Chapter 305: The Immortal Cultivator Hiding in the Deep of the Daming Palace, Test
"Have you made up your mind?"
"This is an ancient method of physical cultivation. Although the person who created this method firmly believes that physical cultivation and exploring the divine treasures are different from cultivating one's own destiny and participating in the great way."
"After practicing this technique to the ninth level and reaching the Mahayana stage, the cultivator needs to take the initiative to dissolve into the world of war and embark on the path of a scattered immortal."
"..."
"As a nine-tribulation immortal, you have to go through every tribulation, and each tribulation is stronger and more unpredictable than the last."
"Once you fall under the heavenly calamity, you will die and there will be no trace of your existence in the world. The person who created this technique did not choose to practice it himself..."
"I have already thought about it."
"I know the master's ambitions."
"Having seen the power of the immortal cultivation world, I decided to practice this method."
"In the vast world of immortal cultivation, the top forces are all led by powerful immortals. If our Ming Dynasty wants to be enemies with such forces in the future, we must have an evenly matched peak combat force."
"Therefore, the Ming Dynasty must have a Sanxian-level combat force!"
"As a slave of the royal family, I should share my master's worries. If a slave can't think about his master, who else can I count on?"
"I must learn this "Shenzang Huanmie Sutra"! I want to secretly train a group of powerful immortals for my master and the Ming Dynasty. Please fulfill my loyalty, master!"
(Note: See Chapter 226 for details.)
Jiajing recalled Lv Fang's determination in choosing the technique in Yuxi Palace that day.
Although almost everyone in the Ming Dynasty's top leadership has a copy of a superior martial arts technique, only Lu Fang's technique is the most special.
This is because, after practicing the "Shen Zang Huanmie Jing", it becomes a method that is destined to lead one to a dead end, but can ultimately lead one to a chance of survival.
Although the immortals are living immortals in the world of immortal cultivation and are extremely powerful, no cultivator is willing to take this path unless they are at a dead end. Although the immortals are powerful, the road ahead is a dead end.
It is so difficult to find a glimmer of hope when you are in a desperate situation.
Not only that, the immortals cannot fight easily. If they do, they will be captured by the Heaven and punished by Heaven.
Simply because Sanxian is simply an immortal, and should not exist in the mortal world. And for those super clans and families, Sanxian is essentially a mascot.
When a sect or family encounters a catastrophic disaster, the immortals will be taken out and used like consumables.
At other times, the immortals can be said to have been practicing in seclusion, or constantly refining weapons to make themselves stronger and prepare for the next heavenly tribulation.
All the beautiful things in the world have nothing to do with immortals.
Therefore, no cultivator would want to switch to becoming an immortal unless it is absolutely necessary.
Knowing Lv Fang's loyalty, Jiajing was very concerned about whether Lv Fang could overcome his inner demons.
Well, what is Lu Fang's inner demon? Eunuch!
As the God of Heaven, Jiajing naturally knew this, so this inner demon calamity could be said to be specially arranged for him by Jiajing.
Of course, Jiajing did this not to embarrass Lu Fang, but to help him understand it as soon as possible so as to avoid being destroyed under the avenue when he was going through the calamity of scattered immortals in the future.
For eunuchs, especially those like Lu Fang who are in high positions and at the pinnacle of power, the biggest regret in their hearts is to have no heir in their lifetime.
In fact, with his level of cultivation, if he wanted, he could go to the immortal world, some immortal sects, or family-run chambers of commerce at any time to buy things to regenerate severed limbs and become a real man.
But he did not forget that he was first the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department of the Ming Dynasty, and only then a cultivator in the fusion stage.
From the moment he obtained the immortal magic, he swore to serve his master forever.
For him, if he were to become a man from a eunuch, he would have to leave the palace, which in his opinion was equivalent to betraying his master.
Moreover, if I do this, what will my master think?
The most important thing is that he is going to be an immortal in the future. If he has children, he will be selfish. In this case, how can he make his master feel at ease?
Yes, it was about how to reassure the master, not whether he would make a dilemma between the family heir and the Immortal Dynasty, because he would never choose himself and give up the Immortal Dynasty.
