Chapter 117 - Snow Pear Flavored Dead Gong (16)
Translated by Hua Li ^_~
The ‘Soul-Transferring Formation’ is said to have been lost long ago.
According to legend, this secret forbidden art allows the pract.i.tioner to transfer another person’s soul to their own body, effectively stealing the victim’s life force and confusing the underworld officials and the Book of Life and Death. The ultimate goal is to seek immortality.
Who would have thought that such an ancient formation could be found in an ordinary school like this?
After listening to Gou Liang’s explanation of the formation, Bi Xia shook his head. “Although I don’t understand mystical formations, this one doesn’t seem to be about stealing life force. Instead, it deals with spirits.”
And its power is incredibly strong; even stepping into this area makes him feel uncomfortable.
Gou Liang and Daoist Lin exchanged a glance, both sensing the gravity of the situation.
When someone dies, their remaining life force is recorded in the Book of Life and Death. If their life is cut short prematurely, the records change accordingly. However, if someone uses secret techniques to detain souls in the mortal realm, the recorded lifespan remains unchanged, and the underworld officials remain unaware of their early demise. This opens up various possibilities for manipulation.
By borrowing the life force of these wrongly deceased spirits, it’s possible that someone caused their untimely deaths. This situation requires further investigation, and Gou Liang’s team may need to unravel the mystery behind this ancient formation and its implications.
Gou Liang considered the situation: “The Soul-Transferring Formation has another characteristic—the age difference between the victim and the pract.i.tioner cannot be too great. The small ghosts you captured all died three years ago, but among the deceased were not only students aged fifteen or sixteen but also faculty members in their forties or fifties. It appears that someone used this formation to simultaneously steal life force for two individuals. This is a clue we can follow.”
Daoist Lin suggested, “Should I inform our organization and have them check the files?”
Gou Liang declined, “No need for that.”
Rejecting Daoist Lin’s proposal, Gou Liang squatted down, formed hand seals with his left hand, and chanted, “Heaven’s gate, earth’s portal, the paths of humans and ghosts intersect. Let the eight directions behold, all under my command. Open the gates to the netherworld, reveal the wandering Impermanence!”
Suddenly, a dark door materialized before him. Statues of ox-headed and horse-faced guardians adorned the sides, and the door slowly swung open. A tall and a short figure emerged—the Black and White impermanence.
“It’s Meng Tianshi,” said the White impermanence. “We oversee the souls in this area. I was in a hurry yesterday and wasn’t able to thank Tianshi for your help.” After expressing their grat.i.tude, the White impermanence asked, “Meng Tianshi, what brings you to summon us today?”
Gou Liang got straight to the point, “I’d like to examine the Book of Life and Death here to investigate two individuals.”
The Black and White impermanence exchanged a glance, hesitating. “Tianshi, revealing the Book of Life and Death is not something we can do lightly. We dare not act without proper authorization. Would you consider waiting for us to report to Lord Yama?”
Smiling, Gou Liang replied, “If you want to report to Lord Yama, I won’t stop you. Whether you face punishment or demotion afterward won’t concern me.”
The Black and White impermanence were taken aback. “Why would Meng Tianshi say such a thing?”
Gou Liang then brought forth the soul of the car accident ghost and had Daoist Lin release the small ghosts he had captured. The Black and White impermanence checked whether their life force was still intact.
To their shock, all these spirits still had unfulfilled life spans. One of them even had eighty years left! Moreover, in the Book of Life and Death, they were still marked as living, showing no signs of impending death.
“Do you recognize this formation?”
Gou Liang inquired.
Seeing them shake their heads, he briefly explained the purpose of the Soul-Transferring Formation. The Black and White impermanence immediately understood the gravity of the situation.
Someone had maliciously caused these souls to die prematurely, using their life force to prolong their own existence.
The usually taciturn Black impermanence clenched his teeth. “Who would be so heartless, stealing life force and harming so many lives? It’s unforgivable! Tianshi, if there’s anything we can do to help, please let us know.”
“Xiao Hei…”
The White impermanence tried to intervene. Gou Liang had already stated his purpose. but they only had permission to read the book of life and death. If they lent it to others, they would have committed a serious crime. However, Hei Wuchang clearly saw the overall situation better than him, so he shook his head to Bai Wuchang. Regardless of whether this matter can be properly resolved in the end, it cannot be hidden. Although they were not negligent in their duties, they could not escape their punishment, and now was their only chance to make amends.
