novelapdf Chapter 151 The Wrath of Cypress
Chapter 151 The Wrath of Cypress
Morning and evening temple.
Although the newly renovated temple is not yet filled with incense offerings, it already exudes a solemn and dignified atmosphere.
In the center of the main hall, the space where clay and wood sculptures were enshrined was empty.
Si Rumeng, dressed in a simple yet dignified Taoist robe, sat upright on a lotus flower.
Her eyes were slightly closed, her appearance solemn and dignified.
A faint spiritual light subtly flowed around him.
At first glance, it does indeed have a touch of the sacred charm of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion who saves people from suffering.
Below, Yu Xiaoqian was busy with several of her girlfriends.
They held fluorescent stones, spiritual materials they had collected from the mountains and forests, and used them to decorate walls or repair floor tiles.
This has made the once somewhat dilapidated ancient temple even more impressive.
"Grandma, something terrible has happened!"
A panicked scream shattered the tranquility of the temple.
A female ghost named Xiao Hong stumbled into the main hall, and almost tripped over the threshold because she was running too fast.
Si Rumeng suddenly opened her eyes.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes, like two bolts of lightning sweeping across Xiao Hong:
"What did you call me?"
Xiao Hong was stung by that gaze, and her soul trembled instantly. She immediately knelt down with a thud, and said in a trembling voice:
"It's...it's Consort Siru!"
Si Rumeng snorted coldly and flicked her whisk:
"You never learn. Since you're going to follow the path of the gods, the rules can't be disregarded. If you make a mistake again next time, you'll be punished accordingly, without any leniency." Xiao Hong trembled with fear and kowtowed repeatedly in agreement.
Si Rumeng then composed herself and said calmly, "Speak, what's the matter that has caused you such panic?"
Xiao Hong raised her head, her face pale, her voice trembling with tears:
"Reporting to Lady Siru, while I was searching for spiritual herbs outside the mountains just now, I overheard some news... that Master Jiang is dead!" "What!?"
Si Rumeng's pupils contracted, and her dignified Guanyin expression instantly crumbled.
Yu Xiaoqian, who was hanging curtains nearby, suddenly turned around, the silk gauze in her hand fluttering to the ground, her face drained of color:
"You...who did you say died?"
Xiao Hong said with a mournful face:
"At first, I also thought it was a rumor, so I mustered up my courage and went to the side of the official road to investigate."
The result is true!
The news has spread far and wide that our master was murdered by his colleague, a hall master named Wenhe. Not even his bones were left. The Demon Slayer Division is now searching the entire city for the killer.
Si Rumeng was completely stunned.
That boy came to the temple a few days ago to discuss the matter of incense offerings with her. How could he suddenly be gone?
No trace of the remains?
With his uncanny methods of survival, how could he have ended up in such a state?
"impossible!!"
Yu Xiaoqian let out a mournful cry.
She disregarded all rules and rushed out of the hall like a madwoman.
"stop!"
Si Rumeng's face was gloomy, and she waved her sleeve.
A spell resembling a green vine shot out from the air, wrapped around Yu Xiaoqian's waist, and pinned her firmly to the spot, unable to move.
"Are you out of your mind, girl?!"
Si Rumeng rebuked sharply.
"With your meager skills, if you went to Yan City now, you'd probably be beaten to a pulp by those demon slayers before you even got close to the city gates!" Yu Xiaoqian struggled desperately, tears blurring her vision, and cried out:
"I don't believe it! Your Majesty, I don't believe that bookworm is dead! He's so capable, how could he possibly die?"
I need to find him, sob sob sob...
The other female ghosts around them were also pale-faced and completely bewildered.
They naturally didn't have the same deep feelings for Jiang Mu as Yu Xiaoqian did.
But the thought that if Jiang Muruo really died, the incense and prayer power in the bronze Buddha lamp would be cut off, and these female ghosts who depended on the Buddha lamp for survival would lose the nourishment of the prayer power.
They were destined to be reduced to ashes.
In an instant, the hall was filled with gloom and sorrow, and cries of grief rose from all sides.
Si Rumeng gradually recovered from her shock, her gaze becoming dark and unfathomable.
Her feelings toward Jiang Mu were quite complex.
She felt grateful that the other party had helped her escape from Montenegro's control and give her a new life.
There are also those who have been forcibly placed with restrictions, whipped by demonic energy, and forcibly subdued, experiencing humiliation and fear.
