Chapter Five: The Charming Yuan Zhen Transforms Again Between Yin and Yang, Brave Jiang Heng Breaks the Ambush Three Times

Jiang Heng was both skeptical and curious, so he asked her several questions. The woman answered every inquiry without fail, and ultimately, she even produced the Fire Feather Phoenix Pearl for him to examine.

What can be done about that

If Fourth Master still does not believe, then I will wait another seven days and nights, and I will transform back into my male form, Yuan Zhen, to show you

Does he have this ability? I remember you mentioned that Dao Zun and Mie Du Zhu seem to be able to do it as well

What should we do?" Jiang Heng gathered his inner strength and shouted with all his might

As for the denominations of the currency notes, they are also in gold and silver, with denominations of ten taels or twenty taels of gold, or fifty taels or one hundred taels of silver, among others. Moreover, the production of gold and silver here is quite substantial; a steamed bun costs one cash of silver, so a meal would require at least five or six cash of silver. Therefore, if there is wine and meat, it would definitely not be less than nine cash for one tael.

I also do not know..." Jiang Heng looked at the long sword in his hand and said, "Originally, I truly could not break through, but later this sword..."

Jiang Heng observed that she did not seem to be pretending, and her words were somewhat reasonable. After a moment's thought, he sheathed his long sword.

Yuan Zhen gazed ahead, speaking without blinking: "I encountered some troubles... but fortunately, they have all been resolved"

As the two of them settled the bill and exited the restaurant, Yuan Zhen calculated with his fingers and said, "The time has not yet come; let us stroll around for a while."

This time, forming a friendship with Yuan Zhen, I originally thought I would have no connection with women. However, due to Yuan Zhen's unique constitution, I unexpectedly had the opportunity to engage in intimate conversations, walk side by side, share meals at the same table, and sit together with women for several consecutive days.

The form of a magical instrument is not fixed... Yuan Zhen continued: "Any weapon, musical instrument, or various tools can be used as a magical instrument, as long as you are willing. However, once it has been consecrated, the magical instrument becomes a shared entity of magical power with its owner and cannot be casually replaced. If it is lost and needs to be renewed, the new magical instrument must be practiced from the beginning. For someone with over ten years of cultivation, this means that their power is immediately reduced by half, which is quite a serious matter. Therefore, for those who practice magic, in order to ascend to a higher level, it is essential to cultivate their magical instruments. This is where the status of the Earth Sovereign is highlighted, as he can consecrate many magical instruments simultaneously.

Use your sword to cleave through here

Ah! Yuan Zhen suddenly shouted, "Not good, that Taoist down the mountain actually knows the code we used to communicate. I fear that the people on the mountain have not escaped, but rather face grave danger."

Yuan Zhen bowed twice before the statue and then stood up. Jiang Heng, who had been listening to the Taoist's words from the side, did not wait for an invitation and walked out of the hall, joining Yuan Zhen as they took a detour to the back mountain. The two indeed discovered an ancient well on the back mountain, beside which was a small mountain path, paved with stone steps that wound upward. Yuan Zhen took a glance and immediately led the way.

Jiang Heng immediately took a few steps back, and with a loud "boom," a red light erupted from behind the trees in front of him, followed by a cloud of smoke. Jiang Heng smelled a burning odor and covered his nose as he retreated.

So which is better, the righteous path or the strong path of evil

At this point, there is no other way. Yuan Zhen said, "I know the way; I will escort you directly to meet the Daoist Master."

So you dress like this, neither male nor female

In conversation, the trees that were originally surrounding them continued to recede, soon restoring their original appearance. It seemed that at the same time, the halo on Jiang Heng's upper arm also vanished without a trace

Jiang Heng, having just arrived, was unaware of the differences and almost made a fool of himself. In the past few days, he listened and inquired more, and finally understood. Therefore, he intends to invite Yuan Zhen for the meal he had originally planned to treat him to that day. Yuan Zhen knows that he is gradually adapting and is also happy for him

As she spoke later, her Wu Nong soft language was infinitely delicate. Jiang Heng listened, feeling both sweet and cloying, and suddenly his mind buzzed. He had never experienced such a feeling before, unsure of how to react, he shouted and withdrew.

