Pure Yang!

Chapter 420 The Ferocious Power of the Black Gold Ancient Seal! The Four Great Sects (5k-word chapter)

A gentle breeze and a bright moon; a secluded ancient temple.

A loud voice rang out, and two graceful figures slowly approached, stepping into the main hall where incense smoke wafted.

"Bei Zhang!?"

Pang Qingyun's expression changed drastically. It was true that there were gods watching over him, and one should never speak behind people's backs. He had just been discussing with Ming Shenxiu how to break away from Bei Zhang, and now their people had come knocking on his door.

Such a thunderous shout made even Pang Qingyun feel uneasy.

Ming Shenxiu, however, had a glint in his eyes and didn't seem to care.

He was not only a disciple of Gezao Mountain, but also had honed his skills at the Dao Alliance Headquarters for many years and held important positions in the [Divine Power Association]. He also knew more or less about the affairs of the Longhu Zhang family.

Zhang Wuming, judging from his name, one can tell that he failed to be "conferred a god's image" and was not favored by the patriarch. Such a person is considered a marginal figure in the Zhang family.

Ming Shenxiu naturally wouldn't care, but at this moment, he still stopped and looked at Zhang Wuming and Zhang Fan walking in from outside the main hall.

"Brother Wuming, what brings you here? You didn't even say hello so I could have come to pick you up."

Pang Qingyun greeted him with a smile, as if he were an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time.

He had been to Beizhang many times and was naturally acquainted with Zhang Wuming.

To others, he was a marginal figure who had not yet been deified or established, but to these outward-bound masters, he was someone worth currying favor with.

"And this is..." Pang Qingyun's gaze shifted and landed on Zhang Fan.

"he is my friend."

Zhang Wuming glossed over it without giving a specific introduction.

At this moment, Zhang Fan remained expressionless, but his gaze swept over Ming Shenxiu. He also noticed Wan Renshan and Zhong Ningyan, who were standing to the side with blank expressions.

“Brother Pang, since you have friends here, I’ll take my leave now,” Ming Shenxiu said calmly.

Since Bei Zhang has sent someone, he must have something to discuss with Pang Qingyun. It's inconvenient for him to be here. Anyway, Pang Qingyun will tell him about it later.

"He...it's him...it's definitely him..."

Just then, Wan Renshan, who had been "out of control," suddenly started shouting. He pointed at Zhang Wuming, gesticulating wildly, acting like a madman, with a trace of fear remaining in his eyes.

Zhong Ningyan, standing next to her, curled up even more, trembling uncontrollably.

"It's you?"

Ming Shenxiu abruptly stopped in his tracks, his gaze sharpening as he looked intently at Zhang Wuming.

"Gezaoshan... Old Pang, it seems you've found a powerful backer."

Zhang Wuming remained noncommittal, merely glancing indifferently at Pang Qingyun.

Human hearts are unpredictable; even the most loyal Pang Qingyun can change his mind at any moment.

“Brother Wuming, don’t worry, there must be some misunderstanding here,” Pang Qingyun reassured him.

"Did you do this to my junior brothers and sisters?" Ming Shenxiu asked coldly.

"Yes." Zhang Wuming did not deny it.

"Fine, the Zhang family is as domineering as ever." Ming Shenxiu laughed angrily.

"Eighty years have passed. Don't you even know whose royal flag flies over the world now? You, a nobody from Beizhang, dare to return to Xijiang and flaunt your power?"

Each word, spoken with conviction, echoed throughout the cold, quiet hall.

Zhang Wuming remained noncommittal, his gaze fixed on Pang Qingyun.

"Old Pang, are you trying to rebel?"

Pang Qingyun frowned and remained silent.

"Rebellion? They really think they're the emperor? Don't they know what era we live in?"

Ming Shenxiu laughed: "To tell you the truth, from now on, Qingyun Temple will no longer belong to the Zhang family."

"As for you, you injured my fellow disciples. Come with me. The Dao Alliance's prison is specially prepared for people like you."

The cold voice echoed in the quiet hall, and at this moment, Ming Shenxiu's domineering and high spirits were clearly displayed.

