Chapter 172

"Yan Yan Xiao Ge Yan, you must exert yourself today!"

Manager Wan was wearing a brand-new robe and looked quite imposing, but at this moment, he was sweating on his forehead, appearing somewhat nervous.

Li Yan looked around and laughed in spite of himself, "Senior Wan, with our formation, you don't need to worry; just watch and see."

What he said was indeed correct.

One large and two small god-towers, after decoration, were far more exquisite and atmospheric than when they were originally built; vermilion corridors, glazed-colored bricks and tiles, and even those flying eaves and bucket arches were carefully painted with patterns like flat peaches and five blessings.

Hanging lanterns, colorful ribbons flying.

It looked no different from a real god temple.

The men carrying the god-towers, led by Guo Luquan, were all tall and big; in the cold weather, they only wore red vests, wrapped their heads in red cloth, and revealed a body of muscles, with a masculine aura rushing toward them.

The drum and music troupe following behind had also put in the effort.

Everyone wore black cloth armor, similar in style to the old Qin system, but to avoid taboos, they made improvements.

A row of Qin-Han war drums in front, a row of swords, spears, and halberds behind, and large flags and banners at the very back, rigorous and majestic like a military formation.

And Li Yan himself was also in a majestic cloth armor, the style even more exquisite, with a row of command flags inserted behind his back.

He didn't want to be so high-profile, but the members of the war drum and music troupe all said he had a good appearance, so he stood in the middle to hold the line, which could also add luster.

There were many teams today, but with this outfit, standing with any one of them, they didn't fall behind at all.

"I naturally don't fear these."

A trace of pride flashed in Manager Wan's eyes, but then he sighed, "But the notification today changed the rules temporarily; I'm afraid we will suffer at night."

"Oh, how was it changed?"

"Originally, the daytime was just a formality, and the night was god-touring and patrolling the streets, with common people following with incense, seeing who could attract more common people. That's why I invited the Zuo troupe to perform the Eight-Direction Image Technique."

"But this time, they are playing for real; the Profound Heaven Sect set up an altar at the Chenghuangmiao and distributed twenty-four magic flags to twenty-four teams."

"Starting from twenty-four directions in Chang'an City at night, all teams set off together, touring and patrolling the streets, imitating the ancient Yu-dance ritual. If two teams meet, they will fight for superiority and seize the other party's magic flags and incense."

"Whoever can reach the Chenghuangmiao with the magic flags will have the quota distributed according to the number of magic flags, and the losers will be eliminated."

"In terms of the Yu-dance ritual, we won't lose, but I'm afraid of those who play shamelessly and collide with our god-towers..."

"Senior Wan, don't worry!"

Guo Luquan, who was nearby, heard this, patted his chest, and laughed, "We used to carry god-towers and go to patrol the doors of evil families; sometimes the servants would block us with sticks, but we still scattered them with one charge."

"Brothers, are you afraid?"

"Afraid of a ball!"

The men carrying the god-towers were also extremely excited today; after all, many of them were people from the foot-porters' guild, working hard to earn money every day, and they wouldn't encounter such a lively big scene a few times in their lives.

Besides, Manager Wan had already said that if they could win the quota, everyone would get a reward, which was worth two or three months of hard work in the past.

"Manager Wan, don't worry."

Li Yan blinked and said in a low voice, "If someone plays tricks, I definitely won't let us return empty-handed..."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As they were speaking, there were three cannon shots at the city gate.

"Prepare to lift the sedan!"

The team closest to the city gate shouted immediately.

Those who could take the lead were naturally extraordinary.

That was a team from Lintong.

They were organized by a group of sorcerers on the Guanzhong road to compete for the quota; the effort they spent was not small, and their god-tower was slightly smaller than Manager Wan's, and they also invited a team specifically for carrying god-sedans.

Although they decided to carry god-towers, it was still the Drum King Assembly, so there was no lack of drum and music to strengthen their momentum and compete for victory.

