Chapter 431: Chapter 56: The 12 Taoist Bodies All Merge into My Being
After half a day of rest, Li Mo tirelessly opened the Creation Book.
As soon as his consciousness activated the Substitute Dao Page, the sound of blood dripping echoed in his ears, followed by the sight of the low-grade spiritual treasure Doulu Tripod appearing before him.
"I’ll have to experience the No-Life Mother’s incubation again. Truly eerie."
The corpses of the Twelve Immortals hung inside the tripod, all grotesquely bloated and decayed like giant effigies.
Li Mo could still hear the faint, murmured chants of Buddhist sect monks outside the tripod. Their thunderous scripture recitations caused the Doulu Tripod to tremble slightly.
As the blood water accumulated to a certain level, a fetus emerged within the pool.
[No-Life Mother, Body of Creation]
The No-Life Mother’s body appeared slightly deformed. Though its spiritual wisdom was low, its comprehension was astonishing, its aura resembling that of an exiled immortal, digesting the scripture chants of the monks.
Li Mo, through the Substitute Dao Page, sensed the No-Life Mother growing stronger.
"Seize the Body of Creation."
The No-Life Mother, who had been meditating with closed eyes to the scripture chants, suddenly began to thrash about violently. The blood water inside the tripod boiled, throwing the monks outside into a frantic panic.
"First comes... [Evil Demon Entering the Brain]."
As the innate Taoist body of the First Senior Sister Zu Xiuyun, Evil Demon Entering the Brain was not considered highly refined. It caused spiritual wisdom to veer toward obsession and madness.
The advantage was immunity to heart demons and an intuitive affinity for Devil Sect magic.
The surface of the Substitute Dao Page revealed an ink-black, charcoal-like brain. The Creation Book allowed Li Mo to decide which Daoist body traits to incorporate into his own.
"With an Innate Saint present, Evil Demon Entering the Brain is utterly superfluous."
Li Mo shook his head slightly and decisively used Evil Demon Entering the Brain as nourishment for the Sunlight Dharma Body, merging it into his Dharma Body Daoist trait [Great Light True Body].
Though the Sunlight Dharma Body was associated with the Buddhist Sect, its essence was inherently tied to the Devil Sect.
The aura of his Buddha Demon Body surged, as the initial fusion between the two began to yield mutual benefits.
Sitting atop a radiant Lotus Throne, the Dharma Body emitted waves of mysterious light while its structure became increasingly intricate. Sword Intent swirled around it like an ethereal tide.
"Oh?"
Li Mo’s eyebrows raised.
He noticed that the refinement speed of his dual cultivation technique had significantly increased. What once felt like an unreachable goal now showed faint signs of progress.
It seemed that the comprehension-enhancing trait of Evil Demon Entering the Brain had not gone to waste when infused into the Dharma Body.
"Amitabha Buddha, the descent of the True Buddha evidently will not come easily."
Outside the tripod, an elder monk sighed deeply. After losing the Daoist trait Evil Demon Entering the Brain, the fetus shrank noticeably in size.
Li Mo understood that unless he used the Substitute Dao Page nine more times, the No-Life Mother’s growth would not be significantly hindered, so he waited to see how the Buddhist Sect would respond.
"Amitabha Buddha, long ago, there was a Buddha who sacrificed his flesh to feed a tiger. Would any of you be willing to fulfill the True Buddha?"
"I am willing. This humble disciple possesses an Innate Taoist Body, and I offer myself to nourish the True Buddha. Should the True Buddha be born through me, it would be an immense act of merit."
"Senior Brother’s Taoist Body pales in comparison to mine. Master should choose me instead."
"Both Senior Brothers are exemplary monks of the Buddhist Sect, and with Leiyin Temple’s Feathered Transformation into Buddhism forthcoming, our future will surely rely on their protection..."
Li Mo, upon hearing this, showed a trace of astonishment in his eyes.
"Feathered Transformation into Buddhism?"
The information revealed by the Buddhist Sect had not been disclosed during the previous use of the Substitute Dao Page. It was all an unintended consequence of Li Mo seizing opportunities.
The elder monk gestured for the disciples to cease their quarreling and pointedly called out, "Leiyin Temple’s Feathered Transformation into Buddhism indeed requires a guardian monk. Hui Sheng, you shall do it."
Crack, crack, crack...
Under the illumination of Buddha Light, the Doulu Tripod was slowly pried open. Hui Sheng willingly climbed into the tripod.
Li Mo couldn’t help but glance over.
