Chapter 11: Summoning Dangmo Inside

Deep in the mountains, two groups of people were facing off.

One side was a merchant caravan, centered around a young girl dressed in white. Beside her stood an imposing old man whose hands were exceptionally large, seemingly possessing the strength to shatter mountains and split stone. The other side clearly did not appear to be merchants. They resembled a prominent aristocratic household, dressed in fitted martial attire, jade pendants hanging from their waists, and carrying swords and sabers, each exuding a faint killing intent.

The young man at the head sneered, “Miss Zhou, don’t bother saying that you found it first.”

“Medicine Spirits are all born from Heaven and Earth.”

“Since ancient times, the one with virtue shall possess them!”

“I would be ungracious to refuse such a gift.”

His gaze fell upon the Medicine Spirit trembling in fear as it hid within the young Daoist’s arms. Amazement and greed filled his eyes. It was almost impossible to imagine that when faced with danger, such a wondrous spirit of Heaven and Earth had not immediately escaped into the earth and vanished, but had instead remained here, allowing them to set up this array.

If the family’s Old Ancestor could swallow this Medicine Spirit, he would surely have the confidence to break into the realm of a True Person.

The young girl in white opposite him turned slightly cold. “We merely wished to let the Daoist Master rest in peace. This Spirit Bird and Medicine Spirit are both things born of Heaven and Earth. We would never dare forcefully claim them. Young Master Li, taking the possessions of the deceased—isn’t that going a little too far?”

The young man threw back his head and laughed. “Hahaha! Miss Zhou, you truly have a kind heart.”

“So don’t compete with us for these treasures.”

“You!”

“Or are you merely putting on a pleasant front, intending to drive us away and then find a way to subdue the Spirit Bird?”

“You think that by taking away the remains of the Spirit Bird’s master, you can win its favor? Then gradually subdue it step by step?!”

“Hmph. Hypocrite!”

As the two sides argued, the sounds of swords and sabers being drawn could gradually be heard. The little Medicine Spirit was hiding beside Qi Wuhuo’s hand.

After waking early that morning and absorbing the dew and spiritual essence of Heaven and Earth, it had suddenly discovered that the young Daoist’s body was cold, as hard as stone. When it touched and pinched his nose, it found that he was not even breathing.

The little Medicine Spirit became frightened and anxious. The little Medicine Spirit became frightened and anxious.

They had apparently been traveling together at first, but now a dispute had broken out between them.

The little Medicine Spirit desperately shook his body, only to discover that the young Daoist remained cold and lifeless, without the slightest breath.

It trembled in fear.

The little peacock on the other side had also been pushing at Qi Wuhuo’s shoulder earlier, and when it found no response, it was already extremely agitated; after hearing the dispute between the two groups, the agitation in its heart grew even stronger, for it was a demon by nature, and having swallowed a strand of the Nine-Headed Lion Primordial Lord’s aura, how could it possibly have a good temper?

At this moment, its eyes were faintly reddened.

It had merely always received the young Daoist’s teachings.

It refused to follow its instincts and commit acts of killing and devouring humans.

But now the young Daoist gave no response, and from among the Li family’s group, a man holding a rope that emitted a faint golden light suddenly formed a hand seal, then threw the object out, whereupon it immediately transformed into something resembling a python, directly wrapping around the little Medicine Spirit, and then wrapping around Qi Yuntun as well, after which he was immediately overjoyed and shouted, “Hahaha, we’ve got it!!”

“Young Master, we’ve got it!”

Both groups were startled, and just as that man was greatly rejoicing, he suddenly saw the young man’s expression change drastically, and he shouted, “Back! Quickly, get back!” Before that man could react, he felt a scorching wind explode forth, golden flames directly surged up, setting the rope ablaze and, in an instant, sweeping over. That man’s cultivation seemed to have fueled the flames.

“Young Master! Save me, Young Master!!!”

The man let out a miserable scream and fell to the ground, rolling about in the hope of extinguishing the flames.

But it was completely useless.

Li Renlin’s expression changed drastically, and he saw that Spirit Bird leap into the air, its wings suddenly beating, while countless flames gathered around its two wings and transformed into golden fire-feathers, the feathers stretching and changing, and this peacock bird unexpectedly seemed to grow enormously in an instant, its two wings spreading several meters in length before suddenly beating, leaving behind in the air and in everyone’s eyes traces of flame that lingered for a long time without dispersing.

The bird’s cry was hoarse, yet at this moment it carried an extremely powerful sense of intimidation.

It was simply domineering.

Everyone’s weapons melted completely.

