Chapter 259

I've heard people say that the mine shaft below is dangerous, but if there are rats living down there, at least it shows the air quality in the mine is okay.

Moreover, rats are far more sensitive to environmental changes than humans.

It can give early warning to the miners.

So if miners encounter rats in the mine, they will definitely treat the little creatures well.

「Xiao Tiao feels grateful for the miners' kindness of a meal; after surviving that calamity, he often goes to stroll in the tunnels, and he has deep feelings for those few miners。」

「But good times don't last; a few months later, when Xiao Tiao went to stroll in the tunnels again, he discovered a problem with the tunnel, and while trying to save the miners, he himself got buried down there。」

Hui Xiao Tiao is a gray immortal with a cultivation of a hundred years.

Hui Lao Tai values him so highly, which shows his cultivation talent and level are quite good.

Even if a mining accident occurs, even if the miners cannot be saved, Hui Xiao Tiao himself can still escape.

Leaving aside his cultivation, rats themselves have strong burrowing ability.

So, that piece of land has a problem.

The tunnels have even more problems.

I thought for a moment and asked, 'So those miners were selected by someone with intent, and the tunnels were pre-designed, right?'

「Yes. 」 Hui Lao Tai's eyes flashed with appreciation, 「Later I investigated carefully; initially, the selected miners totaled 81, there were nine tunnels, each tunnel had nine anchor points, each anchor point had one miner assigned, and each of those miners' fates had some explanation. 」

Nine is great, it is heaven; this formation array is called the Nine Heavens Lock Soul Formation.

When the tunnels collapse, the miners will suffocate to death; their souls are locked within their bodies by the Nine Heavens Lock Soul Formation, to be absorbed and exhaled by the hopping corpse in the center of the Zhènyǎn.

So that's how it is.

I pondered a bit and asked, 'Is Xiao Tiao still possibly alive?'

After all, it's been over a hundred years; Hui Xiao Tiao has been trapped in the Nine Heavens Lock Soul Formation, and if his state of mind isn't stable, he's likely to go berserk.

Granny Gray sighed and said, 'I'm not sure either, but whenever I wake at midnight, I seem to hear Xiao Tiao calling me, begging for rescue, wanting to get out.'

Saying this, Granny Gray raised her hand and wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve: 'As the saying goes, in life you want to see the person, in death you want to see the corpse; even if Xiao Tiao is dead, I cannot let him become nourishment for the hopping corpse's cultivation like those miners, I must bring him back.'

But that hopping corpse has quite a background; I… simply dare not move.

The hopping corpse has quite a background?

This reminds me of when I and Liu Junyan returned from Changshi; the Red Flag Child circled Liu Junyan and sniffed for a while.

He said Liu Junyan had a familiar scent about her.

He also said that perhaps asking Zhao Zixun for help would let him know the origin of that scent.

I immediately grew nervous and asked, 'What is the hopping corpse's background? Do you know it?'

Granny Gray shook her head: 'I only know he has quite a background; before being buried in the Nine Heavens Lock Soul Formation, he seemed to have been on a battlefield, he had a magical treasure, seemingly a toad, and that toad has been helping him cultivate.'

Toad!

Yes, that matches!

Back when we were in that mountain valley, we indeed heard toad croaks.

I remained silent for a long time.

To be frank, I want to take on this job.

Not mentioning the future powerful assistance of enshrining Hui Xiao Tiao in the Dang Pu, just speaking of retrieving the Golden Scale, if we have the help of the Gray Immortal Hall, our chances could also be greater.

No matter the outcome, for the Dang Pu and the Gray Immortal Hall, it's a win-win situation.

Furthermore, this decision can only be made by me.

Only after I accept this job can I discuss it with Liu Junyan and the others.

After I returned from Cangwu Mountain, Liu Junyan said they planned to move that piece of land.

If Granny Gray hadn't come today and revealed the hidden truth, we acting rashly would likely cause a big mess.

After all, Liu Junyan and the others had also wanted to find Granny Gray to ask about the situation, but they hadn't even met her, right?

After thinking it over, I asked again, 'Then what do you plan for us to do?'

The matter of rescuing Hui Xiao Tiao has been turning over in Granny Gray's mind for who knows how long; she must certainly have a detailed plan and arrangement.

Since we went to Changshi, the Dang Pu has already been within her considerations, right?

But earlier she was hesitating, and then I suddenly had an accident, dealing her a heavy blow.

Only after I returned safely did she decisively come to my door.

She does not want to lose this opportunity again.

「On the surface, including suppressing the hopping corpse after it's startled, our Gray Immortal Hall, Brother Yu Mo's manpower, plus Seventh Lord, should be able to control the situation. 」 Hui Lao Tai indeed had an arrangement, 「As for the tunnels below, it's all up to Xiao Jiu Zhanggui; you are the key to breaking the situation. 」

I frowned: 'Me?'

「Yes, only you. 」 Granny Gray said firmly, 「Those who died under the Nine Heavens Lock Soul Formation have their souls locked within their corpses; Xiao Jiu Zhanggui has the ability to ferry them across. 」

I immediately realized.

The reason Granny Gray values me is because of the Soul-guiding Lamp.

Granny Gray then took out a piece of cowhide paper, placed it before me, and gestured for me to open it.

I unfolded it and saw that the cowhide paper was densely filled with names.

At the very top was Hui Xiao Tiao.

I counted, and there were another 81 names below.

These 81 names are precisely the miners who were buried in the tunnels back then!

With this list, I can do even more.

Looking at this list, I mentally calculated just how great our chances of success are for this operation.

Granny Gray couldn't wait, and she added: 'If I haven't guessed wrong, that hopping corpse will soon undergo its tribulation; once the heavenly thunder strikes…'

That is a hopping corpse whose hair has already turned white!

With his Xiūwéi, this tribulation could hardly be minor.

Once the heavenly thunder strikes, the Golden Scale is very likely to be damaged.

Every piece of the Golden Scale is of utmost importance to Liu Junyan!

Old Lady Hui can notice this; Liu Junyan surely has as well.

Although he didn't tell me, from his sudden urge to Intervene in this matter, it's clear he knows.

So, in fact, I really have no choice.

If I don't agree to Old Lady Hui today, the moment she leaves Nan Shu Fang, she will no longer cooperate with us.

If we want to deal with the hopping corpse, we first have to get past Old Lady Hui's hurdle!

Old Lady Hui's visit seems like a consultation with me, but in fact it's thorough and leaves nothing overlooked.

I clenched the hand resting on my leg and asked, "If... I mean if, Xiao Tiao is already gone, then after this matter..."

Old Lady Hui said firmly: "If Xiao Tiao meets his end in body and spirit, I will hand over Prosperous City Grey Immortal Hall to Yu Mo to inherit, without regret."

Hui Yu Mo is Hui Moqiong's younger sister.

Prosperous City Grey Immortal Hall being inherited by Hui Yu Mo is essentially giving it to Dang Pu in disguise.

Old Lady Hui's sincerity is evident.

I no longer hesitated and immediately made my decision: "Alright, I'll take this matter..."