roccoschili Chapter 417
Chapter 417
Taoist Master Baimei listened to this with a serious look on his face. He whispered, "Young Master Ren, this matter is very serious. Do you have any plan to deal with it?"
Ren Xiaoyao clenched his fists, his eyes burning with endless determination: "No matter what the Netherworld Cult is planning, I will never let them hurt my mother. I want to rescue my mother first, and then try to deal with the Netherworld Cult. Can you tell me how to find the Netherworld Cult headquarters?"
Xuanjizi's eyes flickered, as if he was weighing the pros and cons. After a moment, he slowly stood up, walked towards Ren Xiaoyao, and whispered a few words. After hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao showed a look of surprise, and then became determined. He bowed deeply to Xuanjizi and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Master. I will keep it in mind."
Xuanjizi waved his hand, signaling Ren Xiaoyao not to be polite, and then took out an ancient jade pendant from his bosom and handed it to him: "This is the 'Tracing Talisman'. Wearing it can ward off evil spirits and drive away disasters. It may help you at a critical moment. Remember, you must be cautious and don't underestimate the enemy."
Ren Xiaoyao took the jade pendant and felt the strange power contained in it. He was grateful and bowed to Xuanjizi again to express his gratitude. Taoist Baimei also looked at Xuanjizi with admiration, obviously admiring the broad-mindedness and wisdom of this hermit master.
After bidding farewell to Xuanjizi, Ren Xiaoyao and Taoist Master Baimei set out on their journey again. According to Xuanjizi's guidance, they need to go to the "Ghost Crying Cliff" located in the southwest border, where there is a secret passage leading to the headquarters of the Netherworld Sect. On the way, Ren Xiaoyao studied the "Taixu Sword Scripture" day and night, and his sword spirit became more and more mellow. Taoist Master Baimei taught him everything he knew, passing on his own practice experience and martial arts experience, which made Ren Xiaoyao's martial arts reach a higher level.
A few days later, they finally arrived at Ghost Crying Cliff. The mountain here is steep, with jagged rocks, and the cliff is engraved with ancient runes. The wind is howling, and it seems that countless wronged souls are wailing. Ren Xiaoyao follows Xuanjizi's instructions and finds a hidden cave entrance, where a rune mark identical to the one on the jade pendant is engraved.
Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath, put on the tracking amulet, and walked into the cave with Taoist Master Baimei. The cave was dark and deep, with only the faint phosphorescent light under their feet to guide them forward. The two held their breath and carefully groped forward in the winding cave, as if every step was on the edge of fate.
Suddenly, a strong light appeared in front of them, piercing the darkness. Ren Xiaoyao and Taoist Baimei quickened their pace and passed through the cave entrance. Suddenly, a huge underground palace appeared in front of them, surrounded by brilliant lights and magnificent buildings. A towering black altar in the center was particularly eye-catching. On the altar, a man in black stood with his back to them, exuding a cold aura. This man was the leader of the Netherworld, Ren Xiaoyao's mother, who was imprisoned in the iron cage behind him.
Ren Xiaoyao and Taoist Master Baimei exchanged a glance, with determination in each other's eyes. They knew that a life-and-death duel was about to take place deep in the Netherworld Sect's main altar, and whether Ren Xiaoyao could rescue his mother and defeat the Netherworld Sect's conspiracy, everything depended on this battle. Taoist Master Baimei felt relieved and turned to leave, but Ren Xiaoyao added: "Uncle Master, this matter is of great importance. Unless it is absolutely necessary, you must not let others know, especially..." He paused, and a complicated look flashed in his eyes, "Especially my father." Taoist Master Baimei nodded slightly, understanding the deep meaning, and his figure turned into light smoke again, quietly dissipating into the night.
At the same time, Ren Xiaoyao's heart was surging. The image of the woman in plain clothes and gentle temperament appeared in front of him. She was his mother deep in his memory and the "lost thing" that Ren Haoyu wanted to find. He knew that once this matter was exposed, it would not only involve family secrets, but also may cause a storm in the martial arts world. Ren Xiaoyao was determined to take on this heavy responsibility alone, even if the road ahead was full of thorns, he would break into the fog just to save his mother.
The next morning, Ren Xiaoyao quietly left Renjiabao and set out on a journey to find his mother alone. Carrying the clues he got from Taoist Master Baimei, he headed southwest to Yunwu Mountain. This mountain is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, with steep terrain and few people. It is where the mysterious man in black robes hides. On the way, Ren Xiaoyao deliberately avoided the official road and walked on remote paths, trying to keep his whereabouts unknown.
