[{"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-663":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},2262968,4415,"Chapter 663: Deciphering the Secret Script, the Tide of the World","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-663",663,"\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan glanced at Kong Shangzhao, surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen this young man’s abilities, but never expected him to decipher Xu Fu’s remaining scrolls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This “Quest for Immortality Chapter” differs somewhat from the “Qin Palace Chapter” previously obtained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though both use “Golden Magpie Script,” this one employs numerous Xuanmen secret languages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The history of Xuanmen secret languages is ancient, for the Dao must not be lightly transmitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In ancient times, Xuanmen knowledge was monopolized by priests; later, for various reasons, it could not be casually revealed, so many Xuanmen scriptures used secret languages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Book of Han: Catalogue of Arts and Literature” records that texts in the “Techniques” category, such as “Immortals” and “Gold and White,” “abound in cryptic phrases; not for those unworthy.” The “Taiping Jing” fragments also mention: “Spiritual diagrams and divine edicts, written in cloud script, even ghosts and spirits cannot perceive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The types of secret languages are varied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are “Cloud Script,” “Dragon Script,” incomprehensible to outsiders, yet essential for spellcasting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some conceal meaning using Xuanmen terminology—such as “lead and mercury,” “dragon and tiger”—likely referring to entirely different things; if one rashly cultivates from such texts, one will surely fall into demonic deviation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond these, there are various secret incantations, even hidden through Xuanmen numerology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The transformations involved are as numerous as stars; without the oral formula, it is like a blind man feeling an elephant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The front portion of this “Quest for Immortality Chapter” is manageable, describing events of the time, but the latter part, containing critical information, is entirely concealed in secret language—even Wang Daoxuan had never seen it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Shangzhao’s ability to decipher it truly startled Li Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the gaze of all, Kong Shangzhao seemed uncomfortable, his face slightly flushed; he bowed and said: “Master Wang, you flatter me. It was merely luck—I happened to know this secret language.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No rush.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan smiled faintly, gesturing: “Let us go inside and speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he led everyone into the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan, sensing the need, immediately took the Ruyi Treasure Pearl from his satchel and hung it from the ceiling; a faint silver glow spread, sealing off all qi and fluctuations within the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linqing was the first customs checkpoint on the canal, immensely prosperous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They entered the city at dusk; though they met no fellow cultivators, the city surely held many sorcerers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Quest for Immortality Chapter” is of great importance—caution is essential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is called Tai Xu Hidden Script.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Shangzhao, though puzzled, asked no further; after sitting, he said directly: “I have a distant uncle who is obsessed with books, fond of collecting strange and rare texts, even squandering his family fortune, often scolded by elders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He was disliked in the clan, eccentric in conduct; only when I was a child, chasing cicadas and running into his house, drawn by his odd arts, did I become his lifelong friend…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes grew slightly red, as if recalling something sorrowful; then he shook himself and continued: “Among his books was one titled ‘Yunji Qiqian: Outer Compilation.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan frowned slightly: “As I understand it, the ‘Yunji Qiqian’ has no such outer compilation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master is correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Shangzhao nodded: “The book falsely claims to be written by Dongfang Shuo; we assumed it was later fabrication. Yet some matters it mentions are intriguing—such as a sorcerer’s secret language called ‘Tai Xu Script.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Tai Xu Script was developed by Zouzi, using the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches to align with stellar fields, transforming Cloud Script into a mechanism. When Jiazi moves, Fang Xiu turns; when Bingwu is still, Mao Xiu hides. Without the key, even ghosts and spirits cannot perceive it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It contained the method to decipher Tai Xu Script—complex and tedious—but since I have a perfect memory, I still recall it after seeing it then; when you asked just now, I looked and found it matched perfectly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he took the “Quest for Immortality Chapter” from Wang Daoxuan’s hand, pointing to a strange symbol combining a tree branch and water ripples: “The foundation of Tai Xu Script is the combination of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches—using the ten stems and twelve branches as bones, rearranging their Five Element interactions to form twenty-two secret symbols.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For example, this one represents wood generating water: wood is Jia, water is Zi, so it is Jiazi. This symbol, with twin flames entwined and a sun embedded at its center, signifies Fire’s Correctness—Bing Fire and Wu Fire overlapping, thus representing Bingwu…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But deciphering these twenty-two symbols is only the foundation; stellar positioning must further encrypt them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Referring to the ‘Records of the Grand Historian: Treatise on the Heavenly Officials,’ the twenty-eight mansions’ positions: each symbol rotates its strokes according to the night’s dominant mansion—when Fang Xiu governs, all symbols tilt thirty degrees right; when Mao Xiu governs, they bend forty-five degrees left…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is also the missing-character method…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s head spun; he shook it: “Master Kong, just tell us plainly—these details, even if explained, we cannot understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Shangzhao ceased explaining the decryption method and said: “The earlier passages of this book are mere decoys. The later secret language is difficult to decipher; time was short, so I only unlocked a few phrases—but they are shocking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at the bamboo slips, pointing to several