Chapter 683

Looking at the panicked old man before him, Li Yan couldn't help but sigh.

This capital city was truly surreal—seemingly calm, yet beneath its surface, dragons and snakes lurked.

Yin demons openly took refuge in the Wang Fu; living yin officers wandered destitute in the Ghost Market; high-ranking officers of the Commandant Office recognized followers of the Maitreya Sect as their adopted sons…

Such things were rarely seen elsewhere.

He meant no harm, but the old man reacted like a startled beast, instantly reaching into his robe and pulling out a copper tube, shouting sharply: "Watch out!"

Spirit-Fire Musket?

Li Yan's pupils contracted slightly—he was taken aback.

What surprised him wasn't the Spirit-Fire Musket.

This device was exquisitely crafted, born in the chaos of the late Tang, a rare but known Xuan Gate killing tool.

What startled him was the old man's tattered robe—greasy and stained, yet a celestial-earth treasure capable of masking his aura, blocking all spiritual detection, which was why Li Yan hadn't smelled the Spirit-Fire Musket's scent.

Of course, this object posed no threat to Li Yan now.

Shhh!

Li Yan sidestepped with blinding speed.

To the old man, Li Yan vanished into thin air.

Before he could react, his wrist went numb—the Spirit-Fire Musket was snatched away.

Li Yan held back—he needed information, and the old man had shown some Jianghuguiju: he'd warned with "Watch out!" before using a lethal weapon, a rarity in this age.

Holding the Spirit-Fire Musket, he didn't wait for the old man to cry out—he pulled out the Gou Die from his sleeve. "Elder, we're on the same side."

Seeing the Gou Die, the old man trembled.

He stopped fleeing, but his gaze toward Li Yan remained wary.

"Old Wu, what are you doing?!"

The "Dog's Mother" hurried forward, grinning. "We're all comrades, no need to fear! This great hero isn't an official—he's here with a big deal for you. You've met a benefactor, and it's all thanks to me…"

He spouted Jianghu clichés without end.

But Old Wu ignored him, eyes locked on Li Yan, voice rasping like a knife on stone: "How do I know you didn't steal this?"

Li Yan raised an eyebrow. "Elder, can't you sense it?"

Gou Die bearers could sense each other.

Li Yan had assumed the Dragon-Snake Token masked it, but now that he'd revealed his, the old man shouldn't doubt.

The old man fell silent, then pulled out his own Gou Die.

It was riddled with cracks, a corner missing—as if sliced clean by a blade.

Li Yan's expression turned grave.

He wasted no more words—fingers formed a seal, activating the Gou Die.

Hoo~

Instantly, a chilling wind surged through the alley, the temperature dropping sharply.

Outside, several vendors were burning paper money.

The yin wind swept through, scattering the ash in spirals—terrified, they dropped to their knees and bowed.

"Enough."

Old Wu finally spoke, voice hoarse: "We've disturbed the City God's gate spirits. Let's move."

Saying this, he led the two deeper into the alley.

No sooner had they left than the scent of incense drifted down from above.

Li Yan held the Gou Die silently, glanced back—the incense scent vanished instantly.

Of course, the two ahead noticed nothing.

As the "Dog's Mother" had said, Old Wu's mind was clearly unwell.

Even walking through the dark alley, he darted glances left and right, like a frightened rat, as if fleeing something—combined with long-unwashed filth and his filthy robe, he left a foul stench in his wake.

Li Yan held his breath and suppressed his aura, yet felt no disgust—only surprise.

The stench blended seamlessly with the alley, masking all three of their scents.

It was a special technique—not a spell—but remarkably effective.

What was Old Wu fleeing?

Li Yan's curiosity deepened.

The three twisted through alleys growing narrower, until surrounding homes vanished—only towering, thick earthen walls remained. The narrowest stretch was barely three feet wide, blocked by rotting firewood and broken pottery jars.

The "Dog's Mother" glanced around, unable to hold back: "Old Wu, these are gaps between warehouses, right? Ahead is all dead ends—why bring us here?"

But Old Wu said nothing, pressing forward blindly.

Finally, after lefts and rights, they reached a dead end.

Old Wu lifted a rotting straw mat, carefully shifted a wooden lattice, revealing a hole. After ushering the two inside, he glanced around, then blocked the opening with the lattice.

"Damn, there's a whole world hidden here!"

The "Dog's Mother" gawked around, awestruck.

It was an abandoned warehouse cellar—Old Wu had dug a tunnel from outside, turning it into his hideout.

The "Dog's Mother," still young at heart, marveled aloud: if he'd found this place, he wouldn't have suffered the cold or been beaten and extorted by thugs—every night he could sleep in peace.

But Li Yan's gaze grew grim after a few glances.

The place was crude—built at most a few months ago.

