Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 131 The Heavenly Demon's Wonderful Dance and the Turning of Stars

The twentieth day of the Longxing calendar.

After giving instructions regarding all matters within the city, Zhou Yi, alone on horseback, slowly departed outside the city.

Looking out over the countryside, one sees fields of wheat rippling like waves, with new green shoots stretching as far as the eye can see.

Spring was in full bloom, and the scenery was beautiful everywhere. In addition, he was in a good mood, and his horse's hooves quickened. Before long, he followed the paths and approached Wolong Mountain.

"Guanzhu!"

"Master Yi is back!"

Zhou Yi's figure had just been reflected on the surface of the Qiaoxi River when some villagers recognized him and greeted him warmly.

He had not returned to the mountain for a long time, but the people here not only did not forget him, but missed him dearly.

Zhou Yi dismounted, but he couldn't recall the person's name, so he could only smile and wave in response.

As he approached Baihe Village, an old man at the village entrance saw him and hurriedly ran back, carrying out two jars of wine.

"Abbot, we've been waiting for you to return!"

Lu Degui's wrinkled old face showed both surprise and joy: "I've climbed the mountain several times to deliver the mulberry wine that I brewed for you, but you were never home. I finally managed to catch you this time. My skills are rough, please don't mind, Abbot."

Zhou Yi accepted it without any hesitation, smiling, showing no sign of disdain.

Lü Degui's joy deepened.

Zhou Yi looked at the deep wrinkles on his face and sighed inwardly.

Time waits for no one; he looked much older than when he last saved the old man.

"Which family passed away?"

Zhou Yi heard a dark sound coming from Baihe Village and casually asked a question.

Lü Degui sighed: "The village head has passed away first."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi recalled a frail figure. It was this old man who had come forward to contact many craftsmen and provided great assistance when Wuzhuang Temple was being renovated.

He seemed quite healthy at the time, but I never imagined he would pass away so soon.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are inevitable experiences for all people, but seeing familiar faces depart inevitably brings a sense of sorrow.

They tied the horse to the door of Lü Degui's house and put down the wine jar.

He beckoned two children who were playing in the yard and told them to watch over the wine.

The two children seemed to have received a sacred mission, and under Lü Degui's instructions, they stood guard at the entrance of the courtyard.

Without Lü Degui leading the way, Zhou Yi followed the sound of crying and arrived at the courtyard of a house.

The old village head had a good reputation, and many people in the village saw him off.

His arrival caused an immediate sensation.

To the villagers, the Master of Wuzhuang Temple is not only the 'mountain god' of Wolong Mountain, protecting the peace of the area.

He was a prominent figure in Nanyang County.

Some outsiders didn't recognize him, so someone nearby whispered about him, which surprised everyone who heard it.

They felt as if those legendary figures from the stories told in teahouses and restaurants had suddenly stepped out of legend and into reality.

The crowd parted, and seven or eight relatives dressed in mourning clothes came out of the house to greet them.

Zhou Yi didn't do anything special, just silently offered prayers and burned a few pieces of yellow paper in the earthenware pot next to the old village head's coffin.

He left after he finished, without disturbing the funeral.

However, the family members chased after him and bowed in gratitude in the direction he had left.

Everyone around said that the old village head was blessed.

Putting aside the prestige of the abbot's personal visit, everyone in Nanyang Prefecture knew that the abbot possessed the ability to communicate between the living and the dead.

It seems that things have already been arranged with the City God.

Even those who were invited to exorcise the evil spirits all gave the same story, saying that the old village head didn't need to go to the underworld, but went straight to heaven to report for duty.

This matter quickly spread.

The people of Nanyang said that the old village head was lucky, and they also felt warm and close to him. Master Yi Guan was a high-ranking figure, but he was very close to everyone.
Although Zhou Yi has been away from Wolonggang for a long time, the temple has always been managed by someone.

Although one can practice martial arts within the city walls.

However, when it comes to places for quiet contemplation and spiritual cultivation, nothing compares to this mountain and this hill.

