Knife splashing

Chapter 183 Huashan Roadblock

"Yuan Zhetian is dead?"

"That's right. The bounty notices in Pu County and Shanyin have been withdrawn. It is said that someone has already taken the head and claimed the reward money."

"My goodness, who did this?"

"He's not a local tyrant, he's a dragon from across the river..."

As the most popular swordsman in Weinan in the past two years, Yuan Zhatian's death immediately caused a lot of discussion among people in the martial arts world.

When they learned that three notorious sorcerers had also been killed, many people immediately thought about it secretly and no longer coveted the bonus.

After all, there is a chance if you choose money over life.

No chance at all.
That's called seeking death!
At the same time, Li Yan and others have also arrived at the foot of Huashan...

…………

"Huashan has been a sacred mountain since ancient times."

Wang Daoxuan wore a bamboo hat and held a wooden staff, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "The Classic of Mountains and Seas says that Mount Taihua is square and five thousand feet high and ten miles wide. No birds or beasts live there. There is a snake called Fei Chong Yi, which has six legs and four wings. When it is seen, there will be a severe drought in the world."

"It was also mentioned in the "Yu Gong" that Mount Hua was the place where Emperor Xuanyuan Huangdi met with the immortals..."

As we were talking, the towering mountains were rising before us, with steep peaks and majestic momentum. Especially before the end of the first lunar month, the snow on the mountains had melted a little, and the mountains looked dark white, vast, and shrouded in clouds, making them even more majestic.

Li Yan felt even more deeply.

He could smell the innate evil energy that was integrated into one, strong and majestic, like a giant tripod standing between heaven and earth. The powerful momentum rushed towards him, making his chest feel a little stuffy.

"The reputation of Mount Xiyue is indeed extraordinary."

Li Yan couldn't help but praise: "It is said that Xiyue is a whole huge stone. I didn't expect that the innate energy is also integrated and combined with gold. It is a creation of heaven and earth."

Seeing this sacred mountain, everyone was looking forward to the trip to Mount Hua even more and hurriedly quickened their pace. After all, Mount Hua was world-famous for its dangers and the way up the mountain was not so easy.

Huashan has been an important sacrificial site since ancient times. There are many large and small temples at the foot of the mountain. Some were built in the Tang Dynasty, and the earliest ones were even built in the Qin and Han Dynasties, of which only ruins remain.

This place is sacred. Even the Golden Horde invaded from the south and dared not damage it at all, so it is still relatively well preserved.

There were many people walking on the road, and when we got to the foot of the mountain, it was even more crowded.

Next to the temple in the mountains, people are holding a community fire ceremony.

There are men holding iron frames on their shoulders, with children wearing costumes and makeup standing on them, dressed up as various gods and immortals...

Some people also used wooden boards to build four or five-story frames with various shapes. Some were tall, some were upside down, and some were sideways. They all looked mysterious and dangerous, and they looked shaky and could collapse at any time.

On the shelves, there were also many people in costumes, some standing still, some walking up and down, like immortals walking on the clouds...

In addition, some people perform historical stories, all of which are related to ghosts and gods, and even use props to imitate bloody scenes such as piercing, beheading, and chopping off hands...

As for things like land boat racing, there are countless of them.

The vendors were busy making snacks, some people were visiting and cheering, but more were burning incense devoutly, and the air was filled with smoke.

"Young Master Li!"

Suddenly, an old man walked into the noisy crowd.

Seeing this, Li Yan immediately bowed and said with a smile: "Master Zuo, what a coincidence, what are you doing here?"

The visitor was none other than the owner of the Zuo family troupe of Huayin shadow puppetry.

"This is our Huayin tradition."

Zuo Banzhu introduced with a smile: "Every year from the Lantern Festival to the second day of the second month, all the villages in Huayin come here to hold community fires. That is the 'Tianxinzi' and the 'Blood Community Fire'. Since the ancient kings prayed for rain and offered sacrifices, the custom has continued to this day without interruption."

