Knife splashing

Chapter 553 New Commission
The room became quiet.

The woman who was grinding ink froze and stopped after hearing this. After a long silence, she said, "I don't know either."

"Your Majesty, life and death are impermanent. Besides, it was just an illusion. The truth or falsehood is still unknown. Why are you so obsessed with it?"

Xiao Jinghong held the woman's hand and said seriously:

"No matter what, we have to give it a try..."

In their room, a jade seal emitted a faint spiritual light, blocking any magical power from detecting...

...............

The cuisine in the palace is not luxurious, but it is very exquisite.

For example, the stewed chicken was slow-cooked and it took a long time to cook. It tasted delicious and was seasoned with coriander and Sichuan peppercorns...

For example, fried shredded pork. Although beef is used, it is marinated with starch and eggs, making it extremely tender and smooth after being fried.

It was the first time that Li Yan had seen this kind of craftsmanship.

If the chef in the palace had magical powers, he would definitely be a great chef.

The only drawback is the small quantity.

They didn't care, but Wuba licked the plate clean and was only half full, and then he took the trouble to get some cakes.

The accommodation is comfortable, the food is delicious, and all the fatigue is swept away.

Night had fallen, it was a cold and windy night, the lanterns outside the house illuminated the snow, and everything was silent.

Although various defensive measures have been arranged, they have long been accustomed to taking turns to keep watch.

Li Yan was in charge of the first half of the night. He first meditated for a while, then lit a candle and sat at the table to open his bag.

There wasn't much spoils from the battle with the ghost troupe.

The most valuable items are naturally those new firearms.

But this thing belonged to the Duwei Division. After disassembling it, Sharifei found secret marks left inside.

Moreover, the Chengdu Prefecture Duwei Division can no longer be trusted.

If you want to sell it, you have to do some tricks.

But there was something else that piqued his interest.

The first is the facial makeup of the martial artists in the ghost opera troupe. The facial makeup of Di Qing and Guan Sheng is relatively easy to deal with, as it is based on the method of Nuo masks.

Ancient wizards usually used this method to communicate with ghosts and gods.

Singing opera is meant to entertain gods, so naturally there are similar methods, but there are more ordinary people in the opera industry, so he doesn't know what secret inheritance there is.

The key is the last one.

The "Diao Ke Xing Jun" facial makeup is rarely seen in opera theaters, and seems to be mixed with some methods of "worshiping the stars".

The worship of stars has existed since ancient times.

There are both orthodox Taoist sects and unorthodox sects.

Since the Yin and Zhou dynasties, there have been ceremonies to welcome and send off sacrificial days and sacrifices. In many places, related folk customs are still preserved today.

For example, in Shanzhou, Jinzhou, Yuzhou and other places, the sky is called "Laotianye" and the sun is called "Ritouye"...

For example, in Ezhou, there is a saying that "don't face east in the morning, don't face west in the evening, and don't face south at noon". Some temples also perform "sun birth" and "lidou chaozhen"...

There are countless ethnic groups gathered in Shu.

Although there are few people who invite "sorrow gates" or "mourners", there may be some strange things they specialize in.

What really made Li Yan pay attention was his ability to use "眚"!
"眚" is a mutated innate evil spirit. Every time you encounter it, it is very troublesome, whether it is the Japanese monk outside Chang'an City, or the water tiger suppressed under the Goddess Peak of Wushan...

But this method of using a small amount of demonic power and being able to control it is the first time I have seen it.

When they suppressed the "Fog Guest" before, they also obtained a "demon" Qi, which was suppressed by Wang Daoxuan, and then suppressed and destroyed in Qingcheng Mountain.

This method was too easy to get out of control, so Li Yan was not at all jealous.

I just don’t know if the ghost troupe has mastered this method...

Looking carefully at the mask in his hand, Li Yan discovered that it was made of two pieces of skin glued together, with a layer in the middle, which was densely covered with strange runes.

Neither he nor Wang Daoxuan knew him.