What? Jiang Heng did not expect her to ask such a question

Jiang Heng listened in silence for a moment. Yuan Zhen, unaware of his mood, continued: "This sword of the Fourth Master is so powerful, not only proving his high level of magical ability, but it must have also required considerable effort during its consecration."

Yuan Zhen pondered for a moment, then understood the meaning, and smiled as he said: "Fourth Master wants me to revert to my male form? It seems Fourth Master still cannot fully trust me"

Well, therefore, all the followers of the Red Sheep Sect use the Iron Bagua.

Yuan Zhen transformed into a woman. Jiang Heng found it inappropriate to share a room with her and was at a loss as to how to explain the situation to the farmer's family. Therefore, he took up his long sword and sat outside under a tree to rest, while also practicing his internal energy and refining his internal skills.

Speaking of "opening the light," Jiang Heng nodded and asked, "I understand the meaning of opening the light, but I am not sure if there is a fixed form for the ritual implements, and what the rituals for opening the light are."

Jiang Heng looked at her demeanor, and despite having boundless ambition in his heart, he felt a sense of frustration.

Yuan Zhen smiled and said, "It is not a matter of whether it can be done by humans, but rather that human blood is the best. Furthermore, it can be divided into two types: the righteous and the evil."

Thus, Yuan Zhen joked with him, and whenever it involved men and women, he would respond with a smile. Over time, Yuan Zhen also discerned the clues and would intentionally tease him, whether there was a reason or not. Strangely enough, Jiang Heng was quite able to accept her banter, using it as a lubricant for his tense emotions.

Jiang Hengdao: "What are you calculating? If you have time, could you teach me?"

Having witnessed the formidable capabilities of the land's ugliness and the recent fright in the forest, Jiang Heng, although unaware of how far this path may lead, was certain that the difficulties and dangers ahead would be considerable. Yuan Zhen possessed such courage, embodying the true essence of a hero. He could not help but exclaim inwardly, "Good!" He then said, "In fact, I do not require much protection; you only need to guide me. Moreover, we have each other's support, and I believe nothing can pose a challenge to us."

It turns out this is the world of Taoism, no wonder we have so many commonalities. The same language, the same script, and similar lifestyle habits, among others

Jiang Heng was unwilling to answer directly and shifted the topic, saying: "Yuan Zhen, do you know that ever since you became a woman, the way you speak and your attitude towards thoughts are different from when you were a man?"

No, that is not what I meant. Jiang Heng said: "Because the two of us often have to travel overnight, it is quite inconvenient for a man and a woman to be alone together."

Why not simply dress up as a woman

Jiang Heng no longer spoke much, allowing Yuan Zhen to continue.

Ah, I see... If it is truly dangerous, then there is no need to rush back to a male form

The Earth Sovereign is currently ill. If you charge in like this, you might not even reach the Supreme Hall before being harmed by the Pu Hui faction. Yuan Zhen's eyes turned, and he whispered in his ear through a secret transmission: "The Daoist Master suspects that the Earth Sovereign has long since passed away, and Pu Hui is keeping it a secret as a delaying tactic."

The two individuals also discovered a stove made of stones and earth behind the grass shed, used for cooking and making fire. It is evident that someone had indeed lived here, but for some unknown reason, they suddenly left.

Therefore, I inquired of Yuan Zhen about the so-called magical instruments, specifically what special methods are used in their creation. Yuan Zhen replied: "The term 'establishing magical instruments' as mentioned by the Earth Sovereign refers to the process of consecrating the instruments. Only after consecration can they be called magical instruments"

Unexpectedly, as he retreated, the trees on both sides leaned in at an angle, further separating him from Yuan Zhen. The fire was even outpaced by the growth of the trees.

