"Who's there!"
Li Yan was startled and quickly turned around.
The Duan Chen Blade pressed down, and his left hand prepared the Soul Hook.
Although this "Snake Mirage" mist has the ability to obscure Spiritual Sense and Divine Skills, it's not incredibly powerful.
The scents and sounds within a mile's radius are still clear and distinguishable.
Soone sneaking up on them must surely be a master!
And that old voice grew closer and closer.
"Flustered and hurried, I wonder how you earned such a reputation…"
As he spoke, an old man appeared within the thick mist.
This old man was hunched, with a weathered and wrinkled face, wearing a tattered straw hat, and had a dirt smoking pipe tucked at his back.
By all appearances, he seed like an old farr from the countryside.
But as Li Yan saw him, he instantly realized, sheathing his blade and respectfully greeting, "So it's the senior."
At Dragon Gate Inn, he had once been given ssages through dreams, seemingly ant to inform him about Zhao Lvzi's situation. Unfortunately, he awakened forcefully due to his strong Divine Soul and many Protective Magical Artifacts, hurriedly exiting without finding anyone.
This old man had appeared at the inn previously.
Because he was well-concealed, he wasn't noticed; now, seeing him again naturally led to a guess.
He gestured to Wu Ba beside him to put away the Tiger-Squat Cannon, and then he bowed and said, "If my guess is correct, you must be the 'Central Tomb Elder' Yin Jiuge from the Netherworld Sect's Five Directions Yin Sacrifice, Senior Yin?"
"Oh?"
The old man's eyes drooped, "How did you figure that out?"
Li Yan glanced at the leather bag the man had tied and spoke, "I heard the senior is knowledgeable in Fengshui, holding the Burial Yin Shovel and wearing the 'Back Earth Bag,' which contains soil from nurous grave mounds, always adding soil to lonely graves encountered, transforming evil lands to auspicious grounds…"
This was information Pei Niangzi from Dragon Gate Inn had given him.
This venerable elder from the Netherworld Sect roams across the Divine State, often comforting souls and improving the Fengshui of ominous places.
Thus, he's called the "Central Tomb Elder."
Though he acts quietly, unnoticed, he is truly a man of the Dao.
"Enough, enough…"
Yin Jiuge waved his hand, with a face full of helplessness, "That ungrateful apprentice, Shen Sanyou, always chasing won… He sold out all the details about his master."
Although a respected elder, Li Yan couldn't spare the ti for his banter and gravely asked, "Do you know my friend Zhao Lvzi's situation and what happened to Old Shen?"
"What's the rush?"
Yin Jiuge gently shook his head, glanced around, and said, "This isn't the place for talking, follow ."
With that, he turned and walked into the mist with his hands behind his back, and Li Yan and the others followed closely.
The old man seed very familiar with Mang Mountain, not slowing down even with the thick mist.
After several turns, they reached a yellow earthen ravine.
Such terrain mostly covered Mang Mountain.
But unlike other places, the ravine had scattered bricks and stones, coated in li, clearly marking an ancient tomb.
Yin Jiuge entered the ravine without a word, diving into the tomb path.
Li Yan and the others exchanged glances and jumped in one after another.
The situation with Shen Sanyou was unknown, and even if this highly esteed yin Jiuge is his master, they remained cautious.
After all, they've seen too many old folks fearing death, going astray.
The tomb path was not deep, only allowing a hunched stance, and the front had collapsed, forming a small rocky space where everyone had to crouch uncomfortably.
Li Yan furrowed his brows, about to inquire.
However, Yin Jiuge looked outside the tomb, shook his head, and murmured, "Those things are coming, let's talk later."
As he spoke, he used his withered hand to grab so grains from another leather pouch at his waist, whispered a few spells, and scattered them at the entrance.
Whoosh~
A breeze blew, carrying a refreshing plant scent, instantly cleaning the air inside the cave.
Five Grains Exorcism Technique!
Upon seeing this, Li Yan's eyes lit up.
It's a technique often used by yin-yang masters, common in ho purifications and ceremonies, he had even seen Wang Daoxuan use it.
Yet, when employed by Yin Jiuge, it reached another level.
The remaining Yin Sha Qi within the cave was swept away, and the grains were actively blocking external Qi.
This was no longer simply a "Five Grains Exorcism Technique."
It seed to integrate thods from "Array" and "Planting Beans into Soldiers."
Recalling the Paperman Technique used by the man for dream ssaging, Li Yan was filled with admiration.
Just as he was pondering questions, his instincts suddenly reacted, he looked to the entrance.
Woo~
The wind outside grew suddenly fierce.
Like a gust through a crevice, or soone crying mournfully, wrapped in an eerie rhythm.
The mist outside beca even thicker.
Once all white, it now turned lead-gray, making the light dimr.
Li Yan flared his nostrils, his pupils contracting sharply.
He detected the stench of rusty copper mixed with the burnt bitterness of Paper Money, along with faint hints of blood.
This sll reminded him of the wild rituals at the Chaotic Burial Mound outside Xianyang City.
"Clang—!"
Suddenly, the harsh sound of chains dragging echoed through the mist.
Li Yan and Lv San simultaneously covered their ears, showing signs of discomfort.
The sound was enough to set anyone's teeth on edge.
While the others were unaffected, apparently unable to hear it.
The changes weren't only in sound; in the depth of the lead-gray fog, nurous phosphorus fires arose.
Then, everyone began hearing the disturbance.
It was the rustling of paper clothes and the dull thuds of leather boots on the ground.
As if an invisible army was marching through the mist.
"Eee—ya—"
The sharp, ancient operatic singing pierced through the thick fog, alternating between male and female tones, using an antiquated accent.
Beside them, Yin Jiuge suddenly opened his eyes and again grabbed additional grave soil from the pouch, scattering it at the cave entrance.
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