Jiang Liu gulped it down in one go, feeling a little unsatisfied, but he didn't use any more Dragon Tooth Rice. Although there was still a lot of Dragon Tooth Rice left in his storage space, the Azure Emperor was not around, and every grain used was one less available. It was better to use this Dragon Tooth Rice as seeds.
As the sun rose high, Jiang Liu looked around and immediately noticed a large mountain not far to the east, with overlapping peaks and winding ravines, its thousands of peaks standing tall and cold in the sunlight.
"I didn't notice last night, but this mountain shape is actually the shape of a white tiger, and it's a self-contained forbidden area, a place of great misfortune. Such a place either nurtures rare and precious treasures or is the abode of demons. It's not far from Baoxiang Kingdom, and it's in the east... The shape of the white tiger mountain should be the territory of the White Bone Demon! Before the White Bone Demon was Wuzhuang Temple. I can try my luck there. The escape route is one of the great paths in the Journey to the West world. Zhenyuan Daxian can't see through me!"
Jiang Liu thought for a moment, then changed his clothes. His clothes were tattered from the battle with Kui Mulang.
Just then, Jiang Liu suddenly saw a figure appearing faintly in the mountains and forests.
Upon closer inspection, it was a young girl.
In this desolate wilderness, where would a young girl come from? Jiang Liu narrowed his eyes, sneered, and thought to himself, "White Bone Demon, I didn't go looking for you, but you delivered yourself to my door."
Jiang Liu straightened his clothes and then concealed his strength.
A moment later, the young woman approached. To describe her, borrowing from Journey to the West, one would say: Her skin was like ice, concealing jade-like bones; her collar revealed her soft breasts. Her eyebrows were like willow leaves, dark as jade; her almond eyes sparkled like silver stars. Her moon-like face was beautiful; her natural character was pure and refined. Her body was like a swallow hidden in a willow; her voice was like a nightingale singing in the forest. Like a half-opened crabapple blossom bathed in the morning sun, like a newly opened peony playing in the spring sunshine.
A beauty score of 90 or above is a girl from a modest family.
Jiang Liu looked her up and down, but found no flaws, no trace of demonic aura; she seemed to be just a human girl.
"What a brilliant illusion technique! I couldn't see through it at all. The monkey's fiery eyes are indeed sharp!"
Jiang Liu's mind raced, and he clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Greetings, fairy. I am Mao Shisan, a disciple of Maoshan Mountain in the Great Tang Dynasty of the East. I am on my way to Baoxiang Kingdom. May I ask your honorable name and where Baoxiang Kingdom is located?"
After speaking, he revealed a slight aura, his blood energy was abundant, and he was in the early stage of Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation.
The young woman paused for a moment, then bowed and said, "So you're a senior brother from the Southern Continent. Baoxiang Kingdom is eight hundred li to the west. Since you're a guest from afar, why don't you come to my cave for a chat? My name is Bai Jingjing, and I cultivate here on the eastern slope of White Tiger Ridge. I'm a rogue cultivator. Senior brother, would you do me the honor of telling me about the Great Tang Dynasty in the East?"
Although it was an invitation, my heart was filled with malice: such blood energy, if I were to absorb it, my strength would surely increase greatly. Moreover, she was quite attractive; I wondered what it would be like to be with such a person in bed…
Chapter 252 Lady White Bone (Part 2)
Jiang Liu hadn't yet experienced the pleasures of the bedroom since arriving in the Journey to the West world. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but rather that there weren't any female cultivators he found appealing. After all, he didn't cultivate the Supreme Detachment of Emotions, but rather the Principle of Following One's Heart; desires naturally existed, such as those of the Third Holy Mother, or the legendary Chang'e.
However, having cultivated to his level, he could control his physical desires. Cultivators must master their desires; to be mastered by desires is something even the demonic path would disdain.
For practitioners, male and female practitioners engage in dual cultivation, which is the orthodox path. According to Jiang Liu's understanding, dual cultivation is divided into physical intercourse, spiritual intercourse, and the union of form and emptiness. The lower path is physical intercourse, the middle path is spiritual intercourse, and the upper path is the union of form and emptiness.
Qi cultivators are also human, and many form Daoist partnerships to enhance their strength through spiritual communion. As for the dual cultivation of form and emptiness, it is difficult for ordinary cultivators to achieve.
