Silence, extreme silence.
There was not a single sound in the courtyard, as if it was empty. Only the north wind in the winter morning revealed that the stillness was an illusion. Time had not stopped.
The red plum blossoms in the corner were as bright as fire, and the white snow on the roof was as pure as clouds. They were all still, and everyone below was the same. They were still and silent, as if they had all fallen into a dream.
"How could a Half-step Exterior Scenery be defeated by an enlightened Apertures master?"
If someone had asked this question ten minutes ago, they would have scoffed and laughed at the person for being stupid. How could something that went against thousands of years of common sense happen?
The sun did not rise from the west, humans could not fly, and opening the Hidden Latch between the eyebrows to defeat an enlightened Apertures master was a matter of course. No one would question it!
But now, they had witnessed a handsome Taoist who had not even opened Nine Acupores open suddenly explode with terrifying combat strength and defeat the famous "Green-blood Dragon King" of Half-step Exterior Scenery.
How could they not believe it? How could they not be shocked? How could they not be speechless? They only felt their heads swell, as if they were dreaming!
"An immortal descending to earth …" Redline Lady and Holy Hunchback Beyond the Great Wall called him that in their hearts.
"Monster …" Wen Hengshui's pupils dilated and his eyes glazed over. Among the young masters under 30, he was one of the best. He had trained hard and did not neglect his father's power. But this wild Taoist looked far younger than him, yet he could defeat a Half-step Exterior Scenery master!
"Is he still a human?"
"How can there be such a huge gap between us?"
Taking advantage of the shock, Mengqi smiled faintly and seized the opportunity to say, "Donor Wen, I see that no one on your side can pass the challenge?"
Wen Hengshui shuddered and came back to his senses. He was about to speak, intending to fight with his two Protectors at the same time. Losing face was better than not being able to receive the bride!
Meng Qi did not give him a chance to speak at all. He said straightforwardly, "If that's the case, I'll have to discuss with Madam Huangfu and Miss to see if we can change the method of making things difficult for them so that they won't get married."
"Donor Wen, please wait for a moment. I will go inside to ask."
After he finished speaking, he turned around, his sleeves fluttering in the wind. His posture was leisurely and unhurried.
If he had left Wen Hengshui and the others in the same place before, Wen Hengshui would have flown into a rage and ordered all the masters around him to force the door open and take the bride away. But now, after defeating the King of Broadswords and Half-step, Mengqi's image in their hearts had become truly unfathomable. It was almost as if Mr. Moon-washing had spoken in person!
In other words, this was a big shot who was stronger than a Half-step Exterior Scenery master.
Everyone had to consider the suggestion of a big shot!
Moreover, Mengqi's words seemed to be for Wen Hengshui's sake. He didn't stop him from escorting the bride. Instead, he tried to change the matter after they couldn't get through, and found another easier task.
Therefore, Wen Hengshui said gratefully, "Thank you, Taoist Qingyuan."
Mengqi almost staggered. I need to buy time to recover!
Pushing open the door, Mengqi saw Huangfu Fei and Madam Huangfu standing by the door. Their expressions were one of shock and confusion, the other of excitement and eagerness.
Redline Lady and Holy Hunchback Beyond the Great Wall entered and closed the door.
Mengqi stirred up a gust of wind with his sleeves, making it whistle by the door to prevent Green-blood Dragon King from eavesdropping. Then, he took out a Spirit-mending Elixir and swallowed it. Lowering his voice, he said, "Madam Huangfu, Miss Huangfu, what do you think?"
"We are willing to give up God-gathering Heights for the sake of preserving our heritage and disciples!" Huangfu Fei and Madam Huangfu looked at each other and said resolutely.
Then, she suppressed her excitement, her body slightly trembling. "Taoist Qingyuan, what's with that jade pendant? Have you seen my father? "
Facing Mengqi who could defeat a Half-step Exterior Scenery master, she subconsciously used honorifics.
Madam Huangfu held her breath. She didn't know whether she was afraid of the result or hoping for a miracle.
"Yes." Mengqi said concisely, "Madam and Miss must have heard that those who leave the mysterious mausoleum will go crazy in their twilight years, enter the deep mountains, and return to the grave, right?"
