Where would Xu Ying agree to go down? The boy desperately blinked at Yuan Qi, signaling for him to leave at once, and said, "I'm not studying. Are you leaving or not? It'll be dark soon. This place is surrounded by the Underworld, and ghosts and gods roam everywhere. Be careful you can't make it home!"
But Yuan Qi was thoroughly engrossed. "I listened just now and picked up a few things. I'm staying here to study. If you're afraid of ghosts, go back first. I'll stay with the Immortal Master for a few more days."
Xu Ying ground his teeth in fury. Suddenly, Yuan Weiyang, who was beside him, looked puzzled and murmured, "Darkness, the Underworld? Wait. There's a problem here!"
Xu Ying looked at him. "What problem?"
Yuan Weiyang furrowed his brow slightly. "Did you notice those Stone Statues on the immortal mountains? Uncle Xiao and I didn't hurry here to listen to the lecture. Instead, we went to inspect those immortal mountains and found many enormous Stone Statues carved in the forms of various gods."
Xu Ying lowered his voice. "Did you find the Soul Summoning Incantation?"
Yuan Weiyang's heart jolted. He looked up at Xu Ying. The blue-robed old servant Uncle Xiao also gazed at Xu Ying in surprise and thought, Could he really be a disciple secretly cultivated by some great Aristocratic Clan? Otherwise, how would he know even about the Soul Summoning Incantation, such a secret script?
The Soul Summoning Incantation was a strange talismanic script discovered by certain great Aristocratic Clans while excavating the tombs and grotto-heavens of Ancient Qi Refiners. The script was obscure and difficult to understand, yet contained tremendous mysteries.
When the Aristocratic Clans obtained such writing, they naturally treasured it and refused to show it lightly to others. Thus, to ordinary people, the Soul Summoning Incantation remained a secret. Even within the great Aristocratic Clans, few knew of it.
Judging by his clothes, Xu Ying was merely a wild village boy. Yet from the fact that he knew of the Soul Summoning Incantation, he was certainly a core disciple of a great Aristocratic Clan!
Yuan Weiyang said, "It was the Soul Summoning Incantation. I could never figure out why the immortal realm needed the Soul Summoning Incantation. But when you mentioned the Underworld just now, I suddenly understood..."
A flash of insight struck Xu Ying, and he blurted, "I understand too! So that's how it is!"
The blue-robed old servant Uncle Xiao was bewildered. What did the two of them understand?
Great Bell was also completely at sea, unable to understand what the two were talking about.
Xu Ying spoke rapidly. "After the sun sets, the ruined temple world happens to fall within the Underworld's boundaries! This is the Underworld, and ghosts are everywhere!"
Yuan Weiyang nodded. "The Soul Summoning Incantation inside the Stone Statues is actually used to summon the wandering ghosts of the Underworld and refine them into Myriad Spirit Pills."
Xu Ying said, "The Stone Statues are the servants of the White-robed Nuo Immortal. They summon ghosts from the Underworld and refine Myriad Spirit Pills for him."
Yuan Weiyang said, "The White-robed Nuo Immortal placed his Hidden Scenery Sublimation Land in the Underworld, with its entrance in the Mortal Realm—Shuikou Temple. When the Underworld Invaded the Mortal Realm, the two realms collided and shook this Hidden Scenery Sublimation Land loose. That was why the ruined temple world appeared."
Xu Ying picked up his words. "Because the ruined temple world has always been hidden in the Underworld, with ghosts everywhere, the Stone Statues don't need divine souls to dwell inside them. Leaving them empty is enough. Thus, when the great temple world is in the Underworld, all the Stone Statues will revive and become mighty gods!"
Having voiced this deduction, he suddenly froze, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
Yuan Weiyang continued reasoning from his words. "In other words, when the sun sets in the outside world, the Nai River will reappear, the Underworld will invade, and the great temple world will return to the Underworld. All the Stone Statues will revive!"
He paused. "They're about to start slaughtering!"
