Chapter 139: Wu Yao

"Sensing your desire to live, I rescue you from fire and water."
"I bestow upon you... the power of rebirth..."
At the same time, as a massive influx of information flooded her mind, a surging, majestic aura erupted from the woman’s body!
"Ah!!"
Seeing this, the Tianwu Totem’s expression shifted violently!
As a hoarse, miserable scream escaped his throat, a glint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes, and he lunged to throttle the woman’s neck!!
"Ugh..."
The woman was startled, her heart racing.
She let out a sharp cry and hurriedly waved her hand to defend herself.
Boom!!
In an instant, the force of the woman’s defensive gesture sent the Tianwu Totem flying hundreds of feet away!
"This..."
The crowd beneath the altar watched in terror, looking at one another in bewilderment.
"Just now, that was..."
"Was that the deity..."
"The Lord... of the Underworld River..."
The woman looked at her own hands, lost and utterly shocked.
It was true; it must have been the Lord of the Underworld River!
*Sensing your desire to live...*
Truly, there are gods in this world...
"I kneel in gratitude to my Lord!"
With this realization, the woman’s eyes filled with reverence. She hurried to the ground and bowed deeply toward the sky!
A deity’s single thought can span the heavens and earth.
For a mere withered willow of a person to receive the benevolence of a god was a blessing of immense proportions!
To be ungrateful would be the act of a petty soul.
After a long while, the woman finally rose slowly, waving her hand to summon a large piece of burlap to drape over her body.
Her gaze, now devoid of all emotion, fell upon the people gathered beneath the altar.
"The evil spirits are lawless, and those who aid them are evil themselves."
"They must be purged!"
As the icy words left her lips, she waved her hand, releasing several strands of spiritual energy that lifted a dozen people into the air!
A murderous glint flashed in her eyes, and the spiritual energy around her body pulsed violently!
*Thud! Thud!*
Muffled sounds rang out.
The bodies of those below exploded, their deaths gruesome.
The remaining survivors stared at the woman, their faces pale with terror.
"Let us find a place to rest for a while; this place no longer requires us."
Li Changsheng ignored the carnage below, his gaze calm, his voice faint.
The strong rule the weak; it is the law of the jungle.
There was nothing to pity.
If he had not appeared today, the woman would have been skinned alive.
The cruelty would have been the same; there would be no other outcome.
With this settled, he needed to make some preparations.
Thinking this, Li Changsheng did not delay.
He cast his divine sense, found a place with beautiful scenery, and began to walk away.
Zhao Wan'er and Elder Jian hurriedly moved to follow.
……
A short while later.
Near the Tianwu Tribe, by the side of a lake.
A stone table stood still, and the fragrance of wine drifted through the air.
Beside the table, a noble young man dressed in black-and-gold embroidered robes sat drinking, lost in thought.
Beside him, a graceful and beautiful woman served him respectfully, while an elder who looked as steady as an ancient well stood silently nearby.
It was Li Changsheng and his companions.
"Elder Jian, how much do you know about the power of faith in the Southern Border?"
Suddenly, the contemplation in Li Changsheng’s eyes faded, and he spoke in a calm voice.
"Replying to Young Master,"
"The people of the Southern Border mostly cultivate through totems."
"All living beings use their own pious thoughts to worship the totem, offering their own belief."
"The totem receives this, then feeds it back to the masses, allowing them to cultivate."
"This back-and-forth is what is known as the power of faith."
Elder Jian, hearing this, was taken aback. After a moment of silence, he cupped his hands respectfully and replied slowly.
"Not quite, not quite..."
Li Changsheng shook his head slowly, murmuring to himself.
What Elder Jian described was merely the method of cultivation in the Southern Border.
But what he wanted to ask was: what is faith itself?
However...
These questions would have to be explored slowly in the future.
Cultivation is nothing more than seeking knowledge, seeking answers, and seeking truth.
The world is vast, and there is nothing one might not encounter.
If one were to cultivate solely for supreme power, it would be far too dull.
The world is filled with endless scenery; would it not be a pity to miss it?
After some contemplation, the atmosphere here gradually quieted down.
A light breeze brushed by, creating a scene of peace and tranquility.
"Open the system shop."
Li Changsheng suddenly felt bored and murmured to himself.
The shop interface manifested in his mind, and he scanned the items above.
His eyes flickered with contemplation at times, and with helplessness at others.
Most of the items within were rare in the world.
A single movement would cost hundreds of thousands of Destiny Points.
If he wanted to exchange for them, he would have to think carefully.
"Hiss..."
Suddenly, Li Changsheng’s gaze froze.
As a sense of resentment rose in his heart, the corners of his mouth twitched.
At the very bottom of this shop, there was actually a free gift pack???
Free????
Why didn't anyone tell me!!
Why!!!
If I hadn't had the mood to check today, wouldn't this dog of a system have swindled me out of my free reward??
"Ding~"
The system’s voice rang out at the right time, but after that single "ding," there was nothing else.
"Trying to scare me??"
Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow, his face darkening.
