The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 246 - 171 Vermilion Bird Street, Drumming into the Path_2

Chapter 246: Chapter 171 Vermilion Bird Street, Drumming into the Path_2

The team from Qi and Lu played the long-spoon drum music, which originated from the "Battle of the Long Spoons." Since the time of Cao Gui’s debate on warfare, it had been passed down through the generations...

The drums of Ezhou were mighty, but what was even more eye-catching were the lantern dragons coiling around the Divine Tower, a hundred-man team, each person holding a section of the dragon’s body, with lanterns mounted on them, known as the infamous Hundred-Section Dragon.

They obviously put all their efforts into the night...

Li Yan also saw the Fire Bear Gang’s team.

These guys built a Divine Tower even taller than Manager Wan’s, but it was a bit of a cheat—many parts were hollow. While it appeared grand and formidable, it also seemed somewhat unsteady.

But they had plenty of people, a whole group of bare-chested strong men with dragons and tigers tattooed on their bodies, each carrying a large drum, and wearing Nuomian masks on their faces.

This was the ancient Witch Drum, which looked quite imposing.

Finally, it was Li Yan and his team’s turn.

"Brothers, lift the palanquin!"

Following Guo Luquan’s ferocious roar, all the men exerted their strength in unison, and the massive Divine Tower slowly rose.

"Wind! Strong wind!"

"Hei ho! Hei ho!"

Manager Wan had spared no expense; the Divine Tower was built entirely of spirit wood.

Although it appeared no different from the other teams, once they invited the spirits to dwell within and consecrated it with prayers and blessings, it could truly be called a Magic Artifact.

Incense wafted into the air, an imposing aura rising spontaneously, a profound and divine charm assaulting the senses.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Qin Han Drum Rhythm troupe immediately started beating the war drums.

The Qin Han Drum Rhythm could be divided into three parts: marching, combat, and triumphant return.

The piece being played now was the Marching Song, also known as the Slow Three Fires.

The tempo, though slow, was powerful and majestic, perfectly matching the porters’ chants, as if a grand army was on a campaign.

Boom!

Just upon entering the city gate, a wave of sweltering heat rushed over them.

The rumbling of drum teams, coupled with the frenzied shouts of the surrounding people, seemed to shake all of Chang’an.

Li Yan could even feel the ground trembling beneath his feet.

In the nation’s grand affairs, there lies the military and the sacrifice. The drum, an instrument connected with war and sacrifice since Ancient Times.

When the Yellow Emperor fought Chi You, he crafted eighty Bull Drums that shook the land for five hundred miles, and with repeated beats, three thousand eight hundred miles...

"Han Shu" speaks of the eight tones: the xun made of earth, the sheng of gourd, the drum of leather...

"Book of Poetry" says: Striking the drum gently, I honor our valiant ancestors...

"The Book of Changes" says: Shake it with thunder and moisten it with wind and rain...

This is a rhythm from an ancient lineage.

Under the frenetic atmosphere of the Drum King Tournament, everyone’s blood boiled with excitement, all schemes and calculations, all troubles and sorrows, were drowned out by the sound of the drums.

The earth trembled, as if the Thunder God had suddenly descended upon the world.

Under such circumstances, Li Yan had long since put everything else out of his mind, even though the Qin Han war drums were fierce, but in this tempestuous ocean of drum beats, they seemed almost insignificant, even their rhythm disrupted.

"Follow me!"

Li Yan roared, pulling out the Cloud Thunder Divine Drum right then and there.

His Hidden Energy surged, and he struck fiercely.

Hong!

The sound of the drum was like thunder, vibrating in all directions.

The entire team seemed to find its center, their rhythm no longer chaotic.

But even so, it was barely maintaining.

With drumbeats surrounding them both ahead and behind, everyone felt as if they were adrift in an ocean of drumming, on the verge of confusion at the slightest lapse in attention.

But Li Yan kept beating, strike after strike.

In such a state, he too entered a trance.

The Buddha summoned the Great Cloud Thunder Sound, louder than ordinary thunder.

When the Great Cloud Thunder Sound was heard, heaven and earth listened, as if the Buddha’s teachings were spreading to all beings. With cloud and thunder combined, they also nourished all life...

At that moment, Li Yan understood the true meaning of the Great Cloud Thunder Sound.

This sound was not only the intermingling of Yin and Yang but also originated from the heart, with the Thunder Sound reaching everywhere, the body felt like the earth itself was being nourished, layer upon layer, endless and continuous...

Hong! Hong! Hong!

Accompanied by the rolling thunderous sounds, the beat of the drum grew louder and louder.

Despite the simultaneous drumming of many teams, their sound could not be obscured, and the gazes of many bystanders were instantly drawn to their team.

"It’s Brother Yan!"

Sha Lifei tore off his dogskin hat and shouted frantically.

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and smiled.

In the distant crowd, the family of Li Shiqing, except for Li Kongqing who had to accompany the Princely Heir with official duties at the Prince Mansion, were almost all present.

