Fortune and Prosperity Heaven! Draining the Ghost City! Life and Death Cycle Technique
Upon returning to the Yin Spring Ghost Realm, Chen Dengming chose a location for his secluded cultivation near the Styx River, which was relatively far from both Starfall Ghost City and Underworld Ghost City.
This place happens to be quite close to the Nine Nether Ghost City.
Before the Nine Nether Ghost Lord could enjoy a few days of peace and quiet, he was lying in his own tomb, keeping the doors closed to ward off disaster, when he suddenly noticed that the ghostly energy gathering towards the tomb was gradually weakening. In just a few days, the density of the ghostly energy had decreased by one level.
Suddenly, the Nine Nether Ghost Lord awoke from his secluded slumber and flew into a rage.
"Who dares to be so blind as to run wild on my territory? Could it be those cultivators from the Yongxin Sword Sect and the Bright Light Sect in the Human World again? They've gone too far!"
Outside the Nine Nether Ghost City, many low-level ghosts who worshipped the Nine Nether Ghost City sensed the ghostly energy flowing away from the ghost city and tombs like a dragon sucking water, instead converging towards the mountains on the opposite bank of the River Styx. Driven by instinct, they slowly moved towards that direction and began their migration.
Some powerful Foundation Establishment ghost cultivators and ghost generals began to feel inexplicably fearful, sensing an extremely terrifying aura lurking on the opposite mountain.
Nine Nether Ghost City, a ghost general, six or seven zhang tall and wearing Grim White Bone Nether Beast Helmet, paced uneasily on the city wall. His ferocious face, which terrified many ghosts, was now filled with apprehension and unease as he looked toward the tomb and prayed.
"Great and revered Nine Nether Ghost Lord, you control the power of the ghost realms that come from the Nine Netherworlds. Please awaken from your slumber and repel the threat from the other side of the mountain!"
His murmured prayer had just ended.
Suddenly, the tomb behind the ghost city began to tremble. In the excited gaze of the ghost general, they immediately saw the familiar mount of the Nine Nether Ghost Lord, the Nether Dragon, carrying the Ghost Lord across the ghost city, flying menacingly across the River Styx and heading straight for the mountain peak on the opposite bank.
The next moment, with a loud bang, the ghost general's magnificent Ghost Body trembled.
Many ghosts witnessed a shocking scene they would never forget: a huge mountain in the distance collapsed and exploded in an instant, and the Nether Dragon roared in terror as it fell into the River Styx like a small snake that had been whipped away.
The raging rocks flew into the sky like a rain of stones, crashing into the River Styx and splashing up billions of tons of water, creating towering waves.
Two ghost kings and some Ghost Bride flew out of the ghost city in terror, watching in horror as the mountains collapsed and huge waves surged, and feeling an extremely powerful and oppressive aura emanating from the deep mountains.
"Your Majesty the Ghost Lord!"
"Misunderstanding! This is absolutely a misunderstanding! It's like the flood washed away the Dragon King's temple! Dao Lord Chen, please have mercy! Please have mercy!"
Deep in the mountains, the Nine Nether Ghost Lord, who had charged into the mountains with great momentum just moments before, now had a big smile on his face and raised his hand in apology to Chen Dengming.
Chen Dengming made a hand seal to retract the Universe Sun Moon Seal, then glanced sideways at the Nine Nether Ghost Lord, "What's wrong, Nine Nether Ghost Lord? What brings you here, suddenly intruding into my grand formation?"
The Nine Nether Ghost Lord immediately smiled apologetically, "I... I'm fine. I just happened to be passing by and wondered why there was suddenly a Formation here, so I came in to take a look."
"Dao Lord Chen, you suddenly came to be my neighbor without even informing me beforehand! If I had known you were coming, I would have definitely prepared a feast to welcome you!"
He wore a smile on his face, but inwardly he was filled with doubt, unsure of Chen Dengming's intentions. He was quite uneasy, and his old habit of being suspicious began to resurface, wondering if there might be other Your Majesty from the Human World lying in ambush nearby.
Chen Dengming frowned slightly. "So, you're blaming me for not informing you before settling down near your ghost town?"
The Nine Nether Ghost Lord's heart skipped a beat, and he felt that something was very wrong. His smile froze, and he hurriedly raised his hands and said, "Dao Lord Chen, you are right. Even if you want to live in my Ghost City, I will definitely give it to you without hesitation. You can choose any of my Ghost Bride."
