Chapter 84
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This Danyang Celestial Palace is where the [registration records] of the Shangqing Lingbao lineage are stored. The [registration records] of ordinary disciples are brought here by their masters, recorded on individual jade slips. These are organized according to the different branches of the lineage and by seniority, with those of lesser status placed in the outermost areas. At the very core, the jade slips that circulate belong to the disciples of figures such as [Danhua Fuying Celestial Monarch] and other Celestial Monarchs and True Lords.
And upon this jade wall, it records the disciples of the Shangqing Lingbao Great Heavenly Venerable.
Just now, it manifested of its own accord!
This had not happened for a very long time.
Yet, as soon as the name appeared, it vanished in an instant—flashing past and disappearing, something that had never happened before.
Danyang Miaohua Heavenly Lord stroked his beard for a long time, then mused: “Could it be that someone is at the threshold of enlightenment, yet has not fully comprehended it?”
“Thus, though the jade wall reacted…”
“It could not fully reveal the name.”
“Hence, it vanished?”
“If that is the case…”
The old Heavenly Lord stroked his beard and made a judgment: “Unless someone has comprehended the mysteries of [Supreme Scarlet Spirit Script] of this level.”
“Otherwise, it must certainly be someone of my Shangqing lineage!”
“But to comprehend the [Supreme Scarlet Spirit Script]… Bah! How could that be possible?”
“Qingying, Yueying.”
The two young attendants saluted in unison and said: “Disciple is present.”
The old Heavenly Lord flicked his horsetail whisk, turned, and ascended the nine-tiered platform. “Summon your senior brothers back.”
“They shall re-examine the entire Shangqing register with this old man.”
“We must find the Shangqing disciple who is worthy of being a disciple of the Great Heavenly Venerable.”
The two young attendants exchanged glances, saluted, and acknowledged the command.
Then, each took out a round mirror and performed a spell. In an instant, the spell was complete. The old Heavenly Lord took a glance and said:
“Oh? Is this a mantra derived from the [Round Light Manifestation Technique]? Quite interesting.”
“Where did you obtain it?”
The young attendant Qingying replied: “It is one of the fragments recently passed down from the [Dao Sovereign Wuhuo’s Sublime Arts Profound Chapter].”
“The Round Light Manifestation Art ultimately requires both parties to be present. If the other party is in seclusion, it cannot be used and may even disturb them.”
“The Sound Transmission Art also has distance limitations and requires powerful divine sense—we cannot achieve such feats as you, who can roam the vast cosmos with a single thought.”
“Thus, for those of us whose strength is lacking, these minor divine abilities are quite useful. It has now become widely circulated among disciples of our level.”
“It’s just a pity that this particular fragment was spread by the Yellow Ox Star Official, under the command of the Ox Constellation Star Lord. It seems they sold it at a high price to several others, like the Nine-Headed Lion Primordial Lord and Uncle-Master Blue Lion. So, if we want to learn it, we’ll have to give that Star Official a [Heavenly Emperor Coin].”
After a slight pause, he added: “But we can’t really blame him for that.”
“The Star Official originally intended to teach us for free.”
“But since those individuals purchased the original text at a hefty price, if the Yellow Ox Star Official were to pass it to us freely, he would have trouble explaining himself to them. So, to show propriety, he accepted just one [Heavenly Emperor Coin] from us. He even seemed embarrassed about it, feeling quite uneasy, and only after we reassured him did he finally accept it.”
“Exactly, exactly.”
“Yellow Ox Star Official is an honest and sincere person.”
As Yueying explained, Qingying nodded repeatedly in agreement.
With just a few words, the scene unfolded vividly as if it were happening right before their eyes—full of life and animation.
Danyang Miaohua Heavenly Lord couldn’t help but stroke his beard and laugh heartily. “Ha! That old Yellow Ox!”
“He still has the same greedy old great demon nature from back then.”
“Profiting from both sides.”
“Even after cultivating in the Heavenly Realm for so long, he still hasn’t shed this mischievous nature. Hahaha! And now, he’s managed to fool my young attendants.”
Qingying and Yueying exchanged bewildered glances, utterly confused.
Yet, Danyang Miaohua Heavenly Lord did not expose the matter, merely smiling as he said: “I’ll let you figure it out on your own. If you suffer a loss, remember the lesson yourselves.”