He knew too well what kind of person his master was. Even if he would not do some things, if he could not firmly choose his master, then his master would definitely be unhappy.
Once a gap is created, the end result will definitely not be good.
It is precisely because of all the above entanglements that, as his cultivation level increased, a demon gradually formed in Lu Fang's heart.
As the Heavenly Dao, Jiajing had already seen through Lu Fang's inner demons when he arranged the heavenly tribulation for him.
In fact, Lu Fang’s idea was right. Jiajing also wanted to know what choice he would make, so he sent down this mental calamity.
If Lu Fang put himself first, although Jiajing would understand and think it through in his heart, and even not mind giving Lu Fang some grace, the relationship between master and servant would no longer be pure.
Just as Lu Fang understood Jiajing, Jiajing himself also understood himself very well.
But if Lu Fang gave up everything he wanted most in his heart, offspring, family, and grandchildren, and stood firmly on his side, Jiajing would be very happy.
Of course, if Jiajing was happy, the relationship between master and servant would remain forever, and everything Lu Fang wanted would be granted.
Yes, that’s right, I’m so arrogant!
"What's going on?" In the void outside the domain, a senior member of the shuttle discovered that the thunder was only focused on condensing, but was reluctant to fall, and couldn't help but ask questions.
"No, the last thunder tribulation has already begun!" Just when everyone was confused, Lu Bing, who had the highest cultivation level among the people present, suddenly spoke out the truth in a deep voice.
here we go?!
Hearing this, everyone including Yan Song was stunned at first, and then someone seemed to have thought of something and whispered, "Could it be, the inner demon calamity?"
Hearing the words "Inner Demon Tribulation", everyone's hearts couldn't help but tighten. After all, although they had never experienced the various descriptions of the Inner Demon Tribulation, they were already extremely wary of it in their hearts.
Hearing Lu Bing say that Lu Fang had begun to overcome his inner tribulation, everyone had no time to think about it. At this moment, their spiritual consciousness stretched out from between their brows without reservation, circling around the moon and observing Lu Fang.
Sure enough, under the close observation of spiritual consciousness, Lu Fang's condition was clearly visible to everyone.
Especially when everyone saw Lu Fang's dull eyes, as if he was in a state of chaos, the red and green light emitted by the "Bing and Yi Twin Thunder Tribulation" above the sky fell down and enveloped Lu Fang.
The entire surface of the moon looked extremely strange at this moment, like the legendary ghost town.
"According to the 'General Notes on Cultivation', those who have overcome the inner demon tribulation will enter a state of enlightenment under the guidance of the thunder tribulation." Yan Song's voice sounded slowly.
"Although this state is also the state of enlightenment that practitioners dream of, the reality is completely different from enlightenment."
"Generally, sudden enlightenment is almost always an understanding of the realm and the laws of heaven and earth. As long as you achieve sudden enlightenment, your cultivation will inevitably increase dramatically in a short period of time, breaking through the shackles of your realm."
"But the enlightenment of the inner demon tribulation is a test of the inner demon in people's hearts. In other words, it is a test of obsession."
"Once you get lost in it, it means you have failed to transcend the tribulation. The higher the realm, the deeper the obsession, and the harder it is to break through. Of course, if you can break through, it will also help in your cultivation realm."
Everyone present knew about the inner demon calamity from the records in the General Notes of Cultivation. They had never seen a true inner demon calamity, so they were naturally excited when they saw it.
No matter what happened in the outside world, Lu Fang's consciousness was already in an illusion without him realizing it.
On the third day of the first lunar month in the sixteenth year of the Zhengde reign, there was a heavy snowfall.
In a side room in the Prince Xing’s Mansion, Anlu Prefecture, Huguang.
"Boom!" Under the terrifying "Cing and Yi Twin Thunder Tribulation", the green thunder flashed with a hint of blood-red and fell heavily on Lu Fang's head.
"No!!!" Lu Fang roared in despair, his eyes suddenly opened, and he was sweating profusely.
“Huff, huff…”
Lu Fang sat up and gasped for breath. After a long while, he realized that this was just a dream.
