Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Human Sacrifice
The people from the Beast Tamer Hall came and went in a hurry; just moments ago, a fierce group had been present, but in the blink of an eye, they were killed.
Everyone looked at me with uncertainty, trying to recognize who I was from the half of my face visible beneath the brim of my black hat.
The Human-Faced Spider emitted a chilling screech. Sensing my killing intent, it lunged at me with all eight legs moving swiftly.
A rigid tentacle slashed toward my body. I did not dodge or evade; instead, I struck down with my palm. The sound of metal breaking echoed in the air as the Human-Faced Spider's tentacle was severed.
A group of people turned pale with fear. The Human-Faced Spider was no ordinary creature; it had cultivated a body as tough as steel, yet it was easily cut down by my strike. The remaining tentacles were also effortlessly broken by me.
The Human-Faced Spider let out a wail and staggered backward, shooting silk from its abdomen. I dodged to the side as it turned to face me again. With a slight movement of my feet, the spider shot its silk once more, but I used Time Walk and instantly appeared on its back. I delivered a punch that caused the Human-Faced Spider's head to explode.
With a loud crash, the Human-Faced Spider collapsed to the ground and soon lay still. I turned my gaze to the large man stuck to the mountainside by spider silk. He threw a red spark into the silk, igniting it and burning it away.
The man slid down from the mountainside, ignoring the black blood flowing from his chest. He approached me and knelt on one knee, holding out a Soul Nourishing Fruit with both hands. Respectfully, he said, "My life was saved by you. I am Zhu Xi, heir of Mangshan, known as Iron Bull. I wish to serve you as my master."
I took the Soul Nourishing Fruit and replied, "I am used to being free alone; I do not want any burdens around me."
Mangshan does not hold much significance among Taoist immortal mountains; hundreds of years ago, there was a Mangshan Sect that has long since fallen into obscurity. Most disciples were chosen from nearby villages.
Seeing my reluctance, Zhu Xi knelt down and bowed his head repeatedly. "Before my master passed away, he divined that I would encounter a noble person who would save me when I left Mangshan. If I could recognize them as my master and follow them loyally, my fate would change for the better; otherwise, my brain isn't very sharp, and within two years, I would surely be killed."
I thought for a moment. Zhu Xi's Dao Qi fluctuation was at the late stage of Divine Transformation Realm, even higher than mine. Moreover, he seemed straightforward without much cunning. If he could be loyal to me, he might prove to be a good helper.
I nodded and said, "Then you can follow me from now on. I'll help you detoxify first."
I gathered Dao Qi in my palm, spread my fingers wide, and placed it over Zhu Xi's wound. The black poison was drawn out by my Dao Qi, and Zhu Xi's complexion improved significantly. He said gratefully, "Thank you for saving me, Master!"
"Grab your hammer and come with me." I looked up at the cliff above as swallows flew close to the mountain before landing atop it.
Zhu Xi quickly picked up the large Iron Hammer from the ground and slung it over his shoulder. Then, like a monkey, he leaped up. The others could only watch in astonishment as I took the Soul Nourishing Fruit and left.
Standing above the cliff, I looked toward the Herb Garden of Yaochi Sacred Land. I noticed a group of people surrounding an island encircled by river water, so I asked, "Zhu Xi, you came down from here. Do you know what those people are doing?"
Zhu Xi replied, "Master, that ahead is called Huan Shui Pavilion, where the Yaochi Saintess is imprisoned. It seems these people are trying to interrogate her about the whereabouts of the Book of Life and Death."
I immediately headed toward Huan Shui Pavilion. Although I had no impression of the Yaochi Saintess, Jiyao, she was my biological mother, and I couldn't tolerate anyone insulting her.
Zhu Xi followed behind me and asked, "Master, can you call me Iron Bull from now on? That's what my master calls me."
I said, "Alright, Iron Bull. Later, I might have to kill someone. That person could be a good person; will you still recognize me as your master?"
Iron Bull scratched his head and said, "Why would a good person need to be killed?"
I ignored him. Iron Bull hurriedly caught up and declared, "As long as it's Master's command, Iron Bull would go through fire and water without hesitation!"
Huan Shui Pavilion was not a true pavilion but rather a cave. In front of the cave extended a large island in the water, specifically for disciples to practice.
More than twenty years ago, my mother was the Yaochi Saintess and barely in her twenties; it was impossible for her to possess the Holy Land's pavilions. Now that she was over forty, I could recognize her while she could not recognize me. I feared how to handle our meeting. If she had been sealed in Huan Shui Pavilion all these years, then how had she survived under the Mountain Guardian Formation that prevented anyone from entering?
Through the crowd, I looked toward Huan Shui Pavilion. In front of a cave stood a beautiful woman dressed in an old yet clean goose-yellow Daoist Robe. She sat calmly in the center of the island with her eyes closed, her long hair cascading down to the ground behind her.
She was the Yaochi Saintess, Jiyao.
"You crazy woman! Are you deaf or dead? I've been talking to you for so long without any reaction! Even if I were speaking to a dog for this long, it should at least show some expression!" shouted a Purple-Clad Youth arrogantly as he picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at Jiyao. The stone shattered into dust upon hitting the barrier.
