Great Red Immortal Sect

Chapter 48 Wei Family
Tianshui is a place in the northwest, located west of Longshan Mountain.

As soon as he landed, Xu Xuan was a little surprised. This place was very far away from the sea, and to the northwest it was mostly Gobi desert, but this county was full of greenery and many plants.

"It's been a long time since I last saw the world. I never thought this area has been extended to Tianzhou."

Tian Tuo sighed a little and continued:
"This place originally belonged to Liangzhou in ancient times and was the ancestral home of the Dali Song clan. The first to prosper was the [Hanshui], known as the Jiangnan of Longshang. I never expected that it would support the [Lihuo] imperial clan."

Xu Xuan has completely transformed into a human body, but his face has changed a little, making it impossible to tell.

Coming up from a tributary of the Li River, we arrived in front of a huge city with the words "Chengji" written on it. The walls were made of continuous limestone with no cracks between the bricks. I think it was built by magic.

Further west, near the Qiang and Rong tribes, one often sees cultivators whose attire is unlike that of the Li people. However, they haven't caused any conflict, as most of them speak a common language. Even many of the other tribes have changed into Dali clothing, but their facial features still reveal some differences.

"This Tifeng Mountain is in Tianshui County. I wonder where it is?"

Xu Xuan walked in the city and found a tea stall to sit down. He received a message from his main body that nothing was wrong, so he wanted to take a closer look at Tianshui and get some news about this county.

"Although this family is a descendant of the Purple Mansion, this is the ancestral land of the Song family, so they naturally cannot act recklessly. Therefore, this Tifeng Mountain only occupies a sacred mountain next to Tianshui Lake."

Tiantuo said in a low voice that with Xu Xuan covering for him, he had no intention of coming to the place where Xu Xuan escaped.

"That family is quite miserable. The Purple Mansion can govern an entire county, but it's really frustrating here."

Xu Xuan looked at the people coming and going on the road and sighed a little, but Tian Tuo laughed strangely:
"Frustrated? How many immortals have fought tooth and nail to obtain even a single acre of sacred land beside Tianshui Lake? That lake was created from the heavens during the reign of Feng Yan. The [Hanshui] is a river suspended in the sky. This lake has gained true meaning and is full of mysteries."

"This is a blessed land, only a hair's breadth away from heaven, and you, a beggar, are taking pity on them."

Xu Xuan was speechless, so he had to change the subject and asked softly:

"According to the 'Mingze Secret Scroll', there was once a Dragon Lord [Renshui] in the Great Mingze, but he died. Meanwhile, there is a Dragon Lord [Hanshui] in the East China Sea. What's the difference between the two?"

Tian Tuo became interested and said in a somewhat ostentatious manner:

"This matter is extremely complicated. Back then, when the nine sons of the True Dragon split up, the power positions of [Ren Water], [Gui Water], and [Han Water] shifted, and they invaded and usurped each other."

"I can't explain the changes now, but the nine dragon sons have separated, but they are still relatively harmonious and there is no fighting. Unlike the Golden Crow, where brothers killed each other."

Xu Xuan felt something in his heart. He recalled the strange vision he saw in the Guanlu Hall. He told Tiantuo about the scene of the two thunder gods fighting each other and asked Tiantuo what he had to say.

The old demon seemed a little confused, and said hesitantly:

"[She Lei] being in power must be an old story of the Thunder Palace. I never saw anyone practicing this way when I was alive. You can take a look at the 'Zhen Yao Wen Ling Fa' and the 'Ze Lei Lu Long Jing'. Perhaps they can reveal something."

Xu Xuan was confused. He carefully compared the [Thunder Lake] and the [Jie Xin Pool], but found that the two immortal bases were extremely different. He didn't know why?
The immortal foundation cultivated through the "Art of Crossing the Fire Without Going Beyond" in the temple is called "Crossing the Fire Body", which is the lower level of "Heavenly Flame" in the "Heavenly Fire Eternal Light Sutra", but its magical functions are much less.

