The moment the Cosmic Cube was activated, a beam of light shot into the sky behind the traveler, containing powerful energy fluctuations. Then, fine dimensional lines pierced through the spatial barrier, connecting to the other end of the unknown space.
As expected, the Tesseract, one of the six Infinity Stones in the Marvel universe, possesses the ability to travel through time and space, that is, to open wormholes and travel between dimensions.
"We must get it!"
Jiang Liu received a hint from "The One That Escaped" and went to great lengths to obtain it, as if "The One That Escaped" intended to devour him.
No longer concealing his strength, Jiang Liu unleashed the full power of the bronze cauldron, causing the surrounding space to hum and the dragon energy of the Nine Provinces' earth veins to gather instantly. The cauldron that Jiang Liu raised seemed to embody the will of the Nine Provinces, sealing off the heavens and earth and briefly suppressing the wormhole behind the transmigrator.
At that moment, the spacetime within a three-zhang radius around Jiang Liu and the Marvel visitor instantly froze. Under the suppression of the bronze cauldron, everything was still, and the radiance released by the Cosmic Cube was like a painting, motionless.
What is eternity, what is a fleeting moment? It is impossible to tell. Heaven and earth are still, only the river flows, evolving the Great Dao.
Refining the spirit to return to emptiness, Jiang Liu stepped into this realm, gaining a deeper understanding of the Dao.
To kill this freakish transmigrator who can transform into Deadpool at any time, possesses an immortal body, become Colossus with superhuman defense, become the Hulk, and turn pain into power, the only way is to deliver a fatal blow, completely obliterating his physical body and reducing him to the atomic level, thus preventing his resurrection.
As for erasing him at the soul level, that would be even more difficult, since he possesses the mental power of Professor X Charles... Moreover, he controls hundreds of souls, and his body contains the souls and wills of the vast majority of mutants in the Marvel universe.
Therefore, Jiang Liu felt that the simplest way was to directly blast him apart physically, while also destroying his soul.
The Cosmic Cube unleashed even more terrifying energy, gradually breaking free from the suppression of the bronze cauldron. Although the wormhole was becoming increasingly clear, Jiang Liu was still evolving, and his fatal punch had not yet been delivered.
This will be his ultimate strike. Countless acupoints within his body are thundering and surging violently, producing sounds like waves that shake the very void.
The body of a human immortal is one that connects to all other organs; the intent of their fist can break through the strongest defenses and directly attack the mind.
The intent of a fist is not tangible; it has no destructive power over physical objects like flesh and clothing. However, its power to attack the mind is devastating.
Martial arts intent is a pure form of mental attack.
But once you cross one threshold and reach all the others, you attain the essence of the fist, transforming the intangible into the tangible. The fist's intent can not only directly attack the soul but also severely injure the physical body.
Chapter 365 Aftermath
Jiang Liu's killing of the Marvel visitor caused such a massive energy fluctuation on the Jing River that it attracted the attention of cultivators of all sizes around Chang'an City. Humans, demons, and monsters alike all focused their gaze on the Jing River.
The bronze cauldron, gathering the dragon energy of the Nine Provinces' earth veins to suppress the void, terrified the demons. Some of the older demons seemed to see the terror of the Nine Provinces' barrier thousands of years ago.
At this moment, Muzha's indestructible golden body was shattered by the Hulk's punch, and he now looked extremely miserable, with countless cracks appearing on his jade-like skin, just like a fine porcelain piece shattering.
Although it was on the verge of collapse, Guanyin had already arrived.
A wisp of auspicious cloud drifted in from the horizon, and a figure stood atop the cloud. Her eyebrows were like crescent moons, her eyes like twin stars, and her hair was styled in a dragon-shaped bun. She wore a brocade skirt and a plain silk robe, and held a jade vase in her hand, with a green willow branch inserted at an angle. Thousands of rays of Buddhist light surrounded her, rising in a misty haze.
At a glance, Jiang Liu recognized that the person was none other than Guanyin Bodhisattva. The jade vase and weeping willow were the most obvious symbols.
A drop of sweet dew fell from a willow branch and merged into Muzha's body, whereupon his body began to recover at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Bodhisattva!" Muzha said, his hands clasped together, his face full of sorrow, "Huian has broken the precept against greed and is willing to be punished!"
Facing the Bodhisattva, Muzha dared not utter a single lie, which shows how precious the corpse of the Jing River Dragon King was, even Muzha wanted to possess it.
"Since you have already realized your mistake, go to Mount Putuo in the South China Sea and meditate facing the wall for ten years..." After Guanyin finished speaking, she looked at Jiang Liu with great interest.
"It has only been a few months since we parted at Liusha River, and you have already attained the Heavenly Immortal Dao Fruit. Congratulations!"
Guanyin smiled with her fingers clasped, exuding an aura that transcended the three realms. She was a deity who smiled while holding up a flower, seemingly not of this mortal world, ethereal yet vivid.
A golden lotus flower adorned her brow, its brilliance complementing her jade-like skin. She possessed a slender figure and her hair was as black as clouds.
Looking at the river, one sees not only beauty, but also a sense of transcendence.
