The divine light filling the sky came quickly and vanished just as fast.
It was but the blink of an eye.
The nine dharma images dissipated like bubbles.
Heaven and earth returned to the heavy darkness of night.
In a daze, it felt as if the scene of gods and buddhas patrolling the sky was nothing more than a fleeting dream.
But within Chang'an City, things were already in an uproar.
The commoners stared blankly at the sky, then at their equally stunned neighbors, momentarily at a loss for words.
Everyone was buzzing with discussion, unable to hide the excitement in their hearts.
However, very soon.
Large numbers of officials and guards flooded the streets of the markets.
"By His Majesty's decree! The descent of auspicious omens is a blessing for the Great Tang. Return to your homes; there is no need for panic, and private discussions are forbidden!"
Hearing this, the commoners...
...though still filled with countless doubts...
...did not dare to disobey and could only disperse. Inside the Imperial City...
As the manifestation ended.
Nine golden bodies, different in form but identical in facial features...
...stood there quietly.
All the radiance around them had faded, leaving no trace of the supernatural.
It was as if they weren't the ones who had just caused the world to change color and the people to worship.
A long while passed.
Until the Girl in Black Robes, who was sitting cross-legged in the center, slowly stood up.
Only then did everyone snap back to their senses.
The Emperor rushed forward in a single stride, his eyes full of concern and excitement: "Is... is it done?"
High Ancestor and Deputy Commander Zhao also hurried over, staring intently at Jiang Yuechu.
Only Lu Changfeng remained where he was, his body still somewhat stiff.
He stared at the nine golden bodies in shock and doubt, then looked at the normal-looking Jiang Yuechu, feeling his throat go dry.
Others might not know.
But his Lu family had a long Legacy and had once studied the Incense Path.
Even so.
He had never heard of anyone being able to manifest nine completely different golden bodies!
What did this mean?
Could it be that just now... nine different Golden Body Techniques were manifested!
Jiang Yuechu lightly dusted off her clothes, her expression calm. "I suppose so..."
"Young Master Lu."
"Could you see if there are any omissions?"
Hearing this.
Lu Changfeng quickly shook his dizzy head, forcing down the shock in his heart.
Taking a deep breath, he cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask, Miss... have you comprehended the corresponding golden body cultivation methods from the ethereal realm?"
Jiang Yuechu did not answer immediately.
She slightly closed her eyes, her mind sinking into the depths of her Sea of Consciousness.
With the manifestation of the golden bodies, nine different methods of the golden body had indeed appeared.
Eight of them corresponded to the first eight golden bodies.
And each had a different focus.
Of course, the threshold for practicing them was much lower, making them undoubtedly easier.
What truly surprised even her...
...was the last one.
The one corresponding to that most ordinary-looking Golden Body in Black Robes.
Setting aside the difficulty of its cultivation.
The most exaggerated part was that if someone could truly reach Major Achievement in this technique one day, they could borrow her current various methods.
No one knew her own capabilities better than she did.
This could practically be called cheating.
And that wasn't all.
The eight golden bodies, while having singular methods, could be continuously repaired as long as there was enough Power Of Will, and they themselves could exert the strength of an ordinary Denglou Realm.
As for this ninth golden body, it possessed about fifty percent of her own power.
Even if it just sat there as a guardian.
The Great Tang could be worry-free for a while.
With this thought.
Jiang Yuechu nodded.
"I indeed have them."
These four simple words sounded like heavenly music to everyone's ears.
Hearing this, Lu Changfeng breathed a long sigh of relief and bowed. "In that case, it is a success! We only need to distribute the Golden Body Technique to the others. Once the golden bodies are moved into the temples, they can begin their transition!"
Hearing Lu Changfeng's confirmation, the hearts of the Emperor, High Ancestor, and others finally settled.
Then, Jiang Yuechu asked the Emperor to send for paper and brush. Not being picky, she found an empty table and spread out the Xuan paper.
She picked up the brush and dipped it in ink.
After a brief moment of thought, she began to write.
