The Path to Immortality: Starting with an Analysis of Basic Concepts

Chapter 441 The Strange Bride, Granny Huang, Qingyang Town (Please Subscribe)

A cold wind blew by, rustling softly.

As the sound of conch shells and drums drew near, Zhu Yu suddenly felt a chilling force radiating from him, like slimy snakes crawling up from the soles of his feet.

"The Ghost Bride—"

As if he had thought of something, a strange light flashed in his eyes, and he symbolically blocked it twice.

The two strange force fields clashed, and the sounds of blowing conch shells and beating drums grew louder and louder, with faint sounds of cutting and chopping appearing.

They fought and scrambled for it for quite a while.

Zhu Yu seemed to suddenly freeze, the radiating power around him paused, and his tattered gray robe quickly transformed into a bright red wedding robe.

The big-headed boy standing to the side transformed into two handsome young men and women, standing motionless, the ghost-faced vines they held turning into jade ruyi and golden hammers.

At this time.

Deep in the dark, dense forest.

As the sound of conch shells and drums filled the air, a group of people dressed in wedding attire appeared carrying a bridal sedan chair. Some carried loads, while others scattered flowers. The process seemed slow, but they appeared in the center of the scene in an instant.

The monsters attracted by the conch shells and drums turned and fled when they saw the bright red sedan chair. A rustling sound came out, but in an instant, only the sound of conch shells and drums remained.

suddenly.

The sound stopped abruptly.

A "matchmaker," with her cheeks painted white and her clothes brightly colored as if painted with dye, walked out from the wedding procession. She moved with light steps, like a gust of wind, to Zhu Yu, who was wearing a bright red official robe and holding a ceremonial ball.

She tilted her head down at a ninety-degree angle, her dark red eyes glanced at him, and seeing that he was unmoved, she stretched her bright red lips to her ears, grabbed his arm, and her shrill voice rang out.

"Welcome the groom into the sedan chair, let's get married and perform the wedding ceremony!"

The "matchmaker" drove the seemingly unconscious Zhu Yu to the front of the bridal sedan chair in an instant. After sending him into the sedan chair, she turned around, her eyes bloodshot and her red lips parted to reveal jagged, sharp teeth.

"Welcome the groom into the bridal chamber—"

The bridal sedan chair turned around, and two paper figures resembling laborers carried the golden boy and jade girl, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

The bridal sedan chair appeared and disappeared in the forest as if it were teleporting, accompanied by the blowing of conch shells and the beating of drums. Along the way, it encountered all sorts of strange creatures; some were avoided, some were carried away by strongmen, and some were eaten by a strongman before retreating.

However, you can see it if you look down from above.

The bridal sedan chair always traveled along a winding, snake-like road leading to some unknown "black stone" road, about three zhang away, neither too far nor too close.

As they descended the hills and carefully crossed a stream, gradually moving further away from the "Black Stone" road, the sounds of conch shells and drums grew fainter, and the bridal sedan chair's movements became more swift and unpredictable.

The monsters they encountered were also more bizarre, ferocious, and sinister—

The "matchmaker" warrior's clothes became even more vibrant, her aura eerie, kicking wandering spirits and tearing apart monsters—

They were arguing and fighting.

The bridal sedan chair finally arrived in front of an old house.

At first glance, it was unremarkable. But when the matchmaker pushed open the wooden door, a commotion and a cacophony of voices erupted from within.

The matchmaker called out, "Welcome the groom!"

A throng of guests poured out, some with green skin and one eye, some with white hair and ruddy complexions but only one leg with chicken skin, some with tiger-like heads and blood-red eyes, some with scales covering their skin and claws like eagles—

A series of eerie gazes were fixed on the bridal sedan chair, while meaningless clicking and gurgling sounds came from their throats.

The matchmaker lifted the sedan curtain, just as she was about to welcome the groom alighting, when a pale arm, skin close to bone, reached out and gripped her neck tightly. No matter how much she struggled, she couldn't break free.

A middle-aged man in a bright red robe, with dark eyes and a cold, gloomy face, walked out carrying a banner. The "matchmaker" in his hand seemed to be being torn to pieces, with sparse scraps of paper and powder falling like rain. In an instant, she disappeared without a trace and exploded.

The fine paper scraps were forcibly combined by some invisible force into a paper ball, which landed in his palm and emitted a strange fragrance.

The guests crowded around the doorway all stared at the white pill in his palm, their cold, resentful eyes revealing a greedy glint.

Zhu Yu casually tossed the pill to the big-headed boy who had regained his mobility and whose appearance was still that of a golden boy and jade girl. He looked towards the courtyard, sensing the strange aura emanating from it that was comparable to that of a second-tier being, and nodded in satisfaction.

Not bad—

He raised his hand and pierced the white banner into the ground. His bright red official robe receded like water, transforming back into a slightly tattered embroidered crane Taoist robe. He opened his mouth slightly, and a hoarse, dry voice came out.

"Fellow Daoist—"

Waaah—

The guests crowding the doorway no longer concealed themselves; they suddenly transformed into chickens, ducks, geese, dogs, and other birds, their eyes bloodshot, and swarmed out.

