Qiao Zizhong returned to Mount Emei and said to Yan Kongcheng, "Xu Fu was wounded by me. He will not come to disturb Emei again."
Seeing that he was severely injured, Yan Kongcheng felt a surge of alarm and moved to treat him.
Qiao Zizhong shook his head. "Though I am wounded, I am not on the verge of death. I have also opened the Mud Pill secret depository, so you may put your mind at ease. Tonight I will stay in Emei's Medicine Master Hall; do not enter to disturb me. If nothing happens tonight, I will survive, free of future worries. If I cannot endure the night, come in after daybreak to collect my corpse. There is no need to grieve—just bury me in my previous tomb."
Yan Kongcheng listened with a pounding heart and asked, "Does Ancestor require any preparations?"
Qiao Zizhong said, "I was ambushed, and many of my magical treasures were stolen, but killing me is still no simple task. While I set up my wards, you may watch from the side."
Yan Kongcheng followed him to the Medicine Master Hall. Around the outer perimeter of the hall, Qiao Zizhong laid down Emei's forbidden art, the Nine Heavens Divine Guidance, a pinnacle formation among immortal arts. Within the next ring, he established the Celestial Phenomenon Heavens Tribulation Formation, a lethal slaughter array that simulated heaven descending tribulation.
Further inward, he arranged the Xuanming Five Ghosts Soul-Locking Technique, and inside that, the Great Zhou Heaven Divine Demon Formation, intertwined with the Reverse Lesser Zhou Heaven Sky Demon Formation.
Qiao Zizhong proceeded to place all manner of divine power restrictions and immortal talismans across the floor, walls, pillars, and vaulted dome of the Medicine Master Hall. Then he stripped off his clothes and drew immortal talismans across every inch of his body.
Yan Kongcheng watched with rising dread and asked, "Ancestor, aren't you going to heal your wounds?"
Qiao Zizhong replied, "Cultivating the Nuo arts entails a great terror. This terror, alongside a Qi Refiner's terror of entering the Dao and the terror of crossing tribulation, is known as one of the three great terrors. Tonight I must confront this terror, so I must make complete preparations."
Once his arrangements were in order, he asked Yan Kongcheng to step outside and said, "Come see me tomorrow."
That night, the surroundings fell utterly still.
A bitter wind suddenly arose outside the Medicine Master Hall. The stars darted across the sky like fireflies. When Yan Kongcheng stepped out to look, he saw two fiery-red moons suddenly emerge in the sky, drifting through the air.
The red moons rolled forward until they hovered motionless directly above the Medicine Master Hall.
Suddenly, the red moons vanished, and the stars faded from sight.
Inside the hall, Qiao Zizhong sensed something and opened his eyes. "I have laid down various formations both inside and outside the hall. Fellow Daoist, though you come prepared, if you wish to break into the arrays and approach my physical body, I fear you must pay a price."
A voice drifted from outside the hall. It was impossible to tell whether it belonged to a man or a woman; rather, it seemed to blend both voices at once, overlapping tones that asked in a tone of affectionate concern, as though speaking to an old friend, "Why are you wounded, Fellow Daoist? I recall you were always prudent, rarely clashing with anyone. Back when you and I were sowing seeds, we happened upon the same seed by accident. Even then, you chose to yield rather than fight. How could a person so cautious allow himself to get hurt?"
Qiao Zizhong remained expressionless, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. "I was simply not cautious enough. Fellow Daoist should not follow my example."
The voice fell silent for a moment before replying, "If I were to follow your example, I would drive straight in. The formations and restrictions you set up while gravely wounded could hardly stop me."
Qiao Zizhong said, "Before I die, I can inflict heavy damage upon you. Then you can follow my example, prepare a grand hall, lay an ambush, and await the arrival of someone else."
The voice fell quiet once more, then sighed. "Perhaps I am merely lonely and wished to chat with a fellow Daoist, bearing no ill will whatsoever."
Qiao Zizhong sneered in silence.
The voice outside laughed. "Could it be that you value Emei's new sect master so much that you were wounded on his account?"
