Chapter 206 - Going to Homeward Pavilion Again

Qiao Zizhong returned to Mount Emei and said to Yan Kongcheng, “I’ve wounded Xu Fu. He won’t come back to harass Emei again.”

Yan Kongcheng gasped at Qiao Zizhong's gruesome injuries and instantly offered to heal him.

Qiao Zizhong shook his head. “Though I am wounded, it's not enough to kill me. I’ve also unlocked my Mud-Pill Secret Trove, so you can rest easy. I’ll be staying in Emei’s Medicine Hall tonight. Do not disturb me. If the night passes quietly, I will survive free of worry. If I don’t survive the night, retrieve my corpse at dawn. Skip the grieving and bury me in my tomb.”

Yan Kongcheng was terrified by what he heard. “Patriarch, do you need me to set up anything?”

Qiao Zizhong replied, “Someone plotted against me and stole many of my artifacts. Still, killing me won't be easy. You can watch while I set everything up.”

Yan Kongcheng followed him to the Medicine Hall. Around the perimeter, Qiao Zizhong set up Emei’s forbidden technique, the Nine Heavens Divine Dragon Summoning. It was a top-tier formation among immortal techniques.

Next, he set up the Myriad Heavens Celestial Phenomena Tribulation Formation on the inner perimeter. It was a grand killing formation that simulated the Heavenly Dao unleashing its tribulation.

Then, further inside, he set up the Underworld Five Ghosts Soul-Locking Technique, followed by the Greater Celestial Cycle Demon God Formation, interlocking it with the Reversed Lesser Celestial Cycle Heavenly Demon Formation.

Qiao Zizhong then set up various divine ability restrictions and Immortal Dao talismans on the Medicine Hall’s floor, walls, pillars, and ceiling. Then, he took off his robes and drew immortal talismans on himself.

Yan Kongcheng’s heart pounded with dread at the sight. “Patriarch, aren’t you healing your injuries?”

Qiao Zizhong explained, “Exorcism arts draw out profound terror. Along with Dao immersion terror and facing one’s tribulation, they are known as the Three Great Terrors.

Once he set up everything, he asked Yan Kongcheng to leave, saying, “Come see me tomorrow.”

That night, when everything was quiet, a chilling wind suddenly blew outside the Medicine Hall. The stars darted erratically across the sky like fireflies. When Yan Kongcheng stepped out to look, he saw two fiery-red moons shifting across the sky.

The red moons rolled along and stopped right over the Medicine Hall, hanging there motionlessly.

Suddenly, the red moons vanished, and the stars faded from sight.

Inside the Medicine Hall, Qiao Zizhong sensed something, and his eyes snapped open. “I laid down various formations inside and outside the hall. Fellow Daoist, your visit will cost you dearly if you attempt to breach them.”

A bizarre voice echoed from outside. It was an eerie, dual-toned blend of male and female soundscapes. Feigning warm concern, the voice asked, “Fellow Daoist, why are you injured? You always favored caution over conflict. When we were sowing seeds in the past, we happened to select the same seed, and you chose to step back rather than confront me. How could someone this cautious allow themselves to be injured?”

Qiao Zizhong remained expressionless, and his voice showed no change. “I was simply not cautious enough. Don’t follow my example, Fellow Daoist.”

The voice fell silent for a moment before saying, “If I were to follow your example, I would have charged straight in. Weakened as you are, these hastily built formations cannot stop me.”

Qiao Zizhong replied, “I can severely wound you before I die. Then, you could follow my example. Huddle in a hall, surround yourself with traps, and await your own killer.”

The voice fell silent again, sighed, and said, “Perhaps I am just lonely and wished to look for a fellow Daoist for a chat, harboring no ill intentions at all?”

Qiao Zizhong gave a cold laugh and said nothing.

The voice outside the hall chuckled. “Could it be that you hold the new sect leader of Emei in high regard and got injured for him?”

Qiao Zizhong’s expression instantly shifted. He started to stand, then realized something and slowly sat back down.

The voice outside said, “Perhaps I should invite this little fellow Daoist over.”

Qiao Zizhong replied, “Our Emei Sect has countless ancestors who ascended. In that great upheaval three thousand years ago, they kept him as the sole sprout to preserve the sect. Touch a single hair on his head, and I am sure I will be paying my respects at your grave on this day next year.”

The voice outside the hall fell silent for a long while.

Qiao Zizhong remained vigilant, not daring to let his guard down for even a moment. Just like that, morning arrived. The sun rose, and its light shone into the Medicine Hall. Just then, a faint sigh came from outside the hall and gradually faded into the distance.

Still, Qiao Zizhong didn’t dare to relax. He remained on high alert for another pot of tea’s time until sunlight flooded the hall once more.

Suddenly, the “sun” outside the hall went out, and the voice chuckled. “You’ve been cautious your whole life, Fellow Daoist. I admire that.”

His voice faded into the distance.

Qiao Zizhong waited for a while before finally relaxing.

He pushed open the doors of the Medicine Hall. The sun had just risen. Thick white mist swirled around the Emei mountains, and the golden peak was the first to bathe in the sunlight.

