Chapter 421

"Who on earth are you?!"

A woman shouted sharply, her eyes already full of vigilance.

Although the others didn't speak, their faces covered by white veils, their killing intent was even stronger.

Outside the hall, dense insects crawled out from the flower beds and brick crevices, as small as sesame seeds, jumping and moving at high speed...

On the rafters inside the house, a strange snake with a dark, long horn spat its tongue and slithered out from the darkness...

The entire residence was instantly filled with killing intent.

Clatter!

Sha Lifei stood up abruptly, pulled out his dual pistols from his chest, pointing them left and right at the women, cursing, "You cowardly thieves, you're all like dogs, turning your faces the moment you're displeased..."

Wu Ba also hurriedly got up, grabbed his large board axe, not forgetting to stuff a chicken leg into his mouth...

Lu San's expression was cold, and he had already secretly formed a magic seal.

Wang Daoxuan sighed, touching the pouch on his right side. There was nothing special there, only a small pottery jar sealed with a "Black Calamity"...

Li Yan narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

"Wuwu~"

Crying sounds rang out; it was the two little girls, Wu Chaoyun and Wu Xingyu. They were at a loss and started to cry.

This crying interrupted the atmosphere that was on the verge of breaking out.

The old woman Bai Huan sighed, "I said, the children returned strangely, and there was a 'Guest in the Mist' blocking the way..."

"I will speak plainly; are you all also invited by the Salt Gang?"

"Salt Gang?"

As soon as Li Yan heard this, he knew there was a misunderstanding and raised his hand to signal everyone to put down their weapons, "I have no connection with the Salt Gang."

The old woman said in a deep voice, "Then how did you know about this?"

Li Yan replied, "I have another identity, a Living Yin Messenger..."

"Oh?"

The old woman Bai Huan's pupils shrank slightly. She was silent for a moment and then said, "Since you are a Living Yin Messenger, do you have the Hook Token?"

Li Yan didn't say a word and took out the Hook Token to show her.

Only then did the old woman let out a sigh of relief, raised her hand, and said, "You all go down; it's a misunderstanding."

"Yes, Master."

Although those women were somewhat confused, they left obediently.

At the banquet, only the old woman, the two young girls, and Long Yan'er of the Gu Sect remained.

"So you are a Living Yin Messenger..."

The old woman nodded, her face full of apology, "I am truly sorry. The Salt Gang's methods are insidious and pervasive; they have already forced us to be on edge."

Li Yan thought thoughtfully, "I haven't told you the reason yet; why did you know that the Living Yin Messenger is related to the Divine Gang?"

The old woman said indifferently, "Young hero, you have already captured the escaped demonic qi, right? To tell you the truth, in my lineage's ancestry, there were also people who accidentally became Living Yin Messengers."

"Not only that, just last year, I also helped a fellow Daoist capture a strand of demonic qi near Wuxi. So, I know a little bit about some things."

"Oh?"

Although he had expected it, Li Yan also felt happy.

In the Great War of Investiture, the seventy-two Demon Lords were suppressed, leaving behind the evil arts of immortality, like a giant mine that could explode at any time.

Although Li Yan was not the type of person who wanted to take the lead when the sky fell, this thing always weighed on his heart, making him uncomfortable.

In this world, there was indeed more than just one person like him!

"Where is that senior?"

Li Yan hurriedly asked.

To be able to call this old woman a fellow Daoist, their age must not be small.

Bai Huan hesitated for a moment, shook her head, and said, "The Living Yin Messenger walks in the human world for the Yin Office, and there are many with ulterior motives. I cannot reveal that fellow Daoist's name."

"Understood."

Li Yan nodded and stopped asking about this matter.

He had no sect or faction, no inheritance, and the magic lineage that obtained the Hook Token only had an old woman waiting to die, which was no different from being extinct.

Revealing his identity brought many conveniences.

But at the same time, it also had major hidden dangers.

