Chapter 117: The Male Ghost Cheers at the Zhi Jue Yin

"Brother Ping, it is all prepared; these are superior Moonstones and Red River Sands. Such quality is not seen even in the surrounding market districts!"

"I made a special trip to the Water and Fire Tower, sought audience with several old Alchemists, and only then secured them."

Around Yan Ping gathered a dozen men, their bodies surging with various auras that flowed and overflowed; if it were the Profound Fire illuminating the sky, it would present a uniquely dazzling sight.

To his left, a youth wearing a Profound Yang Crown and a green-blue ritual robe smiled upon hearing this, proudly patted the Universe Bag hanging at his waist, and said with no small amount of pride:

"I, Yan Du, did this; do you still not trust me?"

Upon hearing this, the entire Yan clan members all chuckled lightly.

Only Yan Ping remained with a face as calm as water, his eyes cold and fierce.

That Yan Du was by nature fond of playing around; he had originally intended to say a few more witty remarks to boast about himself.

Yet under that gaze, he retreated, his voice gradually lowering.

Finally, he shrank his head back, daring not to make a sound...

"Bring it, let me take a look."

Yan Ping extended his hand and spoke those words.

Yan Du did not dare to disobey; he obediently unhooked the Universe Bag from his waist and respectfully handed it over to him.

"Not bad... you have been diligent in this matter; you deserve to be credited with a merit."

He only took out a single Moonstone from that Universe Bag, and a bone-piercing, cold Yin Qi, like a small snake, sought to break through the skin on his palm, then slide along the meridians to bite into his heart pulse!

Yan Ping turned his palm slightly and effortlessly crushed that chill on his own.

He then glanced slightly at that pile of Red River Sands; his nose twitched, he sniffed, and upon smelling that thick, fishy scent of blood, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

"Brother Ping, is this enough?"

Yan Du smiled apologetically from the side: "I initially searched through the private collections of those old Alchemists in the Water and Fire Tower, leaving not a single grain or particle; thinking it should be nearly sufficient, I did not ask for more."

"If it is still not enough, I—"

"Did you not see the Luo Xian Lead Boat has arrived? We are about to descend into the Earth Abyss; how can you go off and play any more tricks?"

Yan Ping waved his hand to cut off Yan Du's words, his expression softened, and he chuckled lightly:

"Inside the Earth Abyss, there are countless Yin Spirits; these two items are used to summon spirits and sacrifice ghosts. If you prepare even more, it is possible we ourselves will suffer disaster."

Yan Du let out a sheepish laugh and dared not reply.

"These are already more than sufficient; they would be enough even to kill Chen Heng a hundred or ten times over."

Yan Ping tossed the Universe Bag in his palm back to Yan Du, who was staring eagerly from the side, looked around at the gathered Yan clan members, and said:

"Last night, did you all understand Uncle Yan Feichen's meaning?"

"Brother Ping, rest assured! This is a major family affair; how could we dare to forget!"

A Yan clan member with a three-foot short beard under his chin, who had cultivated some unknown Xue Xuan Gong so that, aside from his eyeballs, all his skin was dark gold, laughed and replied in a low voice:

"That Chen Heng is merely a male concubine; although we do not know what great luck he has run into now, after all, his vision is still short!

Since he rejected that Purple Palace Dao Book from Uncle, he has clearly made himself our enemy; in such a situation, how can we allow him to continue living in ease? We must kill him in the Earth Abyss!"

Yan Ping nodded slightly.

Within the Xuanzhen Sect, with Ai Xiao Jian deliberately creating difficulties and hindering them, it was not convenient to take action.

But arriving at the Earth Abyss, a place without sky or sun where Yin Ghosts rule, is precisely an excellent location suitable for burying bones.

Kill him with a single sword strike, then casually find a spot and toss him there.

In just a short while, I fear even his bones will be gnawed away completely by those strange creatures, eaten clean...

Thinking of this,

a heat that was hard to describe suddenly surged in Yan Ping's heart, causing his blood flow to accelerate several times, turning his face red.

"Brother Ping, it is best not to act personally; the Moonstones and Red River Sands we prepared for you are precisely meant for use on Chen Heng, are they not?"

