Knife splashing

Chapter 630: Alchemist Group, Luoyang Ghost Market

"Xu Fu?"

Hearing this name, Li Yan's pupils shrank slightly.

Xu Fu was a very famous person in history. The story of him leading 3,000 boys and girls to the sea to help the First Emperor find the fairy mountain is well known to everyone.

Ordinary people might not care, but when Li Yan heard it, he immediately became alert.

Qin and Han Dynasty Alchemist Group!

Li Yan obtained a lot of information along the way. As his understanding deepened, he became more aware of the terrifying power of this group.

Whether it is the history of China or Taoism, they have far-reaching influences, both good and bad, hidden in many historical mysteries.

The impacts caused are both good and bad.

The Immortal Treasury of Immortality is their work. They dug up the ancient relics of the Conferred Gods and sought immortality. In fact, they were influenced by the seventy-two demon gods, and the poison has spread to this day...

They assisted Li Bing in suppressing the Lord of the River God and building the Dujiangyan Weir, which benefited the Shu Plain and made it a land of abundance...

Li Yan naturally searched carefully for information about these people.

Lu Sheng, Han Zhong, Xu Fu, Hou Sheng, An Qisheng, Mao Meng…

Needless to say, Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng, one used the prophecy of "the one who will destroy Qin is Hu" to influence the First Emperor to attack the Huns in the north, and the other advised the First Emperor to pursue the way of "tranquility". Later, they jointly initiated the "burning of books and burying of scholars" and fled.

Afterwards, the two became criminals, appearing in different historical periods, secretly plotting to seize the Nine Cauldrons...

Mao Meng once predicted the "Jiaping" calendar change, and his great-grandson Mao Ying was the founder of the Maoshan Sect...

Han Zhong, Xu Fu and An Qisheng are related to overseas fairy mountains.

An Qisheng had a long conversation with the First Emperor for three days, and left with the words "Go find me in Penglai". He left behind many legends and was revered as an immortal, suspected to have successfully ascended to godhood.

Xu Fu went out to sea in search of elixirs.

As for the other "Han Zhong", he once escaped from the Qin Palace with Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng because of the "burning of books and burying of scholars", but he did not go with them, but chose to go to sea to find the fairy mountain.

It is rumored that it reached the Korean Peninsula and took root there...

After the battle in Shu, Li Yan discovered that Lu Sheng and Zhao Changsheng belonged to the same organization and were related to the big bosses of the Daluo Dharma Realm.

Some of the people in the Qin and Han Dynasty alchemist group were likely among them.

Li Yan suddenly remembered that Zhao Changsheng's practice was unexpectedly interrupted by his grandfather's army in the northern border. He took over the body of a Taoist priest of Taixuan Orthodox Sect and then went to Japan.

There was also a Japanese Ikko sect monk who was resurrected by him and brought to China. He was lurking near Chang'an, but was killed by him.

From this, it seems that Zhao Changsheng also has influence in Japan.

Xu Fu…

Could it be one of them?

Thinking of this, Li Yan's face became solemn. "What is the relationship between Xu Fu and the Luoyang Paper Figure Case? Did Zhao Luzi reveal it?"

Golden Eye Feng drank a sip of tea and shook his head, saying, "I don't know about this, but there is something very strange."

"According to Zhao Luzi, this small bronze tripod was not found in a Qin tomb, but in a Northern Wei tomb. It's really strange."

Northern Wei?

Hearing this, Li Yan felt that the fog in front of him was getting deeper. He shook his head and said, "This matter is indeed strange. Senior, do you have any clues? Why did the disciple of Dilongzi bother you?"

"It's also my fault for being nosy."

Golden Eyes Feng had a face full of regret and said, "The tripod from the Qin Dynasty appeared in a tomb of the Northern Wei Dynasty. It reminded me of a legend. I was curious and got involved in this mess."

"Oh, what legend?"

Li Yan became interested and asked quickly.

"It's a long story."

Golden Eyed Feng was also a show-off. He stroked his beard and said, "It is said that when the King of Qin conquered the world, although he unified China, there were many years of war and countless casualties. There was resentment. The nobles of the fallen country recruited sorcerers to take the opportunity to attack the dragon vein of Qin..."

