Exorcism

The thirty-nine ice kings left thirty-nine shallow pits, like giant plates flying from the sky and landing in the west and north directions of the ice city. The shapes were regular and almost flawless.

More than two hundred monsters died, most of them died from ice swords, and only a few were frozen to death.

Shen Shang turned his back to the sun and looked at the empty battlefield. The scene last night was still vivid in his mind. As long as he wanted to, he could still evoke the exciting feeling of heat - no need to use curse words, he could already control this feeling freely. .

Shen Shang turned around and walked towards the camp. He felt that the southern and northern accents of the demon clan were the most beautiful sounds in the world. He wanted to talk to an acquaintance and recalled the battle that had just ended. However, he saw the tall beast demon that he stood on his shoulder last night. When they waved enthusiastically, Shen Shang smiled and shook his head. When he saw the Fu Lu guests gathering together and chatting lively, he did not join in.

He walked around in various camps of the demon tribe for a short time, but found no brocade. As soon as the battle was over, King Fan led a group of demon tribes out for inspection, and Shen Shang walked into the ruins of the Ice City.

In an open space surrounded by ruined walls, Mu Xingqiu was teaching Liangyi Sword and Shield to a group of demon youths. He did not rest and did not want to rest, but the apprentices could not suppress the excitement in their hearts and always looked at Mu with strange eyes. Xingqiu, it seems that he is a big shot who has returned to his hometown in glory. His former playmate wants to recognize him but is too embarrassed to speak.

Mu Xingqiu shook his head helplessly. It was even more impossible to get these monsters to enter a state of meditation today.

Under a wall dozens of steps away, the bald man was teaching a large group of little demons to practice cultivation. The little demons were sitting upright with their eyes closed, including the cicada-winged demon Feifei, who consciously sat in a bad position. in the shadow.

Mu Xingqiu decided to find time to conduct an examination on all the little demons. Doing so may not be meaningful. Even if the demon clan has Dao roots, they may not be able to practice inner alchemy. Mu Xingqiu is just curious to what extent demons and Dao can communicate.

Mu Xingqiu dismissed the demon apprentices and walked towards Shen Shang who was between two broken walls, "What's the matter?"

"It's nothing. Shen Shang already has the appearance of an old man. His smile makes him look even older, but his eyes still have the agility of a young man. He is somewhat similar to Zuo Liuying after Tudan. "They named me a The nickname is 'Laughing Madman', and I also gave you one. "

"Really?" Mu Xingqiu didn't care very much.

"Ice-Breaking Spear." Shen Shang had been holding back, but once he spoke, he could no longer hold back, "I like your nickname, but my own is not bad either, Laughing Madman, ha, I don't know what Pangshan Taoist priests listen to What do you think about this nickname?"

"They'll also say you're crazy."

"It is rare for Taoist priests to say such things."

Mu Xingqiu stared at Shen Shang for a while and said, "It's strange, you don't look like a Taoist at all now, even more than I do."

"That's because I've seen through a lot of things."

"Have you survived the disaster?"

Shen Shang has indeed changed significantly. He is no longer the eldest son of Shen who is not very interested in anything. Even the broken white walls can make him look twice.

"I have not survived the tribulation, but I don't care at all. Cultivation is not the only thing worth doing in this world. Taoist priests have been deceived: if you have the root of Taoism, you should practice, and to practice, you must climb to the top and persevere to the end, but - why? "

The reason why Shen Shang came to Mu Xingqiu was because they were the only two Taoist priests here who could understand the concept of spiritual practice.

"Why can't I be a talisman master, herding horses, a soldier, or a businessman? Why did Daogen decide my entire future when I was born? Why is it that when I can't cast spells, I'm better than the most ordinary demon? Do you want the clan to be weak? Look, no one has thought about these problems. All the selected children are very happy, thinking that they have become the favored ones of heaven. As a result, those who have not succeeded in condensing the elixir feel that they are losers and their practice has stopped. They are also losers, so the orthodoxy is full of losers, and there are only a few winners, but they are not satisfied at all.

"Just like Zuo Liuying." Mu Xingqiu said.

"That's right, Zuo Liuying is never satisfied with his own practice, because once he is satisfied, he will encounter the calamity of sighing. He keeps tossing and turning, just to make further progress, but I just want to know, is he responsible for all this? Damn why!"

The swear words made Shen Shang excited again, and a string of bubbles came out of the corner of his mouth, "I understood one thing last night. To defeat a powerful enemy, do you have to be a Taoist priest with a spiritual focus? No, thousands of monsters or thousands of ordinary humans can also do it." , it’s just a little more troublesome, but that’s not the key…”

Shen Shang was a little incoherent, his eyes rolled around, as if he had forgotten about Mu Xingqiu, and was talking to himself.

"There are Taoist priests who focus on the spirit, and there are Taoist priests who inhale, and there are Taoist priests who also have mortals and monsters. In terms of realm, there are high and low, but do everyone have to climb the peak of Taoism? For a Talisman Master For example, your own life is not as important as a Taoist priest? The lives of ten thousand or one million mortals are not as important as a Taoist priest? Doesn’t Taoism always say that it is important to protect the world? Like grass, what’s the point of this kind of protection?”

