After the great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods, Buddhism was poised to flourish. Under the deliberate promotion of the Primordial Celestial Venerable, they all entered the Buddhist order, one being Samantabhadra Bodhisattva and the other being Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Therefore, Buddhism is the Tao.
Yuanshi Tianzun is reaping the fruits of victory from the two sages, Zhunti and Jieying. Laozi arranged for Duobao Daoren to transform into the Tathagata Buddha, which is the same thing.
Faced with Muzha, who had connections with both Buddhism and Taoism, Jiang Liu didn't hold back. He glanced at the demonic Sha Wujing, who was being suppressed under his palm. Although he looked miserable, he wasn't seriously injured. He stared at Muzha with his huge, blood-red eyes, hoping for a better future.
"This demon eats people, which is against humanity," Jiang Liu said calmly. Then he looked at Mu Zha, whose face was slightly cold and whose hand unconsciously reached for the two Wu hooks behind him.
Jiang Liu uttered eight words, and his demonic subordinate, Sha Wujing, immediately reacted, struggling. Who would rather die than live? Sha Wujing roared inwardly, "Is this my destiny? After suffering comes happiness! After suffering comes happiness! Buddhism wants to save me! It's actually Buddhism that's saving me!"
However, how could he possibly break free from Jiang Liu's suppression?
Mu Zha's heart sank, and he thought anxiously, "This Curtain-Raising General is one of the members of the journey to the West to obtain the scriptures. The Bodhisattva has repeatedly instructed that there must be no mistakes, and I cannot just watch him die. However, this person is also quite powerful. I have cultivated with the Bodhisattva for thousands of years and reached the level of a Celestial Immortal. If I save this Curtain-Raising General, we will inevitably have to fight."
Jiang Liu smiled slightly, having observed Mu Zha's every move. He said, "However... Buddhism says that one can become a Buddha by laying down the butcher's knife. Since this demon has a connection with Buddhism, then I'll leave him to you."
As he spoke, he removed his hand from Sha Wujing's body and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards Muzha.
"I am Jiang Liu, originally a cultivator in the Tang Dynasty of the East. I was on my way back to the Tang Dynasty, but this demon blocked my way. Since you, the traveler, wish to convert him, this is a good thing!"
Muzha relaxed, captured Sha Wujing, and said, "Then thank you very much, Fellow Daoist Jiang!"
Having been rescued, Sha Wujing, the demonic cultivator, naturally did not resist.
Jiang Liu looked at Sha Wujing and said, "You obstructed me today and wanted to eat me. Don't blame me for hurting you. Huian Xingzhe, see you again in Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty!"
"How did you know I was going to Chang'an?" Suddenly, a female voice appeared in the sea of clouds, ethereal and distant, yet so close.
Jiang Liu's smile froze for a moment, then he forced himself to maintain it.
Without even looking, one could tell from the woman's voice that Guanyin had arrived.
Sure enough, a translucent and colorful lotus platform suddenly appeared in the clouds, and a woman in white stood on the platform, smiling gently.
There is an aura that transcends the three realms, like a deity smiling while holding 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 flowing black hair. Looking at her, Jiang Liu sensed not only beauty, but also a transcendent quality.
He immediately averted his gaze, knowing that one should not look at or listen to what is improper. What he was worried about was not that this powerful being, who had been a Golden Immortal for thousands of years, would see through his origins at a glance, but that he might harbor ill intentions.
The Golden Immortal realm is the stage of refining emptiness and merging with the Dao. Moreover, thousands of years have passed; who knows if she has broken through to that level?
Blasphemy against gods and Buddhas is something Jiang Liu cannot afford to offend.
Moreover, he had just revealed a flaw by saying one extra word. Who could have predicted that Guanyin was going to Chang'an? How could a nobody like Jiang Liu know that she was going to Chang'an?
The journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures had not even begun when Jin Chanzi was reincarnated, and no one, no matter how powerful, knew who the reincarnation was.
Too much talk leads to mistakes!
Faced with Guanyin's question, Jiang Liu naturally dared not answer easily. To cover up one lie would require weaving ten more, so it was better not to answer.
"Greetings, Bodhisattva!"
"You're a very interesting person, I can't figure you out!"
This was the second sentence Guanyin spoke to him, which sent a chill down Jiang Liu's spine. He couldn't help but feel secretly glad that he hadn't found Wuzhuang Temple, otherwise it would have been a quasi-saint coming to ask him.
Jiang Liu stood with his hands at his sides, smiling faintly, or perhaps just grinning foolishly.
Feigning madness!
At this moment, silence was better than making things up or fabricating stories. Who could deceive this powerful Golden Immortal who had lived for countless years? If it weren't for the "one who vanished," she could have easily deduced Jiang Liu's origins with a simple calculation. Now that the "one who vanished" existed, Jiang Liu felt even more suspicious.
Even Guanyin's strength couldn't be calculated, clearly telling everyone, "I am different, I am just different."
