Chapter 578: Yin Exorcism Opera

Nie Sangu widened her eyes, not letting go of any detail.

This object is three feet tall, cast from a bronze alloy, with a surface treated using the "black lacquer antique" patina method, giving it a dark greenish rust color that feels cold to the touch.

The base was the Netherworld Nine Springs Terrace, a three-layered hexagonal Sumeru pedestal, each layer with different reliefs of hell scenes, and six "soul-snapping bells" hung from the six flying eaves; even the bell tongues were made of Chenzhou talisman copper pieces.

The opera stage was a yin-yang mirror, divided into upper and lower layers.

Most of it secretly matched "humans and ghosts on the same stage"...

Nie Sangu pondered while watching.

It wasn't strange that she was greedy; the reputation of this object was too great.

The reason the "Ghost Opera Troupe" had achieved such a great reputation back then, making even the orthodox Mystic Sects have a headache, was because of this treasure.

This object itself was a magic formation.

Once the Netherworld Opera Stage was brought out, it was the descent of a ghost domain.

Back then, it was truly majestic...

However, Nie Sangu quickly noticed something unusual and frowned in doubt: "The time this treasure was refined, I'm afraid it's not long, right?"

"Senior's eyesight is good."

Situ Qian endured the pain and sat down slowly, saying: "The Netherworld Opera Stage is the foundation of my Ghost Opera Troupe. Unfortunately, there was only one back then."

"The troupe leader spent ten years and got the help of a master refiner, finally refining a few new ones, and each team carries one."

When Nie Sangu heard this, her eyelids jumped, "How many are there in total?"

Situ Qian gave a faint laugh and didn't answer.

Seeing his expression, Nie Sangu secretly thought that this Ghost Opera Troupe coming out of the mountains again was truly not to be underestimated.

This matter was too big. If it didn't succeed, they would probably be hunted down by the imperial court, and they wouldn't be able to stay in Sichuan. Maybe in the future, they could also defect to the Ghost Opera Troupe.

Thinking of this, Granny Tang Yuan Nie Sangu's attitude became even more amiable, "The Ghost Troupe is truly extraordinary. If there is an opportunity, please introduce me so that this old woman can visit the troupe leader."

Situ Qian heard the flavor and a smile appeared on his face instantly, "That goes without saying. Senior's reputation is extraordinary; the troupe leader must want to see you."

Both were old oil-slickers of many years and understood the other party's meaning.

Situ Qian deliberately revealed the Netherworld Opera Stage, also having this intention.

Among the four great experts under the Prince of Shu, the water ghost craftsman Tian Qi was dead, and the Blood Exorcist and that Black Sect Lama were foreigners. The only one who could be won over was this Nie Sangu.

After all, after the matter was over, the Prince of Shu might very well make a move against them.

Situ Qian glanced at the door, gave a look, and the filial-clothed flower dan Bai Qihong went out immediately, guarding outside to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.

And Situ Qian said directly in a low voice: "Nie Senior, this Prince of Shu's action this time probably wasn't a temporary change of mind, right? Do you know the inside story?"

Nie Sangu hesitated for a moment and shook her head, "This old woman also doesn't know. The Prince is unfathomable; I'm afraid only the Blood Exorcist Ba Daiza knows about this."

"Hehe... it seems the Prince also doesn't trust Senior."

Situ Qian sneered, then lowered his voice, "I heard a piece of news: the Prince of Shu's mansion's treasury has long been emptied and moved to Dujiangyan; he never intended to pay us at all!"

Nie Sangu was startled, "I assume it's a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?"

Situ Qian said coldly, "Does Senior really think it's a misunderstanding?"

Nie Sangu's face also became gloomy, "It is indeed somewhat wrong. What do you want to do?"

A smile appeared on the corner of Situ Qian's mouth, "Just wait for the opportunity. I have a premonition that the Prince of Shu's troubles are not just those in the city."

"Senior just needs to remember that we can join forces; don't let people trick us into confusion..."

Nie Sangu understood and nodded slightly.

Just at this moment, the two of them looked toward the door at the same time.

Only then did a gorgeously dressed eunuch, leading a few people, hurry into the courtyard; it was precisely the Prince's mansion's seal-holding eunuch, Eunuch Liu.

"This slave greets the masters."

Eunuch Liu was very polite, respectfully bowed, and then said: "It's getting late, everything is ready over there. The Prince instructed: kill the people, but don't make too much noise."

