Chapter 27: The Five-Fiend Dharma Assembly (Seeking monthly votes, seeking follow-up reads)

"The long river of history truly lacks martial virtue."

Jiang Yan rolled his eyes; although he also looked forward to new scenery, he wondered if he could be given another ten days or half a month to prepare.

According to the case studies written in Zhao Yinman's notes, the cycle for History Walkers entering a Disease Domain is not fixed; generally speaking, if one gives up using their abilities, the time can be extended to a year or two, or even longer.

If used frequently, the interval period is also one month.

Yet only a week had passed for him, ten days at most.

It was one-third of other people's cycles.

"This isn't just because I have many offspring, but also because my skill proficiency is increasing too quickly, right?"

Jiang Yan glanced at the skills he had mastered.

Vajra Pig Mother Seal (Proficient 40%)

Shifting Shadows (Proficient 10%)

Paradise Millet Mantra (Entry 99%)

Lamp-Lighting Fire Prison Visualization (Entry 18%)

Although the Pig Brothers no longer had their physical bodies, Jiang Yan had not wasted their souls.

He had made them into lamp oil for the Lamp of Ashes, which could increase wisdom.

Now, under the radiance of the light, he no longer needed sleep.

Coupled with the fact that he was a naturally born spiritual body with astonishing talent, and the diligent cultivation of his skill-offspring, Jiang Yan's progress was naturally advancing by leaps and bounds.

Roll them up!

Especially the skill [Shifting Shadows]; Jiang Yan kept it active at all times to control his body's changes, causing its proficiency to skyrocket.

It became the first skill to autonomously cultivate to the Proficient level.

Even the Coffin Spirit was dragged into the grind by him, and the surface of the coffin became increasingly crystal clear.

Every time Zhao Yinman saw it, her eyes would go straight, and she simply couldn't walk away.

This high-intensity cultivation naturally also significantly deepened the connection between Jiang Yan and the long river of history.

It was equivalent to repeatedly jumping back and forth in front of the long river of history, provoking it crazily, and then...

He got caught!

"Without a ten-out-of-ten win rate, there really is no sense of security."

Carrying this worry, Jiang Yan found Ba Lie.

As a leader, if he wasn't going to help, shouldn't he at least cough up some gold coins?

In the office,

"As expected of a genius, your efficiency in entering Disease Domains is so much faster than others." Ba Lie sat in his chair, his expression complex.

Logically speaking, the long river of history shouldn't be so exploitative, but rather extra tolerant toward newcomers.

After all, Jiang Yan hadn't caused large-scale destruction to the present world.

Could it be...

That Jiang Yan was growing stronger at a terrifying speed they didn't know about, and the long river of history felt his strength was already sufficient?

'How is that possible? I must be overthinking it; he hasn't even practiced a cultivation method yet.'

Ba Lie muttered in his heart, then spoke:

"Because you are a Grade A-plus newcomer, headquarters held a separate meeting and upgraded your high-level cultivation method to top-tier; the paperwork is being processed, and your credentials are also being made. It should be done in these next two days."

"Don't worry too much. With your strength, ordinary Disease Domains won't stump you. As you experience more Disease Domains, the intervals will also become longer."

Speaking of this, old Ba also blushed a little, feeling he had said some useless nonsense. After thinking it over, he made a decision, lowered his voice, and said:

"I remember your companion spirit pet needs to bury corpses, and the stronger the better. I do have a lead here..."

"A lead in Southeast Asia?"

Jiang Yan hesitated, "Old Ba, that doesn't seem right. People over there are people too; I can't get past that hurdle in my heart. You'd better just cough up some gold coins for me instead.

But if you force me to go, I have no choice. After all, my strength is low, and everything is for the History Correction Bureau; I am willing to make a sacrifice."

"Don't think of me as an evil villain and yourself as a white lotus. Besides, old Ba's household has no surplus grain either."

Ba Lie rolled his eyes and said speechlessly:

"Aren't you very interested in the black market? I happen to have an invitation to the Five-Fiend Dharma Assembly here."