She wouldn't be like Yu Xiaoqian, heartbroken over a man.
But deep down, a strange sense of loss and emptiness welled up inside me.
"That guy... really died that easily?"
Si Rumeng gritted her teeth.
Jiang Mu can die, but not now!
Without the support of this kid's Buddhist lamp and demonic energy, her path to godhood would be completely cut off.
Even the injuries to the demon core could no longer be suppressed.
"Shut up, all of you!"
Seeing the female ghosts crying in a huddle, Si Rumeng gave a cold shout.
"Things might not be hopeless. That kid is tough; he won't die so easily."
I will go to Yancheng myself to confirm the situation.
Don't worry, even if Jiang Mu really dies, I will definitely find a way to preserve your souls and let you live on!
After saying that, she looked at Yu Xiaoqian, who was still sobbing and struggling, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes, and then pointed with her fingertip.
A streak of light entered Yu Xiaoqian's brow.
The girl's body went limp, and she fell into a deep sleep.
"Keep an eye on Xiaoqian, don't let her do anything foolish."
After giving this instruction, Si Rumeng transformed into a streak of azure light and disappeared outside the palace gate.
Huzhou City, Jiang Mansion.
As dusk deepened, a gentle evening breeze carried a faint, sweet fragrance from the courtyard, lingering and swirling under the eaves.
The main hall was brightly lit.
Bai Xiang specially prepared a sumptuous feast for Yuan Aqing.
Because this girl broke through.
When Jiang Mu left, she had just entered the first stage of Body Tempering.
And in less than a month, he had already entered the second realm, breaking through after just one night's sleep.
The process was smooth, without any obstacles or hindrances.
Bai Xiang sat to the side, propping her chin up as she watched the little girl wolf down her food, and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
This girl really is a good candidate for cultivation.
Although that bastard surnamed Jiang has a terrible character, his good fortune is frighteningly profound. The little girl he picked up from the roadside has such amazing talent.
However, the next three realms are the real watershed.
After all, to attain a star position, one must borrow the power of heaven and earth to solidify one's own path.
Fortunately, the guy had mentioned before he left that he had prepared a fake Star Official Seal for the girl.
If all goes well, Yuan Aqing will be able to enter the ranks of star officials at a young age, and her future will be limitless.
"Sister Xiang, has there been a reply from the master?"
Yuan Aqing put down her chopsticks, wiped her oily little mouth, and asked in a crisp voice.
A hopeful light shone in his big eyes.
Since Jiang Mu left, the girl has been cultivating even more diligently than when he was here.
She had a lot of pent-up energy inside her.
She only hoped that when the master returned, he would see her real progress and pat her head to praise her.
The girl was overjoyed at this breakthrough.
She couldn't wait to tell her husband the good news.
Bai Xiang gently shook her head.
A strand of hair slipped down her temple and she casually tucked it behind her ear.
Yuan Aqing's eyes dimmed slightly, and she lowered her head somewhat dejectedly, poking at the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks.
But then, she raised her head again, clenched her small, pink fists, and encouraged herself:
"When the master returns, I'm going to storm the Three Realms and show him!"
After a period of nourishment from Bai Xiang's medicinal diet, coupled with the body-cleansing effects of cultivation, the once skinny little girl has become much plumper.
Not only was her face fair and plump, but her figure also seemed to have grown taller.
In particular, in one area, the shape has evolved from the original Want Want Little Buns into a shape that is beginning to resemble the curves of a young girl.
Even wrapped in a plain-colored dress, her youthful and touching figure still shines through.
Compared to the refugee-like appearance she had when Jiang Mugang brought her back, she was completely different.
Only those eyes remained bright and clear.
Like the purest spring in the mountains, untouched by dust.
Bai Xiang smiled gently and reached out to pick up a piece of bright red braised pork for the girl.
Her gaze, however, unconsciously drifted towards the night outside the hall.
Calculate the time.
His personal bodyguard should have arrived in Yancheng long ago.
Given the speed of the mechanical eagle, if everything goes smoothly, news about that person should arrive in the next day or two.
I wonder how that guy is doing now.
Just as her thoughts were drifting, a familiar, clear, and melodious cry suddenly echoed through the night sky.
Ok?
So fast?