lines of secret script, and read aloud word by word:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minister Xu Fu bows twice: Your Majesty, on your eastern tour to perform the Fengshan rites, upholds Heaven’s Mandate to pacify the Nine Realms. I observed the stellar divisions: Mount Tai, Yishan, Prefect, Langya, Kuaiji, Yunmeng, Jiuyi, Jieshi, and Yingzhou—nine locations correspond to the Nine Radiance of Purple Microcosm. A ‘Nine Poles Ascend Immortal Array’ must be established. When complete, the Immortal Gate opens; Your Majesty may ride the dragon to ascend heaven, eternally ruling Shenzhou…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these words, Li Yan’s eyes flashed with sharp light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Shangzhao’s words sounded absurd, yet Li Yan was certain the decryption was correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was indeed the “Quest for Immortality Chapter.” With the forces Xu Fu could mobilize, his actions were limited—he must have leveraged the First Emperor’s power. The search for distant immortal mountains may have been merely a ruse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Immortal Gate opens…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could they intend to open the Dala Fa Jie?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought made Li Yan himself find it unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, he asked: “What else? What came next?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Shangzhao looked embarrassed: “Time was too short. To fully decipher it would take days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan bowed solemnly: “Please assist us. When this is done, I shall return your fee in full—as your payment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And this matter must be kept secret!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Shangzhao was clearly startled, his face flushed: “This… this is too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His father had emptied half his fortune to hire the Twelve Zodiacs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never imagined his random notes could be worth thirty thousand taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not much—for us, it is invaluable!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan reassured him a few times; Kong Shangzhao finally relaxed and nodded eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young scholar returned to his room and soon lit a candle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The candlelight reflected his figure, sitting at the desk, translating through the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan gave a signal; everyone immediately set up defenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu San summoned rats to monitor the nearby alleys; Long Yan raised her hand and released venomous insects hidden in every corner of the courtyard; even Wang Daoxuan placed talismans at the entrances as warnings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In moments, the entire courtyard brimmed with lethal intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linqing was prosperous, teeming with hidden talents; even a single night’s stay demanded caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the hand behind the murders and treasure thefts in Zhangqiu Town still lurked unseen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They took the “Quest for Immortality Chapter”—the enemy would not let this go…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan returned to his room, did not remove his clothes or sleep, but sat cross-legged, placing Duan Chen Dao on his lap, entering meditation to cultivate while remaining alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within his contemplation space, Luo Feng Mountain had just been remade and needed constant stabilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, nothing occurred that night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, a Canal Guild disciple came to pay respects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great heroes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disciple bowed apologetically: “The customs clearance is complicated. Brother Liu says it will take a full day—we won’t board until dusk. Linqing is bustling; may I show you around?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan shook his head outright: “Time is too short. We’ve been traveling nonstop; no need to rush. Just send some food. Thank you, brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great Hero, you flatter me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disciple nodded quickly, bowed, and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he departed, Li Yan said solemnly to the group: “At the riverbank, I heard public resentment boiling. Zhao Wanfang arrived too, accompanied by a powerful ally—something is happening in Linqing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve already wasted too much time. Better to avoid trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Yan is right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan turned toward Kong Shangzhao’s room, his face grave: “Linqing’s prosperity stems from court struggles, the struggle for fame and profit. Protect the ‘Quest for Immortality Chapter’—quickly uncover the ‘Jianmu’ plot—that is the priority!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Daoist spoke truly—but the hidden currents of Linqing were far more violent than they imagined…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Tax Supervision Office of Linqing Pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma the Eunuch, grown fatter and more pampered over the years, bore no trace of his former humble court demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet with no smile on his face, none dared breathe loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma leaned back in his high-backed chair, tracing the rim of a celadon cup with his fingertip, idly flipping through the “Canal Tax Secret Ledger,” head down, voice shrill as a duck’s:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has the daughter of Master Wang, the silk merchant, been sent to the Entertainment Bureau?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, the girl bit out her tongue and died…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unlucky!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly flew into a rage, hurling his precious tea cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cup shattered against the tax clerk’s temple; blood mixed with tea foam splattered across the “Linqing Merchant Register.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow, increase the ‘Fire Consumption Silver.’ Tell those mud-footed peasants—the canal doesn’t flow with water, it flows with the Emperor’s silver!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still not satisfied, he cursed: “They say scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants—these merchants are deceitful and cunning! If we don’t teach them a lesson, they’ll think they’ve overturned heaven!