A Scroll of Infinite Glory

Chapter 214 Suppressing with a Flick of the Finger, Pointing at Vermilion

Guan Luoyang stepped within a hundred feet and his gaze fell on Gao Lian.

Gao Lian immediately felt a sense of alarm and, without thinking, crushed the gourd at his waist.

Previously, Hunhai Tianluoyan was stunned by the divine light of the mountain god in that small temple and immediately flowed back. Firstly, because the incense of the mountain god has a natural restraining effect on such evil magic, and secondly, because Gao Lian and Gao Feng cherished their magic treasures and were unwilling to lose too much.

In fact, if Gao Feng's Hunhai Tianluo Yan were released without regard to loss, it could cover an area of ​​five li in radius, and Gao Lian's Hunhai Tianluo Yan could cover an area of ​​seven li.

At that moment, he crushed the gourd, and it burst open like a ball of ink, black as night, swirling and expanding rapidly, growing to a diameter of thirty feet in an instant.

Although Guan Luoyang was still far away, he could already smell a faint odor, like the smell of coal mixed with a strong rusty smell, which was indescribably strange. He immediately threw the green grass he was holding, and then used all his strength to wave his left hand.

The green grass disappeared into the black smoke first, the tips of the grass blades swayed faintly and paused in a certain position.

The wind direction around them changed drastically in the blink of an eye. Air currents from all directions seemed to violently impact and converge on the cloud of black smoke, compressing large swaths of smoke and blowing them straight into the sky.

Like a small black waterfall shooting into the sky, within a few breaths, the black smoke on the spot had thinned to the point where Gao Lian's figure could be clearly seen.

He stood with his sword held horizontally, it was impossible to tell whether he was going to attack forward or retreat and escape, but because a green blade of grass pierced into his left shoulder three inches below, he froze in place, his blood and qi stagnating, and his hands and feet became numb.

The demonic power, which was usually extremely fierce and capable of burning bricks and producing smoke, was repeatedly gathered by Gao Lian to try to impact that blade of grass, but it always ran out of strength. The grass remained tender and green, without the slightest damage.

Once the swirling smoke from the sea had dissipated into the sky, Guan Luoyang pressed his palm forward, and the fierce wind that had been whipping Gao Lian's robes into a frenzy gradually subsided.

Dai Zonggang had just gotten up from the ground when he saw Guan Luoyang effortlessly subdue Gao Lian. He was both surprised and delighted, his eyes filled with admiration: "This Taoist priest is truly amazing!"

Gongsun Sheng never expected that in this remote and impoverished place, surrounded by no famous mountains, he would actually encounter such a master. He quickly said, "Thank you so much for your help, brother. I am deeply grateful for your life-saving grace!"

Although the other party looked much younger than him, since he had this skill, he might be a senior who never lost his youth. Calling him "brother" would be too presumptuous.

Guan Luoyang shook his head and disappeared. Soon, he returned to the village entrance and casually tossed Gao Feng, who looked dejected, to the ground, where he lay limp and unable to move.

"These two guys casually released poison gas into an entire village; they wouldn't deserve to die, but I still need to find out why they're hunting you down."

Guan Luoyang looked at Gongsun Sheng.

Gongsun Sheng had already retrieved his ancient sword and whisk. Upon hearing this, he dared not be negligent and said, "Brother Dao, please allow me to inform you. These two are named Gao Lian and Gao Feng. They have both practiced evil arts since childhood and are cousins ​​of Gao Qiu, a notorious traitor in the court. Therefore, they have also obtained official positions."

"The current emperor is searching for secret methods of immortality and recruiting people with Taoist skills to serve him in Bianliang. He has gone to extremes. Following his example, these two people, in order to curry favor, actually found out the location of Master Yuanmiao's tomb, broke into the tomb and opened the coffin, wanting to search for the treasures buried with him."

"I never imagined that Master Yuanmiao would be trapped there. He originally wanted to cultivate into a Corpse-Dissolving Immortal. Although he failed to achieve his goal, his mind was still intact. The two of them managed to lock him up and planned to transport him to Bianliang. I heard about this and inquired for a few days. Then, I took advantage of their unpreparedness and abducted Master Yuanmiao."

Guan Luoyang nodded slightly and looked at Gao Lian: "Is that all there is to it?"

Gao Lian felt the grass inserted into the acupoint loosen slightly, giving him room to speak. He quickly said, "Master, the Emperor has always favored extraordinary people and promised them high-ranking positions and generous salaries. People like Wang Laozhi and Liu Hunkang in the past, and later Chen Daozi, a disciple of the Celestial Master, are all enjoying a life of luxury in Bianliang. Even my brothers and I have been appointed as prefects and governors."

"Master, your skills are so superb. It would be a waste to keep them hidden in the mountains and among the common people. Why don't you come with us to pay homage to the Emperor? You will then enjoy fine wine, beautiful women, wealth and honor, and a place in history."

Guan Luoyang asked, "Is the current emperor named Zhao Ji?"