Bai Xiangdai frowned slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
She glanced at Yuan Aqing, who was eating with her head down, and then subtly raised her right hand, her wide sleeve fluttering lightly.
The next moment, a delicately crafted mechanical eagle glided silently into the hall.
It landed lightly on the antique shelf behind Yuan Aqing.
The girl was completely unaware of this.
Bai Xiang reached out and grabbed the small scroll of paper tied to the eagle's leg into his palm.
With anticipation, she slowly unfolded the note.
However, the woman's expression froze the moment her eyes fell on the words on the paper.
She stood there stunned for a long time, then looked up blankly at the deep night outside the hall, and subconsciously reached out and pinched her thigh hard.
She lowered her head again, staring intently at the thin piece of paper.
Read it word by word.
It was as if they wanted to see through the paper, afraid that they might miss or misread even a single stroke.
"Sister Xiang, what's wrong?"
Seeing Bai Xiang's pale face, Yuan Aqing asked.
Bai Xiang, however, seemed to have lost her hearing and ignored him completely.
Those usually calm and composed beautiful eyes were now filled with shock and panic, and her delicate body trembled slightly.
"Sister Xiang..."
Yuan Aqing put down her chopsticks, a strong sense of unease rising in her heart for no apparent reason.
Her intuition told her it might be related to the old man.
Just as she was about to ask a question, Bai Xiang suddenly raised her hand and tapped her index finger lightly on the table.
"Yes."
A soft sound.
In an instant, the whole world stood still.
Yuan Aqing remained frozen in place, her mouth slightly open.
The swaying curtain froze in mid-air, and the rising steam from the plate condensed into distorted white mist, lingering there.
The night wind sweeping past outside the hall fell silent at that moment.
Even the falling leaves are suspended in mid-air...
It was as if a giant hand had pressed the pause button on this world.
Time stood still.
Bai Xiang slowly stood up, swaying slightly.
She reached out and held onto the edge of the table, pressing her other hand against her forehead, trying to clear her muddled mind.
She looked down at the paper again.
He chewed over each word, digesting this sudden news.
That bastard is dead?
That bastard is dead?!
The news struck like a thunderbolt from the heavens, leaving Bai Xiang's mind blank.
Her first reaction was that it was absurd and fake news.
But considering the female guard's meticulous nature, one can't help but believe it.
"Impossible... There must be a mistake..."
Bai Xiang slapped her head hard.
She walked out of the hall, stood in the courtyard, and looked up at the starry sky.
What was that guy's orthodox star position called again?
That's right, it's the Earth Hidden Star!
She gently raised her right hand towards the night sky.
In that instant, it seemed as if billions of stars in the night sky were lit up.
From the constellation of the North Star, specifically the "Harem" position, a dazzling five-colored radiance emanated, like an invisible net covering the entire star field. She was sifting and searching.
This is a technique that only a powerful figure with the rank of the North Pole Five Stars can employ.
By sensing the positions of the stars, they forcibly surveyed the state of the lower-level stars.
Although she could only survey the stars at or below the Heavenly Dipper level, and it was extremely taxing on her, she couldn't care less about that at the moment.
As long as the person is still alive, the orthodox star position will definitely be able to respond!
however.
Once... twice...
She sensed all the orthodox star positions at the Earthly Fiend level, but surprisingly, she couldn't detect the existence of the Earthly Hidden Star.
The star that represented Jiang Mu's destiny seemed to have vanished into thin air.
At this moment, Bai Xiang's heart felt as if a huge boulder was tied to it.
It sank straight into the bottomless abyss.
However, she was unaware that ever since Jiang Mu obtained the Earthly Star from Shangguan Luoxue, he had completely concealed the Earthly Hidden Star's original power and hidden it within the Demon Shadow.
The magic slot is isolated from the secrets of heaven, forming a self-contained entity.
Her senses, naturally, could not penetrate that barrier.
Of course, she had another way to confirm.
If a person dies, their star position will return to the sea of stars, becoming an unclaimed star, waiting for the next destined person.
She could sense it entirely from the sea of stars.
If a new Earthly Fiend-level star position appears, it means that Jiang Mu is dead.
However, it will take some time for the star position to return and manifest, so there's no point in trying to sense it now, and she can't wait that long anyway.
"Is he really dead?"
Bai Xiang became increasingly panicked and confused the more she thought about it.
The image of that man kept flashing through my mind.
The scene depicted the other person practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard, shirtless and sweating profusely.
