Chapter 1 Ji Xiang's Shock

Ji Xiang was shocked as he learned these secrets of the past. If not for Gu Xiansheng's sudden appearance, the Yuan Emperor probably wouldn't have easily agreed to meet him and tell him these things.

Because he also wanted to devour him. By telling him these things, he would be on guard and vigilant, making it difficult for him to succeed. That's why he said that he would tell him everything he wanted to know, but he couldn't guarantee whether he would leave the temple alive.

Because he had the intention to strike immediately. Telling him these things was merely stating the advantages and disadvantages.

Even if he couldn't devour him.

It was better than him being assimilated by Gu Xiansheng.

Of the thirteen Yuqing cultivators, almost half were dead. As long as Gu Xiansheng captured another Yuqing cultivator, he would surely become the "Yuanshi Tianzun."

Now, on the other hand.

The ancient method of combining man and god, transforming a person completely into a celestial deity, reminded Ji Xiang of something. When he fought Xu Fu, Xu Fu said that he was born a celestial deity and mentioned, "Dongfang Shuo was right."

Dongfang Shuo was a man of the Han Wudi era, and the founder of the Fangshi Heaven in Lishan River. Ji Xiang had also obtained the legacy of a hundred immortal souls left by Han Wudi to later generations, labeled as "Shenxianjia (immortals)," proving that the correct path to human-god union indeed existed during the Han Dynasty.

Human-god union.

Ji Xiang chewed on the words carefully, unable to understand the truth within. If the current human-god unions were all flawed, whether it was receiving a divine token or a wandering soul transforming into a wandering god or a folk god, these were not true ways to become a god.

Transforming into a celestial deity, gaining the characteristics of a celestial deity, being constantly praised by the world... Wasn't this still the complete path to godhood?

"I have obtained the Christ's method and learned some secrets. The current Christ is indeed somewhat different from the Christ of Western sects in the past. He descended during the Great Western Disaster, turned the tide, saved the world, and then spread his teachings everywhere."

"This happened about two hundred years ago."

Ji Xiang didn't hesitate to tell the Yuan Emperor his information, and the Yuan Emperor was quite interested in this information, letting out a soft "oh."

"So that's how it is... It seems, it's really the second person..."

"The twelfth person was born within the last two hundred years. He escaped earlier than you but couldn't have reached the state of going back to the past in a short time unless he advanced to Tianxin... If he really achieved Tianxin... Then it's a pity that I couldn't kill him back then."

The positions of the thirteen Yuqing cultivators in history were no longer fixed. Some went back to the past to change their roots, and some went to the future to wait quietly. Time had long become a circle. The Yuqing cultivators were both one and thirteen, existing separately or together in different eras or in the same era.

"Interesting. If it's the second person, then it makes sense that he came from the West to help you in your last battle against the Great Sun Tathagata."

"Does he want to assimilate you?"

The Yuan Emperor didn't know if Christ had done such a thing, but immediately received Ji Xiang's affirmative response.

Information was important.

"And Christ's invitation was very enthusiastic," Ji Xiang said.

"It seems he really wants to get you," the Yuan Emperor nodded.

"However, it's not necessarily a bad thing... I've changed my mind. Thank you for the information. This has earned you a chance to live. I won't attack you, at least not for now."

The gloom in the Yuan Emperor's eyes gradually dissipated. Ji Xiang only now sensed a killing intent from the void, a power that was invisible and omnipresent. Once the conversation ended, it could instantly kill Ji Xiang's "life characteristics" at the root level.

But although Ji Xiang only discovered this power now, he wasn't afraid.

Because he originally had no "life."

His root was incense. As long as the incense of the gods in the world existed, he would continue to exist. The life of the physical body was an external appearance. If the physical body was destroyed and the soul perished, he wouldn't die as long as the incense didn't extinguish.

"Since he attacked you and almost assimilated you, it means that if I eat you, I might be assimilated by him."

The rings of Yuqing cultivators were layered upon layers. The Yuan Emperor wasn't stupid, but was just grateful for this meeting with Ji Xiang.

If he had really eaten Ji Xiang without knowing the situation, he might have been injected with power by Christ and become his vessel in the East. In the end... the Trinity, completely unified.

"Christ's blessing is actually very similar to Qing Luo's 'fate,' except that he directly gives you power and helps you accomplish what you want to do, while 'fate' guides you to find what you can find."

"At any time, people in the world are always impetuous. After praying to gods and Buddhas, they always want immediate results. Most temples have no gods, so the Fajiao (the Ritual Masters sect) gradually became prosperous, because the monks of the Fajiao can help the people solve problems that the gods cannot solve."

"As for the level of cultivators, it's the same. Any opportunity that requires a long search is always tiring and accompanied by risks, but where in the world is there an opportunity without risks? Just like you coming here to see me."

"But then again, if you want to fight Gu Xiansheng, you must ensure that none of us remaining can die again. I don't want to be assimilated by Christ, Christ wants to assimilate us, but he certainly doesn't want to be assimilated by Gu Xiansheng either."

