Chapter 97

At the mouth of Wuyi Lane, in front of the elegant and ancient courtyard.

Zhang Fan looked up and saw a spoon hanging high in front of the door, tied with red silk, the handle pointing directly southwest.

"First time seeing a family hang a spoon at their door; is there any meaning to it?" Zhang Fan stopped and couldn't help but ask.

"The Wang family comes from the Baidou Sect, which worships the Big Dipper," Xiong Qianqiu explained.

The Big Dipper looks just like a spoon.

"The spoon is their family mascot," Zhang Fan couldn't help but curl his lips and say.

A strange thought suddenly arose in his heart: do the Wang family members use spoons when they eat?

"Today is the start of autumn," Xiong Ba said.

The start of autumn is the first solar term of autumn; the handle of the Big Dipper points southwest, and the sun's position has just reached 135 degrees longitude.

"I forgot if you hadn't mentioned it; should I treat you to the first cup of milk tea of autumn?" Zhang Fan teased, looking at Xiong Qianqiu.

"We who cultivate the Dao don't go in for that sort of thing," Xiong Qianqiu shook her head.

"Also, today is the start of autumn, which is the 'Day of Origin'; you need to watch your mouth, don't talk nonsense," Xiong Qianqiu reminded, looking at Zhang Fan and then at Xiong Ba.

The start of autumn, one of the "Four Starts," is the beginning of the "Five Qi," and is therefore regarded as an important "Day of Origin." On this day, the words spoken, things done, and thoughts generated will all become seeds for the future, which will one day bear fruit according to fate.

Therefore, cultivators need to watch their mouths on this day; otherwise, if they are careless, disaster will surely follow.

Ordinary people can say some relatively auspicious words, such as "Origin arises, origin arises, fortune, prosperity, longevity, and joy, good fate and good luck, start today"...

Those who see it have joy, boundless blessings!!!

Besides this, this year's start of autumn is a "Mother Autumn." As the saying goes, "Father Autumn is refreshing, Mother Autumn is fierce." The curtain for the second half of the year is slowly being drawn back; those who are physically weak should be especially careful, avoid returning late or wandering aimlessly, especially climbing mountains or crossing seas, or going into deep mountains and old forests; do not talk nonsense...

Be aware that disaster comes from the mouth; be careful, be careful!

Knock, knock, knock...

Zhang Fan knocked on the door, but there was no response for a long time.

Xiong Qianqiu glanced at it and raised her hand to press the doorbell next to it.

"..."

"Ding-dong..."

Immediately following, with a crisp prompt sound, the door lock opened.

"Are Daoist cultivators not so traditional anymore?" Zhang Fan smiled awkwardly.

"Cultivators of the Dao are 'out of the world,' not 'dead to the world'; of course, we keep pace with the times."

"Our Xiong family also has an industry for smart home equipment; if you are interested, I'll have someone go to your house later to customize a set," Xiong Qianqiu said indifferently.

"Does it cost money? My house is rented," Zhang Fan said casually.

"..."

Xiong Qianqiu was stunned for a moment, curled her lips, and really didn't know what to say.

Cultivators of the Dao need to pass a hundred barriers and a thousand trials, such as the money barrier, the labor and sickness barrier, the life and death barrier, the emotion barrier, and so on.

Zhang Fan actually has a sense of worldly vulgarity about him, unable to escape the mundane things of money.

She also couldn't figure out why such a person could cultivate to that level, determining life and death with a wave of his hand, and being able to abolish her cultivation with a single thought.

"Let's go."

Xiong Qianqiu pushed open the door and was about to enter, but paused slightly, looked at Xiong Ba, and yielded the way.

"You go in."

Today, she brought Xiong Ba to see the world, which can also be considered representing the Xiong family to make a name for himself.

From now on, his status is likely higher than that of ordinary direct disciples; in such an occasion, Xiong Qianqiu certainly cannot steal his limelight.

Moreover, now that Xiong Qianqiu's cultivation is abolished, it is indeed not suitable for her to come to the fore.

Xiong Ba also knew the stakes and immediately stepped forward.

Just as he walked into the courtyard, Zhang Fan felt a cool breeze and a faint, lingering fragrance rushing toward his face.

"Frost Descent Incense!?"

After fusing with the Fierce God, Zhang Fan's brain had gained quite a bit of knowledge and experience; as soon as he smelled the scent, the name "Frost Descent Incense" appeared in his mind. Clearly, he had used this incense before.

"The Xiong family is here."

Just then, the three young people in the courtyard stood up; the leader was naturally Wang Xuansha.

"Xiong Qianqiu?"

Wang Xuansha saw the visitor and couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, then his gaze narrowed slightly.

"Xiong Qianshan didn't come? You came instead? Why? Is he afraid?"

