Knife splashing

Chapter 757 A powerful enemy appears
"Oh, so he really is a Taoist priest from Laoshan..."

Kuai Dayou nodded slightly, which satisfied his curiosity.

As for Lü San, he wasn't interested at all and didn't even bother to acknowledge him.

Seeing that the two men had stopped talking, Bai Laojiu's fingers tightened slightly as he held the wine cup. With a bitter expression, he said in a low voice, "Please forgive my abruptness, gentlemen."

"To be honest, ever since I entered Tai'an and reported to the government office, I have felt like I have a venomous snake staring at my back, making me very uneasy. The person secretly monitoring me is so cunning that if I hadn't practiced the skill of 'listening to the wind and identifying weapons' in my early years, I would have had almost no chance of noticing them."

He gulped down a mouthful of cold wine, his Adam's apple bobbing. "What's even stranger is that the four constables who accompanied us vanished into thin air at the inn this morning. There were no signs of a struggle in the room, and even their personal knives were left under their pillows."

"And the three hidden agents who were supposed to provide support have not responded at all, as if they have vanished into thin air!"

He looked up at Lü San and Kuai Dayou, a chilling glint in his eyes: "This is no ordinary Jianghu method. To be able to kidnap government officials right under the nose of the Tai'an government, one must be a seasoned Xuanmen master skilled in Qimen Dunjia."

"Or... it's the work of ghosts!" Suddenly, the oil lamp in the tavern crackled with sparks, illuminating half of his face in a dim light.

As he spoke, he quickly stood up, bowed, and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, saying, "I am alone and helpless; I can only ask for the help of you great heroes!"

"No, no, no!"

Kuai Dayou, scratching his teeth, quickly waved his hand, "You keep calling us 'hero' this and 'hero' that, are you trying to roast us on a fire?"

"You know, if we don't help, it'll seem like we're being unfair, but we're not that close yet, it'd be like we're fooling an idiot!"

"Go ahead and help, but under what pretext?"

"The Twelve Zodiac Stars, can you afford the price?"

Kuai Da fired off a barrage of questions, leaving Bai Laojiu speechless.

He had hoped that since the two were young, he could say some nice things to coax them, but one of them was too lazy to pay attention, while the other was a chatterbox.

"This... I'm sorry to offend you."

Thinking of this, he sighed and prepared to leave.

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

Kuai Dayou grabbed him and whispered, "I didn't say I wouldn't help, but there's a proper way to help."

Bai Laojiu was a seasoned veteran of the martial world, how could he not see that Kuai Dayou was setting up a hitching post for him?
But since he needed someone's help, he had no choice but to pretend to be confused and say, "I'd like to hear the details."

"Simple."

Kuai Dayou chuckled, "Brother, you've been in the government for many years. Although you've earned the title of 'Divine Constable,' you're still just a lowly official who's at everyone's beck and call?"

"This job belongs to the Kong family. Why are you risking your life? Let me teach you a trick: use the Kong family's name to write an IOU, saying that you're hiring the Twelve Yuan Chen. They'll pay you later."

"puff!"

Bai Lao Jiu almost spat out his wine, and said with a wry smile, "Master Kuai is joking. I don't have that kind of face. What if the Kong family doesn't acknowledge it afterward?"

Kuai Dayou laughed and said, "You don't need to worry about that."

"Go ahead and hit, I guarantee you won't be implicated. After that, it's our business with the Kong family, and whether we get the money or not is also our business..."

Lü San looked at Kuai Dayou quietly but did not stop him.

He knew that Kuai Dayou was no fool and that there must be a reason behind it.

"this…"

Bai Lao Jiu was in a dilemma, but thinking that his life was hanging by a thread and whether he would offend the Kong family was a matter for the future, he gritted his teeth and wrote down the note.

"Okay~"

Kuai Dayou picked up the note and flicked it lightly. "That's settled then. Detective Bai, you can move around as you please. We'll protect you from the shadows and find those people along the way."