"We can join forces."

Ji Xiang faced the Yuan Emperor's proposal and agreed without hesitation, "With pleasure!"

"However, you have to guarantee my safety. At least, give me some treasures to defend myself."

The Yuan Emperor was slightly stunned, then sneered a few times, "The celestial demon is cunning, using the danger of Christ's assimilation to coerce me. Indeed, if you are assimilated by Christ, I will be inferior to him and Gu Xiansheng, and I dare not eat you, nor can I let you be eaten by Gu Xiansheng."

"And the missing first and twelfth persons, I can agree to your request to be constantly on guard, there is no problem."

"I will also inform the people of the Song court not to oppose you. Of course, I can only manage a part."

Ji Xiang asked upon hearing this, "What do you mean by a part? You should be the most powerful reliance of the Song court immortals, right?"

The Yuan Emperor smiled slightly, "It's not wrong to say that. Whether it's the empty shell of the Jade Emperor, or the Weiquan Zizai Tianzun who usurped the power of Dongyue, or the remaining two, Song Shen Tianwang and Song Shengzu, from the current realm, they are not as good as me."

"But... compared to me, they have greater control over the current underworld dynasty, and they can obtain more changes there... Me? I'm just an outside helper. I use them, and they use me."

"So, the part that I can manage is limited. The three of them, excluding the Jade Emperor who was seized by you, I cannot guarantee whether their plots against you will stop. I can only say that I will do my best, after all, our common enemy with you and Christ is Gu Xiansheng."

"By the way, let me tell you two more news. First, I killed the eleventh person and obtained his title, Yuqing Zhenwang (True King of Yuqing). That is, Gaoshang Shenxiao Yuqing Zhenwang, the Antarctic Longevity Emperor."

"The magic power of this Emperor is to think about the three disasters and eight difficulties of all living beings in the world, all the sufferings of the Nine Nether Springs and Fengdu, and all the sins of the souls who are punished. And because of the request for mutual help in hardships, countless sufferings, day and night, life and death, come and go, like a spinning wheel, pitying all living beings in the three realms. Therefore, I can defeat those Youming (dark) Dharma realms, and either kill or imprison those masters of the Dharma realms, or exile them to the six paths of reincarnation, Avici hell."

"What I mean is that you won't be able to find the Nine Nether Salvation Heavenly Lord's divine tablet. If you really find it, it will come into my hands the next moment. So, why not make a deal? You help me find the Nine Nether Salvation Heavenly Lord's divine tablet, and I will also give you a generous gift, and even help you unconditionally three times, no matter what enemy you face, even if Hunyuan (Primordial) is here, although I am no match, I can protect you and retreat safely."

"No need to answer now. If you think it through in the future, just chant my name at any time, the transaction is always valid."

"Second... The Yaotianshi (Demon Celestial Master) asked you to go to the Shu region, right?"

"Listen to me, if you want to live, or rather, don't want your cultivation to be wasted and finally eaten by me in vain, losing your value... before you reach the level of comprehending Daluo (Grand Luo), don't go."

"I know you are honest and cannot fail to do what you have promised, so let me give you a word of advice - stop when you see Qian, Leishan Xiaoguo."

Stop when you see "Qian," Leishan Xiaoguo, means only do a small thing, you can't do big things, otherwise there will be great disaster.

"Why not speak plainly?" Ji Xiang was quite rogue, not wanting to play riddles.

But the Yuan Emperor shook his head, his expression unprecedentedly serious:

"Just do one small thing, then immediately turn back. Remember, you can only do one thing."

"The Qingqiang sacrifice has begun, and the evil god of ancient times is about to appear. It devours all spirits to grow and is related to the origin of Taoism and Yuqing Heaven, but we Yuqing cultivators must not go to touch it. I went back to the past to know about this, most of the Yuqing cultivators probably don't know of its existence."

"But I can't say its name, or even transmit it to you with divine thought, it will be sensed and expose my whereabouts. After the Qingqiang sacrifice begins, many past things will inevitably revive within the Shu region, they are imaginary enemies that existed in the early days of Taoism, but they are just the vanguard that it has recreated."

Ji Xiang pondered and guessed:

"The Six Heavens Old Ghosts?"

However, the Six Heavens Old Ghosts were merely the vanguard coming to the human world?

Moreover, the Six Heavens Old Ghosts themselves were a slander against the Six Heavens Emperors, calling them blood-eating gods, which were ghost and god images created by Taoism to criticize Confucianism.

And he has already mastered the identity of a Confucian Five Emperors, so... could it be that he is now, in essence, one of the Six Heavens Old Ghosts?

Ji Xiang thought this, just as he saw the Yuan Emperor staring at him and again giving a warning:

"Confucian magical powers, must not be used, take care of yourself."

After saying that, a divine light enveloped Ji Xiang, obtaining a share of supernatural power, and the Yuan Emperor had already disappeared, leaving only the wooden and clay sculpture of the Great Rain Dragon King.

Outside the temple, outside the mountain gate, the incense was curling, and people were crowded.