“Let’s make a deal. How about exchanging Origin Spirit Energy for Bodhi Leaves?” she proposed.
Origin Spirit Energy is fundamental for transitioning from the Nascent Soul stage to the Deity Formation stage. The process involves Nascent Soul cultivators continuously refining and compressing their previously cultivated, mixed spiritual energy. Once all spiritual energy is transformed into Origin Spirit Energy, one becomes eligible to attempt Deity Formation.
However, converting spiritual energy into Origin Spirit Energy is exceptionally challenging. Given ten years, Nan Yan could certainly achieve Deity Formation, but time wasn’t on her side.
Dao Sheng Tian coveted her Buddha Bone and Zen Heart. Without the strength to protect herself, if her Three Hearts were stolen, no one in the world could suppress Ying Ze Wei.
From her previous journey between mountains and seas, she had obtained only the wood, fire, and metal Origin Essences. She still lacked water and earth. She needed more Origin Spirit Energy to achieve Deity Formation as quickly as possible.
As soon as she spoke, all the Nascent Soul cultivators’ expressions changed. “Mere early-stage Nascent Soul, yet daring to speak so arrogantly!”
Origin Spirit Energy was incredibly precious to cultivators. Thousands of portions of spiritual energy could barely be refined into a single strand of Origin Spirit Energy. Those with exceptional talent or practicing superior cultivation methods or Great Daos might progress faster, but the vast majority of Nascent Soul cultivators relied on external collection.
Nan Yan hadn’t been entirely truthful. She had already cultivated the first two chapters of the Seven Buddhas’ Karma Scripture. She could understand the Buddhist teachings on the Bodhi Leaves that others couldn’t comprehend. With some integration, she could obtain the inheritance without actually absorbing the leaves.
She smiled and said, “I have limited tree resin left, and we don’t know how many more insect fruit attacks await us in this Silver Moth Tree maze. Since you’re unwilling to cooperate, I won’t insist. Farewell.”
“Wait!” A more even-tempered cultivator from Shen Zhou glanced at the Silver Moths above and pleaded, “We indeed urgently need this item. Besides Origin Spirit Energy, we can offer spirit stones or treasures, even at several times the market price. Please reconsider.”
Nan Yan released the demonic cultivator in her hand and replied, “I only need water and earth attribute Origin Spirit Energy. If you have it, we can trade it. If not, so be it.”
The Shen Zhou cultivator glanced at the most stubborn tall cultivator. “Friend Cloud, you have dual water and earth spirit roots. I heard your Dao Sheng Tian sect acquired Origin Spirit Energy from those otherworldly demons and gave it to your family. Perhaps…”
“I’m on the verge of breaking through to Deity Formation. How could I delay for a mere girl!” the tall cultivator adamantly refused.
Nan Yan didn’t force the issue, but hearing about Dao Sheng Tian transferring to Origin Spirit Energy gave her an idea. She turned to discuss with Ji Yang but found him staring into the darkness of the maze passage. She couldn’t help but ask, “What are you looking at?”
“You want Origin Spirit Energy. I’ll send some people your way,” he replied.
As he spoke, an extremely cold wind blew from the other side, putting everyone on alert. Moments later, several demonic cultivators from the Tian Xie Dao fled towards them.
Seeing the righteous cultivators around the corner, they looked relieved and charged forward instead of hiding. Behind them, a large group of Yin Priests followed.
“Yin Priests!” Although they were Nascent Soul cultivators, no one wanted to tangle with Yin Priests. Here, Yin Priests were endless. Even if sealed or dispersed, they would regroup and attract more.
No one was willing to sacrifice themselves here, preferring to let others perish instead.
As all the cultivators frantically fled, a Buddhist chant rang out. Nan Yan was seen moving against the crowd, her hands forming a seal—a technique from the Sin-Cutting Chapter she had just acquired from the Bodhi Leaves.
“In endless nights, the Buddha never rests. All paths forgiven, only I… sever karma.”
A shattered blood lotus bloomed beneath her feet, and three chains shot out, instantly entangling the three leading Yin Priests. As blood-fire burned, the supposedly unfeeling Yin Priests let out blood-curdling screams.
The fleeing Nascent Soul cultivators abruptly halted and turned back in astonishment. They saw the white-robed Buddhist woman single-handedly holding off the battle, her Buddhist might preventing the horde of Yin Priests from advancing.
“Could this be…”
“It must be the Seven Buddhas’ Karma Scripture from the Bodhi Leaves, without a doubt!”
After Nan Yan drove the Yin Priests to scatter and flee, the demonic cultivators and Shen Zhou cultivators, about ten people, couldn’t hide the greedy look in their eyes. However, no one dared to make the first move.
“Buddhist friend,” they said, hearing the sound of prayer beads clinking in her sleeve as she finished her technique, realizing she was a Buddhist cultivator. “Are you cultivating the Seven Buddhas’ Karma Scripture?”
