This function had to remain permanently activated, and Zhuang Yan activated it without hesitation. Of the remaining 70 points, he spent another 20 to add the sub-option "Release" under "Add Status," which could remove all negative statuses.
His cultivation had reached Refining Void into Dao, and the next step was the Earth Immortal realm. Though it would still take several years, Zhuang Yan was in no hurry—cultivation was merely a tool for him to draw upon Heavenly Dao Power.
As he stepped out of the meditation chamber, the incense offerings had grown increasingly prosperous, with Tianci Temple contributing the most. Buddhism accounted for half the incense offerings of Guangci Prefecture; Zhuang Yan received forty percent, while the remaining ten percent was divided among the other divine officials.
Fire Spirit True Immortal came forward. She had faithfully fulfilled her duties for three years. "Mountain Lord, you have emerged from seclusion." She bowed respectfully.
Zhuang Yan nodded. "Were there any important matters during these three years?"
"Everything has been handled according to Mountain Lord's instructions," Fire Spirit True Immortal replied. She then mentioned the Three Treasures Silver Pestle. "This item conceals three true methods, which I comprehended two years ago."
Zhuang Yan smiled. "Tell me, what are these three methods?"
Fire Spirit True Immortal said, "The three methods of illumination, illusion, and void are arts of ..., ..., and ... Each possesses its own profundity. If combined with my Profound Yang True Fire, their power will be even greater."
Zhuang Yan nodded. "Good. This treasure is indeed fated to be with you."
He walked to the divine statue, took out the clay jar containing the sealed Lu Hanzhi, inverted it, and released the seal.
With a sound, Lu Hanzhi fell out. Having only just been released from three years of sealing, she remained dazed for a long while before finally awakening.
When she saw Zhuang Yan before her, Lu Hanzhi immediately prostrated herself. "This lesser demon pays respects to the Mountain God."
Zhuang Yan said, "The three-year term has ended. Follow me into the mortal world and take a look."
Lu Hanzhi froze briefly, then bowed in thanks. "I shall obey your decree."
Zhuang Yan instructed Fire Spirit True Immortal, "Remain and guard the mountain residence."
"I obey Mountain Lord's command." Fire Spirit True Immortal bowed.
Zhuang Yan activated the Thousand Light Cloud Talisman and departed the mountain on a cloud with Lu Hanzhi, heading straight for Guangci Prefecture City. Using incense-based divine power to conceal Lu Hanzhi's traces, the two descended directly into Zhong Jing's residence.
The laughter of children came from the courtyard. A little boy and girl chased each other at play, followed by a beautiful woman accompanied by a maidservant. Lu Hanzhi stared at the boy's face and understood at once.
Seeing that her expression was calm, Zhuang Yan instead detected a sense of relief in her.
A man emerged from the moon gate. It was Zhong Jing. He said to the woman, "My wife, I am going to a neighboring prefecture on business and will not return for two months. I leave the household in your care."
The woman answered with a smile, "Take care, Husband. Do not worry about the household." The two stood embracing.
At the sight, Lu Hanzhi sighed softly. "Very good." As soon as she spoke, it seemed as though all her shackles had fallen away, and her bearing became detached and transcendent.
"Thank you, Mountain God, for enlightening me. My mortal ties have been severed; I should return to the mountains and forests to seek the Dao." She gave Zhuang Yan a deep bow.
Zhuang Yan said happily, "Those three years were not wasted. To cut through the bonds of love and enter the Dao—excellent. I permit you to cultivate on Spirit Platform Mountain."
Lu Hanzhi bowed again. "After being sealed for three years, I have realized that love cannot compare to the profundity of immortality."
Zhuang Yan brought her back to the mountain and pointed at the surrounding peaks. "Choose a place for yourself and establish a cave mansion."
"I shall obey the Mountain God's decree." Lu Hanzhi circulated her magic power, rode the wind, and vanished into the vast mountain scenery.
Zhuang Yan turned his cloud toward Mount Fangcun instead. Having emerged from three years of seclusion, it was time to pay Patriarch Bodhi a visit.
Zhuang Yan arrived at Mount Fangcun on a cloud and descended before the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars. Cloudy Boy and Guhe Boy were already waiting outside. Upon seeing him land, they immediately stepped forward to bow and lead him inside.
Elsewhere, immortal light flashed outside the Mountain God Temple of Lingtai, and Lan Caihe appeared with a flower basket in hand. She hurried into the temple and called out "Mountain God of Lingtai" three times, but received no answer. Just as she was growing anxious, Fire Spirit True Immortal entered the hall. After studying her for a moment, she cupped her hands and asked, "Are you Immortal Lan Caihe?"
Lan Caihe turned around, slightly surprised. "Who are you?"
"This lesser immortal is Fire Spirit, the Mountain Guard General under the Mountain God," Fire Spirit True Immortal replied.
