Chapter 400: White Dew Ghost Rain Before

"Redirect the calamity eastward?"

After hearing this, Qin Qin Zhihai's expression darkened.

He was short, wrapped his head in black cloth, wore a dark blue short robe, and hung various bone pendants on his chest—typical Miao attire.

Though dressed in luxurious garments, he had lost one eye.

The Right Minister of the Heavenly Saint Sect was right, but he bluntly refused in stiff official speech: "No. Grudges must be settled personally. Unless I kill that brat with my own hands, my hatred won't be quenched!"

"This…"

Upon hearing this, the Right Minister grew uneasy.

To be honest, he looked down on Qin Qin Zhihai before him; anyone could see the Princess of the Tusi City had no interest in this one-eyed dragon—it was all one-sided obsession.

Moreover, this man was a complete scoundrel.

Earlier, in front of others, he had been courteous, but as soon as the Heavenly Saint Sect fell on hard times, he immediately put on airs.

But there was no choice: this Jing-Xiang uprising had essentially failed.

Even if they succeeded in reviving the Heavenly Saint Duke, their only remaining path now was to seek refuge with the Tusi City and jointly face the imperial army.

Living under another's roof, they could only bow their heads for now.

Thinking of this, the Right Minister suppressed his anger and urged gently: "Brother Qin, calm yourself. We too harbor deep hatred for that brat, but we must prioritize the greater good."

Qin Qin Zhihai cast him a cold glance, clearly not intending to listen.

"Enough quarreling! It's settled!"

Suddenly, an aged voice rang out from beside them.

The speaker wore a Confucian robe, his hair snow-white, eyes bloodshot, expression cold.

In fact, Li Yan had met this man before.

Back in Xiangyang City, during the plague lockdown, when the people rioted, he had been stopped by Master Lu of Longzhong Academy—later they learned he was Zhao Zhao Changsheng's secret agent planted in Xiangyang.

The once-feared Nanmu King of Xiangyang had been beheaded by this man, and his monstrous remains turned into the source of the plague.

He was the leader of the Ghost Sect in Xiangyang City.

Hearing his decision, Qin Qin Zhihai of the Tusi City, though resentful, bowed his head and dared say no more.

The Ghost Sect and the Heavenly Saint Sect were two different matters.

The Song Dynasty's Ghost Sect's reputation needed no explanation—it was a true demonic sect that had plunged Shenzhou into chaos; even the Maitreya Sect had to yield.

Now, their sect master Zhao Zhao Changsheng appeared and vanished at will, placing moves everywhere; the unrest in the southwest was his doing, and no one dared offend him.

Especially since the Tusi City needed his help to resurrect one of their ancestors, Qin Qin Zhihai well understood his power.

Seeing this, the Heavenly Saint Sect's Right Minister exhaled in relief and bowed respectfully: "Master Lu, what else should we do?"

Master Lu lifted his eyelids slightly and said calmly: "Your plan is sound. Whether that brat or the 'White Duke,' neither is worth fearing—just incite them to fight each other."

"The key is the Dragon-Channeling Ditch. I've observed the heavens: these past few mornings, purple light has cast radiant rays—that's the 'Sun-Supporting' omen. Combined with the White Dew Ghost Rain Day, thunderstorms will surely bring disaster."

"Time is short—the ditch must be dug quickly!"

Saying this, he turned to Qin Qin Zhihai beside him: "Brother Qin, you excel at controlling beasts—deliver the message to the 'White Duke.' Consider it your own vengeance."

"I must leave for several days. When I return, your sect's 'Heavenly Saint Duke' will accompany me!"

"Thank you, Master Lu!"

All within the tent of the Heavenly Saint Sect wore expressions of joy.

Reviving the "Heavenly Saint Duke" was their long-planned goal; at this moment, his return would surely stabilize their morale.

As long as they used the fleeing dragon to break out, they might yet carve out a new foundation in this southwestern chaos!

Not long after, three figures appeared beyond the dense forest: Qin Qin Zhihai, Master Lu, and Wang Wang Hufa.

Wang Wang Hufa knew Qin Qin Zhihai held grudges; having been humiliated inside the tent, he might already be seething, so he flattered him: "Brother Qin, the Tusi City's Wu Nu rituals are renowned. You've become a 'Tu Lao Si'—you'll surely be the next city lord."

In the Tusi City, the position of "Tu Lao Si" was equivalent to a high priest; in the Tujia language, it was called "Tima," meaning "one who reveres the gods," wielding immense power.

Many Tusi lords also held the title of Tu Lao Si.

At this moment, Qin Qin Zhihai had changed attire: he wore a phoenix crown, a flowered jacket, and an eight-panel silk skirt.

Around his waist hung a ritual knife, bronze bells, and a buffalo horn trumpet; in his hand he carried a five-colored willow staff.

Hearing Wang Wang Hufa's praise, his expression softened slightly: "It's nothing. I simply haven't had time to be formally enfeoffed, given our war with the imperial court."

Saying this, he pulled from behind him a wooden nu mask—simple lines, ancient and eerie, inlaid with animal fur around its edges.

