Chapter 118: Meeting Cloud Crane Once More

"Mr. Yang, are you alright?" Lyu Liling's voice reached Yang Meng's ears.

Yang Meng opened his eyes, took in his surroundings, and paused. "Hmm? I'm back? How long was I unconscious?"

Lyu Liling replied hurriedly, "You suddenly vanished for a few minutes. When you returned, you remained unconscious the whole time. It's been about ten minutes. Mr. Yang, are you really okay?"

Yang Meng sat up from the floor and suddenly burst into a laugh. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Hehe, I've obtained a treasure!"

The middle-aged male immortal had left a legacy in his mind, containing two distinct cultivation methods. One was a set of insights into the "Black Domain," and the other was the secret technique known as "Universe in the Sleeve."

The former was easy enough to understand—it would facilitate his return to the Dongyue Palace—but what was the meaning of the latter? Was he supposed to become a porter to deliver wine for him?

This middle-aged immortal was truly mysterious. He not only knew the "Black Domain," which Yang Meng had claimed was a technique inherited from the Great Emperor Pangu, but he could also pass it on. And as for the "Universe in the Sleeve," that was even more incredible!

This was the closely guarded secret of the Wuzhuang Temple.

What was the Wuzhuang Temple? It was the dojo of Zhenyuanzi.

Zhenyuanzi was known as the "Ancestor of Earth Immortals." No one knew who his master was, but if one were to poll who Sun Wukong feared most in "Journey to the West," even the Buddha Tathagata might take a backseat! His greatest fear was, in fact, Zhenyuanzi. Sun Wukong, who had faced one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals without a hint of fear, couldn't even last three rounds against Zhenyuanzi. The technique Zhenyuanzi used to subdue him was none other than this "Universe in the Sleeve."

When Zhenyuanzi captured and later released Sun Wukong to find someone to save his Ginseng Fruit Tree, Wukong had sought help from everyone—the Three Stars, the Nine Elders, the Great Emperor Donghua, and more—but none could help. In the end, only Guanyin could revive the tree.

Was it really that the Three Stars and others couldn't save the tree? That was unlikely. Zhenyuanzi knew Wukong had destroyed the tree, yet he was neither anxious nor angry, suggesting he had the means to save it himself!

The Three Stars and the others knew Zhenyuanzi's methods; he clearly had the ability to save the tree himself yet forced Wukong to find helpers, clearly intending to cause trouble for those he called upon.

He was making trouble for Guanyin, forcing her to bow down and heal his tree!

Where was the Wuzhuang Temple located? In the Western Aparagodaniya continent! The Buddhist Lingshan was also there—the base of the Buddha Tathagata. Yet, Zhenyuanzi, a mighty Taoist and Ancestor of Earth Immortals, placed his dojo right there, and the Buddha and his followers could do nothing about it!

After all, Zhenyuanzi's background was too profound. In the words of his own disciple: "The Three Pure Ones are my master's friends, the Four Emperors are his old acquaintances, the Nine Luminaries are his juniors, and the Yuan Chen are his subordinates." Such status and connections were terrifying.

Furthermore, as the "Ancestor of Earth Immortals," Zhenyuanzi belonged to neither the Heavenly Court nor the Buddhist fold, yet he had remained undisturbed for so many years. The Wuzhuang Temple truly held too many secrets!

And the most secret of all these techniques was undoubtedly Zhenyuanzi's "Universe in the Sleeve." It was no exaggeration to call it the most supreme technique in the Three Realms!

This "Universe in the Sleeve" was not the same as the Yellow-Eyed Monster's "Acquired Human-Kind Bag." While both could store people and immortals, the true purpose of the "Universe in the Sleeve" was not just for storage.

During the War of the Investiture of the Gods, after Jiang Ziya descended from the mountain under the orders of the Primeval Lord of Heaven, he opened a fortune-telling stall. The couplet at the entrance read: "The universe in the sleeve is vast; the sun and moon in the pot are long." When the woodcutter Liu Qian passed by and asked the meaning, Jiang Ziya explained: "The universe in the sleeve is vast" referred to knowing the past and future, while "the sun and moon in the pot are long" referred to the art of immortality.

When Sun Wukong and his group passed the Wuzhuang Temple, Zhenyuanzi had gone to discuss the Tao with the Primeval Lord of Heaven. As a disciple of the Primeval Lord, it was no surprise that Jiang Ziya knew the secret of the "Universe in the Sleeve." And the fact that Zhenyuanzi told his disciples that Tang Seng and the others would arrive before he left further demonstrated the "Universe in the Sleeve's" ability to know the past and future.

The only pity was that the middle-aged immortal had only passed on the introductory level; it couldn't reach the point of knowing the past and future. For Yang Meng, it was currently just a storage technique. Forget storing an entire army; he would have to chop a person into pieces just to fit them inside. Right now, it was just like having an extra suitcase.

Well, it would require practice!

