Chapter 759: Night Raid in the Valley

“Damn… so many of them!”

Sha LiFei swallowed hard, incredulous.

The number of arrivals was truly substantial—at least a hundred, each with hood pulled low and face covered in black cloth, torches flickering with eerie light, casting twisted shadows on the rock walls as if a hundred ghosts were marching.

The heavy stench of tung oil and sulfur mingled with the night wind, yet could not mask the bone-deep chill seeping from within.

“All of them are cultivators…”

The group, long accustomed to the wilds, instantly recognized the “black cloaks” for their steady steps and precise formations.

Clearly seasoned killers—not ordinary constables or retainers!

“Silence!” Li Yan softly warned, signaling everyone to hide completely.

He, Lu San, and Wang Daoxuan simultaneously formed the Yang Seal, activating their spiritual abilities.

All present were cultivators and naturally knew spiritual techniques, each with their own strengths.

For instance, Wu Ba excelled in physical prowess, Lin the Fat could detect treasure aura, and Kuai Dayou’s spiritual technique allowed fine control.

But in terms of reconnaissance, Li Yan’s trio was superior.

Lu San had extraordinary hearing, Li Yan could scent things dozens of li away, and Wang Daoxuan could observe mountains and detect qi.

With their combined skills, every detail on the other side became clear.

Soon, they all frowned.

Lu San’s ears twitched slightly, whispering: “Many inside are speaking Japanese.”

Wang Daoxuan’s eyes flickered with You light, startled: “Such heavy ghostly qi!”

As for Li Yan, he smelled thick blood and sweat stench—coming from the cattle cart cages behind the black-clad figures.

Before long, the clearing at the valley’s bottom was fully occupied by the black-clad figures.

First, they cleared the massive stone platform at the center of Laojun Valley, creating a wide open space, then used rags dipped in barrels of cinnabar ink to draw a vast, sinister eight-pointed array upon the stone.

The array resembled the Eight Trigrams, but each trigram was replaced with blood-red talismans.

Connected end to end, like a serpent biting its own tail.

“Master Wang, can you discern anything unusual?” Li Yan asked, glancing at Wang Daoxuan beside him.

Wang Daoxuan frowned slightly. “I do recall something—this array is called the Tongyou Eight Trigrams, used by a sect on Mount Luo on the far side of Zhaoyuan. Half-shaman, half-Daoist, skilled in using talismans as trigrams to summon ghosts and command spirits. I once glimpsed it from afar while wandering the Qi and Lu lands, but I heard only three master and disciples dwelled there, rarely traveling far. How did they come here?”

Everyone instantly understood.

It was a minor local sect, slightly stronger than ordinary witch doctors or shamans.

“Wait a bit longer, see what happens…” Li Yan mused, whispering to the group.

After the array was completed, more instruments were carried onto the platform.

Kuai Dayou’s eyes lit up. “Those are the same ones we saw at the workshop today!”

Before he finished speaking, another group of black-cloaked figures opened the iron cages on the rear cattle carts.

Inside, tightly packed small figures curled up, mouths stuffed with cloth, bound with ropes, emitting desperate muffled cries.

“Boys and girls… they’re blood offerings!”

Wang Daoxuan’s face darkened instantly.

Since human sacrifice was gradually abolished, such methods were deemed heretical.

Using children? Only demons would do such a thing.

Li Yan patted his shoulder, signaling him to hold his temper.

Originally, they’d only intended to gather intelligence—but now that the enemy planned to sacrifice children, they had no choice but to act.

Beside the altar, three figures stood out.

Dressed in crimson ritual robes and wearing Nuo opera demon masks, they stood motionless, directing the black-cloaked figures to drag children from the cages and forcibly pin them beside the blood grooves of the Tongyou Eight Trigrams.

The children struggled desperately, mouths stuffed, eyes streaming tears, emitting only muffled whimpers.

Suddenly, the crowd parted like a tide.

Several black-cloaked figures escorted one person to the edge of the altar.

He pulled back his hood, the torchlight illuminating a face that appeared scholarly and kind.

“Lin Yaozong!” Lin the Fat nearly ground his teeth to dust.

