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墨書 Inktalez
General Li Fugui returned defeated with nearly a hundred War Kings after the battle against Song Qianqiu. As Song Qianqiu licked the blood of one of the War Kings, he noticed that it was vastly different from ordinary human blood.
The fact that such a powerful figure as Li Fugui had to obey Yu Xuanliang made Song Qianqiu feel uneasy.
The Mountain Valley was already stained red with blood, scattered coffins and broken corpses filled Song Qianqiu with anger. First, the body of the Miaojiang Grand Shaman had been largely destroyed by Guo Daozhen and his son. Then, the corpse of the Ancient Taoist Sect's Holy Body was ruined by the Old Scholar. Now, the body that had been painstakingly located using the Underworld's notes provided by the Ghost King was blown up by Li Fugui and his men.
After healing, the Ghost King said, "It seems these Daoist Sect people are trying to conspire against me. Investigate their whereabouts and prepare to retaliate."
"Understood!" the Ghost King replied and vanished into the Mountain Valley.
Meanwhile, Miao Shengnan was injured and was continuously absorbing the Corpse Qi from the surrounding Yin Soldiers to heal herself, while Miao Guanyin stood expressionlessly behind Song Qianqiu.
"Miao Guanyin, go find out the whereabouts of Rain Master Luo. I cannot rest easy until this woman is dealt with," Song Qianqiu instructed. "And you, Miao Shengnan, follow Miao Guanyin. Once you discover Rain Master Luo's location, you must kill her and bring her head to me. As her master, your actions will surely affect her."
At that moment, in a dilapidated Taoist temple on a desolate mountain, after completing the Five Elements Technique, a surge of Dao Qi enveloped him. His skin radiated golden light as a golden figure resembling May Day swayed within his physical form.
Wu opened his eyes and took a deep breath. "The Nascent Soul has transformed into a Dao Body; my strength is indeed on an entirely different level now. My Yin-Yang Sword has reached great mastery. When I see that old bastard Yang Xuanzong again, I'll tear him apart!"
In Taoism, practitioners refine their essence during the Qi Refinement Stage, condensing their spirit into their soul. Upon reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, they open their Qi Sea and refine Dao Qi. In the Core Formation Stage, they condense their soul essence into a Dao Dan—the Golden Elixir. If this elixir shatters, they die and their soul disperses. The Golden Elixir then transforms into the Primordial Spirit; this spirit condenses into the Nascent Soul which eventually forms a Dao Fruit. When the Nascent Soul matures, it becomes a Dao Body.
The Dao Body is generally similar in size to the physical body but is formed from the Nascent Soul and is extremely fragile. Once separated from its physical form, it can gain some power enhancement but has very low defense; even a slight injury could lead to its demise. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, no one would abandon their physical body for their Dao Body to venture out.
Now, Wu sat in an ancient temple deep in the mountains comprehending the Dao while absorbing vast Spirit Energy from Spiritual Treasures, finally breaking through his limitations to achieve great mastery.
Before Wu lay a pile of white powder resembling pearl powder scattered at his legs. Douding stood at the temple entrance with its jaw quivering slightly, looking somewhat wronged with tears welling in its eyes.
"Wudao," it said, "this Clam Pearl has absorbed essence for a thousand years; all of Dunhuang belongs to it. Plus, it has listened to Buddhist teachings for millennia and witnessed the changes of Leiyin Temple over time—its Spirit Energy is likely stronger than that of any legendary Holy Medicine."
Douding lamented, "But this is what I wanted to give Sister Yunxi."
"Such a precious treasure, and you give it to someone else's wife. The countless treasures in the Holy Herb Garden don't lack this little thing from you. I really misjudged you, ungrateful color donkey," Five Qi said.
Seeing Douding's gloomy face, clearly upset that a well-prepared gift was snatched away, he continued, "Alright, alright. Nothing is better than dumplings when it comes to food. Nothing is more fun than a sister-in-law. You're the best at flirting, Brother Five. I have a method that will surely make Yunxi happy, much better than just giving her this thing directly. If you give her a pearl ball, she wouldn't even know how to take it."
"What method?" Douding asked.
