Infinite Puzzle City

Chapter 493: Filial Son and Good Grandson Zhao Qingming

The life fire lights the incense, and the incense turns into spirit.

Xiao Ran could probably understand it, but didn't know what to do.

However, Zhao Qingming was naturally prepared for this kind of thing. He taught Xiao Ran a set of mantras and the corresponding methods in his ears.

"This is my Zhao family's secret technique. This is my reward to you."

"Thank you, Grandpa Zhao."

"Hey, you're quite polite. Let's get started. We have limited time, so the sooner the better."

"Ok!"

Xiao Ran took the three yellow incense sticks, held them in his hands, and followed the method taught by Zhao Qingming, moving four steps forward and four steps backwards while silently chanting a spell.

As for magic, most people can use it if they master the spells and how to use them.

The difficulty lies in whether you can control your own mental state.

Xiao Ran has experience in this area. Whether it is the [Yan Sheng Shu], the Zhou family's [Soul Crossing Sutra], or his own [Corpse Dissection Record], Xiao Ran has mastered them very skillfully.

So even if it was the first time he performed this technique, he had already mastered the secrets of it in a moment.

This made Zhao Qingming, who was standing by, so surprised that he called it a monster.

You should know that when my father taught me this secret skill, I spent three months trying to master it and finally gave up practicing it.

It was only later, when he grew older and had a deeper understanding of his own techniques, that he was able to master this technique.

Xiao Ran learned it just by listening to him narrate it once.

"Is this kid really Xiao Laosi's grandson?"

Just when Zhao Qingming was wondering whether Xiao Ran was a descendant of the Xiao family, Xiao Ran had already raised three yellow incense sticks high above his head.

His legs stomped the ground with a special rhythm, and then he picked up a stick of yellow incense and chanted: "The essence of Xuanming, the Kan hexagram sees the nature, stand!"

As Xiao Ran chanted the spell, he took out a yellow incense stick and placed it on his shoulder.

What was surprising was that after the incense stick was lightly placed there, it actually stood upright, and the incense head began to slowly smolder.

"The gold of Qian Qi, the root of Qi movement, stand!"

Xiao Ran placed another incense stick on his shoulder again. The incense stick also stood upright, but the incense head was not smoldering. Instead, a wisp of bright flame lit the yellow incense.

These two incense candles on the left and right, the smoldering one on the left is the kidney fire, and the bright flame on the right is the lung fire.

The last incense stick Xiao Ran held above his head.

He chanted the mantra: "Life and essence intersect, the three lights of the sun and the moon, life and nature become gods, and stand!"

I saw incense and candles standing on his head, with a ray of crystal light flashing on them, like a dream, and very dazzling.

Now Zhao Qingming was silent.

This family's technique is the best way to test a person's foundation. The worse the foundation, the worse the performance of the ignited flame, which means that the person's spirit and energy are unstable.

But the state Xiao Ran showed now... Zhao Qingming was speechless and could only mutter in his heart: "Xiao Lao Si, Xiao Lao Si, you let this child learn your family's skills, it's really a waste of talent. No wonder this child wants to reunite the four sects and evolve the Plum Blossom Dao."

As the three yellow incense sticks were lit, Xiao Ran sat cross-legged. The spirit of his true body slowly reappeared as a shadow behind him along with the green smoke rising from the three yellow incense sticks.

"Hey, this is quite fun. I feel like I have endless energy now."

Xiao Ran carefully felt his current state. Although he was clearly just a wisp of green smoke, he always felt that he had great power and endless strength just by raising his hand.

"The incense and fire are transformed from your own essence, energy and spirit. It has great power, but it also overdraws your body, so you just need to hold the door open later. Don't do anything rash, otherwise it will be too much of a burden on you."

Zhao Qingming briefly reminded Xiao Ran, then pointed to the large door on the tombstone and said, "Remember, once you open the door, don't go in. Otherwise, once the door loses its support, it will be sealed immediately, and we will both be trapped inside."

