Chapter 215
Chapter 215
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 215
Chapter Title: Tianlao Society, Extermination
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Guxian Town lay in a remote location. To reach it, one had to cross through the towering peaks of the Henggong Mountains, where evils and spirits lurked in abundance, making the journey perilous.
Unless they were merchant caravans or locals dwelling in the hills, few ever came here.
Zhuge Jian was an outsider. His arrival in Guxian Town naturally drew stares from all around.
On the streets, the townsfolk set aside their work, eyes fixed on this stranger emerging from the mountains.
Some held teapots, sipping directly from the spout, their gazes tracking Zhuge Jian's figure.
Others stood in groups of three or five by the roadside, chatting idly with hoes over their shoulders, but their heads swiveled to follow him.
Even the women sewing shoe soles under the eaves looked up, rubbing their needles on their oiled hair, eyes locked tightly on Zhuge Jian.
Zhuge Jian paid them no mind. His steps took on a peculiar rhythm as he headed toward the Sanyuan Residence.
Guxian Town was renowned for producing a great sage in ancient times.
Legend had it that thousands of years ago, a talented scholar from the town soared through the imperial exams, securing the top three honors in succession and rising to Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. He later retired and returned to Guxian Town, passing away at ninety-eight without illness.
The town gained fame from this and renamed itself Guxian Town.
The scholar's former residence was called the Sanyuan Residence.
The Sanyuan Residence wasn't large, spanning only six or seven mu, but it featured gardens, fish ponds, and rockeries. The buildings evoked an ink-wash landscape painting—sparse, with just over a dozen structures amid pavilions, corridors, bridges, and open garden spaces.
On the streets, the townsfolk began to stir, trailing behind Zhuge Jian with hostile glares.
The tea-drinker drained his pot, dumped out the leaves, and blew into the spout. The soul-refining talisman etched inside the pot lit up.
The farmers with hoes over their shoulders twisted their palms along the handles, causing the talismans carved into the wooden grips to glow brightly, circulating along the shafts.
The woman sewing soles bit off her thread, blew on her needle, and sent it flying.
With every alley Zhuge Jian passed, three or five people emerged from the shadows to follow him, each drawing talisman treasures or talisman weapons from their bosoms.
Behind their heads, divine intents flew out, divine embryos seated solemnly, hands forming sword mudras or spell mudras, eyes fixed on Zhuge Jian's back.
"Hey!"
The woman sewing soles bellowed loudly,
"Official, how about leaving us a way to live? You've chased us all the way from Gongzhou City—don't push us to the brink!"
Zhuge Jian ignored her, silently reciting in his mouth,
"At that time, the Jade Emperor Wu Tianyu in the Jade Void Hall of the Cataclysm Heaven Palace, together with the celestial beings of heaven and earth, sun, moon, stars, flying devas, great bodhisattvas, heavenly beings, and such, expounded the Heaven-Opening Wind-Thunder Yu Step Subduing Demons Divine Curse Scripture."
Around him, the wind began to stir.
At the street corner, scattered scraps of paper money were whipped upward, fluttering into the sky.
The incantation went: "Five Thunders Divine Might, born alongside the Emperor."
"Receive the Jade Refining Emperor, subdue the host of stars."
"Fierce officers in legions of ten thousand, night righteous in flocks of a thousand."
"Seven heads, hundred arms, giant mouths of golden essence."
"Body ten thousand zhang long, devouring ghostly essences."
(From the Supreme Cave Profound Three Caves Heaven-Opening Wind-Thunder Yu Step Subduing Demons Divine Curse Scripture)
His steps varied—sometimes left foot stepping forward followed by the right, sometimes right foot stomping before the left advanced, long or short strides, stamping the ground before proceeding.
Beneath his feet, it was as if an altar lay. He was the old ritual master upon it now, treading the gang steps and斗stars, silently chanting the divine curse, on the verge of summoning wind and thunder to empower himself and subdue demons while upholding the dao!
