66: Soul Devouring Body, Rebuilding the Lake Island

【Contemplation Method: Netherworld Ksitigarbha Method (Earth)】

【Introduction: Created by Zen Master Du'e, practitioners must allow a hundred ghosts to gnaw at them, sealing their five senses underground. It can only be mastered after a hundred days.】

“A hundred ghosts gnawing… It’s somewhat like the Buddha cutting his flesh to feed an eagle… What a pity… I don’t need to go through such a trial…”

Gu Changsheng tapped several times in the Void Realm.

As his Lifespan was consumed, boundless insights flooded his mind.

By the time he opened his eyes, the Netherworld Ksitigarbha Method had already risen to the seventh tier.

A Ksitigarbha Spirit was born in his heart space.

At the same time, two Divine Abilities emerged alongside it.

【Ghost Unaware】 and 【Soul-Devouring Dharma Body】

The former is a secret method for concealing the soul, capable of completely hiding the soul’s aura.

Its effect is especially outstanding when facing Ghost Cultivators.

The latter is a Body Refining method.

It uses myriad souls as a guide, integrating them into one’s body, transforming them into Netherworld Tattoo.

When Cultivated to a profound level,

With a single thought, one can shed the tattoos on their body, allowing myriad ghosts to parade even in broad daylight.

“This is a Body Refining method that far surpasses the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Dharma and the Asura Dharma…”

Gu Changsheng silently came to a conclusion.

“However, Cultivating this method requires devouring myriad souls… which is a bit troublesome.”

Two paths immediately came to mind.

Firstly, ambush in the blood-killing battlefield.

Secretly refine the blood-evil spirits.

In these chaotic times, human lives are like grass, so the quantity would definitely be abundant and satisfying.

Secondly… there was Yan Xiao Yi’s hometown, Xiao Huai Village.

A Ghost Domain was suppressed there.

A True Core Realm City God had turned into a ghost, patrolling in all directions.

And this was merely on the surface.

Who knew what was buried beneath the ground?

“Xiao Huai Village… is not simple.

This risk is not worth taking…”

Gu Changsheng shook his head.

His gaze shifted to the golden body, then suddenly, his brow furrowed, and he stepped forward to retrieve an item from the golden Buddha’s mouth.

It was a sarira.

As soon as the sarira emerged, the golden body immediately decayed as if it had endured a thousand years, turning into flying ash and dispersing.

“This tree demon wanted to defile the golden Buddha with a flesh-and-blood Buddha and refine the sarira… Unexpectedly, it ended up benefiting me.”

After this trip, Gu Changsheng successfully obtained a demon core, a Rapid Growth Technique, a sarira, and a 'Di' character-level Buddhist secret method.

He made a huge profit!

“It’s time to go back…”

A few days later, Gu Changsheng transformed into a streak of Escape Light and swept into the back hall of the medical clinic.

The Lotus Root Incarnation, who was currently seeing patients, immediately sensed something.

‘Hmm? The main body is back…’

He immediately stood up and said with a smile, “Everyone, I have an urgent matter today, so the medical clinic will only be open for half a day… Please come back tomorrow.”

Thanks to Gu Changsheng’s high medical prestige,

If it were any other medical clinic, he would have been cursed to death.

A moment later, the Lotus Root Incarnation finished with his last patient, posted a ‘Rest’ sign at the door, sealed the entrance, closed the clinic, and came to the back hall.

“Was the main body’s journey smooth…”

The Lotus Root Incarnation asked with a smile.

“Naturally.”

Gu Changsheng threw out his hand, and a verdant tree heart and a demon core arced through the air.

The Lotus Root Incarnation opened his mouth, inhaled, and swallowed them.

Three breaths later, surging black Qi emerged, clearly exuding the aura of the True Core Realm.

“This demon core is of average quality.

However, it has a wood-attribute ‘Forest Sea Obscuring the Sun’ Divine Ability imprinted on it, which is quite compatible with me.”

“Is that so? That’s for the best… Since you’ve already Broken Through to the True Core Realm, you should have a Dao title.

From now on, you shall be called… Yuan Lian Immortal Master.”

“Very well.”

The Lotus Root Incarnation nodded slightly and smiled.

“Furthermore, you will accompany me to the desolate mountain outpost to act as my Protector…”

“Protector? Could it be…” A hint of surprise appeared in the Lotus Root Incarnation’s eyes.

“Indeed, it is as you imagine…”

Three days later.

Desolate mountain.

The celestial phenomena changed drastically, with dark clouds gathering.

Faint, ethereal Sanskrit sounds emanated from the Void Realm, and golden lotuses bloomed from the ground.

“The commotion is quite significant…”

The Yuan Lian Avatar showed a hint of surprise.

With a flick of his cyan sleeve, boundless wood Qi surged, transforming into a vast, dense green shadow that enveloped a ten-li radius.

It was precisely the wood-elemental Divine Ability — Forest Sea Obscuring the Sun.

This Divine Ability had no offensive power, but it was excellent at concealing aura and form.

After a cup of tea’s time.

The Void Realm trembled, and boundless black Qi surged, transforming into a phantom of Jialan Holy Ancestor in Dharma robes.

She rode a Dragon-elephant covered in scales.

This was the unified manifestation of the Dragon-Elephant Spirit, Asura Spirit, and Ksitigarbha Spirit.

