Chapter 146: The Talisman of Shangqing

This was originally an exceptionally ordinary twilight, noteworthy at most for its brilliant sunset glow.

Yet, in the many years that followed, this twilight became a frequent topic of eager discussion among countless demonic cultivators, and after even more years, it turned into something they constantly remembered and yearned for.

During this twilight, if an immortal happened to be gazing down from the extreme heights above the Jiangnan region of the Divine Land, they would have discovered:

As the sun plummeted and night descended, an illusion of the ancient Dragon Gate suddenly manifested at the mouth of the Pearl River, coinciding precisely with the moment black smoke billowed from Mount Juqu.

Real Master Miaoyi’s startled cry and the furious roars of the various high Daoists of the Shangqing Sect rang out almost simultaneously.

The moment the Lihong dragon leaped across the Dragon Gate was also the moment the black smoke surged southward, smashing through the magical artifact gate tower of Mount Siming with unstoppable momentum.

One in the East Sea, one in the South Sea, the Three Corpses of the demonic path and the true dragon Green Robe successively proclaimed their names.

For the first time, the people across the Divine Land realized that Green Robe, Corpse of the Demonic Path, Corpse of the Red, and Corpse of the Alluring—names they had always used with contempt—actually belonged to real individuals.

On this day, the rumor whispered down through the ages was finally verified: Old Ancestor Green Robe and Old Ancestor Red-Haired were indeed true dragon progeny, and today was the first time they revealed their true forms before mortals.

However, Old Ancestor Green Robe revealing his true form meant riding the river to transform into a dragon, stepping into the Fifth Realm, and becoming a true dragon embodying the water veins of a region, on par with an Earth Immortal.

As for Old Ancestor Red-Haired, his body had already perished and his Dao was dissolved, reduced to a mere puppet beneath the feet of Monarch Corpse of the Red, with his eyes gouged out and his dragon pearl torn from his chest.

---

As the thunderous declarations of the Three Corpses and Green Robe echoed between heaven and earth, night fell completely.

How could the high Daoists of the Shangqing Sect let the matter rest? They directly unleashed their Dharma Form divine abilities to encircle the Island of the Three Corpses.

That exalted master whose Dharma Form was the Sovereign of Bixia possessed the most profound magical power. With a hand gesture manipulating the mudras, the waters of the East Sea were lifted up like a silken veil and dashed down upon the Island of the Three Corpses, splashing up droplets that soared almost to the clouds, unleashing a torrential downpour along the shores of the East Sea.

Such a divine ability must mark a figure of the Sect Leader tier within the Shangqing Sect; and as far as Cheng Xinzhan knew, the contemporary Shangqing Sect Leader, True Person Chengchu, was indeed a female Daoist.

Even more astonishingly, the Island of the Three Corpses stood unshaken amidst the onslaught of numerous Dharma Form attacks.

Then, the female Daoist made an offering of a fish-drum magical artifact and struck it, sending crisp beating sounds rippling out in all directions.

In the nocturnal gloom, the sound waves of the fish-drum manifested as visible rainbow light, clearly pinpointing the location of the Island of the Three Corpses.

If this realm was a lake of spiritual Qi, the Shangqing female Daoist was now stirring a specific spot within it, sending ripples spreading outward. Anyone within the lake who could "understand" the ripples would be able to perceive this place.

Thus, as the ripples spread, countless streaks of escaping light converged here through the night. Viewed from a sufficient distance, it looked like countless fireflies gathering in the dark.

Within the span of just an hour or two, the number of arrivals surpassed even the multitude when the righteous sects originally besieged Western Kunlun.

All who came belonged to the Shangqing Sect—not necessarily solely from the ancestral altar on Mount Juqu, but from various other branches as well. Yet the vast majority of these individuals practiced the cultivation of inner-divinity visualization; the manifestation of hundreds or thousands of internal scene spirits was a spectacle beyond the power of the word "shocking" to describe.

It was as if the ancient gods and deities of heaven and earth had returned to the mortal world.

Cheng Xinzhan felt his viscera stirring restlessly, as if they were about to leap out of his body.