He stomped his foot, and a gust of wind stirred up dust and waves, and a glimmer of light appeared.

In an instant, the vast hall became like a closed-off martial arts world, churning and surging with towering waves. The air inside the hall seemed to become part of Ming Shenxiu's body, and the surrounding pressure surged wildly.

Inch by inch, it permeated every space. The bricks and stones underfoot were crumbling, the clay sculptures on the altar were trembling, and the entire hall seemed to be filled with this strange power, as if it could collapse at any moment.

"Taoist supernatural powers, overwhelming all techniques!?"

Zhang Fan's eyes suddenly lit up.

The "Force Subdues Ten Techniques" supernatural power, once awakened, can create a huge force field wherever it stands; the higher the cultivation level, the greater the pressure.

If an ordinary person gets involved, they will be turned into a pile of minced meat in an instant.

Back then, Ming Shenxiu was recruited by the Supernatural Abilities Association because he had awakened such supernatural powers, and then entered the Dao Alliance Headquarters, where he worked for many years.

Rumble…

In less than twenty seconds, the once tranquil palace became like a pressure cooker. Zhang Wuming felt as if his whole body was filled with lead, his veins bulging, and even Pang Qingyun was under immense pressure.

Although Ming Shenxiu deliberately controlled it, reducing the pressure around him considerably, the aftershocks still caused his blood to be compressed to his heart, as if it were about to burst at any moment.

“Brother Ming…” Pang Qingyun said with difficulty.

"Dragon and Tiger?"

"If you're a dragon, you'd better coil up; if you're a tiger, you'd better lie down," Ming Shenxiu said coldly.

"The struggle for the orthodox tradition is a matter of life or death."

Back then, all the talismans of the Three Mountains were given to Longhu, which became the turning point for Gezao Mountain to plummet. Now, having encountered the Zhang family of Longhu again, he naturally had no taboos and was about to show his skills.

"Well said. The struggle for the orthodox tradition is a matter of life or death."

Just then, a sigh drifted slowly through the serene hall.

Rumble…

Suddenly, a streak of black and gold light shot out from Zhang Fan's palm, like a shooting star in the night sky, ignoring the terrifying pressure surging around it, and flew straight toward Ming Shenxiu.

"Black Gold Ancient Seal!"

"magic weapon!?"

Ming Shenxiu's expression changed drastically as he finally noticed Zhang Fan's presence. He stared at the black-gold light that suddenly appeared before his eyes and gasped, his mouth agape...

Suddenly, the wind howled like a great storm, as if the heavens were spewing out clouds.

A sudden gust of wind arose, like a mountain collapsing or a raging torrent, and in an instant, it stood like an insurmountable chasm blocking the way in front of the Black Gold Ancient Seal.

"The Taoist magic of Gezao Mountain!"

"The storm has passed!"

Rumble…

With absolute violence and crushing force, the Black Gold Ancient Seal moved as if it were in an empty field, breaking through the wind and tearing apart the layers of terrifying force fields, and smashed into Ming Shenxiu's head with overwhelming force.

Stop the commotion!
Force overwhelms all techniques!

Nothing can stop them!

puff...

Inside the ancient hall, the terrifying pressure instantly dissipated, followed by a crisp sound, a splatter of blood, and a terrifying shock.

White paste mixed with scarlet blood flowed from Ming Shenxiu's shattered skull, reflecting in the dim candlelight before the Sanqing clay sculpture.

This scene was so shocking that it made Pang Qingyun's heart pound with fear.

hum...

Almost at the same moment, a primordial spirit leaped out from Ming Shenxiu's body, its primordial light rising in three layers, revealing itself to be a master at the third level of the Great Master realm.

"Fine, you dare to kill? Just wait."

Ming Shenxiu was a remarkable man. Once his supernatural powers were broken and he knew he was no match for Ming Shenxiu, he directly abandoned his physical body and attempted to escape with his primordial spirit.

"Still want to leave?"

Suddenly, Zhang Fan took a step forward, and a ray of light shone brightly from his brow and spiritual platform, clearly divided into nine layers, as tall as a towering building.

