Ghost Tide
The Southern Ghost Gate is located at Mount Luofu.
This place is very close to the southwest and is the closest ghost gate to Wushen Mountain. So, to return to Wushen Mountain, Shen Shuibi naturally chose this ghost gate as the exit and went directly from the underworld to this place.
At this moment, Shen Shuibi and Li Qi were watching the thousands of people in the imperial procession below.
This kind of funeral procession actually incorporates many folk customs. For example, when carrying a coffin, there must be someone in front to clear the way, people walking in the middle, and others bringing up the rear. This is what is meant by "carrying a coffin".
Even high-ranking officials or landlords in the mortal world would travel in simple carriages.
But compared to those crude or even useless vehicles, the well-organized Dharma vehicle in front of us is clearly something only practitioners can understand. It is practical and effective, even so effective that it resonates with the central part of Mount Luofu, thus forming a kind of attraction.
Upon hearing this, Li Qi nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.
As expected, Shen Shuibi said directly that this was indeed related to Mount Luofu, so... let's just wait and see what the other party will face.
Old Ma didn't care about any of that. He just stared at the two Daoists who had beaten him up with the Dragon Suppressing Formation and the Golden Armored Warrior. They were baring their teeth and probably thinking about revenge all they could think about.
As for questions and concerns about Mount Luofu, resonance, the final destination of the mountain gate, and why no powerful figures of the fourth or fifth rank came to occupy these places, he never even considered them.
Old Ma lived a very simple life, or you could say he was quite brainless, but he was just a horse, and only in his twenties, so don't expect him to think about so much all the time.
Li Qi's mind is constantly racing with so many ideas, he's exhausted. Li Qi just has no choice; if he doesn't think about these things, he'll really be played to death by others.
Old Ma is not one to be played by others, so he naturally doesn't bother to think too much and might as well act swiftly and decisively.
Several Chen later, the imperial entourage, under control and without causing too much damage to the ecology of Mount Luofu, arrived deep into the Mount Luofu.
However, a few Chen was enough for the sky to darken.
As darkness falls, it is the time when Yin Ghost roam freely.
"It might be a bit difficult for them to get through this. The Yin Qi is too heavy, which affects their ability to perform their magic. This place is close to the Ghost Gate, and some Yin Ghost can even reach the seventh rank in cultivation," Li Qi reminded him.
"It's alright. Even the most powerful Yin Ghost will be taken away by the ghost messengers. If there are any that are too strong, I'll help stop them." Shen Shuibi seemed determined to send them to the center of Mount Luofu, so she took action directly.
She stretched out her slender, white hand and made a few gestures in the air. Then she clapped her hands, and a strong burst of Qi surged out from her body.
This is not the 'qi' in all things, but rather the 'qi' among the Three Innate Treasures within Shen Shuibi's body.
The * Baopuzi * states. "Qi can ward off natural disasters. If evil spirits or mountain demons invade people's homes, throwing tiles and stones at them, or burning their houses, whether their forms are visible or their voices are heard, those skilled in restraining them can use Qi to suppress them, and all will cease. This is how Qi can restrain ghosts and spirits. In mountain forests with many streams and poisonous vipers, any person who passes by will be harmed. Those skilled in restraining them can use Qi to suppress them, clearing a path for tens of miles, ensuring that their companions are harmless. It can also restrain tigers, leopards, snakes, and bees, making them all subdued and unable to rise."
Baopuzi was a cultivator from Mount Luofu. Shen Shuibi was using the Qi circulation techniques of Mount Luofu, using her own Three Innate Treasures as a catalyst to directly suppress all the surrounding Yin Ghost!
Some seventh-rank Yin Ghost, who had been harboring restless desires and originally wanted to eat people, all fled after this method was used. The surrounding area was deserted for miles around, and most of the Yin Ghost had escaped.
"Wouldn't that be noticed?" Li Qi said. "If they notice, wouldn't we be forced to go by their own choice?"
"I can also command spirits and deities, even those who can't detect it," Shen Shuibi said, making two circles in the air with her fingers as if they were a pen. Talisman Core's Talisman Foot appeared, upon which sixteen large characters were written:
"Great Exorcism of Ghosts and Spirits, turn heaven and earth upside down, leave all evil and falsehood, and enter the source of my Tao."
Then, she wrote her name at the beginning, "Shen Shuibi's Imperial Edict".
As her name appeared, a talisman materialized out of thin air, and from the surrounding ghost gates, countless ghosts howled! Countless insects, poisonous spirits, evil demons, Yin Ghost ghosts were instantly drawn in by some force and forcibly pulled over!
Then, Shen Shuibi placed the talisman down and casually said, "Those above the eighth rank are not allowed to make a move. The rest, surround and attack the formation below."
After speaking, the talisman dispersed, transforming into heavy bindings that encased the demons, forcibly compelling them to act according to the Daoist's commands!
