Warding Of Evil Spirit

Chapter 35 Danxia Performs Magic, Sword and Jade Resonate

Chu Weiyang paused briefly in the collapsed tunnel pit.

The surrounding terrain was relatively open, and although it was late spring and gradually becoming damp, it hadn't rained for several days, so the environment wasn't exactly muddy.

Leaning against a dusty bluestone slab that crumbled with the slightest touch, Chu Weiyang drew his longsword, carefully holding a square piece of animal hide in his other hand.

In the very center of the hide, amidst the fluffy fur, was a fine layer of black medicinal mud.

Now, Chu Weiyang was carefully wiping this palm-sized piece of hide onto his longsword.

According to Steward Ma, while these refined longswords of the Sword Sect standard are made of thick materials, their quality remains within the realm of ordinary iron. Therefore, no matter how repeatedly they are forged, the finished longsword only appears smooth and flawless; in reality, it still possesses flaws far more subtle than those perceived by ordinary senses.

This was originally a drawback of refined longswords, but now it has become an advantage, allowing the truly fine and smooth black medicinal mud to carefully permeate and embed itself into the roughness and flaws on the longsword's surface.

"To speak of a sword that kills, one must use every means at one's disposal, exerting all one's strength in a single strike. Only then can it be called a sword strike without regret!"

This was still the principle Steward Ma taught Chu Weiyang.

However, as an unofficial member of the Sword Sect, an escaped prisoner practicing unorthodox methods, Chu Weiyang's way of exerting all his strength in a single strike was quite different from that of 99% of the Sword Sect disciples.

Again and again, Chu Weiyang patiently and meticulously wiped the longsword's blade, carefully tending to its sharp edge, lest he cut himself.

After a long while, the originally bright silver longsword, under Chu Weiyang's wiping, turned a silver-gray color, as if it had been coated with a matte finish.

Still not satisfied, Chu Weiyang shook his wrist, and the jade snake buzzed and poked its head out, its tongue flicking, spraying a stream of venom evenly onto the sword's surface.

This was as if another layer of varnish had been poured over the matte finish. While the venom was still damp and not completely dry, Chu Weiyang picked up the animal hide covered in medicinal mud and repeatedly wiped the sword's surface.

The medicinal mud was a rare and potent poison, brewed over time. Mixed with the jade snake venom nurtured by the secret methods of the *Green Bamboo Elixir Classic*, Chu Weiyang aimed for one effect: whoever was struck by this sword should forget about antidotes and simply endure the pain – that was their only chance of survival!

*Whoosh!*

Finally, when Chu Weiyang held his longsword horizontally before him again,

the dim sword light illuminated his young, deep eyes. A fleeting glint of light seemed to be a clash of thunder and fire!

...

In the Zhaiyu Tower.

The empty hall was deserted; the tables and chairs had long since been cleared away by Chunyu Huai.

Strings of lamps, candles, and incense burners hung diagonally across the walls.

The air was filled with the smoke of incense and candles, the flickering flames creating a scene resembling a sky full of stars – seemingly chaotic, yet imbued with profound wisdom.

In just a few dozen breaths, wisps of smoke filled the narrow room, instantly transforming it into a misty haze. In the hazy light, Chunyu Huai stood in the center of the hall, a silver basin before him.

He was now taking out a jade pot, tilting it, and pouring a thick, clear liquid into the silver basin.

Immediately, a rich aroma of medicinal pills and strong liquor filled the air, quickly mingling with the sandalwood scent in the surrounding smoke.

The aroma suddenly became complex; it wasn't particularly pleasant, but even a light sniff was enough to invigorate the spirit, feeling as if it penetrated from the top of the head to the soles of the feet.

Sniffing the air, and watching as the liquid was poured into the basin, Chunyu Huai put away the jade pot. With a flick of his wrist, a stack of talismans appeared in his hand amidst a swirling of spiritual light.

Chunyu Huai picked up a talisman with his sword-like fingers, then with a flick of his two fingers, the talisman was instantly enveloped in bright yellow flames.

Seeing the fire burn brightly, without waiting for the talisman to completely burn to ashes, Chunyu Huai tossed it directly into the silver basin.

Strangely enough, the talisman, still ablaze, fell into the liquid wine in the basin without floating or sinking, merely hovering precariously in the center; the fire neither intensified nor diminished, continuing to slowly burn the talisman until it turned to ash.

And throughout, the strong aroma of wine remained, yet the wine itself was not ignited.

It seemed as if it had been anticipated.

Chunyu Huai didn't examine the silver basin closely, but with a series of similar movements, he tossed the entire thick stack of talismans into the basin.

Even though the liquid still didn't boil, the flames had already heated it to a scalding temperature, and wisps of mist rose from the basin.