An experienced Yan clan member, seeing Yan Ping's hand already trembling uncontrollably, could not help but frown and transmitted a voice in a low tone to advise:

"After all, he was favored by Xie Tan of the Ce Shen Fu; that person is also from the Changyou Xie family. As a disciple of such a great clan, who knows what secret techniques or methods he possesses? Since we are undertaking a great matter, it is better to be safe!"

"Uncle Sheng—"

Yan Ping fell silent for a moment, then tilted his head.

With only his eyes red, he paused, then spoke in a low voice:

"I understand; it is just that my heart is truly very displeased..."

The long-gowned middle-aged man he called "Uncle Sheng" silently shook his head and said no more.

After the crowd discussed further, at this time, another "Luo Xian Lead Boat" slowly floated up from a mountain peak, standing majestically above the sky-filling rosy mist.

As soon as it revealed its form, many cultivators showed joy on their faces, riding their escape lights to fly swiftly inside.

The Xuanzhen Sect, this time receiving the Earth Abyss Talisman Decree, had fully a hundred people; even one "Luo Xian Lead Boat" could not accommodate them, so another one was absolutely necessary.

"Do not rush, do not rush; let me show you something fun."

Just as the Yan clan members were about to ascend into the sky and fly toward that "Luo Xian Lead Boat," Yan Ping suddenly laughed, raised his hand, and stopped them.

"Let me show you a complete fool; how he is going to the Earth Abyss to meet his death, hehe, truly pitiable!"

Amid Yan Ping's cold laughter, the crowd did not understand, and then, a few breaths later, they saw several more escape lights descending toward that "Luo Xian Lead Boat."

Looking closely, the figure within one of those escape lights was none other than Xu Zhi!

"Is it him? This person is indeed famous, but I have heard his character is a complete mess..."

Yan Du was stunned and said:

"Where did Xu Zhi get the courage to go to the Earth Abyss? Did he eat some bear's heart or leopard's gall? If he encounters a demon ghost, he might be scared to death."

"I discussed with Director Zhang of the Affairs Office and tricked Xu Zhi into doing some menial tasks on the "Luo Xian Lead Boat"; upon return, he could receive a Dao Book. That Director Zhang was once cared for by Xu Zhi when Xu Zhi rose to prominence, and this person also has some cunning; after Xu Zhi fell into ruin, he did not kick him while he was down."

Yan Ping's eyes flashed:

"That Director Zhang happened to want to cultivate a Blood Qi Divine Art, so I used two Fetal Origin Pills to buy a favor from him, asking him to help me trick Xu Zhi onto the "Luo Xian Lead Boat."

"When the time comes, we will settle accounts with him right there in the Earth Abyss!"

"This..."

Hearing these words, some members of the Yan clan felt confused and asked doubtfully:

"Brother Ping, this Xu Zhi seems to have had no prior dealings with our late clan sister, so you—"

"Since this Xu Zhi dared to commit such a grave offense, going against my wishes to befriend Chen Heng, he has already paved his own path to death!"

Yan Ping rested his five fingers on the Bai Lu Dharma Sword at his waist, brushing it lightly.

He spoke with an expressionless face:

"It is not just this Xu Zhi; once we emerge from the Earth Abyss, every old and young member of Chen Heng's clan in Lanliang City shall also meet death! Even a single chicken or dog—I, Yan Ping, wish to spare none! Every last one of them must die!"

These words carried a bone-chilling chill that made the hearts of the Yan clan members standing beside him turn cold.

It felt as though one had stepped firmly upon a living snake writhing beneath their feet, that slick and yin-cold sensation sending shivers straight up the scalp!

"Boundless Heavenly Venerable! After Yan Zhen's death, this Yan Ping has truly gone mad, no longer resembling a normal living person!"

A few paces away, Yan Du lowered his head, a sudden chill striking deep within his heart.

Then, catching the Bai Lu Dharma Sword—which could be counted as Yan Zhen's relic—in the corner of his eye, he saw Yan Ping gently stroking it with his fingers.

