There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 52 I won't go, the mountain will come.
Chen Qing paused slightly, taking it as a common Buddhist greeting, and cupped his hands, saying, "Master is too kind."

The monk, however, looked intently at him: "Your demeanor is extraordinary, benefactor. May I ask where the immortal realm is?"

"Chen Qing, the head of the Hidden Star Sect of Mingxia Mountain."

"Sect Leader? So it's Sect Leader Chen in person! My apologies!" Hui Chi's eyes narrowed slightly with joy, then he relaxed. "This humble monk is Hui Chi, a monk from the Fanyin Temple in Nan Yan Continent."

Chen Qing then said, "I've heard that you have obtained a copy of 'The Secret Records of the Monks.' May I borrow it to take a look? I am quite interested in the origins and development of Buddhism."

"Excellent!" Hui Chi's eyes lit up again, and he exclaimed with delight, "Sect Leader Chen actually understands Buddhist principles? This is a great karmic connection!" He handed over the book without hesitation, "Although the book is not the true scripture, it can still give us a glimpse into its origins."

Chen Qing disliked receiving benefits for nothing and was about to speak when the monk shook his head and said, "Buddha saves those with affinity; why should there be money?"

Seeing his sincere sincerity, Chen Qing thanked him and accepted the gift, examining it closely on the street.

I only caught a glimpse of it last time and thought the names of the people were obscure. But after reading it carefully this time, I realized that this book is not a proper historical record, but rather a collection of anecdotes about eminent monks throughout history.

Just then, a line of ancient characters suddenly caught his eye:
At the end of the Daoist saga, the holy monk Shi Kongming carried the *Mahayana Sutra of Crossing Over Calamities* westward, reaching the vast western desert. At that time, the desert people were fierce and untamed, so the holy monk founded the path of the 'Shamen' (Buddhist monastic community), using Vajra to subdue demons and compassion to enlighten them. Over three thousand years, it branched into ten schools, collectively known as 'Great Desert Sacred Mountain,' the ancestral home of Buddhism in the western wilderness…

Chen Qing looked up and asked, "Master, this book says that the ancestral temple of Buddhism is the 'Great Desert Spirit Mountain' in the Western Wilderness?"

“Amitabha.” Huichi smiled with his palms together: “The Buddhist community is vast, and the lineages are countless. The Great Desert and the sacred mountain are indeed the ancestral temples, but my lineage of Fanyin Temple inherits the Dharma lineage of the ‘South China Sea Guanyin Temple’ and emphasizes ‘compassionate passage through the sea of ​​suffering’. The ancestral temple is the root, and the branches and leaves can also reach the sky. Wherever the Buddha’s light shines, there is a place of practice.”

Chen Qing nodded to himself. This monk's speech was extraordinary, and his level of understanding was probably not low.

He continued to peruse the book, but the contents became increasingly chaotic. Anecdotes of eminent monks and fragments of cultivation methods were intertwined, some dates were unclear, some locations were incorrect, and many were inverted.

The stories of the barbaric sand people of the Western Wilderness in the Daoist Era, the rise and fall of Buddhist temples in the Eastern Spirit Continent in the Immortal Dynasty Era, and the chaos of demons and monsters in the Central Spirit Continent in the Meteor Era... are numerous, some lengthy and some brief, and they are not systematic. It is impossible to find any clues about the karmic formation of the substitution calamity.

"This book is a chaotic mess; trying to find what you need from it is like looking for a needle in a haystack," Chen Qing thought to himself. But since it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, he wasn't too disappointed. If he got it, he was lucky; if he lost it, it wouldn't matter.

He closed the book in his hand and his gaze fell on the distinguished monk in front of him.

With a high-ranking monk in front of us, why bother searching for fragments of the scroll?
“Master Huichi,” he handed back the “Secret Records of the Monks” and got straight to the point, “to be honest, my purpose in seeking this book is not to research its origins, but to find a specific formation.”

