Knife splashing

Chapter 800 Intrigue
Li Yan's sudden awakening shattered the illusion.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on him with a sinister look, as if they resented him for exposing the illusion.

boom!
The next instant, a sudden change occurred inside the cabin.

The lavish carved beams and painted rafters of the past were now as if they had been brutally crumpled and torn apart by an invisible giant hand.

The smooth bulkhead bulged and cracked, and a corpse covered in wet, slimy mucus squeezed out of the cracks, convulsing wildly.

The thick red carpet beneath his feet turned into a black swamp, and countless withered, ashen arms suddenly reached out, emitting a pungent, rotten stench, and desperately grabbed at his ankles.

The magnificent palace lanterns overhead twisted their flames into the faces of people wailing silently.

The sounds of string and wind instruments suddenly turned into shrill, inhuman screams and the sound of bones grinding together, sharp enough to pierce eardrums.

It was like ten thousand ghosts wailing, violently impacting Li Yan's soul.

"Nogao! Three stars on the left, three prisons on the right! Heaven and earth overturned, all nine paths blocked! Evil aura and miasma..."

Ignoring the terrifying sight that would break an ordinary person, Li Yan made hand seals with lightning speed and chanted the "Northern Emperor's Protective Incantation".

He had easily fallen into the illusion before, not only because of the special nature of the Red Silk Workshop, but also because of his past life experience. The scene of the collapse of people's hearts before the fall of the Southern Song Dynasty made him feel the same way and fall into the trap because of his empathy.

On the contrary, the scene before him, though terrifying, was easier for him to deal with.

hum!
The Thousand Thoughts Armguard vibrated and hummed, and a fierce wind arose around it.

This time, there was no longer the helplessness of being isolated by evil spirits.

The loosening of the Dragon Lock Well in Jinling City has also created a flaw in the Red Silk Workshop.

Within the illusion, the protective spells also manifest differently.

Li Yan's body shimmered with golden light, like a blazing white sun, and then he erupted with a roar.

"Hiss-ah-!"

A piercing, inhuman scream echoed through the cabin.

Those writhing tumors, clawing arms, and wailing flames, like snow thrown into boiling oil, sizzled under the scorching light of the curse, quickly turning black, shrinking, and disintegrating!
The entire distorted and warped space trembled violently, as if a cheap canvas had been ripped apart!

The illusion receded like the tide.
The true, hideous nature of the "Red Silk Workshop" was revealed.

Decay! Deathly silence!
The massive ship's frame remains, but it is now covered with a thick layer of dust and mold.

The once carved window frames, tables and chairs have long been eroded by moisture and time, becoming indistinguishable from the countless white bones deeply embedded and half-fused into the ship's planks and hull!
These skeletons are in various postures, some curled up in pain, others crawling forward in vain.

The empty eye sockets seem to still be accusing the despair of hundreds of years ago.

The air was thick with an unbearable stench of stale, musty water and decaying corpses, making one want to vomit.

It seems that over there has become...

Li Yan made up his mind, then narrowed his eyes and glanced outside the cabin.

But then, on the dark river outside, lanterns reappeared, but unlike those at Hongxiaofang, they were two green ghost fire lanterns. Accompanied by the sound of paddling, they broke through the thick fog, revealing a small awning boat.

As they approached the Red Silk Workshop, they immediately stopped, clearly not daring to get any closer.

Under the green light of the lanterns, figures were reflected.

On the deck, two people were bound by thick iron chains; they were Wang Daoxuan and Lü San.

Both men looked ashen-faced and weak, clearly having suffered serious injuries.

They were escorted by several fierce-looking men in tight-fitting clothes, each wielding a ghost-head knife.

He was surrounded by a faint, bloody aura, clearly a bandit recruited by the Cocoon Robe Sect.

However, no earth immortals such as Granny Corpse Clothes or True Man of a Hundred Bones were seen among them.

