Chapter 183

"Yuan Zhetian is dead?"

"Isn't that so? The bounty notices in Puxian and Shanyin have all been withdrawn, saying someone already took the head and collected the reward."

"Good fellow, which side did it?"

"Not a local snake, but a dragon crossing the river..."

As the most prominent swordsman on the Wei River road in the past two years, Yuan Zhetian's death immediately caused Jianghu people to discuss it.

When they learned that the ones killed also included three notorious heterodox sorcerers, many people immediately weighed it in their hearts and no longer coveted the bounty.

After all, wanting money more than life is an opportunity.

But if there's simply no chance,

That's called seeking death!

At the same time, Li Yan and the others had also arrived at the foot of Huashan...

"Huashan has been a divine mountain since ancient times."

Wang Daoxuan wore a bamboo hat, held a wooden staff, and wiped the sweat from his forehead, "The *Classic of Mountains and Seas* says: Mount Taihua is carved into a square shape, five thousand ren high, ten li wide, no birds or beasts live there, there is a snake, named 'Fei Yi', six feet and four wings, and when it appears, there is a great drought in the world."

"The *Tribute of Yu* also once said that Huashan is the place where the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan met the immortals......"

As he spoke, the towering mountain already stood before them, the peaks steep and sharp, the momentum magnificent. Especially since the first lunar month hadn't passed, the snow on the mountain hadn't melted, the black and white were vast, clouds and mist swirled, making it look even more divine.

Li Yan felt it even more deeply.

He could smell that the innate Gang Sha Qi was integrated, fierce and towering, like a giant tripod standing between heaven and earth, the majestic momentum hitting his face, making his chest feel a bit stuffy.

"The prestige of the Western Peak is truly extraordinary."

Li Yan couldn't help but praise, "Legend has it that the Western Peak is a single giant rock, and unexpectedly, the innate Gang Qi is also integrated, combined with gold, the creation of heaven and earth."

Seeing this divine mountain, everyone looked forward to the Huashan trip even more, hurriedly speeding up their pace. After all, the danger of Huashan is famous throughout the world, and the road up the mountain is not that easy.

Huashan has been an important place for sacrifices since ancient times, and there are many temples at the foot of the mountain, some built in the Tang Dynasty, and the earliest ones were built in the Qin and Han Dynasties, leaving only ruins.

This place is sacred, and even when the Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom invaded the south, they didn't dare to cause any damage, so it is still preserved quite completely.

There were many pedestrians on the road, and when they reached the foot of the mountain, it was even more noisy.

Beside the temples entering the mountain, the common people were holding a Shehuo festival.

Men carried iron frames on their shoulders, on which stood children dressed in theatrical costumes, painted with greasepaint, dressed as various immortal and divine figures...

There were also common people who used wooden boards to build four or five-story frames, with various shapes, some high, some upside down, some horizontal, all taking dangerous stances, feeling like they were swaying and would collapse at any time.

And on the frames, there were also many people dressed in theatrical costumes, either standing still or walking up and down, like immortals walking on clouds......

Besides this, there were people performing historical stories, all related to ghosts and gods, and even using props to imitate bloody scenes like piercing, beheading, and chopping off hands......

As for things like running dry boats, there are countless others.

Peddlers were busy making snacks, some common people were sightseeing and cheering, but more were burning incense devoutly, smoke swirling.

"Young Hero Li!"

In the noisy crowd, an old man suddenly walked over.

Li Yan saw this and hurriedly cupped his hands and smiled, "Zhou Banzhu Zuo, it's truly fate. What are you doing here?"

The visitor was none other than the troupe leader of the Huayin shadow puppet troupe.

"This is our Huayin tradition."

Zhou Banzhu Zuo introduced with a smile, "Every year from the Shangyuan Festival to the second day of the second lunar month, every village in Huayin will come here to hold a Shehuo festival. That is 'Tianxinzi', that is 'Blood Shehuo'. Since the ancient kings prayed for rain and sacrifices, the custom has continued to this day without interruption."

"The few of you are going up the mountain, right? Shopkeeper Wan and the others came a few days ago. I'm afraid you are the latest."

"The snow on the mountain road hasn't melted, be sure to be careful."

"Many thanks, Senior, we will go up the mountain now."

After saying goodbye to Zhou Banzhu Zuo, the group immediately sped up.

Passing by the Shehuo team, a scholar-looking man in the crowd turned his head unintentionally, his eyes lit up, and he waved,

"Great Hero Li, Great Hero Li!"

He shouted while running over.

Li Yan turned his head and was a bit surprised, "Are you that Yan... scholar?"

"I am Yan Jiuling!"

The scholar bowed and cupped his hands respectfully.

It was exactly the scholar Li Yan had accidentally saved at Mount Tianzhu.

Li Yan was a bit surprised, "You scholar, weren't you going to the capital for the imperial examination? Why are you still in Shanzhou?"

Yan Jiuling hurriedly replied, "I visited elders in Chang'an during the New Year and stayed for many days. Thinking that I shouldn't miss the scenery of the Western Peak when I leave, I came here on the way."

"Oh, be careful on the road."