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dare they go to the capital to accuse me? Do they not see how much I’ve relieved His Majesty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words were harsh, yet his eyes held no less worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Great Xuan Dynasty opened its seas, the imperial treasury has grown steadily; last year, tax revenues from Fujian and Yue provinces surpassed Linqing Pass. Suzhou, Hangzhou, Tianjin followed closely—this year, they may match it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma the Eunuch felt the crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His survival wisdom in the palace—if it lost its use—he might be discarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, over the past two years, they intensified customs extortion, and with their own and subordinates’ graft, they inevitably angered many, with numerous complaints filed in the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The merchant just now discussing revenge was one who had gone to file a complaint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, this tactic always kept merchants subdued for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, he felt an inexplicable unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have those sent to the capital with gifts returned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eunuch, not yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go prepare more and send it to the palace…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>East of Linqing City, Jin Merchant Guild Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can’t endure this any longer!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Mingyuan, a cloth merchant from Jinzhou, slammed his abacus down hard, sending brass beads rolling into the charcoal brazier, sparking bright embers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face twisted in fury, “This month’s ‘inspection silver’ under the moonlight has swallowed three-tenths of our profit—this eunuch dog means to cut off all trade routes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The accountant, face ashen, hurried into the hall, trembling as he unfolded a bloodstained letter from his robe, “The Chen master from Pingyang Prefecture threw himself into the Wei River last night—when they pulled him out, he still clutched his tax receipt…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Mingyuan’s eyes instantly filled with blood, “Go, summon the other merchant guilds!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the shadow beneath the corridor outside, the Jin Yanzi’s spy bowed his head and slipped away…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>East of Linqing City, Gu Tong Alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang! Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Chaozuo, the bamboo weaver, crouched on dew-dampened blue stone slabs, his bamboo knife scraping out a shrill sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Wang, Yuan’s cloth shop’s goods were all dragged off by tax dogs…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Yuan hanged himself from the tax office’s flagpole—officially called ‘suicide in resistance to taxes.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bamboo slat snapped suddenly; Wang Chaozuo shoved a bloodstained sweatcloth into his apprentice’s palm:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell Old Liu at the forge to make thirty curved knives for cutting cables tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the alley’s mouth, steam rose from a steamed bun stall; the lame beggar tapped his chipped bowl and hummed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Grand Canal’s murky, the Wei River’s foul, the Jade Emperor sits high above, hoarding wealth…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linqing City remained prosperous, but a storm was brewing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Li Yan and the others knew nothing of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stayed in the small courtyard, busy with affairs from all corners, and the day passed in the blink of an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As dusk approached, a member of the Canal Guild finally came to notify them to board.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They immediately set out; by the time they reached the dock, dusk was near. Large and small crates were loaded onto the boat, and after much effort, all customs documents were ready—they departed smoothly through the checkpoint…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the city, Bai Xiang Building, second floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Wanfang stood by the window, silently gazing at the riverbank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind her, the door creaked open; the cold-faced man entered and laid a stack of secret reports on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss, these just arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Wanfang nodded, turning to examine them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seven sealed letters lay before her: the Jin merchants’ declaration of strike, the artisans’ weapons inventory, the garrison’s shift-change schedule, the movements of Eunuch Ma’s men…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading them all, Zhao Wanfang shook her head slightly and smiled faintly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That Eunuch Ma won’t live past Jingzhe…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send these off quickly—the capital is still waiting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold-faced man gathered the intelligence, bowed, and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he departed, the round-faced maid blurted with gossip: “Miss, Master Li just left—aren’t you going to see him off?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See him off? Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Wanfang shook her head calmly, “The capital’s storm is fiercer—I won’t add to his troubles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The world’s current sweeps all rootless duckweed—just live well yourself…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, she lifted the wine jug, took a few sips, leaned against the vermilion railing, and watched the distant canal boats’ white sails vanish into the sunset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A southeast wind carried the sound of flutes and zithers; below, the ballad troupe sang the newly composed “Jingyang Gang”:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What talk of upholding Heaven’s way, what talk of loyalty and righteousness? My blade cuts down mountain tigers—but cannot slay the wolves of this world…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Canal from Linqing to the capital consists of four main sections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the northern section of the Huaitong Canal from Linqing to Dezhou; second, the southern section of the Nan Yunhe from Dezhou to Jinmen; third, the northern section of the Bei Yunhe from Jinmen to Tongzhou; after passing through the Tonghui Canal from Tongzhou, one reaches the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Canal Guild’s merchant ships pressed on day and night; days later, they had reached the southern section of the Nan Yunhe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Shaoxia, Cangzhou has arrived!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Canal Guild disciple shouted from the deck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan and the others stepped out of the cabin to see, far along the shore, a massive iron lion gazing over the river…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2578,"2026-06-19T18:28:35.913Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e391aa6ad9dad18c9ea3ae9e22fcd608a55465d427fc9fe8a17a598aa36147d2","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-664","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-662",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]