Under One Person: I Have a Billion Taoist Gods Within Me

After the rain, the fields are filled with the fresh scent of earth and grass, the distant mountains are washed clean, and the sky is a clear blue.

Li Yuan left the village and embarked on the official road to Xiangchu.

Just now, I brought rain to help the people and happened to meet Zhou Sheng. Both events were like stones thrown into water.

Although the ripples have subsided temporarily, their aftershocks have already quietly spread, merging into his predetermined itinerary and far-reaching plans.

He walked with composure, his moon-white Taoist robe remaining spotless on the drying road.

But in his mind, he was quietly making calculations.

Zhou Shengxin was simple and honest, with exceptionally high comprehension, and was particularly obsessed with divination and the principles of the I Ching.

Today's brief meeting and few words have already planted a deeper understanding of "opportunity" in the other person's heart and forged a good connection.

This connection now seems faint.

But then came the storm that swept through the world of supernatural beings in the year of Jia Shen.

When the secret of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley is revealed, when the eight forces that shake the rules appear in the world.

This seemingly random "piece" may play a subtle yet crucial role at a critical moment.

He did not intend to manipulate Zhou Sheng's fate.

It's simply a matter of placing a lamp, perhaps one that will be seen, at a crossroads that might lead to a dead end.

If Zhou Sheng is ever confused and faced with a choice in the future, may he be able to gain more clarity and less stubbornness because of today's opportunity.

Even his understanding of "Feng Hou Qi Men" is less about the perverse and domineering "theft" and more about the "application" that follows nature.

That would be the greatest good.

This is also in preparation for the future catastrophe involving the Eight Extraordinary Skills and affecting countless lives.

A "casual move" made in anticipation of a rainy day.

As for the Lu family banquet, that was a well-known event, a matter of fate.

The world's young talents, the attitudes of various forces, and even some hidden conflicts will all be revealed there.

He needs to see it with his own eyes and feel it firsthand.

During his journey, Li Yuan did not deliberately rush.

Or stop and watch the farmers draw water to irrigate the fields, and see the new seedlings stretch out with vitality after the rain;

Or they could rest at a roadside teahouse, listening to the idle chatter of merchants and travelers from the north and south, gleaning snippets of information about the current situation and the movements of strange people from various places;

Or, in the wilderness, find a quiet place and practice your breathing exercises.

In the inner palace of Daluo, the phantom images of myriad gods float and interact endlessly with the heavens and stars.

Li Yuan's cultivation and understanding of the "Dao" grew silently, like a stream flowing into the sea, through his daily walking and quiet contemplation.

This day.

He traveled to a treacherous place called "Yesanpo".

This area is characterized by high mountains and dense forests, and has historically been frequented by bandits and outlaws.

Li Yuan was highly skilled and daring, so he was not afraid of these things and simply continued along the mountain path.

Sure enough, they arrived at a narrow pass.

Suddenly, five or six burly men wielding knives, spears, and clubs jumped out of the woods, each with a fierce look on their faces, and blocked the way.

"Hey! You Taoist priest, leave your money and belongings, or I'll spare your life!"

The leader, a one-eyed burly man, shouted sternly.

Li Yuan stopped and calmly swept his gaze over the group.

These people don't exude a strong aura of menace; they are mostly brutes who only know basic martial arts and are forced to take risks to make a living.

They are not comparable to those bandits who have achieved great success in the world of supernatural beings.

He had no intention of hurting anyone, nor did he want to cause any more trouble.

"May the Heavenly Venerable grant boundless blessings." Li Yuan bowed.

"I am a wandering Taoist, with nothing of value but a few scrolls of scriptures and some loose silver coins."

"If any of you need anything, please take it."

As he spoke, he began to remove the blue cloth wrapping from his shoulder.

The one-eyed giant was taken aback by his decisiveness.

A thin, short man beside him, however, had sharp eyes and stared at the jade hairpin in Li Yuan's hair. He whispered:

"Brother, that jade hairpin in that Taoist priest's hair must be a treasure..."

Upon hearing this, the one-eyed giant's eyes lit up with greed:

"Taoist priest, please leave the jade hairpin behind too!"

Li Yuan shook his head slightly.

Money can be given away, but this jade hairpin was a gift from my master; how can I give it to a thief?

He said no more, but simply raised his eyes and looked at the one-eyed giant.

