Three Flowers Gather at the Crown

For a moment, Li Fan was lost in thought when he turned his head and saw the dead face on Li Wugou's head, staring at him with a fanatical and envious gaze. He instinctively flinched in surprise, "Hey! What are you up to now?!"

Li Wugou realized he had been a bit out of line, so he bowed and said, "Congratulations, Second Brother, on the condensation of your Dao heart, the formation of the Three Flowers at the crown of your head, and your great progress in cultivation."

"Huh? What? My cultivation has improved again? Oh, Three Flowers?"

If she hadn't reminded him, Li Fan wouldn't have known that he had achieved the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top of His Head. He took a look inside himself and discovered the strange phenomenon of his Gui Xu Nascent Soul; all sorts of weird things had actually grown on the top of his head when he wasn't paying attention!

Upon closer inspection, Li Fan also discovered that the silver unicorn horn and the black epiphyllum were rare Heavenly Treasure he had previously contemplated. Their shapes were not particularly special, and after the upgrade, the Gui Xu Nascent Soul once again became the ruler of the Divine Court.

Even quite obviously, Gui Xu Nascent Soul now possessed five-colored chains—red, white, gold, blue, and green—which were respectively fastened to the cervical vertebrae of the Five Mountain Mountain God Dao Body. Not only did endless Dao Breath energy flow through the chains to nourish the three flowers on the top of their heads, but Gui Xu Nascent Soul could also pull all the mountain gods, including Gonggong's body, over with a flick of his finger, removing the head-grinding sword, and no longer needing to grab them from wherever he pleased.

Is this what they call the "Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, Five Elements Returning to the Origin"...? Are other people like this too? The rabbit?

Moon Soul said, "How would I know? The Three Flowers are from the ancient Inner Alchemy School, and the Sword Sect is about refining sword infants. Have you ever seen a sword with three flowers blooming on it?"

Well, that's true. Although something about this scene just feels off, whatever...

Li Fan sensed the flow of Dao Breath at that moment. To be honest, the actual increase in magical power was not significant; the main improvement was in his Dao heart and primordial spirit. This was evident from the hierarchy of masters and servants within the Divine Court. Not only were the Five Mountain Gods completely subservient to the Gui Xu Nascent Soul, but Guiche and Qiongqi were also obediently playing the role of mounts and pets, no longer needing to be restrained by hand.

In fact, Li Fan had seen descriptions of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown in Lou Guan's "The Huashu" and "The Wuji Guidao." He also knew that the so-called Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown was a specialized term in the ancient Neidan school of thought.

The three flowers (花) represent the unity of essence, energy, and spirit, converging at the mysterious gate (玄关). In the doctrine of internal alchemy, essence is the jade flower (玉花), energy is the golden flower (金花), and spirit is the nine flowers (九花). The gathering of the three flowers at the top symbolizes refining essence into energy, refining energy into Divine Transformation, and refining spirit into emptiness. When one cultivates to the point where the three flowers are gathered at the top, one is invulnerable to all calamities.

However, Li Fan wasn't really sure what kind of realm this "invulnerable to all tribulations" was, because he didn't seem to feel any different changes. Just like Rabbit said, this is a special term in ancient internal alchemy, a secret method, and not everyone can pass the threshold. Apart from a few ancient sects that have this inheritance, most cultivators do not have the stage of "Three Flowers Gathering at the Top".

Even the system itself is unaware; the current system feedback is simply 'Scanning and identification in progress...'

So Li Fan pondered for a moment, then smiled at Li Wugou, who looked on with envy, and said, "Third Sister, let me test you. Do you know what the three flowers on the top knot are used for?"

Li Wugou was still in shock and envy, and before she could react, she excitedly blurted out...

"I know this. The Three Flowers Gather at the Top leads to the Return to the Root, and the Five Qi Converge at the Origin leads to complete understanding. The Three Flowers Gather at the Top and the Five Qi Converge at the Origin are cultivation methods of the ancient Xuanmen. As long as True Cultivator of the Xuanmen has mastered the Three Flowers, he can use various supernatural abilities and techniques secretly passed down in the Inner Sect. Not only will his abilities greatly increase, but at the most basic level, he can use the Three Flowers to ward off calamities!"

