The villain also has spring 2

Chapter 1919 11918 4 Elephant Mountain Suppression Formation

Chapter 1919 1.1918 Four Symbols Mountain-Suppressing Formation

Gazing at the Cloud Cliff, guarding the Ink Bridge, one enters the painted wall. The Demon Hunter Sect, situated near the water's edge, has amassed a growing number of disciples.

Many of the women and retainers in Huitian Pavilion also received new positions and gradually moved to live in the seven major sects.

Jia Yuan Temple, Qianlongfang, and Jiguangyuan are producing weapons and equipment daily; Yunmeng Cave and Diexian Palace are contributing manpower and resources to help the Demon Hunter Sect thrive.

Of course, the core fighting force consists of the two guardians, the left and right. As the sect says, the two guardians are capable of fighting against ten thousand troops.

Taking advantage of the three-day period of the Beitunbao Flower Tower competition, the two protectors each led their troops to slay demons and monsters, replenishing their strength.

Another sect, Piaoyanzhai, opened its business on Wangyun Cliff.

It's called a porridge shop, but it's more like a tavern. The food is light, mostly vegetarian. The wine, however, is excellent, catering to the tastes of those who cultivate immortality. The newly brewed "Diexian Brew" is made with sweet spring water from Diehu Lake using ancient methods, and later became a famous product of the Demon Hunting Sect. Now it's only sold at Piaoyanzhai.

Furthermore, the five Liang sisters combined their efforts to perfect the "Four Gods Cloud Qi Diagram." Relying on the spiritual energy of heaven and earth at Wangyun Cliff, they set up the Four Symbols Mountain-Suppressing Array, a great protective array for the Demon Hunting Sect.

Thus, even if the two elders are not stationed at Wangyun Cliff, it will be difficult for the great demons of the realm to fight their way up the mountain. The four symbols on the "Four Gods Cloud Chart" will manifest their power and protect the entire Demon Hunting Sect.

At this moment, in the Demon Hunting Sect, Elder Honghua, the Sword Forging Elder, and Elder Ximen Rou, the Blissful Elder, have joined forces to create the chastity armor—the Spirit Pivot Puppet—tailor-made for the female ghost.

This humanoid armor of chastity, refined from five-colored stone, is powered by the Five Elements Inner Elixir. Its appearance after transformation is identical to that of the female ghost in life. Functionally, it is equivalent to an offensive exoskeleton. Its internal spiritual core can house the female ghost, and various mechanisms and weapons throughout its body aid the ghost in stealthy assassinations and decisive battles against powerful enemies. If a single attack misses, it will flee a thousand miles away.

Furthermore, each chastity armor possesses its own unique incantation, which cannot be controlled by anyone other than the wearer.

Each of the twenty-one female ghosts—Wei Xiaodie, He Chunyi, Guo Jiajia, Xiao Rong, Luo Huixian, Ruhua, Xu Banxiang, Xiaoqian, Cheng Zhixin, Ailin, Wenwen, Qiu Rong, Xiao Xie, Hongxie, Luo Yanqing, Feng Guniang, Lü Qiao, Yu Xuanji, Xiao Qing, Wang Leniang, and Zhuang Yiyun—who were rescued from the clutches of the Black Sheep Demon that day, was arranged in order.

In the world of murals, time and space intertwine, and storylines pile up. Characters from various eras gather together. From palace attire to modern fashion, from famous actresses to office ladies, the list goes on.

Even more remarkably, the event features a gathering of stars, each with their own dazzling brilliance. Many of them are leading ladies, possessing immense potential to overcome plot-driven challenges.

Without further ado, Elder Ximen Rou of the Blissful Paradise revealed the key to the matter, and the twenty-one female ghosts immediately shed their disguises and possessed the magically armored puppets. In a short while, like marionettes, the twenty-one puppet deacons of the Demon Hunting Sect stretched their limbs, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and returned to their original positions.

"Thank you both, elders." The puppet deacons said in unison, their voices exactly the same as the female ghost's when she was alive.

"We're sisters, no need for formalities." Elder Ximen Rou of Bliss was clearly satisfied: "The Chastity Armor contains profound secrets. With mastery, you can use it at will to hunt demons and defend against enemies. Remember, the Five Elements Inner Elixir contains the power of the five elements' mutual generation and restraint. 'Restraint for defense, generation for self-control.'"

"We will remember this." The puppet deacons were of one mind and shared the same thoughts. Given time, whether hunting demons or defending the mountains, they would surely be a force to be reckoned with. As for achieving perfect merit and breaking through the barrier to return to the 0326 Star Cube base, Wu Chen only needed to reset it with one click to be fully revived. There was no need to worry about their remains being destroyed and unable to continue.

Just as the two elders were working together to strengthen the sect, Elder Gu Xianniang, the Rejuvenator, was also busy. She ordered her female entertainers to do their utmost to investigate the events surrounding the competition at the Beitun Fort Flower Pavilion. At this moment, they had made some progress.

He then rushed to Wangyun Cliff to meet his sisters.

