Chapter 602: Blood Battle at Qingyang Palace

Wild winds whipped snow, obscuring the view.

Night had fallen; the Qingyang Palace, shrouded in thick fog, held no lights, no sound—like a monster hidden in darkness, eerily silent.

Li Yan and the others did not know that an hour earlier, the Qingcheng Sect had seen the Qingyang Palace brightly lit, with gongs and drums roaring.

This state now clearly meant something had gone wrong.

The Flower Goddess procession was not just theirs; as it passed through the streets, it drew in countless frenzied civilians—at least a thousand.

Though they had gone mad, they still retained a sliver of memory: the Flower Goddess procession happened every year, and they followed instinctively.

Holding torches, they made a great racket.

When the front of the procession halted, these bloodshot civilians erupted into chaos—some lunged forward, others fought each other.

Seeing disorder imminent, Sha Li Fei hurried forward and whispered, "What do we do? Should we scout ahead first?"

Li Yan recalled the fading arm of the Dragon Girl in his dream and shook his head: "They're already acting. No time left. Proceed with the ritual immediately."

"Master Daoist, you lead—we'll guard the ritual!"

"Good!"

Wang Daoxuan said nothing, directing Hou Xuan's men and the women carrying flower baskets to set up.

This was a plan already agreed upon.

Wang Daoxuan had learned all the rites of the "Flower Goddess Procession"—he could conduct it alone; the rest would provide protection.

The main rites included the "Three Offerings," "Burning Silk and Chanting Names," and "Procession and Distribution of Blessings."

The "Three Offerings" consisted of three ritual steps.

The "First Offering" was led by the Prefect of Chengdu, accompanied by gentry, offering fresh flowers and hundred-flower cakes, reciting the "Hundred Flowers Ode."

The "Second Offering" was presented by a representative of the flower farmers, offering the "Hundred Flower Hoe"; the Daoist would dot the blade with cinnabar, symbolizing "cutting filth, clearing wasteland, protecting flowers and aiding cultivation."

The "Final Offering" involved civilians tossing copper coins into the "Hundred Flower Brazier," where the fire would blaze up instantly, the smoke forming flower shapes—a sign of good fortune.

Under current conditions, a normal ceremony was impossible.

As long as the ritual could be completed, using the incense and prayers of the crowd behind to ignite the Flower Goddess's ritual vessel, there was a chance the Dragon Girl could revive.

The procession halted; Hou Xuan and others brought out a large iron basin.

This was the "Hundred Flower Brazier"—a name that sounded grand, but it was merely an ordinary iron sheet, used primarily for burning offerings.

Quickly, firewood and incense were thrown in; Hou Xuan poured oil over them and tossed in a torch—flames erupted violently.

Ting-ting-ting!

Wang Daoxuan shook his bell, stepped in the Nine Steps of the Gang, circled the brazier, and chanted loudly: "The Flower Goddess bestows grace; the five grains ripen…"

This was the "Hundred Flowers Ode," used in the sacrifice.

According to past custom, fresh flowers and cakes were to be cast into the brazier, but this year's climate was abnormal; Hou Xuan could only find some plum blossoms and dried flowers, mixed with cakes and tossed in.

Instantly, a mix of fragrances and burning odors filled the air.

If any elder of Chengdu saw this, they'd say it violated tradition—but Wang Daoxuan didn't care.

He had seen through the ritual's essence: it was about gathering the people's incense and prayers through solemn ceremony.

The civilians behind clearly didn't need the formalities.

Indeed, when they saw the roaring flames, they showed no solemnity—instead, they waved torches and cheered loudly.

Wang Daoxuan gave a signal; Hou Xuan immediately lifted the pre-prepared hoe and offered it respectfully.

Wang Daoxuan then pretended to dip a cinnabar brush and draw talismans.

Worshiping the Flower Immortal wasn't just for flowers—it was tied to farming, praying that fields wouldn't lie barren next year.

This was the true concern of the people.

Thus, even though the crowd behind was half-mad, at this moment they fell silent, staring with bloodshot eyes.

When they saw the Daoist complete the cinnabar talisman on the hoe, they raised their torches again and cheered, pulling copper coins from their waists and necks to toss into the brazier.

This was the third step.

Seeing the "Joy God Coins" they pulled out, Li Yan and the others grew alert, hearts pounding.

Fortunately, the curses on the "Joy God Coins" had been transferred—they were now indistinguishable from ordinary coins and didn't disrupt the ritual.

Ding-ding-dang!

A dense rain of copper coins fell into the brazier; some charred wood scattered, and patches of flame were smothered.

Instantly, thick smoke rolled upward.

Seeing this, Wang Daoxuan swiftly formed a hand seal and chanted, flinging a yellow talisman—suddenly, a gale howled upward, scattering the smoke like blooming flowers.

"Aaaoo~~"

The civilians, seeing this, grew even more frenzied.

