Chapter 112

"Watch out!"

"Get out of the way!"

These constables were completely panicked.

They hadn't expected Li Yan to actually dare to make a move.

These people were all hoodlums and riffraff from Fengyang City; even if they had practiced some martial arts, their bodies had been hollowed out by day after day of drinking and debauchery.

The real tough guys under Brother Qiao Brother Qiao Sanhu had all been sent to Manchuan Pass; after all, there was plenty of profit there, and gangs from the north and south gathered.

The gangs in Shaanxi gave him some face, but the gangs from Ezhou in the south were completely unafraid and had even launched several sneak attacks in secret.

These people threw their weight around in Fengyang City relying on their official uniforms; they were called constables, but in reality, they weren't even as good as hoodlum gangs.

When they encountered a truly ruthless person, they completely panicked.

And Li Yan was not holding back at all.

It was impossible to talk nicely; being thrown into the prison by these bastards meant there was no chance of survival. With the enemy being many and them being few, how could there be any hesitation?

Pfft!

The Guanshan blade stabbed directly into a man's chest and abdomen.

This was a somewhat fat man with a double chin and three layers of fat on the back of his neck; his constable hat had fallen off, revealing a shaven head.

Combined with his ferocious face, one look and you could tell he was a hoodlum who would make commoners detour when walking down the street.

However, at this moment, he was full of fear.

"Hero, spare, spa..."

Looking at Li Yan, who was covered in blood with eyes like cold stars, the fear and pain made him unable to even complete his plea for mercy.

Li Yan couldn't be bothered to pay attention; with a roar, he exerted force from his waist and arms, and while stabbing the man, he pushed him three meters away.

It just happened to dodge the two blades slashing from behind.

Li Yan kicked the fat man over, and while doing so, he pulled out the Guanshan blade and blocked it in the air with blood splashing.

Clang!

Two long blades were blocked by him instantly.

"Get lost!"

Zhao Kui was also furious; he held a park-blade and slashed down fiercely.

This weapon, also known as a "broad-blade," appeared in the Song Dynasty; it was a steel blade with a long handle, between a great sword and a single-edged sword.

Because it could be held with both hands, its force was swift and fierce, so it was widely circulated.

Zhao Kui practiced the Water-Land Park-Blade Art.

One path of this blade art was the Water-Boat Blade Art, originating from Jiangzhe, suitable for leaping and fighting on boats; the other was the Land Blade Art, suitable for use on dry land.

Because Manchuan Pass was a water-land terminal, this blade art spread rapidly after being introduced by the Cao Gang and has been passed down to this day.

Zhao Kui had spent his childhood mingling in Manchuan Pass; although his blade technique was decent and he had stepped into the dark energy realm, that place was a mix of dragons and snakes with many experts, so he hadn't really made a name for himself, and he gritted his teeth and threw his lot in with Brother Qiao Brother Qiao Sanhu.

He hadn't expected that after a moment of carelessness tonight, he would have already lost seven or eight men.

Thinking of Brother Qiao Brother Qiao Sanhu's ruthlessness, he was filled with anger and fear, so naturally, he went all out.

This leaping slash was powerful and heavy, and Li Yan was also being pressed by others; if it hit, it could split a person in two.

However, Li Yan's reaction was faster.

The Guanshan blade in his hand sank downward, and the two constables felt their hands go empty, their footsteps stumbling as a result.

Li Yan then turned around, used his left hand for a silk-entangling capture, hooked a constable's shoulder, and pushed forward.

This move was fierce and swift.

Pfft!

Zhao Kui's blade happened to slash down.

The constable's head was also chopped off directly.

And Li Yan had already exerted force with his feet, using two consecutive close-quarters dragon-swimming steps to find the constables with weaker skills again.

There were many constables, but their strength was uneven, and they were harassed by venomous snakes; the torches flickered, and they were in a mess.

And Li Yan, relying on his olfactory divine ability, knew the situation around him clearly, dodging and striking time and again, reaping lives in the chaos.

"Kid, don't run!"

Zhao Kui was also furious and chased after him with his blade.

And the one causing the chaos wasn't just Li Yan.

The one controlling the venomous snakes was Lu San, who had come to support.

He had long held a grudge against these people, and seeing Li Yan make a move, he naturally didn't show any mercy, blowing his whistle to summon wild beasts to attack while wandering in the darkness, his arms waving constantly.

This kid was actually a master of hidden weapons.

He used a type of shuttle-dart, and combined with the eruption of dark energy, the force was astonishing; it either pierced through chests or stabbed into heads.

With every wave of his hand, a life was extinguished.

And Sha Sha Li Fei wasn't idle either; he led the remaining palanquin bearers and the carter, Old Meng, to guard the entrance with knives, spears, and sticks.

They knew their own capabilities; rushing into the enemy formation would only cause trouble, so they just cooperated with each other, waving their knives and sticks to force back the constables charging up time and again.

Inside the ancestral hall, only Wang Wang Daoxuan remained.

"Hahaha..."

The possessed palanquin bearer let out an eerie laugh, triumphantly saying, "The time is almost here; these are all my people, and by then, you will all die."

