Above the Great Dao
Chapter 328 - 166: Unreasonably Strong_2

Chapter 328: Chapter 166: Unreasonably Strong_2

"When will I be able to return to Xinxiang and continue living my life as a rich man?" the bearded giant mumbled to himself.

"I miss the days when I lived in the mountains as an Evil Spirit," said Green Sheep.

In Gongzhou City, inside the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion tea house, the wait staff and the Shopkeeper had long since turned into Stone People, but incredibly, there were still people drinking tea on the top floor, and the low sounds of a pipa came from the building, light and lively.

Madam Hua’s pipa music floated in the air, moving by itself, each note pleasing to the ear.

Dingding brewed the tea, carrying a stone teapot over, first pouring tea for the person in green across from Madam Hua, and then for Madam Hua herself.

The person in green gently tapped on the table in time with the pipa music, looking out the window. He had a perfect view of the happenings at the Daxing Zen Temple, taking in the battle between the old beggar and the golden-bodied Buddha.

"The beggar is going to suffer a loss."

The person in green smiled, grey and white hair intermingled at his temples, and said to Madam Hua, "The beggar is indeed formidable. Zen Master Ku’s flesh body is extremely powerful, yet he can still stand toe-to-toe with him, which is admirable. His realm has improved compared to ten years ago; he is now in the God Refining Realm. And you, Madam, your understanding of music theory has greatly progressed."

Madam Hua laughed, "Thank you, Musician, for your guidance."

The musician in green shook his head, "You have the talent, and it is right for you to follow this path. I merely spared you some detours."

His eyes flickered as he said, "The Five Lakes Wanderer is dead, yet he has succeeded. A dead man has indeed been resurrected."

Madam Hua saw his expression and laughed, "If you are interested in Water and Fire Refining, I could indeed find a way to procure it for you."

The musician in green said, "I am indeed interested in the Cultivation Technique of Water and Fire Refining, but what is even more intriguing to me is that someone has truly been resurrected after being dead for eight years."

Dingding knew he was talking about Chen Shi and couldn’t help feeling nervous.

Madam Hua, with a smile on her face, said, "This Demon poses a greater threat. If it grows in power, with Zen Master Ku’s golden body, it would be enough to sweep everything away. Shouldn’t you deal with this Demon first, sir?"

The musician in green said, "I’m not interested in it."

Madam Hua sipped her tea.

Independents often act according to their interests. Some, despite being the right thing to do and even with the greatest benefits, won’t be bothered if there is no interest. And there are things clearly wrong, where they would bear infamy, but as soon as they are intrigued, they pursue them eagerly, not caring even if the world was to fall apart.

Independents are such a group of people.

The musician in green suddenly looked into the distance, squinting, and said, "Several old acquaintances have also arrived. Are they here to watch the battle, or to observe the living Corpse Resolving Immortal?"

Madam Hua looked in that direction but saw nothing out of the ordinary, nor sensed any abnormal aura. She felt a chill: "Musician’s cultivation is still far above mine."

Just as she thought this, a dusty carriage hurried past below. Inside sat a handsome man who seemed to notice their gaze and looked up towards them.

"Xiao Wangsun? He has also arrived. It looks like he rushed here from outside the city. This place is clearly a Demon Domain, yet he dares to come in. Quite bold."

Madam Hua was momentarily startled, feeling emotional, she whispered softly, "In today’s world, there’s no one with the surname Zhu anymore."

The musician in green watched Xiao Wangsun, saying, "Even if there was, who would dare claim that name? Do they have a death wish? They would have to hide it."

The carriage drove past, and Xiao Wangsun did not go upstairs. Instead, he entered an inn where the staff and Shopkeeper had also become Stone People, everyone in the shop turned to stone, with no one to tend to the business.

Xiao Wangsun approached the front desk, took out his coin pouch, and selected a piece of Silver, placing it on the counter, "Shopkeeper, a top room, for three days."

He then took another piece of Silver and tossed it to the waiter’s chest, "Please park my carriage in the backyard, make sure my horse has enough fodder, and an extra meal tonight. It must not go hungry."

He went to his room upstairs, set down his luggage and pushed open the window to look out, with a perfect view of the battle at the Daxing Zen Temple.

He watched quietly, saying nothing.

These past days, he had been chased by Jin Hongying. First, he fled to Lingnan, then to the Western Capital, finally shaking off Jin Hongying just in time for the eruption of the Demon Domain in Gongzhou, and willingly entered the Demon Domain, finding tranquility in the chaos.

