However, ghosts don't have a physical body. The judge-like ghost king's body reformed, but it was weaker than before. Clearly, he was also not in good shape after taking that punch.
Chapter 128 Judge Lu
After Wang Xuan knocked the ghost king to the ground with one punch, he rushed over without saying a word and gave it a thorough beating, until the other party was completely submissive and began to be questioned normally.
"What the hell are you?"
"My surname is Lu, and I have no given name. All the ghosts in the underworld call me Judge Lu!" The judge-like ghost king dared not lie and answered honestly.
"Judge Lu? Are you the Judge Lu who cut off heads and changed faces?" Wang Xuan couldn't help but look at the ghost king in surprise. He didn't expect that the ghost king he randomly grabbed was actually a ghost with a name and a name from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.
This is not without reason. After all, once one's cultivation reaches the Transcendent Realm, whether in the underworld or the mortal world of Liaozhai, one can be considered one of the top experts. It is impossible for one to be an unknown person.
Lu Pan cautiously looked up at Wang Xuan and asked suspiciously, "I did indeed behead someone and change their face not long ago. How did you know that?"
Wang Xuan sneered, "What do you care how I know? As a former judge of the underworld, you must have a way to communicate between the yin and yang realms. If you know what's good for you, hand it over quickly."
"You don't have a way to travel between the Yin and Yang realms? Then how did you come to the Netherworld?" Judge Lu was even more surprised and couldn't help but ask again.
"It seems you don't feel like a prisoner at all." Wang Xuan shook his head and sighed, "It seems the only solution is to kill you and capture another ghost king for questioning."
Judge Lu shuddered and dared not be negligent. He took out a token from his waist and handed it to Wang Xuan, saying almost obsequiously, "This is the judge's token bestowed by the underworld back then. With this token in hand, as long as you infuse it with magic power, you can naturally travel between the Yin and Yang realms."
Wang Xuan snatched the judge's token and examined it carefully.
The token was entirely black, with the Naihe Bridge, the River of Oblivion, and the other shore flower engraved on one side, and the words "Judge" in large characters on the other side.
He channeled his true energy into the token, and the token instantly emitted a dazzling light, emanating a unique power.
"Is this World ANG BG? No, it's somewhat similar, but far weaker than World ANG BG." Wang Xuan felt a sense of familiarity with this power, like the power of Heavenly Will that he could control in the Xuan Tian World, but it was far, far weaker.
In the ancient world of Liaozhai, there existed a Heavenly Court and an Underworld. The Underworld ruled the netherworld and naturally possessed some unique elements. However, these elements were few and far between, practically a simplified version compared to the elements in Wang Xuan's Xuantian World.
In order to maintain the operation of the cycle of reincarnation, the underworld has to divide up a portion of these resources.
Now that Wang Xuan has obtained the Judge's Token, he naturally possesses a trace of the Judge's power. Although this power is so weak as to be almost negligible, it can still be used for certain unique purposes, such as traversing between the Yin and Yang realms.
More importantly for Wang Xuan, this power represents a key that allows him to infiltrate the world of Liaozhai from within and usurp the world's power!
Thinking of this, Wang Xuan couldn't help but get excited and asked, "There are quite a few beings who can travel between the Yin and Yang realms. Do other ghost kings in the Netherworld and Taoist priests in the human world have similar abilities?"
If that's the case, Wang Xuan must collect all those treasures that possess ANG BG power.
Judge Lu was once again somewhat astonished. In his view, how could Wang Xuan, with his cultivation level, not even know these basic questions?
However, fearing that Wang Xuan might kill him, he could only explain to Wang Xuan in detail: "It is naturally difficult to travel between the Yin and Yang realms with one's physical body, but it is not difficult to travel between the soul and primordial spirit."
"Ghosts in the underworld can freely travel between the Yin and Yang realms once they reach the Ghost King level. And cultivators in the human world, once they reach the level of Taoist True Person or Buddhist Arhat, can use their Yin spirit to leave their bodies and come to the underworld."
"If one wishes to travel between the Yin and Yang realms in the physical body, one must possess treasures bestowed by the Heavenly Court and the Underworld in the past, or supreme treasures left behind by ancient great supernatural beings, in order to open the passage between the Yin and Yang realms."
The Ghost King of the Underworld and the Arhats of the Mortal World are roughly equivalent to those who have entered the Dao through martial arts in the main world. The world of Liaozhai is a top-tier martial arts world, and there are quite a few beings who have reached this level of cultivation. No wonder there are so many people in Liaozhai who go to the underworld.
Those treasures with a hint of fantasy world, while not as abundant as Wang Xuan initially guessed, did indeed exist, which was a good thing for him.
Wang Xuan interrogated Judge Lu in detail. As a veteran ghost king, Judge Lu was extremely knowledgeable about the situation in the underworld. Under Wang Xuan's coercion and enticement, Judge Lu revealed everything he knew.
"I wonder if there is anything else you wish to ask, Master? If not, then I, Lu, will take my leave." Judge Lu cautiously sized up Wang Xuan. Seeing that Wang Xuan was dressed like a young master, he did not seem to be a Buddhist monk and assumed that he was a Taoist master.