Seizing the moment, Wang Daoxuan unfurled a large yellow silk scroll, shook his bell, and cried out: "Flower Immortal, receive the name register—grant blessings, dispel calamity, ensure a bountiful year!"

At these words, the crowd went wild, surging forward, biting their middle fingers and pressing bloody handprints onto the scroll.

This was the "Burning Silk and Chanting Names" step.

Normally, it wouldn't be this bloody—just writing names and praying would suffice—but these people were already insane.

Fortunately, though the ritual was distorted, its effect remained.

As Wang Daoxuan cast the yellow silk into the fire and lit incense, the crowd cheered and leapt in unison.

They were cursed and mad, but their wish for blessings had not changed.

Li Yan immediately lifted the bronze flower basket in his hand, placed it beside the brazier, and placed the Dragon-patterned Jade Gui given by the Dragon Girl inside.

This bronze basket was a treasure he had found in the ruins of the Dragon Girl's temple—it had once been a national sacrificial artifact of ancient Shu.

For a thousand years, its spiritual aura had never faded; to Li Yan, it felt even stronger than the "Ruyi Treasure Pearl," though it remained difficult to activate.

Perfect—he'd use this ritual to gather incense energy.

Li Yan sniffed, a smile spreading across his face.

He could smell it: as the ritual progressed, the blue smoke from the brazier, infused with the crowd's prayers, flowed steadily into the basket.

They had finally taken the crucial step.

This was only the beginning—after "Burning Silk and Chanting Names" came the "Procession and Distribution of Blessings." If they held out to the end, they'd gather enough incense power…

At that moment, Yue San'er of the Bamboo Grove Six Idle Ones suddenly lifted his head.

"Watch out—someone's coming out!"

This old man, who carried a two-stringed fiddle, nicknamed "Earth Listening String," was blind but possessed extraordinary hearing—he was a land master from the Yellow River, skilled in detection, and the first to sense the disturbance.

Everyone looked up immediately.

Shhh-shhh-shhh!

From the dark walls of the Qingyang Palace courtyard, over a dozen figures leapt out—all wearing Daoist robes: the Qingyang Palace Daoists.

But their appearance was clearly wrong.

Each had pale faces, black blood oozing from all seven orifices; some were stiff, yet their strength had clearly increased.

Holding sharp swords, they charged through the snow and wind.

Seeing them, Li Yan immediately guessed the truth.

He didn't know how they'd been bewitched into following the dark path and helping Lu Sheng set up the altar to suppress the Dragon Girl.

But clearly, something had gone wrong.

Each was wrapped in malevolent energy, like they'd been possessed.

The "Flower Goddess Procession" was meant to revive the Dragon Girl—those inside must have sensed the interference and came to stop it.

"Everyone—no mercy!"

Li Yan's eyes flashed with killing intent as he drew the Broken Dust Blade.

No matter what grievances these Qingyang Palace Daoists might have, at this critical moment, there could be no hesitation.

Boom!

Sha Li Fei struck first.

A foot-long jet of flame shot from his divine gun, shattering the chest of the foremost Daoist—flesh and blood torn to pulp.

The other five of the Bamboo Grove Six Idle Ones also drew their weapons.

They could tell these Daoists were young disciples with low cultivation—only their malevolent energy needed guarding. But one shadow had already darted forward.

"Roar!"

Wu Ba bellowed like thunder, his muscles bulging like ancient pine roots, charging through snow and wind.

As he neared, his right foot slammed down—earth and flying snow exploded outward; using the recoil, he twisted his waist and hips, driving his right elbow forward with vicious force.

Boom! A thunderous crash!

It struck the lead Daoist's chest.

The Daoist had no time to raise his sword—only a crunch of cracking bone echoed as the force tore a bloody hole through his ribs and the back of his robe.

His body flew backward like a broken kite.

At the same time, two possessed Daoists on the left swung their long swords in a crossing thrust.

They used the Zi-Wu Sword Technique; though possessed, their instincts remained—they struck in perfect tandem, aiming for Wu Ba's abdomen and heart.

More strangely, the malevolent energy on their bodies gathered toward their blades, forming faint black mist—as if it were martial qi.

!

Yet Wu Ba did not dodge or retreat.

He slammed his palms together, his massive hands precisely clamping the sword blades. With a roar, he exhaled sharply, veins bulging in his neck.

Creak-creak-creak~

With a grating sound, two hundred-forged iron swords were twisted into spirals by his bare palms and yanked backward.

Immediately after, he reversed his hand and struck with "Tiger Hardly Climbs the Mountain," cleaving down upon the two Daoists' crowns.

Crack—skull shattering mixed with white pulp spraying.

"Good!"

Li Yan couldn't help but praise aloud, eyes gleaming with delight.

Wu Ba rarely spoke; besides eating, drinking, defecating, and training, he did nothing else. Li Yan hadn't paid attention lately, but this kid had already reached the peak of Dark Force.

Extraordinary talent—no wonder even Wu Qu was jealous.

Unfortunately, the Daoists charging forward were already possessed; facing Wu Ba like a wrathful Vajrapani, they showed no fear and kept attacking.