The Daoist priests' methods of exorcising spirits and swaying ghosts are not as gentle as the Shaman's communication, and Shen Shuibi's attitude towards this is completely indifferent. She has never been a kind and saintly little white rabbit. Her attitude towards these Yin Ghost is probably... indifference.
I cultivate my immortality, and I only care about the people I care about. As for the rest... whatever. She will only feel uncomfortable if the killing reaches the point of being "against the harmony of heaven and earth".
She was like this in the Sacred Flame Realm, and naturally, she will be the same here.
Li Qi frowned slightly, reached out and added, and saw countless life forms enveloping the demons gathering below. He then said, "If there are any casualties, retreat immediately. With the protection of my Great Forest Wood Qi, your lives are safe. In return, do not actually kill anyone. Just push them a little and test their strength."
The demons Yin Ghost below were terrified and dared not say anything. They could only obey orders and were forced by the talisman to charge at the divine carriage.
However, this is actually what they wanted to do.
Even without Shen Shuibi's intervention, these Yin Ghost and demons would still rush towards the imperial carriage. After all, killing is their hobby, and flesh and blood are their food. These guys are pitiful in Shen Shuibi's hands, but once released, none of them will not eat people or kill.
All Shen Shuibi did was drive away the powerful demons and then capture some weaker demons to put on a show.
In this play, however, life and death are irrelevant.
As for Li Qi's attitude of "it's best not to let anyone die unless necessary," Shen Shuibi made no comment.
There's no need for any expression; her attitude is exactly what she just said: it doesn't matter. Whether Li Qi kills them all or saves them all, she has no objection.
Whether she's dead or alive, it's none of her business. Good and evil are concepts that don't exist for the Hidden World Faction of Daoism, just as they've said before. (See Chapter 280)
All actions, words, and deeds stem from the mind; they are neither good nor evil, but simply the true nature of oneself.
As for Old Ma, he looked eager to try.
He'd wanted to beat up those Daoist priests for a long time!
After all, he had just been beaten up by the Daoist priests and was still holding a grudge.
As the two completed their Technique Method, a horde of Yin Ghost surged forth below.
A large number of ghosts and monsters poured out of the dark forest at night.
No sounds of beasts or birds could be heard, only ghosts and demons could be seen. A chilling wind whistled, and Black Mist billowed.
At first glance, all around, regardless of elevation or direction, the usual mountain and forest scenery was gone! Looking around, all that could be seen were ghosts and demons!
The real tide, with its ghostly and monstrous sights and surging demons, crashed down like a wall, chilling one to the bone at the mere sight of it!
At first glance, looking around, they can be found in the mountains, in the forests, at the foot of the ridges, in the caves, at the bottom of the ravines, and on the rivers!
Demons and monsters roam in all directions, and evil spirits abound in the heavens and on the earth. Before the mountain, tiger demons roar and bull demons howl. Behind the mountain, evil ghosts are half-hidden and water ghosts are half-concealed, and poor souls weep together.
Some hungry ghosts came hanging from their bones, some jumped from fire pits, some were skinned and exposed, some had broken arms and tendons, each with its own tragic appearance.
The surroundings resembled the underworld of Fengdu, where some Yin Ghost had their tongues pulled out and others Yin Ghost skin peeled off, weeping and wailing in a pitiful state.
They were subjected to grinding and pounding, crushing and breaking of stones, their skin torn and flesh ripped open, mouths gritting and teeth bared, intestines pulled out and bellies dug out, their faces filthy and hair disheveled, their brows furrowed and eyes wrinkled, a veritable blood pool and hell!
Red-haired demons, black-faced demons, Ox-Head demons, and Horse-Face demons, wielding iron maces and copper hammers, their weapons dripping with blood, rushed out of the mountains and forests, wanting to devour these Daoist priests alive!
The dragon demon is enraged, ghosts and monsters lurk in the fire, and many strange and ugly creatures have traveled through distant and bizarre places, their stories difficult to describe!
This is the Gate of Hell! The place closest to the underworld. For mortals, the Gate of Hell is probably the closest place to death. There is a saying that goes, "Having walked through the Ghost Gate Pass," which is used to describe the life-and-death situation.
Now, they have truly experienced a brush with death.
Li Qi had once witnessed the scene of purgatory at the Eastern Ghost Gate, on Duoshuo Mountain. However, at that time he was on Fifth Rank Treasure Ship, so no Yin Ghost could get close to him, and he was naturally not troubled.
Later, in the Ghost Market, he was protected by golden light, and since his cultivation was not weak, he was not bothered by the Yin Ghost at all.
But at this moment, these Daoist priests had no way to protect themselves, and with Shen Shuibi taking the initiative to drive them, this terrifying wave of Ghost Tide was born, directly overwhelming and pressing down on the Dharma carriage.
However, this is still a weakened Ghost Tide. Under normal circumstances, there would probably be seventh-rank Yin Ghost mixed in with it.