"You guys are going up the mountain, right? Manager Wan and his team have already arrived a few days ago. You guys are probably the last to arrive."

"The snow on the mountain roads has not melted yet, so be careful."

"Thank you, senior. I'll go up the mountain right away."

After saying goodbye to Master Zuo, the few of them immediately quickened their pace.

When passing by the community fire team, a man who looked like a scholar in the crowd turned his head inadvertently, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he waved his hand and said:
"Hero Li, Hero Li!"

He shouted and ran over.

Li Yan turned his head and was a little surprised. "Are you the Yan... Yan Shusheng?"

"I am Yan Jiuling!"

The scholar bowed respectfully and clasped his fists.

It was this scholar whom Li Yan accidentally rescued when he was in Tianzhu Mountain.

Li Yan was a little surprised. "Aren't you a scholar going to Beijing to take the imperial examination? Why are you still in Shanzhou?"

Yan Jiuling quickly replied, "I visited my elders in Chang'an during the Chinese New Year and stayed for many days. I thought I couldn't miss the scenery of Mount Xiyue when I left, so I came here on the way."

"Oh, be careful on the road."

Li Yan nodded in response, then turned and left.

"Master, Master!"

The scholar was about to say something when he saw the servant boy squeeze through the crowd, pull his sleeve and whisper, "Master, these are people from the underworld, they kill without blinking an eye, let's go up the mountain later."

"I have a clear conscience, so what am I afraid of?"

Yan Jiuling didn't care at all, and said with a carefree smile: "Zhu Mo, those guys are all chivalrous, it's not easy to meet them, so we should get to know them."

Having said that, he shook off the servant and quickly chased after him.

"oops!"

The book boy Zhu Mo was so angry that he stamped his feet, but he could do nothing but follow closely behind.

"Master Li, please wait a moment."

Yan Jiuling caught up with him panting, and said with a smile on his face: "I also happen to be going up the mountain, why don't you join me?"

Li Yan was somewhat speechless. "If I remember correctly, you are a juren, and you will be an official in the future. You are on the same path as me, but we are on different paths. Why do we have to travel together?"

Of course, he had another meaning behind what he said.

The officialdom is complicated, the underworld is slippery, and the styles of doing things are completely different. Besides, they have many secrets. It is enough to meet by chance. Too much entanglement will only cause trouble.

Yan Jiuling looked embarrassed and didn't know what to say.

And Sha Lifei next to him rolled his eyes and said, "Brother Yan, since we are destined to meet and we are also on the same journey, it would be fine if we go up the mountain together."

"This scholar is flying in Xiashali."

As soon as Li Yan saw it, he knew that Sha Lifei was trying to build a relationship again, so he stopped objecting and nodded, "Okay, the road on the mountain is slippery, we can take care of each other."

Having said that, he continued to walk quickly.

As for Sharifei, he soon started chatting with Yan Jiuling.

"Sir, you are so young, but you have already passed the imperial examination. I admire you. You will surely pass the imperial examination in the future."

"You are too polite, my lord. I am just lucky."

"I'm lucky but I can't pass the exam. Where is Mr. Yan's family?"

"Ezhou."

“Oh, Ezhou is a great place…”

Sharifei was eloquent and full of compliments, and soon he was having a lively conversation with Yan Jiuling.

His purpose was very simple. From the establishment of the Daxuan Dynasty to the present, anyone who could pass the imperial examination was definitely not a simple person. At the very least, he was a wealthy and powerful person in the local area.

You can get some information along the way, and maybe you will have a chance to get a job or make a deal.

After all, they made too much trouble in Chang'an, and it would be difficult to stay in Guanzhong in the future.

After the trip to Mount Huashan, we will leave.

Even though Lu San was already familiar with the three people, he still felt unnatural to have a stranger in the team, so he whispered: "I'll go ahead and explore the way."

Seeing Li Yan nod, he quickened his pace and left.

"Eh!"

