novelapdf Chapter 143 The Reincarnation of a Sword Immortal, Aunt Shui's Mistake
Chapter 143 The Reincarnation of a Sword Immortal, Aunt Shui's Mistake
Shui Miaozheng didn't speak, but simply frowned slightly and carefully examined the mineral monster in her hand, turning it over and over.
Then, she captured the remaining trembling mine monsters and examined them one by one.
"These mine monsters..."
She looked up, her eyes filled with confusion and seriousness. "Someone has tampered with it."
"Has it been tampered with?"
"Look."
Shui Miaozheng pointed to the rough, uneven stone patterns on the back of the mineral demon and said in a deep voice,
"These patterns are not naturally formed, but rather runes that were carved on by someone. It's a kind of control rune, and judging from the technique and the marks, it must have been carved on not long ago."
"So, someone discovered these mine monsters and took control of them before we did?"
Jiang Mu's expression changed slightly, and countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
who is it?
People from the Red Umbrella Cult?
Or perhaps it's Yuan Qianfan from Heishan?
If it were them, what would their intention be in controlling these mine demons that can detect ley lines?
"They were controlled by someone."
Shui Miaozheng gently placed the mineral monsters back on the ground, and they immediately huddled together again, cowering in fear.
"But the technique used to create these runes is quite chaotic, unlike what one would expect from a prestigious sect. It seems more like some kind of unorthodox, quick-fix method. There are no specific soul imprints left on them, making it difficult to trace back."
"Forget it, there are too few clues. Thinking about it too much is pointless. Let's get down to business and find that wolf demon."
"Are these mine monsters still usable now?"
Jiang Mu asked.
Shui Miaozheng nodded, her expression softening slightly:
"It's still usable."
These control runes have lost their effectiveness, and the internal spiritual energy connection has been severed. This indicates that the person behind them abandoned them after using them. They were unlucky enough to be captured by the Earth Demon and used as food supplies, leaving them here. As long as the tracking spell is reapplied to erase the remaining traces, they can be controlled again.
Jiang Mu was relieved: "As long as it works."
The two returned along the same route and crawled back into the narrow passageway.
This time, Shui Miaozheng deliberately stepped aside, indicating that Jiang Mu should crawl in front.
Jiang Mu didn't act coy.
As I climbed out of the cave, the heavy rain outside was still pouring down.
A thick curtain of rain hung between heaven and earth, turning the distant mountains into a watercolor-like color.
Jiang Mu noticed that the slight dampness on the back of Shui Miaozheng's clothes had disappeared.
It must have been dried quietly using spiritual power.
But perhaps the drying was a bit too fast, and the silk in that area was packed a little too tightly.
It quietly fell into a supple arc.
Shui Miaozheng remained calm, simply reaching behind her to gently pull the pleated shirt with her fingertips, smoothing out the hem of her skirt, and then smoothing out the undulations of the hem.
The two returned to the mountain under the "green umbrella".
Shui Miaozheng released the mine demons that had been imbued with tracking magic.
Upon receiving the instruction, the little ones scattered in all directions, chirping excitedly, like a flock of chicks just released from their coop.
Like a pebble thrown into water, it quickly disappeared into the rain and the surrounding mountains and forests.
They are naturally sensitive to ley lines and caves.
Driven by secret techniques, their sole objective is to search for hidden caves imbued with demonic energy or unusual fluctuations.
The waiting time wasn't long.
About half an hour later, a small mineral monster rolled down the slippery slope like a marble, crashed into the stone at Shui Miaozheng's feet, and then eagerly jumped around in place.
"Found it!"
Shui Miaozheng's eyes lit up.
Led by the little mine spirit, the two passed through a thicket of bushes battered by the rain and arrived at a secluded mountain spring. Spring water gushed out from the cracks in the rocks.
The water pooled together, forming a small, clear puddle that rippled in circles in the rain.
The little mine monster that was leading the way plunged into the spring with a "plop".
It sank to the bottom for a moment, then floated up again, swam to a dark blue stone slab half-submerged in the water at the edge of the pool, bumped the slab twice with its round body, then leaped onto the slab and jumped around vigorously.
"organ?"
Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow.
Shui Miaozheng lightly raised her delicate hand and made a grasping motion towards the stone slab from a distance.
"Splash!"
The stone slab, along with the soil clinging to it, was completely lifted up, revealing a dark, vertical pit beneath.
A faint, eerie breeze wafted out of the cave.
