Chapter 366 - 259: Spirit Refinement and Dao Ascension, Shattering the Void (Part 2)

The second was the Blood-Robed Director, Fang Buying, who commanded the Embroidered Uniform Guard and held the power of life and death.

The third was a clandestine spymaster who specialized in monitoring all officials, their identity a mystery.

"I don’t deserve to be called Director by you, Lord Scholar. I am but a household slave, easing Her Majesty’s burdens."

Fang Buying was shrouded in a black robe, gaunt as a bamboo stalk. He was like a long, thin, sharp dagger; even his smile carried a cold, unapproachable air.

Zhou Muhan gave a faint smile and said no more.

He knew well that a solitary courtier like Fang Buying could neither be befriended nor slighted.

He changed the subject, saying:

"Her Majesty reached the summit of the Great Snowy Mountain two months ago. Some of the talk in the court has not been pleasant..."

Fang Buying sneered.

"Rest assured, Lord Scholar. With the Prime Minister presiding over the court, no petty villains can stir up trouble.

"Whether it’s Prince Yu or Prince Xin, they’ll have to behave themselves. If anyone gets any funny ideas, Hmph!

"Before Her Majesty left the capital, she had already given the order: Execute first, then report. Slay all who dare to disobey!"

As he spoke the last eight words, the Blood-Robed Director’s eyes went wide, brimming with killing intent. Zhou Muhan’s heart pounded, and he couldn’t help but take two steps back.

’Such profound Power! He truly is the Prime Minister’s personal disciple. He’s already got one foot in the Twelve Transformations of the Mortal Realm!’

Fang Buying looked up at the vast, snow-covered expanse of the Great Snowy Mountain, a hint of yearning in his eyes.

Just a few months ago, Great Dharma Master Hongri had sent a decree across the land, announcing that the gateway to ascension had opened. A great Feathered technique had descended from the heavens, and he was inviting all fellow practitioners to witness and verify it.

And the only ones who could be considered "fellow practitioners" by Si Jiancan, the number one master of the Great Snowy Mountain, were, of course, the supreme experts of the Mortal Realm—other Spirit-Refining Grandmasters.

Thus, this grand event also came to be known as the "Convocation for Spirit Refining and Dao Attainment."

When Her Majesty the Empress learned of this, she went against all counsel, insisting on personally braving the danger to set foot on the Great Snowy Mountain beyond the pass.

Even when several high-ranking ministers threatened to die in protest, they could not persuade Her Majesty to change her mind.

"The child of a wealthy family does not sit beneath the eaves."

Zhou Muhan sighed.

"The fate of the Great Enterprise rests on Her Majesty alone. For her to walk into such peril is truly a grave danger."

Yao Yun had been on the throne for several decades. She subdued the great clans within the pass, secured her throne, and used Xiao Feibai to slaughter the Gate Valves, measure the lands, and clarify the tax system, forging the Great Enterprise into an iron-clad empire.

In terms of achievements, this "Lone Phoenix" of the Great Enterprise was beyond reproach, nearly rivaling the founding emperor.

But she was not without flaws. First, Her Majesty the Empress did not "take consorts" and had no heirs to inherit the throne, which could easily destabilize the foundation of the state and plant the seeds of future trouble.

Second, Her Majesty was obsessed with seeking immortality. She once exhausted the state’s resources to build the ninety-zhang-tall Bronze Sparrow Terrace, often spending the night atop it, hoping to converse with Immortals.

The Censorate submitted memorials repeatedly. For this, Her Majesty, who had always been known for accepting counsel and never punishing officials for their words, had many of them brutally flogged at court!

’The moment news of this Feathered ascension emerged, Her Majesty was bound to be unable to sit still...’

Fang Buying fell silent. As the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and a disciple of Xiao Feibai, he knew a great deal about Her Majesty’s past.

It was a hot topic of discussion among the common folk: Her Majesty the Empress had risen from obscurity, fighting the Twin Dragons of Liyang and defeating the Grand General of the North, Jin Wushu, in her youth, all because she had encountered an immortal’s serendipity.

