When this chapter quietly lands on your bookshelves, it signifies the official launch of the serialization of "Inquire the Mirror".

I would like to extend my gratitude to the readers who have collected and voted for this book in the past two days. Your actions are a testament to your trust and affirmation of me.

I hope you all will continue to trust and affirm me. During the serialization of "Inquire the Mirror", my greatest wish is to have as many readers as possible, to collect and read, and for every reader who does so to cast an affirmative vote.

The story begins in the dark wilderness, by the bustling bonfire,

A magnificent and extraordinary world has already opened...

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In the early spring season, the weather is still cold. The night wind whistles through the mountains and forests, blowing into the Daoist temple's main hall with only half of its door remaining, but is staggered by the lively atmosphere inside.

In the center of the hall, a roaring bonfire is lit. More than ten men are gathered around it, drinking and eating meat, laughing and joking with each other, their faces covered in sweat, creating a lively scene.

Among them is a dark-faced man, seated at the first place below the head of the table, with the loudest voice. He takes a sip of strong liquor and roars with the strength of alcohol:

"With Brother Xuanqing here, our business for one year is equivalent to ten years. The situation this year is even better than last year, and it won't be long before we'll be making pots of money!"

The entire hall resounds with agreement, intensifying the atmosphere. The dark-faced man laughs heartily, takes another swig from his gourd, but turns his head to find that his "Brother Xuanqing" seems oblivious to his flattery. He maintains his usual demeanor, draped in a yellow Daoist robe, his eyes half-closed, performing a Taoist incantation, exuding an air of profound mystery.

The dark-faced man sneers inwardly but maintains a respectful expression on his face, greeting him: "Brother?"

Hearing the call, Xuanqing opens his eyes. His hair and beard are jet black, his skin radiant. His demeanor is calm and unhurried, very imposing. He hums in response: "What is it?"

The dark-faced man flatters: "Brother, are we still making offerings to Old Lu this year?"

Xuanqing glances at him: "Apart from Manager Lu, who else can speak for us in the mansion?"

The dark-faced man shakes his head vehemently: "In my opinion, Lu is hard to deal with. His eyes are on his forehead. It would be better to find Eldest Brother Chang. He manages the Shrimp Whisker Grass business. If we maintain a good relationship with him, we can get a high price for ordinary goods. Where else can we find such a good deal?"

The Daoist gives him a sidelong glance and sneers: "Aren't you ignorant? Chang Rong has made large amounts of money every year and has long been greedy. How much will it take to satisfy him if you want to make a contribution? Besides, he has a fixed group of regular customers who share profits every year. He earns money quickly and steadily. He doesn't even bother to glance at us, the scattered customers..."

Upon saying this, Xuanqing pauses before asking: "Have you found a way?"

"No, no, I just feel bad seeing you dealing with that Lu. It's so hard on you..."

While uttering words that even disgust himself, the dark-faced man withdraws his head, cursing inwardly: "Bullshit, aren't you just hoping that Lu can give you some tips? Damn it, you've even called him your godfather, why not sell your mother to him?"

He both hates and fears this leading brother. He resents him for usurping his position as the leader, but also fears him for his Acupoint Developing Upper Stage cultivation, which is the pinnacle of mortal cultivation. Furthermore, he possesses highly skilled Talisman techniques, killing him would be as easy as slaughtering a chicken.

While these two are engaged in their power struggle, a man rushes in from outside, shouting: "There's business!"

Inside the grand hall, everyone's spirits were suddenly lifted. In the midst of the cold winter, could it be that this year's profit market was about to begin?

Xuanqing, however, remained calm. After a moment of thought, he squinted his eyes and asked, "What's the situation?"

Outside in the chill, a man was rubbing his hands together and exhaling warm breath. Upon hearing Xuanqing’s question, he immediately bowed and said, "The runner from the courier guild has arrived. He seems to have traveled a steady path, but the details are unclear."

Xuanqing was somewhat dissatisfied. He glanced at the man, who still appeared respectful. Satisfied, he stroked his beard in contemplation and said, "A dark night with high winds, yet someone dares to travel alone. He is either foolishly brave or highly skilled... Dark-faced man, interrogate him and listen to his story."

"Alright!"

The dark-faced man grinned, looking around. The others didn't need his instruction; they all placed their swords within easy reach, ready to react if the situation turned sour. Only Xuanqing maintained his enigmatic posture, bringing a moment of silence to the hall.

The place where they gathered was called a Daoist temple, but in reality, it was just a solitary room that resembled more a local earth deity shrine than anything else. Before long, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside. Then came a knock on the temple door and a polite, low-pitched voice:

"May I come in?"

