Chapter 633: How Crowded is Northern Mang

Rumble!

A muffled spring thunder sounded, and a fine rain drizzled down, weaving like silver threads.

"Giddyap!"

Sha Lifei leaned forward to control the reins, waving his horse whip, his soaked thin cotton jacket clinging to his spine.

The mane of the yellow horse he was riding was covered in water droplets, and its hooves kicked up mud stars as it galloped.

The spring chill was biting, and the cold wind hitting his face was like a steel awl, drilling into his soaked clothes, making Sha Lifei and Wang Fu shiver.

That's right, only the two of them were going to Shaolin.

Li Yan's plan still had some omissions.

The problem lay with Wu Ba.

This trip to Shaolin to seek help was all about speed; they couldn't afford any delays on the road.

Therefore, the local veteran of the martial world, "Jin Jin Yanfeng," had planned the best route for them.

Starting from the south of Luoyangcheng, they would follow the Yihe southeast, first heading to the Longmen Inn to change horses, then taking the ancient Yi Que road.

This ancient road would pass through the Longmen Grottoes, after which it would follow the Yihe northeast to reach Pengpo Town.

This was a strategic point at the southern foot of Mount Mang, at the junction of Mount Mang and the foothills of Mount Funiu.

To prevent night raids by bandits from Mount Funiu, they would pass by Pengpo Town without entering, pass through Baisha Station, and follow the old land of Lu Hun directly to Dajindian Town on the western border of Dengfeng.

Once they reached Dajindian Town, it would be considered safe, and they would continue forward to Guodian Village, where there was an imperial military road leading directly to the mountain gate of Shaolin Temple, allowing them to avoid the dangers of the main peak of Mount Song.

On this route, if they galloped at full speed, they could reach Shaolin Temple in less than two days.

But Wu Ba had a massive figure, and the horses that could carry him couldn't run fast at all.

Therefore, only Sha Lifei and Wang Fu were on this trip.

The situation on Mount Mang was unknown, and they couldn't do without Lu San's exploration and Long Yan'er's Gu arts, so they had to make this arrangement.

Fortunately, Sha Lifei had already successfully built his floor, and both his saber and spear techniques had improved significantly.

Wang Fu practiced the "Five-Head Divine Art," nurturing an innate gang energy in his chest, and could also multitask, no longer fearing enemies getting close.

Added to their experience in the martial world, it was enough to deal with most situations.

"Daoist, you have traveled all over, have you ever been to Shaolin?"

Sha Lifei galloped his horse and suddenly turned to ask.

Wang Fu was shivering from the cold and shook his head, "This poor Daoist rarely goes to monk temples."

"I have been..."

A trace of nostalgia flashed in Sha Lifei's eyes, "When I first entered the martial world, I followed a big brother who said there was a martial arts assembly at the foot of Mount Shaoshi, where heroes from all walks of life would meet, and he wanted to take me to see the world and incidentally make a name for myself in the martial world."

Wang Fu asked curiously, "What was the result?"

Sha Lifei laughed self-deprecatingly, "Needless to say, I was cheated."

"He said it was for travel expenses and money to smooth things over, and I racked my brains to scrape it together, even keeping a wary eye and keeping it on my person. Who knew that when we reached the foot of Mount Shaoshi, we couldn't even get through the gate, and that big brother stole my money in the middle of the night and ran away."

"In the end, I squatted in a tree for half a day and still had to beg my way back to Chang'an."

"Hahaha, rest assured, such things won't happen again in the future."

"We are, after all, the Twelve Yuan Chen..."

…………

Slanting wind and fine rain, overcast clouds covering everything.

In the woods, raindrops hit the fallen leaves, making a pattering sound.

Li Yan lightly touched his bamboo hat and looked up.

But he saw the mountain body undulating in the overcast clouds, like solidified ink waves.

Mount Mang was not tall, nor was it a blessed cave-heaven, and it didn't even look beautiful; it was just barren hills and mounds, full of gullies, and even standing at the foot of the mountain, one could see the grave-robbing holes and broken tablets scattered everywhere, looking very dilapidated.

However, even without using his supernatural powers, Li Yan could feel a majestic aura rushing toward him.

"How crowded is Northern Mang, with four or five high tombs. Asking whose graves these are, all say they are the masters of the Han Dynasty."

