Chapter 496

Cold wind howled, and fallen leaves drifted in the mountains.

It had already passed the Frost Descent, and although the Sichuan region cannot compare to the bitter cold of the north, the cold of winter is similarly bone-chilling.

"Drive! Drive!"

Horses galloped, and Battalion Commander Liu felt hot in his heart.

The garrison in this area of northern Sichuan was near Physician City; only because zombies had frequently appeared in Nanchong during this period, people were panicked, and to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation to cause trouble, he was ordered to come and garrison, waiting for orders.

To tell the truth, it was a bitter job.

Things like this are usually handled by the Chenghuangmiao, and any credit is taken by the Law Enforcement Hall, and he at most counts as maintaining public order.

Even if this matter is quelled, he can't get any credit.

But if there is a problem, there is definitely joint responsibility.

He had offended someone, which is why he was assigned this unlucky task.

Originally, he wanted to come and deal with it; after all, there is the Iron Buddha Sect in this place, which also belongs to the Five Flowers of Emei, and its strength is only slightly weaker than the Qingcheng Sect.

Who would have thought that the monks of the Iron Buddha Sect also had things to do; at the beginning, they sent quite a few people, but after suppressing a few zombies, the main force had already withdrawn.

The reason is very simple.

Most of the zombies causing trouble were walking corpses, which ordinary people in the martial world could hack to death and then burn with fire.

And many were fake news.

Rumors were flying, and the common people also became suspicious.

Hearing the family dog barking at night, they felt it was a zombie coming to visit.

After doing this a few times, they also lost patience.

Just right, the imperial court's policy is to intentionally gather Mystic Sect sorcerers, not only to register Daoist certificates for all Mystic Sect sorcerers but also to guide their power to stabilize one side.

It is also to weaken the prestige of the orthodox sects.

The Iron Buddha Sect's main interests are on the Shu Road connecting Shanzhou and Sichuan, so naturally, they couldn't spare more energy to take care of this place.

Therefore, the mission was mainly assigned to monster-hunters.

Monster-hunters are naturally happy; this kind of job has low danger, and they can not only receive rewards but also go to the Chenghuangmiao to get some Dharma artifacts, which can be called killing two birds with one stone.

Only Battalion Commander Liu is not happy.

He only wants to finish the matter quickly and then withdraw.

Who would have thought that He Squire would bring new news.

The chaos in Nanchong was deliberately caused by someone!

In this matter, there are evil people causing trouble!

In this way, the nature of the matter becomes different.

It is simply a credit that fell from the sky!

It's the New Year, and there are inspections by the Ministry of War in various garrisons; if he takes this credit, maybe there will be an opportunity to go up a level and get rid of the shackles.

So now, Battalion Commander Liu is the most active.

"Hurry up, what are you dawdling for!"

He stopped his horse from time to time, turned around and urged.

The garrison soldiers behind were okay; Battalion Commander Liu was good at training troops, and they could keep up even when climbing mountains and crossing ridges.

It was the yamen runners of Nanchong County who suffered.

"Damn it, urging like a ghost!"

"If you have the ability, get off the horse and say that!"

They ran until their legs were soft, cursing in their hearts, but didn't dare to say anything more, only having to speed up and follow behind.

And the monster-hunters fell to the very back of the team.

They also saw the strangeness, knowing that Battalion Commander Liu wanted to make a credit.

As for them, they didn't have much motivation.

After all, once the source is eradicated, they have to run to other places to make a living, how could they be like now, eating until their mouths are full of oil.

But the monks of the Law Enforcement Hall in front spoke, and Chen Sanbang's brothers were also their own people, so they naturally had to help each other.

Therefore, the power of the entire Nanchong County had already gathered.

Wang Daoxuan was also in the formation, bringing Wu Ba to catch up unhurriedly.

All of this was within his plan.

