Becoming a fox fairy from Liaozhai

Chapter 875 Lingxu Heavenly Palace
Since the topic of Lingxu Biyuan Heaven had come up, Gong Mengbi inevitably asked about matters beyond the heavens.

Fairy Qingyao refused to say more: "The universe is vast and without end. This Lingxu Biyuan Heaven is just one of the heavenly domains under the rule of the Heavenly Court. When you cultivate to the upper three ranks and your Yang Spirit can withstand the tempering of the Heavenly Primordial Qi, you will be able to travel the eight extremes of the universe and you will naturally understand. If I say more now, it may not be of any benefit to you, but will instead become an obstacle to your understanding."

Fairy Qingyao was worried that he would be too ambitious, so Gong Mengbi didn't ask any further questions. He hadn't even set foot in the Heavenly Palace yet, so it was indeed too early for him to be thinking about matters of the Heavenly Realm.

Ascending to the Upper Realm requires at least the third rank, which Gong Mengbi doesn't yet possess. However, ascending to the Heavenly Palace is much easier; at least a fourth-rank Daoist can be considered a true god in the Heavenly Palace.

Fairy Qingyao explained the taboos of the Heavenly Palace to Gong Mengbi, but unable to bear Gong Mengbi's numerous questions, she drove him away.

Gong Mengbi didn't take it seriously. He lit incense on the small golden stove, offered sacrifices to the Goddess of Mount Tai, and prayed to the Goddess for a smooth journey to heaven before he began to prepare for the ascent.

Six tails, like wisps of smoke, extended from behind Gong Mengbi. He entered the Dao with the Taiyin and practiced the virtue of the Azure Dragon. He first used the Heart Moon Fox to enter the tail, and then successively used the Divine Sword to cultivate the Horn Constellation, the Cloud and Rain Method to cultivate the Winnowing Basket Constellation, the Divine Impeachment Method to cultivate the Tail Constellation, the Pearl Refining Method to cultivate the Neck Constellation, and the True Form of the Five Sacred Mountains to cultivate the Root Constellation.

Because the path to enlightenment is based on the Yin principle, the Yin and Yang are imbalanced, and the Fang constellation has no hope of achieving enlightenment for the time being. Furthermore, the Kang constellation only possesses the method in name only, as it lacks a satisfactory dragon pearl and is unable to reach perfection.

He has only revealed a limited number of methods to the enemy and has no intention of revealing more. He then manifested himself using the Refining Pearl Technique, transforming into a Dharma Body with wind as its bones, thunder as its veins, and qi as its form.

The wind and thunder formed a purple cloud crown and a blue cloud cloak, with eight wind ropes twisted into an eight-wind sash tied around his waist. He looked like a highly accomplished Taoist, yet he also possessed a certain dragon-like might.

Although he and Gong Mengbi look the same, their temperaments are quite different.

The Refining Pearl Dharma Body held the Eight Winds Bottle in one hand and the Qi-Gathering Thunder Pill in the other. It nodded slightly to Gong Mengbi, and then a thunderclap was heard. A fleeting flash of lightning appeared in the void, and the Refining Pearl Dharma Body disappeared.

Gong Mengbi entrusted his mind and spirit to his Dharma body, and his spirit roamed the void, directly entering the azure sky. Since Gong Mengbi had already obtained the celestial register with the Empress and also the celestial register of the Demon Trial Messenger, he naturally saw the Cloud Path without needing to unleash the power of the Heavenly Law.

Following the cloud path, we traversed through the clouds and mist, and were soon received by the Heavenly Gate, where we saw the true form of the towering blue Heavenly Gate that reached into the clouds, its height unseen, merging with the void of the universe.

The Heavenly Gate was surrounded by heavy clouds, within which many armored deities were hidden, all of whom were soldiers guarding the Heavenly Gate.

These divine beings did not conceal their aura, so although their true faces could not be seen, one could see divine light flashing and sense their magnificent power.

Amidst the heavy clouds, the general suddenly saw a long wind pierce the clouds and thunder streak across the sky, as a streak of light rushed straight in like a fiery meteor.

The Heavenly Gate guards rushed forward to stop it, but the escaping light seemed to stop lightly and effortlessly in front of the Heavenly Gate, revealing a tall and handsome cultivator dressed in a robe of wind and thunder, waiting quietly in front of the Heavenly Gate.

