苏州哪里有站小巷的

Lightning flashed and thunder roared, the fierce wind was accompanied by torrential rain.

How could a small mountain pavilion provide shelter?

On any ordinary day, it would have been a complete mess.

But a mountain need not be high if it is inhabited by immortals, a pavilion need not be large if it embodies the Tao.

White Mountain Monk and Taoist Qinghe stood in the middle of the pavilion, smiling gently, waiting in silence.

After a short while, amidst the raging storm, a thunder cloud arrived, revealing the figure of a True Monarch.

Xu Yang waved his large sleeve and collected his magic artifact before landing in the mountain pavilion.

The two of them immediately went forward to greet him.

“It’s been a few years, Brother Dao’s divine skills have advanced by leaps and bounds!”

“Now, we should rightly address you as our senior.”

“Thanks to our senior for ridding Jinhua of a great evil!”

“Brother Dao’s merit is boundless!”

The two moved forward, with Taoist Qinghe joking freely and White Mountain Monk praising with compassion.

“Both Daoist friends flatter me too much. Such monsters are intolerable by the world, I merely took advantage of the situation.”

Xu Yang smiled, choosing not to accept their address as senior and continued to refer to them as Daoist friends.

In the way of cultivation, the advanced practitioners lead the way.

Twenty years ago in North City, only three true cultivators possessed magic skills, they were the two of them and Peach Blossom Path, all Four-Realm Mages.

Latterly, Peach Blossom Path was slain by Xu Yang, revealing his identity as an evil cultivator, and Mingxiao Taoist Temple replaced Peach Blossom Taoist temple as one of the three great law enforcers of North City, standing alongside Mana Bright Temple and Qingping Taoist Temple.

At that time, Xu Yang had already shown strength that faintly surpassed theirs, but due to similar realms, they continued to address each other as Daoist friends, albeit more respectfully.

As time went by, Mount Jilei’s Mingxiao Taoist Temple gradually grew in influence, continuously sweeping through the demons and evil spirits in North City and even the entire Jinhua Mansion, raising the pressure on Mana Bright Temple and Qingping Taoist Temple day by day. Faced with Xu Yang’s ever-increasing power and remarkable battle achievements, the two could only change their address to Brother Dao.

Now, twenty years later, in North City, there’s no longer mention of the three cultivations standing in equal fame, only Mount Jilei’s Mingxiao Taoist Temple uniquely flourishing. The name of the Thunder Lightning Mana King, Shi Jian, resounds through North City, Jinhua, and even the entirety of Jiangzhe Province.

With the renowned status of Mount Jilei’s Mingxiao Taoist Temple at such a height, Mana Bright Temple and Qingping Taoist Temple no longer feel the pressure because the gap is too wide, and there is no way to catch up, so they simply calmed their minds and quietly waited for this “Brother Dao” to make a breakthrough and honor him as their senior.

Today, he commands the wind and summons the rain, wields lightning with unbeatable force, and effortlessly took down the evil cultivator Dry Prosperous Taoist, who had wreaked havoc for many years. Regardless of whether his realm has advanced, such ability alone suffices to discuss matters on an equal footing with “True Men.”

Therefore, their change in address to senior is also a matter of course.

But Xu Yang did not adopt this posture and continued to interact with them as equals, addressing them as Daoist friends.

“Brother Shi truly has a straightforward nature, we have been overly contrived.”

“Please!”

The two were not those given to pretenses, and not dwelling too much on this, they invited Xu Yang to be seated with a wave of their hands.

“Please!”

Xu Yang smiled, sat down with the two of them, and with a sweep of his sleeve, brought out a tea set: “This is the new season’s Thunder Peak Mist Sprout, please taste it, my two Daoist friends.”

The two exchanged a glance, both letting out a wry smile.

“We were invited to come here, yet we’ve not accomplished anything, and still, we are enjoying Brother Shi’s Immortal Tea; we are truly ashamed!”

“I am not as immensely skilled in cultivating techniques as Brother Shi and possess nothing worth mentioning, but allow me to enhance the atmosphere with a censer of incense.”

Taoist Qinghe chuckled, and with a flick of his sleeve, a censer appeared, from which a trail of incense rose, refreshing the heart and mind.

“Qingping incense?”

“If Daoist friend is so humble, then how could I, this poor monk, dare to present this simple array of fruits and vegetables?”

White Mountain Monk shook his head and drew forth a collection of fruits and vegetarian dishes, and instantly, the table was filled with an array of items not commonly enjoyed by the mundane world, all spiritual objects of the immortals.

