Chapter 302: Wuling Trembles, Legends of the World, Cutting Weeds and Eliminating Roots

In the Wuling market, the mountain city was hidden amidst green hills. Within the city, the spiritual light of the restrictive formations on the four high watchtowers flickered faintly. Only one city gate remained open, while the other three were completely sealed, presenting a scene of strict defense.

Yet, the number of escaping lights entering and exiting had increased. It was just that the spiritual lights of these cultivators came and went in a hurry, and the figures of many regular customers were missing.

The market deacon, Zhou Kang, stood behind the counter, while Old Huo was to the side, boiling water for tea.

He opened the tea canister, his hand pausing slightly for a moment before he said, as if unintentionally: "This month was supposed to be the day the Lei family's Lei Bamboo tea hit the market, but how is it that the Lei family's shop has closed its doors?"

Zhou Kang put down the abacus in his hand and laughed: "Old Huo, I never see you drinking bamboo tea on ordinary days, saying the flavor is too pungent. Why did you think of it today?"

Old Huo puffed out his beard and glared: "If I don't bring this up first, are you going to hold it in for a lifetime?"

Zhou Kang sighed: "The Lei family's head mistress sought a bottle of Vitality Spirit Pill from our sect at a great price just last month, saying it was for the Third Young Master's Foundation Establishment. At that time, the Lei Sea secret realm had just been discovered, and the Lei family occupied one of the entrances; they were so imposing, their momentum unmatched... Who would have thought that the emergence of a demon cave would change the heavens for the several great clans of this commandery!"

"The Lei family acted tyrannically; they deserved this calamity..."

Old Huo picked up a tea spoon to stir the salt in the tea, lifted the tea cup, blew on it before his lips, and sighed: "Vitality Spirit Pill! In my life, I've only seen it this once... It's been a long time since I've seen any trace of that distinguished guest! It is said that those two toads and the rat demon who colluded with the Xin family once touched the cave dwelling where that guest was temporarily staying?"

"Don't mention it... when they found it, only a skin was left!" Zhou Kang raised his head and sneered: "Now, those old foxes of the Xin family—several died in the demon cave trip, and even their Great Elder was trapped there!"

"And the Corpse-Carrying Demon Fox!" Old Huo said: "That green-eyed fox carrying three malevolent corpses—if it hadn't acted too secretively and leaned toward the demonic path, who knows who would be the Xin family's number one expert!"

Having said this, the two fell into a long silence. Zhou Kang sighed deeply: "Jin family's Jin Zhong, Lei family's Lei Yu, Xin family's Demon Fox, plus the elders and retainers of each family, and even the outstanding talents of the younger generation... all trapped in that ominous place! Very few came out alive."

After a large number of rogue cultivators returned from the demon cave, their first choice was to run to the Wuling market to settle down. The news they brought back shocked the entire market!

These past few days, the market had been shrouded in an oppressive and panicked atmosphere.

Some said that a Supreme Supreme Supreme Tian Mo was suppressed within the Lei Sea demon cave, and once the demon emerged, the Shenzhou would fall into a thousand-year demonic calamity again.

Some said that immortals were buried within the Lei Sea demon cave, that it was an immortal mausoleum containing terrifying restrictions, and that a rogue cultivator had stolen immortal bones from the mausoleum and attained the Dao.

Others said this was a layout by a Great Dao Sect; the Lei Sea was a forbidden area cordoned off by a Great Dao Sect, and the several great clans had offended someone's territory and were schemed against and slaughtered.

But Old Huo, as an outer sect elder retainer of the Wuling Immortal Gate, knew some of the true inside story. He dared not say anything outside, so he could only hide in the attic and secretly talk to Zhou Kang.

"At the entrance of the demon cave, there are ancient bronze lamps, setting up a Heaven-Stealing Grand Array to condense life-extending oil. But those who dared to act rashly became sacrifices; just at the entrance, many people died. Legend has it that it is a road to the Yellow Springs, and beneath the road, a great terror is suppressed!"

"To obtain the life-extending oil, there are only a few methods: either offer blood sacrifices to the bronze lamps, or... wait until one's lifespan is at its end and perform the Heaven-Stealing Technique!"

"Although the demon cave is dangerous, some people still brought out life-extending oil... Many whose lifespans are nearing their end have decided that when the demon cave opens again, they will take the risk and go in for a try!"

Zhou Kang said: "They still dare to go in? How many Core Formation old monsters died this time?"

