Day and night tour

Chapter 455 Sick Village
"The patriarch's intention was that I should not harbor any thoughts about Zhou Xuan..."

The Calabash Taoist wanted to see what the Black Tortoise would do next, but the Black Tortoise simply tilted its head back, sighed, and then vanished without a trace.

Within the Taoist's "Nine Palaces Talisman," one could only see the sky filled with rain of flowers, and Zhou Xuan standing in the very center of the rain of flowers.

"The patriarch manifested his power through the talisman."

After pondering for a moment, the Taoist suddenly pressed two fingers against the Nine Palaces Talisman in the center of his forehead.

After the nine squares of the talisman rotated continuously, the formation stopped, and he could see things as usual.

"The Nine Palaces Talisman is one of the secret formations passed down by our ancestor. If we are in a critical situation, our ancestor will appear and make a prophecy to save us from danger."

"Is the patriarch unwilling for me to deal with Zhou Xuan because he fears a great calamity might occur?"

The gourd-shaped Taoist stopped in mid-air and began to ponder deeply.

But with this thought, the "painstaking efforts" of the patriarch Xuan Gui became increasingly faint in his mind.

"The reason why Zhou Xuan was not moved is perhaps because Zhou Xuan also cultivated the art of escape and incense. The patriarch regarded him as the future leader of the sect and could not bear to let me kill him."

"If the world remains peaceful and the Daoist sect is unharmed, then Zhou Xuan will naturally have his future. Given time, it's not impossible for him to become the first disciple of the Dunjia sect, and even surpass me in cultivation."
Unfortunately,
"The art of escaping has no future."

When the Calabash Taoist was meditating in the "Riding the Wind and Appreciating the Moon" cave, he saw a vision—the Spirit Mountain of Dunjia was shrouded in blood, and countless corpses of Dunjia disciples were piled up layer upon layer, forming a mountain.

All the buildings on Dunjia Mountain were reduced to scorched earth.

Not only did he see an illusion, but the other ancestors who were cultivating in the other caves also saw similar scenes.

Immediately, the six elders felt this was an extremely strong omen, and they joined forces to search Dunjia Mountain.
During their search, they found a blood spring in Dunjia Mountain.

Within the blood spring, fresh blood surged, and the spiritual energy of the mountain gathered and flowed towards the blood spring.
The spiritual energy of the entire mountain is being absorbed in large quantities by the blood spring.

The six planned to join forces to destroy the blood spring, but when they set up the formation and focused their senses, they detected a huge underground cave beneath the blood spring.

The hole seemed bottomless, and it craved the spiritual energy of Dunjia Mountain even more, absorbing energy several times more powerfully than the Blood Spring.
This means that once they destroy the Blood Spring, the spiritual energy in Dunjia Mountain will only dissipate faster and more fiercely.

So the six of them performed another deduction.

This matter concerns the spiritual foundation of the mountain, and even more so, the cultivation of the six of them. This deduction was performed with utmost effort.

After the deduction was completed, the six people opened their eyes at the same time, smiled bitterly, and said the answer of the deduction at the same time - the lifespan of the Dunjia Mountain lineage has come to an end.

Everything has its lifespan. Animals have theirs, humans have theirs, and even mountains, rivers, and the heavens and earth, though they have a long lifespan, also have their limits.

However, the lifespan of Dunjia Mountain also has its limits.

"Our lifespans and fortunes have long been tied to Dunjia Mountain. If the lineage of Dunjia Mountain is severed, how can we six possibly survive?"

"But if we find a person with great fortune, capture him, set up a magic array, and stuff him into that blood spring, using his fortune to satisfy the blood spring, perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope."

This is why, even knowing that his disciple's invitation to come out of seclusion was a scam, the Calabash Taoist still made the trip to Mingjiang Prefecture to personally observe Zhou Xuan.

"Zhou Xuan is the only hope for Dunjia Mountain."

After thinking this, he remembered "the patriarch Xuan Turtle shaking his head," and he sighed inwardly, saying, "Patriarch, some things are destined tribulations, and we are powerless to change them."

Having arrived here, he had made up his mind. He was about to return to the capital. Before leaving, he glanced at East Market Street one last time.

This time, his gaze wasn't just fixed on Zhou Xuan; he also noticed Sister Cui.

