Returning to Great Qin

The Imperial Uncle recounted to Zhuge Xiang the information he had gathered, word by word, in great detail, and, more importantly, told Zhuge Xiang how to break the current stalemate.

It turns out that although the Great Tang Emperor's soul had been separated, and the one controlling his body now was not the same soul, the Imperial Uncle asserted that the emperor's soul had not dissipated, but was sealed and imprisoned somewhere. Otherwise, if the soul disappeared, the body would inevitably be destroyed, whether it turned into Zombie or something else, and the changes in the body would not be hidden from the entire court.

"Since the soul hasn't been destroyed, things are much easier. All we need to do is find the emperor's soul and return it to his body. The Great Qin's conspiracy will crumble on its own..."

The Imperial Uncle's words made sense, but Zhuge Xiang frowned and asked, "That's true, but where exactly is the Emperor's soul sealed and imprisoned? Does the Imperial Uncle know?"

"A soul cannot linger in this mortal world for too long; this is the rule of Heaven and Earth. If one wishes to preserve a soul so that it does not disappear, the energy required is enormous. If I am not mistaken, His Your Majesty's soul was sealed by an unparalleled expert of the Great Qin Empire. According to my secret investigation, the current Great Qin Emperor is indeed an unparalleled expert."

"That makes sense," Zhuge Xiang nodded, understanding the Imperial Uncle's meaning. Ordinary souls were one thing, but the soul of the Great Tang Emperor, protected by the National Fortune, was not so easily imprisoned or sealed.

The fact that the Great Tang Emperor's soul was sealed and imprisoned was something that, even within the Great Qin Empire, the fewer people who knew, the better. Therefore, since the Great Qin Emperor was capable of resolving this on his own, he shouldn't have relied on others. Thus, it seems the person who sealed and imprisoned the Great Tang Emperor's soul must be the Great Qin Emperor himself. This clue can only be traced back to the Great Qin Imperial Family.

"It seems I have to go back to the Great Qin Empire..." After understanding the whole story, Zhuge Xiang murmured to himself, and had the idea of setting off for the Great Qin Empire.

Fortunately, I had already said that I would be in the Demon Sealing Tower for about a month. I should be able to make it to the Great Qin Empire within that month.

Although the Imperial Uncle had stripped away his Demon Heart and his strength had greatly diminished, he was still able to summon the Demon Sealing Tower hundred years ago, so he was quite familiar with it. Besides, Zhuge Xiang was not a demon or Yaomo Ghosts and Monsters suppressed by the Demon Sealing Tower.

Therefore, with the help of the Imperial Uncle, Zhuge Xiang easily left the Demon Sealing Tower. However, as he was leaving, Zhu Wan'er said to Zhuge Xiang with resentment that she must escape the Demon Sealing Tower and take revenge on him for his violation of her.

Zhuge Xiang smiled slightly at Zhu Wan'er's words, said nothing more, and secretly left the Demon Sealing Tower. Without notifying anyone, he flew alone on his Flying Sword Immortal towards the Great Qin Empire...

A top-tier cultivator in the Deity Transformation stage can travel across the Three Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks, Five Lakes and Four Seas in a single day. With Zhuge Xiang's current strength, he is more than just a top-tier cultivator in the Deity Transformation stage; he is practically invincible within Deity Transformation stage. With his speed of Flying Sword Immortal, it didn't take him much time. He spent an entire day flying, and by the time the Jade Rabbit rose in the east, Zhuge Xiang had already arrived within the territory of the Great Qin Empire.

"Please take a detour, this is the territory of Heavenly Dragon Temple." However, just as Zhuge Xiang was flying in the night sky, two dazzling golden Buddhist lights suddenly flashed, and two monks dressed in monastic robes blocked Zhuge Xiang's way and said in a deep voice.

"Heavenly Dragon Temple?" Upon hearing the two monks' words, Zhuge Xiang was slightly taken aback.