In the circles of the capital, everyone knows that Xiong Qianqiu's strength is even above Xiong Qianshan's. Although she is a woman, her Yinshan Daoist arts are top-tier; otherwise, she couldn't have refined her own "Ghost Sha" at this age.

"He has some matters and couldn't get away."

Xiong Qianqiu is used to seeing the world; she sat down on her own. Although her cultivation is lost, she remained calm and composed, showing the demeanor of a disciple of a great family.

"Last time, I lost to his 'Hundred Evils Smoke'; this time I was just looking to get back at him, and he couldn't get away?"

Just then, Wang Xuanfei's beautiful face revealed a cold expression, clearly holding a grudge over the failure of the last sparring session.

The so-called "Hundred Evils Smoke" is also a Daoist technique of the Yinshan Sect, belonging to an advanced version of "Irrigating Shen Yinfeng." The yin wind condenses into smoke, giving birth to a hundred evils; once it enters the body, it damages the true yang, especially for women, the damage is doubled.

In the past, Daoists of the Yinshan Sect, to prevent their tombs from being robbed, would generally cast spells to hide a mouthful of "Hundred Evils Smoke" in an extremely exquisite brocade box or pouch.

Tomb robbers would see it and surely open it happily; once opened, it would be all over.

Last time, after Wang Xuanfei went back, she vomited for three days and three nights, all black water, and even had some incontinence.

Every time she thought of it, she was both ashamed and angry, which is why there was this gathering today.

In fact, the characteristics of the Yinshan Sect's Daoist arts are just like this; once hit, all the evil diseases in the body come out.

"What kind of sparring and exchange? It turns out it's settling scores."

Zhang Fan understood and sat silently in the corner. Anyway, he was here to watch today. With Xiong Ba's current strength, it shouldn't be a problem to barely cope.

"Xiong Qianshan naturally couldn't come; I heard he just lost his younger brother."

Just then, Wang Xuanqing spoke. He stroked the feather tattoo on his wrist, his face wearing a playful smile.

"Hmm!?"

Xiong Qianqiu's beautiful brows furrowed slightly, and her cold gaze fell on Wang Xuanqing.

"How do you know?"

Xiong Qianxing's incident happened last night, and the Dao Alliance only received notification early this morning. Logically, only a very small number of people knew, and not everyone within the Xiong family knew.

"In this world, is there any wall that doesn't let the wind through?" Wang Xuanqing smiled slightly.

"The Xiong family lost someone; such a big matter, I'm afraid it won't be long before the whole capital knows."

"Alright."

Just then, Wang Xuansha spoke: "Qianqiu, we can be considered old acquaintances. Since something happened to your family, I think today let's..."

"No need."

Xiong Qianqiu knew what the other party meant, but raised her hand to interrupt: "My Xiong family's affairs will be handled by ourselves; others are irrelevant."

"Moreover, today is not up to me to decide."

Once these words were spoken, the expressions of the three Wang family members changed slightly, and their suspicious gazes swept back and forth between Xiong Ba and Zhang Fan.

For them, both were new faces.

You must know that Xiong Qianqiu is already an outstanding young person of the Xiong family; if even she says it's not up to her, could it be these two new faces?

"His name is Xiong Ba, the future helmsman of the Xiong family."

As soon as the words fell, let alone the Wang family, even Zhang Fan couldn't help but reveal a strange expression.

This is putting Xiong Ba on the fire to roast. It seems that as long as one is human, one has selfishness. Even if Xiong Qianqiu appears close and kind, from the bottom of her heart, she seems to still have some grudges about Xiong Ba's rise.

"Xiong Ba? Never heard of him; he isn't even a direct disciple of the Xiong family."

Wang Xuansha revealed a suspicious look.

The direct disciples of the Xiong family are all of the 'Qian' generation; this Xiong Ba doesn't even have a generation name, clearly a side branch.

Xiong Qianqiu actually calls him the future helmsman of the Xiong family?

"Xiong Qianqiu, what nonsense are you talking about? Just him?" Wang Xuanqing sneered.

"Didn't you just say there is no wall that doesn't let the wind through? Do you think he is a small character?" Xiong Qianqiu sneered.

"Today, he stands here representing the Xiong family."

"Good!"

As soon as the words fell, Wang Xuanqing's eyes lit up fiercely. He picked up the teacup on the table, lifted the teapot, and poured a cup of clear tea; the boiling water was steaming, white vapor rolling...

"Since that is the case, I will offer you a cup of tea."

As soon as the words fell, Wang Xuanqing flicked his wrist, and the cup of tea flew across, not a single drop of water spilling in the air.

Xiong Ba raised his hand and took it, the scalding sensation coming from his fingertips. The so-called "Gods are offered incense, people are offered tea"—this is a unique way of offering tea in the Daoist sects. The boiling water is nearly 100 degrees; if someone offers you tea, you must drink it, otherwise, you are not giving the host face and will lose your own dignity for nothing.

