Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 588 The Mysterious Yin Suoyi's Reincarnation Tribulation, The Immortal Pill Bewitches the Heart and Enters the Trap (Seeking Rewards and Subscriptions!)

Time flies like a shooting star in the night sky. For many powerful cultivators in the Earthly Immortal Realm, hundreds of years are but a fleeting moment of enlightenment and seclusion.

Deep within the Xuan Yuan Cave of the Taiqing Sect, chaotic spiritual energy lingered like mist.

Lu Cheng Daoist sat cross-legged on the cloud bed, with the Blood River Banner, a tenth-order pseudo-immortal artifact obtained from the Chi Demon Clan, floating in front of him.

Although this magical treasure is extremely unsuitable for the seven branches of the Taiqing Sect's true teachings, sometimes even if it is unsuitable, it can be forcibly adapted.

The forging of pseudo-immortal artifacts is extremely dependent on luck and opportunity. The Taiyi Dividing Light Flying Sword, which Elder Mingque was in charge of, had an excellent foundation and excellent materials. The Taiqing Sect had tried several times to forge and upgrade it into a pseudo-immortal artifact with the full strength of the sect.

However, each time the Taiyi Dividing Light Flying Sword is damaged due to various accidents, it is then reforged, only to be damaged again.

After several attempts, not only did they fail to upgrade the flying sword to the tenth-order pseudo-immortal artifact, but the sect's vitality was also greatly damaged. After suffering huge losses several times, no one in the sect mentioned the matter anymore.

Therefore, it's better not to force a process of adjustment if it's not suitable. Having a pseudo-immortal artifact in hand when you reach the Mahayana realm is always better than having none at all.

The flag moved without wind, its crimson light concealed, as if it contained a miniature, churning sea of ​​blood. Strands of runes containing the law of "blood plunder" were sensed, dissected, and reflected by Lu Cheng with his own Dao heart, and incorporated into the foundation of his innate power Dao.

This connection is mutual. As Lu Cheng comprehends the Blood River Banner, he is also being influenced by the Blood River Banner to perceive the part of the Great Dao of Blood that he has comprehended.

The spirit of the Blood River Banner seemed to see a crimson river spreading out from its initial point. As time went by, the bloodline network continued to expand, and in the future, it would gradually spread throughout this world.
"As long as my bloodline continues, I will live forever."

"As long as the river of blood never dries up, I will never die."

The spirit of the Blood River Banner seemed to see a Taoist creating life out of nothing, freely transforming the lifeless primordial energy of heaven and earth with his own life force. Thus, the primordial energy of heaven and earth was inexhaustible, his own life force was endless, and his lifespan was limitless. With a thought, he could create a sea of ​​blood that could overturn the heavens; with a breath, he could make the vast universe contain him in a single breath. This realm was the true transformation from mortal to immortal.

However, although both of them were sensing the blood path in each other's minds, Lu Cheng's innate talent was already extremely heaven-defying after cultivating the Xuan Tian Divine Art. On the contrary, the Blood River Flag Spirit had cultivated the evil path of blood for ten thousand years, and his violent aura was filled with calamity and clouded his heart. The speed at which the two learned was like one person carrying water with a bucket and the other opening a floodgate.

Even those things that Blood River Flag Spirit had already sensed were still somewhat incomprehensible to him, like scratching an itch through a boot, unable to fully grasp their meaning.

Inside the cave, there was only the faint hum of the flowing laws and the occasional ripples of pale golden Dao patterns around Lu Cheng.

Having experienced the bloody battle in Tianjue Canyon, the twelve killings by the Old Man of the Yellow Springs, the battle against the wicked demons who brought disaster to the world, and the study of the evil path of blood under the Blood River Banner, although he has not truly broken through the bottleneck of the Integration Realm, the profoundness of his Daoist foundation and the purity and vastness of his divine sense and magical power have already faintly touched the top threshold of the giants of this era in the Earth Immortal Realm.

However, the heavy doubts brought about by the destruction of the Eastern Celestial Palace and the fall of Mo Yanxing did not disappear with time. Instead, they lingered like a bone-deep sore, settling deep in his mind and becoming the underlying tone of his increasingly well-rounded, meticulous, stable, and comprehensive actions.

Under its leadership, the Taiqing Sect, like a dormant ancient divine turtle, seemed slow but steadily and actively digested the legacy left by the Eastern Celestial Palace of Creation with the firmness of a rock. The sect was outwardly relaxed but inwardly tight, and its aura became increasingly unfathomable.

