[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-cursed-blade-s-walk":3,"chapter-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-125":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Cursed Blade's Walk",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2262430,4415,"Chapter 125: Night Attack by Demons","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-125",125,"\u003Cp>Holding the protective talisman in his hand, Li Yan examined it closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew this object—it was made from a chicken’s claw, with tendons and membranes removed, leaving only the bone to be played with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given by a demon hunter, it was naturally extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chicken bone in his hand was thicker than a man’s thumb, its surface yellowed and glazed, engraved with exorcism symbols filled with cinnabar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan could smell its hot, incense-laden aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt heavy in his palm, and when lightly tapped, it emitted a metallic chime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary chickens didn’t grow this large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be the remnant of something that had cultivated?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan rubbed it, finding it intriguing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unaware, night had fallen again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, it was Wang Daoxuan’s turn to build the tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew the process well, so no one needed to worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Li Yan sealed the orifices with stones, he lit a fire with Sha Lifei and others to keep watch outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, the mountain wind blew especially fierce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near midnight, everyone was growing drowsy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Li Yan’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind Sha Lifei, the ground slowly sank—a pair of finger-thick tentacles emerged silently…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan shouted loudly and leapt forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He used the darting step technique, releasing hidden force from his left leg; even as he shouted, his body shot out like an arrow, and with a clang, he drew his Guanshan Blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade had barely left its sheath when he was already before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei was also alert—he sensed danger, didn’t look back, but lunged forward, rolling like a lazy donkey, and rose with his knife drawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the thing was faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tentacles twitched and snapped back into the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Puff!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s blade followed, plunging downward as he activated the Three Talismans of Demon Subjugation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression changed—he felt the blade’s tip strike something smooth and metallic, the edge glancing off, unable to pierce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately behind him, dust exploded as a centipede, thick as an arm, writhing with claws, burst forth and lunged straight at him with its massive pincers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At such close range, even if the demon had suppressed all its stench, Li Yan had sensed its movement through the change in soil odor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sidestepped backward, holding the Guanshan Blade across his chest, while his left palm formed a void, preparing to use the Soul-Grabbing Chain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was his strongest killing technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The creature’s body was as hard as metal, but no matter what demon it was, if it had a soul, the Soul-Grabbing Chain would work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a blade of light beside him moved faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the young Daoist Dian Shu who acted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t reacted as quickly as Li Yan and Sha Lifei, but he understood what had happened—he pulled a talisman from his robe, chanted a spell, ignited it, and thrust his sword through it as it roared forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pfft!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan didn’t know what kind of talisman Dian Shu had used.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the talisman burned, he could smell divine incense, its sacred energy clinging to the sword and piercing the centipede’s body without resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was speechless—the young Daoist still lacked experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this situation, stab? Cut it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, the sword thrust wasn’t fatal; instead, the centipede, in agony, thrashed wildly, spewing venom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan moved swiftly, grabbing the young Daoist and pulling him back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiss!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The venom splashed on the ground, sending up clouds of white smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan could smell it—the smoke carried a cold, corpse-like stench; even before it reached them, it made one dizzy and nauseous, clearly not ordinary poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earth centipede, having retreated from the two, seized the chance to burrow underground again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a short spear flew through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear was forged of pure iron, its tip lined with wolf-tooth barbs, a burning talisman hanging from its center, and an iron chain attached to its tail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a pfft, the spear pierced the centipede’s body without resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The iron chain tightened; the earth centipede, already half-buried, was yanked back out, rolling backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even impaled and dragged, the thick centipede thrashed like a wild beast, chittering wildly, spewing venom everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attacker was the demon hunter Hong Yecha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t been far away; hearing the commotion, she arrived mid-stride and struck immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dealing with such creatures was her specialty—even her weapon had been forged specifically for this purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the centipede writhe and struggle, Hong Yecha swiftly unhooked a leather pouch from her waist and hurled it, while swinging her long sword in a sharp upward slash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was also a martial expert, having reached the peak of hidden force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flying pouch was split cleanly in two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside were red chicken’s blood; with a splash, it drenched the centipede, sizzling like acid, immediately sending up white smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The centipede, as if drugged, struggled more slowly, its venom-spitting ceasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Yecha flicked her wrist again; with powerful force, the centipede was dragged closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female demon hunter merely sidestepped and flicked her sword upward—the centipede’s head fell to the ground, its body twitched violently for a moment, then went still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Yecha paid no attention to the others; she shook her sword, splitting the centipede’s head in two—finding nothing inside, her eyes filled with disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei, shaken to his core, still couldn’t stop talking—he remembered what the young Daoist Dian Shu had said, and couldn’t help asking: “Lady, are you searching for a centipede pearl? Aren’t those only found in giant centipedes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though disappointed, Hong Yecha was clearly pleased to have completed her task; she shook her head and replied: “Even small ones sometimes appear. Though no bigger than a soybean, they’re miraculous for curing all kinds of snake venom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone gathered closer to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too tense and chaotic before, they hadn’t seen clearly—but now, by firelight, everything was plain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earth centipede was as thick as a bowl’s mouth; if stretched out, it would tower taller than an ordinary woman, its countless legs glinting coldly in the firelight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike ordinary centipedes, this one wasn’t just large—it was strangely colored: its limbs dark red, its body a dull earth-gray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mixed among soil, it was truly hard to spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good heavens…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei poked it with his knife, astonished: “What does this thing eat to grow so big? No wonder the young Daoist said it could devour snake brains.