Weird Cultivation, I have a five-organ temple

Chapter 589 Difficult? Not difficult if you use cheat codes.

"You entrust me with matters of life and death? You really think highly of my 'good fortune'."

Although Shang Lu smiled wryly, he did not refuse.

Because he saw that Third Sister had already slipped into a secret passage in the left wall.

Just as he was about to call everyone over, he saw Third Sister float out of the secret passage and enter another secret passage.

"what?"

Third Sister was taken aback.

But she quickly realized that Third Sister was trying different approaches one by one to see which one led to survival.

Seeing that Third Sister was unharmed, Shang Lu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. While waiting for Third Sister to find the answer, he walked back and forth, pretending to study the three secret passages.

He didn't act for very long.

When Third Sister emerged from the second secret passage, she raised her delicate white hand and pointed: "This is it."

Shang Lu immediately called out to everyone, "Take this path," and led the team inside.

"and many more."

The Rat on patrol stopped Shang Lu and said in a deep voice, "I'll go in first to scout ahead."

He raised his hand, plucked a hair from his not-so-wealthy head, blew on it, and the hair instantly transformed into a gray mouse.

"If something happens to me, it will collapse. At that time, you should choose another secret passage. If it still exists after several dozen breaths, it means I am fine, and it also means that you did not choose the wrong secret passage!"

Shang Lu wanted to say there was no need, but before he could speak, Zi Shu Xun Shou patted him on the shoulder: "It's settled then!" He then turned around and disappeared into the secret passage.

Lu Yang, Xu Zhen, and the others immediately looked at the gray rat whose hair was changing shape as it patrolled, and began counting aloud: "One...two...three..."

Even Gongshu Ling was completely focused on the gray rat at this moment.

Their previous experience with the barbarian group confirmed one thing for them—it was impossible to find out the true situation inside the secret passage using only witchcraft and paper dolls.

To determine whether a secret passage is a path to life or a dead end, aside from unseen and intangible blessings, the safest method is to risk human lives to explore it.

At this moment, everyone except Shang Lu and Uncle Huai couldn't help but pray in hushed tones, begging the gods for protection.

Shang Lu trusted San Niang's choice completely. He wanted to tell everyone that there was no need to go through all this trouble, but in the end he held back and remained silent.

A few dozen breaths isn't a long time. Once enough time has passed and everyone is at ease, it's worth it.

Soon, Lü Yang and Xu Zhen counted to sixty breaths.

They looked up at Shang Lu and Gongshu Ling: "It's been sixty breaths, and the inspector's hair is still intact. Shall we go in too?"

Gongshu Ling looked at Shang Lu, waiting for him to make a decision.

Shang Lu immediately made arrangements: "I'll lead the way, and Senior Sister Gongshu will bring up the rear. Senior Brother Cheng, keep your Di Ting ears wide open. Although this secret passage is the gate of life, there's no guarantee that there won't be other traps hidden inside."

Everyone nodded in unison, and Cheng Ren even crossed his hands and replied, "Yes."

Without a word, Shang Lu followed San Niang and strode into the secret passage.

Uncle Huai followed closely behind him, followed by Lü Yang, Xu Zhen, Pan Yintong, and Cheng Ren.

When the judge left, he reached out and hugged the gray rat that the mouse's hair had transformed into during the hunt.

Finally, there is the Gongshu Lingdian.

She activated all the magical artifacts mounted on her armor, instantly transforming her into a mobile arsenal with bursts of magical light and numerous incantations.

The secret passage was pitch black, but everyone had a solution.

Uncle Huai released several lamp spirits, letting them light their heads for illumination.

Xu Zhen chanted a witch incantation and summoned a swarm of fire moths from the witch tattoo on the back of his left hand.

Fire moths are similar to fireflies in that they can emit light using their abdomens, but they are much larger than fireflies and emit much brighter light.

The lamp wick spirit swayed its head and accompanied the procession, responsible for illuminating the surrounding area.

The fire moths fly forward to scout ahead.

This secret passage is paved with stone bricks and can accommodate two people walking side by side, but it is winding and has no end in sight.

Meanwhile, what was not seen was the presence of the Rat on its hunt.

"Where are the hunters?"

