Longevity Candle

Chapter 147 Black Banner Gathering Souls
In the seventeenth year of the Xianyuan era, the population of the Ming Dynasty surged, exceeding three hundred million.

The vast nation's national fortune and dragon energy have exceeded a hundred feet, and its territory has expanded once again.

The Qi cultivators flew through the air and explored the unknown territories.

In that desolate place, demons roamed freely, and the vegetation underwent strange changes.

There are also some powerful demons who wreak havoc in the region, even killing celestial officials and trying to seize a city.

Although cultivators from various Daoist lineages rushed to the scene immediately, they still suffered heavy losses.

Some demons were too powerful, so these Qi cultivators could only seal them temporarily.

Although Jiang Yunmeng wanted to solve the problem of demons once and for all, it was impossible.

Not to mention the eighteen levels hidden in the void, which are difficult to enter, even if one were to enter, one would not be able to escape and would be unable to resolve the issue.

If the eighteen levels are opened, not only demons, but also the Path of Longevity and the Path of Following Heaven will make a comeback.

Jiang Xiyue made rapid progress under the tutelage of the Nine-Colored Deer and the Five Elements Academy.

Jiang Zhu refined the Blood Lotus into Jiang Xiyue's body, allowing her to quickly refine pills and increase her magical power.

Of course, because she is still young, she was sealed, and as she grows up, the seal will gradually be broken.

In the eighteenth year of the Immortal Era, various Daoist sects united and erected Demon-Locking Towers in various places to suppress demons and reform humans who had been corrupted by them.

Immortal weapon crafting gradually improved and was promoted across various Daoist traditions.

Some Qi cultivators can learn weapon crafting and find materials to craft their own weapons.

The elixirs were also compiled into books, with each major lineage having its own elixir classics.

In the nineteenth year of the Immortal Era, various Daoist lineages established different standards, allowing students who reached a certain level to cultivate in the sacred grounds of their respective lineages.

In the twentieth year of the Xianyuan era, in Qinghe City.

As Jiang Zhu was still fishing by the river, a blue ox carrying a young man came to his side.

"This humble Taoist, Li Wuwei, greets the immortal master." The young man bowed in greeting.

Jiang Zhu glanced at him, then at the green ox: "You're quite lucky to have found someone with immortal talent. Li Wuwei, who are Zhang Youwei to you?"

“Zhang Youwei is indeed my mentor,” Li Wuwei said respectfully.

"And what about the cow?" Jiang Zhu asked.

The green ox grinned and said, "Guide, protector."

"Heh, you, an elf, are the protector? And Zhang Wuwei is the master?" Jiang Zhu asked in surprise.

This blue ox is none other than Niu Youdao from Taiping Farm Road.

“He is very talented and has already completed the study of the Taiping Agricultural Way. I originally wanted to take him to visit various Taoist lineages, but after thinking about it, they have all left, so I came to see you instead.”

Niu Youdao spoke up.

Li Wuwei stood quietly to the side, respectful and calm.

Jiang Zhu understood: "You want me to teach him how to illuminate the shadows?"

“You tell me yourself.” Niu Youdao glanced at Li Wuwei.

"I have studied farming since childhood. The earth is the mother of all things, and it is virtuous enough to bear all things, but I do not know how the heavens are."

I heard from my master and patriarch that the immortal is proficient in illuminating the netherworld and opening up the celestial realm to the mortal world, so I boldly came to learn the Dao.

Li Wuwei said respectfully.

Jiang Zhu nodded slightly: "Then let's stay for a while."

"Thank you very much, Immortal Master," Li Wuwei said happily.

Niu Youdao raised his hoof to signal him to go aside before saying, "The old dragon is gone, taking the Yunmeng Sword with him."

“I know, he came here before, saying he wanted to find out about the past of the Eighteenth Floor, Fusheng, and Yunmeng,” Jiang Zhu said.

"I don't think it's that simple. The old dragon must know something."

Niu Youdao said in a low voice, "If he hadn't learned something, he would never have been so decisive in pursuing it."

"Let him be," Jiang Zhu sighed.

“This might concern you, and you don’t care at all?” Niu Youdao frowned.

"A life of leisure is one way, and a life of perseverance is another way, so of course you should choose a comfortable one."

Jiang Zhu smiled faintly and said, "If the old dragon wants to chase after it, I can't stop it. Just don't regret it in the future."

“That’s true.” Niu Youdao sighed softly and said, “By the way, some things came out of the eighteenth floor, but they disappeared very quickly, without leaving a trace. We can’t find them at all.”

“Things within the eighteenth level, lacking magical power, will definitely hide themselves to recover their magical power,” Jiang Zhu said.

“Last year, Blue Moon captured one. There may still be ancient beings within the eighteenth level,” Niu Youdao said in a low voice.

"Hmm?" Jiang Zhu frowned. "So long-lived?"

“We were all surprised. The demon couldn’t explain it either. He just said that he survived by using an eternal treasure, which allowed him to live forever.” Niu Youdao’s eyes gleamed.

"Eternity?" Jiang Zhu chuckled lightly. "Do you believe in that?"