Huangfu Fei's pretty face flushed with excitement. "Yes, I have. Could it be that you've seen my father in the mausoleum? Is he, is he okay? "
"These things happen because there's a terrible evil spirit hidden in the mausoleum. It's imprisoned and sealed inside, unable to leave. It can only use the thoughts of those who have entered the mausoleum to find a way to escape."
Mengqi didn't directly answer Huangfu Fei's question. Instead, he narrated the story of the evil spirit with some exaggeration. "Heightslord Huangfu and the others were overjoyed when they received the Divine Kung Fu impartation, but they didn't know that they were already possessed by the evil spirit. In their twilight years, the evil spirit had no choice but to return. Thus, they all turned into the Living Dead guarding the mausoleum. No, some of their bodies had completely died due to the passage of time, rotting and festering."
Listening to Mengqi's description, Huangfu Fei felt a chill down her spine. It was as if there was an evil spirit standing behind her. The chilly wind made her feel uncontrollably afraid.
Redline Lady and Holy Hunchback Beyond the Great felt the same way. They didn't expect the most sensational and mysterious matter in Martial Arts World to be caused by an evil spirit.
What kind of evil spirit could control experts of the Exterior?
Just thinking about it sent chills down their spines.
Lady Huangfu's breathing quickened. She seemed to be afraid and confused. "My husband is in the prime of his life. Why did the evil spirit return earlier?"
Mengqi said with certainty, "First, heightslord Huangfu was a genius. He was able to comprehend the Five Thunder Skill and the Heavenly Night Spear Art from the thunderbolt mark. He became the strongest expert in history when he was not even 60 years old and was about to break through the limits of his predecessors. As a result, the evil spirit couldn't be controlled and had to return to the mausoleum earlier."
"Comprehending the thunderbolt mark …" Huangfu Fei and Lady Huangfu murmured in unison. "Taoist Qingyuan, you really have met my father (my husband)."
The world only knew that Huangfu Tao had obtained the Thunder Skill impartation from the mysterious mausoleum. That was how he had advanced by leaps and bounds, becoming an Exterior expert and punishing on behalf of Heaven. However, they didn't know that Huangfu Tao hadn't directly chosen a ready-made skill. Instead, he had comprehended many mysteries from an ancient thunderbolt mark. He had partially inherited and partially developed it. That was how he had obtained the Five Thunder Skill and the Heavenly Night Spear Art.
This secret was only known to his wife and only daughter!
"Hey, please call me Detective Mengqi …" Mengqi couldn't hide his smugness. Of course, Huangfu Tao wouldn't tell him the secret. Anyone who passed by would leave traces. Combining all the clues, it wasn't difficult to deduce that he had comprehended the skill on his own.
This was because the essence of thunderbolt was lost. Secondly, the Tai-yin Devil-Rinsing Scripture had been tampered with by the evil spirit. There were problems in the key points. It wasn't difficult to advance to the Exterior, but he would go astray in the future.
Therefore, to break through the limits of his predecessors and become the strongest expert in history, Huangfu Tao definitely didn't choose a flawed skill. The ready-made skills in the mausoleum all had flaws. There was no other way but to comprehend the skill on his own.
On the other hand, Huangfu Tao's choice had caused him to go crazy in the prime of his life. The evil spirit wouldn't wait for him to break through!
As he spoke, Mengqi's mind was half immersed in the Qianyin Aperture acupoint. It was also known as the Essence Aperture, the Aperture of Vital Qi, and the Aperture of Life.
In the chaos, a spot of spiritual light floated up and down. It nurtured vitality, mixed with Vital Qi, and transformed Vital Qi into Vital Qi.
Mengqi operated the Aperture acupoint and refined Vital Qi. The Vital Qi spiraled up from his Dantian. Through the infiltration of water, the growth of wood, the evaporation of fire, and the restraint of gold, it was transformed into a wonderful Qi. It blended with medicine and drilled into the Hidden Latch to nourish his soul and restore his spirit.
