Chapter 101: Purple Star Astrology

On the mountain peak, a cloud-pavilion magical treasure now stood. Its treasure light was lively and fluid, splendid and magnificent.

Having returned to the cloud pavilion, Jade Rite Taoist Nun wore a contemplative expression.

The middle-aged Daoist who followed her into the main hall couldn’t hold back any longer and spoke.

“Master, this disciple does not understand. That person is, at the end of the day, just a Scattered Immortal. Even without you taking action, myself and junior sister would have been enough to capture him…”

Jade Rite Taoist Nun looked up and directly interrupted the middle-aged Daoist.

“Do you know why this master urgently settled the Causality with that Blue Beard Daoist?”

The middle-aged Daoist was slightly taken aback and promptly replied. “Master once said, the Three Cycles, within the Jiugong, comprise the Upper, Middle, and Lower Three Cycles, totaling three cycles altogether. One cycle spans fifteen thousand years. One cycle operates through five eras; five eras operate through six calamities. Every five hundred years, the luck of the Heaven and Earth Jiugong shifts, that is, the luck of the twelve branches shifts. Even Heaven and Earth cannot escape this calamity.”

“Under the Twelve Dharma Lineages, there are numerous branches and sects that enjoy the fortune of the Dharma Lineages. Yet, there are also those of varying quality, who deserve to meet calamity and perish. Precisely, those with superior foundations attain the true fruit; those with shallow foundations enter the Divine Path; those even lesser turn to ashes!”

“Not only our Guangling Immortal Sect, but many immortal sects have tangled Causality. There must be an opportunity for a cleansing. Of course, many Earth Immortals also take advantage of this great fortune to leap up and achieve the status of a Celestial Immortal!”

“Master wanted to settle the Causality with that person also to peacefully pass through the minor cycle calamity, and cultivate the Great Dao afterwards!”

The middle-aged Daoist then gained some understanding in his heart.

Sure enough, Jade Rite Taoist Nun said.

“This master did not act, indeed with some considerations. We are now on the cusp of an approaching calamity. At this critical moment, it’s better to avoid extra trouble!”

Jade Rite Taoist Nun had one more thing she didn’t say. With the Twelve Water Scenery Array broken and Blue Beard Daoist by his side, if they acted rashly, the one suffering a loss might not be Blue Beard Daoist, but themselves.

Blue Beard Daoist was an Earth Immortal of many years, with numerous methods. He was caught in the Twelve Water Scenery Array this time because he was unprepared and ambushed. Once he was on guard, it would be difficult to strike again.

“Furthermore, whether you all can safely pass through the coming calamity might still require the help of that youth!”

Hearing this, many members of the Guangling Immortal Sect stirred, though most were rather unimpressed.

This master of theirs seemed to think too highly of the other side.

They held significant positions within the Guangling Immortal Sect and possessed many methods of their own. Since when would they need to ask for help from such a mere youth?

“Let’s set this matter aside for now. You all go and investigate this person’s identity, and what treasure Blue Beard Daoist used to invite him. There may be a time when it becomes useful!”

Hearing this, many disciples of the Guangling Immortal Sect exchanged glances and nodded lightly, though ultimately, they didn’t take it to heart.

…

At this moment, it wasn’t only in the hundred thousand mountains of the southwest. In a divine palace of the Eastern Peak Divine Court, a figure of immense dignity and holiness was also discussing Lin Yuan.

“Divine Lord, you said you would make a move at the True Inheritance Banquet. Yet now, not only was Lin Yuan not stripped of his divine position, but also, from start to finish at the banquet, you, Divine Lord, never uttered a single word!”

Before a round mirror, Qiao Xiaoyun’s beautiful, flower-like face displayed clear anger.

“However, as I understand it, Young Master Yan obtained quite a few elixirs and magical treasures at the True Inheritance Banquet. Within the Yan family, he also gained much favor from the elders, receiving many rewards and properties! Is Second Miss Qiao still not satisfied?”

The gray-robed figure’s profound gaze turned towards her. Qiao Xiaoyun was somewhat lost for words, but she quickly lifted her head.

“But the deal between you and I was: my Qiao Family would work for you within the Great Zhou Imperial Court, officially request sacrifices for you, and you, Divine Lord, would deal with that Lin Yuan for us!”

“Do not forget, Divine Lord, that since my Qiao Family can allow you to enjoy the Incense Offering of a region, we can also easily reduce it all to ashes!”

A flicker of something indiscernible passed through the gray-robed figure’s eyes, an almost imperceptible flash of chilliness. After a moment, he smiled and explained.

“Miss Qiao, there’s no need to be hasty. As the saying goes, to hit a snake, you must hit its seventh inch. Otherwise, if you fail to kill it, you may suffer its retaliation.”

He soothed her gently.

“Right now, you and I haven’t even found out the true situation of that Lin Yuan. To act now would not only startle the snake, but also might invite unnecessary trouble later!”

Hearing this, Qiao Xiaoyun frowned. The anger between her brows shifted slightly. The gray-robed figure changed the subject and said seriously.

