The Path to Immortality Begins with the Life-Extending Lamp

Chapter 220 Youhuang and Youhuang Mansions
"Brother Dao, you should go to Tiannan immediately. The people from Hunyuan Immortal Sect are still in Linyuan Mountain. We can meet them there to discuss the matter."

Li Qing slowly climbed the cliff face of Youbo, standing shoulder to shoulder with Young Master Qu, gazing at the distant shimmering waves.

If the two of them truly form an alliance with the overseas immortal sects, then the格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall situation or landscape) of this Netherworld will inevitably change again.

"Can!"

"So how should we determine the order of precedence? I've heard that Ancestor Yin bestowed upon you the Great Dharma Boat of the One Yuan Venerable Dao. Do you intend to use it as your vessel and become the first in the exploration of the Netherworld...?"

Qu Hua picked up a fairy flower with her finger and casually plucked seven petals, but her words were undoubtedly a test of Li Qing.

What role should Li Erlang, who is in charge of the relationship between Hunyuan Immortal Sect and Qu Hua, play?

"No."

Upon hearing this, Li Qing gently shook her head.

“Unlike Brother Qu, whose family business is already established and whose foundation for Dao is not yet solid, and whose path to the underworld is still uncertain, I, Li, have no intention of expanding outwards.”

"Brother Dao, you have a profound foundation. You should take the lead and join forces with that ancient sect overseas. Perhaps you can make a difference in this boundless Netherworld. I, Li, am just acting as a messenger at this moment!"

He didn't want to compete with that young master Qu for priority. He just wanted to help the overseas immortal sect pave the way. He didn't need to be friends, but at least he didn't want them to be future enemies.

Seeing that Li Qing was so decisive and didn't even seem to have a strong desire to participate, Qu Hua couldn't help but sigh and offer some words of advice.

"Erlang has only been practicing Taoism for a short time and should be honing his skills. However, you are no ordinary person. You are entrusted with the great Dharma boat of the Southern Yuan Venerable Tao and are here to serve as a disciple of the sect."

"Nowadays, all five immortal sects are eyeing the Netherworld. It can be predicted that the cultivation world in the next thousand years will be absolutely inseparable from that Netherworld."

"Leaving aside the people of that immortal sect, without Erlang, where would this alliance come from?"

"If an alliance is formed, Erlang, you must take on the role of decision-maker..."

Qu Hua's foundation in You Tian was unknown to anyone in the entire Taiyue Shangxing Sect. Perhaps the Great Master Tianfu Huandan had noticed it, but he did not intervene.

In short, Qu Hua's position in the Taiyue Dao Sect was similar to that of Li Qing. Although he was a true disciple, he lingered outside the core layer. This was due to both the limitations of his status and the reasons he deliberately avoided mentioning it.

Just like the Yinlin fish from a while ago, a large number of them flowed out of Quhua to the outer sea, and a considerable number of Soul Fish also appeared in the East Sea. When someone came to inquire, they only heard that they came from the hands of Tiannan Ghost Lord.

After all, Guilang's reputation has been spreading more and more in the South in recent years.

Of course, Li Qing was unaware that Qu Hua had already used his name to shield him from trouble. However, even if he knew, he probably wouldn't say much, since that huge batch of scaled fish supplies was a great favor.

"He who takes a gift is bound to be obligated; he who eats another's food is obligated to feed him"—this saying

One of them used the name of Gui Lang to conceal his own identity and secretly accumulated strength within the Taiyue Shangxing Sect. The other only wanted to let the young master of the Qu family, who had a large business and deep foundation, take the blame when something happened, while he himself wanted to remain behind the scenes.

After going back and forth, it's all settled!
After setting a date, the two bowed to each other and said goodbye. Whether it was through Youtian or by sending a message, it was far less effective than discussing things face to face.

Half a month later, the true disciple of Taiyue will visit Lin Yuan in Tiannan. At that time, there will be further developments...

