Chapter Fifty-Four: Talisman Saves a Life

  "What's a transmission array?" Kalamai asked suddenly with great concern.

  "I once said that in my youth, I coincidentally met a superior person under fortunate circumstances. We saw each other as old friends and were quite compatible, so I read many of his hidden books, which were ancient classics that had already been lost. This superior person was the heir to a hidden lineage of Taoism, and I also have some understanding of the symbolic techniques of Taoism. Although I understand it, I don't have enough spiritual power to control it. The symbol that Xiao Cai drew on my hand just now, if I remember correctly, is a type of transmission technique. Within a range of several meters around them, an array will be formed, and people who approach will be transmitted to another location. Where they are transmitted depends on the mood of the person setting up the array." Old Xiao wiped away the cold sweat from his forehead after finishing speaking.

  "What's Taoist's surname?" Karamay seemed concerned, "What's his last name?"

  Xiao Lao looked at him with a cautious eye and said, "I once promised not to reveal his name, so I must keep my word." Xiao Lao's sly face showed a serious expression for the first time, and seeing him being so righteous and proper made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Kalamayi stopped talking.

  "How can this formation be broken?" This is what I'm most concerned about. To rescue Grandfather, we must get close to him, and this symbol is the biggest key.

  "This... " Xiao Lao's face showed a difficult expression, "I do know of a symbol that can dispel this formation, but it requires an enormous amount of spiritual energy to activate it. If Zi Huan hadn't been injured, it wouldn't be a problem. But now..." He looked at Wu Zihuan who was lying on the ground with a pale face, weakened to the extreme, and didn't know what to do.

  Wu Zihan looked at Xiao Lao and pointed at me, saying: "You mean to let Jun Yang brother drive? No way, the Raksha curse on his body is still in effect, I'm afraid he won't have enough power."

  Wu Zihan looked at Yang Cangcang beside him, and Yang Cangcang immediately understood: "You want me to go with Junyang?"

  Wu Zihan nodded.

  "This can also be used together?" Lao San said disbelievingly.

  "Actually..." Fu Ma suddenly interjected, "I think Ceng Ceng and the Dai Yu ancient country have a deep connection. The Xuan tribe has always liked to live in seclusion, and they also understand the ancient five-country language. I suspect that your ancestors may be a branch of a certain tribe from the Dai Yu ancient country. If so, maybe we can try..."

  "But I don't understand anything, how can I get the power of the Void?" I blinked at Yang Cangcang.

  "I have a spell here, let's recite it together," then Yang Cangcang started making hissing sounds with her mouth, and I followed suit. Yang Cangcang gave me a white eye: "Hiss your sister, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, who would believe that you are the reincarnation of the upper chamber? You're about to die from stupidity. This hiss has long and short tones, and also distinguishes between flat and rolled tongues."

  I suddenly had a black face: "How did I not hear it, all I heard was a hiss, can't the people of this ancient Wu country roll their tongues? Their words only have one tone?"

  "You know what, my ancestors said that the ancient Wu language comes from snakes. Snakes are one of the oldest and most mysterious animals, imitating their language can gather the purest natural power." Yang Cangcang looked at me disdainfully, "Forget it, I won't be able to teach this apprentice, he's too stupid."

  Lao San said with a smirk: "Cang Cang, try again. When teaching fools, one must have patience."

  Yang Cangcang sighed: "Okay, then I'll say it again, listen carefully." This time I carefully remembered the length of each sound and finally successfully repeated it.

  Yang Cangcang clapped her hands and shouted loudly: "This time it's right, this time it's right! Do you have a place in your dantian where a power is brewing?" I shook my head.

  "How can there be none?" Yang Cangcang muttered to herself, "You try to feel it." I searched for half a day, where is the dantian? As soon as I exerted force throughout my body, I heard a "thud" sound and immediately blushed.

  Lao San almost laughed out loud: "Second Brother, you've completely let out your majestic aura."

  "Jun Yang, why don't you let Jiu Chong try?" Fu Ma reminded him.

  "Right! How could I have forgotten him? With him here, it's definitely possible. Hurry up and let Jiuchong come out!" Xiao Lao said with a flying expression.

  I let out a sigh, pouting my mouth and letting this little thing out. Suddenly I felt useless, like being abandoned. I called Jiuzhong for half a day, but he kept shrinking in my ear and didn't want to come out. Since approaching the ancient temple of Taishan, Jiuzhong has been like this. There seems to be some kind of power here that makes him fearful.

  I had a hard time persuading him for half a day, and even promised to give him the last bag of rice wine in Karamay after the matter was settled. Only then did he stick his little head out from my ear, and Yang Cangcang quickly grabbed him and scolded: "You little rascal, so many people have invited you, let me see what's so special about you?"

  The nine insects suddenly turned white with anger, Yang Cangcang was so scared that he immediately let go of his hand. He flew triumphantly beside me, chirping from time to time. Yang Cangcang gave a cold glance: "Look at that little insect's complacent appearance."

  Xiao Lao pulled out a yellow paper for drawing talismans, a brush and a tightly sealed small jar from his backpack. We were all almost stunned. Old Three sighed: "Xiao Lao, did you used to be a Taoist when you were young? You still carry this stuff with you?"