"Oh?" Hui Chi accepted it with a smile. "I wonder what kind of formation it is that makes Sect Leader Chen so concerned?"

Chen Qing immediately stated: "A karmic array that can steal heavenly secrets, transfer calamities, and make others suffer in one's place!"

"..."

Hui Chi's usual peaceful smile suddenly froze. In the depths of those gentle eyes, it was as if a frozen pool was icy, with a golden glint appearing.

The prayer beads that were being twirled in her hand quietly came to a stop.

“Amitabha.” Hui Chi’s voice suddenly deepened. “This is a technique that steals from Heaven and defies fate, disturbing the very foundation of karma!” His gaze was piercing as he stared directly at Chen Qing: “Where did Sect Leader Chen learn of such a forbidden technique?”

Chen Qing met the intense gaze with composure: "I am not here to practice this evil art. On the contrary, I want to know how to break this formation if I encounter it. I hope the master can give me some guidance."

"Breaking the formation?" Hui Chi's golden light dimmed slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Does the benefactor know that the Buddhist sect does indeed have a lineage of the technique 'Stealing Heaven and Defying Fate,' but it is not just one method! Nor is it just one formation! However, it can be broadly divided into three branches: Heaven, Earth, and Man!"

His voice grew increasingly serious, carrying a warning:

"The Heavenly Vein borrows the power of the stars to lock in the calamity energy and suppress it with a supreme treasure! The Earthly Vein connects to the Nine Netherworlds, circulates the Yellow Springs, and takes the essence, blood, and hair of the victim to bind them to a cursed straw effigy! As for the Human Vein..." The monk shook his head, his eyes showing disgust, "It involves matters of sacrifice, so let's not mention it!"

After speaking, he looked directly at Chen Qing, his gaze sharp: "Which category of formation does the benefactor wish to break?"

Chen Qing thought for a moment and said, "It belongs to the Heavenly Vein."

Hui Chi's pupils contracted slightly, then returned to normal: "The Heavenly Vein, since it borrows the power of the stars to carry out the act of locking, capturing, and suppressing, must belong to the Heaven-Stealing Formation! It is based on 'substitution' and 'inheritance.' It requires the essence blood token as a guide to forcibly bind the calamity to the substitute!"

If they match, then the essence blood token is naturally the spirit bone!
Chen Qing immediately asked, "How can we break this?"

"Two paths." Hui Chi didn't mince words and said directly, "First, cut off the source of the problem! Before the calamity energy is injected, sever the connection between the substitute and the array's core. This is the best strategy, but the location of the array's core must be a dangerous place!"

"Secondly, we need to use a substitution technique! If the calamity energy is already solidified..." His voice suddenly deepened, "we need to find something of extremely high quality with a deep karmic connection to the one who set up the formation, and forcefully insert it into the formation to trigger the transfer of the star restriction and calamity energy! But this is a risky undertaking, requiring a very deep understanding of star restriction techniques and karmic relationships. If we are not careful, not only will the substitute be unable to save us, but we will also suffer a backlash, and we will all perish!"

Chen Qing noted down the key points, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Is there any other chance of survival?"

Hui Chi gave him a deep look and said, "Where there is a formation eye, there must be a protective object! It is the pivot for restraining the calamity energy and circulating the star power! Therefore, three feet below the formation eye, there is a 'calamity energy vortex', like the eye of a storm, a place to avoid calamity! One can temporarily avoid its sharp edge! In addition, where the starlight in the formation is dim, if the flow of energy is sluggish, it should be a gap in the formation power, a place of life! There are also places where the starlight is bright, which are nodes where one can temporarily find refuge!"

"Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

Chen Qingxin understood immediately, memorized the key points such as "the pivot point for controlling things" and "the three-foot-high spinning motion," and then gave a solemn bow.

