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墨書 Inktalez
"Let's go!" After Yang Xuanzong rescued the Old Scholar, he flew through the barrier of Tai Xu Ling with him to a distant place.
"Farewell for now, everyone. A good show is about to unfold!" The Old Scholar turned back, looking at us with deep meaning. He chanted a spell, and the Great Zhou Compass within the Tai Xu Ling barrier immediately vanished.
After obtaining the Great Zhou Compass, the Old Scholar glanced at the broken marks on it, snorted, and quickly disappeared from our sight along with Yang Xuanzong.
Once they left, Yunxi turned to me and asked, "Are you okay?"
I felt pale, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth, and then I fainted.
Guo Daozhen said, "He used an Evil Weapon that triggered an Injury of the Dao. We should return to Red Maple Valley."
A few hours later, everyone returned to Red Maple Valley. Douding came out to greet us and, seeing that both I and Zhou Manman were unconscious, hurriedly opened the door to our room.
Sword Elder placed his fingers on my pulse, frowning as he said, "How could it be this serious?"
Guo Daozhen replied, "In ancient times, anyone who suffered an Injury of the Dao would undoubtedly die within a year. Moreover, they wouldn't be able to use Daoist Arts at all. Yang Hao has Holy Medicine and Renewal of Withered Trees, which is why he has barely held on until now. But in his current condition, even with Wanmei's talent, he probably won't last long enough to reach the Supreme Realm."
Guo Daozhen then took out something resembling a wooden smoking vessel from his pocket. The vessel was ancient and exuded a faint fragrance. Upon seeing it, Sword Elder asked in confusion, "Is that the Seven-Colored Underworld Insect?"
Guo Daozhen explained, "I painstakingly found it in a collapsed Ancient Cave. The Miaojiang sorcery is incredibly insidious. Although Miaojiang was destroyed by the Dao Sovereign during the Dark Turmoil, some Miaojiang Grand Shamans who consumed the Insect King remained uncorrupted in their physical forms and buried themselves deep within Ancient Caves. My companion and I discovered that Song Qianqiu wanted to resurrect those old fellows using the Demon King's Scripture and attacked those Miaojiang Grand Shamans. My companion was unfortunately poisoned by their sorcery. Only the Seven-Colored Underworld Insect can unravel this extremely complex poison."
The Seven-Colored Underworld Insect is the foremost artifact of Miaojiang; it was once held as a treasure by Miaojiang Shamans. Later, it was sealed in ancient lands burned by Miaojiang. Guo Daozhen expended tremendous effort to calculate its exact location and ventured deep into an Ancient Cave to retrieve this insect.
Guo Daozhen approached Guo Huaiyi's bed and opened the Seven-Colored Underworld Insect. A fragrant aroma wafted out as a soul resembling a firefly flew out from it. The insect soul buzzed and vibrated before darting towards Guo Huaiyi's head and suddenly stinging him.
Guo Huaiyi's eyes shot open wide in pain as his body convulsed. Huzi asked anxiously, "What's wrong with him?" Guo Daozhen instructed everyone to step back as we watched Guo Huaiyi's body begin to crawl with visible insects—some blue, some green, and others red—looking utterly disgusting.
Not long after these insects crawled out, they turned into pus and blood, filling the room with a foul stench.
Guo Huaiyi woke up and activated the Ghost Gate Secret Technique, mysterious runes swirling around him as he healed his injuries. Soon, Guo Huaiyi got out of bed and said fiercely, "This Miaojiang Gu technique is truly insidious. If I hadn't practiced the Ghost Gate Secret Technique alongside some Magic Skills, I would have been facing the King of Hell!"
"You smell terrible," Huzi remarked, covering his nose.
Feeling embarrassed, Guo Huaiyi excused himself and walked out of the house toward the nearby river.
The Sword Elder said, "I once heard Sword Saint Elder talk about the Seven-Colored Underworld Insect. The previous Dao Sovereign nearly lost his life to poison back in the day. To combat the poison, the Daoist Command Token was destroyed, and in the end, they had to use the Seven-Colored Underworld Insect to completely resolve the poison. I've heard this is a divine artifact with immense power that can command countless insects!"
Guo Daozhen sighed as he turned over the Seven-Colored Underworld Insect, revealing cracks all over its base and a hole.