As time went by, more and more information about the destruction of the Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace, one of the nine sects of the human race, was spread. After all, powerful sects in the Earthly Immortal Realm, no matter which sect or faction, had some lurking cultivators from other factions.

It's likely that only the most minor sects and factions lack hidden cultivators.

The most widely circulated theory is that Mo Yanxing, the last master of the Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace, was betrayed by Wugu Tu, the Grand Elder of the Chi Demon Clan, ten thousand years ago. In his early years, he obtained the inheritance of the Machine God Clan, which was destroyed by the Chi Demon Clan, through a fortuitous encounter. As a result, his puppetry skills and magical power advanced by leaps and bounds. However, he did not expect that Wugu Tu had already planted a hidden hand in this inheritance.

The Chi Demon clan had been planning to migrate south for ten thousand years, and their target was the Creation Palace!

With his talent and the legacy of the Machine God Clan, Mo Yanxing's cultivation level increased daily, and he eventually succeeded to the position of Palace Master of the Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace with twelve great achievements.

But the more he cultivated, the more the schemes within his natal puppet, the Creation Emperor, seeped into his very bones and blood, until he was destroyed.

'Although Palace Master Mo is somewhat arrogant, he has served as the master of the Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace for ten thousand years, making the Creation Heavenly Palace flourish. He has achieved great success in personal cultivation, puppetry skills, and sect management... Could such a talented person be assassinated by a barbarian like Wugu Tu?' Lu Cheng still had some disbelief in his heart. He vaguely felt that there was a huge dark shadow shrouding behind this fog.

Although he couldn't see it clearly, Lu Cheng trusted his intuition; the shadow was real.

One day, outside the Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven, a strange ripple suddenly appeared in the void array system formed by the intertwining of the Xuan Yuan Nine Restrictions and the Purple Qi Patrol Immortal Array.

The ripples were not a powerful impact, but rather carried a harmonious rhythm that was almost in harmony with nature, gently tapping on the nodes of the protective array, like a gentle spring rain nourishing all things silently.

The elder, Youming Daoren, who was standing outside the cave, suddenly became serious. His divine sense swept across the jade wall of the array pivot, and he saw the light and shadow on the jade wall change, revealing the figure of an old man with a thin but vigorous face, wearing a black crane cloak.

The old man stood with his hands behind his back above the sea of ​​clouds. His aura was obscure and difficult to discern. There was neither demonic energy nor Buddhist light, nor was he a pure Taoist spirit. Instead, he seemed like an ancient ghost wandering in the gaps between the three realms, yet he carried an overwhelming and unstoppable Mahayana pressure!
Clouds rose beneath its feet, and the faint image of the River Styx flowed by, only to vanish in an instant and return to nothingness.

"Who goes there? How dare you trespass on the gates of my Taiqing Mountain?"

"Hahaha, a wandering traveler in the mortal world, carefree and roaming on the wind. Young friend, please do not be angry. I, the Wandering Taoist, have come specifically to discuss important matters with your master, and I also have an immense opportunity to offer you. Why don't you hurry and report it to him?"

The old man, dressed in a black crane cloak and with a gaunt face, spoke as if he were quite certain that the sect leader of Lu City would not refuse to see him.

"Reporting to the Sect Leader," Elder Youming said respectfully, his divine sense penetrating deep into the cave.
“A cultivator outside the mountain, who calls himself ‘The Hermit of Forgetfulness,’ is seeking an audience. Judging from his demeanor, he must be a Mahayana master. The methods he practices seem to be related to the netherworld, yet they do not resemble those of the ghost race.”

Deep within the Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven's secret chamber, Lu Cheng slowly opened his eyes, a sense of Dao arising and ceasing within them, as he silently slipped the Blood River Banner into his sleeve.

"Please, lead me to the 'Azure Jade Cloud Terrace' for tea." Lu Cheng's voice was calm and even, penetrating the cave's restrictions and reaching the ears of disciple Youming.

The Taiqing Sect certainly has a protective array, but no other sect in the world can support a ninth-tier immortal array operating at full capacity day after day. Therefore, in peacetime, any Mahayana cultivator skilled in escape techniques has a high chance of breaking into another sect's territory. However, once detected by fellow cultivators within the sect and the array activated, their fate—whether they live or die—is no longer in the hands of that Mahayana cultivator.

At the same time, the power of the ninth-order immortal array was also fully activated in important places such as the Sutra Repository, the sect's treasure vault, and the ancestral hall, making it difficult for even a Mahayana cultivator skilled in escape techniques to sneak in undetected.