"They went ahead to scout?"

Lu Yang, Xu Zhen, and the others either stood on tiptoe or peeked out to get a better look over Shang Lu and Uncle Huai's figures.

But I didn't see anything.

This secret passage seemed strange, obstructing one's view and preventing one from seeing far.

Hearing is also impaired.

Even Cheng Ren, who activated his Listening Ear, gained nothing.

Shang Lu wasn't in a hurry, because when she saw San Niang pointing ahead, she knew that Zi Shu Xun Shou must have gone ahead of them to scout the way. She immediately called out, "Xun Shou must have gone ahead. Let's catch up with him and meet up."

Everyone responded in unison.

With the Rat patrol absent, they subconsciously regarded Shang Lu as their backbone, executing his orders without hesitation, even though Shang Lu's cultivation was not the strongest among them.

Third Sister led the way, and after walking a short distance, they saw a fork in the road.

"Damn it, not again?"

Lu Yang couldn't help but swear.

"Isn't this King of Chu far too cunning and cautious?"

Cheng Ren listened intently, then shook his head with a wry smile: "I still can't hear anything. Nothing from either side."

Everyone looked at Shang Lu again.

Shang Lu looked at San Niang and was surprised to find that San Niang had actually summoned the Greedy Beast.

Lu Yang, Xu Zhen, and the others could not see San Niang, but they could all see the Greedy Beast and recognized this strange beast.

After a moment of surprise, everyone cheered in unison: "The place where the Grand Master and the Palace Attendant are imprisoned is also where the King of Chu cultivates. It must contain many treasures such as magical artifacts and elixirs. Having the Greedy Beast lead the way is indeed the most suitable option!"

Shang Lu thought differently, because he saw that although San Niang had summoned the Greedy Beast, she had entered the left fork in the road before the beast could.

This shows that Third Sister knew which path to choose; she summoned the Greedy Beast simply to provide cover for Shang Lu.

After all, it's not a problem to choose the right direction once or twice by relying on good fortune. But if you're right every time, it will still raise suspicions.

"It has to be Third Sister, who has considered everything so thoroughly and thoughtfully."

Shang Lu praised his wife in his heart, and only after the greedy beast followed Third Sister into the left fork in the road did he call the others to follow.

For the rest of the journey, Shang Lu and his group never saw Zi Shu on patrol.

Suddenly, Xu Zhen realized something was wrong.

He called out urgently, "Junior Brother Shang, wait a moment. We seem to have passed through this place before!"

Once everyone stopped, he pointed to the stone wall on his right: "Look, this is the mark I left."

Everyone looked in that direction and, sure enough, saw a faint arrow mark on the right-hand stone wall. They immediately turned to look at Shang Lu and exclaimed in astonishment, "Did you really come back?"

Before Shang Lu could speak, Gongshu Ling spoke first, coldly saying, "It's not that we went around back, it's that the stone wall 'caught up' with us."

"The stone wall is catching up?"

Lu Yang, Xu Zhen, and Cheng Ren were all taken aback, not understanding the meaning of those words.

"This is a 'living' secret passage. Both the stone walls and the stone bricks underfoot will subtly change position. In this way, they confuse people's sense of direction, thus trapping them deep inside and making it impossible for them to escape!"

Gongshu Ling summoned the array plate, and with his hands moving swiftly, streaks of talismanic light flew out and projected onto the stone wall.

Immediately, everyone saw that the stone walls and bricks began to move silently.

The stone wall where Xu Zhen left his mark vanished in an instant.

"How could this be? We didn't even notice?"

Lü Yang, Xu Zhen, and Cheng Ren marveled at the sight, and couldn't help but feel a lingering fear.

Fortunately, these bricks and stones are only changing positions; if someone were to launch a surprise attack, it would be difficult to defend against.

At the same time, they were also a little confused: "So, are we lost or not?" "No," Gongshu Ling asserted: "Although the bricks and stones have changed, the space has not. As long as we walk in the right direction, we will not get lost."

“That’s right,” Shang Lu nodded.

One of these two was a master of formations, and the other was blessed with good fortune. Naturally, Lü Yang, Xu Zhen, and Cheng Ren believed what they said.