Taking the hand-copied technique scroll, he read through it and sighed: “To have devised such a technique at just sixteen years of age… Even if one began cultivating from childhood, they would have only been practicing the Dao for seven or eight years. To create something of this level, such comprehension is quite remarkable.”
“Wuhuo Dao Sovereign? I have never heard of this name before.”
Setting the technique scroll down, the old Heavenly Lord sighed,
“In just this short time today, two names have appeared that I have no recollection of, and one I did not even manage to glimpse clearly.”
“As the [Shangqing Register Master], am I simply growing old?”
“But that Shangqing disciple, we must locate them.”
“And as for this Wuhuo Dao Sovereign—where exactly are they?”
The afternoon of a winter’s day—there was, after all, some warmth in the sunlight as it seeped through the cracks of the window, spilling onto the young Daoist’s face. The faint warmth gradually roused him from sleep. His eyelashes quivered slightly as he slowly opened his eyes, and beneath the winter sunlight, his youthful gaze carried a translucent, crystal-clear quality.
Qi Wuhuo was momentarily dazed.
“I fell asleep…”
“When did that happen? No, I need to get up immediately—”
He tried to rise, but as soon as he lifted his head, a sharp pain pulsed through his forehead. His body stiffened for a moment, and he instinctively pressed a hand to his head before obediently sitting back down.
“…I should sit for a while longer.”
The young Daoist remained seated on the ground. While he had been asleep, the white papers in his embrace had scattered. The room was mostly dim, yet the sunlight that fell upon him—surrounded by those sheets inscribed with the [Decree]—gave the scene a certain ineffable charm. He reached out and picked up one of the papers, which was filled with the regrets and wishes of those people.
The moment he held it, he could immediately sense the difference.
The weight of the paper was far greater than before; the sensation in his hand was nothing like that of a light, flimsy sheet.
Qi Wuhuo formed a hand seal—this particular seal was recorded in both the [Record of Ascension to Immortality] and the [Cultivation Records]. It was a technique used by cultivators to discern whether an object possessed spiritual essence. In truth, all things in the world contained some trace of spirit, but most were too faint to condense, appearing as nothing more than a pale wisp. If something’s essence was denser than that of ordinary materials, it could be called spiritual material.
A cultivator could retrieve such an item and guide its essence into forming a Cloud Seal.
Once infused with spiritual power, the Cloud Seal would instantly manifest, enabling the wielder to unleash divine abilities.
This was a [spiritual tool].
If the Cloud Script was not singular but instead gathered in great numbers, flowing like a vast river, then it could be called a [spiritual treasure]. And if its currents wove together into a network as intricate as the world’s waterways, it would be an [immortal artifact]. Further still, the [Record of Ascension to Immortality] described the highest tier of such objects—where essence condensed into golden flowing radiance, forming what was known as a [Numinous Treasure(Lingbao)].
The young Daoist pressed his fingers into a seal, gently touching the surface of the white paper. At that moment, from the tip of his finger, a faint golden radiance began to bloom.
The shimmering golden light rippled outward, ultimately enveloping the entire sheet of paper.
Upon it, the written words now pulsed with ethereal rhythm.
The golden glow was grand and resplendent, yet calm and composed.
Qi Wuhuo was stunned, staring at the white paper radiating golden essence.
Though immature and of the lowest grade,
In terms of its very nature—
This was already a [Numinous Treasure].
“But, it’s just a single [Decree] character.”
Above, it is called Ling, capable of subduing the Five Sacred Mountains and ensuring the nation’s enduring stability. Below, it is called Bao—a [Lingbao(Numinous Treasure)] is profound, standing as the sovereign of all things.
The young Daoist recalled the interpretation of the “Decree” character and gradually grasped some of its applications. The senior who created this character seemed to have once used this [Supreme Scarlet Spiritual Script] to refine countless Numinous Treasures. With just a single “Decree” character, one could manifest three thousand Cloud Seals. Thus, inscribing a single character was equivalent to instantly engraving three thousand cloud seals in perfect harmony.
And within these three thousand cloud script sigils, all transformations revolved around a single focal point, shifting unpredictably.
“With a single character, one can refine a Numinous Treasure.”
“What an extraordinary artifact-refining technique…”
“No, this isn’t merely refining—it’s already at the level of [enlightening all things into artifacts].”
