MOF Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Xie Ci Encounters Old Enemies Thanks to the Mechanism.

Nangong Ci said, “The person behind this is manipulating Yin corpses with a zither. There have been precedents for this kind of evil magic.”

A sense of familiarity with the zither music arose in Xie Yiling’s heart. He thought of the white jade flute hanging from Nangong Ci’s waist and cautiously asked, “Master, do you understand music?”

Nangong Ci narrowed his eyes slightly, met Xie Yiling’s gaze, and gave the answer he wanted, “It’s ‘Burying Clothes’.”

The song “Burying Clothes” was famous in the Six Realms in earlier years, but now it is rarely mentioned.

This is because the creator of the song mixed it with ghost techniques, which could temporarily make people lose their minds and control their actions. Later, it was exposed and became a taboo among the immortal sects.

The zither music disappeared along with the Yin corpses, and Nangong Ci withdrew his spiritual incantation, and Xie Yiling regained his freedom. The four of them cautiously leaned together, stepped on the red lotuses, and slowly moved forward along the pattern.

While walking, Xie Yiling suddenly felt a chill in his heart, and a coldness gathered in his body, disturbing his internal organs. Before he could react, he spat out a mouthful of blood, splashing on the red lotuses on the ground, making the red lotuses even more lifelike.

“Senior Brother Xie!” Gu Huanzhi, who was walking behind Xie Yiling, was startled by the sight. He quickly reached out to help him, but was a step too late.

Xie Yiling’s eyes were dark, and he tried hard to open them, but weariness pressed down on his eyes like a mountain. His whole body fell heavily downward, as if he were in a dark abyss.

Nangong Ci steadily caught Xie Yiling, then half-knelt down and gently pressed his pulse. He lowered his eyes, his expression serious and calm. No one noticed the imperceptible tremor hidden in the small folds of his clothes on his chest.

In the confused and worried gazes of Gu Huanzhi and A Si, Nangong Ci appeared exceptionally calm, “The Yin and evil energy in the underground palace is too heavy. His body is too weak and cannot bear it.”

After saying that, he pondered for a moment and channeled a stream of spiritual power into Xie Yiling’s body.

The heaviness all around him gradually dissipated, and Xie Yiling opened his eyes, seeing the three of them staring at him.

“Awake!” Gu Huanzhi breathed a sigh of relief, “Senior Brother Xie, you scared us just now!”

“Sorry.” Xie Yiling was still a little dazed, “What’s wrong with me?”

Nangong Ci’s gaze fell on his pale face, staring at the dazzling crimson blood remaining at the corner of his mouth. Xie Yiling pursed his lips, feeling the bloodstains that had not yet dried on his lips. He raised his hand to wipe them away with his fingers, but saw Nangong Ci take out a snow-white handkerchief and take the lead in wiping away the bloodstains for him.

Xie Yiling keenly caught sight of a corner of the handkerchief, embroidered with a barely visible bird with silver thread.

A thought that was almost impossible to come true floated in his mind. He cooperated with Nangong Ci’s movements and slightly opened his lips, his thoughts fluctuating. Feeling the warmth around him, he struggled to get up and said, “Master, did you channel spiritual power into me again?”

Nangong Ci nodded, supported him, and calmly put the handkerchief away.

Xie Yiling gratefully looked at him. After his breathing stabilized, the group continued to move forward. After an unknown amount of time, a road finally appeared in front of them.

Xie Yiling looked at the fork in the road in front of him and turned to Nangong Ci, “Master, there are two roads here.”

“What should we do?” Gu Huanzhi asked.

Nangong Ci thought for a moment, took out the brocade bag containing the black mist puppet, and released the puppet.

Once released, the black mist puppet first danced wildly for a while, then seemed to realize that the atmosphere was not right, and gradually calmed down.

Nangong Ci said without much emotion, “Choose one.”

Hearing this, the black mist puppet lowered its head and stood listlessly in front of the two passages. After a while, it floated to the right and shook its body.

“Master,” Xie Yiling said in surprise, “How do you know that this puppet knows the way?”

Nangong Ci said concisely, “Smell.”

That’s right, Xie Yiling remembered that puppets recognize people by smell.

