The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 26 Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure

Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure

At that moment, the Substitute Divine Statue in his Dantian was restless.

Li Yan stared with wide eyes as he searched carefully and soon spotted his target.

On the opposite side, atop the courtyard wall, a black snake had coiled itself, thick as an adult’s arm, hissing and flicking its tongue, its eyes emitting a green glow.

This creature was clearly unusual; any ordinary person would surely be terrified.

But to Li Yan, it mysteriously seemed like a plate of rare and delicious delicacies.

He kept his composure, pretending not to notice, but his left hand had already pressed on the blade handle of his belt, while his right hand reached for the Three Talents Demon Suppression Coin in his chest.

The snake also slithered down, silent as the night breeze.

Its head constantly focused on the room where the Lady of the Landlord Lu resided, appearing somewhat anxious as it climbed with a winding body.

Wherever it passed, the Soul Lamps all went out.

A sense of enlightenment arose in Li Yan’s heart.

This snake was most likely a creature of Dao.

Landlord Lu’s lady’s soul leaving her body was probably related to it.

Regardless, he decided to slay it first.

"Don’t move!"

However, just as he was about to act, Master Wang Daoxuan’s trembling voice rose from behind him, whispering, "Once this creature is startled, it’s completely ruined!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the black snake seemed to sense the danger and dispersed its form, disappearing rapidly as if it had never been there.

The sweet scent could no longer be smelled.

Li Yan felt regret but was not annoyed.

He knew that Master Wang Daoxuan would not interfere with his affairs for no reason. Wondering about the reason, he asked, "Daoist, what was that?"

Master Wang Daoxuan was visibly shocked as well, swallowing his saliva before replying,

"That was... a Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure!"

Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure?!

Li Yan was startled, recalling that name.

Widow Wang had once said that the military officer Grandmaster Yang Yi, aiming to defeat the Jinzhong Khanate, had hired a Hidden Treasure Man to search everywhere to find a Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure, from which a pair of Demon Blades with immense power was forged.

Later, when the Demon Blades became uncontrollable and began to backlash, they were melted down by the court of the Great Xing Dynasty and forged into one hundred and eight Three Talents Demon Suppression Coins, the very objects he carried.

How could the Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure look like this?

Seeming to understand what he was thinking, Master Wang Daoxuan murmured, "Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure comes in many varieties, each formed under different conditions, but all possess spiritual wisdom, and are the fortunes of heaven and earth."

"But obtaining this fortune from heaven and earth is no easy task. Each Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure has its taboos, and without understanding the intricacies, it’s like the reflected moon in water or the flowers seen in a mirror—visible but unobtainable."

"It has two main characteristics."

"One is that the divine objects are inherently obscure. Having developed spiritual wisdom, unless they reveal themselves voluntarily, you wouldn’t recognize them even if they were right in front of your eyes."

"The second is their fierce nature. If not handled correctly, whether they are destroyed or captured, they will immediately disperse their fortunes. Pearls turn into rubble, and some may even perish together with you."

Li Yan frowned, "That difficult?"

"So that’s why there are these Mystical Sect professions like Hidden Treasure Men."

Master Wang Daoxuan shook his head and said, "The Dao is infinite, and so are the methods of the Dao. Human energy is limited, whether it is the major methods of orthodoxy or the side door practices, one must start from the basics."

"These Hidden Treasure Men, those awakened with Yin Yang Eyes, are secluded from a young age in dark cellars, trained like nocturnal creatures, with very keen eyesight..."

"And like you, awakened with a nasal Spirit Root, often thrown into desolate wilderness, messy burial mounds, uninhabited forests, then temporarily blinded with a medicinal concoction, relying solely on your sense of smell to find your way home..."

"Additionally, because there are various types of Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure, these Hidden Treasure Men specialize in different areas—some probe mountains, some command the seas, and others drill into graves, each with their unique skills."

Li Yan, feeling a headache, asked, "Does this mean we need to employ a Hidden Treasure Man?"

Master Wang Daoxuan shook his head saying, "Those people are mostly quirky in temperament and move mysteriously; I don’t have such connections."

"However, I do know some of their techniques."

"All Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasures are born from the fortune of heaven and earth, and they are inevitably subdued by certain things. You only need to discover their physical forms, follow the Five Elements and the correct Eight Trigrams positions, then find the restraining item to capture them."

Li Yan was speechless, "What is the physical form of that snake?"

Master Wang Daoxuan chuckled bitterly, "If I had such an ability to discern treasures, I wouldn’t have fallen to this state. But I do know one thing..."

"That object will certainly appear inconspicuous!"

...

The next day at dawn, those who hid outside gradually returned.

Their zodiac signs conflicted with the Lady, preventing them from approaching the manor; having spent a restless night outside, they were all curiously inquiring upon their return.

The Lady’s maids naturally dared not speak carelessly.

But many had heard the noises from the previous night, discussing them privately and exaggerating the tales, which soon became bizarre and outrageous.

According to them, during the soul summoning, some Ghost Gods had tried to obstruct, and Master Wang Daoxuan had fought with the Ghost Gods all night by the altar before finally seizing back the Lady’s soul.

Ultimately, the more mysterious the better.

