The Blade-Wielding Legend-Chapter 1384 - 715: Five Dao General, Chang’an Ghost Market (Part 2)
Although they resemble demons, they are disciplined and orderly, exuding a chillingly stern aura!
These are Yin Department Soldiers!
Li Yan instantly understood.
Here, in this Secret Realm wedged between the Daluo Law Realm and the Human World, those entities that couldn't visibly manifest in the human realm have finally revealed their blurry forms.
Swish!
The dark, oppressive army simultaneously raised their hands, and in an instant, countless black, heavy Soul-hooking Chains danced wildly like venomous snakes, carrying biting Yin Wind as they tore through the dense fog, as if nailing into the void.
Crisscrossing, sealing heaven and earth, it seemed like a vast net.
Could this be the Celestial Net and Earth Web?
The Divine Skill of the Soul Hook, having such a marvelous use…
"Roar——!"
Before Li Yan could determine friend from foe, a non-human, non-beastly wail pierced through the dense fog, shaking one's spirit and heart.
Was the Demonic Qi blocked?
Li Yan furrowed his brows, increasingly puzzled in his heart.
If the Five Dao General had no intention of protecting, then why did they obstruct the yin soldiers from capturing in front of the Xuanwu Gate earlier?
And why forcibly drag him into this perilous place?
Swoosh~
Amidst rising doubts, a mighty, imposing figure clad in golden armor emerged once again within the dense fog.
The face was indistinguishable, but the body shape was very familiar.
It was the Five Dao General.
The two were only a few yards apart, and before Li Yan could voice his questions, he saw the Five Dao General gently wave in his direction…
In an instant, the "solid" road beneath him began to twist and stretch wildly again.
Even though Li Yan stood still, the surrounding scene seemed to be pushed backward rapidly by an invisible giant hand as though it were a painted scroll!
In the blink of an eye, the stern army of yin soldiers along with the howling Demonic Qi were completely swallowed by the swirling dense fog.
And in the sky, the looming shadow of an ancient city gate inscribed with the large characters "Chongwen Gate" was rushing towards him at an unbelievable speed!
Swoosh!
It was completely unavoidable! Li Yan's figure instantly passed through the cold, giant portal.
Behind the door were still those shadows of ancient merchants trapped on the streets, replaying their endless despair.
Li Yan had a flash of inspiration in his mind and understood what had happened.
Although the Five Dao General's incense was diminishing, some even distorted folk beliefs, calling them five great thieves who were deified after death, their true identity was not simple.
They symbolize and protect the roads and are also a major deity of the Yin Bureau.
Some bizarre tales mention "path-blocking ghosts" on roads causing people to get lost, and sometimes, the Five Dao General would appear to guide people away from danger, hence temples are often built for them at complex or problematic roads.
Earlier, he hadn't moved; it was the road that twisted.
This was likely the mysterious Divine Skill of the Five Dao General.
At the same time, Li Yan's view suddenly shifted sharply to the left.
The dense fog on the left street suddenly dispersed, revealing a tall archway with four ancient characters glowing with phosphorescent light in the dimness: Chang'an Ghost Market!
...
Behind the archway, the dense fog had not completely dispersed, but became sparse and sticky.
Like a cold and thin veil, it shrouded the entire area.
In the visible range, it was not bustling, but a scene of utter decay.
The ground was a sort of ochre hard soil, winding with several seemingly main paths, though they interlaced and intertwined like "streets".
On either side of the "streets", varied shapes of alley walls and building shadows stood.
The dense Persian lodgings with pointed roof outlines, the Great Tang-style multi-eave towers, all in ruins.
Here, it seemed to have been forgotten by time for thousands of years.
The so-called "market" stalls were randomly distributed among these fossilized ruins.
Sellers and pedestrians were all shadows.
They wore different kinds of attire: the coarse hemp short gowns of Tang porters, the turned-collar narrow sleeves of Sogdian merchants, the black clothes and turbans of clerks, the brocade robes and jade belts of officials, the bare-armed Kunlun slaves…
And more unclear figures, silently moving, with rigid, repetitive actions.
Time here was also looping forward and back:
An old hunched man carrying a bamboo basket of hot coals, the fiery red coals shining on his expressionless side face…
Several shadowy figures dressed as Hu merchants gathered in front of a stall, stiffly gesturing, seemingly arguing…
Leaning against the half-collapsed wall of a tavern were shadowy figures of Hu Ji.
They wore exaggerated makeup, with silk flowers in their hair, maintaining postures of pouring wine and persuading to drink.
