After the discussion, Li Qingshan did not make things difficult for Su Mu and let him leave. The title of the most virtuous man in Big Dipper was not undeserved.
For him, comprehending the great Dao and moving forward on the path could have been done in parallel without conflict.
With a thought, his body transformed into rainbow light, as if guided by some unseen force, heading straight for Mount Tai Shi within the territory of Taikang Province in the Central Continent.
Great Zen Temple is located in the Mount Tai Shi Range.
The entire Mount Tai Shi stretches for thousands of miles, spanning three provinces. It is one of the most important sources of the dragon veins in the Great Qian Dynasty, and also the origin of the Great Zen Temple's thousand-year-old incense offerings and unparalleled glory.
Imagine how prosperous this place must have been hundreds or even thousands of years ago.
Wealth from all over the world converges here, and believers flock to the temple. Every day, thousands of monks are responsible for tending the incense and patrolling the temple gates. They ride horses to light incense, and enjoy the sounds of bells and feasts. It is a scene of prosperity in a Buddhist paradise and a wonderful place on earth.
Today, however, all that can be seen are ruins. The once magnificent palaces and solemn pagodas have long since collapsed and crumbled, leaving only broken tiles and broken steles scattered everywhere.
The intricately carved lotus flowers and Sanskrit patterns on those tiles are still there, but they have been eroded by time, becoming mottled and covered with moss.
Time is merciless; the ancient temple, which had stood for a thousand years, has ultimately turned into a desolate ruin, prompting one to sigh at the vicissitudes of life.
Li Qingshan paused above the former site of the Great Zen Temple, his gaze sweeping across the area.
The Pagoda Forest of Great Zen Temple was originally a pure and sacred place where eminent monks of past dynasties were cremated, buried, and their relics were enshrined.
The remains of the monks after cremation, along with the solidified relics, are respectfully enshrined at the foot of the pagoda, symbolizing the continuation of their spiritual achievements and the inheritance of the sect's traditions.
However, this sacred place has now been completely excavated.
All the remains of eminent monks and precious relics were looted by the Great Qian Dynasty, leaving not a single trace behind.
Such ruthless methods of exhuming graves and exposing bones, leaving not a trace of grass, would likely leave even Duan De, the "archaeological expert" of the Big Dipper- 1 satellite, speechless with admiration.
Among the eminent monks of the Great Zen Temple throughout history, there were many powerful figures at the Martial Saint Realm, and even Human Immortal level once presided over the temple.
Their remains are the revered legacy of our ancestors, to be revered and respected by the younger generation of the sect, and have no other purpose in mind.
However, in the eyes of other cultivators, the remains of Martial Saint or even Human Immortal are excellent materials for refining top-level magic weapons and breaking through all kinds of Daoist techniques, and their value is immeasurable.
"Dig up graves, mutilate corpses, expose bones and scatter ashes." Li Qingshan shook his head slightly.
Such behavior explains why he ultimately becomes a "villain." Even if so-called benevolence and righteousness are merely a facade, they should at least be concealed. They should at least put on a show of it; disgusting!!
Of course, he also knew that it wasn't entirely true that the Great Zen Temple was a good thing. Back then, it had taken in the remnants of the previous Great Zhou and openly challenged the authority of the new dynasty. In feudal times, this could be considered a rebellion. With such intentions, its destruction was perhaps already destined.
However, the methods employed by the Great Qian Dynasty were ultimately crude.
Perhaps the emperor's mindset at that time was just like what I knew in my previous life: when the greatest rival collapsed, and he believed that there was no one left in the world who could rival him, there was naturally no need to bother to hide anymore.
If they're capable of using a bottle of laundry detergent as evidence of a so-called weapon of mass destruction, then what's so wrong with brazenly digging up graves and bones?
Of course, the Great Qian Dynasty was not the only one coveting the "treasure" here. Few cultivators in the world had clear minds; many were driven by self-interest.
Even the Golden Spider Dharma King, one of the Eight Great Demon Immortals, once secretly infiltrated the area, intending to steal the remains of the eminent monk, but he was too weak and was severely injured and forced to retreat.
In this Yang God World, the law of the jungle prevails, and morality is only a matter of discussion when power is equal.
Li Qingshan's visit was certainly not to pay homage to the historical sites.
His true target was the hidden underground palace of the Great Zen Temple, a place of profound cultural heritage.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have made a special trip here before leaving.
Ordinary Ghost Immortal cultivators can roam the heavens with their souls, but to delve deep into the earth is ten thousand times more difficult than ascending to heaven.
