Chapter 536: Fire Head Monk, the Dragon-Slaying Blade

Li Yan heard this and looked toward the distance.

The approaching figure was extraordinarily tall, a head taller than Sha Lifei, his body bulging with knotted muscle, his Daoist robe filthy and riddled with burn holes.

Most striking of all was his hair.

He wore a mess of dark red hair, loosely tied with a simple hairband, wild and unkempt.

Such hair color was rare, as if stained with dried blood.

His features were deep-set, hinting at a hint of foreign ancestry.

Seeing him, Li Yan silently grew wary.

He had already guessed who this man was…

Yet they were no more than a hundred meters apart, and he had not sensed the man's approach—only two explanations were possible:

One, the man's cultivation was too high, and he had used a secret technique.

Two, he carried a national sacrificial artifact.

Indeed, Lingyunzi smiled and introduced: "Young Master Li, this is Master Huotoufo. Hearing of your arrival, he came here personally…"

"Don't flatter him!"

Before he finished, Huotoufo strode forward, his sharp hawk-like eyes scanning Li Yan from head to toe, his voice low and heavy: "I've been waiting for you on this mountain for a long time—why are you only now here?"

It wasn't until after Qingcheng Mountain got a bit chaotic…

Li Yan thought to himself, yet his face showed a hint of apology as he replied: "I was delayed on the road. I meant to visit you sooner, Elder."

"Hmm."

Huotoufo seemed utterly uninterested in pleasantries, his voice cold: "I came here for one question—whose hands forged your blade?"

So that was the reason.

Hearing this, Li Yan's heart tightened.

His Duan Chen Blade had been forged by a reclusive master atop Huashan.

Though he still did not know the man's name, when he was in Ezhou, Master Lu from Zeshou Prefecture had examined the blade and praised it highly, saying the craftsmanship surpassed his own.

This master had hidden his identity—perhaps for good reason.

Thinking of this, Li Yan shook his head directly: "Sorry—I promised someone I wouldn't reveal this."

"Hmph!"

Upon hearing this, Huotoufo's eyes brimmed with killing intent. "Don't play games with me—I know your kind. You only act when the rabbit's in sight. Tell me—what do you want? A heavenly treasure? A magical artifact?"

"Heavenly treasures or magical weapons?"

As he spoke, he took another step forward.

As he drew closer, Li Yan immediately sensed something strange.

The man's massive frame radiated the ferocity of a wild beast. Moreover, whatever cultivation method he practiced, his entire aura carried intense heat, like a roaring furnace.

It was Gangjin!

Li Yan's back muscles tensed instantly.

He understood Gangjin well.

After forming the Dan, one's will and physical strength become unified; with every gesture, one channels fist intent to summon Gang and Sha energy for attack.

It renders one immune to ordinary spells and delivers devastating damage.

He never expected this master of forging to also be a martial arts expert.

Li Yan stepped back two paces, his gaze turning icy, the Soul Snatcher ready to strike, his voice low: "I can't say it—that's final. I respect you as an elder—don't play games with me!"

"Both of you, stop…"

Lingyunzi, watching from the side, was frantic and rushed to intervene.

Li Yan was a guest personally arranged by the Sect Master.

Huotoufo was a master of forging, deeply respected on the mountain.

Why had they come to blows over a single word?

Whoever got hurt would be a major problem for him.

Yet Huotoufo ignored him entirely, his eyes locked on Li Yan. After a long silence, he spoke: "Fine. You're a man."

"I only want to know—he's still alive, isn't he?"

As he spoke, he withdrew his aura, his tone carrying a flicker of hope.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes and nodded.

"Good."

Huotoufo exhaled, turned, and walked away: "Follow me. Let's see your blade. No one else comes."

This entire behavior was utterly bizarre.

Li Yan pondered for a moment, gave Wang Daoxuan a slight shake of his head to signal him not to worry, then followed closely behind.

As if hearing his footsteps, Huotoufo suddenly accelerated.

He strode with heavy, measured steps, his tattered sleeves flapping, snow spraying beneath his feet. He appeared to walk normally, yet his speed was astonishing.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes and unleashed hidden force beneath his own feet.

The two, one ahead and one behind, vanished from sight in moments.

Huotoufo seemed to be deliberately testing Li Yan.

Each time Li Yan drew near, Huotoufo accelerated again, exploding force beneath his feet, the ground cracking with thudding impacts, snow spraying and ice shards shattering around them.

This was pure physical strength.

Li Yan wasn't surprised Huotoufo could do this.

Huotoufo was already immensely strong and had reached Gangjin—if he unleashed his full power, even Wu Ba today would be crushed beneath him.

But footwork isn't just about brute force.

Huotoufo relied solely on raw power, and his massive frame made him clumsy.

Li Yan's lithe form gradually closed the distance.

"Hahahaha… interesting!"

Ahead, Huotoufo burst into laughter, suddenly forming hand seals. His footwork shifted, wind howling around him as he leapt into the air.