After more than a month, Ren Xiaoyao finally arrived at the foot of Yunwu Mountain. Looking up, he saw the top of the mountain was shrouded in clouds and mist, like the residence of immortals. Occasionally, there were a few wisps of smoke rising from the mountainside, as if someone lived there. He was secretly alert and decided to sneak into the mountain to explore.
At night, Ren Xiaoyao put on a nightgown and climbed the mountain wall as quietly as a cat. In the night, Yunwu Mountain looked even more mysterious, and the cold wind blew through the forest, making bursts of mournful sounds. He used the moonlight to avoid the secret sentries and ran straight to a bamboo forest on the mountainside. Amid the swaying sound of bamboo leaves, he vaguely heard a melodious piano sound, as if a woman was playing the piano to express her thoughts.
Ren Xiaoyao's mind moved, and he used his Qinggong to quietly approach the depths of the bamboo forest. Through the gaps between the bamboo leaves, he saw a quiet courtyard. In the courtyard, a woman was sitting in front of a stone table with her back to him, playing the piano. The familiar back was his mother, whom he had been thinking about day and night. He suppressed his excitement and continued to observe the surroundings. He found that there were no guards around the courtyard, only a few dim lanterns swaying and shining, reflecting a quiet scene.
The sound of the piano stopped abruptly, and the woman slowly stood up and whispered, "Since you are here, why don't you show up?" Ren Xiaoyao's heart trembled. His mother seemed to have already noticed his arrival. He no longer hid and walked into the courtyard. Facing his mother, he didn't know how to start for a moment. The woman smiled gently and turned to face him. Although her beautiful face was a little haggard, the love and concern in her eyes made Ren Xiaoyao's eyelashes fill with tears instantly.
"Son, you've grown up." The woman sighed softly and walked towards him with unsteady steps. Ren Xiaoyao quickly stepped forward and hugged his mother tightly. The suppressed emotions poured out like a tide, and her tears soaked her clothes. The woman patted his back gently and comforted him: "Silly child, mother is fine, everything will be fine."
After a little comfort, Ren Xiaoyao sat down with his mother in the bamboo house. His mother told him that she was not imprisoned here, but stayed voluntarily to protect a secret related to the safety of the Ren family. The black-robed man was actually the guardian left by the ancestors of the Ren family. Because of his duty, he left her here to prevent the secret from falling into the hands of evil people. Ren Xiaoyao heard this, and his heart was mixed with mixed feelings. He admired his mother's understanding and sacrifice, but also felt heavy for the secret carried by the Ren family.
"Xiaoyao, you need to know that the reason why the Ren family has been able to stand for a hundred years is not only because of our strong martial arts, but also because we have guarded a secret that concerns the safety of the world." The mother said earnestly, "This secret can only be known by the direct bloodline of the Ren family, and it must have sufficient virtue and ability. Now that you have grown up, it is time to tell you all this."
The mother took out an ancient jade from her bosom. It was engraved with strange patterns and glowed with a faint fluorescence. She began to tell the story behind the jade and how the ancestors of the Ren family had guarded this secret with their lives. Ren Xiaoyao listened attentively and had a deeper understanding and recognition of the family's mission.
Late at night, Ren Xiaoyao spent a long-lost warm time with his mother, and then quietly left and returned to the foot of the mountain. He decided to conceal the matter temporarily and reveal the truth to his father when the time was right. At the same time, he also understood that the so-called "lost things" were not his mother's imprisonment, but the trust and responsibility lost by the Ren family. He will regain these with his own actions and shoulder the responsibility of protecting the secret.
The night of Jianghu is still deep and silent. Ren Xiaoyao's figure disappeared in the vast night, and he continued his journey with a new mission and belief. In the bamboo forest courtyard in Yunwu Mountain, the sound of the piano sounded again, as if telling of endless longing and expectation, waiting for the next moment of mother and son reunion.
Taoist Master Baimei was as fast as the wind, and he instantly left Ren Xiaoyao's sea of consciousness and reappeared in the real world. His face was solemn, his mind was surging, and he was still shocked by the strange vision in his sea of consciousness. The man in black robe was clearly the projection of Ren Xiaoyao's soul, and his deep cultivation and powerful means were far beyond his expectations. Especially the word "that girl", which directly pointed to what Ren Haoyu wanted - Ren Xiaoyao's mother. This matter was of great importance. He knew the pros and cons and dared not slack off.