But Li Yan could feel a terrifying pressure, heavy as lead and chilling to the bone, enveloping the area.
The head came from the dark waters outside the ship.

Those few Earth Immortals were hiding in the shadows, watching with predatory eyes!

"Young Master Li, we've been waiting for you for a long time."

The bearded man at the head of the group chuckled and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "You said you were near Hongxiaofang, but how did you end up there? That's no safe place. Come out quickly, we've brought the person here, he's alive and kicking."

His words were arrogant, but his eyes were full of wariness.

He knew exactly where Hongxiaofang was.

Many people died when this place was first opened, and even with the help of immortals, it was impossible to control.

To be honest, I never even considered making a deal.

"No need for nonsense!"

Li Yan's eyes were icy cold. He pushed off with his feet and jumped directly out of the window frame.

He knew exactly what the other party was planning, but arguing with these people was pointless.

"Wait a minute!"

Seeing him about to jump, the bearded man quickly shouted to stop him, grinning and saying, "Young Master Li, your reputation is widespread. We are no match for you. Don't come any closer, or we'll use these two as bedding when we die!"

As he spoke, his men drew their knives and pressed them against Wang Daoxuan and Lü San's necks.

Li Yan's eyes flashed with even more murderous intent. "I need to check first. What if you've tampered with it?"

"Easy to say."

The bearded man laughed heartily, "Let you inspect the goods first!"

Having said that, he waved his hand lightly, and two people immediately carried Wang Daoxuan and jumped onto the small boat that was coming from behind.

The two ships then separated by a distance of about ten zhang (approximately 33 meters).

Li Yan snorted and, without saying a word, leaped into the air with a powerful leap, leaving two ripples on the water's surface before landing steadily on the small boat.

Seeing his terrifying agility, cold sweat immediately broke out on the foreheads of those men.

Li Yan ignored him, first checking Wang Daoxuan's aura, then taking out a pill from his pocket and stuffing it into his mouth.

These are elixirs they brought from Qiankun Academy; their effects include upholding righteousness, dispelling evil, and stopping internal and external injuries.

Upon consuming the elixir, Wang Daoxuan immediately and slowly awoke.

"Yan-ge'er! No!"

Seeing his surroundings, he understood the reason and struggled, shouting hoarsely, "It's all a trap! We can't hand over the stuff..."

"Rest assured, Daoist Master."

Li Yan gently pressed down on his hand and said in a deep voice, "I know what I'm doing."

As he spoke, he took out the Five Directions Luo Feng Flag from the bundle behind him.

This treasure is a powerful magical artifact. It's not that the troupe leader didn't want to take it, but rather that it was already connected to the altar and activated, guarded by underworld soldiers. He had only temporarily broken open the altar and didn't have time to seize the treasure.

Wang Daoxuan understood immediately and began to sit cross-legged in meditation.

Whatever Li Yan's plan is, a fierce battle is inevitable later.

The pills at Qiankun Academy are made from spiritual herbs and can temporarily restore combat power after consumption.

Although one must recuperate afterward, that's a matter for later.

"Young Master Li, do you believe me now?"

Before they could say anything more, the bearded man on the opposite boat shouted again.

He grabbed the chains binding Lü San and shouted, "We've shown our sincerity. Throw the stuff over here right now. Don't try anything funny, or I'll chop this kid up!"

After saying that, he directly pressed the knife against Lü San's neck, even drawing blood.

"you dare!"

Li Yan narrowed his eyes and let out a sharp shout.

Then, his face filled with anger, he took out the warrant from his bosom and threw it at them.

The hook sliced ​​across the water with great force.

Snapped!
The bearded man was clearly skilled as well; with a flick of his sleeve, he directly caught the warrant.

He didn't dare touch it and simply threw it on the deck.

Immediately, an old man in black rushed forward and carefully examined the object by the light of the lantern.

"It's the real thing!"

After a careful inspection, he nodded slightly to the bearded man.