After saying that, Zhao Qingming was still a little worried, and said to Xiao Ran: "By the way, if someone tells you to let him out, you must not let him out. In addition to my Zhao family's ancestors, there are also some spiritual fairies that the Zhao family has kept in captivity. They are suppressed together in here. Letting them out will be a big disaster."

Zhao Qingming was now telling Xiao Ran a lot of things to pay attention to, just like a nagging old woman. Xiao Ran finally couldn't bear it anymore and said, "Okay, I got it. Please continue. I'm almost done with the incense here."

Hearing this, Zhao Qingming felt a little embarrassed, but there was nothing he could do about it. People always wonder if they have missed something only when things come to a head.

At this time, Xiao Ran walked to the huge tombstone like a mountain, opened his hands, placed them heavily on the stone door in front of him, and pushed hard with both hands!
"Click!!"

The tombstone was seen shaking, and the door on it was slowly pushed open a crack.

A ray of crystal light penetrated through the gap.

In an instant, Xiao Ran heard countless strange whispers coming from behind the door, as if something behind the door was awakened.

"Whoosh!!"

At this time, Zhao Qingming had already rushed in through the crack of the door, and at the same time reminded: "Remember, don't come in no matter who calls you."

As he spoke, Zhao Qingming's figure disappeared in the rosy glow.

After Zhao Qingming went in, Xiao Ran stared with wide eyes at what was behind the door.

Amidst the rosy clouds, there was a hazy mist lingering, creating a mysterious and blurry scene.

After a while, Xiao Ran seemed to gradually adapt to the rosy glow in front of him, and what came into his sight was...

"My home???"

Xiao Ran opened his mouth wide. He had just thought of countless possibilities, such as the realm of immortals, a mysterious cave, or even a place like the heavenly palace. At the very least, it was a fairyland on earth, or a glorious ancient tomb.

result……

In front of me is my own backyard. The big tree stands alone in the yard, and behind it is the room where my grandfather lives.

Watching the leaves falling from the treetops, Xiao Ran was briefly confused, but then he was no longer worried.

He is not some greenhorn kid.

I have seen a lot of strange things in the maze city. Although I am a little disappointed, I understand in my heart that this place, and even the location of this tombstone, is probably not real.

There should be a psychedelic barrier behind the gate that can reflect a place familiar to people's hearts.

In order to verify his guess, Xiao Ran closed his eyes and silently thought of the house on Guling Street in his mind. Sure enough, when he opened his eyes again, this place had become his house on Guling Street.

After confirming that his guess was correct, Xiao Ran thought to himself, "That's interesting. No wonder they say that no living people should enter. The Zhao family's methods are indeed extraordinary."

He had wondered before, since there are professional grave diggers, aren't they afraid that the grave diggers will steal from the grave? ?
But now I understand.

Although the tomb openers have mastered the method, they do not know what the Zhao family tomb looks like. Even if they open the door, they cannot imagine what the Zhao family tomb looks like, and naturally they cannot find the Zhao family's real tomb.

What's more, it's all an illusory dream, full of reality and unreal, true and false. If a living person goes in there, even if he has gold, silver and jewelry, he probably won't be able to take it out.

For those who don't know the secret of this anti-theft measure, it would be useless even if they let in beginners like them.

"Om!!"

At this moment, the door in front of him was suddenly opened, and a woman walked out. This woman was wearing a green long skirt and a pink shawl. She looked very charming and attractive. When she saw Xiao Ran who was holding the door at the door, she was very surprised.

"Eh?? After all these years, there are still people digging graves. Could it be that there are successors to the Zhao family?"

Xiao Ran didn't know how to respond for a moment when he heard that.

But his eyes were scanning the woman unscrupulously.

He wanted to use his ability to look back to see who this woman was, but he found nothing. Instead, the woman glared at Xiao Ran with some displeasure: "You are not from my Zhao family."

