Chapter 27: The Five Madness Dharma Assembly
“History Long River really has no martial ethics.”
Jiang Yan rolled his eyes.
Although he was also looking forward to new scenery, could it not at least give him ten more days, or half a month, to prepare?
In Zhao Yinman’s notebook, it was written that the entry cycle of a History Walker into a Diseased Domain was not fixed.
Generally, if one refrained from using abilities, the duration could be extended to one or two years, or even longer.
With frequent usage, the interval was still at least a month.
And he had only gone through a week—at most, ten days.
A third of other people's cycle.
“This isn’t just because I have too many offspring, but also because my skill proficiency is improving too quickly.”
Jiang Yan glanced at the skills he had mastered.
Vajravārāhī Seal (Mastery Level 40%)
Shifted Shape and Reflected Shadow (Mastery Level 10%)
Blessed Land Millet Spell (Beginner Level 99%)
Lamp-Igniting Hell Visualization Method (Beginner Level 18%)²
Although Brother Pigs’ bodies were gone, Jiang Yan hadn’t wasted their souls.
They were made into lamp oil for the Ash Lamp, which could enhance wisdom.
Now, under its brilliance, he no longer needed to sleep.
With his naturally spiritual body, astonishing talent, and the diligent cultivation of his skill offspring, Jiang Yan’s progress was naturally advancing at lightning speed.
Grind on!
Especially the skill 【Shifted Shape and Reflected Shadow】—Jiang Yan had kept it active constantly to master bodily transformation, causing its proficiency to soar.
It became the first skill he cultivated independently to mastery level.
Even the Spirit of the Coffin was pulled along by him into grinding, making the surface of the coffin increasingly crystal clear.
Every time Zhao Yinman saw it, her eyes locked on and she couldn’t move.
This kind of high-intensity cultivation naturally deepened Jiang Yan’s connection with the History Long River significantly.
It was equivalent to jumping repeatedly in front of the History Long River, madly provoking it, and then…
Getting caught!
“Without a hundred percent success rate, I really don’t feel secure.”
With this worry in mind, Jiang Yan went to find Ba Lie.
As the leader, even if he didn’t help directly, shouldn’t he at least shell out some gold coins?
In the office,
“As expected of a genius—even entering Diseased Domains is so much faster than others.” Ba Lie sat in the chair, his expression complicated.
Logically, the History Long River shouldn’t be draining the pond to catch the fish like this. It should be particularly lenient toward newcomers.
After all, Jiang Yan hadn’t caused large-scale destruction in the real world either.
Could it be…
Jiang Yan was growing stronger at a terrifying speed unknown to them, enough for the History Long River to deem him capable?
‘How is that possible? I’m probably overthinking it. He hasn’t even cultivated a method yet.’
Ba Lie muttered to himself, then said:
“Headquarters held a special meeting because you're a Grade A newcomer. They've elevated the advanced cultivation method to the top level, followed procedures, and are currently producing your documents—it should all be done in the next couple of days.”
“You don’t need to worry too much. With your strength, ordinary Diseased Domains won’t be a problem. As you experience more of them, the intervals will grow longer.”
At this point, Old Ba felt a little embarrassed, realizing he was saying a bunch of empty words.
After thinking it over, he made up his mind, lowered his voice, and said:
“I remember your Companion Spirit Pet needs to bury corpses—the stronger, the better. I might have a lead...”
“Southeast Asia connections?”¹⁰
Jiang Yan hesitated. “Old Ba, that’s not quite right. Those people are humans too—I can’t get past that mentally. Just toss me some gold coins instead.”
“But if you insist on dragging me, I can’t resist. After all, I’m weak. Everything is for the Bureau of Historical Revision. I’m willing to sacrifice a bit.”
“Don’t make me out to be some evil villain, and don’t act like you're some holy white lotus. Besides, the Ba family doesn’t have extra rations either.”
Ba Lie rolled his eyes and said helplessly:
“You’re interested in the black market, right? I happen to have an invitation to the Five Madness Dharma Assembly.”
...
...
...
“The Five Madness Dharma Assembly, derived from the meaning of the Five Madness Ghost Deities, is a benevolent deity persona aimed at punishing evil and promoting good, expelling illness and misfortune, and helping people gain wealth. Later, it merged with the wanton and licentious evil deity persona of the Five Passes to form a special divine composite.”
“It belongs to the southern-style black markets, mostly found in Huizhou, also scattered throughout Jiangnan, Suzhou Province, and other areas. Held once a month, invitations are sent to guests a week in advance.”
“Some time ago, someone delivered an invitation for the Five Madness Dharma Assembly within the range of Jin Hua City, but I’ve been tight on money lately and constantly need to watch the Eye of Gongyang. I haven’t had the time to go.
You, on the other hand, could go and broaden your horizons. They sell many spoils obtained by History Walkers from Diseased Domains there, including some Diseased Domain creature corpses.”
Midnight, rooftop of a tall building.
Jiang Yan recalled the words Ba Lie had spoken during the day and took out the so-called “invitation.”
An incense stick imprinted with black gilt patterns.
Lighting it would summon the Five Madness Cavalry to take one to the marketplace.
Speaking of cavalry… Commander Lu had also said that Large Rat Guards were low-level cavalry.
When asked, Old Ba told him this stuff required either money for the mob tactic route or the ancestral-pedigree route.
Have neither? Then go bargain hunt.
Otherwise, where do you get your altar? What do you feed the cavalry?³
Ba Lie also emphasized that what these people used were all small fry, since only at the Ancient Talisman level could one create truly powerful cavalry.
Even Immortals and Gods could be included.