Madame Li, hearing the change in the drumming, was first surprised, then listened carefully, and a smile gradually appeared on her face as she whispered, "Good boy, he’s done it..."

In the crowd, Hei Dan was also shouting loudly, excitedly saying to the people around him, "See that? See that? That’s someone from my hometown, that’s my brother..."

Some women from Pingkang Square also came to join the excitement. Like a flock of twittering birds, they drew the attention of the surrounding crowd. When they saw Manager Wan’s team approaching, someone with sharp eyes immediately pointed out, laughing:

"Look, that’s Young Master Li!"

"Which Young Master Li?"

"The Young Master Li..."

"Hahaha, indeed he’s a handsome young man..."

They all brought flower baskets and immediately started throwing handfuls of fresh flowers at the team—armor, flowers, and drumming tangled together in a tumultuous mix.

Zhao Wanfang watched with a smile from a distance.

Further away, Shen Sanyou was standing among the crowd with a wine jug in hand, taking a few swigs and chuckling foolishly, as if reminiscing something...

Many familiar faces were mixed in among the crowd, watching.

However, at this moment, Li Yan saw nothing of it.

He was completely immersed in the moment, striking the drum with Hidden Energy that grew louder and louder.

By the time they reached the middle of Vermilion Bird Street, the rhythm of the drumming suddenly quickened, transitioning to the second tune of Qin Han Drum Rhythm, Battle.

This tune was spirited and majestic.

Had it been before, Li Yan, when striking with Hidden Energy, often could not catch his breath after two beats and the rhythm would falter.

But now, he had mastered the Great Cloud Thunder Sound; after each surge of Hidden Energy, his body seemed to be nourished, and a new strength replenished him.

The use of Hidden Energy was now continuous.

The Cloud Thunder Divine Drum suddenly drowned out the surrounding drumming.

Of course, Li Yan didn’t use the Storing God technique.

After all, it was a Magic Artifact, and if used carelessly, it was feared that the surrounding drummers would be knocked unconscious.

Continuous use of Hidden Energy began to damage his body, his arm muscles swelled and skin turned red, sweat dripped from his forehead.

At this moment, Li Yan was already enlightening through the drumming.

The intricacies of using Hidden Energy were on the verge of breakthrough, and he didn’t care for anything else, continuously repairing himself with the Daluo Dharma Body.

Li Yan could feel that the so-called fascia was like a dense net, connecting all the structural tissues of the body.

Action through the vibration of the fascia, coordinating the strength of the whole body, was called ’qi membrane drum’ and ’encompassing tendons into circles.’

This force, from inside out, had many layers and interwoven complexities.

To have Hidden Energy turn a thousand twists and changes, he needed to form a new disturbance between the old strength exhausted and the new strength not yet arisen.

As stated in the Martial Arts Scripture, this is called ’unblocking the Yin Yang junction.’

Unblocking the Yin Yang junction meant reaching the pinnacle of Hidden Energy.

Li Yan did not understand before, but this time, after grasping the key point of Great Cloud Thunder Sound, that force was immediately replenished by him.

Finally, it was time for the third tune of Qin Han Drum Rhythm, Triumph.

This tune was neither too fast nor too slow.

The two rhythms alternated, varied and complex.

And Li Yan’s drumming similarly changed.

Vibration, reverberation, rotation... all kinds of force alternated.

Li Yan’s handling of the variations in Hidden Energy became more and more adept, which was exactly as described as a thousand twists and turns.

Thud!

Finally, the drumming ceased.

Li Yan was dazed for a moment before quickly regaining clarity.

In front of him stood the mottled ancient palace walls, but he had already walked the entire Vermilion Bird Street.

Behind him, the roar of the crowd and the thundering drums continued, but their team had completed their part and stopped, everyone collapsing to the ground, exhausted.

"Brother Li, are you alright?"

Manager Wan saw his pale face and quickly asked.

"I’m fine, I’m doing great!"

Li Yan laughed heartily, and all the hidden injuries in his body were instantly healed.

The Daluo Dharma Body, already enhanced, now showed dense cracks, like cracked porcelain.

However, Li Yan didn’t care in the slightest.

Through drumming, he had officially entered the pinnacle of Hidden Energy.

For others to reach this level, even if they were intelligent and their bodies slowly adapted, they risked harm.

But with the aid of the Daluo Dharma Body, he endured and pulled through.

All he needed to do next was follow the proper steps, grasping the True Intent of ’effortless touch leads to collapse,’ adapting to the opponent in battle, whether round or square, and he could step into the realm of Force Transformation.

"Brother Yan!"

Sha Lifei and Wang Daoxuan squeezed through the crowd to get to him.

"Hahaha..."

Manager Wan was clearly pleased that at least for the daytime event, they hadn’t lost to anyone; his mood was quite joyous, "Gentlemen, let’s go, I’ll host a feast. We’ll eat and drink our fill, and tonight, we continue!"

Carrying the Divine Tower and striking the war drums all required physical and mental effort, and everyone was drenched in sweat, but their spirits were even more uplifted.

Of course, they all knew that the evening was the main event...