Immortality: Grinding Experience Starting as a Paper Craftsman

Chapter 97 A Dragon Swims in Shallow Waters, I Am the Butcher's Chopping Board

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Within the sea of ​​consciousness, a storm suddenly arose.

The outside world is but a fleeting moment.

In Gu Yan's mental world, however, a raging storm was brewing.

A colossal crimson dragon, its wings blotting out the sky, coiled above the heavens, its eyes like two burning blood suns, each breath spewing forth a dragon's breath powerful enough to incinerate the soul.

When faced with the dragon, Gu Yan felt as insignificant as a speck of dust.

"You ant, your death is nigh!"

The deafening sound shook Gu Yan's soul, creating ripples in its wake.

That is the natural suppression of inferior beings by superior beings, a fear etched deep into their bones.

However, Gu Yan did not kneel down.

He sat cross-legged in the void, with an ancient and majestic tower reaching to the heavens appearing behind him.

Black and gold light flowed across the tower, a mixture of sacredness and mystery, creating a pure land amidst the overwhelming dragon's might.

"die?"

Gu Yan casually picked at his ear, looking languid.

"Old mudfish, have you been sleeping too long and your brain's rusted? Get your facts straight. The sword is in my hand, your Achilles' heel is pinned down, and there's a swordsman outside ready to dismember you at any moment. You're talking to me about life and death?"

"How dare you! I am the Candle Dragon, who governs the four seasons! A deity worshipped by all people!"

The dragon roared, and a huge dragon claw tore through the sky, slamming down on Gu Yan with a world-destroying force. The dragon claw pressed down, like a mountain collapsing.

"Offerings? Don't be ridiculous."

Gu Yan sneered, without moving, but simply flicked his sleeve.

"Men, someone looks down on you. Come out and greet them!"

"Bang!"

The gates of the Tower of Babel burst open with a roar.

The black smoke was as dark as ink, and the vengeful spirits surged like a tide.

Those were the wronged souls of Changning County who had just been taken in by Gu Yan in the passage, and now they all poured out.

They have no physical form and are not afraid of physical attacks, yet they carry the purest and most profound resentment in the world.

These wronged souls did not howl; instead, like a swarm of black ants, they clung densely to the falling dragon claw, gnawing frantically.

"Give me back my life..."

"I'm so hungry... I'm so hungry..."

"Why should we worship you? Why should we die?"

It's like a swarm of ants frantically devouring an elephant.

If the true dragon were still alive, even a single sneeze would scatter these ants.

But this is just a remnant soul that has been dead for thousands of years, with only a wisp of obsession remaining.

Cause and effect are cyclical, and retribution is inevitable; now is the time to collect the debt.

"Awooo—!!!"

The dragon let out a painful scream. Its once indestructible divine dragon claw was riddled with holes and filled with black mist as it was devoured by countless wronged souls.

"Who are you?! Who exactly are you?!"

The dragon withdrew its claws in terror, and in its bloodshot eyes, it seemed as if the image of the human emperor Liaoyuan from years past was reflected once again.

Who I am is not important.

Gu Yan slowly stood up, his divine soul swelling in the wind until it was level with the enormous dragon head.

Behind him, a phantom of a god or demon, clad in an official robe and holding a magic seal, slowly emerged, exuding an aura of majesty.

"The important thing is that I am the only one who can judge you now."

"Zhulong, you were originally an auspicious beast of heaven and earth, but your greed for blood and flesh caused the land to become scorched for thousands of miles. Even after death, you showed no remorse, severing the earth's veins in an attempt to possess another's body and return to life. We must settle this score."

"What will it take for you to let me go?"

The dragon's voice deepened as it sensed the aura emanating from Gu Yan that it both loathed and feared.

That is the power of incense and prayers specifically designed to suppress the soul, and the demonic origin that can devour everything.

"Simple."

Gu Yan held up three fingers.

"First, expel the Changning fortune you have devoured over the past three thousand years."

"Secondly, I want your dragon marrow and phoenix blood; that's interest."

"Third, your remnant soul will either be devoured by my tenants, or..."

Gu Yan's lips curled into a devilish smile as he pointed to the Tower of Babel behind him. "You seem to have a sturdy build. I happen to need a gatekeeper. How about you become my spirit?"

"You bastard! I'd rather die than submit!"

The dragon was enraged; its divine dignity made it unable to accept such humiliating conditions.

"Then go die."

Gu Yan's eyes turned cold, and without further ado, he slammed down the magic seal in his hand.

……

Outside, underground caves.

Standing atop the dragon's head, Gu Yan opened his eyes, and two beams of golden light shot out.

He gripped the rusty bronze sword tightly with both hands, his muscles bulging, and the divine and demonic Tai Chi diagram was operating at its maximum.

"Get up!!!"

With a friction sound.

The ancient sword that had been stuck in the dragon bone for thousands of years was actually moved an inch!

"roar!!!"

The underground dragon bones seemed to come alive, and the huge tailbone suddenly lashed out at the water's surface, stirring up a thousand layers of giant waves.

