Xianye

Chapter 481 Akabane

Apart from a few wisps of cold, damp air remaining in the air, there was nothing unusual at this point.

As Chen Heng made a hand seal and activated his supernatural powers, his appearance changed in a flash, and a set of clothes flew out of Yu Xiaoyu's treasure pouch. The few wisps of water vapor disappeared in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, a tall, robust young man with rhinoceros horns appeared in the tent.

His eyes were piercing and sharp, and his skin and flesh were as if cast from iron, firm and powerful.

Although his face was handsome and imposing, there was always a lingering grayness between his brows, and coupled with his sinister and lewd expression, it ruined his demeanor and made people afraid to feel any affection for him.

Almost the instant Chen Heng transformed into Yu Xiaoyu's appearance, a heavy sound like something crushing the ground suddenly rang out outside the tent. A few breaths later, a corner of the golden tent was suddenly pushed open, and a gust of wind rushed in.

First, a huge lion's head was protruded, and then, as the footsteps slowly approached, the atmosphere in the tent suddenly became cold and stiff.

It was a tall stone lion, three zhang long, with bulging muscles, outstretched claws, and thick, bushy mane.

It had six green copper bells hanging around its neck, the bells gleaming faintly, engraved with tiny talismanic characters, clearly indicating that it was no ordinary object.

At this moment, the stone lion circled around Chen Heng a few times, occasionally sniffing him with its nose. Its face showed a hint of doubt and confusion. It was not like a puppet creation, but more like a living being of flesh and blood.

Chen Heng was not surprised to see this. According to Lü Rong, besides the pair of borrowed mirrors, there was also a bronze gong and a stone lion next to Yu Xiaoyu.

Yu Xiaoyu has always regarded these two items as her trump cards for self-protection and life-saving, and has never dared to leave them behind.

After parting ways with Lü Rong that day, Chen Heng secretly used magic to sneak into the demon tent to personally investigate the situation and ensure that there were no errors.

During this process, he naturally learned that the stone lion in front of him was not only extremely sensitive, but also able to detect calamities and disasters, making it quite formidable.

Although Yu Xiaoyu was not highly regarded by the Duke of Leyang's mansion, his status was still there, so it was not surprising that he had one or two such treasures.

Although his capture of Yu Xiaoyu was uneventful, the subtle movement of his magical power in the void at the moment of the attack must have been noticed by the stone lion outside the tent, which then rushed in to investigate.

"This place is indeed well-defended."

Chen Heng smiled inwardly.

His eyelids were slightly lowered. At this moment, he sensed that with the sudden intrusion of the stone lion, gazes were gradually being cast over from outside the tent. Many demon cultivators stood up, looking at each other with subtle expressions.

Among them, the old demon with two heads and four arms, whom I had seen a few days ago, had a gleam in his eyes, secretly gripped his weapon, and adopted a cautious and wary posture.

Even in the face of such danger, Chen Heng remained unmoved, simply mimicking Yu Xiaoyu's usual actions.

Soon, shouts and sounds of punches and kicks rang out from inside the tent. After that, the many demon cultivators watched as the stone lion slipped out again, looking disheveled, with a half-spilled wine jug in his mouth, swaying as he walked, shaking his head and wagging his tail, seemingly in a good mood.

"Manager Ren?"

A demon cultivator with gills on the back of his neck, clearly a fish monster in human form, turned his head and somewhat awkwardly called out to the two-headed, four-armed old demon.

"This blockhead is only afraid of being hit because his whole body is made of stone and his skin is thick and tough. Do you want to try it too? When that whip comes, it leaves a bloody welt with every lash. He's not easy to deal with!"

Manager Ren cursed Shi Shi inwardly for making trouble for no reason, but at the same time he was secretly glad that he had not done anything rash. Otherwise, he would have been severely beaten by Yu Xiaoyu in public. Even if he was made of iron, he would still have lost face.

"Go away, go away, don't crowd around here!"

Manager Ren, losing interest, waved his hand, and the group of demon cultivators who had caught up immediately scattered as if granted a pardon.