Inside the temple, the dark-faced man responded gruffly, "Who's there?"

"A nighttime herb collector, seeking a place to rest."

Upon hearing this, the dark-faced man's face fell, and the others sighed in disappointment. In their experience, this was most likely a small fry. There might be a chance for profit eventually, but tonight seemed to promise nothing.

Seeing the lethargic reactions of his companions, Xuanqing shot them a stern look. The dark-faced man shivered and quickly laughed off the awkwardness: "A herb collector? You mean a grass cutter… Come in!"

The visitor outside thanked them and pushed open the door. The mountain wind swept in with him, causing the fire inside to flicker. All eyes turned towards him and then froze in surprise.

The dark-faced man was the quickest to react. He drew out his words and laughed, "Oh, it turns out we are of the same profession... And what a pretty young lad!"

Laughter filled the hall at his crude joke. The previously somber mood was lifted again with a robust momentum.

It wasn't surprising that the dark-faced man would say such a thing. The newcomer was indeed an attractive young Taoist priest with a tender complexion that even surpassed that of women. This sight made these rugged men, accustomed to weather-beaten faces, envious. Some even let their thoughts wander to inappropriate places.

The handsome Taoist priest was quite tall with a long sword slung over his shoulder. However, he had an ingrained habit of stooping slightly, which gave him an honest and shy appearance. Upon entering and seeing the fierce-looking men, he looked somewhat uncomfortable, hesitating at the door as if considering retreating.

Seeing this, the dark-faced man was even more convinced that this was a greenhorn with no immediate value. He found it boring, but since Xuanqing had been their leader, they had always followed the principle of "better to kill mistakenly than to let go." So, he coughed to signal his companions to slow down and continued with his usual routine:

"Since you are of the same profession, why not come forward to meet Immortal Xuanqing? This man possesses great mystical powers. Even a slight leak from his fingertips could provide you, a young Taoist, with endless benefits for a lifetime!"

"Zheng Da, why all this unnecessary noise?"

It was the first time Xuanqing had spoken since the handsome Taoist priest entered. Despite his closed eyes, as soon as he spoke, the dozen or so people around the fire immediately fell silent. There was an aura of strict discipline, and a different atmosphere began to permeate the room.

Now, it's Xuanqing's time to shine.

Seeing more than ten burly men silenced by Xuanqing's words, the handsome Taoist heaved a sigh of relief. His expression turned respectful, and he stepped forward to bow, saying, "Wandering Cultivator Yu Ci, I greet you, Immortal Xuanqing."

Only then did Xuanqing open his eyes, sweeping a glance over Yu Ci before lowering his gaze again. He spoke in an even tone, "Young Taoist, are you here to pick Shrimp Whisker Grass in the Sky Rift Valley?"

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Yu Ci responded affirmatively.

"Wealth stirs the heart. Perhaps the White Sun Mansion has no ill intentions, but the Sky Rift Valley is no place for the faint-hearted. You mortals must also know your limits."

Yu Ci paused, then respectfully replied, "Please enlighten me, Immortal."

Immortal Xuanqing was pleased with his attitude and smiled, "A child who can be taught. One must plan before acting. Have you ever been to this Sky Rift Valley? Do you know what kind of place it is? Do you know the taboos of picking Shrimp Whisker Grass?"

"I have never been to the Sky Rift Valley as it is miles away from home."

Yu Ci's expression became even more respectful, "I have only heard rumors that the terrain there is treacherous and beasts abound. The Shrimp Whisker Grass grows on large trees at the bottom of the canyon cliffs, blending with the tree bark. It only becomes discernible when the wind blows. It's very hard to find... Also, the steward of White Sun Mansion reminded us that we cannot use metal or wood to dig up or store the grass. They even provided a special Stone Box for preserving Shrimp Whisker Grass."

Xuanqing stroked his beard and laughed, "You do have some understanding, but you've missed the most important point."

At this point, his expression suddenly turned serious, "Do you know what lies beneath the Sky Rift Valley?"

"I do not."

"I didn't expect you to know. Not many people in this world do. Only I, an old Taoist with some skills, dared to venture down and discovered that beneath the thick clouds and darkness lies a path straight to the Underworld, teeming with countless ghosts and demons!"

Yu Ci's eyes widened in disbelief: This... sounds a bit far-fetched.

Noticing Yu Ci's skepticism, Xuanqing smiled slightly and took out a spherical object for him to examine.

From a distance of several feet away, with a bonfire flickering in between them, Yu Ci squinted his eyes to see what it was. As it came into focus, Yu Ci's brow twitched. It wasn't a sphere but a skull!