However, the nature of the two Zhenlei techniques has changed greatly, and it seems that they have not evolved at the same time.

Tian Tuo continued to explain:
"Didn't Lei Gui tell you that? Communities perished when gods struck them. In ancient times, this [Community Thunder] controlled kings, exiled immortals, carried out punishments on behalf of heaven, and was in charge of thunder disasters.

"Now it's not obvious, even the thunder tribulation is not painful at all. This [Tribulation Heart Pool] of [Zhen Lei] might have come from the demise of [She Lei]."

Xu Xuan understood that [Thunder] was a sign of harmony between yin and yang in heaven and earth, and the renewal of all things, and it was not a punishment from heaven. Fortunately, he did not use this [Pool of Tribulation] to build his immortal foundation, otherwise he would have been on a dead end.

"The path of cultivation is truly filled with pitfalls. One wrong move could lead to eternal damnation."

Xu Xuan sighed, what Tiantuo said casually was probably far better than the thousands of classics in the sect's Sutra Library. This was the benefit brought by Zifu's vision.

"Hey, your 'Ze Lei Lu Long Jing' contains several secret techniques. Have you read it?"

Tiantuo remembered this and hurriedly reminded Xu Xuan.

Xu Xuan naturally read it first. This "Zelei Lulong Sutra" contains two fifth-grade secret techniques and one fourth-grade secret technique.

The fifth-grade [Jiangze Tenglong Technique] focuses on transforming the surrounding world into a lake of thunder, using it as an extension of the physical body. One can move around in this lake of thunder at will, and can even use any drop of thunder liquid to fight the enemy.

The fourth-grade [Heavenly Drum Technique] is not a method of killing or injuring, but it can transform into a heavenly drum, ringing it with great force, shaking the opponent's energy and making it blocked.

As for the last fifth-grade secret technique, it requires building a foundation and having life and death before it can be practiced. It is called [Thunder Lake Transformation into a Holy Body].

This fifth-grade secret technique requires the search for foundation-building dragon energy, and then adds a foundation-building thunder of [Thunder] to achieve the [Zelong Body].

This secret technique can be practiced all the way to the Purple Mansion level, but the corresponding dragon energy and thunder must be at the Purple Mansion level as well, in order to achieve a Dharma body, which is the [Thunder Lake Holy Body].

Xu Xuan had seen the Dharma body of Bei Liao Zi Fu. It was iron-gray in color, with a ferocious beast head. Whenever he attacked, the void would shake. He even withstood the spiritual weapon of Ling Ming Zhenren. He was truly amazing.

Xu Xuan was still thinking about these things when he suddenly felt a strange movement. The pure energy accumulated in his body over the years seemed to have signs of transformation, and he felt it moving to the west.

Tian Tuo's voice became serious, and he said in a deep voice:
"It's in the direction of Tianshui Lake."

The clear air quickly took shape and turned into a four-character ancient seal script in official yellow, which was the four characters "羵羊昀生".

At the same time, several images flashed through Xu Xuan's mind. It was a woman carrying a young child, running away, being kidnapped by a group of people, and walking towards the depths of a desert.

This child was born with a strange appearance. His pupils were a golden yellow color and there were two small curved horns on the top of his head.

Xu Xuan did not dare to delay and set off immediately, walking towards Tianshui Lake, feeling excited.

After many years, the seal characters finally appeared again. Perhaps this time, the [Sword Rising from the Abyss] can be completely lit up, and the sword intent is within sight.

Chengji City is far away from Tianshui Lake. Xu Xuan left the city, rode the wind, and crossed mountains and rivers all the way until he finally arrived at the area near Tianshui Lake.

Of course, no one is allowed to enter the area around Tianshui Lake. Only a few immortal sects allowed by the Song family of Dali can practice here. Xu Xuan did not even think of entering. The child should be in the desert further west, or even out of Tianshui County.

