Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 939 Poppy

The word "劫" (jie) is synonymous with "结" (jie). Once it is planted voluntarily by both parties, it can forcibly establish a life-or-death balance between them that transcends the difference in strength.

If one dies, the other will almost certainly not survive alone; it is a true case of living and dying together.

In the dark years of ancient times when humanity struggled to rise from the cracks between all other races, this seemingly hopeless magical artifact played a role once or twice in an extremely secretive way.

Because the process and the result were too dark, no records were left. Only in these oldest clan scrolls are the cold production methods preserved.

Similarly, the information provided by Nüjiao contained several other methods of witchcraft and ritual artifact making, each with different effects but all imbued with a primitive and cruel meaning.

【同心劫】is already considered one of the more elegant names and whose concept is relatively easy to accept.

These ancient, bloody, and costly witchcraft materials, at first glance, seem out of place with Xu Xuan's painting style, and he himself is by no means the kind of person who would actively use such a near-self-destructive method.

The good thing is that Nüjiao provided the original technology and principles, rather than the finished product.

This gave Xu Xuan a huge amount of room to maneuver and the opportunity to make drastic modifications!
Perhaps his own cultivation and knowledge are not enough to create or modify such an ancient secret technique out of thin air, but he has one great advantage: he knows a big shot!

For example, Bai Suzhen, for example, Bai Suzhen, for example...

Among the people Xu Xuan knew, in terms of strength and cultivation, perhaps only the Yangtze River Dragon Lord could steadily surpass Bai Suzhen.

But the Dragon King was just a brother on the surface.

Drinking and bragging are fine, as are performing for fun and getting something of value.

When it comes to modifying such top-level secret techniques related to the karma and karmic consequences of love, it's entirely unknown whether the person involved is willing to get involved, and they may not be reliable.

Other acquaintances, such as the old monks of the Pure Land School, have high cultivation levels but their expertise is not relevant, and Buddhist methods are probably incompatible with ancient witchcraft.

Let's not even talk about monkeys. They don't get along with us right now; all they do is fight and kill.

Long-browed must have lost his mind; how could he possibly think of this mortal enemy?

After counting them, the only one who is not only powerful and knowledgeable, but also has practical experience in or even mastery of witchcraft, and has a deep karmic entanglement with Xu Xuan, is most likely willing to do everything in her power to help him.

So, after all the twists and turns, everything has come full circle.

Besides, Old Xu racked his brains to cut off your love affair, and used a lot of influence to get such top-secret information from Brother Yu's house.

Can't you put your own future first and help me out?
For example, if we examine this "Tribulation of Unity," its core is simply the need for "another party willing to give everything."

Modifying the target object is not a difficult task.

I'm not bragging, but I have many, many potential partners like that in my family.
As for the other token, it was a certificate for traveling to Qingqiu Mountain.

The woman went to great lengths to help her straight-laced husband repay his debts of gratitude, employing every possible method and accurately grasping the core of the problem.

When it comes to the ways of love, romance, and intrigue in this world, what race or place can compare to the legendary foxes who are more knowledgeable?
This is a consensus that is widely acknowledged throughout the myriad realms and throughout history!
In other words, although the Tushan clan and the Qingqiu Mountain lineage are located in the south and the north respectively, they have a very deep connection and have been closely related since ancient times. They often interact with each other and have a deep bond of kinship that is hard for outsiders to imagine.

Otherwise, how could ordinary people possibly have the means to approach a place as extraordinary and otherworldly as Qingqiu Mountain?
The events of that time can also corroborate the power of this lineage.

Long ago, when Yu the Great was over thirty years old and still unmarried, he traveled to the land of Tushan. Perhaps reminded by his subordinates, or perhaps suddenly struck by a sudden inspiration, he worried that he was too old and would violate the rites of marriage. So he pretended to pray to heaven and earth: "If I were to marry, heaven would surely grant my wish!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a magical fox with a pure white body and nine tails appeared in front of Yu.

Yu the Great, who was not yet a sage emperor but was clearly quite politically astute, immediately seized this "heaven-sent opportunity" and interpreted it on the spot: "White is the color of my clothes; nine tails are an omen of an emperor!"

Well... anyway, that's what the future Holy Emperor decided at the time, and his subordinates and the people of Tushan all understood and tacitly agreed.

This was undoubtedly an extremely successful political campaign, akin to "heavenly auspicious omens and a sage's conception," providing an excellent foundation of public opinion for Yu to consolidate the power of the Eastern Yi and establish his rule.

