Ten states

Several days passed, Xiaoxia and Mingyue still failed to reach the Blackwood Forest.

The reason all started from the day they landed.Since the next round of the fleet going to sea will have to wait for more than ten days, Xiao Xia plans to find a place to stay in Luoshui City first.After thinking about it, he still took Mingyue to the Taoist Temple in the middle of the city to find Taoist Crow.

This is a remote Taoist temple outside Luoshui City. The incense is not very prosperous, and there are not many people coming and going. The key point is that Taoist Wu Ya is an old acquaintance who has known everything for many years. It is easy to deal with or fool, so Xiao Xia I felt that this was a suitable place to stay.

When he first saw Xiao Xia, Taoist Crow who was meditating in the Taoist temple first showed horror, then he slapped his thighs and stood up to greet him, with a grin on his face: "Oh, it's Daoist Qingfeng! Daoist Qingfeng today! Coming here really makes Xiaoguan radiant. I haven't seen the Taoist priest for a while, and the Taoist priest's complexion is more vigorous and energetic, which shows that his cultivation base has greatly improved."

"Fellow Daoist Crow, you don't need to be polite, we haven't been friends for a day or two." Although he called you a fellow daoist, Xiao Xia didn't use the etiquette that Taoist priests greet each other, just smiled casually like an ordinary Jianghu hand over. "How's business going?"

"Thank you, Daoist Master Qingfeng, for your concern. But you saw it when you came here, Daoist Master. The poor Daoist can only make a living. Although there have been more fellows from the rivers and lakes who have come to Qingzhou these days, but in recent years, the surrounding The monsters have been chased and killed almost, and the battles in the rivers and lakes have lessened, so the talisman business is not easy to do." Speaking of this, Taoist Crow sighed again. "Last year was a good season. Several thieves from the Jinshui Temple in the city were killed by the skinning devil, and Taoist Yunwu from the Tianshi Temple also died. Unfortunately, Pindao was seriously injured in an accident while drawing a talisman. Wait for the injury It’s almost good, the new bald donkey and the Taoist priest taught by Tianshi also came, but still no one came to the door.”

"Speaking of which, Daoist Qingfeng seized the opportunity. Although there was a misunderstanding and was wanted by the Luoshui gang for a while... Hey, those days when the Luoshui gang came to make trouble and asked me to ask for someone was really annoying Fortunately, auspicious people have their own justice, Taoist Master Qingfeng was wronged in the end, and officially joined the Maoshan sect... I have the daughter of the head teacher and the son of the Nangong family to clear up the misunderstanding for you. It's really a shame to the extreme..."

While talking, the expression on Taoist Crow's face was also unpredictable, envy, jealousy, remorse, leisurely fascination, etc. appeared alternately on a thin face.After talking about it, it seemed that he couldn't help but saliva, and he only wished that he was the one who accepted the invitation of the Luoshui Gang that day, so that he could get this great opportunity.

Although Taoist Crow's view is remote.He also often cooperates with some wild Taoist priests to do some talisman trading.But he himself is an authentic Taoist priest with a degree of ultimatum, and he seems to be a side branch of the Maoshan School.Xiaoxia knew him when she was wandering around with her master, and bought and sold talismans with him, and it was from him a year ago that she got an invitation from the Luoshui Gang, which led to many things that happened later.

Later, Xiao Xia was wanted by the Luoshui gang, and the crow Taoist who introduced Xiao Xia was naturally also troubled by the Luoshui gang, but he is a genuine Taoist priest who has a legal title and is recognized by the court. You can also receive a salary from Fucheng.The Luoshui gang didn't dare to embarrass him too much.Later, He Si'er and Nangong got together to resolve the "misunderstanding" of the Luoshui gang, and Xiao Xia also came to the Taoist temple in the middle of the mountain to inform him.Taoist Wu Ya learned that the little wild Taoist priest who had been expelled by him actually worshiped under the Maoshan gate. He was so envious that he almost fainted, but his attitude changed immediately, and he respected him. Brat', a mouthful of Qingfeng Daochang.

