[{"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-22":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},2262327,4415,"Chapter 22: The Corner of the Profound Heaven Ice Mountain","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-22",22,"\u003Cp>Upon hearing of the Cold Altar’s changbing, Wang Daoxuan’s expression changed abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan had been watching his expression all along; seeing this, he finally relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mentioned it directly—that was a test of the waters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Wang Daoxuan had given him a good first impression, he was clearly destitute; if he hadn’t even heard of the Cold Altar’s changbing, then some matters weren’t worth telling him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be frank, I’ve run into some trouble…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once confirmed that the man was an insider, Li Yan stopped beating around the bush and laid out the entire matter of the Cold Altar’s changbing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the world is treacherous; one speaks only three-tenths of the truth to any stranger, so he concealed several key details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, the widow Wang—he called her merely a village shamaness who vanished mysteriously, offering no further details, to avoid dragging her into trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were fleeing enemies; one must not repay kindness with betrayal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the talismanic curse on the plaque.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This involved family vendettas; caution was essential, for the shadowy hand might well be tied to someone from the Profound Heaven Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The substitute spirit statue—he would reveal nothing of it to anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for his sense of smell’s spiritual power, he disclosed everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan listened carefully, first puzzled, then frowning in thought, finally fixing Li Yan with eyes full of disbelief, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your bazi must be extremely hard!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hard fate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a substitute spirit statue, one’s fate was certainly hard enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan quickly bowed and clasped his hands: “I beg the Daoist to enlighten me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan pondered a moment, then shook his head: “Enough. Since you’ve awakened your spiritual power, you’re destined for the Profound Heaven Sect. Besides, this isn’t a secret—if you ask around, you’ll find out anyway. I might as well tell you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When speaking of changbing, one must first mention the armies of the Profound Heaven Sect—whether orthodox sects, regional lineages, or even some heretical paths, all establish altars and cultivate armies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The types of armies are numerous: the lu-bing of orthodox sects, the she-ling bingma of city god and earth god temples, the wufang wuying yinbing of regional lineages, the wulu xianbing of spirit-mediums, the wutong bingma of folk superstitions…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These armies are formless and invisible, unseen by ordinary people; masters can summon them to scour mountains, smash temples, exorcise demons, fight other masters, even take lives…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The origins of changbing are many and hard to list at once, but their defining trait is fierce, unruly temperaments—and yet their power is considerable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for Cold Altars, they are altars whose lineages have gone extinct, with no disciples to inherit the incense offerings, leaving them as abandoned, cold temples.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many maintain changbing, but there’s a problem: once incense offerings cease, they go wild, attaching themselves to beasts or humans, roaming to seek blood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mused: “In Guanzhong, the Great Xuan Orthodox Sect conducts regular mountain sweeps and temple demolitions; Cold Altars are rare. This changbing likely comes from the Qinling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That Cold Altar’s changbing is as fierce as a deadly ghost. Though you’ve awakened your spiritual power and have someone guiding you on how to counter it, surviving means your fate is undeniably hard!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan mused: “Are such armies common among the Profound Heaven Sect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan nodded: “The Great Xuan Orthodox Sect possesses lu-bing—no one knows their exact number, but they’re certainly vast. They’re called heavenly soldiers and generals; otherwise, how could they lead the orthodox sects and be perpetually supported by the imperial court?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not to mention regional lineages—some ancient lineages have tens of thousands of ancestral armies, not to mention countless unknown folk sects. The total number of armies across the land is incalculable…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan was stunned, unable to calm his thoughts for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single Cold Altar’s changbing nearly killed him; if there were thousands or tens of thousands, the thought alone sent chills down his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t help asking: “If the Profound Heaven Sect’s power is this terrifying, isn’t ruling the world effortless?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not that easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan snorted, shaking his head: “Though armies are numerous, only those with sufficient cultivation can command them. To control millions, you need many high-ranking masters performing grand rituals—sometimes taking days just to prepare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, the Dao maintains balance; armies aren’t invincible. For instance, if you hide inside a city god or earth god temple with abundant incense, even small-scale armies can’t enter…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Profound Heaven Sect has countless methods; armies are merely one among them…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And every great mountain, river, and sacred cave gathers primordial yang energy. Take Mount Tai, the foremost of the Five Sacred Peaks—who dares summon armies to besiege it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not only would the altar explode, but the armies might turn on their master, even awakening the spirits within…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan exclaimed: “There are truly gods?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan nodded: “Naturally. But they’re nothing like the tales in folk stories. Their complexity—even high masters of orthodox sects can’t fully understand them, let alone this half-baked Daoist?” Li Yan’s eyes lit with curiosity: “And… immortals?