"Is it broken?" Everyone was surprised; they had thought they had gained a divine artifact. If it could command countless insects, it would pose a significant threat to Daoist Sect cultivators.
Guo Daozhen replied, "Countless treasures were destroyed during the Dark Turmoil Period. Among the Eight Sacred Artifacts, both the Daoist Command Token and the Jade Purity Bottle were destroyed, along with many other treasures. Fortunately, this Seven-Colored Underworld Insect can restrain poisons and still has some utility."
At that moment, a light cough was heard as Zhou Manman woke up from her bed. She climbed up but felt discomfort in her abdomen. Huzi said, "Manman, how did you end up fighting Old Scholar by yourself? If it weren't for Hao's timely intervention, you wouldn't have made it back."
"I thought the Mud Buddha Technique could rival the Supreme; I just didn't expect I couldn't master it completely," Zhou Manman replied. "By the way, where's Yang Hao?"
Zhou Manman looked toward the back of the crowd at me lying on a bed, my complexion pale as if I were dead.
Zhou Manman approached me and infused my body with her Dao Qi from Renewal of Withered Trees to repair my damaged Meridians. The powerful vitality of Renewal of Withered Trees seeped into my Qi Sea, nourishing the golden figure above it.
The appearance of that golden figure was already somewhat terrifying. It resembled a split ghostly infant; due to my Injury of the Dao, I was powerless to resist and faced imminent danger of dissipating into nothingness.
Guo Daozhen said, "Currently, only you and Jiyao can cultivate Renewal of Withered Trees to the Mahayana Realm. However, even if both of you exhausted your life essence, you wouldn't be able to save Yang Hao; his Injury of the Dao is too severe."
Zhou Manman paused at the words, pulling out a brocade box from her bosom. As she opened the box, a black book, completely woven with runes, floated into the air. The once sunny Red Maple Valley suddenly turned dark, ominous clouds gathering and sending chills down one's spine.
Within this black book interlaced with runes were the names of all living people. Each person's lifespan was naturally determined, based on their elemental affinities and influenced by time, place, and circumstances. No one could alter it; to modify the Book of Life and Death was to go against fate. Only those who possessed the Spring and Autumn Reincarnation Pen could rewrite the Book of Life and Death to a certain extent. Otherwise, forcibly opening it would lead to severe consequences.
Zhou Manman said, "The Book of Life and Death has been within Yang Hao for over twenty years. Although it has had some effect on him, perhaps the only thing that can counteract the Injury of the Dao is the Book of Life and Death itself. Once sealed, it becomes linked to its holder's life; if the person perishes, so does the book. This connection can trigger the power of the Book of Life and Death."
Guo Daozhen replied, "While that may be true, sealing it is a complex task. The Old Man only knows a few simple sealing techniques. Sealing such a malevolent object as the Book of Life and Death is extremely difficult; one misstep could mean Yang Hao's demise."
The Sword Elder added, "The Old Man also lacks sealing techniques; if it were a barrier, that would be different. The strongest sect in sealing arts was Longhu Mountain, but it no longer exists. Next in line would be Chang Xi, but he has been dead for many years, and I have no knowledge of his disciples' fates."
Huzi interjected, "Mr. Chang's disciple is known as As the Saying Goes; he is this generation's Qingliang Temple Master. Unfortunately, Mr. Chang fell during the Hua Mountain Battle two years ago. He was the one who sealed the Book of Life and Death within Hao."
Huzi then pulled Douding closer and patted his bald head, saying, "Mr. Chang was Douding's master."
Everyone turned to look at Douding. With a somber expression, Douding said, "My master never taught me Daoist Arts, let alone sealing techniques. Senior Brother Liu Liang had learned some sealing arts before but deemed them useless and eventually gave up; now he is gone as well."
Douding's eyes reddened again. Huzi quickly comforted him, "Alright now, what kind of man cries like this!"
Guo Daozhen remarked, "When they sealed the Book of Life and Death back then, Yang Sanqian should have been present; perhaps he knows how to seal it."
Zhou Manman added, "If my master were here, he might also know how; there is a sealing technique in Great Yan Zhou Jing that is profound and difficult to master. Sealing techniques are rarely used in Daoist Sect practices; very few have ever trained in them. Who would have thought that now no one possesses such knowledge?"
Yunxi looked at Douding and asked, "Douding, were there any hidden places in Qingliang Mountain or did your master ever mention anything to you?"