After listening to Xu Xuan's description of the child's appearance, Tian Tuo was silent for a moment, and only now spoke:
"Actually, I think I know the origin of that little boy."

Xu Xuan was startled and said hurriedly:

"You know, why don't you tell me now? This is a matter that concerns our lives and ours."

Tian Tuo said in a low voice with an awkward tone:
"Do you still remember how you got the [Earth Mother's Mercy Pearl]?"

Xu Xuan then recalled what he had seen in the Ghost Market. A certain old Taoist master who cultivated earth virtue was killed by Tiantuo, his family members fled, and the spiritual objects were passed on to Chiyun. "Could it be related to you? What was the name of that family, the Wei family?"

Xu Xuan's tone was a little doubtful and he was still unsure, but Tian Tuo said awkwardly:
"That's right. This family practices [Yuntu]. The goat is a spirit of earth, and it's the symbol of [Yuntu]. I escaped from the Demon Refining Tower. The old man from the Wei family had lost his mind and was nearing the end of his life. He wanted to capture me to refine the elixir, but I killed him in a fit of rage."

"[Yuntu] This is really unlucky. The blood and energy of the fallen old man from the Wei family all turned into a monster and disappeared into the ground. I didn't get any of it."

As he spoke, the old demon began to smack his lips with a resentful tone.

"Where is this Demon Refining Tower? How did you escape?"

Xu Xuan thought of this key point and became a little worried, so he asked Tiantuo.

"The Demon Refining Tower is located at the foot of Tianshui Lake. It belongs to the Dali Song family and is guarded by the Purple Mansion by the lake in turn."

"I was only on the eighth floor. The ninth floor exploded, and I took the opportunity to escape. A True Lord even showed up, and those immortals were busy chasing after the big one, so they missed me, the small one."

"big?"

Tiantuo was at the peak of the Purple Mansion during his lifetime, and even tried to achieve the Golden Elixir. Could the big thing he mentioned be this?
Xu Xuan told the old demon to shut up immediately. These things were not to be discussed casually. The golden elixir had already merged with the Tao. Every move it made was a sign of the orthodoxy of the Tao. Chanting the name and observing the image would have a response.

"The Wei family is probably dead now. That child must be the blood of the Wei family, but he has been kidnapped. How can we save him?"

"You continue to go west. The Wei family's territory was there in the past. Perhaps there is some information there."

Tiantuo said in a low voice. As he approached Tianshui Lake, he was still a little panicked and couldn't help but reduce his movements.

Xu Xuan looked around for a while and saw a vast and boundless treasure lake in the distance. The water was a dark blue, somewhat similar to sea water, but there seemed to be a large formation there, so he couldn't see clearly.

"This is the blessed land, where the Dali Song family made their fortune."

Xu Xuan sighed. Although it was the ancestral land of the imperial clan and there was even a demon-refining tower, there were still many mortals living and working in peace and contentment around Tianshui. Xu Xuan deliberately asked a few people, but no one noticed the changes in Tianshui Lake before.

Most people have no memory of this, and even when the lake is mentioned, they become dazed, as if there is some magical power covering it up.

Continuing westward, we finally arrived at the territory of the Wei family. This place is located on the border of Tianshui, close to a desert. The spiritual energy is not strong, and all we see is gray and yellow, with little green.

This area seemed to have suffered a great disaster. The earth's veins had shifted, the houses in the market town had collapsed and were dilapidated, with few people around.

Xu Xuan inquired for a long time before he learned that there had been an earthquake here, the spiritual vein had been broken, the old immortal of the Wei family had passed away, and now the Ai family was temporarily in charge of this place.

"Let's go and see what this place is like."

Xu Xuan randomly asked a wandering cultivator and learned that the area was already in ruins, with no family looking down on it. The Ai family's foundation must have perished during the tragedies in the Demon Refining Tower. Now, only one elder, a sixth-level Qi Refiner, remained in the ruins.

