[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dao-dust-pearl":3,"chapter-the-dao-dust-pearl-the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-59":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dao Dust Pearl",{"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},2359560,4614,"Chapter 59: Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Art That Commands a Host of Ghosts","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-59",59,"\u003Cp>\"Calculating the timing, my suppressed insect should be about to activate!\" Qian Chen pinched his fingers to calculate the time, choosing an open, unobstructed spot to remotely lock onto the vital energy of the Wei family compound in Jiaobu Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[1] “By now, the insect I planted should be about to activate,” Qian Chen muttered, calculating the time with his fingers. He chose an open, unobstructed spot and remotely locked onto the vital energy of the Wei household in Jiaobu Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What a clever scheme to use me as a knife to kill Wei Taiping, the useless fool, then use the Wei family as a knife to eliminate me,\" Qian Chen sneered. \"Those who survive in the martial world as fringe cultivators are truly no pushovers—despite my cultivation being clearly only at the Qi Condensation stage, they’re still this cautious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[2] “A clever scheme—using me as the knife to kill Wei Taiping, then using the Wei family as the knife to eliminate me,” Qian Chen sneered. “Those who wander the underworld’s fringe paths are never easy prey. I’ve shown only Qi Refining-level cultivation, yet they’re still this cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you’d been as reckless as those two from Meishan Sect, I would’ve dealt with you long ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[3] “If you were as reckless as those two from Meishan Sect, I’d have disposed of you long ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I’d killed Wei Taiping just now, wouldn’t that have played right into your hands? First eliminate the mastermind, then punish the accomplices—Wei Taiping is merely an accomplice; you’re the mastermind!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[4] “If I’d killed Wei Taiping just now, wouldn’t that have served your purpose? First eliminate the mastermind, then punish the accomplices. Wei Taiping is merely an accomplice—you’re the mastermind!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen stuck the Seven Kill Banner behind him, cleared a circular flat area, smoothed a large stone into a table surface using the Black Iron Hook, took a piece of peach wood he had casually cut from San Yang Village, shaped it into a sword, and carved three simple talisman tablets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[5] Qian Chen stuck the Seven Fiend Banners behind him, cleared a circular, level patch of ground, smoothed a large rock into a table with the Black Iron Death Hook, took a piece of peach wood he’d casually cut from Sanyang Village, shaped it into a sword, and carved three crude talisman tablets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He released the Green Phosphorus Five Poisons from the Dragon Sparrow Ring, commanding them to crawl onto the stone platform and settle in the five directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[6] He released the Green Phosphorus Five Poisons from the Dragon Sparrow Ring, commanding them to crawl onto the stone altar and settle in the five directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he unfastened the red leather gourd at his waist and placed it on the right side of the stone table, arranging the three peach-wood talismans on the left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[7] Then he unfastened the red leather gourd at his waist and placed it on the right side of the altar; the three peach wood talismans went on the left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed the Spirit Mirror, Dragon Sparrow Ring, Soul-Binding Rope, and Azure Heaven Golden Wheel before the stone altar, laid three spirit talismans at its center, picked up the peach wood sword, purified it with true qi, harmonized his energy with the surroundings, and determined the precise hour according to the cosmic timing... Thus, a rudimentary altar was finally set up; since Qian Chen was not performing a divine ritual, he did not enshrine any deity statues, and since it was not an exorcism or demon-subduing rite, he also did not offer reverence to the Three Daoist Patriarchs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[8] He placed the Spirit Light Mirror, Dragon Sparrow Ring, Soul-Binding Rope, and Azure Heaven Golden Wheel before the altar, drew out three spirit talismans, and laid them in the center. Qian Chen picked up the peach wood sword, purified it with true qi, felt the resonance of vital energies, and fixed the hour according to celestial timing… Thus, the altar was roughly prepared. Since he wasn’t invoking deities, he offered no statues; since it wasn’t an exorcism ritual, he made no offerings to the Three Daoist Ancestors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He merely used the Five Poisons as offerings, symbolizing the essence of the Five Poisons!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[9] He merely offered the Five Poisons as embodiments, symbolizing the essence of the Five Poisons!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When night fully fell and the calculated hour arrived, Qian Chen opened his eyes. With his left hand, he scattered a handful of jade dust; with his right hand, he dipped the peach-wood sword in cinnabar and flicked it, leaving crimson trails in the air that formed a talisman. Only then did he roar: \"Summon the Hundred Ghosts!