Li Tianqing said that for so ti now, evil spirits would co every night to kill him, and sword energy would appear in the temple, slaying the evil spirits.
The Temple of the God of Wealth was brimming with battle intent, to the point where it could even form visions of mountains of blades and seas of fire in Chen Shi's mind. It was likely that no evil spirit would dare approach. Yet, there were still evil spirits breaking into the temple, attempting to kill Li Tianqing!
This indicated that these evil spirits were being controlled by soone.
In other words, soone was manipulating evil spirits to kill Li Tianqing!
Chen Shi's eyes flickered. Controlling evil spirits?
Who could have such an ability?
"How many evil spirits can this person control?"
He suddenly rembered what he had seen on the road. Qingzhou was extrely heavy with sinister energy, and there were an unusual number of evil spirits, even appearing during the day. Could these evil spirits also be controlled by soone?
Otherwise, why would evil spirits appear during the day?
Qingzhou City was in complete chaos, with shouts and cries everywhere.
An azure dragon coiled through the sky.
That was the strange phenonon created when the blade light chopped down!
This blade light flashed and vanished in an instant, leaving only the Azure Dragon Energy in the air, growing fainter and fainter.
"What a powerful slash!"
Chen Shi exclaid in amazent, his heart also filled with great curiosity.
Li Tianqing had been killing evil spirits all along the way. Could it be that evil spirits had also infiltrated Qingzhou City?
"Is the Myriad Soul Banner also considered an evil spirit? Why was it also chopped by him?"
Just as he was about to rush over, he suddenly heard the clatter of horse hooves approaching, followed by a wave of heat hitting his face. Li Tianqing galloped past on horseback, whooshing by him.
Chen Shi looked and saw him holding a human head in his hand, with countless Silver Notes, gold, silver, and jewels flying behind him, following him as he vanished in a cloud of dust.
Chen Shi stared dumbfounded. "So this is the kind of God of Wealth Lord Guan, the Sage Emperor is!"
He chased after them with all his might, only to hear soone shouting behind him, "The Salt Commissioner has been killed by the Red Horse Bandit!"
"The Salt Commissioner's family treasury has been completely looted by the Red Horse Bandit!"
...
Qingzhou City was full of powerful individuals, with many experts summoning their Primordial Spirits, flying around everywhere, searching for the Red Horse Bandit's whereabouts. However, that dragon-like blade light had even chopped the Myriad Soul Banner, so they didn't dare pursue too closely. As they chased, their speed gradually slowed.
Chen Shi closely followed the red horse, watching as Li Tianqing on horseback swung his blade each ti, causing evil spirit heads to fall along the way. The red horse was extrely fast; even when Chen Shi pushed his speed to the limit, he couldn't catch up to that man and horse.
Suddenly, a village appeared ahead. Li Tianqing's speed slowed slightly, and the mountains of gold, silver, and Silver Notes chasing him flew up, pieces of gold and silver landing in the courtyards of each household in the village.
Chen Shi was stunned. Was the God of Wealth enshrined in the Temple of the God of Wealth one who robbed the rich to help the poor?
He rushed forward and saw the red horse carrying Li Tianqing distributing wealth all along the way, giving the gold, silver, and treasures from the Qingzhou Salt Commissioner's ho to the villages and towns along the route. Each household received dozens of taels of silver.
After running for most of the night, Li Tianqing had dispersed all the wealth. The red horse galloped towards the Temple of the God of Wealth. As it neared the temple, the horse slowed down.
Chen Shi caught up to the red horse and saw Li Tianqing leap off the horse.
The red horse neighed, its hooves treading on hellish demon fire as it jumped into the underworld and disappeared.
Li Tianqing reached out and grabbed the Azure Dragon Energy flying around him, transforming it into a long blade, which he threw to Chen Shi.
Chen Shi caught it, but as the long blade landed in his hand, it transford back into a flying Azure Dragon Energy, swirling around him.
Li Tianqing also threw the Salt Commissioner's head over. Chen Shi hurriedly caught it, saw it was a head, and quickly activated the Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword to toss the head into the underworld.
Only then did he notice that Li Tianqing's eyes were actually closed.
