Chapter 204: The Campsite
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The interconnected stretch of tents on the snow peak of the Geladaindong Peak was large enough to hold thousands of people. Even though there was no obvious marker, Wen Leyang that had just arrived on the summit could tell that it was the Kunlun disciples’ campsite. There was no other battalion this grand in this area other than them. The Kunlun disciples were albeit cultivators, they were still humans after all. Especially when they were in the snow peak, with the strong wind blowing, it was so cold a drop of water could be turned into ice. They needed a campsite where they could rest.
The Kunlun cultivation method had its own specialty. Even Wen Leyang’s telegnosis ability that allowed him to drift outside nature could not detect their presence before he stepped onto the summit. However, Wen Leyang had no time to ponder about that, he gazed at the rest with his face filled with fear, the entire campsite was too quiet!
His telegnosis ability was futile. Theoretically, at the same time, Wen Leyang discovered the campsite, the Kunlun disciples should notice their presence as well.
The Kunlun Sect was one of the Five Blessings of the right path in the cultivation world. The disciples were well-trained with strict discipline. However, with Wen Leyang and the rest just meters away from this campsite, other than the howling of strong winds on their surroundings, not a sound could be heard. In the enormous stretch of campsite, everything was deadly still. Wen Leyang suddenly had a baffling feeling. He felt that this was unlike a campsite, but more like a cemetery.
The morning sun that had just risen appeared warm and solid but weak. The pale sunlight pierced through the chilly wind that was howling in rage with great difficulties and shed onto the campsite in slanted rays. Not only did it not bring a sense of warmth, it was rippling with slight gloominess.
The rest of the few people had yet to speak but Ji Song was the first person that jumped out. He puffed up his bony thin chest and spoke with an icy cold tone, “I will go first!” He turned around and looked towards the campsite as he roared loudly in rage, “Who was the one that hurt my Mountain-guarding Divine Beast. Come out quickly and face your doom!” As he was saying that his hands crossed, the Vajra bell in his chest pocket shot out into the air abruptly. The tinkering sound of bells was heard accompanied by its continuous shakings.
Po Tu’s face was obviously filled with rage. How could Ji Song surprisingly address his two spiders as the mountain-guarding divine beast. Those words made Po Tu felt very frustrated.
The Vajra bell rang faster and faster yet there were no replies. Ji Song’s face was filled with impatience. He suddenly opened his mouth and chanted the Tibetan Buddhism Sect mantra, “Ong Zi Song Zi Song Suo Ha! Ong Zi Song Zi Song Suo Ha…”
Wen Leyang thought that Ji Song was about to launch his supernatural power to attack the campsite. His body moved ever so slightly in an attempt to stop Ji Song when the head lama Rangjung on his side suddenly gave out a ‘huh’. He stretched out his hand and blocked Wen Leyang. The head lama’s expression was first astonished then an irresistible smile appeared on his dark-colored huge face.
The Seven Syllables Mantra did not turn louder under the influence of the bell but it became clearer and clearer. Even Wen Leyang and the rest who were standing aside could feel that they became high-spirited. It felt like drinking a large gla.s.s of chilled water after waking up from a hangover, their bodies became stimulated and excited for a moment. However, other than that, there was no other supernatural power that was performed by Ji Song.
Ji Song chanted the Seven Word Syllables Mantra for a few times and his supernatural power suddenly vanished. He strolled relaxingly back to Wen Leyang’s side and spoke dully, “There is no one here!”
The head lama burst out with the loudest laughter that could shake the heaven and earth that made everyone startled. Even the strong wind ran away in fear before his laughter, “My old friend Ji Song, I think you were chanting the Refres.h.i.+ng Mantra right?”
This mantra’s only use was to refresh the spirit and awaken the mind.
Wen Leyang and the rest were dumbfounded all of a sudden. Ji Song feigned his mannerism for a long period of time, he was actually blowing the wake up horn at the Kunlun Sect. His wake up horn had been blown for a long while yet he could not see any Taoist priest that had just awakened. That was why he could tell that there was no one in the campsite now.