What he recited was the Wind-Thunder Yu Step Divine Curse passed down by the Young Master and Chen Shi. This technique encompassed divine curse, cultivation method, footwork, and spells—reciting it granted immense might!
The Young Master had given him only a fragment, enough at most to reach the Nascent Infant stage. But Chen Shi had given him the complete method, sufficient to reach the Return to Void Realm!
However, the version Chen Shi recited still lacked the spell component.
But when it came to killing, why need spells?
Zhuge Jian's aura surged. A Nascent Infant the size of a fingertip floated不知何时 from somewhere, hovering above his sword finger.
He held his sword finger before his chest, his face solemn and dignified, like a god or demon.
The incantation continued: "Divine power blazing, thunderous fury unleashes might! Slay demons and monsters, snow lightning stars fly, Poluo thunders shake, gallantry blows bright—急急如律令 by the Jade Emperor's decree!"
Around his body, lightning crackled and intersected, while hexagram winds arose on all sides.
Behind him, the Tianlao Society disciples disguised as townsfolk quickened their pace, activating spells, talisman treasures, and talisman weapons as they charged at Zhuge Jian.
The sewing woman bared her vicious features, urging her steel needle forward from a dozen paces to pierce the back of Zhuge Jian's head. She shouted,
"If you won't leave us a path, you won't live either!"
Zhuge Jian's incantation complete, he stomped his foot. Wind and thunder flashed beneath it, his figure vanishing from the spot to reappear behind the woman. The blunt end of his three-barreled fire lance struck her crown like a massive iron hammer.
With a crack, her skull caved in.
Zhuge Jian treaded wind and snow, moving with blinding speed. He swung his three-barreled fire lance—blunt end as spear tip, barrel end as hammer—stabbing and smashing his foes.
He had honed his skills since childhood: piercing lungs and hearts, shattering skulls, all as easily as reaching into a sack.
The tea-drinker's pot had just been raised when a spear thrust impaled it, nailing pot and man to the wall together. The hoe-wielding farmers' hoes snapped, skulls split; they dropped to their knees with a thud, brains spilling from their crowns.
The swarm of Tianlao Society cultivators pouring from the alleys charged with cries. Zhuge Jian spotted one wielding twin dragon-headed, eight-lobed pumpkin hammers and felt a surge of delight. In the next instant, thunderous light from his fire lance blasted the man's head apart.
The twin hammers fell into his hands.
Zhuge Jian sheathed his three-barreled fire lance on his back, one hammer per hand. He hefted them—the heads weighed three to five jin each, copper lumps carved into pumpkin shapes, smaller than fists.
Each lobe bore talisman patterns etched in cinnabar and black on the eight segments, repeatedly inscribed with dog blood until deeply infused, not easily erased.
But infused with vital energy, the talisman patterns would project into the air around the hammerhead for a foot or so. Swung down, they carried immense weight with rumbling thunder, utterly fearsome.
This talisman treasure wasn't the mightiest among the Tianlao Society cultivators present, but it was the one Zhuge Jian found most satisfying and handy.
He treaded the gang steps amid wind and thunder, speed unmatched, plunging into the throng of Tianlao Society cultivators. His twin pumpkin hammers whirled up, down, left, right—cracking skulls, smashing backs, sweeping up from below to pulverize groins!
Thrusting forward into hearts, hammering back at jade pillows!
When Zhuge Jian's steps halted, corpses littered the ground in disarray.
He arrived before the imposing gates of the Sanyuan Residence and kicked the vermilion doors flying. The Tianlao Society's remaining thirty-odd cultivators arrayed neatly in the front hall courtyard—some hidden in trees, on eaves, behind parapets.
Zhuge Jian smiled faintly and leaped into the courtyard.
Shouts and clashes erupted within the Sanyuan Residence.
Half a shichen later, all fell silent.
Zhuge Jian entered the ancestral hall of the Sanyuan Residence. Facing the Tianlao who was desperately absorbing incense vapors to coalesce its divine image, he drew a long breath.
Clang!
He dropped his twin hammers and charged into the hall!
