Shushan Earthly Immortal

Chapter 453 Gathering around the fire to brew wine, the sword reaches every spirit.

"Why was it Bailing Valley first?"

Cheng Xinzhan asked.

In his view, the Miao people's biggest concern was the celestial phenomena. Shouldn't they have first discussed their place of spiritual alignment, or where to set up an altar and pray for rain or clear skies? Or perhaps they should have convened a pre-battle mobilization or planning meeting with all the leaders? Why would it be Hundred Spirits Valley?

To fight against foreign aggression, we must first stabilize the country?

If that's the case, then King Wumeng is clearly a greater threat.

At this moment, the chieftain asked in return,

"As far as I know, the Southern Demonic Sect should only know that you visited the Azure Dragon Cave, right?"

Cheng Xinzhan nodded upon hearing this. The protective array of Qinglong Cave concealed the mountain within the void, leaving it unobstructed on all sides. Furthermore, the magical artifact, the Qinglong Bell, firmly secured the Miao region's ley lines, effectively locking Wangchun Mountain in place. This was a method left behind by the founding patriarch of the five realms of Qinglong Cave. Even he couldn't break through the void and enter without being detected by the Qinglong Bell; he could only launch a forceful attack, which would inevitably alert the demonic forces.

Furthermore, Xianglong occupied Redwood Ridge, which was extremely close to Azure Dragon Cave. Any slight movement would attract the attention of the Demon King, so Cheng Xinzhan never thought he could keep it a secret. The things he said outside Wangchun Mountain were also intentional, meant to provoke Azure Dragon Cave in front of the Demon King, putting them in a difficult position and drawing the attention of the Demonic Sect.

As for the Immortal Cave and the Chiyou Cave, both of them are protected by illusions and cloud-like miasma that lock the mountains. The coverage area is extremely wide, and even the Demonic Sect cannot monitor them in an all-round way. Therefore, Cheng Xinzhan quietly entered the mountain while the Demonic Sect's attention was still focused on the Azure Dragon Cave. This way, he would not appear aggressive and provoke a reaction from the three sects, but also make the Demonic Sect take it easy.

"now it's right."

The old chieftain nodded and said.
"Now, before the Demonic Sect reacts or takes any concrete action, and before the Demonic Dragon outwardly adheres to its oath, let's take Hundred Spirits Valley first."

Upon hearing the old chieftain say this, Cheng Xinzhan asked,

What's so special about Hundred Spirits Valley?

At this point, Mr. Hong Jiawen, the Red Crown Man, answered on his behalf.

"The Valley of a Hundred Spirits itself is not a big threat; the trouble is the Valley's master, the Heavenly Silkworm Fairy."

"Appreciate further details."

"The Silkworm Maiden attained enlightenment through a different kind of Heavenly Silkworm Gu worm. Among the Gu worms in my Miao region, the Heavenly Silkworm Gu worm is basically the pinnacle, with an extremely high rank and a natural suppression over other Gu worms. Upon first encounter, the strength of Gu worms above the third realm will be halved, while Gu worms below the third realm will be completely immobilized."

"Moreover, the Heavenly Silkworm Gu possesses a divine ability: it can spit out 'Tethering Silk.' Once this silkworm silk pierces the head of another Gu worm, it can immediately manipulate the Gu worm and turn it against its master, making it extremely powerful. When the Silkworm Maiden cultivates to the fourth realm, she can easily produce a thousand silkworms at once with a single breath. This is a tremendous suppression of the combat power of our Miao people."

“Mr. Guangfa, the Miao people I’m referring to aren’t just those in Chiyou Cave and ordinary Miao villages. Different places nurture different people, and in Miao territory, no one is immune to the use of Gu. Fuxia Lake also uses Gu; they use blood Gu, and in recent years they’ve started using water Gu as well. Xianren Cave primarily uses Qi Gu, cloud Gu, and fire Gu; Qinglong Cave prefers vine Gu, scale Gu, and light Gu. All of these will be affected.”

Cheng Xinzhan frowned as he listened. The Silkworm Maiden had been in the Demon Capital for decades. Given her detrimental influence on the Miao people, logically, if Chiyou Cave had any means to stop her, they would have killed her long ago. The fact that she had been dragged on until now only proved that Chiyou Cave was powerless to do anything about it. Slightly puzzled, he asked…

“Fellow Daoist Hong, you attained enlightenment as the Yangqin Chongming Chicken, so you should be naturally averse to these insect monsters. As fellow cultivators of the Fourth Realm, how come you couldn’t defeat that Silkworm Demon?”