His eyes remained gentle, but in the instant their gazes met...

The one-eyed giant trembled violently!

He felt that the Taoist's eyes suddenly became incredibly deep, like two ancient wells reflecting his own hideous and ugly heart.

There was also a cold and vast majesty that pressed down like a towering mountain and a giant boulder!

It wasn't murderous intent, but it was even more chilling than murderous intent.

It was as if all my evil thoughts, cowardice, and bluffing were exposed under those eyes, becoming laughable and insignificant.

"You...you..."

Sweat beaded on the one-eyed man's forehead, his hand gripping the knife trembled slightly, and he involuntarily took a half-step back.

The other bandits, seeing this, were puzzled, but seeing their leader like this, their momentum also diminished.

Li Yuan sighed softly, his voice not loud, but clearly heard by everyone:

"The sea of ​​suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore."

"To murder for money is not the right path; it only increases one's karmic burden and brings disaster upon oneself and one's descendants."

"The daylight is just right today, why not go home to farm, or find a legitimate job to make a living and live a peaceful life?"

The words fell.

He stopped looking at the people and walked straight ahead.

His steps remained calm, as if he were not facing any ferocious bandits.

Instead, it was an empty, flat road.

The bandits watched him approach, and the one-eyed giant tried to raise his knife several times.

But he felt as if his arm weighed a thousand pounds, and a chill ran through his heart. No one dared to actually make a move to stop him.

Li Yuan walked through them calmly, the hem of his moon-white Taoist robe even brushing against the stiff tip of a bandit's knife.

Li Yuan's figure disappeared at the bend in the mountain road on the other side of the pass.

That invisible pressure suddenly disappeared.

The bandits looked at each other, sweating profusely, speechless for a long time.

"B-Big Brother...that Taoist priest...is strange!" the skinny man stammered.

The one-eyed giant wiped the sweat from his brow, staring with lingering fear in the direction where Li Yuan had disappeared, and muttered:

"It's not evil...it's...it's truly righteous!"

"Back in the day, when I stole incense money from the temple, I wasn't this panicked even when the old monk glared at me..."

"Let's get out of here! We can't stay here!"

The bandits, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, hurriedly packed up their weapons and scattered like birds and beasts, never to be seen again in that place.

Local legend has it that a passing sage, with a single word, dispersed the bandits who had been entrenched in the mountains for many years, thus ensuring peace for the region.

That's a story for later, so let's leave it at that for now.

Li Yuan didn't care about this.

With his current level of cultivation, he naturally doesn't need to use spells or supernatural powers to deal with such mortal scoundrels.

A mere wisp of divine pressure, a single admonition that speaks directly to the heart, is enough to deter the wicked and guide them toward good.

This is also a form of spiritual practice, a realization of the power of "education".

......

Several days later, Li Yuan had entered the Xiangchu region.

We were not far from where the Lu family's grand banquet was being held.

The scenery along the way gradually changed, the water network became denser, the population grew, and the accents of the people spoke took on a soft and gentle Chu accent.

He also began to hear more discussions about the Lu family's birthday banquet.

Not only in the world of supernatural beings, but even some well-informed ordinary wealthy merchants and gentry had heard of it.

This demonstrates the profound influence of the Lu family in this area.

That evening, he arrived at a large town on the shore of Dongting Lake called "Yueyang Post Station".

The town is quite prosperous due to its connection with the river and land ports.

Li Yuan found a quiet inn by the lake and settled in. Opening the window, he could see the vast expanse of Dongting Lake.

The setting sun cast a golden-red glow on the water, while the distant Junshan Mountain appeared as dark as ink, creating a magnificent scene.

He was gazing out the window, his mind seemingly in harmony with the vast expanse of water.

Inside the interior, there seemed to be a divine tablet that controlled rivers, lakes, and seas, its light shimmering gently.

Suddenly, a commotion arose downstairs from the inn, mixed with a few suppressed gasps and the sound of objects colliding.

With a slight movement of his divine sense, Li Yuan had already "heard" the commotion downstairs.

This was not an ordinary dispute, but rather a confrontation between several powerful auras.

One of the auras was cold and eerie, carrying a clear sense of malevolence.

The others, though righteous and awe-inspiring, appeared somewhat anxious and hesitant.