"Hahaha~"

The bearded man immediately burst into laughter and gave a thumbs up.

"Young Master Li is indeed a paragon of righteousness, and I, Wang, will offer incense and prayers for you on this day next year!"

Having said that, he was about to swing his knife to slash Lü San's neck.

"what!"

But as soon as he exerted his strength, he screamed and rolled on the ground.

The others on the ship suffered the same pain, soreness, and itching, as if they were in hell. It turned out that Long Yan'er had already placed a sesame poison on the talisman and sealed it with paraffin wax. When Li Yan threw the talisman, he took the opportunity to shatter the paraffin wax, so everyone on the ship was poisoned.

All of this was within Li Yan's expectations.

The earth immortal feared his identity as a living underworld official, and would certainly not show himself until he had stolen the warrant.

With Long Yan'er's mastery of Gu techniques, even the scoundrels of the Cocoon Robe Sect wouldn't be able to detect her.

Swish!
A scream rang out, and Li Yan had already leaped out.

His robes billowed through the air as he used the Northern Emperor's Divine Speed ​​Technique, his toes treading the water as he sped towards the large ship.

But at that moment, a strange phenomenon occurred.

"Roar--!"

From the darkness in the distance, a roar like that of a wild beast rang out, followed by a fierce wind. The ship was pulled by an invisible force and quickly retreated into the darkness behind it.

At the same time, the bandits and powerful figures on the ship who had been poisoned suddenly stopped screaming.

Their bodies stiffened, and their skin stiffened at a visible rate.

Their breathing stopped, and their bodies emitted a putrid stench. They stood up stiffly.

In a short time, these people became walking corpses.

On the distant riverbank, a campfire flickered, and Granny Corpse, carrying a pottery jar, muttered incantations.

She was a renowned master of evil arts since the Daxing era, so how could she not have been prepared? All members of the Cocoon Robe Cult, except for Lin Zhongweng, had already been implanted with corpse poison when they met him.

Once the spell is cast, one will become a puppet.

The puppets stood up straight, ignoring Li Yan who was hurtling through the air, and rushed out in unison, grabbing Lü San who had fallen to the ground and jumping into the river with a splash. Their intentions were self-evident.

"Humph!"

Although Li Yan was surprised, he was not surprised.

He twisted in mid-air and plunged into the water with a splash.

The Northern Emperor's Mysterious Water Escape technique is inherently adept at water movement. Coupled with the dragon and snake plaque he carries, Li Yan's agility in the water is virtually unmatched. With a flick of his legs, he arrived right in front of him.

The zombies, controlled by the puppetry technique, were now wrapped around Lü San in layers, forming a huge sphere of corpses that plunged into the riverbed.

These zombies were stiff and clinging tightly; it would take an unknown amount of time to forcibly pry them apart one by one.

By then, Lü San, who was in a coma, would probably have already suffocated to death.

Seeing this, Li Yan charged forward, simultaneously forming a hand seal with his left hand and crackling with lightning from his right.

boom!
With a single strike of the Heavenly Thunder Demon-Subduing Hammer, the Yin energy instantly dissipated.

The zombies were all released from their limbs and scattered with the water.

Li Yan then grabbed Lü San and quickly floated to the surface of the river.

From the moment of jumping to the moment of saving the person, it only took a few breaths.

But in that brief moment, the warrant that landed on the boat had already disappeared into the darkness along with the ferry.

Li Yan ignored them and took a bamboo tube from his waist, then pulled it sharply towards the sky.

call out!
In an instant, a beam of light shot into the air and exploded.

Even in the pitch-black rainy night, it was exceptionally bright, illuminating the nearby river surface.

Leaving the ship from Red Silk Workshop meant leaving the secret realm, and the signal could finally be sent.

After doing all this, Li Yan grabbed Lü San and quickly headed towards the boat.

