Devouring Evil Martial Arts, Eliminating Demons from All Heavens

Chapter 399 Uninvited Guest Explores the Valley
Areas near rivers and seas are naturally rich in moisture.

In addition, the deep mountains and forests are lush with vegetation. When the sun shines, clouds and mist swirl around, and a light rain often falls.

A light rain had just fallen in the Green Pine Valley.

Thatched cottages and bamboo huts, paths outside the doors, grass and vines—everywhere the scenery seemed to have been washed clean by water, making it exceptionally vibrant.

The air was fresh, and the afternoon sun peeked out from behind the clouds again, but the bright white sun was high and small, and not too hot to behold.

With gentle mountain breezes, the sky was bright and cool, and the smoke and dust had cleared away.

"The rise and fall of water vapor, and the changes in sunshine and rain, are important aspects of celestial and climatic variations. When celestial phenomena change, the earth's atmosphere changes accordingly..."

Lu Yuande, leaning on a cane, stood in the southeast corner of the valley, facing a large expanse of vegetation, stroking his long beard, and was speaking with great relish.

He glanced at his hand stroking his beard from time to time; his fingers were distinct, strong, and his smile deepened.

Although his left hand has recovered for some time, whenever he sees it with his own eyes and examines it closely, he still feels an indescribable joy, as if he has been reborn.

"This light rain has come at just the right time, expelling the old and taking in the new, washing away the dust and wind. Without rain, the earth's energy would be too dry; with heavy rain, the earth's energy would be too dense. Right now, the earth's energy is slightly rising but has not yet been released, which is the perfect time for renewal..."

"Taoist Master, I'm a farmer, I don't understand what you're saying."

Behind Lu Yuande stood a large group of people, mostly the parents of the disciples in the valley.

The person who spoke just now was an older woman with dark brown skin. She had already rolled up her sleeves and trouser legs, looking ready to get to work.

Although these people are old, they have been farming and working all year round. In the valley, they live a more comfortable life, rest and recuperate, and still have a lot of strength.

Another old man with white hair and a thin face laughed and said, "I love listening to the Taoist priest talk. He uses words so carefully, sometimes high and sometimes low, it's like he's singing."

"But Master, could you please show us exactly how to start and where to begin? We can continue explaining as we get to work."

Lu Yuande laughed and simply pointed out the exact location, instructing them to clear away the vegetation there.

The dimensions of the dig—how many feet square, how many inches deep—were clearly specified, so that the large bamboo transplanted from elsewhere could be planted.

Not long ago, the villa's retainers and the valley's disciples all left in response to the summons.

As for the entire Denglaishan town, since the army bypassed it, it remained bustling and prosperous, and was not significantly affected by the distant news of the war.

Ordinary people in the city are even more cheerful than before.

After Chu Tianshu took over, he changed the rules for the industries under the jurisdiction of various forces such as Xiao and Hou. After raising wages, he also conducted unpredictable inspections to prevent those in charge from embezzling.

While not all the officials at various levels were replaced, quite a few were replaced. Those who were able to stay in their positions, regardless of whether they wanted to profit in the future, were more sensible at this time and did not want to be the first to stick their necks out.

When the craftsmen had spare money, they dared to hire someone for half a day or a full day to go home and visit their parents, bringing back some wages. The elderly parents would naturally consider using the wages to buy something more practical, such as a household item or two.

Some of the workers, being rather rough around the edges, simply spent their money at the market.

In any case, the businesses of shops in the city and peddlers in the countryside all got better, and they all had their own needs.

This continuous transmission has revitalized the entire Denglaishan market.

Lu Yuande found the sights and sounds of the marketplace delightful, but when he returned to the valley, he saw that the families of his disciples were all frowning and worried.

The old Taoist himself was probably worried about the battle situation, but he also knew that he shouldn't get too caught up in it. So, on a whim, he asked everyone for a favor.

He intends to set up a series of ingenious formations in this valley.

Chu Tianshu intends to develop this place into a good learning environment for his future disciples.

Lu Yuande then thought of many suitable formations.

Some trap formations with improved concealment and defense are already on the agenda and will be deployed first.

However, formations have countless uses. Besides offense, defense, and confusion, they can also be used in the future to nourish the mind and spirit, regulate light and ventilation, and promote the growth of water and grass.