Nan Yan replied calmly, “Since this scripture appeared in the world, this poor nun has sought it far and wide. Apart from the main principles, even without changing my cultivation method, I could learn a technique or two. I didn’t expect it to be so effective against evil entities.”
All the Nascent Soul cultivators wavered, but the demonic cultivators were more direct. With sinister gazes fixed on Nan Yan, they said, “But we’ve also killed several cultivators. By searching their souls, we can obtain the incantations from the Bodhi Leaves.”
At this moment, Ji Yang languidly said, “The Bodhisattva has been protecting us weaklings and slaying demons countless times along the way. If any of you wish to spar, there’s no need for the Bodhisattva to act. I, as her disciple, won’t allow it.”
Mo Xing Zhen: “…”
Mo Xing Zhen desperately wanted to curse, but the next moment, a demonic cultivator indeed challenged them, summoning three strange small flags. Countless black mists swept towards them.
“Let’s have a friendly match!”
Mo Xing Zhen was the first to face the attack. As the current head disciple of Dao Sheng Tian, even though he was injured, he naturally didn’t take a mere ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator seriously. His toes tapped the ground, and a magnificent Taiji Eight Trigrams array appeared. His right hand simultaneously condensed into a black-and-white energy sword, with a sword formation rising behind him.
“Heavenly Cycle—”
Before Mo Xing Zhen could finish his words, the demonic cultivator screamed and instantly retreated tens of zhang away, looking at Mo Xing Zhen with shock and suspicion. “This is an inner sect technique of Dao Sheng Tian! Could you be…”
Nan Yan saw the Nascent Soul cultivators’ fear and realized just how terrifying Dao Sheng Tian was in the eyes of cultivators from various regions.
“We’re willing to exchange Origin Spirit Energy for the Buddhist friend’s Bodhi Leaves!”
Half an hour later, all the Bodhi Leaves in Nan Yan’s possession had been traded away, obtaining over fifty strands of Origin Spirit Energy.
As soon as she acquired the water and earth attribute Origin Spirit Energy, Nan Yan absorbed it into her sea of qi. The silver-white infant flame in her sea of qi began to rotate on its own, drawing the Five Elements Origin Spirit Energy into the Nascent Soul and circulating it.
After a brief moment of adjustment, the Shen Zhou cultivator, who had already obtained three Bodhi Leaves, felt it unwise to continue traveling with Nan Yan. After some discussion, they decided to part ways.
“We are no match for you, friend. Continuing to travel together would likely lead to more conflicts. Let’s part here,” they said with displeased expressions.
“As you wish,” Nan Yan replied.
Shortly after these cultivators left, their initial joy at obtaining the Bodhi Leaves faded, and they increasingly felt the pain of losing their precious Origin Spirit Energy.
“Did any of you find that Buddhist woman familiar?” one asked.
“She seemed to have a face-concealing technique, so her appearance might not be genuine… but now that you mention it, I did feel a sense of familiarity.”
After walking for a while, someone suddenly clapped their hands. “It’s her! I knew it was strange for someone to master the Seven Buddhas’ Karma Scripture so quickly. It’s that… descendant of the Zheng Fa Palace’s Nan Fang Zhu, who used the Seven Buddhas’ Karma Scripture against Dao Sheng Tian!”
The news caused an uproar, stopping everyone in their tracks. The tall cultivator gritted his teeth and said, “There were only three of them, two with weakened spiritual energy. What a pity we didn’t capture her directly! She’s worth the opportunity of a Deity Formation cultivator entering the First Decline!”
“But the one who attacked used Dao Sheng Tian’s ‘Heavenly Cycle Chant’ sword formation. That’s an inner sect technique of Dao Sheng Tian.”
As the Shen Zhou cultivators hesitated, a cold laugh came from the maze’s side:
“Fellow cultivators from Shen Zhou, have you seen those renegade disciples of my Dao Sheng Tian? Could you lead the way? If successful, this old man won’t treat you unfairly.”
…
“The entire Filthy Valley was set up to suppress the Yellow Springs River. The Silver Moth Tree maze and the Yin Priests are all challenges within the formation,” Ji Yang said, gently stroking the head of the increasingly affectionate little nine-colored deer in his arms. His eyes revealed contemplation as he continued, “However if I were the master, I wouldn’t be naive enough to think these mere challenges could stop people.”
“So?” Nan Yan prompted.
“I’m a bit curious. He has always been adamant about not allowing the Buddhist Confessional Master any chance to spread her teachings. There must be a backup plan for this journey, such as…”
Before he could finish, Nan Yan sensed killing intent approaching. She pulled Ji Yang away from their spot. The next moment, a thunderous explosion erupted where they had been standing. Sword energy swarmed like locusts, shaking the Silver Moth giant tree above. The insect fruits fell, scattering into a silver mist that enveloped the source of the attack.
This time, however, the Silver Moths were ineffective. With a cold snort from the darkness, they all crashed into an ice wall, instantly frozen and shattered into crystal dust as they hit the ground.
