Chapter 8

A person and a lizard got into an argument, and while the lizard was debating, its tongue was darting about chaotically, truly causing concern that it might mistake a piece of clothing for an ant and lick it into its mouth

In the hollow south of Stone Mountain, a dark figure paused under the moonlight, lifted its sleeve, and struck the ground with a fist. A lightning-like bright light spread straight downwards, vanishing in an instant into the sand. Shortly after, a rumbling sound emanated from below, and a clear spring burst forth from the crevices of the rocks, shimmering with countless silver glimmers in the moonlight

The young man, with silver hair, exuded an elegant demeanor that belied his wild nature. He slightly adjusted his head and bowed deeply to the healer, saying, "Thank you for saving my life, esteemed healer. A few days ago, I was in a state of turmoil while refining my energy, inadvertently allowing malevolent forces to enter my body. Fortunately, you passed by and I was able to escape with my life. I am at a loss for how to repay such great kindness. As you traverse the vast sea and arrive at this place, I imagine you are in need of water. To the south of Shitou Mountain, there is a spring known for its ageless waters. If you require it, I would be willing to accompany you there."

The young man was momentarily taken aback, his wide eyes filled with confusion. "I have received the grace of the spiritual physician; what is wrong with me telling the spiritual physician everything I know? I am a lizard; where in the six directions and eight realms can I not go? Although the Dream City is far away, I can make a round trip in three days. Unlike you, a mere mortal, who burdens the spiritual physician and Qu Ru, causing them to wander for so long, still circling over the vast sea."

Although lizards are naturally cold-blooded, after transforming into human form, they possess a warm and passionate heart. He chatted with her about everyday matters, saying, "This is your first time visiting the Fanhang Sacred Land, right? That place is different from Tianji City. Do you know what to pay attention to?" Seeing her shake her head, he immediately continued, "Once you leave the Hanhai, you will encounter the Iron Enclosure Mountain. Beneath the Iron Enclosure Mountain, there are Iron-eating Worms with sharp teeth. When they encounter something displeasing, they will bite. You should carry Dongming Grass with you, as those worms are afraid of it. After passing the Iron Enclosure Mountain, you will arrive at the Miaoshan Realm. Don't be fooled by the name of the Miaoshan Realm, which suggests compassion; it is filled with all sorts of monsters, including the Devourer of Heaven." Do you know about the Devourer of Heaven, Spirit Healer? Even the Taotie calls it grandfather. Regardless of whether you are human or Buddha, encountering the Devourer of Heaven means your end. It can transform into a person and greet you at the entrance of the realm, inviting you to stay at an inn. The Spirit Healer must look closely to see if the attendant has a mole behind their ear. If they do, you must not follow them, for the inn's door is the mouth of the Devourer of Heaven in disguise. If you walk in, you will directly enter its belly.

Why

Qu Ru sighed deeply in front of the mirror, "I do not know how much longer it will take to walk out of the vast sea." Seeing a bit of raised skin, she casually tore it off, pulling away a large piece, which made her grimace in pain.

"Guan Cang Hai says that the Lord of the Nightmare City is a very good person, Master, do you believe it?"

On the empty stone mountain, the air currents vibrate and create ripples. "From ancient times to the present, no lizard has ever achieved its true form. Do you know why?"

After walking for a long time, she had nearly used up the water stored in the metal ring. Even if it was a matter of life and death, continuing to be this thirsty would lead to dehydration. She propped herself up and said: "Looking at the terrain here, there might be sea buckthorn. Those fruits are delicious; I have tasted them, they are sweet and sour..." Everyone exchanged glances and smiled, unconsciously swallowing their saliva.

The claws gripped the crevice of the rock, while the wings remained motionless in the howling wind. The stars above the vast sea were particularly large, embellishing the pitch-black pupils, creating a shimmering reflection across the pool. That pair of eyes fixed intently on the valley floor, the wind howled ominously at the temples, and their words were still perfectly etched into the ears.

Let Qu Ru quickly fill the water pouch. She lifted the sand boat, and as the wind caught it, the boat instantly expanded a thousandfold. In a hurry, she boarded the ship to bid farewell to the young man, reminding him to be cautious during his next Qi refining session. Then, she recited a mantra, and the sail swelled, sailing into the dim night.

The young man immediately furrowed his brows, "So this means I can leave a good impression on Yan Hou, and in the future, when I meet the master, I can take the initiative to win her favor. It's such a pity that Yan Hou has already left. If only she could stay a little longer, I would like to discuss some interesting stories about the master with her to help her understand him better."

Another person who speaks highly of Bai Zhun, how does this contrast so sharply with the rumors in the Shatu? However, since I have not formed a close relationship with this lizard, I cannot express my opinion casually. I can only vaguely agree: "Since we have arrived at the sacred land of Brahman, we must pay a visit to the lord."

Without a way out, one can only mediate the situation. This vast desert is fraught with danger, and the monsters are not like humans; when they become displeased, they can change their demeanor in an instant. Therefore, one cannot afford to linger here.

