Chapter 198

A lonely night; the moon looked like a fox's eye, gazing indifferently at the human world.

At that time, the Central Plains were suffering, the common people were being ravaged, and the flames of war were spread across the land of the Nine Provinces; human life was like grass, and there was no end to the panic.

Outside a ruined temple in the wilderness, a cold crow stood alone on a branch, its scarlet eyes searching for carrion in the dark night.

In these times, the one thing not lacking was corpses discarded at random; white bones lay exposed by the roadside, and with no one to collect them, they fattened the cold crows.

Under the eerie moonlight, the dilapidated temple appeared even more desolate.

This was an era where faith had withered; the high and mighty gods and Buddhas seemed unable to see the suffering and flames of war in the human world, and the wails of all living things could hardly reach the heavens.

"Hehe, the meat tickets this time are top-notch..."

Deep inside the temple, in a ruined meditation room, cold laughter rang out in the dark night.

Under the dim candlelight, a group of dark shadows huddled in the corner—men, women, and children, their eyes like those of frightened little beasts, filled with terror and helplessness.

"Not bad, not bad. These males are quite sturdy; if we sell them to the Southern Seas, they'll be top-quality laborers. We can sell one for ten silver dollars..."

A burly man with a scar on his face wore a satisfied smile, his cold gaze sweeping over the group of meat tickets, showing off the Mauser pistol tucked into his waistband intentionally or otherwise.

In these times, even temples had been reduced to strongholds for bandits and hotbeds of sin.

"Pick out the good ones among these wenches, wash them clean, let the brothers have a taste first, and then send them to Mother Bao in the city." A lewd luster shone in the scarred man's eyes.

"Don't worry, Boss. I'll pick out the two best and tenderest ones to send to your room," a monkey-like bandit beside him grinned.

Upon hearing this, the scarred man revealed a satisfied smile, then said in a low voice, "Don't let that old procuress drive the price down this time. Fifteen silver dollars each; if even one cent is missing, bring them back to me."

"Understood," the monkey-like bandit replied, catching his meaning.

"Boss, what about the few old and weak ones?" Beside him, a one-eyed man gripped the gun at his waist and looked at the meat tickets huddled in the corner.

"Send the males to the Third Master's restaurant; he's just short of meat-rice there," the scarred man said indifferently.

In these times, human life was cheaper than grass, and food was sometimes more precious than gold. When man-made disasters met natural ones, those fleeing famine and starving to death paved the roads one after another.

In some places, people were collected, and their flesh was called rice—also known as meat-rice.

"As for those old and withered ones... I reckon Mother Bao won't want them either. Drag them to the town and let those poor wretches play 'stacking the arhats'; a single cent is enough to be a man for once," the scarred man grinned.

In the town, there were plenty of old bachelors who couldn't afford a wife; for a single cent, they could line up, exert a bit of strength, and plow the fields on a woman—why not? As for those women, when they were nearly out of breath, drag them to the Third Master's restaurant; they could be utilized twice back and forth.

This haul would bring in at least several hundred silver dollars.

"What is 'stacking the arhats'?"

Just at this moment, an indifferent voice came from the corner, echoing in the cold, ruined room.

"Hm!?" The scarred man raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but look over.

Never had a "meat ticket" dared to utter a word or speak a sentence in front of him; they were all terrified to the point of paralysis.

Whoosh...

Almost at the same time, the surrounding "meat tickets" scattered, some looking toward the same direction in terror, as if afraid of being implicated, drawing a line between themselves and the speaker.

The next moment, under the dim light, a young man sat alone in the corner, appearing in everyone's line of sight.

The young man was dressed in cloth, patched, barefoot, unshaven, and unkempt, but his eyes were exceptionally bright under the flickering firelight.

"Tsk tsk, I've roamed the green woods and tied up so many meat tickets, this is the first time one has dared to speak up," the scarred man chuckled, subconsciously touching the Mauser pistol at his waist.

"You haven't answered me yet: what is 'stacking the arhats'?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the group of bandits burst into laughter. The monkey-like bandit couldn't help but say, "If you can afford the money, you can also line up behind our brothers. Stacking the arhats..."

"Kid, what's your name? Are you tired of living?" the one-eyed bandit's remaining eye shone with a murderous glint as he said coldly.

