Chapter 86: Enfeoffing the God at the Altar

"The capital?"

A cold light flashed in Guan Wanche's eyes, but he lowered his head and cupped his hands, "This humble subordinate is dull and does not understand Lord Chang's meaning."

The one-eyed man was named Chang Xuan, a hundred-household official of the Chang'an garrison of the Commandant's Office.

The Great Xuan Dynasty's Commandant's Office was huge. In addition to the headquarters in the capital, garrisons were set up in various states and prefectures. Each garrison had three thousand-household officials, and each thousand-household official had ten hundred-household officials under him.

Under each hundred-household official were two squad leaders, and each squad leader commanded ten subordinates.

Guan Wanche was promoted to squad leader right away, which showed how much Chang Xuan valued him.

Facing Guan Wanche's inquiry, Chang Xuan glanced at him faintly, "Are you pretending not to understand, or are you playing dumb?"

Guan Wanche's eyelids twitched, and cold sweat seeped from his forehead.

Who knew that Chang Xuan was not angry, but nodded and sighed, "Playing dumb is good. If you were a hot-headed youth, this official wouldn't dare to keep you by my side."

"Others only see how majestic our Commandant's Office is, but you will understand the taste of it in the future. The court is dangerous; advancing is difficult, and one wrong step means being smashed to pieces!"

"In the past, the Prince of Pingyang rebelled and his whole family was executed. That Princess Fu'an was just a woman in the boudoir, and Eunuch Lu was a fool. To be able to escape the capital safely—if no one helped, it would be a joke to say it out loud!"

"A single order from the capital could mobilize bandits from two states to come to Guanzhong to rob things and kill people to silence them, and even hide it from our eyes and ears. Who is laying out this layout?"

"Lord Li offered the formula for the new-style gunpowder, and the Emperor strictly ordered it to be kept secret, yet the Maitreya Sect was able to get the news and even sneak into the prefecture yamen to steal it..."

"The Chang'an garrison is riddled with holes!"

Guan Wanche felt a chill all over his body after hearing the other party's analysis and couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva, "My lord, then what should we do?"

"What should we do?"

Chang Xuan smiled, his one eye full of coldness, "I was wondering why such a big case, everyone hid faster than anyone else and dumped it all on this official."

"If there were no such news, this official would probably be kept in the dark and foolishly become a scapegoat, but since I know, I have plenty of means."

"Wealth and honor are right before our eyes; retreating is a dead end."

"Gentlemen, dare you gamble with me!"

"We are willing to obey your orders, my lord!"

…………

"Feng Feng Shixiong Uncle, this is Layman Li."

"Greetings, Feng Feng Shixiong Qingyangzi."

Inside the large tent, Luo Mingzi introduced the two parties.

Wang Daoxuan was already familiar with Qingyangzi and often visited him for advice.

Qingyangzi saw that his heart for the Dao was firm, and although he had no fate with the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect, he appreciated him very much and guided him carefully.

As for Li Yan, it was his first time seeing this Xianyang temple keeper.

Seeing his forehead full, his face kind, his beard long and brows white, Li Yan couldn't help but praise in his heart, what a look of an immortal.

"Oh, Layman has a good face."

Qingyangzi looked at Li Yan, smiled, and nodded.

Li Yan was stunned, "Feng Feng Shixiong, you are joking."

Qingyangzi smiled and shook his head, then said, "That Gou Die mark, can you let this poor Daoist see it?"

Li Yan hurriedly stepped forward and stretched out his left palm.

He learned from Wang Daoxuan that this person was a high-ranking Daoist. If it weren't for his help in pleading, Wang Daoxuan wouldn't have had the opportunity to go to Mount Taibai to build a tower.

Qingyangzi looked at it carefully for a few times, stroked his beard and nodded, "That's right, it is indeed the Yin Division Gou Die. Daoist friend, you have a great fate."

Li Yan was dumbfounded and shook his head, "Feng Feng Shixiong, you are joking. I am not a person who crosses the Yin. Having obtained this errand, once I can't complete it, my life will be in danger. Where is the fate?"

"When fate arrives, blessings and disasters are only in a single thought."

Qingyangzi stroked his beard and smiled, "People who cross the Yin are good at communicating with ghosts, so those who obtain the Gou Die opportunity are many. Once you have this thing, when crossing the Yin, the danger will be reduced a lot, and you can also perform rituals to summon the Yin Division's soldiers and horses, which is extraordinary."

"People in the Mystic Sect seek truth and enlightenment, burning incense and chanting scriptures every morning and evening, not daring to be the slightest bit slack, but those who can communicate with gods are few and far between, and raising soldiers and horses is time-consuming and laborious."

"If this isn't fate, what is?"

"As for the path, people who cross the Yin are not the only ones. In the Jin Dynasty, someone obtained the Gou Die and dreamed of entering the cave heaven, seeing the scenery of Peach Blossom Spring; in the Tang Dynasty, a prime minister obtained the Gou Die and beheaded a demon dragon; in the Song Dynasty, a famous minister obtained the Gou Die and judged Yin and Yang. Layman will sooner or later find your own Dao."

Li Yan said thoughtfully, "I also encountered something recently..."

As he spoke, he recounted the matter of the Cold Altar Wandering Master.

After hearing this, Qingyangzi pondered for a while and smiled, "No matter, since it is a Wandering Master and related to the Gou Die, just let nature take its course."

"My Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect has an order not to interfere in the affairs of the Yin Division and the Netherworld, so I don't know much about this, but following the guidance might lead to an opportunity."

