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Chapter 457: A Life for a Life

Mr. Shi also took out a jade talisman. It resembled a mahjong tile but was made of white jade, with a blue rune on it that pulsated slightly, looking both illusory and real. He handed it gently to Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan looked at the jade talisman with slight surprise before passing it over.

With a wave of Nie Fancheng's hand, the jade talisman disappeared!

Nie Fancheng gave Zhong Shan a deep look, then glanced deeply at Mr. Shi before showing a meaningful smile. His figure flickered and disappeared before Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan wasn't worried that Nie Fancheng wouldn't bring the Immortal Stele. After all, when the Emperor gives his word, it is as weighty as a thousand mountains!

Sure enough, it didn't take long before the old eunuch flew back swiftly.

"Boom!"

Eleven Immortal Steles were dropped down, and the old eunuch vanished in an instant.

With a flip of his hand, Zhong Shan collected them, letting out a long breath. Xuan Yuan had been watching without intervening.

"Friend Xuan Yuan, I noticed you were slightly surprised when Nie Fancheng asked for the Immortal Stele earlier. May I know why?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Uh?" Xuan Yuan was slightly surprised.

"Could it be that there is some secret about the Immortal Stele?" Zhong Shan asked again.

"You don't know?" Xuan Yuan's expression became more interesting. You asked for the Immortal Stele without knowing what it's for? And you even knew exactly how many Nie Fancheng had?

"I'm collecting them for a friend," Zhong Shan explained.

"A friend?" Xuan Yuan found it even more peculiar.

"Why? What is the purpose of the Immortal Stele? I only know that the Great Hong Dynasty used to place them randomly in different cities! I don't know their specific use. Do you know, friend Xuan Yuan?" Zhong Shan asked curiously.

Xuan Yuan took a deep breath and said, "This is the pinnacle item for cultivating fame. I don't know everything, but I know that Emperor Haotian prepared it to face heavenly might. However, due to special reasons, it wasn't used. Incidentally, your Great Luo Dynasty has something similar."

"Oh?" Zhong Shan looked slightly puzzled.

"Doesn't the Great Luo Dynasty have the Seven Star Hall, with seven major sects: Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, and Yao Guang?" Xuan Yuan asked.

"That's right!" Zhong Shan nodded with a frown.

He himself came from the Kai Yang Sect. How was this related to cultivating fame?

"It seems these seven major sects simulate a powerful Big Dipper Formation?" Zhong Shan asked, stating what he knew.

"The Big Dipper Formation?" Xuan Yuan shook his head, showing a faint smile.

"Isn't it?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Have you ever heard of 'Treading the Seven Stars, Defying Fate'?" Xuan Yuan asked.

Zhong Shan's eyes lit up. Although he hadn't heard of it, he could understand. The ancient magical technique of treading the seven stars?

"Are you saying the seven major sects were actually meant for the Great Luo Emperor to change fate?" Zhong Shan asked with a frown.

"This is all I know," Xuan Yuan shook his head.

"Thank you!" Zhong Shan nodded.

Regardless, he had a rough idea now! It seemed the Immortal Stele wasn't just some dispensable item but an unparalleled, powerful one. No wonder it was collected by various dynasties and holy lands.

Back at the Camp

Returning to the camp, after settling Xuan Yuan and Mr. Shi, Zhong Shan went straight to the central tent.

"Ling'er, did Wu Jiutian leave?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Yes, you didn't see it earlier. It was amazing! Xiao Hong's fur grew back completely!" Tian Ling'er said excitedly, rolling up her sleeve to show Zhong Shan her arm.

On Tian Ling'er's arm was a fiery red totem of a Vermilion Bird. It was the Vermilion Bird totem Zhong Shan had seen in his youth on Earth, not the red sparrow of the past.

"What is this?" Zhong Shan asked in surprise.

"This is Xiao Hong. Earlier, Xiao Hong ate a strange fruit, then her entire body burst into flames, and all her fur grew back. She turned into this form and finally burrowed into my body, becoming this pattern!" Tian Ling'er explained.

"Wu Jiutian didn't take the Vermilion Bird?" Zhong Shan asked curiously.

"No, Xiao Hong only likes me. Sister Wu said Xiao Hong is hibernating and will come out on her own when she wakes up," Tian Ling'er said.

"Hibernating? Does it affect you in any way?" Zhong Shan asked worriedly.

Although he didn't understand Wu Jiutian's intentions, having the Vermilion Bird residing in Ling'er's body made Zhong Shan very uneasy.

"No, after Xiao Hong turned into this totem, I found more and more fire energy flowing into my body. My cultivation is progressing faster and faster, even when I'm not actively cultivating!" Tian Ling'er said after thinking for a moment.

"Uh?" Zhong Shan looked at the Vermilion Bird totem with a strange expression.

If it's a blessing, not a curse, then there's no need to worry for now.

Zhong Shan's army, after leaving the Sacred Capital of Li Huo, quickly headed towards the Great Luo Dynasty. With Xuan Yuan, a powerful and unmatched protector, there was no need to worry about any danger.

Finally, after two more months, they left the territory of the Great Li Dynasty.