It was as though a great sun had descended, boundlessly scorching, seemingly about to burn everything to ashes. Terror appeared in the young man’s eyes, but there was no road of retreat, so he gritted his teeth, gripped an object, and said, “Second Granduncle, we’re going all out, make your move!” An old man with hair as white as snow raised his eyes, his body emitting the power of the Innate One Qi realm, drawing forth the water essence between Heaven and Earth.

“IMPUDENT!!!”

Suddenly, something struck across the air.

The old man who was about to attack Qi Yuntun was directly struck down, his cultivation scattered as he coughed blood and flew backward.

Li Renlin’s expression became sluggish.

“Mountain God?!”

The young lady of the Zhou family also showed a slight change in expression, seeing an old man appear beside the young Daoist who was sitting there, holding a dragon-headed staff, with hair and beard entirely white, his body emitting an unmistakable Earth Deity aura, and only after seeing that Qi Wuhuo was unharmed did she slightly relax, whereupon several more low shouts sounded, and several men and women of different appearances revealed themselves.

All of them carried the aura of Earth Deities, whether Mountain Gods, Land Gods, or Water Officials.

Holding divine weapons and sharp blades, they protected the young Daoist who sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, their beards and hair bristling with anger as they looked toward the crowd.

“What utter audacity!”

“How dare you disturb a True Person in secluded cultivation?”

The young lady of the Zhou family was shaken, and whispered, “A Mountain God accompanying him when he travels…”

“And a Water Official following him when he sits and rests.”

“This, this is?”

The peacock bird wantonly displayed its own killing intent, its eyes blood-red as it stared at the cultivators whose bodies had gone rigid from terror.

With merely a beat of its wings, layers upon layers of golden flames were left behind in the void, after which it suddenly transformed into a streak of fiery light and prepared to swoop down and slaughter them, its beak slightly opening as a terrifying force of suction took shape, about to pull out the souls of everyone here and swallow them in a single bite, displaying in an instant the cruelty and savagery belonging to the bloodline of a demon beast.

The intensity of its killing intent made everyone shudder in fear.

Some could even faintly feel their souls being dragged from their bodies.

They felt the peacock’s eyes grow deep and unfathomable, and sensed the savagery beneath that magnificent blaze, a domineering force seemingly capable of swallowing everything, capable of devouring Heaven and the sun, of annihilating souls and all things; just as their hearts were filled with utter terror, they suddenly heard a calm voice say, “Come back.”

The peacock bird, which emitted an aura like that of a Great Demon and was incomparably fierce and domineering, halted its killing dive, then made a single circle through the air.

Its cry was no longer domineering and frenzied, but instead sounded aggrieved and spoiled.

The blazing flames filling the void dispersed.

The strange beast, which had stretched its wings to a full several meters in length, transformed into a little bird covered in warm yellow down, with several dazzling golden tail feathers growing from its back. It landed directly on Qi Wuhuo’s shoulder and frantically rubbed its cheek against the young Daoist’s face, its cries low and hurried, filled with grievance and worry.

The young Daoist sat down upon a mountain rock, his hair falling loosely beside his temples. He raised his right hand and lifted up the little medicine spirit, while the tiny fellow clung to Qi Wuhuo’s finger, babbling away in an incoherent, chirping voice as though trying to tell him something.

The little peacock, meanwhile, stood upon his left shoulder, its brilliant tail feathers radiant as the sun, scattering starlight as they draped down to one side.

The young Daoist opened his eyes, his gaze tranquil, white hair falling beside his temples.

On either side of him stood three Earthly Deities, surrounding him in the forms of wrathful divine soldiers.

Though he merely sat upon a piece of blue-gray stone, with nothing around him but the forest, there was nevertheless an indescribable aura permeating the air.

The Zhou woman was the first to recover her senses. Her expression changed slightly as she cupped her hands and stepped forward to bow in greeting. “This junior did not know that the True Person’s Primordial Spirit was traveling. I have been presumptuous. The Zhou Clan of Runan hereby pays respects to the True Person! I beg the True Person’s forgiveness!”

Li Renlin came to his senses as well. He abruptly dropped to one knee and kowtowed. “True Person, please forgive me!”

“This junior was blind as a dog and failed to recognize the True Person!”

Everyone’s expressions changed drastically, their faces turning deathly pale. The young Daoist paid them no heed. There was no ripple of murderous intent whatsoever. Even the group from the Li family was merely punished before being allowed to leave. However, he had noticed a faint aura of Human Dao fortune upon the young woman, and thus allowed her to remain behind, asking about her origins and destination.

The young woman did not dare delay. Although the matter was of considerable importance, after a moment’s hesitation, she still answered: “This junior is a daughter of the Zhou Clan of Runan. I am presently carrying a message on behalf of an elder of my family and am traveling to the capital.”