He bounced and bounded as if weightless, his movements agile, abandoning the path entirely to leap across cliffs and precipices blanketed in snow and ice.

He looked exactly like a spirit deer.

Chengqiao Technique!

Seeing this, Li Yan's pupils shrank sharply.

Qingcheng Mountain was famed above all for the Chengqiao Technique, said to have been left behind by ancient immortals like Guangchengzi and Ning Fengzi.

It was not merely a land-flight art—it was also a Sword Immortal's method.

Legend spoke of three forms: Dragon Qiao, Tiger Qiao, and Deer Qiao.

Before arriving, Li Yan had specifically inquired.

The Dragon Qiao refines the body into qi, unites with the Dao, and causes clouds to form beneath the feet. Those who practice it, seeking to wander through grotto-heavens and blessed lands, find all evil spirits and demons dare not approach.

This was the legendary technique of immortals—long lost.

Perhaps it was tied to changes in the Gang and Sha energies of the world.

Just as the wild landscapes of the Shanhaijing no longer exist, modern cultivators could no longer perform the Dragon Qiao.

The Tiger Qiao is the mother of wind, the child of water. After three years of practice, the tiger rides the wind, coming and going like leaves swept by a gale—gathering into form, dispersing into wind, merging with the pure yang energy of heaven and earth.

This was the supreme technique of Qingcheng Mountain.

Legend said Cheng Jianxian had mastered it, and with his flying sword art, ranked among the top three of the Ten Great Masters of the Central Plains.

But the Huotoufo before him was using Deer Qiao.

The Deer Qiao is the ordinary one—it aids the cultivator in traveling a thousand li per day; encountering a deer allows one to locate lingzhi mushrooms and know their distance and direction…

It was faster than ordinary teleportation techniques.

Li Yan had no choice but to pull out a Jia Ma talisman, swiftly bind it to his leg, form the hand seals, and activate the Northern Emperor's Divine Travel Technique, barely keeping pace.

The two, one ahead and one behind, raced like a storm across the mountains.

If someone looked from above, they would see two shadows cutting through the peaks, ignoring dense forests and treacherous ravines, accompanied by howling wind and snowflakes that resembled two snow dragons.

This, however, stirred trouble.

Earlier, Lingyunzi had carefully avoided many areas when bringing Li Yan up the mountain. Now, passing directly through them triggered constant responses from the spirit registers.

Moreover, Li Yan sensed many watching eyes.

This guy's mind is broken!

Li Yan cursed inwardly, pretending not to notice. Fortunately, Qingcheng Mountain spanned eight hundred li, and most cultivators there gathered in temples, pavilions, or places rich in primordial Gang energy.

After crossing two mountains, the watching eyes gradually faded.

Soon, they reached the back mountain.

The path ahead was lined with gorges and cliffs, winter streams flowing beneath frozen ice, collapsed ancient plank roads, treacherous terrain, and dimming light.

Shhh!

After running further, Huotoufo suddenly stopped.

Li Yan tore off the Jia Ma and landed on the ground.

Before them lay a valley: one side of the mountain had collapsed into a gorge, the other three sides encircled by peaks like a bamboo basket.

The surrounding slopes were steep, with only a narrow path leading out.

Inside the valley stood a thatched hut, farmland, a massive furnace, and a blacksmith's workshop, all covered in snow—but the furnace fire still burned.

The Fire Monk stood with his back to Li Yan and suddenly sighed.

"He was my senior brother…"

Please… would you… collect 6…9…Books…?!

"In my youth, I always sought to prove myself superior; now, it's utterly meaningless. As long as he's alive, that's enough."

"If you ever chance to meet him in the future, tell him this: all those years I fought him, it was because I envied his natural talent."

So that's how it was…

Li Yan suddenly understood, yet his expression remained unchanged.

To know a man's face is not to know his heart.

He had already made up his mind: having promised not to reveal the whereabouts of that elder from Huashan, he would say nothing, no matter what the other said.

On the other side, after speaking of this matter, the Fire Monk said no more, but strode into the room and brought out a wooden box.

Inside, laid bare, was a long blade.

The hilt was dark gold, forged from some unknown metal, shaped like a coiled dragon, fangs bared in a gaping maw, its scales finely detailed for grip.

The blade itself resembled ink jade, marked with dense keratinous patterns; upon closer inspection, those patterns were in fact even finer, branching lightning motifs.

It was the dragon's horn he had obtained after slaying the dragon.

What puzzled Li Yan was that the blade's shape and size were identical to his own Duan Chen Dao.

"Dragon horns come in five colors, corresponding to the Five Qi. This horn belongs to Metal and Water, and bears lightning patterns. I've heard you excel in thunder arts—perfect for you…"

The Fire Monk explained briefly, then noticed Li Yan's unusual gaze and snorted coldly: "My senior brother used the Bone-Measuring Method. This is our sect's secret technique, perfectly suited to you. If I altered it, wouldn't that be adding feet to a snake?"

Li Yan quickly bowed his hands. "You are right, Elder."

"Bring me your blade!" the Fire Monk ordered again.