I, the Nine Nether Ghost Lord, am known for my enthusiasm in the Ghost Realm. Dao Lord Chen, please don't hold a grudge against me because of some minor disputes from the past!
Chen Dengming smiled. He was deliberately giving this Nine Nether Ghost Lord a warning to prevent him from causing trouble while he was cultivating.
Seeing that the Nine Nether Ghost Lord was quite sensible, he immediately said indifferently, "Fine, your ghost city is too creepy for me to live in. You should live there yourself."
I'll stay here for a hundred years, and then I'll leave. I just hope you have no objections!
The Nine Nether Ghost Lord breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly bowed, "Dao Lord Chen, please feel free to stay here. I will have no objections whatsoever. Please feel free to give any orders you may have. Any ghost general or ghost king in my Ghost City is at your disposal!"
A dozen or so breaths later, the Nine Nether Ghost Lord slunk away from the deep mountains.
When he arrived at the ghost town, he reverted to his imposing and cold demeanor, a stark contrast to his previous obsequious and subservient attitude.
Faced with the throng of ghost kings and ghost generals, the Nine Nether Ghost Lord immediately waved his sleeves and issued an order, commanding all ghosts not to approach that deep mountain without reason. If summoned from within the mountain, they may go immediately and report back at the first opportunity.
After issuing the order, he returned to the tomb, feeling the ghostly energy constantly flowing away and gathering towards the deep mountains opposite. He felt relieved, but also sighed, having already discerned the intentions of the Heavenly Human Dao Lord.
"It's alright. As long as it doesn't take my life, it'll only take a hundred years to drain my resources. It won't deplete me completely. If he wants it, let him be a ghost. As long as I'm happy, I can be a happy ghost. Everything else is just material possessions."
Deep in the mountains, Chen Dengming continuously opened the Life and Death Gates of the Human Disk Eight Gates. The Death Gate absorbed the ghost energy from all directions and transformed it into Death Qi, which was then transformed into Life Energy by the <Life and Death Cycle Technique> he used to cultivate.
After this complex transformation, the Life and Death Dao Rhyme can be strengthened, and the Spirit Transmutation Dao Power stage, which gradually grows stronger from the Life and Death Dao Rhyme and Death, can enhance one's cultivation.
Therefore, during this process, not only was his cultivation and Law Power steadily improving, but his Life and Death Dao Rhyme was also gradually becoming stronger.
This Daoist rhythm was originally not as powerful as the Heavenly Human Dao Rhyme, but through gradual cultivation over the years, it has improved and is now close to completion.
At the same time, the Incense Clone, protected by the Senluo Aura, flew to the outskirts of the deep mountains and began preaching to a large number of low-level ghosts attracted by the dense ghostly aura.
Low-level ghosts are like wandering spirits, lacking intelligence and driven entirely by instinct. Therefore, they are easily captured by incense Incense Clone and become loyal Incense Believer. In short, ghosts are foolish and easily deceived.
Chen Dengming and the Incense Clone separate entities, each pursuing their own path and focusing on self-improvement.
He summoned the Heavenly Longevity Hall on the hillside. As soon as the palace appeared, it was suppressed by the immense Power of the Non-Self Dao of the ghost realm, which even caused the mountain peaks to tremble and many ghosts to become restless.
However, after Senluo unleashed even more dense and pure ghostly energy to envelop the Heavenly Longevity Hall, the suppression of the immense Power of the Non-Self Dao was greatly weakened.
Chen Dengming breathed a sigh of relief inside the Heavenly Longevity Hall.
Fortunately, Senluo was large enough, and as a Spirit Transmutation Nether Beast, its power was strong and abundant; otherwise, it would have been difficult to conceal the aura of the Heavenly Longevity Hall.
Even so, concealing the aura of the Heavenly Longevity Hall for an extended period would be a tremendous burden for Senra.
However, Chen Dengming did not intend to let Senluo provide cover for the Heavenly Longevity Hall for a long time. He only planned to use the Heavenly Longevity Hall to communicate with the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm to create Heavenly Timing environment for cultivation for about two years.
Two Heavenly Timing within the Heavenly Longevity Hall is equivalent to two hundred years in the outside world.
With Senluo's abilities, he could manage to conceal the aura of the Heavenly Longevity Hall for two years if he gritted his teeth.
Creating the Heavenly Timing and environment for self-cultivation is something Chen Dengming is already adept at.
