How could Xu Ying possibly go down? The young man frantically blinked at Yuan Qi, signaling him to leave quickly. "I won't learn—will you go or not? It'll be dark soon, and the surroundings will be the underworld with ghosts everywhere. Be careful you won't make it home!"
But Yuan Qi was excited. "I just heard the lecture and caught on to something. I want to stay here and learn. If you're afraid of ghosts, go back first. I'll stay with the Immortal Master a few more days."
Xu Ying gritted his teeth in frustration. Suddenly, Yuan Weiyang beside him looked puzzled and murmured, "Darkness, the underworld? Wait—there's something wrong here!"
Xu Ying looked at him. "What's wrong?"
Yuan Weiyang frowned slightly. "Did you notice the stone statues on the immortal mountains? Elder Xiao and I didn't rush here to listen to the lecture—we went to investigate those mountains first. We found many enormous stone statues carved in the forms of various deities."
Xu Ying whispered, "You found the Soul-Calling Inscriptions?"
Yuan Weiyang's heart jolted. He looked up at Xu Ying. The blue-robed elder, Xiao Bo, also looked at Xu Ying with surprise. "Could he truly be a disciple secretly groomed by some great family? Otherwise, how would he know about something as secret as the Soul-Calling Inscriptions?"
The Soul-Calling Inscriptions were peculiar talismanic characters discovered by great families when excavating ancient Qi-Refiner tombs and cave dwellings. These characters were obscure and difficult to understand, yet contained immense mysteries.
Families who obtained these characters naturally kept them secret, unwilling to show them lightly. Thus, for the world at large, the Soul-Calling Inscriptions remained a secret—even within great families, few knew of them.
By his clothing, Xu Ying appeared to be a country bumpkin. But from his knowledge of the Soul-Calling Inscriptions, he must be a core disciple of a great family!
Yuan Weiyang said, "Yes, the Soul-Calling Inscriptions. I couldn't figure out before why the immortal realm would need Soul-Calling Inscriptions. When you mentioned the underworld just now, I suddenly understood..."
Xu Ying's mind flashed with realization. He blurted, "I understand too! So that's it!"
The blue-robed elder Xiao Bo stared blankly, thinking: "What did the two of them figure out?"
The Great Bell was also completely confused, not understanding what they were talking about.
Xu Ying spoke rapidly: "After the sun sets, this ruined temple world is exactly within the range of the underworld! This place IS the underworld—ghosts are everywhere!"
Yuan Weiyang nodded. "The Soul-Calling Inscriptions in the deity statues' brains are actually used to summon wandering ghosts from the underworld to refine the Myriad Spirit Pills."
Xu Ying said, "The deity statues are the white-robed Nuo Immortal's servants. They summon ghosts from the underworld to refine the Myriad Spirit Pills for him."
Yuan Weiyang continued, "The white-robed Nuo Immortal placed his Hidden Vision immortal realm in the underworld, with the entrance in the living world—that's the Water Gate Temple. When the underworld invades the living world, the two realms collide, shaking loose this Hidden Vision immortal realm, which is how this ruined temple world appeared."
Xu Ying picked up the thread: "Because this ruined temple world has always been hidden in the underworld, everywhere is full of ghosts. That's why the deity statues don't need spirits to inhabit them—they can remain empty. Therefore, when the great temple world returns to the underworld, ALL the deity statues will revive as powerful deities!"
He finished this deduction and froze, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Yuan Weiyang continued the speculation: "In other words, when the sun sets outside, the Nether River reappears, the underworld invades, and the great temple world returns to the underworld. All the deity statues will revive!"
He paused. "They are about to begin a massacre!"
The two looked at each other, each feeling a bond of kindred understanding.
The Great Bell and Xiao Bo were utterly stunned. These two young men, exchanging words back and forth, had painted a picture of unspeakable horror. Imagine it: five immortal mountains, hundreds of enormous deity statues reviving, beginning a slaughter—what a terrifying scene that would be!
Xu Ying suddenly looked up. The setting sun was about to sink below the horizon.
Yuan Weiyang rose and said to the blue-robed Xiao Bo, "Elder Xiao, this place is about to become dangerous. Let's leave."
Xiao Bo nodded.
Yuan Weiyang looked at Xu Ying. "Aren't you leaving?"
"My friend is here—how can I leave?"
Xu Ying suddenly leaped from the temple roof into the hall below, laughing: "I'll also learn the Immortal Master's teachings!"
Yuan Weiyang was stunned. "Jumping down is suicide. How can a wise person knowingly walk to death... We had such a pleasant conversation. I thought you were a wise person like me. I didn't expect you weren't."
He shook his head and followed Xiao Bo out. But Xu Ying's actions remained a puzzle lingering in his mind. He very much wanted to fish Xu Ying from the temple and ask clearly.
But reason told him the wisest course was to leave here—as fast as possible!
