The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 277 - 187: Opening the Cellar Ceremony

Chapter 277: Chapter 187: Opening the Cellar Ceremony

"It’s finally open!"

Even Li Yan, who was usually calm and composed, felt a bit excited at this moment.

With a loud call from the Daoist, dozens of young Chunyang Palace Daoists dashed out immediately.

They all carried ropes with them and leaped agilely up the smooth cliff face, the mountain wind howling and causing their Daoist robes to flutter like a flock of black butterflies against the steep rock face.

Such a scene filled onlookers with both awe and trepidation.

Soon, they reached the top of the cliff, under a stand of pine trees, where they found a number of iron spikes had already been hammered in.

The Daoists moved skillfully, tying one end of the thick hemp ropes to the iron spikes and the other end around their waists before sliding down the cliff face.

Upon reaching the first cave entrance, one Daoist first removed the yellow talismans, then struck the sealing clay to shatter it.

Li Yan’s eyes flitted across the scene, thinking he saw a faint golden glow emerging from the cave, but it disappeared in an instant and was hardly noticeable.

As the cave entrance was opened, he also got a clear view inside.

He saw that the cave contained large black glazed jars, which were so big that they appeared impossible to have been placed through the entrance, a thought that was truly baffling.

Inside the mouth of the jar lay another cavity.

Above the jar was a seal.

The Daoist then removed the sealing strip and pulled out a large wooden stopper from the top before climbing into the jar.

In no time, the Daoist emerged holding various-sized packages, which he tied to the rope and gestured for those above to pull them up.

Li Yan looked up and his surprise grew.

Just from the first cave, they continuously extracted hundreds of packages, which strained the hemp rope taut, evidencing their considerable weight.

And this was just one grotto.

Above the cliff face, there were densely packed holes—at least a hundred of them.

No wonder the Proper Xuan Sect assisted the court; it was rumored that the Grotto-Heaven Blessed Lands around the world, including obscure but not less significant ones, often contained Magic Artifacts and spiritual materials left by predecessors, cultivated by the power of Innate Gang Sha Qi.

This place before him was merely one located in Hua Mountain.

Thinking a bit more, he could understand the vastness of treasure hidden here.

However, the expressions of the people around him remained grave.

Li Yan wondered internally if there might be complicating factors.

Indeed, after the Daoists had carried the parcels into the Chunyang Palace, and approximately half an incense stick of time had passed, Jing Xuzi came out with a smile, cupping his hands and announcing loudly:

"My Daoist brothers and sisters, rest assured, the spiritual materials in this batch are all correct!"

"Congratulations, congratulations!"

Many people finally let out a sigh of relief and congratulated each other.

Li Yan suddenly realized that this task of opening the storage might be similar to taming a Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure. An error at the start or a hitch along the way, and everything would be rendered useless.

After all, too many accidents could happen over a period of one hundred years.

With the opening successful, the cultivators on the mountain relaxed and started chatting casually with one another.

Of course, there was a clear distinction between the different groups.

Members of the Proper Xuan Sect conversed with each other, those from different Magic Veins chatted among themselves, and those from the side doors were busy building relationships.

Manager Wan and Wan Zhong were the first to seek out Li Yan.

Seeing them looking anxious and sweating, Li Yan let out a slight smile, cupping his hands and saying, "Don’t worry. If there is a chance, I will definitely secure the items you’re after."

Last night, both Manager Wan and the other man had made another trip to give him Silver Coins.

With his connection, Manager Wan naturally wouldn’t miss out, since those from the Proper Xuan Sect certainly wouldn’t help them with their purchases.

At that moment, another person approached, laughing from a distance, "Li Yan, it’s good to see you well."

Li Yan looked up and saw a tall figure in a white Daoist robe, with a white Eight Trigrams band around his forehead, dark skin, a long beard, and a stalwart build.

"Senior Zhao."

Li Yan responded with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting.

The newcomer was Zhao Facheng of the Nine Elements Sect from Li Mountain, who had fought alongside Li Yan in Xianyang City against Chen Fakui, who performed Evil Techniques in sacrificial rituals.

Zhao Facheng approached and examined Li Yan, expressing his thoughts: "I always knew you were exceptional, Li Yan. In such a short time, you’ve made quite the name for yourself."

"Even on Li Mountain, I’ve heard of your fame."

"Senior flatters me," Li Yan replied courteously.

As of today, he had learned many things.

For instance, the role of the Nine Elements Sect that Zhao Facheng belonged to was to guard the great tombs of the Qin and Han in the Guanzhong region.

It was because of their presence that many disasters were avoided.

Everyone in the Guanzhong Mystical Sect praised them, thumb up.

Even the traitor Chen Fagui had once been widely acclaimed.

To spend a lifetime in cultivation just to guard a tomb was something Li Yan felt he didn’t have the determination to do.

After some pleasantries, an idea struck Li Yan, and he initiated, "Senior Zhao, my knowledge is shallow. With so many esteemed figures from the Mystical Sect present today, could you introduce me to a few, so I may broaden my horizons?"

To be honest, he had been thinking about this for a while.

But Manager Wan and Wan Zhong were from local side doors and, although somewhat knowledgeable, their understanding was limited, and there were many people they did not recognize.

Yu Fengzi would have been willing to help, but he was busy at the moment, and it wasn’t right to keep bothering him.

After considering his options, Zhao Facheng seemed the most suitable.

After all, as part of a court-recognized Magic Vein, he would undoubtedly know many.

Zhao Facheng was stunned for a moment but then nodded with a smile, "Of course, it’s no trouble at all."

Looking toward the left, he said, "See those? They are the orthodox practitioners, divided into four groups by the court’s Priestly System: Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist, and Mixed."

"No need to mention the Daoist group. Since the end of the Song dynasty, the Taixuan Orthodox Sect has already consolidated all the Daoist traditions, being the foremost in the Mystical Sect..."

"The Buddhist group primarily consists of the Chan, Esoteric, Lotus, and Vinaya sects, though the Lotus Sect hasn’t participated in a long time due to certain reasons..."

Li Yan felt puzzled, "The Confucian group also has Mystical Sect practitioners?"

Zhao Facheng said with meaningful depth, "That’s true. They have some unique circumstances... You’ll understand in due time."