"But many rogue cultivators with ordinary cultivation also walked out. Legend has it that that piece of demonic soil was sealed by predecessors of the Dao Sect, and many places left a glimmer of survival. Many who died this time did so because they did not understand the taboos of the demonic soil!"

Old Huo rolled his eyes at him and sighed: "If my lifespan were also nearing its end, rather than using forbidden methods to extend it, I might as well go in and try my luck. Even if I die there, it is said there are geomantic treasure lands that can bless descendants to be buried in!"

"Deeper in the demon cave, there are six great powers buried there. Every geomantic treasure land is a rare acupoint of the world, capable of helping people live another life! It's a pity that most of the geomantic taboos are things those rogue cultivators are ignorant of; they only know that one must have three pillars of Heavenly Incense to protect the body to go deep!"

Zhou Kang, hearing this, also said with great interest: "I have also heard a whisper; it is said that there is a White Bone Corpse Land there, filled with burial soil, and there are nine great rare acupoints, right?"

"Of the nine great rare acupoints, the only one revealed is the Dragon-Forming Tree, but great Yin-Yang masters have analyzed that it is a Ten Thousand Ghost Altar, a God-Sealing Altar... buried within is the beloved daughter of a Ghost King, using oxen, sheep, and pigs as grand sacrifices. The several great clans coveted that geomantic rare acupoint and died there in large numbers."

Zhou Kang also said: "Isn't it said to be the beloved concubine of the Heishan Ghost King from overseas?"

"Nonsense, that Ghost King wields a pair of great iron hooks, his face is ferocious; what relationship does he have with the mysterious and unfathomable Heishan Ghost King? Moreover, the Heishan Ghost King was forced by the three Great Heavenly Masters to take a Daoist oath never to enter the Central Lands in this lifetime; how could he possibly bury his beloved concubine in Guangling Commandery?"

"These are all just small matters. What truly shocked the sect was the Eight Great Demon-Suppressing Halls..." Speaking of this, Old Huo's voice could not help but lower: "It is said that even the ancestors who had been in seclusion for a long time were alarmed! The sect's high-level officials discussed behind closed doors for a long time, and finally, news came out: the ancestor ordered that no one is allowed to provoke the demon suppressed in the demon cave!"

Zhou Kang felt a faint panic. He whispered: "It is said that the Jin family ancestor also died there? Is it true?"

Old Huo was silent for a long time, the atmosphere somewhat oppressive, until Zhou Kang's forehead faintly showed sweat, and he finally spoke: "This matter, you must not discuss with outsiders..."

"It is true!"

After being speechless for a moment, Zhou Kang blurted out: "This... this is a Yin Spirit ancestor!"

"Don't talk about Yin Spirit ancestors! The Jin family was tainted with a mysterious curse in the demon cave; the situation now, if not handled with care, will lead to the entire family being wiped out!" Old Huo said with faint fear: "Besides, this trip to the demon cave, do you know how many Core Formation True Persons died?"

"Now, surely no one dares to touch that forbidden area, right?" Zhou Kang thought for a long time before letting out a sigh of relief: "With such terrifying things suppressed inside, I fear even the Lei Sea will become a taboo."

Old Huo shook his head: "Wrong!"

"Within the demon cave, there are life-extending spirit medicines, countless heavenly spirit objects, and even geomantic treasure lands formed by creation, as well as Earthly Fiend Qi and exotic vitality that help with Core Formation. Most importantly, the suppressed Supreme Supreme Tian Mo produces a creation called Supreme Supreme Tian Mo Spirit Marrow every sixty years, which is a supreme wonderful item for cultivating the Yin Spirit. Every Core Formation True Person in the world whose lifespan is nearing its end will go crazy for this!"

"The legacy and creation of a Nascent Soul Supreme Supreme Tian Mo!"

"What about the several entrances to the Lei Sea secret realm?" Zhou Kang asked in a low voice.

"The Tao family sealed the entrance they controlled, limiting it to only fifty Tao family disciples entering each year. The Jin family is in chaos; it is said they want to transfer the entrance they control to clans from other commanderies. The Xin family is in internal strife; rumors say the Xin family's married-out daughter is about to return home to seize power. If they succeed, the entrance controlled by the Xin family might produce some quotas each year to provide to their husbands' families."

"Even the entrance controlled by our sect will have limited quotas!"

Zhou Kang asked in surprise: "This is... why? The resources of the Lei Sea..."