Yuan Zhen was overjoyed and immediately took the lead. The two left the small village; although they did not deliberately avoid the main road, they also did not dare to be too ostentatious, walking and stopping intermittently without feeling particularly tired. Since Yuan Zhen transformed into a female form, her temperament and demeanor had changed somewhat, becoming at least a bit more talkative. Fortunately, Jiang Heng was quite unfamiliar with the world they were in, and her continuous explanations provided a perfect opportunity for her to express herself.

In order to prevent Jiang Heng from feeling further embarrassment, Yuan Zhen was determined to transform back into a man. In fact, her actions were not only to prove that she was indeed Yuan Zhen, but also to preserve their friendship. Jiang Heng felt somewhat conflicted, but upon hearing that she intended to revert, it was as if he had taken a reassuring pill.

Jiang Heng was taken aback upon seeing it

Knowing that the person was an imposter, having deceived them into going up the mountain, the objective had already been achieved, and he should have long since fled. However, with a glimmer of hope remaining, they decided to act without delay. The two of them had similar thoughts and immediately rushed down the mountain. Upon reaching the temple, they dragged out several Taoist priests hiding in the buildings, but none of them were the one they had just encountered. After repeated questioning, everyone was left dumbfounded, completely unaware of the situation.

"Step back a little, Fourth Master!" Yuan Zhen said from the other end in a voice that could only be heard through secret transmission: "I am going to use fire as an attack!"

The next morning, after a brief wash and grooming, Yuan Zhen styled her hair up, adorned it with pearl hairpins and jade hairpins, applied rouge to her lips, and despite still wearing men's clothing, she had completely transformed into a delicate and charming young lady.

What are you doing

Jiang Heng agreed with this speculation, and thus set off together with Yuan Zhen, allowing her to make all the arrangements.

Yuan Zhen approached the statue of the Primordial Heavenly Master, knelt down, and offered her respects with her hands clasped in prayer. After a while, a Taoist priest walked out from the side, not even glancing at her, picked up a whisk, and began to sweep around haphazardly, saying: "Why is there not a single piece of news? The higher-ups have been waiting for a long time..."

That is also true

It is indeed strange; Jiang Heng's action was merely a result of his exasperation, and he did not expect it to have any effect. Little did he know that he would hear a series of sounds like "bi bi bo bo," and the trees and leaves within a few feet in front of him would wither as if struck by a plague, retreating backward.

"Exactly," Yuan Zhen added, "Moreover, there is another key point regarding the consecration ceremony: regardless of who performs the consecration, it must be done using fresh blood"

***

To be honest, what do you think of my appearance

Jiang Heng was quite taken aback, and he was also filled with rage, shouting: "No matter what kind of monster or spirit you are, come out! I, Jiang Heng, will not fall for your tricks!" He channeled his internal energy, forcefully withdrew his long sword, and followed up with the move "Long Rainbow Piercing the Sun."

Jiang Heng originally intended to say this, but ultimately did not speak it out.

"Oh dear, let me put it this way..." Yuan Zhen suddenly linked her arm with Jiang Heng's and whispered softly in his ear, "Right now, every part of me is a woman... even my feelings only favor men..."

Jiang Heng was both surprised and delighted. He swung his sword to the left, and the trees seemed to respond, producing a rustling sound as leaves withered and branches fell, cascading down like rain.

Blood production

However, this thought, while harmless to entertain in one's mind, is utterly unspeakable. Jiang Heng had never been shopping before; today was his first time, and he felt like a country bumpkin. Yuan Zhen, the young lady, displayed her naive and romantic spirit without reservation, pulling Jiang Heng along, pointing out this and that, and teaching him the tricks of shopping.

The two lowered their heads to look, only to see that the long sword in Jiang Heng's hand emitted a faint blue light, and his arm seemed to be enveloped in a halo as well. Yuan Zhen was both surprised and delighted, saying: "This sword possesses extraordinary power; it must be a magical artifact crafted by a renowned master..."

What?

Yuan Zhen was unaware of what he was thinking, wandering aimlessly around the city with him. Today, there happened to be a market in the city, and Jiang Heng observed that Yuan Zhen was like a young girl who loved shopping, finding everything amusing and everything new, showing not a trace of a man's demeanor. Suddenly, he thought to himself, if she were to continue living as a woman like this, perhaps she would be even more compatible with literature.

