Chapter 922 Blood Bronze Gate
late at night.
Inside a long, secluded tomb passage.
A person and a fish walk among them, with a tiny person, no bigger than a palm, riding on the back of a white fish.
The white sturgeon is like a walking white lantern, illuminating the road ahead.
Ouyang Rong walked alone for a while.
The tunnel is surrounded by cold stone bricks, with occasional drops of water falling from above.
Perhaps due to its location in Yunmengze and its long-term neglect, this tunnel is somewhat damp and leaky.
Overall, things are still trending downwards.
Not to mention the narrow space, which gives people a sense of claustrophobia and makes it hard for the timid to breathe.
Ouyang Rong remained on guard the entire time, carrying Miao Si and Bai Shu, and walked for about fifteen minutes.
Nothing happened along the way.
Finally, we arrived at what appeared to be the end.
The white sturgeon flicked its tail and soared into the air, its shimmering white light illuminating a massive stone wall in front of it.
The stone wall stood firmly in their way, unmoving.
Ouyang Rong walked back and forth under the stone wall, and the light illuminated a double-doored gate with a metallic texture.
"Strange, where is this place?"
Miao Si muttered something to himself, then rode the white sturgeon and flew to various parts of the gate, examining them carefully.
Ouyang Rong's gaze followed their movements, and at a certain moment, he suddenly reached out and touched the material of the metal door.
The color of this metallic material is hard to describe; it's a dark red with a hint of purple.
He vaguely sensed something familiar.
Ouyang Rong subconsciously channeled spiritual energy into his dantian.
The spiritual energy seemed to sink into the ocean, and the metal door remained unmoved and unresponsive.
He was all too familiar with this feeling.
After studying it for a while, Ouyang Rong suddenly took out the Yunmeng Token from the original peach blossom painting and compared it with the bronze gate.
It's Blood Bronze.
The entire bronze gate is made of blood bronze.
"Little Rongzi, is this the thing that Little Cui taught you?"
Miao Si suddenly spoke up, pointing to the edge of the blood bronze gate and asking a question.
Ouyang Rong turned around and walked over, touching the spot it pointed to, where there were some faint runes.
He fumbled around for a while, then fell silent.
Intriguing Questions:
"Why aren't you saying anything? Is it because of that talisman of yours?"
Ouyang Rong frowned deeply and nodded.
"It's the Kui Xing talisman, you're not mistaken."
Miao Si muttered to herself, "Why is it on this door? Could it be related to Xiao Cui? Could it be his house door? Hahaha."
Ouyang Rong didn't laugh. He leaned closer and stared intently at the runes carved on the door.
He took the initiative to explore the area.
It was discovered that the entire edge of the blood bronze gate was carved with patterns of Kui Xing symbols.
I don't know what its function is.
Ouyang Rong has only grasped a part of the usage of the Confucian Kui Xing Talisman for the time being, which is just the tip of the iceberg.
However, the part he had already studied had already subtly told him that this top-tier Confucian art had extremely wide applications. What was known so far was that it was a superior starting move for Confucian Qi cultivators to set up formations and cast spells, and he had never seen anything better than it.
Cui Hao used the compatibility of the Kui Xing Talisman to improve the initial version of the Peach Blossom Spring Sword Formation created by Tao Yuanming, turning one fake cauldron sword into countless fake cauldrons, which had a far-reaching impact.
At this moment, the Kui Xing Talisman appeared at the end of the secret tunnel inside Lu Changgeng's cenotaph, its purpose unknown.
Ouyang Rong pondered for a moment.
There was no response to Miao Si's joking remark.
Because he wasn't sure if Cui Hao was the only one who mastered the Kui Xing Talisman Confucianism, or if he had also learned it from someone else.
So, Lu Changgeng also comes from the same source as him?
Just as Ouyang Rong was pondering.
"Little Rongzi, look here!"
Miao Si rode the white sturgeon and flew to a place very close to the ground. Suddenly, he pointed to a spot in front of him and shouted.
Ouyang Rong frowned, went over to take a look, and found that this was the central position of the bronze gate.
Logically, it should be placed on the outside, where the door handle would be.
On the blood bronze gate, stained with dark red blood, one could barely make out the shape of a human handprint.
Furthermore, in the middle of the handprint's indentation, there is a recessed intaglio character resembling the Kui Xing talisman.
After observing for a moment, Ouyang Rong took a few steps back.
After moving a distance away, he carefully examined the arrangement of the Kui Xing talisman on the entire gate.
Having recently become somewhat familiar with the Kui Xing Fu Confucian arts, he began to have some ideas about the formation on this gate.
If I'm not mistaken... this handprint is the life gate of the entire bronze gate's Kui Xing talisman formation.
The location of the "life gate" is generally a key position that affects the success or failure of the formation.
If it's placed on this tightly closed blood bronze gate, it could very well be the switch to activate the gate.
Ouyang Rong first took out half of Cui Hao's silk scroll and pressed it onto the Kui Xing talisman on the door. He tried several times, especially at the handprint, but there was no reaction.