The scene of him verbally flirting with her in the vegetable garden.
And then there was that night under the fireworks, when he sat on the rooftop, grinning mischievously as he put the ring on her finger…
Scenes flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern.
"I don't believe it!!"
Bai Xiang's aura suddenly erupted, her black hair danced wildly, and her clothes fluttered in the wind.
The stars in the sky seemed to sense the empress's anger, and they all flickered, as if an abyss was floating in fear.
She had just taken a step when she suddenly stopped.
He turned around and glanced at Yuan Aqing, who was frozen in place in the hall.
In an instant, the woman remembered Jiang Mu's instructions before he left.
The madness and violence in Bai Xiang's eyes slowly faded, and the strange phenomena around her disappeared, replaced by a complex and restrained expression.
He turned around, went back into the hall, and sat back down in the chair he had been sitting in.
Tap lightly with your finger again.
"bite."
In an instant, everything returned to normal.
The wind continued to blow, and the heat continued to rise.
"Sister Xiang, are you alright?"
Yuan Aqing looked at Bai Xiang, whose face was pale, and asked with concern.
Bai Xiang forced a smile and shook her head.
She hesitated for a moment, then raised her hands and began to sign language towards Yuan Aqing:
"Ah Qing, I suddenly remembered that today is a special day. I plan to go to the temple outside the city to pray for the master's well-being, and I may stay there for two days. Please take good care of yourself at home these two days."
"Praying for blessings?"
Yuan Aqing blinked. "Sister Xiang, I'll go too. I also want to pray for the master's well-being."
Bai Xiang shook her head and gestured:
"No need. Your most important task now is to cultivate diligently. Before he passed away, the master valued your cultivation progress the most. If you are distracted and fall behind, he will be unhappy when he returns."
Yuan Aqing's little face showed a look of disappointment, but she immediately nodded obediently and said emphatically:
"I understand, Sister Xiang. I will definitely cultivate diligently."
Looking at the little girl's innocent face, Bai Xiang felt a tightness in her chest. How heartbroken this little girl would be if she knew Jiang Mu was dead. She quickly ate a few bites and put down her chopsticks.
He returned to his room.
Bai Xiang closed the door, leaned against it, and remained silent for a while. Then, she straightened up, raised her hand, and a complex star-patterned restriction lit up on the door.
The star pattern spreads across the walls like flowing water, separating the entire room into an independent space.
To prevent anyone from spying or breaking in.
After doing all this, Bai Xiang took off her shoes and socks and sat cross-legged on the bed.
She formed a mudra with her hands and placed them on her lower abdomen, her breathing gradually becoming long and deep.
"With my soul, I penetrate the netherworld and the deepest darkness."
"With my star, I illuminate the entire heavens..."
If one were to travel to Yan City in one's physical body, the distance of ten thousand miles would take a very long time, even with full-speed flight; it would be too slow.
Only when the primordial spirit leaves the body!
With the help of the Grand Priest and Minister of Justice of the Mirror Kingdom, he traversed the void.
Although the power of the Mirror Kingdom's sorcerer had long since dissipated with the fate of the kingdom, she herself was the last high priestess of the Mirror Kingdom.
Her star position [the harem], though teetering on the brink of collapse due to the nation's downfall, still retains its status and its supernatural powers.
Using celestial positions as a guide and integrating the power of Dharma forms, it is not impossible for the primordial spirit to travel.
However, given her current state, forcibly using a divine power like astral projection, which consumes her vital essence, would be extremely risky.
If one is not careful, one's primordial spirit will be damaged.
At best, one's cultivation level will regress; at worst, one will lose their star position.
Moreover, once the Dharma image is displayed, the commotion will be too great and will inevitably be detected by the Imperial Observatory in the capital, which will cause endless trouble.
But now.
She couldn't care less about anything else.
She had to go and see for herself if that nasty guy was really dead!
They clearly said they would come back!
wrong……
That bastard said some really unlucky things before he left.
Saying things like "If I don't come back, remember to visit my grave" or "Call me Dad" is considered unlucky.
That bastard, can't he say something nice?!
Filled with pent-up resentment and anxiety, Bai Xiang's hand seals emitted a blinding white light.
"Buzz"
A vast and powerful aura suddenly erupted inside the room.
