Below the ground, inside the cave.
In the dim environment, there were a few hundred figures that were extremely tense.
No matter it's Tian Lingsi and the accompanying personnel, Peng Xiao, Fa Zhen and other Daoist and Buddhist monks, or the rich people, hunters and so on, all of them raised their ears to listen to the sound outside the mountain.
These people all shared a common trait: their faces were exceptionally pale.
Alas, yesterday the King of Ghosts and the four ghost generals sucked their vitality, how could their faces not be pale?
Now that everyone heard Tian Lingsi say that someone came to save them, naturally everyone paid extra attention.
Tian Lingsi, his retinue, Peng Xiao, Fa Zhen, and the many cultivators were all familiar with Chen Yun's formidable reputation, and each of them was more expectant than anxious.
In their view, Chen Yun was able to slay the dark realm, Yin Wuji in the vicinity of Emei Mountain and make a huge name for himself. This is definitely due to his incomprehensible martial arts skills. Winning over the ghost general and over ten thousand ghost soldiers this time is not impossible either.
However, a group of wealthy people and hunters were unaware of Chen Yun's astonishing achievements. After all, this is the land of Beichuan, which according to the territory division of the Tang Dynasty, neither belongs to Dongchuan nor Xichuan. It is part of the Southern Western Road. Not having heard of Chen Yun's reputation is something quite normal.
Therefore, this group of wealthy people and hunters are more tense than they are expectant.
They didn't think that the "Chen Piao Daoist Master" mentioned by Tian Lingsi had the ability to subdue the ghost general.
Nevertheless, these people still made an effort to listen to the sounds outside.
Indeed, the sounds outside were extremely loud. From the initial roar of thunder like an earthquake, to later "dragon howls," earthquakes, and thunder and rain clashing, it only lasted for a short while like a censer-ful flame.
Suddenly, the outside world fell silent.
Not to mention, the Marquis Ma couldn't contain himself any longer. He carefully looked at Tian Lingsi and asked weakly, "Vice Minister Tian, do you really mean that the Chen Pu Daoist Master you mentioned has the great ability to subdue the ghost general?"
Tian Lingsi looked in the direction of the voice, although he couldn't see anything, but he heard someone questioning Chen Yun's magical power. He immediately became cold and stern, "You little marquis official dare to question the Daoist Master?"
Hearing the dissatisfaction in the other person's tone, Marquis Ma quickly shrank his neck and said, "I dare not, how could I dare to question the great magic of the venerable Master?"
Although Marquis Ma is called a "Wai Yuan," he is not actually a "Wai Yuan Lang."
He bought the title of "Wai Yuan" with money, hence he was referred to as "Wai Yuan."
The practice of selling official positions and titles was very prevalent during the Tang Dynasty.
In the 29th year of Emperor Xuanzong's Kaikuan period, there were nearly 19,000 registered officials. One of them was bought with money.
Marquis Ma obtained his official position through the practice of buying and selling official titles.
As for the wealthy people being referred to as "Wai Yuan," it was not yet a popular term during the Tang Dynasty. It became more prevalent during the Song Dynasty.
Tian Lingsi could crush Marquis Ma as easily as stepping on an ant.
It is precisely because of this that Marquis Ma is so sensitive to Tian Lingsi's tone and immediately apologizes as soon as he senses anything amiss.
Another hunter, hearing that even such a high-ranking official as Tian Lingsi held the title "Chen Xianshe," suddenly revealed curiosity and asked, "Vice Minister Tian, how powerful is Chen Xianshe? What does he look like? Can you tell us?"
"Yes, Vice Minister Tian, please tell us."
"We are extremely curious about Chen Xianshe."
All the rich people and hunters opened their mouths.
To be honest, not to mention these hunters and rich people.
Even the cultivators like Peng Xiao and Fa Zhen, and the others, have only heard of Chen Yun's amazing feats and do not know what he looks like in reality.
Thus, everyone turned to look at Tian Lingsi, hoping to hear his description.
Tian Lingsi had no idea how powerful Chen Yun was or what he looked like.
