Chapter 222: Chapter 221: Lady White Bone’s "Goodwill
In less than half a day, Yunyang returned to Daluo Palace with a dead tiger.
"A Tiger Demon that was cultivating deep in the mountains. The moment it had a breakthrough, it came out to run wild. After eating a few people, it thought it could act with impunity." Yunyang snorted, lifting the tiger carcass, which was a full size larger than an ordinary tiger. "It’s a goner now."
Gu Zhao circled the tiger twice. "No wounds, right?"
"Don’t worry, I was very careful." Yunyang smiled. "I didn’t even use my sword. I scattered this tiger’s Divine Soul with a single palm strike."
Gu Zhao gave a thumbs-up. "Give it to Li Erping. He’s the village hunter; he’ll know how to process the hide."
Yunyang nodded. "The tiger meat can be an extra dish for the palace. I’ll put the bones in the warehouse to steep in wine later. I want a share of that."
Gu Zhao smiled. "Of course, your parents will get their share."
The Daoists from the modern world were risking their lives in the Otherworld, so of course Gu Zhao had to ensure their logistical support was well-handled.
Yunyang’s parents had long been wearing Golden Gang Bracelets and drinking Yellow Lemon Wine. The same was true for the other old Daoists who had family and children. These measures cured illnesses, strengthened the healthy, guaranteed their safety, and prevented accidents.
Yunyang hoisted the dead tiger and went to find Li Erping, while Hu Yufei and the young woman stayed behind.
"Sect Leader, my sister wants to join Daluo Palace too."
Joining Daluo Palace was a serious matter, so Hu Yufei wasn’t joking around. She pointed to the young woman and said, "Her name is He Cailian. She’s also a Spirit Monarch. Although her Cultivation isn’t high, she has a very keen nose and is skilled at gathering herbs and Alchemy. She can assist Uncle-Master Ming Chong."
The Silk Embroideress sized up He Cailian from behind Gu Zhao, surprised to find that this rabbit spirit was a kinsman.
Daluo Palace was now operating smoothly. It was no longer easy for ordinary people, or even Martial Arts Experts, to join. However, Extraordinary Persons were naturally different, though the necessary trials and evaluations were still required.
Gu Zhao nodded. "Let her be a Registered Disciple for now. She can report to the Alchemy Hall and let Uncle-Master Ming Chong guide her."
"Okay!" Hu Yufei nodded repeatedly in agreement.
He Cailian also gave a graceful curtsy, then cautiously followed Hu Yufei toward the Alchemy Hall in the back mountains.
...
In the following days, Daluo Palace continued to operate normally. Aside from acting as a tool for the Two Realms Gate, Gu Zhao spent his time either enjoying pleasant nights with Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi in the modern world, or studying the *Cave Truth Yellow Record* with Zhuo Qingyan in the Otherworld.
Gu Zhao hadn’t taken any Warm Yellow Pills himself, but he had used up four of them.
His parents seemed to have become more than ten years younger. Gu Qi was one thing, but Li Man’s favorite pastime was now dragging her best friends out shopping to enjoy their looks of envy and jealousy.
It was the same for Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi. While the Yellow Lemon Wine was effective, its results were slow. But after a single Warm Yellow Pill, their skin became so tender it seemed dewy, which Gu Zhao greatly enjoyed as well.
But while Daluo Palace was getting on track, the atmosphere in the White Bone Cave was not so good.
"The Yellow Heaven Altar in Bai Shi Prefecture has become the Daluo Temple?"
Inside the White Bone Cave, jade-green flames flickered eerily as sinister winds gusted about. The wavering light cast dancing shadows that looked like phantoms in the gloom.
Lady White Bone sat in the main hall, listening to a report from a handmaiden in a green dress.
"Your servant went to Bai Shi Prefecture to search for yang-born boys. I was passing through and planned to go to the Yellow Heaven Altar to ask if they had any ’stock’. That’s when I discovered that the Yellow Heaven Altar had changed its sign and become the Daluo Temple."
The handmaiden knelt on the floor and said in a low voice, "Your servant did not dare to enter, so I made some inquiries with the mortals nearby. I learned that a battle took place at the Yellow Heaven Altar one night half a month ago. The very next day, the Prefectural Magistrate ordered that the Yellow Heaven Altar change ownership and be converted into the Daluo Temple.
