Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 193 Tian Shi Jun Ping, Another City Taken

With the help of General Yu's flying sword from beyond the heavens, the difficulty of Wang Cheng's mission was immediately reduced from hard mode to easy mode, saving them a lot of effort.

Next, all we need to do is appease the people of Huanyou Town and loot the spoils from Qingque Temple.

According to the usual practice in the officialdom of the Great Zhao Dynasty, Wang Cheng should also give Yu Zhifu a share of the money, which he would bring along when he visited him in the prefecture.

Whether he accepts it or not is his business, and whether he has the intention to do so is Wang Cheng's own business. In the officialdom of Dazhao, this taboo must not be violated.

Thanks to the final powerful move from the Rejuvenating Immortal, they were able to completely destroy the evidence.

The corpses from various sources in Qingque Nunnery didn't need to be buried; a light touch was enough to turn them all to ashes, leaving not a trace of flesh or blood behind.

Although the person outside the wall claims to be an immortal, his methods are more demonic than those of any demon.

While Wang Cheng and his group were making their move, their allies from the other two groups, who had gone to Tukeng Port and Zhenhaiwei respectively, also joined in.

Zheng Shiniang and her senior brother Zhang Quan were in charge of the Liu family in Tukeng Port.

Although they already knew that the Liu family's literary lineage had been cut off due to the hindrance of their ancestors, and that there were no living deities of the highest rank in the clan, they still did not choose to launch a direct attack.

Instead, it was Zheng Shiniang, a fifth-rank Gu Master, who secretly performed the ritual in the cabin of her flagship.

Zhizhizhi.
She took only Zhang Quan with her into the lower cabin, which was filled with eerie insect chirps.

Unlike other warships, this place doesn't usually have ballast stones placed in the lower decks, which are often crawling with rats, cockroaches, and silt. The foul air never circulates, making the environment comparable to hell.

The entire flagship was transformed by Zheng Shiniang into a huge insect cellar, with spotless white marble floors and strangely shaped insect nests of all sizes scattered throughout the ship's flanks.

Before you even step inside, a fierce and menacing aura immediately hits you.

"Quan, help me apply the ointment."

In the compartment in front of the insect cellar, Zheng Shiniang boldly undressed, leaving only her shiny silver ornaments on her body.

Holding a medicine bottle, Ming Zhangquan applied a milky-white ointment with a strange fragrance all over his body, leaving no corner untouched.

Only then did he dare to cautiously enter the insect cellar alone, without attracting attacks from the various powerful Gu insects that had been passed down for many years by the Panwang Naked Lineage.

She walked until she reached a black altar that looked like a large earthenware pot, picked up a red sword shaped like a centipede with many small branches, let her long hair down, and began to dance a primitive sacrificial dance full of wildness.

The colorful spider tattoo on her ankle suddenly came to life, as if it were about to crawl out of her skin, exuding a fierce aura stronger than any of the Gu worms.

The insect cellar soon fell silent, with only the melodious chimes from Zheng Shiniang's silver ornaments gradually blending into another kind of insect chirping.

"squeak--!"

A bug nest in a corner responded.

Soon, thousands upon thousands of tiny, translucent insects with wings flew out.

This is one of the many Gu worms she possesses, the "Sleepy Worm".

This kind of Gu worm has no physical form and exists between reality and illusion. As long as it burrows into the nostrils of a living person, it can forcibly pull them into a dream, and they will not wake up even if they are attacked with knives and axes.

Despite having almost no direct combat ability, it ranks extremely high among all the Gu worms in the "Naked Panwang Scripture," as it is not only difficult to refine but also extremely difficult to control.

Of course, if used properly, it can also have miraculous effects far exceeding those of combat-type Gu worms.

Zheng Shiniang traced the centipede sword with her left fingertip, sprinkling the blood onto the sleep-inducing insects. She then lit the incense these insects liked and chanted an incantation:

"First, we sincerely abhor the poison; second, we drive away the wicked dragon. Divine spirits, divine spirits, may this reach the Heavenly Court. Yin and Yang unite, ten months have passed. The time for childbirth has come; why delay? Hasten, hasten, as the law commands!"

