Chapter 292: 176, Wu Tian, Wu Xin_2

As Tan Shuchang entered the Mountain Patrol Temple, a sound akin to “creak, creak,” similar to that of mice, immediately filled the space. However, it wasn’t mice, but several skeletons in the temple that, having sensed the aroma of the living, scurried forth following the scent. But as the skeletons were inherently weak, they could not move far before their forms collapsed entirely.

The “creak, creak” noise was the sound of the skeletons struggling to piece themselves together, only to assemble incorrectly and thus having to twist apart and reassemble themselves.

Tan Shuchang cast a glance at the bones. Although they were evidently stronger than the formless ghostly presence that had just dissipated, as they could remain unscathed in the scorching sensation of the scattered blood lotus, the fact that these skeletons were too foolish led Tan Shuchang to decide to leave them be.

After all, it would provide some amusement in this boring place to watch them try to piece themselves together.

Then, Tan Shuchang summoned a “Blood God” and instructed it to scatter the skeletons when they were about to complete their assembly, forcing them to start over again.

Shifting his gaze, Tan Shuchang then began to examine his surroundings.

The reason why his sensing abilities were so suppressed within the temple, to the point he couldn’t “see” the temple’s interior from the outside and even inside his range of vision was limited, remained unknown to him.

The construction of this Mountain Patrol Temple was meticulous, for it was only now that Tan Shuchang realized that the temple itself was in fact an artifact!

When intact, it even contained an Artifact Spirit.

However, now the whole Mountain Patrol Temple was in ruins, and the traces of Artifact Refining were so faint they were almost indiscernible, which meant the Artifact Spirit inside no longer existed.

With his background in Artifact Refining, Tan Shuchang’s knowledge and judgment were still intact.

This discovery made him intrigued by the Yin God that had once been present here. Damaging an artifact was not difficult for a cultivator of Tan Shuchang’s level. However, causing damage to such an extent might mean employing every possible means and spending years without guarantee of success.

After all, an artifact’s foundation is often exceptionally unique.

The clever methods of creating artifacts in the Land of the Four Pillars, regardless of their variations, all share the unchanging requirement for raw materials of a particular quality.

Especially for what constitutes the core of an artifact.

While it might seem that the “Mountain and Water Gods” formed in Tan Shuchang’s Coexistent Blood Pool could give birth to artifacts, could the mysteries of the Blood Pool itself be understated?

Then, Tan Shuchang ceased his exploration of the Mountain Patrol Temple, because even though it could suppress his sensing abilities, there was no longer any meaning in exploring it.

He placed the blood lotus outside the temple and also stayed outside.

He then sat cross-legged, appearing to be in cultivation, yet not exactly so.

And he did this not to resemble Jiang Taigong, who awaited the willing, but to inform the Yin God of Ghost Ridge that a new Mountain Patrol Envoy had arrived.

As expected, it wasn’t long before gusts of cold wind began to stir in the place.

The wind was not strong, but it unnervingly tugged at one’s heartstrings, for a voice emerged with the breeze, slow and mournful: “Without my lord, I rest uneasy. Do you know of my unrest, my lord? Know you, know you, my thoughts for thee, for thee…”

The voice was full of longing and sorrow.

Yet as the final note fell, it instantly switched to a different tune.

“Half my life frittered away in vain, hurried and harried, but what do I gain? Always so busy, always on the run, yet in the end, like wielding a bamboo basket, scooping water in vain, how can I find peace… how can I find peace…”

Not only did the tune change, but the voice also gradually became a deep, male one laced with resignation.

Upon hearing this, Tan Shuchang knew the other party had arrived.

The grandeur of the other party’s entrance was comparable to reciting an opening poem upon one’s own arrival.

Unexpectedly, the first Yin God he encountered in Ghost Ridge happened to be a kindred spirit.

So, Tan Shuchang took it upon himself to clear the other’s confusion, “Life from the start is fraught with change, let go of vexations, dim the worldly flame.”

“Life from the start? Hmph, life from the start is fraught with change?”

The voice resonated from the wind, turning back into the mournful cries of a woman. Then, with a waft of fragrant breeze, the figure of a woman in a plain white dress appeared before Tan Shuchang.

The searing sensation radiating from the blood lotus posed not the slightest threat to her.

