Cultivating Immortality from the Book of Life and Death

Chapter 232 A Talented Individual and a Beautiful Gem. (Second Update!)

Uh……

The use of living people to refine elixirs is not important; what is important is that the materials were not properly processed.

Was Changfu Town taken over by Xu Baiyan?
Xu Baiyan took over Changfu Town not to accumulate good deeds, live in peace and prosperity, or protect the local area, but to cultivate talent.

Zheng Que was stunned for a moment before he reacted. Just as he was about to speak, Lu Maohong continued, "Now, not only have many branch formations in Taiping County encountered problems, but even the main formation in Taiping County has also run into trouble."

“Before we set off that day, some of the things that were suppressed underground came out.”

"This is not a good sign."

"The fact that the main formation is in trouble means that the entire Four Symbols Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Locking Formation is in grave danger and is at risk of breaking at any moment."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Li immediately came to his senses. His tribulation should still last about half a month, but he would need to find out exactly how long he had been trapped in the gathering before he could determine the exact time.

Now that Lu Maohong mentioned the Four Symbols Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Locking Array, is there a risk of it breaking? Could it be related to his own tribulation?

Thinking of this, Zheng Que immediately asked, "Senior Lu, what will happen if this Four Symbols Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Locking Array is broken?"

"Could the thing suppressed beneath Taiping County be a ghost from the [Scissors Prison]?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Maohong shook his head slightly and said, "This Four Symbols Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Locking Array is based on the earth veins of the entire Taiping County and supplemented by the life force of the living people in the county."

"The ghosts of the [Scissors Prison] are indeed terrifying to us Qi Refining stage cultivators, but they are no threat to the Four Symbols Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Locking Array!"

"The Four Symbols Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Locking Array is divided into a main array and a sub-array. The sub-array only requires a cultivator to control it to suppress the ghosts of the [Scissors Prison]."

"As for the main formation in Taiping County, it is even capable of suppressing the ghosts of the [Iron Tree Prison]!"

"My purpose in going to the prefectural city this time is not only to escort the taxes, but also to report on the situation in Taiping County and ask the seniors in the prefectural city to repair the Four Symbols Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Locking Array in Taiping County."

【Iron Tree Prison】...

Zheng Que frowned. He didn't know how strong the ghosts suppressed beneath Taiping County were, but he had already witnessed the Shadow Play, which was also from the Iron Tree Prison!
At that time, everyone in Changfu Town except him died at the same moment!

This means that the Shadow Play wiped out the entire town in an instant.

If what Lu Maohong said is true, then once the Four Symbols Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Locking Array is broken, virtually no living person in the entire Taiping County, including cultivators, will survive the ghosts of the [Iron Tree Prison].

Fortunately, I'm no longer in the county town, but on my way to the prefectural city...

Just then, Lu Maohong picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then said, "There is another matter that only a few of my trusted confidants know about now, but since you are quite capable and are also Fellow Daoist Xu's disciple, you may also hear about it."

"The thing that escaped from underground in Taiping County is very likely hidden in our convoy."

"I have just sent people to investigate every person in the convoy and every vehicle's taxation, but so far, I have not found anything suspicious."

what? !

Is that ghost from the Iron Tree Prison hiding in their convoy?
Zheng Que's expression changed, but he quickly voiced his doubts: "Senior Lu, this is impossible, isn't it? If that were truly the case, how could we have survived until now?" Lu Maohong scraped the tea foam with the lid of his teacup and calmly said, "The true form of that thing is still suppressed by the Four Symbols Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Locking Array. This small portion that escaped isn't necessarily that strong..."

At this point, he shook his head slightly, put down his teacup, and continued, "I cannot be 100% certain about this matter yet, so you just need to be careful."

"We'll investigate for about another day. If we still have no clue, the convoy will have to continue."

"We've already been delayed on the road for several days. Whether it's the taxes or the Four Symbols Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Locking Array, the sooner we get them to the prefectural city, the better."

"Alright, I will find a way to avenge you in Changfu Town. Let's leave this matter here for now."

"How did you manage to get out of this gathering of scholars?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Que snapped out of his reverie and immediately said, "I was responsible for guarding the rear of the 'Geng' carriage when we were traveling on the mountain road. Suddenly, I discovered that the carriage and the people behind it had disappeared..."

He quickly recounted the process by which the convoy became involved in the gathering.

Of course, the details of how he attacked Yuan Zhi were all omitted.

In addition, the pursuit of the [Scissors Hell] ghosts behind the convoy was changed to a pursuit of the [Tongue-Pulling Hell] ghosts...

Lu Maohong listened attentively until Zheng Que started talking about the rain starting in the world of the painting, when he suddenly interrupted, "Wait a minute!"

"It started raining before you even saw the temple?"

Zheng Que paused slightly, nodded, and asked, "Yes, what's wrong?"

Lu Maohong frowned. Unlike ordinary rogue cultivators, as a cultivator at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, he had experienced all three "strange things" at Yaotai Mountain, so he naturally knew about the oddities of the gathering.

Normally, the rain should start falling when the convoy is almost at the temple depicted in the painting.

It wasn't just his experience; as far as he knew, all the cultivators who had normally experienced this gathering were like this—no matter how thrilling the situation seemed, no matter how many cultivators were involved or how strong they were, in short, until they reached the temple in the painting, even though the world in the painting was filled with rolling dark clouds and howling mountain winds, not a single drop of rain would fall.

This rain coming early... there's only one possibility: one of the cultivators who were pulled into the world of the painting has been targeted by the host of the gathering!

Thinking of this, Lu Maohong nodded slightly and then said, "Go on."

Without hesitation, Zheng Que recounted what happened next, including his battle of wits with the "Painted Skin" female ghost and the ghost's cheating tactics...

He naturally didn't mention a word about the runes on the gavel or the ghost bride coming to save him. He only said that the female ghost in the "Painted Skin" game lost too much in the end and lost interest in continuing the painting contest. He also managed to get her to let him leave.

After hearing Zheng Que's account of what happened, Lu Maohong took a deep breath. This Zheng Que had indeed met the host of the gathering!

However, to find the host of the gathering's weakness under such circumstances, and to successfully engage in a painting contest with him, ultimately emerging victorious...

Such meticulousness, courage, and ability are rare to find in the entire Taiping County!

Not to mention, judging from Zheng Que's appearance, he was still young, and his performance at such a young age was truly remarkable.

Xu Baiyan has truly taken on a good apprentice!
(End of this chapter)