Chapter 509: Bone City, Nine Heavens Thunder

Something is in the sky!

Li Yan's body hair stood on end; he went on guard.

Know that in this "cemetery," supernatural powers are suppressed, and one can only rely on the five senses to observe.

Even he could see nothing at a distance.

But this thing he could sense.

It was a suppression stemming from the strength of life and spirit, triggering his warrior's instinct.

Also, the Gou Die jade fragment enhanced his perception.

What exactly is it?

Li Yan clenched his teeth, ready to activate a spell at any moment.

Sha Li Fei was performing a ritual outside; this level of thing was beyond his capacity to handle.

If necessary, even if it interrupted the ritual, he must take it away, lest it become trapped here and turn into a malevolent spirit.

But with his spells alone, he was unlikely to prevail.

Thinking of this, Li Yan's eyes flashed with ferocity as he pulled out the Gou Die.

He already understood the nature of this place—it was a rift between the mortal world and the Great Luo Dharma Realm, just like the Qiongqi clan's territory at Xianshan.

Though he didn't know its connection to the Buddhist sect.

But the Yin Si troops could certainly be summoned here.

Li Yan was ready, staring fixedly at the sky.

Strangely, the thing didn't descend to attack; instead, it drifted slowly through the air, like a kite floating aimlessly.

Then came another sensation of being watched.

Even as a spirit, Li Yan's eyelids twitched violently.

He guessed what these things were.

Kōngxíngmǔ, or Kōngxíngfù.

These were special deities in Tibetan Buddhism, said to travel between heaven and earth, serving as a link between the Buddha's realm and practitioners.

Li Yan now knew that Yin Si, the Heavenly Court, and the Buddha's realm all existed within the Great Luo Dharma Realm, perhaps in different regions.

But he didn't know what connection existed among them.

Did the Buddha's realm also obey the Heavenly Edicts?

If so, what purpose did they serve by occupying this rift?

Doubts flooded his mind.

But Li Yan knew these things were among the hidden secrets of heaven and earth; without a stroke of fortune, he likely would never have discovered them.

After waiting a while longer, Li Yan's tension eased slightly.

So far, these divine beings showed no ill intent—merely observing quietly in the air.

If so, Li Yan had no desire to provoke trouble.

What mattered most was letting Sha Li Fei complete the ritual.

Outside, Sha Li Fei was growing increasingly strained.

Yin-sha black mist and malevolent spirit blood-eyes surged like a storm around him, while bizarre sounds filled his ears.

These forces slammed wildly, trying to drown Sha Li Fei.

Yet the three life-lights surrounding him flickered but never extinguished.

Like a Wind-Stilling Pearl, they kept a three-foot radius calm and still.

These three life-lights were driven by Lu San's altar, drawing from Sha Li Fei's life essence and sustained by his will.

Whether he could hold on depended entirely on Sha Li Fei.

Fortunately, after enduring this torment, Sha Li Fei had already adapted; a surge of rage in his chest transformed into killing intent, driving away all fear.

The cool breath from the soul-returning herb pouch in his mouth continued to flow, allowing his stretched-to-the-limit nerves to hold firm.

Puff!

After an indeterminate time, one life-light suddenly changed.

It had been deep blue; now it turned red.

"Good!"

Li Yan couldn't help whispering in delight.

Lu San had said the sign of success was all three life-lights changing color—then one of the Yin Six Roots would transform into a Yang Root, giving birth to a divine ability.

At the same time, outside the bamboo hut, a fire basin beside the altar burst into fierce flames with a roar.

Lu San danced the Nuo dance, his steps now filled with joy; he sprinkled more incense and took out a lotus lamp, drawing fire from the basin and carefully placing it near Sha Li Fei's left shoulder.

One-third of the ritual had succeeded.

Even greater surprises lay ahead.

Puff!

Not long after, another life-light changed color.

"Old Sha's got it!"

Li Yan's eyes showed a flicker of surprise.

He hadn't expected Sha Li Fei to progress so fast.

What he didn't know was that Sha Li Fei, exhausted from that day's torment, had been stirred by distant news into a surge of boldness; he'd spent the entire night crafting artifacts for Wang Daoxuan, draining every last ounce of energy.

While forging, he'd focused completely, sensing subtle changes.

In truth, signs of awakening had already appeared.

But his age was great, and years spent wandering the Jianghu had stained his spirit with the seven emotions and six desires, making it murky.

The Buddhist sect had a saying: a pearl covered in dust.

His condition was no different from cement sealing his heart.

For another, under such circumstances, awakening might have already occurred—but he'd only cracked open a fissure.

Only now was it gradually peeling away.

Just one step away!

Li Yan stilled his breath, watching closely.

But at that moment, another anomaly appeared in the sky.

The two Kōngxíngmǔ or Kōngxíngfù who had been watching them suddenly darted up and down, chanting Sanskrit mantras, while streams of primordial gang qi descended.

