Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 391 Ancient Realm Red Robe
Lu Xingzhou had no time to think about it further and quickly fed A Nuo a pill: "How are you feeling?"

"It's alright, Master. It's not like last time." Ah Nuo took a few breaths, looking at the remains with lingering fear.

This was only caused passively by the corpse, yet it made me bleed. If I were to encounter another situation where it was actively triggered, wouldn't I die again?

Lu Xingzhou asked, "What did you feel after you made contact with it?"

"It feels like there's a lingering obsession calling for its life back."

"What does the fate of the ancients have to do with you? Wasn't that being shouted at you?"

Ah Nuo was stunned and couldn't answer.

Could it involve reincarnation...? Lu Xingzhou was even more troubled; it was best not to.

He tried touching the skeleton himself, and apart from being shocked by the lingering lightning, he felt nothing else. Sheng Yuanyao also tried, then shook her head at him, indicating that she hadn't felt anything A'nuo had described either.

Lu Xingzhou had a terrible headache.

The situation with Anuo is getting increasingly strange. The Heavenly Yao Holy Master, who has the most extensive knowledge of various mystical scriptures and methods in the world, drew blood for testing, and the Demon Emperor, who has the deepest understanding of all non-human life, personally taught her, yet neither of her two masters could understand her problem.

Oh, we should also add Yama, who, though only a stranger in terms of relationship, is no pushover in terms of cultivation.

If you can't figure these three things out, who in this world can?
Then there's only one explanation: Anuo's situation is beyond the capabilities of the Huiyang level.

The instigator, Maha, is most likely not Huiyang...

It is Qian Yuan or even higher.

The reason why the Maha Cave Mansion seems to contain only Huiyang's items and techniques is because Maha entered it illegally and could not reveal more.

If that's the case, then even if the master and disciple cultivate to the highest level, they still won't be able to resolve this hidden danger? They'll need to go even higher?

Let's be more straightforward and just say it's a problem that can never be solved.

Seeing Lu Xingzhou's headache, A'nuo whispered, "Master, don't worry. I've learned the Heaven-Opening Technique and found the Vajra Indestructible Technique, but it's all just the beginning. I'll be very strong in the future. Once I've mastered it, no one will be able to hurt me!"

Lu Xingzhou pursed his lips and pinched her little face.

Ah Nuo is afraid of death, fire, pain, hunger, and even graduating from her apprenticeship. She's afraid of everything and is an extremely insecure child. As her master, it seems that besides solving the problem of hunger, she hasn't solved anything else and has failed in her responsibility.

You end up helping this person solve their problem, helping that person solve their problem... but you can't even solve your own child's problem.

This made Lu Xingzhou very unhappy.

Actually, there's another method we haven't tried... Although Long Qinghuang can't see A'nuo's problem, she could have her gather her subordinate bull demons to try. Since the demons in the City Lord's Mansion were able to actively see that A'nuo had a problem, the other bull demons should be able to as well.

The reason I didn't dare do this before wasn't because I was wary of Long Qinghuang, but mainly because I was afraid the Bull Clan would find out. If anyone had ulterior motives, A'Nuo would face even more open and covert attacks after I left.

Now that Long Qinghuang is so powerful, I wonder if we can give it a try. At worst, we can just silence the cow that came to watch.

The moment that evil thought crossed his mind, he immediately stiffened.

This place is truly demonic. Even when various demons invaded the Demon-Slaying Domain, it didn't make me so easily harbor evil thoughts, but the primal wildness awakened here can...

Wait a minute! This isn't right.

Long Qinghuang's ferocity stemmed from being under a spell. Lu Xingzhou, on the other hand, was previously attacked by wildness due to his injuries and weakness, but his injuries have healed considerably, and he is no longer so frail.

Under normal circumstances, unless one actively absorbs the demonic energy of this place to cultivate, one will not be affected by the wildness of the demonic vein. The passive diffusion of demonic energy alone could not have such an outrageous effect. How long has it been since we entered?
Someone else is secretly interfering!
This must be someone who came later… There was definitely no one here when I and Long Qinghuang were here before, and they even bit each other. If someone had been hiding all along, Long Qinghuang would have searched Dujuan's soul, so she couldn't possibly not know, and they certainly wouldn't have escaped Long Qinghuang's senses. If someone truly had the ability to hide from Long Qinghuang's senses, wouldn't they have taken advantage of her confusion and infatuation to launch a sneak attack?

