Chapter 72

The candlelight was dim, flickering unsteadily.

Yuan Qu and Zheng Heibei lay naked on the coffin lids, while Chen Fagui used a brush dipped in cinnabar ink to write like a dragon and snake upon their bodies.

Strange, bizarre talismans appeared one after another.

Every time he finished drawing a talisman, Chen Fagui would invariably form a seal and recite a secret name.

Inside the ancient tomb, the yin energy was already thick and eerie, and with each talisman completed, a lingering chill could be felt, making the two men feel uneasy and anxious.

Zheng Heibei finally couldn't help but ask, "Chen Dashi, this method of yours... is there really no problem?"

"Rest assured, both of you."

Chen Fagui shook his head and said, "As you can see, I am not skilled in martial arts. If we want to go to the mass grave to seize the treasure, I cannot do without your help, so how could I act recklessly?"

"This method originates from spirit mediums, but since you two have not mastered the six yang roots, you can only use this technique to borrow the power of yin spirits. It is like spirit possession, and you will not fear pain."

"When the time comes, you will act as my left and right guardians; where in this world can we not go?"

"The Master is right."

Only then did Zheng Heibei set his mind at ease.

He had long since seen that this Chen Fagui had no strength in his limbs and had only practiced some health-promoting guidance exercises; if someone got close to him, a single brick could kill him.

Just like that You Laosi, who only dared to hide behind him to harm others.

Thinking of this, a wicked fire rose in Zheng Heibei's heart again, and he muttered, "Chen Dashi, and that dog You Laosi, you must help me find him."

"Rest assured."

Chen Fagui gave a perfunctory reply, then put away his brush and ink. "Alright, wait for the talismans to dry before putting on your clothes. Remember, this method fears nothing more than a young boy's urine; do not let it be stained with black dog blood."

Yuan Qu laughed, "Master, you joke. With our skills, if someone could splash a bucket of urine on us, we might as well just bash our heads against a wall and die."

At this moment, the two men were covered in blood-colored talismans, even on their faces; a slight smile made them look ferocious.

Chen Fagui looked outside the tunnel, and seeing the last rays of the setting sun shining in, a flash of excitement crossed his eyes. "The time is not early; let's begin."

The three of them immediately set up a ritual altar.

In the center was a square table with all kinds of ritual implements, and around it, twelve flags were planted according to the earthly branch directions.

The unconscious children lay beneath the flags, with an oil lamp lit on each of their foreheads.

As for the wandering soul jar that held Wang Daoxuan's raw soul, it was placed casually at the other end of the tomb chamber, mixed in with those shards of pottery jars...

………………

Unknowingly, the sky gradually grew dark.

In the woods, Luo Mingzi formed a seal with his left hand and held a stalk of yarrow in his right, winding it around his fingers while stepping in a ritual pace, chanting, "Nuogao, solely opening for the great-grandson Wang Jia, the Azure Dragon of the Sixth Jia, the Meeting Star of the Sixth Yi, the Bright Hall of the Sixth Bing, the Yin Center of the Sixth Ding..."

Behind him, Li Yan followed suit, doing exactly as he did.

Soon, he was pleasantly surprised to find that his own aura had actually begun to converge into the yarrow stalk.

Seeing this, Luo Mingzi turned around and nodded with satisfaction. "Not bad. This method originates from the Baopu Mountain-Ascending Technique. Learn this method and follow me up the mountain, and you will not be discovered by those yin spirits."

"Many thanks, Senior, for bestowing this technique."

Li Yan hurriedly cupped his hands in thanks.

He had to go up the mountain to lead the way, and he hadn't expected this Luo Mingzi to be so generous, actually teaching him a simple invisibility technique that could be mastered in an afternoon.

Of course, the so-called invisibility was not a complete disappearance.

Rather, it was the ability to avoid being detected by those yin spirits and to suppress one's aura to bypass the supernatural investigations of sorcerers.

"It's nothing, just a minor trick."

Luo Mingzi shook his head slightly. "There are many types of concealment and escape techniques; this method is not very profound and cannot deceive powerful evil spirits or sorcerers, but it is enough for today."

Li Yan looked at the yarrow stalk in his hand. "Senior, is this thing hard to refine?"

The yarrow stalk had a very strong scent of incense, and the invisibility technique could not be performed without it; it was a pity that this thing was a one-time use item.

Luo Mingzi replied, "If you have a hundred-year-old Patriarch's ritual altar, refining it is not difficult. If you want to buy some, you can go to the City God Temple; they are ten taels of silver each."

"Ten taels?"

Beside him, Sha Lifei stared at the yarrow stalk in disbelief, thinking to himself that this Tai Xuan Zheng Jiao was truly black-hearted—daring to sell a single stalk for ten taels; no wonder their temples were built so luxuriously.

Li Yan also clicked his tongue in secret, but he decided to buy a few more.

This thing could save his life at a critical moment!

Luo Mingzi naturally did not know what the two were thinking; he turned his head to look at the small hill opposite and said in a deep voice, "The sky is dark, let's set off. We must not pass the hour of Zi and let them complete the lewd sacrifice."

Having said that, he walked toward the other side of the woods.

Li Yan followed closely behind, and the two soon disappeared into the darkness.

Seeing them leave, Zhao Facheng also nodded to Sha Lifei. "Layman, follow me to set up the ritual altar. If anyone comes to sabotage it, do not let them get close."

"Alright!"

Sha Lifei picked up his long saber, his face full of ferocity.

Having wandered the martial world for many years, he naturally knew that many people looked down on him, and he couldn't be bothered to argue, preferring to avoid trouble whenever possible.

Initially, teaming up with Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan was just to borrow their light to earn some money, but after several brushes with death, he had long since regarded the two as brothers.

