CHAPTER 753: JIANG XUEJUN DEMANDS THE PURPLE GOLD BOWL

Zhu Youmu told Jiang Xuejun that Bai Mei Zen Master’s bowl had been taken by an outsider, "The master’s bowl must not be transmitted to anyone outside the sect! If it had fallen into the hands of a Buddhist disciple that would have been acceptable, but it happened to land in the hands of a young Taoist. As the disciple of Jile Perfected, he definitely would not abandon the Dao to follow Buddhism; therefore, the bowl must be retrieved. But my master instructed me to seclude myself at Stone Tiger Mountain for ten years of cultivation before he left, and I cannot abandon that charge. I can only ask you to go in my stead and bring the bowl back."

Jiang Xuejun found this reasoning quite sound. Buddhist possessions, when taken by a Taoist, would signify a betrayal of Buddhism. If it had been an ordinary magical treasure it might not have been as bad, but a purely Buddhist item wouldn’t reveal its full wonders under the control of a Taoist. It could be understandable that Muni Ding Bead was given to Li Yingqiong for the sake of Li Ning, but there was no justifiable reason for the bowl to be given to Chen Yan.

After agreeing to help, Jiang Xuejun reassured Zhu Youmu that she certainly would retrieve the bowl.

Shi Sheng, having the cultivation level of a Heavenly Immortal, hurried to South Sea together with Chen Yan, having departed much in advance. It was impossible for Jiang Xuejun to catch up.

Knowing this, her plan was to first openly demand the bowl on behalf of Zhu Youmu once she arrived at South Sea Copper Palm Island. If the other party refused to concede, she would resort to other methods.

However, after making her calculations, she was a bit pleased.

It turned out that after Chen Yan recovered his past life memories, he was resistant to the idea of meeting Shi Feiyang in the South Sea!

Before Li Jingxu ascended, he had pointed out two paths to him: continue cultivating his own Daoist techniques or become the disciple of Shi Feiyang. He had made a grand vow to follow the first path.

If he wanted to join Shi Feiyang, he would have done so back then, rather than choosing to be Soldier Disintegrated and reincarnated, enduring many more years of tribulation.

Enduring tribulation was one thing, but maintaining his master’s Daoist lineage was a definite must for him, hence he did not want to seek out Shi Feiyang.

On the road, he therefore told Shi Sheng that he wanted to return to the Lion Ridge in Yunnan, and was prepared to part ways with Shi Sheng right there and then.

Shi Sheng said, "Big Monk Bai Mei instructed that you should immediately follow me to South Sea to meet my master, and not turn back for anything we might encounter on the road..."

"He may have said that, but he belongs to Buddhism and I follow the Mysterious Sect, how can I heed all his words? Furthermore, if he can teach such disciples, it doesn’t necessarily mean he possesses great wisdom." Affronted by Zhu Youmu and having his efforts in Soldier Disintegration culminate in failure, he came to despise Bai Mei Zen Master as well.

His urgency to return was due to his fear that Zhu Youmu might genuinely search for the Three Lights Divine Water in the caves where his master and mistress resided in the past.

Moreover, he was intent on seeking revenge. Before undergoing Soldier Disintegration in his past life, he had sealed away the Magical Treasures given by his master in the Wuyou Cave of Lion Ridge. He needed to hurry back to retrieve those treasures and then wait for Zhu Youmu to arrive, determined to fight a battle to the death with him using the Prohibition Formation of Lion Ridge!

Even if Zhu Youmu did not come, he planned to dutifully cultivate his Daoist techniques in preparation to seek revenge on Zhu Youmu in the future.

Shi Sheng and Chen Yan, having left early, had not heard about Bai Mei Zen Master asking Zhu Youmu to remain in Stone Tiger Mountain for ten years. Considering his previous persistence, he was certainly determined to go to Lion Ridge in search of the Three Lights Divine Water.

After listening to Chen Yan’s analysis, Shi Sheng also thought it made sense. Concerned that Chen Yan, even with the Array left by Jile Perfected, wouldn’t be able to defeat Zhu Youmu alone, and fearing other mishaps might occur on the way, he decided to escort Chen Yan back to Lion Ridge.

Back at Wuyou Cave of Lion Ridge, Chen Yan knelt in front of the memorial tablets of Li Jingxu and the others, offered incense, and bowed several times, his eyes reddening as tears streamed uncontrollably.

