Free Web NovelEnter Taoyuanli Scenic Area from the back door, and along the sightseeing boardwalk built around the mountain, you can see the Taoyuan Gorge stretching for over a hundred kilometers.
In the deep winter midnight, all sounds were hushed, under the lead-grey sky, the gorge was vast and desolate, stark and withered. In the cold wind, snowflakes like bewitching pure white butterflies quietly fell between the pines and cypresses.
As if unafraid of the wind and snow, Ju Meng walked gracefully along the winding boardwalk. Her delicate back in the snow-covered mountains exuded a confidence that said "three thousand flowers in the mountains are not as vibrant as one of us".
Walking along the winding boardwalk, for about ten minutes.
Where the path turned, two towering peaks piercing the clouds abruptly entered sight. The wide gorge extended near the two mountains and suddenly narrowed.
In the hazy light of the wind and snow, looking from afar, the outlines of the two mountains looked like two figures intimately leaning against each other.
According to legend, these two mountains are the projections of the stars Altair and Vega from the heavens onto the earth.
If couples come here hand in hand and are lucky enough to see the spectacular sight of a "Magpie Bridge spanning" between the two peaks, they will receive the mountain god's blessing, grow old together, and be happy for life.
However...
The above legend is purely made up. If there are any similarities, the final interpretation right belongs to Ju Meng.
Therefore, there is no projection of Altair and Vega here, couples coming here will not receive the mountain god's blessing, and even the two mountains leaning against each other were originally one.
Only because it blocked the front of the real Taoyuan, affecting lighting, resulting in poor feng shui, and guided by the advanced thinking of "to get rich, build roads first", Ju Meng split a gap in it with a single palm strike.
The grand sight of the Magpie Bridge spanning is real, but whether you can see it and what shape it takes completely depends on Ju Meng's mood and the amount of the scenic area's sales dividend for the month.
Honestly, even Ju Meng herself didn't expect that the legend she casually made up could turn the gorge, which was heavily plagued by urban legend, into a tourist destination for couples to pray for love.
That's right, Taoyuan Gorge was once a place of great ill fortune in the distant past.
It not only had steep mountain walls with rocks protruding like dog teeth, terrain so narrow that only one person could pass at the narrowest point, but also various terrifying legends.
Since the Tang Dynasty, local county annals have often recorded instances of ghost soldiers passing through this place. Even now, during the chaotic years of the Republic of China, there are still stories circulating among the people about refugees encountering ghosts in the gorge while fleeing.
The scenery in this ghostly place is indeed quite strange and beautiful, but praying towards a "forcibly separated" mountain, hoping to seek blessings for love, is probably impossible. Curses might be more reliable.
However...
Who's to blame for so many young people today having severe "love-struck brains"? As soon as the word "love" is mentioned, their hormones immediately accelerate secretion.
Thank you to the sugar daddies for your long-term strong support.
Next spring, I will definitely put on a big show for you, making the Magpies fly into the character "love" for a while, then "affection" for a while, and then "have a son early" and "mother and child safe".
Ju Meng grumbled inwardly, lightly tapped the ground with her toe, soared into the air, stepped a few times in mid-air, and transformed into an exceptionally beautiful Magpie, flying towards the depths of the gap between the two mountains.
----
In the hinterland of Taoyuan, a grand hall stood in a giant cave.
The structure of the hall had no upturned eaves or bracket sets, nor was it made of gold or jade, but its scale was magnificent. The simple structure of huge stones, carved with ancient murals, possessed a naturally majestic aura.
Standing within it, the dim light and deep, vast space gave one a sense of awe, or even fearful oppression.
This grand hall everywhere revealed the terrifying perseverance of ancient people, born from their devout belief in deities, far beyond what modern people can match.
Walking deeper into the hall, the terrain suddenly rose. Above a full thousand stone steps, a large circular platform was surrounded by one hundred and eight bronze pillars. Cast upon them was a giant scroll-like relief, silently narrating the story of Taoyuan's ancestors who traveled thousands of miles to find their deity.
In the center of the large platform was a pool of water. Two large trees rose from the depths of the pool, piercing the surface, their thick branches tightly entwined as if merged into one.
Just like the legendary divine fuso tree.
"Records of the Ten Continents within the Seas" states: "Trees are born in pairs from the same root, leaning on each other, hence the name fuso."
They seemed to be dead.
The withered branches were covered in dense cracks, without leaves, only some decaying vines hanging into the pool. Even the wind wandering around them was a lifeless grey-black color.