After leaving the Netherworld, Li Qing did not head directly to the Qishan Domain or the Flying Waterfall Dao Mansion. Instead of lingering in front of the Fengdu Remnant State for a few moments, he turned and headed towards the Lihan Domain of the Northern State.

Just now, he found the wandering ghost in the ruins of Fengdu and handed him a letter to pay his respects to Lord Hanyi!

He had previously promised the Ghost Mother that he would find the Painted Skin Ghost for her, but Painted Skin Ghosts are rare, and once he left Huailian Yinshan, where could he find one? However, he had already made the promise, and if he did not keep it, wouldn't he be wasting the Ghost Mother's trust in him?
After much deliberation, Li Qing had no choice but to take a stroll through the Frosty Domain of the Cold-Clothed Ghost Lord.

The Cold-Clothed Lord wields power over the Cold-Clothed beings in the underworld. The eight hundred Cold-Clothed beings, while deeply terrifying, also possess unexpected wonders.

At this moment, Li Qing sent out a letter of invitation, hoping to obtain an unclaimed piece of cold clothing from the Cold Clothes Ghost Lord, which could serve as both a beautiful garment and a protective charm.

As the cold-clothed ghost stepped into this desolate and frigid land, white banners were erected on the vast and fertile earth. There, there were ancient tombs and a desolate wasteland!

Despair and coldness are the laws of this realm. The only feeling that any outsider has to step into it is the cold, an extreme, bone-chilling cold, as if even the soul and marrow are frozen by the cold air.

The chilling aura was intertwined with the intent of death; this was the manifestation of the authority of the Cold-Clothed Ghost Lord!

In July, the heat of summer fades, and in September, clothes are distributed. At the end of the four seasons, the coming days are bitterly cold, a veritable pale calamity of cold, and only then do we need to ward off the chill of winter with warm clothes.

With each step Li Qing took on this land, she felt an endless chill emanating from the void, threatening to invade her body. Even the Xuan Yin Mother Qi seemed weaker in comparison.

Such terrifying power, stretching for miles, chills to the bone, like a bluish-purple flower, has completely reversed the nature of things.

"The Cold-Clothed Ghost Lord is probably not just a mere ghost lord, is he?"

Li Qing had encountered many Yin spirits, but he had never seen anyone influence the changes of the entire world like this. This feeling was like... like when he faced the Ghost Mother before he had even cultivated Qi.

The boundless cold was like the sea, and Li Qing was like a small boat on that icy and suffocating desolate land. Although it was about to fall, it was still firm. It traveled an unknown distance, and then white lines rose up on the desolate horizon. Unbeknownst to them, the lines intertwined and transformed into a strange city that looked like an ink painting.

A city in the literal sense, like a traditional Chinese ink painting!

"This is no longer the desolate wilderness; it's a ghost town on paper—the City of Cold Clothes?"

Li Qing was startled. She looked around and saw rows of antique buildings sitting in an orderly fashion, with men, women, and children walking among them, each with a different face.

Porters carry loads outside the fence, wealthy men stroll with their birds in the street, young girls pick flowers, and fishermen row their boats through the neighborhoods... These seem like ordinary scenes in a city, but upon closer inspection, they are quite contradictory.

Almost all elements are mixed in this world. All the people coming and going have shifting eyes, and there are constant shouts and laughter. But Li Qing knows clearly that all these things are illusory.

A lady lives in this world, her life hanging by a thread, and she possesses an primordial energy.

Humans have human energy, ghosts have ghost energy, but these human figures have no life energy, no shadows; they are illusory creations, not real.

"I heard you are looking for me."

Li Qing was still hesitating and observing this illusory city when he suddenly heard a clear, cold, questioning voice.

The Cold-Clothed Ghost Lord has appeared!
The delicate and beautiful woman emerged slowly from under a willow tree, her figure appearing before her voice could be heard, and she was completely behind Li Qing in just a few steps.