With daily chores taken care of, Zhou Yi can focus without distractions.

Having experienced numerous battles in Nanyang County and encountered a group of formidable experts, he felt inadequate.

The pressure from figures like the Great Ming Venerable Sect, the Evil King, and Fu Nanda is considerable.

Once Yang Guang marched south, the struggle for power entered a completely different phase.

The martial arts holy land will officially enter the fray, and all three grandmasters will be implicated.

Although he knew that martial arts training could not be rushed, he still wanted to make progress and devise more methods.

Perhaps I was overthinking things, because I stayed in Wuzhuang Temple for five consecutive days after entering.

Aside from consistently refining the malevolent energy within the Yang Aperture smoothly, despite the flashes of inspiration in his mind, he could never quite grasp it.

On the seventh day...

As dusk fell, the setting sun shone like blood. Zhou Yi sat in the main hall of the Huang family and opened the mulberry wine that Lü Degui had given him.

He held the "Laozi Xiang'er Commentary" in his hands, about to drink wine while reading the book and forget all his worries.

But did not expect
A fragrant breeze wafted in from somewhere, and a soft footstep echoed from the rooftop.

Zhou Yi put down the bowl, still engrossed in his book, and softly called out, "Come down."

A moment later, a slender white figure landed on the roof in the corridor, the tiles rattling as if a wild fox had been startled and kicked.

The white figure was carrying something in its hand, its silhouette fading in the setting sun.

Zhou Yi took small steps up the stone steps and entered the main hall of Wuzhuang Temple. He sat on the north side, which was closer to the top, while she sat on the east side.

A sweet fragrance wafted over, overpowering the intoxicating aroma of mulberry wine; it smelled wonderful.

Zhou Yi raised his eyes slightly and saw a pure-looking girl with fair skin, wearing a white dress, pink shoes and white socks, staring straight at him with her elfin eyes.

Then, he put down what he was carrying.

It turned out to be just a few small dishes.

Zhou Yi looked at the fragrant side dishes and asked suspiciously, "Did you make these?"

"No, it was bought from the county town."

Wanwan added, "And this too."

She then took out a plate of sliced ​​fatty duck from the basket.

Zhou Yi put down the book. Since things had come to this, he figured he might as well eat the duck first.

He then took out a bowl, chopsticks, and cups and placed them in front of her. Just as he was about to pick up his chopsticks, he suddenly asked her:

"Did you poison it?"

Wanwan nodded seriously: "It's been administered. It's the Love-Binding Poison from the Extinction Path."

While speaking, he used chopsticks to place a large duck leg into Zhou Yi's bowl.

He then sat there without saying a word, his eyes fixed on the bamboo chopsticks, as if he had something on his mind.

"what happened?"

She remained silent for a while:
“Some time ago at Longxing Temple in Shunyang, some of my actions were seen by the elders of our sect, which displeased them. Even my master told me not to look for you again. This time, I took advantage of my master’s seclusion to sneak out of Xiangyang.”

Zhou Yi frowned slightly: "Why is the Empress Yin so hostile towards me?"

"It's all because of Shi Zhixuan."

Wanwan stirred the wine with her chopsticks:
“Master said you are another Shi Zhixuan, and you also have Bi Xiuxin by your side. He told me to stay as far away from you as possible. Before, her attitude was not like this. It is because I helped you in front of the elders of our sect and attacked Shanmu that she felt that I was confused and had lost my sense of propriety.”

Now the elders of our sect say I'm aiding foreign enemies, but I can't disobey my master's orders. I'm in a real dilemma.

The little vixen was quite different from usual, having completely sheathed her alluring charm, appearing rather pitiful and helpless.

She didn't eat a single bite herself, but kept putting food on Zhou Yi's plate.

After not hearing his response for a while, she asked again:

"If I ever become homeless, can I come looking for you?"

Zhou Yi casually replied, "Go ahead and look for it."