“Heaven and earth are eternal,” Niu Youdao said in a deep voice.

Jiang Zhu remained silent, then lifted his fishing rod, and a huge fish appeared. He said, "Tell me, is yesterday's world the same as today's world? And will today's world be the same as tomorrow's world?"

Niu Youdao stiffened slightly: "I think I know why the old dragon went to pursue it, and I want to find out too."

The power of Heaven and Earth!

Back then, Fusheng stole the power of heaven and earth and sealed the eighteen layers.

If the old dragon was seeking the authority over heaven and earth, then it would be understandable.

He wasn't seeking immortality, but rather to understand what the universe truly was.

Jiang Zhu didn't know what Heaven and Earth were either; they might have consciousness, or they might not.

It may have been created by some being with boundless magical power, or it may have been formed by chance.

The man and the ox traveled together until evening, when they returned to the city.

Li Wuwei quickly followed.

back home.

A lively sound came from the courtyard; several children were playing.

"Hey, watch me summon the thunder."

"My dark clouds will engulf your thunder."

"Watch my wind blow away your dark clouds."

"..."

Five children were having a magical contest in the courtyard. Their magical powers were weak, and the thunder, dark clouds, and wind they summoned were very weak; they were just playing around.

The nine-colored deer is not far away, painting a scene of children playing.

"Father."

Upon seeing Jiang Zhu return, Jiang Xiyue jogged to greet him. In her excitement, the wind she attracted blew her up.

Jiang Zhu hugged Jiang Xiyue: "You need to concentrate when you're casting spells, you almost blew yourself away."

"Isn't it because I miss Father?" Jiang Xiyue pouted and looked at Qingniu and Li Wuwei: "Father, who are they?"

"This is your Uncle Niu, and this is Li Wuwei, a Qi cultivator from Taiping Agricultural Road. They've come to visit us," Jiang Zhu introduced.

"Greetings, Uncle Niu, Senior Li Wuwei." Jiang Xiyue quickly bowed.

Li Wuwei returned the greeting with a bow: "You are not worthy of being called a senior, just call me senior brother."

Niu Youdao laughed and said, "He's a bright and intelligent child."

The other four children also rushed over to say hello.

Niu Youdao nodded, and Li Wuwei bowed to them in greeting.

It was getting late, so they didn't linger and went home.

Before Jiang Zhu could get busy, Li Wuwei took the fish from him and went to cook.

Niu Youdao approached the Nine-Colored Deer and chuckled, "Big sister, your painting is truly excellent." "You ox, you actually dared to come out," the Nine-Colored Deer said calmly. "That child is not bad."

“Hey, I’m lucky. Zhang Youwei met someone named Li Wuwei.” Niu Youdao said as if showing off a treasure: “This kid has read most of the book that Zhang Wuwei and I wrote in just one month, and he remembers it very well.”

"He seems to have been born to cultivate immortality, and his talent is much stronger than that of my previous immortal masters."

"Any spell, you can learn it at a glance, and master it after just two or three practice sessions..."

He spoke at length, while the Nine-Colored Deer listened quietly.

Li Wuwei is indeed very talented, and Jiang Xiyue is not bad either, thanks to their training.

"There's one downside: this kid is like an old man, he just sits around all day and isn't very lively."

Niu Youdao sighed, "Moreover, he actually forced himself to draw the Candle Illumination and Shadow, and almost killed himself in the process."

Upon hearing this, the Nine-Colored Deer glanced at Li Wuwei in surprise, who was focused on processing the fish.

Li Wuwei did indeed possess a trace of the power of Zhuzhao Youying within him.

At this point, she understood that Niu Youdao had brought Li Wuwei to learn how to illuminate the shadows.

Nine-Colored Deer got up and tidied up a room.

Li Wuwei's cooking skills are quite good, better than Jiang Zhu's and Nine-Colored Deer's.

Jiang Xiyue was so full that she kept praising the food.

Li Wuwei was naturally humble.

After the meal, Jiang Zhu threw him and Niu Youdao into the Heavenly Realm of Mortals, letting him figure it out on his own.

The method has been given; how far one can cultivate is up to him.

"Is this the mortal realm of heaven?"

Li Wuwei looked at the empty world: "Why is there nothing here?"

As the words fell, wisps of candlelight appeared in the void, illuminating the figures.

"What are these?" Li Wuwei asked, puzzled.

“The stories recorded by the green lamp, the people who once appeared.” Niu Youdao said with great emotion, “The first Ayan, the later Yaoyao, Li Qingping, Li Qingxuan, he recorded them all.”

Li Wuwei reached out and touched the wisp of candlelight that Ayan was holding.

He immersed himself in that period of time, as if he had returned to the past and met Ayan from back then.

Niu Youdao followed him inside. This was a fact that had happened, but also an illusion that had long since vanished.

Jiang Zhu sighed softly. Who would still remember the memories of the past?
Although the elves knew of them, they did not make a point of recording them, and if no one mentioned them, they would have long been forgotten by time.

The next morning, Jiang Zhu and the Nine-Colored Deer escorted Jiang Xiyue to the Taoist temple.

