Weird Cultivation, I have a five-organ temple

Chapter 593: Come whenever you want and leave whenever you want?
Tonight, the guards at the city gates of Chu are more on edge than usual.

Although the fires and chaos that were raging throughout the city were mostly obscured by the night fog, they still managed to catch a glimpse of some of it.

Not to mention, in the past hour or so, many relatives of princes and nobles, some carrying warrants from the princes, others with the seals of the Nine Ministers and various government offices, ordered them to open the city gates and leave the capital of Chu overnight...

This series of unusual events made the city gate guards realize that something extraordinary was about to happen in the capital of Chu tonight!
Without clear military orders and without knowing the specific changes that had occurred within the city, the city gate guards dared not prevent the relatives of princes and nobles from leaving the city and could only let them pass.

"Lord, what exactly happened in the city? Why are all the nobles fleeing the city with their families? It's like they're escaping a disaster..."

On the city wall of the south gate, a deputy dressed as a shaman gazed at the fires and chaos in the city while speaking in a low voice to the gatekeeper beside him.

"You're asking me? I'd like to know too."

The city gatekeeper looked anxious.

His family was in the city, and now that chaos had broken out there, he wanted to go back to check on things, but he dared not leave his post. So he could only send a few trusted men, carrying torches, to risk their lives and travel through the eerie fog to go home and check on the situation for him.

"Don't you keep a Soul-Chasing Bird? Send it into the city and check the situation."

"Is the gatekeeper sending my Soul-Chasing Bird to its death? Without the protection of firelight, the Soul-Chasing Bird will be torn to shreds by the monsters once it enters the night fog... Hey, someone else is coming!"

The shaman's deputy raised an eyebrow, and by the bright light from the braziers on the city wall, he spotted another group of people rapidly approaching in the distance.

The city gatekeeper also saw it, took a deep breath, and shouted loudly:
"Stop whoever comes!"

"State your identity and purpose!"

The archers on the city wall, though poised for action, did not nock any arrows. Meanwhile, several shamans accompanying the army merely formed hand seals without chanting incantations.

They were all afraid that the person coming this time was another important relative or VIP, and dared not offend him.

The group of figures in the distance, despite hearing the city gatekeeper's order, did not stop; instead, they quickened their pace.

At this moment, the shaman's deputy conferred a talisman, which flew "whoosh" to the top of the newcomer's head and exploded with a "boom".

The blazing firelight illuminated the situation of the approaching people and instantly put the city gate guards on the wall on high alert.

Because the group that came was not from a wealthy or noble family.

Their skin color, their attire, and even the "primitive and savage" aura they exuded all proved that they were a barbarian tribe!
"Barbarians storming the city? How dare they!"

The city gatekeeper was furious.

Tonight, it's one thing for those nobles' relatives to be bossing them around, but how dare the barbarians come and provoke them?

Do you really think the city gate he's guarding is a latrine?

Come and go as you please?!

"Shoot arrows, cast spells, kill them all—"

No sooner had the city gatekeeper uttered his roar than a beam of magical light shot out from the barbarian ranks, coalescing in the night sky to form a flying bear with eight wings on its back.

At the same time, he and the city gate guards on the wall simultaneously heard a cold, sharp shout: "The Black-Clad Guards are on duty by the King! What, are you trying to rebel?!"

"Xuanyi Guard?"

The soldiers and sorcerers on the wall immediately erupted in an uproar.

These barbarians are actually the King's personal guards, the Black-Clad Guards?

Is this...is this even possible?!
Just as everyone was filled with doubt and uncertainty, several tokens flew up the city wall in the firelight and landed precisely in the hands of the city gatekeeper.

He examined it carefully by the light of the fire.

The deputy of the shaman also came over and had his personal guard fetch a fragment of spirit that resembled a bull's horn. He placed it on the tokens, and as the shaman's energy was activated, a low moo immediately came from the bull's horn.

"It really is the Black Robe Token!"

"Quickly! Put away your bows and arrows, temporarily close the witch formation, and open the city gates!"

The city gatekeeper no longer doubted and hurriedly gave the order.

The attire of the Black-Clad Guards can be faked, but their tokens cannot be forged.

