Chapter 402

Fight against Heaven?

What a truly arrogant madman!

The Left Chancellor gave an awkward smile and did not respond; in his heart, he already felt a vague sense of regret, thinking that these people from the Ghost Sect were not right in the head.

Huang Liushi seemed to still be in a state of excitement, his eyes emitting a dark, blood-colored glow as he took two deep breaths. "When you have the opportunity in the future to meet the Sect Master and learn what this 'Heaven' is really about, you will understand."

Rumble!

Just at this moment, a muffled peal of thunder sounded in the sky.

The wild winds all around grew even more violent, sounding as if ghosts were weeping and wolves were howling.

This body of Huang Liushi was an "Undecaying Bone"; although it could move freely, it was still a type of zombie.

Seeing the thunder, he instinctively trembled all over.

A flash of unwillingness crossed his eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "Right now, both sides are engaged in a battle of Dharma; the True Martial Palace is currently at its most defenseless, and the timing is perfect."

Having said this, he turned and entered the cave.

The others followed one after another, arriving before the pool of water.

The originally blood-colored pool had now become clear, and the various spiritual materials and demon bones placed within it were all deathly pale, having completely lost their spiritual essence.

In the center, the Taisui coffin had also stopped wriggling and was emitting a faint fluorescent glow, through which one could see the curled-up human figure inside.

Huang Liushi let out a cold laugh and said to the Left Chancellor, "Do you know the true origins of this Lord Lord Tian Sheng Duke you follow?"

The Left Chancellor said in a deep voice, "This matter is known to all. His name is Xu Tianxiong; his ancestors were Dutch barbarians who came from Minzhou. In his youth, he suffered much cold-eyed treatment, but his aptitude for martial arts and sorcery was astonishing, making him one of the Ten Great Masters of that era."

As he spoke, he shook his head and said, "When I was young, my late father was once his confidant, helping him do many dirty deeds in secret and bearing the infamy, yet he gained the reputation of being the leader of the greenwood and a man of great loyalty."

"I, too, miscalculated; I never expected that the Right Chancellor and the others would actually manage to gather all the items..."

"Hahaha!"

Huang Liushi mocked coldly, "You are all fools. His origins might deceive the world, but they cannot deceive the Sect Master."

"Have you ever wondered why, back then, the Lord Lord Tian Sheng Sect was willing to disregard everything to protect the defeated Longxiang Army?"

"Why is it that the imperial family of the Great Xing Dynasty had the surname Xiao, yet the Longxiang Army claimed to be descendants of the imperial family, but had the surname Guo?"

The Left Chancellor was slightly stunned and bowed, saying, "I ask Master Huang to enlighten me."

Huang Liushi looked at the Taisui meat coffin and shook his head, saying, "The leader of the Longxiang Army had the surname Guo only because they were maternal relatives of the imperial family, responsible for guarding Luoyang. It was only after intermarrying with several princesses of the Great Xing that they claimed to have inherited the bloodline."

"In fact, this Lord Lord Tian Sheng Duke is the legitimate heir. During the final years of the Great Xing Dynasty, the Emperor was licentious beyond measure. The Prefect of Minzhou gifted him a Dutch barbarian woman of peerless beauty. The Emperor favored her greatly, and she gave birth to a son."

"Inside the imperial palace, people eat others without spitting out the bones. That barbarian woman was murdered by someone before long, and her personal maid stole the child out of the palace and hid him among the common folk to raise him."

"His real name is Xiao Tianxiong!"

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

The Left Chancellor suddenly realized, and many questions were cleared up as a result.

Huang Liushi nodded and said, "It is good that you understand. This Xiao Tianxiong still wants to return to life and stir up the winds and clouds again; how could there be such a good thing? He is not yet qualified to play this game of chess!"

"The Sect Master is helping him return to life, but in reality, it is to help a strand of demonic energy escape the False False Yin Si. He will be gradually influenced after he wakes up. It is good that you know this; do not point it out casually and ruin the grand plan."

The Left Chancellor felt a chill in his heart. Recalling the "Demon Body Longevity Technique" taught by the Ghost Sect, he suddenly understood and swallowed a mouthful of saliva. "Is it Yuan Zimei, one of the seventy-two Demon Lords?"