It was just that he had been praising Chen Yun all this time, and now that someone was asking about him, if he couldn't answer, it would seem like he was making up nonsense.
"Cough." Tian Lingsi coughed and, based on the information he received, introduced briefly, "The Daoist Master Chen is truly remarkable. A few days ago, near Emei Mountain, there was a demon causing trouble. It was said that this demon also brought over more than a thousand ghost soldiers and generals. Daoist Master Chen heard about it and rushed over to subdue and suppress both the demon and the more than a thousand ghost soldiers and generals. He was truly formidable."
"Aiyo wei!"
"Chen Xianshe, the old man, is so powerful!"
"Sigh, easily subduing and suppressing more than a thousand ghost soldiers. Even though the ghost general has over ten thousand ghost soldiers on our side, if Daoist Master Chen were to come here himself, it is probably within ten moments that he could subdue them all."
The rich people and hunters couldn't help but be amazed.
About this matter, Peng Xiao, Fa Zhen, and other cultivators have all heard of it and know that Tian Lingsi hasn't been making up nonsense.
However, the most interesting thing that everyone is interested in has not yet been discovered.
Peng Xiao asked about this, "Vice Minister Tian, do you know what Daoist Chen looks like?"
Tian Lingsi originally intended to talk about Chen Yun's achievements and then brush it off, as he also didn't know what Chen Yun looked like. However, Peng Xiao, the "immortal," actively asked this question. Tian Lingsi couldn't evade the question any longer, so he described according to the secret report: "I have a slight idea of this matter. It is said that Daoist Master Chen is over four to five zhang in height, with blue-faced fangs and hair like vermilion sand. He has wind and thunder wings on his back and looks extremely fierce and terrifying. His appearance is that of a Daoist deity!"
"Alas!"
"Four to five zhangs in height?"
"Blue-faced fangs, hair like vermilion sand, and wind and thunder wings on his back?"
"My heavens, Daoist Chen is too formidable, isn't he?"
The rich people and hunters exclaimed in surprise one after another.
Peng Xiao and Fa Zhen, among others, were not so ignorant. Upon hearing Tian Lingsi's description, they knew that it was a "Daoist body" or some kind of "transformation" that Chen Yun had, which meant they still didn't know what Chen Yun really looked like.
Peng Xiao furrowed his brow and continued to ask, "Vice Minister Tian, did you mean the physical appearance of Daoist Brother Chen, or rather his powerful manifestation through the use of Daoist transformations or something like that? Do you know what his real appearance is like?" Peng Xiao was waiting to thank Chen Yun firsthand after they were released so as not to mistake him.
Fa Zhen also added, "Yes, Vice Minister Tian, do you know?"
Tian Lingsi truly didn't know how to answer. However, since he had boastfully spoken so much earlier, if he said he didn't even know Chen Yun's real appearance, wouldn't people think he was making things up?
Being one who values face, Tian Lingsi had to forcefully invent a response. "Well, you know, Daoist Master Chen...um, the old man...yes, the old man has a child-like appearance and white hair, which is why I call him an old man. After all, you'll see him out there with white hair and a godly demeanor; that must be him for sure."
Well, in his mind, the appearance of a immortal must have looked something like this.
The group secretly committed to heart the "appearance" of Chen Yun, thinking that they would thank him properly afterward.
Just as everyone had finished speaking,
Suddenly, a beam of light shone into the cave from the front, illuminating the entire space as if it were daytime.
Feeling the intense light, many people hurriedly turned their heads to look.
Shortly after, everyone saw a striped tiger and a terrifying mountain demon approaching from afar.
Seeing this, everyone except Peng Xiao and Fa Zhen, among other cultivators, were terrified and trembling, fearing that they would be eaten by the tiger and the mountain demon.
Little did they know that at the moment when everyone was terrified, a young man's voice came from the back of the tiger, "Are all of you alright?"
Although Peng Xiao and Fa Zhen, among other cultivators, were blocked by the demonic Qi, their experience remained.