Seeing that he did not hesitate, the little vixen burst out laughing, and her laughter immediately broke her composure.

She had completely lost all of her previous pitiful act.

She moved her chair closer and asked, "Brother Yi, isn't she better than Shi Feixuan?"

“At Longxing Temple, I acted faster than her, and I was willing to go against my master’s wishes for you, and I could also disregard the feelings of the elders. She always listened to Fan Qinghui and only worked for Cihang Jingzhai.”

Zhou Yi's attention, however, was focused on another aspect:

"What you said earlier was actually true?"

"of course."

Wanwan snorted lightly: "However, what do their dissatisfaction have to do with me? Master only misunderstands you."

Zhou Yi placed another duck leg into her bowl.

The little vixen didn't eat; instead, she rested her elbow on the table, propping up her cheek, and kept staring at him.

Zhou Yi ate his food and drank his wine, ignoring her gaze, feeling a sense of contentment.

Wanwan was acting strangely today. She turned into a stone statue of an elf who did not belong to the human world. She did not utter a word after that, but her bright eyes seemed to be telling a story.

She came here, it seems, just to deliver food and drinks, and incidentally to see him.

As darkness fell, the little demoness left.

She didn't even ask Zhou Yi to help her practice her breathing exercises.

The following evening, at roughly the same time, Wanwan arrived unexpectedly.

The same thing happened on the third and fourth days.

By the evening of the fifth day, the fragrant breeze had disappeared, and there was no more wine or food. Zhou Yi could no longer see the elfin girl.

The same thing happened on the sixth day.

Zhou Yi suspected this might be the little vixen's doing, but he couldn't help feeling a little regretful.
On the ninth day, the setting sun shone on Wolong Mountain, the new leaves of the miscellaneous trees shone in varying shades, the deep green was like a splash of water, and the mountain flowers had not yet faded.

As the sun dips low in the west and sinks into the forest,

All the colors gradually faded before Zhou Yi's eyes.

He gazed at the distant sky, then turned and lit the lamp.

Just as the lights were lit in the main hall of the Huang family, a very faint sound suddenly came from the roof tiles.

Perhaps this was a commotion deliberately made by someone skilled in light-footed martial arts.

Because the white figure made no sound when it landed from the height.

To minimize her movements, she carried a pair of embroidered shoes in her hands and tiptoed up the steps in light stockings, like a bright flower blooming in the hazy moonlight.

The young man in the main hall was reading a book by lamplight when a fairy under the moon suddenly snuggled up to him and hugged his arm.

She tossed her shoes aside and gently shook his arm.

"Brother Yi, it's been a few days. Have you missed me?"

"No."

Wanwan smiled charmingly, her eyes blinking under the lamplight, revealing an unparalleled allure.

"If you don't have any, then turn around and look at me. Let me see if your eyes are empty."

Zhou Yi laughed and scolded, "Don't go too far, or you might not be able to perfect your Heavenly Demon Technique."

Wanwan was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

There was no shyness on her face, and her allure was somewhat restrained, replaced by a deeper tenderness.

"Master really misjudged him. Brother Yi is not Shi Zhixuan at all."

Our sect's Heavenly Demon Great Art is divided into eighteen levels. Since the founding ancestor, no one has ever reached the eighteenth level, the Reincarnation Chapter. Women who practice the Heavenly Demon Great Art must never have intimate contact with the men they love.

"My master was deceived by Shi Zhixuan and had a relationship with him, which caused his progress in the Heavenly Demon Technique to stop at the seventeenth level."

The girl leaned against him and whispered:
“If Brother Yi were Shi Zhixuan, he should have taken the opportunity to deceive me. In that case, the Yin Gui Sect would lose its greatest support in the future.”

As the most outstanding successor of the Yin Gui School, she is qualified to say this.

Zhou Yi said calmly, "I just disdain using such methods. In my eyes, whether you have reached the eighteenth level or not is not a threat."

"The Holy Emperor is truly domineering."