The Tushan clan was naturally pleased with this outcome, and gracefully followed the plot, culminating in the famous "Tushan Song":
"A white fox, with nine slender tails. My home, the Jia Yi, welcomes guests as kings. A family is established, a home is built, and prosperity is achieved. The relationship between heaven and man is thus established. 'How clear!'"

The lyrics translate to: Look at the white fox slowly approaching, its nine tails fluffy and enormous. Our beautiful Tushan family welcomes a distinguished guest, who will become a king. He will establish himself, build a family, and we will assist him in achieving prosperity. The perfect alignment of destiny and human affairs is manifesting itself here and now! How clearly this is the will of Heaven!

After that, Yu the Great naturally married a woman from the Tushan clan, whose name was Nüjiao.

The significance of this marriage goes far beyond romantic love.

The entire powerful Dongyi force thus submitted to Yu the Great's command. Their abundant resources, large population, and those talented individuals who possessed ancient knowledge and power all became one of the important forces for Yu the Great in quelling the floods and governing the nine provinces.

From a realistic perspective, this was undoubtedly an extremely successful political alliance and investment.

However, in ancient records and accounts, the entire process was imbued with a strong romanticism.

A nine-tailed white fox, a gift of good fortune from heaven, brought heroes and beauties together at first sight; their love was sealed with a song...

In any case, this is the process described in historical records and legends, which cleverly wraps the alliance of politics and military affairs under the narrative of love, making the relationship between Yu the Great and Nüjiao a model of balancing love and career.

The certificate that Xu Xuan now possesses represents his qualification to enter the Qingqiu Secret Realm.

The demon race has a lifespan far exceeding that of humans. Even as time flows and the world changes, it may only be a fleeting moment for Qingqiu.

If you take this certificate to Qingqiu now, you might even encounter the ancient fox who knew Nüjiao back then and even witnessed the legend of the "Sui Sui White Fox"!

That bond of kinship, refined by time, may still hold true.

If one could obtain guidance or assistance from the Qingqiu Fox Clan, with their profound understanding and ability to manipulate the causes and effects of love, they might truly find a way to skillfully navigate the overwhelming calamity of love, or even escape unscathed.

This is undoubtedly another important safeguard and a solution to the predicament of the White Snake's question about love.

Even if we take a step back and don't ultimately resolve the matter of the love tribulation, just being able to enter the Qingqiu Secret Realm is an immense opportunity in itself.

It is a well-known auspicious place, rich in spiritual energy and blessed with natural treasures.

In particular, the nine-tailed fox was regarded as a symbol of benevolent rulers and peace throughout ancient times and for a long period afterward.

Closely linked to "Heaven's Mandate," these auspicious omens are a response to the virtuous rule of a sage king and the harmonious energy of heaven and earth, with their sacred and auspicious aspects dominating. Given Xu Xuan's unique position and immense fortune, entering such a place of convergence of auspicious omens would undoubtedly resonate with him and bring him great benefits.

Perhaps it is a further consolidation of one's fortune, or perhaps it is receiving some auspicious blessings, or even comprehending some profound principles related to "virtue," "fortune," and "destiny."

Moreover, theoretically speaking, a place that gathers positive and auspicious energy from heaven and earth should have a sufficiently strong and stable energy field.

Perhaps... maybe... possibly... I won't be easily shrouded in my own strange karma, and some unpleasant accidents might happen?

In conclusion, although the challenge of fighting that terrifying white-haired monkey to the death a year later is nothing short of a hellish one, the "reward" paid in advance is ridiculously generous and a great deal!
Xu Xuan rubbed the smooth, warm Qingqiu jade in his hand with great satisfaction, becoming more and more pleased with it. He carefully put it into the jade pot magic treasure.

As for the animal skin scrolls and wooden tablets that recorded many ancient witchcrafts, he used his supernatural powers to summon a spirit butterfly to surround and envelop them.

It transformed into a streak of light and headed straight to the bottom of West Lake, to Bai Suzhen, who was both the source of the calamity and now the best technical advisor.

"Miss Bai, the information has been delivered. From now on, we'll be relying on you a lot..."

Next, Xu Xuan led the Stone King, who had just recovered slightly from his "doubt about the existence of a demon," along the rushing Huai River, heading southeast.

His mindset was different at this moment.

The agreement made with the white-haired monkey was for one year, after which they would have to fight the mischievous monkey to the death on the banks of the Huai River.

That means that, according to the rules tacitly agreed upon by big shots of this caliber, as long as he doesn't deliberately go to the source of the Huai River and do something reckless within this year, he can basically do whatever he wants in the Huai River basin!

