Chapter 248: Chen Niu Talisman

The night was bitterly cold, and the moonlight was also very cold.

There was only one campfire on the dozens of miles of mountain road.

Two Daoists and one martial artist sat here, and there was a fox and a cat waiting. The horses were grazing leisurely to the side, and the sound of chewing grass against the moonlight was very stress-relieving.

The fish and rabbit meat were gradually roasted until fragrant. After the junior sister brushed them with oil and spices, small bubbles sizzled on the surface of the meat.

Lin Jue sat to the side and waited quietly.

At this time, he felt some regret—

When he came, he traveled light, only bringing a little spiritual wood used to repair bean soldiers and a fine carving knife, not bringing extra. Otherwise, he could have taken advantage of the leisure time on the way back to carve slowly.

Now he had to practice other magical arts.

Among the remnant souls and obsessions encountered tonight, he didn't know how many would be willing to stay and help him in the end?

Anyway, he just happened to get spiritual wood, and all he lacked were remnant souls and obsessions. Meeting some on the roadside counted as an unexpected joy.

On the way back, he would pass through the border pass. He heard Lord Luo say that there were often war frictions at the border, and there were several ancient battlefields there that would cry like ghosts and howl like wolves on stormy nights.

Moreover, since ancient times, the border troops and border-guarding generals of the Central Plains dynasty didn't just fight against people; sometimes they also conquered yaoguai causing trouble on the trade routes, or resisted the invasion of yaoguai, often having the unwilling heroic souls of heroes.

If it were the heroic souls of soldiers from ordinary ancient battlefields, he estimated that he wouldn't necessarily attract many remnant souls and obsessions willing to follow him just by saying "eliminate yaoguai and evil spirits." But if they had died at the hands of yaoguai and demons, they would naturally have the obsession to eliminate yaoguai and demons out of unwillingness, which would just happen to fit him.

While he was pondering, the rabbit meat and fish were all roasted.

The pancakes to the side were also roasted hot.

The group used the pancakes as bowls, shaved the roasted rabbit and fish meat with spices and oil off with a knife, placed them on top, and ate them together with the pancakes.

The spices and oil soaked into the pancakes, and the wheat fragrance mixed with the meat fragrance, having a unique flavor.

After eating, they rested here.

The two Daoists sat cross-legged and practiced breathing, while the martial artist actually learned from them, sitting cross-legged to the side and closing his eyes to rest.

A night-watch lamp hung on the tree.

They were prepared to rest for a while before going to find the yaoguai, but unexpectedly, not long after sitting down, the night-watch lamp exploded, and the fox suddenly turned its head to look into the distance.

The three of them opened their eyes at the same time and turned to look.

Only to see a yellow light spot flying over from the grass and woods, like a firefly.

"Hmm? Dream-sending?"

Lin Jue had also learned this kind of magical art and could vaguely feel a little bit.

However, when this firefly flew closer and he looked carefully, he found that it was really a fat flying insect carrying this light spot over. The light was a dream, carried by a flying insect.

"What a strange method."

Lin Jue knew this was the Western Regions outside the pass, so he didn't feel too strange, just reached out a hand to support the flying insect in the air. Looking down, his own fox was staring at him intently, while the colorful civet cat was staring intently at this light spot, seemingly having the idea of jumping up to grab it.

Lin Jue pondered slightly.

"It should have been sent by the yaoguai and spirits here. Let me see what it is. Please protect me."

Upon hearing this, the junior sister picked up her sword and stood up.

The fox and the colorful civet cat also stretched their ears, vigilant of the surroundings.

The martial artist also held his saber and walked not far away.

Only the Daoist sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and pinched the light spot.

Yaoguai and spirits sending dreams to ordinary people was only done unknowingly. Sending dreams to people with cultivation was easily detected and required the permission of the dreamer. Sending dreams to people with cultivation who also knew the way of dream-sending was even easier to detect. If the means were not enough, they would simply send it openly.

Although this person's means were a bit rare, it was roughly this principle.

After Lin Jue closed his eyes, he entered the dream.

In the dream, it was hazy. It was a magnificent palace with many maids and guards, none of whom could be seen clearly. Only a plump and beautiful middle-aged woman in the middle could be seen, wearing gorgeous clothes and bowing to him.

