Chapter 265

"The bleeding is quite heavy."

Tang Luo muttered, and the merit jade lotus emitted a faint light that separated the blood rain, leaving no trace.

With one palm, the unborn great shaman was already dead.

Strictly speaking, it should not be considered a great shaman, but a demon; that rampant demonic aura, Tang Luo is very familiar with.

Of course, I am familiar with the term "demon" as a broad identity, not specifically who it is.

As for who this "great shaman" actually is, Tang Luo does not know; since I do not know, then who it is is not important.

Even if it is a "person" from the Journey to the West world, speaking frankly, if one's strength is insufficient, one probably cannot know what actually happened back then.

At most, it's like Xiao Zuofeng: heaven and earth underwent a great change, and I ended up here without knowing anything.

Tang Luo is not obsessed with understanding past events; he is very laid-back, following the path of "when fate arrives, understanding will come naturally."

Quite like a monk.

After killing the great shaman, the task of preventing the great shaman's emergence was naturally completed successfully.

After completing this task, Tang Luo received a prompt that he could return, of course he would certainly not choose to return.

This task world still has a pile of treasures waiting for him to excavate.

Leaving aside other matters, just from this journey into the northern wilderness, entering the Fusang tribe up to now, Tang Luo has obtained considerable merit power.

On one hand, from "ceasing hostilities," the northern wilderness tribes have suffered great vitality loss, making it impossible to reignite war with the Great You.

Although achieved by beating one side half-dead to "cease hostilities," the true meaning is "killing to protect life, severing karma without severing people."

Those Tang Luo killed were all the masterminds hoping to provoke war, the war criminals after defeat.

Naturally, he would gain merit power.

Another large portion of merit comes from the unnamed great shaman killed by Tang Luo; this fellow was designated as an evil person, uh—evil demon.

The heaviness of the "bloody aura" of that rampant demonic qi is also the reason Tang Luo, unwilling to waste words, directly struck hard; one look tells it's a "merit-bearing" one.

"Empty Palm……has also broken through."

Raising his right hand to take a look, after that Empty Palm strike was just executed, the originally third-level Empty Palm formally broke through, and Tang Luo integrated and mastered it, becoming a true divine ability belonging to him.

Like the Thousand Hands that cannot be defended against, using it now has no restrictions whatsoever, only related to Tang Luo's own strength and will.

Moreover—

Tang Luo raised his hand, casually grabbed, and a stone beside him flew into his hand; he lightly squeezed it, and Tang Luo crushed that small stone into powder.

The powder flowed out from between his fingers.

The Dragon-Capturing Hand, in this grab, likewise broke through the third level, reaching the state of integration and mastery.

Tang Luo originally liked the Dragon-Capturing Hand skill very much; a major reason is that this skill is actually quite similar to the Empty Palm.

Both involve projecting power outward, except one is used for seizing and restraining, the other for attacking, with different purposes.

But in terms of "usage method," they are almost identical.

Tang Luo usually uses the Dragon-Capturing Hand with great ease.

This final skill obtained, right after the Empty Palm, was thoroughly mastered by Tang Luo.

From now on, there is no distinction between Empty Palm and Dragon-Capturing Hand; as long as Tang Luo wishes, he can grasp or strike, and even seize and directly crush to death.

Tang Luo raised his hand and gently pushed toward the sky.

A massive handprint appeared, presenting a faint amber-glazed glass color, emitting some not very obvious golden light, soaring straight into the clouds, then suddenly dissipating.

"Let's call it the Glazed Nirvana Great Hand Seal." Tang Luo also didn't bother thinking of a name; anyway, he achieved the Diamond Glazed Buddhist Bone, so calling it this name is about the same.

Adding "Nirvana" makes it sound cooler; if called "Degree Transformation," it would be too direct; anyway, Nirvana also carries meanings of liberation, extinction, and bliss, relatively more subtle.

As for the previous "Tathagata Divine Palm," it was just casually mentioned.

