Transcending two realms to become an earth immortal

Chapter 13 Only the Spring and Autumn Annals

The candlelight flickered in the hall, reflecting a cold light off the bluestone floor. Outside the window, the sky was dark, with only a few slivers of light casting long shadows.

Daoist Mingjun remained silent for a moment before looking directly at Fang Chen:

"What kind of help do you need, junior brother?"

Fang Chen pondered for a moment:

"A quiet room is needed to consolidate one's cultivation, and the requirement is... absolute safety."

"Yes, I will stay at the Daoist temple to oversee and protect my junior brother's safety." Daoist Mingjun nodded slightly. "And all the Daoist foundation-level scriptures and methods, as well as all the various treasure troves, will be open to you."

Fang Chen cupped his hands in greeting:

"Thank you, senior brother."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the door.

As I approached the door, I heard a voice behind me:

"Junior brother, please go. I will not interfere in the struggle for the foundation of cultivation. However, if any demons dare to break the rules—"

His tone was sharp, and his face was grim:

"Zhengyang Dao will let them know how I have established myself in this city!"

Fang Chen paused slightly, but without turning around, he walked straight away.

After the figure disappeared outside the corridor, Daoist Mingjun turned to the steward elder:

"Pass on my orders: After the disciples in the manor outside the city have finished collecting the millet and the flesh of the Tai Sui, they must immediately retreat back into the manor to hold their ground and guard against any sneak attacks from the evil sects. Inform your two junior brothers and sisters that if necessary, they may use magic money to activate the restrictions. As for the gangs belonging to the three shops in the city, they must gather all their forces at the Taoist temple to avoid being defeated one by one."

Upon hearing this, both elders and the boy standing nearby became serious.

Such an action was already a life-or-death crisis, a matter of life and death. He was horrified, but after calming down, he accepted the order and left.

After everyone dispersed, Daoist Mingjun sat in the Mingtang Hall in silence for a long time before finally getting up and walking alone into the depths of the Daoist temple.

Passing through the long corridor and ancient path, we entered a secluded stone chamber where ghostly soldiers patrolled.

The room had no windows, and dozens of bronze lamps were embedded in the walls, their bluish-white flames illuminating rows of wooden memorial tablets.

This is where the soul lamps of the inner disciples, elders, and Dao Master of the Zhengyang Dao are located.

In the center of the room, a dark coffin sat silently.

The coffin is a superior corpse-nurturing artifact, capable of resisting external demons. Inside lies a human-shaped wooden puppet, made from a single piece of soul-nurturing wood... All of these materials are top-grade spiritual resources in Dao Realm City, and are excellent spiritual objects for nurturing Yin spirits.

Master Mingjun lit three sticks of incense for summoning the soul and inserted them into the incense burner in front of the coffin.

Amidst the swirling smoke, a hazy, ethereal figure slowly emerged from the surface of the puppet—a Taoist Yin spirit.

Although its nature is yin, it carries a yang energy, and its aura is profound and refined. Its superhuman qualities are suppressed to the extreme, indicating that it belongs to someone with profound cultivation.

This is the previous Supreme Elder of the Zhengyang Dao, whose Daoist name is Shangming.

In the past, he had cultivated to the level of Yin Shen [Day Traveler]. Even if he were placed in a mortal place where the Daoist arts were not obvious, he would still be respected as a True Lord.

When the old world collapsed and they fled into the Yin-Yang world, if he hadn't used his overwhelming cultivation to suppress the demons and led the remaining disciples to settle in this Dao City, the Zheng Yang Dao would have been destroyed long ago.

However, he was also severely injured and had no choice but to undergo corpse dissolution and pass away, leaving only his remnant spirit residing in the soul-nourishing wood.

The illusory figure gradually solidified. Sensing no danger in the surroundings, Elder Shangming's face was frosty as he said in a deep voice:

"I have said before, this world is tainted by demonic energy, and our remaining spirits are constantly being eroded. We only have one or two opportunities to act. Do not summon me unless it is a matter of life and death..."

The voice abruptly stopped.

His gaze fell on the spirit lamp on the wall of the room.

All the lamps belonging to the "Ming" generation have been extinguished. Only the lamp of Daoist Master Mingyang remains, its flame flickering and about to go out.

"Shangyang... ultimately failed." Elder Shangming's voice was deep and somber.

Zhengyangdao is not one to compromise one's principles.

Over the years, he has endured humiliation and hardship, ceding territory and offering tribute, all to accumulate resources and help Daoist Master Mingyang break through the realm of daytime travel, hoping to turn the tide.

Unfortunately, it ultimately failed.

Inside the sealed room, only a long sigh remained.

After a short while, Elder Shangming turned to Daoist Mingjun:

"I understand. Is there anything else?"

Mingjun, with a solemn expression, bowed deeply in respect.

"Disciple... requests to use the inherited magical artifact."

