The Terror of the Heavens Begins with Gu

Chapter 282 My first direct conversation with the old Taoist Xuan Gui: I want to become an immortal!

Li Zhen felt it was necessary to meet with Master Xuan Gui and have a personal talk with him.

He had been hiding in the shadows, so there was no need for him to deal with the sects in the real world.

However, as he grows stronger, he can no longer conceal himself, and his karmic ties with the sects of the world, especially the Changshan Sect, are becoming increasingly deep. Therefore, it is necessary for him to communicate with them.

Looking at the corpse demon's head in front of him, Li Zhen took out some talismans he had obtained from Master Ji, pasted a few on the corpse demon's head, and suppressed it under the altar he had set up.

After rubbing his temples, Li Zhen spent quite a while eliminating the effects of the corpse demon's corpse energy and resentment.

He was very cautious in dealing with the Corpse Demon, and he would not lift the seal on the Corpse Demon until he re-established his connection with the self-sucking zombie.

The Heavenly Master Ji and Zhou You cast a seven-layered Starry Sky Sealing Magic Array on the Corpse Demon.

Based on Li Zhen's understanding of this formation, it was impossible to set up an identical sealing formation, but it was possible to break part of the seal.

However, he would naturally not do that before he could be sure of safety.

After Zhao Jun's memory was erased, it's unknown what kind of person he is.

Although the other party did not resist Li Zhen, they also did not communicate with him.

I need to find a way to communicate with Zhao Jun...

Li Zhen closed his eyes.

His primordial spirit appeared on his body, glanced down at his physical form, and floated out of the basement.

When he first cultivated his primordial spirit, it was very scattered. He would feel uncomfortable when he encountered cold winds and could only travel a distance of ten or twenty miles away from his physical body.

Now, his primordial spirit has condensed to a level no different from that of an ordinary person. He is not afraid even when walking under heavenly lightning, let alone cold wind.

Now, if he wants others to see him, unless they are highly skilled cultivators, very few people can discern his true nature.

The time when Dongyang is shrouded in mist and a faint yin aura is the most suitable time for yin creatures to be active.

Even amidst the deafening thunder, Li Zhen drifted leisurely through the mist.

Before Demon Fetus and Fatty Huang left, they came to report to him.

He did not object.

As long as they don't leave Dongyang, they should be safe.

In his primordial spirit state, Li Zhen's senses were much sharper, and he immediately sensed the direction of the demonic fetus as soon as he stepped outside.

He ignored them and went straight to Li Xiangwen's house.

Even though his aura had been obscured by the fortune of Changshan, the fog shrouding Dongyang showed no signs of dissipating, and some ghostly creatures that could influence reality had also appeared.

After casually crushing a few people, he saw the neighborhood where Li Xiangwen lived.

……

"Come on, Brother Li, take a rest."

Seeing that Li Xiangwen had finished the inquiring ritual, the old Taoist priest Xuan Gui diligently helped Li Xiangwen up.

Li Xiangwen sat down in the chair and said, "It's not that I don't want to help you, brother, it's just that there are some things I really don't dare to do without asking for permission. Fortunately, the outcome is good, and that person is willing to talk to you."

"I understand, I understand." Old Daoist Xuan Gui wiped away his cold sweat. "Brother Li is very kind to help. It's not that I wanted to bother Brother Li, but too many things have happened recently, and this place has caused such a commotion..."

Li Xiangwen interrupted, "The commotion was loud, but it didn't cause any actual damage, right? That person didn't actually have any bad intentions."

"In my opinion, the commotion here may not necessarily have anything to do with that person. Even if it does, it was unintentional."

“This is the one who helped you with what happened last time. You mustn’t be ungrateful and help outsiders to deal with your benefactor.”

Two moths, each about the size of a thumb, flew down from the wall and landed on his hand.

He quickly opened his hands and held the two moths in his palms as if they were precious treasures.

The old Taoist priest Xuan Gui looked at the moths in surprise, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw the ghostly face behind the two moths.

He recalled the ghostly face he had vaguely seen on the tree outside the window when he first met Li Xiangwen.

These two little moths are definitely connected to that ghost face; they're certainly not ordinary moths.

Wiping away another bead of cold sweat, Daoist Xuan Gui quickly said, "What are you thinking, brother? Is that the kind of person you think I am?"

"What I mean is, the commotion here is so big, it can't be kept secret. If there's something to discuss, let's talk it out properly and not make things too tense. That's also my opinion from Changshan, but we can't make decisions about other places."

Li Xiangwen frowned: "Don't try to fool me. You Changshan can't even make a decision about this tiny bit of land in the south?"

“I have always been sincere to you, brother, and have never told a lie. How could I dare to deceive you?” Xuan Gui Daoist said with a bitter smile. “Our Changshan has been in a state of transition for many years. Although we still have influence, internally… you saw it last time, brother. A ghost that broke free almost wiped out our Changshan clan.”

Just as Li Xiangwen was about to speak, he suddenly looked at the two ghost-faced moths in his hand.

