Chapter 2213 (Two Thousand Two Hundred and Thirteen)

Tie Wandao asked: “What if the tools are good enough and the people who make them are strong enough?”

Li Pingrun said: “It can’t be opened directly. It requires a Taoist priest to perform a ritual. Usually, there are many layers of seals. If you want to open each layer, a Taoist priest must perform a ritual.”

“Just use magic to open it?” Tie Wandao asked.

“Not all of them.” Li Pingrun said, “Some can be opened directly by alchemists using magic, but others may not be opened.”

“Not necessarily?” Tie Wandao asked, “Is there anything that the Taoist priests can’t open?”

“Yes.” Li Pingrun said, “If someone else locked each layer of the seal besides the alchemist, then we must find the key.”

Tie Wandao said: “If you can’t find the key, can’t you just chisel open that place or use other methods?”

“No.” Li Pingrun said, “Doing so would be extremely dangerous for the person who opened the passage. He might even die.”

Tie Wandao once again recalled what Li Pingrun had said before about the three powerful people whose relics were stolen by someone using unimaginable means, so he asked, “I’m just wondering, how were the relics of the three powerful people you told me about stolen?”

Li Pingrun said: “I don’t know the details, but I heard that the method was incredible.”

Tie Wandao said: “If that’s the case, what happened to the thief? Did he die?”

“I don’t know.” Li Pingrun said, “Some say it was stolen by one person, some say it wasn’t stolen by one person. Among those who say it was stolen by one person, different people say what happened to the thief differently. Some say the thief died not long after, while others say he went to other places. Among those who say it was stolen by different people, some say some of the thieves have died, while others say all of them have died. These are all legends, and I’ve never heard anyone give an accurate account of what happened.”

“Since there is a possibility of theft, can’t we add a few more doors outside the passage and lock them permanently?” Tie Wandao asked. Li Pingrun said, “It’s not something you can add or lock whenever you want.”

“Is there anything particular about this?” Tie Wandao asked.

Li Pingrun said, “Not all of them can’t be done this way. After the entrance is sealed, the Taoist priest will tell you whether it is suitable to add other protective measures outside that place. If it is not suitable, then it must not be added.”

Tie Wandao asked: “After the entrance to the passage below Muxi Pavilion where the remains of the suicides are buried is sealed, is it appropriate to add some protection outside?”

Li Pingrun replied: “From what I learned through my previous practice, it doesn’t matter what is added outside, but it can’t be locked easily. If it is locked, it can’t be locked for more than a week. Of course, not locking it is most beneficial to the Soul Consolidation Talisman.”

Tie Wandao asked: “Does locking the door of Muxi Pavilion count as locking it?”

Li Pingrun said, “Yes.”

“Before, I asked you to lock the door of Muxi Pavilion, and you just locked it. You didn’t even remind me of this situation?” Tie Wandao said.

Li Pingrun said: “At that time I didn’t know that it was in the basement of Muxi Pavilion.”

“Haven’t you ever thought of this possibility?” Tie Wandao asked.

“Well… I’m sorry! Chief, I really didn’t think it through at the time.” Li Pingrun said, “I asked before, but I didn’t think much about it.”

(End of this chapter)