Chapter 100: Grotto-Heaven and Blissful Land, An Era of Strife, Murderous Intent Everywhere!

“That

Baxia

stone statue is no mundane artifact, but rather originates from a Grotto-Heaven and Blissful Land.”

Master Huizhen's very first words caused Li Yanchu to fall into deep thought.

“So-called Grotto-Heavens and Blissful Lands are places where Heaven and Earth’s spiritual essence converge, and legends say that within them lie countless heavenly treasures, even fated opportunities to become immortal or attain eternal life.

“However, these Grotto-Heavens and Blissful Lands have long vanished from the world, their locations lost to time. Yet now, with the appearance of the Baxia statue by the river, it suggests that an entrance to one such place may be hidden near Wei City.”

“And the key to open that Grotto-Heaven and Blissful Land,” he continued, “is a Cosmic Jade Disc. From what I know, the disc was long ago shattered. But the fragments of that jade bear inscriptions of the path to the Grotto-Heaven and Blissful Land. When it opens, those fragments will serve as your entry pass.”

After speaking, Master Huizhen smiled as he looked at the two of them.

“Daoist Master Yanchu, Young Master Bai, according to my deductions, the opening of this Grotto-Heaven and Blissful Land may be very soon. If the two of you are so inclined, you could try your luck when the time comes.”

Li Yanchu and Bai Hongtu exchanged a glance.

If what Master Huizhen said was true, then the fragment of jade in Li Yanchu’s possession might just be the key to that very Grotto-Heaven and Blissful Land hidden near Wei City.

Li Yanchu gave a bitter smile and said, “It is truly a rare kindness for you to share such a vital secret with the two of us. Unfortunately, we don’t even possess the key. So what’s there to fight for?”

Master Huizhen smiled calmly. “Whether it's a sip or a grain, all is fated by the heavens. Both of you are individuals of great fortune. In these turbulent times, I’m sure fate will find its way to you.”

Li Yanchu gave a faint smile but did not give a firm answer.

Then he added, “Since you’re here, I have something to ask. Have you heard of the Bare Body Sect?”

This high-ranking monk from Lingxi Temple, with his profound cultivation and vast experience, seemed a worthy person to verify things with.

“Why do you ask about the Bare Body Sect?” Master Huizhen looked slightly surprised.

So Li Yanchu began recounting everything that had happened lately, the paper effigy woman, the fake City God, and the schemes surrounding the Elixir of Immortality. He also described the

fengshui

master surnamed Fang from Longmen Village, who had mentioned how the Bare Body Sect used forbidden methods to seal living souls into corpses.

After listening, Master Huizhen fell into brief contemplation. A flicker of rage passed through his gaze.

“The Bare Body Sect is utterly inhuman! For years now, their sect has almost vanished. I didn’t expect that remnants of the sect were still secretly stirring up so much evil... If that’s the case, then I fear Junior Brother Huaixin’s death may also be tied to the Bare Body Sect.”

Whenever Master Huizhen spoke of this junior brother, his emotions brimmed with barely suppressed fury.

The two had shared a deep bond as fellow disciples. Now that his junior brother had died a violent death in the mountains near Wei City, Huizhen's grief was profound and unspoken.

Considering that the mandrill encountered in the Martial Manor had a Buddhist prayer bead embedded in its forehead, the very bead that once belonged to Huaixin, it was highly likely that Huaixin had died at the hands of that mandrill, or at the very least, had been attacked by it.

Now, everything was becoming clear to Master Huizhen. The one behind the mandrill was likely a remnant of the Bare Body Sect.

Li Yanchu spoke gravely, “If you find the one responsible for Huaixin’s death, my friend and I would be honored to lend our aid.”

Bai Hongtu added, “Indeed. If the Bare Body Sect is involved, we doubt they’re acting alone. If the time comes, we’ll stand with you, Master.”

Master Huizhen nodded slightly. “Amitabha. Thank you both for your righteous intent.”

Li Yanchu said solemnly, “We’re all cultivators, how can we sit idle while heretical forces run amok?”

