575 The Order of the Jade Virtual Palace (1/2)
Meng Qi, wearing the mask of the Heavenly Primogenitor, reappeared in front of the stronghold of The Immortals, the Azure Palace in the dimension of the Azure Heaven. Like Qu Jiuniang had done before, he went to the chambers within the Palace and looked for the charm that allowed members of the guild to summon their leader, the Primogenitor Lingbao. The stronghold of The Immortals was similar in essence to the Samsara Square of the Dominator of the Realms of the Six Samsara. Members of the order could enter freely but could not stay for long periods of time.
Meng Qi had decided not to go back to the mainland from the Qiao Provinces. Instead, he had opted to directly terminate his mission and return prematurely. This would result in the failure of his task, forfeiting his claim to any prizes, but it was the only way he could return as swiftly as possible without suffering additional delays. The circumstances surrounding the remnants of Mount Kunlun was a great enigma. Meng Qi had thought that the matter could tolerate no delay lest any unwanted twists and changes arise.
Unlike most artifacts and items, Sprite of Herbs was considered a living entity, therefore Meng Qi could not bring the sprite with him in his Space Ring. Instead, he cast a spell to seal its Vital Spirit and placed it in the care of Zhang Yuquan until his return.
Meng Qi had already lost track of time when he finally saw Taoist Chonghe. He was in the raiments of his persona, the ”Primogenitor Lingbao”, reappearing directly within the enclosure of the Azure Palace without having to pass through the outer entrances.
The leader listened intently as Meng Qi reported his experience, his gaze distant and still. He had no reaction and kept quiet even after Meng Qi concluded his report, looking as if he was deep in a trance.
Suddenly, Primogenitor Lingbao heaved a long and heavy sigh. ”I have long searched through thickets and fen for any bizarre sign, yet until now I have found nothing of any sealed dimensions in the realm itself. It is a great wonder that you are able to detect its existence in just your first visit.”
His voice turned serious. ”This could be attributed to the destiny and Karma that you have shouldered with the accession of the Heavenly Golden Scripture. This is too perfect to be considered coincidental.”
He pondered and then spoke again after a brief pause. ”The influence of your destiny is too strong. There has been overabundance of fortune, adventure, and Heaven-sent kismet coming your way. Who would have thought that even The Buddha's Palm Primary Instruction would end up in your hands when you were thousands of miles away from our battlefield while we were all fighting for it? For a practitioner of martial and mystic arts, this might not bode well for you. The unexpected undertakings and the perils that they entail could be overly overwhelming for you. It is beyond your ability and yet it does not belong to you. Just like a rootless tree or a brook without its source, the excessive dependence on it could one day spell your demise.”
Seeing that Meng Qi was unperturbed by his warning, he felt more comfortable to continue speaking. ”The most pressing matter at hand is, where did all the encounters and fortunes originate from? Were they pre-destined for you to bear, or was this an intricately devised scheme of one's planning?”
”Thank you for your advice, Master Primogenitor,” Meng Qi said reverently, cupping one hand in the other before his chest. ”I have long been aware of this. I have been in anguish wondering about it, searching for means to prevent it and to safeguard myself if and when the time comes.” Meng Qi acknowledged the counsel of the Master Primogenitor with a calm steadiness.
Meng Qi had been tense as a taut bowstring ever since his many encounters, his senses tingling with alarm. The counsel of the Heaven-destined Cultivator and Master Lu, the incidents involving the small jade joss and the Buddha's Lamp which were once in his possession, and the most recent episode of the Buddha's Palm had rattled him greatly, warning him that fatal perils and risks came hand-in-hand with such purported coincidences!
Unsurprisingly, Meng Qi was hardly shaken by the warnings of Primogenitor Lingbao.
”You are aware. Good.” The Master Primogenitor was relieved. ”Have you found any means to safeguard yourself thus far?”
Sensing his opportunity, Meng Qi quickly said, ”Since the risks come from both Destiny and Karma, I have decided that the conundrum can only be solved in the same way. I have amassed and studied mystic arts that involve Karma, and I have finally grasped a cursory mastery of the Fruits of Karma technique. Still, the technique has deep engrossments with Ananda, the Monster Saint and other entities which I may not yet know of. I plan to continue my search of other disciplines or techniques that will increase my harness of Karma to study the Seed of All Karma and integrate my understandings with the Fruits of Karma to create my own saber discipline which would allow me to sever all Karmic burdens to free myself!”
