Chapter 1226: Finally Here
When Jing Qi and Jing Miao reappeared before Yang Haoran, the smudges on their faces were gone, leaving them spotlessly clean.
Although the siblings' bodies remained as thin as before, their complexions had noticeably improved. It was evident they had been eating well recently, their bodies nourished, which accounted for the change in their appearance.
Previously, the siblings had given the impression of beggars, but now, they exuded a refreshing aura. Their attire and clean appearance were remarkably rare in this chaotic era. Anyone unaware would surely mistake them for the young master and young lady of a wealthy family.
After all, the siblings were still ordinary people. It was indeed uncommon for ordinary folk to be like them; apart from the truly affluent, most commoners were content just to secure enough food and clothing.
Yang Haoran observed the siblings' current transformation, nodding with a smile. He seemed quite pleased.
"Heh heh, I didn't expect your skin to be so fair and clean. I hadn't noticed it before."
Yang Haoran spoke with a chuckle. The siblings, hearing this, felt a slight awkwardness. They naturally understood what Yang Haoran implied.
It wasn't that the siblings didn't care for cleanliness before; rather, they simply lacked the means to tidy themselves up, even if they wished to. Spending their days doing dirty, arduous labor, and often fighting fierce beasts, it was impossible for them to keep themselves clean.
Jing Miao remained silent, the awkwardness on her face quickly receding. Jing Qi, meanwhile, spoke to Yang Haoran with a hesitant expression.
"Heh heh, I understand."
Yang Haoran chuckled in response. The faint smile on his face, though not disappearing, also didn't deepen, carrying no hint of teasing or sarcasm.
After a slight pause, Yang Haoran spoke again, asking the siblings:
"According to Yao Guozhi's policy, children like you two, who haven't reached adulthood, shouldn't be assigned to work in the mines. How did Huang Sha find you there?"
At the mention of this, the awkwardness on Jing Qi's face not only didn't lessen but intensified somewhat compared to before.
"Because we hadn't reached the required age, my sister and I were assigned to do some simple work within the city. Although these jobs were easy and safe, the wages were too low, and we couldn't learn anything. Furthermore, both of us love adventure and excitement; we didn't want to remain idly in the city, so after discussing it, we secretly ran off to the most remote mine outside Gu Mo City. There, not only were the wages much higher, but it was also full of dangers, as there were many fierce beasts in that area."
Originally, Jing Qi's face was still etched with awkwardness, but as he continued, the embarrassment vanished, replaced by a hint of excitement.
"You secretly ran off to the mine, but would the people there accept you?"
Yang Haoran felt a little doubtful about this, so he asked with a smile.
"Initially, the foreman didn't agree to us joining, after all, my sister and I were too young and didn't meet the requirements. However, we were both very diligent; we could do everything adults could do, and even things adults couldn't. So, we were exceptionally allowed to stay in the mine," Jing Qi replied.
"Heh heh, what kind of things couldn't adults do?"
Yang Haoran asked, amused. Jing Qi, without beating around the bush, immediately responded.
"There were many fierce beasts in that area. These beasts often harassed us, and even quite a few people became their food. Apart from Night Watcher Uncle Qin, no one else was a match for these beasts; those who were had already died in their maws. Hence, they greatly feared these beasts. But my sister and I were different; not only did we not fear them, we dared to fight them. At first, Uncle Qin didn't want us to do it, fearing we'd also become food for the beasts. But over time, Uncle Qin stopped preventing us and even supported us, because our skills grew increasingly adept. Although young, we had no trouble dealing with the beasts in that region."
Jing Qi's words resolved some of the doubts in Yang Haoran's mind.
"Heh heh, so that's how your fighting skills were honed."
Jing Qi nodded. Although he didn't speak, his reaction provided Yang Haoran with an affirmative answer.
