Chapter 1560 - 166: The Seal God Mansion Preserves the Shell Body (2)

Chapter 1560: Chapter 166: The Seal God Mansion Preserves the Shell Body (2)

The gaunt cultivator clasped his hands into his sleeves, sighing, "What a pity about that spirit cave."

The strange-faced cultivator, on the contrary, felt relieved, saying, "Why do you say so, senior brother? That realm is so close to Linqing Temple, it will inevitably be exposed sooner or later. If Zhang Yan comes again, how shall we two face him?"

The gaunt cultivator deeply agreed; having barely escaped with their lives from Zhang Yan before, he was unwilling to face him again.

At this moment, they suddenly saw a black smoke flying towards them from afar. His expression turned serious as he reached out to catch it, immediately gathering the smoke into a ball, transforming it into a flying book. Upon opening it, he couldn’t help but jump up and curse loudly, "Bastard! Whose idea was this?"

The strange-faced cultivator asked puzzled, "Senior brother, why are you so angry?"

The gaunt cultivator’s hand trembled slightly, and he said annoyedly, "A message from the sect orders us to quickly head to Zhao You Heavenly Pond and keep a close eye on Zhang Yan’s every move."

The strange-faced cultivator was stunned, before finally regaining his composure, and said in a deep voice, "Wasn’t there already sect disciples arranged there? Why suddenly ask us to go?"

The gaunt cultivator, looking a bit irritable, put away the flying book, sighed, and said, "There’s no need to guess, some mishap must have occurred, hence they thought of us senior and junior brothers. But since there’s an imperial decree, we can’t defy it."

After the two discussed for a while, they slowly headed towards Dragon Abyss Marsh. Though the flying shuttle travels fast, it took them four or five days to reach Zhao You Heavenly Pond. Due to their reluctance, they dared not go too close, sending out talismanic scripts from afar as a summons.

After waiting for an hour, they saw a smoke evil flying closely to the ground and quickly sent a Daoist technique to greet it.

The cautious person spun around twice before coming up; amidst the clouds, they saw a black-robed Daoist putting away the elixir evil, revealing his form, bowing and saying, "Disciple Liao Fengtong pays respects to the two senior uncles."

The gaunt cultivator said with a cold face, "Why has the sect summoned us here so urgently? Do you know the reason?"

Liao Fengtong braced himself and replied, "Speaking of it, the fault lies with the disciple. Recently, many disciples were dispatched from Zhao You Heavenly Pond to build Dharma platforms within a thousand-mile radius. It seems an array gate is about to be erected, but the disciple’s cultivation is weak, feeling inadequate for the great task, hence I sent a message to the sect..."

The gaunt cultivator was startled, cautiously glanced around, and seeing no abnormalities, slightly relaxed his mind. After pondering for a while, he said, "In that case, you can’t be blamed; you should return to the sect, we’ll take over here."

Liao Fengtong handed over a jade scroll with both hands, saying, "This is the disciple’s account, perhaps it will be helpful to the two senior uncles."

After the other party accepted it, he bowed deeply, descended from the cloud, and traveled by surface again.

In the blink of an eye, months passed, and Zhang Yan never waited for the Demon Sect’s retaliation; instead, demon cultivators from North East were alarmed upon hearing the news and disappeared.

But he didn’t believe that things would remain calm — even if the Six Great Demon Sects don’t act, smaller sects and factions might cause trouble. Therefore, he sent flying books everywhere, ordering the stationed disciples to be more cautious than before.

One day, while meditating in the gate, a child from Floating Heavenly Palace arrived, saying that the refined hut had been crafted and instructing him to go to Fang Chen Courtyard to retrieve it.

Zhang Yan ordered Jing You to send away the child, then merged his Dharma body with his physical body, exited the cave mansion, rode the cloud energy eastward, and soon arrived before Fang Chen Courtyard.

