Wielding the Thunders Across Two Worlds

"Well, I’ll be!"

"The number of masters is really growing!"

"The Sect Leader even dug up old fossils like the Wen Shi Sect and the Shaoyang Sect?"

"And with Senior Brother Qing Ye of the Spiritual Treasure Sect, the Talismanic Three Mountains are finally gathered."

"Our Taoist Sect truly has a long and storied legacy!"

"I wonder when we’ll be able to gather the legacy of the Quanzhen Seven Elders?"

"That will depend on how hard we work."

"I heard Senior Brother Gao Yue of the Qingwei Sect and Senior Brother Xu Xing of the Dragon Gate Sect have made astonishing progress. Their Dao Practice and Magical Power are said to be no less than ours, and they even arrived in a group after us."

Somewhere in Yongzhou, Taoist Huai Yi of the Lao Mountain Golden Mountain Sect, Taoist Tai Xian of the Sui Mountain Sect, and Taoist Xuan Yong of the Yu Mountain Sect were walking through the deep mountains, chatting casually.

When Gu Zhao went to the modern world to recruit people, he first visited Lao Mountain, recruiting Taoist Huai Yi and four others. Some time later, he went and cleared out the Celestial Master’s Mansion and Sanmao Mountain. With two Thunder Seeds left over, he also brought back Taoist Gao Yue and Taoist Xu Xing from Zhenwu Mountain.

The older generation of seniors from the Celestial Master’s Mansion and Sanmao Mountain had already been brought over by Gu Zhao long ago. As a result, the middle-generation Taoists like Zhi Qing, Zhi Xiu, Han Zheng, and Han Xuan didn’t have as many years of accumulated practice. Coupled with their later arrival, they were still some distance from achieving five hundred years of Dao Practice.

However, Taoist Gao Yue and Taoist Xu Xing were veteran Daoists, elders of the True Martial Qingwei Sect and the True Martial Dragon Gate Sect respectively. Although they kept a low profile after crossing over to this world, as elusive as a Divine Dragon, it was only because they were constantly traveling the lands, Exorcising Demons and Evil Spirits!

"We have to keep it up!"

"We have to work harder!"

The three old Daoists cheered each other on and continued deeper along an overgrown path. Pushing aside the dense layers of trees ahead, they saw a magnificent and grand courtyard deep within the forest.

"Just as we thought. It’s here."

"Tricking women from the surrounding towns and counties into ghost marriages, luring away young children to raise as Infant Ghosts... and they have the gall to call this place Fugui Manor."

"After committing so many evil deeds, it’s time for them to face retribution."

The three old Daoists stepped out of the woods, finally getting a full view of the magnificent courtyard.

It was nestled by a mountain and near water, shaded by lush green trees.

The green tiles and yellow walls seemed to glow with a golden brilliance in the morning sun. Inside, the rooftops of varying heights were layered one after another, resembling a series of green hills.

In a corner stood a small tower taller than the other buildings, adorned with lanterns that had not been extinguished all night. But these lanterns were neither red nor white; they were the same color as the courtyard walls, emitting a garish yellow glow.

The three old Daoists walked toward the main gate. It was shut tight. The large, yellow doors were studded with thirty-two massive Copper Nails, and two yellow lanterns hung under the eaves. On the pillars to the left and right hung a plaque that read: "Vermilion gates that swallow sun and moon; carved beams adorned with gold and silver."

"Such arrogance."

"And such vicious methods."

The three old Daoists could see clearly that two Fierce Ghosts were sealed within the yellow lanterns under the eaves, and the souls of thirty-two children were imprisoned in the thirty-two Copper Nails.

"I’ll go say hello," Taoist Xuan Yong said, stepping forward. He slapped his gourd, and a Seven-Star Sword appeared in his hand.

Taoist Xuan Yong poured his Magical Power into the longsword. The Seven-Star Sword in his hand instantly erupted with a dazzling light as bright as a star. Seven points of light on the spine of the blade flashed with a golden glint, then merged into a single line, transforming into a sharp streak of silver-and-gold Sword Qi that shot toward the heavens.

"Who goes there? Are you looking for death?"