Their drum and music was that the drummers hung social drums and social gongs on their chests with "back bows," and there was another horse-gong finger to strike, and each person had flags erected behind their backs.

This is the "Ten-Face Gong and Drum," which is said to have evolved from Han Xin's suspect-soldier formation during the struggle between Chu and Han at Bashang.

As soon as they entered Zhu Que Avenue, the sound of gongs and drums roared.

Even through the city wall, one could hear the deafening noise inside, and there were firecrackers sounding together to strengthen the momentum...

The one that set off next was the Wei Flag Gong and Drum.

Their drum and music team had more than 150 people; not only were there many types of drums, large, medium, and small, but also hand drums, as well as large and small cymbals, large and small gongs, and other instruments.

The rhythm was cheerful and strong, the scene was lively, and there were even dancers waving colorful silk flags, weaving and changing with the drum team, imitating the confrontation between two armies.

This drum and music also had a long history, commonly known as "Majestic Gong and Drum," anciently called "Beating Drums to Assassinate Qin."

It seems they are all drums, but the meaning behind them is different.

Every drum and music passed down to this day has a brilliant history.

For example, the third team, the Ox-Pulling Drum from Xianyang, the drum sound was huge, and it needed an old ox to pull it; the huge drumstick struck down, like thunder roaring.

The age of this "Ox-Pulling Drum" can even be traced back to the Pre-Qin period.

The teams that followed also had their own merits.

Qishan Turning Drum can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty; King Zhou's late years of making rituals and music were used for ancient Zhou sacrificial marches...

Weinan Hongquan Drum, the drum-beating action integrates the style of Small Hongquan...

Ansai Waist Drum, because it has always been a place contested by military strategists, they used drums to report police, assist momentum, report emergencies, and also used drums for music...

The drum teams of other states also had a long history and extraordinary momentum.

For example, the team from Jinzhou, their sorcerers were funded by large merchant houses behind them and didn't lack money at all, making the scene extremely grand.

What they played was the Yicun Running Drum Car.

Yicun is the fief of the famous general Yuchi Jingde, also known as "E Gong Fort"; ten war cars marched in five columns, wheels rolling, giant drums roaring, both passionate and bold, and showing rugged wildness...

The Qilu team was the Changshao Drum and Music, which arose because of the "Battle of Changshao"; after Cao Gui discussed the battle, it was passed down through generations...

Ezhou was gong and drum majestic, but even more eye-catching was the lamp dragon circling around the god-tower; a team of a hundred people, each holding a section of the dragon body, and there were lanterns on it, which was the famous Hundred-Section Dragon.

They clearly put their minds into the night...

Li Yan also saw the Fire Bear Gang team.

This group of people, the god-tower was built higher than Manager Wan's, but they took a shortcut; many places were hollow, looking majestic and tall, but somewhat drifting.

But they had many people, a row of bare-chested big men, with dragons and tigers painted on their bodies, each carrying a large drum, and even wearing Nuo masks on their faces.

This is an ancient witch drum, which looks quite imposing.

Finally, the team reached Li Yan and the others.

"Brothers, lift the sedan!"

Following Guo Luquan's roar, all the men exerted their strength together, and the huge god-tower was immediately lifted slowly.

"Wind! Great wind!"

"Hey-ho, hey-ho!"

Manager Wan spent a lot of money, and the god-tower was built entirely of spiritual wood.

Although it looked no different from other teams on the outside, after inviting the gods to move in and performing the opening and prayer, it could be called a magic artifact.

Incense smoke rose, the momentum arose naturally, and the heavy divine charm rushed toward them.

Dong dong dong!

The Qin-Han war drum and music troupe immediately struck the war drums.

Qin-Han drum rhythm is divided into three parts: expedition, battle, and victory.

What is being played now is the expedition song, also called Slow Three Fires.

Although the drum rhythm is slow, it is majestic and heroic, just right to match the slogans of the sedan bearers; the entire team followed the drum sound, like a large army on an expedition.

Boom!