But they wouldn’t be called cavalry—they would be called Immortal Subjects, Buddha Followers, or Attendants, possessing some traits of Immortals and Gods, ascending to immortality together, and becoming eternal.²
“Why does that sound like minions of an evil god…”
Jiang Yan muttered, then tucked two yellow talismans into his chest. These were acquired from Zhao Yinman.
One was a Talisman Serpent Binding Talisman, the other a Celestial Master Golden Light Talisman.
Their functions were control and defense, respectively.
Of course, they cost money.
A hundred thousand each!
Don’t be fooled by the humanoid zombie appearance—when quoting prices, there was no hesitation, and no room to haggle.
Even when Jiang Yan argued for ages, the other party just stared silently.
In the end, for the sake of personal safety, Jiang Yan gritted his teeth and bought them—but on credit for now. He’d pay after next month’s salary.
Crack, crack, crack!
Jiang Yan used 【Shifted Shape and Reflected Shadow】. Muscles squirmed under his skin, transforming into a tall man over 1.9 meters with a stern face.
“From now on, I’m not Jiang Yan—I’m Sima Luoshui.”¹
With that, he lit the Five Madness Incense.
Wisps of red smoke rose, converging in the air, intertwining and morphing, eventually forming five ferocious ghost deity images.
About half an hour later, in the cold wind, the sound of hooves suddenly reached his ears.
Turning to look, an ancient black carriage flew through the air, pulled by horses of green, red, yellow, white, and black.
They were majestic and robust, but their original heads were replaced by five vicious ghost deity masks, clad in armor, with flags on their foreheads matching their respective colors.
They resembled envoys from the underworld.
Seeing this, Jiang Yan recalled information about the Five Madness Gods.
Legend says it originated from Zhu Yuanzhang’s sacrifice to soldiers who died in Poyang Lake. As soldiers grouped in fives, it was named Wu Chang, possibly also meaning “flourishing martial fortune.”
In different regions, Five Madness has different interpretations—for example, one city in Jiangnan, famous for yellow wine, uses five animals as its Five Madness for rituals.
Driving the carriage was a man wearing a white mask marked with the character “Four,” dressed in a gray long robe, with long hair, looking like a groom from ancient times.
He respectfully said to Jiang Yan:
“Honored guest, please board.”
Judging by his aura, he was at the peak of the Spirit Awakening Stage, yet used as a coachman.
The power behind this Five Madness Dharma Assembly seemed anything but ordinary.
“Mm.”
Jiang Yan gave a slight nod, lifted the curtain, and sat inside the carriage.
He found it spacious, with several black-robed individuals seated in silence.
They were likely concealing their identities—perhaps fugitives among History Walkers, or members of an evil god cult faction.
They probably didn’t expect…
That the carriage had arrived under official surveillance.
Jiang Yan chuckled inwardly, concealed his identity, and found a corner to sit.
After ensuring there were no dangerous elements among the burning Life Lamps surrounding them, he closed his eyes to rest.
He didn’t notice that, in the room, Zhao Yinman was watching the departing Five Madness Carriage through the window, her crimson pupils glowing quietly.
At the same time,
On a secluded mountain path near Jin Hua City.
The night was dark, the wind fierce, the bright moon hung high.
A Five Madness Carriage had overturned. The horses pulling it were dead. Nearby were several human corpses—all of them had been gnawed to the bone.
Buzz buzz buzz!
Flies swarmed, feasting on the banquet.
“Hu… hu… hu!”
In the forest, a coachman wearing a “Ten” mask fled desperately, glancing back from time to time, breathing heavily, his eyes filled with fear.
“No reinforcements came. The communication talisman was intercepted. I must report back to the chairman…”
Just as the thought crossed his mind, a buzzing sound rose in his ears. The world before him turned pitch black.
“Damn!”
He trembled and looked up, only to see the sky filled with a dense swarm of flies, blotting out the moon and sky.³
“Five Madness Command—Fire Cavalry!”
The coachman's eyes were filled with fear as he waved the red command flag in his hand.
Flames surged, transforming into a flaming soldier who swung his sword downward, fire spreading and burning hundreds and thousands of flies to death.
But to the vast swarm of flies, it was merely a drop in the ocean.
They formed into a giant hand, casually swatting the soldier into pieces, turning to ash and dissipating.
Then it grabbed the coachman. Amid the sound of bones cracking and twisting, he was lifted into the air.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Amid light, lively footsteps, the coachman struggled to open his eyes and saw a blurry figure skipping out from the depths of the forest.
Soon, the moonlight shone on the figure, dispelling the darkness and revealing a child’s face—red lips, white teeth, exquisitely cute.
Looked about seven or eight years old.
His hair was tied in a topknot, his dark green eyes darting around. His clothes hung loosely on his body, trailing behind, giving off a rather endearing appearance.
That is, if not for the heavy bloodstains on those clothes.
The coachman recognized that these were the same clothes one of the guests had just been wearing. His expression turned to shock as he croaked out hoarsely:
“Who are you? Why attack the Five Madness Dharma Assembly Cavalry?”
“Me? You can call me…”
The little boy pointed at himself.
Countless tiny pupils emerged from within his eyes, stacking atop one another, grotesque and terrifying, like an insect’s compound eye. He chuckled and said:
“Fly Boy!”
“As for why… I kill because I want to. What’s it to you?”
As his words fell, swarms of flies burrowed into the coachman’s mouth, laying eggs in his internal organs and flesh.¹
He was in such agony that he couldn’t even scream. His body trembled instinctively as his eyes turned completely white, quickly overrun by dark green insect eggs.
He collapsed to his knees, a buzzing like fly wings sounding from his throat as he rasped:
“…Mas…ter…”
Fly Boy clasped his hands behind his back. His childish voice echoed through the woods:
“Something as fun as the Five Madness Dharma Assembly—how could I miss out? I just need to pick a few targets to slowly enjoy…”
“The wailing of the weak!”