Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 121 - 118: Calamity and Fortune Rely on Each Other, Receiving the Talisman

Chapter 121: Chapter 118: Calamity and Fortune Rely on Each Other, Receiving the Talisman

Beimang Mountain, Hundred Ghosts Forest.

It was not surprising for ghosts to dwell on the mountain, but this place was specially named "Hundred Ghosts" for the sheer number of specters inhabiting it.

However, twelve days ago, the Hundred Ghosts Forest welcomed a group of uninvited visitors.

Even the ferocious ghosts and ghouls had to skulk away in defeat, abandoning their homes and livelihoods.

Shortly thereafter.

A large number of the forest’s "Ghost Clapping" plants were uprooted and destroyed, and one elegant pavilion after another seemingly sprung from the ground overnight.

In the blink of an eye, the area transformed into a bustling street market, alight with lanterns and activity.

However, whether it was taverns, brothels, gambling dens, or stores... each signboard was eventually stamped with a "Life Trading" seal, all under the banner of the "Six Desires Red Dust Dao’s" Life Trading Tower.

And almost none of the revelers coming and going were mortals; they were an assembly of oddly dressed or bizarrely shaped demons and heretics.

Magicians, monks, beggars, demons... and countless individuals who had lost all human form.

The very root of magic in the cultivation world meant that unless "Precept Taboos" mandated otherwise, magicians were inevitably far removed from what was considered pure, inactive cultivation for self-improvement.

"Delightful, this ’Fetal Drunk’ brewed from the blood of mother and child is truly exquisite! Quick! Bring me the good meat as well," a Daoist called out.

"This Taoist Book actually comes from the once-leading side-door sect ’All Appearances Dao’? How much silver? I’ll buy it!"

"3, 3, 6, 12 points big! Pay up! Pay up!"

There was that disheveled beggar, sitting in the tavern, contentedly gnawing on a pristine white knucklebone that came from some unknown creature, grease dripping from his satisfied face.

There was that bitter man, who upon spending his last cent to acquire a scroll of "Xiangshan’s 72 Magic Skills," danced with joy as if he had just unlocked the door to immortality.

And then there were those male and female demons, who upon catching each other’s eye would shamelessly engage like wild animals, blatantly ignoring the public.

Correspondingly, the locals from several nearby counties suffered greatly as countless able-bodied men and young girls were dragged away for their amusement, none of whom ever returned alive.

Of course, most people on the street were just lower-tier evil beings from no particular sect or faction, their meager abilities possibly not even on par with the former "Shadowless Rat" and "Hairless Rat" brothers.

The likes of "Dragon Qi Prohibitions" and extravagant wealth were far beyond their wildest dreams.

They had purely come here to join the excitement and seek some chance at fortune.

Meanwhile, in the central tower overlooking the entire Hundred Ghosts Forest, the two principals of the Life Trading Tower were drinking sullenly.

"Sigh! Senior Brother Song, when will there ever be an end to these days?"

The portly Junior Brother Qian looked crestfallen as he guzzled cup after cup of the rich wine.

On the small table in front of him shimmered eleven identical "Life Trading Coins," but the missing twelfth only made counting them more exasperating.

Although Senior Brother Song, with deeper cultivation, had far more control than his junior, he too couldn’t help feeling some irritation and snorted coldly:

"Hmph, now we can only wait for the ’Joyful Deity’ to leave on its own.

Could we really fight to the death against such an unreasonable, weird being?"

It must be said that the two principals of the Life Trading Tower’s Junzhou branch were rather unlucky.

They hadn’t received news about the "Sacrificial Technique," nor did they know that the Luoyang King and his "Life Trading Coin" had vanished as well.

They had set off in a rush to Luoyang City because of the crucial "Qingfu Mother and Child Coins" losing connection.

But neither of them could have expected.

That what should have been an easy task would turn on its head when they rushed into Luoyang City on fast horses twelve days ago, right into the arms of the "Joyful Deity"!

