Chapter 639: Land of Malevolent Spirits

There's a task!

Li Yan's expression remained unchanged, but his heart leapt with joy.

His rapid cultivation stemmed not only from the Great Luo Body's ability to test limits without fear of demonic deviation, but also from his roles as "Living Yin Officer" and "Heavenly Official."

He could obtain a Gang Ling as a trump card, while also gaining Divine Gang and Thunder Gang to bolster his strength.

But during the Chengdu battle, his gains were minimal.

After killing Lu Sheng, he should have received at least one Gang Ling, but knowing these people had powerful backers in the Great Luo Realm, he chose to forgo the reward and instead shattered Lu Sheng's soul completely, erasing him from heaven and earth.

The Thunder Gang obtained from killing Li Wenyuan was used to strengthen the Soul-Grabbing Thunder Rope.

Thus, his Soul Register now held only two Divine Gang, both from earlier captures of demonic energy.

He gave one to Wang Xuanmo; he kept one for himself.

Far inferior to what he had in Ezhou back then.

Li Yan finally understood how rare Yin Bureau tasks were.

Those from the Huangquan Organization encountered a Gang Ling only once every few years, hoarding it as a last-resort life-saving trump card—unlike him, who took tasks frequently and squandered them recklessly.

Wang Xuanmo was also a Yin Offender, finally able to reclaim a Gang Ling.

Without hesitation, Li Yan gripped his Soul Register and sank his spirit into it.

Instantly, thick fog enveloped him.

He was already familiar with the process; he swiftly passed through the fog and ran between two colossal owl statues.

Ahead, a well indeed appeared.

But when Li Yan saw it, he was taken aback.

Inside was not the stone well used to capture Yin Offenders, but a well of black blood.

There was escaped demonic energy within this underground palace!

Though unexpected, Li Yan was not disappointed.

After all, escaped demonic energy was rarer than Yin Offenders.

Moreover, it was more valuable, usable for cultivating Great Luo Divine Arts.

In three quick steps, Li Yan placed both hands on the well's wall.

Splash splash~

The blood-red water swirled, countless shadows danced, and a silk scroll appeared.

Demon God "Yang Shi":

An ancient Fu Xi clan shaman's coffin-spirit, transformed into a demon god during the Shang Dynasty.

Appears as a man clad in white mourning robes, with four eyes and five legs.

In ancient times, it wandered alone at night, moaning in pain; if anyone answered, they would die within three days.

Transmits the "Corpse Coffin Immortality Art"; practitioners must dwell within a coffin, absorbing primordial malevolent energy through the coffin to form a micro-realm and evade calamity…

Corpse Coffin Immortality Art?

Li Yan frowned, recalling the Five-Colored Corpse Spider he had seen before.

That thing hid inside coffins, manipulating paper puppets to cause havoc.

It was forged by Qin-Han alchemists; the "Immortal Treasury of Longevity" was also tied to the alchemist faction.

Clearly, this demon-taming method drew from the Longevity Heresy.

All such heretical arts carry grave drawbacks.

Like Demon God Zuo Shouquan's "Decapitated Immortality Art," practitioners become his spirit-slaves…

Demon God Xia Yi's "Yin Embryo Immortality Art" requires repeated molting, a torment worse than death, and forbids exposure to light…

Li Yan continued reading.

Indeed, after practicing the "Corpse Coffin Immortality Art," one could initially move about, but over time, flesh and blood fused with the coffin, trapping the practitioner inside forever—open the coffin to light, and one instantly turned to pus and blood.

Similar to the "Altar God Immortality Art" the Daoist had cultivated on Mount Taibai.

Yet this art also had its strengths.

Inside the coffin, a micro-realm formed naturally, gathering primordial malevolent energy to enhance one's abilities and techniques.

Like the Five-Colored Corpse Spider, its silk was as strong as steel.

Someone in this underground palace must be venerating "Yang Shi" and practicing this heresy.

Knowing the countermeasures, Li Yan immediately accepted the task.

But just as he prepared to leave, a sound echoed from deep in the sky.

"General Wu Dao, Marshal Meng, please come this way…"

The voice was familiar—it was the red-robed shadow Li Yan had seen many times.

This figure was likely the Yin deity overseeing this place, though Li Yan did not know his name.

What drew Li Yan's attention were the other two figures.

General Wu Dao, needless to say, was also an old acquaintance.

Once, when he carelessly let slip a secret, Li Yan obtained the Great Luo artifact "Five Directions Luo Feng Flag," but lacking a suitable vessel and unable to gather five Gang Lings, it still lay hidden in his Soul Register, unusable.

The power of this treasure was certainly extraordinary.

Previously, he had bound it with copper coins, severely limiting the Great Luo artifact's potential.

Moreover, General Wu Dao was a cursed soul; due to false rumors in the mortal world that he was the reincarnation of five bandits, his worship had dwindled.

Li Yan knew even more.

The forms and powers of Great Luo Realm deities changed according to mortal worship.

