Chapter 1 Six Sects

At a Dharma altar of one of the six sects, a black-bearded mage felt a sudden stirring in his heart, sensing the imminent arrival of danger. Immediately, he activated the Six Ren Divine Calculation in his mind. After a brief deduction, he understood that a calamitous event was about to occur, and that the source of this calamity was not far off, and could potentially be resolved.

However, the method of resolution remained unknown. Meeting would be a dangerous affair, and since the other party was approaching with hostile intent, a peaceful resolution seemed unlikely today. In the end, they would have to fight.

If he showed weakness, the other party would be strong; if he showed strength, the other party would show weakness. Thus, the black-bearded mage pondered, deciding that for this calamitous event, it was best to first summon some soldiers to bolster his presence. After all, during the ancient Hongmen Banquet negotiations, didn't everyone have five hundred axemen lying in ambush?

Immediately afterwards, a faint red light shone from his eyes, and likewise from his ears. Soon, he understood certain things in his heart. It was just that his sect's mage being captured and interrogated was ultimately a loss of face.

Moreover, he had vaguely come to know the words spoken by the ghost immortal earlier. This was thanks to the mystical spell he had just performed. In fact, many Dharma sects had similar spells; as long as a disciple established a connection with them, they could remotely know some of what the disciple had encountered.

But immediately afterwards, he felt the restlessness of the Shangqing Dharma Realm, wondering if someone from Shangqing had come. But then, he faintly sensed the imposing aura of the Great Ming Dynasty, and his heart turned cold.

"How could such a change occur? It seems a great figure has come to Dingjia City; have I finally provoked someone from the imperial court?"

"The Shangqing Sect is bringing a Dharma master from the imperial court to cause trouble? Has the Biyou Palace finally gone too far? But within the imperial court's Daoist Registry, there is such a powerful Dharma master, yet why have I never heard of him?"

The Daoist Registry was a bunch of good-for-nothing wastrels, not even considered cultivators, competing with Confucian scholars for a living, despised even by the Dharma sects. How could such people dare to barge into Maoshan's Dharma altar so arrogantly?

They probably don't even know how to write the word 'death'!

Here, the heavens are high and the emperor is far away; the six sects are the rulers of this Dingjia City. Even the city lord and the county magistrate must pay respects to the six sect Dharma lords. This place is not next to the Forbidden City!

The black-bearded mage frowned deeply, immediately using his thoughts to notify the other five sect Dharma lords. The six sects were of the same breath, all major forces among the seventy-two sub-sects of Lower Maoshan. Now that outsiders were entering to cause trouble for the six sects, they must certainly unite against them.

But the black-bearded mage also felt that, to prevent a mishap, he alone might not be a match for the other party. However, it would be different if the six sect Dharma lords acted together.

Flames rose around him, burning the talisman to ashes. The other five sect Dharma lords immediately received the burnt talisman. One talisman divided into five directions in the fire, a kind of "Fire Escape"!

"The altar of the Great Manifestation of Spiritual Power, the Great Emperor Huaguang, must not be disturbed by outsiders. Everyone, please summon the Five Changs first, then the Six Ding Heavenly Soldiers."

"Give this imperial court master a greeting gift... to suppress his arrogance."

The flames flickered as the black-bearded mage sent a message to the other five Dharma lords. One of the Dharma lords was somewhat puzzled, his face filled with bewilderment upon receiving the Six Ding Heavenly Soldier talisman.

In his view, a mere imperial court Dharma master could be sent away directly with the Five Changs' soldiers, so why bother using the Six Ding Heavenly Soldiers?

"Great Manifestation Dharma Lord, why make such a fuss? There are many Dharma masters who come to challenge us, using the Six Ding Heavenly Soldiers is too high of a standard..."

Someone raised an objection.

But the black-bearded mage did not say much to them, only saying:

"Just do as I say!"

The black-bearded mage held a higher position among the six sects. The other five Dharma lords could feel his tension through the flames. It seemed that the imperial court Dharma master who came today was extraordinary, and they had to treat him with heavenly soldiers.

The six Dharma lords simultaneously began performing their arts, for to command the Six Ding deities, they had to use the *Supreme Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady Demon-Slaying Secret Record*.

And among the six Dharma lords, each offered up different objects.

Eastern incense burner, western pill furnace, southern candle, northern Dharma bell, central thunderwood.

"Great Manifestation of Spiritual Light, honor the Great Emperor Huaguang, second honor the Jizhi Tuo Bodhisattva."

"Five Thunder Summit Sect, honor Thunder King Chen Hong!"

"Guanyin Mountain Sect, honor Green Bamboo Guanyin."

"Guangze Holy Gate, honor Guangze Venerable King!"

"Black Fiend Great Sect, honor Black Fiend Divine Lord, second honor True Martial Great Emperor!"

"Three Profound Old Lord Sect, honor Supreme Old Lord."

.......

Just outside a Daoist temple, the ghost immortal's expression suddenly changed. At this moment, raging flames erupted from the cracks in the ground and from the doorway. The old mage quickly grabbed his disciple and threw him into the fire!

