Chapter 6: Terrified (Part 1)

As the two individuals seeking trouble descended the mountain, Zhang Sanfeng timidly approached Lin Bai, looking at him with a face full of suspicion, and said: "Junior brother, when did Master learn the Qiankun Exorcism Formation? Also, what is this protective mountain formation you mentioned? Is it a new formation that Master has taught you?"

Zhang Sanfeng looked at the sorrow on Lin Bai's face and remained silent in response. He knew that although his junior apprentice had a formal master-disciple relationship with their teacher, their bond was akin to that of father and son. With their master now having passed away, it was only natural for his junior to feel distressed. Without saying another word, Zhang Sanfeng raised his arm and wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve, quietly beginning to gather the firewood and other items needed for the cremation.

Chen Qiling, do you still remember? Lin Bai's voice grew louder, even the thunderous roar of the sky could not drown out his voice

Lin Bai's expression was incredibly genuine. Jerry, a top mercenary trained at an internationally renowned hunter school and who had experienced countless trials of blood and fire on the battlefield, was completely taken aback by him. It is not surprising that Jerry reacted this way; in fact, anyone would find it unimaginable that someone would shout about UFOs while facing a gun barrel, not knowing whether the next moment would bring life or death.

Even Jerry, whose hands were stained with the blood of many, felt that this dilapidated temple resembled the hell described in the Bible, terrifying in its appearance. He looked up at the torrential rain pouring down from the sky, the frenzied dancing silver snakes, and the deafening sound of thunder, trembling all over and deeply regretting his decision to follow Chen Qiling on this trip

Those old acquaintances of Lin Bai, who used to tease him with words, no longer came to provoke him. The children seeking the leader could only return disappointed after seeing the expression on the eldest's face. As for the mountain villagers who had suffered greatly at Lin Bai's hands, upon seeing the sorrow on his face, they couldn't help but express their admiration for the child's filial piety, conveniently forgetting the events of the past.

Lin Bai furrowed his brow and said coldly, "If you cannot afford to gamble, then do not gamble. Resorting to such despicable actions after losing is beneath you, especially considering you were once a disciple of the Tianxiang Sect. It seems that Master was entirely justified in expelling you; had you remained, the reputation of our Tianxiang Sect would have inevitably been tarnished by your actions."

Lin Bai was sweating profusely on his forehead. The old man was truly a source of trouble; if he had informed him earlier that Chen Qiling had already gone mad, and if he had made some preparations sooner, he would not be in a situation where someone was pointing a gun at his head, uncertain if his life could still be saved

Lin Bai stood proudly in the rain with his hands behind his back, watching the two individuals who were drenched and fleeing in disarray. He declared loudly: "Even if my Tianxiang Sect no longer has a master, there is still me, Lin Bai. If you dare to enter my Tianxiang forbidden grounds again, I will surely activate the mountain protection formation and eliminate both of you within it"

In Chen Qiling's eyes, everything was a blur; he could no longer see anything in front of him. He felt as if the person standing before him was the same Li Tianyuan who had, in a mere instant, annihilated thousands of Japanese soldiers. His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, bowing his head, tears streaming down his face as he murmured: "Senior brother, spare me this time; I will never dare again, never dare again!"

"Senior Brother, do you really think this is a world of cultivation and fantasy? The mountain protection formation was just a bluff to scare those two fools. I didn't expect it would actually frighten him to the point of losing control of himself." Lin Bai explained to his Senior Brother, who was looking at him with the curiosity of a child seeking answers. He then looked up at the sky, feeling a sense of confusion within.

Upon hearing Lin Bai's words, Chen Qiling laughed heartily and said, "You are too much. With the two of you insignificant little rascals, how could you possibly catch my eye? After that old scoundrel Li Tianyuan expelled me from the Tianxiang Sect, I realized how great a mistake it was to stay on the mountain. The world below is full of wonders; as long as one has money, everything can be enjoyed just like in a book."