Jiang Mu clicked his tongue in amazement: "Hiding so well, this wolf demon must be a rat, right?"
The voice just fell.
"Awooo!!"
An angry wolf howl suddenly erupted from the depths of the cave.
Immediately afterwards, a blue afterimage darted out of the cave like lightning.
The shadow did not linger.
As soon as it landed, it pawed at the ground with its four paws, splashing mud and water, and then darted wildly towards the dense forest below the mountain.
"Trying to run away?"
Shui Miaozheng gave a soft hum, and her jade hand, which had been raised in a gesture of nonchalance, slightly clenched its five fingers and pressed down in the direction the wolf demon had fled.
"Buzz!"
The rain within a radius of ten feet seemed to freeze instantly, and the air became sticky like glue.
The wolf demon, in its frenzied charge, seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall, letting out a painful howl before its body was slammed to the ground by a tremendous force, splashing up a large amount of mud and water.
Shui Miaozheng hooked her wrist again, and the wolf demon was dragged back.
He fell into the mud in front of the two of them.
Large raindrops pelted its soaked fur, making it look quite disheveled.
"Pooh!"
The wolf demon spat out a mouthful of mud and sand and raised its head.
His green eyes, filled with anger and resentment, glared fiercely at Shui Miaozheng, baring his fangs and roaring:
"Your Demon Slayer Division has gone too far!"
"To kill a mere fifth-tier demon like me, you actually sent out an eighth-realm expert? Have you no shame?"
This is outrageous! This is blatant bullying!
I refuse to accept this! I absolutely refuse to accept this!
Seeing the wolf demon looking like it had suffered a great injustice, Jiang Mu almost burst out laughing.
This guy has quite a temper.
Shui Miaozheng remained calm as raindrops gathered at the edge of the umbrella above her head, forming a beaded curtain that slid down.
She looked down at the disheveled wolf demon and said calmly:
"I'm not here to kill you. I'm just here to confirm one thing: have the Red Umbrella Cult contacted you? Have you agreed to cooperate with them?" The wolf demon spat out a mouthful of muddy water, his green eyes glaring at the woman with arrogance.
"Kill me or torture me, do as you please. Why bother with these high-sounding excuses! I, Mu Zilang, have been entrenched here for sixty years. Have I ever been afraid of you, the henchmen of the imperial court?"
"I accept my defeat at the hands of the Eight Realms today!"
It held its neck high, looking defiant as if it were about to be slaughtered.
Shui Miaozheng was not angry. Instead, she frowned slightly and carefully examined the faint aura flowing around the wolf demon with her beautiful eyes.
A moment later, her pretty face changed slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes:
"No...this primal aura emanating from you...you're not a pure demon! You're a human cultivator?!"
"Human cultivation?"
Jiang Mu, who was standing nearby, was startled and looked at the wolf demon on the ground again.
No matter how you look at it, this is a living wolf.
Moreover, it exudes a sinister aura.
Could it be an extremely sophisticated technique of transformation?
The wolf demon clearly hadn't expected its identity to be seen through so easily. A flicker of panic crossed its eyes, but it quickly regained its composure and sneered, "What human cultivator? I'm a demon! No, I'm a wolf!"
Seeing Jiang Mu's puzzled expression, Shui Miaozheng explained:
"Some human cultivators, either in order to prolong their lifespan or to pursue power and cultivate evil arts, will choose to devour special demon blood and transform themselves into demon cultivators, which is what we often call demons."
However, this is not irreversible, and most demons will still retain their human form, at most exhibiting some demonic characteristics.
But this guy in front of me…”
She pointed at the wolf demon, her tone tinged with doubt.
"Although his spiritual fluctuations were concealed by demonic energy, his core was still a human soul."
However, his physical body was entirely that of a demon.
This means that he completely abandoned his human form and transformed himself into a wild beast.
Jiang Mu suddenly realized, and then was surprised again.
Why would someone choose to be a beast instead of a perfectly good person?
What kind of quirk must that be?
Shui Miaozheng stared intently at the wolf demon, her tone becoming stern:
"Once a human cultivator completely transforms into a beast form, it is tantamount to severing their own path to enlightenment. It is difficult to change back, and they may even gradually lose their humanity."
You clearly possess the foundation of a fifth-level cultivation realm. As long as you cultivate step by step, you may very well achieve great things in the future.
What exactly is your purpose in doing this?
In addition...