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Yecha said gravely: “If born in a place where primordial yin evil gathers, and fed celestial treasures and earth essences, it manifests anomalies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced curiously around: “Even demons have preferences—this place is high, cold, utterly unsuitable for insects. Why did it come here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young Daoist Dian Shu sighed in relief: “The Qinling Dragon Vein converges here—strange things abound. Sometimes, you just can’t figure it out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, the demon’s dead. Luo, don’t stay alone—come over here by the fire. We’ll descend together tomorrow morning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Yecha hesitated slightly, then nodded: “Very well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the demon was dead, everyone sat again, their moods noticeably lighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei’s eyes darted as he eagerly poured tea for Hong Yecha, asking about demon hunters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Yecha wasn’t good with conversation, but faced with such a persistent man, she relented and told some stories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our lineage, according to our ancestral master, originated in the late Tang, when the world was in chaos and demons ran rampant. A high adept of the Tai Xuan Zheng Jiao compiled techniques, uniting with the Mei Shan Fa Jiao and several martial masters to train demon hunters…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Mei Shan Fa Jiao mostly recruited hunters who trained chang soldiers; we focus on capturing demons and slaying zombies, excelling in killing, but lack the orthodox Daoist rituals and altar rites…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young Daoist Dian Shu said: “Lady Luo, you jest—you travel the land, hunting demons and subduing zombies, saving countless lives. In merit, you surpass us who merely chant sutras…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the conversation opened, everyone grew more familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan learned that the demon hunter Hong Yecha’s real surname was Luo, her name Yi Hong, from Chang’an.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her name was gentle, but her deeds—even Li Yan had to raise a thumb and call her a true hero!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had no children of her own, but had adopted several orphans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All were orphaned by demons or zombies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were already quite old, had never studied, and even if some had awakened spiritual roots, they weren’t targets for orthodox sects or dharma lineages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Luo Yi Hong took them as disciples—ensuring the demon hunter arts were passed down, and giving these children a legitimate way to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, feeding so many disciples cost dearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before they grew strong, she had to travel constantly to support her whole family…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they talked, something began to feel off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone’s mood grew heavier, fatigue surging—eyelids slammed together uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No good—we’ve been poisoned!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yihong let out a low cry and collapsed unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan was also startled, but as he tried to rise, thick fog rose before him, and the surroundings grew dim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another Yin Si mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, not now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan cursed inwardly but had no time to think further—he sprinted forward wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already very familiar with this thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No technique could restore him; the only way was to quickly check the Yin Si mission and choose to refuse and leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, the well appeared again ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Li Yan placed both hands on it; the well water shifted, forming a vortex, thick fog churned, and various lights and shadows appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still that cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still that old Daoist in the pool…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Same mission again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan was about to refuse when he suddenly widened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two centipedes suddenly crawled from beneath the black jar holding the old Daoist, thrusting their heads into the hole at the jar’s base and spewing streams of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the blood touched the old Daoist’s body, it rapidly seeped in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the deathly gray on the old Daoist’s face deepened further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this bastard was behind it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan gritted his teeth and chose to accept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew he likely had no choice now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After accepting the mission, the surrounding mist vanished instantly, and Li Yan awoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he opened his eyes, he sensed something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive earth centipede had emerged from the soil beside him, opening its pincers to bite his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s eyes flashed with killing intent; his left hand shot out and seized the centipede’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clatter-clatter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chains rang beside his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Soul-Grabbing Chain extended, piercing straight into the centipede’s body; as Li Yan pulled back, it dragged out a cold, bloody mass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how fierce the earth centipede, it was still a living being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its soul strength was even weaker than a child’s, merely possessing a bit more spirit—it was quickly shredded by the Soul-Grabbing Chain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earth centipede’s soul left its body; its trunk went limp and collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan looked around and saw everyone else lying unconscious, eyes shut, each with a centipede emerging beside them, biting at their necks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the bonfire, another centipede had also emerged, enduring its fear of fire as it sprayed faint poison smoke into the flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clever beast!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan leapt forward, releasing hidden force in a rapid series of three kicks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang! Bang! Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He moved swiftly, kicking all the centipedes off everyone’s bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he pulled out the Divine Tiger Talisman and chanted the Thousand Gold Protective Spell: “Nuo He, left bearing Three Stars, right bearing Three Locks, heaven overturned, earth inverted, all nine paths sealed, make you lose your mind…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the spell took effect, a tiger’s roar echoed in his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The centipedes, startled, burrowed back into the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan knew this spell could only temporarily scare them off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly knelt down, pinching acupoints and slapping faces, reviving each person one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The poison the centipedes sprayed into the fire was colorless and odorless; though it rendered everyone unconscious without notice, its toxicity was mild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once awake, they recovered quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many are there?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the countless holes in the ground, the young Daoist Dian Shu turned pale, murmuring: “Impossible—this is a demon nest; how could military patrols have missed it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone must have tampered with it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s expression darkened; he rushed to the entrance of the cavern spirit orifice where Wang Daoxuan sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bricks were only hastily stacked—they couldn’t be perfectly sealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the gaps, he saw Wang Daoxuan seated in meditation, surrounded by silver lotus Soul-Guiding Lamps burning steadily, his face serene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan exhaled in relief and said grimly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Sha, bring me my Cloud Thunder Divine Drum!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2128,"2026-06-19T18:28:32.159Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6b33db3a9708eefd4d753a445f7449a5dcffee0ed3ee759892c96d16f6a13c92","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-126","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-124",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]