Chapter 401: The Storm Has Arrived

Lin Jue examined it repeatedly, confirming it was not a treasure, but a spell or divine art.

The power of the spell or divine art lay upon this paper; the so-called script and edicts were merely decoration—a trick to glorify itself and deceive believers.

Of course, the Eastern Queen Mother was indeed a "divine being."

At the very least, she was an entity of equal rank to a divine being.

It was said this document was not permanent, but required replacement after a certain period; believers who wore it gained immortality, but upon removal, their vitality would rapidly drain. Some speculated the Eastern Queen Mother did this deliberately to maintain control over her followers—yet now it seemed more likely the spell's duration was limited, requiring periodic replenishment or replacement.

As for the method of using the document, legends from Qinzhou had already explained it fully.

Lin Jue carefully wore it on his person.

He then took out the second letter and opened it:

"Dear friend, how are you?"

Today I received a letter from Jingcheng: several years ago, the tassels we planted in Zhenjian Palace have recently bloomed—like leaves covered in snow, extraordinarily beautiful, but unfortunately I was unable to see them.

"Had I been in Jingcheng, I would have invited you to admire them together."

"Spring has passed, summer has arrived; the weather grows warmer, yang energy rises while yin energy recedes. Day and night bring frequent thunderstorms—this is now the optimal season for divine beings to purge demons."

"During the Awakening of Insects, the Two True Lords led their generals and eight thousand heavenly soldiers down to purge demons; rumors claim they severely wounded the Eastern Queen Mother. Given the nature of the Heavenly Lord's divine lineage, this claim is dubious. Yet the attacks by the True Lords during thunderstorms since Awakening of Insects—and recently—have indeed yielded results."

"Lately, the heavens have been mobilizing troops in force. It is said the Two True Lords of Protecting the Sacred and Preserving the Sacred have resolved to use the peak summer thunderstorms to utterly annihilate Modu Mountain."

"In response, the Eastern Queen Mother will not sit idle. Whether she fights or flees, the four counties beyond Modu Mountain are her inevitable path."

"I implore you, dear friend, be vigilant."

"..."

Lin Jue carefully reread the letter.

"Tassels? April snow?"

Lin Jue recalled the tree in Zhenjian Palace's courtyard—over the years it had indeed grown into a large tree, yet he could not recall ever seeing it bloom.

Tassels, also called April Snow, bloom in April and resemble snowflakes; Lin Jue had seen them by mountain paths, and indeed they were elegant and lovely.

"The Two True Lords of Protecting the Sacred and Preserving the Sacred intend to utterly eradicate the Eastern Queen Mother?" Lin Jue shook his head and chuckled. "They may lack virtue, but they certainly have boldness."

He then carefully stored both letters away.

Just as he was about to pick up his brush to reply, he suddenly felt a jolt in his heart, accompanied by a warm, pleasant sensation from within his chest.

"Hmm?"

Without hesitation, Lin Jue pulled out the "Immortality Edict" and placed it on the table.

Simultaneously, he took out the ancient book and turned to its final pages.

"Whir…"

Transformation of Feathers, a transformation technique.

The cultivator transforms their body into a feathered creature, able to soar through heaven and earth like a bird. Depending on one's nature and affinity with specific feathered creatures, the more one meditates and contemplates during cultivation, the more precisely one can transform into that type.

At shallow levels, even if one possesses great innate power, one becomes as fragile and powerless as an ordinary bird, unable to unleash any ability whatsoever, and equally vulnerable to predators, water, and fire. Only when mastery is attained can one carry one's own power and cast spells and divine arts within a bird's form.

"Whir…"

Stealing Life, Granting Longevity, an ancient divine art, a wood-element technique.

It can steal vitality and lifespan, causing withering and premature death, or bestow vitality and lifespan, granting immortality.

When perfected, one may transcend the iron law of life and death.

