The Blade-Wielding Legend

Quickly end the war, uproot the nails planted by the Jianmu Organization, and strive for a moment of respite for this storm-battered human world...

...

While Li Yan was meeting with the Five Dao General in a dream, at the same time, a thousand miles away, two battles were coming to an end almost simultaneously.

Quanzhou Port, Qingyuan Mountain Foot.

This place lies between mountains and the sea, fitting the momentum of "Mountain and Sea Unity."

The Jianmu Organization secretly laid a "pile foundation" here, which invoked a trace of an outer Demon God’s aura, attaching itself to a bewitched Western foreign merchant.

The foreign merchant’s eyes were red, his whole body reeked of sulfur, his strength limitless, and he drove twisted shadows attempting to pollute the Earth Vein Node.

Fortunately, an expert from the Mystical Sect stationed here—a hidden cultivation Earth Immortal of Qingyuan Temple, long forgotten by the world—emerged upon receiving an urgent order from the Xuan Sacrificial Officer.

This Earth Immortal, with the Daoist name "Shou Zhuo," was gaunt like an old pine yet proficient in ancient Mountain and River Suppressing Magic.

Instead of directly confronting the Western Demon God’s aura, he borrowed the thousand-year Earth Vein Qi of Qingyuan Mountain to lay the "Earth Evil 72 Thunder Array."

That night, wind and thunder surged.

Daoist Shou Zhuo used himself as an anchor, performed the Astral Step, recited True Words, and caused nine peach wood ancient swords engraved with thunder patterns to hover and rotate in the air, invoking the thunder from the Nine Heavens above.

The demonified foreign merchant roared and charged, shadows rushed like tides to the core of the array. At the critical moment, Daoist Shou Zhuo pointed like a sword, channeling the accumulated Mountain Power and a sliver of Heavenly Thunder’s might within the array, and fiercely pointed out.

Boom!

A glaring cyan-white lightning tore through the night sky, striking precisely at the foreign merchant. Amid the piercing screams, the sulfur stench exploded and was quickly dispersed by the mountain and sea breeze.

The foreign merchant’s body fell charred to the ground, Evil Qi melted like snow.

That trace of Demon God’s aura from abroad was cut down by the mountain thunder, sparing the Earth Vein node...

Gannan, Meiling Ancient Road.

In contrast, the conclusion at Meiling Ancient Road was tragically regrettable.

This place is steep and the ancient road winds through deep mountainous forests, being one of the strategic points connecting north and south.

The node here is located below the site of an abandoned ancient post station, guarded personally by an Earth Immortal with a twisted personality long secretly controlled by the Jianmu Organization, named "Hundred Bone Elder".

When a team composed of elite border army from Great Xuan and several Law Enforcement Hall experts from Dragon and Tiger Mountain arrived hurriedly guided by clues, awaiting them was a meticulously set death trap.

Surrounding the post station ruins, Hundred Bone Elder had already laid down the eerie "Hundred Ghosts Painting Skin Transformation Array."

Countless "painted skin ghosts," made with secret techniques and donning human skin puppets, were densely lurking in ancient trees, chaotic rocks, and even underground.

These puppets had rigid faces but moved as swiftly as spectral apparitions.

As soon as the team stepped into the array, Yin Wind rose sharply, thick fog spread.

In an instant, chilling "rip" sounds echoed from all directions, it was the sound of the painted skin being torn apart.

Rigid human skins leaped out from their hiding places, revealing pitch-black, skeletal ghostly figures within, fearlessly pouncing on soldiers and cultivators.

Blades and swords glimmered, talismans exploded, firearms roared.

The elite border army formed arrays to resist, Dragon and Tiger Mountain cultivators unleashed thunder talismans, the scene was intensely fierce.

However, the number of painted skin puppets was overwhelming, unfazed by ordinary weapons, and the array confused perceptions, putting the team in a desperate situation fighting independently.

A high priest from Dragon and Tiger Mountain led the team, despite sacrificing Dao to activate his Lifebound Thunder Talisman, exploding an area merely managing to lead a few wounded soldiers to breakthrough.

By the time a massive contingent of Mystical Sect experts and army reinforcements summoned by nearby prefectures arrived, the post station ruins were left in shambles.

The bodies of fallen soldiers and cultivators were mixed with broken painted skin puppets, the air heavy with the stench of blood and scorch.

That Earth Immortal "Hundred Bone Elder" had long fled into obscurity, leaving behind faint traces of Yin and evil aura and a thoroughly destroyed Earth Vein "pile foundation" with Yin energy permeating...

...

The wind and snow outside the Kuerka Guard Station had not yet ceased, and two urgent dispatches, carried by Hai Dongqing and passed along relay posts, had flown day and night to the Capital.

One report came from Qingyuan Mountain in Quanzhou: Daoist Shou Zhuo used his Earth Immortal body to draw upon the mountain’s Earth Evil and set up the Seventy-two Layers of Thunder Array, finally eradicating the outer Demon God’s aura under Qingyuan Mountain and preserving the Dragon Vein of Min Province. However, the Daoist’s own foundation was severely damaged, making his survival uncertain during closed-door meditation.