Li Tianqing had actually been riding with his eyes closed all along, traveling over a thousand miles overnight, killing who knows how many evil spirits, even breaking into Qingzhou City, chopping down the Salt Commissioner, and looting the Salt Commissioner's treasury!
Li Tianqing walked into the temple, his steps powerful and imposing, completely unlike his previous gait, heading straight for the miniature shrine in the temple.
Upon reaching the miniature shrine, he turned around and slowly opened his eyes.
Light filled the empty room, illuminating the entire temple.
He gazed at the rivers and mountains outside the temple, his voice low and hoarse. "Why is this land filled with evil chaos, with no righteous energy prevailing? What demon is wreaking havoc upon the world?"
His body trembled slightly, and a stream of pure energy flew out, entering the miniature shrine.
Li Tianqing fell backward. Chen Shi quickly stepped forward, caught him, and slowly laid him down on the bedding.
Li Tianqing fell into a deep sleep.
The Azure Dragon Energy swirling around Chen Shi also flew up and entered the miniature shrine.
At that mont, the sound of flapping ears ca from outside the temple. Chen Shi looked and saw many large-eared Heaven's Listeners flapping their ears as they slowly descended from the sky, landing around the Temple of the God of Wealth, each writing and drawing, recording sothing.
His heart stirred. He summoned the Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword, blew a breath, and the sword transford into a bird that flew up, landing behind one of the Heaven's Listeners to see what that listener was recording.
What this Heaven's Listener recorded was all about Li Tianqing's words and actions.
It read: "...Qing rode a red horse bearing Azure Dragon Energy, slayed seventeen evil spirits, entered Qingzhou City at night, destroyed the city gate, chopped the Myriad Soul Banner, killed Salt Commissioner Lü Song, and took wealth away.
"...Qing transported wealth to villages such as Cangshu, Heyin, and Gejia, dispersing silver and money to the villagers.
"...Suspect Chen Shi also left the temple, followed the trail, later returned to the temple, summoned a sword that transford into a bird, flew behind , observed my book. I feigned ignorance, suspect continued watching. Suspect walked over, suspect ca behind , suspect raised hand..."
Chen Shi knocked that Heaven's Listener unconscious and flipped through the listener's records.
One night, sunlight shone through the cracks of the Temple of the God of Wealth's door, attracting the attention of the Heaven's Listeners. Consequently, Li Tianqing beca a key surveillance target, closely monitored by six Heaven's Listeners.
Chen Shi continued flipping through. The Heaven's Listeners faithfully recorded everything that happened each subsequent day, including what Li Tianqing said, as well as his daily life and routines.
This also included the situations where evil spirits entered the temple to assassinate Li Tianqing!
"Fifth watch of the night, soone like a demon drove a Spirit into the temple. Azure light suddenly flashed, Spirit was executed."
"Fifth watch of the night, demon person ca again, drove ten Spirits into the temple."
"Fifth watch of the night, demon person ca once more..."
...
Chen Shi skimd through the Heaven's Listener's records and thought, "Indeed, there is soone who can command evil spirits! And they co every night at the fifth watch... fifth watch... right now is the fifth watch!"
Just as he thought this, he suddenly saw a person floating through the air, drifting down to land in front of the temple.
That person wore black Taoist robes. After landing, he clasped his hands before his chest in a gesture of summoning. Then, five Ghost Kings flew over, moving an altar.
The black-clothed man perford rituals on the altar. Soon, groups of evil spirits ca rushing from the distance.
The black-clothed man pointed at the Temple of the God of Wealth, and the many evil spirits imdiately surged toward the temple!
Blade light flashed within the temple, and many evil spirits fell dead, failing to eliminate Li Tianqing.
Seeing this, the black-clothed man frowned slightly and was about to charge into the temple. Suddenly, Black Pot's barking ca from inside the temple. The black-clothed man hesitated no longer. He leaped up from the altar, and while in mid-air, perford so unknown spell that vibrated his black robes, allowing him to fly through the air like a bat.
Chen Shi's mind stirred. The Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword transford into a bird and flew up, following the black-clothed man.
