Two days later, within this period, Ji Xiang, besides other accompanying Wudang experts, only brought Feng and Zhang to a naval attack point, after which they would board a ship to rest. Feng Xiucai inquired about Miss Hou and her companions, to which Ji Xiang merely replied that the three had indeed escaped.
"This matter was recounted by the Lord of the Underworld, and his expression did not seem to be false, so it should be the truth. I just don't know where those three went after escaping. Don't be anxious. Nan Yangzi, Luo Po Xian, and Miss Hou are all masters among cultivators. In this world today, as long as they don't provoke those famous mountain sects, they have nothing to fear. If they are in the north, they will return to the capital; if they are in the south, they will come to Wudang. They will make their own decisions, so there's no need to worry."
Feng Xiucai listened and felt it made sense. These three were not weak scholars who couldn't even tie a chicken, but great cultivators, capable of subduing dragons and killing tigers without issue. As for the folk religious sects, most of them wouldn't actively attack fellow cultivators... well, *most* of them.
"If they fell into Fu, Guang, or Nan Hai... then what? The influence of folk sects there is deeply entrenched. I remember you, Daoist Ji, also had some grievances with those people, didn't you?"
Ji Xiang: "It's true that I have had grievances with people from folk sects, but they don't know you, nor do they know Miss Hou and the other two. What are you afraid of?"
Feng Menglong: "Right, that's true. There's nothing to worry about."
While the two were discussing in the room, in another room, Hu Xiao Shi was being meticulously arranged by Zhang Sanfeng.
Firstly, Ji Xiang had asked Zhang Sanfeng to take care of him and mentioned the Grand Examination at Mount Tai. The little fox had followed him for so long, and was naturally a proper disciple. It was just that this Great Master Fox seemed naturally insulated from spells. Ji Xiang believed that the immortal elder Zhang Sanfeng could teach him well.
Zhang Sanfeng patted his chest and declared, "Teaching monsters, leave it to me. You go help the imperial court with their dungeons, I'll handle this."
And so... in private...
"The Grand Examination at Mount Tai has already passed this year. If you don't want to fail, cultivate according to what I say..."
"Ji Xiang is a celestial demon, what does he know about monster cultivation! Do you know, your grand-master, I, was very powerful back in the day..."
"I had over a thousand great monsters calling me master! Your Golden Light Spell, that incantation method learned from Longhu Mountain, is no good! I'll teach you a useful one, alright!"
After only a short period of interaction, Zhang Sanfeng's bragging, whether intentional or not, had made Hu Xiao Shi prostrate himself in admiration, declaring that he would rely on Grand-Master's teachings for next year's Grand Examination at Mount Tai. "Three years and then three years, how many years have I failed to pass! Now I'm determined, I must get into Mount Tai University!"
"You two, draw it out first."
Zhang Sanfeng even specifically asked two other children with excellent talent, both brought back by Ji Xiang, to demonstrate.
The two had no magical power, but even for those without power, writing and reciting the Golden Light Spell could produce partial divine effects.
Hu Liang, the child of a craftsman, and Shen Yixiu, the young lady from a respectable family, quickly drew talismans and recited the incantations. The Golden Light Talismans emitted rays of golden light. Zhang Sanfeng conjured a trace of demonic energy, which, upon touching the golden light, immediately dissipated and dissolved.
"Good, write it in this order. See the power! Your two junior brothers, even without magical power, can wield its might! After all, this is my unique method of writing talismans, unparalleled in the world! With my method, even if you are a cripple, you can cast a powerful Golden Light Spell!"
Hu Xiao Shi felt his blood surge with excitement!
"Master Ancestor, so you have a secret manual!"
Then, with a flurry of little paws, he drew a series of crooked scribbles. The new Golden Light Spell suddenly blazed with light!
"Wow! It worked!"
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Hu Xiao Shi shouted out in surprise! Beside him, Hu Liang and Shen Yixiu, who were observing, had already gathered together and were applauding enthusiastically.
"Amazing, truly a Great Master of cultivation!"
"Senior Brother is amazing!"
"Senior Brother is mighty!"
The flattery from his two junior brothers and sister made Hu Xiao Shi very pleased. This was the first time in so many attempts at the Golden Light Spell that he had held his head high!
Look how bright this golden light is!
Look how extraordinary this golden light is!
Do I still need to question my talent!
So the method of drawing talismans in the past was wrong! What were those Old Heavenly Masters teaching? They all said to teach according to aptitude, but it seems they couldn't teach someone as talented as me!
As the little fox, having diligently cultivated to success, was feeling a bit smug, Zhang Sanfeng, who had been smiling beside him, suddenly gradually lost his smile.
*Cannot smile.jpg*
"This Golden Light Spell..."