Before nearing it, two head-sized fire caltrops appeared in his hands, hurled inside!
The fire caltrops had ceramic shells glazed blue, spiked like tribulus fruits, packed with three jin of gunpowder. Nine Yang Thunderfire Talismans were inscribed on inner and outer walls—exploding with ferocious power!
Zhuge Jian kept his fire caltrops in the pack on his back. After hurling them, he leaped back, his fire lance booming twice to strike them!
"You'll die a horrible death!"
The Tianlao divine form had half-manifested as a massive head with an old hag's face, mouth gaping in rage. The fire caltrops landed inside—boom!
The entire hall was engulfed in thunderfire. All extraordinary powers shattered. Then the hall itself caught flame.
Zhuge Jian turned to rummage through other rooms for ledgers. Soon, he found the Tianlao Society's accounts, dragged over table and chair, unslung his fire lance onto the table.
He found a jar of spring tea, boiled water, and brewed himself a pot. Sipping tea, he flipped through the accounts.
Finishing the pot, he pocketed the ledgers, face grim as iron, shouldered his fire lance into its back holster.
Chen Shi was right. The Tianlao Society was nominally under the Xia family of Gongzhou, but in truth, it merely paid tribute to the Xia for protection fees.
As he walked out of the Sanyuan Residence,
"The real mastermind behind the Tianlao Society is still the Young Master. Every year, a sum from the Tianlao Society flows through gambling dens, laundered via the Merry Forest or Rouge Alley, into the Young Master's coffers."
He exhaled heavily.
He had been blinded by the Young Master's petty favors, serving as bailiff in Yudu and turning a blind eye to his ventures—never imagining he was shielding such a vast dark empire!
On Guxian Town's streets, the townsfolk cowered in their yards, peering out in terror.
Zhuge Jian strode alone down the long street.
Wind rose, stirring paper money from who-knew-where.
His mood grew heavy. The Young Master's power was too immense, filling him with mounting pressure.
The Young Master represented not one man, but a colossal network of influence—countless experts entangled with nobles and sects everywhere!
How could he topple this behemoth?
Could he, Zhuge Jian, and killer Chen Shi alone stand against it?
It would be like a mantis challenging a chariot—utter annihilation!
"Utter annihilation I fear not, so long as purity remains in the human realm! No matter the Young Master's grand ambitions, evil deeds won't stand with me!"
He returned to Gongzhou City, planning a brief rest before rendezvousing with Chen Shi. Then he spotted a familiar figure.
"Lu Ban Sect Leader Situ Wen? Why is he in Gongzhou?"
Zhuge Jian knew Situ Wen from before and approached. Situ Wen started at the sight, saying,
"Is the bailiff here on the Young Master's orders to take me in?"
Zhuge Jian laughed.
"Sect Leader, what makes you say that?"
Situ Wen relaxed, recounting how he had defected to Chen Shi and betrayed the Young Master.
"I've come to evade the turmoil in Yudu and seek Master Yu of the Red Mountain Hall Talisman Masters Association for talisman instruction."
"Master Yu's reputation precedes him—a true hero with backbone."
Zhuge Jian said,
"I'll go with you to meet him."
They arrived at Red Mountain Hall and met Hall Master Yu Tiancheng. His profound cultivation at the peak of Soul Transformation Realm left them in awe.
Situ Wen said,
"So the bailiff is one of the True King's men, like Master Yu."
"What positions do you two hold in the Heavenly Court?"
Zhuge Jian's heart stirred, but he kept composed. Moments later, he had gleaned the information he sought.
Yu Tiancheng was straightforward, without guile.
"I know nothing of any Heavenly Court."
"Chen Shi is our Talisman Masters Association's honorary instructor, drawing fifty taels of silver monthly."
"He's formed some group called Heavenly Court?"
Situ Wen wished he could slap himself for loose lips.
Yu Tiancheng laughed.
"Then I want in on this Heavenly Court too."
"What about you, Brother Zhuge?"
Zhuge Jian said,
"This Heavenly Court doesn't sound like a proper outfit."
