Pure Yang!

Chapter 439 The Power of Incense! The Wonderful Uses of Golden Substance
Chixia Temple, Miaofa Hall.

Zhang Fan sat cross-legged on the futon, his body surging with energy, as if emerging from a great acupoint, with faint ripples spreading out like waves, vast and boundless like rivers and seas.

His aura grew increasingly natural and harmonious. Three feet above his head, his primordial spirit entered a state of deep meditation in the void. Above him, a cloud of mist surged, and golden flames surged, flickered, and died...

The myriad lights and shadows hidden within the ebb and flow of the firelight reflect the thoughts of all living beings.

"That's the spiritual energy from incense offerings!?"

Outside the Miaofa Hall, Xiang Nantian noticed the extraordinary phenomenon that could not be ignored. As the abbot of the Chixia Temple, he sensed that the spiritual energy from the incense offerings accumulated over the years was surging into the hall.

Incense offerings are one of the most incredible forces in the world.

This power originates from the thoughts of all living beings.

When a single thought does not arise, all worldly ties cease; when thoughts arise in abundance, all phenomena are but temporary aggregates.

Even Taoist practitioners are very secretive about the power of thought, finding it difficult to fathom even a fraction of its mysteries.

All living beings pay homage to gods and Buddhas, offering them with sincerity and incense, carrying with them the purest thoughts, desires, fears, worries, piety... All sorts of thoughts arise and blend into the incense, becoming a link between the human world and the heavens, and becoming provisions for gods and Buddhas.

Incense contains the purest thoughts in the human world, which is why gods and Buddhas enjoy incense offerings.

If we say that "dragon veins" are creations of heaven and earth.

Then "incense offerings" are the great power of humanity.

"The Divine Demon Holy Embryo... This is the Divine Demon Holy Embryo, one of the Nine Great Inner Alchemy Techniques? It can actually taint such power?" Nan Tian said with a solemn expression.

The ever-burning incense was a resource for Zhang Fan to cultivate immortality, but for him, it was a forbidden zone.

Even a powerful expert at the Zhai Shou realm would feel as if a thousand thoughts were weighing on him upon touching this power, inevitably leading to a great calamity, as if he had fallen into a long, dark night.

"As expected of Abbot Xiang, a fellow acquaintance of the Southern Zhang clan, it seems this isn't your first time seeing the [Divine Demon Holy Embryo]?"

Just then, a calm voice came from behind.

Xiang Nantian didn't even turn his head, yet he knew it was Zhang Wuming.

"Having eaten so many meals over the years, I've certainly gained some experience," Xiang Nantian said calmly.

Among the seven powerful cultivators of the Western River Sect, Xiang Nantian had the highest cultivation level and the most seniority. People like Ling Du, Xiao Xiaole, Hua Wuhuan, and Chang Jinzhi all had to be wary of him and dared not treat him lightly.

He said those words, yet he couldn't refute them.

“The abbot still doesn’t trust me,” Zhang Wuming said meaningfully.

"Now that the mortal sect is just starting out, we are all in the same boat."

“Although we are all in the same boat, you are wearing the skin of Bei Zhang.” Xiang Nantian said without any attempt to hide it.

Although he escaped unscathed after the Southern Zhang's downfall and was even incorporated into the Northern Zhang's forces, he harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Northern Zhang from beginning to end.

“Young man, I know you have great ambitions, to unify the Xijiang region and establish your own power,” Xiang Nantian said calmly.

"But who knows if this will be your bargaining chip for future maneuvering?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wuming's gaze narrowed slightly.

If Fanmen can firmly establish itself in Xijiang, it can further become independent and no longer be bound by anyone. If it takes a step back and Zhang Bei returns one day to reopen Longhu Mountain, then Fanmen, as a stepping stone, will have made a great contribution and its status will be completely different.

Xiang Nantian's meaning was clear: he remained wary of Zhang Wuming from beginning to end.

