Chapter 621

"The window frames the thousand-year snow of Xiling, the door berths the ten-thousand-mile boat of Dongwu."

This famous quatrain by Du Fu has been passed down through the ages, making Mount Xilingxue famous throughout the world, but romance and reality are only separated by a layer of paper.

Wind, frost, rain, and snow are just there, not happy because of things, not sad because of oneself, whether it is the cruelty of reality or the expression of poetry, it all depends on one's own state of mind.

At least, Li Yan and the others are not in the mood now.

The cold wind howls, carrying ice particles.

Blowing in the face, making people's faces ache.

Li Yan stopped, shook the snow off his sheepskin hat, and looked up at the surroundings.

But he saw the surrounding snow like silver, breathing into ice, with thousand-ren cliffs standing on three sides, and only one small path that could wind to the top of the mountain.

On the top of the distant mountain, it seemed to be covered with an iron-gray ice shell, and the snow that never melted all year round condensed into ice crystal glaze hanging down.

Under the cloudy sky, it shone with a cyan-blue ghostly light.

"This is Daxuetang."

The Bai family woman leading the way turned her head to introduce.

Many of these women pursued the art of Gu poison, but their aptitude was not enough, leading to backlash, and poisonous sores appeared on their faces.

When they were in the ancient city of Dachang, they were very defensive, all dressed in white, covering their faces with white gauze, and declared that those who took off the gauze must either marry or die.

And now, they have all joined the Shuiyue Nunnery, can be considered officially ordained, settled down, and also saw through the suffering of the skin.

Just like this woman, she had long taken off her white clothes, changed into a thick cotton-padded monk's robe, and the poisonous sores on her face were displayed in front of everyone without any scruples, and her whole face was frozen red.

She pointed to the front and said: "The place we are going to is on the east side of the snow, on a mountain pass on Baishagang, which the locals call the Yin-Yang Boundary."

"Yin-Yang Boundary?"

Sha Lifei frowned: "Isn't it said that we are cultivating in a cave heaven and blessed land? Why does this name sound a bit uncomfortable."

The woman laughed dumbly, shook her head and said: "This 'Yin-Yang' does not refer to the underworld and the world of the living, just because one side is a snow plateau, cold and dry, and one side is the Shu basin, warm and humid."

Her true form was "tiger teeth and leopard tail," symbolizing the ruthlessness and regeneration of natural laws, and also representing the fears of the ancestors.

"The change of earth Qi is also affected, making the cave like an ice hell, but it also contains a trace of vitality, which is just right for Senior Sister Long to retreat."

Her words were gentle and she had a smile on her face, but she looked into the distance from time to time, and the worry in her eyes could not be concealed.

Sha Lifei was used to observing words and colors, and immediately realized that something was wrong, and hurriedly asked: "Is something wrong? We are all our own people, no need to cover up."

The woman nodded, put away her smile, and said: "The plan of the Madam and Senior Sister Long was originally correct, but now there has been some trouble..."

Li Yan looked around and suddenly understood, "Weather?"

"Yes."

The woman said in a deep voice: "It has been snowing continuously before the year, and the Madam was happy in her heart, saying that Senior Sister Long's method of re-cultivating the natal Gu is the colder the better, and this time it can be safe and sound."

"But now the climate is abnormal, and it is still cold even now, the four seasons of heaven and earth are chaotic, and I don't know if the Gu insects can be conceived."

Sha Lifei heard this and was suddenly a little anxious, "Then what should we do?"

The woman was silent, obviously not knowing what to do.

Li Yan looked into the distance, "Don't panic, let's go and see first."

After speaking, he led the crowd to continue moving forward.

Because of the continuous snow in Shu, the snow in Daxuetang had reached knee-deep, not only was it difficult to walk, but sometimes one could hear the sound of cracking.

That is the ice shell under the snow.

The snow melts into a stream, expands after freezing, and the bottom will be hollow, hiding those deep gullies, and one will fall if not careful.

Fortunately, Li Yan opened his supernatural powers, even if covered by heavy snow, he could smell the soil underneath clearly, and led the crowd to avoid the dangerous areas.

After a long time, the crowd finally arrived in the mountain col.

Standing in it, but seeing the stone-built reception pavilion, it had already been crushed by heavy snow, and under the remaining half of the eaves, long icicles hung down.

