62: Go to Lanruo Temple

The next instant, the blue light and shadow dispersed, turning into specks of starlight that merged into Gu Changsheng's glabella.

Immediately, a map appeared in his mind.

The marked location was Lanruo Temple.

"Lanruo Temple... located in the southwest... a hundred li from Bachuan County..."

Gu Changsheng rested his chin in his hand, lost in thought.

Although he did not leave his home, he knew the general situation of the world.

The rebel King Yin Xu had colluded with the Golden Core Sect — Luosheng Sect.

Now, Bachuan County in the southwest had already become the Luosheng Sect's sphere of influence.

The Sect Leader of Luosheng Sect, Song Luosheng, was known as the Evil Ghost Venerable.

He possessed Peak True Core Realm cultivation.

To refine the Ten Thousand Soul Banner Magic Treasure, he had once sacrificed an entire city's population through blood.

Many Demonic Path Cultivators, and even demons, had pledged allegiance to him and enjoyed his protection.

"Will this trip... be risky..."

The older one got in the Jianghu, the more timid one became.

The Cultivation world was no different.

Before departing, Gu Changsheng decided to perform a divination.

He picked up the Divining Turtle, which was eating demon meat, and purple heart fire emerged from his palm, scorching its shell.

"Wuwu—"

Under the terrifying high temperature, the Divining Turtle foamed at the mouth, its four limbs extending from its shell, wriggling frantically.

"Don't worry, this little fire won't burn you to death."

After three breaths, a crack appeared on the turtle shell.

"Great fortune... Besides that, the divination shows a faint Buddhist light, which seems... to be related to Buddhism..."

Gu Changsheng thought of the eerie Buddha statue in Lanruo Temple.

He put down the Divining Turtle, flicked his index finger, and a half-baked stream of verdant wood essence poured in, quickly mending the crack on the turtle shell's surface.

The cool, refreshing sensation was so comfortable that the Divining Turtle's green bean-sized eyes narrowed, a look of pure bliss on its face.

"As expected of a naturally unique species... Even the shell of an exotic beast, the Turtle-Backed Camel, would shatter into pieces under my divination technique.

Yet you only produced a tiny crack..."

Gu Changsheng clicked his tongue in wonder.

"Wuwu—"

The Divining Turtle glared with its green bean-sized eyes and raised its dark turtle claw in protest.

"What? You want compensation?

Don't worry, I, your Daoist master, will never let you suffer a loss.

From now on, for every divination you help me with,

I'll add a hundred jin of demon meat for you, how about that?"

The stubby turtle claw split open in response, laboriously forming a scissor-like shape.

"Two hundred jin?

Alright, I, your Daoist master, agree.

Tong Er, when cultivating millet in the future, add an extra three hundred jin..."

Such a straightforward agreement left the Divining Turtle stunned.

Had it asked for too little just now?

Damn it, it should have asked for more.

It looked at its own stubby little claws, which apparently could only gesture up to five.

A loss of three hundred jin of demon meat!

...Bachuan County

Along the official road.

A caravan of dozens of people was advancing.

On the lead carriage, the Daoist banner of Songquan Temple was displayed.

Tao Xianzhi, who was leading on a fiery red horse, vigilantly looked around.

"Boss, don't worry, the brothers have already scouted the vicinity, there are definitely no mountain bandits..."

A skinny, monkey-like member of the caravan approached with a smile.

Tao Xianzhi frowned and muttered, "If there were mountain bandits, that would be simple..."

As if afraid of causing worry, he quickly added, "It's never wrong to be careful in everything.

Pass down the order, tell the horses in the team to speed up.

We need to reach the city before dusk.

Tonight, we absolutely cannot spend the night in the wilderness."

"Yes."

At the end of the convoy, Gu Changsheng lay on a flatbed cart covered with straw, leisurely chewing on a foxtail grass.

His gaze fell upon a black-awning carriage not far away.

As he activated his Qi Observation Technique, Gu Changsheng's eyes brightened, and his vision instantly changed.

He saw a golden mass of Luck rising from the carriage.

As the Luck swirled, it formed the shape of mountains, rivers, and national territory.

Outside the mountains, rivers, and national territory, eight golden Phoenixes flapped their wings, circling and emitting sharp cries.

Next to the golden Luck was a cyan sword-shaped Luck.