As if sensing something, the two ghost-faced moths involuntarily trembled, then simultaneously flapped their wings and took flight, circling in the air before finally landing on Li Xiangwen's shoulder.

A gentle breeze suddenly arose in the room.

Then the old Taoist priest Xuan Gui heard "Li Xiangwen" say, "You want to have a face-to-face talk with me?"

The old Taoist Xuan Gui shuddered and looked directly into Li Xiangwen's eyes, finding them even more profound and subtly carrying a strange golden light.

Li Xiangwen didn't exude any special aura, but he felt an inexplicable pressure that made his whole body tense up.

He naturally knew what was going on.

After a moment's consideration, the old Taoist Xuan Gui said, "I have dealt with you quite a bit before, but this is the first time I have met you... I have come here mainly for two matters."

"The first thing is to send you some materials. Last time, Brother Li Xiangwen said that you needed some materials, so we compiled some and sent them to Brother Li Xiangwen. This time we have compiled more materials and sent them over, including information about the Goddess Wunu and some information about the former sect leader."

Li Xiangwen nodded: "You're very kind."

Xuan Gui Daoist breathed a sigh of relief: "You helped my Changshan Sect a lot last time, otherwise there would have been many casualties. You don't need to worry about this small matter."

"The second matter concerns you, and this phenomenon."

He paused, organizing his thoughts, before continuing, "As you know, this phenomenon covers a vast area and has caused panic among some people. Not only us, but many other sects have also noticed it."

“In this era, although we are undisturbed, we must still follow certain rules, such as not disturbing the lives of ordinary people. The strange phenomena you have created are somewhat taboo.”

Li Xiangwen said, "This phenomenon will disappear in about three days. I have been focused on cultivation, and this phenomenon was not created intentionally by me."

Upon hearing the other party's words, Daoist Xuan Gui was completely certain of his guess.

This strange phenomenon is indeed related to the extremely mysterious person before us.

More importantly, if this phenomenon was not intentionally caused, then it was naturally unintentional.

So is this really an unusual phenomenon caused by Heaven's taboo?

Although Li Xiangwen had already guessed this fact, he was still shocked.

Sitting in front of him was a being that even the heavens feared.

Such a being must be close to being an immortal, or perhaps the closest being in the world to being an immortal?
After regaining his senses, he looked into "Li Xiangwen's" eyes and asked in a dry voice, "What exactly do you want to do? Or rather, what is your purpose in operating in this world?" The golden light in "Li Xiangwen's" eyes intensified, with a faint hint of bloodlust.

Startled, the old Taoist Xuan Gui explained, "Your Excellency is not far from our sect's mountain gate, so naturally we want to know what you intend to do."

"This question is not only for the Changshan Sect, but also for those in Dongyang and other sects."

"Your Excellency should be aware that the emergence of someone like you will inevitably arouse suspicion in many people."

"No matter what you say to me, I will relay your words to the people who should know, which will save you a lot of trouble."

Li Xiangwen replied, "I have not actively provoked any forces or individuals. If you ask about my purpose, I will tell you that I only want to cultivate in peace."

The old Taoist priest Xuan Gui repeated, "Cultivate quietly..."

Li Xiangwen shook his head: "If I had known it would cause such a huge phenomenon, I wouldn't have stayed in Dongyang."

The old Taoist Xuan Gui said, "At your level, every move you make may trigger some unusual reactions, so it is impossible to find peace in a place like Dongyang."

"Most of the senior masters who have reached your level will go into seclusion to cultivate, seeking tranquility in remote places."

"Now that the strange phenomenon has appeared, it's too late for you to hide. The heavenly lightning and the fog on the ground are targeting you. No matter where you go, they will probably follow you."

Li Xiangwen said, "I can't do anything about these strange phenomena. At most, I can only make them last a little longer."

This is already a remarkable achievement.

Before setting off, the old Taoist Xuan Gui reviewed some materials and saw some strange events recorded as rumors. He did not see any record of any strange event being actively suppressed.

After thinking for a moment, he suddenly said, "I believe you when you say you want to cultivate in peace. We at Changshan have always maintained a friendly attitude towards you, and we believe you have no ill intentions."

"But this may not convince others. At your level, if you want to cultivate further... there is probably only one goal."

"The allure of that target is too strong. No matter what signals you send to the outside world, there will always be people who try to test your strength and see what you truly are..."

Li Xiangwen uttered a single word softly: "Immortal?"

Just then, thunder suddenly roared outside.

The two ghost-faced moths were so frightened that they fell into "Li Xiangwen's" arms and didn't dare to move.

At the same time, a crisp cracking sound suddenly came from the altar not far away.

That was the sound of the incense burner gradually cracking.

The old Taoist priest Xuan Gui was so frightened that his face turned ashen.

After a long pause, he smiled wryly and said, "At your level, you should be careful about saying such things."

When someone who has cultivated to a certain level says they want to cultivate in peace, the subtext is "I want to become an immortal." However, the subtext and the explicit statement have different meanings.

