Meanwhile, the generals at Tongguan, having heard of the defeat of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, were all eager to see it for themselves. Hong Jin, among them, said to Princess Longji, "I am also a member of the Jie Sect, and you are a fairy from Yaochi. You should be able to go and face the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation. Why can't we stay here?" Princess Longji replied, "We can go tomorrow." The couple settled their plans. The next day, they came to see King Wu and said, "Your Majesty, I bid farewell to go to the Land of Ten Thousand Immortals to complete our destiny. I am at the command of Marshal Jiang." King Wu said, "It is good that you go. You will assist the Prime Minister in defeating the enemy." King Wu was overjoyed and offered them a farewell feast. Hong Jin and his wife bid farewell and departed. It was all as fate would have it. Indeed: Within the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, husband and wife were separated; even the sage's calculations were not wrong.
The next day, Yuanshi descended from his tent and instructed his disciples to ring the golden bell and jade chime. The three sages led their disciples to break the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation. Tongtian Jiaozhu instructed Chang'er Dingguang Xian, "I will be fighting against your master's uncle and two Western Daoists. I have instructed you to activate the Six Soul Banner. You must activate the banner without fail!" Chang'er Dingguang Xian replied, "Disciple understands." Tongtian Jiaozhu then made preparations for the battle. Chang'er Dingguang Xian thought to himself, "I previously saw my master's uncle's disciples on both sides, a total of twelve generations of disciples, all of whom are highly powerful. Yesterday, I also saw the Western Daoist Master, whose three relics shone brightly. His Daoist magic is truly boundless. Although I possess this extraordinary treasure, my magical power is weak. How can I possibly harm several sages? Sages are immortal and indestructible. When the time comes to settle accounts, I will not be able to protect myself. This matter needs further discussion." He already had a three-tenths of a reason to back down.
When the Tongtian Sect Leader arrived at the front lines and saw Laozi, Yuanshi Tianzun, and the other three arrive, he shouted, "Today I will settle this with you all! I will not let this go so easily!" Before he finished speaking, Hong Jin rode up to the front lines and, along with Princess Longji, disregarded all restraints, brandishing their swords and charging straight at them. Ziya did not stop them.
Hong Jin brandished his sword, and the two riders charged into the formation. The Chan Sect cultivators on either side kept their distance, not following the two. The two, unaware of the danger, charged haphazardly. The Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, caught off guard by this conflict, was further weakened when Princess Longji unleashed the White Light Sword from the Jade Pool, injuring several immortals. As the couple fought, a chaotic killing intent filled the air, and a dark, ominous wind obscured the day. Just then, the Golden Spirit Mother, setting up the formation on her Seven Fragrances Chariot, suddenly reported: "Lord Longji has charged into the formation!"
As the Holy Mother Jinling hastily dismounted to look, the princess was already upon her. The Holy Mother strode forward, brandishing her golden sword to defend herself. Before they had exchanged many blows, the Holy Mother unleashed the Four Symbols Pagoda. The princess, unaware of this treasure, could not dodge in time; a pagoda struck her squarely on the head, causing her to fall from her horse and be killed by the immortals. Seeing the princess was dead, Hong Jin cried out, "Don't harm my princess!" and drew his sword to take the Holy Mother's life.
The Holy Mother summoned her Dragon-Tiger Ruyi Scepter again to block Hong Jin's attack, angrily saying, "You were originally a disciple of my Jie Sect, how could you commit such a heinous act? Not only have you betrayed the sect, but you have also killed my fellow disciples!" Upon hearing this, Hong Jin felt a pang of panic, but he forced a smile and said, "You need not say any more, the hatred for my wife's murder must be avenged." He then raised his sword to strike, but the Holy Mother, enraged, said, "Today, I will cleanse my sect." She summoned her Dragon-Tiger Ruyi Scepter and hurled it at Hong Jin, who could not dodge in time and was struck squarely on the head. Alas! Since returning to Zhou territory, they had repeatedly achieved great feats, but today, the couple were betrayed and both perished in battle. Their pure souls went to the Investiture of the Gods Platform.
