Uncle Nine: Scattering beans to create soldiers? I'm using plants and trees to create soldiers.

clack.

Pat pat—

Large raindrops fell from the sky, pounding on the dense foliage and making a continuous, crisp sound.

The mountain wind, carrying moisture, swept through the forest, causing the branches and leaves to sway and a thin mist to rise.

The already rugged mountain path quickly became muddy and difficult to traverse; if you weren't careful, your feet would sink into the mud and water.

Three figures, one in front and two behind, moved swiftly through the jungle.

Lin Xuan walked at the very front, with Dao Qi flowing beneath his feet, each step covering more than ten feet.

The branches and vines growing along the way seemed to sense his presence, and they all moved aside to make way for him.

Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai followed behind, but they did not receive the same treatment.

Snapped!

A rain-soaked tree branch lashed across Wencai's face.

Wencai winced in pain, wiped the rain off his face, and couldn't help but complain.

"With such heavy rain, why are we still desperately trying to climb into the mountains? Isn't that just asking for trouble?"

Qiu Sheng was also soaked to the bone at this moment.

He raised his sleeve to wipe his face, but the cuff was already soaked with rainwater.

This wiping only made my face stick even more water droplets.

"This rain is like someone is pouring a bucket over our heads; it's like taking a bath."

Qiu Sheng spat out a mouthful of rainwater and looked down at himself.

His Taoist robe was completely clinging to his body, and his shoes and socks were filled with mud and water.

With each step, a faint squelching sound could be heard.

"If I had known this would happen, I should have brought an umbrella with me when I went out."

After he finished speaking, he looked up ahead, a hint of envy flashing in his eyes.

Lin Xuan was clearly faster than them, yet he showed no signs of being disheveled.

The azure Dao Qi flowed into the kidneys along the meridians, and the perfect kidney spirit Dharma intention circulated accordingly, condensing into a thin layer of watery light on the body surface.

The raindrops fell, but before they could touch Lin Xuan's Daoist robe, they were quietly bounced off by the layer of water and slid down his sides.

Except for a little mud on the soles of his shoes, he was completely dry.

Wencai also noticed this scene and became even more depressed.

"Brother, this method is really convenient."

"When will I be able to cultivate to this level, so I won't need to bring an umbrella when it rains?"

Qiu Sheng glanced at him sideways.

"You should memorize the Huangting Jing first before we talk about anything else."

"You can't even sense where the Kidney Spirit is, yet you want to learn how to isolate yourself from rainwater like your senior brother?"

Wen Cai immediately became unconvinced.

"You talk as if you can sense it."

"I'm at least better than you."

"Bullshit! I clearly broke through to the next level at the same time as you, according to the senior brother's sermon the other day!"

"That's what my senior brother said, what does it have to do with you?"

"Didn't you also benefit from your senior brother's success?"

As the two were arguing, Lin Xuan suddenly raised his hand.

"Keep quiet."

The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the rain and reached the two people's ears.

Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai's expressions turned serious, and they immediately shut their mouths.

Lin Xuan lightly touched a piece of fallen deadwood with his toes, came to a steady stop, and looked up ahead.

We've arrived at Lingxi Village!

This long-abandoned village is hidden deep in the ancient forest.

Looking around, the wooden sign at the village entrance had long since rotted and broken, with half of it buried in the soil.

Most of the houses in the village have collapsed, leaving only ruins hidden in the darkness.

however,

What truly draws attention is not the ruins!

It's not the plants and trees here!

Large swathes of wild grass, growing so lush they were almost deformed, grew both inside and outside the village.

The grass blades are large and thick, about the size of an adult's palm.

The tangled roots spread all the way to the broken walls and rooftops, completely engulfing the original road.

Without exception, all these plants and trees were a somber gray-black color.

The rainwater falling on the leaves did not wash away the dirt; instead, it condensed into black droplets that slowly flowed down the veins of the leaves.

Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked over.

The next moment, a large amount of detailed information appeared before his eyes.

【Contaminated weeds】

[Quality, Gray]

[Growth rate: 95%]

[Special trait: Yin water toxin]

[Yin Water Toxin, due to absorbing leaked Yin energy and corpse poison, contains a slight degree of toxicity itself.]

[The Dao Fruit, the Remnant of the Water Vein Diagram]

……

Polluted wildflowers

[Quality, Gray]

[Growth rate: 98%]

[Special trait: Yin water toxin]

[The Dao Fruit, the Remnant of the Water Vein Diagram]

……

Lin Xuan's gaze swept across the village entrance.

Surprisingly, most of the hundreds of plants and trees nearby had the same entry.

These plants are nothing special in themselves.

They grew rapidly in a short period of time because they absorbed some kind of overflowing force.

Moreover, every plant that has undergone this mutation possesses the fruit of the [Remnant of the Water Vein Diagram]!

Lin Xuan's eyes darkened slightly, and several thoughts flashed through his mind.

This [Water Vein Diagram] can affect such a large area of ​​vegetation, so it must be a core item in the evil formation.

If we follow the methods of cults, then this should be some kind of item containing spiritual meaning!

Moreover, it is by no means an ordinary product!

"That thing should be somewhere in this deserted village!"

Lin Xuan murmured.

Meanwhile, Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai caught up from behind.

The two were soaking wet, their hair plastered to their faces, and water was still dripping from their clothes.

Wen Cai immediately noticed the plants at the village entrance and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Why are all these grasses black?"

Qiu Sheng took a couple of breaths and casually said, "What else could it be? This is where evil cultivators set up their formations; it must be contaminated by evil energy."

Lin Xuan jumped down from the dead tree and glanced at the two of them.

Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai were not highly skilled in cultivation and had no means of avoiding water.

If you barge directly into the village, you will not only be unable to help, but you will also be more likely to be infected by the insidious poison.

"You two should find somewhere to take shelter from the rain."

"I'll go in and take a look."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xuan didn't stop. Dao Qi surged beneath his feet, and he rushed directly into the village.

Wen Cai stood there, his expression instantly freezing. "Huh?! What are you saying, Senior Brother... Does this mean we should step aside?!"

Qiu Sheng wiped the rain off his face and nodded. "Be more confident and drop the word 'meaning.' Senior Brother just thinks we're too bad."

Wencai's face immediately fell, "If we'd known we wouldn't be able to get involved, we shouldn't have come along in the middle of the night! We've been soaked in the pouring rain all the way through the mountains for no reason, and my legs are trembling from the cold..."

Qiu Sheng raised his hand and slapped Wen Cai on the back of the head in an annoyed manner.

"Alright, stop complaining! Senior Brother told us to stay away because he's worried that if we really fight those evil spirits, he'll have to take care of us two burdens. We're already soaked; no matter how much you complain now, you can't expect your clothes to dry instantly, can you? Hurry up and find somewhere to hide!"

Wen Cai rubbed the back of his head and muttered under his breath, "Just talk, why do you keep hitting me?..."

After muttering a couple of words, Wencai followed Qiusheng toward the dilapidated house in front.

......

The deeper you go into the village, the more lush the surrounding vegetation becomes.

Numerous vines climbed over the broken wall and hung down on both sides of the road.

Rainwater dripped down the vines and leaves, forming black streams on the ground.

Lin Xuan did not follow the village roads.

Under the intimate perception of plants, every wild grass and every vine around is like an extended eye and ear.

As countless vague perceptions converged, he sensed an extremely dense aura of yin water in the center of the village.

Not only that,

The two kidney spirits were also constantly warning the water vapor – the water vapor there was extremely chaotic!

Normal water vein energy is long and gentle, like a flowing stream, and even if it encounters obstacles, it will flow smoothly.