The Heavenly Gate Guardian revealed his towering divine form amidst the heavy clouds. The words he was about to utter, "Who dares to trespass on the Heavenly Gate?" turned into gentle words: "What cultivator has come to visit?"

Gong Mengbi bowed and, following Qingyao Fairy's instructions, explained his purpose: "I am Gong Mengbi, a cultivator registered in the Yue family, who has come to heaven to visit an old friend."

"Which old friend?"

"Zhang, the Director of the Exorcism Bureau, and General Zhaoming, the Wind Envoy of the Wind Department."

The gatekeeper was slightly surprised, but his attitude softened as he asked, "Do you have any official seal?"

"There is no official seal, please convey this message."

The guardian of Tianmen nodded, pointed towards Tianmen, and a crane's cry rang out. A white crane flew down from the heavy clouds and landed on the guardian's arm, which was long enough to run a horse.

Gong Mengbi took out two visiting cards and handed them to the garrison commander.

The garrison commander placed the visiting card under the white crane's breast feathers and instructed him to visit the Exorcism Institute and the Wind Department. The white crane let out a long cry, flapped its wings, and flew away.

The commander guarding Tianmen, Gong Mengbi, waited outside the gate and asked, "How do you know Imperial Envoy Zhang and General Zhaoming?"

Gong Mengbi truthfully replied: "I once did my best to help Zhang Yuanshi when he was subduing demons in the mortal realm, and I also assisted General Zhaoming in calming the eight winds on the Xunfeng Great Ship."

The gatekeeper then looked at him seriously and said, "It is rare to have such a heart and such a journey."

While waiting, occasionally, celestial beings from the Heavenly Palace would enter or leave through the Heavenly Gate, and mortal cultivators carrying talismans would also come and go—the Heavenly Palace had mortal cultivators serving as officials, a fact that had already been confirmed when Gong Mengbi helped General Zhaoming sort out the Eight Winds.

Just as Gong Mengbi trained a group of human envoys for the Yuefu in Ximashan, the various departments of the Heavenly Palace, especially those responsible for manifesting retribution, subduing demons and monsters, and supervising ghosts and gods, often had great human cultivators in office.

The Heavenly Gate Guardian and Gong Mengbi chatted amiably. The Guardian was well-informed and there were few people in the Heavenly Palace he didn't know. He talked to Gong Mengbi about all sorts of things until the eunuchs from the Exorcism Bureau arrived, which finally brought them to a halt.

The attendant from the Exorcism Institute, dressed in green robes and wearing a jade crown, bowed to the two and said, "Greetings, General Du and Mr. Gong. Director Zhang went to Lingxu Palace for a meeting this morning and has not yet returned. However, I heard the Director mention Mr. Gong, and I know that you are an old friend of the Director. Please come with me and wait in the institute for a while."

Gong Mengbi then bid farewell to General Du and prepared to go to the exorcism courtyard to wait for a while.

Just as he was about to follow the divine attendant, a yellow silk ribbon suddenly transformed into a yellow cloud and swept Gong Mengbi away, landing him next to a handsome but thin Taoist priest.

The silk ribbon was tied back around the Taoist's waist, and a golden lotus flower was pinned to his high bun. He smiled at the attendant and said, "Your master has not yet returned. I will invite Gong Mingfu to my place as a guest first, and then send him to the exorcism temple when the master returns."

The waiter could only agree and watch them leave.

"Brother Zhaoming, it's been a long time."

General Zhaoming looked at him with a smile: "You said you would host a banquet for me after we last parted, but why haven't you invited me yet?"

Gong Mengbi protested, "Brother Dao is busy with official duties. He promised to come and meet me when he had some free time, but he has not been seen at all. Since Brother Dao did not come to find me, I had no choice but to come to find Brother Dao."

General Zhaoming laughed and said, "Firstly, I am indeed very busy with official duties, and secondly, there have been many troubles in Tianfu recently. If I travel to the mortal world casually, I may be noticed by those with ulterior motives, which would be detrimental to you, my brother."

Gong Mengbi was somewhat surprised: "Brother Dao has also been involved in the struggle for the Heavenly Kings?"

This time, it was General Zhaoming who was surprised: "You even know this?"

“My elders at home know a little about it and have given me some advice.”

General Zhaoming was unaware of Gong Mengbi's background, but he did not delve into it. He simply said, "It was not me, but Feng Shi. Feng Shi has no intention of vying for the throne, but there are always people who are afraid that he might have such thoughts. Even we subordinates are being watched more closely."