’All these years, Her Majesty has constantly longed for the ’Upper God from Beyond the Heavens.’ Her obsession has reached a fever pitch. How could she possibly miss a convocation for spirit refining and ascending to the Dao?’

Fang Buying mused to himself, ’If she could trade the entire Great Enterprise for a chance to follow the Upper God, Her Majesty would do it without a moment’s hesitation.’

’What Her Majesty seeks is not to become an Immortal, but simply to see the Upper God one more time... Just what kind of person could inspire such obsession in a generational empress?’

...

...

At the peak of the Great Snowy Mountain, a boundless sea of clouds held up a golden sun.

The grand divine temple, once considered a "forbidden land," was now exceptionally lively.

One could say that all the masters under heaven had gathered here!

Distinct Qi Mechanisms, each unique to the Twelve Transformations of the Mortal Realm, filled the air, colliding with one another and stirring the winds and clouds.

More than twenty Spirit-Refining Grandmasters sat upright like well-behaved children listening to a private tutor, their gazes fixed upon the massive character for "Dao" branded into the void.

"Circulating through the six voids, its laws applicable to all things... The profound principles that Great Dharma Master Hongri has comprehended are truly exquisite."

Yan Fei of Zhixuan Temple sat cross-legged on the ground. The three-foot-long sword he once carried on his back was gone, and his Qi Mechanism was now harmonious and unobstructed, flowing like a mountain stream.

It was clear that in the past few decades, this successor of Zhixuan Temple had also progressed at a dizzying pace, gradually joining the ranks of the supreme experts.

"As I observe this ’Dao’ character, it seems to possess infinite transformations between the virtual and the real. Its many Qi Mechanisms follow the principles of generation and restriction, the wonders of control and transformation, sometimes manifesting externally, sometimes concealing themselves within.

"Frankly, even if I were to study it for another fifty years, I wouldn’t be able to comprehend it completely."

The monk sitting beside him had a face like crowned jade, exceptionally handsome, like a meticulously carved statue.

"The vastness of this character is unparalleled. It embraces all of creation, moves heaven and earth within its palms. It can bind the seasons, hold back the sun and moon, and tether a fleeting foal, as constant as the North Star."

At that moment, another person in a corner spoke up:

"The smallness of this character is also extraordinary. It is like Mount Sumeru in a mustard seed, hidden between the wind and clouds. It can resound for ten thousand li and sing to the nine heavens, yet it can also stir the wind, part the clouds, and rustle the grass and trees.

"It is as if we are standing between heaven and earth, observing all phenomena, yet we remain completely unaware, seeing nothing at all."

Everyone turned to look and saw it was Ascendant Liuyun of Motian Cliff.

Several generations of masters from the four great sacred grounds, so long as they still drew breath and had not passed away in meditation, had all rushed to the Great Snowy Mountain.

But with their qi and blood in decay, it was ultimately difficult for them to comprehend anything of substance.

The only ones who had truly discerned any clues from the massive "Dao" character were a scant few, such as Yan Fei and Xuzhu.

"Your Majesty, have you had any insights?"

Great Dharma Master Hongri, his complexion growing ever more ruddy, looked toward the empress who had remained silent for months.

Compared to the past, the Yao Yun of today was dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe and wore a golden crown. She appeared to be in her thirties, and her elegant, youthful beauty was stunning.

Merely standing there, she radiated a divine and heroic presence that was impossible to ignore.

Yao Yun’s eyes shone brightly, filled with a mixture of wonder and delighted surprise.

’It really is the work of the Upper God!’

’Using a character to carry the Dao!’

’No one else in this world possesses such an ability!’

"In my view, the domineering nature of this character is unprecedented. It can ’harness’ all things: heaven and earth, sun and moon, mountains and marshes, wind and thunder."

Yao Yun’s every word was powerful and resonant, echoing through the divine temple.