Scribble, scribble, scribble—
The tip of the brush moved across the paper, making a rapid sound.
She wrote extremely fast, with almost no pauses.
In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Nine Derivative Golden Body Methods were written out extensively on the paper.
Jiang Yuechu set down the brush and blew on the wet ink.
Then she haphazardly rolled up the sheets of paper and stuffed them into the Emperor's arms.
"Arrange this as soon as possible."
"I don't have much time left in the Great Tang. Once this incense matter is on the right track, I will be heading elsewhere."
The Emperor held the rolls of paper as if they were priceless treasures, his expression turning solemn.
He nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, Lonely Moon. I will arrange it immediately! I certainly won't delay this great matter!"
"Mhm."
Jiang Yuechu nodded and said no more.
She waved her hand and turned to walk out of the hall.
"That's it. You handle the rest. Call me if you need anything. I'm leaving."
It wasn't until Jiang Yuechu's figure had completely vanished into the night.
That the atmosphere in the hall finally relaxed slightly.
The Emperor, High Ancestor, and Old Zhao looked at each other, all seeing the fervor in one another's eyes.
Then, taking a deep breath, he asked in a low voice, "Have the personnel within the Demon Suppression Division been selected?"
Old Zhao stepped forward and cupped his fists. "Your Majesty, they were secretly notified a few days ago. Although we didn't explicitly state what it was, with such a broad road ahead, I imagine none of the brothers in the Demon Suppression Division would refuse..."
"It's just..."
Old Zhao paused, seeming a bit hesitant.
"There is one more thing."
"What is it?" the Emperor asked casually, in a great mood.
Old Zhao hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "Commander Bai... came to see this Old Minister earlier."
Hearing this name, both the Emperor and the High Ancestor were startled.
White Jade Tower.
Commander-in-Chief of the Great Tang Demon Suppression Division.
He was also an elder who had exhausted himself for the Great Tang.
Unfortunately, when the Demon Saint broke the seal previously, he forcefully burned his last heart lamp and became a Mortal... Though his heart lamp was later reconstructed using the precious medicine Jiang Yuechu brought back, it would still take some time.
Even now, he was still recuperating in his manor.
Old Zhao sighed and continued, "Although he didn't ask directly, Commander Bai is a smart man... he guessed some of the rumors."
"If possible... he wants to try as well."
A silence fell over the hall.
After a long while.
The Emperor let out a long sigh, a flicker of emotion passing through his eyes.
"Since Elder Bai has this heart, then let it be as he wishes."
"This Golden Body Technique was originally meant to protect the Great Tang."
"If even such a loyal official cannot practice it, then who else is worthy?"
With the matter settled.
The Emperor's mood improved even further.
He couldn't help but flip through the booklets in his arms, wanting to take a quick look.
However.
When his gaze fell upon the first page...
"..."
The smile on his face instantly froze.
"Cough, cough..."
The Emperor coughed dryly twice to hide the embarrassment on his face.
"By the way... go find some people with neat handwriting or calligraphy masters to transcribe these techniques."
"This original was written by Lonely Moon herself and is incredibly precious. I will personally collect it and enshrine it in the Imperial secret vault. It must not be circulated!"
Both Old Zhao and the High Ancestor were stunned.
They didn't quite understand.
The content was going to be distributed anyway, so why hide the original?
Could there be something special about this manuscript?
Out of curiosity.
The two of them instinctively leaned over to catch a glimpse of the booklet.
Then.
The High Ancestor silently looked away, staring up at the beams of the great hall.
Old Zhao lowered his head, staring at his toes, focusing his mind inward.
This... compared to the girl's world-shaking martial prowess... her literary side was truly a bit hard to compliment.
"Cough, cough..."
The Emperor coughed again, clutching the booklet tightly to his chest, and said with a serious face, "This matter concerns the face of the Great Tang... do you understand?"
The two of them quickly cupped their hands and said in unison, "We understand, we understand."
"As long as you understand, as long as you understand..."