Incense Steals Heaven

What shocked the two even more was that she casually broke the stone into two halves and blew a wisp of immortal energy. The stones instantly shimmered with golden light, transforming into two pieces of gold.

"Can I report now?" Fire Spirit True Immortal tossed the gold to the soldier.

The two caught the gold ingots and stood there dumbfounded for a long time before snapping back to reality as if waking from a dream. They hurriedly put away the gold and bowed, saying, "Please wait a moment, immortal master. We'll go report right away."

Not long after, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe hurried over. The soldier introduced him, "Steward, this is the immortal master."

The steward quickly bowed, "Immortal master, your grand arrival, we failed to welcome you from afar, please forgive us."

Fire Spirit True Immortal asked, "Is the Prefect available to meet?"

The steward respectfully replied, "The Prefect is already waiting in the hall with tea. He specifically ordered me to come and welcome you. Please, immortal master."

Watching the two enter the manor, the two soldiers exchanged smiles, unable to hide their joy.

"What did you say?" the soldier on the right asked in a low voice.

The soldier on the left gave a sly smile, "I just said an immortal who can turn stone into gold has arrived. I didn't mention anything about the gold."

The two soldiers chatted excitedly.

"Well done," the soldier on the right praised. "We won't have to worry about a thing for the rest of our lives."

The soldier on the left couldn't hide his joy, "This is enough money to buy a house and get married in the prefectural city."

At the same time, Fire Spirit True Immortal entered the hall with the steward. A middle-aged man in luxurious robes and a plump physique quickly stepped forward to greet them.

"I am Lu Dingyu, I pay my respects to the High Immortal. May I ask the High Immortal's esteemed title?" Prefect Lu Dingyu of Guangci Prefecture bowed respectfully.

Fire Spirit True Immortal returned the bow with a smile, "This humble Taoist is Fire Spirit."

"So it's High Immortal Fire Spirit." Lu Dingyu quickly invited her to sit, ordered a maid to serve tea, and said humbly, "This is just plain tea and water, it can't compare to the immortal's spiritual items. I hope the immortal master doesn't dislike it."

"It's fine," Fire Spirit True Immortal said calmly. "Tea has no nobility or baseness; it is all a clear drink."

Lu Dingyu smiled amiably, "Immortal master has a broad mind. I wonder if you have any advice for visiting my humble abode today?"

Fire Spirit True Immortal took a light sip of tea and said directly, "This humble Taoist was passing through this area and sensed demonic energy pervading the manor, so I came to investigate."

After speaking, she blew a breath onto the teacup, and the cup instantly turned into a golden vessel, with the tea leaves and water all turning golden. She placed the golden cup in front of Lu Dingyu and said sternly, "This humble Taoist seeks not wealth, but only to slay demons."

Witnessing this, Lu Dingyu was shocked, and his previous doubts vanished. He hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply, "Immortal master, did you just say... there are demons in the manor?"

Fire Spirit True Immortal nodded, "The demonic energy is concentrated in the northwest. This demon should be hiding there."

"Northwest?" Lu Dingyu's expression changed drastically.

The steward exclaimed, "Northwest, isn't that—" He stopped himself before finishing.

Fire Spirit True Immortal pressed, "Who lives in the northwest courtyard?"

Lu Dingyu hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice, "It's my niece... but how could she be a demon?"

"Has she been living in the manor for a long time?"

"I brought her here last month," Lu Dingyu sighed. "My younger brother passed away, and my sister-in-law died early, entrusting her daughter to me on her deathbed."

Fire Spirit True Immortal stood up and said, "Please lead the way."

Lu Dingyu looked troubled, "My niece is all alone and helpless. If we disturb her rashly..."

"Prefect, rest assured," Fire Spirit True Immortal comforted him. "If she is innocent, this humble Taoist will absolutely not harm her."

The steward advised at the opportune moment, "My lord, if the evil is not eradicated, the consequences will be endless. This action is also for your safety."

Lu Dingyu finally made up his mind, "Steward, you lead the way."

Fire Spirit True Immortal bid farewell to the Prefect and followed the steward through corridors and courtyards, heading straight for the small courtyard in the northwest.

As Fire Spirit True Immortal approached the outer perimeter of the courtyard, she suddenly sensed a dense demonic aura pervading the air. She immediately stopped the steward who was about to step forward: "This place is filled with evil energy, do not approach rashly."

