There were also quite a few cultivators who had co down to the countryside in Luwei Town. The town had a private school and many scholarly cultivators who hurried to the streets to witness this rare spectacle.
Just below the bell tower in the Luwei Town, those grey-clothed Rat People had surrounded it so tightly that not even water could seep through. The large palanquin stopped more than ten zhang in front of the bell tower.
Atop the bell tower, the young Taoist stood under the bell. A few old Rat People, with white beards, stepped forward, their heads bizarrely revealing small shrines, with Divine Embryos sitting inside, looking quite proper.
Apart from their appearance, they bore little difference from human cultivators.
"I ask venerable friends to leave my grandmother’s Daoist place!" one of the white-bearded old Rat People exclaid.
The young Taoist snorted coldly, not even glancing at them, but instead looked toward the Black God Statue inside the palanquin, saying, "Granny Black Mountain, last ti it was I who visited your Daoist place, and you held the advantage of the terrain, resulting in my defeat. But this ti it is you who co to my Daoist place, where I hold the terrain advantage, and the outco is yet to be determined."
People hid far away in Luwei Town, peering over in this direction. They could only hear the young Taoist’s voice and they couldn’t see him, nor did they know what their revered godmother looked like.
However, the sight of their worshipped godmother being driven away made them angry, yet also filled with trepidation.
In the face of such affairs, ordinary people could only accept, unable to resist.
An old cultivator from the countryside said to the boy beside him, "This is a matter of ’mountain-felling and temple-breaking,’ which is usually a struggle between godmothers. Mortals must not get involved, and even cultivators seldom intervene. We should just watch quietly."
The other cultivators held the sa thought, rely looking on without interfering.
The elderly cultivator said, "The so-called ’mountain-felling and temple-breaking’ originally ca from the customs of the True King era aid at Daoist figures attacking Evil Spirits and Evil Gods, and their temples and strongholds on the mountains, pulling up their roots and slaying demons. But as of today, it has evolved into conflicts between the worshiped godmothers, where they fight over Daoist places. Alas, the ways of old are no more!"
Such incidents occurred occasionally in the countryside, with godmothers of two villages going to war, the deities battling to the death to eradicate the other, kidnapping villagers from the rival village and making them their own subjects.
For example, the young Taoist from Luwei Town attacking Granny Black Mountain’s temple on Black Mountain was an act of ’mountain-felling and temple-breaking,’ an attempt to destroy the True Body of Granny Black Mountain.
Granny Black Mountain overstepping her bounds to slay his subjects was a taboo. As the godmother of Luwei Town, he had to seek justice for these subjects, and not just because Chen Shi had provoked him into ’mountain-felling and temple-breaking.’
"Teacher, who exactly is Granny Black Mountain?" the boy beside the old cultivator asked.
The elderly cultivator replied, "It seems she’s the godmother from the Black Mountain area in the neighboring county, and so also call her an Evil Spirit. Anyone passing by Black Mountain must offer incense at Granny Black Mountain’s temple, else they would encounter danger."
As soon as he finished speaking, the young Taoist on the bell tower raised his hand. The colossal Big Bronze Bell hanging in the middle of the bell tower broke free from its hook, swirling as it hurtled towards the large palanquin!
This strike was majestic and potent, prompting the crowd of cultivators below the bell tower to each inwardly praise, "Indeed, she is the godmother of Luwei Town. Her mana is incredibly profound!"
At that mont, the group of white-bearded old Rat People stepped forward in unison. The Divine Embryos in their shrines opened their mouths and spat out Golden Cores, which twirled around.
The Golden Cores, laden with a dense demonic and malevolent aura, appeared, and the ground started cracking open violently. Even the bell tower from which the young Taoist’s bell had flown began to collapse under the pressure of the Golden Cores!
"Clang—"
The Golden Cores collided with the Big Bronze Bell, which turned red-hot, and countless characters faintly appeared on the inner side of the bell.
The bell’s toll shook the air, and the white-bearded old rats each grunted, but still managed to block the great bell.
Suddenly, the young Taoist leapt forward and pressed a palm onto the bronze bell, hundreds of characters beneath the bell wall buzzed into divine light that shone forth, forming golden, glowing characters large as cups around the bell at a distance of about ten feet, branding the air like an article!
The white-bearded old rats staggered back from the vibration and their Golden Cores were shaken loose.