Mu Xingqiu smiled, never expecting to hear such words from Shen Shang, "I'm afraid Zuo Liuying won't agree with you."

"Who cares?" Shen Shang spread his arms with an indifferent look on his face, "Zuo Liuying wants to be a Taoist priest of Yue Mang and Sun Mang, and wants to protect the whole world. That is his pursuit and his ability. I don't With this ability, why do I have to imitate him? Why can't I... imitate Zhang Shisan? He is the most famous hunter in Sanshui Ridge and has captured more prey than Fu Luke."

Mu Xingqiu understood Shen Shang's meaning in an instant. The most convincing thing was not his words, but his expression. It was the excitement and joy when a person finally realizes his own value, chooses a direction and ends the hesitation. , It’s like a caged beast has regained its freedom. What you see in your eyes is still the familiar plants and trees, but your mood has flown to the sky.

"Thank you, I knew only you could understand, because you are not a real Taoist priest." Shen Shang was still unfinished. Before he could think of his own way, his eyes had already turned to Mu Xingqiu, "You also want to become stronger. But you are different from those real Taoist priests in Zuo Liuying. They become stronger for the sake of becoming stronger. Remember, the only reason why you led a group of hopeless disciples to practice inner elixir in Pangshan Zhiyong Institute. It was when they found you that I thought, Taoism is as silent as dead water, and people like you are destined to be buried. But who would have thought that so many things would happen in the future? You have your own path, and you are already walking on it. ”

"You said that I am more powerful than a Taoist priest." Mu Xingqiu smiled and shook his head, "To be honest, I never see where my path is. Every time I walk around, I end up in a dead end, just like This time, I defeated dozens of Ice Queens, but I still see no hope, because I know there are more Ice Queens who were caught off guard and will go all out right away."

"No one can guarantee that you will be lucky enough to live forever, but I know this is the path you must take. Even if ten thousand Ice Queens appear later, they will kill you, me, and all the monsters here. , you will still follow this path, you are a born leader, what is troubles and difficulties to others, is opportunities and the future to you.”

Mu Xingqiu frowned slightly, "Aren't you still speaking for Mr. Yishi?"

Shen Shang laughed several times, then frowned and thought seriously for a while, then quickly relaxed his brows and said, "Mr. Yishi may have given me some hints, but these words are my own."

Probably because he felt that Mu Xingqiu was not very enthusiastic, Shen Shang didn't want to nag anymore, so he turned around to leave. But he still had some thoughts that he didn't want to express, so he pointed at the many little monsters not far away and said, "The Taoism is more powerful, Mr. Yishi." You are also stronger than you, but you are more suitable to be a leader, because you will not despise a single weak life. Daotong can temporarily give up the entire world for the sake of victory, and does not care how many lives are lost in the process of losing. He will sacrifice a large number of monsters without hesitation when he uses powerful magic. He is no more merciful than Bingkui. Maybe I am not tall enough, but if I have a choice, I would rather follow you through the mountains of swords and seas of fire."

"You chose me, maybe because you didn't stand high enough. I didn't sacrifice others at will. Maybe it was because I wasn't strong enough, not because I was more kind."

Shen Shang shook his head, but did not argue anymore. He took two steps back, turned around and walked towards the camp outside the ruins. He said to the flea in the distance: "Iron beast, you even ate the gold shavings from my hand when you were a child. How can I see you?" Am I so cold?"

The flea turned its head and rubbed against the wall, as if it had no idea that Shen Shang was talking to itself. It was always confused when it should be confused.

Shen Shang left, but Mu Xingqiu couldn't laugh off his words. He sat on a rock and thought to get rid of the distracting thoughts in his heart. He really had to figure out which path he was going to take, and he couldn't always be chased by danger. Behind the butt, either hide far away or take the initiative to meet him.

He still has many things to do, including the whereabouts of the residents of Yelin Town, the so-called truth about the dragon demon, and the origin of Taohuo that Fangfang's soul is diligently pursuing. These things are intertwined with the threat of the demons and the retreat of the Taoism. It's related, and if you look closely, it seems to be inextricably linked.

Mu Xingqiu didn't think about anything. When he woke up, he felt much calmer and could even calmly think about his feelings for Fangfang.

Dozens of little demons sat quietly a dozen steps in front of him, looking at him in reverence, as if he had just done something particularly remarkable.

The bald man sat between the two corners of the flea and said in a slightly mysterious and showy tone: "Look, this is the thought I told you. This is the first step in practice. Whoever can do it can have it." Neidan.”

The bald man's introduction was wrong, but the little demons all groaned.

Mu Xingqiu had an epiphany at this moment: both the demon clan and the Taoist clan were planning a war ten or even a hundred years from now, and Lord Yishi was also doing his best to arrange countermeasures in advance. If he wanted to escape the fate of being chased, he had to make preparations early. .

The future was right in front of him, and he was already working on it, but he didn't consciously realize the importance of it.

He had to protect these little demons and thwart Bingkui's next attack, which meant more to Mu Xingqiu.

As if to cater to the plan that had just hatched in his mind, Fanwang Jincu appeared on the edge of the ruins and said to him: "Bingkui has sent a letter of challenge. They are going to have a decisive battle."