boom!
The surging waves, centered on the strange fish, surged in all directions. " Cheng Tianyou " was now enraged, and the powerful tides swept across the nine-story white jade platform like furious water dragons.
Every wave was intertwined, incredibly large, rising and falling with each surge, creating a powerful momentum of crashing waves and halting flying boats. The raging waves converged, stirring up eddies, and the water from all directions almost turned into a raging sea.
However, this immense and unparalleled force was useless against the nine-tiered white jade platform. The white jade platform was like a reef being battered by waves, unmoved by the comings and goings. The raging waves stirred up by " Cheng Tianyou " could not shake the white jade platform in the slightest.
Amidst the surging waves, the restrictions on the nine-story white jade platform were also activated, with streaks of lightning and electricity flashing, as if this " Tongji Platform " had been enraged. Flames burst forth from each floor, not tiny sparks, but flashes of lightning and fire.
At that very moment, pale gold runes appeared on the pure white and sacred jade platform. These runes caused a burst of light in the air, like a raging thunderbolt, which shot into the sky.
A crackling lightning bolt swept across the sky, and in an instant, a bolt of lightning descended from the heavens and exploded on the strange fish's body.
Peng!
Cheng Tianyou let out a miserable scream. This nine-story platform was set up by the former master of the " Water Official Method " lineage. It contained various powerful restrictions and even dozens of spells specifically designed to deal with the Scale Clan in the water.
Boom boom boom!
Several more thick bolts of lightning struck down from the sky, hitting the strange fish hard.
Sizzle!
Each time lightning struck, the giant fish would sway and pause, its flesh and blood ripped away in a bloody mess, skin and all. Then, its dense scales would begin to shatter, and in the blink of an eye, it would be covered in blood.
'So there were such powerful restrictions hidden on these nine levels. Luckily I didn't stumble upon them recklessly, or I would have suffered a great loss!'
A thought flashed through He Ping's mind: if such a powerful restriction is hidden on this nine-tiered jade platform, then the core of the formation might also be here.
"Jade table, besides the gold tablet, there seems to be something else on that jade table?"
He released the " Azure Yang Undying Body," and with a flick of his toes, his entire body turned upside down with a "whoosh," his sleeves fluttering as he arrived in front of the jade-decorated table.
The jade table was also as white as snow. Besides the gold tablet, there was an ancient seal on the table. The seal was made of jade, crystal clear, with a dragon-shaped knob and cloud patterns. Next to the ancient seal was a talisman with a phantom image of a fish-like monster swimming back and forth on it.
"This is?"
Just as he was hesitating, several lines of golden characters appeared on the jade table. The characters were written in a free and unrestrained style, like swimming dragons, and contained information about ancient seals and talismans.
"This ancient seal is called the ' Three Officials' General Summoning Seal,' which is the seal of the Three Officials and Nine Offices, responsible for overseeing the third-rank Water Official of the lower realm, the three palaces (left, right, and central), unifying the fourteen departments, combining the forty-two departments, and governing the caves of the Nine Rivers..."
He Ping continued reading and gradually came to understand that the ancient seal, talisman, and jade table, when combined, formed the hub of the entire Narcissus Cave Abode, capable of controlling all changes within the Narcissus Cave Abode.
This nine-story platform, also known as the " Tongji Platform," is the core of the Narcissus Ancient Array in the Narcissus Cave Abode. Below the core is an endless, boundless underground river. If the formation's restrictions are activated, shattering this nine-story platform, the underground river below will surge rapidly upwards. All living beings in the cave abode will be instantly pulverized by the restrictions, engulfing everything in the Narcissus Cave Abode and turning everything within it into an endless marshland.
Another secret Mnemonic appeared on the jade table, detailing the method for refining the nine-tiered jade platform and informing those who ascended it that " Cheng Tianyou " was the "array spirit" of the cave abode array, refined through secret rituals.
This "spirit" was meant to guard the Narcissus Cave Abode, serving as its servant. Because it was refined long ago, " Cheng Tianyou " has little self-awareness. The talisman is specifically designed to control " Cheng Tianyou "...
He Ping tried it out, silently following the instructions in the Mnemonic, and used the refining method recorded in the mantra. He tested it several times and found that there were no major problems. He then sent a wisp of his divine soul into the jade seal on the dragon seal knob. Suddenly, the ancient seal emitted a brilliant light and floated up, instantly suppressing the talisman with the fish shadow floating on it.
With a loud bang!
As if something let out a mournful cry, the huge monster fish seemed to boil over, countless bubbles spewing out and surrounding the giant fish's flesh and blood, devouring it with astonishing force. The horrifying smell of blood and the stench of flesh, along with the massive amount of foam, spread like a hurricane.
The hurricane didn't last long.
The strange fish that " Cheng Tianyou " transformed into gradually shrank until it disappeared without a trace, leaving not even a remnant behind. It receded slowly like the surrounding tide and vanished from sight.
Having dealt with Cheng Tianyou, He Ping was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. On one hand, he used the jade seal and talismans in his hand to inspect the cave abode and investigate the aftermath.
