Gu Zheng felt that the atmosphere around him was rapidly turbulent, and the originally calm sky was once again covered by yellow clouds. He didn't know that a violent sandstorm was coming.
Looking at the young monk with a pale face and a look of despair, Gu Zheng's heart moved. He didn't have time to think about other issues, so he glanced at Xiaoying and pointed at him.
Xiaoying nodded reluctantly, but a green light shot out from her hand, and in a blink of an eye, the monk was surrounded, entangled together like a rice dumpling.
With a casual pull from Xiaoying, she quickly moved towards this direction.
"Attention!" Gu Zheng raised his head and looked at the approaching storm, and said subconsciously.
The next moment, a strong golden light rose on the spot, and at the same time, a yellow tornado rose through the sky and the earth, drowning the golden light in the blink of an eye.
After a moment of burning incense, an equally huge quicksand pit was left on the spot, but the golden light in the middle had disappeared.
"Bah!"
In a high bulging sand dune, a smaller figure rose from the sky and spit out the sand in his mouth.
At the same time, two figures emerged from below, slowly floating a little above the sand dunes.
"I asked you to wait for me. You will suffer a loss this time." Gu Zheng looked at Xiaoying who was spitting above him and couldn't help but said.
"Who would have thought that it would be so abominable to be buried so deep down there?" Xiaoying finally said after removing all the sand from her body.
Then he turned around and looked around, pointing to the distance with some surprise.
"Master Gu, look quickly to see if that is Shahai City."
Not too far away from them, a majestic city came into view. It was built of huge rocks, hundreds of feet high, which seemed to block the strong wind blowing in the sky all the time.
The sand particles carried by the strong wind flew towards the city, but at this time, a layer of yellow barrier rose up, and they were blocked out.
"That's right, since we can't find it, let this sandstorm give us a ride, but the distance is closer than imagined." Gu Zheng looked at the surrounding hills, which were dozens of feet high, and felt that it would get even higher if they continued to rise.
It can surround the sand sea city into a valley.
Gu Zheng originally thought he would have to walk a little further, but he didn't expect it to be delivered directly to his doorstep.
"There is still this young monk, what should we do?" Xiaoying pointed to the young monk next to him who was still surrounded by green light, and asked, "Or we can just throw him out and let him hang out for three days and three nights to stop him.
Let’s come in.”
"Forget it, let him go. The other party doesn't want us to come in. He's just afraid of hurting us." Gu Zheng shook his head and stopped Xiaoying's suggestion.
"Well, it's an advantage for him." Xiaoying muttered and said reluctantly.
Gu Zheng glanced at Xiaoying in confusion, and scanned it from beginning to end, but found nothing wrong. He felt that the other party seemed a little irritable, but he still listened to his own words and took a closer look when he had time when he came back.
With a child like her, her emotions are easily disturbed by the outside world, so she needs to be taught a lesson by herself so that she can't go on a path she shouldn't take.
"Who are you!" Gu Zheng watched Xiaoying release the other party. When he came back, he saw a loud shout coming from behind him.
Gu Zheng turned his head and saw that several people wearing monk robes were flying towards him from a distance.
"Senior Brother Liao, they came from outside to pay homage to the master. They also saved my life, but suddenly a sandstorm swept me back again." The young monk behind him saw four people flying from a distance and said quickly.
"So that's it, two benefactors, I'm really sorry, we misunderstood!" The four monks here looked like they were fighting. When they heard the young monk speak, the leader, Senior Brother Liao, put away the murderous intent on his face and looked apologetic.
said.
The three behind them also put away their weapons and bowed their heads slightly apologetically.
"It's okay. But why is it like this now? Is there an invasion from a foreign enemy?" Gu Zheng waved his hand, then pointed to the protection outside and said.
"It's hard to explain in one sentence, but since you are all here, then come back with us to see the master, and Junior Brother Qing, you can also come back together. Several other Junior Brothers have failed, and we are still worried about you, so you are back.
