Chapter 182: Point for Point

Mr. Chen's tone was exceedingly gentle, as if he were speaking to a favored junior. But in Li Yanchu’s ears, his words rang hollow and insincere.

He suspected that anyone who hadn’t agreed to join... was probably already dead.

“Tonight?” Li Yanchu asked.

There were things lurking in the darkness that could reduce a person to bare bones in an instant. Instead of staying within the safety of the Daoist temple hall, they wanted to head out at night?

Li Yanchu couldn’t make sense of this move.

“That’s right. That jujube tree is enough to feed everyone for several days. If we don’t act tonight, who knows what might happen?”

Mr. Chen’s tone was mild. “As for the demonic and evil things in the darkness, Daoist Master Yanchu, you need not worry. The divine aura within the magical artifacts obtained from the Daoist temple halls can protect us.”

As he spoke, his gaze landed on the octagonal bronze bell hanging at Li Yanchu’s waist. He smiled faintly.

Magical artifacts from the Blissful Land in Mount Jinting could protect cultivators from evil spirits? Li Yanchu hadn’t noticed that before.

He glanced around the grand hall, and it seemed that everyone here possessed a magical artifact.

Mr. Chen continued with a smile, “This place is called the Blissful Land in Mount Jinting, one of the Seventy-Two Blissful Lands of Daoism. Each of us was teleported into a different Daoist temple hall. The first hall always contains a divine magical artifact. But the other Daoist temple halls may not.”

“Conservatively speaking, there are probably at least fifty to sixty cultivators who entered the Blissful Land in Mount Jinting this time. If we don’t go pick that jujube tree, someone else surely will.

“Daoist Master Yanchu, you’re young, yet you managed to enter this Blissful Land. You must be quite capable. Tonight, we’ll be counting on your strength.”

Li Yanchu replied with a faint smile, “My little tricks are nothing worth mentioning. But since I’ve joined, I’ll naturally give it my all.”

A short while later, Master Wu Hu stood up and clasped his fists toward the refined and elegant Young Master Pei Yu, then turned and led the group out of the Daoist temple hall.

Young Master Pei Yu was leisurely examining a string of ancient prayer beads, full of divine aura. They were clearly another magical artifact from this Blissful Land. He merely waved his hand, showing no further interest in the departing group.

The ones heading out to retrieve the jujube tree included: Master Wu Hu, the corpse-reeking Spirit-Linker, the Daoist Mei Xuanzi from Donghai Prefecture, the Xie sisters from Qinghe, and the newcomer Li Yanchu. There were six people in total.

Young Master Pei Yu and Mr. Chen remained behind.

Aside from Li Yanchu, it was clear the others had been informed of this task in advance and silently followed orders. Li Yanchu couldn’t help but wonder what kind of deal the Gongshu family had offered these experts to make them so willing to serve.

They didn’t offer me any terms. Is it because they look down on me, thinking intimidation is enough? Or is there another reason?

Li Yanchu thought to himself.

Based on his observation over the past few days, it seemed there was still some time before true darkness fell.

The group of six, under Master Wu Hu’s lead, quickly made their way deeper into the ruins. They hadn't yet arrived when the sky suddenly fell into complete darkness.

Li Yanchu noticed that in almost the same instant, each person began to emit a soft, divine glow. The light came from the magical artifacts taken from the Daoist temple halls in the Blissful Land in Mount Jinting.

The oppressive gloom around them instantly receded. The six formed a small halo of protection.

Using his Qi Sight, Li Yanchu saw the shadowy figures lurking in the dark retreat like a receding tide.

Did the Gongshu family discover this secret through research into magical artifacts... or through sacrificing lives?

Li Yanchu wondered to himself.

Soon, the group arrived at a vast, crumbled ruin.

Compared to the Daoist temple hall where the group had stayed earlier, this ruin covered twice the area. Even just the shattered walls and collapsed structures still radiated a sense of former grandeur and magnificence. Though the site had long since crumbled, one spot still glowed with a gentle light.