"Daoist Qingfeng wants to borrow for a few days? Of course, there is no problem. As long as you don't think it's small and shabby, you can stay as long as you want."

"Oh, and this girl, this girl is a natural beauty and Taoist Qingfeng is a match made in heaven. Of course, you can stay as long as you want. Anyway, there are no pilgrims in my temple. I'm an acquaintance, I'll go and tidy up the wing room on the far side and make it a new house for the two of you."

"By the way, does Taoist Master Qingfeng have any spiritual talismans brought from Maoshan? Although there are less fights in the rivers and lakes and exorcising monsters these days, the sales of talismans such as the Five Elements Talisman are not very good, but in the past few years, people have killed people. There are too many, ghosts and ghosts still exist. The sales of Shangqing spells are still good, and the first and second grades can be worth several hundred taels of silver. It’s okay, I’ll never earn a penny more as a consignment sale…”

"By the way, since Daoist Master Qingfeng wants to stay here for a few more days, I will also send someone to inform the fellow Taoists in the Baiyun Temple in the city. We all belong to the same sect, so let's discuss the Taoism together. Thinking about how to deal with those bald donkeys in Jinshui Temple..."

Xiao Xia had a headache at that time, Taoist Crow seemed overly enthusiastic when he saw him.Originally, he just wanted to stay unnoticed until the next round of seagoing ships, but Taoist Crow jumped up and down to clean up the wing himself, not to mention buying talismans from him at a high price. Arranging the itinerary for him, I can't wait to serve him as my own grandfather, even Taoist Crow, who said he just wanted to live in peace for a few days, is right to think that he is being modest and polite.Xiaoxia is also a little strange, Taoist Crow is indeed a bit of a philistine, but he doesn't seem to be so humble to himself. If he is not very clear about what happened in Jingzhou, it is definitely not the Taoist Crow's turn to know, let alone When he came to worry about it, he almost wondered if this Taoist had ulterior motives.

It wasn't until the dead of night that Taoist Wu Ya carefully took out a small green gourd, and after talking nonsense, Xiao Xia gradually understood what was going on.

"Daoist Qingfeng, please take a look. This is the treasure handed down by my master, the ancestral treasure of my Taoist temple in the middle of the mountain, and a heart spell for the spiritual treasure temple of the Qing Dynasty." The expression is proud, caring and cautious, as if this is the only bloodline passed down from three generations of his family.

Xiao Xia couldn't help but take a closer look at it. At first glance, this little gourd seemed to have nothing out of the ordinary except for its green color.But with his current perception and eyesight, he can naturally feel the mysterious aura that surrounds it.This is indeed an innate talisman.After the talisman reaches the top grade, depending on the type of faction and the difference in the production method, the form is no longer limited to the talisman paper talisman, just like the innate talisman given to him by the elder Shi Zhongni of Houtumen before, which looks like a ball of earth Same.Moreover, no matter how well and perfect the Houtian talisman is made, the vitality in it will slowly dissipate over time, and eventually the overall structure will collapse and be unusable.No matter how well made the Acquired Talisman can last for ten years is the limit.The rough technique can only have a period of a few months or a year, but the heaven and earth laws of the innate talisman form a cycle of its own, endless.As long as there is no external force, it is common to preserve for tens or hundreds of years.

"This Lingbao mantra is an innate talisman of the upper fourth rank. I have always treasured it carefully and kept it carefully. Ordinary people must never let them see it. That is to say, Taoist Master Qingfeng, you and I have a very close relationship. That's why I took it out." Taoist Crow looked around subconsciously.He lowered his voice as if he was afraid that someone would overhear him.

There is not even a Taoist boy in this remote Taoist temple.The hired pyrotechnic handyman didn't live here at night, and Mingyue had already gone to rest in the wing room that had been cleaned up there. The Taoist crow still looked like this, which made Xiaoxia secretly amused, but he also knew that it was not a crow Taoist pretended.Although Zhang Yuhong once said that it is not accurate to use the grading method of Shenjitang to judge innate spells, but the efforts of Shenjitang to gather many Taoist priests are not all in vain, which can explain some problems. Comment on the grades of the upper four grades.It is indeed too precious for a Taoist priest like Taoist Crow who guards a remote Taoist temple.

