Junweng

After repeatedly confirming that Junweng really would not enter the Shelter's area of influence, Tang Zhixue suddenly had an idea.

If he can't come in, doesn't that make me invincible?!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Tang Zhixue suddenly drew his bow and fired three arrows in rapid succession.

"Hum~"

Junweng suddenly raised his hands, which were a Carpenter’s Compass and a Lu Ban Ruler—the instruments of rules and order!

The three arrows instantly stopped in front of Junweng.

"Swish!"

His hands moved, and a black line silently appeared in the air.

The black line vanished in a flash.

Immediately afterward, however, the three arrows seemed to have been trimmed, with bits of debris falling from them.

To Tang Zhixue, it felt as though the imbalances in those arrows had been corrected.

Not far away, Junweng waved his hands again.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The corrected arrows shot toward Tang Zhixue at the same speed.

It took a while to describe, but only two or three breaths had actually passed.

"Shit!"

Tang Zhixue hurriedly ducked, then rolled to the side.

Although he looked quite disheveled, he successfully dodged the arrows.

Tang Zhixue stood up and looked at Junweng with a grave expression.

For now, the creature seemingly could not enter the Shelter's range, but it appeared capable of counterattacking.

This is going to be tricky...

Archery was currently his only means of fighting enemies.

The Blazing Tiger Fist was merely a fist technique for tempering the body and contained no combat moves.

As for the Pure Heaven and Earth Divine Mantra, it was an incantation for purifying the surrounding environment and was even less suited to attacking enemies directly. If it worked, then the Junweng Weird would not have remained unharmed when he dispersed the transforming white mist earlier.

"Junweng, balance..."

Looking at the uncanny monster, Tang Zhixue suddenly had an idea. "Those arrows were shot back just now. Was it because they didn't meet Junweng's requirements for balance? Then, if the arrows I fired already met those requirements, would they be able to hit him?"

"But the materials are a problem..."

At that thought, he gave the monster nearby, which had returned to its calm state, a long look, then turned and went back inside the Shelter.

He opened the chat channel and took a look.

Sure enough, most people had encountered a Junweng Weird outside their Shelters.

[Holy shit, that uncanny monster is right outside my Shelter. What do I do?]

[I'm running low on food. If I don't deal with that monster soon, I'm afraid I'll starve to death...]

[Yuan Lexian: That Junweng Weird is annoying as hell. Who knows what it considers balanced?]

[We can only wait until tonight and see what's going on with Biting Spring Granny.]

[Wen Yue: If we don't hurry up and kill that Junweng Weird, none of us can go out. No amount of food will last if we keep using it up like this.]

[Xu Muqiu: Let's hope Biting Spring Granny can help us.]

[Tang Zhixue: By the way, does anyone have any cookware? I still don't have anything suitable. I've been cooking rice in bamboo tubes all this time.]

[Hey, Cousin Tang's here. Looks like Junweng stopped you too.]

[Tang Zhixue: Yeah, I shot a few arrows at that guy, and damn, every single one got shot right back at me.]

[Huh? It can reflect attacks too?]

[Then this really is going to be tough.]

[Tang Zhixue: That's why I came to see if anyone had any good ideas.]

[Xu Shi: Physical attacks probably won't cut it. With our current abilities, making perfectly balanced arrows is nothing but a pipe dream.]

[Yuan Lexian: But the problem is, do we have any means of attack besides physical attacks?]

[Fang Yunxi: Luo Hongcai, do you have any other scriptures or incantations or anything?]

[Fang Yunxi: If you do, maybe we can learn them like we learned the Pure Heaven and Earth Divine Mantra.]

[Xu Muqiu: Right, there should be scriptures or incantations in Taoism for fighting enemies at a distance, shouldn't there? Junweng probably wouldn't be able to reflect that kind of attack, right?]

"Scriptures and incantations?" Tang Zhixue murmured. "If there are any, they really would be much more reliable than making arrows."

As Xu Shi had said, Tang Zhixue actually had little confidence in making perfectly balanced arrows. Otherwise, he would not have discussed solutions with the others in the chat channel.

Naturally, nothing would be better than having a new approach.

[Luo Hongcai: Uh, I really don't remember any Taoist scriptures or incantations, but I do remember a "Big Dipper Ghost-Slaying Incantation" that circulates among ordinary people.]

[Luo Hongcai: But it needs to be used with a simple Ritual Altar.]

[Luo Hongcai: Of course, I only happened to learn about all this. I don't know whether it'll actually work.]

[Xu Shi: Whether it works or not, don't we have Cousin Tang here?]

[Yuan Lexian: Exactly. It was thanks to Cousin Tang's teaching that I learned the Pure Heaven and Earth Divine Mantra.]

[Tang Zhixue: Uh, I can only give it a try. I can't guarantee I'll actually learn it.]

[Wen Yue: You're being modest, Cousin Tang.]

[Fang Yunxi: You're being modest, Cousin Tang.]

[Xu Muqiu: You're being modest, Cousin Tang.]

[You're being modest, Cousin Tang.]

[You're being modest, Cousin Tang.]

[You're being modest, Cousin Tang.]

[Luo Hongcai: Hey, since Cousin Tang's here too, I'll explain it.]

[Luo Hongcai: First, I'll go over the words of the "Big Dipper Ghost-Slaying Incantation."]

[Luo Hongcai: Seven Origins of the Northern Dipper, divine qi commands the heavens. Great Sage of the Celestial Dipper, your mighty radiance shines in myriad rays. Ascend to heaven and descend to earth, sever and destroy the source of evil. Should demons or spirits appear, bind them and deliver them to Fengdu. By the command of Lord Lao, swiftly, in accordance with the law-slay!]

[Luo Hongcai: There isn't much to it. That's all. Next, I'll explain how to set up the Ritual Altar.]

[Luo Hongcai: First, you need to find a table and place it to the north.]

[Luo Hongcai: Set seven oil lamps or seven candles on the table, arranged in the shape of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper: Heavenly Pivot, Heavenly Jade, Heavenly Balance, Heavenly Authority, Jade Balance, Mizar, and Alkaid.]

[Luo Hongcai: They must be arranged strictly in the shape of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper, with the bowl pointing down and the handle pointing up. You mustn't get it wrong.]

[Luo Hongcai: Place a bowl of clear water in the center of the seven lamps, and put seven grains of rice in the water. These represent the stellar essences of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper.]

[Luo Hongcai: Then kneel before the table, form the Northern Dipper Hand Seal, and recite the Big Dipper Ghost-Slaying Incantation. Each line must be clear and forceful. The final word, "slay," must be short and fierce, and you must thrust both hands hard toward Junweng.]

[Luo Hongcai: I can't guarantee whether it'll actually work.]

[Xu Shi: Cousin Tang, we're counting on you!]

[Yuan Lexian: Cousin Tang, we're counting on you!]

[Tang Zhixue: What's the Northern Dipper Hand Seal?]

[Luo Hongcai: Oh, right, I almost forgot.]

[Luo Hongcai: Hook your left ring finger around your right little finger, while hooking your right ring finger around your left little finger. Press each thumb down on the ring finger of the same hand. Keep the index and middle fingers of both hands straight. The final shape should resemble palms pressed together, symbolizing communion with the Lord of the Northern Dipper.]

[Tang Zhixue: I'll give it a try first.]

[Luo Hongcai: All right, we'll wait for your good news, Cousin Tang.]