However, ever since he broke through to the Spirit Transformation, he has never entered the Heavenly Timing Realm to cultivate in his true form.
That's because the stronger Strength Realm, the greater the pressure on the Heavenly Timing environment, and the more stable the Heavenly Timing environment needs to be, which in turn leads to the consumption of more Immortal Spiritual Energy and Immortal Celestial Dao Power.
The difference in energy expenditure between a Foundation Establishment cultivator cultivating in the Heavenly Timing environment for a hundred years and a Spirit Transmutation Dao Lord cultivating in the Heavenly Timing environment for a hundred years is like heaven and earth.
"My cultivation this time, though seemingly limited to two hundred years in the Heavenly Timing environment, has consumed enough resources for you to cultivate for two thousand years in the Heavenly Timing... The resource consumption is too great."
After Chen Dengming created the Heavenly Timing environment within the Heavenly Longevity Hall, he felt a sense of loss and gradually began to empathize with the original ancestor and Qu Shenzong, feeling a pang of regret for the loss of resources.
The First Ancestor rarely entered the Heavenly Timing Time to cultivate. It seems that he only entered the Heavenly Timing to recover from his injuries once when the Mountain Gate fell and the four regions were occupied.
He has now indulged in a luxury. Unless he reaches the Dao Integration stage in the future, people like He Yingyu and the newly Dao Child Wu Chenhui within the sect will find it difficult to enjoy the resources and good Heavenly Timing.
However, for ordinary cultivators, cultivating during the Heavenly Timing is not entirely a good thing. If one is not confident of breaking through, it is equivalent to wasting time during it, and the loss of lifespan is also difficult to bear.
At this moment, Chen Dengming formed a hand seal and condensed a Heavenly Immortal Clone. The clone entered a small area of Heavenly Timing environment, connected its mind to the Heavenly Fortune Hall, and began to comprehend the Heavenly Blessing Dao.
His own true form entered a larger Heavenly Timing environment, his hands forming a wheel-like Law Seals, continuing to perform the <Life and Death Cycle Technique>, absorbing a large amount of ghostly energy from outside the hall, turning it into Death Qi, and then gradually turning it into Life Energy.
By cultivating in this way, he can simultaneously comprehend the Life and Death Dao Rhyme to improve his cultivation, and also comprehend the Dao of Heavenly Blessing.
Among the ten Heavenly Stems, Jia represents Heavenly Blessing.
Among the Heavenly Disk Nine Stars, Jiazi Zhifu belongs to the Heavenly Peng Star in the Kan First Palace, which corresponds to the Human Disk Eight Gates, namely the Rest Gate as the Zhishi.
What does it mean to take the Rest Gate as the Direct Envoy? It means to use the human heart to govern the heavens and determine the human heart. The human heart is the pivot, playing a dominant role in the heavenly and human plates.
Chen Dengming continued to analyze and comprehend the Heavenly Human Dao Law ". In his view, the human heart can control the Heavenly Plate and determine the Human Plate, and wherever the heart goes, nothing can stop it.
This unique perspective of understanding the Celestial Person blessing is unprecedented in all of history, yet it subtly aligns with the most profound Dao Intent.
Throughout history, many sages and philosophers have pondered the relationship between heaven and humanity, striving for harmony Celestial Person. However, none have reached the level of Chen Dengming in terms of cultivation and Law Power.
Today, Chen Dengming's understanding of the concept of Celestial Person and his comprehension of heavenly blessings perfectly align with the profound Dao Intent.
It should be understood that the heavenly blessing he seeks is the blessing of heaven upon man, not an empty blessing without any place to place. As long as man is involved, the relationship between Celestial Person cannot be escaped.
Therefore, understanding Heavenly Blessings from the perspective of the Heavenly Human Dao is quite reasonable.
Chen Dengming's clone swiftly activated the Rest Gate of the Human Disk Eight Gates within his body. At the same time, the corresponding Heavenly Peng Star of the Heavenly Disk Nine Stars shone brightly, scattering starlight down.
With the amplified Heavenly Blessing Qi from the Human Disk Eight Gates and the Heavenly Disk Nine Stars, he wanted to remotely sense and capture the ethereal Fortune and Prosperity Heaven, and obtain boundless Heavenly Fortune Qi through it, so as to comprehend the third Dao Intent of the Heavenly Blessing Path— Great Fortune Reaching the Heavens!