Huang Liushi nodded slightly. "It is good that you understand. If you speak recklessly and anger someone, even I cannot protect you."

"Begin. Resurrect him; it will be just right to slaughter those long-nosed priests of the True Martial Palace!"

"Yes, Master Huang!"

The crowd bowed in unison and arrived before the pool.

On the open ground in front, a Dharma altar had already been set up. On the offering table, besides the standard incense and candles, a Boshan censer had been specially placed.

The Boshan censer was popular during the Han and Jin dynasties. The censer body was bean-shaped, with a high, pointed lid carved into the shape of a mountain, featuring patterns of clouds, figures, and birds and beasts.

When incense was burned, the smoke would swirl, resembling an immortal mountain.

The popularity of this object was inseparable from the atmosphere of seeking immortals and visiting the Dao at that time. Boshan censers used as Dharma artifacts within the Mystic Sect were often carved with the grotto-heavens of their own sects.

Lighting them during meditation was more conducive to cultivation.

Yet, the one before them was somewhat different.

The surroundings seemed to have waves rising and falling like the sea, with mountain bodies towering high. Above, six palaces were carved, and below, six grotto-dwellings were carved. It was ancient, with spots of verdigris.

If Li Yan were here, he would discover that it was exactly Mount Luo Feng!

Huang Liushi's expression was solemn. He took a brocade box from his bosom, and after opening it, inside were several bones that had already turned to jade; one could not tell what kind of creature's remains they were.

He gripped these bones in his hand, his arms suddenly exerting force, his palms rubbing fiercely to grind them into powder, which he placed into the censer.

Subsequently, he lit the candle flame, opened the Dharma altar, waved a bone banner in his hand, paced the stars, and muttered incantations.

The people around him also held Dharma flags, simultaneously focusing their spirits to drive the ritual.

Whoosh~

Very quickly, yin energy rose within the cave, and wild winds howled.

The flames of the candles on the offering table suddenly shot up three zhang high and turned green, making the cave look like a ghost realm.

It was extremely similar to the scene of the "Luo Feng Examination and Summoning Grand Dharma."

Seeming to sense something, Huang Liushi suddenly opened his eyes, pinched a sword seal, and pointed at the green yin fire to guide it.

The yin fire roared out and fell directly into the Boshan censer. Not long after, it ignited the jade-like bone powder.

Smoke rose, but it was thick black smoke, viscous like paste.

This eerie black smoke churned continuously, as if it were a living thing, struggling as it tried to leave the Boshan censer carved into the shape of Mount Luo Feng.

Seeing this, Huang Liushi continued to perform the ritual to drive it, black meridians bulging on his face, and yellow corpse water even seeping from his forehead.

Finally, this viscous black smoke drilled out from the Boshan censer, churned up and down in the air, landed on the Taisui meat coffin, and seeped inside.

Clatter!

The Taisui meat coffin suddenly shook crazily.

Suddenly, a pair of thick arms pierced through the meat coffin, tore it to shreds in a few movements, and then a strong figure rolled out from inside, covered in mucus, coughing violently in the pool water.

Huang Liushi gave a look, and the Left Chancellor understood immediately, hurriedly stepping forward, kneeling on the ground, and shouting, "Respectfully welcome the descent of the Lord Lord Tian Sheng Duke!"

That figure gasped for breath and slowly stood up.

His figure was tall, his brow bone prominent, and his features deep, clearly showing characteristics of a foreign race, extremely similar to the divine statue worshipped by the Lord Lord Tian Sheng Sect.

The difference was that his two eyebrows had turned purple.

This person's eyes were full of confusion and fear. He looked around in a panic, and upon hearing the Left Chancellor's voice, he seemed to think of something and looked at his own hands. "I... I am Xiao Tianxiong..."

Upon hearing this, the Left Chancellor pretended not to notice.

Sure enough, this Lord Lord Tian Sheng Duke had hidden his identity.

"I died... why can't I remember anything..."

The Lord Lord Tian Sheng Duke's expression was ferocious as he clutched his head tightly.