Zhang Sanfeng's expression suddenly turned strange. He conjured a trace of demonic energy and touched the Golden Light Spell, only to find that the demonic energy did not disappear but began to circle within the Golden Light Spell. At this point, everyone realized something was wrong. Zhang Sanfeng immediately went out and, after a short while, brought back a stray wild ghost. The ghost was terrified, not understanding how it had been caught while lying dead in the mountains.
Zhang Sanfeng threw the Golden Light Spell at the wild ghost's head.
The wild ghost's body immediately erupted with golden light. At first glance, it seemed as if it were about to become a Buddha. The ghost was also half-dead with fright, thinking it was about to be transcended. However, after a while, it discovered that this golden light was like a special effect; apart from emitting light, it had no other function.
Perhaps, its only use was to increase its grandeur?
"Master of Illusions?"
Zhang Sanfeng's beard trembled. Hu Xiao Shi's smile also vanished.
The Golden Light Spell had indeed been achieved, the golden light was greatly achieved, but the spell was gone!
"Hey! I think when you achieve something in the future, you should go be a Ba Zhuang Tong Zi (Treasure Pagoda Attendant)."
Hu Xiao Shi looked bewildered: "What is a Ba Zhuang Tong Zi?"
Zhang Sanfeng gave a brief explanation.
It's those immortal children who follow behind in depictions of the processions of gods and Bodhisattvas, holding umbrellas, fanning, and creating special effects.
They might not have much magical power, but they are absolutely top-notch at creating special effects.
Zhang Sanfeng's face was as gloomy as a deep pool: "Where exactly... did it go wrong?"
He then hand-taught Hu Xiao Shi to draw it again. This time, the Golden Light Spell that emerged was even more radiant than before!
But its power was zero!
"Damn it! What's going on! Can't you use your demonic energy!"
"This is not right. Those fox spirits from Longhu Mountain also use demonic energy, but they can cast the Golden Light Spell with ease. You little fox, do you have a special innate constitution?"
"Let me see!"
Zhang Sanfeng pulled the little fox up and began to examine his bone structure strangely. He knew that he had been enlightened into human form by Celestial Master Zhang, saving him from arduous cultivation, but could this enlightenment have hidden some special bone structure?
No, perhaps this little fox was not a wild fox himself...
Zhang Sanfeng narrowed his eyes, realizing that things were not simple, and suddenly said:
"The ancients said that a thousand-year-old tree spirit is a green sheep, a ten-thousand-year-old tree spirit is a green ox, spirits that have become jade are white tigers, gold that has transformed is chariots and horses, copper that has transformed is a child, white gold is a pheasant, beautiful jade is a beauty, and gold weighing over a hundred catties turns into a golden sheep."
"And the essence of tin transforms into a fox."
"Also, legend has it that on twelve specific days, different energies accumulate in the mountains, and these energies also transform into spirits and then into monsters. On the Xu day, which is the day of the winter sacrifice, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, there is a person in the mountains who calls himself Cheng Yang Gong, who is a fox demon transformed from the energy of the Xu day."
"A daughter born of a human and a fox, if raised by a ghost, is called Ying Ning."
"During the Han Dynasty, there was a magical spirit called Yuan Fang. He resembled a fox holding a sword. Seeing him allowed one to ask for sword techniques. If you called his name, he would not attack you..."
"Xiao Shi, I think you are definitely not a normal fox, you are probably a spirit transformed into a demon."
Hu Xiao Shi's eyes widened.
The two children beside him, however, became energized.
Hu Liang, the craftsman's son, thought that Senior Brother Hu Xiao Shi could set off fireworks and special effects during festivals. If he learned this skill, he could even create golden light for the statues of gods in Buddhist and Taoist temples and monasteries during festivals. This would surely earn them a lot of money, and he would get a good share.
Shen Yixiu, a girl from a scholarly family, whose grandfather Shen Jing wrote operas after retiring, thought that if this magic were applied to the stage, it could perfectly present beautiful scripts and plots. It would surely be very profitable, but realizing her dream was even more romantic.
Thus, the two junior brothers not only did not look down on Hu Xiao Shi but respected him even more.
In a way, the Golden Light Spell had been used to perfection!
...
In Xiangyang City, the disaster of soul metamorphosis was resolved, and the populace expressed their gratitude and praise to the Prince of Xiangyang. The young prince was overjoyed and sent people to the imperial court to request commendations for Li Jianyuan. Of course, it was ostensibly for Li Jianyuan, but in reality, it was also to boast about his own guiding principles – follow instructions and let the great gods carry you.
"Don't mess around" was the greatest guiding principle.
The most favored Prince Lu had already perished. The young Prince of Xiangyang had just learned of this, and couldn't help but think that by pleasing the Son of Heaven now, he might be able to reach Prince Lu's status in the future.
He couldn't dream of leading troops as a vassal prince, but he could do anything else! As long as he gained favor with the Son of Heaven, everything he did in the future would be profitable!