”That is a good way to proceed. It is a pity that the Skythrowing Palms and the Wu-Ji and Yin-Yang Seals do not necessitate command over Karma. Otherwise, the complexities of the Seed of All Karma itself would have been able to help with the blade stroke of Karma of your own creation.” The Primogenitor Lingbao spoke with earnest before he fell into another of his mumbling fits. ”Still, there might be other mystic arts and techniques concerning Karma as well...”
Really? Indeed? Meng Qi watched the Primogenitor Lingbao with widened eyes.
The Primogenitor Lingbao recovered from his daze. ”I am not well-versed in the techniques and disciplines of such natures, but I shall be on the lookout in the future.”
”You have my most sincere thanks, Master Primogenitor,” Meng Qi said gratefully, his hand clasped upon the fist of the other as he bowed gratefully.
Without further ado, Primogenitor Lingbao held Meng Qi by his shoulder and with his other arm, he pointed into the space in front of them.
A crack appeared before them - a crack of space and dimension. Bright light poured out from it, enveloping them in pure white before drawing them into the void. Meng Qi felt as if he was passing through various barriers of fluidic nature whilst they traversed through gloom and chaos.
Primogenitor Lingbao had elected to force an entry!
…
The ”Primogenitor Lingbao” and the ”Heavenly Primogenitor”, both in the masks of their persona, appeared in a lush valley covered in rolling, green sea of trees.
The Sprite of Herbs was there to greet them. Glancing timidly at the Primogenitor Lingbao, its leaves quivered with fright as it spoke. ”Here lies the first barrier of the seal.” He pointed to the valley before them.
The Primogenitor Lingbao projected his aura and powers. A rush of energy poured like the strong waves of a sea. He cast a few spells and observed, yet nothing happened.
”I cannot find the barrier,” he said calmly, looking at the Sprite of Herbs.
The sprite shivered with fear and babbled. ”I-if you do not have the token of authority... O-only the true heir of the Jade Virtual Palace can see... if... if he channels his powers using the techniques of the Line of the Jade Virtual Palace! The Heavenly Golden Script, the Eight Nine Mysteries technique or the Guangcheng Designs would do!”
The Eight Nine Mysteries? Meng Qi was worried that the Heavenly Golden Script that he mastered was lacking in essence to the true and complete mastery that only the true heirs of the Line of the Jade Virtual Palace of Mount Kunlun would have. Seeing as the sprite had mentioned the Eight Nine Mysteries, he could safely channel his powers using the Eight Nine Mysteries to fully simulate the effects of the true Heavenly Golden Script in order not to be branded a pretender to the legacy of the Line of Mount Kunlun.
The aura of the most ancient and harsh poured from his body. A shade of gloom descended around them, simulating the events of the Primordial Creation.
As if on cue, a faint glow of gold shone before them. A golden entrance finally appeared.
”I see. There really is a seal,” said Primogenitor Lingbao with mixed emotions.
Light of intense radiance shimmered like the ripples of water when Meng Qi and the Primogenitor Lingbao walked through the entrance together. Another valley, one that was richer in life and vigor, opened before them.
Lusher trees, gnarled and old, stretched with audacity into the skies. Thick shrubbery, bizarre flowers that bloomed healthily, as well as trunks of thick and strong vines blanketed the verdant valley as the robust fertility of Nature manifested itself before their eyes.
”Master, only we of the Line of Mount Kunlun have the privilege to come here. None of the earlier intruders would have amounted to anything!” The Sprite of Herbs exclaimed boisterously with pride.
Indifferent to the flattery, Meng Qi flatly asked, ”Where is the next layer of the barrier?”
The Sprite of Herbs hurried forward, leading Meng Qi and the Primogenitor Lingbao onward. They passed a field where numerous ginseng and lingzhi mushrooms thrived. At length, they came before an ancient stone stele. A mottled old headstone that bore the hallmarks of the decay of time and the abuse of weather.
Once again, Meng Qi used the technique of the Eight Nine Mysteries to simulate the effects of the Heavenly Golden Script and unseal the barrier with hardly any difficulty. Like before, a golden door appeared before them.
”As expected, there are levels of barriers that extend deep within...” Primogenitor Lingbao faintly whispered beside him while Meng Qi was still filled with amazement.
What has happened? Meng Qi's eyes fell on the stone slab.