As soon as the steward got close, he felt a bone-chilling cold. Upon hearing this, he hurriedly retreated behind the True Immortal. Fire Spirit True Immortal flicked her sleeve, pushing open the courtyard gate, and a gust of yin wind immediately swept towards them. She was enveloped in crimson flames, which instantly incinerated the approaching evil into wisps of smoke.

The figure, shrouded in Profound Yang True Fire, stepped into the courtyard. The scorching flames blazed even brighter, instantly purifying the demonic energy that had been lingering in the courtyard. At this moment, a woman in a green dress, with her hair elegantly styled and a graceful figure, walked out of the pavilion.

The woman stared for a moment, then asked with a bow, "May I ask how to address you, venerable deity?"

"Where is the Kitchen God of Guangci Prefecture?" Fire Spirit True Immortal went straight to the point.

"The Kitchen God is resting here peacefully, no need to worry," the woman said with a light smile, stroking her slightly bulging abdomen.

"You dare to imprison a true deity, do you know the gravity of your sin?"

The woman's fingertips traced her abdomen line, and she sneered, "Who in this world can judge me?"

The accompanying steward's eyes widened suddenly, "You... you are pregnant?"

"Your eyesight is not bad," the woman said, glancing sideways.

"But you are not married... this..." the steward's voice trembled.

"This is the True Buddha Bloodline, how can you mortals presume to inquire!" the woman scoffed. The steward's face changed color, and he fled in panic.

Fire Spirit True Immortal's eyes flashed like lightning, "When did you possess this body?"

"It has always been my body, what do you mean by possession?"

"With such sky-high demonic energy, how could a mortal possess it?"

The woman suddenly formed a lotus mudra, her feet stepping on golden lotuses, and in an instant, Buddhist light erupted. The Fire Spirit True Immortal summoned its three Magic Treasures, Mingguang, Huanmeng, and Wuwang, all of which emerged together, shattering the incoming Buddhist light into a sky full of lotus petals.

"It's the Kama-tantra? The Fire Spirit True Immortal showed surprise."

"You have some knowledge after all," the woman said, raising an eyebrow. "Return to the mountain with me, and all past grievances will be wiped clean."

The woman chuckled, patting her belly, "The feng shui and fortune of this Prefect's manor are perfect for nurturing my child."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal's expression turned grim, "You're actually stealing the official residence's fortune to nourish your fetus?"

"Very well," the young woman said calmly. "What I carry is a True Buddha Sacred Embryo, which needs the fortune of mortals to nourish it before it can achieve an unparalleled immortal body."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal's gaze deepened. "A True Buddha Sacred Embryo? Whose descendant are you carrying?"

"You are not worthy of knowing his name," the woman said haughtily. "Retreat now, and I will spare your life."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal sneered, "Empty boasts are meaningless. Today, I will capture you and bring you back to the Lingtai Divine Manor."

"Lingtai Divine Manor?" the woman frowned slightly. "Are you the Mountain God of Lingtai?"

The Fire Spirit True Immortal replied, "I am the Assistant Prefect of the Manor of Lingtai Dongming. You, in your demonic form, are disrupting the mortal world, and I am here to apprehend you."

"Capture me? Ridiculous." The woman gave a disdainful smile, her fingertip mudra transformed into a lotus wheel that hovered above her head.

At this moment, the steward had already brought Lu Dingyu into the courtyard. Seeing the scene, they were both horrified.

The lotus wheel was extremely sinister. Lu Dingyu and the steward only glanced at it before wicked thoughts surged within them.

Lu Dingyu, having served as an official for many years, had a firm will and could barely maintain his composure. The steward, however, had gone mad, tearing at his clothes and lunging at the Fire Spirit True Immortal.

The Fire Spirit True Immortal waved its sleeve, and a beam of immortal light swept over. The steward immediately fainted and fell to the ground.

Lu Dingyu, suppressing the turmoil in his mind, asked with a trembling voice, "Lian'er, why... why are you doing this?"

The young woman, Lian'er, said calmly, "Uncle, please don't blame me. The True Buddha Sacred Embryo needs your family's fortune to nourish it. This is destiny."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal questioned coldly, "Why did your parents die?"

Lian'er's expression was indifferent. "Since you already know, why ask?"

The Fire Spirit True Immortal's gaze sharpened. "So it was you who drained your parents' fortune, causing them to meet with misfortune and die?"

