Uncle Nine: You were supposed to drive corpses, so you summoned the Monkey King!

After Lin Chen returned to his room, Uncle Jiu stared at the iron box in the main hall for a long time.

Master Four Eyes took a swig of wine. "Can you really see anything interesting by staring at it for so long?"

"Shut up." Uncle Nine picked up the purple bamboo brush and dipped it in cinnabar.

The character "破" (broken) was drawn on the surface of the iron box. With the activation of magic, the runes glowed with a dark red light.

The box didn't respond. Uncle Nine tried saying "open" again, but still nothing happened.

"This seal is more complicated than I thought." Uncle Nine put down his pen. "A simple word-breaking technique won't work."

Auntie Zhe poked her head out from the kitchen. "Shall we boil some water?"

Master Four Eyes looked at her: "Cook?"

"Yin iron fears pure Yang energy. Boiling it in water for three hours might loosen the seal."

Uncle Nine shook his head. "No. The box and the contents are one piece; if it gets ruined by boiling, it'll be useless."

Qiu Sheng came in carrying a bowl, chewing rice. "Master, should we break it open?"

"Smash your head my foot!" Uncle Nine cursed at him. "Go eat your food."

Qiu Sheng shrank back and retreated.

Uncle Nine held the compass above the box and circled it twice. The needle trembled wildly, unable to find its direction.

"This thing has array patterns that isolate it from detection," Uncle Nine said. "It's much more advanced than the ones Red Bone has."

Master Four Eyes leaned closer to look. "Who buried this box?"

"I don't know, it's definitely not Chi Gu," Uncle Nine said. "I've seen Chi Gu's weapon-forging skills. The runes on this box are exquisite; it's at least the work of a geomancer."

"A geomancer?" Master Four Eyes put down his wine pot. "There are geomancers in the Nine Nether Sect?"

"Yes," Uncle Nine said. "In that battle fifty years ago, the sect leader of the Nine Nether Sect was a late-stage Earth Master. Although he was severely injured by my grandmaster, he didn't die completely."

No one spoke in the room.

Aunt Zhe brought in a plate of sliced ​​radishes. "Could this box have been buried by the sect leader himself?"

"Possibly." Uncle Nine picked up a radish and took a bite. "Five years ago, or even earlier, the Nine Nether Sect buried supplies in various places. This box is one of them."

"What exactly is inside?" Master Four Eyes asked, picking up the wine pot.

"I don't know," Uncle Nine said. "Something that can be personally sealed by a geomancer is no ordinary thing."

As soon as he finished speaking, the metal box on the table trembled.

The three of them looked over together.

The runes on the box surface flashed a dark red light and then went out.

Uncle Jiu didn't say anything.

After a few breaths, the box trembled again, more noticeably than before.

"There's something alive inside." Aunt Zhe took a half step back.

Uncle Nine reached out and placed his hand on the box. The box was cool, and a pulsating sensation could be felt emanating from it.

"It's not a living thing," Uncle Nine said. "It's something sealed away struggling."

Master Four Eyes picked up the Crimson Thunder Sword. "Could it be that I'm about to break the seal?"

"It can't be broken," Uncle Nine said. "The seal is very strong. It just sensed something."

Lin Chen pushed the door open and came in. "What's wrong?"

"The box moved twice," Qiu Sheng said, peeking in from the doorway.

Lin Chen walked to the table and looked at the iron box. The box fell silent and didn't move again.

"It was shaking just now," Qiu Sheng said.

Lin Chen reached out and touched the surface of the box. It was colder than before.

"It's absorbing yin energy," Lin Chen said.

Uncle Nine glanced at him.

"Yes." Lin Chen pointed out the window, "It's currently the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), when the Yin energy is at its strongest. This box is actively absorbing the surrounding Yin energy."

Uncle Nine used a compass to measure it. The concentration of yin energy around the mortuary was lower than usual.

"This thing can even nourish itself?" Master Four Eyes said.

Uncle Nine put away the compass. "This isn't a good thing. If it continues to absorb Yin energy, the seal will loosen sooner or later."

"What should we do?" Aunt Zhe asked.

"First, isolate the yin energy." Uncle Nine went to the side room and found a red cloth package.

Open the cloth bag, and inside is a palm-sized, thin, purplish-gold plate.

"The Maoshan Evil-Suppressing Golden Plate," Uncle Nine said, "can ward off evil spirits."

Place the gold plate on the iron box. The runes glowed with a purple light, covering the box.

The box stopped shaking.

"How long can it last?" Lin Chen asked.

"Three days is no problem," Uncle Nine said. "Zhao Si will deliver the goods in three days, and the box will no longer be in the mortuary."

Lin Chen nodded. He glanced out the window; it was completely dark.

"I'm going back to my room to draw some talismans. I need to prepare for things in the provincial capital tomorrow."

