[{"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-646":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},2262951,4415,"Chapter 646: Seven Stars Bind the Dragon, Break the Array, Enter the Palace","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-646",646,"\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another ghost ship disintegrated in the flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These sinister objects had lain buried in the riverbed silt for years, thoroughly soaked and caked in mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, they shouldn’t ignite at all on the water’s surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the He Luo Merchants had used peachwood arrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These items inherently repel evil; when piled as flaming arrows, the yin qi exploded, and every soul-collecting boat burst into fierce flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a single one reached shore—all sank in the Yi River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The He Luo Merchants had originally been trembling with fear, but not a single one was injured, greatly boosting their confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Burn the damn things!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheers kept rising along the riverbank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Yue San’er’s face was grim; he turned toward Luoyang, a quiet unease stirring in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mangshan was absent; the Longmen Grottoes were gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could the Ghost Emperor Xuanmo have gone to Luoyang…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Luoyang City, Yin Jiuling also made a discovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding the Luo Pan, he led Li Yan and the others in left turns and right turns, then up onto the city wall, where he finally looked to the sky and said: “Old man understands—it’s the Seven Stars Binding the Dragon!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Li Yan could ask further, he unrolled a map of Luoyang and explained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fengshui techniques in Qin times differed from today’s. They centered on Zou Yan’s ‘Five Virtues Theory,’ arranging fengshui according to ‘Qingwu Art’ and ‘Star Divination,’ aligning layouts with celestial patterns—when expanding Xianyang, they followed the principle: ‘The Wei River flows through the capital, mirroring the Milky Way; the bridge spans south, emulating the Ox Star.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What we saw in the False Yin Si was the Twenty-Eight Mansions—Luoyang’s layout must correspond to the stars!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a charcoal stick and connected the three locations already found: the Shangqing Palace on Mangshan, the Lushena Buddha, and the Chenghuang Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the Big Dipper!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan immediately saw the pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precisely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Jiuling replied, then drew circles around the remaining points according to distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the ‘Seven Stars Binding the Dragon.’ Tian Shu corresponds to the Shangqing Palace, Tian Xuan to the Lushena Buddha, Tian Ji to the Chenghuang Temple. The remaining four—Yu Heng, Kai Yang, Tian Quan, Yao Guang—are still unaccounted for. Now that the False Yin Si of the Qin Palace stirs, the other nodes must show anomalies!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s move!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, everyone sprinted toward the nearest target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they arrived, the place was already engulfed in flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Massive warehouse doors stood wide open, the ground littered with corpses; flames licked wooden beams and bodies, emitting a foul stench of burning flesh, while many civilians fought each other in frenzy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luoyang’s grain depot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan frowned slightly, surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jin Yanfeng” also panted up, and upon seeing the scene, a sudden insight struck him: “Young Master Li, you may not know—this Luoyang grain depot isn’t ordinary. It was once the Divine Capital’s Hanjia Granary, a central stronghold of the Tang Dynasty, destroyed and rebuilt several times through war, still in use to this day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan nodded, swiftly forming a hand seal, stepping the Big Dipper as he chanted: “Qing Jia! Heaven grants life, sternly subdues the North’s Abode; the Divine Lord receives mandate, purges all misfortune; Eight Warnings spit poison, fierce steeds spread wide… Chi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Qian Nian” bracers rang with the clinking of exorcism coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spell he used was the long-neglected “Northern Emperor’s Expulsion of Calamity Art.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This technique could both defend and drive away beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the “Divine Tiger Talisman” had long been given to Wang Daoxuan, under the bracers’ enhancement, its power still erupted terrifyingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, fierce winds surged around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chilling, soul-shaking yin qi erupted from Li Yan’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The civilians still fighting nearby—already bewitched by sorcery—suddenly snapped awake, sensing Li Yan’s qi, their hearts flooded with dread as if facing a beast, and they scattered in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, someone shot a crossbow bolt from the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the Maitreya Cultists causing chaos in the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the arrow flew, Wu Ba leapt forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He charged forward in the Mud-Stepping Gait, snatched the bolt midair, then flung it back with a whip-crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bolt returned faster than it came, piercing straight through a man’s skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the others could react, Wu Ba’s massive frame stood before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left punch, right hammer—thuds and cracking bones rang out continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many of these Maitreya Cultists were martial artists, but against Wu Ba, the monstrous demon, they had no chance to fight back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some might have been under Wang Xuanmo’s command, but Li Yan had no time to care; he turned to Yin Jiuling and said grimly: “Senior, how do we handle this place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Jiuling frowned slightly. “If the granary is burned, the underground palace may be hard to find.