Cultivating Immortality from the Book of Life and Death

Chapter 228: Recap. (Third update!)

Upon hearing Shen Tu Jinghai's words, the two Qi Refining Stage 7 cultivators in the car immediately realized what was going on.

What Senior Lu is waiting for now is not the four carts of taxes, but the cultivators responsible for escorting them!
If someone returns, then the lost taxes will naturally be the responsibility of that returning monk.

This was a responsibility they set out for when they first set out.

Of course, this is also because they were unlucky this time.

In previous years, they would make several trips back and forth to Yaotai Mountain for this escort mission and they might not encounter a single "strange" person.

Therefore, the so-called responsibility is just a verbal definition. As long as the cultivators participating in the mission are serious, they can basically complete it peacefully.

But this time, they actually encountered two "strange" places in a row: the Forget-Worry Inn and the Baozhen Valley Gathering!
Of the ten vehicles taxed, four were lost at once. Such a huge loss must be borne by someone...

Seeing that the two Qi Refining Stage 7 cultivators had stopped talking, Lu Maohong immediately said, "Then let's wait a few more days."

"In addition, this trip is a bit strange."

"While we're waiting, the three of you should thoroughly check the taxes in the caravan and the number of each monk."

"Especially those unfamiliar faces."

Upon hearing this, all three were taken aback, but soon, Shentu Jinghai seemed to have thought of something and immediately asked in a deep voice, "Senior Lu, do you suspect that there are ghosts in the caravan?"

Lu Maohong nodded slightly and said calmly, "The ordinary cultivators may not know what has happened in Taiping County recently, but you few, who frequently visit the city lord's mansion, must know."

"Some of that thing that was buried underground has come out!"

"If it weren't for the fact that I had to escort the taxes this time, I would have gone to the Imperial Sacrifices Office to ask those old geezers for clarification!"

His voice was filled with rage, clearly showing his dissatisfaction with the fellow cultivators in charge of the grand formation within the offering hall.

Upon hearing this, the obese Qi Refining Level 7 cultivator frowned and quickly asked, "Senior Lu, do you mean that part of the thing underground in Taiping County has not only come out, but has also infiltrated our convoy?"

Lu Maohong calmly replied, "It may be, or it may not be."

"We encountered ghost attacks much more frequently than in previous years along the way."

"You've probably noticed that as well."

"Most importantly, I actually ran into the Forget-Worry Inn in Falling Star Bay and the Elegant Gathering in Embracing Virtue Valley one after the other!"

"With so many anomalies combined, we must prepare for the worst."

"Let's wait a few more days. Even if the four escorting monks don't return, we still need to deal with any potential problems in the convoy."

"Otherwise, there would be a Wanshan Temple on Danqiu Peak."

"If we encounter Wanshan Temple again this time, it won't be as simple as just losing a few cartloads of taxes..."

"Okay, let's check now."

"But we shouldn't make too much noise, so as not to alert the snake and let that thing notice something."

Upon hearing this, the other three cultivators dared not be careless at all, and they all stood up, clasped their fists, and replied, "Yes!"

※※※

On the mountain road, the "Geng"-shaped vehicle moved hesitantly, its roof swaying slightly. Zheng Que and Linghu Yuniang chatted casually for a few moments. Linghu Yuniang had been possessed for too long and was greatly weakened. Despite taking a Qi Gathering Pill, she quickly became listless and gradually fell silent, eventually drifting off to sleep.

With the sound of the well pulley, the vehicle traveled a long way, and the surroundings became even more desolate. Unidentified birds made strange cries, which gathered together like the wailing of ghosts.

Zheng Que observed for a moment and, seeing that no ghosts were chasing after him, gave an order to his two ghost servants, then sat cross-legged on the roof of the carriage and began to cultivate.

With practiced ease, Zheng Que drew in wisps of chilling spiritual energy from the heavens and earth, gradually sinking his mind into nothingness.

Time passed slowly, and when he opened his eyes, he saw the familiar dilapidated palace.

Everything here is as usual, with the Book of Life and Death and the gavel on the mottled long table.

Zheng Que looked at the Book of Life and Death, and on the first page he opened, many more names had been added.

The record of "Yuan Zhi" is prominently listed.

The other person had participated in the literary gathering five years ago and survived it, but five years later, he still died at the same gathering...

Thinking of this, Zheng Que couldn't help but shake his head slightly. He then composed himself, quickly glanced at the newly added names, and turned to the second page of the Book of Life and Death.

Currently, only information about the ghost bride Luo Fuyu is recorded here. Zheng checked the records of Luo Fuyu carefully and found that there were no differences. He immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Clearly, the ghost bride did not lose her battle against the "painted skin" female ghost.

Otherwise, the records in the Book of Life and Death will change.

However, the ghost bride probably didn't kill her opponent either, otherwise the name of the "Painted Skin" female ghost would definitely have appeared in the "Book of Life and Death".

"Judging from this, that female ghost with the painted skin should have a cultivation level similar to that of the ghost bride, both at the peak of the Scissors Prison!"

"Furthermore, this 'Painted Skin' female ghost possesses exceptionally high intelligence."

"Her ability to freely enter and leave the gathering suggests that she is not part of the 'strange' gathering itself, but rather a separate ghost that has made the gathering its own lair."

"If another cultivator used my method to break this deadlock, even if they won the battle of painting earlier, they would still die in the end!"

"What I really want is to live..."

Thinking of this, Zheng Que shook his head and reviewed the situation in his mind based on the information he currently had.

In this gathering in Baozhen Valley, if you don't encounter the hostess of the gathering, the female ghost "Painted Skin," then as long as you have enough strength to deal with the ghosts' pursuit while in the painted world, you can basically leave the gathering alive.

However, if you are targeted by the female ghost of the "Painted Skin", the only way out is to fight with paintings!
Based on his experience, if he lost the first round of the painting contest, he would definitely die; if he won, he would have to continue to the second, third, and fourth rounds...

If they keep winning, this "painted skin" female ghost will become increasingly enraged!
In the end, in order to show their magnanimity, the other party will first promise to let him leave, indicating that they seem to be able to afford to lose.

Then, the moment he actually leaves the gathering, find some excuse to kill him...

Yes, this "painted skin" female ghost is a terrible loser and extremely concerned about saving face!
But the other party still had to pretend to be very magnanimous!

Therefore, if he really wanted to break the deadlock through a painting contest, he had to win the first match, lose the second, and finish the third in a draw, while also offering a bunch of flattering words and sucking up to the other party... In this way, the other party would be happy and would most likely let him go directly.

That's right!

The key to dealing with this "painted skin" female ghost lies not in her painting skills, but in her understanding of human relationships!

(End of this chapter)