Five chuckled and pulled out a piece of unabsorbed Clam Pearl from the powder in front of him. "Look at this, it's translucent and warm, with a hint of pure Dao Qi left on it. It's neither extravagant nor low-class; girls love this kind of thing. For a good woman like Yunxi, if you give her something expensive, she wouldn't want it."
"But it's so ugly," Douding replied.
"It can be carved into something beautiful," Wudao said, pointing at the Clam Pearl fragment in his hand. "Look at its shape; it resembles a person. Let's find a jade carver in the city and have him carve a cute monk in your likeness to give to Yunxi. She will definitely like it. That Yang Hao has no taste and wouldn't think to give Yunxi something like this. Just imagine, every time Yunxi carries your monk with her, over time she'll naturally feel fond of you when she sees it."
"Really?" Douding asked.
"Absolutely!" May Day said seriously, patting Douding on the shoulder as he led him toward the city not far away.
A few hours later, Wuhe and Douding arrived at an antique jade shop in the city, where they had the carver create a pendant in Douding's likeness. With great joy, Douding tucked the pendant into his pocket before heading outside the city with Five, riding their Qiongqi toward Red Maple Valley in Jiangnan Suburbs.
In Red Maple Valley, under the bright moonlight with stars scattered across the sky, the countryside was filled with blooming rapeseed flowers, and fireflies danced about occasionally.
Yunxi and I stood at the door of our house, where there was a birdcage containing a thrush raised by Guo Huaiyi.
Huzi came out from another room and asked upon seeing us at the door, "Why are you still awake so late?"
I replied, "It's not even midnight yet. I can't sleep, and I have this ominous feeling in my heart; I don't know why."
Huzi said, "You first had an Injury of the Dao and now have the Book of Life and Death within you; some abnormalities are inevitable. By the way, do you think the Book of Life and Death can suppress your Injury of the Dao?"
I shook my head and said, "The Book of Life and Death is ultimately not a healing item. If I were to die from my Injury of the Dao and it couldn't resist that fate, it wouldn't just disappear; instead, I'd become a Corpse Demon and survive in another form. By then, I might not even remember who I am. I'm wondering if I'll end up as Song Qianqiu's Puppet."
Yunxi said, "Don't think too much. Old Guo, the injuries in your body are already recovering. If you don't use Dao Qi for a short period, it will improve further. The Book of Life and Death has been in your body for many years and is closely related to you; it can definitely save you."
I nodded, not wanting to continue on that topic. Just then, the door creaked open, and Guo Daozhen stepped out of the room. He frowned and said, "Whose Dao Qi fluctuation is so strong? Is someone about to break through?"
Everyone exchanged glances, and I looked toward a high ground not far from Red Maple Valley. Under the moonlit night, two figures could be seen.
Dongfang Yuqing asked, "Grandpa, what's wrong? Your cultivation has advanced so quickly?"
Sword Elder frowned, his expression somewhat grim. He replied, "During my battle with Old Scholar on the Yangtze River, he infused a type of Dao Qi with patterns into my body, causing my combat power to surge. Since then, my strength has been increasing significantly every day. The Spirit Energy is continuously gathering; even Peach Blossom Stream doesn't have such terrifying Spirit Energy fluctuations. I don't know what's going on."
Above Sword Elder's head, a massive full moon was visibly pouring a radiant light into his body, while the essence of the surrounding plants flowed into him like water.
After Guo Daozhen and the others arrived, Guo Daozhen noticed Sword Elder's intense Dao Qi fluctuations and rising power. He said, "Congratulations, Eastern Senior, on your sudden enlightenment!"
Sword Elder felt a bit awkward and said, "I haven't tried to absorb the Spirit Energy yet, but it keeps flowing into my body along with the essence of the sun and moon."
Dongfang Yuqing added, "Grandpa was stuck at the early stage of the Tribulation Realm for thirty years without progress. Yet in these past few days, he has broken through to the mid and late stages; he is now nearly complete because Old Scholar transferred his power to Grandpa a few days ago on the Yangtze River."
"Old Scholar transferred power?" Everyone looked puzzled.
I remarked, "This Dao Qi seems to contain a trace of Taoist Arts related to the Great Zhou Compass; it can indeed create an extraordinary master in a short time."
"But how could Old Scholar be so kind?" Huzi interjected. "The only living Supremes left are Old Scholar and Eastern Senior!"