From Li Yan's letter, the River God Great Lord has already reincarnated, the Dragon Worship Sect is related to him, and it is said that there are other forces participating in it.

Relying solely on them is not a good idea.

Introducing the power and sight of the imperial court can also contain the Dragon Worship Sect.

They set off at noon, hurrying and rushing, and when they arrived at the place, it was already dusk.

Just as Wang Daoxuan said, this place is located in the shade, the mountain road is rugged, not to mention planting orchards, even building villages to live in is not a good place.

They followed the dilapidated mountain road, climbed up the mountain ridge, but saw an ancient village standing in the mountain hollow, long since dilapidated, many buildings covered by withered grass and withered vines.

This place is in the shade, the sunset glow just slid past the mountain, completely unable to shine on the bottom, light and dark reflecting, making the village appear even more eerie.

"Is this the place?"

Battalion Commander Liu stopped and frowned slightly.

He also counts as having fought a hundred battles, and once participated in the siege of the Maitreya Sect in Shanzhou many years ago; his intuition made him feel that something was wrong here.

Neigh!

The warhorse beside him was restless, shaking its head as if wanting to leave.

Battalion Commander Liu tied the warhorse to a tree, narrowed his eyes, and said to the monk beside him: "Master Monk Yun Tong, this place is afraid of having a problem; your people explore the path first, and we will cover with firearms from behind, how about that?"

Although he was anxious to make a credit, he was not a fool.

The monk beside him, although not old, had a sturdy figure, wore a yellow monk's robe, wore cowhide iron-nailed wrist guards, and held a refined steel iron rod.

The most special thing was his palms, far larger than ordinary people, like iron rakes.

This is the characteristic of the Iron Buddha Sect.

This lineage is also called the Yunding Sect, with its mountain gate located in Bazhong; the most famous is its Eagle Claw Kung Fu, mainly based on hardness, combining hardness and softness, very fierce.

Paired with secret methods like Buddhist hand seals, it is enough to sit in one region.

They are also good at building Buddha statues; in many places in Sichuan, when carving stone caves, they will invite monks from the sect to go and give guidance.

Hearing Battalion Commander Liu's inquiry, Monk Yun Tong naturally wouldn't shirk, came to the rear, raised his hand and cupped his fists: "Fellow Daoists, the soldiers in the army are mortals after all, so we will explore the path first, and they will support with firearms from behind."

"Okay."

"Whatever you say, we will do."

The Iron Buddha Sect governs the Law Enforcement Hall in this place, and the monster-hunters rely on them a lot, and there are many people and great power, so naturally, they wouldn't brush off his face.

Wang Daoxuan stayed in the formation and didn't say much.

Among the monster-hunters, his reputation is not small, but after all, it is a side door, and these orthodox sect disciples wouldn't look at him differently.

Soon, the crowd lined up and went down the mountain.

These disciples of the Iron Buddha Sect, although not the pillars of the sect, also count as having experience and responsibility, taking the initiative to walk at the very front.

There are monks forming seals, their eyes faintly having essence light, looking at the front.

Some are sniffing their noses, smelling the scent in the air.

There are also monks whose earlobes are unusually large, vibrating slightly.

Using various supernatural powers simultaneously, they immediately discovered the strangeness.

"Why is the Yin energy in this place so heavy?"

"There is corpse energy, but I don't know where it is hidden."

Discovering that there really was a problem, the crowd became even more vigilant.

Not long after, there was a discovery.

"Old Wai! It's Old Wai!"

Chen Sanbang let out a wail and ran toward the side of the road.

But he saw an old dilapidated house by the road, the wall collapsed, a pair of feet wearing cowhide boots exposed outside, beside it was a large pool of blood, and a nine-ringed broadsword that had been hard-bent.

"Old Wai, Old Wai, why didn't you wait for me..."

Chen Sanbang wailed loudly, dragging his feet and pulling outward.

But what was pulled out was only half a body.

