Chapter 96: Chapter 94: I Have to Sacrifice Myself_1
Chapter 96: Chapter 94: I Have to Sacrifice Myself_1
After explaining the reasons, Tingtian Ao laughed with a hint of pride: “In Jinling City, there are less than one thousand people who can take up this ‘The Song of Integrity’. Master Youjiao is currently the most suitable candidate and also the key for all of you to enter the tomb of the soldiers of the Han dynasty. His ancestor, Li Lexing, not only presided over the construction of Dasheng Pass but also laid the foundation for the tomb of these Han soldiers. He also has other abilities that can minimize the risks of your journey.”
While he was speaking, two tall and burly figures suddenly stepped onto the city tower.
Li Xuan took a glance at these two figures, then quickly averted his eyes.
Among the two, the one wearing a scholar’s robe and holding a guandao was Panguan Wen, whom they had t before. The other person was clad in full armor, with a pair of battle-axes on his back and a large spear in his hand.
This should be Panguan Wu, Guo Liangchen, who stands before Chenghuang.
“It’s getting late, Tingtian, have you explained the reason clearly yet?”
Panguan Wen’s voice was as authoritative and cold as before.
“Almost, we will set out soon.”
After respectfully replying to the question, Tingtian Ao pointed to two life-like statues next to him, both three fingers high, and said to Li Xuan, “The two Panguan officials will hide in these statues and escort us all the way to the tomb of the soldiers of the Han dynasty.”
He then took out two purple-gold talismans from a bell on his chest and handed them to the two: “This is the ‘Yin-Yang Breaker Charm’ written by the master. If you encounter any danger on the way, you can use this talisman. It contains not only the master’s divine power to protect you for a while but also it can assist you in quickly escaping the Underworld whenever and wherever.”
At this point, everyone on the city wall was unaware that deep in the palace within the city, two towering figures were watching their every move through a mirror projection.
“If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, it would be hard to believe that such a character could actually take up Duke Wen Zhonglie’s ‘The Song of Integrity’.”
The speaker was a man in a red Taoist robe, now kneeling at one side of a chessboard, across from a figure in the attire of a prince, crowned with nine tassels and nine jade tablets. It was the Duchenghuang of Nanjing. His figure, almost 21 feet tall, exerted imnse pressure within this not-so-spacious room.
“What’s so strange about that? ‘Righteous n often end up killing dogs while the heartless ones are mostly scholars.’ Who established that the steadfast and fearless must only be the gentleman of a scholar?”
Duchenghuang calmly made his move on the chessboard: “Dicheng, it’s your turn.”
The red-robed Taoist’s attention was clearly not on the ga: “What will you do next, Your Excellency? With just these people, I’m afraid we can’t break through this situation.”
“I will do nothing. From now on, I’ll be holed up in this desolate city.”
Duchenghuang’s crown swayed as he pointed to the image beside him: “That is my move in this ga, a move that will determine the outco.”
“A single move to determine the outco?” The red-robed Taoist was taken aback, looking even more perplexed. “Your Excellency, are you serious? All your hopes are pinned on those two mortals who haven’t even opened the third door yet? I’m afraid we are bound to lose this ga.”
He wondered, what was so special about those two that His Excellency placed so much hope on them?
“I misspoke. Apart from them, I can do nothing. They are quite crafty, having silently laid this trap over several decades, leaving unable to move.”
Duchenghuang laughed, revealing a row of sharp white teeth: “It’s a desperate attempt to survive. Therefore, we can only wait for the result now.”
※※※※
A mont later, Li Xuan and his group were navigating the ‘Nine Quiets Underworld River’.
This is not a real ‘river’, but a tide ford by the gathering of infinite ghostly energies. It is said to be a part of the ‘Underworld,’ and even a major tributary.
re contact with this river would end a common person’s life instantly. Even cultivators could not endure it for long.
However, Xue Yunrou, as an heir to the outer sect of the Heavenly Master’s Mansion and a great-grandniece of a Heavenly Master, possessed two magic treasures useful for this journey. One was the ‘Xuanming Zhiyang Shuttle’, that was said to allow passage between Yin and Yang, the nine heavens and ten earths, and even navigation through the Nine Quiets Underworld River; the other was the ‘Umbrella of Yin Yuan’, which, once opened and held over the head, could conceal their breath, make them undetectable by demons and ghosts, and even simulate the breath of an evil spirit.
As for Li Xuan, in addition to transporting ‘The Song of Integrity’, he was also able to command ghosts and spirit subjects.
Tingtian Ao gifted him a small red stamp, the characters on it were blurred, yet sohow Li Xuan gained the ability. He had tested it personally, those evil spirits residing in the fourth or fifth level, would obey his command by just a single look. However, he could only control up to fifteen or sixteen at a ti, no more.