Sha Lifei was a little anxious when he saw this, "Why is Lu San running around again? Huashan is so big, what if he gets lost?" "Hahaha..." Yan Jiuling beside him laughed and said, "Don't worry, Master Sha is from Guanzhong. Hasn't he heard that there has been only one road to Huashan since ancient times?"

"What kind of story is this?"

"It's not really an allusion. Although people have worshipped Mount Hua in every generation, because the mountain is so high and dangerous, most people worshipped at the foot of the mountain. It was not until the Tang Dynasty that more and more hermits began to practice Taoism, and then they gradually opened up dangerous roads, so there is only one way to go up the mountain..."

"This... isn't right."

"What's wrong?"

"Just now the Taoist priest said that Emperor Xuanyuan once met with the immortals here. Could it be that they flew up there?"

"That... maybe, but someone has been up there before."

"Who?"

"During the reign of King Zhao of Qin, he ordered the craftsmen to use hook ladders to climb the mountain for sacrifices, but unfortunately, he was fighting with others and the road was not built."

"Who are you fighting with?"

"King Wuling of Zhao ordered craftsmen to build a hook ladder and climb up Mount Bowu, and carved a huge footprint, with the words "Zhao Zhufu once visited here" engraved next to it."

"When King Zhao heard this, he thought it was too much of a boast, so he ordered the craftsmen to go up the mountain, take the core wood of pine and cypress, and make a huge chessboard, engraving the words: King Zhao once played chess with the gods here..."

"Hahaha, these two old guys are really funny."

"To be honest, I once made a great wish to travel all over the mountains and engrave 'Ezhou Jiuling was here' on the top of each mountain..."

Yan Jiuling was knowledgeable and talented. He quoted from classics and talked eloquently along the way. Even Wang Daoxuan listened with great interest, which made the mountain climbing journey no longer boring.

But as he walked, he also shut his mouth.

It was simple. It was cold in the mountains, the snow had not melted yet, and the stone paths were often covered with solid ice. After falling a few times, Yan Jiuling rubbed his butt and calmed down.

When they arrived here, they were the only people walking in the mountains.

The mountains on both sides are towering and deserted. Occasionally, the cries of monkeys can be heard, and the sound echoes melodiously, like the wailing of wild ghosts in the mountains.

Just then, a quarrel suddenly came from the front.

"It's Lu San!"

Li Yan let out a low shout and immediately accelerated.

He had been accommodating everyone before, but now he exerted his full strength, bursting out with dark energy, galloping and leaping, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

When everyone saw this, they quickly sped up.

Li Yan quickly arrived at the scene, but saw a pond beside the mountain path, with a cold waterfall cascading down and huge rocks in the pond, creating a magnificent scene.

Lu San stood by the pond, holding a bone flower in his hand, with a defensive look on his face.

Around him, there were four Taoists, all wearing the black Taoist robes common to Taixuan Orthodox Sect, with swords drawn, surrounding Lu San.

"There are accomplices!"

Before Li Yan could figure out the situation, the leading Taoist glared at him and angrily said, "They have magical instruments on them. They seem to be sorcerers from unorthodox sects. They really have evil intentions. How dare they come to Huashan to cause trouble!"

"Take him!"

At the command, two Taoists attacked with swords.

"What's the hurry? Make your words clear first!"

When Li Yan saw that Lu San was about to pick up the bone to kill someone, he quickly shook his head, signaling him not to act rashly. At the same time, he took a step back and asked the Taoist priest.

Unexpectedly, the Taoist leader was not polite at all and shouted angrily: "Stop talking nonsense and surrender first!"

Clang! Clang!
Two sword lights followed.

Seeing this, Li Yan also became angry.

Although the Taixuan orthodox Taoists he had met had different personalities, most of them acted in a proper manner. This was the first time he had seen such a domineering one.

At that moment, he was no longer polite.

The two Taoist priests who attacked were not very old. Although they were only at the peak of Ming Jin and had not yet entered the An Jin level, their swordsmanship was truly extraordinary.

