The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror-Chapter 859 - 398: Preparing for Battle_2
"I'm in the Underworld. The mortal world has long heard of the Taiji Jiuku Tianzun. Has the Divine Monarch met Him?"
The slender black Divine Dog shook its head: "In the last era, the Taiji Jiuku Tianzun was already rarely seen, but He did frequently come to rescue those in distress. Among all the mighty ones in the heavens, Taiji is indeed the most chivalrous and is not burdened by chivalry."
Xu Qing smiled: "So, He's free-spirited, and also likes to uphold justice."
The slender black Divine Dog said: "The Bodhisattva once said that the Taiji Jiuku Tianzun is the most Dao-natured being in the Taoist sect. Because he acts according to his desires, yet it is all the wondrous operation of the Great Dao. The Tathagata ferries all beings but ultimately ferries Himself, while Taiji ferries himself and incidentally relieves suffering."
Xu Qing: "As Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, a major Bodhisattva in Buddhism, I didn't expect him to have such words about the Tathagata, which indeed went beyond my expectations."
The slender black Divine Dog sighed: "The Tathagata and the Bodhisattvas differ in concepts, but beyond that, they are actually good teachers and helpful friends."
Xu Qing deeply agreed with this.
The principles of the world, when reaching the profound point, are all interconnected. These realizations are only clear to those who truly possess great wisdom.
A true rival is rare, a kindred spirit even rarer.
Even if there is a Great Dao dispute, it does not hinder these top existences from appreciating their opponents, resonating with each other.
In reality, when a man is young, he may pursue beauty, but as he gets older, he understands that a true connection of hearts surpasses countless things in the mortal world.
A beautiful appearance may wither, but the beauty of the soul, if touched, brings an experience far beyond comparison to mere beauty.
However, when going out, one's eyes can't help but first notice beautiful women.
This is instinct.
In life, it is essentially impossible to get rid of the two words: sound and color.
Hence the Buddha said, one cannot see the Tathagata with sound and color.
As long as you are still a lecher, you indeed cannot see the true nature of the Tathagata, which means you are still among the multitude of beings.
In fact, whether one is part of the common beings is not for oneself to decide; it is destined by Heaven.
Xu Qing continued: "Divine Monarch, your extensive knowledge is also that of a good teacher and helpful friend to me. But for now, we still need to concentrate on dealing with the matter of Immortal Master Erlang. Regardless, to go to the All Heavens Life and Death Wheel, we must make a trip to Fengdu Ghost City."
He said he would not visit Erlang God, but it does not mean he will not enter Fengdu.
He just does not want to be forced and oppressed.
When I was an ox or a horse, I was bullied; now that I am almost the Heavenly Emperor, can I still be bullied? Otherwise, what's the point of cultivating in this life?
There's no such logic.
…
…
When Fengdu City God returned to the main hall, the entire hall had turned into a snowy scene of Meishan.
The True Monarch leaned on a throne made of ice crystals, the Three-pointed Two-bladed Sword thrust into the ground at an angle, its blade reflecting the swaying Soul-guiding Banner on Naihe Bridge.
The City God knelt in the snow, reporting back, and with each word, his hair and beard froze into frost flowers.
He knew in his heart that the True Monarch likely knew he had talked too much about Meng Po, hence was punishing him on purpose.
There was no helping it; the City God had to accept the punishment.
Moreover, now that he was punished, the matter was considered past.
He also achieved his purpose, offending neither party.
Having heard the City God's report, the True Monarch lightly stroked the Demon Binding Rope wrapped around the hilt of the sword. The chain suddenly came alive, swimming out of the hall: "Young people are indeed vigorous, but they do have some of the style of Lu Zu."
He then laughed once, the clear voice like an ancient clock from Heaven. The Divine Monarch continued, saying faintly: "Since that's the case, after I meet Meng Po, I will go to Yin Mountain to see him."
After saying this, the Divine Monarch suddenly appeared above the Forget River, the Yellow Springs Water beneath his feet roiled under the pressure, raising surging waves that reached a hundred feet high. The blood mark on the True Monarch's brow suddenly lit up, and he stepped on the wave crest, heading straight for the old house in the river's center.
On the lintel of the courtyard hung a plaque with the Taichi golden script of "Emperor of Heaven and Houtu".
"Creak."
The mottled wooden door opened on its own, revealing a boiling cauldron inside the courtyard.
Meng Po, with her hunched back, was stirring a ladle. With each circle she stirred, fallen stars from different eras appeared in the cauldron. As soon as the True Monarch's boot touched the threshold, the entire old house suddenly turned over, seemingly inverting time and space in an instant.