If I meet Senior Xuanmen again, perhaps I can find out its origin.

The few remaining magical instruments have basically been destroyed.

There was a strange compass inside the zombie controlled by the clown. According to Wang Daoxuan, it was a method used by the Xiangxi corpse-driving school...

The prayer wheel left by the old woman came from Tantric Buddhism.

As for the coffin nail, it is the thing that suppresses the drought demon all year round. It is also infected by the evil spirit and is full of evil will.

This thing is a good magic weapon for casting spells. Although it can only be used once, it is very powerful. It has been given to Wang Daoxuan for safekeeping.

In addition, there are a few letters.

They were all found from that old woman.

Li Yan looked at them one by one and his expression became solemn.

From the letter, it can be seen that the ghost theater troupe has been working hard and secretly accumulating strength ever since it was wiped out.

This time we came to Shuzhong, it was just a small team.

The main force has already gone to Qianzhou.

They are different from Zhao Changsheng and the Dragon Worshiping Cult. They are more like a mercenary organization that relies on humanitarian reforms to seek opportunities.

Still the style of doing whatever it takes.

And it keeps pace with the times and becomes more ferocious.

Li Yan had a premonition that this ghost troupe would sooner or later become a problem for them.

Thinking of this, Li Yan put away the things, took out the Fengdu Dharma book and studied it carefully.

The path of spiritual practice is like climbing a mountain.

The difficulty increases with each level you build.

If you want to improve your strength as quickly as possible, you can only do so from two aspects.

One is martial arts. He never stops practicing every day. His control over the Immortal Seal is getting more and more profound. Maybe he will have a chance to enter Dan Jin after the new year.

The second is the magic.

The practice of Fengdu Dharma completes the inheritance.

You can call upon the Lord of Luofeng to bless you and strengthen the techniques of the Northern Emperor Scripture, but you should not be distracted by the numerous techniques. You must find the path that suits you...

…………

Before I knew it, it was late night.

Li Yan lay down to sleep, and Lu San took over the responsibility of keeping watch.

Sharifei and Wuba have both awakened physical powers, and although their five senses are acute, they are still within the range of ordinary people.

If others use magic to invade, they may not be able to detect it, so the two of them and Wang Daoxuan are mainly responsible for keeping watch.

Fortunately, the night was peaceful.

The next few days were also very peaceful.

It seemed that the last attempt was unsuccessful and instead attracted Du Men and Twelve Yuanchen, Xiao Jinghong's enemies, and did not continue to attack.

Influenced by Cao Yuanhuai, the disciples of Dumen were wary of them and often stayed by Xiao Jinghong's side, fearing that they would go and compete for favor.

Li Yan and others were naturally happy to see this. They usually did not go out, but practiced on their own and discussed with each other from time to time.

And so, several more days passed.

As the year draws to a close, the sky in Chengdu finally clears up.

The sky is cloudless, the sun is shining brightly, and the roofs of pavilions and towers in the city are covered with snow, which sets off the colorful flags and lanterns, and the festive atmosphere of the New Year is instantly present.

Inside the room of the bamboo forest cottage.

Top-quality agarwood is burning in the crane-stepping-on-the-clouds copper incense burner.

There was a stack of talisman paper and cinnabar ink on the table.

These talisman papers are unusual. They come in seven colors: white, yellow, red, blue, purple, and black. Not only are they incredibly thick and tough, but they also smell like a faint scent of incense.

It looks like it’s been quite a while.

These talisman papers were all purchased in Qingcheng Mountain and enshrined in Tianshi Cave for fifty years. They were very expensive.

Li Yan stood in front of the table, holding his breath.

He first glued the talisman papers together and then cut them into paper figures.

Every time he cuts, he must step on the magic circle, pinch his fingers and chant the mantra: "Void and spirit, Supreme Jade Purity, help the poor and the needy, cut paper into soldiers..."

Originally, his paper figures were all white.

This is exactly what is meant by “white and yellow represent yang, and red paper represents yin.”

Now that his Taoism has improved, he can use seven-colored paper figures.