"The dragon vein of the Qin State starts from the west, which is the remnant of the western section of the Qinling Mountains. The mountains are undulating, forming the momentum of the 'ancestral dragon'. The ancient 'Qin River' runs through it, forming the feng shui pattern of 'water wrapped around the black tortoise', which is the foundation for the rise of the Qin people. There are still remnants of the Qin Gong Tomb..."

"After Qin Xiaogong moved the capital to Xianyang, relying on the Guanzhong Plain, with the Beishan Mountains at its back and the Qinling Mountains to its south, it formed an imperial dragon vein pattern of 'backing the mountains and facing the water, hiding the wind and gathering the energy'. The Wei River runs through it, forming a 'many rivers converge' situation with the Jing, Luo and other rivers..."

"The Qin State achieved great success because of the favorable timing, location and people. When the First Emperor ascended the throne, he ordered people to cut through the Jinling Hill to suppress the 'Son of Heaven's Qi' in the southeast. At the same time, he built straight roads and galloping roads to connect the 'Dragon Veins to the world' in order to keep the mountains and rivers under control forever!"

As he spoke, he paused and looked at everyone, his expression becoming serious, "But this method has a huge flaw!"

"The dragon vein of Chu still has some power, and the dragon vein of Luoyang is also on the rise. The nobles of the six countries made some moves in Mangshan, gathering the resentment from all directions, trying to destabilize the dragon vein of Qin."

"However, the First Emperor had already unified the world, and he had many talented people under his command. It is said that before Xu Fu sailed east, he led many magicians and the Qin army cavalry to encircle and suppress these remnants in Mangshan, and built palaces to trap the resentful Qi of the six countries..."

Sharifei listened attentively and asked quickly, "Did they succeed?"

Golden Eyes Feng shook his head and said, "Whether it was successful or not, I don't know, but it triggered an incident at the time. A meteorite fell in Dongjun, which is now the area of ​​Puyang in Yuzhou. On the stone was engraved 'The First Emperor died and the land was divided'."

"This incident was regarded as a bad omen for the fall of the Qin Dynasty and was recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian: The First Emperor of Qin. I think it may have succeeded."

Li Yan rubbed his brows. "Even if this is true, it is an absolutely dangerous place that is difficult for ordinary people to approach. Why are Zhao Luzi and Dilongzi interested in it?"

"I have found some."

Golden Eye Feng continued, "The Qin Ding was found in the Northern Wei caves. After Zhao Luzi left, I immediately looked up the classics and discovered another thing."

"During the Northern Wei Dynasty, there was a general named Wang Xuanmo. Official history records that he died of depression after the failure of the Northern Expedition. However, unofficial histories such as "Record of Buddhist Monasteries in Luoyang" and "Record of Ghosts in Northern Mang" all claim that after his defeat, he fled to Mang Mountain to practice Yin military skills. At that time, people called him "Ghost Commander of Mang Mountain." "

"I suspect that this person has occupied the Ghost Palace during the Qin Dynasty, so I searched everywhere for clues about him. Finally, I asked someone to find a book from the late Song Dynasty called "Records of Monsters in Heshuo"."

"However, those stupid disciples of Dilongzi heard about this from somewhere and came to ask for it."

"Fortunately, I have many friends in the ghost market, and I chased them away. Who knew that those idiots would be killed by the paper figurines as soon as they left."

"The people from the Law Enforcement Hall came to my door, and I had no way to defend myself. I insisted that I knew nothing about the situation, and they threw me into jail."

"I think the threat to Zhao Luzi's wife is related to this matter."

Li Yan quickly asked, "Where is the book?"

Golden Eyes Feng spread his hands and said helplessly, "Before I had the chance to look at it, the people from the Law Enforcement Hall came to my door. In a hurry, I hid it in the secret compartment of the store. I have to go back and get it."

"This is easy to handle."

Li Yan took out his pocket watch and looked at it. "It's still midnight. Let's go to your shop and get it while no one is around."

Golden Eyes Feng Yile said, "Young man, you are wrong. My place is empty during the day, but crowded at night."