Wanwan didn't give him a chance to speak, and continued:
"This time, Taoism and Buddhism have joined forces, and Shi Feixuan can stand by your side. But that may not be the case soon. Given your status in Taoism and the implications for the Taoist tradition, Buddhism will never support you. However, I can stand by your side."

Zhou Yi's mind worked incredibly fast: "What information did you get?"

“We have people around Yang Guang, so we naturally know the Emperor’s intentions. He is about to go to Jiangdu.”

Wanwan continued, "Great chaos is imminent in the north. The Buddhist sect is about to make a choice, and whoever they choose will stand against you."

As expected, Yang Guang was going to leave for Jiangdu ahead of schedule.

Thinking of this variable, Zhou Yi asked again, "Does the Yin Gui Sect intend to support me?"

"That's unlikely, unless you, Holy Emperor, reveal your identity and use the Dao Heart Demon Seed Technique to unify the two sects and six paths of the Holy Sect. Even if you have a Daoist identity, they will have no choice but to accept it and combine the ten volumes of the Heavenly Demon Strategy into one."

Zhou Yi said irritably, "Don't give me any title like Holy Emperor."

The little demoness smiled slyly: "Then Brother Yi can only be the Holy Emperor of one person. I can keep this secret forever."

"The Yin Gui Sect won't help you, and neither will the people of the two sects and the six paths, but I can help you."

"First of all, I can help you block your master."

Zhou Yi glanced at her, then suddenly realized: "Why is the Empress in seclusion? Was she injured while chasing Shi Zhixuan?"

Wanwan revealed a hint of joy: "It's not that he's injured, but rather that the bottleneck that has troubled Master for decades has loosened."

"I don't know the reason either, but Master will have the opportunity to advance further."

Zhou Yi's eyes widened slightly.

Even a master like Empress Yin, whose skills are so formidable, is stuck at a certain level. If she were to advance any further, it would be disastrous.

If the Evil King knew, he would be overjoyed.

"You should return to Xiangyang immediately, listen to your master, stay away from me, and don't let her notice me."

Zhou Yi pulled his arm away.

The little demoness hugged him again: "No, I've already done something outrageous."

"what's up?"

"Take it."

As she spoke, she shoved a brand-new book into Zhou Yi's hand; there wasn't a single word on the cover.

"This is.?"

“My master has been researching ways to deal with Shi Zhixuan, and she passed it on to me a long time ago. If my master dies, I will avenge her. This book contains my master’s interpretation of Shi Zhixuan’s various martial arts. Although it failed to break his evil skills, it contains many profound insights into martial arts.”

Zhou Yi's eyes lit up; to him, this might be even more useful than the Heavenly Demon Technique.

Of course, he also wanted to see the Heavenly Demon Technique, but that would be tantamount to Wanwan completely betraying Empress Yin, so he had no right to ask at this moment.

Although the chance to break through the Yin Empress was extremely terrifying, Zhou Yi still did not refuse this kind offer.

Wanwan stared at the person beside her.

She understood somewhat why he was able to participate in the ultimate battle at Longxing Temple at such a young age.

Zhou Yi broke free from the romantic atmosphere and began to peruse the book that Wanwan had copied, page by page, completely absorbed in the reading.

Wanwan let go of his arm, initially complaining a little.

Gradually, she quietly stayed by his side.

She had never experienced anything like this before. He didn't speak to her, nor did he look at her; he seemed completely oblivious to her charms and ignored this peerless enchantress.

But in Wanwan's eyes, he brought a kind of beauty that she could not feel from others.

She propped herself up on the table, resting her chin on her hand, a hint of a smile flickering in her bright eyes.

Master, you don't understand him.

He is not Shi Zhixuan.

After about two cups of tea's time, Wanwan moved her body, not wanting to disturb him, preparing to come and go quietly.

As soon as I stood up, a hand grabbed me back.

"Activate your internal energy."

"..."

Nearly half an hour later, Zhou Yi took a long breath.

