Chapter 736: Chapter 25: The Magic Bottle Chapter 736: Chapter 25: The Magic Bottle The sunlight sank into the sea, rippling the waters. Shoals of ginger or milky fish leisurely crisscrossed, frolicking among themselves when suddenly, an agile nine-eyed eel burst forth on a killing spree, just as it was about to feast, an enormous shadow spread over, slamming straight into the nine-eyed eel, sending the fish scattering in all directions.

The nine-eyed eel sank stiffly downwards and took a while before it could flip over and clearly see the entirety of the shadow, which turned out to be an ancient and dilapidated tower ship.

“The great way of learning lies in illuminating virtuous conduct, in being close to the people, in stopping at utmost goodness,”
The sea was desolate and profound, and the solemn ancient tower ship was already eerie, yet from it still came the occasional thin and hoarse sound of reading, making one shiver without feeling cold.

Atop the tower ship, a figure clad in a fur-lined robe stood, holding a bamboo scroll tied with string, its face indistinct. With red shoes on its feet and a white silk ribbon around its waist, it was draped in a wide, plain long robe. As the water rippled, the hem of the robe fluttered gracefully, surrounded by several milky little fish.

The nine-eyed eel, annoyed, looked up and then swam away in a huff. The scholar was still shaking his head and reciting, “Anciently, those who wished to illuminate virtuous conduct throughout the world first ordered their own states; those wishing to order their states first…”

Suddenly, with a roar as of mountains collapsing and seas churning, the ship lurched violently. The scholar failed to catch himself, and the “Elementary Learning” slipped from his hands. Instinctively reaching out to grab it, his sleeves fell back to reveal five sharply rotted finger bones.

The fish, startled, scattered in all directions. On closer inspection of the man’s features, one could see a long headcloth on his head, but the flesh on his face was shriveled, clinging to the bone, his nose and teeth both exposed, and within the dark depths of his eyesockets burned tiny flames the size of soybeans. It was clearly a skeleton that had been soaked in the water for who knew how long!

“Ah, what a hassle.”

The Bone Talisman Practitioner watched helplessly as his bamboo scroll fell into a crevice between rocks, his jawbone clicking angrily.

He looked up to see at the limits of his vision, fuzzily discernible, two huge orbs of light, one black and one gold, locked in combat, indistinct. He could barely make out Yan Gong and Ma Ling amidst the fierce radiance.

“Ma Ling has always been serene, why would she come to blows with Yan Gong?”

The Bone Talisman Practitioner scratched his jawbone with his fingers and then lightly patted the railing. Bubbles surged in the sea water, and the tower ship began to ascend rapidly, not knowing how many fathoms it climbed, the entire landscape of crisscrossed pavilions and watery caves of the Heavenly Mother Ashram coming into full view.

Visible was a winding line of bright blue water, passing through Pearl Gaze Pavilion, Weeping Burrow, Fish Bone Temple… even breaking through Poison Dragon Pool and the Seven-Star Precious Pagoda, by now the blue line was pressing close to the central main hall.

“Today is not the day for sea crossing; could there be a visitor to the ashram?”

The scholar stretched out a bony finger and scratched his chin. Following that, an immense and long bell toll reverberated through the entire ashram, the clangor deafening.

Only then was he truly startled to see the central main hall’s doors swing open, a tremendous force constructing a staircase of white jade, two small black dots leaping forth in bounds, entering right into the main hall.

Seeing this, the scholar hastily mobilized the tower ship, but bogged down by its bulky slowness and not willing to aggravate the two creatures mid-battle, he simply jumped from the ship and hurried toward the direction of the main hall himself.

…

Li Wo and his companion entered the main hall, where their eyes were immediately struck by opulence that bordered on oppressive. Every item on display shimmered with the luster of treasure. Ripples spread in Li Yan’s eyes, yet they were all filled with a sequence of ??? symbols.

His expression did not betray his thoughts, yet ripples of interest stirred within him. Generally speaking, items that even Earth Endurance could not recognize were more often than not valuable treasures.

“The Mazu heritage has been hidden from the world for nearly six hundred years. Since the guards have now found the Heavenly Mother Ashram, shouldn’t it be returned in full to its rightful place? Why the hesitation?”