The object had obviously undergone some special treatment. It was only fist-sized and grey-green in color. Resting on Xuanqing's palm, its surface texture was perfectly preserved. Because of this, Yu Ci could clearly see the fangs protruding from its lips, its prominent forehead, and the blood-red eyes set deep in its sockets.

"This is a skull I kept as a memento after killing a demon in the Underworld. Don't be fooled by its small size. I used a secret method to refine it. When I killed it, the skull alone was as big as a millstone, and its body was as large as this Daoist temple..."

Yu Ci's face finally changed. Seeing his reaction, Xuanqing was quite pleased. He put the skull away and his tone softened:

"Of course, it's very difficult for these demons and monsters to climb up. This is because under the Sky Rift Valley, there is a 'Boundary Stone' personally placed by the Supreme Taoist Sovereign to suppress the underworld. Above that, there is a celestial prohibition formation set up by generations of immortals, which can withstand millions of demons."

Yu Ci had just breathed a sigh of relief when Xuanqing said seriously, "However, there is no perfect arrangement in this world. The divine stele placed by the Taoist Sovereign and the celestial prohibition formation can suppress those fierce ghosts and monsters, but there are always one or two that slip through the net and escape… How do they escape? Naturally, they have to climb up from under the Sky Rift Valley! I see that you are a cultivator, but if you encounter these demons and monsters, I'm afraid your chances of survival are slim."

What else could Yu Ci say but, "Please guide me, Immortal Master."

Xuanqing sighed, "The Sky Rift Valley is not a kind place, but your courage to face difficulties is admirable. Well then, I have been cultivating for many years and understand the way of heaven and man. I enjoy nurturing the younger generation. Since we've met, it must be fate. I will give you a Spirit Talisman to protect yourself."

With that, he waved his sleeve and a talisman paper flew out, slowly falling in front of Yu Ci. Before Yu Ci could examine it closely, Xuanqing said:

"Picking a thousand stems of Shrimp Whisker Grass is not as simple as you might think. Even with the Spirit Talisman, you may not be fully protected. Unfortunately, I have worldly matters to attend to and can't be in two places at once… So how about this: two heads are better than one. My juniors here are also going to the Sky Rift Valley to gather herbs. It would be good for you to connect with them."

Upon hearing this, Yu Ci glanced at the faces around the fire. At this moment, even the dark-faced man who had just spoken harshly was smiling. Unfortunately, their smiles were all rather stiff.

Yu Ci shook his head, not responding immediately, but instead looked at the Spirit Talisman in his hand. On the bright yellow talisman paper was a seal script character "calm" written in cinnabar. It was twisted and not very pretty, but as soon as his fingers touched it, he felt a cool sensation swirling around his fingertips. It felt quite extraordinary. After thinking for a moment, he said:

"Clear Mind Incantation?"

Xuanqing was surprised by Yu Ci's reaction. His face changed slightly as he heard this and quickly made a sign for his companions to be alert. At the same time, he let out a sound of admiration: "Good eye…"

He stopped mid-sentence as he almost bit his tongue. Not just him, but everyone around the fire from the dark-faced man downwards were all dumbstruck. The friendly smiles they had forced onto their faces collapsed one by one in the sudden dazzling light inside the hall.

Yu Ci hadn't done anything extraordinary. He merely extended his left hand, raised his middle and index fingers, and sketched in the air. However, as his fingers moved, a slender azure thread of light materialized out of thin air. It twisted and turned, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a Talisman script.

This Talisman script was also the character for "stillness" in seal script, vaguely similar to the strokes on the Spirit Talisman that Xuanqing had gifted, only more simplified. More importantly, once the Talisman script was completed, it floated in mid-air, radiating a pure glow, exuding an aura of mystery.

Under such a miraculous sight, the hall fell into an even more eerie silence. After a long while, someone finally found the courage to speak. It was the man with the dark face.

"Drawing Qi to Form Talismans, Divine Light attached!"

Though he spoke, his voice sounded more like a chicken being strangled, almost inarticulate.

Yu Ci glanced at him and responded, "Sharp eyes!"

There was a sudden commotion as nine out of ten people around the bonfire stood up. They weren't preparing to fight, but rather clearing a space. The look in their eyes when they gazed at Yu Ci had turned into one of utmost reverence. The previously foul-mouthed dark-faced man sat there dumbfounded. After a while, he suddenly jumped up to escape, but his legs gave way, and he fell flat on his face. Trembling with fear, he couldn't get up.

Among the group, only Xuanqing managed to remain composed. However, he was clearly uncomfortable as if he was sitting on pins and needles. He cleared his throat and slowly stood up, trying to maintain a calm demeanor. "This...uh...fellow Daoist, I didn't know earlier..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yu Ci ignored him and strode past the bonfire.

