Netherworld Painted Skin Scroll

Chapter 405 The Radiant Sun!

The old Taoist priest hissed and gasped, quickly lowering his voice: "Fellow Daoist, you mustn't speak carelessly like that!"

"What nonsense are you spouting? I saw them both get off the boat with my own eyes! I—" Li Wuxiang waved to him, walked further into the cave, squatted down and stirred the water, "I really did see fish! But they weren't as big as you said, fellow Daoist. Oh dear, they're so slippery—you should call one of your disciples tonight, someone fast on foot. No, they're too slow. You're a Golden Core cultivator, so you should go to the beach and take a look. Just walk east along the beach; their footprints might still be on that beach over there!"

The old Taoist priest squatted down beside him and stirred the water. He frowned and thought for a moment, then looked at Li Wuxiang: "Really?"

"How could it be fake, fellow Daoist? I brought him here. Would I dare tell you this if I didn't find out the truth? He really is from the mountains. If I killed him, wouldn't I be in trouble too?"

The old Taoist nodded and cursed, "Damn it, it really is that scoundrel from the Xuan Cult trying to steal our stuff. We're all disciples of Taiyi, and everyone should kill him—have you figured out what he's got?"

"Put what's in your sleeve first, then I'll talk to you."

The old Taoist priest chuckled awkwardly, revealing his left hand hidden in his sleeve. With a flick of his fingers, the object he was holding in his palm was sent flying back into his sleeve: "Hey, I was just being cautious. What kind of stuff is it?"

“Look at him—” Li Wuxiang stood up again, kicking the water with the tip of his shoe, “Are you fucking never going to stop?”

The old Taoist priest pulled his right hand out of the water and flicked the green mud from under his fingernails: "Alright, alright, I was just testing whether you were a true fellow Daoist. Besides, I'm used to it."

"Let me tell you, you are a Golden Core cultivator, and so am I. If you keep doing this, I'm taking him with me."

The old Taoist bowed and said solemnly, "Excellent, excellent! You are young and promising, much better than this old man. My apologies for my disrespect."

Li Wuxiang waved his hand: "Alright, let's get serious—I'm alone, and you have seven people. I'm still using your land to do my business. I'm not greedy. The pills on his body and that woman are mine, and the rest are yours."

The old Taoist priest narrowed his eyes: "What if you're greedy? What else could you possibly want?"

"Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand. I'm not trying to hog all the good stuff; it's just that this person has other valuable items on him. Can you see anything unusual about him?"

The old Taoist picked up a wooden ladle from the pool, scooped up some water, and went outside to have his disciples wipe Kong Youxin's head. He then instructed someone to treat Deng Yuan's injuries before returning, saying, "He's carrying something in his arms."

"Yes. Something important, I don't know what it is, but it's definitely related to his escape. He casually scattered his pills along the way, but he kept the thing in his arms very well protected. Do you think you want it?"

The old Taoist thought for a moment, then laughed: "I don't want it. I'm old, I'll just take some pills and ingredients. Since you brought the person here, you can keep the good stuff."

Just as Li Wuxiang was about to speak, the old Taoist thought for a moment and said, "Forget it, I don't need the pills or materials either. Fellow Daoist, you are young and promising, and an old man like me can't catch up even if I try. Here's what we'll do: you keep this place, and my master and I will leave tonight and won't get involved in your affairs."

The old man chickened out again when he heard it was someone from the Xuan Sect!
Li Wuxiang frowned: "Are you getting senile?! Haven't you figured out what I left you?!"

The old Taoist priest wasn't angry: "I don't want anything you leave me. I don't want to have the life to take it but not the life to use it."

"Don't go yet!" Li Wuxiang grabbed the old Taoist's sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Tell me, do you know anyone named Li Wuxiang?"

The old Taoist priest was taken aback, then thought for a moment: "Who?"

“You son of a bitch—” Li Wuxiang sighed, “Go ask your disciples and see who knows. Anyway, let me tell you, what I’m leaving you is Li Wuxiang’s path to enlightenment. Take it or leave it.”

After Li Wuxiang finished speaking, he ignored him and walked out with a sigh: "Alas, what bad luck. I thought I could finally taste that fish—Fellow Daoist, you're awake!?"

Kong Youxin sat up, clutching her head, her eyes filled with confusion. After looking around, she asked, "What's wrong with me?"

“A rock fell from the cave and hit you. But you’re alright.” Li Wuxiang helped her stand up and take a few steps, then helped her sit down against the wall again. “Don’t panic. The fellow Daoists here are kind-hearted and easy to talk to. Rest assured, I’ll go ask the seniors what our arrangements are for tonight.”

