Chapter 83: Overlooking Xima Mountain
Before leaving, Fatty Kang warned, "My dear brother, be careful. Xima Mountain is not a good place. The demons there behave strangely and are known to be ruthless. Don't get caught, or you'll have to trouble me to rescue you."
Gong Mengbi said, "I dare not trouble you, brother. It's not that easy for others to catch me. When you go to Xiangzhu Ridge, apologize to Sister Xiangjun on my behalf. I was helpless at the time and couldn't meet her in person. I didn't mean to deceive you."
Fatty Kang said, "I understand. Be careful."
Fatty Kang went ahead, and Gong Mengbi looked at the hill and saw that the berries were growing well, and the peach and plum trees had lush branches and leaves, and were full of green fruits.
Brother Kang is really good at farming. After sending General Ban Yin away and traveling more conveniently, I can taste the fruits grown by Brother Kang himself.
Gong Mengbi strolled through the orchard. After being exposed by Fatty Kang last night, Gong Mengbi had revealed the illusion. Now that the pattern was broken and there was no ink in front, the illusion had one less cover, so he had to be more careful.
He took out the skull god that had shrunk to the size of a bone fragment and tapped it gently. The skull then grew larger and larger until it returned to its original appearance.
"Skull God, I have something to ask you."
A hint of color flashed in the hollow eyes of the Skull God. "It's so bright out there, don't leave me in the sun. After you broke the spell left by my apprentice, I won't be able to see the sun without my protection."
Last night, Gong Mengbi used the Taiyue Divine Talisman and the spiritual response of the Taishan Goddess to break the spell that Ghost Old Man used to control the Skull God. It was also a simple refinement of this magic weapon. No new spells were cast into it yet. It only had some basic functions such as entrusting evil spirits to others.
"Where is the sun? It's been raining non-stop for days, sometimes heavy, sometimes light. It hasn't cleared up in a while." Gong Mengbi said, "I want to go to Xima Mountain to see what's going on. I want to know both myself and the enemy so I can prepare in advance."
The Skull God sighed, seeming to reminisce. "Xima Mountain, I don't recommend you go there. You came from General Banyin's territory and have witnessed the power of the parading ghosts. But compared to Xima Mountain, it's nothing."
"Xima Mountain is covered with mulberry trees, willow trees, locust trees, and poplar trees. Even in broad daylight, the dark aura cannot be dispelled, and it is home to many ghosts."
"Most of them are stolen souls used to refine magical instruments and serve as servants. Some are also practitioners of the Ghost Immortal Sect. After death, they have nowhere to go, so they rely on the Ghost Tree to command the ghosts."
"Before I became the sect leader, I often offered incense and sacrifices to the spirits of my predecessors, so I was considered a half-spiritual ghost, also known as the ancestor. But after I became the sect leader, I found the old ghosts too difficult to deal with. I simply used the excuse of regulating the earth's energy and stealing the ghost energy from the underworld to trick them into entering my magical instrument. I refined it into the Hundred Souls Banner, which I could command at will, without any resistance from them."
"After I died, the Hundred Souls Banner was first wielded by my disciple. After my disciple died, the Hundred Souls Banner flowed into another branch, and he cultivated it to the sixth rank and became the current head of Xima Mountain."
"You're so close, you'll be easily spotted."
Gong Mengbi said: "I still underestimated your ability."
The Skull God said, "I'm ashamed. Although what I did may have brought me temporary pleasure, it ultimately did not benefit me. To be honest, the current Sect Leader should thank me. If it weren't for me, how could he have achieved the ability to become the first Sixth Rank cultivator in Xima Mountain?"
Gong Mengbi said, "I don't mean to praise you, so you don't have to be so complacent."
The Skull God coughed and said, "If nothing else, do you think I'm honest now? Can't you see that I'm a liar?"
Gong Mengbi said, "Keep going. When you can't ask this question anymore, it will probably be almost done."
The Skull God said, "I'm afraid I'll never be able to be with you. You know my true nature. Nothing I say can deceive you, let alone myself. How about this: when you've accomplished what you want to do, let me go. I want to try to act nice to others."
Gong Mengbi thought for a moment and said, "That's not impossible. I'll figure out a way to treat you so you don't harm any living being."
The Skull God said, "Then it's a deal. I'll help you conquer Xima Mountain, and you'll help me cultivate."
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh: "I never thought that I would have to rely on a fox to help me practice."
Gong Mengbi said with a forced smile: "I think it would be better if you changed the word."
"What's the alternative word?"
"Calming the mind, concentrating wisdom, or perhaps changing it to healing and treatment."
The Skull God listened to these words, compared them to his current state, and said, "You are the one who sees things clearly."
Although warned by the Skull God, Gong Mengbi still went towards Xima Mountain.
The Skull God couldn't help but say, "You are indeed suspicious. Even if I tell the truth, you have to verify it yourself."
Gong Mengbi asked, "How many years have you been away from Xima Mountain?"
The Skull God said, "About fifty or sixty years."
"Two generations can die of old age in fifty or sixty years." Gong Mengbi did not get close to Xima Mountain, but just found a high place to look at it from afar.
"But recently, my disciple has been visiting frequently on behalf of King Banyin, reminiscing about old times. Xima Mountain doesn't seem to have changed much, except for the fact that its population is less numerous than before."
Gong Mengbi asked curiously, "I'm not surprised that the population has shrunk. Considering the moral principles you've taught, it's a blessing that Xima Mountain hasn't been consumed internally. But what kind of relationship can your apprentice have with them?"
The Skull God said, "They teamed up to attack my old friend. It was these young men who disrespected their dignity and plotted against me, an old man, and ended up beating me to death."
"My apprentice brought my skull back home, and several people gathered around it, reminiscing about the past." The Skull God bit his jaw until it cracked. "He truly grasped my essence, but his pretense is so convincing that it makes the Skull God sick."
Gong Mengbi wanted to laugh, but it was difficult to start a fight or mock him, so he could only say something comforting: "Since he has acquired your essence, he will follow in your footsteps sooner or later. Let's wait for him."
…
The Skull God closed the divine light in his eyes, pretended not to hear, and went to sleep.
Gong Mengbi turned the skull around and stuffed it into his sleeve.
Looking at Xima Mountain from a distance, combined with the warning from the insider, you can see some signs of the situation.
The sky was overcast and there was no sun. All I could see were the mulberry, willow, locust and poplar trees planted all over the mountain, forming a continuous mass. They were so lush and green that they looked like layers of thick ink, deep and shallow, shrouding Xima Mountain in a deep shadow.
There seemed to be smoke leaping like flames in Gong Mengbi's eyes, and the lush Xima Mountain in front of him gradually changed its shape and turned into a charred forest.
Xima Mountain looks like the mouth of a beast with its mouth wide open, with several peaks standing like fangs, bones piled up like mountains, and charred wood forests growing there.
Black shadows hung on the charred wood, swaying in the wind, baring their fangs and claws, as if struggling, but with nowhere to land.
Gong Mengbi closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he could only see Xima Mountain like an old landscape scroll, filled with a heavy and gloomy atmosphere.
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