"Follow me, please remain calm," Xue Tong’s face regained a smile as he turned and walked inside first.
His back was completely exposed to this side, seemingly unconcerned about Zhang Rongfang launching a sneak attack.
Zhang Rongfang narrowed his eyes slightly but followed.
They passed through the steps, through the Dao field, and entered the main hall of the Dao Palace.
The Dao Palace was sparsely populated, with only a few young Daoist children responsible for basic sanitation.
The older Daoists were all gone.
Xue Tong didn’t mind, walked to the statue of Celestial Venerable Yujing, and knelt devoutly, whispering a few scriptures and offering incense.
Then, he turned back and looked at Zhang Rongfang.
From start to finish, he displayed a demeanor of complete composure and confidence.
"What exactly happened at Snow Rainbow Pavilion? Can you tell me?" he asked softly.
"Yue Shi was possessed by the Moon God and then ambushed me while I was fighting the Holy Tour.
I was furious at the time, and in a moment of carelessness, killed both of them," Zhang Rongfang said calmly.
"But I know that was just a subsidiary body of the Moon God, and the Holy Tour had long since become divine, its true form still in the Void.
So, I hope to rescue Yue Shi from the control of the Moon God."
"..." Xue Tong twitched his face, feeling like he was hearing a fantastical tale. What do you mean by ’a moment of carelessness’?
"Your Yue Shi was a consciousness body of the Moon God, that much I know, because he was impersonating me.
So I understand your desire to retrieve him.... but to kill the Holy Tour and the Moon God’s subsidiary body at the same time.... you sure can talk big," Xue Tong shook his head slightly.
"Whether you believe it or not isn’t important. What matters is, you said earlier, that there is a way," Zhang Rongfang was unconcerned about the rest. He only cared about what the way was.
"The method is actually quite simple." Xue Tong smiled, "When I was in charge of the Celestial Treasure Palace, I heard that in ancient times, there were secret deities specializing in targeting the soul and personality consciousness.
They were called the Heartless God and the Soul Buddha."
"Heartless God, Soul Buddha?"
"Correct, these two divine beings were once specialists in the realm of soul consciousness. If you can find them, you may obtain a lot of related information and methods," Xue Tong replied.
"Then, what is your purpose?" Zhang Rongfang would not believe that the other party would give him information for free.
"I can locate where the Moon God is, as long as she appears in the human world!" Xue Tong said, "So, I hope you can lend me a hand. If she appears, you can join me to strike with full force."
"Can divine beings fully descend to the human world?" Zhang Rongfang frowned.
"No, they can only descend in a subsidiary body or part of the consciousness through a Great Descent of the Divine.
But losing a subsidiary body and consciousness is a considerable damage to divine beings too.
The most crucial point is, here is their root.
We just need to block them from returning, and over time, no one will remember them anymore.
Thus, all divine beings will gradually be dragged into the abyss of oblivion."
To eradicate all traces and believers of the Moon God on earth.
That was his true purpose.
Zhang Rongfang pondered for a moment.
"Alright."
"Good! Then it’s a deal!" Xue Tong laughed heartily, "By the way, the Heartless God and the Soul Buddha were once divine beings under the Moon God too. If you come across related traces during your investigation, don’t be surprised."
Without a second word, he took out a stack of papers from his sleeve that he had prepared in advance and handed them over.
"The relics of the Heartless God and the Soul Buddha are still in the mortal world. The Soul Buddha seems to be located abroad. You can verify it yourself, my young friend."
Zhang Rongfang took the papers and flipped through each one.
They were all map-like, each marked with a location using a cross symbol.
"Then, pleasant cooperation!" Xue Tong said with a smile.
He had already enlisted the help of people from the Reverse Time Society, and now with Zhang Rongfang from the Human Immortal Dao. They just needed to keep an eye on the Sensing Sect people, and in the future...
A murderous intent flashed in Xue Tong’s eyes.
Sooner or later, he would make the Moon God experience the feeling of being imprisoned for so many years!