Master Huizhen gave a gentle smile. “I am currently staying at Qinglong Temple here in the city. If you need anything, do not hesitate to come find me.”

The three then delved deeper into the subject of the Grotto-Heaven and Blissful Land, and both Li Yanchu and Bai Hongtu learned much from their discussion.

At the end of their meeting, Master Huizhen politely declined their invitation to dine together and quietly left Taiping Inn on his own.

Li Yanchu was still a little stunned by the revelations concerning the Grotto-Heaven and Blissful Land. As soon as the master left, he took out a jade fragment and handed it to Bai Hongtu.

“You’re giving me something this important just like that?” Bai Hongtu looked touched.

Li Yanchu’s mouth twitched slightly.

“Don’t get so worked up. This thing is just a token, and no one even knows how many people will be going yet. With how brave and capable you are, how could you possibly not be part of it?”

Bai Hongtu nodded slightly. “‘

Brave and capable’

... barely captures a tenth of my elegance.”

Hearing this, Li Yanchu cupped his fists with a faint smile.

After that, he threw himself fully into training, diligently practicing the Immobilization Spell. This technique, paired with his martial arts, greatly increased his combat power.

At the very least, ordinary martial artists were no longer a threat to him. At this point, as a first-rate martial cultivator, Li Yanchu was essentially unmatched among his peers.

***

Outside Wei City, ever since that great tomb had been discovered, several groups had gone down into it, but none had returned. It was as if they had simply vanished into thin air.

Numerous martial sects had organized expeditions to explore the tomb, but the place seemed like a man-eating monster, accepting all who came and letting none return.

Then, at some point, a rumor began to spread that the tomb held the secret to the Elixir of Immortality. Though it sounded like mere hearsay, the news spread like wildfire.

Eventually, a highly skilled expert versed in

Qimen Dunjia

[1] entered the tomb, and became the first person to come out alive.

According to this Mr. Liu, there was an evil corpse with years of cultivation within the great tomb that had already developed considerable power. Now that the tomb’s geomantic layout had been disrupted, it was only a matter of time before that corpse broke free.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

As a result, not only were numerous folk mystics and odd talents stirred into action, even many of the righteous sects, including temples and Daoist monasteries, were alarmed by the news.

With Yongxing Temple and Jing'an Temple taking the lead, a grand exorcism assembly was being organized. It was scheduled to begin at noon, three days hence, with the goal of entering the tomb and eliminating the evil corpse once and for all.

Master Huizhen of Lingxi Temple, along with Li Yanchu, both received formal invitation letters. Li Yanchu had never witnessed such a large gathering of cultivators, so he decided that three days later, he and Bai Hongtu would attend as invited guests.

After all, an event of this scale would be far too much of a pity to miss.

***

That night, Li Yanchu was in the midst of practicing astral projection, the method to send one’s primordial spirit out of the body. Because Li Yanchu constantly wore the Spirit Officer Summoning Talisman, his primordial spirit was far stronger than that of an ordinary Qi Cultivation Realm cultivator.

Moreover, the pure yang lightning aura from the Five-Lightning Talisman also had the effect of tempering the soul. Thus, one could say he was making progress on two fronts.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, chanting incantations, and soon entered a meditative state. With a

whoosh

, his primordial spirit left his physical body.

At present, without relying on the Spirit Officer Talisman, he could move freely within about three chi of his physical body without being restricted by Heaven and Earth’s killing intent. Any farther than that, and he would begin to feel a chill.

With a thought, Li Yanchu began to roam the city of Wei City in spirit form. He passed through walls and doors as if nothing could stop him. Before long, he saw a faint beam of clear light.

“There’s a cultivator here.” Li Yanchu’s mind stirred slightly.

The aura of a cultivator was distinct from that of ordinary people. When in a soul-projected state, a cultivator’s primordial spirit would emit a glow of varying colors.

1.

Qimen Dunjia

is a traditional Chinese divination system that uses time and space to analyze situations and predict outcomes. It's one of the three core systems of Chinese divination, alongside Da Liu Ren (大六壬) and Tai Yi Shen Shu (太乙神書). ☜