However, the moisture in the center of the village seemed to be torn apart by some force, with some pouring into the ground and the other part mixed with evil spirits, constantly gushing outwards.

The two forces collided, which led to the vertical lightning bolt from earlier.

boom!

Just then, the ground in front of them suddenly shook.

The rainwater that had accumulated among the ruins rippled in layers.

Immediately afterwards, a thick black fog shot into the sky from the center of the village.

The black fog carried a pungent stench of corpses, and wherever it passed, the nearby vegetation bowed low.

Lin Xuan lightly touched the ground with his feet, leaped up from a crumbling wall, and landed steadily on the roof ridge.

Looking around.

In the center of the village, a half-collapsed dry well is spewing out black mist.

The bricks and stones around the well were all covered with charred cracks, clearly indicating that it had just been struck by lightning.

Fine electric sparks still lingered between the damp crackles of the stone, occasionally crackling softly.

Lin Xuan looked down from his vantage point, his expression gradually becoming solemn.

The next moment, a golden light flashed beside him, and Uncle Nine landed silently on the roof ridge.

A pale golden aura emanated from his body, completely isolating the rain falling on their heads.

Uncle Nine gazed at the dry well from which black mist continued to billow out and said in a deep voice, "It seems that what was in the well has come out."

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze piercing through the rain and black mist.

"one two three……"

"Seven!"

Uncle Nine's expression gradually turned serious.

"Each of them exudes an aura that is at least at the mid-stage of a Taoist."

"Moreover, their auras are connected, suggesting that they are corpses nurtured by the same formation."

At this point, Uncle Nine turned his head and looked at Lin Xuan.

"How is it?"

Are you confident you can solve it?

Lin Xuan looked towards the dry well, his face showing no fear, but rather a smile.

"With my master here, of course I have confidence."

As he said this, he turned to look at Uncle Nine.

"It just so happens that my master hasn't seen my humble soldiers truly make a move yet."

"How about today, Master, you instruct me in the ways of Taoism?"

Uncle Nine looked at Lin Xuan's confident demeanor and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

To remain so composed in the face of seven mid-stage Taoist evil corpses demonstrates a level of mental fortitude that surpasses that of most of his peers.

"it is good."

Uncle Nine nodded slightly.

"I will support you, so you can unleash your full potential."

"However, the commotion we've caused today is quite significant, and the evil cultivators behind it will surely come to investigate."

"If you encounter someone you can't handle, then hand them over to your master."

"Thank you, Master." Lin Xuan nodded.

As soon as he finished speaking, he lightly touched the roof ridge with his toes, and like a large bird, he soared several meters away towards the dry well.

Uncle Nine took a step back, his figure disappearing silently into the darkness.

Lin Xuan landed more than ten feet away from the dry well. The black mist spread out like a tide around him, and a chill crept up his ankles.

Looking at the black mist ahead, the Three Pure Ones' Dharma Bell appeared out of thin air and fell into his palm.

The Daoist Qi surged forth, and after being refined by the perfect dual kidney spirits, it transformed into azure water light and poured into the Dharma bell.

jingle!

The clear sound of bells echoed over the deserted village.

A pale blue ripple spread outward from Lin Xuan, causing the surging black mist around him to pause.

The second ringing followed immediately.

jingle--

The rain curtain seemed to be parted by an invisible force.

Within a radius of several feet, all the raindrops slid outwards along the blue ripples, forming a domain undisturbed by wind and rain.

With a thought, Lin Xuan activated his system inventory.

An altar that had been prepared in advance appeared out of thin air and landed steadily in front of him.

The altar, incense burner, candles, command flags, and talismans are all complete.

Uncle Nine, who was hiding in the shadows, couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his eye when he saw this.

Even though it wasn't the first time he'd seen it, he still felt that Lin Xuan's "grass and tree space" was far too convenient.

