novelnext Chapter 520 - 489 Soldier Calamity 3
Chapter 520 - 489 Soldier Calamity 3
Wish Girl Gorge · Ascension Platform.
Zhang Rongfang returned here once more, facing the mountain winds, ascending the steps one by one.
Yet he saw a figure in white, slowly moving on the platform, practicing talismanic skills.
"Why so diligent today?" He smiled as he stepped over the last stair, looking at the other person.
The figure in white calmly stopped, revealing herself as Chang Yuqing, who had been here once before.
This woman, whether in posture or temperament, was remarkable among those around Zhang Rongfang. Only Zhang Zhenhai could compare with her in terms of figure and appearance.
"Teacher, Ding Yu asked me to bring you something. While waiting for you, I practiced some basic moves you taught before," Chang Yuqing said respectfully, stepping forward a few paces.
"What did you bring?" Zhang Rongfang was in a good mood, as his life value was approaching three hundred, and he naturally became more expectant.
As a result, his mood usually improved.
"It’s this." Chang Yuqing walked to the side and unveiled a cage covered with black cloth.
Inside, three small black pigs raised their heads in unison, looking at Zhang Rongfang.
Each pig had three flowers painted in red on their heads.
"Junior Brother Ding said, this is the first batch of matured meat pigs, so he specifically chose three to send over. The flowers on their heads are a metaphor, hoping you’ll soon achieve Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, Five Qi Facing the Origin."
"....."
Three Flowers? Zhang Rongfang looked at the flowers on the pigs’ heads.
Gathering Cauldrons? Gathering at the Crown?
He was speechless.
Since Ding Yu returned from the Five Cauldrons Sect, he had been acting a bit odd.
Now it seems.... it wasn’t an illusion.
"I appreciate the thought... take these three pigs down, slaughter them, and share the meat with everyone." He waved his hand helplessly.
"Yes." Chang Yuqing smiled lightly under her veil.
"By the way, Teacher, I recently noticed something unusual with many Daoists from the Human Immortal Temple in the canyon. Many of them seem... unrestrained." Chang Yuqing gently reminded.
"This is just the difference in human nature; everyone encounters different heart demons on the path to immortality." Zhang Rongfang said calmly, "Vitality is spiritual qi, it’s temptation, and also heart demons."
"Heart demons?" Chang Yuqing pondered thoughtfully.
Recently, as the time drew closer to her ailment, she found herself less anxious when looking at the many Daoists within the Human Immortal Temple.
"If you can’t understand, then go explore the surroundings more." Zhang Rongfang replied.
This disciple had extraordinary comprehension. Apart from being slightly frail in physique, she was the strongest learner he had ever seen.
The Great Dao Teaching martial arts he had previously taught had been thoroughly understood by her in just half a month.
Such understanding was terrifying.
But the more it was this way, the more careful he had to be. Such a genius, once embarked on the martial path, would soar unstoppably like a rocket.
It would be better to polish her now rather than later.
Martial arts in the later stages inevitably involve spiritual will.
Better he prepares her here than let her face setbacks and learn outside later.
"I somewhat understand now...." Chang Yuqing nodded gently.
"As long as you understand." Zhang Rongfang then simply asked a few questions about martial arts practice.
The answers he received were impeccable.
All difficulties and questions seemed insignificant to Chang Yuqing. With a little pondering, she could resolve them, only needing supplements on experience.
After advising Chang Yuqing, Zhang Rongfang left the Ascension Platform, wandering around Wish Girl Gorge, finding most people absent.
Of all the transformed bloodline masters, only a few remained to cultivate in the gorge. The rest had gone out.
Zhang Rongfang wasn’t surprised. If he were one of these bloodline masters, he would likely distance himself as well.
After all, no expert would want to stay near someone who could decide their life and death at any moment.
Leaving the gorge, he made his way straight towards Wushan Prefecture.
Sprinting along the official road.
Halfway there, ahead on the road, on the still partly frozen snowy ground, a patrol of Spirit People was leisurely riding horses and patrolling over.
Zhang Rongfang didn’t intend to meet these people and was about to take a detour around them.
Suddenly, from afar, he heard this group chatting while patrolling.
"...I knew it was fake. The so-called Daoist Human Immortal Temple, as if it were real."
"I saw with my own eyes, only two Daoists came out and wiped out a nearby group of Red Scarf bandits, leaving none alive. Someone wanted to approach and inquire but was scared by the bloody scene, not daring to step closer," another explained seriously.
"I’ve heard about this too." The third person nodded slightly, "Recently, there are rumors nearby saying the Red Scarf bandits provoked a reclusive martial sect called the Human Immortal Temple. They say it’s filled with cruel evil cultivators who kill without batting an eye."
"I’ve heard that too. They claim to be cultivators, but their actions are ruthless and bloodthirsty, reportedly even consuming fresh blood. How can such Daoists cultivate immortality? They are probably cultivating evil immortals?"
"Regardless, the Human Immortal Temple has relieved a lot of pressure for us. Whether they are righteous or evil, it’s ultimately a good thing."
"Who knows if they aren’t just taking advantage of the chaos to kill and loot?"
"If not, where did the Red Scarf bandits nearby go? Unless they were all killed by the Sky Wolf?" The person speaking was apparently a Spirit Person.
