CHAPTER 176: CHAPTER 132: THE DIVINE TECHNIQUE OF OFFERING SACRIFICES_2

"Let’s just pay for it honestly."

Speaking, he took a stack from the talisman paper and also took out the vermillion pen and ink, giving Li Yan a set. He smiled and said, "The poor Daoist has subdued those Rampaging Soldiers, and they will come in handy during the magic duel."

"Then it will be up to Daoist’s performance at that time!"

Sha Lifei laughed heartily and then his expression became serious as he spoke in a low voice, "I’ve also heard some news."

"The people from the Fire Bear Gang have been looking for Brother Lü."

Li Yan was not surprised and said coldly, "Qiao Sanhu’s relationship with the Fire Bear Gang is intimate, so it’s normal for him to help look for them, but what are they recruiting for in Chang’an City? Didn’t Brother Lü go to Hubei?"

Sha Lifei replied, "It’s said that not only is the court issuing a warrant, but Qiao Sanhu has also offered a secret reward. However, there’s no sign of Brother Lü on the Hubei roads, so they suspect that he has run off to Chang’an."

Li Yan pondered for a moment, "That’s also possible. In any case, Uncle Sha, just keep an eye out."

"No rush; we take it step by step. As long as we succeed in this magic duel, not only can we help Sister Hong retrieve her things, but our reputation will also be established."

"Perhaps one day, we might take down that bastard Qiao Sanhu and figure out a way to exonerate Brother Lü."

After a simple discussion, the three of them busied themselves with their tasks.

Wang Daoxuan prepared for setting up the magic platform for the upcoming event.

Sha Lifei went to gather information and pay attention to the other side’s movements.

After the two left, the room quieted down.

Li Yan lit three sticks of incense, calmed himself, and then pinched a piece of talisman paper between his fingers, focusing his mind and spirit.

Putting aside his martial arts, his biggest trump card in terms of spells was undoubtedly the Soul Hook and the five battalions of the Ghost Soldiers from the Hook Paper.

However, there was a limit to the number of times the Ghost Soldiers could be summoned.

The Soul Hook was a game-changing move that he could not easily reveal.

Thus, ordinary methods were very important.

There were five days until the magic duel, and during this time, he must master the "Grass Spirit Technique" and the "Divine Movement Skill" of the North Emperor.

The so-called Grass Spirits were distinctly different from the Yin Sect’s paper man technique.

The Yin Sect’s paper man technique involved cutting paper into human shapes, using secret techniques to attach yin souls and fierce ghosts to them, and manipulating them to kill people.

Those who were more skilled might create straw men and paper horses which were even more powerful, similar to the Puppetry Technique, but each had its own strengths.

But Grass Spirit Technique was different.

The "North Emperor’s Scripture" says: Grass Spirits tie grass into human and horse shapes; to call them spirits is to liken them to deities.

Put simply, Grass Spirits are more like gods!

The so-called gods include both Heavenly Gods and Earth Spirits.

Among Earth Spirits, there are high and low rankings, such as the Tai Sui spirit of the Chaotic Burial Mound in Xianyang City, or the Daoist priest from the Medicine King Temple on Zhongnan Mountain that became divine, both having their own independent thoughts.

Including some famous individuals who were conferred the title of City God after death.

They were often not ordinary in life.

And more commonly, as with the land god of the Li family’s estate, sustained by the incense-wishing power of the locals, they gather Divine Astral essence.

If the incense is cut off, the Divine Astral essence dissipates, and they would disappear into the dust of history just like the Mountain God of Tianzhu Mountain.

Grass Spirit Technique, then, is a kind of simple Divine Astral essence.

The Grass Spirits created through this technique will act according to instructions, just like robots.

In comparison to the Yin Sect’s paper man technique, the Grass Spirit Technique doesn’t start off very powerful, but its advantage lies in the ease of control, without the risk of backlash.

Yet it is an orthodox technique of the Yin Bureau.

As the Dao progresses, the power of the Grass Spirits will also grow, and the next step is to create straw men and mannequins.

And this Grass Spirit Technique is based on the advanced spell of the "North Emperor’s Scripture," the Soldier Armor Technique, which is also the basis for the Planting Beans into Soldiers!

After going over the spellcasting process in his mind once more, Li Yan stepped in the Astral Step, folding the talisman paper while performing the mantra.

The rectangular piece of talisman paper was perfectly folded into seven layers, corresponding to the seven stars of Beidou: Tianshu, Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianquan, Yuheng, Kaiyang, and Yaoguang.

After folding the talisman paper, Li Yan picked up the scissors and, as depicted in the "North Emperor’s Scripture," swiftly cut out the shape of a paper man and reverently placed it in front of the incense burner.

Next, he stepped in the Astral Step again and chanted the spell of the North Emperor, "Nuogao! Tai Wei’s Grass Spirit, create Soldier Armor, drive out evil, aid the righteous, yang energy to form the body, command of the North Yin Emperor, intimidate blade and spear, decree!"

