Chapter 399: Chapter 277: How can you save someone who is already dead?
If I am kind, I will let you stay.
If I am not, I will make you stay, forever.
These two phrases may seem similar, but they have completely different meanings.
Supreme Sage Ziyang, originally from the Li Clan, was born into extreme wealth and privilege.
At the age of thirteen, he passed the Lu Shan Sect’s test and was sent to their blessed sanctuary. Here, he won the favor of the grandmaster and learned the Daoist skills first hand.
You must understand.
At that time, it was still a ‘spiritual drought’ era when cultivation was impossible outside the sanctuary.
Now, he has emerged from the sanctuary and has also assumed the important post of the Lu Shan Sect’s leader!
Without exaggeration, Supreme Sage Ziyang’s life has been one of smooth sailing, without setbacks… This led to his arrogant demeanor. Even though he was already 160 years old, the way he conducted himself was apparently lacking.
Simply put…
He didn’t understand the ways of the world!
The young Daoist who came with him felt a chill run down his spine and his legs somewhat weak. He quietly tugged at Supreme Sage Ziyang’s sleeve, whispering, “Supreme Sage, we are in a desperate situation… We need to save our Grandmaster!”
The young Daoist was an add-on by Supreme Sage Ziyang.
After all, he had not been outside the sanctuary for long and didn’t know much about the modern world. For instance, booking tickets, flying on airplanes, things like that, he had no clue.
“Hmph!”
Supreme Sage Ziyang snorted in a way that clearly expressed his dissatisfaction.
However, even if he didn’t understand worldliness, he knew that under someone else’s roof, you have to lower your head. So, he took a deep breath, adjusted his daoist robe, and proposed again, “Supreme Sage Xu, the Lu Shan Sect and Jingming Path are family. I hope you can show mercy and release our Grandmaster Lingxiao.”
That sounded more like it.
At least the tone wasn’t annoying this time.
Xu Yang raised his hand.
Liu Shishi understood and hastily handed him a Chinese cigarette.
Yang Yin stepped forward, fingered out a ghost’s flame to light the cigarette for Xu Yang.
Xu Yang blew rings of smoke and glanced at Ma Xiaotiao who went upstairs to carry the unconscious Grandmaster Lingxiao down from the bathroom, casually throwing him at Xu Yang’s feet.
“Grandmaster!”
“Great-Grandmaster!”
Upon witnessing this, Supreme Sage Ziyang’s eyes had turned red. The young Daoist didn’t really have any sentimental attachment to this so-called ‘Great Grandmaster,’ but since the Supreme Sage was crying out with bloodshot eyes, he naturally had to join in.
“Xu Yang!”
“You’re crossing the line!”
Remembering how Revered Daoist Lingxiao had guided him in his cultivation, Supreme Sage Ziyang became furious, wanting to rush forward. However, a foot suddenly appeared out of thin air and kicked him away.
The one who kicked him was Yue Niang.
After she kicked Supreme Sage Ziyang away, she quietly stood beside Xu Yang.
Supreme Sage Ziyang coughed up blood and with a kip-up, he got back on his feet. He scanned Yue Niang, Xu Yang, and Liu Shishi, clutching his chest as he stood and said firmly, “Xu Yang, what are you trying to achieve?”
Xu Yang rose to his feet, standing on Grandmaster Lingxiao’s chest. The unconscious Lingxiao cried out in pain and came to.
The moment he opened his eyes and saw Supreme Sage Ziyang, he became incredibly excited and struggled frantically, letting out guttural cries.
Supreme Sage Ziyang’s expression shifted again, gritting his teeth, “The grandmaster’s voice… Xu Yang, you beast! Even though a warrior can be killed, he cannot be humiliated! What do you really want?”
“Less nonsense!”
Xu Yang got straight to the point, saying, “Now, I’m giving you two options, either exchange the seal of Grand Supreme Elderly Lord, or… prepare to guard the dead Grandmaster Lingxiao… Yue Niang, show our guest out!”
“Xu…”
Supreme Sage Ziyang wanted to say more, but Yue Niang had already taken action. With a wave of her sleeve, a Yin wind blew him and the young Daoist out of the funeral shop.
The young Daoist asked shakily, “Supreme Sage, what should we do?”
Supreme Sage Ziyang said sternly, “First, find a guest house to stay at… We will respond after discussing with Lord Wuwei. What a disgrace to our Daoist Sect that this Xu Yang, a member of our sect, should collude with Yin spirits!”
Swoosh!
Just as his voice fell, rain from the sky suddenly transformed into sword-shaped droplets.
Supreme Sage Ziyang was greatly startled and hastily used Daoist skills to defend himself. Despite managing to block this wave of rain sword attack, his Daoist robe was torn and ragged, with several wounds. He dared not say more and quickly saluted the funeral shop before fleeing like a beaten dog.
Inside the funeral shop.
Xu Yang was surprised, “When did you learn this, Shishi?”
The “rain into swords” move was Liu Shishi’s handy work.
And for this particular move, it required profound understanding of the water element path.
Liu Shishi is a ghost.
Xu Yang wasn’t sure whether ghosts could understand Dao, but he was sure about Liu Shishi’s abilities. Liu Shishi’s power lay within a river of blood.
Liu Shishi: “This is one of the methods recorded in the cultivation techniques that elder sister Yue Niang taught me. I have just started practicing and I have not yet mastered it.”
Yue Niang then said, “Your modesty astonishes Shishi. Without formal training, you managed to reach the pinnacle of ghost kings, indicating your immense talent and potential. It has been less than half a month since I imparted the cultivation method to you, and your achievements are already astounding. In at most a month, I believe you will step into a higher realm.”