Although Jing Qi didn't elaborate on how dangerous their battles with fierce beasts were, Yang Haoran could well imagine. After all, the siblings were just ordinary people, and young at that. The peril involved in fighting various wild beasts was self-evident, especially in the beginning, before they possessed their current skills. It could be said that every confrontation was a matter of life and death for them; a moment's carelessness could have seen them become a beast's meal.
As for later, after countless battles, the siblings gained extensive combat experience, and thus, facing fierce beasts no longer posed significant danger to them.
"I don't doubt your ability to deal with fierce beasts at all. I believe that with your skills, even the most ferocious beasts are no match for you. However, there's a fundamental difference between beasts and demons. Even the fiercest beast is but an ant in the eyes of a demon. I'm sure you both understand this, so why did you choose to confront the centipede demon that day instead of fleeing?"
Yang Haoran asked with a smile. This time, before Jing Qi could speak, Jing Miao, who had been silent, interjected ahead of him.
"Uncle Qin was very good to us, always looking out for us. But the centipede demon swallowed him!"
Jing Miao's voice was frigid, laced with intense killing intent. From her reaction, it was clear she deeply resented the centipede demon, and it also revealed the profound bond the siblings shared with Night Watcher Uncle Qin.
"My sister is right. Uncle Qin always took good care of us, he was practically our benefactor. When he was swallowed by the centipede demon, of course we wanted revenge for him. But we also knew that we were just ordinary people and absolutely no match for the centipede demon."
Jing Qi paused briefly, then continued speaking:
"Although my sister and I knew we were no match for the centipede demon, that didn't stop us from wanting to avenge Uncle Qin. Moreover, the others in the mine needed someone to hold back the centipede demon so they would have time to escape. Plus, my sister and I also wanted to test just how big the gap was between us and a demon, since we'd never fought one before. For all these reasons, even though we knew we couldn't win, we decided to attack the centipede demon!"
Speaking of which, Jing Qi seemed to recall something, a hint of helplessness appearing on his face.
"Originally, as we were trying to escape, we were looking for the best opportunity to strike at the centipede demon, but we were held back by a coward. In order to save him, my sister and I had no choice but to engage the centipede demon prematurely. Unfortunately, we not only failed to save that person but also didn't succeed in avenging Uncle Qin. In just a short while, we were defeated. The gap between us and the centipede demon was simply too vast."
After hearing Jing Qi's account, Yang Haoran finally gained a detailed understanding of the events' causes and effects. This deeper insight allowed him to comprehend the siblings more profoundly.
"Heh heh, it's perfectly normal for ordinary people to be no match for demons, so there's no need to take it to heart."
Yang Haoran offered comfort with a smile, then turned his gaze to the clothes the siblings were wearing.
The clothes worn by the siblings were completely different from the suit Yang Haoran wore. They were clad in a set of blood-red robes that fit them perfectly, clearly tailor-made for the two of them.
"Heh heh, with so many colors available, why did you two choose red?"
Jing Qi didn't immediately grasp the meaning of Yang Haoran's words, but then they both noticed Yang Haoran looking at their clothes as he spoke, and instantly understood his intent.
"Heh heh, well. . . because both my sister and I like red, we chose it when ordering our clothes. If Divine Emissary doesn't care for this color, we can change it."
Jing Qi chuckled somewhat awkwardly. Yang Haoran, upon hearing this, smiled and shook his head.
"No need. This color is quite striking, and it's not that I dislike it; you both have good taste. Furthermore, this color pairs very well with the cultivation techniques you'll be practicing in the future."
As his words fell, Yang Haoran gently waved a hand towards the siblings. Black Yin Qi swirled before them, appearing and dissipating swiftly. As the Yin Qi vanished, a pile of objects floated suspended in the air before the siblings.
The siblings gazed at the various objects floating before them, first with confusion, then immediately reacting with excitement. Even the usually reserved Jing Miao showed a flush of excitement on her face, though not as intensely as Jing Qi.
