Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World-Chapter 619 - 614 Infant Saint Temple, to Become an Evil God?_1
The Giant Force Apparition had already transformed into a star sculpture, thoroughly sealed, and no longer posed a threat.
The Star Seal re-entered the Wall of Star’s Breath, stabilizing the formation.
The luminescence of the Wall of Star’s Breath flowed, the wall solidified, and it resumed its previous state of circulating starlight.
It has finally been restored!
The Xuanwu Guards were well aware of how terrifying the Bizarre Demons and Immortal Evil Spirits sealed inside were; if the seal were broken, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Fortunately, everything was as usual, returning to tranquility.
Only Jia Ren and a few others knew the extent of the Star Force loss within the Wall of Star’s Breath; it was far from its peak.
Evoking the Star Celestial Power for the Nine Heavens Star Luo Formation was no small consumption. That one strike had depleted thirty percent of its reserves.
A similar tactic could be used at most two more times.
Could I withstand it?
No!
Jia Ren had a definite answer.
The Mahayana Stage Cultivators of the Daqian Kingdom wielded Immortal Treasures. Their combat strength was not to be underestimated, far surpassing that of the Mahayana Stage Cultivators of the Mysterious Realm.
Mei Wenzhong executed an Instantaneous Movement and landed beside Jia Ren.
"Disciple, I have never seen this Bizarre Demon before. Do you know its origin?"
The mysterious Bizarre Demon’s strength had caught his attention.
With the combination of the illusory Deceiving the Heavens Pearl and the Mirror Flower Divine Moon, this Mahayana Realm cultivator had not noticed that his eldest disciple had been replaced by another in a ’Substitute One Thing for Another’ deception.
"Master, this disciple only knows that space shattered, and the Bizarre Demon headed straight for this place."
The Giant Force Apparition was sealed and unable to communicate, meaning this case was destined to remain unresolved.
The Daqian National Master was unaware that the false disciple was the root of the chaos. Thinking of the Xuanwu General, who had been absent from beginning to end, he asked, "Where did Xuan Ting go?"
"Disciple doesn’t know."
Xuan Ting is detained by me. I won’t expose that and create trouble for myself. I’ll just have to let him take the blame.
Mei Wenzhong continued, "Dereliction of duty, nearly causing a disaster! His Majesty will certainly not spare him!" He then turned to Jia Ren. "You, on the other hand, performed well and have rendered meritorious service. Your master will not be stingy. Do you desire anything?"
Jia Ren’s timely message allowed Mei Wenzhong to arrive just in time, preventing the Wall of Star’s Breath from being damaged. This could be considered a great meritorious deed. The Star Seal’s power differs greatly depending on whether it has a master or not. A replicated Star Seal, relying on borrowed power, wouldn’t have been enough to stop such a powerful Bizarre Demon.
Rewards for merit, punishment for faults!
The thought of asking for the Wall of Star’s Breath flashed through his mind. Without hesitation, he tentatively asked, "Disciple is interested in the Nine Heavens Star Luo Formation. Master, please grant me your teachings."
Whether it succeeds or not, I have to try.
Mei Wenzhong gazed at Jia Ren, assessing him for a long while before saying, "This technique is of great importance. I cannot pass it on to you. When you become the State Preceptor of Daqian, the technique will naturally be taught to you. Make another request!"
Ultimately, he’s just unwilling to share. Is this out of fear that teaching his disciple will leave the master with nothing? Or is he worried that I might release the Bizarre Demons from the Wall of Star’s Breath?
Jia Ren’s request for the Nine Heavens Star Luo Formation was unsuccessful. Thinking of the Mysterious Spirit Jade needed for refining the Deceiving the Heavens Pearl, he quickly changed his request, "Disciple is interested in the Mysterious Spirit Jade. I implore Master to bestow it upon me."
Mysterious Spirit Jade? I just declined one request. Turning down a second would be too disheartening for my disciple. Mei Wenzhong hesitated for a moment, then produced a wooden box but did not immediately hand it to Jia Ren.
"The Mysterious Spirit Jade is also quite valuable to me. What do you intend to use this item for?" he asked, his tone probing.
This old miser, so stingy, yet he had the nerve to say he wouldn’t be parsimonious. He’s clearly a skinflint.