Yet their charming smiles were as stiff as stone sculptures…
Is this the Chang'an Ghost Market?
Li Yan's eyes were complex, then he turned his head to face forward, clasped his hands and said:
"What pressing matter brings you to bring me here?"
At this moment, he was sitting inside the ragged tea hut of the Ghost Market.
Opposite the square table was the Five Dao General, his figure already reduced, but his face still indistinct.
Li Yan's heart already vaguely suspected something.
The other party deliberately released Demonic Qi to escape into the Nine Gates Yin Ruins!
Such action clearly has another intention, evading Heavenly Court and Netherworld investigation.
However, the Five Dao General opposite did not speak.
He pointed to the sky, then slightly shook his head, extending his finger to draw on the table.
The dust dispersed, sketching out a human face with three eyes.
Immortal Master Erlang!
Li Yan's heart shivered, quickly looking at the other party.
Since the last time, Immortal Master Erlang had not contacted him again.
Originally thought the other party busy, now it seems something went wrong!
Given Immortal Master Erlang's tribute in the Human World, could he also be in trouble?
Looking at the Five Dao General's appearance, he also cannot speak to reveal the Heavenly Mechanism, violating the "Heavenly Rules."
Li Yan was unclear on how much the Heavenly Rules restricted these Divine entities, but there must be loopholes.
For example, by using the Hook Jade, he heard many secrets of the Daluo Law Realm.
This did not count as violating the "Heavenly Rules."
The Five Dao General did not write words; he just drew a painting.
It seems, by conveying information for him to guess, it can also be evaded.
No wonder since ancient times, divine revelations have been vague, just like Divination.
As he grasped some understanding, the Five Dao General nodded, continuing to draw.
This time, he drew a line wide at both ends and narrow in the middle, with three-eyed human face in the center, one side with a Hook Paper symbol, the other a Thunder engraving...
Li Yan frowned, pondering quietly, muttering, "Hook Paper... Thunder Department? Is the Immortal Master being dispatched to guard?"
If he hadn't seen Daluo Law Realm with his own eyes, he really wouldn't have guessed.
The so-called Heavenly Court, Underworld, Buddha Realm, are all within the Daluo Law Realm, appearing from the outside like branch-shaped light spots, connected within the Divine Land, the three light spots have points of connection.
Li Yan recalled, during a previous mission, the Thunder Department once communicated with Cui Pan.
Thinking the Heavenly Court Yin Bureau are likely linked, Erlang positioned in the center, perhaps guarding the gate.
The opposite Five Dao General clearly didn't anticipate Li Yan guessing so swiftly.
He nodded, his finger drawing faster and faster.
A cross-shaped mark, representing the Five Dao General himself, encountering the three-eyed human face...
Above appeared big hands collectively grasping a tree...
Li Yan half-guessing, half-inquiring, finally understood the meaning.
The Five Dao General had already met Immortal Master Erlang.
From the looks, they had formed an alliance, and both knew him.
Previously seeking aid in dreams, followed by true form appearing, then soul hooked arriving at the Yin Ruins Ghost Market...
All this was the Five Dao General acting in accord with circumstances, aiming to meet him!
The reason, naturally, was those hands controlling the Jianmu!
Thinking of this, Li Yan's feelings were complex, "What do you want me to do?"
The Five Dao General pointed to himself, then drew three incense sticks, pointing to his own and Immortal Master Erlang's marks, drawing a mountain enclosing the two, also drawing winding lines on the mountain.
"You want me to stabilize the incense?"
The first, Li Yan could guess easily.
But the second, he thought for a long time before a flash of spiritual light occurred in his mind.
"Eighteen Bends, Taishan?"
The Five Dao General nodded heavily, seemingly very pleased.
But as he was preparing to continue drawing, suddenly he turned to look into the air, swiftly waved his hand.
In an instant, wild winds arose around, Li Yan's vision went black...
...
In a dazed state, Li Yan slowly opened his eyes. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
Looking around, he realized at some point he returned to his physical body, lying on an old bed, opposite a flickering candle flame, the drunken old Taoist, was slumped over a table, nodding his head repeatedly.
Taking a deep breath, Li Yan immediately knew he was in the temple of the Five Dao General.
That old Taoist was the temple keeper he had just rescued.
Awoken by his voice, the old Taoist quickly rose, bowing deeply:
"Poor Taoist Sun Datong, thanks you for your life-saving grace!"
After speaking, he slowly lifted his head, eyes full of yearning and fervor,
"Are you the presence of the Five Dao Venerable God?"
