CHAPTER 167: THE FOUR GREAT CELESTIAL MASTERS

Among the common folk, they were known as Lord Seventh and Lord Eighth.

White Impermanence’s name was Xie Bian, while Black Impermanence’s name was Fan Wujiu. They were both widely known as deities from myth and folklore.

In this regard, the myths and tales of the Kingdom of Qian were quite similar to what Li Yanchu had known in his previous life.

However, the Black Impermanence standing before him was not the Underworld's soul-reaping envoy Fan Wujiu, but rather, a cultivator's manifested primordial spirit!

This involved a very particular cultivation method for the Primordial Spirit, the Visualization Method.

Upon reaching the Second Realm, cultivators could begin practicing visualization. The Daoist and Buddhist sects, and even each individual sect within, had their own forms of visualization.

Some visualized divine beings of the Celestial Court, others visualized Arhats or Bodhisattvas, or even mythical beasts from ancient legends. There was no fixed form, and some even visualized objects or artifacts.

As the saying went, “All methods return to the source[1].” There was no strict rule on what one could visualize.

And contrary to what one might assume, that the more “divine” or powerful the image, the stronger the effect, this wasn’t always the case.

The true strength depended on the depth of personal insight and the level of one's cultivation.

This technique was a form of primordial spirit-based divine combat. Lesser sects without a visualization method would find themselves at a disadvantage during such spiritual duels, which was a fatal shortcoming.

Once the Visualization Method was successfully cultivated, during a spiritual battle, one's primordial spirit would take the form of the visualized entity, possessing immense power that often exceeded even the might of physical combat.

After all, once the primordial spirit left the body, it could pierce illusions hidden from the physical form, and travel thousands of li in a single day.

But it was also fragile, and highly susceptible to the lethal forces of Heaven and Earth.

This type of primordial spirit Visualization Method served precisely to compensate for that weakness.

After his initial surprise, Li Yanchu quickly discerned the nature of the two auras before him were clearly primordial spirits that had left the body! That meant that they could still be fought.

Had these truly been the actual Black Impermanence of the Underworld, or a primordial beast straight out of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, then Li Yanchu might as well have turned around and gone home.

No matter how fierce he was, he was still, in the end, a mortal body of flesh and blood. He was not yet transcendent, and he was just a cultivator.

How could he possibly go up against such legendary ghosts or gods?

However, the fact that someone could refine their primordial spirit visualization to this degree and manifest such a huge and exaggerated Black Impermanence already showed their immense cultivation.

Around this manifestation swirled dense black mist, within which countless vengeful spirits wailed and twisted, refusing to disperse.

Just one glance was enough to throw the mind into a state of sheer terror, as if plunged into the depths of the Yellow Springs and the Underworld with whirling nether winds and surging waves of the River of Forgetfulness.

Amid this hellish vision, the Black Impermanence figure grinned wickedly, and said, “Looks like I came at the perfect time. The Baxia stone statue from the Blissful Land has awakened and come into these mountains. Clearly, a great opportunity lies ahead. Fellow cultivators, how about we join forces for now and take down this Baxia statue first?”

His voice was coarse and grating, with a barely concealed malevolence.

Li Yanchu kept his expression calm, eyes fixed on him.

The primordial spirit Visualization Method often had a subtle effect on one’s personality; after all, to visualize the same entity day and night was bound to have some influence. But that varied from person to person.

More importantly, this Black Impermanence visualization revealed not only cultivation, but also his own nature.

The raw, brazen malice, and the arrogant swagger left a deep impression on Li Yanchu.

Suddenly, a strange gleam flashed through Black Impermanence’s eyes. His smile took on a mocking, meaningful edge.

“So there’s a Celestial Master from Mount Longhu here, huh? No wonder you lot haven’t started fighting yet.”

At this moment, several roaming cultivators’ primordial spirits were encircling the Baxia stone statue. Only the old Daoist from Mount Longhu and Li Yanchu were present in the flesh. That old Daoist held a yellow paper umbrella tucked under his arm, his face weathered by wind and frost.

It was Li Yanchu’s first time seeing his true face. It seemed very... ordinary

. Not the slightest trace of celestial grace or Daoist refinement.

