Chapter 684: Evil Art

Listening to the old man's account, Li Yan gradually pieced together the outline.

The "Pantao" has existed for a long time, perhaps since ancient antiquity, but has long been lost.

Some alchemists have persistently sought it, finding fragments in historical records, attempting to reconstruct it by all manner of means—even at the cost of their humanity, causing upheaval; the rebellion of the Northern Wei's demonic monk Faqing may have been merely one such incident.

According to the records, Zhao Changsheng obtained this method long ago and had already completed it.

The Pantao Banquet in the capital was born because of this thing.

Thinking of the fresh, succulent, eternally unspoiled Pantao, Li Yan felt his stomach churn.

"Master, do you know what dark art they used?"

"I don't know, but it must involve six-year-old children born in Yin years and Yin months as furnace vessels."

After hearing this, Li Yan took a deep breath. "Master, I won't lie— the court has already assigned trusted Daoist allies to investigate these people. This matter is too grave for safety within the city. Let me escort you out?"

Hearing this, the old Wu man immediately shook his head. "I don't trust those Daoist sect members."

"Go. I'll abandon this place. Since my trail has been revealed, I won't return to the night market again—unless I find those people, I won't leave the capital."

He added in a low tone: "Don't trust those Daoists either. Who knows if their masters were involved?"

"Fair enough."

Li Yan no longer pressed. He bowed. "Master, please be careful. The truth will eventually come to light."

He could see Wu Lao's deep suspicion toward the Daoist sects; alone, he'd be easier to hide.

As dawn began to break, Li Yan said no more and took his leave.

He went to a guesthouse in the southern city, retrieved the hidden "Pantao" box, rented a horse, and rode toward the suburban estate as the gates opened in the morning mist…

Not long after, the young man in the secret chamber slowly woke.

"Son of a bitch," he mumbled, blinking at Wu Lao as he packed his things. "What… how did I fall asleep? Where'd that big brother go?"

"He's gone."

Wu Lao had already packed his bundle. He handed over a hundred-ounce silver note, coldly saying: "Keep it. That's the payment left for you. Out of acquaintance, I'll warn you—some things aren't for you to meddle in. You might lose your life."

"Take this money. Settle into a small trade. Pretend you never saw us."

Saying this, he slung the bundle over his shoulder, lifted the wooden barrier, and walked out.

"Hey hey, why the rush?"

"Son of a bitch" chased after him.

But Wu Lao was no longer the stumbling old man—he moved swiftly, vanishing into the alley in an instant.

"Pfft!"

"Son of a bitch" ran a few steps but couldn't catch up. He spat fiercely on the ground, muttering: "Gone after sucking the sweetness—thrown away the dregs. That's not how you treat people. No wonder you're so poor. Hmph, I don't care!"

Yet despite his words, he felt a pang of loss.

Which boy doesn't harbor dreams?

In teahouses, he often heard legendary tales of encountering mysterious figures of the Jianghu and rising to greatness.

Now he'd actually met one—but was given no chance.

"Forget it."

"Son of a bitch" gave a bitter laugh, then lightly flicked the silver note. "At least I didn't work for nothing. Tomorrow I'll rent a decent place, move out of that stinking meat stall—maybe fortune will turn."

Saying this, he carefully tucked away the note and hummed a tune as he headed home.

He knew the capital well, cutting through back alleys, and soon returned to his old lane.

But before he reached it, he sensed something wrong.

The meat stall's door stood wide open. Several yamen runners stood outside, faces impatient.

Inside, the stench of blood filled the air. Laowai's corpse, cut in half, was being dragged out under a ragged cloth.

They carried it out twice—because he'd been sliced clean across the waist!

"What are you doing here?!"

The runner barked coldly as he approached.

"Officer, I live nearby, just passing by. What happened?"

"Son of a bitch" grinned foolishly.

"Get lost! Why ask so many questions?!"

The runner growled and shoved him away.

"Yes yes, I'm leaving."

"Son of a bitch" hurried off, but as he turned, his eyes were already wet with tears.

He'd lost his parents young. In this vast capital, only Laowai had ever been kind to him.

Though called landlord, he never collected rent—only asked for small chores in return.

Both were lonely, rootless souls. Over time, they became like family.

At this moment, the silver note in his chest felt like a branding iron, searing his skin.

He staggered into the alley, his mind holding only one thought:

This grudge must be repaid!

…………

Riding to the suburban estate took no more than an hour.

Li Yan rode along a field path; the laborers nearby merely watched from afar.

He knew these were elite recruits selected by the Commandant's Office.

They appeared to be working, but were in fact outer perimeter guards.

