Blade - Unbound

Li Yan frowned and said in a deep voice, "What do you mean, Senior? I've heard that if a Cold Altar Wandering Master is rejected, it simply means the destined connection is weak, and the lineage's incense inheritance ends there. Why is there no way to resolve this?"

The old woman glanced at the coffin before shaking her head. "Because he isn't a Cold Altar Wandering Master at all. Ju Chengshan's obsession is deeper than almost anyone else's in this world. He survived until now through sheer resentment alone. He was unwilling to accept his fate while alive, and after death, that obsession has only grown stronger..."

Li Yan felt a headache coming on. "So what am I supposed to do?"

The old woman remained silent for a moment before sighing. "I don't know much, and I no longer wish to concern myself with worldly affairs. What you do is your own decision."

With that, she simply turned and walked away.

Li Yan was speechless.

Isn't that a little irresponsible?

Judging by her demeanor, no matter what he said, she clearly had no intention of involving herself further.

Has cultivation turned her foolish?

Li Yan couldn't help grumbling to himself before stepping forward to inspect the coffin. This time, he observed it more carefully.

The black and glossy skeleton inside was radiating a chilling coldness. It had even begun to petrify somewhat, a sign of a zombie skeleton that had absorbed vast quantities of killing qi. As for the flesh, organs, and muscles, they had long since decayed into black ash, carrying a moldy, rotten, icy scent.

After a moment of silence, Li Yan cupped his hands and said, "Senior, let's make a deal. I'll return the Summoning Writ. Why don't you find another successor?"

The skeleton remained completely motionless.

Li Yan laughed bitterly. "I'm an idiot. Why am I negotiating with a dead man? The problem is that this Cold Altar Wandering Master won't leave me alone..."

He had privately asked Luo Mingzi about the matter. A Cold Altar Wandering Master was not an evil spirit, but rather a lingering obsession attached to one's soul. It was somewhat similar to a curse. Unless the root of the problem was resolved, there was no escape.

Hiss!

Suddenly, Li Yan sucked in a sharp breath as the Summoning Writ mark on his palm grew scorching hot. He felt as though he was being branded by the mark once again. White mist began to rise around him, leaving the entire cavern blurry and indistinct.

Something's wrong!

Li Yan immediately formed the Yang Seal, attempting to activate his divine ability while reaching for his blade, but his divine ability would not activate.

His Three Talent Demon-Suppressing Coin tassel was nowhere to be found either.

This is a dream!

Li Yan instantly understood his situation. He suddenly remembered that the first time he had seen the Cold Altar Wandering Master had also been in a dream.

The Wandering Master appeared before him. No, to be precise, it was Ju Chengshan's obsession. It had the same ghostly appearance, with a lowered head and a right hand pointing ahead.

"Hey! Say something!"

Annoyance flared within Li Yan as he strode forward, yet the figure remained like an illusion. No matter how far Li Yan advanced, it retreated the same distance. He could never reach it.

Left with no other choice, Li Yan gritted his teeth and walked in the direction the obsession was pointing. At this point, he could only play along and see what the man wanted.

Meanwhile, in the real cavern, Li Yan had already collapsed unconscious beside the stone coffin. The Summoning Writ mark on his left hand pulsed repeatedly, emitting a faint blue glow.

Within the hazy dream, Li Yan walked for what felt like an eternity. Everything became increasingly strange, and he actually felt tired, as though he had traveled an enormous distance.

Isn’t this only a dream?

Li Yan's expression grew ugly. He remembered stories Wang Daoxuan had told him. Powerful evil spirits and demons could drag people into dreams and feed on their vital essence. Had he fallen victim to something like that?

Just as the thought arose, a stone palace appeared in the mist ahead. Its architecture was ancient and unfamiliar, impossible to place within any particular dynasty.

Several large characters were inscribed across its entrance: The Sixth Heavenly Palace of Mount Luofeng.[1].

Heavenly Palace?