"The court abhors factions; any gang-forming invites ruthless suppression. Speak of it no more."
He eyed Situ Wen.
"It's a capital offense."
"Fifty provinces, three thousand counties—heads would roll in queues."
"Lu Ban Sect's ten thousand brothers, five per county, done in an hour. Enough for over a hundred thousand blood-dipped mantou."
Situ Wen shuddered, vowing never to breathe a word of Heavenly Court to anyone!
Zhuge Jian had warned Situ Wen. He thought to himself,
"How many in this Heavenly Court? Chen Shi styles himself True King—ambitions run deep."
"A man's life flashes by in a century. Without grand aspirations, what's the difference from rotten wood?"
He glanced at Yu Tiancheng, thinking,
"I must join soon."
Yu Tiancheng harbored no such schemes, merely planning to ask Chen Shi about Heavenly Court upon meeting.
The three harbored their own thoughts.
Just then, a talisman master hurried in.
"Hall Master, Instructor Chen has arrived at headquarters!"
The three rose hastily and rushed outside.
As they emerged, they heard Chen Shi and Crane Child's voices, mingled with "Red Mountain" Lady's laughter.
They hurried to greet Chen Shi, who was reminiscing with "Red Mountain" Lady. Spotting them, he rose and bowed, surprised.
"Brother Zhuge, Sect Leader Situ—how are you all here?"
The three returned the courtesy.
Situ Wen laughed.
"I barely arrived, seat not even warm, and here you are."
Zhuge Jian said,
"I wiped out the Tianlao Society—confirmed as the Young Master's venture. Never thought I'd run into you here, Sect Leader."
Everyone sat. Chen Shi smiled.
"My cover's blown. Pursued by the Young Master's elites, I fled here."
At these words, Yu Tiancheng's face darkened. He shot to his feet and strode out, sneering,
"Friends from afar? Kill first, bury later! In Gongzhou, no 'Young Master' slithers like a worm! Hall Master Lu, Hall Master Xiao—summon the men!"
Zhuge Jian and Situ Wen followed. Situ Wen exclaimed excitedly,
"Gongzhou's old brothers are true heroes!"
Zhuge Jian's heart skipped. He thought,
"Never knew True King Chen wields such sway in Gongzhou."
"Heavenly Court—I must join soon!"
Outside Red Mountain Hall headquarters, a blue goat reared up on hind legs, arms crossed over its chest. Watching the hall's experts charge out aggressively, it turned to the teahouse behind and called,
"Old lady, looks like we're not needed!"
Granny Sha and the burly Qiong youth sat in the teahouse, sipping tea and munching preserves.
Granny Sha sighed, troubled.
"Trailing Little Ten, I thought we'd save Xinnizhou and the world daily. But the kid's ragtag crew keeps growing—no chances for us to act... 'Ragtag' ain't about you two—don't get sensitive! Besides, Bluesheep, you're no dog—what're you riled for?"
She stretched her back and grinned.
"Back to Qianyang Mountain for some R&R—good days ahead!"
The burly youth Hu Xiaoliang couldn't hold back.
"Granny, Old Chen's meaning from the grave was for us to excise the demon from Little Ten's brow. We're just guarding his safety, but Little Ten's safe now—how do we purge the demons from his sea of consciousness? There's still over a hundred in his brow!"
"Exactly..."
Bluesheep sidled up, grabbing a matcha biscuit and munching as he said,
"If Old Chen knew we'd done jack, he'd thunder back furious—might even shambling-corpse us!"
Granny Sha rolled her eyes.
"How to purge? You pull 'em out, Hu Xiaoliang? You, stinky goat hoof? Easy talk—who goes in dies, got it!"
She scolded them, but fretted too, sighing.
"Those hundred-plus demons in Little Ten's brow will spell big trouble someday. I've racked my brains and still don't know how to end it... Right, about this Young Master—what do you two know?!"
Suzhou's hit by another typhoon.
Third one this month for me—fled Hainan to Suzhou, but it chased me down. Tears.
End of chapter.