However, they were indeed "alive".
On those thick dry branches, vines the color of decaying flesh pulsed rhythmically as if breathing.
The branches, like messy limbs, or like hands, or like feet, or like torsos, were twisted and strange, intertwined to form a humanoid outline.
On the chest of that humanoid outline, a distorted tumor also grew. Every long while, it would subtly twitch like a beating heart, bursting forth with brilliant light like lava from the cracks.
Silence.
Even though the surrounding rock walls were filled with Magpie nests, and tens of thousands of birds gathered here, not a single sound was made.
They all tilted their fluffy heads, staring with small, bean-like eyes, silently watching the graceful figure on the large platform.
Ju Meng stood before the pool, her brows slightly furrowed, her eyes tightly closed, and her feet surrounded by various precious Alchemy materials.
As she softly chanted a few indistinct incantations, a vibrant green light instantly rose around her. The Alchemy materials at her feet flew into the light, and with a series of soft sounds, quickly became transparent, radiating a pure and dazzling light.
Then, Ju Meng suddenly opened her eyes. Electric light seemed to flash through her peacock-like glass eyes. Her long hair and skirt were whipped by the sudden strong Spiritual Energy fluctuations, fluttering wildly.
A giant phantom rose from behind her, like countless vines, waving and intertwining into the phantom of a giant tree.
The giant tree, which only existed in myths, blotted out the sky and covered the earth, blooming with vibrant peach blossoms. It seemed to stand in a distant time and space, with humans, beasts, and urban legend kneeling and praying beneath it, tiny as ants.
In an instant, one hundred and eight streams of light and phantoms shot out from the phantom towards the one hundred and eight bronze pillars around.
Consequently, the bronze pillars trembled, emitting a vibrating, solemn hum like the striking of bronze bells, spreading layers of emerald green ripples in the air.
"Dong—!"
On the mountain wall, all the Magpies began to chirp, as if offering praise to their queen.
Finally, those melodious chirps actually turned into human speech.
Old people, children, men and women, were all shouting the same sentence.
"In the month of early spring, its deity is Jumang, and so it is for the remaining spring months. The sacred deity succeeds heaven and establishes the ultimate, ruling the world with the title of Wood Virtue, having merits for the people."
Amidst the shouting, Ju Meng concentrated all her attention, multitasking, and almost simultaneously began drawing complex incantations on the one hundred and eight bronze pillars.
Each time an incantation was completed, the bronze pillar would tremble violently, spreading ripples that diffused to the giant tree in the center of the platform, causing the humanoid outline to convulse violently.
Just then, a burst of fire suddenly erupted from the mountain wall over there. Thousands of Magpies flapped their wings and rose, their feathers burning, transforming into Cranes. Accompanied by bursts of harsh screeches, they flew directly towards Ju Meng's back.
However, it was just a flick of a finger.
A killing intent capable of slaying deities descended from the sky!
A figure emerged surrounded by Cranes, and towards Ju Meng's back, sent forth the blade in his hand.
It was a rusty fruit knife, as if salvaged from a garbage heap. The blade was already blunt, seemingly unable to harm anyone, yet it carried astonishing Spiritual Energy fluctuations.
When the blade was less than a palm's distance from Ju Meng's back, a dazzling emerald green light burst forth from within her body.
A deafening roar, as if metal clashed against metal, sounded, setting teeth on edge. The fruit knife was blocked.
Sensing the attack that nearly broke through her defense, Ju Meng was startled. She interrupted the ritual to reinforce the barrier, turned sharply, and saw a figure surrounded by crows and enveloped in flames.
Seeing her turn around, that person said fiercely, "Usurper, do you still remember me?"
Ju Meng's brows furrowed into a knot. She tilted her head, "Damn it, who♦ are you?"
"Crow Slave."
"Who?"
Crow Slave, "..."
After a half-minute long stare, Ju Meng shrugged, "Sorry, I really don't remember. After all, I've offended so many people. Who... do you think you are?!"
Crow Slave was silent, the firelight around him suddenly intensified. He gripped the fruit knife in his hand tightly, lunged forward, and sent the blade in his hand towards Ju Meng's chest.
The next moment, raging firelight enveloped the entire cave, like a miniature scorching sun within the cave, leaving only a brilliant, dazzling light before their eyes.
In the light, Ju Meng heard the person who called himself Crow Slave shout, "What are you still waiting for? Don't forget your promise!"
