Immortal and Martial Dual Cultivation
chapter-1557

After Xiao Chen walked out of the Azure Dragon Palace, he continued looking at the Emperor Dragon Ring in his hand.

Unexpectedly, this small ring has such a great origin. To think that it dated from the Dragon God’s time!

The Dragon God was the father of the three Ancestor Dragons. He already existed before the world existed, when the universe was just primal chaos. He was a Primal Chaos God Demon.

Even during the Mythological Eon, the Dragon God was a famous being.

After the Mythological Eon ended, the God Demons all sealed themselves.

However, these God Demons left behind descendants. The three Ancestor Dragons were descendants of the Dragon God. They represented the Dragon God’s will, fighting against the ten thousand races during the Great Desolate Eon.

Xiao Chen pondered the ring. The Dragon God had already known that the material of this Emperor Dragon Ring contained mysteries.

Otherwise, the Dragon God would not have forged it into a ring and passed it down through the generations. Unfortunately, no one in the later generations of the Dragon Race could figure it out.

As for Xiao Chen, he just looked at it. Since generations of Dragon Emperors could not understand it, all he could do was look at it.

In the Azure Dragon Palace, the Dragon Horse had given him a piece of Azure Dragon Divine Wood and a book, Divine Knife Skills Record.

Knife skills did not apply to the saber of a bladesman but the carving knife of a sculptor. Xiao Chen needed to carve the Azure Dragon Totem himself.

[TL Note: The Chinese use the same word for knife and saber. They are differentiated by their contextual usage.]

At first, Xiao Chen thought that it would be a simple task. After all, in the past, for the sake of practicing the Life Bestowal Spell, he had studied sculpting for a period of time.

He only realized how vast this project was after he listened to what exactly it entailed.

The Azure Dragon Divine Wood was one kilometer tall. He needed to carve an Azure Dragon spiraling around it, which would probably end up several kilometers long.

After the tens of thousands of dragon scales were carved, they needed to look like a wave of ripples. There could not be a single blemish. Otherwise, it would affect the spirituality of the totem, preventing it from achieving its intended effects.

There were also the dragon claws, the dragon tail, the dragon horns, the dragon head, the dragon eyes, and all sorts of other requirements.

This was also why the Dragon Horse gave the Divine Knife Skills Record to Xiao Chen. Without this Divine Knife Skills Record and just Xiao Chen’s carving skills, he would have immense difficulty completing the Azure Dragon Totem.

Xiao Chen took it as cultivating his mind. His cultivation could not improve further. He could only remain in the late Veritable Essence Stage while in the Kunlun Realm.

For the next cultivation grade, the Yin Essence Stage, Xiao Chen needed to absorb the Baleful Yin Energy of the world. Although the Kunlun Realm had Baleful Yin Energy, its quality was too low. The old Dragon Horse suggested that Xiao Chen not absorb this Baleful Yin Energy. More importantly, Xiao Chen’s cultivation had already reached the peak of what the Kunlun Realm would accept.

Now, Heavenly Star Island was already soaring in the clouds, flying towards the Heavenly Starry Ocean.

After the epic battle, Xiao Chen’s mind finally reached a true calm. Now, all he waited for was the fight with Chu Chaoyun.

One more problem remained. The Dragon Horse still did not have a method to deal with the black lotus mark in his body.

Xiao Chen carefully thought about what the Thunder Sovereign had said. Back then, the Thunder Sovereign said that he wanted to kill Xiao Chen before Xiao Chen grew up, to eradicate a potential disaster. However, for some reason, he never made a move.

The Black Lotus Church was an evil religious group that broke off from the Buddhist sect. Why were they looking for trouble with Xiao Chen?

Xiao Chen, speaking of the Buddhist sect, aren’t you forgetting something? Ao Jiao prompted suddenly from the Immortal Spirit Ring.

“What did I forget?

“The Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva!”

Xiao Chen’s footsteps stopped. He had actually forgotten the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva. All along, he had been busy dealing with the Demonic Calamity. Now, the battle had just ended. If not for Ao Jiao’s reminder, he would have completely forgotten about this person.

Xiao Chen had still to refine the Heavenly Flame’s Origin Flame.

The refinement of the Heavenly Flame’s Origin Flame needed time and some special method. Xiao Chen had not found the method yet, so he could only put it aside for now.

First, Xiao Chen had been busy with the Heavenly Starry Ocean, fighting with the Treasure Master and saving the various sects, then came the Demonic Calamity.

There was simply no time to rest. Right now, he needed to carve the Azure Dragon Totem. He had too many things to do.

Where could the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva be?

Meteor Trail City! He must be at Meteor Trail City. He must be using this opportunity to absorb the sins in the sky above Meteor Trail City!

Xiao Chen’s face sank. Without even a word to the people of the Dragon’s Gate, he leaped off Heavenly Star Island and rushed towards the Tianwu Domain’s Meteor Trail City.

He unfurled the Azure Dragon Divine Wings and flew extremely rapidly. In less than eight minutes, he arrived in Meteor Trail City.

Then, he withdrew the wings, landed, and looked up.

As Xiao Chen expected, the scarlet sin clouds in the skies of Meteor Trail City were mostly gone; only a small patch remained.

The Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva was currently absorbing the last patch of blood clouds in the sky.

Layers of auspicious Buddhist light came from behind the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva. Amid the bright Buddhist light, the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva looked dignified and solemn, inspiring worship.

When the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva saw Xiao Chen arrive, the golden Dharmic Incarnation opened its mouth and sucked, drawing in the last patch of scarlet sin clouds.

“Benefactor Xiao Chen, you are late!”

The Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva put on a benevolent expression, revealing a smile. Then, he withdrew his Dharmic Incarnation and quickly fled into the distance.

“It is not that easy to run.”

How could Xiao Chen let the other party leave that easily? He gently pushed off the ground and soared into the air, giving chase.

“For every cause, there is an effect. Everything was destined by fate. These sins are mine in the first place. Back then, the Azure Emperor took them away to cultivate the Good and Evil Beneficence Art. Today, you returned them to me, completing the cycle of karma. Benefactor Xiao Chen, why the need to try so hard to stop me?”

The Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva’s true body sat on a golden lotus flower platform as he looked at Xiao Chen. However, he still continued to flee.

The flashing Buddhist light under the lotus flower platform considerably amplified the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva’s speed.

At this moment, the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, who was seated on the lotus flower platform, appeared to be at ease, even capable of distraction while refining the last bits of sin.

“Stop trying to twist the facts. All of you people of the Buddhist sect speak nice words, possessing glib tongues. However, your nature is dishonorable. If you become a Buddha, why would you truly let me off?”

Xiao Chen had always been very straightforward. The other party’s absorption of the sins had nothing to do with him.

Xiao Chen also did not care about the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva’s ambitions or whether the old man managed to become a Buddha or not.

However, the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva already formed a grudge with him very early on. Now that the other party was stronger, he posed a danger to Xiao Chen and might even harm Xiao Chen’s friends and families.

Xiao Chen wanted to nip this problem in the bud.

Back then, while in the Heavenly Starry Ocean, the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva’s method of absorbing the power of faith had been extremely malicious, totally disregarding the believers’ lives and deaths.

The Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva smiled and said, “Benefactor truly understands me. The karma that started between us long ago is over already. After this bodhisattva becomes a Buddha, I will have to cut off this segment of karma. Otherwise, it will become a barrier.

“Unfortunately, you are already unable to hurt me. It is too late. May the Lord Buddha preserve us!”

The Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva formed a hand seal with one hand, and his figure suddenly vanished from Xiao Chen’s sight.

“Whoosh!”

Xiao Chen stopped in midair, checking the surroundings with his Spiritual Sense. He discovered that the other party seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind.

Where did he go?

“Xiao Chen.”

Just as Xiao Chen was at his wit’s end, someone suddenly called out his name from the sky.

When Xiao Chen looked up, he saw a palanquin quickly moving towards him.

“The Eight Ghost Palanquin! It’s Qing Cheng!”

The new arrival was the Ghost Race’s Qing Cheng, the Ghost Empress Xi Xun’s disciple. This was a person who had interacted with Xiao Chen many times before, a friend who had experienced difficulties with him.

Qing Cheng floated down from the palanquin. She appeared like before, possessing a pretty face with such a pale complexion that she looked like she was drained of blood.

As Qing Cheng looked at Xiao Chen, she smiled and landed beside him.

“Qing Cheng, why are you here?”

When Qing Cheng heard this, she laughed while covering her mouth with her hand. “Me? This is the Ghost Domain. If I don’t return here after the war, where should I go?”

The Ghost Domain?

An idea flashed in Xiao Chen’s mind. He thought of something. The Yellow Springs Road. The Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva must have gone to the Yellow Springs Road.

No wonder the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva vanished without a trace. The Yellow Springs Road is his den.

“Sorry, I still have something urgent at hand and cannot chat.” Xiao Chen quickly performed a cupped-fist salute, preparing to rush to the Yellow Springs Road.

Qing Cheng hastily stopped Xiao Chen, saying, “Wait, wait. Tell me first, where are you going?”

“The Yellow Springs Road.”

Qing Cheng’s expression flickered. She said sullenly, “It’s best not to go there yet. When my master comes back, we’ll bring you there. How about that?”

Xiao Chen was startled. “What’s wrong? We once went to the Yellow Springs Road before. With our current strength, would there be any problems?”

Shaking her head, Qing Cheng commented, “You don’t know about it. The current Yellow Springs Road is really different from the past.

“Why do you think the Ghost Domain did not immediately join up with you at Kunlun Mountain after the Ghost Monarch died?”

“Why? Could it be because of this Yellow Springs Road?”

“That’s right. It is because of the Yellow Springs Road. Before the Ghost Monarch died, he frequently went to the Yellow Springs Road, which was extremely strange. Furthermore, he sealed the entrance to the Nine Layers of Purgatory and prevented others from entering.”

Qing Cheng continued explaining, “Furthermore, his many descendants and faction members are all in the Yellow Springs Road and have not been killed yet. My master tried to charge in several times to figure out what was going on but failed.”

Xiao Chen thought to himself, This is rather strange.

However, this proved all the more that the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva was in the Yellow Springs Road.