Once a human cultivator transforms into a demon cultivator, their original star position will automatically dissipate. But why... can I still sense residual star power fluctuations on you?
Are you using your stellar power to forcibly maintain the last shred of humanity?
Faced with Shui Miaozheng's barrage of questions, the wolf demon silently lowered his head.
It no longer roars, no longer argues.
It just lay there in the mud, letting the rain wash over its fur, without making a sound.
The situation reached a stalemate for a moment.
As Jiang Mu looked at the silent wolf, the words of the old woman in the village suddenly flashed through her mind.
Sixty years ago...
woman……
Watching over newborns...
A guess began to form in his mind.
He stepped forward, stared into the wolf demon's eyes, and abruptly asked, "Did you transform yourself into this form for a woman?" The wolf demon suddenly raised its head.
Then, it quickly lowered its head and nervously scratched at the soil with its paws, as if something had been said to bother it.
Seeing this, Jiang Mu felt much more at ease.
It seems I guessed right.
He continued slowly:
"The old folks in the village say that when you came to this mountain sixty years ago, you were with a woman. Later, that woman disappeared. I guess... she might be gone, right?"
The wolf demon's body began to tremble slightly.
I don't know if it was because the rain was cold, or because of Jiang Mu's words.
"And for the past sixty years, whenever a newborn was born in the village, you would secretly go to the courtyard wall of that family and stay up all night..." Jiang Mu said, "You were waiting, weren't you? Waiting for that woman's reincarnation?"
"Who...who exactly are you?!"
The wolf demon could no longer remain calm.
It struggled to stand up, but was firmly suppressed by Shui Miaozheng's spiritual power.
Jiang Mu clapped his hands and laughed:
"If we are members of the Demon Slayer Division, what are we doing if we can't even find this much information?"
Alright, since we've come this far, I won't beat around the bush anymore.
Originally, the order was that any demons suspected of colluding with the Red Umbrella Cult should be killed without exception.
Jiang Mu changed the subject,
"However, my Water Master is kind-hearted. Considering that you have protected the villagers for many years and have never done anything evil, I am willing to give you a chance and let you go. The condition is that you really have nothing to do with the Red Umbrella Cult and are willing to cooperate with us."
The wolf demon was stunned.
It glanced at Jiang Mu, then at Shui Miaozheng, whose face was cold but who did not refute it.
It seems they are judging whether this statement is true or false.
A moment later, it gave a cold laugh and turned its head away:
"You think you'd be kind enough to let me off the hook? Don't give me that!"
"You people from the Demon Slayer Division have always been ruthless. Before, you acted like you wanted to skin me alive. What are you pretending to be good people for now?" Jiang Mu wasn't annoyed, he simply said calmly.
"If I really wanted to kill you, with that one press from the Water Master, you'd already be a corpse. Why bother capturing you and wasting time talking nonsense with you here in the rain?"
The wolf demon choked.
It glanced at Shui Miaozheng.
Indeed, if that terrifying pressure had truly carried killing intent, it would probably be meeting its maker by now.
The wolf demon finally sighed, and the ferocious aura around him gradually dissipated.
It lay back down on the ground and muttered:
"I don't know anything about the Red Umbrella Cult... However, a few days ago, a woman who called herself 'Nan Zhi' came to see me."
She asked me to cooperate with those monsters, and the conditions she offered were very tempting.
After this is accomplished, grant me a blessed land brimming with spiritual energy, as well as elixirs to help me break through my limits…
But I ignored her.
Nanzhi? !
Upon hearing the name, Jiang Mu's heart stirred, and her eyes sharpened.
It really is that persistent woman!
Previously in Huzhou City, this woman used possession magic to possess Ruyan, Zhang Dazhuo's childhood sweetheart, in an attempt to win him over and threaten him. Later, he killed the possessed puppet with a single blow.
Unexpectedly, she arrived in Yancheng so quickly and even personally contacted various demons.
It seems the Red Umbrella Cult is determined to make a big move this time.
He had a feeling that the two of them would meet again soon.
Shui Miaozheng remained calm and spoke gently:
"I believe you. Since you haven't cooperated with the Red Umbrella Cult, we won't bother you anymore from now on."
She paused, then added,
"At least for now, no one will disturb your peace and quiet."
The wolf demon lay on the ground, shook its wet fur, sneered, and its eyes were full of mockery:
"I understand. They're not killing me because they want me to continue guarding this territory, protecting these villagers, and incidentally keeping out any monsters that might emerge from here, right?"