He knew that once the warrant was taken away, those earth immortals and treacherous criminals would inevitably take action.

A life-or-death battle is about to begin!

……

On the outer Qinhuai River, the turbid waves surged into the sky.

Shalifei, who had been standing at the bow of the boat, staring intently at the dark river surface, suddenly opened his leopard eyes wide.

"Crimson smoke and flames! It's Yan Ge'er's beacon fire talisman!"

"We're still a ways off, hurry, set sail!"

Why is it so far?

"how could I know!"

Although the signal pierced through the rain and was seen, it was only a small patch of light and shadow.

Based on the distance, it will take at least fifteen minutes.

"Turn the rudder and set sail!"

The naval signal was given, and seven or eight ships immediately sailed in the direction of the signal.

Meanwhile, the attack on Li Yan's side came as expected.

"Hahaha~"

Looking at the warrant on the deck, the White Bone Immortal let out a hoarse laugh, "He's still young, unable to see through the illusions of human emotions. He'll die sooner or later anyway, so let this old man send him on his way!"

He spoke eloquently, but his eyes were still full of apprehension as he looked at Gou Die, and he said coldly, "Take your things away!"

The ghost troupe leader next to him also dared not touch it, and nodded to the person beside him.

"Hee hee~"

Immediately, a clown in a red robe and adorned with flowers jumped onto the boat with a strange laugh and took the warrant far away.

Seeing this, Master Baigu slammed his bone staff into the ground.

Boom!
Suddenly, cracks appeared in the ground, and dirt flew everywhere.

Even more strangely, the vegetation around the bone staff quickly withered and turned yellow.

"Teacher..."

Master Baigu looked ahead and said, "I will personally curse that brat to death."

"He has given the signal, and the government troops will surely come to our aid. It all depends on the skills of your Ghost Opera Troupe. Don't worry, Fellow Daoist in Corpse Clothes will also go to help."

"it is good!"

This was a pre-arranged plan, and the leader of the ghost troupe didn't waste any words.

With a wave of his hand, several people dressed as male, female, painted-face, old man, and clown stepped out from the crowd behind him.

Not only that, but there was also a troupe of opera musicians, all dressed in black robes, carrying a bronze stage on wooden poles.

It is the "Netherworld Stage" of the ghost opera troupe!
"Hahaha~"

Granny Corpse, carrying a ceramic jar filled with bubbling green liquid, took a step forward and disappeared into the darkness.

The ghost troupe followed closely behind and soon disappeared as well.

"Humph!"

After they left, Master Baigu looked back at the dense forest and said with some dissatisfaction, "With a great battle imminent, why hasn't the Old Man in the Forest come out yet? Go and call him!"

"this…"

A sorcerer from the Cocoon Cult quickly and cautiously stepped forward, saying, "The Immortal Master is at a critical juncture and said not to disturb him."

Old Man Lin was refining a demon gourd in the dense forest when this sudden turn of events was clearly unexpected.

"Hmph, young people really don't know what they're doing."

Master Baigu reprimanded him, but did not urge him further. Instead, he looked at the river again.

He chanted incantations and made hand seals, his pupils flashing green light.

Call ~
A sudden, eerie wind arose around them.

Those evil sorcerers who were watching only felt a blur before their eyes.

In the gale, several green skulls could be vaguely seen rising into the air.

They looked at each other, their faces filled with horror.

Even when viewed with the naked eye, strange phenomena can be observed; this spell is truly incredible.

On the river, Li Yan, who was in the lead, immediately sensed something was wrong.

He felt a chill run down his spine, and quickly raised his head. Without saying a word, he cast the "Northern Emperor's Protective Incantation".

"Nogao! Three stars on the left, three prisons on the right! Heaven and earth are overturned, all nine roads are blocked..."

As the incantation was chanted, the stench of a corpse suddenly filled the surroundings.

Even so, red spots quickly appeared on his arms, some even shaped like skulls…

(End of this chapter)