Ghost Immortal

Lei Jian handed the Bagua mirror to the Four-Eyebrow Taoist and said seriously, "Your master will arrange the specific capture route and the location of the ghost. The mountain road to Black Wind Ridge is difficult to travel, and it will take at least two days to go back and forth. You should set off today and try to get back before dark the day after tomorrow."

"All the ghosts must be brought back, not one can be missing. The underworld only gave us a one-month deadline, and three days have already passed. For every one of the thirty-four ghosts that escaped, your master will have to burn ten billion ghost money to pay off the debt."

"Although your Aunt He has agreed to help, ten billion ghost money is not a small amount. The more ghosts you can find, the lighter your master's burden will be."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Sheng couldn't help but show a look of guilt on his face.

He glanced furtively at the four-browed Taoist priest and muttered under his breath, "Master, I'm sorry, it's all my fault..."

The Taoist priest with four eyebrows sighed and patted him on the shoulder: "It's good that you know you're wrong. Go and catch the ghost to make amends."

The three then left the hall and went back to the side room to pack their things.

After Qiulan finished changing Li Feng's bandages, she asked, "Are there really bandits in Black Wind Ridge? Master said they specialize in robbing merchant caravans. They probably wouldn't even look at a few poor Taoist priests like us, right?"

Li Feng shook his head: "I'm afraid they're not just robbing money. Master Uncle Lei Jian said that the Yin energy in Black Wind Ridge is unusually heavy. After the dark energy drifts over, the things in the mountain become restless. Who knows if they've changed in any way?"

Qiu Lan immediately tensed up: "You mean the Black Wind Bandits might be colluding with the Gu Master?"

"Not necessarily, but we must be careful." Li Feng checked the talismans again.

Before going to Tengteng Town, he drew five Fiery Talismans and three Exorcising Talismans.

Two immobilization talismans and one lightning explosion talisman.

Having used two Fiery Talismans, two Immobilization Talismans, and the only Thunder Explosion Talisman in the ancestral hall, I now only have three Fiery Talismans and three Exorcism Talismans left.

There are not many talismans left in stock.

However, he is now at the early stage of Qi Refining and has awakened the Netherworld Ghost Fire, making him much stronger than before he went to Tengteng Town.

Dealing with a few wandering ghosts and ordinary bandits shouldn't be a problem.

"Qiusheng, your injuries haven't healed yet. Do you want to stay at the mortuary to recuperate after this trip to Black Wind Ridge?" Master Four Eyebrows walked in from outside, carrying a bundle in his hand.

Qiu Sheng jumped up, patted his chest, and said, "Master, don't worry, this little injury is nothing! Besides, it was my fault, how can I let my junior brothers and sisters go catch ghosts for me? Even if Black Wind Ridge is a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire, I have to go. I can't hold them back anymore."

Master Si Mei was quite pleased and handed him the bundle: "This is a protective magic weapon I used when I was young, called the Golden Thread Armor. Wearing it can withstand most attacks below the Qi Refining stage. Wear it this time, and it can save your life in critical moments."

Qiu Sheng took the bundle, opened it, and sure enough, there was a soft armor woven with gold silk thread.

The soft armor felt extremely light to the touch, with gold threads as fine as hair, woven very tightly, and covered with Maoshan talismans.

Qiu Sheng's eyes lit up, and he said with a grin, "Master, I remember you and Aunt He made this golden armor together back then. You even said you would give this soft armor to Aunt He as a betrothal gift. Now you're giving it to me. Won't Aunt He be angry when she finds out?"

The four-browed Taoist priest blushed, raised his hand and slapped him on the back of the head: "Stop talking nonsense, give it back if you don't want to wear it!"

"Wear it, wear it, of course I'll wear it!" Qiu Sheng quickly hugged the golden armor to his chest and took two steps back with a grin.

"Master, don't worry, once we return from Black Wind Ridge, I'll go to He Family Village and take care of Aunt He's matter for you!"

The four-browed Taoist priest's lips twitched, and he ignored him, looking at Li Feng.

"The wandering ghosts of Black Wind Ridge were detected by Senior Brother Lei Jian using the Innate Eight Trigrams Formation. However, the Innate Eight Trigrams Formation can only lock down a general area. You will need to find the exact location yourselves later. The five senses detection techniques that I taught you are the most useful skills in the wild. Remember to make good use of them."

He then took out a talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Li Feng: "This is a communication talisman. It is used in the same way as the previous one. Black Wind Ridge is more than 30 miles away from Qingyan City, which is beyond the normal range of a communication talisman. However, I have added an extra layer of spiritual power to this talisman, so as long as you are within a radius of 50 miles, I can sense you."

Li Feng took the communication talisman and carefully tucked it into his sleeve: "Thank you, Master."

Master Simei nodded, then took out a map from his pocket and spread it out on the table.

"This is a topographical map of the Black Wind Ridge area. Black Wind Ridge covers an area of ​​several miles, with high mountains and dense forests. Only one official road passes through the foot of the mountain, and there is a tavern next to the official road, which is a place for passing merchants to rest."