The once silent cave began to shake violently, and countless stalactites fell like sharp swords.

A surge of black, corpse-like energy erupted from the dragon bone, transforming into countless ferocious black snakes that bared their fangs and lunged at Gu Yan.

"Want to touch him? Have you asked the sword in my hand first?"

A clear, cold voice rang out.

Xiao Chen stepped forward, not using his sword, but simply wielding the iron sword with a single swing.

This sword strike, devoid of brilliance or embellishment, embodies the ultimate simplicity, truly a return to the essence of nature.

Xiao Chen stood firmly beside Gu Yan like a pine tree, unmoved by the raging storm.

"Junior brother, just go for it."

Xiao Chen didn't even glance at the falling rocks and the aura of death. His gaze was fixed on the void in front of him, and he said calmly, "Within these three zhang, even the King of Hell would have to send a message."

"good!"

With Xiao Chen protecting him, Gu Yan no longer had any worries.

He took a deep breath, the black dragon's reverse scale in his arms burning hot.

"Ah Man, may I borrow one of your scales?"

Gu Yan slammed the reverse scale onto the hilt of the sword.

"Buzz!"

The bronze sword, which had initially resisted Gu Yan, let out a mournful cry after sensing the aura of the reverse scale.

That was the scent of its kind, and also the deepest obsession of its former owner.

"Dust to dust, ashes to ashes."

"Now that you're dead, stop causing harm to the living!"

Gu Yan roared and poured all the incense and prayer power within his body into the sword.

"In the name of gods and men, you are condemned! You deserve to die!"

"Boom!"

The bronze sword burst forth with a dazzling blue light, and the rust began to peel away, revealing a blade as clear as autumn water.

The ancient runes engraved on the sword were lit up one by one.

"Pfft!"

Gu Yan forcefully pulled out the longsword!

The instant the sword tip left the dragon bone, a golden-red beam of light shot into the sky, piercing through a hundred-foot-thick layer of rock and soaring straight into the clouds.

"hold head high--"

A dragon's roar, filled with both relief and sorrow, resounded throughout the heavens and earth.

The massive dragon skeleton began to crumble inch by inch, turning into bone dust that filled the sky.

The dragon's resentment, which had been locked up, finally dissipated under the dual attack of divine power and sword intent.

The earth's vital energy, which had been accumulating for thousands of years, was also released.

As the dragon bones disappeared, the golden liquid seemed to find an outlet, transforming into a long golden river that flowed in all directions along the underground river.

……

Buried outside Longshan.

The long-standing dark clouds dissipated, and the long-awaited sun slammed down.

The bark of the dead trees at the foot of the mountain cracked, and tender buds broke through the wood and emerged.

At the bottom of the dry riverbed, spring water bubbled and overflowed the whitish pebbles, rushing eastward.

On the ridge of the field, the old farmer swung his hoe, but instead of sparking as usual, the hoe sank into the soil with a soft thud.

The old farmer threw down his hoe and grabbed a handful of soil.

The soil didn't crumble into sand; it was kneaded into a ball in the palm of the hand, with a hint of oil seeping out between the fingers.

The wind blew into Changning County along the earth's veins.

On the street, the steamed bun vendor lifted the lid of his steamer and forgot to call out his wares; the blacksmith held up his hammer and forgot to bring it down.

The people opened their doors and windows, opened their mouths to breathe, and the heavy stone that had weighed on their chests for generations finally shattered.

The backyard of the county government office.

While Song Hong was doing the accounting, her hand trembled, and a drop of thick ink from the tip of her pen fell heavily onto the ledger, spreading into a large stain.

She didn't bother wiping herself, but quickly walked to the window, gripped the railing tightly, and looked towards the direction of the Burial Dragon Mountains, her eyes flashing with joy and tears.

And by the window of that dilapidated post station, a monk in white robes was holding half a bowl of vegetarian noodles.

He gazed at the clear, cleansing air on the horizon, when the noodles he was holding with his chopsticks broke and fell back into the soup, splashing up a few drops of oil.

The white-robed monk twirled the sandalwood prayer beads in his hand again and again, finally stopping on one bead. His fingertips turned white, and he remained motionless for a long time, uttering only a barely audible "Amitabha."

……

The underground cave was calm and still.

Gu Yancheng lay sprawled on the high platform, panting heavily. He hadn't felt this exhausted in a long time since he started cultivating.

The ancient bronze sword lay quietly beside him, now shrunk to three feet in length, its murderous aura completely gone, exuding a warm and ancient charm.

In his hand, he held a fist-sized, crystal-clear red bead.

That was the final essence of the Candle Dragon: the Dragon Pearl.

As for the dragon soul, in its final moments, it did not choose to become a weapon spirit, nor did it wish to be devoured.

Instead, at the moment Gu Yan drew his sword, he chose to disintegrate himself, transforming into a wave of life that nourished the earth.

This can be considered the last bit of dignity that this ancient deity left for this land.

"it's over?"

