novelraw Chapter 134 : Birth of the Golden Tree Technique! Emergence of a Large Diseased Domain
Chapter 134 : Birth of the Golden Tree Technique! Emergence of a Large Diseased Domain
Chapter 134: Birth of the Golden Tree Technique! Emergence of a Large Diseased Domain
Dragon Vein Secret Chamber.
The majestic aura of the Mountain and River Dragon Vein surged and intertwined, forming a nearly tangible fog of spiritual energy, vaguely coalescing into a dragon shape.
Countless golden chains slithered and coiled around it, suppressing it while emitting gleeful laughter in a triple-beat rhythm.
But soon, a small hand belonging to the Little Celestial Ghost reached out from the void and gently patted the chains.
"Gulu."
Don’t disturb the master’s cultivation!
"Roar!"
The chains transformed into a Three-Headed Flood Dragon to show understanding—it was just too bored. Recently, the Coffin Spirit had been sneaking around doing who knows what, making things eerily quiet.
Yet the quieter it was, the more the Three-Headed Flood Dragon wanted to cause mischief.
It was preparing to sneak in a sneak attack on the Coffin Spirit!
Jiang Yan sat cross-legged atop a jade platform, five hearts facing the sky, breathing in and out spiritual energy.
Such vast Mountain and River spiritual energy could instantly fill a high-tier Law Seed cultivator, yet at this moment it poured into Jiang Yan like rivers reversing course, as if he were a black hole.
However, despite this long absorption, not only did it not vacuum out the area, it was instead quickly replenished.
"Is this Mountain and River Dragon Vein truly inexhaustible?"
Jiang Yan opened his eyes. Deep within his pupils flowed golden light, constructing a dazzling spell seal, though it was replaced in a flash by the Catastrophe Lotus, which then vanished into nothingness.
His gaze grew deep as he murmured, "The Mountain and River Dragon Vein Qi, though primarily composed of earth and water, builds the material foundation for including metal, wood, and fire spiritual energies, allowing all cultivators to benefit. However, earth and water practitioners can even perceive special intents.
I comprehend the Decay Palm Seal, and thus can perceive the withering of life into yellow earth, a law of decline—quite fruitful indeed.
But even if this Dragon Vein Qi is condensed from a land's essence, it shouldn't be limitless. And yet the Bureau of Historical Revision not only doesn’t restrict it, but lets it spread and nourish the land, unconcerned with consumption. It’s more like..."
"Flood release?"
Deep within Jiang Yan’s consciousness, the Ash Lamp shone. His eyes’ divine light pierced the heavy earth, continuing downward.
In recent days, he had searched multiple times with no results, even going boating on West Lake once.
Seventy yuan for half an hour—not expensive, and the scenery was nice.
But no leads.
"Was I overthinking it?"
Jiang Yan pondered, then had a sudden inspiration, turning in a certain direction—and saw...
A colossal Life Lamp blazing like the sun!
Estimated to be at least one kilometer in diameter.
Just a glance made his eyes sting with dryness, his internal spiritual energy rapidly drained, and his vision blurred, let alone trying to glimpse the karmic threads or fate on it.
It was like staring at the sun with the naked eye—its brilliance was blinding.
This power level was at least Heavenly Official, maybe even higher.
The endless Dragon Qi in Hangzhou stemmed from this very entity.
Before Jiang Yan could examine it carefully, the Life Lamp vanished instantly.
It was alive!?
If even its Life Lamp was that enormous, one could scarcely imagine what its true form looked like.
Jiang Yan glanced at the Little Celestial Ghost and the Three-Headed Flood Dragon, who were still playing around and hadn’t noticed the massive being beneath them.
He fell into thought. Was it luck? Or...
Was the being watching him?
"As expected, there aren’t many true idiots in the world. What really exists is information asymmetry."
Jiang Yan sighed. Countless people in Hangzhou were living atop this mysterious entity.
Could it be a Spirit Treasure?
A Spirit Beast?
Or perhaps the Mountain and River Earth Veins transformed into a dragon?
If it made a move, it would be like the Earth Dragon turning over—a world-shaking disaster.
Every action, a natural catastrophe.
"There’s no way the Bureau of Historical Revision doesn’t know. Are they unafraid? Or powerless to interfere?"
Jiang Yan stroked his chin, deciding not to ask Old Ba.
Because it couldn’t be explained.
After all, without the assistance of the [Lamp-Igniting Method], even Ancient Talisman level cultivators might not detect its existence.
