“Jùqū Shan was destroyed, only some remnants remained, return the heritage to you.”
“Do not mention your interference in preventing Guo Sanhe and Wu Ling from taking the corpse of the three Immortals. As for this matter, it is a branch of the same blood within the Taoist gate. However, you must acknowledge that it is because your heart is broad that you did not claim the inheritance for yourself. Otherwise, if it were to be discussed, it would also be what Ma Zhu gave you. Even so, you could also enter Jùqū Mountain and become their patron.”
"You have not."
"Then what about the ancient Qiang city? What do they have to do with you? You have risked your life twice to eliminate the traitors, and you helped Master Liu Hong of their sect achieve a spiritual transcendence. Whether he actually transformed his spirit or not, isn't that their private matter?"
"As for Yunjinshan, I know. You offered that imperial corpse pill at the request of Tang Laoren because of him. Indeed, you will help solve Tang Laoren's troubles. With Yunjinshan's self-selected fate, they may very likely give birth to an immortal who achieves spiritual ascension."
"Are there any necessary reasons for all these things?"
"No."
"Many internal affairs of various Taoist gates are none of your business. If you have a few internal matters that require help, they will not stand idly by."
"Let's get back to the point. It is highly likely that this will enable you to strike down the corpse-bug again. What kind of improvement would occur if a True Man slays two true bugs? Nobody knows."
"The Four Great Taoist Schools are connected as one. Isn't your advancement the same as the advancement of all Taoist schools?"
"Hé Yōu Tiān's words are well-founded and logically organized."
For a moment, I couldn't find any point to argue.
According to his reasoning, the Four Great Taoist Schools would definitely go to great lengths to help, which would be the greatest support for me.
He gave my shoulder another pat before saying, "You will always be worried about this matter. Let me handle the communication with Wu Jīnluán. Master, you need to consider everything carefully, and having more cards in your hand is always a good thing."
"Go and rest," He Yōu Tiān indicated for me to enter the chamber of the Six Palaces.
I said no more.
I returned to the cave room I had always lived in, without sitting cross-legged or meditating, and lay down on the bed, drifting off to sleep.
This sleep was not tranquil, with confused and disordered dreams constantly disrupting the consciousness. However, there was no coherence in the dreams, just some fragmented images.
I woke up several times during the night, then went back to sleep, but eventually couldn't fall asleep again. I sat by the bed.
The sky was already dark, and I could see a few rays of moonlight peeking into the cave room.
I took out my phone and opened Wu Jinluan's contact number.
Putting aside those disordered thoughts, I took a deep breath.
I heard a faint footsteps in my ear, which were getting closer to the direction of the Six Palaces.
Who is it?
These footsteps were not light and agile, nor were they like He You Tian's.
Si Yan should be in the Miao Xuan Palace, and He You Tian probably rested in the Six Palaces.
I got up and went out of the cave room.
With my hands behind my back, I walked down the steps. After a moment of thought, I continued a bit further ahead. There was no need to disturb He You Tian's rest with this visitor.
Shortly, a little Taoist monk appeared in my sight.
It wasn't noticeable from a distance, but up close, she was quite beautiful. Her hair was pulled back into a bun, making her an attractive female Taoist monk.
"Little junior, Sister Lu and Old Gong asked me to fetch you," the female Taoist said, out of breath as if she had come in a hurry, almost winded.
Lao Gong.
Sister Lu.
I furrowed my brows, and remained silent for a moment.
I wrinkled my brow and remained silent for a moment, thinking that it might be something important that could be directly sought out at the Six Palaces.
Lao Gong has always been unreliable, so it's probably that he said something completely unrelated to Lu Sister, and asked me to smooth things over for him?
However, since they are already here, I can't just not go.
In addition, I indeed can't sleep, and I don't have the heart to meditate now.
Following the female Taoist, it didn't take long before we arrived at the door of the Sins and Wrongs Hall.
I had assumed that Lao Gong and Lu Sister must be at the Miao Xuan Hall. Why would they come here?
The scene of the black succubus being released and killing her disciples here still stands vividly in my mind.
After walking through a narrow path, we reached the gate of the Sins and Wrongs Hall.
Under the moonlight, the Sins and Wrongs Hall seemed like a ferocious animal's head with its mouth open.
After entering the gate, what so-called "drum-shaped hall" was actually just a cave passage with holes and niches carved into the walls.
Similar to the Six Palaces, this place is also a series of cave passageways. However, the passageways here are deeper, and each one leads to a cell.
The disciples guarding the Sins and Wrongs Hall and those in charge of the penal system were standing in front of a door, whispering among themselves. Upon seeing me, they immediately came forward to bow, "We have paid our respects to Master Junior!"
That female disciple pointed to the door and said, "Master Junior, please go in. Master Lao Gong and Sister Lu are inside."
I walked straight into the cave passage.
Once inside the innermost cell, I saw Lao Gong, who was dressed in formal attire, looking very much like a scholar.
Sister Lu furrowed her eyebrows, but looked at the heap of what appeared to be a human shape on the ground.
"Greetings, Master Junior." She then greeted me with a bow.
"Haha, Senior..." Lao Gong licked his lips and called out to me.
"How did you bring the corpse of Wu Bing here?"
Just as I finished speaking, I noticed something odd.
Because Wu Bing's corpse was actually moving slightly.
"Hmm?" I narrowed my eyes and stared at the flesh-mangled corpse.
The unsettling feeling grew stronger, and I subtly detected a hint of a soul fluctuating.
"Come out!" I channelled a hand-sized thunderbolt with one hand, but seeing Lao Gong's faint smile, I released the incantation, and my eyes showed even more doubt.
"Sister Lu is indeed meticulous. She said to check the small Wu's decaying flesh for anything unusual and left the corpse in the Sins and Wrongs Hall so that it wouldn't be taken by anyone with ill intent, posing a potential danger."
"And lo and behold, Sister Lu's sharp eyes really paid off. She found a soul-binding talisman bead. Although part of it was damaged, it's not completely broken. Guess what's inside the bead?"
Lao Gong kept chewing and wriggling his mouth, revealing an arrogant smile.
Lao Gong has always had the habit of teasing, regardless of the time.
Sister Lu furrowed her brow and gave Lao Gong a glance.
"Ho ho, come out then." Only then did Lao Gong shout out seriously.
A blue ghostly aura surged out from the decaying flesh of Wu Bing, instantly enveloping itself to form a ghostly figure.
The ghostly figure appeared very weak, as if it would dissipate at any moment.
Just then, my face changed, and I realized that this was Jiang Kuang's soul!?
In my understanding, Jiang Kuang was eaten by Wu Bing.
This matter has been on my mind. Lao Gong has a strand of Jiang Kuang's life soul, which has grown strong but still lacks consciousness, only slightly better than a wandering ghost.
It was because in my understanding, Jiang Kuang and Sun Zhuo, Xu Nuan's souls had similar fates. Wu Bing had not only eaten several dozen lives, but I didn't have any reservations back then. I directly struck him with thunder and then dispelled his soul and spirit.
How did Jiang Kuang's soul escape?
Can it still hide in a talisman bead and be brought back by us?
"Greetings, Your Lordship." Jiang Kuang's soul deeply bowed, almost touching the ground.
"How did you escape from Wu Bing?" I asked sternly.
