Chapter 71

Seeing the black water mystic snake leave, Zhu Ganglie couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. However, thinking about the snake's gaze as it left, he knew that this enmity had grown deep.

His wrist trembled, and the five giant beasts transformed back into five skulls, flying back to his side. With the protection of these five giant beasts, his confidence grew. With these five beasts, he could even easily kill those low-rank Golden Core experts.

"Thank you, Daoist, for your assistance in repelling that giant beast."

Cang Jie supported an old man with a weathered face and white hair, slowly walking over and smiling at Zhu Ganglie.

Although the old man was aged, his figure seemed to conceal a giant beast, his eyes flashing with sharp light, making Zhu Ganglie not dare to underestimate him. He knew that this old man must be the Great Elder. Without putting on airs, he stepped forward and said, "This poor Daoist, Zhu Ganglie, greets the Great Elder. I just wonder why the black water mystic snake came here and attacked the Youqiong tribe?"

Hearing Zhu Ganglie's words, the elder sighed lightly and said, "I won't hide it from you, Daoist. The black water mystic snake came for the holy artifact of Great Yi, hoping to use it to shed its skin and transform."

"However, I didn't expect that this snake would actually benefit from the disaster and shed half of its skin."

As the elder spoke, his eyes showed a hint of worry, which made Zhu Ganglie feel a sense of unease. He couldn't help but ask, "What is the significance of the snake shedding its skin?"

"Daoist, you may not know, but the black water mystic snake is an ancient fierce beast. Limited by its skin, it cannot cultivate like our human race or transform into a human form. They can only purify their bloodline, hoping to transform into an ancestral lineage, at which point their strength will be extremely powerful.

Now that the black water mystic snake has shed its skin, it has become an ancient ancestral snake, even more powerful. After shedding its skin, this snake can transform into a human form and cultivate like the human race, with boundless potential in the future! The only fortunate thing is that the black water mystic snake has only shed half of its skin."

Hearing this, Zhu Ganglie's heart sank. He had made a great enemy this time, but fortunately, his cultivation and status were not to be underestimated. In the future, if he found the black water mystic snake, he would have to eliminate it to prevent it from becoming a hindrance on his cultivation path.

"I heard from Cang Jie that you are looking for the ancient witch tribe?"

While Zhu Ganglie was pondering, the Great Elder asked calmly.

"Indeed, I am looking for the ancient witch tribe. It concerns my cultivation, so I must find them. If the Elder knows anything, please inform me!"

Zhu Ganglie's face lit up with joy, and he immediately stepped forward to plead, his eyes filled with hope.

"When I was young, I once met an ancient witch. According to their words, the ancient witch tribe is hidden in a place called Spirit Mountain, which is extremely difficult to find. Without any clues, even true immortals in the heavens would find it hard to locate."

As the Great Elder spoke, Zhu Ganglie's hope was extinguished. He could only bow and express his gratitude.

"Don't be disappointed. This black jade was given to me by an ancient witch. If you find the ancient witch tribe in the future, you can use this jade to seek their assistance, at least to avoid being killed by them without cause."

Seeing Zhu Ganglie's expression, the Great Elder handed him a black ancient jade.

Zhu Ganglie's face lit up with joy as he took the black jade. He saw that the black jade was made of strange animal bones intertwined, forming a token-like talisman.

With this black jade, Zhu Ganglie respectfully thanked the elder, "Thank you, Elder, for your assistance. If I can achieve immortality in the future, I will certainly repay the Youqiong tribe."

"Haha, your promise is enough. Go, I won't detain you."

Hearing Zhu Ganglie's words, the Great Elder laughed heartily and then turned to leave, no longer speaking.

Zhu Ganglie left under the guidance of the Youqiong tribe.

After leaving the Youqiong tribe, Zhu Ganglie did not delay. He summoned the five ghosts he had refined, and Zhu Zhi transformed into a giant flaming bird, carrying Zhu Ganglie toward the Tang Dynasty in the East.

With this divine bird, he could save a lot of energy and avoid the disturbances of various ghosts and spirits.