This young man's cultivation level wasn't high, yet he made this powerful leader of the sect feel threatened, extremely threatened.

That feeling is like a venomous snake hiding deep in a dense forest, never knowing when it will bare its fangs.

"No one can predict the future, but right now, I'm betting everything on him."

Zhang Wuming did not refute, but looked at Miaofa Hall and murmured softly, his eyes showing an unprecedented sincerity.

Xiang Nantian looked at him, paused for a moment, and then said, "Many years ago, I met him once..."

"I've seen it once with his father."

“Zhang Lingzong!?” Zhang Wuming’s heart skipped a beat.

"It seems you've maintained some contact with Nan Zhang over the years."

“How many of the Nan Zhangs are left now? It’s all ancient history.” Xiang Nantian shook his head and sighed.

"That year, his father suffered a great calamity and went to Laoshan to borrow incense offerings!"

"Borrow incense?!" Zhang Wuming's heart stirred slightly.

In the entire world, perhaps only cultivators of the [Divine Demon Holy Embryo] stage could accomplish such a feat, even borrowing incense offerings.

"At that time, he was already close to the end of the darkest night," Xiang Nantian sighed.

"Laoshan actually values ​​Nan Zhang's loyalty so much?" Zhang Wuming couldn't help but ask.

"Loyalty? He also paid a heavy price."

“The path of cultivation is fraught with difficulties… His father was the last remaining descendant of the Southern Zhang lineage, and the hardships and tribulations he endured were truly unimaginable to ordinary people,” Xiang Nantian sighed.

Rumble…

Suddenly, a loud noise came, drawing their attention.

Zhang Wuming looked up and saw the golden flames gradually dimming, and the gathering smoke slowly dissipating.

"It's sucked dry."

In just one day and one night, Zhang Fan had completely burned away all the incense offerings accumulated at Chixia Temple.

At this moment, the enormous Taoist temple seemed to have lost its usual grandeur and solemnity, and its mysterious and majestic aura had diminished.

hum...

The door opened, and Zhang Fan walked out. His figure was somewhat blurry, as if he were out of place with his surroundings, exuding an unprecedented mystery.

In the blink of an eye, that feeling vanished, and he stood at the door, just like an ordinary person.

"How are you?" Zhang Wuming stepped forward and asked with concern.

"It's alright." Zhang Fan nodded.

It's been almost half a month since I returned from Tongluo Mountain.

In the past two weeks, he has traveled to all the large and small Taoist temples in Xijiang, studying the spiritual power of incense offerings. His gains have been unimaginable.

He gained a deeper understanding of the [Divine Demon Holy Embryo], and his primordial spirit was quietly undergoing a transformation.

Most importantly, he refined the incense and spiritual energy of various independent Taoist temples in the Xijiang region, and with the help of the [Divine Demon Holy Embryo], he finally extracted seven golden substances.

"The incense offerings to independent Taoist temples are ultimately limited," Zhang Fan sighed.

The spiritual power of incense will dissipate over time unless an altar is set up to gather the incense and prevent it from dissipating. This is why altars are so important.

Many of the Taoist temples, large and small, in Xijiang were nominally affiliated with Beizhang, but they never established branch altars, resulting in a significant loss of their incense offerings.

In addition, Zhang Fan will experience about 70% loss during the refining process.

After all, the quality of the incense and spiritual energy produced by a devout believer and a believer who only seeks help temporarily is different.

In today's materialistic world, for most people, worshipping gods and Buddhas is merely a stepping stone to satisfy their desires. Once the spiritual power of such incense is purified, it will naturally be depleted.

With the remaining 30% of incense offerings, only seven golden substances could be extracted.

"There are still too few people. Little by little, we can make a difference," Zhang Wuming said solemnly. The number of believers naturally depends on the number of people worshipping the incense.

For example, Chixia Temple receives about 110,000 to 120,000 pilgrims and believers every year, which is considered a relatively large number.

