Day and night tour

Chapter 485 The Seventh Incense Stick
"Why?" Yun Ziliang and the others looked at Li Changxun.

Li Changxun said, "You all saw the imposing aura the Great Master possessed just now. The four Heavenly Venerable cloud patterns on his chest were glowing, and he emerged from the separated Netherworld."

What does this mean?
On stage, he played the role of "Supreme Will."

Yun Ziliang had also heard Zhou Xuan talk about the Four Heavenly Venerables dividing the sea with "Supreme Will", and he agreed with Li Changxun's view.

"You're right, so what?"

"And then? There's no 'and then'. This shows that will can be born on the stage."

Li Changxun said, "A single stage can give rise to a single will, but how many wills does the Kingdom of Jing have?"

"Back then, it was the Supreme Will that personally issued the order, dispatching god-level beings and Daoists to hunt down the opera performer. This demonstrates that the Supreme Will does not allow new, powerful wills to be born from that stage."

Or, in some extreme case, the will born on that stage might even surpass the "supreme will."

Li Changxun's deduction left everyone speechless for a moment.

Can the will within the stage be stronger than the "supreme"?

Zhou Lingyi was also pondering this silently. After thinking for a long time, she broke the silence first and asked Li Changxun, "Brother, the skills of that 'God of Drama' on the stage are indeed extremely powerful, but they are limited to this stage. If he were outside the stage, he wouldn't have such great abilities."

Would such a narrow area really arouse the suspicion of the "Supreme Will"?

Li Changxun immediately picked up the conversation, saying, "Master Zhou, suppose... I'm just assuming... suppose the stage is large enough that the entire Jing Kingdom is the Great Master's stage, wouldn't that mean that the most powerful will within the Jing Kingdom is the Great Master?"

Despite Li Changxun's low combat strength, ranking among the weakest in the Heavenly Court, he actually possesses many unique insights into cultivation.

These words were like a thunderclap, making the ears of the others ring.

"That's no wonder."

Zhou Lingyi said, "I originally thought that the ancestral tree's awakening today, and its stretching of branches towards Mingjiang Prefecture, was to help my brother fight against a powerful enemy. But now I know—the ancestral tree came to join forces with the peach blossom ancestral tree to seal off the entire stage."
To prevent his younger brother from already understanding the matter of the "God of Drama in the Human World" and proclaiming it to the world,
However, since my younger brother possesses such powerful supernatural abilities, sooner or later the entire Jing Kingdom will know. At that time, I fear some of the Jing Kingdom's powerful figures will reach out and cast him into an endless abyss.

Upon hearing this, Yun Ziliang felt a pang of panic, but he forced himself to remain calm and reassured Zhou Lingyi, "Master Zhou, who can predict what will happen in the future? As long as Xuanzi can keep his talents hidden, it won't be easy for outsiders to discover the abilities of this 'God of Drama on Earth.'"

"Instead of hiding our strengths, we should take the initiative."

Yuan Buyu, who had been silent for a long time, tapped his copper pipe and said.

"Take the initiative, but how?" Yun Ziliang asked.

Yuan Buyu said, "The art of opera is the key to performing. In the Jing Kingdom, there is an expert who must understand the ins and outs of opera. This expert is not somewhere else, but in the Zhou family troupe."

"Who?" Li Changxun was taken aback when he heard this. How come he had never heard of such a person in the Zhou family troupe?

Zhou Lingyi, however, said, "The Nuo God—Fang Xiangshi."

Li Changxun and Yun Ziliang then realized what the Zhou family troupe did. They were a troupe of ghost opera performers.

The Zhou family troupe has always had a unique skill in the field of ghost opera, a skill that no other ghost opera troupe can match – Nuo opera.

"Nuoxi is not as simple as ordinary opera; it contains the essence of all living beings."