It was precisely when Wang Yuan’s tribulation energy boost slowed and the "Dragon Qi Prohibition" returned to normal, repelling the "Joyful Deity" from Luoyang City.

For Wang Yuan, it was a misfortune that turned into a blessing. For the brothers, however, it was purely bad luck.

Prohibition Three: Do not collide with the "Joyful Deity," or you will immediately perish.

What’s worse is that the "Joyful Deity’s" ability is to fulfill people’s desires and augment wealth, which aligns perfectly with the two magicians practicing the "Wealth Qi" magic.

Thus, their similar paths of "Knowledge" began to attract each other.

One at the late stage of the Red Seal’s Yin God Realm, and the other at the mid-stage of the Red Seal’s True Qi Realm, Senior Brother Song and Junior Brother Qian barely managed to escape the "Weird" entity’s clutches through their combined efforts.

Yet, perhaps attracted by the superior Daoist Skill "Three Thousand Carts" preserved in the Prince Mansion’s secret treasure vault, the "Joyful Deity" continued to loiter near Luoyang City, preventing them from even daring to step out.

And as for using the "Money Box" to track down that crucially important "Life Trading Coin"?

As of today, they had been persistently holding out for twelve days with no sign of dawn in sight.

They even took the risk of setting up the Life Trading Tower in the wild and desolate hills, hoping to draw various demons and outsiders here, in the off chance that the "Life Trading Coin" would deliver itself right to their doorstep.

But still, they had come up empty-handed.

However, as the days passed, the inner fire of evil within the two magicians continued to grow, like two volcanoes approaching the brink of eruption.

Crack!

Junior Brother Qian suddenly crushed the white jade wine glass in his hand, emitting a roar like an enraged lion:

"Aaaaah! Twenty years of hard work by two generations!

Whoever disrupted our ’Qingfu Technique,’ I will surely skin you alive, burn your soul and refine your spirit. I’ll exterminate your entire household to quench the hatred in my heart!"

All the copper coins throughout the street market resonated with the piercing buzz of that furious bellow.

...

Wangren Town, Silent Chamber.

The turmoil of the outside world had yet to reach this place.

Wang Yuan, clad in a thin shirt and barefoot, sat cross-legged on a cushion.

Red and white lights, like small snakes, continuously flowed in and out of his mouth and nose, casting a bright sheen on Wang Yuan’s face.

Today marked the twelfth day after the chaos in the city, and tomorrow would be the grand occasion when the Court conducts the "Sacrificial Technique for a Bountiful Harvest of the Five Grains."

It might also be the turning point for the entire Dynasty and the fate of its countless citizens.

The last person controlled by the "Life Trading Coins," Wind Officer Zhu, had already delivered the three "Rashamon Bones" into the hands of the three unfortunate souls on the list.

They wouldn’t die anytime soon but would slowly and continuously transfer "Official Energy" to Wang Yuan for his cultivation.

Besides,

Having consumed the "Deceit Meat Ganoderma" that Old Taoist Ge had transformed into, Wang Yuan had traversed a path that might take others years to complete in just a dozen days.

Both the "Dao Foundation" of the Magician and the "Non-Human" body of a Daoist Soldier had now reached a critical juncture!

Although the stage before "Immortality Dao Fruit" is called "Corpse Dissection," it doesn’t mean the body becomes useless.

Even a simpleton knows the principle of not dismantling the bridge until crossing the river; hence, the body of a Magician remains incredibly important before dissection.

"Receiving Talisman into Enlightenment" signifies: "From mortal to sage, from the beginning to the end, first follow the Taoist Talisman, then ascend to truth."

In any sect, this step is of utmost importance. Once a disciple takes this step, they become the backbone of their sect, unable to switch allegiances.

Regrettably, in Yin Mountain Taoism,

Wang Yuan himself was the Grandmaster, bearing significant roles such as the holder of the "Small Book of Life and Death" of Yin Mountain Taoism, the Taoist Master, the Sect Master Marshal, and the sole disciple... among other indispensable responsibilities.