The Sword Qi startled the residents of Fugui Manor. A sharp cry rang in the ears of the three Daoists, but it could not stop Taoist Xuan Yong’s attack.

The two Fierce Ghosts within the yellow lanterns suddenly appeared. Green-faced and long-fanged, their eyes radiated malice and bloodlust as they tried to intercept Taoist Xuan Yong’s sword. But they were instantly annihilated by the Sword Qi.

"WAAAH!"

The cries of children rang out as the faces of thirty-two infants appeared on the thirty-two Copper Nails. Their faces displayed a mixture of emotions: venomous resentment, terror, misery, grief, despair, and rage.

A dim yellow light emanated from the Copper Nails. The thirty-two children’s faces contorted into thirty-two different expressions as sonic waves and Yin Qi formed a great net, seemingly intending to devour the intruders.

If this scene were in a horror movie, it would be quite terrifying. But in a xianxia drama, Taoist Xuan Yong didn’t even bat an eye.

As a Daoist with nearly five hundred years of Dao Practice, considered a master no matter where he went, if Taoist Xuan Yong could be stopped by a mere thirty-two little Infant Ghosts, he’d probably have to go kneel in penance before Wang Chuyi himself.

"HSSS—"

Like smoke dissipating, the great net cast by the thirty-two infants was swept away by the Sword Qi, failing to hinder it in the slightest. The Sword Qi then slammed into the yellow wooden gate.

"BOOM!"

The gate was shattered by the Sword Qi, splintering into pieces that flew backward.

The thirty-two Copper Nails flew in all directions, sent scattering by the sharp Sword Qi and embedding themselves in the spirit screen behind the gate, the courtyard, and the pillars.

"CRACK... CRACK..."

Cracks suddenly appeared on the spirit screen at the main entrance. The cracks multiplied and lengthened, spreading across the entire wall in just a few breaths.

Then, with a CLATTER, shattered stones flew out as the spirit screen crumbled, scattering across the ground and revealing the courtyard of Fugui Manor behind it.

A handsome, middle-aged man in yellow robes stood at the far end of the courtyard, on the steps of the main hall. He watched the scattered remains of the gate and the shattered spirit screen, the corner of his eye twitching.

He looked up and saw three old men in blue cloth robes standing at the entrance. Only the one on the left, an old man with a black beard and black hair, was holding a longsword. He was clearly the one who had attacked.

The other two, who hadn’t made a move, were obviously no weaker than him.

The middle-aged man’s lips twitched. Feeling the biting aura from his opponents, he forced a smile. "Is there some misunderstanding, you three Mages?"

The three old Daoists roared with laughter.

"I much preferred your arrogant and unruly look from before. Would you mind bringing it back?" Taoist Xuan Yong chuckled.

Taoist Tai Xian slapped his gourd, and a large drum appeared in his hands. "Bring out all your Ghost Brides and Infant Ghosts. I will quell their viciousness and then help their souls pass on."

Taoist Huai Yi said nothing. He simply put the cigarette in his hand to his lips, took a drag, and then gently exhaled, releasing a curling ring of blue smoke.

The smoke ring drifted into the air, growing larger and larger until it soon expanded to the size of Fugui Manor itself. Although the smoke became so faint it was almost invisible, its profound and mysterious aura only grew stronger.

The next moment, the smoke ring plummeted, instantly enveloping the entire Fugui Manor.

The middle-aged man’s expression changed drastically. Realizing there was no room for negotiation, he let out a long howl. Boundless Yin Qi surged from every corner of Fugui Manor, and one by one, Fierce Ghosts and other specters emerged from the ground.

Among them were Female Ghosts, infant souls, and servants and Maids shrouded in a sinister Yin Qi.

These Ghosts were not the kind that formed naturally after death and could cultivate on their own. They were Fierce Ghosts created by the middle-aged man through the forced Soul Refining of the living. Dazed and lacking true consciousness, they were more like tools than living beings.

"Killing people for Soul Refining... your evil is absolute," Taoist Huai Yi said coldly.

Taoist Tai Xian struck the large drum. "You deserve death!"

Taoist Xuan Yong raised his longsword and strode forward. "Then let the execution begin!"