Knife splashing

Chapter 742 Searching for Evil Items in the Workshop

Li Yan initially only had doubts, not certainty.

But Lu Chengye's escape immediately exposed his true intentions.

"Where are you going?!"

Shalifei and the others arrived just then. Seeing this, they sneered, reached out and twisted their arms, using the "Golden Silk Entangling Arm" move of the Red Fist, directly pinning him to the ground by the arm.

Everyone has their own talents, but everyone's energy is limited.

Although Lu Chengye was a master carpenter, his combat ability was actually quite average.

After being pinned down by Shali, he broke out in a sweat and struggled violently, but he also regained his senses and shouted, "You bastard, let me go! My stomach hurts, I need to use the toilet!"

Lu Chengye's shouts echoed in the workshop, immediately attracting the attention of many craftsmen who gathered around.

They were already on edge due to the tight schedule, and when they saw the highly respected Master Lu being pinned to the ground, they were immediately outraged.

"What are you doing!" A shirtless, burly man glared angrily, grabbed a hammer, and charged forward. "Release Master Lu!"

Some people even blocked the gate with red-hot iron tongs.

"That's right, who's responsible for delaying the progress!" The other craftsmen also gathered around, pointing fingers and criticizing.

They certainly knew the identities of Li Yan and the others.

Not only are they renowned among the Twelve Yuan Chen in the Xuanmen martial arts world, but they also have close ties with the upper echelons of the academy and are specially appointed as retainers of the academy.

But Qiankun Academy is different.

This is an academy that respects craftsmen, and in the future, they may even be able to participate in the imperial examinations and become officials in the court, which is why they have gathered here from all over the country.

If they are still being bullied at will, even masters cannot escape it, then they might as well stay in the local area, where they can earn more money and be respected.

Tao Fengchun, the master of the Mohist school, strode over with a gloomy expression.

Covered in soot and with bloodshot eyes, he shouted sternly, "Nonsense! The waist buckle of the statue is still missing the last step of the process. If Master Lu suffers any mishap, can you bear the responsibility?"

Shalifei was intimidated by the crowd's imposing manner, and his grip loosened slightly.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lu Chengye broke free and staggered behind Tao Fengchun, clutching his arm with a wronged expression: "Master Tao, I only came to check the mortise and tenon joints and was in a hurry to use the restroom. They attacked without saying a word. I don't know what's wrong with them..."

Li Yan frowned, about to explain, when Tao Fengchun scolded him harshly: "Young Hero Li, the imperial court sent you to protect the statue, not to cause trouble! Right now, all the sects of the Xuanmen are eyeing us covetously, and every moment of delay increases the risk!"

He pointed to the mountain of components in the distance, his voice hoarse like the friction of rust: "Three hundred and sixty joints and mortise and tenon joints, all thanks to Master Lu's supervision."

"If we miss the auspicious time tomorrow, will you go and explain to Eunuch Zhao?"

The old man was in a bad mood at the moment.

He had gone to great lengths to help Li Yan and the others refine weapons recently, but unexpectedly, at this crucial moment, he has caused trouble for himself.

The craftsmen were even more indignant upon hearing this, and some even grabbed their tools and surrounded the group.

Seeing this, Wang Daoxuan quickly tried to smooth things over: "Master Tao, please calm down. We also noticed something amiss..."

"Abnormal?" Tao Fengchun interrupted with a sneer, his beard still covered in sawdust. "Master Lu has been in the workshop for over thirty years and has handled tens of thousands of magical artifacts! If you really wanted to protect them, you should be keeping an eye on those Xuanmen people!"

Having said that, he grabbed Lu Chengye's wrist, "Come on! The north-side brackets are still waiting for you to correct them!"

It's obvious they want to protect Lu Chengye.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes, his hand gripping the hilt of the Broken Dust Blade tightly.

He didn't take Tao Fengchun's barbed and sarcastic tone to heart.

With time running out and the task heavy, the old man is almost driven crazy with work.