As soon as Zhou Lingyi finished speaking, Li Changxun and Yun Ziliang understood Yuan Buyu's meaning. Instead of hiding and not daring to show his skills in the dark, Zhou Xuan's "Human Drama God" should openly ask the Nuo God for advice on how to further improve his skills.

As long as Zhou Xuan is powerful enough, even if everyone knows about his "God of Drama in the Human World" skills, so what? Might makes right.

“When I returned to Mingjiang Prefecture, I set up a ceremony to seek divine guidance from the Nuo God.”

Zhou Lingyi said this.

"Very good, very good."

Everyone agreed with Yuan Buyu's suggestion.

……

Zhou Xuan rose from humble beginnings, experiencing the trials of six different factions: "Storyteller," "Tattoo Artist," "Dragon Seeker," "Armor Master," "Theatrical Performer," and "Fangshi of the Nine Provinces."

He had gone through several promotion ceremonies before, but none of them had been as easy as this one.

As he concentrated, he saw a stage.

On the stage, there was another "Zhou Xuan".

Zhou Xuan sat on a grand chair in the center of the stage, looking around at the empty space.

Suddenly, Zhou Xuan stood up, spread his arms, one hand raised upward and the other downward, and stood in a stance similar to a horse stance—the Vajra Stance.

Then, he held an invisible bowl in his hand, and made a pounding motion with his right hand—the apothecary's pounding motion.

Afterwards, Zhou Xuan followed suit and performed the five Buddhist postures: "Guiding Vajra Posture," "Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Posture," and "Demon-Subduing Vajra Posture."

After completing the five forms of the Buddhist Kingdom, he then performed many of the postures of the Supreme Master of Escape Technique.

He imitated each of the "actors" who had appeared on the stage, one by one.

Finally, Zhou Xuan stood on one leg, raised his right hand and right foot at the same time, and glared angrily ahead. This is one of the iconic movements in Nuo opera - the heavenly god driving away ghosts.

"The play tells a story that lasts a thousand years, and is performed for the mountain spirits to hear."

After a sigh, Zhou Xuan vanished, and a mask radiating fire flew toward him.

Zhou Xuan reached out, removed the mask, and placed it at his waist.

Aside from the incense offerings from the "Nine Provinces Alchemists," which Zhou Xuan has yet to rekindle, he has already visited five halls and acquired four masks.

"It seems that this incense-burning ceremony was meant to be my performance in a grand human drama. However, before the incense had even burned out, my Mingjiang drama had already come to an end, which is why my promotion went so smoothly."

As Zhou Xuan pondered this, he noticed that the sword spirit had already entered his secret realm.

In the secret realm, a new mountain has appeared suspended in mid-air, and on its highest peak stands a stick of incense.

"The Seventh Incense Stick - The Swordsman Without Questions".

Zhou Xuan smiled at the incense burner for a while.

Zhou Xuan's level of incense offering has already reached the level of seven incense sticks...

……

At this time, the canopies of the willow and peach trees had been removed.

Inside the stage, clarity returned.
Li Changxun clasped his hands in front of his forehead, looked at Zhou Xuan, and said meaningfully, "The Zhou family's Nuo has broken through to the seven incense sticks level for the first time. Master Zhou, you'd better set up a good banquet."

"A celebration for your child's graduation?"

Yun Ziliang smiled easily and said, "However, this is a good suggestion."

Zhou Lingyi was overjoyed. Her eyes crinkled into crescent moons as she said, "In the past, the Zhou family's Nuo rituals have never produced anyone with high honors. This time, we've broken the Zhou family's two-thousand-year curse."

"Once I return to Pingshui Prefecture, I will host a continuous feast that will last for three days, lining an entire street."

The topic of the Zhou family's Nuo ritual failing to attract high incense offerings was put to an end today by Zhou Xuan.

……

The members of the Imperial Guard also collectively watched the aura emanating from Zhou Xuan after he offered incense.
The painter taunted the musician, "Old Musician, when the Master was just beginning to make a name for himself in Mingjiang Prefecture, I said he was destined for greatness. But you, you never thought highly of him, believing he wouldn't last seven incense sticks. Now, look at him..."