Furthermore, the Black Robe Token is contingent on the person holding it; killing someone to seize it is utterly impossible. As for capturing a Black Robe Guard alive and taking the token, no magic can be used, and the token cannot be activated; it will only self-destruct.

Soon, the magic array on the south gate closed, and the heavy gate, covered with magic patterns, slowly opened a crack as a group of tall and strong gate guards pushed it open and several wizards chanted incantations in unison.

At this moment, the group of "barbarians" who claimed to be the Black-Clad Guards also rode up on horseback.

One of the warhorses even stuck out its tongue at them in a defiant manner.

The soldiers guarding the city gate dared not get angry.

Although their cultivation levels were average, they had developed keen eyesight and could tell at a glance that this warhorse was unusual; it was a demonic horse that had gained sentience and was stronger than them.

The group of "barbarians" that arrived were none other than Shang Lu and Zi Shu Xun Shou and their companions.

They were well-prepared for tonight's operation.

While the Black-Clad Guards were fighting with the princes and nobles, they took advantage of the chaos to capture several of them. Before the guards could react, they had the Judge of the Underworld use her eerie eye sockets to bewitch their minds.

Since the person didn't die, the token naturally wouldn't be destroyed.

The Black-Clad Guards, having been misled by the Yin Child, not only refused to destroy the token but also obediently revealed all the taboos and uses of the Black-Clad Token.

Although activating the Black Robe Token requires the Black Robe Guard's own magical energy.

But this did not deter Zishu Xunshou and Gongshu Ling.

After some tinkering, the two actually managed to create a small magical artifact that could extract and use other people's magical energy.

Although the extracted witch energy is limited and cannot be used to enhance power or cast spells, it is still feasible to temporarily activate the Xuan Yi Token.

With this set of tools, Shang Lu and his men could fool not only the city gate guards, but even the real Black-Clad Guards.

As for the barbarian attire and demeanor, that's not a problem either.

The princes of Chu could "collude" with the barbarian tribes.

The King of Chu also kept barbarian experts under his command.

When Lü Yang and the others passed through the city gate, they all had stern faces and seemed to have no reaction, but in secret, they were all prepared.

If the situation changes, take advantage of the temporary closure of the shamanic formation to protect the head constable and the steward, and force their way out.

The city gate guard and his deputy, the sorcerer, stood beside the city gate, holding the black-robed token in their hands.

The Rat, on patrol, waved his hand and released a burst of witchcraft, taking away the Black Robe Token.

Shang Lu then used his silver tongue and sophistry to intimidate them in a cold voice: "You haven't seen us tonight, understand?"

"understand."

The city gatekeeper and his deputy immediately conjured up a whole host of secret missions in their minds, and readily agreed, nodding vigorously.

With a stern face, Shang Lu asked again, "Which noble people's relatives left the city from here tonight?"

Upon hearing this, the city gatekeeper's expression changed drastically. Recalling the fires and chaos in the city, he felt he had guessed something and hurriedly defended himself: "My lords, please understand! It is not that we, your humble servants, have failed in our duty, but those nobles are of high status and possess the warrants and seals of the princes and ministers. We dared not obstruct them!"

"Answer whatever you are told. Whether you are guilty or not is none of our business; others will make the decision."

Shang Lu reprimanded him sternly, then paused, feigning an accidental slip of the tongue: "It was right that you didn't stop him. If you had, you would have ruined His Majesty's plans..."

The rat on patrol, working in perfect unison, immediately turned around and shouted, "Shut up! How dare you say such things out loud?"

What does this mean? Could it be...?

The city gatekeeper and the deputy shaman were both startled, but dared not ask any more questions, and could only quickly recite a few names.

Meanwhile, Zishu Xunshou had already ridden his warhorse, leading the chief attendant and the clerk out of the Chu capital.

Gongshu Ling, Lü Yang, and others followed closely behind, providing covert protection.

Shang Lu remained at the city gate to cover the rear. Once everyone had left the city, he snorted with displeasure, "Keep your mouths shut! What you see or hear tonight, don't spread it outside! Otherwise... you know the rules of my Black-Clad Guard."

The city gatekeeper became increasingly certain of his guess.

These barbarian-dressed guards in black robes must have gone out to hunt down the relatives of nobles.

They might even try to pin all of this on the barbarians.

