[{"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-56":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},2262361,4415,"Chapter 56: Heaven","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-56",56,"\u003Cp>“We hit the jackpot, hehe…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei, drenched in sweat, carried the chest on his shoulders, his face beaming with a dopey grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan sighed and turned away. “Uncle Sha, we can just bury the chest and fetch it on the way back—why exhaust yourself carrying it now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chest wasn’t large, but it was filled with high-purity gold bars, heavy enough to strain even Sha Lifei’s strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei’s eyes widened at once. “I’ve never seen so much money in my life—if anything goes wrong and we lose it, what then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sleeping with it from now on—no one’s stopping me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan exchanged a knowing smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one had expected such a windfall tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they split it four ways, they’d have enough to build their Tower of Observance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fortune from heaven cannot be turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, retrieving the thunder-struck jujube wood remained the primary task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing the bandit stronghold had been destroyed, the group grew more relaxed, pressing forward along the mountain path toward West Mountain Leopard Gully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, wild beasts had not ceased their watchful gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power of the Three-Cornered Demon-Sealing Coins now proved its worth: Li Yan merely stirred a bit of Qi, and the wolf pack lurking in the dark woods fled in alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stole a glance at Zhao Lüzi and noticed the man showed no surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan realized: the Ganshan line’s Treasure Seekers roam the forests constantly—they must have ways to avoid predators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, this fellow emitted no scent at all; no one knew how he did it. Without them accompanying him, even wolves would never detect his presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, the group finally reached Leopard Gully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t carry it anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei, already drenched in sweat, dropped the chest and sat heavily on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Lüzi quickly signaled silence, then crouched low and gestured for the others to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group climbed a ridge behind him and peered through the tall grass—before them appeared a bizarre sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leopard Gully was small, sparsely inhabited, with dense trees and waist-high wild grass; from outside, no path seemed to exist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet beneath the moonlight, a faint, flickering glow drifted in the forest’s center—dim, indistinct, but pulsing irregularly, resembling a streak of lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan had witnessed this once before—he knew celestial treasures always manifested strange signs, though never before ordinary eyes, and without the proper method to retrieve them, forcibly seizing them would scatter their fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, his Great Luo Body was an exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merely touching it would allow him to steal its fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this treasure was meant for crafting a talisman—he couldn’t act recklessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Zhao Lüzi’s signal, the group retreated cautiously, and Li Yan asked: “Brother Zhao, how do we retrieve this treasure?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every celestial treasure had its specific countermeasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, celestial treasures varied widely—even identical specimens might differ in their countermeasures due to their growth region and Wu Xing evolution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowledge, experience, and technique—all were indispensable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the very foundation of the Treasure Seekers’ lineage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Lüzi was naturally taciturn and had remained wary of the group, but Li Yan’s pleasant speech and willingness to share the gold had won the young man’s complete trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, he revealed the secrets without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thunder-struck jujube wood belongs to the Wood element—it requires Metal to subdue it. But if one only sees this, they’ll never claim the treasure; even if found, it’s no different from ordinary lightning-struck wood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan glanced at the sky, a flash of insight in his eyes. “There’s also the Heavenly Thunder!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Lüzi nodded. “This treasure earns its status as a celestial treasure precisely because of the words ‘celestial’ and ‘spiritual.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heavenly Thunder governs cosmic order, regulates the seasons, gives birth to all things, protects against calamities, slays heavenly demons, purges plagues, and captures all malignant spirits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether or not this Heavenly Thunder’s Gang  is present makes all the difference!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thus, this treasure is Heavenly Wood, requiring Earthly Metal to subdue it—only then can the treasure be fully extracted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan praised: “I’ve learned something new—what is this Earthly Metal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Lüzi glanced toward the thunder-struck jujube wood and whispered: “Generally, Earthly Metal comes in two forms. One is another celestial treasure: gold, silver, or copper from subterranean veins—called Spring Jade Spring, Bound Youth, and Thunder’s Cry—each can manifest as a spirit, exceedingly rare and precious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The other arises from Yin-Yang principles: where venomous snakes appear, antidotes must exist; near celestial treasures, their countermeasures must also be present.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I were alone, I’d need half a month to find it—but with your help, it’ll be effortless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Wang, since you’re skilled in fengshui, tell me—dividing this land into the Nine Palaces, where is the Dui Metal position?