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墨書 Inktalez
"Hao, Qilian Mountain is fraught with danger. Even the Ghost Elder has gathered so many clues; if you go, you probably won't find out much," Jiyao said with a worried expression.
I understood Jiyao's concern for my safety, but I didn't want to directly argue with him. I replied, "The matter of the Book of Life and Death has stirred up quite a commotion. I've found myself in dead ends several times because of it. The five from back then were all Supreme; it's hard to determine anything based solely on speculation. I plan to use the Zhou Compass to view past reincarnations, so as not to wrong any good people."
Yang Sanqian nodded and said, "I'll go too. The Ghost Elder just returned. We should rest for a while first."
The Ghost Elder warned, "With the Divine Hero around, everything will be fine. Once you reach the Underworld, be cautious of the Yin Soldiers. Some of them have lived for so long that they have developed consciousness and are extremely difficult to deal with. Also, if you encounter any Yin Soldiers on the way to Qilian Mountain, do not panic; just hold your breath and hide."
"Understood, Ghost Elder. There's no time to waste; we should set off now," I said.
"I'll go too," Douding chimed in.
"Why do you want to go everywhere? You just snuck out from Leiyin Temple. Your Qiongqi is still locked up there; we should head back or else the Sky Master will mobilize everyone to search for you," Chang Liulang replied.
I patted Douding's bald head and said, "Qilian Mountain is too dangerous. Wait until your cultivation improves; then you can go wherever you want without anyone stopping you."
Douding pouted and said, "Fine then."
Wudao added, "Then I'll go with you guys. Let Iron Bull and Huzi take Douding and Liulang back."
"What are you meddling for? Stay here! I haven't seen you in a while and have plenty to talk about!" the Ghost Elder shouted.
"You old geezer, there's nothing interesting about me—just the smell of corpses or alcohol," Wudao retorted irritably.
Yang Sanqian suggested, "Then Wu Ye can go along too. Jiyao, please take good care of the kids."
Jiyao nodded and said, "Now that I am a Yaochi Master, I can visit Leiyin Temple and pay my respects to the Three Divine Monks."
We waved goodbye and set off towards Qilian Mountain.
The Qilian Mountain region was desolate, with a climate and terrain unsuitable for habitation. However, one could occasionally see some ancient tribes living in the impoverished border areas. The internal environment of Qilian was even harsher; for thousands of years, due to its connection to the Gate of the Underworld, most of the vegetation on the mountain had withered away, and many living beings had perished. Strange occurrences were frequent.
Seven days later, Yang Sanqian, Wusanjin, and I arrived at a Deep Valley surrounded by five desolate mountains. Standing atop one of the peaks, Wusanjin looked around and said, "The Yin Qi here is truly heavy; some of the vegetation has turned black and looks wilted. Why doesn’t the Daoist Sect come to seal this Underworld Entrance?"
Yang Sanqian replied, "Since the founding of the Daoist Sect, it has passed down through generations with many extraordinary individuals, but it has never truly unified. Blocking the Underworld Entrance is a monumental task, and the military shows no interest in it. As a result, the entire Qilian Mountain has been completely tainted over time. Now ordinary cultivators dare not set foot here; some even call this place the Daoist Sect's graveyard. Be cautious; we don’t know how deep it is down there in that darkness."
I intertwined my fingers, conjuring a massive fireball that I gently blew upon, sending it down until it stopped several hundred meters below.
"It’s too deep; going down like this would be futile," Wudao remarked.
I supported Wusanjin's shoulder and suddenly vanished from the mountaintop. Wusanjin's scream echoed from below, and after a while, Yang Sanqian also flew down from above.
Yang Sanqian and Wusanjin struggled to adjust to the darkness. However, my eyes could see clearly in the shadows. The entrance to the Underworld was filled with chilling winds, and strange sounds echoed from within, resembling bats.
The further we ventured inside, the larger it became. I said, "According to Daoist Sect records, many years ago a powerful ghost king was born in the Underworld among Ghost Soldiers. After cultivating for thousands of years, he dug a passage between the Underworld and Yang Realm with plans to lead Yin Soldiers to conquer Yang Realm. He was severely injured by several top experts from the Daoist Sect at that time. The ghost king possessed an Immortal body; after returning to the Underworld, he established Demon King's City to recuperate. After that, he vanished without a trace. Countless Yin Soldiers became mindless corpses without consciousness and were left unmanaged."