Hmph, how could you people from the Demon Slayer Division possibly let a demon go?
"I'm afraid that once this battle is over, you'll be free to turn around and try to take my life!"
Shui Miaozheng frowned slightly and said seriously:
"I can't guarantee anything about others, but I, Shui Miaozheng, can assure you that as long as you don't cause trouble, I will never lay a hand on you."
"ensure?"
The wolf demon chuckled, turned its head away, and raindrops dripped down its wet fur.
"I've seen enough of the true colors of your Demon Slayer Division."
I will not cooperate with any Red Umbrella Cult, but don't even think about making me your lackey.
I'll naturally look after the villagers around here. But don't even think about asking me to fend off other monsters for you; I don't have time for that!
At this point, it couldn't help but glance at Shui Miaozheng again, and said sarcastically:
"But then again, the Demon Slayer Division is getting more and more useless these days."
To deal with a mere fifth-tier demon like me, they actually had to bring in an eighth-level expert to back them up.
"Tsk tsk, an eighth-realm cultivation level, that's at least a commander in the Demon Slayer Division, right? Oh right, that kid just called you commander. Heh, I'm truly honored to have the dignified Grand Commander personally intervene."
Jiang Mu suddenly interjected:
"Do you believe I can beat you down without her even lifting a finger?"
The wolf demon was taken aback, then turned to look at Jiang Mu as if he were watching a joke.
"Four Realms? Hahahaha!"
"You brat, barely out of your teens, yet you've got quite the nerve. Does your master's presence give you the audacity to act so arrogantly? Without your master's protection, you're nothing but a fart in my eyes! Believe me or not, I could crush you into mincemeat with a single swipe of my paw!"
Shui Miaozheng's expression turned cold, a cold light flashed in her phoenix eyes, and her aura slightly solidified.
Jiang Mu gently stopped her, then smiled at the wolf demon:
"Talk is cheap. How about we make a bet?"
She doesn't need to lift a finger; it'll be a one-on-one fight between you and me.
If I win, you'll have to listen to me from now on. Not only will you tell me the truth about what happened back then, but if any monsters attack in the future, you'll also have to help defend against them and be responsible for investigating their whereabouts and reporting back to me.
The wolf demon narrowed his eyes, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Boy, you've got quite the nerve. What if you lose?"
"I lost. You can make any demands you want. Whether you want my life or anything else, I'll agree to them."
Jiang Mu said calmly.
Looking at the man's confident expression, a hint of surprise flashed in the wolf demon's eyes.
It glanced suspiciously at Shui Miaozheng beside it: "She really won't help you? Won't she secretly sabotage you?"
"Won't."
Jiang Mu affirmed, "I don't need to cheat to deal with you."
Shui Miaozheng glanced at Jiang Mu with some concern.
But recalling Jiang Mu's impressive record, he slowly nodded and said coldly, "He's in charge. I will not interfere."
Having said that, he stepped aside.
She secretly gathered her strength, thinking that once the wolf demon suppressed Jiang Mu and caused him harm, she would immediately make her move.
"Good, you've got guts!"
The wolf demon grinned, its eyes gleaming with ferocity.
"Young man, you don't know your place. Today, I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your parents!"
Come on, I won't bully you anymore.
"If you can withstand one of my attacks and still stand, I'll consider you the winner and agree to your terms!"
It was making plans in its mind.
The difference between the fourth realm and the fifth stage of perfection is like a chasm.
Even if I hold back a little, a full-force attack would be enough to seriously injure this kid and knock him to the ground, thus thoroughly shattering his arrogance.
"Hey kid, catch this!"
The wolf demon let out a low growl and pushed off the ground with its hind legs.
The mud and water immediately exploded!
A bluish-gray figure suddenly sprang to life, its demonic aura surging. Its right forepaw gleamed with a dark light, and with a piercing shriek that tore through the rain, it slammed down towards Jiang Mu's head. This strike was powerful and heavy, its momentum astonishing!
Jiang Mu remained expressionless, and with a flick of his wrist, the Blood Mad Blade appeared in his hand.
The [Tai Su Tian Gang Blood River True Brightness] within his body surged wildly into the blade, further enhanced by the star power of [Earthly Star].
"Sky-Shattering Slash!"
Jiang Mu exhaled and spoke, facing the descending giant claw, she slashed diagonally upwards with her sword.
"boom!!"
A dazzling crimson blade of light shot into the sky.
