Chapter 374: Do You Know That Immortal Spirit?
Chapter 374: Do You Know That Celestial Spirit?
In a secluded mountain forest north of the river, within a hidden chamber.
At Lü Yang's summons, Ancestor Nether Whisper—who had been in secluded cultivation—was instantly roused. His form traversed thousands of miles in an instant, arriving with ethereal grace.
Though revived, he remained a Banner Spirit.
And as long as he was a Banner Spirit, Lü Yang, as the banner's master, could summon him at will. After a brief exchange of divine sense, Ancestor Nether Whisper immediately grasped the dire situation at hand.
"Consciousness extraction..."
With those words, Ancestor Nether Whisper let out a deep sigh, furrowing his brow before delivering news that filled Lü Yang with immense joy: "I believe I can attempt it."
Admittedly, consciousness extraction posed some difficulty, but Ancestor Nether Whisper was no longer the same as before. Having consumed the [Combined Dao Immortal Pill] from the [Mystic Spirit Realm] to nourish his comprehension, and fused with his original body from this lifetime, his current understanding surpassed even his previous peak!
"If we truly proceed, it can be done."
"However..." Before Lü Yang could speak, Ancestor Nether Whisper hesitated, "The success rate of such an endeavor is limited. I cannot guarantee it will work."
Lü Yang remained unfazed upon hearing this. Not a hundred percent success?
With a thought, his Sword Dao avatar immediately began channeling techniques to extract fortune. Having slain Long Yue, the Myriad Poison Sect's mountain was now overflowing with unclaimed destiny and merit!
After gathering this fortune, Lü Yang didn't hesitate—expending every last bit:
'[Sign of Fortune Drawing]!'
[Event: Have Ancestor Nether Whisper extract your consciousness.]
[Great Misfortune: You fail. Consciousness cannot separate from the soul, refined by heaven and earth, descending into oblivion.]
[Minor Misfortune: You delay the transfer. Guang Ming breaks in and converts you.]
[Last Auspicious: You barely complete the consciousness transfer in time. Yet can you truly rest easy henceforth? Blessings and calamities intertwine—the outcome remains uncertain.]
Without hesitation, Lü Yang seized the [Last Auspicious] path.
"Ancestor, proceed."
The next moment, he looked at Ancestor Nether Whisper with a relaxed smile: "Don't worry. The future of success is already in my grasp!"
"...Very well."
Ancestor Nether Whisper was decisive. Since Lü Yang spoke thus, he wasted no time. Brilliance flashed in his eyes as Daoist radiance ignited at his fingertips. With a pointed gesture toward Lü Yang's soul, Lü Yang immediately felt his consciousness begin to drift upward.
The sensation was profoundly strange.
His first-person perspective shifted to third-person as he detached from both body and soul. He could even see his own form lying within the pool.
Under Ancestor Nether Whisper's guidance and the fortune drawn from [Sign of Fortune Drawing], Lü Yang's consciousness swiftly took residence within the avatar. Though the avatar's split soul resisted, Lü Yang—empowered by [Puppet on Strings]—quickly subdued it, eliminating the potential threat.
Then came a sight that sent a chill down Lü Yang's spine.
His 'soul' opened its eyes.
"..."
The gaze was peculiar—detached and calm, yet carrying the clarity of a newborn infant—staring directly at Lü Yang.
Their eyes met.
Instantly, an intense emotion surged through that gaze, flooding Lü Yang's mind: 'Want! I want! I want it so badly!'
Lü Yang froze: 'Want who?'
'You!'
The overwhelming emotion assaulted Lü Yang's consciousness again, but this time, its impact was negligible—like a gentle breeze.
'It works... It can no longer affect me!'
Relieved, Lü Yang also attained sudden understanding: All phenomena in existence are rooted in heaven and earth. Souls and physical forms are no exception.
Especially the souls of celestial spirits!
'...Rather, only celestial spirits' souls are subject to significant influence by heaven and earth. Ordinary True Persons' souls hold little authority for the cosmos.'
Where does this authority lie?
Lü Yang speculated it likely resided in the [Netherworld]!
Celestial spirits' souls are bestowed by heaven and earth, whereas other souls must pass through the [Netherworld]—this was likely the key distinction!