After donning the mask, he began to dance the Nu dance.

Unlike Lu San's ancient Chu Nu dance, Qin Qin Zhihai's was more primal and wild—he shook his head and swayed, brandishing the five-colored willow staff, chanting the name "Mei Chang Lie Shen"…

Soon, rustling echoed from the pitch-black forest, and a leopard emerged, wary yet fearful, reluctant yet slowly approaching.

*Snap! *

Qin Qin Zhihai struck its head with his staff, then bent low, muttering in the upper tongue.

The leopard's eyes quickly glazed over, then it turned and darted into the forest, heading toward the direction of the Shenkui tribe.

"Done!"

Qin Qin Zhihai removed the mask and said coldly: "Message delivered. What if the 'White Duke' doesn't take the bait?"

"Hahaha…"

Wang Wang Hufa laughed reassuringly: "Brother Qin, don't worry. If it fails, I'll personally lead men to capture that brat!"

At that moment, Master Lu beside them spoke: "Enough. I must leave. Remember—guard the Dragon-Channeling Ditch at all costs."

Saying this, he walked alone toward the deep western mountains.

Though the old scholar appeared frail, he employed some divine-speed technique—his feet unleashed continuous bursts of hidden force, his body surrounded by howling yin winds, like a ghost of the night forest, moving with astonishing speed.

An hour later, he arrived at the foot of Shennong Peak.

Around him, stone forests rose thickly, bamboo seas shimmered green, jagged rocks littered the ground, hidden in thick mist, the dim light resembling a ghost realm.

Here, even Master Lu grew cautious. He lifted a lantern, lit it, and it glowed with a faint green flame.

The lantern was made of bamboo in the "Huogulu" style, common at Chang'an's lantern festivals, but covered in white parchment.

Stranger still, the white parchment bore a painted deity: a middle-aged man with white beard and black eyebrows, clad in black robes, below him two enormous chicken-claw feet—this was the Ghost Sect's demonic god, Ran Tong.

Ran Tong's teachings were the "Tongyou Zhao Changsheng Art," masterful at controlling all manner of ghosts and spirits, and skilled in transformation and stealing incense offerings.

This lantern was clearly a magical artifact.

Once lit, the thick mist around them shimmered faintly, as if something was rapidly dispersing.

Master Lu didn't look ahead—he simply walked forward, holding the lantern.

The faint green flame within flickered, now west, now east, as if guiding the way.

He walked for an unknown length of time, until suddenly before him appeared a cave, surrounded by jagged rocks, barren of any vegetation—it was a stone forest.

The cave was dark, wind howling like ghostly wails and wolfish cries.

Master Lu entered without hesitation.

After passing through the cave briefly, he suddenly came upon a stone grotto, surrounded by firepots, with a small pool at its center.

Beside the pool, several figures sat cross-legged. Most striking was a monster: hairless, skin pale and smooth, blood-red nails, fangs bared, face grotesque as a demon, draped in a blood-red robe.

It was Huang Huang Liushi, who had resurrected using an un-decayed corpse.

Beside him were Ghost Sect cultivators; the most formidable was Ge Lai Chong, the treasure-seeker from Xiangxi's Probing the Abyss lineage.

At this moment, he too had cold skin, covered in corpse spots; having cultivated the "Tongyou Zhao Changsheng Art," he had fully transformed into an "Old Yin Man."

Together with Master Lu, they represented the entire Ghost Sect force of Ezhou.

"Hail, Master Huang!"

Master Lu bowed respectfully.

Huang Huang Liushi slowly turned his head, his blood-red eyes filled with coldness: "How is it going over there?"

Master Lu replied gravely: "The Heavenly Saint Sect has deployed demonic troops to disrupt the area around Baokang, but the Dragon-Subduing Lord has yet to detect the Black-Scale Duke. The Dragon-Channeling Ditch is nearly complete—three days from now is the time of the fleeing dragon."

"All water demons have lain low, awaiting the day of the fleeing dragon to stir up storms."

!.

"Hmm. Good."

Huang Huang Liushi nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied: "The sect master ordered us to create a great commotion—there must be another plan. Don't be careless."

He glanced at the pool: "The Heavenly Saint Sect obtained the method of immortalizing through demonic bodies, hunting beasts everywhere to build their demonic army—but they don't realize they're merely making clothes for us."

"The demonic god Yuan Yuan Zimei has already escaped two demonic qi, attaching them to the 'Heavenly Saint Duke,' and once he reaches the Tusi City, he will fully control the situation and reassemble the Ghost Sect's banner!"

In the pool, countless herbs, unknown bones, and flesh had been piled, dyeing the entire pool crimson.

At the pool's center lay a massive, tai-sui-like mass of flesh, shaped like a coffin; under the firelight, a human silhouette seemed curled within…

…………

The next day, dawn barely broke.

The bonfire atop the mountain was nearly extinguished.

"Ahh~"

Sha Sha Li Fei stretched and yawned, then scratched his head: "Made it through another night. The wind picked up in the late hours—gave me a headache."