Like Xiwangmu, once a malevolent deity of calamity, now she became a benevolent god of fortune.

If no change occurred, General Wu Dao would inevitably be affected.

And the other, "Marshal Meng"—could he be the "Colossal Heavenly Force Enforcer Meng" of Luo Feng Mountain?

Li Yan was very familiar with him.

He was one of the Eight Inner Altar Generals, strongest in physical power.

With his Yin Qi enhancement, Li Yan's strength surged significantly in combat.

Whether "General Wu Dao" or "Marshal Meng," both belonged to Luo Feng Mountain.

Had something happened on Luo Feng Mountain?

Li Yan pretended to examine the scroll, but listened intently.

"Cui Pan, why have you summoned us?"

Cui Pan?!

Li Yan was stunned—he was a major figure.

Yin Bureau judges were mortal-deity officials in folk belief, responsible for judging the good and evil of souls.

He had communicated with Huangquan Organization members; Yin Bureau judges originated from the Buddhist "Yanluo Wang" system, later merged into Chinese Daoism to form the "Ten Courts of Yanluo," with judges as key figures.

The name "Cui Pan" appeared in countless tales.

Since the mortal world and Great Luo Realm influenced each other, calling him Cui Pan was natural.

It seemed all "Living Yin Officers" now fell under the Ten Courts of Yanluo.

"It's all because of Er Lang Zhen Jun!"

The tone of "Cui Pan" was weary.

"He wields great influence in the mortal realm—guardian deity of Sichuan, and a supreme judicial deity of the Yin Bureau. His arrival in the Great Luo Realm is a nuisance; the Heavenly Court wants to control him but can't, and he wanders the Yin Bureau daily, barging in everywhere, nearly waking Shen Shu and Yu Lei."

"You all know what the Great Luo Realm is like. If this continues, trouble will come."

"What exactly are you suggesting, Cui Pan?"

"This… I think he has a favorable impression of Luo Feng Mountain. Could we assign him there?"

"The Great Emperor is in divine travel; we cannot decide such matters."

"Just soothe him for now…"

As they spoke, they seemed to sense Li Yan had lingered too long—the voice fell silent.

Simultaneously, the red shadow in the sky grew larger.

Li Yan startled, feigned having finished reading, accepted the task, and left with a calm expression.

Passing through the owl statues into the fog, his figure vanished swiftly.

After he left, a voice echoed again in the air.

"This man is also a major trouble."

"Cui Pan overthinks; holding both Yin Officer and Heavenly Official roles is rare, but not unheard of."

"Perhaps… it's also an opportunity for us…"

…………

His spirit returned to his body; the underground palace reappeared before Li Yan's eyes.

As before, less than two breaths had passed.

Yet Yin Jiuge noticed immediately, frowning: "Kid, what were you daydreaming about?"

"This palace isn't simple—if anything goes wrong, you and I are both in trouble."

"Senior, something's strange here."

Li Yan whispered: "I accepted a Yin Bureau task, but it's not to capture Wang Xuanmo."

The Ming Jiao traces back to the Qin Palace's secret rites and specializes in funeral rites as the "Ancestral Soul Grand Master."

He was equally well-versed in the many secrets of the Living Yin Officers.

Therefore, Li Yan did not conceal the matter of the Demon God.

"Escaped demonic qi?"

Yin Jiuling's expression turned grave at once. "This thing is troublesome, but with you here and me lending a hand, we can handle it. Yet why wasn't I assigned a Yin Prisoner task? Could it be that Wang Xuanmo isn't in the underground palace?"

Li Yan's heart stirred; he pointed upward. "Perhaps it's because of this."

Yin Jiuling looked at the "Suihou Snake Pearl" and nodded. "Possible."

The "Suihou Snake Pearl" was a legitimate state sacrificial artifact, among the very pinnacle of such relics.

It would be no surprise if it could envelop the entire underground palace and mask Wang Xuanmo's aura.

But demonic qi was another kind of existence—any proximity allowed Li Yan to sense it.

Thinking of this, Li Yan turned his gaze deeper into the underground palace.

This place indeed imitated Luofeng Mountain—at least in appearance.

Yet every arrangement exuded a sinister, eerie aura.

Where the Ming Sea had once been, an underground river flowed, filled with white shadows and tangled strands of hair.

No one knew whether they were water ghosts or some cruel trap left by Xu Fu.

On the mountain, six palaces were built to mimic the Six Palaces of Luofeng, but their positions differed slightly.

Nine paths led up the mountain, all paved with large blue bricks and propped up by rotting wooden beams.

Black mist shrouded the corridors, faintly revealing flickering shadows dressed in Qin official robes.

Before the Six Palaces of Luofeng stood over a hundred coffins.

Around them, countless paper figures moved with the thick fog and gales, as if dancing a Nuo ritual.

Green ghostly flames drifted up and down; the Nuo opera music emanated from those coffins.

The scene was truly chilling.

"Master, what should we do?"

