The True Lord has arrived

Chapter 103 The Imperial Seal
The advancement of the beacon tower and the forging of weapons require the use of black iron sand mixed with Zhou Yan's blood to inscribe talismans on it, and finally to infuse it with blood and spirit. The purpose is to use blood to create a connection, making the weapon easier to wield.

It also endows weapons with the property of absorbing blood to recover.

There was nothing wrong with any of the previous steps, but the problem was that the ancient sword directly absorbed Zhou Yan's blood.

Shen Cangming tapped the blade, the sound dull and muffled.

Zhou Yan asked doubtfully, "Uncle Shen, is this a success or a failure?"

Shen Cangming said, "The talisman should be ready. Let's give it a try."

Zhou Yan gripped the knife, channeling his magic power. A Po Jun talisman faintly lit up on the blade. As he slashed horizontally, an aura subtly entwined around the front of the blade, transforming into an invisible layer of sword energy. Before the fallen leaves could even get close, they were pulverized.

Shen Cangming nodded slightly and said, "The Broken Army Fierce Qi Talisman is fine."

"This talisman can draw blood to restore the blade and also nourish the weapon. When activated with magic power, it can spontaneously entangle the surrounding aura and transform it into an invisible blade aura on the edge. This is why the eighth-rank Xuan Guan Zhen Rong Blade has such a powerful aura."

If there's no problem with the talisman, then it's considered a success.

Zhou Yan brandished the knife, wondering why he hadn't infused it with blood.

Shen Cangming said, "According to the ancient texts, there are two possibilities. One is that this sword 'disdains' the [Breaking Army Fierce Qi Talisman] selected by military strategists throughout the ages, so the talisman can remain on the sword temporarily, but it cannot be infused with blood and spirit."

"The second reason..."

Shen Cangming looked at the ancient battle sword, and the old monk said:

"It's just that this knife is old enough. This weapon that recognizes its master with a drop of blood must be an antique from thousands of years ago. Nowadays, people usually use blood to imbue the weapon with magical effects."

"Young benefactor, this knife is truly an antique."

Zhou Yan had nothing to say.

This is indeed an old knife.

When Zhou Yan swung his sword, the weapon would spontaneously condense a blade of energy, compensating for the short attack range of the beacon fire. Although this effect required a continuous consumption of mana, Zhou Yan was currently wearing the ears of grain from the God of Agriculture and standing near the God of Agriculture's dojo, so his mana recovered extremely quickly.

The ninth-rank Xuan official has a large amount of mana, but there is a high probability that he possesses the restorative power of an ancient deity.

An ancient weapon forged from an eighth-grade material.

With the Ming King guarding the prison behind him, and a divine incantation personally written by a sixth-rank Taoist master on his arm, and wearing the Taoist robe of the Canxia Tower, one of the five major Taoist sects with three thousand disciples, Zhou Yan himself didn't know what his current combat strength was.

Especially when facing evil spirits and demons burdened with heavy karma.

The Xuan Guan realm is not equivalent to the ability to fight.

The weapon forging took a full hour, and Zhou Yan now has twenty-three hours left. There is no time left, so he must immediately head to the Reclining Buddha Temple. Yuan Danqiu has lost his guardian deity and will stay here to protect Gu Huaiji, Lian Niang, Hui Niang, and Yin Zichuan.

The scholar still intended to go, but Zhou Yan stopped him.

"You should stay and keep Lian Niang company."

"Besides, that's the Reclining Buddha Temple. Who knows what strange things might be there? If you're sent to the afterlife, I won't be able to explain it to Lianniang," Zhou Yan retorted irritably.

Hui Niang was also kept on temporarily for this reason.

Hui Niang's soul was trapped in his body by evil magic. Zhou Yan was unsure whether such a being would be affected if it entered a place like the Reclining Buddha Temple. If the two of them accompanied Zhou Yan and ended up with their souls scattered, he could not forgive himself.

Yin Zichuan looked at the small house, then took out the Buddhist lamp and handed it to Zhou Yan.

“My lord, since we are going to the Reclining Buddha Temple, this lamp might be useful.”

Zhou Yan said, "Then you..."

Yuan Danqiu said, "I am here, so I can arrange for these two to meet. Young friend, there is no need to worry." He was a high-ranking Taoist priest of the Canxia Pavilion, a sixth-rank Xuan official. This kind of magic for communicating with the underworld and seeing ghosts was not difficult for him.

Yuan Danqiu looked guilty and said, "This old Taoist's cultivation level is not high enough. If Master Ziyang Zhenren were here, he could leave a guardian deity here and then personally accompany you all to this Reclining Buddha Temple."