The man was none other than his own clan uncle.

Lin Yaozong’s expression was also grim; he glanced at the crying children, then quickly turned away.

“Hahahaha…”

Two more black-cloaked figures lifted their hoods—it was Zhao Bingzhong, Commander of the Tai’an Military Commissioner’s Office, and Zhou Xian, Assistant Prefect of the Prefectural Ya .

Zhao Bingzhong sneered: “What’s this, Master Lin? Still playing the good man? Your son’s life depends entirely on these children’s blood!”

Lin Yaozong’s face darkened, saying nothing.

Beside him, Assistant Prefect Zhou Xian patted his shoulder and comforted: “Master Lin, close your eyes and treat them as livestock. After all, in this world, it’s always you devouring me, me devouring you.”

“Hmph!”

Hearing this, Lu San’s eyes brimmed with murderous intent.

Below, Commander Zhao Bingzhong turned to the crimson-robed chief priest with reverence: “Divine Envoy, the blood offerings are ready. The auspicious hour approaches. Master Zhao has entrusted me to deliver this message: the ‘raft’ on the Eastern Sea is prepared—awaiting only the replacement of the Lord’s divine seat, so the dragon qi may return to the sea!”

The tall, crimson-robed Nuo mask leader nodded, holding a jade scepter, beginning to chant.

BOOM!

The flames in the altar’s brazier surged upward several meters.

The surrounding air thickened and twisted; a nauseating sweet-sanguine stench spread.

The black-clad figures grew excited, circling the altar, bowing in worship.

“Get ready to move…”

Li Yan whispered, pulling out a flintlock pistol from his robe.

Wu Ba eagerly began loading the tiger crouching cannon.

This weapon had been modified again at Qiankun Academy, its recoil reduced.

Since the battle at Beimang Mountain, it had yet to taste blood.

Hum…

At that moment, Li Yan’s Gou Die suddenly grew hot and vibrated.

“Wait!”

He immediately halted the group, looking toward the rear of the altar.

In the shadow of the gorge, a plain green cloth sedan chair had appeared—no insignia, no markings.

The curtains hung low, yet sent a prickling chill down his spine.

“A Earth Immortal has arrived!”

He warned the group, gripping the Gou Die and sinking his spirit into it.

Instantly, silence swallowed all sound; his vision filled with thick fog.

This process, Li Yan knew well—he surged forward.

Again, the familiar black-water well—sure enough, another yin prisoner capture.

Without hesitation, Li Yan placed his hand on the well’s edge, receiving the prisoner’s details.

Yin Prisoner: Hu Yuenniang, alias “Wuyin Mountain Grandmother.”

Born into a Xiangxi corpse-driving family, she fled into the deep mountains after her clan was exterminated by enemies. To seek revenge, she cultivated dark arts, refining living souls into the “Hundred Ghost Miasma.” After destroying her foes, she acquired secret techniques such as the Tongyou Eight Trigrams, and possesses the artifact: Blood Plague Umbrella—forged from the heart’s blood of boys and girls, capable of spreading corpse-worm poison…

Huh~

Li Yan was surprised.

This time, the Yin Bureau’s data was far more detailed than usual—was this person somehow unusual?

No time to ponder—he turned to leave.

But as he glanced sideways, his eyes caught something in the sky—and his heart froze.

Two massive figures had appeared overhead.

One wore red robes—the familiar Cui Pan.

The other, clad entirely in golden armor, was unmistakable: the Five Roads General.

Li Yan’s mind stirred; pretending to study the data, he strained his ears.

Soon, a faint, deep voice echoed from above:

“Cui Pan, is that all the information you’re giving?”

“It’s already plenty.”

“Hmph! Pedantic. Now someone’s stirring trouble—live Yin Officers are being hunted, the rest are few. Clearly, something major’s brewing. Are you just going to stand by?”

“General, you’re mistaken. The Heavenly Code forbids us from interfering—how would we be different from them if we did?”

“At least offer some aid. What if this one dies too?”

“The Heavenly Code…”

“Don’t mention the Heavenly Code—didn’t you break it just recently?”