Chapter 72: Invisibility Art

The candle flame was dim and flickered uncertainly.

Yuan Qu and Zheng Heibei lay naked on the lid of the coffin while Chen Fakui used a brush dipped in cinnabar ink to trace swirling talismans across their bodies.

Strange talismans appeared one after another.

Each time he drew a talisman, Chen Fakui had to bind the spirit and seal the incantation.

Inside the ancient tomb, the air was already thick with yin energy; with every completed talisman, a chill clung to the air, leaving the two men uneasy.

Zheng Heibei finally couldn’t hold back: “Master Chen, is this method of yours… safe?”

“Rest easy, both of you.”

Chen Fakui shook his head. “You can see for yourselves—I know no martial arts. To reach the Graveyard of the Unburied and seize the treasure, I need your help. Why would I risk it?”

“This method originates from spirit mediums, but since you two haven’t opened your yang six senses, you must rely on yin spirits’ power—like divine possession—making you immune to pain.”

“Then, as my left and right guardians, where in the world won’t you be able to go?”

“Master speaks truly.”

Zheng Heibei finally relaxed.

He had already noticed: Chen Fakui was weak in his limbs, only practicing basic qigong for health—if anyone got close, a single brick could kill him.

Like that You Laosi, who only dared to harm others from behind him.

Thinking of this, Zheng Heibei’s anger flared again; he growled: “Master Chen, you must help me find that dog You Laosi.”

“Don’t worry.”

Chen Fakui gave a vague reply, then put away his brush and ink. “Alright, wait until the talismans dry before putting on your clothes. Remember—this method fears virgin urine; avoid dog’s blood.”

Yuan Qu laughed: “Master, you jest. With our skills, if someone splashes us with urine, we might as well bash our heads in.”

At this moment, both men were covered in crimson talismans—even their faces—when they smiled slightly, their expressions turned monstrous.

Chen Fakui glanced toward the mouth of the corridor; seeing the last rays of sunset enter, his eyes flickered with excitement. “Time’s running out. Let’s begin.”

The three immediately set up the ritual altar.

In the center stood a square table, fully equipped with ritual tools; around it, twelve flags were planted according to the Earthly Branches.

The unconscious children lay beneath the flags, oil lamps lit on their foreheads.

The spirit jar containing Wang Daoxuan’s soul was carelessly tossed at the other end of the tomb, mixed among shards of pottery…

………………

Unaware, night fell.

In the forest, Luo Mingzi clenched a hand seal with his left hand, held a yarrow stalk in his right, winding it around his fingers while stepping the Nine Palaces and chanting: “Nuo Gao, open alone for Wang Jia, the Sixth Jia Blue Dragon, the Sixth Yi Meeting Star, the Sixth Bing Bright Hall, the Sixth Ding in the Yin…”

Behind him, Li Yan copied him exactly.

Soon, he was astonished to feel his own qi begin to withdraw into the yarrow stalk.

Luo Mingzi turned, nodded approvingly: “Good. This method comes from the Baopu Ascending Mountain Art. Learn it, and you won’t be detected by yin spirits when climbing with me.”

“Thank you, Elder, for granting this method.”

Li Yan bowed quickly in gratitude.

He needed to guide them up the mountain; he hadn’t expected Luo Mingzi to be so generous—teaching him a simple invisibility technique that could be mastered in just an afternoon.

Of course, this “invisibility” didn’t mean complete disappearance.

It meant avoiding detection by yin spirits, concealing one’s qi, and evading the supernatural probes of sorcerers.

“No matter. Just a minor trick.”

Luo Mingzi shook his head slightly. “Invisibility and evasion arts are countless; this one isn’t sophisticated—it won’t fool powerful demons or skilled sorcerers—but today, it’s enough.”

Li Yan looked at the yarrow stalk in his hand. “Elder, is this thing hard to make?”

The yarrow stalk carried a strong incense scent; the invisibility method couldn’t work without it—but it was single-use.

Luo Mingzi replied: “If you have a hundred-year-old ancestral altar, crafting it isn’t hard. If you want to buy, go to the City God Temple—ten taels per stalk.”

“Ten taels?”

Beside him, Sha Lifei stared at the stalk in disbelief; he thought: The True Orthodox Sect is truly heartless—charging ten taels for a single stalk. No wonder their temples are so lavish.

Li Yan also inwardly gasped, but decided to buy several more.

This thing could save your life in a pinch!

Luo Mingzi, of course, knew none of their thoughts. He turned to face the small hill across and said gravely: “Night has fallen. Let’s move. Don’t let them complete their unholy rites past midnight.”

Saying this, he walked toward the other side of the forest.

Li Yan followed closely; soon, both vanished into the dark.

Seeing them leave, Zhao Facheng nodded to Sha Lifei: “Esteemed layman, help me set up the altar. If anyone comes to disrupt it, don’t let them get close.”

“Got it!”

Sha Lifei hefted his long blade, face fierce.

Having roamed the rivers and lakes for years, he knew many looked down on him—and he didn’t care. When trouble came, he avoided it.

At first, teaming up with Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan was just to earn some coin—but after several brushes with death, he’d come to see them as brothers.

This time, he’d do whatever it took to save them.

After they left the forest, Zhao Facheng took out his Luo Pan, circled the mountain base a few times, then found a rock. He spread a yellow cloth over it, lit a candle, and set up a simple altar.