Wudao added, "I've heard this tale as well. It is said that whoever obtains the Ghost Seal can command Yin Soldiers. Most souls return to the Underworld after death; half are reincarnated while those with insufficient Merit remain stuck in the Underworld. Over time, they become tainted by its deathly aura and cannot reincarnate, turning into wandering spirits or mindless Yin Soldiers. Who knows how many Yin Soldiers have been born in the Underworld over these years? If such a thing as the Ghost Seal truly exists, it would mean controlling an army of hundreds of thousands or even millions!"
The Underworld was already cold and eerie; Wudao's words sent shivers down both Yang Sanqian's and my spines.
"We're here," Yang Sanqian suddenly stopped and looked ahead. "This is Demon King's City."
I stopped Wu, for ahead lay a sheer cliff. Below, as far as the eye could see, were ancient buildings connected one after another. They resembled structures from a bygone era but had an eerie quality about them.
Wu was startled and exclaimed, "This Demon King's City is vast and endless. What do you think that is down there? It can't be some creature's eye, can it?"
From below the cliff came the sound of flowing water, and on the sheer rock face, there bloomed an extraordinarily vibrant flower with large petals that emitted a dazzling red light.
I said, "That is the Red Spider Lily. It is said to reveal the past and future, depending on the person."
"That's amazing! I'll go pick it!" Wu declared as he prepared to descend.
Yang Sanqian stopped Wudao, saying, "Below is the Yin River, Weak Water. Even Deities find it hard to cross; if you fall in, you won't be able to come back up."
"Ah?" Wu was drenched in cold sweat.
Yang Sanqian added, "I'll go down to pick it."
"No need; I'll go down," I said as I began my descent, but suddenly an unsettling sense of dread washed over me.
Yang Sanqian remarked, "The guardian beast of the Red Spider Lily has appeared."
I paused on the cliff face, gripping the rock with one hand while scanning my surroundings. There were several caves in the cliffside, and I feared that the guardian beast might leap out at me unawares. I edged closer to the Red Spider Lily when suddenly a hissing sound reached my ears. A snake, perfectly camouflaged with the color of the cliff, lunged at me with its mouth wide open.
In an instant, I vanished from my spot. The giant snake missed its strike, and in the next moment, a sword sliced through the air from nowhere. The giant snake let out a horrific cry as it fell into the Yin River, its body thrashing before quickly turning to bones and sinking beneath the surface.
"This move of Haozi's is truly unbeatable," Wudao remarked.
"Should be similar to a spatial shuttle technique," Yang Sanqian said.
Below the cliff, I descended to the location of the Red Spider Lily, gently uprooting it before flying back to the shore.
Yang Sanqian remarked, "The Red Spider Lily resembles a dragon's claw, with three main petals. Once picked, it wilts in an instant. Let's see what you can observe."
I nodded, focusing my mind on the petals. A vision appeared before me, and moments later, I snapped back to reality. One of the petals looked at me and said, "Isn't this fun? I specifically wanted to see the most important person in my future. I've grown up without a girlfriend; I hope to see who my future wife is so that I have a goal."
Wu snatched the Red Spider Lily from me, his thoughts stirring as he glimpsed some light shadows. After a moment, he regained clarity, his face beaming with joy.
Wu stuffed the Red Spider Lily into Yang Sanqian's hands and said, "Brother Yang, you should take a look too; it would be a waste not to."
Yang Sanqian accepted the Red Spider Lily. As the petals wilted, he returned to reality. He said, "After all, it's just an illusion; we can't take it too seriously."
After Yang Sanqian finished speaking, he flew toward the opposite side of the cliff.
"But I believe it! I saw my future wife!" Wu shouted.
"Stop dreaming; we have serious matters to attend to." I pulled Wu's shoulder as we appeared on the other side of the cliff, no one noticing the turmoil in my heart.
At that moment, in the forbidden area behind Wudang Mountain, a young man stood before two new graves, his fists clenched tightly as he recalled recent events. The young man was Zhang Xing.