"Leave? Where are you going?" Wang Xuan grinned. Judge Lu had seen his Xuan Yin incarnation; how could he possibly let him leave?
Furthermore, Judge Lu was no good either. After he became drinking buddies with the scholar Zhu Erdan, Zhu Erdan disliked his wife for being ugly, so Judge Lu helped him cut off her head and give her a beautiful head.
Did they ever ask Zhu Erdan's wife if she was willing? While she was fast asleep, they simply chopped off her head and replaced it with someone else's. This was utterly callous disregard for human life.
Upon hearing Wang Xuan's tone, Judge Lu immediately realized something was wrong and quickly conjured a gust of cold wind to flee into the distance.
But with his speed, how could he escape the pursuit of the Xuan Yin Avatar? The Xuan Yin Avatar caught up from behind almost instantly, smashed his ghostly body with a punch, and then summoned the Burial World Copper Coffin, absorbing his scattered ghostly body into the Burial World Copper Coffin.
"I didn't expect there to be such things in the world of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. That makes things much easier." After dealing with Judge Lu, Wang Xuan no longer had any doubts about how to conquer the world of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.
He only needs to weaken the destiny of chosen ones like Ning Caichen and the Black Mountain Demon, prolonging the internal strife in the world of Liaozhai and causing more casualties among the masters. On the other hand, he needs to collect those forbidden items to sever the divine will within the world of Liaozhai.
"This underworld is so eerie, I'd better return to the human world first." With a thought, Wang Xuan's judge token rippled outwards, as if communicating with the will of heaven, and a spatial passage appeared in front of him.
Chapter 129 Buddha Does Not Save People
Wang Xuan emerged from the Yin-Yang passage and returned to the human world of Liaozhai.
This was clearly no longer near Lanruo Temple, and they had no idea where they had ended up. Looking around, all they could see were lush green forests, with no sign of human habitation.
Wang Xuan immediately summoned the Azure Nether Sword and instantly flew into the air.
As the saying goes, one can only see far when one stands tall. Now that he was suspended in mid-air, what he saw and heard when he looked into the distance was completely different from before.
The grove he was in was not small, but it was only about ten miles in circumference. To the east of the grove was a massive city, far larger than any ordinary county town.
"What is that place?" Wang Xuan activated his Golden Eyes of Luck and saw that the city was filled with a misty aura, with red and white auras like an ocean, and even dozens of yellow and green auras.
More importantly, in the center of that city, a purple aura soared into the sky, swallowing up the fortunes of all directions, and transformed into a white dragon with four toes and four claws.
"This is clearly the aura of a human dragon! In a martial arts world like the world of Liaozhai, only the national fortune of a country can have such a magnificent scale!" Wang Xuan suddenly realized: "So I have come to the vicinity of the capital."
At this time, the Great Qian Dynasty was already in its final years. The dragon aura, which appeared fierce and imposing on the surface, was actually at its last gasp.
Wang Xuan clearly saw black calamity energy swirling around the Fortune Dragon, and black light spots constantly converging from all directions, swirling around the Fortune Dragon, and gradually merging into its body.
"The Great Qian Dynasty is beyond saving, and the change of dynasty is estimated to be within the next ten years or so."
"Moreover, if I am not mistaken, the reason why the Great Qian Dynasty has declined to such a state is probably due to the machinations of evil spirits."
Wang Xuan only needed to recall the original story of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio for a moment to guess the reason. It must be the centipede demon Pudu Cihang's fault!
That centipede demon infiltrated the Great Qian court, occupying the position of Imperial Preceptor. It even devoured many high-ranking officials, leaving only their human skins for its lesser demons to inhabit. With such chaos, it would be strange if the Great Qian dynasty didn't decline!
Just as Wang Xuan was about to withdraw his gaze and interrupt the flow of Qi in his Golden Eyes, he inadvertently discovered that a purple aura was also rising into the sky behind him.
The purple aura was not as magnificent as the Great Qian Dynasty's national fortune, but its color was much deeper, reaching the level of deep purple!
Beside the deep purple aura, a wisp of azure energy rose. Although it wasn't as awe-inspiring as the purple aura, it was still comparable to the level of Yan Chixia.
"This purple aura is different from the national fortune, and it is also somewhat different from the fortune inherent in humans, demons, and other beings. It should be a purple treasure light! As for the cyan aura next to the purple treasure light, it is most likely the guardian of the supreme treasure."
Wang Xuan took a deep breath. He had originally planned to go to the capital of Daqian, but now he changed direction and flew towards the purple light.
He had flown a few miles when he saw an ancient temple hidden in the woods, which looked quite old.
"I wonder which esteemed master has arrived. This old monk has failed to greet you properly. Please come in and have a chat!" An aged voice, imbued with a hint of Zen, echoed from the temple.
Wang Xuan pressed down on the sword light and landed in the ancient temple.
An old monk with an extremely aged face, but whose body faintly radiated golden Buddhist light, stepped forward. After looking Wang Xuan up and down, he asked, "Benefactor, you have such cultivation at such a young age. May I ask if you are a disciple of Mount Shu or from the Kunlun Sect?"