"Ninefold Yuan Guang!?"

Pang Qingyun's aged face suddenly trembled. He had not expected that the friend Zhang Wuming brought was actually a master at the ninth level of the Great Master realm. In terms of realm and cultivation, he was even above Zhang Wuming.

Most importantly, at such a young age, he possesses such skill and ruthlessness. His actions are unrestrained and ruthless, making even a seasoned and cunning individual like himself feel his hair stand on end.

"Could he be one of the figures from the Northern Zhang Temple who were bestowed with divine titles?" A deep sense of doubt arose in Pang Qingyun's heart.

Rumble…

The ninefold primordial light illuminated the main hall, instantly suppressing Ming Shenxiu's primordial spirit.

Even if Zhang Fan cultivated the Divine Demon Holy Embryo, he could still be crushed to death by ordinary alchemy techniques if the level of the practitioner was so much higher.

"The heavens are dark and the earth is desolate; I invite the ancestral master to roam the human world."

"The patriarch granted me the altar, so that I may not enter the gates of hell in life or death."

At that moment, Ming Shenxiu withdrew his primordial light, formed hand seals, stepped into the Heavenly Gang formation, and chanted incantations.

Immediately afterwards, a phantom appeared behind him, which was an ancient altar, with stars above and mountains below, complete with all kinds of rituals, and incense burning continuously.

"The Lingbao Altar!?" Zhang Wuming's eyes narrowed to a slit as he exclaimed in disbelief.

The altar is the most important sacred place in the Taoist lineage.

All rituals such as fasting, bestowing ordination, and transmitting precepts must be performed in this sacred place.

The transmission of the Zhenwu Jade Register and Li Miaoyin's apprenticeship were all conducted at the ancestral altar of the Zhenwu sect on Zhenwu Mountain.

The altar is the DNA of a Taoist sect. Disciples of all schools and sects, upon entering the sect, must return to the ancestral altar to receive recognition and lineage. Only in this way can they cultivate and perform rituals.

Otherwise, even if one obtains the refining and cultivation methods, their power will be greatly reduced, they will not be considered orthodox Xuanmen methods, and they may even suffer backlash.

If one is to spread the Dharma and preach in other places, it is necessary to request permission from the ancestral temple to open a branch altar.

Most importantly, the ancestral temple altar is related to the lineage's transmission.

Each sect's altar has a token for its opening.

For example, in Zhenwu Mountain, the token of inheritance is the [Zhenwu Jade Register], which can be used to open the ancestral altar and obtain the inheritance of Zhenwu Mountain.

Therefore, as long as the altar is erected, the Way will endure; if the altar is destroyed, the lineage will be severed

Furthermore, the most powerful and forbidden spells in a lineage must be performed using an altar.

With the help of the altar, the power of the spells can be greatly increased, just like a charging station.

“It is indeed the Lingbao Altar… Gezao Mountain has restored the ancestral altar?” Zhang Wuming’s expression turned slightly serious.

Historically, one of the most important reasons for the decline of Gezao Mountain was the destruction of its ancestral temple altar.

It should be noted that Gezao Mountain is the ancestral home of the Lingbao School, and during the Three Mountains Talisman Competition, it could even rival Longhu Mountain.

If the ancestral temple altar is restored, it will be of great significance.

"Among all the Dharma lineages in the world, the Four Great Sects are the most outstanding, but even the [Lingbao Dharma Altar] once rivaled them at its peak," Pang Qingyun sighed.

Of the four major altars, the most famous are the Wanfa Zongtan of Longhu Mountain and the Xuandu Lutan of Baihe Temple. Over the long course of history, they once faced a situation of confrontation between the north and south.

This is, after all, the land of Xijiang, where the Gezaoshan Taoist temple is located.

Ming Shenxiu had somehow connected with the Lingbao Altar and was about to guide it away.

This is the source of his confidence to act with impunity in Xijiang!
hum...

At that moment, the ancient black and gold seal shone brightly, and a seal script appeared in the air, revealing four large characters:

Dragon and Tiger Crest!