A shower of petals began to fall from the sky, and the streets were filled with onlookers, including quite a few children.
Some children were familiar with Sister Cui and would ask her for candy. If they weren't given candy, they would cry and throw a tantrum.

But Sister Cui doesn't have any candy at home, and the grocery store is closed if she tries to buy some now; she's afraid she won't be able to find any.
To comfort the children, Sister Cui had no choice but to use the laws of the earth, transforming some nearby bricks and stones into the shapes of small horses and carts, which she then gave to the children as toys.

Now that Sister Cui has the special protection of Lord Arrow and Lord Wine, she no longer hesitates to use the laws.
The children, having received their carriages and horses, happily departed one after another.

This seemingly minor application of the law appeared to the Calabash Taoist as if he had discovered a great treasure of the world.

"If I were to capture both the fox spirit who can carve sand and stone with a flick of her wrist and who is born with the ability to comprehend the laws of the four realms, then my cultivation would be so great that even a 'Heavenly Being' would have to show me respect."

"Two wonderful children have emerged from this street; this street is truly blessed."

The Calabash Taoist felt a sense of despair and longing. He wanted to immediately use his Taoist skills to abduct Zhou Xuan and Sister Cui to Dunjia Mountain.
But he only has his soul here, and Zhou Xuan is not an easy opponent. If he makes a rash move, he will probably be the one to die.

"When my true form arrives in Mingjiang Prefecture, I will definitely take Zhou Xuan and Fox Girl with me."

He waved goodbye with reluctance and headed back home.

"Set off immediately for Mingjiang Prefecture to capture Zhou Xuan and the fox spirit."

Upon returning to his cave, the Calabash Taoist's first words set the tone for the matter.
The four fellow disciples, Zhao Longhu and Zhao Youting, all thought their wicked scheme had succeeded. Although their faces remained expressionless, they were secretly overjoyed.

Zhao Longhu, in particular, was secretly delighted, thinking to himself, "These ancestors, despite their high cultivation, have lived in the mountains for many years and have long forgotten the years outside. They are so easy to fool."

……

The shower of petals finally stopped in the early hours of the morning.
Zhou Xuan and the others also dispersed.

The bustling atmosphere of Dongshi Street had largely subsided. However, as it was a funeral street, people died every day in Mingjiang Prefecture, so the street was naturally thriving at night, with the sounds of gongs, drums, and suonas still playing from time to time.

In the night sky, two figures were hidden in the clouds, watching everything that was happening on the street.

They were none other than imperial envoys sent down from the Heavenly Vault—the Master of the Longevity Cult and the Crippled Monk.

The tattered cassock worn by the crippled monk fluttered in the wind as he said to the Longevity Cult Leader, "I never expected that what that kid said was true. He has the qualities to become the most powerful alchemist in the world."

"It's no longer a special trait; he has already refined a superior elixir, even if it's just a speck of medicinal dust."

The leader of the Longevity Cult reached out and scooped up the few remaining petals falling from the sky.

The flowers, once in his hands, transformed into the shape of copper coins.

The copper coin flower trembled, making a clinking sound like copper coins colliding.

"A shower of flowers is a blessing, an auspicious omen bestowed by heaven and earth. Since these are copper coin flowers, they can enhance the fortune of this street."

"By tomorrow, this street will truly be bustling with business and teeming with customers."

The leader of the Longevity Cult clenched his fist, gripping the copper coin tightly, and instructed the crippled monk, "Old Cripple, you continue to keep watch here. Remember, don't bother Zhou Xuan."
From now on, Zhou Xuan will likely become someone neither of us can afford to offend.

"Don't worry, Master, I'm usually quite sensible."

“Of course I’m at ease. Oh, and let me tell you one more thing: if anyone causes trouble for Zhou Xuan these next few days, you have to kill them all… Zhou Xuan can’t die. If he dies at this critical juncture, we’ll both be in deep trouble.”

"Know."

The Crippled Monk responded in this way, while the Eternal Life Cult Leader waved his sleeve and drew a "gate" in front of him.

Rather than calling it a "gate," it's more accurate to describe it as a passage between the human world and the heavens.

However, this passage is too narrow and precious; without the decree from the heavens, it cannot be opened.

