Weird Cultivation, I have a five-organ temple

Chapter 632 Unveiling the Secrets of the Academy
Dongze Pass.

This is the last hurdle between the states of Chu and Jiang.

Beyond Dongze Pass lies the Black Abyss Swamp, stretching for hundreds of miles.

Compared to the vast Yunmeng Marsh, the Black Abyss Swamp is not large in area, but its reputation is no less than that of Yunmeng Marsh—it is said to be a remnant left after a great cataclysm in ancient times.

Unlike Yunmengze, Black Abyss Swamp, despite its great reputation, has never been salvaged or developed.

This swamp is far more dangerous than Yunmeng Marsh. Anyone who enters it will sink to the bottom and, even with cultivation, will be unable to escape, becoming nothing more than a skeleton in the mud or food for evil spirits and ferocious beasts.

In the Black Abyss Swamp, there is only one winding road that can be traveled, which is called the "Swamp Road".

On his way here, Shang Lu had already gathered all the information through his eloquence and sophistry, so he did not bypass the checkpoints.

Riding the witch gourd, one could fly across the Black Abyss Swamp, but this would not only alert the ferocious beasts in the swamp, but would also be noticed and discovered by the border troops of the Chu and Jiang kingdoms.

If they have reported it, that's fine; if they haven't, the border troops will concentrate their fire and take them down immediately.

Before Dongze Pass, there were not only fully armed Chu soldiers, but also Chu shamans with considerable cultivation, leading their shamanic beasts and carefully inspecting everyone who wanted to pass through the checkpoint to go to the Jiang Kingdom.

Above the Black Abyss Swamp, there were also falcons with crimson eyes.

They hovered high in the sky, monitoring every move below.

If anyone attempts to bypass Dongze Pass, they can immediately lock onto the target by coordinating with the witch formations within the pass.

These are just the visible methods.

There are countless unseen arrangements being made behind the scenes.

"Show your identification!"

As soon as Shang Lu reached the foot of Dongze Pass, a parrot with three thin tongues in its beak flew over and circled above him and the other travelers, repeating the same phrase over and over in a strange tone.

Upon hearing this, several travelers hurriedly took out their identification documents.

However, the pokeweed remained unmoved.

This scene was immediately noticed by Chu Wu, who was standing in front of the checkpoint.

Immediately, three people formed hand seals and used the technique of shrinking the earth to an inch, instantly appearing on either side of Shang Lu, forming a triangle and surrounding him.

One of them formed a witch's hand seal, and his ears rapidly grew larger.

He was actually a Di Ting Envoy.

Where is your identification?

The Listening Envoy of Dongze Pass coldly questioned him.

The other two Chu shamans formed hand seals with one hand and summoned their shamanic artifacts with the other.

If Shang Lu makes a mistake in his response, they will immediately take action to arrest him!

Meanwhile, the border troops on the city wall of Dongze Pass also noticed the abnormality and kept a close eye on Shang Lu, ready to activate the witchcraft and witch formations on the city wall at any time.

Shang Lu was not intimidated, nor did he speak easily; he simply waved his hand and threw out the black-robed token.

This black-robed token, which had long been activated by the spirit of the rampant ghost, now shimmered with witch-like light and transformed into a winged flying bear.

"So it's a high-ranking officer from the Black-Clad Guard!"

The three Chu witches immediately recognized them.

Although Dongze Pass received a message from the Discipline Black Witch, instructing them to strictly investigate those leaving the country, especially those using the banner of the Black Guard, to prevent impersonation.

However, as soon as Shang Lu arrived, he produced the Black Robe Token, which immediately dispelled the doubts of the people from Dongze Pass.

Everyone knows it's easy to impersonate a member of the Black-Clad Guard, but the Black-Clad Guard Token cannot be forged. Moreover, the token exists as long as the person is alive, and ceases to exist upon the person's death!

However, the people at Dongze Pass never imagined that someone would be able to refine the souls of the Xuanyi Guards into rampant ghosts before the Xuanyi Token collapsed...

The three Chu shamans carefully examined the Xuan Yi Token and, after confirming that it was correct, cautiously returned it to Shang Lu.

