Chapter 5

In the brightly lit hall, Zhao Shu sat cross-legged on the ground, the Chixiao Sword lying horizontally across his knees. The Yin-Yang Taiji Bell was also placed across his knees, while Jiang Baishi sat opposite him, his expression much calmer as he explained the mysteries of cultivating immortal techniques to Zhao Shu.

"The purple aura of yin-yun is a sign of great nobility. Ordinary people may only have a wisp of purple aura, which is enough to ensure a life of wealth and honor. Only the extremely wealthy royal family would have the yin-yun purple aura for protection. If it is the emperor, the purple aura would soar to the heavens, like the essence of martial arts, capable of intimidating countless spirits and ghosts.

"Your Highness, as a member of the royal family, you are protected by the yin-yun purple aura. Even without cultivation, you can intimidate evil spirits. This is why the monster retreated when you arrived."

"Why don't you ask about the people instead of ghosts and spirits at midnight, Your Highness, who is a prodigy?" Jiang Baishi said with a light laugh in response to Zhao Shu's inquiry.

"I am just a wanderer, so it is normal for me to ask about ghosts and spirits rather than the people," Zhao Shu replied, slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected his curiosity to be misunderstood by Jiang Baishi, but he decided to test Jiang Baishi's loyalty and lightly laughed.

"Your Highness, as a member of the royal family, if you cultivate immortal techniques, your divine soul will be protected by the yin-yun purple aura, and your progress will be rapid. However, if your divine soul is damaged, the purple aura will also be damaged, weakening your fortune. This method is too risky.

"Moreover, Your Highness is connected to the fortune of the Song Dynasty. If you are damaged, the dynasty's fortune will also be damaged, which is extremely dangerous."

Hearing this, Zhao Shu suddenly understood why the royal family did not allow other royal members to cultivate immortal techniques. Once caught, regardless of their cultivation level, they would be stripped of their cultivation and demoted to commoners.

"My cultivation has already been stripped, and the highest level my Yin-Yang Dao can achieve is the 'Manifestation of the Divine' realm. One cannot become a ghost immortal or achieve true enlightenment. It is better to be a straightforward martial arts expert. Your Highness has extraordinary bones and is a martial arts prodigy I have never seen before. With time, your achievements will be boundless.

"If Your Highness wants to achieve something, it is not advisable to cultivate immortal techniques. Although the cultivation of the royal family is extremely high, they are more likely to suffer heavenly punishment, and the higher the cultivation, the deeper the punishment."

Hearing Jiang Baishi's words, Zhao Shu knew that Jiang Baishi was sincerely supporting him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said such things. He straightened his face and stood up, saying, "I am enlightened!"

"Your Highness, you are too courteous!" Jiang Baishi straightened himself, struggled to stand up, and immediately bowed in return.

"Sir, don't worry. I am now like a broken drum, unable to cultivate immortal techniques. The censors and the Clan Office strictly monitor the cultivation of the royal family."

The two sat down again, and Zhao Shu smiled, saying that if he wanted to change the world, he could not cultivate immortal techniques to avoid too many obstacles. Moreover, as Jiang Baishi said, he did not have the cultivation methods for immortal techniques, so it was better not to cultivate.

"I was overthinking!" Jiang Baishi laughed.

Zhao Shu changed his address to Jiang Baishi without hesitation, looking at the sunlight gradually shining into the hall, he suddenly stood up and shouted, "Long Bo, let the men take action!"

With Zhao Shu's shout, thirty-six young soldiers, each holding a horizontal saber and a torch, moved toward a large banyan tree outside the dilapidated temple.

Zhao Shu stood up and saw a line of words in the dust: "The evil spirit resides in the banyan tree in the back yard! It fears the aura of the golden crow! Be cautious in the 'Possession' realm!"

At this moment, Jiang Baishi was covered in blood and tears, kneeling on the ground, weeping, "Your Highness, please avenge my students. The evil spirit's divine soul prematurely possessed this banyan tree and suddenly attacked when my sect was unprepared, causing heavy casualties. The evil spirit fled hastily due to the protective purple aura of Your Highness, but the dilapidated temple is full of banyan tree roots, so we had to act to prevent it from eavesdropping.

