A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch

Chapter 427 - 258: Withered Revive Wood, Bai Qi Eliminates Three Evils (Part 2)

Zhu Mingyu used a round fan to cover her face, and her palace dress seemed to be surrounded by jade belts, sweeping away the floating dust and soot.

"My lady, the Hundred Spirits Incense is ready."

The maid took out a strange bronze burner etched with fiends and goblins, then pinched three thumb-thick dark red incense sticks, as if soaked in blood, emitting a faint fishy smell.

"Light it."

Zhu Mingyu spoke succinctly and softly, without a hint that she was the Female Wealth Deity reigning over the Celestial Water Prefecture.

Mao Yanshou once sacrificed to the Pimo King, seeking a volume of the "Mystic Spirit Magic Seed Scripture," erected a divine shrine, sculpted a deity statue, using the bone and blood of the main family line as offerings, worshiping with incense day and night. Every five years, it would condense a section of Spirit Root seed, enhancing the fate and cultivation aptitude of the family’s descendants.

Over time, among many students, registered Daoist Officials would surely emerge one after another.

If several generations persisted, the family could become a registered prestigious Taoist clan like the Xu Family in Weinan Prefecture.

"Fate was too poor, letting Ninghai Zen, this Overseas Dragon, rise."

Zhu Mingyu sighed softly, on this trip to Yihai Prefecture, besides dealing with the Lu Family inexplicably being targeted by Master Xuanji, labeled as remnants of the White Sun Sect, she had to personally come to handle the aftermath.

It was also partly because of the Mao Family.

"Huan’Er, who leads the Mao Family now, after being exterminated?"

Zhu Mingyu asked.

"Mao Yichang, descendant of the fifth generation of a secondary branch, because Mao Yanshou along with the main family line died completely, each branch either perished or scattered, leaving only him.

Originally a worthless poor scholar, neither proficient in literature nor martial arts, but he was bold enough to secretly run to the Mao mansion, burnt to white ground, to find the Pimo King’s divine shrine and turned his fortune around."

The maid explained in detail:

"Recently, he privately sent a message through the Hidden Pavilion, claiming he nurtured an eight-inch section of ’Withered Reviving Spring Spirit Wood,’ intending to present it to the Duke as a birthday gift."

Zhu Mingyu, with her slender jade fingers, gently played with the fan, showing a rather girlish demeanor:

"Withered Reviving Wood is one of the four great Spirit Roots, said to have miraculous effects of rejuvenation. Mao Yichang knows how to cater to preferences. If he truly acquired this item, it indeed is fitting as a gift, surpassing the Grand General’s ’Ten Thousand Year Longevity Stone’ by a notch."

The maid placed the bronze burner properly, leaned over to light the incense, and as soon as the flames arose, the burner turned fiery red, the fiends and goblins on it became clearer, resembling vengeful spirits cast into the eighteen levels of hell, gaunt and ferocious, wailing in lamentation.

"He Mountain Dao, truly a heterodox sect, even opening an Inner Scenic Land requires such sinister methods."

Zhu Mingyu gently waved the fan, brushing away the thick smoke, as black and viscous as fire oil. This bronze burner, called "Mass Grave," was a blessed burner from temple incense offerings, buried in an ancient battlefield’s chaotic burial grounds, laid out with He Mountain Dao’s unique "Five Yin Bewitching Array," to absorb resentment and evil qi.

The incense being lit was the "Hundred Spirits Incense," made by boiling and soaking infant blood and human placenta, crafted as dip incense, specifically to connect to the Netherworld, summon spirits, and invoke evil.

A thousand years ago, He Mountain Dao was the largest heterodox sect, particularly adept in "Integration of Artifacts and Magic."

During its peak, it transmitted sixty-seven methods of refining evil artifacts, such as the "Seven Kills Primordial Spirit," "Skull Demon Ghost," and "Five-Horse Slaughter Lock."

Each artifact crafted would train a magic art.

Usually cultivated within the body, in confrontation, simultaneously wielding multiple artifacts, casting numerous spells.

Many cultivators unaware of the truth or the sect’s secrets often got caught off guard and were entirely annihilated in spirit and soul.

"The Mao Family hid in He Mountain Dao’s Inner Scenic Land, yet managed to cultivate the ’Withered Reviving Spring Wood.’"

As a thought crossed Zhu Mingyu’s mind, she stepped into the gradually opening Void Gate, her graceful figure disappearing within.

...

...

"Master, why are we coming to the Yi Manor?"

Following Chen Xing across more than half the County City, Bai Qi arrived at the Yi Manor, which housed seven or eight thin coffins sideways.

"This place is heavy with yin energy, making it easy to connect with the Netherworld during the midnight’s yin-yang transition."

Chen Xing explained:

"The Taoist Scripture says, the inner reflects the heart; the scenic reflects the image. Entering the Void Inner Scenic most simply involves the Divine Soul Emergence, using ’Inner Heart’ to perceive ’Image’. "

Bai Qi pondered, finding his previous experiences being drawn into the Inner Scenic Land aligned precisely with the Master’s words.