Seeing this scene, everyone felt a sense of sighing in their hearts.

The martial world is ruthless but also has affection. Although there is a lot of cheating and swindling, there are also those who are liver and gallbladder-like, living and dying together, and those who would go through fire and water for their brothers are not in the minority.

Drifting and wandering, sometimes the closest ones are just those one or two.

Looking lightly upon life and death, it's just that they are accustomed to the impermanence of the world.

Wang Daoxuan also felt helpless in his heart; he had already warned them, wanting to observe first and then act, but he didn't expect Chen Sanbang and the others to be unable to hold their breath.

Observing the corpse carefully made his brow furrow even tighter.

"Seems to have been hard-pulled apart..."

The Iron Buddha Sect monk Monk Yun Tong said in a deep voice, "So brutal, and able to do this, it is not an ordinary zombie."

"Fellow Daoists, search for clues again!"

Without him saying it, everyone started searching all around.

Monster-hunters have rich experience in dealing with zombies, but after just circling a few times, someone found something strange.

!.

"Look here!"

A bald monster-hunter's voice trembled.

He is named Yu Qing, with a Daoist cultivation of two floors, counting as the most famous among these monster-hunters, and also quite famous in other places in Sichuan.

Since coming to Nanchong, he had been confident in catching everything.

This was the first time everyone had seen him like this.

They surrounded him and looked, only to see a pair of pitch-black footprints on the tree trunk nearby, and the wood quality where the footprints were had already turned into charcoal, and the depth of the charcoal marks caused by the footprints was as deep as three inches.

Others saw this and were somewhat confused.

Even the Iron Buddha Sect's Monk Yun Tong had his brow furrowed, pressed his finger, and that section of the tree trunk broke in response, and the broken part could see the charcoal marks caused by the footprints, reaching as deep as three inches.

"Roasted by fire?"

Battalion Commander Liu also followed up, full of confusion.

Monk Monk Yun Tong said in a deep voice: "Fellow Daoist Yu, it seems you recognize it?"

Yu Qing hurriedly replied: "This is a Flying Fire Zombie; 'Jing Yi Ji' mentioned it, back then a bunch of grave robbers dug the Bai Mao tomb, the roar in the coffin was like thunder, the chickens brought were all scared to death, and when they used tools to chisel, fire sprayed from the coffin, burning the people around to death, saying it was the 'Volatile Fire Tomb' in the 'Han Jiu Yi'."

"But my master said, what is hidden inside is a Flying Fire Zombie, even more formidable than ordinary Flying Zombies, born in the Yin Fire Cave in the corpse-raising ground, occasionally giving birth to this alien species."

While speaking, his voice trembled, and he looked around from time to time.

Other monster-hunters heard this and looked at each other in dismay.

"Old Brother Yu, is what you said true?"

"How come we have never heard of it?"

Someone hurriedly asked.

They eat this line of work, and have deep research into various monsters and spirits, zombies are also among them, but this is the first time they have heard of this thing.

"Why would I lie to you?!"

Yu Qing roared through gritted teeth, his eyes even turning red, "Back then, my master and fellow disciples were harmed by this thing, only I fell into the river and escaped with my life."

"Quick, run, this thing is not something we can deal with!"

Seeing him like this, other monster-hunters hesitated.

But Battalion Commander Liu was anxious, "Nonsense, the monster nest has already been found, how can we retreat before the battle, you are all experts, yet you are afraid of a zombie?"

"Hehe~"

Yu Qing laughed angrily, cupped his fists and said: "The official is right, I am just afraid, being a coward is better than losing my life."

After saying this, he turned and left directly.

"None of you are allowed to leave!"

Battalion Commander Liu gave an order, and the soldiers raised their firearms one after another.

This time, the eyes of the other monster-hunters also became cold.

Although they are Mystic Sect, they deal more with people in the martial world, and they have never had any good feelings toward the imperial court, especially the official runners.