Li Yan’s heart tightened. Though he had seen that the Heavenly Mother Ashram was extravagantly appointed, it had fallen under the occupation of demons. He had thought that only some relics would remain, preferably ones that only recognized the aura of Mazu’s guard; unexpectedly, there were still living people.

From behind the yellow curtain, a person emerged, wearing a round-collared robe and a square turban on his broad face. His waist belt was inlaid with a dark-colored jade, exuding an air of extraordinary nobility, indicative of one accustomed to authority.

The newcomer, with a face full of gratification, gave Li Yan a clasped hand salute: “Qingtian has met the guard. You have finally arrived!”

This person was initially an enigma, but with his self-introduction, Earth Endurance finally provided some clarity.

Qingtian Taoist
A being manifested from the persistent thoughts and fleshly ties of a renowned minister of the Southern Song, taken in by the Heavenly Mother to preside over the Heavenly Mother Ashram. He awaits the person entrusted by Mazu to inherit the ashram so that he may gain his freedom.

Li Yan merely returned the courtesy, but knew too much talk could lead to trouble. His arrival was shrouded in mystery; it would be unwise to speak carelessly.

Seeing Li Yan’s caution, Qingtian the Taoist laughed and said, “The guard need not worry. Mazu had issued a decree long before her ascension. Moreover, the bloodline of the Quanlang Sea Ghost is undeniably true. Do not concern yourself with your origins.”

After pondering for a moment, Li Yan finally spoke, “My friend and I were actually forced here by Yan Gong, only to save our own lives; trespassing here was an error.”

Qingtian waved dismissively, “There’s no need for more words, this must be the fate as decreed by the Heavenly Mother. Please, follow me.”

After saying this, Qingtian, the Taoist, led the way. Li Yan, watching the back of the man in front of him, slipped up in his thoughts and tentatively inquired, “Does the master usually reside here alone? If this Heavenly Mother Ashram is a legacy of Mazu, why then is it occupied by so many demons? I have always lived at sea and have often heard the legend of the Heavenly Mother Crossing the Sea. What is that all about?”

Qingtian the Taoist spoke eloquently, “Besides me, there is another called the Holding-Sun Taoist, of similar origin to myself. Apart from the two of us, there are no others managing this ashram.”

“Regarding the demons, they were all subdued by Mazu in the past. She did not have the heart to end their lives, hence she kept them contained here. Speaking of the one who brought you here, Yan Gong Li Jiang, this demon is in fact the first and foremost of those subdued by the Heavenly Mother. She frequently tormented the coastal residents, demanding offerings of meat and wine in the name of being a legitimate descendant of Qi Country and even wanted the people to build temples and perform songs and dances for her. Even though the Heavenly Mother later defeated Li Jiang, being born of Chaos, the Heavenly Mother did not possess the power to kill her.”

Pausing for a moment, Qingtian continued, “Thus, the Heavenly Mother devised a clever scheme, making a ten-cup pact with Li Jiang. If Li Jiang could finish ten cups of Jade Pure Brew, she would be set free. Until then, Li Jiang must stay in the Heavenly Mother Ashram to guard the horde of demons. She is allowed to emerge and venture into the sea for brief periods. Hehe, little did she know the potency of Jade Pure Brew! After drinking it the first time, she would pass out drunk for a day, the second time, she would be drunk for ten days, and by the third, she’d be intoxicated for a full hundred days! Li Jiang’s counting is poor; she mistook her incapacity for not having enough alcohol tolerance. I expect in a few months she’ll be fussing to drink again, this time will be her fifth, and I reckon you won’t see her awake in your lifetime.

“As for the tale of the Heavenly Mother Crossing the Sea that people speak of, in the past, there was an exceptional phenomenon of the sun and moon shining together in the sky over the sea. The Heavenly Mother steered the ashram around the four seas and ascended while shedding tears. Henceforth, there were no more traces of the Heavenly Mother in this world. On that day, whenever there is a similar phenomenon of the sun and moon shining together over the sea, Holding-Sun and I conduct ceremonies to raise the ashram to the surface and search the seas, and sometimes fulfill the ten-cup pact with Li Jiang, in hopes of finding the Heavenly Mother.”

Li Yan was digesting what Qingtian had said, corroborating it with his past experiences, when he suddenly heard Qingtian stop in front of a yellow curtain and say, “It is right here.”

After he spoke, he pulled back the yellow curtain, and behind it, Li Yan saw an empty spot where a divine statue would normally be placed, with a dozen or so items on the offering table.

