Chapter 227: The Grand Examination for the Qualification of the Statue (7K)

When the darkness dissipated, Zhang Xiao found himself lying in the cave again.

Is this the resurrection point?

This kind of real game experience will not beat a lot of game manufacturers. If it is released, it will sell like crazy.

Compared with the last time, a lot of exploration processes were omitted. I packed my luggage directly and just stepped out of the door.

The cold wind blew, and a faint mist suddenly appeared between the mountains and fields.

Zhang Xiao:.

Did you skip it?

The female ghost in a red wedding dress lowered her head and stood not far behind him:

"Little Taoist priest, don't be too much."

"Okay, then I'll go?"

The rest of the female ghost's words suddenly disappeared, as if she had never thought that Zhang Xiao would say this.

Quiet, silent, awkward.

After a long time, the female ghost's voice sounded again:

"Where you come from, go back there. There is a land temple on the way you come. After worshiping, take half a bowl of incense ash.

Every moment, take a pinch of incense ash, let the wind blow it away, and follow the direction of the incense ash.

Otherwise, you will never get out."

The female ghost disappeared again.

Zhang Xiao pinched his chin, his eyes flashing with interest. This female ghost seemed to be quite special.

Generally speaking, female ghosts with endless resentment rarely remain rational.

Their thoughts are ‘I just want to kill everyone here, or be killed by everyone.’

Those who can not only communicate, but also speak so organized and logically are generally very special ghosts.

I just don’t know what kind of female ghost this is.

This time he didn’t wait until dawn, but simply carried his bag and ran directly towards the village at the foot of the mountain.

It took less than a while.

The red-clothed female ghost appeared again, raised her hideous face, and stared at him:

“Men. Can’t be trusted.”

Zhang Xiao felt that the hair on his body exploded, and instinctively activated the golden light spell.

But this red-clothed female ghost seemed to have a special ability. Zhang Xiao felt that his whole body was frozen.

Not to mention fighting back, he couldn’t even move.

He even watched the female ghost turn into a blood-red shadow, circling around him.

Finally broke the golden light spell.

His eyes went dark, and a faint voice came from his ears again:

"You are dead."

Zhang Xiao:.

It seems that this female ghost is like the rule line in the game, which cannot be touched. If the rule is triggered, it means death?

What if we just fight in full state?

Zhang Xiao rushed out.

In the open space outside the cave, thunder and explosions suddenly sounded, and golden and red lights intertwined together.

Less than five minutes later.

Zhang Xiao appeared in the cave again with a dusty face.

Well, it has been confirmed that I can't beat it. I can't beat it no matter how I think about it, unless the Qiankun bag is there, and I can directly throw out the talisman at the bottom of the box.

Rationally reasoning, this ghost is a bit outrageous.

But even such a strong ghost can't do anything to Xiaoyang Village. What's going on?

The three masters went to Xiaoyang Village to investigate after hearing that there were evil ghosts causing trouble in Xiaoyang Village.

This female ghost obviously did not cause any harm, on the contrary, she was very reasonable and easy to talk to.

So, are there other evil ghosts in Xiaoyang Village?

Or, as in the previous games, as long as I die enough, I will pave a way for you with my life.

Die!

Die!

Die!

Zhang Xiao lay in the cave, gasping for breath, with deep confusion in his eyes.

No, this village is poisonous, right?

Drinking tea will kill you, eating in the tavern will kill you, and staying in the inn will still kill you.

Even the steamed buns that I thought were safe before, turned out to have problems.

I died too many times and even started to get a little anxious.

Suspicious, everything I see seems to be wrong.

The question is, why do the people in Xiaoyang Village have to kill me?

Also, both the red-clothed female ghost and the little girl asked me to leave.

Especially the little girl

Except for the first time she was given a meat bun, she didn't seem to appear afterwards.

Zhang Xiao fell into deep thought.

In the early morning, Xiaoyang Village seemed to come alive again. Zhang Xiao changed his clothes and looked like an ordinary farm boy.

Fortunately, the previous experience outside made him darker, but he had some temperament of a farm boy.

The village was still the same as before.

There were already many people walking back and forth on the road paved with bluestone slabs.

There were merchants driving carts and farmers carrying hoes who seemed to be going out.

The breakfast shop was already open, and large streams of white steam came out of the steamer, carrying the tempting aroma of meat buns, rushing straight into the nose.

The owner of the grocery store yawned, moved the movable wooden board, and displayed a dazzling array of goods.

Zhang Xiao turned a blind eye to all this, just silently shuttled among the crowd, after many previous death experiences.

It seems that the less communication with the people around, the lower the probability of death.