The two exchanged a glance, both feeling that they had found a kindred spirit.
Great Bell and Uncle Xiao, however, were utterly stunned. The two boys had pieced together, sentence by sentence, a terrifying picture. Just imagine it: five immortal mountains and hundreds of enormous Stone Statues reviving and launching a massacre. What a horrifying scene would that be?
Xu Ying suddenly raised his head and saw the setting sun sinking toward the horizon.
Yuan Weiyang stood and said to the blue-robed Uncle Xiao, "Uncle Xiao, this place is about to become dangerous. Let's go."
Uncle Xiao nodded.
Yuan Weiyang looked at Xu Ying. "Aren't you leaving?"
"My friend is here. How could I leave?"
Xu Ying suddenly leaped from the roof of the immortal hall into the temple and laughed. "I'm here to study the Immortal Master's wisdom too!"
Yuan Weiyang froze and murmured, "Jumping down there is simply courting death. How could a sensible person knowingly walk to his death... We spoke so pleasantly. I thought you were a sensible person like me. I never expected you weren't."
He shook his head and followed Uncle Xiao away. Yet Xu Ying's actions lingered in his mind like an unsolvable riddle. He badly wanted to fish Xu Ying out of the temple and question him.
But reason told him that the best thing to do now was leave— the faster, the better!
Xu Ying landed beside Yuan Qi and smiled. "The Immortal Master's immortal arts are indeed unfathomably profound. I wonder, does the Immortal Master understand swordsmanship? This disciple wishes to study the sword."
The White-robed Nuo Immortal sat upright before the immortal hall. Immortal Light curled around him like a revolving sword wheel, but he did not speak.
At that moment, a voice came from the temple gate, carrying a cold laugh. "Criminal Xu Ying, even if you flee into the great temple, you still won't escape the net of the law!"
Xu Ying turned his head and saw Zhou Zheng, Judicial Inspector of Yongzhou, striding into the temple. His clothes were tattered and he looked wretched, but his complexion was still good.
Zhou Zheng strode up before a potbellied fat man, touched one knee to the ground, and said loudly, "Governor, this subordinate has not failed you. I drove Xu Ying into the great temple!"
The fat man was three or four times as broad as an ordinary person. Sitting there, he resembled a mountain of flesh. He was none other than Zhou Heng, Governor of Yongzhou, who was concentrating on cultivating Detailed Exposition of the Dao True Jade Pivot. Somewhat annoyed by Zhou Zheng's arrival, he said, "Zhou Zheng, why are you making such a racket? Don't disturb me while I become an immortal!"
Zhou Zheng was stunned. "My lord, Xu Ying was forced into the temple by me."
"Xu Ying is worth a damn!"
Governor Zhou Heng said irritably, "Xu Ying can do nothing more than decipher Demon Race techniques. I'm cultivating immortal arts, which surpass him by who knows how much. Once I become an immortal, why would I need to cultivate any Demon Race technique?"
"This, this..."
Zhou Zheng was at a loss. Then he thought of all the guards who had followed him—some dead, some fled, with no idea how many had survived. Now the governor had dismissed Xu Ying as worthless, making all those people die for nothing. Grief welled up inside him.
I've let these brothers down!
At that moment, several City Gods also entered the great temple. From far away, they fixed their eyes on Xu Ying. When the Ningyuan Road City God saw that Ling Tongpan, Ling Youdao, was also among the crowd, he hurried over and whispered, "Tongpan, Xu Ying has arrived. Should we..."
Ling Tongpan sighed and opened his eyes. "Why must you disturb my immortal fate? I entered the temple and received immortal arts. I'm too lazy even to bother with that dead fatso Governor Zhou. What could you possibly use Xu Ying for to disturb my quiet cultivation?"
The several City Gods were also left dumbfounded.
Suddenly, Xu Ying laughed. "Could it be that the Immortal Master doesn't understand swordsmanship?"