Qi Wuhuo withdrew the hand seal, running his palm across the white paper. His Primordial Spirit followed suit, resonating with it. Just as a swordsman, upon acquiring a blade, would test its sharpness, weight, and balance before wielding it effortlessly, a cultivator, too, had to understand the properties of their treasures.
Qi Wuhuo’s clear and bright spirit reflected upon the object, sensing its transformations and nature.
Yet, the moment he fully comprehended what this treasure was, his initial surprise and joy faded. His palm brushed over the script, leaving behind an indescribable emotion.
This object was neither gold nor jade.
Its material was neither paper nor ink. It was the regret of many living beings.
Forged with the mortal world as its material and human emotions as its fire, it had become a Numinous Treasure through a single Decree.
Even now, it remained but an embryonic form—” untempered”. If the wishes recorded in the script were fulfilled, perhaps only then would it truly become a Numinous Treasure. With the mortal world as its material, and karma as its refining fire, it would attain spirituality, thus rightfully earning the title of [Numinous Treasure]. Qi Wuhuo lightly tapped his fingers, activating the [Decree] character once more. The white paper instantly dissolved, leaving only the words suspended in midair.
“This artifact must witness and fulfill countless [regrets], tempered through [human desires] and the [mortal world], before it is complete.”
“All things have spirit.”
“And only then is it worthy of being called a [Numinous Treasure]?”
“So that’s how it is. To witness the sufferings and forms of all beings, engraving the spirits of the myriad living beings into a vessel, refining it into treasure.”
“If one were to cultivate in this manner, perhaps it could be called the [Path of Lingbao].”
The young Daoist closed his eyes in contemplation. His teacher had sent him away to witness the mortal world. What had been imparted to him was merely the Heart Mantra of the Taishang Lineage—a guiding principle of cultivation for this lineage. However, it provided only a single path, a direction, without more specific cultivation methods or key insights.
His teacher wanted him to walk through the mortal world, to witness countless paths, divine abilities, and ultimately forge his own way.
Just like how his senior sister had created the Hunyuan Sword Canon.
And how his senior brother had embarked on the Dragon-Supporting Court’s path.
Even if they had strayed from their teacher’s original path, they had each found their own way.
So could this path before him also be integrated into the Taishang’s doctrine, using it as evidence?
The young Daoist stroked the scroll in his hand, carefully savoring his thoughts. Inspiration struck, and following the moment’s flow, he picked up his brush and, using Cloud Seal Script, wrote down:
【Heaven and Earth as the furnace, creation as the artisan】
【Yin and Yang as the charcoal, all things as the copper】
【The Dao of Lingbao】
He paused for a moment, then, feeling playful, added another line:
【Impressions on the Path of Lingbao by Dao Sovereign Wuhuo】
Shaking his head, Qi Wuhuo chuckled: “Still so childish.”
Then, seeing no one around, he lowered his gaze, smiling softly as he whispered:
“But I wrote it quite well.”
Heavenly Realm · Danyang Celestial Palace
The disciples of Danyang Celestial Palace had already returned and were preparing to search through the Shangqing’s [records].
Yet, Danyang Miaohua Heavenly Lord suddenly froze, his gaze locked on the jade wall, where faint words briefly flickered into existence—
And then vanished.
The old Heavenly Lord’s eyes widened in shock.
“Hmm?! What just flashed past?!”
Qi Wuhuo swept his sleeve, and the countless words suddenly flowed and shifted, soaring into the folds of his robe, transforming into patterns like drifting clouds. Only then did Qi Wuhuo realize he was starving. His exhaustion felt immense. He kindled a fire and placed two sweet potatoes near the edge of the stove to roast. Then, without waiting, he went to wash up.
By the time he was finished freshening up and tidying himself, the sweet potatoes would be ready to eat.
Peeling off the charred, hardened skin, the inside revealed a golden-yellow flesh, glistening like honey, releasing an incredibly rich fragrance.
Though the courtyard was a bit small, it did have a well.
A wooden bucket hung by a rope, which he tossed down and pulled back up. The winter well water was crystal clear and ice-cold, shocking the mind awake in an instant.
The young man poured the water into a basin, preparing to wash up. Yet when he glanced at the reflection in the water, he suddenly paused. Raising a hand, he touched his Daoist hairpin, and then, laughing at himself, murmured:
“Ah, I must have slept too deeply.”
“Even my hairpin has gone crooked.”
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