I Can Strengthen Infinitely-Chapter 130 - 110: West Qi Mountain Temple

To the north of Cyan Yang City, a towering mountain stands amidst a dense forest, with West Qi Mountain Temple situated upon it.

The dense forest surrounding the mountain is also known as the ’Cloud Barrier,’ due to the perpetual mist that fills its interior, so dense at times that it obscures the path ahead.

When Qin Yuesheng and his companions reached the edge of the forest, they were met by dense white mist. Beyond five steps, nothing could be seen.

Yet, in the distance, the mountain housing the West Qi Mountain Temple was faintly visible through the fog.

"This is indeed no ordinary place," Zuo Zonghao remarked with implication, nodding as he said, "Proceed."

An Iron Toad officer immediately stepped forward, retrieving a gourd-shaped green fan from his bosom.

With a firm wave of the fan handle towards the forest, a strong gust of wind howled forth, swirling into the dense woods, advancing several zhang far.

Where the wind reached, the mist scattered, revealing the original landscape.

"This thing!" Qin Yuesheng remarked with interest, looking at the fan in the man’s hand. The maneuver resembled the Seven Elements Creation Spell of Her Ladyship, yet its power was far inferior. Back then, Her Ladyship had conjured three whirlwinds simultaneously over the Sea of Bloom.

With the Iron Toad officer clearing the path ahead, Qin Yuesheng and the others swiftly forged their way through, reaching the mountain’s base.

Gazing at the mountain path, Zuo Zonghao refrained from stepping onto it immediately, which puzzled Qin Yuesheng. He could only stand by, curiously watching.

"Zuo Zonghao, an official of the Great Tang, comes today to visit the mountain gate. I hope the temple master will come out to meet us."

Zuo Zonghao’s voice seemed to employ some technique, sounding distant yet near. Standing beside him, Qin Yuesheng and the others felt nothing while on the mountain, the sound reverberated like thunder.

Soon, a young Daoist ran down the mountain path, bowing to Zuo Zonghao: "Lord Zuo, our West Qi Mountain Temple has been sealed for days. It’s inconvenient to receive guests now."

Zuo Zonghao seized the young Daoist with a large hand, who seemed to encounter an irresistible force and flew directly into Zuo Zonghao’s grip by the collar.

"Remember, I’m not negotiating with you Daoists, but notifying you."

Zuo Zonghao’s stern voice carried arrogance, "If you don’t open the mountain gate today, you are opposing the entire Great Tang."

Zuo Zonghao, an experienced official, exuded an air of authority. Even without expressing it on his face, people felt fear without needing anger, not daring to resist.

With no alternative, the young Daoist hesitantly said, "Then I shall request guidance from my uncle-master."

"No need for such trouble; just lead the way." Zuo Zonghao gave the Daoist a light toss; he spun like a top, flying several steps away. When he regained his footing, he stumbled and fell onto the ground.

"Pfft." Seeing the comical scene, Huo Bang couldn’t help but accidentally chuckle.

Bai Hao immediately slapped his back, forcibly stopping Huo Bang’s laughter.

Huo Bang winced in pain, his face twisted, but he could no longer laugh.

"Up the mountain." Zuo Zonghao commanded and then strode towards the mountain path.

An Iron Toad officer grabbed the Daoist by the shoulder and followed, prompting the group to start moving.

Upon setting foot on the mountain path, Qin Yuesheng immediately felt the scene change; the once straight path became winding and broken, flanked by cliffs and precipices.

Indeed, there was no sky above, nor ground below.

At such heights, anyone with a fear of heights would likely be terrified to death.

"Lord Bai?" Qin Yuesheng asked Bai Hao.

"No need to ask further, just follow Lord Zuo’s footsteps. The truth and illusion, we can’t distinguish now," Bai Hao replied.

The group suddenly resembled a long dragon, trailing behind Zuo Zonghao closely. Where he went, they followed, not daring to make a wrong step.

Midway along the path, Zuo Zonghao suddenly stepped off the path into the void. It was a deep chasm, the mist swirling, that even an expert of the Inner Power Realm would be crushed without a trace.

Qin Yuesheng watched in silent shock.

But the next moment, Zuo Zonghao firmly stepped onto the cliff. He stood securely, without any intention of falling.

After a few steps on the cliff, Zuo Zonghao’s figure suddenly vanished into thin air, leaving the group to quickly catch up.

The surrounding scenery abruptly changed; gone were the cliffs and precipices, replaced by green hills and bamboo groves.

In the distance, the gate of the West Qi Mountain Temple was in clear view.

"What a marvelous Illusion Barrier Array!" Qin Yuesheng couldn’t help but silently marvel.

The sealing of the mountain gate of the West Qi Mountain Temple—without Zuo Zonghao to guide them, they likely wouldn’t have found its exact location.

As Zuo Zonghao walked under the archway, an old Daoist priest happened to come out.

"I am Clear Water, greetings to Lord Zuo."

Zuo Zonghao’s eyes were sharp as torches: "If you are here to persuade me to leave, spare it. I must see your temple master today."

"No need to worry, my lord. This way, I shall lead you." The Clear Water Daoist smiled.

The interior of the West Qi Mountain Temple indeed had an ethereal quality. Not only were there towering green pines and strange rock formations, but also white cranes and sika deer frolicking throughout the temple, truly a sight to behold.