"What am I looking at? It's an old painting, it's all in the past, let's turn the page. Don't keep bringing it up, it's embarrassing."

The musician gritted his teeth and squeezed out each word, making the people from the game bureau burst into laughter.

……

"He finally unleashed that strike."

Inside the Dunjia Mountain pit, the Butcher said with great satisfaction, "I sensed it. The sword spirit has entered my body. Wuwen Mountain has welcomed the number one swordsman in the world."

Wuwen Mountain once had a glorious past, with disciples passing down their skills from generation to generation, and countless exceptionally talented disciples emerging from among them.

However, no one could be like Zhou Xuan, who had already mastered the sixteenth and seventeenth techniques of the Jing Kingdom before even entering the gate.

"Congratulations, Butcher. However, I, Old Incense, never expected that Zhou Housheng's slash would actually be aimed at Old Meng."

The Taoist priest gazed in the direction of Mingjiang Prefecture and saw a hazy pink mist floating above the prefecture that had almost been destroyed not long ago.

Pink is the color of romance. What in the world is more romantic than a dream?

The scene in the dream was bizarre and fantastical, with cattle and horses flying in the sky and white clouds drifting beneath people's feet.

But now, this romance has been severed by Zhou Xuan with a single stroke.

"Given Old Dream's insatiable greed, we should have chopped him down when he tried to steal Zhou Xuan's power last time."

Despite his hatred, the butcher calmed down and asked the incense-burning Taoist priest, "Why did Zhou Xuan kill Old Dream this time? Could it be that he stole the vast power of the Mingjiang Vow again?"

"That shouldn't be it—I always felt it was related to the Buddhist people."

"Oh?"

"Over the years, I've always felt that there's something strange about the Buddhist people entering the Well Kingdom. In the world of time and space, I've seen traces of the old dream."

"That's what the incense-burning Taoist priest said."

"So, he's having an affair with the people of the Buddhist Kingdom, and they're colluding with him?"

"I just suspect that Zhou Housheng's stab might have confirmed my suspicions."

After saying this, the Taoist priest rode away on his black donkey.

"Where are you going?" the butcher asked.

"Where else can we go? Let's go to Mingjiang and watch Zhou Housheng refine pills. Maybe I can even get a pill to try."

The Taoist priest had only walked a short distance when he suddenly stopped and asked the butcher, "Aren't you going to Mingjiang to see your new disciples?"

"I've used Dunjia Mountain to sharpen my blade. The towering mountain is long gone. However, at the foot of Dunjia Mountain, there is a stone tablet. Within that tablet are the life souls of the six Supreme Elders of Dunjia Mountain. I will go and slay them to avenge the calamity of Wuwen Mountain back then." The butcher waved his hand, said, "You go first," and then walked briskly towards the depths of the ravine in Dunjia Mountain.

"You've run out of knives, what will you use to cut?" the incense-burning Taoist priest asked.

The butcher waved his hand, cutting through the mountain mist, and said, "I haven't used a knife for a long time. I myself am the sharpest knife."

……

In the Sky Dome Stone House, Qing Yangyu, the Palace Master of the Longevity Palace, asked Mr. Yan, "Did you see it clearly or not?"

"Palace Mistress Qingyang, those two crooked trees are blocking the view of Mingjiang Sick Village. I really couldn't see how Zhou Xuan made his move."

However, I clearly saw a flash of light; perhaps Zhou Xuan was able to kill the doctor with that knife?

“I don’t want to hear words like ‘maybe,’ ‘possibly,’ or ‘perhaps.’ I want a definitive answer.”

"Qingyangyu said."

Mr. Yan lowered his head and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me, I really..."

"You always let us down when it matters."

Qingyang Yu had no choice but to wave the palace lantern and connect with the disabled monk and the leader of the Longevity Cult in Mingjiang Prefecture.