Screech—

The Dragon-elephant raised its pillar-like foot high, its long trunk swung, and a mass of pitch-black substance gushed out.

As soon as it was expelled, it rapidly merged into the heavens and earth.

It was the dao karma!

“It’s here…”

The Yuan Lian Avatar’s eyes sharpened, and the surging black Qi transformed into a giant hand that reached out to grab it.

He actually intended to forcibly absorb the dao karma.

However, as soon as it made contact, it began to corrode like a virus, spreading along the black Qi.

“Not good!”

The Yuan Lian Avatar made a decisive move, severing that section of black Qi, and with a raised index finger, a white rabbit on the ground leaped into the air and flew away.

Visibly, the dao karma was absorbed by the white rabbit.

Its previously soft, bright white fur rapidly turned black and hard, and its body continuously swelled.

Rip—

Countless sharp teeth and venomous fangs grew from its mouth, and its body split open, revealing patches of constantly wriggling and growing internal organs.

Its appearance was extremely bizarre.

The next moment,

A purple heart fire ignited out of thin air, burning the mutated white rabbit to ashes.

Gu Changsheng’s figure appeared in the Void Realm.

Above his head, a sarira the size of a Dragon’s eye glowed brilliantly.

“As expected, Cultivators can only expel this dao karma from their bodies; they cannot absorb or refine it… In fact, once contaminated, there’s even a risk of mutation.”

Gu Changsheng had intended for the Yuan Lian Avatar to act as Protector precisely to explore a method to resolve the dao karma.

“That thing is truly terrifying…”

The Yuan Lian Avatar recalled the scene just now.

If he hadn’t severed the connection in time, the dao karma would have contaminated his body, and even he would have mutated into a monster.

It would not have been as simple as losing some Origin Qi.

“There is probably a problem with the source of this world… The more Cultivators Cultivate, the deeper the contamination of the Heavenly Dao.

Perhaps, only Immortals above the Yang God realm know the hidden secrets within.”

Gu Changsheng murmured.

“Very well, having Cultivated three True Cores this way.

It’s time to rebuild Lake Heart Island…”

The five qi gathering tree had always grown extremely slowly.

Besides not being old enough, it also lacked the Five Elements Qi.

It was somewhat underdeveloped.

Having just obtained the Rapid Growth Technique, Gu Changsheng also had the idea of rebuilding Lake Heart Island.

Gu Changsheng formed hand seals, and boundless black Qi surged.

In an instant, dark clouds gathered, and lightning flashed and thunder roared.

Spring Breeze Transforming Rain Technique!

A few breaths later, torrential rain poured down.

The entire sky seemed to have been punctured.

In just ten breaths, the rivers in the nearby counties swelled and overflowed.

Seizing this opportunity, Gu Changsheng stomped his foot, and his body transformed into a thirty-foot golden giant, tightly embracing the desolate mountain, activating the Mountain Moving Technique.

“Da—”

After a cold shout, the entire desolate mountain rose from the ground.

A flash of Escape Light appeared beneath his feet, leaving only a narrow, colorful tail flame in the Void Realm.

A moment later, a mountain was thrown down.

Immediately, the ground trembled as if a Dragon had turned over, emitting a huge sound.

At this moment, the rain was still falling.

“My crops, oh my crops…”

“Stop, Heaven, stop…”

“Dragon King, please retract your Divine Ability…”

The old farmers in the fields ignored the rain, ran to their land, and cried out in anguish.

At this season, the crops in the fields lacked water.

But they couldn’t withstand this amount of rain.

If the rain continued, the crops would drown.

At the yamen gate.

“My Lord, this is bad.

The rain is astonishing, and the river mouth fears a risk of bursting its banks…”

“What?”

The Magistrate walked out of the house, feeling as if the Heavenly River had poured down, with nothing but rainwater in sight.

Once the banks burst, countless deaths and injuries were inevitable.

“What should be done…”

The Magistrate’s face was pale.

At this moment,

The waters of the Three Rivers swelled, like a giant watery python, raging in the river channel.

There was a great risk of it getting out of control.

This river flowed through several counties, and the current water level had far exceeded historical highs.

“That’s enough.”

Gu Changsheng formed a magic seal, and immediately the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped.

He soared into the air, and white Sword Qi frequently erupted from his palms, striking the earth and leaving long, narrow gashes.

Instantly, the river changed its course, frantically pouring through the gashes left by the Sword Qi.

The flood relief pressure disappeared in an instant.

“The sun is out…”

“Wait, the crops aren’t dead…”

“This… what fertile land.”

The old farmers in the fields were stunned.

The crops before them were verdant and growing even better than before the rain.

This was precisely the effect of the Spring Breeze Transforming Rain Technique.

Moreover, the river water had scoured the area, creating large tracts of fertile plains.

The old farmer knelt in the field and pinched a handful of moist black soil.

“This soil… is so fertile, you could squeeze oil from it…”

“My Lord, my Lord, the river has changed course, and the risk of bursting its banks has disappeared…”

From afar, a yamen runner came to report.

This instantly caused the Magistrate, who had collapsed on the ground, to almost faint.

The contrast between before and after was too great.

Several hours later, a Lake Heart Island was born.

In the center, a black tree grew on the desolate mountain.

All around, the river waters wound in nine twists and turns, encircling Lake Heart Island.