Muffled thunder echoed in the sky, rolling from east to west, as Chen Shi and Tiancheng, the Hall Master of Red Mountain, stood under the eaves, looking up at the sky. To the east, clouds were densely packed, while to the west lay a blanket of snow-white, the sunlight piercing.
The afternoon in Gongzhou City was sowhat stuffy and humid, making people feel unbearably hot, yet unable to sweat a single drop.
The thunder was not loud, but the rain had already arrived.
Chen Shi saw several droplets of water on the banana leaves in the courtyard, followed by the rustling sound of fine rain.
Soon, rows of rainwater hung from the green tiles of the eaves, gradually forming steady streams.
Chen Shi glanced sideways at Tiancheng, who appeared to be in his forties. He was the kind of man with a noble appearance, a broad space between his eyebrows, which often frowned, leaving deep creases that could never be smoothed away.
It was not the passage of ti, but the daily trivialities that often worried the Hall Master, leaving marks upon his brow.
His dress was not extravagant, just a quiet blue robe with a white lapel and a red sash around his waist, topped with a blue kerchief—that was all.
His aura had an unsettling quality.
It was the evil aura that the Red Mountain Lady had ntioned.
Tiancheng practiced the Red Mountain Lady’s cultivation technique, but he was unable to completely purge the evil aura from the moonlight, resulting in his own contamination.
Although Tiancheng concealed it well, Chen Shi was extrely sensitive to such evil auras and imdiately sensed it.
Tiancheng was gradually becoming possessed by the Evil Spirit!
"How are Master Chen’s injuries?" Tiancheng also withdrew his gaze from examining Chen Shi and inquired.
Surprise was hidden in his eyes, astonished that Chen Shi was so young, yet his strength was formidable.
He had learned from two Incense Masters that Chen Shi had avenged Zhao Kaiyun by uprooting the Tianlao Society’s Caiseng Hall. He had assud that Chen Shi must surely be a burly and powerful man, but upon eting him, he discovered that Chen Shi was still a half-grown child, at most twelve or thirteen years old, at the age of rapid growth.
At his age, he would still be playing with urine and mud with a few playmates.
Chen Shi examined his own injuries and found that the places where the Demon Souls had gnawed had already ford scabs; the other wounds were not serious. However, the Tianpeng Demon Suppression Technique was extrely draining on Qi-Blood, and the stronger the cultivation, the greater the drain, causing him to suffer a significant loss of Primordial Qi.
If he were at Qianyang Mountain, he could lie in a coffin at Mirror Lake Villa, but in Gongzhou City, he feared he needed so ti to recuperate.
"The injuries will probably take a month or so to heal completely. I’m not sure if there will be scars," he stated truthfully.
Tiancheng watched the rain and listened to its sound, saying, "When Red Mountain Hall was established, its purpose was to eradicate evil spirits and allow the common people to live better. But so are more evil than evil spirits. I have heard about the removal of the Caiseng Hall. You did well."
He paused, then continued, "Our Red Mountain Hall, also known as the Red Mountain Talisman Masters Mutual Aid Society, derives the phrase ’Red Mountain’ from the Red Mountain Lady. All the brothers in the society are Talisman Masters, a trade mostly done by poor scholars. The sons of rich and noble families disdain to do such work. It’s a way to make a living, not to beco rich and noble. I’ve also heard the Lady speak of you; you’re to my liking."
Chen Shi said, "My removal of the Caiseng Hall might bring trouble to Red Mountain Hall..."
Tiancheng lightly patted his shoulder, saying, "The Mutual Aid Society is about helping and supporting each other like brothers. If you saw Zhao Kaiyun being treated like that and just walked away, I would disdain to have you as an instructor. You uprooted the Tianlao Society’s Caiseng Hall to avenge Zhao Kaiyun, and that is the spirit I admire."
His voice was loud: "I was poor when I was young, didn’t attend school for many years, and later when I tried and failed to beco a Scholar, I beca a Talisman Master and then founded Red Mountain Hall, determined to help those like . Rest assured and heal; with what you’ve done, I can shoulder any trouble for you!"
Although contaminated by the evil aura, his very nature exuded a demonic charm, which was infectious.
Chen Shi was taken aback and gradually a smile appeared on his face.
This Tiancheng had a kind of evil allure—evil, yet not deviating from the righteous path, which was quite peculiar.
Tiancheng said, "I’m not well-educated and often make mistakes. I heard you’re taking imperial examinations; if you succeed, you’ll be the most learned among us, truly a precious gem. I heard from the Lady that you have taken possession of the Tianlao Society’s branch in Caiseng Hall. Where is the Heavenly Elder’s avatar?"
Chen Shi said, "It is suppressed by ."
Tiancheng smiled, "Summon the Heavenly Elder’s avatar."
With a subtle thought from Chen Shi, a small temple appeared behind his head, from which he summoned the avatar of the Heavenly Elder.
As soon as the avatar was freed, it showed its fierce nature and soared up, attempting to leave, shouting, "Tiancheng, Chen Shi, the Heavenly Elder will surely..."
Her words were cut off by a streak of sword Qi, like moonlight, which shot across the sky. The Heavenly Elder was pierced by the sword Qi, emitting a piercing scream as her massive head disintegrated into remarkable energy that rolled in the air, pushing toward the direction of the Tianlao Society.
At that mont, an extrely angry voice ca from outside the Red Mountain Hall, "Tiancheng, how dare you!"
Tiancheng’s eyes glead, and he laughed, "The afflicted party has co knocking!"
Chen Shi pondered within, "Afflicted party? Is it soone from the Tianlao Society?"
Tiancheng extended his hand, making a grabbing motion, and it was as if an invisible giant hand covered an area of several acres, capturing the remarkable energy just as it was about to disperse.
Due to the rain, the invisible hand was outlined by the rainwater.
Tiancheng clenched his fist tightly, and the invisible hand in the sky also squeezed rapidly, condensing the remarkable energy in its palm!
Suddenly, thunder bood, and the sky was filled with blazing fire, also forming a giant hand. The flas converged into a fist, hurling toward Tiancheng’s own palm.
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