The candlelight flickered dimly, wavering uncertainly.
Yuan Qu and Zheng Heibei lay naked on the coffin boards, while Chen Faku dipped his brush in cinnabar ink, swiftly drawing strange talismans over their bodies.
One bizarre symbol after another appeared.
Every time Chen Faku finished a talisman, he would perform a binding curse with his hand signs.
The ancient tomb was already filled with a heavy, chilling yin energy. Each time the talismans were drawn, a cold chill would linger in the air, making the two uneasy and anxious.
Finally, Zheng Heibei couldn't hold back and asked, "Master Chen, this method of yours... it's safe, right?"
"Rest assured," Chen Faku shook his head. "You can see I'm not skilled in martial arts. If we want to go to the chaotic burial ground to seize the treasure, I'll need your help. I won't act recklessly."
"This technique comes from spirit mediums, but since neither of you have fully opened your six yang roots, you can only use this method—borrowing the power of the yin spirits. It's like divine possession; pain is no concern."
"When the time comes, guard my sides closely—where in the world can we not go then?"
"You're right, Master."
Hearing this, Zheng Heibei finally relaxed.
He had already noticed Chen Faku's weak limbs and knew the man only practiced some basic health exercises. If someone got close, one brick could knock him out.
Just like that You Laosi, who only dared to hide behind him to do harm.
Thinking this, a dark fire rose in Zheng's heart. He muttered, "Master Chen, please help me find that dog You Laosi."
"Don't worry," Chen Faku replied casually, then put away his brush and ink. "Alright, wait for the talismans to dry before you put your clothes back on. Remember, this method fears children's urine above all else—don't let it get on black dog's blood."
Yuan Qu laughed, "Master, you jest. With our skills, if someone managed to drench us in urine, we might as well just bash our heads against the wall."
At this moment, both men's bodies were covered in blood-red talismans, even their faces. Their slight smiles made their expressions look fierce and terrifying.
Chen Faku glanced toward the corridor entrance, where the setting sun cast its last light, his eyes briefly lighting up with excitement. "It's getting late. Let's begin."
The three immediately set up the ritual altar.
In the center was a square table, fully equipped with ritual tools. Around it, twelve flags were planted according to the earthly branches.
The unconscious children lay under the flags, an oil lamp burning on their foreheads.
The wandering soul jar containing Wang Daoxuan's spirit was casually placed at the tomb's far end, mixed among broken pottery shards…
Unnoticed, dusk deepened.
In the woods, Luo Mingzi formed hand seals with his left hand, while his right wound a stalk of yarrow around his fingers as he stepped the "gang" steps, chanting:
"Nuo Gao, sole great-grandson Wang Jia, six jia azure dragon, six yi encounter star, six bing bright hall, six ding yin center…"
Behind him, Li Yan copied the gestures carefully.
Soon, Li Yan was delighted to feel his own aura being absorbed into the yarrow stalk.
Luo Mingzi turned, nodding with satisfaction: "Not bad. This technique comes from the Baopu mountain technique. Learn it and follow me up the mountain—you won't be detected by those yin spirits."
"Thank you, senior, for your instruction."
Li Yan bowed deeply. He planned to lead the way up the mountain and hadn't expected Luo Mingzi to be so generous, teaching him a simple invisibility technique that could be mastered after an afternoon's practice.
Of course, this "invisibility" didn't mean complete disappearance.
Rather, it meant avoiding detection by yin spirits, suppressing one's aura to evade sorcerers' divinations.
"No big deal, just a minor technique," Luo Mingzi shook his head. "There are many types of invisibility and escape arts. This one isn't very advanced. It can't fool powerful demons or sorcerers, but it will suffice today."
Li Yan looked at the yarrow stalk in his hand. "Senior, is this hard to make?"
The yarrow smelled strongly of incense. It was essential for invisibility magic but was single-use only.
Luo Mingzi answered, "If you have a hundred-year-old ancestral altar, it's easy to make. If you want to buy some, head to the City God Temple—ten taels per stalk."
"Ten taels?"
Nearby, Sha Lfei stared incredulously at the yarrow stalk, thinking how ruthless the Tai Xuan Sect was to sell a single stalk at such a price. No wonder their temples were so lavish.
Li Yan also swallowed hard but decided to buy several stalks.
This thing could save their lives when it mattered most.
Unaware of their thoughts, Luo Mingzi looked toward a small hill opposite, voice low: "It's dark now. Let's move. Don't let it pass midnight, or the lewd ritual will be completed."
With that, he walked toward the other side of the woods.
Li Yan followed quickly, and soon they vanished into the darkness.
Seeing them leave, Zhao Facheng nodded at Sha Lfei: "Follow me to arrange the altar. If anyone tries to break it, don't let them get close."
"Got it!"
Sha Lfei grabbed his long knife, face fierce.
Wandering the Jianghu for years, he knew many despised him and didn't care. He preferred to avoid trouble when possible.
