Cultivating Immortality from the Book of Life and Death

Chapter 230 Meeting an Old Friend. (Second Update!)

As he spoke, Lu Maohong led the way to the car with the character "庚" on it.

Without an array plate, it would be difficult for an ordinary cultivator to open this special carriage that was protected by a restriction.

However, Lu Maohong is an expert in array formations. All the restrictions on the ten carriages transporting taxes were designed by him personally. Even without the array plates, they are no match for him.

After briefly inspecting the carriage in front of him, Lu Maohong began to move his ten fingers, casting strange hand seals at the vehicle.

Soon, the carriage door clicked open, and a strong, eerie aura seeped out from the crack.

The people around the car all looked into the car and saw that it was filled with all kinds of "bottle women", all with delicate features and strange smiles on their lips.

Compared to the initial check-up, some of the Aquarius women seemed a bit listless, but overall they were in good condition and their aura was relatively stable.

Lu Maohong carefully observed each of the [Bottle Women], and finally nodded slightly, saying, "Taxation will not be an obstacle."

He then flicked his sleeves to close the carriage door, turned to Zheng Que, and said, "The array plate of the 'Geng' character carriage is lost and needs to be remade."

"You must be tired from your journey. Please come with Gui Tu to sit in the formation for a while. I will be there shortly."

Upon hearing this, the distinguished-looking middle-aged cultivator immediately stepped forward, gestured for the guests, and said, "Please, gentlemen!"

Watching Zheng Que and Linghu Yuniang depart, Lu Maohong's previously calm expression suddenly turned serious, and he immediately asked, "What was the name of that cultivator just now?"

Upon hearing this, the plump cultivator in green robes pondered for a moment and replied, "That female cultivator is named Linghu Yuniang. Her cultivation level is the sixth level of Qi Refining. She has a reputation for being ruthless and cruel in the underworld, and has killed more than a hundred people. There are wanted posters for her in many villages and towns within Taiping County."

"I don't recognize that male cultivator. He has a [Concealing Breath Talisman] on his body, as if he is deliberately hiding his identity."

Lu Maohong slowly shook his head and said, "That female cultivator is not important!"

"The important thing is that the male cultivator used a low-grade [Concealing Breath Talisman]. His true cultivation level is the same as yours, at the seventh level of Qi Refining."

"However, the fact that this person was able to fight his way out of the gathering and bring back the taxes unscathed means that his cultivation level is definitely not as simple as just being at the seventh level of Qi Refining!"

"His two ghost servants are also quite extraordinary."

"Investigate his situation."

The plump, green-robed cultivator immediately lowered his head: "Yes!"

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something and immediately asked, "Then, how should we calculate the taxes for the other three lost vehicles?"

"The two cultivators who came this time are both in charge of the 'Geng' series carriages. The taxes for the 'Geng' series carriages are currently all in order..."

Lu Maohong calmly replied, "Of course it has nothing to do with these two cultivators."

"However, in addition to the monks responsible for escorting the specific vehicles, there are also two teams of monks responsible for patrolling."

"Those two groups of cultivators did nothing, so they should be held responsible for this!"

The plump cultivator in green robes immediately understood Lu Maohong's meaning and quickly replied, "This subordinate knows what to do!"

※※※

Crossing an invisible barrier, the familiar camp came into view.

Six vehicles loaded with taxes each occupied a spot on the open ground. Groups of two or three cultivators surrounded the vehicles, some cultivating, some talking, and others whispering. A slightly anxious atmosphere permeated the air. When they saw Zheng Que and Linghu Yuniang, their eyes lit up, as if they wanted to come up and ask questions. However, when the handsome middle-aged cultivator leading the way swept his gaze over them, the other cultivators immediately stopped and just watched from a distance.

Zhang Guitu led Zheng Que and Linghu Yuniang directly into the "A" shaped carriage, personally brewed a cup of tea, and then said with a smile, "Please have a seat here. Senior Lu will come over once he has finished making the array plate."

