Chapter 76: Abnormal Gou Die

“Bold indeed!”

Luo Mingzi, seeing this, flew into a rage and moved to fling his treasure sword.

Yet Chen Fagui showed no fear, snatching up the candle on the table.

Luo Mingzi froze in place.

It was because Chen Fagui realized he couldn’t stop him, so he placed several gunpowder packs on the altar, piling gunpowder along the fuses to ensure rapid ignition.

Gunpowder was not rare in the Great Xuan Dynasty.

Though the imperial court strictly forbade its private use by civilians, many martial sects and bandit strongholds had stockpiles—impossible to control.

Especially after the opening of the seas, with overseas trade and bloody naval conflicts, cannons roared constantly, making this substance indispensable; thus, many merchant guilds secretly hoarded it.

Now, the ban existed only in name.

In martial circles, few used it, for employing gunpowder meant a major case, often investigated directly by the Commandant’s Office—regardless of right or wrong, anyone who used it faced death.

If Chen Fagui merely tossed it aside, the entire tomb would explode, leaving no chance for the children or Wang Daoxuan’s wandering soul jar.

At that moment, a faint glow flashed in Luo Mingzi’s eyes.

His vision was extraordinary—he saw a hand emerge from the tunnel above the rear of the tomb chamber, gently pressing down, signaling him not to act rashly.

It was Li Yan, who had already infiltrated, using a concealment technique to suppress his aura—but he too had sensed the gunpowder and held back from attacking.

Seeing this, Luo Mingzi’s expression remained calm as he said sternly, “Brother, Zhao Facheng told me you once guarded a region. Why do this?”

“Guarded a region?”

Chen Fagui seemed stirred by memories, laughing bitterly: “Yes, I once thought that way—accumulating merit, upholding my heart, seeking the mystery, someday bringing glory to my sect.”

“But what did I gain?”

“Why do those who commit crimes live freely, dying peacefully in old age, while I, with unfulfilled ambitions, am stricken with a terminal illness?”

“What damn merit? Heaven is unjust—why should I uphold it?”

Seeing his madness, Luo Mingzi narrowed his eyes and urged, “You haven’t committed a great sin yet. Even if you die, you may still pass peacefully into reincarnation—but if you enter the demonic path, there’s no turning back.”

“Reincarnation?”

Chen Fagui laughed: “Immortality, eternal life, reincarnation… everyone has said so since ancient times, but who has ever seen it? Just lies to fool the ignorant.”

Luo Mingzi sneered, “That’s because your knowledge is limited. Throughout history, the Xuan Gate has produced countless brilliant cultivators—do you think they were all fools?”

“To be honest, I do know a few things…”

“Oh?”

Chen Fagui’s attention shifted, his grip on the candle loosening slightly.

Li Yan, behind him, seized the opening—he leapt forward and flung a flying locust stone with his right hand.

Crack!

The candle in Chen Fagui’s hand was knocked away.

He knew no martial arts; his reflexes couldn’t match a warrior’s.

And across from him, Luo Mingzi struck without mercy—his hand flicked, and the Seven-Star Sword shot forth like a streak of light, piercing Chen Fagui’s heart with a wet thud.

At the same moment, Li Yan landed, flipped his Guanshan Blade backward, and Chen Fagui’s head flew off, rolling lifelessly to the ground.

Thud—the body collapsed. He exhaled in relief.

Luo Mingzi rushed over, swiftly removing all firepots and candles away from the central gunpowder packs.

Twelve children still lay on the ground—if any suddenly awoke and panicked, knocking over a firepot, they’d all be killed.

Li Yan quickly sheathed his blade and helped.

But at that moment, the hairs on his back stood on end—a chill surged into his heart, as if a beast had appeared behind him out of nowhere.

Clang!

Li Yan instantly drew his blade and spun around.

There, on the ground, Chen Fagui’s head stared fixedly at him.

The man was dead, yet a torrent of resentment surged toward him.

“Bold indeed!”

Luo Mingzi also noticed—he unfastened a soul-stilling bell from his waist, shook it with his left hand, formed a seal with his right, and said sternly: “Hold fast to your spirit—I’ll remove the curse for you.”

Before dying, Chen Fagui had used his last shred of will to detonate his own spirit pavilion and cursed Li Yan.

The soul-stilling bell rang, its divine qi spreading with each chime.

But it was too late.

Li Yan’s vision darkened, his head splitting with pain—Chen Fagui’s venomous screams echoed in his mind, and hallucinations appeared:

Chen Fagui’s six slashed wounds on his forehead slowly opened, becoming six eyes, gazing in different directions—grotesque beyond measure.