Unfortunately, vitality, when drawn from heaven and earth, is purest and most natural; all other living beings possess differing vitalities, difficult to harmonize. If forcibly taken, one may achieve immortality but not agelessness, and will slowly weaken over time, left only with a decaying body and lingering soul, barely clinging to existence, unable to withstand calamities.

If vitality comes from heaven and earth, whether used by oneself or given to another, it remains pure and inclusive. If vitality comes from oneself and is given to another, it is harmless. But if vitality comes from deception, those who gain longevity become cunning. If it comes from killing, those who gain longevity gradually descend into demonic corruption.

If one cultivates this art, one must remember this.

Ancient legends tell of divine beings whose words become law, whose single utterance or gesture grants immortality and agelessness—this is the nature of such a divine art.

"So this is how it is..."

Lin Jue pondered, murmuring to himself.

The ancient book did not say where the "Stealing Life, Granting Longevity" technique originated—whether, like instantaneous blooming, it was a natural divine art of rare plant spirits. Yet the Immortality Tree, a spiritual wood that naturally absorbs the vitality of nearby plants to sustain itself and achieve immortality, bears a similar function. He wondered whether the Eastern Queen Mother's technique was innate or learned.

According to the ancient book, this art could steal vitality and lifespan, or bestow them upon others.

Clearly, this was the secret of the "Immortality Edict."

As for the vitality and lifespan bestowed upon others, it could originate from heaven and earth, from oneself, or from elsewhere—best if from heaven and earth, self-sacrificial if from oneself, worst if stolen from others. He did not know which source the vitality in these "Immortality Edicts" came from.

"Hmph..."

Lin Jue tossed it aside and resumed writing his letter.

First, he must thank Master Nan and Daoist Jiang.

After finishing, he would entrust Bai Lu to deliver it, then continue refining the Long Bo Bean Soldiers.

He had already learned to transform into a bird and could now fly—traveling no longer required Bai Lu to carry him, but sending letters still needed Bai Lu's aid.

For some time afterward, Zhang Ziyun County remained quiet.

Lin Jue maintained correspondence with Daoist Jiang and Master Nan, learning that the other three counties were also quiet—but Zhang Ziyun County was the quietest of all. Perhaps due to prior probes, the Eastern Queen Mother knew the Daoist stationed here was not to be trifled with, and to avoid unnecessary losses, she had not disturbed the area for a long time.

Fourth Third Third Shixiong and Seventh Third Third Shixiong had gone to Jiguang County to hold the line.

The imperial court had sent reinforcements multiple times, and provisions had arrived several times.

The weather grew hotter day by day; the Long Bo statue grew smaller day by day.

Summer weather was capricious, often clear skies suddenly turning windy and cloudy, followed by torrential rain and thunder splitting heaven and earth; sometimes he was awakened at night.

Every thunderstorm brought the sound of war drums.

If one flew into the sky and looked toward Modu Mountain, one could see clouds thick with heavenly soldiers, divine generals clad in lightning descending to battle demons deep within rain, mist, and smoke—the scene was awe-inspiring.

During these times, townsfolk could not sleep and dared not leave their homes; they prayed devoutly before divine plaques and statues, begging only to survive this calamity.

It was not useless.

Every prayer, every wisp of incense, became part of the divine power now purging demons across the heavens.

Unconsciously, summer drew to its end.

This was the hottest time of year.

The sky was dark and heavy; the earth was stifling and oppressive—as if a great disaster loomed, or as if a terrifying force were gathering.

Lin Jue stood atop the pavilion, gazing into the distance.

One white egret flew alone; one crow circled overhead.

On the ground, patrols continued without pause.

The Daoists of Zhang Ziyun County had been on high alert for a long time, and were beginning to grow weary.

Yet Lin Jue was at odds with the True Lord of Protecting the Sacred, and Daoist Jiang was not of the Observing Stars Palace. Even though they guarded the local people and the divine incense sources, the Two True Lords of Protecting the Sacred and Preserving the Sacred still refused to reveal the exact timing of their final assault—only speculation was possible.

Lin Jue looked up at the sky.