Throughout the entire process, Shang Lu remained silent.

He feared that if he opened his mouth, the Listening Master would detect his weakness.

Fortunately, the Black-Clad Guards were known for their arrogance, and since the Black-Clad Token was indeed genuine, the three Chu witches had no doubts.

Only after the Di Ting Messenger finished his ritual and made his ears smaller did Shang Lu finally breathe a sigh of relief.

The three Chu sorcerers led Shang Lu to the checkpoint and bypassed the long queue of travelers.

Unable to contain their curiosity, they finally asked, "Sir, what brings you to the Jiang Kingdom?"

Shang Lu, with a stern face, coldly rebuked, "Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."

The Listener was startled and hurriedly nodded in agreement.

As he passed through customs, Shang Lu took out several identity documents and had them stamped.

Without the stamp from Dongze Pass, one cannot enter the Jiang Kingdom.

However, Shang Lu used witchcraft to cover the contents of these identity documents, leaving only the stamp area exposed.

Even so, the Chu shaman at Dongze Pass obediently stamped his identity document.

I couldn't help but wonder: why all this secrecy? Were they going to carry out some secret mission?
Although the Black Shaman of Discipline had given prior notice, Shang Lu still swaggered out of Dongze Pass with his genuine Xuan Yi Token, heading straight for the Jiang Kingdom along the winding path through the Black Abyss Swamp.

He did not ride the gourd of witchcraft, nor did he use the earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of magic that allows one to escape from the earth). He simply used the Nine Transformations of Divine Speed ​​to speed away.

After walking about twenty miles, he slowed down, put the Wind and Mist Bead in his mouth, and summoned a cloud of mist.

The people on the road were not alarmed when they saw the fog rising; they simply stopped in their tracks.

Strange fog and wind often appear in the Black Abyss Swamp. In such situations, the best thing to do is to crouch down and stay still.

If someone panics and runs around, they can easily fall into the mud and never be rescued.

In the mist, Shang Lu used the Hundred-Faced Mask to quickly change his figure and appearance, and even his clothes changed into the style of a Confucian robe.

After a few breaths, the fog dissipated, and the traveler continued on his way.

Completely unaware that someone had changed their appearance—Shang Lu was also wearing a face mask from the Yin Yang School, which greatly reduced his presence, making people unconsciously ignore him.

However, at Dongze Pass, more than twenty miles away, a Chu shaman frowned and immediately found his superior to report the situation: "The Xuanyi Guards have disappeared without a trace."

Shangguan hurriedly asked, "How did it disappear?"

"A mist rose up, and when the mist cleared, the person disappeared."

This Chu shaman was able to link his eyes with an eagle's eye through sorcery, thus enabling him to see clearly what had just happened more than twenty miles away.

Unfortunately, even the eyes of a hawk cannot penetrate the mist summoned by the pokeweed.

"She must have disguised herself in a different way."

This official was also very experienced and made the correct judgment in an instant.

He hesitated for a moment, then ordered, "Never mind that, report this matter. Say that members of the Black-Clad Guards left the pass through here. Note that you must specify that these Black-Clad Guards showed their Black-Clad Tokens!"

The person who holds the Black Robe Token is as if the King of Chu himself has arrived.

These border sorcerers naturally dared not obstruct the emperor's personal guards. Even if there were any strange or unusual circumstances surrounding the Black-Clad Guards, they would not be held responsible.

Chu Wu understood this principle and quickly nodded in agreement. He then turned around to write official documents and report the matter up the chain of command.

At the same time, Shang Lu, who had become a Confucian scholar, continued on his journey.

The swamps on both sides of the road are home to countless ferocious beasts that lurk prey on passersby. However, these beasts only dare to hide in the mud and spy on travelers, and dare not easily show themselves to hunt.

Because once they show themselves, death awaits them!

Halfway down the swamp, Shang Lu suddenly saw a ferocious beast, unable to suppress its desires, leap up from the dark swamp, attempting to devour people.

However, before this ugly beast could bite the travelers on the swamp, several whooshing sounds suddenly rang out.

