Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 51 A Ghost-Raising Ground? I'll Directly Designate It a Blessed Land! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Zhou Yi walked up the hillside until he reached a spot where he could overlook the entire Hunyuan Palace. Then he turned left and saw a small, solitary grave mound in the open space in front of him.

This is Grandpa's grave. On the day of the burial, everyone in the town came to say goodbye to this old Taoist priest who had lived in Yunwu Town his whole life.

Zhou Yi arrived at the grave, first clearing away some vines around it, then sat down beside the grave, unscrewed the wine bottle, and poured it onto the open ground above the grave:
"Grandpa, I'm here to see you."

It has been less than a month since my grandfather passed away, but Zhou Yi felt as if several years had passed.

These days, his atheistic beliefs have been twisted into a pretzel, his worldview has been shattered, and he has also realized that all the Taoist arts and feng shui knowledge he learned as a child are now useful.

These top-tier university students, who firmly believe in science, have suddenly become pioneers of feudal superstition... If this were made public, they would definitely be the target of condemnation from alumni.

"If you had known that this world had ghosts, evil spirits, and all sorts of problems, why did you send me to university? Wouldn't it have been better to be a Taoist priest from a young age?"

Zhou Yi rubbed his face, feeling that his grandfather must have had a deeper meaning behind doing this, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

A gentle breeze blew from the mountain, neither stuffy nor dry, and there were no annoying mosquitoes. Zhou Yi sat in front of the grave, and like Gongsun Da Niang possessed him, he talked on and on.

Everyone has worries, and the I Ching is no exception.

But he couldn't confide in the ancient people of Hunyuan Palace, nor could he chat with his neighbors about these things. Only at his grandfather's grave could he pour out all the bitterness in his heart.

"They racked their brains to give me gifts, and the moment I touched them, they became cultural relics. At first, I was a little scared, afraid that I would be accused of illegally possessing cultural relics and that the National Museum would take away my collection. But now I've come to terms with it. As long as I have enough cultural relics... then I am the National Museum!"

"Now I need to accumulate merit as soon as possible, exchange it for some Taoist techniques to protect myself, and upgrade my ninth-grade lightning strike technique. Only with strength can I gain a foothold in this world and live my life the way I want."

"..."

Zhou Yi didn't finish speaking until evening.

When he got up to leave, he felt much lighter, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and even his steps became lighter.

"Grandpa, I'm going back now. I'll come to see you again when I have time."

After saying this, Zhou Yi put away the wine bottle, carried it down the mountain, passed through the back door, and returned to Hunyuan Palace.

At this moment, Granny Gongsun was teaching Li Bai swordsmanship. Upon seeing Zhou Yi, she exclaimed in surprise:
"Taoist priest, did you secretly eat something?"

Zhou Yi has some doubts:

"I went to visit a grave, not to eat out. What could I possibly be stealing food from?"

"Then why are you so energetic? It's as if you've slept for several days and then soaked in a hot spring."

Zhou Yi waved his hand:

"If there's anything good to eat, you two can continue. I'm going to make dinner."

After the meal, in order to give Gongsun Da Niang and Li Bai a better understanding of history, Zhou Yi set up a projector in the courtyard and played a documentary about five thousand years of Chinese history for them. He also cut a watermelon and set out a fruit platter, allowing the two Tang Dynasty people to thoroughly enjoy themselves.

The next day, while Gongsun Da Niang and Li Bai were still there, Zhou Yi drove down the mountain to a nearby village to help someone look at a burial site, earning a small sum of money.

It was still early when it was time to leave, so he thought for a moment, then drove to the vicinity of the East Ring Road in the county town, turned behind the mental hospital, and prepared to take a good look at the feng shui of the mental hospital and the funeral home.

Both units occupy a considerable area. Zhou Yi used a compass to measure several points before determining that there was a feng shui axis between them, and in the very center of the axis, there was a huge Chinese scholar tree.

"This is definitely someone stirring up trouble..."

In Feng Shui, the locust tree is also known as the ghost tree. In fact, you can tell from the shape of the character that the locust tree is the ghost among trees. Many ghost stories are also related to the locust tree.

The fact that such a locust tree was planted at the confluence of two evil energies clearly indicates that it was arranged by someone.

Now the tree is lush and leafy, with dark green leaves that block out the sun, clearly having absorbed yin energy for some time.

