A strange look flickered in Daoist Song Shi’s eyes. He slowly said, “That man is called Yelu Hu[1], he’s a Guardian in the Shaman Sect, and it’s said he has the blood of the heavenly gods in his veins. That elder is Grand Magus Hak, along with Grand Magus Bantu, he is one of the sect’s two great sorcerers. That black-robed figure is called Hunsha[2], also a Guardian. No one knows if they’re male or female, old or young!” There was a hint of surprise in his expression. “I didn’t expect those three to be the ones taking action, traveling all the way to the Central Plains to search for the spirit child.” Li Yanchu frowned slightly. “Because they hold very high positions in the Shaman Sect?” Daoist Song Shi nodded. “Indeed, especially Grand Magus Hak, who almost never leaves the lands beyond the passes.” Did they just happen to run into Hongtu... or did they specifically target him? A thoughtful light shone in Li Yanchu’s eyes. “After all this, who exactly is the leader of the Shaman Sect?” Li Yanchu asked. Daoist Song Shi shook his head. “The leader has been in seclusion for a long time and no longer concerns himself with the sect’s affairs. Everything is handled jointly by Grand Magus Hak and Grand Magus Bantu.” So Bantu’s betrayal was the result of losing in a power struggle? Li Yanchu couldn’t help speculating. Even religions built on faith couldn’t escape the struggle for power. All the more so for one that upheld the creed of “might makes right.” In such a place, human sentiment was thin and moral restraints meant little. It was inevitable. “Grand Magus Bantu betrays the sect and searches the caravans for the key to the Heavenly Palace of Myriad Phenomena. But at the same time, Grand Magus Hak, who holds sole authority over sect affairs, leads the Guardians deep into the Central Plains. That in itself reeks of something strange! Could it be that Hak fears no attempt by Bantu to seize power in his absence? Or is there something within the Central Plains that he absolutely must obtain?” Li Yanchu took a deep breath; he hadn’t expected a mysterious religion from beyond the passes to be so complicated. Before finding Grand Magus Bantu, it seemed he might need a turncoat. His gaze fell on Daoist Song Shi. Li Yanchu suddenly said. “Judging by your aura, you seem like a proper, orthodox Daoist disciple. So why would you debase yourself, coming to this barren land beyond the borders to play lapdog for some Grand Magus Bantu?” So blunt... Daoist Song Shi’s mouth twitched. “If I refuse to answer... will you kill me?” “What are you saying...? Under Heaven, the Daoist sects are one family. Even if the bone is broken, the sinew still connects it. How could I kill a fellow Daoist who has merely strayed from the path?” Li Yanchu reined in his aura and said with a cheerful smile. Daoist Song Shi’s eyes were wary. “Then... may I leave?” he asked. Li Yanchu gave a slight nod. “Of course, go as you please. I’ve been busy all night, and I’m a bit tired myself.” He reached into his robe, took out a jujube, and tossed it directly into his mouth. At once, a vast surge of vitality radiated from him, and the air filled with pure spiritual energy. “This...!” Daoist Song Shi’s eyes lit up, and he suddenly froze mid-step. Before his eyes, Li Yanchu’s aura visibly strengthened, his condition fully restored. Such a divine treasure was eaten casually like an ordinary jujube. This kind of outrageously extravagant behavior left Daoist Song Shi utterly dumbfounded. His gaze burned as he looked at Li Yanchu. If not for his fear of the man’s terrifying strength, he would have long since killed him to seize the treasure. Li Yanchu glanced at him and frowned. “Why haven’t you left yet?” Daoist Song Shi said with envy, “May I ask where that jujube came from?” It was the sort of question that could easily offend, especially when the other party was about to let him go. But Daoist Song Shi still blurted it out in a moment of heat, which only proved how important that jujube was to him. Li Yanchu said lightly, “That jujube? Naturally, it came from a great stroke of fortune. When taken, it not only boosts spiritual energy, but also contains a vast vitality that can restore one’s strength.” Daoist Song Shi couldn’t help swallowing. The jujube’s effect was far from simple. Such dense life force could heal the old, lingering wounds that had plagued him for years. “You want it?” Li Yanchu asked. Daoist Song Shi, though still wary of Li Yanchu, nodded without hesitation. Li Yanchu took out another jujube from his robe, and it was sweet and fragrant to the eye. “The flow of your qi contains a certain obscurity and stagnation, hindering your strength. I’d wager you suffered an injury long ago that damaged your foundation. This jujube is especially effective for healing such injuries. If you help me find this young man, I’ll give you the jujube to help you