Yan Ping's fingertip movements were delicate and tender, caressing inch by inch as if tracing the congealed cream skin of a beauty, daring not to apply even a fraction more force, exceedingly careful.

Yan Du felt his scalp tingling even more intensely.

He hurriedly fixed his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, not daring to look up even once more.

The Luo Xian Lead Boat stretched a full thirty zhang in length, its color resembling black iron, giving an impression of extreme sturdiness; inside, it contained three stories of pavilions, more than enough to accommodate nearly fifty people with room to spare.

Chen Heng noticed that at each of the boat's four corners stood a "Profound Black Tiger God Flag" over a zhang tall, fluttering and waving on its own without any wind.

Though he did not know its specific function, a single glance conveyed a feeling of extreme ferocity and evil.

It felt as though a predatory beast had locked its gaze upon him from close range, shaking his spirit, while a faint roar and whistling sound echoed subtly within his mind.

Chen Heng paused briefly to observe, then casually selected a cabin on the second story, pushed open the door, and entered.

Upon entering the cabin, he found the interior swept remarkably clean, with no dust on the four walls.

In sight was a jade bed and several meditation cushions; not far to the left stood a rosewood desk, upon which were neatly arranged writing brushes, ink sticks, paper, inkstones, and several cups and bowls.

Although this cabin was not large, measuring no more than fifty paces from front to back or side to side, it was small yet complete, possessing all vital organs like a sparrow.

At this moment, with a slight tremor and rock, the "Luo Xian Lead Boat" soared into the clouds once more, speeding directly toward the Earth Abyss.

Chen Heng locked the door behind him, turned over to sit firmly on the jade bed, glanced around, and then stirred his mind slightly... Chinese Web Novel

The spiritual energy within the Earth Abyss was yin, foul, and turbid; even if a cultivator stayed there for too long, nether essences would invade their brain, spirit, and internal organs, leaving them no choice but to perish helplessly, ending in death and soul dissolution.

This was precisely why Ai Xiao Jian had distributed Little White Yang Pills to the disciples; such yang-attributed great medicine was needed to balance the clear and turbid qi within their bodies.

Moreover, it was not merely that the spiritual energy was foul; over accumulated years and long days, countless yin spirits and demonic ghosts had long since been born there...

"The tiger is a creature of yang, the leader of the hundred beasts, capable of seizing the broad and crushing the sharp, devouring ghosts and specters... Those several Profound Black Tiger God artifacts must be talismanic devices used to ward off evil qi, though I do not know their grade, nor do I know the divine peculiarities of this Luo Xian Lead Boat..."

Thinking to this point, he shook his head slightly and ceased further speculation.

He simply calmed his mind and regulated his breath for several cycles.

Only when his qi mechanism became perfectly integrated as one did he flick his sleeve, take out that hu of Hu Da Zao Yuan Pearls, and grip them firmly in hand.

This hu of Hu Da Zao Yuan Pearls had been gifted by Ai Xiao Jian the day before yesterday, accompanied by two Wu Chunlie Thunder Talismans.

The function of those two Wu Chunlie Thunder Talismans was not much different from the "Northern Dipper Sword Register" he had obtained from Cave Master Master Huaiwu; both were used to slay enemies and protect life.

If the thunder light struck by them hit one's flesh directly, even a Gao Gong of the Purple Palace Realm would die on the spot, unable to resist, making them usable as a trump card.

As for this hu of Hu Da Zao Yuan Pearls in Chen Heng's hand, it was an external medicine used to supplement primordial qi.

Inside this hu, there were exactly twelve in number.

Each Hu Da Da Zao Yuan Zhu was the size of a quail egg, full and rounded in form, with no other colors visible within, appearing merely as a gathering of clear light.

Merely rolling one between the fingertips sent a light and spiritual qi penetrating into the nose and mouth, making one instantly feel refreshed in spirit and clear in mind.

After exhausting his talisman money and essence, Chen Heng's cultivation had already reached the seventh layer of the Qi Refining realm; if he now absorbed this hu of Hu Da Zao Yuan Pearls, his cultivation would surely advance another layer, and his merit and progress would increase further.

Although Ai Xiao Jian's two bestowals were granted out of regard for Xie Tan of the Flower God Mansion, they indeed provided him with substantial assistance.

