Chapter 1 The Calamity of One Cause

As the Vajra Realm vanished with the defeat of Mahavairocana, everyone instantly returned to the South Sea domain. Ji Xiang felt the power of the Heavenly Heart rapidly receding, and at the same time, a tremendous curse descended from the unseen realm.

"Is this the karmic retribution for killing a Heavenly Heart incarnation?"

This was an indelible disaster, meaning that he would inevitably suffer the same plight as Mahavairocana, namely being besieged by several Heavenly Hearts. But the moment this retribution descended, he saw a change occurring within it.

The words appearing on the blank divine tablet told him that this was definitely not karmic retribution.

The Calamity of One Cause?

What was this?

Upon closer inspection, he discovered that this was not retribution aimed at him, but instead had become retribution aimed at Vajrapani. This gave Ji Xiang some food for thought. Mahavairocana had been thwarted by his group. If he had failed to obtain the position of Great Ghost-Slaying General, causing his rage, then why would the retribution he had threatened to inflict upon Ji Xiang fall upon the unrelated Vajrapani?

Wasn't Mahavairocana let in by Vajrapani?

"Oh, you're suffering karmic retribution. I won't help you resolve it, since I already promised to only make one move... Huh? What's this?"

The Demon Celestial Master's image was about to disappear from the human realm, but upon seeing Ji Xiang's condition, he was also stunned. Karmic retribution was the forte of Buddhism, but the Calamity of One Cause was something he had never seen before. He couldn't help but marvel at the unfathomable abilities of Buddhism. Was it Mahavairocana who was powerful, or did the Heavenly Heart Mahayana itself possess such miraculous power?

"I have fulfilled my promise. Remember to go to Shu, I need you to retrieve a scripture for me. No excuses."

The Demon Celestial Master continued to remind Ji Xiang not to forget their deal. Ji Xiang nodded: "Although the Changsheng Celestial Palace is a gathering place for criminals, a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring. Without Celestial Master Sun's assistance, victory would have been difficult."

"If you need anything, send a message at any time. After resolving the South Sea turmoil, I will go."

Ji Xiang agreed to the Demon Celestial Master's request, but then said: "However, one matter is one matter."

"Hmm?" The Demon Celestial Master widened his eyes. Ji Xiang explained: "The Celestial Master has done me a favor, which I should repay with one deed. But Zhou Sheng said earlier that he wanted me to kill the Thunder King, to sever the dragon energy on his body and prevent him from becoming a warlord in the South Sea, and to gather the dragon energy for that child named Shen Kui. This matter was brought up first."

"Oh, is that so? Fine, I, a dignified Heavenly Heart, won't take advantage of you. Here, take this."

The Demon Celestial Master chanted a mantra, then struck Ji Xiang's brow. As the imprint entered, the swastika symbol on Ji Xiang's brow transformed into a silver moon seal.

The Demon Celestial Master explained: "This is the Great Luminous Moon Seal, one of the Changsheng Palace's supreme seals, symbolizing the divine power of a Daluo Celestial, suppressing and destroying myriad spirits, protecting oneself. The bearer of this seal will have the appearance of a Daluo Celestial covering their exterior, first, preventing any transformation techniques from hindering them; second, locking down their essence, qi, and spirit, ensuring they never leak or become disordered; third, instantly resolving one imminent disaster, avoiding any calamity once!"

"You are going to Shu, and there is another Heavenly Heart there. I am giving you this seal to protect your spiritual platform and physical body, ensuring they are free from any intrusion and remain clear forever. If, in the worst-case scenario, that Heavenly Heart manages to break this seal, you can still chant the Great Luminous Moon Seal incantation to protect your spirit from destruction, allowing you to escape into the void, concealing the future and leaving no trace behind. Take it well, this counts as one thing."

"With this exchange, all that remains is for you to go to Shu and retrieve the spiritual book for me."

Ji Xiang said nothing. Obtaining this seal was definitely a good deal. This was a genuine Heavenly Heart technique, and the Demon Celestial Master was quite generous. Ji Xiang did not plan to extort him further, but just as the Celestial Master was about to disappear, that dreamlike scene appeared again.

Before finally disappearing, the Demon Celestial Master saw the Thunder King appear, while the Eastern Flower Celestial Maiden and Zhou Sheng looked miserable. He was shocked, but in the next moment, he had already vanished from the human realm, leaving only a voice in Ji Xiang's ear:

"That person isn't dead yet, kill him quickly, don't think you can get benefits for nothing."

Ji Xiang was speechless. Seeing the Thunder King appear, his entire body surging with thunderous energy, while Zhou Sheng, the incarnation of black qi, and the ancient celestial Eastern Flower Celestial Maiden were unusually disheveled, he couldn't help but step forward and ask in a deep voice: "The Linghui Dream Transmission Technique can even restrain high-level Celestial Masters. The Thunder King is only a newly ascended immortal, not yet having undergone the demonic ordeal. Furthermore, the Vajra Realm locked down the South Sea's vows, cutting off his incense offerings. How can the two of you not defeat him?"

The Eastern Flower Celestial Maiden pointed forward: "Look at him, he is not the Thunder King!"

Ji Xiang looked over and discovered that the Thunder King's facial features had disappeared, becoming a faceless person, surrounded by thunder, his aura surging. Above his head, he was actually drawing down a vast Dharma realm, his power level actually reaching that of a Flying Immortal.

[Thunderous Might Blessing: Receiving the protection of the Thunder Gods, summoning the Thunder Citadel to hang in the sky, preventing all evil and spells from approaching, turning all spirits into dust under the heavenly thunder!]

