Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, but Thunderbolt Taoist Sect

When Xiao Cui suggested sending a dream to Imperial Censor Wang, Liu Qingyuan had already considered the possibility of sending dreams to other people. This method is considered a classic technique in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. The dead send dreams to their relatives, gods and ghosts send dreams to their benefactors, and enemies send dreams of curses. In short, if something cannot be resolved openly, it can be sent to someone through a dream.

It's true that Censor Wang is capable, but he's not so much a "troublemaker." There are many people more capable than him. The fact that he was impeached and dismissed from office means that there are people in the court who oppose him, and they have no chance of reinstating him.

The local magistrate has been committing crimes for so long without causing any trouble, and he can easily resolve the lawsuit with money, so he must have connections at higher levels. But Imperial Censor Wang probably can't resolve it perfectly.

But if the emperor is involved, the situation changes. Not only does the emperor know about it, but it's also revealed by a dream from a deity. There's absolutely no room for maneuver or reversal.

You asked why the two people going to the capital couldn't handle the matter together? Aren't Imperial Censor Wang and the Emperor both in the capital? They could just send a dream to each other.

First of all, neither Liu Qingyuan nor Zhaoshi Mingdeng possesses the skill of "dream transmission." I am currently Jianzi Xianji, and I follow the style of a swordsman. Zhaoshi Mingdeng's role in the Taoist sect is more like a healer. Dream transmission requires a mage character, and we also need to consider whether there will be any restrictions on the spells of both parties.

As for Xiao Cui, she is indeed a local native and knows the art of dream communication. However, while she can easily send a dream message to Imperial Censor Wang, sending one to the emperor would be more difficult.

Although they are called fox spirits, before they cultivate themselves and become immortals, there is not much difference between fox spirits and fox demons. The only difference is that their cultivation paths are slightly different. In most people's eyes, fox spirits are also in the category of demons.

In any setting featuring demons and gods, the emperor is always a special being. Some say he is protected by dragon energy, while others say he is the true Son of Heaven who suppresses demons. In short, demons cannot harm the emperor, and many cannot even enter the palace. Even if Xiao Cui wanted to visit the emperor in a dream, she could not enter the palace.

But Judge Lu is different. He is a judge of the underworld, a proper "official". He is not afraid of any dragon protecting him. It is easy for him to get close to the emperor and send him a dream.

Moreover, Liu Qingyuan had also considered that with Zhu Erdan's capture, given Lu Pan's ever-helpful nature, he would definitely take action upon learning of this. His purpose in coming to the Ten Kings Palace tonight was to see if the two sides had become acquainted, so as to carry out his subsequent plans.

Zhu Erdan was a well-known "fool" in the city. Those who associated with him were mostly just looking to amuse him. The Wang brothers and Zhang Hongjian were not bad-hearted people, so they naturally didn't go to Zhu Erdan with anyone else. They were just nodding acquaintances with him. Liu Qingyuan couldn't get any information about him from them.

So he came. Since Judge Lu and Zhu Erdan had become friends, rather than leaving it unattended and causing this judge, who had finally gained a friend, to do something impulsive, he might as well let him take advantage of the situation and bring Judge Lu over to help.

Sending Judge Lu to appear in the emperor's dream, regardless of whether the emperor believes it when he wakes up, the very image of Judge Lu appearing in the dream, coupled with the fact that what he says will be consistent with what the second Imperial Censor Wang reported, will surely make the emperor pay more attention.

"Okay, you can go and rest now."

Watching Lu Pan's figure disappear into the darkness, Liu Qingyuan knew that he had gone to the capital to appear in the emperor's dream. After finishing his business, he set off back to Huoran Realm to wait for good news.

When he returned in the middle of the night, he found Zhang Hongjian still in the courtyard, not in the room he had prepared for the other party to sleep in.

"It's so late, why isn't Young Master Zhang asleep yet?"

Zhang Hongjian was just an ordinary scholar; Liu Qingyuan never expected him to be so good at staying up all night.

"Master, that wanted notice..."

It turns out he was worried about being wanted by the police.

"Don't worry, no one saw you leave the village, and no one will come to arrest you."