Huang Liushi hurriedly stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Lord Lord Tian Sheng Duke, there is no need to think too much. It is best not to dwell on the past in the False False Yin Si, lest you be noticed."

"And who are you?!"

Xiao Tianxiong turned suddenly, his eyes full of murderous intent.

Huang Liushi just looked at him calmly and did not answer.

Very quickly, a flash of purple light crossed Xiao Tianxiong's eyes, and he seemed to remember something. He nodded and said, "So it was you who saved me. I cannot thank you enough for your great kindness!"

The Left Chancellor was horrified in his heart.

He knew that the Huang Moshen had already tampered with Xiao Tianxiong's memories, and he estimated that it wouldn't be long before he became a puppet.

Judging by the situation, the Ghost Sect actually had a friendship with these Demon Gods!

He became increasingly afraid in his heart, but he dared not show the slightest abnormality on his face. He bowed respectfully and said, "Sect Master, our sect is currently facing a calamity. I ask that you return to preside over the overall situation..." As he spoke, he recounted the current situation.

"Wudang again?!"

Xiao Tianxiong's expression turned ugly. "Where is that long-nosed priest Zhang Sanfeng?"

Huang Liushi spoke up, "The world says he has long since ascended to godhood."

"Ascended to godhood?!"

Xiao Tianxiong was stunned for a moment, then raged, "By what right? Where did he get the qualifications!"

Huang Liushi said indifferently, "Sect Master, what is the use of saying these things? The past is gone. Ascending to godhood is not necessarily a good thing; now is your world."

The Left Chancellor also hurriedly bowed, "I ask the Sect Master to take action and avenge the brothers who died in the sect!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tianxiong looked at his palms and suddenly his momentum changed drastically, like a fierce beast. At the same time, his chest and abdominal muscles trembled, and he slapped forward suddenly.

Slap!

Waves exploded on the pool.

This was the Palm of Splitting the Void; only Gang energy could achieve this.

!.

Seeing this, the Left Chancellor hurriedly lowered his head, his eyes somewhat uneasy.

The method of returning to life requires a suitable physical body. Back then, the Fangxian Dao created a secret method to dissect infants in the womb and cultivate an Earth Immortal body.

As long as one returns to life, one can quickly recover combat power.

The reason this Xiao Tianxiong was terrifying was because his martial arts had reached the level of gods, and he had also mastered a sorcery that could transform into the fierce beast Qiongqi, which is why he was ranked as one of the Ten Great Masters of the Divine Land at that time.

Now that he had just returned to life, he had already reached the Gang energy level. I fear it won't be long before he becomes a master expert again.

If he discovers that he had tampered with things, would he take his life...

Just as the Left Chancellor was feeling uneasy, Xiao Tianxiong nodded with satisfaction. "Earth Immortal body... not bad!"

"Let's go. Slaughter a few of Zhang Sanfeng's disciples and see if that old thing will be so angry that he descends to the mortal world..."

…………

Unknowingly, the sky turned slightly white.

In the dim, heavy fog, torches flickered.

"Brother Li Yan, we found it!"

From far away, Sha Lifei began to complain, "This old monkey is really good at hiding. We searched for a whole night, and it turns out he dug a hole and hid in a coffin..."

Before he could finish speaking, a large black shadow appeared in the thick fog; it was Wu Ba carrying the corpse of "Old Man Bai," climbing up the hillside with difficulty with the help of Sha Lifei and Lu San.

"It's fine, as long as you're back."

Li Yan breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly stepped forward to check.

Thud!

Wu Ba threw down the corpse, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and hurriedly ran to the campfire, eating the meat Li Yan had roasted in large mouthfuls.

The corpse of "Old Man Bai" was not small, and even Wu Ba was exhausted.

Li Yan bent down to check and was secretly shocked in his heart.

He had already seen the corpses of other Divine Spirits, but compared to this "Old Man Bai," they were not on the same level at all.

Its whole body was covered in white hair, five meters long, with one arm and one leg, its face ferocious and covered in oil paint.

Even though its soul had flown away and scattered, its body was still permeated with yin evil energy.

"Here, there's also this..."

