This celestial realm, or Tiānjìng, is predominantly inhabited by cultivators of the Buddhist Sects. Its scenery is unlike that of any other celestial domain. The terrain here is remarkably flat; only every tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions, of li does a grand mountain spire abruptly pierce the plains.

Surveying the vista from atop any peak, one sees nothing but half-springs everywhere. Crystalline pools, rivers, and lakes abound, the ground carpeted with Jīnbōluó flowers, while the waters teem with the pure white and pale green of lotus blossoms. When a gentle breeze passes, vast stretches of Bodhi groves sway faintly, emitting a sound like the roar of a lion.

Far to the absolute north, ranges of mountains gradually ascend, becoming progressively steeper and higher the further north one travels. Eventually, any ordinary ridge reaches heights of several hundred thousand li. The sheer mass of these mountains forms a barrier between heaven and earth, severing the passage for any bird seeking to fly north or return south.

Here, even the Golden-Winged Jiāléng Bird, capable of the highest flight in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, can only gaze upon the peaks with despair and turn back. Thus, this immense expanse of snow-covered mountains, stretching for unknown myriads of li, has earned the common name, the Returning Goose Great Snow Range (Huíyàn Dàxuěshān). Within the boundless snows, faint sounds of Fànchàng (Buddhist chanting) drift from all directions.

Occasionally, one can spot two or three thatched eaves, with one or two supporting beams jutting out, clinging to crevices or desolate mountain summits. Countless virtuous souls of the Buddhist Sects reside in seclusion here; with hidden dragons and crouching tigers among them, no one can truly say how many remarkable figures dwell in this place. Amidst the ceaseless wind and snow, one sometimes sees ascetics clad in tattered robes, hands pressed together in héshí (supplication), having sealed away all their divine abilities and magical powers.

They traverse and struggle through the gale-force winds—strong enough to atomize metal—relying purely on their physical bodies. The ferocious winds and heavy snow carve sharp, bloody trails across their skin, yet these ascetics possess hearts as unyielding as solid stone, completely unmoved by the suffering of the flesh. High in the air, majestic golden celestial dragons soar past; through slightly lower cloud layers, one can see monks with gleaming, shaven scalps treading upon the clouds; upon the ridges, an occasional golden lion rears back to let out a mighty roar at the heavens; beside the streams in the deep valleys, a small group of novices (shāmí) can be seen fetching firewood, accompanied by spirit-beasts like fierce tigers or agile apes.

Suddenly, a robust monk practicing the Buddhist Divine Ability of the Golden Net for Subduing Demons might be seized by inspiration. With a surge of divine strength, he might lift an entire hilltop, hoist it onto his shoulder, and gallop joyously for tens of thousands of li. This often causes vast swathes of the snowy ridges to tremble violently.

Then, perhaps from some high mountain or deep valley, a staff or two might fly out, battering and pounding the overzealous monk until his bald head is covered in lumps of blue, red, indigo, and violet bruising. At the deepest heart of the Returning Goose Great Snow Range, encircled by hundreds of peaks sharp as blades stabbing toward the heavens, lies a vast pool spanning a thousand li. This pool remains perpetually unfrozen.

No matter how fierce the gāngfēng (primordial winds) blow or how heavily the snow falls, this body of water always exudes a faint wisp of steam, nurturing abundant vitality. Within the pool swim golden carp, dragons twist and dance, lotus roots interlace, and flowers bloom. Above the water, white cranes circle and glide; parrots chase each other playfully, gripping orchids in their beaks; Jiāléng birds pass by with graceful, almost singing movements; and small, tonsured novice nuns pilot tiny boats slowly across the surface, leisurely plucking lotus pods and digging up roots for sustenance, while gathering the flowers and leaves to offer before the Buddhas.

To the west of the pool spreads a meadow covering ten thousand mǔ, thick with exotic golden grasses as fine as silken threads. These golden blades, about a chi in length, lie slick and smooth like fine silk upon the earth, remaining perfectly aligned no matter how the lake breeze blows. The grass also releases a subtle scent of sandalwood, possessing the spiritual effect of calming the mind and dispelling inner demons.

Flanking the meadow to the north and south stand groves of Jīnsī Pútí trees, thick as several men embracing. These Bodhi trees shimmer with pure gold all over. When the wind stirs them, their leaves collide, producing the crisp sound of striking metal—clearly no ordinary species.

Enveloped by the Bodhi forest, the meadow is dotted sparsely with nearly a hundred thatched huts. The huts use branches from the Pútí trees as rafters and are roofed with the golden exotic grasses from the ground. Though humble, they possess an inherent, natural charm.