"So what?" Lian'er replied calmly.

Lu Dingyu couldn't believe it. "Lian'er! They were your biological parents!"

Lian'er said softly, "I am fulfilling them. By using this world's fortune to nurture the sacred embryo, they will surely receive blessings and enjoy glory in the next life."

"The heretical teachings of the Hidden Wheel Sect," the Fire Spirit True Immortal finally confirmed her origin.

The Hidden Wheel Sect originally belonged to the Buddhist lineage but later fell into heresy. A thousand years ago, it was personally eradicated by Mahavairocana.

It was unexpected that it would reappear today, and even more so that a degenerate of the Buddhist sect would secretly cultivate this technique and combine with Lian'er to give birth to a demonic fetus.

This matter was no trivial affair and likely involved Buddhist secrets.

Heavy breathing came from behind. The Fire Spirit True Immortal turned its head and saw Lu Dingyu's eyes were bloodshot, already corrupted by wicked thoughts.

It cast another beam of immortal light, and Lu Dingyu fell to the ground.

Lian'er's lotus wheel emitted an increasingly sinister light, while pure Buddhist light began to emanate from the Fire Spirit True Immortal's body.

Witnessing this, Lian'er was greatly shocked.

"Showy but unsubstantial," the Fire Spirit True Immortal glanced at Lian'er, who was continuously forming seals, and sneered. "With your meager Dao Cultivation, don't embarrass yourself."

Before the words even fell, the Fire Spirit True Immortal flicked its finger. With a sound, the Profound Yang True Fire instantly surrounded Lian'er.

Lian'er let out a piercing scream, her body instantly shriveling and cracking. Her surrounding magical power was incinerated. She collapsed to the ground, smoking, her skin cracking like dry wood. Seventy percent of the water in her body had been evaporated by the true fire, leaving only thirty percent to barely sustain her life.

The Fire Spirit True Immortal tapped its fingertip, and immortal light transformed into ropes that bound Lian'er tightly. It grabbed the dying Lian'er and transformed into a streak of light, heading straight for Spirit Platform Mountain.

Just as they flew out of Guangci Prefecture City, a beam of immortal light suddenly appeared, blocking their path.

"Elder Guangde? The Fire Spirit True Immortal recognized the newcomer and looked surprised. "Why are you blocking my way?"

Elder Guangde clasped his hands in greeting and pointed to Lian'er in its hand. "Please, Assistant Prefect, hand this woman over to this monk."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal's eyes turned cold. "Could it be that the fetus she is carrying is related to you?"

"Amitabha!" Elder Guangde chanted Buddhist phrases repeatedly. "To be honest, this monk has long suspected this woman's involvement with the Hidden Wheel Sect, so I have been waiting for the right moment to draw out the mastermind."

"The Elder is quite patient," the Fire Spirit True Immortal sneered. "But the mortals in the Prefect's manor cannot wait. By the time their fortune is drained, dozens more lives will be lost."

Elder Guangde chanted softly, "To unearth the demon of the Hidden Wheel Sect and save more lives, some sacrifices are unavoidable."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal's expression changed drastically. After carefully observing Elder Guangde, it suddenly laughed. "You have fallen into demonic ways. Come with me."

Before the words were finished, the Profound Yang True Fire erupted from within Elder Guangde. With a scream, he fainted on the spot. The Fire Spirit True Immortal bound him in the same manner and, carrying both of them, rode the clouds back to Danchi Ridge.

Upon returning to the Mountain God Hall, the Fire Spirit True Immortal used the Dinguang Glazed Lamp to suppress Lian'er and Elder Guangde. After setting up a curtain to conceal them, it went directly to Zhuang Yan's secluded cultivation area. Seeing that there was still no movement from the cloud chamber, it had no choice but to return to the hall to personally guard them.

In the main courtyard's精舍 of the Lingtai Divine Manor on Danchi Ridge, Zhuang Yan finally finished refining two hundred points of Heavenly Dao Merit.

A new entry appeared in the function bar:

[Incense Steals Heaven]: Consume incense and wish power to exchange for Heavenly Dao Merit.

"It's finally successful!" Zhuang Yan showed a joyful expression. After three months of dedicated study, this heaven-defying divine ability had finally reached completion.

He immediately took out the Immortal Official Jade Edict and mobilized all the accumulated six hundred and forty thousand points of incense.