[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-cursed-blade-s-walk":3,"chapter-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-77":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Cursed Blade's Walk",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2262382,4415,"Chapter 77: Cloud Thunder War Drum","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-77",77,"\u003Cp>Such a thing had never happened before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Luo Body is his greatest secret—he had never before experienced anything acting upon it except for absorbing celestial and terrestrial treasures to repair it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it came from the mysterious Yin Si, the Underworld!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This feeling was like being watched by ghosts and gods through his deepest secrets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Li Yan not be alarmed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Fengzi shook his head. “I don’t know either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though the gods of Yin Si are primordial righteous deities and worshipped everywhere, my Profound Heaven Sect has never intervened, and one of our tenets forbids meddling in Yin Si affairs—we may only perform the Breaking Prison Rite to liberate wandering spirits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The only thing I know is that whoever bears the Yin Warrant Seal has been chosen by Yin Si to become a living Yin Officer, a walker between the Netherworld and the mortal realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you’re not a spirit-traveler—many spirits hide deep in underground crevices; you can’t cross over, can’t summon them—how will you fulfill Yin Si’s orders?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh, I thought your talent decent and planned to report back and have you join the Enforcement Hall as an outer-circle agent—now that’s impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan recalled Wu Laosì’s gruesome death and said with lingering dread: “If I fail the mission, will I die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Fengzi shook his head. “Even I don’t know. After all, this involves Yin Si—living Yin Officers act in secrecy, unknown to outsiders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll ask my master when I return—see if he knows anything. Meanwhile, your urgent task is to uncover the origin of this Yin Warrant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan frowned. “I don’t quite understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Fengzi sighed. “Yin Si’s ways are obscure and unpredictable—some worship the Northern Yin Fengdu Emperor, under whom are the Five Directional Ghost Emperors; others worship the Ten Great Hell Lords, who take turns as the Lord of Mount Tai. In our sect’s scriptures, all are primordial righteous deities. Only by knowing where the Yin Warrant comes from can we decide how to act.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, you should seek out a senior living Yin Officer for advice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan nodded solemnly. “Thank you, elder. I’ll remember.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Fengzi continued: “Also, have you heard of the Tai Sui on the Graveyard Hill?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan replied: “I’ve heard a little.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Fengzi said coldly: “The mountain spirit is a righteous deity. If word reached us, how could the Profound Heaven Sect allow such chaos? My haste to return is because of this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Soon, several of my fellow disciples will return. Under Master Qingyang’s leadership, we’ll hold a ritual altar to help the mountain spirit reclaim his place, dispelling the Yin energy of the Graveyard Hill. The imperial court will also act, scattering the Western Traveling Beggars’ Nest and all those Jianghu  folk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t let greed draw you into this. And if you wish to broaden your horizons, come watch the ceremony from below the hill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, elder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan bowed deeply in thanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a high-level ritual would involve many Profound Gate masters—witnessing it would aid any cultivator’s future path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Fengzi nodded. “No need to thank me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cultivation in the Profound Gate is hard. Dao attainment is only one part—more important is upholding righteousness. Since joining the Enforcement Hall, I’ve seen too many fellow Daoists stray—chasing petty gains, clouding their true hearts, losing their bodies and their Dao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see dark sha energy lurking in your brow—walk this path with utmost care!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he bowed and floated away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan respectfully bowed in farewell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once held reservations about the Profound Heaven Sect, thinking them aloof and, as the state religion, surely filled with those corrupted by greed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, at least Luo Fengzi—a man worthy of admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Li Yan looked again at the Yin Warrant mark in his hand, troubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A living Yin Officer—sounds powerful, even the Profound Heaven Sect treats them with respect—but from Wu Laosì’s fate, it was no good post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Laosì worshipped the Northern Yin Fengdu Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that this deity had conscripted him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Yan pondered, Master Wan walked over, smiling: “Little Brother Li, the man’s been saved—what’s there to worry about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your war drum is done. Come take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, finished?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Li Yan’s eyes lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the back courtyard, a war drum stood on a wooden stand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Master Wan had said, this drum had been reduced in size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The original Qin-Han war drums were as long as a man’s outstretched arms, divided into three parts: departure, battle, and triumph, accompanied by drums, gongs, cymbals, suona horns, horse bells, swords, spears, and banners—when played together, a hundred drums thundered with mighty grandeur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This drum was no wider than a washbasin—small and compact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Li Yan dared not underestimate it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drum body, made of lightning-struck jujube wood polished with tung oil, had turned a translucent amber color, etched with branching lightning patterns as if ten thousand bolts had struck it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drumhead was fine rhinoceros hide, dark in hue, inlaid with fine copper nails forming cloud patterns that, combined with the thunder lines below, created an image of thunder falling from clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan had activated his sense of smell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could smell the fierce, blazing thunder qi radiating from the drum—far stronger than the hundred-battle plaque once kept in the old mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine drum!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan couldn’t help but exclaim aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wan stroked his beard, smiling with pride. “If you want other talismans made, I lack the skill—but if it’s drums you need, Wen Sheng Pavilion has never bowed to anyone in all of Guanzhong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke truthfully—otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken on the Profound Heaven Sect’s commission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Yan eager to strike the drum, Master Wan quickly stopped him. “Little Brother Li, don’t rush—this drum isn’t consecrated yet. Come with me, we’ll carry it inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had Li Yan carry the drum into the Ancestral Hall and place it before the altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wan changed into black robes, tied a red sash around his waist, then solemnly arranged offerings, then covered the drum with a red cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, he shook a bell in his left hand and chanted continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan did not enter the hall—he stood quietly outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew: every talisman, from colossal statues to paper effigies, even the yarrow stalks used for invisibility—all required consecration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like painting the pupils on a dragon, only after consecration could the talisman form its power. Profound Gate craftsmen excelled at this—Master Wan didn’t hide it from him; wasn’t that a subtle teaching?