When Li Wuxiang was talking to Kong Youxin, he saw the old Taoist priest squatting down next to Deng Yuan to check his injuries, with several other disciples surrounding him.

He was probably listening to Deng Yuan speak. His expression was initially one of slight frowning and great suspicion, almost as if he had "What nonsense are you spouting?" written all over his face.

Then several of his other disciples started whispering to him, as if to confirm that what Deng Yuan said was true.

Only then did the old Taoist priest reveal a shocked expression, as if to say: No, you're only telling me about something this big now?

Seeing his shock, the disciples around him were also shocked, their expressions seeming to say: No, Master, you still don't know about such a big thing?
The seven people remained in shock for a while. The old Taoist slapped his forehead, glanced at Li Wuxiang, and then looked into the main cave. Zhou Xiang was wandering around in the darkness of the main cave, going deeper and deeper, as if he were observing his own blessed land. He would touch his chest from time to time.

The old Taoist priest tilted his head at Li Wuxiang, got up, and walked out of the cave. Li Wuxiang quickly followed. As soon as he came out, the old Taoist priest immediately asked, "The Li Wuxiang you're talking about is that little deity, isn't he?"

Li Wuxiang frowned and asked him, "No, brother, where did you used to hang out? You're almost at the Nascent Soul stage, and you've never even heard of this person?"

The old Taoist sighed sheepishly, "Alas, I'm a rather honest person. I usually just work diligently and don't like to inquire about the affairs of important people. You know, hearing too much about certain things isn't a good thing, right? Besides, this little deity became famous far too quickly, in less than a year. How would I know? — But what exactly do you mean by his path of cultivation?"

"Your disciple has explained everything about Li Wuxiang to you, right?"

"That's about right, I've said everything that needed to be said."

"Then let me ask you a few questions—do you think Li Wuxiang cultivated his Nascent Soul on his own, or did Mei Qiulu from the Taiyi Sect help him?"

"Is that even a question? Who can cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage in a year?"

"Yes, then let me ask you again, why does Mei Qiulu of the Taiyi Sect think so highly of him?"

"Because of what happened in Coffin City?" The old Taoist thought for a moment. "Because he killed someone from the True Form Sect in Coffin City? He's got guts? The Sword Sect likes guts, right? That's true, it's been years since anyone ran into a religious district to kill someone and then escaped. Oh, I remember now, it's that Li Wuxiang!" "No, brother, don't you understand everything?" Li Wuxiang asked, rubbing his head. "Then why can't you understand this situation? The Taiyi Sect made a pact with the Six Departments of the Mysterious Sect, didn't they? Now the Mysterious Sect people aren't keeping their pact and have secretly come over, right? Don't worry about what they're doing here. If we kill this person now and hand him over to Mei Qiulu, what kind of people are we? Are we still those lowly thugs who rob and kill on the road?"

The old Taoist clapped his hands: "Yes—oh no, that's not it! Then we'll become chivalrous heroes with unwavering courage and wisdom!"

Li Wuxiang clapped his hands and said, "Then you? Right? The Taiyi Sect is in dire need of manpower right now. If you find something more important in that person, tell me, is it possible that Mei Qiulu, the Yang God, might also give you a chance to become a swordsman? Tell me, besides this time, do you have any other chance in your life to go ashore, clear your name, and get the Taiyi Sect Leader to take a second look at you?"

"What is a predestined affinity with the immortals? This is a predestined affinity with the immortals! Don't you understand this principle?"

The old Taoist priest couldn't help but pace back and forth on the stone platform a few times. He stopped, clenched his fist, and exclaimed, "What a stroke of luck! If you ask what's most valuable about this person—it's him himself!"

Li Wuxiang laughed: "You've figured it out, brother."

The old Taoist suddenly asked again, "Then don't you want to be promoted a little?"

Li Wuxiang said, "There's no need to play dumb—there are seven of you here, plus me, eight of us. Mei Qiulu can't elevate all of us, she can only elevate one of us. Tell me, should I take the pills and materials and hide away to live a carefree life, or should I go to the Taiyi Sect and call you 'Master' from now on? Besides, I'm still young, what's the rush?"

The old Taoist nodded and exclaimed, "Good! What a perceptive young man! I feel much more at ease working with you. Come on, let's discuss how to deal with him."