The black-clothed man flew to Qingzhou City and suddenly descended into the city, disappearing without a trace.
Chen Shi frowned slightly and recalled the Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword.
When dawn arrived, Li Tianqing woke up, stretched, yawned, and said with a smile, "Last night was the best sleep I've had in a while! I've been living in fear these past days, afraid of being chopped down, but after you, Little Ten, arrived, I could finally sleep peacefully."
Chen Shi got up and told Li Tianqing what happened last night. Li Tianqing was horrified and couldn't believe what had occurred.
Chen Shi took out the Heaven's Listener's notes. Li Tianqing flipped through them.
Black Pot got up early and was cooking over a fire in the courtyard. So Polygonatum and aconite went to help with the fire. A Polygonatum was pressing down on an aconite, trying to send it under the stove. The aconite shouted, and the two started fighting noisily again.
Black Pot grabbed a Polygonatum, sliced off a piece of its head, cut it into slices, and put it into the pot to make soup.
The Polygonatum, having lost a small part of its head, cried out in fear. The other Polygonatum and aconite were also scared, shrinking into a corner and trembling, finally quieting down.
After reading the notes, Li Tianqing exclaid in shock, "I actually did so many outrageous things these past few nights."
This matter was simply too outrageous. Even after reading the Heaven's Listener's notes, he found it hard to believe.
He paced back and forth, suddenly stopping and saying, "Why does the person trying to kill want to kill ? Could it be that I was controlled by Lord Guan, the Sage Emperor's will and killed his relative? No, no, that person summoned evil spirits to kill on the very night Lord Guan, the Sage Emperor's will controlled . So it's not because I killed his relative."
Chen Shi pondered and said, "This person can control evil spirits. Could it be that because Lord Guan, the Sage Emperor killed those evil spirits, it provoked him and drew his revenge?"
Li Tianqing shook his head. "Because I kill evil spirits, he wants to kill ? Could it be that the evil spirits are raised by him..."
He stopped mid-sentence, exchanging a look with Chen Shi.
Chen Shi said, "Southern School Talismans can create and control evil spirits!"
Li Tianqing said, "Qingzhou's harsh laws have led to an extrely high number of evil spirits, so soone is taking advantage of the chaos to secretly raise Southern School evil spirits among them!"
Chen Shi said, "You were controlled by Lord Guan, the Sage Emperor's will and killed many evil spirits. Even the evil spirits raised by this person were killed by you, ruining his grand plan. That's why he wants to eliminate you. But why does he want to raise evil spirits?"
Li Tianqing nodded, then suddenly said, "How about this: tonight, you sleep, and I stay awake. Then Lord Guan, the Sage Emperor's will will control you. I'll see what happens."
Chen Shi, being childlike in temperant, was eager to try.
The two hit it off imdiately.
Chen Shi continued carving the small temple and drawing talismans.
Night fell again. Chen Shi finished dinner and went to bed early.
Li Tianqing, however, focused his mind, activated the miniature shrine behind his head, emitted divine light to illuminate the surroundings, and waited for the hour of Zi.
Just as the hour of Zi was approaching, a sudden Yin wind blew in. Li Tianqing couldn't help shivering and thought, "This Yin wind doesn't feel like a deity's presence; it carries an underworld aura instead!"
Chen Shi, in his sleep, suddenly dread of Wuwang Prefect walking out of the darkness. Startled, he said, "Prefect, where have you co from?"
Wuwang Prefect bowed and said, "I have been hiding from the underworld ghost gods' pursuit these past days, with nowhere to go. I thought of hiding here with the True King and humbly request the True King to take in."
Chen Shi's expression changed abruptly, and he shouted, "Prefect, how foolish! You must leave quickly, or trouble will arise!"
Wuwang Prefect was still confused when suddenly, Chen Shi's dream cracked with a sound, revealing an unfathomably deep abyss. At the bottom of the abyss was a vast ocean of consciousness, with countless thoughts churning within the sea.
Wuwang Prefect stared dumbfounded. He saw incredibly powerful and terrifying underworld demon gods climbing out from within the abyss. From afar, claws, tentacles, and tongues reached out to grab and coil around him!