"There are many familiar faces in the city," he thought silently.

Around the inn, the rustling of footsteps could be heard. On the roof of a nearby building, a bizarre person appeared, squatting like a large monkey on the ridge, his ears swiftly enlarging, big ears flapping in the wind, facing the direction of Xiao Wangsun’s room, listening attentively.

Meanwhile, in other directions, six or seven Heaven Listeners were also leaning in to listen to the movements inside the guest room.

Xiao Wangsun had long grown accustomed to these presences; his glance merely swept past them before retracting.

Since his childhood, many Heaven Listeners had been around him, monitoring his words.

He had since become reticent, only speaking more when he could shake off the Heaven Listeners.

Chen Shi and others returned to Red Mountain Hall. Red Mountain Lady hurriedly brought over a basin of water. Chen Shi took a bit of the Black Pot’s blood, drew a Taotie Swallowing Sky Talisman on the back of the basin, then filled it with water and placed Madam Minjiang inside to be nurtured.

The Black Carp Dragon swam around in the small basin, but atop its head, an old crone with a walking stick slowly ascended and, once on the ground, thanked Chen Shi, "Thank you, young man, for the rescue. Otherwise, I’m afraid I would have ended up inside a human’s stomach."

Before Chen Shi could reply, Red Mountain Lady whispered, "Scholar, were you preparing to eat her?"

Chen Shi shook his head.

Red Mountain Lady sighed with regret.

"There were past grievances, please forgive me, Lady," the old crone quickly apologized to the red-dressed young girl.

Red Mountain Lady, with her straightforward nature, laughed, "In the past, you colluded with others to attack me. I don’t hold grudges, because I’ve also hit you before."

She let go of past hatred and squatted beside the basin, amusing herself with Madam Minjiang’s True Body.

Chen Shi said, "It was merely justice served on the road. Granny, there is no need to take it to heart." freēwēbnovel.com

Madam Minjiang asked, "What about Master Cao? Did he escape?"

Chen Shi shook his head.

Madam Minjiang sat on a stone bench in the corridor, lost in thought, then suddenly burst into tears, "When he was little, he used to play in the river a lot, swimming, diving, catching fish. Several times he nearly drowned, and I would lift him up and send him to the shore, watching as his parents took him home. Later, his parents brought him back to the river to scatter food, kowtow, and burn incense, making him bow to me as his godmother. I didn’t care for that food."

She rambled on about the past like an elderly person, "...I watched him grow up slowly; he became a Scholar and was overjoyed, telling me by the river he had passed the exam. Originally, he was the top in the county, but because a high official’s son also took the Scholar exam, his top place was taken. I was happy for him too. Later he got married, led his wife to meet me at the river. I didn’t like that woman, but it was fine since he liked her. Later he passed the imperial examination and was even happier, but gradually the smile faded from his face. He waited many years, and the court did not give him an appointment. That year a great flood killed many people, and he decided to set up the Cao Elder Association and go to the provincial city. I told him we’re country folk, not city people."

As she spoke, tears poured down like rain.

"He didn’t listen to me, he insisted on going, saying a man should strive to make something of himself..."

Red Mountain Lady squatted beside her, gently consoling her, patting her back.

Chen Shi said to Li Tianqing, "Tianqing, after we pass the exam, will we also be put aside for many years?"

Li Tianqing helplessly said, "Do you think there will still be an imperial examination this year? Even if there is, your name is still on the wanted list."

The robust rabbit Yu Tiancheng approached Chen Shi and inquired, "Scholar, could Red Mountain Lady’s True Body also fit into the basin?"

He paused, then said, "I always feel it’s not very safe for her to stay here."

Chen Shi’s eyes lit up, "It’s worth a try."

Yu Tiancheng immediately fetched another basin and Chen Shi took some more of the Black Pot’s blood to draw a talisman on the back of it.

Red Mountain Lady’s True Body was the Blood Taisui, a flesh mountain.

Chen Shi displayed the basin, channeled his Qi-Blood, activated the talisman, and the basin floated in the air above the Blood Taisui. The talisman on the back shone brightly, illuminating the Blood Taisui, which shrank smaller and smaller until it was enveloped under the basin.

Chen Shi turned the basin over and the Blood Taisui quietly lay inside.

The onlookers were astounded.

Suddenly, Yu Tiancheng said, "Scholar, since ancient times, talismanic magic has been inseparable from Spell. If you can understand such talismans, can you also cast them as Spells?"

Chen Shi’s mind thundered, leaving him speechless, a path he had never considered before unfolding before him.

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