Chapter 519: Chapter 518: Duel of the Invincible Elixir_1

After Mr. Song’s resurrection, he always felt there was an odd atmosphere in his home.

He remembered his family being quite harmonious before his death, so why did he sense a subtle animosity among his children after being dead for less than an hour?

Especially towards his youngest daughter, who was kneeling on the ground and crying bitterly. Was she weeping for his death? She truly appeared to be a considerate daughter.

Regrettably, no matter what, he couldn’t let her marry the boy with the last name Zhou, for they were biological siblings.

Mr. Song temporarily set aside the family matters, focusing on solving the problem with the painting scroll first.

His appearance was unsightly; his face and clothes were covered in blood, a result of him vomiting blood due to disorder in bodily functions after his soul was pulled away.

...

“I thank you, Master Taoist, for saving my life!”

“There’s no need, Mr. Song, but might I ask what went on with the painting scroll?”

Mr. Song heaved a sigh, sat down in the chair, and began recounting the past.

“Twenty years ago, I failed in my business and intended to commit suicide by jumping off a cliff. Surprisingly, I was saved by a tree branch on my way down. A rocky outcrop protruded directly below where I fell, on which I landed, discovering a cavern in the depths.”

“Something deep in the cavern was calling me. As I was not afraid of death at the time, I followed the voice and found a talking painting scroll. The scroll offered help in my business, promising to make me extremely wealthy, so I took it out of the cave.”

“With the assistance of the scroll, my business ventures were indeed as smooth as silk. Successful investments one after another made me the leading merchant in the county town. As a result, I married and had children; my family was blissful and harmonious.”

When Mr. Song reached this part of the story, Lu Yang and his two companions silently glanced sideways at the Song siblings and the housekeeper.

“Would you continue?”

“In recent months, the scroll had been demanding my life every night. Out of fear, I tried drowning it and burning it, all to no avail. Even if I threw it to the outskirts, it would still find its way back home the very next day!”

Upon saying this, Mr. Song’s eyes were filled with terror. These days, he had been continually bothered by the scroll, leaving him mentally drained, and recently he had been frequently startled awake by it.

Lu Yang stroked his chin; this was indeed something new.

“Let’s go, take us to see the scroll.”

Mr. Song led the three of them down a winding path and upon activating a hidden mechanism in a small room, a secret tunnel opened, deep and utterly dark within.

The secret room was full of all kinds of gold, silver, and jewels. These items were precious for mortals, but in Lu Yang’s eyes, even the tassels on his sword hilt were more valuable than these.

Amongst them, there was a conspicuous box made of iron, wrapped round and round in talismans. Mr. Song tore off the talismans, opened the iron box, and revealed the painting scroll within.

“It was this one that took away my soul.”

Thinking back on what had just happened, Mr. Song was still shaken. If not for Lu Yang’s Soul Returning Pill, he would have most likely been doomed.

“Just as I suspected.”

The closer they got to the scroll, the stronger they felt this gloomy aura.

Lu Yang unfurled the scroll; on it was an ink landscape painting, depicting a Washing Lady washing clothes by the riverside.

All of a sudden, the scroll distorted, and the Washing Lady, as if coming to life, slowly turned her head to gaze at the individuals outside the painting.

“Another cultivator?”

Water stains seeped out from the scroll and floated into the air, coalescing into the figure of the Washing Lady.

“Was it you who pulled his soul back?”

The Washing Lady glared at Lu Yang, hostility distorting her beautiful facial features.

“Cultivator, better not meddle in my business.”

Feeling the intense threat emanating from Lu Yang’s trio, she knew they were not like other cultivators she had previously encountered. If she could convince them to leave without resorting to a confrontation, that would be the best.

The Washing Lady pointed at Mr. Song and coldly said, “Twenty years ago, he promised me that as long as I helped him become a local tycoon, he would offer his soul to me. Two decades have passed; his family is happy, his business successful, and he is an affluent individual – it’s time for him to fulfill his promise!”

“Is this true?”

Lu Yang turned his gaze towards Mr. Song, not at all surprised. There were definitely some details that Mr. Song had omitted; otherwise, why would the painting scroll assist him in his business dealings?

There must be something requested in return.

The Water Ghost he had met in Hanshui City helped people commit insurance fraud in exchange for salt, all operate on the same principle.

Mr. Song nodded in shame.

“Do you see?” The Washing Lady sneered, looking at Mr. Song scornfully.

“It was a mutually agreed promise back then, there weren’t any falsehoods involved. Now, I am seeking to fulfil the promise, what’s wrong with that?”

Lu Yang shook his head slowly, looking at the Washing Lady with pity in his eyes. “Have you read the penal code of the Great Xia?”

“The Great Xia Penal Code?”

A light smirk appeared at the corner of Lu Yang’s mouth. He activated the Invincible Elixir and said, “The Great Xia penal code states that the injured party’s promise to other parties, which allows infringement of specific legally protected interests, such as disposals of property and causing minor and severe injuries, are invalid if they result in death.”

“Of course, not all promises resulting in death are invalid. Except for circumstances such as deathmatches, where no coercion was involved, such promises are enforceable; but your actions don’t fall into these rare situations.”

“If you were more studious and had learned Great Xia’s legal history, you would know that many magic artifacts of the Demon Path in the past, used the fulfillment of desires as the bait, enticing others to exchange their lives for it, thereby achieving the purpose of refining their souls.”

“At the time, the Minister of Justice noticed this situation and thus incorporated this clause into the Great Xia legal code to prevent magic artifacts like you from doing such things.”

Lu Yang sighed, looking at the Washing Lady as though he was seeing an ignorant individual: “It seems we have not done a good job in promoting an understanding of the law.”

Ever since learning of his master’s frequent arrests, Lu Yang devoted his spare time to studying law, with the hopes of following his master’s footsteps.

Now it seemed, studying law was indeed beneficial.

While many people have knowledge of the law, they often find themselves in a dilemma where they don’t know which laws to apply and when.

But Lu Yang was different. He had the Invincible Elixir. When disputing over the law, utilizing the Invincible Elixir helped him select the most appropriate laws from his mind in the shortest amount of time.

It’s important to note that the Invincible Elixir couldn’t choose laws that Lu Yang had never learned before. After all, the conditions for victory given by the Invincible Elixir were based on Lu Yang’s existing knowledge.

Fairy Eternity, observing from the spiritual space, was amazed. As the creator of the Invincible Elixir, she had never thought that the Elixir could be employed in this manner.

Tao Yaoye secretly sent a telepathic message to Lan Ting, “Junior Sister Lan, did you know about this?”

Lan Ting shook her head in confusion. “No, our sect doesn’t teach this.”

Both of them could see confusion in each other’s eyes, feeling as though an invisible chasm had formed between them and Senior Brother Lu.

“You’ve already committed an offense under the penal law by seizing Mr. Song’s soul, constituting attempted murder. Come with us.”

The Washing Lady let out a cold chuckle, undeterred by Lu Yang’s threat. “Don’t think that just because you’ve read the penal code, you’re the only one who understands. To tell you the truth, I am a magic artifact, and I am not under the jurisdiction of the penal law!”

Lu Yang looked up at the Washing Lady, saying, “Oh! Is that so? Then it’s even better. Since you’re an unowned artifact, there will be no problem if I destroy you.”

Lan Ting looked somewhat puzzled- why did the conversation sound so familiar?

“Arrogant! Do you really believe I’m afraid of three little cultivators like you?”