For an ordinary Taoist priest to set up an altar, just choosing the location, arranging the ritual implements, and setting up the command flag would take at least the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

If we were to encounter the enemy in haste, there would be no opportunity to calmly set up the altar.

Lin Xuan, however, could carry the entire altar with him, taking it out whenever needed and casting spells with a wave of his hand.

This ability, when applied to combat between low-level Taoists, provides a significant advantage.

Lin Xuan flicked his fingers.

call out!call out!

Two strands of Daoist Qi burst forth from the sky and landed precisely on the candle wicks on both sides of the altar, causing the flames to suddenly blaze!

Amidst the raging wind and torrential rain, the two candles not only did not go out, but instead burned even more fiercely.

Lin Xuan then took out three incense sticks, lit them, and inserted them into the incense burner.

Wisps of smoke rose upwards!

He formed hand seals and chanted in a deep voice,

"Disciple Lin Xuan, having received the Master's Heart Seal, is hereby appointed to guard this altar."

"We respectfully request that our guardian spirits and troops answer this call, to come forth and protect the altar, and to drive away evil spirits!"

hum!

The invisible Dharma intention emanated outwards from the Dharma altar.

The candles on both sides suddenly burst into flames about a foot high, and the three incense sticks also burned at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The rising smoke was not dispersed by the wind, but instead swirled and condensed around the altar.

In the blink of an eye, three blurry, armored figures carrying weapons took shape.

One stood to the left of the altar.

One stood to the right of the altar.

The last one stood directly in front of Lin Xuan!

Although the three guardian soldiers were merely phantoms formed from incense and religious energy, their auras were interconnected, creating a pale yellow barrier that firmly protected the altar in the center.

Lin Xuan flipped his wrist, and five more straw figures landed on the table.

Two of them were bluish-black and were woven from water plants.

The other three were made of glutinous rice straw, stuffed with yang glutinous rice and corpse-suppressing talismans. Although they had not yet been enlightened, they could still be considered quite superior carriers of soldiers.

Uncle Nine's gaze fell on the two dark blue straw figures, and a thought struck him. "These are the straw figures Ah Xuan used in the Northern Qing River?"

For the past few days, the two straw figures have been placed next to the well god statue, receiving nourishment from incense and the spiritual energy of the water veins day and night.

Even before the changes began, Uncle Nine could sense the abundant Water Palace Dharma intent within them.

A hint of anticipation crept into his eyes.

Just then, Lin Xuan's aura suddenly changed.

Within the two kidneys, the perfect divine will awakens simultaneously.

Two illusory figures of the kidney gods sat cross-legged within the divine aperture, their azure divine light illuminating the internal organs and meridians with unparalleled clarity.

The surging Dao Qi, like the tide, flowed wave after wave from the kidneys to the limbs and bones.

Lin Xuan slowly opened his eyes, a flash of blue divine light disappearing from the depths of his eyes.

At this moment, his expression was solemn, and although his figure had not changed at all, he suddenly exuded a majestic and dignified aura.

It was as if the person standing before the altar was no longer just a young Taoist priest.

Instead, it is a water official who obeys the laws of the Water Palace and acts on behalf of the gods.

Meanwhile, Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai finally arrived at the center of the village following the sound of the bell.

The two did not approach rashly, but instead spotted Uncle Nine standing under the eaves and quickly crouched down and ran over.

As soon as Wen Cai hid under the eaves, he noticed the change in Lin Xuan and said with a strange look, "Qiu Sheng, look at Senior Brother, don't you feel... Senior Brother's aura is different? He seems... much stronger than usual."

Qiu Sheng was wiping the rain off his face when he heard this, and his expression froze. "Senior Brother has always been taller than you! What nonsense are you talking about?!"

"I'm not talking about height!" Wen Cai glared at him, then secretly glanced at Lin Xuan. "I'm talking about the feeling, like facing a statue of a patriarch, majestic and awe-inspiring, making one afraid to speak carelessly!"