However, the *Classic of the Zhou Tian Hundred Apertures Internal Scenes*, which he had learned from Wen Su Kong, only taught him the divinity of the apertures, the key points of their coagulation, and their internal cultivation within the apertures; it did not record any techniques for external manifestation and combat usage.

That time in Western Kunlun, he had borrowed the aura of the Yangming Cloud Hall to transform the image of his internal scene spirit rather than manifesting an external Dharma Form.

He calmed his mind, entered meditation, and took several deep, measured breaths, stabilizing the restless internal scene spirits within his body.

Following that, he first drew a talisman from his embrace, inscribed a talismanic script upon it while chanting incantations under his breath, and finally folded the talisman paper into the shape of a paper crane.

Infusing a stream of spiritual power into it, the paper crane flew off, heading westward.

This was sent toward Lixi Village in the Miao territory, carrying Cheng Xinzhan's message to the old village chief, urging them to evacuate immediately—either heading deep into northern Miao or relocating behind the Azure Dragon Cave and the Immortal Cave. Of course, the Azure Dragon Cave was preferable, as it was closer and required less travel time on the road.

One could easily imagine that with the death of Old Ancestor Red-Haired and Green Robe entering the Fifth Realm, the Demonic Cult of the Southern Wilderness would inevitably launch a massive invasion of the Miao territory, plunging the region into chaos!

Lixi Village, situated in the southern part and isolated in the east far away from any immortal forces, was a mortal village that would find it extremely difficult to survive in such turmoil.

One of the biggest differences between the demonic path and the righteous path was that the former would not spare mortals simply because they were ordinary. On the contrary, because mortals possessed weaker vital energy and blood than cultivators, if they were truly encountered, the slaughter might be even more ruthless in order to refine demonic treasures or demonic arts all the sooner.

Having released the paper crane, he flew closer in the direction of the Island of the Three Corpses.

At this moment, various manifested internal scene spirits surrounded the Island of the Three Corpses, each employing their respective Daoist arts.

On the Island of the Three Corpses, eighty-one Profound Yin Beast-Gathering Banners were rooted in the void. Under the hurricane of magical power, the banners snapped and flapped wildly, while the raw souls of fierce bears and walking corpses flew out endlessly to counter the offensive.

What was most incomprehensible was that once the yellow Qi emanating from the banners attached itself to the souls and corpses, ordinary five-element wind and thunder spells had no effect on them at all.

Moreover, as the eighty-one banners formed an array, the yellow Qi condensed into a dense fog that enveloped the Island of the Three Corpses, preventing even the Dharma Form of the Sovereign of Bixia from breaching it.

"It is the Earth-Lung Profound Yellow Qi of our ancestral court!"

As a continuous stream of Shangqing disciples arrived at the scene, someone finally blurted out the origin of this yellow Qi in public.

Hearing this, Cheng Xinzhan was startled.

Earth-Lung Profound Yellow Qi—this was an extremely rare spiritual treasure, rumored to be the pristine essence exhaled by the lungs of the earth. In the entire world, only Mount Juqu, the foremost of the seventy-two blessed lands, possessed it, and it was precisely because of this treasure that Mount Juqu was also known as Earth-Lung Mountain.

This rare spiritual treasure had another name: the Yellow Ultimate Proper Wu Essence, ranking first among the seventy-two earth fiends.

Yet how could Mount Juqu allow Guchen to steal such a core treasure?

This was the question in the minds of everyone present, but looking at the gloomy expressions of the high Daoists from Mount Juqu, it was clear they had no intention of explaining.

---

"Those whose internal scene spirits are deities of mountains and earth, come to me!"

The female Daoist holding the fish-drum spoke.

"Abiding by the Dharma decree!"

"Abiding by the Sect Leader's Dharma decree!"

"Abiding by the True Person's Dharma decree!"

"..."

Many people responded, flying over to assemble, which confirmed Cheng Xinzhan's conjecture: that female Daoist was indeed the leader of the Shangqing Sect.

After a moment's thought, Cheng Xinzhan flew over as well.