On the other hand, he also picked up the golden scroll of " The Seed Demon Technique," intending to browse the righteous path to enlightenment recorded on it.
When he reached out and touched the golden slip, another line of writing appeared on the jade table, informing him of some information.
"I began learning the Dao at the age of nine, entering the Lower Yuan lineage. For fifteen years, I mastered the Dao through the ' Water Origin Nine Forms.' Unfortunately, the Heavenly Dao was flawed. After the Great Calamity of a Thousand Autumns, my Dao foundation was weakened, making further progress difficult. In order to advance further, I switched to the Earth Origin Clear Void Lineage, diligently studying the < Nine Refinements of Nether Demons >. However, limited by the deficiencies in my cultivation body, my life-or-death limit has arrived. I am filled with regret and can only rely on the Yin-Yang Seal Escape of the Earth Origin Clear Void Lineage to escape reincarnation, placing my hopes on the elusive doctrine of reincarnation. I deeply regret my past actions..."
He Ping felt a slight jolt upon reading this.
He was initially a little puzzled as to why the < Nine Refinements of Nether Demons > of the Earth Origin Clear Void Lineage would be hidden in the Narcissus Cave Abode. Now that he has seen this, he understands a little better.
"The Daoist cultivation method of the Water Element lineage must be flawed. The master of the Narcissus Cave Abode probably wanted to switch to the Earth Element lineage, but due to defects in his cultivation body, he had to reincarnate and start over..."
According to Yu Ji, the orthodox methods of entering the Sanyuan Devil Palace are mutually compatible. The master of the cave abode has failed to cultivate the Water Element lineage, so he plans to switch to the Earth Element lineage. It is estimated that he wants to take advantage of the mutual assistance between Earth and Water to re-evolve the Three Elements.
It should be known that the Sanyuan Devil Palace believes in that ancient legend that the Naked Worms of the human race originated from the underworld and came from the Yellow Springs. In the end, after being examined by the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water, their three souls would ascend to the Heavenly Palace and their seven spirits would descend to the earth after death.
"If I'm not mistaken, the master of the Narcissus Cave Abode made this choice for the same reason—"
With a flick of his finger, the golden scroll was turned, and a golden rune, like a ribbon of light, pierced into the ancestral aperture between He Ping's eyebrows. He Ping was startled. He quickly checked himself and found that there was no danger. However, when he closed his eyes, some words, images, and information appeared in his mind, turning into countless light and shadows that came rushing in.
"This golden slip, like the talisman, seems to be able to carry information..."
He pressed his brow, which throbbed, and his soul palace lit up slightly. He then saw a space more than ten feet in diameter appear in the void of his mind's sea, with countless light and shadow floating and changing into images, light and shadow, and seal script.
" The Nine Refinements of Nether Demons... both volumes are complete," he thought to himself, and continued browsing. The handwriting changed with the flow of light. The opening chapter was concise and to the point, directly introducing the cultivation methods of the Central Origin Devil Palace, which mainly focused on Soul-Refining Demon Transformation and using demons to subdue demons.
--The Nine Refinements of Nether Demons, also known as the Method of < Seed Demon Technique >, has a second volume that forms the foundation, mainly focusing on the techniques of Seed Demon Technique and refining demons. It also includes some Daoist talismans and introductory spells.
The first volume is the true foundation for entering the Dao. According to the records and annotations in the Golden Slip, anyone who wants to practice the < Seed Demon Technique > method must start with the second volume and progress gradually. Once the cultivation level becomes profound, one can then practice the Secret Method of the first volume.
The first volume of " The Seed Demon Technique " is profound and extensive, containing nine volumes of the essence of vowing against demons. These are all Higher Vehicle Dharma gates, capable of encompassing the three realms, repelling ghosts and subduing demons, cutting off evil and dispelling malevolent forces, and are capable of nothing. Each volume can directly lead to Celestial Person.
"Because human strength is finite, the Nine Volumes of Demonic Oath Essence will select the best among those who cultivate based on their aptitude, foundation, and talent. The Nine Volumes of Demonic Oath Essence have no superiority or inferiority; they are only imparted according to the learner's innate capacity... During this process, one undergoes seven cycles of return and nine transformations, experiences the path of nine tribulations of Yin, comprehends the Great Dao, masters life and death, and finally passes the Three Primal Tests to reach the Heavenly Demon Nine Bestowments Realm."
Upon seeing this, He Ping couldn't help but hum in agreement, a hint of doubt in his voice.
"The first volume of < The Seed Demon Technique > contains nine different Method Formula. Each person who obtains this golden scroll can only obtain one Method Formula from it. This Method Formula is the most suitable for you and has the best chance of helping you cultivate the true path to Method Formula."
He Ping put down the golden slip in his hand. In the void between his ancestral aperture and brow, the golden characters dissipated like mist, then reformed into a single character, revealing one of the nine volumes of the Oath of the Demon: < The Eight Lives Eight Deaths Demonic Secret Art >.
Seeing just this much stirred something within him.
"The essence of the Demonic Oath in the first volume of < The Seed Demon Technique > seems to all contain word counts. The Method Formula I can learn has '8' words. I wonder what its connection is to the Nine Refinements Dao?"