"I am the local spirit, Ancestor of Qin Mountain, meeting the True Man."

"Not a True Man, just a Daoist. Just call me Daoist Master." Lin Jue thought to himself that it was the method of dream-descending. "Why did Ancestor of Qin Mountain descend a dream to me?"

"Previously, Daoist Master and your companions chased a yaoguai and passed by here. We saw Daoist Master and the yaoguai fighting, and saw the yaoguai lead Daoist Master to other evil yaoguai. Daoist Master and your companions eliminated the evil yaoguai, so we know Daoist Master and your companions are very capable." Ancestor of Qin Mountain said, "So I came to ask Daoist Master for help."

Lin Jue had also heard of spirits sending dreams to ask for help elsewhere, so he wasn't surprised, just asked:

"What is it?"

"There is a yaoguai here that knows a magical art, which was passed down from the Central Plains. It can make birds flying in the sky and beasts running on the ground all listen to its words." This spirit named Ancestor of Qin Mountain spoke in Central Plains language. "This yaoguai has harmed many merchants from the Central Plains on the road, and many people have prayed to me, hoping I will kill it. But that yaoguai is very powerful, and I don't have the ability to eliminate it."

"Gathering beasts and adjusting birds..."

Lin Jue muttered in his mouth.

"Yes, that's this kind of magical art." Ancestor of Qin Mountain nodded, with a smile on her face. "I know many magical arts have weaknesses. For example, the God-Walking Art that runs fast cannot eat horse meat. The people of the Yanhuo Kingdom in the south all know the Yanhuo Art that can spit fire, so they never eat things like snow lotuses. Daoist Master is from the Central Plains, so I would like to ask Daoist Master how to break this magical art?"

"Break this magical art..."

Lin Jue frowned and thought, feeling troubled.

Many magical arts in the world indeed have weaknesses, either mutually generating and overcoming, or having flaws. This is the mystery of magical arts and also the interesting part.

Gathering beasts and adjusting birds naturally has flaws.

Lin Jue also learned this magical art, so he naturally knew.

Anyone who cultivates the method of gathering beasts and adjusting birds is eight or nine times out of ten a kind-hearted person.

According to the original words of the fourth senior brother at the time—

"Some people who cultivate this method must not eat meat for life; some people who cultivate this method cannot place these living animals in dangerous situations, otherwise the magical art cannot be performed; some people who cultivate this method only need to maintain a minimum respect for the living things of the world, even if they eat meat; some people who cultivate this method only need to not actively harm the living animals they have befriended, while still hunting, fishing, killing chickens, and stewing ducks as usual."

Some need to have goodwill toward all birds and beasts, while others only need to have goodwill toward the birds and beasts they have befriended.

The lowest requirement is to have goodwill toward the birds and beasts they have befriended.

It is actually a magical art that focuses on the heart.

If this yaoguai doesn't eat meat, that's fine. If it eats meat, one only needs to design to catch a bird or beast it has befriended, cut off a piece of meat, trick it into eating a mouthful, and then tell it, and this magical art will naturally be broken. It might even be unable to perform this magical art for the rest of its life.

"..."

Lin Jue thought so, but still shook his head.

This was too poisonous and cruel.

Even if this yaoguai was heinous, the heinous one was this yaoguai, not him, Lin Jue. How could he tell someone such a poisonous and cruel method?

So he bowed to this spirit:

"This junior cannot answer."

"Does Daoist Master not know either?" The middle-aged woman couldn't help but show regret.

"Spirit, don't be anxious. We have also heard on the road about this yaoguai harming people, and it even harmed the fellow countrymen of my companion. We originally wanted to collect the corpses and bones for the heroes and also go find that yaoguai to take revenge for these heroes so they can rest in peace, and also eliminate a harm for this trade route. Why don't you tell us directly where it is, what abilities it has, and how powerful it is? We will go find it directly and kill it!"

"How can I be so embarrassed?"

"Why be embarrassed? We are exactly going to eliminate yaoguai."

"..."

The middle-aged woman thought for a moment before saying:

"That yaoguai only needs to shout once to summon eagles flying in the sky and fierce beasts running on the ground. It also often stays with a group of wolves, many bears, a group of eagles and falcons, and a few northern mountain goats. These animals are even more powerful than many yaoguai that have become spirits. My guards are no match for them.

