Chapter 976: Strange Traces

The 'Ice Cold's flesh and blood began to produce clumps of strange black water, repairing his broken throat and shattered heart meridians.

Shen Shouhang's four limbs began to tremble irregularly, his flesh seeming to be pulled by gray silk threads, constantly wriggling, and finally completely fusing.

Shen Shouhang slowly stood up in a strange posture.

His pupils turned pitch black.

A faint, strange smile also hung at the corners of his mouth.

Hoarse, tearing voices, as if countless men, women, old, and young were mixed together, echoed in the deathly silent temple.

"A bunch of old things, defending so tightly..."

"But finally... entered..."

"Qian State's chess game... can't place pieces, then... start another game..."

Shen Shouhang's body's black blood stained his clothes, making him look like he was wearing a dead person's Daoist robe.

He walked to Shentu Ao with uneven steps, dipped his fingers in his own black blood, and began to outline array patterns.

Above the dead person's Daoist robe, temporary manifestation of hundreds and thousands of heavy shadows appeared.

The black blood under Shen Shouhang's hand, as if alive, wriggled one by one, manifesting strange patterns on Shentu Ao's skinned and wind-burned flesh.

And these strange patterns pieced together formed a dragon.

This dragon was a black dragon, similar in appearance to Da Huang's green dragon, yet it revealed an indescribable profoundness and strangeness.

Tearing, overlapping, and strange voices sounded:

"You are Da Huang's prince, you will not die..."

"You will return to Da Huang, complete your great cause, rule over ten thousand clans with supreme authority, suppress ten thousand demons with the might of a true dragon..."

"You will let the fires of war spread, burning the entire Da Huang."

"You will gnaw Dao Court's Dao soldiers into white bones, you will trample Dao Court's running dogs into meat paste..."

"You will turn the entire Da Huang into purgatory..."

"Your throne will be cast from white bones, your royal city will be piled with flesh and blood, and you, in boundless killing karma, will be crowned king..."

"This is... your destiny."

These words integrated into the strange patterns, completing the dragon diagram and becoming one with Shentu Ao's flesh and blood.

Shentu Ao suddenly opened his eyes, and a black dragon flashed in the depths of his eyes.

Shen Shouhang pointed his finger, and the strange patterns, like Gu insects, gnawed in the air, biting out a crack.

This crack already carried a trace of void power that seemed real yet unreal.

Within this power, some strange Dao laws were mixed, and strange shadows were heavy, actually deceiving the laws of the heavenly Dao and not triggering the heavenly punishment and prohibition of the third grade state realm.

This was the "Deceive Heaven" technique.

But this shocking scene was seen by no one.

Shentu Ao slowly rose, the power of the black dragon integrated throughout his body, and a strange baleful aura surged around him.

With pitch-black eyes, he walked to the dragon coffin, hugged the remains of the Fourth Prince, then stepped into the strange crack torn open by Shen Shouhang, one step after another.

From then on, his figure completely disappeared, not knowing where he went.

But a wisp of pitch-black flame quietly ignited, and not long after, it would burn living beings to charcoal...

After sending off Shentu Ao, Shen Shouhang walked back to Xuan Gongzi's "corpse," and the ice-cold meaning was revealed in his pitch-black pupils.

"Again Xuan Mo Tai, lacking in memory..."

Shen Shouhang dropped a drop of black blood on Xuan Gongzi's forehead, and Xuan Gongzi slowly opened his eyes, his eyes gradually turning black.

"Return to Xuan Mo Sect, find Xuan Sanren, and thoroughly learn... his Dao Heart Plant Demon Origin Canon for me..."

Shen Shouhang's voice was hoarse and yin and yang mixed.

"Return to the sect, find Uncle Ancestor, and thoroughly comprehend... Dao Heart Plant Demon Origin Canon..."

Xuan Gongzi's voice was dull, reciting silently once, then he also slowly rose, like a puppet, walking into the strange Dao crack that possessed the power of "Deceive Heaven".

After the crack slowly dissipated.

The setup was complete.