Qiao Zizhong's expression changed sharply. He started to rise, but catching himself, he slowly sat back down.
The voice outside said, "Perhaps I ought to invite this little fellow Daoist over."
Qiao Zizhong said, "Numerous ancestral patriarchs of my Emei ascended to the heavens. In the cataclysm three thousand years ago, they preserved this single seedling of Emei. If you dare lay a finger on him, I do not know what fate awaits you. But on this day next year, I shall sweep your grave."
The voice outside fell silent, making no sound for a long time.
Qiao Zizhong remained secretly on guard, daring not slacken in the slightest. Thus the hours passed until dawn broke. The sun rose, and light shone into the Medicine Master Hall. Outside, a faint sigh echoed softly, gradually drifting away into the distance.
Even so, Qiao Zizhong did not drop his guard, continuing his vigilant vigil. After the span of a cup of tea, sunlight once again spilled into the hall.
Suddenly, the "sun" outside extinguished. The voice chuckled, "A lifetime of caution, Fellow Daoist. I am truly impressed."
The voice faded away.
Qiao Zizhong waited a moment longer before finally relaxing.
He pushed open the doors of the Medicine Master Hall. The true sun was just beginning to rise, casting light over pure white mist that coiled around Mount Emei's peaks, the Golden Summit emerging first into the glow.
Feeling as though he had been granted new life, Qiao Zizhong let out a long breath. "I survived at last."
***
Yunmeng Marsh, the Fusang tree.
Dawn was just breaking, and the air had turned somewhat chilly. The flames on the aged Golden Crow gradually grew dim, so it spread its wings and flapped them vigorously, stoking its fiery aura.
With a whoosh, it opened its beak and exhaled raging divine fire, setting the Fusang tree ablaze.
Ever since it settled on the tree, the divine tree had flourished all the more, tempered by its divine flames from time to time.
Xu Ying and the large bell walked over amidst the cool morning mist. The Shang folk had already begun their daily toil; many Qi Refiners were starting their morning exercises, while others prepared spears, fishing nets, and hunting gear.
"Ah Ying!"
Yuan Qi slithered forward and greeted him. "Ancestor Chanchan has already erased the spiritual imprints on those treasures. Her Ladyship says she will only take a thirty percent cut."
Xu Ying nodded. "Taking thirty percent to launder the stolen goods clean is fair enough. Where is Chanchan?"
"Over there, planning to head out fishing."
Xu Ying was puzzled. Zhu Chanchan never woke up early without a profit in sight—why would she volunteer to help the Shang folk fish?
"Ah-ba, ah-ba," Zhu Chanchan said woodenly, turning back from among the crowd.
Xu Ying's face darkened. "Has Master Grass grown addicted to this game?"
He hastily took out a leaf of the immortal medicine. The purple immortal plant immediately abandoned Zhu Chanchan and flew over with excitement, landing on Xu Ying's shoulder.
Yuan Qi lodged a complaint: "Master Grass controlled me yesterday, too! I was planning to go to Emei to look for you, but after it took over, I—"
Xu Ying looked blank and muttered, "Ah-ba, ah-ba?"
A chill ran down Yuan Qi's spine, and he dared not speak another word. The large bell shouted, "Damn weed, you're dead! You even dare touch Ah Ying! I'm going to tell Lord Jin!"
Controlling Xu Ying, the purple immortal plant snatched back its leaf, then tilted its head and counted: four leaves in total. It was thoroughly delighted.
Awakened by the large bell, Jin Buyi immediately lowered its long neck, bringing its avian head in front of the controlled Xu Ying. Looking fierce, it bellowed, "Weed, do you know how formidable Lord Jin is? Release the young master at once, or else Lord Jin will... ah-ba?"
With a purple plant perched on its head, Jin Buyi lifted its head in bewilderment, looking left and right, and mumbled, "Ah-ba, ah-ba?"
Yuan Qi and the large bell were terrified, trembling together as they stared at the purple immortal plant.