"How do you know?"

"If I were a descendant of the Zhao family, I would never dare to be as frivolous as you. Although I look young and beautiful, I am actually qualified to be your great-grandmother."

Xiao Ran was a little curious when he heard this. He wondered how old this woman was. Judging from her clothes, they looked like Ming Dynasty decorations.

"In that case, I have yet to ask, what year were you born, Senior?"

"Age... um... I don't know how old I am now, but I remember that when I became conscious, it was during the Wanli Period of the Ming Dynasty."

Xiao Ran calculated the time in his mind and couldn't help but take a breath of cold air in his heart: "Good guy, it's really an old monster. If these old monsters are the foundation of the Zhao family, when the maze city comes, I'm afraid it will become even more terrifying."

suddenly!

Xiao Ran's heart tightened as an indescribable scream came from inside the door.

The sound was like something scratching glass, giving people a splitting headache and indescribable discomfort all over their body.

The decibel of the sound continued to increase, making Xiao Ran instinctively want to cover his ears with his hands.

But just as he was about to move his arm, he felt the heavy weight of the door, which woke Xiao Ran up suddenly. He quickly supported the door with both hands.

But the sound became more and more harsh, and the uneasy feeling made Xiao Ran almost crazy.

Xiao Ran tried to recite the Mahāyāna Marāpāramitā Sutra, which had always been successful, but today it had no effect at all.

What made Xiao Ran feel even more uncomfortable was that the voice was getting louder and louder.

"Master Zhao, please hurry up, I can't hold on any longer."

It's not that Xiao Ran didn't want to hold on, the sound was getting more and more piercing, and he gradually began to lose control of his spirit. Once his spirit began to disperse, the state of incense transformation would be forcibly broken.

Just when Xiao Ran was about to give up, a chill suddenly enveloped Xiao Ran's body, making Xiao Ran feel cool all over, and his originally agitated mood was immediately relieved. Xiao Ran opened his eyes and found a layer of light blue light blocking him.

The woman who had just walked out of the door came to sit on the stone next to Xiao Ran at some point, supporting her chin with one hand and looking at Xiao Ran with her eyes as bright as crescent moons.

"Can you tell me what the outside world is like now?"

Xiao Ran didn't expect that the other party would help him, but seeing that she was just sitting on a rock nearby and had no intention of rushing out, he relaxed.

However, Xiao Ran did not agree to the other party directly, but asked: "What is this sound?"

"Oh, that's not a sound, it's... well, you can think of it as a vibration, something that's specifically designed to deal with living people. I think it must be the little guy who went in and didn't follow the rules, and angered the tribe god."

"Who is the clan god?"

Xiao Ran took the opportunity to ask.

If someone else kept on talking like Xiao Ran, they would have been impatient. However, the woman did not show any dissatisfaction on her face. Instead, she explained patiently, "The clan god is the clan god. It is a spiritual god raised by the Zhao family a long time ago. It is also the guardian god of this place. For the descendants of the family who do not follow the rules, they will use this method to notify the grave diggers outside to close the gate and not let anyone leave."

"So that's how it is. It looks like this trip won't be an easy one for Master Zhao."

Xiao Ran wanted to ask more questions, but the woman spoke first and urged him, "You ask this and that, but you don't ask me questions. It's really boring. If you don't want to talk, I'll leave."

As she spoke, the woman was about to stand up.

Seeing this, Xiao Ran hurriedly shouted, "No, no, no, this, I just can't think of where to start. The world outside has changed so much now."

"Grandpa Zhao hasn't come out yet. If this woman leaves, I can't hold on any longer. I can only delay for now."

Xiao Ran then said, "In the past, people used dry toilets. Now, every household has a toilet. The toilets are inside the house and are clean and hygienic. In the past, the mountains were high and the roads were long. It took several days or even months to travel back and forth across a state. Now, with rail trains, people can travel thousands of miles a day. It only takes seven hours to get from Luoyang to Bashu..."