Ouyang Rong pondered for a moment, then extended his palm and placed it in the groove.
After waiting for a while, there was still no response.
He couldn't help but frown slightly.
Miao Si also rode the white sturgeon around, but couldn't find the opening to open this strange door. Upon returning, she asked impatiently:
"So, Xiao Rongzi, have you found anything?"
Ouyang Rong remained silent upon hearing this, looking up at the blood-red bronze gate.
He then looked at the Kui Xing talisman in the groove of his palm.
This Kui Xing talisman is in relief, meaning it's recessed.
With a vague intuition, Ouyang Rong took out a small knife, cut his palm, and dripped the liquid onto the Kui Xing talisman in the palm print.
The blood indeed filled the dark characters of the Kui Xing talisman, and the entire gate trembled slightly.
Realizing he hadn't misjudged the situation, Ouyang Rong immediately pressed his palm firmly onto the handprint, almost sealing it perfectly.
The entire gate creaked and shook.
Ouyang Rong looked up and gazed around, holding his breath and waiting.
Miao Si, standing to the side, also looked expectant and stepped back a little.
Time passed second by second.
The tremors of the bronze gate gradually subsided.
Ouyang Rong's brows gradually furrowed.
Miao Si also went up to examine it suspiciously.
"Strange, why isn't it moving? Little Rongzi, does it not recognize you?"
Ouyang Rong pursed his lips and remained silent.
After a moment of silence, he withdrew his bloodied hand.
Looking down, the blood on the Kui Xing talisman's dark characters had disappeared, as if it had been absorbed.
After waiting a while longer, there was still no movement.
Ouyang Rong silently wiped his palms and looked back at the dark tomb passage.
"This is Lu Changgeng's tomb, and this is the ancestral tomb of the Lu family of Fanyang, the imperial tutors."
He suddenly spoke.
A clever idea nodded:
"That's right, so what?"
Ouyang Rong seemed to remember something, and lowered his head to bandage his wound, his tone somewhat calm:
"Perhaps because I am not a descendant of the Lu family of Fanyang, I am not qualified to go in."
"So this door was rejecting you."
After thinking for a moment, Miao Si made a serious suggestion:
"Why don't you kowtow twice, little Rongzi, and try to acknowledge your ancestors?"
"Not funny."
Ouyang Rong shook his head, narrowed his eyes slightly, and stared at the bronze gate blocking his way.
One thing is pretty much certain.
Lu Changgeng also knows the top-level Confucian art of Kui Xing Talisman, or rather, the person who built this gate knows the Kui Xing Talisman.
Because the Lu family of Fanyang has a long tradition of passing down Confucianism, similar to Cui Hao of the Cui family of Qinghe, Lu Changgeng or a member of the Lu family of Fanyang must have been a top-level Confucian Qi cultivator.
This bronze gate and the intricate Kui Xing talisman array on it were built by him.
Ouyang Rong recalled the day when Li Wan and Lu Jinghong came to offer sacrifices and burn incense.
A bold idea suddenly popped into his mind:
Could it be that the opportunity to go south that Li Wan and her son often boasted about was referring to this gate?
Ouyang Rong turned to look at the Kui Xing symbol in the handprint groove, and at that moment, muttered to himself:
"Perhaps Lu Jinghong's blood can open it, or rather, the direct bloodline of the Lu family of Fanyang will do..."
"A gate that can only be opened by those with corresponding bloodlines? Interesting, this Kui Xing talisman can be used like this..."
Ouyang Rong pondered for a moment, then exchanged a glance with Miao Si.
The latter nodded: "Try it with the Ding Sword."
Ouyang Rong curled his lip: "The craftsmanship is still in the sword box, trapped by the Thunder Pool. But we can try the counterfeit Ding sword."
After saying this, he sat down cross-legged and unfolded a scroll in front of him.
The painting depicts the Peach Blossom Spring.
In the next instant, a sky-blue sword aura slanted out.
It crashed against the blood bronze gate.
Just before the piercing sound rang out, Ouyang Rong immediately closed the scroll in front of him.
The azure sword energy vanished without a trace.
The gate remained completely unmoved, and the area struck by the azure sword energy showed no damage whatsoever.
The counterfeit sword could not cleave through this gate, but Ouyang Rong showed no surprise whatsoever.
I was mentally prepared.
Miao Si was slightly disappointed and shook her head:
"If [Craftsmanship] were here, it might have helped you break in."
Ouyang Rong shook his head:
"Not necessarily. This object is blood bronze, which has the ability to absorb various spiritual energies. The cauldron sword may be the sharpest, but its sword energy will be neutralized by it. My spiritual energy is insufficient to use it to cleave this door. It's like trying to chop a fish with a knife. The knife can cut through, but my strength is not enough to push it through."
Miao Si looked regretful:
"So what do we do now?"
"Go home and sleep."
Ouyang Rong uttered four words, turned around, and strode away.
...
Just like yesterday, Ouyang Rong returned to the island before dawn.