Having fallen under a spell, it is only fitting to seek her out. If it were merely a case of being tainted by evil, it could be cleansed with true fire. However, given its current condition, it is necessary to absorb all the demonic essence. Only by purifying the spirit can it turn danger into safety

Over the years, Wu Fang has saved countless demons, and she understands its meaning. She gently pats Zhen Yi on the shoulder, signaling him to step aside, and approaches to carefully observe the form of the spirit. The essence is rapidly spinning beneath the transparent membrane, forming a miniature eye of a storm, appearing quite agitated. The halo swirling outside the membrane has turned dark green; for reptiles, blue indicates health, while green signifies being possessed.

The three looked at each other in astonishment, and Qu Ruqing was overjoyed, saying, "You see, good people are rewarded. That eagle must have received the master's favor in the past, and now it has come to repay the kindness."

There is no place that is not suitable for a good answer, only to say: "Having stayed in the sacred land of the Buddha for so long, I wish to explore the world."

The young man brought them over, smiling as he pointed to the spring in front of them, "Look, how fresh it is, still carrying some mud..." Realizing something was amiss, he quickly changed his tone, "What I mean is, this spring is sometimes clear and sometimes turbid; when it is turbid, it is discharging waste. Just wait a moment and it will be fine."

The sound of footsteps drew closer, the black robe transformed into eagle feathers, whistling straight up to the sky, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Only the gurgling spring water can prove that everything that happened before was real

Qu Rushi is a strange bird; whenever she sees water, she wants to take a bath. She blinks her eyes and gazes aimlessly, "Master, since the water is murky anyway, may I dip a little and wipe my body?"

"Sasa," a series of fragmented sounds drew attention, initially subtle, resembling the sound of sand shifting beneath the ground. Gradually, the sound intensified, like water, like waves, surging until it reached her ears. Wu Fang was startled, suddenly sitting up, while Qu Ru and Zhen Yi also leaped to their feet, only to discover a gigantic lizard slithering towards them from the sand dune ahead, striding swiftly until it was right in front of them

Regardless of the circumstances, with the assistance of the noble bird, nestled by the campfire in the gentle night breeze while enjoying fruits, there is a unique charm to it

The long-silent Zhenyi suddenly spoke: "Between the vast sea and the sacred land of the Brahman, there lies an iron-walled mountain. It is two thousand yojanas to the northwest of the Miao Shan realm, and such a great distance makes it seem that Your Excellency understands the Lord of the Nightmare City all too well."

Zhen Yi stood up and said, "I will go and take a look. If I am lucky enough to find it, I will bring it back to show my respect to the master."

For her, it was a simple task, yet it could save a life. The lizard struggled to lift its head, and its long tongue shot out quickly, drawing the spirit into its mouth

The frightened youth covered his mouth

"Has he left?" Someone asked from a short distance, their refined voice resembling the sound of a zither.

The spring gushed forth, allowing for a moment of indulgence, while the other three tactfully turned their backs. The aimless youth clasped his hands and said, "Thank you. I was just worried about the lack of water supply in the desert, and unexpectedly encountered you, which has resolved my urgent need."

The three individuals quietly observed as it regulated its breathing, the dark and dull scales it had upon arrival transformed into silver. It shuddered, its form changed, and with a flick of its tail, it transformed from a reptile into a tall, slender youth

She lay on her side with her burden as a pillow, her mind tangled with too many thoughts, the path ahead and the way back merging chaotically in her mind. Closing her eyes, the fatigue from days of travel weighed on her, and just as she was about to drift off into sleep, she vaguely sensed something unusual, as if someone had been watching her in the shadows. However, when she opened her eyes, all she could see were the stars and the flowing auroras. Apart from the vast, sweeping winds of the desert, there was nothing else.

The young man grew increasingly enthusiastic, "It is time to go, time to go... I heard that the Lord has been single for ten thousand years. Recently, he has arranged a marriage, and he is utterly devoted to that new lady whom he has never met. What a devoted person he is."

Wherever there are sea buckthorns, there are bound to be singing snakes. Without cultivation, one is merely an ordinary person, destined to become a meal for the strange snakes. Thus, the three master and disciples began to argue about who should go, and just as they were in a deadlock, an eagle on the cliff spread its wings and swooped down, inadvertently dropping an entire sea buckthorn tree. The sea buckthorn was plump, its branches heavily laden with fruit, and when it fell, the trunk stood straight up, as if it had grown naturally in the sandy soil.

Looking at the lizard lying on the ground, it was gasping for breath; if further delayed, it would be too late. Wufang raised her hand, tucked the Dan Zhu into her sleeve, and ordered Qu Ru and Zhen Yi to guard her on both sides, while she sat in meditation in front of a large rock, forming seals.

In the desert, no one would refuse water. Yet in this vast expanse of dry land, even the flesh of the Cistanche is struggling to survive, where could one possibly find a spring!