"The Five-Fiend Dharma Assembly, derived from the meaning of the Five-Fiend ghosts and gods, is a benevolent god persona that punishes evil and promotes good, dispels disease and eliminates disasters, and helps people gain wealth. Later, it merged with the lewd and evil god persona of the Five-Passes, forming a special composite godhead."

"It belongs to the characteristic black market of the south, mostly in Huizhou, but also scattered in Jiangnan, Gusu, and other places. It is held once a month, and invitations are sent to guests one week in advance."

"Some time ago, someone sent an invitation for the Five-Fiend Dharma Assembly within the scope of Jinhua City, but I've been tight on money lately and have to keep an eye on the Ram's Eye, so I don't have time to go.

You, however, can go to broaden your horizons. They sell a large amount of loot that History Walkers have obtained from Disease Domains, including the remains of some Disease Domain creatures."

Midnight, twelve o'clock, on the rooftop of the building.

Jiang Yan recalled what Ba Lie had said during the day and took out the so-called "invitation."

A stick of incense imprinted with black gilded patterns.

Lighting it would summon the Five-Fiend troops to take one to the market.

Speaking of troops... Regional Commander Lu had also said that the Rat Guards were low-level troops.

When he asked old Ba, he was told that for this stuff, you either have money to go the 'group-brawl' route, or you go the 'rely-on-your-ancestors' route.

Have nothing? Then go to the 'Pinduoduo' route.

Otherwise, where would your Dharma altar come from? What would you feed the troops with?

Ba Lie also emphasized that these people all used small fry, because only the Old Register level could create truly powerful troops.

There were even immortals and gods.

But they weren't called troops; they were called Immortal People, Buddha Masses, and Affiliates. They would possess some of the traits of immortals and gods, ascending together to become immortal and living forever.

"Why does that sound like an evil god's dependents..."

Jiang Yan complained, then stuffed two yellow paper talismans into his bosom; he had gotten these from Zhao Yinman.

One was a Snake-Binding Talisman, the other a Celestial Master's Golden Light Talisman.

Their functions were control and defense, respectively.

Of course, they cost money.

One hundred thousand each!

Don't look at her as an android zombie; she didn't hesitate at all when quoting prices, and you couldn't haggle.

Even though Jiang Yan exhausted his tongue, the other party just looked at him quietly.

In the end, for the sake of personal safety, Jiang Yan had to grit his teeth and buy them, though he put it on credit for now, to be paid when next month's salary arrived.

Click, click, click!

Jiang Yan used [Shifting Shadows]; the muscles under his skin rippled, and he transformed directly into a tall man of one meter ninety with a cold expression.

"From now on, I am not Jiang Yan, but Sima Luoshui."

After speaking, he lit the Five-Fiend incense.

Wisps of red smoke rose, gathering and constantly intertwining and changing in the air, finally turning into the patterns of five ferocious ghosts and gods.

After waiting in the cold wind for about half an hour, the sound of hoofbeats suddenly came to his ears.

Turning his head to look, an archaic black carriage drove over from the sky. There were horses of five colors—green, red, yellow, white, and black—mighty and robust, but their original heads had been replaced by five ferocious ghost-god masks. They wore battle armor, and their foreheads bore command flags of corresponding colors.

They looked like messengers from the underworld.

Seeing this scene, Jiang Yan recalled the information about the Five-Fiend Gods in his mind.

Rumor has it that it originated from Zhu Yuanzhang's sacrifice to the soldiers who died in Poyang Lake. Because the soldiers were in groups of five, it was called 'Wu-Chang' (Five-Fiends), or it might mean 'Prosperous Martial Fortune.'

In different regions, there are different interpretations of the Five-Fiends; for example, in a certain city in Jiangnan most famous for yellow wine, they use five types of animals as the Five-Fiends to hold activities.

Driving the carriage was a man wearing a white-based mask with the character "Si" (Four) on it, dressed in a gray robe, with long hair, looking like a coachman who had walked out of ancient times.