"Because..." Old Huo smiled bitterly: "Because the Lei Sea was truly opened by a Great Dao Sect. Even after the Shenxiao Sect took over the Lei family's entrance, they could only limit the entry quotas. Of these several entrances, perhaps only the one in the hands of Xin Shisan Niang can release nearly a hundred quotas each month!"

"This rumor is actually true!"

"Then why can Xin Shisan Niang have no such scruples?" Zhou Kang was somewhat puzzled.

"Because the tiger's backyard can accommodate a clever rabbit jumping around, but it cannot tolerate a jackal coming and going freely... Xin Shisan Niang is very likely related to that Great Dao Sect. They don't care about the scraps taken by rogue cultivators; they only need the Shenxiao Sect and the Tao family to show respect. Otherwise, why did more than half of the rogue cultivators survive this time, while very few of the several great clans survived?"

At this moment, someone stumbled into the attic. Zhou Kang hurriedly shut his mouth and went to greet them: "What would the guest like to buy?"

That person threw out a Universe Bag: "Exchange it for Wuling Faith Talismans!"

Zhou Kang took the Universe Bag, his expression changed in horror, and he subconsciously clutched the Universe Bag tightly, exclaiming: "This is..."

"You are in the business, you don't need to ask so much! I also trust your Wuling Immortal Gate to come here!" That person's beard was messy, his face somewhat pale; he looked like he had been injured.

Zhou Kang hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, yes... I will exchange it for Faith Talismans for the guest right away!"

Old Huo stood up and took a look, raised his head to look at the newcomer, and said: "These are all goods from the Jin family's Jin Yu Pavilion. Are you from the Jin family?"

The newcomer wanted to scold, but sensing Old Huo's aura, he shut his mouth abruptly.

Old Huo said: "Rest assured, with my status, I wouldn't plot against these few things of yours... You should want to exchange for something to break the curse, right!"

"Old Huo certainly wouldn't look down on these few things of mine, but now the tree has fallen and the monkeys have scattered. Without the big tree of the Jin family to shelter from the wind and rain, I have to be a bit cautious!"

"Let me take a look for you... only by identifying the symptoms can one cure the disease!" Old Huo said calmly.

That person hesitated for a moment and closed the door behind him. Zhou Kang tactfully blocked the doorway. Only then did he see that person unbutton his clothes, revealing a tattoo on his back—a pair of blood-red marks like eyes, branded on his back.

"Ever since I got this ghost thing, I have nightmares every day..."

"What did you dream of?" Old Huo's face revealed horror, and he even reached out to touch the mark, then pulled back as if electrocuted.

"Dreamed of the demon cave..."

Zhou Kang couldn't help but say: "You have been into the demon cave?"

That person smiled bitterly: "It is precisely because I have not been into the demon cave that it seems terrifying! The bodies of those from the Jin family who have been into the demon cave are now stopped in the main hall of the ancestral land. Every night, very terrifying sounds come from there."

That person looked at Old Huo and the others and said sternly: "Do you know that the ancestral lands of the clans in Guangling and the surrounding commanderies have all undergone terrifying mutations! Even the clans that have not entered the demon cave have had all kinds of weird things appear in their ancestral graves."

"Someone consulted the Libationer of the Dao Academy, who said that the earth veins might have mutated, the earth veins near the demon cave have been opened, and something is making mischief by borrowing the Yin soil..."

Old Huo's expression changed completely: "You are talking about that Supreme Supreme Tian Mo..."

"Anyway, although our Jin family has suffered a curse, the other clans, including the Liu family of your Wuling Immortal Gate, will not have it easy..." That person's spirit was nearing collapse, his eyes full of bloodshot veins, and he said crazily: "Once the lifespan is nearing its end, terrifying things will happen..."

Speaking of this, he trembled all over, as if these things made him even more afraid than the curse on his body.

Old Huo withdrew his hand and said solemnly: "This kind of curse can no longer be dispelled by the spirit medicines of the Wuling market! I don't know what its effect is yet, but your spiritual sense is chaotic; take this Heart-Clearing Pill and then speak!"

The newcomer hesitated for a moment, but gritted his teeth and took the fragrant pill Old Huo handed over. He swallowed it, and after a while, he calmed down slightly.

"Many thanks, Old Huo. I was a bit possessed by the devil!"