"Little Changsheng, how did Zhou Xuan kill the doctor in Mingjiang Sick Village?"

"Qingyangyu asked."

"This this……"

The Longevity Cult Leader couldn't answer. Before Zhou Xuan used "Human Drama God," he and the Heavenly Crippled Monk were trapped inside the "treehouse," and they had no idea what was happening outside.

By this time, the stage had been removed, and the people of Mingjiang Prefecture had all woken up.
These people, like those waking from a dream, may have had many strange and wonderful things in their dreams, but once they wake up, they only remember fragments of those dreams.

The leader of the Longevity Cult dared not refuse to answer, so he simply echoed what others were saying. He tilted his ear and listened carefully to what the people around him were discussing.

"Master's strike was truly powerful, slicing that so-called celestial being into oblivion."

"That slash that pierced through the stars was so powerful that even I had to avoid its edge."

"Hey, have you no shame?"

The common people were all smiles, chatting about the power of that single strike, and all they remembered was the brilliance of that strike.

Upon hearing this, the leader of the Longevity Cult cautiously replied to Qing Yangyu, "Palace Master, Zhou Xuan killed that celestial being with a single strike."

As the leader of the Longevity Cult who ascended to the heavens from the land of Jing Kingdom, he still habitually refers to "Gods" as Gods rather than "Doctors".

"No other moves were used?"

"It seems to have."

The leader of the Longevity Cult is still listening.

Qingyang Yuxin was on the verge of a fit of rage. He quite liked Zhou Xuan, the Human Alchemist, but liking him was one thing, admiring him was another. If he found out that Zhou Xuan had used the methods of the "Human Drama God," he would still kill Zhou Xuan.

"What trick?"

"The True Scripture of the Valley: Zhou Xuan borrowed the power of the entire city and, with that sword, beheaded the god."

How could the leader of the Longevity Cult know what had happened? He simply answered whatever the common people said.

Qing Yangyu nodded and said, "Yes, as long as he didn't use that trick, this alchemist is still a good alchemist."

"Palace Master, which move are you referring to?"

"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask."

Qingyangyu severed the link, in high spirits. He grabbed a fat worm from the wooden bucket next to him, chewing it until juices flew everywhere, and said, "I've made a fortune today. It's one thing for Tianqiong to recruit a good alchemist, but he also killed a doctor."

"Those doctors are so annoying. Zhou Xuan helped us kill one, which is a great service to Tianqiong, a great service indeed."

……

Mingjiang Mansion, Xie Jia'ao,

After the stage was dismantled, the people awoke one by one. At first, they were simply discussing how sharp Zhou Xuan's sword strike had been.
But gradually, one by one, they raised their heads and grinned.

"They're back, they're all back."

Zhou Xuan has successfully lit incense and channeled his vows into the city in the clouds.

A new round of reconstruction has begun in Mingjiang Prefecture.

Those Mingjiang people who perished in the great calamity were suspended by silk threads from Yunzhong Prefecture, slowly descending like countless stars into the various regions of Mingjiang Prefecture.
Besides the deceased mourning in the Mingjiang River, a torrential downpour also began in Yunzhong Prefecture.
The raindrops, once they touched the ground, turned into bricks and tiles, restoring the buildings of Mingjiang Prefecture one after another to their original state.

Paramount Nightclub, Mingjiang Tower, Binjiang Building, Shande Hospital... These buildings destroyed in the disaster have sprung up from the ruins like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

Zhou Xuan waved to Li Changxun.

Li Changxun was extremely sensible. He stirred up a gust of wind and lifted Zhou Xuan a hundred feet into the air.

Zhou Xuan climbed to a high place and looked out. Mingjiang Prefecture had indeed become beautiful again, with colorful neon lights that were graceful and charming.

"This is the Yeming River I remember."

Zhou Xuan said with satisfaction.