Yuan Qi was displeased. "A Ying, how could the Immortal Master not understand swordsmanship? The Sword Qi abyss stretching more than ten li outside Shuikou Temple was caused by the Immortal Master's swordsmanship. Isn't that right, Immortal Master?"
Those who had been disturbed by Xu Ying also glared at him angrily.
Before the immortal hall, the White-robed Nuo Immortal smiled without speaking.
Xu Ying laughed. "The Immortal Master actually doesn't understand swordsmanship. You're a Nuo Immortal. When you sensed your lifespan nearing its end, you hid in your own sublimation land and concealed it in the Underworld. You must have possessed enormous power while alive. You enslaved those Stone Statues and had them refine Myriad Spirit Pills for you. Because your divine soul was wounded, you needed the pills to sustain it. But one day, a sword light split open your sublimation land and slew you here. Not only were you killed by that person's sword, your skin was even peeled off by them."
Yuan Qi flew into a rage. "Xu Xiao Ruan, do you know what you're saying? Offending the Immortal Master means certain death! Immortal Master, please don't take it to heart. He suffered a serious illness in the head and doesn't even know who his parents are!"
Governor Zhou Heng's belly heaved like waves as he shouted, "You little brat surnamed Xu, you've offended the Immortal Master. Even if it means violating family law, I'll eliminate you!"
Xu Ying's gaze remained fixed on the White-robed Nuo Immortal's face as he smiled. "Now, you're nothing but a human skin. You yearn for flesh and blood, but you probably can't use other people's flesh and blood directly. You need to transform them, making their flesh and blood suit your needs. You need to pass on cultivation techniques to them, have them cultivate your evil art themselves, and transform themselves into something suitable for you..."
He frowned, unsure how to describe this act of occupying another person's body.
Great Bell knew Xu Ying had never encountered knowledge in this area and reminded him, "Body Snatching. The body is like a house, and the soul is like a lodger. Seizing another person's body, driving out, destroying, or devouring the original owner's soul, and taking over the nest of a magpie—that's called Body Snatching."
Xu Ying continued, "You use your evil art to make this group of poor wretches transform themselves into bodies suitable for your Body Snatching. Right?"
At these words, many people stopped cultivating Detailed Exposition of the Dao True Jade Pivot and turned to look at the White-robed Nuo Immortal.
Ling Tongpan frowned. "Xu Ying, do you know what you're saying? Offending an Immortal Venerable means suffering through eternal cycles of rebirth!"
Xu Ying raised a hand and pointed. A streak of Sword Qi shot through the sky like a rainbow, heading straight for the White-robed Nuo Immortal. He shouted, "Was this the move that killed you?"
The White-robed Nuo Immortal had remained calm and composed all this time. But when he saw that sword light, his expression suddenly changed drastically. His face sagged like a deflated balloon, and he let out a terrified scream!
But how could Xu Ying's sword injure him in the slightest? Before it reached him, it was shattered by the aura remaining around him.
The sword had been nothing but an empty show, yet the White-robed Nuo Immortal was a frightened bird startled by the twang of a bow. Upon seeing that same sword light, he could no longer maintain his lofty bearing.
Below the hall, everyone was completely frozen.
The White-robed Nuo Immortal continued screaming, his cries shrill, as though someone were skinning and dismembering him.
How could a dignified immortal lose his composure like this?
Xu Ying's eye twitched. He looked toward the sky and saw that the heavens beyond had dimmed at some unknown point. The boy patted Yuan Qi, who was still stunned, and whispered, "Hurry. If we don't leave now, it'll be too late."
Yuan Qi came to his senses and immediately followed him. One man and one snake headed outside the temple. Yuan Qi was still shaken. "A Ying, this Immortal Master really treated me well. He was very patient when lecturing—much more patient than you. Oh, right, he even gave me two scriptures."
"Hahahaha!"
A strange laugh came from behind them. The White-robed Nuo Immortal laughed so hard he bent backward and forward. Strangely, his waist seemed broken: when he bent forward, his entire body pressed against the ground; when he bent backward, his waist folded over until the back of his head touched the floor.