"Is it actually... a dream?"
Lu Fang came back to his senses, looked at his outstretched hands, and swallowed hard.
At the same time, everything he experienced in the dream emerged in his mind.
In the dream, one day in the 40th year of Jiajing's reign, his master, Emperor Jiajing, got the chance to become an immortal and then bestowed him with immortal skills.
The master regarded him and Lu Bing as his confidants and led them to practice Taoism... Later, under the leadership of the master, the Ming Dynasty became an immortal dynasty, and his cultivation became higher and higher.
Finally, after he broke through the fusion stage, he went to the moon to transcend the tribulation under the arrangement of his master.
When he had endured the first eight of the nine levels of thunder and was about to endure the last level, the spiritual energy in his body was suddenly restrained by a mysterious force. He was ultimately defeated by the thunder and was annihilated.
"Dong dong dong."
Just as Lu Fang finished recalling the extremely long dream memory in his mind, with a dazed expression and a feeling of loss, there was a knock on the door.
"Wow!" The thick door curtain blanket was opened, and a violent gust of wind and snow blew in. A small boy walked in, "Godfather, the master asked me to come and see you."
"Look what I brought you, the best Codonopsis pilosula and black chicken soup. The master is so good to you..."
The honest boy was wearing a brown robe and holding a mahogany box in his hand. A smile was on his slightly childish face.
This young man was none other than Huang Jin.
At this time, Huang Jin was just a fourteen-year-old boy, the same age as his master Zhu Houcong.
It was at this moment that Lu Fang finally came to his senses. Although he knew that everything was just a dream, dreams are just dreams after all, and there will come a time to wake up.
Perhaps I caught a cold a few days ago, or maybe my master has always been interested in seeking immortals and asking for the way, and I have some insights in this area, so I had such a dream.
However, it would be great if we could really cultivate immortality.
"I'm sorry to trouble you, my master." Lu Fang smiled at Huang Jin, lifted the quilt and moved forward. Huang Jin also helped to put the small table in place and began to prepare the food.
"Godfather, how do you feel?" Hearing Huang Jin's question, Lu Fang nodded and said, "Much better."
"By the way, godfather, just this morning, the palace received a letter from the capital. The master said that something seemed to have happened in the capital." At this time, Huang Jin, who was sitting aside, suddenly said.
"Beijing?" Lu Fang took a sip of the hot black chicken soup with a spoon, then looked up and asked in confusion:
"What happened?"
Their prince is just a nobody, and it is not their turn to report any disturbance in the capital to the prince's palace.
"The emperor is ill!" Huang Jin looked around, leaned close to Lu Fang and said in a low voice: "And godfather, do you know where the letter was sent from in the capital? Yang Mansion, Yang Gelao!"
"Plop!" This time, hearing Huang Jin's words, Lu Fang's hand suddenly twitched, and the spoon in his hand fell violently. He widened his eyes, and the scene in the dream appeared in his mind again.
In the dream, the master was recommended by Yang Ting, Yang Ge Lao and the Queen Mother to inherit the throne after the emperor's death.
He remembered very clearly the day the emperor passed away, the day his master was announced, and the day he succeeded to the throne.
The emperor passed away on March 14, the 16th year of Zhengde.
Later, on March 16, the 16th year of Zhengde, the court sent eunuch Gu Dayong, Duke Dingguo Xu Guangzuo, the son-in-law Cui Yuan, the Minister of Rites Mao Cheng and others to welcome the master to the capital in accordance with the cabinet's drafted will.
It is now the third day of the first lunar month in the sixteenth year of the Zhengde reign. The emperor is seriously ill at this time, and Lord Yang suddenly writes a letter to his master.
For a moment, Lu Fang's body couldn't help but tremble slightly. Doesn't this mean that the future in his dream has come true?
Could it be that the emperor in the capital is already critically ill, so Lord Yang wrote a letter asking his master to make preparations early?
Yes, that's right. The emperor is critically ill, and the imperial physician must have anticipated his condition. He must have already started discussing the throne at this time. After all, many things need to be planned early.