Shi Sheng also followed with several bows.

Chen Yan found the Magical Treasures he had sealed away in his past life and prepared himself for diligent cultivation, aiming to seek revenge on Zhu Youmu in the future.

Seeing that the affairs here were nearly settled and after waiting a moment longer, noting that Zhu Youmu had not yet arrived, Shi Sheng bid farewell and left.

No sooner had he departed than Jiang Xuejun arrived.

Jiang Xuejun had cultivated the Tai Xuan Golden Chapter of Yan Yingmu, considered orthodox in the Mysterious Sect. After her master left, she had successfully mastered many powerful final Chapter techniques, making her methods exceedingly enigmatic.

Chen Yan, poised to guard against Zhu Youmu, hadn’t anticipated Jiang Xuejun’s proficiency with Daoist Arrays.

If Zhu Youmu had come, relying on Buddhist methods, he would certainly have approached from the exact West position. However, using Daoist cultivation, Jiang Xuejun entered from the exact East position.

Originally, when Li Jingxu and Sun Xun cultivated here, the Arrays in this place were not their most formidable creations since few in the world dared to misbehave around here... but Chen Yan could not completely master the subtleties of his master’s Daoist techniques and miscalculated both the identity of his visitor and their main attack direction. Jiang Xuejun managed to breach the defenses swiftly and was almost at Wuyou Cave’s entrance before Chen Yan became abruptly aware of her presence.

Following her planned approach, Jiang Xuejun began with courtesy before resorting to coercion, demanding that Chen Yan return the bowl, "The Purple Gold Bowl belongs to Buddhism and is part of its direct lineage transmission. Because you are a disciple of Jile Perfected and were imprisoned by his disciple first, Bai Mei Zen Master decided to compensate you by gifting you the bowl.

However, as a venerated monk renowned for his Great Compassion and Great Wisdom, we, as juniors, cannot be ungrateful. You may keep other possessions, but you cannot take this bowl. First return the bowl, and when Brother Zhu comes out of seclusion in the future, he will give you other Magical Treasures as a substitute. That would be the right thing to do."

Chen Yan was furious and questioned loudly, "Did Zhu Youmu send you to demand it?"

Jiang Xuejun chuckled, "Even if Brother Zhu didn’t ask, upon seeing this, I would still have to speak a word of justice."

"Very well, very well, very well," Chen Yan went inside the cave to fetch the bowl and threw it over, "Who cares about your lousy begging bowl!"

As the bowl flew over with a streak of golden light, Jiang Xuejun caught it in her hand and confirmed it was the Purple Gold Bowl of Bai Mei Zen Master. She nodded with a smile, "This is excellent. Since that’s the case, I shall take my leave for now. Brother Zhu has been greatly offended on this occasion. Even though there are reasons behind it, what was done was indeed inappropriate. When he emerges from retreat, we will definitely bring a gift to apologize in person."

After she finished speaking, she stepped on golden light and soared into the air. Chen Yan loudly asked her to pass a message to Zhu Youmu, "Tell him! The humiliation of today will be repaid twofold in the future!"

Jiang Xuejun did not take him seriously, chuckled lightly, and answered on behalf of Zhu Youmu. She was already thousands of miles away.

Chen Yan went back into the cave, sulking, while Jiang Xuejun flew towards Stone Tiger Mountain with the bowl in hand.

She held the bowl carefully, examining this precious Buddhist treasure.

Soon, she noticed the mass of dark clouds at the bottom of the bowl.

"What is this? It looks quite evil," Jiang Xuejun concentrated and peered in. As soon as she extended a sliver of Divine Thought, it felt as if she was entering an infinite void...

Naturally, that mass of dark clouds was part of the incarnation of the Sky Lusting Sect Leader!

Bai Mei Zen Master intended for Chen Yan to be protected by Shi Sheng as he transported this object to Shi Feiyang for handling. Even if some incidents occurred on the way, since Shi Sheng had attained the Heavenly Immortal Cultivation, he could handle anything, escorting Chen Yan safely to the South Sea where, once delivered into Shi Feiyang’s hands, all would be well.

Shi Feiyang would extract the Sky Lusting Sect Leader from the bowl, give it back to Chen Yan, and also teach him a special Cultivation Technique to refine the bowl. Once Chen Yan completed his refinement, the bowl would combine the strengths of both the Buddhist and Daoist Mysterious Sect, becoming an even mightier Demon-suppressing Treasure.