Beneath a massive broken wall stood a lush jujube tree. The glow came from this very tree. It was slightly larger than ordinary jujube trees, and the fruits looked sweet and mouthwatering. The entire tree pulsed with vital energy, and simply approaching it was enough to feel the surging spiritual aura it exuded. This was the first living thing Li Yanchu had seen in the ruins of this Blissful Land.

Just taking a single breath near it made him feel invigorated, as if all his exhaustion had melted away.

“What a treasure!” Li Yanchu’s eyes lit up.

On the way here, he had already learned that this tree had first been discovered by Daoist Mei Xuanzi from Donghai Prefecture. But the Daoist was cautious by nature, unwilling to risk eating the fruits without knowing whether they were toxic.

Later, Mei Xuanzi was recruited by the Gongshu family and disclosed the location of the jujube tree. They had come now simply to harvest it.

“Mei Xuanzi, you’re way too careful. Just one look and you can tell this tree’s the real deal. You ox-nose[1] didn’t even dare to take a bite,”

Master Wu Hu scoffed, while Mei Xuanzi let out a cold sneer but didn’t explain. He had no interest in arguing with such a blunt brute like Wu Hu, whose crude and tactless nature spoke for itself.

Just as Master Wu Hu was about to reach out and pluck a jujube...

Whoosh

!

A throwing knife suddenly shot out from the darkness. The sharp sound of it tearing through the air was harsh and piercing!

Despite his fierce appearance and rough demeanor, typically the type most likely to be the first casualty in a group, Wu Hu’s senses were exceptionally sharp, and his reaction was lightning fast.

He dropped into a low stance, sinking his waist and spreading his legs, then launched a strike. Black Tiger Heart Strike!

It was a basic but deadly martial arts move. Any seasoned martial artist would know it.

However, when used by the Master Wu Hu, the technique unexpectedly exuded a domineering aura, as if it could shatter gold and crack stone.

Ding!

The flying dagger was actually knocked down by a single punch from Wu Hu. After being deflected, the dagger silently embedded itself into the stone wall. It was clearly an extremely sharp and deadly weapon.

This also revealed just how far Wu Hu had taken his body-hardening training.

“Where did this bastard come from? How dare you ambush me!?” Wu Hu roared in fury, cursing loudly.

From the shadows emerged a silent middle-aged man dressed in tight black clothing, with a sinister and ruthless face. He hooked a finger lightly, and the dagger on the ground immediately sprang up, letting out a sharp

whoosh

as it flew back into his hand.

This was not the typical technique of throwing hidden weapons used in the

jianghu;

it was a method of controlling objects with internal energy. It bore a striking resemblance to Bai Hongtu’s Flying Sword Technique.

However, the Flying Sword Technique relied on cultivating a life-bound sword and controlling it with one’s will. Whereas this method relied on spirit qi within the body and controlling objects with qi.

The ruthless middle-aged man let out a cold laugh. “This jujube tree is ours. If you want to die, filthy monk, feel free to try.”

As his voice fell, four figures suddenly appeared at his side. One was a Daoist priest in yellow robes, holding a peachwood sword and stepping in the Seven-Star Step.

Another was a burly foreign man with a curved saber in his arms. The third was a scrawny, sly-looking man carrying an erhu. And the last was a tall, fierce-looking woman with a savage face.

All five emanated a chilling murderous aura, now facing off against Li Yanchu and his group.

1. The term "牛鼻子" (niú bí zi) is a colloquial nickname commonly used to refer to Daoist priests, often in a humorous or mildly derogatory way. There are a couple of explanations for its origin. One suggests that the topknot traditionally worn by Daoists resembles the shape of a cow’s nose. Another traces the term to the legend of Laozi, the founder of Daoism, who was said to have ridden an ox out of Hangu Pass, leading later generations to associate Daoists with oxen and use “牛鼻子” as a playful reference. While the term can carry a teasing tone, it is widely recognized and understood in Chinese culture. ☜