"Things have gotten really serious now!" That's what Jiang Liu was thinking.
"Should I find a secluded spot in the mountains to hide in?" Jiang Liu thought of escaping for a moment, but then dismissed the idea, realizing that escaping wouldn't solve the problem.
"Since you said you'd meet in Chang'an, then let's meet in Chang'an!"
This was Guanyin's third sentence, which made Jiang Liu feel as if he had been granted a pardon.
After leaving the Flowing Sand River, Jiang Liu knew he had been exposed. If he entered the Underworld and checked the Book of Life and Death, it would definitely cause another uproar.
Nevertheless, Jiang Liu had no choice but to try his best to improve his strength in order to protect himself.
After crossing the Liusha River, the Tang Dynasty was not far away.
This is not far, but only relatively speaking. For ordinary people, it is still thousands of miles away.
The first tribulation before the Flowing Sand River was the Yellow Wind Monster who stole the clear oil from the Buddha's glass lamp. This monster was timid and cowardly. After all, he was a yellow-haired weasel who had attained enlightenment. His Samadhi Divine Wind was extremely powerful. If there were no wind-stabilizing treasure, even Sun Wukong would have been blown blinded.
Jiang Liu ignored the cowardly Yellow Wind Monster and lost all desire to visit Gao Village. In front of Five Finger Mountain, Jiang Liu took a long look at the monkey that had been suppressed for five hundred years.
They then went straight into Chang'an City.
Chapter 257 Reencounter with the Eight Immortals
Jinling City was the largest city in the south and the capital of six dynasties, naturally possessing the utmost beauty and grandeur.
The capital of the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an, was the most magnificent city in the world. Compared to it, Jinling, the capital of six dynasties in Jiangnan, and the capital of Baoxiang Kingdom, which was built with the strength of a single nation, were small cities and could not be compared at all.
"This city could not have been built by human power!" Jiang Liu was seeing Chang'an for the first time. Even before he got close, he was overwhelmed by its aura, which was also mixed with a rich earth vein dragon energy.
The Tang Dynasty unified the nine provinces and was the legitimate successor of the human race. The Tang emperor, who ascended the throne and was crowned on Mount Tai, was recognized by Heaven and was naturally incomparable to the kings of small countries like Baoxiang.
The earth's dragon energy emanating from Chang'an City keeps evil spirits and demons away, and even cultivators are suppressed.
Nevertheless, this had little impact on Jiang Liu.
It should be noted that he possesses a fragment of the Yangzhou Cauldron from the Nine Provinces Cauldrons, a treasured artifact that guards the Nine Provinces and is naturally unafraid of the earth's vein dragon energy. Moreover, the Yangzhou Cauldron, having absorbed the Yu Cauldron in "Shu Mountain" and the dragon soul in "Yang Shen," has undergone a transformation, breaking through the original limitation of only being able to control one place, and is now able to command all the earth's vein dragon energy in the world.
Controlling the earth's veins and dragon energy is a symbol of an emperor. Jiang Liu is not an emperor on earth, but with the aid of the Nine Provinces Cauldron, he is an uncrowned emperor.
The ancient saying goes, "He who possesses the Nine Tripods will rule the world." This means that whoever possesses the Nine Tripods can control the earth's veins and dragon energy, and is the king of the nine provinces.
Moreover, Jiang Liu also knew that the dragon race was the only ones unaffected by this dragon energy. The Jing River Dragon King, relying on his status as a dragon, was able to break through the protection of the earth's dragon veins, enter the palace, and frighten Li Shimin to death, thus beginning the Journey to the West.
Jiang Liu stayed outside Chang'an City and did not directly enter the city.
He believed that this great city was not solely protected by the earth's ley lines. Caution and playing dumb to outmaneuver its true strength were the best course of action.
This is a magnificent city!
When Jiang Liu stepped into Chang'an, it was a winter morning. Snow had fallen three feet outside the city, but as soon as he entered the city, he felt as if he were bathed in a spring breeze.
The inside and outside of the city are like two different worlds.
Outside the city, in the dead of winter, all things were barren and desolate. Inside the city, in the warm spring of March, a hundred flowers bloomed in vibrant colors as people strolled among the bustling crowds, a scene of unparalleled prosperity. Jiang Liu, however, showed no interest in any of this and fell into deep thought.
What made Jiang Liu fall into deep thought was the unusual nature of this season.
"The Vermilion Bird Avenue, the Vermilion Bird Grand Formation—this blazing aura is formed by a grand formation that covers the entire city. Who operates this formation? After breaking through the dragon energy, this blazing aura has a unique flavor; could it be the ancient Phoenix Clan?!"
Just as Jiang Liu was deep in thought, an old Taoist priest stood in front of him, face to face.
"You have the countenance and aura of an emperor!"
The old Taoist priest was in his fifties, with an unusual appearance, handsome features, and a three-stranded beard, exuding an air of otherworldly wisdom. His voice was loud, but it seemed that no one around him heard it; it only reached Jiang Liu's ears.