"The secrets within Beitun Fort are largely unknown to outsiders. Those who enter and leave Beitun Fort are nothing more than seeking pleasure. Thus, it seems that the gates are wide open and people come and go freely. In reality, however, these people are very tight-lipped, and what outsiders know is only the tip of the iceberg." "What does 'the tip of the iceberg' mean?" Even a few words would not be overlooked by Princess Li Huixin's strategist.

"It's nothing more than romance." Elder Gu Xianniang of Huitian said with a smile, "The previous courtesan champions all came from various brothels. Ten years, ten brothels, and no one has won in a row."

"Who exactly is the tenth-time Flower Queen?" Princess's strategist, Li Huixin, pressed.

“For example, Su Wuniang, the head of Changlefang, was the top courtesan of a certain year.” Elder Gu Xianniang replied, “However, the true nature of the top courtesan of the tenth year is unknown to outsiders.”

"Huh?" Princess's strategist Li Huixin asked doubtfully, "If it's a competition in the brothel, how can it remain unknown?"

The implication is that a publicly held courtesan pageant like this must be widely known. This is precisely the significance of selecting a courtesan. Famous courtesans have always commanded high prices. For example, Chen Yuanyuan, one of the "Eight Beauties of Qinhuai," commanded an astonishingly high price. Historical records state: "(Chen Yuanyuan) commanded such high prices that she charged five taels of gold for attending a banquet, and the same for performing a single song. Wealthy nobles and powerful men flocked to her like ducks to water; even the emperor's father-in-law, Tian Wan, purchased her for a thousand taels of gold."

In the Ming Dynasty, "ten taels of gold equaled one ingot." Five gold ingots, weighing 50 taels, were considered "five gold ingots." At the time, one tael was approximately 37.3 grams. Using today's gold price of 789 yuan per gram, 50 taels of gold would be worth approximately 1471485 yuan. A single meal or song could cost millions. One can only imagine how much it would cost to win someone's heart. Even city dwellers were not immune to this extravagance. Otherwise, why would there be a distinction between "celebrity cards" and "character cards"?

"It is said that anyone who goes to Beitunbao for pleasure will find it like a dream. After sobering up, they will feel that they have not had enough and will have endless aftertaste, but they will have forgotten the scene and the experience." Elder Gu Xianniang of Huitian revealed the reason: "In addition, if you do not come often, your forgetfulness will increase day by day, and you will not remember it at all in less than ten days."

"We know nothing within the last ten days." Princess's strategist, Li Huixin, immediately became alert: "Could it be that we have been bewitched?"

"It's very much like dissociative identity disorder," said Wei Shi Yueji, an elder from the Western Regions, thoughtfully.

Dissociation of the Soul (or Soul-Separation Syndrome) is a medical condition characterized by restlessness and a feeling of unreality. The liver stores the soul (魂), and if liver deficiency leads to the invasion of pathogenic factors, the soul can become scattered, thus triggering this symptom. The *Miscellaneous Diseases: Origins and Development* states: "Some people experience restlessness, and when they lie down, their soul seems to fly away, as if their body is on the bed but their soul has left their body. They suffer from palpitations, nightmares, and sleeplessness throughout the night; this is called dissociation of the soul."

"In short, they are depleted of energy and utterly dejected." Elder Honghua, the sword-forging elder, succinctly put it: "Beitunbao is a den of iniquity, but I wonder what kind of currency is used for the final payment?"

"To enjoy pleasure within the fortress, one need not use copper coins, but 'gold ingots'." Elder Gu Xianniang of Huitian knew this.

“Could it be the ‘Kaiyuan Tongbao’?” Elder Ximen Rou of the Blissful Paradise blurted out.

"It's hard to say." Elder Gu Xianniang gently shook her head.

"Could it be that he's penniless after sobering up?" Elder Ximen Rou of the Blissful Abode asked, puzzled. Logically speaking, since he was a pleasure-seeker, he should at least have "ten thousand strings of cash around his waist and ride a crane to Yangzhou." What kind of pleasure could he seek without money? "Selling smiles," "selling smiles"—the word "selling" already reveals the true nature of the pleasure quarters: a transaction of money for goods.

In the end, there were always some odds and ends left, a few measly coins. After all, according to the rules of the brothel, one had to leave the guests with travel expenses. Otherwise, how could they return home, rest and recuperate, and replenish their money for another day's adventure? In other words, the "gold ingot" should have been taken with them. But the result was that the pleasure-seeker woke up penniless. This is clearly illogical.

"Perhaps this 'gold ingot' is not the same as that 'gold ingot'." Everything is uncertain, and Elder Gu Xianniang of Huitian could only guess.

“There is something strange about Beitun Fort.” Elder Ximen Rou of the Blissful Abode became wary: “From all of the above, it is clear that a great demon is lurking.”

"It must be a scorpion demon," Princess's strategist, Li Huixin, said, hitting the nail on the head.

"Three days ago, should we go or not?" Elder Wei Yueji from the Western Regions asked the sisters for advice.

"Go." Elder Gu Xianniang replied decisively.