The lines on his face were deep and weary, the sort that made it hard to believe this was a Celestial Master from the famed Mount Longhu.

He looked more like a wandering Daoist, and not a particularly successful one.

When he heard the mocking tone from Black Impermanence’s primordial spirit avatar, the old Daoist snorted.

“Of all things to visualize, you chose a soul-reaping ghost? I’d say tonight your fate is sealed.”

His tone was blunt and biting, not exactly what you'd call dignified or lofty, but it was refreshingly straightforward.

Black Impermanence was visibly taken aback. His voice turned colder and lower. “You think you’re still the head of the Four Great Celestial Masters of Mount Longhu? You’re nothing now but a broken-down old corpse with a shattered Dao heart.”

A chilling intent to kill surged in his eyes.

Head of the Four Great Celestial Masters of Mount Longhu!? Li Yanchu's expression shifted slightly, clearly moved by the revelation.

This old Daoist... had such a formidable background? What did it mean that his Dao heart was damaged?

The old man let out a low chuckle. “Beating ten or eight of your kind? No problem at all.”

It had to be said among all the masters Li Yanchu had met, this one had the least sense of dignity or grandeur.

But he carried a boundless, unpolished air of the jianghu.

A single Blissful Land opening... and it had drawn in so many Second Realm experts, including a man who was once the foremost of Mount Longhu’s Four Great Celestial Masters.

Li Yanchu's eyes lit up. He found the situation increasingly fascinating. He was now deeply curious about why the Baxia stone statue had come to this treacherous mountain range tonight.

The atmosphere was growing tense and volatile, like a drawn bowstring ready to snap. The cultivator who had visualized the beast the Bifang stood wreathed in flame.

But these were no ordinary flames, they burned with resentment and hostility, a kind of yin fire.

Clearly, this was a ruthless demonic cultivator, one who had slain many and was steeped in karmic retribution. And he wasn’t the only one cloaked in flames.

Another figure nearby radiated intense heat. It was a Vajra guardian with his eyes wide with wrath, radiating awe and power. His fire was Buddha’s flames capable of burning away demons and ghosts alike.

There was also a massive, multicolored spider. Its aura was ferocious and ominous, and its body was monstrously huge.

Larger even than Black Impermanence’s towering form, this thing bore a grotesque human face on its monstrous spider body.

Its eyes were shut tight. This wasn’t some soul projected through a visualization technique, this was a real demon. It was a spider demon!

The stench of blood saturated the air, and yet, strangely, its body emitted a cloying, intoxicating fragrance, as if laced with seduction.

Even more disturbing was the chair. Pitch-black in color, with a bizarre, ancient design, its surface was carved with archaic deities. It was crude and weathered, as well as hard to recognize.

They were definitely not figures from the traditional pantheon. More likely, they were totemic spirits worshipped by obscure tribal sects.

And this chair emanated an aura of pure destruction, like something dragged up from the Abyss of the Nine Hells.

Someone actually visualized a chair? Now that’s a real talent... Li Yanchu couldn’t help but mock inwardly.

As expected of a Blissful Land emergence, even such obscure and reclusive cultivators had been drawn to the scene.

Righteous and Demonic Daos alike, all mingled together.

A Six Jia Guardian, clad in golden armor, floated above the crowd and gazed coldly down at the others. This was clearly a Daoist cultivator’s visualization, one of the most commonly conjured figures among Daoist disciples.

It was a celestial being of the Celestial Court. The Six Ding and Six Jia were guardian deities in Daoism, and frequently invoked.

Yet this mysterious Daoist expert made his stance quite clear that he would not help either side.

Black Impermanence let out a sinister laugh. “With that old Daoist here, things could take an unexpected turn. Why not get rid of him first and cut off all future trouble!”

Ever since this man had appeared, he’d done nothing but stir up trouble.

Yet his words truly struck a chord, stoking the hatred these heretics bore toward the Righteous Dao, especially toward Mount Longhu.

After all, Mount Longhu had earned its reputation by crushing countless demons and dark spirits beneath its feet.

And today, they wanted to kill a Celestial Master of Mount Longhu themselves!

1. This means that although all things in the world may take on countless forms, their essence or purpose remains unchanged, and ultimately, all return to the Dao. ☜