Chen Qiling, witnessing himself being toyed with by Lin Bai once again, was filled with immense anger. Gritting his teeth, he said sternly: "You young one, how dare you repeatedly play with me like this? If I do not kill you today, I vow I will not bear the surname Chen"

What the heck, is that a flying saucer?! Lin Bai suddenly looked up at the sky, his face filled with shock, and shouted wildly at the heavens, his expression one of extreme astonishment, as if he had witnessed an utterly unbelievable scene

The area around Maoshan is enveloped in solemnity. The dark clouds in the sky gradually disperse, and at this moment, dusk approaches, with the setting sun casting a blood-red hue across the heavens and the earth. A gentle breeze sweeps through, causing the lush trees on the mountain to rustle, resembling white banners performing a mournful melody in the air

As long as I seize the ancestral treasure of my Tianxiang Sect and unravel the millennia-old mystery, everything in the world will belong to me. For this, killing the two of you is no different from killing a dog!" Chen Qiling's expression gradually became frenzied, his demeanor increasingly ferocious.

Millennial doubts? Everything under heaven? Lin Bai was taken aback; it seemed that this old fellow was not merely aiming to seize the inheritance treasure and become the sect master of the Tianxiang Sect, using it as an additional pretext for making money in the future. Was there something his master had concealed from him, or had this Chen Qiling gone mad?

The master instructed that the corpse be cremated, and from now on, brother, we can enter and exit the world at will

Although Heaven possesses the virtue of benevolence, those who dare to challenge the celestial might of our Huaxia with their wolfish ambitions shall be punished, no matter how distant they may be. This was a statement made by the then young Li Tianyuan as he held the still young Chen Qiling. The piercing gaze of Li Tianyuan at that moment remains vividly etched in Chen Qiling's memory. Although his senior brother was a man of compassion, he understood better than anyone that when this compassionate man turned fierce, no one in the world could stand in his way

As soon as these words were shouted, Jerry, bearing the burden of Chen Qiling, quickened his pace even more. The two of them, carrying the scent of blood and sweat, dashed down the mountain.

Puff!

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning split the sky, and with a crack, a century-old tree behind the temple was struck by the lightning. A fierce fire erupted amidst the torrential rain, appearing as bizarre as it was uncanny. Moreover, the area around the old tree was illuminated by flickering electric lights, creating a startling sight.

"Junior, you have gone too far. Today, I will fight you! Jerry, go ahead and seize the heirloom treasure from this brat!" After Chen Qiling slightly calmed his emotions, he waved his hand, signaling Jerry to step forward and snatch the treasure.

The clouds that had gradually begun to dissipate in the sky suddenly started to gather again, as golden serpents rolled within the dark clouds. The rumbling thunder sounded like a haunting melody played during the ancient army's formation, instilling a sense of awe from deep within the heart

"Go, hurry up and get out of this cursed place!" Chen Qiling trembled all over, glancing at the temple, feeling as if it were shrouded in darkness, resembling the gates of hell. He could not tell when Li Tianyuan's ghost might emerge from within to deal with him. Embarrassed and frightened, Chen Qiling dared not linger any longer, signaling Jerry to come over and help him down the mountain quickly.

Chen Qiling stared in shock at the sudden turn of events, clenching his legs tightly, yet he could still feel a sudden warm flow cascading down between them. Years of indulgence in wine and pleasure had drained his body; his prostate had long since failed, and what flowed out was nothing but white urine. Soaked by this liquid, his originally black suit pants were now mottled with patches of white, exuding a strong, foul odor.

Chen Qiling, do you still remember what your master said to you? Lin Bai shouted sternly at Chen Qiling, his voice resonating powerfully, employing the secret of the word technique from the Daoist tradition. This is a method similar to the lion's roar in Buddhism, particularly adept at instilling fear and awe in people's hearts and souls.