In this world, although Yuan Energy is sparse and the world is barren, this does not mean there are no spiritual objects that come into being.

The Divine Soul method uses the false to cultivate the true and can be applied to the cultivation of living beings, and naturally can also be used to cultivate various spiritual objects.

For example, the array of fruits and vegetarian dishes displayed by White Mountain Monk is the famous “Mana Bright Temple” vegetarian feast, each serving infused with the genuine and pure spiritual essence of Buddhism, beneficial to consume, comparable to spirit pills and miraculous medicine.

And the Qingping incense of the Taoist Qinghe, which is the unique spiritual object from “Qingping Taoist Temple,” helps focus the mind and aids cultivation. It is said that daily use can also increase the strength of the spirit and achieve the power of outer-body experiences.

For ordinary mortals, these are indeed spiritual objects of the immortals.

Of course, Xu Yang’s contribution was equally impressive.

“Hmm!”

“This Thunder Peak Mist Sprout tastes even more sublime!”

“Not only is the spiritual energy pure, but it also carries an essence of thunderbolt creation. Brother Shi’s divine skills are beyond our reach!”

“Thunder Peak’s Immortal Tea is truly unrivaled!”

As the two of them tasted the tea, all they could do was express their admiration.

“It’s just a small Spiritual Tea, how could it be worthy of being called by the Immortals?”

Xu Yang shook his head and laughed, enjoying the drink with the two of them.

So it was that outside the pavilion, lightning flashed and thunder rolled, and the rain poured down, while inside, incense was burned, and tea was enjoyed in contented leisure.

The three cultivators drank together, the conversation flowing freely.

Taoist Qinghe replaced wine with tea, raising a cup to Xu Yang, “Brother Shi, today you’ve eliminated that monster, removing a great blight from Jinhua Mansion, thus upholding the reputation of our Taoism. It’s truly admirable. Please!”

White Mountain Monk also said, “Over these years, Brother Shi has purged a horde of demons, rectifying the atmosphere in North City, Jinhua Mansion, and even the entire Jiangzhe Province. You’ve greatly diminished the arrogance of demons and evil spirits, preventing them from running rampant. It’s indeed a boundless merit.”

“Exorcising demons and exterminating evil spirits, carrying out the will of Heaven, is the inherent duty of a cultivator. How can I take credit for it?”

Xu Yang shook his head, then sighed, “Alas, my mana is inadequate, and my Taoist cultivation is modest. I can’t handle Orchid Temple and can only let such ghosts from the Ghost Realm cause harm to the world.”

“Orchid Temple!”

Upon hearing this, both were solemn, “That Orchid Ghost Realm communicates with the netherworld; inside are countless demons and spirits that have been entrenched there for nearly a millennium. Many great individuals have come, including true cultivators of Taoism, but in the end, all were powerless against it.”

“Nowadays, the world is unpredictable, and demons are rising all around. Evil spirits run rampant, and the Ghost Realm is also expanding. True Monarch Changrong from White Cloud Taoist Temple personally came to Jinhua, and together with the true men from both Buddhism and Taoism, they were barely able to restrain it!”

The two sighed, looking at Xu Yang again, “Brother Shi, your Thunder Series is extraordinary and the bane of demons and evil spirits. Once you achieve the status of a True Man or True Monarch, you will surely annihilate this realm and sweep away all those evil spirits.”

Xu Yang smiled, understanding their intentions, “Rest assured, I have no intention of entering that Orchid Temple right now.”

“That’s good.”

Relieved by his words, both breathed a sigh of relief.

The Orchid Ghost Realm was no ordinary place, an alternate dimension where yin and yang converged, not only inhabited by thousands of evil ghosts but also backed by an old demon that has reigned supreme in the netherworld for ten thousand years, untouchable.

If not for this, True Monarch Changrong from White Cloud Taoist Temple would have joined forces with other true men to have already eradicated this Ghost Realm, instead of letting it harm so many until now.

The Old Demon was formidable. Even a Heavenly Master from Taoism had no power to suppress it; in fact, they were at a disadvantage, only able to situate themselves outside the Ghost Realm, in the world of the living, to check its expansion.

Only with the emergence of a “Heavenly Master” to suppress that ten thousand-year-old demon could Orchid Temple be dealt with. Otherwise, it would remain as such.

But was it that easy to become a “Heavenly Master”?

Considering this, both shook their heads silently.

“Let’s not talk about this matter anymore.”

Taoist Qinghe quickly changed the subject, “I’ve heard that there was a disturbance at Hundred Ghosts Forest some time ago?”