"Jin Jin Yanfeng" also looked into the distance, his eyes somewhat complex, and said tremblingly, "Since ancient times, the common people of the Central Plains have all taken pride in being buried in Mount Mang after death. There are countless imperial tombs, and even more famous ministers and generals. Since they are buried here, how could they just watch the demon people and evil spirits run rampant?"

"After death, who cares about the affairs of the living."

Li Yan's expression was solemn as he replied casually.

In fact, he knew what was going on, but he couldn't talk nonsense.

Between heaven and earth, there are laws of their own, and after people die, their souls enter the Netherworld.

Whether they go to the eighteen levels of hell or the six paths of reincarnation, they have completely severed ties with the mortal world.

Those ancestral graves with excellent feng shui use the power of bloodlines to borrow the earth's vein gang-evil Qi, but the blessings don't last more than three generations.

Anything that can still manage affairs after that must have a problem.

Either they are wandering lonely ghosts, Yin spirits, and fierce souls, or they are living dead, those who have returned to life.

If these emperors really dared to mess around, Mount Mang would definitely be hit by constant thunder.

Of course, these were all his conjectures.

What exactly was going on would have to wait for Erlang Zhenjun, who had ascended to godhood, to secretly inform him.

Unfortunately, that bronze Nuo mask still hadn't shown any movement...

Casting aside the messy thoughts in his heart, Li Yan asked in a deep voice, "Senior, this Mount Mang covers a vast area, do you have any clues about the Ghost Emperor's hiding place?"

Jin Jin Yanfeng stroked his beard and shook his head, "The 'Northern Mang Ghost Records' doesn't record it, and the 'Record of Buddhist Monasteries in Luoyang' might have it, but that book was lost many years ago. Perhaps there are isolated copies, but they are treasured by those powerful families and are never shown to others."

Hearing this, Li Yan frowned.

Long Yan'er, who was beside him, just glanced at Jin Jin Yanfeng, "Senior didn't say it on the way here, so you must already have a plan in your heart. We can't afford to play coy at this time."

"Yes, yes."

Jin Jin Yanfeng was full of embarrassment and said with a wry smile, "It's a habit formed over many years, I didn't even notice it myself. Li Li Shaoxia, don't blame me."

Saying this, he took out a yellowed silk cloth from his bosom.

After opening it, it was a landscape topographic map.

While pointing into the distance, he explained, "Everyone, please look, Mount Mang is vast, but it is not without rules. There are thirty-three peaks including Pingfeng Mountain, Gucheng Mountain, and Shouyang Mountain, sitting north of Luoyang, lined up from west to east."

"This place has thick soil and low water, suitable for burial. According to those grave robbers, there are at least eight Eastern Zhou royal tombs, five Eastern Han imperial tombs, two Cao Wei imperial tombs, five Western Jin imperial tombs, and six Northern Wei imperial tombs... scattered throughout Mount Mang; there is no room left for a cow to lie down."

"The Qin tripod that Zhao Donkey found came from a Northern Wei tomb. A while ago, another strange thing happened: the old man guarding the tomb heard the sound of Nuo opera in the tomb on Mount Mang in the middle of the night; it's highly likely that is where the Ghost Emperor is hiding."

"But we can't go up the mountain like this, we will definitely be discovered, we must find some cover..."

"What cover?"

Li Yan asked.

Jin Jin Yanfeng didn't speak, but took out a bundle from behind him.

Inside the bundle were paper money, earth paper, pastries, and such things.

Li Yan immediately understood and looked at the surroundings, "It's Qingming then..."

"Yes."

Jin Jin Yanfeng nodded, "Visiting graves before Qingming is an old custom. Even if it rains, there will definitely be many people going up Mount Mang today. If we mix in with them, we shouldn't be conspicuous."

Saying this, he also instructed everyone on how to dress up.

"Miss Long, wrap a white cloth around your head and dress as a filial daughter of the family..."

"Martial Hero Wu, your figure is large, find a shoulder pole later to carry goods and dress as a servant..."

"Li Li Shaoxia Li has a noble air, and Lu San and I will follow behind you..."

After his instructions, the group dressed up, and it really looked like the real thing.