If he had known this earlier, he wouldn't have said anything at all. He changed the subject and asked, "What exactly is the Divine Gang? Is the Salt Gang also plotting for this thing?"

Bai Huan sighed, "Since you are a Living Yin Messenger, you will eventually know about this matter. Telling you is also for your own protection."

"Between heaven and earth, there is the Gang and Sha qi, ethereal and vast, changing in thousands of ways, without sorrow or joy, without righteousness or evil."

"Famous mountains and great rivers gather innate Gang qi, which can become blessed lands; dark and gloomy places gather innate Sha qi, which can be called dangerous lands. There are thousands of Mystic Sects, but their arts cannot escape the changes of these two qi."

"The so-called Divine Gang is the Gang qi gathered by gods."

"In ancient times, every mountain and river had gods, breathing in and out yin and yang, summoning wind and rain; that was gathering Divine Gang to perform great divine abilities..."

"Later, there were repeated great changes in heaven and earth, and the magnificent scenery of the primitive era did not return. Since the Investiture, fewer and fewer people could gather Divine Gang. Those blessed lands, incense offerings, and earth gods that have lasted for thousands of years without end might have a chance..."

"In addition, there are some gods from after the Investiture, such as the Eight Gods of Qi, the Ten Gods of Chu, etc., but they have also faded away with the changes in human morality."

"The greatest function of the Divine Gang is that it can enhance divine abilities, remove the six yang roots, and even condense other divine abilities."

Hearing this, Li Yan's pupils shrank instantly.

No wonder he could absorb some Divine Gang from the phoenix gold ornament; it turned out to be condensed by the Ten Gods of Chu.

No wonder capturing demonic qi was such a meritorious deed, rewarded with Divine Gang; this thing was completely worthy of it.

Thinking of this, another hint of doubt rose in his heart, "I have also tried it, but the Divine Gang cannot be absorbed by the six yang roots."

"That is because you don't know the method."

The old woman shook her head, "The Divine Gang is gathered by gods. Although we are cultivators, we are but mortals. Even ordinary Gang and Sha qi sometimes cause backlash, let alone the Divine Gang."

"Therefore, even if they know the method, very few people dare to try. Only those with resolute hearts are willing to take this risk..."

"So that's how it is."

Li Yan nodded slightly, and his doubts were finally resolved.

After being silent for a moment, he said, "Why is the Salt Gang plotting for the Divine Gang? Does the senior need us to take action?"

Since learning of his identity as a Living Yin Messenger, the old woman had spoken without reservation. As the leader of a sect, she wouldn't be so reckless; she must have other plans.

"What the Salt Gang is plotting is not the Divine Gang..."

The old woman was silent for a moment, looked at Wu Chaoyun and Wu Xingyu beside her, her eyes full of heartache, "My two granddaughters, their lives are bitter..."

These words were inexplicable, making Li Yan even more confused.

"What is there to be afraid of saying?"

Long Yan'er beside her suddenly spoke, looking sharp-tongued, "The grandmother is not comfortable saying it clearly, but I, an outsider, have no such scruples."

"I come from the Gu Sect. My senior brother is named Wu Haishan. He came here to celebrate the grandmother's birthday, and as a result, he fell in love with Bai Gu, who is Chaoyun and Xingyu's mother."

"The two of them traveled together in Wushan, and as a result, they were schemed against, and these two children were conceived on Goddess Peak."

"Originally, it was a good thing, and the two sects could be considered to have formed a marriage alliance. But when the children were just a month old, someone came down the mountain, named them Chaoyun and Xingyu, and ordered them to be sent up the mountain for bitter cultivation when they turned seven. 'Morning clouds, evening rain.' The Wushan Goddess helped Great Yu control the floods back then and had already become an earth god, not appearing in the human world for thousands of years. Someone was unwilling to give up and wanted to use these two children to play tricks, making the Goddess reappear in the human world..."