High-grade charms can be said to be priceless things. Back then, the Luoshui Gang spent a full 5000 taels of gold to buy the Heavenly Demon Locking Talisman.The grades of this Guan Xin Mantra are similar, even if it is not worth 5000 taels of gold, it is enough to attract people with bad intentions to seek wealth and kill them.

"This Lingbao Contemplation Mantra has infinite uses. It can be used to exorcise ghosts and clear away the evil spirits, and it can shock the mind when used against enemies. The most wonderful use is to use it on oneself. When Taoist Wu Ya raised his hand, the green gourd floated up, and a beam of clear light that was like light and light like mist floated out from the mouth of the gourd, enveloping the two of them in it.

"Huh?" Xiao Xia was slightly startled.He could feel a deep and agile aura contained in this clear light, which aroused his thoughts to become lively, and some details that were difficult to notice before became clearly visible in his feeling.It's just that the talisman that Taoist Wu Ya regards as a treasure is inexplicably used here, and I really don't know what he is thinking.

But Taoist Crow in the clear light looked calm, closed his eyes slightly to feel the feeling in the clear light, and said to Xiao Xia: "How is it? Taoist Master Qingfeng has practiced on Maoshan for a year, and he has seen a lot and can feel it." What is the magical effect of this magic talisman? Whether it is meditation, breathing and carrying, or drawing and making talismans in this supernatural aura, it can get twice the result with half the effort. Just use it for an hour, and you have to let this magic spell absorb by itself for half a month Only the heaven and earth aura of kung fu can be used again."

"I see." Xiao Xia nodded.Some innate charms that are not used for attacking can indeed be used repeatedly in this way. There are especially many Taoist charms of the Shangqing School that pay attention to the soul. Handwriting, Taoist Crow's mentorship is not nonsense.This kind of Taoism that can flow slowly and restore life on its own is naturally far inferior to those spells that are released at once in power, and it takes a long time to wait for the laws of heaven and earth to recover on their own.But even so, this kind of innate spell is even more precious and difficult to make, no wonder Taoist Crow is as precious as his life.

"Everyone in the world knows that I, Taoist Crow, make good talismans, but they don't know that most of them have the power of this talisman. Although there is only more than one hour in a month, I have all the materials, but it is enough to make four or five talismans of the first rank. It’s gone.” Taoist Crow stroked his beard with his hands, his expression slightly complacent, and then he glanced at Xiao Xia with a strange expression, and after hesitating for a while, he still said with embarrassment: “It was my failure to make the talisman a year ago. Some ventured in, trying to use the power of this spirit spell to break through the pass to draw a high-grade spirit talisman, but something went wrong, the vitality in the talisman lost control, and I almost lost my life, but fortunately, the spirit spell was safe..."

"I see." Xiao Xia nodded again.He has always been surprised, with Taoist Crow's cultivation level not much higher than his.Back then, how dared to try to draw a top-grade talisman? It turned out that it was assisted by this Taoist mantra.But judging from Xiaoxia's current perspective, this is absolutely unworkable. There is an essential difference between innate Taoism and acquired Taoism.If my own cultivation base and xinxing knowledge have not reached that stage, even if the effectiveness of this spirit spell is a hundred times stronger, it will be useless. The failure of Taoist Crow was doomed back then.

After saying this, Taoist Crow didn't speak anymore, but just stared at Xiao Xia blankly, with a somewhat embarrassed expression, as if there was something hard to say.On the contrary, Xiao Xia was a little baffled.Secretly recalling the situation back then, after he came back from Luoshui City, he pulled Daoist Crow out of the ruins with his clothes incomplete and almost killing him.Could it be that this man had a quirk of being naked when he made the talisman, because he wanted himself not to spread it everywhere?But why didn't you say it at the time, and it took a year before you picked it up again?

