Chapter 699: Master Returns to the Mountain Gate
The wind from Longpan Mountain flows through nine counties and the energy fills the rivers. It was not originally a place for gathering and absorbing energy.
However, the mountains are unpredictable and the water is invisible, but they always produce some exceptions, just like the reefs under the water and the rocks in the mountains.
Ximashan is undoubtedly one of them.
The terrain accumulated the Yin energy flowing in the spiritual energy here, thus creating a place of accumulated Yin, and even giving birth to strange things like the Ghost Face Peach.
When Grandmaster Ma Qingji left the sect and did not return, Elder Qiu Yun took charge of all the affairs of Xima Mountain, managing everything in an orderly manner. All the disciples were obedient, and the evil atmosphere in Xima Mountain was swept away, and the original intention of founding the sect was rediscovered.
Because Grandmaster Ma Qingji was a true evil spirit, Qiu Yun had been extremely cautious for the past three years, rarely leaving the house except for essential shopping trips. Furthermore, the Four Bitternesses of Integrity Formation was in front of him, making it difficult for disciples who wanted to sneak out to escape, so no trouble arose.
Qiu Yun urged all the disciples to change their ways and make the method of calling upon spirits the first technique besides the fundamental techniques. Everyone was also required to memorize the Yue Mansion precepts contained therein and keep them in mind.
For a long time, Ximashan disciples would start their greetings, entertainment, and even bickering with the Yue Mansion precepts.
It’s not that these people have such awareness, but no one dares to disobey what Master Ma Qingji has ordered.
No matter how big the devil in this world is, he is not bigger than Master Ma Qingji. No matter how vicious the ghost is, it is not more vicious than Master Ma Qingji.
The ritual field in front of the Ximashan Patriarch's Hall used to be the favorite place for disciples to compete and perform rituals. Nowadays, if there is no real reason to go, the disciples would rather find an open slope to perform rituals than go to the ritual field.
The cracks in the fine blue bricks and stones of the ritual ground are still filled with blood ash that has never been cleaned off. Whenever it rains, the water that flows out of the cracks has a bit of blood and fishy smell.
The reason why Qiu Yun was able to treat these disciples so well was largely because his treatment methods complemented the teachings of his master Ma Qingji.
Even though Ma Qingji had been gone for three years, Qiu Yun would not actually go looking for him, no matter how often he thought of him or how he wanted to know how he was doing. Not only did the other disciples avoid him, but Qiu Yun also held Ma Qingji in awe.
But today, this terrifying cloud once again shrouded Xima Mountain.
First, a folk song was heard from the Four Bitterness Questioning Formation. It sang about the busy spring season, abundant rain, and prayers for a good harvest. The Wu dialect was soft and sticky, and even when sung by a man, it was graceful and affectionate.
The melody came from far away and was almost unobstructed by the Heart-Searching Array. Several disciples who were sweeping the mountain gate heard the melody getting closer and closer. At first, they were still wondering who was going up the mountain, but as the sound got closer and closer, it awakened a great fear in their hearts.
They stared intently at the exit of the Heart-Searching Formation until a young man in hemp clothes, holding a peach branch in his arms, emerged from the formation. His dead eyes darted towards the mountain gate, and then they heard a few thuds—the disciples fell to their knees, not daring to raise their heads, only praising, "Welcome Master back to the mountain."
Ma Qingji said with a smile: "Get up."
These disciples stood up shivering, with their heads lowered like quails, wishing they could turn themselves into a grain of dust in the crack of the ground.
But Ma Qingji refused to let them go. Instead, he asked, "How has everything been going in the sect these past few years since I left the sect?"
Seeing that no one wanted to be the first to speak, Ma Qingji frowned and asked in confusion: "Huh?"
They were so frightened that they trembled inwardly and quickly flattered, "Master, everything is fine in the sect. Elder Qiu urged us to practice the method of summoning spirits, and now all of you fellow disciples have some experience."
