Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Senior Sister Yu is still alive, that's great," I murmured, a twinge of guilt stirring within me. Back then, she had clashed fiercely with the leaders of the Five Major Sects in front of the servants, fell victim to the Three Swords, and plunged off a cliff. I thought she was doomed for sure. "If it really was Senior Sister Yu's doing... no, that seems unlikely. She has already reached the Dao Fruit Realm."
Guo Daozhen said, "Nothing is absolute; no one truly understands the affairs of this world. Everything has its cause and effect. Perhaps she is seeking revenge for you, or maybe she simply dislikes Yang Long. It could even be a retaliation against Arched Eyebrows or for other reasons."
"Retaliation against Arched Eyebrows?" I asked, puzzled.
Guo Huaiyi replied, "If it wasn't Miao Shengnan, then it must be Rain Master Luo. If the Yang Family wants to eliminate Arched Eyebrows, they would certainly use this as an excuse."
Arched Eyebrows was one of the sects that had besieged me at Huashan; whether they were destroyed or not had nothing to do with me. It only made Rain Master Luo a scapegoat, which left me feeling uneasy.
Guo Daozhen continued, "These matters are inconsequential; there's no need to dwell on them. The reason I was able to save you this time is that many elders from Daoist Sect know your birth chart, and I do too. That's how I could foresee your troubles. But now you should also be in a state of enlightenment; I find it increasingly difficult to see through you."
I said, "I tried an ancient hypothesis. I attempted to split the Three Souls and Seven Spirits to comprehend the Dao from all directions. However, after awakening, I've been overwhelmed by an unshakable sense of sorrow without knowing why."
Guo Daozhen remarked, "Cultivation is about transcending mortality. When one comprehends nature and the Dao, it can clash with personal feelings and even obliterate human desires. In the end, one either dies or becomes an emotionless creature; this path has always been fraught with peril. I advise you not to continue down this road."
His words plunged me into deep thought. If that were true, what meaning did cultivation hold?
Guo Daozhen added, "I almost forgot to tell you: the Book of Life and Death is no longer with the Yang Family. After the Hua Shan Uprising ended, Li Fugui's forces attacked Daoist Sect, aiming to capture everyone associated with it. They managed to fight for a while but inexplicably retreated halfway through. Meanwhile, the Yang Family's forces were intercepted by Miao Guanyin from Nanhai Guanyin Monastery, who seized the Book of Life and Death."
"Miao Guanyin?" I recalled having seen her mentioned in some recent Daoist Sect notes.
Guo Daozhen explained, "Miao Guanyin is the Supreme of this generation in Nanhai. The South Sea Sect has always been mysterious; when I was young, I often heard Old Scholar mention her—she could be considered my senior."
"The key question is why Miao Guanyin took the Book of Life and Death. Whether it's with the Yang Family or in her possession doesn't make much difference; no one can control it," I said.
Guo Daozhen replied, "That's what worries me as well. Since the Book of Life and Death is an evil treasure and has survived through ages, there must be a way to wield it. Old Scholar spent his life researching Ghost Path at Futu Ridge; he became something neither human nor ghost. Miao Guanyin may have sensed something amiss, which is why she took the Book."
"So it seems that the Yang Family is so eager to obtain the Book because they might have uncovered some secrets about it?"
Guo Daozhen nodded thoughtfully. "That seems likely. When my Dao Body descended upon Huashan and suppressed all the experts from Daoist Sect, my physical strength matched theirs. If I were to truly engage with a Supreme in battle, there would be no guarantee of victory—among the Five Great Supremes, one has already perished: Yaochi Saintess. Now that Miao Guanyin has emerged from seclusion while three others remain hidden, the Yang Family is watching closely but their intentions remain unclear."
I nodded and picked up the wine jug, pouring a cup for Guo Daozhen and another for Guo Huaiyi. I said, "The past grievances are behind us; I don't want to bring up those annoying matters anymore. We're not saviors; let those who want to stir trouble do so. Let's drink."
Guo Daozhen laughed heartily, and Guo Huaiyi joined in with a laugh as well. He said, "I actually have some ribs cooking in my pot. Seeing how much you can drink, I might not even serve you any."
Guo Huaiyi headed towards the kitchen, and Guo Daozhen sighed as he watched him leave. "At last, we can enjoy a few peaceful days."
I remarked, "Guo Huaiyi's hostility seems to have lessened a lot. I thought he would become a killer by nature."
Guo Daozhen replied, "He has been practicing the Ghost Gate Secret Technique for many years. It's ingrained in his bones. I've sealed part of his power with a secret method; otherwise, if he goes berserk, he wouldn't be able to control himself. I'm afraid there will still be trouble in the future if he becomes your enemy..."
"Don't worry, Old Guo. Whether he turns into a demon or follows the path of righteousness, he's still your son. I won't lay a hand on him," I assured.
Guo Daozhen seemed hesitant to say more; he glanced at me but ultimately said nothing.
The three of us finally put aside our grievances. That night, I sat in the countryside, gazing at the dark starry sky, feeling lost.
"Manman, Yunxi, Senior Sister Yu..."
Meanwhile, deep within Kunlun, moonlight streamed through the collapsed Ancient Cave, illuminating a pile of rubble. Beneath the stones, a bloodied arm suddenly moved; she let out a pained groan as she pushed away the rocks pressing down on her. She had lost track of how long she had been struggling.
"I won't let my fate be controlled by others anymore! I won't hold him back!" A weak voice echoed. "Yang Hao, where are you?"