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wan chanted and rang the bell, circling the altar nine times, then lit forty-nine incense sticks, bowed to the ancestral statue, stepped into the courtyard, bowed toward the six household spirits, and finally kowtowed to Heaven and Earth before returning inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I solemnly invite the Ancestral Master to descend upon the altar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a low cry, he stuck the incense into the holder, then lifted the red cloth from the drum, dipped a red brush in cinnabar mixed with rooster’s comb blood, and drew talismans in the air, sealing the essence and inscribing the sacred characters while chanting: “Heaven and Earth have eight tones: earth is xun, gourd is sheng, skin is gu, bamboo is guan, silk is xian, stone is qing, metal is zhong, wood is zhu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heaven and Earth are harmonious, auspicious day and hour—I, by the Ancestral Master’s decree…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Open your drum body, fill its belly with the cosmos!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Open your drum nails, fix the stars and constellations!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Open your drumhead, let thunder shake Heaven and Earth!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he chanted, Master Wan marked the drum’s surface with the brush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan, with his sense of smell active, felt it more deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the hall, the ancestral altar had formed a pattern—centered on divine qi, surrounded by incense smoke, combined with the six household spirits, creating a formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The war drum, with each stroke of cinnabar, absorbed and condensed its qi, gradually forming power, then slowly settling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When consecration ended, the drum appeared ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Yan knew—the Yunlei Drum had truly become a talisman; now, with spirit focus and activation, it could unleash thunderous sound to terrify demons and monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Yan’s eager gaze, Master Wan smiled, stroking his beard. “Little Brother Li, try the drum!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan didn’t hesitate—he carried the drum outside, placed it on the stand, rooted his stance, vibrated his chest and abdomen, and as he uttered “Hōng!” struck the drumhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yunlei Drum was small, yet it roared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound echoed clearly through the entire courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carpenters, all drum-making experts, heard at once—it was a fine drum. They dropped their tools and rushed to the back courtyard to watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Li Yan’s eyes, a spark of delight appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt the drum’s vibration resonating with his chest’s fascia—like lightning striking—his whole body tingled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effect far surpassed the old drum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was not yet the true divine sound of the Yunlei Drum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan hesitated, glancing at Master Wan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wan smiled, stroking his beard. “Go ahead—if you break it, I’ll give you my shop sign to smash!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder, you jest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan took a deep breath and struck the drum again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he used hidden yin force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thunderous crash—those around him winced, clutching their ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan trembled violently, as if struck by lightning; he took several deep breaths to recover, a hidden smile tugging at his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the true divine sound of the Yunlei Drum!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drum’s vibration didn’t just rapidly stimulate fascia, gather force into a sphere, and enhance cultivation—it also trained hidden force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hard and soft, yin and yang, tremor and silk-winding…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hidden force twists and turns endlessly; if one can use it continuously and perfectly integrate it with techniques, one reaches the peak of hidden force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Yunlei Drum’s aid, none of this would be a problem!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wan nodded slightly, clearly pleased, then called out loudly: “Someone, carry the drum stand outside the gate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone hurried forward and carried the drum stand and the Cloud-Thunder Drum out of the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wan’s expression turned solemn as he explained, “This Cloud-Thunder Divine Drum is a magical artifact; when struck with spiritual focus, it can terrify and expel evil spirits. There’s an ancestral altar inside the courtyard, and to avoid disrespect and conflicting spiritual energy, we must move it outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan nodded, focusing his spirit and channeling hidden force as he struck with one palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the drumhead vibrated, producing a sound similar to before, but the Thunder Spiritual Energy spread rapidly with each beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle-rustle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Birds scattered in panic from branches far away, and every dog in the village whimpered, tucking their tails between their legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others felt a thunderclap roar inside their skulls, taking long moments to recover their wits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s eyes blazed with ecstatic joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This artifact could terrify even the living soul; weaker wandering ghosts and lost spirits would flee at the sound, and if close enough, they’d be utterly scattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too bad, its power came at great cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After just one strike, he already felt a touch of fatigue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wan leaned in again, pointing to a small bronze beast’s mouth on the drum’s body, whispering, “If you hang a demon-subduing coin-tassel here, the power increases further—but with your current cultivation, you likely couldn’t activate it. And as a hidden trump card, you’d best not reveal it publicly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. Thank you, Elder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan could not hide his delight, bowing again in thanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a rider galloped down the dirt road from the village entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rider was a young man in a warrior’s robe; he dismounted with a graceful leap and bowed, “Liu San of the Zhang Family Martial Hall, greetings to Li Shaoxia!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhang Family Martial Hall isn’t currently feuding fiercely with the Zhou family—why come to me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan frowned, “What brings you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu San said gravely, “My master requests your presence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Pan intends to wash his hands in gold and retire!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wash his hands in gold?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s gaze darkened. “He thinks he can escape our grudge so easily?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2041,"2026-06-19T18:28:32.159Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e4173ad291784672c8ed83b421d3c860486e00c030fd5ea6fcaa9c684821c79b","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-78","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-76",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]