Hong Jiawen smiled wryly upon hearing this and replied,
"Indeed, no. Although chickens and birds can restrain insects, there are still differences in their physical attributes. As far as my current bloodline is concerned, it really won't have much effect on the Heavenly Silkworm. It's like a fox eating a chicken, but in the world today, apart from the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox above the Fourth Realm, no fox spirit dares to say that it can defeat me."

"But you are different."

Hong Jiawen changed the subject, looking at Cheng Xinzhan with bright, piercing eyes, and said excitedly,

"You have grasped the true meaning of Bing Fire, and you possess the inner spirit of the Pleiades, along with a matching weapon. The Pleiades represents the pinnacle of avian life, and I dare say there is no insect in the world that is immune to its wrath, nor is there any fox spirit that dares to claim it can overcome it. Even the Five Poisons Heavenly King, a formidable and ferocious demon, died by your sword back then."

Clearly, Chiyou Cave had been keeping a close eye on Cheng Xinzhan, knowing everything about his inner vision, flying sword, and past battle records.

"no problem!"

Cheng Xinzhan readily agreed. Whether it was a counterattack by Xiangmiao or his own cultivation reaching the peak of the Fourth Realm before venturing out of the mountains, they needed to find a powerful demon to sacrifice as a sacrifice. Since both Xiangmiao and Miao had their eyes on the Silkworm Girl, then she would be the one.

The other three breathed a sigh of relief and their faces lit up with joy.

"I wonder if you know anything about silkworm girls, sir? Would you like me to tell you about Bailing Valley and silkworm girls?"

Hong Jiawen said.

"Please tell me about it."

Cheng Xinzhan had some basic understanding of the Silkworm Goddess, all of which came from Deng Qingyang. Deng Qingyang had confronted the Silkworm Goddess for decades and had fought her many times. He had mentioned to Cheng Xinzhan that the Silkworm Goddess was also a veteran Nascent Soul cultivator, having entered the fourth stage of cultivation many years ago. Her Nascent Soul was stable, and she had established a Dao Domain, but she had not yet survived the calamity.

This demon is not good at close combat and specializes in using poisonous insects, including all sorts of strange and venomous creatures. Its offensive weapons are a long whip made of twisted silkworm silk, and a set of bells that can bewitch people's minds and also protect them.

Cheng Xinzhan knew roughly what the Silkworm Maiden was like, and now that a local expert from Miao territory was willing to elaborate, he was naturally eager to hear more. Although he was quite confident in his current level of combat prowess, the more he knew about his enemy, the less effort he would have to put in, and the greater his chances of victory would be. This was the essence of the saying, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

Therefore, Hong Jiawen said,

"The Silkworm Maiden has established a Nascent Soul Dao Domain, called the 'Cocoon-Weaving Heavenly Cage Dao Domain.' Within this domain are crisscrossing silkworm threads, extremely sharp and incredibly resilient, impossible to break free from. Years ago, she had an enemy, the great demon Toad of Leigong Mountain in Miao territory, a formidable aberration whose origins are comparable to the Heavenly Silkworm. These two were natural enemies, constantly at odds. However, the Silkworm Maiden entered the fourth stage of cultivation before Toad Gong, and since then, Toad Gong has completely disappeared, hiding and refusing to emerge."

"Toad Lord had actually been secretly seeking an opportunity to enter the fourth realm, and he almost succeeded. Unfortunately, he was unlucky; when he was in seclusion to form his embryo, a fetal sound leaked out, and Silkworm Lady immediately came knocking. At that time, Silkworm Lady's nascent soul was stable, and she had already formed a Dao Domain, unleashing the 'Cocoon-Weaving Heavenly Cage Dao Domain' to completely surround Toad Lord. Toad Lord was highly skilled and capable; he could store thunder in his belly, and he had also cultivated to the Embryo Stage. If he really fought with all his might, his power would be quite astonishing."

"But this great demon, without making a ripple in the 'Cocoon-Weaving Heavenly Cage Domain,' and without even catching a glimpse of the Silkworm Goddess, was strangled to death by the silkworm's silk."