Unlike when she first met Jiang Liu, she didn't show that soul-piercing look in her eyes, because Jiang Liu's strength was enough for her to take him seriously.
"Greetings, Bodhisattva." Jiang Liu had already put away the Cosmic Cube; it was really not advisable to expose that thing.
Guanyin returned the greeting and chanted a Buddhist prayer: "Namo Amitabha Buddha, young friend, your methods of subduing demons are indeed extraordinary. Just now, a divine phoenix danced and a true dragon roamed, gathering the dragon energy of the earth veins of the nine provinces to suppress the four directions. If I am not mistaken, the Nine Provinces Cauldron is in your hands?"
Jiang Liu stored the Cosmic Cube in his storage space, severing the cause and effect, and then took out the bronze cauldron in a very open manner.
Chapter 366 A Buddha Blocks the Way
When Jiang Liu found Yuan Shoucheng, this Earth Immortal at the Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation stage was sitting alone on the shore, gazing at the setting sun, his face full of vicissitudes.
At first glance, Jiang Liu realized that this immortal, who was proficient in the arts of Yi, had reached the end of his life. He, who used to pay great attention to his appearance, had hair and beard as unkempt as autumn weeds, his eyes were cloudy, his skin was withered and his face was full of wrinkles, and there was a faint smell of decay emanating from him.
He didn't look like a cultivator; he looked more like an ordinary old man on the verge of death, with one foot already in the gates of hell.
Jiang Liu shook his head and sighed. An immortal had actually had his soul decay in just one day.
"I have revealed heavenly secrets, and this is to be expected. The five signs of decay of heaven and man, the curse of the celestial beings..." Yuan Shoucheng's voice was very weak, as if saying these ten words had exhausted all his strength.
Since ancient times, the greatest desire of any living being has been to achieve immortality and eternal life. Thus, cultivators of Taoism, demonic cultivation, and Buddhist cultivation emerged, all striving to attain longevity through various practices. However, even if one attains the status of a Great Golden Immortal and achieves immortality, one cannot truly live forever. Immortality is an act against the will of Heaven, and Heaven will punish them with the "Five Signs of Decay," causing their physical body to vanish into nothingness, their primordial spirit to shatter, and their descent into the cycle of reincarnation.
In order to avoid the "five signs of decay of the heavenly beings," when the immortals, demons, Buddhas, and monsters of the heavenly realm are about to die, they will enter the six realms of reincarnation to be reborn and start anew through means such as self-destruction.
Of course, when a cultivator at the Earth Immortal level falls into reincarnation, they can only retain a part of their soul. Even if they successfully reincarnate, they will find it difficult to fully recall their past life. Only a Golden Immortal who has achieved Dao can truly be unaffected by the mystery of the womb. Reincarnation is merely a change of body.
How could you be so stupid!
Yuan Shoucheng sighed deeply, gazing at the setting sun: "Indeed foolish... but for humanity to stand at the pinnacle of all races, a price must be paid. Even if it's a pawn, the most crucial piece must be played. I died, but in return, I bought time for humanity's development. I still don't trust Buddhism; only through relentless self-improvement can humanity truly stand strong. Fellow Daoists, from now on, I'll be counting on you..."
Before Jiang Liu's eyes, Yuan Shoucheng could not escape the punishment of the five signs of decay of heaven and man, and was cursed by the Jinghe Dragon King before his death. In the end, his body decayed and his soul returned to the underworld.
Jiang Liu was about to save Yuan Shoucheng's soul, but two people emerged from the earth, one dressed in black and the other in white, each holding a soul-destroying club.
It was none other than the Black and White Impermanence, the underworld's ghost messengers!
The White Impermanence is all smiles, tall and thin, with a pale face and a long tongue sticking out. His official hat has the words "Seeing him brings wealth" written on it.
Black Impermanence has a fierce face, a broad and fat body, a small stature, and a dark complexion. His official hat is inscribed with the four characters "Peace Under Heaven".
Upon seeing Jiang Liu, the two strangers bowed and said, "Please forgive me..."
Having said that, he captured Yuan Shoucheng's soul and vanished into the underworld. Jiang Liu waved his hand, but couldn't harm them in the slightest; a mysterious power was protecting them.
"Is this the true form of Black and White Impermanence...? With the protection of the Six Paths, is it even immune to attacks from celestial beings?"
"The Underworld... If I establish an Underworld in another world, will I be able to control the cycle of reincarnation?!"
Amidst the ashes, a small sphere appeared in Jiang Liu's hand—the "Death Star" he had refined. Within it was a world of its own, and he murmured to himself, "Only the complete Six Paths of Reincarnation is the true world..."
With a sudden thought, Jiang Liu knew what he needed to do next!
Jiang Liu buried Yuan Shoucheng outside Chang'an City and kept watch for a night. Meanwhile, "The Vanished One" successfully devoured the Cosmic Cube and gained a great deal, which put Jiang Liu at ease.
"The plans I'm on now will be much easier..."
They returned to Zhongnan Mountain to prepare to implement their plan, but as soon as they arrived back at Qianlong Mountain, they saw a monk sitting cross-legged in front of the mountain gate, blocking the way in and out, without any intention of avoiding them.