Wanwan's eyes were alluring as she stared intently at him.

Zhou Yi waved the book she had given him.

"This thing is very useful to me, but you have seriously aided the enemy this time. You must keep it a secret, otherwise they will accuse you of being a traitor and you will have no way to refute it."

The little vixen wasn't afraid at all: "So be it, I like it."

She smiled, but there was also a hint of reluctance in her expression.

"I'm going back to Xiangyang. I'll be cultivating behind closed doors for the time being, and then I'll be going to Jiangnan."

"I may not see you for a long time."

Just as Zhou Yi was about to ask her what she was doing in Jiangnan, a white figure flashed by, a fragrant breeze wafted over, and the little vixen boldly threw herself into his arms.

She whispered seductively in his ear:
"Brother Yi, don't forget about her, and don't think about Shi Feixuan."

Wanwan rubbed her face against his, and Zhou Yi felt a wetness on his cheek. The little demon girl flashed, carrying the aura of the Heavenly Demon, and her figure had already reached the entrance of the main hall.

She was like an enchanting moonlit fairy, her lips slightly parted.

With a triumphant smile, he said, "The coldest man in the Great Sui Dynasty, it turns out, also has warmth."

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "Don't leave yet, I have something to say."

"What?"

"I have a raccoon in my backyard that can do backflips. I'll take you to see it."

Wanwan chuckled, revealing her pearly white teeth. As Zhou Yi stood up, she had already leaped onto the roof.

Seeing Zhou Yi disappear under the eaves, they did not pursue him further.

With light, graceful steps and flowing sleeves, she seemed to manipulate the rhythm of space, her back to the crimson moon, and performed a wondrous dance of celestial demons.

A series of shadowy figures, ribbons fluttering in the air, accompanying their graceful curves.

The jade hairpin on her long black hair suddenly fell off and fluttered in the night wind, exuding a more earthy and charming allure than the flower-scattering celestial maiden in the mural.

Through a gap in her dark hair, Wanwan winked at Zhou Yi.

He then vanished into the darkness, never to be seen again.
As Zhou Yi savored the memory, he put away the shoes that Wanwan had left in the main hall.

Then he went to his cousin's former studio, lit a lamp and painted all night, creating "Ode to the Celestial Maiden Under the Moon".

He witnessed once again the most magnificent scenery of the Sui Dynasty.

I didn't sleep a wink that night, and I opened the book the little demoness had given me.

For him, not having this book wouldn't make a big difference; it would just take a little more time.

However, he kept pondering the inspiration in his mind.

I've been feeling quite frustrated these past few days because I haven't been able to find a solution.

The martial arts insights of the senior members of the Demonic Sect were captivating, acting as a catalyst to quickly draw Zhou Yi into the state of mind.
The next period of time.

The disciples who brought food up the mountain naturally noticed the abbot's unusual behavior.

He was always meditating, so quiet that you wouldn't even notice him in the main hall unless you looked closely.
……

The 89th day of the Longxing calendar.

Another major event has shaken the world.

"I dreamt of the beauty of Jiangnan, my campaign against Liaodong was merely a chance occurrence, but the memories remain, and this year will be the only time we part."

May of the twelfth year of the Daye era.

Disgusted with the chaos in the north, Yang Guang placed his last hope in his beloved Jiangnan region.

However, just a month and a half ago, something happened that proved that things were not peaceful in Jiangnan as well.

Sui general Gongsun Shangzhe led the Xiaoguo army south ahead of the Sui army.

He followed the Tongji Canal to the Huai River, where he joined Lai Zheng.

Ignoring Lai Zheng's advice, he went down the Han Canal and fought a major battle with the Jianghuai Army near Baima Lake in Anyi.

Gongsun Shangzhe came specifically for Du Fuwei.

Upon seeing Du Fuwei leading the army, he remained calm and composed, setting up his formation to meet the enemy.

In the heat of battle, Wei Che, the chieftain of Yan County, suddenly led 10,000 men to launch a surprise attack from Shanyang in the rear, attacking the Tiger Fang camp from both sides.