Lan Caihe nodded faintly. "So it is you. When did the Mountain God of Lingtai subdue you?"
"Three years ago," Fire Spirit True Immortal answered truthfully.
Lan Caihe held her forehead and sighed. "He still has not submitted the decree!" Seeing the other woman's confusion, she changed the subject. "Do you know where the Mountain God went? I need to find him on urgent business."
Fire Spirit True Immortal shook her head. "Mountain Lord descended to the mortal realm just now. His destination is unknown. If Immortal is not in a hurry, you may wait here for a while."
Lan Caihe had no choice but to sit down. Fire Spirit True Immortal served her tea, fruit, and refreshments.
Zhuang Yan bid farewell to Patriarch Bodhi. When he returned to the Mountain God Temple, he found Lan Caihe waiting there.
"True Person Lan, what a rare visitor," Zhuang Yan said with a smile.
Lan Caihe hurriedly rose to her feet. "I finally found you."
"What is so urgent?" Zhuang Yan asked.
"First, you subdued Fire Spirit True Immortal three years ago. Why have you delayed submitting the decree for so long?" Lan Caihe went straight to the point.
Zhuang Yan was taken aback. He took out the decree and examined it, only to find that he truly had not submitted it. He hurriedly wrote a memorial and presented it together with the decree before the shrine.
The Edict Messenger of the Department of the Mortal Realm immediately delivered the documents to the Hall of Grotto-Heavens. The Service Officer accepted the decree and asked in confusion, "Subduing Garuda took only one day, yet this Fire Spirit True Immortal took three years?"
Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion smiled faintly. "He likely forgot to report back." He then unfolded Zhuang Yan's memorial and read it carefully.
He stroked his long beard and nodded. "Just as expected."
Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion handed the decree and memorial together to the Service Officer and ordered, "Record a third-class merit for the Mountain God of Lingtai."
"Yes, sir." The Service Officer respectfully accepted them and withdrew down the steps.
After the Edict Messenger left the hall, the Service Officer soon returned to report. Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion asked, "Has there been any progress regarding the Golden Maid of Jade Pool?"
The Service Officer reported, "Reporting to Your Excellency, the Eight Immortals were ordered to subdue demons, but no news has yet returned."
At that moment, another Edict Messenger entered the hall and reported, "True Person Li Xuan has submitted a memorial."
"Present it at once," Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion ordered immediately.
The Service Officer handed over the document, and Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion read it with concentration.
After finishing it, he drew a deep breath, handed Tieguai Li's memorial to the Service Officer, and rubbed his forehead.
After reading it, the Service Officer's face also showed astonishment. "The Golden Maid of Jade Pool actually stole the Queen Mother of the West's Kunlun Mirror?"
Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion sighed. This adopted daughter of the Queen Mother of the West had always been deeply favored. Her supposed "abduction" had in fact been her own unauthorized descent into the mortal realm. To preserve the Queen Mother's dignity, the Heavenly Court had called it a "calamity."
"Though the Eight Immortals defeated Venerable Tianmiao, they were injured by the Golden Maid of Jade Pool wielding the Kunlun Mirror. Lan Caihe now suggests seeking aid from the Mountain God of Lingtai." The Service Officer hesitated. "I do not know whether the Mountain God can contend with that treasure."
Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion immediately ordered, "Invite Immortal Lord Yaohua here to discuss the matter."
Before long, an immortal official clad in magnificent robes and possessing peerless beauty drifted in gracefully. She held a whisk and bowed. "Daoist friend, how fares the battle of the Eight Immortals?"
Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion invited her to sit and asked bluntly, "The Golden Maid of Jade Pool stole a treasure and descended to the lower realm. Why did you conceal this?"
Immortal Lord Yaohua sighed softly. "If the truth were revealed, I feared the immortals would become even more evasive and shirk responsibility."
"Such concealment has instead delayed important matters." Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion shook his head. "The Eight Immortals have already suffered a setback and retreated." After a brief pause, he probed, "Should we report this to the Divine Thunder Jade Mansion..."
"No." Immortal Lord Yaohua immediately refused. "If the Divine Thunder Jade Mansion is informed, there will be no room to turn things around. Her Ladyship does not wish for this matter to become public, nor can she bear to see the Golden Maid of Jade Pool subjected to heavenly punishment."
The Queen Mother of the West wanted both to suppress the matter and preserve the Golden Maid of Jade Pool's life.
If an immortal maiden secretly fled to the mortal realm and the Divine Thunder Jade Mansion discovered it, the strict Heavenly Rules would be no joke. Even the Queen Mother of the West could not openly defy the heavenly laws.
"You are putting me in a difficult position." Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion waved his hand. "Though the Department of the Mortal Realm can subdue demons and monsters in the lower realm, it has no authority to interfere in matters involving higher immortals descending to the mortal world."
