Knife splashing

Chapter 712 Qiankun Academy
"Escaped from the Celestial Master's Mansion..."

Li Yan frowned slightly. "From the Demon-Suppressing Well?"

The "Demon-Suppressing Well" of Longhu Mountain is renowned in the Xuanmen (Taoist) community.

Legend has it that Zhang Daoling, the Celestial Master, subdued the "Eight Ghost Generals" and the "Six Great Demon Kings" at Mount Qingcheng and sealed them in a specially made well.

The fourth Celestial Master, Zhang Sheng, moved back to Longhu Mountain and officially built the Demon-Suppressing Well in the Demon-Subduing Hall of Shangqing Palace as a permanent place to suppress demons.

The story of Water Margin begins with Grand Marshal Hong opening the Demon-Subduing Hall and digging the Demon-Suppressing Well, which refers to this well.

Of course, Li Yan knew that some things had been exaggerated.

For example, the six demon kings are actually the "six palace demon kings," who are suppressed under Mount Luofeng.

If he attains profound spiritual cultivation in the future, he will be able to learn the art of summoning.

However, it is true that many evil spirits were suppressed within it throughout history, and they were all very difficult to deal with.

Therefore, every Celestial Master of all generations had to personally visit the Demon Subduing Hall on the Lantern Festival, the Ghost Festival, and the Lower Lantern Festival each year to add seals and reinforce the seals on the wellhead talismans. This was called "Three Yuan Reinforcement". In addition, every Jiazi year, a "Demon Suppression Ceremony" was held to use the "Scripture of Salvation" to deliver the remaining spirits in the well.

Each generation of the Celestial Masters would add an extra seal, and the lock core would be cast in molten copper.

It can be said that once suppressed inside, there is no hope of ever turning the tables.

Thinking of this, Li Yan quickly inquired about what had happened.

Luo Mingzi didn't hide anything and said in a deep voice, "This matter is thanks to Mr. Kong. He was the one who painstakingly unraveled the mystery and found the reason."

"Based on your information, and Kong Hui's confession at the time, Mr. Kong found a book called 'The Record of Strange Tales of Bianliang during the Dazhong Xiangfu Era' in the old archives of the Enforcement Hall. It records various mysterious cases of the Xuanmen sect during the Song Dynasty..."

"Because the righteous path was not flourishing at the time, and the Great Song Dynasty's Ghost Cult misled the court, causing many wrongful convictions, it was difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood. In addition, a great fire destroyed a lot of documents, making them of little reference value, so they were left deep in the storeroom untouched..."

"This case is called 'The Paper Demon of Yizhou's Paper Office.' In the third year of the Tianxi era, a clerk in charge of the paper office in Yizhou died suddenly due to greed. Before his death, he did not burn the 10,000 strings of paper money exchange notes. The people's resentment towards the devaluation of paper money and the soaring prices attached itself to a cinnabar seal, which at midnight transformed into a 'faceless humanoid' that devoured the spirits of copper coins. Whenever someone encountered it, they would say, 'All the wealth in the world should return to one.' Hong Mai heard of this and even adapted it, writing it into the 'Yijian Zhi' to warn future generations..."

"Due to a popular uprising in the area, the imperial court dispatched a royal sorcerer to investigate and suppress it. During this time, something unknown happened; the royal member was possessed by this demonic entity, which returned and manipulated the royal family, causing the 'Bianjing financial disaster,' and then conspired with the Ghost Cult, leading to the Jingkang Incident..."

"Later, the Taoist sects unified, and the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect was initially established, assisting the Great Xing in destroying the Song Dynasty, and that demon god was also suppressed..."

As he spoke, he glanced at everyone and said, "The royal family member who was possessed is named Zhao Huailiang, and his Taoist name is Qingxu!"

"It seems this is indeed the person!"

Wang Daoxuan frowned and stroked his beard, saying, "Longhu Mountain is a sacred place of the Xuanmen sect. Ordinary people are not allowed to approach the Demon-Suppressing Well. How could it have been released?"