Sui general Jiang Zheng led an army to provide assistance, but they encountered Li Jing twice on the Huai River.

This time, Li Jing's army was stronger and had anticipated that the whole army would come to Gongsun Shangzhe's aid, so the Jianghuai army surrounded the point and attacked the reinforcements.

Taking advantage of the anxiety of rushing to Baima Lake, Li Jing first held his ground and blocked the enemy.

When both sides were exhausted from the stalemate, a large number of elite troops from the Shangmu Camp, who had been lying in ambush for a long time, suddenly attacked from the flank!
Military flags fluttered in the wind, and battle cries shook the heavens!

Many of them instantly lost their fighting spirit and abandoned their armor and weapons.

Once the army was thrown into chaos, there was no way to reverse the situation.

Lai Zheng suffered a second major defeat and had no choice but to retreat to Huaibei, leaving the Tiger Fang Camp isolated.

Gongsun Shangzhe fought fiercely against Du Fuwei amidst the chaos, but the two were mismatched in strength and momentum. In less than a hundred rounds, this Tiger Fang General was killed by Du Fuwei at Baima Lake.

Such a crushing defeat is enough to make people realize that the situation in the south is no more stable than that in the north.

But
Ma Shancai, a colonel under Gongsun Shangzhe, narrowly escaped with his life and reported the battle situation in Jiangdu to Luoyang, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the Jianghuai army.

The emperor was moved, but Yu Shiji, the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, asked, "If what you say is true, how did Shancai come to be here?"

Yang Guang then sent Ma Shancai to explore the area between the Yangtze and Huai rivers again.

Unexpectedly, not long after leaving Dongdu, Ma Shancai died tragically in a chaotic situation in the martial arts world.

The matter concerning the Jianghuai region was left unresolved.

Yang Guang was naturally aware of the unrest in the Jianghuai region, but he simply refused to listen.

Yu Shiji discerned the emperor's intentions and understood that Yang Guang was ambitious and loved to make great achievements, and hated the sound of thieves and bandits. He knew that he could not be persuaded otherwise.

Seeing that upright officials such as Gao Jiong and Zhang Heng had been killed for speaking out, he feared that disaster would befall him and chose to flatter and curry favor.

Yang Guang loved to hear this, so he was "especially fond of" him, and no other court official could compare to him. He was even bestowed with piles of gold and jewels.

Pei Yun also reported that the auspicious omen of "the secret to longevity" had appeared in Jiangdu.

The emperor was delighted and gladly went to see him.

By this time, war had broken out everywhere outside, and the county reports that "bandits were everywhere in the country" were distorted and whitewashed by Yu Shiji and others.

Faced with the reality of "the people suffering from forced labor and the world yearning for chaos," Yang Guang chose to flee.

So, in May alone, he led a huge fleet south from Luoyang to Jiangdu!

News of the outbreak in Dongdu quickly reached Nanyang. Upon learning the news, Chen Laomou rode his horse straight to Wolong Mountain.

"Where is the Celestial Master?!"

The guard at the gate immediately replied, "We are currently observing."

Chen Laomou arrived at Huang Lao's main hall with a loud laugh. He saw a young man in white drinking tea in the hall, so he went up to him and asked for a cup of tea as well.

"Celestial Master, do you know why I have come?"

"But Yang Guang has taken Jiangdu."

Zhou Yi guessed it, and Chen Laomou wasn't surprised either:
"The powerful clans of Guanzhong have become disloyal to Yang Guang. Jiangnan, where he had established his power in his early years, could not only obtain supplies through the Grand Canal, but also maintain his rule with the help of former officials of the Southern Dynasty. So there was nothing wrong with him going south."

He finished speaking and laughed heartily:
"But once he left, he never had the chance to come back, and the Sui Dynasty was completely finished!"