Chen Heng, who was in the tent, was not surprised. He simply found a brocade chair, sat down, took Yu Xiaoyu's storage pouch in his hand, and slowly began to look through it.

Don't be fooled by how easily and effortlessly he defeated Yu Xiaoyu just now.

However, Chen Heng used stillness to control movement, seizing the initiative and catching Yu Xiaoyu off guard. Moreover, the Netherworld True Water, under his full power, could take away not only flesh and blood creatures, but even a mountain in front of him.

Yu Xiaoyu's own cultivation level should be equivalent to the orthodox Golden Core stage of immortality. Coupled with his background, this allowed Chen Heng to find some useful items in the treasure pouch.

"This person possesses quite a few kinds of spiritual herbs; is he intending to use them for alchemy?"

After putting away the medicinal herbs, Chen Heng's gaze lingered on a prescription for pills for a moment, then moved to a bronze gong and a lion-head talisman.

This gong is a powerful weapon, capable of unleashing golden light and raging flames, specifically designed to destroy vital energy.

As for the lion head talisman, it is the dwelling place of the life spirit of the stone lion outside the tent. As long as the talisman is not damaged, even if the stone lion is ruthlessly killed in the real world, it can be used again after a period of nurturing.

Unfortunately, both of these items are genuine demonic artifacts, and cannot be used without demonic power.

Chen Heng had no choice but to put it away for the time being and save it for later use.

While Chen Heng was taking stock of his spoils, Yu Xiaoyu, inside the Netherworld True Water, was in a state of utter misery and exhaustion.

The man was caught off guard and was taken in by the Netherworld True Water. Looking around, he saw the turbid water surging endlessly, making it difficult to distinguish what was north or south. Then, a group of living souls suddenly appeared in the water. They came up without answering and went straight for his vitals.

What horrified and terrified him even more was that the path within this Netherworld True Water was truly winding and circuitous.

Even if he only focused on one direction and flew forward at high speed, he would soon inexplicably return to the original place, and all his previous efforts would be in vain.

Yu Xiaoyu had to endure the filth and corrosive effects of the true water, wandering around like a headless fly, while also dealing with the siege of numerous living souls. He was cursing inwardly.

Although the Netherworld True Water had not appeared in the world for a long time, even though Yu Xiaoyu had some background, in his haste, he did not expect that he would encounter this kind of Heaven and Earth True Water. However, seeing this situation, he knew that he should use the Yang-style method to break it.

But when he reached into his sleeve, he realized that he had lost even his treasure pouch, let alone the fire pearl inside.

After a short while, Yu Xiaoyu finally exhausted himself and was pierced through the chest and abdomen by a ten-foot-tall corpse demon with an iron spear, which then lifted him high up like a string of candy candies.

Having suffered such a severe blow, Yu Xiaoyu's protective demonic power was thrown into disarray, and the turbid black water, no longer able to obstruct him, poured into his mouth and nose, but this time it did not damage his skin.

A short while later, Yu Xiaoyu, who was in a daze, suddenly opened her eyes. Her pupils were completely black, without a trace of light.

His head lolled to the side, and he continued to drift in and out of consciousness, bobbing up and down with the water until he lost consciousness.

At this moment, Chen Heng sensed something and made a pinch, and the Netherworld True Water transmitted Yu Xiaoyu's life experiences into his mind.

"I see……"

After digesting the memory, Chen Heng's eyes flashed, and he thought to himself.

Besides its crucial ability to grant immortality, the Netherworld True Water also possesses the functions of the Three Sons Water. Furthermore, the Netherworld True Water at the Lesser Completion stage has developed numerous other powerful abilities based on the Three Sons Water.

The reason why Yu Xiaoyu was able to be subdued just now was because the True Water at the Lesser Completion Realm already had the ability to form its own inner world, just like the Five-Colored Divine Light of the Five-Colored Peacock Clan. If there is no correct way to deal with it, it is extremely difficult to escape from that inner world and one will be slowly worn down to death.