At first, he had teamed up with Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan just to make some quick money, but after several life-or-death moments, he now considered them brothers.
This time, no matter what, he would rescue them.
The two left the woods. Zhao Facheng immediately used a compass to circle below the mountain, found a rock, laid out yellow cloth, lit candles, and arranged a simple ritual altar.
Like Wang Daoxuan, he carried a wooden box with various ritual tools and incense for setting up the altar at any moment.
Sha Lfei was familiar with the procedure, not a sect member but a capable assistant.
With candles lit, steps performed, and water spat, the altar quickly took form.
Zhao Facheng sighed, lifted a thunder-struck jujube-wood sword, stuck a yellow talisman on it and lit it, then made hand seals and stabbed the night sky.
Whoosh—
Instantly, wild winds roared.
From afar, Li Yan and Luo Mingzi both glanced back.
Ordinary people couldn't see it, but as practitioners of the sect, they sensed a fierce energy rising into the sky.
Luo Mingzi sneered coldly: "Three orders of the gang rise. Senior disciple Qing Yangzi will send troops to aid. If Chen Faku doesn't want to die, he'll fight with everything he's got. Let's go!"
Li Yan nodded, made hand seals, twined the yarrow, stepped the gang steps, and chanted the spell.
This invisibility technique required a long preparation, but once successfully cast and the seals tightly held, one could conceal themselves.
Of course, any combat would interrupt it.
Luo Mingzi, however, used a more advanced art.
He took out a palm-sized bamboo talisman, clasped it while making seals, chanting: "Lin Bing Dou Zhe, Jie Chen Lie Qian Xing."
Li Yan's pupils constricted sharply.
Luo Mingzi's aura completely vanished; even with his divine senses, Li Yan could not detect him. A faint mist rose around Luo Mingzi, blurring his figure as if in fog.
This was top-tier invisibility!
Li Yan's heart grew cold.
The Tai Xuan Sect's Enforcement Hall was truly extraordinary.
According to Luo Mingzi, he was only at the second level of the Dao stage, specializing in body root cultivation, not in ceremonies or altar setups.
But his mastery of minor arts, combined with body root cultivation, gave him extraordinary physical perception and control—his skills had reached the pinnacle of hidden strength.
He was the sect's battle mage, equally adept at slaying demons and foes.
Luo Mingzi, a cold-faced but warm-hearted man, admired Li Yan's loyalty to his comrades. He nodded and said, "This is the Mountain-Banishing Ghost Technique, also using the Six Jia blessings to enter the mountain. The ritual tool is the 'Upper Profound Bamboo Talisman,' quite ordinary."
"Every lineage has similar arts. If you build a two-story Daoist temple someday, you'll be able to use this technique."
With that, he nodded, signaling Li Yan to lead the way.
Without hesitation, Li Yan made hand seals and ascended the side mountain.
He recalled where Yuan Qu and Zheng Heibei had vanished. Though steep, the side mountain posed no challenge to him; one hand sealing, the other holding his blade, he moved swiftly.
Luo Mingzi naturally followed close behind…
Inside the gloomy tomb, candlelight flickered uncertainly.
In front of the altar, Chen Faku had changed clothes. His long hair draped over his shoulders. He wore a feathered beast-skin robe like a shaman's, bare-chested, covered with talismans different from those of any sect tradition.
All the spells were written in an ancient script resembling oracle bone characters.
Called the Tiǎn Script, also known as Ghost Writing.
His eyes were initially half-closed, mumbling incessantly.
When the gang energy surged, Chen Faku's eyes suddenly snapped open, filled with complicated emotions. He smiled wryly, "It's the Jiuyuan Sect's gang energy. Master, are you eager to clean house…"
Outside the altar, Yuan Qu and Zheng Heibei wore armor stained with blood talismans, holding large blade and twin daggers, standing on either side.
At Chen Faku's words, Yuan Qu's heart jolted, "Is someone coming?"
"No matter, I've already prepared."
Chen Faku calmly stood, grabbed two handfuls of white ash from a wooden box on the altar, and scattered them toward the treasure candle.
Boom! Boom!
Two fireballs flashed and vanished quickly.
This was another way to open the altar, but much more powerful.
Then, Chen Faku took up a peach-wood sword, stepped the gang, ignited several yellow talismans, and soon the tomb filled with chilling wind; the candlelight turned a ghastly green.
The scene made Yuan Qu and Zheng Heibei's hearts shudder.
Chen Faku then picked up a rectangular ritual order, slammed it on the table thrice.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
"Jiuyuan Return to Truth, Three Nether Spirit Lords command all troops—urgently as law dictates!"
Rattle! Rattle!
In front of the altar, wooden puppets representing Sheng, Dan, Jing, Mo, and Chou all twisted their bodies and stood up, then crawled out of the tomb rapidly like spiders.
On the mountain, a thin mist had risen unnoticed.
The puppets charged into the mist and vanished without a trace…
*(End of Chapter)*