Li Yan was surprised. Shouldn't a heavenly palace be magnificent, resplendent, and overflowing with immortal aura? The instant the thought formed, the surrounding mist churned. The stone palace crumbled into dust before rapidly reforming into a dazzling golden palace. It looked remarkably similar to the Heavenly Court from television dramas in his previous life.

Understanding immediately dawned on him. The place changed according to one's thoughts. Sure enough, as different ideas crossed his mind, the palace transformed accordingly. One moment it resembled a Tang Dynasty imperial palace. Next, it became the Forbidden City.

After only a few experiments, a wave of even stronger exhaustion struck him and Li Yan immediately stopped. He had vaguely figured it out. Whether it was the distance he walked in this dream or the changing palace before him, everything consumed mental energy. Amid all these transformations, only the plaque on the entrance remained completely unchanged.

Finally, Ju Chengshan's obsession appeared once more. This time, it did not point the way. Instead, it simply stood beside the palace with its head lowered, motionless.

Li Yan sighed. Like a duck forced onto a perch, he steeled himself and walked into the palace. To his surprise, the interior contained nothing. Only a mass of black chains slithered through the air like an enormous black serpent.

The moment he entered, the chains seemed to sense something.

Clatter!

They shot toward him. Li Yan didn't even have time to react when the countless chains surged directly into his left palm. At the same time, a torrent of information flooded his mind.

Soul-Hooking Chain. divine ability of the Sixth Heavenly Palace of Mount Luofeng.

Northern Emperor Scripture. God of Great Yin. Northern Ghost Emperor. Sacred Name: Nuogao...

Luofeng Scripture. Monarch of the Northern Fengdu Underworld. Sacred Name: Qingjia. Sovereign of all ghosts and spirits. Rules over Mount Luofeng. Upon the mountain stand six heavenly palaces. The First Palace is named Zhoujue Yin Heavenly Palace...

"AAAHHH!"

Li Yan screamed in agony as a torrent of information poured into him. Even more terrifying was the power contained within it. It felt like an icy spike drilling into his soul and stirring it violently.

An ordinary person would either die or become a complete idiot, but at that moment, the Great Luo Dharma Body began operating. Again and again, it repaired the devastating damage inflicted upon his soul.

Cracks appeared across the statue within him, but at the same time, a black chain emerged from the Summoning Writ mark on his palm. Like a living serpent, it extended outward before wrapping around his wrist. Eventually, it transformed into a bracelet that sat quietly on his arm.

***

After an unknown amount of time, Li Yan slowly awakened. The second he opened his eyes, he felt as though his head was splitting apart. Struggling to his feet, he took several deep breaths before the pain gradually subsided.

Finally, he looked toward the stone coffin and saw that the skeleton inside had completely crumbled into dust. Li Yan remained silent for a moment before kneeling and offering a formal disciple's salute.

He finally understood the nature of the inheritance. It was an inheritance of Ghost Gods, mediums who traversed the underworld! Even living yin emissaries remembered nothing after returning. They only knew what task they needed to perform.

Sometimes living yin emissaries accepted assignments while completely confused, instinctively understanding only that they needed to cast the criminal into the underworld. Only then could they use the Summoning Writ to summon ghost soldiers.

Li Yan had no idea what Ju Chengshan had experienced. Yet the man had somehow broken through the veil of ignorance and obtained a true inheritance from the Northern Ghost Emperor's lineage.

The inheritance contained two scriptures and one divine ability.

The first was the Northern Emperor Scripture. It belonged to the Northern Ghost Emperor, one of the Five Ghost Emperors serving beneath the Great Emperor of the Northern Fengdu Underworld. It was titled “Nuogao.” One could use its sacred name to infuse talismans with killing qi and true authority. When casting techniques, simply reciting the sacred name would activate them.

Somehow, Li Yan sensed that the Baopu Mountain-Climbing Technique and the Thousand Gold Protection he had learned both originated from this scripture.

The second was the Luofeng Scripture. It was used to construct inner temples, with each level of the tower requiring its own rituals and ceremonies. After building the third floor, one could use them as a foundation to construct a heavenly palace.