Like a blood-red, furious dragon, it roared as it crashed into the blue wolf claws.
Wherever it passed, even the falling raindrops were instantly evaporated, turning into a sky full of white mist.
The wolf demon, who had been so arrogant, suddenly changed his expression.
"not good!"
"This is absolutely not the power a fourth-realm cultivator should possess!"
It immediately sensed something was wrong and hurriedly poured out all its demonic power to try to resist.
But it was too late.
Amidst the ear-piercing clang of metal, a visible shockwave exploded outwards, expelling all the rainwater within a radius of several feet.
A layer of mud was scraped away from the ground.
The wolf demon's massive body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing into two trees as thick as bowls before landing heavily in the mud. A bloody gash on its abdomen was gushing blood, which was quickly diluted by the rain.
The wolf demon was completely dumbfounded.
His eyes were filled with bewilderment and disbelief, as if he hadn't yet recovered from this mind-blowing shock.
Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?
Before it could even sort out its thoughts, everything suddenly went dark.
Suddenly, Jiang Mu appeared before it like a ghost, sword in hand, raising his long blade high as if to strike. "Wait, wait a minute!"
The wolf demon was so frightened that it immediately raised its paws and shouted.
"boom!"
Jiang Mu ignored it completely and slammed down with the back of his blade again.
"Aww!"
The wolf demon let out a miserable howl.
He was forcefully slammed into a mud pit half a foot deep.
It lay paralyzed in the pit, looking up at the gray sky with a face full of despair, muttering to itself:
"This is impossible...this is absolutely impossible..."
Shui Miaozheng, who was standing to the side, was also deeply shaken.
Even though she had personally witnessed this kid slay the severely wounded demonic dragon that had fallen to the fifth realm, and had heard of his exploits in killing fifth-tier demons like the horse demon, the visual and cognitive impact of this scene unfolding before her eyes was still so strong that she felt slightly dazed. This kid's fighting power was simply... unreasonable.
"Should we admit defeat?"
Jiang Mu sheathed his sword, stood up, looked down at the wolf demon in the pit, and asked calmly.
The wolf demon struggled to lift its head out of the mud pit, shook the mud off its head, and its blue eyes were full of resentment and humiliation.
It gritted its teeth, stuck out its neck, and roared angrily:
"Kid, I was careless just now and didn't use my full strength! I was afraid of hurting you, so I held back!"
If I go all out and don't underestimate you, you might not be able to beat me!
Jiang Mu knew it was true.
After all, the opponent was a great demon at the fifth level of perfection. If he had launched a full-scale attack from the beginning and engaged in a speed battle, even if he could have won, it would not have been so easy.
It will inevitably require a lot of effort, and there's even a chance of getting hurt.
but.
so what?
Jiang Mu looked at it and calmly uttered four words:
"I am the Four Realms."
The wolf demon opened its mouth, but all its words of explanation were stuck in its throat.
His lips twitched a few times, and finally, like a deflated balloon, he collapsed completely into the mud puddle, weakly saying:
"Fine... you're amazing, you're awesome, I admit defeat, okay?"
Jiang Mu nodded in satisfaction, sheathed his sword, and asked:
"Now can you tell us the truth? Why did you, a perfectly healthy cultivator, turn into this wretched state and insist on staying in this godforsaken mountain valley?"
The wolf demon remained silent for a long time.
It slowly crawled out of the pit, shook off the mud and water, walked to a clean rock and sat down, gazing at the misty village in the distance, its eyes becoming somewhat dim.
"You were right before. I'm here because of a woman."
However, you're wrong about one thing: that woman is the real wolf demon.
Back then, I was actually cultivating alone. Just like you, I was one of those so-called righteous people who went around slaying demons and monsters.
"Oh?"
Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow, sensing a strong scent of gossip and drama.
Through the wolf demon's intermittent narration, Jiang Mu and Shui Miaozheng finally learned the truth.
It turns out that sixty years ago, this young man named Mu Zilang came from a very prestigious family.
He was exceptionally talented and brilliant, reaching the fifth realm before the age of thirty, and even attaining the orthodox star position of the Heavenly Gang level.
He is regarded as the family's prodigy, with unlimited potential.
However, an ordinary demon-slaying mission changed everything.
He encountered a powerful enemy, was seriously injured, and was on the verge of death when he was saved by a female wolf demon who had achieved great cultivation.
During their recovery, the human and the demon spent every day together and gradually developed feelings for each other.