There are two small paths on the back mountain; take the one by the well, and when you reach the top, you will naturally see people." After the Taoist finished speaking, he turned and went to the back hall

Um ... ...

This means that when using blood, the person or animal must still be alive.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Zhen looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile and said, "When you ascend the throne and become the Earth Emperor in the future, there will be no need to learn such trivial skills."

Jiang Heng is a rising star in the martial arts world, achieving success at a young age and gaining fame early on. This means that he devoted much of his youth to training. While others say, "In books, there are beauties like jade; in books, there are golden houses," he embodies the sentiment, "In martial arts, there are beauties like jade; in martial arts, there are golden houses." Thus, despite being handsome and talented, he has always been distant from women

Jiang Heng finally understood why the Fourth Prince, before his death, chose to draw the sword himself while muttering incantations. It turned out that at that moment, he was using his own blood to consecrate the sword. So, one might wonder, did the Fourth Prince harbor any resentment at that time

There will be plenty of time to clarify these matters in the future; what is most important at the moment is to quickly find the person who can assist Yuan Zhen.

Go to see the Daoist Master? I thought we were going directly to the Imperial Palace of the Earth

Blocking that Taoist, perhaps we can ask something.

Yuan Zhen was filled with joy. She was caught in a dilemma, feeling that the small fire she had set in this sea of trees could not be extinguished, yet the raging flames were threatening to consume her. Unexpectedly, at this moment, Jiang Heng emerged and resolved the crisis.

The mountain path leads directly to a grassy clearing halfway up the slope, where a thatched hut has been built near the incline. As soon as the two entered the hut, they found it fully equipped with pots, bowls, and utensils, yet there was not a single person in sight.

Jiang Heng was taken aback, his long sword suddenly raised, a cold light flashing as he cleaved the tree that was blocking his path. To his surprise, the tree was not fallen but was continuously growing sideways. After Jiang Heng had chopped off a few branches, the astonishing growth rate of the other branches and leaves quickly filled the gap, further separating the two.

That's great, aren't you coming over?

Jiang Heng forced a smile. In his heart, he was merely contemplating the idea of keeping his promises, but he had never considered becoming some kind of emperor.

Jiang Heng let out a苦笑, unsure of how to respond

As they were walking, Yuan Zhen suddenly stopped in front and said softly: "Something is not right..."

When I transform, it is also my most vulnerable moment. Although these past few days have been very calm, it has been a bit too calm...

Damn it... Yuan Zhen searched everywhere for people, exclaiming in exasperation: "It must be that our movements have been exposed, which is why they left. The person who just ambushed us on the road must have been sent by the Master of Destruction. It's a pity we couldn't stop him..."

Jiang Heng muttered, "If it were useful, I would have struck long ago." Though he thought this in his mind, he still exerted himself to swing his sword and slash forward

This feeling is quite strange, so Jiang Heng did not remind her of what day it is today

However, the trees surrounding him grew faster and thicker, even blocking his escape route, rendering his attempts utterly futile. Jiang Heng cursed, "This is simply outrageous!" He raised his sword high, ready to strike down again, but felt a tightness in his hand; he was unable to bring the sword down.

Jiang Heng was taken aback and looked up, only to see several vines extending down from above, entangling the long sword in his hand. In that instant, shoots suddenly sprouted from the ground at his feet, rapidly climbing upwards, and in a moment, they had ensnared his lower body as well

Are you really Yuan Zhen?" Jiang Heng's confidence wavered

Before long, the sky gradually darkened, and Yuan Zhen wished to continue on to the next town for lodging. However, Jiang Heng preferred to find a quiet place in the countryside.

Jiang Heng thought it made sense and said, "Let's go, we should hurry down."