Li Yan nodded perfunctorily and turned to leave.

"Young Master, Young Master!"

The scholar just wanted to talk, but the book boy squeezed through the crowd, pulled his sleeve, and whispered, "Young Master, these are all Jianghu people who kill without blinking. Let's go up the mountain later."

"With a clear conscience, what's there to fear!"

Yan Jiuling didn't care, laughing freely, "Those few have the style of heroes. It's not easy to meet them, so I should get to know them."

With that, he shook off the book boy and chased after them quickly.

"Aiya!"

The book boy Zhu Mo stomped his feet in anger, but there was nothing he could do, so he had to follow closely behind.

"Great Hero Li, please wait a moment."

Yan Jiuling chased after them, panting, and said with a smile, "I happen to be going up the mountain too, why not go together?"

Li Yan was a bit speechless, "If I remember correctly, you are a Juren, right? You will be an official in the future. We are on the same road but different paths. Why must we go together?"

He naturally had other meanings in these words.

The officialdom is complicated, the Jianghu road is slippery, and their styles of conduct are completely different. Moreover, they had many secrets. Meeting by chance is enough; getting too entangled would be trouble.

Yan Jiuling's face was embarrassed, not knowing what to say.

And Sha Lifei beside him rolled his eyes, "Young Brother Yan, since it's fate, we are fellow travelers. Going up the mountain together is fine."

"This Juren master, I am Sha Lifei."

Li Yan saw this and knew Sha Lifei wanted to build a relationship again. He didn't oppose it anymore, nodding, "Very well. The mountain road is slippery, we can look after each other."

With that, he continued to walk forward quickly.

And Sha Lifei soon started chatting with Yan Jiuling.

"Sir is so young and already a Juren, I admire you. You will definitely be on the golden list in the future."

"Great Hero is too polite, the junior just had good luck."

"You can't pass the Juren exam with just good luck. Where is Mr. Yan's home?"

"Ezhou."

"Oh, Ezhou is a good place..."

Sha Lifei was eloquent, and with constant flattery, he soon chatted enthusiastically with Yan Jiuling.

His purpose was also very simple. Anyone who can pass the Juren exam since the establishment of the Great Xuan Dynasty is definitely not a simple person, at least a wealthy squire in the local area.

He could ask for some information on the way, and maybe have a chance to get a job or talk about business.

After all, they made too much of a scene in Chang'an, and this area of Guanzhong would probably be hard to stay in from now on.

After the Huashan trip, they would leave.

Lu San, although already familiar with the three, still felt unnatural with a stranger in the team, so he whispered, "I'll go one step ahead and scout the road."

Seeing Li Yan nod, he accelerated and left.

"Eh!"

Sha Lifei was a bit anxious, "Why is this Lu San running around again? Huashan is so big, what if we get separated?" "Hahaha..." Yan Jiuling beside him laughed, "Don't worry, Sha Daxia is from Guanzhong, haven't you heard that Huashan has only one road since ancient times?"

"What's the story behind this?"

"It's not really a story. Although Huashan has been sacrificed to by people through the ages, because the mountain is steep and dangerous, it's usually at the foot of the mountain. It wasn't until the Tang Dynasty when there were more hermits and Daoists that dangerous paths were gradually opened, so there is only one road up the mountain..."

"This... that's not right."

"What's not right?"

"The Daoist just said that the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan once met the immortals here. Could it be that they flew up?"

"This... perhaps. But there were people who went up before."

"Who?"

"During the time of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, he ordered craftsmen to use hook-ladders to climb the mountain for sacrifices, but it was to compete with others, and no road was built."

"Competing with whom?"

!.

"King Wuling of Zhao ordered craftsmen to build hook-ladders to climb Mount Bowu, carved a huge footprint, and carved words beside it: 'The Zhao Lord once visited here'."

"When King Zhaoxiang heard this, he thought this was too much, it was too boastful, so he ordered craftsmen to go up the mountain, took the core wood of pine and cypress to make a huge chessboard, and carved words: 'Zhaoxiang once played chess with the heavenly gods here'..."

"Hahaha, these two old men are really funny."

"To tell you the truth, I once made a great vow to step on all the famous mountains and great rivers, and carve 'Ezhou Jiuling visited here' on the top of every mountain..."

This Yan Jiuling was indeed learned, citing classics along the way, talking eloquently, which made even Wang Daoxuan listen with relish, making the mountain climbing road no longer boring.

But as they walked, he also closed his mouth.

Without any other reason, it was cold in the mountains, the snow hadn't melted, and the stone paths were often covered with ice. After falling a few times, Yan Jiuling rubbed his buttocks and became honest.

Arriving at this place, there were only them left among the pedestrians in the mountains.

The mountains on both sides were towering, empty and uninhabited, with occasional ape cries, melodiously echoing, like the wailing of wild ghosts in the mountains.

Just then, arguing sounds suddenly came from ahead.

"It's Lu San!"

Li Yan whispered and accelerated immediately.

He had been accommodating everyone, but now he exerted his full strength, Dark Jin erupted, galloping and jumping, disappearing in a flash.

Seeing this, the others also hurriedly accelerated.