As a mere gatekeeper, I have inadvertently stumbled upon such a momentous matter. If I cannot keep my mouth shut, not only will my own life be in danger, but my family and relatives will also suffer.

He nodded repeatedly, "This subordinate understands, this subordinate understands. Please rest assured, sir, we will keep tonight's events a secret and will not divulge a single word." "That would be best, otherwise... hehe."

Shang Lu sneered, flicked the reins, and rode Black Cloud out of the city gate.

Outside the capital of Chu, the smog was even darker than inside the city, and the air was filled with a foul, watery odor.

But everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Yunmengze is dangerous, having the talisman makes it much better than the chaotic and unknown Chu capital.

As the rat left the capital of Chu, it immediately took out a flying shuttle.

As the incantation was chanted, bursts of magical light shone from the shuttle, and it rapidly grew larger.

In an instant, the palm-sized shuttle transformed into a flying boat capable of accommodating about ten people.

Zishu, the hunting scout, helped the chief attendant and the steward dismount and board the flying boat.

Cheng Ren, holding the Judge of Yin Tong's hand, pulled the barbarian high priest up as well.

Next came Uncle Huai, Hei Yun, and the warhorses led by the group.

Shang Lu, Lü Yang, Gongshu Ling, and Xu Zhen did not board the flying boat.

They either released feathered cloaks, summoned flying swords, or flew using methods such as witch armor and Gu insects, guarding the left and right sides of the flying boat.

Because of the darkness, the city gate guards on the wall couldn't see how Shang Lu and his group flew away. They only vaguely saw a figure cut through the night and disappear in an instant.

The heavy city gates closed again, and the witchcraft array was reactivated amidst obscure incantations.

Only then did the deputy shaman breathe a sigh of relief, clicking his tongue in amazement: "I never expected that there would be barbarians among the Black-Clad Guards!"

The city gatekeeper didn't find it strange: "The Black-Clad Guards were originally formed by experts recruited by the King from all sides. It's not surprising that there are barbarians among them."

"Too."

The deputy shaman nodded, agreeing with the city gatekeeper's statement.

The southern barbarian tribes were not a monolithic entity; many of them were close to or vassals of the Chu state.

It is indeed possible that the King of Chu selected skilled warriors from these tribes to infiltrate the Black-Clad Guards.

However, at this moment, the city gatekeeper sneered and said, "Besides, it's hard to say whether these people are barbarians or not!"

The deputy of the shaman was taken aback upon hearing this, but then he remembered that this group of people had not only hurriedly left the city in the middle of the night, but had also specifically inquired about the situation of noble families. A guess immediately came to mind.

"Could it be... hiss... what exactly happened in this city tonight?"

"Whatever happens is none of our business!"

The city gatekeeper's face was grim, and although his words were calm, his body trembled uncontrollably: "Tonight, we saw nothing, heard nothing, and knew nothing!"

The sorcerer's deputy understood his meaning and immediately made a decision: "I will now perform sorcery to make everyone forget what just happened!"

"Give me one too," the city gatekeeper said through gritted teeth.

Forgetting magic can cause significant harm to the mind and consciousness.

But at this moment, the city gatekeeper felt that he had been caught up in some terrible conspiracy and was afraid that he would be torn apart.

Compared to physical death and the extermination of one's clan, damage to one's spirit and consciousness is not a big deal.

“Alright!” The shaman’s deputy nodded in agreement and immediately began chanting obscure incantations.

"You're something else, kid. Your words actually scared the city gatekeeper so much that he started casting a forgetting spell."

The Rat, sensing the fluctuations of magical power behind it, smiled and praised Shang Lu, who was flying on a feather cloak.

Cheng Ren, who had been holding up his listening ear, laughed and recounted the conversation he had overheard, much to everyone's amusement. If they weren't afraid of arousing the suspicion of the city guards on the wall behind them, they probably would have burst into laughter.

Shang Lu said, "I only wanted them to be afraid to question us, but I didn't expect them to come up with so many things on their own. Well, this way we can leave even more quietly!"

Everyone nodded in unison.

After flying away from the capital of Chu, they felt a little more relaxed.

But they remained vigilant and dared not let their guard down.