Those palaces were known collectively as the Six Heavenly Palaces of Luofeng.

These palaces were the Gansilian Wanlu Heavenly Palace, Zongling Qifei Heavenly Palace, Tianzhao Zuiqi Heavenly Palace, Mingchen Naifan Wucheng Heavenly Palace, Taisha Liangshizong Heavenly Palace, and the Zhoujue Yin Heavenly Palace.

Each completed palace granted an underworld divine ability.

The master he picked up out of nowhere, Ju Chengshan, had completed constructing the Gansilian Wanlu Heavenly Palace and obtained the divine ability, Soul-Hooking Chain. This divine ability could both seize souls and destroy them, but its strength depended on one's cultivation.

The version Li Yan inherited represented Ju Chengshan's life's work. Essentially, it was a seed that allowed him to obtain an underworld divine ability far ahead of schedule.

However, those underworld techniques were unimaginably profound. During the process of obtaining them, Ju Chengshan's soul had been damaged, driving him insane and ultimately leading him onto an evil path. As a result, the secret he discovered had been mocked by others and dismissed as an evil art.

Perhaps that was why his obsession had become so deep. Li Yan, however, possessed the Great Luo Dharma Body, which allowed him to withstand this terrifying inheritance without losing his sanity.

Thinking it through, his expression became grave. This inheritance was astonishing. Naturally, cultivating it would be equally difficult. Three floors allowed him to form a single palace, which meant he needed to reach the eighteenth floor of cultivation to form six palaces!

Could he still be considered human?

No wonder Ju Chengshan claimed he had discovered a stairway to godhood.

Unfortunately, even a mortal's entire lifetime would likely be insufficient to climb very far.

Li Yan remained silent. After taking one last look at the dust left behind by the skeleton, he left the chamber.

Back in the temple of the Great Emperor of the Northern Fengdu Underworld, the old woman sat in meditation, calmly turning prayer beads like a stone statue. When she saw Li Yan emerge, she merely nodded.

"Senior, how long was I inside?"

"About half the time it takes an incense stick to burn."

Li Yan breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good."

Looking into her calm, ancient-well-like eyes, he couldn't help asking, "Senior, aren't you curious what happened to me?"

"Everything follows its own destiny." The old woman gazed at the statue of the Great Emperor of the Northern Fengdu Underworld and continued, "No matter what technique you obtained, you already possess the Summoning Writ and have become a living yin emissary. The laws of the underworld will judge everything.

"Why should I interfere?"

Li Yan frowned. "What exactly are the laws of the underworld?"

Without hesitation, the old woman rose and retrieved an ancient book from the altar. After carefully dusting it off, she presented it with both hands, as befitting the proper respect shown toward scriptures.

Li Yan likewise accepted it with both hands, and then read the characters adorning the cover: Yin Laws.

The old woman explained, "This scripture records the many taboos governing living yin emissaries. It also contains methods for controlling ghosts and using the Summoning Writ.

"The Summoning Writ was passed down from our ancestors. Although there are many holders of such writs throughout the world, no one knows their true origin. Our lineage is small. Most belong instead to the lineage of the ten underworld kings.

"You have taken this item. From now on, whether you choose good or evil has nothing to do with our lineage."

With that, she returned to her meditation cushion and closed her eyes. Li Yan stood in silence for a moment, then he cupped his hands respectfully and departed.

Only after he had been gone for a long while did the old woman slowly open her eyes. She gazed at a smaller altar beside the shrine of the Great Emperor of the Northern Fengdu Underworld and murmured, "Master... When you insisted on preserving granduncle’s remains, was it because you wanted to leave behind a single lamp?"

***

Autumn winds swept across the ancient road as the sound of hoofbeats echoed steadily.

Riding beside him, Wang Daoxuan shook his head and laughed, "I almost thought something had happened to you. When you didn't fire the signal arrow at the agreed time, I was about to head down the mountain to find help."

"Sorry to worry you." Li Yan shook his head and explained, "There was an unexpected complication. This inheritance is somewhat..."