"Did the True Monarch come for a bowl of soup?" Meng Po's voice echoed with the reverberations of Jiu You, the ladle lightly tapping the edge of the cauldron, the splashed broth in the air forming one illusion after another of Ancestor Witches.
The True Monarch's saber tip touched the ground, the blade's white light spreading over the stone steps like snowmelt: "In the past, the Empress sent me to suppress the fierce ghosts of Jiu You and granted me Yin Mountain as a secondary residence. Later, I lent this residence to Guanyin Bodhisattva. Now it has been forcibly occupied by another, and I ask the Empress for an explanation."
Meng Po suddenly straightened her back.
The souls wronged at the bottom of Forget River suddenly began chanting in unison, the sound wave shaking Naihe Bridge vigorously.
"Young Yang, matters of the Underworld, this old body hasn't intervened in many years. If you want to resolve this, do it with your own methods, don't come seeking me."
While the old lady spoke, she waved her hand.
The Yellow Springs Water transformed into surging waves, wetting the divine garment of Erlang True Monarch Xiansheng.
He smiled faintly, having already obtained what he wanted—Meng Po's non-involvement in this matter!
For Erlang True Monarch Xiansheng, as long as Meng Po didn't intervene on this trip, all situations would be within his control.
This disciple of Lu Zu was indeed formidable, but Xiansheng True Monarch was not afraid of even the united Upper Cave Eight Immortals led by Lu Zu; how could he fear Xu Qing?
He cupped his hands towards Meng Po and then left, returning to Fengdu.
Although he didn't regard Xu Qing as a threat, he couldn't proceed without preparation for this journey.
He still needed some time to channel more divine power to the Underworld.
Returning to the City God Hall, Xiansheng True Monarch used the Three-pointed Two-bladed Sword to draw a circle in the void, within which appeared a Purple Bamboo Forest, where he saw the White-clothed Bodhisattva.
"Bodhisattva, I will soon reclaim the origin of the Five Elements Dao, please take care of my brother Nezha."
It turns out Erlang True Monarch Xiansheng sought trouble with Xu Qing because of the Five Elements Dao Origin within Xu Qing.
This Innate Five Elements Dao is the foundation of all things' birth in heaven and earth.
It is precisely what Nezha needs for his rebirth.
In fact, Xiansheng True Monarch knew that Guanyin was using him to deal with Xu Qing, but for the sake of his good brother, he had no choice.
This Nezha, is the Great God of the Sea Assembly of the Three Altars.
At the end of the last era, he was already nearing oblivion.
The True Monarch traversed the Three Realms and Six Paths, All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds, for many years before finding a trace of his remnant soul.
With Guanyin's help, he found the Treasure Lotus Lamp, using its power to gather Nezha's remnant soul.
Nonetheless, for Nezha to be reborn, the origin of the Innate Five Elements Dao is essential.
Without it, this era's Heavenly Dao would not accept Nezha's rebirth, and endless Heavenly Punishment would still descend upon him until Nezha was destroyed.
"Daoist Yang, Xu Qing has the backing of Taiji Jiuku Tianzun, do not underestimate him."
"Taiji Jiuku Tianzun?" Xiansheng True Monarch suddenly trembled, showing a hint of excitement and hatred.
Nezha's near obliteration in the Taichu era was actually due to the Taiji Jiuku Tianzun.
And he and Taiji Jiuku Tianzun also had some old grudges.
But Taiji Jiuku Tianzun is, after all, an existence comparable to the ancestor master, capable of reversing causality and making Xiansheng True Monarch unknowingly owe Taiji a favor.
Xiansheng True Monarch naturally refused to acknowledge this causality, so he gave up his past as a disciple of Yuqing, recreating himself.
In reality, this self-severance was an act of enlightenment.
Without that past under Yuqing, Xiansheng True Monarch became even stronger, with his own level surpassing Immortal.
However, his true form was entangled elsewhere, without leisure.
Otherwise, dealing with Xu Qing would be a mere flick of the finger.
Xiansheng True Monarch continued: "Taiji Jiuku Tianzun and the Buddha are always entangled, so he has no time to bother with me. Besides, I will sooner or later go back and seek an explanation from him."
"True Monarch's ambition is truly not a virtue." Guanyin Bodhisattva shook his head.
Xiansheng True Monarch: "Bodhisattva, you just help me save Nezha, other matters I have my own sense of proportion."
In fact, Xu Qing's connection with Taiji further excited Xiansheng True Monarch.
He considered this an opportunity to resolve his old grievances with Taiji.
Then, he erased the circle in the void, no longer dealing with matters on Guanyin Bodhisattva's end.
Xiansheng True Monarch then gently stroked the edge of the Three-pointed Two-bladed Sword, allowing strands of fresh blood to seep into the blade, rendering the entire person increasingly ethereal and hard to gauge.
