A Scroll of Infinite Glory

Since many guests had come to Zhenwu Temple, Guan Luoyang and the others decided after discussion that Guan Luoyang and Qiu Di would move the wounded and the corpses to the back mountain and then transport them up.

As the eldest disciple, Qiu Shi immediately accompanied Qiu Liang to meet the senior masters from various sects.

After the sorcerer's body was taken to the Zhenxie Hall and the two injured people were settled in the courtyard, Qiu Di went to the main hall.

Guan Luoyang was not a member of the Zhenwu Temple after all, so it was not appropriate for him to rush in and listen in on that occasion. He stayed in the back courtyard to look at the sword.

This ancient sword with jade patterns truly lives up to Qiu Di's description of a treasure capable of howling in the middle of the night. After clashing with Zhao Qianniu's steel sword so many times, it only suffered a few scratches.

However, Guan Luoyang's final burst of power was ultimately too forceful. While the back of his blade shattered the opponent's steel sword, it also left a small nick.

Guan Luoyang gently stroked the back of the blade, his fingers moving to the tip before turning back, releasing his right hand and using only one finger of his left hand to lift the blade to one side.

This is precisely where the longsword's center of gravity lies; the blade lies horizontally, unwavering and stable.

The Golden Eyebrow Knife Technique he learned was based on the "Flying Phoenix Single Knife" weapon technique of the White Eyebrow Fist of Mount Emei. It combined some martial arts concepts from the Ming Dynasty's "Sword Classic", "Arm Record", and "Selection of Single Knife Techniques". It evolved over many years through Tian Gongyu's actual trials on the battlefield, taking the best aspects and making up for the shortcomings.

This sword technique draws on some experiences from the anti-Japanese pirates campaigns along the southeastern coast, taking the best aspects and making up for the shortcomings. Therefore, it places great emphasis on the curvature of the blade and the application of the technique in the instant of drawing the sword.

The ancient sword in Guan Luoyang's hand now has a straight back, a slightly wide blade, and an overly sharp tip, making it somewhat awkward for him to use.

It takes some careful feeling and practice to get used to this knife and make it feel like an extension of your own arm.

Guan Luoyang tossed the sword into the air, caught it with his right hand, and spun around with measured steps, the long sword dancing around his body, thrusting upwards and downwards, slashing horizontally and vertically, advancing and retreating with precision.

After practicing the sword technique, a seven-foot-wide area in the courtyard was covered with a tangled mess of footprints.

His clothes fluttered, he flicked his sleeves to sheathe his sword, and turned to look.

At the doorway, Qiu Hua patted her stomach and praised, "Excellent swordsmanship! If I still had both hands, I would definitely clap and cheer, and clap even louder."

Guan Luoyang, not wanting to reopen old wounds, directly steered the conversation to the knife, saying, "It's all thanks to this fine knife. If Qiu Di hadn't lent it to me, I probably would have been completely overwhelmed and unable to cope when facing those strange monkeys."

Qiu Hua said, "Actually, Master thought this knife was too light, so he kept it in the Zhenxie Hall for ten years without using it. In the last two years, the knife has gradually become spiritual and becomes restless at night. Master has been thinking of choosing a suitable owner for it and sending it away."

He was severely injured, his arm severed, and his face was pale, but he was in relatively good spirits at this moment. He smiled and said, "I heard Qiu Di say that my benefactor's full name is Guan Luoyang?"

Guan Luoyang nodded: "I'm only in my early twenties, don't make me sound old."

"Alright, Brother Guan."

Qiu Hua asked, "Do you know what this knife is called?"

Guan Luoyang said, "Qiu Di didn't say."

"My master and uncle unearthed this knife in an ancient battlefield. My master named it Chenzhou (Sinking Boat), while my uncle said that since the knife has seen the light of day again, why should it be named after something that is already decayed? So, we used a homonym to call it Chengzhou (Cheng Zhou)."

Qiu Hua couldn't help but laugh and said, "It really is fate that we met."

During the Western Zhou Dynasty, Luoyang was called Chengzhou.

Qiu Hua's intention was actually to give the sword to Guan Luoyang, but since his master was no longer around, the ownership of the sword could not be considered settled, so he did not make any definitive statement.

The purpose of saying these words first was to reassure Guan Luoyang about taking the knife.

The sound of an autumn flute drifted from outside the courtyard.