Chants of Fànchàng constantly drift from these huts, their sound soaring to the Nine Heavens, transforming into great sheets of golden light that pour downward, precisely shielding this thousand-li expanse. This creates a blessed grotto-heaven amidst the peaks, starkly contrasting the cruel, frozen landscape outside. Inside one of these huts, Fúyǎ?

Míng, clad in coarse cloth with her long, dark hair bound up in a Daoist knot at the crown, sat upon a cushion, her eyes narrowed, rhythmically chanting the Golden Net Sutra. While her lips recited the Buddhist scripture, she was secretly circulating the profound power of the Great Yin True Scripture (Tàiyīn Zhēnjīng) that Gǔ Xié Chén had imparted to her. A dazzling golden radiance shone from behind her head, indicating deep mastery of Buddhist meditative arts.

However, the spectacle of white mist rising around her body clearly revealed that her cultivation of the Great Yin True Scripture was superior by far. As she cultivated distractedly, the faint sound of footsteps reached her from the grass outside. Fúyǎ?

Míng opened her eyes slightly and sharply commanded, “Who is there?” A crisp, delicate voice replied, “Great-Aunt-Master, it is your disciple.” After a brief moment of contemplation, Fúyǎ? Míng ceased circulating the Great Yin technique. A brilliant azure mist rolled within her body, thoroughly concealing her Daoist immortal energy, not allowing even a trace to leak out.

The golden light behind her head intensified greatly, and an overwhelmingly potent aura of Buddhist meditative power radiated outward, causing even the strands of grass on the thatched roof to flutter wildly. “Is that Míngxīn? Enter!” Grasping a nearby wooden pestle, she lightly tapped a large, black iron fish-drum nearly two feet in diameter set before her, producing a high, clear, resonant clang.

Fúyǎ? Míng shouted sharply. A small nun, exquisitely fair with bright red lips and white teeth, possessing a noticeable degree of beauty, entered with lowered eyes, carrying a purple bamboo basket.

She knelt and bowed respectfully before Fúyǎ? Míng. Little Nun Míngxīn carefully placed the purple bamboo basket before Fúyǎ?

Míng: “These are the Golden Silk Bodhi Seeds harvested this year: one seed matured for a million years, nine seeds for a hundred thousand years, and three hundred seeds for ten thousand years.” Fúyǎ? Míng nodded subtly. She asked flatly, “Is there more?” Little Nun Míngxīn glanced fearfully at Fúyǎ?

Míng and pleaded in a low voice, “There is more. Furthermore, Disciple recently acquired a piece of Immaculate Divine Clay. I wonder if Martial-Aunt-Master has time, perhaps, to assist this disciple...

for this disciple...” A faint smile touched Fúyǎ? Míng’s face, which was as clear as running water. She reached out and stroked the little nun’s smooth, bare head, chuckling, “Do you desire a sword, or some other weapon?” Little Nun Míngxīn giggled softly and hastily replied, “Everyone knows Great-Aunt-Master’s artifact refining skill is unmatched under heaven.

Anything at all would be fine for your disciple!” Fúyǎ? Míng nodded slightly. She patted the nun’s bald head and said with a smile, “Very well.

Hand over the Immaculate Divine Clay!” Little Nun Míngxīn quickly pulled a piece of utterly pure, flawless material from her sleeve—it resembled molten crystal glass, constantly twisting faintly. With trembling hands, she offered the strange object to Fúyǎ? Míng.

This piece of Immaculate Divine Clay, though only the size of a fist, weighed ten thousand jin; it was a divine material for artifact refining that Buddhist disciples desperately sought. For the little nun to obtain such a piece was a stroke of great fortune. Accepting the Divine Clay, Fúyǎ?

Míng spread her sleeve and ushered the little nun out of her own hut. With a point of her finger toward the hut entrance, an invisible, colorless Buddhist Immovable Golden Net Restriction sealed the void surrounding the hut. Faint sounds of Fànchàng echoed in the air, and even the ground within a hundred zhang of the hut became hundreds of times more solid than the Golden Net itself.

Weighing the Immaculate Divine Clay, she casually tossed it aside. Fúyǎ? Míng first opened the purple bamboo basket and glanced at the Bodhi seeds inside.

A single Golden Silk Bodhi Seed matured for a million years was only the size of a thumb, appearing identical to an ordinary seed, yet within it pulsed a brilliant golden radiance, with faint, wave-like halos rising from within. Such a seed, matured for a million years, was a supreme treasure for Buddhist cultivators below the High-Grade Great Overarching Golden Immortal; a single seed could increase one's magical power by twelve Yuánhuì (cosmic ages). In a holy land like the Returning Goose Great Snow Range, where Buddhist disciples gather in droves, only two or three such million-year seeds appeared every million years.