The people of Mingjiang Prefecture raised their hands high, looked up at Zhou Xuan, and shouted "Great Master!"

Zhou Xuan was above, and the people were below, just like believers worshipping their god.

"Gentlemen, Mingjiang is being rebuilt at an extremely rapid pace. Ye Mingjiang is back, and your families are back too. Now, disperse and go see your loved ones, and experience the Mingjiang mansion as the lanterns are lit up at dusk."

"Tonight belongs to Yemingjiang."

"Long live the Great Master!"

"Mingjiang Prefecture thanks you, sir."

After expressing their deepest gratitude, everyone reluctantly departed, each heading home.
Not long ago, Xiejia'ao was crowded with people, but it has returned to its former desolation.

The remaining people were Zhou Xuan's old friends.

After Zhou Xuan landed, the painters, musicians, and others were so excited that they could hardly contain themselves. They grasped his hand and thanked him, saying, "Great Master, Mingjiang Prefecture is so fortunate to have you."

"Master, from now on, with a single word from you, the entire Mingjiang Prefecture's Bureau of Parade Gods will be at your command."

The musicians and painters expressed their gratitude one after another, giving Zhou Xuan goosebumps.

He shook his hand abruptly and said, "Don't bother with the thanks. Let's finish this quickly and go home. I'm so sleepy I'm about to fall asleep."

Painter, musician: "..."

Zhou Xuan verified from his own experience that even the most sincere thanks and praise can become annoying if you hear them too often.

He only wanted to do the second important thing tonight—to refine elixirs, exchange items with heaven and earth, and take "Mu Hua" home.

Let's finish this quickly so we can go home and rest.

To refine pills, one needs the help of the fox clan. He glanced at the crowd and saw Sister Cui, but not King Xishan.

Where's Lao Xi?

Zhou Xuan asked.

The painter looked back and indeed saw no trace of the King of the Himalayas.

"Perhaps Old Xi went to visit his fox clan?" the painter said, scratching his head.

Among the dead in Mingjiang Prefecture were many foxes. Once the prefecture was rebuilt, the fox offspring of King Xishan all returned.

“Give him half an hour to catch up, and call him back after that,” Zhou Xuan said, taking out his pocket watch.

"Oh, Zhou Housheng, the lord of Mingjiang Prefecture, you're so precise these days, calculating down to the minute?"

The incense-offering Taoist priest emerged from the void.

Zhou Xuan recognized the voice immediately, and he also knew that this was the True Incense-Worshipping Taoist priest. However, he deliberately feigned anger, turned around, and said indignantly, "You dare to come back? Wait till I kill you again!"

"Huh?!" The incense-burning Taoist priest was somewhat taken aback.

He saw that Li Changxun, Yun Ziliang, the painter... all brandished their weapons, ready to face him.

"What kind of show is this? What crime have I committed? They're all hurling insults at me, and oh dear, they're even spitting on my donkey!"

The Taoist priest, spreading his hands, said helplessly...

……

In the cave at the bottom of Xiejia'ao, King Xishan sat in the cave, with Fox Chou'er and Fox Shu'er as his companions.

The leader of the Longevity Cult and the crippled monk entered the mountain cave and paid their respects to the King of Xishan.

"King Xishan, congratulations! A few days ago, you were granted an imperial decree and established the 'Hu Men' sect. You have also become a Celestial God." The Heavenly Crippled Monk clasped his hands together, showing a rare gentleness.

The leader of the Longevity Cult feigned friendliness: "Old Xi, from now on, we are colleagues."

The two deities of the Xishan Dynasty nodded in agreement.

The Immortal Cult Leader said, "Since we are colleagues, we should have the friendship between colleagues. We have been in the human world for quite some time and are really hungry. We are asking you for some food."

The crippled monk made no attempt to hide his desire, reaching out to grab the fox cub: "This fox is quite good, rather intelligent, rather intelligent..."

(End of this chapter)