He pointed to the location marked as a tavern on the map and explained:

"If you walk west along the official road, you will reach this tavern in about two hours. From the tavern, there is a small path leading north into the mountains. Once you are in the mountains, follow the markings on the map, and you will find the location of the ghost."

Qiulan leaned closer to look at the map and asked curiously, "Master, why is the name of this tavern so strange? What does 'Three Bowls and You Can't Cross the Hill' mean?"

The Taoist priest with four eyebrows laughed and said, "The owner of this tavern is surnamed Wu. He sells wine, and his homemade wine is called 'Toupingxiang'. It is famously strong. It is said that most people will get drunk after drinking three bowls and will not be able to pass through the ridge in front of the tavern. That's why it's called 'Three Bowls and You Can't Pass the Ridge'."

"Don't drink too much. Business is more important. Manager Wu is a kind man. If you need supplies, you can buy some dry food and water from him."

Upon hearing there was wine, Qiu Sheng's eyes lit up immediately: "Three bowls and you're done? I'd like to see how potent this wine is! Junior brother, let's have a drinking contest and see who passes out first!"

The Taoist priest with four eyebrows glared at him: "You better behave yourself. You're not allowed to drink a single drop of alcohol until we bring the ghost back."

Qiu Sheng pouted: "I know, Master. I'll just have a little fun with my words."

Everything was ready, and it was already 9:00 AM.

Li Feng, Qiu Sheng, and Qiu Lan changed into clean Taoist robes, carried their bundles, and left the mortuary.

Few pedestrians walk along the official road west of the city, with endless rice paddies on both sides.

As the sun rose higher, the road surface steamed with heat.

Qiu Sheng walked at the front, his steps light and quick, a stark contrast to his tense demeanor before heading to Tengteng Town.

Perhaps because he had junior brothers and sisters with him, and was wearing golden armor, he felt much more confident than before.

Qiulan walked in the middle, a copper bell hanging from her waist, and a small bundle in her hand containing a change of clothes and several packets of dry food.

Li Feng walked at the very back, unleashing his five senses to probe the surrounding atmosphere.

After about an hour, the mountains ahead gradually rose higher, and the official road entered the hilly area from the plain.

The rice paddies along the roadside have turned into overgrown wastelands, with only a few crooked trees occasionally visible, their leaves sparse and the soil barren and dry.

"Black Wind Ridge is just ahead, be careful."

Qiulan pointed to the dark mountains in the distance and said with a solemn expression.

This mountain appears to be much taller than the surrounding mountains.

The mountain is covered with dense primeval forest, and the area above the mountainside is shrouded in a hazy mist.

Even in broad daylight, the fog on the mountaintop showed no sign of dissipating; instead, it hung over the mountain like a lid, making the whole mountain look eerie.

"There is indeed yin energy in the mountains."

Li Feng frowned slightly.

His senses were far more acute than Qiu Sheng's and Qiu Lan's; he could sense the chilling aura emanating from the depths of Black Wind Ridge from several miles away.

This yin energy is different from the corpse energy in Tengteng Town; it is more mixed, containing demonic energy and malevolent energy.

It was clearly a dark, ominous aura that drifted over from the depths of the mountains and mixed with the original demonic aura of Black Wind Ridge.

Qiu Sheng took out the map given to him by the Four-Eyebrowed Taoist from his bundle, gestured a few times towards the mountains in front of him, and pointed to the wooden house that was faintly visible ahead of the official road, saying:

"The tavern marked on the map is just ahead. Let's go rest for a bit. Our legs are aching after walking for over an hour."

"Once we get to Black Wind Ridge, we should at least ask around about the situation in the mountains. If there really are tiger demons and bandits, we can be prepared."

Although Qiu Lan felt that Qiu Sheng just wanted to drink, what he said made sense.

The three quickened their pace and headed towards the tavern ahead.

The tavern was built right next to the official road, and it was a small two-story wooden building.

The wooden building is quite old; the wooden planks on the exterior walls have turned yellow and black, but it is still kept relatively clean.

A flagpole over three zhang tall stood at the entrance, with an apricot-yellow wine banner hanging on top, bearing five large characters.

"Three bowls and you're done."

The wine banner fluttered in the wind, the characters on it written in a vigorous and powerful style, not like the signboard of an ordinary restaurant, but more like the work of a great calligrapher.

Qiu Sheng looked up at the wine banner and chuckled, "Such arrogance! I'll see what kind of wine can knock me out with just three bowls!"

He strode toward the tavern, with Li Feng and Qiu Lan following behind him.

Li Feng stopped when he reached the entrance of the tavern.

He detected a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy emanating from inside the tavern.

This spiritual energy fluctuation was not strong, roughly equivalent to a nine-inch spiritual root.

Its aura was extremely pure, without any impurities, completely different from the murky tomb aura of tomb raiders.

There are cultivators in the tavern, and their cultivation levels are quite high.

Li Feng followed Qiu Sheng silently into the tavern.