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jin Yanfeng” quickly spoke up: “Old man might know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A few years ago, someone near Hanjia Granary discovered an ancient tunnel, still holding Tang-era grain storage pits and inscribed bricks. He came to me for authentication and told me the location.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Senior!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s face lit up with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they had many hands, the complex situation still stretched them thin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li Fei and Wang Daoxuan had gone to Shaolin for aid and had not returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Lüzi and his wife remained severely wounded and unrecovered; others had their own missions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Yanfeng had no martial skill and was originally a burden, yet insisted on coming—and now, this local guide proved indispensable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, “Jin Yanfeng” led them to the farthest granary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It too had burned, but its beams had long collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jin Yanfeng” found a dry well and pointed downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The well had long dried up, filled with dead branches and dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu San stepped forward, holding the Rat Great One and chanting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squeak-squeak!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, countless rats poured in from all directions, surging into the well like a tide, digging and burrowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less than the time of a single pipe of smoke, a deep rumble echoed, dust exploding upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rat swarm had dug straight through the long-sealed passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one cared for the dust—they leapt in immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, a tunnel indeed existed, but it wasn’t deliberately excavated; ancient bricks and stones mixed with earthen walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked more like a collapsed cellar buried by collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Jiuling picked up a shard at random; the inscription was faded, barely legible:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hanjia… Thirteenth Storage… Suzhou Rough Rice Twelve Thousand Shi… Zai Chu Yuan Nian… Granary Clerk Wang… Supervisor Zhang Liang\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, it’s a Tang-era Hanjia Granary storage pit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He frowned, scooped up some soil from the ground, formed a hand seal, and tasted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as it touched his tongue, he spat it out, his face darkening: “Cultivation eggs ahead!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Yan immediately raised his torch to probe ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cellar wasn’t large; they soon found their target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the corner, yin-sha qi rose as black smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mound rose from the ground, like an ant nest, riddled with holes; black insects crawled in and out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the Five-Grain Corpse Worms!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Long Yan wasn’t here, Yin Jiuling had seen much; he cried urgently: “These cults are born among the five grains; their eggs survive boiling water, devouring organs once ingested—this is the method of Qin-Han alchemists, often sealed in jars to guard tombs. The earth qi must have stirred, awakening them—the artifact lies below!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lu San immediately tapped his demon gourd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poisonous bees surged out like a black cloud, devouring the cult worms in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did they approach, digging downward along the mound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, they unearthed shattered pottery jars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin-era standard, clearly used to seal the cult worms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the jars lay a massive statue of a blackwood turtle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The statue was now coated in frost, wreathed in black mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its surface bore the full text of the Qin Code: “Agricultural Law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This corresponds to Kai Yang—the earth vein’s pivot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Jiuling said gravely, “The spirit wood has been corrupted by the false Yin Si’s sha qi; it can only be temporarily suppressed. But my method is carved into the wood—do any of you have a solution?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leave it to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu San wasted no words; he pulled a nu mask from his robe, placed it over his head, danced the nu ritual while chanting incantations, and scattered fine seeds onto the dark wood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seeds took root and sprouted upon landing, growing into slender grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once pitch-black spirit wood quickly turned green, and the sha qi gradually receded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this… the Chu Witch’s ‘Zhi Lan Scripture’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Jiuling looked at Lu San, clearly surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was an heir to the Qin Palace’s Secret Chanting tradition—he naturally recognized this method of his ancient rivals, the Chu Witches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, these grudges had long been buried by history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What puzzled him was that he’d assumed all twelve Zodiacs relied entirely on Li Yan, yet each turned out to be extraordinary in origin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant beside him, Wu Ba, was a human xiao; the former Gu  woman came from the Gu Cult…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this is over, I’ll have to mention it to the sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan didn’t know his thoughts and pressed: “Will this work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Jiuling glanced at the spirit wood and shook his head: “It’s only temporarily suppressed. This Daoist must stay behind until all seven star nodes are simultaneously sealed before leaving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan didn’t waste words; he turned to look at Lu San.