They immediately continued to follow Shang Lu, heading deeper into the secret passage.

After walking for about ten more breaths, Shang Lu and his companions spotted a figure by the light of the moths flying ahead.

It was the Year of the Rat on its hunting expedition.

"Hunting patrol!"

Lu Yang and Xu Zhen were very excited, finally they had reunited with the Rat on patrol.

The rat on patrol also noticed them and waved for them to hurry over.

But Cheng Ren frowned.

His keen hearing failed to detect the breathing and heartbeat of the rat patrolling ahead.

At the same time, Shang Lu saw San Niang make an attack gesture at him.

His keen insight clearly revealed that the aura emanating from the rat patrolling ahead was unusual.

It's a fake!
Without hesitation, Shang Lu drew his beast whip and swung it forward. As his essence flowed in, the soft whip hardened instantly, unleashing countless purple lightning bolts that blasted towards the Zishu patrolling ahead.

Almost at the same moment, Gongshu Ling, who was at the back of the procession, also waved his hand sharply towards Zishu Xunshou in front of him.

“Swish, swish, swish—”

Several streaks of cold light shot out from her witch armor; they were armor plates gleaming with witch light. These armor plates were not only sturdy armor but also powerful weapons!

The rats ahead, on their patrol, had no chance to dodge before being struck by the lightning spear and sharp armor plates, screaming as they vanished into malevolent energy.

Lu Yang and Xu Zhen then realized that they had almost been deceived, and couldn't help but curse: "Damn it, so many strange things are hidden inside the Gate of Life. It seems that the King of Chu is also well aware that the things he has been up to are not to be exposed!"

After walking a while further and taking another fork in the road, they encountered the Rat on patrol again.

This time, Lü Yang and Xu Zhen were smarter. Instead of rushing forward, they adopted a guarded posture and carefully observed each other.

The rats patrolling ahead also spotted them. Instead of greeting them, they quickly recited a spell.

The gray rat that the judged child was holding immediately jumped to the ground and darted towards the little rat on its hunt.

When it reached him, it transformed back into its hair shape, which he carefully picked up and placed back on his head.

What surprised Shang Lu and the others was what happened next—the hair actually took root and grew back.

This scene also confirmed to Shang Lu and the others that the rat patrolling ahead was no longer an illusion formed from evil energy, but a real person.

The rat, during its hunt, recognized the visitors as Shang Lu and his companions based on their hair.

After the two sides met, they continued on their way.

On the way, Shang Lu couldn't help but ask, "Hunter, can the hair you plucked grow back?"

He was puzzled. If hair can grow back, why would the Rat Hunting be so bald?
The mouse on patrol noticed his confusion and scratched its head, saying, "Not every hair that's plucked can be successfully pulled back. When it fails to come back too many times, it ends up looking like this."

He turned around and looked at Gongshu Ling at the end of the line, saying expectantly, "Whenever you forge a magical artifact that can generate life, remember to tell me. No matter how expensive it is, I'm willing to buy it."

Gongshu Ling did not respond.

Lu Yang couldn't help but say, "You, the patrol officer, don't you understand the path Senior Sister Gongshu has taken? Rather than hoping she'll forge a hair-growth artifact, it's more practical to hope that someone skilled in witchcraft and medicine can concoct a hair-growth elixir! With Senior Sister Gongshu, there's only one suggestion: you should get your head replaced..."

"wrong."

Gongshu Ling corrected him seriously: "It's not just changing the head. It's changing everything from head to toe, inside and out."

Lü Yang shrugged and remained silent.

His meaning was very clear: See, I was right, wasn't I?
"Ugh."

The rat, with a pained expression, sighed. He wanted to scratch his head, but was afraid of losing even more of his already thinning hair, so he could only endure it. After putting his hand down, he sighed again.

Previously, he used the rats made of his hair to explore the way, but now that he has joined forces with Shang Lu, he will have a lot of hair left.

The group hurried through the secret passage and encountered several more illusions, but none of them could fool them, and they were immediately dispersed.

About fifteen minutes later, they saw the end of the secret passage.

They also saw a strange prison cell.

The cell was quite large, even several times larger than the Guixu Tower itself.