At that instant, a searing pain flared in his dantian.

Though unbearable, the pain cleared Li Yan’s mind.

He looked again at Chen Fagui’s forehead—where were the six eyes?

He gritted his teeth, pulled something from his waist—it was Wu Laosi’s Gou Die!

After Wu Laosi died, it had returned to normal, its aura gone, appearing like an ordinary token.

Xiao Li Fei, too timid to handle it, Li Yan had wrapped it in red cloth and kept it at his waist. He never expected it to change again now.

Li Yan gripped the Gou Die, sweat pouring down his face—it felt like holding a red-hot iron, even emitting the stench of burning meat, yet he couldn’t let go.

The pain pierced like a blade, numbing his entire arm.

His Great Luo Dharma Body within the dantian began repairing itself automatically.

The wound on his hand vanished instantly—only to be burned again moments later.

Within moments, it repeated several times.

Finally, the searing pain vanished.

The Gou Die clattered to the ground, and Li Yan’s eyes darkened—he nearly collapsed.

He raised his palm—there, clearly branded, was a scar shaped like the Gou Die.

Charred black, like a tattoo.

!.

Beside him, Luo Mingzi had dispelled Chen Fagui’s dying curse—he stuck a Huang Fu to the corpse’s forehead before stowing the soul-stilling bell.

He too saw the scar on Li Yan’s hand and froze:

“Gou Die? A living Yin Officer?”

“Impossible!”

Whoosh!

At that moment, fierce winds erupted outside.

The She Ling troops arrived—howling gales and dark mist enveloped the entire hilltop; the lonely ghosts hidden in the mist were dragged upward by invisible ropes, vanishing into the air…

The spectacle was truly magnificent.

Li Yan, with his sense of smell awakened, felt it even more deeply.

No wonder the City God’s Office could maintain peace across a region—these She Ling troops were like an army. Individually weaker than the old Cold Altar’s demonic soldiers, yet overwhelming in number, every yin spirit or malevolent ghost fled at their approach.

Li Yan glanced at Chen Fagui’s corpse and sighed: “Do these troops always come last to clean up the mess?”

“Tonight was unusual. Normally, it wouldn’t have been this difficult.”

Luo Mingzi shook his head, his expression grave as he stared at Li Yan: “Forget that—you’re in deep trouble.”

“Not a passing spirit, yet now a living Yin Officer…”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing!”

…………

Morning light streamed through the window lattice, forming beams of radiance.

Wang Daoxuan’s eyelids trembled, then slowly opened—he saw a circle of figures surrounding him.

Li Yan, Wan the Shopkeeper, Xiao Li Fei, and an unfamiliar Daoist.

As if waking from a long nightmare, he was momentarily disoriented.

“Master, how do you feel?”

Xiao Li Fei, anxious, blurted out.

That voice acted like a key—Wang Daoxuan’s scattered memories snapped back; recalling the events, he understood what had happened.

“Thank you all for saving me.”

He forced a smile, his voice hoarse.

Luo Mingzi stepped forward, pried open Wang Daoxuan’s eyelids, examined his sclera, and nodded: “All clear. Spirit damage, but rest two days and you’ll recover.”

“Good, thank you, Master Luo.”

Wan the Shopkeeper sighed in relief and waved: “Let’s leave first. Master Wang needs rest—we’ll deal with everything later.”

Wang Daoxuan nodded, as if speaking those few words had drained his spirit—he closed his eyes and fell into deep sleep.

Outside the door, Wan the Shopkeeper immediately bowed: “We owe you greatly, Master Luo—I’ve prepared a modest feast…”

After retrieving the wandering soul jar, Li Yan had invited Luo Mingzi to Shangyi Village to help Wang Daoxuan’s soul return, fearing further mishaps.

The Tai Xuan Zheng Jiao disciple was indeed extraordinary—he resolved everything before dawn.

“Master Wan, you’re too kind.”

Luo Mingzi shook his head: “The aftermath isn’t settled yet, and I have other urgent matters—I’ll speak a few words with Brother Li, then depart.”

Saying this, he pulled Li Yan aside to a quiet spot.

Everyone, sensing the tension, quickly stepped aside.

Luo Fengzi spoke sternly to Li Yan: “It’s already daylight—check if the mark on your hand is still there.”

Li Yan quickly raised his hand and saw that the pattern of the warrant on his left palm had not faded; instead, it had grown even more distinct, like a black tattoo.

“Senior, what is going on?”

Seeing this, Li Yan could not help but feel alarmed.

For not only on his hand, but even on the hands of the Great Luo Divine Body within his dantian, the same warrant imprint had appeared!

(End of Chapter)