This time, he would save them no matter what. The two left the woods, and Zhao Facheng immediately took out his compass, circled the foot of the mountain a few times, found a rock, spread out a yellow cloth, lit candles, and set up a simple ritual altar.

Like Wang Daoxuan, he also carried a wooden box on his back, containing all kinds of ritual implements and incense candles, so he could set up an altar and perform rites at any time.

Sha Lifei had followed Wang Daoxuan and was long accustomed to the process; although he was not a member of the Mystic Sect, he was qualified enough to act as an assistant.

Lighting the candles, stepping in the ritual pace, and spraying water from his mouth.

After the set of procedures, the ritual altar immediately formed its own small momentum.

Zhao Facheng sighed, picked up the lightning-struck jujube wood sword in his hand, skewered a yellow talisman and lit it, formed a ritual seal with his hand, and thrust it toward the night sky.

Whoosh~

In an instant, wild winds howled all around.

In the distance, Li Yan and Luo Mingzi looked back at the same time.

Ordinary people could not see it, but those of them in the Mystic Sect could all perceive a surge of martial energy rising into the sky.

Luo Mingzi said coldly, "The three orders of martial energy have risen; Patriarch Qingyangzi will send troops to reinforce us. If that Chen Fagui doesn't want to die, he will surely try his best to stop us. Let's go!"

!.

Li Yan nodded, immediately forming a seal, winding the yarrow stalk, and chanting the incantation while stepping in the ritual pace.

This invisibility technique had a somewhat long preparation time, but as long as the spell was successful and he kept the seal tightly held, he could hide his presence.

Of course, once he engaged in battle, it would be interrupted.

As for Luo Mingzi, he naturally used a more profound technique.

He took out a palm-sized bamboo talisman from his bosom, also holding it in his hand while forming a seal, but he chanted, "Lin, Bing, Dou, Zhe, Jie, Chen, Lie, Qian, Xing."

Seeing this, Li Yan's pupils shrank instantly.

Luo Mingzi's aura not only disappeared completely—to the point where his own supernatural senses couldn't detect it at all—but a faint yin mist also rose around him, making his figure blurry, as if he were in the fog.

This was the superior invisibility technique!

Li Yan felt a secret awe in his heart.

The Law Enforcement Hall of the Tai Xuan Zheng Jiao was indeed extraordinary.

According to what Luo Mingzi said, his cultivation was only at the Second Floor, and he had mastered the Body Root, not being skilled in liturgy or opening altars.

But he was proficient in all kinds of minor arts, and coupled with his mastery of the Body Root, his physical senses and control far exceeded ordinary people, and his kung fu had reached the peak of Dark Energy.

He could be considered a battle mage in the Mystic Sect.

Whether slaying demons or killing people, it was all within his capability.

Luo Mingzi was also a man with a cold face but a warm heart, and seeing that Li Yan did not abandon his companions, he appreciated him greatly. Seeing this, he nodded and said, "This is the Mountain-Avoiding Ghost Method, and I also used the Six Jia Mountain-Entering Blessing. The ritual implement is the 'Upper Mystic Bamboo Envoy Talisman', which is also just ordinary."

"Every lineage has similar techniques. If you can build a Second Floor temple in the future, you will be able to use this method."

Having said that, he nodded to signal Li Yan to lead the way.

Li Yan didn't waste words and immediately formed a seal to ascend the side of the mountain.

He remembered the place where Yuan Qu and the other had disappeared; although the side of the mountain was steep, it was no difficulty for him. With one hand forming a seal and the other holding his saber, he moved forward rapidly.

Luo Mingzi, naturally, followed closely behind...

…………

In the gloomy tomb, the candlelight flickered unsteadily.

In front of the ritual altar, Chen Fagui had changed his clothes; his long hair draped over his shoulders, and he wore feather and animal skin clothing similar to a shaman's, with his chest bare, also painted with many talismans, which were completely different from the inherited lineages.

All the incantations were written in a language similar to oracle bone script.

Its name was Tian Script, also known as Ghost Script.

He had originally kept his eyes slightly closed, murmuring incessantly.

When that order of martial energy rose, Chen Fagui's eyes snapped open, a complex look in them as he laughed at himself, "It's the order of the Jiuyuan Sect. Master, are you so impatient to clean up the sect..."

Outside the altar, Yuan Qu and Zheng Heibei were in full military attire, their faces covered in blood talismans; one held a large saber, the other held twin daggers, standing on the left and right sides respectively.

Hearing Chen Fagui's words, Yuan Qu was startled. "Someone is coming?"

"No matter, I have long since made arrangements!"

Chen Fagui stood up calmly, first grabbing two handfuls of white ash from a wooden box on the altar and scattering them toward the precious candles.

Boom! Boom!

Two fireballs appeared suddenly, then quickly vanished.

This was also a method of opening an altar, only with greater power.

Afterward, Chen Fagui picked up his peach wood sword, stepped in the ritual pace, and after lighting several yellow talismans, a yin wind suddenly rose in the tomb, and the color of the candlelight gradually turned a ghastly green.

This scene made the hearts of Zheng and Yuan crawl with fear.

They saw Chen Fagui pick up the rectangular ritual seal again and slam it three times onto the table.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

"The Nine Origins Return to Truth, Three Nether Divine Lords, command all battalions of soldiers—obey immediately as the law!"

Crackle! Crackle!

In front of the ritual altar, the wooden puppets representing the various theatrical roles all twisted their bodies and stood up, then crawled out of the tomb rapidly like spiders.

On the mountain, a thin mist had risen at some unknown time.

The puppets rushed into the thin mist and immediately disappeared without a trace...

Wishing all book friends a safe and healthy Dragon Boat Festival.

(End of chapter)