"It's finally dark."
The White-robed Nuo Immortal rose to his feet, his entire body wrapped in Immortal Light, and laughed. "The hunt begins. My divine dynasty has awakened!"
Outside the ruined temple world, the Nai River appeared from thin air. Ghost Fire flickered eerily along both banks.
Although a sun still hung high in the ruined temple world, a thread of chill suddenly appeared. At this moment, the entire great temple world entered the Underworld.
Within each immortal mountain, the Stone Statues grew brighter and brighter, while the buzzing recitation grew louder and louder.
In the sky, Ghost Fire swarmed over like stars, pouring into the ruined temple world. Each flame was a wandering ghost, drawn by the Soul Summoning Incantations inside the heads of the Stone Statues on the five immortal mountains, and cast itself toward the Stone Statues and altars!
Xu Ying rushed outside with Yuan Qi and saw the five floating immortal mountains. Towering figures rose and fell unsteadily, while waves of terrifying divine might shook the air!
The terrified people fled the great temple in panic, packed shoulder to shoulder, trampling one another as they scrambled out.
Before, this place had been an immortal realm to them. Now, it was hell!
"All of you will die!"
The White-robed Nuo Immortal's voice came from behind them. "Tonight, every one of you will become a sacrifice to the divine dynasty!"
Some people had cultivated the so-called Detailed Exposition of the Dao True Jade Pivot too deeply. The moment they stepped through the temple gate, their flesh and blood suddenly split apart. Only their bones ran out of the great temple, while their flesh remained inside the gate.
Xu Ying looked back and saw quite a few people leap forward, trying to jump out of the great temple. The moment they crossed the threshold, their flesh and bones suddenly separated, leaving only a skeleton to charge outside.
Seeing this, the others hesitated, their raised feet hovering as they no longer dared to leave the temple.
They had cultivated Detailed Exposition of the Dao True Jade Pivot, driving their qi into their flesh like nails. Their qi was also identical to the White-robed Nuo Immortal's, which meant they had refined themselves into one with the great temple. To jump out, they would have to tear away their own skin and flesh!
Yuan Qi was suddenly struck by inspiration and shouted, "Reverse the circulation of Detailed Exposition of the Dao True Jade Pivot! That should undo it!"
The White-robed Nuo Immortal was enraged. "Worm, you've ruined my plans! I'll make sure you die horribly!"
A gateway in Yuan Qi's mind seemed to swing open. He shouted, "I understand now! He refined himself into one with the great temple too, preserving his immortality. He can't leave the great temple!"
The White-robed Nuo Immortal was furious beyond measure. His human skin flew up and drifted toward the temple gate, intending to rush out.
However, the great temple was his Hidden Scenery Sublimation Land. The instant he reached the gate, a strange force dragged him back.
Back then, he had lived in seclusion within his Hidden Scenery Sublimation Land, safe and sound. He had never expected an unforeseen enemy to find him and kill him with a single sword strike.
Because he had died unjustly and could not accept his death, he remained inside his own human skin. He refined the skin into one with the Hidden Scenery Sublimation Land, making the great temple serve as his flesh, tendons, bones, and internal organs.
He then devised Detailed Exposition of the Dao True Jade Pivot to deceive people into entering the temple. As long as they entered and cultivated the technique, they would merge with the great temple and become his flesh and blood.
This method had always worked smoothly. He had never expected a foolish Snake Demon to cause a mishap.
Even less had he expected that although the Snake Demon was stupid, he could sometimes be clever, and would actually comprehend the flaw in his cultivation technique!
"My family comes from a scholarly House, and I've read plenty of books. Every story imaginable is in them. You thought you could fool your Ox Lord?" The giant snake turned back and mocked him.
The White-robed Nuo Immortal grew even angrier. "This insolent snake is actually surnamed Ox! I actually lost to a demon who hasn't even figured out his own species!"
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