Chapter 90: Rotten Bone Forest

In the midst of conversation.

Liu Danian took out a Messaging Talisman and said to Xu Zhengyang, “Since that is the case, you should inform your Senior Brother and report this matter clearly.

If he agrees.

Then you can follow Elder Liu Baoshan to Rotten Bone Forest for a trip.”

“Alright.”

Xu Zhengyang agreed and immediately received the Messaging Talisman to explain the situation to Xing Yong.

Moments later.

When Xing Yong replied through the Messaging Talisman, instructing Xu Zhengyang to pay attention to safety and listen to Liu Baoshan,

Liu Baoshan immediately summoned his flying boat and invited Xu Zhengyang to set off, saying, “Third Young Master, shall we depart now?”

“Alright!”

Xu Zhengyang agreed and at once jumped onto Liu Baoshan’s flying boat.

…

Liu Baoshan’s flying boat was very small.

At most, it was only one zhang long and three chi wide, just enough for a cultivator to sit or lie down to rest.

After discarding all unnecessary flashy functions, what Liu Baoshan’s flying boat traded for was extreme speed!

…

Moments later.

When the flying boat soared into the clouds, Liu Baoshan cast a Wind-Repelling Spell while taking out a small table, upon which he placed a pot of Spirit Wine and several snacks.

With pride, he said to Xu Zhengyang, “Third Young Master, how do you find the speed of my flying boat?”

Hearing this, Xu Zhengyang praised, “With such speed, I fear even most Tier 2 cultivators could hardly match it.”

“That is only natural.”

Liu Baoshan said proudly, “This boat is named the Gale Falcon.

This old man managed to live to this age all thanks to it. It has saved me from enemies and death more times than I can count!”

As he spoke.

Liu Baoshan fell into recollection, his face nostalgic as he said, “I still remember back when I spent my entire fortune to build this Gale Falcon, a flying boat whose only redeeming feature was its speed.

I was ridiculed by many of my friends.

But now.

Those friends have either perished or sat down to pass away…”

At this point.

With a sigh, Liu Baoshan lifted a cup of Spirit Wine and poured it onto the boat, lamenting, “Only this old companion remains to accompany me.”

Xu Zhengyang, upon hearing this, immediately said, “Elder Liu’s foresight is truly admirable.”

“Enough, enough, no more of that.”

Liu Baoshan waved it off and poured wine for Xu Zhengyang, saying, “Even with this Gale Falcon, it will take us half a day to fly from the sect to Rotten Bone Forest.

This wine is called Hundred-Flowers Brew. Though it is wine, it does not intoxicate.

Since my Gale Falcon is cramped and leaves no space for activity, why don’t we drink a little together to pass the lonely journey?”

Hearing this, Xu Zhengyang readily replied, “It would be discourteous to decline.”

…

Half a day passed.

When Xu Zhengyang and Liu Baoshan arrived at Rotten Bone Forest, it was already the Hai hour (9–11 p.m.).

Rotten Bone Forest was shrouded in miasma all year round.

Now, as they visited late at night—

In addition to the miasma settled on the ground, a misty haze had risen within the forest, enveloping it completely like a ghostly realm.

Seeing this, Liu Baoshan shook his head and said, “This Rotten Bone Forest is indeed a filthy place.

No wonder that evil cultivator chose to make his home here.”

As he spoke.

Liu Baoshan led Xu Zhengyang to land outside Rotten Bone Forest. From his Storage Pouch, he took out several Formation Disks. While setting them up, he said, “That evil cultivator already occupies the terrain.

Now that it is late at night, the Yin Qi has condensed into mist, putting us at a greater disadvantage.

So the two of us should rest outside first. When dawn breaks at the Mao hour (5–7 a.m.), and the Yin Qi disperses, we will then enter.”

Xu Zhengyang made no objection upon hearing this and said, “Everything shall follow Elder Liu’s arrangements.”

Seeing Xu Zhengyang’s sensibility, Liu Baoshan nodded in satisfaction and said, “This formation is called the Pure Yang Fire Barrier.

It restrains those of Yin and ghostly nature.

Tonight, we shall rest within the formation and quietly wait for dawn.”

Xu Zhengyang suddenly thought of something and said, “If we set up such a formation outside Rotten Bone Forest so openly, what if that evil cultivator notices and escapes?”

“He won’t!”

Liu Baoshan replied confidently, then explained with a smile, “According to the sect’s investigations—

That evil cultivator, though he turned himself into a Ghost Cultivator to break past the limit of lifespan, also mistakenly refined himself into an Earthbound Spirit.

Now.

This Rotten Bone Forest is both his Dao domain and his prison.”

“Earthbound Spirit?” Xu Zhengyang asked in surprise.

Xu Zhengyang had read about Earthbound Spirits in miscellaneous texts.

So-called Earthbound Spirits were a special form of Yin soul, usually created from strong obsessions or external restraints, thereby being trapped within a fixed region.

“Mm.”

Liu Baoshan speculated, “Most likely, the cultivation method that evil cultivator obtained was only a fragment.

Thus, he cocooned himself.

In the process of transforming, he became an Earthbound Spirit, trapping himself in this godforsaken forest.”

Xu Zhengyang nodded thoughtfully at these words.

Then he asked Liu Baoshan, “Elder Liu, since that evil cultivator is an Earthbound Spirit, may I set up formations around this forest?”

Being cautious by nature, Liu Baoshan immediately said, “There is no need to rush. Wait until dawn to set them up.”

Xu Zhengyang smiled, “I don’t need to go in person. I have refined some puppets, which can be used to set up formations.”

“Puppets?”

Liu Baoshan nodded at this, but still cautioned Xu Zhengyang, “As long as they do not leave the Pure Yang Fire Barrier.”

Xu Zhengyang laughed, “I wouldn’t risk my own life so carelessly.”

As they spoke.

Liu Baoshan retrieved several Messaging Talismans from his Storage Pouch.

He reported today’s events and the countermeasures he planned to the Administrative Hall’s Liu Danian.

Seeing this scene, Xu Zhengyang was secretly impressed at the familiar, almost bureaucratic procedure.

Then, turning his hand, he took out dozens of lifelike sparrow puppets from his Jade Gourd.

Inside these sparrow puppets.

Were also concealed hundreds of insect puppets, tiny as gnats, yet equally lifelike and in varied forms!

By this time, Liu Baoshan had finished his report and was waiting for Liu Danian’s reply.

Because of this.

When he saw the strange puppets in Xu Zhengyang’s hands, he asked curiously, “Third Young Master, what’s the use of these puppets?”

Xu Zhengyang smiled and explained, “Once deployed, these puppets can detect all Spiritual Energy fluctuations within Rotten Bone Forest.”

“Puppets that can detect Spiritual Energy fluctuations in Rotten Bone Forest?” Liu Baoshan looked skeptical upon hearing this.

As he spoke.

A gleam flashed in his eyes as he examined the puppets thoroughly.

He could not understand.

How could such crude puppets detect Spiritual Energy fluctuations?

But in the cultivation world, probing into others’ secrets was a grave taboo.

Liu Baoshan, an old fox, naturally would not make such a low-level mistake.

Thus, he could only suppress his curiosity, watching with puzzlement as Xu Zhengyang manipulated the bird puppets to take flight.

Like a real flock of sparrows, they flapped and scattered into Rotten Bone Forest…

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