I used folk talismans to ward off the evil spirit.

Chapter 93 The Celestial Master Seeks Help, Seven Star Mysterious Camphor Tree (Bonus Chapter for Double Monthly Ticket Event)

Inside the study, Jiang Jun gazed at the ever-flowing stream of golden light, his expression solemn.

After Marcos, four more cultivators of the Way of Suppression were sensed by him and were located in the place where the Ghost Realm descended.

They were not the nine people who entered the Heavenly Palace when it first opened, but rather those who joined later.

Like Marcos, after confirming that there were no lord-level monsters in the area, Jiang Jun invoked the power of the guardian spirit in the Heavenly Palace to help them sweep away the evil forces.

After successfully opening the path, Jiang Jun was able to unleash his full power by relying on the talisman within his spiritual platform.

The original spirit of the talisman remained at its origin to maintain the lineage.

The reason why willow trees, garlic, white salt, and other such items can ward off evil spirits is entirely due to the fact that the original spirit of the talisman alters the laws of the abyss at its source, so it should not be used lightly.

If Jiang Jun wanted to use the original form of the Zhenwu as a medium to teleport back and forth to Qingjiang City, it would be much more troublesome. Therefore, he would not go to provide support in person unless absolutely necessary.

Moreover, he was just a newcomer among the pioneers. The founders of the Divine Bureau and the old Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain were all stronger than him.

These individuals must have other concerns if they don't take action.

Other continents also have their own pavers to suppress the strange disasters; it's not his place to overstep his bounds.

He was new to the path of cultivation and knew little about the details, so he was hesitant to act rashly.

"In the end, it's still a matter of insufficient strength; I can't overcome all opponents with sheer force—" Jiang Jun shook his head and sighed.

Suddenly, his brow twitched slightly, and his divine sense, guided by the Dao of Suppression, fell into the Azure Heaven Palace at the source.

On the pillar, a cinnabar pattern shimmered faintly. It was left by the old Celestial Master with the Dragon-Tiger Golden Elixir.

Sensing Jiang Jun's divine sense descending, an aged voice came from within the Dan runes: "Fellow Daoist Juntian, do you have some free time right now?"

Jiang Jun replied, "A few of my disciples are caught in the strange calamity, and we are keeping an eye on it. Apart from that, there's nothing else going on for now."

The cinnabar pattern glowed with golden light: "I have a difficult matter that I need your assistance, fellow Daoist. Upon its completion, I wish to offer you a complete record of the evolution of the 'Dragon-Tiger Golden Elixir Method' from its inception to the present day. I wonder if you are interested?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jun's heart stirred.

He was racking his brains for further breakthroughs in the Way of Suppressing Things. The Old Celestial Master's experience in opening up the Way was exactly what he needed right now.

After a moment's thought, Jiang Jun said frankly, "I will always remember the kindness of the Celestial Master in protecting the Dao. It is my duty to help you in your time of need."

He paused, then said sincerely, "However, this record of the path's opening is something I desperately need, so I shamelessly agreed."

"In that case, please take a look, fellow Daoist." A wisp of golden light flew out from the Danwen and touched Jiang Jun's divine sense.

The next moment, a map unfolded in his mind, which turned out to be the mirror image of the Ghost Realm corresponding to Longhu Mountain.

The focal point is none other than the location of the Celestial Master's Mansion on Longhu Mountain. Seven ancient trees are simply marked on the map, surrounded by shadowy figures, seemingly shrouded in an eerie mist.

"Please enlighten me, Celestial Master," Jiang Jun said.

The other party sighed deeply: "This is the Seven Star Ancient Camphor Tree of my Celestial Master's Mansion, which has extremely important symbolic significance for my Longhu Mountain."

"When the Abyss of Deception descended, Longhu Mountain was right in the eye of the storm, and the entire Celestial Master's Mansion was plunged into ruin. It wasn't until I advanced to the Transcendent Realm that I was able to recover it."

"These seven ancient trees have fallen into the realm of the supernatural and have been corrupted by the supernatural energy. They have become supernatural and have merged with many of my disciples, becoming lord-level monsters."