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[10] When darkness fully fell and the calculated hour arrived, Qian Chen opened his eyes. With his left hand, he scattered a handful of jade dust; with his right, he dipped the peach wood sword in cinnabar and flicked it, leaving crimson trails in the air that formed a talisman. Then he roared: “Summon the Hundred Ghosts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the incantation was uttered, heaven and earth responded...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[11] As the command rang out, heaven and earth responded…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Jiaobu Town City God Temple, the City God Wei heard the night patrol ghost’s report. Just as he was about to resume his duties, he heard this divine command and sighed: \"Truly, a genuine Daoist transmission!\" He summoned his ghost attendant: \"A Daoist disciple has set up an altar—every spirit under my jurisdiction must grant convenience. Release the evil ghosts held in the nether earth!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[12] In the Jiaobu Town City God Temple, Wei Chenghuang, having heard the night patrol ghost emissary’s report, was about to resume his duties when he heard the command’s divine tone. He sighed: “Truly, a genuine Daoist transmission!” He summoned the emissary: “A Daoist disciple has set up an altar. All spirits under my jurisdiction must grant passage. Release the evil ghosts held in the nether earth!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the temple... decapitated ghosts, hanged ghosts, vomiting ghosts, swift ghosts, cat ghosts, fox ghosts, pipa ghosts, blood-drinking ghosts, disheveled ghosts, mighty ghosts, one-horned ghosts, drowned ghosts, destitute ghosts—hundreds of spectral entities marched through the night, instantly swept dozens of miles away by an invisible force, kneeling beneath Qian Chen’s altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[13] Behind the temple… the headless ghosts, hanging ghosts, vomiting ghosts, swift ghosts, cat ghosts, fox ghosts, pipa ghosts, blood-drinking ghosts, disheveled ghosts, mighty ghosts, one-horned ghosts, drowned ghosts, destitute-dead ghosts—all nocturnal specters—were instantly snatched by an invisible force dozens of li away and prostrated before Qian Chen’s altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jade dust Qian Chen scattered transformed into spiritual essence, eagerly devoured by the horde of ghosts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[14] The jade dust Qian Chen scattered transformed into essence, which the ghosts vied to devour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The fierce, punishing energy of the hundred ghosts!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[15] “The fierce, punishing energy of the gathered ghosts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen guided the peach-wood sword, drawing a thread of energy from each ghost and sealing it into one of the talismans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[16] With a flick of his peach wood sword, Qian Chen drew a thread of energy from each ghost and sealed it into the talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a soft chirp sounded—the Ear God, no bigger than a bean, timidly climbed onto the altar and snatched up the jade dust. It looked fearfully at Qian Chen, clutching a few grains pitifully. Qian Chen sighed: \"Since you reported the news, you’ve earned your keep—guard my altar!\" The Ear God immediately brightened, snatched two more jade grains, stood beside the red gourd on the stone platform, puffed out its chest, and posed with a fierce, dignified air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[17] Then came a soft chirp—the Ear Dao Spirit, no bigger than a bean, crept onto the altar and snatched up the jade dust. It looked at Qian Chen timidly, clutching a few grains pitifully. Qian Chen sighed: “Fine, you did well reporting. Guard my altar then.” The spirit brightened, snatched two more grains, stood beside the red gourd on the stone altar, puffed out its chest, stuck out its belly, and posed like a fearsome guardian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But its tiny size made it look less like a guardian spirit and more like a little toy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[18] But its tiny frame made it look less like a guardian deity and more like a little doll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then two more small spirits appeared—it was the Gold and Silver Children, who also stared hopefully at the spirit-dust. Qian Chen had no choice but to say: \"You two will serve as my attendant children...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[19] Then two more tiny spirits dashed out—the Gold and Silver Children Qian Chen had seen before. They gazed longingly at the spirit-dust. Qian Chen sighed: “Fine, you two be my attendant children…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, other spirit creatures—white snakes, gray rats, hedgehogs, foxes, weasels—smelled the spiritual essence and rushed from distant forests. Many other spirits arrived too, but Qian Chen dispelled them all with a single drop of spirit water, keeping only these five most spiritually attuned creatures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[20] Soon, white snakes, gray rats, hedgehogs, foxes, weasels, and other spirit-beasts, drawn by the elixir’s scent, arrived from distant forests. Qian Chen dispelled most with a drop of talisman water, keeping only these five most spiritually attuned creatures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen touched each with the peach-wood sword, drawing out a thread of energy and sealing it into the second talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[21] Qian Chen touched each with his peach wood sword, drawing out a thread of vital energy and sealing it into the second talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The corrupt, demonic energy of the hundred spirits!