However, this is not the point for Lu Fang. The point is, if the master becomes the emperor in the future, doesn't it mean that the Ming Dynasty can really cultivate immortals in the future? The point is that the master will also get the immortal fate, and he can also cultivate immortals?
As he thought about it, Lu Fang felt a sharp pain in his head, and a large number of immortal cultivation techniques unconsciously flooded into his mind.
Suddenly, his consciousness was pulled into a vague and mysterious space.
And in the very center of the mysterious space, a bronze tripod half a person's height was suspended and spinning.
However, at this time, the bronze tripod was covered with black, as if it had suffered a devastating blow.
"...Hiss!" Looking at this small bronze tripod, Lu Fang couldn't help but gasp. At this moment, his body began to tremble violently.
"Destiny, this is my destiny!" Lu Fang was naturally very familiar with this thing. It was his destiny.
Looking at the traces of lightning strike on the bronze tripod, Lu Fang naturally knew that this was caused by the thunder disaster that day.
"It's not a dream, it's not a dream," after a long while, Lu Fangshen forced himself to suppress his agitated emotions and said, "I... have been reborn from the past!?"
Reborn into the past? Even though he had followed his master through the two worlds in his previous life, and even entered his master's most precious treasure, the Qiankun Realm, this unheard-of thing still shocked him.
"Could it be that you took me back to the past?" Lu Fang instinctively thought that in fact, his own destiny also possessed some special talents, but he had never discovered them.
Thinking back to the plateau, the master had changed Li Ming's destiny, the connection between Li Ming and his son Li Baole's destiny, and his personal experience at the moment. Everything showed that his destiny might also have some extraordinary ability. It was this ability that allowed him to return to the past.
"Om."
At this moment, a ripple suddenly appeared next to the natal tripod, and then a simple ring appeared.
"Is this a storage ring?!" Seeing the ring, Lu Fang's heart skipped a beat and he immediately raised his hand to grab the ring.
A feeling of blood connection arises spontaneously.
He remembered that his storage ring contained a large amount of cultivation resources.
Now that I have returned to the past, the current Ming Dynasty is just an ordinary mortal world, without any spiritual energy at all.
Even if I now have the skills to cultivate immortality, I still cannot practice without spiritual resources.
If all the gift resources in the storage medium are there...
Thinking of Lu Fang's communication with the pet ring, his consciousness sank, and then he saw several scrolls in the storage ring. These scrolls were space seal scrolls.
A large amount of spiritual energy is sealed inside.
"Good, good, good!" Lu Fang was so excited that he was overjoyed and said three good words in a row.
With these things, he will embark on the path of cultivating immortals again.
But immediately afterwards, Lu Fang's heart sank again, and he frowned, thinking of another important thing.
"I can cultivate immortality, and my master will definitely have the chance to become an immortal in the future. Should I tell my master everything..." The moment this thought came to his mind, Lu Fang's heart skipped a beat.
He thought of the time when he was overcoming the tribulation, and when he realized that something was wrong with the thunder, he was about to use all his cultivation to resist it. But at that moment, he found that his cultivation was actually imprisoned.
At that time, my cultivation level was already the strongest except for my master and Lu Bing. Who could seal my cultivation level?
"Master..." Lu Fang's heart skipped a beat. Although this idea was incredible and unreasonable, he couldn't think of anyone else who had such ability except his master.
"Could it be that I am cultivating too fast? No, that's not right. My existence is allowed in the power tower system created by the master..." Thinking of this, Lu Fang was startled and murmured:
"Could it be the 'Shen Zang Huanmie Sutra'?"
"My master is in the Mahayana stage, and he will definitely become an immortal in the future. My future is to become a wandering immortal, and I want to stay in the human world..."
"If the master leaves, my cultivation will be the strongest. Is the master afraid of me?"
"Or is it that the master is worried that after he leaves, I will develop my own family and then pose a threat to the royal family?"
As he thought about it, Lu Fang's face turned pale and his eyes were full of disappointment.
"My master is suspicious. Does he not trust me after all?..." Based on his understanding of Jiajing, if he has suspicions, he can only let him figure it out himself, otherwise there is no solution!