As if sensing his arrival, countless talismans flew from the two opposite flying peaks below, gathering into a wide cloud ladder, extending forward, stopping right at his feet; at the same time, a solitary, handsome Yellow Robed Daoist emerged from within, with a gang cloud atop resembling a crystal ice cluster. It was none other than Yue Chongyang, known as one of Mingcang’s Two Talents. He greeted, "True Master Zhang, it’s been a while."

Zhang Yan returned the greeting with a smile, saying, "Ah, it’s Master Yue. Is Vice Sect Leader Qiao present?"

Yue Chongyang responded, "Master Qiao resolved through soldier reincarnation over ten years ago, and now, the position of Vice Sect Leader is held by me."

Zhang Yan was slightly surprised; he did not expect that after more than a century, Master Qiao had already passed.

In Mingcang Sect’s Nine Courtyards, the Deans are mostly high-ranking Nascent Soul Elders with little hope of achieving the Dao, serving in name only, rarely appearing, while mundane affairs are handled by the Deputy Directors, who are the actual Deans.

But unless one is a Top Ten Disciple or under Cave Heaven Sect, entry to the Three Upper Halls is unattainable. Without opportunities, advancement in Daoist cultivation is difficult.

This Yue Chongyang is slightly older than him, now having attained Nascent Soul, his aptitude among peers is quite exceptional, yet buried in such a position seems somewhat regrettable.

After turning a few thoughts, he said, "Today’s visit is by Sect Leader’s order to retrieve the ’Seal God Mansion’."

Yue Chongyang stepped aside, saying, "The Sect Leader has already issued a Dharma Decree, please, True Master, walk this way."

Zhang Yan smiled and gently rode the clear wind, following him up the cloud ladder into the mountain, soon reaching the peak before the Dao Palace.

Landing in the clearing before the hall, Yue Chongyang flicked his finger to send a talisman, hitting the stone steles on both sides. The prohibition was instantly activated, accompanied by a rumbling sound, opening an array gate below, revealing a stone altar with a towering three-zhang refined hut.

Yue Chongyang gazed at it, his eyes showing a hint of envy.

This item is personally refined by Mingcang Sect Leader Qin Mobai. Even if taken by Cave Heaven True Masters, it would still be formidable.

He sighed softly, saying, "True Master, please observe it. I shall excuse myself first."

Zhang Yan nodded slightly and said, "If Master Yue feels bored staying at the sect, you may seek me at Zhao You Heavenly Pond."

Yue Chongyang looked deeply at him, gave a respectful bow, and retreated.

Zhang Yan waved his sleeve, walked into the refined hut, and upon entering, glanced around. The place was simple and solid, free of extravagant decorations. In the center was a raised half-foot-high pool platform, filled with clear spirit water, designated for storing the physical body after the Dharma body travels.

At the four corners hung copper bells, capable of sensing Qi Mechanism from all directions; any danger could be detected immediately.

Above in the hall, suspended was a flawless, translucent elixir jade. This item emerged from Mingcang Sect’s Spiritual Eye, nurturing and breathing with it is akin to cultivating within the Floating Heavenly Palace; this one piece suffices for a Jiazi.

On the pool platform was a palm-sized lion incense burner, exhaling Three Qi Treasure Smoke — one part nourishing the spirit, one part the body, and one part warming the god. This treasure is for cultivators of the Nascent Soul Third Realm only, nurturing over time enhances Divine Qi Sensing, potentially refining True Spirit, assisting cultivators in managing the refined hut, and directing the prohibition against external threats.

Zhang Yan walked up, approached the pool, and sank into it. In no time, spiritual jade water from above and below converged into the acupoints, permeating his entire body. As his Divine Thought moved, instantly, the refined hut transformed to a clear light, severing the void and transcending away.

Once the refined hut stabilized, he focused and looked down, unexpectedly discovering that within a single breath, he had already transcended from Fang Chen Courtyard to above Zhao You Heavenly Pond.

He couldn’t help but smile slightly; now, with this item, both inside and outside are without issue. Only after reporting to the Sect Leader can he set off for Shaoqing in the coming days.

...

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