Chapter 89: Concealing the Truth
Changlongpo, located on the border of Xuancheng Prefecture, is separated from the Celestial Sea to the east by only a mountain range. While considered a remote coastal region for a mortal dynasty, it bears the name Changlongpo because the first emperor of the previous dynasty was born there. After he ascended the throne, recognized by the six major righteous sects, he renamed the area Changlongpo and chose it as the site for his own mausoleum, which was guarded by the remaining members of his clan.
The Fengtian Dynasty, which ruled the mortal world for four hundred years, had a total of five emperors. Although they also built mausoleums near the imperial capital, it is said that those were just empty tombs. The real dragon bodies would be secretly buried in the mountains north of Changlongpo after death, which is called Wulong Mountain.
Although the area seemed to be under the control of five emperors, and shouldn't have been prone to any spooky or strange occurrences, ever since the new emperor overthrew the Fengtian Dynasty and established the Dayan Dynasty, a dense forest suddenly sprouted within Changlongpo. What was once a lake slowly turned into a swamp. Changlongpo was practically extinct, and a vast amount of ghostly energy permeated the area, making it difficult for even cultivators to remain there for long.
Even more bizarre, two rivers suddenly flowed from the east and west ends of Wulong Mountain, cutting off Changlongpo. The western side was the Yan River, perpetually shrouded in mist and devoid of sunlight year-round. The eastern side, known as the Yang River, was the opposite of the Yan River, seemingly devoid of all sunlight. The scorching sun burned eternally, scalding the river waters, yet refusing to evaporate. These two rivers flowed far westward into Hairuo Prefecture.
The six major sects had originally intended to send disciples to the rescue, but upon seeing the strangeness of Changlongpo, they concluded that the garrison had been completely wiped out. Furthermore, the weak spiritual energy there meant no spiritual herbs or plants grew, and few high-level demonic beasts appeared, making any rescue efforts worthwhile. In contrast, the emergence of the Yang River provided the fire-cultivating Nanyu Sect with excellent materials for refining their spiritual roots. The mountains along the way were directly seized by the Nanyu Sect as precious ground for their sect's spiritual cultivation and even for transcending tribulations.
Therefore, for hundreds of years thereafter, Changlongpo became a legendary haunted place, and no one or monk came to visit and try to change the weirdness here.
The strange and remoteness of this place was exactly what Luo Xuanyi wanted. What was even more convenient was Changlongpo, a treasure land where yin gathered. Perhaps it was because the appearance of the Yang River took away the sunlight. Luo Xuanyi could even see with his naked eyes the lines of yin rising from the earth veins. This was definitely a good place to temper ghost cultivation.
The chess beast placed Luo Xuanyi at the entrance of Changlongpo, formerly known as Hushouping. However, the scenery here was completely different from what was described in the Fengwuzhi. The mist from the smoky river behind Luo Xuanyi fell, immediately soaking her robes and leaving a sticky feeling from her shoulders.
Something seemed to be moving in the mist, spotting her. Two glances drifted, giving her goosebumps. Luo Xuanyi didn't look back, but walked quickly forward, far away from the ancient ferry crossing on the riverbank.
Hushouping sloped slightly upward, with weeds growing up to Luo Xuanyi's calves, looking sickly and grayish-white. There was no such unsettling sight here as before. Luo Xuanyi took out the bamboo slips and began to fly while searching for a suitable place for retreat.
A vast expanse of dense red forest suddenly appeared at the top of Hushouping. In the absence of sunlight, it looked like a pool of congealed blood. Luo Xuanyi gazed down from the sky and saw only dense, twisting branches crisscrossing and weaving into a fine network that blocked out the sky and earth. Only two areas were unobstructed by the branches. Luo Xuanyi took one look and felt an inexplicable palpitation. She turned away and eliminated both dense forest and flat land as options.
After much deliberation, Luo Xuanyi finally settled on two isolated peaks and cliffs south of Changlongpo. She mobilized her spiritual power to conceal the bamboo slip's trajectory and landed on one of the peaks.