Her answer made Great Dharma Master Hongri’s eyes light up. He made no effort to hide his feelings and pressed urgently:

"What is the meaning of this? I ask for Your Majesty’s guidance."

He knew well that besides himself, the only other person in the world who had come into contact with that Upper God was this Lone Phoenix of the Great Enterprise.

Furthermore, the ultimate source of the *Luminous Mystery Canon* that Yao Yun practiced came from the Upper God’s teachings.

Otherwise, on what basis could Her Majesty the Empress’s attainments in the Martial Dao possibly compare to those of the four great sacred grounds of the Martial Dao!

"Just now, Mister Yan, Master Xuzhu, and Ascendant Liuyun each shared their own insights, and what they said was not wrong.

"But I believe one point is incorrect. The so-called vastness and smallness, the so-called transformations—they are not merely encompassed within it."

Yao Yun closed her eyes, contemplating, the massive "Dao" character deeply imprinted on her mind:

"Rather, they are ’commanded.’ It is like a monarch ruling the world; whether minister or commoner, all must submit."

These words were like a thunderclap splitting chaos, sending the many Spirit-Refining Grandmasters into deep thought as they mulled them over.

This was especially true for Great Dharma Master Hongri. Among all those at the Twelve Transformations of the Mortal Realm, he had the highest attainments in martial arts and was the one with a genuine hope of shattering the void.

Hearing Yao Yun’s words, he seemed to have a sudden epiphany and muttered to himself:

"That’s it! That’s it! ’Its laws applicable to all things’... the true mystery lies in ’command,’ not ’assimilation.’

"A sage holds to the One to shepherd the world, upholding the Great Dao without bias, substituting their heart for Heaven’s will to encompass all creation. This is the Realm of a ’Sage’! These are the methods of the Upper God!"

Yao Yun nodded slightly, marveling at Great Dharma Master Hongri’s unparalleled root of wisdom. She had pondered for months and only grasped the surface, yet he had understood the key in an instant.

As Great Dharma Master Hongri saw through the "Dao" character, the golden sun rising above the sea of clouds suddenly dimmed, as if its brilliance had been obscured.

Immediately after, the potent Qi Mechanism hidden within his body surged out like a cloud hanging from the sky, covering the ten directions. It felt as if a majestic, unparalleled "field" was pressing down.

All the other Spirit-Refining Grandmasters felt a tightness in their chests, as if a great boulder was weighing them down, and they had no choice but to rise and retreat.

"A Dao... field?"

Yan Fei, his temples white with frost, was astounded. The entire grand divine temple, and even the whole of the Great Snowy Mountain, seemed to have merged into one with Great Dharma Master Hongri.

Si Jiancan, clad in his monk’s robe, was like a Living Buddha on earth. His body radiated an infinite brilliance, on the verge of becoming a Feathered Immortal.

"Ascension..."

"Shattering the void..."

"The first in a thousand years!"

Even the Spirit-Refining Grandmasters were moved, their eyes fixed on him as they held their breath in anticipation.

...

...

’He finally saw through the meaning of the "Dao" character and grasped a trace of the divine charm of the "Ten Thousand Vehicles Command Law Dao Foundation."’

Somewhere, a pair of eyes slowly opened, gazing intently at Great Dharma Master Hongri.

With a KRAK, the void shattered like a broken mirror, and countless cracks spread out like writhing dragons and snakes.

Essence Qi, like a sweet rain, rolled down in a gushing tide, pouring into Great Dharma Master Hongri.

"Spiritual Energy... Without Spiritual Energy to nourish the ’Primordial Spirit,’ how could one possibly achieve a Feathered ascension and become an Immortal."

Jiang Yi thought to himself:

’Spirit refining... It is the refining of the ’Primordial Spirit,’ which is formed from the body’s Essence Qi. But the mortal world is devoid of spiritual energy, which is why one cannot advance further.

’Now, we’ll see what kind of fortune Si Jiancan has.’