Shen Shouhang's whole body's black blood began to boil, then self-ignited, turning into strange, nameless black flames, burning the entire temple with him as the center, destroying all karma.

Together with himself, everything was destroyed.

After Shen Shouhang's body died, all things were completely burned by the strange Dao's black flames.

In this way, no one could calculate the karma between them.

Nor would anyone know exactly what happened in this temple.

As Shen Shouhang "self-incinerated," his flesh and blood began to be burned dry, his figure also began to dissipate bit by bit, and the karma between them flashed by one by one, then turned to ashes.

His memories of his previous life and the people he knew also passed by like lantern slides one by one, returning to nothingness.

These people were varied, from far to near, there were his parents, his son, people from the Shen family, sword cultivators from Tai Xu Men, tomb robbers, Tu Mister...

"Shen Shouhang" looked at all this indifferently, not minding.

Just at this moment, a face with some childishness and naivety flashed by, and a name flashed by:

"Ink Painting."

Shen Shouhang's pitch-black pupils trembled.

Ink Painting!

Ink Painting!!

This little young man's name was... Ink Painting!!

He actually... was named Ink Painting!

Exactly the same name as the one who ate a wisp of his demon thought and caused him to nurture Dao sins and rebel, and even more so, the one his junior brother painstakingly covered up with heavenly machine fog...

"Shen Shouhang" wanted to trace it back.

But all karma had been destroyed by him.

It was he himself who destroyed them with his own strange Dao flames, and there was no use in regretting it.

Shen Shouhang was in a daze.

Everything was as he wished, calculated very well, but what he didn't expect was that there would actually be a hundred thick and one thin, letting the biggest piece of karma slip through his fingers.

"My strange calculation actually leaked..."

"Heavenly machine's barrier mo..."

Shen Shouhang's expression was ice-cold, then became indifferent again, murmuring with a seemingly smiling but not smiling expression: "Interesting..."

"The heavenly machine is difficult to measure, karma is complicated, finally one day in the future, the line of karma between you and me will intersect again..."

"At that time, I will carefully look at what exactly you look like..."

"I will carefully look at... what kind of karma you are bearing."

This voice was difficult to distinguish between male and female, strange and unfathomable, seeming to connect to the nine quiet, with ten thousand yin souls ferociously wailing.

Shen Shouhang also turned into ashes in the pitch-black strange flames.

All this completely annihilated, and no one knew.

And above Lonely Mountain, the conflict between the Shen family and the various great families and sects continued.

In the midst of a chaotic situation, no one fundamentally noticed the strange Dao seed planted at the bottom of this Lonely Mountain.

Outside Lonely Mountain City, inside a carriage.

Ink Painting's unease in his heart also gradually dissipated as he moved farther away from the distant Lonely Mountain.

He rarely had this kind of unease.

Moreover, this unease was still very strong, but thinking carefully, there was no clue.

Ink Painting then vaguely guessed that this should be an extremely dangerous karma, estimated to be from some great power that he couldn't afford to offend, also secretly plotting.

Fortunately, this sense of crisis had gradually receded.

Ink Painting couldn't help but take a sip of tea, suppressing the shock.

Inside the leisurely moving carriage, only he and Elder Xun Zi You were present.

Gu Master and Fan Dian Si, one returned to the Refining Tool Row, the other returned to the Dao Court Si.

Ink Painting originally wanted to suggest that they go to Tai Xu Men to avoid the storm.

But these two, one the head of the Refining Tool Row and the other a Dian Si of the Dao Court, counted as having some "career" in Lonely Mountain City, and a runaway monk cannot run away from the temple.

Moreover, at this juncture, disappearing without a trace would only arouse suspicion.

Therefore, the two of them remained in Lonely Mountain City.

Ink Painting also entrusted Elder Xun Zi Xian to take care of him, and Elder Xun Zi Xian also stayed in Lonely Mountain.

Now Ink Painting was safe, but the matter in Lonely Mountain City was not over yet.

Elder Xun Zi Xian wanted to stay and watch the follow-up, and other Tai Xu Men elders also wanted to stay and clean up.