Upon closer inspection, within those wisps of mist, there seemed to be specks of spiritual light, like stars appearing and disappearing, holding the mist suspended above the silver basin, preventing it from dissipating. Occasionally, when the spiritual light shone, it reflected the flames of incense and candles swirling on the walls.

It was as if a sky full of stars surrounded one, or as if a sky full of stars were before one's eyes.

Immediately afterwards, Chunyu Huai pushed aside the golden mountain and overturned the jade pillar, kneeling straight before the silver basin. He picked up three incense sticks, repeatedly kowtowing, his indistinct voice seeming to be chanting, praying, and lamenting…

“Heart-Devouring Life-Calling Incantation—”

“On the nine-tiered spiritual platform, in the eight-treasure purple palace.”

“Transforming a thousand eons to reside in Tingchang, wielding ten thousand laws to be called Danxia.”

“Crossing the Magpie Bridge to sprinkle sweet rain, crossing Kunlun to subdue dragons and tigers.”

“Hanging down the netherworld to deliver from calamity, holding up the sun to dispel disaster.”

“Because I am a disciple, I devour the heart and call life.”

“Supreme and most noble, dearest and most beloved teacher.”

“Tingchang Mountain Taoist Palace, the Spiritual Danxia Primordial Mother.”

“Supreme and most noble, dearest and most beloved teacher.”

“Tingchang Mountain Taoist Palace, the Spiritual Danxia Primordial Mother.”

“Supreme and most noble, dearest and most beloved teacher.”

"Tingchang Mountain Taoist Palace—Yanling Danxia Yuanjun, the Old Mother!"

As the words fell, the incense stick in Chunyu Huai's hand instantly burned to ashes and dust, and the smoke and mist, wrapped in spiritual light, hung above the silver basin.

The wisps of mist that had been rising now clustered around the smoke and mist, rolling and swirling together, looking like auspicious clouds swaying, like a vast sea of ​​clouds above the nine heavens, like a great sun hanging in the universe above the sea of ​​clouds!

The only bright yellow color was the shape of a cinnabar, the light of the sunset!

The next moment, the ancient voice of the Old Mother Danxia came from the great sun mirror wheel that was hanging in the void.

“Child, you’ve really gotten yourself into trouble this time. If you manage to come back to the mountains alive, Grandma won’t let you off easily! Oh, your eldest aunt said she’s going to whip your bottom with a rattan cane…”

Old Mother Danxia’s voice was extremely kind. Although she said she wouldn’t let him off easily, her gentle tone made it sound like a soft pat, as if she couldn’t bear to use any force.

But upon hearing Old Mother Danxia’s words, Chunyu Huaideng trembled like a leaf.

From beginning to end, Chunyu Huai barely dared to lift his head.

"Grandma...Grandma! Don't you call me Huai'er anymore? It's all Huai'er's fault, I was greedy and ran to Henan! I only thought this was the best opportunity, if that person had gone far away, or if that person had been detained by the Sword Sect, this matter would probably never be resolved...Grandson knows, grandson was willful, but Grandma, you have to help me..."

As he finished speaking, Chunyu Huai's sobs gradually subsided, replaced by an urgent eagerness.

The only response Chunyu Huai received was a cold laugh from Danxia Old Mother.

"There won't be a day of fulfillment? Silly child, what are you capable of? How far can you see into the affairs of this world? Do you even deserve to speak such words in front of your grandmother?"

"It's Jieyun Peak that needs to undergo tribulation to replenish its scriptures, not our Tingchang Mountain that needs to be reborn—the day we established our sect, Heaven wrote down our destiny. How can you be so unreasonable as to steal meat from someone else's bowl?"

"It's not that you're not allowed to eat, but you have to follow the proper methods and have the manners to do so!"

"Throughout ancient history and vast mountains, countless sects have risen and fallen, but have you ever heard of any sect that, when it established itself, simply and brazenly seized the lineage of another, without any shame or regard for its own tradition?"

"Even the demonic sects in Henan wouldn't be so... despicable!"

"You're ignoring all reason. Are you trying to make a mortal enemy before our Tingchang Mountain even becomes a holy land or a great sect?"

"I've raised you from such a tiny child until today, and this is the first time Grandma has truly understood your character!"

"If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have let you know about the spiritual treasures in the Sword Sect's Demon-Suppressing Cave in the first place."

"You wanted to keep it a secret, but Grandma knew from the beginning that a small portion of the spiritual treasures were with you!"

"With that small portion in hand, when they truly begin their tribulation to replenish their scriptures, when that crucial moment arrives, whether to advance or retreat, Grandma can discuss it with them. We don't need any heaven-opening sword scriptures; when we achieve our transformation, we can invite a few Golden Core cultivators to witness the ceremony, and that will magically avert sixty percent of the calamity!"