Gou Liang smiled, “Rest a.s.sured, I won’t trouble you both. I won’t touch the Book of Life and Death. You only need to help me find out if, from three years ago until now, there are any individuals in this area whose life force has ended but haven’t reported to the underworld.”
This matter was easier to handle.
The Black and White impermanence breathed a sigh of relief and immediately began their search.
Their primary duty was to guide souls and ferry them to the afterlife. Whenever someone’s life force was about to end, the Book of Life and Death provided a record, announcing their task. If there were no indications or instructions from higher authorities, they wouldn’t intervene. Although each year, during the year-end, black and white impermanence patrolled their respective areas to retrieve any souls that hadn’t been timely transported, some fish inevitably slipped through the net.
After a thorough search, they found that five people, whose life spans had ended, hadn’t yet reported to the underworld in the past three years.
Among them were a father and daughter, their ages matching those of the victims. The only remaining relative was an elderly lady.
Wide-eyed, the white impermanence stammered, “It’s the Purple Gold Registry.”
In the Book of Life and Death, the names of those who had performed great deeds appeared in golden letters. But only those who had achieved immense merit—such as revered masters or emperors—had their names crowned in purple, signifying their n.o.bility. Undoubtedly, this elderly lady, well into her eighties, was a hidden master who had acc.u.mulated countless merits. However, she had also used the Soul-Transferring Forbidden Art to save her son and granddaughter’s lives…
*
At Shuangye High School, in the teachers’ dormitory.
“You’ve arrived.”
The elderly lady, a devout Buddhist, sensed the newcomer but hadn’t stopped chanting until she completed a scripture. She put down her prayer beads and looked at him.
Her expression remained calm, as if she had already antic.i.p.ated today’s outcome.
However, upon seeing Gou Liang, she was still somewhat surprised. She smiled, “I never expected to encounter such a young celestial master in my lifetime. It’s truly fortunate.”
Gou Liang had withdrawn Bi Xia into the soul-nurturing jade due to his unstable aura after the fusion. However, the ghostly mark on his face couldn’t escape the old lady’s discerning eyes, though she didn’t comment on it.
Gou Liang regarded the compa.s.sionate elderly woman and hesitated, “As a celestial master, you should understand that life and death are predetermined. Why force it?”
The old lady replied, “Fellow pract.i.tioner, we all contend with fate. Just as your elders sacrifice their own life force to suppress your destiny, I, too, know that my son and granddaughter face an early demise. Yet, I wish for them to enjoy a long and fulfilling life.”
Daoist Lin couldn’t hold back, “Tianshi, while your intention to save your family is understandable, your methods are extreme. Since you’ve already stolen life force, why not restrain these restless ghosts? Instead, you’ve allowed them to roam freely, harming innocent lives throughout this school. From minor illnesses to fatal consequences, the entire place is tainted by their malevolence!”
The old lady sighed, “I blame my eagerness to save my family. I failed to realize that the Soul-Transferring Formation’s records were incomplete. Only after setting up the formation did I discover that my version differed from the ancient texts. Not only did it absorb the life force of the deceased, but once activated, it couldn’t be halted. Over the years, I’ve tried to remedy the situation, but to no avail.”
Initially, when she realized the formation was flawed, she had a chance to destroy it.
However, by then, lives had been lost, and life force stolen. Destroying the formation might have caused her son and granddaughter to die alongside it. So, she hesitated, unwilling to act.
After half a year of indecision, she discovered that the formation wasn’t merely about stealing life force—it also cursed the restless ghosts, compelling them to harm others.
“I finally realized that the creator of this formation not only sought longevity but also revenge upon the mortal realm. Once mature, the formation exceeded my ability to stop or dismantle it. All I could do was pray for these innocent souls, hoping they’d suffer less misfortune.”
Without her intervention, Shuangye City would have become a city of death when the formation reached its peak.
But ultimately, this calamity stemmed from one person’s selfishness—a mother’s selfishness.
Daoist Lin opened his mouth, but the accusation he wanted to voice remained unspoken.
The old lady continued, “I sought help from my sect. My senior brother told me that to unravel this formation, not only the creator’s life but also the lives of all those who entered it should be paid. The formation has been active for three years, affecting everyone in this region. There are at least half a million souls involved… I know my sins run deep, but I cannot allow innocent people to die for my selfishness. I can only delay, waiting for the person who can break this cycle.”
