Wet viviparity

Chapter 744 Trouble, Borrowing the Golden Knife

"The roots of the tree grow in the mysterious garden, reaching the gate of the clouds, and the jade branches have been kept healthy for a thousand years."

Chewing on the pistil, I was startled by the arrival of a bluebird; burying the pit, I feared the spirit would spy on me.

At dawn, I stroll through the verdant hills, accompanied by the stars; at night, I tread upon the damp moss, the moon tailoring my garments.

Her rosy robes fluttered as the dark dew condensed; she smiled and pointed to the celestial ladder, but the one who had not returned had not yet come.

Outside the peach grove, on a grassy slope, Ma Ling lay there, his short, hairy legs crossed, humming a Taoist song, leisurely and drunkenly reclining.

Beside him was a small red lacquered alchemy plate with a small gourd of wine and a few pills on it. As he was humming a song, he was suddenly startled and flipped over in mid-air. He looked around, full of suspicion.

"Who can break my Blood Remnant Spirit Transformation Technique?"

With a few somersaults in the air, he vanished to the Bihan Pool at the bottom of the Yinshan Valley and put away the tuft of white hair.

The white hair on his body was actually a fine hair that had been concealed on the bodies of those climbing the ladder, becoming a strand of hair, a palm line, or a long beard of each person, constantly monitoring their movements. With their level of cultivation, how could they possibly detect this method?

He cast a spell to track the person being monitored by the spirit brush and noticed their movements. His hairy face furrowed as he thought to himself, "This person was specially entrusted to me by the Star Official to be 'taken care of' so that I could collect the 'reward' I deserve for my performance after he climbs the ladder and obtains the treasure."

I knew the matters entrusted to me by the Star Lord wouldn't be so simple and easy. I regret that I relied on my high level of cultivation and familiarity with Ziding Mountain to indulge in drinking and getting drunk outside the forest.

Despite such regret, Ma Ling still didn't take it seriously enough. That person was just a minor cultivator, an insect that could be killed with a single finger. Even if he broke his spell and cut off his ability to sense things, what difference would it make?

"Disaster! Disaster!"

Outside the Bihan Pool, Ma Ling heard the urgent cries of the Pool Turtle King.

“Lord Ling, I have just returned to the pool and noticed that the water's energy is obstructed, with signs of stagnation and blockage. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that there is actually a treasure hidden in this pool.”

I had never heard of this treasure before. It must have been a secret treasure hidden in the mountains by the old Star Lord in his early years. It must be something of great mystery, unknown to anyone. Now it has been lost because of your unauthorized construction of the Immortal Ladder. How can you bear this responsibility?

Ma Ling's heart skipped a beat, and the slight intoxication instantly sobered her up. Thinking about the consequences, she almost fell off her chair.

"No, he can't leave. He absolutely cannot take the treasure away from the mountain."

He practically roared those words, completely devoid of his former swagger.

Above the top of Qimaling, a child emerged from the gate, transforming into the form of an artist, holding a spirit staff, and bursting into the sky, chasing after the gate leading to the human world.

Hunshui Mountain, Shanggu.

Two streaks of blue-white light flew through the churning sea of ​​clouds, surrounded by hundreds of demonic shadows. In the blink of an eye, they swept past the thousand peaks that resembled halberds and arrived in front of a cave.

There were strongmen in front of the cave, all dressed in black robes and wielding golden spears. As soon as they saw the blue and white light, they knew that the two Qing Gu had arrived. Just as they were about to step forward to pay their respects, they were knocked back by a delicate shout.

The streaking light rushed straight into the mansion, passing through hundreds of light and dark checkpoints and numerous perilous forbidden formations, before finally arriving at a dark and gloomy underground palace.

Seeing the extremely urgent expressions on the faces of the two Qing Gu, the disciples of the Hidden Spirit Sect guarding the palace had no choice but to quietly let them pass, not daring to provoke them under such circumstances.

"You two are so rash, aren't you afraid of triggering the Palace's Time-Dispelling Lightning? The restrictions deep within don't discriminate."

A powerful, domineering voice echoed from within the palace, followed by a burst of blood-red light that swept across the sky, enveloping the rapidly fleeing Big and Little Green Maidens. Before they could react, they were dragged into a stone chamber deep within the underground palace.

"Why are you so impatient?"

Inside the room, thirty-six large and small demonic figures hovered in the air, all asking questions.

Little Qinggu lightly stamped her foot, put her hands on her hips, and said coquettishly, "My darling went to Ziding Mountain to search for treasure, but he was targeted by an old monster. Please, Grandma, do me a favor."

"Xiao Lang?"

The demonic figures all paused slightly, each appearing to be thinking, and teased, "If I remember correctly, your last lover was called Qiu Lang by you. How come you've suddenly got a Xiao Lang? Could it be that Jiang Qiu has changed his name?" Little Qing was both angry and anxious, and pulled her older sister to speak up for her.

“Mother-in-law, please don’t say that about her. Although my brother-in-law is ugly, he is exceptionally talented and a disciple of the True Spirit Sect. My sister is utterly smitten with him. If you were to spread these words, your beloved would surely be branded as a promiscuous vixen.”

