Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 123 "The Zen of the White Bone of the Joyous Union"

Zong Chuke.

She came from the Zong clan of Nanyang. Her mother's surname was Wu, and she was the third daughter of Wu Zetian's uncle Wu Shiyi and Zhuge Fen.

Therefore, Zong Chuke possessed the lineages of the Wu, Zong, and Zhuge families, and was Wu Zetian's nephew.

Li Lingyue's cousin!

Lu Chenyuan pondered, “The Xuanming Transmission Serpent is a beast-taming technique passed down through generations of the Zong family. The Zong family members are skilled in snake manipulation and can read snake language to steal information… However, even if it is the Zong family, it may not be Zong Chuke.”

"it's him!"

Li Lingyue said with certainty, "The Communication Snake needs to be nourished by the essence and true energy of the snake tamer in order to communicate with spirits. Different people have different blood cultivation methods, and the color of the Communication Snake's scales will also change. Among the Zong family, only Zong Chuke has this kind of dark blue scales... No wonder the Heaven-Mending Pavilion has grown so big in recent years, and the whole Hedong has been in turmoil. It turns out that he is behind it!"

Li Lingyue's face darkened, and murderous intent surged forth.

Her childhood was not smooth sailing; these Wu clan members caused her a lot of trouble.

When she was eight or nine years old, her cousin Helan Minzhi dared to make improper advances toward her maid. Zong Chuke and others were all birds of a feather, relying on their mothers' military families to be arrogant, extravagant, licentious, and commit all sorts of evil deeds!

She wasn't surprised at all that Zong Chuke could practice the evil art of "replenishing the body with the essence" and become the head of the Heaven-Mending Pavilion.

She knew he was useless, but she never imagined he had fallen to such a low point.

They have absolutely no sense of shame!
The origin of the Butian Pavilion Kung Fu lies in the Hehuan Sect of Tibet. It is a fusion of the sexual techniques of the Taoist sect in the Central Plains. It is based on the "interaction of Kan and Li" and uses dual cultivation as its method. It involves absorbing the essence, energy, and spirit of others. Each night, the practitioner must change partners. The higher the level of cultivation, the more desires one can arouse in others, and the deeper the absorption of essence and spirit.

Few of those who are sampled survive.

In the eyes of righteous people, the Butian Pavilion is nothing but a den of beasts!
Li Lingyue's feelings were complicated. Now, the evil sect leader she so vehemently hated had become her cousin...

"..."

Seeing her trembling with anger, Lu Chenyuan smiled, took her hand, and said, "It's not worth getting angry over someone like that."

Li Lingyue looked up at him, her anger still burning: "To have come this far, one can only imagine how many innocent lives he has taken! How can you not be furious!"

"I know."

Lu Chenyuan said solemnly, "But you can't do this yourself... Even if he's a heinous beast, you can't personally eliminate evil!"

He glanced meaningfully in the direction of Luoyang and continued, "Times have changed. Now His Majesty needs the Wu family clan to stabilize the court... Back then, Helan Minzhi was incredibly audacious and dared to lay a hand on your personal maid, but he only received exile. Besides, Zong Chuke is only targeting ordinary people now, so he is unlikely to be severely punished!"

If you take action, things will escalate, and handling it too 'over the top' will only anger the Empress. Don't forget, we two snuck out... If we cause another scandal involving the imperial clan, even if it's not our fault, what will she think? In short, this matter is not suitable for you to get involved in; leave it to me.”

Li Lingyue frowned slightly: "You plan to..."

Lu Chenyuan glanced at the three dead men on the ground: "He was hiding behind the scenes, instigating the Pei family and the Mujia Sect to fight each other, with the aim of reaping the benefits. As long as the Pei family and the Mujia Sect know about this, they will naturally unite and attack him. Martial arts figures who are pushed to the limit don't care about his identity..."

Due to the suppression by cruel officials and the annihilation of the Buqi Sect by the Jinwu Guard, the struggle between the imperial court and the martial arts world intensified.

Many people in the martial arts world were already holding their breath, and no one cared who Zong Chuke was. If he dared to reveal his identity, he would be in even more danger!

Li Lingyue paused for a moment, then suddenly understood. The anger in her eyes gradually turned into cunning. She grabbed Lu Chenyuan's hand and said, "Are you going to retaliate in kind?"

Lu Chenyuan laughed and said, "Regardless of whether Su Quan has feelings for Pei Lingsu or not, his choice to endure it again and again shows that he does not want to fight to the death with the Pei family. Now that there is a gift to break the ice delivered to his door, he will definitely be willing to use this to turn hostility into friendship with the Pei family. As long as the Pei family is not stupid, they will also choose to join forces with the Mujia Sect to fight against external enemies..."