Clearly, this old monk, like Yan Chixia, believed that Wang Xuan must have come from a major Taoist sect, as only those top sects could cultivate a young talent like Wang Xuan.
Wang Xuan smiled without saying a word. Although he really wanted to come up with an alias, how could he answer if the monk opposite him pressed him about the current situation of the seniors of the Shu Mountain and Kunlun sects?
So he simply said nothing and let the old monk on the other side fill in the blanks himself.
The old monk's cultivation was profound, comparable to a martial artist in the early stage of the Transcendent Realm in the main world. Wang Xuan chatted with him casually, glancing meaningfully in the direction of the capital, and said, "Master, you are practicing Buddhism here, but demonic energy is rampant in the capital not far away. Aren't you going to do anything about it?"
"So you've discovered it too, benefactor." The old monk's gaze turned serious, and he said with great grief and indignation, "The demons in the capital are all subordinates of the Imperial Preceptor Cihang Pudu. Cihang Pudu is a thousand-year-old centipede demon with unfathomable cultivation. This old monk is no match for him at all."
"It was only by sheer luck that I escaped with my life from his clutches; how could I possibly dare to go on a quest to subdue demons and monsters?"
The other person spoke with immense grief and indignation, seemingly lamenting his own lack of strength to subdue demons and monsters, causing suffering to all living beings. But Wang Xuan refused to believe a word he said.
"I'm afraid it's not that they dare not get involved, but rather that they don't want to get involved," Wang Xuan sneered.
No matter how harmful Cihang Pudu is, he is a Buddhist believer who packages himself as an enlightened monk to spread Buddhism. He can even transform into a Buddha statue. How could an ordinary demon do that?
Buddhism emphasizes saving all sentient beings and also advocates laying down the butcher's knife and becoming a Buddha on the spot. Many demons have been converted into Buddhism. Perhaps the Cihang Pudu (Compassionate Crossing and Salvation) is a demon that came from Buddhism!
The old monk's expression changed, no longer showing the compassion he had just displayed, but instead becoming menacing: "Benefactor, you know too much, and you are bound to go astray. Why not stay here and study Buddhism with this old monk, and live out your life in peace?"
This old monk actually wanted to convert Wang Xuan into Buddhism as well!
Wang Xuan suddenly felt a darkness. He looked up and saw a huge bowl falling from the sky, about to engulf him.
"Slash!" Wang Xuan shouted coldly, summoning the Azure Nether Sword and slashing towards the sky.
"Bang!" After the alms bowl collided with the Azure Nether Sword, its light dimmed somewhat. It was clear that the quality of the alms bowl was inferior to that of the Azure Nether Sword; it was probably just a top-grade magic weapon.
"As expected of a master from a major Taoist sect, to bestow such a divine sword at such a young age, he is worthy to be a protector of our Buddhist sect!" The old monk roared, pouring his immense Buddhist power into the alms bowl.
Wang Xuan's cultivation level was ultimately several minor realms lower than that of the old monk, so even though the Qingming Sword was of higher quality than the alms bowl, it was of no use.
The alms bowl was quickly closed, and countless restrictions flashed inside, about to seal away Wang Xuan's power in an instant.
Wang Xuan frowned, then thrust the Azure Nether Sword downwards with all his might towards his head.
"Thump!" A muffled sound like a drumbeat came from the alms bowl, dimming its spiritual light even further.
"You've already fallen into my alms bowl, how can I tolerate your insolence?" The old monk sneered and uttered the six-syllable mantra of Buddhism.
"Om Mani Padme Hum!"
Six large golden characters flew out of the old monk's mouth and finally landed in the alms bowl.
Chapter 130 The Painted Wall
The six-syllable mantra of Buddhism was incorporated into the alms bowl, which greatly increased the sealing power of the bowl. Wang Xuan's true energy was quickly sealed, so he could no longer use the Azure Nether Sword to cut from the inside.
"It seems I still have no choice but to use the Profound Yin Avatar." Wang Xuan was somewhat frustrated. Although his cultivation speed was advancing by leaps and bounds, he was still a step behind the older generation of cultivators who had cultivated for countless years.
However, he didn't dwell on it. He reached out and patted the bronze coffin at his waist. His Xuan Yin avatar stepped out and punched the alms bowl.
With a single punch, the alms bowl, which was inextricably linked to the old monk's life, bulged out in a large chunk, its spiritual light dimmed, and it even showed signs of falling into a lower grade.
The old monk suddenly opened his eyes wide, opened his mouth, and involuntarily spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Stop! You brat, don't you dare ruin this monk's treasure!" The old monk brandished a vajra again, about to open the alms bowl and smash Wang Xuan to death.
Wang Xuan did stop, not because the old monk's words had any effect, but because he realized he had done something foolish.
The lid of the alms bowl resembled a closed bell. After Xuan Yin's avatar punched down, the sound waves inside vibrated incessantly, causing Wang Xuan's main body to feel dizzy and even causing a trace of blood to appear in his ears.