Li Yan said nothing, removed Duan Chen Dao, and offered it with both hands.

Clang!

The Fire Monk drew the blade, examined it closely, then nodded. "Fine blade. Forged with thunder-struck Shoushan copper essence. The material is ordinary, but your senior brother pushed it to its limit—truly, the treasure blade has not aged."

He turned the hilt over and saw the Twelve Zodiac Coins, frowning. "You used this method when your cultivation was still low, wasn't it?"

"At the time, I was at the Second Layer. My thunder arts were still crude."

Li Yan bowed respectfully and answered truthfully.

"Oh?"

The Fire Monk glanced at Li Yan, surprised. "This blade was forged last year. You truly have talent—you haven't disgraced your senior brother's skill."

He paused, thinking. "I originally intended to play it safe, but given your talent, you'll outgrow it in no more than a few years."

"Are you willing to take a gamble?"

Li Yan frowned slightly. "Elder, please explain clearly."

The Fire Monk spoke gravely: "Storing thunder arts in the Twelve Zodiac Coins is a trick. Useful when your cultivation is weak, but becomes useless against strong foes."

"This dragon horn naturally stores thunder. But rather than use it for storage, better to employ the Overlapping Method to amplify it."

"With my secret technique, when you wield the blade and unleash thunder arts, the thunder Gang will echo and stack, converging at the blade's edge, greatly increasing its power."

"But all things have gain and loss. With this method, thunder Gang is consumed heavily—the higher your cultivation, the greater the power."

"In battle, if you exhaust your strength and cannot summon thunder arts, the blade will rely only on the dragon's might—only slightly stronger than an ordinary artifact…"

"Of course, there is another option: the middle path. The artifact's power remains unchanged, sufficient to serve as a treasure for a minor sect."

After hearing this explanation, Li Yan finally understood.

Two choices: conservative or bold.

Most would choose the conservative path—thunder arts are inherently difficult to sustain for long.

But Li Yan was different.

He possessed the Soul-Stealing Thunder Chain. If he completed missions from the Thunder Court, he could obtain Divine Thunder Gang, enabling continuous use.

The bold method suited him far better.

"Please, Elder, proceed without restraint!"

Thinking this, Li Yan unhesitatingly chose the first option.

"Good!"

The Fire Monk nodded. "I could perform the refinement today, but given your choice, it will take several more days."

He lifted Duan Chen Dao again. "This Shoushan thunder-copper essence is rare enough—it can be forged into a scabbard to nurture it regularly. Come back to me in five days."

Saying this, he walked into the thatched hut without looking back.

Li Yan bowed, then turned and left.

He could tell the Fire Monk had a strange temperament, difficult to deal with. The fact he'd spoken so much was likely due to his senior brother.

Though he now had no weapon and felt a hollow emptiness, there was nothing more to say.

Qingcheng Mountain had its own rules.

He was an outsider. When he arrived, he could use the Fire Monk as an excuse to walk alone; but if he used Divine Speed Technique, he'd be disrespecting Qingcheng—he must walk the mountain path like everyone else.

Even with his exceptional speed, it took him an hour to return to Chaoyang Cave.

"Young Master Li, are you alright?"

Ling Yunzi, who had been waiting, hurried forward to ask.

"I'm fine. The Fire Monk Elder is helping me refine my weapon."

Li Yan said no more.

"Good."

Ling Yunzi sighed in relief, then mused: "According to the Abbot's plan, we were to visit the Fire Monk Master today, and tomorrow take you to Laojun Temple to pay respects to Master Juechen."

"Then let's go today."

Hearing this, Li Yan hesitated. "Isn't it inappropriate to visit unannounced?"

To be honest, he felt uneasy.

The Northern Emperor Sect had a fearsome reputation. If they forced him to join and submit to the Northern Emperor Black Code, it would be no good.

"No problem."

Ling Yunzi smiled. "Master Juechen has already instructed that you may be brought directly."

"Very well."

Li Yan, helpless, nodded in agreement.

Laojun Temple stood atop the highest peak of Qingcheng Mountain, Pengzu Peak. To reach it from Chaoyang Cave meant crossing mountains and valleys.

On the way, Li Yan could no longer hold back his question: "The Northern Emperor Sect is a major Daoist sect—how has it declined so much?"

Ling Yunzi shook his head. "Master Juechen is not merely a Northern Emperor sect member—he belongs to the Earth Deity Sect."

"This lineage was founded by the Thirtieth Celestial Master Zhang Jixian, who developed it from Northern Emperor Daoist methods, venerating the Supreme Emperor of the Northern Pole."

He hesitated, then whispered: "If you get the chance, Young Master Li, you should accept. This lineage possesses extraordinary arts to suppress cosmic fortune."

Li Yan blinked. "What kind of art?"

Ling Yunzi glanced around, then whispered: "Zhang Jixian's dharma heir was Master Sa."

"This lineage not only excels in thunder arts, but can summon the Guardian Spirit, Lord Wen Lingguan!"

(End of Chapter)