"Hmm."

Situ Qian looked out the window, but the night had already fallen. Although it wasn't snowing, the twelfth lunar month's cold wind was increasingly biting...

…………

On the pitch-black street, the cold wind was biting.

The accumulated snow on the ground was half a foot deep, and the icicles on the eaves were in rows.

"Put it down..."

"Order down: those who belong to the dragon, tiger, or chicken zodiac signs must leave and not approach within two streets. If they die, it has nothing to do with me..."

Situ Qian ordered coldly, his whole body full of sinister qi.

Under his command, the soldiers with black cloth covering their heads slowly put down the heavy Netherworld Opera Stage and set up fire basins all around.

The soldiers with taboo zodiac signs were all ordered to leave.

Feng Peng Laohai belonged to the tiger zodiac, so he was among them.

He followed those soldiers away, and from afar, seeing the shadow of the Netherworld Opera Stage in the firelight, his pupils shrank, his face full of fear.

However, he didn't dare to show any abnormality.

These demon people, he couldn't afford to provoke any of them...

Whoosh~

Beside the Netherworld Opera Stage, the fire basins were lit one by one.

The spices in the fire basins were all strange roots, mixed with withered bones and some corpse oil.

The green flames flickered, illuminating the surroundings like a ghost domain.

And in front of the Netherworld Opera Stage, besides "Ghost Zhong Kui" Situ Qian and "Filial-Clothed Flower Dan" Bai Qihong, there were also several men and women in black, holding various musical instruments, their faces gloomy like water.

In the distance, there were also a few sorcerers standing.

The leader was precisely Granny Tang Yuan Nie Sangu.

Among the four great experts under the Prince of Shu, the water ghost craftsman Tian Qi was dead, the Blood Exorcist was chasing and killing Sword Immortal Cheng, and the Black Sect Lama Duojizhaxi was doing things in the palace, so the one directing the action could only be Nie Sangu.

Only then did Situ Qian take a compass, turning back and forth in front of the Netherworld Opera Stage, using chicken blood mixed with cinnabar to draw an "anti-eight trigrams" on the ground, and also burying the ashes of those who died violently and iron nails in several formation eyes...

"Nie Senior."

Behind Nie Sangu, a sorcerer had a look of doubt and couldn't help but ask: "We have all heard of the great name of the Netherworld Opera Stage, but what is this singing?"

"This is called Yin Exorcism Opera."

Nie Sangu also looked solemn, "A hundred years ago, the Kuizhou Prefect destroyed the Yin Exorcism Altar of the Yunyang Old Lord's Stronghold. The 'Kuizhou Prefecture Annals' recorded: 'Wizards who perform Yin Exorcism, using Zhong Kui's name to drive living souls to feed ghosts, are strictly forbidden by the government.' This is precisely this method."

"In the land of eastern Sichuan, there is still a saying circulating: 'Rather hear ghosts cry than see Yin Exorcism.' In Shibao Stronghold, Zhong County, Chongqing Prefecture, there still exists the 'Exorcism Suppression Iron Stele' that suppresses Yin Exorcism."

Saying this, a sinister excitement appeared in her eyes, "You guys are quite lucky; you can open your eyes tonight."

"Follow the old woman closely when the time comes; don't blame others if you die..."

When the others heard this, their scalps went numb instantly.

This Nie Sangu, in their eyes, was already a demon, and being able to make her value it so much, it was estimated to be even more terrifying.

Unknowingly, it was almost the Zi hour.

The Netherworld Opera Stage stood silently in the middle of the street, with ghost fires drifting around.

Situ Qian was already dressed as Zhong Kui at this time, holding a sword in one hand and a fan in the other, chanting a spell while walking backward.

"Anti-Heavenly Gang Step..."

Among the crowd, someone felt their scalp go numb.

The so-called Anti-Heavenly Gang Step was not stepping on the Big Dipper's seven stars according to the Mystic Sect, but stepping on the South Dipper's six star positions in reverse.

Using this Gang Step would only gather dead qi.

At the same time, Situ Qian also gave a low shout:

"The Zi hour has arrived, open the Yin Stage!"

Ding, ding, ding!

On the Netherworld Opera Stage, the Chenzhou talisman copper bells rang out suddenly.

Situ Qian waved his large fan, and three spirit tablets made of paper danced with the wind, falling in front of the opera stage, with the Dharma names of the three Yin Generals "Seven Killings, Breaking Army, Greedy Wolf" written on them.