"Wang Shixiong, there's no need to argue with a deaf-mute. Look at her sitting there without moving; she might have already passed away," another youth remarked.
The Purple-Clad Youth replied, "If only we could break this barrier! I'd tear this woman apart and feed her to dogs! It's such a damn disappointment; it's delaying us from picking Holy Medicine!"
"Senior Brother, calm down. Let me ask," another youth stepped forward. He looked at Jiyao sitting motionless in Huan Shui Pavilion and said, "Senior Jiyao, I've heard your son is still alive; he appeared at Yin Mountain not long ago."
"Her eyebrows moved!" As soon as the young man finished speaking, someone pointed at Jiyao and shouted.
Upon hearing the news that her son was alive, Jiyao's brows furrowed slightly. Clearly, the calmness she usually maintained was disturbed by the pain in her heart.
The Purple-Clad Youth laughed heartily and said, "You crazy woman, stop pretending to be dead. Tell me the secrets of the Book of Life and Death, and reveal a few hidden treasures in the Yaochi Sacred Land, and I will tell you where your son is."
Jiyao opened her eyes and cast a calm glance at the Purple-Clad Youth before closing them again, ignoring his insults and shouts.
"Senior Brother, if we don't leave soon, it will be too late. The Five Major Sects will definitely head to the Infinite Abyss. The Holy Medicine is crucial; this woman will surely attract Daoist Grandmasters to deal with her," someone beside the Purple-Clad Youth reminded him.
The Purple-Clad Youth snorted and pointed at Jiyao, saying, "Just wait for me. You think you can play deep? Once you're released, I'll make you regret it!"
With that, he led a large group of people toward the back of Huan Shui Pavilion. The Infinite Abyss was where the Yaochi Supreme was imprisoned and also housed the Herb Garden of the Yaochi Sacred Land, which certainly contained Holy Medicine.
However, not long after these individuals left, they reached a thicket and were suddenly ambushed from all sides by flying daggers that turned them into a sieve before they could even raise their weapons.
I put away my scroll and returned my flying daggers, looking at the corpses scattered on the ground. "Iron Bull, crush that purple-clad one into a pulp."
Iron Bull nodded and smashed the Purple-Clad Youth into a bloody mess. I turned back toward Huan Shui Pavilion and saw an old woman standing by its barrier. She was using her clothes to carry some fruits, placing them on lotus leaves spread out on the ground while urging, "Hurry up and deliver these to the Saintess."
It was then that I noticed a White Mouse at her feet.
The mouse squeaked once before grabbing a fruit stem and darting through the barrier toward an island in the water.
This White Mouse was known as the Spirit Seeking Mouse; it could traverse any barrier to seek spiritual items. However, its intelligence was low, making it difficult to train for complex tasks. I watched as the mouse scampered along with its legs moving energetically while holding the fruit in its mouth as it made its way toward Jiyao. A smile crept onto my face before my eyes turned red.
Was my biological mother able to survive for over twenty years of confinement thanks to a mouse? Who was this old woman? Was she a Yaochi Supreme who had lost her powers?
Fearing to disrupt this harmony and tranquility, I noticed how the old woman urged the mouse to hurry while glancing around nervously as if afraid someone might come by at that moment.
The old woman said, "Jiyao, everyone from the Underworld Sect has come this time. The Saint Sovereign wants me to tell you that her time is running out; she will find a way to rescue you."
Jiyao nodded without responding. The old woman continued, "I've heard from some disciples of the sects that your son is still alive. You mustn't fall for their tricks. The Blood Poison Curse is incurable; even a Daoist Grandmaster wouldn't survive a year after being afflicted. I'm afraid they might find a random young man to claim is your son, forcing you to reveal the secrets of the Book of Life and Death."
"I understand, Spirit Matriarch. Please return and take care of the Saint Sovereign," Jiyao said flatly, devoid of any emotion.
The White Mouse sitting in front of Jiyao squeaked once. When it saw that Jiyao did not react, it picked up a fruit and placed it on her skirt, looking back at her with reluctance before scurrying away toward the barrier.
The mouse followed the old woman as she left. I stepped out from behind the mountain path and approached the barrier where Jiyao sat.
I performed the Boundary Breaking Technique I had learned from a certain sect's Scripture Repository, my hands covered in runes as I passed through the barrier of Huan Shui Pavilion. The barrier trembled, emitting a faint glow.
Hearing the commotion, Jiyao furrowed her brows and opened her eyes. When she saw me, her expression shifted slightly. We gazed at each other; perhaps she recognized something familiar in my features. My eyes were red, and hers began to glisten with moisture.
"Who are you?" Jiyao asked first, then murmured to herself, "No, my son should be twenty-four by now; you seem too young."
"I..."
I had just begun to speak when a group of people suddenly approached from afar with a loud commotion. "It's the people from the Five Major Sects," Jiyao said urgently. "You need to hide."
I nodded and stepped back, taking cover behind a rock. Not far away, I saw Divine Serpent Cult Leader Nangong and Sword Sect Master Dongfang Jiu among the members of the Five Major Sects making their way toward Huan Shui Pavilion.
Comment 0 Comment Count