Their positions were carefully arranged: not only were they highly skilled martial artists, but also expert marksmen. Combined with the hawks circling overhead, they formed a dense outer defense network—no martial master or spellcaster could slip through undetected.

There was no choice. Their enemy was too terrifying.

Plotting the Nine Tripods, inciting rebellion—the Jianmu organization had become the court's greatest threat.

Arriving at the estate, Luo Mingzi and the others, already alerted, rushed out to greet him.

"Any findings?"

"Inside, we'll talk."

Since they were allies, Li Yan skipped formalities. He entered the back courtyard, ordered Luo Mingzi to dismiss his men, then slowly opened the wooden box. The fresh, succulent, massive "Pantao" appeared before them.

"What a spiritual fruit!"

Sha Lifei's eyes widened in shock.

"This isn't any good fruit."

Li Yan shook his head slightly and recounted the entire story.

"There truly exists such a dark art…"

Wang Daoxuan frowned deeply, his eyes filled with killing intent. "Using children to brew medicine? They deserve death!"

He rarely lost his temper—but this had crossed the line.

"The trouble doesn't end here."

Li Yan spoke gravely. "Someone is hunting living Yin Officers. The Huangquan Organization has suffered heavy losses among its elite…"

Upon hearing this, Luo Mingzi leapt to his feet, incredulous. "Could a Grandmaster have done this?"

Li Yan remained calm. "Not necessarily a Grandmaster—but a formidable expert. Possibly a Earth Immortal."

The group fell silent, all eyes turning to Luo Mingzi.

Solitary wild Immortals, with no backing, rarely approached cities—let alone provoked the Huangquan Organization.

Only Earth Immortals from major sects could carry out such acts.

Now, amid human realm reforms, they are the most suspicious.

"Li Brother, rest assured."

Luo Mingzi took a deep breath and spoke lowly. "Several senior elders of the Taixuan Zhengjiao sect serve as Imperial Advisors in court. This matter will trigger a catastrophe—they won't stand idle. I'll return to the capital immediately to report it—and the Pantao Banquet as well…"

His eyes blazed with killing intent. "This strikes at the Emperor's sacred pride. Whoever is involved, the capital will not tolerate their chaos!"

"Not so fast," Li Yan shook his head. "This cannot be made public."

"Zhao Changsheng has operated for years, and so has Zhao Qingxu. We must first uncover their identities. Otherwise, even if we destroy the Pantao Banquet, the fallout will be endless."

He smiled coldly. "I can guess their plan."

"The Pantao Banquet has operated secretly for years, luring nobles with promises of rejuvenation. Jianmu's members are all Yin criminals—they avoid direct confrontation with us. They'll use these nobles to strike at us."

"Then let's turn their plan against them."

"Return to the Emperor first, prepare secretly. I'll continue tracking Zhao Qingxu's trail. When I find him, I'll strike immediately."

"Agreed."

Luo Mingzi said nothing more and departed at once.

After he left, Sha Lifei spoke gravely: "Brother Yan, why not let us enter the city with you? The capital isn't safe. More people means better backup."

Li Yan was about to refuse when Long Yan'er suddenly spoke: "Let me examine this first."

"I nearly forgot—Sister Long is an expert in this field."

Li Yan immediately pushed the wooden box toward her.

Long Yan'er took it, studied the Pantao closely, her frown deepening. She chanted a spell, opened her palm, and a strange-looking insect crawled from her sleeve—the Qinc insect, cultivated as a Gu. She looked at Li Yan.

"Sister Long, go ahead."

Li Yan shook his head. "This cursed thing won't be eaten by anyone."

Long Yan'er nodded, blew a soft whistle, and the Qinc insect immediately scurried onto the Pantao, drilling a hole and burrowing inside.

She closed her eyes, continuously forming hand seals to guide the insect parasites.

Soon, her face turned grim, beads of sweat breaking out on her forehead.

As Li Yan and the others grew concerned, Long Yan suddenly raised her hand and retracted the qin insect into her sleeve.

"This peach is merely a disguise!"

With a sharp clang, she drew the dagger at her waist and sliced open the Pantao.

Only then did they realize that though it looked like fruit, the " Pantao " held no juice and had a dense, fibrous texture.

"Hmm, doesn't it look like a mushroom?"

Sha Lifei frowned in confusion.

"It's a kind of fungus."

Long Yan said gravely: "According to Brother Yan's words, this is the Kunlun Glacier Corpse Fungus recorded in the Youyang Zazu. The Cultivation Sect also has similar fungal parasites that exploit the thousand-year indestructibility of the Taishui to build tombs within the earth veins and preserve the flesh."

Upon hearing this, everyone understood at once.

Preserving the flesh is either for cultivation, or to facilitate resurrection.