Entering Flying Immortal combat power without undergoing the demonic ordeal, even Ji Xiang himself found this strange. Theoretically speaking, only he should have this ability. Even if others were extraordinarily talented, if they didn't cultivate the path of the Heavenly Devil, nor walk the path of the ancient true cultivators, then as long as they followed the Golden Elixir path, they had to experience the demonic ordeal.

He, the Primal Devil King who examined immortals, had not yet permitted this newly ascended immortal to advance, yet someone had bypassed him, opening a door of convenience for him?

Even half of the blood flowing from the Thunder King's wounds had turned into green smoke.

"Blood transforming into green qi, this is not an immortal, but a Flying Immortal. But only half has transformed into green qi... a Half-Step Flying Immortal?"

Looking again at that Dharma realm, Ji Xiang was extremely familiar with it. At this moment, his pupils shook slightly.

It was the place where the Thunder Gods reside within the Great Floating Dawn, the Thunder Citadel!

"The Thunder Gods of the Great Floating Dawn lending their strength? He's just a leader of a Dharma sect, where did he get such great ability? The Buddha-devil was possessed by Mahavairocana. According to the information gathered, apart from the Buddha-devil, no one else has approached the Thunder King."

Ji Xiang and the Thunder Gods were old friends, constantly inviting them and frequently receiving their help, but now he discovered that someone was driving the Thunder Gods to block his path. Ji Xiang tried to communicate with them using his divine sense, but the various divine tablets did not give him any face.

The Thunder Department followed the rules, helping whoever summoned them first, and whose Dharma decree was submitted first. This was not a problem that could be solved by connections, so the gods pressed forward, thunder surrounding and protecting them. Ji Xiang had no choice but to connect to the heavens with a single thought.

Causing a piece of the Devil Heaven to descend.

On one side, dark clouds gathered, with lightning flashing between them; on the other, black clouds pressed down, with clear light scattering between them.

The Eight Emperors Great Devil summon ten thousand military talismans—the Great Extermination Treasure Decree!

The eighty thousand ancient Heavenly Devils had not left, holding swords and banners that shook the heavens; the Thunder Gods had fierce expressions, raising thunder hammers and great axes.

And in the Thunder King's hand, he suddenly swung a weapon. Zhou Sheng hurriedly reminded him from behind:

"Be careful, that's no ordinary immortal artifact! Someone is using the Thunder King as a medium to do something!" As he spoke, his gaze swept around, feeling as if several pairs of eyes were staring at them from the void, making him, the incarnation of black qi, feel uneasy.

He was always the one staring at people, but today he was actually being stared at... It was a pity that the Demon Celestial Master had already disappeared... They must have been waiting for the moment the Celestial Master disappeared to make their move!

As for the Christian household, they had manifested here because of Mahavairocana's slander against Catholicism. The moment Mahavairocana was defeated, the power of Christ dissipated.

That was naturally no ordinary immortal artifact.

Ji Xiang's heart pounded violently a few times.

On the blank divine tablet, the name of that long iron hammer appeared:

[Thunder Ancestor's Ruyi: Celestial Treasure! Weapon of the Heavenly Venerable, Universal Savior of All in the Nine Heavens! The Heavenly Venerable wields it to ward off all demons!]

This was precisely the most powerful material he needed to forge the Five Mountains Divine Sword.

Ji Xiang really hadn't expected it to appear before him at this time, but not for him to summon and use, but instead in the hands of the enemy. It could only be said that the changes in the world could not be controlled by anyone.

Buzz—!

However, although the Demon Celestial Master had disappeared, Guanyin and Ksitigarbha had not left, especially Ksitigarbha, who had broken free from the Six Paths of Reincarnation, manifested his true body in the world, and had not yet entered Nirvana. Having defeated Mahavairocana and obtained part of the esoteric Buddhism's fortune, his strength had greatly increased. Seeing the Thunder King appear, he immediately unleashed the Seven Virtues of the Earth, pressing down on the Thunder King.

But in the next moment.

The Thunder Ancestor's Ruyi was swung, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's divine power vanished in a single blow. Even the Bone Club Ruyi shattered, turning all the ghosts on the Hungry Ghost Paper into green smoke and dispersing them!

The immortal artifact was destroyed in one blow, and the paper tore into countless scraps. The gate to the Six Paths of Reincarnation slammed shut. Ksitigarbha was greatly shocked, as even Mahavairocana had not turned the Hungry Ghost Paper into waste. Ji Xiang's urgent voice came:

"The essence of the Hungry Ghost Paper is an underworld immortal artifact. Buddhist Dharma only transforms ghosts into Buddhas, but the Thunder Gods will truly destroy them completely, beating them until their souls scatter!"

"Immortal artifacts that rely on hungry ghosts to display their power naturally can't withstand this treasure! And this is not an immortal artifact, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, retreat quickly!"

Along with Ji Xiang's voice, the sea of thunder became even more vast. The Thunder King, possessed by something, had another golden immortal scripture appear in his left hand.

[Nine Heavens Jade Pivot Treasure Scripture: Held by the Thunder Ancestor, a Third-Class Immortal Scripture!]

The Thunder King's voice was loud, but he was no longer speaking for himself, but was completely occupied by a Heavenly Venerable form, uttering divine words:

"Heavenly Dragons and Ghost Gods, upon hearing all sentient beings utter my name once, if there are any who disobey, their heads will be severed and their hearts gouged out, transforming into dust!"

In the void.

Someone was watching all of this. When they saw this golden immortal scripture appear, several immortals floated into existence within the void, all taking action.

A Biyou Palace manifested within the Highest Purity Dharma Realm!