"Have the disciples of the Xiangxi corpse-driving lineage encountered trouble?"

"The opponent is..."

Li Yuan's mind shifted slightly, and he roughly understood.

This place is close to western Hunan, so it's not unusual to encounter corpse drivers.

But that chilling aura was not that of an ordinary zombie or a wandering ghost; it seemed more like...

An evil entity that has been deliberately cultivated and manipulated.

He didn't want to meddle, but he sensed a hint of violence and bloodshed hidden in the evil aura, which was clearly harmful.

Moreover, although the few disciples who drove the corpses tried their best to resist, they were already struggling to keep up.

Defeat is only a matter of time, and when that happens, my life may be in danger.

"Well, since we've met, it's all fate."

Li Yuan put down his teacup, stood up, and slowly walked down the stairs.

In the inn's lobby, the tables and chairs were in disarray, and the guests had long since disappeared.

In the arena, three young men dressed in short blue jackets with copper bells and talisman bags tied around their waists formed a triangular formation.

He brandished his peach wood sword, shook his copper bells rapidly, and chanted incantations incessantly.

Before them stood a pale-faced, sunken-eyed, black-sharp-fingered "human"-shaped monster, emitting strange "hoarse" sounds.

Moving like the wind and possessing immense strength, it continuously challenged the three's formation.

The talisman used to suppress the corpse on the monster was mostly broken, indicating that it was about to go out of control.

What's more troublesome is that Li Yuan can sense an even more sinister aura lurking in the shadows outside the inn—the very person controlling this monster.

The three corpse-driving disciples were clearly still inexperienced; they were only capable of dealing with ordinary walking corpses.

But facing this clearly enhanced or even refined evil creature, he was already in grave danger, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead.

"Senior brother! The Soul-Suppressing Bell is about to break!"

"This wretched creature is incredibly powerful! It looks like someone has tampered with it!"

"Watch out for its claws! They're poisonous!"

Just as the monster slammed aside a peach wood sword and its dark claws were about to rip into a disciple's heart—

"Certainly."

A calm and clear voice rang out, neither too loud nor too soft, as if carrying some strange rhythm, instantly overwhelming all the noise.

With that shout, the ferocious monster froze instantly!

As if bound by an invisible force, it remained frozen in place, its forward-leaning claws poised, with only a faint "clucking" sound emanating from its throat.

The three corpse-driving disciples, having narrowly escaped death, were still in shock and stared in astonishment at the source of the sound.

At the top of the stairs, a young Taoist priest in a moon-white robe was slowly walking down. His face was handsome and his gaze was calm, as if he were just going downstairs for a meal.

Li Yuan didn't even glance at the frozen monster, his gaze fixed on the shadows outside the inn, and he spoke calmly:

"To refine a corpse with a living soul and drive it to do evil is against the harmony of Heaven, and such a crime deserves to be punished."

From the shadows came a sharp, unpleasant laugh: "Heh heh, where did this eccentric Taoist come from, meddling in other people's business!"

"If you know what's good for you, get lost, or we'll refine you too!"

Before he could finish speaking...

A black aura suddenly shot out from the shadows, as fast as lightning, and rushed straight at Li Yuan's face!

Within that black mist, countless pained and twisted faces wailed.

It has clearly devoured many souls and is extremely vicious.

The three disciples who drove the corpses were shocked upon seeing this: "Master, be careful! It's a soul-capturing evil spell!"

Li Yuan's expression remained unchanged; he didn't even raise his hand, but simply murmured:

"The mysteries of heaven and earth are the origin of all things."

Through countless eons of cultivation, I will prove my supernatural powers.

Within and beyond the Three Realms, only the Dao is supreme.

My body is enveloped in golden light.

It is one of the eight great divine spells of Taoism, the [Golden Light Divine Spell] for protection and subduing demons!

The incantation was then initiated.

A soft yet solid golden halo suddenly bloomed around Li Yuan.

The halo was not dazzling, but it carried a pure Taoist charm that made it impervious to all evil and repelled all wickedness.

The black mist collided with the golden light, like ice and snow meeting boiling water, producing a hissing sound.

The wailing faces were instantly purified and dissipated, and the black aura itself quickly faded and eventually disappeared without a trace.

"What?!"

The evil cultivator in the shadows let out a scream filled with shock and anger.

However, Li Yuan did not give him any chance to catch his breath or escape.

