3867-chapter-77
Chapter 77: Once Upon a Time, There Was a Mountain, and on That Mountain, There Was a Temple
Wen Shili reinforced the seal on the Demonic Beast-Sealing Cave and left without lingering, riding swiftly back to his sect.
On the way, he spotted a lightweight battle robe with a white base and blue edges.
It seemed perfect for Jiang Ziyou, so he paused briefly to purchase it.
“Ah, sir, you have excellent taste! This enchanted garment is our store’s prized treasure. Because of its high production cost, it’s expensive, and few people buy it.”
“Hmm.”
Wen Shili nodded without further comment, left some spiritual stones on the counter, and departed.
He ascended the mountain path of Qinggu Peak, swiftly entering the courtyard of the Qingxin Hall.
His gaze swept over the surroundings coolly.
Empty.
At this hour, Jiang Ziyou was usually practicing swordsmanship.
Could he be unwell?
Frowning, Wen Shili walked into the sleeping quarters of the Qingxin Hall.
Jiang Ziyou was nowhere to be found.
The bedding on the couch was unkempt, and his spatial pouch and the Feiying Liuyun Sword were missing.
He had clearly instructed Jiang Ziyou to wait for him in the hall and not wander off until his return in three days.
Wen Shili had never used his spiritual consciousness to search for Jiang Ziyou on Qinggu Peak before, deeming it unnecessary.
Jiang Ziyou’s unwavering reliance on him had made him believe that his disciple would always wait for him to come home.
But today, an unsettling feeling gnawed at him.
Closing his eyes, he released his spiritual consciousness.
As his aura vanished, it was replaced by an overwhelming pressure when he reopened his eyes.
A storm of rage and murderous intent erupted in Wen Shili’s gaze, shattering his usual aloof demeanor.
A long-lost forbidden technique to manipulate spirits with one’s own blood and lifespan…
Who? Who dared to target his Ziyou?!
The next second, Wen Shili froze momentarily as his spiritual consciousness fluctuated.
Before leaving, he had infused some of his spiritual energy into the Baiyun Guihe Bracelet.
Now, the energy’s disturbance was coming from…
Wuchang Mountain!
“Boom—”
An aura of killing intent soared to the heavens.
Tens of thousands of osmanthus trees around the courtyard collapsed instantly.
Wen Shili’s heart sank as he leaped into the sky, leaving behind a scene of devastation.
—
Atop Wuchang Mountain.
Jiang Ziyou sat hugging a gravestone for a long time, his soul seemingly lost.
He wanted to cry, but not a single tear came out.
With a pale face, he asked Yin Buqi weakly, “Am I… dead?”
Yin Buqi hesitated for a moment, and Jiang Ziyou slumped against the gravestone, looking despondent.
He murmured, “Alright, junior brother, no need to console me. I want to be alone for a while.”
Yin Ci: ??? My brother is your junior brother—so who am I?
Clearly, the boy had been dealt a heavy blow.
Shaking Jiang Ziyou by the shoulders, Yin Ci urged, “Senior brother, it’s not over yet! Pull yourself together!”
The echoes on Wuchang Mountain were ethereal and resonant.
Yin Ci’s shout reverberated through the valleys—
“Pull yourself together! Together! Together!”
Jiang Niannian: “… Yin Ci is right. Things are not yet clear. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Let’s check the surroundings, but don’t stray too far.”
“Alright.”
Yin Buqi casually pushed open the gates of the Xiandu Temple.
Inside, the dust was thick, and the place looked like it had been abandoned for decades, with nothing unusual in sight.
Yin Ci wandered the courtyard holding Coalball.
Meanwhile, Jiang Niannian summoned Teng Jiao to search for clues.
Near the gravestone in the snow, she unearthed a stone.
A stone carved in the likeness of Jiang Ziyou.
Jiang Ziyou’s eyes widened.
He picked up the stone, brushing away the snow.
“This is… me?”
“Wow, who would’ve thought this decrepit temple would hold such a treasure!” Teng Jiao’s voice was tinged with pride.
Jiang Niannian asked, “What is this?”
“You ignorant mortal, this is a Record Stone! Only found in the South Sea, and a single piece like this costs tens of thousands of spiritual stones.”
While plucking at Coalball’s fur, Yin Ci asked, “Sister-in-law, who are you talking to?”
“With it.”
Jiang Niannian pointed at the vine.
Teng Jiao flailed its tendrils in response.
“… Oh.”
Jiang Niannian continued questioning, “What’s the function of this stone?”
“Are you dense? It’s called a “Record” Stone! Naturally, it records past events. All you need is a suitable match to activate it and display the scenes.”
Jiang Niannian nodded and relayed Teng Jiao’s explanation to the others.
Yin Ci understood.
“So this Record Stone works similarly to soul-searching techniques, but it’s more convenient in the absence of a target to search. Right, brother?”
“Mm.”
Yin Buqi affirmed.
“When you’re not being idiot, you’re actually quite clever.”
Hearing this, Yin Ci beamed, patting Coalball’s back.
“Did you see that? My brother praised me!”
“Awoo! Awoo!”
Jiang Niannian: “…” Yin Ci truly is such a weird one.
“So where do we find a match for this stone now?”
“That kid’s bracelet,” Teng Jiao declared.
“Its spiritual energy aligns perfectly with this stone.”
Yin Buqi squinted, scrutinizing the vine motif on Jiang Niannian’s wrist.
His tone carried a hint of grievance.
“Niannian, is the ancient divine wood you’re contracted with male or female?”
“… Female, of course.”
From Yin Buqi’s tone, Jiang Niannian could tell her dear cub was getting jealous again.
“Oh, if Niannian says so, I believe her.”
Yin Buqi’s obedient smile appeared.
“Niannian wouldn’t lie to me, right?”
Jiang Niannian broke into a sweat.
“Of course not.”
“Jiang Niannian! I’m a purebred male! How could you dismiss me like that?!”
“This has nothing to do with you. Stop causing trouble.”
“Waaah! Jiang Niannian, I’ve followed you loyally and without complaint, and this is how you repay me? Always calling me when you need me, ignoring me when you don’t. You heartless woman!”
“Shut up!”
“Hmph! Fine, I won’t talk to you anymore!” Teng Jiao huffed, falling silent.
Jiang Niannian removed the bracelet from Jiang Ziyou’s wrist, channeling its spiritual energy into the Record Stone.
In an instant, golden light burst forth, and scenes began to unfold like a flowing spring.
Whenever a child cried in the night, the elders would tell them a familiar story:
Once upon a time, there was a mountain. On that mountain, there was a temple. In the temple, a master and his lively disciple lived. From time to time, they would descend the mountain to punish evildoers and uphold justice…
And so, the story began here.