As his voice fell, two powerful Spiritual Energy fluctuations emerged from all directions, heading straight towards Ju Meng.
In an instant, the collision of Spiritual Energy fluctuations produced hundreds of explosions per second. The bronze pillars, the grand hall, and even the entire cave vibrated violently. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
"Puff—!"
Amidst the chaos and noise, there was a muffled sound of flesh and blood being torn apart.
As if sensing something, countless Magpies shrieked in terror, flapped their wings and rose, flying towards Ju Meng, but were intercepted by Cranes that suddenly appeared from the flock of birds, engaging in a chaotic fight.
Under the shroud of a blinding light, black feathers, like snowflakes, fluttered down from mid-air.
When the light finally faded, on the platform covered with Magpie corpses, Ju Meng was no longer there. Only a figure enveloped in flames remained, along with a man with a scarred face and a hunched back, and another man with a bitter expression, fiddling with a dried corpse.
"Damn it, she got away!" the man with the scarred face cursed in a low voice.
The figure enveloped in flames glanced at him from the corner of his eye and said calmly, "It's fine. As long as my master returns, she won't be able to stir up any trouble."
As he spoke, he kicked away the dying Magpie at his feet, walked towards the large tree in the center of the platform, knelt down on one knee before it, bowed his head, and murmured, "Cuan Yang, I am back."
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----
The bed was ruined, so Lu Yibei, left with no choice, finally fell asleep on the sofa.
As her consciousness sank as if into water, after a moment, she opened her eyes and saw the familiar yet somewhat weathered, and in that weathered look, a hint of loneliness, side profile at the edge of the rooftop.
Despite having a delicate and refined face, he looked like a lonely old man.
"Ancestor, I'm here! Long time no see!" Lu Yibei called out to Qingji.
Qingji glanced at Lu Yibei from the corner of his eye, his chin slightly raised, letting out a cold snort.
"Hmph—!"
"Uh..." Lu Yibei was stunned for a moment, walked forward, and put a hand on Qingji's shoulder, "Ancestor, don't be angry! Haven't I been a bit busy lately and haven't had time to greet you?"
"Hmph—!"
Qingji snorted coldly again, pulled away from Lu Yibei's hand, and turned his face away.
Out of sight, out of mind. It was best not to look at her.
"This..." Lu Yibei opened her mouth, walked in front of Qingji, and continued, "Ancestor, Ancestor, I didn't come empty-handed this time. I brought you a gift."
As the saying goes, you can't blame someone for giving too many gifts.
Hearing that Lu Yibei had brought him a gift, Qingji's eyes lit up, and he was as excited as a child, "Oh? What gift? Quick, take it out and let me see!"
"Please wait a moment! Let me see how to take it out."
Lu Yibei said, releasing the destructive aura she had been barely suppressing with Spiritual Energy. In an instant, like a primeval beast released from long years of captivity, a surging Power rose from her body, violently tearing at every inch of her flesh and blood.
Enduring the intense pain, she concentrated her mind, wrapped the Power with Spiritual Energy, and slowly sent it out of her body.
The next moment, she exploded.
"Boom—!"
Qingji slowly raised his hand and wiped the blood spatters from his face, momentarily speechless.
Didn't you say you brought me a gift?
Why are you causing trouble as soon as you arrive?
Could it be that this annoying girl's gift is a self-detonation performance?
While Qingji was muttering to himself, Lu Yibei's figure reappeared on the rooftop, muttering as she walked towards him, "Ancestor, don't worry, this gift is a bit difficult to take out. Please give me a little more time."
As soon as she finished speaking, her upper body disappeared with a muffled sound.
Qingji, "???"
Although this girl hasn't visited me lately, which made me a bit angry, if she wants to apologize this way, well...
"Boom—!"
As Qingji was thinking, Lu Yibei exploded beside him again.
Just as Embroidery Ball said, conquering the Power containing the Hundred-Armed Giant's Power would definitely be an extremely difficult task. Even a tiny mistake during the attempt to control it would lead to painful consequences.
As time went on, after her body had been blown into R-rated shapes over a hundred times, Lu Yibei finally succeeded in sending that Power to the palm of her left hand.
Feeling the terrifying Power in her palm that could escape her control at any moment, she hurriedly approached the already numb Qingji, excitedly saying, "Ancestor, quick, quick, the gift is out."
"Oh..." Qingji responded weakly and extended a hand towards her.