"Senior Brother Liao also sighed, and anyone could see the sadness in his eyes.
"Well done." Gu Zheng nodded and followed him towards Shahai City.
As soon as he entered Shahai City, Gu Zheng could feel the panic emanating from the entire city. There were only a few people scattered on the entire spacious street, and they were walking in a hurry. They couldn't help but look around, as if
What are you worried about?
After passing through most of the city, it can be seen that there are still a lot of people here, but now it is in a state of depression, and it feels like the whole city is about to be abandoned.
Their destination is the temple at the northern end of the city, which is also the only temple here and occupies a very huge area.
When Gu Zheng and others came back, there were many pilgrims coming in and out. Although it was much better than the people outside, they were also panic-stricken. It seemed that they did not get spiritual comfort here.
Entering the temple, a faint scent of sandalwood filled the nostrils, and there were even layers of white mist in many places. Except for some drought-resistant trees, not even a single flower was seen.
However, there were some colorful cloth strips hung on the big tree on the eaves, as well as large red lanterns, giving it a festive look.
There are no buildings with more than three floors in the entire temple. They are all houses connected in a row, and the structure of the houses is mostly made of rocks, which looks very simple.
They didn't go ahead, but went around in a circle from the side.
"The conditions for the two donors are a bit rough. I have informed the master in advance. Please wait a moment."
Senior Brother Liao and the others separated when they entered this not-so-grand temple, and Senior Brother Liao led them to a side room and apologized to them.
"It's okay, we can just wait here." Gu Zheng didn't mind the peeling chairs.
"Sir, I don't like this place at all. It makes me upset." Xiaoying, who was sitting nearby, twisted her body and said to Gu Zheng.
"We don't plan to stay for a long time, just bear with it." Gu Zheng thought it was Xiaoying's physical condition that made him feel uncomfortable.
Even if there is trouble here, it is still a place under the auspices of an eminent monk, so there is natural restraint against evil spirits.
"Okay, I really want to go back to the scroll." Xiaoying muttered, still sitting on it calmly, but twisting from time to time, which looked very uncomfortable.
Not long after waiting for a cup of tea, a very young man who seemed to be incompatible with Gu Zheng walked in from outside wearing a red cassock.
"Master Wuxiang!" Gu Zheng stood up and said to him.
Although this was his first time seeing Wu Xiang, this unfathomable aura seemed to be equal to his own cultivation level, so he thought it was him.
"Donor, you are so polite. I wonder why you have gone so hard to find me? You can also see that there are some changes here. I can't get away at all now." Master Wuxiang clasped his hands on his chest and said to Gu Zheng.
He didn't even have to come in to feel Gu Zheng's aura. Since the other party came here, he had something to do with him.
"Just call me Gu Zheng. This is my soul child Xiaoying." Gu Zheng introduced himself first, but felt a little confused because the other party didn't look like it was an easy thing to solve.
"It's not good, it's not good, Master. Junior Brother Qing, who just came back, suddenly went crazy and seemed to be possessed by evil spirits." At this moment, a frightened shout suddenly came from outside, coming from far to near.
Run over here.
When the voice fell, an equally young monk came to the door of the house and panted as he looked inside.
"There is something urgent here, the ancient benefactor. I will take my leave first and come back to you." Master Wuxiang's expression changed and he apologized slightly to Gu Zheng. Then he turned to the young monk who had just arrived and said.
"Qi Cha, take the two donors to the back to rest first and entertain them well."
"Yes, Master Wuxiang!" The young monk who started the tea nodded immediately and said.
Master Wuxiang left in a hurry, leaving Gu Zheng behind.
"Two donors, please go to the back room and rest for a while. Master Wuxiang will notify you when he has time." Qi Cha walked up and said to Gu Zheng and the others.
"Please lead the way!" Gu Zheng nodded and said.
"By the way, why do you call him Master Wuxiang, while everyone else calls him Master!" Gu Zheng, who was silently walking behind him on the way, suddenly said, breaking the calm.