Along the ruins, you can see many ordinary people, mostly women, children and the elderly, living in tents.

Xu Xuan felt a little emotional and asked an old man, only to learn that the mortals here were originally farmers who owned some land. However, there was a great disaster, resulting in countless casualties. Now the laborers have fled the famine and gone to work as helpers, and those who are left who can't walk are waiting to die here.

Xu Xuan couldn't bear it, so he took some food that mortals could use from the mustard seeds and distributed some yellow and white things. Many women and children gathered around him, kowtowed to him repeatedly, and even followed him closely. Xu Xuan had no choice but to fly away.

"You immortals are truly hypocritical. The changes in this land are caused by the conflict between immortals and demons. Even your Dachiguan doesn't still regard mortals as your private property?"

Tiantuo's tone was somewhat sarcastic, which made Xu Xuan feel annoyed.

"I saved these mortals only because I felt uncomfortable seeing them. I'm a hypocrite, so what?"

Xu Xuan was faintly angry, which made Tiantuo silent and stop talking.

After a while, they finally arrived at the Ai family's mansion. Xu Xuan was now wearing a black robe and his appearance had changed. He looked rough and had the demeanor of a casual cultivator.

The Ai family didn't even have a formation set up, so their mansion must have been newly built. However, from a mortal's perspective, it was considered luxurious and seemed to be still under expansion, with a lot of laborers being mobilized to work on it.

Xu Xuan did not conceal his aura, and the powerful cultivation of the seventh level of Qi Refining emanated. Soon the door of the mansion opened, and an old cultivator walked out. He was at the sixth level of Qi Refining, with white hair and beard, and dressed in brocade clothes.

"My name is Ai Chenghui. May I ask what brings this fellow Daoist to my Ai family?"

The old cultivator spoke respectfully, but his expression was somewhat suspicious. It was obvious that he had no idea where this casual cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Refining came from.

"My name is Du Xin. I heard that this place was once under the rule of the Wei family and the ancestral home of the Purple Mansion Immortal Clan. I'm looking for a spiritual object called [Yun Tu] to build my foundation, so I've come to ask. If you have any information, I'll definitely reward you."

Ai Chenghui obviously didn't want to have anything to do with Xu Xuan, but given the other party's level of cultivation, he had no choice but to invite him in.

Xu Xuan was led into the mansion and into a hall. Ai Chenghui asked Xu Xuan to sit down, served him tea, and said in a pleading tone:

"My fellow Daoist, my family only worked under the Wei family. We have no foundation in our family. The Purple Mansion Immortal Clan has collapsed. How could our family have any information about these spiritual objects?"

Ai Chenghui seemed to be begging for mercy, but he seemed to be confident and was not on guard against Xu Xuan.

"Fellow Daoist, you're joking. The Ai family has been operating here for a long time, so we have some understanding of it, but we don't have any spiritual objects. Do you have any news about the direct descendants of the Wei family?"

As soon as Xu Xuan said this, Ai Chenghui was slightly stunned, but he quickly concealed it and said with a smile:

"Everyone wants to take the direct descendants of the Wei family away. How can my small clan have any information about them?"

Ai Chenghui was like an old fox, speaking without making a single mistake, which blocked Xu Xuan's way.

At this time, Tian Tuo screamed strangely, and shouted in Xu Xuan's heart:

"There's something wrong with this old guy. Something's not right underneath his house."

Just as Xu Xuan was looking at the ground paved with bluestone bricks with a puzzled look on his face, he saw the ground crack open, and some kind of creature covered in mud crawled out and pounced on Xu Xuan.

A foul wind blew, and Ai Chenghui had already left the hall, sneering and saying:

"You've figured it out. You're quite capable."

"You're unlucky. If you want to find the remnants of the Wei family, just feed them to me, the [Heart-Eating Puppet]."

(End of this chapter)