Fu Shifeng

Chapter 299 Not a beast

"You go to Hengyang first."

In the Chenzhou Post House, Cheng Sanwu told Zhang Fan and others: "I am going to Xiangyuan, Yongzhou next. It is located in the deep mountains. If you take a boat, you will inevitably have to go back. I am too lazy to waste this time, so I just go along the way. Going west along the Five Ridges, I can go faster with my feet alone."

Naturally, Zhang Fan would not raise any objection, so he said: "I humbly obey my orders... but I wonder what we need to do after we arrive in Hengyang?"

"You don't need to do anything." Cheng Sanwu shook a coarse glazed pottery bowl in his hand, which contained turbid rice wine: "I can conclude that Zhu Rong Mansion will definitely send someone to monitor your every move. But I have nothing to hide, so you just It’s the ten-day holiday.”

"Yes." Zhang Fan could actually see that Cheng Sanwu had changed a lot recently, and he seemed to be trying his best to contain the changes and wanted to maintain the reckless and heroic attitude of the past.

"Jun Zhaoyang, there is something I don't know whether to say or not." Zhang Fan observed the other party carefully.

"You have your mouth, and you make your own decision whether to talk or not." Cheng Sanwu took a sip of wine, leaned against the window railing, and looked out at the night on the waterfront.

"I hope Lord Zhaoyang will take care of himself." Zhang Fan said seriously: "I am shallow and incompetent in my humble position. I know that I cannot help Lord Zhaoyang, but I still hope that Lord Zhaoyang will not take too many risks."

"Do you think I'm taking risks?" Cheng Sanwu was a little surprised. He didn't expect Zhang Fan to say these words.

"It would be better to say that Mr. Zhaoyang rarely takes risks." Zhang Fan also plucked up the courage. After getting along with him for the past few years, he knew very well that the other party did not stick to trivial matters.

"I like taking risks." Cheng Sanwu shook the pottery bowl, motioned for the other party to pour wine, and said at the same time: "I don't like to follow rules. If I am bound by any rules, I would like to use my fists and feet to smash them completely! "

Zhang Fan had no choice but to apologize. His temperament was exactly the opposite. Although he worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he did not develop the habit of being arrogant and domineering. He had always been cautious and well-behaved. It is precisely because of this that Zhang Fan was considered by Feng Gonggong to be unable to take charge of his own affairs and to be promoted.

"You shouldn't be used to getting along with people like me, right?" Cheng Sanwu asked.

"Jun Zhaoyang is joking, where is the humble position..." As soon as Zhang Fan raised his head, he saw Cheng Sanwu's questioning eyes sweeping over him. He could only nod slightly and replied sincerely: "I am indeed a little scared, but as time goes by, I will slowly get better." got used to."

"That's a thank you for your hard work." Cheng Sanwu said: "I am used to being undisciplined, and even the Gongchen Guards of the Internal Affairs Ministry are willing to take me in. If I were elsewhere, there would have been a big commotion."

"Ordinary laws cannot control Gongchenwei, so they are indeed suitable for Lord Zhaoyang." Zhang Fan said.

"This is not a good thing." Cheng Sanwu snorted coldly: "Without laws, the world is full of jungles. After finally transforming from an animal to a human, don't go back to being an animal again."

Zhang Fan felt that although these words were not as sophisticated as the classical Chinese in the book, they still had profound meaning, but he could not comprehend much of them.

After drinking a jar of wine, Cheng Sanwu returned to the guest room to rest, only to find Mu Xiangling and Qin Wangshu talking alone inside.

"There are so many guest rooms in this inn, do you have to squeeze into one with me?" Cheng Sanwu complained: "Let me declare in advance, in my opinion, you two are the same as each other. One is cold and the other is hypocritical. They are not compatible. My appetite.”

"Jun Zhaoyang, we are discussing how to deal with Yang Wujiu." Mu Xiangling said seriously.

Cheng Sanwu didn't care at all: "Yang Wujiu has a good reputation, but it may not be that powerful."

"This is for Lord Zhaoyang, but it is another matter for Wangshu." Mu Xiangling said: "Until Lord Zhaoyang comes up with a clear solution, I will still try my best to help Wangshu."

Cheng Sanwu rubbed his face: "I still need two things, but I think I'll get them soon."

"What two?" Qin Wangshu asked eagerly.

Cheng Sanwu didn't answer, and Mu Xiangling answered for him: "It must be the spiritual essence of the two elephants, water and fire. Lord Zhaoyang hopes to get it from the nine-headed evil chi, right?"

"You've already said it for me, what else can I say?" Cheng Sanwu said angrily.

"Then I can ask, what is Zhaoyang Jun going to do next after slaying the monsters and collecting the spiritual marrow?" Mu Xiangling chased after him.

Cheng Sanwu saw Qin Wangshu's curious but afraid expression, so he could only say: "If you want to completely change your bones and nature, the best way is to extract the energy of the five directions and five elements. Generally speaking, even if you have superior qualifications, at least It will take more than ten years to be considered effective, and you obviously don't have this time.