"What, you know something about this Realm of Illusion?"

Seeing that Li Qing's expression was strange and that he kept probing the city in the painting, the Cold-Clothed Ghost Lord also became interested and turned to ask.

If we say that the Great Realm of Heaven is a world where one breath gives rise to two forms, two forms give rise to three powers, and three powers give birth to all things, this is the change of all things that can be touched; then the illusory and delusional dream world is the most elusive and wonderful idea of ​​all living beings throughout the ages!
The deep, illusory world and dreams are the reflections of all living beings, but they do not exist in the true Heavenly Capital. Even heretics and demons only have a vague understanding of this place.

However, there are exceptions, such as the secret methods of Taoism, which summon nine shadow gods from illusory dimensions that correspond to one's own destiny...

For example, the art of painting murals and the illusionary path of water and moon are both Daoist arts that can touch upon the meaning of the illusory and the real. "I have never seen it before, but when I look at this world, I feel that many things are missing, and it always feels out of place."

Li Qing shook his head; this was the only assessment he could have of this place.

"Hmm, you do have some knowledge!"

Upon hearing this, Han Yijun nodded slowly, then looked around the world depicted in the painting and explained softly:

"This object was originally an epic painting called 'The Map of the Netherworld and the City of Luoyang.' The author is now unknown, but the painting depicts a corner of the scenes from three thousand cities in the ancient kingdoms, which were eventually transformed into this vast and prosperous map. After tens of thousands of years of changes and the nurturing of the Dao, it became this illusory world."

For those cultivators practicing the Illusionary Path, this diagram is nothing less than a fantastical world, full of wonders known only to the Heavenly Dao. Even the Cold-Clothed Ghost Lord himself could not fathom its changes.

During their conversation, Han Yijun recounted the origins of the illusory world depicted in the painting, which astonished Li Qing even more.

"The 'Painting of the Netherworld and the Ascending to Luoyang,' a legendary masterpiece of painting from the late Eastern Kingdoms period? A treasure buried deep in ancient history, it has not been lost. Nurtured by the Ghost King, it is truly excellent!"

Li Qing bowed and sighed, but the next moment, he took the opportunity to reiterate the reason for his visit.

"This humble Taoist wishes to obtain a top-grade ghost robe. However, in the Heavenly Capital and the Netherworld, when it comes to the authority over winter clothing and fine garments, I am afraid no one can surpass the Ghost King. Therefore, after much consideration, I have come to the Ghost King for help."

"I truly desire a winter garment, and I am willing to offer a high price to the Ghost King. I wonder if the Ghost King would be willing to part with it?"

Li Qing had seen the eight hundred white-robed figures of the Cold-Clothed Ghost Lord before. Their spirituality was like that of living people, and their supernatural powers were no less than those of cultivators, making them extremely rare.

He didn't care about the quality of the winter clothes, he only hoped that the dress would be simple and beautiful, so that he could please the Ghost Mother.

Upon hearing of Li Qing's invitation, and considering the previous mention in his letter, Han Yijun immediately had a general idea of ​​what was going on. He nodded and asked again:

"Besides the many clothing spirits I possess, I also have some plain clothes. What style of winter clothing do you prefer? And what kind of spirit inscriptions do you like? A cross-collar, front-opening ancient-style robe or..."

She wields power over the winter clothing, and each piece of winter clothing given away increases her power. This is not a bad thing. Li Qing requests the spirit clothing, and she has no reason not to grant it.

"For women, the attire doesn't need to be too formal; a simple and casual style is fine. A plain ancient robe from the Phoenix Dynasty would suffice." Li Qing guessed that the Ghost Mother usually made her choice.

"A woman? Hmph!"

What is his height and build?

The Ghost Lord in Cold Clothes raised an eyebrow and glanced at the guy. He had heard that this Youhuangzi was a son-in-law of a certain underworld, and with some help behind him, he had achieved some success.