He wasn't wrong.

With this kind of possession sorcery, and Li Yan and the others not knowing how to break it, plus the constables attacking from outside, it was only a matter of time before they were defeated.

However, Wang Wang Daoxuan didn't pay attention to him; instead, he took a large stack of spirit paper and put it into a fire basin, burning a flame a foot high.

"Burning paper for yourself to go on the road?"

Seeing this, the possessed palanquin bearer laughed mockingly.

Who would have thought that Wang Wang Daoxuan would glance at him, take the soul-hooking order directly, hold it in his left hand, place it over the fire basin, and say in a deep voice, "If you use evil possession sorcery again, this humble Daoist will burn this item immediately."

"To us, this thing isn't important..."

The possessed palanquin bearer was stunned; he hadn't expected Wang Wang Daoxuan to use this trick and was suddenly anxious. "Don't, what do you want to do?"

Wang Wang Daoxuan said in a deep voice, "If you don't use possession sorcery and can capture us, this humble Daoist will naturally admit defeat."

He knew that this person wouldn't let them go, because Li Yan had obtained the position of living underworld messenger and had to die for the other party to have a chance.

And things had reached this point; those constables wouldn't let it go either.

The only condition they could negotiate was to force the other party not to use the possession method.

"Hahaha..."

The palanquin bearer gave a sinister laugh. "Fine, I'll let you know that even without possession, I can easily slaughter you all."

Having said that, the palanquin bearer rolled his eyes and fainted.

Wang Wang Daoxuan sighed slightly; only then did he turn his palm over.

In his palm, there was actually a yellow talisman pinched.

Driving the other party away was only the first step.

This was his true goal!

Not having the ability to break the sorcery didn't mean not having the ability to counterattack.

Wang Wang Daoxuan came to the magic altar, took a straw effigy from his bosom, pinched the magic seal, and placed the straw effigy on the altar.

There was one thing he hadn't told the others.

Perhaps because the path of seeking Dao was too long and he had learned many miscellaneous arts and knowledge, the "Seven Arrows Secret Curse" wasn't difficult for him.

He had even made a straw effigy before, and it was a success on the first try.

The straw effigy, the formal name was "Taiwei Chuling," which was a straw person used during funerals in ancient times. The "Book of Rites" recorded: "Painted carts and straw effigies have existed since ancient times; they are the way of burial objects."

The way of the curse first required a target.

Just like the battle at Niubei Ridge, he sent out yin soldiers to investigate and was hit by Yu You the Fourth's trap while capturing his aura; when he took the soul-hooking order just now, he had similarly used a curse talisman to obtain the other party's aura.

At this moment, the conditions for performing the "Seven Arrows Secret Curse" were sufficient.

Wang Wang Daoxuan frowned, his expression solemn. He had already seen the terror of this kind of sorcery in books; it looked simple, but its lethality was astonishing.

The first three curses could be mastered by ordinary sorcerers.

Even some commoners cursing by nailing a small person counted as the first curse, but most were just venting anger and couldn't possibly succeed.

And after the fourth curse, it became increasingly difficult, and only those with exceptional talent could perform it.

That sorcerer who possessed people, harmed fellow disciples, and used evil methods to extend his life—using this technique on him didn't violate any promises.

Wang Wang Daoxuan just hadn't expected to use it so soon.

But now, he had no choice but to think about it.

Without any hesitation, Wang Wang Daoxuan immediately pinched the magic seal, picked up a few chopsticks from the side, bit his fingertip, and smeared blood on them.

The arrows used in the curse were also related to its power, but in an emergency, he could only use this method to make them temporarily.

Afterward, Wang Wang Daoxuan drew a blood talisman on his brow, stepped out the pace of the Big Dipper, and wound the cinnabar red rope around the straw effigy.

This was called the "Tightening Hoop."

!.

The curse altar was formed, and a yin energy rose from the ground.

Wang Wang Daoxuan felt as if he had fallen into ice, but he still gritted his teeth, pinched the seal, and chanted: "Heaven is dark, earth is dim, sun and moon are irrelevant, formless black cover, shine upon all thieving paths, heaven cover, earth cover, god cover, ghost cover, thief cover in a daze, gather into my cover, top seven arrows, pierce the heart by day, quickly as the law commands..."

Along with the incantation, yin energy rose and attached to the chopsticks, but before it could be maintained, it instantly dissipated.

Wang Wang Daoxuan wasn't discouraged and pinched the seal and chanted again.

At the same time, the situation outside also changed.

"Scatter!"

Zhao Kui gave a roar, wielded his park-blade, hacked the venomous snakes on the ground into two, and charged forward, slashing at Li Yan.

The constables had also come to their senses, waving their blades to drive away the snakes and insects while gathering to reorganize their ranks.

By the time they had formed their formation, they discovered that in a short time, more than half had been killed or injured; some had been poisoned by snakes and lay on the ground dead or alive, while others were completely dead.

Blood splattered on the open space, limbs were scattered, torches burned brightly and flickered, and the pungent smell of blood rushed toward them.