The same applied to avatars.
'Souls that have traversed the [Netherworld] cannot be controlled by heaven and earth!'
With this realization, Lü Yang relaxed, deliberately stepping back to create distance between himself and his former "self"—now the "celestial spirit."
The celestial spirit could do nothing to stop him.
Yet objectively, its primary goal had been achieved—reclaiming its vital 'tool.' As for minor imperfections, opportunities to act would arise again.
"Boom—!"
Meanwhile, the battle outside the Myriad Poison Sect's gates reached its conclusion. The four manifestations of innate divine abilities dissipated like fleeting bubbles.
Yet Guang Ming frowned.
"The master-disciple karmic bond... severed?"
The golden hoop in his hand, once radiant with Buddhist light, abruptly dimmed. This change prompted him to glance back instinctively.
Behind him, the [Manifestation of Victory and Clarity Dharmadhatu]—seated upon a six-tusked white elephant holding a white lotus, hands forming demon-subduing mudras—remained silent and still. Its serene countenance and compassionate smile gave no indication it had ever been more than an inanimate object.
"Amitabha."
With a sweep of his sleeve, Guang Ming shattered the Myriad Poison Sect's mountain-protecting formation. His gaze immediately fell upon the celestial spirit within the [Moon-Worshipping Sacred Pool].
"...Pity."
Understanding dawned upon Guang Ming.
'So it was. [Tian Gong] preempted us. Had the donor worn the [Heart-Binding Hoop] beforehand, this misfortune might have been avoided.'
"Absurd..."
The celestial spirit sneered. Its previously somewhat clear eyes turned utterly indifferent. Speech that had initially been halting during its exchange with Lü Yang now flowed smoothly:
"...I am born of heaven and earth. How could I be constrained by mortals?"
"You rodents—selfish and worthless to the cosmos—now that heaven's will favors me, it intends for me to rectify the Heavenly Dao!"
"Henceforth, I am named [Upper Petition]!"
Upper Petition—another name for [Geng Metal].
Hearing this, Guang Ming shook his head helplessly: "Stubborn and unyielding. Another Mu Changsheng."
Before the words faded, he stowed the [Heart-Binding Hoop]. The [Manifestation of Victory and Clarity Dharmadhatu] behind him responded, slowly raising its Buddhist palm.
"Boom—!"
The next instant, the palm descended!
Five-colored radiance bloomed between its fingers like an ancient divine mountain crashing down. The vast Myriad Poison Sect mountain gate seemed reduced to mere dust beneath its weight!
The brilliance flashed and vanished.
In that moment, both the Myriad Poison Sect's gates and the [Moon-Worshipping Sacred Pool] were obliterated by the [Manifestation of Victory and Clarity Dharmadhatu]'s single strike.
Yet [Upper Petition] had already disappeared beforehand.
Meanwhile, Lü Yang fled desperately upon his sword light.
Throughout, his demeanor matched that of a cultivator inadvertently caught in the crossfire. Observing [Upper Petition]'s performance, he sighed in relief:
'As expected, heaven and earth didn't expose me...'
Currently serving as a Buddhist son with the World-Honored One's empowerment, Guang Ming would undoubtedly take notice if heaven revealed even the slightest connection to Lü Yang.
In that case, Lü Yang would have no choice but to self-destruct immediately.
'Yet heaven and earth—or rather, that [Upper Petition]—clearly covets my secrets... Hence it didn't expose me, likely intending to bide its time.'
The bad news: He'd drawn the attention of a celestial spirit likely to reach Foundation Establishment Perfection in the future.
The good news: He'd survived this time.
Moreover, karma had been intercepted by heaven and earth. Lü Yang needn't fear discovery by a Dao Lord. Conversely, heaven would likely monitor him constantly henceforth.
'Well, still better than a Dao Lord...'
From current indications, heaven seemed suppressed by the four Dao Lords, limiting its capacity for direct action. Dao Lords, however, were another matter entirely.
Even the World-Honored One could descend to wreak havoc!
"Esteemed donor..."
A gentle voice interrupted Lü Yang's thoughts. Raising his head, he saw Guang Ming—who had just annihilated the Myriad Poison Sect's sacred mountain—smiling at him:
"Do you know that celestial spirit donor?"