[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-book-of-strange-tales":3,"chapter-the-book-of-strange-tales-the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-573":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Book of Strange Tales",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2317853,4532,"Chapter 573: Another Move","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-573",573,"\u003Cp>The western glow grew dimmer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black smoke gathered into storm clouds; seven-tailed white fox stepped gracefully through the air, divine light illuminating the night, while over a dozen swords reflecting the sunset’s glow darted and wove through the sky, forming a dreamlike scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue descended gently and landed on the ground:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Wan, long time no see?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, True Immortal, for coming to save me!” Wan Xinrong bowed deeply, “Otherwise, my path of cultivation might have ended here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got quite the courage, Master Wan…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You flatter me, True Immortal,” Wan Xinrong said. “You yourself said becoming a True Immortal is no easy thing—it must be sought through peril. I was uncertain at first, but then I recalled your own path to attainment, and realized such danger was perhaps deserved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And what have you found, Master Wan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A modest gain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far off, dark red blood surged upward, forming giant hands sprouting from the earth that slammed toward the seven-tailed white fox, only to be instantly frozen into ice statues by the fox’s breath. Sometimes countless blood worms coalesced into a black dragon, roaring and lunging at the fox’s golden true fire, only to be burned to ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dozen sword lights darted ceaselessly, ignoring all defenses and counterattacks, relentlessly pursuing a shadow. If black smoke attacked, they passed straight through it; if the foe fled into the mountains, they pierced the entire peak clean through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle raged fiercely, shaking heaven and earth, yet the two men spoke calmly here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Purple Emperor’s purge of demons and monsters is over—besides this demon,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>why haven’t you returned to your mountain yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though the purge is over, the world is not yet at peace. There are still opportunities to be found in this mortal realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue sighed and said: “I wish you success. Should you need me again, just call.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, True Immortal!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shu shu shu…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twelve sword lights flew back from afar, their blades stained with black blood, still smoking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox also leapt back gracefully, lowering its head to lick its fur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huuuuu—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue blew gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black blood on the swords instantly turned into petals—various colors and shapes—falling from the blades. The swords quickly became clean and bright, even reflecting the stars above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunderclouds gathered beneath his feet; a faint rumble echoed, and he departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True Immortal, take care!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Xinrong watched him vanish into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning back, he saw the remaining half of the mountain was riddled with holes; the night sky had cleared, the black smoke and blood worms gone. Yet black blood kept oozing from the ground, turning the once-normal wasteland into a foul, sticky sea of black blood. A figure lay far off, still burning with flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such power…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Xinrong felt longing in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Tao and his disciple passed through the snowy forest, reached the sea, followed the coast southward, and arrived at Lüzhou’s Linhai County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly a hundred years had passed, yet this small town still told the story of the immortal who sold flowers to encourage people toward goodness. Such charming tales endured longer and sank deeper into hearts than many earth-shattering demon-slaying deeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was also said the immortal had restored a general’s courage and helped him slay a giant turtle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said the general built a pavilion on E’ Tou Mountain, named the Immortal Pavilion, and below on the beach, two stone hills faced each other, identical to the turtle’s shape—called Turtle Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said that after this, the general, famed for his bravery, gained the favor of the King of Yue, led armies with great skill, repelled northern court invasions repeatedly, and later, after the King of Yue committed suicide and surrendered, the general submitted to the northern court. His descendants remain prominent today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The master and disciple climbed E’ Tou Mountain, visited the Immortal Pavilion, then went to Turtle Mountain. Knowing these were the deeds of their own True Immortal, they could almost picture the past scenes—filled with sorrow and wonder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Lingyu traveled to Jiangnan; Yangzhou was unavoidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scent of pears that once filled the streets for no reason, the thunder of purification on New Year’s Eve—these tales still circulated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew the True Immortal had once accompanied his senior brother to refine pills in Yangzhou, so while listening intently, he could guess from the details that these too were the work of their own True Immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unknowingly, another Snow Lotus Gathering arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Xinrong, representing his True Immortal, respectfully traveled to Tianshan to pay respects to the Tianshan Ancestor. On his return, passing the Western Sea, he heard of a demon-slaying talisman said to have been passed down from Lin True Immortal, capable of expelling demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quick glance—it seemed like Chen Niu’s talisman?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A closer look—it was Chen Niu’s talisman!