Seeing Bai Laojiu hesitate, Kuai Dayou chuckled and patted him on the shoulder, "Don't worry, even if you can't trust me because I talk nonsense, I wouldn't dare to mess around with the name of the Twelve Yuan Chen."

Bai Lao Jiu then looked at Lü San, and seeing that he did not object, he gritted his teeth and stood up, saying, "Alright, I entrust my life to you two heroes."

He had no idea what kind of scheme Kuai Dayou was plotting.

But he knew that this was his only chance to escape danger!
Watching Bai Laojiu stride away from the inn, Lü Sancai looked to the side.

Kuai Dayou didn't waste any words and said directly, "Mount Tai is unusual, and the murderer Xuanwei happened to come here. There is a high possibility that they are connected. Moreover, according to what he said, government officials were also involved."

"With this pretext, we can act freely. As for the Kong family, let them decide whether to give it or not. Anyway, the IOU is here, and we'll have our chance sooner or later!"

"can."

Lü San nodded in agreement without hesitation.

Normally, such matters would be decided by Li Yan, Sha Lifeng, and Wang Daoxuan, but Lü San's failure to formulate a plan does not mean he is unable to distinguish between the advantages and disadvantages.

Using Bai Laojiu's help is indeed their current way to break the deadlock.

Wow~
Lü San quickly wrote a note, and the falcon Xiaobai flapped its wings and flew out of the window.

Then, they dropped some loose silver coins, climbed out of the window, did a backflip on the windowsill, leaped onto the roof, and ran away quickly.

It was already late at night, and the two went unnoticed.

Lü San continued to whistle softly, summoning the rats in the surrounding neighborhood.

Soon, they spotted Bai Laojiu cautiously making his way down the street.

At the same time, Shalifei also received the news and rushed over from the other side, forming an encirclement with Lü San and his group.

The net is cast, but what will be caught, nobody knows...

…………

The night was as dark as ink, and the night wind howled along the stone path of Mount Tai.

The fog was swirled by the wind, appearing particularly eerie under the moonlight.

Li Yan, holding the black-armored compass, disappeared into the shadows of the mountain path.

Instead of taking the main path, he clung to the mountainside and crept up the slope, which was covered with dense vegetation and loose rocks.

He had climbed Mount Tai in his previous life. Although the buildings were different now, the general terrain remained the same, and he knew how to avoid the patrolling disciples.

After bypassing the Red Gate Palace, the path ahead should have been a relatively gentle winding road leading to the Wanxian Tower and Doumu Palace area, but as soon as he stepped onto an ordinary stone staircase, the surrounding fog instantly became thick.

It grew increasingly dark all around. Although he was walking on the stone path, his mind went blank, and he almost slipped off the cliff.

"Ghost hits the wall?"

Li Yan felt a chill run down his spine and turned his gaze back to the compass.

Sure enough, he stood still, but the pointer kept swinging.

"The gate of life, the gate of death, three on the left, four on the right..."

Li Yan recalled the basic knowledge of formations that Wang Daoxuan had explained, and kept adjusting his steps as the compass turned.

Its body moved erratically, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right, sometimes against the flow, sometimes turning back, completely deviating from the normal path.

However, they easily broke through the formation.

Before them stood a crooked old pine tree, and beside the Jing Shi Yu with its blurred inscriptions, a stone path leading down the mountain appeared.

This is not a mountain path; it is most likely a place of practice for some religious sect.

Li Yan ignored him and continued walking.

As we approached the rear of Doumu Palace, we suddenly heard footsteps in the distance.

Li Yan's ears twitched slightly, and without hesitation, he leaped into the dense forest beside him, disappearing silently like a cat, his figure swiftly moving among the steep and rugged rocks.

The path he chose was extremely dangerous.

At this time, the non-main winding sections of Mount Tai are extremely primitive and precipitous.