This dog system, unworthy of being...
"Open."
Li Changsheng ignored it and murmured internally.
"Ding~ The free gift pack has been opened. 'Dao-Underworld Scripture' and 'Technique of Sealing the Underworld' have been issued."
As the system’s voice rang out, a wave of information suddenly flooded into Li Changsheng’s mind.
"One technique, Sealing the Underworld..."
"The might of a deity should be worshipped by all living beings..."
"The technique of Sealing the Underworld, to seal the apostles of all beings, to obtain endless faith..."
Wonderful...
Just as I was nodding off, a pillow was provided.
The Southern Border relies on totems for cultivation, and now, he had mastered the method of bestowing them!
Collecting this power of faith would be perfect for his research.
However, Li Changsheng did not intend to do it himself.
As a mastermind behind the scenes, doing it personally would lower his status too much.
Coincidentally, he had accepted an Underworld Slave today; he could just bestow the technique upon her.
With him presiding over everything, what difficulty could there be in unifying the Southern Border?
When the time came, would the Sons of Destiny in the entire Southern Border have anywhere to hide?
Thinking of this, a cryptic smile appeared at the corner of Li Changsheng’s mouth.
Only Zhao Wan'er and Elder Jian looked at Li Changsheng with hesitation, feeling a bit bewildered in their hearts.
The Young Master today, one moment gloomy, the next full of smiles...
It was all too strange...
"Dao-Underworld Scripture."
Li Changsheng ignored the two of them, his thoughts shifting.
In his mind, a primitive and ancient whisper began to resonate.
"Underworld Dao, the beginning of blue inscriptions, ferries all the grievances of the world, endless time of repentance, and then fades away..."
"Underworld Dao, mindful of the creatures of ten thousand realms, the suffering of the wounded, the return of the world to nothingness..."
"Underworld Dao, the realm spirit has a master, its underworld body is a turtle, traveling without boundaries, hence difficult to find in the endless starry sky..."
"Underworld Dao, the origin of underworld laws, ever-changing, fully realized..."
"Underworld Dao, governs the world..."
"Underworld Dao..."
The primitive, ancient voice continued to ring out, and the obscure, difficult-to-understand scriptures emerged along with it.
Feeling the ancient aura radiating from the Dao-Underworld Scripture within his soul, Li Changsheng could not help but feel a sense of eeriness.
It was as if the person who left this scripture was standing right in front of him.
Very urgently wanting to tell him something...
This feeling was very strange.
In Li Changsheng’s view, as an immortal of such high standing, he shouldn't encounter such eerie things.
Yet, the emergence of this feeling made Li Changsheng feel a faint sense of unease...
"Is it... the previous Lord of the Underworld River..."
His gaze grew deep and flickering; Li Changsheng suppressed the unease in his heart.
To make the previous Lord of the Underworld River value it so highly, perhaps only the calamity that wiped out all gods and demons could...
Could it be that this scripture was trying to convey some message to him...
But, if that were truly the case, what position did the system hold in this?
It didn't make sense...
This matter should not be pondered too deeply...
After a long silence, the depth in Li Changsheng’s eyes grew even more intense.
Suppressing his chaotic thoughts, his heart gradually fell into silence.
Sip by sip...
He drank the wine in his cup, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger...
Zhao Wan'er’s focus was always on Li Changsheng.
His subtle expressions were naturally all captured by her.
A flash of contemplation crossed her eyes, and her expression soon calmed down.
Only in her heart did a trace of determination begin to rise.
To her, even if the world were destroyed, it would not matter much.
It was only when she saw Li Changsheng frown that she felt a pang of heartache, feeling her own uselessness.
If there were a chance, how she longed to share the Young Master's burdens...
Perhaps, there was a chance...
To become an immortal...
As for Elder Jian, he remained in that ancient, unperturbed state.
Even if he noticed the subtle changes in Li Changsheng’s expression, there was only a sense of helplessness in his heart.
His lifespan was coming to an end, and his aptitude was mediocre.
An old bag of bones, it was hard to improve any further.
The only thing he could do was to do his best for the Young Master, to clear away obstacles...
Time passed slowly, and in the blink of an eye, night fell.
The chirping of insects at night rang out leisurely, and the glow of fireflies flickered slowly.
The cool midnight breeze brushed by, creating light ripples on the lake.
The trees in the mountains rustled in response.
The hearts of the three gradually calmed down...
It was then that a timid voice drifted over...
"I..."
Hearing Li Changsheng ask this, Zhao Wan'er’s heart suddenly beat faster.
Her breathing also became a little hurried.
The Young Master is considering... my thoughts...
So thoughtful...
But I am only a slave...
Could it be that I have gained the Young Master’s heart...
No, it’s impossible...
The Young Master is so noble, how could he fall for a mere slave...
It must be that the Young Master is kind and is just being considerate of a slave...
Thinking this, Li Changsheng’s image in Zhao Wan'er’s heart grew even taller.
"Ding~ The Nine Li Saintess has fallen for you, host's status has improved, rewarding the host with 3000 Destiny Points."