The group cautiously entered the cell, and surprisingly, there were no more traps or mechanisms set up here.

However, it was filled with an atmosphere of chaos and violence.

And a group of gray, semi-transparent, aura-eating evil spirits.

This is a specially refined evil spirit, most adept at stealing people's life force.

Upon seeing Shang Lu and the others, they immediately became excited, but they couldn't pounce on them and take away their lives.

They were trapped in a magic array by five stone pillars engraved with strange witchcraft.

There were four other people trapped in the same witchcraft formation.

It was none other than the Grand Master, the Clerk, and the Crimson Moon Witch Lord.

In addition, there was a stranger covered in witchcraft tattoos, who was probably the missing high priest of the barbarian tribe.

These four people had long lost their usual imposing manner. They were all pierced through their limbs and chests by bone chains covered in blood, and hung in mid-air in a spread-eagle position.

These bone chains continuously drain their life essence from their bodies.

Meanwhile, those ferocious beasts that bared their teeth at Shang Lu and the others were sucking away their magical power and life force!
All the essence, magical power, and life force that were absorbed flowed into the five strange stone pillars.

Upon closer inspection, it is not difficult to find that the five stone pillars not only display the five elements of green, red, yellow, white, and black, but their shapes also resemble the five internal organs of a person: heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.

"It's the Five Gods Seizing the Essence Formation!"

The rat on patrol recognized this strange formation.

He said coldly, "This is an evil formation passed down from the Dark Ages, specifically used to seize the essence and cultivation of others for one's own use! Those trapped in this formation are unable to live or die, and can only watch helplessly as their essence and cultivation are drained... even their souls are drained, ultimately resulting in the annihilation of both body and soul!"

Everyone gasped.

Looking at the four people trapped in the Five Gods' Yuan-Seizing Formation, they were all emaciated and thin, as if they had been drained of all their energy and were now just skin and bones.

They seemed to be out of their minds, all of them had fallen into a coma, and could die at any moment.

Inside the Five Gods Seizing Yuan Formation, there are many desiccated corpses that are nothing but skin and bones.

These were all people who were "eaten" by the King of Chu.

They must not be ordinary people, but rather wizards or monks with cultivation.

Perhaps he is a rising star in the State of Chu in recent years who has been "valued" by the King of Chu and given such "important use"!
"Hunter, how do we break this Five Gods Seizing Yuan Formation?"

Lu Yang and Xu Zhen asked anxiously.

The pawnbroker and the pawnbroker looked so weak that they were very worried, fearing they wouldn't last much longer.

The Rat, on patrol, frowned deeply: "Breaking the Five Gods' Essence-Seizing Formation isn't difficult; the difficulty lies in annihilating the Qi-devouring evil spirits within before breaking the formation! Although they are trapped within the formation, they are also protected by it. Without breaking the formation, they cannot be harmed. But if we ignore them and break the formation directly, they will immediately devour the remaining essence of those within..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Shang Lu stride forward, raise his right hand, and summon a soul banner.

The Rat Patrol assumed he was going to use the Soul Banner to subdue the evil spirits and shook his head, saying, "It's useless. Not to mention that ordinary Soul Banners can't possibly capture evil spirits that feed on qi. Even if they could, with the protection of the Five Gods Seizing Yuan Formation, it's still... Eh? Eh eh!"

His words stopped abruptly.

Gongshu Ling's face also showed a rare expression of surprise, his gaze fixed on the soul banner in Shang Lu's hand.

The evil spirits that devoured qi within the Five Gods Seizing Yuan Formation seemed to be attracted by a mysterious and immense power, and they swarmed together and were sucked into the soul banner that Shang Lu had summoned!

"How could this be?"

"What kind of soul banner is that?!"

Little did they know that the soul banner was merely a smokescreen.

The one that truly absorbed the evil spirits was the Earth Lord Seal on the back of the pokeweed's hand.

No matter how fierce the evil spirits are, or how strange the Five Gods Seizing Yuan Formation is, they cannot stop the Earth Lord's power to restrain ghosts and capture evil spirits!

This is the divine duty and divine power of the Earth God!
(It rained so hard here today... It's the first time I've seen the sea right outside my door.)
(End of this chapter)