"Originally, my eldest brother and the grandmother secretly discussed that after he inherited the position of Sect Leader, he would secretly take the children away."

"Who knew that problems would arise on that side too? The Yang family of Bozhou played tricks, helping others seize the position of Sect Leader, and also harmed my eldest brother, letting me become the Saintess. I had no choice but to escape."

Sha Lifei asked in surprise, "Isn't it good to be a Saintess?"

Long Yan'er sneered, "Have you heard of the 'Falling Flower Cave Girl'? The Saintess is the Gu Sect's 'Falling Flower Cave Girl', married to the Gu Cave God, living a life worse than death from then on. Why don't you go be one?"

"Some cave gods don't care about gender; they like your type the most..."

"No, no, no."

Sha Lifei shrank his neck, "Old Sha doesn't have that hobby."

The two bantered, and the atmosphere relaxed a little.

The old woman Bai Huan sighed, "The children's father is dead, and there is no way back. My daughter went up the mountain herself on a windy and rainy day to beg, but unfortunately, she went and never returned."

"The Siming Society is actually divided into inner and outer circles. My Bai family is in Dachang City, and no one comes to provoke us, also because of the people on the mountain. Now that we have offended them, they no longer protect us."

!.

"Wushan blocks the Yangtze River, separating the Mystic Sects of Ezhou and Shu. The reason it can be handled safely is that since ancient times, countless experts from outside sects have gathered here to practice in seclusion. Once the Mystic Sects intervene, they will unite to resist."

"I don't know the Salt Gang's true purpose, but there is Divine Gang on my two granddaughters. They have kidnapped the people but haven't taken action, instead sending them into the Salt Water Tribe's cursed land; I fear they have other plans."

Li Yan frowned, "Does the senior have any clues?"

The old woman shook her head, "The Salt Water Tribe is also ancient. Back then, the Lord of Lin shot and killed the Salt Water Goddess. Although the Ba people later respected her as the Deji Goddess and many merged into the Ba State, there was still a tribe that harbored resentment."

"The Salt Water Tribe is actually a vassal state of the ancient Wu Xian State, descendants of Wu Peng among the Ten Shamans. They originally hoped for revenge, but they didn't expect the Ba people to rise, and even the Wu Xian State declined because of this."

"In despair, they cast vicious shamanic spells, turning them into curses, circling this place for generations, known as the 'Guests in the Mist'."

"They were originally suppressed by the Yunling Temple, but someone on the mountain played tricks, unwilling to confront the orthodox Mystic Sects head-on, so they incited chaotic soldiers to destroy the temple, and the 'Guests in the Mist' escaped because of this."

"What the Salt Gang is plotting is likely related to the Ten Shamans..."

"Could it be, the Elixir of Immortality?"

Wang Daoxuan asked in shock.

The most famous thing related to the legends of the Ten Shamans is the Elixir of Immortality, and they were also subordinates of another great god, the Queen Mother of the West.

"I don't know either."

The old woman Bai Huan shook her head and continued, "On Wushan, there are experts living in seclusion on all twelve peaks. We have lost protection, and there is someone pointing the way behind the Salt Gang, which is why they dare to be so arrogant and coercive."

Now that things have reached this point, everything is finally clear.

Li Yan said in a deep voice, "I don't know what the senior needs us to do?"

Bai Huan's eyes became firm, "My Bai family has worshipped for generations, but the people on the mountain are still so resolute, so we can only leave."

"To tell you the truth, I have an old friendship with a fellow Daoist on Mount Qingcheng. I have secretly sent people to ask for help, and Mount Qingcheng has agreed to let us live at the foot of the mountain and accept protection."

"But this journey will inevitably be dangerous. We dare not make it public and have secretly invited some experts to escort us, but the Salt Gang is wealthy, and these people have been bought off and have all refused."

"You few are wandering immortals; I wonder if you are willing to take on this job?"

