The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 397 The Mysterious Tree, Three Strange Items

Zhao Ti put down the book he had just picked up and looked at the crow: "Brother Crow, shall we set off now?"

A crow flapped its wings and closed the window. Its voice rang in Zhao Ti's ears: "It's a bit early now. The monks in the temple will turn off their lights after 7:30 p.m. My brother and I can set off at 9:00 p.m.."

Zhao Ti nodded: "Then I'll review my lessons first."

The crow tilted its head and looked at him, saying, "Brother...why don't you learn martial arts?"

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "A person's energy is limited. Unless one is exceptionally gifted, it is impossible to be proficient in everything. I am already quite busy with reading, so how can I have the mind to think about martial arts?"

The crow said, "I see. Your idea is quite good. I thought you had no way to learn martial arts and was thinking of teaching you a few human martial arts techniques."

Zhao Ti recalled the two martial arts manuals left behind by Yang Jian and said, "Brother Ya, you are very kind. I have family martial arts manuals, but I just don't have time to practice them."

The crow chuckled: "That would be good. After you finish your studies, my dear brother, you should definitely take some lessons. Otherwise, what will you do if you encounter kidnapping, abduction, or war again? My dear brother is exceptionally talented and will surely become famous throughout the world in the future. Whether you are in the officialdom or in the common people, you will inevitably encounter some troubles. It is better to rely on yourself than on others. Only you can truly protect yourself."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti pondered. Crow was right. If he were just an ordinary scholar, unlikely to pass the imperial examinations, and destined to drift through life, or even if he were lucky enough to pass, to become a minor official and live a mediocre life, then so be it.

But his ambition was to become a high-ranking official, to be ennobled and lead troops, to expand territory and make a name for himself in history. Therefore, the dangers he would encounter would be ten or a hundred times greater than those of ordinary people. Even if he held a high position and had no shortage of people to protect him, where would he find peace of mind if he had the ability to protect himself?
"I understand, Brother Ya." Zhao Ti nodded, feeling conflicted, and his attention wandered as he studied.

Before he knew it, it was 9 PM. He closed the book and looked at the crow.

The crow said, "I will take my brother to Feilai Temple."

Zhao Ti said, "Brother Crow can fly, so I have to walk. I'm afraid I can't go as fast as Brother Crow."

The crow laughed and said, "There's no need for such trouble. Just come with me."

Zhao Ti turned around, blew out the candle, and curiously followed the crow outside.

Then, the voice of a crow echoed in his mind: "Brother, are you ready?"

Zhao Ti nodded in acknowledgment, and Crow said, "Brother, don't be nervous, let's go!"

As soon as it finished speaking, Zhao Ti felt two sharp claws suddenly grab his collar, and then his body was suddenly lifted into the air, flying straight to the northwest.

The man and the crow in the sky vanished in an instant. Just then, Zhao's father came out of the room, looked at the side room, and frowned: "What was that noise?"

His gaze fell on the window of the side room, and he looked somewhat puzzled: "Why did Ti'er turn off the light so early today? Does that mean he's not going to study?"

Zhao's father moved slightly, wanting to go over and take a look, but hesitated, muttering to himself, "Never mind, it's rare to get an early rest."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and went back into the house, then closed the wooden door and remained silent.

Zhao Ti was in the air, but he felt no fear at all. Instead, he was slightly excited. He clenched his fists tightly and looked down at the houses below, which were as small as pigeon coops, with excitement on his face.

Is this what flying is? Indeed, the book is right: to ride the wind freely and float among the clouds is a magnificent sight in life.

“If you, my brother, reach the pinnacle of martial arts, then it is also possible,” the crow’s voice rang out.

"Can martial arts allow one to fly?" Zhao Ti asked. "I thought only Taoist arts could grant the ability to fly."

The crow said, "There are few who study the Dao in the world, and Daoist arts are rare and unseen. What is circulated in the world is mostly martial arts. Even the demon race is no exception. When martial arts are practiced to the extreme, one can move mountains and seas, overturn rivers and peaks, and flying is naturally a given."

"I see." Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti couldn't help but think of the martial arts left behind by Yang Jian, and his resolve to learn martial arts softened somewhat.

Just a few dozen breaths later, the crow had brought him to the sky above Feilai Temple, and then silently landed on the back wall of the temple.

Zhao Ti whispered, "Brother Ya, I just remembered something. Since the master who founded Feilai Temple is so powerful and skilled, wouldn't there be masters passed down through generations in the temple? If we take that Demon-Summoning Banner, even if we don't make a fuss, it's hard to guarantee that the monks in the temple won't find out, right?"

The crow said, "Normally, that is true, but after observing for a while, I found that the monks in this temple are actually quite ordinary, and there are no particularly outstanding ones. It's probably a case of each generation being worse than the last."