Zhou Yan asked, "May I ask what realm your esteemed master is?"

Yuan Danqiu cupped his hands and said, "My master passed down the Cantong Qi and obtained the true teachings of the Dan Ding School. He created the cultivation method of internal alchemy and has already reached the stage of refining qi into spirit. He is only half a step away from the legendary realm of immortals and gods."

Zhou Yan was filled with respect and asked, "What rank is that?"

Yuan Danqiu paused for a moment, carefully considering his words, and said, "Rank is merely the court's classification of officials and martial artists. To divide the world by rank is truly..."

"Yes, vulgar."

Zhou Yan was embarrassed.

Yuan Danqiu said, "In our Daoist practice, we value both the timing of the fire and the level of cultivation. My master's cultivation is unfathomable. If we were to convert it to the imperial court, he would be a fourth-rank Xuan official."

Zhou Yan now knows the general situation of the cultivation world.

It is said that the first-rank Duke of Mount Tai, who suppressed all directions, was the highest in the first-rank realm. After that, the strong people in the world seemed to be around the fourth rank. From the fourth rank to the third rank, one can reach the realm of immortality.

If we're talking about the number of immortals and gods of the third rank, we have to start counting from thousands of years ago.

In Taoism, the sixth rank, as defined by the imperial court, is considered a high-ranking official; in Buddhism, the sixth rank is equivalent to a master.

The three layers in the middle are the heroes and chivalrous figures of our time.

Once you achieve the Xuan Guan rank, even a ninth-rank official is a military captain.

However, this nine-rank system was established by the imperial court based on the Nine-Rank System, which is not recognized by many Taoist and Buddhist sects. Buddhists often refer to it as merit, while Taoists refer to it as cultivation. Zhou Yan's level means that he has just entered the Taoist path, with meager cultivation and weak magical power.

Shen Cangming, on the other hand, possessed solid magical power and profound Taoist cultivation.

Zhou Yan asked Shen Cangming what his strongest state was.

Shen Cangming replied, "I have just entered the fifth rank."

Therefore, Zhou Yan roughly understood why, after confronting the seriously injured Shen Cangming, Qingming Fangzhu made a deal to have Shen Cangming protect him and leave, otherwise Shen Cangming would have died there, and Qingming Fangzhu would have paid the price.

The Master of Qingmingfang obtained a Dao Fruit from the Duke of Taishan.

Along with the other five figures, they were most likely all at the fourth rank. Whether they craved the Mount Tai Fair Fruit or the Kunlun Relics, it was all for the purpose of breaking through the thin line between immortals and gods. However, from this perspective, even if we include the many immortal masters and sages throughout history...

Lord Taishan is probably also top-notch.

The monk Kongkong said, "The old monk should go and check the surrounding garrisons. The matter of the Reclining Buddha Temple is of great importance. If it is really as the God of Agriculture said, there will be no harvest for a hundred years within a thousand miles, and I don't know how many innocent people will die."

Yuan Danqiu stared in disbelief: "What are you going to do?"

Looking at the Reclining Buddha Temple, the honest and simple monk said:

"Destroy Buddhism."

Yuan Danqiu opened his mouth.

"Aren't you a monk?"

The monk Kongkong scratched his head: "I am a monk, not a Buddha."

Zhou Yan smiled: "Okay!"

"Then, let us part ways under this ancient locust tree and meet again in twenty-four hours. Master Yuan, I trouble you to set up the altar and activate the barrier to protect the people of this place. Master Kongkong, I trouble you to contact the garrison."

The monk Kongkong said, "I'm only worried that if I just talk the talk, the garrison won't come."

Zhou Yan looked at Shen Cangming.

Shen Cangming paused for a moment, then took out the remaining half of the gold medal for merit and placed it on the table, saying, "Just say that Shen Cangming of Xingxiuchuan is here. Anyone who wants my head in exchange for merit can come."

If it is said that there are problems with the monks or monsters in this place, the army may not necessarily be dispatched.

However, there is a traitor here, and a traitor that is on the minds of several famous generals. That makes a difference. But this would undoubtedly be using himself as bait to lure the army over. If there is really great danger in facing the Reclining Buddha Temple, then this is the only option.

The monk Kongkong was filled with awe and reverence.

"Hero!"

The group parted ways here. Shen Cangming looked at the armor on Dahei's back, remained silent for a moment, and did not wear it. Instead, he took Dahei with him to the Wofo Temple. The Wofo Temple was first built at the end of the Sui Dynasty and is located in Qian County, Shaanxi Province, which is only fifty miles away from here.