Now, even if it is opened, the leader of the Longevity Cult still needs to inform the person at the end of the passage.

"Mr. Yan, Zhou Xuan has made a big move; I need to go to the 'Palace of Longevity'."

"can."

Lazy voices came from inside the passage. Only after receiving permission did the Longevity Cult Leader bend down and squeeze into the passage.

……

Inside the passage was endless darkness. The Eternal Life Cult Leader was being pushed along by an unseen force in the darkness. After a long time, a light appeared before him.

He appeared in a stone chamber.

An old man, carrying a lantern, shone it on the leader of the Longevity Cult.

He hated this Immortal Cult Leader because, in his view, the Immortal Cult Leader's body was covered in festering sores, each one as big as a bowl, oozing pus.

Therefore, out of concern, the old man took two steps back, fearing he might catch the virus.

"However, this Longevity Cult Leader is relatively clean. That remnant monk was even more disgusting. Not only was he covered in festering sores, but maggots were crawling out of his wounds. Just looking at him made my scalp tingle."

The old man looked down on the leader of the Longevity Cult, but didn't the leader of the Longevity Cult also look down on the old man?

The old man was "Mr. Yan," who guarded the passageway.

From the perspective of the Eternal Life Cult Leader, this Mr. Yan was a fat maggot, whose white, disgusting fat trembled with every step he took.

Several times, the Longevity Cult Leader almost couldn't resist kicking Mr. Yan to the ground, then stomping his head on the forehead of this fat maggot until it was crushed.

But these are just his evil thoughts; he doesn't actually have the ability to step on them.

This Mr. Yan is not a disciple of a sect who ascended from the mortal realm; he is a native of the Heavenly Vault—the Heavenly Fire Clan.

In this unfathomably high city of the heavens, the Heavenly Fire Clan is a cut above the rest.

"Take this, carry the lantern outside, and it will guide you to the 'Palace of Longevity'."

Mr. Yan said.

Because of their mutual dislike, Mr. Yan and the leader of the Longevity Cult were both extremely careful in their actions.

Mr. Yan, fearing he might contract a lot of boils, deliberately held the lantern a little further away.

The leader of the Longevity Cult, disgusted that the other party was a fat maggot, covered his hands with his sleeves and took the lantern through his clothes.

"Fortunately, he knows he is despicable and deliberately avoids me."

This idea exploded in both of their minds at the same time.

……

The words "immortality" were written on the lantern. The leader of the Immortality Cult carried the lantern and walked out of the stone chamber.

Outside the stone chamber, a misty fog enveloped everything.
The lanterns illuminated a stone path in the mist.

Having lived in the heavens for so long, the Lord of the Longevity Cult naturally knew the rules. When walking in the heavens, one could only walk on the path illuminated by the lantern. If one went outside the path, one would become food for the "divine fire," and even gods were no exception.

He walked step by step, not knowing how long he had walked, until finally, the mist dissipated, and a dilapidated palace, as gloomy as a tomb, appeared before the Eternal Life Cult Leader.

Two eight-legged spiders, one black and one white, stood in front of the hall. The two "spiders" were arm in arm, looking very friendly. After seeing the leader of the Longevity Cult, they whispered with a hint of sarcasm, "Look, the people from that sick village have arrived."

"Stay away from him, or you'll catch a bunch of diseases and ruin your health."

"Please excuse me, I need to see the Palace Master."

The Immortal Cult Leader spoke to the spider.

"Go on, the Palace Master is enjoying flowers and consuming pills." The two spiders covered their mouths and noses with their claws, as if afraid that inhaling the air exhaled by the Longevity Sect Master would cause them to contract a strange disease.

Until the Eternal Life Cult Leader had gone far away,

The spiders finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The people of this diseased village are finally gone."

“The people in these sick villages are really annoying, covered in festering sores without even realizing it.”

"The people from the diseased village who can enter our Sky Dome are already considered clean. You didn't see the people deep inside the diseased village... tsk tsk... they are particularly disgusting."

The white spider said, "Last time I went to visit Mr. Yan, I borrowed his eyes and took a look at that sick village. Some of the people there were completely rotting, with pieces of flesh falling off one after another."

Moreover, those people were incredibly filthy; they would pick up their own rotten flesh, let it fall off, and then stuff it into their mouths.