"Where?"

"Luoyang Ghost Market!"

…………

"The 'Luoyang Ghost Market' originated in the Tang Dynasty."

In the dark alley at night, Golden Eyes Feng introduced as he walked.

"At that time, Luoyang was the divine capital and the hub of the Grand Canal. There were two markets in the city, north and south. Not only did merchants from the north and south gather there, but also Persian merchants and Sogdian camel caravans gathered there. Spices, silk, porcelain and even Kunlun slaves were brought there. It could be said that it was a gateway to the world."

"Because the Tang Dynasty had a curfew system, and because knights smuggled salt and alcohol, the ghost market was born."

"Later, the An-Shi Rebellion destroyed the Eastern Capital, and Pei Jun built the Qiyun Courtyard. He used the "Eight Dragon Plates to Guard the Mountain" to suppress the Yique Demonic Flood, and at the same time, he gathered people from the Xuanmen in various places. At that time, Xuan soldiers rose up in various places at the end of the Tang Dynasty, and the Luoyang Ghost Market became a place for people from the Xuanmen to trade..."

"In the Northern Song Dynasty, Luoyang was called the Western Capital. Although it was not as prosperous as Bianliang, its ghost market was the best. The Dongjing Menghualu recorded that 'the ghost market in Luoyang opens at 3 o'clock in the morning and closes at 5 o'clock.' People traded antiques and stolen goods privately, and the government banned it repeatedly but it never stopped."

"I'm sure you all know what happened later. At the battle at Longmen Inn, Grandmaster Chen Shoujing destroyed the "Eight Dragon Plates to Guard the Mountain" and released the Yique Demonic Dragon, destroying them along with the masters and cavalry of the Golden Horde Wolf Nation."

"Alas~ Luoyang is now in decline, and the ghost market is a bit deserted..." As they were talking, everyone had arrived in the South City.

This place is a slum, with low adobe-walled and dilapidated tile houses everywhere. The chimneys of each house are charred black and sewage is flowing on the ground.

The national power of the Xuan Dynasty was at its peak, but the gap between the rich and the poor was also getting bigger. Li Yan and his men were used to it whether in Chang'an, Xiangyang or Chengdu.

The only strange thing is that in this dilapidated slum, there is half a stone tower standing. You can vaguely see how majestic it once was, and there is a faint glow of fire underneath.

Golden Eyes Feng seemed to see their confusion, and lowered his head to explain: "This is the old site of Dingding Gate. During the Wu Dynasty, the 'Wanxiang Temple' and 'Tongtian Pagoda' were built, and stone was mined here."

"After the Shenlong coup, the construction work was halted, but a huge underground palace was built, which has now become a new ghost market."

"Remember, the ghost market is a gathering place for all kinds of people. There is a rule of 'three no questions': buyers don't ask where the goods come from, sellers don't ask where the money is used, and idlers don't ask other people's identities."

"If you break the taboo, you will get into trouble!"

"Senior, don't worry."

Upon hearing this, Li Yan and others raised their masks.

Soon, they approached the stone tower.

But there were several men squatting below, all of them were big and strong, with flesh on their faces, chatting and bragging around the fire.

"who?!"

Hearing the noise, the men stood up and reached for their waists.

"Don't panic, it's me."

Golden-Eyed Feng immediately walked out of the darkness.

He obviously had a high status in the ghost market. When several men saw him, they quickly bowed and said, "It turns out to be Mr. Jin."

"I heard that you were arrested?"

"It's nothing. They paid me some money to get me out."

“These few…”

"Friends on the road, please don't ask too many questions."

"Yes Yes Yes…"

After some communication, the men quickly made way.

One of them took two steps forward, reached his hand into the crack of the stone, and pulled hard on a thick hemp rope.

Wow!

A large wooden board was immediately lifted up on the ground beside the stone tower, revealing a dark hole with a wooden ladder.

Led by Golden-Eyed Feng, everyone climbed down the wooden ladder and after about seven or eight meters, they touched the ground.

And deep in the cave on the left, there was a faint glow of fire.

"Hey~ This ghost market is quite secretive."