The two men's movements were erratic and their swords moved lightly, like birds flying in the mountains. They did not block or resist, but just shook their swords and went straight to the vital points.

Li Yan had heard from Luo Mingzi about the fame of Huashan swordsmanship.

They belong to the Chunyang Academy of Taixuan Orthodox Sect, and their practice methods are inherited from Lu Dongbin and Chen Tuan, which is mainly martial arts with magic as a supplement. There are many people in the Law Enforcement Hall.

They mainly practice Pure Yang Fist and Pure Yang Sword.

The name is simple, but it is an extremely profound Taoist Kung Fu.

There is a poem in the past to describe his sword skills: Overturning the sky and startling the flying birds, rolling on the ground without getting stained by dust, when he spreads his hands his whole body is covered with hands, only the sword light can be seen but not the person.

There is indeed no false reputation.

These two may look like Taoist children, but their swordsmanship is truly extraordinary. Their cooperation is perfect and their sword moves complement each other without any flaws.

Of course, their skills are far behind.

Li Yan just took a step back, and when the sword power of the two men was waning, he suddenly burst out with hidden strength, stepped forward with his right foot, and instantly moved close to the two men.

But in the eyes of everyone, he seemed to have shrunk the distance into an inch, and stepped to the side of the two Taoists at a distance of several meters.

This is a unique trick that Li Yan learned secretly.

At the end-of-year gathering of the Chang'an Shenquan Society, Zhang Shitong was teased by an old senior from Ezhou. Then a man came to rescue him. He seemed to be walking normally, but he was able to shrink the distance into an inch.

This is a clever method, which is that when performing the footwork, the ankles are dragged back to exert hidden force, while the body remains unchanged.

If used properly, it can create a visual illusion.

It's like the legendary shrinking the distance into an inch.

Hongquan emphasizes "transformation into the strange", coordinated with side-turning and arm-changing, left is not left, right is not right, retreat and advance, advance and retreat, and the changes are incredibly fast.

This method is just right for Hong Quan, so after Li Yan saw it, he secretly practiced it every day, integrating it into his body movements, making it even more amazing.

The two Taoist boys were shocked, but they were unable to react in time.

Li Yan turned his body to the side and got in between the two men. He grabbed their wrists with both hands and pulled them back with a wheel. The two men spun and fell to the ground.

"Be bold!"

The Taoist leader had fierce features and angry eyes, and immediately attacked with a sword.

His swordsmanship was obviously much better.

Li Yan had no choice but to take out his long sword to deal with it.

The advantage of his swordsmanship is that it is fast. Combined with the military techniques passed down by his grandfather, his hidden power is unleashed, and he can attack even faster than the Taoist.

Dangdang Dangdang!
The series of sword clashes dazzled everyone.

However, Li Yan was secretly shocked.

He used hidden strength in all his attacks, which were continuous and powerful, and he wanted to knock away the opponent's sword.

However, every time, it was like cutting cotton.

This is not only due to swordsmanship, but also due to advanced force-releasing techniques.

No wonder this Taoist is so domineering. It turns out that he, like him, has stepped into the peak of the Dark Realm and touched the threshold of Hua Jin.

Although the Taoist was a little surprised, he didn't care. He sneered, held the sword in his right hand, and made hand gestures with his left hand.

It's thunder magic!
Li Yan sensed something was wrong and made the same gesture with his left hand.

Bang!
The two took advantage of the gap created by the collision of swords and slapped out their left palms at the same time. Their palms collided with each other, making a dull sound.

Li Yan only felt a powerful aura coming at him, and his aura suddenly became unstable. He retreated repeatedly, narrowing his eyes and said:

"Thunder in Palm?"

The Taoist was also dizzy, staggering, his hair standing on end, his beard crackling and flashing with lightning. He took a few steps back and looked at Li Yan in disbelief.

"Yin Lei Palm?"

(End of this chapter)