A figure identical to her in appearance, yet formed entirely of pure starlight and soul power, slowly rose from between her brows. Its primordial spirit body was as white as jade, radiating brilliant light.
She wore a magnificent robe woven from starlight, a nine-phoenix crown on her head, and her face was so beautiful that it could topple kingdoms.
Yet it also exudes an aura of majesty and divinity that makes one dare not look directly at it.
She seemed like a goddess or fairy, descending on the moonlit waves.
Untouched by the dust of the world, not a trace of smoke rises; only the clear moonlight shines for ten thousand miles, illuminating the cold night.
[When the celestial soul leaves the body, its physical form arises.]
A single thought can traverse a thousand miles, piercing through the deepest darkness.
As her primordial spirit completely separated from her body, the star in the sky that belonged to her "harem" shone with an even more dazzling multicolored radiance than before. Immediately afterwards, an incomparably enormous figure slowly rose from the horizon.
It felt as if one could reach out and pluck stars from the sky, and tread on the void.
The Dharma image is both alluring and solemn, with a magnificent golden crown of a sorcerer on its head and a sacrificial robe with flowing star patterns.
Its entire body radiated golden light.
Like a newly risen sun.
What's most astonishing is that this Buddha image actually has eight arms!
Each arm is adorned with a different mudra, some holding a lotus, others a magic sword, and still others a treasure vase...
The two hands in the very center form a perfect mudra at the dantian (lower abdomen).
At the center of the Dharma Seal, it seemed as if a giant planet was slowly rotating.
It contains terrifying energy.
At the moment the Cypress Incense Dharma Form was formed, all cultivators in Huzhou City, regardless of whether it was light or dark, felt it.
A chill ran through him, a fear that seemed to originate from the depths of his soul.
It was as if an ordinary subject had suddenly seen the supreme ruler on the Golden Palace.
They felt a powerful pressure descending from the heavens.
Ordinary people were completely unaware of this, continuing to sleep or wake up as usual, simply assuming it was just a bit windy tonight.
Even cultivators with Earthly Fiend or Heavenly Gang star positions only felt an inexplicable pressure descending from the sky, making it hard for them to breathe, but they couldn't see its true source at all.
They could only look around blankly, their faces filled with horror.
Only great cultivators whose cultivation has reached the seventh realm or above can see through the layers of night to witness the awe-inspiring scene that stretches across the sky and makes the Milky Way pale in comparison.
The Demon Slayer Division, main hall.
Ran Qingshan was rubbing his temples, sighing as he looked at the mountain of official documents.
Suddenly, he felt something and turned around.
Then they saw outside the window a giant Dharma image, hundreds of feet tall, with eight arms supporting the sky, slowly rising from the night sky.
The image of the Buddha was surrounded by colorful starlight.
Each step he took caused the void to tremble, as if the entire sky was making way for him.
Ran Qingshan was dumbfounded, his mind went completely blank.
"Grandma's..."
"What kind of deity has descended to earth?!"
Deep within the underground palace.
Shangguan Luoxue, who also sensed this terrifying fluctuation, suddenly opened her eyes, a hint of horror flashing in her purple eyes.
Without any hesitation, she formed hand seals and forcefully activated the star power within her body.
"boom!"
An equally enormous golden Dharma image rose from the underground palace and stood above Huzhou City.
She was a stunningly beautiful woman clad in golden armor and wielding a long spear.
He exudes heroic spirit and is exceptionally dashing.
The armor was engraved with blood-red battle patterns, which shone brightly in the night sky, like a female war goddess who had walked out of ancient times.
It shone with golden light.
Standing in stark contrast to the High Priest and the Minister of Justice, he held his own without being at a disadvantage.
However, a careful observer will notice that the golden-armored Dharma image appears somewhat illusory, and its radiance is somewhat dimmed.
Shangguan Luoxue was already seriously injured, and her Dao foundation had just begun to recover.
Forcibly unleashing the power of the Dharma body at this moment would undoubtedly worsen the injury.
But she couldn't care less about any of that.
As the town garrison commander of Huzhou, she had to step forward in the face of this sudden, unknown powerful figure.
Shangguan Luoxue merged her divine soul into the Dharma form, her eyes transforming into two enormous wheels of fire, staring intently at the eight-armed, god-like Dharma form opposite her. Her voice boomed like thunder, causing the void to hum.
"I wonder which esteemed senior has graced my city of Huzhou with their presence!"