"Is each generation worse than the last?" Zhao Ti was slightly puzzled, thinking that there was such a saying about martial arts and Taoist cultivation? It was similar to some common sayings in the streets and alleys.

"By the way, Brother Crow, how do we enter the underground palace at the bottom of the tower?"

“I’ve opened the passage from the second floor to the first floor. Just go in.” The crow said, hooking Zhao Ti with its claws and bringing him to the eaves of the second floor.

The first floor of the Flying Tower has no windows, only a door, but it is covered with moss and weeds, and the cracks in the door are no longer visible. It has not been opened for who knows how many years.

There were windows on the second floor and above. At this moment, the crow's wings fluttered slightly, and a window opened silently, allowing a person and a crow to enter.

Zhao Ti took out half a candle from his pocket, lit it with a tinderbox, and looked around at everything on the second floor.

Most pagoda-like buildings taper and narrow from bottom to top, and the space inside the second floor is far greater than that inside the thirteenth floor.

The walls are covered with murals, mottled and old, with faded colors, and it is unknown how many years they have existed. They vaguely depict scenes of monks saving the world, subduing demons and monsters, and preaching the Dharma at the foot of the sacred mountain.

Besides these, there is a small altar at the very back, covered in dust so that its original color is no longer visible. There are incense burners and other items on it, but no Buddha statues, indicating that it has been abandoned for a long time.

Several tattered prayer mats lay scattered on the ground in front of the desk. They should have been wrapped in yellow cloth, but the cloth had turned to dust and was scattered everywhere with the slightest breeze.

Zhao Ti looked at the passage on the first floor again. The place that was originally sealed off by bricks and stones had been opened up with a large hole. It was obviously the work of the crow, who had explored the area below.

“Brother, come with me,” the crow said, spreading its wings and flying toward the cave entrance.

Zhao Ti followed it through the large hole and then went to the first floor, which was much larger than the second floor, but more cluttered, with some broken wooden fish and other magical artifacts scattered around.

On the west side of the first floor stands a Buddha statue that is ten feet tall. The Buddha statue has a peculiar appearance, with a spiral bun on its head, adorned with two exotic flowers. It has a sallow complexion and a thin body, and even a slight beard, giving it a slender and ancient feel.

The Buddha statue is dressed in a style quite different from contemporary Buddhist robes, not the usual monastic attire, but rather simpler and more plain, appearing rather strange and inexplicable. The statue holds nothing but a tree branch in its hand, which is described as a tree only because its shape is identical to that of a tree, but it is many times smaller than a normal tree, resembling a branch.

Each leaf on this tree seems to have been painted a different color, but due to its age, it is difficult to see clearly. However, one can imagine that this tree must have been dazzling and radiant in its heyday.

Zhao Ti had no knowledge of Buddhism and did not know what kind of Buddha it was, but it was completely different from the Buddha statues in ordinary Buddhist temples. Just as he was wondering about it, the crow said, "Brother, please continue to follow me."

He saw crows circling behind the Buddha statue, and followed them. He saw the crows open the back of the Buddha statue, revealing a door that seemed to lead underground.

“This is the entrance to the underground palace of the Flying Tower. I went down there a short distance before I saw the inscription left by that monk, but the barrier he set up blocked my way, so I turned back to ask you for help, my brother,” said Crow.

Zhao Ti carefully peered the candle inside, saw steps leading down, and nodded: "Brother Crow, lead the way."

“Okay!” the crow said as it entered the passage. Zhao Ti followed and walked down. After a while, the terrain began to flatten out, the steps disappeared, and a tunnel-like path appeared ahead.

The walls of this cave are painted with murals, just like those inside the tower, and there are also some small stone Buddhas placed in the grooves of the walls, one every few steps. They seem to be arranged in a certain way, but I don't know what they mean.

The crow said, "These are the five hundred Arhats who protect the Dharma in Buddhism. They have different appearances and different abilities."

Zhao Ti said, "Thank you for your explanation, Brother Ya, but I have not studied this religion much."

The crow laughed and said, "It is right not to study it or get involved. This religion is strange, so it is best to stay away from it."

Zhao Ti said, "Brother Ya is joking. Even if I wanted to study Buddhism, I wouldn't have the time, let alone get close to it."

Continuing forward, the area gradually widened, and a tall stone tablet stood by the roadside, covered with densely packed characters.

This stele is also ancient, and its color is now difficult to discern. However, the carved characters on it are still clearly visible, indicating that the crow had cleaned and tidied it before.

“Brother, this is the stone tablet I told you about. Take a look.” The crow flapped its wings and landed on the stone tablet.

Zhao Ti examined it closely and became increasingly alarmed. The inscription actually described the scene of the last great battle between the human race and the demon race, as well as the terrifying and ferocious scenes when the Heavenly Demon descended, especially describing the appearance of the Heavenly Demon.