The group understood the situation considerably, Ji Song was a person that appeared to be tough outwardly but timid inwardly. He dared not urge his treasured weapons to attack the Kunlun Sect’s campsite directly but he refused to be embarra.s.sed. That was why he ran forward and chanted the ‘Refres.h.i.+ng Mantra’ to the Kunlun Taoist priests loudly.
Po Tu glared at Ji Song ferociously. It waved its hand towards Wen Leyang, “Both of us shall enter. The lama will protect the three common people!”
Gu Xiaojun and the rest jumped down from their transport vehicle. The head lama held the human bone beads in his hand, appearing like a great mountain as he firmly blocked the common people behind his back. Ji Song clasped his hand at his back and his expression still remained as savage as before, his mouth was muttering in an icy cold tone, “For hurting my snow spiders, you will ultimately pay with your life!” Yet he stood on the same spot…
Wen Leyang shouted loudly towards the campsite, “Liu Zheng, we are about to enter!” Whether there was anyone in there, it was still necessary for Wen Leyang to greet them. After he was done shouting, he nodded towards Po Tu. Both of them walked towards the campsite side by side.
The campsite was suppressed by the Taoist magic art. Wen Leyang, Po Tu or Rangjung’s telegnosis ability was incapable of detecting what was happening inside but this form of magic spell was only effective at guarding against the outside but not the inside. Once Wen Leyang stepped into the campsite, he felt that he suddenly sprang into a humongous soap bubble of a small world, his telegnosis ability became crystal clear all of a sudden. He immediately dashed towards the inside of the campsite!
Just as Wen Leyang and Po Tu entered the campsite in a flash, the colorful Taoist banners in all corners of the campsite shook abruptly. Within a series of m.u.f.fled thunder-like roaring, the banners vaporized into a puff of green smoke. Po Tu was stunned for a moment, followed closely by its abrupt change of expression as it squalled, “A prohibition spell has been triggered…” Before his voice died away, a few thousand streaks of lightning erupted in the sky. Within the loud cras.h.i.+ng sounds, the sharp purple-colored lightning bolts struck onto the both them just like a storm!
Other than the sound of surging heaven’s thunder, there were also layers of raging flames that were roaring. Countless large rocks appeared out of thin air. A few sword dragons that were attacking violently… it was afraid that there was nothing left of the mountain-sealing prohibition spell in Kunlun Mountains’ Yuxu Palace. The little supreme leader Liu Zheng brought along everything from his entire sect.
The few people on the outside turned pale with fear. The head lama had the fastest reaction. His plump and large body rippled in a layer of fiery cloud as he dashed towards the campsite ferociously, the moment he started chanting the Maha Vairocana Mantra of Light, he immediately heard the mountain peaks’ responding shouts and m.u.f.fled sounds. The string of human bone beads in his hand that was already so worn turned black and shattered abruptly. A few thousand rays of Buddha’s light ripped and struck towards the prohibition spell in the campsite!
The bone beads were made from the bone in between the brows or the top of the skull of a lama that achieved mastery in cultivation. One bead could only be made from one lama. That was why his hundred and eight rosary beads were made from one hundred and eight lamas’ blessing. The Maha Vairocana Mantra of Light triggered the power of cultivation that had been acc.u.mulated for millenniums in order to aid Rangjung in launching the strongest Tibetan Buddhism Sect’s supernatural power!
The fatal prohibition spell of the Kunlun Sect, the Tibetan Buddhism Sect’s divine power that rippled from the lama, the Metal Poison Stream that surged underneath Wen Leyang’s feet and the demonic primordial energy of the earth element that was released from the divine beast Po Tu’s strange cry entangled in the wild wind. It was akin to the bursting of the sun and moon and the collapse of the heaven and earth. It was unknown who was the one that gave out a series of agonizing howls, the sounds were akin to knives as it pulverized the Tanggula Mountain’s silence!
