Chapter 66.2 Deserted Village 08
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Chen Yang: “There’s no time to venture out and locate the seven energy gates in the deserted village.”
“I know, that’s why I’m using the Soul-Sealing Formation. I’m going to use seventeen copper coins to create a makeshift miniature version of the seven gates, trapping all the starving ghosts outside in the formation. Then, I’ll use the method of sending ghosts to earth to send them all into hell.” Liu Quanning held seventeen copper coins in his palm.
These ancient copper coins were infused with the essence of children’s eyebrows. The Yang energy of children’s blood and eyebrows far surpassed that of any other substance, including cinnabar. By utilizing seventeen ancient copper coins to create a makeshift miniature version of the seven gates, the practitioners could effectively seal off the Yin energy within the formation. Once trapped, the starving ghosts could then be banished to the underworld using the sending ghosts to earth technique.
Suddenly, a loud ‘clang’ echoed. Celestial Master Qian looked over to see his Seven-Star Sword tilted by the impact of the starving ghosts. “These starving ghosts are indeed fierce.”
Chen Yang: “When they have absorbed the vital energy from blood and flesh, it’s normal for them to become more aggressive.” After starving for hundreds or thousands of years, when they finally feed on blood and flesh, they become even more ferocious. From the small window above their heads, squeaking sounds indicated that, in addition to the child-eating starving ghosts, other starving ghosts were crazily crawling in through the window. However, their swollen bellies got stuck, preventing them from coming out. “Perfect, blocking the other starving ghosts. Master Liu, let’s do as you said—create a mock seventh vital energy points and send the ghosts to earth.”
Liu Quanning handed twelve ancient copper coins to Chen Yang and Celestial Master Qian, keeping two for himself. Chen Yang and Celestial Master Qian, each holding copper coins, ran in different directions from the turret. Some starving ghosts, sensing human energy, roared and chased after them.
The seven vital energy points corresponded to the Big Dipper’s seven stars, making it relatively easy to fabricate. Chen Yang quickly buried the coins at each of the seven vital energy points, while on the other side, Celestial Master Qian did the same. They returned to the turret and closed the door behind them. With his shoulder against the door, Chen Yang said to Liu Quanning, “Just one more vital energy point left.”
The final vital energy point was where Liu Quanning stood. As he buried the coin in the vital energy point and activated the formation, the breeze stopped, and all the life force in the formation stopped flowing. Ordinary people might not be very sensitive, feeling only a bit restless and uncomfortable, but the starving ghosts outside were greatly affected by the formation. They stopped their attacks and wandered in place.
Chen Yang opened a crack in the door and looked outside. A two-meter-tall starving ghost suddenly pounced over, opening its mouth full of sharp barbs. Chen Yang stared at it without moving. After a while, it turned around and continued to wander.
Indeed, it couldn’t see him. Chen Yang signaled “OK” to Liu Quanning, who then plunged the dagger deep into the ground and loudly exclaimed, “Those who resist me shall die… by my true yang! Urgent as a decree!”
Yang energy poured down, converging into a dazzling golden light that gradually enveloped the starving ghosts within the formation. The earth split open, revealing molten lava, catching the starving ghosts off guard as they screamed and fell into hell. Others, in fear, scattered in all directions or searched for patches of ground to stand on. However, skeletal ghost hands emerged from the magma hell, grabbing the ankles of the starving ghosts and dragging them inside.
In the hell, countless malevolent ghosts endured torment. Once the hell opened, they eagerly climbed upward, often reaching the top only to fall back down. Hence, encountering anything standing on the surface made them resentful, pulling those entities into the hell as well.
As the Yang energy gradually weakened, Liu Quanning, relying on the Yang energy of the mountains and rivers, still struggled against the Yin energy of the starving ghosts. Although the deserted village was a mountainous area, its Yang energy had long been eroded by Yin energy. The ground where Liu Quanning stood began to crack, and if he lost, he would be dragged into hell.
Zhao Yao’s eyes widened. “It’s dangerous!”
The old professor glanced at her. “Aren’t you afraid it’ll blind your dog eyes?”
“What are dog eyes compared to a celestial master? Although I can’t quite understand, it seems like Celestial Master Liu is in danger.” Despite her words, she and the professor, like the other ordinary people, couldn’t see the golden light and hell. They only felt fear, an overwhelming fear like a vast mountain pressing down on them, making it hard for them to breathe.
Chen Yang removed the red string formation, reassembling it around Liu Quanning. The ancient copper coin hummed softly as he took out the half piece of the Great Emperor of Fengdu’s seal from around his neck, combining it with the Great Emperor of Fengdu’s Heart Seal to assist Liu Quanning. The speed at which hell opened up increased, and the starving ghosts, sensing the Great Emperor’s seal, cowered in fear. With the assistance of ghost officials from hell, they collectively sent all the starving ghosts back into hell.
Someone daringly glanced at the window and exclaimed in joy, “The starving ghosts have all disappeared!”
Liu Quanning sighed in relief, slumping down. His face was pale, and his Yang energy was depleted. He said, “Let me catch my breath. Getting older means weaker stamina.”