Everything was desolate, and it seemed that vitality had been frozen.

The crowd followed the small path piled with ice and snow, climbed up the mountain ridge with difficulty, and the scene in front of them suddenly opened up, appearing a strange scene:

Looking west, the Chu sky is vast and magnificent.

Looking east, the dark clouds press down on the top, and the mountains dance like silver snakes.

The whole sky is clearly divided, as if the gods are painting with clouds.

The crowd stood still for a long time, and the Bai family woman leading the way shook her head and said: "I have been here before, although the Yin-Yang Boundary has strange scenery, it is not like this, it is mostly caused by the change of time."

Li Yan looked around, "Where is the person?"

The Bai family woman pointed to the middle of the cliff opposite, "Just beside that old pine tree on the mountainside, because the road is difficult, there are not many people who rent to build buildings, just right for quiet, so as not to be disturbed by others."

The crowd looked over, but saw that the cliff had been covered by ice and snow, and only through the small depression could one barely see that it was a cave dwelling.

Sha Lifei frowned, "Haven't come out since entering before the year?"

"Don't worry."

The woman seemed to know what he was thinking, and explained: "The Madam said that re-refining the natal Gu requires using the turtle-breathing technique to fast, focus the spirit and forget oneself, and conceive vitality from nothingness."

"The mountain essence powder brought by Senior Sister Long is enough to last until the end of the month."

Li Yan was also a little puzzled, "Frozen inside alone, how do you judge that Miss Long is okay?"

The Bai family woman pointed to the old pine tree and said: "There is a hole in that tree, leading directly to the cave dwelling, Senior Sister Long has firefly Gu, released at night, even if far away, she can see clearly."

"Every first and fifteenth day, we will come to check, and Senior Sister Long will also wake up and send a letter at night to inform us of her safety."

"Tomorrow is the fifteenth, if there are no accidents, Senior Sister Long will notify us, and I guess it is time to break through the barrier."

"Good method."

Li Yan couldn't help but praise.

He realized more and more that supernatural powers do not necessarily have to pursue ferocity, but should be light and easy, and saving people is more important than killing people.

Thinking of this, he looked around and said: "Old Sha, the Daoist priest and I will enter the cave dwelling to cultivate, and we will leave the barrier in two days, everyone go and avoid the wind and snow first."

This was a plan set in advance.

On Mount Xilingxue, there are also cave heaven and blessed lands.

Sha Lifei awakened his body supernatural powers, and with the help of the White-Clothed Great Scholar's bracelet, he had already stabilized his spirit, enough to build the first floor, and since then become a cultivator.

Wang Daoxuan and Lu San had already stepped into the third floor.

They didn't have Li Yan's opportunity, to build the fourth floor, even if their talent was outstanding, they would have to wait until the end of this year.

However, Wang Daoxuan had another opportunity.

He obtained the "Five-Head Divine Secret Art" from Ming Shanzi of the Cheng family, which was passed down from the immortal "Chi Jiang Zi Yu" and is an ancient Qi-refining method.

"Chi Jiang Zi Yu" is the source of the techniques of their Xixuan lineage, which can be considered to have completed his supernatural powers, without needing to go to the Shangqing Sect to argue.

This "Five-Head Divine Secret Art" has a wonderful point, which is that it can be used with divided heart.

Ordinary cultivators casting spells often need to concentrate, once they are distracted, the spell will fail at best, and they will be backlashed at worst, so the first pass for cultivators to enter the door is to enter meditation and eliminate distracting thoughts.

And after practicing the "Five-Head Divine Secret Art", one can use divided heart for two purposes, as if having an extra head, the higher the cultivation, the more spells one can control at the same time.

Since then, when Wang Daoxuan sets up an altar to perform rituals, he has the power to protect himself, and can cast spells at the same time to block attackers.

But this is just a small technique.

The true power of the "Five-Head Divine Secret Art" lies in the ability to cultivate a Great Luo Dala Fajie supernatural power, called "Five-Head Yi Shentong".

This supernatural power is the method of ancient Qi-refining scholars.

On weekdays, one can breathe in the innate Gang Sha Qi and store it in the chest and abdomen to nurture it, and if one encounters a strong enemy, one can spit it out to bless the spell and make the power more fierce.

It can be considered a trump card for saving one's life.

Of course, this supernatural power also has two limitations.