Not only would he be revealing his own trump card, but since the Bureau didn’t mention it, it was likely top secret—asking would be futile.
"Didn’t think I’d be dancing on landmines too."
Jiang Yan chuckled, not overly worried. If the sky fell, taller folks could hold it up. At least he had resolved his doubts about the Mountain and River Dragon Vein Qi.
When he ascended to Ancient Talisman or Heavenly Official in the future, he would revisit this thing's true form.
Because whatever could birth Mountain and River Dragon Vein Qi... might not be a dragon.
And if it was, that’d be even better.
Jiang Yan resumed his cultivation, adjusting to optimal condition, then took out a small bamboo shoot.
Its entire form appeared forged from gold, with seven nodes glowing softly.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
It gently shook, casting a metallic luster over the ground. Whistling sounds filled the air as sharp blades of wind swept toward Jiang Yan.
But halfway through, the Little Celestial Ghost wiped them away with a wave.
Its tiny hand patted the bamboo:
"Gulu!"
You can’t be that disobedient!
Yet the bamboo made no reply, only continued stirring up golden blades.
The Little Celestial Ghost watched curiously—was the master planting bamboo?
Could it grow into a big bamboo forest with bamboo shoots to eat?
"It’s not bamboo. It’s a type of Qi, without consciousness—only instinct!"
Jiang Yan smiled and explained, "Law Qi is inherently formless. It is the product of resonance between the world’s laws and Diseased Domain spiritual energy, manifesting from the intangible to the tangible. In a sense, it transforms from innate to acquired.
Because it’s condensed from highly purified spiritual energy, it can alter the terrain of an area. The higher the grade, the wider the influence and the more distinct the resulting ecosystem."
"This is named [Western Supreme Golden Bamboo Law Qi], one of the nine supreme Xin Metal Law Qis, worth 14,000 points—after discount."
At that, Jiang Yan winced in pain.
Recently, he had annihilated two dark factions, heavily struck at the Ou Tide Secret Society’s smuggling scheme, repatriated a Heavenly Official of the Silver Dynasty, and sold a Law Seed, netting 15,000 points.
Even so, buying supreme Law Qi required both clearance and queue.
However, the higher-ups were very pleased with his governance of the Yuhang district, especially his elimination of the Silver Dynasty's smuggling hub via the Ou Tide Secret Society, so they made an exception to give him fast-track purchase rights.
He could buy one supreme Law Qi at 30% off.
In the Ten Heavenly Stems Paths, the variety of Law Qis was endless.
New and never-before-seen Law Qis emerged periodically, many even artificially created.
But each path had only nine supreme Law Qis.
No more, no less.
The name [Western Supreme Golden Bamboo Law Qi] made it obvious it was connected to the [Golden Mother], Queen Mother of the West.
It originated from a Diseased Domain related to the Jade Pool.
Certainly not the real one—that was the divine kingdom of mighty deities. Even facing such beings without malice, their high-dimensional info and spiritual energy radiation could warp and remake lower lifeforms.
Hence, this was its projection within a shallow Diseased Domain, manifesting a portion of the Jade Pool.
Still, it was extremely dangerous, even producing many lifeforms linked to Immortal Subjects.
The Bureau of Historical Revision had paid a steep price to conquer it, harvesting many treasures—among them, this Golden Bamboo Law Qi.
Original price: 20,000 points, equivalent to 60 million yuan. But money couldn’t be traded for points, nor could one directly buy supernatural goods from the Bureau. The real value approached the price of a mid-tier property.
Put it on the market, and rich buyers would fight over it, easily bidding up to billions.
Because strength meant: if the neighbors hoard food, I hoard guns!
"Still missing eight Law Qis... If I’d known, I wouldn’t have gone for such a perfect cultivation method."
Jiang Yan shook his head. Youthful ambition had dug a deep pit for himself.
Even Ge Xianyao’s method only required one supreme Jia Wood Law Qi to control the Five Elements, while the rest could be top-tier.
Only he needed all ten supreme Law Qis to maintain balance.
Like laying a foundation—a weak one risks future problems.
The one relief: it wouldn’t hinder advancing to Law Seed Stage.
As long as they were assembled before the Ancient Talisman stage, they could be used to complete the puzzle.
"Now that my foundation is solid, I can plant the Law Qi in advance and begin nurturing the Law Seed. Once the Longevity Azure Lotus reaches grade seven and evolves into an Immortal-grade Dao Foundation, I can ascend to the Law Seed Stage anytime."