Another report conveyed the bloody news from Gannan Meiling: the experts from Dragon and Tiger Mountain and the elite Border Army were ambushed by the "Hundred Ghosts Painting Skin Transformation Array," with the Earth Immortal Hundred Bone Elder massacring many using puppet evil techniques, although he was eventually repelled.

A critical Earth Vein pile foundation was completely destroyed, and Yin Sha Qi was gushing out of the breach.

These two weighty battle reports, along with Kong Shangzhao’s secret letter, were simultaneously delivered to the desk of Mystic Priest Commander Pei Zongti.

In the secret letter, Kong Shangzhao deduced from observations at Kuerka and prisoner confessions that the Jianmu Organization had set up the "Yin Yang Inversion Array" in Korea, transforming it into an evil spirits grinding plate. Their true intent was by no means merely to trap the Great Xuan Liao Dong Iron Cavalry but to use it as bait to pin down the most elite forces of the court at the Goryeo border.

Once numerous hidden "nails" within the country are simultaneously triggered, they would collaborate internally and externally, shaking the foundation of the Divine State!

In the depths of the Mystic Priest’s Office on a late night, the study was brightly lit, the silver bone charcoal in the copper basin burning lively, unable to dispel the chill in the air.

Pei Zongti, dressed in regular attire, remained calm like still water, pushing Kong Shangzhao’s secret letter and the two battle reports toward the seated High Priests.

The flickering candlelight reflected on their faces, some old and some sharp.

"A narrow victory in Quanzhou, a disastrous defeat in Meiling... One pile foundation has already been damaged, and evil presence is gradually rising," an old Daoist in an apricot yellow Daoist robe with a lotus crown spoke first, his voice deep.

"That young Kong family member and Li Yan may be far away in the harsh cold north, yet they could unravel this situation from mere clues, perceiving Jianmu’s plot... Truly impressive youths." He lightly tapped his finger on Kong Shangzhao’s letter, with a hint of praise in his tone.

Another elder in a deep blue Confucian robe, with an aura profound as the sea, slightly nodded: "Indeed. To see this clearly, their vision transcends the immediate gains and losses of a single city or region. Such insight is beyond most. Lord Pei’s previous favor toward the Twelve Primordial Spirits was certainly not without reason."

Having said this, he turned his gaze to Pei Zongti.

Pei Zongti rubbed his jade ring, his gaze sweeping across the others: "We did foresee Jianmu’s ambitions, but we did not expect their penetration to be so deep, their actions so swift, and even their collusion with outer evil witches!"

"Now, Kong Shangzhao, Li Yan, and others have confirmed these concerns at the border; although the timing is perilous, it also serves as a wake-up call for us." He paused, a glint of sharpness in his eyes, "Since those people intend to use Goryeo as a grinding plate and the domestic pile foundation as their backup, why not turn their trick against them?"

The study fell into a brief silence, only occasionally broken by the crackling of charcoal. The High Priests exchanged glances, understanding each other’s intentions without words.

"The immediate priority," Pei Zongti broke the silence, slamming his fingers heavily on the maps of Liaodong and Goryeo, "is to stabilize the situation in Goryeo, relieve the pressure on the Liao Dong Iron Cavalry, and gain time to clear obstacles and eliminate hidden threats domestically."

"Order the land and sea camps in Dengzhou, Lai State, and Jinzhou: effective immediately, rearrange the ’Sea Suppression and Wave Subduing,’ ’Lock Dragon and Fix Meridian,’ and ’Soul Calming and Land Guarding’ arrays according to the ’heaven, earth, and man’ trinity positions!"

"The array eyes must be based on Centennial Peach Wood Core, Deep Sea Sinking Iron, and Ancient Battlefield Heroic Blade, supplemented by true talismans from various schools, and must be completed within seven days!"

The orders pierced through the night, rushing towards the coastal three states.

Meanwhile, another mission letter, bearing the Mystic Priest’s fire seal and the distinctive ink fragrance of the Qiankun Academy, sped towards Kuerka against the wind and snow through special communication channels.

Several days later, within the temporary barracks at Kuerka Guard Station.

Li Yan was practicing martial arts and training strength in the snow, while Kong Shangzhao and Daoist Qingyuan were simulating battle plans with sand tables. Sha Lifei was carefully wiping his flintlock short gun, which had achieved great merits, and Wu Ba was laboriously polishing the cannon barrel used as a hammer.

Strong liquor was being warmed over the charcoal fire basin, dispelling the severe cold of the Northern Land.

Moments later, a messenger, bringing with him the chill, entered respectfully presenting the letter to Li Yan.

Li Yan unfolded it, quickly scanning through, then handed the letter to Kong Shangzhao.

"Mystic Priest order, Qiankun Academy requisition."

Li Yan’s voice was calm as he looked around at the people in the barracks, "We are ordered to set out immediately, head south to Goryeo, join with the Liao Dong army, and assist in enemy elimination."

Sha Lifei snapped the flintlock mechanism shut with a click, grinning, "It’s finally time, those pirates and Ghost Gods, just in time to settle scores!"

Li Yan put away the letter and walked to the window.

The snow seemed lighter, yet a heavier shadow was looming over the peninsula turned into an evil spirits land.

He tightened his grip on the hilt of the Duan Chen Blade at his waist, his eyes sharp as a blade’s edge.

"Pack up your gear, depart at dawn tomorrow."

"Target, Goryeo!"

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