Luo Mingzi said in a deep voice, "This matter was actually caused by the remnants of the previous dynasty. They were unwilling to let the country be taken away, and when the royal family scattered and fled, they did a lot of things. One of them was cultivating in Longhu Mountain, and it was he who released this thing. There is a Taoist priest named Zhang Ruochen in Longhu Mountain who serves as the national teacher in the court. Only by asking him can we confirm this."

Li Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. "They didn't investigate this source of trouble after it escaped?"

Luo Mingzi paused for a moment before speaking, "At that time, dynasties were changing and everything was in chaos, so perhaps they have forgotten."

Clearly, he himself didn't believe what he said.

Those present were all seasoned veterans, and they exchanged glances.

The Kong and Zhang families of Longhu Mountain, with a history spanning a thousand years, naturally hold a prominent position within the Taoist community.

Even if the quality varied and the tides rose and fell, each dynasty would still have to bestow titles upon them.

While other factions vied for the position of Imperial Preceptor, all they needed to do was decide who to send.

Despite being favored by the emperor and in charge of investigating the Jianmu organization, giving him considerable influence, Luo Mingzi's words carry little weight in front of Longhu Mountain. Judging from his expression, he's clearly been humiliated...

Li Yan understood and patted him on the shoulder, "Brother Luo, don't interfere in the matters of Longhu Mountain. Now that you've found out Zhao Qingxu's background, do you have any clues about his whereabouts?"

"That's what makes me angry!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Mingzi's face immediately turned gloomy. "Zhao Qingxu's infiltration of the capital, the establishment of the Peach Banquet, and the setup of the nodes to erode the dragon vein all required the help of others. We have searched for many clues, but they have all been cut off. Even General Xiao Huainan of Fengguo committed suicide in prison the day before yesterday, and his family has disappeared without a trace."

Li Yan pondered for a moment and said, "It seems he still has people in the capital. Could the Hu people who leaked the news about the divine artifact be his subordinates?"

"Hard to say."

Luo Mingzi glanced out the window and said in a low voice, "Recently, because of the Tianjin port incident, the imperial court ordered a strict investigation of foreign merchants. Many of them have gone into hiding, and so far, no leads have been found..."

Before he could finish speaking, Sha Lifeng said somewhat speechlessly, "Master Luo, now the Commandery and the Enforcement Hall are under your command. You can't touch Longhu Mountain, but you can't even capture a few barbarians?"

Luo Mingzi frowned and said helplessly, "Brother Sha, it's not that easy!"

"After the turmoil in Tianjin, the imperial court ordered a strict investigation of foreign merchants. These people were very shrewd; they had already sensed something was amiss. Those who needed to hide went into hiding, and in such a vast capital, finding a few foreigners who were willing to hide was like finding a needle in a haystack!"

Then, looking at the crowd, he asked, "Do you all know how many vassal merchants there are in the capital?"

"How many?"

"They come from the West and Southeast Asia, numbering at least fifty thousand!"

"So many?" Everyone was taken aback.

"Yes, there are even more after the sea opened up, scattered throughout the streets and alleys. Some live properly in post stations and guild halls, while others rent houses in the city. Some have even settled down, married Han women, had children, and lived in seclusion in the city. Now they are deliberately keeping a low profile and avoiding the limelight, making them even harder to find."

"What's even more deadly is that these people have deep connections behind them. Local trading companies, canal guilds, and the Fujian, Zhejiang, and Guangdong merchant associations that do maritime trade... which one of them hasn't benefited from these regional merchants?"

"How could those posters be spread all over Xizhimen Market overnight? If it weren't for these local thugs helping to cover their tracks and pass on messages, how could a few unfamiliar foreigners have done it so quickly and discreetly?"

"No matter how many people the Commandery and the Enforcement Hall have, they still have to wade through this mess inch by inch. There aren't many quick and easy ways to get things done! Right now, it's a matter of patience. We'll see who slips up first, or if we're lucky enough to catch those who spread the notices."

"These merchants from the surrounding regions... are incredibly slick!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan frowned.

There are indeed quite a few people involved. If it was really Zhao Qingxu who did it, he must have taken precautions. This line of events is probably not so easy to unravel.

"How about this."

Thinking of this, Li Yan said in a deep voice, "Brother Luo, continue the search. We will head to Qiankun Academy tomorrow. No matter what tricks Zhao Qingxu plays, his target is the academy's divine artifact, and he will inevitably slip up."