Jiang Yan’s thoughts turned, endless Catastrophe Qi surged behind him, transforming into a massive mouth that swallowed the [Golden Bamboo Law Qi].
Upon entering the Dao Foundation, the bamboo’s form stretched and extended countless roots, anchoring into the Cataclysmic Sea of the Return Ruins, resonating with the [VajravārāhĪ Seal] and [Silver Dragon-Tiger Qi].
"The Dao Foundation is the root of attaining the Dao, the basis of the Great Way!"
"It evolves from the cultivator’s essence, energy, and spirit into a personal land, where Law Qi infused with rules is planted, transforming their arts into true Laws."
"The higher the grade of Law Qi, the stronger the resulting Law. Even for the same technique, using different grades of Law Qi leads to vastly different outcomes. If your skill is at the Perfect Level, it’s like fertilizing this land—the Law will grow even more robust."
"This [Western Supreme Golden Bamboo Law Qi] is the most supple form of metal, corresponding to Xin Metal, innately Yin, harmonizing with the VajravārāhĪ Seal. The Dragon-Tiger Qi, however, is Geng Metal.
Actually, the Silver Dragon-Tiger Qi can also plant Xin Metal Law Qi, but its destructive traits and offensive focus will shift, essentially changing paths."
"Once planted, the Law Qi will influence all future Laws you learn. It can be used continuously, even until you yield your personal Dao Fruit."
Jiang Yan explained to his little companions, who were nearing advancement themselves, but still lacked the crucial ingredient...
Written as Law Qi, read as: money.
As he lectured, the VajravārāhĪ Seal had already merged with the Golden Bamboo Law Qi. Then, atop the Sea of Chaos, the Demon-God Embryo trembled slightly. The bamboo began to twist, gradually taking the form of a golden sapling.
It rooted itself deep within the Cataclysmic Sea of the Return Ruins, growing into a young golden tree occupying several hundred meters.
It glowed brilliantly, golden meridians flowing along its trunk, weaving the secrets of the cosmos.
The [VajravārāhĪ Tummo Seal] also evolved from a technique into the [Supreme Law Seed — Great Bliss Vajra Indestructible Golden Tree Law Chakra].
[Skill Description: Fully transformed the VajravārāhĪ Tummo Seal’s abilities, merging with the essence of the Golden Bamboo Law Qi to form the Golden Tree Law, birthing chakras...
Spinning golden light, shining upon all beings; through cultivation, one may command the energies and radiance of the five directions, sever delusions, expel internal turbidity, and attain a Vajra Indestructible Body. It may transmute gold and stone to water, refine jade artifacts, and be ruled by the Golden Tree.
It can devour subordinate paths or equal-level paths to strengthen one's own Vajra qualities, preserving the essence and discarding the dross.】
After planting the Law Qi, the golden light originally used for cultivation returned from external object to within the body, enabling cultivation toward the Vajra Indestructible Body—a metamorphosis toward longevity and immortality.
The power and volume of the golden light saw a dramatic increase.
"Too much of a tongue-twister, let's just call it the [Golden Tree Technique], which governs all Xin Metal. When Silver Dragon-Tiger Qi plants the Geng Metal Law Qi, it will govern Geng Metal."
Jiang Yan couldn't be bothered to remember such a long name, so he simplified it, also with the hope that the metal attribute would ultimately be ruled by the Golden Tree.
A pre-emptive start to minimizing himself.
After the skill evolved, due to its essence upgrading, its mastery dropped to [Perfect Level 30%], a 30% decrease from before.
But Jiang Yan was well prepared and fed it the Vajra Esoteric Sect relic gifted by Yu Lingchuan earlier.
With waves of Sanskrit chants echoing, the Golden Tree slowly grew, spreading its roots to cover more of the Return Ruins, its branches sprouting golden leaves etched with scripture.
This was Jiang Yan's path of Xin Metal.
The Yin aspect of metal—thus, it took the form of a tree.
Crucially, it was a one-of-a-kind Spell Spirit, possessing sentience and belonging to innate lifeforms.
If the Buddhist sects saw it, they'd surely shout: Holy Treasure of Buddhism!
The mastery of the [Golden Tree Wheel] also rose from [Perfect Level 30%] to [Perfect Level 99%].
Only one step away from the Master Level!