If an ordinary person, or someone whose spiritual practice is not yet complete, were to casually say, "I want to become an immortal," few people would take it seriously.

However, if someone who caused the anomalies said the same thing, no one would dare not take it seriously.

Even the strange phenomena outside were the same.

Looking out the window at "Li Xiangwen," he turned his gaze back and asked, "How often do these strange phenomena occur?"

“There are some similar strange phenomena in historical records, such as celestial music, heavenly sounds, auspicious clouds, and thousands of auspicious clouds in the sky, as well as golden lotuses emerging from the ground, Ganoderma lucidum growing in abundance, boiling well water, and mountains echoing in the valleys,” said the old Taoist Xuan Gui. “In recent decades, none of them can be confirmed as strange phenomena; most of them are natural phenomena unrelated to humans.”

“Such an extraordinary phenomenon as yours is extremely rare. According to records, it must be because Heaven and Earth are extremely wary of you that such an eerie phenomenon has occurred. Otherwise, it should be some auspicious sign.”

Li Xiangwen pondered for a moment and asked, "Is this related to the magic I practice?"

"There might be some connection," said the old Taoist priest Xuan Gui.

He had witnessed Li Xiangwen's "divination" technique, and its sinister nature was undeniable.

Now, upon seeing this mysterious being before him, even though his cultivation was mediocre, one could still sense an overwhelming sense of malevolence emanating from him.

He guessed that this person might be practicing some kind of unorthodox practice.

Of course, it could also be some kind of special orthodox method.

However, considering the taboos of heaven and earth, it is more likely that this mysterious being practices unorthodox or heretical paths.

This is also a concern of his.

This person has already appeared in public, and some people are bound to feel uneasy.

If a righteous senior were to get into trouble, things would naturally not escalate to the worst possible outcome.

However, on the other hand, the old Taoist Xuan Gui had done everything he was supposed to do.

No matter what happens, it's neither his fault nor Changshan's fault.

“It seems my path won’t be smooth.” “Li Xiangwen’s” eyes turned somewhat strange.

If this guy knew that he was practicing Changshan's methods, I wonder what he would think?
After a moment of silence, the old Taoist Xuan Gui said, "There must be quite a few people who want to know your secrets, whether you are an ancient person hiding in the world or a modern person. If you are the latter, they will wonder how you were able to cultivate to this level in the current environment."

"Li Xiangwen" said, "Aren't you Changshan people curious about this?"

The old Taoist Xuan Gui shook his head repeatedly: "Your Excellency must not be joking. Our Changshan is now just a shell. In reality, there are only a few big cats and small cats left. We can't withstand any more trouble."

At this point, he complained, "Our former leader was very unreliable. He always told me that Changshan would definitely prosper after him, but who knew that Changshan would start to decline a few years after he died."

Li Xiangwen asked, "I heard that your former sect leader was very skilled in divination?"

“That’s true, but in the end, Changshan still turned out this way.” Old Daoist Xuan Gui sighed. “Among the materials I brought, there are more stories about my senior brother, many of which were collected from various places later. If you are interested, you can take a good look.”

Li Xiangwen then asked, "Could I borrow Changshan's Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Star Astrology) to take a look?"

“Of course,” said the old Taoist Xuan Gui. “However, I cannot show you the annotations of the past sect leaders, because some parts involve the secrets of Changshan. After all, in the past, only the sect leader and a few others in Changshan could read that book.”

He coughed twice and said seriously to "Li Xiangwen": "This matter involves the authorities, and Changshan dares not hide it. Therefore, we will include some of your information in the report and send a copy to the higher-ups. However, we will conceal your identity, Brother Li, as well as some of the things you said that should not be spread. We hope you will understand."

Li Xiangwen asked curiously, "Does the government have any cultivation organizations?"

The old Taoist Xuan Gui shook his head: "The rules were established by the government and major sects like Longhu Mountain and Maoshan. Over the years, these major sects have always handled matters within their circles. As long as ordinary people are not involved, we resolve them internally."

Li Xiangwen smiled at the old Taoist Xuan Gui and said, "Go tell them that if they want to know my background, they can come and see me, and I will let them see my background."

Seeing that the conversation was coming to an end, the old Taoist Xuan Gui hesitated and said, "My senior brother said before he passed away that things are different now. It's much more difficult to ascend to immortality in broad daylight and achieve the so-called path of immortality. He also said that luck is an obstacle to the path of immortality, and that someone deliberately set up obstacles to allocate quotas..."

Looking at his "Li Xiangwen", the light in his eyes became even deeper.

The old Taoist priest Xuan Gui quickly said, "That's all I know. All the relevant information is in those documents. You can check them yourself."

"I bring this up only to remind you that getting to that point is not a simple matter. I hope you can stay true to your original aspirations and do more good deeds."

Li Xiangwen sighed, "How difficult it is to become an immortal."

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them, the look in his eyes had completely changed.

Seeing Li Xiangwen looking dazed and confused, as if he had just woken up, the old Taoist Xuan Gui asked with concern, "Brother, are you alright?"

(End of this chapter)