"That's fine then. Everyone, please be careful."

……

It was already past midnight when they left the High Priest.

Exhausted from their journey, everyone went straight to sleep upon returning to Rouyuan Post Station.

The next day, before dawn, Li Yan had already woken up.

Hearing a rustling sound outside the window, I opened it and saw that it had been drizzling all night.

As is customary, he first performed a round of Red Fist Ten-Piece Set in the room.

Buzz!
Unlike last year, he has now entered the Dan Jin stage, and his body emits a booming sound when he practices.

That was the sound of energy and blood circulating wildly.

Even seasoned Dan Jin boxing masters with decades of experience wouldn't dare to do this; the slightest mistake could damage their meridians.

Li Yan, however, showed no restraint, as if walking on a tightrope.

His reliance, of course, is the Great Luo Dharma Body within his body.

Click!

Just as he was frantically testing the limits, another crack appeared on Da Luo Fa's body.

Li Yan frowned slightly and quickly stopped his breathing exercises.

The Great Luo Dharma Body is now in ruins and dares not act recklessly as before.

However, Zhao Luzi should have returned long ago after going to Qiankun Academy, but he was nowhere to be found when he returned to Rouyuan Post Station last night.

Feng Feiyan was very anxious. Even though news came from the academy that Zhao Luzi was alright, she couldn't sleep at night. Could something have happened to him...?

After tidying up briefly and having breakfast, Li Yan took Shalifei out the door.

The main purpose of this trip to the academy is to check out the situation first.

They had a lot of luggage, many of which were valuables, so they had to leave Wang Daoxuan and Lü San to guard it.

……

A fine drizzle fell, and a chill seeped into the skin.

Horse hooves pounded through the muddy official road as Li Yan and Sha Lifeng galloped one after the other toward the eastern suburbs.

Rainwater trickled down the edge of the straw hat, blurring the view into a gray curtain.

As soon as you approach the hilly area in the eastern suburbs, the atmosphere changes abruptly.

At the fork in the main road ahead, three temporary wooden checkpoints were suddenly erected, with barricades lined up in a menacing array, their spikes gleaming coldly in the rain.

The elite garrison soldiers, clad in their armor and armed with weapons, stood solemnly in the rain, their armor covered with a thin film of water, their eyes scanning the surroundings like those of hawks.

This is the official road, but on the muddy road, there are no traces of idle carriages or horses.

"Stop the car! This is a restricted area in the eastern suburbs; unauthorized personnel are not permitted!"

The leading captain gave a cold snort, and his men immediately drew their bows and nocked arrows.

Shalifei grinned and muttered under his breath, "Damn it, are they treating this place like the Forbidden City?"

"Cut the nonsense!"

Li Yan whispered instructions, then reined in the horse and reached into his robe to take something out.

It was a token, made of ebony, with gilded cloud patterns inlaid at the four corners, and the two characters "Tongyan" clearly engraved in the center.

Below is a line of smaller text: "Based on this verification, the eastern suburbs are unobstructed."

This is the pass that Luo Mingzi helped apply for.

In the eastern suburbs of the capital, there was not only the Qiankun Academy, but also the Shenji Battalion, so the two garrisons were permanently stationed and blockaded.

After verifying the authenticity of the token and carefully checking the document seal against Li Yan's face, the captain's icy expression softened slightly. He waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "Let him pass! From here to the academy and the Divine Machine Battalion, there will be a patrol every five li. Do not enter the restricted areas!"

The wooden fence was suddenly moved aside, and Li Yan cupped his hands and said, "Thank you."

The two continued on their horseback, climbing to the top of the hill, where a breathtaking view suddenly opened up before them.

Under the drizzle, two massive building complexes stood facing each other across the undulating mountain ridges in the distance, like giant beasts lurking in the rain and mist.

The buildings on the east side are built against a steep cliff. The thick, heavy bluestone walls, several meters high, are like iron gates, their surfaces cold, hard, and straight, completely unadorned. A serrated parapet is built on top of the walls, through which the outlines of gun emplacements and watchtowers can be vaguely seen.