The muddier the waters, the easier it is for us to act! We still don't know the origin of that mechanical puppet, or its connection to the *Divine Talisman Scroll*. Its ability to easily kill a peak-level fourth-realm cultivator shows its power is extraordinary! If it's a weapon of the level of the *Yuanrong Divine Crossbow*, a rash attack could endanger even you. The best strategy is to first ascertain the truth, then seek an opportunity.”

"..."

Li Lingyue knew he was worried about her—her mother was also at the fifth level and had once been nearly killed by the Yuanrong Divine Crossbow.

This is not the time to be stubborn.

Her heart warmed, and her earlier gloom vanished. She said softly, "What a clever scheme to use someone else to do your dirty work... Alright, I'll leave him alone for now, but you have to promise me you won't dirty your own hands."

"rest assured."

Lu Chenyuan laughed and said, "You all wait in the carriage first. Activate the Mist Concealment Barrier and rest peacefully. If anyone else comes, there's no need to take action. I'll go and report the news, and also check on Pei Hualin's body and find out where that magic artifact came from!"

"Be careful."

Li Lingyue suddenly leaned closer and planted a kiss on Lu Chenyuan's lips, as light as a dragonfly skimming the water: "Bring the Hundred Ghosts Painting."

Lu Chenyuan casually put his arm around her waist and whispered in her ear, "Of course, after all, we still have to wait for the princess to perform the 'nourishing essence' ritual..."

"you!"

Li Lingyue's face flushed red, and she made a move to hit him.

Lu Chenyuan laughed heartily, then flashed to the window, picked up the alluring woman's corpse, and leaped into the night sky. Li Lingyue watched his retreating figure with a light smile and shook her head, while the Empress and Jinni watched him go.

……

at the same time.

Crown Cloud Peak, the forbidden area of ​​Xuanbing Valley.

The bright moonlight shone down, shining into the warm room through the icy window lattice.

The incense burner in the warm chamber was burning brightly, and the sweet and pungent smell of incense mixed with the afterglow of passion filled the room.

Zong Chuke, wearing a loose-fitting snow silk nightgown, leaned against the soft couch. His face, which was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, looked very handsome in the candlelight, but his slightly upturned phoenix eyes were tinged with an abnormal scarlet.

"Sect Master..."

Curled up on the inner side of the bed was a fair-skinned woman named Chu Yaoyao. She peeked out from under the brocade quilt, her right hand's knuckles clicking as they transformed into a slender dagger. She gently loosened the belt at his chest and said coquettishly, "The third stage of the 'Mysterious Yin Maiden Technique' is still a bit beyond Yaoyao's comprehension..."

Her right arm, from the elbow down, was covered in intricate mechanisms made of Xuanming Cold Iron, which gleamed faintly in the moonlight.

As the most beloved granddaughter of Chu Jingtao, the master of Xuanbing Valley, this "Heavenly Profound Arm" was originally a family treasure. Chu Yaoyao's acquisition of this arm demonstrates her extraordinary talent, yet she willingly submitted herself to this family in order to please Zong Chuke and obtain the secret techniques of the Heaven-Mending Pavilion.

Zong Chuke smiled, raised his hand and lifted Chu Yaoyao's chin, about to fight another three hundred rounds, when suddenly a dark blue snake pattern appeared on his chest, blood dripped from his eyes, and then disappeared.

Zong Chuke's expression changed slightly, and he suddenly sat up straight: "Zihua is dead!"

Chu Yaoyao's mechanical hand instantly transformed back into slender jade fingers, and she exclaimed in surprise, "What about Elder Kong and Shi Luo..."

"They're all dead..."

Zong Chuke stroked the restless snake pattern, his eyes turning even more bloodshot: "The three of them acted together, aided by the Five Elements Positioning Formation. Even a peak fourth realm cultivator could hold their own, yet they were killed so quickly!"

Chu Yaoyao was even more surprised: "Qin Wuyue misjudged? That coachman actually has such strength?"

"Shaolin's Invincible Vajra Divine Skill..."

Zong Chuke narrowed his eyes, a list of martial arts masters flashing through his mind: "The Seventy-Two Arts are a secret of the Bodhidharma Cave. Apart from the Yingxian Palace and Xuanji Pavilion, only a handful of lay disciples have inherited them! Lu Youlin of the Lu family of Fanyang is a disciple of Du Ku, the head monk of the Bodhi Temple, and is currently in the northwest border... Wang Luofeng of the Wang family of Taiyuan is a disciple of Du Nan of the Luohan Hall and is currently in seclusion in the Sutra Repository..."