Seeming to fear they would not agree, the old woman added, "If this matter can be successful, I am willing to offer a secret treasure of the Siming Society. It is in the Bashu region, a small cave treasure, with a secret location unknown to outsiders."

"As long as you reach Mount Qingcheng, someone will meet you."

"Oh?"

Li Yan pondered for a moment, looked at the others, and seeing no one objected, nodded, "Deal!"

Mount Qingcheng is going to open a secret treasure cave, and it is extremely high-end.

They have also seen the situation on Mount Hua.

Those secret treasures, calculated in silver, were long ago hyped to be exorbitantly high. Without the support of a sect or magic lineage, ordinary cultivators could only keep their distance.

The best way is to trade goods for goods.

If they can obtain a batch of secret treasures, they will have the qualifications to exchange.

Hearing this, the old woman looked slightly relieved, and then added, "However, before we leave, we must go up the mountain one more time."

"The life tablets of the two children are detained by the people on the mountain. If we leave Wushan, they will inevitably be harmed by their curse spells, so we must take them back first."

Wang Daoxuan frowned upon hearing this, "Forgive me for being talkative, but I fear we cannot deal with the people on the mountain."

Li Yan did not hide some things.

The orthodox Mystic Sects have earth immortals hidden away, one is protected by the sect, and the other is the foundation of the sect, not appearing in the world. These people are called "Hidden Immortals."

There are also some outer-sect earth immortals, both righteous and evil, who also hide in deep mountains and old forests, called "Mountain Immortals."

Those on Wushan are mostly "Mountain Immortals."

"Hahaha..."

Long Yan'er laughed, "That's where you don't understand. Everything has its counter. If the people on the mountain weren't making trouble and supporting them, we would have already left."

"But this little brother is a Living Yin Messenger. If he reveals his identity and walks up the mountain openly, those people will have to hide themselves tightly!"

The old woman Bai Huan also nodded and said in a deep voice, "What I am worried about are these 'Mountain Immortals.' As long as Li Li Shaoxia Li can suppress them, the rest depends on my methods!"

As she spoke, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes.

Li Yan believed this.

The old woman Bai Huan, despite her polite speech, was actually an expert not weaker than Yulongzi of the Five Dragon Temple, and her shamanic arts were strange, skilled in insect and Gu techniques.

If there was no higher power to block her, she really wouldn't fear anything.

Thinking of this, Li Yan nodded, "Since the senior has made a decision, it is clear you already have a plan. May I hear it?"

The old woman replied, "In two days, there will inevitably be a great cloud and rain. Every year at this time, we go up the mountain to worship and offer sacrifices to the Wushan Goddess, and people from the sect will also seek opportunities on Goddess Peak."

"At that time, you all can go along. By the way, let this little brother seek an opportunity. The people on the mountain will definitely think I am going to bow my head."

"I don't want to burn bridges either. At that time, the little brother only needs to reveal his identity, and they will naturally retreat. Someone will make arrangements at the foot of the mountain. After taking back the life tablets, we will immediately leave Wushan and head to Shu!"

"Good!"

Li Yan nodded in agreement.

The old woman's arrangement was already perfect, and he couldn't think of a better way.

As for the "Mountain Immortals," to him, they were just Yin criminals; he had already wiped out a nest on Mount Xian.

It's just that some things shouldn't be done too ruthlessly. For example, when he went to Mount Wudang, he played dumb, even if the Hook Token reacted, he acted as if he hadn't noticed.

If they really angered him, he would just sweep Wushan!

…………

In the following two days, everyone stayed in Dachang.

Under the nourishment of enough "Wushan Divine Tea," Lu San's injuries also recovered rapidly.

And the people of the Siming Society were also constantly busy preparing in secret.

They had been in Dachang for many years and naturally left behind many secret hands.

Finally, after three consecutive days of cloudy weather, thunderclouds gathered in the sky, showing signs of rain...

Second update in the afternoon

(End of chapter)