Blade - Unbound

"We discovered those demons and secretly followed them..."

Inside the awning of the small boat, Wang Daoxuan took a swig of wine, then bit off a large piece of roast chicken before continuing, "The hawk led the way. Brother Lu and I ran for the entire night before finally finding their hideout."

Li Yan asked, "Where is it?"

Wang Daoxuan swallowed, then said, "At the old site of the former Chu King City.

"The ruins of Chu King City used to be the county seat of Zigui County. Later, after a torrential rainstorm, the foundations beneath the mountain range collapsed. Chu King City was flooded and turned into what is now Chu King Lake, while the county seat of Zigui was relocated to Guizhou City.

"I think there is a vast hollow tomb beneath the original Chu King City, surrounded by an underground lake. That fish monster was probably the tomb-guarding beast. But changes in the earth veins allowed it to escape. After devouring all the fish and shrimp underground, it somehow emerged and began causing trouble.

"There were also very old, rusty iron spears embedded in the fish monster's body. Those were probably left by tomb robbers. It's possible that the disaster back then was caused when those people recklessly disturbed the tomb. Now, members of the Ghost Sect are mobilizing large numbers of men to excavate beside Chu King Lake.

"There are also several villages around Chu King Lake, but they were infiltrated by the Ghost Sect long ago. The villagers have already torn down their Earth God temples and openly kill people to sacrifice to ghosts.

"The villagers have all gone mad. They were going to kill children as sacrifices. Brother Lu San and I couldn't stand by and watch, so we intervened to save them. We didn't expect troops from the native clans to be hidden nearby as well. They chased us for an entire night!"

The two of them were clearly starving. Wang Daoxuan could still maintain some composure while eating, but Lu San was wolfing down his food so quickly that he could barely spare the effort to speak. The hawk and the little fox were eating just as ravenously.

Naturally, Li Yan also told them about what they had discovered.

"A Nine-Headed Bird fengshui formation?" Wang Daoxuan was visibly startled. He remained stunned for quite some time before shaking his head. "Our western mystic lineage is not particularly skilled in fengshui. I only learned some of it while traveling the jianghu and apprenticed myself to an old gentleman in a village in Ganzhou.

"One time, after he got drunk, he told me that the essence of fengshui lies in observing forms and discerning qi. In the eyes of truly formidable fengshui masters, the Divine Continent is a place where dragons and phoenixes gather auspiciously. Some ancient fengshui terrains may even be glimpsed through the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

"Dragons exist in this world. A dragon can be great or small, ascend or hide. When great, it summons clouds and swallows mist; when small, it conceals itself among scales and forms. When it ascends, it soars through the cosmos; when it hides, it lurks beneath the waves.

"Dragon veins are much the same. Perhaps some of the divine beasts recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas were actually profound terrains that existed in ancient times, only that they have now hidden their forms and are exceedingly difficult to see.

"If those profound terrains truly existed, then the scenes described in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, where heavenly treasures and earthly riches were found everywhere, may actually have existed in ancient times."

Hearing this, everyone could not help but feel fascinated.

As they chatted, the boat drifted downstream past Xiling Gorge. The waters ahead suddenly opened up, and they saw warships filling the river, banners fluttering above them as murderous aura seemed to soar into the heavens.

"More reinforcements!" Sha Lifei hurried onto the deck and laughed loudly. "Looks like the imperial court intends to completely settle the chaos in the southwest this time."

Li Yan and the others also stepped onto the deck. In the distance, ships of all sizes moved in orderly formations. The largest were like city towers, and some even had trebuchets mounted on them. These could also be used to launch Fire Caltrops.

Some ships had broad, flat decks where soldiers were drilling. Others had narrow hulls and moved extremely quickly, darting back and forth across the water.

"Tower ships, mengchong, fighting ships, and swift boats!"

Ever since Sha Lifei became obsessed with firearms, he had asked others to find all sorts of military manuals and armament records for him. He now knew the various types of warships like the back of his hand.

Pointing at the most common vessels ahead, he grinned and said, "I knew it. I was wondering why they sent a flagship yesterday. Those are ships meant for naval warfare at sea. They were probably only using it temporarily to transport troops.

"Those Jiujiang-style patrol boats are much better suited for rivers and waterways. They're stable, fast, and powerful."