The one before her was already the sixth Fúyǎ? Míng had acquired in ten thousand years. Golden Silk Bodhi Seeds matured for a hundred thousand years could enhance one's Buddhist magic power by one Yuánhuì; those matured for ten thousand years could boost it by eighteen thousand years.

A basket full of these seeds—if seen by other Buddhist disciples, regardless of whether their minds were like stagnant water or their bodies like withered wood—would provoke them into drawing their monastic blades to rob the carrier. Glancing coldly at the basket of precious seeds, Fúyǎ? Míng suddenly let out a cold laugh: “Old Nun, do you think offering these things will make me wholeheartedly become your final disciple?

You vastly underestimate the might of Fúyǎ? Míng!” Her eyes chilling, Fúyǎ? Míng opened her mouth and inhaled the entire basket of seeds, allowing them to slowly transmute into her own Buddhist meditative power.

She snatched up the Immaculate Divine Clay beside her, weighed it briefly, and casually pinched off nine-tenths of it, tucking it into her sleeve. Frowning slightly, she recalled certain methods for refining Buddhist exotic treasures found in the Compendium of Celestial Artifacts taught by Gǔ Xié Chén, and also considered the properties of the Immaculate Divine Clay. Then, Fúyǎ?

Míng brought out several dozen rare, Innate materials. This Bōluónímì Bùjiāo Lètiān (Pure Land of Non-Contention and Joy) was like the other regions of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths—countless heavenly materials and earthly treasures existed, yet Innate-level materials were scarce. The value of the several dozen Innate materials Fúyǎ?

Míng casually produced far exceeded that of Little Nun Míngxīn’s piece of Immaculate Divine Clay. However, Fúyǎ? Míng had once been specifically responsible for mining Innate materials, and the stock piled up beside her was so vast that she did not begrudge this minor expenditure.

Forty-nine days later, a brilliant golden light suddenly erupted from Fúyǎ? Míng’s hut, and the sound of chanting soared to the clouds. A golden dragon, roaring thunderously, shot into the sky.

After twisting and soaring in the void for a time, it eventually transformed into a light-gold staff, six chi long, floating above the hut. Little Nun Míngxīn, who had been waiting outside, was overjoyed. Judging by the staff’s immense aura, it was clearly a rare Buddhist treasure.

The celestial dragon possessed the divine power to awe all demons, combined with immense strength and solid form—it was one of the Eight Legions of Dharma Protectors. The fact that this staff could manifest the form of a celestial dragon indicated that Fúyǎ? Míng had sealed within it incredibly potent secret Buddhist incantations to achieve such majesty.

After bowing respectfully several times toward the hut, Little Nun Míngxīn reached out, and the staff's accompanying divine art transformed into a streak of golden light that settled into her hand. Fúyǎ? Míng gave a light shout, and the little nun, delighted, ran off with the incantation.

Female monastics from several nearby huts emerged, having all been disturbed by the commotion Fúyǎ? Míng had just created. Some nuns glanced over casually, as if the matter concerned them little, before returning to their own huts to cultivate.

However, several others gazed toward Fúyǎ? Míng’s hut with complex expressions, their eyes flickering with untold thoughts. After a while, a middle-aged nun in black robes took a couple of steps toward Fúyǎ?

Míng’s hut but then shook her head and turned back, returning directly to her hut to chant scriptures. The other nuns watched the black-robed nun’s action, frowned in unison, and retreated into their own dwellings. Only one young nun, clad in jade-white robes, whose shaven scalp shone with a jade-like luster, yet possessed devastating beauty, frowned deeply as she observed Fúyǎ?

Míng’s hut. After pondering for a long moment, she finally stepped forward toward Fúyǎ? Míng’s dwelling.

When she was still a hundred paces away, a hazy golden light suddenly erupted before the white-robed nun. A soft yet overwhelmingly powerful force surged forward, pushing her backward several steps. The white-robed nun smiled faintly.

She called out softly, “Why does my Junior Sister keep me at such a distance? Am I truly such an evil person?” Inside the hut, Fúyǎ? Míng’s brow furrowed deeply.

After narrowing her eyes and pondering for a moment, she coldly snapped, “What is it?” While speaking with the white-robed nun, Fúyǎ? Míng simultaneously channeled a mass of Primal Yin Dazzling Flames from her palm, which further refined the Immaculate Divine Clay, and the Demon-Subduing Golden Flames, which continuously imprinted potent Buddhist secret curses into the clay. Floating before her was an exquisite, eight-sided, thirteen-storied golden pagoda.