Seeing this, Hui Chi hesitated, then gazed at Chen Qing for a moment before finally not delving into the origin of the taboo. Instead, he took out a warm, pale gold shell charm inscribed with the words "Haiyin" and handed it to Chen Qing.

"We are a group of independent sects scattered across the islands of the sea, forming the 'Star Luo Alliance'. We all revere a great cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage, supporting each other and helping one another. The Southern Flame Continent is not far from here. If Sect Leader Chen needs anything in the future, he can use this to communicate. This humble monk and the Brahma Sound Temple will do their best to assist him."

After saying this, he put the "Secret Records of the Monks" and the handwritten "Heart Lamp Sutra" into Chen Qing's hands and instructed him: "Benefactor, you have a deep affinity with Buddhism. You may take a look at them in your spare time."

"How can I accept such a generous offer from the master?" Chen Qing was about to decline when he looked up and saw the monk's robe flutter slightly, and the figure had already vanished like a gentle breeze into the city.

"Buddhist affinity?" Chen Qing gripped the shell talisman scroll tightly, his brows furrowing slightly. He then suppressed his distracting thoughts, memorized the method to break the formation, and quickly headed to the Five Qi Pavilion.

When Manager Zhou saw him, he hurriedly came forward and said apologetically, "Sect Leader Chen, unfortunately, the young master's uncle suddenly arrived in Nanbin today, and he went to greet him personally, so he is not in the pavilion."

Uncle? Chen Qing's heart stirred slightly, but he said, "It's alright, I will visit you another day."

Then Manager Zhou added, "However, the young master specifically instructed that if you come to visit, you may wait in the private room. He will return after he has finished dealing with his uncle's affairs! If it is inconvenient for you to stay long, you can tell me what you need, and the young master will do his best to help you when he returns!"

Chen Qing's heart stirred slightly, thinking to himself that Bai Shaoyou was indeed very thoughtful. After a moment's thought, he said, "I do have urgent business to attend to and cannot wait any longer. Please convey two matters to Brother Bai..."

"Firstly, Chen wanted to find a superior method of weapon forging, regardless of whether it was furnace forging or qi forging, he only wanted to master it quickly and thoroughly so that he could control heavy treasures."

"Secondly, I would like to trouble Brother Bai to investigate clues about a formation called 'Nine Qi Substitution Tribulation'!"

After speaking, Chen Qing pondered for a moment, then spoke again, saying, "There is one more thing: to find records related to 'Starry Night Calamity'."

Manager Zhou wrote down the requirements carefully on bamboo slips with swift strokes of his pen.

Chen Qing paused for a moment, then said, "Brother Bai has no shortage of gold and silver, but I have nothing of value except for secrets and anecdotes about the 'Primordial Immortal Dynasty.' If Brother Bai does not mind, I am willing to repay you with this when you return."

A glint flashed in Manager Zhou's eyes as he solemnly put away the bamboo slip: "Sect Leader Chen, rest assured! I will convey this message to the young master without missing a single word! The young master will surely be delighted!"

"it is good!"

After bidding farewell to the shopkeeper, Chen Qing looked back at the pavilion and thought to himself, "A high monk is traveling, guests from the Bai family... Could something big be about to happen in this Nanbin area?"

Shaking his head, he continued walking. Because of the previous example of "The Secret Records of the Monks," he went to the bookstall again. After some haggling, he used a spirit marrow to buy two ancient books from the lean man: "Old Tales of the Cloud Register" and "The Remnant Array."

Before leaving Xiaoyingzhou, he also bought several calligraphy practice books.

Three days later, at Mingxia Mountain.

Chen Qing sat cross-legged on the bluestone in front of the quiet room, his eyes slightly closed, his breathing long and deep, having meticulously refined the breakthrough he had gained and integrated it into every inch of his flesh and blood.

After instructing his disciples, he accumulated twelve Dao traces once again.

"The Dao traces are sufficient; it's time to try adding more settings."