"Dragon and Tiger Seal!"

Pang Qingyun's eyes trembled as he looked at Zhang Fan, his heart churning with turbulent emotions that were difficult to calm down.

He knew that the young man who had come with Zhang Wuming was a true master of the Zhang family of Longhu Mountain.

At this moment, Zhang Wuming was also staring at the [Black Gold Ancient Seal]. As a disciple of the Northern Zhang, he was no stranger to the seals of Longhu Mountain, but after reviewing all the records, it seemed that there was no such seal.

Rumble…

The seal script was like a royal decree, subduing all laws, none could disobey. The terrifying aura swept in like a river bursting its banks, instantly shattering the floating phantom of the altar.

"Longhu Mountain... Longhu Mountain..."

Ming Shenxiu's eyes widened, and he let out a roar of unwilling anger. He knew that the moment the illusory image of the Lingbao altar disappeared, it meant that his only way to survive was also cut off.

He never dreamed that he possessed profound Taoist knowledge, received the true teachings of Gezao Mountain, awakened Taoist supernatural powers, and even entered the capital, where he was surrounded by dignitaries. He should have been the chosen one of heaven, the protagonist of this life...

His triumphant return home this time is intended to achieve great things, change the world, and strive for the opportunity to be revered as the ancestor of Taoism in future generations.

But man proposes, God disposes. How could he have imagined that such good fortune would lead to his death at this obscure Qingyun Temple?

hum...

The ninefold primordial light surged and crashed down like a mountain, easily crushing Ming Shenxiu's primordial spirit into dust.

The master of the third level of the Great Perfection had his primordial spirit shattered, and his essence flowed like radiant light, filling the entire palace.

call……

Zhang Fan's primordial spirit sat cross-legged in the void, breathing in and out, and in an instant, he refined the scattered essence of his primordial spirit completely.

This scene caused Pang Qingyun's blood pressure to spike and his heart to pound.

The Zhang family practices the art of non-action!

What is the way?
"Old Pang, can we talk now?"

Just then, Zhang Wuming's hand landed on Pang Qingyun's shoulder. The latter shuddered as if struck by lightning, looking at Zhang Fan in the distance, then at Zhang Wuming beside him...

At this moment, Pang Qingyun wanted to cry.

Throughout his life, he walked on thin ice, and even when he finally arrived, he still suffered a major setback.

"Do I even have the right to talk now?" Pang Qingyun asked with a mournful face.

"Old Pang, you're usually quite smart, so why can't you make the right decision at a crucial moment?" Zhang Wuming shook his head and said.

"Throughout history, who has ever had a good ending if they tried to please everyone? You've latched onto the powerful Dao Alliance, but haven't you considered..."

"The Zhang family's methods may make it difficult to support someone in Xijiang, but to ruin someone is too easy."

"Do you think the people of the Dao Alliance would keep you hidden away all the time?" Zhang Wuming said earnestly.

"I……"

Pang Qingyun's lips moved. Seeing Ming Shenxiu's fate, he knew that he had indeed been blinded by greed.

In fact, he was unlucky; if he hadn't run into Zhang Wuming, perhaps...

At this moment, he still harbored a sliver of hope.

“I can understand your desire to switch allegiance,” Zhang Wuming continued.

"After all, the Zhang family has been away from Xijiang for eighty years. It hasn't been easy for you to establish yourself here..."

"It's really unfair of you to be forced to act like dogs just by snapping your fingers."

Pang Qingyun was stunned for a moment. He looked at Zhang Wuming, his eyes shining. He was so incredibly empathetic.

"Sometimes I curse behind people's backs, cursing those high and mighty officials."

Zhang Wuming patted Pang Qingyun on the shoulder, offering words of comfort.

“Old Pang, I know you’ve had a tough time, otherwise you wouldn’t have taken such a big risk to change your identity.”

“In that case, I won’t make things difficult for you. You can make a list of the forces that the Zhang family has cultivated in Xijiang over the years, gather these people together, and have a meal, some tea, and a chat…” Zhang Wuming said solemnly.