Li Yan shook his head slightly and asked Yin Jiuling for advice.

"No rush. Let me take a closer look first."

Yin Jiuling pulled out the Luo Pan, gazing at it while pinching fine soil from the ground and placing it in his mouth.

So this was the Tong Shen…

Li Yan had seen Wang Daoxuan use this method—he recognized it at once.

But soon, he sensed something was wrong.

After tasting the soil, Yin Jiuling's eyes slowly rolled back, his head swayed, and his body trembled.

He also possessed Yi Shen!

Li Yan's eyes widened instantly.

He had never before seen anyone combine these two Shen abilities.

Tong Shen didn't just taste flavor—it absorbed information from the soil.

Yi Shen was even more mysterious, allowing perception through sensed information.

Combining them was far more than just one plus one.

So Shen abilities could be stacked.

Could his own Shen abilities achieve this?

This was the true meaning of traveling far and wide to cultivate.

The more one witnessed, the more paths one could choose.

Soon, Yin Jiuling suddenly opened his eyes and pulled Li Yan aside.

When they reached a crack in the wall, Yin Jiuling spoke: "We nearly fell for it."

He pointed upward at the "Suihou Snake Pearl." "The 'Snake Phantom' hasn't vanished—it's changed. The entire underground palace is under its control. Had those things not been in the midst of their ritual, we'd have been discovered already."

"This is the Sheng position—the only safe spot."

He then pointed downward at the corridor and said gravely: "I can guess the layout here."

"Above, the Twenty-Eight Mansions form Heaven; Luofeng Mountain's fake Yin Court forms Earth; the middle is Humanity!"

"Those 'Ghost Soldiers' are likely the spirit remnants of the Six States' sorcerers, refined and dressed in Qin official robes. Observe their movement—they follow the patterns of the Qin bamboo slips known as the 'Rishu'…"

"Beneath the Naihe Bridge, there is no Wangchuan. The hair in the Ming River is probably five-colored corpse spider silk…"

"Inside the Six Palaces of Luofeng, likely lie the suppressed ghosts of the Mangshan Army…"

"There are three array cores: the Heavenly core above is the 'Suihou Snake Pearl'; the Human core in the middle is these wooden beams—assuming I'm right, they're the spirit wood Xu Fu took from near the Three Sovereigns' tombs, used to suppress humanity with imperial qi."

"But the Earth core's identity remains unclear."

"Xu Fu… truly formidable!"

Li Yan's scalp prickled. "With such a tight setup, where is Zhao Lüzi being held?"

Yin Jiuling was an extremely skilled Earth Master, a true master-level figure, though little known.

Otherwise, even he, seeing this underground palace's layout, would have been overwhelmed. He shook his head: "Heaven, Earth, and Humanity—all three realms forbid the living to enter. This is an exceptionally deadly, malevolent place. No living person could be confined here."

"Your brother is likely already dead."

Li Yan fell silent, letting out a faint sigh.

In truth, he had sensed it too.

This place overflowed with malevolent energy; even he couldn't endure long before the demonic qi corroded him.

How long could Zhao Lüzi have lasted?

Huh~

At that moment, a violent wind erupted within the underground palace.

Above, the giant serpent formed from the white vapor spewed by the "Suihou Snake Pearl" began to writhe restlessly.

Below, in the underground river, the white shadows and black hair scattered with a splash.

"Roar—!"

A strange roar echoed; the "Six Palaces of Luofeng" trembled, as if some monstrous beast was about to break free.

Not only that—the Qin official ghostly shadows in the Ming Path all froze in place.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Dull, muffled bell sounds emerged from Luofeng Mountain.

The paper figures engaged in the ritual stiffened, all halting.

Crack!

Their heads turned in unison, carrying with them the surrounding coffins as they moved toward the central cavern of the Six Palaces.

Soon, six coffins were carried out by the paper figures.

Splash!

All six coffin lids lifted open.

Inside lay six living people.

Men and women, old and young, beggars and merchants.

They appeared to be ordinary civilians.

All had flushed faces, tightly closed eyes, and were unconscious.

Crack!

The paper figures raised their palms together, revealing thin blades between them, glinting coldly.

Before Li Yan could react, the paper figures slashed wildly, reducing the six to bloody pulp.

Blood seeped from the coffin seams, flowing in all directions.

The "Six Palaces of Luofeng" quickly fell still; the Qin official ghostly shadows resumed their march along the Ming Path.

"I understand!"

Yin Jiuling's face darkened. "No matter how powerful Xu Fu was, this fake Yin Court has failed—it can no longer suppress the resentful ghosts of the Six States."

"Spirits, resentful ghosts, and zombies first target blood relatives. Wang Xuanmo used this method to temporarily suppress them."

"But this is like drinking poison to quench thirst. Wang Xuanmo must have other arrangements."

He looked upward at the "Suihou Snake Pearl," his expression thoughtful:

"Boy, I have a plan. If your brother is still alive, we might save him—but are you willing to risk it?"

(End of Chapter)