Wang Daoxuan furrowed his brows, caressing over the blurry engraving "Constructed in the Third Year of Great Xing" on a slab of stone, "This is the underground military passage of Zhongdu in the Jin Dynasty! The 'History of Jin' ntioned that the Jin ruler imitated Bianliang's hidden troop passage by building it with stone slabs mixed with glue rice mortar, yet no one found it... That old ghost in the Capital is indeed not simple, even this he discovered."
But moving forward dozens of steps, there was a large section of collapse.
Broken wood and new soil blocked the way, and several snapped shurikens were scattered among the rubble.
"It's a recent collapse." Lv San squatted and picked up a piece of soil, the moist mud mixed with dry sand particles, and sniffed it, "It slls like gunpowder, most likely the old ghost's escape setup."
Squeak squeak—
Little White Fox Chu Qi suddenly raised its head, its nose flaring like a fan, and in an instant, it disappeared into a path half-hidden by rubble.
The three imdiately followed.
This tunnel branched out in all directions, but several areas had already collapsed.
Twisting and turning, squeezing through narrow openings like a dog's hole, they finally found a concealed stone chamber.
On the weapon rack sealed with cobwebs, rusty iron spears lay haphazardly.
Earthen jars were shattered, and the pickled vegetables had long turned into black mud.
Curling up in the corner was a person with white and disheveled hair.
It was that old ghost from the Capital!
The old ghost's face was blood-stained, a nacing knife wound on his chest deep to the bone, his filthy and tattered jacket soaked in blood, with black and purple spreading beside the knife's edge.
His breathing was weak like a thread, and he tightly clutched a broken grass rope in his hand.
On the rope hung three dim Yansheng Money.
"There's still hope!"
Wang Daoxuan hurriedly stepped forward, and poured out a dragon-eye-sized crimson elixir from a gourd.
This was a healing elixir crafted by Ge Posheng from Hundred Herbs Hall.
Not only could it quickly stop bleeding, but it could also suppress common Poisonous Gu.
The old man's personality was introverted, obviously longing for excitent, but he put on airs and rarely spoke to other Grandmasters of the Academy, only familiar with Wang Jingxiu.
Wang Daoxuan and Long Yan'er learned from him and managed to acquire quite a few elixirs.
Once the elixir entered the old ghost's mouth, it turned into dicinal liquid upon contact with his saliva, flowing down his throat.
anwhile, Wang Daoxuan also tore open his collar, sending flying stitches of golden needle to seal key heart nodes, using talismans to repel Yin Sha Qi.
Several thods implented simultaneously had an imdiate miraculous effect.
"Ugh..."
The old ghost's throat rolled, suddenly coughing up a mouthful of black blood, his scattered eyes struggling to focus.
"Is he the old ghost from the Capital, where are Lin Yu and the others?"
Wang Daoxuan crouched down and urgently asked.
The old ghost gave the three a look, remaining silent, his eyes full of vigilance.
After Wang Daoxuan explained his identity and intention, and knowing they saved him, his chapped lips moved, a hoarse voice said: "They... they entered the Nine Gates Yin Ruins."
"Nine Gates Yin Ruins?"
Wang Daoxuan was first puzzled, then a spiritual light flashed in his mind, imdiately understanding the reason.
And the old ghost from the Capital began to recount the events...
......
Three days ago, underneath the wall of the Rabbit God Temple.
Lin Yu squatted beside a sour rice bucket, his fair chubby face displaying a fawning smile, taking out a three-eyed beast face stone carving from his chest, "Old ghost senior, tell the truth."
"Is this really a guardian item from the 'Nuoshen Tomb'? Where exactly is the Taodu Mountain Wood?"
From the shadow in the corner, the old ghost from the Capital extended his head.
Gazing at the object, he seed to recall sothing, then coldly said: "The Nuoshen Tomb was long shattered into fragnts by the Taixuan Orthodox Sect's Thunder Technique, there are no clues."
Kong Shangzhao was disappointed upon hearing this.
The three were interested in Taodu Mountain Wood for different reasons.
Lin Yu, Fatty Lin, first out of curiosity, and second because sothing happened in his family, concerning the life and death of many, desperately wanting to find this legendary thing for a chance to turn the situation around.
Kuai Dayou, being a craftsman, hoped this treasure could refine his long-desired Magic Artifact.
As for Kong Shangzhao, he was interested in the matter of the "Living Yin ssenger."
Inherently restless, disliking various rules, he stirred up trouble in the Kong Family, and felt confined by the Captain Bureau, though treated with courtesy, he was nearly driven insane.
Having followed Li Yan and the others, he was eager to join the team.
The scholarly spirit arose, sotis quite irrational.
Thinking that finding the ancient clue of the "Living Yin ssenger," he could join the Twelve Primordial Spirits.