Even if Old Wu was down on his luck, he was still a cultivator, a Xuan Gate disciple—how could he sink so low?

"Elder, what exactly happened?"

Li Yan couldn't help asking.

Old Wu fell silent, then flung a handful of powdered dust.

The "Dog's Mother," eavesdropping, was struck—collapsed instantly, snoring loudly.

"Foolish…"

Old Wu glanced at the ground, then spoke: "You're Li Yan, aren't you?"

Li Yan narrowed his eyes. "Elder knows me?"

Old Wu sighed. "Last winter, a few old comrades returned from Fengdou. They spoke of you—full of regret, saying they shouldn't have hesitated. Even if it meant breaking with those people, they should've brought you into the organization."

Li Yan wasn't surprised.

He hadn't joined, but the Huangquan Organization was ancient—most living yin officers had been absorbed into it.

Thinking of this, he asked: "What of the others?"

"Dead… all dead!"

Old Wu's emotions surged wildly, eyes wild, glancing constantly at the door, voice trembling: "Someone's hunting us—Xuan Gate orthodox sects! They broke the pact! The Great Calamity is inevitable!"

As he spoke, his eyes turned bloodshot—he pulled out the Spirit-Fire Musket again.

Pah!

Li Yan frowned, struck him down with a single blow.

The old man had clearly suffered severe mental trauma.

But this wasn't beyond him.

Li Yan first removed the Dragon-Snake Token from his waist and hung it at the chamber's entrance, then formed a hand seal, stepped the Nine Stars, and chanted: "Qing Jia! Heaven's grace saves mortals, sternly suppresses Northern Feng, the Divine Lord receives mandate, purges all misfortune, Eight Warnings spew poison, fierce steeds spread wide… Chi!"

This was the Northern Emperor's Exorcism Technique, capable of dispelling most yin curses and evil spells—its applications varied widely.

For example, setting an altar in a yin-cursed place could cleanse foul energy, akin to the Xuan Gate's Still Heaven and Earth Divine Spell.

It also helped when the soul was tainted by sorcery, leaving lingering yin energy.

Of course, such tasks were usually handled by Wang Daoxuan—his lineage specialized in this, so Li Yan rarely used it.

Shhhhh~

The "Thousand Thoughts" bracer's spirit coins jingled.

With the heavenly qi drawn by this treasure, Li Yan completed the spell in a single breath.

To be safe, he recited the Soul-Stillening Spell again.

Old Wu's ragged breathing gradually steadied.

After a long while, he stirred awake, the red veins in his eyes fading, voice hoarse: "Thank you, young brother."

Rising, he took the water Li Yan poured, drank a few sips, then continued: "At the Winter Solstice, they went to Fengdou for the gathering. I stayed in the capital to investigate something."

"Soon after the Lantern Festival, several old comrades returned. Only then did I learn the Huangquan Organization had been temporarily disbanded—and the Chengdu disaster."

"We knew human society was on the verge of transformation. Those old things hiding in the mountains couldn't stay idle—they'd try to seize opportunities. Living yin officers were their greatest obstacle."

"Even in Fengdou, someone had plotted against Huangquan. With so many recruits over the years, some were inevitably untrustworthy. Temporary disbandment was the wisest choice—to prevent betrayal and total annihilation. But it came faster than we expected…"

"That night, we drank under the moon outside the city. After all, this parting might be forever…"

"But several experts suddenly appeared—and struck without warning…"

"We had no time to react. Only one, as he died, summoned the yin bureaucracy's troops—only then did I escape…"

Listening to the old man's murmured tale, Li Yan's expression grew grave: "Could you see who attacked?"

"No."

Old Wu's eyes flickered with pain. "They carried state ritual artifacts, and their evasion techniques were superb. We only realized they were near when they struck—their spells were brutal, their martial skill terrifying. My guardian, though obscure in reputation, had already cultivated Gangjin. Before he died, he said only one thing."

"What was it?"

"Master-level. Run!"

"What?!"

Li Yan stared in shock, unable to believe it.

What does a Master signify?

It is not merely a martial realm, but also a symbol.

He is now at Golden Core, his qi and blood will condensed into the dantian, allowing prolonged combat.

Beyond that is Gangjin, where the true intent of martial arts draws forth the essence of Gang and Sha, usable for both offense and defense.

Above that is Primordial, where one's innate talent fully manifests, uniting with the Dao, having reached the very limit.

But a Master stands even above Primordial—not only the peak of martial arts, but one who must establish a new lineage to endure for millennia.

One could say, they have already gained the ability to ascend to godhood through martial means.

Cheng Jianxin of Shu was such a one—too bad he willingly chose to abandon it.

Across the Divine Land, dragons and tigers converge, countless talents abound, yet in every age, there are at most ten Masters.

These Masters are now aged; after Cheng Jianxin's death, only nine remain.

