Novel11 Chapter 1646 - 835: Three-eyed Yin Constables
Chapter 1646 - 835: Three-eyed Yin Constables
""Records of the Grand Historian" records: ’An Qisheng communicated within Penglai, appearing to people when conditions were right and disappearing otherwise’..."
Wang Daoxuan caressed the cool, rough rock wall, then leaned down to carefully piece together several larger shards from the broken pottery, which displayed special Cloud Thunder patterns and elixir cauldron designs, musing: "Jia’s Sayings Forest contains records that An Qisheng excelled in alchemy and once cooked a rare date, ’its fragrance spread for ten miles, and the dead could be revived’... These pottery shards are ancient and skillfully fired, likely remnants of the pill furnace used by An Qisheng in his alchemical practices."
"The legends of Anxian Village, Phoenix Mountain, Chaoyang Cave and other places where An Qisheng cultivated are not baseless..."
Li Yan employed his Divine Skills, meticulously inspecting the surroundings.
Regrettably, other than the deep pits dug by beasts, scattered remains, and filth, there was nothing else in the cave.
Li Yan was momentarily disappointed, "After such a long time, even if there was a sea map, it has likely been destroyed."
Though they hadn’t found the exact location of Penglai, their speculation was still confirmed.
The next day at dawn, everyone returned to the Crown Prince Mansion, carrying the mountain forest’s night mist and unsolved mysteries.
Before they reached their rooms, a spy, led by the Crown Prince’s attendant, hurriedly burst in, kneeling on one knee, with urgency in his voice: "Your Highness! This is extremely urgent! News has come with the speed of lightning from Nanling, Hezhou!"
Crown Prince Xiao Jingheng frowned slightly, introducing to Li Yan: "This is a spy from the Golden Swallow Sect. Yesterday, I tasked them to keep an eye out, never expected such quick news."
Li Yan, upon hearing this, showed interest.
The Crown Prince nodded slightly: "Speak!"
"Yes, Your Highness."
The spy didn’t waste words, directly stating: "Three nights ago, Hezhou Tusi Village was bloodily massacred! One hundred thirty-seven elderly, women, and children in the village were killed without exception! The deceased... all had their hearts gouged and livers ripped out, dying in gruesome states! Written in blood on the village wall were four large characters – ’Sacrifice to the Celestial Lord’!"
Li Yan frowned, clearly this was the work of an evil cult.
Hateful though it was, it seemed unrelated to the Japanese.
Before he could inquire further, the spy, with trembling hands, presented a corner of a bloodstained rough fabric, on which the blood-written characters were vicious and glaring. "More bizarrely, several Dong People who managed to escape by hiding in the cellar are now all mad, babbling nonsense, saying they saw ’Three-eyed Yin Constables leading the corpses at night, wherever they went, blood showers filled the sky!’"
"Three-eyed Yin Constables?!"
Li Yan suddenly stood up, a chill spreading down his spine.
How could ordinary people have three eyes?
No matter how odd the Japanese might be, it’s impossible.
Unless, it’s not human!
And the True God of the Yin Bureau, their eyes often have three pupils!
The implication of this sent shivers through one’s heart...
The Crown Prince glanced at Li Yan, noticing his grim expression and becoming more cautious himself, he first dismissed the Golden Swallow Sect’s spy, then asked: "Young Hero Li, is this matter very serious?"
Li Yan nodded: "Nanling is the source of Bai Yue’s witchcraft, occupied by numerous Mountain Ghosts and Wood Guests, Ancient Witch Altars, thick with Evil Qi. If there truly is an Earth Immortal level figure controlled by Demonic Qi, or a Fake Yin Constable using the power of Ancient Witch and evil altars to summon evil spirits... the disaster could be ten times more dangerous than a Walking Flood Dragon!"
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince sprang up, taking out a heavy, gilded Tiger Talisman engraved with Suanni Pattern from his chest, "Young Hero Li! I immediately order flying messengers and command Wuzhou Guard Station’s three thousand elite troops and nearby prefectures’ archers to follow your command!"
.........
In the South, spanning across the Five Ridges, the Dragon Spine stretches across the southern heavens.
The mountain range resembles a giant beast from ancient times lurking, its spine undulating, extending for miles, pressing the sky low. The clouds and mist never dissipate, making it hard to distinguish between miasma and water vapor.
Ancient trees tower into the sky, tangled branches tearing the sky into fragments, casting dappled light and shadow only on the slippery, mossy ground.
Outside the gate of Wuzhou Guard Station’s camp, the guide appointed by the Crown Prince had been quietly waiting.
This person was not an ordinary military officer, but a middle-aged Daoist wearing an indigo cloud pattern Daoist robe, carrying a Thunderstruck Peach Wood Sword on his back.
His figure stood firm like an ancient pine, his face serene like a deep pond, as his gaze swept across Li Yan and his companions, showing a hint of caution.
He bowed with a respectful gesture, his voice not loud but each word clear, "This humble Daoist Zhou Qingyuan, Steward of the Jade Emperor Sect’s Tianshu Hall, following the Crown Prince’s command, is here to guide and enlighten you on the journey to Nanling."
Li Yan’s eyes brightened a bit.
The Jade Emperor Sect was an old acquaintance.
Offering tribute to the Emperor Jade of Heaven Golden Palace, a powerhouse of the Southern Method Lineage, its roots intertwined, influence spreading throughout Lingnan, permeating urban and rural areas alike.
Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince could command the steward of Tianshu Hall.
It seems over these years, that Chief Historian Chen Changshi worked tirelessly to win people’s support for the Crown Prince.
This Zhou Qingyuan clearly understood the peril of this expedition, it was no mere excursion or exploration, hence he skipped social niceties.
As the three thousand elite soldiers of Wuzhou Guard Station and the skilled archers of nearby prefectures gathered under the strict military orders, everyone promptly plunged into the depths of the Five Ridges.
Upon entering the mountains, the scenery changed dramatically.
The exterior terrain of the official road instantly vanished without a trace, leaving underfoot only rugged rocks and tangled roots.
The so-called "road" was nothing more than beast trails and snake paths.
On the steep mountain walls, sometimes blocked by ancient vines like nets, and sometimes disappearing into the deep and unseen ravines of streams.
Zhou Qingyuan held a jade compass, sensing the direction while walking alongside Li Yan, introducing in a low voice: "Young Hero Li, fellow Daoists, this area is the heart of Nanling, the source of ’Bai Yue’ and ’Five Creeks’."
"For a thousand years, Han people, Dong people, Yao, Zhuang, She... dozens of tribes have lived and multiplied here, building villages in the mountains and inhabiting around the water. The settlements are scattered like stars, either perched on dangerous peaks and isolated cliffs or hidden in deep valleys shrouded in clouds."
"The larger ones may have hundreds of households connected by smoke and fire, the smaller ones are merely a dozen families huddled for warmth. They speak different languages, have varied customs, forming a world of their own."