Chapter 0: The Curse
“I came for the Ban Qin Saber and its matching Profound Technique, of course.”
Upon hearing this, Luo Cangming immediately took control of the situation, saying, “Good one, Qin Gou! You’ve gathered so many people to excavate the tomb of the Nine Saint Monarch, Luo Wei Ban, your own wife? Is that something a decent person would do?!”
“I haven’t finished speaking. I have already sought the consent of Ban Wei and Lu Ruchu for this trip. Lu Ruchu only knew of this place because the Nine Saint Monarch personally bestowed it upon her. Later, obtaining the Ban Qin Saber and the Profound Technique were also preparations for Ban Wei. I not only took nothing for myself, but I also brought only those I trust implicitly!”
Qin Gou said earnestly, “How can that be the same as what you’ve done?”
“You truly don’t want any benefit for yourself? When did my esteemed son-in-law become so selfless?” Luo Cangming’s expression was strange, clearly disbelieving.
“That can only prove that Old Luo, you simply don’t understand my character! As the saying goes, a gentleman does not strive, which is considered to be without tools. I will borrow that Ban Qin Saber and Profound Technique for at most a hundred million days, to reminisce a little about the past, and then I will immediately return them to their rightful owner, Ban Wei! Otherwise, I would have a guilty conscience.” Qin Gou spoke righteously and flawlessly.
However, Luo Cangming looked as if he had seen through everything, saying, “So what? That Dragon Race little girl, nowadays, is less like a Little Saint Monarch split from my daughter and more like a new little wife that you’ve personally trained! What’s hers is yours, and what’s yours is still yours!”
“How infuriating! Why was my Luo girl not raised to be so gentle, sensible, and obedient from a young age? Was it because she never got spanked? When that girl revives, I will definitely challenge her as a strict father and discipline her severely! I’ll have that girl settle down and stop being so flamboyant like before, and learn from her Little Saint Monarch, Ao Banwei!”
“Old Luo, I’m truly impressed by your mouth.” Qin Gou waved his hand, chuckling.
“What? You think I’m wrong? But as the saying goes, children are made under the rod, and I was too lenient in the past!” Luo Cangming snorted, placing his hands behind his back with a sense of self-satisfaction. “Besides, if I discipline my own daughter, does my esteemed son-in-law intend to say something about it?”
“Not at all, not at all. Look, I’ve even prepared a challenge letter for you.” Qin Gou instantly produced a Silhouette Lamp from nowhere, saying with great admiration, “I will definitely let the Nine Saint Monarch personally see all those bold words you just spoke, Old Luo.”
Luo Cangming’s face twitched, saying, “Esteemed son-in-law, don’t joke…”
“It’s not a joke.” Qin Gou directly activated the Silhouette Lamp, and Luo Cangming’s magnificent words and grand gestures appeared vividly before their eyes.
“In the secret realm later, Brother Qin will be the leader, and I, Old Luo, will follow his lead, daring not to disobey!”
“You can count on it!” Qin Gou said, putting down the Silhouette Lamp with satisfaction.
For a moment, Luo Cangming wiped the cold sweat from his face, regretting it deeply. “I understand. You’re doing this on purpose because I’ve brought too many people of unknown origin here now, but I was also forced into it. My own previous collection of treasures has been ruined by others at some unknown time. Now I can only come here to see if the Emperor Weapons, magic tools, and precious armor I used back then are being kept here by my daughter.”
“Furthermore, if I had known I would meet my esteemed son-in-law, why would I have gone to such lengths to beg those cultivators? Now, I’m afraid only you and I, father-in-law and son-in-law, can join forces right here outside the secret realm…”
As he spoke, Luo Cangming suddenly made a beheading gesture, and the smile on his fair face became particularly sinister.
“Bang!”
Qin Gou immediately whacked Luo Cangming’s round head with his knuckle.
“Qin Gou! Are you crazy?!”
Luo Cangming fell to the ground with a plop, wide-eyed and tearful, exclaiming, “Heaven’s wrath! First my daughter hits me, and now you’ve come to beat me too? Why is my life so hard!”
“Cough… I’m really sorry, Old Luo. Your smile just now was too much like my sixth disciple, Mu Man’er, that rascal, so I did it on impulse.” Qin Gou rubbed his nose, looking very embarrassed. “As for the cultivators you brought, just make them retreat.”
…
However, when Qin Gou and Luo Cangming returned to the lakeside, they were surprised to find a cultivator in black clothing lying in a pool of blood, his life uncertain.
And a Spirit Puppet with glowing red eyes stood straight, facing everyone.
“Lord Qin!”
Yi Chengying immediately explained, “That cultivator was impatient by nature and was the first to attack without asking. As a result, he was defeated by that Spirit Puppet… It seems that as long as anyone dares to use any killing Spirit Arts by this lakeside, ruining the pleasant scenery here, they will immediately be counterattacked by the Spirit Puppet beneath the lake.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Gou and Luo Cangming exchanged glances. If they couldn’t make a move by the lakeside, how could they persuade outsiders to retreat?
“Everyone, you must all be here for the Saint Monarch’s treasures, correct?”
Suddenly, the Scarlet Eyed Spirit Puppet actually spoke with a human voice, “Since that is the case, follow me directly into the secret realm, rather than acting wildly here.”
Its voice was very stiff and rigid, as if its spiritual intelligence was not high, and it only followed commands. After all, if this Spirit Puppet were given too high a spiritual intelligence, guarding such a remote place for years and years might have driven it mad long ago.
As soon as it finished speaking, the Scarlet Eyed Spirit Puppet stomped its foot.
The clear lake water was split in two by a terrifying force, revealing a stone cave at the bottom of the lake. One could also clearly see fish swimming in the beautiful water walls separated on both sides.
“All follow me.”
With that, the Scarlet Eyed Spirit Puppet led the crowd towards the stone cave at the bottom of the lake.
Seeing this, Luo Cangming could only sigh inwardly. Plans really couldn’t keep up with changes. He helplessly followed everyone.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the cave, the Scarlet Eyed Spirit Puppet suddenly stopped and turned around again, saying, “Although treasures belong to the virtuous, this secret realm is, after all, the Saint Monarch’s mausoleum… The Saint Monarch’s original words were to wish all those who seek treasures and explore here a future similar to hers.”
“Who is this Saint Monarch you speak of, and what mighty figure is she?”
“Similar to her? Do you mean our realm and cultivation level? Or do you hope we will be beneficial to the Saint Monarch’s influence in the future?”
The Scarlet Eyed Spirit Puppet slowly shook its head.
“The Saint Monarch was a capricious girl, so she merely wished to curse all those with damaged virtue, that in the future they would all be like the Saint Monarch in her past life…”
“Without descendants!”
“Hiss…”
For a moment, the ones who felt the most terrified were Qin Gou and Luo Cangming, father-in-law and son-in-law. Since such harsh words could be spoken through the mouth of the Scarlet Eyed Spirit Puppet, it was clear that Luo Wei Ban never expected that this unfortunate pair from her own family would get involved!
Volume 8: My Dharma Image Is Quite Rare
