Starting as the young master of a medicine shop, he practiced swordsmanship for twenty years.

Chapter 428 Heading Back Home! Fu Yuan Temple!

Lu Xuan's fingertips traced the five large vermilion characters, "Yangyan Fuhuo Zhenjing" (True Scripture of Yangyan Talisman Fire). The touch carried a barely perceptible warmth, as if tiny sparks were lurking deep within the pages.

A thought stirred within him: the old Taoist's claim of a "fragment" might not be entirely an excuse; this scripture might indeed contain some merit.

Afterwards, Lu Xuan ignored the old Taoist's terrified and complicated look, and didn't bother to pay attention to the old Taoist's junior brother, whose forehead was still blue from the gun barrel and who dared not breathe.

He casually flipped open the scripture, and sure enough, just as the old Taoist had said, the pages were extremely thin, only five pages.

The book is decorated with several strangely structured talisman patterns drawn in cinnabar, accompanied by simple incantations and energy circulation routes. The last few pages show obvious signs of being torn.

Lu Xuan's eyes flashed like lightning as he swiftly scanned the talismans on them.

The "Gathering Yang Talisman" absorbs the essence of sunlight to generate a small amount of yang fire; the "Exorcising Evil Talisman" has the effect of restraining yin and filth; the "Burning Yin Talisman" is slightly more powerful and requires one's own vital energy to activate it, which can burn away yin evil.

The final "Yang Flame Protection Incantation" is not about drawing talismans, but rather a method to instantly mobilize the body's yang energy to form a protective shield, but it has the highest requirements for one's foundation.

In Lu Xuan's view, these talisman techniques were crude, simple, and even incomplete. If one were to practice them step by step, it would be difficult to succeed even once out of ten attempts, and their power would be limited.

But what he wanted was not to follow the established path.

As his thoughts sank into his mind, the empty system panel still floated in the air.

The yellowed ancient book in his hand did not display any magnificent or wondrous scenes, but the system panel in his mind changed instantly.

Host: Lu Xuan, the Immortal of the Mortal World (Seventh Incarnation)

Realm: None
Cultivation Technique: Yangyan Talisman Fire True Scripture (Incomplete)

Score: 0
Lu Xuan casually tossed the yellowed fragment of the "Yangyan Fuhuo Zhenjing" back to the old Taoist priest, as if throwing away a useless piece of junk.

The old Taoist priest hurriedly caught it, holding it tightly in his arms as if it were a lost treasure found again, his face full of astonishment and disbelief.

The commander actually returned the inherited techniques that the temple cherished as its lifeblood?

However, Lu Xuan's next words immediately made his relaxed nerves tense up again.

"Tell me about this ancient tomb. What do you people from Fuyuan Temple think of it?" Lu Xuan's voice was calm.

His eyes slowly swept over the old Taoist priest and the two middle-aged Taoist priests beside him. "Remember, don't lie to me, or people will die."

The last few words were spoken lightly, yet they sent a chill down the old Taoist's spine. The scene of the gun being pressed against his junior brother's temple was still vivid in his mind.

He had no doubt that this unpredictable and decisive commander-in-chief would absolutely keep his word.

With this thought in mind, the old Taoist took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the fear in his heart, and began to carefully organize his thoughts.

"My lord, you are wise. This humble Taoist priest... this humble Taoist priest dares not conceal the truth. This 'White Tiger Carrying a Corpse' formation is exceptionally dangerous, far exceeding that of ordinary tombs."

General Wei Yuan chose this place not merely to bury treasures, but his ambition… was probably the same as what this fellow Daoist just said: to achieve immortality through corpse liberation and transform into a "Fu Shi" (a type of immortal corpse).

After saying that, he pointed to the dark red hill and the deep crevice in front of him.

"General, look at that stone hill. Its color is like congealed blood. It is the 'blood bait' formed by the evil energy of this place condensing over a hundred years."
The fissure was not naturally formed. My guess is that General Wei Yuan used the "Earth-Breaking Nail" technique to forcibly pierce the earth's veins, drawing upwards the deeper layers of Nine Nether Yin Qi and Earth Fire Qi, which then merged with the White Tiger Qi, forming an extremely bizarre "Yin-Yang Reversal Qi."

The old Taoist priest glanced at Lu Xuan, and seeing that he seemed to have taken it in, he perked up slightly and explained in more detail.

"Ordinary malevolent energy may be extremely yin and cold, or extremely yang and intense, but the malevolent energy here is chaotic because the White Tiger Malevolent Energy, which is associated with metal and killing, the Nine Nether Yin Malevolent Energy, which is associated with yin and death, and the Earth Fire Malevolent Energy, which is associated with yang and violence, are forcibly mixed together."