A massive stone was shattered by Dao Qi as Zhou Manman emerged from the rubble, covered in blood. She sat on a rock with blood trickling down her hair and ignited a secret talisman she had obtained from the Ancient Cave. The talisman glowed brightly as its light spread around her body. Using it to heal her injuries, Zhou Manman gathered the surrounding Spirit Energy to enhance her power.
Everyone in the Daoist Sect knew that deep mountains often held mystical caves filled with treasures that could alter one's fate if obtained. Zhou Manman had ventured deep into Kunlun Secret Realm but had yet to find any miraculous treasures despite encountering several perilous Ancient Caves along the way. Occasionally, she would see ancient skeletons within the caves.
Above her in the cave, an expressionless female Daoist looked down at Zhou Manman with curiosity and said, "Renewal of Withered Trees? No wonder you're still Immortal despite such severe injuries."
Zhou Manman lifted her head to look at the cave's ceiling as the female Daoist waved her Dust Whisk. Zhou Manman was lifted by a wave of serene energy and flew toward the cave's exit. She looked at the female Daoist and asked, "Who are you?"
The female Daoist replied, "Nanhai, Miao Guanyin."
"Are you one of the Five Great Supremes?" Zhou Manman asked.
Miao Guanyin nodded and said, "How do you possess the Yaochi Cultivation Method?"
Zhou Manman replied, "My physical body was destroyed before. The spirit beast of the Yaochi Saintess led me to Kunlun, where the Yaochi Saintess helped me reconstruct my body and later taught me the Renewal of Withered Trees."
"I see. Then what are you doing here?" Miao Guanyin inquired.
Zhou Manman said, "To be honest, I got separated from my companions in the Kunlun Secret Realm. I heard that Ancient Kunlun is the ancestral court of Taoism, so I came here seeking opportunities."
Miao Guanyin shook her head and remarked, "With such low cultivation, how dare you come here? You're truly reckless. Throughout history, many have aimlessly searched for treasures. At this rate, how long do you think it will take you to find anything?"
"I humbly ask for your guidance," Zhou Manman said as she knelt down.
"Get up," Miao Guanyin instructed. "I happen to be investigating a secret map here. I'll take you out."
Zhou Manman hesitated for a moment before nodding.
The next morning, I bid farewell to Guo Daozhen and his son and headed towards the Central Plains. Guo Daozhen had calculated an omen for me; Yang Sanqian and the others were in Jiangnan, so I should go there to find them.
Yang Sanqian and Jiyao had witnessed me being forced off a cliff. Although Guo Daozhen's Dao Body descended upon Huashan and I was still alive, such events were too unbelievable. I decided to inform them that I was safe to prevent them from worrying about me. It was also a good opportunity to gather information on the current situation of the Sword Pavilion. Dongfang Jiu had gathered nine famous swords, and he was still missing my Frostblade to complete the Ten Famous Swords. If he were to forge some extraordinary weapon, it would likely stir up another bloody storm.
I stopped at an inn on the border of Jiangnan to rest and eat. The patrons were all ordinary people. At a nearby table, one person said, "Recently, the military has been mobilizing in large numbers. It seems they're going after the Daoist Sect again."
Another replied, "What do those Daoist Sect people want? They have good lives but keep causing trouble."
"Who knows? Anyway, I heard from my grandfather that there were conflicts between the military and the Daoist Sect back in his day. Now the military is putting up notices everywhere warning the public not to interfere with their entrance to the Dao. I suspect another war is coming."
As I listened to their discussions while eating noodles, suddenly, the blue stone in my pocket stirred. I took it out, and it crumbled into powder.
"Is something wrong with Douding?" I wondered aloud as my figure vanished from the table.
When I arrived at Qingliang Temple, it was already deep into the night. The temple was deserted, and neither Chang Liulang nor Douding was present.
I took out the Zhou Compass, its needle wavering as time reversed. A group of bald monks in robes ascended from the mountain below. One Middle-Aged Monk pushed open the Disciples' Quarters, holding a mirror that he directed towards Douding. The mirror was embedded with strange bone stones that glowed, and at the same time, a golden light emanated from Douding's forehead.
The Middle-Aged Monk's face lit up with joy as he nodded to the other monks and then hoisted Douding onto his shoulder.
“Who are you? Put my junior brother down!” A voice called out, and Chang Liulang appeared at the door.
One of the monks had a red glow emanating from his forehead. Suddenly, Chang Liulang's gaze became vacant, as if he had lost his soul. Just before losing consciousness, he crushed the green stone in his hand.
Seeing this, the monk's face twisted with anger as he struck towards Chang Liulang's neck, but was stopped by the Middle-Aged Monk, who ordered the others to carry Chang Liulang away quietly from Qingliang Mountain.
“Didn’t the Buddhist Sect withdraw from the Daoist Sect conflict over a hundred years ago? Why are they suddenly taking Douding?” I murmured to myself, watching the figures carrying Douding disappear into the shadows below.
Over a hundred years ago, during the Daoist Dark Turmoil, the Buddhist Sect was affected as well. They participated in the war of the Daoist Sect, suffering heavy casualties. The leader of the Buddhist Sect had his Relic taken, and afterward, their numbers dwindled until they withdrew from society entirely. The few remaining Buddhism temples were managed by laypeople. It was clear that those monks were not ordinary; according to historical records of the Daoist Sect, the last sect practicing Buddhism was Leiyin Temple.
Comment 0 Comment Count