Ultimately, they transcended racial boundaries and pledged their lives to each other.
However, the good times did not last long.
This ill-fated relationship quickly came to the attention of Mu Zilang's family.
The family was furious, considering it a great disgrace, and sent experts to forcibly take Mu Zilang back and kill the female wolf demon who had seduced the family's genius on the spot.
To protect his lover, Mu Zilang was willing to break with his family and even injured his clansmen.
But in the chaos of battle, the mother wolf demon was critically injured and on the verge of death while shielding him from an attack.
Overwhelmed with grief, Mu Zilang recalled a forbidden secret technique recorded in his family.
This secret technique can partially transform the life forms of the practitioner and the recipient.
He decided to sacrifice himself, transferring his human cultivation foundation and a portion of his life force to his beloved, helping her to transform into a human cultivator and live on.
He himself, however, will suffer the torment of demonization.
However, because the secret technique was too powerful and had many limitations, and was interfered with by the family's pursuers during its execution, an accident occurred.
Although the female wolf demon successfully transformed into a human cultivator, she managed to save her life.
However, due to the severe injuries she had sustained, her vitality had been greatly diminished. Even after the transformation was successful, it did not last long, and she was still facing the prospect of exhaustion.
Just when the two were in despair.
Mu Zilang accidentally learned that this mountain was once the dwelling place of an ancient demon.
That great demon was also a devoted lover. Because he fell in love with a human woman, he specially left a "Reincarnation Altar" in the mountains so that his wife, whose lifespan was about to end, could be reincarnated with her memories and continue their previous relationship.
Clinging to a last glimmer of hope, Mu Zilang brought his lover to this mountain.
Perhaps it was fate, but they actually found the altar in a collapsed cave deep in the mountains.
With the help of the remaining power of the altar and the guidance of the broken star position of Mu Zilang, they successfully carried out the ritual.
According to the instructions left by that great demon, if one successfully reincarnates, one will inevitably be drawn by the earth's veins and be reborn within a radius of several miles around here. Thus, from that day on, Mu Zilang settled down here.
It guards this mountain.
Clinging to that faint hope.
Whenever a new life is born in a village at the foot of the mountain, it cannot help but quietly go there.
Through the courtyard wall, I carefully sensed the aura of the newborn soul, hoping to find a familiar stirring within it.
Spring goes and autumn comes, flowers bloom and wither, and this vigil has lasted for a full sixty years.
He never got to see it.
Jiang Mu and Shui Miaozheng listened quietly, both feeling a pang of sadness.
I never expected this wolf demon to be such a devoted lover.
To keep a promise, he transformed himself into this inhuman, monstrous form, and endured it for sixty years.
This friendship is truly touching.
Looking into Mu Zilang's eyes, filled with vicissitudes and unwavering determination, Jiang Mu couldn't help but speak:
"Have you ever thought about whether...?"
Before he could finish speaking, his arm was gently poked by Shui Miaozheng beside him.
He was startled and turned to look.
Shui Miaozheng was winking at him, shaking her head slightly, her eyes filled with a hint of reluctance.
Looking into the woman's eyes, Jiang Mu suddenly understood.
What he was actually trying to say was, could the so-called reincarnation altar be a complete scam?
Or perhaps the ceremony was never successfully completed?
After all, the process of a demon becoming a human cultivator, and then the human cultivator being reincarnated with their memories... doesn't sound very reliable.
If it had truly succeeded, how could there have been no movement for sixty years?
But the other party waited foolishly for more than sixty years.
This one thought was what kept him going.
Perhaps deep down, he already had the worst answer in mind, but he was unwilling to believe it and dared not face it.
Why bother to expose the bloody reality to the other person?
Sometimes, living with a glimmer of hope is better than facing a hopeless reality.
Human or demon?
You need something to strive for in order to survive in this world.
Jiang Mu swallowed back the words that were about to come out, and instead said:
"Where there's a will, there's a way. I believe you can wait. As long as you stay here, one day she will return." The wolf demon Mu Zilang glanced at him, a flicker of emotion seeming in its emerald eyes before disappearing beneath its weariness. It gave a soft "hmm" in response.
"Could you take us to see the reincarnation altar below?"
Shui Miaozheng asked softly.
She was curious about the mysterious altar left behind by the great demon.
Mu Zilang hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded slightly: "Come with me."
He led the two through a deep underground passage to a relatively open underground space.