Gongsun Sheng said, "Emperor Daojun abdicated ten years ago and died of illness not long after. The current Emperor Tianming is the eldest son of Emperor Daojun."

"Zhao Ji's son." Guan Luoyang's expression was somewhat subtle. "A few years ago, I seemed to have heard that a foreign tribe was rising up and eyeing the Song Dynasty covetously. Yet this emperor was still able to stay in Bianliang. It seems, well, he didn't suffer any major losses?"

Gongsun Sheng sighed: "The current emperor ascended the throne at a young age. He did select virtuous and capable officials, reorganized the Song army, swept away the weakness accumulated since Emperor Taizong, sent troops to conquer Western Xia, and appointed generals to repeatedly fight against the Liao Kingdom, achieving remarkable military exploits. If it weren't for the temporary exhaustion after the destruction of Xia, perhaps there would have been hope of recovering Yan and Yun. In the matter of foreign tribes, he truly deserves the title of emperor."

Guan Luoyang asked curiously, "There's only the Liao and Western Xia, what about the Jurchens?"

Gongsun Sheng looked bewildered: "Jurchen? Aren't they vassals of the Liao Dynasty?"

Gao Lian's expression changed, and Guan Luoyang immediately noticed, turning his head to look at him: "You seem to know something?"

Gao Lian chuckled and said, "Daoist Master, there are plenty of people in Bianliang who talk about everything under the sun and have a broad view of the affairs of various kingdoms. If you are interested in these things..."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Guan Luoyang pointed forward.

Gao Lian was struck dumb, his body crackling with lightning, and he was in excruciating pain. He was truly spineless, and he begged for mercy repeatedly: "Seven or eight years ago, the Emperor sent a team of people who specially crossed the Liao Kingdom to assassinate the chieftain of the Jurchen tribes, Wanyan Aguda, and his family. I was one of them."

Guan Luoyang's eyes flashed, and he said, "You succeeded?"

"Of course," Gao Lian said. "The leader at the time was Liu Hunkang, who had once served as the Imperial Preceptor. Everyone in his group possessed magical abilities. The Jurchens were just a small tribe; what difficulty would it have been for them to wipe out their entire chieftain's family?"

Guan Luoyang seemed thoughtful, then continued to press, "Do you know why the emperor sent you to do this?"

Gao Lian said, "I vaguely heard Liu Hunkang mention that when the Emperor was still the Crown Prince, he once visited Tianchi Lake in Changbai Mountain and it seems that he had a conflict with the Wanyan family at that time."

Gongsun Sheng was shocked and asked incredulously, "To go to Changbai Mountain, one has to pass through the Liao Kingdom. Who knows how many dangers lie along the way? He was the Crown Prince at the time, how could he do such a thing? And how could the Emperor possibly allow it?!"

He paused, his expression becoming even more dazed. "Wait a minute, Zhao Huan must have stayed in Bianliang for a year and a half before Emperor Daojun abdicated. So when did he go to Changbai Mountain? Wasn't he only thirteen or fourteen years old then?"

Gao Lian was stunned for a moment, and a look of shock appeared on his face. He had been summoned to receive a secret decree to exterminate the entire Wanyan family. After returning, he gained some benefits, which enabled him to lay the foundation for the demonic sect. Later, he only regarded it as the emperor being petty and vindictive. Anyway, it was his opportunity, and he never thought that the hidden deeds behind it were so amazing.

Guan Luoyang chuckled twice and said to Gao Lian, "What else do you know?"

Gao Lian sensed the ominous meaning in these words, and a chill ran down his spine. He said, "What do you mean by that, Daoist? Actually, I know a lot of things, but you haven't asked which one you mean... That's alright. I'm willing to serve you at your beck and call. When you remember what you want to ask, I will tell you everything I know."

Guan Luoyang looked disgusted: "What would I have to be thinking to keep you around, getting in my way every day?"

Gao Lian sensed something was wrong and shouted, "Wait! I am an official appointed by the imperial court!"

Gao Feng, who was on the ground, struggled to his feet, shouting, "I have ten thousand taels of silver in my family..."

Guan Luoyang snapped his fingers and flicked them twice. Two streaks of green energy, like lightning, pierced through the heads of Gao Lian and Gao Feng one after the other.

Gao Feng's voice abruptly stopped; he died on the spot.

Gao Lian swayed, a bloody hole appearing on his forehead, his face filled with venomous resentment: "You will surely die by sword, leaving no trace of your body!"

His body fell to the ground, but a wisp of black smoke rose from the spot and crashed straight into Guan Luoyang.

Just as Gongsun Sheng was about to warn him to be careful, he saw lightning crackling like a net in front of Guan Luoyang, accompanied by thunderous roars, which obliterated the black mist, leaving not a single ember.

Guan Luoyang snorted softly and said, "You can't even beat me when you're alive, and you still want to curse me when you're dead? You think too highly of your evil arts."