The Fortune and Prosperity Heaven and Prosperity is not a real entity, but rather a collection of blessings from all things. In the Buddhist world, it is known as the Life-Generating Heaven among the Four Dhyanas and Eight Heavens, possessing supreme blessings. In the Cultivation World, it is known as the Fortune and Prosperity Heaven among the Thirty-Three Heavens, possessing great blessings.
Legend has it that only immortals or people with great fortune can come into contact with this ethereal and mysterious realm.
Chen Dengming enhanced Jia Daotian 'Heavenly Fortune Qi through the relationship between Celestial Person, and can be considered a person with great fortune.
The years of spiritual practice come and go in a leisurely manner.
Two years outside the world, Heavenly Fortune Hall, a full two hundred years have passed in an instant.
In just two short years, the ghost energy level within the Nine Nether Ghost City dropped three levels from the highest level, Yama Ghost Qi, to the Yaksha Level.
The entire ghost town has truly become a ghost town, cold and deserted. In the past, many low-level ghosts that would be spontaneously attracted by the vigorous ghost energy have almost all gathered near the deep mountains where Chen Dengming cultivates, following their instincts.
The Nine Nether Ghost Lord was awakened from the tomb several times by the rapidly falling ghost energy. Now, he has gradually developed from a state of State of Mind that he dared not express to a state of restless malice.
That's outrageous!
This Heavenly Human Dao Lord from the Human World is truly going too far.
He originally thought that the Heavenly Human Dao Lord would only stay in his territory for a hundred years at most, and wouldn't be able to absorb much ghost energy. He was rich and powerful and could afford it. He just thought that after a hundred years, he could spend money to avoid disaster and be a happy ghost.
Unexpectedly, in just two short years, the opponent had absorbed so much of his ghostly energy, almost equivalent to what he would absorb in two hundred years, which was terrifying.
If they continue to cultivate so recklessly, let alone a hundred years, the Nine Nether Ghost City might not even survive ten years. The Yin Spring might be drained dry, and the Yin soil of the tomb he painstakingly built would no longer be fertile.
This is enough to make him restless even in death.
"A gentleman may tolerate this, but I, the Nine Nether Ghost Lord, will not! After observing for the past two years, I have determined that the Heavenly Human Dao Lord has not laid any ambush. Perhaps we should simply go all the way and finish this..."
Inside the Nine Netherworld Tomb, the Nine Nether Ghost Lord gritted his teeth and secretly plotted with the Undying Ghost Lord and the Interminable Ghost Lord through telepathic communication.
The Undying Ghost Lord sneered inwardly, gloating.
The Nine Nether Ghost Lord's misfortune has nothing to do with the Undying Ghost Lord; he doesn't want to become the Ghost Lord, so he immediately advised against it.
"Forget it, Jiuyou. Even if the Heavenly Human Dao Lord is just one person, the three of us joining forces might not be able to capture him."
Besides, I only cultivated with you for two years. Don't be so petty. This little thing isn't worth risking your life for. We ghosts should be generous and happy living is the most important thing!
"Happy my ass! I'm not some low-level cultivator who practices the Happy Ghost technique."
The Nine Nether Ghost Lord was so angry he gritted his teeth. "That damned Undying Ghost Lord, it's easy for him to talk when he's not the one suffering. Let's invite this Sha Star to stay in your realm for two years and see if you're happy then."
The Interminable Ghost Lord also tried to dissuade him, saying, "Nine Netherworlds, be more magnanimous, just bear with it and it will pass."
This ghost realm is so vast. Since those old fellows from the Netherworld and the Underworld left, our territory has expanded considerably. At worst, we can just move the capital to another place later.
Life as a ghost is bound to be full of hardships. One must be open-minded and avoid causing trouble!
"Fine, fine, these two bastards are determined to stand by and do nothing, unaware that if one falls, the other will be vulnerable."
The Nine Nether Ghost Lord was so angry that he laughed instead, about to retort, when he suddenly noticed that the flow of ghostly energy within the Ghost City was no longer flowing outwards, but was actually beginning to flow back in, which was unprecedented.
I was immediately surprised, then quickly realized what was going on.
"Did Heavenly Human Dao Lord? No, no, it's been a full two years."
Deep within the mountains, Chen Dengming, who had cultivated in the Heavenly Timing for two hundred years, raised his hand and took away the Heavenly Longevity Hall. After calming the exhausted Senluo in his mind, he examined his own condition and was quite satisfied.