"Of all times, these people had to choose this moment, really..."

He walked in angrily, and when Guan Luoyang asked him a question, he spilled the beans, telling him what had happened in the main hall.

Those people came for the Ghost Festival Buddhist ceremony.

Since the Qin and Han dynasties, although Jiaozhi was sometimes a vassal state, various changes in writing and festival customs had long been transmitted from the Central Plains dynasties and changed with the changes in the Central Plains.

The Ghost Festival and the Hungry Ghost Festival have been customs in Jiaozhi (Vietnam) for thousands of years.

Every year on the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month, Taoist priests, monks, and even shamans and sorcerers perform rituals to pray for the deceased to find peace and for the living to receive blessings and good fortune.

In fact, these kinds of events were originally collectively called the Ullambana Festival. However, the Ming Dynasty revered Taoism, and eighty years ago, after Chen Yonghua recovered Jiaozhi, people migrated south and were encouraged to cultivate the land. Taoism's influence also slightly increased, so the term "Zhongyuan Grand Ritual" was added.

Forty years ago, Master Dongyuan of Wudang went to Jiaozhi to renovate the Fengzhao Zhenwu Temple. He used the righteousness of the imperial court to discuss and debate with various sects in the fifteen prefectures of Jiaozhi and established an alliance.

The Emperor bestowed upon the Jade Register Grand Master a talisman as a token of the covenant. In the event of a sorcerer wreaking havoc, this talisman could summon the righteous sects of the fifteen prefectures to quell the chaos and bring peace to the people.

The sect that holds this talisman naturally becomes the host of the local Ghost Festival.

This kind of thing is a customary practice. Originally, people from all sects only needed to wait until the fifteenth of July to receive guidance and take their respective places in the procession. There was no need to come to discuss it with Daoist Jiu Ying and the others so early.

However, this year's grand Dharma assembly at Cheng Yin Mansion has many special features.

Because of the land dragon's reversal more than three months ago, the disaster affected more than ten counties in the prefecture, causing frequent disasters and many victims.

Meanwhile, in the capital of the Ming Dynasty, Prince Zheng Gui of Yue was dispatched to inspect Jiaozhi and comfort the people. He will likely arrive in Chengyin Prefecture together with the Jiaozhi Provincial Administration Commissioner and the Provincial Judicial Commissioner, and personally attend the ceremony on the fifteenth of next month to pray for the people's well-being.

The King of Yue was of noble status, which goes without saying.

The Provincial Administration Commissioner's Office was in charge of the people's livelihood and finances of the fifteen prefectures of Jiaozhi, while the Provincial Judicial Commissioner's Office was in charge of criminal investigation and theft control throughout Jiaozhi. They were also high-ranking and powerful regional officials.

Therefore, this time, the grandeur of the Zhongyuan Festival Dharma Assembly in Chengyin Palace will far surpass that of the past.

Abbot Wei Dinggong of Leshi Temple, together with Venerable Yanglian of Motian Temple, informed people from various Taoist temples and monasteries in the vicinity to come and discuss the matter.

Even monks who are usually indifferent to fame and fortune cannot remain calm when faced with such a situation. Their behavior is just like that of gentry and wealthy merchants who love to curry favor with the powerful and influential.

Guan Luoyang stood with his sword at his sides, chuckled softly, and said, "Isn't their timing a bit too perfect?"

"You mean..." Qiu Di hesitated for a moment, "It's unlikely. When Grand Master Yang Lian performed the ritual to deliver those water bandits, he was the most ruthless and achieved the most results. Besides, among those who came to our door were Daoist Zhiyuan of the Sanqing Temple and Master Yuanyuan of the Holy Mother Temple, seniors who were on good terms with our master."

Qiu Hua said, "Wei Dinggong is an unbearably vulgar person. He's even willing to flatter people like Ma Qiang. It's not surprising that he would take the lead in contacting various factions and doing something like this once he heard that the King of Yue was coming."

Guan Luoyang asked, "Since Daoist Masters Jiuying and Jiuhe are not here, what are they planning to do now?"

"They plan to stay in the town at the foot of the mountain for a few days until their master returns."

Before Qiu Di could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly broke out in the main hall.

Guan Luoyang had the best hearing. He listened intently and clearly heard Qiu Shi let out a low growl filled with shock, anger, and disbelief.