Correspondingly, his physical strength was also restored. Only his genuine Qi remained at its peak and didn't need to be replenished.
However, this miraculous Dharma Access that could turn death into life and maintain genuine Qi at its peak was also closely related to the Vital Qi acupoint. It was a more advanced and mysterious application that involved the Vital Qi of Heaven and Earth.
Seizing the time to recover, Mengqi continued, "Secondly, heightslord Huangfu took an item from the deepest part of the mausoleum. It indirectly strengthened the evil spirit's ability. Therefore, the evil spirit was able to successfully control him and make him go crazy."
The first part was true, and the second part was false. It was a test.
Huangfu Fei's face suddenly turned pale. She seemed to have thought of something and stammered, "Taoist, Taoist Qingyuan, no, what item is it?"
"It should be a jade pendant with the symbol of the Black Tortoise," Mengqi said calmly.
Huangfu Fei took two steps back and said in shock and fear, "I, I gave it to Eldest Senior Brother. Will, will he be okay?"
"How … how can such an item be used as a token of love?" "Zhenwu Great Emperor will sigh if he knows!" "Can you understand my disappointment?" Mengqi put on a fake smile and said, "This jade pendant hides the secret of destroying evil spirits. If you don't have the corresponding ability, you might be hated by evil spirits if you wear it."
At the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief. Huangfu Tao had indeed taken the Black Tortoise Pendant.
Without waiting for Huangfu Fei's reply, he added, "I entered the mausoleum by mistake and found a thunderbolt mark. Unfortunately, I was too weak at the time and couldn't master it. Fortunately, I met heightslord Huangfu. Although he was controlled by evil spirits and turned into a living dead, he had a profound cultivation and powerful strength. Occasionally, he could regain consciousness. Thus, he taught I the bladesmanship and gave the jade pendant to I. He asked I to come and help you two, take the Black Tortoise Pendant, and find the real way to destroy evil spirits and free him."
The latter half of the sentence was both a truth and a promise. Only by continuing the chain of tasks and uncovering the secret of Zhenwu Great Emperor could they destroy evil spirits. As for taking the Black Tortoise Pendant from Huangfu Fei and her mother, they naturally had to bear the corresponding karma.
"My husband is still alive?"
"My father is still alive?"
Madame Huangfu and Huangfu Fei were so excited that they didn't care about the Black Tortoise Pendant at all. What mattered was that Huangfu Tao could occasionally regain consciousness.
Their voices were out of control and almost broke through Mengqi's interception.
Redline Lady and Holy Hunchback Beyond the Great Wall were sincerely happy that their benefactor was still alive and could be saved!
Mengqi nodded. "Heightslord Huangfu is currently controlled by evil spirits and turned into a living dead. If he can get rid of it, he can return to normal. However, the lifespan of an Exterior master is less than 60 years. If he drags on for another 60 years, I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to recover."
"Thank you for bringing news of my husband. Hope is better than despair!" Madame Huangfu's cheeks were flushed with excitement.
Huangfu Fei added, "When I see Eldest Brother again, I'll ask him to give the Black Tortoise Pendant to you."
She had seen her father studying the Black Tortoise Pendant over and over again and thought that it would be of great benefit to him. Thus, she secretly gave it to Eldest Brother He Canshang as a promise and was afraid that Master Xiyue would take it away. She wanted him to escape and hide so that he could explore its mysteries and master the Peerless Godly Kung Fu. However, now that she found out that it was related to evil spirits, she naturally wouldn't let her lover take the risk.
To be honest, she didn't completely trust Mengqi because what he said was a secret that no one else could verify. No one knew whether the Black Tortoise Pendant was really related to evil spirits. For example, he entered the mausoleum and met Huangfu Tao. Knowing the importance of the Black Tortoise Pendant, he came to God-gathering Heights to deceive the Black Tortoise Pendant by pretending that there was a ghost.
But just like a patient with an incurable disease, they would always hold on to the last straw of hope, regardless of whether it was a lie or not. After knowing that Huangpu Tao could still be saved, Huangfu Fei and Madam Huangfu had a similar change in mentality. They had a kind of "fanaticism" that was willing to pay any price.
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