Sword Elder replied, "Old Scholar is stubborn and self-willed. Back in the day, we had a close relationship; we were once good friends. His actions are always hard to predict."
Dongfang Yuqing cautioned, "Grandpa, Old Scholar isn't that kind-hearted; you need to be more careful."
Huzi suggested, "Hao and Old Guo both understand medicine; it's best to let them take a look."
I exchanged a glance with Guo Daozhen and said, "I apologize for the rudeness, senior."
Guo Daozhen had practiced medicine for many years and was a disciple of the Old Scholar. I had read countless medical texts through the Martial Dao Classic. Our understanding and application of Dao Qi surpassed anyone else’s. With us examining the Sword Elder, we should be able to detect any abnormalities.
Guo Daozhen took the Sword Elder's pulse, allowing a trace of Dao Qi to flow through, circulating throughout the Sword Elder's body. The Supreme possessed unparalleled Dao bones, and their Meridians and Acupoints were unlike those of ordinary people. Since the Supreme never fell ill, no one had ever had the opportunity to examine their Meridians—out of disrespect and the danger of stealing their Dao.
Guo Daozhen nodded in apology and said, "The breath is calm, and the Meridians are unobstructed. On the surface, there seems to be no issue. After Yang Hao finishes, I will cast a divination for you, senior."
A trace of Dao Qi flowed from my fingertips. As soon as I made contact with the Sword Elder, my pupils instantly turned black.
"What happened to you?" Everyone was startled, thinking I had been controlled by the Book of Life and Death.
In reality, at that moment when my Dao Qi spread out, the Book of Life and Death connected with the Sword Elder's fate chart. I saw the Sword Elder's birth date and time of death.
In the Eastern Divine Universe, with a water element in the five elements, there were three calamities in their fate. They had nine children in their lifetime: born in the year of Bing Shen, month of Wu Xu, day of Xin Wei during the hour of Chou; they would die in the year of Ji Yin, month of Bing Zi, day of Wu Wu during the hour of Hai. The Book of Life and Death indicated an extended lifespan by one Jiazi. The subsequent year of death was not recorded.
The lifespan stipulated by the Book of Life and Death is fate; it records a person's five-element destiny, calamities, blessings, and already established birth and death dates. Normally, according to its regulations, it outlines a life that ends naturally. However, due to chaos in this world—disasters and human misfortunes—many people die prematurely. Yet once determined by the Book of Life and Death, this fate cannot be altered. A person may die early but cannot surpass the death date set by it; otherwise, it would be considered defying fate.
Modifying the Book of Life and Death introduces uncertainty into one's lifespan. Currently, the Sword Elder was over one hundred thirty years old; logically speaking, he still had a few years left to live. However, I saw a vaguely forming date on the Book of Life and Death that seemed to indicate today.
Seeing my unusual expression, Guo Daozhen took out a bronze compass and began chanting incantations. Light shadows swirled around the compass as he calculated with his fingers. Suddenly, the compass exploded in his hands, startling everyone; Old Guo's face turned pale.
"What exactly is going on?" Dongfang Yuqing feared for the elderly Sword Elder's well-being; no one would believe that Old Scholar would kindly help enhance his power.
Guo Daozhen said, "I have calculated your senior's critical limit."
The Sword Elder nonchalantly replied, "I have long anticipated this. I have lived for over one hundred thirty years; living longer would make me a monster. Where there is life, there is death; I have long come to terms with it."
I hesitated for a moment before saying, "The critical limit indicated on the Book of Life and Death is today."
"Today?!"
Not only did everyone fail to anticipate it, but even Sword Elder himself was taken aback.
Sword Elder was in good health, with exceptional skills, showing no signs of decline. Moreover, even if Old Scholar were present, he wouldn't stand a chance against so many of us. Song Qianqiu wasn't foolish enough to confront us head-on at this moment.
How could today be the end?
It was already past midnight, and in two hours, dawn would break. None of us had managed to sleep; Dongfang Yuqing snorted and said, "A bunch of charlatans."
After Dongfang Yuqing spoke, he flew to the distant mountaintop. It was clear to everyone that he was in a bad mood.
Sword Elder chuckled softly and said, "If today truly is Old Man's end, then we must bear with this child Dongfang Yuqing a little longer; he has a stubborn temperament."
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