So he had to make himself ordinary enough, not even attracting other people's attention.

In fact, this time he made the right bet.

This was the first time he had walked around the town completely without any "strange death".

Zhang Xiao slowly retreated from the original path, stood at the entrance of Xiaoyang Village, and looked back at the village again.

Now it was time to try another thing - what would happen if he left directly without following the method of the female ghost cult?

As soon as he entered the woods, the sunlight was covered by the layers of trees.

The cold wind howled among the treetops, the ancient trees were towering, the shadows of the trees were looming, blocking out the sun, as if walking into an ancient dream.

Occasionally, a ray of sunlight shone through the gaps between the branches, making it even more eerie and terrifying.

The surroundings were so quiet that it made people palpitate. There was nothing but the crackling sound of dead branches and fallen leaves underfoot.

Zhang Xiao took two steps and felt that his body was getting heavier and heavier. He was even exhausted and panting after taking one step.

He stopped and looked at his hands.

The young man's strong and delicate hands had become wrinkled, stiff and rough without knowing when.

He looked like he was in his seventies or eighties.

Zhang Xiao took out a mirror with difficulty and used his magic wand to conjure up a mirror, but he saw that he had become a white-haired old man in the mirror.

He found a big tree, leaned against the trunk, and slowly sat down.

He closed his eyes, pondered for a long time, and suddenly laughed.

In fact, the answer had been known for a long time.

Then the whole person seemed to suddenly lose strength, and his head drooped suddenly.

"You're dead."

In the cave, Zhang Xiao lay on the blanket, motionless, just staring at the uneven top of the cave.

"This is a test."

He said to himself.

"It's like an exam, and you are very familiar with exams.

In the end, it's just a game, just like you have done countless times.

What is the key and fundamental to answering questions?"

Zhang Xiao closed his eyes and exhaled gently:

"It's to find out the thinking of the person who asked the question. What does he want to test me on?"

Is it strength? Is it the mastery of magic? Is it fighting skills?

None of them.

Zhang Xiao stood up, packed his luggage, and waved to the outside in a chic manner.

Bye!

Sure enough, when they set off in the opposite direction, no female ghost appeared.

Not far away, they saw a dilapidated land temple.

Well. It looks like Professor Flitwick.

After a sincere worship, Zhang Xiao took half a bowl of incense ash and pinched a small handful of incense ash every moment and sprinkled it in the air.

Follow the direction where the incense ash is blown.

Just walk along the way, scattering it.

When the incense ash is used up, Zhang Xiao has come to a huge cave entrance.

Am I in a cave?

He was stunned for a moment, and then he boasted in one step.

"During the Ming Dynasty, three of my disciples from Longhu Mountain came here and heard that there were evil spirits in the mountains, so they could not return after entering the mountains.

The Heavenly Master ordered Longhu Mountain to travel all over the world, and Zhuge Hong went to investigate.

Zhuge Hong followed the order and went there. He wandered around the mountain pass and dared not enter. He used the art of spirit transformation to investigate and returned in ten days.

He said: This scene is false, and you will die if you enter.

The Heavenly Master came in person, led 108 disciples from Longhu Mountain, set up the Tiangang Disha formation, and trapped this scene for 16 days."

The faint male voice gradually faded and disappeared.

Zhang Xiao slowly opened his eyes. This time it was finally not a cave.

"Awake? Good, kid. You've found the only answer after less than 10 reincarnations?"

Zhang Chengdao and Li Qingshu were sitting on the eight-immortal table in the room, looking at him with a smile.

Zhang Xiao shook his head vigorously, trying to make himself more awake.

"I just figured it out at last."

Getting off the bed and sitting at the table, Li Qingshu pushed a cup of tea over, and Zhang Xiao subconsciously wanted to hide.

But it was the sequelae left in the illusion before.

"Xiaoxiao, it's out." Li Qingshu comforted her gently, and released golden light to prove that what she said was true.

After drinking a cup of tea, Zhang Xiao felt much more comfortable.

"Dad, Mom, so this is the first level of the test before the ordination?"

Zhang Chengdao nodded:

"Yes, since the discovery of this illusion during the Tianqi years,

it has been used to test disciples."

Zhang Chengdao said meaningfully:

"Xiaoxiao, what do you think is needed to travel the world besides being proficient in talismans and Taoist magic?"

"It is to protect yourself!" Zhang Xiao said without hesitation.

This is the answer he figured out at the last minute. If it weren't for this, I would still be struggling in the illusion at this time.

"Yes, the most important thing in the world is to protect yourself.

Rather than sacrificing one's life for justice, I am more afraid that you will die before you succeed, and die before you leave Jiangxi.