"If an ordinary person does not have a way to protect themselves, staying in this place for a long time will cause their qi and blood to deteriorate and their mind to become confused."
The traps and mechanisms within the tomb, and even any potential "tomb guardians," are likely nourished by this malevolent energy, becoming extremely difficult to deal with.

"Furthermore," the old Taoist priest lowered his voice, "according to records from the early observations of our elders, on every full moon night, the strange phenomenon of 'ghost soldiers passing through' frequently occurs near General Mountain."

"Without a doubt, they should be the vengeful spirits of the soldiers who perished under General Wei Yuan's command! Influenced by the reversal of Yin and Yang, they are probably ten times more ferocious than ordinary wandering ghosts!"

After saying this, the old Taoist priest lowered his head deeply, not daring to look at Lu Xuan again.

His words were seven parts truth and three parts speculation based on records. He almost revealed all of Fu Yuanguan's knowledge of this place, hoping to gain a glimmer of hope in front of this ruthless general.

Lu Xuan listened quietly, his gaze returning to the ominous spot known as "White Tiger Carrying Corpse," his fingers slowly stroking the holster at his waist.

Yin and Yang in reverse? Ghost soldiers passing through?
How interesting. This strange thing from the mortal world shouldn't disappoint him.

This tomb is far more dangerous than ordinary ancient tombs, but for Lu Xuan, who needs to acquire "points," that is not a problem.

Lu Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile, and he immediately ordered, "Lieutenant!"

"General, I'm here!" The shifty-eyed adjutant who had been standing next to Lu Xuan immediately bowed and responded, pricking up his ears to listen for detailed instructions on entering the tomb.

"Pass down the order to have the brothers retreat to Ping'an Town first, and we will come back in a few days."

Ping'an Town is only about 30 miles away, not far at all; it takes about an hour by car.

Moreover, Fu Yuan Temple is also there, so it's a good opportunity to verify my ideas.

what?
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned, and their astonished gazes all focused on Lu Xuan, including the three Taoists who thought they were doomed.

A hint of unbelievable joy flashed in the old Taoist's cloudy eyes. He thought to himself: Could it be... could it be that my words about the dangers of the ancient tomb really persuaded this lawless warlord?

May the ancestral master bless us!
The feng shui master standing to the side was also stunned, his mouth slightly open, almost thinking he had misheard.

The commander-in-chief mobilized a large force, bringing almost all his possessions to the foot of General Mountain. He had set up his formation, pointed his gun at the Taoist priest's head, and forced out his martial arts techniques. Now... he was about to turn back?

Come back in a few days? What's going on here?
"Great-General?" the adjutant asked cautiously, wondering if he had misunderstood.

Lu Xuan glanced at him indifferently, his gaze calm and unwavering, yet it instantly made the adjutant swallow all his questions.

"Didn't you hear me?" Lu Xuan's tone remained calm.

"Listen up! Listen up!" The adjutant snapped to attention, straightened his back, and shouted at the top of his lungs to the soldiers waiting behind him, "The commander-in-chief has given the order! All assemble and retreat to Ping'an Town! Quickly! Get moving!"

Despite their doubts, the military orders were absolute, and thousands of soldiers quickly sprang into action, gathering their equipment and lining up to prepare for departure.

Lu Xuan ignored the reactions of the crowd and his gaze swept over the dark red hill and the deep crevice once more.

Lu Xuan's reason for retreating to Ping'an Town was certainly not because he was frightened by the old Taoist's words.

On the contrary, the old Taoist's description of the "passing of ghostly soldiers" made him even more eager to visit this place.

This is a lot of system points.

However, Lu Xuan was powerless to do anything about it and could only watch helplessly.

Because the "Yangyan Talisman Fire True Scripture" is only a fragment, and the system panel does not have enough points, it is impossible to immediately complete and deduce this true scripture.

Forcing his way into the tomb, with his current power, might be effective against some physical ghosts.

If you really encounter a "corpse" that has been nourished by "yin-yang reversal" for hundreds of years, or a group of ghostly "yin soldiers".

Even if he were to lose these few thousand soldiers, he would likely suffer heavy losses, and some might even lose their lives. This was not the situation Lu Xuan wanted.

He needs to be better prepared.

Since Fu Yuan Temple in Ping'an Town possesses genuine skills like the "True Scripture of Yangyan Fu Huo," it must also have magical artifacts for suppressing those ghostly things.