Being valued and not being valued meant completely different treatment. Look at Prince Lu; the imperial court didn't care what he wanted to do, he was practically the second Son of Heaven!
Ji Xiang, with his two scholars, came here for a final check before leaving. Wudang cultivators were still helping here, and two accompanying Wudang cultivators were also present.
One of them was the disciple of Mr. Qing Qiu, the famous sword immortal Wang Sheng of Wudang Mountain.
The old sword immortal volunteered to join Ji Xiang's expedition upon hearing about fighting the Japanese pirates. Considering the need to bring fame to Wudang, when else would be a better time to show himself?
For fame or for himself, he should go to this battle. Sword immortals don't cultivate such states of mind; why wouldn't they want their names to be recorded in history?
Li Jianyuan saw Ji Xiang and was very enthusiastic and excited. Upon hearing that they were going to fight the Japanese pirates, he wanted to accompany Ji Xiang.
This made Ji Xiang's heart stir.
A military doctor? Although they had existed since ancient times, there had never been such a highly specialized expert to guide troops. Moreover, Li Jianyuan now possessed miraculous first-aid skills, and Ji Xiang had also helped him sort out his body, greatly restoring his physical condition. Perhaps he could achieve great merit on this expedition.
"Mr. Jianyuan, are you truly going?"
"How could I not!"
Li Jianyuan's attitude was very firm. As for the old sword immortal Wang Sheng, he cautioned Li Jianyuan, stating that most of the people on the battlefield were merely the personal retainers of the generals. They themselves did not care about the lives of their subordinates. If there were doctors, they would have already been provided. Moreover, even if you went and saved them, they might still oppress the common people upon their return. These retainer soldiers were not good people.
"Hey! We'll talk about that when we get back! At least for now, these retainer soldiers in Liaodong are sacrificing themselves for the common people; they are also living beings."
Ji Xiang listened to the two's minor dispute and quickly intervened, stating that the Japanese pirates indeed possessed unfathomable methods, and if Mr. Jianyuan could accompany them, it would greatly reduce casualties.
"I will cleanse your marrow and reshape your body!"
Ji Xiang decided to expend his magical power to perform another marrow cleansing and body reshaping for Li Jianyuan, ensuring his lifespan. Although fifty-something years old was not considered old, his health had deteriorated significantly due to constant travel. Physicians cannot heal themselves; it has always been this way since ancient times.
"By the way, Daoist Ji, yesterday someone came here and wanted to exchange the 'Yingshi Jiujiu Fang' (World-Saving First Aid Method) with me. I exchanged it with him. He said my life was nearing its end, that I was terminally ill and beyond self-treatment, so he gave me four things as a thank-you gift. One portion is for me, and the remaining three are for you..."
The Yingshi Jiujiu Fang was meant to be a treatment method that should be spread. When someone came to learn it, Li Jianyuan naturally did not hesitate to teach him. The other party also gave him a medicinal prescription, but Li Jianyuan had never seen such a divine prescription before, and most of the required ingredients were unheard of.
Ji Xiang looked at it and saw "[Shen Lou San]" written on it!
"Cures all diseases under heaven!"
The other party already knew that Li Jianyuan's health was poor and his life was nearing its end, so they specifically sent this medicine!
And Shen Lou San is a legendary divine medicine used by the alchemist An Qisheng of the Qin Dynasty to cure the incurable illness of Li Shaojun of the Han Dynasty!
Ji Xiang then received a wooden box and opened it in front of everyone. It turned out to be a golden pill, with a note attached.
"[The Fangxian Dao sect's new method, performed by Zhenren, can resolve the change of soul metamorphosis. We specially come to seek it. We also know that Zhenren is going to Joseon and may have enemies with Xu Fu of Japan. With the Fangxian art of spirit form dissolution, this Cicada Molting Divine Pill is gifted to you, to prevent any future harm from spirit form dissolution!]"
"[Another item is also presented, for Zhenren's observation...]"
Were the visitors representatives of the alchemists?
Because of the appearance of the Yingshi Jiujiu Fang, the alchemists were covetous of this treasure, so they came to exchange it with treasures?
Another packet was opened, also with a small note explaining it, which made Ji Xiang stunned for a long time.
It was written... Meng Han Yao (Intoxicating Sleep Powder)?
Is this thing truly Meng Han Yao?!
In fact, Meng Han Yao is a common "plot device" in ancient novels. In reality, there is no such divine medicine that can instantly knock someone out like a dead pig, to the point where they cannot be woken up even with a knife. It is understandable that such a medicine would reach the level of an immortal medicine, beyond the reach of mortals. Therefore, the existence of such a medicine is only to facilitate the author's plot construction.
However, the alchemists actually produced such a medicine, and even asked him to test it for them on the battlefield?
This thing...
It might have great potential!
...