  Xiao Lao chuckled and said, "You don't know this, but many years ago that wise man once said that if I ever had the good fortune to go to the Western Regions, I must bring these things with me, they will definitely be of great use."

  "Is this fellow a half-immortal? I've known for years that you would come to the Western Regions?" I asked in puzzlement.

  Xiao Lao paused, speaking in a mysterious tone: "The heavenly mechanism is not to be revealed to outsiders." After finishing speaking, Xiao Lao busied himself on the side, spreading yellow paper on the ground, closing his eyes and muttering incantations for half a day. He then knelt down, seemingly worshiping something, holding a brush in his left hand, opening the sealed jar, dipping it into the red contents, and finally focusing his spirit and energy to create a talisman on the yellow paper with one swift stroke.

  This pattern still looks like a dragon flying and phoenix dancing, a messy design to me, but Xiao Lao proudly said: "Fortunately, I have an extraordinary memory, and since childhood, I have been able to remember everything at a glance."

  Speaking of which, I really have to admire Xiao Lao's memory. No matter what, he knows it all. It is said that this symbol has thousands of variation patterns, and he can actually remember them one by one, which is truly impressive.

  Xiao Lao stuck the symbol on the ground near my grandfather and Director Zheng, and said to Cang Cang: "Whether it can be broken or not depends on you." My grandfather still had his eyes tightly closed. Seeing him so close yet being unable to approach him made me feel indescribably distressed.

  Yang Cangcang stood behind Huang Fu, took out the Huo Wei Di and turned back to look at Jiu Chong saying: "Hey! Little bug, don't drag me down!"

  Nine insects flew back and forth behind her, making faces at each other. Yang Cangcang started playing the flute, and as soon as the sound of the flute came out, the yellow charm flew into the air. Every time I heard her play a tune, it was a warm, gentle, and long melody that went well with the clear and crisp sound of the flute. She once said that this tune was called "Feng Ming", which had a very sad love story inside. Every time she mentioned this, she would fall silent and not continue, so I wouldn't dare to ask further.

  Yang Cangcang's entire body was emitting a faint golden light, like a thin mist. The nine insects also changed to gold and flew around the yellow charm with Yang Cangcang, this continued for about one minute, still without any reaction. I felt that Yang Cangcang's flute sound seemed somewhat unstable.

  "It's no good, Xuan Xuan can't hold on any longer." Sweat beads had already appeared on Old Xiao's forehead.

  Lao San couldn't help it, ran to my side and said loudly: "Second brother, hurry up and let that little bug add more strength, look at my Ceng Ceng is not doing well." I didn't say anything, although I still can't communicate very well with Jiu Chong, but I know he will definitely use his full strength.

  After a while, the yellow talisman was still floating in the air without any reaction. The light around Yang Cangcang grew dimmer and dimmer, while Jiu Chong chirped incessantly by her side.

  Xiao Lao saw this and hurriedly shouted: "Ceng Ceng, stop quickly, let's think of another way, you won't be able to hold on after a while."

  Yang Cangcang ignored him, the flute sound continued, Lao San was anxious, stepped forward to prepare to snatch the flute from her hand, at the same time, the red pattern on Huang Fu suddenly turned into two golden lights, flying straight towards my grandfather's and Director Zheng's chest.

  The symbols on their chests began to burn rapidly and finally disappeared, Yang Cangcang sat weakly on the ground, her face covered with sweat, and Lao San hurried forward to support her.

  "You've finally found your way here, child." A familiar voice echoed through the grand hall, striking a chord deep within my soul, leaving me speechless.

  "Grandpa—"

  "Old Zhou——Old Zheng——you're awake."

  "Director Zheng — Director Zhou —"

  After the yellow talismans on their chests were completely burned, my grandfather and Director Zheng slowly opened their eyes. My grandfather still looked at me with kindness, and Director Zheng nodded to me.

  "Grandpa, I've come to save you!" I excitedly rushed forward, but suddenly, Medusa's head on the pillar turned towards me, and the snakes on her head seemed to wake up from sleep, starting to slither on the pillar. The largest snake closest to me pounced over at me.

  "Get out of the way!" Grandpa shouted loudly. At that time, I was anxious to save people and didn't have time to dodge, so I could only stare blankly at everything happening in front of me. Suddenly a white light flashed by, and the snake in front of me stiffened in mid-air, like a statue.

  Grandpa let out a sigh of relief as he saw Jiuzhong seemed to be in shock, "Put Grandpa and Director Zheng's pillar on Medusa's frozen head," I said to Jiuzhong.

  Director Zheng suddenly said: "No way, you save Old Zhou, only one of us can go, he has a lot to say to you, hurry up, time is almost running out."

  "What time is it about?" Fu Ma asked from below.

  Jiuzhong had frozen Grandpa's pillar, and Lao San handed the axe over to me. I quickly chopped off the pillar, and just as Grandpa was leaving it, his entire skin turned light blue.

  Everyone was shocked, and Lao San shouted from below: "Is Director Zhou a blue-faced man?"