Xiao Chen walked over and handed Gu Yan a water pouch.

"it's over."

Gu Yan took the water pouch and drank a mouthful, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

The joyful vibrations emanating from the earth beneath my feet are a signal of the earth's veins revitalizing.

This vibrant sign brought a touch of relief to Gu Yan's face.

"From today onwards, Changning County will no longer be a poor and desolate place; it will become a true land of plenty and a blessed place for spiritual practice."

Gu Yan sat up, playing with the dragon pearl in his hand, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. "Besides, with this, forming the core is just around the corner."

"Congratulations." Xiao Chen rarely showed a smile.

"Oh right, that sword..." Xiao Chen looked at the bronze sword.

"It's yours now."

Gu Yan casually grabbed the ancient sword and tossed it to Xiao Chen, saying, "This was originally your sword, so it's back to its rightful owner. I'm not used to this thing; I'm much more comfortable using my City God Seal to hit people."

Xiao Chen caught the sword and gently stroked its spine with his fingers.

A sense of blood connection arose spontaneously, as if this sword had been waiting for him for thousands of years.

"This sword is nameless, since it was born to break free from shackles..."

Xiao Chen flicked his wrist, twirling his sword, and a cold glint flashed.

"This sword is nameless, since it was born to break free from shackles..."

Xiao Chen flicked his wrist, twirling his sword, and a cold glint flashed.

"Then let's call it severing karma."

"The Sword of Severing Karma, what a fine name. Severing karmic obstacles leads to enlightenment."

Gu Yan praised him, then stood up, patted his bottom, and said, "Let's go. We haven't been back for a week, and that Senior Sister Song is probably getting impatient. If we linger any longer, I'm afraid she'll tear down the county government office."

The two smiled at each other and walked out side by side.

When I passed the entrance to the underground palace, the red-eyed old man was gone.

On the stone table, tea stains, still wet, formed two lines of text:

"Consider this payment settled. Now, please go."

Next to the writing was an old-fashioned wooden box.

Gu Yan opened it and saw three leaves lying quietly inside.

The tea leaves are dark red, and even when dried, they still exude that hallucinogenic and strange aroma.

These are the raw materials for Sansheng Tea.

"This old man is quite generous."

Gu Yan carefully put away the tea leaves.

This is a valuable item, used to scam people...

Oh no, it's an absolute treasure for helping people attain enlightenment.

……

They exited the cave.

The midday sun shone down like scattered gold, so bright that it was hard to open one's eyes.

Gu Yan squinted, took a deep breath of the fresh, grassy air, stretched out a big yawn, and his joints cracked.

He looked at the Dragon Burial Mountain Range before him, which was no longer gloomy and terrifying but full of life, and said, "Senior Brother."

"Um?"

"Do you think the injustices of this world are like the miasma in these mountains? If the sun is strong enough and the wind is strong enough, can they be blown away?"

Xiao Chen held the Broken Karma Ancient Sword in his arms, his white robes fluttering in the mountain wind.

He gazed at the distant, rolling mountains, his eyes clear and resolute, like a sword in his hand.

"If the wind isn't strong enough, I'll just slash it with my sword."

Gu Yan smiled and was about to make a few teasing remarks when he caught a glimpse of something unusual on the official road in the distance.

At the far end, a cloud of yellow dust billowed as a troop of people galloped towards them.

That wasn't a yamen runner from Changning County, but a large flag fluttering in the wind, embroidered with golden cloud patterns.

Those are people from the Flowing Cloud Sect.

"It seems trouble always comes in a rush."

Gu Yan narrowed his eyes, watching the approaching group. He wasn't naive enough to think that their aggressive demeanor would lead him to present them with a banner.

"We barely finished patching up the sky before someone couldn't wait to come and reap the rewards."

Xiao Chen's body tensed, and hatred flashed in his eyes.

He knew that flag all too well.

"It's the flag of the Law Enforcement Hall."

Xiao Chen pushed the sword guard open with his thumb, revealing a sliver of chilling sharpness, and his tone suddenly turned cold: "The leader... is a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"Late stage of Foundation Establishment..."

Gu Yan touched his chin, his face showing no fear, but rather pursing his lips as if he were hunting a flock of fat sheep.

He turned his head to look at his senior brother, who was radiating murderous intent beside him, and chuckled, "Senior brother, your Karma-Severing Sword has just been forged; it hasn't been used yet, has it?"

Xiao Chen didn't speak, but slowly drew the Broken Karma Sword from its sheath.

The bronze sword gleamed with an ancient and chilling light under the sunlight. Its tip pointed diagonally at the ground, and its aura was as fierce as a winter wind. Even the grass beneath its feet bowed down in submission to this sword intent.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

He coldly uttered four words.

The wind rises from the treetops, swirling up fallen leaves.

The two stood side by side, like two guardian deities, blocking the newly restored ancient mountain path.

Behind them lies the revitalized Changning County, the rising smoke from countless chimneys, and the very human warmth they vowed to protect after facing life and death.