The two on the left had just been killed when three sharp swords, wreathed in black smoke, pierced through the snow mist from behind.

Wu Ba had no Iron Body cultivation and hadn't yet found a fine scale armor for protection; his best option was to roll forward to dodge.

Squeak—!

Yet the three swords were pinned midair.

It was "Earth Listening String" Yue San'er who had acted.

The blind old man moved swiftly—he must have approached unnoticed—and flung his erhu's iron string, entangling the blades.

"You young fellow, so impatient…"

The old man clearly admired Wu Ba's ferocity; after teasing him, he plucked the bowstring and drew it lightly across the erhu.

Hum!

The iron string vibrated, shattering all three blades at once.

"Wahhh~"

Wu Ba roared in excitement, spinning like a top, his arm muscles swelling like giant pythons coiling around trees; he whirled and unleashed another move—"Earth-Piercing Heaven-Striking Cannon."

Boom!

Three Daoists flew out like rag dolls.

At this moment, the others had arrived.

"Yinshan Chess" Fan Tieguai leaned on his cane, flipped his wrist, and two iron chess pieces shot out with such ferocity they shattered the skulls of the remaining two Daoists…

In a short time, the ground was littered with broken corpses.

Li Yan arrived with his blade, unsurprised.

Without saying a word, the Six Idle Ones of the Bamboo Grove were all renowned experts—equivalent to two squads of Immortal Hunters working together.

As long as they weren't surrounded by troops, they feared no one in Chengdu Prefecture.

Gazing at the dark Qingyang Palace ahead, Li Yan formed the Yang Seal, drew a deep breath, and instantly all scents converged in his senses.

Simultaneously, his ears trembled slightly.

Strange wailing cries erupted in his mind.

Li Yan's expression changed sharply: "Bad—these people have gone mad. They're using dark arts to corrupt the secular deities of Qingyang Palace."

Last time he and Yang Chenghua infiltrated Qingyang Palace, he'd found these Daoists had sealed all the statues, filled with fear.

After all, their practices had strayed onto the dark path.

Yet now they dared to target those secular deities.

"Lao Sha, Lu San, Master Situ and Master Fan stay behind…"

"Wu Ba, take the Tiger Zun Cannon!"

Li Yan gave his orders without hesitation.

His arrangement was thoroughly considered.

With thick fog and heavy snow, Sha Lifa's fire weapons' power was diminished—better to leave them behind for defense. Lu San's detection skills could prevent enemy ambushes.

As for the wounded Situ Bo and Fan Tieguai, their mobility was limited, so they were perfect to stay behind—after all, many mad civilians still lurked behind them.

The others said nothing, simply following him as they charged through the blinding snowstorm toward Qingyang Palace.

Each had their strengths, but all had entered Dark Force; they didn't enter through the main gate but leapt directly over the walls.

"Wait!"

"Earth Listening String" Yue San'er suddenly raised his hand.

The blind old man tilted his head, listening, then shook his head: "The earth qi has changed. I've been to Qingyang Palace before—the ground between the mountain gate and the front hall hides a Heavenly Gang Array, normally inactive…"

As he spoke, he plucked a string lightly.

Hummm!

The vibration echoed; his ears twitched, and he shook his head: "They've inverted the Heavenly Gang Array—no wonder the yin earth qi is so abnormal…"

Saying this, he unslung a leather pouch from his waist and flung it backward.

Splash!

Inside the pouch were nothing but fish bones—no one knew what giant fish they came from—all ground into bead-like shapes, inscribed with talismanic patterns in cinnabar.

The moment the bone beads hit the ground, they exploded with soft pops; thick black mists mixed with green smoke rose from the snow, reeking of fishy rot.

Li Yan, seeing this, grimaced slightly.

The array concealed poison, masked by yin earth qi—if they stepped on it, it would burst like a ruptured balloon, spewing poison instantly.

He wasn't afraid of it, but it would be a nuisance.

Moreover, in the dark beside the Three Pure Ones Hall, several Daoists lurked, clearly waiting to rush out once they were poisoned.

"Master, impressive skill!"

Li Yan couldn't help but praise.

The Yellow River is one of Shenzhou's great dragon veins; over millennia, its breaches and floods have left countless vengeful spirits, and strange phenomena are common.

To survive along the Yellow River—truly not simple.

"Stop them!"

From the darkness, a cold voice rang out.

Figures surged from the alleyways flanking the Three Pure Ones Hall.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Swordlight flashed, Daoist robes fluttered.

In an instant, they formed a sword array before the front hall.

Compared to the earlier attackers, these Daoists still retained some awareness—but were equally possessed.

Their eyes glowed red, their murderous aura swirling as black smoke.

A proper Xuanmen sword array, yet wielded with eerie, demonic energy.

"Using the orthodox through the unorthodox?"

Li Yan's gaze grew cold as he stared ahead, his face darkening.

"You're using demonic qi—what are you people?"

(End of Chapter)