Clang, clang, clang!

The members of the music troupe with black cloth covering their faces immediately played gongs and drums.

And "Filial-Clothed Flower Dan" Bai Qihong sang in a mournful tone in front of the Netherworld Opera Stage.

"Ai~ ya~"

"The green lamp before the Buddha cannot illuminate the Netherworld Sea, yo; there is no door to hell, so the old lady opens it herself; Ten Halls of Yama, look at this of mine, yo; building a lotus terrace in the hungry ghost path~"

The voice was mournful, piercing through the night sky.

Some sorcerers heard it and inexplicably felt a surge of resentment and poison in their chests, their eyes gradually turning blood red.

"Steady your minds!" Nie Sangu spoke in time, only then waking them up.

"This... this is..."

A monk was full of disbelief, his voice trembling.

Nie Sangu turned her head and sneered, "Why, have you heard of it?"

The monk swallowed a mouthful of saliva, "It's the reverse performance of the Mulian Opera..."

"Blood Basin Calamity!"

As soon as the voice fell, black mist suddenly sprayed out from the Netherworld Opera Stage, tumbling up and down in the air, and then drilled into the ground fiercely.

Sinister cold evil qi spread rapidly.

The accumulated snow on the ground flew, as if a sinister wind was rising from underground.

The violent wind rolled with snow foam, and all the soldiers guarding outside couldn't help but use their hands to block it, their legs icy cold, shivering from the cold.

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"What kind of ghost are those people playing!"

The centurion who had ridiculed Feng Peng Laohai muttered with dissatisfaction.

"Lord... look!"

Before the voice fell, the soldier beside him pointed forward trembling.

This centurion looked up, only to see white mist rising from the ground around the entire Chengdu Prefecture Yamen, and in the blink of an eye, it was completely wrapped.

Crack!

The stone lions at the entrance of the Prefecture Yamen all shattered.

In the thick fog, shadows flickered, and the sound of mournful crying rang out.

The centurion gritted his teeth, "Hold steady, fire if anyone appears!"

At this moment, the Divine Fire Gun in his hand couldn't give him the slightest sense of security...

…………

"They're here!"

Just as Situ Qian launched his move, Li Yan opened his eyes fiercely.

They were guarding outside the gunpowder warehouse.

The flow-cloud old Daoist of Bai Yun Temple had also set up a Dharma altar, with several Daoists guarding the Dharma, and Dong Cunshan of the Eight Trigrams Sect and others were protecting Imperial Wang Wang Yushi Wang.

Beside Imperial Wang Wang Yushi Wang, there was also an old monk, considered a wandering monk, who had come to serve under the Wang Wang Yushi.

Hearing the singing coming from the darkness in the distance, the old monk widened his eyes, "Demon evildoers, how dare you perform such evil methods?!"

Li Yan frowned, "What kind of opera is this?"

The old monk gritted his teeth, "It's the reverse singing of the Mulian Opera, telling the story of Liu Si Niang not falling into hell but becoming the 'Blood Basin Holy Mother' who rules over one hundred thousand hungry ghosts. This is Yin Exorcism Opera, which has long been forbidden. How can someone still know it!"

After saying this, the Zen staff in his hand slammed fiercely.

Thud!

Snow splashed, and he also chanted Buddhist scriptures while forming a spell.

"Quick, raise the Seven-Star Dharma Flag!"

Bai Yun old Daoist also looked solemn and gave a low shout.

The Daoists around took out Dharma flags from beside the Dharma altar at the same time.

These Dharma flags were also strange, embroidered with the sun, moon, and stars, no different from ordinary Dharma flags, but they were made into the shape of kites.

The back was also connected to kite strings.

Seven Daoists let go at the same time, and the kites whistled into the air.

Li Yan could also perceive that the sinister wind was rising from the ground, blowing the back of his head until it was icy cold.

"Not good, it's the Bi Wind!"

Dong Cunshan beside him gave a low shout and said to the side: "Quick, everyone get close to the Dharma altar!"

Bi Wind?!

When Li Yan heard this, he was also taken aback.

He had heard Wang Daoxuan mention this thing; it was an evil wind formed by the sinister evil qi between heaven and earth, regarded as a disaster by the Mystic Sect.

"Journey to the West" also once mentioned it.