Just then, people came one after another from the foot of the mountain, all families together, and Li Yan and the others immediately walked out of the dense forest and followed far behind.

They hadn't walked far when Li Yan discovered something strange.

On the tombs they saw along the way, bowl-shaped clods of earth were placed on top.

Li Yan knew this was called a "grave-head hat."

When visiting graves during Qingming in the Central Plains, people weed and cultivate the soil, and find bowl-shaped clods of earth with grass roots to place on the grave, which is called a "grave-head hat."

Many places have this custom, so it's nothing strange.

What was strange was that some of the grave mounds were also pressed with red paper, which had been soaked through by the rain, dripping red water, as if the tomb was bleeding, which looked very chilling.

"This is a custom of the Central Plains."

Jin Jin Yanfeng explained, "A newly married daughter-in-law must also go to visit the graves with her family, and must press a piece of red paper on the grave to show that the family has added a new member, reporting the happy news to the ancestors. This is probably a family that just got a new daughter-in-law."

"So that's how it is..."

Li Yan looked at Mount Mang, which was getting closer and closer, and an inexplicable chill rose in his heart, saying in a deep voice, "Mount Mang is located on the central dragon vein, with countless burial grounds. Apart from the events of the past few days, has Senior heard of any other strange things happening?"

Jin Jin Yanfeng shook his head, "Luoyangcheng has a City God Temple, and the social order soldiers and horses patrol regularly during the Shangsi Festival. The common people are already used to it; at night, they have to put their shoes upside down when sleeping, so that the little ghosts think no one is there."

"The common people are not only not afraid, but some even go to the wild fields in the middle of the night to watch the 'ghost fires,' commonly known as 'watching the lamps'."

Li Yan was speechless after hearing this, "Well, their guts are indeed big enough."

Jin Jin Yanfeng gave a wry smile, "It's precisely because nothing has happened for many years that the old man didn't think in that direction. However, this Mount Mang has had many strange things since ancient times."

"It is rumored that Laozi once practiced alchemy on Mount Mang, so in the second year of Longshuo of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Gao Zong issued an edict to build the Shangqing Palace on Mount Mang, used to suppress ghosts and also to worship the founder. Legend has it that after the Shangqing Palace was built, Gao Zong ordered an altar to be set up to worship the gods, and a mirage appeared in the sky above Mount Mang. Gao Zong was overjoyed upon hearing this and called it an auspicious sign."

"If it were just once, it would be fine; it was probably Luoyang officials flattering him, but it happened more than once."

"In the fourth year of Yifeng, Gao Zong and Empress Wu came to Mount Mang to worship, and a mirage also appeared, and they saw Laozi descend..."

Li Yan's eyes narrowed, "Shangqing Palace played tricks?"

"Perhaps."

Jin Jin Yanfeng shook his head, "Anyway, after this incident, Shangqing Palace became the Daoist temple of the Li Tang royal family, and the Daoist sect's momentum surpassed the Buddhist sect."

"By the Tianbao era, a giant snake appeared on Mangshan, over a zhang high and a hundred feet long. The high monk Subhakarasimha sighed and said, 'This is an attempt to divert water to flood Luoyangcheng.' He used secret Tantric methods to curse the snake to death. Emperor Xuanzong heard of this and met him in person, and the Buddhist school rose once more."

"Mirages and giant snakes are famous strange things on Mount Mang, but very few people know about Xu Fu's affair."

Li Yan lost interest after hearing this, "It's probably just the Buddhist and Daoist sects fighting for supremacy."

At that time, Luoyang was the Divine Capital of the Great Tang, with high-ranking Mystic Sect experts from all over the world gathering, and all kinds of magic battles were passed down through the ages.

At that time, Subhakarasimha, Vajrabodhi, and Amoghavajra, the three great patriarchs of the Tantric school, gathered together.

Monk Yixing, Great Master Huiri of the Pure Land Sect, the Great Priest of the Manichaean Sect from Tokharian, the Lishan Old Mother, Xing Hepu, Lan Caihe, Luo Gongyuan, Ye Fashan, Zhai Qianyou... just pick any name, and they were all existences that could shock the Mystic Sect.

Not to mention some reclusive strange people, such as the "Gray Monk" who still hasn't been found in Sichuan, and Wu Youxu who secretly created a steam engine prototype with the Mohist school.

