The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 122 - 103 Seven Arrows Book_2

Chapter 122: Chapter 103 Seven Arrows Book_2

Boom!

The thorny hammer struck its target.

But in Bai Yanhu’s heart, fear arose.

Behind him was that crest-headed snake, which seemed to have shed its skin and grown a size larger, thick as a sea bowl.

The thorny hammer was covered with spikes, but when it struck the creature, it collided with the black scales, sparking flames, then was repelled by some force.

This was the crest-headed snake’s terror.

Its speed was astonishing, it was impervious to swords and spears, and coupled with the deadly venom, ordinary martial arts masters simply could not handle it.

On the Chaotic Burial Mound, if not for Captain Bureau Si Changxuan knowing its weakness and being prepared in advance, it would have been them who suffered heavy casualties and fled.

Shhh~

The friction of scales against the ground made a rustling sound as the crest-headed snake raised its body high, towering half a head above Bai Yanhu.

And at this moment, Bai Yanhu stood trembling, unable to move.

The snake lowered its head, its pair of cold snake eyes seemed to hold a mysterious power, rendering Bai Yanhu rigid all over.

He roared desperately in his mind, but even with bloodshot eyes, he couldn’t move an inch and watched helplessly as the snake coiled around him.

Crackling!

The chilling sound of bones breaking could be heard.

Bai Yanhu quickly suffered from broken bones all over his body, became lifeless, and then the snake opened its fanged mouth, first engulfing his head and then his body, swallowing him bit by bit...

As they witnessed this horrific scene, the bandits’ bodies went cold.

Dugu Qian sighed softly, "Gentlemen, I did not wish for this either, but the court’s men will soon arrive, and there’s no time to waste. Gather your belongings and follow me."

"Go... where?"

A bandit leader stammered.

Dugu Qian looked toward the cave entrance, his eyes filled with helplessness.

"Deep in the Qinling mountains, I need to dig up something, needing a large workforce..."

...

Past the Niubeiliang, the terrain began to slope downwards to the south.

For the most part, it was all downhill, which allowed Li Yan and his companions to pick up the pace. After two more days of travel, they neared Fengyang County.

Here the mountains gradually became less steep.

However, it was the beehive-like caves dotting the cliffs on both sides of the road that caught everyone’s attention.

"Sss, Daoist, what is that?"

Sha Lifei asked with a mix of amazement and suspicion, "Can’t be beasts, right? Building nests on the mountain, and so many of them!"

"Those are cliff tombs."

Li Yan, observing while riding his horse, explained with a smile, "Since the Han Dynasty, people have been building these, and even now, some still choose this burial method."

Master Zhou of the Spring Breeze Class praised, "Young Hero Li is so knowledgeable."

Li Yan shook his head, "I’ve just heard others mention it before."

In fact, he had been to this place in his past life and had even visited several of these tombs,

Though they appeared unremarkable from the outside, the interior structure was quite complex.

Sleeping chambers, halls, kitchens, storage rooms - all distinctly defined, and there were even ponds, wells, toilets, stoves, and niches.

It looked like a tomb, but it seemed as though people had lived inside.

"Built on the mountain?"

Sha Lifei was somewhat speechless, "So visible, the grave robbers must be thrilled. Daoist, is there any significance to building on the cliff?"

Master Wang Daoxuan chuckled wryly, shaking his head, "People from Divine State revered the dragon, believing some places offered cliff burials which occupied Dragon Veins. It was thought to help ancestors become Feathered Immortals after death, and for descendants to gather wealth and fortune."

"This custom flourished due to the Fang Xian Dao in the Qin and Han periods. ’Han Shu’ has records stating, ’They carved caves in the cliffs for chambers, erected them in the south to nurture immortals.’"

"The burial is to draw in the life energy. Look here, with light in the front, support in the back, surrounded by mountains on three sides, facing water on one, Dragon Vein, bench, everything is present, harboring wind and gathering water, naturally it’s a good burial spot."

Sha Lifei scoffed, "Still gets completely plundered. Damn it, not content with wealth in life, after death seeking immortality and wishing prosperity for descendants. Such good fortune doesn’t exist!"

"The cowardly, all more greedy than Old Sha."

Master Wang sighed, "Indeed, the world’s fortunes are predestined, yet human greed is infinite, countless calamities arise from this..."

As he reflected, a fork in the road appeared ahead.

Master Zhou quickly bowed and said, "Young Hero Li, Master Wang, and Hero Sha, we have to take a different path to Luonan, this is where we part!"

"Take care on your journey, Master Zhou."

"Until next time."

After saying goodbye to everyone, the Spring Breeze Class left along another path and gradually disappeared from everyone’s sight.

Li Yan and the others continued on their way.

Not long after, Li Yan spurred his horse to ride alongside Wang Daoxuan and asked in a low voice, "Master, have you figured it out?"

"Of course not."

Wang Daoxuan shook his head slightly and took out an old yellowed book from his bosom. It was the "Seven Arrows Secret Spell" that Li Yan had found on Old Fourth You.

"Seven Arrows Book!"

Sha Lifei, who happened to come over, saw the name on the book and immediately gasped, "Master, you’ve actually gotten this powerful immortal technique!"