As if gaining a new life, Qiao Zizhong let out a long sigh of relief. “I’ve made it through.”

***

At the Fusang Tree in Yunmeng Marsh.

The weather turned cold as dawn broke. The flames on the aged Golden Crow gradually dimmed. Thus, he spread his wings and gave a forceful flap to stoke the fire back into a raging flame.

With a loud whoosh, he breathed out a blast of roaring divine fire, igniting the Fusang Tree.

Ever since he settled on the divine tree, his divine fire had frequently tempered it, and it had grown increasingly vibrant.

Xu Ying and Dazhong approached, bringing the cool morning fog. The Shang people had already started their daily labors. Many Qi Cultivators had begun their morning practice, while others prepared long spears, fishing nets, and other hunting gear.

Yuanqi came over and said, “Ah Ying! Old Ancestor Chanchan has already wiped away the markings on those treasures. She said that she’ll only take a thirty percent cut.”

Xu Ying nodded. “A thirty percent commission to launder the loot is fair. Where’s Chanchan?”

“Over there. She planned to go fishing.”

Xu Ying felt puzzled. Zhu Chanchan wasn’t one to wake up early unless there was profit to be made. Why would she volunteer to help the people of Shang catch fish?”

Amidst the crowd, Zhu Chanchan turned her head and said to him blankly, “Aba aba.”

Xu Ying’s expression darkened. “Is Master Cao addicted to this?”

He quickly pulled out a leaf from the herb of immortality. The Purple Immortal Herb immediately abandoned Zhu Chanchan, flew over excitedly, and landed on Xu Ying’s shoulder.

Yuanqi tattled, “Master Cao was still controlling me yesterday. I had planned to go find you at Emei, but it controlled me...”

Xu Ying said blankly, “Aba aba?”

Yuanqi was terrified and didn't dare say another word. Dazhong called out, “Damned weed, you’re dead meat. You dare to lay a hand on even Ah Ying? I’ll go tell Master Jin!”

The Purple Immortal Herb controlled Xu Ying and took the leaf back. Bending his head to count them, totaling four leaves, the herb felt delighted.

Dazhong woke up Jin Buyi, and the latter immediately lowered his long neck, bringing his head in front of the controlled Xu Ying. Revealing a ferocious look, he shouted, “Herb, do you know how powerful I am? Quickly let go of the young master, or I’ll... Aba?”

With the purple herb on his head, Jin Buyi raised his head in a daze and looked around. He said in bewilderment, “Aba aba?”

Yuanqi and Dazhong were scared out of their wits. They looked at the Purple Immortal Herb, trembling in fear.

Xu Ying shouted, “Master Cao, let go of Master Jin! Look what’s in my hand?”

He was about to pull out the last leaf of the herb of immortality, but his hand came up empty. Confused, he thought, Strange. Where did my last leaf go? It was there just a moment ago!

He was completely unaware that the Purple Immortal Herb had just controlled him!

Zhu Chanchan also came to her senses. Seeing him like this, she said in panic, “Haojing is still unfinished. Since you’re fine, I’ll return first! Grand Preceptor Jiang is still waiting for me to return!”

Xu Ying hurriedly said, “Chanchan, there’s no telling when the emperor of Zhou will return. Be careful, or he’ll chop off your head!”

Zhu Chanchan came up to him and whispered, “That grave weed spells trouble. It played tricks on me, keeping me in a dazed stupor. But as long as Haojing stays unfinished, I’m safe. Rest assured, I won’t let them finish it. Farewell!”

She activated the Flying Peak and flew away frantically. Suddenly, she came back and called out, “I’ve already taken my thirty-percent cut. Remember to let me know if there are more good deals like this in the future. If the quantity is huge, I’ll give you a discount!”

Xu Ying watched her fade into the distance. Master Cao is too much, scaring the girl away. But there really is true loyalty in the world. Master Cao controls others, but not me. We’re friends through life and death!

The Purple Immortal Herb controlled Jin Buyi, making him fly back and forth and spewing fire everywhere. Xu Ying waited for the right moment, grabbed the herb by the head, and pulled him out of Jin Buyi.

The immortal herb flew into a rage, and the two came to blows, turning heaven and earth upside down.

Xu Ying bled from his nose nonstop. So, he grabbed the herb by the neck and slammed his knee heavily into the area where his stem met his root, sending him rolling all over the ground[1].

Yuanqi and Dazhong felt a chill at the sight.

The Purple Immortal Herb behaved for a while, but Xu Ying, Yuanqi, and the others noticed him secretly practicing his knee-strike technique on a rock, sending a chill down their spines.

Yuanqi urged, “Ah Ying, why don’t you apologize?”

Dazhong chimed in, “That’s right!”

Xu Ying sneered, “I will not give in!”

In the end, Xu Ying backed down and apologized to the Purple Immortal Herb. “We’re all friends. I shouldn’t have attacked you with such a dirty move. I hope you can forgive me.”

The Purple Immortal Herb forgave him very magnanimously.

Xu Ying sighed in relief. He calmed his mind to refine his Golden Core and Dao arts, hone his martial Dao, and taught everything he had learned to the people of Shang.

