Da Zaojun

Chapter 140 Thunder Talisman

Chickens and dogs are destined to see the light of day

The dragon is powerless to stir up trouble

Wan Xiangping looked at the couplets in front of the Iron Pillar Palace and couldn't help but sigh: "It is true that when one person achieves enlightenment, everyone around him will prosper."

"Master Guangyuan, these are officials from the county!"

The leader of the four Taoists is the one who guards the mountain gate, also known as the "gatekeeper", who is responsible for opening and closing the mountain gate and guiding believers.

The remaining three Taoists are also under the management of the doorman and are also responsible for security matters to prevent anyone from causing trouble in the Taoist temple, or from acting suspiciously or with ill intentions.

Taoist Guangyuan was of average height, thin, and dressed simply. He looked to be in his forties or fifties, but he wore a perpetual smile. When he saw the disaster victims leading Wan Xiangping and others, he said, "Dear believers, although our temple is accepting Taoist children, we have only opened a side door, not the main gate, so we do not accept incense."

Xiong Hao looked at the four Taoists, unable to tell their strength, and whispered, "Brother Wan, can you tell their strength?"

Wan Xiangping said: "I can't see the Taoist's skills at the head, but the three Taoists behind him, one holding a whisk, one holding a peach wood sword, and one holding a Sanqing bell, seem to be of ninth-grade strength."

Xiong Hao immediately made an estimate: "I don't recognize the Taoist priests from the Iron Pillar Palace, but looking at these, they don't seem to be from this realm. They may be like the three Beggar Sect elders, who are all from the secret realm. I don't know where the original Iron Pillar Palace went."

"I have a Taoist priest I'm familiar with. My mother used to come to the Iron Pillar Palace every year to burn incense and draw a fortune stick. She's acquainted with the Taoist priest who interprets the fortune sticks. Why don't I ask him?"

Wan Xiangping nodded. "Don't act recklessly. Show some courtesy. The Daoist sect has mysterious methods. If the mountain gate closes, we'll be trapped here. If it's one or two months outside, it will be four or five years here. We'll waste our lifespans waiting for the mountain gate to open again, or by the time someone from outside comes to rescue us, we might be dead of old age."

Xiong Hao looked at the villagers who had been here for four or five years and even had children. He shuddered and nodded, "Of course!"

He immediately stepped forward, bowed properly and performed an authentic Taoist etiquette: "Master Taoist, may you have endless blessings!"

After this bow, Taoist Guangyuan suddenly became solemn and returned the bow: "May you have boundless blessings!"

Xiong Hao said, "Master, last year my mother came to the palace to make a wish and obtained a fortune stick from the True God. Just after the New Year this year, demons and monsters have been wreaking havoc in the world. My mother is worried that her wish won't come true, so she wants to ask when the mountain gates can be opened."

Fayuan smiled and said, "So that's how it is. This mountain gate will open naturally when it's time. Believers don't need to worry, and your mother doesn't need to be anxious either."

Xiong Hao asked again, "I wonder if the Dharma Heir Taoist Master is in the palace?"

"The Dharma heir is currently contemplating the ancestor's Dharma in the palace. Before the demonic chaos descended, the ancestor, Master Xu Jia, appeared in spirit and passed on the Dharma to the lower realms. The abbot led all the high-ranking practitioners and refiners into a retreat of contemplation."

"Those Taoist priests look unfamiliar."

Guangyuan said: "We are from the blessed land of Dongtian. We are the people of Dongtian Dao. We are recruited to guard the mountain gate and take care of the victims."

Taoist Guangyuan also said it openly.

Xiong Hao asked again, "Nowadays, demons are rampant in the outside world, hundreds of ghosts roam at night, and the three realms and six paths are in chaos. I heard that in troubled times, Laojun carried his sword to save the people. Why is the Iron Pillar Palace closing its gates?"

Guangyuan suddenly became solemn: "This is a catastrophe of heaven and earth! This is fate, and it cannot be changed by human power. Besides, how do you know that the weak demons we encounter now are not the result of the efforts made by the ancestors in advance?" Wan Xiangping immediately pulled Xiong Hao down: "Didn't I tell you not to provoke them?"

Then he imitated the previous greeting and said: "May you have boundless blessings."

Taoist Guangyuan saw that he was a ninth-rank demon hunter archer and took a closer look at him. He said, "Blessings are immeasurable. Believers are full of true energy, but their essence is depleted, just like a cup of wine overflowing. You should stop refining your essence and rebuild your foundation."

Wan Xiangping was aware of the situation and was terrified, but he didn't forget his original intention. He simply said, "We are here because of the Luohu python. This python caused floods and harmed many people. Although our city lord killed it, he is worried that there are still remnants in its lair and it may make a comeback. Therefore, he ordered us to investigate. I heard that the Iron Pillar Palace has the ability to kill the python, so I came here to seek some help."

Guangyuan nodded and said, "So that's how it is. That evil creature is the descendant of the ancestor who suppressed the evil dragon for who knows how many generations. He took advantage of us closing the mountain gate to enter the water palace. The water palace is connected to the Iron Pillar Red Well, and the one suppressed in the well is the evil dragon."

"That evil dragon, after peeling off a piece of its scale, gave the python the power to stir up trouble. We have also heard about this incident. It is the fault of my Iron Pillar Palace for not keeping a strict watch."

"Several heroes want to eliminate the water monster. It is impossible for me not to help."

He immediately took out three talismans and a bottle of pills from his arms.

"These three talismans are lightning-inducing talismans. They can draw down thunder. Once the monster in the water is struck by lightning, it will be unable to move."

"This medicine is called Wenli San. It is used to treat abnormal cold and dampness in the water mansion. If you don't take this medicine, you will easily get a cold poison."

After taking the things, Guangyuan lay motionless and stopped talking.

Wan Xiangping then said to the remaining people, "This Taoist is not very intelligent. He took the initiative to speak and chatted for a while. He said he was going to deal with the Luohu python and see if he could get some talismans."

So Xiong Hao, Luo Chuan and others stepped forward again. Xiong Hao was okay, as he had some strength and was a scholar, proficient in both civil and martial arts, and was not far from the ninth rank. Taoist Guangyuan also gave him three talismans and a bottle of elixir, and praised his behavior of slaying demons and eliminating evil.

While waiting for Luo Chuan, Guangyuan scolded him, "You are so weak, how can you deal with the demons? You should practice hard and put down your thoughts quickly, or you will die."

When other soldiers stepped forward, Guangyuan scolded them, telling them to act within their capabilities and not to seek their deaths.

Wan Xiangping estimated and said to Xiong Hao, "I think the water palace is quite dangerous. Only those who have reached a certain level, or those who have practiced both civil and military skills like you, can clear the water palace. Others may not have this ability. Otherwise, why don't we explore the water palace first?"

Then he said to Luo Chuan, "Xiao Chuan, you are the youngest, and the Water Palace is dangerous. Why don't you wait here and see what the mountain gate mission done by the disaster victims is like."

Luo Chuan felt a little disappointed: "My father's body is still in the water palace."

Wan Xiangping said: "If we find your father's body, we will definitely bring it out. However, Xiaochuan, if a demon wants to gain intelligence, it must have eaten humans. Your father's body may not be left."

Luo Chuan knew this, of course, but he was just holding on to a glimmer of hope, so he immediately said, "Okay, then I'll lead you to the reed marsh, and then come back here to see how to join the Iron Pillar Palace with the others."

"Okay, it doesn't matter if they don't join. We'll see how many people are willing to go down the mountain and into the city. I think some of these people don't want to stay in the mountains and want to live down there."

(End of this chapter)