With a furrowed brow, he looked around, and the night-time Xumi Vast Sea was tranquil and cool. Once dawn broke, the hot wind would quickly disperse the last wisp of mist, and he would once again be plunged into a new round of burning.

Because a good person would not allow a series of soul-crushing events to occur under their jurisdiction

The length of two adult figures is indeed astonishing. Then it opened its mouth, revealing sharp teeth, and its forked tongue twisted and swayed as it raised its neck to the moon, exhaling—faint light shone through the skin of its neck, making the moving trajectory visible. Slowly upward, it reached the jaw, then into the mouth... Suddenly, it rushed out rapidly, suspended in mid-air, as if the lizard was enduring immense pain, collapsing to the ground motionless, with only the exhaled breath stirring the sand beneath it, indicating that it was still alive

Because lizards do not like to wear clothes, they have long tongues and are quite talkative. If they inadvertently offend someone, they are likely to have their tongues pulled out. A reptile without a tongue, in its next life, would turn into a slug, drooling all over the ground, yet unable to speak any longer

The young man looked bewildered, "I have never thought about this question; could it be that the lord knows the reason?"

The young man exclaimed, "I know about Tianji City, where the spiritual healer has been observing the tower for over fifty years. No wonder so many people are searching everywhere, yet they cannot uncover the whereabouts of the spiritual healer. In our Han Hai, we are actually quite well-informed. Ever since the spiritual healer set foot on the red sands, the surrounding monsters have been spreading rumors..."

The young man waved his hand, but due to insufficient cultivation, the scales on his shoulder had not completely shed, resembling armor. He said: "The spiritual physician is too polite; I merely pointed the way, how can that be compared to the life-saving grace of the spiritual physician! Where is the spiritual physician headed? It is not an easy task to travel from the tungsten gold temple to here"

The formation of Sha requires a lengthy process, accumulating bit by bit, from the ethereal spirit to the substantial body. It is different from an ordinary physical form. After drifting on the boundless sea for an entire month, Zhenyi and Quru suffered from sun exposure and dryness, causing the skin on their cheekbones to peel off layer by layer, leaving their faces persistently flushed. However, Wufang remained unaffected by the wind and sand, shining as bright as the moon.

Attracting those monsters, apart from medical skills, perhaps there is also a reputation for beauty! Along the way, there are countless eyes watching, this world has never lacked curiosity

Release the spirit, allowing it to rise slowly, as the surrounding light twists into a fine thread, converging into her slightly parted red lips. The elixir rolls within that sphere of light, as if immersed in purgatory flames. After two incense sticks, the color gradually begins to change, and the halo becomes clearer. Suddenly, a burst of brilliance, a warm blue illuminates her face, she gently exhales, raising her hand to push the spirit before the lizard

There was a hint of reproach in the voice: "What exactly did you just say? I don't think it was that birdman who spoke disrespectfully; rather, it was you who talked too much"

Do not believe

Unfolding the map, it is clear to see; the markings on it are very precise. "If we have another 800 yojanas, we will be able to leave."

Without reservation, he expressed gratitude for the advice, and the young man graciously replied that it was nothing. "In a place where the strong prey on the weak, it is best to find a refuge. Do you know about the City of Nightmares? The City of Nightmares is the most prosperous city in the realm of the dead. You can seek out the Lord there; he is of good character, and as long as you have a request, he will surely ensure your safety."

The landscape of the vast sea of sand is ever-changing; perhaps after walking for several hundred yojanas, one finds only sand dunes. Just when hope seems lost, raising one's head reveals the towering and uneven stone mountains.

The young man shrugged and said, "It's all the fault of that rude fellow with the surname Ye; otherwise, Miss Yan would definitely have stayed until tomorrow morning"

Zhenyi did not understand its intention, opened his arms, and protected Wufang behind him. Qu was in a daze, "Is this lizard spirit here to present a treasure?"

Without a plan, I have to consider using that sand boat if necessary. Originally, I intended to take the opportunity of delivering a congratulatory gift to investigate the situation in the Nightmare City. Since it is a delivery, I certainly cannot borrow it. However, with the endless wind and sand and the scorching sun, it is likely that those two disciples cannot withstand it. Surviving is the priority; as for the rest, we can discuss it later

Thus, the realm of the Brahmanic path is a place she completely does not understand, where, in addition to the demons that seek her medical assistance, there are also ferocious and greedy monsters like the Sky Devourer

The Stone Mountain has been eroded by the elements for millions of years, resulting in a mottled surface, with horizontal and vertical ravines. When the sudden wind blows through, it emits a mournful wail. However, between the mountains, there are depressions and vast flatlands, surrounded by edges, providing excellent shelter from the wind. At the bottom of the valley, clusters of salt-tolerant grasses are evenly distributed, and a fire pit has been set up in an open area, with three figures sitting around the fire. From a high vantage point, they appear like a string of grasshoppers, pitifully small.