"Many thanks for your guidance, Feng Feng Shixiong."

Even Qingyangzi said so, and Li Yan became more determined in his plan.

After a conversation, Qingyangzi led people away from the tent. As soon as he left, Luo Mingzi brought a few Daoists into the tent, holding several plates of melons, fruits, and pastries, and nodded, "Are you hungry? Eat something to cushion your stomach first. There is no vegetarian meal today."

Sha Lifei was a bit dumbfounded, "This... these are offerings, right?"

"Hahaha!"

A young Daoist with a round face directly picked up a cold cake and threw it into his mouth, muttering, "Eat with peace of mind, Patriarch isn't that stingy. At worst, I will set up an altar to report to him that the disciples are hungry."

Luo Mingzi also smiled, "It's okay, some things just need sincerity, no need to be constrained by rules, but some small mountain temples and ancestral halls of Yin gods are not so generous, so don't eat other people's offerings indiscriminately."

Since they had already spoken, Li Yan and the three naturally wouldn't be polite.

The offerings of the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect were very exquisite, especially a kind of five-colored fruit, which was a craft passed down since the Tang Dynasty, and very few people could make it.

This was a translucent flour food with five colors, wrapping five different fillings, symbolizing the five elements.

Not to mention the taste, but this craft was rare to see.

Sha Lifei stuffed a few into his mouth greedily, and seeing that the Daoists of the Law Enforcement Hall were easy to get along with, he immediately smiled, "Daoists, when things are over, I, Old Sha, will treat you to Qingfeng Tower."

"Today is the Double Ninth Festival, how can we not drink chrysanthemum wine and eat crabs!"

!.

The Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect did not abstain from wine, meat, or fish, except for "beef, snakehead fish, wild goose, and dog meat," they could eat anything.

After all, it was the Law Enforcement Hall of the Mystic Sect, and they would take on jobs related to the Mystic Sect in the future, so Sha Lifei wanted to take the opportunity to build a good relationship.

"Change it."

Luo Mingzi shook his head, "The ritual of enfeoffing the Mountain God starts from the *si* hour (09:00-11:00) and won't end until after the *wu* hour (11:00-13:00)."

"After the ritual ends, the Mountain God of the mass grave will return to his position. At that time, building a temple for incense worship will allow the lonely ghosts in the mountains to be stable, and then we will have to continue to perform rituals to transcend the souls, which will probably take a long time."

Wang Daoxuan cupped his hands solemnly, "This act is of immeasurable merit."

Luo Mingzi said calmly, "Balancing Yin and Yang and protecting one side is the duty of my Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect. Daoist friend, you overpraise."

As he spoke, his expression became solemn, "But our act is to make some martial arts scoundrels lose their opportunity, and among them are many strange people and scholars."

"Although Martial Cavalry Lieutenant Lord Fan has sent troops to drive away the West-bound beggars and set up checkpoints outside, these people will definitely try every means to sneak into the mountains to seize the treasure."

"Chang Xuan, a hundred-household official of the Commandant's Office, brought a hundred people, plus thirty brothers from my Law Enforcement Hall. The task is to drive these people away during the ritual."

"To avoid misunderstanding, you guys stay here and don't run around."

"By the way, are you going to send the deceased back to their hometown?"

"That's right, it's the dying wish of that Feng Feng Shixiong who crossed the Yin..."

The few chatted while eating, and from time to time, Daoists came back to take shifts.

Unknowingly, it was approaching the *si* hour (09:00-11:00).

*Swish! *

In the distance, several signal arrows suddenly shot into the sky.

A round-faced Daoist immediately stood up, pinched the Yang Seal, his ears twitching, "Someone is breaking into the mountain, the Commandant's Office is chasing and killing!"

Luo Mingzi's brows furrowed, "It seems they still won't give up. Let's go!"

After saying that, he led a group of brothers and left quickly.

In the tent, Li Yan and the three looked at each other.

"Should we go and help?"

"Forget it, with so many experts, it's strange if anyone can break in..."

The three discussed and also left the tent, walking toward the Dharma altar.

At this time, it was the *si* hour, and the ritual officially began.

The Daoist children burned incense and chanted scriptures, and there was a team of drum and music players, beating drums and bells, blowing sheng and knocking wooden fish, the scene lively and solemn.

Several old Daoists led by Qingyangzi had already changed into solemn Dharma robes, holding *hu* tablets, as if they were going to the palace to pay tribute, and slowly ascended the Dharma altar.

High above the altar, a bronze mirror for illuminating demons was hung.

Around the altar, twelve disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall stood with swords. After Luo Mingzi left, they were responsible for protecting the altar.

Wang Daoxuan introduced in a low voice beside him, "I don't know much about the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect's rituals, but I roughly know that they have thirty true altars and sixty true *jings*."

"'Altar' is the place for Dharma rituals, and 'Jing' is the place for cultivation. No matter which one, they can form a situation on their own, and other Dharma lineages are the same."

"Looking at this appearance, it should be the Enfeoffing True and Wonderful Altar, specifically used for enfeoffing earth gods..."

Li Yan listened from the side and had some understanding in his heart.

There is no spiritual energy in this world, but there is *gang* and *sha*. Both of these are a bit like formation methods that use *gang* and *sha*, but one is for rituals, and the other is for cultivation.

If he successfully builds the tower and obtains the inheritance, maybe he will also have corresponding methods...

Just as Li Yan was thinking, he suddenly twitched his nose and looked around with suspicion.

He seemed to... smell the smell of gunpowder!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 87 =====