"After I suppressed them, I was afraid of harming the remains of my fellow disciples. In addition, the Seven Star Camphor Tree is of great significance and should not be destroyed, so I have been delaying until now."

"I've heard that you can purify strange plants and transform them into spiritual beings. Would you be willing to do me this favor?"

Jiang Jun pressed further, "If it were only for this matter, the Celestial Master could have brought it up the day I successfully established my path. Why wait until today?"

The old master remained silent for a moment: "Those disciples who perished with the ancient tree were all my beloved relatives and friends. Although they have been corrupted, I think that perhaps one day I can still save them from this sea of ​​suffering."

"However, with the large-scale arrival of the demon realm this time, the Seven Star Camphor Tree also showed unusual behavior. I was afraid something unexpected might happen, so I had to contact my fellow Daoists to help deal with them."

After a moment's thought, Jiang Jun suggested, "Since that's the case, we shouldn't delay. I'll head to Longhu Mountain first and settle this matter as soon as possible."

The old celestial master asked with a hint of delight, "I wonder how you will arrive, my friend? Will you come by plane, high-speed rail, or by flying?"

Jiang Jun countered, "Have any disciples from Longhu Mountain visited the Qingjiang City Bureau of Supernatural Affairs? If so, there's no need for such trouble."

*

Fifteen minutes later.

Mirrored Ghost Realm, Longhu Mountain, Tianshi Palace projection.

The eerie fog here is not as gray and murky as elsewhere; instead, it carries a wisp of bluish-gray, like faded smoke and clouds in an ancient painting.

The palaces and temples are built against the mountain, with their flying eaves and brackets appearing and disappearing in the mist. The red walls and black tiles are covered with a thin layer of water vapor, and the solemnity and dignity reveal a hint of indescribable gloom.

The moss on the stone steps spread to the entrance of the hall, and the branches of the pine and cypress trees drooped low, casting shadows, as if something was peeking out from among the branches and leaves.

A faint scent of sandalwood wafted in the air, but beneath that fragrance lay a subtle, cloying sweetness of decay.

An old Taoist priest stood before the hall, with white hair and a youthful face, wearing a purple Taoist robe with a black dragon coiled around it and a white tiger roaring in the wind.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering even without wind, and his aura was as deep and profound as an abyss.

He is the second strongest person in China today, the highest-ranking Taoist master, the creator of the "Dragon and Tiger Golden Elixir Method," and a highly respected old Celestial Master.

As for his real name, he concealed it by claiming great power the day he successfully established his path. As the Celestial Master's cultivation deepened, very few people still remembered it.

His gaze fell upon the peach wood sword in the hand of the young Taoist beside him. After examining it for a moment, he sighed softly, "The art of suppressing objects is truly wondrous. There isn't a trace of evil energy on this peach wood sword! I wonder what the origin of this fellow Daoist Juntian is?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a faint crack of electricity flashed on the peach wood sword.

A ripple appeared in the Mirror Realm, and Jiang Jun appeared before the two.

The young Taoist priest quickly stepped forward, picked up the peach wood sword with both hands, and respectfully returned it to Jiang Jun: "Senior, your magic sword is returned to you intact!"

Jiang Jun took the sword and nodded slightly: "Fellow Daoist, you are too kind."

The old celestial master waved his hand and said to the Taoist, "You should go back to reality first. I'll take care of things here with Fellow Daoist Juntian."

The Taoist bowed deeply, his figure gradually fading away and disappearing into the eerie mist.

The old celestial master turned around, his gaze falling on Jiang Jun, and looked him up and down for a moment.

Even with the crown tassels hanging down and the black robes shrouding him, he still couldn't discern the true nature of this Daoist Juntian, and his opinion of him grew even more.

"Fellow Daoist, your method is truly miraculous. You can teleport thousands of miles in an instant with just a protective object. Even I, an old Daoist, cannot do such a thing."

Jiang Jun also looked at the old Celestial Master.

This powerful Taoist master stood there, the dragon and tiger patterns on his purple robe lifelike.

He couldn't fathom the other's depth, only feeling that he was as immeasurable as a mountain or the sea, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly: He had paved his own path and achieved six transformations; his reputation was indeed well-deserved.