What are they trying to do?!

Li Yan's heart leapt; he rushed out of the palace.

He saw tiny glimmers falling from the sky, like dust, each surrounded by a halo of flame-like light.

This was a Buddhist secret technique; from afar, it looked like golden lotuses raining from the heavens, a magnificent sight.

Where the black mist below touched it, it recoiled as if facing its nemesis, fleeing in moments until not a trace remained.

Now, Sha Li Fei sat cross-legged, surrounded by three life-lights, golden lotuses falling from above—giving him a faint aura of sanctity.

Dammit!

But Li Yan saw this and felt dread.

He also vaguely understood what was happening.

The ritual had drawn too many malevolent spirits—apparently triggering some mechanism, drawing forth the Kōngxíngmǔ.

Once a threshold was reached, they would intervene to clear them away.

In theory, there was nothing wrong with that.

But Sha Li Fei was at a critical moment; without the pressure of these spirits and yin-sha energy, he'd fail halfway.

Thinking of this, Li Yan gritted his teeth, leapt back into the palace, strode forward, and sat upon the divine altar.

He formed the spell hand seals, flipping his palms.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

One after another, lotus lamps suddenly appeared around the altar.

He prepared to unleash the Northern Emperor's Yin Mountain Method.

This method, in a way, was similar to Sha Li Fei's ritual—both relied on external forces for cultivation.

But the Northern Emperor's Yin Mountain Method was far stronger: it artificially simulated a hellish environment, a method Li Yan had often used to accelerate his own cultivation.

This "Shituo Forest" was perfect for it.

Huh~

As Li Yan sank his spirit and chanted the incantation, the outside world howled again with yin winds and surged with sha qi.

Rolling black mist poured not only from all directions but also rained down from above, like dark clouds crushing the city.

The gang and sha energies were yin and yang to each other—neither superior nor inferior, neither righteous nor evil.

Such immense yin-sha energy instantly scattered and drowned the golden lotuses raining from the sky.

Li Yan himself was startled.

He hadn't expected the Northern Emperor's Yin Mountain Method to create such a commotion within the "Shituo Forest."

Such terrifying yin-sha energy would overwhelm Sha Li Fei.

Li Yan quickly slowed his pace, weakening the incantation.

From the sky, faint roars like those of beasts echoed.

Carrying Sanskrit chants, they echoed endlessly through the air.

To others, these sounds would be incomprehensible—merely like thunder—but Li Yan's ear spirit could hear the speech of ghosts and gods, and he immediately understood what was being said: "Audacious!"

"Impudent!"

It seemed his actions had angered the divine beings.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

It sounded as if something were knocking on bones.

The gathered yin-sha energy dispersed once more.

Seeing this, Li Yan's heart sank.

In truth, he had helped Sha Li-fei here with no ill intent, assuming a mere mortal could not disturb the place's master.

Yet he had stirred up this trouble.

But Sha Li-fei's chance might only come once.

Fine, let them be angry.

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Worst case, summon the yin soldiers and flee.

Thinking this, Li Yan recited the incantation again, channeling all his strength into the Northern Emperor's Yin Mountain Method.

This "Shituo Forest" was a spiritual space, where the battle was for the soul.

Li Yan exerted his full power, even constructing a spirit tower—and immediately, strange phenomena appeared.

Behind his divine palace, the gang-sha energy surged wildly, yin and yang splitting apart, faintly forming the shadows of a yin sea and Luofeng Mountain.

At the same time, Gansilianwanlü Heaven Palace also flickered into view.

Finally, streams of yin-sha energy gathered once more, along with many bizarre black shadows—not merely malevolent spirits, but strange entities with fangs bared, three heads and six arms.

They once again gathered beside Sha Li-fei.

Not just howling, but flailing limbs as if possessed by demonic dances, with withered, skeletal hands reaching from the black mist, trying to snuff out Sha Li-fei's life flame.

Hiss!

But burned by the life flame, they swiftly retreated.

Sha Li-fei's pressure surged sharply; even though his anger had turned to killing intent, an innate terror inevitably rose in his heart.

In truth, this was the essence of the ritual.

Through fear and pressure, break down—and then rebuild.

Sha Li-fei, by accident, had used his inner anger and killing intent to suppress the initial fear, changing two life flames in succession.

But this made his final life flame far more difficult.

Under sufficient pressure, Sha Li-fei slipped into a strange state.

Fear, killing intent, rage—nearly drove him mad.

Yet from the soul-reviving herb pouch, a steady coolness continually flowed, keeping him barely conscious, as if walking a tightrope.

But Li Yan, at this moment, had no time to check.

As the yin-sha energy from the sky was drawn down, it was as if a black curtain had been torn open—revealing a wondrous sight:

Two three-headed, six-armed shadows were soaring and diving through the air.