These people not only possessed the strength cultivated by Zhang Bei, but also included many who remained from Zhang Nan back then.

They were a scattered mess, never coming together.

"I'm just going through the motions so I can have something to show for myself when I get back."

"Is it really that simple?" Pang Qingyun couldn't help but ask.

“Of course, you know my position in Bei Zhang, which is basically that I’m at someone’s beck and call, which is why I took on this arduous job,” Zhang Wuming chuckled.

“You, Old Pang, are sensible, and I, Little Zhang, will naturally know how to behave.”

"Okay, okay... I'll help you make the arrangements later. I'll have someone... no, I'll arrange accommodations for you myself right now." Pang Qingyun was overjoyed and hurriedly left the main hall.

Zhang Fan and Zhang Wuming used a combination of kindness and severity, one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop, until they finally made Pang Qingyun lower his guard. At this moment, he only wanted to survive.

"What you just said is utter nonsense," Zhang Fan said softly as he approached.

“If even Old Pang has developed ulterior motives, I’m afraid the others won’t fare much better,” Zhang Wuming said calmly.

The situation in Xijiang Province was more complicated than he had imagined.

Now, many people are watching Bei Zhang. The people of the sect can't come back, so they've made Zhang Wuming, who can't be deified or have his image erected, clean up this mess.

This is similar to the story in Journey to the West where the Nine-Headed Insect sends Benbo Ba to deal with Tang Sanzang and his disciples.

"I'm afraid the people from Bei Zhang didn't expect you to succeed at all. They just wanted to see what kind of people you were capable of and probe the current state of Xijiang," Zhang Fan guessed.

“This will make it easier for us to do things. If we can integrate these people under the banner of Bei Zhang and stand out at the Dan Yuan Dharma Assembly, we can take the blessed land and incense offerings into our own hands. Then we will have the capital to carve out our own territory.” Zhang Wuming revealed his ambition without any attempt to hide it.

Given his temperament and talent, just because he didn't receive the favor of the patriarch and wasn't deified, he was destined to spend his entire life as an insignificant nobody in Beizhang.

How could he accept this?

Integrating the numerous scattered Taoist temples of all sizes in Xijiang Province is only the first step.

At that time, his status in Beizhang would be greatly enhanced, and he would naturally represent Beizhang and preside over all affairs in Xijiang.

At that time, with the emperor far away, he was a true regional governor, and he truly developed this place into his and Zhang Fan's base of operations.

"What do you plan to do?" Zhang Fan asked.

He helped Zhang Wuming only as a side benefit; his main goal was to eliminate Yu Xuanji at the Dan Yuan Dharma Assembly.

That is the real threat, the most important issue.

"Just like tonight, didn't we cooperate quite well? A slap followed by a sweet treat," Zhang Wuming sneered.

“These people have received a lot of favors from the Zhang family over the years. The Zhang family has a lot of leverage over them. By suppressing a few troublemakers, the rest of them are naturally afraid to act rashly,” Zhang Wuming said with a light laugh.

"I'm afraid the two of us are not up to the task," Zhang Fan said solemnly.

As far as he knew, the Zhang family had placed as many as seven experts at the Zhai Shou realm in various Taoist temples throughout Xijiang Province.

If even someone with Pang Qingyun's cultivation level could harbor rebellious thoughts, how much more so would a powerful expert at the Zhaishou realm?
Having cultivated to this level, I doubt they would want to remain subservient to others and continue serving the Zhang family.

Zhang Fan is now at the ninth level of the Great Master realm, just one step away from becoming the [Head of the Fast].

However, this step was like the difference between heaven and earth.

Even though his alchemy technique is unique and among the nine highest levels, he might be able to test his skills against a single head of the sect, but seven head-level experts are beyond his current capabilities.

“If others can’t do it, you definitely can.” Zhang Wuming looked at Zhang Fan, and suddenly, his eyes lit up.

"How so?" Zhang Fan asked.

"Didn't you also cultivate the [Three Corpses Illuminating Fate]? There's a method within it called..."

"The Devouring God Technique!" Zhang Wuming said mysteriously.

(End of this chapter)