What is the purpose of manifesting the Dharma form?
Although Shangguan Luoxue had met the legendary empress once, it was many years ago.
At this moment, Bai Xiang manifested the Dharma form of the High Priest of the Mirror Kingdom, with a strange and mysterious temperament. In addition, in order not to be immediately locked by the Imperial Observatory of the capital, she deliberately used a concealment technique, making her aura obscure and difficult to discern.
Therefore, Shangguan Luoxue did not immediately associate the image before her with the demon queen.
Bai Xiang ignored her question.
Those enormous eyes, containing the very essence of starlight and the cycle of life, merely glanced at her before taking a step forward, intending to cross the border between Huzhou City and the rest of the world. "Insolence!"
Feeling utterly ignored, Shangguan Luoxue felt a surge of anger.
The golden-bodied general raised his arm, and the golden spear in his hand, formed from pure killing energy, instantly grew larger.
The spear tip gleamed with a chilling light that seemed to tear the sky apart, and it pierced towards the back of Bai Xiang's Dharma Image!
"Get out of here!"
A chilling voice boomed through the void.
Bai Xiang had a sudden thought.
Among the eight arms of the High Priest's Dharma Minister, the two arms that were bound in front of his chest suddenly changed their hand seals and gently pressed downwards.
"boom!"
An absolute suppression originating from the star level descended instantly!
The "Harem" star position is the highest rank, second only to the Ziwei Emperor Star.
It is the majesty of an emperor and empress who rule over all the stars.
Under this oppressive force, the entire city of Huzhou was sparsely populated except for Shangguan Luoxue, who possessed a special Dao physique and was barely able to withstand it.
All cultivators with star positions, regardless of their cultivation level or location, knelt down in unison.
His forehead touched the ground, he trembled violently, and he couldn't even lift his head.
When one sees the Emperor Ziwei, all the stars bow down.
When one sees the emperor or empress in the harem, one should also kneel and pay homage!
This is the most fundamental and brutal level suppression from the star system.
"puff!"
In mid-air, Shangguan Luoxue's golden avatar was struck by this oppressive force, immediately becoming covered in cracks before collapsing and turning into a shower of golden rain. Inside the underground palace, her true form was struck as if by lightning, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
She clutched her chest, a storm raging within her:
"The Emperor and Empress?!"
She endured the pain and once again leaped out of the underground palace to look around.
The eight-armed Grand Priest and Judge had already stepped out of the city limits of Huzhou.
With each step, a huge cloud burst open beneath his feet, the air currents surging, instantly covering a thousand miles.
Wherever it went, there were demons in the mountains and forests, star-level cultivators passing by, and even birds flying in the sky...
They all involuntarily knelt on the ground, bowing their heads in submission!
It was as if they were welcoming the emperor and empress on an imperial tour.
at the same time.
Beijing.
The Imperial Observatory, a high place for observing stars.
The white-haired director of the Imperial Observatory was closing his eyes to deduce celestial phenomena.
Suddenly, his expression changed drastically. He opened his eyes, a terrifying light flashing in them, and stared intently at the southwest direction.
"The Demon Queen... has finally shown herself!"
He suddenly turned his head to look in the direction of the imperial mausoleum.
"Boom!"
The earth trembled violently.
From the depths of the imperial tomb, an even more terrifying aura soared into the sky.
Immediately afterwards, the image of an old man materialized.
Around the Dharma image, golden dragon phantoms swirled and danced, emitting earth-shaking dragon roars, and were further blessed by the national fortune of Daqing, making him incomparably powerful.
That was the ancestor of the Imperial Observatory!
Without pausing for a moment, the ancestral dharma image tore through the void and sped off in the direction Bai Xiang had gone.
Inside the Imperial Study.
The young emperor was reviewing memorials.
Hearing the commotion outside, he paused, threw down his imperial brush and memorials, ignored the eunuchs' exclamations, and stumbled out of the imperial study, standing on the high steps.
Gazing at the pillar of light rising high above the Imperial Observatory in the distance, the emperor was lost in thought for a moment.
Immediately, he threw his head back and burst into laughter:
"Ha ha ha ha!"
"I knew it! I knew it! You're still in Daqing! You really are still in Daqing!"
He reached out, as if trying to grasp that wisp of ethereal energy in the void, and murmured to himself:
"You are my woman, in life you belong to me, and in death you will be my ghost! You will never escape my grasp in this lifetime!"
at the same time.