The monk’s image was immensely unsettling to him—his upper body resembled a snake shedding its skin, while a new head burst forth from his back.
Regardless of whether Hui Sheng spoke or breathed, he always used the head emerging from his back.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Hui Sheng clasped his hands in front of him in a show of compassion and began muttering to himself. His flesh, blood, and bones began to collapse, merging into the pool of blood water.
The No-Life Mother stabilized in condition and resumed its vigorous growth.
"Leiyin Temple Feathered Transformation into Immortality? Could it be that the Buddhist Sect didn’t perish but instead ascended collectively with great splendor? That’s impossible."
Li Mo was momentarily lost in thought before the Substitute Dao Page revealed the Taoist body of Second Senior Sister Hu Teng.
[Plant Human]
Unexpectedly, Plant Human shared the same source as the Innate Saint. The Innate Saint was already eager to evolve.
Li Mo could feel that this would advance his Immortal Body to about forty percent completion.
Before the Innate Saint could finish its transformation, another monk fell into the Doulu Tripod, and the Taoist body of Fourth Senior Sister [Ancient Taoist Medicine Body] followed closely behind.
The Ancient Taoist Medicine Body imbued one’s flesh and blood with medicinal properties. When these properties accumulated, they generated lethal toxins that could seal a throat upon any exposure to blood.
Li Mo initially considered giving it to the Ten Thousand Transformation Sword Infant; perhaps it could accelerate the evolution of his Lifebound Flying Sword. Unexpectedly, the Great Wilderness Immortal Body showed compatibility with the Ancient Taoist Medicine Body.
"The Great Wilderness Immortal Body, nourished by the Tattooed Beast as its core, grows alongside the cultivator’s physical form. Presumably, the Ancient Taoist Medicine Body would enhance the physical strength of the Tattooed Beast."
Thus, the Great Wilderness Immortal Body devoured the Ancient Taoist Medicine Body, indirectly fortifying Li Mo’s foundation.
Fifth Senior Sister Yu Xiao contributed [Absolute Thunder Sword Body], which naturally aligned with Taiyi Sword Bone.
Taiyi Sword Bone underwent a complete transformation, its marrow harboring the growth of Yang Thunder. Even the Spider Sword Orb benefited from this evolution, exhaling and inhaling scattered bolts of lightning.
Ye Zhuo Daoist was startled—Li Mo’s entire body became enveloped in golden thunder.
"What the hell?"
He hadn’t expected Taiyi Sword Body to further evolve. He was only aware of Li Mo’s sword body spontaneously generating Yang Extreme Thunder, with no prior signs at all.
"Even the sword body can innovate? What kind of talent and comprehension is this!"
Ye Zhuo Daoist murmured in astonishment.
Phenomena only lasted for mere moments before the thunder retracted into the marrow.
[Yang Thunder Sword Bone] was complete.
Examining the bones adorned with partially-etched spirit patterns, Li Mo couldn’t help but activate the Artifact Refining Divine Power.
[Sword Dao Spirit Pattern]
[Using Sword Qi as ink, Sword Intent as a brush, and the Lifebound Flying Sword as a medium, one can inscribe Sword Dao Spirit Patterns onto the interior and exterior of corresponding Hundred Refinement Magical Artifacts.]
Though the Sword Dao Spirit Pattern remained incomplete, it was sufficient to elevate the Trapped Sword Platform into a Fake Magical Treasure.
Sixth Senior Sister Miao Miaqing’s Taoist body carried [Spirit Medicine Healing Heart], her chest inherently exposed, allowing spiritual material seeds to grow within.
In a short time, spiritual materials could mature.
The Great Wilderness Immortal Body showed little interest in the Spirit Medicine Healing Heart, so Li Mo allocated it to the Sword Infant’s Sword Dragon True Body.
The Ten Thousand Transformation Sword Infant absorbed the Spirit Medicine Healing Heart, radiating assorted sword intents. Thousands of Lifebound Flying Swords competed to absorb the emanating energy.
The roars of sword pouches spread continuously, as dozens of Dragon Fish seized the opportunity to evolve into Hui Dragons.
Outside the tripod, the elder monks teetered on the brink of madness, watching their disciples sacrifice themselves to feed the No-Life Mother, yet dared not intervene.
Seventh Senior Sister Da Hua Taoist brought forth [Purple Palace Flower Palace].
Li Mo initially thought this was a Wood Attribute Daoist Body, but to his surprise, Purple Palace Flower Palace warmed divine senses, ultimately integrating with the Sunlight Dharma Body.
