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墨書 Inktalez
In a courtyard in the suburbs of Jiangnan, Huzi sat at the kitchen table, watching Iron Bull, who was seriously serving dishes while wearing an apron. Huzi pointed at the food on the table, his face filled with disgust as he said, "Iron Bull, what on earth did you cook?"
"It's loofah," Iron Bull replied, scooping a spoonful onto the rice.
Huzi remarked, "This is basically glue. If you can't cook, just say so. Look at these two dishes; it's already a miracle they didn't make me throw up."
With a sigh, Huzi continued, "Aunt Jiyao isn't here, and there's no one to cook. I'm tired of eating out."
Huzi added, "You call Uncle Yang 'Brother Yang,' refer to Jiyao as Auntie, and act like you're on friendly terms with Hao. What's going on here?"
Wudao chimed in, "It's just a habit. Didn't Iron Bull just call Aunt Jiyao 'Shiniang' a few days ago?"
Huzi replied, "I almost forgot about Hao; he actually cooks quite well. As for Guo Daozhen, who knows where he is now?"
Wudao said, "I wonder if Guo Daozhen's divination skills are accurate. If he’s healed up, he’s probably looking for us too. Brother Yang and his wife must have heard about Yang Hao appearing in the Dunhuang Desert; it’s been three days since they left. We should go out for a walk; sitting here is driving me crazy."
"Alright!" Huzi nodded and patted Iron Bull on the head. "Iron Bull, stop eating and go find your boss."
"Okay!" Iron Bull responded immediately and put down his chopsticks.
Moments later, Huzi and Wudao packed their bags and had Iron Bull carry them as they exited the courtyard.
After a while, the three appeared in the Dunhuang Desert. From above, they looked like tiny black dots against the vast landscape. Wudao wiped his sweat and said, "If we don't find a place to drink soon, I really won't be able to hold on much longer."
"Shh!" Huzi suddenly made a shushing gesture. He looked ahead and saw someone lying under a dune.
The three approached to investigate and found a person lying beneath the dune. Huzi said, "This person is already dead; the blood on the ground hasn't dried completely. They must have been killed not long ago."
The three followed the footprints in the desert that had yet to be buried, passing numerous corpses along the way. Eventually, they arrived at a group of dunes, where they finally spotted a crowd gathered in front of an ancient cave.
Huzi quickly approached a young man standing alone nearby and asked what was happening. The young man explained that seven days prior, the Dunhuang Mogao Caves had suddenly emitted a radiant light, attracting many sects eager to investigate.
The emergence of exotic treasures often stirred up excitement, leading large numbers of Daoist Sect members to rush here, inevitably causing some friction and even fights among the sects.
No one knew exactly what treasure was involved, but a group using Spirit Seeking Mice had pinpointed this location as the site of the treasure's appearance after extensive searching.
The Mogao Caves, also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, are located at the western end of the Hexi Corridor in Dunhuang. It is said to have been established during the Former Qin dynasty and has endured through the Sixteen Kingdoms. It is one of the holy lands of Buddhism. However, due to wars and environmental factors, the desert encroached upon it, burying it in sand. Over a hundred years ago, a Taoist named Wang stumbled upon the caves while fleeing and uncovered an ancient temple that had been buried for years, discovering a Scripture Repository within.
Wang was greedy and sold many ancient texts and secret manuscripts from the Scripture Repository to foreigners, leaving behind only fragments. In the midst of dark turmoil, someone discovered a secret manuscript in an ancient cave on Wutai Mountain that recorded information about a hidden chamber near the Dunhuang Caves' Scripture Repository containing forbidden techniques from both Buddhism and Taoism. Thus began a search for it, but something happened within the Mogao Caves that led to their collapse, burying everyone inside.
For over a century, no one had ventured here, making it a desolate place until just before seven days ago when news spread that an exotic treasure was about to emerge, illuminating the universe.
In front of the ancient cave, disciples from various sects gathered. Except for Emei Sect, representatives from other major sects had not yet arrived. The Arched Eyebrows Sect, located in Western Shu and adjacent to Dunhuang, received news of the exotic treasure's emergence first. Although Rain Master Luo was no longer the senior sister of Arched Eyebrows, her presence still commanded respect among those gathered.
At the back of the crowd, Five-Eyed Glutton remarked, "It seems we came at just the right time. Once they open the cave, I'll whip up a Demonic Wind and then we three can rush in!"
"How will you create a Demonic Wind? Did you learn Uncle Yang's Blowing Immortal Technique?" Huzi asked in surprise.
Five shook his head and replied, "You really have no sense of humor."
In front of the ancient cave, disciples were clearing away sand from inside that had collapsed. After a while, someone called out from within: "Senior Brother, we've broken through! There's light inside!"
Upon hearing this announcement about light coming from within the ancient cave, everyone immediately thought of Buddhist treasures. Dunhuang is one of the ancient holy lands of Buddhism; just a hundred miles away lies Leiyin Temple—no one doubted there would be treasures inside.
A young man spoke up: "Sister Bai, since it was my Longhu Mountain disciple who first broke through to Buddha Cave, it is only right that Longhu Mountain enters first."
The person speaking was the eldest disciple of Longhu Mountain, and an Emei Disciple scoffed, "Zhang Dao'an, do you even understand the rules? Even if you manage to get your hands on a treasure, do you think you can make it out alive?"
Zhang Dao'an's face turned crimson; he felt humiliated by the reprimand from a female disciple. "Bai Xiaoxiang, is this how you treat your junior sisters?" he retorted.