In all directions, several other equally powerful and terrifying auras sensed this fluctuation and awoke from their slumber or seclusion. At the summit of the towering Buddhist pagoda...
An ancient golden Buddha statue, which had been seated for a thousand years, slowly opened its eyes.
His face was sallow, and he wore a tattered cassock, looking very old.
However, the moment he looked up towards the east, the entire pagoda burst forth with thousands of golden rays, and the chanting of Buddhist hymns resounded through the sky.
It was as if thousands of Buddhas were chanting scriptures simultaneously in the world.
Behind the Buddha, a colossal image of the Thousand-Armed Guanyin appeared, obscuring the sky and the sun.
Each palm bears a golden seal bearing the character "己" (Ji), and beneath the compassionate face lies a chilling killing intent to subdue demons and monsters.
"Remnants of the Mirror Kingdom..."
The old Buddha chanted the Buddha's name, his voice as loud and clear as a great bell, causing lotus flowers to bloom in the void.
He took a step forward, and a twelve-petaled golden lotus bloomed beneath his feet, transforming into a golden stream of light that tore through the sky.
Wherever it passed, it left behind a sky full of flying golden Sanskrit characters.
In the Southern Frontier, inside the main hall of the Myriad Gu Abyss.
A tall man, covered in strange witch-like tattoos, with silver snakes hanging from his ears and bare feet, suddenly opened his eyes.
As he stood up, the poisonous insects and snakes in the abyss hissed simultaneously.
It was as if they were paying homage to their emperor.
"【Harem】Star Position...hehe."
The palace master gave a sinister smile, raised his hand, and a giant azure python roared out of the abyss, carrying him soaring into the sky.
He stood atop the snake's head, surrounded by billowing poisonous clouds.
It charged straight at Bai Xiang with overwhelming force.
Sword Tomb Forbidden Ground.
On a solitary peak studded with broken swords, a swordsman dressed in snow-white robes opened his eyes, which had been closed for a hundred years.
He had a handsome face like a young man, and carried a simple wooden sword on his back.
"Could this fluctuation in the celestial positions be the legendary sign of an emperor and empress?"
"interesting."
The boy transformed into a streak of light and soared into the sky.
And this scene is playing out in other places as well.
In an instant, the world was shaken, and the winds of change gathered!
When Jiang Mu opened her eyes again, she saw a simple little house.
The surrounding area consists of mottled and crumbling earthen walls.
There were some odds and ends piled up in the corner.
The room was filled with a faint musty smell and the aroma of herbs.
He was covered with a coarse cotton quilt.
"Where am I...?"
Jiang Mu struggled to sit up, her whole body aching and weak.
I looked down.
What the hell!
What about clothes?
Why is it completely naked?
Not only were her clothes gone, but her storage ring, token, and sword were also gone...
All of my personal belongings have disappeared.
Worse still, his cultivation level was also plummeting, and the star power within his body was pitifully thin, but fortunately it was recovering on its own.
Just then, a soft chewing sound caught his attention.
Jiang Mu turned her head away.
A thin, sallow-faced girl, about seven or eight years old, was lying on a broken table, holding a rough earthenware bowl, and eating something with relish. The food was yellowish-brown.
You can vaguely see that it is a porridge made of bran mixed with wild vegetables.
She seemed to sense the gaze, turned her head, and revealed a small, dark face.
Seeing that Jiang Mu had her eyes open, she was stunned for a moment, then jumped off the stool and ran outside, calling out as she ran: "Grandma! Grandma!"
The uncle who was bitten by the big snake has woken up!
"Biten by a snake?"
Jiang Mu scratched his messy hair, looking completely bewildered.
A short while later, the sound of unsteady footsteps could be heard.
An elderly woman with a full head of silver hair and a slightly hunched back walked in.
He was dressed in a patched-up cloth garment, and his face was covered with wrinkles, like the bark of an old tree.
Seeing Jiang Mu and everyone else seated, the old woman breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on her face:
"Young man, you're finally awake! This old woman thought you weren't going to make it. Did you run into bandits in the mountains? Where do you live? Are you a refugee fleeing from Yancheng?"
The old lady asked a lot of questions in one breath, her voice thick with local accent.
Jiang Mu opened her mouth, her voice a little hoarse: "Grandma, where is this place?"