Li Yan also gazed into the distance in silence. His attention had been completely drawn to the cannons aboard the ships. Almost every vessel had numerous gun ports.

This new type of gunpowder required spiritual treasures to be made, and even casting cannons demanded spiritual materials. The cost was enormous, so there was no way they could equip them in vast numbers. But even a single cannon had astonishing power.

No wonder the imperial court could firmly suppress the mystic sects. No matter how powerful mystic arts were, how could they compare to ten thousand cannons firing at once? Once they faced a single bombardment from an imperial army, whether it was a mighty sect or the headquarters of a ritual lineage, everything would be reduced to rubble.

It seemed his decision to stay far away from the battlefield had indeed been correct. Of course, with a war of this scale, the imperial treasury, which had only just recovered somewhat, would probably be emptied again, while the faction advocating maritime trade would completely gain the upper hand.

While Li Yan was lost in thought, a fast boat came cutting through the wind and waves from the distance.

Before it even drew close, someone aboard shouted angrily, "The waterways are under lockdown! Stop for inspection!"

These were elite troops of Great Xuan, far beyond anything the ordinary garrison forces could compare with. The soldiers carried an intimidating presence, and several of them had already raised powerful bows.

The boatman trembled in fear and immediately stopped the boat.

Sha Lifei was not worried at all. He took a document from his robes and smiled. "Gentlemen, no need to be tense. We just came from Zigui. This is a travel document issued to us by the imperial court."

The moment he finished speaking, several soldiers on the opposite boat grabbed ropes and leapt down, landing on their deck. Their gazes were sharp. Two of them rested their hands on the hilts of their blade while remaining on guard, while the leading junior banner officer accepted the document from Sha Lifei.

After examining it carefully, the suspicion in his eyes finally faded. He nodded and cupped his hands. "So you are righteous men of the jianghu who have assisted the imperial court. My apologies."

Although Li Yan and the others could not remain behind, Assistant Prefect Zhou Kai had been extremely generous with his praise. He had even helped them obtain a high-level travel permit.

It was the sort that allowed them to request assistance from the military if necessary.

After seeing the seal of the Regional Military Commission on the document, the soldier became noticeably more courteous. He said solemnly, "Gentlemen, troops are patrolling all the strategic points along the Yangtze River, and security is extremely tight. You must not wander into restricted areas."

As he spoke, he took a triangular Azure Dragon flag from one of his subordinates. "Hang this flag while traveling by boat. It will prevent many misunderstandings."

"Many thanks, sir."

"No need for thanks."

After completing the inspection, the swift patrol boat quickly departed. Once they hung up the triangular Azure Dragon flag, no other naval troops came to stop them. They reached Yichang's docks without further trouble.

The naval force was clearly there to intimidate their enemies. Merchant vessels still came and went through Yichang's docks, but armored soldiers patrolled everywhere. All the people of the jianghu had become noticeably more well-behaved.

The atmosphere changed similarly after they entered the city. The streets remained lively, but armored soldiers carrying weapons passed by from time to time. Whether they were natives, Han people, or merchants from Bashu, everyone spoke much more quietly.

Li Yan remembered that the last time they came here, tempers had been explosive. A few disagreeable words could easily lead to a brawl in the street. If someone was pushed too far, drawing blades was hardly unusual. Now, such incidents had almost completely disappeared.

After Li Yan and the others were stopped and inspected several times in succession, and then saw the people bound to wooden stakes at the street corners, they immediately understood why.

After being stopped yet again, Sha Lifei looked irritated. "We can't stay in Yichang anymore. With so many eyes watching us, we won't be able to do anything without being restricted."

Li Yan nodded in agreement. "Mm. We'll turn in the mission and leave."

Wartime laws were strict, and they could understand that. But they were used to living freely, and after being stopped and inspected over and over again, they could barely get anything done. Fortunately, all their Dao Permits carried considerable weight. Once the soldiers examined them, they sensibly refrained from causing any trouble.

The moment they arrived at the City God Temple, the fatty Yu Lingzi came out to welcome them with a broad smile, eagerly leading the group inside. "Haha, Young Hero Li, sending you there truly was the right decision. Daoists, you've rendered a great service this time!"