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan sighed: “Long life is illusion; the path to immortality is distant. Though legends of immortals exist, most are only names heard, never seen. I dare not speculate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan asked again: “After cultivation, can one fly through the sky, vanish into earth, chase the moon, crush stars? Or extend life by hundreds of years?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan was speechless: “Even the leader of the orthodox sect lacks such power. When death comes, even he must face the Dao Ancestor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he felt thirsty and picked up the cold tea beside him and drank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan fell silent a moment, though disappointed, still asked: “Master Wang, I’ve awakened my spiritual power. Could you recommend me to the Great Xuan Orthodox Sect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pfft!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan spat out his tea, coughing for a long while before shaking his head: “Even if your fate is hard, you can’t expect all good fortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All who cultivate the Profound Heaven Sect must practice spirit contemplation. The older one is, the more scattered the thoughts become, making entry harder. Thus, whether orthodox sects or regional lineages, most recruit children for training.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Some folk lineages, when encountering children who spontaneously awaken spiritual power, will go to great lengths to take them in. The orthodox sects have their own exclusive procedures and never lack disciples.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckled bitterly: “There are many who awaken late—like myself. Refusing to accept fate, I forced my way in. Ten years drained my fortune; I went from Master Wang the shopkeeper to Old Wang the dullard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After all that hardship to enter, though I call myself Daoxuan, to fellow cultivators I’m still a joke—unworthy of the highest halls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want to resolve your troubles, it’s simple. I know the temple keeper of the local city god temple; I can arrange a ritual to seal your yang six senses’ spiritual power—enough to live as an ordinary person, unseen by evil spirits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you truly insist on joining the Great Xuan Orthodox Sect, they’ll seal your power too, making you a lowly Daoist who burns incense and sweeps floors, reciting the Huangting Scripture daily—this too is the path to detachment from the mortal world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan fell silent a moment, then looked up: “I… refuse to accept fate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Refusing fate is good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard: “If everyone accepted fate, how could the world turn, dynasties rise and fall, and humanity avoid stagnation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I possess the method of spirit contemplation—not from the orthodox sect, but a thousand-year-old lineage. If you succeed in spirit contemplation, you’ll gain full control over your spiritual power, even learn simple techniques.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan, deeply grateful, said quickly: “Master, how much for your method?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen that though Wang Daoxuan was destitute, he held upright intentions and treated others sincerely—he wouldn’t deceive with false methods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan sighed: “When I entered, I spent every coin, begged everyone I knew. I got no true method—only repeated deception. In despair, I met a dying wandering Daoist who gave me the true method, asking only that I preserve the incense lineage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could I charge for this single strand of incense? And whether it brings you fortune or misfortune is still unknown—if you fail spirit contemplation and attract evil spirits, won’t I have harmed you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I dare not take money for this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he rose and took a booklet from the bookshelf behind him: “This is the secret text. I copied it several times, carefully cross-checked—no errors. If you have questions, ask freely; I’ll answer honestly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan still found it hard to believe: “Master, what if I’m a villain? What if I learn this art and turn to evil?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan laughed silently: “You’re a man of the Jianghu. If you learned ordinary martial arts, you could kill too—but would you kill recklessly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even the Profound Heaven Sect has rules. The Great Xuan Orthodox Sect’s Enforcement Hall isn’t a joke. The laws of the Great Xuan Empire bind even its cultivators.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan breathed easier, took the book, and saw on its cover: The True Scripture of the Western Profound Cave of the Netherworld. Opening it, dense script filled the pages: “The way of spirit contemplation: avoid unclean company, dwell in deep seclusion, nurture essence, tread emptiness, fix your mind, visualize clearly, guard subtlety, maintain stillness, calm the soul, stabilize the body—then all harm cannot touch you, a hundred ghosts flee, a thousand demons dare not approach…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His head spun; he set it aside for now and said: “I have another matter. Do you remember Sha Li Fei?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sha Li Fei?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan frowned, puzzled, straining to recall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That fellow was definitely bluffing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan had expected this, describing: “Bald head, full of thick facial hair, big beard, loves to brag, talks nonsense…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan suddenly remembered: “Yes, years ago, I met that Master Sha once—we talked at length.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He invited me to drink in Chang’an’s Zuihua Pavilion, brought several courtesans. Then, while I was drunk, he slipped away alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I nearly got beaten up—luckily, the brothel had a spirit haunting it, and I performed an exorcism to settle the debt…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, is Master Sha coming to pay up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1715,"2026-06-19T18:28:32.159Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7232055279413b9b20e6f0c583e7f86a027c1372afba3670e7509ff8d2b89632","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-23","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-21",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]