Daoqi Huangcheng

Chapter 55. The Three Arrivals
Good times are always short-lived. Song Chen stayed at the He family mansion for two days. During this time, he went to the Imperial City Temple to retrieve four spirit stones. He also chatted with Han Lin, the guard, expressing his gratitude for the support Han Lin's family had given to his own.

Before parting, he specifically instructed the Pei sisters that if anyone invited them, they should find a suitable reason, but in any case, they should not go to welcome General Que's victorious return.

Jinxia Mountain Tiankuizi's words still echoed in his ears, but he couldn't judge their meaning due to a lack of information.

Was it that they didn't want him to remain in the Que family's camp, or that the Five Elements Sect already knew there was danger but didn't want to alert them? Or perhaps, the Yellow Springs in the northern suburbs couldn't afford any mistakes and needed him to stay?

Or perhaps both?

Although the Pei sisters could gather some bits and pieces of information for him on a regular basis, preventing him from becoming completely oblivious to what was happening outside, their level of expertise was ultimately limited. Even with all their efforts, they could not obtain any more secretive information.

He naturally couldn't deduce any further.

Although he has eyes, he is still blind.

He returned to the Yellow Springs Land in the northern suburbs, which was not far from Golden Peach Mountain.

Outside the wooden house, wandering ghosts dragged long gray shadows as they whistled past.

He brewed a pot of hot tea, pushed open the wooden window, and saw a secluded bamboo grove outside.

He took out a book and began to read it.

Xiao Meng rushed over in a hurry. When she saw him, she asked, "Are you a member of the Que family? Why aren't you going to greet General Que?"

Song Chen said, "No, I am Master's person."

Xiao Meng peeked out again and asked, "What book are you reading?"

She wouldn't normally ask questions, but she suddenly realized that Song Chen wasn't reading the same few cultivation manuals she was familiar with, which sparked her curiosity.

Song Chen spread it out.

Xiao Meng leaned closer to look, then exclaimed in surprise, "The 'Hanyuan Xuanshu'? Isn't this a book for passing exams and becoming an official? You're not cultivating anymore, you want to become an official?"

Song Chen sighed and said, "Master is clearly extraordinary. How can I not be cultured while being by his side? I have had a difficult life since childhood. Now that I have finally found a stable environment, I naturally want to improve my cultural level in my spare time."

Xiao Meng tilted her head, stared at him for a long time, stunned and speechless. Although she couldn't understand the meaning of "abstract", she saw a trace of "abstract" in her junior brother. Finally, she said "Oh" and added, "The Yellow Springs riots have been serious lately. I have to go. You can take your time to read it."

She walked out the door, then suddenly turned back, peeking half her body out from behind the door, and said, "These books are useless; they're only for people who have no ability. You should hurry up and start cultivating."

Song Chen nodded, stood up and bowed respectfully, then reached into his storage bag and pulled out a small notebook to start taking notes.

The dream says: "The Book of Hanyuan Xuanshu is useless; it is only read by mediocre people."

Two days later.
"The wise foresee dangers before they arise, and the virtuous guard against them before they occur. If one is mindful of danger in times of peace, misfortune will not befall one; if one prepares for a rainy day, trouble will not arise; if one does not build a crumbling wall, one can remain safe. This is an eternal truth."

After finishing his cultivation and maintaining the Yellow Springs Land, Song Chen began reading "The Profound Pivot of the Hanyuan Garden".

He found this sentence in a certain passage and read it quietly.

Heavy snow today.

The underworld was especially in turmoil.

Xiaomeng was so busy she was practically headless and had no idea where she was.

He closed the window and brewed some tea.

The aroma of tea wafted gently, but it dissipated very quickly.

it's too cold.

It was a chilling, bone-deep cold.

This is not a place for drinking tea.

While it was still warm, Song Chen poured himself a cup, took a sip, and then his expression became serious, and his mind became exceptionally calm.

He suddenly heard a faint sound of wings breaking through the air, without any fluctuation of spiritual energy, just like an ordinary large bird flying by.

For cultivators, the most secretive method is to not use spiritual energy.

thump.
A piercing, strange knock on the door shattered the silence of the snowy night.

Thump, thump!
Then there were two more knocks, and the knocking became more urgent.

A dark shadow could be vaguely seen through the crack in the door, along with a puddle of wet water. Song Chen glanced at the water and the shadow.