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[22] “The perverse, demonic energy of the gathered spirits!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gold and Silver Children lifted the red gourd and the Spirit Light Mirror, standing on either side of the altar. Qian Chen guided the peach-wood sword to activate the Five Poisons, using them as offerings to draw a thread of yin-spirit energy from the cosmos and seal it into the final talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[23] The Gold and Silver Children carried the red gourd and Spirit Light Mirror, standing on either side of the altar. Qian Chen’s peach wood sword stirred the Five Poisons’ embodiments, using them as offerings to draw a sliver of yin-demonic essence from heaven and earth, sealing it into the final talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen let out one final, thunderous cry: \"The Five Poisons Demon-Spirit Energy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[24] Qian Chen roared his final command: “The Five Poisons’ Demon-Destructive Energy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Five Poisons, Five Spirits, all gods and hundred ghosts, heed my command! The yin-soul and turbid corpse energy resides in form and spirit—guard it well. Following the corpse’s yin-soul, it drains the yang-spirit’s essence, depletes righteous qi, and leads inevitably to death... The external energies of heaven and earth become the hundred ghosts, attuned to all insects... Hah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[25] “Five Poisons, Five Spirits, all gods and hundred ghosts, heed my command! The yin soul’s corrupt corpse-energy resides in form and spirit; the spirit must guard it. Following the yin corpse’s soul, it drains yang spirit essence, depletes righteous qi, and leads swiftly to death… External cosmic energy transforms into gathered ghosts, attuned to a hundred insects… Ha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This final cry reverberated like thunder in the minds of the surrounding spirits and ghosts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[26] This final roar echoed like thunder within the minds of all surrounding yin spirits and ghosts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the diligent effort of the silver-clad child, the Spirit Light Mirror faced the Wei family compound in Jiaobu Town, firmly locking onto a single vital signature. The first talisman, sealed with the fierce energy of the hundred ghosts, instantly turned to ash. An invisible force, guided by the mirror’s lock, shot toward the Wei household...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[27] Under the Silver Child’s strained effort, the Spirit Light Mirror faced the Wei household in Jiaobu Town, firmly locking onto a single vital signature. One of the three talismans—sealed with the ghosts’ punishing energy—turned to ash. An invisible force, guided by the mirror’s lock, slipped toward the Wei residence…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the Wei family’s gatekeeper heard two lion-like roars outside the gate, followed by the white tiger bronze door rings shaking spontaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[28] At that moment, the Wei household’s gatekeeper heard two lion roars outside the gate, then the white tiger bronze ring by the door rang of its own accord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Taiping, who had collapsed upon returning home, suddenly spat a jet of black blood onto his bed. His terrified family rushed to inform the patriarch, Wei Lecheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[29] Wei Taiping, who had collapsed upon returning home, suddenly spat a mouthful of black blood onto his bed. Those guarding him panicked and rushed to report to the master, Wei Lecheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, some of the servants who had accompanied Wei Taiping also felt strange—some unconsciously scratched their backs, only to find the itching intensifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[30] Among the retainers who’d accompanied Wei Taiping, some felt something wrong—some idly scratched their backs, but the itch grew worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, everyone felt their skin burning and itching, scratching frantically. Where they scratched, sores erupted, pus formed, and the itching grew unbearable. The more they scratched, the more they couldn’t stop—soon, their skin was raw, bleeding, oozing pus, covered in boils, scabies, hemorrhoids, maggot infestations, damp sores...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[31] Instantly, all felt their skin burn and itch. They scratched each other, and soon the broken skin turned to pus-filled sores, the itch intensifying—each scratch made it worse, each itch drove them to scratch more. Soon, the sores turned to bloody, pulpy messes, pus oozing over their entire bodies: malignant ulcers, scabies, hemorrhoids, maggot-infested sores, damp itch…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their gums swelled painfully; when they opened their mouths, they revealed rotten teeth emitting a foul stench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[32] Their gums swelled, throbbing with pain; when they opened their mouths, rotten teeth were visible, accompanied by a foul stench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Lecheng rushed over, asked about Wei Taiping’s whereabouts, and the family, unable to hide anything, revealed everything about Wei Taiping’s expedition to Sanyang Village. Wei Lecheng sneered coldly and turned to order: \"Bring me Master Zhen!