"I'm just an ordinary monk here, and those senior brothers are all disciples of Master Wuxiang. Of course, their names are different." Qi Cha immediately replied after hearing this.
"Can you tell me what's going on here? We are all dressed up in festive clothes, but I find that everyone here looks sad. What happened?" Gu Zheng took advantage of the situation and continued to ask.
"Everyone here knows about this matter, and it's even serious enough that we have started to discuss that everyone should leave here completely." Qi Cha thought for a while and decided to speak out. Anyway, this is not a confidential matter, basically everyone knows about it.
"Originally, a few months ago, we were preparing for the Buddha's Birthday Ceremony here. Everything was no different from before. It was also a once-in-ten-year event here. But suddenly many strange things happened. Some people disappeared for no reason. Later, even us
My fellow apprentices also disappeared inexplicably, but not even Master Wuxiang knew about it."
Qi Cha sighed and continued.
"Since then, people have been missing in the entire city. Almost every day, at least one person has disappeared, which has made people panic. Master Wuxiang has stepped up his investigation of the truth here, and on the other hand, he has sent people outside to rescue. As a result, he went out.
People will either die or be dragged back, and now some people have proposed giving up this place completely."
"It's so serious that even Master Wuxiang can't find out the truth. What kind of monster dares to cause trouble here." Gu Zheng was also very strange and muttered to himself. No wonder he looked like this when he came in. Now he was a little embarrassed.
"Let's do it this way. You can send me some basic scriptures later tonight, and I can show them to my soul boy. What do you think?" Gu Zheng looked at how late it was and decided to stay here for a few days to take a look, if necessary.
Just ask directly.
"This is a small thing, of course. We were just here. Normally there would be many pilgrims staying here to help with the festival, but after these things happened, they have all gone home now, and it is very quiet."
Here they had arrived in front of rows of houses that were close together. Qi Cha's leader Gu Zheng and the others came to a slightly larger room in the front, and then hurriedly left.
Although this room is smaller, it has two rooms, inside and outside. It seems that it is convenient for people to sleep separately, which is considered thoughtful.
In the evening, Qi Cha brought some scriptures over as expected, but there was no news about Master Wu Xiang, and it seemed that he was still treating people back there.
After Gu Zheng thanked him, he started to let Xiaoying take a closer look.
"I don't want to read it. These are so boring and make me feel annoyed just looking at them." After only reading for half an hour, Xiaoying threw the book aside and shouted loudly.
"Why can't you read it? These are just basic scriptures. Just calm down and read slowly." Gu Zheng picked up the book and glanced at it. It was basically used for meditation and understanding the basics of Buddhism.
"I don't want it, I want to sleep." Xiaoying turned towards the bed outside and buried her head in the brand new quilt, saying dullly.
"Then you should rest today and watch tomorrow." Seeing this, Gu Zheng thought for a moment and did not force her. After saying that, he went directly into the back room to meditate and rest.
After a speechless night, Gu Zheng came out early the next morning, looked at Xiaoying pretending to be asleep on the bed, and put the book on the table again.
"Can you look at it later? It's not working these days, and I don't understand anything." Xiaoying, who couldn't pretend anymore, raised her head and said pitifully.
"No, let's watch it now!" Gu Zheng said with a straight face, as if he wanted to be seen even if he didn't want to.
Xiaoying had no choice but to float over with a sad face, sit down on the only missing table again, look at the scriptures spread out, and yell a little.
"I can't understand it at all!"
"If you don't understand, I can hand it over to you!"
Before Gu Zheng could speak, a clear voice came from outside, and then a figure without a trace opened the door and walked in.
"I've already packed up over there, so I'll come over to your side first." Wuxiang's face showed no signs of fatigue, and he still said to Gu Zheng with a smile.
"I don't know how. If I can help, please don't be polite." Gu Zheng stood up and greeted him.
"It's already healed. He just needs to rest for a few days. Seeing how many scriptures you picked up yesterday, you seem to be interested in our Buddhist school?" Wu Xiang pointed at the scriptures on the table and said with a smile.
