The coffin-carrying pole lay quietly in a pile of dead leaves. Yan Shouyi recalled passing by here several times that afternoon, yet he had not discovered the pole's presence at all.
"What is this? It radiates a heavy evil aura," Changshan asked, frowning.
In a sacred Daoist site like Longhu Mountain, the appearance of such an object imbued with intense malevolence struck Changshan as illogical.
Just as he was about to reach out and touch it, Yan Shouyi stopped him, "Don't touch this thing. It's extremely sinister. If you touch it without any precautions, you might lose your mind."
Yan Shouyi brushed aside the nearby leaves and discovered several Daoist talismans pasted on the coffin-carrying pole.
It was these talismans that had concealed the pole's aura, hiding it within the pile of dead leaves and evading Yan Shouyi's search all afternoon.
Upon carefully examining the calligraphy on the talismans, Yan Shouyi smiled.
Many Daoist talismans, when drawn, require subtle adjustments based on different circumstances. Some special talismans even necessitate writing one's own name on them.
For instance, Mao Shan disciple Han San's talismans would invariably be inscribed with "Mao Shan disciple Han San, with utmost urgency, as if by law."
However, the talismans pasted on the coffin-carrying pole bore the inscription of Longhu Mountain disciple Zhang Wuma!
With these talismans, it was undeniable evidence, making it perfectly acceptable for Zhang Shanli to apprehend Zhang Wuma immediately!
Yan Shouyi sighed softly.
"Brother Wuma, Brother Wuma, in truth, before this, I truly wished I wouldn't see your name here."
He had a good impression of Zhang Wuma and hoped his deductions were mistaken, wishing he had wrongly suspected him.
However, the talismans before him shattered Yan Shouyi's last illusion.
Zhang Wuma was the spy!
Yet, Yan Shouyi himself could not remove these talismans directly.
He said to Changshan:
"Changshan, the time has come for you to act. Your Buddhist Six-Syllable Mantra can suppress the evil aura of this thing, so the next step is up to you."
Changshan asked doubtfully, "How do you know our Buddhist Six-Syllable Mantra possesses such capabilities?"
Yan Shouyi directly took out his Zanpakuto.
In the past, the Zanpakuto's malevolent energy was too potent for Yan Shouyi to control. Fortunately, the eminent monk Miaoji was present and immediately suppressed it with the Six-Syllable Mantra. Even now, those six characters remained on the Zanpakuto, imprinted on its blade as if hot-gilded.
Upon seeing the Six-Syllable Mantra on the Zanpakuto, Changshan understood immediately, "Amitabha, this was done by Senior Brother Miaoji, wasn't it?"
"Yes, you just need to do the same."
Changshan nodded, clasped his hands together, and began reciting the Six-Syllable Mantra.
Golden Buddhist symbols were uttered from Changshan's mouth, arranged like a string of prayer beads, drifting towards the coffin-carrying pole on the ground.
Upon contact with the pole, the Six-Syllable Mantra formed a ring, tightly encircling the pole and instantly suppressing its evil aura.
Daoist talismans primarily focused on subduing demons and expelling spirits, but in terms of sealing and suppressing, Buddhism was superior.
The effect was immediate, which was why Yan Shouyi had sought Changshan's help.
"It's done!"
Yan Shouyi smiled, "Changshan, you're truly amazing!"
Changshan humbly replied, "It is far inferior to Senior Brother Miaoji's power."
"Uncle Miaoji might not have had your cultivation when he was young!" Yan Shouyi praised him generously.
Changshan scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
With Changshan's Six-Syllable Mantra, Zhang Wuma's talismans were rendered ineffective. Yan Shouyi took out his phone, took several photos of the coffin-carrying pole as evidence, and then carefully removed the talismans, keeping them close to his person.
At this point, the coffin-carrying pole, aside from its peculiar design, was no different from a common fire poker.
Yan Shouyi picked up the pole, feeling no particular abnormality, except for a residual foul odor. It wasn't that the pole itself had rotted, but rather that when it was used to carry coffins, the corrupt fluids from within the coffins had seeped into the pole, leaving behind this stench.
Changshan frowned and said, "Amitabha, Brother Yan, I still cannot help but ask, what exactly is this thing?"
Since he had brought Changshan along, Yan Shouyi had no intention of keeping it from him. He stated directly:
"This Luo Tian Da Jiao is fraught with hidden dangers. An organization called the Xuan Shan Sect is planning to cause trouble on Longhu Mountain. This afternoon, a disciple of a folk sect intruded into Longhu Mountain, killed Yi Hehuan of the Wu Zhen Sect, and was later subdued by me and others, then escorted to the Longhu Mountain dungeon. And this coffin-carrying pole is that fellow's weapon!"
Upon hearing Yan Shouyi's explanation, Changshan's expression changed drastically, "Such a thing has happened?!"
"I don't know why the Heavenly Master has not yet taken any action..." Yan Shouyi sighed and said, "Since the Heavenly Master has not made it public, I dare not speak of it carelessly, as it might disrupt the Heavenly Master's plans."
"Amitabha, that is indeed the case. Brother Yan is very thoughtful."
"Now that you are aware of this, do not reveal it when you return. However, you may subtly hint to your fellow disciples to be prepared, lest they suffer losses in the conflict between the Xuan Shan Sect's evildoers and Longhu Mountain."
Changshan clasped his hands together and bowed to Yan Shouyi, "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Yan."
"Let's not be so formal, you and I," Yan Shouyi said, "Let's go back now. I need to hand over this evidence to Longhu Mountain."
"Alright!"
As the two were about to leave, Yan Shouyi's brow suddenly furrowed.
He sensed something was wrong.
The surroundings were too quiet.
Normally, the nights in the mountains were never silent. The homing birds, the nocturnal animals, even the mountain winds would make some noise.
But now, the surroundings were deathly silent.
This indicated that some dangerous entities were lurking nearby, their aura scaring away the sensitive small animals.
"Changshan," Yan Shouyi whispered.
Changshan's gaze also turned solemn, indicating he had also sensed it.
*Whoosh—*
*Whoosh—*
*Whoosh—*
From a dark corner, three crossbow bolts suddenly shot out!
Changshan immediately shielded Yan Shouyi and clasped his hands, unleashing the Buddhist Golden Body!
*Clang!!*
As the Buddhist Golden Body appeared, a resonant bell sound echoed through the mountain.
Immediately after, the crossbow bolts hit him with a series of "ding ding ding" sounds, but all were blocked, not even piercing Changshan's clothes!
"Who's there!" Changshan shouted.
Yan Shouyi silently drew his Zanpakuto, "No need to ask. Naturally, they are the evildoers who have come to reclaim the coffin-carrying pole!"
In the darkness, several pairs of eyes were indeed waiting for an opportunity, like crouching beasts, ready to pounce on Yan Shouyi and Changshan at any moment!
Changshan asked, "Brother Yan, then shall we..."
"There's no need for negotiation. Let's fight directly!"
Having said that, Yan Shouyi charged forward first!