Yang Meng truly couldn't fathom how that middle-aged immortal possessed such a technique. There were simply too many mysteries surrounding him: he seemed capable of entering and leaving the mortal realm at will but chose not to; even the fact that Yang Meng had taken over the Dongyue Palace was a fallback arrangement left by that man, though what exactly the ultimate plan was, Yang Meng didn't know.

But he had no time to dwell on these things; he had urgent business to attend to.

Lyu Liling asked anxiously, "Mr. Yang, can we now..."

Yang Meng nodded. "I do have a way, but I need time to familiarize myself with it."

The "Black Domain" allowed for travel through the void, and now that he had the cultivation method, he did have a way to bypass security and reach his destination. But this required time—it wasn't something he could master in an hour or two. According to the legacy, it depended on fate and talent; without talent, one could practice for a thousand years to no avail.

Lyu Liling misunderstood and said hurriedly, "It's fine, Mr. Yang, I can wait for you."

Just as Yang Meng was about to explain, Lyu Liling let out a shrill scream. Yang Meng turned to see a massive suction force pulling at her!

Who did this? Where were they trying to pull her?

"Mr. Yang, help!" Lyu Liling cried out.

Yang Meng frowned slightly and reached out, using his magic to stabilize her. He looked toward the source of the suction. What was going on?

Before he could react, a loud roar erupted: "Bold monster! You dare resist? Surrender now, or I shall destroy your body and soul!"

Yang Meng looked toward the sound and saw an elderly Taoist with a youthful face and white hair, wielding a peachwood sword in his left hand and a Bagua mirror in his right, charging over with a ferocious expression!

Yang Meng didn't even need to see his face; the man's gaudy, gold-drenched appearance gave him away instantly. "Daoist Yunhe, what are you doing?"

The man was none other than the gold-obsessed Daoist Yunhe, who drove a sports car and flaunted his wealth in public! He had once tried to subdue Zhao Yun, only to nearly be destroyed by her.

Although he had passed out at the time, he later learned from Long Mingyang that it was Yang Meng who had subdued the vengeful ghost and saved everyone. He had visited Yang Meng a few times since, under the guise of "discussing the Tao."

Yang Meng had no interest in discussing anything with him and usually couldn't be bothered, but they were acquaintances of a sort.

Hearing his name called, Daoist Yunhe spotted Yang Meng and paused. "Brother Yang, what are you doing here? Oh, you're here to eliminate demons as well, right? This monster has some skill—she managed to escape my formation! Step aside, Brother Yang; I'm getting serious this time!"

Yunhe had been humiliated by Zhao Yun previously and was still nursing a grudge. He had dealt with vengeful ghosts before; never had he been so embarrassed. He had underestimated her last time and hadn't brought his sword or mirror.

After returning, he had reflected deeply. He had been too successful for too long and had grown complacent. Now, he kept his tools with him at all times and went all out against everyone!

Today, he had been invited to "Handong World" to catch a ghost. He thought it would be an easy task, but the female ghost had slipped through his fingers. It was mortifying!

He had been tracking the ghost's trail, intending to fight to the death, when he was interrupted. Upon closer inspection, it was Yang Meng. Why was he here? Was he here to hunt demons too?

In Yunhe's eyes, Yang Meng was just a young Taoist from a reclusive sect.

Yang Meng replied, "Daoist Yunhe, how did your ghost-hunting lead you to me? You don't need to worry about this ghost; I brought her!"

Yunhe was startled. "Little Friend Yang, how can you associate with a ghost?" He had changed his address from "Brother Yang" to "Little Friend Yang," his tone now wary. "Could it be that the strange happenings at Handong World were caused by you?"

Yang Meng was bewildered. "I'm here to save a ghost. You said there are strange happenings here? What kind of strange happenings?"

Yunhe scoffed, "You're here to save a ghost? Then it seems you are the one behind all this!"

Yang Meng was even more confused. "What have I caused?"

Just then, several people approached. At the front was Long Mingyang, who paused upon seeing Yang Meng. "Little Yang, why are you here?"

Yang Meng was even more puzzled. "Old Master Long, why are you here too?"

Seeing Long Mingyang approach Yang Meng, Yunhe hurriedly reached out to stop him. "Chairman Long, there is a ghost right here, next to Little Friend Yang. You must be careful!"

Long Mingyang glanced at Yang Meng and laughed. "Daoist Yunhe, you worry too much. If Little Yang wanted to harm me, I don't think I could hide anyway! At my age, all I have left is a good eye for people. Little Yang, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here at someone's request to help a small ghost cross over. Old Master Long, what about you?" Yang Meng asked.

Long Mingyang was about to speak, but someone beside him pulled him back, signaling caution.

"It's alright. Little Yang is a person to be trusted; just go home and ask your son. Oh, Little Yang, let me introduce you. This is Duan Sheng, Bowen's father," Long Mingyang said. "Little Yang, it's actually wonderful that you're here. Otherwise, I was planning to ask for your help."

Yang Meng asked curiously, "What exactly is going on?"

Long Mingyang lowered his voice. "There's a haunting here recently! If this isn't solved quickly, the Long Group will be in serious trouble!"