The White Bone Demon is a female corpse who attained enlightenment by absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon, transforming into human form. Her cultivation method is the lowest form: sexual intercourse as a cauldron, absorbing human essence to enhance her strength, but causing immense harm to the other party. This cultivation method is known as the Star-Absorbing Technique or the Northern Darkness Divine Art. Fox demons and vengeful ghosts also often achieve their cultivation goals by absorbing human essence through sexual intercourse.
Although Jiang Liu was suspicious, he did not attack her. After exchanging pleasantries, he went along with her wishes.
The young girl, Bai Jingjing, did not lead Jiang Liu into White Tiger Ridge, but instead went to the foot of the eastern slope. There was no demonic or evil aura there, but rather an ordinary farmhouse, a simple dwelling where people lived in huts. The household items inside were covered in dust, clearly having not been used for a long time.
"Senior brother, please forgive my poor appearance. I've been in seclusion for many days and haven't had time to clean!" The girl said apologetically. She used her magic, and a gentle breeze swept by, making everything look brand new.
This Taoist technique, the art of controlling the wind, was righteous and peaceful. If one were not certain that this girl was the White Bone Demon in disguise, one would never associate her with a demon.
"Could it be that I made a mistake? Impossible! You can act, let's see how long you can keep it up!" Jiang Liu looked around the courtyard and found nothing unusual. This was not an illusion, but a real human-made structure.
A moment later, an old copper kettle began to boil, bubbling and releasing a fragrant aroma of tea.
Seeing Jiang Liu staring at the western mountains, White Tiger Ridge, the girl's eyes flickered, and she smiled, saying, "This mountain is treacherous; even cultivators dare not venture deep inside. It might be a place of certain death, and there are rumors that it harbors supreme treasures. Even if one cannot obtain the treasures, collecting the mountain's malevolent energy and refining it into magical artifacts would still be a powerful weapon. Over the years, I've only explored a little bit of it. Last time I went in, I was injured by the malevolent energy and it took me several months to recover. I wonder how strong you are, Senior Brother, and whether you dare to take the treasures. I am not strong enough on my own..."
The girl looked at Jiang Liu, observing his subtle expressions, and thought to herself, "A cultivator from the Tang Dynasty in the East, Maoshan? Never heard of him. But it's better to be careful. My words are a mix of truth and deception. Even if you know a little about Baoxiang Kingdom, it won't help. Over the years, I have acted with impeccable discretion. No one I have killed, whether human or demon, has ever escaped. No one has ever seen my true face. Even that fox from Yalong Mountain keeps to themselves. The newly arrived Yellow Robe Monster doesn't know my background either."
Jiang Liu was naturally unaware of the thoughts and feelings of the graceful young woman before him, but he was adept at concealing his thoughts and never showing his emotions.
He immediately revealed a look of great interest, and said with great enthusiasm, "A supreme treasure? This mountain is a place of fierce evil, and for it to nurture a supreme treasure, it must be a weapon of destruction. Our Maoshan sect has records that breaking through this evil influence is very difficult, but not impossible..."
Jiang Liu naturally followed the girl's words and then took out cinnabar and yellow paper to draw talismans. Although he hadn't used "Uncle Jiu's" talisman-making skills for a long time, he still had some cinnabar and yellow paper in his storage space.
Having prepared the materials for drawing the talisman, he thought for a moment, then bit his middle finger, dripping a few drops of his blood into the cinnabar.
A strange fragrance immediately wafted from the blood.
This is the reaction after Jiang Liu's physical body broke through the barrier between immortals and mortals, reaching the so-called human immortal realm in the "Yang Shen" world, and undergoing a physical transformation. Just like rare and precious herbs, Jiang Liu's blood has the same effect, even stronger than the medicinal effects of a hundred-year-old ginseng.
The girl twitched her small nose, smiled faintly, and unconsciously licked her lips with her little tongue, but the next second, she restrained herself and transformed into an innocent young girl.
Jiang Liu glanced at the corner of his eye, a cold smile playing on his lips. With a flick of his brush, he drew a "Zhang Tianshi's General Talisman for Subduing All Evil Spirits".
"This talisman... is used to suppress evil energy!" The girl looked at the talisman with a strange expression, but she hid it well.
Jiang Liu hadn't delved deeply into the art of talismans, but he had received the true teachings of "Uncle Nine." In the Dharma-ending Age, spiritual energy had simply dissipated, making cultivation difficult. However, these methods of practicing and developing the Dao were true supernatural powers and techniques, the essence of Maoshan's millennia-long practice of subduing demons and monsters.