Maybe sometimes, a cup of highly poisonous liquor, a simple trap, or a clumsy lie can make you fall into eternal damnation.

At least at this moment, if you drink tea, wine, or eat in the future, you will instinctively remember to check if there is any poison.

This is what the Taoist wants to teach you.

Sometimes, people's hearts are darker than demons and monsters."

Zhang Xiao recalled his previous experience and still felt a little scared. He really didn't want to recall the strange and varied ways of death.

"Dad, how many times did you reincarnate to pass this level?"

Zhang Chengdao's face, which was originally a senior, suddenly collapsed, and the corners of his eyes and mouth twitched a few times:

"This."

Li Qingshu smiled but said nothing. This time, she was not going to expose her husband's shortcomings in front of her son. Sometimes, too much is as bad as too little. One or two times can be said to be funny.

It's really unacceptable to expose the shortcomings every time.

After all, Zhang Chengdao was a rare person who would not turn back until he hit the wall, and he plunged into Xiaoyang Village.

In the end, he was sent out in a coma after too many reincarnations and his energy was exhausted.

Fortunately, this test does not require everyone to pass, it is more like a course.

In fact, this illusion can only be used once. After all, the second time is well prepared, and it can't achieve the effect of teaching and testing at all.

Zhang Xiao saw that his mother didn't mean to say anything, so he immediately turned the topic to the aspect that he was most interested in.

"Mom and Dad, what is the situation of that illusion? Did it really happen in history?"

Speaking of this, Zhang Chengdao's face became much more serious, and he nodded slowly and said:

"Yes, the voice you heard in the illusion is the truth.

At that time, the world traveler in Longhu Mountain was Senior Zhuge Hong, who was already the first of the young generation in Longhu Mountain.

It's almost the same as your father now."

Li Qingshu and Zhang Xiao showed "admiration" eyes together, and Zhang Chengdao cleared his throat twice:

"But Zhuge Hong The senior arrived at the foot of the mountain, but did not dare to go in, according to the records of Longhu Mountain.

Senior Zhuge Hong once said; 'When I walked to the front of the mountain, I was sweating all over. If I wanted to move, my legs would tremble and I couldn't control myself.'

His strength was strong enough, and his spiritual sense told him that there was a great terror ahead, but the three disciples might be because of their lower strength.

There was no movement in his spiritual sense, which led to the disaster. "

Zhang Chengdao suddenly stopped talking and smacked his lips: "My mouth is a little dry. "

Zhang Xiao poured a cup of tea with great tact and held it with both hands. :

"Dad, moisten your throat, then what?"

"Yes, fragrant! Sweet!"

Li Qingshu snorted, then said:

"Mom will tell you, this senior Zhuge Hong cannot go in, but he is afraid that this place will become the source of disaster if he retreats.

So he sat down at the entrance of the mountain, and used the Taoist spirit-sending technique, combined with illusion, and the method of splitting to go in and investigate.

He investigated for ten days and finally came back to report.

After hearing this, the Heavenly Master took people there. This was a major move in Longhu Mountain in hundreds of years!

In the end, the Heavenly Master was alone. He went there alone, and after coming out, he set up the Tiangang Disha formation, and it took sixteen days to wipe out that place. "

Zhang Xiao listened to the storytelling, not daring to breathe, and pricked up his ears to listen carefully:

"Then what, then what, the Heavenly Master must have found something, right? And what about the three masters?"

Zhang Chengdao sighed:

"You have seen the three masters."

"I have seen them all?"

"The little girl, the land god, and the female ghost in the wedding dress."

Zhang Xiao felt a trembling numbness all over his body.

He never thought that those three were the three masters, but it seemed so. They were the only three masters in the whole village who showed goodwill to him.

But how did those masters become like that?

"The Heavenly Master said that the place was twisted and abnormal, and had become a strange place. Two senior brothers died one after another, but the last senior brother found an important clue at the end.

But he could not hold on any longer, so he released the fierce ghost he had just captured before coming here, and fed the ghost with his body, leaving a little spirituality.

Because he knew that the Taoist sect would continue to send people here, he would be able to remind the Taoist sect that this place was ominous and not to waste their lives.

Another person used the technique of sitting and transforming to collect all his spirituality in his bones.

He burned himself (harmoniously) with divine fire, leaving ashes , guiding the people of the Taoist sect out.

The last senior brother has the shallowest cultivation and her spirituality is not well preserved. Only by giving her buns can she be prompted.

Because that female senior brother loved buns the most when she was a child.

The buns will turn into something like dried powder, which is also a hint that everything you see is false.