The Azure Jade Cloud Platform is where the Taiqing Sect receives distinguished guests. It floats beside the main peak, drawing in the pure energy of the heavens and overlooking the churning sea of ​​clouds.

When Lu Cheng stepped out of the void and appeared on the jade throne in the cloud platform, the cultivator who called himself "Wangyou Sanren" had already taken his seat in the guest position under the guidance of Youming Daoren.

"I, Wangyou, have long admired the name of Master Lu of Taiqing Sect. I have come here today with important matters to discuss. I hope Master Lu will forgive me." Wangyou Sanren stood up, bowed, and spoke with composure and clarity, exuding a sense of lightness, elegance, and freedom.

"Fellow Daoist, you are too kind. May I ask what important matter requires your presence?" Lu Cheng returned the greeting with a hand gesture, his eyes clear.

Both were considered top cultivators in this world. In terms of cultivation and status, they were already at the very top among cultivators in this world. Therefore, their interactions were simple, and worldly formalities were of no use.

Upon hearing this, the Forget-Worry Hermit smiled slightly, said no more polite words, and with a flick of his sleeve, the wind and clouds on the cloud platform changed color in an instant!
A gray, cloud-like object, neither gold nor jade, neither rope nor chain, flew out from his sleeve and hovered between the two.

Upon its appearance, the pure aura of the Nine Heavens above the entire Azure Jade Cloud Platform seemed to be frozen and sink by an invisible force. The object itself had no dazzling brilliance; instead, it exuded a somber and ancient aura, constantly emanating a chilling Daoist charm and wisps of deathly grayness.

"A tenth-tier pseudo-immortal artifact, the Profound Yin Demon-Suppressing Corpse-Suppressing Rope. I've heard that you recently acquired two spiritual treasures, but they don't suit your cultivation method. What do you think of this treasure, Master? Its nature is yin and pure, without any evil."

"This treasure was not forged from mortal fire. It was born from the will of the underworld, which was shrouded in the depths of the Xuan Yin earth vein. It has been formed naturally over countless millennia. Its nature is extremely Yin and cold, and it can control all corpses. Even a corpse immortal who has transcended the Three Realms and is not within the Five Elements is like a child bound in a spider web under this rope, unable to escape its restraint."

In this realm, most tenth-order pseudo-immortal artifacts are naturally formed, with only a small portion being man-made. If one could choose, most tenth-order pseudo-immortal artifacts would probably be immortal swords or shields, but in reality, this is not the case.

"What a magnificent innate Netherworld treasure!" Lu Cheng exclaimed, his tone carrying a hint of understanding and scrutiny.

"This treasure is extraordinary, however... its Yin energy is extremely heavy, which may pose a danger of devouring its master. It is probably not something an ordinary cultivator can control. If I have not misjudged the situation and use this treasure, I fear it will deplete my Yin virtue?"

The heavens have five directions: east, south, center, west, and north.

Humans possess five virtues: morality, holiness, merit, unseen virtue, and blessings. The Daoist theories of the Taiqing Sect are unparalleled in the world, and Lu Cheng is the sect leader of Taiqing. Even if he had never seen this tenth-tier spiritual treasure before, he could still gain some understanding of it after a little calculation.

A barely perceptible hint of admiration flashed in the eyes of the Forgetful Hermit: "Sect Leader Lu's eyes are indeed sharp, living up to his reputation. Indeed, the Profound Yin Demon-Controlling Corpse-Suppressing Rope is an extension of the authority of the Netherworld. Controlling corpses and suppressing demons, acting on behalf of Heaven to punish, how can it be without a price? Every time a cultivator uses this rope, whether to suppress corpses, exorcise demons, or even to evolve Netherworld supernatural powers, the wielder must consume their own 'yin virtue'! This is the law of Heaven and Earth, unavoidable. Yin virtue is related to the foundation of reincarnation, the accumulation of blessings from past lives. Ordinary cultivators, even those with Mahayana cultivation, without special methods to accumulate yin virtue, using this treasure is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst. The day their yin virtue is exhausted will be the day of great calamity, when their soul returns to the Nine Netherworlds to suffer eternal torment! This is the greatest secret of this treasure, and also its greatest limitation."

Lu Cheng nodded. Although this treasure was powerful, it was a hot potato, even more difficult to deal with than the ferocious aura of the Blood River Flag.

The Taiqing Sect is a legitimate sect of the Xuanmen, cultivating the Daoist methods of tranquility, non-action, and transcendence. Which of its disciples could cultivate profound virtue? A pseudo-immortal artifact that is so restrictive and may even harm a cultivator's fortune is naturally greatly diminished in value.