However, Lu Chengye's evasive eyes and feigned composure made him more confident in his judgment, so he strode forward and stopped the two of them.

"Master Tao, please calm down." Li Yan reached out to stop the two.

The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly drowned out the noise inside the workshop.

"It is my duty, and I am afraid I cannot comply. Master Lu's behavior just now was indeed suspicious. The safety of the statue is related to the fate of the nation. Please allow me to carefully examine the workshop and the items handled by Master Lu before I can feel at ease."

"you!"

Tao Fengchun was so angry that he trembled all over, and even his white beard stood on end.

"Young Master Li! Do you not trust me? Or do you not trust us craftsmen recruited by the imperial court?!"

"Master Lu is a highly respected figure who has served the country for decades. How can you be allowed to make such unfounded suspicions and insults?"

The old man was now somewhat possessed.

For him, this matter had escalated to a matter of the craftsmen's reputation. If he did not support Lu Chengye, the craftsmen around him would inevitably feel disheartened.

Especially at this crucial moment, the statue may not be completed on schedule.

"It's not that I don't trust Master Tao, nor that I don't trust the other craftsmen." Li Yan naturally understood the reason, and his gaze remained sharp as he fixed on Lu Chengye behind Tao Fengchun.

"The sorcerer is cunning and his methods are unpredictable. It is better to find nothing than to let negligence lead to disaster. If I, Li, have made any mistakes today, I will apologize to Master Lu." His voice was resolute, and he did not back down an inch.

Shalifei and Wang Daoxuan stood behind Li Yan. Wu Ba, Lü San, and Long Yan'er, who had come upon hearing the news, also had solemn expressions and were on high alert.

They certainly trusted Li Yan's intuition.

After all, no one knew better than them how terrifying the Jianmu demons were. If necessary, even if it meant taking action and offending these craftsmen, they couldn't be careless.

Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense and the craftsmen were making more and more noise, a deep and calm voice suddenly rang out at the workshop entrance.

What's the dispute?

The sound carried an invisible pressure, instantly silencing all the noise.

Everyone looked over at the sound and saw Huo Yin, the master of Divine Fist, standing with his hands behind his back, having quietly appeared at the doorway at some point.

His coarse linen clothes were stained with fine night dew and dust. His face showed no signs of fatigue after the battle, only his deep, unfathomable eyes, calmly surveying the entire scene.

Having just forced Zhang Tianshi to retreat, his imposing aura had not yet dissipated. Simply by standing there, the entire workshop instantly fell silent.

Upon seeing Huo Yin, Tao Fengchun felt as if he had found a pillar of support. He immediately stepped forward, pointed at Li Yan, and said in a deep voice, "Master Huo! You've come at the right time! Young Hero Li... he has unfoundedly suspected that Master Lu Chengye is a sorcerer and spy, and intends to forcibly search the workshop!"

“Master Lu is just an honest and hardworking craftsman, and he has never left the academy. The construction period is already tight, what if it delays the progress?”

Huo Yin's gaze lingered on Li Yan and Lu Chengye for a moment each, without any emotional fluctuation.

He turned to Li Yan: "Li Yan, what evidence do you have?"

Li Yan met Huo Yin's gaze calmly: "Senior, you are wise. Just now, the fierce battle was raging down the mountain, and everyone's hearts were in turmoil. I noticed that there was a brief and weak disturbance of evil energy in this place. Then I found that Master Lu looked flustered and acted abnormally, trying to leave the core area in a hurry."

"Based on intuition, it is better to investigate excessively than to let hidden dangers go unchecked."

"Intuition?" Tao Fengchun laughed in anger. He slammed his hand on the wooden frame beside him, causing the still-wet components to shake slightly. "Good! What a fine intuition! Since Young Hero Li is so confident in his intuition and has even brought Master Huo on board as a witness, I'll make a bet with you today!"

He looked around and, in a booming voice, addressed the artisans in the workshop and the arriving guards: "Master Huo is here! Everyone listen up! I, Tao Fengchun, am willing to vouch for this with the dignity of a master of the Mohist school!"