Therefore, only Xun Zi You, in a simple light carriage, escorted Ink Painting back to Tai Xu Men along the main road.

Leaving Lonely Mountain City, the journey was all within the second grade state realm, and it was sufficient for Elder Xun Zi You, a Golden Core late stage elder, to escort him.

And with Ink Painting's current movement technique, as long as he wasn't surrounded by Golden Core cultivators in a life-or-death situation, he could generally escape safely.

This journey was naturally calm and uneventful.

Once things quieted down, Xun Zi You thought of something that bothered him greatly.

Along the way, he also kept sizing up Ink Painting from time to time, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Seeing Ink Painting drinking tea and seeming leisurely, Xun Zi You said: "Ink Painting, have you... learned sword techniques?"

"Learned a little," Ink Painting said truthfully.

Xun Zi You frowned and said deliberately: "In the nightmare, I sensed an inconceivable... Tai Xu Hua Jian True Secret aura."

"You were just inside the temple at that time, perhaps you know the origin of this sword intent?"

Xun Zi You looked at Ink Painting.

Ink Painting's heart was a little tangled.

He couldn't possibly say that this sword was something he had unleashed.

Old Ancestor Du Gu had instructed him that the matter of divine thought turning into sword true secret should not be told to anyone.

Ink Painting blinked his eyes, "This... it's a long story..."

"A long story?" Xun Zi You was stunned, "Is there still some origin here?"

Ink Painting nodded and began to tell a story:

"Inside Lonely Yellow Mountain, there was once a very powerful mountain god."

"This mountain god later fell and was slain by a senior from my Tai Xu Men who acted righteously, but it wasn't completely clean, and some evil thoughts remained."

"The senior from my Tai Xu Men, in order to prevent this evil mountain god from reviving, left a trace of Tai Xu sword intent to suppress it inside the temple."

"When we entered Lonely Mountain, this evil mountain god just happened to wake up and wanted to eat us, but its evil thoughts also triggered that trace of Tai Xu sword intent that the Tai Xu Men senior used to seal the mountain god."

"The Tai Xu sword intent was inspired, divine thought turned into a sword, the momentum was shocking, and it immediately completely chopped this mountain god, settling the karma, and we were able to wake up from the nightmare..."

Ink Painting's story was nine parts true and one part false, told with conviction.

Xun Zi You slowly nodded, feeling that it made sense.

The Tai Xu divine thought turning into sword true secret had already been lost, and those who could truly learn it and learn it to a certain level were only some old sect ancestors from that year.

The old ancestors of Tai Xu Men in that year did indeed like to travel around, using divine thought to turn into a sword to slay demons and eliminate evils.

It was also reasonable for a Tai Xu Men ancestor to slay a mountain god.

Otherwise, it would be too abstract to say that this divine thought turning into sword true secret was unleashed by Ink Painting himself.

Even Xun Zi You himself couldn't convince himself.

It must have been an ancestor who unleashed it.

"I just don't know which ancestor of my Tai Xu Men it was who slew this mountain god..." Xun Zi You muttered.

Ink Painting held his face and dared not answer.

"Which ancestor of my Tai Xu Men was it..." Xun Zi You was still pondering this matter.

Ink Painting was afraid that he would keep chanting "ancestor" and shorten his own lifespan, so he quickly changed the subject:

"By the way, Elder Xun, why did you come to Lonely Mountain?"

Elder Xun was indeed distracted, he knew Ink Painting was clever and did not hide anything from Ink Painting, "The ancestor told me to come."

"Oh..." Ink Painting nodded, but there were still some doubts in his heart, "Old Mister Xun, did he just ask you to follow me without any other means?"

Elder Xun had been following him from such a distance, so far that he hadn't even detected him.

If he wasn't careful, his own little life would be gone.

What was the use of him following then?

Unless there was another arrangement here, Old Mister Xun had other plans.

Xun Zi You was just bothered by this point about Ink Painting, who was born with a clever heart and had too many ideas, unable to hide even the slightest matter.