If the three flowers fall, one dies. If the three flowers have not fallen, one has come in high spirits, meaning that as long as one lives and is not yet dead, there is still a chance to meet again. A single fallen flower can be used to avert one death. As long as the three flowers have not all fallen, it is equivalent to immortality. Even if one's physical body collapses and one is reborn, the three flowers can still protect one's true spirit and prevent one's cultivation from dissipating!

Therefore, to reverse the Three Pure Ones, return to the primordial chaos, thoroughly investigate the truth, achieve perfect enlightenment, and transcend all tribulations, this method is the supreme one! Second Brother is indeed a true disciple of the ancient Xuanmen! Congratulations!"

"Oh, just three more lives... what kind of invincibility is that..."

Li Fan shrugged indifferently. Was he that desperate for life?

The system probably received a warning from Li Wugou and detected it.

'Li Fan's Three Flowers Gathered at the Top'

'The Three Flowers Gather at the Top: These three flowers can protect the Dao Heart, ward off disasters and tribulations. The fallen Three Flowers will recover as the Dao Heart's understanding deepens.'

'When three flowers are consumed, the system can forcibly restore them by consuming 1200 of the maximum mood.'

Oh, so the Three Flowers also have a recharge and recovery mechanism, where the flower blooms again after it withers? 1200 points to recover one flower doesn't seem very cost-effective, since repairing a mountain god only costs 100 points.

However, judging from this, the Three Flowers can probably withstand even the most devastating tribulations, including the Tribulation of Slaughter and the Tribulation of Lightning. Moreover, as long as the cooldown of Dao Heart charging can be completed, or one can force it to activate using the maximum of their emotional state, then theoretically, they can indeed extend their life indefinitely. Claiming to be invulnerable to all tribulations wouldn't be considered fraud, would it...?

For cultivators of the ancient immortal path, this must truly be an immortal divine skill. No wonder it is said that Nascent Soul cultivators can reincarnate and cultivate again, and can easily disintegrate into their physical form.

But for Li Fan, who is Tai Su Dao, how should I put it... it's really just icing on the cake, isn't it?

"Well then, let's discuss how to break this life-or-death situation..."

"Second Brother, you've achieved the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top of Your Head, yet you remain so calm and composed! Such composure and spirit truly befit a disciple of the Xuanmen! I admire you!"

Okay, that's enough. Calm down...

Once Li Wugou calmed down, the two exchanged their insights into the formation and discussed countermeasures.

If Li Wugou had felt a sense of dread and wanted to retreat when he saw the grand spectacle of the Kun- Three Great Sects life-and-death situation, he was now seeing Li Fan beside him casually and expressionlessly unleash the Three Flowers Technique. Each of them felt a surge of mixed emotions.

What is the true essence of the Xuanmen (Daoist school)? This is what the true essence of the Xuanmen is! The Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown is performed so casually, ah! This is the Real Immortal!

Having decided to seize this opportunity, Li Wugou immediately became proactive, offering advice and demonstrating her worthiness of being accepted into the sect.

"The saying goes that it's better to guide than to block. Now that this ominous situation has been created, it's impossible to sweep away the chaos and turn the tide in a short time. So we can only try to alleviate the current situation."

The first priority is to help Yellow Heaven Dao's followers relocate and spread the word about the situation so that the Immortal Palace and Xuanmen can respond by sealing off the area to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

Secondly, it is necessary to investigate the method by which the Heng Hai Army controlled the corpse soldiers, and what methods they used to bring these corpse soldiers under their control. If they could master the method of controlling corpse soldiers, they could naturally control this demonic army and prevent them from going berserk and causing chaos Fourth Department.

Finally, all the evil corpses trapped in the valley must be eliminated as soon as possible. Letting so many evil corpses endlessly fight and breed will eventually breed a corpse king like the ancient demon god Drought Demon, causing a great disaster."

"The number of people who are affiliated with Yellow Heaven Dao is large, so they won't be able to organize a breakout so quickly. Moreover, they need to place immortal zombies Fourth Department and make preparations before they can launch an attack to distract the Heng Hai Army. However, the Nascent Soul Stage cultivators guarding the town have now been eliminated, so we don't need to wait for them to coordinate their actions. Before the Heng Hai Army can react, we should strike first and eliminate the armored zombie soldiers that have already been forged."

After discussing it, the two decided not to wait for Yellow Heaven Dao and to take action directly. They crossed the valley's corpse formation and flew straight towards the exit of the Ghost Road in the Gen position, towards the camps where the corpse soldiers were stationed.