It could be used to isolate noise from outside the formation, or to prevent the sound of people reading aloud inside the formation from reaching the outside.

"Master, here I come."

Stone Boy carried over a dozen large bamboo poles in one go.

The large bamboo roots at the front retain their root hairs and soil, while the long bamboo poles and leaves at the back inevitably drag on the ground.

Like a giant green peacock, with its tail feathers drooping, it slowly approaches.

Zhuo Yuan and his daughter followed beside them, with Zhuo Yuan carrying a large, dark blue stone more than a meter tall on his shoulder.

Many holes have been carved into the large rock, and when the wind blows by occasionally, it produces a pleasant sound.

It sounds like a kind of musical instrument called an ocarina, but also somewhat like the sound of a bamboo tube.

The Book of Songs says that the eldest son played the xun (a type of ancient Chinese wind instrument), and the second son played the chi (another type of ancient Chinese wind instrument). Both were elegant musical instruments that existed in the Zhou Dynasty. The former was made of pottery, and the latter was made of bamboo.

"Master Lu, these were all carved out exactly as you instructed. Please take a look and see if there are any mistakes."

Zhuo Yuan carefully put the large stone down.

Lu Yuande walked around the large rock, tapped it lightly, and a clear echo was produced. He nodded with a smile.

He directed the stone boy to plant the large bamboo stalks one by one, and then had everyone fill in the new soil.

Zhuo Yuan carefully calculated the location of the boulder and then had everyone leave the bamboo forest.

"The ephemeral mushroom knows not the dawn or dusk, the cicada knows not the spring or autumn, the cave dweller knows not the years, and the secluded and mysterious dwells in the void..."

Lu Yuande chanted incantations for a long time, and then reached out and released a stream of purple energy that flowed continuously into the ground.

The bamboo grove seemed to sense something and swayed slightly, causing the compacted soil to develop tiny pores.

However, these large bamboos, which were slightly damaged during transplanting, became even more stable, as if they had always grown there.

When the wind passes, everything is clear and bright.

The large rock should have produced beautiful music, but people standing outside the forest couldn't hear it; they could only clearly hear the rustling of branches and leaves.

Lu Yuande had a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead. After reciting another incantation, he smiled at Zhuo Xinlan and said, "Xiao Lan, I would like to ask you to find some birds to fly over the valley and observe what it looks like."

Zhuo Xinlan looked around the bamboo forest with curiosity. Upon hearing this, she turned her head to look into the distance, put her fingers to her lips, and whistled.

Several cuckoos, doves, and more than ten sparrows flew over.

Zhuo Xinlan smiled and waved to them.

As soon as the birds landed, they took flight again, disappearing into the clouds above the valley. After a while, they returned to the valley, chirping incessantly.

The calls of those cuckoos were especially melodious and pleasant to hear.

Zhuo Xinlan exclaimed in surprise, "They all say that when we fly ten times my height, they can no longer see us, and we can only see the bamboo forest."

"If we fly any higher, all the houses that used to be around here will disappear, replaced by overgrown weeds and wild trees?!"

"now it's right."

Lu Yuande smiled and said, "My formation consists of twelve major formations and forty-nine minor formations."

"Originally, most of the formations were not suitable for this valley, but I have recently studied the Dao of Inner Alchemy and gained quite a bit of insight. When used in formations, they are all exquisite."

"If the formation is fully set up, then not only the houses in this area, but all the houses in the entire valley will be covered up."

"If outsiders come, it will be difficult for them to observe the lives of the disciples in the valley from a high place, and if they try to attack, they will be countered."

Zhuo Xinlan's eyes lit up: "Like the kind of formation monks use, that can make people much more powerful?"

Lu Yuande said with a kind smile, "That's using people to set up an array, which is a different approach from mine. But the essence of any array is to gather the small to achieve the great, and to move heaven and earth."

"The Vertical and Horizontal Seal that Fellow Daoist Chu taught you also contains the mysteries of array formations, but I don't think he put much effort into array formations."

"If Xiaolan is willing and can learn well, I can also give you some pointers."

Zhuo Xinlan nodded repeatedly and bowed to express her gratitude.

Lu Yuande smiled and reached out to help her, but suddenly his eyes lit up and his smile vanished.