This bell, having endured thousands of years without decay and bearing spirituality through the villagers’ offerings, was naturally extraordinary.
The young Taoist shouted and charged towards the large, ornate palanquin.
His extraordinary power was imnsely vigorous. These old rats, having followed a path of cultivation by drawing on moonlight, fostered Evil Spirits, and refined evil cores, were indeed formidable—but they were still far from matching his strength.
As the great bell rotated, the hundreds of characters forming the article also spun around, creating a bell-shaped pattern of characters, which struck the palanquin with imnse force.
This scene left several cultivators from the city watching with riveted eyes.
"Truly, the countryside holds treasures!" exclaid the elder cultivator. "This bell is definitely a magical treasure from ancient tis, durable and powerful! Alas, it was enlivened by the naivety of the country folk!"
The other cultivators too recognized the clues.
That the great bronze bell could repel the white-bearded old rats was not solely due to the remarkable power from years of offerings, but also because of its extraordinary inherent force!
If the great bronze bell weren’t spirited, not having assud a divine form, it would absolutely be an artifact of no small significance—and no wonder they were envious.
From behind the crowd of rat folk, the palanquin’s curtain, lifted by the bell’s energy, revealed the True Body of the Black God Statue within.
One could see that the Black God Statue depicted a woman, presumably a kindly old granny, approachable and smiling, with a hand poised as if pinching a flower.
But in the next mont, the statue’s face caved inwards, becoming a black hole so deep it seed bottomless, and at the edge of this abyss were rows upon rows of gums sprouting rice-sized teeth, spiraling into the depths of the dark void!
As the bell smashed towards the palanquin, it shrank the closer it got to the Black God Statue, until both the young Taoist and the bell were sucked into the black hole on the face of the statue.
The Black God Statue within the palanquin swallowed the young Taoist and the bell, its nurous spinning teeth protruding outward, and then its face returned to normal, still the visage of a kind old granny.
The cultivators atop Luwei Town stood dumbfounded, their scalps tingling with a chill crawling up their spines.
This Granny of Black Mountain was indeed too powerful.
Group after group of Grey-clothed Rat People set down the palanquin, with one shouting, "All listen to the order, starting today, day and night without rest, we shall construct a palace for Granny!"
.Côm-cσ๓
Countless grey-clothed rats, whip in hand, drove the people to build temples.
One grey-clothed rat bowed deeply before the palanquin and said, "Granny, we have issued an ultimatum to that little devil nad Chen Shi, demanding his death by tomorrow."
A kind and affable voice emanated from within the temple, "As a godmother, one must keep their word. Since we wish for his death by tomorrow, then he must die tomorrow. Once midnight has passed tonight, Granny will go and kill him."
Chen Shi returned to Huangpo Village, and it was already late. Black Pot had had its fill, and when he arrived ho, he saw Black Pot washing dishes, with so unextinguished firewood still beneath the pot.
Chen Shi, no longer surprised by such things, said, "Black Pot, leave that there; I’ll wash them. I have to concoct so dicine later."
Black Pot ca up to him, its expression serious, and barked, "Woof, woof!"
Chen Shi put down his book bag and went to scrub the pot and wash the plates. "You cooked? And three dishes... Of course, I’m confident, now that I’ve cultivated the Golden Core. If that Granny from Black Mountain dares to co, I’ll make sure she doesn’t leave here alive!"
Black Pot said, "Woof!"
"Rest assured, I won’t underestimate the enemy."
"Woof..."
"Alright, alright! You’re more like my grandfather than my grandfather himself!"
...
That night, when all was quiet and midnight had unknowingly passed, the darkness gradually enveloped everything and soon reached the outskirts of Huangpo Village. The girl in her twenties, perched upon the ancient tree in the center of the village, suddenly beca alert. Without hesitation, she spurred the branches of the ancient tree to lash out at the approaching darkness.
Suddenly, one by one, the branches withered at great speed, and in a blink, all the branches of the ancient tree dried up and decayed, falling to the ground.
The girl’s heart skipped a beat; she looked at her arms, which had withered as well, and with two cracking sounds, they broke off at the shoulders.
She quickly leaped down from the ancient tree and dashed into Chen Shi’s house for cover.
This was a habit.
For a long ti, Chen Shi’s house had been a mysterious domain for her, a place her power could not infiltrate. Now, faced with danger, she unthinkingly sought refuge in Chen Shi’s ho.