Ren Xiaoyao stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes deep, looking at the green mountains and clouds in the distance, as if he was looking for something. Taoist Master Baimei walked slowly to his side and asked in a low voice: "Young Master Ren, is that girl... your mother?" Ren Xiaoyao did not turn around, but nodded slightly, his tone full of determination and resoluteness: "Yes. She is imprisoned in the 'Thousand Machine Valley', and this trip, I am going to save her."
Taoist Master Baimei was shocked when he heard the word "Qianji Valley". Qianji Valley is a mysterious place in the martial arts world. It is densely packed with traps and formations. It is also rumored that the owner of the valley is proficient in the art of Qimen Dunjia, Yin Yang and Five Elements. If ordinary masters set foot in it, it is very likely that they will not survive. Taoist Master Baimei secretly calculated that although Ren Xiaoyao has unique skills, it is more dangerous for him to take risks alone. He thought for a moment and decided to persuade him directly: "Young Master Ren, the dangers of Qianji Valley are not trivial. If you insist on going there, you may be in danger of your life. Why don't we seek help from experts first, and then come up with a good plan."
Ren Xiaoyao turned to look at Baimei, his eyes flashing with determination: "Uncle Baimei, time is running out. Mother has been trapped for many years, I can't let her suffer any more. And I have a plan, I must break into this Thousand Machine Valley." He took out an old map from his arms and stroked the complex patterns on it with his fingertips. It was the internal layout map of the Thousand Machine Valley that he had found through many investigations. Ren Xiaoyao continued: "I have studied the secrets of the formations in the valley for many days. Although I can't crack all of them, I have found several key nodes. As long as I can use these nodes skillfully, I may be able to avoid most of the dangers."
Taoist Master Baimei saw that Ren Xiaoyao had made up his mind, so he stopped trying to dissuade him and instead made a suggestion: "In that case, I am willing to accompany you and lend a helping hand, young master. In addition, you need to prepare some magic weapons and elixirs to deal with mechanisms and traps, just in case." Ren Xiaoyao nodded gratefully. He knew that Taoist Master Baimei's martial arts and wisdom were both top-notch. Having him by their side would undoubtedly increase their chances of winning.
After the two men had discussed it, they set off immediately. On the way, they sneaked into a hidden cave, where there was a secret treasure house left by Ren Xiaoyao in his early years. The treasure house was full of all kinds of martial arts secrets, strange weapons, and healing elixirs. Ren Xiaoyao chose a soft sword named "Xuan Shuang". The sword body was as thin as a cicada's wing, with a cold light flowing, containing Xuan Bing Zhen Qi, which was specially used to break all kinds of sinister evil skills. He also took a few "fire-avoiding beads" and "wind-fixing talismans", which were magic weapons to deal with the extreme environment that might be encountered in Qianji Valley.
At the same time, Taoist Master Baimei picked up a whisk and a bronze gourd. The whisk looked ordinary, but it was actually made of a thousand-year-old white fox tail. It contained deep internal power, and when it was waved, it could sweep away all hidden weapons and evil arts; the gourd contained the "Nine-turn Soul-Restoring Pill" he carefully refined, which could save lives at critical moments. Everything was ready, and the two of them were ready to go straight to Qianji Valley.
As night fell, a bright moon hung high in the sky, and the cold moonlight illuminated the winding mountain road ahead. Ren Xiaoyao and Taoist Master Baimei moved swiftly, like two black shadows shuttling between the mountains, heading straight for the heart of the deep valley where Qianji Valley was located.
Finally, they arrived at the entrance of the valley, and saw a huge stone tablet standing there, with three seal characters of "Qianji Valley" engraved on it, with vigorous strokes, exuding a chilling atmosphere. On both sides of the valley entrance, there was a stone sculpture of a giant beast, with a ferocious appearance and piercing eyes, as if it would come alive at any time. Ren Xiaoyao and Bai Mei looked at each other, and both saw the caution and determination in each other's eyes. They took a deep breath and stepped into the territory of Qianji Valley...
Taoist Master Baimei was as if pardoned. He instantly turned into a breeze and quickly left Ren Xiaoyao's sea of consciousness. When he returned to his body, the world in front of him seemed to have undergone a sea of changes. Ren Haoyu's gloomy face had disappeared, replaced by Ren Xiaoyao's calm but deep eyes. Taoist Master Baimei calmed down and secretly felt lucky that although he was trapped by the illusion in his sea of consciousness, he was not actually hurt. It seemed that Ren Xiaoyao had no intention of harming him.