Seeing Ink Painting's clear and curious gaze, Xun Zi You considered and felt that there was no need to hide this kind of matter, so he said:

"Didn't the ancestor set a Tai Xu Two Yi Lock for you?"

"Uh-huh."

"This lock can sense your life force. Once you are in danger, I can feel it. If there is a life-and-death crisis, I will crush the void sword order and notify the ancestor..."

Ink Painting was stunned.

Old Mister was actually so good to him...

He was grateful in his heart, but also a little doubtful, "This is the third grade state realm, right? Even if Old Mister can crush the void, he can't come over."

Xun Zi You frowned, "This I am also not clear... but even if the ancestor cannot arrive in person, he should have a way to protect your life, of course, it is limited to the Qian Xue territory, going too far will not work."

Ink Painting nodded slightly.

"Qian Xue territory, Tai Xu Two Yi Lock, in case of crisis, can protect one's life..."

Ink Painting remembered and said gratefully:

"Thank you, Old Mister Xun! And thank you, Elder Xun!"

Xun Zi You waved his hand, "No need to thank."

Anyway, this backup plan was not used in the end, of course, it is best not to use it.

Afterward, the two sat in the carriage, drinking tea and chatting.

As night fell, they finally arrived at Tai Xu Men.

Xun Zi You led Ink Painting to pay respects to Old Mister Xun.

Old Mister Xun saw that Ink Painting was safe and sound, his expression was as usual, but his heart finally relaxed.

"Not injured, are you?"

"Uh-huh," Ink Painting nodded, "Thanks to Elder Xun for protecting this disciple, it's nothing."

He subtly spoke well of Xun Zi You.

Old Mister Xun glanced at Xun Zi You, a hint of praise in his gaze.

Xun Zi You's mood became complex and moved again.

He never expected that he, a dignified Golden Core late stage elder, would one day have to rely on a Foundation Establishment disciple to show his merit in front of the ancestor.

"It's good that you're okay, go back and rest early..." Old Mister Xun said gently.

"Uh-huh, Old Mister take care, this disciple will take his leave first." Ink Painting respectfully bowed and then withdrew.

Xun Zi You did not leave, he knew that the ancestor definitely had something to ask him.

Sure enough, after Ink Painting left, Old Mister Xun motioned to him, "Tell me everything that happened."

Xun Zi You told everything point by point.

But many matters, he himself was in the clouds and fog, for example, the package that Ink Painting asked him to carry, which he didn't know if it really existed.

And along the way, some strange divine sense door ways.

These unclear things, he didn't mention, but some truly real things, he told everything.

For example, the Shen family, for example, the ten thousand people pit, for example, the descendants of the Da Huang imperial family, and the matter of the dragon vein.

As Old Mister Xun listened, his brows also gradually furrowed tightly.

He also didn't expect that Ink Painting's trip to Lonely Mountain, just going down into a tomb, would unexpectedly stir up so many big matters.

This child, could he be born with a "karma holy body"?

He could attract any matter to himself.

"Old Ancestor," Xun Zi You frowned and said, "Was the matter in Lonely Mountain really done by the Shen family?"

Old Mister Xun said: "What did you see?"

"I saw it," Xun Zi You's gaze was ice-cold, "Dead everywhere, over the mountains and plains..."

"What you saw is what it is," Old Mister Xun sighed.

"Just..." Xun Zi You frowned, "I still dare not believe that a fifth grade righteous Dao family appointed by the Dao Court would actually do... such heartless and crazy things..."

Old Mister Xun sighed slightly, "This is the human heart. Cultivating the Dao but not cultivating the heart, pursuing fame and profit, over time, naturally anything will be done."

"Then how will this matter end?" Xun Zi You said.

Old Mister Xun was also not sure, he sighed, "This matter... is too complicated, undercurrents are surging, the situation is difficult to determine, let's first observe the changes quietly..."

Xun Zi You nodded.

"You mentioned... that dragon vein?" Old Mister Xun asked.

"Still in Ink Painting's hands," Xun Zi You answered.