recover.” Li Yanchu’s tone was solemn. Daoist Song Shi said, “You mean it?” Li Yanchu nodded. “Absolutely, my word weighs as much as nine tripods[3].” Daoist Song Shi took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to kill him and seize the treasure. He cautiously took a few steps back. But then he said, “In this vast land beyond the borders, how can one hope to find a single living person? There’s no way to start. I can, however, find a way to bring you trouble for the shaman Atamu, or even for Grand Magus Bantu! When that time comes, you can give me the jujube, how about it?” Daoist Song Shi asked eagerly. Li Yanchu was unmoved, giving him only a deep look. From the night sky, a pitch-black, ominous old crow swooped down. Its eyes were unnervingly human in their expression, and it was enough to set one’s heart on edge. It flew with astonishing speed, reaching Daoist Song Shi in the blink of an eye. Outwardly, it looked like an ordinary old crow. But among the common folk, the cry of an old crow has always been considered a sign of ill omen. “Tonight at the hour of the Rat, thirty li north of Han Fortress. Tonight at the hour of the Rat, thirty li north of Han Fortress.” When the old crow saw Daoist Song Shi, it repeated the same sentence over and over, its voice ancient and cold, without a trace of emotion. Li Yanchu’s expression shifted slightly. Daoist Song Shi, on the other hand, cast a furtive glance at Li Yanchu, as if unsure how to speak. “Thirty li north of Han Fortress... Interesting.” Li Yanchu smiled faintly. He had expected some kind of carrier-pigeon message delivery, but it turned out this old crow could actually speak human words. The old crow’s gaze swept over Li Yanchu, and it looked cold, indifferent, devoid of any feeling. After delivering its message, the old crow spread its wings to leave. With a single explosive sound, Li Yanchu struck it from the air using his domineering, fierce Divine Astral Hands. Daoist Song Shi’s face changed drastically. This was Grand Magus Bantu’s messenger, how could he just kill it?! Why not simply go to the meeting spot thirty li from Han Fortress? Why beat the grass and startle the snake[4]? Daoist Song Shi couldn’t make sense of Li Yanchu’s approach. But after being struck, the old crow still flapped desperately, trying to take off again. Its body now exuded a dense corpse-qi. Its physical toughness surpassed even that of ordinary bronze or silver zombies. Yet no matter how it beat its wings, it could not rise, and some overwhelming aura was forcibly dragging it back down. Crane Control Hand and Dragonbind Hand! Li Yanchu seized the old crow’s body in one grasp. In his hand, the scorching, thick Six Yang inner force surged like blazing fire. The old crow was instantly engulfed in the flames, and a puff of black qi flew out from its charred body. Li Yanchu reached out and grabbed it directly. 1. “耶律” is a distinguished Khitan surname, most famously borne by the imperial clan of the Liao dynasty, evoking associations with steppe nobility, martial prowess, and a nomadic warrior culture. The given name “虎,” meaning “tiger,” adds a layer of ferocity, courage, and vitality, as the tiger is revered in Chinese culture as the king of beasts and a symbol of strength and dominance. ☜ 2. “魂” means “soul” or “spirit,” tied to vitality, consciousness, and the immaterial essence of a person. “煞” literally means “to kill” or “baleful force,” and in classical usage, it often refers to an ominous, destructive, or malignant energy ☜ 3. “一言九鼎” literally means “one word weighs as much as nine tripods.” (The nine tripods refer to ancient legendary cauldrons cast by Yu the Great, symbolizing the nine provinces of China.) It describes speech that carries great weight and authority. It has a positive connotation and is usually used as a subject, predicate, or attributive in a sentence. ☜ 4. The Chinese idiom “打草惊蛇” (dǎ cǎo jīng shé) literally means “to beat the grass and startle the snake.” It describes a situation where careless actions give away one’s intentions, causing the other side to become alert and take precautions. The idiom originates from Near Affairs of the Southern Tang by Zheng Wenbao of the Northern Song dynasty. The story comes from Wang Lu, a magistrate of Southern Tang, who, while handling a corruption case, wrote the comment “Though you beat the grass, I have already startled the snake” on a petition. Over time, this evolved into the idiom we know today, used as a metaphor for acting incautiously and thereby alerting the opponent. I have chosen to remain with the literal version of this idiom instead of localizing it, as I believe you readers prefer to read the literal Chinese idiom instead of the Westernized one. It makes it more fun to read too ~ ☜ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⚫𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖⚫𝕟𝕖𝕥