Eighth Senior Sister Si Rui Pavilion revealed [Breaking Void Immortal Eyes], capable of penetrating spiritual energy veins. It merged with the Great Wilderness Immortal Body, enhancing its Cave God’s Eye.
Ninth Senior Sister Ruo Shui yielded [Vajra Body], reinforcing her flesh through metal consumption, which Li Mo incorporated into Daoist Equipment Infant’s Mysterious Magnetic True Body.
Tenth Senior Sister Luo Fu offered [Demon Heart Planting Demon], making her expressions and gestures capable of evoking heart demons from living beings. This was subsumed into the Buddha Demon Body’s Demon Head True Body.
Eleventh Senior Sister Qu Ai provided [Thousand Beasts Demon Body], as her detached limbs and organs transformed into demon beasts. It was consumed by Taasu Beast Infant’s Ancestor True Body.
Finally, Twelfth Senior Sister Ta Shi unveiled [Corpse Dissolution Immortal Body].
Using the Substitute Dao Page, Li Mo could inherit about thirty percent of the Corpse Dissolution Immortal Body.
While deliberating whether to isolate the integration, the Innate Saint—combined with Enlightened Spiritual Child—issued a warning: the Corpse Dissolution Immortal Body might lead to his consciousness falling dormant.
Li Mo hesitated, sweeping his divine sense across every inch of his body.
If the Nascent Soul Body absorbed the Corpse Dissolution Immortal Body, it might remain unusable until immortal ascension, rendering even Ten Thousand Transformation Sword Infant unmanageable.
The Substitute Dao Page began to fade, as the chance for creation waned.
"Corpse Mountain? Corpse Mountain works too?"
Li Mo realized Corpse Mountain could serve as the vessel for the Corpse Dissolution Immortal Body and acted without any delay. The Corpse Mountain Mini World quaked in response.
Although Corpse Mountain previously only carried seventy-six spirit patterns, it directly began advancing toward High Grade Magical Treasure status.
Da Ai Mi Tian, further stimulated by the Great Wilderness Immortal Body’s reciprocal enhancement, underwent its transformation into High Grade as well. Cancer cells proliferated wildly.
The metamorphosis of various Daoist bodies persisted undeterred.
Li Mo’s full concentration remained fixed on the Substitute Dao Page, observing closely.
After the sacrifice of twelve disciples from Leiyin Temple, the No-Life Mother matured, though its ensuing development mirrored prior stages nearly identically.
Boom, boom, boom.
The No-Life Mother pounded the tripod’s body forcefully, throwing Leiyin Temple into chaos. An intangible aura mutated many monks into deceitful objects.
"What manner of demons and ghosts is this?"
"If this isn’t the True Buddha descending... Zu Xiuyun, how dare you deceive Leiyin Temple!!"
"Recite scriptures, subdue the demon!"
Agonized, the No-Life Mother vented its fury by devouring the Twelve Immortals’ corpses.
Zu Xiuyun opened her eyes, carrying the bodies of her fellow Senior Sisters as she retreated into the True Void Hometown.
Perhaps Zu Xiuyun struggled to suppress the No-Life Mother through her Taoist body, causing her defeat to occur faster than anticipated.
BANG.
The Doulu Tripod was overturned.
Through the gap, Li Mo glimpsed the familiar sight of Duo Bao Heavenly King—his lower half still tenuously attached to remnants of the elder monk’s form.
The memory cut off abruptly.
"Leiyin Temple once visited the Road Head God Temple. Did the Buddhist Sect truly ascend through Feathered Transformation?"
Li Mo’s pupils contracted as the Fire Spirit Hall manifested a town called [Wumen City], one that had perished during the upheaval of Heaven and Earth.
Evidence pointed to the Buddhist Sect pursuing the secret of Feathered Immortal Ascension during the upheaval, with some monks successfully mastering "Immortal Law."
Even the nameless elder monk had transformed through the Road Head God Temple into [Duo Bao Heavenly King].
Li Mo suppressed the peculiar sensations from his Daoist body’s metamorphosis and gazed toward the boundless sky, where a brilliant sun hovered above the Great Sun Sword Tomb’s pinnacle.
It seemed as though he could glimpse the Immortal Realm atop the celestial ladder, teeming with countless grotesque deceitful objects.
"But... can Feathered Transformation truly lead to immortality? Chen Tiangang sacrificed everything to return to the mortal world, proving that the shortcut of Feathered Transformation into Immortality may not be correct."