"Apricot Village!"
A small head popped out from behind the old lady; it was the little girl, her voice crisp and clear.
The old woman smiled and patted the little girl's head, scolding her gently:
"You're so quick to talk. Go eat, the food's getting cold."
The little girl stuck out her tongue, then happily ran back to the table, climbed onto the stool, picked up the big bowl, and continued to slurp her food, her two little feet swaying back and forth in mid-air.
The old woman turned her head, looked at Jiang Mu, and asked kindly:
"Young man, are you hungry?"
Jiang Mu shook her head in surprise: "I'm not hungry, thank you, Grandma."
"Gurgle"
No sooner had he finished speaking than his stomach protested with an extremely uncooperative sound.
Jiang Mu blushed and awkwardly rubbed his stomach: "Um... I think I'm a little hungry."
"Giggle giggle..."
The little girl, with food in her mouth, couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The old woman smiled too:
"It's good that you're hungry. It means you're still healthy. Wait here while I get you a bowl of rice."
"Oh, right, here's an old garment. It's a bit torn, but it's clean. If you don't mind, you can wear it for now and avoid catching a cold." With that, Fu rummaged through an old wooden box and found a set of cloth clothes, placing them on the bed. Then, he took unsteady steps out of the room to get some food.
Jiang Mu gathered her clothes and was about to change.
He turned his head and found the little girl holding a bowl, staring at him with her big, clear eyes.
Jiang Mu coughed, pulled the blanket over his body, turned his back to the little girl, and put on the Qi cloth clothes.
Although the fabric is rough and chafed a bit against the skin, the size of the fly is still quite suitable.
After he finished dressing, the old lady came in carrying a steaming bowl of bran porridge.
"My family is poor, and we don't have anything good to offer you."
The old woman sighed.
"These days, with war and chaos, the crops have been ruined by those damned bandits and roving soldiers. We can only eat this kind of stuff. Don't look down on it, young man."
"Grandma, that's all."
Jiang Mu didn't stand on ceremony. He took the bowl, walked to the table, and sat down next to the little girl. He then ate the whole bowl with gusto.
The bran was rough and irritating to his throat, but he ate it with relish, as if he were a starving ghost reincarnated.
While he was eating, a small piece of cured meat suddenly fell into his bowl.
Jiang Mu was taken aback and looked up.
The little girl was shoveling small bites of wild rice porridge into her bowl, her little ears bright red.
Jiang Mu felt a warmth in her heart and smiled.
During the meal, through conversation with the old woman, Jiang Mu finally understood her situation.
This place is called Xingzi Village. Although it is under the jurisdiction of Yancheng, it is located deep in the mountains to the north, making it quite remote and isolated.
During the turmoil and war at the beginning of the Qi Dynasty, this place was spared due to its high mountains and remote location, and remained relatively peaceful.
Later, many scattered rebel troops fled here, took refuge on the mountain, and relied on the treacherous terrain to fight against the government troops, becoming a major threat.
These villages then suffered.
Occasionally, bandits would come down from the mountain to plunder, and most of the crops in the fields would be ruined.
The able-bodied laborers either escaped or were captured, leaving only the old, weak, sick, and disabled to guard their dilapidated homes.
As for himself...
Jiang Mu had a rough idea of what had happened.
At that time, he was facing off against Wenhe when he was ambushed by some expert and pierced through the heart with a sword.
Fortunately, that "scapegoat" saved him from disaster.
However, the resurrection mechanism of this substitute doll is really a bit of a rip-off.
It didn't actually revive with full health on the spot.
Instead, the corpse dissipated and reassembled, and the machine teleported it to this godforsaken place.
Moreover, he was wearing a completely basic set of equipment, and all of his gear had been destroyed.
Fortunately, the magic gauge is still there, and the star position hasn't been lost.
Furthermore, the old woman told us that he had been unconscious for five whole days.
It's been five days.
The great battle of the demon army attacking the city is probably about to begin.
What a terrible resurrection mechanism! The delay is so high, and the randomness is so strong. It's absolutely awful.
Jiang Mu was speechless and made a sarcastic remark.
"Young man, you've fled from Yancheng, haven't you?"
The elderly woman surnamed Wang asked with concern, "How is it over there now? Is it still chaotic?"
Jiang Mu snapped out of her daze and shook her head: "It's alright, but things aren't peaceful in Zheshang either."