This thing was "deceived" by Ink Painting from that Xuan Gongzi, so it naturally counted as Ink Painting's thing, and Xun Zi You did not ask for it.

Although this thing was very significant.

But precisely because this dragon vein was too significant, keeping it in Ink Painting's hands might not be a good thing.

"Should we... ask for the dragon vein back?" Xun Zi You frowned and said, "I am afraid that if this thing stays in Ink Painting's hands, it will easily attract trouble..."

Old Mister Xun pondered for a moment, shook his head, "No hurry, let him play with it first. When he's tired of playing, he will naturally hand it over."

"If he doesn't understand it himself, and you go ask for it, he won't be happy."

Xun Zi You: "..."

Alright, they, as ancestors and elders, before doing anything, must first consider Ink Painting's little feelings.

However, it was a good thing that the dragon vein was intercepted.

Xun Zi You said: "The remnants of Da Huang have always been plotting rebellion. Now the prince of Da Huang has died at the bottom of the Lonely Mountain tomb, and the dragon vein has fallen into Ink Painting's hands..."

"The inheritance is lost, the bloodline is cut off, and I don't think they can stir up any waves. The war in the South Wasteland should also quiet down not long after..."

Xun Zi You sighed lightly, "When the war stops, fewer people will die..."

Old Mister Xun nodded slightly, but vaguely in his heart, there was always a bad premonition.

It seemed that things would not be so simple.

Xun Zi You had experienced several bitter battles on the trip to Lonely Mountain, and his body and mind were exhausted, so at this time, he didn't think so much.

"Old Ancestor, there is still one more matter..."

Xun Zi You told Old Mister Xun the matter about the Tai Xu Men senior using the divine thought turning into sword true secret to slay the mountain god that Ink Painting had told him. Old Mister Xun pondered for a moment and nodded, "There is such a matter."

"There really is?" Xun Zi You was stunned.

"This is an old almanac," Old Mister Xun recalled, "There are indeed records of sword cultivator seniors in my Tai Xu Men slaying the Lonely Yellow Mountain god, but they are vague, and the specific origin and process are not too clear."

Xun Zi You nodded, "Then what Ink Painting said is true..."

That's good... he almost thought outrageously that it was Ink Painting who used divine thought turning into a sword.

After Old Mister Xun and Xun Zi You chatted some more and asked for some details, he waved his hand, "This matter was hard on you, go back and rest early."

Xun Zi You nodded, "Okay, then this junior will take his leave."

Xun Zi You turned to leave, but couldn't help but have some doubts again, asking in a low voice:

"Old Ancestor, you say... why did Ink Painting, for no reason, run to Lonely Mountain?"

Old Mister Xun was stunned, didn't say anything, only shook his head: "Go rest."

"Yes."

Xun Zi You was just curious, and since the ancestor didn't say, he didn't find it convenient to ask. He bowed his hand and left.

After Xun Zi You left, Old Mister Xun also couldn't help but furrow his brows.

He also felt a little strange.

Although this series of matters in Lonely Mountain was very significant, what exactly was the relationship with Ink Painting?

Why did he disregard the danger and just drill in?

Or was it that this child, Ink Painting, had figured something out?

Old Mister Xun's brows were tightly furrowed.

Disciple dwelling.

Ink Painting first placed Yellow Mountain Jun's life god image inside his own cabinet and sealed it with an array to prevent others from seeing it.

Of course, ordinary people should not see it, but it is always better to be prepared for anything.

Afterward, Ink Painting again pressed the dragon vein wrapped in a square black cloth by Xuan Gongzi under his pillow.

He would research this dragon vein later.

Finally, he burned incense, bathed, and when the Zi hour arrived, he impatiently entered his knowledge sea.

After entering his knowledge sea, Ink Painting then took out that wisp of third grade god marrow, dazzling with golden light and incomparably precious.

Good things must not be left around, otherwise accidents can easily happen.

To avoid long nights and many dreams, he planned to eat this god marrow tonight. If he guessed correctly, within this god marrow lay the opportunity for his divine sense to break through twenty patterns.