It's highly likely they just sneaked in that night. That idiot Long Lie was only focused on looting and counting the treasures, and didn't guard the secret realm.

This person is probably not very strong, at least not confident enough to deal with me, Sheng Yuanyao, and A Nuo at the same time, so he's secretly doing something... If I don't notice and my rationality is affected without me realizing it, then I'm very likely to be ambushed.

Lu Xingzhou remained calm and observed Sheng Yuanyao's state. Sheng Yuanyao's eyes had unknowingly become a little wild, and when she stared at him, it was as if she wanted to devour him. She seemed to be trying hard to suppress it because of the large lantern beside her.

Even Ah Nuo's eyes looked strange at this moment, and she looked at the little white pig with a fierce expression. I wonder if she wanted to roast the pig and eat it.

The little white pig retreated in fear.

The only thing that was normal and unaffected was this pig.

The thought flashed through his mind, but Lu Xingzhou pretended not to notice anything, squatted down and rubbed A Nuo's head, and said softly, "When we get back, we'll talk to your sister Long and think of a solution together. With the Demon Capital and the Holy Mountain, there's no way we can't solve your illness, or at least control it."

He then gave a wink.

After ten years of living together, Ah Nuo could practically tell what he was up to the moment he turned around. She pretended not to know anything and obediently nodded, humming in agreement.

Then he pretended to be very weak because he had just spat out blood, and leaned against the little white pig to rest with his eyes closed.

Lu Xingzhou casually put a piece of Kui Niu bone into his ring, then stood up and casually put his arm around Sheng Yuanyao's shoulder: "Let A Nuo rest first, shall we go take a look over there?"

Sheng Yuanyao didn't know what was wrong with her. She had just been in a state of enlightenment, but now, not long after, she wanted to pin Lu Xingzhou to the ground and tear him apart, viciously riding him. It was strange; when had she become so wild? Was it the influence of practicing the Great Joy and Bliss Sutra?
When Lu Xingzhou pulled her close, Sheng Yuanyao was overjoyed. She secretly glanced at Anuo, who was sleeping.

She walked along Lu Xingzhou toward the riverbank, her heart pounding, thinking to herself, "Isn't this riverside with its open sky and expansive water a bit too old-fashioned...?"

As a result, Lu Xingzhou led her to what appeared to be the remains of a phoenix: "There is a type of body-forging method. If you can use the parts of these divine beasts to make a medicinal bath, you may have the opportunity to forge a similar physique or absorb related characteristics. I am currently forging a dragon body. You can also try to see if there is one that suits you. For example, this phoenix is ​​worth a try."

"Huh? Oh oh..." Sheng Yuanyao's mind was a little confused.

This is not the treasure I want to see.

But this was indeed an extremely important matter. Sheng Yuanyao maintained her limited rationality and reached out to gently stroke the huge bird skeleton in front of her.

A peculiar demonic power seeped in, flowing through the bones and meridians, seemingly "matching" them. Lu Xingzhou was also studying it. Compared to the dragon and tiger bones in the Danxia Secret Realm, which were now completely useless, these bones still retained powerful demonic energy, yet unlike the bone dragon in the Frozen Moon Cold River, their movements could not be controlled. Their greatest value seemed to truly be in assisting cultivation.

By using the various corpses and bones in this place, Long Qinghuang might be able to create an elite force of sacred beast demons.

Most of the sacred mountains existed in the past, making them very powerful. However, they may have been destroyed in a battle ten years ago, and have not yet recovered their strength to cultivate a new generation.

In other words, this place would be an extremely powerful place of opportunity for any power, the kind that serves as the foundation of any force. But its fundamental reason is not the location itself, but these corpses. As long as these corpses are moved, another sacred mountain can be created.

It's no wonder that some people covet it.

The coveterans are most likely the ancient figures who colluded with Gu Zhanting last time to launch a sneak attack on the Holy Mountain.

They may have been nearby all along, but the battle of the Holy Mountain happened too quickly for them to participate, and they came to reap the rewards afterward.