Hearing the voice of the young man, Peng Xiao, Fa Zhen, and other cultivators knew that someone must have subdued the ghost general outside, otherwise it would not have been possible for anyone to enter. As for the striped tiger and mountain demon, they were most likely spirit animals raised by a friend of theirs.
Peng Xiao hurriedly said, "Comrade, we are fine, but the ghost general has sealed our abilities with demonic Qi, so we cannot use them."
As he spoke, the striped tiger and the mountain demon were already getting closer.
Everyone only then noticed that a youthful Daoist with a clear appearance and a magnificent posture was sitting on the tiger's back.
Tian Lingsi, the rich people, the hunters, and others immediately realized that the striped tiger and mountain demon were spiritual beasts of immortals and would not harm them, so they breathed a sigh of relief.
The youthful Daoist turned his head and looked at the mountain demon, "Master, please help us expel the demonic Qi from our bodies."
"Yes, master."
Gong Juji mobilized the demonic Qi and released it, instantly enveloping everyone present.
A moment later, he retrieved the demonic Qi.
Peng Xiao, Fa Zhen, Tian Lingsi, and Marquis Ma, among the one hundred or so people, immediately felt as if the "chains" around their bodies had been removed. A sense of ease flooded over them.
"Thank you, Daoist, for saving our lives."
"Thank you, Daoist."
"Thank you for saving our lives, Daoist friend."
A group of people hurriedly stood up to express their gratitude.
Chen Yun didn't get off the tiger's back and just waved his hand. "If everything is alright, please go ahead and leave the cave. I will just stay here for a moment to check if there are any remaining ghost soldiers, so as not to cause trouble for the people of Li Zhou."
Peng Xiao and Fa Zhen, how smart they were! At the first sound of this, they immediately realized that the young Daoist in front of them was definitely going to search for some treasure.
The two men exchanged a glance, and both saw confirmation in each other's eyes.
Peng Xiao slightly nodded and said, "We, a group of dozens, came to attack the ghost general. Although I and my fellow cultivators, including Dao Zhen, were captured, many other cultivators managed to escape. It wasn't because our abilities were superior to theirs; it was because they escaped in the right direction."
Hmm?
Escaped in the right direction?
Chen Yun realized that the other party was reminding himself and smiled as he looked over, saying, "Please enlighten me."
Peng Xiao stretched out his finger in the direction to the east, "There seems to be something that the ghost general and his troops fear over there, Daoist friend, you might as well take a look."
Chen Yun bowed, "Thank you, friend, for pointing out the way for Chen Yun."
Peng Xiao smiled and said, "It should be us who thank you for saving our lives."
"Namo Amitabha Buddha." Fa Zhen clasped his hands and bowed, "I am deeply grateful for the great kindness you have shown in saving our lives today. I will never forget it. In the future, if you need anything, the Chan sect of Nanling will certainly offer its full support."
The other dozens of cultivators all echoed the words of Master Fa Zhen.
Nanling Down refers to a Buddhist term, with Nanling indicating the Southern Hualetan Chan Master of the Tang Dynasty, and down, meaning to dispatch or descend.
It refers to the lineage of the Southern Hualetan Chan Master, a disciple of the Sixth Ancestor Huineng, as opposed to the lineage derived from the same disciple Qingyuan Xingsi, known as "Qingyuan Down."
Fayu is also a disciple of the Sixth Ancestor Huineng.
Chen Yun suddenly remembered that he had previously made friends with Huayan, a disciple of the Wolf Mountain Saint.
The Dharma Field of the Wolf Mountain Saint is called Guangjiao Chan Temple, which belongs to the Chan school. The Wolf Mountain is considered a sacred place for the Great Blessing Bodhisattva and the Saintly Bodhisattva, holding a high status in Buddhism and being respected as the first among the Eight Minor Famous Mountains of Buddhism.
In addition, the Wolf Mountain is known as the First Mountain of the River and Sea.
Chen Yun was well aware of these facts, and after a moment of thought, he replied with a bow, "I am not worthy. What is your name, Daoist? I have known Master Huayan, a disciple of the Wolf Mountain Saint, in the past. Since you are also a disciple of Chan Zen, we are not outsiders."
