Chapter 187: Rats Entering the Nest

Chapter 187: The Giant Rat Enters the Nest

Layer upon layer of leaden clouds shrouded the wilderness; save for this plaza anchored by a divine projection, all heaven and earth presented a desolate, cold gray.

Upon the ritual altar, the azure-robed ritualist presiding over Patriarch Liu's birthday gripped a ritual sword, waved a command flag, and issued orders.

The surrounding Daoists, having rehearsed countless times, raised the engraved talismans in their hands, trod the celestial steps of the Big Dipper, and slowly circled the altar.

With each completed circuit, the shrine of the "True Man of Longevity" on the altar's incense table grew a few degrees brighter, as if a deity were reviving.

Grand and magnificent ritual chants enveloped the venue, crashing like waves against the kneeling faithful, one after another.

The child kneeling behind Zou Sijiu's backside had his lower body soaked by the rainwater flowing on the ground; his body, wrapped in chill, trembled violently.

"Grandpa, I'm cold."

The old man barked lowly, "Endure it! The Venerable Patriarch Liu is about to awaken."

"Oh."

The boy didn't know what those Dao Masters up front were doing, but his grandfather's stern tone forbade him from moving rashly.

He could only look glumly at his soaking wet trousers, then at the crudely made "flying sword" in his hand, but ultimately couldn't bring himself to shove the "flying sword" under his knees as a pad.

Suddenly, a flap of robe fluttered into his vision, tucking itself beneath him.

The boy looked up in bewilderment, only to see Zou Sijiu sticking out his buttocks, turning his head back like a crouching macaque, wiggling his eyebrows and making faces at him.

This Daoist friend is actually pretty decent.

The boy sniffled, imitating the Daoist priests on the altar and bowing with clasped hands to Zou Sijiu.

*Dong!*

A melodious bronze chime rang out; the presiding Daoist flicked his horsetail whisk and chanted: "Fishing done, returning to see the giant turtle; already knowing a place awaits in the immortal registers. Beating the gong to call, knowing my intent; rising from the flood waves ten thousand zhang high."

"The Yellow Millet Grotto-Heaven, a true immortal land; must have undying, deathless men. Fellow Daoists, congratulations!"

The crowd kneeling on the plaza all clasped hands at their chests, speaking reverently: "For the Patriarch, the True Man of Longevity, congratulations!"

Amidst the rolling waves of sound, Zou Sijiu clasped his hands perfunctorily a couple of times, but his eyes scanned the surroundings.

"This atmosphere, this ritualistic feel, truly worth learning! From now on, when this Grandpa Zou tells fortunes, I'll have to compose a few lines of poetry too."

Just then, the Daoists circling the shrine finally halted their steps, raising high the engraved talismans in their hands, aiming at the glowing spirit tablet of Patriarch Liu.

"Then the talismans shoot out light, converge on the spirit tablet, and next comes the Patriarch's manifestation... a recharging trick played for so many years, and they don't know to innovate a bit."

"Still, those Western Barbarians know how to play; grab an enemy Sequence follower and burn them alive on the spot, now *that's* stimulating."

Zou Sijiu picked his ear with a finger; he knew these Daoist sect tricks inside out, could guess eight or nine parts out of ten with a single glance.

As expected, the following scene was exactly as he predicted.

Blinding radiance erupted from the spirit tablet; an immortal with hair and beard all white slowly walked out from the light and shadow, sweeping his wide sleeve.

"I am Patriarch Liu; moved by the faithful's sincerity, today this avatar descends from the Qixia Grotto-Heaven to bestow the Supreme Spirit-Settling Elixir, in commendation!"

Amidst the drifting rain threads, green lotuses suddenly bloomed, and a strange fragrance wafted out.

"Grandpa... smells so good."

The boy wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, only to find the old man beside him had long since raised his head, gaze fixed tightly on the altar, craning his neck in anticipation.

Getting no response, the boy could only turn his gaze to the Daoist friend crouching ahead, only to discover the other burying his head, drawing scribbles on the ground with his finger.

The boy clutched his "flying sword" and knee-walked two steps forward, stretching his neck over, but heard only fragmented, baffling mutters.

"Hmm, this fragrance has the scent of sedatives."

"Hey, damn it, it's even addictive. These dog-day ox-noses, hearts black enough."

On the altar, the Patriarch Liu who had descended to bestow the "divine object" had already returned to the "Immortal Realm."

And where he had just stood, a bronze tripod the size of a human head had appeared at some unknown time.

That strange fragrance was precisely wafting out from the bronze tripod.

*Dong.*

Another chime rang; that azure-robed Daoist ascended the altar again, shouting loudly: "The Daoist Canon records: the Supreme Spirit-Settling Elixir is a rare treasure; taking it can invigorate the spirit and eliminate fatigue."

"Long-term use can also enhance compatibility with the compatibility with the Daoist Grotto-Heaven, activate the Dao Foundation, improve genes, thereby crossing into the Sequence, achieving immortality overnight!"

The azure-robed Daoist waved his whisk, "Now the Patriarch has issued a decree, to reward all believers with the Supreme Spirit-Settling Elixir!"