White Mountain Monk said with a serious expression, “Indeed, roughly half a year ago, a Taoist who called himself Yin Mountain entered Hundred Ghosts Forest and occupied the chaotic burial mound. There, he enslaved ghosts and practiced his cultivating skills as part of his training. He had a multitude of Underworld Soldiers and powerful Ghost Generals under his command, quite formidable indeed.”

“Oh?”

Taoist Qinghe turned to him, “So, Monk, you’ve met him?”

“I haven’t met him, but we’ve exchanged a few blows!”

White Mountain Monk revealed a bitter smile, “I was no match for him. I couldn’t even enter Hundred Ghosts Forest and was defeated by his Ghost Generals.”

“That powerful?”

Hearing this, Taoist Qinghe was also surprised, “Isn’t that similar to the Hundred Ghosts Taoist from before?”

Hundred Ghosts Taoist, also known within Jinhua Mansion as an Evil Cultivator who occupied the chaotic burial mound of Hundred Ghosts Forest, a place dense with buried corpses and condensed with yin and sinister energy. He practiced a very formidable skill of enslaving ghosts, with over a hundred evil ghosts under his command. While not as strong as the Dry Prosperous Taoist, he was among the more powerful Four-Realm Mages.

Mana Bright Temple and Qingping Taoist Temple had previously joined forces to attack Hundred Ghosts Forest, but ultimately, they were no match for Hundred Ghosts Taoist with the home ground advantage and were forced to retreat.

Having no other choice, the two asked Xu Yang for help from Mount Jilei, and relying on his thunder prowess, they finally executed the Hundred Ghosts Taoist.

However, Hundred Ghosts Forest’s chaotic burial mound contained countless buried corpses, and the accumulated yin and sinister energy made it a land of death, which the three could not transform in a short period of time. They could only seal it temporarily, waiting for the yin and sinister energy to dissipate on its own.

But unexpectedly, before the yin and sinister energy faded, a Taoist skilled in enslaving ghosts and practicing his skills, Yin Mountain Taoist, appeared.

“I fear he is more formidable than the Hundred Ghosts Taoist.”

White Mountain Monk said with a bitter smile, “Yin Mountain Taoist’s Ghost Enslaving Skills are extraordinary. He even developed two powerful Ghost Generals named ‘Increase Life’ and ‘Damage Fate.’ These were especially terrifying. On the day I went to investigate, I was defeated by the ‘Increase Life General’.”

“‘Increase Life’ and ‘Damage Fate’ Generals?”

Taoist Qinghe’s gaze intensified, visibly alarmed, “I’ve heard these two Generals are exceptional, considered the epitome of malevolence among ghosts, relentless killers that feed on evil and consume ghosts, advancing rapidly in cultivation. In the future, they could even become Ghost Kings or Ghost Emperors, rivaling True Men and True Monarchs.”

“Indeed!”

White Mountain Monk nodded, his face conveying his ordeal, “I don’t know how long Yin Mountain Taoist has cultivated these two Generals. Although they are still Ghost Generals, their mana surpasses mine, and they are not restrained by my Buddhist Law. I was utterly defeated and forced to retreat by just one ‘Increase Life General’.”

There are different levels and strengths of cultivation among ghostly beings.

A Ghost General is equivalent to a Four-Realm Mage.

A Ghost King is comparable to a Five-Realm True Man.

A Ghost Emperor even surpasses a Six-Realm True Monarch.

“If even you are no match for him, then those ‘Increase Life’ and ‘Damage Fate’ Generals must have reached the extremity of the Ghost General Realm!”

Taoist Qinghe looked gravely concerned, “Increase Life and Damage Fate are the most malevolent Generals among all kinds of ghostly beings, nearly impossible to control. The Yin Mountain Taoist who has cultivated such Generals must certainly have reached the Five Realms, ascending to True Man status, otherwise, he could not possibly suppress them.”

“The Yin Mountain Ghost Path, a Five-Realm True Man!”

“Increase Life and Damage Fate, Four-Realm wickedness at its extreme!”

“Added to that, his force of numerous Evil Ghosts and Underworld Soldiers…”

“Hiss!!!”

Taoist Qinghe inhaled sharply, “This Yin Mountain Taoist might be even more problematic than the Dry Prosperous Monster?”

White Mountain Monk nodded with a wry smile, “It seems likely.”

“This…”

Taoist Qinghe appeared uncertain and then turned his gaze to Xu Yang who was listening quietly by their side, not speaking a word.

“Brother Shi, what do you think?”