"Lu Xingzhou~" Sheng Yuanyao's voice changed from the side: "Isn't there something wrong with the demonic aura here?"

"what happened?"

"I...I'm so hot. It feels different from the succubus magic in the Demon-Slaying Domain, it's just...it's just..." As Sheng Yuanyao spoke, her hand began to grope his chest muscles inappropriately: "I don't want to touch that bird anymore, how about touching yours instead?"

Lu Xingzhou: “?”

Damn, you really are something else, Melon Girl.

He also feigned being affected, his eyes gleaming with a hint of wildness: "Right here?"

"Is there something wrong with it? Hmm..." Before Sheng Yuanyao could say anything, he wildly pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely.

Sheng Yuanyao hugged him back even harder, and just as she was about to stick out her tongue, Lu Xingzhou had already done so.

A pill was pushed into his mouth.

Sheng Yuanyao: “?”

Another bucket of cold water was poured over me from head to toe.

As the pill entered her mouth, the restlessness and wildness in her body were gradually purified and expelled, and she finally realized what had happened.

Lu Xingzhou's actions did not stop; he continued to kiss her passionately. Sheng Yuanyao knew what he meant and kissed him back, completely lost in the moment.

Behind the skeleton of a huge beast, a figure in red robes emerged like a ghost and stabbed at Lu Xingzhou's back with lightning speed.

Just as they were about to touch, the seemingly inseparable couple suddenly separated. Sheng Yuanyao drew her sword and slashed down at him. Lu Xingzhou dodged the attack and kicked her in the waist.

"Are they alright?" The newcomer was startled, realizing he had fallen into a trap. He didn't linger and retreated with a quick mid-air spin.

Her figure was graceful and swift.

It turned out to be a woman.

They had barely retreated a foot when a little girl with a blank expression blocked their way, her small fists pounding her chest.

Facing the little girl who had just vomited blood, the woman still held her in some contempt. Unlike her actions towards Lu Xingzhou and Sheng Yuanyao, she did not dodge the little fist immediately. Instead, she subconsciously reached out to push it away.

The moment her slender hand touched her fist, it felt as if she had been struck by an ancient behemoth. A tremendous force surged forth, and the woman quickly deflected and neutralized it, simultaneously dodging to the side.

"Gurgle!" A little pig rushed over.

woman:"?"

Even pigs are bullying people?
The woman kicked out.

I thought this pig was a hidden monster like the little girl, but the pig that bravely blocked my way was kicked away with one kick.

woman:"……"

But with this obstacle blocking her way, Lu Xingzhou's fist and Sheng Yuanyao's knife were already at her neck: "Stay here!"

Faced with a punch and a knife, the woman instinctively chose to avoid the blade, but in the end, Lu Xingzhou grabbed her shoulder.

With a "rip," smoke burst from the woman's body, and she suddenly disappeared. Lu Xingzhou couldn't hold on, and the clothes on his shoulder were torn open, revealing a large area of ​​white skin.

The figure had already disappeared, seemingly similar to Pei Chuyun's teleportation technique.

Her last words lingered in the air: "Lu Xingzhou... We met today."

"..." Lu Xingzhou frowned and pondered as he looked at the pieces of clothing in his hand.

Falling into the trap, the woman was suddenly attacked by three third-rank soldiers, but they didn't even manage to injure her before she disappeared.

These three third-rank cultivators of his weren't ordinary third-rank cultivators; they were all third-rank cultivators with abilities that allowed them to surpass their own level. Especially Ah Nuo's punch—those who didn't take it seriously would often be injured, and even Lu Xingzhou himself frequently suffered heavy blows from Ah Nuo. This woman was merely blocked, but ultimately managed to deflect the force without sustaining any injury.

No matter how you look at it, this woman possesses the strength of a second-grade cultivator, and not just any ordinary second-grade cultivator.

Where did this woman come from?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: I overslept again, sorry!

I also noticed that the book reached 20 words yesterday. If a Level 4 reader who only reads one book reaches that word count, they'll receive a monthly pass. I used to have readers say they couldn't get enough passes by reading just one book, but now I really can! Please give me some more passes, let's see how much this will increase!

(End of this chapter)