His eyes narrowed slightly, and he had already made up his mind.

"If the dream body can grasp even a little of the mystery of the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Restriction, it will have a better chance of breaking the deadlock. According to the Seventh Prince, the Daoist charm of the Immortal Emperor's ascension is of the same origin as the Xing Dou Restriction. My spiritual light comprehended it during the ascension, so theoretically I can glimpse its path."

Chen Qing's mind raced, deducing all sorts of possibilities.

“Ordinary cultivators rely entirely on chance and comprehension to comprehend, but I am different. I only need to put myself in a state of comprehension in my dream, and then use my Dao traces to activate the Tai Xu Dao Evolution Record. As long as my foundation is not flawed and I follow the trend, I will surely gain something!”

Just as he was about to summon Fang Da'ao and Ah Hong to lay the groundwork for the story of the patriarch, the two of them hurriedly arrived.

"Uncle-Master, the people from the Five Qi Pavilion have arrived."

"You've come at the perfect time!" Chen Qing exclaimed with delight.

Soon, Fang Da'ao led a servant in blue robes over quickly.

"Greetings, Sect Leader Chen!" The servant in blue bowed and took out a blue cloth package from his bosom. "Young Master originally intended to come in person, but the Void Abyss Fuli has appeared outside the Falling Star Gorge in the South Sea, seemingly indicating that it is about to open. Young Master has prepared a spirit boat and specially ordered me to deliver these items. Please go to the Five Qi Pavilion as soon as possible to seize this opportunity together."

"Xuyuan Fuli?"

Chen Qing took the package; it felt heavy in his hand, but he didn't open it right away.

As he listened to what the other person said, the records about this mountain in "The Lost History of the Immortal Dynasty" and the legend of the "Floating Wine Cup Banquet" he knew in his dream flashed through his mind.

This mountain certainly holds many secrets; if one can climb it, there may be many opportunities.

With this thought in mind, he asked, "But if I go there, will I be able to enter the mountain?"

"No," the servant shook his head and said, "We'll just go and investigate first, and wait for an opportunity."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing immediately shook his head. The Empress's scheme was imminent, and the Tianyan Platform was fraught with danger at every step. The slightest mistake would lead to utter ruin. He needed to adjust his energy and spirit to their peak and not allow any distracting thoughts to interfere. To be distracted at this moment would be tantamount to destroying his own Great Wall!
Moreover, Mount Xuyuan is elusive and unpredictable, with an uncertain opening date, and its dangers far surpass those of Haiyuan Temple. Although I have what I obtained in my dream, my current cultivation level is ultimately limited. If I go there rashly, the outcome is uncertain.

"Please thank Fellow Daoist Bai for his kindness on my behalf." Chen Qing's voice was calm and undisturbed. "However, I have recently gained some insights and need to go into seclusion to comprehend them. It is inconvenient for me to travel far. The opportunity at Xuyuan Mountain is too great for me to attend to."

Upon hearing this, the servant looked surprised and regretful, and wanted to persuade him further: "Sect Leader Chen, such an opportunity is rare, only once in a hundred years! Young Master said..."

"My mind is made up, there's no need for further words." Chen Qing waved his hand to interrupt, "After I leave seclusion, I will prepare a secret report and personally go to the Five Qi Pavilion to apologize to Fellow Daoist Bai."

Once everyone had left, Chen Qing closed his eyes again, turned the Samadhi True Fire Talisman to completely sever the last trace of thought about Xuyuan Mountain, and then untied the blue cloth.

Four volumes of ancient books were visible inside.

He glanced down and saw the names of the Four Books—

The last volume, titled "The True Explanation of Nine Revolutions Refining Weapons," "The Hundred Essentials of Qi Refining," and "The Illustrated Manual of the Celestial Stars," has a gold-embossed cover that reads "The Mysterious Mirror of Spiritual Light."

　The second update is coming soon...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)