On this day, the two arrived at a large town with around four to five thousand households. After lunch, Jiang Heng hurried to the accounts before Yuan Zhen. After consulting several books, he finally understood that here, copper coins were not used; only gold and silver were accepted. Moreover, the gold and silver ingots were privately minted by the people, lacking a unified standard. Generally, it was ten cash for one tael, and one tael of gold exchanged for six taels of silver. Above gold and silver were the legal tender issued by the Earth Emperor, which was said to possess divine power from the Heavenly Emperor, making it impossible for anyone to counterfeit.

"Let's go..." Jiang Heng urged, "Did you not come to find me because you had something to discuss?"

If you don't believe me, just ask about what has happened these past few days. If I were truly the demoness who caused Yuan Zhen's death, then wouldn't everything that happened in his mind also be able to run into my mind

Yuan Zhen let out a sigh of relief and adjusted his clothing. Jiang Heng recalled his earlier actions and felt a bit embarrassed, so he took the lead and walked a few steps ahead.

This is not absolute; it is related to an individual's cultivation and attainment.

Jiang Heng was overjoyed, regardless of the reason, and first cleared away the branches and leaves under his feet. Once he had the freedom to move, he imitated the actions of others and began to chop his way forward. Before long, he had carved out a path that directly connected him with Yuan Zhen.

Has the Fourth Master decided to stay? Yuan Zhen happily said: "Let's go, I will first take you to meet the person who is here to pick me up, and then we will go to meet the Daoist Master"

For Jiang Heng, this was the "first time" like a young girl entering a bridal sedan chair. Prior to this, the closest he had come to interacting with a young woman was when he accompanied a friend to a brothel. However, that was after three cups of wine, which fueled the atmosphere and heightened the "sexual" tension. Yet, in his slightly tipsy state, the closer he got to the beauty, the more he felt a sense of emptiness and sorrow. Ultimately, finding it utterly uninteresting, he made a hasty retreat.

Yuan Zhen led Jiang Heng westward towards the city, and soon they exited the city gate, turning northwest to arrive at the foot of a mountain. At the foot of the mountain, there was a pavilion, and beside the pavilion stood a stone archway. Entering through the archway and ascending the steps, at the end of the mountain path flanked by towering ancient trees, there was a shrine. Jiang Heng followed Yuan Zhen inside, only to see a large incense burner in the courtyard with smoke curling upwards, yet there was not a single person in sight.

Yuan Zhen immediately felt that he should cherish and treat someone like him well, and he felt embarrassed to continue teasing him, so he hurriedly caught up to apologize

General classification states that if the bleeding animal or person can survive after blood is drawn, it is termed as "zhengkai" (正开); conversely, if they cannot survive, it is termed as "xiekai" (邪开). Fierce carnivorous beasts are preferred over gentle herbivorous ones; rare and unusual birds are favored over ordinary domestic fowl; and individuals with magical powers are considered superior to those without.

Additionally, there is another perspective that distinguishes based on whether the bloodshedder harbors resentment. Those with resentment are deemed malevolent, while those without are considered righteous. Generally, those who cannot survive after bleeding tend to harbor more resentment; bloodthirsty beasts exhibit greater resentment after a fight. If an opponent possesses magical power and is defeated, dying after shedding blood, their restless spirit carries even greater resentment

Can a person... also be a person?" Jiang Heng was a bit surprised

Yuan Zhen requested the same environment as last time and asked Jiang Heng to stand guard at a distance.

"Wearing men's clothing makes it more convenient to move around," Yuan Zhen said. "But my face is so beautiful; it would be a pity not to let others see it."

Jiang Heng glanced at her lips, only to see her tightly shut mouth. Those words were indeed conveyed to him through the secretive technique of sound transmission that Yuan Zhen excelled in.

It seems that this sword is indeed extraordinary. Jiang Heng raised the sword and gazed at it for a while, then said: "Unfortunately, I do not know how to wield it, which would be a waste of its potential."

If you don't like me being androgynous like this, I can also wear women's clothing again and dress up beautifully. What do you think?