The group continued on, with Xuan Yuan testing Mr. Shi several times, but Mr. Shi remained silent and unresponsive, causing Xuan Yuan to shake his head and sigh lightly.

One day, the group arrived at a desert.

Suddenly, Xuan Yuan, standing beside Zhong Shan, waved his hand.

Zhong Shan raised an eyebrow and stopped the army.

"What's wrong?" Tian Ling'er asked, puzzled.

"Don't speak!" Zhong Shan said softly.

Shui Wuhen quickly ordered the army into a combat stance. Mr. Shi and Lin Xiao stood guard beside Zhong Shan.

"Which Buddha is here? Please show yourself!" Xuan Yuan called out gently.

Xuan Yuan's words made Zhong Shan tense up, signaling Tian Ling'er to stay still.

A Buddha? Damn! The Pure Land actually sent a Buddha to intercept us?

"Swish, swish, swish..."

The sound of retreating tides echoed, and suddenly, a bright light flashed in the distance. From that bright light, a vast expanse of greenery spread out, covering the desert rapidly.

From that point of light, greenery spread, transforming into oases that grew larger and more numerous. In the blink of an eye, half the desert was covered in green, and the greenery continued to spread until not a single grain of sand was left. The desert had turned into a lush forest.

At the same time, a man in a golden kasaya gradually appeared from the original point of light. The man had a solemn expression, his hands clasped in prayer, and behind his head, a halo of merit had turned into a gigantic Dharma Wheel.

It was the same Dharma Wheel Zhong Tian had obtained previously—the Twenty-Four Heavens Dharma Wheel! Within the Dharma Wheel, twenty-four heavenly worlds revolved slowly, looking incredibly divine and mystical. Just a glance made one feel as if they were seeing different worlds.

The Pure Land! And now, the Buddha of Return!

The strongest Buddha in the Pure Land, Guiyuan Buddha, stood before them with Piaoxiang Bodhisattva following closely behind. The mere presence of Guiyuan Buddha made everyone feel an indescribable discomfort, as if the Buddha radiated countless beams of light that oppressed everyone, compelling them to bow down in worship. Even Zhong Shan's face twisted in pain as he resisted this pressure, which did not come from aura or magical power, but from deep within their hearts.

The urge to bow down felt like a voice in their minds insisting that they must worship him.

"Fall back!" Shui Wuhen quickly ordered.

The Zhong family army retreated swiftly, and Guiyuan Buddha paid them no mind. This left only Zhong Shan and his companions to bear the psychological pressure. Even Zhihuo and Qinghong, two powerful figures in the Royal Extreme Realm, showed expressions of pain, seemingly struggling against their own minds.

Only two people remained unaffected: Xuan Yuan and Tian Ling'er.

"Zhong Shan, what's wrong? Don't scare me!" Tian Ling'er cried out worriedly.

Seeing Tian Ling'er completely unaffected, Zhong Shan was momentarily stunned. Mr. Shi, Zhihuo, Qinghong, and Lin Xiao were also taken aback, as was the usually aloof Xuan Yuan. Even Guiyuan Buddha and Piaoxiang Bodhisattva in the distance showed surprise.

Tian Ling'er's cultivation was only at the Integration Stage. How could she be unaffected?

"Guiyuan Buddha, what are you trying to do? Are you just here to show off your superior destiny?" Xuan Yuan said coldly.

Destiny? Zhong Shan's eyes narrowed, finally understanding. Destiny! The Celestial Realm's experts could release their own destiny aura to suppress others. Anyone with a weaker destiny would experience immense psychological pressure, just as he was now, his own destiny clearly inferior to Guiyuan Buddha's.

There's a saying, "A destiny not as valuable as someone else's." Guiyuan Buddha might not be immortal yet, but his destiny was among the most precious in the world. Releasing his destiny aura created immense pressure on those with weaker destinies.

Destiny suppresses destiny!

As for Xuan Yuan and Tian Ling'er, Xuan Yuan's destiny was on par with Guiyuan Buddha's, so he was unaffected. Tian Ling'er, however, was likely protected by the Vermilion Bird. The Vermilion Bird's destiny was that of an immortal; a mortal destiny could not suppress an immortal one. Low-level destinies couldn't affect higher ones.

"The Buddha invites Zhong Shan to the Pure Land as a guest," Piaoxiang Bodhisattva suddenly spoke up.

Piaoxiang Bodhisattva spoke for Guiyuan Buddha? The Silent Meditation of Guiyuan Buddha wasn't complete, so he couldn't speak.

Before Zhong Shan could respond, Tian Ling'er burst out angrily, "No way! Is this how you invite someone?"

Seeing Zhong Shan in pain, Tian Ling'er, though unsure of the specifics, guessed it was the work of the big bald guy. Her heart ached for Zhong Shan, filling her with resentment towards Guiyuan Buddha.

Guiyuan Buddha kept his eyes on Tian Ling'er, a flicker of uncertainty flashing within them. One Xuan Yuan was already unexpected; now, another red-clad woman appeared. Despite her ant-like cultivation, how could she be unaffected? Even when he specifically targeted her with his destiny aura, it was reflected back at him. How could this be possible?