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[33] Wei Lecheng rushed over, asked about Wei Taiping’s whereabouts, and the family, too terrified to lie, told him everything. Wei Lecheng sneered, then turned: “Bring me Zhen Daoist!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhen hurried in, saw Wei Taiping unconscious on the bed, and feigned shock: \"My disciple... what happened to my disciple?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[34] Zhen Daoist hurried in, saw Wei Taiping unconscious on the bed, and feigned shock: “My disciple… what’s happened to my disciple?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Lecheng had already interrogated the servants who went with Wei Taiping. Now his face was icy, his gaze hostile as he stared at Master Zhen: \"Master Zhen, you can’t even tell what’s wrong with my son?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[35] Wei Lecheng had already interrogated the retainers who went with Wei Taiping. Now his face was icy, his gaze hostile: “Even you, Master Zhen, can’t tell what’s wrong with my son?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone carried an unmistakable threat of betrayal...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[36] His tone carried an unmistakable threat…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhen reluctantly stepped forward, keeping his long banner behind him to avoid the contagion, then examined Wei Taiping’s pulse, inspected his tongue and pupils, and probed his vital energy. After a long silence, he said: \"Master Wei, your disciple has been targeted by a treacherous sorcerer. Investigate who he met today—who cast the curse upon him—and retrieve the cursed object to break the spell!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[37] Zhen Daoist stepped forward, kept his long banner behind him to avoid the contagion, felt Wei Taiping’s pulse, examined his tongue coating, lifted his eyelids to inspect his pupils, and probed his vital energy for a long while before saying: “Master Wei, my disciple has been secretly cursed by a schemer. Find out who he met today—who cast the nightmare seal. Then seize the sealing object, and the curse will break.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Lecheng replied calmly: \"I’ve questioned the servants. They say you ordered my son to cut down a plum tree in Sanyang Village. Perhaps he disrupted the feng shui and provoked the land’s backlash—this is fate, not human malice. Please, first heal my son.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[38] Wei Lecheng spoke calmly: “I asked my servants. They say you ordered my son to cut down a plum tree in Sanyang Village. Perhaps he disrupted their feng shui and drew a backlash from the earth’s qi. This is Heaven’s will, not human malice. Please, first lift the curse from my son.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhen hesitated, but three Wei clan elders entered the room, carrying ritual implements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[39] Zhen Daoist hesitated—but three Wei clan elders arrived outside the room, carrying ritual implements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Lecheng sneered: \"So, Master, you can’t even dispel this petty sorcery?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[40] Wei Lecheng sneered: “What? Can’t you break this sorcerer’s petty trick?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhen wiped sweat from his brow: \"Let me examine him again...\" After another thorough check, he said: \"Master Wei, may I ask my disciple what happened today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[41] Zhen Daoist wiped sweat from his brow: “Let me check again…” After another examination, he said: “Master Wei, may I ask my disciple what he did today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Lecheng summoned a servant covered in sores and told Master Zhen to question him himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[42] Wei Lecheng summoned a retainer covered in sores and told Zhen Daoist to question him himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhen carefully avoided the plague, shielding himself completely so no curse could be cast. The servant, covered in rot, saw the family’s revered immortal and didn’t dare hide anything—he recounted everything that had happened that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[43] Zhen Daoist carefully shielded himself from the plague, ensuring no curse or nightmare seal could touch him. The retainer, covered in sores, saw his household’s revered immortal and didn’t dare lie—he recounted everything that had happened that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He described how the young Daoist who had visited the day before had used his own \"fake pill\" to water the felled plum tree, instantly reviving it into full bloom, then bearing fruit within moments...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[44] He described how the young Daoist, who had mocked his own elixir as “fake,” had turned it into water to irrigate the felled plum tree—whereupon the tree instantly regrew, bloomed with blossoms, and bore fruit within moments…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhen’s face turned grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[45] Zhen Daoist’s face turned grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He forced a laugh: \"Perhaps it was just an illusion—mere mortals misperceive things.