Chapter 89

At noon, the mass grave mound presented an entirely different scene.

The gloom that filled the mountain had been driven away; sunlight pierced through the dense canopy, casting beams of light that gave an air of quiet elegance.

Of course, this was only true if one ignored the dense rows of abandoned graves and bleached bones lining the path.

There were more than thirty people climbing the mountain.

The Commandant’s Office left some troops below as backup; Chang Xuan personally led the team, accompanied by himself as the Battalion Commander, Guan Wanchen, and five Squad Leaders—all expert practitioners of Hidden Force.

His subordinates, numbering over a dozen, were all at the peak of Manifest Force.

These elite soldiers of the Commandant’s Office were clearly well-versed in forest combat: they had released hawks to soar overhead and led two mastiffs.

As for the Xianyang Enforcement Hall, due to multiple poisonings and the need to guard the altar site, only Luo Mingzi brought five men.

Though few in number, over a dozen Hidden Force experts were more than enough to handle most situations.

“Woof! Woof!”

The mastiffs, fierce and keen, quickly tracked the location.

The eagles circling above also indicated the direction of the intruders.

At that moment, one of the Daoists twitched his ears and warned, “Watch out—there’s an ambush ahead.”

Drip~

Before he finished speaking, an eerie flute melody echoed from the dense forest.

The Commandant’s Office mastiffs suddenly halted, barking wildly in all directions.

From trenches and thickets, shadowy figures emerged from every side—wild dogs that fed on corpses in the mass grave mound, their eyes blazing with malice, fangs gnarled and fearsome.

Li Yan had long smelled the stench, but he didn’t even bother to speak.

So many experts were present—he didn’t need to lift a finger.

Indeed, Luo Mingzi’s expression didn’t change; he swiftly unhooked a talisman from his waist.

It was the same “Shangxuan Bamboo Messenger Talisman” he had used during his last ascent—he formed the hand seal and chanted the Six Jia Secret Incantation: “Lin Bing Dou Zhe Jie Zhen Lie Qian Xing!”

But unlike last time, the tone of the incantation had changed.

Li Yan watched from the side, filled with envy.

He had discussed this with Wang Daoxuan and now knew it was called “Bao Pu Ascending Technique”—not unique to the Tai Xuan Zheng Jiao, but widely known across the Xuan Men.

Wang Daoxuan’s Xi Xuan lineage also possessed it, but practicing it required two conditions: building a two-story observatory, and crafting the precious “Shangxuan Bamboo Messenger Talisman.”

Neither of them had the qualification to cultivate it.

Though the method had strict requirements, it was extremely convenient: simply by altering the Six Jia Secret Incantation, one could become invisible to spirits and demons, and repel ferocious beasts in the mountains.

Indeed, as Luo Mingzi chanted, the gangsha qi flowed and gathered into a tiger-like aura around his body.

Wuwu~

The wild dogs instantly panicked, collapsing to the ground; some even urinated in terror.

Of course, the Three Talismans of Demon Subjugation could achieve the same effect—but not with such a wide radius.

Meanwhile, the Daoist who had warned them earlier also unslung a large bow from his back, closed his eyes, twitched his ears, drew the bowstring, and aimed at the sky to his right.

Shhh!

The bowstring vibrated; the arrow shot forth and vanished into the forest.

Immediately, a scream rang out—and the flute music ceased.

The surrounding wild dogs scattered in panic.

“Go check!”

The Commandant’s Office and the Tai Xuan Zheng Jiao were clearly not cooperating for the first time; Chang Xuan showed no surprise and calmly ordered,

Two Captains immediately charged into the forest.

Not long after, they returned, bowing: “Report, my lord—it was the Beggar’s Sect. They’ve been shot dead.”

Chang Xuan replied gravely, “The Beggar’s Sect knows the terrain well, excels at controlling snakes and dogs, and employs strange treasure-sealing arts. Stay alert—we mustn’t be caught off guard.”

The wild dogs blocking the path were merely a minor disturbance; the team included several experts in tracking, and they soon located an ancient burial mound.