Unexpectedly, I passed over Heavenly Dragon Temple in Lingtai Commandery. What a coincidence! I have a deep connection with Heavenly Dragon Temple, but this is my first time visiting it. Looking down from above, I saw a great Great Buddha Mountain, full of noble and majestic aura, shining with Buddha light, which made people feel pure and unable to generate any evil.

Zhuge Xiang was aware that flying over Heavenly Dragon Temple was prohibited. Other Sect were fine; they could fly high above the temple without any qualms, even other Cultivator flying by, since Sect had Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation and weren't afraid of attacks from above. But temples were different...

Inside the temple, there are statues of Bodhisattva, Arhat, and Buddha. Even if they are just sculptures, in the eyes of the monks, they are no different from the real people. So how could these monks dare to fly over the heads of Bodhisattva and Buddha? Naturally, there is Restriction Barrier against flying over Heavenly Dragon Temple. Out of respect for such Large Sect as Heavenly Dragon Temple, no one violates this rule.

"I apologize. We were traveling through the night and didn't realize we were already above Heavenly Dragon Temple. I had absolutely no intention of disrespecting the Buddha," Zhuge Xiang said to the two Human Dao after realizing what had happened.

As he spoke, a thought struck him: he remembered his promise to visit the eminent monk of Heavenly Dragon Temple, as well as the Illustrated Chart of the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound.

"Since we've come to Heavenly Dragon Temple, it must be fate. I promised the Chief Seat the Disciplinary Hall of Heavenly Dragon Temple that I would visit you when I had time. Please inform the two masters..." Zhuge Xiang said to the two monks.

"Please wait a moment, benefactor." The two monks exchanged a glance, both secretly surprised. Judging from Zhuge Xiang's appearance, he was only at the Void Core Stage. Why would he receive an invitation from the Chief Seat of the Disciplinary Hall?

However, this matter was not something that the two Guest Reception Monk could decide. So, despite their doubts, one of them landed and went to deliver the message. At the same time, Zhuge Xiang and the other Guest Reception Monk landed at the entrance of Heavenly Dragon Temple and waited quietly.

Heavenly Dragon Temple, being one of the Nine Great Sects of the Great Qin Empire, is situated on a mountain that is about Thousand Zhang high and covers an area of hundreds of miles. The entire mountain resembles a giant Buddha statue, which looks lifelike. A Palace would appear very small from this mountain, but hundreds of the Palace connected together create a magnificent and imposing sight.

It's hard to say whether it's the sheer size of the Great Buddha Mountain itself that accentuates the grandeur of Heavenly Dragon Temple, or the presence of thousands of the Palace that underscores the majesty of the Great Buddha Mountain. In any case, looking out over the Great Buddha Mountain and Heavenly Dragon Temple, one feels as if facing gods and Buddhas high above the heavens, filled with awe and a desire to prostrate oneself in worship. It truly is a magnificent Buddhist temple.

Gazing upon the magnificent Great Buddha Mountain and Heavenly Dragon Temple, before Zhuge Xiang could even fully appreciate the breathtaking scenery of Heavenly Dragon Temple, he soon saw the mountain gate open. Simultaneously, the Distant Resonance, resonant sound of a Buddhist bell shattered the silence of the night, carrying far and wide. At the same time, several monks dressed in Crimson Kasaya emerged from Heavenly Dragon Temple to greet him...

The grand opening of the temple gates and the ringing of the Buddhist bell were considered extremely high honors at Heavenly Dragon Temple. As the bell rang, many monks from Heavenly Dragon Temple looked towards the scene, whispering amongst themselves. Who had arrived? Why was there such a grand reception? Was it the sect Sect Master Sect Master the other Sect?

"The Disciplinary Hall, the Arhat Hall, and the Dragon Subduing Pavilion Chief Seat personally came out to greet us? Just who is this deity who has come to visit Heavenly Dragon Temple?"