Old Chen finished his tea and gave a cold laugh:
"Yang Guang is truly extravagant. This time, he has thousands of ships on his southward journey, far exceeding previous tours. There are thousands of palace maids pulling the dragon boats, all dressed in brocade robes and tied with blue silk ropes."

Following them were thousands of decorated boats, carrying Empress Xiao, her concubines, monks, nuns, Taoist priests, and civil and military officials. The fleet stretched for two hundred miles, escorted by cavalry on both banks, with banners obscuring the sun.

Every time the county or prefecture passed through, local officials were required to offer delicacies, while the people ate tree bark; yet the prefectures and counties continued to levy taxes relentlessly. Wasn't this forcing people to revolt?

Zhou Yi asked, "Has there been any news from Jianghuai?"

"It won't be that fast, it might take a few days."

Old Chen looked at him and couldn't help but say:
"The Celestial Master's words have been proven true once again. The Xiaoguo Army has more than 100,000 troops and is strong and well-equipped, but we really don't need to fight them. Just let them go to Jiangdu, and then Jiangdu will fall into chaos on its own."

"If we don't do this, it will be really difficult to breach the high city of Jiangdu."

"Once we take Jiangdu, the south will be pacified. At that time, the north will still be in chaos. Who in the world will be a match for the Celestial Master?"

Zhou Yi smiled slightly, much calmer than Chen Laomou. Seeing his excitement, she poured him another cup of tea.

Chen Laomou suddenly asked again, "Is the Celestial Master's practice going smoothly?"

"Going smoothly, I'll be down the mountain in a few days. Is there anything you need me to do?"

There is one thing that no one else can do for you.

"What's the matter?"

"Pegasus Ranch."

Chen Laomou's expression changed:
"Something has happened in Jingling City. As instructed by the Celestial Master, I have sent someone to contact Duba Manor. Because of the Flying Horse Ranch, the manor owner, Fang Zetao, and his younger brother, Fang Zeliu, get along well with the people we sent."

Unexpectedly, just half a month later, both Fang Zetao and Fang Zeliu were murdered.

Do you know who did it?

“I don’t know,” Chen Laomou shook his head. “Duba Manor is divided into seven armies. The manor lord’s personal guards number as many as 8,000, and the rest are 4,000 each. The manor is heavily guarded, and the Fang brothers are quite skilled. Anyone who could kill them inside the manor must be a top expert.”

"With the chaos in Jingling City, the Four Bandits have become even more arrogant and seem to be planning to take action against the Pegasus Ranch."

Zhou Yi was slightly doubtful: "Even if the Four Great Bandits outnumber us, they can't take over the ranch."

“Indeed, this ranch is easy to defend and difficult to attack. But a group of troublesome experts have appeared out of nowhere on the bandits' side. They have been harassed several times, and this has been going on for some time. Originally, the ranch did not plan to ask for help, but now it seems that it has encountered trouble again.”

Old Chen smiled and said, "I didn't dare to disturb the Celestial Master's practice, but Chen Ruiyang from the Dangyang Caravan came to me, so I came to ask."

"Alright, have Chief Chen come to see me in five days."

Mr. Chen nodded.

Having received confirmation, he did not linger, drank his tea, and then took his leave.

Zhou Yi was not worried about the Four Bandits.

Pegasus Ranch has no shortage of troops; dealing with just a few experts is a simple matter of a single trip.

After resting for a while, he meditated again.

Before long, as he circulated his energy, a faint gust of wind swirled around him.

This gust of wind looks somewhat similar to the airflow of the Evil King's Undying Seal Technique, but in fact they are quite different.

Zhou Yi first developed the "Shifting Stars" technique for releasing force based on the circulation of Qi in the pulse. Later, as his skill improved, he applied the "Shifting Stars" technique to the Qi channels.

If you engage in a palm strike with someone to test your internal strength, it can indeed be effective.

However, its effect is negligible in a force that is quick to withdraw and comes and goes.

Having experienced the Battle of Longxing Temple, Zhou Yi came up with a good idea.