Wuwang Prefect, having been evading the underworld ghost gods' pursuit for days, was already exhausted. He thought he could hide in Chen Shi's dream for a while, never expecting that the demon gods in Chen Shi's Sea of Consciousness were even more nurous than those chasing him!
He made a decisive move, swung his brush handle, and forcefully stabbed it into Chen Shi's dream to avoid being dragged into the Sea of Consciousness abyss!
However, those claws, tongues, and tentacles had already coiled around him, dragging him toward the Sea of Consciousness abyss while simultaneously climbing out along the abyss!
Wuwang Prefect inwardly groaned. Just as the first demon god was about to climb out, a dragon's roar suddenly ca from within Chen Shi's dream. Blade light flashed, and the claws, tentacles, and tongues were severed one after another!
Seizing the opportunity, Wuwang Prefect imdiately broke free and flew out, escaping Chen Shi's dream!
He followed the blade light and saw a divine being with phoenix eyes, silkworm-shaped eyebrows, and a face like dark red dates walking over, appearing in Chen Shi's dream, and slashing a blade toward the Sea of Consciousness abyss!
The demon gods in the Sea of Consciousness abyss were struck down, and the abyss closed with a rumble.
Wuwang Prefect didn't dare stay a mont longer and fled in panic, thinking fearfully, "What kind of monster is hidden within the True King's body?"
Li Tianqing was staring at Chen Shi with shock and suspicion when suddenly, a stream of Yin wind blew out from between Chen Shi's eyebrows. Then Chen Shi stood up stiffly, startling him.
"Hoo—"
Chen Shi flew out of the main hall.
Li Tianqing hurriedly followed, rushing outside the hall.
A red horse, its hooves treading on hellish demon fire, galloped over from the underworld.
Chen Shi mounted the horse, and an azure dragon coiled around his body.
The Polygonatum and aconite in the temple were already used to this and just glanced over before going back to sleep.
With a horse's neigh and a flash of azure light, Chen Shi galloped away.
Li Tianqing imdiately rushed out after him. He saw Chen Shi riding on the horse, cutting through enemies as if they were lons and vegetables, slaying every evil spirit he encountered along the way with a single blade!
Li Tianqing chased after him with all his might. He saw Chen Shi galloping toward a county town under Qingzhou's jurisdiction.
By the ti he ran to that county town, the city was already in chaos. The city gate had been chopped away, the Myriad Soul Banner was cut in two, and soone in the city was screaming, "The county magistrate is dead! The county magistrate has been killed!"
The clatter of hooves ca toward him. Li Tianqing stared wide-eyed. In the firelight, he saw Chen Shi sitting on the red horse's back, an azure dragon slung across him, holding the county magistrate's head in his other hand as he whooshed past.
Behind him, gold, silver, treasures, and Silver Notes flew about noisily.
"Exactly the sa as the Heaven's Listener's records!"
Li Tianqing hurriedly gave chase, but his cultivation was much lower than Chen Shi's, so he couldn't catch up.
He simply returned to the Temple of the God of Wealth first. As the fifth watch approached, Chen Shi returned, threw the Azure Dragon blade and the head to him, and fell asleep imdiately.
Li Tianqing settled Chen Shi down, activated the Ten Thousand Mile Flying Sword Technique, and transford one of his hairpins into a fly, sending it outside the temple.
When the fifth watch arrived, the black-clothed man ca as scheduled, summoned evil spirits to attack the small temple, left disgruntled after achieving nothing, but didn't notice a fly clinging to his shoe.
After daybreak, Chen Shi woke up. Li Tianqing was washing clothes in the courtyard and said, "You killed people last night and got blood splattered on you. Take it off, and I'll wash it for you."
Chen Shi lifted his arm and sniffed, indeed slling a bloody scent, and quickly took it off.
Li Tianqing soaked his dirty clothes in water and said, "Fortunately, I have accomplished my mission. I've already found that person's lair. You wash up first. After I finish washing the clothes and we have breakfast, we can go see exactly who this person is!"
—I've still been stuck on the plot recently, sorry, the second chapter update is late. I owe one chapter, noted for now, will make it up later.
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