The drowsy creatures immediately gathered around her blood, as if being reborn. First, they took on a feminine outline, and then quickly developed details, completely transforming into the likeness of Zheng Shiniang.

Then he opened his eyes, and there was a hint of liveliness in them.

The main body suddenly lost its luster and its eyes dimmed, collapsing to the ground as if all its spiritual energy had been injected into these Gu worms.

Immediately, the Gu worm's body swayed and vanished into the insect cellar as a wisp of smoke.

With the blessing of a fifth-rank Gu Master and an altar, those below the third rank [living ghosts and gods] who are afflicted by this drowsy bug have absolutely no chance of escaping unscathed.

Zhang Quan, the eldest brother who was guarding outside the door to protect Zheng Shiniang, was not idle either.

"Burn incense and open the altar! Golden Toad Treasure Gathering Altar, rise!"

An incense burner was placed at his feet, with three incense sticks inserted, and a tablet inscribed with the words "Tian Shi" was offered, along with a scale made of pure gold.

He primarily practices the secret and orthodox Dharma, the "Heavenly Market Equalization Order".

Outsiders only know that this method can draw upon the starlight of the Heavenly Market Enclosure for cultivation, and also possesses the ultimate move "Heaven and Earth Throw," which allows one to unleash a devastating attack by sacrificing one's own family fortune.

Little did they know that there was an even more secret skill involved.

What is the Heavenly Market? The Heavenly Market was the water palace where the Five Emperors governed. The Heavenly Market was responsible for gathering people and for maintaining order and balance; simply put, it was a celestial marketplace and market regulation.

It mirrors human commerce, ensuring fair trade between heaven and earth.

It incorporates some teachings from the Bharata school of Buddhism, whose basic theory is that suffering and sweetness, poverty and wealth, nobility and lowliness, gain and loss are all balanced.

The more suffering a practitioner endures in this method, the more substantial the capital they accumulate in the "Heavenly Market."

One can use the power of words to consume the accumulated karma of years or even decades to make a wish out of thin air, exchanging bitterness for sweetness.

By analogy, it's a bit like those tragic heroines in dramas; the more they suffer in the early stages, the more satisfying they become later. Zhang Quantong diligently served Zheng Shiniang, but finding a wealthy woman was only one of his goals.

More importantly, it was to accumulate merit through hard work, so that in the future they could produce a great work and make a wish to the "Heavenly Market" that would be unparalleled in the world!

At this moment, he knew the mission was important; whether he could take down the Liu family would determine whether he would live a life of luxury or starvation for the next few years.

Gritting his teeth, he lifted the golden scales and poured seven days' worth of karmic debt into making a wish to the "Heavenly Market":
"Apart from the three highest-ranking living ghosts and gods and Shi Niang, any being with two eyes would absolutely be unable to detect these sleep bugs and would inevitably fall for them!"

With his own rank of fifth-grade Chaofeng Lang, he provided Zheng Shiniang with an extra layer of protection.

The smoke from the incense burner suddenly straightened and disappeared into the three-foot-high void above his head, proving that his wish had come true.

For practitioners of the "Heavenly Market Equalization Method," knowing how to make the most valuable and appropriate wish with the least cost is also a profound subject.

After finishing the ritual, he waited anxiously in front of the insect cellar for about half an incense stick's time.

Zheng Shiniang, who was kneeling in front of the altar, suddenly opened her eyes, revealing a trace of fatigue and resentment, and her fair back was covered in sweat.

"Quanzi, it's done! Every member of the Liu family, young and old, cattle, horses, chickens, and dogs, has been taken care of. It will take effect in about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Help me up."

She staggered through the insect cellar filled with Gu worms, her legs gave way, and she collapsed into Zhang Quan's arms.

"Shi Niang, although you have already reached the threshold of the fourth-grade [Gu Master], it is still a bit of a stretch for you to deal with so many divine officials at once with the clay-sculpted divine embryo possessing your body and leaving your body."