As the words fell, the young man shook his head, sitting there without getting up, his fingers moving slightly.

"Forest of myriad phenomena, all returning to dust!"

A soft whisper fell, spreading slowly like ripples in water.

Hum...

In the ruined room, a strange wind suddenly blew, extinguishing the flickering candlelight. The wind did not dissipate, swirling on the ground and carrying dust...

The three bandits stood where they were, the expressions on their faces gradually freezing as if they had been fixed in time. Their skin withered and wrinkled at a speed visible to the naked eye, like air-dried bacon, and their blood seemed to evaporate and dissipate in an instant...

Under the pale moonlight, a series of terrified gazes suddenly trembled, emitting sounds of fear.

"This poor Daoist is the Three Corpses Daoist," the young man whispered, as if answering the bandit's question from just before.

Three Corpses Daoist—compared to the memory Zhang Fan saw when he peeked at the Three Corpses Soul Pill last time, he seemed to have left Long Hu Mountain for many years now. His childishness had completely vanished, his eyes revealed the vicissitudes of time, and his every gesture already had the bearing of an expert.

"Mon... monster..."

Just at this moment, in the corner, that crowd of dark shadows finally couldn't bear the horror before them and let out trembling cries.

Bang... bang... bang...

At the same time, several gunshots rang out in another room; the firelight vanished in an instant, and the dark night returned to silence.

Immediately after, the door opened, and a large black dog, carrying a human hand in its mouth, walked in swaying.

"Hehe, soul-aspects without the scent of humans just lack a bit of flavor."

The large black dog looked up at the Three Corpses Daoist, dropped the hand, and licked the corner of its mouth.

"In these chaotic times, those people are no different from evil ghosts," the Three Corpses Daoist said indifferently.

"You all go."

As soon as the words fell, the meat tickets in the corner looked at each other, but not a single one dared to move.

"If you don't leave, it's going to eat people," the Three Corpses Daoist said casually.

As soon as the words fell, the meat tickets rushed out of the ruined room as if running to a funeral, fleeing the ruined temple; in that state, they only hated that their parents hadn't given them two more legs.

"Hm!?"

The Three Corpses Daoist caught a glimpse of three or five people in the corner who hadn't left; they were the old, weak, sick, and disabled that the bandits had spoken of—the poor wretches who were originally going to be sent to serve as meat-rice and for stacking the arhats.

"Don't... don't eat us..."

A sallow-faced, emaciated woman said tremblingly; the whites of her eyes were slightly yellow, her skin had no trace of color, and her breathing was extremely heavy.

"Born in such chaotic times, there is no difference between human and ghost."

The Three Corpses Daoist was expressionless. With a wave of his hand, those old, weak, sick, and disabled people fell one after another, and their soul-aspects landed in his palm.

Whoosh...

The Three Corpses Daoist's deep eyes had no ripples. He breathed lightly, and the soul-aspects rose like clear Qi, dissolving into his mouth and nose.

"Tsk tsk... your method of harvesting soul-aspects is becoming more and more perfect... you abandoned the Three Corpses Illuminating Fate method and started your cultivation over, yet you are still this powerful?"

The large black dog stuck out its tongue, its scarlet eyes shining with a strange brilliance.

Such chaotic times are a purgatory for humans, but a hotbed for demons.

It had relied on the Three Corpses Daoist for survival, roaming through this Yanfu Purgatory, having seen much and experienced much.

"Tribulation is the medicine for longevity... perhaps only in such chaotic times can one raise a true great demon and refine a true immortal god..." the Three Corpses Daoist murmured softly.

"Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable!"

Just at this moment, a Daoist title rang out, clear as the bright moon, rolling like flowing wind, echoing in the long, long night.

"Hm!?"

The Three Corpses Daoist raised his gaze and walked out of the ruined room with the large black dog.

In front of the desolate temple, a middle-aged Daoist priest walked over, stepping on the moonlight. His wide robes fluttered in the wind, and his leisurely gaze surpassed the bright moon, landing on the Three Corpses Daoist.

"I did not expect to meet a fellow traveler in this desolate wilderness temple," the middle-aged Daoist priest said softly, bowing with his hands together.

"Daoist, I fear you and I are not fellow travelers."