The earth is heavy and the primordial energy is stagnant. Once the soul delves into it, it is as if it is trapped in a quagmire, enveloped and squeezed by the boundless and thick earth energy. Thoughts become sluggish and every step becomes difficult.
If it encounters interference from underground magnetic forces, the danger becomes even more extreme.
But such obstacles were meaningless to Li Qingshan.
The secret method of covering the world of heaven is not difficult to achieve as early as in the realm of wheel, sea and Tao palace. It is nothing more than the magic of escaping from the earth.
A magnificent and solemn five-colored canopy appeared above his head, casting down rays of divine light that shone down on the ground.
Under the divine light, the incredibly hard mountain rocks and soil naturally parted to both sides like ripples in water, forming a straight, smooth channel that descended downwards.
Where the Five-Colored Divine Light flowed, even the densest strata became soft and docile, as if they were making way for the divine light.
Li Qingshan slowly descended along the passage, his figure sinking as the rocks behind him quietly closed in again.
After descending about 600 zhang, the space below suddenly opened up, revealing a hollowed-out underground stone chamber.
The stone chamber was unlit, yet it naturally emitted a soft, bright glow, illuminating the surroundings as if it were daytime.
In the center of the stone chamber, atop a cylindrical stone platform, floats a fist-sized, smooth and lustrous pearl.
It is the source of this room full of light.
"The essence of the dragon veins of this world, condensed from the soul of Mount Tai Shi?" Li Qingshan's thoughts stirred slightly as he recalled the origin of this object.
As far as he knew, the last abbot of Great Zen Temple had a grand ambition to emulate the legend of the Ancient Saint "riding a dragon to ascend to heaven." Therefore, he used secret methods to collect and condense the spiritual essence of the mountain spirit nurtured by the Mount Tai Shi Range for countless millennia, attempting to tame it and transform it into his own.
In the Yang God World, all things possess a spirit. A thousand-year-old peach tree can contain a peach spirit, and a majestic mountain range, after being tempered by tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years, may also give birth to a nascent yet powerful spirituality, which the common people call a "dragon vein."
The precious pearl before us is the core manifestation of the spirit of the Mount Tai Shi vein.
Beneath the jewel, on the stone platform, there seemed to be a thin book that was neither gold nor jade.
The moment Li Qingshan's gaze fell upon the pearl, its light suddenly surged, and a dragon-shaped phantom formed from pure spiritual light burst forth from within!
It stretched its body in mid-air; though it had no physical form, it possessed a powerful and imposing aura, like a towering mountain. With its claws outstretched, it unleashed a silent yet soul-stirring roar in Li Qingshan's direction.
A powerful spiritual force, like a tidal wave, shook the Void, roaring in with a furious rage, "Who dares to covet the True Dragon Spirit Realm!"
This dragon soul already possesses spirituality and considerable power; even ordinary Ghost Immortal and immortals would likely find it difficult to withstand the oppressive force of the mountains and earth's veins it contains.
Li Qingshan didn't say much, but with a slight thought, he naturally revealed a trace of the " Primordial Heart Seal's" energy.
In an instant, an unparalleled Daoist aura, transcending the mortal realm and seemingly able to control the thoughts of all things and overlook the myriad phenomena, spread out. Although it was only a trace, it completely enveloped the Void where this underground stone chamber was located.
The once menacing dragon soul and illusory dragon body suddenly froze, and the anger in its eyes was instantly replaced by boundless horror and fear.
Although it was formed from the spirit of the mountain and its intelligence was not exceptional, its perception of the levels of life and absolute power was exceptionally keen.
Faced with this aura, it felt as insignificant as dust. In the blink of an eye, the other party could completely erase the spirituality it had nurtured over ten thousand years and send it back to nothingness.
The dragon soul immediately suppressed all its ferocity, its enormous phantom crouching low in mid-air, conveying a clear and urgent message: "Great—great being! This lowly dragon was blind and offended the majesty of heaven! This lowly dragon is willing to follow you and serve you, and begs for your forgiveness!"
"----" Li Qingshan was slightly speechless.
This change happened far too quickly.
I still like your rebellious side; keep it.
The dragon spirit of Mount Tai Shi possesses its own wisdom for survival.
It took a long time for it to develop intelligence, and in the future, it may even break free from the constraints of the mountain, be reincarnated, and experience all aspects of the mortal world, living a carefree and unrestrained life.