Xu Ying landed beside Yuan Qi and laughed: "The Immortal Master's techniques are truly unfathomable. I wonder if the Immortal Master knows swordsmanship? This disciple wishes to learn the sword."
The white-robed Nuo Immortal sat before the immortal hall, immortal light curling like rotating swords. He did not speak.
Then a voice came from the temple gate: "Criminal Xu Ying, even if you flee into the great temple, you cannot escape the net of justice!"
Xu Ying turned to see Zhou Zheng, the Yongzhou Judicial Adjutant, striding into the temple. His clothes were torn and tattered, his appearance wretched, but his color was still good.
Zhou Zheng strode to a portly, round-bellied fat man and dropped to one knee, announcing loudly: "Governor, your subordinate has fulfilled his mission—Xu Ying has been driven into the great temple!"
The fat man was three or four times the width of an ordinary person, sitting there like a mountain of flesh. This was none other than Yongzhou Governor Zhou Heng, who was intently practicing the Detailed Explanation of the True Dao Mechanism. Annoyed by the interruption, he said, "Zhou Zheng, what's all this noise? Don't disturb my path to immortality!"
Zhou Zheng was taken aback. "Sir, I've cornered Xu Ying in the temple."
"What's Xu Ying worth?!"
Governor Zhou Heng snapped irritably. "Xu Ying can only break demon clan techniques. What I'm cultivating is immortal art, incomparably superior. If I achieve immortality, why would I need any demon clan techniques?"
"This... this..."
Zhou Zheng stammered helplessly. Suddenly he thought of all the guards who had followed him—now dead, fled, with uncertain survival. And the Governor had just said Xu Ying was worth nothing, making their deaths meaningless. Grief surged within him.
"I've failed these brothers!"
At that moment, several more City Gods strode into the temple, their eyes fixed on Xu Ying from afar. The Ningyuan Road City God saw Prefect Ling Youdao among the crowd and hurried forward, whispering, "Prefect, Xu Ying is here. Shouldn't we..."
Prefect Ling sighed, opening his eyes. "Why do you disturb my immortal fortune? I entered this temple and received the immortal teachings. Even that fat fool Zhou Heng can't be bothered with him now. And you want to disturb my cultivation with some Xu Ying!"
Several City Gods were dumbfounded.
Suddenly, Xu Ying laughed: "Could it be the Immortal Master doesn't know swordsmanship?"
Yuan Qi said unhappily, "Ah Ying, how could the Immortal Master not know swordsmanship? The sword qi canyon stretching over ten li outside the Water Gate Temple was caused by the Immortal Master's sword technique. Right, Immortal Master?"
Those whom Xu Ying had disturbed glared at him angrily.
Before the immortal hall, the white-robed Nuo Immortal smiled without speaking.
Xu Ying laughed: "The Immortal Master actually doesn't know swordsmanship. You are a Nuo Immortal who, sensing your lifespan exhausted, hid in your own Latent Transformation place, concealing it within the underworld. You must have had a vast power in life, enslaving those deity statues to refine Myriad Spirit Pills for you—because your Primordial Spirit was damaged and required the pills to maintain it. But one day, a sword strike split your Latent Transformation place and killed you here. Not only were you killed by that sword, but that person also skinned you."
Yuan Qi flew into a rage: "Xu the Soft! Do you have any idea what you're saying? Offending the Immortal Master is certain death! Immortal Master, please don't hold it against him—he suffered a severe illness and doesn't even know who his parents are!"
Governor Zhou Heng's belly churned with fury: "You brat Xu! Offending the Immortal Master—even against my family's law, I will eliminate you!"
Xu Ying's gaze remained fixed on the white-robed Nuo Immortal's face: "Now, you are nothing but a skin. You crave flesh and blood, but others' flesh and blood probably can't be used directly by you. You need to modify these people to make their flesh suitable for your needs. You want to teach them your techniques so they cultivate your evil art, transforming themselves to suit you..."
He frowned, unsure how to describe this act of seizing another's body.
The Great Bell, knowing he had no knowledge of this, reminded him: "Body Seizure. The physical body is like a house, the spirit like a lodger. Taking another's body by expelling, destroying, or consuming the original owner's spirit—that is called Body Seizure."
Xu Ying continued: "You use evil techniques to make these poor creatures transform themselves into bodies suitable for you to seize. Isn't that right?"
At these words, many people stopped practicing the Detailed Explanation of the True Dao Mechanism and turned to look at the white-robed Nuo Immortal.
Prefect Ling frowned: "Xu Ying, do you know what you're saying? Offending an Immortal Venerable means eternal suffering in the cycle of reincarnation!"
Xu Ying raised his hand and pointed. A streak of sword qi shot like a rainbow across the sky, hurtling toward the white-robed Nuo Immortal. He shouted, "Was this the move that killed you?"