Qi Wuhuo recalled that the seventh prince, Li Zhai, had been married to a woman of the Zhou Clan of Runan in that dream of the Yellow Millet.

The Zhou Clan of Runan was, according to legend, an ancient aristocratic clan whose lineage stretched back eight thousand years, to before the struggles among the various kings.

Of course, by now, it had long since fallen into decline.

To prove her words, the young woman retrieved a letter sent from the capital. The Daoist read through it, his eyes lifting slightly as he saw the message within. It stated that the Seventh Prince had assassinated the Emperor and attempted to seize the throne, and had consequently been stripped of his title as prince and thrown into the Heavenly Prison. She was ordered to hurry to the capital and, while no one had yet brought up or noticed the verbal marriage agreement made years ago, marry the Fourth Prince as his wife or concubine, so as to prevent the Zhou family from being implicated.

Only then did the young Daoist learn of what Seventh Prince Li Zhai had done.

After all, the affairs of the world were broken by the people of the world.

It was not the achievement of one man alone.

“Li Zhai…”

Zhou Yihan saw the seemingly unfathomable young Daoist before her lost in thought, and her heart stirred. She respectfully bowed and asked, “This journey to the capital is a struggle for survival in the midst of certain death. This junior boldly asks the True Person to point out a path to safety.”

The young Daoist looked at her. “You are not worried that I might give you a path to your death?”

Zhou Yihan replied respectfully, “This junior believes the True Person is not such a person.”

Her thoughts were clear and perceptive.

She was also unwilling to become merely a pawn because she possessed some beauty.

Having seen an opportunity, she wanted to take a gamble.

Qi Wuhuo formed a sword seal with his fingers and wrote characters in Cloud Seal Script on the back of the letter, recording the method of [Round Light Manifestation Technique] that could point toward him. He then wrote another line concerning a way to break the Seventh Prince out of his present predicament. With a flick of his finger, the letter fell into Zhou Yihan’s hands. To ordinary people, it would appear no different from a blank sheet of paper, and they would be unable to perceive its mysteries.

The young Daoist’s lips moved slightly, his voice sounding only beside her ear:

“Go to the imperial city. This object will naturally guide you to deliver it to a certain place.”

Zhou Yihan pondered this and carefully put away the letter. When the Zhou family was about to leave, she asked the young Daoist:

“Does the True Person believe this junior should choose the Fourth Prince for the sake of my family’s safety, or honor the verbal agreement made previously and choose the Seventh Prince?”

The young Daoist answered: “I do not know.”

The young woman thought for a moment before asking: “Daoist Priest, what do you think of the Seventh Prince? Is he truly the foolish and savage man without regard for ruler or father that the world claims him to be?”

The young Daoist replied: “He is a hero.”

And so Zhou Yihan smiled and bowed. “This junior understands.”

“Thank you for the True Person’s guidance.”

“Does the True Person have anything he wishes to say to the Seventh Prince?”

After a long silence, the young Daoist answered gently:

“I honor that spear thrust of his, for it opened a new path for the people of this world.”

“And I honor him for guarding the lone city and holding the frontier throughout his life, never once retreating.”

A faint, unusual light appeared in the depths of the young woman’s eyes.

The Zhou family’s party departed. The young Daoist turned toward the surrounding Mountain Gods and Water Gods, rose, and bowed. “Many thanks to all of you for your protection…”

Yet the Earthly Deities all stepped aside in unison, seemingly not daring to accept his bow. The old man who had acted first laughed and said, “Daoist Master, there is no need for this, no need.”

“Even without us, your spirit bird alone would have been enough to drive all those people away.”

The old Earth God had originally wanted to say that it could have killed them all and burned them to charred corpses, but this Daoist immortal was a man of the Daoist tradition, and speaking of such things—acts that only the most vicious demons and monsters would commit—would truly have ruined the atmosphere. Yet when he looked at the Daoist Priest, he saw a sword at his side and a qin strapped to his back, both elegant and refined objects, and could not help wondering why such a man was accompanied by such a ferocious beast.

Qi Wuhuo asked curiously, “Why are all of you here?”

The Earth Gods and Mountain Gods exchanged glances before answering somewhat awkwardly, “This is a remote region of Zhongzhou. Last month, we too received an edict from the Lord Lingmiao, instructing us to assist the Daoist Master when you unleashed that sword strike. Your virtue is truly lofty—you have saved countless living beings. We Earth Deities of Zhongzhou sincerely admire you!”

“There may be things we cannot accomplish elsewhere.”

“But here in Zhongzhou, wherever the Daoist Master goes, the Three Mountains shall accompany you, while the Water Officials shall offer their protection.”