It seems many sects and lineages are secretly studying this art.

Long Yan continued: "But the true purpose of the corpse fungus is to preserve the peach pit inside."

As she spoke, her dagger danced, stripping away all the fungal flesh.

The peach pit emerged, resembling a clump of dried meat, its shape oddly distorted.

Sha Lifei's eyelid twitched. "It looks… almost like a heart."

"It is a heart!"

Long Yan thrust her dagger and pierced the peach pit.

Instantly, a gush of blood surged forth, mingling the stench of blood with the peach's sweet fragrance.

Squeak-squeak~

The peach pit quivered like a living thing, emitting a shrill cry.

A flicker of sorrow crossed Long Yan's face. "I think I've figured out the method: place a boy and girl in a jar, implant the corpse fungus at the heart, then cover it with vermilion and other yang substances. The Pantao corpse fungus is yin and cold, traveling through the blood vessels, taking root in the five viscera and six bowels, then forced inward by the yang substances."

"The child's primordial essence coagulates with the corpse fungus into the heart, forming the Pantao …"

"It's utterly monstrous!"

Kong Shangzhao, who had been listening nearby, instantly turned red with rage and slammed his fist on the table, rising to his feet.

He had merely been curious and intended to stay silent, but never imagined such an appalling evil art existed.

Li Yan's expression darkened. "Sister Long, can you find those who consume this evil thing?"

"Bring a beast—any beast."

Long Yan asked directly, without delay.

The estate was Luo Mingzi's long-term base; livestock was naturally plentiful.

Soon, someone led forward a fat pig.

Long Yan tossed the peach pit; the pig immediately opened its mouth and swallowed it whole.

Under everyone's gaze, the pig quickly grew agitated, its entire body turning crimson, darting wildly about…

Long Yan explained: "This thing concentrates the primordial essence of children—its potency is extraordinary. Ordinary people cannot withstand it. If I'm right, they must take other medicines to suppress it, and also use it to control the nobility."

As she spoke, the pig went mad, charging headlong into walls.

Though it battered itself bloody, its spirit visibly improved, its skin growing smooth and tender, as if rejuvenated.

But then, the pig collapsed stiffly, trembling violently like a sieve, and died.

Long Yan immediately slashed open its belly.

Everyone's scalp prickled.

Inside, the pig's five viscera and six bowels were completely covered in grape-like tumors.

Large and small tumors twisted and wrinkled, faintly forming the faces of children—complete with eyes, nose, and mouth!

"Exactly as I thought!"

Long Yan shook her head. "The Dao follows order. The primordial essence carries the children's resentment, impossible to purge. Those who consume the Pantao must use a catalyst to suppress its power—but over time, the five viscera and six bowels still grow tumors."

"I'll use insect parasites to consume the corpse fungus. Within a hundred paces, I can detect it."

Li Yan pondered a moment. "Then we split into two groups."

"I'll continue secretly searching for Zhao Qingxu. The rest of you enter the city, observe outside government offices and noble mansions—don't alert anyone. Just record the names of those who've consumed the Pantao. We'll settle accounts later!"

…

As they planned, Luo Mingzi had already returned to the capital.

He held the Emperor's imperial decree granting him free access to the palace at any time.

No one dared stop him; he walked straight to the gates of Great Ming Gate.

This was the outermost gate of the imperial city, flanked by "Dismount Here" steles, their inscriptions written in vermilion mixed with gold powder: "All officials and personnel shall dismount here."

"Master Daoist, please forgive us."

After verifying his token, the gate guards brought forward a wooden box.

Luo Mingzi said nothing, placed his Daoist sword and artifacts inside, then strode into the palace.

Beyond Great Ming Gate stretched a thousand-step corridor five hundred zhang long.

Though grand and imposing, it concealed deeper mysteries.

On either side, towering red walls were crowned every ten zhang with glazed xiezhi statues, cast by the Ministry of Works' Xuanmen artisans to ward off evil and dispel illusions.

Beneath the corridor's blue flagstones lay "Seven Stars Palace-Stabilizing Bricks," said to have been stored for five years in a hidden Daoist vault within a blessed land before the city's construction.

At Chengtian Gate, Duan Gate, and Wumen Gate, arrays were layered along the path.

Combined with the Imperial Ancestral Temple on the left and the Altar of Soil and Grain on the right, they formed the Great State Array.

Even an army of Xuanmen warriors could not enter the palace.

Gazing at the magnificent palace, Luo Mingzi's face grew grim.

He had not mentioned one thing earlier.

If Jianmu was orchestrating such a large-scale operation in the capital, someone from the imperial family must be involved…

(End of Chapter)