He raised his hairy paws and pointed in front of him, saying:
"This is the Reincarnation Altar left behind by that great demon. However, it requires extremely demanding spiritual materials and earth vein power to maintain its operation. I almost lost half my life just to barely gather them."
Jiang Mu and Shui Miaozheng stared intently at them.
An altar, constructed from some kind of dark blue-green rock, stood silently, roughly ten feet in diameter, its surface covered with mysterious runes. Many of the runes were worn away and illegible.
But a mysterious aura still lingers.
Scattered on the ground around the altar were fragments that had long lost their luster and whose material could no longer be identified.
It appears to be a remnant of some kind of ritual.
Shui Miaozheng's beautiful eyes flickered slightly as she murmured to herself:
"No wonder... When I used my divine sense to explore the entire mountain before, I always felt that the earth vein energy was somewhat disordered, as if it was interfered with by a barrier and could not be clearly covered. So this is the root cause."
The altar itself seemed to have some deep connection with the core of the mountain's ley lines, forming a natural interference field. Her gaze shifted downwards, landing on a broken stele standing beside the altar.
Although the inscription has weathered, it is still faintly discernible.
The text not only records the rare materials needed for the formation, but also subtly mentions that reincarnation is an act against the will of Heaven.
The ways of Heaven are unpredictable, and time and space are bound to have gaps.
The reincarnated person may not be born immediately; there may be a deviation of several years or even decades.
No wonder Mu Zilang has been guarding this place for sixty years.
This long period of time is a lifetime for humans, yet this wolf demon has imprisoned himself for an uncertain outcome. Jiang Mu stood to the side, arms crossed.
To be honest, he has always scoffed at this mysterious and absurd concept of reincarnation.
In his view, the so-called reincarnation is mostly a pretense fabricated by some evil cultivators in order to seize another's body and be reborn.
Or perhaps it was just a wisp of remnant soul left behind by a powerful figure before their death.
When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out; how can there be so many reunions in the next life?
"Is that your lover?"
Shui Miaozheng suddenly pointed to a painting hanging on the wall on one side of the altar.
The scroll is in excellent condition and spotless.
The painting depicts a young woman.
Although she wasn't exceptionally beautiful, she possessed a delicate and gentle charm, like a girl next door, with a touch of playfulness in her eyes.
Jiang Mu also turned her head to look.
He was slightly taken aback after just one glance.
For some inexplicable reason, he felt that the woman in the painting looked somewhat familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before.
Where is it?
Jiang Mu narrowed her eyes, rapidly searching her mind for the memories of her predecessor, Jiang Chen, and then reviewing her own experiences since transmigrating.
I thought about it for a long time, but I still couldn't come up with a solution.
Perhaps it's just that she has an average-looking face.
He shook his head and didn't pursue the matter further.
Mu Zilang gazed at the painting, his wolf eyes revealing tenderness and longing. He nodded emphatically.
"It's her. I drew this from memory, afraid that I would forget what she looks like if too much time passed."
Shui Miaozheng shifted her gaze from the portrait back to the altar.
Suddenly, a hint of surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes. She squatted down, picked up some powder that was almost the same color as the rock from the edge of the altar with her fingers, smelled it lightly, and then felt its texture with her fingertips.
"Look at the spiritual material powder remaining in the core of this formation. It's still fresh in color and the spiritual energy hasn't dissipated... This altar seems to have been activated recently?" Shui Miaozheng asked.
Mu Zilang was silent for a moment, then slowly said:
"The Water Master has a good eye."
About ten years ago, someone else found this place and used this reincarnation altar.
That was also a woman, and she seemed to be a sword cultivator with extremely high cultivation.
Her condition was terrible at the time. Due to old injuries, her life force was almost exhausted, and she was on the verge of death. "A sword cultivator?" Jiang Mu became interested.
"Um."
Mu Zilang recalled,
She said that she didn't actually want to be reincarnated because this life was too tiring.
But she only learned on her deathbed that she had been deceived by someone her whole life. She thought that person was dead, but it turned out that person was not dead at all, and was even manipulating everything behind the scenes.
So she needs to be reincarnated.
She said she was not reconciled and that she would continue practicing swordsmanship in her next life, even if it meant searching to the ends of the earth to find that person.
Kill him, for the sake of all living beings, and for her own sake.
Jiang Mu's lips twitched as she listened.
Good guy.
What kind of vengeful female sword cultivator is this?
Why would you chase someone to the next life to kill them after they've already died?
What a deep-seated hatred and resentment this must have been!
