Yisi Year, the fifth day of the new year, the sound of firecrackers in Chang’an City was incessant.
Amid this festive atmosphere, a group of Daoists rode back ho—the Law Enforcent Hall of Chang’an that had been away for a long ti.
Almost every one of them was wounded, with their clothes torn and stained with blood, showing traces of post-battle marks, and their eyes sharp; the murderous aura on their bodies had not yet dissipated.
In front of them, a large number of soldiers from the garrison cleared the way, and there were also guards at the rear. Even mbers of the Captain Bureau were mixed in among them.
Li Yan’s heart skipped a beat; the numbers seed off!
The Law Enforcent Hall of Chang’an had a hundred n. Though not many in number, they were all cultivated from a young age by the Taixuan Orthodox Sect and skilled in battle.
Moreover, they were well-coordinated with each other and could form the Mystical Sect Sword Formation.
But now, nearly half of the people were missing!
What had they encountered?
It was at this mont that Li Yan saw Luo Mingzi in the procession.
Half of his body was wrapped in bandages, yet he seed to be in good spirits as he rode his horse, his cold eyes sweeping around as though searching for sothing.
Suddenly, he saw Li Yan leaning against the window.
Li Yan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled with a fist salute.
Luo Mingzi also waved with a fist salute and then looked around again.
Li Yan imdiately understood; they were on guard against soone...
"Look at that one!"
Guo Luquan exclaid in surprise again.
Everyone craned their necks and saw a bullock cart in the procession.
On the cart, there was a coffin.
The coffin was made of pure copper, ancient and covered with green rust, with complex patterns on it that had beco mottled and indistinct.
Around the coffin, iron chains as thick as an arm bound it layer by layer. Not only that, but peach charms also dangled from it.
Even more eerie were the seven holes on top of the coffin lid, arranged in the positions of the Beidou seven stars, with seven rusty iron spears inserted into them.
"It’s a Corpse Suppressing Coffin!"
Guo Luquan next to him gasped for air. "So these things really exist, I thought it was just a rumor."
The elder from the Carpenter Sect also frowned with concern, his fingers asuring in the air three inches from his eyes toward the coffin, his eyes revealing shock, "Goodness, the asurents correspond to disease, departure, calamity, and death—the four great ominous numbers—it’s clearly done on purpose..."
Li Yan curiously asked, "A Corpse Suppressing Coffin, is it specifically for suppressing zombies? Why not just burn it?"
Guo Luquan explained, "I’ve also heard from a senior porter before, so powerful zombies absorb the Yin Evil Qi over a long period, becoming a disaster in themselves."
"Apart from being formidable, once killed, the spread of pestilence and vicious Sha Qi will be imdiate, causing endless harm. The only option is to suppress it, and slowly erode it with Innate Astral Qi or the Power of Incense."
"Looking at this, it’s been over many years, and even the Taixuan Orthodox Sect, they should have just sent this thing to Hua Mountain or Zhongnan. Why did they transport it to Chang’an City instead?"
"What do you know!"
The old Carpenter Sect master glanced aside, "This isn’t just any ordinary zombie. See the spears on the coffin lid?"
"Those are Seven-star Soul Suppressing Nails, derived from the Nail-Head Seven Arrows Technique, a kind of Evil Curse. Whoever is inside the coffin must have offended soone in their lifeti..."
"The senior is truly experienced and knowledgeable."
Everyone flattered in succession.
The elder, however, shook his head with a solemn expression, "I’ve only heard of such things, in any case, they carry such bad luck, why would I see such a thing today... ptui ptui ptui!"
Upon saying this, he spat on the ground three tis.
"Ptui ptui ptui!"
Others followed suit.
But then, their attention was drawn to sothing behind the coffin.
It was a wooden prison cart, within which an old man was locked, his clavicles pierced by hooks and his body impaled with more than a dozen iron spikes, his whole body covered in filth and blood, his head lowered making his face unclear.
"Who is this guy?"
"How would I know, but he’s definitely a tough character..."
Everyone engaged in buzzing discussions again.
Only Li Yan’s brows suddenly furrowed.
The scent on that person was familiar to him.
It was the Maitreya Sect’s "Tomb Snake" Dugu Qian!
He was caught?
It appeared that the Law Enforcent Hall had launched a full-scale operation against the Maitreya Sect.
Li Yan had his suspicions but also felt puzzled.
He knew Dugu Qian’s capabilities should be at the third or fourth Daoist stratum. Although formidable and nurturing a ferocious chicken comb snake, he could not possibly have caused such heavy losses to the Law Enforcent Hall.
Could it be because of the Corpse Suppressing Coffin just now?
...
After such an incident, Li Yan naturally had no desire to drink alcohol.
Once the Law Enforcent Hall procession had left and the ti was right to return to the City God Temple, he bid farewell to everyone and set off for Guangde Square.
Upon arriving outside the City God Temple, as expected, martial law was in place.
Though Li Yan could not get close, he was already familiar with the gatekeeping Daoist boy, and entrusted him to pass a ssage to Luo Mingzi.
The Daoist boy quickly ca out, only to ask him to wait.
But this wait turned out to be a full two hours.
Just as Li Yan wondered, Luo Mingzi erged from a side door of the City God Temple, apologizing, "There was so much to deal with, I just finished."
"Co on, let’s find sowhere to drink. I’ve been cooped up in the mountains for two months, nearly went mad!"
The nearby taverns were mostly affiliated with the Taixuan Orthodox Sect in so way. The two casually chose one that had just opened, entering a quiet private room.
As soon as the food and drink were served, Luo Mingzi ate and drank voraciously as if he were a starving ghost reincarnated.
Before Li Yan could speak, Luo Mingzi shook his head, "Don’t ask, even if you did, I couldn’t tell you, anyway, this ti was pretty bad."
Wasn’t it just to catch the Tomb Snake?
Li Yan was speechless, but he didn’t press further.
He knew that things were definitely not that simple.
Although Dugu Qian was vicious, capturing and executing him should have been straightforward—why bring him back?
Perhaps they aid to bait his accomplices.
Of course, this matter was none of his concern, and he didn’t want to trouble Luo Mingzi, so he opted to keep quiet.
Luo Mingzi continued to devour several plates of dishes and drink half a jug of alcohol, then wiped his mouth and smiled, "I heard about what happened at Xiangji Temple, you did well. If it weren’t for you, who knows how big a trap the Maitreya Sect would have laid near Chang’an."
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