The more exchanges and communication are generated, the deeper you fall, and finally you will be assimilated and unable to extricate yourself. "

There was silence in the room, and Zhang Xiao let out a long breath. I don’t know how many times stories like this have happened in the long river of history.

How many thrilling things are unknown to outsiders.

Zhang Chengdao and Li Qingshu stood up: "Xiaoxiao, have a good rest. Although you have been in the illusion for a long time, only one hour has passed.

Tomorrow, two other formal tests will be held.

This is a hard condition. If you fail, you can only wait until next year."

Zhang Xiao nodded to show that he knew. When his parents walked to the door, he suddenly remembered something:

"Dad, is that Xiaoyang Village really called Xiaoyang Village?"

Zhang Chengdao's body paused and said softly:

"No. Its original name is - Taohuayuan."

Zhang Xiao lay stiffly on the bed like a robot, covered with a quilt, but he couldn't fall asleep.

The only thing that kept turning over and over in his mind was Taohuayuan and the unforgettable Taohuayuan Ji.

In the Taiyuan period of the Jin Dynasty, people in Wuling made a living by fishing.

Walking along the stream, forgetting how far the road was.

Suddenly, I came across a peach blossom forest, which was hundreds of steps along the banks. There were no other trees in the middle, and the grass was fresh and the fallen petals were colorful.

The fisherman was very surprised and walked forward again, wanting to explore the forest.

When the forest ended and the water source was reached, there was a mountain with a small opening, as if there was light.

So he left the boat and entered through the opening.

At first it was very narrow, but only one person could pass through. After walking a few dozen steps, it suddenly became clear.

There was a small opening in the mountain, and it suddenly became clear.

Peach Blossom Spring!

Although he tossed and turned in bed for a long time before falling asleep, Zhang Xiao still felt refreshed when he woke up the next day.

The clothes had been delivered long ago and were neatly folded on the table.

After washing up, Zhang Xiao couldn't wait to pick up the folded clothes.

It was a plain white Taoist robe, which was somewhat similar to the ones worn by Mao Xuexian's disciples when he was in Wangjiang.

It's also like what Wang Ye wore in "Under One Person", but the color is different.

My dad did mention this. Most of the rules of Xialonghu Mountain, or the secular Taoist sect, are inherited from their own blessed land.

It's just that because of some necessary and unnecessary factors, the original things are expanded and more complicated.

My dad said. This is because the secular Taoist sect needs more rituals, but Zhang Chengdao didn't say why the rituals are needed.

So at this moment, there are not so many rules in Shanglonghu Mountain. In fact, it was originally the case. The Taoist sect actually inherited more of a Taoist thought mixed with other things.

Zhang Xiao looked at it for a while, then let go of his hand, and the clothes twisted and walked over.

He made an open-arms gesture and put it directly on Zhang Xiao's body.

The cloth shoes also flew up by themselves. I don't know what these cloth shoes are made of, but they are very comfortable on my feet.

After the Taoist robe was tied up, he didn't wear a crown, but just learned from Wang Ye to roll up his half-long hair and tie a bun on the top of his head.

Use a wooden hairpin to fix it casually.

Taoism is still better!

That is, when you are conferred the ordination and offering sacrifices to the heaven, you need to wear ceremonial robes.

At other times, you can dress casually, but everyone basically wears three kinds of Taoist robes: green, white, and blue.

In the courtyard, Zhang Chengdao and Li Qingshu also changed into similar clothes, long gowns fluttering, full of elegance and charm.

I have seen my parents in suits and leather shoes many times, and now the two of them look like this.

Zhang Xiao couldn't help but his eyes lit up:

"Dad, Mom, so handsome and beautiful! A fairy couple!"

Li Qingshu smiled: "Okay, okay, let's go, fasting today, two bigu pills each.

Here, this is yours."

Zhang Xiao took two round bigu pills, about the size of longan, and remembered that they tasted terrible, just like sawdust.

Because they are delicious, there will be greedy little Taoist children who will eat bigu pills as snacks.

After putting one in his mouth and chewing it casually for a few times, Zhang Xiao stared and clenched his fists, trying to swallow the pill.

It tasted really bad!

But the effect was quite good. Just a short while after eating it, Zhang Xiao felt a warm current gradually spreading from his stomach.

The feeling of fullness immediately came up.

"Mom and Dad, I'm ready, let's go!"

Zhang Xiao followed his parents to a huge square. Just a quick glance, he felt a little familiar.

The square was paved with huge pieces of white marble.

There was a huge gossip in the middle.

The edge of the square was shrouded in clouds and mist, like a fairyland.