When Li Fan used his Gu Guan Method to investigate, he discovered that a military camp had been set up along the valley road outside the Gen Gate. Not only were there several thousand soldiers stationed there, but they were also clearly the elite troops of the Heng Hai Army, the private army of the commander-in-chief's trusted confidants.

Furthermore, the cultivators who were enshrined there were more than ten Golden Core Stage cultivators dressed as Daoist priests, female Daoist priests, and Buddhist monks. They were clearly divided into three teams, taking turns to follow the elite vassal army, responsible for capturing the evil corpses, patrolling and guarding, and staying behind to guard the area.

These people were likely the men brought by the Nascent Soul Stage, indicating that these forces were wary of each other. When a dazed-looking corpse staggered out of the valley, the cultivators took turns displaying their abilities, capturing the corpse soldiers one by one. One team used talisman chains to capture the corpses and bring them back to the camp for refinement. The other team kept watch around the perimeter, preventing any escapees or sneak attacks.

Three teams were on standby, taking turns to prepare. This was not only to prevent people from gathering in one place and causing chaos in case something went wrong, but it also showed that three forces were using this opportunity to divide up the corpse soldiers here for their own use.

Given the scale of this Gate of Life and Death situation, the Heng Hai Army family alone could not possibly have orchestrated it. The surrounding forces must have been involved as well. The female cultivators of Xuanmen Kongsang Mountain, the fake monks of the Death Gate Dao, and the remaining Daoist priests certainly weren't working for nothing; they must have had a share in these corpse soldiers.

So Li Fan and Li Wugou discussed it and, worried that their identities would be exposed if they encountered 'acquaintances', they waited until the group of female Daoist priests and fake monks from Kongsang Mountain left the camp, leaving only the Daoist priests' group in the camp, before flying back to the camp.

At this moment, they were still disguised as monks and fairies, and were at the Nascent Soul Stage. Naturally, the soldiers around them wouldn't be so foolish as to shoot them with crossbows. They were allowed to walk straight into the camp and approach the gate of the camp where a large number of corpse soldiers were placed before a Golden Core Stage Daoist appeared and stopped them to ask questions.

"Two venerable masters, what happened just now? Why did my master reveal his Dharma form? Where is he now?"

Li Wugou answered first, "Just now, Senior Sister Yan's enemy, the Blood-Clad Demoness, and three others went to hunt her down. To prevent the enemy from using a cunning trick to lure us away, the general specifically ordered the two of us to return first to oversee the situation."

The Daoist priest, upon hearing this, angrily exclaimed, "What! That wretched woman is still alive! And it takes so many people to chase after her? Has she even broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm? Humph! Truly, a scourge lives a thousand years!"

Li Wugou just stared at him.

Li Fan broke out in a cold sweat. "With four people involved, taking her down shouldn't be a problem. But the important matter here is more pressing. We've been ordered to patrol the area again, just in case her accomplices are lying in ambush."

The Daoist priest laughed and said, "How blind must one be to associate with that female demon? Aren't you disgusted! Hahaha!"

Li Fan and Li Wugou just stared at him.

The Daoist priest couldn't stop the immortals from entering, so he turned and led them into the camp. "Please see, my uncle's formation is impregnable. Our Guyeshan's arrangements are foolproof. There's no need for you to worry."

Li Wugou was taken aback and transmitted her voice, "These wild Daoists are actually from Guyeshan! The immortals of Guyeshan and Kongsang Mountain have been enemies for generations, fighting for countless years over the nearby Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land and spiritual mineral deposits! I never imagined they would secretly join forces!"

Li Fan wasn't surprised. Internal strife within the Xuanmen sect was commonplace. If fellow disciples of the same generation could fight to the death, what wouldn't they do?

Moreover, a conflict of this level simply doesn't allow for the involvement of rogue cultivators. And frankly, the Heng Hai Army isn't stupid. If it weren't for the backing of two Xuanmen sects and one Demonic Sect, would they dare to jump into the vortex of the Three Great Sects' struggle? Perhaps these warlords are actually the most helpless this time; far from the emperor's reach, they have no choice but to rebel...

"Guyeshan and Kongsang Mountain, how many Dao Lords do they have?"