The flames coiled around him, and the young mage cried out, about to be devoured!

"Fire Escape!"

The Shangqing Daoist instantly recognized the other party's spell!

"Among folk magic, Fire Escape is the most popular, but it is also extremely difficult to learn. Many Dharma sects have their own unique Fire Escape."

Although he was physically weak, he still wanted to take action, but he did not expect Ji Xiang to say softly:

"Freeze."

In an instant, the young mage could not move. Ji Xiang struck out with his palm, unleashing the Five Thunder Dharma, scattering the flames directly!

Ji Xiang grabbed the old mage by the neck, his expression changing slightly.

"Did you think I wouldn't know you were secretly using magic?"

Ji Xiang only glanced at the old mage. His inner vision divine tablet, which had been fine before, sensed the other party's magic and immediately gave him a warning. If it weren't for that, Ji Xiang would have really thought this old man would obediently lead the way.

The old mage's face turned red as he struggled to speak: "You are a Dharma master of the imperial court; you can't kill people indiscriminately! You don't have the right! The Daoist Registry only performs rituals for the emperor; you have to act according to the imperial court's rules, otherwise your identity won't be useful in the future..."

Ji Xiang sneered: "You're wrong about that. My authority is very great. There won't be any problems if I kill you."

"Stop trying to be clever. Just do as you're told, and you won't have to die."

"You yourselves know what guilty things you've done, and that's why you're trying to send a warning."

Of course, Ji Xiang was only scaring the other party with his words. If the six sects hadn't done anything particularly evil, he certainly wouldn't take action.

But some people just can't be given a kind face.

The imperial court had always been the "villain" in the martial world anyway, and it was no problem to take the blame as usual. Moreover, only by scaring the other party and showing that arrogant attitude could they believe that he was from the imperial court.

In this era, the government was arrogant.

Of course, in fact, the matter Ji Xiang had come here to handle had nothing to do with the imperial court. But as the saying goes, they could imagine whatever they wanted; it had nothing to do with Ji Xiang.

They should be the clearest about what guilty things they had done to warrant the imperial court coming to their door.

Ji Xiang silently watched the two mages, applying a certain amount of pressure. Sometimes, not speaking was more effective than speaking.

Sure enough, after being tormented by Ji Xiang, the old mage's brows furrowed deeply. He felt that in addition to the matter of the Shangqing Dharma Realm being occupied, perhaps there were other things that the imperial court had learned about...

Of course, although the old mage had decent skills, he was only a mid-level member of the Dharma sect. He only had a vague understanding of the many things done by the high-level Dharma lords and elders.

Ji Xiang looked at the Daoist temple: "Is this your main altar?"

The old mage shook his head: "If you want to see our main altar, you can only go through these Daoist temples. If you can overturn these Daoist temples, you can find the main altar. Hehe, even I don't know where the main altar is; it's somewhere in the city."

Ji Xiang: "You better not do anything to anger me. I'm not launching a massacre for the sake of the people in the city, otherwise this city would have already been uprooted."

"If I destroy this Daoist temple and still don't know the location of your main altar, then I'll have to kill you."

His tone was cold and definitely not a lie, causing the old mage to feel both shock and dread. He could only pray secretly that the six Dharma lords would give this person a lesson.

Dong, dong—

Drum sounds came from within the gate. Ji Xiang pushed open the gate, and the two door panels shattered in response. What appeared in the Daoist temple in front of him was a group of Five Chang soldiers already arranged in formation.

They wore armor, with golden feathers inserted in their shoulders, and wielded dual sabers, imposing and awe-inspiring.

Red, blue, yellow, black, and white clothing, representing the five directions of heaven and earth, also combining the colors of wood, fire, metal, water, and earth from the Five Elements. They wore five-colored masks. Amidst the sounds of gongs and drums, the mountain goblins and wood spirits all took the stage.

The soldiers were brave and fierce. The five leading figures all glared angrily, their eyebrows like raging flames, baring their teeth!

"A Dharma sect welcome, giving me a show of strength?"

Ji Xiang looked at the old mage: "At the crystallization points of the Five Elements of heaven and earth, there will be an interchange of heaven and earth qi. If there are ancient tombs, trees, or stone spirits in this area, then if people die in such places, they will transform into Chang soldiers."

"But haven't you heard that demons and ghosts fear thunder the most?"

Thirty-six transformations of the Heavenly Dipper, mastering the Five Thunders!

Ji Xiang raised his hand and unleashed a sea of thunder. The Five Chang soldiers were sent flying by the thick thunder pillars. A thunderous sound shook the heavens and the earth, even causing the entire Daoist temple to tremble, as if it were about to be overturned!

Although the Five Chang soldiers were blasted away by the sea of thunder, some still managed to lie prone on the ground, avoiding the attack. They moved quickly, their feet moving as if treading on clouds and chasing fire, brandishing the dual sabers in their hands, about to take Ji Xiang's head!

Bang!

Ji Xiang's hand gripped the ghost soldier's face. The mark of the underworld opened, and the ghostly aura of the Avici Hell spread out, directly swallowing this Five Chang soldier!