Wang Daoxuan immediately raised a hand. "Don't tell me. Inheritances differ greatly. My lineage allows anyone to learn freely, depending on one’s talent and opportunity. But judging from your situation, what you've obtained is probably extraordinary and involves the underworld.

"Such things usually come with many taboos. Have you forgotten how that ritualist we killed back then framed Senior Wu? Some things are best kept to yourself.

"Even I shouldn't know."

Li Yan nodded thoughtfully. Wang Daoxuan was partly right and partly wrong. He had already skimmed through the Yin Laws. The laws of the underworld were completely different from mortal laws.

At the same time, their core principle was simple. Yin and yang had to remain separate. The Great Dao is impartial. If he committed murder or arson among the living, the underworld wouldn't care. But once he accepted an assignment from the underworld, there was no room for negotiation, he had to complete it. Failure to do so would result in the same fate that befell Wu Laosi. His soul would be seized by the underworld!

Another absolute prohibition was using mystic arts to reverse death or prolong life. The boundary between life and death was the iron law of the underworld and could not be crossed.

Of course, the benefits were equally astonishing. By completing underworld assignments, living yin emissaries gained authority over the Five Yin Ghost Battalions and could command ghost soldiers through the Summoning Writ.

That was no small advantage. Many lineages that maintained spirit armies had to conduct regular rituals, training, and offerings. The Summoning Writ’s five battalions of ghost soldiers required none of that. As long as one's authority was high enough, one could summon increasingly powerful ghost soldiers. In many ways, they resembled the Heavenly Soldiers of the Taixuan Orthodox Sect.

Furthermore, his newly acquired inheritance was inseparable from the Summoning Writ itself. No matter how he looked at it, this journey had finally given his cultivation direction and structure. Once he built his inner temple, he would officially step into the world of true cultivation.

The two quickly left Fengyang County. Their next destination was Capital Passage City, where they would reunite with Sha Lifei before heading toward Mount Taibai.

There were still nearly two months before the Winter Solstice, and there was plenty of time. Thus, they traveled at an unhurried pace.

A day later, they finally arrived at Capital Passage City. As the core city of Shangzhou, the city was built against the mountains. A great river, filled with countless boats, was wrapped around it like a jade belt, surrounding the city on three sides. It was beautiful to behold.

"That is the Dan River." Wang Daoxuan halted his horse and gazed into the distance. "This section is called the Luo River by the locals. That's where the city gets its name.

"It originates from the southern foothills of the Qinling Mountain Range and flows through Shanzhou, Yuzhou, and Ezhou. It's the longest tributary of the Han River. After meeting up with Brother Sha, we'll travel upstream by boat to Luonan.

"From there, we can avoid the remote mountain roads and pass through Lantian County. Taking the official roads across the plains to Mount Taibai will be smooth sailing."

Li Yan smiled. "An excellent plan, Daoist, but I can't wait any longer. I need an inn, a proper bath, and a good meal."

"Hahaha, that's true!"

The two couldn't even be bothered to take a detour. After leaving their horses at a riverside stable, they boarded a ferry across the Dan River and arrived at the docks of Capital Passage City.

"Daoist! Little Yan!"

The moment they stepped onto the docks, they saw Sha Lifei waving energetically from a tea stall.

Li Yan had obtained a major inheritance and was in an excellent mood. He immediately joked, "Oh? Uncle Sha, have you mastered the art of divination as well? Did you calculate that we would arrive today?"

Sha Lifei sighed. "Calculate my ass, I've been waiting here all day."

He hesitated, as though wanting to say something.

"What's wrong?" Li Yan frowned.

Sha Lifei shook his head. "I'll show you."

He led them toward the city gate. There, among the wanted notices posted outside the gate, a wanted poster occupied the very top position.

The name on it was unmistakable.

Lu San.

1. 敢司连宛屡天宫 = Sixth Heavenly Palace of Mount Luofeng, the sixth heavenly palace that belongs to the Great Emperor of the Northern Fengdu Underworld ☜