After much consideration, he could only opt for simplicity.

He meditated with closed eyes, envisioning a "Taoist Inheritance True Talisman" in his mind.

Boom!

The "Heavenly Gate" thus opened.

Wang Yuan’s consciousness soared once again, instantly penetrating the Nine Heavens Que.

He channeled a strand of pure energy that harmonized yin and yang from between heaven and earth, slowly descending and merging with the visualized true talisman, forming an almost invisible "Dharma Seal."

The "Dharma Seal" gently emitted a misty, reddish halo, guided by a glimmer of light from Wang Yuan’s heart into his dantian.

Upon introspection,

It seemed as though a fiery red sun had suddenly descended on top of the "Dao Foundation" shaped by the "Five Senses Altar City."

In an instant, it was as if heavenly thunder ignited earth fire, with true fire refining true gold.

Amidst the crimson light, numerous talismanic scripts and seal writings appeared like exotic flowers and odd trees, towers and palaces layer upon layer, manifesting unsteadily.

At the highest point of the altar, Lady Peach Fairy, holding the "Five Senses Mandala Seal," sat still and immovable like a mountain.

After a moment, when the fire was just right, Wang Yuan sent down a glimmer of his "Heart Light," which fiercely landed in the bosom of Lady Peach Fairy.

"Divine Power Skill" instantly penetrated her as well.

The "Five Senses Altar City Method" inside Lady Peach Fairy’s body was merely an extension of Wang Yuan’s "Earthly Que Golden Book," with Wang Yuan as the branch and the senses as the leaves.

Without reapplying the arduous effort, as Wang Yuan’s cultivation improved, the senses naturally rose with the tide, fate bound together.

Clang——!

The sound of heavenly music echoed.

The jade buildings and treasure trees within the dantian contracted rapidly, transforming into a dazzling "Divine Power Talisman."

Within it lay a jade-colored treasure city and an exquisite view of the Immortal Palace, surrounded by clouds, with what seemed like a Prince in Crown Robe sitting at the very top, flanked by Qingyi female officials standing behind with grace.

Brilliant light shone all around, piercing through his limbs and bones.

The Dao Foundation and the divinely bestowed "Dharma Seal" finally merged into a unique "Divine Jade City Seal" belonging solely to Wang Yuan!

However, no one knew what experiences had unfolded for Lady Peach Fairy during this merging process.

Though she was a ghost, her complexion now glowed with rosy health; her eyes, watery as if about to drip water, radiant and indescribably beautiful with the charm of blooming peach and plum blossoms.

At the same time, Wang Yuan’s Non-Human body also broke through, stepping into the "Small Success Realm."

Divine Soul and body, resonating inside and out.

Wang Yuan let out a low shout,

"White Tiger Military Skill! Devour for me!"

In a corner of the dantian, the "Dharma Seed" formed by the "Gathering Beasts Magic Skill" and the "Transformation into Tiger Technique" seemed to be pulled by an invisible black hole and suddenly vanished.

Simultaneously, two streams of heat circulated through his body, then greedily absorbed by every inch of his flesh like ravenous beasts in the blink of an eye.

Merging into one with his own "Imperial Decree Tiger Talisman" and "Soul Capturing and Spiritual Communication."

In an instant,

Thunder roared within Wang Yuan’s body, and with a shake, he transformed into an enormous White Tiger.

Originally the White Mountain Lord was only three meters tall, but his size had now exploded to almost four meters, his golden-green eyes emanating formidable presence!

The cultivation of "White Tiger Elite Soldiers" in the third realm "Spirit Communication Transformation" was precisely to become a true White Tiger.

He could naturally accommodate the similar paths of "Gathering Beasts" and "Tiger Transformation," consuming them completely without waste.

This allowed him to possess some of the "Transformation" abilities even in the second realm!