Half a month ago, at the peak of Wudang Seven Star Cave, Zhang Ziling had a long conversation with the Wudang Grand Elder until starlight filled the sky and night fell silent.
The Grand Elder said, "Master, is there really no ray of hope for a turnaround?"
Zhang Ziling shook his head and said, "The destruction of Wudang is an unavoidable fate. Six hundred years ago, the Ancestor Master left a prophecy; it cannot be defied. I can only do this."
"But that child, Zhang Xing, lacks the right temperament, and he has killed his own brother!" the Elder said.
Zhang Ziling replied, "Even if the Daoist Sect is cruel, he is not the first nor will he be the last to commit fratricide against his own parents or siblings. No matter what, he is still my disciple from Wudang. The legacy of Wudang must not be severed."
The Elder said, "If that is the case, I will go and bring him here."
The Elder flew down the mountain, and moments later, Zhang Xing arrived at Seven Stars Cave with a puzzled expression. He asked, "Master, you summoned your disciple here in the middle of the night. What is the matter?"
Zhang Ziling said, "How have I treated you since you were young?"
Zhang Xing was surprised and respectfully replied, "Your kindness is as heavy as a mountain; you treat me as your own."
Zhang Ziling continued, "I have taught you the Star-Moon Secret Classic and passed on to you the Wudang Sword Qi Slash, but these are not Wudang's true Ultimate Techniques. The Wudang Taiji Sword and Righteous Qi once struck fear into all within the Daoist Sect. Wudang became a towering figure in the Daoist Sect, shining with immeasurable glory."
Zhang Xing said, "Zhang Sanfeng, our Ancestor, is a Martial Sage whose name will last through eternity. Wudang owes its current standing to the protection of our Ancestor."
"No," Zhang Ziling said. "No one can protect Wudang anymore."
"The disciple does not understand what Master means," Zhang Xing replied.
Zhang Ziling explained, "Six hundred years ago, before Wudang Ancestor ascended to immortality, he left a prophecy: 'Wudang will last six hundred years; it will end with the fifteenth generation.' I am the fifteenth generation Wudang Sect Leader. Today I suddenly realized that my time is drawing near. Shortly after that, the Seven Star Plate shattered and the portrait of our Ancestor bled; it seems that time has come."
Zhang Xing's expression changed slightly as he said, "Master, have you been misled by someone's slander? Our Wudang is one of the Five Major Sects; who could possibly destroy us? Furthermore, I have never heard of such a prophecy."
Zhang Ziling sighed and said, "If the prophecy were to be made public, how many would dare to come to Wudang? Only the leaders of each generation have the right to know about the prophecy. If I am not mistaken, the one who intends to destroy Wudang is undoubtedly Dongfang Jiu from Sword Pavilion."
"This old bastard!" Zhang Xing gritted his teeth. "Let's lead the Wudang Disciples and catch him off guard."
Zhang Ziling shook his head. "I am only at the early stage of the Mahayana Realm, while Dongfang Jiu has been stuck in the late stage of the Mahayana Realm for many years. He must have reached the Sword Realm by now. Among the Five Great Sect Leaders, only Nangong can contend with him; the others likely cannot. Moreover, Sword Sect Disciples are spread throughout the Central Plains. By the time we arrive, we will already have been discovered. Most importantly, there is still a Supreme from Sword Pavilion who has not yet appeared."
"Should we retreat deep into the mountains with the Wudang Disciples?" Zhang Xing asked.
Zhang Ziling sighed again. "Dongfang Jiu has long harbored ambitions to swallow Wudang and Arched Eyebrows. Furthermore, Wudang's sword techniques are unparalleled, and Dongfang Jiu is a sword fanatic who has always wanted to obtain the Taiji Sword Manual. More importantly, Wudang possesses the sacred weapon, Seven Star Sword. I have heard that Dongfang Jiu has been collecting Divine Weapons for many years in hopes of forging a devastating Divine Weapon. Not long ago, one of his disciples found an Ancient Famous Sword but was robbed of it. In his desperation for a sword, Dongfang Jiu has turned his sights on Wudang."
"Is there no way to break this situation?" Zhang Xing asked.
Zhang Ziling turned to Zhang Xing and said, "There is a way: surrender the Seven Star Sword and it would be best if you personally killed me!"
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