After personally pouring tea for Li Yan and the others, Yu Lingzi said with lingering fear, "The Ghost Sect has reappeared, and there was even an ancient fengshui formation involved. Had someone else gone in your place, they might have been killed by those people, and Zigui City itself might have fallen.

"Several senior experts of the True Martial Palace were quite shocked when they heard the news. They asked me to convey their thanks, and ordered that the Three Great Mystic Realms of Mount Wudang are to be opened to all of you at any time from now on!"

Li Yan looked somewhat surprised. "We won't need tokens anymore?"

"Those are for ordinary practitioners." Yu Lingzi waved his hand, his expression turning grave. "I'm afraid none of you realize just how serious this matter is. That Nine-Headed Bird Phoenix Vein had accumulated resentment for thousands of years. Who knows what sort of demon it may already have nurtured?

"It also lay directly upon one of the Divine Continent's great dragon veins. If it had ever been born into the world, the Divine Continent would have been thrown into turmoil. Blood would flow for a thousand li; resentment would spread everywhere; and who knows how many evil entities would be spawned.

"And if that had happened, the southwest may have even fractured into independent territories and kingdoms. Their fortunes may not last long, but their murderous nature would be extreme. Blood would certainly stain the land for a thousand li, and countless heads would fall."

Li Yan frowned slightly. "That sounds a little too mystical. Isn't that somewhat exaggerated?"

Yu Lingzi shook his head. "When the fortune of the Divine Continent and changes in human civilization are involved, there can be no carelessness whatsoever.

"In any case, that blood-jade cong was sent to Mount Wudang overnight under the protection of experts. Even if the Ghost Sect finds the other blood-jade congs, they still won't be able to activate the formation.

"The fighting around Yunyang Prefecture is intense, but two experts were still dispatched to Zigui County to personally handle this matter."

"That's good." Li Yan nodded, then took a letter from his robes. "Senior Yu Lingzi, I would like this letter delivered to Luo Mingzi of the Taixuan Orthodox Sect in the capital."

Yu Lingzi nodded readily. "Easy enough. The war in the southwest is the imperial court's top priority right now, so most of its resources are being directed here. The relay stations are operating smoothly all the way through. If we send it through the Ministry of War's channels, it can reach the capital within four days."

Li Yan breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I'll have to trouble you."

Naturally, the letter concerned Zhao Changsheng. He was on good terms with Luo Mingzi. If the other party could use this matter to establish himself firmly in the capital, it would also benefit them in the future.

It was a small piece of groundwork.

The Great Xuan Dynasty was currently at the height of its prosperity, and its national fortune was astonishingly strong. Both the imperial court and the Taixuan Orthodox Sect would probably remain extremely powerful for a long time to come. Li Yan had no interest in officialdom, but having acquaintances at court still made things much easier.

Commander Huang, Captain Yuan, Luo Mingzi... None of them held particularly lofty positions, but they were all dependable pillars within their respective circles. Helping them now would make it easier to ask for assistance in the future.

Of course, Li Yan had not forgotten Yu Lingzi either. He passed on the intelligence Wang Daoxuan had gathered at Chu King Lake.

"Young Hero Li, I appreciate the thought." Yu Lingzi was an old hand at dealing with people and naturally understood what Li Yan was doing. His face showed genuine gratitude before his expression grew solemn. "There is one more matter you need to pay attention to. After learning that the Ghost Sect had appeared, I spent the entire night searching through old texts and historical records, and I found some clues.

"During the reign of Emperor Lizong of the Southern Song, the leader of the Ghost Sect in the Ezhou region was named Huang Liushi. He established ritual altars throughout southern Jing; had countless disciples; and commanded three great experts known as Tongtian Sanniang, Meng Gongshi, and Huang Sanlang."

"These three were terrifyingly powerful. It was said that their cultivation stood six or seven storeys high, with arts that could reach the gods. The surrounding commoners even built living shrines to worship them. Even the county commandant of Jingzhou and Instructor Li of the county school were their disciples."

Li Yan narrowed his eyes. "God Ascendants?"

Yu Lingzi froze for a moment, then gave him a meaningful look. "It seems Young Hero Li knows quite a lot."

Li Yan finally could not suppress his curiosity and asked, "Senior, what exactly is a God Ascendant?"

Yu Lingzi fell silent for a while before gritting his teeth. "Very well. This is a secret of the mystic sects, but Young Hero Li possesses extraordinary talent and is also a living yin emissary. Sooner or later, you will come into contact with such matters. I may as well tell you in advance so that you'll know to be wary in the future."