Just as they entered the city gate, the scorching heat rushed toward their faces.

One drum team after another roared, added to the fanatical shouting of the surrounding common people, and the entire Chang'an seemed to be shaken.

Li Yan could even feel the ground under his feet trembling.

The great affairs of the country are in war and sacrifice. The instrument of the drum, from ancient times to the present, has been related to war and sacrifice.

The Yellow Emperor fought Chiyou, made eighty Kui-ox drums, one shock of five hundred miles, three thousand eight hundred miles of continuous shocks...

"Book of Han" has eight sounds: earth is Xun, gourd is Sheng, skin is drum...

"Book of Songs" says: Play the drums simply, to please our ancestors... "Book of Changes" says: Drum it with thunder, moisten it with wind and rain...

This is the rhythm from the ancient bloodline.

Under the fanatical atmosphere of the Drum King Assembly, everyone's blood was surging, and all conspiracies, calculations, troubles, and worries were drowned out by the drum sound.

The earth shook, as if the God of Thunder had suddenly descended into the world.

Under such circumstances, Li Yan had long since thrown everything to the back of his mind; even though the Qin-Han war drums were fierce, in this violent ocean of drum sounds, they seemed insignificant, and even the rhythm was led into chaos.

"Follow me!"

Li Yan roared and directly took out the Cloud-Thunder Divine Drum.

His dark energy erupted, and he struck it abruptly.

Hum!

The drum sound was like thunder, shaking in all directions.

The entire team seemed to have a center of gravity, and the rhythm was no longer chaotic.

But even so, it was only barely maintained.

!.

Drums were sounding together in front and behind, and everyone only felt as if they were jolting in an ocean of drum sounds; if they were not careful, they would be in chaos.

And Li Yan was striking it one beat after another.

Under such circumstances, he also entered a state of self-forgetfulness.

Buddha emits a Great Cloud-Lei Yin, which is louder than ordinary thunder.

Once the Great Cloud-Lei Yin rings, heaven and earth hear it, as if the Buddha's law is saving all living beings. Cloud and thunder combine, also nourishing all things...

At this moment, Li Yan understood the true meaning of the Great Cloud-Lei Yin.

This sound is not only the intersection of yin and yang, but also originates from the heart; wherever the thunder sound reaches, the body feels as if the earth is being nourished, layer upon layer, continuous and endless...

Hum! Hum! Hum!

Accompanied by one thunder sound after another, the drum sound became louder and louder.

Even with the drum sounds of many teams ringing together, it couldn't cover it up, and the eyes of many common people were immediately attracted by their team.

"It's Yan Yan Xiao Ge Yan!"

Sha Lifei took off his dog-skin hat and shouted frantically.

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and smiled.

In the crowd in the distance, Li Shiqing's family, except for Li Kongqing who had to accompany the Prince in the Prince's Mansion, almost everyone else was there.

Lady Li heard the change in the drum sound, first surprised, listened carefully, and then a smile gradually appeared on her face, saying in a low voice: "Good boy, he succeeded..."

In the crowd, Hei Dan was also shouting loudly, excitedly saying to the people around him: "Did you see that, did you see that, that's my fellow villager, that's my brother..."

Some women from Pingkang Ward also came to join the fun, singing and dancing, attracting people around to look sideways; seeing Manager Wan's team coming over, someone with sharp eyes immediately discovered it and laughed:

"Look, that's Young Master Li!"

"Which Young Master Li?"

"It's that Young Master Li..."

"Hahaha, sure enough, he's a handsome little gentleman..."

They all carried flower baskets and immediately threw large handfuls of fresh flowers toward the team; armor, fresh flowers, and drum sounds were mixed together.

Zhao Wanfang watched from afar with a smile on her face.

Further away, Shen Sanyou stood in the crowd holding a wine pot, took a few sips, and then giggled foolishly, seemingly recalling something...

Many acquaintances were mixed in the crowd watching.

However, at this moment, Li Yan didn't see any of them.