"Swish swish swish——"

However, they were several crossbow bolts, each as thick as a child's arm, gleaming with a magical light!
These crossbow bolts were as fast as lightning, arriving in an instant and accurately hitting the ferocious beast that leaped out of the swamp. Moreover, their power was considerable, directly piercing through the beast's scales and leather. The witch runes engraved on the crossbow bolts also activated at this moment, transforming into several chains of witch energy that tightly bound the beast.

The ferocious beast struggled with all its might, but it couldn't break free at all. Instead, it was dragged by the chains of witch energy and flew rapidly towards Dongze Pass, which was dozens of miles away.

These man-eating beasts are also excellent materials in themselves.

Scales and bones can be used to make tools, flesh and blood can be used to refine elixirs, and even internal organs... are rare medicinal materials!

The states of Chu and Jiang established border posts here not only to guard against each other, but also to lure and capture the ferocious beasts in the Black Abyss Swamp by using travelers as bait.

Therefore, whenever a ferocious beast appeared, the border armies of the Chu and Jiang states would fight each other.

Like this moment.

Just as the ferocious beast was about to be dragged back to Dongze Pass by the Chu border troops, several crossbow bolts were quickly fired from the Jiang border outposts on the opposite side, hitting the beast as well.

Both sides had their eyes on the ferocious beast and neither was willing to give way.

After a brief stalemate, the ferocious beast was torn in two.

The border troops of Chu and Jiang each dragged back half of the ferocious beast's remains.

The crossbow bolts were activated with a spell, which contained the blood gushing from the beast's body, preventing it from being wasted.

"That's really well thought out."

Having witnessed the entire process, the pokeweed was secretly amazed.

It's safe to say that similar situations have played out countless times in this place, which is why both sides are so adept at it.

Withdrawing his gaze, Shang Lu continued on his journey.

He traveled at a brisk pace, much faster than the average traveler.

After traversing over a hundred miles of the Black Abyss Swamp, they arrived at the border town of Jiang Kingdom on the other side.

"Chu Ru?"

At the border checkpoint of Jiang Kingdom, the person in charge of verifying identities was not a wizard, but a Legalist monk.

Unlike the states of Ba and Chu, which revered witchcraft, the state of Jiang valued a diverse range of schools of thought, with practitioners from various sects and schools of thought.

In this border outpost, Shang Lu not only saw Legalist cultivators, but also cultivators from the Confucian, Yin-Yang, and Military schools.

"Yes," Shang Lu replied, bowing. He presented a Confucian scholar's identification document.

What brings you to my Jiang Kingdom?

"travel."

Shang Lu said in the tone of a Confucian scholar: "Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles. Hone yourself through travel and pass on your knowledge to the world."

"What classics are the Confucian scholars studying?" the Legalist monk asked again.

"The Secret of Righteous Qi".

As Shang Lu spoke these words, he silently recited the "Treatise on Righteousness" in his heart, which stirred up a surge of righteous energy.

The Legalist cultivators questioned him a few more times, and although they used truth-clarification spells, they were still unable to see through Shang Lu's clever words and sophistry.

He no longer doubted, stamped the pass on his identification, and said with a smile, "Then you really came to the right place. At the beginning of next month, someone will be deciphering the mystery of the ancient celestial tribulation at the Tai Mo Academy! It is said to involve the secret of transcending mortals to become gods..."

At this point, the Legalist cultivator sighed, full of regret: "It's a pity I have official duties to attend to, otherwise I would have liked to rush to the Tai Mo Academy to listen to this ancient secret. Maybe I could gain some insights and break through my cultivation level."

"Tai Mo Academy? Unraveling the mystery of the Heavenly Tribulation?" Shang Lu was taken aback upon hearing this.

He had heard of the reputation of Jiang Guotai Mo Xue Gong (Jiang Guotai Mo Academy), which was said to be a place where talented people from various schools of thought would be invited to preach and expound the Dharma, and that no one was restricted from listening.