“Moreover, this deity has also heard that the Lin Family has an elder brother who holds considerable influence within the Great Zhou Imperial Court. Our Eastern Peak Divine Court is closely linked with that Great Zhou Imperial Court. We must not jeopardize our important matters later!”

As the gray-robed figure’s gaze shifted, Qiao Xiaoyun also understood clearly. Within the Eastern Peak Divine Court, many Divine Lords, even Great Gods, originated from past emperors of the Great Zhou Imperial Court.

For an emperor to confer a divine title was just a matter of will. As long as the imperial foundation was not begrudged, conferring titles on several Divine Lords was not difficult.

Throughout the dynasties, the Dragon Court had its share of famous ministers and generals who entered the Eastern Peak Divine Court. These ministers and generals, resonating with the stars above and the dawn below, contributed merit to the Human Path and could also become Primordial Lords of a Divine Court.

It was similar to achieving an Earth Immortal Dao Fruit.

Although the Divine Immortal Path was hard to sustain long-term, being restricted by Incense Offerings, not all famous ministers and generals from past dynasties could advance further to achieve the Divine Court Divine Lord Fruit Position.

That Hanlin Compiler from the Lin Family was a top-ranked scholar in the imperial examinations. He possessed Vast Righteous Qi and was greatly valued by several great Confucian scholars of the time. He was a key figure in the clean and upright faction. If this person were to enter the grand secretariat or become a prime minister in the future and complete his study of the classics, even Celestial Immortal Divine Lords would have a hard time.

“Divine Lord need not worry about this matter. The fortune of that Hanlin Compiler has recently dimmed. Several of my Qiao Family’s True Persons have calculated that he won’t have long before facing a calamity of death. We only need to give it a slight push to make him die without a place for burial!”

A vicious look flickered in Qiao Xiaoyun’s eyes. After settling the matter, both sides ended the spell.

The gray-robed figure’s expression remained unchanged. A Divine General stepped out from beside him. Looking at the dimmed water mirror, he laughed.

“Sometimes, these female cultivators, when they get ruthless, can be much more vicious than us!”

The gray-robed figure remained silent, his expression thoughtful. After a moment, he’d reached a decision.

If he could receive a title conferred by a governor or high provincial official, it would undoubtedly bring immense benefits to his cultivation in the Divine Path.

Then, he looked at the gray-robed figure beside him and said.

“You have come for that prince in Shangyang County, haven’t you? Allow me to consider this matter further!”

…

Meanwhile, at Flying Dragon Mountain’s Hanyuan Cave, Lin Yuan had already learned from Blue Beard Daoist about his entanglement with Jade Rite Taoist Nun.

It turned out both of them came from cultivation families. They could be considered childhood sweethearts. Before their falling out, they had progressed to the point of discussing marriage. However, just on the eve of these discussions, they found a treasure map and learned the location of an ancient Scattered Immortal’s cave abode.

Things went wrong precisely at that ancient Scattered Immortal’s cave location. Probably some of Jade Rite Taoist Nun’s family elders who came to retrieve treasures were too overbearing, their words somewhat bullying. Blue Beard Daoist, in a moment of indignation, trapped and killed many of Jade Rite Taoist Nun’s close family elders within the cave. From then on, the pair of Dao companions completely fell out.

It was also because of some of the benefits obtained from that ancient Scattered Immortal’s cave that Blue Beard Daoist became today’s Blue Beard Elder.

Yet, he had always felt guilty.

Now, the Daoist Canon that Blue Beard Daoist obtained from that ancient Scattered Immortal’s cave had all ended up in Lin Yuan’s hands.

Among the dozen or so sections of the Daoist Canon, although there were no Path-Completion Methods of the thunder lineage or methods for refining a Life-Bound Treasure, several sections gave Lin Yuan some ideas. So, the trip wasn’t entirely in vain for Lin Yuan.

Additionally, and to Lin Yuan’s pleasant surprise, there was also a method for calculating heavenly secrets: “Purple Star Astrology”!

Not long after leaving Hanyuan Cave, and before having the chance to return to Xuanzhen Abode!

On a mountain peak, Lin Yuan suddenly halted his steps.

Within his Mud Pill Palace, the Silver Ancient Mirror circulated an incredibly profound aura. It had suddenly completed its metamorphosis.

A strand of information flowed into Lin Yuan’s mind. A trace of astonishment appeared in Lin Yuan’s eyes.

The travel interval of this Silver Ancient Mirror had shortened from three days to one single day due to this change.

Furthermore, a new marvelous function had appeared.

“As long as a certain amount of Virtue Merit is spent, the return period can be delayed!”

“That means, by paying a bit of Virtue Merit, one can now freely travel between the Primordial World and the Main World?”

Lin Yuan was overjoyed. As he pondered, he simply found a nearby mountain peak, pressed down his escaping light, and directly activated the silver mirror again.

The silver portal flickered. His figure transformed into a streak of flowing light and entered the Primordial World.