After a while, Taoist Crow gritted his teeth.Standing up, I cupped my fists and bowed deeply to Xiaoxia: "When I made talismans, I used this mantra of contemplating the mind. I never dared to show it in front of people, so I invited Taoist Master Qingfeng out of the Taoist temple with an excuse. This is my Over the years, Daoist Qingfeng was the first person to see this spirit spell until today. The faux pas back then was really unavoidable, please don’t take it to heart, Daoist Qingfeng.”

When Xiao Xia heard it, she was stunned, and cried out in her heart that it was so.Back then Taoist Crow kicked him out of the Taoist temple who was boarding here, and his words were a bit rude.He said that he lived and lived for nothing, and he seemed to argue with him because he was in a bad mood.Xiao Xia didn't take this matter to heart at all.certainly.If Xiaoxia was still a wild Taoist wandering around without roots, Taoist Wuya would definitely not care, but when he became a disciple of the Maoshan School, he also worked hard for the daughter of the head teacher He Jinzhi and the son of the Nangong family to come to Qingzhou Clearing up the misunderstanding for him became a big knot in Taoist Crow's heart. This was both courteousness and the initiative to take out the treasure talisman at the bottom of the box.

"When Luoshui City was first built, my master set up a half-mountain Taoist temple here. He helped Luoshui City eliminate demons and ghosts, and appease the hearts of the people. A stroke of money. I took over this Taoist temple after Master Xian left. Although my cultivation was not enough, I tried my best to maintain it. There are demons in the city. Whether it is the people who come to report or the county government has orders, I will do my best. I accept the business of buying and selling talismans. Although it is somewhat against the law, it is also for the convenience of fellow Jianghu to get a bite to eat, Taoist Master Qingfeng should understand this..."

Taoist Crow babbled on about his history and achievements with this Taoist temple in the middle of the mountain, and some tears appeared in his old eyes, as if he was confessing his last words and funerals.Seeing that Xiao Xia couldn't laugh or cry, she also felt a little sad.When Taoist Wuya was buying and selling talismans back then, many wild Taoist priests were very envious of Taoist Wuya, a formal Taoist priest with a teacher and a job title. Taoist Wuya was also complacent and felt superior to others.But this proud identity sometimes seems so humble and pitiful.Xiao Xia understands the mentality of this lowest-level Jianghu people very well. In the eyes of Taoist Wu Ya, he has joined the Maoshan orthodoxy and climbed into the relationship between He Jinzhi's daughter and Nangong's son. It's not a piece of cake to fix his small Taoist temple on the side branch of Maoshan.

Of course, it was absolutely impossible for Xiao Xia to do that. He didn't take the petty verbal dispute back then to heart at all. To take revenge on others for a little bit of past pride, this kind of thing itself is childish and boring to the extreme.But seeing Taoist Crow's uneasy expression, he could only speak out to explain: "Fellow Daoist Crow is anxious for justice, and he doesn't hesitate to commit crimes to seek convenience for his comrades in the Jianghu. He has a good reputation in the Jianghu. Who is this?" I also know it. I have known fellow Daoist Crow for many years, how could I not know? As for the little tongue in the past, I almost forgot if the fellow Daoist didn’t mention it, it’s such a big deal..."

Xiaoxia talked about it, and most of the scruples in Taoist Crow's heart were dispelled. He let out a long breath, and said a little excitedly: "When Taoist Master Qingfeng came to Qingzhou with your master many years ago, I saw that Taoist Master Qingfeng has wonderful bones. , with a penetrating vision, intelligent and heroic, he is definitely not something in the pool. If I let the Luoshui gang's great opportunity a year ago, I would regret it to death, but it fell on Daoist Qingfeng. Pindao is just willing..."

After feeling a lot of emotion, Taoist Crow looked up at the little gourd that was suspended in mid-air, still puffing out the light, and said: "Although Daoist Qingfeng must have seen many high-grade talismans on Maoshan Mountain, this once-in-a-month opportunity is quite rare. , Just chatting here and letting it drift away is simply a waste of money, if Taoist Master Qingfeng doesn't dislike it, how about sitting with me and using this spiritual light of the Supreme Purity to meditate and practice?"