This day also marks the seventh day since Yuan Zhen transformed into a woman. Jiang Heng has been preoccupied with this matter; if he cannot ascertain that the woman before him is indeed Yuan Zhen, then where has Yuan Zhen gone? This has been a persistent concern for him. However, if it is confirmed that the woman before him is truly Yuan Zhen, then what will replace her will be an indescribable sense of loss

"Not at all, I think it's quite fine," Yuan Zhen said jokingly. "If we were to camp in the wild, it might actually be more convenient for a man and a woman."

Yuan Zhen was quite surprised by his reaction, thinking to himself: "I didn't expect him to be so honest. Could it be that at his age, he has never encountered a woman?" Considering the several sons of the Earth Emperor, none of them were good people. However, after spending a few days with him, Yuan Zhen discovered that not only was he powerful (Yuan Zhen believed that was magical power), but he also acted decisively and had a bold style. More importantly, beneath his brave exterior, he surprisingly possessed a shy and innocent heart.

The two individuals exited the temple and proceeded down the mountain, seeking guidance from the local inhabitants regarding the direction, and then continued their journey towards the southwest.

Oh dear, I have never really been distinctly male or female!" Yuan Zhen said, breaking into a charming smile

As the sound faded, a rustling noise suddenly arose from all around, resembling the sound of leaves rustling and also akin to the waves crashing against the shore. Soon, the noise grew louder, and then with a "swish," the trees on both sides of Jiang Heng suddenly fell, blocking the path between him and Yuan Zhen

Jiang Heng, in his real world, has never encountered such matters, making it difficult for him to fully accept them at once. However, after hearing Yuan Zhen's explanation, he gained a bit more understanding. Thus, although he slightly furrowed his brows, he still nodded.

Uncertain how much time had passed, Yuan Zhen suddenly said, "It is time." At that moment, Jiang Heng suddenly realized that he had forgotten where he was.

***

The Earth Sovereign can utilize the power of the Heavenly Emperor to empower numerous magical artifacts. Although the Daoist Masters and the Master of Extinction possess sufficient magical power, this process depletes their true essence. Therefore, aside from their disciples, it is unlikely that others have the fortune to benefit from this. In fact, many leaders of various sects, altars, palaces, and temples can also empower magical artifacts. However, their cultivation is more limited, and to achieve greater results with less effort, they often choose only one or at most two types of artifacts. Moreover, when all the followers practice the same type of artifact together, there is a mutual influence that enhances the effects for each other.

Jiang Hengxin thought: "Just now, you almost got trapped in it yourself; being able to escape unscathed is already a stroke of luck. I didn't expect you still want to stop the other party."

Although they encountered an ambush on the road, Yuan Zhen still insisted on continuing upward to investigate. Jiang Heng had no objections and left everything to his decision

Jiang Heng was still hesitating and doubting, when the voice beside his ear sounded again: "Fourth Master, look, all my various spells are still intact. If I am not a true original, could I possibly be a sister disciple of the true original?"

In fact, Jiang Heng was not someone who would simply let her dictate his actions or lead him by the nose. Over the past two or three days, whenever there was an opportunity, Jiang Heng would actively inquire about the local inhabitants regarding the names of the places. After passing through several towns and counties and hearing nothing but unfamiliar names, Jiang Heng finally came to fully believe that he had indeed fallen into another world, a mysterious realm where magic replaced martial arts.

Yuan Zhen seemed to have come prepared, directly walking towards the main hall. Jiang Heng followed behind, and upon entering the hall, he discovered that it was dedicated to the Primordial Supreme Being. After such a long time, he finally saw something familiar, akin to encountering an old friend in a foreign land, and Jiang Heng was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion.

"It's no use, I can't get it to boil..." Yuan Zhen's voice came again: "The enemy is well-prepared and knows that I am skilled with fire. If I increase the flames now, I will end up burning myself to death."

Yuan Zhen covered her mouth and smiled, saying: "Fourth Master, are you still unable to understand? I am no longer just disguised as a woman; I have truly transformed into one, inside and out. If my words and actions still reflect those of a man, then wouldn't that be neither truly male nor truly female?"