“Traitor, die!”
“For instance, despite the agreement that only Nascent Soul cultivators could enter, this Deity Formation cultivator came in planning to eliminate us all?” Ji Yang finished his earlier thought.
He glanced back and said, “It’s not a true Deity Formation cultivator. It’s likely a Nascent Soul cultivator from Dao Sheng Tian who has cultivated some special technique allowing them to seal a Deity Formation primordial spirit within their physical body.”
Nan Yan wouldn’t engage. Although she could activate her Buddha Bone and Zen Heart to fight, the rules of the Filthy Valley prohibited power above Deity Formation. Once the prohibition was triggered, all who fought would be rejected by the valley, not only facing the valley formation’s attack but also being directly teleported out.
Who knew how Dao Sheng Tian’s people were waiting for them outside?
“Traitor, don’t run!” The pursuer, though in a Nascent Soul body, attacked at a level no different from a true Deity Formation cultivator. As they moved, space cracked behind them. Upon seeing Nan Yan and Ji Yang, they formed a terrifying ice arrow in their hands, suddenly aiming it at Mo Xing Zhen.
“I’ll take your head first to report to Xuan Zai!”
The ice arrow was extremely cold, turning the surroundings into a frosted landscape the moment it appeared.
Nan Yan felt a sharp pain in her eyes. Straining her vision, she discovered the ice arrow was extraordinary, with a point of fire-like crimson red at its tip. She exclaimed, “The arrowhead is made of Destruction Iron! It can’t be blocked directly!”
In the blink of an eye, the ice arrow shooting toward Mo Xing Zhen suddenly froze a zhang away from him. The Destruction Iron arrowhead transformed into a web-like flame flow, spreading in all directions. The sharpness of ice and the corrosiveness of fire instantly penetrated layers of ghostly energy, piercing through the palm of the person shielding Mo Xing Zhen.
Blood dripped down the back of the hand. Ji Yang’s five fingers closed slightly, shattering the ice arrow that had pierced his hand. He appeared unaffected, but the hand he kept behind his back trembled slightly.
“Xing Zhen is just a junior. Uncle Huai Shuang, you think highly of him,” Ji Yang said calmly.
The distant pursuer hovered, their eyes like ice. “This old man doesn’t dawdle like the Six Yus. When killing traitors, one must succeed in a single strike. I won’t hide it from you – I’ve brought two Destruction Iron arrows this time. Not a single Dao Sheng Tian traitor will leave the Filthy Valley alive!”
“Oh? Then where’s the second one?” an unexpected voice came from behind Ji Yang.
“Right here.”
It happened in an instant. A Destruction Iron arrow appeared out of thin air in front of Nan Yan, its tip gleaming with a dark crimson light like the chaos of hell’s depths. Before she could react, her Brahma King Beads had already flown out to protect their master.
But the Brahma King Beads proved ineffective. When the extremely cold yet fiercely hot arrowhead struck the beads, the usually indestructible Brahma King Beads shattered in less than a breath.
She had never faced such an enormous destructive force. Everything around her was fading into nothingness. A faint, mocking voice came from Mo Xing Zhen’s mouth.
“Shao Cang, even the Buddhist Confessional Master couldn’t protect the one I want to kill. Who can you protect?”
When did Ying Ze Wei… take control of Mo Xing Zhen?
There was no time to think. As the scorching Destruction Iron force melted through her protective Buddhist light, Nan Yan suddenly felt boiling in her bloodline. Fiery red phoenix feathers suddenly bloomed around her body, falling all around. She then heard a familiar voice from deep within her heart.
“Chongming hears the call, protecting my bloodline.”
… Mother?
The Destruction Iron arrow, carrying lethal intent, suddenly paused. The controlled Mo Xing Zhen’s previously calm face showed a hint of surprise. The next moment, howling yin winds erupted, and countless Yin Priests arrived, separating Nan Yan from them.
As he took Nan Yan away, Ji Yang’s voice, tinged with mockery, reached them: “A master decides life and death, yet hearing the voice of an old acquaintance still shakes your resolve. Pursuing the Dao like this, have you truly let go?”
“…”
An enormous force exploded in all directions. Amidst the scattering of ice and fire, the silver maze collapsed layer by layer. Even the fearless Yin Priests fled in terror.
Elder Huai Shuang’s divine sense swept the area, finding no trace of Ji Yang and Nan Yan. His mouth twitched slightly as he suppressed a hint of fear in his eyes. He bowed to the expressionless “Mo Xing Zhen” who was staring at the core of the Filthy Valley, and said, “Xuan Zai, they’ve fled to where the Buddhist Confessional Master is.”
Ying Ze Wei’s control over Mo Xing Zhen’s consciousness seemed very limited, and the aura around him was gradually disappearing.
“I’ll go to Mao Zhou first to finish things up and settle matters with Nan Rao. Before I return, no living person shall remain in the Filthy Valley,” he said indifferently.