Beneath a large tree behind them lay a dark, gaping hole, radiating chilling yin energy.

“Go down!”

“Wait!”

As Chang Xuan was about to order his men to enter, Luo Mingzi grabbed his arm, his face grim: “There are traps inside—don’t rush.”

He turned to look at another Daoist.

This Daoist had gray hair and beard, clearly elderly; he pulled a talisman from his robe, formed a yin seal with his left hand, and with his right, flicked it sharply.

The Huang Fu ignited without wind, shot into the cave, and though the flames vanished instantly, the gangsha qi surged outward like a boulder dropped into a pond.

Hu!

A gust of yin wind erupted from the cave.

Several venomous snakes darted out in panic, accompanied by faint, mournful weeping.

Qiang!

Three Commandant’s Office Captains drew their swords; blade-light flashed, slicing every venomous snake near them into pieces.

Luo Mingzi glanced at the sky and shook his head: “These people are clever—today is the ninth day of the ninth month, the fifth day of the month, the beginning of the Yuan. All the lonely spirits of the mass grave mound have retreated underground, becoming their protective barrier.”

Li Yan frowned: “There’s no sunlight underground, and the yin-sha qi is thick—could we summon troops to search?”

It was the easiest method: no matter how complex the underground tunnels, once the altar troops appeared, they could capture everyone in moments.

Luo Mingzi shook his head: “They anticipated this too. The mountain god is currently being consecrated, and this mountain god’s true form is a celestial treasure. If startled before receiving its divine title, all its blessings will scatter.”

He turned to Chang Xuan: “Chang Battalion Commander, what lies below has become a ghost cave. Though they’re only lonely spirits, you’d best not enter.”

“The tunnels are narrow—too many people would hinder movement. Find other entrances and block them—don’t let anyone escape.”

Chang Xuan hesitated, then nodded: “Very well. We’ll wait outside as backup. Daoists, be careful.”

Luo Mingzi nodded, and he and Li Yan and the others entered the cave one by one, soon vanishing into darkness…

“My lord, it seems the Maitreya Sect didn’t come.”

No sooner had they left than Guan Wanchen spoke suddenly.

Chang Xuan’s eyes were filled with regret; he shook his head: “A celestial treasure capable of healing wounds—if not for the Tai Xuan Zheng Jiao’s orders, even I might have been tempted.”

“I never expected the Maitreya Sect to hold back…”

Before he finished speaking, a cold voice rang out from the distant forest: “Are you gentlemen looking for me?”

“Who?!”

The Commandant’s Office soldiers all drew their weapons.

But when they looked toward the voice, there was no one there.

A flicker of confusion rose in their eyes—the two mastiffs gave no warning, the hawks spotted no enemy—where was the foe hiding?

Chang Xuan was about to order a search when he suddenly realized: “The enemy is using demonic arts to lure us apart—don’t fall for it!”

“Form the Lotus Array!”

With his experience, he instantly recognized the enemy’s intent.

At his command, the Commandant’s Office soldiers immediately nocked arrows, backs to backs, aiming in all directions—their arrows sharp as a porcupine’s spines.

The enemy still didn’t appear, but Chang Xuan smiled faintly.

He feared nothing more than the enemy not being greedy; as long as they coveted the celestial treasure, there was no need to rush—he could play them slowly.

“Huh?”

From the distant forest came a voice of surprise, then a figure slowly stepped out from behind a tree—wearing a Daoist robe, with white beard and white eyebrows.

“My lord, it’s him!”

Guan Wanchen immediately recognized the old man as the one who had broken into the Zhou household that day.

Chang Xuan’s eyes were sharp—he instantly saw the man wore a human-skin mask, and coldly said, “Since you’ve come, why not show your true face?”

The old man shook his head slightly, but before he could speak, Chang Xuan’s face changed: “Fire!”

Shhh-shhh-shhh!

Instantly, a hail of arrows whistled through the air.

The man was Du Gu Qian, the Maitreya Sect’s Incense Master—he was no less skilled; he dodged aside and vanished behind the tree trunk.