"Even a hundred brave human soldiers are no match for them.

"If Daoist Master really wants to find it, I can send Daoist Master a Chen Niu Talisman, which can guide Daoist Master."

"It sounds like we can deal with it." Lin Jue said, and asked, "What is a Chen Niu Talisman?"

"It is a little ghost left behind by a Han person who lived here many years ago, named Chen Niu, who later became my servant spirit. It is good at finding roads. After Daoist Master gets the Chen Niu Talisman, shout 'Chen Niu Chen Niu, find the yaoguai that drives birds and beasts,' and it will guide Daoist Master."

"So that's how it is."

"Then I will go..."

"Please wait a moment!"

Lin Jue called out to this spirit.

"What else is there?"

"You are the spirit here. I will eliminate the yaoguai for you, so I will also ask you one thing: have you heard of the millennium snow lotus?" Lin Jue asked for advice.

"Millennium snow lotus?"

"Yes."

"Snow lotuses only have a lifespan of seven or eight years. Very few have a millennium. Only on the Tianshan Mountains, under the care of spirits, can millennium snow lotuses bloom. What I know is that the spirits on the Tianshan Mountains in the south will plant millennium snow lotuses, but a snow lotus only blooms every fifty years. At that time, the spirits will hold a snow lotus meeting and invite many spirits, yaoguai, and capable people to attend. But the next time will have to wait for seven years."

"Seven years later..." Lin Jue muttered to himself, "How to find it?"

"If Daoist Master can eliminate that yaoguai and bring its head or a token over, I can give Daoist Master another Chen Niu Talisman. At that time, Daoist Master only needs to shout 'Chen Niu Chen Niu, go to the snow lotus meeting,' and it will take Daoist Master to that Tianshan Mountain to find the Tianshan snow lotus."

"So that's how it is..."

It was probably similar to the thousand-day wine banquet held every ten years by the mountain lord of Langtou Mountain, requiring other good things to exchange.

Seven years...

Lin Jue thought so and nodded repeatedly.

Suddenly, he frowned again.

This spirit outside the pass, although she could speak Central Plains language, was so bloody and utilitarian, always wanting to exchange yaoguai heads for things.

"Can."

Lin Jue nodded and agreed.

"Later, I will have my guards send two Chen Niu Talismans, one to find that yaoguai and one to my palace."

"Good."

The dream soon dissipated.

Lin Jue opened his eyes.

The campfire was still burning, crackling endlessly, and the junior sister, the colorful civet cat, the fox, and Lord Luo stood in three different directions, protecting him.

"Phew..."

Lin Jue breathed a sigh of relief.

The two people, one fox, and one cat turned their heads.

"It was the local spirit, who sent a dream to ask me about the method to break the yaoguai's magical art. I said we would go eliminate the yaoguai for her. She will send two talismans later, which can help us find the way."

"Hmm."

The three of them sat down by the fire again.

Time passed bit by bit.

The junior sister pried the campfire with a wooden stick, the fox faced the campfire, its eyes reflecting the flames, and the colorful civet cat was already asleep.

After a long time, there was suddenly a sound of horse hooves.

A person on horseback came at night, stopped at the edge of the firelight, didn't dare to approach, just made a few gestures at them, put down something, and left again.

"Heh..."

Lin Jue laughed.

This guard of Ancestor of Qin Mountain was not a spirit like the military officials under the City God of the Central Plains, nor was he a servant under the military official, nor was he one of the yaoguai under the mountain god of Yishan, but a living person.

This place was indeed different from the Central Plains.

If it were in the Central Plains, there would be the Nine Heavens Divine System, the divine officials would have their own servants, and the spirits and people would follow the rules and have boundaries, so it would be much more orderly.

White shadows jumped back and forth on the mountain road at night, and Fuyao consciously went to pick up the things.

They were exactly two triangular talismans.

Lin Jue held them and examined them carefully, but didn't use them immediately, just put them away:

"With these things, we don't have to rush to find that yaoguai. Let's rest here for the night and set off tomorrow morning."

"Good."

The three of them slept with the sky as their quilt and the earth as their bed.

They were not afraid that this place was originally a place haunted by ghosts. ===== CHAPTER 249 =====