From now on, I will try to use only my own natal spirit gu that has no side effects.

As she spoke, she brought her arm to her lips, and Zheng Shiniang, her eyes glowing red, bit down on Zhang Quan's arm, drawing blood immediately.

Both of them showed a relaxed expression.

After a while.

With a flick of her jade-like hand, Zheng Shiniang produced a large, Western-style gemstone ring. She grasped her lover's hand and placed it on his left ring finger, a silvery laugh ringing in her voice.
"Hehehe Quan-zai, I will never allow you to leave me, or I will eat you up piece by piece."

She clenched her teeth even harder, and crimson blood dripped from the corner of her beautiful lips; she wasn't joking.

Practicing the various Gu techniques in the "Naked King Pan Sutra" has significant side effects.

Gu is bloodthirsty, lustful, and gluttonous. Those who practice Gu scriptures must bear the vicious nature of Gu with their own spirit. If they do not exercise restraint, their temperament will change drastically over time.

One of them needed to vent the malevolent energy of the Gu worms, while the other needed to accumulate karmic debts. In a way, the two of them were a perfect match, with complementary needs.

"Earning two wages for one job, awesome!"

Zhang Quan touched the ring on his hand, looked at the bitter karma from the previous bite, and the pain from the bite suddenly disappeared, perfectly illustrating what it means to experience pain and pleasure at the same time.

Despite the fact that his beautiful lover was affected by the Gu worm and had a slightly yandere personality, he still enjoyed it.

"Legend has it that in ancient times there was a technique of dual cultivation, and the Yellow Emperor ascended to heaven after having relations with three thousand women."

I became a Daoist couple with Shi Niang and created this dual cultivation technique that combines hardship and joy. How wonderful is that?

Ouch. To be honest, it still hurts a bit.

The third junior brother, Zheng Qian, doesn't have to suffer this hardship.

Fortunately, I still have my fourth junior brother to keep me company. When he learns the [Heavenly Market Equalization Method], I will definitely teach him everything I know so he can enjoy it too!

Seeing others suffer alongside me at least half alleviates the bitterness in my heart.

In any case, Zhang Quan's ability to comfort himself is at its peak.

They waited for another cup of tea, until they heard the outermost guards of the Liu family mansion fall to the ground with a "thump, thump" sound.

Fully armed, Zhang Quan drew his ornate scimitar adorned with gold and jewels from his waist and shouted:
"Brothers, follow me!"
"Go in quietly, don't fire, just grab what you can and leave."

Not forgetting to hang the "Straight Years Old" badge on his waist, he said, "Which member of the Liu family is heavily in debt and has violated the rules of the trade? Tonight, we'll take them along too."

"Just you wait, first mate!"

"Leave it to us brothers."

Two trusted confidants voluntarily stood behind him; one was nicknamed "plucking feathers from a passing goose," and the other "scraping oil from a mosquito's belly"—both were adept at extorting money from the land.

No house they ransacked was left without a single hair.

The group quickly disappeared into the night and stormed into the quiet Liu family mansion. Soon after, carrying large bags and covered in blood, they boarded a ship and fled.

By the time the nearby garrisons realized what was happening, they had already vanished without a trace.

There's one last party.

The Lin siblings and Shen Yueye, who acted as their local power brokers and provided assistance, actually made their move earlier than the other two groups.

Their mission was to take advantage of the chaos in the East China Sea to capture Wang Bengu, the Imperial Inspector representing the Qingliu faction, and Xing Baichuan, the Commander of the Zhenhai Guard, and find the whereabouts of Zheng He's treasure map and the missing persons through them.

Once Wang Cheng successfully infiltrates the world of the book, the life or death of these two people will no longer affect the overall situation.

Just then, Shen Yueye received intelligence that today was a day off for officials. Wang Bengu and Xing Baichuan changed into civilian clothes and secretly chartered a pleasure boat to meet on the Jiulong River. No one knows what they talked about.

The three of them decided to take immediate action, and Shen Yueye even lit incense to find the two's "creditors".

(End of this chapter)