This is the transformation of Yin-corrosion Red Water; it needs to go even further!
While the Dark Water of Luo An can only protect one's own soul, the True Water of the Netherworld is far more powerful in matters concerning the soul, possessing the ability to search for and read souls.

According to Taoist texts, if one cultivates the Netherworld True Water to its highest level and attains profound Taoist cultivation, one will possess unparalleled magical power that can be freely manipulated.

At that time, the true water can be completely transformed into a real and authentic Netherworld. The master of the true water will be the sole ruler of that world, governing Yin and Yang and spiritual transformations above, and commanding all ghosts, gods, and demons below!

The reason Chen Heng used real water to perform the soul-searching on Xiao Yu was to add another layer of disguise.

Although Yu Xiaoyu doesn't pay much attention to his current group of retainers, he still sees them a few times a day. If he accidentally reveals anything unusual in his words or actions, it will inevitably cause trouble.

"Yu Xiaoyu also sought to marry a woman from the Yong Prince's mansion. Although he was politely refused, he never forgot her. The reason he wanted to hunt for the heart and lungs of the Lin fish to refine pills was not only to make further progress in the art of lovemaking, but also to show off his prowess in front of the Yong Prince's mansion?"

Chen Heng recalled this scene from Yu Xiaoyu's memory, thought about it for a moment, and then didn't dwell on it, simply closing his eyes and sitting upright.

Four or five days later, the many demon cultivators who had chased after the Lin fish returned one after another.

Having failed, each of them wore a slightly embarrassed and uneasy expression.

As expected, Yu Xiaoyu, who was transformed by Chen Heng, naturally lost his temper. After giving a good scolding, he personally took down the golden whip and gave each of them more than a dozen lashes. Even the stone lions watching the fun were not spared and were whipped as well.

Amidst the gloom and despair, when Chen Heng mentioned that he wanted to change course to Fish Lake Mountain, the group of demon cultivators, who had previously been sullen and dejected, suddenly became enthusiastic again, nodding vigorously as if afraid that Chen Heng might change his mind at any moment.

In their view, the Lin fish was already difficult to catch, so even if they had the magic mirror, it would be useless.

Rather than staying here and being punished by Yu Xiaoyu again, it would be better to change course and go to Yuhu Mountain as soon as possible.

Given Yu Xiaoyu's status, the Prince of Yong's mansion should be able to make some exceptions, and it shouldn't be difficult for him to enter the mountains to gather Ganoderma lucidum.

"Very well, very well! I have long heard of the beautiful scenery of Fish Lake Mountain. It was a famous mountain in the ancient world of Hongjing Heaven. Although only a tenth of it remains today, it is still very vast, and there are still some mysteries in the mountain."

Let the Lord go up there and have some fun. If he stays here at Guangyang Lake any longer, I, Old Ren, might get a beating sometime soon!

While inwardly grumbling, Steward Ren did not slow down at all. He quickly knelt down and volunteered to deliver the letter to Prince Yong's residence on behalf of Yu Xiaoyu.

Chen Heng readily agreed, and after Steward Ren and the group of demon cultivators left in high spirits.

As night fell, Chen Heng, who sat upright in his tent, suddenly twitched his eyelids, and then a voice suddenly rang out from not far away:
"Master Chen, your skills are truly remarkable. With such a disguise, even if Yu Xiaoyu himself came here to observe, he probably wouldn't be able to see anything unusual!"

……

……

Brocade flutters in the breeze, lanterns hang in layers.

The tent was originally sealed off, isolating the inside from the outside, but where Chen Heng was looking, a wisp of scarlet blood smoke suddenly jumped out, and then with a slight tremor, Lü Rong's figure appeared.

"You flatter me. I have long heard that Master Lü's Red Lotus Shadow-Walking Technique has the ability to penetrate formations and break through illusions. Seeing it today, I can confirm that the rumors are true." Chen Heng smiled.

Lü Rong gave Chen Heng a deep look and said bluntly:
“Master Chen, I am aware that you ordered this demonic cultivator to deliver a letter to the Prince of Yong’s residence, but I have come here today with another request.”

