Inner and Outer Altar Cities

That morning, at dawn, Duan Rong prepared to formally begin cultivating the Great Vajra Realm Mandala.

Before cultivation, he repeatedly instructed the craftsmen and Guards that the ritual procedures had to follow their usual practice. If anything went wrong, the dungeons of the Judgment and Rectification Department had remained empty ever since the Foul Blood Case.

The craftsmen knew the stakes as well. They had received no small amount of punishment over the past half month. Moreover, Duan Rong had kept a dark face the entire time and had been exceedingly strict. It was clear that this ritual was no trivial matter and demanded the utmost care.

Once Duan Rong had explained everything, the craftsmen and Guards had already formed up and stood in formation. Only then did he slowly walk to the altar at the center of the valley. Sitting cross-legged at its heart, Duan Rong suddenly let out a long howl.

The howl echoed through the valley. This was the signal he had agreed upon with Jiang Hanyan. As soon as it rang out, cloud gongs, chime bells, flutes, and other instruments within the pavilion began sounding almost simultaneously, weaving together into solemn, majestic Buddhist Chants.

As the Buddhist Chants arose, the ceremonial procession formed by the craftsmen and Guards raised Buddhist Banners and carried Incense Burners trailing green smoke. They began circling the altar, chanting under their breath as they walked.

Before long, green smoke filled the valley.

Faint mist and solemn Buddhist Chants saturated the valley. Amid the curling green smoke and pervasive chants, the four painted Mountain Body Divine Statues appeared even more savage and terrifying.

Within this strange ritual, Duan Rong entered his own Luminous Consciousness Sea.

The Great Vajra Realm Mandala differed from the Garbha Sutra: its cultivation required no supplementary medicines. Those