Hong Jiawen spoke with great seriousness, suggesting that the Toad Master was indeed quite capable back then. Unfortunately, he hadn't concealed himself properly during the Breaking Four stage. This reminded Cheng Xinzhan of the Sheyu he had enlightened, who was also ambushed and killed during the Breaking Four stage, and the killer remains unknown to this day.

"The Silkworm Goddess was alright when she was in Jiuyi Mountain, but now that she's back in Bailing Valley, she's laid out a lot of silkworms and poisonous insects there. It's a perfect match for her Dao Domain, combining the real and the illusory, making her even more difficult to deal with."

Hong Jiawen reminded him.

Cheng Xinzhan nodded and listened attentively.

Next, Hong Jiawen highlighted the key points and gave Cheng Xinzhan a detailed introduction to the powerful magical treasures and several kinds of capable Gu worms that the Silkworm Girl possessed.

Among them, the most mysterious is undoubtedly the Love Poison.

This love potion seemed extremely mystical to Hong Jiawen, who said it could only be cultivated by women, and that all men who fought against it would be affected. Even those with strong wills would find it difficult to kill the Silkworm Goddess, while those with weaker self-control would end up obeying her every command.

Meanwhile, this love-bonding Gu, also known as the "Hundred Spirits Gu," can produce "offspring eggs." These eggs possess extraordinary abilities, allowing them to mate with any type of Gu insect. If a particular type of Gu insect becomes too few in number and is on the verge of extinction, its essence can be injected into the "offspring egg." In this case, no mother Gu of the same type is needed for fertilization; any Gu essence can develop and grow within the egg, hatching into a new Gu. It is invariably effective, hence its name. "Is it really that miraculous?"

Cheng Xinzhan was surprised.

Hong Jiawen nodded.
"That's right, but the Love Gu is extremely difficult to cultivate. It has been extinct in my Miao region for many years. In the past few hundred years, only the Silkworm Lady has successfully cultivated it. It is precisely because of the special nature of this Gu that many Gu masters from Yunnan, Miao and Hunan gather around the Silkworm Lady to obey her orders, making it easier for her to obtain eggs. In addition, it is precisely because of the Love Gu that the number of Gu worms in Bailing Valley is the largest. Many villages that have extinct Gu worms will also come to Bailing Valley to obtain Gu for breeding."

Cheng Xinzhan understood. No wonder the Silkworm Maiden held such a high position in Miao territory. The impact of this demon's conversion was enormous, causing many rogue cultivators and unorthodox sects to also convert to demonic possession. The root of the problem lay here.

Next, Hong Jiawen went on to explain some precautions in detail, and the old chieftain and Bai Kaifeng added their own. The wine in the jug was refilled again and again, and by the time they finished, it was already past midnight, past the hour of Chou (1-3 AM).

Finally, Hong Jiawen felt there was nothing more to say, so he asked,

"I wonder when you plan to make your move, sir. When that time comes, I can lead the way and support you."

Cheng Xinzhan had drunk quite heartily that night. Seeing that the wine jug was almost empty again, he urged the old chieftain to quickly refill it. He knew that every sip of his own gourd was precious, and he dared not risk further trouble. At this moment, hearing Hong Jiawen's question, he replied…
"Then now."

"Now?"

Hong Jiawen was taken aback, and the old chieftain who was adding wine and Bai Kaifeng also looked over in surprise.

"Sir, are you going to boil wine to slay demons? Then this old man will add more wine this time and tell it to boil slowly, so that it will be just in time for you to drink when you come back."

The old village chief jokingly remarked.

Hong and Bai also revealed a strange light in their eyes. They knew that Master Guangfa had never been defeated, but he had not really fought anyone since entering the Fourth Division. They did not expect that his first battle would come so suddenly and with such heroic spirit.

A master of all laws, reaching the Great Perfection of the Four Realms—what a sight it would be if they were to fight! And could they truly vanquish the demon amidst the warmth of wine, creating a legendary tale?

"I will show you the way, sir!"

Hong Jiawen suddenly stood up.

"I'll ride the wind for you, sir!"

Bai Kaifeng also wanted to go and see what the fuss was about.

"No, no need."

Cheng Xinzhan shook his head, pulled the two of them down to sit, and said,

"It doesn't have to be so troublesome."

Hong Jiawen was somewhat anxious and said repeatedly,

"Sir, Hundred Spirits Valley is dangerous. There are many experts and Gu worms in the valley. Silkworm Girl has the advantage of terrain and manpower. You must not be careless. It is better not to go alone. Let us accompany you so that we can help you."

