Breaking It

Graveyard.

Past the mass grave, seven to eight li down the road, lay Fengxian County's largest graveyard. Centuries of wind and rain had buried many important figures there.

Weeds covered the path, crows cawed mournfully, tombstones tilted, and a heavy gloom permeated the air.

This graveyard had a long history, witnessing the rise and fall of countless families. Those whose fortunes prospered had increasingly elaborate tombstones, often visited for worship. Those who moved far away were visited once every three to five years, leaving the graves somewhat desolate. Those who hadn't returned in three generations had descendants who had long forgotten where their ancestors were buried, leaving the graves unattended, empty, with no one even reporting them to the authorities.

Xu Jixian looked at the dilapidated graves, his heart filled with emotion. A rare seriousness settled on his dark horse-like face.

He found the resting place of his ancestors, paid his respects one by one, laid out offerings, and scattered yellow paper, choking back sobs as he apologized for his tardiness as an unworthy descendant, hoping his ancestors would forgive him.

Xiang Yuan and Xiao He also paid their respects. The Xu family's lineage was not thriving, so they joined in to appease the elders below.

As they burned the paper money, a whirlwind kicked up on the spot, an invisible pillar rising to carry the ashes and sparks high into the sky.

"Brother Xu, do not grieve before your ancestors. Look, your Xu clan ancestors are speaking, expressing their longing for you," Xiao He advised.

No, it's due to the air pressure.

Xiang Yuan gave the correct answer in his heart. He couldn't recall the exact principle, only knowing that the meeting of hot and cold air created air pressure, which generated airflow in a specific pattern.

Of course, in this bizarre world, perhaps it truly was the Xu clan ancestors, aware of his presence, coming forth to guide Xu Jixian to study hard and restore the family's glory.

With that thought, Xiang Yuan decided to speak for the elders. "Brother Xu, study hard from tomorrow onwards and change your bad habits, and you will bring peace to the souls of your ancestors in the Yellow Springs."

"My two elder brothers speak the truth. I will strive diligently starting tomorrow!" Xu Jixian wiped away his tears and declared with a resounding voice.

Xiang Yuan knew immediately that it wouldn't last. Seeing the crows descend in the west, he urged Xu Jixian to hurry. At this time of day, it was hard to say if they would encounter ghosts after dark.

Encountering ghosts wasn't the problem; the issue was running into disciples of the Yellow Springs Dao.

Xiang Yuan wasn't complacent about having killed a black-robed figure with a single strike. He knew it was a fluke. He might succeed again, but if the Yellow Springs Dao disciples traveled in groups and were prepared, his move wouldn't be effective.

Xu Jixian nodded. After busying himself for a while, they left the graveyard before it got completely dark.

In the carriage, Xiang Yuan was on high alert, his hand on his saber hilt, accumulating the might of a fierce tiger.

With his other hand, he held Wang Wenxu's calligraphy, ready to strike down any apparition the moment it appeared.

Xiao He tilted his head, humming a tune nonchalantly, and teased, "Little Brother Yuan, why are you so nervous? It's just encountering a ghost once. With our brothers' luck, do you think we'd run into them every time?"

It's precisely because of your and Brother Xu's luck that I'm worried!

Xiang Yuan ignored Xiao He. When the carriage reached the mass grave, he became even more cautious. He used the long scroll to lift the carriage curtain and scanned his surroundings with his tiger-like eyes.

Night fell, casting a deep gloom. The sky was starless and moonless, with only the silhouette of the mass grave clearly visible. The earthen mounds and pits emitted a faint, hazy light, occasionally punctuated by flashes of dense green ghost fire.

The surrounding withered trees stretched towards the sky like the claws of evil spirits. Wild dogs growled in the distance, and crows perched on branches, their crimson eyes glaring. Faint, mournful cries and playful laughter drifted unpredictably, seeming to be right by their ears when close.

This place is too sinister.

Xiang Yuan nudged Xiao He. The latter shrugged, indicating that the mass grave was always like this and there was no need to be surprised.

My knowledge is too limited. Farewell!

Xiang Yuan's mouth twitched. Seeing Xiao He's nonchalant expression and the driver, Xu Jixian, not making a fuss, his own courage grew.

If those two clowns weren't afraid, he certainly couldn't be.

Crack!

A crisp sound, exceptionally noticeable in the deathly silence of the mass grave, made Xiang Yuan's heart lurch. He pressed his hand on his saber hilt and looked.

Not far away, a yellowed hand bone broke through the soil. Ghost fire rose half a zhang high, startling the crows into squawking and flying away. The growls of wild dogs became more frequent.

Xiang Yuan's scalp tingled, fearing this was just the prelude and a horde of spirits would emerge.

As it turned out, he seemed to have worried for nothing. The spirit just came out for some air. No other spirits appeared, no one blocked their path to seize a body, or borrow yang energy.

The carriage smoothly drove out of the mass grave and onto the road leading directly to the county town. Judging by the time, they would make it before the city gates closed at the eighth watch.

Xiang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, maintaining a calm expression. He lowered the carriage curtain and urged Xu Jixian to drive faster.

Not too fast, though, or we'll flip.

As if on cue, they hit a pothole, jolting with a clang.

Xu Jixian's mischievous laughter came from outside the curtain, making Xiang Yuan both annoyed and amused. Having passed the mass grave without incident, he was no longer angry.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a faint chill swept over them, accompanied by pervasive mist that squeezed into the carriage through the curtain.