He glanced beside him and saw Li Yan, face grim, staring at the sky. Curious, he asked: "Young Master Li, what's wrong?"

"The sky's darkening."

Li Yan said gravely: "It's autumn now, but the weather feels off—there's going to be a heavy thunderstorm."

Sha Sha Li Fei, quick-witted, instantly understood: "You mean the Heavenly Saint Sect will strike soon?"

Li Yan looked toward the distance: "They don't have much time…"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly spun around: "Grab your weapons!"

Sha Sha Li Fei jolted awake and immediately looked up.

In the distance, toward the direction of the Shenkui tribe, several dark dots flew out of the dark clouds, speeding toward them.

They were large in size—human-faced owls.

The bonfire atop the mountain could not be hidden from them; they flapped their wings violently and arrived above Li Yan and the others in an instant.

"Damn it, how did these things show up?!"

Sha Sha Li Fei quickly grabbed the Divine Fire Gun beside him, loaded the magazine, and aimed at the sky.

But as before, these human-faced owls were cunning, circling high above and refusing to descend.

At this distance, the Divine Fire Gun had no accuracy.

They squawked wildly, drawing more human-faced owls; a rough count revealed over a dozen, circling overhead.

As if sensing the threat, the human-faced owls maintained a steady altitude, their eyes fixed on the group with cold, malicious intent.

"Fuck you!"

Wu Ba, beside him, had also woken up, snatched up a stone, and hurled it with all his might.

Wu Ba's brute strength was unmatched; his shoulders, back, and arms swelled with muscle, and the stone shot out like a cannonball, with astonishing force.

Yet, it was dodged again; the owls cackled loudly, soaring up and down as if mocking their helplessness.

Worse still, Wu Ba's thrown stone seemed to alert them—immediately, several human-faced owls flew away.

When they returned, their massive single claws gripped stones, each as large as a washbasin, which they hurled downward.

Stones rained down; Li Yan's face darkened as he easily dodged them, while Wu Ba swung his fists, shattering the stones outright.

Li Yan was unafraid of such attacks, but he felt helpless.

Whether in martial arts or spellcraft, he excelled only in close combat—his ranged attack methods were nonexistent.

To deal with these things, there was the "Northern Emperor's Treasure Vessel Method," specifically designed to suppress and capture mountain spirits, wild demons, and malevolent energies—but it required a Treasure Vessel artifact, which he had not yet learned.

Seeing the stones had no effect, the human-faced owls changed tactics: they flapped their wings, raised their heads, and squawked shrilly, piercing shrieks echoing across the land.

Whoosh!

The surrounding forest birds took flight in panic, as if controlled, swarming en masse toward the mountaintop.

The Shenkui tribe excelled at controlling beasts and spirit-animals.

Naturally, the human-faced owls could use this technique too.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Li Yan's Three-Cornered Demon-Suppressing Coin Knife tassels shook, spreading killing intent; the birds were startled and scattered quickly—but driven by the owls, they turned back.

Both sides were locked in stalemate; the birds atop the mountain surged and receded like tides.

Boom!

Sha Sha Li Fei finally couldn't hold back and fired a shot.

As expected, at this distance, the Divine Fire Gun had long lost its accuracy—even with buckshot, not a single bird was hit.

The human-faced owls were startled, flapping upward; the surrounding birds lost control and fled swiftly, yet the owls never left.

Inside the cave, Wang Wang Daoxuan, seated before the altar, had sensed it all and immediately picked up a straw figure, formed a hand seal, inscribed a talisman, and inserted a suppressive coin into its abdomen.

This suppressive coin was unusual: entirely hollowed out, carved with two vermilion birds, their feet resting on engraved crabapple blossoms.

This coin was called the "Twin Phoenix Climbing Flower Coin," depicting two vermilion birds.

The vermilion bird symbolized fire; if buried within a yang dwelling, birds dared not approach casually—commonly used in government granaries. But after being refined and long saturated with yin-evil energy, it had become a rare cursed coin.

After the Eastern Lake Ancestor died, a large number of suppressive flower coins were found in his stomach; the Three-Cornered Demon-Suppressing Coins were taken by Li Yan, while the rest were used by Wang Wang Daoxuan—this coin was one of them.

After inserting the flower coin, Wang Wang Daoxuan stared intently through the cave opening at one of the dark dots, clutching the straw figure, muttering incantations under his breath.

Though he preferred exorcism and warding spells, he had greater talent for curses; after reaching the Third Level of Dao, the power of the "Seven Arrow Secret Curse" had also increased.

As for his original vow, demonic creatures and spirits were not included.

As Wang Wang Daoxuan cast the curse, Li Yan sensed it too, gripping the Broken Dust Blade, ready at all times.

Indeed, one human-faced owl began to be affected—its head grew dazed, its body swaying as it plummeted.

Li Yan seized the moment, leaping forward and slicing off its head, then scanning the surroundings.

The other human-faced owls were startled and scattered, yet refused to leave.

Sha Sha Li Fei, thoughtful, cursed: "I get it—these damn birds are holding us back; when night falls, the Shenkui tribe will attack!"

Second update later

(End of Chapter)