Jiang Liu glanced at him sideways. This old Taoist was also a terrestrial immortal, but he wasn't strong. He was only a new terrestrial immortal and couldn't see through Jiang Liu's abilities.
As we walked past him, the old Taoist priest immediately followed, leaned closer, and whispered, "I told you you have the countenance of an emperor. Aren't you even a little curious or tempted? Ask around, in this Chang'an city, I, Yuan Shoucheng, have never made a wrong prediction."
"Yuan Shoucheng?" Jiang Liu stopped in his tracks. He had met Yuan Tiangang before; Yuan Tiangang was a highly skilled cultivator. This uncle of Yuan Tiangang seemed to be inferior to Yuan Tiangang.
"You've heard of me, the old Taoist priest!" The old Taoist priest stroked his beard, adopting a profound and unfathomable expression.
“Your nephew Yuan Tiangang wouldn’t dare to predict my fate, be careful he doesn’t suffer a heavenly calamity!” Jiang Liu pointed to the sky. He had come to Chang’an with a purpose and did not want to be delayed by this old Taoist.
The old Taoist priest looked at the sky, shuddered, and then watched helplessly as Jiang Liu disappeared into the crowd.
He gritted his teeth but didn't chase after them.
"He truly has the countenance of an emperor! He walks with the stride of a dragon and the aura of a tiger, even surpassing the Tang Emperor! Who is this person? No, no, I must go ask my dear nephew. However, he went into seclusion after returning from Mount Hua... Oh right, Tieguai Li and Han Zhongli haven't left yet. I'll go find them!"
...
"It has only been a little over a month since we parted ways at Mount Hua, and your skill has improved greatly. You are now no less skilled than me, the cripple!"
The speaker was none other than Tieguai Li, whose expression was somewhat forlorn. He had been cultivating Taoism since the pre-Qin period, and although he had reincarnated once, he had still cultivated for hundreds of years. After reaching the Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation stage, his progress was still extremely slow. Now, seeing Jiang Liu soaring through the heavens, his cultivation level skyrocketing, he felt somewhat forlorn, but not jealous. He was still happy for him, even though this was only their second meeting.
Jiang Liu smiled and bowed to Tieguai Li, Han Zhongli, and Zhang Guo, three of the Eight Immortals. On the day of the battle with the River Dragon King, the three of them were unable to intervene, but despite the Dragon King's threats, they persuaded him not to leave.
"Brother Jiang, you've really made great progress again?" Seeing Jiang Liu nod, Zhang Guo immediately smiled broadly and said, "So, you're not afraid of that Dragon King anymore! Good, good!"
Han Zhongli also waved his banana leaf fan and said, "Excellent! Let's have a big toast! Today, I'm hosting a feast at the best restaurant in Chang'an, with the finest wine, to celebrate with you, fellow Daoist!"
“The aura of an emperor!” Yuan Shoucheng suddenly exclaimed.
Han Zhongli waved his palm-leaf fan and said, "I'm not good at observing qi, nor am I familiar with the principles of the Book of Changes. I don't have any imperial aura! Brother Shoucheng, how did you see that?"
Jiang Liu had been focused on sensing the Vermilion Bird Formation, using the power of the Nine Provinces Cauldron to control the dragon energy of the earth's veins, which is why Yuan Shoucheng saw him. Now that he has concealed his abilities and the Nine Provinces Cauldron is hidden in his storage space, naturally no one knows that he can control dragon energy.
Tieguai Li also shook his head.
Tieguai Li and Han Zhongli were both masters of alchemy, but naturally not very proficient in the principles of physiognomy, aura reading, and divination based on the Book of Changes. Moreover, only three of the Eight Immortals had been born yet, and their strength was still on the rise; they were not yet the world-renowned Eight Immortals of Shangdong in later generations.
Naturally, one cannot discern the source of the river's flow.
"Brother Jiang, what brings you in such a hurry? Have we delayed your business?" Zhang Guo asked.
Jiang Liu thought for a moment and said, "Do you know if Li Jian, the military commander of Jiangnan Road, has returned to Chang'an?"
Zhang Guo immediately replied, "So you're looking for him. The army is still on its way and should arrive before the New Year."
"Oh! He hasn't returned yet!" Jiang Liu had originally intended to obtain the seventh-grade pill formula from the "Dan Ding Liu" sect, but since Li Jian hadn't returned, he either had to steal it from the palace or wait.
Stealing is something I absolutely cannot do. This capital of the Tang Dynasty is being watched by countless cultivators. If I were to leak this information, my reputation would be ruined.
"Since you haven't returned, I'll treat everyone to drinks. The food at restaurants may not be the best, it's all ordinary fare. I have something, though it's not exactly a treasure, it's still a remarkable spiritual object. Thank you all for your kind words that day!"
Chapter 258 Zhongnan Mountain
Three hundred miles south of Chang'an lies the famous Qinling Mountains, one of the most important and vital dragon veins of the Nine Provinces.