Countless images of Buddhas adorned it, and immense fluctuations of Buddhist power surged forth like a tsunami, yet they did not disturb a single speck of dust in the hut. Fúyǎ? Míng drew in vital energy, her spiritual consciousness merging continuously with the golden pagoda.

The refined Immaculate Divine Clay in her palm transformed into scattered points of light that dissolved into the structure. The white-robed nun outside held her breath, exerting immense power to take a single step forward. Though seemingly small, the nun’s figure suddenly closed the distance, arriving within three zhang of Fúyǎ?

Míng’s hut. The nun smiled with a touch of triumph, “Naturally, I wish to have a good heart-to-heart talk with my Junior Sister. Has Sister not yet lifted the restriction?” Fúyǎ?

Míng’s beautiful face grew cold. Her movements sped up noticeably, and she said frigidly, “One does not enter without invitation. Does Senior Sister not even understand this basic principle?” Faint glimmers of Buddhist light emanated from dozens of surrounding huts; the female monastics inside were using their Heavenly Eye divine abilities to observe the situation.

The white-robed nun closed her eyes, concentrating. After a full yù yī (a measure of time), she chuckled softly, “We are all family here. Why be so calculative?” She pointed a finger toward the void before her, releasing a nearly invisible golden ray.

The white-robed nun darted forward like a fish in water, instantly approaching within ten feet of the hut’s entrance. But here, the Immovable Golden Net Restriction set by Fúyǎ? Míng reached its peak intensity.

A sheet of golden light, thick with the scent of sandalwood, descended before the nun’s face. It was overwhelmingly grand and majestic; though only a thin layer, it seemed capable of isolating this part of the world. The nun’s expression turned grave.

She commanded in a low voice, “Junior Sister possesses formidable cultivation. I did not expect her to be nearing the divine power and magical attainment that we Senior Sisters achieved through countless Yuánhuì of arduous practice. How are we supposed to feel about that?” Inside the hut, Fúyǎ?

Míng had already fully merged the Immaculate Divine Clay into the pagoda. Her fingers moved rapidly, inscribing streams of Primordial Yin divine characters alongside Buddhist restrictive spells into the pagoda, striving to completely seal the clay’s might within it. Hearing the white-robed nun’s pointed remarks, Fúyǎ?

Míng sneered, “If Senior Sister is poisoned by envy, then do not drag the names of the other Senior Sisters into it. Fúyǎ has always respected the other sisters.” After a few cold laughs, Fúyǎ? Míng rebuked, “Senior Sister took countless Yuánhuì to reach her current state.

Is it that Fúyǎ cultivates too quickly, or that Senior Sister cultivates too slowly? That is the question worthy of examination!” The white-robed nun’s expression shifted slightly. She frowned, “Why are Junior Sister’s words always so barbed?

Are you still dwelling on the proposal Senior Sister made a thousand years ago? But that was out of goodwill!” Pulling out a string of prayer beads strung with golden beads the size of thumbs, the white-robed nun swung them toward the restriction before her. The illusory images of eighteen Bodhisattvas flickered faintly within the golden light, and the restriction Fúyǎ?

Míng had set was instantly dissolved. The white-robed nun stepped through, entering her hut. Fúyǎ?

Míng’s face grew cold. She pointed a finger at the thirteen-storied pagoda before her and stared at the white-robed nun, demanding, “Senior Sister, what is the meaning of this intrusion?” The white-robed nun sat down cross-legged before Fúyǎ? Míng with a hint of smugness in her manner.

She gazed at Fúyǎ? Míng’s cool, clear countenance and laughed, “Junior Sister, why feign ignorance? It is the same proposal from a thousand years ago.

Since Junior Sister still practices with hair upon her head, why not marry my hopelessly inadequate little brother? Then our ties would become even closer!” Staring coldly at the white-robed nun for a long moment, Fúyǎ? Míng caused the pagoda to transform into a streak of golden light that vanished into her brow.

Suddenly, she hooked a finger toward the white-robed nun: “Is that so? Senior Sister, please come closer and listen to what I have to say!” The white-robed nun started, then brightened with delight. She clutched her prayer beads tightly and chuckled as she leaned close to Fúyǎ?

Míng, saying sweetly, “What does Junior Sister wish to impart?” Suddenly, a fist-sized Buddhist Divine Thunder appeared in Fúyǎ? Míng’s hand. She slapped the thunder directly onto the white-robed nun’s face and then fiercely triggered the detonation.