The two were disappointed, but Fatty Lin was unwilling to give up, offering a gold coin from his chest with a flattering smile, "Old senior, they couldn't manage, but surely you can."
"You know I am from the Lin Family, accomplish this, and you can na your conditions."
From the shadow, the old ghost from the Capital was silent for a mont, "There's a chance."
"Do tell!"
The three imdiately perked up with interest.
The old ghost from the Capital said in a deep voice: "I know a bit about this matter, in the past, the State Preceptor of Jin Country used it to seal the 'Xiuxing Chief,' they are deeply entangled with the Ghost Sect, seeing the Mystical Sect unite, plus the south invasion by Golden Tent Wolf Country, fearing the fall of Jin Country, they released it trying to practice powerful Evil Skill but unfortunately brewed a catastrophe."
"Later, it was struck to dust by the Mystical Sect using Heavenly Thunder, but the Taodu Mountain Wood mysteriously disappeared, unknown who secretly took it."
"To know its whereabouts..."
His claw-like finger pointed to the northeast ground, "Only the Nine Gates Yin Ruins!"
"The Nine Gates Yin Ruins place, 'where Heaven and Earth dispute, Yin Yang suspends,' there are still residual old scene imprints, can trace back 'Earth Vein node dramatic changes' scenes."
"During the thunderstrike of Nuoshen Temple, it stirred significant attention, perhaps leaving clues, but due to past events, the Ancestral Affairs Office defends strictly, likely it's rather dangerous."
Fatty Lin's eyes shifted, "Qiankun Academy opening soon, Ancestral Affairs Office elite dispatched for protection, perhaps it's an opportunity."
"Oh?"
The old ghost from the Capital pondered briefly, nodded: "The place is dangerous, since you aren't afraid, I can assist, using the 'Three Yangs Suppressing Soul' thod protecting the physical body, and Yansheng Money locking the soul doorway, allowing you to temporarily have Yin soul departure, exploring the Yin Ruins!"
...
"Later, it indeed succeeded..."
The cave within, the old ghost from the Capital continued narrating the subsequent events.
"Fatty Lin boy brought these three Treasure Coins, due to the Ancestral Affairs Office's defense being lax, I arranged for them to enter."
"But waiting left and right, long passed the ti, no one ca out."
"My heart anxious, then summoned spirits, unexpectedly failing to call back their three yin souls, and attracting attacks by those pirate demons."
"To prevent accident, I led them here."
"The following, you're aware of..."
...
Following the old ghost's indicated direction, Wang Daoxuan and the others ventured deeper into the underground passage, finally finding a natural stone chamber near the subterranean depths of the inner city.
Lin Yu, Kuai Dayou, and Kong Shangzhao's bodies ford triangular seating, under them were grass mats prepared by the old ghost for the 'Three Yangs Suppressing Soul,' with Yansheng Copper Money hung above each head.
No wonder the three dared to risk.
The old ghost from the Capital chose a place far safer than where they were before.
Even if disturbing the Ancestral Affairs Office, promptly returning the spirit could escape.
The three's faces appeared rosy as if in deep sleep, but surrounded by an aura of chilling deadness—
"This is a sign of prolonged Yin soul departure."
Upon checking their pulses, Wang Daoxuan shook his head: "The breath remains, they are still alive, but if delayed further, even Immortals cannot save them."
Lv San grunted, "Daoist, what should be done?"
Wang Daoxuan pondered briefly: "Can't inform the Captain Bureau, Nine Gates Yin Ruins involves the Great Xuan Dragon Vein, a court taboo, if leaked, these three won't survive."
"Brother Yan's side can't be notified in ti, our only option is to go in and search."
Lv San nodded: "Using the old ghost's thod, we can go in; Daoist can cast spells outside protecting our physical bodies, but the situation inside is unknown, what if the Japanese demons co for another attack?"
"I have a way."
Nearby, the old ghost from the Capital spoke: "Can secretly inform the Captain Bureau, those Japanese are lurking nearby, with them there, the Japanese won't interfere, nor will they know we're hiding underground."
"Thank you, senior!"
Wang Daoxuan did not waste words, first letting Lv San follow the old ghost, watching him spread the ssage.
Afterward, in this underground cave, he set up the altar again.
Like that night, Wang Daoxuan placed 'Soul Separation Talisman' on the two's Forehead Spiritual Platform points, thumb touching the base of the ring finger, remaining three fingers together, chanting:
"Nine Netherworld opens fortune, soul exits mystic gate... Decree!"
As the spell was cast, Lv San and Wu Ba felt their bodies empty, rushing through dense fog.
The fog gradually lightened, and within the mist, the ancient dilapidated streets of the Capital appeared before them...
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