One is that, like Li Yan's previous Hooking Soul Lei Suo, it requires consuming the Gang Sha Qi stored on weekdays, and after using it up, one has to breathe it in again.

Although it can be successful in a few days, it can't keep up with the urgency, and one can only increase the stored Gang Sha Qi after the cultivation and supernatural powers are profound.

The other is that it requires Divine Gang.

After all, this is not the ancient barbaric times, plus some reasons, if one wants to cultivate Dala Fajie supernatural powers, one cannot do without Divine Gang.

The reward promised by the Dragon Girl to them, besides entering the Dragon Palace Water Mansion to pick treasures, is the Divine Gang of the River God Great Lord.

It is a pity that the spiritual rhyme of the River God Great Lord was seized by the immortal Li Wenyuan who descended to the world, and finally, the Divine Gang extracted by the Dragon Girl only had two left.

Wang Daoxuan used this Divine Gang to cultivate supernatural powers.

As for Lu San, he is completely on a different path from their Daoist Mystic Sect, walking the path of Chu Witchcraft, and still has no opportunity for Dala Fajie supernatural powers.

After setting the plan, the crowd continued to move forward.

This "Yin-Yang Boundary" area has more than one cultivation cave dwelling.

They didn't walk far, bypassed a mountain ridge, and a crack-like mountain col suddenly appeared in front of them, covered by thick snow, and if one didn't look carefully, one couldn't find it at all.

"Just here."

The Bai family woman led the crowd into the mountain col.

But seeing that on the stone wall inside, several stone caves were carved, reaching several feet deep, plus the mountain col was sheltered from the wind, it could be considered a perfect place to live.

The Bai family woman walked while introducing: "This is also a spiritual vein earth aperture, but compared to Senior Sister Long's, it is much worse, causing Qingcheng to be too lazy to send people to manage it permanently."

"They mainly use the cave heaven aperture on Mount Zhaogong, and here occasionally some impoverished small cultivators will come to build buildings..."

The crowd followed in and looked left and right.

Sure enough, these caves were very simple, without even a door, just putting some loose stones on the ground to pile up and block the wind when retreating.

There were traces of burning fire inside, but no one had been here for a long time, and there were many firewood piled up deep in the cave, covered with dust.

The crowd lit a bonfire, and it was suddenly much warmer.

They roasted the dry food, boiled some snow water in an iron pot, and after filling their stomachs, they began to prepare.

Sha Lifei's side was the most troublesome, he was building the foundation for the first time and had no experience, fortunately he was also cultivating the "Xixuan Dongming True Sutra".

Wang Daoxuan personally gave guidance, and also planned to wait one more night to protect Sha Lifei, and after he succeeded, he would absorb the Divine Gang.

As for Li Yan, with Lu San's help, he blocked another cave with stones and entered to retreat.

The stones were blocked, the snow water mixed with mud filled the gaps, and soon it froze hard, and the inside fell into darkness.

Because it was not building a building, the process was much simpler.

Li Yan lit eight lotus lamps and placed them in the Bagua direction, then took out the Hooking Order and the Goddess Xiwangmu shrine.

He picked up the Hooking Order to check, and there was only one Divine Gang inside.

Before, he took the task of capturing Lang Wu, although the other party was beheaded in the battle, it was not him who took action, plus his status as a Heavenly Official, so there was no punishment or reward.

And Lu Sheng, in order to avoid the other party falling into the underworld and being rescued, would rather not have the reward than beat him until his soul flew away.

Beheading Li Wenyuan earned a Lei Gang.

This is more fierce than the Divine Gang, and after being absorbed by the Hooking Soul Lei Suo, it can already produce thunder by itself.

Thinking of this, Li Yan felt a move in his heart, and the Hooking Soul Rope whistled out, crackling with electric light.

Although it could show the traces of the Lei Suo, compared to using Heavenly Thunder, the power was obviously much smaller, about the same as a high-voltage electric baton.

Li Yan saw this and shook his head slightly.

The lethality of this Lei Gang is not strong, the biggest role is to flow for a long time, without needing to absorb Heavenly Thunder, it can also accumulate thunder.

Besides that, it can also enhance the power of his thunder method martial arts and the Dust-Breaking Knife, plus the Undying Seal Method, the close combat ability is even more fierce.

Holding the Hooking Order, Li Yan was thoughtful, and then put it away.

Obtaining Divine Gang is not easy.