Beside him, the water buffalo Xie Chou held a blood-red axe and kept hacking at him. With each swing, the sound was like the booming of a bronze bell, but the monk remained unmoved.
He remained unmoved, allowing Xie Chou to attack him.
Xie Chou roared incessantly, causing the Azure Emperor's Heart within him to surge violently.
The axe throbbed, brimming with blood and energy, and with a single strike, it could split mountains and cleave seas, yet it left not a single mark on the monk's neck, not even a white scar.
As the river flowed down from the clouds, Xie Chou, panting heavily, smashed his giant axe on the ground and said with a wry smile, "Master, please forgive my incompetence; I have failed your expectations..."
“It’s not that you’re weak, it’s that he’s too strong!” Jiang Liu said, looking at the monk who stood as still as a mountain.
Xie Chou was originally a demon who had refined essence into qi. He ate dragon tooth rice every day and cultivated the martial arts of human immortals. He was bestowed with the Azure Emperor's Heart from the world of "Covering the Sky" by Jiang Liu, and broke through to the Earth Immortal realm of refining qi into spirit. He was also nourished by the Azure Emperor's essence blood every day, and his progress was rapid. However, his full-force attack could not even harm this monk in the slightest, which was enough to show how terrifying this monk was.
“Master, this monk has been sitting here all night without saying a word!” Seeing Jiang Liu return, Luo Binwang walked out from the formation and looked at the sitting monk with extreme contempt. In his mind, Jiang Liu had become a celestial being, almost omnipotent.
The monk in front of me was wearing a tattered cotton robe, with a very thin layer of bluish-black stubble on his head, interspersed with a few white hairs. The stubble was not sharp, but it was as resolute as he was, giving people the feeling that he could hold up not only Xie Chou's blood axe, but even if the entire sky collapsed.
Jiang Liu was looking him over, and he slowly opened his eyes to look at Jiang Liu in return.
Out of respect, he slowly stood up.
When he sits, he displays an indestructible golden body, almost like a Vajra protector in Buddhism.
When he stands up, he becomes a Buddha.
They possess Buddha-nature and their Buddha-light is ever-present.
"Did you come here for this?" Jiang Liu asked solemnly. This monk was very powerful, definitely a celestial being or higher, and he couldn't see through him.
It! It is naturally referring to the small bronze cauldron. The Buddhist sect wants to spread its teachings, so naturally it does not want the Nine Provinces Barrier to be established. Jiang Liu felt that when the Nine Cauldrons were broken a thousand years ago, the Western Buddhist sect intervened.
"Namo Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk Kumarajiva wishes to exchange the Heavenly Treasure Immortal Binding Rope for your small cauldron..."
He got straight to the point, and a golden rope flew out from his palm. It seemed to have a spirit, moving like a snake or a dragon, and floated in front of him.
"The Immortal Binding Rope?" Jiang Liu narrowed his eyes. This magic weapon shone brightly in the Investiture of the Gods. It was the magic weapon of Ju Liusun, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect. It was once stolen by his disciple Tu Xingsun and used to bind Yu Yuan, the One Qi Immortal of Penglai Island.
After the Investiture of the Gods, Julusun was led to the West to become the Buddha of the Past in the Western Sect. Julusun Buddha is the fourth of the Seven Ancient Buddhas.
What is your relationship with Ju Liusun, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals?
"Fellow Daoist, do not worry. I am using the body of the Buddha of the Fearless Realm to bind the immortals. This Immortal Binding Rope is comparable to your small cauldron!"
Severing the Three Corpses means cutting off one's good corpse, evil corpse, and self-corpse, which are essentially various obsessions. When severing these obsessions, one can entrust them to various innate spiritual treasures, creating avatars with boundless power. In Buddhism, one can also entrust them to one's cultivated Dharma body, which is also incredibly powerful, though somewhat inferior to entrusting them to innate spiritual treasures. After the Three Corpses are completely severed, one reaches the Great Nirvana Realm. Then, the Three Corpses merge into one, and the avatar and the original body completely fuse together, becoming inseparable. At this point, one can manifest countless forms, only a step away from the Primordial Dao.
Julusun Buddha has severed his good corpse, and it is clear that he has merged with the Dao and entered the realm of Great Luo Golden Immortal, but he is still far from the Hunyuan realm.
Hunyuan is a sage.
Of course, Jiang Liu is merely a Celestial Immortal, far from being a Great Luo Golden Immortal.
A Buddha stood in their way.
It turned out that Buddha was indeed blocking Jiang Liu's way, trying to seize his small cauldron.
"The cauldron is my most precious treasure; it cannot be exchanged, is not worth exchanging, and I am unwilling to exchange it!" Jiang Liu said resolutely, refusing outright.
"well!"
A soft sigh, like a thunderclap.
“You possess great fortune and merit. This humble monk is reluctant to intervene, yet I am compelled to do so. If I prevail, I will still exchange the Immortal-Binding Rope for your services. Please…”
With hands clasped together, in an instant, the aura of heaven and earth subsided.