This great lama had been a Vajra Esoteric master, only a step short of becoming a Master Level—had he achieved that, he would have surpassed Law Seed and, by Vajravārāhī's blessing, advanced to Ancient Talisman.
But crossing that gap was harder than ascending to heaven.
Perhaps only enlightenment could offer the chance.
For Jiang Yan, he could use numerous Vajra Esoteric lamas from the Corpse-Dissolution Court to spawn skills, test out various paths, forcibly integrate them, and break through to Master Level or even become Transcendent.
"All beings are but nourishment."
Jiang Yan whispered. Just as he prepared to continue studying the skill, he suddenly received a message from the whitelist.
To get through, it had to be something big.
He opened it and his expression shifted slightly.
The content was—
Within the Yuhang District, a large Diseased Domain is surfacing!
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Bureau of Historical Revision, Yuhang Sub-Bureau.
In the meeting room, Ba Lie, Cang Hong, and others were gathered, the atmosphere grave.
You Tunan still wore deep black circles under his eyes, looking moments from collapsing, fingers tapping away on his computer.
Zhao Yinman sat upright, diligently writing in Notebook 2.0.
Version 1.0 was with Jiang Yan, but this new version had many of his traces.
Beside the chibi-style humanoid machine zombie, there was now a cool-posing Martial Scholar-robed youth.
Because... they were the Double-Not Duo!
Later they could even leech off the Coffin Spirit.
(▽`)
Spatial rift tore open, and Jiang Yan stepped through, asking:
"Where is the Diseased Domain? What level?"
Cang Hong shook his head. "Unclear for now, just signs of a Diseased Domain surfacing. Preliminary estimate is Blockage Level at minimum."
He then pointed to the projected screen.
Many images appeared, scenes from hospital intensive care units. Most were ordinary humans, all in comas.
Jiang Yan looked over them and frowned.
In the photos, strange blood-colored tumors had grown on these people. The smallest were fist-sized, the largest rivaled full-term pregnancies, veins bulging on the surface like gnarled tree roots.
The most bizarre part: compassionate faces appeared faintly on the tumor surfaces.
But soon, You Tunan clicked the mouse and the pictures changed.
This set showed surgical dissections performed by the Heavenly Medical Department, cutting open the tumors—revealing flesh like insect-eaten cavities, riddled with various holes.
Inside the tumors, they discovered a statue.
Was that... a Guanyin statue?
But only the upper half—the lower half fused with flesh, as if seated on a lotus pedestal.
Except, the sea of suffering had become a sea of blood.
Jiang Yan suddenly understood. No wonder everyone looked so grim—they were tied up with one of the mighty divine beings.
Guanyin, also known as Light of the World or the Sovereign of Compassion, one of Buddhism's Four Great Bodhisattvas, and one of the Western Three Saints, ranked just below the Buddha.
It’s said that Guanyin chose not to attain Buddhahood because of the world’s suffering, choosing instead the Compassionate Ferry's Return to save all beings.
In divine hierarchies, that placed her at least among the top-tier Great Divine Abilities or Mighty Divine Beings.
She had 33 manifestations, each mastering supreme divine abilities. Even Daoism revered her as the [Heavenly Venerable of Perfect Penetration and Freedom], the identity later absorbed by the novel *Investiture of the Gods* as Ci Hang Daoist, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals.
Although the latter was from fiction—a kind of wild history.
Then again, maybe the former was also fiction.
According to internal BHR theories, these figures more likely represent great beings shining across many worlds, their images written as "correct anchors" by high-perception individuals receiving their revelations.
These beings don’t seek belief.
They aim to be known.
Important to note: Great Beings don’t walk a path—they **are** the path.
Like water flowing downhill, life breathing, death inevitable—they are the rules that build the multiverse.
Therefore, Great Divine Beings cannot be buried. Killing them is facing the Dao itself.
Even if destroyed, as long as someone walks their path, they can return from the Old Days.
Unless, their authority is seized and their path occupied.
"Someone's defiling Her name?"
Jiang Yan immediately suspected this wasn’t the true Guanyin at work.
Not just because she's depicted as a merciful savior in myth.
Even without Historical Mutation, one should fear more than worship these high-dimensional entities.
More so because if she really made a move, even the combined ultimate means of BHR and other nations might not avert apocalypse.
This scale of bizarre mutation was far too minor.
Ba Lie agreed: "That's what we think too. Most likely, someone walking the [Guanyin Path] is behind this. Unclear if they're hiding in the real world or using the Diseased Domain as an anchor."