At this moment, a knock came at the door. The person outside knocked three times and waited quietly. The Jin family member's expression changed, he quickly put on his clothes, took the Wuling Faith Talismans and a bottle of Heart-Clearing Pills handed over by Old Huo, and also asked for a bamboo hat that could conceal his appearance and fear no spiritual sense scanning.

Zhou Kang opened the door and saw a woman carrying a fragrant breeze, wrapped in peach blossoms, slowly stepping into the attic. The woman was holding a small fox, her lotus steps graceful, very enchanting, but seeing her, even Old Huo had to stand up to greet her.

"Thirteen Niang!"

Xin Shisan Niang entered the shop, glanced at the Jin family man, and said: "Jin Jiu, where do you still want to run to?"

Jin Jiu gritted his teeth and said: "I am not running!"

"The day the Jin family's funeral corpses mutated, you went to the Lei family to seek help... what happened?" Xin Shisan Niang asked coldly.

Jin Jiu was sweating profusely, gritting his teeth and saying: "You should know, those old monsters who extended their lives have really become monsters! They are no longer human, but half-ghost, half-demon things!"

"I know, from now on, the eight commanderies around Guangling cannot steal heaven to extend life, because things that heaven doesn't care about, demons care about! Those old things that used the luck of ancestral graves to cover up the secrets of heaven have all been targeted by a terrifying existence!"

"But you should know, that's not what I want to ask!" Xin Shisan Niang said coldly: "Where did the Lei family ancestor go?"

Jin Jiu's legs trembled, and he knelt down.

"Don't... don't force me!" he said tremblingly.

Old Huo kept pulling Zhou Kang, whispering: "Let's go, listening to this is no good for us!" But although he said so, his footsteps did not move at all.

"Shisan Niang, you give me a way to live! I will tell you everything truthfully." Jin Jiu had a ruthless look on his face, quite like he would die together if she didn't agree.

"What do I want your life for? If I kill you, the Tao family will think I want to enjoy this secret alone? I can't afford to provoke them."

"Haha... now it should be my Tao family that can't afford to provoke Shisan Niang!"

Someone laughed and pushed open the door. Zhou Kang said: "Tao Third Young Master!"

Tao Third Young Master shook his fan and stepped into the shop, saying to Zhou Kang and Old Huo who were preparing to leave: "You stay and listen too! This matter cannot do without the Wuling Immortal Gate!"

Jin Jiu trembled even more violently when he saw Tao Third Young Master.

Tao Third Young Master looked left and right, and said to Zhou Kang: "Speaking of which, it's interesting. Do you remember the Dao Sect true disciple you received a few months ago? That chance encounter changed my life!"

"Me too... who could have expected that just making friends with a Dao Sect true disciple walking down the mountain that day would trigger so many subsequent changes?" Xin Shisan Niang sighed: "The descendant of the Louguan Dao has emerged, and the Dao Academy has already sent people to investigate."

"Think about it, so many Dao Sect true disciples have appeared in Guangling; isn't it because of the Louguan Dao being wiped out two years ago? The Louguan Dao was wiped out, the demon disciple last appeared in Guangling City, and then that fellow Daoist appeared in Wukong... Later, I didn't recognize the True Person and made many meaningless schemes. The Yuan Magnetic Earth Aperture Lei Sea was opened, and the Central Lands gained another Core Formation First Rank Dao Sect true disciple..."

Tao Third Young Master sighed deeply: "The demon cave matter, offending the forbidden area of the Louguan Dao, the several clans that attempted to make the Lei Sea their own, including my Tao family, have all received warnings. The Jin and Lei families were almost wiped out..."

"That group of old guys from the Xin family... died very unpeacefully!" Shisan Niang laughed very happily, almost wishing she could sing a song on the graves of those old foxes.

"Didn't expect... after that fellow Daoist accepted the legacy of the Louguan Dao predecessors, even the Lei family ancestor didn't dare to face him directly and could only flee!"

Tao Third Young Master sat down in front of Jin Jiu and said: "Speak! What happened that night?"

Jin Jiu trembled and dared not raise his head, saying in fear: "Someone came riding a white deer and took the head of the Lei family ancestor!"

"What?" everyone exclaimed in unison.

Xin Shisan Niang's pretty face was dull, her grace and luxury gone, only saying solemnly: "The Lei family ancestor couldn't escape? And died?"

Tao Third Young Master was so nervous he stopped shaking his fan, kept patting his right hand, and said: "That fellow Daoist, no... that senior, is becoming more and more terrifying. The twenty-eight characters of the Shenzhou, if..."