"<Heavenly Human Dao Art> (Great Completion 29956/36000), [Life and Death Dao Rhyme] (Great Completion), [Immortal Celestial Lineage] Blessed by good fortune, Fortune Shines Brightly."
Having cultivated in the Heavenly Longevity Hall for two hundred years, his Law Power has increased rapidly, and he is now close to breaking through to the peak of the Spirit Transformation stage.
I reckon if I cultivate for another Jiazi, I'll probably be able to break through.
Besides his cultivation level, his Life and Death Dao Rhyme has also reached a high level and is moving towards perfection.
The only regret is that even though he spent two hundred years comprehending the third level of the Dao Intent of Heavenly Blessing, Great Fortune Reaching the Heavens, and even though he had successfully come into contact with Fortune and Prosperity Heaven along the way, he still could not comprehend it.
He suspected that he might have only come into contact with Fortune and Prosperity Heaven, but was unable to receive the boundless Heavenly Fortune Qi bestowed upon him, which was why he was unable to comprehend the Dao Intent of Great Fortune Reaching the Heavens Fortune and Prosperity Heaven.
It's like seeing a treasure Treasure Vault filled with riches, but being kept outside the door, only able to look but unable to Open Door and enter.
"The path to good fortune is largely governed by the law of fate. Now it seems that my direction and method of understanding are correct, but I still lack the right conditions. When those conditions will come is entirely beyond our control."
Chen Dengming felt a pang of emotion, but he also knew that he couldn't force the issue.
However, what pleased him was that in the past two years, his Incense Clone had also developed a large number of low-level ghosts as Incense Believer, accumulating a powerful force of Incense and Faith. He was not far from igniting the divine fire and breaking through to the Spirit Transformation.
At this moment, a powerful ghostly aura suddenly flew from the ghost city on the opposite bank, intimidating the many ghosts on the outskirts of the deep mountains, who prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling in fear.
Even though the Nine Nether Ghost Lord was trying to suppress his temper, his expression was still not very good. Despite being extremely wary, he still flew over to the sky above the deep mountain and bowed to Chen Dengming outside the Formation, saying stiffly.
"Dao Lord Chen! Not only have you been cultivating within my sphere of influence for the past two years, but you have also bewitched a large number of ghosts, and I have not hindered or disturbed you in the slightest."
But now, you've almost drained my ghost city dry. I implore Dao Lord Chen, please show mercy and let me cultivate somewhere else. Whatever your conditions are, just name them!
Chen Dengming chuckled and looked around, seeing the hillside covered with black and Life and Death Two Flowers in bloom.
And outside of the deep mountains where he was, the ghostly aura did indeed become thinner the further out you went, which was right of the Nine Nether Ghost Lord.
However, this does not mean that the other party has the right to criticize him.
The Principle of survival in the Ghost Realm are more cruel than those in the Human World; strength reigns supreme, and the weak become food.
He did intend to leave; the ghostly energy and the sheer number of ghosts here were no longer suitable for his and his clone's cultivation.
But if he turned and left after hearing just one sentence from the Nine Nether Ghost Lord, wouldn't that make the other Ghost Lord think he was cowardly and easy to talk to? How would he then seize resources and establish himself in the Ghost Realm?
He immediately sneered, "Nine Nether Ghost Lord! You promised me that you would let me cultivate here for a hundred years. Since you're going back on your word now, I can leave. Anyway, the concentration of ghost energy here is no longer good."
"But since you've gone back on your word, be prepared to receive a divine Divine Ability from me!"
"What?" Nine Nether Ghost Lord exclaimed in surprise.
Suddenly, Chen Dengming made a hand seal and cast a spell, his whole body exuding a Daoist aura, as he reached out to grasp at the black and white Life and Death Two Flowers that covered the mountains and fields.
In an instant, the Black and White Life and Death Flower covering the mountains and plains all swirled up and flew into the air, turning into a huge black and white vortex that roared out of the Formation and swept towards him.
The Nine Nether Ghost Lord roared in shock and rage, his hands forming hand seals as he prepared to cast a spell. However, he felt as if his ghostly energy was out of control, and the ghostly energy from all directions was also disobeying his command, fleeing as it was sucked away by the enormous black and white vortex that was devouring him.
Chen Dengming took a step forward, flicked his sleeve, and coldly snorted, "This technique of mine is called the Life and Death Reincarnation!"
He raised his hand and swung it forward, the giant Black and White Life and Death Flower rapidly devouring the Nine Nether Ghost Lord.