The edges of the sword carried a hint of purple Qi.

This was the azure cloud Luck of a military general's official status.

"I didn't expect to encounter someone from the Great Shang imperial family by casually joining a caravan... Moreover, this person's Luck is highly variable.

If he ascends to the Azure Nether, he might even reach the pinnacle... Hehe... interesting..."

Gu Changsheng smiled and stretched.

In the world today, with the death of Ancestor Yin, there were no more Profound Cave Cultivators.

A True Core Realm Cultivator could already establish a Sect and be called an Old Ancestor.

Now that he had broken through to the True Core Realm, he truly sat on a fishing platform, calmly observing the rise and fall of Dynasties.

Whoever became emperor would not affect him.

Inside the black-awning carriage.

"Left Commander, will there truly be no accidents on this trip?

I don't know why, but I feel a little uneasy..."

A delicate young man in coarse blue clothes said with a hint of worry on his face.

Upon closer inspection, one would notice a slightly unnatural bulge on his chest.

He was clearly wearing a chest binder.

It was actually a woman disguised as a man.

"Don't worry, Your Highness... This time we are traveling incognito, the rebel King will absolutely not detect us.

Moreover, the esteemed Elder Li has arranged for a Personal Disciple to come and meet us; returning to Chaoge will not be difficult..."

A middle-aged man with a plain saber at his waist and a topknot in his hair reassured her.

At this moment, the lead carriage suddenly stopped.

"Boss, there are a few beautiful women in thin clothes lying ahead... Perhaps they've encountered highway robbers.

How about... we... go to their aid?"

The skinny monkey said, a hint of lewdness appearing on his face.

Tao Xianzhi frowned.

Although the official road had been established for many years and rarely had problems,

the Great Shang was now in turmoil, its deterrent power greatly diminished, and various Sects were rebelling, causing demons and monsters to rise as well.

For a few pretty women to appear on the official road for no reason.

Who knew if there was a problem?

"Notify everyone, we'll take a detour and avoid the front."

"Ah, what?"

The skinny monkey was about to argue, but seeing Tao Xianzhi's unquestionable gaze, he swallowed his words.

However, after detouring and traveling two li, news came again from the front.

"Boss, those women from earlier have appeared again..."

This time, the skinny monkey was scared, a look of terror on his face.

"Detour again!"

Tao Xianzhi's expression gradually darkened.

However, after detouring three times in a row, the same women still appeared ahead.

Strange!

Tao Xianzhi wanted to turn back, but the travelers behind him were full of complaints.

Five consecutive detours had delayed them significantly.

Dusk was approaching.

In these times, no one wanted to spend a night in the wilderness.

Tao Xianzhi could only grit his teeth and urge his horse forward.

From a distance, he cupped his hands towards the women in thin veils and said, "Grandmothers.

I am Tao Xianzhi, an Outer Sect Disciple of Songquan Temple. I humbly ask the Grandmothers to grant us passage and let the caravan pass.

A small token of respect, please accept it..."

Tao Xianzhi dismounted swiftly and opened the black pouch hanging on his horse.

He took out a piece of smoked pork, two liang of dried fruit, and three cups of blood wine.

He then lit four sticks of incense in front.

Everything was neatly arranged.

He began to chant under his breath.

This was Songquan Temple's method of offering to ghosts.

The smoked pork, dried fruit, and blood wine were not ordinary either; they were all refined from spiritual materials.

However, looking at these offerings, the beautiful woman leading them advanced instead of retreating, a playful smile on her face, and she cooed, "Young Master is so polite, it makes this servant's heart flutter even more, and I'm even more reluctant to let you go..."

Hearing this, Tao Xianzhi's face changed drastically.

Just as he was about to flee, a pink mist sprayed onto his face, and his consciousness immediately became hazy.

Soon, the caravan resumed its journey.

On the ox cart at the end of the caravan, Gu Changsheng's eyes showed a hint of amusement: "Ghost 'hitting the wall'... Heart-bewitching illusion... Such petty tricks... Well, it aligns with my destination..."

How could the events happening ahead escape his notice?

It was merely a few Foundation Building Realm ghost Cultivators, not worth his extra attention.

Not long after, a magnificent temple appeared before their eyes.

On the plaque, prominently written was... Lanruo Temple.