Chapter 105: The Heavenly Palace's Forbidden Seal of the Great Sun True Fire
Before my eyes is still the magnificent and majestic fairy mansion, with golden courts and jade pillars, crystal eaves and jasper steps, solemn and grand. The colorful lights and resplendent beauty make one's heart move and spirit soar. In the back of the cave, I can still vaguely see the rare flowers and grasses, the crystal forest and immortal trees. This fairy mansion is extremely vast, not only with clear streams and flying waterfalls, but also with mountain peaks and strange rocks. After that, there is a peak of emerald green, crystal clear and translucent, surrounded by golden halos, and I don't know where the spring water comes from, flowing down from this peak like a jade dragon, majestic and grand. In other places, it's the sound of gentle streams, quiet and elegant. In the clear springs, the tendrils of vines are green and silky, swaying with the water, fish swimming back and forth, turtles hiding in the depths, while on both sides are towering pine trees, their branches lush and dense, making me exclaim in wonder!
"The three people didn't know where they went, could it be that this immortal mansion still has other spaces? It's really strange!" Mu Yuanfang broke through the big array, and his heart couldn't help but relax. Seeing such a victorious scene, he had just taken a step forward when he suddenly heard the sound of mechanisms clicking into place. Those lush and beautiful scenes instantly disappeared, and several giant golden iron men reappeared around him, their bodies shining with golden light, over ten feet tall, with faces no different from ordinary people, staring at Mu Yuanfang with empty, hollow eyes that were actually made of a kind of emerald green glass bead, making Mu Yuanfang's hair stand on end!
"It's indeed not easy to get in, with layers of mechanisms. If it were someone else, they wouldn't be able to break the forbidden law and would lose their life without even seeing the crystal pillars outside!" Mu Yuan's mind was racing, his feet slightly misstepping, as those few iron puppets had already pounced on him, swift as lightning, like a gust of wind blowing sparks. Mu Yuan was shocked, his Six Harmony Sword transforming into six rays of pure energy, colliding with the incoming puppet arms, bursting out a trail of sparks, yet unable to cut them down. Mu Yuan was shaken, stumbling incessantly, deeply astonished by the power of these puppets!
Fortunately, these iron puppets were only powerful and didn't have any other magical powers. Mu Yuan activated the Sword Maru, transforming it into a lush vine that instantly bound the iron men tightly!
Several iron puppets were bound, but he felt a strong and weak force passing through the sword hilt, shaking his tiger's mouth numb, knowing that the iron man was fierce and didn't dare to put it in the gourd. He immediately drew out the Longsheng Sword, with purple rainbow swirling around, and shattered these puppets into pieces!
The broken puppet iron pieces were still jumping on the ground, this puppet was made of Taiyi Gengjin in a crucible with fierce fire casting, cooled and shaped with North Ming cold water, it was very solid, but it couldn't withstand the power of Changsheng Sword, Mu Yuan didn't waste materials either, he threw them all into the gourd!
Several iron men were beheaded, and Mu Yuan had not yet taken a step forward. The surrounding space was once again overturned, the killing intent dissipated, and a faint fragrance wafted through the air, smooth and warm. The eyes were filled with layers of silk curtains, candlelight shining through, and in the midst of it all, countless young maidens appeared, their bodies hidden behind thin veils, singing and dancing softly, their voices smooth as silk, their skin as white as snow.
Then, these young girls showed off their coquettish demeanor, dancing elegantly, with their clothes slipping down, revealing their slender figures, delicate legs stretching out, and slim waists swaying gently, fully displaying their lithe physiques. Meanwhile, they murmured soft words, making all sorts of seductive advances towards Mu Yuan!
Although he knew that what was in front of him was an illusion, these women surrounded him, their skin touching his, a strange fragrance piercing his brain, and a hot air rising from the soles of his feet, spreading throughout his body in an instant. His blood vessels were swelling, his whole body feeling like it was going to burst with unbearable pain. In his lower abdomen, there seemed to be a huge force that couldn't be released, every part of him itching, unable to scratch. The women's soft and boneless arms wrapped around him again, his mind dazed, and he felt himself falling to the ground uncontrollably!
Although his mind was clear and his roots were deep, he was only eighteen or nineteen years old after all, and it was the time when his blood and energy were vigorous. His natural disposition was hard to extinguish, and where had he seen such an array? Moreover, the strange and mysterious fragrance in the air kept drilling into his nostrils, making him a bit dizzy and unable to clear his mind. He was about to sink into it, but suddenly a low and solemn Buddhist chanting sound came from somewhere, and the light of the Universal Gateway Mantra that had been immersed in Mokuren's dantian suddenly burst out with great radiance, responding to it. In an instant, the clarity of the Northern Sea Water Mantra, the majesty of the Purple Thunder Dragon Mantra, the vastness of the Longevity Mantra, and the dense and heavy atmosphere of the Great Mantra that had been condensed from the true energy of the oven all burst out, sweeping away the breath. Those lovely women who had come up to him were all scattered into nothingness!
"What a close call!" Mu Yuan suddenly woke up, couldn't help but wipe the cold sweat on his forehead, and when he saw the distant canopy and silk curtains, a wave of shame and anger surged up, and with a flick of his hand, a powerful Purple Thunderbolt descended, the thunderfire rampaged, and those curtain women were all blown to smithereens!
The surrounding illusion dissipated, and Mu Yuan suddenly found himself standing in front of an emaciated old monk sitting on the ground, holding a string of prayer beads. Behind him, a red sun was visible, and his head was covered in sweat as he recited scriptures non-stop. Mu Yuan looked at this scene with curiosity, wondering what the monk was struggling against, since there was nothing else around them.