Upon arriving near the Island of the Three Corpses, he discovered that the area was already surging with corpse-fiend Qi that permeated the air for over a hundred miles. Fortunately, standing in the strait between the Island of the Three Corpses and Huiji were the Dharma Forms of numerous Shangqing high adepts, their magical light resisting the spread of the corpse qi; otherwise, ordinary cultivators of the first or second realms wouldn't even be able to approach.

Among these Dharma Forms, the towering Sovereign of Bixia was the most dazzling, solemn in appearance and with a divine majesty like a mountain.

Before the chest of the Sovereign of Bixia, a female Daoist was suspended in mid-air, clad in an apricot-yellow Daoist robe, holding a white jade seven-star tablet, and crowned with a purple-gold five-sacred-mountains tiara.

At this moment, quite a number of people—at least forty or fifty—were already standing before the True Person. But with a single glance, Cheng Xinzhan found that the boundless Dao intent and magical fluctuations emanating from these individuals were far deeper than his own, fathomless as an abyss.

Without exception, they were all Golden Core masters.

Realizing he had been presumptuous, even if he wanted to contribute to the eradication of demons, his current realm did not qualify him for this level.

He checked his momentum and prepared to withdraw.

"Little child, do not leave. Come here."

At that moment, a female voice rang out.

Cheng Xinzhan paused, slightly puzzled.

*Little child?*

Was she calling him?

He looked back and found that the True Person and the numerous Golden Core feather-scholars were indeed looking in his direction. She really was calling him.

He turned and flew back. Given the status of the lineage successor to the Sovereign of Purple Vacuity and the contemporary Shangqing Sect Leader, there was truly nothing he could say against being called a little child.

"This island is extraordinary; it is a point of terrestrial-aquatic convergence between the earth veins of the Divine Land and the water veins of the East Sea, making it difficult to shake. The three corpses on the island are also rare anomalies, unseen in a millennium.

"Corpses are akin to earth, which is why they can freely manipulate the Earth-Lung Profound Yellow Qi. However, the demonic corpse belongs to Gui water, the red corpse belongs to Ding fire, and the alluring corpse belongs to Yi wood; they should not be able to withstand my Sovereign Dharma Form. Therefore, there must be a fourth corpse on the island—an Earth Corpse, a Ji-earth Imperial Corpse—to possess such strength."

As Cheng Xinzhan flew closer, he heard True Person Chengchu speaking thus to the high cultivators gathered around her.

Subconsciously, he wanted to voice a rebuttal: all imperial corpses in the world were sealed beneath Mount Mingzhi, how could one be left outside?

However, he held back. High figures like the Shangqing Sect Leader would not speak groundlessly. It seemed he would need to carefully cross-reference this with his master upon his return; could there really be a fish that slipped through the net?

At this moment, noticing Cheng Xinzhan approaching, the True Person spoke again:

"I am now going to perform a Great Derivation Dao-Offering, gathering the various deities of mountains and earth to complete the ritual of seven-sevens and jointly recite the *Yellow Court Classic*. In this way, the Earth-Lung Profound Yellow Qi can be suppressed. We are currently short of just one person for the seven-sevens count. For you, a mere child of the second realm, to dare approach while brimming with divine light means you surely possess genuine capability. Let it be you then!"

Hearing this, Cheng Xinzhan did not flinch and simply answered in the affirmative.

The True Person nodded, then tossed out an array diagram. The array diagram expanded rapidly against the wind, finally landing upon the surface of the sea to transform into a massive array encircling the Island of the Three Corpses. The lines of the massive array stretched like mountain ranges, glowing with a golden light, and upon its bases were forty-nine high altars, each painted with distinct patterns of tigers, deer, qilin, and the like.

"I invite the internal scene spirits to ascend the altars."

With that, the various Golden Core high cultivators all manifested their internal scene spirits and ascended the altars to perform the rites.

Cheng Xinzhan's expression stiffened. Just now, True Person Chengchu had said that those whose internal scene spirits were deities of mountains and earth could come over; she hadn't mentioned the need to externally manifest the internal scene spirits.