He said respectfully to Jiang Yan:

"Guest, please board the carriage."

Judging by his aura, he had the strength of the peak of Spirit Opening, yet he was used to drive a carriage.

It seemed the force holding this Five-Fiend Dharma Assembly had a significant background.

"Hmm."

Jiang Yan nodded slightly, lifted the curtain, and sat in the carriage, finding it extremely spacious and occupied by several people in black robes who remained silent.

They were likely hiding their identities, possibly some fleeing History Walkers, or members of an evil god cult.

They probably didn't expect...

That the carriage had been pulled right to the official side.

Jiang Yan chuckled inwardly, did not reveal his identity, and found a corner to sit down.

After confirming there were no dangerous elements among the life-lamps burning around him, he began to close his eyes and rest.

Yet he did not notice that Zhao Yinman in the room was watching the Five-Fiend carriage drive away through the window with her crimson eyes.

At the same time,

On a remote mountain path near Jinhua City.

The night was dark and the wind was high, with a bright moon hanging high.

A Five-Fiend carriage had overturned; the horses pulling it were already dead, and beside them were several human corpses, all of which had been gnawed upon, revealing ghastly white bones.

Buzz, buzz, buzz!

Flies danced, enjoying this feast.

"Hoo, hoo, hoo!"

Deep in the forest, the coachman wearing the "Ten" mask fled desperately, glancing back from time to time, his breathing heavy and his eyes filled with terror.

"The reinforcements didn't come; the communication talisman was indeed intercepted. I must return to report to the President..."

The moment this thought crossed his mind, a buzzing sound rang in his ears, and the world before him suddenly turned pitch black.

"Oh no!"

He raised his head, trembling, only to see the sky filled with a dense swarm of flies, already blotting out the moon.

"Five Fiends Command, Fire Soldier!"

The coachman, eyes wide with terror, waved the red command flag in his hand; flames swept out, transforming into a fiery soldier that swung its sword down, the fire spreading to burn hundreds upon thousands of flies to death.

But to the vast swarm, it was merely a drop in the ocean; they formed a giant hand, casually slapped it to pieces, and it dissipated into ash.

Then, they grabbed the coachman, and accompanied by the sound of bones crunching and deforming, held him high in mid-air.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Accompanied by light footsteps, the coachman struggled to open his eyes and saw a blurred figure in the darkness, skipping out from the depths of the woods.

Soon, the moonlight shone upon the figure, dispelling the darkness and revealing the face of a delicate, cute little child with red lips and white teeth.

He looked to be about seven or eight years old.

His hair was tied in a bun, his dark green eyes darted around, and the clothes on his body were loose and baggy, dragging behind him, looking quite adorable.

That was, provided there were no thick bloodstains on the clothes.

The coachman recognized these as the clothes worn by a guest just a moment ago; his expression was one of shock, and he said hoarsely:

"Who are you? Why attack the Five Fiends Dharma Assembly troops?"

"Me? You can call me..."

The little boy pointed at himself, his eyes continuously brimming with one tiny pupil after another, piling up together in a bizarre and terrifying way, just like the compound eyes of an insect, and he chuckled softly:

"Fly Child!"

"As for the reason... I wanted to kill, so I killed. What does it have to do with you?"

As the words fell, a massive swarm of flies burrowed into the coachman's mouth, beginning to lay eggs within his internal organs and flesh.

He was in such agony he couldn't even wail, his body only reacting with the instinct to tremble, and the whites of his eyes were rapidly covered by dark green insect eggs.

He knelt on the ground, a sound like flies flapping their wings emitting from his throat, and he said hoarsely:

"...Mas...ter..."

Fly Child stood with his hands behind his back, his childish voice echoing in the woods:

"How could I be missing from something as fun as the Five Fiends Dharma Assembly? It's the perfect time to pick a few targets and enjoy them slowly..."

"The wails of the weak!"

Seeking monthly tickets, seeking continued readership.

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(End of chapter)