This time they came to help, but were pointed at by guns, so naturally, they felt angry.

Some people had already secretly gripped their weapons.

"Fellow Daoists, don't hurt the harmony."

Seeing the conflict between the two sides, the Iron Buddha Sect monk Monk Yun Tong hurriedly stopped them, full of helplessness: "We are all here to subdue demons and eliminate monsters, and stabilize one side, why resort to weapons?"

After saying this, he looked at Battalion Commander Liu again, "Official Liu, although these fellow Daoists have bad tempers, they all have true skills, and I am far behind."

"This matter must not be careless; now that the night is deep, why don't we withdraw first and search again tomorrow during the day, which is also much more stable."

"Hmph!"

Battalion Commander Liu gave a cold snort and didn't object.

He was also borrowing a donkey to go down the slope; if he really forced these monster-hunters, and they fought, the soldiers under his command wouldn't live long.

Wang Daoxuan saw this and secretly praised in his heart.

As expected of a famous sect disciple, this monk has good cultivation, and can stabilize the situation at critical moments, not offending either side.

With a plan, everyone retreated first.

Only that Chen Sanbang, staring at his brother's corpse with blood-red eyes, suddenly gritted his teeth, picked up his long spear, and rushed into the village.

"This idiot, doesn't want his life!"

Yu Qing saw this and was annoyed.

Being a monster-hunter, Daoist cultivation is very critical, but more importantly, it is caution; after all, they are all at the lowest level of the Mystic Sect, and a slight mistake will cost them their lives.

He was afraid, so why did this kid dare to rush in?

"He wants to save the remaining people."

Wang Daoxuan sighed, pointed to the footprints in the distance, "Only one person died, the others all fled into the village, perhaps they are still alive."

Yu Qing narrowed his eyes, "Daoist Rooster, you wouldn't want to go too, would you?"

Unlike those official runners, he was clear that the ones who could stabilize the situation at critical moments were only this "Rooster" and "Ox."

"I have to go even if I don't want to."

Wang Daoxuan raised his compass, shook his head and said in a deep voice: "I misjudged; this is not just a corpse-raising ground, but also a fierce land of Yin evil."

"The dragon is tortuous, valuing lively vitality as noble; the dragon body is trapped, the qi pulse is blocked, this is the Trapped Dragon Formation."

"This place was arranged by an expert, the shade of the sun is the last vitality, once night falls, the Trapped Dragon Formation will be activated."

"Borrowing the timing and terrain to set up a formation, it is definitely a Feng Shui master."

Yu Qing looked down, only to see the compass needle spinning rapidly, sinking and rising, and the speed was sometimes slow and sometimes fast, as if it had gone crazy.

"Damn it, I had bad luck today..."

He cursed, his face already turning pale.

Not everyone believed what Wang Daoxuan said.

After all, this Yin evil Trapped Dragon land is not common, they hadn't even heard of it, and they hadn't seen any traces of setting up a formation along the way.

Immediately, someone didn't believe in evil and ran outside the village.

But in everyone's eyes, he had just run outside the village, turned around in place, and ran back again.

After seeing everyone, his face turned pale.

"It's just a ghost wall!"

Another monster-hunter gritted his teeth, took out a black cloth from his bosom, covered his eyes, took a step back, walked two steps forward, repeated it, and headed outside the village.

This is the "Breaking Prohibition Pace."

Although it is a gadget that everyone in the Mystic Sect knows, it is very practical; as long as it is a ghost wall, it can basically be walked out of.

Sure enough, he followed this method and arrived at the village entrance.

Taking the last step, he walked out directly.

"It really is a ghost wall."

Seeing this, everyone let out a sigh of relief.

That person also took off the black cloth and smiled: "Fellow Daoists, just follow my..."

Before the words had even faded, a black shadow fell from the sky, dragged the person into the air, accompanied by a shrill scream, and half of his body fell down...

(End of chapter)