"This item is for you!" Seeing Jia Ren remain silent, Mei Wenzhong tossed the wooden box containing the Mysterious Spirit Jade to him. "Guard this place well. If there are any disturbances in the Desolate Legacy Land, inform me immediately."
With that, Mei Wenzhong did not linger. He vanished with an Instantaneous Movement and departed.
Jia Ren gazed in the direction where the Daqian National Master had departed, then looked at the Mysterious Spirit Jade with an inscrutable expression. The relationship between master and disciple was cold, with a deep chasm between them.
No wonder Profound Capital Ming held no attachment to this world and cared little about his future as the State Preceptor, only wishing to leave this realm.
Jia Ren opened the wooden box, which contained a colorless, transparent piece of jade. The item was right before his eyes. He released his divine consciousness but couldn’t detect the slightest trace of it. Indeed, it was a rare treasure. The Mysterious Spirit Jade, similar to other treasures he had obtained in the Daqian Kingdom, contained concealed alien Spiritual Power, posing great risks if used by ordinary people.
He carefully stored the Mysterious Spirit Jade, not in a rush to dispel the alien Spiritual Power within.
There’s something off about the Daqian National Master. I wonder what he’s collecting Mysterious Spirit Jade for. It was better to be cautious with items given by him. Once he left this realm, he could use the Southern Ming Separation Fire to deal with the alien Spiritual Power. There was no hurry.
One part of his plan in the Daqian Kingdom was already complete. Remaining were: acquiring the deployment method for the Nine Heavens Star Luo Formation, the refining method for the Immortal Treasure Star Seal, and sealing the Infant Bizarre.
Jia Ren planned to first memorize the refining Inscriptions for the Nine Heavens Star Luo Formation and the Immortal Treasure Star Seal, and then go to seal the Infant Bizarre. Finally, he would hurry back to the Mysterious Realm to deal with any troubles the Lingbao Sect might encounter, resolve the Golden-Winged Peng Bird issue, and avert the crisis of the Bizarre Demon seals breaking.
His next focus of study was the Nine Heavens Star Luo Formation, aiming to restore the core formation as quickly as possible. The Soul Source Devil Eye, the Heaven and Earth Spirit Treasure Bright Mirror, and the Weaving Technique—he would use every means available to aid his comprehension. The Soul Source Devil Eye allowed him to see the formation’s pathways, leading directly to its core. The Tongming Treasury Mirror provided insight and Enlightenment, making the analysis of formations seem divinely assisted. The Weaving Technique proved invaluable. His understanding of the Nine Heavens Star Luo Formation, the Star Seal, and the inherited knowledge of the peripheral formations served as cross-references, confirming whether the analyzed core of the formation deviated from the correct path. These three different methods were combined, complementing each other’s shortcomings, to study the core of the Nine Heavens Star Luo Formation at the fastest possible speed. The Weaving Technique performed intricate deductions in his mind, confirming the compatibility of the derived results and continuously correcting them.
The core of the Nine Heavens Star Luo Formation gradually became complete within Jia Ren’s understanding.
「A month later.」
Jia Ren slowly opened his eyes. He had obtained a rudimentary version of the Nine Heavens Star Luo Formation, which was considerably inferior to the original. By continuing to deduce the core of the formation and setting up the formation to improve its Proficiency Level, it would gradually approach the original version, eventually reaching a perfect state. However, this would require a significant amount of time, measured in years.
Jia Ren had no time to waste. He could perfect it slowly later; there was no need to rush for now. He didn’t want to return to the Mysterious Realm too late, only to find the Sect a desolate ruin and familiar faces turned to dust in their graves. The regret would be unbearable.
"It’s time to leave!"
Holding the replicated Star Seal, Jia Ren left the Wall of Star’s Breath and headed towards the two Holy Infant Sect strongholds whose locations General Xuan Ting had provided. He began the first part of his plan: sealing the Infant Bizarre.
"Daozi, where are you going?"
"News has come from Gan Capital. You are to temporarily assume the duties of the Xuanwu Guard General until Gan Capital sends a new general."
"You cannot leave your post for the time being, not until someone else is here to guard it."
Just as Jia Ren was about to leave, a shadowy figure appeared out of nowhere, like a phantom.
"I am a Shadow Guard personally dispatched by Emperor Gan to monitor this location. Daozi, you must remain here obediently. Otherwise, I will have difficulty reporting to Emperor Gan."
