Zhang Chen’s pupils suddenly contracted upon hearing this, his heart trembling with shock. He understood the other’s meaning: "So, do you have a Buddhist secret technique that can resolve Xiaodouding’s calamity?"
"I certainly do not." The Great Freedom Celestial Demon Dao said.
"Then you should know where it is, right?" Zhang Chen pressed again.
"I don’t know where it is either." The Great Freedom Celestial Demon Dao said.
"Then what’s your point?" Zhang Chen cursed irritably.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the Great Freedom Celestial Demon unexpectedly smiled softly and pointed at Zhang Chen: "Don’t be upset, I don’t have it, but you do."
"I have?" Zhang Chen was taken aback, not understanding. Where would he have a Buddhist wonderful technique?
"The Six-Word Mantra is the ultimate evolution of all Buddhist techniques. These six words are both true words and a magical treasure. If you treat them as true words, they are divine techniques. If you see them as a magical treasure, then they are a magical treasure. To refine the Six-Word Mantra into a magical treasure, you need a massive power of faith. If you send the Six-Word Mantra into that palace and plunder the endless faith within, not only will Xiaodouding’s crisis be resolved, but your Six-Word True Mantra Seal will also be refined into a magical treasure." The Great Freedom Celestial Demon’s voice was full of fervor:
"Moreover, with the support of the ’Magical Treasure Six-Word Mantra’, if you mobilize the divine techniques of the Six-Word Mantra in the future, it will be magically strengthened in the dark by the powers of the magical treasure Six-Word Mantra, beneficial and harmless to you."
Zhang Chen, upon hearing this, did not mind the issue of the Six-Word True Mantra Seal stealing faith but focused on the Great Freedom Celestial Demon. Wasn’t the Great Freedom Celestial Demon a bit too eager about the Six-Word True Mantra Seal?
"Don’t overthink it, I’m just conducting an experiment. If the past Six-Word True Mantra Seal can reappear through this opportunity, then in the future, borrowing the incense faith, it might not be impossible for me to reshape my body and live again." The Great Freedom Celestial Demon’s eyes were burning: "In this desperate era, it’s possible to forge a completely new path."
Zhang Chen, contemplating the truthfulness of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon’s words, found no results after much thought, and finally made a snap decision: "Even if the Six-Word True Mantra Seal is refined, it would still be my Six-Word True Mantra Seal, completely beneficial and harmless to me."
Moreover, as he faced the predicament of Xiaodouding, he was indeed at his wit’s end, unable to come up with a viable plan. He couldn’t just watch Xiaodouding fall into an endless abyss.
"How should the Six-Word Mantra be refined into a magical treasure?" Zhang Chen asked, thinking it was not a simple task.
"Only intangible and formless things can transform illusion into reality with the help of incense faith to forge a truly immortal supreme treasure." The Great Freedom Celestial Demon Dao said.
"Speak plainly." Zhang Chen indicated that he didn’t understand, interrupting the Great Freedom Celestial Demon’s mystification.
"Cast gold into gold threads, then use the gold threads to make a calligraphy guide, imprint your Six-Word Mantra on it with magical power, then entrust a strand of your celestial soul as an intangible and formless thing upon it, and that’s it. Once that Incense Palace appears, cast the Six-Word True Mantra Seal within, then silently urge the Six-Word Mantra, controlling that strand of celestial soul to absorb the incense faith, and it’ll work." The Great Freedom Celestial Demon Dao said.
Zhang Chen thought for a while and felt that gold might not be as good as Taiyi Geng Metal. His Eight Trigrams Furnace indeed had Taiyi Geng Metal smelted within, so he asked, "I have Taiyi Geng Metal. If I use Taiyi Geng Metal instead, will the effect be better?"
"What are you thinking! Do you think I asked you to use gold just because it’s gold? The true use is the ’gold’ immortal nature contained within gold. Gold is merely a borrowed physical form, and once successful, the material gold will separate and dissipate into nothingness." The Great Freedom Celestial Demon seemed to look at a fool:
"As for Taiyi Geng Metal, gold, and even Innate Geng Metal, they make no difference to me; their ’gold’ immortal nature is the same."
Zhang Chen didn’t quite understand, but he would just do as told.
Gold wasn’t hard for him to obtain, but drawing gold into threads and weaving it into a calligraphy guide was no simple task.