As he chanted the spell, he practiced Visualization, and with a sudden point towards the front.

Whoosh~

A gust of yin wind arose within the room.

The green smoke from the three sticks of incense in the burner suddenly moved downward, enveloping the folded paper man.

At the same time, Li Yan could feel the light of Storing God at his brow slowly dimming.

Bang!

A force repelled his hands, and the paper man burst into flames with a puff.

Failed...

Li Yan slightly shook his head, meditated to recover his energy, and then again created a paper man, offered incense, performed the mantra.

Puff!

Puff!

Puff!

The paper man caught fire time after time.

Although Li Yan was mentally exhausted, he was not discouraged.

He knew that the Grass Spirit Technique couldn’t withstand the shock of the Astral Bane Energy, all because there were still flaws in the process of casting the spell.

Unconsciously, midnight had arrived.

At this point, Li Yan’s head was heavy and dizzy, and the time he needed to meditate and recover was getting longer and longer.

He took a deep breath and directly used the Daluo Dharma Body to recover. He cut out another paper figure, formed a mantra with his hands, and chanted, "Nuogao! Tai Wei Grass Spirit, create Soldier Armor... decree!"

Whoosh!

A sudden gust of chilly wind arose, causing the candlelight to flicker erratically.

This time, his hands forming the mantra did not flick open.

Afterwards, to Li Yan’s delighted surprise, the Grass Spirit Paper Man in front of the incense burner slowly stood up, and then the talisman paper unfolded, turning into seven paper figures, hand in hand.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

The areas where the paper figures’ hands connected all broke apart.

Success!

Li Yan could no longer conceal the joy in his heart.

Beidou division, and the spirits have awakened.

The separation of the paper figures meant that the technique was thoroughly successful.

After the separation, the paper figures collapsed to the ground again.

Li Yan was not in a hurry; he pointed with his Sword Technique.

"Rise!"

Rustle rustle rustle!

The seven paper figures suddenly rose into the air, fluttering up and down around him, like yellow butterflies.

"Hahaha, marvelous!"

Li Yan couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

The wonderful use of the "North Emperor’s Grass Spirit Technique" lies right here.

Grass Spirits, somewhat like talismans, can be accumulated in daily life and can be activated at will when needed.

Looking at the Grass Spirit Paper Men dancing in the air, Li Yan had an idea and formed a mantra with his fingers, pointing towards the door.

Whoosh~

A gust of wind blew, and the paper figures slipped through the door crack.

Once the Grass Spirit Paper Men were activated, with his current level of Dao, they could last for about half an incense stick time.

Since he had already used them, he might as well test their abilities.

The paper figures fluttered up and down in the night, silent as ghosts, flying to the outside of Sha Lifei’s room and slipping in through the door crack.

At this point, Li Yan had already closed his eyes, the storing God’s light at his brow flickered, and through the haze, he saw a scene:

Sha Lifei was sprawled out on his bed, sound asleep.

Marvelous!

Li Yan then controlled the paper figures to leave and headed towards Wang Daoxuan’s room. But before getting close, he felt a sensation as if being watched by a fierce beast.

It was the Rampaging Soldier, and the Daoist had already set up a magic platform.

Understanding dawned in Li Yan’s heart, and he immediately retreated.

The Grass Spirit Paper Men were like little deities, and their source of Divine Astral came from his own storing of God. Dispersed, it was very weak and naturally feared the Rampaging Soldier like a tiger.

With this thought, Li Yan controlled the Grass Spirits to scatter and fly out of the yard.

In the other yards, there were various figures from the pugilistic world, some chatting through the night, others drinking alone in their rooms, and the faint sound of crying could be heard.

Life in the pugilistic world is tough; there are always those with heavy hearts.

Li Yan did not disturb these figures but controlled the Grass Spirits with his mantra, directing them toward Feng Feiyan’s room.

Puff!

Before getting close, one of the paper figures was suddenly engulfed in flames and then turned into blue smoke.

Controlling so many at the same time was still a bit strenuous.

With a thought, Li Yan saw the remaining paper figures ignite and turn to ash, except for one that slipped through the door crack.

However, upon seeing the scene inside the room, Li Yan was taken aback.

The bed was empty, with no one on it.

Rustle!

Just then, the bedboard suddenly split apart, and a figure swiftly leaped out, dressed in dark clothes with silver embroidery, a Bi’an adorned the front, and a Bi’an on the back.

Underneath the clothes was a lithe figure—it was Feng Feiyan!

Li Yan was taken aback upon seeing this.

Goodness!

This female proprietor turned out to be a secret agent of the Captain Bureau.

He had long heard that aside from openly using the Divine Fist Association to interact with the pugilistic world, the court had also planted many spies in the shadows to monitor the affairs of the pugilistic world.

No wonder Feng Feiyan rose so quickly.

With the support of the Captain Bureau, what couldn’t be settled...