Bai Xiaoxiang glanced at Zhang Dao'an with indifference and replied, "If you want to go in, just go. Why ask me?"
With that, Bai Xiaoxiang strode directly toward the Ancient Cave. Zhang Dao'an clenched his fists but dared not explode in anger. Just then, a fierce wind swept in, carrying a cloud of yellow sand that blinded everyone.
"Get out of the way!" Five shouted as he lunged into the Ancient Cave.
"Damn, it really can stir up Demonic Wind!" Huzi yelled, following Five into the cave.
The few people standing at the entrance had no time to stop them; as the sandstorm passed, visibility inside the Ancient Cave diminished entirely.
Bai Xiaoxiang was furious and was about to enter when a voice called out from within, "Why do you break things just because you see something glowing? How will we get in if you trigger the traps?"
"I can't believe there are so many Skeletons here and statues of beasts!"
"Don't touch anything!"
A furious roar echoed, followed by two screams. Soon after, Five's voice rang out from inside the cave: "Get back, everyone get back!"
Wu and Huzi charged out of the cave side by side. A group of people was about to draw their swords to block them when suddenly the ground shook violently. A fearsome beast with a tiger's head and a bull's body burst forth from the cave.
Everyone recoiled in terror, unsure what kind of creature it was. The beast was covered in vibrant runes and had a pair of fleshy wings on its back; however, those wings hung limply against its body, either due to degeneration or injury.
The beast let out a terrifying roar and immediately pounced on a Longhu Mountain disciple, tearing him apart and devouring him within three to five seconds until nothing remained but bones. Clearly starved for some time, the beast's eyes locked onto the crowd like they were prey, emitting a chilling growl.
"That must be the Guardian Beast! Let's take it down together!" someone shouted.
Immediately, a group of people gathered around, armed with weapons and surrounded by protective Dao Qi. The giant beast suddenly inhaled sharply and then roared at the approaching crowd. The massive sound waves shattered the minds of some, killing them instantly.
The eldest disciple of Longhu Mountain, Zhang Dao'an, said, "This is the Ancient Fierce Beast Qiongqi. It is beyond human strength. All disciples of Longhu Mountain, retreat!"
Upon hearing that this giant beast was the legendary fierce creature Qiongqi, everyone was terrified and began to back away. The Taoist Classics recorded that Qiongqi was inherently vicious and bloodthirsty, even devouring its own kind. Later, as Spirit Energy changed, the Qiongqi race gradually became extinct, and it had been hundreds of years since one had been seen. Yet here in the Dunhuang Caves, a Qiongqi was guarding!
Wu and Huzi, who had narrowly escaped from the Ancient Cave, were panting and momentarily dazed. Iron Bull slapped each of them on the back and said, "I just went to the restroom; where did you guys go?"
"Iron Bull, I really doubt if your stupidity is genuine," Wu sneered, punching Iron Bull in the abdomen.
Huzi asked, "What exactly did you break off earlier to release this thing?"
Wu looked at the glowing object in his hand—it was an ancient tower inscribed with golden runes. Frowning, he gazed at the gap in the middle of the tower and said, "I feel like this thing can be twisted open."
"Don't!"
Huzi tried to stop him, but Wu had already twisted the tower two full turns at its center.
Inside the tower came a mechanical rumbling sound. Wu and Huzi exchanged glances, feeling as if the ground was shaking beneath them. Dust flew everywhere as the dune collapsed. Before they could react, the entire floor in front of the Ancient Cave caved in, causing thousands of disciples from various sects present to plummet down along with the Qiongqi that was about to pounce on the Daoist Disciples.
A hundred meters below ground, buried under yellow sand, people screamed as they crawled out. Huzi and Iron Bull emerged from the sand with dirt on their faces. Huzi slapped Wu on the head: "I told you not to twist it; you just had to be reckless!"
Wu smiled awkwardly as he looked up. This place was at least a hundred meters high, completely filled with yellow sand—there was no place to land. It was impossible to fly up using light body techniques; at least none of those present could manage it.
"Senior Sister, are you alright?" Several Emei Female Disciples pulled Bai Xiaoxiang out from under the sand. Bai Xiaoxiang's face was dazed as she emerged from beneath a pile of yellow sand. Everyone faced this sudden disaster in shock until one person turned to look at Wu and Huzi.
Huzi took a step back and turned to look at Iron Bull, who had somehow made his way to the back of the crowd and nodded at him.
"This fool isn't as foolish as he seems!" Huzi gritted his teeth and then forced a smile as he addressed everyone, "Ladies and gentlemen, let's be clear: the one responsible for bringing everyone here is entirely me. This person in front of me is named Lu Wu!"
"Dammit, Huzi! Do you have no conscience to betray me at a time like this?"
Wu immediately turned and started fighting with Huzi. The two exchanged a few blows before they grappled with each other. Huzi grabbed Wu and tossed him into the air. Wu pulled out a rope from his waist, which had a sword tied to it. The sword flew up and lodged itself into the wall of Yellow Sand Mountain, providing almost no support before Wu fell back down.
"The rope isn't long enough!" As he descended, Wu's voice stretched out, and he landed on the sandy beach, prompting the crowd to gather around him.
"Someone grab this incompetent fatso!" Zhang Dao'an from Longhu Mountain shouted fiercely.
Just then, the ground trembled in the distance as the fierce beast Qiongqi rose from the yellow sands, letting out a roar that revealed its ferocity as it glared at everyone.
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