This is also a gesture of intimacy, and Xiaoxia is not easy to refuse, he really wants to try the usefulness of the Shangqing Lingbao Guanxin Mantra, so he nodded and agreed, and sat down cross-legged on the same spot with Taoist Wu Ya, closing his eyes Meditate and meditate.

Thoughts sank into the sea of ​​consciousness, Xiao Xia immediately felt the bursts of vibrations from the Universal True Talisman that was already fully integrated with the soul. This vibration seemed to be a little clearer and more powerful than before. The spiritual light can make people calm down and guard their souls, and understanding the theory of heaven and earth is not the crow's nonsense, and this clear light is not just a superficial effect such as calming the mind and calming the mind. Although the magnitude is not large, it can penetrate people's emotions In the depths of the soul, it is indeed the innate Taoism that directly vibrates the laws of heaven and earth to be effective.

This was the first time he came into contact with the innate talisman after he had the Universal True Talisman. The law of heaven and earth agitated between the clear light was slow and orderly, unlike the violent and violent innate Taoism used for attacking and fighting, and this way The Lingbao Awakening Mantra was cast on him, just like the oncoming spring breeze. It closely matches with his soul and the universal talisman, and it is even stronger than Xu Zhengzhou's restrained strength that day. one finger.Xiaoxia couldn't help being curious, and with the encouragement of the universal talisman, she extended her spiritual thoughts along the clear light, reaching directly to the heart mantra of Lingbao Guan.

Suddenly, Xiao Xia felt as if she had entered an incomparably magical world, and the laws of the surrounding world were alive and running in a lively rhythm, forming a grand and exquisite picture scroll, and it seemed to be a party. A small world that claims to be an endless system.Xiao Xia was amazed and sighed, like a child entering an extremely fun amusement park, he couldn't help watching carefully, playing carefully, and feeling every new and interesting place carefully, and the world showed incomparable love to him. Inclusive and intimate, he was allowed to swim and play in it, and there was a slight agitation, which seemed to be echoing the universal amulet in his soul.

It seems that a long time has passed, and it seems that it only took a short moment. Xiao Xia has finished swimming in this small world formed by weaving and drawing the laws of heaven and earth, keeping every bit of it firmly in her heart, and this The agitation of Piece of Heaven and Earth has completely coincided with the agitation of the Universal True Talisman.In the sea of ​​consciousness, the image of the Universal True Talisman became clearer than ever before, and at some point it had completely replaced the world in front of him, but Xiao Xia didn't feel it was a pity, because he felt that as long as he wanted to, he could re-evolve the piece of spiritual treasure. Watch the world of mantras.

Taking a long breath, Xiao Xia opened her eyes.He only felt that this meditation and meditation had helped him so much, which was unprecedented. It seemed that the magical effect of this Lingbao Guanxin mantra was really extraordinary.But just as he was about to open his mouth to thank Taoist Crow, he saw Taoist Crow staring at him with his eyes wide open as if he had seen a ghost.

At some point, the clear light spit out by the little gourd floating in mid-air was more than ten times stronger than before, and none of it fell on Taoist Crow, but all shone on Xiao Xia's body. Opening his eyes, the little gourd suddenly lost its strength and fell to the ground with a plop, and the original green color faded quickly, but it became scorched and dry in a few blinks.

"This... this..." Taoist Crow trembled all over his body, staring helplessly at the little gourd on the ground whose life was as precious as his own three-generation bloodline, and then moved his gaze up to Xiaoxia's face, as if watching a murderer. It also seemed to be looking at the peerless monster who would destroy the world. "you you you..."

"I...I..." Xiao Xia was also dumbfounded.He probably understood what was going on, but he really didn't know how to explain it.

With a plop, Taoist Crow fell to the ground as soft as a puddle of mud. Looking at the little gourd in front of him that seemed to have been dried for decades, he began to sob and cry. (To be continued..)