Fortunately, gold thread is soft, and weaving it into a guide isn’t too difficult, as long as the craftsmanship is adequate.
"Therefore, now we need to find someone skilled and deft. I can’t handle this task, but it’s not difficult for Xie Lingyun, so I must trouble Xie Lingyun." Zhang Chen thought of this and realized Xie Lingyun hadn’t gone far, so he quickly walked out and pursued her outside the Daoist Temple.
As expected, Zhang Chen caught up with Xie Lingyun in the front hall, where he noticed Xie Lingyun walking with a blank expression, while Crown Prince Zhang Xiaohua trailed behind with excitement.
Seeing this, Zhang Chen couldn’t help but shake his head secretly. Zhang Xiaohua sure had quite the ambitions.
"Commander Xie, please stay." Zhang Chen shouted from afar.
Xie Lingyun’s steps halted as she turned to look at Zhang Chen. Beside her, Zhang Xiaohua also looked at Zhang Chen and asked with a smile, "Nephew Zhang, what is it you need from Commander Xie?"
"I have a private matter to discuss with Commander Xie." Zhang Chen said as he approached Xie Lingyun.
Xie Lingyun glanced at Zhang Xiaohua, who tactfully smiled at Xie Lingyun and Zhang Chen before speaking: "You two talk, I remember there are still some matters in the temple that need handling."
After Zhang Xiaohua left, Xie Lingyun and Zhang Chen moved to a corner. Seeing no one around, Xie Lingyun asked, "What did you need that made you call me in such a hurry?"
"I’d like to trouble you, sister, to handle something for me. I need to create a calligraphy guide with gold threads. The gold must be pure enough. Please cover for now, and I’ll repay you next time I descend the mountain." Zhang Chen said.
Xie Lingyun didn’t mind: "It’s just some gold; it’s nothing much."
Zhang Chen said nothing more, only noting it in his heart to repay her with gold later. Such relations with Xie Lingyun didn’t require many words.
Thus, Zhang Chen discussed the dimensions with Xie Lingyun. Hearing this, she made a quick calculation: "It doesn’t need much gold, a pound would do."
Zhang Chen thanked her profusely and saw Xie Lingyun out the door.
On the way back, Zhang Xiaohua intercepted Zhang Chen: "Nephew Zhang, what did you discuss with Commander Xie? What matter requires her help?"
Seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s authoritative demeanor, Zhang Chen furrowed his brow but didn’t want to clash with Zhang Xiaohua now. For him, it’s primary to stay at the Daoist Temple and strategize for a higher Qi Cultivation Technique, a minor impulse would ruin grand plans.
"You know, my family is still at the Inspection and Supervision Department, so I’m asking Commander Xie to look after them." Zhang Chen replied with a smile, though in his heart, killing intent brewed: "I wonder if the Great Freedom Celestial Demon has planted the Demon Seed in Zhang Xiaohua’s body?"
After a slight perception in his heart, the Demon Seed had indeed been planted. He detected the Great Freedom Celestial Demon’s mark in Zhang Xiaohua’s soul and secretly nodded: "Good kid, I want to see how long you can hold out. When the Great Freedom Celestial Demon swallows you and takes control of your body, the Prince Pingbian’s Mansion will be mine."
"Did Commander Xie say when she would come back?" Zhang Xiaohua asked eagerly.
"It could be ten days long or three to five days short, no need to be anxious, Crown Prince." Zhang Chen said.
"Haha, let’s go, I’ll treat you to some drinks." Zhang Xiaohua smiled, threw an arm around Zhang Chen’s shoulder, and pulled him towards the back courtyard.
As they walked to Zhang Xiaohua’s residence, Zhang Chen sensed something was amiss.
Indeed, during the drinking and eating, Zhang Chen noticed something strange. After the wine slid down his throat, his blood flow suddenly accelerated, and a peculiar medicinal force appeared in his bloodstream.
"This medicinal force... can disrupt Essence, Qi, and Spirit? However, my current strength isn’t something this mere medicinal force can harm. I want to see what Zhang Xiaohua plans to do." Murderous intent surged in Zhang Chen’s heart, the red seawater in the Sea of Blood churning, instantly turning the medicinal force entering Zhang Chen’s blood into nothingness.