Now that Jiang Liu has unleashed it, the vital energy and essence flowing between the talismans, refined from Qi to spirit, may lack destructive power, but it is very profound and can suppress all evil Qi.
Bai Jingjing cultivated in White Tiger Ridge for a thousand years, so she was extremely familiar with the evil energy of White Tiger Ridge. It was precisely this evil energy of the White Tiger that enabled her to attain enlightenment and become a demon, giving her such strength. And the talisman in front of her was precisely something that could suppress the evil energy.
Moreover, it's not just ordinary restraint, but suppression, the kind where one thing subdues another.
"The talismans from Maoshan can suppress all evil spirits, so I'll give them to you, fellow Daoist!"
Jiang Liu handed it over, and the girl hesitated for a second, but still took it. The next second, she put it on the corner of the table and said, "Thank you, senior brother. With this talisman, the chances of getting the treasure have increased even more."
Despite saying this, he became wary, thinking bitterly, "He actually has such methods. I wonder how they work in real combat? If I attack now and get close, he won't have a chance to use his talismans. But I don't know his trump cards yet. If he escapes, it will be difficult to catch him again. If I absorb this essence blood, my strength will definitely increase greatly. It's better to lure him to White Tiger Ridge, which is my lair. Using his baleful energy to kill him is more feasible, and he won't be able to escape!"
Seeing that the girl was terrified of talismans, Jiang Liu didn't point it out, and then casually drew another talisman.
Once the talisman was complete, Jiang Liu sneered and pressed it against the girl's forehead.
The Great General Talisman! Also known as the Corpse-Suppressing Talisman. It was drawn by Zhong Kui when he attained enlightenment and can suppress demons and monsters. The decree to summon the Great General signifies that the Great General who governs the underworld holds great power and can command all ghosts. Once the Great General arrives, all ghosts must submit. It can also be used to suppress zombies that are born from the resentment and filth of heaven and earth.
The White Bone Demon is also a zombie.
Given Jiang Liu's current strength—the sixth level of Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation—even those few drops of blood he shed had the effect of dispelling evil spirits. This talisman, however, would have no effect on ordinary cultivators.
But for the White Bone Demon, it was utterly terrifying.
In an instant, the girl's face contorted with rage, and as she retreated, a long white bone whip lashed out at Jiang Liu.
Chapter 253 Lady White Bone (Part 2)
Before Jiang Liu drew the talisman, there was nothing unusual about it. As soon as the Great General talisman was drawn, it instantly stuck to the girl.
Suddenly, abruptly, without any warning.
The Great General's Talisman was about to be pressed against the girl's brow, but the girl was agile and retreated instantly. Then came the long white bone whip, winding like a snake, seemingly made from a spine, snow-white and ferocious. With a fierce swing, the whip lashed out at Jiang Liu with a crack.
This whip is called the White Tiger Soul-Devouring Whip. When it strikes a person's body, it does not cause much damage to the skin and flesh, but rather to the person's vital energy and soul.
The moment the talisman touched her, the girl's innocent image crumbled, her face contorted with malice and ferocity, emanating a sinister aura.
The White Tiger Soul-Devouring Whip is extremely powerful. Although it doesn't draw blood, it is ten times more insidious than drawing blood!
Although the Great General Talisman struck the White Bone Demon, it was immediately torn apart by a whip, and then the White Bone Whip struck like a venomous snake.
Jiang Liu showed no fear, advancing instead of retreating, striding forward. Still as a virgin, swift as a rabbit, he arrived before Lady White Bone in a single movement. At the same time, he raised his arm high, delivering a backhand hammer blow, gathering all his power to its peak. His blood and qi surged, and one could almost see with the naked eye a thick, fiery aura of blood above his head.
To deal with evil spirits and demons, one must use blood and vital energy. Abundant blood and vital energy can directly disperse malevolent and yin energies. Moreover, mobilizing blood and vital energy takes the shortest time. Using lightning, on the other hand, requires time.
Close combat is a fight where victory is decided in the blink of an eye. It's not a battle of magic from afar!
Therefore, using blood and qi is more suitable.
This punch, brimming with blood and energy, shook the heavens and reverberated continuously. It was like Thor swinging his hammer, or a god-king in fury, or even a Buddha in a fit of rage, carrying the thunderous might of heaven as its powerful force smashed towards the White Bone Demon.