"Or, Grandma can reserve this place for you first. Having spiritual treasures means having good fortune. Then, once the deed is done, if the Jieyun Peak lineage wants to undergo tribulation to replenish their scriptures, none of their disciples will be up to par; they'll have to invite you to join them!"

"Although it's a bit awkward in terms of tradition, in order to complete the scriptures, everyone on Jieyun Peak will have to accept you, even if it's a bit of a snob."

"At that time, you will be a member of the Chunyu family of Dongshan, the good grandson of the master of Tingchang Mountain Daoist Temple, the Daoist disciple of Jieyun Peak to complete the scriptures! The future peak master! The destined Golden Core cultivator!"

"At that time, the foundations of the three families will be willingly handed over to you!"

"Grandma didn't tell you this before, but I really thought about it from the bottom of my heart. Which of these situations isn't better than your current thoughts!"

"Now that you've run off to Henan alone, if something really goes wrong and you lose your life and that spiritual object, then everything will be lost. When Grandma faces a calamity, I'll use you, my dear grandson, to take the blame. Wouldn't that be better?"

As he said this, Chunyu Huai's body trembled again. But when he heard the last part, he almost couldn't believe it and looked up at the Danxia Mirror Wheel with a look of regret.

"Grandma...this..."

As Qingyun turned around, the increasingly intense spiritual light gradually condensed, and before long, the illusory figure of the Old Mother Danxia appeared in front of Chunyu Huai.

"Child, the year you first made a mistake, the Chunyu family of Dongshan destroyed an entire village."

"The last time you made a mistake, the Sword Sect's Demon-Suppressing Cave nearly wiped out an entire mountain."

"Didn't you even see any of this?"

"Every mistake you make requires someone to pay the price!"

"That old Taoist priest Qinghai is guarding me at the mouth of the Jade Marrow River. I can't act directly, but I must find a way to protect you and that small part of the spirit."

"This is your aunt's true spirit..."

"She can't spank you with a cane anymore..."

"Your biggest mistake was teaching your aunt to give you the talisman to escape the mountain gate, and even teaching her to deceive me!"

"She is my personal disciple!"

"Grandma used a secret method to place her true spirit on your spiritual platform. Before that wisp of her true soul dissipates, she will protect you!"

"If the journey goes smoothly, perhaps a remnant of her soul will return to the mountain gate; if more misfortune befalls her..."

"This is the price you pay for your mistake!"

By the end, Chunyu Huai's eyes were red, and he stared in disbelief at the Danxia Mirror Wheel.

Amidst the layers of rosy clouds and mist, a sliver of spiritual light gathered in the palm of the illusory Danxia Mother's form. Faintly, within that wisp of dark spiritual light, a mournful wail seemed to flash by.

The sound made Chunyu Huai tremble, speechless.

In place, the Danxia Mother's face was almost devoid of any smile.

She turned her head, looking towards the river mouth, seemingly meeting Qinghai Daoist's gaze across the void.

Then, the Mother raised her hand, grasping the wandering spirit, and with a hand seal, pressed it directly into Chunyu Huai's brow.

The boy's eyes instantly darkened.

He was clearly still frozen in place, but to the Danxia Mother, it seemed as if he were meeting the gaze of another person.

"Do a good job, and if you do it well, Grandma might spare your life..."

...

Outside Lingqiu Mountain, amidst the lush forest, as dusk settled and the surrounding mist billowed, Xie Jiang and Jin Guan peered out, as if glimpsing the vastness of the world for the first time.

Jin Guan, in particular, raised his eyebrows; even the ordinary herbs seemed novel to him.

Was this the land south of the Yellow River? Was this the legendary boundless wilderness where demonic cultivators and rogue cultivators roamed freely...?

At this thought, the fragrance of the grass and earth seemed to carry the pungent, stench of demonic energy.

Just as Jin Guan was becoming increasingly exhilarated, Xie Jiang drew her sword and held it horizontally in front of her.

With a flick of her other hand, a palm-sized, sword-shaped jade talisman appeared between her fingers.

The talisman was engraved with dragon and phoenix patterns, its precious light shimmering faintly.

At first glance, Jin Guan's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"This—! Senior Sister—!"

"This belongs to Uncle Qingquan…"

"How did you bring this out!"

Hearing this, Xie Jiang glared at Jin Guan, stopping his exclamation.

"If Master hadn't given me this to protect myself, how could I sense sword intent and find that spiritual object in the vast sea of ​​trees?"

"Relying on that damn karma you carry?"

As she finished speaking, Xie Jiang held up the sword talisman and gently tapped it against the blade of her longsword.

Instantly, the sound of swords clashing echoed, continuous and unending.