During this journey, Zhu Ganglie also delved deeper into the Five Ghosts' Heavenly King Sutra, refining the five ghosts to the level of attachment.

However, at this level, the Daoist techniques were no longer sufficient for growth, and he could only study the Buddhist techniques.

The only Buddhist scripture he had obtained so far was the Great Strength Vajra Sutra, and the Great Strength Vajra was a mixed technique, although it could also cultivate a sarira.

However, it could not open the Manas consciousness or achieve the Buddhist golden body.

Now, with the Qingyang ancient lamp, if he could obtain more profound Buddhist scriptures and continuously study them, perhaps one day he could achieve the Buddhist golden body and use Buddhist techniques to make up for the shortcomings in his cultivation.

During this journey of study, Zhu Zhi carried Zhu Ganglie, flying over numerous mountains. After eight months, they finally reached the territory of the Tang Dynasty in the Central Plains.

The Tang Dynasty was extremely prosperous, with many major Daoist sects within its borders. Zhu Ganglie did not dare to be arrogant and concealed the aura of Zhu Zhi to avoid offending any Daoist practitioners and causing unnecessary trouble.

One day, Zhu Ganglie arrived at a city and suddenly felt a ten-thousand-foot-high Buddha light rising from the city, blocking his path. His face lit up with joy, and he retracted Zhu Zhi, landing outside the city.

After inquiring, he learned that to the north of Daliang City, there was a Daxing Temple, where a Red Lotus Patriarch resided, with boundless Buddhist power.

Daliang City was also a place where Buddhism flourished, with countless temples, and Daxing Temple was the most prosperous among them.

Hearing this, Zhu Ganglie felt a sense of joy. He might be able to obtain some Buddhist scriptures here.

He transformed his form into a monk wearing a moon-white robe, holding the Qingyang ancient lamp, and headed toward Daxing Temple, eager to meet the Red Lotus Patriarch.

Since the Daxing Temple had a ten-thousand-foot-high Buddha light blocking his path, he suspected that the Red Lotus Patriarch had some considerable abilities.

Arriving at Daxing Temple, Zhu Ganglie found the guest monk and said, "This poor monk, Shifang, has heard that Daxing Temple is a place of flourishing Buddhism. I have come to pay my respects and seek lodging. Please allow me, Brother."

Hearing Zhu Ganglie's words, the guest monk coldly looked at him and said, "Daxing Temple does not provide lodging for itinerant monks. Please leave."

"Why does Daxing Temple not allow Buddhist disciples to stay?"

Zhu Ganglie did not get angry but smiled and asked, feeling a bit cold inside.

"Daxing Temple has a Buddha relic and does not allow external monks to enter to avoid desecrating the Buddha relic. Leave quickly, or you will be beaten!"

Hearing the monk's stern words, Zhu Ganglie's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he lightly trembled his wrist, thinking of teaching the monk a lesson.

Just then, an old monk walked over and said to the guest monk, "No blame, no blame!"

After saying this, he pulled Zhu Ganglie aside and said, "Brother, don't be offended. I am Venerable Zhenkong, the abbot of the nearby Sal tree Temple.

The Red Lotus Patriarch of Daxing Temple has enlightened the four consciousnesses, with boundless Buddhist power, and has a Buddha relic. It is common for them to look down on us.

I see that you are a talented young monk. If you don't mind the simplicity of my temple, you can come."

Hearing the old monk's words, Zhu Ganglie looked at him, his eyes showing a hint of suppressed emotion. He then smiled and stepped forward, saying, "Thank you, Abbot. I am willing to go."

Under the old monk's guidance, Zhu Ganglie arrived at a small temple nearby. The temple was simple and small, with only two side rooms and a main hall. In front of the main hall stood a lush Sal tree.

Although the temple was small, it was ancient and exuded a sense of Zen.

(Today there was a power outage, and I only got back at 8 PM. I hurried to finish the draft, and fortunately, I managed to complete it before midnight. Please support me for my hard work, everyone.)