At the sound of a thud, the first person that fell onto the ground was the ghastly pale Ji Song. His frightened pupils were bewildered under the reflection of the colorful radiance that rippled from the supernatural powers and treasured weapons, just like a laser chip…
Only after a long while, the Taoist magic prohibition spell with seemingly unsurpa.s.sed power gradually dispersed off. The thick and dense smoke was blown away in layers by the roaring strong wind, Wen Leyang and the giant pangolin held on to each other. They swayed for a few times towards the direction of Old Gu and the rest before falling head first onto the ground.
The lama’s red-colored robe turned into hundreds of red cloth strips. The cloth strips draped his body in a hilarious way. His huge face with dark complexion turned ghastly pale out of exhaustion. He turned around on the same spot for half a circle before lying on the ground stiffly.
By the time everybody else staggered and dashed into the campsite, Wen Leyang and Po Tu who had already turned into its demon body lied in the shape of the word ‘大’ and ‘木’ respectively. (Translator’s note: Po Tu has a tail.) They were looking at each other while sn.i.g.g.e.ring foolishly. Both of them were covered in wounds so deep they could see the bones from head to toe. The wounds cracked open their skin, akin to a doll’s mouth. Some wounds appeared to be crying while some smiling…
Fei Fei realized that Wen Leyang was still alive, her eyes reddened. Her little lips quivered for a few times as if she was about to bawl loudly but she finally suppressed the urge to cry. When she saw that he was still laughing, she stomped her foot in rage and anxiousness. She sounded a little choked up as she said, “What is the point of laughing now. You are lucky that you are still alive!” Then, she started dressing Wen Leyang’s wounds.
Wen Leyang spoke with great difficulties, “Is the lama Rangjung still well?”
Fei Fei turned around and took a look. Ji Song was bustling about to help Rangjung up, the lama was albeit unusually confused and was injured rather severely, he was also giggling maniacally.
Xiao Sha looked at Po Tu and Wen Leyang, then he looked at the head lama Rangjung. His small eyes were filled with puzzlement.
The rest of the people did not understand. The ability to join hands and destroy the prohibition spell with shocking power was an event with such a high sense of achievement. Yet, the three men were laughing in a manner that was unlike people that had just escaped death in an almost miraculous manner, but more like a first-grade student that had just received one hundred points in his exam score, so fully satisfied that he did not know about anything else other than to laugh.
Even top master cultivators like Chang Li, Hanba or Cone Nail would be caught off guard and thrown into confusion by such an incisive prohibition spell. Even though they would not die, if they were not careful, they would be wounded.
The giant pangolin Po Tu tossed for a long while before managing to turn over, he laughed towards the head lama weakly, “Rangjung, Po Tu owes you one!”
Under Xiao Sha’s support, Wen Leyang stood up with s.h.i.+vering legs. He shouted towards the head lama, “I cannot express my grat.i.tude towards you for saving my life in words!”
The three men exerted all their strength out of desperation to resist this fatal supernatural power that was comparable to the G.o.d’s punishment. If it was not Rangjung who exerted the cultivation base of his entire body to aid in time, the odds were mostly against Wen Leyang and the pangolin.
Rangjung waved his hand once, almost flinging away his entire arm. He clenched his teeth in pain while he laughed aloud in an incomparably hideous manner, “I am only saving your lives out of convenience, there is no need to be too thankful.”
The pangolin spat out a mouthful of b.l.o.o.d.y saliva ferociously. It shook its head as it cursed, “Out of convenience? Conveniently turning your robe into a fis.h.i.+ng net?”
Upon saying, the three of them laughed aloud together!
Wen Leyang laughed so hard that his bones were almost falling apart. It was only then he stopped laughing aloud. He looked around the campsite and exclaimed with heartfelt admiration, “The Kunlun Taoist magic is exceedingly amazing!”
This entire mountain top was crashed by the unsurpa.s.sed power of the prohibition spell into a heavily cratered land but not even one of the tents in the campsite topple over. The sword dragons and scorching flames that completely swarmed over Wen Leyang and Po Tu earlier surprisingly did not even sc.r.a.pe the side of a tent.
Gu Xiaojun cautiously opened a tent. The giant pangolin Po Tu spoke from the side, “There is not even a person in the campsite!” Its telegnosis ability had already swept past the entire stretch of campsite even before the prohibition spell was triggered. It was all emptiness. There was no one there. No one knew where did the battalion of Kunlun Taoist priests go.