In the White Bone Demon's mind, Jiang Liu should be a mage who uses spells, but little did she know, he was actually a warrior. The consequences of a mage being approached by a warrior are predictable. The girl's body, along with the long whip in her hand, was as fragile as an egg, disintegrating inch by inch into a bloody pulp.
Jiang Liu's punch was too fast; before the White Bone Demon could react, she was instantly killed and turned into minced meat.
In an instant, a black mist shot out from the indistinguishable mass of flesh and blood, moving at incredible speed. Caught off guard, it reached mid-air and then vanished into White Tiger Ridge in the blink of an eye.
"You destroyed my clone, I won't let you get away with this!"
A trembling voice, filled with shock, rage, and fear, rang out.
Jiang Liu watched helplessly as the White Bone Demon vanished into White Tiger Ridge, and immediately gave chase. Looking down from mid-air, he saw that White Tiger Ridge was filled with malevolent energy, a naturally formed White Tiger Killing Array.
In an instant, a murderous aura surged forth from White Tiger Ridge.
Chatter, chatter, chatter...
A chilling, ear-piercing sound resounded throughout the sky. Instantly, the once clear and bright world turned into night. The malevolent and murderous aura intensified, and below, White Tiger Ridge suddenly roared, transforming into a gigantic white tiger, upon which sat a skeleton.
The skeleton was dressed as a young girl, but its face was that of a skull.
Pink Skull!
"Lady White Bone! This is the true form. What I just killed was only an avatar. Impressive skills. Even I couldn't tell the difference."
As soon as the White Bone Demon appeared, an aura of intense evil and cruelty crashed in like waves, mixed with the murderous aura of the White Tiger. Her strength was almost no less than that of Kui Mulang, but Jiang Liu knew that this White Bone Demon relied on the power of the White Tiger Killing Formation. Once she left White Tiger Ridge, her strength would not be as great as it was now.
Just like before, he couldn't withstand Jiang Liu's punch.
"I will devour your flesh and blood, crush your bones, and lock your soul away... to make you my slave for all eternity!"
The furious voice was like a metal knife scraping against glass, extremely piercing. Then, from within the swirling, malevolent energy, a sound like chanting a sutra arose, like the hellish abyss of a demon, vast and imprisoned.
"The entire formation encompasses heaven and earth, and is under her control. My battle against her is a battle against this destructive formation of White Tiger Ridge. This formation has accumulated countless years of malevolent energy; it's a real headache!"
Almost at the same time Jiang Liu was thinking about how to break the formation, a white bone knife cleaved through the void and slashed towards Jiang Liu.
This bone knife has a hilt shaped like a grotesque skull, neither human nor beast. The entire blade gleams with a cold light. As it slashes through the air, its powerful blade energy sweeps across the sky. With a forceful twist, it aims to cleave the river in two.
"Break!"
Jiang Liu roared and slashed out with a blade of light. The two blades collided, and the bone knife was forced back and flew backward.
However, the surrounding space was filled with malevolent energy, which condensed into countless white bone spears. These white bone spears were shrouded in black smoke, while the tips of the bone spears gleamed with a cold light, clearly indicating that they possessed extremely strong penetrating power and corrosiveness.
"This is bad. In this place, the White Bone Demon's energy is inexhaustible. Unless I capture and kill her, she'll slowly wear me down. But that white tiger is troublesome. It's formed from condensed malevolent energy, not a physical entity, and I can't get close to it in a short time..."
Before the thought was even finished, the attack had already arrived.
Jiang Liu immediately unleashed the Five Elements Sword Aura to block the attack. The five elements of sword light coalesced into a sphere, protecting Jiang Liu.
But it won't last long.
"To stay or to leave?"
Jiang Liu answered his own question: "With this White Tiger Killing Formation, it would be very difficult for me to kill the White Bone Demon with my current strength. Moreover, the Buddhist sect has been planning the Eighty-One Tribulations all along! The White Bone Demon's name might even be on Guanyin's little notebook. Oh well, there's no profit in it anyway, let's leave it to the monkey!"
With this thought in mind, Jiang Liu looked up at the skeleton riding on the giant white tiger, then punched the great formation. The space trembled, and all the bone spears in that area were shattered. Then, with a tearing motion, he broke through the great formation and flew eastward without looking back.
At this moment, in the White Tiger Ridge, Lady White Bone gritted her teeth, watching Jiang Liu flee with hatred.