"Damn... so many people!"
Sha Lifei swallowed hard, finding it sowhat unbelievable.
Quite a number of people had arrived, at least a hundred, each with their hood hanging low, faces covered with black cloth, and holding torches whose flickering light cast twisted shadows on the rock walls, resembling a parade of specters.
The heavy scent of tung oil mixed with sulfur filled the night air, unable to suppress the cold seeped deep from the marrow.
"They are all practitioners..."
Being long entrenched in the underworld, they could tell at a glance that these "black-cloaked" figures moved with steady steps and stood in a well-placed formation.
Clearly experienced combatants, definitely not regular governnt officials or house servants!
"Silence!" Li Yan gently reminded, signaling everyone to hide completely.
He, Lv San, and Wang Daoxuan simultaneously invoked the Yang Jue, activating their Divine Skills.
Everyone was a cultivator and naturally possessed Divine Skills, but each had their specialty.
For instance, Wu Ba excelled in physical strength, Fatty Lin could observe treasure aura, and Kuai Dayou specialized in precise manipulation of Body Divine Power.
In terms of investigation capabilities, however, Li Yan and his two companions were more skilled.
Lv San had extraordinary hearing, Li Yan could sll for dozens of miles, and Wang Daoxuan could observe mountains and see Qi.
Together, the trio could scrutinize the scene completely.
Soon, they all frowned.
Lv San's ears twitched slightly, murmuring, "Many inside are speaking Japanese."
Ghostly light flickered in Wang Daoxuan's eyes, and he exclaid, "Such heavy ghost energy!"
As for Li Yan, he slled a strong scent of blood and sweat, emanating from within the cage on the ox cart behind the black-cloaked figures.
Soon, the open area at the valley bottom was occupied by these black-cloaked figures.
They started clearing the massive stone platform in the center of Laojun Valley, freeing a large area, then began outlining a huge and sinister octagonal array on the platform using mops dipped in vermillion ink from barrels.
This array resembled the Eight Trigrams, but each trigram was replaced by a Blood-Colored Talisman.
Linked head to tail, it looked like a snake biting its tail.
"Daoist, do you see any abnormalities?" Li Yan glanced at Wang Daoxuan beside him.
Wang Daoxuan furrowed his brow slightly, "I actually have so impression, this array is called the Tongyou Eight Diagram Formation, from a sect on Zhaoyuan Luoshan, halfway between witchcraft and the Dao, skilled at using talismans to summon ghosts and drive spirits. Years ago, they road the Qilu Land, and I witnessed from afar. But I heard there were only three masters and disciples on that mountain, seldom venturing far, how did they get here?"
Everyone upon hearing this knew what was happening.
This was a local small sect, stronger than ordinary witches and wizards.
"Let's wait and see what's going on..." Li Yan pondered, quietly instructing everyone.
Once they finished drawing the array symbols, various musical instrunts were brought up.
Kuai Dayou's eyes brightened, "It's those seen in the craft workshop during the day!"
Before he finished speaking, another group of mysterious cloaked figures opened the iron cage on the ox cart behind.
Inside the cage, nurous small figures were huddled, each with cloth stuffing their mouths, tied with ropes, emitting desperate muffled sounds.
"Young boys and girls... they're the sacrificial offering!"
Wang Daoxuan's face imdiately turned grim.
Since human sacrifices were gradually abolished, this thod was deed an Evil Technique.
Using young boys and girls was the act of demons.
Li Yan patted his shoulder, indicating to stay calm.
Originally, they only wanted to scout the situation, but since the other side intended to sacrifice young boys and girls, they would act regardless.
Beside the altar, three people stood out.
They wore scarlet vestnt robes, with faces masked for the Nuo opera, commanding the black-cloaked figures to drag the children out of the cage, forcibly pressing them along the edges of the blood groove of the Tongyou Eight Diagram Formation.
Frightened, these children struggled desperately, but with mouths stuffed, they could only let tears flow from their eyes, producing muffled sounds.
Suddenly, the crowd parted like a tide.
Several black-cloaked figures surrounded one person and walked to the edge of the altar.
The person lifted their cloak, the firelight revealing a seemingly cultured and kind face.
"Lin Yaosong!" Fatty Lin nearly ground his teeth.
The newcor was none other than his family uncle.
Lin Yaosong's face was not pleasant as he glanced at the crying children and quickly turned his head.
"Hahaha..."
Two more figures wearing black cloaks lifted their hoods, revealing the leaders of the Taian Captaincy, Zhao Bingzhong, and the prefecture magistrate, Zhou Xian.
Zhao Bingzhong sneered, "What's the matter, Shopkeeper Lin, still pretending to be good? But know that your son's life depends on these children's lives!"
Lin Yaosong's face darkened, remaining silent.
On the other side, the prefecture magistrate, Zhou Xian, patted his shoulder, comforting, "Shopkeeper Lin, close your eyes, regard them as livestock. Anyways, in this era, it's just you devour , I devour you."
"Hmph!"
Hearing this, murder intent filled the eyes of Lv San.
Below, the Taian Captaincy leader Zhao Bingzhong turned to the red-robed lead priest, respectfully saying, "Divine Envoy, the sacrificial offerings are complete, auspicious timing is near. Mr. Zhao asked to relay the ssage that the 'raft' from East Sea is ready, awaiting the Lord's position change and Dragon Energy to return to the sea!"
The tall red-robed Nuo masked figure in lead nodded, holding a Jade Gui, muttering words.
Boom!
The flas in the altar brazier suddenly rose several ters.
The surrounding air began to thicken and twist, as a sickening sweet and bloody scent spread.
Those black-cloaked figures beca excited, circling the altar, worshiping.
"Prepare to act..."
Li Yan uttered a low command, pulling out a flintlock pistol from his bosom.
Wu Ba, thrumming with excitent, began loading the Tiger-Squat Cannon.
This terrifying weapon had undergone another modification at Qiankun Academy, reducing recoil.
Since the battle at Beimang Mountain, it hadn't seen use yet.
Buzz...
Just then, the Hook Paper at Li Yan's waist suddenly heated and vibrated.
"Hold on!"
He quickly halted everyone, raising his head to look behind the altar.
In that shadowy gorge, an unmarked blue cloth sedan chair had mysteriously appeared.
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