Chapter 749: Li the Ghost King

The others now entered the room.

Hearing Wang Daoxuan’s words, Sha Lifei scratched his bald head. “The city’s watched too tightly—should we leave?”

“No time left.”

Wang Daoxuan frowned, sweeping his gaze over them all, finally settling on Kong the Shopkeeper, whose expression remained vacant, occasionally mumbling incoherently. He said gravely: “The soul extracted from Kong the Shopkeeper has wandered beyond the optimal window. If too much time passes, even if we forcibly retrieve the soul and bind it back to the body, the spirit sea will suffer catastrophic damage—his intellect will be clouded, reduced to the state of a fool, beyond recovery.”

“To restore his awareness, we must set up the ‘Three Yin Soul-Returning Altar’ before Zi Shi, while his soul remains intact, harnessing the yin-to-yang force of heaven and earth’s harmony to preserve his last flicker of consciousness.”

So we must act tonight!”

Wang Daoxuan’s tone was absolute: “Once Zi Shi passes, all is lost.”

Upon hearing this, Kong Shangzhao turned pale.

Though the officials had left the merchant association, they still surrounded it outside; through the locked courtyard gates and high walls, flickering torchlight could still be seen, and muffled footsteps and shouts heard.

Leave Jinan City?

The entire city is under lockdown; the Kong family, the government, and Mingde Academy have woven a net—let alone carrying Kong the Shopkeeper, a “prime suspect,” even a bird trying to slip out silently would find it harder than climbing to heaven.

And time!

The most deadly thing is time!

Even if we somehow break out and shake off pursuit, in the wilds beyond the city, where would we find those rare spiritual materials?

“Damn it, looks like we’ve got no choice.”

Sha Lifei spat, his eyes flashing with menace. “We’ve got no option but to go head-to-head—right here in Jinan City, right here in the Jiang-Zhe Merchant Association—we’ll make a big stand against them!”

For a moment, the air in the room hardened like solid lead.

Kong Shangzhao stared at his father’s vacant expression, teeth grinding, eyes blazing with fire.

Li Yan’s gaze was unnervingly calm as he rose slowly and said: “That’s it.”

“We hold the merchant association. Let no one in. The ritual proceeds as planned!”

Saying this, he walked to the front courtyard and opened the gate.

“Old Master Zhao!”

Looking at Old Master Zhao in the distance, Li Yan’s expression was calm, sincere: “Some things need not be spelled out—we won’t leave, and we’ll give a full account afterward. Can you grant us one or two days?”

“Hmph!”

Old Master Zhao, still seething from his earlier humiliation, whipped his sleeve and snapped: “Don’t speak nonsense!”

“You’ve seized a major criminal, defied state law—immediately hand over the prisoner for joint trial by the Prefecture, the Kong household, and Mingde Academy! All other matters can be discussed only after guilt is determined!”

“This is the way of morality and law—how can it be bargained over?!”

“Morality and law?!”

The last shred of patience in Li Yan’s eyes vanished entirely.

He’d never been a patient man—he’d once been called “Ghost’s Bane.” Only with age and cultivation had he grown lazy about minor matters, knowing some things were better resolved indirectly.

But faced with this, his cold, stubborn defiance flared again.

“Heh~”

He let out a cold laugh; an inexplicable aura of slaughter spread from him. With a metallic clang, he drew Duchen Blade, stepped forward, and fixed his icy gaze on Old Master Zhao, his voice slicing through every ear like a blade:

“Fine! Then I, Li Yan, declare this today!”

“Within two days, this Jiang-Zhe Merchant Association is my temporary forbidden zone!”

He scanned the glittering blades and hostile faces around him.

“Be they soldiers, constables, Kong household retainers, or disciples of your Mingde Academy!”

“Whoever dares take one step further…”

“Will be killed!”

At these words, many stood stunned.

Such brazenness—they’d never seen the like!

Old Master Zhao’s face turned ashen, veins bulging on his forehead.

As a direct disciple of Mingde Academy’s Grandmaster, having entered Gangjing for years, revered by all, how could he have been threatened like this?

Enraged, his righteous qi surged violently, his imposing aura crashing into Li Yan:

“You insolent brat! Who do you think you are?!”

This was the might of Gangjing.

To achieve Gangjing, one essential prerequisite was the extreme condensation of martial intent.

Only then could one draw upon the power of gang and sha energies.

Likewise, every Gangjing cultivator could wound others through martial intent alone.

Just as Cheng Jianxian once had—merely a glance had shattered minds.

Yet facing this cold, righteous pressure, Li Yan did not retreat a single step.

His stance stood like a deep abyss, unmoving; a chilling killing intent rose from him, fixed on Old Master Zhao like a beast ready to pounce.

Huh~

Two invisible intents clashed fiercely before the gate, stirring a small whirlwind that made torches flicker wildly.

The ordinary constables and martial masters around were forced back, faces pale.

This boy…

Watching Li Yan’s expressionless face, Old Master Zhao felt a chill.

He hadn’t expected someone so young to have already condensed martial intent.

Many masters, after decades of refinement, never gained such fortune.

He recalled the dossier on Li Yan he’d seen earlier.

The incidents in Chengdu and Luoyang, the battles with the Great Song Ghost Sect and Jianmu demons—he’d thought them either youthful recklessness or desperate resistance.

But the final intelligence analysis had stated:

Li Yan has the potential of a Grandmaster.

He’d dismissed it—after all, Shenzhou had countless prodigies, and many bore such evaluations.

But now, he couldn’t help but doubt.

Sensing his hesitation, Li Yan sneered again, pulling out a soul-warrant from his robe: “Do you recognize this?”

“Anger me, and I’ll make Mingde Academy pay!”

“You…”

Feeling Li Yan’s reckless, all-or-nothing ferocity, Old Master Zhao fell silent.

He remembered: Li Yan was also a Living Yin Officer.

What if this madman truly unleashed Yin Soldiers upon the Academy…?

“Fine! Fine, Twelve Zodiacs!”

Old Master Zhao forced down his rage, voice grinding from his teeth: “I’ll see how you finish this!”

After delivering his threat, he dared not order an assault, and stormed back into his ranks, furious.

“Hmph! Don’t bother yourself…”

Li Yan rolled his eyes, standing guard with his blade at the merchant association’s gate.

Meanwhile, Sha Lifei, Lu San, Kuai Dayou, and Lin the Fat slipped out through a secret tunnel behind the association, preparing to procure spiritual materials in the city.

Yet they’d underestimated the Kong family’s influence.

Soon, someone sent word, secretly informing on them.