He wanted to "verify his ideas," which meant thoroughly searching through the legacy of Fu Yuan Guan to see if he could find a way to eliminate these evil things.

"Come again in a few days..."

Lu Xuan was determined to obtain the general's tomb, but he was by no means reckless in leading a group of cannon fodder to their deaths.

He turned and strode toward the military vehicle parked at the foot of the mountain, while instructing his adjutant who was following closely beside him: "Don't forget to invite these three 'experts' into the car as well, and bring them back to town together. I, the commander-in-chief, still have some minor questions to ask them."

The convoy kicked up dust as it slowly drove away from the continuous, smog-shrouded General Mountain Range.

About an hour later, the outline of a sizable town appeared on the horizon. Peace Town was large, one of the largest towns in the surrounding counties.

It is located at the junction of several counties, with convenient water and land transportation, and naturally became a distribution center for trade within a radius of 100 miles.

Although it is called a "town", its prosperity is almost comparable to some small county towns.

At the entrance to the town, there was a wooden sentry post, where several soldiers in light blue uniforms, holding old-fashioned rifle sleeves, stood listlessly.

However, the atmosphere at the entrance of the town today is completely different.

The town mayor, who had received advance notice, and several wealthy merchants from Ping'an Town were already waiting anxiously with their servants and retainers.

Upon seeing the prominent "Lu" flag on the lead car of the convoy from afar, everyone immediately straightened their clothes, put on humble yet apprehensive smiles, and hurried forward to greet them.

Everyone knows that this Marshal Lu is a powerful warlord who controls Lin'nan County and Lin'dong County, and his territory happens to be adjacent to Ping'an Town.

Although Ping'an Town maintains a delicate independence for the time being due to its special geographical location and commercial status, everyone knows that if its neighbor, who holds a large military force, sneezes, Ping'an Town will tremble.

In chaotic times, people are treated worse than dogs, and human life is worthless. Life and death are in the hands of powerful warlords, who are the true local emperors.

Therefore, all the prominent families and well-known people in Ping'an Town had to be careful to serve Lu Xuan's original body, fearing that he would suddenly lose his temper and find an excuse to "take over" the town.

"Welcome back General Lu in triumph!" The town mayor, a thin middle-aged man dressed in a silk robe, was the first to bow in salute.

The merchants behind him also bowed and scraped, their faces full of flattery.

Lu Xuan sat in the car without even rolling down the window, merely glancing indifferently at the group through the glass before nodding slightly to his adjutant.

The adjutant understood, poked his head out, and waved his hand impatiently: "Alright, alright, the commander is tired and wants to go back to his residence to rest. Everyone, disperse! Don't block the way!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Commander, you've worked hard!" The town mayor and the others felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They quickly made way for the convoy and bowed as they watched it rumble into the town, not daring to utter a single complaint.

The scene inside the town was like two different worlds compared to the wilderness outside.

The cobblestone streets were fairly wide, lined with shops on both sides, their banners fluttering in the breeze. There were shops selling groceries, restaurants, teahouses, opium dens, and even a small Western-style clock shop.

The streets were bustling with pedestrians, some wearing long gowns and mandarin jackets, others short jackets, and even a few dressed in suits and ties.

However, when Lu Xuan's convoy drove by, all the noise seemed to be paused.

The vendors stopped hawking their wares, and pedestrians quickly moved to the sides of the road, their faces showing a mixture of fear, numbness, and a barely perceptible hint of disgust.

The children were quickly pulled back inside by the adults, and the shop assistants instinctively shrank back.

In Ping'an Town, and even in the surrounding counties, Lu Xuan and his "Dingnan Army" were undoubtedly the heavens, the local emperors who could decide their life, death, wealth, and poverty.

The convoy did not stop in the town center, but drove straight through it, heading west into the town.

As we traveled further west, the buildings gradually thinned out, and the environment became more tranquil. Finally, we stopped in front of a Taoist temple with a thriving incense offering ceremony.

This Taoist temple, with its white walls and blue tiles, shows signs of time but also reveals meticulous maintenance.

A plaque made of ebony hangs above the door, bearing the three gilded characters "Fu Yuan Guan".

With the temple gates wide open, pilgrims came and went in an endless stream, and wisps of incense smoke drifted out from inside. Unlike the hustle and bustle of the town center, this place had its own lively scene.

In the square in front of the temple, devout men and women thronged shoulder to shoulder. There were old women carrying baskets, women leading children, and well-dressed merchants.

Several young Taoist boys weaved through the crowd, guiding the arriving pilgrims.

However, the lively scene immediately quieted down when the army arrived.