"Poverty is the Dharma," Fa Zhen said with a look of emotion, "My name is Fa Zhen. It turns out that you and Master Huayan, the disciple of the Great Saint of the Wolf Mountain who embodies the Bodhisattva Guanyin, are old acquaintances. Indeed, we are not outsiders. May I ask for your surname and full name?"
Upon hearing this, all the people present, including Peng Xiao, Tian Lingsi, and Marquis Ma, as well as a hundred or so others, turned to look at Chen Yun's face, eager to know who this young Daoist really was.
Chen Yun only then realized that the Bodhisattva of Great Power was an incarnation of the Bodhisattva Guanyin. He introduced himself, "I am Chen Pu, a disciple of Zhengnanshan Jingyang Cave Transmission Daoist Temple, under the tutelage of Zhengyang Zhenren."
"Ah?"
"You are Chen Pu Immortal?"
"Is Chen Pu Immortal so young?"
The crowd was greatly surprised, whispering among themselves with looks of disbelief.
At the same time, everyone turned to look at Tian Lingsi, seemingly at a loss.
Where is the supposed white hair, child-like appearance, and godly demeanor?
The godly demeanor is there, but where is the white hair and child-like appearance?
At first, when everyone heard Tian Lingsi's description of Chen Yun's appearance, they thought he was an old immortal.
Unexpectedly, he was so young, truly surpassing everyone's expectations.
Especially Peng Xiao, Fa Zhen, and other cultivators were greatly astonished in their hearts.
They never imagined that Chen Yun, at such a young age, had slain the dreaded Yin Wuji on Mount Emei.
Now that he has entered the cave, it must be assumed that he has subdued the ghost general and tens of thousands of ghost soldiers.
Although this Chen Daoist looks young, he actually has extraordinary great powers!
Seeing the doubtful gazes thrown their way, Tian Lingsi felt a bit embarrassed in his heart, but his skin was too thick to care. He acted as if he didn't see the looks of the crowd and walked straight to Chen Yun with a smarmy look on his face. He thumped his head to the ground with a heart full of gratitude and said gratefully: "Thank you for saving my life, Chen Daoist. Tian will never forget this kindness."
Chen Yun looked at him carefully, "You are Tian Lingsi of the Angels?"
Tian Lingsi quickly raised his head with a smile and said, "That's me."
Chen Yun nodded slightly with a smile, "Since you are safe and sound, that is good. I have some things to attend to. We will meet again in Li Zhou City later."
Tian Lingsi dared not disturb Chen Yun's busyness, "Master, you go ahead and attend to your matters. I will wait at the Prefecture of Li Zhou City."
Chen Yun hummed in agreement, but did not say much more to the crowd. He left the cave with Gong Juji in the lead and headed east.
......
Spend a moment with spiritual awareness to search.
Chen Yun sensed an unusual energy fluctuation beneath the ground.
It can't exactly be called an energy fluctuation. In any case, his spiritual awareness, upon touching that energy, simply vanished.
What surprised him the most was that he could clearly feel that his spiritual awareness had been cut off, rather than absorbed by that energy.
"It must be some treasure!"
Chen Yun rode on the tiger spirit, leading Gong Juji, and followed the energy to its source.
In a deep cave about two or three miles in, there is a stone tomb.
When Chen Yun and Gong Juji arrived at the stone tomb, they found that a large opening had been broken in it, and inside there was a bronze casket, inscribed with many symbols.
This was not what most attracted Chen Yun. He exerted his eyesight and found a set of golden, radiant skeleton lying inside the bronze casket. The skeleton had no clothing, but it still held a five-color glass model tower that was about half a foot long and perfectly fit in one's palm.
Upon seeing this tower, Gong Juji was terrified and shouted loudly, "Master, this tower is truly terrifying! Just standing here makes me feel like it's going to swallow me up!"
Hmm?
The treasure that was used to subdue the ghost general and tens of thousands of ghost soldiers must be this five-color glass tower.
Chen Yun didn't hesitate and stepped forward to take the tower from the golden skeleton's hand, eager to see what kind of treasure it was.
(The end of this chapter)