……

Zhou Xiang explored the main cave and found it to be a true paradise—the spiritual energy surged deep within the cave, and even the nearby stone pits showed traces of layers of magical energy. The old Taoist's words about this being a former immortal's abode were indeed true. He could stay here a few more days and avoid clashing with the envoys from the other five tribes.

He was satisfied with what he saw, so he walked back to the stone cave that had been used as a hall.

Kong Youxin was sitting against the wall, feeling dizzy and disoriented. When she saw him walk in, she immediately gave him a wink.

Zhou Xiang walked over and asked, "What's wrong?"

Kong Youxin glanced at Deng Yuan lying in the left cave, then at the five people arguing about fishing in the right cave, and whispered, "Master, it didn't seem like the stone on my head fell down by itself just now. It seemed like it was Li Xiao... But I don't know if I was mistaken, I was just distracted..."

Zhou Xiang smiled slightly: "You read that right, it was Li Xiao who did it. This person's level is higher than he said. Do you know how he knocked the stone off your head? He released his true energy. He wanted to knock off the small one on your head, but he wasn't skilled enough and knocked off the big one as well."

Kong Youxin was stunned: "Huh? Why did he..."

Zhou Xiang gave a cold laugh and snorted: "Why? Because of Li Xiao. They're afraid that if I ask that old Taoist a few more questions, he'll ruin his plans. Ha... They think I know nothing about matters outside the sect, and they also think I don't know what they're thinking."

Zhou Xiang glanced at the cave entrance: "Did the two of them just go out?"

"Ah? Ah, yes..."

"Those two are currently outside discussing how to split the profits with me."

After saying this, Zhou Xiang also walked towards the cave entrance. He passed through the stone corridor and stepped onto the stone platform, where he saw Li Wuxiang and the old Taoist priest standing under a tree, talking quietly. Seeing him come out, the two immediately said, "Senior, we were discussing—"

"How will you share the profits with me?" Zhou Xiang smiled slightly. "How did the discussions go? Have you reached an agreement?"

These words startled Li Wuxiang and the old Taoist priest, who exchanged bewildered glances. Fortunately, neither of them was easily fooled, and they both kept their composure, feigning ignorance: "Senior, what do you mean by that?"

Zhou Xiang shook his head: "I know what the situation is like outside. In a good world, bad people become good people, and in a bad world, good people become bad people—it's not surprising that you wandering cultivators have a few lives on your hands. But I know that it's all for survival and self-preservation, and you have no choice but to do it. When people are forced to this point, they feel that they can't be any worse, and they gradually feel that it's foolish, delusional, and rebellious to fight for what they deserve, isn't it?"

The old Taoist priest was stunned, staring blankly at Zhou Xiang, speechless for a long time.

Zhou Xiang smiled again: "What, do you think I hit the nail on the head?"

This person is too innocent, far too innocent! If the old Taoist had harbored any doubts or suspicions before, they had all vanished after hearing these words. This person is not only from the parish, but must be the descendant of a pampered and privileged figure within the parish!

"Yes, fellow Daoist!" The old Daoist wiped his face, flicking the medicinal powder from under his little fingernail into his eyes. After lowering his hand, his old eyes were already filled with tears. "My whole life..."

Zhou Xiang raised his hand and waved it: "So I don't care about your thoughts. Li Xiao, you see my appearance and think I am of high status, so you want to become my disciple. Fellow Daoist, you heard me talk about the method to restore youth and lifespan, and you also want to get benefits from me. These are all thoughts that ordinary people would have."

“But those who are with me are no longer in this world. Since they are no longer in this world, you don’t need to scheme against each other for small things like before. I want to make a name for myself in this world, and I have many people I can protect. You don’t need to fight over them with me.”

Li Wuxiang was also stunned. He mainly didn't understand what Zhou Xiang meant. Had he broken ties with the Five Mountains True Form Sect, or was he ordered to flee the sect to hide behind enemy lines and develop followers? Either way, it seemed inappropriate to do it so openly; it was truly absurd—

However, the next moment, he realized that his knowledge was too limited.

And then something even more unbelievable happened.

Zhou Xiang reached into his robes and took out a dark gold bead, which he held between his fingertips and calmly presented to the two of them.

Do you recognize this?

Li Wuxiang's scalp tingled instantly. The old Taoist priest certainly wouldn't recognize it, but he did—not only did he recognize it, but he had also used it when he was forming his core at Coffin Mountain! But the one he used back then was completely different from the one Zhou Xiang was holding now…

It's like a tiny pearl under the blazing sun!
—This is the remains of an immortal!

(End of this chapter)