"The people in the sick village are really filthy."

Black Spider also said with extreme disgust.

The "sick village" they keep referring to is—the human world!
From the perspective of the Skyfire Clan, all the people in the human world are sick... and very sick!

……

After entering the "Palace of Longevity," the leader of the Longevity Cult continued walking forward.

He is not the oldest of the twenty-four gods in the heavens, but he has been in heaven for a very long time.

Although he spends most of his time in his divine kingdom, overseeing the human world, he has become somewhat familiar with the heavens.

He knew that the Heavenly Fire Clan in the sky was also divided into different classes.

The more an animal resembles an insect, the lower its spiritual cultivation; conversely, the more human-like an animal resembles a human, the higher its spiritual cultivation.
The master of the "Palace of Longevity" is named Qingyangyu.

Qingyangyu is the appearance of a person—but he is also strangely shaped. He is already fat, and there are four fleshy tumors hanging down from his throat.

Each tumor was bright red, like an overgrown, large red rooster comb.

"These flowers are so beautiful."

Qingyangyu stroked the fleshy tumor and gazed at a withered flower.

"What a pity, it's failed to bloom again."

After he finished speaking, he opened another gourd, put a pill into his mouth, and chewed it with a loud thud.

Once the elixir took effect, he saw that the withered flower had bloomed again. He clapped his hands and said, "It's blooming again! It's blooming again! These flowers are blooming so profusely! The whole courtyard is full of them. They are blooming so beautifully."

He clapped excitedly, his face beaming with uncontrollable laughter.

"The Palace of Longevity must have flowers that never fade and flowers that live forever through the four seasons to be called the Palace of Longevity."

"Beautiful flowers, beautiful flowers."

"Ugh."

The leader of the Longevity Cult sighed. He could see clearly that there was only one withered flower in the entire "Longevity Palace".

The "courtyard full of flowers" that Qingyangyu saw was nothing more than the effect of the elixir.

"Palace Mistress of Qingyang Palace".

The leader of the Longevity Cult bowed slightly and greeted Qing Yangyu with a "Yes, sir."

"Hey hey ha ha, little Changsheng, you've come at the perfect time! Come and see, come and see, the flowers in this courtyard are blooming so profusely and so full of life."

Overjoyed, Qingyang Yu removed the gourd lid, poured out a pill resembling a human eye, and handed it to the Longevity Cult Leader, saying,

“Little Changsheng, you are from the Sick Village and suffer from an eye disease that prevents you from seeing all the flowers in the yard. If you eat this elixir, you will be able to see the flowers again. Hee hee ha ha, hee hee ha ha.”

The pill was handed over, and the Longevity Cult Leader dared not refuse. He took the pill, put it in his mouth, but did not chew it.

He had experience with this; the pill from Qingyangyu was too potent. If one consumed too much, one might become as insane as the other.

However, he only pretended to eat it, but the act had to be real.

He immediately exclaimed, as if he had seen a courtyard full of flowers, "Qingyang Palace is indeed full of rare and exotic flowers and plants that live forever."

"Eternal life, well said, well said... Hey... Little Changsheng, didn't I tell you to go to the mortal realm and keep an eye on that patient named Zhou Xuan?"

"Palace Master, I have come to find you because of Zhou Xuan."

The leader of the Longevity Cult spread his right hand, revealing a golden flower petal.

The blue sheep feather grabbed the golden flower, took a deep sniff, and its eyes immediately lit up. It said, "What a strong scent of elixir!"

"Zhou Xuan has already refined a medicinal dust and exchanged it with heaven and earth."

"Good, good, good. Zhou Xuan is very ill, but I didn't expect him to have the ability to refine immortal pills. That's great."

Qing Yangyu added, "However, although he has the skill to refine pills, whether he can win over those two blue and red fish, I still need to report to my superiors and see what they think."

"Palace Master, Zhou Xuan plans to build a furnace as tall as a mountain in the next few days to refine a complete Heaven and Earth Longevity Pill."

"Is there such a thing?"

Qing Yangyu turned his head, his face fierce, and asked, "In the first round of alchemy, they didn't even think of our Heavenly Firmament, or our 'Longevity Palace'? They're courting death."

(End of this chapter)