I never expected that even the mystery of the Heavenly Tribulation would be explained by someone?
Shang Lu was secretly amazed and planned to contact Zi Shu and his group first to find out the situation before deciding whether to stay in Jiang State for a few more days to listen to the lectures before leaving.

He thought this to himself, but said aloud, "Thank you for telling me. I will definitely go and see if I have this opportunity."

After bidding farewell to the enthusiastic Legalist cultivator, Shang Lu crossed the border town checkpoint and officially entered the territory of the Jiang Kingdom, finally letting out a long sigh of relief.

Having left the State of Chu, they could finally escape the surveillance of the Chu shamans and try to make contact with Zi Shu and his hunting party.

However, it's not possible now. We need to travel a bit further into the territory of Jiang before we can completely shake off the surveillance of Chu Wu.

Two days later, after Shang Lu had traveled far enough away from the border between Jiang and Chu, he finally took out the Impermanence Token and sent a message to Zi Shu and his group:
"I have safely left Chu. How are you all doing?"

Shortly after the message was sent, Shang Lu received a reply.

"I knew it! You're a lucky guy, you'd be fine!"

This was a voice message from Zishu Xunshou, his tone excited. Shang Lu could even imagine the excitement he felt when he said those words.

"Junior brother, you're really alive? That's great! Haha, that's great!" It was Lü Yang's voice.

He was even more excited than the Rat on its hunt. In the message he sent, he not only said his own words, but also asked Uncle Huai and Black Cloud to say hello. Finally, he didn't forget to tell Shang Lu: "Uncle Huai and Black Cloud are both fine, so don't worry!"

Compared to the other two, Gongshu Ling's message was much calmer, directly telling Shang Lu the situation: "After we got separated from you, we were relentlessly pursued by the Chu Kingdom's Black Shamans. Everyone suffered considerable injuries, but fortunately, we all managed to escape Chu territory in the end..."

Gongshu Ling's words were simple, but Shang Lu understood the dangers and hardships they had faced on their escape from Chu. Unlike him, Zi Shu Xun Shou and his group had been targeted by Chu's Black-Clad Guards and Discipline Black Witches from the very beginning because they had sent the message!

They must have faced countless dangers and narrowly escaped death on their journey to break free.

Zishu Xunshou was right next to Gongshuling, so he naturally heard the voice message she sent to Shanglu and hurriedly sent a message back as well.

"It has indeed been a difficult journey, but thankfully we are now back in Pakistan, so you don't need to worry. You, however, are probably still in another country. Please be careful and try to get back as soon as possible!"

Shang Lu replied with "okay," and then asked about the alliance between Ba and Chu to jointly attack Deng.

“We’ve heard about this too. As soon as I returned to Ba Kingdom, I sent a message to Da Zhu to inquire about the situation, but Da Zhu didn’t say anything explicitly. He just told us to go back to Wushan first, and he would tell us the reason after we arrived in Wushan…”

The Rat, on his hunting expedition, briefly recounted what he knew to Shang Lu, saying, "Once we reach Wushan and find out the truth, we'll send you the message..."

Just as Shang Lu and Zi Shu Xun Shou were exchanging messages, several disciplined black witches who had been chasing after them all the way to the border between Chu and Deng in the north of Chu suddenly raised their eyebrows in unison.

The bone artifacts they wore began to hum at that moment.

One of the disciplined black wizards pulled a piece of animal skin from his robes, threw it on the ground, and it instantly transformed into a map.

The other disciplined black sorcerers made hand gestures and chanted incantations, and black wisps of energy shot out from the bone artifacts and landed on the animal skin map.

The black mist split into two dots, one large and one small, which landed in the territories of Ba Kingdom and Jiang Kingdom respectively.

Upon seeing the small black dot of Jiang Kingdom, the eyes of several Disciplined Black Witches burned with rage.

"The one impersonating the Black-Clad Guard was indeed a spy from the Kingdom of Ba!"

"This fellow really went to the Jiang Kingdom? Was what he told the shaman of Mizhu County the truth?!"

The few commandment-wielding black witches looked at each other in bewilderment; their cleverness had backfired.

"This fellow is incredibly cunning and incredibly audacious!"

(End of this chapter)