This golden Buddhist Divine Thunder was personally forged by the old nun Wúxìng and bestowed upon Fúyǎ? Míng as a protective treasure. It was immensely powerful and could be recharged and reused repeatedly.

The destructive power of the thunder was roughly equivalent to a full-strength strike from a Mid-Grade Great Overarching Golden Immortal. With a dull thud, the thunder exploded across the white-robed nun’s face. She immediately shrieked in agony and was blasted out of the hut.

Such was the profundity of Buddhist magic that despite the massive explosive force, the effect was confined entirely to the white-robed nun; not a single blade of grass in the hut was disturbed. When the white-robed nun approached Fúyǎ? Míng, she had already erected defenses, holding her golden prayer beads tightly.

But even though the golden prayer beads were a rare Buddhist supreme treasure, the Divine Thunder Fúyǎ? Míng unleashed was a Demon-Subduing Protective Treasure personally forged by the old nun Wúxìng. The beads managed to neutralize eighty percent of the thunder’s power, but the remaining twenty percent still blasted the white-robed nun’s face until it was scorched black, with half of it blown to powder.

She instantly summoned a pool of clear spring water, which sprinkled onto the wounds, causing the injuries to her face to heal immediately. Having suffered such a major, unprovoked loss, the white-robed nun hopped with rage and roared, “Fúyǎ? Míng, you are utterly insolent!” A cold light flashed in Fúyǎ?

Míng’s eyes. She reprimanded sharply, “Insolence! Who is truly unruly?

Since you know your so-called little brother is worthless, why do you keep clamoring all these years? You are not welcome here—get out!” After all, she had reigned as an empress for many years. When Fúyǎ?

Míng became enraged, a trace of imperial killing intent mingled with her dignified Buddhist bearing. The white-robed nun, startled by the rebuke, felt a chill in her heart and dared not argue further, instead retreating obediently to the side. Fúyǎ?

Míng retracted the Divine Thunder from her hand. She let her eyelids droop, contemplating for a moment, and then let out a low sigh. “You heartless wretch, are you dead or alive?

If you were dead, why hasn't the Primordial Spirit Tablet you left with me shattered?” “If you are alive, it has been over ten thousand years—why haven't you come to find me?” Taking a deep breath, Fúyǎ? Míng murmured softly, “Old Nun Wúxìng, one day when my cultivation surpasses yours, I will reduce your Returning Goose Great Snow Range to ash!” She clenched her fists, and a sheet of golden mist rose from the ground, wrapping the hut in its embrace. The white-robed nun, having retreated several hundred zhang, looked at the hut covered in golden mist with an expression of shame.

She suddenly stomped her foot and cursed viciously a few times. After pondering for a moment, the white-robed nun began to laugh triumphantly. “Fúyǎ?

Míng, don’t be so smug. I don’t believe that if I persuade Father to personally come and propose marriage, my Master will refuse to show him that courtesy?” “Who told you that you are only practicing while keeping your hair? Once you marry my Master’s younger brother, won't your god-like artifact refining skills become the property of my Xuanyue Palace?” Lost in this triumphant thought, the white-robed nun’s face split into a beaming smile.

Glancing toward the other nearby huts, the white-robed nun summoned white clouds beneath her feet and ascended, flying away from the Returning Goose Great Snow Range—a speck of golden light—swiftly heading south. Buddhist meditative arts held their own marvels; though the white-robed nun’s flight appeared slow, she covered myriads of li in an instant. After flying rapidly for half a month, the white-robed nun finally arrived at a place of bright mountains and clear waters.

This landscape was dotted with thousands of magnificent palaces and hanging pavilions, above which a faint purple haze lingered—a rare sight of a Taoist gateway within the Puranami Niyajoyati Heaven. This was the Xuan Yue Palace, the seat of power for the Taoist factions within Puranami Niyajoyati.

Upon reaching the gates of Xuan Yue Palace, the two white-robed nuns encountered a contingent of perhaps ten thousand immortals flying rapidly out from within the palace. One nun quickly noted that her grand-nephew was causing trouble over a woman in red. The white-robed nun paid it no mind, exchanged a few hurried words with her grand-nephew, and swiftly flew into Xuan Yue Palace.

Several days later, a brilliant purple mist ascended from within Xuan Yue Palace. The Master of Xuan Yue Palace, the One-Breath Free and Limitless True Lord (Yiqi Xiaoyao Wuji Zhenjun), leading the majority of his sect's key disciples, departed in a grand procession toward the Back-Swallow Great Snow Mountain (Huiyan Daxueshan).

The tens of thousands of accompanying immortals carried immense quantities of rare treasures, all headed toward the aged nun Wu Xing to propose a marriage alliance.

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