After using the black mist puppet, Nangong Ci put it back into the brocade bag again.

This passage was narrower than the one they had come through, barely enough for one person to pass through. Xie Yiling followed closely behind Nangong Ci, saw the abrasion marks on the walls on both sides, and felt more confident.

As they were walking, the feeling under their feet suddenly changed. Just as he was about to take a closer look, the ground he was stepping on sank as he lowered his head.

Gu Huanzhi behind him quickly grabbed Xie Yiling’s clothes. With a “tearing” sound, all that remained in his hand was a piece of cloth.

The change happened in an instant.

“Senior Brother Xie!” Gu Huanzhi exclaimed.

Even if Nangong Ci heard the movement and turned around immediately, it was too late.

The piece of ground that had sunk quickly rose again in full view, but Xie Yiling was nowhere to be seen.

“Brother Xie Ci! I’ll save you!”

A Si was about to step on the piece of ground when Nangong Ci lifted him up with one hand and placed him on the other side.

“What are you doing?” A Si glared at Nangong Ci in confusion and anger, “I can go down and save people!”

Gu Huanzhi quickly comforted him, “A Si, don’t worry, Daoist Fufeng will definitely have a way.”

Blocked by Nangong Ci, A Si had no way to pass. He helplessly tried to push him away, but found that this person was as immovable as the stone walls on both sides, so he had to give up.

Nangong Ci was silent. He stood silently on the piece of ground where Xie Yiling had stood.

“Third Young Master Gu,” Nangong Ci suddenly said, “Please keep an eye on A Si.”

Gu Huanzhi said solemnly, “Yes, Daoist Fufeng.”

The surroundings quieted down, and the remaining two people stared intently at Nangong Ci.

The waiting time was not long, but it was enough for Nangong Ci’s brow to furrow more and more tightly. Just as his patience was about to run out, the ground under his feet suddenly gave way, and his whole body fell down.

Xie Yiling fell from above and slid all the way down until he stopped at an open space. He got up and moved his ankles, thankfully not suffering any injuries.

He patted the dust off his body and looked around.

Although separating from Nangong Ci and the others posed a threat to his life, Xie Yiling felt much more at ease, and the sharpness around him gradually emerged.

What is the purpose of the person behind the construction of the underground palace and the control of the Yin corpses?

Was Luo Huaiji instructed by the person behind the scenes to lead them into the underground palace?

And Yan Zhan, it seems that they really are a gang.

Suddenly, Xie Yiling’s ears twitched slightly, and faint footsteps came from behind him. Judging from the movement, there was more than one person. He turned his head sharply, and his brow twitched when he saw the other person’s face.

The person who came had a face that was good at deceiving people, with regular features and kind eyes and eyebrows when he smiled. He was tall and straight, neither humble nor arrogant, with an air of righteousness.

But whether in the past or now, Xie Yiling extremely disliked this person. His fellow disciple, Lu Jinnian, was a hypocritical and extremely sanctimonious person.

“Why is there only one person?” Lu Jinnian’s eyebrows and eyes were full of impatience. He glanced at Xie Yiling, obviously not taking him seriously, “And still such a low-level cultivator.”

Luo Huaiji behind him covered his face with a fan, hiding the coldness in his eyes, and said with a smile, “Sorry to trouble you. You should be clear about my situation, so that person asked us to come together.”

Lu Jinnian was somewhat moved by Luo Huaiji’s words. His expression improved a little, and he asked, “Who is this person?”

Luo Huaiji lowered his voice and said, “This person seems to be Daoist Fufeng’s newly accepted disciple.”

Lu Jinnian’s expression froze for a moment. He finally carefully looked at Xie Yiling and slowly said, “You said, he is Daoist Fufeng’s newly accepted disciple?”

Xie Yiling supported himself against the stone wall, making a defensive posture. Based on his understanding of Lu Jinnian, he of course knew what this person was thinking at this time.

In his previous life, he and Lu Jinnian fought openly and secretly to win the position of Nangong Ci’s only disciple, but in the end, neither of them succeeded.

However, what he didn’t expect was that Lu Jinnian had now turned to the demonic path and colluded with Yan Zhan and the others.