The elderly lady gently caressed the bodhi beads, her face revealing unmistakable regret.
Gou Liang’s mind stirred, and he asked, “May I inquire about Tianshi’s lineage?”
The old lady hesitated for a moment and truthfully replied, “I am a fifty-sixth-generation disciple of Changtian Sect. My senior brother’s surname is Dugu, and he is both the current sect leader and the most formidable celestial master of our time. Even he couldn’t break this formation, and I have no idea who else could.”
Gou Liang confidently stated, “I can break it.”
The old lady’s eyes widened in surprise and uncertainty as she looked at him.
Gou Liang continued, “I can dismantle this array without causing the death of anyone inside, including your son and granddaughter.”
The old lady stood up and walked toward him. “Young friend, can you truly do this?”
“I wouldn’t jest with you, respected elder. However, my method will still result in the demise of the one who set up the formation, along with those unfortunate souls who perished unjustly.” He paused. “Even so, would you like me to break this array?”
The old lady’s face showed no hesitation, only grat.i.tude. “Given that this predicament arose because of me, your ability to spare my son and granddaughter’s lives is already a great kindness. I dare not ask for more.”
Gou Liang nodded. “Tonight, at midnight, will be the opportune moment to break the formation. You should bid farewell to your son and grandchild.”
The old lady smiled and shook her head. “I’ve lived many years. It’s time for me to depart.”
As the school day ended, her young granddaughter returned home ahead of her father. The once desolate house now echoed with laughter and joy.
The little girl clung to her grandmother’s arm and pleaded, “Grandma, I want to eat the crispy golden fried fish you make.”
The wrinkled old lady smiled kindly. “Certainly, my dear.”
The middle-aged man, not wanting to burden his elderly mother, said, “Don’t bother Grandma. I’ll make it for you.”
The little girl remained unyielding. “No, Dad’s cooking is terrible. He hasn’t inherited any of Grandma’s culinary skills.”
In response, he playfully scolded her, “You cheeky little rascal.”
This ordinary scene etched itself into the old lady’s final memories. That night, she changed into a dignified qipao, meticulously combed her gray hair, and gently touched the black-and-white photograph of her late husband on the dressing table. She also glanced at the family portrait that included her son and grandchild. With determination, she rose and left the house.
The suitable hour approaches.
“Senior, are you ready?”
Asked Gou Liang, still respectful toward the elderly lady. Despite inadvertently causing a grave mistake, Gou Liang held no ill will. He recognized the selflessness and sacrifice displayed by this woman.
The old lady nodded, removing a silver hairpin from her bun and handing it to Gou Liang. “I am deeply grateful for your a.s.sistance, young friend. My life has been one of modest means, and I cannot offer you valuable gifts. Instead, I present you with our sect’s token. If you ever need help in the future, show this to my senior brother, and he will repay this debt of grat.i.tude.”
Gou Liang accepted the token graciously. “Thank you, Senior.”
The old lady stepped into the center of the formation, and Gou Liang donned his daoist robe. As the rat hour arrived, he raised a bronze wine vessel and chanted, “Elemental peace at Mount Yuanshi, I inform all spirits. True officials of the earth, land deities, take your positions. Guard the altar diligently. I pledge allegiance to the Great Way. May it be prosperous and true. I act on the urgent command of the Supreme Old Lord!”
A violet-gold light flowed from Gou Liang’s fingertips, infusing the bronze wine vessel placed within the formation.
In an instant, brilliance enveloped the surroundings.
The four cardinal directions blazed like daylight, and countless black dots emerged within the soul-moving formation.
These varied in intensity, but the old lady knew that they represented the tainted souls of those who had entered the formation.
The bronze wine vessel glimmered with golden runes, swirling within it. After forty-nine rotations, the golden light shot forth, colliding with the black dots. The golden radiance dispelled the dark karma.
Outside Shuangye High School, the special operations logistics team witnessed the sudden illumination emanating from the soul-moving formation. “Quickly cut off the network! We can’t allow anyone to capture and spread this phenomenon.”
Despite the awe-inspiring sight before them, the team had no time to appreciate it. The magnitude of the disturbance would be hard to conceal, regardless of any astronomical explanation.
However, the team member responsible for managing the situation returned, excitement evident. “Boss, I have both good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear?”
“Enough with the suspense! Tell me!”