Just as Yuanshi was about to speak with Tongtian Jiaozhu, he saw that Hong Jin and his wife were already dead. Yuanshi sighed and said to the Western Sect Leader, "Those who just perished were the daughter of the Queen Mother of the West. It was ordained by Heaven, so it was not something that could be done by human power." Although he said this, there was a hint of pride in his eyes. At this moment, a turquoise flag was heard waving from within the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, and a Daoist was faintly drawn out, appearing according to the Twenty-Eight Mansions, just as the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation was about to emerge. Yuanshi saw the turquoise flag waving and four Daoists, all dressed in blue robes, appeared.
How so? A poem once praised it: A single green veil flutters behind his head, his Taoist robe bound with silk ribbons. His primordial spirit appears, annihilating all turtles; he slays a general and is bestowed the title of Horned Wood Dragon. A nine-fold gauze scarf covers his head, his inner secrets are unparalleled. Subduing dragons and tigers is commonplace; he slays a general and is bestowed the title of Fighting Wood Beast. His three-willow-like beard is a foot long; he has refined the Three Flowers Elixir of Immortality. He has no attachment to the Penglai Island; he slays a general and is bestowed the title of Kui Wood Wolf. Having cultivated his Taoist energy, his aura shines brightly; his giant mouth, fangs, and red hair are in disarray. He has a reputation within the Biyou Palace; he slays a general and is bestowed the title of Well Wood Wolf.
Then, the Primordial Beginning heard another bell ring, and a large red flag waved. Four more Taoists arrived, all dressed in crimson robes, looking quite fierce! How so? A poem testifies: "Wearing a jade crown, their appearance ancient, their hands skillfully mending heaven and earth. They had no desire to seek the Tao for immortality, but instead slew generals and were named Tailfire Tigers. The Intercepting Sect transmitted the Jade Pivot, their profound secrets requiring diligent effort. Within the elixir cauldron, dragons subdued tigers, and they slew generals and were named Chamberfire Pigs. Secretly imparting incantations to subdue evil spirits, their heads shrouded in spiritual clouds. The Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown was difficult to achieve, so they slew generals and were named Winged Fire Serpents. They did not covet glory or wealth, but cultivated to stop bleeding, roaming freely, subduing dragons and tigers. In vain, they used countless elixir-making efforts, and slew generals and were named Beakfire Monkeys."
Laozi saw a white flag waving in the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, and then heard four Daoists emerge, dressed in white robes, with fierce and unruly appearances, each possessing a demonic aura. He said to Yuanshi, "Such karmic obstacles have all come to waste their lives; those you see are all like this." How so? There is a poem to prove it: "Wandering freely among the Five Sacred Mountains and Three Great Mountains, seeking the profound Dao and guarding the heart for cultivation. In vain I toil in the furnace for the golden elixir, slaying generals and being enfeoffed as the Golden Ox. Within my belly, pearls and jewels pierce the eight directions, encompassing all things in the vast ocean of the Dao. But because the precept of killing is inescapable, slaying generals and being enfeoffed as the Golden Sheep. Meeting the Dragon of Li and the Tiger of Kan, refining the divine elixir to achieve immortality. Unable to manifest the three flowers on the crown, slaying generals and being enfeoffed as the Golden Dog. The golden elixir is refined, freeing one from the cage, the five escapes and three eliminations lead to the Great Dao. Not yet extinguished, the three corpses are swallowed, the six qi are devoured, slaying generals and being enfeoffed as the Golden Dragon."
The four leaders then saw the Tongtian Sect Leader pointing his sword east, west, south, and north, followed by the ringing of bells and the opening of the array gate, from which four more Taoists emerged—truly a strange sight! A poem testifies to this: "Since cultivating the profound mysteries, I no longer covet gold or purple robes; the Tongtian Sect Leader is my teacher, I was beheaded and bestowed the title of Leopard of the Ji River. He renounced the world with sincere devotion, diligently practicing asceticism, yet his soul was separated from his body. He could move mountains and overturn seas at my will, I was beheaded and bestowed the title of Ape of the Shen River. Wearing a bamboo hat and Taoist robes, he was intelligent and quick-witted, cultivating white qi with an unblemished heart. Only because he lacked the fortune to attain immortality, he was beheaded and bestowed the title of Earthworm of the Zhen River. His five elements' wondrous arts are all unique, he is a true man within the profound mysteries. He attained enlightenment and became an immortal without any divine intervention, he was beheaded and bestowed the title of Water Demon of the Bi River."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