Jiang Zhu lived a leisurely life, while the Nine-Colored Deer, for Jiang Xiyue, studied the subsequent methods.

Peach Blossom Taoist sat by the river, his brows furrowed.

"Something on your mind?" Jiang Zhu asked.

"It's nothing." Peach Blossom Daoist relaxed his brows: "It's just that recently there have been a lot more demonic cultivators, causing havoc in all directions and killing many Qi Refiners."

"You met them too?" Jiang Zhu asked.

"It's my eldest disciple. He's already out there slaying demons and monsters, and that's the message he sent back," said Peach Blossom Taoist.

"So many years have passed in the blink of an eye." Jiang Zhu sighed softly. "You're worried about him and want to go help?"

“Yes, I’m leaving tomorrow, so I won’t be able to go fishing with you.” Peach Blossom Taoist sighed, “I don’t know where these demonic cultivators came from, they just suddenly appeared.”

"Do you need any help?" Jiang Zhu asked.

"No need, they're just some little brats." Peach Blossom Taoist waved his hand, full of confidence.

Jiang Zhu smiled but didn't say anything more.

As evening approached, he still gave Peach Blossom Taoist a protective amulet.

Peach Blossom Taoist carried his magic sword and rode the clouds to the north.

In the north, at the Cliff of Ten Thousand Ghosts, a blood-red light surged, staining the night sky crimson.

Countless wandering souls hovered in the air, while a black banner stirred up the wind and clouds in the void.

In the void, there were still unconscious Qi cultivators.

Peach Blossom Taoist's eyes were bloodshot; among the unconscious Qi cultivators was his eldest disciple.

"Heaven and earth are boundless, and the universe borrows the law to vanquish evil!"

Peach Blossom Taoist mobilized his magical power, and the power of heaven and earth converged, transforming into an overwhelming sword light that slashed towards the black banner.

But then, the black banner swayed, and hundreds and thousands of wandering souls, filled with demonic energy, rushed toward the sword light.

Rumble

The void trembled, the clouds tore apart, and the sword light dissipated.

As the aftershocks of the magic surged, Peach Blossom Taoist's expression changed. With a wave of his hand, countless peach blossoms bloomed, blocking the aftershocks.

Just as he was about to make another move, his magical power was pushed to its limit when the black banner shook again, and a black streak of light shot through the air.

click
puff
The magic sword shattered, and his body flew backward, his crimson blood splattering into the void.

The black banner carried the souls of the dead, stirring up a chilling wind, and black light shone on the Peach Blossom Taoist.

The Peach Blossom Taoist, who had just landed, changed his expression drastically. He felt as if the black light had a magical power, trying to pull his soul out of his body.

"A soul refined into Qi can barely become a ghost general."

A cold, piercing sound emanated from within the black banner.

Buzz

A golden and silver light flashed, spreading across Peach Blossom Taoist's entire body and isolating him from the black light.

The golden and silver light transformed into a white-clad figure, who looked at the black banner with surprise. The aura of the Yin and the Netherworld was extremely strong.

"you are still alive?"

The cold, piercing sound became exceptionally sharp, and without the slightest hesitation, the black banner soared into the sky.

"Hmm?" Jiang Zhu frowned, reached out his hand, and the void rippled as the power of heaven and earth gathered, transforming into a giant hand that grabbed the black banner.

"Let me go!"

The black banner roared, and its black light surged, but it was no match for Jiang Zhu and was forcibly torn off by the large hand.

The unconscious Qi cultivators then floated down.

Jiang Zhu examined the black banner, infusing it with immortal light, and countless wandering souls flew out from within it.

The unconscious Qi cultivators, their souls returned, and those without bodies went to the nearby temples of immortal officials.

Nowadays, if a Qi cultivator dies with enough merit, they can become a celestial official instead of necessarily going to the Netherworld.

The Ming Dynasty had a vast territory, and many places still lacked temples dedicated to the immortals.

"So you know Fusheng?" Jiang Zhu said calmly.

"Aren't you Fusheng? He's been reborn too?"

Black Banner's voice was filled with anger and hatred: "Now that I'm in your hands, do whatever you want with me. I won't fall for your tricks again."

"Tricked?" Jiang Zhu was taken aback. "You mean, they locked you up on the eighteenth floor?"

"You haven't recovered all your memories?" Hei Fan paused, then sneered, "You liar, once we're all out, we won't let you get away with this."

"So, you have all the memories of your past life?" Jiang Zhu glanced at Peach Blossom Taoist, then left with the black banner.

As for Peach Blossom Taoist and the Qi Refiner, the other Qi Refiners have already arrived, so they should be fine.

Back in Qinghe City, the Nine-Colored Deer emerged from the house and looked at the black banner: "Where did you come from?"

“The North…” Jiang Zhu told him about the Peach Blossom Taoist.

“Perfect, we can keep it as a toy for Xiaoxiyue,” said the Nine-Colored Deer.

Jiang Zhu sighed softly, "We can't just throw anything at her, this thing is very strange."

(End of this chapter)