As for why, with his master's level of cultivation, he didn't directly issue an imperial decree to deal with him, but chose this method, based on his understanding of his master, perhaps the master didn't want to face him in this way.
At least I have a clear conscience about what I have done so far.
Faced with such a loyal self, the master was ultimately unwilling to be so cruel to himself, and let him die under understanding, which was also a dignification for both of them.
What's more, if I kill myself in public, others who borrowed my money would inevitably feel that they would be in trouble if I died.
Next, the Ming Dynasty will gradually invade the world of immortal cultivation. At this time, the monarch and his subjects must not be disunited.
For a moment, Lu Fang was confused.
"Maybe I should leave..." Suddenly, this thought suddenly came to Lu Fang's mind.
Well, even though he felt that he was stabbed in the back by his master in his previous life and was annihilated by the thunderbolt, he still did not think of betraying his master Jiajing or taking revenge.
As I said, he was a loyal servant, and everything he had in his previous life was given by his master.
There is a saying that goes, if the king orders his subjects to die, the subjects have to die.
“If I start practicing from now on, with the resources I have, from the time my master ascended to the throne to the 39th year of Jiajing, my master has acquired the chance to become an immortal, which is nearly 40 years. It would not be a problem for me to practice to the Golden Core Stage, or even the Nascent Soul Stage…”
"If I fake my death before the day my master gets the chance to become an immortal, maybe I can leave now."
"From now on, I will hide my identity and given my cultivation level, it won't be difficult for me to leave this world and go to the stars outside the domain..."
"Besides, when I fake my death and leave, I will use the elixir to restore everything I have lost, marry and have children. In this way, the master will not suspect me anymore..."
"One day in the future, when the Ming Dynasty completely invades the world of immortal cultivation, I can take my family and descendants to the world of immortal cultivation in Haohai, and disappear completely from the world..."
In an instant, Lu Fang figured out the future path.
He decided to settle down, so he followed, served his master, and then left quietly.
"Master, I served you in my last life, and I have already repaid you. In this life, I will accompany you on the mortal path, and our relationship as master and servant ends here..."
Thinking of this, Lu Fang withdrew from the sea of consciousness.
"Godfather, what's wrong with you?" Huang Jin called out several times while looking at the dazed Lu Fang.
"Ahem," Lu Fang coughed lightly and shook his head, saying, "Did the master say anything..."
After saying that, he picked up the spoon again and started drinking the soup.
"The master didn't say anything..." Huang Jin was surprised to see this, but he continued to speak.
Time passed quickly, and everything happened just as Lu Fang had experienced. On March 16, the 16th year of Zhengde, his master Zhu Houcong became emperor and started his career as emperor.
In the first year of the Jiajing reign, the master began to use the reign title "Jiajing".
After that, the Great Ceremony Debate began, which mainly revolved around the dispute over the status of the master's parents, and the court was in turmoil.
……
May of the second year of Jiajing.
A "tribute dispute" broke out in Ningbo. The Japanese delegation clashed over trade qualifications.
Afterwards, the imperial court implemented a maritime ban, leaving only the Guangdong Maritime Customs Office to blockade all coastal ports.
……
In the eighth year of Jiajing's reign, the famine relief policy was reformed.
The imperial court carried out famine relief reforms and implemented a series of famine relief measures. Liang Cai, the Minister of Finance, and others proposed fiscal reform measures.
……
In the tenth year of Jiajing, redundant officials were cut.
Under the suggestion of Zhang Cong, the chief minister of the cabinet, redundant officials were cut and the eunuchs in charge of garrisons were removed.
……
In the first month of the sixteenth year of Jiajing's reign, the third son Zhu Zaihou was born.
……
In May of the 19th year of Jiajing's reign, one hundred ladies were selected to enter the palace.
On August 7, the 19th year of the Jiajing reign, Altan Khan broke through the wall of Gouerjian in Ningwu Pass and invaded the counties of Kelan and Lanxing in the south, killing and wounding more than 10,000 soldiers and civilians and looting incalculable property.
……
In April of the 21st year of Jiajing, the Dagaoxuan Hall was completed.
