The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 412 - 250 Imperial Mausoleum Assassination Plot_2

Chapter 412: Chapter 250 Imperial Mausoleum Assassination Plot_2

"Naturally, the responsibility of mausoleum guardianship requires contention."

Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan exchanged a look, but said nothing.

The old man Guan had only seen the surface.

In reality, what was being contested was the incense.

No other reason, for Emperor Guan had already died at that time. Although his martial prowess was astounding, he was certainly not an Ascender.

He must have been classified with other City Gods as an Earth Spirit fueled by incense.

Yet, his reputation was immense!

In the words of a past life, he was top-tier in popularity. From south to north of the Divine State, from the pugilistic world to the temple, the tributes were countless.

For this reason, his titles continued to multiply.

In the Mystical Sect, the importance of incense was self-evident, especially Emperor Guan, who almost became a totemic presence in the Divine State, naturally, needed to be contested.

Though the reasons behind it were unknown, it was apparent that the responsibility of guardianship went to the Buddhist sect.

This was rather peculiar.

Given such a significant event, why hadn’t any experts from the Buddhist sect arrived?

With doubts in their hearts, the group entered the mausoleum.

Guan Ling now possessed royal specifications; the archway leading into the mausoleum was carved with dragons and phoenixes, a path only emperors could traverse according to tradition.

Such taboos, Li Yan and the others would naturally avoid, and they followed Guan Peide through the side gate.

"Greetings, Clan Leader."

The Tomb Guardians of the Guan Family lineage had long been waiting outside the entrance, quickly guiding everyone inside at the sight of them.

The leader of the Tomb Guardians was a burly man with sharp eyes and slightly bulging temples, clearly having stepped into the realm of Hidden Energy.

Frankly, such skills were only effective locally.

However, the responsibility of guardianship was more of an honor, and no one dared to come here to rob tombs.

As he walked, the man spoke in a deep voice, "I have already informed Master Miao Shan. I will take you to see him."

Upon hearing this, Li Yan understood.

This Master Miao Shan must be someone from the Mystical Sect; after all, presiding over the annual Guan Mausoleum festival was not something ordinary people could manage.

Seemingly aware that fellow Mystical Sect members had arrived, two novice monks came from the side temple, folding their hands and bowing, "Amitabha Buddha, how is Benefactor Guan?"

"The novice monks have prepared tea for everyone. Please proceed to the Zen room. My master has some matters and will be along shortly."

Guan Peide frowned, "What matters does Master Miao Shan have?"

It was not unreasonable for him to ask more questions; at such a time, what could be more important than resolving the problem with Guan Mausoleum?

The novice monk looked troubled, "My master has been busy these days, consulting many classics and old books, and did not sleep at all last night. He is probably still reading."

"Oh, I see."

Upon hearing this, Guan Peide’s expression softened a bit.

Meanwhile, Li Yan performed the Yang Jue spell and took a deep breath.

Typically, he wouldn’t probe such places to avoid disturbing the Earth Spirits or being overwhelmed by the intense Power of Incense that could impact his Divine Soul.

But since this was an investigation, he couldn’t afford to be careless.

Indeed, the specifications of an imperial mausoleum were exceptional.

The Fengshui pattern in this place was connected with the surrounding earth veins, a central axis symmetrical, emanating a majestic and solemn aura.

The Power of Incense was as dense as mountains.

The main hall, bedroom, and tomb each had an imposing aura more overwhelming than the last, making Li Yan’s breathing slightly stifled.

However, his expression slightly changed as he pointed to the front side, "What is that place?"

The novice monk looked puzzled, "That is the Zen room of my master."

"Quickly, something has happened!"

As soon as the words were out, he drew strength from his feet and leaped forward.

As he approached the Zen room swiftly, Li Yan sniffed the air again and said in a deep voice, "I am going after the murderer, and you save the people!"

With that, he accelerated, stepping on the courtyard wall, leaping into the air, and disappearing over the tall walls of the mausoleum.

The others were also startled and rushed into the Zen room.

Inside the Zen room lay various books scattered all over the place, including ancient texts like the "Classic of Mountains and Seas" and "Yijian Records," as well as "Record of Dangyang County" and some case files, all in disarray.

In the chair lay a monk in yellow robes, his head appeared to have been struck by some heavy object, shattered like a watermelon, splattering everywhere.

"Master!"

The two novice monks were trembling all over, crying and rushing forward.