"Old chieftain, no need to change!"

Cheng Xinzhan raised his hand to stop the old chieftain, somewhat amused and exasperated. The old chieftain pulled out a giant kettle, about the size of a rice jar, from somewhere, wanting to exchange it for the small kettle on the hearth. It seemed he wanted to give Cheng Xinzhan plenty of time.

After stopping the old chieftain, Cheng Xinzhan said to the three of them,
“You don’t need to go, and I won’t go alone. Let’s continue drinking.”

Cheng Xinzhan's words left the three of them completely bewildered. He said they should go and slay the demon now, but then said no one else needed to go. What did he mean? Did Master Guangfa want someone else to do it for him? Of course, it wasn't impossible for someone else to do it, but if someone else went, it might not be as effective in warding off the silkworm spirit, and it would be much less efficient.

The three were filled with doubt, but before they could ask, Cheng Xinzhan provided the answer himself.
"I have listened carefully to the introductions of the silkworm maidens by several people. I think I don't need to go there in person. Shujian should be able to handle it. Let's continue brewing wine and discuss what to do next. My fellow Daoists in Hunan are still waiting for my letter."

"what?!"

The three of them exclaimed in unison.

This time, Cheng Xinzhan answered directly with his actions.

A burst of spiritual light leaped from his arms, and a sword light shot out from his left eye. The sword light pierced through the void, and the spiritual light rode on the sword light to escape, disappearing in a flash without a trace.

"Refill the wine."

Cheng Xinzhan urged the old village chief that there was no need to change to a larger kettle, as it wouldn't heat up quickly enough, but the drinking couldn't stop.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

It is located at the junction of Miao, Yunnan, and Huang regions, on the north bank of the Nanpan River.

This area is surrounded by mountains and has a dense network of streams, creating many deep, damp valleys and canyons. Among them, the Hundred Spirit Valleys are the most famous.

The name of Bailing Valley originates from the valley's owner, the Heavenly Silkworm Fairy. The Heavenly Silkworm Fairy is renowned in the Miao, Yunnan, and Wilderness regions. She is skilled in Gu magic, and the valley is teeming with Gu insects. People flock to her seeking Gu, healing Gu, and creating Gu, and she grants all requests with unfailing success, hence the name.

This place was originally a side sect, where Fairy Maiden was devoted to cultivating Gu and did not concern herself with worldly affairs, making her a reclusive master. However, more than forty years ago, at the personal invitation of the Southern Sect's patriarch, Great Sage Shi Zhen, Hundred Spirits Valley was assigned to the Demonic Sect, and Fairy Maiden was stationed in the Three Xiang and Nine Yi Mountains, causing Hundred Spirits Valley to become much quieter.

Unexpectedly, the eastern side remained unshakable, and the silkworm girl failed to establish a new business in Hunan. Instead, she returned in disgrace some time ago, reportedly quite badly injured.

However, a person's reputation precedes them, and as long as the Silkworm Goddess's mysterious Gu techniques remain, she will inevitably have many followers. When the Gu masters from the three regions heard that the Silkworm Goddess had fled back to the mountains, they not only did not scoff at her, but instead flocked to the edge of Hundred Spirits Valley, waving flags and shouting to show their loyalty.

However, whether the silkworm girl was disheartened or too badly injured, she did not go out to see guests after returning. Instead, she stirred up a miasma that locked the valley, and she did not show her face or send out any news.

However, the group of supporters outside the valley were not easily discouraged. They stayed around the valley, dug caves and built huts on the spot, saying that they were ready to serve at any time, obey orders, and follow the Silkworm Fairy to the death to help her revive her great cause.

As night deepened, a deafening roar, like a thunderclap, erupted in the southwestern corner of Miao territory, rumbling across the mountains. The demonic sorcerers gathered around Hundred Spirits Valley were startled and looked up. They saw a massive crack open in the void above them, and the golden sun, which had clearly already sunk behind the western mountains, inexplicably appeared in the night, flying out through the crack, illuminating the mountains, and then plummeting towards Hundred Spirits Valley.

The sun illuminated not only the mountains, but also the terrified faces of these sorcerers. Immediately afterward, these sorcerers, along with the birds and beasts of the forest, scattered and fled for their lives.

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(End of this chapter)