"You flatter me, Celestial Master. It's nothing more than a clever trick," Jiang Jun said modestly.

The old Celestial Master stepped aside to lead the way, and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist, you have come from afar. Please follow me to the hall to have a cup of tea and rest your feet before we discuss important matters."

Jiang Jun shook his head: "I appreciate the Celestial Master's good intentions. However, the matter of the Seven Star Ancient Camphor Tree is not only a knot in the Celestial Master's Mansion's heart, but also a sharp sword hanging over the land of China."

"Since we're here, why don't we go take a look first, resolve the issues, and then come back for tea and discussion? Wouldn't that be more comfortable?"

Upon hearing this, the old Celestial Master stroked his beard and smiled: "Fellow Daoist, you speak so frankly; I was being too attached to appearances. In that case, please follow me."

The old celestial master led Jiang Jun through several palaces and around a dilapidated stele pavilion.

Along the way, the temples and monasteries were deserted, not a single Taoist priest in sight, clearly indicating that the place had been temporarily cleared out. The Celestial Master did not wish for too many people to know about today's events.

Before long, the two arrived at a plateau halfway up the mountain.

Seven enormous ancient camphor trees stand there, arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper.

These seven ancient trees are nearly a thousand years old, with cracked bark and deep furrows. Each trunk is very thick, and it would take three or five people to encircle it.

Strangely, the tree trunk was embedded with the remains of countless Taoist priests: they were not hanging on the tree, but had grown into it while still alive.

Some of them showed only half their heads, with dark eye sockets and half-open mouths, as if they were calling out silently.

Some stretched out a hand, their knuckles gripping the bark tightly, as if trying to break free.

Some had half their bodies exposed, their ribs clearly visible, and their chest cavities filled with tree roots.

On the trunks of the seven ancient trees, the shapes of human faces emerge, with foreheads, brow bones, noses, and lips, the lines thick yet faintly discernible.

The expressions on those faces were all different; some were in pain, some were angry, some were desperate, and some had a slight upturn at the corners of their mouths, as if they were grinning maliciously.

Two stone statues stand guard on either side of the Seven Star Ancient Camphor Tree.

On the left is a green dragon, made of dark green stone, with its body coiled around a pillar, its head held high, and a green pearl in its mouth, emitting a faint green halo.

The clear, blue light, like a spring, carried the vitality of plants and trees, enveloping the three strange trees on the left.

On the right is a red tiger, its entire body crimson, its eyes wide open, its front paws on the ground, poised to pounce, and a ball of crimson flame in its mouth.

The blazing firelight suppressed the four eerie trees on the right.

The two stone statues, exuding a righteous and majestic aura, resonated with each other, forming a profound array that firmly suppressed the seven bizarre ancient trees.

These are two divine artifacts of the Radiant Sun level!

Jiang Jun's gaze faltered slightly, thinking to himself: "As expected of the ancestral lineage of the Daoist sect, this is truly extraordinary."

The old celestial master stood with his hands behind his back on the edge of the terrace, gazing at the seven ancient trees with a complex expression.

"Those people in the tree were all disciples who perished along with the Celestial Master's Mansion back then. They coexist with the ancient camphor tree and are inseparable from it."

Jiang Jun observed silently for a moment, then said bluntly, "My purification power is only effective against strange plants; these Taoist priests are beyond saving."

The old celestial master was silent for a moment, then lowered his voice: "Dust to dust, ashes to ashes. The man is gone, and these remains should be laid to rest—"

Jiang Jun said no more.

He took a few steps forward, carefully examined the seven ancient trees, and then turned around after a moment: "Master, let me give it a try first."

"However, these few strange trees possess a powerful and deeply ingrained eerie aura; it will likely take a considerable amount of time to cultivate them."

The old master asked, "Is there anything I can do?"

"Not for now," Jiang Jun shook his head. "Just please, Celestial Master, open a passage for me to enter."

The old master didn't say much, but raised his hand to form a hand seal, and golden light shone between his fingers.

The Azure Dragon Stone shimmered with a faint blue light, and the flames of the Crimson Tiger Stone dimmed slightly, leaving a narrow gap in the middle.

Jiang Jun stepped inside.

The seven ancient trees trembled simultaneously.