He was completely lost in self-forgetfulness, striking the drum with dark energy, louder and louder.

When they reached the middle of Zhu Que Avenue, the rhythm of the drum sound changed abruptly, changing to the second song of the Qin-Han drum rhythm, Battle.

This song is passionate and majestic.

In the past, if Li Yan used dark energy to strike, he would often be unable to catch his breath after two strikes, and the rhythm would pause.

But at this time, he had understood the key to the Great Cloud-Lei Yin, and every time his dark energy erupted, his body felt as if it were being nourished, and a new force continued.

The use of dark energy actually had a continuous momentum.

The Cloud-Thunder Divine Drum immediately covered the surrounding drum sounds.

Of course, Li Yan didn't use the method of storing spirit.

After all, it is a magic artifact; if he used it recklessly, I'm afraid several drummers around would be shocked unconscious.

Using dark energy continuously without interruption caused his body to suffer damage; the muscles on his arms bulged, his skin turned red, and sweat dripped from his forehead.

At this moment, Li Yan had entered the Dao through drum-beating.

The mystery of the use of dark energy could be pierced at any time, so he didn't care about anything else, constantly repairing it with the Great Luo Dala Dala Fa Shen.

Li Yan could perceive that the so-called fascia is like a dense web, connecting all the structural tissues of the human body.

Using fascia vibration to exert force, gathering the strength of the whole body between gestures, is called Qi-membrane drum-swinging, wrapping the fascia into a circle.

This force, from the inside out, has many layers and is intertwined.

If you want dark energy to turn a thousand times, changing at will, you must form a new vibration when the old force is exhausted and the new force has not yet been born.

According to the "Military Classic," this is called breaking through the Yin-Yang knot.

Breaking through the Yin-Yang knot means stepping into the peak of dark energy.

Li Yan didn't understand before, but after understanding the key to the Great Cloud-Lei Yin this time, that force was continued by him.

Finally, it reached the third song of the Qin-Han drum rhythm, Victory.

This song is also called neither fast nor slow.

Two rhythms alternate, changing in many ways.

And Li Yan's drum sound also changed accordingly.

Vibration, rotation, rolling... various forces alternate.

Li Yan was also becoming more and more familiar with the changes in dark energy; the so-called thousand turns and a hundred folds are nothing more than this.

Dong!

Finally, the drum sound stopped.

Li Yan's eyes were blank, and he quickly regained consciousness.

The ancient palace walls in front of him were mottled, but they had already finished walking Zhu Que Avenue.

Behind him, there was still a mountain-shouting and sea-roaring sound, and the drums were roaring, but their team had finished the formality and stopped, and everyone was paralyzed on the ground.

"Yan Yan Xiao Ge Li, are you okay?"

Manager Wan saw his face was wrong and hurriedly inquired.

"It's okay, I'm very good!"

Li Yan laughed, and the dark injuries on his body were immediately repaired.

The Great Luo Dala Dala Fa Shen, which had already been strengthened, now had dense cracks, as if porcelain had cracked.

However, Li Yan didn't care at all.

Entering the Dao through drum-beating, he had officially stepped into the peak of dark energy.

Others want to reach this level, even if they are smart, their bodies must slowly adapt to avoid injury.

But he relied on the Great Luo Dala Dala Fa Shen to resist and survive.

Next, just follow the steps, master the true meaning of "not intentional, collapse upon touch," and meet circles with circles, meet squares with squares when fighting with others, and you can step into the level of transformation energy.

"Yan Yan Xiao Ge Yan!"

Sha Lifei and Wang Daoxuan also squeezed over.

"Hahaha..."

Manager Wan could clearly feel that at least this daytime scene didn't lose to anyone, so he was clearly very happy, "Everyone, let's go, I'll treat you, let's eat and drink enough, and continue at night!"

Carrying god-towers and beating war drums all consumed physical strength and spirit, and everyone was sweating profusely, but their spirits were even more excited.

Of course, they all knew that the night was the main event...

Only two chapters today.

(End of chapter)