Similar to the Yin Empress's "burning everything in its path" technique, the Heavenly Demon Force Field is contracted to a single point before being exploded.

So, according to the method of the hidden spatial aperture within Wanwan's body.

Zhou Yi can also contract his internal energy, and through this contraction, he can steal the tangible substance with an invisible force, and bite into his opponent's strength in one fell swoop.

It doesn't matter if you don't understand the Evil King's hand seals.

Because of the skillful manipulation of Qi within his body, he can use this technique to propel the Qi throughout his body.

Therefore, by shifting and moving the previously contracted force around, one can transform and convert that force.

Once this thought came to mind, everything became clear.

It not only absorbed the Heavenly Demon Technique, but also transferred and transformed the Undying Seal Technique.

He was quite satisfied with this new method of shifting stars and constellations. Although it consumed his true energy, he finally had a way to deal with group battles.

Inside the main hall, as Zhou Yi pushed with both hands, the surrounding wind swirled faster and faster, even creating spatial fluctuations.

If it's fast enough, it's not a spatial collapse, but rather a feeling of spatial contraction like the one experienced by the Yin Empress, where everything is destroyed.

He stopped what he was doing and stroked his chin thoughtfully.

I had a bad feeling.

Oh no, I hope the Queen won't misunderstand.

If she saw me shifting my stars like this, wouldn't she suspect that the little demoness had shown me the Heavenly Demon Technique?

Actually, there's nothing between me and the little demon girl. We were just studying acupoints and didn't learn any great techniques.

Zhou Yi frowned.

If the Empress Yin broke through due to the battle at Longxing Temple, then with the Eighteen Reincarnations and her formidable power, she would truly be terrifying.

Wukong, this time we're counting on you to single-handedly defend against the Yin Queen.
Over the next few days, Zhou Yiquan focused on regulating his breathing and internal energy.

The demonic energy within the Zhiyang Aperture has been completely transformed. As the demonic energy in the Ren and Du meridians becomes even more abundant, the Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao meridians, which are also part of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, have been fully opened.

Of the twelve primary meridians, the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian runs from Yinbai to Tianxi, and of the twenty-one acupoints, only three remain.

The original intention was to achieve success in one go, and then fully cultivate the Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian.

However, creating the Star Shift took a lot of time, and now that Pegasus Ranch is busy, we'll just have to hold off for now.

The 94th day of the Longxing calendar.

Standing in front of Wuzhuang Temple, Zhou Yi saw not only Chen Ruiyang, but also the gang leader Lou Ruodan.

The two of them came together, so it seems the ranch is in quite a bit of trouble.

Upon seeing him, Lou Ruodan and Chen Ruiyang dared not presume and immediately bowed to him.

"Guanzhu."

"Please come in, let's talk inside."

Zhou Yi invited the two inside; he had already prepared tea.

The two only touched lips briefly, neither intending to drink tea.

Seeing that they seemed a bit embarrassed, Zhou Yi asked directly, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Chen Ruiyang didn't speak, and Lou Ruodan, who was standing to the side, bowed again:
"Master, we would like to invite you to Pegasus Mountain City."

Zhou Yi was somewhat puzzled: "I'm fairly familiar with the mall owner, why be so hesitant about this?"

Chen Ruiyang said:

"Because the owner doesn't want to trouble you, our visit this time is against the owner's wishes, which is why I hesitated for quite some time before daring not to speak."

Lou Ruodan shook her head: "The situation in Jingling is very complicated right now. Although the ranch is not short of manpower, there have been many unpleasant guests recently. I am worried that they will be detrimental to the ranch owner, so I would like to delay the abbot for a while."

She added:
"The ranch will surely reward you handsomely afterward."

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "I would like to see the scenery of the ranch, but the owner does not want me to go. Wouldn't it be presumptuous of me to visit suddenly?"

Before Lou Ruodan could speak, Old Chen interrupted:

"Rest assured, Abbot, my master will be delighted if you go."

……

(End of this chapter)