"Many thanks to the Patriarch!"

Amidst deafening cheers, elixirs the size of thumbs, entirely vermilion, were taken out, placed on trays, and sent to all corners of the plaza.

The first to receive the "blessing" were naturally those in the "Cushion Zone" at the plaza's core; this was the perk of "buying a spot."

While in the "Human Field" outside the "Money Field," only a sparse few Daoists walked back and forth holding trays.

Strangely, wherever these Daoists passed, not all believers received the "blessing"; the vast majority could only stare with regretful, unwilling eyes, watching the "good fortune" brush past them.

Before long, the circling Daoists arrived before the old man.

"The Patriarch bestows blessings, the elixir is free. However, the elixir must be used in conjunction with the Qixia Group's Grotto-Heaven to experience its wonders."

The Daoist repeated the words he had said countless times with a blank expression, "Grotto-Heaven usage fee: three thousand Spirit Notes."

The humble smile on the old man's face froze instantly; his already hunched figure seemed to shrink a few inches more.

"Many thanks, Daoist, this old man I..."

Before his voice fell, the Daoist was already carrying the tray toward the next person, clearly having long anticipated the old man wouldn't buy.

In the Daoist's eyes, these common believers should have left after watching that light-and-shadow performance celebrating the Patriarch's birthday.

The many still lingering here now were nothing more than hoping to see if there was any cheap advantage to be gained.

If the higher-ups didn't need to borrow their mouths to promote the new product, he wouldn't have squeezed such a large circle in this stinking crowd.

"Daoist, please stay."

A hand suddenly reached out, grabbing the Daoist's sleeve cuff.

"I'll take one."

Zou Sijiu placed a few Spirit Notes on the tray, then suddenly lowered his eyes to look at the boy frowning because his clothes were soaked through, and changed his tune.

"No, make it two."

"Daoist friend, this is too precious, I cannot accept."

The old man looked at the elixir Zou Sijiu handed over, waving his hands repeatedly, his face full of panic.

This was three thousand Spirit Notes, enough for him and his grandson to eat and drink for half a year.

They had only just met Zou Sijiu, barely even counted as acquaintances; how could they dare accept such a precious gift?

"Old sir, no need for formalities; I'm a man who values fate. Your grandson and I share a 'single sword' destiny; this bit of goodwill is nothing."

The old man kept waving his hands, still wanting to decline. But the boy had long been tempted by the elixir's fragrance, hooking the glutton in his belly; he tiptoed and snatched the elixir from Zou Sijiu's palm.

The boy stuck the flying sword into his waistband, bowed to Zou Sijiu in a passable imitation of a formal salute, and said in a comically mature tone: "Xiao Qiang thanks the Daoist friend."

Seeing this, the old man hurriedly snatched the elixir back from the boy's mouth, thanking Zou Sijiu repeatedly.

The boy gnawed on his thumb, his face crumpling with the threat of tears, "Grandpa, I want to eat."

"Eat your own head, bear with it. Later, Grandpa will buy you some Bigu porridge to eat, hawthorn flavor!"

"I don't want porridge, I want meat."

"Fine, then we'll eat meat."

The boy jumped with joy, "I want real meat, not that fake stuff. The fake stuff doesn't smell good at all."

"Deal!"

The old man carefully tucked the medicine into his bosom, turning to Zou Sijiu with another wave of gratitude.

Suddenly, the old man seemed to recall something, his face flushing with embarrassment, "Fellow Daoist, that Daoist just said buying the medicine grants entry into the Qixia Grotto-Heaven once. We can't bear to eat the medicine, but could you take Xiaoqiang in to experience the Grotto-Heaven?"

Zou Sijiu glanced thoughtfully at the boy, who was still drooling, and agreed decisively.

"Of course. It would be a waste not to use it."

Just then, the distribution of pills in the field had finished. The Daoists responsible for maintaining order led all those who had purchased the Taishang Dingshen Pills toward the 'Cushion Area'.

After everyone swallowed the pills, a filament connecting to the Qixia Grotto-Heaven extended from the cushions, plugging into the brain-machine spiritual apertures at the back of their heads.

"It begins."

Zou Sijiu murmured softly, and his vision abruptly darkened.

"It finally begins."

At that very moment, atop a high-rise several miles from the square.

Li Jun sat cross-legged on the roof ridge, gazing at the distant lights, a faint smile playing on his lips, "Letting that giant rat Zou Sijiu into the nest... this Qixia Grotto-Heaven is likely to be cleaned out."

Behind him, a figure shrouded entirely in a black robe crouched beneath the flying eaves. A voice, righteous and awe-inspiring, emanated from beneath the robe.

"Xiaoqin, don't contact me anymore. I'm afraid Chunhui will misunderstand."

"You ask who Chunhui is? Don't know if you've ever heard of 'The Jade Tower Spring — Uncensored Cracked Version'?"

". I'm not a hooligan, I just have universal love."

Because the chapter was released due to the ban being lifted, a duplicate chapter has appeared. This has caused inconvenience to all you helmsmen, sorry, sorry. The next chapter is the duplicate chapter, please do not subscribe. Tomorrow morning I will contact the editor to delete it.