Douding scratched his head in thought before responding, "Yes, my master used to take me every year to pay respects at Grandmaster's grave on the back mountain. He said that if I became capable in the future, I could dig up Qingliang Mountain's legacy from Grandmaster's tomb. In reality, our Qingliang Temple has little inheritance aside from the opening chapter of Martial Dao Classic. Looking back now, what we buried must be sealing techniques."
"Then it's settled; I'll go with you to retrieve it," Yunxi said.
"Sword Elder" said, "Now that chaos reigns, everywhere there are "Yin Soldier Corpse Ghosts," and there's also an "Old Scholar" holding a "Great Zhou Compass." It might not be wise for the two of you to go. "Dongfang Yuqing," you should go as well."
Before "Dongfang Yuqing" could respond, "Yunxi" interjected, "No need, I have the "Tai Xu Ling" to "Shuttle" through the void. "Yang Hao" is in grave danger; I will return quickly."
"It's fine, Grandpa. I will protect "Sister Yunxi." "Big Cat" can fly now; it will take good care of "Yunxi," too," "Douding" declared, patting his chest.
"Yunxi, be careful," "Huzi" said, then turned a stern face towards "Douding," adding, "Don't think about taking advantage of her, you shameless thing."
"You!" "Douding" huffed. "You big, ugly brute."
"Yunxi" lifted "Douding" and flew onto the back of "Qiongqi." She bid farewell to everyone and patted "Qiongqi," signaling it to fly north.
At that moment, just after washing off in the river, "Guo Huaiyi" walked over with a carefree demeanor, radiating youthful energy. "Guo Daozhen" scolded him, saying, "Just got rid of the poison and you're showing off. So many people are waiting for food!"
"Guo Huaiyi" didn't mind and looked at everyone’s worried faces. He said, “I’ve died several times and still didn’t die. So has "Yang Hao." Even when he was a mortal, he couldn’t die no matter how many times he tried. You should eat if you’re hungry and sing if you want to sing. It’s not that easy to die from injuries.”
Meanwhile, from "Mangshan," "Taihe Zhenren" and "Iron Bull" were making their way toward the Central Plains. Along the way, they had slain numerous "Yin Soldiers" and saved many villagers, helping them escape to safety in the city of the Central Plains. Currently, only aerial attacks by "Song Qianqiu's" "Yin Soldiers" were targeting various mountains; there were no assaults on the cities of mortals.
Upon reaching a mountain foot, as they conversed, they suddenly spotted two figures flying in the distance.
“Taihe Zhenren” raised his gaze and said, “It’s the 'Old Scholar' and 'Yang Xuanzong.'”
“Iron Bull” replied, “Then let’s follow them.”
“Taihe Zhenren” nodded. The two picked up their pace and followed from afar. As a disciple of “Wudang,” “Taihe Zhenren” had mastered the cloud ladder technique to perfection; even without flying Dao Tools or treasures, he could move swiftly. Meanwhile, “Iron Bull” possessed seemingly limitless stamina and tirelessly kept up with “Taihe Zhenren.”
Half an hour later, “Old Scholar” and “Yang Xuanzong” landed in a mountain stream. As soon as “Old Scholar” touched down, he spat out a mouthful of blood. His body was battered and covered in wounds; bones were broken. If it weren't for “Yang Xuanzong's” timely intervention today, he might have lost his life.
The Old Scholar removed his tattered Daoist robe and snorted, "You still have some conscience. I won't pursue the matter of the book any further."
Yang Xuanzong knelt down and said, "Ancestor, Xuanzong was misled by others into taking the book. I beg Ancestor to impose punishment!"
The Old Scholar cleansed his body, and the cracks on his surface slowly healed as he absorbed the essence of the mountains and rivers. He said, "Xuanzong, you need not fear me. For all these years, I have not allowed anyone to call me father. It is not that I lack compassion, but in this world of fierce competition, one cannot afford too many burdens. You are no exception. Now that the Yang Family cannot withstand the trials of the Daoist Catastrophe and has perished, only you and I remain. You are my son, and no matter what, I will not harm you."
"Thank you for your kindness, Ancestor..." Yang Xuanzong replied respectfully.
"From now on, just call me father," the Old Scholar said.
Yang Xuanzong responded, "Understood, father."
The Old Scholar asked, "Where have you been?"
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