Even him, he has to take on relevant tasks.

Capturing Yin criminals can earn Gang Orders.

Capturing the demonic Qi of the Seventy-Two Demon Gods can earn Divine Gang.

Completing Heavenly Official tasks can earn Lei Gang.

Since the battle of the Shu Prince's Palace, no tasks have been received.

His supernatural power Hooking Soul Lei Suo, absorbing Lei Gang has a greater effect, absorbing this Divine Gang will at most make the Lei Suo grow a few meters.

It's better to keep it for backup.

After all, completing these tasks requires the help of companions, if he is greedy and swallows it alone, he will only become a lonely person in the end.

He is not that kind of person either.

After putting away the Hooking Order, Li Yan picked up the Goddess Xiwangmu shrine again.

Clatter~

The Thousand-Thought Sha Qi of the armguard surged, washing away the incense accumulated in these two days on the shrine.

This matter is a bit strange, perhaps related to the belief in the Goddess Xiwangmu, but Li Yan is too lazy to bother, and absorbs its spiritual rhyme early.

Li Yan already had experience in absorbing Cave Heaven Stones.

After entering the spirit-focusing space, he immediately looked up.

But seeing the Luo Feng Mountain already towering into the clouds, the black soul sea around it set off a storm, the dark clouds in the sky surged, and streaks of thunder connected heaven and earth.

Li Yan didn't say a word, pinched the formula and pulled towards the sky.

Soon, the thunder became more violent.

The low dark clouds in the sky were squeezed away by a behemoth.

Immediately, the mountain-like shrine fell slowly, and the statue of the Goddess Xiwangmu above was lifelike.

Leopard tail and tiger teeth, disheveled hair and wearing a crown, like a terrifying fierce god, looking down at him from high altitude.

If ordinary cultivators saw this, they would be terrified.

And Li Yan, just expressionless, focused his spirit, kept pulling the shrine, and with the help of the Great Luo Dharma Body's power, introduced its spiritual rhyme into Luo Feng Mountain.

On the pitch-black Luo Feng Mountain, around the four-layer divine building and one-layer palace, eight small paths appeared again, leading to all directions.

The divine shrines of the Eight Generals of the Inner Altar also began to take shape...

……

Just when Li Yan was cultivating, it was already night outside.

In the cave opposite, Sha Lifei was shivering with cold, and the densely packed lotus soul-attracting lamps around him could not give him any warmth at all.

"Stupid, cultivation is really suffering."

Sha Lifei complained in his mouth, but his hands didn't stop.

He knew that in order to let himself cultivate, the companions in the team didn't know how much thought they had spent.

He also often wore the precious Guanyin Great Scholar's bracelet.

He dared not live up to this friendship.

And he wouldn't miss this opportunity to change his destiny.

That's right, change destiny!

A first-floor cultivator is just the bottom layer in the Mystic Sect martial world.

But it's different for him.

Borrowing the candlelight, Sha Lifei took out the "Meishan Firearm Dharma Compendium" and opened a page.

The "Meishan Firearm Dharma Compendium" is a summary of the thoughts of many cultivators exchanging and comprehending techniques in Meishan.

Many of them are a bit whimsical and difficult to realize at all, Meishan just wrote them in out of politeness.

For example, there is a narrative from an Emei elder inside:

"Sword cultivators use Geng metal as bones, I observe that firearm saltpeter and sulfur also contain metal evil, so I tried it with the 'Light-Splitting Shadow-Sweeping Formula'. Take pig iron at noon to forge the gun barrel, quench it in cold spring at midnight, carve the 'Shadow-Sweeping Talisman' on the barrel, and the 'Light-Splitting Pattern' on the stock, but it didn't succeed..."

"The scarred-face gunsmith in Longquanyi has the supernatural power of 'Artifact Sense', and can occasionally succeed, the gun fires like a sword pill shooting, nine turns and continuous without end."

"It's a pity that few people understand 'Artifact Sense', this method is difficult to succeed and difficult to popularize..."

Artifact Sense?

Sha Lifei scratched his head.

After he awakened his body supernatural powers, he had a special feeling for artifacts, whether he was blacksmithing at the time or using a firearm, it was like an arm pointing.

He specifically asked, others who awakened body supernatural powers didn't have this ability.

I don't know if this is "Artifact Sense"...

(End of chapter)