When they went to pick up Zhang Hongjian, Liu Qingyuan and his men flew back in a flash. Their current appearance was too distinctive, and Zhang Hongjian was wanted by the authorities. If someone saw them enter the mountains, they would inevitably be harassed in the future.

“My friend has already gone to handle this case. According to you, the magistrate here has been wicked for many years, and it is time for him to pay the price.”

Seeing that the other person still seemed nervous and worried, Liu Qingyuan began to sigh.

"Young master, do you not trust me? Or do you find the Realm of Opening Up too simple? Alas, I..."

"no no……"

"Don't listen to his nonsense, Jianzi is good at playing tricks on others."

A voice interrupted Zhang Hongjian's panic. With a flash of white light, Zhao Shimingdeng, whom he had met before, appeared in the courtyard. The difference was that he was accompanied by a girl.

Zhang Hongjian had never seen this girl before. She was about sixteen years old and had a pretty and charming appearance. She didn't have the other two girls with overly outstanding features. Just by looking at her appearance, she was a beautiful girl.

But just by observing that the other person appeared in the courtyard in a flash, just like a guiding light, Zhang Hongjian knew that this girl was no ordinary person.

"Hey, I didn't play any tricks on anyone. I was just relieving the tense atmosphere."

Look, Zhang Hongjian isn't frowning anymore, is he?

"Come on, who doesn't know your nickname 'Full of Black Water' these days? Young Master Zhang, you'd better remember, you can't believe everything Jianzi says."

"Huo Qingyun trusts me a lot."

"You certainly know how to give examples."

Zhao Shiming smiled helplessly. Whether Zhang Hongjian understood or not was beyond his responsibility.

"Is the matter done?"

"Imperial Censor Wang has agreed to help, and the matter will be resolved soon."

"Rest assured, Immortal Master, there will be absolutely no problem!"

Xiao Cui patted her chest confidently and said that she had lived in the Imperial Censor Wang's house for two years, and she could guarantee his character. Since he had agreed, and this was another opportunity to help her get back on her feet, she was sure she would make it happen.

Since Xiao Cui had helped this time, Liu Qingyuan felt that she should give her a small gift. For cultivators, some pills to restore their vital energy would be appropriate. However, they were from two different cultivation systems, and he didn't know if the pills would be effective for Xiao Cui.

"Xiao Cui, do you want some candy?"

"?"

The question was rather abrupt, and Xiao Cui didn't react for a moment. Besides, it was the middle of the night, and they were in the mountains. Where could they possibly buy candy?

But if the other party asked that question, it couldn't possibly be just a casual inquiry.

"Immortal Master, where did you get this candy?"

To be honest, just looking at the other person's appearance, they don't seem like the type to casually bring candy.

"Gu Chen has it."

"Um... Immortal Master, I remember that Gu Chen was your sword, wasn't it?"

Because of this sentence, Xiao Cui's gaze fell on the sword hilt that was exposed behind the other party. It was clearly a long sword with a rather unique design. It was neither a person nor a sugar and oil shop, so where did the sugar come from?

“Jianzi is telling the truth this time.”

The lamp that illuminates the world explains to Xiao Cui.

"Gu Chen of the Sword has experienced many adventures. He not only has a sword spirit with his own consciousness, but he can also refine some simple pills and sugar pills on his own."

"Swords... can be used to refine elixirs..."

This time, even Xiao Cui, who is usually quite open to all sorts of things, was stumped. She had seen immortal swords with sword spirits, and she had also seen pill furnaces that could refine pills on their own without special control. The fox spirit community was huge, and she had even seen quite a few immortal pills thanks to some of her relatives.

But using a sword to refine pills and make sugar was something she had never seen or heard of before. Refining with a sword… how? Where? Did they skewer the herbs on the blade and roast them over a fire? No, that sounds like grilling…

Because of these few words, Xiao Cui's brain quickly went through several rounds of mental turmoil, and finally she declared that she could not solve the puzzle, as it was too far beyond her capabilities.

"When Gu Chen first learned this, I was also very surprised."