That was a brilliant age for the Mystic Sect, but it still couldn't stop the surging general trend.

Just like the human transformation now, the orthodox Mystic Sect was also trembling with fear.

Thinking of this, Li Yan lost the mood to inquire about old news.

Unknowingly, they followed the crowd of grave-sweepers to Mount Mang.

On the hillside, grave-robbing holes were scattered everywhere, and broken tablets appeared in the weeds.

"Damn thieves!"

The commoners visiting graves couldn't help but curse one after another when they saw this.

Li Yan and his party, although disguised, had temperaments that were hard to hide, so they were still recognized by the nearby commoners, who cast vigilant and disgusted looks, clearly also taking them for grave robbers.

The group didn't want to cause trouble and quickened their pace up the mountain.

On the mountain, there were either high-ranking officials and nobles, or imperial and celebrity tombs, so there were fewer people worshipping.

Li Yan gave a signal with his eyes, and Lu San immediately formed a seal, muttering to himself.

Rustle, rustle...

In the damp grass, there was immediately a rustling sound.

Those were the wild rats and snakes summoned by Lu San, gathering from all directions.

All kinds of "squeak" and "hiss" sounds followed.

Lu San listened intently, then shook his head, signaling that there was no abnormality nearby.

Li Yan also activated his supernatural powers, but didn't hear any ghost or god language.

"There shouldn't be anything here."

Jin Jin Yanfeng pointed to the mountain peak on the left, "That is the Jingling Tomb of the Northern Wei, which is where the strange sound was heard. I heard that Shangqing Palace specifically sent people to guard it for a period of time, saying it might still be there. Everyone, be careful."

"Mm, Senior is right."

Li Yan gave a gesture, and the group continued forward.

Lu San released his falcon to soar in the high sky, and the little white fox carried Mouse Big and Mouse Two in the leather bag on its chest, scurrying around.

With their current means, and it being daytime, there was really no ambush that could hide from their eyes.

Half an hour later, they finally reached their destination.

But they saw that on the hillside, the mottled head of a tomb-guarding beast was half-buried in the soil, and broken tablets appeared in the weeds.

A massive underground palace exit had been dug open, and it had even collapsed halfway. 【633-13

"It shouldn't be here."

Jin Jin Yanfeng looked around and said with a bitter smile: "The bold ones have already searched it, left safely, and the people from the Shangqing Palace have also withdrawn. This is not where the Ghost Emperor's underground palace is located."

Li Yan looked at the vast mountains around him, also feeling a headache, "Senior, do you have any other clues?"

Jin Jin Yanfeng sighed: "There are simply too many tombs on Mangshan. Without a target, it's impossible to find."

Whoosh~

As they were speaking, a strange wind suddenly blew through the mountains.

Li Yan sniffed, and his expression immediately turned solemn, "Be careful, there's a fishy smell of snakes."

Before his voice had faded, the thick fog on the mountaintop surged and rapidly spread in all directions.

In just a few breaths, the area around them was already shrouded in mist.

The hair on Li Yan's back stood on end, and he looked around in disbelief.

"Such a thick fishy smell of snakes..."

Lu San muttered, frowning as he summoned the little white fox to come closer.

And Long Yan'er was also filled with astonishment, "This... this is a Snake Mirage!"

"I've seen it in the Southern Frontier. A large snake that has achieved success in cultivation can spray clouds and spit mist in the mountains. Prey will be confused and run to its mouth to feed themselves, but this..."

Everyone understood what she meant.

With such a wide range covered by the thick fog, how large must that snake demon be?

"Is it the Mangshan Giant Snake?"

Jin Jin Yanfeng was filled with regret and slapped himself, "This broken mouth, what am I spouting?"

"Even if it's a giant snake, we're not afraid. Wu Ba, get ready to act!"

Li Yan drew his Dust-Breaking Blade, looking around with murderous intent.

Upon hearing this, Wu Ba immediately unloaded the Tiger-Crouching Cannon from his back.

They might not have the cultivation of Subhakarasimha, but the power of the cannon was definitely sufficient.

Just then, an old voice came from the thick fog:

"Ouch, be careful, don't use that thing..."

(End of chapter)