Thinking to this point, he hesitated no longer.

He took out a single Hu Da Da Zao Yuan Zhu, rubbed it gently between his fingertips a few times, then exerted force to crush it, slowly forcing out the strand of green light from within the pearl and guiding it into his nasal orifice.

It seemed that such an action

was precisely the method for consuming the Hu Da Zao Yuan Pearls...

The outer shell of this medicinal pill possessed no nourishing function; it served only to seal the strand of clear light inside, and not only lacked spirituality, but actually contained deadly poison.

If swallowed into the stomach, even with a cultivator's Xue Xuan Gong protecting the body, one would inevitably suffer a rotted belly and pierced intestines; even if finally forced to vomit it out, the remaining poison would still take root within the body, inevitably leading to a severe illness afterward.

Sitting in silence for a moment, the pill's power gradually dispersed through his chest and abdomen; Chen Heng's spirit surged with great vigor, guiding the dissolved pill force along his qi meridians through hundreds of turns until it fully merged into his bones, sinews, blood, and flow, thereby strengthening his fetal breathing.

After a little less than half a day, the medicinal properties of this Hu Da Zao Yuan Pill were finally fully absorbed; Chen Heng slowly exhaled a long breath, took no rest, and immediately picked up a new one, closing his eyes to begin refining it.

Until three days and nights had passed, Chen Heng's merit and progress finally advanced into the eighth layer of Qi Refining.

By this time, that full hu of Hu Da Zao Yuan Pearls had only two remaining.

"This amount is still insufficient for my cultivation to reach the extreme of the ninth layer of Qi Refining...

However, people like Yan Ping will likely attack me within the Earth Abyss; once I take the wealth and goods from their bodies and gather a bit more from elsewhere, it should suffice."

A slight flash gleamed in his eyes.

He crushed another Hu Da Da Zao Yuan Zhu and once again entered meditation.

However, this time, before he could finish absorbing the pill's power, only a little less than half an shichen had passed when the Luo Xian Lead Boat halted above a dark and deep underground cavern.

That cavern was unfathomably deep, as if leading straight to the underworld and the Yellow Springs.

Although the cave mouth did not appear very wide, measuring no more than a hundred zhang from front to back or side to side, the yin qi surging out from within had densely coalesced into thick gray clouds and mist, completely blocking the scorching sunlight of high noon without leaking a single ray!

Even while inside the Luo Xian Lead Boat, a chill raged like a dragon.

The chill froze the many cultivators inside the cabin, making their eyebrows knit tight and their sleeves flutter wildly.

"Have we arrived?"

Chen Heng opened his eyes from the jade bed and slowly halted his Mei Mei Gongxing.

At that moment, a clear, resonant bell toll suddenly rang out within Luo Xian's Lead Boat; after three tolls, the boat suddenly surged, bursting forth with clusters of gray-black True Fire that filled the nearby void.

Then it shot forward violently!

Like a swimming fish, it drilled straight into that earth cave!

Boom!

It sounded like a thin sheet of paper being pierced.

In an instant, a violent upheaval of earth and sky erupted, as if the entire mortal world had transformed into a colossal swirling vortex!

The Lead Boat shook and swayed fiercely; every cultivator inside felt dizzy and disoriented, while those with unsteady minds could not help but cry out in alarm, cold sweat trickling down.

No one knew how much time passed; just as the shaking finally ceased, before the crowd could even compose themselves—

From afar came another wave of ghostly wails.

Yin energy pressed in, chilling to the bone; a bloody stench assaulted the nose, piercing the heart—

At first, there were only faint cries of agony and gusts of Yin wind laden with blood and evil qi, but within the blink of an eye, the sounds grew louder! More numerous!

It was as though they had crashed straight into a Ghost Kingdom.

Above, below, left, right—all ten directions of heaven and earth were filled entirely with flayed, ferocious ghosts bearing green faces and fangs!

A chaotic dance of demons!

An endless hell!

Truly:

"The Blood Flower's fragrance overflows like the Mandara; mighty ghosts cheer for the Yin of Zhou Jue!"