Seeing this, Xu Ying shouted, "Master Grass, let Lord Jin go! Look what I have in my hand!"
He reached out to retrieve the final leaf of the immortal medicine, only to grab empty air. He wondered in confusion, "Strange, where did my leaf go? It was clearly here just a moment ago!"
He had no idea whatsoever that he had just been possessed by the purple immortal plant!
Zhu Chanchan came to her senses as well. Seeing his state, she panicked. "Haojing hasn't been forged yet! Since you're fine, I'm heading back to Haojing first! Grand Preceptor Jiang is still waiting for me!"
Xu Ying called out hurriedly, "Chanchan, who knows when the Son of Heaven of Zhou will return? Be careful he doesn't chop off your head!"
Zhu Chanchan scurried to his side and whispered, "That grave-weed is an ill omen! I've been dazed and muddled these past few days, clearheaded one moment and confused the next, all because it tampered with me! As long as Haojing isn't completed, I won't lose my life. Don't worry, I won't let Haojing ever be finished! Farewell, farewell!"
She invoked Feilai Peak and flew off in a frantic rush, but suddenly zipped back and shouted, "I've already taken my thirty percent cut! Next time you have a deal like this, remember to call me! If the haul is big enough, I'll give you a discount!"
Xu Ying watched her vanish into the distance, thinking, "Master Grass is truly something, scaring the girl away. Still, there is genuine warmth in the world; Master Grass controls everyone else, but never me. Ours is a life-and-death bond!"
Meanwhile, the purple immortal plant was controlling Jin Buyi to fly back and forth, spewing fire everywhere. Watching for an opening, Xu Ying seized the head of the purple plant and yanked it out of Jin Buyi's body.
Furious, the immortal plant turned on him, and man and weed engaged in an earth-shattering brawl.
Xu Ying's nose was bloodied, so he grabbed the purple plant by its neck and drove his knee hard into the joint where its stems met its roots, sending the plant rolling across the ground in agony.
Watching this, Yuan Qi and the large bell shuddered.
The purple immortal plant behaved itself for a while. Yet Xu Ying, Yuan Qi, and the others soon noticed it quietly practicing knee strikes against rocks, which left them all feeling a bit chilled.
"Ah Ying, maybe you should apologize," Yuan Qi advised.
"Yes, yes!" the bell chimed in.
Xu Ying sneered. "I will never yield to it!"
In the end, Xu Ying decided to yield a little anyway. He apologized to the purple immortal plant, saying, "We're all friends. I shouldn't have used such dirty tactics against you. I hope you can forgive me."
The purple immortal plant was rather magnanimous and readily pardoned him.
Xu Ying let out a sigh of relief. Calming his mind, he polished his Golden Core and Dao methods, honed his martial arts, and imparted what he had learned and comprehended to the Shang folk.
Yuan Qi also focused his mind, earnestly studying and contemplating the Golden Coffer Supreme Immortal Scripture. He thought to himself, "As long as I master the Great Dao of the Golden Core, I will be one step closer to raising my status!"
He harbored grand ambitions: "Though I can't do anything about Master Grass or Lord Jin, I can certainly handle that broken bell! Sooner or later, it will be begging Seventh Master for mercy!"
When he was not teaching, Xu Ying took out the magical treasures plundered from Qiao Zizhong's tomb and refined them meticulously.
He was preparing for his journey to the Netherworld.
Going to the Netherworld this time was to capture Granny Meng. Granny Meng had lived for far too long and possessed unfathomable power; he had to make complete preparations for any unforeseen circumstances.
From their split of the spoils, Chanchan had claimed thirty percent. Among the items, she took the pavilion adorned with four bells that stabilized earth, water, wind, and fire, as well as the gold bricks inscribed with the Dao manifestations of mountains and rivers, counting them as her share.
Xu Ying was left with twenty-four Mountain-River Bright Moon Pearls, which formed a complete set of magical treasures. While refining them, he discovered that this set was extraordinarily formidable. The might of each individual pearl seemed hardly inferior to Lord Bell!