The Shadow Guards are Emperor Gan’s personal attendants, meticulously trained death warriors who obey only the Emperor’s commands. They are few in number, mostly Body Integration Realm cultivators, far surpassing the Qian Long Guard and the Xuanwu Guard in strength.
"I will naturally remain here."
Jia Ren returned to his dwelling and activated the formation. The Deceiving the Heavens Pearl and the Mirror Flower Divine Moon concealed his form. Trying to stop me?
He then swaggered out, heading straight for his destination.
The Holy Infant Sect was one of the most notorious cults in the Daqian Kingdom. Unlike other cults whose influence was often confined to specific regions, the Holy Infant Sect had numerous followers throughout the land. It was one of the earliest established sects, and its influence was profound. If other cults were extinguished, they would gradually be forgotten, much like the Yellow Spring Worm Sect, eventually becoming a thing of the past. The majority of the Holy Infant Sect’s believers were elderly.
Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural cycles of heaven and earth, the inescapable realities of human life. Aging and death are like twin specters, unavoidable for mortals. The promise of returning to youth and regaining vitality was the Holy Infant Sect’s most alluring tactic. Many aging officials, with no hope for increased longevity, would turn to the Holy Infant Sect. The Holy Infant Sect strongholds, like bamboo shoots after rain, sprouted up everywhere within the Daqian Kingdom; every region had them. They were impossible to eradicate. Even if the Daqian Kingdom dispatched forces to destroy them, they would resurface before long, like embers reigniting.
Life and youth are what countless people desire, what they fervently seek.
Jia Ren traveled for one hour, covering over thirty thousand li. He left the region of the Wall of Star’s Breath and found the nearest Holy Infant Sect stronghold.
Before a thriving temple, incense smoke curled upwards. Down the mountain, a continuous stream of believers could be seen. Most were elderly people who had difficulty walking. There were also several chubby, short-legged infants wearing small undershirts, moving about unattended with an agility unlike ordinary children. Upon closer inspection, their eyes lacked the clear innocence and bewilderment of a baby. Instead, they held a look of worldly weariness, as if they had seen too much of life’s vicissitudes. They were not ordinary people but individuals affected by the Infant Bizarre’s Power, those who had reverted to youth. In comparison, those in their prime were exceedingly rare.
Jia Ren revealed himself and followed the crowd up the mountain towards the temple. The gazes directed at him along the way were filled with astonishment, and some carried strong hostility.
He arrived before an incense burner more than a zhang (over three meters) tall. Incense smoke swirled around it. Through the rising smoke, he gazed at the signboard of the Infant Saint Temple.
What a prosperous place of worship!
A few plump infants, who appeared to be the guards of the Infant Saint Temple, surrounded him, adopting a defensive stance as if facing a great enemy.
"A Daoist from the Mysterious Sublime Observatory! You are not welcome here!" a childlike voice, sounding deceptively innocent, called out.
Jia Ren looked around, his gaze falling on the infants who only reached his knees. The sight was rather comical.
I feel like I could sweep this place clean with a single kick.
The cultivators of the Holy Infant Sect mostly had low Cultivation Levels, the highest being only at the Nascent Soul Stage. They were hardly a threat.
"I have come here with the sincere intention of joining you."
Join sincerely? The infants scrutinized Jia Ren, their expressions peculiar. Of course, the Holy Infant Sect had believers who were also affiliated with the Mysterious Sublime Observatory. These were mostly elderly people who only supported the sect covertly, not daring to do so openly.
Someone so young, with such an unfathomable Cultivation Level, couldn’t possibly be an ordinary person. The Mysterious Sublime Observatory has a boundless future. Why would they openly associate with the Holy Infant Sect? Isn’t that just digging their own grave?
"If you wish to join the Holy Infant Sect, that’s not a problem. The Holy Infant Sect welcomes disciples from all corners. I will report this to my superiors. Please wait patiently."
Hearing that the newcomer wanted to join the Holy Infant Sect, many people sighed in relief, the previous tension dissipating.
A hint of amusement twinkled in Jia Ren’s eyes. "You’ve misunderstood. I do indeed wish to join the Holy Infant Sect, but not as a mere follower."
"Your Divine Infant can step down and give me their position."
"From this day forward, I shall be your god!"