Before I knew it, the whole morning had passed.

Hundreds of paper figures have been cut out on the table.

After a careful inspection, Li Yan smiled, then he stepped on the magic circle again, pinched his fingers and chanted the spell: "Nuo Gao! Taiwei Chu Ling, create weapons and armor, drive away evil and assist righteousness, spread Yang and harmony to the body, Beiyin Emperor's order, deter weapons!" After the spell was finished, a strong wind blew in the room.

Wow!
Colorful paper figures rose into the air, like butterflies flying around him. It was a very beautiful sight.

Li Yan smiled and turned his sword.

Wow!
The colorful paper figures all flew into the leather bags around the waists like a flock of birds returning to their nests.

After seeing this, Li Yan was very satisfied.

The practice of many magic techniques takes time and effort, and one also needs to collect special tools and practice in a specific environment.

Strengthening paper figures is the fastest way to increase your strength.

Today's paper figurine can withstand more power, and with the blessing of the Eight Generals of the Outer Altar, the power of his magic can also be enhanced.

Although using the Soul-Hunting Thunder Rope to perform "Divine Transformation" is more powerful, it also consumes a lot of energy. Even with his Taoism skills, it cannot last long.

If the oil runs out, we will be in a dangerous situation.

Although we have the Daluo Dharmakaya, we cannot waste it.

As for the more powerful Bing Ding Ghost-Creating Talisman, summoning Wen Lingguan is a last resort. It requires Wang Daoxuan's cooperation, and it takes half an hour just to prepare for the casting. It can only be used in long-range combat.

Although it is troublesome, it is incredibly powerful.

Li Yan had a hunch that it might be even stronger than Gang Ling.

In addition, other preparations can be made.

For example, after he disassembled the Five-sided Luofeng Flag to make the armguard "Qian Nian", he had to find another magical weapon to rely on.

I haven’t seen anything satisfactory on Mount Qingcheng yet.

I originally wanted to wait until the cellar opening meeting, but given the current situation, I can only think of ways to deal with it first...

"I'm looking for Fellow Daoist Li."

"Please wait a moment. You can't come in for the time being."

"You must be joking! It's the prince who invited you!"

Just as Li Yan was deep in thought, there was a sudden noise outside.

When Li Yan heard this, his eyes suddenly turned cold.

That voice was Cao Yuanhuai's.

There are many taboos in making paper figures.

With his current level of skill, he no longer needs to wait until midnight, but he cannot be watched while making the work, as it might be contaminated by the scent of strangers.

Otherwise, the paper figure may turn into evil spirit and cause harm to people.

It’s understandable that others don’t understand.

It is really rude of the other party to be like this as he is a member of the Xuanmen.

Thinking of this, Li Yan strode out through the door.

But outside the bamboo grove cottage, Lu San and Wu Ba were confronting Cao Yuanhuai, and both of them had ugly looks on their faces.

Only when they saw Li Yan come out did everyone stop arguing.

Cao Yuanhuai wanted to say something, but he saw Li Yan flash and appear directly in front of him as if he had shrunk the distance.

So fast!

Cao Yuanhuai was shocked and stepped back quickly.

Of course he knew what it was.

Li Yan only used his ankles to exert force without moving his body, and his incredibly fast speed created this visual illusion.

He also knows how to use this method.

However, this method can only be used against those who are less powerful than yourself. If your eyesight and level of cultivation are equal, you can easily see through it.

The illusion showed that Li Yan's skills were at least one level higher than his.

Cao Yuanhuai exerted force on his feet and took two steps back.

He majored in Wenjinquan, also known as Tai Chi Changquan.

This style of boxing is an internal martial art that emphasizes the continuity of postures, the combination of hardness and softness in movements, taking advantage of momentum, combining slowness and speed, and being crisp and swift.

The footwork is derived from the Eight Diagrams and is quite exquisite.

But after taking two steps back, he found that Li Yan was always three feet in front of him, staring at him with cold eyes, neither hurried nor slow.