Their lower bodies were female, skin pitch-black, three heads and six arms, wielding strange bone-like ritual implements, yet their heads were those of lions.

Tiny sparks of flame danced around them in multicolored, bizarre patterns, as if a vast thangka had appeared in the sky.

Lion-Faced Sky Dancer!

Li Yan had heard of them.

The Lion-Faced Sky Dancer were divine beings from Tibetan Buddhist legend—fierce-faced, yet radiating radiant light.

Chanting their heart mantra could repel demonic attacks.

They must be the guardians of this place.

What made Li Yan's scalp prickle was another, even larger shadow faintly forming in the sky—a city, built of countless bones.

Before arriving, he had studied the Shituo Forest.

This place was ruled by the Shituo Forest Lord.

Legend said He dwelled in the "Bone-Pure Land," where a square city of human skull bones stood, surrounded by a forest of corpses.

That thing in the sky must be the Bone-Pure Land.

The terrifying pressure it emitted left Li Yan's mind blank; unconsciously, he gripped the soul-summoning tally, ready to summon the yin soldiers.

Boom!

At that moment, a bolt of lightning struck from the sky.

Crack!

Lightning flashed, striking directly upon the palace.

Whether it was Luofeng Mountain, the yin sea, Gansilianwanlü Heaven Palace behind him, or the palace he had built—all vanished like a mirage.

Li Yan fell from the sky to the ground, his spirit trembling.

In his hand, lightning crackled; he quickly looked at the soul-summoning tally—on its reverse side, forked lightning patterns had formed, crisscrossing, faintly shaping a thunder talisman.

Li Yan was stunned, looking up at the sky.

He knew this lightning was not the Shituo Forest Lord's doing—it came from the Great Luo Dharma Realm, from the Heavenly Court's Thunder Department.

Carefully counting, this was the third anomaly.

First, at Wudang Mountain's Thunder-Fire Refining Hall, the Thunder Department intervened, testing him while refining the soul-snatching rope into a more advanced technique.

Second, outside Shennongjia, the Thunder Department seemingly intervened, using him to slay the dragon that had broken heavenly law.

Now, they had tampered with the soul-summoning tally again.

Could it be…

Li Yan already had a suspicion.

He likely had another part-time job.

Indeed, as the lightning scattered his spirit palace, the Lion-Faced Sky Dancers and the bone-city shadow both vanished swiftly, swallowed again by the black sky.

Puff!

As the surrounding yin-sha energy dissipated, the final life flame changed color—and Sha Li-fei suddenly opened his eyes.

He looked around, filled with confusion and shock.

"Damn coward! So that's how it works!"

Saying this, he collapsed unconscious, his form rapidly fading.

It seemed he had succeeded.

Li Yan also exhaled in relief, unwilling to linger here; he quickly formed the hand seal, focused his spirit, and his figure gradually grew faint.

Soon, the Shituo Forest returned to its deathly silence.

The yin wind howled, brushing past the bone-stupa monks…

…………

Clang!

Outside the bamboo hut, Sha Li-fei drew his saber.

His face grim, he subtly twisted his wrist—the Guanshan saber became more agile, circling once around his bald head before striking out sharply.

Instantly, blades flashed, weaving a wall impenetrable to sight.

His footwork grew swifter, kicking up dust around him.

The Guanzhong Fast Blade relied on being one step ahead.

Before the foot landed, the blade had already struck.

Unlike Li Yan, who later fused the horizontal saber technique for balanced offense and defense, Sha Li-fei remained focused solely on speed.

And now, his saber art had clearly improved by a notch.

Moreover, in the brief gap between blade retraction and descent, he suddenly drew his waist-mounted short firearm and snapped the trigger.

The firearm held no gunpowder—but the timing was perfect, precisely within the gap of the Guanzhong Fast Blade's rhythm.

From the same school, he and Li Yan had chosen different paths.

Such progress was naturally due to his spiritual ability.

Sha Li-fei had awakened his Body Spiritual Ability.

This ability suited him perfectly.

Heightened senses, enhanced bodily control.

Not only had he broken through his martial bottleneck, gaining potential to enter the Hua-jin realm, but his craftsmanship and shooting accuracy were also enhanced.

"Enough, enough."

Lu San winced, "You've been showing off all morning—don't you tire? Get to spirit-building already. Your tower isn't even built."

"Hahahaha…"

Sha Li-fei grinned, patting his bald head, "That's nothing. I'll be fully prepared before climbing the mountain."

Li Yan, inside the bamboo hut, watched Sha Li-fei's smug expression through the window, smiled wryly, then looked down at his hand.

The soul-summoning tally now bore the Yin Commander on one side, the Thunder Palace's command on the other, enhanced by jade ornaments.

Trouble would surely follow.

At this moment, he finally felt the impact of human realm transformation.

Even the Heavenly Court has begun conscripting able-bodied men...

(End of Chapter)