Among the Spirit People who believe in the Spirit Flying Church, they often liken male heroes of their clans to celestial wolves and females to white deer.
"The higher-ups think that since the other party hasn’t provoked us, we should ignore them. In these times, it’s better to avoid trouble when possible."
"Heh, these evil sects have gained a reputation throughout the city. Some even witnessed the Daoists from the Human Immortal Temple directly sucking human blood, utterly evil!
It’s just that the authorities haven’t stabilized yet. Once they get the chance, they will surely send troops to eliminate them."
"Watch your words."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Rongfang got a rough idea about the spread of the Bloodline in his mind.
He advanced his body, maneuvering from one side, heading towards Wushan Prefecture.
Soon, the large city slowly appeared on the horizon.
As he approached, he noticed watchtowers set at intervals around the city.
Someone on a distant watchtower spotted him approaching but wasn’t surprised. Confirming he wasn’t wearing a red scarf, they ignored him.
Zhang Rongfang slowed down, blending in like a regular refugee, and moved forward.
He soon saw a large crowd of refugees gathered in front of the city gate, queued up and waiting for inspection before entering the city.
Zhang Rongfang queued up to the very end, waiting to enter the city. Just at this moment, he suddenly reacted, lifting his head to look to the right.
There was a group of soldiers clad in armor completely different from those native to Wushan, swiftly entering through a small gate on the right side of the city gate.
Among this group, one seemed to have worshiped a deity, with a physique different from ordinary people.
Judging by their armor, they didn’t follow the Great Spirit’s style.
Watching as this team entered the city, Zhang Rongfang maintained his demeanor as a commoner, waiting his turn for inspection.
Soon he used the token his sister had given him to enter the city, and he headed directly towards Mu Chi’s mansion.
*
*
*
Inside the Wushan Prefecture’s courthouse.
Here, a group of armored soldiers that had just entered the city was swaggering into the courthouse, under the protection of dozens of Spirit Army members, sweeping their eyes over the queue of officials waiting to greet them.
The leader, with a pale face, hairless chin, and eyes that were sinister and fierce.
"I am Chen Yan, the Deputy Internal Affairs Envoy under King Mu Li. Now all the rebels around Wushan have been swept away by our army. The Qiankun is clear. In return, you should give us a proper reward."
He glanced at the pile of valuables on the ground.
"What use is there for these gold and silver things at a time like this? Where are the provisions? Such a large Wushan Prefecture, yet you can’t even gather a mere hundred thousand stones?"
The lead official of Wushan Prefecture, Yue Hanquan, and a group of officials wore troubled expressions.
"Lord Envoy, it is not that we are incapable, but during these times, we ourselves lack provisions. If we must give up that much more, the whole Wushan Prefecture might..."
"That is your issue. There are so many deserted towns around, send people to plunder them, I only ask you, where are the provisions? In ten days, if you haven’t gathered them, don’t blame us for being unkind!"
The envoy Chen Yan unceremoniously threatened.
"Lord Envoy, we truly don’t have that much provision, those nearby towns indeed have them, but they’ve all been taken by a certain local faction. We haven’t gotten any of it." Yue Hanquan helplessly explained.
"What faction is so audacious?" Envoy Chen Yan’s eyes lit up. Acquiring provisions was now his key task. Wushan Prefecture clearly can’t yield much, but other forces might be different.
"It’s an evil sect called the Human Immortal Temple!" Yue Hanquan hurriedly explained. "Everyone in that sect is a martial arts master, and they are fond of human blood, utterly evil!"
Just as the words fell.
A red shadow suddenly leaped over the wall from outside.
"Nonsense! A group of mundane people, how dare you recklessly call my Human Immortal Dao an evil path! Absolutely ridiculous!"
The red shadow landed, revealing its true form.
It turned out to be a bald monk draped in a red cassock, with a string of large white bone Buddhist beads around his neck.
The monk’s face was full of menacing flesh, with fierce eyes sweeping around, exuding an intimidating aura that spread around.
Merely the surging of his Qi and blood, and the sound of his heart pounding made those nearby feel as if they were hearing war drums.
"Truly a catch that required no effort! Seize him, interrogate the mastermind!" King Mu Li’s envoy Chen Yan was immediately overjoyed, signaling with his hand while stepping back to watch.
But he had only retreated a few steps.
When the ground erupted, a red shadow charged at him like a rhinoceros.
"Shameless dog! I worked hard to sweep the Red Scarf rebels here and there, only for you to use it as credit for yourself?! Die!!"
The great monk slammed his palm onto the envoy’s face without any particular technique, relying purely on the tremendous speed and power of super-grade inner skills, surpassing the reflexes and understanding of everyone present.
Bang!!
With an explosive sound, King Mu Li’s envoy lost his head instantly, collapsing backward.
The experts in the rest of the envoy’s team changed their expressions drastically, recognizing the power of that palm, and didn’t dare block it, scattering like birds to escape.
But before they could run far, the main leaders were caught by the great monk.
Each palm strike was like slaughtering chickens. Blood splattered everywhere.
"A bunch of filthy little weaklings! How dare you show disrespect to my Human Immortal Dao!" The great monk finally struck down a leading young general of King Mu Li, shook off the blood from his hand, and looked at the other terrified and cowering officials of Wushan.