In the small temple, the old man was exceptionally agitated and overjoyed.
The information revealed in his words made Li Muyang frown.
The clay pot beside them was even more surprised.
“Who would’ve thought that you, lad, had another origin? Seeing you dressed in tatters, I thought your Nightwalkers had become completely destitute, but it turns out there’s another reason…”
The arrival of this old man was indeed an unexpected situation.
Li Muyang began to ask for details.
Thus, under the narration of the old man, an exciting and thrilling story of the previous generation began to unfold.
A thousand years ago, the decaying Great Zhou dynasty was already showing signs of decline.
But as the dynasty fell into decline, a wandering monk suddenly arrived within the borders of the Great Zhou kingdom.
This monk was mysterious and extraordinary, said to have the talent to command the heavens and the earth, and possessed strength comparable to that of an Ancient Sage.
He was not a Puppet Master, yet he could suppress Evil Spirits and protect peace in the region.
The Emperor at that time revered this monk greatly, honored him as the State Preceptor, and built the Da Guangming Temple for him.
With the help of the State Preceptor, Great Zhou experienced favorable weather for the crops and eradicated Evil Spirits, and all the rebels daring to create chaos were suppressed.
The Da Guangming Temple thus became a sacred place in the hearts of the Great Zhou people, and the monks within held high status.
Just like that, the reign of the Great Zhou was extended for another thousand years, until several decades ago, when the old emperor passed away, and the power struggle among the royal heirs ensued, completely severing the royal bloodline. The Great Zhou, having lost the royal bloodline, was divided by three powerful ministers.
However, no one dared to occupy the capital city where Da Guangming Temple was located, which was still left to the Great Zhou royal family.
But as the royal bloodline was already extinct, the city, though still flying the royal banner, was in fact ruled by the monks of the Da Guangming Temple.
Eight years ago, Jie Zijiu’s parents, Jie Zili and his wife, came to the Great Zhou capital and accidentally discovered the secret of the current abbot of Da Guangming Temple.
The abbot turned out to be an Evil Spirit that was parasitized by monsters, and so were all the previous abbots of Da Guangming Temple.
The monks of the Da Guangming Temple were long devoured by the monsters, leaving only empty shells.
The monsters, wearing the skins of the monks, walked under the sunlight and roamed the wilderness outside the capital, guarding the Da Guangming Temple within the city like ants protecting their nest.
And beneath Da Guangming Temple, Jie Zijiu’s parents found the Princess of the Defunct Country who had become a Soulless.
This last descendant of the royal blood was imprisoned in a water jail, mindless and confounded, in a perpetual daze.
Jie Zijiu’s parents wanted to change this terrifying situation and rushed into the water jail to rescue the imprisoned Princess of the Defunct Country.
But the monsters of Da Guangming Temple were not easy to deal with, and a great battle ensued.
Although Jie Zijiu’s parents ultimately escaped the encirclement with the Princess of the Defunct Country, all of their Puppets perished in that battle, and Jie Zili was severely injured.
Before departing, Jie Zijiu’s parents left their old servant, Deng Bo, in the city, instructing him to lie low within the city until Jie Zijiu grew up and returned.
Now, upon seeing Li Muyang, this little young master, the man known as Deng Bo was crying profusely, overwhelmed with emotion.
He grabbed Li Muyang’s hand, crying as he recounted the events of the years.
Li Muyang furrowed his brows tightly, listening to the old man’s story, and muttered, “…The Princess of the Defunct Country was actually rescued from this city? Why did they save her? And why did those monsters of Da Guangming want to imprison her?”
Li Muyang was quite puzzled.
Miao Fengjun explained, “This relates to the founding of the Great Zhou royal family… The ability of the Great Zhou royal family to establish a country was not only due to the founder emperor’s great talent and strategy but more importantly, they had a relic left behind by Fairy Qinghe.”
“It is said that the founding emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty once followed Fairy Qinghe for a time, and when Fairy Qinghe departed from the Ancient Resentment Well, she left something for him.”
“That thing is reportedly a powerful Magic Artifact, not only possessing astonishing might but also able to gather the dragon veins of the land.”
“It is because of the existence of this Magic Artifact that the Great Zhou Dynasty has been able to prosper endlessly, occupying the most fertile land within the Ancient Resentment Well.”
“The monster parasitizing the Da Guangming Buddha has incarnated as an ordinary monk and presided over the Great Zhou court. Aside from fearing the Evil Spirit within the Ancient Resentment Well and not daring to act ostentatiously, it is also because the Magical Treasure passed down in the Great Zhou royal lineage is extraordinarily powerful, deterring it from rashly provoking trouble.”
The headless monk said, “It’s said that only members of the Great Zhou royal bloodline can use this Magical Treasure, which is the true lifeblood of Great Zhou.”
“I speculate that the royal bloodline of Great Zhou has ceased, and the creature now seated in the palace has played a significant part in this.”
“Not until the royal family of Zhou was completely extinguished did it truly gain control over this land.”
“Fortuitously, you have brought back Princess Pingyao. If we can find that ancestral magical treasure of the royal family, we could defeat that fake Buddha.”
The headless holy monk cheerfully recounted the situation and mentioned the plan on the side.
As he finished speaking, a system notification suddenly popped up in Li Muyang’s field of vision.
[Mission: A Ten Thousand-Year Melancholy – Activated]
[Mission Content: Retrieve the ancestral Magic Artifact for the Princess of the Defunct Country and drive away the fake Buddha entrenched in the palace.]
“…” Upon seeing the mission interface appear, Li Muyang raised an eyebrow.
So the key to breaking the situation lies here?
The joining of Miao Fengjun was secondary; even ten more Miao Fengjuns combined couldn’t defeat a True Immortal Level fake Buddha.
But it’s different with the powerful Magic Artifact left by Little Wild Grass.
This Magic Artifact had deterred the false Da Guangming Buddha for a thousand years, hiding its power, and therefore must be formidable.
Li Muyang asked, “So here comes the question, what does this Magical Treasure look like? Where is it hidden? How can we obtain it?”
Li Muyang continued to inquire Miao Fengjun.
But this time, the headless holy monk shook his head, “These questions I cannot answer. My time wandering within the Ancient Resentment Well has not been long, arriving just a little earlier than you. That I was able to uncover such secrets is already the limit; I know nothing beyond this.”
Li Muyang turned to the old servant Deng Bo and asked, “Deng Bo, do you know?”
This old servant, having stayed in the city as an insider, lying dormant for eight years, should be able to lead the way, right?
Sure enough, Deng Bo nodded, saying, “Reporting to Young Master, this old servant knows where that Magic Artifact is hidden.”
“My old master left me behind to trace the Magic Artifact. Relying on the clues my old master left, during these years of lying dormant and investigation, I finally discovered the precise location of that Magic Artifact.”
“However, that place is incredibly mysterious, and I was only able to look at it from afar on the outskirts a few times, never actually entering it, so I do not know what the Magic Artifact looks like…”
Deng Bo’s words let Li Muyang breathe a sigh of relief.
“As long as we have a clear target, you lead the way, and leave the rest to me.”
Having said this, Li Muyang stood up and said, “Let’s go, guide me to that treasure hiding place.”
Li Muyang looked to Miao Fengjun, but saw the headless holy monk shake his head, “I’ll stay here and wait for you.”
Miao Fengjun said something quite strange, “You just need to recognize the way; we will make our move after dark.”