Xiao Ran spoke eloquently and began to talk to the woman incessantly about the current changes outside.

From toilets, life, to trains, high-speed trains, airplanes, then mobile phones, the Internet, wars, and satellites.

He spoke very quickly, often describing an item in just a few sentences. Although he did not explain it in detail, he made the properties and functions of the item clear and explicit.

It's as smooth as reading out the name of a dish.

The reason for this is that Xiao Ran would tell Gao Yuting these words every night when he hugged her. Now when he tells them to other women, he is naturally familiar with them.

The woman did not expect that the outside world would change so much, so much that she felt unbelievable. She even suspected that Xiao Ran was lying to her. But after listening carefully to the logic and reasoning, she could not find any flaws. Gradually, she became fascinated.

Little did Xiao Ran know that she was already shouting in her heart: "Grandpa Zhao, if you don't come out soon, my stomach will be empty."

Unfortunately, Xiao Ran’s cry in his heart did not receive a response from Zhao Qingming.

On the contrary, because the door was never closed, the maddening explosion became louder and louder.

It was so strong that Xiao Ran could even see the green light blocking his way rippling in waves.

This made Xiao Ran stop explaining the outside world at the right time. He looked ahead worriedly and asked the woman, "It's so noisy, has something happened inside?"

"Well, it was a bit noisy."

The woman looked back and said, "This young man is quite fierce. I haven't seen such a commotion in many years. I don't know what he took away to make so many ancestors of the Zhao family angry."

Xiao Ran couldn't figure out the situation, so he could only ask, "Can he come out?"

The woman stared behind her for a long time, then suddenly frowned, "This kid is really a tough guy. The three ancestors of the Zhao family couldn't suppress him. Even the clan god tried to intervene, but he slapped him in the face!"

Xiao Ran couldn't help but twitch his lips when he heard this, thinking: "Good fellow, Grandpa Zhao is worthy of being the leader of the seven brothers. No wonder he was favored by so many elders back then. There is a reason for that. But it just sounds... a bit like the opposite of Tian Gang. I've never heard of anyone going down to kill their own ancestors?"

At this time, the woman suddenly turned around and asked, "By the way, what are the Buddhist and Taoist sects like now?"

"Buddhism?"

Xiao Ran scratched his head: "I'm really not sure about this. Even though the Internet is so developed, there are so many demons online that anyone can dress up and claim to be a master. Although Taoism does not rely on preaching, I have never seen a master."

"As for Buddhism... well..."

Xiao Ran looked strange, and after thinking for a long time, he said, "Anyway, the monks in the temples now all work part-time. When they are at work, they are monks, and when they are off work, they are local tyrants, oh, that means rich people."

Xiao Ran did not deny that there must be real masters in Buddhism now, but to say that all monks nowadays are fake monks cannot be said to be generalizing, because most monks are like this, and those real monks are rare.

After hearing Xiao Ran's words, the woman just nodded silently and said "oh", but Xiao Ran noticed that the curve at the corner of her lips was so high that even AK couldn't suppress it.

"Oh no, did I say something wrong?"

Even though this woman was helping him, Xiao Ran never dared to relax.

This thing has existed since the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. No matter what it is, it is probably not much worse than the evil spirits in the maze city.

But before Xiao Ran could think carefully about whether his words just now revealed any information, he heard a roar in his ears.

"boom!!"

The huge rumbling sound made Xiao Ran's entire tomb tremble, and then an inexplicable feeling of uneasiness surged in his heart.

It was like a loud thunderclap that triggered something extraordinary.

Even the expression of the woman beside her became serious. She stood up suddenly from under the stone and said, "Oh no! This kid is really bold. He actually used the Kui Zang Thunder to blow up the Zhao family's spiritual lamp. He is looking for death by betraying his master and ancestors!"

Xiao Ran didn't know what Master Zhao had done, but even the women were scolding him, which showed that Master Zhao seemed to be driven into a panic.