The demonic figures all said, "So what if she's a demoness? She dares to admit it. I've been known as an old, ruthless demon for countless years, but now that I've achieved immortality, outsiders still call me 'Fairy Granny'."

Seeing that Xiaoqing was really anxious and about to cry, the demons softened their tone and said, "Oh, my little girl, what kind of trouble is your lover in? Tell me the whole story, and your mother will definitely help you."

Inside, Xiao Qinggu stomped her foot in anger and turned her head away.

Daqing Gu shook her head, knowing that her teacher, the Purple-Faced Golden Granny, was most susceptible to her younger sister's charms and loved her for her fearless nature. So she carefully recounted how Jiang Hei had sent a demon servant to deliver a message.

According to Jiang Heixiao's message, Da Qinggu and Xiao Qinggu were supposed to write to Jinjingshan for help.

However, Xiao Qing Gu had other ideas. She was worried that if the people from Jin Jing Shan came, they would see through her relationship with Xiao Lang and cause her endless troubles. So she decided to ask her teacher for help, which would make Xiao Lang even more grateful and protective of her.

Because of Xiaoqinggu's earnest persuasion, Daqinggu had no choice but to go along with her.

However, Bai Chou Sang Gu was also sent to Jin Jing Mountain with the Nie Guang Stone, which could transmit sound and communicate. If anything went wrong with the teacher and they couldn't persuade him, Sang Gu would be sent to Jin Jing Mountain to ask for help.

When she told the teacher, she did not hide this point and told the truth. If she had hidden it, the teacher, with his profound magic, would have been able to sense her emotions and would have naturally felt something, which might have angered the teacher.

In previous years, those unfamiliar with the teacher's magic would often inadvertently utter affected and deceitful words, thus incurring the teacher's wrath and being reduced to ashes.

After hearing what Daqinggu said, the thirty-six demonic figures in different poses said in unison, "What's so difficult about this that it can make you two so anxious and upset? The eldest young lady handled it well, showing great demeanor. The young lady, on the other hand, only cares about herself and will definitely suffer in the future."

"Mother-in-law, please give me some advice. Xiaolang's life is in danger at any moment."

“My true form resides in the Netherworld Demon Gate and cannot be moved without permission. The thirty-six Demon-Controlling Wisdom Pearls that subdue the old demons of the Netherworld are not something you can subdue or control. All other treasures require the creation of a true demonic form through the ‘Demon-Controlling and God-Summoning Manual’ before they can be possessed. After much thought, only the ‘Black Shadow Golden Blade’ is suitable for you to wield.”

"Thank you, Grandma!"

Little Green Girl said happily.

"Don't be too happy yet. You have served me for many years and should know my rules."

"Grandma, I was able to achieve demonic deeds and attain the merits of an Earthly Immortal because I was moved by Heaven's will. Although I don't like cultivating such good deeds, I've managed to accumulate as little karma as possible in my life. From what you've said, that young man's character seems rather eccentric. Whether this golden dagger will work or not will depend on sensing his heart and nature."

Before the two sisters could speak, thirty-six demonic shadows simultaneously spat out blood, pulling them out of the underground palace. At the same time, a golden knife shot out from a coffin inside the palace.

The Teng Snake, in its magnificent form, roamed the sky, with a person seated on its head, enveloped by a ring of cool, divine light.

Within the divine light, Black Owl stared intently at the portal leading to the human world.

In his basket, the ice jade pavilion transformed from "Shuhanju" trembled slightly, its bone-chilling cold containing immense weight. Even without mentioning the Purple Hemp Light-Stabilizing Screen, just acquiring this treasure alone made his trip to Purple Mountain complete.

"Where are you going, little Taoist priest!"

A sharp shriek, like metal scraping against glass, suddenly tore through the clouds.
The clouds in the void ahead rolled and condensed like boiling water, instantly transforming into the phantom of a peach tree over a hundred feet tall—its branches gnarled like white jade, its leaves fluttering like emerald blades, its stamens exhaling a mesmerizing golden powder, and its sweet, exotic fragrance penetrating the mind and soul.

Before the illusory image of the peach tree, a white figure stood out from nowhere; it was the performer who had created the "ladder to immortality."

At this moment, his clothes were still tattered, but two points of crimson-gold fierce light were faintly visible in his messy hair. There was no longer any trace of the slickness of the common people around him. Only the overwhelming demonic aura rose up like a real flame, stirring the surrounding clouds like boiling water.

"What a scoundrel!"

Ma Ling bared his gleaming white fangs and shouted in a shrill voice, "You used my ladder to enter the mountain, stole its treasures, and now you think you can just walk away? Do you really think Ziding Mountain is your private courtyard?"

With its arms outstretched, the enormous peach tree phantom behind it, with its thousands of branches dancing wildly like a poisonous dragon, filled with pink mist, instantly blocked all paths in all directions. The space seemed to be stuck together by solidified peach gum, heavy and stagnant.

(End of this chapter)