“Good news: Tonight, all Shuangye citizens are early sleepers and risers. We’ve checked fifty streets, and not a single person is awake. Bad news: The commotion was too significant. People from neighboring cities and suburbs captured photos. We’re currently handling the cleanup.”
The logistics captain exclaimed, “The Tianshi truly lives up to his name! With a single move, he has hypnotized an entire city. Remarkable!”
This significantly lightened their workload and reduced the difficulty of their task!
Meanwhile, the praised Tianshi, Gou Liang, was drenched in sweat. The bronze wine jar trembled under the strain, unable to bear the weight. Inside the formation, the elderly lady suffered from the burning torment of the ghostly flames.
This formation was excessively domineering, even attempting to draw life force from those within to sustain its operation.
Gou Liang shouted, “Pay homage to all G.o.ds, command the thunder. Slay demons, bind evil, and pardon a thousand ghosts!”
Suddenly, thunder roared from the sky. Nine bolts of heavenly lightning consecutively struck the center of the formation, turning the black ghostly aura into shades of gray!
The opportunity had arrived!
Gou Liang immediately invoked the Nine PaG.o.da Tower. The tower expanded to its maximum size, absorbing the gray malevolence into its ninth layer. Beside him, Bi Xia sat calmly within the tower, absorbing the swirling gray ghostly energy—this ghostly essence was a nourishing elixir for vengeful spirits.
The thunder, however, was relentless. Only one-tenth of the ghostly aura extracted from the hundreds of thousands of souls was absorbed by the Nine PaG.o.da Tower; the rest dissipated into nothingness, consumed by the thunder.
As the ninety-ninth thunderbolt neared completion, the elderly lady, her soul scorched by the flames, smiled in relief. “Thank you, young friend Meng.”
A purple-gold radiance entered Gou Liang’s body—the balance of karma was clear. Regardless of her past mistakes, the merits she had once earned for the people and the nation would not be erased. The purple-gold soul force was immense, equivalent to thirty million soul coins!
The final lightning strike descended, shattering the overburdened bronze wine jar. The lady’s soul dissolved into the cosmos, and the brilliant light that had illuminated the heavens and earth receded.
Gou Liang retracted the Nine PaG.o.da Tower. Seeing Bi Xia still absorbing the gray ghostly energy within the ninth layer, he felt a sense of relief.
Daoist Lin and the others hurried over. Relieved to find Gou Liang unharmed, they paid their respects to the departed lady. Despite any grievances they might have held, they sincerely appreciated her deeds. They knelt and kowtowed three times, bidding her farewell.
Daoist Lin stood up and bowed deeply to Gou Liang. “Many thanks, Tianshi, for your a.s.sistance.”
Gou Liang chuckled. “This is your good fortune. I dare not take credit.”
Golden light enveloped him as he gained deeper insights into the great Dao.
Daoist Lin had been stuck at the half-step Tianshi level for nearly thirty years. Now, having achieved enlightenment, he felt a myriad of emotions. Despite Gou Liang’s casual words, Daoist Lin sincerely performed three bows to express his grat.i.tude.
That night, Shuangye City experienced continuous rainfall, but the following day brought clear skies adorned with a magnificent rainbow.
The citizens marveled at this wonder, sharing it across social media.
Some claimed that the air felt fresher than before, while others found their ailments—fevers, headaches, and body aches—miraculously alleviated. People even mended strained relationships, apologizing sincerely to friends and family, salvaging marriages, and healing friendships on this auspicious day.
Amidst this widespread celebration, an eighty-year-old man went missing from his home. Strangely, this event caused no ripples beyond the anguish it brought to his small family.
Meanwhile, Gou Liang hurried back to the Qizang Pavilion. His plan was to quickly refine the souls retrieved from the ancient tomb, thereby elevating Bi Xia’s cultivation. However, his intentions were disrupted by two individuals waiting outside the shop.
Sun Zhuozhuo, abandoning the young man who had adeptly read his fortune, excitedly called out to Gou Liang, “Qining, you’ve finally returned!”
The fortune-teller, Song Lian, smiled politely and addressed Gou Liang, “I presume you are Meng Tianshi. I am Song Lian from Changtian Gate.”
The seemingly youthful youth glanced at Gou Liang, pausing briefly on the miniature Nine PaG.o.da Tower hanging from his waist, before saying, “A pleasure to meet you.”