At this point, the other internal scene spirits had already ascended the altars, leaving only True Person Chengchu's Sovereign of Bixia and Cheng Xinzhan's internal scene spirit.

True Person Chengchu looked over.

Not daring to bungle the matter, Cheng Xinzhan spoke the plain truth:

"Reporting to the True Person, this junior only heard that those who visualized the spiritual deities of mountains and earth were summoned to step forward; I was unaware that the external manifestation of the divine image was also required, as this junior has not yet learned that technique."

The True Person frowned, and the feather-scholars glanced sideways.

"Which branch's disciple are you? You have already reached the second realm; why have you not come to the ancestral court to receive your箓 (register)?"

The True Person asked.

Cheng Xinzhan replied,

"Returning to the True Person, this junior is not a Shangqing disciple. My master hails from Mount Sanqing, and I concurrently cultivate the spirit-visualization method. Today, visiting Mount Siming, I saw the various Daoist masters pursuing the demonic path southward and followed them all the way here, stepping forward upon hearing the summons."

The True Person nodded. Since the young man had come with kind intentions to help, naturally she could not say anything more. She replied,

"No matter. I must still thank the young friend for your good intentions."

"I dare not accept your thanks, only fearing I might bungle the True Person's major affair."

Cheng Xinzhan cupped his fists, preparing to take his leave.

"Mount Sanqing, a second-realm disciple with his entire body radiating such vibrant spiritual light—are you Cheng Xinzhan of Mount Sanqing?"

At that moment, a high cultivator participating in the Great Derivation Dao-Offering called out to Cheng Xinzhan.

Never expecting anyone to recognize him, Cheng Xinzhan cupped his fists and acknowledged it with a yes.

That high cultivator immediately said to True Person Chengchu,

"Sect Leader, all those above the third realm who could rush here have already arrived. If we are to initiate the Dao-Offering, we cannot afford to delay. Why not invite Young Friend Cheng to enter the array and ascend an altar? If I recall correctly, to ensure the continuation of the Dharma lineage, to prevent the sect from collapsing or suffering a generational gap where there is no one to inherit the incense fire, our Mount Juqu has always had a rule: every centennial, three Shangqing registers are bestowed upon unaffiliated cultivators or rising stars from other sects who concurrently cultivate the spirit-visualization Dao. I think presenting one to Daoist Friend Cheng right now would be very fitting."

Hearing this, the True Person looked at Cheng Xinzhan. She had heard this name before; someone in the sect had even specifically gone to Mount Sanqing to request him. Although they hadn't succeeded in bringing him over, and she had never laid eyes on him in person before, the fact that the sect had such an intention meant this young man must certainly possess extraordinary talent in the spirit-visualization Dao.

After only a slight pause for thought, True Person Chengchu asked,

"Young Friend Cheng, would you be willing to receive our Shangqing register? As an external member, you do not need to abandon your original Dao path, nor will you be entered into the residential registry of our Shangqing Sect. We ask only that if one day our Shangqing Sect faces a cataclysmic disaster and stands on the brink of ruin, or if our Dharma lineage gradually withers due to a failure to recruit disciples, you might extend a helping hand to rebuild the lineage.

"Once you refine the Shangqing register, your internal scene spirit can enter into the register and, relying upon it as a foundation, transform into a Dharma Form to manifest in the external world."

Cheng Xinzhan looked at True Person Chengchu, finding it hard to believe for a moment.

He practiced the spirit-visualization method and had always paid close attention to the Shangqing Sect. He knew the rule about bestowing external registers; however, such an opportunity arose only three times a century, and sometimes fewer than three were given out, making recipients historically very rare. He had never expected such good fortune to fall upon him.

Moreover, the Shangqing register was not as domineering as the Zhengyi register. Refining the Zhengyi register meant one could only practice the Heavenly Master's Dao, whereas refining the former did not affect the recipient's own cultivation lineage and magical power.

"Many thanks to True Person Chengchu and this Daoist master for your favor; this junior is willing to receive it."

Cheng Xinzhan accepted.