The Heavenly Demons are as large as mountains or as small as insects, resembling beasts or birds, and sometimes they travel alone or in groups.

Many possess formidable physical strength and martial prowess, while others excel in magic and possess extraordinary abilities. Still others can form formations, wielding boundless power.

They are mostly cruel and brutal, bloodthirsty and belligerent, devouring the flesh and blood of living beings, even killing their own kind, destroying land and stars, and taking pleasure in destroying everything.

This means that these monsters from the vast universe range in size from extremely large, as big as mountains, to very small, like insects. They can be solitary or live in groups. Most of them know martial arts, and a few know magic. They can also form formations to fight enemies. Their nature is generally cruel and fierce. They will even kill and devour their own kind and take pleasure in destroying everything they see.

Zhao Ti grew increasingly alarmed as he looked at it. He hadn't expected this thing to be so unpredictable and ferocious, even more terrifying than the crow had described.

He read the inscription on the monument, which stated that the great war had ended, the extraterrestrial demons had been driven out, and the human and demon races had signed a peace treaty. Then, his tone changed, and he began to talk about the losses and gains in this great war.

Eight or nine out of ten of the elites of the human and demon races died, and countless divine weapons and even magical artifacts were lost, but some spoils of war remained.

Most of these spoils were captured by both races during their battles, but many were destroyed in the later battles against the Heavenly Demons.

Other spoils of war came from the Heavenly Demons, who themselves were excellent forging and refining materials, capable of crafting weapons, armor, and magical artifacts.

However, such spoils are rare, because when a demon dies on the battlefield, it is often devoured by its own kind, leaving nothing behind.

At the end of the stone tablet, it was written that after the battle, the monk obtained three items. One of them originally belonged to the demon race, while the other two were items of the Heavenly Demon. Because they were all too ferocious, the Flying Tower was built to suppress them.

It is also said that if there is another war in the future, then after a thousand years, the violent energy of the three items will be worn away, and they can be taken out and used against the enemy. If there is no war, these three items will be left to those who are destined to use them, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the temple, or whether they are disciples or laypeople.

As expected, Zhao Ti nodded to himself, and upon closer inspection, he found that the inscription described the names of all three items.

The first item, belonging to the demon race, was indeed called the Demon-Summoning Banner, but that was all there was to it; there was no further detailed description.

The second item describes the corpse of the Feathered Spirit Demon. The explanation below states that the Feathered Spirit Demon is a type of extraterrestrial demon with an extremely small body, about the size of a palm, and transparent wings, resembling butterflies and bees.

These celestial demons often travel in groups, their clans gathering to attack in overwhelming numbers, forming formations and arrays to besiege their enemies. These demons are cunning and cruel by nature; once they succeed, they swarm and devour their enemies, leaving not a trace of flesh or blood.

However, because these celestial demons are too small, although their corpses are precious, their bodies are not very useful. They are only useful when making special weapons. But special weapons are rare and powerful, and there are not many people who can make them. Therefore, this item has never had a chance to be used by the monk, so it was also suppressed under the Flying Tower.

The third item is inscribed with "Hand of the Succubus." It does not describe what the succubus is, but only that it is the left hand of the celestial demon that was cut off by a powerful human on the battlefield. The monk did not put it to any use and placed it here.

After reading the inscription, Zhao Ti looked at the crow and asked, "Brother Crow, are there three things here?"

The crow nodded: "Indeed, there are three items. A thousand years have passed and no one in the temple has taken them. It is estimated that the world has been peaceful and there is a taboo against them being demonic or monster-like. As the years have passed, thousands of years have gone by, and they have basically been forgotten by the monks of later generations. Even this pagoda has not been maintained."

Zhao Ti pondered, "That should be the case, but there are three things..."

The crow said, "I will only take the Demon Banner. The other two items are of no use to me. The demon race does not have any masters who can forge weapons at the moment. Besides, those two items are special items from the remains of the Heavenly Demon, which are difficult to refine and forge. If you like them, my brother, you can take them."

"I'll take it?" Zhao Ti was taken aback. Although he was curious about the Heavenly Demon, was it alright for him to take it himself?
"The monks left it to those who are destined to receive it. Whoever takes it will take it anyway. If you like it, then take it," the crow said in a nonchalant tone.

"I... shall I take a look?" Zhao Ti hesitated. He was genuinely curious, but it was a relic of an extraterrestrial demon. Would there be any negative consequences or taboos if he took it? But then he thought, thousands of years have passed, so it shouldn't be a big deal.

“Brother, come with me. Only humans can enter that barrier; it’s not easy for me to get through,” the crow said as it flew down from the stone tablet.

"Okay," Zhao Ti replied, and followed the crow forward.

This time, after walking only a few steps, a huge round door appeared in front of me. The door was bluish-white in color and carved with various Buddhist inscriptions and lotus patterns, faintly emitting a dim glow...

(End of this chapter)