Bodhi Patriarch said to the Great Sage: "After another five hundred years, a wind disaster will descend to blow you, called 'Bi Wind,' entering the six viscera, passing through the dantian, piercing the nine orifices, making the bones and flesh sparse, and the body will dissolve itself."

Although it was somewhat exaggerated, it also explained how powerful this wind was.

If mortals touch it, it can blow away their spirits.

Even Mystic Sect cultivators would be interfered with in their meditation.

Sure enough, the soldiers who were defending were blown by this evil wind rising from the ground from the soles of their feet to their brains, and they immediately felt dark before their eyes, falling to the ground one after another.

Only this Imperial Wang Wang Yushi Wang, protected by Dong Cunshan and the Eight Trigrams Sect disciples, went directly to the Dharma altar and escaped a disaster.

Beside the Dharma altar, incense curled, and the evil wind could no longer rush around.

And that old monk kept chanting scriptures, confronting the sound outside.

"Evil evildoers, don't be rampant!"

Bai Yun old Daoist's face was ugly, waving his Dharma sword, stepping on the Gang steps, forming a seal and chanting, "Heavenly Origin One Qi, Yin and Yang not yet divided, mixed rising and falling, up and down intersecting... make people not see, make gods not hear, act in accordance with the law!"

After the spell, the peach wood Dharma sword slammed fiercely.

On the square table of the Dharma altar, there were a few bowls of five grains.

Clatter, clatter!

The five grains seemed to be stirred by some kind of power.

The evil wind around also gradually stopped.

Supreme Six Ren Yin Talisman Scripture?

Li Yan was somewhat surprised; this was the Shangqing Cave God Method, rumored to have been passed down from Guiguzi's hands, with a prominent reputation.

No wonder this old Daoist dared to be so arrogant.

"Zen Master Jinghai, quick, enter the formation!"

Bai Yun old Daoist seized the opportunity to call out to the old monk in the distance.

This old monk chanted scriptures to confront the Yin Exorcism Opera, helping them win time; otherwise, more people would have been hit.

Who knew that before the voice had faded, the female opera tone rang out in the night sky again.

"Namo Amitabha—Pah!"

"The golden bowl cannot hold the suffering of all living beings, yo; how can the Zen staff rival this ten thousand bones withering? Today I smash the plaque of Mount Ling, yo; following the mother to light the living soul incense..."

Pfft!

The old monk's face was pale, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, stumbling back a few steps, almost falling.

This opera tone actually directly restrained Buddhist Dharma.

And this old monk was clearly also hit, his eyes turning blood red, laughing maniacally: "One hundred ghosts carry the sedan, come to pick me up!"

"Hahaha..."

Accompanied by crazy laughter, he charged directly into the thick fog.

Before everyone could react, the fog around became much thicker, even pitch black, and they couldn't even see the lanterns in the distance.

The Bi Wind blew again, and the violent wind howled all around.

Only the Dharma flags in the hands of the seven Daoists were still fluttering in the air, vaguely emitting a faint light, like the Big Dipper.

Despite the howling evil wind, it was always difficult to get close to the Dharma altar.

However, Bai Yun old Daoist's face was somewhat bitter, "Lord Wang Wang Yushi, this old Daoist is arrogant; today I'm afraid we can only break out."

"This is the Ghost Opera Troupe's Netherworld Opera Stage formation. The other party is singing the Yin Exorcism Opera 'Mulian Saves His Mother,' and then the Three Yin Generals will enter the formation to chase and kill. This old Daoist can't block it."

"If the 'Blood Basin Holy Mother' is summoned, you will all die!"

Imperial Wang Wang Yushi Wang was very calm at this moment, "The outside is still surrounded by the garrison army, and there are demon people's evil methods making trouble. How to break out?"

Bai Yun old Daoist said in a deep voice, "We have already fallen into the Netherworld Opera Stage formation. The formation moves with the people, and the evil wind blowing can instead allow you to break out."

Saying this, he pointed to the sky, "Quick, follow the Big Dipper!"

Imperial Wang Wang Yushi Wang was startled, "Daoist, you..."

Bai Yun old Daoist said in a deep voice, "This old Daoist wants to protect the Dharma altar. As long as the altar doesn't fall, the Seven Stars will be there. Quick, go!"

"Go!"

Imperial Wang Wang Yushi Wang gritted his teeth and ordered everyone to break out.

Sure enough, as they moved forward, the black fog around also moved rapidly, and the Dharma altar behind them disappeared.

In the darkness, only the Big Dipper was flickering...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 579 =====