His spirit departing from the body, perceiving the void, and then entering it.

"Without separating soul from the flesh, entering the Inner Scenic Land requires Grand Sacrificial Rites or some talisman.

The latter serves as a key, and the former as a lock-picking technique. Your master’s friend, surnamed Qiu, is a master in this field, highly adept."

The Master’s words sounded odd, as if Uncle Qiu were some notorious thief.

Bai Qi thought inwardly.

But indeed, he had seen Qiu Changtian conduct Grand Sacrificial Rites, leading Master Ninghai Zen into the Void Inner Scenic Land together.

"Master, which family are we eliminating this time?"

Bai Qi asked curiously.

"The Mao, Han, and Fang families."

Chen Xing uttered "Excuse me," then casually moved a few coffins aside, clearing a large open space.

He immediately grabbed a few unburned long coals from the fire pile.

Then he invited Chen Yin to possess him, sketching and writing spells as if arranging a grand sacrificial rite.

"Ever since Ah Qi got hung up for one thousand taels of gold by the Hidden Pavilion last time, I’ve been keeping an eye on them.

The four families are dealing with Fenghui Trading Company, using goods of varying value to offset their debts. The Su Family, needless to say, has completely cut off their roots, leaving no hidden dangers.

The Han Family runs pear garden businesses, specializing in raising thin horses for the amusement of nobles and officials, dealing with brothels, prostitution houses, and gambling dens. They gather bits and pieces of silver, store it with Fenghui Trading Company, and exchange it for promissory notes... The Fang and Mao families are quite similar."

Where did the Master get this information?

Bai Qi was surprised, realizing that they must have a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and chaos of Yihai Prefecture to be so perceptive.

The Inheritance Hall occupies at most one block of Hundred Rings Square; it shouldn’t possess such astounding capabilities.

"Lao Hong provided the clues. In all of Yihai Prefecture, it’s hard to escape the surveillance of Pai Bang with people constantly coming and going."

Chen Xing explained to his apprentice-grandson.

"Consider it as owing him a favor."

After roughly half a quarter-hour, the White Sun Sect Leader Chen Yin, hidden in the Spirit Platform, elegantly waved his sleeves, as if combining seventy or eighty talismanic spells to complete a grand sacrificial rite.

"Side paths are ultimately side paths, always bound by these methods; the juniors lack the drive to perfect them."

Chen Yin’s tone was contemptuous, as if a secret thief criticizing the lax security of small households.

"What’s your memory like? He Mountain Dao has been extinct for over a thousand years; it was annihilated by the Qingyang lineage, vanquishing their Mountain Gate... How could there be any inheritance for the juniors."

Chen Xing communicated through his thoughts.

"Seems to be true, that self-proclaimed number one on the Left Path, Red Robe Ancestor, challenged Ancestor Qingyang and had his Seven Kills Primordial Spirit tortured to death by the Three Yang Tribulation Transformation.

No wonder breaking the Inner Scenic Land was so easy."

Chen Yin realized.

"The Master’s abilities are extraordinary too."

Bai Qi watched Chen Xing muttering for a while, effortlessly opening the Void Gate, thinking:

"Tongwen Hall indeed has an excellent tradition of seeking revenge and disgraceful actions, doing this kind of thing quite often."

Chen Xing slowly stood, retrieving from his sleeve a yellow paper wrapped with incense ash, handing it to his apprentice-grandson:

"Incense burned at popular Daoist temples and monasteries often carries the power of the wishes made. It allows the physical body to traverse the void space. Hold onto it."

Bai Qi accepted it carefully, performing such an extermination task for the first time, inevitably lacking experience.

He followed the Master’s instructions to ensure no errors.

"The first time is unfamiliar; after a second time, you’ll get used to it."

Chen Xing seemingly noticed his apprentice-grandson’s slight nervousness and offered comfort.

He then took the lead in stepping into the rippling waters of the Void Gate.

"Ten years ago, the Master exterminated four families alone; ten years later, his apprentice eliminated three scourges for Yihai Prefecture... This is true inheritance!"

Bai Qi’s spirits lifted, he carried the Nanming Li Fire on his back and strode boldly inside.

...

...

"Has the aura of the Divine Soldiers at the Inheritance Hall suddenly vanished?"

At the Nu Yun Riverfront, Chunyu Cultivator, wearing a bamboo hat, was gathering energy when he suddenly felt an anomaly.

Although he had severed the connection with the Nanming Li Fire, as a true heir of the Sword Sect, he tightly grasped the trajectory of that intense blaze.

After all, the whole Meridian Sword Sect only has three Spiritual Divine Soldiers; how could they be casually handed to Bai Qilang?

"In the pitch-black night, acting sneakily, could it be some shady deed unfit for daylight?"

Chunyu Cultivator raised his brows, leapt up, breaking through the pouring rain.