"Go ahead," Uncle Nine waved his hand.

As Lin Chen went out, he passed by the backyard where Mao Shanming was still squatting next to the Red Lingzhi.

"You're still awake?"

"Senior brother, this mushroom glows at night," Maoshan Ming said, pointing to the Ganoderma lucidum.

Lin Chen walked over to take a look. The edge of the Ganoderma lucidum's cap glowed red.

"It's absorbed the earth's energy and gained sentience," Lin Chen said. "Stop staring at it. Go do what you're supposed to be doing."

"Oh." Maoshan Ming stood up and patted the dirt off his trousers.

Lin Chen returned to the east wing, where he ground ink and laid out paper.

I need to draw a few more talismans tonight. I don't know what I'll encounter in the provincial capital.

He first drew the Five Thunder Talisman.

After finishing three drawings, the sound of Qiusheng and Wencai arguing came from outside the window.

"You stole the sesame seed cakes I hid today!"

"I don't!"

"You still have sesame seeds on the corner of your mouth!"

Lin Chen ignored him and continued drawing talismans.

I drew twelve Five Thunder Talismans, eight Fiery Talismans, and five Corpse-Suppressing Talismans. The ink ran out.

Spread the talisman paper out to dry, blow out the candle, and lie down.

That metal box was still on my mind.

What's inside? A sealed object that actively absorbs yin energy. Uncle Nine said it's at least a work of a geomancer.

If the sect leader of the Nine Nether Sect is still alive, could the box be related to him?

Can't figure it out.

go to bed.

The next morning, Lin Chen was awakened by the crowing of chickens in the yard.

After washing his face and going outside, Qiu Sheng was already practicing horse stance in the yard.

"Junior brother, did you still move that box from last night?" Qiu Sheng asked.

"I don't know, you should ask your senior uncle."

Lin Chen walked into the main hall. Uncle Jiu was wiping the Yin-Yang Bagua Mirror.

The iron box remained untouched on the gold-plated plate.

"Uncle-Master, is the box behaving itself?"

"Be honest," Uncle Nine said, wiping the mirror. "The evil-suppressing golden plate can hold it down."

Lin Chen took out the talismans he had drawn last night. "Keep these talismans for future use."

Uncle Nine glanced at it. "Go prepare the rest."

"I'm going to town this afternoon to buy supplies," Lin Chen said. "We need to replenish cinnabar powder, black dog blood, and glutinous rice."

"Buy more," Uncle Jiu said. "I don't know how many days we'll be staying in the provincial capital."

Lin Chen responded and turned to leave.

As I walked into the courtyard, I heard the sound of horses' hooves outside the gate.

Then Awei shouted from outside.

"Uncle Nine! Is Uncle Nine here?!"

Qiu Sheng rolled his eyes. "What's this guy doing here again?"

Lin Chen opened the door.

Awei rode on his horse, followed by two town guards.

"Yo, Young Master Lin." Awei dismounted. "Is Uncle Jiu here?"

"Yes." Lin Chen stepped aside.

Awei walked into the courtyard, where two town guards were waiting outside with their horses.

"Uncle Nine!" Ah Wei called out towards the main hall.

Uncle Nine came out. "What are you shouting for?"

"I just got back from the provincial capital," Awei grinned. "I heard a mountain goods buyer came to town. Did you have someone keep an eye on him?"

"You found out?"

"Vice Captain Liu told me," Awei patted his chest. "I rushed back. What happened?"

Uncle Nine glanced at Lin Chen.

Lin Chen said, "It's nothing serious. He's just an ordinary merchant; it's just that we're being a little cautious."

"That's good." Awei breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought there were evil spirits causing trouble again."

"What did you go to the provincial capital for?" Uncle Jiu asked.

"General Long treated me to dinner," Awei said. "He even praised me for my contribution in helping to suppress the bandits last time."

Qiu Sheng scoffed from the side.

Awei glared at him. "What are you laughing at?"

"I didn't laugh." Qiu Sheng turned around.

Uncle Nine ignored him. "Alright, go back if you have nothing else to do. There have been more patrols in town lately."

"Okay." Ah Wei replied, then leaned closer to Uncle Jiu. "By the way, Uncle Jiu, how's Tingting doing lately?"

"I'm fine," Uncle Nine said. "Don't worry about it."

"Hehe." Awei scratched his head and turned to leave.

After Awei left the courtyard, Qiusheng burst out laughing.

"This guy still has his eye on Tingting."

"You're not much better off," Wencai interjected from the side.

Qiu Sheng blushed. "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Lin Chen ignored them and turned to go to the east wing.

After packing up the talismans and ritual implements, I went out carrying a cloth bag.

"Junior brother, where are we going?" Qiu Sheng asked.

"Going to town to buy things."

"Can I come with you?"

"No, you're staying at the mortuary."