This situation had never occurred before.
The Great Luo Dharma Body was his greatest secret. Apart from absorbing heavenly and earthly treasures to mend it, this was the first time something had acted upon it.
And it came from the mysterious Underworld!
It felt as if a ghostly deity had glimpsed his hidden truth.
How could Li Yan not feel alarmed?
Luo Mingzi shook his head and said, "I'm not clear on it either."
"Though the gods of the Underworld are innate righteous deities, and they are worshipped everywhere, our Taixuan Orthodox Sect has not delved into their affairs. One of our sect's decrees is to avoid interfering with Underworld matters, at most performing rites to liberate lost souls."
"The only thing I know is that those marked with the Underworld's summons are chosen to become living agents of the Underworld, walking between the realms of the living and the dead."
"But you're not one who crosses into the Underworld. Many spirits hide in the deep crevices beneath the earth, unable to cross, unable to seize others. How then can you fulfill the Underworld's commands?"
He sighed. "I saw your potential and had planned to recommend you to join the Law Enforcement Hall as an outer disciple. But now, that's impossible."
Recalling Wu Laosi's gruesome state before his death, Li Yan said with lingering fear, "If I fail to complete the task, will I die?"
Luo Mingzi shook his head. "I'm not certain. The affairs of the Underworld are secretive, and the actions of living agents are mostly hidden, unknown to outsiders."
"Here's what we'll do: I'll ask my master when I return to see if he knows anything. Your urgent task is to uncover the origin of this summons."
Li Yan frowned. "This junior doesn't quite understand."
Luo Mingzi sighed. "The Underworld is obscure and unpredictable. Some worship the Great Emperor of Fengdu in the North, who commands the Five Ghost Emperors. Others worship the ten lords of the underworld, who take turns as the Lord of Mount Tai. In our sect's records, they are all innate righteous deities. Only by determining the source of this summons can you make an informed decision."
"Also, it's best to seek out a senior living agent for guidance."
Li Yan nodded solemnly. "Thank you, Senior. This junior will remember."
Luo Mingzi continued, "Do you know about the matter of the Mountain God at the mass grave?"
Li Yan replied, "I know a little."
Luo Mingzi said coldly, "The Mountain God is a righteous deity. Since we've received this information, how could the Taixuan Orthodox Sect allow those people to act recklessly? I'm hurrying back for this very matter."
"Soon, several of my fellow disciples will return, led by Master Qingyangzi, to hold a ritual altar and assist the Mountain God's restoration, dispelling the yin energy at the mass grave. The court will also act, driving out the western beggar gangs and those martial artists."
"Do not get involved in this matter out of greed. However, if you wish to broaden your experience, you may observe the ceremony from the foot of the mountain."
"Thank you, Senior."
Li Yan quickly clasped his hands in gratitude.
A ritual of this scale would surely involve many experts of the Mysterious Gate. For an outsider to witness it would benefit their future cultivation path.
Luo Mingzi nodded and sighed. "No need for thanks."
"The path of the Mysterious Gate is arduous. Cultivation is only one part; upholding righteousness is more important. Since joining the Law Enforcement Hall, I've seen too many fellow cultivators stray onto crooked paths, chasing fleeting gains, clouding their true hearts, and perishing in both body and spirit."
"I see a hidden ferocity between your brows. You must tread this path carefully!"
With that, he clasped his hands and departed gracefully.
Li Yan respectfully returned the gesture.
He had previously held some notions about the Taixuan Orthodox Sect, thinking them lofty and, as the state religion, likely filled with those driven by greed and ambition.
But now, at least from meeting Luo Mingzi, he seemed an admirable and principled cultivator.
At this thought, Li Yan looked at the summons mark in his hand, feeling a touch of worry.
A living agent of the Underworld sounded formidable, even treated with respect by the Taixuan Orthodox Sect. But judging from Wu Laosi's experience, it was hardly a desirable role.
Right, Wu Laosi worshipped the Great Emperor of Fengdu in the North.