Xiang Yuan was greatly alarmed. He used the ink scroll to lift the window curtain and saw the scenery outside, his back instantly drenched in cold sweat.

The mass grave glowed with a hazy green light, its silhouette clearly visible. The surrounding withered trees looked like ghosts, dotted with crimson ghost eyes.

We're back!

Compared to before, there was now a thick mist, drifting eerily and intensifying the terrifying atmosphere.

"Brother Xu, this is not a place for jokes!" Xiang Yuan said gravely, deliberately emphasizing his tone.

"N-no... I wouldn't dare..."

Xu Jixian's teeth chattered. He declared he wouldn't drive anymore and scrambled into the carriage, huddling together with Xiao He.

Xu and Xiao trembled, their four eyes fixed on Xiang Yuan, waiting for him to decide.

Xiang Yuan took a deep breath, fearing the horses would spook and charge into an unintended destination. Suppressing his fear, he lifted the curtain and took over the reins.

Last time it was a ghostly illusion, this time it's a ghostly wall, the principle is the same. However, this time there were many more ghosts, making it far more dangerous and harder to break than a single female ghost.

Xiang Yuan pushed aside the crossbar, spread Wang Wenxu's calligraphy in front of him, held the reins in one hand and the saber hilt in the other. His tiger-like eyes scanned the surroundings, intimidating the phantoms emerging from the mist.

Although there were many ghosts, none had taken form. He hadn't seen any that had transformed into human shape like Widow Wang.

Xiang Yuan guessed that the formation of the ghostly wall was definitely related to the terrain of the mass grave. The ghosts alone wouldn't have this ability. If it weren't for...

Disciples of the Yellow Springs Dao were nearby!

Just then, for some reason, the horse became startled. After a long whinny, it began to gallop aimlessly.

Xiang Yuan felt the carriage shake and become difficult to control. He quickly said, "Xiao Shisi, Brother Xu, get out of the carriage quickly."

No one answered. He called out twice more, still no reply. Xiang Yuan lifted the curtain and saw that the carriage was empty. Where had the two jokers gone?

When?

Xiang Yuan's eyes widened, and a storm of shock surged within him. While feeling terrified, anger and resentment also rose from the depths of his heart. He flipped over, abandoned the horse, and leaped into the air. He used the Thousand Jin Drop technique, landing heavily and dispersing the dense fog that attacked like ghostly hands.

Bang!

He held his saber to his side, his hand hovering over the calligraphy, sweeping across the shadowy figures. He said coldly, "What demons and monsters are you? Show yourselves at once!"

"Heh heh---"

A bell-like laughter echoed from all directions. Whether human or ghost, it drifted through the eerie mist, incredibly chilling.

The laughter was pleasant and crisp, carrying a hint of unfathomable sinister intent. It was like invisible threads, wrapping around Xiang Yuan's heart. At times it sounded like innocent children playing, and at others like the whispers of cunning demons, captivating yet hiding deadly intent.

Xiang Yuan's mind was entranced by the devilish power in the laughter, and an irrepressible desire surged within him. The mist in his eyes shifted, transforming into his heart's deepest desires.

There were beautiful women singing and dancing gracefully, their every twirl and glance filled with endless temptation, making him feel a heat rising from his core, wishing to be forever enveloped in this gentle paradise.

There were mountains of gold and silver, dazzling with light. Every gold brick, every gem was irresistible, tempting him to drown in this endless wealth, forgetting everything in the world.

There were divine weapons and sharp blades displayed, gleaming coldly, possessing immense power. Each one could allow him to conquer all directions and roam the world. He reached out to touch them, wanting to claim them as his own.

There were countless lost legendary divine skills, elixirs and divine medicines that could transform one's body or grant immortality, and various magical treasures capable of overturning seas and rivers...

All sorts of things, each one difficult to let go of.

Xiang Yuan knew it was all illusion, all false. He also knew he couldn't indulge in it, driven by desire, or his true heart would be harmed, leading to endless future troubles, eternal damnation, and falling into the abyss forever.

He held his breath, suppressed the restless craving in his heart, bit his tongue, widened his tiger-like eyes, and with the ferocity of a tiger, broke through the initial illusion of beautiful women.

Encountering mountains of gold and silver, he hesitated slightly, then broke through.

Encountering divine weapons and sharp blades, he struggled for a long time, then broke through.

With one burst of energy, then a decline, then exhaustion, facing legendary divine skills, elixirs, divine medicines, and various magical treasures – the things he desired most in his heart – he was overwhelmed, surrounded by the dense fog, unable to escape.

The next second, Xiang Yuan's eyes sharpened, his blood ran cold, freezing the dense fog. He ignored his deepest desires and drew his saber, cleaving through them all.

The final scene of the heavy illusions was the powerful strength he craved most. The fog churned, solidifying into a familiar figure.

A Daoist robe, a long beard, holding a Bagua Heart-Protecting Mirror – it was his master, the Heartless Daoist.

In Xiang Yuan's heart, Old Daoist Quexin was the strongest, the image that best represented power to him, and the one he found most impossible to resist.

Just one glance, and he lost the will to fight.

"Playing tricks, give me..."

The saber light flashed, shining silver. With a fearless, no-holds-barred heart, unmoved by external things, he struck straight down, touching the crown of the Heartless Daoist's head and splitting him in two.

He broke through.

"Die!"