Such a promising future cannot be ruined by a moment of impulsiveness. Seeking advantage and avoiding harm is the instinct of all living beings, and this mountain spirit and dragon spirit are no exception.
"Since you are willing to submit, I will grant you a way out. If there is an opportunity in the future, I may grant you the hope of reincarnation." Seeing this, Li Qingshan stopped arguing and nodded in agreement.
This dragon soul is indeed a rare treasure of heaven and earth, the essence of the mountains.
If its spirit combines with the earth essence of the five elements, it can transform into " Dragon Marrow Jade Liquid," which has miraculous effects on cultivators, whether for tempering the physical body or nourishing the soul.
If Li Qingshan had obtained this item when he first entered the Immortal Platform Secret Realm, it would undoubtedly have been a priceless treasure, a godsend.
Unfortunately, he has now become a saint, and his perspective and needs are different. This item no longer holds much meaning for his original self.
It's truly abhorrent that such rapid advancement in one's realm can sometimes bring about a "luxurious worry."
The divine weapons and King artifacts he once painstakingly acquired have become inadequate in the blink of an eye, and many treasures have lost their effectiveness before he has even had a chance to use them.
However, the value of the dragon soul itself, as a rare and precious object of heaven and earth, is beyond doubt.
In the Shrouding the Heavens World, this would be enough to spark a fierce battle.
This time it encountered Li Qingshan. If it were anyone else, it would probably have been overjoyed and refined and absorbed him to increase its cultivation.
Li Qingshan raised his hand and gestured, and the spiritual light transformed from the dragon soul of Mount Tai Shi obediently detached from the precious pearl, transforming into a gentle stream of light that came into his palm.
This departure was not only to collect the robe, but also to verify and explore its contents.
Li Qingshan wanted to take this opportunity to carefully observe the natural laws and the principles of spiritual generation contained within the "Dragon Vein Spirit" of this Yang God World, and to compare and verify with the forms of "innate spirits" such as Saint Spirit and spirits of heaven and earth that were nurtured by heaven and earth and sculpted by the Great Dao in the Shrouding the Heavens World.
The stones from other mountains can be used to polish jade; perhaps they can provide a different kind of inspiration for the more ethereal and mysterious "Way of the Saint Spirit's Conception." This is also a Red Dust Immortal Path to immortality in the mortal Lifetime; the Feathered Great Emperor lived his entire life by relying on this method.
Divine thought, like the finest carving knife, meticulously dissects the spiritual structure of the dragon soul, its connection with the origin of the Mount Tai Shi veins, and the principles of heaven and earth that it naturally carries as the "mountain soul," embodying "weight," "bearing," and "nourishment."
At the same time, he mobilized all the knowledge he had gained in the Shrouding the Heavens World, including the traces of the infusion of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth when the Saint Spirit was conceived, the unique life laws after the Immortal Medicine became spiritual, and even the profound meaning of observing the direction of mountains and rivers in the Source Arts, and compared and deduced them in detail with the manifestation of the Dao of the Dragon Soul in front of him.
" In the Yang God World, all things possess spirits; even grass, trees, mountains, and rocks can nurture souls. The birth of these spirits is more akin to the combination of intentions naturally accumulated over countless years with the earth's energy, possessing a strong terrestrial nature and the characteristic of 'Kun Yuan,' which bears all things. The Saint Spirit of the Shrouding the Heavens World the Heavens, on the other hand, seize the Fortune of heaven and earth, directly nurtured and sculpted by the laws of the Great Dao, and upon their birth, they are nearly transformed by the Dao itself."
Its body possesses the image of "creation and authority" of Qian Yuan, while the elixir of Immortal Medicine is more akin to the manifestation of an immortal law and the origin of life, purer in nature, but seemingly lacking the profound sense of "bearing" and "connection" found in mountains and rivers.
Li Qingshan was immersed in contemplating the differences in the birth and existence of the "Innate Spirit" under the two different world laws.
This confirmation gave him a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between "spirit" and "Tao," "heaven and earth" and "creation."
However, to say that this directly reveals the mystery of the "Way of the Saint Spirit " is still a long way off.
The conception of the Saint Spirit involves the most fundamental secrets of Fortune in the Shrouding the Heavens World," and involves deeper levels of time sedimentation and the favor of the Great Dao. It cannot be deciphered in a short time or by referring to one or two otherworldly spiritual entities.
This period of reflection broadened my horizons, accumulated knowledge, and laid the groundwork for possible future directions.
"The road ahead is long and arduous." Li Qingshan understood this clearly, and was not disappointed by the outcome.