Po Tu was in a rather good mood. Everyone appeared pleasing in its eyes after it escaped death from a great catastrophe. Even Gu Xiaojun benefited from that.
Upon saying that, Po Tu chuckled and complemented, “Such an incisive prohibition spell is already launched, there will not be any more ambush later. You can search the area if you want to, it is alright.”
Fei Fei and the skinny bamboo pole Ji Song remained on the same spot to take care of the three severely injured members that were cultivating their poison power, life vitality, and demonic primordial energy respectively to recuperate. Old Gu brought along Xiao Sha as they started searching around the campsite rapidly.
Being attentive, Fei Fei was afraid that they would feel cold due to their severe injuries, she used the solid fuel that she carried along to ignite a bonfire in front of them. This was the first time since Fei Fei executed the mission that she brought along an adequate set of equipment. It was mainly because she had the better transportation vehicle this time.
Even though they were terribly injured, they were persons with extraordinary physique. Especially, since Wen Leyang’s cultivation method was based on the path of turning his human body into a saint, he healed at an extremely fast speed. Not only his bleeding had stopped by itself now, if one were to examine closely, fine granulations were forming on his wounds.His wounds had started to heal slowly. Besides, the head lama and Po Tu were carrying rare and treasured potions on their bodies. Even though the three persons were incapable of instantly recovering, as long as they could recuperate in calmness, it would only take a day or two before they could regain some of their primordial vitality.
Ji Song was shocked. He had never fought Rangjung before. Even though he had a short compet.i.tion with Wen Leyang, the compet.i.tion was not an actual comparison of their superpowers. Ji Song was aware that their abilities were stronger than his but he had absolutely never expected them to be so strong. He could never imagine that the three persons could resist and even survive the incisive prohibition spell that would petrify him even if he was being brushed slightly.
Ji Song gave a few hollow laughs, his face filled with admiration. He was about to think of something to say. He held his silence for a long while before he spat out a mouthful of spit ferociously, “So this campsite belongs to the Kunlun Sect? Those Taoist priests are an abomination. There is obviously no one here but they leave behind such a violent prohibition spell!”
Before his voice died away, the head lama Rangjung and Po Tu opened their eyes at the same time. They gazed into each other’s eyes. The head lama pondered for a moment before he spoke, sounding like he was muttering to himself but also sounded like he was asking Po Tu, “If there is no one else in the campsite, do they even need to use a prohibition spell to suppress this place?”
The giant pangolin swayed its pointy head and made a puzzled expression. A few question marks appeared on its lizard-like face. It was truly a little frightening.
Wen Leyang did not plan to acknowledge Ji Song initially but listening to his other two companions’ conversation, he opened his eyes as well and asked, “What do you mean?”
Po Tu was aware that Wen Leyang had no knowledge of anything. Hence, it explained to him with an extremely rare patience, “The Taoist banners that launched the prohibition spell were treasured weapons that the Taoist family refined laboriously. The Kunlun disciples’ absence was nothing but to deal with an enemy, they should not be leaving behind such an incisive treasured weapon…”
Wen Leyang seemed to not fully understand the explanation, “Those flags… the Taoist banners can be used as a treasured weapon to deal with an enemy?” When he saw the other two persons nodding their heads, he was suddenly enlightened. The Taoist banners were capable of launching the prohibition spell with tremendous power. It seemed to be really precious. However, when the Kunlun disciples left their lodge in a swarm, their purpose was certainly not for hunting. If their intention was to deal with the enemies, the incisive Taoist banners should be carried with them all the time and not used to guard these empty tents.
Ji Song did not pay attention to their conversation. He only glared at Wen Leyang with fear on his face. He was puzzled. How could this young lad who possessed shocking supernatural power did not even know about such a simple fact that the Taoist banner could be used as a treasured weapon to blast the enemy…
Wen Leyang pondered for a while then he spoke slowly, “So in this campsite… is something important there? Is that why they left behind the Taoist banners that formed into the prohibition spell to guard that item?”