Although the night in Yunmengze lacks the eerie fog of Chudu, it is filled with surging water vapor, the ever-present threat of lightning, and the strange creatures and ferocious beasts hidden in the clouds and mist!
As soon as Shang Lu and his group flew out of the island where Chu Capital was located, they immediately saw the surging water vapor in the lake, like a beast that had caught the scent of its prey, churning and sweeping towards them.

They are like invisible giant hands, trying to drag everyone into the abyss of quagmire!
At the same time, these water vapors also contain a malevolent energy that can drive people mad. Once it invades the body, it can not only cause people to go insane and become deranged, but also lead to their unpredictable death!

"Whether we can get through Yunmengze depends on your skills!" Zishu Xunshou said to Gongshu Ling, then took out a replica of the Yunmengze amulet, not only hanging it on his own chest, but also giving one to Daxingren, Dianke, and even the barbarian high priest.

Even the warhorses on the flying boats were hung with them.

This is because each of these Yunmengze amulets can only protect one person.

Seeing this, Shang Lu and the others followed the example of the rat on its hunt, hanging the Yunmengze amulets, which were azure in color, shaped like jade buckles, and covered with various mysterious witchcraft characters, around their necks.

The water vapor seemed to sense the presence of the Yunmengze Amulet. After circling around the group twice, it reluctantly fell back into the lake.

"call……"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

At this moment, apart from Gongshu Ling, only Lü Yang showed no sign of tension.

Seeing everyone's reaction, he even snorted proudly, "How could the witch artifacts made by Senior Sister Gongshu be useless? You're all overthinking it!"

Ever since he worked as an assistant in Gongshu Ling's weapon workshop and witnessed Gongshu Ling's various methods, Lü Yang had come to blindly trust Gongshu Ling's skills in weapon forging.

No one paid any attention to Lü Yang, except for Hei Yun, which bared its teeth at him and neighed loudly, leaving him completely confused. He asked Shang Lu, "Why is your horse yelling at me?"

Shang Lu laughed and said, "Is that even a question? It's definitely saying that the witchcraft artifacts made by Senior Sister Gongshu are useful. What's it to you? What are you so smug about?"

“Eh, no…” Lu Yang was taken aback, wanting to refute, but not knowing how to start.

It was at this moment that a powerful aura enveloped them.

"Buzzing—"

Lu Yang unleashed all his flying swords, circling around the flying boat.

Shang Lu, Zi Shu Xun Shou, and the others immediately turned their gazes toward the source of the powerful aura—a pair of enormous, drum-like, blood-red eyes rose from the muddy swamp beneath them, staring intently at them.

Beneath the giant eye were a pair of thick, long fangs, like the flagpoles of a warship.

The eyes and teeth alone are already enormous.

How big must this monster be?

But in the end, the monster did not break out of the swamp to attack the flying boat and the pokeweed.

It's unclear whether it was the effect of the Yunmengze amulet or the intimidating aura emanating from the crowd that suppressed it.

Or perhaps, both reasons apply.

The group flew swiftly through the skies above Yunmeng Marsh, encountering several sudden bursts of thunderclouds and giant waves along the way. However, thanks to the protective talisman of Yunmeng Marsh, all the unusual celestial phenomena avoided them.

Time passed quickly, and it was past the hour of Chou (1-3 AM).

Shang Lu and his group had already left the capital of Chu and were completely out of sight.

It was at this moment that a thick fog rose up over the Yunmeng Marsh.

Because of the Yunmengze amulet, the fog could not harm the group, but it obstructed their vision and even confused them.

Fortunately, on their way here, Shang Lu and the others had heard Zi Shu mention this matter during his patrol, and they had memorized the situation of the islands along the way.

As the fog rolled in, they found a beacon tower island that emitted a faint light in the thick fog.

Using this beacon island as a reference, they determined their direction and flew towards the next beacon island, avoiding the fortified cities and islands along the way where treasures were being salvaged.

Seeing that there were no major incidents and the journey was smooth, they soon flew over the three beacon tower islands.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar pierced through the thick fog and reached everyone's ears, causing them excruciating pain and making their very souls tremble.

"You came all the way to my capital to cause trouble, and now you think you can just leave? There's no such thing as a free lunch!"

(End of this chapter)