Sha Lifei threw out another black, tattered flag. One couldn't tell what material it was made of; it was painted with yin-yang bagua and various eerie talismans, all appearing blood-colored.

Wang Daoxuan also leaned over, gasped, and stroked his beard, saying, "This thing is a soul-summoning banner of the Yinshan Sect. How could 'Old Man Bai' have it?"

"Yinshan Sect!"

Li Yan was also shocked when he heard this.

South of the Yangtze River, there were many Dharma lineages; for example, in the Xiangxi area, they were as numerous as the hairs on an ox.

The Yinshan Sect did not have many people, but its name was extremely resounding.

This sect was also considered part of the Daoist gate, but it specialized in ghost arts. The Sect Master was the Yinshan Ancestor Xie Wuyang, a cultivator of the same generation as the True Man Sanfeng.

This Xie Wuyang was both righteous and evil, and his name was quite famous within the Mystic Sect.

This sect cultivated ghost arts, but it was not the Ghost Sect; rather, it was a Dharma lineage formed by fusing various Dharma lineages of Maoshan and Lushan with witchcraft and gu arts.

Most of its members moved in mysterious ways and rarely revealed their identities.

He never expected to encounter a Yinshan Sect Dharma flag here. Unfortunately, it had been used by "Old Man Bai" last night to block the False False Yin Si troops, and its spiritual essence had completely dissipated.

Li Yan pondered for a moment, "'Old Man Bai' fought fiercely with the Lord Lord Tian Sheng Sect before; I reckon he got it from those people."

"The Lord Lord Tian Sheng Sect has absorbed many wanted cultivators; it is not surprising that there are Yinshan Sect disciples among them."

Lu San, who was on the side, frowned and said in a muffled voice, "This corpse has too much yin evil energy and is very ominous. It attracted many demons and monsters on the road that wanted to occupy it."

"If you ask me, burning it directly is safer."

"Don't!"

Sha Lifei became anxious upon hearing this, "The new gunpowder was almost exhausted last night, and Brother Li Yan also wasted a Gang Order, and it took so much effort to move this thing back. Wouldn't it be a huge loss to burn it!"

As he spoke, he hurriedly looked at Li Yan and touched his bald head, "Brother Li Yan, this thing is the physical body of a Mountain God. It must be worth a lot of money, right?"

"It is indeed valuable."

Li Yan said in a deep voice, "The skin, hair, and bones can all be used to refine Dharma artifacts. But it would be a pity to do that."

"Its soul has scattered, but the body remains intact. Those Dharma lineages that refine corpses would want to obtain this thing even if it meant exhausting their family fortune."

"But selling it to them would likely cause trouble. Yuan Feng, the Physician of the Yuheng Qingli Division of the Ministry of Works, told me that the Qiankun Academy is preparing to collect rare items from all over the world. This thing can be sold to them."

"That's good, that's good."

Sha Lifei was happy, "That Yuan Feng is an elder of the Mo Sect and is responsible for the production of new firearms. Let's sell it to them and build a good relationship."

Li Yan shook his head, "Selling it is fine, but I had you find this thing and bring it back for another reason."

After saying this, he arrived before the corpse of "Old Man Bai," slapped his palms down continuously, and using a clever force, made it spit out something from its belly.

Clang!

A bronze box fell to the ground.

"There's treasure in its belly!"

Sha Lifei's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly picked it up. He saw that this thing was bagua-shaped, with protrusions section by section underneath, as if eight keys had been fused together.

Wang Daoxuan said suspiciously, "This thing seems to be a strange-shaped lock."

"That's right."

Li Yan said in a deep voice, "When interrogating the origins of this 'Old Man Bai' last night, I discovered one thing: the Divine Spirit tribe in Shennongjia was tampered with by sorcerers of the Fangxian Dao, which is why the human-faced owls appeared."

"They were originally a race created by people to guard something."

As he spoke, he looked toward the northwest, "That side is Shennong Peak. In the memory of 'Old Man Bai,' the Divine Spirit tribe migrated from that side."

Sha Lifei's breathing became heavy, "You mean... there is treasure on Shennong Peak?"

Li Yan recalled the palpitations he felt yesterday and shook his head, "I fear it's not that simple..."

(End of chapter)