The mountain was completely devoid of vegetation, with all sorts of bare rock and countless hollows. Luo Xuanyi chose a cave and dropped a stick of incense into it, clearly catching sight of the vast, jagged terrace and the silent, underground river beneath. Even as the incense burned away in the river, no trace of a disturbing sound emerged.
Luo Xuanyi calmly jumped in, landing on the stone platform she had long spotted. She began walking deeper along the underground river. Every time she passed a cave entrance leading to the outside, she channeled her spiritual energy to cast a spiritual barrier as a warning. The cold air flowing through the underground river and the dripping water from the tips of the stalactites were the only sounds here, but they calmed Luo Xuanyi's heart.
The incense in her hand burned slowly, its consumption barely visible to the naked eye. It was clear that the spiritual energy here, though weak, was extremely pure. When she reached a deep enough depth, Luo Xuanyi finally stopped.
Before her was a natural stone hall, polished smooth from top to bottom by the once-swollen river. Now, the hidden river had descended again, flowing silently, even the subtlest sound of water was inaudible. In the utter silence, Luo Xuanyi removed Rong Gui and the storage bag and began to remove the soul and human skin inside.
She had practiced the Soul-Locking Curse for months in the illusion, so it only took three tries for her to succeed. Luo Xuanyi carefully turned over the first human skin that had been successfully soul-locked, observing for any flaws.
The skin, drained of flesh and soul, had already turned pale and stiff. But once the "living soul" whose lifespan had yet to end was locked inside, the situation changed dramatically. The skin first gradually softened, becoming slightly warm to the touch, and then the complexion became rosy. If something were stuffed inside, from a distance, it would look like a living person sleeping.
The problem was the back. A flowing human figure suddenly appeared on her back, like a painting of a human furnace. Luo Xuanyi could see the figure, dressed in the attire of an inner disciple of the Zang Yao Sect, moving around in panic, seemingly confused about the surroundings they were in.
However, after observing for a while and confirming that the soul's roaming range was only behind him, and that his actions would not have any impact on the soul-locked skin, Luo Xuanyi locked the souls of three more skins to be on the safe side. After ensuring that they were successful without exception, he took a deep breath and began to work on himself.
She placed her palm on the inscription on the front of Rong Gui, crossed her legs, placed the souls in the eight directions, used her spiritual power to control the ink-splashed jade bamboo flag to hang upside down above her head, and began to silently recite the "Art of Entering the Ghost" given by the tower spirit in her heart.
“…Outside the six realms, those without karma follow. Entering Nirvana, all evils follow…”
The human-shaped golden paper trembled slightly amid the chanting of prayers, and suddenly a strong wind swirled up, shattering the souls in all directions and turning into a black stream, flowing into Luo Xuanyi's body. As the strange tendons and eight meridians wrapped around her body, the death energy appeared and disappeared, and went straight to the Baihui acupoint on the top of her head!
Right now! Luo Xuanyi wielded the ink-splashed jade bamboo flag and stabbed it downwards from the top of her head!
Blood spurted out like a flower, then withered instantly, being greedily swallowed by the Ink-Splashed Jade Bamboo Banner. The gurgling blood gradually dried up, revealing a hole the size of a baby's fist, from which Luo Xuanyi's soul emerged.
Thunder roared from the sky, striking fiercely, only to be blocked by the mountain! Rocks flew apart, and gravel rained down. Luo Xuanyi, staying in the deepest part, used the gap between the attacks to perform the Soul Locking Technique, locking a soul along with a portion of Luo Xuanyi's aura to her body!
The body, once saturated with deathly energy, gradually turned redder, its original dark blue hue replaced by a rosy glow. The vast amount of spiritual fluid stored within her body was used to regenerate and repair her body. The girl stood up and pulled the ink-splashed jade bamboo flag from her head. The wounds were rapidly healing. She looked as if she were alive, still carrying the aura and longevity of a living being.
The thunder outside stopped.
Luo Xuanyi controlled her body and smiled.
It worked.
I want to set a flag - I will update 4,000 words starting tomorrow!
P.S. Since I have something to do every Wednesday, even if I really update twice in the future, I will still update once on Wednesday~
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