After traversing many rugged paths, led by the Clear Water Daoist, the group finally arrived at the highest point of the West Qi Mountain Temple, a large hall situated atop a giant rock.

Inside the hall were idols of divine soldiers and generals. A middle-aged Daoist with black hair and white eyebrows was sitting cross-legged on a mat, meditating with closed eyes.

"Temple master, some guests have arrived."

The Daoist slowly opened his eyes, and only then did Qin Yuesheng notice that this person’s eyes were one black and one white, black pupils without white, and white pupils without black, extremely peculiar.

"I am Huang Ting, greetings to the esteemed guests." The middle-aged Daoist rose and said.

"Daoist Huang Ting, I apologize for disturbing your cultivation today. I have some questions hoping for your serious answers. Once I get the answers I desire, I will leave immediately."

Huang Ting nodded: "Please, ask your questions."

"Regarding the seal hidden in Cyan Yang City, how much do you know?"

"I didn’t expect the lord to be interested in this." Huang Ting glanced at the Clear Water Daoist who had led Qin Yuesheng and the others here: "Go and have the disciples bring some mats over, we can’t have the lords standing all the time."

"Understood."

Qin Yuesheng began observing the surroundings. Besides the three largest divine soldier and general statues enshrined in the central area of the hall, there were also many idols placed in the corners, each about the size of a washbasin but exquisitely crafted.

Quickly, several small Daoist acolytes came in carrying mats, distributing one to each of Qin Yuesheng and the others.

No one refused, and they all accepted the mats and sat down.

"How much does Lord Zuo know about the seal in Cyan Yang City?"

"It’s precisely because I know nothing that I came to ask you, Daoist."

Huang Ting smiled: "Originally, our West Qi Mountain Temple intended to handle this alone, but since the lord is aware of it, I have no reason to hide it any longer. If it pleases the lord, perhaps you could lend a hand to Cyan Yang City this time."

Zuo Zonghao asked: "How so?"

"Hundreds of years ago, when our West Qi Mountain Temple was still the Yellow Dragon Dao Sect, we were stationed here to suppress and eradicate many mischievous ghosts and spirits. Those that couldn’t be eradicated were sealed by various means, and over time, the area near the Yellow Dragon Dao Sect became a Ten Thousand Ghosts Prison."

Qin Yuesheng clicked his tongue, thinking, could the lady trapped in the white porcelain wall be the doing of this Yellow Dragon Dao Sect?

"Under such fame, trouble also came. A group of Great Ghost Venerables arrived here, intending to release all the imprisoned ghosts and spirits, causing chaos in the world and suffering to all living beings.

Our Yellow Dragon Dao Sect naturally could not let this happen, so we mobilized the entire sect’s power to engage in a life-and-death struggle with those Ghost Venerables. At the cost of great sacrifice, we defeated thirteen Great Ghost Venerables, sealing their heads underground. However, by this time, the Yellow Dragon Dao Sect’s strength was no longer what it used to be,

To prevent enemies from seeking revenge, we went into hiding, changed our names, and established the West Qi Mountain Temple here, merely to keep a watchful eye on that seal, preventing it from being broken by external forces, and averting the day when those Great Ghost Venerables would see the light of day again, endangering the world."

Zuo Zonghao pondered for a moment and then asked: "What is a Great Ghost Venerable?"

"They are beings more powerful than ghosts and spirits, feeding on humans, using humans’ fear and death as their source of cultivation."

Zuo Zonghao then described the situation with the strangers to Huang Ting, seeking his wisdom on what these strangers were and whether they had any connection with the Great Ghost Venerables.

Since the Yellow Dragon Dao Sect during the Miao Dynasty was the forerunner of the West Qi Mountain Temple, there must be many secret pieces of information unknown to the Seven Stars Bureau hidden here.

It is known that after the Miao Dynasty, Yuwen Fenghua used the Heirloom Seal of the Realm to establish the Yong Dynasty, and following the Yong Dynasty came the current Great Tang. The Seven Stars Bureau was ordered to be established by the Grand Founder during the founding of the Great Tang, with a history of merely two or three hundred years, which hardly compares to the substantial inheritance of a major sect like the West Qi Mountain Temple relics.

"The strangers you mentioned, in our place, are called the ’Ghost Race’."

"Ghost Race?" Zuo Zonghao asked: "Where do they live, and are there many of them?"

"The origin of the Ghost Race is mysterious, their forms and abilities vary. Some Ghost Races are born with multiple limbs, some can bewitch the common folk, and some are adept at disguise; they are all quite difficult to deal with. The Great Ghost Venerables should be counted as members of the Ghost Race."

Taking this opportunity, Qin Yuesheng suddenly spoke: "Daoist, yesterday I killed a nest of strangers in the Cold Mountain Temple, each had a beast’s head and a human’s body. Some could fly, some could roar, some could emit poisonous fog and Roar Skill. Could they have come for the seal in Cyan Yang City?"

In an instant, all eyes focused on Qin Yuesheng.

Bai Hao, puzzled, asked: "You did such a thing, why didn’t you tell me?"

"In yesterday’s battle, I sustained some injuries, so I planned to report it to you at the government office today."