It's like a ferocious beast is just around the corner.

Under pressure, Cao Yuanhuai couldn't help but draw his sword with a clang.

Swish!
But just as he drew his sword, Li Yan suddenly stepped back and stopped, while he retreated seven or eight meters and almost fell into the bamboo forest.

Li Yan glanced at him calmly and said, "We are all fellow believers, why are you drawing your swords?"

Cao Yuanhuai felt his cheeks getting hot immediately. He knew that he had lost face, but he also knew what Li Yan was capable of. He gritted his teeth, sheathed his sword, and said in a cold voice, "Someone is looking for you. The prince wants to see you!"

After that, he turned around and left.

He knew what Li Yan meant.

This is a warning.

The Twelve Yuanchen are not just a name.

If they fall out, they will be the ones to be embarrassed.

Looking at the other person's leaving figure, Li Yan frowned slightly.

When someone came to see him, Xiao Jinghong would personally receive them.

I wonder who it could be?
"I'll go take a look."

After saying something to Sharifei and the others, Li Yan also walked through the back yard and went to the front hall.

He could smell it before he got close.

After entering the front hall, I saw the Fifth Prince Xiao Jinghong sitting opposite a Taoist priest drinking tea. It was Mingshanzi from Mount Qingcheng.

"Young Master Li is here."

Mingshanzi smiled and quickly stood up to greet him.

This made Xiao Jinghong and Cao Yuanhuai secretly frightened.

To Li Yan, Ming Shanzi was just a mountain guard at the foot of Qingcheng Mountain, but they knew that Ming Shanzi worked for the Cheng family and had an extraordinary status.

Why are you so polite to Li Yan...

What they didn't know was that Li Yan and his group's movements in Qingcheng Mountain had already been seen by many people.

The head master personally took time out to receive him, and asked Huotoutuo, who was usually indifferent to others, to help him refine the weapon. More importantly, Juechenzi taught him the Dharma.

He is the elder of Qingcheng and has an extraordinary status.

Li Yan's Twelve Yuanchen did make a great name for himself, but in the eyes of various forces, it was nothing.

After all, the world is full of ups and downs, and there are always a few new people popping up every year.

But at the same time, he was noticed by the head of Wudang Qingcheng Sect.

The meaning behind it is by no means that simple.

They didn't know Li Yan's official identity, but they no longer dared to underestimate him.

"I've met senior."

The other party was polite, so Li Yan naturally responded with respect.

After both parties sat down, Mingshanzi immediately shook his head and said, "The Fifth Prince sent someone to deliver a message. I just learned that such a big thing happened in Chengdu Prefecture. He handed over the affairs of Qingcheng Mountain to others and came here overnight."

"Something happened in the Dark Hall, and Young Master Li was wronged."

"Senior, you are polite. This is what we should do."

Li Yan replied casually.

Ming Shanzi did not say much about this matter. Instead, he picked up a small wooden box from the table next to him and said, "This is what Young Master Li wanted."

Although it was not stated explicitly, Li Yan knew that what was inside was the "Five Divine Secrets", the source of Wang Daoxuan's inheritance.

Li Yan was not in a hurry. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "We agreed to give you something after the event. Do you have anything else to do, Senior?"

"But I can't hide it from Young Master Li."

Ming Shanzi's face turned stern. "Originally, my Cheng family didn't want to get involved in this matter, but the Cheng family's secret hall was destroyed, my brother was killed, and the Cheng family entered the Prince's Mansion, so no one said anything anymore."

I'm afraid there's more to it than that...

The Confucian school has already intervened, so the Cheng family naturally cannot sit idly by.

Li Yan complained in his heart, but his expression remained unchanged as he asked, "I wonder what you want us to do, Senior?"

"Simple."

Ming Shanzi said in a deep voice: "With the power of my uncle, the one who could easily kill him must be very powerful. I'm afraid a powerful person has come to Chengdu Prefecture."

"I would like to ask Young Master Li to investigate this matter!"

(End of this chapter)