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu San nodded and continued his nu dance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he trusted Long Yan, Li Yan also believed Lu San could protect him…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the Hanjia Warehouse cellar, the group hurried to their next target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the map’s coordinates, they quickly pinpointed the location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was along the Luo River, where mobs, led by Maitreya Sect followers, rampaged through the brothels and taverns, slashing and looting; inside the pleasure houses, candles flickered, and women screamed and wept endlessly—total chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people on the streets acted like madmen; some even foolishly tried to rob them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a squad of garrison cavalry rode up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were soldiers from outside the city, finally breaking in to quell the unrest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan carried a Dao permit and documents gifted by the Ministry of War, and the lead battalion commander recognized Pei Niangzi, so no conflict arose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blades flashed, spears clattered—the garrison cavalry swiftly cleared the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the array node had already manifested strange signs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the Luo River stretched a stone bridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thick mist swirled atop the bridge, and over a dozen corpses stood upright, shadows flickering within the fog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Tianjinqiao!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jin Yanfeng” swallowed hard and explained: “This bridge is also ancient. When Emperor Yang of Sui built Luoyang, he ordered Yuwen Kai to construct it, aligned with the ‘Yellow Path,’ hence called ‘Huangdao Bridge.’ At the time, the imperial palace corresponded to the ‘Purple Forbidden Enclosure,’ the Luo River symbolized the ‘Heavenly River,’ and Huangdao Bridge connected the ‘Celestial Han’ to the mortal realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“During the Tang, it was renamed ‘Tianjinqiao.’ Bai Juyi once wrote: ‘East of Tianjinqiao, west of Beidou Pavilion—here, poetic inspiration grows confused.’ Later, it was burned by An Lushan and rebuilt several times…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew what he needed to do, so he swiftly relayed the key details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Tang Dynasty truly produced countless sages…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Jiuling stared ahead and sighed: “Someone clearly noticed something amiss long ago. The entire Luoyang city was laid out to mirror the stars, sufficient to suppress the false Yin Si of Mangshan—but war destroyed it all. Every arrangement was ruined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan narrowed his eyes and said gravely: “Likely premeditated. Zhao Changsheng and his kind are all ancient devils—who knows what they did back then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d clashed with these people repeatedly; he knew their patterns well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They reincarnated one after another, repeatedly possessing new bodies, their cultivation rising and falling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps they couldn’t dominate in raw power, and had to hide like rats from the Fa Realm’s hunts—but their most terrifying strength was their hidden incarnations, laying schemes across the land, guiding events from the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind many historical events, their shadows lurked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Jiuling nodded, gazing at the bridge and said gravely: “This node has been modified many times. Beneath the bridge must hang a sealing artifact—let’s see what it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he led the group onto a boat and rowed beneath the bridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the arch hung a treasure sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such objects were common—used to subdue jiao dragons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Legend said when a jiao dragon passed beneath a bridge, it would be wounded by the sword and thus avoid it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many bridges across Shenzhou hung swords beneath them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this one was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword was heavily rusted, unusually thick, and its hilt bore eight chains cast in the Eight Trigram directions, nailed into the surrounding stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Yao Guang—the Luo River’s Dragon Locking Pass—the Seven Stars’ Dragon Sealing Point!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Jiuling quickly identified the setup, drew his own ritual sword from his waist, and handed it to Li Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My power is insufficient; my ritual sword is destroyed. Use this one for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan took it and examined it closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade was narrow and thin, with a rhombic cross-section, a clear central ridge, a sharp edge, a red rope-wrapped hilt, a flat circular pommel, and no guard—classic Qin sword design.