Celestial Master Qian came over to help him up. “You became the president of the Guangdong Daoist Association, yet your magical abilities showed no improvement. A mere mini seventh gate and sending the ghosts to hell made you this exhausted. If it weren’t for Chen Xiaoyang’s help, you would have met your end today.”
Hearing this, Liu Quanning pushed away Celestial Master Qia “Go, go, go. I’m robust and healthy, I can kill a cow with one punch. No need for your support, step aside.” Celestial Master Qian obediently let go, and Liu Quanning almost stumbled and fell.
Celestial Master Qian and Celestial Master Zhong burst into laughter. Celestial Master Zhong, now relieved that he wasn’t exposed to moonlight, had returned to normal. Chen Yang then mentioned to him that the well in the ancestral hall had been contaminated with zombie blood. Celestial Master Zhong suddenly realized something. “No wonder I experienced symptoms of corpse transformation.”
Chen Yang: “Chief Witch Yi is currently salvaging the ghost resentments. We will be able to leave tomorrow morning. Celestial Master Zhong’s corpse poison is not deep. It can be removed.”
Hearing that they could leave tomorrow, the others visibly breathed a sigh of relief. “We must definitely go to a Daoist temple and ask for spirit-seeking talismans to ward off evil spirits. This is too unlucky. I can’t believe I encountered such evil things just by going out once. This is too unlucky.”
“I didn’t believe in ghosts and gods before, but now I have no choice.”
As the tension eased, the group chatted animatedly, their nerves finally relaxed. Chen Yang smiled, and Zhao Yao moved closer and asked, “Celestial Master Chen, have you caught my past life?”
Chen Yang, recalling the cat ghost crushed by a mountain of flesh, cleared his throat. “Caught it… Do you want to see her?”
“No, no. Dealing with cat ghosts and zombies, I feel she’s not a good person. As a law-abiding citizen, I’d better stay away. I just wanted to ask about Chonky. It’s the only cat that doesn’t dislike me.”
Chen Yang glanced at Zhao Yao, thinking she was overly confident. Had Chonky not tried to kill her the moment they met? “If you want to keep him, better give up on that idea. It’s a thousand-year-old cat ghost, not suitable for ordinary people. Prolonged exposure will damage your merit, luck, and Yang energy.”
“I see,” Zhao Yao said with some regret.
Chonky sat tall with his chest puffed out, while beneath him struggled a helpless black cat. The cat felt as though all its organs were being squeezed out, its eyes rolling as it weakly scratched at Chonky.
She thought she might die at the hands of a vengeful Supreme Clarity Celestial Master or be escorted to the underworld for judgment. Never did she expect to die under the buttocks of a meat mountain. She was still struggling to crawl out, refusing to die in such a humiliating manner.
Chonky, as stable as Mount Tai, suddenly bristled. After a piercing scream, it swiftly escaped as if its butt was on fire, demonstrating agility despite its plumpness. Xu A’ni finally managed to catch her breath, which had been pressed against her chest. Before she could get up, she felt a terrifying aura envelop her.
The black cat curled into a ball. Trembling with fear, it raised its head and uttered a trembling voice, “Gr-greetings… Great Emperor.”
Du Shuo lowered his eyes, kicked Xu A’ni in front of the central Five Wild Gods. “Take her back to Fengdu.”
“Yes.” The central deity seized the trembling Xu A’ni by the nape of her neck and escorted her back to Fengdu.
Du Shuo suddenly looked up at a certain direction in the sky. A small light point in the darkness paused and then slowly moved away. In mid-air, a miniature drone hovered, capturing footage of the deserted village from a distance. Du Shuo watched silently as the drone flew away from the deserted village, and when the other party breathed a sigh of relief, he broke off a dead branch and threw it through the drone.
“Damn!” Wu Lingjiu turned around to look at the computer and found that 90% of the recorded video had been copied. “It’s enough.”
Wu Lingjiu’s face darkened. The Great Emperor of Northern Yin, who had not left Fengdu for thousands of years, unexpectedly appeared in the mortal realm. Moreover, his relationship with Chen Yang seemed very close, which only amplified the complications of implementing his plans. At that moment, when Xu A’ni was about to give a hint, Chonky descended from the sky. Wu Lingjiu missed the most crucial information, or else he would have given up the idea of attacking Chen Yang’s physical body.
Chief Witch Yi spent two hours salvaging the ghost resentments. At dawn, everyone finally left the deserted village. Outside the Egui Mountains of the deserted village, Daoist Association personnel were stationed. They immediately sent people to help. Celestial Master Zhong and Zhao Yao were promptly called to draw out the corpse poison. As for the three youths who were originally villagers of the deserted village, they were detained for attempted murder.
The deserted village incident came to a temporary end. Wu Lingjiu was still on the run. Daoist Associations across the country, along with the celestial masters, cooperated tacitly to drive Wu Lingjiu to the southern bank of the Xiangquan River in Alizabu, the site of the ancient Guge Kingdom. It was here that Wu Lingjiu had once transformed an entire city into zombies, and now, he would face his karmic reckoning at the same location.
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