Guan Peide also widened his eyes, his expression darkening, and he said sharply, "What’s going on with you? How did the intruder come in without you noticing?"

The Guan Family members guarding the tomb looked at each other, at a loss of what to do.

"Clan Leader, we just saw the Zen master, and we didn’t hear any noise. How did it happen so suddenly..."

"Enough nonsense!"

Wang Daoxuan said in a deep voice, "The other party is an expert. Brother Lv, you go assist Brother Yan!"

Lv San said no more and immediately ran outside.

This Miao Shan Master, being someone from the Mystical Sect and responsible for guarding Guan Mausoleum, obviously possessed considerable Dao. The fact that the other party could kill him instantly indicated their formidable strength.

After Lv San left, Wang Daoxuan glanced around, frowning tightly, "Everyone, do not touch anything. Look at the books on the floor, which one has been tampered with?"

"Master Miao Shan might have discovered something..."

Outside the Guan Mausoleum walls, there was a sizable forest, dense and tall due to the prohibition of logging around the mausoleum.

Li Yan chased the scent outside; he didn’t have much hope initially, but he soon saw a figure darting through the dense forest.

The opponent moved with astonishing speed.

It was an Armored Horse!

Li Yan gritted his teeth and pursued.

He also had an Armored Horse, but activating a spell took a few seconds, and though brief, it was enough for the other to vanish without a trace.

Fortunately, he had noticed that beyond the forest was the Ju River.

At this moment, the mountain floods upstream surged violently; a normal Armored Horse could not leap over it, perhaps it could stop them.

Thinking of this, Li Yan immediately increased his speed.

He leaped, Hidden Energy bursting from his foot, forcefully kicking off a trunk, his entire body darting forward like an arrow.

When his strength ran out, he pushed off another giant tree, again frantically borrowing force, while twisting in mid-air to adjust his direction.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Continuous borrowing of force kept him airborne.

This was the result of recent martial arts training.

He had referred to the "North Emperor Mysterious Water Escape" for the "method of borrowing momentum," dividing his power into the Yin Yang Five Elements.

Though he had not reached the true stage of Force Transformation, "without intention, touch and it collapses," let alone the "Undying Seal Technique" of force transformation through borrowing, his control over power had obviously improved.

He had barely broken through the peak of Hidden Energy.

As long as he mastered it proficiently, it would be Force Transformation.

The small forest was not large, three times of borrowing force and he was already out.

Indeed, the opponent stopped by the riverbank.

Li Yan finally saw his face clearly.

It was an old man, tall and burly, with dark skin and randomly tied hair with a stick, wearing homespun clothes with sleeves and pant legs rolled up, a hatchet hanging from his waist.

He looked just like a woodcutter.

"Stop!"

Li Yan shouted fiercely, simultaneously drawing the Duan Chen Blade.

Hearing the voice, the old man turned, his face ancient, eyes bright like an owl’s, devoid of any cloudiness.

His expression was extraordinarily cold. Seeing Li Yan approaching, he merely cast a casual glance, then took a Yellow Talisman from his bosom, stuffed it into his mouth, and leaped into the Ju River, pinching a spell.

The turbulent river water surged violently, swallowing him instantly.

"Water Escape!"

Li Yan’s face darkened as he halted.

His Mysterious Water Escape could only borrow mist for escape, not yet to the point of traversing water, incapable of chasing in the river.

At this moment, there was an eagle’s cry in the sky; Lv San also caught up, carrying a Bone Flower, and said heavily, "He is an expert, don’t chase."

Li Yan nodded, sheathed his blade, and pondered aloud, "This old man smells of the stench of earth corpses and has eyes like an owl’s; he’s likely from the treasure-seeking lineage."

"And, he bears the scent of that ’Tomb Blood Beam’..."

......

"Found it!"

When Li Yan and the group entered, Sha Lifei was holding a torn book, "Such force, it’s definitely related to this book."

Wang Daoxuan took it quickly, scanning it briefly, his brow furrowing, and the confusion in his eyes deepened, "It’s Ge Xianweng’s ’Immortal Chronicles.’"

Li Yan, having asked what they were looking for, mused upon hearing this, "This book is everywhere. Maybe it’s some specific record that’s key."

"’Immortal Chronicles’?"

Beside him, Guan Peide contemplated, "As it happens, ’Immortal Chronicles’ does relate to Dangyang County..."