When everyone saw him turn his head to look at the mountain wall not far away, they all looked up as well.

On the steep mountainside, there are several small trees growing horizontally.

From the clouds atop the mountain cliff, a figure dressed in a black robe slowly descended, landing on a small tree and looking down.

Those birds had clearly said that if they were ten times the height of Zhuo Xinlan, they wouldn't be able to see these people by the bamboo forest.

The height of this uninvited guest was at least equivalent to twenty times the height of Zhuo Xinlan.

But his gaze swept across everyone's faces, finally landing precisely on Lu Yuande's face.

"Is it true that refined people do not discuss subtle formations?"

"Heaven and earth possess great beauty but remain silent, while human creations possess small beauty that is striking. By concealing small beauty within great beauty, all things can be hidden from each other, finding their place in the mountains, thus achieving tranquility."

The black robe's fabric subtly reflected light, exuding a dazzling and noble air.

The man in the black robe had a pale, ashen face, with deep wrinkles around his eyes, suggesting he was in his forties or fifties, and his skin was stiff.

Lu Yuande immediately recognized that the man was wearing a disguise mask.

The mask was crudely made, far less valuable than the robe. It was unclear what strange quirk he had, wanting to disguise himself yet making himself easily recognizable to anyone with a discerning eye in the martial world. The man's voice, however, was gentle and refined, quite pleasant to the ear.

"As far as I know, there are only two schools in the world that understand this kind of formation. The Northern Celestial Masters lineage has already retired to the mountains, while the Southern Dynasty has the Purple Mansion School, which is proficient in this art."

"However, four years ago, the Zifu Sect was wiped out. It is suspected that certain powerful families in the north and south joined forces to plunder and divide up the secret formulas researched by the Zifu Sect..."

As he spoke, his gaze suddenly shifted to the face of the stone boy.

Stone Daotong was naturally calm and composed; his expression remained unchanged, though he was very tense.

"Haha, it seems that you and your master are the remnants of the Purple Mansion Sect."

Lu Yuande put his left hand behind his back and made a gesture.

Everyone moved silently toward the bamboo grove.

"There's no need for that, everyone. I meant no harm."

The man in black robes said, "That Brother Chu, he has become famous throughout the martial arts world since he first entered the profession, making people eager to try his luck."

"He seems to be indulging in the bronze statue and fame, recruiting followers and proceeding step by step, but in reality he is secretly cultivating disciples. He is playing this trick very well."

The man in black robes exclaimed in admiration.

"Unfortunately, he was too eager to mobilize his men to go to Jiyin County. In doing so, he eventually revealed some clues and could not hide them from those who were truly discerning."

"I came here only hoping that there might be some of his collection of classic books that I could borrow. I have no other intentions, so you can all rest assured."

Lu Yuande tapped the ground with his cane and laughed heartily.

"Fellow Daoist Chu is a kind-hearted, cheerful and hospitable person. If you wish to read his books, you might as well wait for him to return and discuss it with him."

"return?"

The man in black robes pondered, "Xiao Liang's combat strength seems to have some unpredictable aspects. In the real decisive battle, we cannot judge him solely based on his foundation."

"Brother Chu's methods are exquisite, and he is also so cunning. The outcome is uncertain, but getting it back may not be difficult."

Upon hearing this, Zhuo Xinlan suddenly felt a chill run through her body, and a burst of white light erupted before her eyes, making her unable to see anything.

She seemed to sense that in that instant, the Taoist priest was roaring.

But for some reason, no one could actually shout it out.

Then a gust of hot wind blew continuously from the front.

Zhuo Xinlan staggered back seven or eight steps, raised her hand to cover her eyes, and blinked repeatedly.

After shedding tears, her aching eyes regained some vision, and she could see the scene in front of her through her fingers.

A woman in silver armor and a black dress, with her hair styled high, stood in front, reaching out her hands to catch the palms of the man in black who was looking down at her.

A powerful gust of hot air emanated from the point where the two men were clapping their hands together.

It was hot, but it didn't have much of a killing power left.

Zhuo Yuan and Shi Zhonghuo rolled onto the grass.

Lu Yuande leaned against the base of the stone wall. Behind him, a shallow crater had been punched into the rock. His cane was broken in two. He clutched his chest and coughed up a little blood.