Gongsun Sheng thought to himself: This isn't some kind of evil magic, but rather a demonic art. The demonic path seems to focus on the physical body, but the spirit is incredibly tenacious. If one were to unleash a curse with resentment at the moment of death, it would be far more powerful than any evil magic used in life. This fellow Daoist's methods are so formidable, yet his judgment seems somewhat…

Guan Luoyang, of course, had no idea what Gongsun Sheng was thinking, and said, "These men lying in ambush inside and outside their village look rather strange. If we bury them on the spot, I wonder if it might cause some trouble?"

Gongsun Sheng said, "Although these flying divine soldiers are evil beings that are half-human and half-corpse, their evil energy has been dispersed by Master Yuanmiao's Divine Thunder Sound. Once I use my transporting technique to send them to the mountains and forests, I can use earth and stones to bury them, causing them to disintegrate and disappear, and then they will be fine."

The Taoist priest looked back at the houses in the village and lowered his voice, "Actually, if these flying divine soldiers that have lost their evil aura are buried under the fields and decompose, they can make the land fertile and increase the harvest next year."

Guan Luoyang sensed a hint of regret in his words and couldn't help but say, "You just said these flying divine soldiers are half-human, half-corpse, so they must have originally been human, right? How could they be buried in fields to grow crops?"

Gongsun Sheng nodded, then said with a sigh, "Now that there are seedlings in the field, it's not easy to turn the soil."

Guan Luoyang coughed softly and said, "You should send them deep into the mountains, far away from the village. If someone notices something is wrong and comes to the village, it will be another disaster."

These humanoid monsters looked like the kind that could eat people and suck blood. Guan Luoyang didn't hesitate to kill them, but he still had some psychological reservations about using them as fertilizer, after all, they were once human too.

Gongsun Sheng, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, seemed to know how to consider the feelings of the villagers, yet he could say such things without changing his expression. Clearly, he wasn't malicious; rather, he simply thought the matter was quite ordinary.

While Gongsun Sheng was dealing with the flying divine soldiers, Guan Luoyang walked up to Lin Lingsu, grabbed the old Taoist's wrist, and used his true energy to examine her.

As soon as the true energy seeped into Lin Lingsu's skin, Guan Luoyang noticed a significant difference.

Although Guan Luoyang's body was very different from that of an ordinary person after reaching the fourth level, he still had blood, blood vessels, internal organs, bones, and brain structure.

Lin Lingsu looks no different from an ordinary person, but there seems to be no muscle under his skin. There is only a liquid that looks like metal or blood, which exists attached to his skeleton.

The internal organs immersed in this liquid are also completely sculpted like gold and jade. The five organs—heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys—are sometimes light and sometimes heavy, as if the most important mass is constantly transferring between the five organs, endlessly regenerating.

As this wisp of true energy traveled upwards along the spine, what appeared was not the skull as commonly perceived, but a palace that seemed both real and illusory, exuding unparalleled majesty from its illusion.

From every corner of Lin Lingsu's body, ethereal light converged into the palace, forming a perfect and flawless elixir.

Guan Luoyang silently withdrew his hand. He had originally intended to help Lin Lingsu, but now it seemed better to give up.

He couldn't discern anything wrong with Lin Lingsu's body, so he simply asked, "How can your injuries heal?"

"I am not injured. It's just that I got too involved with the imperial court back then because of some vain thoughts. My pure and innocent Taoist cultivation was polluted by the imperial fortune. I want to purify it again through the corpse dissolution method and refine it into a divine and enlightened spirituality."

Lin Lingsu was so stiff that she couldn't even move her eyes. She stared straight ahead, her mouth half-open, and she spoke in a muffled voice through the vibration of her throat, "Unfortunately, just when I was about to succeed, someone dug me out of the specially selected auspicious burial site, resulting in the loss of the five elements, disordered magic power, damage to the Du meridian, instability of the spleen, and weakness of the lung meridian."

Don't try to fool me. Meridians and acupoints are the key to the circulation of Qi and blood. If you don't even have muscles and Qi and blood in your body, what meridians do you have?

Guan Luoyang remained calm, simply saying "Oh," and then asked, "My cultivation method isn't suitable for treating others. Is there any way to help you recover faster?"

Dai Zong said from the side, "Master Gongsun talked with Master Lin before, saying that he needed to find 800 catties of flowing pearl divine glue, which is commonly known as mercury. By refining it into the body, he could restore health."

Lin Lingsu said, "Even if I don't have 800 jin, as long as I have 180 jin, I can still replenish my magic power and get it started. Then I just need to spend ten days to half a month recuperating."

Gongsun Sheng had already finished dealing with the flying divine soldiers and the bodies of the Gao brothers. He floated back from the mountains and said, "There is a cinnabar mine ninety miles away. That's where we were going. Brother Dao, the sooner Master Yuanmiao's symptoms are treated, the better. We're about to set off now. We will definitely come to visit you again when we have time."

Gongsun Sheng bowed and said, "Please, fellow Daoist, leave your name."

"No need to say goodbye."

Guan Luoyang said, "I have been training hard in the deep mountains for many years. I am tired of being still and want to go out for a walk. Why don't we go together?"

(End of this chapter)