"Among them, Senior Brothers Huang Qiao and Li Fei are the most talented. They have already received feedback from the Grandmaster. I think they will achieve some success soon."
Ma Qingji was finally satisfied and said, "Huang Qiao and Li Fei, good."
As he spoke, he walked into the mountain gate and returned to the master's residence.
Occasionally, when he met disciples laughing and playing along the way, they would be struck by lightning and fall to their knees like dumplings.
Ma Qingji didn't care what their attitude was. For now, as long as they were obedient and kept their vows, that was enough. As for whether they hated or feared him as their master, that didn't matter.
Soon, news of the Grandmaster's return spread throughout Xima Mountain—since the last bloodbath, Xima Mountain had become much less populated. The remaining disciples were all marginal figures who had previously fallen out of favor and had poor qualifications, most of them even serving as servants.
Qiu Yun immediately came to pay his respects to the master. He came up and paid his respects. Ma Qingji waved his hand and said, "Get up. You are not one of those little guys. What are you doing here?"
Qiu Yun laughed and reported to Ma Qingji about the sect's situation in recent years. Everything was developing in a good direction.
He had even mastered the art of calling upon spirits, could communicate with the ancestors in the underworld, and even received guidance on his own cultivation.
Ma Qingji laughed and said, "Well, as an elder, you have set a good example for all the disciples."
Qiu Yun added, "There's one more thing. In the past few years, the Wu Palace has sent several secular disciples to deliver many treasures. They said it was in response to Master's request to help rebuild the Corpse Immortal lineage. I didn't dare to make any decisions on my own, so I piled them up in the warehouse and never used them."
Ma Qingji nodded and said, "That's why I came back."
Qiu Yun showed a puzzled expression.
Ma Qingji said, "If you accept benefits from others, how can you escape being controlled by them?"
Qiu Yun asked, "Master, are you going to help King Wu?"
Ma Qingji smiled mysteriously and said, "I'm just going to settle a debt."
He didn't explain further, and continued, "Since it's been sent to you, don't waste it. Use it if you need to. It doesn't matter whether it's a corpse immortal or not. After all, they are all disciples of our family."
"There's no need for Xima Mountain to emphasize the difference between ghost immortals and corpse immortals. After all, they all share the same origin and the same lineage."
Qiu Yun hesitated and asked, "What about the secular lineage?"
Ma Qingji said, "The secular sect is nothing more than a public sect that is good for cultivation. Their lineage is still above that of ghost immortals and corpse immortals. What difference is there? You have already entered the art of summoning spirits, but you should know that this is not a method of closed-door cultivation. In the future, everyone will be born into the world, but not for wealth and honor, but for good deeds."
Qiu Yun naturally understood and praised it as good.
After sending Qiu Yun away, Ma Qingji set off for the back mountain of Ximashan.
The place where the yin energy gathers and the cold wind howls is the Ghost Face Peach Forest.
The battle was in turmoil, but Ma Qingji was able to move forward as if it were flat ground.
When it comes to playing with Yin energy, Gong Mengbi is an expert, and Ma Qingji is naturally no worse.
The last time I came here, I had to be careful to avoid it, but now when I come again, the yin energy has retreated and is hiding here.
As you step into the peach forest, you will see a huge ghost-faced peach tree in the middle of the forest. A yellow skull is leaning against its exposed roots.
"Are you still not awake?" Ma Qingji shouted.
The skull trembled and fell from the tree root. A moment later, the Yin Spirit, carrying the skull, transformed into a short, dwarf old man. He stood up and saluted Ma Qingji, saying, "Master Tianhu, you are finally back."
Ma Qingji asked, "I told you to nurse the baby, and you're just slacking off here?"
"It's unfair!"
The Skull God shouted loudly, "Last night, those evildoers kept me awake all night. I played ball with them all night and only went to bed at dawn. Master, please understand!"
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