"Mani as the banner, constantly emitting light, always producing wonderful sounds, a net of precious jewels, fragrant flowers and tassels..." The old monk spat out a string of mantra scriptures from his mouth, the flames that had been wrapped around his body suddenly burst forth, as if he had broken free from something, and slowly opened his eyes!
"Isn't this the Mahavairocana Buddha's true fire?" Mu Yuan was astonished in his heart, but he also guessed that it was the old monk's scripture recitation that had awakened him just now. Otherwise, the consequences would be unpredictable. He felt grateful and saw the monk with a compassionate appearance, wise eyes shining, making people involuntarily produce a sense of reverence from their hearts. He stepped forward and thanked him, "Thank you, Master, for your wonderful Buddhist scriptures, which saved me from sinking into an illusory realm!"
That old monk saw Mu Yuan and seemed extremely surprised, with a hint of doubt in his eyes. Seeing Mu Yuan thank him, he said in a low voice, "I suppose you also fell into an illusion just now, and I too have just escaped from my own obstacles. It's a thousand times difficult, but I see that your cultivation is good, how did you manage to pass through the large formation outside the mansion without a single hair being harmed?"
Mu Yuan smiled, "The Master is a senior in the Taiyi Sect. This time, I entered this immortal mansion with several fellow Taoists, relying on their magical skills to enter safely. Among them was also a fellow disciple of the Master's, but strangely, after entering the cave, they disappeared without a trace!"
The old monk nodded, "This immortal mansion is very treacherous. No matter how many people enter, they are all separated and sent to different places at the moment of breaking through the array. I and a fellow Taoist friend also went through the Desert God Sand Array outside, but we were scattered apart. During our attempt to break through the array, both of us were injured by the earth fire wind water, although we managed to force our way through, but as soon as I entered the palace, I was attacked by two dragon fish, and although I killed them, my tendons were severed, and 80-90% of my magical powers were lost. I then fell into an illusion, suffered from heavenly demon heart demon chaotic heart, and exhausted all my strength to escape. However, every step in this immortal mansion is difficult, with numerous dangers lurking ahead, it's uncertain what will happen next. It seems that I am not destined for this immortal mansion, unlike you, young friend, whose roots are deep and strong, blessed with good fortune, walking here without any harm."
Mu Yuan listened to the old monk's explanation, and only then did he realize that he was truly fortunate. Looking at the old monk, although his breath was dull and his face was pale, his demeanor was stern and his law was shapeless. Compared to himself, he was much higher, yet he ended up in such a predicament, while he himself had arrived here unscathed. In his heart, he secretly thanked his ancestors and heaven's mercy.
Two people were talking, but the surrounding scenery was slowly changing, transforming into a strange and beautiful landscape that Mu Yuan had seen when he first entered the cave. Nine huge jade pillars appeared around them, emitting colorful mist and shining light, like clouds and brocade, illuminating the entire courtyard. The two people's hearts filled with joy, but before they could approach, nine fire dragons suddenly appeared on top of the jade pillars, their scales glistening, horns shimmering, and fierce flames swirling around them, as if they were about to burn down the mountains and boil the seas. The dragons spat out flames towards the two people, who were shocked and quickly transformed their Longevity True Qi into Tide True Qi, creating a misty vapor that collided with the flames, producing a loud hissing sound. A wave of heat enveloped them, and Mu Yuan's Star River Sword appeared in response to his thoughts, its light retreating far away.
Looking at the old monk again, he was already exhausted and on his last breath. Although he had cultivated the true fire energy of Mahavairocana, he couldn't withstand such a powerful attack and had been burned into a human torch. However, no miserable cries were heard. Mu Yuan was shocked and frightened by what he saw, and had already retreated to a safe distance outside the range of the fire dragon. He hastily extended the Star River transformed from the Minghe Sword, encircled the old monk, and pulled him out!
Two people lost their tracks, the nine jade pillars' fire dragons rested, swam around for a while, and then disappeared with the jade pillars. Mu Yuan hastily stirred up the tide of water to extinguish the true fire on the monk's body, but saw that he had already been burned into a skeleton, his posture unchanged, only a thin volume and a bright red bead fell from his body!
Mu Yuan stretched out his hand and touched it, the remaining skeleton of Laohe Shang also turned into a pile of ashes, drifting away with the wind. Although he had profound magical powers in his lifetime, after all, he was no longer able to withstand the scorching heat of the fire dragon.
In his heart, there was a bit of sorrow, but Mu Yuan picked up the scroll on the ground, smooth and cool to the touch, made of some unknown material. Under the fierce flames of the fire dragon, it remained undamaged. On the cover, there were five crimson ancient seals, which read "Mahayana True Fire Formula"!
Mu Yuan couldn't help but bitterly smile in his heart, never expecting that he would come to the south for the True Fire Scripture, originally intending to seek the Southern Ming's Departure from Fire Scripture or the Nirvana Scripture, yet unexpectedly obtained the Great Sun True Fire Scripture! And himself entering the Immortal Mansion, didn't even get a single hair of the Immortal Mansion, instead got the scripture from someone who entered the mansion! The workings of fate are indeed mysterious and unpredictable!
He slightly flipped through it, and Mu Yuan was overjoyed to find that this "Tai Ri Zhen Huo Jue" was a complete set of heart techniques, from refining Qi and connecting meridians to achieving the Great Sun Golden Crow Primordial Spirit, with annotations and explanations all the way up to the ninth layer of Qi refinement. He suspected that these were the old monk's insights gained through his cultivation. Upon seeing this, Mu Yuan could confirm that the old monk had already achieved perfection in refining Qi, but had yet to break through to the Primordial Spirit. His heart was filled with even more admiration!