Zong Chuke frowned: "Who could it be..."

A sudden gust of cold wind swept in through the window, causing the candlelight to flicker unpredictably.

Chu Yaoyao's mechanical hand flicked out a three-inch-long blade with a "clang," and she said coldly, "How about... having Grandfather send someone to intercept and kill them, and continue to frame the Pei family? However, no one in Xuanbing Valley knows the 'Dragon Gate Sword Style' or the 'Stealing the Sky and Changing the Sun Sword,' so we'll have to ask the Pavilion Master to assign a master from the Pavilion to accompany us..." "No need."

Zong Chuke sneered, "That old bastard Su Quan seems determined to hide in his shell. Even if we chop up his illegitimate son and send him there, he might not even leave Hundred Flowers Valley! Let's wait for Qin Wuyue's news first. That woman is ruthless enough; perhaps there will be some unexpected good news... The medicine I gave her is enough to kill Su Quan ten times over!"

"..."

Chu Yaoyao breathed a sigh of relief, opened her mouth as if to speak, but hesitated and carefully curled up in the quilt.

Zong Chuke glanced back at her, quite pleased with her cautiousness: "Speak your mind!"

Chu Yaoyao whispered, "The Pavilion Master's status is so noble, Yaoyao doesn't understand... Is a mere Hundred Flowers Valley, a secret realm, worth the Pavilion Master's personal visit?"

Zong Chuke shook his head and laughed, "It seems you know nothing. It's good that you don't know; you'll understand in the future."

"That……"

Seeing that he didn't seem to care about the dead, Chu Yaoyao was in a good mood and continued, "...With the power of the Pavilion Master and His Highnesses Wei and Liang, it shouldn't be difficult to seize it by force, right? Why..."

"not that simple!"

Zong Chuke interrupted her, narrowing his eyes and saying, "Your grandfather and the other two are useless, but Hua Jianying is a remarkable person! The formation she set up is already difficult to break, and with the help of a master, it is as solid as a rock—'The earth veins are upside down, flowers are like swords, and the wind blows through everything, leaving only decay and prosperity'! As long as Su Quan holds the key to the formation, Baihua Valley will be difficult to conquer. Even if the army burns the mountain, it will be difficult to achieve anything. We can only proceed slowly."

Chu Yaoyao nodded at first, then became even more puzzled: "Then why is it that Pei Lingsu, without a formation core, was able to occupy most of the Hundred Flower Valley cave chambers..."

"Because Su Quan is a jerk, he's willing to give it!"

Zong Chuke sneered, his face full of undisguised contempt: "Don't think Pei Lingsu can take over. If you and I were to forcefully attack her territory, that old bastard Su Quan wouldn't be so lenient. Hua Jianying is a remarkable person, but unfortunately, her disciples are all mediocre! Her eldest disciple is ambitious but incompetent, having spent half his life trying to imitate a tiger but ending up with a dog. Her second disciple will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, and will use anyone..."

"The most ridiculous ones are those three disciples—"

Zong Chuke suddenly clapped his hands and laughed, his laughter full of sarcasm: "He has excellent natural talent, but he insists on belittling himself and willingly becoming a lackey under Pei Lingsu's skirt! Knowing that she is using his affection to take more and more, and using him as a shield, he still protects his good senior sister without complaint for decades. It makes me want to vomit!"

"..."

These words also included my grandfather in the insult.

Chu Yaoyao was a little embarrassed and stammered, "Sect Master's mouth is even sharper than my Soul-Locking Needle..."

Zong Chuke ignored her and looked out the window towards Hundred Flowers Valley: "What a pity... If Hua Jianying knew that her three disciples had turned Hundred Flowers Valley into such a mess... I wonder what she would think."

Chu Yaoyao looked outside with him, then suddenly remembered something: "Sect Master, what if the news leaks out..."

Zong Chuke said calmly, "So what if it's leaked?"

Chu Yaoyao glanced at his expression and whispered, "What if the news leaks out, and the coachman finds out about the frame-up and whispers it to Su Quan and Pei Lingsu..."

"Hahaha……"

Zong Chuke laughed heartily, walked back to the bed, and pulled her into his arms, a cruel gleam in his eyes: "Then he'd better pray for himself!"

……

Cangwu Mountain.

Pei Family Cemetery.

The moonlight at midnight was as pale as bone, casting a bluish-gray hue on the inscription on the tombstone.