Thus, in the eyes of everyone in the manor, Master Wang Daoxuan seemed even more enigmatic.

Yet, at this moment, the inner quarters remained silent.

Master Wang Daoxuan held a measurement tape as he took the pulse of the gaunt matron, occasionally stroking his beard and frowning deeply.

Although not as skilled as a Daoist Doctor from the Mystical Sect, he had studied medicine and was more than sufficient as a practicing physician.

As he expected, despite the matron’s soul having returned, she had yet to regain consciousness, her complexion was withered, and her exhales were numerous while her inhales were few.

An ancient saying goes, everyone has a finite amount of qi.

Excessive exhales and insufficient inhales are indicators that one’s qi is nearing its end.

After taking the pulse, Master Wang and Landlord Lu stepped outside and Wang shook his head, "Just as I suspected, the matron’s days are numbered; the oil is burnt out, and the lamp is drying. No medicine can cure her now."

"The good part is that since her soul has returned, she may rest peacefully in the earth after passing. Landlord Lu, it’s best to prepare sooner rather than later."

Landlord Lu sighed, "Thank you, Master."

"Since we have returned from the Capital and have no family graves here, I ask for your help in choosing an auspicious site, Master. We seek no riches or longevity, but just a bit of ’peace.’"

"That is only natural."

Master Wang Daoxuan nodded, then left the back residence with Li Yan.

As they departed, Li Yan turned back for one last glance, feeling reluctant.

From last night till dawn, he had not stopped searching every possible place without even closing his eyes.

But as Master Wang said, Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasures are adept at hiding and sometimes even if laid before your eyes, you would not notice unless they reveal themselves willingly.

Although reluctant, he had no choice but to leave.

After all, this was the main house of the Lu family, and all the Protectors had returned.

Finding another opportunity would likely only come during the funeral preparations.

But who knows when the matron would pass away.

His grandfather at home was becoming increasingly frail; he had left him in the care of a neighbor during these few days away and could not afford to stay long.

Fortunately, without the Hidden Treasure Man taking action, if he couldn’t find this Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure, neither could anyone else.

There would be time to resume the search later.

Lost in thought, the two men followed Housekeeper Lu back to the side residence.

After the night’s endeavors, Housekeeper Lu treated Master Wang with even greater respect, "The Master must be tired, the old master has ordered that you get some good rest after the meal."

"No thank you."

Master Wang slightly shook his head, looking toward the hills behind Ancient Water Village, his voice grave, "The matron’s condition is dire; I’ll head up to the mountains right after the meal to find a suitable site, lest we are caught unprepared in chaotic times."

Housekeeper Lu expressed even greater admiration, "That would trouble you greatly, Master."

With that said, he ordered the servants to serve the meal and excused himself with a bow.

Sha Lifei, who had also been waiting outside last night due to his zodiac conflict, couldn’t hold back any longer and came over to eat while inquiring.

Li Yan pondered for a moment before informing them that he planned to leave first.

Master Wang stroked his beard, "Filial piety comes above all else; this matter should not be delayed. Brother Yan rest assured, once I finish matters here, I’ll come find you at Li Family Castle."

After the meal, Li Yan prepared to depart.

Perhaps seeking Master Wang’s favor, upon hearing the news of his departure, Landlord Lu instructed his steward to provide some provisions and even pick out a horse from the stable as a gift.

This indeed was a generous gesture, even making Sha Lifei’s eyes turn red with envy.

The three proceeded to the stable, which housed about a dozen horses. While none were exceptional stallions, they were certainly better than some unreliable horses found in the Horse Market.

Li Yan, feeling good, looked around and chose a large black horse.

Young and gentle, it approached him willingly to eat carrots from his hand.

"Fine horse!"

Sha Lifei praised, then turned towards the corner where the saddles were kept and said with a grin, "I once helped a saddler with deliveries and know a little, let me pick a good one for you."

With that, he rummaged through the corner.

"Eh, what’s this?"

While sorting through the saddles, he found a stick on the ground.

It was pitch black, covered with numerous scars, and had faint dragon patterns on it.

Housekeeper Lu also arrived, and seeing the stick, frowned immediately, "How did this end up in the stable?"

Seeing the others looking his way, he hurriedly explained, "Originally, there were over a dozen houses here. After the master returned to his hometown, he bought and demolished them for rebuilding."

"One of them was the former residence of Xianyang’s Drum King..."

Sha Lifei laughed, "Drum King? Did he look like a drum?"

Housekeeper Lu scoffed, "What would a rough fellow like you know?!"

"In Guanzhong, there are many types of drums: Ten-sided drums, Wei Flag drums, Flood Dragon spinning drums, old temple drums... too many to count, each with its own legacy."

"Every year on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Chang’an holds a drum festival. The booming of the drums is unsurpassed, and those who can be called Drum Kings are few and far."

"This is an artifact of a Drum King. When I was young, I also learned a bit; it’s just something I keep for nostalgia and was originally in my house. How did it end up here?"

"I see it’s nothing much, just a broken stick..."

Sha Lifei muttered and casually handed it over to Li Yan next to him.

Li Yan, interested in antiques from his past life, took it to have a look.

However, as soon as it touched his hands, his complexion dramatically changed!

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