Just as the evil cultivator cried out in alarm, a clear light flashed in Li Yuan's eyes, and he pointed his fingers like a sword, pointing directly at the shadowy spot in mid-air.

"Destroy".

The single word was uttered calmly and without ripples, yet it seemed to carry the majesty of the laws of heaven and earth.

A golden bolt of lightning, extremely refined and containing the true meaning of destroying evil, burst forth from his fingertips, swift as lightning, and pierced straight into the depths of the shadows!

The lightning was not powerful; rather, it was restrained and pure, yet it made the surrounding air shudder.

"No--!!"

The evil cultivator in the shadows only had time to let out a short, shrill scream.

Lightning struck precisely where it was hiding.

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a muffled thud and a rapidly spreading, acrid, and foul odor.

The shadows receded like the tide, revealing the wall behind.

There stood a middle-aged man dressed in a black robe, as thin as a monkey, leaning against the wall, his eyes wide open, his face frozen in extreme terror and pain.

There was a small, charred hole between his eyebrows, from which no blood flowed, but his life force was completely extinguished, and all the evil aura was swept away and annihilated by that bolt of lightning.

Both body and soul perished.

Li Yuan then slowly stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the corpse of the evil cultivator, as well as a black wooden puppet covered with strange runes and a fishy-smelling leather bag that had fallen to the ground.

He gestured, and the puppet and the skin fell into his hand. Pure Yang Dao Fire ignited at his fingertips, instantly burning them to ashes and dissipating all resentment.

Then, he turned to look at the still-frozen corpse.

At this moment, the murderous light in the corpse's eyes had dissipated, leaving only a deathly silence and bewilderment.

Li Yuan recited a passage from the "Supreme Mysterious Treasure Sutra for Saving from Suffering" for the purpose of deliverance.

He then placed a calming talisman between the eyebrows.

The corpse shuddered, the eerie black aura around it completely dissipated, and it slowly closed its eyes before falling straight backward.

It was completely reduced to an ordinary corpse.

Throughout the entire process, Li Yuan remained calm, as if he had only done a trivial matter.

However, those who witnessed all of this, both inside and outside the inn, remained silent in fear.

The three corpse-driving disciples were already dumbfounded, their gazes towards Li Yuan filled with awe.

At this moment, seeing Li Yuan defuse crises, kill evil cultivators, and deliver corpses from the dead with every move, his methods were mysterious and unpredictable, and his demeanor was extraordinary and saintly.

I understand now that I've met a true master!

So they quickly stepped forward and knelt down neatly on the ground:

"Disciples of the Liu family from Xiangxi, Liu Qing, Liu Bai, and Liu Xuan, thank you, Daoist Master, for saving our lives!"

"Do you not know the name Changxian?"

"We will remember this forever and pray for the Taoist priest day and night!"

Li Yuan gently raised his right hand, and a soft force lifted the three of them up: "No need for formalities."

"I am a humble Taoist priest who has left Yuan and am merely passing through this place."

"Evil spirits harm people, commit heinous crimes, and deserve to die."

"You must be extra careful when you are transporting corpses, as ordinary talismans may not be able to deal with such deliberately crafted evil objects."

"Master Li Yuan!" The three were even more shocked upon hearing this.

They had vaguely heard rumors within their sect about a naturally born Daoist in the Mianshan Daluo Palace, but they never expected it to be the person standing before them!

No wonder he has such supernatural powers!

"So it's Li Yuan Daozi in person! This junior has been disrespectful!" The three were about to bow again.

Li Yuan waved his hand: "You can dispose of the bodies properly."

The three quickly agreed, hurriedly packed up, thanked Li Yuan profusely, and then left with the now harmless corpse.

The innkeeper and his staff then came out trembling with fear. Looking at the lobby, which had returned to calm, they revered Li Yuan even more, treating him like a god and repeatedly offering to waive all the room and meal fees.

Li Yuan politely declined, only telling them to clean up before returning to his room.

The following morning, Li Yuan checked out of the inn and continued south.

They were less than a hundred miles away from where the Lu family lived.

Meanwhile...

News of a young Taoist priest easily eliminating evil cultivators and rescuing disciples of the Liu family in western Hunan at Yueyang Post Station...

It also began to quietly circulate within a small circle of people with unusual abilities.