By then, with the help of this treasure, Chen Yan would overcome his own triple-layered Great Demon Tribulation, his grievances dispelled, and grateful for Bai Mei Zen Master’s gift of the treasure, he would become a Heavenly Immortal. Should Zhu Youmu fall into demonization, or Li Ning become trapped, this Magical Treasure would play a critical role.

Unfortunately, what man proposes, Heaven disposes. On his way back, Chen Yan returned to Wuyou Cave on Lion Ridge, and Zhu Youmu had invited Jiang Xuejun to retrieve the bowl.

Jiang Xuejun, who would neither submit to Heaven nor Earth, believed that her Daoist power had surpassed the level of a Heavenly Immortal. The reason she had not Ascended was that she did not wish to, not out of love for it, as the absence of the idea of Ascension in her heart would mean no resonance with the Spiritual Space Immortal Realm. Many people linger in the mortal realm, unable to cut ties with the Red Dust or held back by their disciples, which was also the reason for their long stay.

She aspired to achieve Body Ascension like her mentor Yan Yingmu and later to verify the Golden Immortal Position.

Over the years, she had cultivated numerous Demon-suppressing Techniques and Magical Treasures, confident she could subdue any demon or Devil she encountered.

With her pride, she feared nothing. Out of curiosity about why Bai Mei Zen Master’s bowl would contain such an evil object, she even suspected Chen Yan was plotting something, "That explains why he was so willing to give the bowl back; had he used some kind of Evil Magic or Curse Technique to lay a plot against Brother Zhu?"

She knew Bai Mei Zen Master had once captured part of the Sky Lusting Sect Leader’s incarnation but thought that with the Zen Master’s abilities, he surely would have destroyed it long ago. If any remained, he would have given it to Zhu Youmu to further refine and eradicate it thoroughly with the Buddhist Law, rather than leaving it in the bowl and gifting it to someone else as compensation.

She didn’t think in that direction initially, and thought it was Chen Yan’s doing, wanting to eliminate it for Zhu Youmu, "Jile Perfected once caused bloodshed in house cleaning for the sake of his disciples for many years, leaving only this lone seedling. It’s disappointing that this seedling would turn out so worthless, cultivating such malicious Evil Magic."

She soon felt that the thing inside the bowl was no ordinary evil, that once her Divine Sense probed it, it was like drowning in an abyss, being dragged into endless void.

However, this challenge only sparked her competitive spirit.

Thus, she saw a valley with favorable feng shui below, landed, sat cross-legged on a rock, held the bowl, and started to study it closely.

She figured that with her Demon-suppressing Great Technique and weapons like the Soundless Divine Thunder, she need not fear even the most powerful of demons encountered.

But this time, the entity she faced was not an ordinary demon—it was the Sky Lusting Sect Leader who did not even fear Heavenly Tribulation!

The Sky Lusting Sect Leader first concealed its strength, making Jiang Xuejun feel that it was very mysterious, formidable and worth the challenge but not overwhelming, believing she was fully capable of handling it.

Little by little, it lured Jiang Xuejun’s Divine Thought deeper until, in the endless void, she saw a bloody heart. The heart was deeply red, and within the red light, there seemed to be another world, where storms surged, landscapes shifted, and wonders abounded.

At this point, Jiang Xuejun’s subconscious was already influenced, believing that she could eradicate the demon by sending her Primordial Spirit in and killing the lurking Evil God inside.

Thus, she indeed projected her Primordial Spirit and flew into it.

At the bottom of the bowl, the Sky Lusting Sect Leader was sealed off by Buddha Light. As Jiang Xuejun’s Primordial Spirit passed through the Buddha Light, the Zen Master’s image suddenly flashed in the Buddha Light before her. Big Monk implored her not to proceed further, "This sealed entity is the most malicious Evil Demon, the Sky Lusting Sect Leader, from the past three thousand years. You must not proceed further, do not make contact, turn back immediately!"

Jiang Xuejun paused, "The Sky Lusting Sect Leader..."

At that moment, another image of Bai Mei Zen Master, identical in appearance, appeared beside her and said, "Oh, it’s you. Then there is no issue. No one else may enter here, but you can. I had predicted you would come, and now I intend to use your hands to eradicate this Evil Demon completely! Go quickly, you must ensure its body and soul are destroyed, to rid the Human World of a great evil!"