Zhu Yu completely ignored him and said in a clear voice, "Please come inside for a chat—"

boom--

The white banner instantly turned pitch black, its spiritual energy flickering. Rolling black energy surged out of the banner like a flood, instantly transforming the chickens, ducks, geese, and dogs. Then, without stopping, it rushed straight out of the house.

The lights hanging on the door shone brightly.

A plaintive, sorrowful voice drifted from the courtyard.

"My lord has such a cruel heart—"

A figure dressed in a bright red wedding gown with red embroidery on her scalp suddenly appeared at the door. Facing the surging black mist, she slowly raised her arm, and a faint red light rose from the courtyard.

boom--

The billowing black gas collided with the red light, like a mud ox entering the sea, and was instantly swallowed up.

"Huh—"

Zhu Yu's eyes widened in surprise, and he clapped his hands in praise, "As expected of the Three Eccentrics of Black Wind Mountain, this is truly a wonderful place!"

It should be noted that the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner" is the most effective counter to ghosts. Ordinary second-tier ghosts are no match for it. Yet, the Ghost Lady can use her Ghost Domain to devour the power of the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner" as nourishment for herself.

Truly bizarre and powerful.

of course.

This is also why the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner" has not yet contained any ghosts.

"Let's see how much you can swallow—"

With a slight thought, Zhu Yu's aura of the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner" rose instead of falling, and billowing black energy surged out like a tide, layer upon layer, like a raging storm, crushing down on the mansion.

Faced with the towering waves, the ghost bride visibly paused, her gaze drifting through the black mist to the black banner and Zhu Yu standing beneath it.

The courtyard house glowed red, embracing the rising tide.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths—

The ghostly woman's movements became noticeably disordered, and the mansion gradually fell into disrepair. Her eerie voice rang out again.

"Master Qingyang, I concede defeat. Please cease your supernatural powers. On this trip to 'Blackwater Gathering,' I will serve under your command—"

"it is good."

Zhu Yu nodded and said, "Please come inside the banner, young lady, for a chat."

As he spoke, even more black energy surged from the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner," enveloping the courtyard like clouds and sealing its form.

The Ghost Lady stared for a few moments before her figure gradually disappeared.

"I want to run away—"

Zhu Yu raised his hand and lightly touched his brow. A jade pendant engraved with azure patterns flew out from it. With just a slight touch, his pale fingertips turned charred black, and his body felt a stinging pain.

He paid no attention, waved his hand and threw out the "jade tablet", triggering the thunder magic power "Mysterious Water Thunder" contained within it.

boom--

With a thunderous roar, a bolt of azure lightning suddenly erupted, and in the next moment, it transformed into a pillar of lightning as thick as a water bucket, crashing down upon the courtyard.

Under the effect of the "Mysterious Water Thunder" breaking the spell, and under the restraint of the thunder spell, the red light rising from the courtyard collapsed at the first touch, and then exploded with a loud bang. A shrill scream was heard, and the thunder snakes ran rampant, destroying the house into dust with overwhelming force.

A few breaths later.

The mansion has vanished, leaving only the foundation, indicating that a mansion once stood here. "Tsk, that was quite powerful—"

Upon seeing this scene, Zhu Yu shook his head slightly, gently shook the lever, and billowing black smoke rushed down. Accompanied by a loud rumble, the mansion completely disappeared, leaving only a cave exuding a chilling aura.

He probed the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner" with his divine sense.

A mansion with only its foundation stones remaining came to mind, its spirituality obscured, and the Ghostly Lady nearly perished under the influence of "Mysterious Water Thunder".

The strange creatures in the "Ghostly" Ruins once again exceeded his expectations in terms of regenerative ability. Nourished by the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner," they visibly recovered completely.

Not bad—

Zhu Yu was even more satisfied. He looked around, then at the bright red sedan chair behind him. He kicked the big-headed boy who had been brought to a standstill by the aura of "Mysterious Water Thunder," waking him up.

"Get up quickly, carry me to Blackwater Market—"

The big-headed boy, now back in his original form, immediately rolled up, chewing on "ghost-faced vines," and lifted the bridal sedan chair from the front and back.

Zhu Yu stepped into the sedan chair.

The bridal sedan chair sank and floated down the hill, turning from red to black, emanating a strange and chilling aura that frightened away the wandering spirits around it.

Not long after he left.

The wandering spirits surged up the hill like a tide, and after a fierce battle, they were finally taken over by a group of "lantern ghosts".

The hill was illuminated by a bright orange-red light, which, from a distance, resembled the rising sun.

Heishuiji is said to be a market.

It is actually built on a town where the "sunlight" has been extinguished.

And the strange creatures that can come to the market.

They are all strange creatures with a certain logical memory; they have a certain logic of thought, unlike wandering ghosts that simply drift around aimlessly.

of course.

It's not that strong ability automatically translates to a certain level of logical memory.

In Qingyangzi's memory.

There are many areas adjacent to Black Wind Mountain that it dares not enter, where blood-level monsters exist. Most of them stay in one place and rarely go out.

They will only go out to hunt when they are hungry.