The remains embedded in the tree trunk creaked and twisted, and suddenly, eerie green flames lit up in their dark eye sockets.

The branches lashed wildly, and grayish-white, fluffy substances, like tentacles, swirled toward Jiang Jun.

The human face on the tree trunk opened its mouth and let out a silent roar. There was no sound, but the resentment surged like a tide, impacting Jiang Jun's sea of ​​consciousness.

A flash of clear light appeared around Jiang Jun, and the power of "Unforbidden Ghosts" descended.

Those branches, will-o'-the-wisps, and resentments instantly lost their target.

They swept around frantically, like a pack of blindfolded trapped beasts. The tree trunks trembled violently, and the bluestone ground cracked open with spiderweb-like fissures.

The old Celestial Master, witnessing this scene, couldn't help but exclaim, "What a magnificent 'Guilt-Free'! Back in the ghost realm of western Sichuan, it was this very thing that blocked that great ghost. Seeing it with my own eyes today, it truly lives up to its reputation."

Ignoring the ancient tree's madness, Jiang Jun sat down cross-legged in the open space in the center.

Once he was seated, the old celestial master activated the two stone statues, and the divine power of wood and fire attributes suddenly erupted, suppressing the seven strange trees and the strange faces within them once again.

Jiang Jun nodded slightly to him, and then pushed the "Five-Colored Stone" visualization diagram to its limit.

Five-colored rays of light emanated from between his eyebrows, swirling into a rosy glow that rose up and transformed into a halo behind his head.

He pondered for a moment, his lips moved slightly, and he began to recite the "Qingjing Jing" (Classic of Purity and Tranquility). His voice was not loud, but it echoed clearly on the platform.

"The Great Dao is formless, yet it gives birth to heaven and earth; the Great Dao is without emotion, yet it governs the sun and moon; the Great Dao is nameless, yet it nurtures all things—"

Reciting scriptures has no direct effect on purifying evil plants.

But Jiang Jun thought to himself that the Celestial Master was a high-ranking Taoist master. If his assistance could demonstrate some Taoist qualities, the Taoist method of suppressing objects would be more readily accepted within the Taoist community in the future.

We are all of the same Chinese lineage, and it's always good to have more kinship.

The old celestial master nodded slightly as he listened to the steady chanting of the scriptures.

Although this Daoist Juntian had embarked on a different path, seemingly a folk lineage, he was still rooted in the Daoist tradition, which made him feel a sense of closeness to him.

As Jiang Jun activated the "Five-Colored Stone," five-colored light spread among the seven strange trees, making them even more frenzied.

Jiang Jun remained motionless, continuing to chant scriptures and fully activating the purifying fluctuations of the "Five-Colored Stone".

The five-colored light spread out in circles like ripples, seeping into the strange tree and causing the strange energy to rebound, resulting in a stalemate between the two sides.

Within his sea of ​​consciousness, the "Lotus of Creation" slowly rotated and then manifested in front of Jiang Jun, casting a clear light that enveloped Jiang Jun and the seven strange trees.

In the eerie gray mist, Jiang Jun sat upright under the tree, his appearance solemn and dignified, truly resembling a celestial being.

The old Celestial Master watched from afar, secretly praising him. He didn't utter another word, but simply stood quietly to the side, protecting Jiang Jun.

*

In the shallow depths of the Abyss, a secluded space, it has gradually merged with the Mirror World of Blue Star since some unknown time.

In the center of the space, more than a hundred bluish-gray light spots floated, slowly moving and constantly colliding with each other.

They flickered on and off, like murky eyes or stars falling into an abyss. Each flash brought an invisible tremor that impacted the surrounding barriers.

Several small cracks have appeared on the barrier.

From a crack above, a jet-black tree root stretched out, suspended in mid-air, its end wriggling slightly and constantly oozing a strange grayish-white mist.

One of the points of light entered the eerie mist, and then its ghostly light flickered, transforming into a strange rhythm.

Other points of light quickly surged in, colliding with each other in the eerie mist, as if locked in a life-or-death struggle, and soon more than half of them perished.

The fallen points of light transformed into a hazy, eerie torrent, washing over the confined space and causing the cracks to widen continuously.

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