After hiding the raft, they returned safely to their lodgings.
No one noticed the whole thing.
After studying the blood-red bronze gate in Lu Changgeng's tomb for a while, Ouyang Rong decided to put it aside for the time being, as he did not see any good fortune being triggered by it.
The only possible way to activate it at present is through the blood of Lu Jinghong and other direct descendants.
Ouyang Rong was also curious about what was behind the door.
Could this be Lu Changgeng's real tomb?
Unlike the simple, unadorned cenotaphs above, if the tomb behind the door is a real grave, it is very likely to contain Lu Changgeng's relics.
The dense array of Kui Xing symbols on the blood bronze gate suggests that Lu Changgeng may have been a top-tier Confucian Qi cultivator.
Similar to Cui Hao.
There is a known detail that supports this.
It was the Lu family medicine bottle that Chief Tang tested during Lu Jinghong's second test.
This bottle is naturally of the highest quality, and seems to be unique to the direct descendants of the Lu family of Fanyang.
In other words, the descendants of the Lu family of Fanyang are naturally more likely to cultivate Qi, at least in terms of their innate physique, giving them a natural advantage that puts them far ahead of ordinary people.
Therefore, it is not surprising that a top-tier Confucian Qi cultivator similar to Cui Hao would emerge.
In addition, the aristocratic families of the Northern and Southern Dynasties had a tradition of elaborate burials, so the relics found in the tombs of the deceased were naturally extraordinary.
Ouyang Rong thought it was worth a try.
But not now.
Daytime.
Ouyang Rong went out as usual to prepare for work.
Madam Chen, however, summoned everyone and announced:
"No need to move anything today. Everything's almost done, so you can rest for a couple of days and wait for your return journey. However, if you have any personal needs, you can tell me, and I'll go to town with the fairies and bring it back for you. But you can't take any family letters out..."
Madam Chen began to give instructions to everyone.
Everyone gathered around with great interest.
Ouyang Rong remained silent for a moment.
I turned around and went back to sleep.
Anyway, if Madam Chen can go out, she definitely won't take him with her.
If you want to get out, you might as well try to find a way yourself.
Ouyang Rong took a nap for a while, and in the afternoon, he circled the island and observed it for a while.
Most of the women from Lantang have gone out and have not yet returned.
They finished moving the goods and stayed on the island, probably waiting for them.
After pondering for a long time, Ouyang Rong stood up and went back to the room to prepare.
As evening approached, he decided to go out again to Taoyuan Town, since he was already there.
As dusk falls, fishermen sing their evening songs.
However, there weren't many fishing boats near the island.
In addition, a small number of Lantang Yue women patrol the island.
With Madam Chen not present, most of the servants had already returned to their rooms to rest.
According to Ouyang Rong's observations over the past few days, there is no nightlife on the island, and no one comes looking for him in the middle of the night.
This gave Ouyang Rong the opportunity to slip away.
Inside the house, Ouyang Rong was all ready to go. Taking advantage of the darkness, he quietly slipped out.
Before long, he bypassed the Yue women on duty, came to the shady side of the hillside, found a raft, pushed it into the water, boarded the boat and left.
During this time, Miaosi couldn't help but peek out, but Ouyang Rong silently pressed her back down, suppressing her fuss.
They came out completely silently.
About half an hour later, the raft arrived at the ferry crossing in Taoyuan Town.
Ouyang Rong had already changed into a fake body, originally intending to choose the image of Zhang Qian, the female craftswoman of the Guyue Sword Manual in Longcheng County.
It could switch to behind the woman, which felt a little strange, so it switched back to behind the man.
Instead of choosing Wei Shaoxuan and the others hidden inside the bronze mask, he carefully selected an inconspicuous fake body—Zhao Rushi, Zhu Lingxu's former accomplice, the one he publicly beheaded and used as a sacrificial offering on the streets of Longcheng County.
Ouyang Rong glanced down at his strong body; his face, reflected in the water, looked somewhat fierce.
He nodded slightly, quite satisfied.
The raft docked, and there were still quite a few people at the ferry crossing, all fishermen returning in the evening.
The unfamiliar Ouyang Rong arrived on a raft, attracting the attention of the local thugs at the ferry crossing. However, every day, fearless tourists ventured deep into Yunmeng Marsh, and there was no shortage of ruthless men like Ouyang Rong.
Ouyang Rong kept his eyes straight ahead, walked out of the ferry, and merged into the crowd. People were not allowed to go out at midnight in Taoyuan Town, but the night market from evening to midnight was still quite crowded.
He wandered aimlessly through the streets for a while, feeling the faint gazes behind him gradually disappear, and no one was following him anymore.
Ouyang Rong remained silent throughout, managing to evade the issue.
However, those who had been following them from the ferry crossing might not have been the Nine Clans monitoring the town and the others; they might have been thieves or pickpockets who, seeing that Ouyang Rong looked intimidating, gave up.
Ouyang Rong strolled around the night market for a few more streets, and then he began to walk towards the brothel he had inquired about...
(End of this chapter)
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