The Blade-Wielding Legend

The side door of the pugilistic world has its own set of methods.

Although it doesn't match up to the Mystic Sect, it has its roots.

For example, the "Water Mist Ghost Wall" used by the elder of the Cao Gang, though the name sounds vulgar, harbors a tragic incident behind it.

Back when the Golden Tent Wolf Country invaded the south and broke through the Yellow River defenses, tens of thousands of Cao workers and Righteous Army resisted but were brutally suppressed, leaving three thousand corpses submerged in the old embankment of the Yellow River.

Since then, ship fleets passing the Yellow River at night often encountered eerie mists, with helmsmen dreaming of dead bodies knocking on boats begging for food. Later, the Cao Gang's leader "Iron Anchor Li" collected the remains and established the "No Sacrifice Altar," calming the grievances and simultaneously creating this method.

In places with dense water vapor, thick fog can be stirred up to obscure.

Li Yan's North Emperor Mysterious Water Escape is even better at concealing, whereas the Cao Gang's spells, borrowing the Magic Flag, are more suitable for large-scale fog creation.

The Flying Shuttle Divine Skill of Tang Jiu from the Swallow Gate is also an ancient legacy, originating from the Colorful Gate's "Shadowless Ladder."

At the end of the Great Xing distant years, a female thief using the Flying Shuttle technique exclusively robbed corrupt officials, distributing wealth to orphanages, thus earning this skill a widespread fame in the pugilistic world.

The cooperation between these two could be described as seamless.

In the distance, guards at the Great Prince Mansion gate looked up perplexedly and asked, "Strange, how is it fogging up in this cold weather..."

Before the words fell, they suddenly collapsed to the ground.

A needle as thick as a little finger was stuck in their neck.

Inside the Great Prince Mansion, chaos also ensued.

First, a thick fog arose, making it impossible to see anything at an arm's length. Then, shadows fell from the sky, slaying the resisters while servants and maids who did not know martial arts were knocked unconscious with a slap.

Sword flashes flickered in the thick fog, and soon there was no sound.

Those who led the charge were all skilled pugilists, and leading them was the enigmatic Young Master Wuxiang.

The guards of the Great Prince Mansion had no power to resist.

"Wind of Kun sweeps away dust, Fire of Li illuminates the Netherworld, Command, disperse!"

With a low shout from the Cao Gang elder, the surrounding thick fog dissipated at a speed visible to the naked eye, taking no more than half a cup of tea's time.

At the gate of the Prince Mansion, two Chengdu underworld experts had already changed into guard uniforms, observing their surroundings with cold eyes.

After all, this was the Prince Mansion, and although there were some dignitaries nearby, they lived far away, so no one noticed.

The situation inside the mansion was the same.

Once the mansion was under control, over twenty of Young Master Wuxiang's subordinates climbed over the walls from outside a nearby inn, tying up the maids and servants and changing into their clothes.

This was the plan laid out beforehand.

Quickly seize control of the Prince Mansion, and then lay traps to capture people.

The hall was also filled with people on the ground.

These individuals were of various ages, genders, and most were luxuriously dressed, all relatives and descendants of the Great Prince's lineage.

Unlike Xiao Jinghong, the Great Prince became a grandfather at a young age.

In the front hall, Young Master Wuxiang used the tendon-extracting and bone-dislocating technique to pin someone to the ground, pressing their neck with his knee.

The person, dressed in a python robe, had fair features and was the Great Prince.

His eyes were bloodshot, teeth clenched, emitting bestial roars, but he was unable to move.

Li Yan also quickly entered the front hall.

His task was not to invade, but to use his formidable Divine Skills to scout and search the surroundings to avoid falling into traps.

Even though he did not engage in combat, his role was even more crucial.

"He really has been cursed!"

Seeing the Great Prince's state, many sighed in relief.

Not that they were gloating, but the situation was fraught with risk.

After all, it was unheard of for the King Shu to be possessed by a demon and the Prince to be cursed. If something went wrong, it would be a huge trouble.

Seeing everyone's expression, Young Master Wuxiang was unfazed, turning and bowing towards the back, "Senior Jin, we rely on you."

Accompanied by the sound of silver ornaments, an old woman in black stepped forward from the back.

She had youthful features despite gray hair, wearing a dark blue linen robe and a silver "Three-Eyed Crown" on her head, with a silver longitudinal pattern hanging on her forehead; even her sleeves were adorned with nine copper bells.

She appeared rather shabby, with inconvenient movement, and wasn't brought through by ground transport but carried by palanquin from the street.

Even so, no one dared to underestimate her.

Even Li Yan greeted her with respect.

Young Master Wuxiang had another ability, which was his vast connections.

This old woman, called "Granny Jin," was the orthodox successor of the Twelve Altars of Sichuan Nuo from Ba Shu's Nuo Altars, a top figure in the side door.

The so-called "Twelve Altars of Sichuan Nuo" is the core system of Ba Shu's Nuo play, originated from Ancient Shu Witch Sacrifice, incorporating Daoist Secret Method.

Nuo Altar Deity is one branch, venerating The Queen Mother of the West, Magu, and Zigu as the Three Saints.

The Twelve Altars divide into "Upper Four Altars, Middle Four Altars, Lower Four Altars," each responding to heaven, earth, and human, and every altar is a Nuo play.

For example, the Middle Four Altars guard the Human World, passing of Yin Soldiers, Zhong Kui Marries Sister, Erlang Mountain Search, Judge Grasping Oaths.

Previously, "Mu Lian Rescues Mother," performed counter-clockwise by Situ Qian's Netherworld Stage, belonged to the Lower Four Altars connecting the Netherworld.

Knowing that Situ Qian brought the Netherworld Stage, Young Master Wuxiang became more cautious, specially inviting "Granny Jin" from around Chengdu to restrain the Yin Nuo Play.

Besides, she still needed to resolve the curse.

The old woman, Granny Jin, arrived in front of the Great Prince, ignoring his roars, gripping his pulse with one hand, performing a Secret Technique to probe.

The old woman's left eye soon turned gray, and she extended her withered hand, tirelessly rubbing the center of the Great Prince's forehead.

"Ah! Ah!"

Amidst the screams, his forehead turned blood red.

The old woman thought for a moment, then removed his footwear, performed a mantra with her hand, and pressed hard on Zu Sanli.

"Ah——!"

Another scream echoed, and the onlookers were startled to see black and purple veins emerging on his heel, resembling a centipede climbing.

"Blood in the forehead, Yin insects entangling the feet…"

Granny Jin turned to the crowd and said in a deep voice, "It is indeed the spell of Yin Nuo Play, I need something."