Seeing this, Lu Yibei grabbed Qingji's hand, and then Qingji looked at Lu Yibei with a face full of horror.
He opened his mouth to say something, but the next moment his body convulsed violently as if electrocuted, and the flesh beneath his skin bulged, as if something was about to break out of his body.
Then, he exploded along with Lu Yibei.
Unlike the pain of being stabbed to death with a sword when practicing sword with Lu Yibei, the pain of having his liver and intestines torn apart, his flesh and blood turning into dust, and his soul seemingly disintegrating, gave Qingji a completely new and exhilarating experience he had never had before.
----
Ten minutes later.
On the dilapidated rooftop.
Lu Yibei was kneeling on the ground, holding her ears with both hands. Qingji stood behind her, holding Lingtai Pure Karma, his face gloomy.
"You've improved a lot in a month, haven't you? Torturing your own Ancestor? What do you call this behavior? And you told me it was a gift? Hmph!"
"Ancestor, I didn't, I actually wanted to..."
"Didn't what! Still want to argue?" Qingji interrupted sharply, "As a girl, you don't learn anything good all day. You're useless at everything else, but you're number one at causing trouble. Stick out your hands!"
As he spoke, Qingji raised the long sword in his hand and, as if wielding a ruler, struck Lu Yibei's palm hard twice.
"That's for being naughty!"
"Slap—Slap—Slap—!"
With a few light sounds, Lu Yibei flinched in pain.
"Why are you dodging? There are two more!"
Lu Yibei, "..."
She had planned to give Qingji a "surprise" and then they would happily study the Hundred-Armed Giant's Power together. freewebnovel.cσ๓
But the fact proved that when a joke goes too far, your ancestor is still your ancestor...
"Slap—Slap—!"
After hitting Lu Yibei's palms two more times, Qingji seemed to have calmed down. He put away the long sword in his hand, looked at the pitiful Lu Yibei sideways, and sighed, "Hey, get up..."
It's not necessarily a bad thing for a girl to be a bit more "energetic".
It prevents her from being bullied outside.
Muttering to himself, Qingji said softly, "Tell me about it? What was that Power just now?"
Hearing this, Lu Yibei quickly got up and moved closer to Qingji, "Ancestor, let me tell you, it's like this..."
In the next ten minutes or so, Lu Yibei hid the existence of Jiang Li and analyzed the harmfulness of the Dream Come True Journey in all aspects, portraying herself as a chivalrous heroine and recounting her perilous journey to eliminate evil for the people.
Half-truths and half-lies are always the most deceptive.
Upon hearing that Lu Yibei finally defeated the Big Boss and rescued countless innocent people and urban legend, Qingji's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands in praise, "Well done! As expected of my granddaughter-in-law!"
"Don't be afraid, we'll figure out how to resolve this Power together. I'm good at this kind of thing!"
"Good at it?" Lu Yibei tilted her head.
Qingji smiled, "How many people in our Lu family haven't been severely injured and on the verge of death, sometimes unrecognizable? When I was young, and my son, Yu Bo, both went through it."
"Oh? Great-grandfather also experienced it? It seems he also has a moving and heroic past?"
Lu Yibei said, sitting up straight and looking at Qingji with curiosity.
She sat up ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ properly, ready to listen to the story.
"Hmph! Past? More like embarrassing moments!" Qingji snorted coldly, gritting his teeth, "He did something bad, and I beat him. If I didn't beat him for doing such a wicked thing, I wouldn't be worthy of our ancestors!"
Lu Yibei, "..."
Although she was very curious about what wicked thing her great-grandfather had done to be beaten into such a state by Qingji, she didn't dare to ask too much about it.
"Alright!" Qingji waved his hand, "Let's not talk about that unfilial son for now. Bring out that Power again and let me study it carefully this time."
"Okay, okay."
Lu Yibei responded, concentrating her mind and controlling the terrifying Power within her body to converge towards her palm. After a burst of intense pain, a rice-sized, dazzling, and chaotic silver-gray energy body emitting violent Spiritual Energy fluctuations gradually condensed in her palm.
Staring at the energy body, Qingji and Lu Yibei leaned in to examine it carefully.
"Ancestor, did you see anything?"
"No, make it bigger. It's too small."
"Oh." Lu Yibei nodded and pushed more Power to converge towards her palm.
Thus, a cold light bloomed from her palm, followed by a sudden intensification and a burst of bright light.
Then...
With a loud "Boom!", two headless corpses fell simultaneously onto the rooftop ground...