Upon hearing Li Fan's telepathic message, the person on the other end nearly choked. "None... not a single one! Guyeshan has three Divine Lords, and the two factions are evenly matched, with no clear victor over the years. Kongsang Mountain probably has about the same number of Divine Lords."

Pshaw, isn't that just the level of the two palaces of the Nine Truth Sect?

Li Fan relaxed, "That's not a big problem."

"..." Li Wugou glanced at him with a dead fish-like look.

Despite the mockery, Guyeshan lived up to its reputation as a legitimate sect of Xuanmen; their magic array was indeed quite sophisticated. The demonic corpses, lured by the bells from the Guyeshan cultivators, obediently entered the array. After circling it once, it seemed as if all their demonic nature had been cleansed. They obediently followed orders, applying talismans and incantations, donning armor, and waiting motionless, showing no signs of going berserk. They were truly refined!

Li Fan and Li Wugou followed along, but were unable to go up and examine the runes and arrays in person, and for a time they found nothing.

The Daoist priest from Guyeshan led them directly into the camp, where they saw the array of Fiend Soldiers. He then pointed to the Tiger Tally Talisman placed in the central command tent, guarded by eight Divine Essence Body Guardians, wielding swords and clad in armor, who were watching over it the entire time.

"The 108 Heavenly Demon Soldiers under our command have all been completed, and the talismans are intact. Do you two have any further instructions?"

Li Fan and Li Wugou exchanged a glance and immediately took action!

Without saying a word, Li Wugou struck out with a palm, smashing the cultivator's skull open and killing him instantly.

Li Fan flew into the tent, drew a pair of Return to Dust Qi Swords from his sleeve, and with a flick of his wrist, the swords flashed and cleaved eight Golden Core Guardians in two, cutting them into pieces.

Then he grabbed the Tiger Tally on the table, and the array of talismans and spells set up around the table by Guyeshan was instantly activated!

"Careful!"

Before Li Wugou could finish speaking, a gentle breeze blew in front of him, and Li Fan had already grabbed the Tiger Tally. He turned around and used the Wind and Cloud Dragon Ascent Technique to extricate himself, escaping before the magic array was activated. He also grabbed Li Wugou around the waist and swept out of the tent.

Behind them, the magic array set up on Guyeshan erupted with a fiery tornado, "Boom!" setting the entire central army camp ablaze! A fiery serpent shot straight into the sky!

Li Wugou was completely stunned. "Hiss! Two stealth techniques! Terrifying..."

"Don't be scared!" Li Fan shoved the Tiger Tally and Yang Lei Seal into Li Wugou's hands. "Find a way to deal with those fiendish corpses! If that doesn't work, just blow them all up! I'll cover you!"

After saying that, he threw Li Wugou aside, opened his mouth and spat out the Moon Soul Sword Light to protect himself. While maneuvering and moving around in the air above the military camp, he swung out the Qiankun Flying Dragon Sword with both hands, causing the black and white evil dragon sword storms to rage wildly in the military camp like a storm, blasting all the guards and Xuanmen worshippers around them to dust!

Without a word, Li Wugou charged straight into the enemy formation. Holding the Tiger Tally, he made a move against the armored soldiers and corpses. Clearly, his technique was flawed. The first corpse soldier shuddered and howled as it charged forward in a frenzy!

Before it could even get close, a deafening crash resounded, and the corpse soldier was blasted to charred remains by a bolt of lightning from the ground! Instantly annihilated, leaving only a crackling, burning humanoid torch!

"This is... a magical artifact!"

Li Wugou manipulated the thunder seal above his head with a hand seal, channeling his magic power to imprint the Thunder Talisman. A golden light flashed, activating the Yang Thunder and unleashing a golden bolt of lightning, dazzling and thunderous! The terrifying heavenly thunder roared out, blasting the extremely Yin and malevolent corpse soldiers into ashes, leaving not a single bone behind!

"Aha! Ahahaha! Ahahahahahaha!"

So Li Fan turned his head and saw Li Wugou laughing and slashing at the corpse, which made him sweat. "Hey, when I said 'settle things down,' I meant... sigh, whatever..."

Anyway, he could just deal with her; he couldn't be bothered with this crazy woman. Sword Light, mixed with sword mist, and wind and thunder Sword Qi surged forward, sweeping towards the protectors and cultivators who were hurriedly returning to camp.

We need to get rid of these weaklings as soon as possible; a skilled opponent is on their way.