“How despicable!!”

The old Taoist priest wasn't seriously injured, but he was furious.

That man in black, a dignified master who had attained enlightenment, actually attacked the little girl first when facing a group of people who had not yet attained enlightenment!

Of those present, only Lu Yuande reacted and tried to intercept, but a gust of wind from his sleeve shattered his cane.

Thankfully, Fellow Daoist Tree arrived just in time.

"You are... a soul?"

The man in black uttered a surprised sound, "How can a soul mobilize such pure primordial energy?"

The pine tree spirit was over six feet tall, and its eyebrows and eyes did indeed resemble a fully grown Zhuo Xinlan, but its expression was serene and had a timeless charm.

"What are you?"

The pine tree had no intention of insulting anyone. It asked curiously, "You seem a bit like a monk, but also very different."

"Hmph! I am not a bald monk."

The man in black suddenly jerked his arms, his body rising into the air, his arms parting and drawing an arc in the air, one move, the other closing.

The wind surged down, drawing out a turbulent white line, while a mysterious blackness rose from the earth, resembling water droplets or swimming fish.

Black and white clouds and water, a double fish image.

The man in black struck out with his palm, and the moment his body passed through the Pisces diagram, he disappeared.

Lu Yuande exclaimed in alarm, "Be careful, it's Qimen Dunjia!"

As he shouted this warning, the pine tree spirit had already received dozens of attacks.

Sometimes forward, sometimes backward, sometimes left, sometimes right.

In the air, countless hands appeared, continuously slapping various parts of the pine tree spirit.

The flashing of these hands was almost seamless, making one wonder just how many enemies were launching an attack from all around.

Sometimes, it would suddenly stick out a hand from underground.

Then, from above, amidst the ripples in the air, a palm suddenly slammed down.

The pine tree spirit, with its hands moving like flying cranes, defended its entire body, leaving it overwhelmed with attacks, when suddenly its body swayed.

Two heads popped out from either side of her neck, facing different directions, and four more arms emerged from behind her.

A piece of black cloth was pulled from the air by her newly grown hand.

The figure in black was revealed, drawing astonishment.

"We who have attained enlightenment should be in our true human form. Even if the demonic path transforms, it won't randomly grow extra arms. What kind of cultivation technique do you practice?"

"I was born with many hands!"

As the pine tree spirit spoke, all three faces showed anger. "You hit me so hard just now, I'm going to beat you up too."

Born with many hands?
Even though the man in black was wearing a mask, it was still noticeable that his face twitched, and then he suddenly flashed away.

A pisces image appeared behind him, as ethereal as clouds and water, but after he bumped into it, the figure disappeared again.

Immediately, the image of the two fish was dispersed by a surge of pure energy rising from the ground.

The soil broke open, revealing the tip of a tree root.

The pine tree spirit is in the valley. Although it can freely exert its power, it still needs to extend its roots to make fighting easier.

She was genuinely annoyed. When she sparred with Chu Tianshu, she only used one branch, without using any other branches or roots.

This person harbors a great deal of malice.

The more you take action, the more you feel that deep chill.

After the tree root broke through the soil, it paused briefly in the air, its tip bending and turning around once.

The anger on the pine tree spirit's face gradually disappeared, and it pouted in dissatisfaction.

Lu Yuande looked around, barely managed to stand up, and said, "He's gone?"

The three heads of the pine tree spirit nodded together.

Multiple-headed deity statues still exist in the modern era.

But when he actually saw such a lifelike creature, Lu Yuande couldn't help but swallow hard.

Several miles away, beyond the valley.

The man in black glided by, noticing a piece of fabric missing from his sleeve. He frowned slightly, made a hand seal, silently chanted an incantation, and unleashed a burst of power.

Bang! !

A wisp of green smoke shot out from his hand, and the hand seal he was forming was shaken apart.

This means that the piece of cloth was protected by a powerful vital energy.

The man in black, judging others by his own standards, had already devised more than a dozen vicious curses that he could cast using the fabric he carried.

but……

"No one is born with so many hands."

He wasn't at a disadvantage just now, but he really didn't want to risk it a second time.

We should hurry and find Master to resolve this oversight.

(End of this chapter)