Sharifei looked at it with interest and joked, "The ghost market in Chang'an is in the ruins of the Daming Palace. They gather at night and disperse at dawn. But it's good even without gods."

“There’s nothing we can do about it.”

Golden Eyes Feng shook his head and sighed, "The government is very strict and often goes to the ghost market to harass us. If it were possible, who would be willing to drill this hole in the ground?"

"The government office also knows about this place, but now they are just turning a blind eye. If they really want to arrest someone, then they will be catching a turtle in a jar, and I will not be able to escape..."

As they were talking, everyone had already passed through the cave.

Suddenly, the view in front of me opened up and I saw a huge stone chamber with neat stone walls all around and full of traces of stone mining.

Inside the stone chamber, the light was dim and flickering with candlelight. One could not tell how many people were there. Every few steps, there was a stall set up by someone.

All the stalls were covered with oilcloth and filled with all kinds of things, including funerary objects dug out from graves and various stolen goods.

Li Yan even saw someone selling "coal essence".

Just as Golden-Eyed Feng said, with the decline of Luoyang, the ghost market is no longer prosperous. There are not many customers inside, and they all wear black scarves and masks. Even transactions are conducted with sign language, and they don't talk much.

The human figures flickered in the candlelight, like ghosts.

Golden-Eyed Feng winked and led everyone through the stalls, turning left and right, and came to a small street in the center.

This place is obviously much more upscale. There are no more random stalls, but small wooden houses built with various discarded wood.

Among them there is a small wooden house, which looks neatly built from the outside. There is a flagpole hanging at the door with a yellow eye painted on it. It is obviously the shop of "Golden Eye Feng".

However, the inside was in a mess, everything was turned upside down, the light was dim, and even the tables, chairs and benches were smashed.

"Fuck the ball!"

When Golden Eyes Feng saw this, he immediately flew into a rage and yelled in the street, "You bastards, I'm just eating in jail, I'm not dead, why are you so eager to rob my belongings!"

"Hehe~"

A beggar with sores all over his body sleeping in the corner laughed and said, "Old blind man, you are blind and have caused trouble. You have prevented us from doing business for a few days. You should at least compensate me."

"Fix your mother's eggs!"

Golden Eyes Feng cursed: "You are the only one who is dishonest, you old cripple. I always treated you to a drink in vain. Next time, get out of here."

Although he cursed harshly, he did not ask any more questions. Instead, his face became gloomy and he whispered, "Someone else has been here. Come on, take the things and leave!"

Obviously, the old beggar was using a code word to warn people.

Although the underworld jargons in different places are basically the same, there are also differences. Some people even created their own spring codes that outsiders cannot understand at all.

Li Yan and others did not ask any more questions and followed Golden-eyed Feng into the dilapidated shop.

But the old man didn't care about the losses in the store at all. He ran to the corner in three or two steps, dug around with his hands, and pulled out a leather bag from the soil.

When Li Yan saw it, he was a little surprised.

This skin looks gray and ordinary dog ​​skin, but it can block the detection of magical powers. It is obviously a magical treasure.

Golden-Eyed Feng hangs out in the ghost market all year round and apparently got some good stuff.

The old man didn't even look at it carefully. He just stuffed the leather bag into his arms and whispered to everyone, "Let's go!"

Li Yan nodded, but as soon as he walked out of the door, he felt a chill in his heart and pulled Golden-Eyed Feng behind him.

But from a wooden house in the distance, a gloomy-looking man in a black robe strode out. Without saying a word, he slowly drew out his sword as he walked.

Clang!
The knife shines sharply and the cold air is overwhelming.

In the opposite corner, the old beggar who wanted to sound the alarm had his mouth covered by someone from behind, and with a flash of a knife, his neck was cut.

The man with a gloomy face raised his knife slightly:

"Hand over your things and I'll leave you with your bodies intact."

As they were talking, a dozen people quickly ran over from the stalls in the distance, guarded all the exits, and surrounded them.

"Chang family sword?"

Looking at the man holding the knife, Li Yan narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Be careful, they are from the Duwei Division..."

(End of this chapter)