Lu Chenyuan used the "Crossing the River on a Reed" movement technique to sweep past the back of the tomb keeper's neck. With a light tap of his finger, the old man slumped softly under the cypress tree, snoring loudly.

Lu Chenyuan's gaze swept over the tombstones in the garden, finally settling on "Tomb of Pei's Adopted Son Hua Lin".

He took a deep breath, formed a hand seal, circulated his internal energy, and gently stomped his right foot on the ground:

"Open the formation!"

Instantly, a Yin-Yang array diagram with a diameter of over three zhang appeared beneath their feet.

It is the Yin-Yang magic array "Five Elements Positioning"!
All things in the world carry yin and embrace yang, and achieve harmony through the interaction of qi. Yin and yang and the five elements have their own generation and restraint. Yin and yang sorcerers can use yin and yang techniques to set up arrays with their divine sense, transform the five elements within the arrays, borrow the laws of heaven and earth, and unleash powerful spells and techniques.

This technique is widely circulated among sorcerers, but it has many limitations.

For example, once a magic array is set up, it cannot be moved; it is said to be regulating the five elements, but it is actually just transforming the earth's energy into other attributes; setting up an array takes time; casting spells is relatively slow, etc.

Lu Chenyuan doesn't need to go through all this trouble to kill someone, but this technique is very easy to use for grave robbing.

The magic array was activated.

He bent down and pressed his right palm to the ground, connecting with the energy within the array. The frozen soil within the array immediately became active. As the energy surged, the frozen soil beneath his feet parted like a tide, and the golden nanmu coffin, three zhang below, was slowly lifted up by the energy.

The putrid bodily fluids vaporized instantly upon contact with the edge of the array, turning into wisps of black smoke and dissipating.

Lu Chenyuan held his breath, and with a flick of his sword, the seven soul-suppressing nails on the coffin lid popped out simultaneously.

The moment the coffin lid was moved, a yellow talisman flew out from his sleeve, transforming into an invisible protective shield that enveloped the entire coffin—a cloud of red and black mist suddenly burst out from the corpse's mouth and nose, hitting the shield and making a sizzling sound.

"It really is poisonous..."

Lu Chenyuan narrowed his eyes, using his keen insight to observe the two clouds of poisonous mist.

The mist was crimson on the left, like a rosy dawn, and pitch black on the right, a sign of the interplay and mutual restraint between the Yin and Yang poisons. The mist contained numerous deadly toxins: the Yang poisons included [Laughing Spring Breeze], [Bone Fragrance], and [Crimson Serpent Saliva]; the Yin poisons included [Ice Soul Cold], [Soul-Severing Frost], and [Seven-Colored Miasma]...

The most terrifying place is where the two fogs meet, where the yin and yang toxins devour each other and give rise to new toxins.

Lu Chenyuan's expression turned grave: "No wonder he could kill a peak fourth-realm cultivator so easily... Being infected with even one of these toxins is deadly enough! Not to mention the two poisons are mutually reinforcing, complementing each other, making the poison even more rampant..."

He gestured with his fingers, and the protective aura gradually contracted, forcefully pushing the poisonous mist back into the arrow wound in the corpse's throat.

As the poisonous fog dissipated, the true appearance of the corpse was finally revealed: its face was bluish-purple, but its lips were bright red, and its chest and abdomen were strangely sunken under its luxurious brocade robe, as if it had been hollowed out.

Lu Chenyuan gathered a wisp of golden light at his fingertips and gently opened his robe—

Beneath the brocade robes, his bones were clearly defined, and each joint was inlaid with fine red silk threads as fine as cow hair.

"The Zen of the White Bone of the Hehuan Sect..."

Lu Chenyuan's fingertips brushed over the red threads, which wriggled as if alive: "Exhausted primordial yang, devouring marrow and heart... It's not just poisoning, but also traces of being drained of one's vital essence..."

at this time.

"You have audacity to disturb the remains of my Pei family."

A clear, cold female voice sounded from behind, like frost and snow falling on jade, chilling to the bone.

Lu Chenyuan slowly turned around.

Under the moonlight, dressed in white, Pei Lingsu stood with her hands behind her back. She was nearly seventy years old, but her appearance was as beautiful as someone in their thirties. Her eyebrows and eyes were exquisite, and her skin was like solidified cream. Only her eyes were as cold as an ancient, icy pool, untouched by the dust of the world.

A night breeze swept by, causing her clothes to flutter. She seemed devoid of any living presence, as if she were a banished immortal from the netherworld.

(End of this chapter)