The remark caught Xu Yang’s attention.
Liu Shishi was already at the pinnacle of ghost kings. If she advanced further…
Would she then stand above the ghost kings?
“I am a slow learner. If it weren’t for elder sister’s cultivation method, I would have had a hard time advancing in my lifetime.”
Liu Shishi modestly replied.
“Alright, alright, let’s stop being modest.”
Xu Yang said, “Since Shishi is on the verge of a breakthrough, why don’t she devote herself to secluded cultivation? If there’s anything she needs help with from me, just ask.”
Shishi agreed.
Xu Yang then asked, “Do you need any Yin treasures to assist you? With my current skills, it’s not difficult to obtain some.”
“When one’s cultivation has reached my level, wanting a breakthrough is tantamount to challenging the heavenly power. Matters like Yin treasures hold no value for me.”
Liu Shishi shook her head.
On one side, Yue Niang pondered, “Actually, I have a method that could make it easier for Shishi to break through… and during the breakthrough, she doesn’t have to suffer from Thunder Tribulation. Earth’s Yin spirits and ghostly creatures, even if they could break through to the level of Ghost King, many would die under Thunder Tribulation.”
“Yin spirits and ghostly creatures do not belong to the human realm, hence breaking through in the human realm is more challenging. However, if one was to go to the Underworld Palace, it would be much simpler.”
Yue Niang looked at Xu Yang, “Normally, ghosts entering the Underworld Palace would be captured by underworld soldiers to await judgement. Those who had been virtuous in their previous lives would either reincarnate or undertake certain duties in the Palace… those who committed evil deeds would be sent to the eighteen layers of Hell to endure punishments such as climbing a mountain of knives, traversing through a sea of fire, being fried in oil, and only after receiving their punishment would they be given Mengpo Soup… hence, many Yin spirits and ghostly creatures would rather die than enter the Underworld Palace!”
“But Liu Shishi is different.”
“You have a great relationship with Lord Cui. If you bring her into the Underworld Palace and bring her back after her breakthrough, I think Lord Cui might turn a blind eye.”
“Oh?”
Xu Yang was intrigued, “If that’s the case, Shishi could accompany me to the Underworld Palace after the Ghost Festival.”
After deciding on this matter, Yang Yin, who was standing nearby, curiously asked, “Husband, you have a death feud with the Lu Shan Sect, why didn’t you kill that Daoist just now?”
“Why kill him?”
Xu Yang laughed, “That Daoist is obviously a straightforward person who lacks cunning. It’s easier dealing with him as the leader of the Lu Shan Sect.”
“Right!”
Shifting his tone, he continued, “We can send that old dog Lingxiao to the netherworld… After it’s done, let me know. After all, he was a supreme sage of our Daoist Sect. I will perform a ritual for him as a token of my regard!”
“Understood!”
Yang Yin said, “An evil were not removed from its roots; spring breeze would breed it again. You want to transcend his soul so that he doesn’t even have a chance to become a ghost.”
Supreme Sage Lingxiao had lost all his cultivation and had no strength to resist.
This old Daoist, who’d managed to survive for 600 years in a heavenly blessed land, died disgracefully in this funeral shop, in front of Xu Zhiyuan’s memorial portrait.
Xu Yang stood up, bowed to the old man’s portrait, lit three sticks of incense for him, and said, “Old man… I have avenged some of your grievances… Rest assured, one day I will go to the Underworld Palace and bring you back intact.”
After that.
Xu Yang held a ritual to transcend the soul of Supreme Sage Lingxiao.
Another ball of Daoist fire burned it to ashes.
Ma Xiaotiao took a broom and dustpan, swept up the ashes, and dumped them into the trash, asking, “Master, the Lu Shan Sect’s leader has yet to give a reply. What if they want to ransom Lingxiao the old Daoist?”
“Ransom?”
Xu Yang laughed, “How could the Lu Shan Sect be willing to use the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord’s seal to ransom a person? Besides… they handed the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord’s seal to me!”
At this moment.
Yue Niang suddenly said, “Master Xu, earlier, it seemed like someone was spying on us…”
“Hm?”
Xu Yang’s expression shifted ever so slightly.
However, he quickly relaxed and said, “We don’t need to worry about them, let them spy.”
On the horizon.
Above the clouds.
Wang Hou held his phone, his fingers typing out a storm. He quickly composed a post, used the “Fang Wei” anonymous account to login to the Martial Artists Forum, and published the post.
…
Meanwhile.
In Wu City.
In a hotel.
Supreme Sage Ziyang and the young Daoist had finally checked in.
Once in the room, Supreme Sage Ziyang asked, “What’s that thing you use to talk on the phone called?”
The young Daoist replied, “A mobile phone?”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Supreme Sage Ziyang said, “Where’s your phone? Hurry up and get it, I need to make a call to Grandmaster Wuwei…”
The young Daoist took out his phone and said, “Sect leader, I don’t have Grandmaster Wuwei’s phone number. I can only call my master first, then he finds my grandmaster, and then my grandmaster goes to meet the Supreme Sages, and then they go to meet the grandmaster…”
After all this hassle.
By the time Supreme Sage Ziyang got in touch with Lord Wuwei…
The post from the martial world’s number one paparazzi “Fang Wei” had already spread throughout the martial world.
“Grandmaster!”
Unaware, Supreme Sage Ziyang asked, “I beg for grandmaster’s help to rescue Grandmaster Lingxiao!”
“With what?”
From the other end of the phone, Wuwei coldly said, “Supreme Sage Lingxiao is dead. How could he be saved?”
…
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