Although after that incident of observing the seal at the Heavenly Master's Mansion, he had grown somewhat guarded against such matters, to speak the truth, the reputation of Mount Juqu and Mount Longhu could not be compared.

The Shangqing Sect emphasized entering quiet chambers for fasting and offering, as well as spiritual self-cultivation. Ever since the sect was established in the Western Jin dynasty, there had never been any word of them committing crimes or acting illicitly. Furthermore, the rule of bestowing external registers was not something concocted in recent years; for six thousand years since its founding, there had never been any report of anything amiss regarding outsiders who received the registers.

More importantly, with such a massive commotion at the scene, so many people watching, right outside Mount Juqu, and being a temporary conferment, the possibility of someone playing tricks was vanishingly small.

The Shangqing register.

That was the only register among the Three Mountains' Talisman Registers that could be transmitted to outsiders!

Cheng Xinzhan was willing to take this small risk.

True Person Chengchu nodded and opened her palm. A talisman register of clear light immediately materialized within it—a four-sided, elongated strip inscribed on both front and back with mysterious golden-white patterns, resembling neither standard clerical script nor seal script, as if they were words condensed from innate Dao intent.

The register drifted slowly toward Cheng Xinzhan.

On the Dao-Offering altars, many people stared unblinkingly at the register. Even though they were high cultivators above the third realm, many still wore expressions of envy at this moment.

The Daoist who had previously spoken to request the register for Cheng Xinzhan smiled and reminded him,

"Young Friend Cheng has great fortune. Conferment directly from the Sect Leader is naturally extraordinary. This is the 'Supreme Heaven Capital Register,' the highest grade among our sect's Shangqing registers, and it is rarely seen even within our own sect."

Hearing this, Cheng Xinzhan hastily bowed and expressed his thanks.

"Young Friend Cheng need not stand on ceremony. Please quickly refine the register, summon your spirit out of its aperture, and ascend the altar to perform the rites."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded.

He took the register. It felt feather-light, as if devoid of weight.

The register itself was exceptionally clear and spiritually attuned, making it easy to refine. He probed it with his magical power, leaving his own magical imprint within the register. A flash of brilliant light crossed the spiritual apertures of the register, and the refinement was complete.

From then on, fine-tuning through Dharma-refinement, blood-refinement, and spirit-refinement would certainly need to be carried out meticulously to strengthen the connection so it could be directed as naturally as one's own arms, but with time pressing, mere Dharma-refinement was sufficient for now.

Having refined the Shangqing register, Cheng Xinzhan also discovered that it contained many refined essentials of the Shangqing Sect's Dao principles, particularly esoteric insights regarding visualization and spirit-cultivation. In this single instant, he gained deep enlightenment into things that had not been fully explained in the *Classic of the Zhou Tian Hundred Apertures Internal Scenes*.

However, he had no time to examine it closely right now, leaving it for careful contemplation after this matter concluded.

Clamping the register between his fingers and guided by the Dao principles recorded within, he silently recited the incantation while using his thoughts to rouse Crown Prince Bingling within the earth palace.

Thus, Crown Prince Bingling stepped out from the earth palace, crossed in a single stride the barrier between the internal scene miniature world and the natural macrocosm, and entered into the register.

Cheng Xinzhan released his hand and incanted a seal. The register freed itself, moving behind him. Then, amidst the chanting, his Shangqing register of the "Supreme Heaven Capital" grade burst forth with a dazzling yellow radiance, losing nothing in comparison to the magical light erupted by the multitude of Golden Core cultivators when manifesting their internal spirits just moments ago.

As the radiance subsided, the crowd beheld a towering deity standing beside the Sovereign of Bixia, standing with hands clasped behind its back.

Compared to the magnificent crown and ornate robes of the Sovereign of Bixia, this deity's attire was much more casual, consisting solely of a bright yellow plain outfit. Yet its expression revealed an untamed arrogance amidst its freedom and ease, its eyes lowered in a disdainful gaze, looking down upon all deities with supreme pride.

Seeing this, the Daoist who had recommended Cheng Xinzhan clapped his hands and laughed aloud,

"That's it! It is Crown Prince Bingling!"

(End of this chapter)