Qiu Sheng stroked his chin and pondered for a moment, when a glint of light suddenly flashed in his eyes.

"This should be the method of transforming into a god that Master mentioned before."

"By connecting one's own internal organs and spiritual will with the divine lineage, one temporarily assumes divine duties and exercises divine authority."

"But didn't Master say that this kind of method is extremely difficult to cultivate?"

While the two were talking, Uncle Nine had already lost his will to scold them.

His gaze was fixed on Lin Xuan, his eyes filled with undisguised astonishment.

Godhood!

He truly has become a god!

And it doesn't seem like someone who's just started.

Lin Xuan's divine intent was refined and pure, almost merging with the surrounding water vapor, clearly indicating that he had truly mastered the method of transforming into a god.

the other side,

Lin Xuan picked up the talisman brush, dipped it in cinnabar, and began to write on the yellow paper.

As the brushstrokes flowed, the azure Daoist energy seeped into the paper.

In just a few breaths, a decree was drawn up.

The moment the talisman was completed, blue light flowed across the paper, and the faint sound of surging water could be heard.

Lin Xuan threw the troop mobilization order into the brazier, and the hand seals in his hands changed accordingly.

boom!

The talisman spontaneously combusted without fire, transforming into a ball of azure flame.

Lin Xuan recited in a deep voice,

"Open the gates of the Water Palace, River God, heed my command!"

"Now there is an evil corpse disrupting the meridians, and malevolent spirits invading the river."

"Disciple Lin Xuan, acting on the order of the Water Palace to mobilize troops, respectfully requests the Water Palace's forces to arrive at the altar!"

"Arrive immediately upon receiving this order; no delays are permitted!"

"Hurry, hurry, as the law commands!"

Boom!

As the incantation was cast, a muffled thunderclap boomed over the deserted village.

The rainwater that had accumulated in the village was simultaneously shaken!

Water flowed from all directions, rapidly swirling around the altar.

Five thin streams of water rose from the ground and poured into the five straw figures.

The two grass figures trembled first, their grass leaves absorbing the water and quickly becoming full.

The other three straw figures made of glutinous rice stalks also slowly stood up, and the corpse-suppressing talismans inside their bodies emitted a faint golden light.

at the same time.

Deep within the dry well, a ray of blue light suddenly pierced through layers of black mist.

Qiu Sheng, with his sharp eyes, immediately noticed something amiss. "Master, there's something glowing in the well!"

"It looks like... a painting?" Wencai peeked over.

In front of the altar, Lin Xuan also looked at the dry well.

As the blue light grew brighter, an unfolding scroll slowly rose from the black mist.

The surface of the scroll is covered with a faint shimmering water, and in the very center is a Dragon King Temple.

Seven waterways meander and converge around the temple, resembling seven blue dragons that protect the Dragon King Temple at its center.

However, the blue light on the scroll is now constantly flashing, and the surface is shrouded in a large amount of black mist.

The once sacred Dragon King Temple design now exudes a sense of decay.

Lin Xuan's gaze sharpened slightly, and the system panel appeared.

[Dragon King Temple Water Vein Map]

[Quality: Green] (Continuing to decline; original quality: Blue)

[Description: This is an artifact used to ward off evil spirits at the Dragon King Temple. It depicts the surrounding rivers, underground streams, ancient wells, and water sources. Having received incense offerings and sacrifices for many years, it has developed a divine essence from the water veins. However, its original essence was extracted by evil magic, causing its quality to decline.]

【Special Features: Seven-Element Water Vein, Incense Spirit Transformation】

[Seven Absolute Water Veins: Allows you to sense, manage, and guide seven interconnected water veins, gathering water vapor and the spiritual power of the water veins.]

[Incense Offerings Transform into Spirits: It can absorb the power of incense offerings to nurture spirituality, enlighten aquatic creatures, and cultivate protective spirits for the temple.]

......