"In this case, then take the essence of the five qi in the world and transform it into the body. The natal soul of these great monsters is the best source."

Qin Wangshu followed Afu in the past and heard about many Taoist practices. The practice of taking five buds and nourishing and refining the internal organs was also a major category in Taoist practices, or was based on the secret seal text. Gouzhao, or breathe in and out according to the time and direction.

These exercises are moderate and gentle, and have been proven by predecessors for a long time. However, the problem is that the results are slow and often require years of practice. For people like Qin Wangshu who urgently need to improve their martial arts skills, it is almost impossible to hope.

Mu Xiangling said: "Spiritual marrow is indeed the essence of heaven and earth's energy, but it also contains the demon's own vitality and habits. If you swallow it directly, you may suffer harm before benefiting from it."

"Do you think I'm a fool? Herbal medicines collected from the mountains have to be boiled and dried before they can be used, let alone spiritual marrow? It's not like I don't understand this simple truth." Cheng Sanwu let out a breath and raised his hands to luck. Transformed, three groups of yellow, white and green essence appeared on the palm, and the atmosphere in the guest room suddenly changed.

Mu Xiangling, who has always been quiet and quiet, could not help but show a bit of surprise at this moment: "You used yourself as an alchemy cauldron to refine three spiritual marrows?"

"Not bad at all." Cheng Sanwu gave her a rare compliment: "This method is the safest. The three spiritual marrows are both strong and weak. I will smooth out the differences while refining them."

Although Qin Wangshu didn't know much about this, he was amazed at his miraculous skills and couldn't help but ask: "This must be difficult, you..."

"Nonsense! If it's not difficult, what else can I do? I'm full of food?" Cheng Sanwu said with pride on his face: "I can guarantee that there are many people in the world who can play like me on one hand. come over!"

"Not necessarily." Mu Xiangling said.

Cheng Sanwu was stunned: "Huh? Are there any masters?"

"No." Mu Xiangling looked directly into Cheng Sanwu's eyes, but her tone was very gentle: "You are the only one in the world who can absorb the spiritual marrow into your body and use yourself as a furnace to refine it."

"Just think that you are complimenting me." Cheng Sanwu closed his fingers, took the three balls of essence back into his body, and said to Qin Wangshu: "When I finish collecting the five elements of essence, I will directly help you change your bones. Guaranteed to greatly improve your skills!"

"Yes." Qin Wangshu understood Cheng Sanwu's temperament and didn't need to thank him any more. "How about it? Compared with your method, my method is much safer." Cheng Sanwu looked at Mu Xiangling with a slightly contemptuous look: "Possession and seizing the body are, in the final analysis, the trick of ghosts and ghosts. A living person has become neither a human nor a ghost. Even if he can really take revenge, he will not be able to gain anything in the end."

"I am indeed not as good as Lord Zhaoyang in this matter." Mu Xiangling admitted frankly: "But have you ever thought that the spiritual essence of the two elephants of water and fire is not easy to get?"

Cheng Sanwu sat down and asked, "I have also heard you mention the evil name of the Nine-Headed Evil Chi, but how powerful it is will be revealed on the battlefield."

"You are no match for the Nine-Headed Evil Chi now." Mu Xiangling said.

"Are you sure?" Cheng Sanwu asked with a smile: "Is it stronger than the one-horned cangsi? Or is it tougher than the iron-gnawing beast? It can't be faster than the thundering mandrill, right?"

"In any case, the nine-headed evil chi may not be the best, but it is better because it is difficult to kill." Mu Xiangling explained: "In ancient times, the evil chi was wreaking havoc in Xiaoxiang, and many immortals came down to earth to try to kill the monster. If you are evil, you will suffer the consequences."

"Immortal?" Cheng Sanwu looked disdainful: "Su Shaodan is also called an immortal by the ignorant common people. If they really want to fight, no matter how resounding the name is, it won't be enough."

"No, he is a real immortal." Mu Xiangling said.

"In ancient times, ordinary people still didn't understand. How could a bunch of immortals come down to earth?" Cheng Sanwu didn't believe it.

Mu Xiangling didn't find it strange at all: "Mountains and rivers can give birth to ghosts and spirits, thunder striking trees can give birth to demons and spirits, the pure air in the nine heavens gathers together, embraces the true spirit, and turns into a group of immortals. This is the principle of nature, what's the matter? No?"

Cheng Sanwuyi curled his lips. This was the first time he heard about this: "No matter how hard you brag, you still don't win."

"That's why I remind Lord Zhaoyang again and again." Mu Xiangling said: "The evil Chi clan suffered a catastrophe in ancient times and was almost completely extinct. The nine evil chis that are now sealed in Yuechengqiao, Yongzhou, They can be regarded as the last descendants of ancient times and the remnants of the prehistoric times."

"That's good. Killing it will prevent future troubles forever." Cheng Sanwu patted his thigh.

Mu Xiangling was slightly solemn: "It's not that simple. The evil chi grows to nine heads, and its vitality is connected with the heaven and earth, and its lifespan is infinite. If the nine heads cannot be chopped off at the same time, they will return to normal in the blink of an eye. Except In addition, the severed head may also grow into another evil chi."