These nine hold positions of immense influence, capable of suppressing entire regions.

No wonder Wu Lao Tou was so terrified, so certain the Xuanmen Orthodox Sect had broken the pact.

Behind a Master lie far too many implications.

Li Yan fell silent for a long while before absorbing this information, then took a deep breath and asked: "I understand your concerns—if a Master truly acted, reporting it to the Xuan Priest would be futile, yet why remain in the capital?"

Wu Lao Tou clenched his fist tightly. "I… cannot accept it."

Saying this, he pulled out the incomplete Gou Die and gritted his teeth: "They thought destroying this object was enough, but they didn't know it still concealed a Gang Order—so long as I find the killer, I'll drag him down even if I die!"

"Do you have any leads?" Li Yan asked in a low voice.

Wu Lao Tou's spirit instantly deflated. "No leads at all."

"I've secretly gathered intelligence on all these Masters, but none showed any anomaly…"

Before he finished, he suddenly looked up, urgently saying: "I know you rose to fame young and possess profound Daoist arts, but do not be careless—your identity as a Living Yin Officer has already been exposed; they will surely come after you. If Living Yin Officers are wiped out, the Yin Criminals and Earth Immortals will emerge en masse—that is the great calamity of human dao!"

"Rest assured, Elder."

Li Yan nodded, then pulled out the black pottery shard. "To be honest, I came here to ask about this…"

He then recounted the entire incident.

"I know of this matter."

Wu Lao Tou gripped the black pottery shard, his voice hoarse. "I didn't leave then—I was investigating it with my old partner."

"Two years ago, water monkeys plagued the Wuding River; Baiyun Temple sent people to handle it. I paid no mind—until I discovered something…"

"A young man came to me, saying his uncle had been killed by a water monkey, his aunt driven mad, and no physician could cure her—so he begged me to use Xuanmen methods to treat her hysteria. But her words were strange."

"She claimed the water monkey was her lost child from years ago—she had seen the birthmark, even the rusted longevity lock around its neck, bound in chains inside a black altar, and that her husband had been murdered trying to save the child."

"I thought it nonsense, but soon after, their home caught fire—no one survived."

"So I grew suspicious and secretly investigated. I found that over the years, the number of missing children in the capital has been high—all six-year-old boys and girls born in Yin years and Yin months. Following this trail, I learned of the 'Pantao Society' from the Western Beggar Sect."

"These people operate in secrecy, with powerful patrons covering their tracks—so the trail went cold."

"Until the old comrades from Huangquan returned. One of them, upon hearing this, mentioned something."

"He once captured a Yin Criminal—a follower of the Northern Wei's Mahayana Cult…"

"Mahayana Cult?"

Li Yan frowned upon hearing this.

The Mahayana Cult was a rebellion during the Northern Wei, led by the "heretical monk Fa Qing," who rallied monks under the slogan "A New Buddha has emerged, exterminating all demons," declared himself "Mahayana," burned temples and scriptures, slaughtered monks and nuns, and decreed: "Kill one man, become a Bodhisattva of the First Stage; kill ten, become a Bodhisattva of the Tenth Stage."

Worse still, he brewed Kuangyao, triggering a biochemical crisis in Northern Wei.

In cruelty, he surpassed even the Great Song Ghost Sect.

Thinking of this, Li Yan's scalp prickled. "Could the 'Peach' be a Mahayana Cult technique?"

"Yes and no."

Wu Lao Tou replied: "That man was once a follower of Fa Qing, obsessed with alchemy. According to his writings, the Kuangyao was originally a failed attempt to create the 'Peach.'"

"The 'Peach' truly exists—but in ancient times, the Queen Mother was a malevolent deity, and the 'Peach' was far from simple. The Han-era 'Jiao's Yi Lin' mentions: 'Facing the Queen Mother, I pay homage, receive a hundred blessings, granted a joyous child, eternal wealth'—this hints at the truth."

"The 'Youyang Zazu' records: 'In the northern ravines of Kunlun lie frozen corpses, covered in red moss—eating them erases sorrow.' The heretic guessed these were ancient cultivators. After Fa Qing was slain, he fled to the Kunlun glaciers—and indeed found the frozen corpses, obtaining the corpse fungus."

"According to his writings, he had nearly succeeded in planting the 'Peach' within children."

Li Yan frowned. "Where is the book?"

Wu Lao Tou shook his head. "My old friend despised evil—he would never let such a demonic art survive. He burned it then and there. But his writings mentioned one person who secretly funded him, enabling his research deep in the mountains."

"That man was Zhang Huaisu, the leader of the Great Song Ghost Sect!"

Zhao Changsheng!

Hearing that name, Li Yan instantly understood.

Zhang Huaisu was Zhao Changsheng.

The "Pantao Society" was indeed Jianmu's scheme…

(End of Chapter)