Could it be that this deity had conscripted him?
As Li Yan pondered, Shopkeeper Wan approached with a smile. "Little Brother Li, the person has been saved. What's there to worry about?"
"Your war drum is ready. Why not come take a look?"
"Oh, it's done?"
Li Yan's eyes lit up at the news.
…
In the backyard, a war drum rested on a wooden frame.
As Shopkeeper Wan had said, this drum had been scaled down.
The original Qin and Han war drums were as long as an adult's arm span, divided into three parts for departure, battle, and triumph, accompanied by drums, cymbals, gongs, suona, horse bells, swords, spears, and banners, played with a hundred drums in unison, exuding majestic grandeur.
This drum, however, was only as wide as a washbasin, appearing somewhat delicate.
Yet Li Yan dared not underestimate it.
The drum's body, made of lightning-struck jujube wood polished with tung oil, gleamed like amber glass, with branching lightning patterns resembling a cascade of thunderbolts.
The drumhead was crafted from fine rhinoceros hide, dark in color, embedded with dense copper nails forming cloud patterns. Combined with the lightning patterns below, it created an image of thunderbolts descending through clouds.
Li Yan activated his olfactory divine sense.
He could smell the searing thunder-fire energy emanating from the drum, far surpassing the aura of the old mansion's battle plaque.
"What a drum!"
Overjoyed, Li Yan couldn't help but exclaim.
Shopkeeper Wan stroked his beard with a proud smile. "If Little Brother wants to craft other magical artifacts, we may lack the skill. But when it comes to drums, our Sound Pavilion has never bowed to anyone in all of Guanzhong."
He spoke the truth; otherwise, they wouldn't have taken on work for the Taixuan Orthodox Sect.
Seeing Li Yan eager to try striking it, Shopkeeper Wan quickly stopped him. "Little Brother Li, hold on. This drum hasn't been consecrated yet. Help me carry it into the ancestral hall."
With that, he had Li Yan bring the drum into the ancestral hall and place it before the altar.
Shopkeeper Wan changed into ritual attire—black robes with a red sash—then solemnly arranged offerings and covered the drum with red cloth.
After this, he shook a bell with his left hand, chanting continuously.
Li Yan didn't enter but stood quietly outside in the courtyard, observing.
He knew that all magical artifacts, from grand statues of gods and Buddhas to straw figures, paper horses, or even yarrow for invisibility, required consecration as the final step.
Like adding the finishing touch to a dragon's eyes, only through consecration could the artifact take form.
Craftsmen of the Mysterious Gate excelled in this, and Shopkeeper Wan's openness was itself a form of guidance.
Shopkeeper Wan chanted and circled the altar nine times, then lit forty-nine incense sticks. He bowed to the deity's statue, then stepped into the courtyard to bow to the six household gods and finally to heaven and earth before returning to the hall.
"Respectfully inviting the Ancestral Master to preside over the altar!"
With a low shout, Shopkeeper Wan inserted the incense, then lifted the red cloth from the drum. Taking a red brush dipped in cinnabar and cock's blood, he drew symbols in the air, sealing the ritual, and chanted, "Heaven and earth have eight sounds: clay as xun, gourd as sheng, hide as drum, bamboo as pipe, silk as strings, stone as qing, metal as bell, wood as zhu."
"Heaven and earth open in prosperity, on this auspicious day and hour, I, by the Ancestral Master's decree…"
"Open your drum body, containing the universe within!"
"Open your drum nails, fixing the stars and cosmos!"
"Open your drumhead, with thunder resounding through heaven and earth!"
As he chanted, Shopkeeper Wan marked the drum with cinnabar imprints.
With his olfactory divine sense active, Li Yan felt it deeply.
The ancestral altar had formed a ritual field, centered on divine energy, surrounded by swirling incense, aligned with the six household gods, creating a formation.
With each cinnabar mark, the drum's energy condensed, gradually taking shape before slowly subsiding.
The consecration complete, the drum now seemed an ordinary object.