When combined, the twenty-four pearls formed a top-tier immortal formation!
"Patriarch Qingshuang is truly amazing," Xu Ying marveled, shaking his head with inexplicable gratitude. "The treasures he refined for me are just too good."
Aside from these, there were Dao platforms, water pavilions, covered bridges, wave-spanning bridges, waterfalls, and tomb-guarding beasts, all of which were remarkably powerful. Yet what Xu Ying valued most was the mural painted by Mad Martial Uncle before his death.
Mad Martial Uncle had attained profound enlightenment before his passing, pouring his insights and yearning for the Immortal Realm into that painting, giving it unfathomable, miraculous subtleties!
However, the painting was not yet a magical treasure. Xu Ying needed to refine it into one to unleash its full power.
He was extremely cautious during the refinement, terrified that his own Dao methods might taint the treasure and ruin the painting's Dao charm.
It took him more than ten days to finish refining it. It was no longer a slab of stone wall, but a painting that could be rolled and unrolled at will.
Xu Ying then took the painting to be mounted into a scroll. He had the large bell stamp a bell-shaped imprint in the blank space, let Yuan Qi add a serpent imprint, and finally had Jin Buyi press a Golden Crow imprint onto it before he was satisfied.
"Since this immortal Dao painting embodies Emei's Mad Martial Uncle, let us call it the Mad Demon Scroll," Xu Ying suggested.
Yuan Qi hurried to say, "Ah Ying, why not call it the Dao Transformation Scroll? It signifies the immortal painting manifested when Mad Martial Uncle comprehended the Dao before his passing. What do you think?"
Xu Ying said amiably, "Seventh Master is cultured indeed, far superior to me. Master Grass, you should spend more time with Seventh Master and learn from him."
The purple immortal plant burrowed into Yuan Qi's Realm of Xiyi. From then on, Yuan Qi frequently muttered "ah-ba, ah-ba," often drifting in a muddled stupor.
Two days later, Xu Ying was fully prepared. Many Qi Refiners among the Shang folk came to offer sacrifices to Jin Buyi, providing it with immortal medicines of the six secret depositories, granting the bird a rare period of clear-headedness.
With everything ready, Xu Ying set off immediately for the Netherworld's Wangxiang Platform.
He knew little about the Nai River Bridge. The last time he crossed it, he had passed through Wangxiang Platform and received guidance from Yuan Tiangang, which allowed him to find the Nai River Bridge and leave the Netherworld.
This time, Xu Ying brought Jin Buyi, Yuan Qi, and the large bell back to Lingling, retracing their former path. Both Xu Ying and Yuan Qi felt deeply nostalgic.
Xu Ying especially so, for it was at Wangxiang Platform that he had seen his true home, Xujiaping.
Back then, however, the large bell had been severely damaged and knocked unconscious, so it had no memory of that time.
Passing by the little Netherworld tavern outside Wangxiang Platform, Xu Ying felt a wave of familiarity and smiled. "There are old ghosts in there. The last time we came, they were inside eating people!"
Yet when he looked toward the tavern, he found it completely empty; the flesh-eating skeletons were nowhere to be seen.
Yuan Qi swiftly slithered over, inspected the place, and turned back to call out, "Ah Ying, these skeletons have been wiped out!"
Surprised, Xu Ying walked over to examine the scene. Numerous dry bones lay strewn across the tavern floor. Many bore sword marks, and around each mark were traces of scorching.
Xu Ying inspected them closely in astonishment. The sword intent lingering in the marks was exceptionally exquisite, not at all inferior to the swordsmanship of Jiulong Mountain.
"Yet this isn't the swordsmanship of Jiulong Mountain!"
Xu Ying looked up toward Wangxiang Platform, shrouded in misty gray-green fog ahead, and murmured, "It seems Xu Fu was right. Aside from Yan Kongcheng, there are quite a few Qi Refiners chosen by the immortals who survived the calamity of three thousand years ago!"
A disturbance destined to shake the Yuanshou world was quietly unfolding!
Chapter 206