The Three Corpses Daoist said softly. In such chaotic times, where are there any fellow travelers? Just struggling in the red dust, crossing tribulations in this purgatory, walking the same path—how many are there!? "Those bandits just now truly deserved to die, but those old, weak, sick, and disabled were innocent. Why must you be so heartless, Daoist friend, and commit such wanton slaughter?" the middle-aged Daoist priest said softly, bowing.

People in the Daoist sect naturally do not preach compassion, nor do they discuss putting down the butcher's knife; if someone deserves to die, then they must die.

But innocent people should have a way to live. "Born in chaotic times, there is no such thing as innocent; sometimes death is more peaceful than living..."

"Is that so?"

The middle-aged Daoist priest's gaze narrowed slightly, landing on the large black dog beside him.

"A member of the Daoist sect colluding with demons and evil—no wonder you would have such wild words."

"Your life is a life, and its life is also a life; born of heaven and raised by heaven, where does nobility or baseness come from? Where does high or low, righteous or evil come from?" the Three Corpses Daoist said indifferently.

"Great wit!" The middle-aged Daoist priest's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but praise.

"Then... what about harvesting soul-aspects!?"

The middle-aged Daoist priest changed the subject, his narrowed gaze becoming icy and cold.

"Daoist, which mountain gate are you from? You've been following me the whole way," the Three Corpses Daoist said indifferently.

"Wu Wei demon!"

The middle-aged Daoist priest gave a light shout, his robes fluttering, and arcs of light flickered between his interlaced fingers, the sound of explosions bursting in the air.

"Five Thunders Orthodox Method!?"

Rumble...

Before the words had even faded, the middle-aged Daoist priest launched his attack, his figure leaping up to become a remnant shadow, appearing before the Three Corpses Daoist. Thunder roared, suddenly manifesting the wonder of a galloping slaughter, covering the Three Corpses Daoist's crown.

Whoosh...

Just at this moment, the Three Corpses Daoist pointed into the void, and the crushed moonlight evolved into a strange talisman. Under this talisman, his figure slowly dissipated like flowers in a mirror or the moon in water.

Bang...

The thunder missed; where the middle-aged Daoist priest stood, the ground suddenly exploded, revealing a huge, deep pit.

With such power, it was clear that this person had already achieved great success in the 【Five Thunders Orthodox Method】.

However, at this moment, his face was filled with shock—not shock that the Three Corpses Daoist could dodge his spell, but shock at the talisman just now...

"Mirror Moon Talisman, Long Hu Mountain... are you a member of the Zhang family?" The middle-aged Daoist priest's gaze trembled, looking in disbelief at the figure slowly reappearing under the moonlight.

A Wu Wei demon who harvests soul-aspects actually knows how to use the talisman arts of the Long Hu Mountain Zhang family.

The Mirror Moon Talisman is a talisman recorded in the Celestial Master's Register; without the true transmission of the Zhang family, one cannot use it.

That move of 'Wonderful Realization of Emptiness' just now had already grasped the essence of it.

"You can ask about that in your next life."

The Three Corpses Daoist stood barefoot, his gaze as deep as a ten-thousand-foot cold abyss. As a soft whisper fell, the moonlight behind him was gradually crushed, and the ground beneath his feet became scorched earth, radiating continuously toward the surroundings.

"This is... an Outer Landscape!?"

The middle-aged Daoist priest's expression changed suddenly, his trembling face revealing deep terror. He looked around and discovered that his soul-aspect had unknowingly fallen into an Outer Landscape.

The place where they stood had turned into scorched earth, with tongues of fire continuously erupting from the cracked ground, countless wronged souls wailing, and countless corpses flowing...

This place seemed to be the Netherworld, a purgatory.

"Five Prisons... you... you actually practice the Five Prisons Technique?" Deep shock and fear finally surged in the middle-aged Daoist priest's eyes.

In the Daoist sect, there is the saying of the 【Five Prisons】; it is rumored that whoever can cross the Five Prisons can feather and become an immortal.

However, crossing one prison is like killing one body; crossing five prisons is like killing five bodies.

This is a legendary Daoist technique, and it only exists in legends.

The middle-aged Daoist priest had never dreamed that the young man before him was actually refining the Five Prisons with his own body!? "Often refining this body with the Five Prisons, who is the immortal and who is the god!?"

The Three Corpses Daoist whispered in a deep voice. He walked through the scorched purgatory, a non-human alien, nameless and brilliant, his terrifying aura suppressing the firmament.