Tan Shuchang was not surprised by this.

For she was a Ghost Path True Immortal.

Although it was uncertain whether she had reached the pinnacle of the second verification, Tan Shuchang was sure she was not in a period of weakness.

It was fortunate that she was of the second verification in Ghost Path.

For at that moment, as she gazed at Tan Shuchang, her eyes were filled with wariness. When she first noticed a cultivator inside the Mountain Patrol Temple, she paid him no mind, but as she drew nearer, she realized there was something unsettling about him.

She suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

This meant that the person before her must have caused the downfall of countless Yin Gods.

“Fellow Daoist has good insight, once you regard everything with detachment, you have no troubles at all,” the Ghost Path’s second confirmed Yin God thus spoke after some consideration.

“I feel the same way,” Tan Shuchang nodded deeply in agreement, because he truly believed that most troubles could be resolved if one could only let go of mundane emotions.

Without the heart of lust, one could avoid falling in love and be spared the bitterness of love and hatred.

Without the heart of desire, all fame and fortune would instantly become illusions.

Without the heart of vanity, no luxurious item or method of showing off could move one’s heart in the slightest.

Uphold natural order, eliminate human desire.

And this was precisely the direction of deduction for the sixth volume of his “Cross Calamity Immortal Scripture.”

Volume five, Wu Tian.

Volume six, Wu Xin.

Unfortunately, up until now, Tan Shuchang had been unable to deduce it. This was the fundamental reason why he had been unable to make a breakthrough.

Because he wanted to use the sixth volume of the “Cross Calamity Immortal Scripture” to deal with the period of decline he faced after his second confirmation within the Dao.

“Fellow Daoist is quite amusing indeed.”

The appearance of this Ghost Path second confirmed one was as beautiful as a flower, especially those phoenix-like eyes that seemed to be electrifying at all times, truly captivating with their glances.

Her opening statement added an infinite charm to her.

However, Tan Shuchang remained unmoved from beginning to end.

Because the Yin God’s hair was done up.

A bun is the characteristic of a married woman.

A gentleman admires beauty without lust, desires yet controls his heart it all starts with emotion but ends with propriety.

“Fellow Daoist’s expression makes me feel as though my appearance is not pleasing to you! Since I got married, I’ve felt that my charm has increased quite a bit…” said the Ghost Path’s second confirmed one with a smile, but before she could finish, Tan Shuchang interrupted her.

“Because there’s no need for responsibility,” Tan Shuchang said calmly.

Although this Ghost Path’s second confirmed one was spouting complete nonsense earnestly, Tan Shuchang had no intention of giving a serious response.

“Fellow Daoist has a delightful sense of humor! You’re truly to my liking,” she continued with her earnest nonsense.

“Is that so, how about I give you a set of my calligraphy as a gift?” Tan Shuchang replied without much thought.

“Then I must thank Fellow Daoist!”

She did not expect Tan Shuchang would say such a thing, but she accepted it nonetheless.

So, Tan Shuchang had to write it then and there.

“The world’s affairs are unpredictable and cannot be retraced, only when departing do we realize the path we’ve taken.”

“Born naturally to fortunes reversed, let’s drop our worries and dilute our worldly concerns.”

The signature at the end — Dongdong.

When out and about, if one could borrow an identity, then borrow it, since the owner wouldn’t be present, and even if they knew, they could only do the zombie dance on the spot.

“So, it was Fellow Daoist Dongdong.” The Ghost Path’s second confirmed Yin God thanked him and then departed.

Because she was not sure.

Tan Shuchang, after bidding farewell, watched her leave.

Because he was also not sure.

The profound mysteries of the second confirmation within the Dao were truly beyond comprehension; if she were to suddenly unleash peak combat power, he might have to make an embarrassing retreat back to the bizarre game.

After all, with the Undying Fresh Blood Form and the Coexistent Blood Pool, Tan Shuchang still had some confidence he could block a strike from a True Immortal, buying himself time to escape.

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However, to Tan Shuchang’s surprise, after this Ghost Path’s second confirmed Yin God left, another Yin God, a woman dressed in green, appeared; her gaze was clearly out of sorts.

Because as soon as this Yin God appeared, she appeared in front of the Mountain Patrol Temple and tried to knock on the door.

And at this moment, Tan Shuchang was right behind her.

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