Even if the white-haired monkey sensed his presence, it would never make a move prematurely, lest it earn a reputation for breaking its promise.

Of course, there are limits to this "walking sideways".

For example, defecating or urinating in the Huai River is a serious provocation that pollutes the environment and is absolutely unacceptable.

At least Xu Xuan wouldn't do it.

His destination on this eastward journey was Xiaoxian County, a county town on the banks of a tributary of the Huai River.

The North is not now bathed in the glory of his "White Lotus Holy Father". Human order is more fragile under the erosion of demons and monsters, and the chaotic trend of "the Way waning and the Demons rising" is truly reflected.

Evil spirits and strange occurrences emerged one after another, and their rampant nature far exceeded that of Jiangnan.

The intelligence reports from the North, compiled and transmitted by Baoantang through various channels, came in stacks upon stacks, the contents of which were shocking and made one's scalp tingle, leaving one only able to sigh repeatedly.

Recently, Qiao Feng sent a message through the secret channels of Baoan Hall.

The letter mentioned that when the three heroes passed through Xiaoxian County, they witnessed a strange sight.

It was early spring, not the usual blooming season, but the countryside around Xiaoxian County was covered with blooming poppies.

The flowers bloomed like a sea, their crimson color like blood, breathtakingly beautiful, almost submerging the entire county in a swaying floral paradise.

In his letter, Qiao Feng said that the sea of ​​flowers had not shown any direct harm at present; it was simply blooming purely and exceptionally lushly, and the fragrance even had a slightly sweet and intoxicating quality.

However, Xiaoxian County was historically a famous ancient battlefield.

Countless bones and broken soldiers are buried underground, accumulating endless killing and resentment.

The sudden appearance of such an out-of-season and massive poppy field in such a place is itself the biggest abnormality!
Qiao Feng judged that there must be something fishy behind this strange phenomenon, and it might even be brewing a bigger disaster.

However, the three of them were not capable of handling the matter, and remembering Master Xu's teachings, they immediately set off to visit the Prince of Pei in Pei State, without lingering in Xiao County to investigate further.

Therefore, he wrote a letter and sent it to Master Xu through the Baoan Hall's urgent channels, requesting a decision.

When Xu Xuan saw the letter from Qiao Feng, his first reaction was not surprise or solemnity, but rather...感动 (moved), he was deeply moved.

Especially after he had personally dealt with the mess caused by the three troublesome "Three Wonders" in the painting, this feeling of "emotion" was particularly profound and genuine.

He repeatedly read through the letter, noting every choice Qiao Feng made after discovering the anomaly, and a deeply gratified smile appeared on his face:
"Good riddance! Good riddance!"

"I knew it! There are still some obedient students among them!"

It is clear that he truly kept the "Chongqi Holiday Rules" he formulated firmly in mind and strictly followed them.

One of the core tenets of that rule is: "Stay on the human path and try to avoid getting involved with any supernatural events."

When encountering supernatural phenomena that are incomprehensible or feel dangerous, the primary principle is to avoid them and report them, rather than taking it upon oneself to investigate or even challenge them.

The performance of the three heroes this time was exemplary.

They astutely noticed the unusual situation of the poppy field in Xiaoxian County and judged that it posed a huge potential risk, so they retreated immediately without hesitation.

Instead, they went to visit the Crown Prince of Pei, who was at the height of his fortune. This was both in accordance with the rule of "seeking temporary refuge in a place where human fortune is at its peak" and a clever way to place themselves in a safer environment.

This clear-headed understanding and decisive action can be said to be very correct, avoiding to the greatest extent possible the risk of being accidentally drawn into an uncontrollable and dangerous vortex.

Xu Xuan knew very well that with Xie Yu and the others' strong luck and protagonist aura, if they were a little more curious and bolder and stayed in Xiaoxian to investigate, they would definitely run into some extraordinary evil or strange events, and then they would be in big trouble.

The Three Wonders were born with special destinies, forcing them to take this path. The Three Heroes should remain in the world to manage human affairs.

In high spirits, Xu Xuan felt relaxed and happily led the Stone King eastward along the Huai River, taking the opportunity to deal with the strange incident in Xiao County.

Anyway, it's a smooth ride.

Moreover, the bizarre sea of ​​poppies that appeared in Xiaoxian County...

It had an unusual and sinister air about it, and I really couldn't trust leaving it to ordinary members of the Bao'an Hall to handle.

The Book of Jin, Geography section, records:
“Xiao County, belonging to Pei State, has Gaixia settlement.”

(End of this chapter)