Moreover, the Taiqing Sect is not lacking in supernatural powers to break and refine demons, nor does it possess the great method of evolving the Netherworld. Therefore, the Xuan Yin Demon-Controlling Corpse-Suppressing Rope can only be used to suppress corpses. Furthermore, the Taiqing Sect is not as well-versed in the Corpse Immortal lineage as the Shangqing Sect.

“Fellow Daoist, this treasure is indeed an earth-shattering object. However, its restrictions are harsh and incompatible with the Taiqing Daoist method. I’m afraid your journey will be difficult…” Lu Cheng’s expression remained unchanged, but his tone carried a hint of regret.

However, before he could finish speaking, the Forget-Worry Hermit smiled knowingly, as if he had expected this. He flicked his sleeve again, and a bone fragment, neither gold nor jade, with countless tiny runes flowing within it, appeared beside the Corpse-Suppressing Rope.

"This is a fragment of the *Nine Netherworld Mysterious Virtue Crossing the World Scripture*, left behind by the ancient Netherworld Emperor. It specifically describes the supreme method for accumulating yin virtue, protecting the soul, and communicating with reincarnation. Although it is a fragment, it has already clearly explained the method of accumulating yin virtue. If one practices this scripture with perseverance, performs good deeds extensively, guides the souls of the dead, and regulates the energy of the Netherworld, one can continuously accumulate yin virtue, offsetting the losses from the Corpse-Suppressing Rope, and even nourishing oneself, achieving a body 'protected by yin virtue, impervious to all evil.' This scripture is the sublime method for utilizing this treasure."

Lu Cheng's gaze fell on the bone fragment of the "Nine Netherworld Mysterious Virtue Crossing the World Scripture," and his mind stirred slightly.

The laws of reincarnation and methods of cultivating virtue contained in this scripture are profound and mysterious, truly a rare treasure. If one could obtain it, not only could one attempt to wield the Corpse-Suppressing Rope, but it would also greatly benefit one's understanding of the great Dao of life and death. The combination of these two items dramatically increases their value!
“Even so, my sect does not understand the Corpse Immortal lineage. What benefit would it be to obtain this treasure, even if it is good?” Although he was already somewhat tempted, Lu Cheng still said this.

"Yes, I know of a secret realm containing three incorruptible skeletons, but that realm is the ancestral home of a clan..."

"Are you referring to the Bishi Clan, the ancestral land of all spirits, the Burial Abyss of Gods, fellow Daoist?"

"..." The Forget-Worry Hermit fell silent at this moment, clearly having been told what Lu Cheng knew.

The so-called 'uncorrupted bones' are a certain ultimate form of cultivation in the Corpse Path, and also the supreme sacred object of the Pishi Clan. Their bones are like divine gold and jade, indestructible, remaining unbroken even after countless eons. Their consciousness may be chaotic or clear, but both contain a portion of their former ferocious fighting spirit and extraordinary cultivation.

Three uncorrupted skeletons slumber within the deepest part of the Ancestral Land of Ten Thousand Spirits, in the Abyss of Burial Gods. Their very existence, with its terrifying corpse aura, envelops the entire ancestral land, deterring external enemies and maintaining the absolute rule of the Pishi Clan in this deathly desolation. Ordinary cultivators, let alone approach them, would be tainted by their corpse aura and assimilated into walking corpses simply by sensing a trace of their presence.

"The Profound Yin Demon-Suppressing Corpse-Suppressing Rope contains innate Netherworld laws, making it a perfect treasure to subdue these uncorrupted corpses! If one wields this rope and uses the method of accumulating Yin virtue through the Crossing the World Scripture, there is a possibility of venturing deep into the Ancestral Land of Ten Thousand Spirits to attempt to subdue these three supreme ferocious corpses. Once successful, the value of this spiritual treasure will be immeasurable!"

After Wangyou Sanren finished speaking, there was another long silence.

Just when Wangyou Sanren almost thought his trip had failed, Lu Cheng, who had been silently drinking tea in front of him, spoke again:

“I am aware of your sincerity, fellow Daoist. The Corpse-Suppressing Rope and the Crossing-the-World Scripture are indeed a perfect match. However, my sect is not skilled in the path of corpses, and those three uncorrupted bones do not belong to you. If you wish to exchange them for the spiritual treasure in my possession, I am afraid it will be difficult.”

Lu Cheng's words greatly annoyed the Forget-Worry Hermit. He paced back and forth on the Azure Jade Cloud Platform, and finally, he reached into his sleeve again and took out a pill bottle.

(End of this chapter)