Zhou Yi initially considered giving it a direct, devastating blow, but then realized that that would only address the symptoms, not the root cause, and might even alert the enemy. Besides, Huangniwa had just experienced a lightning strike; if another one happened here, it would definitely attract attention… So, he decided to think of a roundabout approach.

Zhou Yi circled the locust tree, wanting to drive a soul-suppressing nail into the trunk, but worried that the evil spirits on the tree would escape and harm the surrounding people, so he had to drive away for the time being.

However, he did not remain patient for long. When Wu Meiniang reappeared in Hunyuan Palace, Zhou Yi grabbed her without saying a word and set off. Taking advantage of the sweltering midday heat and the absence of anyone around the locust tree, he secretly set up incense burners and offerings. Using Wu Meiniang's imperial destiny, he decreed that the area within a radius of thirty feet around the locust tree be transformed into a blessed land.

Didn't you want to use mental hospitals and funeral homes to raise ghosts?

Then I will transform your ghost-raising ground into a blessed land, eliminating all evil spirits.

The blessed land will continuously generate blessings, which will not only nourish the surrounding residents and every plant and tree, but will even transmit blessings in reverse along the central axis of the mental hospital and the funeral home, gradually purifying these two institutions.

Zhou Yi didn't know what the person who set up this scheme was up to, but he was very clear that after this imperial decree, the feng shui of the entire county would steadily improve, and Xiuchuan County might even produce a few high-ranking officials in the future.

After the imperial decree was completed, the huge canopy of the locust tree moved without wind, and almost every leaf swayed, as if it were a mimosa plant magnified many times over.

Unlike the mimosa, this tree swayed because the evil energy hidden within it had been purified by the newly designated blessed land.

The purification effect of the blessed land was remarkable. In just a few breaths, many leaves fell from the locust tree. The leaves that remained on the tree were much lighter in color, no longer the dark green that made people fearful. Sunlight could also shine into the dense canopy, leaving dappled spots of light on the ground.

The tree, which had previously been eerie and terrifying, has become peaceful and serene. A glance at it brings a sense of tranquility to the heart.

Zhou Yi felt a sense of accomplishment, as if he had transformed the Great Black Buddha Mother into a virtuous Zen master. Confirming there were no lingering evil spirits, he carefully put the items away and beckoned Wu Meiniang to get into the carriage.

"Let's go, I'll take you for a tour of the county town and then we'll go back."

Although it was the second time land had been granted by imperial decree, Wu Zetian was still very curious. After getting into the carriage, she fastened her seatbelt and looked at the large locust tree not far away, asking:
"Is that all? Immortal Master, how many people did I save this time?"

Zhou Yi estimated the consequences of the complete eruption of the evil energy on the locust tree and said with great certainty:
"At least dozens, even hundreds or thousands, I thank you on their behalf."

"I should be thanking you. Thank you, Immortal Master, for giving me the opportunity to benefit the people... In the future, if I encounter such evil places, may I come to bestow titles upon them?"

Zhou Yi was delighted upon hearing this:

"It's not as simple as you think. Neither Huangniwa nor this locust tree are protected by any formation, so they can be sealed off at will. Taoist scriptures record some evil places protected by formations that cannot be sealed off at all. We'll have to think of another way."

Wu Zetian was very interested in this topic:

"What method? Is it dangerous?"

"Danger is certainly present, but it's not all. There's a Ming Dynasty novel called 'Water Margin,' in which there's a Taoist priest named Gongsun Sheng who's skilled in using the Five Thunder Heavenly Gang Orthodox Method. No matter what kind of opponent he encounters, he directly uses thunder to break through... This is actually the way of life of the Taoist lineage—no matter what you are, I'll just use brute force to create miracles!"

If one bolt of lightning isn't enough, send out several. If all the lightning still doesn't work, then invite the gods to possess you and let the various deities of the Taoist sect deal with it. If that still doesn't work, then directly invite the patriarch to possess you.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Wu Zetian said with a longing look:
"No wonder Sister Gongsun said you know lightning magic. It's a pity I haven't seen it yet."

Zhou Yi turned the car onto the main road of the county town and said with a smile:

"Give me the chance, and I'll show you!"

They arrived at a large shopping mall in the county town, browsed around, bought a lot of useful things, and then drove back.

Upon arriving at Hunyuan Palace, Zhou Yi jogged back to his room, eagerly pulling out his black notebook to see what he had learned that day…

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First update delivered, please vote with monthly tickets, brothers!

(End of this chapter)