"Young Master Li, you may search this workshop thoroughly, inside and out, especially all areas and components handled by Master Lu! If he can find even the slightest evidence to support his so-called 'suspicious' items, I will publicly kowtow to him and the Twelve Yuan Chen to apologize, resign from my position as an academy's honorary master, and withdraw from the Mo Sect forever! If your search yields nothing..."

He stared intently at Li Yan and said, word by word, "Then please, Young Hero Li, take your men and leave Qiankun Academy immediately!"

"Our Mo Sect and the Imperial Guards are perfectly capable of handling the task of protecting this statue; there's no need for the Twelve Yuan Chen to worry about it!"

Clearly, Tao Fengchun was getting angry and was ready to retaliate. This bet was no small matter, especially for a Mohist master like Tao Fengchun who valued his reputation more than his life.

The surrounding craftsmen were in an uproar, their gazes towards Li Yan filled with even more anger.

Li Yan took a deep breath. Tao Fengchun's fierceness far exceeded his expectations, but he had no choice and did not back down: "Master Tao is too kind. Li Yan's search is not out of spite, but only to seek peace of mind and ensure safety. If the search is fruitless, I will apologize to the masters."

"But before that, the search must proceed!"

Huo Yin's gaze narrowed slightly, sweeping over Li Yan's resolute eyes and Tao Fengchun's furious face. Finally, he glanced at Lu Chengye, who had his head bowed and was trembling slightly, and slowly said, "It is both a matter of duty and a matter of personal reputation. Approved."

"The Twelve Earthly Branches will follow me into the workshop to inspect the work. The rest of you, please step back and do not disturb us. Master Potter and Master Lu, please wait patiently for the results."

Huo Yin made the final decision.

Under the watchful eyes of a grandmaster who had just defeated Zhang Tianshi, no one dared to make a sound. Even though Tao Fengchun was so angry that his beard trembled, he could only suppress his anger and retreat to the side with a cold snort.

Lu Chengye was seemingly politely but actually strictly "invited" by two officers from the Commandery to sit down to the side.

Li Yan and the others immediately sprang into action.

Time was of the essence, and they knew that Tao Fengchun's bet meant that if they couldn't find anything, they probably wouldn't be able to stay at the academy any longer.

On the way, Li Yan gave instructions in a low voice, and everyone's goal became clear.

The key areas of the search were the corner where Lu Chengye had just been, the area near his workbench, and the piles of components he had inspected, especially the shelves storing key components such as waist buckles.

Everyone moved swiftly and carefully, making use of their respective strengths.

Holding the warrant, Li Yan activated the keen senses of the living underworld messengers, not letting go of any trace of lingering evil energy.

Wang Daoxuan employed secret Xuanmen techniques, using talismans and incantations to investigate unusual spiritual energy or hidden restrictions; Sha Lifeng, relying on his extensive experience in the martial world, meticulously examined the grain, holes, and mortise and tenon joints of each suspicious piece of wood with his naked eye and hands…

They examined all the tools Lu Chengye had used, inspected every piece of wood he had touched, and even scribbles on the ground.

During this process, Li Yan also occasionally observed Lu Chengye's condition in the distance to see if he was secretly activating any secret techniques or causing any abnormal fluctuations.

The atmosphere inside the workshop was somber, with only the faint sounds of people searching and occasional whispers. Countless eyes were focused on the Twelve Yuan Chen.

However, no suspicious points were ever found.

This was to be expected. Tao Fengchun was an experienced master of the Mohist school, and with the various restrictions within the academy, any obvious abnormalities would have been discovered long ago.

But as time passed, the expressions of the Twelve Zodiacs grew increasingly solemn.

Shalifei touched the Taotie and auspicious cloud waist buckle carved by Lu Chengye, examining it repeatedly under the light. He even scratched the wood grain with his fingernail and smelled the wood lacquer. "The grain is natural, the lacquer is smooth, the spiritual energy is restrained, and there is no evil energy attached to it."