Li Yan soon arrived at the scene, but saw a pond beside the mountain road, cold waterfalls pouring down, the giant rocks in the pool uneven, the scene magnificent.

Lu San stood by the pool, holding a bone-mace, his face full of defense.

And around him, there were four Daoists, all wearing the common black Daoist robes of the Grand Void Gate, long swords drawn, surrounding Lu San.

"There are actually accomplices!"

Li Yan hadn't figured out the situation yet, but the leading Daoist glared and scolded, "Carrying Dharma artifacts, it seems they are all heterodox sorcerers, truly with evil intentions, actually daring to come to Huashan to cause trouble!"

"Take him down!"

At the order, two Daoists held swords and attacked.

"What's the rush? Speak clearly first!"

Li Yan saw this and shook his head, signaling Lu San not to act rashly, and at the same time took a step back, asking the Daoist.

Who knew that the leading Daoist was completely impolite, scolding, "Stop talking nonsense, surrender first!"

Clang! Clang!

Two sword lights followed.

Li Yan saw this, and fire rose in his heart.

The Daoists of the Grand Void Gate he had seen, although different in personality, mostly acted properly. This was the first time he had seen such a domineering one.

Immediately, he was no longer polite.

The two attacking Daoists were not old, and although they were only at the peak of Ming Jin and hadn't stepped into Dark Jin, their sword skills were truly extraordinary.

The two had erratic footwork, their swords light and agile, like flying birds in the mountains, neither blocking nor welcoming, their sword flowers shaking, attacking vital points directly.

Li Yan had heard of the fame of Huashan sword skills from Luo Mingzi.

They belonged to the Pure Yang Temple lineage of the Grand Void Gate, practicing martial arts as the main focus and mystic arts as a supplement, and there were many personnel in the Law Enforcement Hall.

They mainly practiced Pure Yang Fist and Pure Yang Sword.

The names are simple, but they are extremely profound Daoist martial arts.

Predecessors had poems describing their sword skills: "Turning the sky startles flying birds, rolling on the ground doesn't stain dust, once scattered, the whole body is hands, only seeing sword light, not seeing people."

The fame is indeed well-deserved.

These two looked like Daoist children, but their sword skills were truly extraordinary, and the two cooperated to complement each other's sword moves, with no flaws at all.

Of course, their internal power was far behind.

Li Yan just retreated one step. When the two's sword momentum weakened, he suddenly exerted Dark Jin, stepped forward with his right foot, and instantly approached the side of the two.

And in the eyes of the crowd, he seemed to have shrunk the earth into an inch; he stepped across a distance of several meters.

This is a unique trick Li Yan stole.

At the year-end gathering of the Chang'an Divine Fist Society, Zhang Shitong was teased by an old senior from Ezhou, and someone came to help, appearing to walk normally but actually shrinking the earth into an inch.

This is a tricky method, which is to exert Dark Jin from the ankle backward when performing footwork, while the body remains unchanged.

If used properly, it can form a visual illusion.

It looks like the legendary shrinking of the earth into an inch.

Red Fist emphasizes "transforming the body into strangeness," combined with sideways shoulder-shifting, left is not left, right is not right, retreating is advancing, advancing has retreating, and the changes are extremely fast.

This method is just right for Red Fist, so after Li Yan saw it, he practiced secretly on weekdays and integrated it into his footwork, making the strange even stranger.

The two Daoist children were shocked, but they couldn't react at all.

Li Yan turned his body sideways, entered between the two, grabbed their wrists with both hands, and with a rolling reverse-pulling force, the two spun and fell to the ground.

"Audacious!"

The leading Daoist had sharp features and glared, immediately attacking with his sword.

His sword skills were clearly a level higher.

Li Yan had no choice but to take out his long saber to deal with it.

His saber technique relied on speed, combined with the military techniques passed down by his grandfather, Dark Jin erupting, faster than the Daoist's moves.

Clang clang clang!

A series of saber and sword collisions made the crowd dizzy.

However, Li Yan was secretly shocked.

Every move he made used Dark Jin, continuous, the saber momentum fierce, wanting to deflect the opponent's long sword.

However, every time, it was like hitting cotton.

This is not only the reason for the sword skills, but also high-level unloading techniques.

No wonder this Daoist is so domineering; it turns out that like him, he has stepped into the peak of Dark Jin and touched the threshold of Transformation Jin.

Although the Daoist was a bit surprised, he didn't care at all. With a sneer, he held the sword in his right hand and changed the formula with his left hand.

It's thunder magic!

Li Yan smelled something wrong and also pinched the formula with his left hand.

Boom!

Taking advantage of the gap when the saber and sword collided and deflected, the two simultaneously struck out with their left palms, and the two palms collided, making a muffled sound.

Li Yan only felt a fierce Gang Qi attacking, his surrounding Qi was unstable, and he retreated repeatedly, narrowing his eyes:

"Palm Thunder?"

The Daoist was also dizzy, his footsteps staggering, his hair standing on end, his beard crackling with electric light, retreating a few steps, looking at Li Yan in disbelief.

"Yin Thunder Palm?"

(End of chapter)