Among them were three luxurious blue-patterned scrolls, a white jade bottle, a yellow leather-bound book, and a palm-sized white jade shell with some crimson underneath. Li Yan didn’t recognize these objects, but the randomly placed items in the corner were very familiar to him: these were the Longjing Copper Talisman that transmutates myriad treasures, the White Lake Holy Spring that rejuvenate flesh and bone, and the Longevity Seed that repairs the soul.

Longevity Seed, Li Yan’s heart leapt with joy – he still had one soul part incomplete!

Upon examining the other treasures, initially, they were ??? However, after a while, they changed and revealed their inscriptions.

[Yan Fu Heritage: Mazu](Complete set of three)
[Jade Pure Brew]
Category: Legendary!

A treasure trove of Mazu, each consumption would yield a massive amount of Awakening Degree (no less than 600%), but one would fall into a deep sleep for a period.

[Filthy Traces of Vajra Secret Method]
A Six Ministries level Code
Heavenly Consort’s Eyebrow Pencil: Possessing it would make one the new master of the Heavenly Mother Ashram.

“Your guardship’s order, please.”

Qingtian said.

Li Yan’s spirit was stirred, yet he hesitated.

Qingtian revealed a pleading look: “I have been waiting here for your guardship for hundreds of years; only when you take over the Heavenly Mother Ashram can I be truly free.”

“Why should your guardship hesitate? Long ago, Mazu decreed that the rules of the Heavenly Mother Ashram were too strict, its expenditure too lavish. She ordered me and Holding-Sun to scatter the treasures and benefit all. The Heavenly Mother has mercy on the people of this world, how much more so for your guardship? Take it!”

With that, he stuffed a scroll of the Mazu Heritage into Li Yan’s hand. Ripples of emotion apparent in Li Yan’s eyes, the heritage had already reached his hand, yet there was nothing unusual about it. However, the more he looked at Qingtian’s expression, the greater his doubt became.

Li Yan scrutinized the scroll in his hand for a while, confirming it was indeed the Mazu Heritage. Qingtian, growing more enthusiastic, picked up several White Lake Holy Springs and stuffed them into Li Yan’s embrace. Holding the treasures, Li Yan still felt nothing amiss, then Qingtian promptly picked up the Filthy Traces of Vajra Secret Method and the white jade bottle and placed them into Li Yan’s arms.

Li Yan stared at the Heavenly Consort’s Eyebrow Pencil, thinking as soon as he picked up the Pencil, he would retreat and run away, determined not to accept it.

Saint Watson had been standing with vacant eyes as if in a trance. Suddenly, he spoke: “Don’t touch that bottle.”

Li Yan immediately retreated, but Qingtian’s eyes suddenly revealed a fierce light, and he hurled something at Li Yan’s face.

Unable to dodge in time, Li Yan drew the Dragon Son Great Sword and flicked it upwards, causing the entire bottle to shatter upon impact.

Seeing this, Qingtian burst into raucous laughter, a violent wind suddenly arose, and the elegant surroundings turned into an illusion. Qingtian was the first to fly into the broken bottle, followed by a stream of crimson energy rising from the fracture of the treasure bottle, lifting the roof of the main hall and exploding into a gigantic skull in the sea. His recitation went:
Eight hundred years ago, the retreat of the Shatuo,
the Liuding Liujia received gold and silk.

With one bite, the Zhao dynasty was severed.

Their spirit vied with Heaven, yet not by much.

Joyful! Joyful!

After saying this, he exploded into a ball of light and disappeared.

Li Yan looked around once more; in his hand remained only a scroll of the Mazu Heritage and two genuine White Lake Holy Springs. As for the rest, the Filthy Traces of Vajra Secret Method, the Longevity Seed, the Heavenly Consort’s Eyebrow Pencil – all were gone! The entire hall was empty!

Li Yan looked at the broken bottle. It wasn’t Jade Pure Brew at all!

[Heavenly Yi Suppressing Demon Vase](Damaged)
Quality: Legendary
A vessel of the Heavenly Mother for imprisoning vile and sin-heavy demons.

Li Yan could only smile bitterly: “It seems even A Fleeting Glimpse can’t be entirely accurate.”

He promptly pulled Saint Watson closer: “We’ve caused trouble; let’s not wait for the master to come looking for us. Run!”