He sighed. "The Yellow Emperor Scripture says that there were True Men in high antiquity, while there were Perfected Men in middle antiquity. Their lifespans were extraordinarily long, and some were even said to endure alongside heaven and earth.

"Although those passages were attributed to the Yellow Emperor by pre-Qin Daoists, the mystic sects do indeed preserve records stating that during the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, there were many long-lived beings whose lifespans rivaled those of immortals and gods.

"But after Great Yu, heavenly treasures and earthly riches gradually became scarcer, and such people became fewer and fewer. After the War of Investiture, there were no more true immortals who attained longevity.

"The affairs of antiquity are far too distant, and many records have become vague. The fangshi of the Qin and Han dynasties desperately sought immortality, even going so far as secretly excavating ruins left behind from the War of Investiture and creating the Immortal Longevity Treasury. Yet the facts have proven that those were nothing more than demonic and evil arts.

"However, the mystic sects have never lacked individuals of transcendent talent. After generations of accumulated knowledge, they eventually discovered a method of transcendence.

"That method is God Ascension!

"I only know that many founders of ritual lineages and sages of past generations can still lend their power when their descendants invoke their names or even visualize their spirits precisely because they became God Ascendants.

"The most direct manifestation of this is the Register Army of the Heavenly Court and the yin soldiers of the Underworld. I heard that Young Hero Li used the Ghost God Battalion to suppress and kill Red Maiden. You should understand this better than most.

"You should know that the Great Emperor of the Northern Fengdu Underworld belonged to the Fuxi clan. Though he no longer manifests in the mortal world, he has endured to this very day."

Shock appeared in Li Yan's eyes. "Senior, you mean..."

Yu Lingzi sighed. "That is a God Ascendant. I have cultivated for many years, but my attainment is ordinary. I've never had the opportunity to reach that level. I've merely heard fragments here and there. In any case, the road to God Ascension is extremely difficult. One misstep can lead you astray, and countless geniuses of astonishing talent have fallen along the way.

"Then there are the laws of heaven and earth. Life and death are governed by fate. Once the end of one's allotted lifespan approaches, some unwilling God Ascendants resort to crooked and evil methods.

"Young Hero Li is a living yin emissary. You should know better than most what consequences such actions bring..."

Li Yan remained silent. The old Daoist had still put it rather mildly. As a living yin emissary, Li Yan faced even greater restrictions. If he were to disrupt the balance between life and death or yin and yang, he would probably suffer consequences far worse than most. Fortunately, he was still young. Such matters were far too distant for now.

Seeing this, Yu Lingzi said no more on the subject and returned to the original topic. "During the Southern Song, the official who handled this case was Hu Shibi. He ordered all the temples built by these people, along with their ritual implements and scriptures, to be completely destroyed.

"But Huang Liushi somehow escaped serious punishment. He was merely sentenced to one hundred strokes of the cane and administrative exile to a neighboring prefecture. Halfway there, however, his disciples rescued him, after which he continued operating in secret."

Sha Lifei stared in disbelief. "A hundred strokes? You're joking, right?"

Yu Lingzi shook his head and sighed. "The power of the Ghost Sect at the time was beyond anything you can imagine. Even officials and wealthy local gentry were deeply involved. If that had not been the case, why would the mystic sects have risen collectively against them and assisted Great Xing in destroying the Song?

"The identity of the demon you found in the river at Zigui County has already been confirmed. His name was Luo Xing, a disciple of Tongtian Sanniang, one of Huang Liushi's subordinates.

"Huang Liushi and the others were all suppressed and killed by the Orthodox Sects. Only Tongtian Sanniang disappeared without a trace. Her disciple Luo Xing still survives to this day. I fear that old demoness also used some evil longevity art and is hiding somewhere in Ezhou, waiting for another chance to stir up trouble.

"When the Orthodox Sects dealt with those Ghost Sect demons back then, even their talismanic soldiers proved useless. It was only when Celestial Master Sa of the Xihe School used lightning arts that they were finally suppressed and killed.

"Young Hero Li, remember this well. If you encounter that demon, your yin soldiers will probably be useless too. Turn around immediately. Run as far away as you possibly can!"