Like Wang Daoxuan, he carried a wooden chest filled with ritual tools, incense, and candles—ready to set up an altar anytime.

Sha Lifei, having followed Wang Daoxuan for so long, was already familiar with the routine. Though not of the Daoist sect, he was more than capable as an assistant.

He lit the candle, stepped the Nine Palaces, and spat a mist of ritual water.

Once the ritual was complete, the altar immediately formed its own small force.

Zhao Facheng sighed, lifted his thunder-struck jujube wood sword, stuck a yellow talisman to its tip, lit it, clenched a hand seal, and thrust it toward the night sky.

Hoo~

Instantly, fierce winds howled around them.

Far away, Li Yan and Luo Mingzi both turned to look back.

Ordinary people couldn’t see it—but those of the Daoist sect could sense it: a surge of gangqi shot skyward.

Luo Mingzi said coldly: “Three orders of gangqi have risen. Master Qingyang will send reinforcements. If Chen Fakui doesn’t want to die, he’ll stop at nothing. Let’s go!”

Li Yan nodded, immediately formed a hand seal, wound the yarrow stalks, and stepped through the Nine Steps while chanting the spell.

Li Yan nodded, immediately clenched his seal, wound the yarrow stalk, stepped the Nine Palaces, and chanted the incantation.

This invisibility art had a long casting time—but once successfully cast, if he held the seal tightly, he could hide.

Of course, any combat would break the spell.

As for Luo Mingzi—he used a far superior technique.

He pulled from his sleeve a bamboo talisman the size of a palm, gripped it, clenched his seal, and chanted: “Lin Bing Dou Zhe, Jie Chen Lie Qian Xing.”

Luo Fengzi’s aura had vanished completely, undetectable by any of his abilities, and a faint mist of yin fog rose around him, blurring his figure as if he were within a haze.

Luo Mingzi’s qi vanished completely—not even Li Yan’s senses could detect him. Around him, faint yin mist rose, blurring his figure as if he were within fog.

This was true superior invisibility!

Li Yan felt a chill in his heart.

The Enforcement Hall of the True Orthodox Sect was truly extraordinary.

According to Luo Mingzi, his cultivation was only Second Story, and he had opened his body sense—not skilled in rituals or altar-setting.

Yet he mastered countless minor arts, and with his body sense opened, his physical perception and control far surpassed ordinary people; his martial skill had reached the peak of hidden force.

Whether slaying demons or killing men, he was unfazed.

Luo Mingzi was also a cold exterior, warm heart—he admired Li Yan’s loyalty to his companions, and now nodded: “This is the Spirit-Repelling Mountain Art, combined with the Six Jia Invocations. The tool is the ‘Upper Mystery Bamboo Talisman’—nothing special.”

“Every sect has similar arts. If you ever build a Two-Story Pavilion, you’ll be able to use this method.”

Saying this, he nodded for Li Yan to lead the way.

Li Yan didn’t waste words—he immediately clenched his seal and ascended the side mountain.

He remembered where Yuan Qu and Zheng Heibei had vanished. Though the side mountain was steep, it posed no difficulty for him; one hand sealed, the other gripping his blade, he moved swiftly.

Luo Mingzi, of course, followed closely…

…………

In the dark tomb, the candle flame flickered uncertainly.

Before the altar, Chen Fakui had changed clothes—long hair draped over his shoulders, dressed in a shaman’s feather-and-hide robe, bare-chested, his skin covered in talismans unlike any sect tradition.

All incantations were written in a script resembling ancient oracle bone characters.

It was called Tian Wen, also known as Ghost Script.

He had been sitting with eyes half-closed, murmuring continuously.

When the order of gangqi surged upward, Chen Fakui’s eyes snapped open—his gaze complex, he chuckled bitterly: “It’s the Nine Yuan Sect’s gangqi… Master, are you eager to purge your own disciples…?”

Outside the altar, Yuan Qu and Zheng Heibei wore military garb, their faces painted with crimson talismans—one wielding a great sword, the other twin daggers, standing on either side.

Hearing Chen Fakui’s words, Yuan Qu was startled: “Someone’s coming?”

“No worry—I’ve already prepared.”

Chen Fakui rose calmly, took two handfuls of white ash from a wooden box on the altar, and scattered it over the sacred candle.

Boom! Boom!

Two fireballs appeared, then vanished instantly.

This too was a method of opening the altar—but far more potent.

Then, Chen Fakui picked up a peachwood sword, stepped the Nine Palaces, lit several yellow talismans—and immediately, yin winds rose in the tomb, the candle flame slowly turning a ghastly green.

The sight sent chills down Yuan Qu and Zheng Heibei’s spines.

Chen Fa gui picked up the rectangular decree and slammed it three times hard on the table.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

“By the edict of the Three You Spirit Lords of the Nine Origins Returning to Truth—command all camps of troops—hasten as the law commands!”

Creak! Creak!

Before the altar, the wooden puppets representing Sheng, Dan, Jing, Mo, and Chou all twisted their bodies and rose to their feet, then scuttled out of the tomb like spiders, clattering away at great speed.

On the mountain, a thin mist had somehow risen.

The puppets charged into the mist and vanished at once…

Wishing all readers a peaceful Dragon Boat Festival.

(End of Chapter)