At this moment, Yu Ci stood tall and straight. His already considerable height seemed to have increased by an inch. The corners of his lips were slightly pursed, leaving faint traces on his face. These subtle changes completely dispelled his previous image of being modest and shy. The figure that appeared before everyone was a proud and unpredictable immortal. His ambiguous smile seemed like an invisible noose around their necks, making it difficult for them to breathe.

Facing such a figure, Xuanqing didn't dare to let out a peep and quickly stepped aside. The others were even more terrified, walking on thin ice, fearing that a heavy breath might invite disaster.

Yu Ci took a seat at the head of the room. Feeling that the sword on his back was burdensome, he took it off and placed it on his lap. His movements were unhurried and composed. He didn't even glance at Xuanqing standing behind him. His gaze swept over the others' faces before he suddenly smiled and said, "I apologize if my little joke on our journey here offended anyone."

At his words, there was a collective sigh of relief in the hall, followed by a chorus of voices:

"Not at all, Immortal, you're too kind."

"Yes, Immortal, it's us who offended you."

Everyone scrambled to apologize, fearing that their sincerity might be questioned by this master who could draw Qi to form Talismans.

Yu Ci listened with a patient smile. When the voices around him died down, he tapped the hilt of his sword, producing a dull sound, and slowly said, "Indeed, I was joking with you all. But your treatment of me earlier... I'm afraid that was no joke, was it?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent. A chilling atmosphere filled the hall, piercing to the bone. The accumulating coldness was like an iceberg looming over everyone's heads, ready to collapse at any moment. The little courage that remained in everyone was gradually eroded under this invisible pressure.

The smile on Yu Ci's face faded, his gaze fixated solely on the bonfire, his voice soft as he spoke, "You call yourself Immortal, deceiving and swindling. If it weren't for me here, how would you treat others?"

Though no eyes met his, everyone understood his meaning. The so-called "Xuanqing Immortal" could no longer maintain his pretentious dignity. He stepped forward, bending over so abruptly that the supposed "demonic creature's skull" he had just tucked into his sleeve tumbled out and rolled to Yu Ci's side.

Xuanqing didn't have the luxury to care about this. He repeatedly bowed, pleading for mercy to save his life. "Immortal, please understand. I deceived people only to get some Shrimp Whisker Grass from those Herb Gatherers. I've never intended to harm anyone for money..."

While Xuanqing begged for mercy, Yu Ci seemed more interested in the "demonic creature's skull". He picked it up, playing with it in his hands, treating Xuanqing's pleas as though they were merely whispers in the wind.

The more indifferent Yu Ci was, the more frightened Xuanqing became. This demeanor was too grandiose. Could it be that Yu Ci was not at the Nature-Connecting Realm as he had initially thought, but had already refined the Golden Elixir? And that long sword resting on his lap, though wrapped in ordinary leather scabbard, who knew if it wasn't a Magic Sword capable of killing from a hundred miles away?

Just a flash of its cold light...

This thought became heavier and more real, pressing on him until his heart pounded like thunder. Unconsciously, his knees weakened, and he fell to his knees. With this single kneel, all the prestige he had built over two years in the gang was gone. But once things reached this point, all mental defenses collapsed. He tried to speak again, but he was so choked with emotion that he nearly burst into tears.

Seeing this, Yu Ci frowned. "You're a small fry not worth staining my hands."

Xuanqing was no fool. Hearing these words, he felt a surge of relief. He looked up, but before he could read Yu Ci's expression, a single word crashed into his ears: "Scram!"

There was no force behind the word, but when it fell into everyone's ears, it was like a muffled thunderclap in their minds. Xuanqing was the first to react. He kowtowed deeply, then sprang up and ran off. The others were initially stunned but soon followed suit, cursing their parents for not giving them an extra pair of legs. Amidst their gibberish about "thanking the Immortal for sparing their lives", they rushed out like a swarm of bees.

Yu Ci watched Xuanqing. He was agile and fast. As soon as he left the Daoist temple, he disappeared from sight after a few leaps. As for the rest of them, they crowded and jostled until they broke the temple gate and escaped. After a while, everything fell silent.

After a while, when Yu Ci was sure they were all long gone, he loosened his grip, and the demonic creature's skull fell to the ground. This handsome Daoist wiped his hand on his clothes, then wiped the sweat from his forehead. Feeling the dampness of his hands, he suddenly burst into laughter. His laughter echoed off the beams, full of joy.

In his laughter, the Clear Mind Talisman floating in the air disintegrated with a pop, turning into several streaks of light and disappearing in the blink of an eye.

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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e