Whether human or monster, they are all prey for those who exist.

Below the archway inscribed with "Qingyang".

Six boys with yellow bibs and pointed, monkey-like faces carried a bamboo couch, surrounded by no fewer than twenty large and small weasels chattering and playing.

And on the tatami mat.

An old woman, dressed in her burial clothes, was puffing on a pipe. Every time she exhaled smoke, the weasels around her would immediately scramble to eat it, fighting and tearing flesh apart.

The old woman watched this scene with a smile, her wrinkles deepening. She patted the strongest weasel beside her, who was as tall as a man, and said, "My dear grandson, don't snatch it. Grandma will just have a few more puffs—"

As she spoke, she took another sip, and the weasel with the most severe external injuries immediately began to ooze blood from its wounds, its body visibly shrivel up.

The blood rushed into the pipe, and the tobacco burned even redder, more like blood than fire.

As the old woman exhaled smoke, the shriveled weasel fell to the ground like cigarette ash.

"Squeak—"

The weasel that inhaled the smoke visibly healed its surface wounds, its dark eyes glowed with a blood-red light, and its aura became even more eerie.

The passing monster saw the old woman and her family, and greedily stared at the lively, jumping weasels, then stopped and didn't move.

The old woman completely ignored her, laughing heartily incessantly.

At this time.

Two large-headed ghosts, dressed in tattered Taoist robes and with twisting branches in their mouths, carried a black sedan chair and arrived at the archway, seemingly slowly but actually quickly.

The old woman turned her head and looked. When she saw the middle-aged Taoist priest getting out of the sedan chair, her withered yellow pupils suddenly contracted for a moment, and her smile became even wider. She cupped her hands and said, "Great Immortal Qingyang is becoming more and more ethereal. This old woman's house doesn't have much, except for a lot of good-for-nothing children."

As she spoke, she grabbed her grandson by the neck and threw him at Zhu Yu.

"Don't be disgusted, Master, take it back for a treat!"

At this time.

Among the strange creatures standing to the side, a creature that was soaking wet, constantly dripping with mud and water, and with a pale and swollen face suddenly appeared between the two, catching the yellow weasel that was as big as a person with its indigo arms.

A muffled, slurred voice, as if blocked, rang out.

"Master Qingyangzi doesn't eat meat, so I'll let Granny Huang's grandson enjoy it—"

The obedient weasel in Granny Huang's hands suddenly let out a fierce shriek, its teeth and claws covered in blood, and it frantically gnawed and scratched at the water monster.

Without a breath.

The water monster lost its human form, its hideous wounds oozing mud and grass, screaming as it drove the mud toward the weasel, but the weasel's body was shrouded in a hazy bloody light, and the mud could not penetrate it at all.

Just before the weasel was about to devour the water monster.

As the sound of footsteps approached, the weasel that had been devouring the water monster suddenly bristled with fur on its neck. But before it could turn its head, it felt a hand, as if made of divine metal, fall on its neck.

An overwhelming, irresistible force pressed down, and it let out a mournful cry as its limbs fell limply to the ground.

But in the eyes of other monsters.

Zhu Yu walked up to the weasel fighting the water monster, grabbed the weasel with one hand and the water monster with the other. One quickly dissolved into a blood-red pill covered in yellow fur, while the other was stuffed into a white banner.

After doing all this, he looked at Granny Huang with a gloomy gaze.

"Qingyang Taoist Temple only has two children; it's too quiet. Grandma, you could send more children and grandchildren over to liven things up—"

Granny Huang's frozen smile suddenly broke into a smile. Her gaze lingered on the blood-red figure on the white banner in Zhu Yu's hand for a few moments before she nodded repeatedly.

"I hope the immortal doesn't find it troublesome. I have many wives, children, and grandchildren—"

Zhu Yu placed the pill in his mouth, chewed it gently, stared at it for a few moments, swallowed it, and whispered, "No, not the small ones—"

Having said that, he ignored Granny Huang, who was nodding vigorously, and turned his gaze to the other strange figures watching.

With a gentle shake of the flagpole, billowing black mist surged forth, instantly engulfing its form. Once the black mist dissipated, the monster and Zhu Yu's figure vanished together.

Looking at this scene.

Granny Huang trembled for a moment, her withered yellow pupils shrinking to pinpoints. After several breaths, she took a deep drag on her pipe and murmured, "Where did he get that 'strange artifact'? It actually managed to take care of the Strange Woman."

"No, we can't stay in Black Wind Mountain anymore, otherwise it won't be long before this Pill-Eating Monster eats all my good grandsons—"

Coming to her senses, she hesitated for a moment, then patted the head of her grandson who had snuggled up in front of her.

"Hurry, hurry, let's go and seek refuge with your great-aunt!"

"Your great-aunt is a real weasel in the city, she's incredibly powerful. Even this elixir-eating ghost, who obtained the 'ghostly artifact,' can't enter the city—"

squeak-

The weasel squeaked and carried Granny Huang away in a flash.

now.

In Qingyang Town.

Zhu Yu gazed at the strange and eerie figures walking through the town, his eyes filled with a deep, unsettling light.

"I really want to destroy this town—"

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