"It coveted the Yin-Yang Taiji Bell of our Yin-Yang Dao and did not leave. Please forgive me for using the scripture to lure the evil spirit!"

"No problem, let's talk about other things. Long Bo has already returned to the manor to gather men and equipment. With the power of the sun, we will not let the evil spirit escape!"

Zhao Shu's face also turned serious as he stepped out and came to the back yard of the dilapidated temple. He saw a huge banyan tree dominating the entire yard, with a complex root system that even broke through the ground, resembling a dragon. The massive tree canopy covered the entire dilapidated temple.

Seeing this, Zhao Shu's face showed unprecedented gravity.

After seeing the tree canopy, Zhao Shu did not hesitate and immediately retreated. Outside the dilapidated temple, all the young men from Qinghe Manor had gathered. These young men were heavily armored, one hand holding a large shield, the other a long saber, and a strong bow and crossbow hanging from their waists. There were 138 of them, all exuding a strong aura of killing intent. Their armor and weapons were specially forged, making them lighter and more durable.

Behind them were three combined eight-ox crossbows, which were originally prohibited items. Qinghe Manor had secretly made only three, and after improvements, the originally multi-person-operated eight-ox crossbows were equipped with handles and re-engineered with twisted wires, allowing three people to operate them easily.

The iron arrows on the eight-ox crossbows were already prepared, with blood-red runes painted on the arrow bodies.

Thirty-six young soldiers guarded Zhao Shu. As soon as Zhao Shu retreated from the dilapidated temple, the young soldiers around him immediately lit the piles of firewood, intending to burn down the entire temple. The arrows in their crossbows were also ignited and shot at the large tree.

At this moment, the branches of the huge banyan tree began to move, like woven vines, sweeping away all the flaming arrows and extinguishing the flames in an instant.

"Quite fierce!"

A fierce look flashed in Zhao Shu's eyes. He lightly pressed his hand, and with a whoosh, three huge crossbow bolts shot out.

"Bang!"

A series of collision sounds, the three crossbow bolts penetrated the thick tree vines and fiercely shot into the huge banyan tree. At such close range, the crossbow bolts could penetrate a wall several feet thick and easily pierce a tree as thick as a hug. However, they only penetrated a little and could not go any further.

As the three crossbow bolts shot out, three new ones were immediately reloaded and shot out. The thirty-six young soldiers also dipped their arrows in their own blood, filled with yang energy, and shot out, nailing countless vines.

"Your Highness, these tree vines are controlled by the evil spirit's divine soul. Therefore, these arrows can nail them. But be cautious of the evil spirit escaping from the banyan tree."

Jiang Baishi's eyes were bloodshot, staring at the banyan tree.

"Understood!"

Zhao Shu nodded and looked at Long Bo. Taking this opportunity, buckets of fierce fire oil were poured in. In a moment, dozens of buckets were emptied, covering the entire dilapidated temple with fierce fire oil. The smell of the fierce fire oil was too pungent, so it could only be poured now, otherwise, it would have been detected.

Moreover, the fierce fire oil was a military necessity. He had secretly purchased dozens of buckets, intending to refine gasoline and kerosene. For the sake of eliminating the evil spirit, he could not afford to be stingy.

With a loud boom, the entire dilapidated temple was instantly engulfed in flames, turning into a sea of fire. The huge banyan tree slowly withered, emitting a faint, mournful sound. In the flames, a monstrous figure with a horse hoof, ox head, and snake tail appeared.

"Your Highness, the evil spirit is being forced out."

The blood in Jiang Baishi's eyes deepened, and he tightly gripped the blood-patterned sword. Zhao Shu's face also tightened, staring intently at the increasingly clear monster in the flames.

"Your Highness, shoot the flaming monster with crossbows. Do not let the monster manifest through the flames. Otherwise, it will be more dangerous! This is just a wisp of the monster's divine soul. As long as we deplete its soul power, we can destroy it."

Jiang Baishi's voice became more urgent and anxious.