"Master Chen, your magic is truly brilliant!"
Zheng and Yuan quickly flattered him.
They didn't understand magic, but that didn't mean they couldn't flatter.
Yet Chen Faku's face showed no smile. His eyes were dark and urgent as he said, "What's there to be happy about? This technique only blocks people from going up the mountain. The real threat is at the foot of the mountain!"
"The attacker must be one of our own disciples. He's already sent out one command talisman. After an incense stick burns out, there will be a second, and once three talismans are out, the city god temple's soldiers will arrive. We'll all die!"
Zheng Heibei's heart filled with fear. "What? Then shouldn't we run away quickly?"
"Run?"
Chen Faku gritted his teeth. "To accomplish great things, hardships must come. If we pass tonight, we'll have to wait another three years. I can't wait!"
"Yuan Qu, you go down the mountain once."
"No need to fight hard, just disrupt his spellcasting!"
Yuan Qu's face paled. Just as he tried to shirk the task, Chen Faku waved his peachwood sword, picked up a talisman, set it aflame, and suddenly pointed at him, chanting, "Om hung hung, Heaven attach, Earth attach, Earth attach to Man, Flying soul across the sea, capture and attach the living soul, swift!"
As the chant ended, Yuan Qu's whole body stiffened.
He felt a cold murderous yin energy rising from underground, rushing into his body. His entire being plunged into an ice cellar; his mind went blank.
But soon, the yin energy surged out of him, gathering on the blood-red talismans on his skin, and he regained consciousness.
"Are… are you okay?"
Zheng Heibei swallowed nervously beside him.
Yuan Qu looked at his hands, disbelief in his eyes, then clenched them hard with a cracking sound and sneered, "I'm fine. I… I'm perfectly fine!"
He could feel a new power rising inside him. His body felt like it was armored in cold iron. Not only had his fear vanished, but an endless murderous intent surged up.
A faint voice echoed persistently in his ear:
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Swish!
Without hesitation, Yuan Qu reversed his grip on his twin daggers and leapt four or five meters. Then he pushed off with both feet, bursting out of the tomb.
Zheng Heibei stood dumbfounded.
This was the "Ape Leap" from the Zhou family's Monkey Fist style — a sudden burst of power from the legs used to rush and strike the enemy.
In some ways, it was a secret move.
But it consumed a lot of energy and required catching one's breath afterward, or else the opponent could exploit the weakness. It was only used at crucial moments.
Using it just to travel like this was extravagant.
Moreover, Yuan Qu didn't catch his breath after the leap!
So this was the power of the Xuan Sect…
Thinking this, Zheng Heibei's confidence swelled.
Chen Faku's expression remained grim as he kept calculating time with his fingers, his eyes showing a trace of anxiety…
————
In the dense forest, Li Yan and Luo Mingzi hurried along.
The slopes here were extremely steep, and the loose soil and rocks made it difficult, but dense pine and cypress trees provided good handholds to climb.
"Sure enough, it's been set up."
Seeing the faint mist rising, Luo Mingzi seemed unsurprised, speaking calmly, "This is the Nine Yuan Sect's Yin Ghost Mountain Lock technique, an offshoot secret art. It manipulates the earth's yin energy to summon lost souls and wild ghosts, creating a ghost wall."
"The yin energy is thick, so the ghosts can see us, but since you have invisibility, they can't see us. Don't look at them, and you won't be discovered."
"Yes, senior!"
Li Yan nodded seriously.
He knew the other was intentionally guiding him and naturally would not refuse such kindness.
Besides, he had already activated his Nasal Divination ability to keenly sense the cold yin energy around, and also smelled some decayed, sorrowful scents rising from underground afar.
Sure enough, not far ahead, they saw a strange scene.
Under a pine tree, a figure flickered in and out of sight.
It was a man in rough black cloth, short in stature, with a face as pale as paper, head bowed, back turned, motionless.
A mole rat!
Seeing the clothing, Li Yan immediately guessed.
Indeed, there was an old tunnel on the ground nearby, overgrown with wild grass — obviously very old.
Most likely, an unlucky person betrayed by companions.
Li Yan had seen such creatures before and was prepared mentally, so he quickly turned away and kept moving.