Liu Qingyuan took Gu Chen from behind, and the other party cooperated by emitting some white smoke. Without the cover, Xiao Cui discovered that there was a small hollow section at the hilt of Gu Chen, as if there was a mini space, from which the white smoke was coming out.

Upon discovering that Xiao Cui was observing Gu Chen, the swordsman generously planted Gu Chen in the ground to facilitate observation.

"Gu Chen's sword was once damaged. At that time, the enemy, the Asura King, was the Ancient Sword Venerable. Gu Chen's sword spirit took advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness and possessed the enemy's weapon. As a result, the damaged Gu Chen merged with the Ancient Sword Venerable. The sword god not only became more resilient, but also learned how to refine pills."

"Asura King..."

As she listened to the narration, Xiao Cui frowned slightly, the names of the enemies in the story bothering her.

It was actually an Asura King. She knew what an Asura was—one of the six realms of Buddhism, and also one of the eight guardian deities of the heavens and dragons. There was more than one Asura King in this race, but she didn't know which one was fighting against her.

But isn't Immortal Sword Master a Taoist cultivator? Why would he clash with the Asura King of Buddhism?

Because of the difference in information between the two parties, Xiao Cui did not realize that the Asura King Liu Qingyuan mentioned was not the same Asura King as the other one. Liu Qingyuan also did not know that Xiao Cui was so good at grasping the key points, directly leading to the real Asura King in Buddhism because of a single title.

But actually, the "Asura King" that Liu Qingyuan mentioned, who used the ancient sword Zunshi as his weapon, was Shou Wanjie, one of the Eight Legions of Heavenly Evil. One of them was talking about the front door of a door, and the other was thinking about the hip joint. They were completely wrong.

Xiao Cui didn't say anything, and the person explaining, seeing how serious she was, assumed she was studying the white smoke rising from the ancient dust, so he didn't pay attention and continued explaining.

“Look at this part of the sword hilt. This piece is called ‘Xi Tang Sword Cauldron.’ It’s a pill furnace that can absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to refine pills. As for sugar making… well, that’s just Gu Chen’s own hobby.”

"Absorbing spiritual energy...no medicinal herbs needed?!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Cui, who had been deep in thought, suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with shock.

What does it mean to refine pills using spiritual energy? It means you don't need any auxiliary medicinal materials; you directly condense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into pills. Isn't that like having your cultivation level directly converted into a powerful tonic? Countless people search high and low for rare and precious herbs for a single elixir, but this sword needs nothing; it can absorb spiritual energy and refine itself.

Wait a minute, pills are made by absorbing spiritual energy, so are sugar pills also made out of thin air? Are they also made using spiritual energy?

"It's not as exaggerated as you think."

Seeing the girl's pupils dilate in shock, Zhao Shimingdeng knew she might have exaggerated Gu Chen's alchemy skills, since they relied on spiritual energy for cultivation here.

"The pills that Gu Chen refines are mostly ordinary pills that restore true qi. They don't absorb much spiritual energy, so they can't be considered as creating something from nothing."

"So, do you want some candy? Or some pills?"

"want!"

They're all made with spiritual energy, so why not take them?

……

Liu Qingyuan only asked Judge Lu to send a message to the emperor in a dream, without specifying what he wanted to convey. He only asked the other party to explain the work done by the local magistrate so that the emperor could cooperate with Imperial Censor Wang.

No one knows what Judge Lu told him in his dream. The next day, when Imperial Censor Wang had prepared everything and was about to use his connections to deal with the matter, he was suddenly summoned to the palace by an imperial edict, which made him quite frightened.

You must understand that he was currently dismissed from office and staying at home. The fact that the emperor summoned him at this time meant that one of his political enemies felt that impeaching and dismissing him was not enough and had said something to the emperor, so now he was being summoned to be questioned.

Seeing that the task entrusted by the immortal in the dream had just begun, and that he was about to die before he could even be reinstated, Imperial Censor Wang dared not go, but he had no choice but to go because of the emperor's order.

When he entered the palace with trepidation and was secretly taken to the emperor's study, Wang Yushi was still wondering which wicked person would not let him go, and also pondering whether he had done anything wrong in the past that required such a secret summons.