This Youhuang seems aloof and gloomy, but she's actually quite a good person. She even knows how to play the zither and lute in harmony, showing some loyalty.

"Body shape?" Li Qing murmured, then tried to describe the image of the Ghost Mother.

"She was the same height as Li, with a well-proportioned figure, sculpted shoulders, and a slender waist. Her neck was long and graceful, her skin fair and radiant, possessing the beauty of a fairy. Her hair was piled high, her eyebrows were delicately painted, her lips were bright red, her teeth were white and lustrous, her eyes were bright and captivating, and she was serene and composed..."

If Li Qing were to introduce the Ghost Mother's appearance to outsiders, the scene of her drawing her eyebrows and tying her hair would inevitably reappear in his mind, causing his ears to turn slightly red.

I couldn't help but search for every beautiful word in the world to describe the ghost mother.

But before he could finish speaking, the cold-clothed ghost king flicked his slender finger and struck Li Qing on the back of the head, sending him flying more than ten feet away, thus silencing his words of praise.

"Humph."

"I only need his approximate height and build; do I need your endless praise?"

"Wait!"

Never praise another woman excessively in front of one woman, even between ghosts and gods.

Li Qing just happened to commit this taboo, describing her as half shy and half dependent, and even saying she had a beautiful face and fair skin. Do you really think your partner is a banished immortal?
The Cold-Clothed Ghost Lord snapped his finger at him in annoyance, coldly leaving behind the words "Wait," before turning and disappearing into the depths of this deluded world.

That finger strike was incredibly powerful. When it hit Li Qing's back, it felt like being struck by an ancient chariot, causing his vital energy to suddenly dissipate and nearly causing him to fall to the ground.

Looking back, although the ghost king had already left, it seemed that he had agreed to his request.

And so, the matter is considered complete.

Li Qing wasn't angry. He found an old banyan tree, sat down quietly under it, and waited for the Cold-Clothed Ghost Lord's reply.

After waiting for about half an hour, the cold-clothed ghost king still hadn't returned. Instead, the people in the neighborhood had changed three or four times, each with a different personality and appearance. New tasks were rigidly triggering different plots, making it feel like a dream world...

However, just as Li Qing was about to be startled, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.

He turned his head sharply and immediately saw a pair of poles carrying boxes; it was a peddler from the neighborhood.

What horrified him even more was that the peddler's head was twisted ninety degrees to the side, and with a series of sharp cracks, it stiffly turned around to greet Li Qing.

"Young man, do you want a treasure? A life-saving treasure, a calamity-averting treasure!"

The peddler grinned, gave a strange greeting, and then slowly turned around, his body forming a direct line with his head.

"You...can you see me? You..."

At this moment, Li Qing's eyes flashed, and his right hand was instantly covered by black water light. The Soul Summoning Ghost Script and the Five Thunder Dragon Talisman lit up in an instant, as if he was about to kill this ghost on the spot at the slightest disagreement.

"Wow, what a domineering young man!"

"We must not hastily resort to weapons. This is the only time our paths will cross across all our lifetimes. Quickly choose something."

The peddler was thin, but his back was extremely straight, and his cynical face held an indelible air of elegance and nobility.

It resembles the silhouette of some great figure from ancient history.

"I don't have the money, I can't afford it!"

Li Qing didn't want to provoke this inexplicable entity, so she refused outright and got up to leave.

To everyone's surprise, the peddler smirked and wouldn't let it go. Suddenly, his body rose up, and incredibly, he grew a bit longer, standing there towering over Li Qing and pinning him to the spot.

"Take one of these items. Here are the ghost bones of Qishan, the desolate sword of Yinyou, and the skin of the Demon King..."

As he spoke, the peddler pulled out a human bone, a long sword, a white skin, and a drop of black blood from his box.

These don't look like anything easy to deal with. Should I really choose one?
(End of this chapter)