However, Shen Shuibi is currently using her Qi to ward off evil spirits, so ghosts and monsters not commanded by her cannot enter this area within a hundred miles. Therefore, this battlefield is temporarily isolated from the outside world.
This is why no one usually comes to this place. Without Mount Luofu suppressing the ghost gate, this place is a paradise on earth during the day, but at night it becomes a place where ghosts and evil spirits roam freely.
Good ghosts have long since entered the cycle of reincarnation. Their good deeds have brought them good results, and they will be rewarded in their next life. Only those vengeful and evil ghosts remain, stubbornly clinging to their cultivation and refusing to reincarnate.
Before Elder Li became a ghost messenger, he was also such a vicious ghost, often cursing and killing other people's entire families. It was Li Qi who resolved his resentment, which led to him joining the ranks of ghosts and becoming a formally appointed ghost, no longer so malevolent.
Therefore, Shen Shuibi felt no urge to command these vengeful ghosts and demons, and did not think there was anything wrong with it.
Of course, if necessary, she wouldn't hesitate to command benevolent ghosts. However, given her personality, she would likely offer some compensation afterward, but she certainly wouldn't do what Li Qi did—negotiate or even have a proper conversation with those ghosts.
A large number of ghosts rushed towards the imperial carriage like waves.
At this moment, it was seen that the Daoist priests did not sit idly by and wait for their deaths.
But on that imperial carriage, the old Daoist priest who had been slacking off earlier was the one who acted the fastest.
He was visibly nervous. Although he knew that Yin Ghost would appear in this mountainous area at night, actually facing them was a different story altogether.
But then the old Daoist priest flew into the air, chanting incantations. "Heavenly Gang Great One, Thunder and Lightning Gods. Blowing away calamities, suppressing demons. Performing creation, nurturing all living beings. Limitless and supreme, Golden Palace and Jade Capital. Eliminating all disasters and obstacles!"
As he chanted the incantation, a strange phenomenon suddenly appeared around him, and the phantom of a White Jade Capital appeared around him!
The phantom was very illusory, even semi-transparent, but that did not change the fact that it was White Jade Capital.
There are immortals riding steeds, phoenixes in shadow, lotus banners, heavy mist, and reflections in the water. Green calyxes adorn the halls, golden palaces and red gates, and myriad peaks of clouds, all supported by giant trees and decorated with red flags, like a flying rainbow spanning the deep and mysterious caves. The forests are lush and verdant, seemingly encompassing all the beauty of the world and containing the wonders of ancient and modern times.
This strange phenomenon immediately took effect, as if the White Jade Capital of Heaven had descended upon this place, pressing down heavily, and all kinds of pure energy fell down, suppressing many ghosts and monsters so that they could not raise their heads!
However, upon seeing this, Shen Shuibi shook her head and casually commented. "This White Jade Capital, let alone having a form... it doesn't even have a form. The Golden Palace and the Immortal Mountain are combined, which shows that it has a lot of imagination but not enough power."
Li Qi smiled but didn't say anything.
For practitioners, it is normal for Technique Method to contain unusual phenomena, just like using allusions in writing. They can borrow power and enhance the effect by doing so.
However, for practitioners, there is a very real difficulty to face.
Everyone in the world knows that if I wear a portrait of a True Immortal on my chest, I don't even need Technique Method; the portrait itself can protect me.
That's why there are so many traditional customs of wearing amulets or Buddha pendants on one's body.
But the question remains: what do True Immortal actually look like?
If you don't know, will randomly carving an image of a True Immortal have any effect?
That's why Daoist sects rarely have amulets or similar items.
However, Buddhism has a history of promoting Buddha Statue all over the world, aiming to ensure that everyone can receive the true Buddha's protection and escape demonic influences.
Throughout the myriad realms, countless Buddhist amulets are the result of active promotion by the Buddhist sect. The Daoist sect, on the other hand, is the opposite; you don't even know how many True Immortal there are, let alone what they look like.
So it's the same now. The old Daoist priest must have read about the White Jade Capital in the book. Based on the description, he visualized a White Jade Capital, but it was full of errors and omissions, so its power was naturally greatly reduced.
Shen Shuibi knew what White Jade Capital looked like, so she was able to perform this Technique Method even better. This is the difference between a rogue cultivator and a sect disciple. The rogue cultivator himself didn't even know that he had visualized something wrong.
If you make a mistake now, you'll definitely make mistakes every step of the way in the future. When you reach a dead end, the only way to make any further progress is to abandon the Technique Method and start over.
As expected, an eighth-rank demon roared from below, its powerful sound waves mixed with malevolent and Sha Qi, causing the strange phenomenon in White Jade Capital to shake violently!
But at this moment, the other eighth-rank officials, as well as the thousands of Daoist priests under the Emperor's command, also began to make their move!