Arrows rained down, embedding themselves in the tree and ground, their feathers trembling with tremendous force.

Du Gu Qian paid no mind; he pulled a bone flute from around his neck, formed a hand seal with his left hand, and blew softly into it. Di~

The eerie flute melody echoed through the forest.

Shhh!

Behind the Commandant’s Office soldiers, the undergrowth trembled; a foul wind surged forward, making them dizzy and nauseated.

Yet the Commandant’s Office soldiers remained calm; three of them tossed their waist pouches into the air, while three others nocked arrows.

Bang-bang-bang!

The pouches burst open, scattering pungent yellow powder everywhere.

“Realgar?”

Behind the tree, Du Gu Qian’s face changed; he immediately stopped blowing the flute.

But it was too late.

Shhh!

From the forest emerged a giant snake, as thick as a bowl—driven mad by the realgar, its crest blood-red, fangs bared, lunging toward them.

Facing the legendary rooster-crested snake, the Commandant’s Office soldiers remained calm; under Guan Wanchen’s lead, they grabbed the iron nets prepared on the ground and hurled them out.

The iron net was covered in hooks—the very “Ghost-Fear” used by the yamen to capture martial artists.

The cockatrice snake, half-mad, was instantly smothered beneath the net.

!

Its scales were tough; scraping against the hooks, they sparked with each thrash—but the “Ghost-Fear” net was vast, tightening further with every struggle.

Even with preparation, all present were startled.

This thing was impervious to blades and bullets, immensely strong, and lethally poisonous; once it broke into the formation, countless would die.

No wonder it had killed all the bandits on the mountain.

Guan Wanchie said nothing, unslung the leather pouch at his waist, and sprayed its contents—black dog blood—into the air.

The black dog blood was mixed with realgar; when splashed onto the cockatrice’s scales, it hissed, belching white smoke, softening the scales until the hooks pierced them fully.

The cockatrice, in pain, regained its wits, ceased moving, and fixed its cold eyes on the group, venomous mist churning in its throat.

Clang!

Chang Xuan, who had kept his hands behind his back, finally drew his longsword, flicked his finger lightly—and the blade sang.

He glanced coldly at the cockatrice. “This is a sword granted by the court, blessed with the power to subdue evil. Try it—will my blade strike faster, or yours?”

The cockatrice, intelligent enough to understand, immediately fell silent.

Chang Xuan nodded in satisfaction, then turned toward the dense forest beyond and smiled. “Mushroom Snake Du Guqian—since you knew you were coming, how could I be unprepared?”

He spoke lightly, but inwardly he was relieved.

After Sha Li Fei’s message, he sensed something amiss and immediately sent riders to nearby villages to prepare—just in time to gather everything before ascending the mountain.

The power of the court could not be compared to that of the common folk.

Especially our Commandant’s Office—our intelligence gathering on the Maitreya Sect never ceased; we had information on “Mushroom Snake” Du Guqian.

Though rare, the cockatrice’s weakness was already known to us.

Thinking of this, Chang Xuan smiled. “Since matters have come to this… why not come out and talk?”

Du Guqian’s face darkened as he stepped forward slowly. “Commander, your calculations are sharp, your skill formidable. I was careless—I never expected a mere Commandant’s Office Battalion Commander to be a Hua Jing expert.”

Chang Xuan sighed. “The court differs from the martial world—it doesn’t judge by skill alone. I prefer using my mind over my fists.”

“I know your skill as an Incense Master runs deep—we couldn’t stop you. But you see, I’m prepared today. You won’t gain an advantage either. Why not withdraw?”

Du Guqian’s expression flickered. “They say dragons and snakes rise from the grasslands—but it seems the court hides dragons and tigers. I yield today. I’m leaving—release my spirit snake!”

“Ah~”

Chang Xuan frowned, waving his fingers slightly. “One thing at a time. I worked hard to catch this—do you think I’ll hand it over so easily?”