Immortal Lord Yaohua solemnly bowed. "The Queen Mother has ordered me to convey her verbal decree. She earnestly asks that Emperor Shaoyang, for the sake of past friendship, dispatch the Department of the Mortal Realm to retrieve the Golden Maid of Jade Pool."
Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion groaned inwardly. The Queen Mother of the West was lowering herself to make such a request; she was clearly roasting him over the fire.
"Very well." Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion let out a long sigh. "Since we must avoid the Divine Thunder Jade Mansion, we cannot deploy the divine generals of the Thunder Department. Only one plan remains."
Immortal Lord Yaohua pressed, "I would like to hear it."
Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion condensed a decree and ordered the Service Officer to present it. "Please go personally to Spirit Platform Mountain and deliver this decree to the Mountain God."
"The Mountain God of Lingtai?" Immortal Lord Yaohua looked doubtful. "What does a mere local deity have to do with this matter?"
Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion smiled. "Do not underestimate him. The Eight Immortals returned defeated, and Lan Caihe has already gone to seek his aid. But Lan Caihe alone will likely be unable to persuade this Mountain God. With my decree, it may be possible."
"Is that so?" Immortal Lord Yaohua put away the decree and cupped her hands. "I will set out at once. Thank you, Emperor Shaoyang."
Leaving the True Palace of Great Mystery, Immortal Lord Yaohua rode a cloud directly toward Spirit Platform Mountain in Western Ox Continent.
Inside the Mountain God Temple of Lingtai.
After hearing the second matter Lan Caihe had described, Zhuang Yan immediately refused. "Do not come to me with this kind of troublesome business. An immortal maiden fleeing in secret is the most difficult matter to handle."
"Do not refuse so quickly." Lan Caihe grabbed his sleeve. "You are the only one we can rely on now."
Zhuang Yan turned and looked directly at her. "It is not that I am unwilling to help, but this involves the Golden Maid of Jade Pool and Her Ladyship the Queen Mother. You understand the stakes."
Lan Caihe said anxiously, "You only need to use your clay jar to subdue the Golden Maid of Jade Pool. The Eight Immortals will bear the remaining trouble themselves."
Zhuang Yan shook his head again. "Forgive me, but I cannot comply."
Lan Caihe's eyes shifted. She put an arm around his shoulder and smiled. "If you are willing to act, there will naturally be a generous reward."
"Oh?" Zhuang Yan raised a brow. "Let me hear it."
Lan Caihe lowered her voice. "That Venerable Tianmiao is Dinguang Tathagata. His cave mansion contains countless treasures. Once he is captured, all of them will be yours."
Zhuang Yan's expression changed sharply. "What a vicious Lan Caihe. You are trying to lead me into unrighteousness!"
"What do you mean? When have I ever intended to harm you?" Lan Caihe looked utterly astonished.
Zhuang Yan said coldly, "You clearly know that Venerable Tianmiao is Dinguang Tathagata, yet you encourage me to capture him and even promise me his treasures. If that is not deliberately harming me, then what is?"
Lan Caihe was instantly speechless. "This... this..."
This Dinguang Tathagata, Ancient Buddha Dipamkara, was the Buddha of the Past among Buddhism's Three Buddhas of the Three Ages.
Fire Spirit True Immortal asked in confusion, "Then Venerable Tianmiao is part of Buddhism?"
"That is correct." Lan Caihe nodded in admission.
Fire Spirit True Immortal snorted disdainfully. "I despise such people most. They are clearly Buddhists, yet they neither cultivate Buddhist teachings nor observe monastic rules. They spend all day indulging in romance and pleasure. It is truly nauseating."
"Indeed, he is detestable." Lan Caihe agreed, then turned to Zhuang Yan. "Does the Mountain God not find him hateful as well?"
Zhuang Yan said flatly, "Do not preach to me here. Even if I dislike him, I will never help you capture the Golden Maid of Jade Pool."
Seeing Zhuang Yan's resolute attitude, Lan Caihe had no idea what to do for the moment.
Suddenly, a five-colored radiant glow tore across the sky and descended directly upon the main hall of the Mountain God Temple.
Zhuang Yan turned to look. After recognizing the newcomer, his expression grew stern, and he immediately went forward to greet her.
Fire Spirit True Immortal needed only one glance to sense that this person possessed extraordinary bearing. Lan Caihe, however, cried out in surprise, "Immortal Lord Yaohua? Why are you here?"
Immortal Lord Yaohua first cupped her hands toward Lan Caihe in greeting, then looked around at everyone and asked, "Which one of you is the Mountain God of Lingtai?"
Her gaze landed on Fire Spirit True Immortal. The latter raised her right hand, drew a circle in the air with her index finger, and finally pointed at Zhuang Yan.
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