“I heard him call Daoist Fufeng ‘Master’ with my own ears. There’s no mistake.” Luo Huaiji tapped his chest with his fan, “However, I think he has some brains. If he can be used by us, keep him. If not, it’s all up to you.”

Lu Jinnian stretched out his hand and summoned a sword that Xie Yiling was very familiar with, Breaking Ice.

He sneered and said, “This kind of person is not worthy to be with us.” As soon as he finished speaking, the sword energy swept across, rushing straight at Xie Yiling’s face.

Xie Yiling subconsciously used his strength, and spiritual power flashed in his fingertips. He was startled in his heart, but quickly understood that it should be because Nangong Ci had channeled spiritual power into him earlier.

As the name suggests, Breaking Ice has the power to break ice and cut stone. With Xie Yiling’s current spiritual power, he could not resist it in a one-on-one fight.

At the critical moment, he subconsciously summoned his spiritual power, quickly transforming it into the shape of a chain and rushing straight at Lu Jinnian.

This could be regarded as Xie Yiling’s most handy weapon besides his sword, the Rune Chain. He was extremely good at tinkering with these strange things in private and often created and used them himself.

Lu Jinnian was very unfamiliar with the Rune Chain, and the direction of Breaking Ice’s attack deviated slightly.

Xie Yiling dodged sideways, and the Rune Chain tightly entangled the sword body like a dragon.

Lu Jinnian was a little annoyed, “A dying person, why bother making this useless struggle.”

Xie Yiling hooked his lips, as if he found it funny, and said, “A dying person is not a person who wants to die. If being good with words counts as an ability, then I am indeed not as useful as you.”

Luo Huaiji stood aside like he was watching a show, covering his smile with his fan.

Lu Jinnian was so angry that his chest heaved up and down. His face, which usually looked gentle and polite, showed a bit of ferocity and venom. It seemed that only by killing the man in front of him with a chaotic sword could he vent the anger in his heart.

“Stop talking nonsense, accept your death!”

Seeing Lu Jinnian’s attacks becoming more and more fierce and getting closer and closer, Xie Yiling wanted to use the Rune Chain to distance himself from him.

However, Lu Jinnian did not retreat, desperately pushing forward against the Rune Chain.

Xie Yiling had no choice but to forcefully retract the Rune Chain, then do a somersault in mid-air, landing in a slightly farther place.

Lu Jinnian raised his sword and leaped over. Xie Yiling quickly grabbed both ends of the Rune Chain with both hands, forcibly receiving this sword. The restored spiritual power was consumed too much, and it was no longer enough to support him to continue fighting with Lu Jinnian. In the blink of an eye, Xie Yiling’s hands were empty, and the Rune Chain disappeared into thin air.

“Stop.”

Breaking Ice took the opportunity to pierce Xie Yiling’s left shoulder. Just as Lu Jinnian was about to split the person in half, a voice stopped him in time.

Xie Yiling tightly pursed his lips, not making a sound of pain. He raised his eyes and saw a person walk out from behind the stone wall with a sword in his arms.

This person looked very young, but gave a very strange feeling. It seemed that his face was a mask, not the flesh and blood that grew on his face.

He glanced over Lu Jinnian and Luo Huaiji in a seemingly casual manner before turning his head to look at Xie Yiling and uttering an order, “Don’t kill him.”

Lu Jinnian was obviously unwilling to obey, “Yan Zhan, what do you mean by this?”

Xie Yiling was shocked in his heart. So this person was Yan Zhan.

Yan Zhan smiled, his tone not concealing his ridicule towards the two of them, “His value is greater than both of you combined.”

Lu Jinnian had no choice but to draw out his sword, not forgetting to coldly threaten Xie Yiling, “When you are no longer of value, I will definitely take your life.”

Xie Yiling gasped a few times and barely swallowed the blood in his mouth, “I will be waiting at any time.”

“So it’s a reborn body, no wonder there is a spiritual weapon hidden in your body.” Yan Zhan approached Xie Yiling, staring at him as if to confirm. He put away his usual nonchalant appearance, his eyes deep and filled with a desire for the spiritual weapon.

Xie Yiling’s heart was pounding. Spiritual weapon? How could there be a spiritual weapon in his body?