If opening the mountain gate and ringing the Buddhist bell only aroused the disciples of Heavenly Dragon Temple's curiosity and doubt, then seeing the monks in Crimson Kasaya personally coming out to greet them at the mountain gate, these people were all shocked and exclaimed in low voices.

At Heavenly Dragon Temple, not just anyone is qualified to wear a kasaya. Only monks who have reached the Void Returning Stage in their Heavenly Dragon Temple are entitled to possess such a kasaya. Other monks simply wear monastic robes. Furthermore, the color of the kasaya is very particular.

Ordinary monks in the Void Returning Stage wear dark red robes, while monks such as the Hall Master Chief Seat the Disciplinary Hall and Arhat Hall, who are considered high-ranking leaders in Heavenly Dragon Temple, wear Crimson Kasaya.

As for the abbot of Heavenly Dragon Temple, he wore Crimson Kasaya with gold thread trim. So, there were several leaders of Heavenly Dragon Temple dressed in Crimson Kasaya to greet him, which was naturally a very grand procession.

Thump thump thump...

The deep, Distant Resonance sound of the bell and the opening of the mountain gate were quite a commotion. Even Zhuge Xiang was somewhat surprised by the scale of the event. He hadn't expected Heavenly Dragon Temple to put on such a grand display to welcome him. This was truly beyond Zhuge Xiang's expectations.

However, upon reflection, he understood. Rather than saying that these monks were welcoming him, it would be more accurate to say that they were welcoming the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound. In this Heavenly Dragon Temple, the existence of the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound was no less valuable than the Demon Luo Scripture to the Asura Sect.

Such a lineup naturally startled the Guest Reception Monk at the mountain gate. They carefully examined Zhuge Xiang; young and already possessing a cultivation level of the Void Core Stage —indeed impressive—but how could someone at only the Void Core Stage be qualified for such a grand and imposing welcome? Could it be that this wasn't him being greeted, but rather some other important figure arriving?

"Fellow Daoist Zhuge, it's been several days since we last met, and your cultivation has indeed improved..." However, the Guest Reception Monk was mistaken. These high monks dressed in Crimson Kasaya had indeed come for Zhuge Xiang. The Chief Seat of the Disciplinary Hall, a monk who had gone to the Great Tang Dynasty, bowed and looked at Zhuge Xiang with a flash in his eyes.

He had only been gone from the Great Tang Dynasty for a few days. Back then, Zhuge Xiang's cultivation was only at the Gathering Origin Stage, but now, he had already entered the Void Core Stage. Such a rapid advancement in cultivation was truly astonishing.

"Thank you for your kind words, Master. I promised you that I would visit Heavenly Dragon Temple when I had the chance. I happened to pass by your temple tonight, and I think it is fate that I have to bother you..." Zhuge Xiang smiled, put his hands together, and returned the compliment to the Chief Seat of the Disciplinary Hall.

"Fellow Daoist Zhuge is truly a man of his word. Please come in quickly. Senior Brother Abbot is already waiting..." Upon hearing Zhuge Xiang's words, the Chief Seat the Disciplinary Hall smiled and nodded, gesturing for Zhuge Xiang to enter.

"I am but an ordinary disciple of the Asura Sect. I am truly flattered by the presence of such a distinguished group of experts. As a guest, I will follow the host's lead. Please, Master, go first..." As the saying goes, it is never wrong to be overly polite. Besides, he had received more help from Heavenly Dragon Temple along the way. Therefore, Zhuge Xiang had no intention of taking the lead and stepping forward.

"Haha, in this Buddhist Sect, there are no such formalities. Since you won't go first, fellow Daoist, then we shall travel together," Zhuge Xiang's words brought smiles to the faces of the high monks. The Chief Seat the Disciplinary Hall laughed and then walked side by side with Zhuge Xiang into Heavenly Dragon Temple. (To be continued...)