Yuanqi also focused his mind and devoted himself to comprehending the technique in the Golden Vault Supreme Immortal Book. If I master the Great Dao of Golden Core, I’ll get one step closer to elevating my position!

His heart swelled with burning ambition. Although I can’t do anything to Master Cao or Master Jin, I can definitely take on that broken bell! One day, I’ll make him beg for mercy!

When Xu Ying wasn’t busy teaching them, he took out the artifacts he had stolen from Qiao Zizhong’s tomb and carefully refined them.

He was preparing for his journey to the underworld.

He sought to capture Meng Po on this journey. She had lived for far too long; her strength was deeply unfathomable. He had to be fully prepared for anything unforeseen.

During the division of the loot, Chanchan took a thirty-percent cut. Her share included the building with the bells that controlled the four elements. She had also taken the golden brick imprinted with the landscape Dao avatar.

Xu Ying was left with the twenty-four Mountain River Bright Moon Pearls, which were a set. When he refined them, he sensed this set of treasures was extremely formidable, with astonishing might. Each pearl was on par with Master Zhong!

Together, the twenty-four pearls formed a top-tier immortal formation!

“Patriarch Azure Frost is truly amazing. “The treasures he forged for me are just too good.” Xu Ying shook his head, sighing in admiration as he was overcome with emotion.

Aside from those, there were also treasures such as the Dao platform, waterside pavilion, covered bridge, waving-crest bridge, waterfall, and tomb-guarding beast. They were all exceptionally powerful. What caught Xu Ying’s attention the most, however, was the mural Uncle-Master Feng had painted before his death.

Uncle-Master Feng had achieved great enlightenment on his deathbed and fused all of his insights and longing for the Immortal Realm into this painting, giving it immeasurably profound power!

However, this painting was still not yet an artifact. Xu Ying needed to refine it into an artifact to unleash its might.

Xu Ying proceeded with great care as he refined it, fearful that his Dao art would corrupt this treasure and ruin the Dao resonance within the painting.

He finally refined the painting after more than ten days. It was no longer a stone wall, but a painting one could unfurl or roll up.

Xu Ying took this painting to have it mounted as a scroll, then had Dazhong and Yuanqi add a bell and a snake-shaped imprint on the blank space. Lastly, he had Jin Buyi stamp it with his Golden Crow imprint before he was done.

Xu Ying said, “This painting contains the Immortal Dao of Emei’s Uncle-Master Feng. Let’s call it the Mad Demon Painting.”

Yuanqi quickly spoke up, “Why don’t we call it the Dao Transformation Diagram? It signifies the immortal diagram Uncle-Master Feng manifested through his enlightenment at the end of his life. What do you think?”

Xu Ying’s expression softened. “Master Qi, you are indeed cultured and far above me in that regard. Master Cao, you should spend more time around Master Qi and learn from him.”

The Purple Immortal Herb entered Yuanqi’s ethereal void. From then on, Yuanqi often made “aba aba” sounds and went into a daze.

Another two days passed, and Xu Ying completed his preparations. Many of the Qi Cultivators among the Shang people came to make offerings to Jin Buyi, providing him with the six secrets’ immortal herbs, allowing him to regain a rare moment of clarity.

With all the preparations complete, Xu Ying set off immediately, heading for the underworld’s Homeward Pavilion.

He didn't know much about the Bridge of Oblivion. The last time he had stepped onto it, he was merely passing through from the Homeward Pavilion. He only found the bridge after Yuan Tiangang guided him to leave the underworld.

This time, Xu Ying brought Jin Buyi, Yuanqi, and Dazhong back to Lingling to retrace their path. Both Xu Ying and Yuanqi couldn't help but feel sentimental.

That was especially true for Xu Ying. He had seen his real hometown, Xujiaping Village, in Homeward Pavilion. At that time, Dazhong was severely wounded and unconscious, so he had no memory of that event.

When Xu Ying passed the small underworld tavern outside the Homeward Pavilion, he felt a weird sense of familiarity. He chuckled. “There are old ghosts inside. The last time we were here, they were eating people inside!”

Yet, as his gaze swept across the tavern, it was empty. Those man-eating skeletons were gone without a trace.

Yuanqi rushed over and examined the scene, then turned back and called out, “Ah Ying, someone eliminated those skeletons!”

Xu Ying was taken aback. He walked up to take a closer look, only to find many withered skeletons strewn across the floor. The bones were covered in sword marks, and the area around the marks also showed burn marks.

Xu Ying was surprised. He studied the marks carefully and found the sword intent lingering in them extremely profound. They weren’t any inferior to Mount Jiulong’s sword techniques.

“But it’s not Mount Jiulong’s sword technique!”

Xu Ying looked up at the Homeward Pavilion ahead, shrouded in green fog. He murmured, “It seems that Xu Fu was right. Aside from Yan Kongcheng, many other Qi Cultivators chosen by the immortals have survived the calamity three thousand years ago!”

A major event that would trigger upheaval across the Yuanshou Realm was quietly unfolding!

1. If you’re confused, imagine an herb having balls. ☜