On October 21, the 21st year of the Jiajing reign, the Renyin Palace Coup occurred. More than ten palace maids including Yang Jinying attempted to kill the emperor. Lu Fang secretly rescued them, causing the palace maid's assassination attempt to fail. She was later executed by slicing.
Afterwards, the master moved to the Wanshou Palace in the Western Garden and never returned to the palace.
……
In June of the 29th year of the Jiajing reign, the Gengxu Rebellion occurred.
Altan Khan of the Tatar tribe led his army straight into the suburbs of the capital, burned, killed and looted for several days, and left with satisfaction. The imperial court suffered a great humiliation.
During the whole process, Lu Fang never took any action, but just silently waited by his master Jiajing's side.
However, although he never took action openly in many cases, he secretly saved the Ming Dynasty from danger several times.
But after all, his cultivation was relatively shallow, so it was inevitable that he would reveal some "immortal traces". These details were recorded by the Jinyiwei who followed the army and reported to their master Jiajing.
It also prompted the master's desire to seek immortality and the way to enlightenment to become stronger.
……
September of the 34th year of the Jiajing reign.
Zhang Jing and Yu Dayou defeated the Japanese pirates at Wangjiangjing, Zhejiang. Zhang Jing was framed by Zhao Wenhua, a member of Yan Song's group, and was arrested, imprisoned, and killed.
The twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month in the thirty-fourth year of the Jiajing reign.
Knowing that a major earthquake would occur in Guanzhong area, Lu Fang took action in secret and showed his immortal power. The imperial court predicted the crisis in advance and saved hundreds of thousands of people.
Time flies, and in a blink of an eye it is the winter of the 39th year of Jiajing.
"In a few days, my master will get the chance to become an immortal, and it's time for me to leave..." Lu Fang looked at his master who was meditating with his eyes closed on the stage, bowed, and said silently in his heart.
Early December, the thirty-ninth year of the Jiajing reign.
Lu Fang became seriously ill and fell into a coma, and Jiajing visited him in person.
Mid-December of the 39th year of the Jiajing reign.
When Lu Fang, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, died, Jiajing was extremely saddened and ordered a grand funeral.
In a blink of an eye, the Jiajing period came to the end of the 39th year of Jiajing.
Although Lu Fang faked his death and escaped, he did not just leave, but stayed quietly deep in the palace.
At this time, relying on the resources in the storage ring, his cultivation has reached the early stage of Golden Core.
With his level of cultivation and the fact that there were so many mansions and courtyards in the imperial palace, no one would discover him at all. He just silently guarded his master Jiajing.
Well, it is worth mentioning that, because of his existence, the master’s several princes all survived in good health.
Therefore, the master now has many children and grandchildren. Now that he has returned to the past, Lu Fang will naturally change everything that can be changed.
The huge Jindan stage consciousness swept across the entire palace.
As the 40th year of the Jiajing reign approached, Lu Fang's spiritual awareness could be said to have covered the entire imperial palace.
Once the master enters the world of cultivating immortals, with his spiritual sense, he will naturally be able to discover the faint spatial fluctuations.
However, something that Lu Fang never expected happened, that is, until the first month of the 40th year of Jiajing, there was still no so-called spatial fluctuation in the palace.
Lu Fang realized that something was wrong!
I became more and more conflicted in my mind: if my master could not enter the world of cultivating immortals, should I teach him the immortal arts?
If I hand it over to the master and save him, then the future that I have planned will become a trouble one day in the future. To be more precise, my family will become a trouble.
Become a trouble to the royal family! Unless you want to change the dynasty and make your family the royal family!
If I don't hand it over to my master, I will be the only immortal in the Ming Dynasty, and no one can go against my will.
How to choose?
Lu Fang hesitated.
However, what he didn't know was that, despite everything he was experiencing, there was a pair of eyes above the sky silently watching him.
"Lü Fang, what do you want to choose?" Jiajing was also waiting, "Please don't let me down..."
Jiajing didn't know what Lu Fang would choose, but in his heart he hoped that his loyal servant would not let him down.
"..."
(End of this chapter)