"Rumble..."

There was a constant roar of thunder ahead, but unfortunately Xiao Ran couldn't see anything. Soon black mud emerged from the ground, and then the mud kept exploding.

The huge shock wave caused the green light in front of Xiao Ran to shatter.

"Go quickly!!"

As Master Zhao's voice was heard, a crack appeared in the house in front of Xiao Ran. Through this crack, countless twisted figures revealed the tip of the iceberg.

"What are these??"

Most of these figures maintain human form, but they are just forms. When the lights are turned off, they may be human figures, but no part of the body can be associated with a human.

Even though Xiao Ran was knowledgeable and experienced, he still felt his scalp tingling when he saw this scene.

At that moment, Master Zhao rushed out from the crack, pushed Xiao Ran away with his big hand, then turned around and stood in front of the gate, bowing heavily behind the gate; "The unworthy descendant Zhao Qingming apologizes to the ancestors. It was forced by the situation and it was not Qingming's wish. I hope the ancestors will understand."

After saying that, he flicked his sleeves, and the Kui Zang Lei, which was like mud, was thrown out as if it were free, and then a series of rumbling explosions were heard.

Without Xiao Ran's support, the door slammed shut.

Xiao Ran also took advantage of this time to calm down, and when he opened his eyes, the incense on his shoulder was only less than the length of a fingernail.

"Fortunately, if the incense and candles had burned out and Grandpa Zhao hadn't been able to rush out, I would have been helpless."

"Don't just stand there, come and help."

Zhao Qingming's call brought Xiao Ran back to his senses, and he quickly stood up and went to Zhao Qingming's side.

"Take out the Tongyou Seal!"

Zhao Qingming formed seals with his hands, and a ball of dim light came out of his mouth and sprayed on the door. He then pointed and said, "Quick, seal it."

Xiao Ran did not dare to hesitate, and hurriedly took out the Tongyou Seal and covered the ball of dark light with it heavily.

In just a moment, Xiao Ran felt the seal in his hand suddenly sink, as if something was pulled away, but the dim light in front of him also exploded and turned into a big net, covering the entire tombstone.

"Boom blah blah..."

There was a constant, heart-pounding sound of banging on the door from behind the door.

"Zhao Qingming, you beast!!!" Curses came from behind the door.

But Zhao Qingming straightened his back and stood with his hands behind his back: "Thank you, I will be a beast in my next life, but a beast is better than you."

"Zhao Qingming!! You will die a miserable death!"

"Sorry, he's already dead, his bones have been crushed and his ashes have been scattered."

"Zhao Qingming!!! You..."

Zhao Qingming simply turned around and covered his ears with his hands: "I don't want to listen, it's a turtle chanting sutras... Bah, bah, bah, it's our ancestors chanting sutras..."

Xiao Ran stood aside, and the funny gesture of Grandpa Zhao instantly refreshed her worldview. She silently gave him a thumbs up in her heart: "Sure enough, your uncle is still an uncle after all."

The fire on the tombstone gradually faded away, and along with it the endless curses.

Xiao Ran took a look at his [Tongyou Seal] and found that it had increased by 30,000 Yin De for nothing.

"No wonder it suddenly became heavy just now."

But Xiao Ran didn't understand what was going on. He turned around and looked at Zhao Qingming who was still covering his ears, and walked up to him: "Grandpa Zhao!"

Xiao Ran reached out and gently pushed Zhao Qingming.

Zhao Qingming raised his head and looked back, and saw that the tombstone was completely motionless, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Grandpa Zhao, what happened to the door? Why did a large amount of Yin De inexplicably appear on my Tongyou Seal?"

Hearing Xiao Ran's question, Zhao Qingming took a deep breath, his expression became serious again, and he turned his head to glance at the gate behind him: "They are my own ancestors, what bad intentions can I have? I just changed the path of the gate and sent them to the underworld..."

(End of this chapter)