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this “demon-slaying talisman” resembled Chen Niu’s only seven or eight percent; some lines and strokes differed slightly, likely altered during transmission. It bore no Chen Niu seal, so it could not summon Chen Niu, nor did it possess any demon-slaying power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curious, he inquired further—and learned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Decades ago, after the Purple Emperor ascended the Nine Heavens, he ordered through Zixiao Palace the demolition of temples dedicated to the former Heavenly Warden’s True Lords and Divine Generals. The locals here planned to tear down the Ji Ling True Lord’s temple, when Lin True Immortal himself arrived, persuading them to keep it: “This is Ji Ling True Lord’s homeland; you are his fellow townsfolk. Venerate him well—he will protect you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To prevent Ji Ling True Lord from growing complacent from offerings or falling into darkness, he left three talismans, saying: “Burn them, and he will come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thereafter, the locals sincerely venerated Ji Ling True Lord, who indeed protected the land, and no demons or monsters ever troubled them. The story of the three talismans spread, and as it spread, it transformed: people began claiming these were talismans bestowed by Lin True Immortal, capable of contacting Lin True Immortal, infused with his divine power, so even True Lords feared them, let alone ordinary demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, common folk and wandering sorcerers alike copied these three talismans, using them to ward off evil, protect homes, and expel demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Xinrong now understood—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying these talismans were useless wasn’t entirely true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Lin True Immortal’s name was so renowned, demons and spirits were no smarter than humans, and many were simple and foolish. If people believed these talismans worked, demons and spirits might believe too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, when some demons entered homes and saw such talismans on the door, uncertain whether true or false, they dared not risk their lives—they simply stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others, encountering demons at night, pulled out such talismans and invoked Lin True Immortal’s name—and actually scared the demons away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was much like the case of Fan Tian Shi in the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time Wan Xinrong returned to his mountain, another ten years had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the first to return to Fengshan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That year, a great event occurred in the mortal realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Southern Tian Shi, who had lived over a hundred years, passed away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For over a century, whether in the south or north, among mortals or demons, among the martial world or the imperial court, the Southern Tian Shi had amassed immense prestige.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the day of his death, the people of Jingcheng were divided: some truly believed he was a great celestial deity who had returned to heaven; others believed he would become a god, so they felt no sorrow at his passing, but rejoiced for him; still others, upon hearing the news, were struck as if by thunder, refused to believe it, and wept uncontrollably, gathering spontaneously before his home to bid him farewell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The very next day, the Emperor issued an edict, honoring the Southern Tian Shi’s merits by bestowing upon him the title of Guardian of Heaven, Subduer of Demons, Radiant and Heroic Emperor Lord, and ordered temples across the land to erect his divine statue for eternal worship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor granting divine titles was not rare; naming someone “Emperor Lord” was not unheard of—but it ultimately depended on whether the people accepted it. Often, emperors unilaterally granted divine titles, only for the people to ignore them, or for the veneration to fade after a few decades, especially when a new emperor rose and the incense dwindled to nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, many “Emperor Lords” in heaven possessed neither the divine authority nor even the power of a True Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this dynasty, due to the Purple Emperor’s tyranny and Zixiao Palace’s arrogance, later emperors lacked the strength of Luo Gongceng. Even when trying to balance power, they rarely granted divine titles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had never granted anyone the title of “Emperor Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Southern Tian Shi was different!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the edict was issued, it received immediate support from both court and commoners, spreading swiftly beyond the palace gates, from Jingcheng to all corners of the land—everyone knew the Southern Tian Shi, all recognized him, and thus accepted the Emperor’s decree. Even before his death, many households had already placed his statue and spirit tablet in their homes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Zixiao Palace and the Nine Heavens wished to oppose—but it was too late, legally baseless, and utterly useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the Emperor and royal family down to beggars and criminals, from high officials to common folk, merchants, scholars, warriors—all had lit incense before the Southern Tian Shi’s statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new “Emperor Lord” had appeared in heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His divine power was still faint, his foundation still shallow, far from worthy of the title “Emperor Lord”—yet no mortal or spirit dared underestimate him. Even as he ascended to divinity, many True Lords and divine spirits, upon seeing him, instinctively straightened their posture, pulled in their necks, fearing a scolding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Yishan, the blind Daoist dropped another stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eldest brother had taken two new disciples; the eight disciples of Fuxiu Peak were now complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Yang and Ji Yin were now very old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the eldest brother still lived, he had already attained True Immortality and might live for countless more years. If his disciples failed to attain True Immortality, he could outlive them all. After deep thought, he relinquished the position of abbot of Fuqiu Guan, passing it to Ji Yang to continue the temple’s lineage, and according to ancestral custom, arranged for the other disciples to descend the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who among them would one day reside in the temple the people of Jinping County had built for Lin Jue?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second brother left his temple to his disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the eldest, second, and sixth brothers built several thatched huts on the nearby Scissors Peak, living in quiet cultivation alongside the wild cats of the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youngest sister still lived in Hongye Guan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps Zi Yun had no intention of taking disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, the world entered another golden age: no wars on the borders, the people lived in peace and prosperity, the seasons were bountiful year after year, demons and evil spirits did not stir, and the Emperor was benevolent—among all history, one of the finest eras.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue arrived again in Huizhou, beneath Feilai Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>",1877,"2026-06-20T14:45:37.804Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","91278e436fe4f66532fa119acf48fe7312655cfa0def53e675a8210ba23df12c","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-574","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-572",608,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-book-of-strange-tales-cover.jpg"]