Therefore, once Li Xuan and his companions erged from the Jiuyou Minghe via the ‘Xuanming Zhiyang Shuttle’, he disguised himself as a very unique, yet quite common evil spirit–– The ‘Virgin Spirit’.
Imbued with resentnt towards their celibacy before death and forcing this bitter pain onto others, these spirits usually roam in pairs, male and female, irresistibly attracted to each other.
Previously, Li Xuan perused through the Demon Beast Archive, reading up about the ‘Virgin Spirit’. He knew this was not just a common phenonon, but these spirits were incredibly powerful. Especially those who had retained their virginity for over 20 years, they were imnsely strong.
At the ti he couldn’t help but feel amazed. These ‘lonely’ spirits were not to be underestimated. They held a powerful force both in ancient and modern tis. Little did he expect that sooner or later, he would have to play the role of a ‘Virgin Spirit’.
Xue Yunrou, on the other hand, held an umbrella, her face flushed redder than a poppy flower as she clung to Li Xuan’s arm.
This was because a pair of ‘Virgin Spirits’ would be incredibly intimate; yearning for the companionship of the opposite sex, to abandon celibacy, yet they could never accomplish it. It was their most significant pain, their greatest obsession.
Tingtian Ao, sitting on Li Xuan’s shoulder, however, was not satisfied: “Can you two be a little closer, a little more passionate? Do you even look like ‘Virgin Spirits’? You’ll be exposed.
Actual ‘Virgin Spirits’ wish they could fuse their bodies into one!”
When neither of them reacted, it said with heartfelt sincerity, “Both of you, I know this is awkward, but the lives of millions of people in Jinling City are at stake, you two must be cautious and prevent any mistakes before we reach the tomb.”
Li Xuan thought to himself, I must agree. If sothing goes wrong with the tomb of the Han soldiers at Dasheng Pass, the casualty count of Jinling City would be no small matter.
For the safety of the citizens of Jinling, as a warrior of Liudao Fumo, it’s ti to sacrifice. He reached out and hugged Xue Yunrou’s waist, pulling her closer to him.
Xue Yunrou’s face turned crimson and she glanced up at Li Xuan in dissatisfaction. Instinctively, she wanted to resist and refuse, but recalling Tingtian Ao’s words and thoughts of “The Song of Integrity”, she restrained herself.
She told herself that she was probably overthinking and given Li Xuan’s character, he wouldn’t have obscene thoughts in this situation.
“Uh? Li Xuan, you have a nosebleed.”
In fact, his eyes, ears, and nose were all bleeding.
“It’s normal. I recently consud three Liudao Renyuan Elixirs and a few other nourishing products.”
Li Xuan nonchalantly took out a handkerchief to wipe his blood, then turned to Tingtian Ao and asked: “Mr. Ao, do you have any way to help suppress this?”
Tingtian Ao knew what was happening. It coughed once, “You can use the 147th form of your family’s Cold Breath Fierce Palm. Don’t use the boxing posture, just circulate your Zhenyuan.”
Li Xuan thought and then practiced as suggested. He discovered that he had indeed cooled down.
The 147th form of Cold Breath Fierce Palm was originally a body refinent move. Unexpectedly, the thod of circulating Zhenyuan also had an effect like this.
After that, they continued westward, encountering nurous scattered demons and monsters along the way, but none of them cast doubt on their disguises.
This worried Tingtian Ao even more. Dasheng Pass was normally the portal to the Yin land of Jinling’s surrounding 300 miles. But now, countless demons and monsters were swarming in. It was clear that sothing had gone awry with the pass city.
On the other hand, Li Xuan managed to rally more than a dozen evil spirits, ranging from the fourth to the fifth level, setting up the grandeur of a ‘mighty Virgin Spirit’ at the seventh house level.
Initially, after landing, they were on foot. But midway, they rode in a large red soft sedan. This was also another type of evil spirit known as the ‘Shaheng Sedan’. These spirits were created by harm to custors in their previous lives. After death, hundreds banded together to form this soft sedan. They usually left the sedan at the gates of a city or at the docks, tempting new arrivals to take a ride and then took their lives.
Li Xuan felt an ominous chill sitting there, it made him incredibly uncomfortable. But Tingtian Ao insisted on it. It believed that if one were to disguise, they had to look the part.
When they arrived at Dasheng Pass, Li Xuan was sitting solemnly in the middle of the large red soft sedan, while Xue Yunrou blushed and leaned against him like a vine.
Li Xuan felt his Cold Breath Fierce Palm couldn’t suppress his urges anymore. He unbeknownst couldn’t help but sigh. He was indeed making a big sacrifice!
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