Soon, they saw more wandering souls.
These retained the clothing and appearance from their time of death.
Some wore simple garb, their bodies broken, likely herb farmers ambushed and killed by wild beasts on the mountain…
Some wore ancient craftsman's clothes, with heads separated from necks…
As for the richly dressed tomb owners, there were almost none — after all, the Wei and Jin dynasties were far in the past, and few spirits could last till now.
Just as Luo Mingzi said, after these lost souls appeared, the corrupt yin energy from rocks, dead leaves, and branches immediately aligned, swirling around the woods and mountain paths.
Ordinary people encountering this would be disturbed, experiencing hallucinations, getting lost, even bumping into obstacles — this was called the "ghost wall."
But Li Yan had spiritual senses; this trick was useless on him.
He tightened his invisibility talisman and continued with Luo Mingzi.
Rustle!
Approaching their destination, sudden loud noises came from ahead, as if something was rushing rapidly through the forest.
Luo Mingzi grabbed Li Yan behind a tree.
A figure sped by like a madman, dodging nothing — breaking through branches, clothes torn by thorns — then vanished in an instant.
"Yuan Qu?"
Li Yan frowned tightly upon seeing him.
It was indeed Yuan Qu, but his whole body was entangled with yin ghost energy, as if possessed by a ghost, and his strength seemed greatly enhanced.
"It's a medium's technique."
Luo Mingzi glanced briefly, "Just inviting some yin ghosts and evil things to possess him. It's a minor trick. Taoist Zhao and the others can handle it."
Though worried, Li Yan knew more important things remained.
Breaking the ritual altar and rescuing Wang Daoxuan's soul would solve everything.
Just as he turned, a faint voice called from behind:
"Brother Yan, wait for me…"
The voice was faint and vague — it was Sha Lifei.
How did Sha Lifei catch up?
"Don't make a sound!"
Just as he turned, Luo Mingzi urgently warned, "It's the puppet soul-calling technique. Your invisibility is weak. You've been discovered, and responding means you're caught!"
Li Yan's body stiffened and slowly turned.
He smelled a chilling coldness. Turning around, he saw ten meters away on a branch, a wooden puppet crouched.
Dressed as a female opera character, with long spider-like arms, hanging upside down looking at him, its face stiff, mouth opening and closing, constantly calling.
It was indeed a soul-calling technique!
Li Yan had encountered this once dealing with the cold altar bandits and was not panicked.
This technique specialized in disturbing the mind.
He had heard Yuan Qu leave and worried about Sha Lifei, so naturally heard Sha Lifei's voice.
As Luo Mingzi said, his invisibility was basic and only learned that afternoon. It fooled the wandering ghosts but couldn't fool this.
The puppet's gaze was fully fixed on him, ignoring Luo Mingzi beside him — clearly not noticing.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Branches rustled as five puppets appeared — the Sheng, Dan, Jing, Mo, and Chou roles — surrounding him.
"Senior, I'll lead the way. Don't reveal yourself!"
Li Yan said sternly, loosening the hand signs of invisibility, abandoning concealment, and turned to run.
Luo Mingzi frowned but followed closely.
He knew Li Yan's plan — since invisibility was useless, use himself as bait to attract Chen Faku's attention, creating a chance for a surprise attack.
Though risky, it was the best option.
Swish!
Li Yan no longer hid; his speed suddenly increased.
But danger followed.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The five puppets leapt and climbed tree trunks like spiders, swiftly encircling him again.
At the same time, the mountain's wandering ghosts also targeted him.
Suddenly, cold winds rose, and shadowy figures flickered.
Clang!
Li Yan drew his sword and activated the Demon Suppressing Coin Tassel.
The tassel shook, and a chilling killing intent spread instantly.
This treasure was powerful, and many wandering ghosts scattered like frightened rabbits.
Luo Mingzi's eyes lit up.
He hadn't expected this outsider sorcerer, whose first-tier observation tower hadn't even been built yet, to have such a magical weapon.
Of course, the wooden puppets were not scared away.
Whoosh!
The old-man puppet charged.
White hair and beard, kind face, but holding a dragon-headed cane as sharp as a spike, it rushed at Li Yan's head…
*(End of Chapter)*