The giant pangolin became joyous and gave out a ‘hah’. Its pitch black-colored eyes were filled with greed, “That would be perfect. That would be compensation from the Taoist priests for causing my body full of injuries.” Upon saying that, it stopped for a moment, then it honored the code of brotherhood and complemented, “We will divide it amongst the three of us. Both of you are injured too!”
Wen Leyang rubbed his palms together out of slight embarra.s.sment, “We are acquaintances. It is rather mean for us to steal from them right?”
Rangjung sn.i.g.g.e.red as he shook his head. He refocused the topic of conversation, “There is another possibility, the Kunlun disciples had some emergency unforeseen event such that they had to leave urgently. That was why they did not manage to remove the prohibition spell and retrieve the Taoist banners…of course, if it would be better if the banners are guarding some precious then it will be even better!” As he was saying that the lama’s eyes were burning with brightness. Just by thinking with his b.u.t.tocks, he could tell how precious the treasure was if it was guarded by such an incisive prohibition spell.
At this moment, Gu Xiaojun who had just bore out of the tent suddenly spoke and continued the lama’s conversation, “From my point of view, there may not be a treasure! I think the first half of the great master’s sentence would be more dependable!” As he was saying that, he tossed over a Taoist disciple’s commonly used bag.
At the sound of a thud, the bag landed in front of the few people. The items inside the bag spilled out. There was a dozen of cinnabar talismans. Even the piercing cold wild winds on the snow peak could not turn over a corner of these talismans. These talismans were apparently cast with a remarkable magic spell that it was not afraid of being blown away.
Other than the talismans, there was also a piece of Topaz Meteoric Water Token and an iron Bagua.
Po Tu was a mountain-guarding divine beast of the Qilian Immortal Sect. It was considered of the same lineage as the Taoist schools so it was a natural connoisseur. Upon seeing these items, its expression was a combination of sternness and disappointment, “These items here are all the treasured weapons that are refined by the cultivators through laborious efforts. They have always carried these items with them!”
Xiao Sha also found quite a few Taoist treasured weapons from a few tents, including the Square dharmamudra, the Disaster-breaking rod, the Yin and Yang Mirror, the Phoenix feather fan, the Heaven’s Fire Basin… there was an abundance of treasured weapons of all sorts and all types. Every item was engraved with Kunlun’s marker without exception. Po Tu hastily glanced through and said to Wen Leyang, “These items’ power is not worth a mention but these are no doubt Taoist priest’s treasured weapons!” Upon saying that, everyone shot an inquisitive gaze towards Gu Xiaojun.
Gu Xiaojun understood the group’s intention, he immediately answered, “These items were placed in their packs or traveling bags that they carried on their bodies and were just placed next to their bed where they could reach easily. On the other hand…” Old Gu’s gaze became obviously sharper in a flash and then returned to normal in the blink of an eye, “There are also flying swords! There are still some flying swords that had yet to be unsheathed in the tents, the swords are still in the scabbards.”
Xiao Sha stopped searching around. He walked in front of the group and continued to complement, “In some of the tents, there are also green-colored Taoist robes that are scattered around!” As he was saying that, he looked towards Ji Song, “Your spider is seducing a robe.”
No one was humored by Xiao Sha’s joke. Everyone inhaled a sharp cold breath ferociously. It was clear that something had happened to the Kunlun disciples!
When the Kunlun disciples were leaving, their prohibition spell was still there. It was apparent that there was no enemy had attacked their place. The campsite was neat and tidy. There were no signs of struggle. No matter how they thought, it still appeared that the Kunlun disciples escaped by themselves. However, if they were going to confront an enemy then why did they leave behind their treasured weapons in the tents? What actually happened capable of making the Kunlun disciples that had already made astonis.h.i.+ng advancement in their cultivation power to leave in such a hurry that they forgot about their flying swords!
Wen Leyang was engrossed in his thoughts, he asked probingly, “Is it possible that it is the…creatures? That species of strange tadpoles?