Li Yan had already forced Zhao Kui back.

Being besieged by so many people, even with his exceptional skills, he inevitably suffered several slashes, and combined with the blood stains from killing, he had become a blood-soaked gourd.

Damn it, encountered a fierce star...

The constables looked fearful, cursing inwardly.

If they had known tonight would be so troublesome, they would have found a way to decline; now, whether they could leave alive was a question.

Li Yan held his blade horizontally, murderous intent growing increasingly thick in his eyes.

The power of the Great Luo Dala Dala Fa Shen was now fully manifested.

For an ordinary person to fight against many, even a dark energy expert would lose strength after fighting for a while, not to mention being inevitably injured under a flurry of blades.

If he didn't escape, the only result would be being besieged and killed.

But he had the Great Luo Dala Dala Fa Shen; as long as he didn't die immediately, he could fight for a long time and eventually slaughter them all!

Whoosh!

Lu San also leaped out from the periphery and stood beside Li Yan.

His flying shuttles were exhausted, and he was now holding a heavy spear, also having suffered a slash on his shoulder, but the spear in his hand remained as steady as Mount Tai.

"Lu San, it really is you!"

Seeing this, Zhao Kui was overjoyed instead of shocked.

So many of his men had died tonight; Brother Qiao Brother Qiao Sanhu would definitely be furious, but if he could eliminate Lu San, he would have merit instead of fault.

Thinking of this, Zhao Kui looked around and sneered, "Good, no matter which path you're from, killing official constables is equivalent to rebellion; you won't be able to run to the ends of the earth!"

While making threats, he made several gestures behind his back.

The constables understood immediately; several sneaked backward, ran into the grass in the rear, and dragged out a black object together.

An iron chain net containing hooks—it was the "Ghost's Sorrow."

They had experience using this thing; no matter how good your skills were, once covered by it, you were doomed.

A passing dark energy blade master who had once wanted to eliminate Brother Qiao Brother Qiao Sanhu for the people of Fengyang had also been besieged by them and died under this "Ghost's Sorrow."

Of course, Li Yan couldn't be fooled by this small movement, and Lu San, with his exceptional hearing, noticed it even more.

With just a glance, the two had a plan.

Although this "Ghost's Sorrow" was fierce, it had a fatal weakness: once thrown and it failed to cover the person, it was extremely difficult to retrieve.

Whoosh~

Just as the two were about to move, eerie winds howled again, and even the torches were blown until they flickered, as if they could go out at any moment.

The sound of horse hooves rang out, and a person rode over from the distance.

Zhao Kui looked and was overjoyed. "Master Lu!"

The person who came was precisely the possessed sorcerer.

Threatened by Wang Wang Daoxuan with burning the soul-hooking order, he didn't dare to gamble and simply left the coffin early to appear in person.

Zhao Kui had just called out when he realized something was wrong.

"Master Lu" was followed by several constables—the ones he had left behind to guard—but these constables all had dull eyes and pale faces like dead people, and they were walking on tiptoe.

"Master, they..." Zhao Kui felt something was amiss.

However, before he could finish speaking, "Master Lu" dismounted and waved the mourning sticks in his hands.

Zhao Kui and the others couldn't see it, but Li Yan and Lu San could clearly detect a large number of yin souls gathering around.

"Master Lu" pointed the mourning stick at someone, and that constable stiffened, his eyes changing, possessed by a yin soul.

In a short time, four or five people were possessed.

This "Master Lu" had stayed in Fengyang solely for the soul-hooking order; now that he had a clue, he wouldn't waste words with this bunch of people.

"Slaughter them!"

The constables also realized something was wrong and were about to draw their blades to charge out.

However, a terrifying thing happened.

Before they could act, those possessed people suddenly erupted and tackled them to the ground.

These former colleagues now possessed astonishing strength; no matter how they struggled, they couldn't escape.

Those who fell were quickly possessed.

One passed to two, two to four.

In a short time, all the constables except Zhao Kui were possessed by yin souls, their eyes dull, faces pale, walking on tiptoe, and exuding an eerie coldness.

"Damn it!"

Zhao Kui gritted his teeth, turned, and ran, quickly disappearing into the darkness.

Li Yan said in a deep voice, "Brother Lu, he cannot live today!"

Lu San understood immediately and followed closely.

He wasn't clear how Li Yan would deal with it, but he knew that if Zhao Kui wasn't killed, there would be endless trouble.

And "Master Lu" didn't waste words now; with a wave of his mourning stick, all the possessed constables rushed out instantly.

They were dull-eyed but moved fast, like zombies, feet flying as they rushed toward Li Yan.

Bang!

Li Yan was fearless; he kicked the nearest person away, but then his expression changed, and he retreated rapidly.

These people not only had increased strength but also feared no death; the man he had kicked until his chest bones shattered was still spitting blood and continuing to pounce.

Right then, Wang Wang Daoxuan finally succeeded.

He held a chopstick and stabbed it fiercely into the straw effigy.

"Ah—!"

"Master Lu" let out a scream and fell to the ground...

(End of chapter)