"Brother Yan, you're not mistaken, are you?"

"There's definitely something wrong..."

Li Yan was also full of doubts, but he still trusted his intuition.

His fingertips brushed against the cold pieces of wood, his spiritual senses spreading out like a tide, concentrating his full attention and using all sorts of methods simultaneously.

However, no matter how he investigated, the fleeting chilling aura that Lu Chengye had touched seemed to have never appeared on the components.

Before my eyes are only the natural textures of the objects, sculpted by a master craftsman, and the subtle natural spiritual essence flowing through them.

His brows furrowed more and more, and his face darkened.

No abnormalities...

Is there really nothing wrong?

Could it be... that I was too stressed and made a mistake?
"Humph!"

Tao Fengchun glanced at the hourglass in the distance, his eyes filled with anxiety, and said with increasing dissatisfaction, "Forget it, I'm too lazy to argue with you. The deadline is too tight, so leave the workshop quickly and don't waste your time here!"

"and many more!"

Li Yan was still unwilling to give up. He casually waved his hand, then took out yellow paper, incense, candles, and other items from the basket on Wu Ba's back and began to set up a simple altar.

"what are you doing?!"

Tao Fengchun became even more furious upon seeing this.

"Master potter, don't be in a hurry."

Grandmaster Huo Yin said calmly, "Since things have come to this, let him do it. If he can't find anything, I will uphold justice for you."

His strong support stemmed from his knowledge of Li Yan's intelligence.

The matter of Zhao Changsheng and Jianmu was almost entirely uncovered by the Twelve Yuan Chen on their own, which cannot be explained by simply being lucky.

As he spoke, Li Yan lit the candle, spat water from his mouth, stepped out in a ritualistic manner, and formed the Jade Purity Seal with his left hand, with electric sparks crackling at his fingertips.

It was as if he held a thunder talisman, commanding ghosts and gods.

At the same time, holding a cinnabar brush in his right hand, he drew a talisman and chanted: "Qianyu wards off poison, Zhenshi Luoling. The Eight Immortals wield the axes, the Emperor and King are divine... I wear the Thunder Seal, commanding all spirits, so be it!"

This technique is none other than the "Northern Emperor's Divine Control Technique".

It is a type of thunder magic, which uses the power of thunder magic and the Northern Yin Fengdu to control ghosts and gods.

He once used this method to communicate with the goddess of the Han River, and also used it to incite many mortal gods of Beiman Mountain to break the evil magic of the Ghost Emperor Xuanmo.

In terms of perceiving ghosts and spirits, this method is unparalleled.

However, he rarely uses it because it is difficult to control after casting the spell.

And right now, this is the only option left.

As the spell was cast, Li Yan once again entered that drowsy, dreamlike state, his steps unsteady, and everything around him hazy.

He looked around; the workshop was empty and dilapidated.

However, those spiritual materials remained intact, and colorful mists emanated from them, making them look quite magnificent.

There was also a vortex around the steam engine core, which was fixed in place by an iron frame, constantly swirling with the scent of incense and the two energies of black and white.

It truly is a divine artifact for the transformation of humanity, its mysteries far surpassing those of other spiritual objects.

Just then, Li Yan finally noticed something was wrong.

Many of the spiritual materials and components, beneath the overflowing spiritual energy, also faintly reveal a patch of black mist the size of an infant's palm.

Upon closer inspection, the black mist vaguely resembled coins.

Sure enough there is a problem!
Li Yan then looked at the center of the components with black spots.

There, the waist buckle made of spirit wood also emitted spiritual energy on the outside, and there was nothing unusual inside, but it was particularly obvious in a component that had a problem.

More importantly, this object finally revealed its full form during the Divine Control Technique.

The spirit wood had turned a dark, blood-like color, with many pits and charred marks from being struck by lightning and fire.

Li Yan was very familiar with this thing.

It was the same strange peach tree I had seen in the Nine Gates Yin Ruins!

(End of this chapter)