The worshippers retreated to the sides in a panic, while several young Taoist priests who were greeting people at the door quickly got up and looked at the military vehicle with delight.

As soon as the vehicle came to a stop, the adjutant jumped out first and eagerly opened the car door.

Lu Xuan stepped out, his gaze sweeping over the bustling Taoist temple, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

The three Taoist priests were also "invited" off the vehicle by the soldiers and stood in front of the temple gate with complicated expressions.

"Clear the area." Lu Xuan said succinctly.

The adjutant immediately understood and led a squad of soldiers forward to disperse the worshippers: "Fuyuan Temple is closed today. Everyone, leave immediately!"

Amidst a flurry of panicked footsteps and hushed whispers, the once bustling area in front of the Taoist temple quickly became deserted, leaving only the Taoist priests standing anxiously to one side.

The old Taoist priest dared not delay and quickly stepped forward to lead the way.

Lu Xuan stepped into the temple gate with his hands behind his back. He saw ancient trees reaching the sky in the courtyard, incense smoke swirling in the incense burner, and the statues of the Three Pure Ones in the main hall looking solemn and dignified. The offering table was full of fresh fruits, indicating that the temple was usually very popular.

"General, what's wrong?" the old Taoist priest asked tentatively, his voice filled with unease.

Lu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sharp as lightning, slowly sweeping over the main hall, the side hall, and the scripture pavilion that was faintly visible behind.

"As I have said, from now on, Fuyuan Temple will be temporarily closed, and no unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter or leave."

The old Taoist priest's heart sank to the bottom. Who knew what this unpredictable general was up to?
Just as he was feeling bewildered and uneasy, Lu Xuan's next words completely stunned the old Taoist priest, who almost doubted his own ears.

"Do you have any unclean things locked up here, like ghosts sent by worshippers to nourish the incense? Show this great general what they are."

"Imprisoning ghosts?"

The old Taoist priest uttered those four words unconsciously, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Why would this warlord, who commands a large army and kills without batting an eye, suddenly become interested in such sinister things instead of gold, silver, and weapons?

Do you want to "broaden your horizons"?
Does anyone even want to see these monstrosities?
He steadied himself and cautiously replied, "Reporting to the Commander, the temple has indeed taken some in... but they were not used to nourish the incense offerings."
Most of them are evil spirits and vengeful ghosts that wreak havoc on the village and are unable to pass away on their own.

My disciples and I sealed it within a specially made ritual implement, affixed talismans, and chanted scriptures daily in the hope of dispelling its resentment and helping it to be reborn in a better realm. This is also a way of accumulating merit, and we would never dare to use it for evil purposes.

The old Taoist priest quickly explained, fearing that Lu Xuan might misunderstand that their Fuyuan Temple practiced some kind of evil or heretical doctrine.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

Salvation? Merit? He didn't care about those things.

What he cares about is whether he can refine these imprisoned "dirty things" into the "system points" he desperately needs!
"Whether it is good or evil, I, the commander, will make my own judgment." Lu Xuan said calmly, "Lead the way, let's go take a look."

Upon hearing this, the old Taoist priest inwardly groaned. The imprisoned evil spirits were filled with resentment, and although they were suppressed by talismans, the Taoist priest still had to be extremely careful when approaching them.

This ruthless general wanted to go and see what might have gone wrong... but he dared not disobey, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and bow, saying, "Yes...yes, General, please come with me."

He led Lu Xuan around the main hall, through a secluded corridor, and to a quiet, independent courtyard in the back of the Taoist temple.

A huge yellow talisman was pasted on the entrance to the courtyard. The runes drawn on it in cinnabar were several times more complex than those on ordinary talismans.

The old Taoist priest took out an old copper key from his pocket, unlocked the copper lock on the courtyard gate, and pushed the door open.

There were no flowers or plants in the courtyard, only various oddly shaped objects placed in the center.

A purple-gold alms bowl that was constantly trembling slightly, a black gourd with the outline of a painful human face appearing on its surface, and an ancient bronze mirror... and so on.

Each object was covered with layers upon layers of talismans, and the things inside tried to break free of their restraints, but were blocked by the golden light of the talismans.

"General, that's it. The purple-gold bowl contains a drowned water ghost with extremely heavy resentment. The black gourd contains the malevolent spirit of a butcher who died a violent death. The bronze mirror contains the remnant soul of a hundred-year-old beautiful ghost, who is most skilled at bewitching people's hearts..."

A glint flashed in Lu Xuan's eyes as he quickly scanned the magical artifacts.

very good!

(End of this chapter)