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Brother, you have the Nasal Divine Sense—this thing shouldn’t be buried deep. You find it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Sha, leopardesses lurk in Leopard Gully—they’re vicious and attack anyone near the thunder-struck wood. You must hold them off and keep them from interfering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the sky. “We have little time—after Zi Shi, the thunder-struck wood will vanish again. If we fail, we’ll scare the treasure away—it won’t reappear for over half a year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Retrieving it at any other time will scatter its fortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No time to waste—act now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the plan set, the group moved without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan pulled out the Luo Pan, climbed to a nearby high ground, and under moonlight studied the terrain, murmuring incantations while marking several spots and digging shallow test pits. Assessing fengshui required grasping both the grand and minute patterns—luckily, Wang Daoxuan was meticulous and had memorized the terrain of Yetai Mountain during the day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In less than half a stick of incense, Wang Daoxuan pointed southwest:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the area where the forest met the cliffside—sparse vegetation, barren ground, distinctly different from the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better still, it lay some distance from the thunder-struck jujube wood; even loud noises wouldn’t alarm the treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan wasted no words—he crept forward silently, then broke into a quiet run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had activated his Nasal Divine Sense, yet detected no unusual scent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s mind stirred—he formed the Yang Seal, focused his spirit, and drew a deep, concentrated breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, more scents flooded his nostrils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the advantage of mastering a divine sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally shut down, like conserving essence—it could be explosively activated when needed without harming the spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, he caught a peculiar odor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was strange: two meters underground, metallic, yet mixed with a rotting, moldy stench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he didn’t know what it was, it was the only metal nearby—Li Yan immediately swung his iron shovel, and together with Zhao Lüzi, they dug furiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both were martial artists with considerable strength; soon they unearthed a two-meter-deep pit, revealing a black, moldy mass like a spiderweb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slow down—I’ll handle it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Lüzi whispered sharply, signaling Li Yan to step back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then removed a pair of deerhide gloves from his waist, carefully brushed away the loose soil, and when the object was fully exposed, found its edge, gently rubbing it between his palms until it formed a black cord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The object, buried deep, had gathered faint subterranean Yin Sha energy—but too thin to forge into any protective talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s Iron Skin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Lüzi explained. “It resembles mold, but forms from iron ore—beneath it lies a vein. Only under special conditions can it be seen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Certain burrowing insects love to eat it—once exposed to human Qi, it turns brittle and crumbles, impossible to twist into a cord…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan understood: this was likely a type of iron-eating mold, forming only under rare conditions—hence unknown to ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Treasure Seekers like these would recognize it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After twisting the Iron Skin into a cord, Zhao Lüzi spoke: “I’ll go retrieve the treasure. You all carry the scent of living flesh—stay back. Wait for my signal!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he slipped silently into the woods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Li Yan realize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder the man had no scent—he must have used some method specifically for Treasure Seeking, to avoid alarming celestial treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Li Yan frowned sharply and turned toward the southeast edge of the forest, snatching the sheepskin pouch from Sha Lifei’s waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He untied it and hurled out all the pork-blood-soaked meatballs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the air reeked of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re coming?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei asked urgently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan nodded, slowly drawing his blade. “Two of them—large. We lure them away—don’t interfere with Brother Zhao!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, a stench of blood and decay swept through the dense woods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two pairs of copper-sized eyes glowed faintly green from the darkness—approaching slowly from left and right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emerging from the woods under moonlight were two leopardesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leopard, also called the golden leopard, is extremely fierce in nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though its combat power doesn’t match that of a tiger, it feels more nimble and agile; when enraged, it dares to attack even a tiger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hence, to describe someone as bold is to say they ate leopard gall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And these two leopards weren’t just larger in size—they were also cunning; after sniffing the meat thorns a few times, they ignored them entirely, baring their fearsome fangs at the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, one of them bore a clear scar from a blade cut across its face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be careful—these two may be nearing sentience!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan’s expression turned grave as he quickly whispered a warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they gain sentience, the next step is to attain spiritual cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having been wounded and refusing the meat thorns suggests they’ve suffered before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It must be those bandits’ doing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei muttered a curse under his breath and drew his blade, stepping in front of Wang Daoxuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His skills were mediocre; he had never cultivated dark force over the years, but having roamed the rivers and lakes for so long, he still knew a thing or two about wielding a knife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the leopards drew nearer, Li Yan furrowed his brow, focusing his spirit in a single thought—the Three Talismans Suppressing Demon coin tassel immediately swayed left and right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it could scare them off, that would be best—he had no desire to fight beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, sensing the aura of the Three Talismans Suppressing Demon coin, the two leopards went berserk, leaping forward with a sudden pounce…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1747,"2026-06-19T18:28:32.159Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","494827acfe96dd2c66a195d6c3eb87d6c7bd92b20cb57ba115d036299abdaf2d","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-57","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-55",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]