Yang Hong had actually realized something was amiss from the very beginning when he started reciting the "Du Ren Jing" (Scripture for Delivering Beings).
The moment the first verse left his lips, his True Essence surged within him, an uncontrollable urge to activate the scripture.
But things weren't right now.
He immediately circulated his "Advanced Breathing Technique" at full power, desperately suppressing the anomalous surge of True Essence.
All the while, he had to keep reciting the scripture.
This made his recitation falter and stumble.
However, in Li Lianshan's eyes, this appearance was merely him trying his best to recall the dream and diligently recite the verses.
"...to fulfill all wishes, as described in the scripture."
After a stuttered recitation, Yang Hong stopped. But a sudden premonition struck him, his temples throbbing violently.
It felt as though a fatal crisis was rapidly approaching.
Yang Hong hastily began reciting from the beginning.
"Tai Shang Tai Xing, responding to change without pause..."
He recalled what the Taoist priests had instructed in his previous life when chanting the "Du Ren Jing."
They said that for every cycle of reciting this scripture (ten recitations constitute one cycle), all heavenly realms would converge, and countless ancestors and suffering souls would be delivered and ascend to the Vermilion Palace.
Completing ten recitations could bring withered life back to spring.
Conversely, any negligence or disrespect would lead to the downfall of nine generations of ancestors and eternal servitude to the ghostly officials.
In other words, one should either not read the "Du Ren Jing" at all,
or, once started, it must be read ten times consecutively.
Yang Hong no longer dared to be careless. While suppressing the surge of True Essence, he sincerely and reverently recited the "Du Ren Jing," allowing no other thoughts to intrude.
"Boom~ Boom~ Boom Rumble~"
As Yang Hong focused on reciting the scripture, dark clouds slowly gathered above the palace complex where the Imperial Astronomical Bureau was located.
When Yang Hong finished his second recitation, thunder began to rumble.
Three days later, a chilling wind blew within a three-mile radius.
Many palace maids and eunuchs within this area directly fainted.
Yang Jian immediately ordered everyone to stay away from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
After five recitations, indistinct ghostly figures appeared, accompanied by eerie roars.
Yang Hong's voice, amplified by some unknown power, echoed across the heavens and earth within a three-mile radius.
It was only when the tenth recitation began that the golden light of merit on Yang Hong's body suddenly surged, enveloping the entire three-mile radius.
The ghostly figures and apparitions that had been roaring terrifyingly began to calm down.
As if understanding something from the scripture, the ghostly figures slowly transformed into white light and dissipated within the golden radiance.
"May my recitation echo through the ten directions. To fulfill all wishes, as described in the scripture."
With the tenth recitation completed, Yang Hong felt completely relaxed, as if he had just finished a thorough scrubbing at a spa.
The fatigue and discomfort he felt upon waking from his dream vanished completely.
When Yang Hong opened his eyes, he was met with a handsome face contorted in shock.
Li Lianshan's usual scholarly demeanor had vanished entirely. Besides the shock on his face, tears of greed were streaming down the corners of his mouth.
Startled, Yang Hong leaned back, almost falling to the ground.
"Senior... are you alright?"
"Good, I am very good.
Junior Brother, could you possibly impart this scripture to me?"
Li Lianshan pleaded, his eyes blazing with fervent light.
"Yes, of course.
I heard this scripture in a dream; it's quite peculiar.
If Senior wants it, take it."
Yang Hong waved his hand carelessly, as if truly indifferent to the scripture.
"Then thank you, Junior Brother.
However, I will still have to trouble Junior Brother to write it down."
As he spoke, a desk and a set of brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone appeared.
"..."
Yang Hong was taken aback by Li Lianshan's actions, but he silently picked up a brush and began to meticulously write down the "Du Ren Jing."
While writing, Yang Hong was extremely cautious, not using even a wisp of True Essence. He didn't even dare to focus his spirit on the "Du Ren Jing."
He had already triggered an anomaly without using True Essence;
if he were to use True Essence or divine sense this time, it would surely lead to major trouble.
Under Yang Hong's control, a 666-character "Wuliang Du Ren Shang Pin Miao Jing" (Supreme Wonderful Scripture for Delivering Beings Without Limit) was freshly produced.