His gaze turned slightly cold as he continued:
"Master Chen should have known that I had some grudges with Xiao Lingji, the true disciple of Zhuihuan Palace, and had long wanted to teach this lowly maid a lesson. However, due to her companions, I had not been able to find an opportunity to do so."

While luring away the group of demon cultivators in Guangyang Lake, they unexpectedly found a piece of Lin fish flesh at the bottom of the lake. The aura on it seemed to belong to Xiao Lingji's companion.

"Companion?" Seeing Lü Rong personally take out a fist-sized piece of dark-colored meat, which indeed had an unusual aura, Chen Heng became somewhat interested.

“Amitabha Buddha, a Dharma heir of Dasui Temple, the monk Tansu.”

Lu Rong spoke coldly.

The light ignites and shines endlessly, illuminating the ten directions and small worlds, turning them into crystal, with hundreds of thousands of wonderful colors, all complete. This is what is called immeasurable light.

In the realm of boundless light, Dasui Temple has always held a prominent position among the various pure and tranquil Zen monasteries. Like Zhuihuan Palace, both are ancient and powerful sects with profound and unfathomable heritage.

As the name suggests, Dharma heirs are outstanding talents in Zen Buddhism who have received the master's spiritual seal and can inherit the Dharma lineage. Their status is equivalent to that of a true disciple in the Taoist path.

Tan Su of Da Sui Temple, Xiao Lingji of Zhuihuan Palace—

Judging from Lü Rong's tone, the fact that two disciples of major sects had joined forces did not seem to deter Lü Rong.

He seemed certain that he could defeat Xiao Lingji, but he hesitated to act because of the presence of Da Sui Temple's Tan Su.

“I have already experienced Master Chen’s methods. If you and I join forces, defeating those two extraterrestrial cultivators should not be difficult. As for asking someone to help, I should reward them with generous gifts. I am aware of this.”

After Lü Rong finished speaking, he raised his hand, and several clusters of precious light immediately condensed in the air, dazzling and magnificent, almost intoxicating.

“I know I have only known Master Chen for a few days, and it would be very impolite of me to make this request so rashly. But in the entire Hongjing Heaven, I am afraid that only Master Chen can help me.” Lu Rong bowed respectfully, his face sincere.

"With such a high price, it seems that Master Lü truly intends to make that Xiao Lingji suffer?"

Chen Heng's gaze swept over the scriptures, magical treasures, and great medicines one by one.

After a long pause, he withdrew his gaze, smiled faintly, and suddenly changed the subject:
"I've heard that your sect possesses a type of spiritual creature called the Crimson Flame True One?"

Upon hearing this, Lü Rong's expression darkened slightly. After a long silence, he slowly said:
"With the Dan Yuan Conference approaching, if I were to exchange the Crimson Flame True Essence, wouldn't that be aiding the enemy?"

“A Western monk once said that all delusions, such as love and hate, acceptance and rejection, coming and going, are all manifestations of the mind. As for your sect’s Red Burning True Man, Master Lü may ponder it for a while before giving me a reply.”

Chen Heng waved his hand and said:

"As for the present situation, I hope Master Lü can briefly explain your grievances with Consort Xiao and Monk Tansu. If you wish to ask me to take action, I should be aware of the ins and outs of the matter."

Lü Rong nodded, offering no objection.

Meanwhile, in the continent of Mowu.

A bright beam of Buddha's light suddenly flew in from afar, its radiance solemn and majestic, its brilliance overflowing, as if a full moon had been added to the sky.

The light of Buddha slowly dissipated when they flew to the vicinity of a valley, revealing the figure of the monk Tansu.

Tan Su opened her eyes and looked down at the clouds. Even though they were quite far apart, she could still hear lewd and obscene sounds. A fragrant aroma lingered around the mountaintop, which the wind could not dispel, making her feel hot in her lower abdomen and her mind wander.

Tan Su was already used to this. He put his palms together, chanted a Buddhist prayer, and then descended from the clouds.

(End of this chapter)