"Do you still have this kind of ability?" Cheng Sanwu cursed: "Damn, this is so unreasonable! Even if the head can grow back after being chopped off, the head that fell to the ground can still grow back? What if this is a If we don’t get it right, won’t there be descendants all over the land?”

"Now Lord Zhaoyang understands why he only imposed a seal on the nine-headed evil chi, but did not kill him?" Mu Xiangling said: "If I am not completely sure, I will not open the seal."

"Are you in charge of the seal of the Nine-Headed Evil Chi?" Cheng Sanwu asked.

"Mr. Zhaoyang, have you forgotten? The Nine Evil Chis are sealed in Xiangyuan. As the name suggests, that is the source of Xiangshui. As the spirit of Xiangshui, I am naturally in charge of its seal." Mu Xiangling's words sounded very relaxed. .

Cheng Sanwu's expression was a little weird, and he looked at the other person up and down: "You can run around with such an important seal? Are you not afraid that a master will suddenly come in, forcefully destroy the seal, and release the nine-headed evil chi?"

Mu Xiangling smiled and replied: "The seal of Xiangyuan is entangled with mountains and rivers. Unless I lift it myself, if outsiders forcefully break the seal, it will be equivalent to lifting the entire Yue Cheng Qiao. And Yue Cheng Qiao is one of the Five Ridges, although it is not The weather of famous mountains like the Five Mountains is not as good as the Qinling Mountains, but it is far better than hills like Wangqiao Mountain and Maling Mountain, and can completely stop those who try to break the seal."

Cheng Sanwu nodded when he heard the words. In fact, he had already seen the power of the Nine Evil Chis in the sea of ​​consciousness. It was the long-lasting memory of Taotie's half body.

However, today's Cheng Sanwu is no longer the glutton he was in ancient times. Although he has killed giant monsters along the way, he may not necessarily have the upper hand when facing the remnants of the prehistoric times that are also difficult to kill.

Although Mu Xiangling did not say it explicitly, Cheng Sanwu also knew that the one who brought the evil Chi clan to the brink of extinction in ancient times was none other than Taotie.

Back then, Taotie appeared in the world in response to the prayers of the Jinyun clan. While transforming the clan, he personally took action and almost devoured all the evil ones.

At that time, Taotie had no concept of right and wrong in the world at all. It devoured the evil chi, either out of protection and care for the Jinyun family, or in compliance with its predatory nature like an animal.

But looking back now, although Taotie dyed the Jinyun family into dependents, the ancient evil itself may have also been dyed by the Jinyun family.

The Jinyun clan was exiled to southern Xinjiang to resist Chi Mei, and one can imagine the resentment and dissatisfaction among the clan members. In ancient times, there was a shortage of supplies, and the Jinyun family was tortured by hunger. Therefore, when gluttony appeared in the world, they were destined to be violent, greedy, and insatiable.

Taotie has never been alone in the world and remains unchanged forever. When the world first opened, it had no specific shape and was not a living thing in the world. It was the pure and turbid air that conflicted and intersected, and was the unrest of the ancient world.

After the heaven and earth were stabilized and the pure and the turbid were separated, the ancient evil also fell into a long silence.

When the life on this land gradually flourishes, especially when the spiritual wisdom of all living beings becomes more and more revealed, and the laws of the world begin to move towards an unprecedented path, it is like a five-note harmony, touching the ancient evil that has been silent for a long time.

At that moment, Jinyun became the one who strummed the strings. They not only gave Taotie the name, but also gave Taotie endless emptiness and hunger.

Perhaps, the real root cause of the so-called gluttony disaster does not lie in this specific and clear sheep-headed evil, but in the endless and unrestrained greed in the world. Although Jinyun's initial hope was to survive in a dangerous environment.

As for those mortal relatives who were infected, they eventually became completely reduced to beasts driven by their own desires. This may not be simply the infection and distortion of the evil power of gluttony, but also the germination of the greed of the mortals themselves.

There are animals hidden in the hearts of people. But people cannot willingly degenerate and become beasts again, otherwise humanity will collapse and all sentient beings will fall into catastrophe.

"Jun Zhaoyang?" Mu Xiangling called softly a few times, bringing Cheng Sanwu's thoughts back to reality.

Cheng Sanwu asked: "What's the matter?"

"Jun Zhaoyang is in a trance, which is rare." Mu Xiangling said.

Cheng Sanwu's breakthrough is imminent, and his mood always changes involuntarily. There are some things that he didn't want to think about in the past, but now he can't avoid them.

"Aren't I allowed to think about things? I don't care about heaven and earth!" Cheng Sanwu pretended to be angry.

Mu Xiangling wasn't angry either: "I just hope Lord Zhaoyang understands that the Nine-Headed Evil Chi that you are about to face is an unprecedentedly powerful enemy, and you must not take it lightly. The slightest negligence may lead to an irreversible defeat."

(End of this chapter)