"Good, good."

Xiong Ba naturally knew the rules. He nodded, his tongue stirring in his mouth—this is the "Red Dragon Rolling Water"—the generated saliva hidden under his tongue. At the same time, he circulated his true yang, transforming yin into sha, and condensing it into the saliva under his tongue.

Immediately, that mouthful of saliva became as cold as frost. If he spat it out now, it would be rolling cold air.

Xiong Ba tilted his head and poured the scalding tea into his mouth. Immediately, the saliva hidden under his tongue surged up, cold and heat alternating, instantly neutralizing the scalding sensation.

His throat moved, making a "gulp" sound, and the tea turned into a single line, entering his abdomen.

"Good tea."

Xiong Ba put down the teacup without his face flushing or his heart racing.

"Red Dragon Rolling Water, transforming yin into sha." Wang Xuansha's gaze narrowed slightly, he took a deep look at Xiong Ba, and then nodded: "Good kung fu."

"This little bit of kung fu is not qualified to inherit the Xiong family."

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Wang Xuanqing stroked the feather tattoo on his wrist, a flash of coldness in his eyes.

Last night, he and Wang Xuanmiao joined forces to seize the primordial spirits of Xiong Qianxing and Ming Chenxuan, swallowing them on the spot.

Today, how could he let the Xiong family members steal the limelight again.

Hum...

Within ten steps, Wang Xuanqing formed a seal with both hands, his left hand pinching the formula, hooking the first joint of the fourth finger, pointing straight to the sky.

"Summoning Star Seal!" Zhang Fan's gaze narrowed.

This is a type of Daoist seal; anyone who worships the stars or practices the Star Lord method must cultivate this seal.

If one wants to summon star energy, one just needs to pinch this formula toward the sector where the star is located.

"Transforming Desire!"

Just then, a blood line appeared on Wang Xuanqing's middle finger. At this moment, if one observed with a primordial spirit, one could see a layer of bright yellow starlight flickering above his head.

Under the illumination of that bright yellow starlight, the blood line on his fingertip shot out, with lightning speed, hitting Xiong Ba right between the eyebrows.

At such a close distance, Xiong Ba couldn't react at all. As soon as the blood line entered his body, his face turned bright red, his body trembled violently, and he let out a low roar.

His whole body was congested with blood, the veins on his raised neck exposed, his eyes bloodshot, like a wild beast, emitting an uncontrollable desire.

"Star-Ward Technique!?"

With Zhang Fan's current insight, he saw the clue at a glance.

Daoist techniques generally have four methods for dealing with disasters: prayer, warding, dispelling, and avoidance. In the Daoist sects, these four types of techniques are called the "Four Methods of Disaster Control."

Back then, Zhuge Liang died at Wuzhang Plains; before that, he wanted to borrow the "Star-Ward Technique" to sacrifice to the Big Dipper to extend his life.

There is a prerequisite for extending life with this technique: "Life not exceeding five cycles." One cycle is 12 years, and five cycles is 60 years, a full cycle. That is to say, people under 60 who have had their lives shortened due to some reason can use the Star-Ward Technique to extend their lives; it doesn't work for those over 60.

Besides this, "warding" itself has the meaning of blocking back, which is to bounce back and block all the bad things in oneself.

For cultivators, the worst things are thoughts and desires.

The sea of desire is boundless; once one sinks into it, it is an eternal disaster.

"He worships the Greedy Wolf Star!?" Zhang Fan said solemnly.

"You have good insight," Xiong Qianqiu couldn't help but look at Zhang Fan more.

Human temperament and destiny are influenced by celestial phenomena and stars.

Among the Big Dipper, the Greedy Wolf Star governs talent and versatility, but also governs desire.

Therefore, in Purple Micro Numerology, if the Greedy Wolf Star falls into the Palace of Fortune and Virtue, this person's desire must be very strong, even strong enough to reach the point of addiction.

Wang Xuanqing's Daoist technique is to bounce his own desires back and add them to others, especially cultivators; once desires arise, the consciousness becomes restless, as if entering a demonic trial.

This power is very similar to Wen He's Divine Sha technique; both borrow celestial stars to turn good into evil.

Roar...

At this time, Xiong Ba's eyes were already blurred, his whole body emitting the wildness of desire, his neck so red it could almost bleed.

"Nothing more than this," beside him, Wang Xuanfei sneered.

"Hundred Ghosts Devouring Sha!"

Suddenly, Xiong Ba bit the tip of his tongue, and a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out. At the same time, strands of eerie black energy burst out from his body, accompanied by the sound of ghost wailing.

"This is..."

Zhang Fan's gaze narrowed, and he saw black shadows like insects hiding in Xiong Ba's body, actually crazily devouring the desires that had merged into his blood.