One can vaguely see that the huge iron gate is tightly closed, and above it hangs a plaque with the words "Important Place of Divine Intrigue" written like a sword drawn from its sheath.

Even more astonishingly, several incredibly thick, dark cast-iron chimneys pierced the rain, standing proudly and billowing thick smoke.

Clang! Clang!
A heavy, muffled sound, like thunder, emanated intermittently from within the high walls, audible even from such a distance.

"Good heavens, is that a blacksmith's forge?"

Shalifei was taken aback, his face filled with disbelief.

Li Yan also frowned slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

The Shenji Battalion was responsible for forging firearms for the Great Xuan Dynasty. Because there were coal mines in the eastern suburbs and gunpowder was dangerous, they were stationed there.

Judging from this appearance, could it be that they already have a factory?

Although it seems impossible, the Mo Clan exists in this world; who knows, they might come up with something amazing...

To the right, across the mountain, lies Qiankun Academy.

This academy, too, is built against the mountainside and is so grand that it is astonishing.

From a distance, it looks a bit like the Imperial College, but it's much larger and has a magnificent presence.

A striking central axis runs through the layout.

The towering halls with their flying eaves and hipped roofs stand side by side, their glazed tiles losing their luster under the dark sky, which only adds to their solemnity.

The thick, vermilion-lacquered door pillars were exceptionally robust, and the massive white stone steps rose in layers.

From a distance, some uniquely shaped buildings can be seen scattered on both sides and at the rear of the main building complex:

There was a square, sturdy, fortress-like multi-faceted stone tower, topped with a huge copper pipe—clearly a telescope…

There were rows of workshops with arched windows and long windows, and the chimneys on the roofs were crisscrossed. Although they were not as thick and imposing as those of the Shenji Battalion, they were still numerous...

The entire academy was shrouded in rain, appearing unusually quiet, solemn, and dignified.

"It seems the imperial court is truly putting its mind to this..."

Seeing this, Li Yan couldn't help but mutter to himself.

He had heard Yan Jiuling say that the academy's funding had been allocated repeatedly, even involving the national treasury.

To ensure timely completion, craftsmen from various regions and tens of thousands of laborers were specially recruited, resulting in enormous costs and drawing criticism from many court officials.

If the national treasury hadn't been filled after the opening of the seas, it really wouldn't have been possible to build it.

The two reined in their horses and stopped at the mountaintop, their gazes moving between the two mountains.

The Shenji Camp and the Qiankun Academy stand facing each other across the valley, seemingly in confrontation, yet they are also interdependent in some mysterious way.

Shalifei clicked his tongue and shook his head, saying, "Neither of these places seems like a safe bet in the future!"

"That's natural."

Li Yan murmured, "One is life-threatening, the other is revolutionary. Humanitarian change may begin from here. Let's go!"

Having said that, he led Shalifei on horseback and rode along the mountain path toward Qiankun Academy.

Upon arriving at the entrance, the academy's main gate was even more magnificent, consisting of two dark cast iron doors engraved with huge "Qian" and "Kun" trigrams.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes, his expression turning serious.

The feng shui of this academy has clearly been arranged by a master; the flow of auspicious and inauspicious energy gives it the feel of a blessed land.

There were six soldiers guarding the entrance, and their eyes immediately turned scrutinizing when they saw them.

Before Li Yan could step forward, the side door creaked open.

Four servants were seen carrying out a huge wicker basket, which was filled with strange, colorful minerals.

Following behind was an old Taoist priest with a flowing white beard, wearing a coarse cloth Taoist robe tied at the waist, the cuffs stained with cinnabar and charcoal ash, who shouted impatiently:
"Be careful! Don't shake it randomly..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly felt something, looked up, and exclaimed with great joy, "Layman Li, you've finally arrived!"

Li Yan smiled and said, "Senior, how have you been?"

The old Taoist was none other than Wang Jingxiu, an alchemist from Wudang Mountain, who was also hired as an instructor at the academy.

Before Li Yan could ask any more questions, Wang Jingxiu strode over, grabbed his sleeve, and pulled him inside, her face beaming with excitement:

"You've come at the perfect time! Let me introduce you to a few people. Our academy is full of hidden talents..."

(End of this chapter)