The place he is climbing now is called "Eagle's Sorrow Ravine," a nearly vertical rock face that has been carved with deep ravines by flowing water over the years and is covered with slippery moss.

At this moment, Li Yan's internal energy was also brought to its peak. His ten fingers were like hooks, and his muscles and bones burst with astonishing power, embedding themselves in the cracks of the rock and climbing upwards with the skill of a gecko climbing a wall.

Beneath my feet lay unfathomable darkness.

The gale rushed into the deep ravine, making a mournful, ghostly sound.

Although his magic was suppressed here, his skills were still amazing. He moved like a fish and leaped like an antelope, his body clinging tightly to the cliff face as he sped upwards.

Chaoyang Cave, Fairy Bridge, Eighteen Bends...

With the help of a compass and kung fu, Li Yan finally arrived at the Jade Emperor Temple on the mountaintop.

The moment they stepped onto the mountaintop platform, the omnipresent, oppressive pressure that had been suppressing magic and supernatural powers instantly receded like a tide.

The biting night wind on the mountaintop also dispersed the thick fog and dust.

The clear moonlight poured down on the summit of Mount Tai, revealing the massive, dark outline of the Jade Emperor Temple. Its eaves and brackets pierced the night sky, and the temple was brightly lit inside.

Further away, there is a vast and boundless sea of ​​clouds.

The moonlight poured down upon it, transforming into a shimmering silver ocean, silently suspended above the mountains, a breathtaking spectacle.

It was originally a breathtaking view from the top, offering a panoramic vista of the world.

However, Li Yan had no interest in appreciating it at the moment.

The defenses in front of the Jade Emperor Temple were even tighter.

On the moonlit platform outside the temple, several figures stood like javelins.

These people included both old and young, but they all exuded an aura of profound composure and unwavering strength.

Those people were dressed in different styles of Taoist robes or ceremonial robes, some in blue, some in dark yellow, and some in plain white, clearly core masters from various sects of Mount Tai.

At this moment, everyone was vigilantly guarding the Jade Emperor Temple.

Just as Li Yan was pondering, a sudden change occurred!

The scepter in his arms suddenly became scorching hot.

"What's going on?" A sense of alarm rose in Li Yan's mind.

Before he could figure it out, the atmosphere of the entire Jade Emperor Peak changed instantly!
The night sky, which had been clear and bright just moments before, seemed to be suddenly gripped by an invisible giant hand. Thick, viscous, grayish-white mist silently surged out from nowhere and instantly filled the entire mountaintop platform.

Just moments before, the eaves and brackets of the Jade Emperor Temple, and the figures of the guards at the gate, were clearly visible, but they were all swallowed up by this eerie thick fog.

The mist was not the usual mountain mist, but rather a mixture of earthy and musty smells from incense.

Even more bizarrely, deep within this churning fog, one, two, three... countless emerald green lights silently lit up.

They were not scattered will-o'-the-wisps, but rather eerie phosphorescent eyes suspended in viscous ink, hovering eerily in the mist, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

These green lights were cold and lifeless, exuding a chilling resentment. Wherever the green light reached, even the howling mountain wind seemed to be frozen and swallowed up.

"Enemy attack!"

"What kind of evil spirit are you?! How dare you!"

"The fog is strange! Hold the line!"

The experts in front of the Jade Emperor Temple reacted with lightning speed.

Almost the instant the will-o'-the-wisp appeared, several sharp shouts shattered the deathly silence.

Their voices were filled with disbelief amidst their shock.

This is the summit of Mount Tai, a place where emperors performed the Fengshan ceremony and where deities guarded the area throughout history. It would be understandable if there were strange things at the foot of the mountain, but why are there strange things on the mountain as well?

One of the elderly men, with white hair and wearing a black Taoist robe with thunder patterns, was the first to act. He stepped forward with the steps of Yu, and a magic seal covered with thunder patterns appeared in his hand. He chanted rapidly, "Supreme Jade Pure King, ruling over thirty-six, nine qi reflecting the bright platform, by the Emperor's decree, suppress!"