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qin revered Legalism; the sword was a ‘Law’ artifact, hence standardized in length, symbolizing ‘uniform laws,’ its rigid form embodying ‘strict legal order’—easily recognizable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the blade bore cloud patterns and star constellations—likely a relic of the Qin Palace’s Secret Chanting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he gripped it, thick, piercing sha qi surged toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ming Sect truly had ancient roots and deep reserves!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan murmured in awe, then leapt into the air and thrust the sword downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Clang!*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dragon’s roar echoed—the Qin ritual sword cleaved the rusted blade in two, then plunged into the bridge’s underside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan, using the recoil, performed a kite-flip and landed back on the boat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Hum!*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ritual sword was indeed extraordinary; after piercing the bridge, it roared with energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thick fog atop the bridge vanished swiftly, and the standing corpses collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Yin Jiuling’s instruction, Li Yan knew someone had to stay behind to guard it, lest it be damaged again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and slapped Wu Ba on the shoulder, his tone serious:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No one touches that sword. Whoever does, dies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, got it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Ba grinned foolishly, hoisted his tiger crouch cannon, and leapt onto the stone bridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan took a deep breath, gazed toward the Wang Fu direction, and said gravely:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior, let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Jiuling’s face was grim. “That old devil had a clever plan… Let’s go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final location lay precisely on Luoyang’s central avenue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its center stood an ancient stone platform, cracked and weathered; later generations rebuilt it, erecting a flagpole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luoyang was in chaos, yet the avenue now lay utterly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many civilians had fainted, lying on the ground, faint yin mist rising steadily from the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the garrison cavalry who had stormed the city to quell the riot now lay sprawled on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… was once the Ming Tang—the Wanxiang Divine Palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jin Yanfeng” trembled: “This was where Wu Zetian held sacrifices and court assemblies. Later burned to ruins, leaving only the foundation. Normally, it flew the Great Xuan Dynasty’s dragon flag—why is it now a black flag?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the Soul-Calling Banner of the Yin Fu Sect!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Jiuling scanned the surroundings, his face dark: “All these civilians have been ensnared. Only I can suppress it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gazed toward the end of the avenue, toward the Wang Fu: “Li Shaoxia, the White Horse Temple’s people are outside the city, and the Shaolin reinforcements should arrive tomorrow—should we wait?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We don’t have time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan stared at the distance, coldly smiling: “They’ve set the stage—I won’t spoil the show.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a trap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Tianjinqiao, the two had already sensed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seven Stars’ Dragon Sealing Nodes were critical—yet the enemy left them unguarded, clearly aiming to scatter their strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they gathered to attack, someone would surely sabotage it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they had no time left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already deep night; after Zi Shi, Qingming would arrive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they failed to seal all seven Dragon Sealing Nodes, the Yu Province Cauldron might be pulled out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The terrifying sight when the Jing Province Cauldron appeared still haunted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, there was no one like Erlang Shen to pin it back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Jiuling understood the gravity and ceased urging caution: “This site was once the Wanxiang Divine Palace—the Star of Yu Heng. If I’m right, the final ‘Tian Quan’ lies within the Wang Fu—the former site of the Sui Dynasty’s Qianyuan Palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll hold this place. Whatever lies inside—you must adapt on the fly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember: if you see him, summon the Yin Soldiers to seize him immediately!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the confidence behind his order for Li Yan to enter alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the yin soldiers arrive, even ten Wang Xuanmo cannot escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Relax!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan wasted no words, instructing Jin Yanfeng to stay put.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Jiuling quickly acted, grabbing grave soil from his pouch, chanting the Soul-Stillening Incantation as he scattered it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The civilians lying on the ground had begun to stir, but as the soil touched them, black smoke erupted from their bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black smoke and yin winds howled, flowing into the Soul-Calling Banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Li Yan, shielded by Yin Jiuling, drew his Broken Dust Blade and charged toward the burning Wang Fu in Luoyang…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2946,"2026-06-19T18:28:35.913Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","865d0745f29642a895882b20367ff61b27f93539904c431eaff8b793d1f4bade","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-647","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-645",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]