But Li Yan knew this Cloud Thunder Drum was now a true magical artifact. With focused intent, it could unleash thunderous sounds to subdue demons and evils.
"Hahaha!"
Seeing Li Yan's eager gaze, Shopkeeper Wan laughed. "Brother Li, try the drum!"
Without hesitation, Li Yan carried the drum outside, set it on a rack in the courtyard, steadied his stance, and, with a trembling chest, let out a "hum" sound while striking the drumhead.
Boom!
Though small, the Cloud Thunder War Drum unleashed a resounding roar.
The entire courtyard heard it clearly.
The carpenters in the yard, all experts in drum-making, knew a fine drum when they heard it. Unable to stay seated, they dropped their work and rushed to the backyard to watch.
Li Yan's eyes flashed with delight.
He could feel the drum's vibrations resonating with his chest's fascia, like a lightning strike, leaving his body tingling.
Its effect far surpassed the previous drum.
But this was not yet the true Cloud Thunder Sound of the divine drum.
Li Yan hesitated, glancing at Shopkeeper Wan.
Shopkeeper Wan stroked his beard and laughed. "Go ahead boldly. If it breaks, I'll give you my shop's sign to smash!"
"Senior jests."
Li Yan took a deep breath and struck the drum again.
This time, he used the hidden force of yin energy.
Boom!
A tremendous sound rang out, causing those nearby to wince and cover their ears.
Li Yan trembled as if electrified, taking several deep breaths to recover, a smile creeping onto his face.
This was the true Cloud Thunder Sound of the divine drum!
The drum's vibrations not only rapidly stimulated his fascia, rounding his strength and boosting his power, but also aided in cultivating hidden force.
Hard and soft, yin and yang, vibration, and coiling silk…
The hidden force twisted and turned in countless ways. If used continuously, perfectly blending various forces with techniques, one could reach the peak of hidden force.
With the Cloud Thunder Drum's aid, nothing was impossible!
Shopkeeper Wan nodded slightly, clearly satisfied, and called out, "Someone, carry the drum stand outside the courtyard."
The workers promptly lifted the drum and stand out of the courtyard.
Shopkeeper Wan explained solemnly, "This Cloud Thunder Divine Drum is a magical artifact. When struck with focused intent, it can subdue and dispel evil. To avoid disrespecting the ancestral altar and clashing energies, it must be taken outside."
Li Yan nodded, channeling his intent with hidden force and striking the drum.
Buzz!
This time, the drumhead vibrated with a sound similar to before, but the thunderous energy spread rapidly with the sound.
Whoosh!
Birds scattered from distant branches, and village dogs whimpered, tucking their tails.
Others felt a thunderclap in their minds, taking a long moment to recover.
Li Yan's eyes shone with wild joy.
This drum could even shake the souls of the living. Weaker spirits, hearing it, would flee in terror; those too close might have their souls scattered.
Unfortunately, its great power came with great consumption.
After just one use, he felt slightly fatigued.
Shopkeeper Wan approached, pointing to a small bronze beast mouth on the drum. "Hang a demon-subduing coin-sword tassel here for greater power, but with your cultivation, you likely can't activate it. As a trump card, it's best not to reveal it publicly."
"Yes, thank you, Senior."
Li Yan's joy was irrepressible as he clasped his hands in thanks.
At that moment, a rider galloped from the village entrance.
The young man, dressed in a warrior's robe, dismounted gracefully before the courtyard and clasped his hands. "Liu San of the Zhang Clan Martial Academy, greeting Young Hero Li!"
The Zhang Clan Martial Academy—wasn't that the one feuding with the Zhou family? Why seek him out?
Puzzled, Li Yan asked, "What brings you here? Has something happened?"
Liu San said gravely, "My master requests your presence."
"Zhou Pan plans to wash his hands in a golden basin and retire!"
"Wash his hands in a golden basin?"
Li Yan's gaze darkened. "With unresolved grudges, he dreams too sweetly!"
*(End of Chapter)*