The hand seal flew out, accompanied by crackling lightning, and slammed into the nearest ball of emerald green ghost fire!
However, the incredibly powerful lightning bolt disappeared into the thick green fog like a mud ox sinking into the sea, only producing a muffled sound and causing the ball of ghost fire to tremble slightly.

It dimmed for a moment, then the green light shone again.

The old Taoist's expression changed drastically, and he groaned as he took half a step back.

"This is no ordinary ghost! Form the 'Seven Stars Suppressing Mountain Formation'!" another stern-faced middle-aged Taoist priest shouted.

He and his companions quickly took their positions, and the seven of them instantly formed the shape of the Big Dipper, making hand seals and chanting incantations in unison.

For a time, Jade Emperor Peak was thrown into chaos.

However, Li Yan sensed something was wrong.

"This is... a Yin-Yang Immortal!"

Li Yan's expression turned serious, and he instantly made a guess.

Needless to say, almost all the Earth Immortals have reached the final stage, but they are unable to take the crucial step and can only use various secret methods to prolong their lives and escape calamities.

These disciples were no match for them.

Call ~
Sure enough, a fierce wind and thick fog howled, and the disciples outside the gate couldn't even set up a formation.

"Do not form a protective array!"

The white-haired old Taoist priest leading the group had his hair and beard bristling as he brandished his magic sword, attempting to tear through the mist.

However, those flickering emerald green ghost flames seemed to have a life of their own, and the thick, blood-stained, malevolent aura instantly dispersed all the disciples.

Some people collapsed to the ground, their pupils losing focus.

"What kind of evil thing is this?!"

"Go back!"

The disciples guarding the perimeter were terrified.

Although they were not top-tier experts, they were still elites from various sects, and ordinary demonic spells could hardly harm them. However, they were completely powerless against this strange ghost fire.

Thick fog billowed, and a sudden surge of emerald light erupted, transforming into dozens of menacing ghostly silhouettes that shrieked as they pounced on the panicked cultivators!

The howl contained a terrifying mental shock, and the disciples with weaker cultivation immediately suffered from splitting headaches and lost their composure!
At this critical moment——

Boom!

The entire Jade Emperor Temple trembled violently!
The ancient and heavy gate of the Taoist temple suddenly opened, and seven powerful auras, like seven rainbows, instantly broke through the thick fog.

"You wicked creature! How dare you!!"

The leader was an old Taoist priest in a purple robe with white eyebrows and beard, and his face was filled with murderous intent.

It was none other than Shoumingzi, the abbot of the Jade Emperor Temple!

He roared like thunder, his voice shaking the surrounding area. He waved his whisk, and a condensed, tangible gale swept out. Wherever it passed, the phosphorescent ghost fires cried out like snow melting in spring, and all of them were swept back and exploded.

The old Taoist priest in purple robes, Shou Mingzi, fixed his gaze like lightning on the faintly visible figure in green robes deep within the mist, his face a mixture of disbelief, shock, and raging fury.

"Shi Xuanming! It was you!"

His voice trembled, his tone filled with anger, "You have been protected by my Mount Tai for hundreds of years and have never been mistreated. What do you want to do!"

The thick fog was forced to dissipate, and the figure in the green robe finally appeared.

This person was Shi Xuanming, who was cultivating in Mount Tai, and whose nickname was Daiyin Sanren.

Holding a withered pine-wood staff with twisted dragons, his beard and hair as white as frost staining the stone edges, he remained unfazed by the seven elders' questioning, instead letting out a cold, mocking laugh:

"Shoumingzi, hundreds of years have passed, and you ignorant fools who sit in wells and look at the sky are still only able to cling to withered incense and chant those outdated heavenly laws!"

Shi Xuanming's expression was calm, but his voice was cold and ruthless.

"Out of consideration for our past relationship, I will spare your lives today. Get out of here immediately."

(End of this chapter)