He seemed to have remembered something, suddenly laughed with joy: "Wang Yan, this old man, seems to be only a Yin Spirit. Does he know that because of one sentence of his, he brought such a big trouble to the Wang family?"

The two interrogated the specific situation of that night and then let Jin Jiu leave.

Before leaving, Old Huo couldn't help but ask: "The Dao Sect true disciple and Louguan disciple that the two mentioned, is it..."

Xin Shisan Niang turned her head upon hearing this and smiled sweetly: "Old Huo, didn't you identify the spirit pill of the Louguan Dao true disciple? The Supreme Spirit Pill, is it not miraculous?"

Old Huo was completely dull. Until the two left, and until Jin Jiu also quietly left, Zhou Kang pushed him, and Old Huo came back to his senses, his beard trembling: "It really is him! I actually met such a big figure. Among the twenty-eight characters of the Shenzhou, not many can compare to him, right!... No, what about the remaining Vitality Spirit Pills? Triple the price!"

In Old Huo's heart, that Dao Sect true disciple was originally an image of someone generous and wealthy. He even thought those spirit pills might have come from the elders of Qian Chen's sect, not refined by him personally.

But after Xin Shisan Niang pointed it out, he realized that the one who suppressed several great clans between his palms, and even personally killed the two Yin Spirit ancestors of the Jin and Lei families, was that young Daoist! With a flick of his finger, he could wipe out a middle-grade Core Formation expert like him dozens of times.

The terror of his strength was even above most of the twenty-eight characters of the Shenzhou.

Perhaps only Wang Longxiang of the Wang family and the Treasure Tree of the Xie family could compare with him, or the two outstanding talents of Northern Wei—the White-Clothed Buddha Son of the Buddhist Sect and the Xuanwei Crown Prince of the Cao family.

"Speaking of which, the Treasure Tree of the Xie family also seems to have the intention of going north to Jiankang recently. Wang and Xie being in Jiankang together is rare. Could it be that Northern Wei has sent envoys again?" Old Huo touched his beard and thought secretly.

Jin Jiu slipped out of the Wuling market. He set up his flying magic tool and flew for a long time. Just as he was about to leave Guangling Commandery, he suddenly landed, changed his attire, and even changed his magic tool.

He changed direction and flew toward Wu Commandery in the southeast.

But just as he lifted off the ground, he saw the south side of the snow peak ahead, the cliff face smooth and greenish, strange peaks and rocks, clustered like iron spears, a waterfall flying through them.

A young Daoist sat sideways on a white deer, stopping by the deep pool of the green cliff waterfall.

He placed an ancient zither across his knees, the white deer turned its head to lick his right hand, and two gold and silver boys were playing around not far away, holding a gourd and a ruyi.

Qian Chen smiled: "Qian has been waiting here for a long time!"

"Didn't expect that, in the end, I still couldn't escape this calamity!"

Jin Jiu's expression changed. He was no longer that timid cultivator. The panic and fear on his face disappeared without a trace, replaced by a desolate tone, containing majesty, as if the power of life and death was entirely in his own hands.

Qian Chen smiled: "The ancestor's Yin Spirit divided into hundreds, hiding on everyone in the Lei family at that time. This move indeed confused me a little. And the ancestor attaching the true Yin Spirit to a Jin family disciple with a curse was indeed unexpected."

"But... precisely because of this, the ancestor was clever but was done in by his own cleverness, leading me here!"

Jin Jiu stared deeply at Qian Chen and said no more. From his body flew a five-colored flowing light gathered from Earthly Fiend Qi. It was indeed a fatal blow, a great divine ability that shook the entire green hill and turned a hundred-mile radius into boiling pulp.

But as the red lotus bloomed, a red lotus encompassing ten miles bloomed, swallowing the Lei family ancestor's Yin Spirit, that flowing light, and Jin Jiu's physical body.

Immediately, the red lotus shrank to the size of a palm, and the karmic fire burned everything inside, floating back into Qian Chen's hand.

"This matter is finished! Time to go to Jiankang... Junior Sister Si has sent a letter urging me, saying if I don't go, the next reincarnation mission will start!"

Qian Chen stretched on the white deer, called back the gold and silver boys, and drove the deer toward the nearby official road.

After a long time, several escaping lights arrived over the green cliff, exchanged thoughts with spiritual sense in a hurry, and then left in fear. ===== CHAPTER 303 =====