Sure enough, the women who practice swordsmanship are all a bit crazy; they all act like madwomen.
Jiang Mu secretly made up her mind.
When I get back, I'll have to get my little Qing a weapon.
What kind of sword are you practicing?
It's easy to overtrain your brain.
I think that spiked club is just wrong, or a sledgehammer, one hit and one kill, so practical, and it's easy to develop this kind of inexplicable obsession. He silently complained to himself, and then Ya became even more convinced of his previous idea.
This so-called reincarnation altar is probably a trap. That female sword cultivator has probably already been annihilated, so how could she possibly ambush her?
"in addition……"
Mu Zilang continued, "Before that female sword cultivator was reincarnated, she seemed to have left something in this underground palace."
She said it was for her future self.
If she is lucky, she will awaken her past life memories after reincarnation and come to claim it. If she is unlucky and lives a muddled life, the treasure will remain dormant in the world, waiting for a destined person.
"But over the years I've searched the entire underground palace, and I still haven't found where she hid it."
treasure?
Shui Miaozheng's beautiful eyes brightened slightly, and she subconsciously closed them.
The vast power of consciousness spread out like mercury, thoroughly scanning every corner of the entire underground palace.
A moment later, she opened her eyes and shook her head helplessly:
"There are no spiritual fluctuations. Perhaps it was long ago corroded by the earth, or perhaps... it was hidden by some extremely profound sword intent. What a sword cultivator leaves behind can often only be sensed by the sword cultivator himself."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mu's heart stirred.
Only sword cultivators can sense it?
He silently kept this in mind.
My own little Aqing is a true master of swordsmanship, and also the owner of the "mutual sword".
Once this swordsmanship is perfected, if we happen to pass by, we can bring her down to try our luck.
This is the legendary opportunity, isn't it? You're so sensible!
After viewing the altar and learning the background, Jiang Mu and Shui Miaozheng bid farewell to Mu Zilang.
Before leaving, Mu Zilang solemnly promised that as long as it lived, it would protect the villagers at the foot of the mountain.
If any foreign demons dare to cause trouble, it will drive them away and promptly report its whereabouts to the Demon Slayer Bureau.
Jiang Mu and the other person were very satisfied.
After the two left, Mu Zilang stared at the portrait and murmured:
"For you, I transformed into a werewolf..."
"Will we ever see each other again...?"
Leaving the cave, we saw the light of day again.
Shui Miaozheng took out a communication paper crane and sent a message to Ming Cuicui and the others, telling them to end the search and come down the mountain to meet up.
At the same time, she also carefully collected the mineral monsters that had been engraved with runes, intending to take them back to the base for careful study.
Let's see if we can find any clues about the person behind the shield from the style and methods of controlling those talismans.
The rain continued on the way back.
The sky seemed to have been punched with a hole, and rain poured down tirelessly.
It was already late when the two returned to their temporary camp.
As soon as Shui Miaozheng entered the courtyard, she saw the set of clothes that she had washed for Jiang Mu the night before and hung on the bamboo pole under the eaves.
As the wind and rain shifted, Da Ke's clothes were soaked again by the rain that drifted in.
It hung there all alone, dripping water.
"Oh no, my clothes are wet."
Shui Miaozheng let out a sigh, somewhat annoyed.
She quickly went over and took the clothes, then said to Jiang Mu, somewhat embarrassed, "There's something I need to say..."
"Look at my memory, I forgot to pack it when I left, so it's all wasted washing. It's alright, Xiao Jiang, you rest first, Auntie will take it to wash it again, and dry it with spiritual energy tonight, so you can wear it tomorrow morning."
Jiang Mu waved her hand and said, "It's okay, Aunt Shui. It's okay if it's wet. Just let it air dry. I'm not picky."
"That's fine, clothes that have been soaked by the rain are already dirty, and wearing them makes it easy to fake illness."
Shui Miaozheng explained the matter and took the clothes into the house.
Jiang Mu didn't insist any further, turned around and went into his room, picking up several urgent intelligence reports that had just been delivered from Yancheng and reading them. Half an hour later.
Shui Miaozheng stared at the men's clothes that she had washed again and dried with spiritual energy, her expression shifting as if she were struggling with something.
She walked to her bedside and took out the undergarment.
She neatly stuffed it into the man's clothes.
As she carried him to the door, she seemed to remember something, bit her full lips, and took out the bodice.
Then she carefully dressed herself, still wearing her warm undergarment...