He didn't know why, but when he recited it, it was less than 600 characters, yet when he wrote it down, it somehow gained an additional 66 characters.
And when he looked at the name that had inexplicably been written, he felt a sense of inevitability, as if it were meant to be.
It was very strange, yet perfectly natural.
"Senior, this is that scripture.
But I don't know if it's correct."
Yang Hong handed the last written page to Li Lianshan.
"Correct or not, I'll know once I try it."
Li Lianshan took the last page, read it carefully, and then began to recite it aloud.
He paid no heed to Yang Hong's words.
He had already listened to it ten times, and while Yang Hong was writing, he had carefully memorized it.
With the memory capacity of a Golden Core stage cultivator, errors were impossible.
"Tai Shang Tai Xing, responding to change without pause..."
As Li Lianshan's voice emerged, it truly resonated for a hundred miles.
Unlike Yang Hong's cautious approach, he directly infused his Golden Core True Essence into his voice.
Although his voice wasn't booming, it could be heard within a hundred-mile radius.
"...to fulfill all wishes, as described in the scripture."
As the first recitation concluded, a faint golden radiance appeared on Li Lianshan, who was before Yang Hong's eyes.
His entire being appeared divine and solemn, as if an immortal had descended.
Furthermore, as the scripture continued to be recited, this golden light kept radiating outwards.
However, there was one point of difference compared to Yang Hong.
Yang Hong's initial recitations of the scripture would attract strange shadows and inexplicable sounds that interfered with his chanting.
But when Li Lianshan recited, there were no ghostly shadows or strange phenomena, only a faint golden light that continuously spread.
Yang Hong, standing beside Li Lianshan, could feel waves of warm wind constantly blowing.
The biggest difference was that after Li Lianshan's ninth recitation, although his lips continued to move, no sound emerged, which was very strange.
"Junior Brother possesses truly great destiny!
You only suffered one peculiar attack, yet not only are you unharmed, but you have also profited from misfortune."
After also completing ten recitations, the golden light phenomenon within a hundred-mile radius immediately vanished as the recitations ended.
Li Lianshan also opened his eyes.
"Senior is too kind.
Although I can recite this scripture, I only grasp its profound mysteries superficially.
I wonder if Junior Brother could enlighten me."
Saying this, Li Lianshan stood up and bowed deeply to Yang Hong, performing a disciple's salute with an exceptionally earnest and humble demeanor.
"Enlighten you? Senior jest. I can only recite and write it. I don't even know if what I'm reading and writing is correct.
I have no understanding of the scripture's meaning; it's not even as good as Senior's superficial grasp."
Yang Hong quickly waved his hands, indicating that he didn't understand anything.
"Junior Brother, please do not be modest. Junior Brother obtained this heavenly scripture in a dream, so you must have comprehended it fully. I beg you not to withhold your wisdom."
"I truly don't understand. Believe me, I'll recite it again, and Senior can see the difference."
Yang Hong adamantly insisted he didn't understand. To prove it, he began reciting the "Du Ren Jing" again.
His voice slowly covered the three-mile radius, and the eerie winds and shadowy figures reappeared.
Meanwhile, when Li Lianshan recited again, there were no eerie winds or shadowy figures, and he was fine even after stopping at five recitations.
At this point, Li Lianshan was also uncertain if Yang Hong truly understood the "Du Ren Jing."
"Junior Brother, this scripture is undoubtedly a heavenly-grade scripture and of great importance.
Senior Brother must return to the sect immediately to report."
"As for Yang Yong, he was killed by a malevolent entity. That entity has also been purified by me.
The imperial palace will be safe from now on."
Li Lianshan gave a few final instructions, produced a magical flying boat, and instantly vanished into the sky.
It seemed the "Du Ren Jing" that Yang Hong recited was indeed incredibly powerful.
However, Yang Hong felt a hint of disdain in his heart.
"If the 'Du Ren Jing' is this powerful, wouldn't this world explode if I revealed the 'Dao De Jing'?"
Thinking of this, Yang Hong's heart began to stir with ambition.