Most of the independent Taoist temples are located in relatively remote mountain valleys, unlike those famous mountains and major sects or 5A-level scenic spots. Some temples only have a few thousand individual visitors each year.

Today, all the Taoist temples under the Fanmen sect, large and small, probably have only about 500,000 to 600,000 people. With limited incense offerings, considering the losses and dissipation, it is already quite remarkable that they were able to extract seven golden substances.

"If only I could go to one of the top ten Daoist sects to refine it," Zhang Fan thought to himself.

Take Zhenwu Mountain, a 5A-level scenic spot, for example. According to official data, it receives 1500 million tourists every year. Among these tourists, who doesn't seek blessings and who doesn't worship?
The more sincere your heart, the less you will lose. Even considering the greatest loss, how much golden substance can be extracted from the incense offerings of 1500 million people?
Not to mention that Zhenwu Mountain has an ancestral altar, where incense has been gathered for countless years. It's simply unimaginable.

Of course, if we're talking about the number of people who gather incense offerings, the four major ancestral temples are definitely the most prominent.

For example, the Zhang family's "Ten Thousand Laws Altar" contains all the incense accumulated by Longhu Mountain over thousands of years, but unfortunately, Zhang Fan cannot access incense of that level.

"Are you sure you can do it?" Zhang Wuming asked with some concern.

He had witnessed the terror and strangeness of the Three Corpse Gods. That thing was almost immortal and indestructible. When it merged with Yu Xuanji's primordial spirit, it produced unimaginable changes.

Even as a disciple of the Northern Zhang, he had never seen a primordial spirit possess such power and form.

Although Zhang Fan possessed the golden substance, seven of them might not be enough to kill his opponent.

After the battle at Tongluo Mountain, Yu Xuanji must have become more vigilant and prepared. Moreover, as a successor of Sanqing Mountain, she has no shortage of methods and ingenious techniques, and may have already recovered from the losses of that great battle.

At this point, Yu Xuanji should be even more difficult to kill!

"Confidence? About 80-90%."

A cold glint flashed in Zhang Fan's eyes. That day, he was only a beginner in the power of incense and was not yet familiar with it.

After half a month of contemplation and cultivation, he has gained a deep understanding of this power and has also figured out many variations in the use of the golden substance.

More importantly, he has already completed his cultivation and his physical body has reached a critical point. He could refine his inner core at any time and enter the realm of the Supreme Master.

By then, with the seven golden substances, killing Yu Xuanji should not be a problem.

"Just make sure you're fully prepared," Zhang Wuming said meaningfully.

He was skeptical of Zhang Fan's confidence, after all, the Three Corpse Gods and their power inspired awe and fascination in anyone who had ever seen them.

"Do you think I'm being a bit too overconfident?" Zhang Fan chuckled.

Zhang Wuming pursed his lips but remained silent.

"Some things, even if there's only a 10% chance of success, you can only do them knowingly." Zhang Fan murmured.

Since the three corpses have already caused disaster, it is the fate he has no choice but to face.

Do not say that the path to immortality is shrouded in mist; with my Daoist heart, I will break through the clouds.

Without such courage and temperament, how could one face countless tribulations and gaze upon the boundless pure yang on the path to immortality?
“You’re different again…” Zhang Wuming said to Zhang Fan with a sigh.

If what he saw in Zhang Fan during the Ten Thousand Mountains was sharpness, then...

At this moment, what he saw in Zhang Fan was profoundness, as deep as an abyss and as heavy as a mountain, a Dao heart that even the upheavals of heaven and earth could not shake.

"The Dan Yuan Dharma Assembly is the only chance," Zhang Fan said solemnly.

Yu Xuanji, she appeared and vanished in an instant!

“I thought you’d forgotten about this,” Zhang Wuming said solemnly.

Although he now handles all affairs of the Fan Sect, Zhang Wuming knows that Zhang Fan is the pillar of the Fan Sect.