The Great Black is a unique species of military strategist, a spirit beast with supernatural abilities, and extremely fast.

Hui Niang watched Zhou Yan and the other person walk away into the distance. The big monk also packed his bags and left quickly. Zhou Yan, on his warhorse, felt Da Hei accelerate with all its might this time, holding the bronze Buddha lamp in its hand.

The Buddha lamp has an antique texture and faintly emits golden patterns.

One idea after another arose in his mind.

These thoughts and doubts stemmed from the stories of the monsters contained in the jade book.

Reclining Buddha Temple

The Rat Demon Lantern Shadow stole the Buddhist lamps from the Reclining Buddha Temple.

So why did Dengying'er suddenly leave the Buddhist temple?

Why is there a huge hollow inside the Buddha statue at the Reclining Buddha Temple? I didn't notice anything wrong with the hollow before, but it looks just like the hollow inside a human skin after a cicada has shed its skin.
A human body, worn by a demon.

What about the physical form of Buddhahood?

Why did Zhu Zicheng, under the orders of the Weaver Girl, go to slaughter the Chen family?
Before, I only thought of these things as ordinary supernatural tales about minor demons, but now that I have the key clue of the Reclining Buddha Temple, I feel that everything is full of eeriness and strangeness.

Which of these things came first, and which came later?
Zhou Yan gradually pieced together the whole picture of the incident in his mind.

The Weaver Girl enlightened Zhu Zicheng, who used the evil magic of cicada molting to control the monks. As a result, Deng Ying'er discovered that her usual place had changed. Before fleeing the temple, she stole the Buddha lamp to protect herself, but was saved because she was seen by the Master of Qingming.

After problems arose among the monks in the temple, Zhu Zicheng led the monks to tell the wealthy Chen family about the miraculous method of prolonging life, turning people into cicadas, slaughtering the Chen family, and then returning to the Wofo Temple, completely taking control of the temple and spreading the legend of "Golden Powder Buddha's Blessing," which attracted many people.

So, why the Temple of the Reclining Buddha?
Why now?

In the end what happened?
Or is something about to happen...?

Zhou Yan vaguely felt that these clues pointed to one thing, but ultimately the clues were insufficient. He was caught in the middle of the situation, and the final crucial link had not yet appeared. But what exactly was it that led to the events at the Reclining Buddha Temple, and what caused the events at the Reclining Buddha Temple to erupt at this moment?
Meanwhile, in Chang'an City—

The Pei family became a target of the emperor, and the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families instantly became weapons, taking action against this powerful family that wanted to challenge their status. Li Zhiwei's words became the last clue in the emperor's mind.

It is said that when His Majesty the Emperor recaptured Chang'an, the Dragon King of the Jing River appeared in the world.

This means that the current emperor is the chosen one!
With righteousness in hand!

However, when Li Zhiwei went to pay her respects to Consort Cui today, she saw the teacup in Consort Cui's hand fall to the ground, and the beautiful woman's face was deathly pale. Upon seeing Li Zhiwei, Consort Cui paused, looked at her, and murmured:
"Your Majesty, you're coming back..."

What Your Majesty...

Li Zhiwei was stunned, realizing who it was. It was the one who led the Tang Dynasty to its peak, and also personally caused its decline, the true supreme authority of the Tang Dynasty, the Third Sage, Li Longji.

Consort Cui said, "His Majesty has dispatched three thousand elite cavalry to welcome the Retired Emperor."

"I heard that the Emperor Emeritus was displeased and went to the vicinity of the North Temple to rest for the time being."

Li Zhiwei asked, "Northern Temple?"

Consort Cui said, "That temple was built at the end of the previous dynasty. It is located south of Liangshan Mountain and east of Moshui River, adjacent to the ruins of Qin Liangshan Palace. It covers an area of ​​more than 100 acres and is called the North Temple."

"Because there is a huge reclining Buddha in the temple."

Also known as the Reclining Buddha Temple.

Now, Li Longji arrived at the Reclining Buddha Temple with the Imperial Seal of the State.

[After Guo Ziyi recovered the two capitals, in October, Emperor Suzong sent an imperial envoy, Dan Tingyao, to Shu to welcome him. On the day of Dingmao, the retired emperor departed from Shu. On the day of Bingshen in November, he arrived at Fengxiang County, where Emperor Suzong dispatched 3,000 elite cavalry to Fufeng to welcome and escort him.]

—————《Old Book of Tang》, Volume Nine

(End of this chapter)