"Hundred Ghosts Possessing the Body!?"

"This kid..."

Wang Xuansha's expression finally changed, and even Xiong Qianqiu couldn't help but stand up.

Hundred Ghosts Possessing the Body is the most profound secret of the Yinshan Sect's Daoist arts, ten thousand yin transforming into the body, a hundred ghosts following.

This is not something that can be achieved by hard cultivation alone.

Xiong Qianqiu didn't know that Xiong Ba had taken a different path, using the Taiyi Method of Saving the Dead as a foundation, and only succeeded in refining this method under the blessing of the Xiong family elders.

Although these hundred ghosts are all the lowest-level ghost messengers, if they grow up in time, I am afraid it will be another Xiong Sanqi.

"A bit interesting."

Wang Xuansha's gaze narrowed, his hostility growing. Suddenly, he turned his hand, and something appeared in his palm—a black tube with a metallic luster, but the dangerous trigger had already been pulled by his index finger.

"A gun? You dare to use a gun?" Zhang Fan's eyebrows twitched fiercely.

Wang Xuanqing just sneered and waved the thing in his hand; Xiong Ba's expression changed slightly, but he stood on the spot.

Taking advantage of this gap, Wang Xuanqing had already crossed ten steps and arrived in front of him.

"I didn't use it," Wang Xuanqing revealed a cunning smile. He pointed a finger and aimed it at Xiong Ba.

This was a ruthless move, aimed directly at the primordial spirit.

"You are courting death."

Just then, a fierce feeling rose in Zhang Fan's chest for no reason. He took a step and had already snatched in front of Xiong Ba, protecting him behind him.

"Sticking your neck out?"

Wang Xuanqing's expression turned cold, and he couldn't help but reveal a mocking look. From the moment he entered the door, he had only taken Xiong Qianqiu seriously, and only after Xiong Ba displayed "Hundred Ghosts Devouring Sha" did he take him slightly seriously.

As for Zhang Fan, he hadn't even noticed such a person. He immediately pinched the formula and formed the seal, once again using the "Transforming Desire Technique," the red line on his fingertip entering Zhang Fan's body.

Rumble...

Just then, Zhang Fan's body shook violently, and the surging true yang, like a dam breaking, actually crushed that red line to pieces in an instant.

"True Yang Surging!?" Wang Xuansha's expression changed slightly; he hadn't expected that this stranger brought by the Xiong family was also hiding his strength.

"If you learn to stick your neck out, you have to pay the price."

Wang Xuanqing's move failed, and he finally had the intent to kill. He formed a strange seal with one hand, leaned forward, and pointed straight at Zhang Fan's eyebrows.

"This is..."

Xiong Qianqiu's face turned pale; she saw Zhang Fan's primordial spirit being forcibly restrained by Wang Xuanqing at this moment.

"Restraining the Spirit!"

"Keep the person, don't keep the life."

A triumphant smile appeared on Wang Xuanqing's face. Relying on this move, as long as he got close, he would be in an invincible state, able to forcibly restrain others' primordial spirits as he pleased.

At this moment, in his eyes, Zhang Fan was nothing more than a toy to be kneaded at will.

"Hmm!?"

However, the next moment, the smile on Wang Xuanqing's face paused slightly, feeling that something was wrong.

He usually restrained others' primordial spirits in an instant, but before his eyes, he had only restrained a corner of Zhang Fan's primordial spirit. He was like a behemoth hiding in the deep ocean; even if he only restrained a corner, Wang Xuanqing already felt incomparably heavy.

"What's going on? Why is his primordial spirit so heavy?"

The smile on Wang Xuanqing's face gradually faded. The so-called "Restraining the Spirit" uses the physical body as a medium and the primordial spirit as a fulcrum, using four liang to move a thousand jin, forcibly restraining the opponent's primordial spirit.

However, at this moment, Wang Xuanqing had only restrained a corner, and he felt powerless, and even his own primordial spirit began to tremble, as if being severely oppressed by an invisible and powerful force.

"This... this is..."

Suddenly, Wang Xuanqing's eyes widened. He finally saw the true face of Zhang Fan's primordial spirit—it was a shadow, like hiding in the dark night, endless, terrifying as an abyss.

"This is a primordial spirit!? This is his primordial spirit? In this world... how could there be such a primordial spirit?"

A voice seemed to be roaring in Wang Xuanqing's heart. At this moment, he finally felt unprecedented fear and wanted to withdraw, but it was already too late.

Rumble...

That nearly desperate crushing sensation came suddenly, as if the sky were falling and the earth cracking; cracks instantly appeared on his primordial spirit.

"Ah..."

Just then, Wang Xuanqing let out a miserable scream, blood flowing from his eyes, and he fell straight down, his breath as weak as a candle in the wind.

(End of chapter)