The illusory figure above suddenly trembled, and his tone became solemn:

"Have you thought this through? That magical artifact is almost a top-grade Yang God treasure. Even when I was at my peak, using it would come at a price. You, with only a Foundation Establishment cultivation, would have to... burn your life force to control it."

"Disciple understands," Mingjun said calmly, "but the situation is now perilous."

"The attack on the manor outside the city was a test. Taking advantage of our support and the emptiness of the Taoist temple, they lured the tax collectors from the underworld to their door again as another test."

"If those evil sects from all walks of life are allowed to see through the true nature of our sect, our destruction will be imminent. We must cut off their claws and teeth, deter the villains, and buy some time for Senior Brother Mingyang to break through to the Yin Spirit realm and even maintain the continuation of our sect."

The stone chamber fell silent.

The pale blue lamplight cast flickering shadows on the wall.

After a long silence, Shangming slowly spoke:

"Have you really thought this through? The magical artifact has already conceived a wisp of Yang essence, and the Yin spirit is not yet able to bear it. To use it on your Dao foundation would be tantamount to destroying your own path."

Daoist Mingjun lowered his eyes.

Recalling the past, when the Master of Mingyang Dao singled out his unruly disciple from among all the inner disciples, bestowed upon him the Daoist name "Mingjun," and entrusted him with the remaining tasks.

Brightness is the brilliance of the sun and moon. Weight is the weight of a thousand pounds.

The Master's two words were an expectation, but also placed a heavy burden on his shoulders.

Whether he likes it or not, since he has chosen to take on this responsibility, he can only... carry it for a lifetime.

People always have to take responsibility for their choices.

"Disciple...has thought it through." At this moment, Daoist Mingjun slowly raised his eyelids, his gaze calm. "The survival of the Dao lineage is more important than life itself. Even if this body perishes and the foundation of the Dao is destroyed, if I can gain a sliver of hope, it will be worthwhile."

He paused, his voice calm:

"As for whether the choice is correct, whether it will revitalize our path or lead to destruction, only time will tell..."

"The so-called 'knowing me and condemning me' can only be found in... the Spring and Autumn Annals."

Elder Shangming's illusory figure froze for a moment in the smoke.

A faint glimmer seemed to flash across those empty eye sockets, before finally letting out a long sigh:

"If that's the case... then it's accurate."

The illusory figure faded, about to return to the wooden puppet in the coffin, but left behind a final sentence:

"If it is absolutely necessary to use any magical artifacts, wake me up first. The Ming generation is not all dead yet; it is not your turn to go to your deaths alone."

Mingjun bowed deeply.

The stone chamber returned to silence.

The dim light illuminated the memorial tablet and the dark coffin.

The Zhengyang Path is not without its despicable elements, but with the collapse of the old world's light and shadow, the escape and killing between Yin and Yang, and the five-year struggle of the Dao City and the Demon Cave... those with impure intentions have long since either left to join the demons or died at the hands of their own Path.

All that remains is a dying soul lamp and a coffin for nourishing the soul... nothing more.

Daoist Mingjun got up and walked out of the stone chamber.

The flickering blue lamp behind him cast a long, solitary shadow on the stone wall.

This world is full of turbidity and evil, and the path is extremely arduous.

But having made up my mind to go forward, I shall do it, even if I die nine times... I will not regret it.

……

The secret room was deep and secluded, and Fang Chen sat cross-legged inside.

Little did he know how perilous it was to rise up and fight in this den of demons.

However, the elders and the Daoist Master have not returned yet, the manor outside the city has been attacked, and when the Daoist temple is empty, the tax collectors from the underworld come to cause trouble... Even if he does not know the truth, with his intelligence, how could he not sense the approaching crisis?

Otherwise, why would he risk leaving the temple to gamble on the opportunity to enter the Dao? Could he really not even wait for the time it takes for the sect to raise funds?

"It has been more than five years since I entered this turbid world. The peace and tranquility of the past were only possible because someone else was bearing the burden." Fang Chen closed his eyes and concentrated, then suddenly said, "Now... it's time for me to face it myself."

"The current perilous situation isn't difficult; it can simply be overcome by force!"

Fang Chen thought to himself, if he wanted to break through to a higher realm, he would need either a superior spiritual energy source or a spiritual object from heaven and earth.

However, such a thing is hard to find in this turbid world. If it were someone else, they would have to go through countless life and death experiences in the shadows of the old world.

But he was different; he had…

Goldfinger!

"The essence of the sun and moon, all kinds of spiritual energy, and even the rare treasures of heaven and earth that are uncommon in this world may not be rare in the other realm." He made up his mind, "and this is the key to my breakthrough."

"But once you break through and your cultivation advances, all demons and evil spirits, all life-or-death crises, can be... slain with a single sword strike!"

In the midst of his thoughts, the ancient bronze mirror above his mind suddenly shone with a bright and clear light!

-

Heaven and earth turn, time slips away

When I looked up again, I saw only pure air in the world, no evil or filth, and the bright moon hanging high, shining for thousands of miles.

It was already—

The world has changed.