Wild winds dipped in pale ink, scribbling chaotic strokes across the heavens; these dark clouds gathered and swirled, forming the largest thunderstorm of late summer and early autumn.

This was the heaviest power of the entire summer.

"Huh..."

Suddenly, a breeze stirred in the stifling air.

In Jiguang County, there was a long street lined with vermilion towers. Built lavishly and tall, they offered comfort and excellent vantage points; after arriving from Zhang Ziyun County to assist, Seventh Third Third Shixiong had dragged Fourth Third Third Shixiong to live atop one.

"Fourth Third Third Shixiong, don't be so tense—tension won't help. We should learn from Third Third Third Shixiong—he's probably still drunk right now," Seventh Third Third Shixiong said. "By now, First Third Third Shixiong's sermon should be over, and Second Third Third Shixiong's young disciple has finished his lesson—he should be descending the mountain. I wrote a letter and asked Little Third Shixiong's white egret to deliver it, summoning Second Third Third Shixiong here."

"When?"

"Yesterday."

Seventh Third Third Shixiong grinned. "Second Third Third Shixiong's fire-element techniques are sublime. In peacetime, they'd be used for alchemy—but now, in chaos, wasting them solely on alchemical furnaces is a tragedy."

He paused.

"Besides, there are so many demons and spiritual plants and beasts here—deer antlers, herb roots—all useful for alchemy."

Fourth Third Third Shixiong glanced at him coolly and said:

"Sixth Younger Third Shixiong can practice fuji."

"Huh?"

As they spoke, a light breeze slipped through the window.

Both turned their heads at once.

In Boyu County stood a small mountain, its peak crowned by a temple. More than ten years ago, the Immortality Sect had converted it into a temple of the Eastern Queen Mother; a few months ago, it was changed into a Daoist monastery, now the residence of Zhenjian Palace's Daoists.

The mountain gate stood open; all windows were wide. Daoist Jiang sat cross-legged on a mat, her skin whiter than snow, glowing faintly in the dimness.

A whisk rested on her knees; a long sword lay beside her.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes.

At the same moment, the wind arrived.

The red talismans and banners hanging in the monastery, the robes behind the divine statues—all were lifted by the wind.

In Letian City, within the county magistrate's office.

Dozens of Daoists sat in meditation, cultivating in stillness.

Suddenly, one Daoist opened his eyes, sensing a shift in the stifling air.

"Thunder's coming."

An old Daoist's voice echoed.

Immediately, many Daoist priests picked up the long swords beside them, rose to their feet, and walked out without a word.

……

Meanwhile, in the capital.

In the streets and alleys, teahouses and taverns, it was a time of bustling activity.

The news of the northern military garrisons launching a massive southern campaign seemed to affect them not at all; most likely, everyone treated it as just another occasional rebellion, destined to be crushed by the imperial army in no time. Instead, the northeast of Qinzhou, closest to the capital and the site of the demon disturbances, stirred constant gossip in the capital's teahouses and after-dinner chats.

Some said the Southern Celestial Master had gone to the northeast.

Others said Lin Zhen had gone too.

Some said no wonder they hadn't been seen.

Others said Fan Tian Shi was still staying in the capital.

Still others spoke of the Eastern Wang Mu and so on…

Suddenly, thunder rolled through the sky.

"Boom… boom…"

The thunder was deep and deafening, finally jolting the people awake.

There was no military unrest in the capital, and the demons had been held back; everyone hurried home, fearing the coming rain.

Amidst the frantic footsteps, no one noticed a middle-aged Daoist priest in a corner of the alley, gazing up at the sky.

A demon whispered beside him: "It's about to rain, Tian Shi, please go home."

"Go home…"

Fan Tian Shi paused, stunned.

Who would know? His home was in Jiguang…

……

And in the Mo Du Mountain of northeastern Qinzhou,

the Husheng Zhenjun had not yet appeared, but the demons emerged first from the mist, like a mountain flood or tidal wave, surging toward the surrounding cities to sever the local gods' incense offerings.