The white-robed Nuo Immortal had been calm and composed all along, but upon seeing this sword light, his face changed dramatically. His skin deflated like a deflated balloon, and he let out a terrified shriek!
However, Xu Ying's strike couldn't harm him at all. Before even reaching him, it was shattered by the remnants of his aura.
The strike was merely for show, but the white-robed Nuo Immortal was already a bird startled by the bowstring. Seeing the same sword light, he could no longer maintain the bearing of a superior being.
Below the hall, everyone froze.
The white-robed Nuo Immortal was still screaming, his cries shrill—as if someone were skinning him alive.
How could a dignified Immortal lose composure so completely?
But the corner of Xu Ying's eye twitched. He looked at the sky—the sky beyond, at some point, had darkened. The young man patted the still-shocked Yuan Qi and whispered, "Go now. If we don't leave soon, it'll be too late."
Yuan Qi snapped to his senses and immediately followed. The boy and snake headed for the temple exit. Yuan Qi said with lingering fear, "Ah Ying, this Immortal Master was really kind to me. He was very patient when lecturing—far more patient than you. Oh, and he even gave me two scrolls of scripture."
"Hahahaha!"
A strange laugh came from behind. The white-robed Nuo Immortal was doubled over with laughter. Strangely, his waist seemed broken—when he bent forward, his entire body pressed flat against the ground; when he straightened, his waist snapped, his skull touching the floor.
"The sky is finally dark."
The white-robed Nuo Immortal stood, his body wreathed in immortal light: "The hunt begins. My divine dynasty has awakened!"
Outside the ruined temple world, the Nether River materialized from nowhere. Ghost fires flickered along both banks.
Though the ruined temple world still held a sun high overhead, a chill suddenly permeated the air. The entire great temple world had entered the underworld.
On each immortal mountain, the deity statues grew brighter and brighter, and the humming of chanting grew louder and louder.
In the sky, ghost fires swarmed like countless stars, flooding into the ruined temple world. Each ghost fire was a wandering soul, drawn by the Soul-Calling Inscriptions in the brains of the five mountains' deity statues, hurtling toward the statues and altars!
Xu Ying led Yuan Qi rushing out of the temple. There they saw five floating immortal mountains, with towering figures rising and falling upon them, waves of terrifying divine might shaking the heavens!
Terrified people fled the great temple in panic, trampling each other as they scrambled outward.
Before, this place had been paradise. Now it was hell!
"You—all of you—must die!"
The white-robed Nuo Immortal's voice echoed from behind: "Tonight, you will all be offerings for the divine dynasty!"
Some who had practiced the so-called Detailed Explanation of the True Dao Mechanism too deeply stepped out of the temple gate—only to have their flesh separate from their bones in an instant. Only skeletons stumbled out, while their flesh remained inside.
Xu Ying looked back and saw many others leap, trying to jump out of the temple. The moment they crossed the threshold, their bones and flesh would suddenly separate, leaving only white skeletons bursting free.
Others hesitated, afraid to leave the temple.
They had practiced the Detailed Explanation of the True Dao Mechanism, driving their vital energy into their flesh like nails. Their vital energy matched the white-robed Nuo Immortal's, effectively fusing them with the great temple itself. To jump free, they would have to tear away their own skin and flesh!
Yuan Qi suddenly had a flash of insight: "Reverse the Detailed Explanation of the True Dao Mechanism—it should work!"
The white-robed Nuo Immortal raged: "Long worm! You ruin my plans! I'll make sure you die miserably!"
Yuan Qi's mind seemed to suddenly unlock a barrier: "I know! He also fused himself with the great temple to remain immortal—he cannot leave the temple!"
The white-robed Nuo Immortal was incandescent with fury. His skin flew up, drifting toward the temple gate.
But the great temple was his place of Hidden Vision Latent Transformation. The moment he reached the gate, the white-robed Nuo Immortal was yanked back by a strange force.
When he had originally hidden within his place of Hidden Vision Latent Transformation, all had been peaceful. He never expected an unexpected enemy to come seeking him out and slay him with a single sword.
Because he had died unjustly, unwilling to accept his death, he had remained within his skin, fusing the skin with his Hidden Vision Latent Transformation place, making the great temple his flesh, sinews, bones, and organs.
He had then devised the Detailed Explanation of the True Dao Mechanism to lure people into the temple. Once they practiced this technique, they fused with the great temple and became his flesh and blood.
This arrangement had always worked smoothly—until a foolish snake demon caused complications.
Even more unexpected, though this serpent was foolish, sometimes he was clever enough to uncover the flaw in his technique!
"My family is scholarly, I've read many books, and books contain every kind of story. You think you can fool your Grand Ox?" The great snake turned back to mock him.
The white-robed Nuo Immortal was even more enraged: "This wretched snake is actually named Ox! I actually lost to a demon who doesn't even know what species he is!"