Hiss...?
This girl, what is she thinking about again???
Li Changsheng was a little stunned, looking at Zhao Wan'er beside him, feeling a faint sense of bewilderment.
If I were walking along and suddenly picked up a supreme treasure, I could explain it away as heaven-defying luck.
But my status improving for no reason is just a bit...
Tch...
"Let’s go."
With that, Li Changsheng did not delay, putting an arm around Zhao Wan'er and walking straight in.
There were two floors to this pavilion, and the first floor was filled with wooden shelves.
What was displayed on them were either extraordinary magical treasures or pills that shimmered with light.
There weren't many people in the shop at the moment, so it looked quite spacious.
"Two distinguished guests, what would you like?"
At this moment, a middle-aged man came forward with a face full of smiles.
This person was the shopkeeper.
When the two first entered, the shopkeeper had already noticed them.
Their auras were like an abyss, unfathomable.
Their bearing was even more noble; one look and it was clear they were no ordinary people!
They were definitely distinguished guests!
The shopkeeper hurriedly stopped the assistant who was about to serve them and stepped up himself.
"Our shop has countless magical treasures; whether it is a profound treasure or a Void God grade, our shop has them all."
"The pills come from the Western Desert, inexhaustible."
"Two distinguished guests, what would you like?"
The middle-aged shopkeeper’s attitude was humble, and he introduced his wares with great enthusiasm.
"You only have Void God grade treasures?"
Li Changsheng, hearing this, raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit impatient.
Void God grade treasures were too inferior.
Coming from a peak aristocratic family, for him to use items that weren't even at the Immortal level would be far too low-status.
"Ugh..."
The middle-aged shopkeeper was stunned.
Could it be that this person's background is even greater than I thought...?
The shopkeeper was not sure.
In business, recognizing people is very important.
If he were to accidentally offend a big shot, his treasure pavilion would not need to remain open.
"If the guest needs treasures above the Void God grade, our shop has those too."
"It's just that, regarding the price..."
The shopkeeper’s eyes flickered with thought, his voice hesitant.
Although he guessed that this person’s background was immense, the more aristocratic a disciple was, the more arrogant and overbearing they tended to be.
If they were dissatisfied with the price and decided to loot the place, that too was something he could not afford to bear.
"Is this enough?"
Although Li Changsheng was of noble status, he understood the concerns here.
As he shook his head slowly, he waved his hand to reveal several snow-white jade stones that radiated dense immortal energy and looked as clear as jade, speaking faintly.
"This is..."
The shopkeeper, seeing the several snow-white jade stones, felt his pupils shrink violently!
His breathing became a little hurried, and a monstrous wave rose in his heart!
Immortal Jade!!!
The legendary Immortal Jade!!!
Something only the peak aristocratic families of ancient times possessed!!
In terms of equivalent value, one piece of Immortal Jade could be worth ten thousand supreme-grade spirit stones!
But spirit stones are everywhere, while Immortal Jade is hard to come by!
The two are simply not on the same level!!
And no one would be foolish enough to trade Immortal Jade for spirit stones!
Only someone from an ancient peak aristocratic family could be so lavish!!
To the living beings of the Immortal Tomb, seeing a few Void God grade items in daily life was already a great shock.
To encounter someone from a mysterious ancient family was beyond comprehension!
One could imagine how shocked the shopkeeper was!
The few assistants in the shop, seeing this, looked on in astonishment, their hearts filled with confusion.
They were shocked because the jade stones looked quite extraordinary.
And, judging by the shopkeeper’s expression, these items must have a great background!
The confusion stemmed from the fact that they simply did not recognize what they were.
After some thought, the way they looked at Li Changsheng and his companion revealed a hint of awe.
The two had a great background and were unfathomable.
They must not be offended...
"Is it enough? Just one word."
Seeing the shopkeeper stunned, Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit displeased.
This person was far too slow.
If it weren't for the fact that going elsewhere to procure items was too far, Li Changsheng would be too lazy to talk to him.
Moreover, there were barely any Void God grade treasures on the counters of this shop.
Li Changsheng did not really believe that this place would have Immortal grade treasures.
"Enough, enough!"
The middle-aged shopkeeper suddenly woke up and hurriedly nodded and bowed in agreement.
Cold sweat broke out on his back in an instant!
If he were to displease this young lord, killing him would take only a moment!
Thinking of this, the man dared not delay any longer.
"My... my lord, please... please follow me..."
The shopkeeper’s forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat, his eyes filled with nothing but reverence.
His voice stammered as he spoke, and in a most humble manner, he led Li Changsheng and his companion toward the second floor.
The second floor was much smaller than the first, but it was decorated quite exquisitely.
Clearly, it was used by the shopkeeper to entertain distinguished guests.
After entering the second floor, the shopkeeper did not dare to delay.
He quickly formed seals with his hands, and before long, a buzzing sound echoed through the space.
A secret compartment then emerged.
"My lord, this item is the treasure of our shop."
"Its specific grade is immeasurable."
"However, I believe..."