"By the way." Suddenly, Zhang Rongfang spoke again, "Are you a worshipper of the divine?"
"Naturally." Xue Tong nodded.
"Do you worship Celestial Venerable Yujing?" Zhang Rongfang asked again.
"Indeed. What are you trying to say?" Xue Tong frowned.
Zhang Rongfang watched him silently, saying nothing.
After a while, he turned to look at the tall and majestic statue of the Celestial Venerable.
Back when his martial path was not accomplished, the Great Dao Teaching had given him much help and protection.
But now that he was determined to purify all divine beings, then... everything must be brought under his control.
"The Great Dao Teaching will be the last one."
Zhang Rongfang suddenly threw out a sentence.
He then turned and suddenly transformed into a blood shadow, disappearing without a trace.
Xue Tong frowned tightly, not understanding what that sentence meant.
But vaguely, a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.
*
*
*
Spirit Court Imperial City.
A flash of golden light, and Damir appeared once more in front of the Gate of the Void, carefully examining the entrance to Taoyuan, which was tightly sealed by golden symbols.
"Why does the Imperial Tutor return?" It was Emperor Jiang guarding there, his expression dazed.
He wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, his gaze shifting rapidly from a woman’s gentleness to a man’s solemnity.
"I seemed to have seen an illusion just now," Damir said in a deep voice. "Have you been guarding here the whole time?"
"Yes." Emperor Jiang replied.
"No one has gone in or out?" Damir asked again.
"No." Emperor Jiang suddenly froze, "Of course, it’s also possible that I forgot."
"...That statement is as good as saying nothing." Damir said irritably.
"Then why do you ask when you know?" Emperor Jiang replied unceremoniously.
Crazy!
Damir cursed in his heart, moving forward to inspect the edges of the Gate of the Void, searching for any possible clues.
He clearly remembered that the Human Immortal Temple Leader, Zhang Rongfang, had already rushed into the Gate of the Void.
But afterward, he saw another extremely similar person above the battlefield.
He once suspected that person might be another bloodline master of the Human Immortal Dao.
Yet, his instincts told him otherwise, so he came to check again.
"Taoyuan, can you escape?" Damir suddenly asked.
"I can, but it’s very troublesome," Emperor Jiang nodded, "and this place directly connects to Spirit Flying Heaven’s Void. Once you enter, the Spirit Flying Church will immediately detect it."
Damir frowned slightly, wanting to ask more questions.
Suddenly, the Gate of the Void trembled, and the golden runes on its surface frame began glowing brightly.
"Not good!!" The two of them turned pale, rushing toward the Gate of the Void together.
The arm armor on Damir’s arms quickly lit up with golden patterns, some of which quickly transformed and writhed like real branches and leaves, constantly growing and moving.
In no time, the patterns on his arm armor flowed like water to the door frame of the Gate of the Void.
Inside Taoyuan.
Amid the gray and white mist.
Inside the vast complex belonging to Spirit Flying Heaven.
Two towering figures stood on a long chain staircase, unmoving against each other.
"You did come," the shadow below gritted its teeth slightly.
Its body was unlike ordinary humans, standing about nine meters tall, with three heads and six arms, each of the three faces corresponding to different human faces.
It was precisely the Holy Patrol, whose human form had been blasted apart earlier.
And still in the state of three bodies in one.
"Hand over the Spirit Seal, and I’ll spare your life," the figure above had fluttering wide sleeves, exuding a naturally cold and clear temperament.
It was none other than the Moon God, who had now reclaimed his sub-body consciousness.
"This is Spirit Flying Heaven! Not your Laurel Palace!" the Holy Patrol said gloomily.
"So what? I have waited a long time. After all these years, you have finally achieved enough authority and obtained the right to the Spirit Seal."
The Moon God moved step by step closer downwards.
"Now, all the Spirit Seals have surfaced. I will truly ascend the throne of the only Heaven King."
"You have mastered the Great Spirit Seal?" the Holy Patrol tensed its tone.