The night ended, and the Three Corpses Daoist sat in front of the ruined temple, watching the full moon set in the west.

Not far away, the Daoist priest's corpse hung on a withered tree, left for the cold crows to peck at.

Just at this moment, the large black dog walked over from the dense forest in the distance, carrying a small Daoist boy in its mouth—about seven or eight years old, with fair skin. In such chaotic times, he actually had baby fat on his face, clearly having had good meals.

"Hehe, there's another little fish."

The large black dog grinned, opened its mouth, and threw the small Daoist boy onto the ground.

"What is your name? At which mountain gate do you practice?" the Three Corpses Daoist asked.

"Hmph!" The small Daoist boy crossed his arms over his chest and let out a cold snort, turning his head away directly.

"Don't ask, he's a little mute, he can't speak," the large black dog drooled.

"Your people have been following me since Xijiang Province; there's more than just this group, right?" The Three Corpses Daoist stared at the young Daoist boy and said indifferently.

"Hmph!"

The small Daoist boy made a grunting sound and turned his head to the other side.

"Take him with us; I'd like to see exactly what kind of expert is behind this," the Three Corpses Daoist whispered in a deep voice.

"Take this little mute with us?" The large black dog wagged its tail, its eyes shining with a murderous glint, feeling somewhat sullen.

Light and shadow rotated, and the seasons changed.

One person, one dog, and one small Daoist boy traveled south, crossing mountains and provinces, walking for a full half-year.

The little mute was mocked by the large black dog the whole way and bullied the whole way. The Three Corpses Daoist stayed out of it; he had saved people and killed people, regardless of good or evil, everything following his heart—it was just his training in the red dust.

Occasionally, he would lean over to write letters and summon large birds to send them out, though he didn't know who he was writing to or who he was sending them to.

The small Daoist boy occasionally saw the Three Corpses Daoist looking toward the north, lost in thought for half a day at a time.

He tried to escape several times, but despite using all his means, he was always caught back by the Three Corpses Daoist. Just like that, running and being caught, it was like a cat playing with a mouse, adding interest to the journey.

In half a year, they had walked through half of China; in such an era, life and death seemed to have become ordinary and plain.

On this day, one person, one dog, and one small Daoist boy finally entered the territory of Jiangnan Province; another two hundred miles, and they would be in ancient Jiangning, which would later become Yujing City.

The night was deep.

Deep in the barren mountains, the Three Corpses Daoist sat cross-legged on a large blue stone. Suddenly, his brow jumped, his black hair stood on end, and his soul-aspect emerged from his spirit platform, his aura chaotic, as if suffering a great tribulation, becoming incomparably weak.

"Terrible... Three Corpses Illuminating Fate, the great tribulation is inevitable... truly terrifying, impossible to shake off..."

The large black dog grinned, its expression tense to the extreme. Its fur stood on end, its eyes shining with a murderous glint, guarding the side of the Three Corpses Daoist.

Bang...

Just at this moment, a terrifying, strange force struck, heavy and powerful, kicking it away.

The large black dog let out a miserable shriek and landed heavily. Looking up, it couldn't help but be stunned.

"The little mute!?"

"Heaven and Earth Mysterious Sect, the root of all Qi. Cultivating through ten thousand tribulations, proving my supernatural powers..."

A soft whisper rang out, a mysterious incantation vibrating through the empty mountains. The large black dog's eyes widened, unable to believe it.

For half a year, this little brat had actually endured to this point, possessing means but not using them secretly, not even uttering a single sound.

"Golden Light Incantation!?"

That little mute he had bullied the whole way, that little Daoist boy who was only seven or eight years old, had actually cast the Golden Light Incantation, one of the eight great incantations of the Daoist sect!? Under the eerie moonlight, golden divine light flowed like a rushing tide, winding around the small Daoist boy's body, making his aura become terrifyingly extraordinary.

"Little mute, you..."

"You're the mute, your whole family is mute..."

Just at this moment, the small Daoist boy began to curse. He had endured the whole way, and finally, he had seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, intending to rise with the momentum and throw his weight around.

"I'll peel off your dog skin to make a hat; this Daoist master is not called a little mute..."

"This Daoist master is called Chu Chaoran!!!"

(End of chapter)