Black Pot was lying in a corner, hiding from the moonlight, quietly watching the girl cross through Chen Shi’s doorway and sneak into his room.
Chen Shi was still deep in sleep when his bedding suddenly rose up—it was the girl who had crawled into his bed.
Black Pot wagged its tail and pretended to see nothing.
At that mont, the door latch was broken by so invisible force, and the courtyard door swung open. A pitch-black figure slowly entered the yard; the darkness spread out behind her like a long dress.
The black figure glanced at the dog that was sound asleep in the shadow, withdrew its gaze, and headed straight for the main room where Chen Shi was.
Black Pot stealthily lifted its head, and suddenly, the shadow abruptly turned back.
The dog remained lying in the shadow, still sound asleep.
The shadow turned back around, as if it were an intangible form of darkness, flowing into Chen Shi’s room.
Chen Shi was deep in a sweet dream. In it, his grandfather, Chen Yindou, had co back to life, saying that King Yan had declared his ti had not yet co and sent him back to the mortal world to look after his grandson.
He had beco a Scholar, returned to the village, and the villagers, including Granny Yu Zhu and Old Lady Wu Zhu, were so terrified that they fell over themselves, kneeling and bowing to the Scholar master. Old Lady Wu Zhu even willingly picked waterlons for him to eat.
Yu Zhu had grown up sohow, almost as big as Jin Hongying, and she coyly snuggled into the Scholar master’s embrace, coquettishly saying, "Scholar master, you... you killed my dear grandson, midnight has passed, and now you’ll pay with your life!"
Chen Shi’s beautiful dream suddenly turned pitch black. In the nightmarish darkness, only he was in the light, surrounded by darkness, but it seed that there were tiny glowing things in the dark, like grains of rice.
"Granny from Black Mountain?"
Chen Shi was startled and shouted, "Granny from Black Mountain, you allowed your Rat n to wreak havoc, so I had to kill them. You can’t bla ! If you invade my dreams, you won’t be able to do anything to when I wake up!"
"You won’t wake up!"
The rice-like points of light in the darkness trembled as if they were laughing. They were rice-sized teeth that had now surrounded him on all sides.
Granny from Black Mountain’s voice was filled with pride as she laughed, "You’ve already fallen into Granny’s mouth; still think you can wake up... What’s this? What is this thing? What have you hidden in your dream?"
Her voice beca terrified, as if she had encountered sothing horrifying. Just before, she had seed like a triumphant demon; now, she was like a stripped bare hooligan, a young girl crying in fear.
"What in the world did you hide in your dream? Save , save quickly—"
She let out a piercing scream, and then, the darkness in Chen Shi’s dream rapidly receded. All he could see was a figure being dragged into the darkness, and a crimson, slender tongue was coiling around its neck.
"Save !"
The harrowing screams echoed from the darkness, and pairs of dry, bony black hands reached out from the darkness, wildly grasping.
Chen Shi was puzzled and suddenly snapped awake from the nightmare, drenched in sweat.
Breathing heavily, he realized sothing was wrong and quickly pulled back the covers, looking down to find a girl hiding in his bed, lying close against him, quiet and still.
When she saw him look down, the girl blinked her shining eyes but had no arms—it was the dry nurse from the village.
"Why are you in my bed?" Chen Shi asked, confused.
"Why don’t you wear clothes to sleep?" the girl asked in reply.
"I always sleep without clothes... Wait a minute, why are you in my bed? Get out, get out quickly!"
Chen Shi shooed the girl away and sat by the window, still thinking about the dream, wondering, "Could it be ’Dayti reverie leads to nightti dreams’? I must be too frightened of Granny from Black Mountain; that’s why I had such a dream."
Outside Huangpo Village, Granny Sha was holding the Sheep Horn Heavenly Spirit Lamp, looking towards Chen Shi’s house in the center of the village.
The green sheep strolled out from behind her, shaking its head and saying, "Old hag, it’s useless. Granny from Black Mountain is rely a weak Evil Spirit; she can’t gauge Chen Shi’s level."
A bearded strong man ca from the other side, saying, "Granny from Black Mountain is already the strongest Evil Spirit nearby. What level is the Evil Spirit inside Chen Shi?"
Th𝓮 most uptodate nov𝑒ls are publish𝒆d on freew(e)bnove(l).𝓬𝓸𝓶
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