With that, he took his leave, seemingly having other things to attend to.

Seeing this, Linghu Yuniang visibly relaxed: "Fellow Daoist Zheng, we're finally safe!"

Zheng Que nodded slightly. They had already covered more than half of the road to the prefectural city. All they needed to do next was cross the territory of Danqiu Peak and leave the most dangerous area of ​​Yaotai Mountain... While thinking, the two casually looked around. This "Jia" carriage was different from other tax vehicles and looked more like the residence of a wealthy family.

However, the vehicles personally guarded by the leader in charge of escorting taxes must not be that simple.

Neither of them were meddlesome people. After taking a quick look around, they put away their curiosity and began to meditate and exhale, making the most of the time to recover.

A moment later, the door opened, and Lu Maohong walked in with Zhang Guitu.

Upon seeing this, Linghu Yuniang and Zheng Que immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "Senior Lu!"

Lu Maohong looked at them, nodded slightly, quickened his pace, walked to the head of the table, and said slowly, "Sit down and talk."

Soon, the four people took their seats as host and guest.

Lu Maohong looked at Zheng Que and asked directly, "Fellow Daoist, may I ask your honorable name? And where is your immortal home?"

Zheng Que immediately replied, "Thank you for your concern, senior. My name is Zheng Que, and I am from Changfu Town, Taiping County."

Changfu Town?
A hint of surprise flashed in Lu Maohong's eyes, and he immediately asked, "Are you a disciple of Fellow Daoist Xu Baiyan?"

Xu Baiyan?
Zheng Que was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. Xu Baiyan was the name of the town mayor Xu Houde's ancestor.

The techniques that Master Qu taught him—the [Seed of Life Technique], the [Ghost Control Technique], the [Spiritual Eye Technique], and the [Spirit Descent Technique]—were all legacies left behind by Xu Baiyan!

In a flash, Zheng Que replied, "That's fair."

Upon hearing this, Lu Maohong burst into laughter and said heartily, "I have known Fellow Daoist Xu for many years, and we can be considered close friends."

"Back then, when Fellow Daoist Xu went out to establish his foundation, he was worried about Changfu Town, so I personally went there and set up a restriction on Changfu Town."

"Come to think of it, this happened fifty years ago..."

"But I wonder what Changfu Town is like now?"

"Xu Daoyou's most beloved grandson was just learning to walk back then; he must be quite old now..."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Que immediately confirmed Lu Maohong's identity. This person was none other than the Immortal Master Lu who helped Changfu Town set up the restrictions fifty years ago, as mentioned by Town Mayor Xu Houde!
Unexpectedly, Lu Maohong had a deep connection with the town mayor's ancestors.

If he had known this would happen, he should have gone straight to the town mayor with the letter as soon as he entered Taiping County and tried to establish a connection with him...

Upon realizing this, Zheng Que immediately stood up and bowed again, saying, "So Senior Lu is the Immortal Master Lu that Uncle Xu mentioned!"

As he spoke, he immediately took out a letter from his storage bag, handed it to Lu Maohong with both hands, and then sighed, "This is a letter that Uncle Xu entrusted to me to deliver to Senior Lu before he passed away."

"Changfu Town has been destroyed by ghosts."

"Of all the people in the town, only I was lucky enough to survive!"

Changfu Town has been wiped out?!
Lu Maohong's smile vanished, and he frowned slightly. He had only recently emerged from seclusion and was unaware of this news.

In a flash, he took the letter, opened it, and his expression gradually changed.

He quickly put away the letter, looked at Zheng Que, and said in a deep voice, "The restrictions I personally set up cannot possibly fail within sixty years!"

"The fact that the restrictions in Changfu Town have malfunctioned ahead of schedule suggests only one possibility."

"That was a ghost from the [Scissors Prison] that attacked Changfu Town!"

"Did the ghost that destroyed Changfu Town come from underground?"

(End of this chapter)