Now, however it is said, it is Tang Luo's self-created divine ability great method, so it would not be appropriate to still call it Tathagata Divine Palm.

"Great Master……"

From not far away came the shout of the Diamond One; shortly after, the Diamond One and Tang Yuhuan rushed back.

Seeing Tang Luo unharmed standing there, the slightly raised hearts were lowered.

After all, the aura emitted by the great shaman just now was truly too terrifying, giving people a feeling of facing a heavenly disaster.

The Diamond Ones also inevitably felt that this time, would Master Xuanzang have kicked against an iron plate?

Fortunately, now seeing with their own eyes, Tang Luo's body had not a single speck of blood stained on it, making people doubt whether he had really just experienced a great battle.

"Have you completed your mission?" Tang Luo asked.

Diamond One and Tang Yuhuan both nodded.

"Good, then let's go to the Central Capital of Great You." Tang Luo said, "Or do you plan to return directly?"

"Not returning, not returning." Diamond One grinned widely.

This task world has obviously many more benefits; only a fool would choose to return at this time.

Tang Yuhuan also shook her head.

"Hmm, then let's go to the Central Capital." Tang Luo nodded.

The Fusang tribe was in complete chaos; after finding Wu Yang and the Heavenly Hound, naturally no one could stop Tang Luo and his companions.

Soon, several people left the Fusang tribe; Wu Yang followed behind, face anxious, not knowing what this white-haired monk would do to him.

"Donor Wu." Tang Luo stopped his steps, turned his head to look at Wu Yang.

"Yes, Great Master!" Wu Yang instinctively replied loudly.

"Don't be nervous; the poor monk only wants to ask you for ten more substitute wooden figures, not taken for nothing, exchanged for one consecration." Tang Luo said.

"I currently have none; I need to make them." Wu Yang said.

"No problem; there is still some time before we leave the northern wilderness; Donor Wu Yang should be able to make them, right?" Tang Luo asked.

Substitute wooden figures are not equipment, but belong to props, and can be stored for entering and exiting the task world and the real world.

Tang Luo thought this was quite fun—sometimes when he was at his wit's end with his doppelgänger, he could use it, and even if he didn't need to use it, he could sell it to exchange for healing items.

Wu Yang nodded repeatedly, saying that even before Tang Luo and the others left Bei Yuan, he had made them.

She wished she could stay awake without rest and immediately make ten substitute wooden puppets to hand over to this monk, then run as far away as possible, and if possible, never see him again in this lifetime.

Wu Yang's dream of distancing herself from Tang Luo was fulfilled a month later, as she watched the three people and one carriage enter the territory of Da You, her heart jolted, and she almost cried out.

Besides the substitute wooden puppets, this monk also took from her side, or rather, from the stockpiles of the various tribes, sweeping clean all kinds of healing medicines, herbs, and similar items.

With the momentum of "Wind Sweeping Cloud Remnants," Wu Yang felt that this monk was probably born under the sign of locusts in his previous life.

No matter what, Wu Yang had finally escaped the source of danger.

Why had she been so reckless back then, thinking she could collaborate with these few Da You people causing trouble in Bei Yuan—or rather, thinking she could use them?

Although in the end, Wu Yang achieved her goal, it was not at all by the method she had envisioned.

After a long sigh, no matter what, preserving one's life was a good thing.

Upon reaching the border of Da You, Tang Luo and the three others clearly felt that the originally rather lax border defenses, or rather, the completely abandoned parts, had become strict.

Kong Ming and the others brought the news to all of Da You, reaching the heavens, and Da You naturally responded.

Zhong Du is not said to be located exactly at the center of Da You, but in Youzhou Prefecture; geographically speaking, it is relatively further north.

As for the administrative divisions of the Da You dynasty—what prefectures, what departments—Kong Ming said they were somewhat similar to those of the Ming Dynasty.

Tang Luo also didn't bother to study them seriously; as long as he knew the general direction of Zhong Du, he could just head that way.