If it weren't for Zhang Fan, Xiang Nantian would never have stood on their side, let alone subdue the five great masters and unify the scattered cultivators of Xijiang.

"How could I forget?" Zhang Fan shook his head and whispered.

By seizing blessed lands, mortal sects can expand, and regardless of how many talented individuals they attract, they will at least gather more incense offerings.

Now, that thing holds immense appeal for Zhang Fan.

He discovered that while refining the golden substance, his primordial spirit was also changing. The divine and demonic embryo became increasingly clear in front of Zhang Fan, and more mysteries were being revealed.

It is no exaggeration to say that the power of incense is the key to unlocking the mysteries of the [Divine Demon Holy Embryo].

“There are approximately one hundred and eight blessed lands in the Xijiang region,” Zhang Wuming said in a deep voice.

A blessed land is naturally much better than an ordinary mountain valley.

The mountain peak occupied by the Chixia Temple in the south is not even qualified to be a blessed land.

Such places can nurture great medicinal herbs and produce rare and precious creatures; powerful blessed lands can even give birth to naturally born spiritual beings.

"In the Xijiang region, besides famous Taoist mountains like Sanqing Mountain, Gezao Mountain, and Magu Mountain, the foremost blessed land is naturally Tongluo Mountain," Zhang Wuming said in a deep voice.

Among the 108 blessed sites, Tongluo Mountain is the foremost.

"Tongluo Mountain must be taken," Zhang Fan said in a deep voice.

He had already planned it out; in the future, Tongluo Mountain would be the location of the Fanmen's Taoist temple, the foundation upon which they would establish themselves in Xijiang.

That place is located at the junction of three provinces, a place where the southern dragon vein converges, a location with a uniquely advantageous position.

"I'm afraid it will be a bit difficult," Zhang Wuming said in a deep voice.

The competition for the most blessed land is likely to be the fiercest.

"A Celestial Master-level figure wouldn't make a move. After all, such beings are extremely rare, and not every family has a Celestial Master to oversee things."

Looking across the entire Xijiang region, perhaps only Mount Sanqing has experts at the Celestial Master level. If even such a being disregards his status and makes a move to compete for it, then everyone should just give up.

"Where is the abbot?" Zhang Fan asked.

"It's hard to say," Zhang Wuming shook his head.

The master observes the realm of the immortals, guarding one mountain and one temple.

Such a being, who spends his years in seclusion, comprehending the Way of Heaven and Man, and striving to break through to the Celestial Master realm.

However, the struggle for the blessed land and incense offerings is related to the lineage of the Dao, and it has reached a critical juncture. Who knows if a powerful expert at the level of a Daoist master will suddenly appear?
If that's the case, then they shouldn't even think about getting their hands on Tongluo Mountain.

"It's okay!" Zhang Fan shook his head and said.

He naturally knew that the battle for Tongluo Mountain would be extremely fierce. At that time, experts from all the major sects in Xijiang would probably rush to this number one blessed land. He didn't care whether there were any experts at the level of a sect leader or not.

Even if it's strong, can it be stronger than the former demon king of Tongluo Mountain?!

"Once we take Tongluo Mountain, this blessed land will attract countless experts, and we don't know how much incense will be offered there," Zhang Fan thought to himself.

At this moment, Zhang Fan only had eyes for the incense spirit.

If Tongluo Mountain is managed well, it might not reach the scale of Zhenwu Mountain, but it should at least have a million incense offerings. How much golden substance would that be extracted?
"Golden substance, of course, the more the better," Zhang Fan thought to himself.

Over the past two weeks, he discovered that the golden substance he extracted from the incense would actually cause the black iron sheet to react.

That reaction was like a weasel falling into a chicken coop—the most primal and purest desire.

This is exactly the opposite of the Three Corpse Gods' reaction to the golden substance.

"When I have more money, I will feed you with golden substances," Zhang Fan secretly promised the black iron piece.

(End of this chapter)