Chapter 145 Abe no Nakamaro!

Jiang Chen's attainments in Formation and calculation arts could not really be called high.

But compared to many practitioners who focused solely on Cultivate and ignored other arts, it could already be considered superb.

As far as he knew, Jianzhen and Yang Shu had never even practiced Talisman and calculation arts, let alone Alchemy.

More importantly, when Jiang Chen observed this Three Mountains and Nine Marquises Formation, he was surprised to discover that it shared a similar ingenuity with the Maoshan Sect's Zanlong Array.

Both relied on the ley lines as support, focusing on geographical and human advantages; in terms of ingenuity, it was not much inferior to the Zanlong Array.

If it were just that, it would be fine, but the truly critical point was that there were several places in this Formation that revealed something strange; if someone with ulterior motives were to exploit them, the consequences would be dire!

"There is no rush to study the Formation; Fellow Daoists, please keep this in mind. Tomorrow at noon, we shall go to exterminate this evil!"

No one had any doubts about what Tian Tui said; there had been too many events today, and they needed to go back and sort through things.

Jiang Chen was the same.

When everyone left, only Shen Tai stepped forward in grief to collect Cui Wei's corpse.

"Hmph, even if I am willing to let this pass, the Louguan Sect will not let it rest!"

After saying this, Shen Tai turned and left.

Daoist Zizai also wanted to say something imposing, but looking at Jiang Chen's body full of Evil Qi, he secretly swallowed his saliva and backed down.

Forget it, let's just pretend the Jingming Sect never raised that Mirage Beast.

...

On the road, the three of them—Jiang Chen and the others—walked casually toward nearby cottages.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, I observed your expression was unusual today; is there something wrong with the Formation?"

Yang Shu spoke up suddenly.

Jianzhen was a bit surprised because he hadn't noticed anything.

"Indeed, this Formation does not seem as simple as just using the ley lines to subdue demons, but for the time being, I cannot decipher the principles within. I only ask that you two Fellow Daoists be extremely cautious tomorrow."

Having said this much, Jiang Chen was practically telling them that Tian Tui was suspicious.

The two were not fools, and they immediately raised their guard secretly.

...

On the other side, Tian Tui found an excuse to leave everyone's sight and went alone to a village very close to the East Sea coast.

Just as he arrived outside the village, Tian Tui sensed a thick Death Qi and resentment permeating the place.

He frowned slightly, his expression full of displeasure.

He pinched a seal with both hands and chanted a profound incantation, and the sky-filling Death Qi and resentment began to permeate into the ley lines.

Finally, it vanished completely.

"Hmph! If you continue to act so recklessly, then our cooperation ends here!"

He snorted heavily, speaking in an irritated tone.

At this moment, a voice came from afar within the village, condensing into a thread and falling directly into Tian Tui's ears.

"Fellow Daoist, do not blame me. It is just that the Shikigami I recently acquired is extremely powerful but quite gluttonous, so I had no choice but to feed it a few peasants."

"A few peasants?! There are hundreds of people in the city, plus everyone in this entire village—that adds up to more than a thousand! If this matter is exposed, do not blame me for turning against you!"

"I am very sorry. I will do my best to keep an eye on it and not let it cause any more trouble for you!"

The voice sounded very guilty and sincere.

"Hmph! If you cannot control that ghostly thing, I do not mind controlling it for you!"

At this time, a young man wearing gray robes walked out of the cottage, a look of apology on his face.

This person was none other than Abe no Nakamaro, who had accompanied the Wa Kingdom envoys to Chang'an and subsequently remained there!

He had another name: Abe no Nakamaro!

Abe no Nakamaro spread his right hand, palm upward. Above his palm was a black, transparent soul body. This black, transparent soul body looked like a monk, with a bald head.

At this moment, it was clutching an object resembling a wine gourd, thrashing about, trying to break free.

But it seemed to be bound by an invisible barrier and could not escape no matter what.

Looking at the soul body in his hand, which was called a Shikigami, Abe no Nakamaro's eyes were full of appreciation.

Appreciation for a piece of art, for his own masterpiece.

And when Tian Tui saw the Shikigami in Abe no Nakamaro's hand, there was only disgust in his eyes.

Noticing Tian Tui's gaze, Abe no Nakamaro did not care.

"Fellow Daoist, don't you think it is truly beautiful? It is just like... a creation of Nuwa!"

"Silence! Ancestral Master Ziqi Yuanjun would never create such an ugly, evil thing!"

Hearing this, Abe no Nakamaro said with a half-smile: "Fellow Daoist, I named it Shuten-dōji. Before it died, it was also a citizen of our Great Tang."

Tian Tui's expression grew uglier, and he scolded directly: "Less nonsense. Everything I promised you has been completed. When will you fulfill what you promised me?"

Abe no Nakamaro's expression calmed down immediately; even the Shuten-dōji in his hand seemed to sense the heavy atmosphere and stopped struggling.

"Fellow Daoist, I swear to you in the name of Emperor Jimmu: if I break my promise after the matter is accomplished, may the Wa Kingdom be restless, and may I, Abe no Nakamaro, die a horrible death!"

Hearing this, Tian Tui's expression eased slightly, but he still added: "I will state this beforehand: the Buddhist and Daoist Cultivators coming this time are not easy to deal with, and that Hanba is exceptionally fierce, having survived from ancient times until now."

"I have done everything I was supposed to do. If the matter is not completed, there will be no place for me in the Great Tang. What you promised me must still be fulfilled, otherwise..."

"Rest assured, Abe no Nakamaro understands your difficulties and the risks of this matter. Even if we do not succeed, what I promised still stands!"

"I have already requested instructions from Emperor Jimmu. Takamagahara has just been established, and there are still vacancies for deities. When you accompany me to the Wa Kingdom, you can immediately begin shaping your golden body and spreading your honorable title."

"That is good. You should prepare yourself. Tomorrow, these monks and Daoists are going to the East Sea; you must act according to the plan."

As he spoke, Tian Tui handed a note to Abe no Nakamaro.

Abe no Nakamaro took the note and looked at it, his eyebrows immediately arching.

"Why is the Maoshan Sect Cultivator Jiang Chen included in this? If he is trapped here, the Maoshan Sect will likely not let it rest."

"Does one hesitate to sacrifice one's body when doing great things? Everything you and I are doing right now is a capital offense. Once this matter is finished, we will both be in the Wa Kingdom; no matter how powerful he, the Immortal Master, is, he will be out of reach!"

"What you say is absolutely correct."

Abe no Nakamaro smiled; he had only said that earlier to test Tian Tui's resolve.

He was afraid that Tian Tui would waver, back out at the last minute, and push him out instead.

"Then the plan is set. If we can bring the souls of so many high-level Buddhist and Daoist Cultivators, as well as the corpse of the Hanba, back to the Wa Kingdom, then one day, our Wa Kingdom will surely not be inferior to the Great Tang! And your honorable position will not be inferior to the gods and Buddhas of the Great Tang!"

After the two finished their discussion, Tian Tui gave a few more instructions before heading back the way he came.