Along the way, there was no need to worry about food, clothing, and daily expenses—the various tribes had money, and the silver and gold they carried on hand were more than enough to cover Tang Luo and the others' expenses all the way to Zhong Du.

After bypassing the heavily guarded border regions and entering Da You, the scenery before their eyes was no longer the endless blue sky and wild grasslands of Bei Yuan.

Rivers, lakes, plains, hills, and mountain ranges stretched continuously—indeed, a splendid landscape.

However, many places appeared desolate, many small villages had already been abandoned, and after a little inquiry,

they learned that the cause was the mischief of demons and ghosts.

In populous towns and prosperous areas, one could find scenes like "Outside the mountains, more mountains; outside the towers, more towers……warm wind fragrant, making travelers drunk."

But in remote places with only dozens of households forming small villages, they suffered—either they had to move away, or they were "visited" by demons and ghosts,

leaving behind one deserted place after another.

Of course, aside from this "natural disaster" of demons and ghosts causing trouble, there were also human causes.

For example, those who occupied mountains as kings, shouting as they came and shouting as they left—mountain bandits and a few demonic Daoists—were also among Da You's current internal threats.

As for the hidden dangers within the Da You court, Tang Luo and the others couldn't just casually ask a random person on the street and find out.

Even the words of inn attendants were chaotic nonsense—today's inn and tomorrow's inn were completely different, mere hearsay, utterly without reference value.

"Feels different from last time I saw it."

On the carriage, Tang Luo looked at the gradually approaching An Cheng and said.

An Cheng is not said to be the necessary route from the border of Da You and Bei Yuan to Zhong Du, but the roads passing through An Cheng are undoubtedly the smoothest and "widest."

A large part of the roads are official roads, with towns and relay stations along the way.

Tang Luo and the others naturally chose this route.

However, the An Cheng before their eyes had undergone tremendous changes compared to what Tang Luo had seen before.

Majestic as ever, yet bearing many traces of time, the city walls were mottled, showing many renovated spots.

The original multiple city gates had also become two—one for entry, one for exit.

The flow of people, on the contrary, was denser than before, and the surrounding "satellite cities" had also increased significantly.

This was not proof of Da You's prosperity, but rather that many people from various places had been forced to leave their homes and come near An Cheng, where it was safer.

It was evident that the threat of demons and monsters was far more severe than initially anticipated.

Entering An Cheng itself had also become much more difficult.

Some people who looked like refugees were all stopped, forced to find a place to temporarily reside outside the city—fortunately, the outside was not a barren wasteland.

"Will they not ask for some travel permit or passage certificate or something like that?" the coachman, Jin Gang, said.

They three were in a luxurious carriage, with three horses following in tow.

Jin Gang was in charge of driving the carriage, Tang Yu Han rode a horse, and Tang Luo sat in the carriage.

Tang Luo naturally didn't mind everyone coming together to sit in the carriage, but clinging to a powerful figure required the proper demeanor—Tang Luo wouldn't be so affected as to insist they all sit together.

Jin Gang said he was the "Vajra Warrior" under the Great Master's command, and driving the carriage was his duty.

Tang Yu Han refused on the grounds of training her horsemanship, saying she would ride a horse if it weren't raining.

The three horses took turns; if they encountered a situation requiring relatively fast travel, they would abandon the carriage, and all three would ride horses.

But for short-distance rapid travel, it wouldn't be horseback riding.

Even if Jin Gang ran, his speed was actually greater than the horses'—but he couldn't sustain it as long as the horses could.

"Maybe." In response to Jin Gang's question, Tang Luo said.

As for whether they could enter An Cheng, he didn't take it to heart.

It wasn't because he had strong martial prowess, but because he had money.

As expected, when the city guards saw the luxurious carriage, the burly coachman, and the beautiful female guard together, they immediately showed three parts of respect.

Upon seeing a monk visibly enlightened at a glance, they said nothing and immediately let them pass.