“And tell your Fire Demon brother to stop aiming his firearms at me. At this distance, they might wound me—but your precious snake won’t survive.”

Du Guqian’s eyelid twitched; he immediately raised his hand.

In the distance, a figure leapt from a tree and vanished swiftly.

Du Guqian stared at Chang Xuan—he had never imagined encountering such a stubborn opponent in Xianyang City. He took a deep breath and growled, “Speak. What do you want?”

Chang Xuan gave a knowing smile.

“I want a name.”

“Who in the Commandant’s Office leaked the information to you…”

…………

Inside the cave, dark and damp.

It was cramped; the ground was muddy with standing water, and thick tree roots hung from above, while spiders and venomous insects scuttled through.

A Daoist from the Enforcement Hall touched the cave wall and shook his head. “No wonder they kept so many stray dogs—they were digging this. Looks like it’s been here for years.”

Luo Mingzi stared at the chaotic footprints on the ground. “Years ago, that beggar chief, Shan Ye, took over the Western Traveling Beggar Sect. He must have planned this. If not for a leak, who would’ve thought a grave mound could birth a Mountain Tai Sui?”

Li Yan pondered. “The one who leaked the information likely had ill intent.”

Luo Mingzi nodded. “Don’t worry—someone is secretly investigating.”

As he spoke, he gripped his talisman and activated the Baopu Ascending Mountain Technique.

Splash!

The hidden venomous snakes and insects fled in panic; the dark mist in the distance sank into the earth and vanished swiftly.

Clearly, neither venomous creatures nor yin spirits could stop them.

Li Yan watched and silently shook his head.

With these experts around, he felt useless.

His sense of smell was indeed remarkable, but these Enforcement Hall members—besides Luo Mingzi, the elder was already at Level Two of the Dao, and the younger ones had all built their Observatories; their spiritual powers far surpassed his.

One had mastered Ear Perception, hearing movements hundreds of meters away.

Another had mastered Eye Perception, discerning yin and yang, seeing clearly in darkness.

The remaining three had Body Perception, excelling in combat.

Together, they left no room for him to contribute.

They’d likely capture the target soon.

Still, Li Yan hadn’t come for nothing.

Whether the Commandant’s Office’s methods or the Enforcement Hall’s technique coordination, both opened his eyes—he quietly memorized and studied them.

His other strength lay in drawing broader insights from limited observations.

This applied to martial techniques as well as spiritual arts.

Like the Zhou family’s Monkey Leap—he’d seen it once, then integrated it into his Red Fist and swordplay, devising countless hidden force combinations.

Perhaps this was a gift from his past life—the ability to see beyond conventional frameworks.

Their pace was swift; before they realized it, they had descended deep underground.

The cave branched into many passages, with numerous dead ends—but the footprints below could not be erased, and with their spiritual powers, they were never misled.

Finally, the earthen tunnels ended; the ground turned to rock.

They looked up and saw before them a stone grotto, bearing clear signs of human excavation. To the left, a passage was blocked by fallen rocks.

Further ahead, several more branching paths appeared.

The tunnel they had passed through opened out from the opposite side of the stone wall.

On the stone wall stood a carved niche, its deity statue covered in patchy moss, eroded beyond recognition.

Li Yan was surprised. “Is this an ancient tomb?”

The niches clearly dated back centuries—not the work of the Beggar Sect.

“No.”

Luo Mingzi glanced around and shook his head. “Shenzhou’s history is ancient. Since the tribal era, people have explored everywhere. Back then, wild spirits were numerous—hence the Shanhai Jing records a deity for every mountain.”

“This custom never faded; whenever a spiritual site appeared, people would burn incense and worship. This place once hosted rites for the mountain deity—the Mountain Tai Sui absorbed the incense energy to form divine gang, but later something went wrong and the passages collapsed.”

Li Yan was about to speak when suddenly his left palm burned—he saw a blurred vision:

In a dark cave, an old man clad in bark clothing, his beard thick with moss, his face unnaturally pale, lips moving, eyes filled with pleading…

(End of Chapter)