"Almost, if I add up the ones in your possession, combined with those Small Spirit Seals of earthly Spirit People. I will certainly accumulate all!" the Moon God smiled.
"You’re too selfish!" the Holy Patrol gritted its teeth, "The entire Spirit Flying Heaven will be destroyed because of you! This is the hope established by countless ancestors’ efforts!"
"That is your hope, not mine," the Moon God’s expression turned cold.
He slowly extended his hand.
"Hand it over."
"If you have the ability, come and take it yourself!" the Holy Patrol’s eyes gleamed with blue light, getting brighter.
Here, within Spirit Flying Heaven, his Divine Body was far beyond comparison to his earthly human form.
Even the Moon God....
"True Seal! Nine Phoenix Nirvana!!"
In an instant, fierce blue-golden flames ignited on the Holy Patrol’s body.
The flames soared into the sky, engulfing the entire surrounding area of several dozen meters in its blaze.
Within the hazy flames, a sharp phoenix cry suddenly resounded.
Buzz!!
With a muffled thump, an imposing divine presence far exceeding the terrifying power during the Snow Rainbow Pavilion, as if an invisible wind, erupted and spread outwards centered on the flames.
The immense divine might pressed towards the Moon God, but it was firmly blocked by a patch of moon-white light spots in front of him.
Countless light spots swirled into an elliptical shield before him, blocking the incoming divine force.
"The final form and descent of mortals are useless to me," the Moon God said coldly.
Braving the formidable divine might of Spirit Flying Heaven, she approached the opponent step by step.
*
*
*
January 1192.
Great Spirit Dynasty internal chaos. Emperor Lingxin missing.
Various sects in turmoil, greatly reduced in power.
The Righteous Alliance’s Against Time Society raised the flag of rebellion, amassed a great army, and took advantage of the situation to capture the capital city.
The army rampaged, slaughtering many sect compounds indiscriminately. Amidst the chaos, the residences of the Spirit People’s royal family caught fire, flames soaring and spreading everywhere.
Nearly half of the Great Capital’s buildings were burned down, with countless casualties and losses.
Half a month later.
The Against Time Society stabilized the situation and, led by Damir and Meng Qian, the Righteous Alliance’s army began to sweep up the remaining sect forces and dismantle all divine statues.
Fu Province·September Mountain·Sun Holding Peak.
Amidst the desolate and leaf-strewn mountains, Sun Holding Peak stood steep and yellow, its rock layers naturally composed of large eroded boulders filled with weathered holes.
Viewed from a distance, it evoked a sense of dusk and desolation.
It was dusk at the moment.
The setting sun dyed all the mountain bodies red, as if everything were silently ablaze.
The wind rustled the fallen leaves, sweeping some over the cliff edge, rolling away far with the wind.
Zuo Han, leading a group of Thousand Stone Sect disciples, slowly walked up the mountainside, looking at the newly refurbished mountain gate passage ahead. His heart was filled with melancholy.
"Previously, when the Moon King emerged and led the Grand Sect Alliance, I thought it was finally our Sensing Sect’s great day. What a pity...."
"Sect Leader, how long has the reign of this Emperor Lingxin lasted, and now it’s time for another change. Is it really that Spirit People have bad feng shui? One ruler dying after another?" An old man with long black hair and a beard lamented while stroking his beard.
"I heard the Against Time Society plans to install the former King Mu Li as the ruler of Great Spirit. They intend to abolish all existing systems. No one knows if it’s true or not," an old woman leaning on a cane coughed softly.
"They can actually resist changing the dynasty? That’s indeed strange," the black-haired old man wondered.
"Great Spirit still has several other sub-nations. If they really dare to change the dynasty, the other sub-nations would never recognize their legitimacy, leading to complete division.
The Against Time Society’s Meng Qian wouldn’t be so foolish. Instead, continuing to rule the nation with Spirit People, followed by peaceful abdication, would be the proper way.
Anyway, most of the royal family is already dead," Zuo Han sighed.