“They can keep demons and monsters from intruding and prevent all manner of evil from entering. It was only because your soul suddenly disappeared earlier that we were alarmed and searched everywhere. We never expected someone would come here, nearly disturbing your physical body.”

Qi Wuhuo noticed that faintly visible talismans surrounded him, forming a circle. They served as an early-warning measure: the moment anything touched them, the Mountain Gods and Earth Gods would swiftly arrive.

Those Earth Gods of Zhongzhou and other Earthly Deities of similarly exalted status harbored hostility toward the young Daoist.

These Mountain Gods and Earth Gods, each responsible for nothing more than a single territory, had seen only that one sword strike from the young Daoist, and because of it they held tremendous goodwill toward him, willingly offering him their protection.

They merely cupped their hands in farewell.

The Earth God stroked his beard and laughed. “Then we shall not disturb the True Person any further. Should anything happen, simply form the hand seal with your fingers, stamp your foot upon the earth, and call out to this old man and the others. We shall come when summoned.” The many Mountain Gods and Earthly Deities returned the courtesy in unison before dispersing in all directions. The place soon became quiet again. The little peacock frantically rubbed itself against the young Daoist’s temple.

The little medicine spirit clung to his thumb, its eyes filled with two great pools of tears, babbling and demanding to know where he had gone!

Why had he suddenly gone cold?!

It had nearly been scared to death!

Next time you are going to die, at least give a warning!

The young Daoist could not help laughing aloud, which only made the little medicine spirit even angrier. It stomped its tiny feet in resentment, then turned around, folded its little arms across its chest, and sulked. The little peacock let out a mocking cry.

The young Daoist watched the two of them playing around, but his heart grew somewhat heavy. Now that he had escaped from the Netherworld, he recalled the Ancient Calamity of the Heavens and Earth that the Five Ghost Emperors had spoken of.

Instinctively, he thought of the secrets of the demon race he had learned from Uncle Niu, the Dragon Emperor’s fall, and the division of the demon race.

He also remembered the words Star Lord Jidu had spoken before his death.

More than eight thousand years ago, the Human Sovereign fell, and his ministers divided up his fortune and foundation, splitting apart the human realm.

And according to what the Five Ghost Emperors had said, during the great calamity of Heaven and Earth between ten thousand and eight thousand years ago, even Earth Empress Houtu, one of the Four Imperial Lords, had suffered severe injuries, while the Gouchen Great Emperor had fared no better.

The young Daoist faintly sensed that eight thousand years ago, there must have been some great hidden event.

After pondering for a moment, he clasped the Northern Pole Exorcism Token in his right hand.

Such a major matter was naturally troublesome.

But troublesome as it was, there were the Great True Lords and the others to bear the burden.

Within the Northern Pole Exorcism Institute.

Great True Lord Tianpeng toyed with a jade slip in his hand. This was precisely the alchemy method of the Taishang lineage that Taishang Xuandu had given him.

He was pondering how he could best bestow this item upon him without making it seem deliberate.

Within the Exorcism Institute, every action had to set an example. As the chief general of the Exorcism Institute, he could not casually speak with a minor official of the Exorcism Institute who had not even entered the Ninth Rank.

Just as he was pondering this, a jade slip in the void suddenly lit up, and a line of text appeared—

【Dangmo, I have a matter to report】

Great True Lord Tianpeng was taken aback, then immediately clapped his hands and laughed. “Just what I was lacking comes along.”

Yisheng sat atop the table and laughed heartily.

“Hahahaha! The new troublemaker has arrived. This time, who will be the one to dampen this little fellow’s enthusiasm?”

Tianyou shook his head.

Most people were like this after entering the Exorcism Institute.

They fancied themselves inspectors of all under Heaven, yet would invariably mistake some matters belonging to the Heavenly Pivot Institute as matters that ought to be overseen by the Exorcism Institute, and rush to report them. They would always end up being scolded and reprimanded. From judges below to Taibai above, all had made such mistakes before, only to be berated and taught a lesson:

“For such a trivial matter, why mobilize the Exorcism Institute? You should go to the Heavenly Pivot Institute.”

“As for matters of the mortal realm, let the mortal realm handle them itself. Do not make a great fuss over everything.”

Great True Lord Tianpeng, however, had already come up with a plan.

No matter how trivial the matter, he would praise him for reporting it.

Then, adding the merit he had accumulated previously, he would bestow this alchemy text and its records upon him.

Thus, he tapped his finger against the table, signaling everyone to quiet down, and said in a gentle tone: “Summon his Primordial Spirit inside.”

All the generals burst into laughter.

Their expressions were relaxed.