure it out, I won't waste my energy," Zen Master Da Wu, glancing around at the assembled high-level Void Returning Stage.

"We few are willing to travel to the Great Tang Dynasty..." Upon hearing the words of Zen Master Da Wu, these Void Returning Stage powerhouses from Heavenly Dragon Temple naturally understood his meaning, and many Void Returning Stage powerhouses stepped forward to volunteer.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you all," said Zen Master Da Wu Dawu, having selected a full ten Void Returning Stage powerhouses. The fact that ten Void Returning Stage powerhouses were dispatched showed just how much Heavenly Dragon Temple valued this Heavenly Demon Zen Sound.

Zhuge Xiang was unaware of the situation at Heavenly Dragon Temple in the Great Qin Empire. At this moment, his mind was entirely focused on the Great Belly Ghost King. The Heavenly Demon Zen Sound, which had reached its highest level, only lasted for a short 30 seconds. How could Zhuge Xiang dare to waste it?

A deep, Distant Resonance, and profound Zen Sound emanated from Zhuge Xiang's mouth, penetrating directly into the other's mind. The Great Belly Ghost King's form rapidly shrank, and its fierce and violent aura quickly dissipated, replaced by tranquility and peace...

"Ding! Quest 'Protect the Human Realm' completed, Level +2, Obtained Advanced Big Turntable *1".

"Ding! Defeat the Great Belly Ghost King, gain 33 million Experience Points, level up 1, and gain 1 Skill Point."

"Ding, current level: Gathering Origin Stage, Level 1".

The rewards from the two levels of the mission, along with the Experience Points gained from defeating the Great Belly Ghost King, allowed Zhuge Xiang's cultivation to break through to the first level of the Gathering Origin Stage, advancing three levels in a row. This made the True Essence within Zhuge Xiang's body even more abundant.

The liquid True Essence within his body had already filled every inch of his body. As Zhuge Xiang entered the Gathering Origin Stage, this liquid True Essence rapidly converged and compressed towards his Zhuge Xiang...

Reaching the Gathering Origin Stage Realm doesn't mean having more True Essence within the body. On the contrary, the higher the cultivation level, the denser the True Essence gathers. The quantity of True Essence seems less, but it becomes more condensed, until all the True Essence is compressed into a viscous False Core the size of a thumb. (To be continued...)