Isn't this the square in the Golden Book and Jade Book?

So the Golden Book and Jade Book was copied here?

At this moment, many people have come to this square, and there are still people coming from all directions in various ways.

Zhang Xiao saw large jade leaves, gourds, boats, and even kites in the flying equipment.

It was just like a meeting of miscellaneous people.

Most of them came over like a family, calling their friends.

Everyone was so excited as if they were attending a gathering, finding their favorite seats and standing up in groups of three or four.

"Dad, are they all here for the assessment? Is this assessment so popular?"

Zhang Xiao saw that there were almost several thousand people - because the scale of each Hogwarts banquet was less than one-tenth of this.

How many people attended the Hogwarts banquet?

There are less than 500 faculty members

"It has always been like this. Although Longhu Mountain is a blessed place, there are no activities and ceremonies worth mentioning.

In addition to a few major ceremonies, most people are practicing in seclusion or helping Zhao Yuanxu solve some very difficult problems.

There are also some people with heavy responsibilities who must stay on the mountain all the time.

So... it's like this."

Zhang Chengdao said a few words and patted his shoulder: "Gather at Bagua, the time is almost up.

Don't be stressed!"

Li Qingshu also stroked Zhang Xiao's head and also clenched his fist to cheer him up.

Zhang Xiao took a few deep breaths: "Well, I'll go."

There are already some people standing on Bagua, some old and some young, and the older ones look middle-aged.

The younger ones are about 17 or 18 years old, and there are about 80 or 90 people in total.

Is this the person who is going to participate in the ordination this year?

Seeing Zhang Xiao, the young boy with a tender face, coming over, many people showed surprise.

Some people began to think.

"Little Taoist friend, whose disciple are you? Today is the day of the test for ordination. Go back quickly and find your master or adults and just watch from the side."

A middle-aged man who looked quite honest asked with a smile, and raised his head to see if anyone was looking for the child.

Zhang Xiao was just about to greet and talk, but someone stopped the middle-aged man:

"Brother, this is the child of Shao Tianshi, Zhang Xiao, who is of the same generation as us and is also participating in the test for ordination this time."

The middle-aged man immediately realized and patted his head embarrassedly:

"Master did mention it to me, but I didn't think of it for a while, little brother, forgive me."

Why should I take such a small matter to heart?

Zhang Xiao smiled and said a few polite words, and a small storm that was not even a misunderstanding was eliminated.

Those disciples who were more nimble had spread the identity of Zhang Xiao, without any intention of hiding it.

At the same time, the onlookers outside also noticed Zhang Xiao, who was obviously much younger than him.

Zhang Xiao felt as if thousands of eyes were focused on him.

But what surprised Zhang Xiao was that, whether outside or inside the field.

The eyes cast by everyone were more curious and surprised.

Others were scrutinizing and suspicious.

It cannot be said that there was no hostility, but it was quite rare, and compared to hostility, Zhang Xiao would rather call it - competitive spirit.

It was a look that regarded himself as an important opponent and wanted to compete.

The moral model of the Taoist sect?

Hiss, I thought before that if I would stand out and be too ostentatious, some people would be jealous and dissatisfied.

Now it seems that everyone is very friendly.

"Ahem."

A faint cough instantly spread throughout the square, and everyone subconsciously quieted down.

Zhang Cunyi's figure appeared on the steps at the entrance of the Jade Emperor Hall, wearing only a very plain and simple Taoist robe.

His hair was simply tied up in a bun, and his gaunt face was smiling.

His eyes, which were full of divine light, swept around the square and stayed on his grandson for a moment.

The smile on his face became even stronger.

Zhang Xiao then realized that he had not met his grandfather to chat for such a long time after coming back.

He obviously had a lot of questions to ask his grandfather.

Everyone on the square straightened their clothes, the smiles on their faces disappeared, and they all bowed to Zhang Cunyi:

"Tianshi!"

Zhang Xiao hurriedly followed everyone's example and bowed, and then heard Zhang Cunyi's voice ringing in everyone's ears:

"Okay, okay, if you continue like this, I have to learn from the secular world and say a few simple words."

Everyone seemed to have long been accustomed to the old Tianshi's appearance, and straightened up without paying attention, with a smile on their faces.

It seemed that they were very much looking forward to the old Tianshi saying a few simple words.

Zhang Cunyi waved his sleeves and raised his face slightly, looking like an old-age version of Zhang Chengdao:

"Hey, I won't tell you, it happens every year anyway, so..."

The old Taoist priest's face became serious:

"What are you waiting for? The ordination exam begins!"

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7000 completed today, probably finished in the east the day after tomorrow