The current Observatory Master of this Daluo Temple is a Mage named Taoist Yan Ling. I heard he is eighty or ninety years old, but his specific level of Dao Practice is unknown. Aside from some mortals who remained, there are also several new faces in the temple, who are said to be disciples from the Inner and Outer Sects of Daluo Palace."
Lady White Bone’s eyes narrowed. "No word of the Yellow Heaven Ancestor and his wife?"
The handmaiden shook her head. "None!"
Lady White Bone fell silent. ’No word of them means they obviously didn’t participate in the battle that night.’
’But it makes sense. When Madam Huang came to borrow the Bone Soul Lamp from me, it wasn’t for defense. Now that even the Yellow Heaven Altar headquarters in Bai Shi Prefecture has changed hands, one can imagine what became of her and her husband.’
"I’m afraid my dear sister has already died in Changping Prefecture."
Lady White Bone considered her friendship with Madam Huang, sighed, and raised a sleeve to gently dab the corner of her eye, wiping away a non-existent tear. "Such a pity..."
Lady White Bone shook her head and said mournfully, "My Bone Soul Lamp!"
The handmaiden prostrated on the ground, not daring to make a sound.
Lady White Bone’s eyes narrowed slightly. She then rose and paced slowly around the hall for a couple of steps. "My Bone Soul Lamp... I’m afraid it has also fallen into the hands of Daluo Palace."
As she said this, she glanced back toward the depths of the White Bone Cave, from where waves of unstable Magical Power still emanated.
Lady White Bone returned to her seat, reached into a skull-shaped container on the table beside her, and took out three Bone Arrows. She then turned and handed them to the handmaiden.
"These are Bone Soul-Chasing Arrows. Go to the Daluo Temple and give them to that Yan Ling Observatory Master. Tell him that the White Bone Cave is willing to befriend Daluo Palace," Lady White Bone said. "If Daluo Palace is also willing to be friends with the White Bone God Monarch, then ask them to return the Bone Soul Lamp and deliver ten boys born in a yang month, on a yang day, at a yang hour."
The handmaiden was actually a little nervous.
She had heard that Daluo Palace operated differently from the Yellow Heaven Altar. During the battle that night, some from the Yellow Heaven Altar had tried to surrender, but the Mages of Daluo Palace killed them all under the pretext that they were evildoers.
The Yellow Heaven Altar’s methods were more extreme than those of the Golden Wind Divine Sect. They frequently abducted children to devour their souls. The people of Bai Shi Prefecture actually all knew this but simply didn’t dare to resist. Now that the Yellow Heaven Altar was destroyed, they no longer had to endure it in silence.
But the handmaiden did not dare to disobey Lady White Bone’s orders. Moreover, the White Bone God Monarch’s power was renowned throughout Bai Shi Prefecture. His Cultivation was higher than that of the Yellow Heaven Ancestor and his wife, which gave her some confidence to face Daluo Palace.
"Yes!" The handmaiden respectfully complied, raising her hands to receive the three Bone Soul-Chasing Arrows and tucking them into her sleeve. "Your servant will go to the Daluo Temple to deliver the message at once."
Lady White Bone nodded. After a moment’s thought, she added, "If that Observatory Master of the Daluo Temple doesn’t know what’s good for him, don’t provoke him yet. We will have a plan once my husband comes out of seclusion."
"Yes! Your servant wouldn’t dare!" the handmaiden hastily replied.
...
Carrying the three Bone Soul-Chasing Arrows, the handmaiden in green descended White Bone Mountain and headed toward Bai Shi Prefecture. She soon reached the Prefecture City and arrived at the Daluo Temple.
At this time, the Daluo Temple was still under renovation, but it was already open to receive worshippers.
The handmaiden in green slowly approached the entrance and entered the Daluo Temple. The first thing she saw was a Divine Statue standing by the main gate. It had a third eye on its forehead, held a divine whip, and stood on wheels of wind and fire.
She took a slow breath and turned to a Daoist in a blue robe standing nearby. "Li Cuicui of White Bone Mountain requests an audience with Yan Ling Observatory Master of the Daluo Temple."