A few months ago, he might not have been able to see anything clearly, but now, as someone who has cultivated the Qi Gathering Realm of the Yellow Springs Scripture to perfection along with his supernatural abilities, he can see the shadowy figure with crystal clarity.

This is a white demon.

To be precise, it's a weaker type of White Demon, capable of creating a temporary ghost realm using the reflection of the Yellow Springs, but unable to give this ghost realm any power beyond "ghost wall," just like the hanged ghost from last time.

Judging from these water stains, they most likely refer to drowned ghosts, right?
This time, Song Chen did not call out to Senior Sister Meng again, because when the ghost realm was accompanied by the sound of wings tearing through the air, he already knew that today was probably a fight to the death.

He hurriedly mounted his sword, transforming into a streak of light that "whooshed" out of the window.

Outside the window, murky water flowed everywhere, and a disheveled demon rushed toward him with the current. Beneath the demon was an old crane standing squinting inside a transparent air shield.

Who else could this old crane be but Crane Lao?

"Boy, enough with the nonsense today. Hand over the 'Yellow Springs Scripture,' and I'll save you," Elder He said coldly. "Otherwise, I'll risk losing the 'Yellow Springs Scripture' to make sure you die in an accident. It's Bai Wang who will kill you, not me!"

Song Chen wielded his spirit sword, weaving and circling, desperately trying to evade the drowned ghost's pursuit. However, the difference in their cultivation levels was too great; if the drowned ghost hadn't been devoid of intelligence, he would have been caught long ago. Even so, given more time, he would inevitably be captured.

Old Crane said sternly, "Today, the Dream Mirror was led to a very far place by Crane White, and today that old monster from beyond the heavens has also gone to another place. Today, no one can save you. I have finally waited for another opportunity."

Hand over the "Yellow Springs Scripture" now! Otherwise, I'll just wait until you're dead and then search your soul and body!

If I still can't find the "Yellow Springs Sutra" because of this, then so be it! I'll accept it!

Song Chen hurriedly said, "I am willing to accept Wuxiayu!"

Old Crane sneered, "Too late!"

Song Chen said, "You never intended to give me the Flawless Feather; you were just trying to trick me!"

Old Crane's face revealed a sly, almost human-like smile: "So what if you know? What can you do?"

Song Chen asked in a panic, "Then how do I know if you're still lying to me today?"

Old Crane laughed and said, "Do you have a choice?"

Its eyes gleamed with a fierce, cruel light.

There was also a light in Song Chen's eyes, but it was a hidden coldness.

He has completed the final step of verification: this old guy clearly doesn't know about the huge pitfall of "Flawless Feather".
As expected of the ancestor, Crane Ancestor, if he wanted to cheat people, he cheated his descendants first.

Or perhaps, from the very beginning, Crane Ancestor never intended for the Yellow Springs Scripture to fall into the hands of outsiders. Its original plan was for one of its own descendants to be blessed with good fortune. That descendant would obtain the Yellow Springs Scripture and naturally acquire the "Flawless Feather." Afterward, the descendant would be influenced by that trace of the power of the illusory realm, lose their mind, and frantically search for it until they successfully helped it return to life.

Thoughts flowed through my mind, and the verification was successful.

Without further hesitation, Song Chen flipped his hand and pulled out the chilling black jade slip containing the "Yellow Springs Scripture" from behind his back.

The moment he grasped the jade slip, the drowned ghost chasing him trembled and suddenly slowed down.

Song Chen shouted, "Come save me! Otherwise, I'll destroy it!"

Old Crane's eyes widened instantly.

Until it was no longer aware that a subtle change had occurred in the ghost realm of the drowned ghost just moments before.

An even larger ghostly realm silently enveloped the outside.

The ghost realm of the drowned ghost is ineffective because it is in a low position.

Instead, another White Demon Realm appeared.

Song Chen's Ghost Domain.

【Stagnation Soul Gap】.

The Yellow Springs reflect objects, and the gaps allow the souls of the living to enter. Those who enter sink deep without their spirits being aware, like a blind person walking in an abyss, where, apart from thunder, they hear no sound of water.

How could Elder He have noticed such a subtle change?

Old Crane laughed and said, "Destroy the Yellow Springs Scripture? I doubt you can do that! I can take it back after you die, it's the same."

(End of this chapter)