That species of strange tadpoles was the embodiment of water. It was capable of escaping from Wen Leyang and the rest’s telegnosis ability, perhaps the tadpoles could escape the campsite’s prohibition spell. Moreover, the tadpoles could swim in the snowcapped mountain unhindered.
Po Tu gave out a ‘heh’, “If this was a campsite for ten persons or even one hundred persons, then it is possible that the tadpoles did this. However, there are thousands of cultivators, yet no one noticed that they had been raided by the creatures? Even if they were all controlled by the creatures in the end, there would still be a sequence of events. Since no one triggered the prohibition spell and no one launched the supernatural power or the flying sword, it seems to me that this may not necessarily be the creatures’ doing!”
Ji Song could not resist anymore. He rolled around his strange eyes as he asked the group, “What kind of creature is that? Your description is so subtle!”
Rangjung explained about their encounter with the strange tadpoles to him. Ji Song’s eyes widened even more in surprise. He did not know how many times he had made the frightened expression, “This creature…I have never heard of it before, I have never seen it on the Geladaindong Peak, oh no, on the entire Tanggula Mountains!”
Wen Leyang inhaled a long breath, “Stop guessing. We ought to figure out a way to look for them!” As he was saying that he tried to move his body once. He gave a forced laugh as he shook his head and asked Rangjung and the giant pangolin, “How long do all of you need?”
When the prohibition spell dispersed off, they did not feel anything yet. As his vitality energy was circulating to heal the body, he could feel the discomfort in his limbs and bones that were almost scattered, Wen Leyang attempted but there was no way he could exert any strength.
Rangjung too gave a forced laugh and heaved a sigh, “Another one and a half day…at least.”
Po Tu’s answer was even more straightforward, “The same as the lama!”
Being so severely injured, it was not an easy task to heal. They could only heal a little of their primordial vitality as a temporary measure, such that they could move and walk by themselves and at least possessed the power of one attack upon meeting the enemy.
Wen Leyang laughed without a reason, he spoke in elation, “I am faster than the both of you!”
Even though he could not exert any strength at this time, he knew that his body healed at an extremely fast speed. It would only take one day’s time at most before he could jump up and perform the Faulty Punch. Based on his cultivation method of turning his human body into saint, the external injuries were nothing. As long as he did not die, he could heal as soon as possible even if his injuries were even more severe.
The lama and the pangolin curled up their lips in disgust. Disdain filled their faces as they started closing their eyes and recuperated.
Old Gu and Xiao Sha stood up and continued to search the other tents. Ji Song sn.i.g.g.e.red to Wen Leyang, cautiously concealing his flattering intention, “Little brother’s cultivation method is so marvelous…”
Before he could finish his sentence, the giant pangolin that had just closed its eyes suddenly opened its eyes and spouted a gush of cold humph out of its nostrils. Ji Song was startled, he hastily continued, “The divine beast’s cultivation method is also remarkable to the greatest extent!”
The pangolin coughed, “I was not aiming at you! Heh-heh…” It was laughing halfway, when it suddenly turned around and spoke to Wen Leyang in an accented voice, “Yang!”
Wen Leyang was stunned. His telegnosis ability detected something as well, he frowned and gave a forced laugh as he shook his head, “Why is he here?”
Ji Song immediately jumped up. His hand gripped tightly onto the Vajra dorje. His face was filled with vigilance as he asked, “Is that the enemy?”
‘Click’ the crisp sound of the gun’s bolt being pulled was heard. The witty Fei Fei could already make a guess of who that was, holding the QSZ-92. She laughed as she answered Ji Song, “It should not be, but it could be!”
The lama laughed softly. He turned around and said to Fei Fei, “The little girl need not worry. If he were to possess any malicious intent. Even if the lama could not stand, the lama would still make sure he is not reborn again!” As he was saying that, he removed a Vajvakilaka from his chest pocket in a strenuous movement and stabbed onto the snow ground in front of himself.
After more than ten minutes, a dark-colored head slowly probed out of the mountain cliff. He appeared unusually conspicuous in the snowy white land. Wen Leyang’s African brother Tutatunte had arrived.