The sky grew increasingly overcast, as if a gentle squeeze could extract water from it. The densely packed dark clouds, having become more substantial, seemed to hover directly above people's heads, threatening to spill over at any moment

The master has departed just like that, along with the treasures, the legacy, the five deficiencies and three shortcomings, as well as the millennium-long doubts that Chen Qiling unconsciously expressed earlier, and my own ability to make direct and accurate judgments. All of these can only be explored step by step by myself

Seeing the mocking expression on Lin Bai's face, Chen Qiling began to feel fear

In the brief moment that Lin Bai was distracted, Jerry had already drawn a pistol from his pocket, aiming it at Lin Bai's forehead. The bluish gleam of the gun's muzzle shimmered in the faint halo of light descending from the sky.

At this moment, Lin Bai appeared to Chen Qiling much like Li Tianyuan, who had driven him out of the Tianxiang Sect. Not only was the expression similar, but even the words just spoken were identical. It was as if he were witnessing Li Tianyuan resurrected, leaving Chen Qiling both astonished and enraged

Seeing that all the eyes and attention of those present were drawn to his voice, Lin Bai clenched his teeth and looked at Chen Qiling, who was raising his head to gaze at the sky, only to find nothing there. In a fit of anger and embarrassment, he lowered his voice and muttered: "Wet his pants, wet his pants, scared him into wetting his pants!"

"Disciple, did the master give you any instructions?" Zhang Sanfeng raised his head to glance at the dim sky, his expression grave as he quietly asked Lin Bai beside him

Just as Lin Bai's voice fell, Chen Qiling suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, collapsing to the ground, his face as pale as paper, his eyes wide open, filled with fear.

At that time, the sound of wind and cries echoed throughout Maoshan, causing many sects to close their doors in fear. The disciples of various sects scattered, breaking their traditions in hopes of preserving a trace of their lineage across the country. Only Li Tianyuan of the Tianxiang Sect remained unafraid in the face of danger. With a compass in hand, he wandered around Maoshan for a day and a night, before returning to the Tianxiang Sect's temple to drink for the entire evening.

He is well aware of the methods employed by his senior brother. During the War of Resistance, there was a group of fearless Japanese soldiers who came to Maoshan for a crackdown. Officially, they claimed it was to eliminate elements resisting the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, but in reality, it was to secretly transport the various traditions and legacies of Maoshan back to the island nation for the research of ninjas.

Upon receiving the news of the old Taoist's passing, the villagers at the foot of the mountain quickly made their way up the mountain to assist Zhang Sanfeng in tidying up these belongings

At that time, Chen Qiling was still young, and he does not remember the specific events, but the only thing that remains vividly in his memory is the sound of gunfire that echoed throughout the night; ultimately, the invaders from the island nation did not manage to land on Maoshan.

At that time, it was said that a detachment of island soldiers, who had come that time, wandered around Maoshan for an entire night but could not find the way up the mountain. In the end, for reasons unknown, they unexpectedly began to engage in gunfire, with shots ringing out throughout the night, and blood flowing like a river. Not a single person from the island soldiers' detachment survived to descend from Maoshan

Zhang Sanfeng on one side handed over the torch he was holding. Lin Bai, with a blank expression, took it and threw the torch onto the pile of firewood. With a loud whoosh, flames erupted, and the old Taoist's corpse gradually disappeared in the glow of the fire.

Once the firewood was neatly arranged and the mourning hall was completed, Lin Bai, who had been sitting silently on the stone steps at the entrance of the temple, stood up and walked back inside. He carefully carried out Li Tianyuan's corpse, gently smoothing out the sharp wood shavings on the pile of firewood before placing Li Tianyuan's body on top.

Do you have the guts to touch me? Do you want to know why you can walk on Maoshan? Have you ever considered why my master insists on defying fate to gain himself an extra half day? Chen Qiling, try moving against me and see whether your bullet is faster or the Bagua Soul Extermination Array set by my master activates faster!" Lin Bai looked at Chen Qiling with a cold smile, completely unafraid of the gun barrel pressed against his forehead. Chen Qiling, try moving against me and see whether your bullet is faster or the Bagua Soul Extermination Array set by my master activates faster!" Lin Bai looked at Chen Qiling with a cold smile, completely unafraid of the gun barrel pressed against his forehead