Guanyin has countless believers in the real world and is part of the "benevolent deity" faction. At least according to BHR surveillance, she hasn’t shown hostility to humanity.
But post-Historical Mutation, Guanyin Path walkers have rarely been kind.
Jiang Yan asked, "Have you found the source of the mutation?"
A Diseased Domain needs an anchor to surface.
It can’t appear for no reason.
"We tried. But the patients are all unconscious, unresponsive to questioning, and their souls are too weak to dream-probe.
But I analyzed the Bureau's reported data and the movements of all 1,935 patients over the past three days. I found a common point..."
You Tunan yawned. "They all visited a Guanyin Zen Temple in Yuhang District to worship and seek blessings."
"All thanks to your supernatural faction accountability system. Otherwise, hospital feedback alone would’ve taken four or five more hours."
Jiang Yan glanced at him. No wonder he looked half-dead.
The workload was indeed staggering.
There were many Guanyin temples. Within Hangzhou alone were several—like the Ancient Guanyin Zen Temple, Lingyin Temple’s Guanyin Hall, all top-tier incense sites in the Tianxia Alliance and even the world.
Yuhang had a large Guanyin Hermitage near a wetlands park.
But Jiang Yan checked and found it unrelated. It seemed to be an old, refurbished Guanyin Zen Temple called [Fuguo Guanyin Zen Temple].
Still, many believers and tourists paid visits.
Zhao Yinman raised a question: "Could someone be fabricating a god there?"
Cang Hong shook his head. "We detained the monks and staff and sent in professional 'temple breakers' to inspect all statues. No signs of god-making were found.
None of the monks bore supernatural traces—just regular folks trying to profit off incense."
The meeting room fell into a tense silence.
Finally, Cang Hong broke it: "If we can't find the mutation source, we have to eliminate the mutated elements."
Ba Lie said sternly: "This isn’t a task for one or two people. You can’t bear that responsibility."
"I don’t want to either. But if the Diseased Domain surfaces, it will cause even greater catastrophe, affecting tens of thousands. If it can be prevented early, I don’t care about being dismissed."
Cang Hong remained calm and sighed. "Besides, they’re already tainted. The Heavenly Medical Department is struggling too. They found this mysterious [Guanyin Tumor] bonded to the soul—impossible to remove, still siphoning vitality. They’ll die eventually.
BHR prioritizes people. We'll do everything to save them and only use last resorts if forced. But I’m worried... how many more patients are out there? Is it contagious?"
Ba Lie's gaze darkened. He’d rather fight in melee than face a creeping plague.
Jiang Yan asked, "Is the temple still operating normally?"
Cang Hong shook his head. "At first, I wanted to send troops to seal it. But Ba Lie reminded me that without finding the source, we risk disturbing the scene. The inner hall is sealed, but the exterior remains open.
I had the enforcers disguise as civilians to infiltrate the crowd and search for the source. But so far, no results."
"We now suspect the Diseased Domain is using this small temple as an anchor to surface. As it approaches reality, it resonates and infects people with unknown mutations."
He hadn’t expected Guanyin’s anchor to be hijacked by another Diseased Domain.
Small anchors usually connect to major mutations.
A food chain of big fish eating small fish.
Indeed, with the Historical Long River accelerating, bizarre phenomena were everywhere.
Impossible to guard against.
Jiang Yan asked, "How long can the patients hold out?"
Cang Hong replied, "One day at most. The tumors keep draining life force. Even using Life Preservation Talismans only delays the inevitable. By day three, they’ll perish."
Time was tight. The task immense.
Jiang Yan said swiftly, "I’ll investigate the temple. Have the remaining patrols sweep the city. Notify other sub-bureaus in Jiangnan Province to ensure no further infections. Tunan-ge, send me a compiled report."
You Tunan clacked away on the keyboard. "Sent to your phone. I’ll keep sorting through the patient families' feedback. I’ll let you know if anything comes up."
Though drowsy, he refused to pass out.
"Good."
Jiang Yan nodded. Just as he was about to ask the Little Celestial Ghost to open a portal, Zhao Yinman was already at his side.
Seeing his puzzled expression, she reminded him: "Don’t waste time. Double-Not Duo, move out!"
"...Alright."
Jiang Yan nodded again. What began as a casual team name, the humanoid machine zombie took very seriously.
Ten minutes later, the two arrived at Fuguo Guanyin Zen Temple.
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