"My soul boy has been a little grumpy in recent days. Let him read some scriptures to calm his mood." Gu Zheng pointed at Xiaoying and said.
"I don't want to learn, I don't want to learn at all." Xiaoying shook her head and said, expressing her dissatisfaction.
"The little donor has excellent spirituality. I can tell at a glance that he has a destiny with our Buddhist sect. Here is a string of Buddhist beads. Take it with you and I guarantee that everything will go smoothly for you." Wuxiang smiled, just like a hawker selling things.
Said, he casually took out a string of emerald-like Buddhist beads, which reflected green light, which was very beautiful.
When Gu Zheng heard such familiar words, he had a familiar feeling in his heart. He always felt that this Buddhist family always looks at who is destined to be with whom.
"I don't want it, I don't want to learn it!" Xiaoying's head twisted even more, looking very resistant.
"The prayer beads only have a calming effect, don't worry, they won't hurt you!" How could Wu Xiang fail to recognize Xiaoying's identity? He raised the prayer beads in his hand mainly to show Gu Zheng and reassure him.
After a slight pause, Wuxiang threw the prayer beads forward and covered Xiaoying's head.
Upon seeing this, Xiaoying immediately flew away from the bench and flew to the side, trying to avoid the string of beads.
But the beads turned around nimbly in the air, and Xiaoying's eyes flashed. She felt a chill on her neck, and found that the beads were already hanging around her neck.
The originally rather wide beads also shrank accordingly, and hung just right on her neck in the blink of an eye, making her look more beautiful and dazzling.
"I don't want this thing, I don't want it!" Xiaoying grabbed both sides with both hands and wanted to take it off again, but found that she could no longer take it off, as if it had been imprisoned on her neck.
The whole person ran towards Gu Zheng, shouting at the same time.
"Sir, the other party wants to arrest me! Come and save me!"
Gu Zheng did not ask about Xiaoying's shouting, but looked at Wuxiang in confusion, because the other party could not do this innocently.
At this time, Wuxiang's face breathed a sigh of relief, and his face was also full of exhaustion, which was completely different from the energetic one before.
At this moment, Xiaoying, who suddenly rushed toward Gu Zheng in mid-air, suddenly stiffened, rolled her eyes, and passed out. Her transformed appearance also disappeared, revealing her true body again.
However, as the light flashed around the edge of the room, the ghostly aura on Xiaoying's body did not spread out.
"Ancient donor, please sit down and talk. You will know after a while. Don't worry, I will never harm your soul boy. It's just that when the other party came here, with her special physique, she was also invaded unknowingly.
Go in." Na Wuxiang looked at Gu Zheng and said sincerely.
Gu Zheng nodded and took a few steps to the side, but his eyes were fixed on him, for fear that he would take Xiaoying away.
Wuxiang took a step forward and came to Xiaoying's side. He grabbed Xiaoying's arm with one hand and raised the other hand in front of him. He started to litigate with a solemn expression on his face.
A series of golden Buddha patterns continued to spit out from him, slowly gathered together in front of him, and finally formed a golden lotus.
I saw the lotus flower being pushed gently by him, slowly flying to the top of Xiaoying's head, and then submerging into it. At the same time, the green Buddha beads flashed suddenly.
The next moment, the golden lotus that entered was lifted from Xiaoying's head again, but the originally golden petals filled with Buddha's light were now suffused with black mist.
Only a small part of the entire lotus flower remained in its original shape, exuding an evil aura.
"I didn't expect so much to accumulate in the other party's body. Fortunately, it was in time."
At this time, Wu Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, let go of Xiaoying's body, and waved his hand to smash the lotus into pieces in the air.
"Your soul boy is a ghost spirit. He has been infected since he entered this sea of sand. I discovered it yesterday. If this continues, the other party will become a ghost-like existence. Then it will be really bad.
There was no cure, so I made an ordinary prayer bead overnight to suppress the evil energy in her body."