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[46] He forced a laugh: “Perhaps just a minor illusion—only the unseeing eyes of mortals were fooled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Lecheng spoke slowly: \"I’ve sent men to Sanyang Village. The servants tied on spirit boots and confirmed—the great plum tree still stands there, healthy and flourishing. Beside it lies the stump my fool son cut down. The servant touched the fruit and even climbed up to pick an unripe plum—it still makes his teeth ache!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[47] Wei Lecheng spoke slowly: “I’ve sent men to investigate. My servant tied on a spirit horse and went to Sanyang Village. That large plum tree still stands healthy behind the village. Beside it lies the old tree my fool cut down. The servant touched the fruit, climbed up, and picked an unripe plum—he’s still wincing from the sourness!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The City God Temple has also reported: just now, a great master casually planted a plum tree that instantly bore fruit. Those who ate the plums healed wounds, the elderly regained black hair, and even sixty-year-olds regrew teeth. The villagers now revere them as divine. Even the town’s apothecaries have sent buyers to pay top prices.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[48] “Just now, the City God Temple reported: a high cultivator casually planted a tree, and its fruit healed wounds, turned white hair black, and even restored teeth in men sixty years old. The villagers now revere it as a divine object… even the town’s apothecaries have sent agents to buy it at high prices.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These plums are now considered spiritual medicine!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[49] “They say this plum is now a spirit medicine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In Sanyang Village, one plum now sells for a hundred cash. Apothecaries pickle the green plums into medicinal plums—each now fetches fifty taels of silver. Once shipped to the Central Plains, they’ll likely climb to hundreds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[50] “Now a single plum in Sanyang Village is worth a hundred cash. Apothecaries buy green plums, pickle them with fragrant herbs into medicinal plums, and each one is already priced at fifty taels of silver. By the time they reach the Central Plains, they’ll likely climb to hundreds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This spiritual pill, when turned to water, revived the plum tree—and its fruit heals flesh wounds and breaks dark magic. I heard Jiang’s child ate one and spat out a toad, then woke up fully conscious. My son brought this upon himself—he harmed many innocents and now suffers heavenly retribution. He swallowed the toad and collapsed. That’s why he’s unconscious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[51] “This spirit elixir turned to water, revived the plum tree, and its fruit heals flesh wounds and breaks dark arts… I heard Jiang’s child swallowed one green plum and spat out a toad, then woke up. My son brought this upon himself—he harmed many innocents, and now Heaven has punished him… He swallowed that toad, and that’s why he’s unconscious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me, Master—can your pills revive my son?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[52] “Can your elixir awaken my son?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhen hesitated: \"The toad isn’t the root cause. Your son collapsed immediately upon entering home—this only now manifested. A rogue sorcerer is definitely performing dark rites against him. To cure him, we must first destroy the altar!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[53] Zhen Daoist hesitated: “The toad isn’t the root cause. Your son collapsed the moment he entered—this only now manifested. A rogue sorcerer is performing a ritual to harm him. To cure him, you must first destroy the altar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is heavenly retribution!\" Wei Lecheng stared coldly at Master Zhen, repeating each word deliberately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[54] “This is Heaven’s retribution!” Wei Lecheng stared coldly at Zhen Daoist, repeating each word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhen inwardly groaned: \"You’re just too afraid to confront that man, yet you call it heavenly retribution? Fine, fine—it’s clear this young Daoist has powerful backing. Thank heaven I didn’t act myself—I let this foolish disciple take the first blow. Though my flying sword is precious, a cultivator’s life is more vital. Lose the sword, lose a tool; lose your life, lose everything!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[55] Zhen Daoist inwardly groaned: “You’re just too afraid to provoke him, yet you call it Heaven’s retribution? Fine, fine. That young Daoist clearly has connections. Thank heavens I didn’t act—I let this cheap disciple take the first blow. A flying sword is useful, but a cultivator’s life matters most. Lose the sword, you lose a tool. Lose your life, you lose everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll concede this round—I’ll tidy up and flee.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[56] “I’ll accept this loss. Time to clean up and flee.”\u003C\u002Fp>",3756,"2026-06-21T05:39:58.326Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","783d993324ab76628f404a2d5001d946fa091c1a53aac2afa59f3c3b37a8c3a4","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-60","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-58",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dao-dust-pearl-cover.jpg"]