Wang Daoxuan was surprised, "You recognize it."

"Who doesn’t know about it..."

Sha Lifei’s eyes shone as he said, "The opera mentions it, Lu Ya used this thing to nail the God of Wealth Zhao to death, I can even sing it!"

With that, he started to sing somewhat off-key, "Whipped by the sea whip, he fled with the wind, and from overseas came the great immortal Lu Ya. This demon way carries seven arrows, his power is not shallow, setting up the straw man and offering sacrifices at the altar of Qi Mountain..."

"Enough, enough, what are you rambling on about."

Wang Daoxuan looked amused yet helpless, "The Sealing God opera is compiled by later generations, indeed there was a great battle during the Shang and Zhou dynasties at the Mystical Sect, but only fragments of records remain. The real situation is unknown to the later generations."

"However, this ’Seven Arrows Secret Spell’ is indeed a famous spell, ancient in origin and widely known. The small figures that peasant women use to curse people come from this technique."

"Oh, is that so."

Sha Lifei sounded somewhat disappointed and asked, "Is this spell powerful?"

Wang Daoxuan nodded gravely, "Of course, it’s powerful."

"Ancient spells are often simple and straightforward. This technique has only two spells: one is called the Soul-hooking Spell, which can hook the living souls of living people and the yin souls of yin people; the second is the Seven Arrows God Book Spell, which takes seven days to perform, and can curse a person to death."

Sha Lifei cheerfully said, "That’s just great, with this technique, Master is like a tiger with wings. From now on, if anyone bothers us, we can just wish them a good farewell seven times over!"

However, Wang Daoxuan did not respond and seemed hesitant.

A thought struck Li Yan, "Master, is there a problem with this technique?"

Wang Daoxuan nodded and said, "It’s not that I’m pedantic, but this technique is too vicious and offends the harmony of heaven. If used excessively, I fear it could lead to being bound by the intentions of killing, falling into demonic obstacles."

Li Yan couldn’t help but chuckle at the response, "Master, I’ve heard even Buddha has the aspect of the wrathful Vajra. Whether a knife is evil depends on who holds it."

"With Master’s character, this technique won’t become an evil technique."

Wang Daoxuan fell silent for a long while, then nodded, "So be it, I have been subjected to soul-hooking before, and my one and only yin soldier also perished because of the Soul-hooking Spell. Perhaps I truly am destined for this spell."

As he spoke, he made a hand sign with his right hand, pressed down on the "Seven Arrows Secret Spell" and chanted, "I, in this place, swear that this spell will only be used against those who do evil and against great criminals; misuse will surely lead to death!"

Li Yan was taken aback, "Master, why go to such lengths?"

Wang Daoxuan fell silent for a moment, then replied with an open smile, "Every person has their seven emotions and six desires and is bound to err. I am a common person; I’m no exception. It’s better to have some constraints."

After saying that, he closed his mouth, as if he did not wish to discuss the matter further.

Before long, he was rambling on about this and that with Sha Lifei again.

Li Yan watched Wang Daoxuan’s receding figure and shook his head slightly.

He knew that this Daoist must have experienced something. Not everyone starts with such a steadfast heart towards the Dao and remains consistently broad-minded and benevolent.

But since Wang Daoxuan didn’t mention it, Li Yan didn’t want to pry further.

When sunset approached, the party finally arrived at Fengyang County.

Here on the official road, there were more and more people, especially mule and horse caravans, coming and going, much more than in other county towns.

Wang Daoxuan said with a smile, "Beyond Fengyang to the south lies Chu Territory."

"This place has Manchuan Pass, a famous wharf for both water and drought, connecting to Wu Chu in the south and linking with Qin and Jin in the north. During the Warring States period, in the morning it was a Qin territory—raising the Qin flag, wearing Qin clothes, observing Qin customs, speaking the Qin language. By evening, it was under the jurisdiction of Chu State—changing to Chu banners, putting on Chu clothes, following Chu customs, and speaking in the Chu dialect, hence the origin of the expression ’joined Qin in the morning and Chu in the evening.’"

"These mule and horse caravans are likely from the wharf mule and horse gangs. Now that we’ve arrived, let’s not enter the town but hasten to return the elder to his hometown."

"I’ll go ask for directions."

Sha Lifei immediately spurred his horse forward, found an old carter and asked, "Old man, how do you get to Wu Family Gully?"

Wu Family Gully was the former home of the yin person, Old Fourth Wu.

Unfortunately, this old man seemed to be from Ezhou, with a thick dialect, and it took quite a while for Sha Lifei to understand his directions.

"Boy, that was really hard work."

After Sha Lifei came back, he pointed to the southeast, "Wu Family Gully is over there; we should be able to get there before nightfall."

Everyone got on the road without further ado.

However, they did not notice that the old carter suddenly turned his head and looked at them with a peculiar gaze.

Just as Sha Lifei had said, as darkness fell, they finally found a village. Built against a mountain and by the side of a dried-up riverbed.

But they were taken aback.

The village was completely deserted, with overgrown weeds everywhere, it was like a ghost village...