"From now on, these items belong to the two of you. As for how to distribute them, you can discuss it yourselves. The books contain the Demon Cult's cultivation techniques. The artifacts are demonic implements used by the Demon Cult. While neither the techniques nor the implements are top-tier within the Demon Cult, they are certainly above average. Take them and use them for now; later, I will procure some of the Demon Cult's most advanced techniques and demonic implements for you."
As Yang Haoran spoke, he closely observed the siblings' facial expressions. Seeing that their excitement hadn't diminished in the slightest despite his words, a hint of doubt arose in his heart.
The siblings were natives of Gu Mo City, so they not only knew about the Demon Cult organization but also understood its ruthless and bloody methods. He had expected the siblings to feel some resistance upon learning that these cultivation techniques and demonic artifacts originated from the Demon Cult, but the outcome was completely contrary to his expectations, which naturally piqued his curiosity.
"Heh heh, these things all come from the Demon Cult. You two know how cruel and bloody the Demon Cult is. I'm having you cultivate their techniques and use their demonic implements, so why don't you show any resistance at all?"
His curiosity prompted Yang Haoran to ask the siblings with a smile.
"As long as it makes me stronger, I don't care what kind of cultivation technique or artifact it is," Jing Miao immediately replied.
"My sister is right. My thoughts are the same as hers. As long as it grants us power beyond what ordinary people possess, we won't mind what kind of cultivation technique it is. My sister and I inherently love excitement and fighting, so I actually think the Demon Cult's techniques are more suited to us."
Jing Qi spoke, and as he did, the expression on his face grew increasingly agitated. Yang Haoran watched the siblings' reactions, muttering inwardly:
"Huang Sha really did find two rare talents for me this time. It seems the convincing arguments I prepared in advance won't be necessary."
Yang Haoran had previously thought the siblings would reject the Demon Cult's techniques and demonic implements. So, to ensure they would willingly accept, he had long prepared how to persuade them. However, based on the current situation, his prepared arguments were indeed useless, as the siblings not only showed no aversion to the Demon Cult's techniques and implements but even seemed to quite like them.
“Cultivation techniques and artifacts are inanimate, but people are living beings. How they are used depends on the person, not on the technique or artifact itself. Therefore, the type of technique or artifact isn't important; what matters is how you choose to wield it. However, Jing Qi wasn't wrong about one thing: given your personalities, the Demon Cult's techniques are indeed more suitable for you. ”
Yang Haoran smiled faintly. In truth, he wasn't 100% certain whether the Demon Cult's techniques were truly suitable for the siblings. The reason he used such a definitive tone was to instill in them the belief that the Demon Cult's techniques were indeed a perfect fit for them.
As long as he continuously instilled this idea into them, over time, the siblings would come to believe it implicitly. Even if they encountered setbacks in their future cultivation, they wouldn't doubt this point, instead believing themselves destined to cultivate the Demon Cult's techniques.
Of course, Yang Haoran's words at this moment weren't entirely false. Considering the siblings' personalities, the Demon Cult's techniques might indeed be the most suitable for them.
Now, the siblings not only held Yang Haoran in awe but also felt immense gratitude. They were eager to achieve results and demonstrate their abilities to him. Thus, receiving Yang Haoran's affirmation in that moment filled them with exhilaration. They not only believed themselves to be excellent candidates for cultivating the Demon Cult's techniques but also wanted to prove it to Yang Haoran as quickly as possible.
"Heh heh, you may take these items and leave now. If you encounter any troubles during cultivation, or have anything you don't understand, you can come and ask me. Although I haven't cultivated the Demon Cult's techniques myself, I do understand some things."
"Yes, Divine Emissary!"
"Oh, right. You two are not from the Underworld Office, nor do you belong to any other faction, so it's not quite appropriate for you to call me 'Divine Emissary. ' From now on, just call me 'Boss,' like Huang Sha does."
"Yes, Boss!"
"Mm, go."
Yang Haoran gently waved his hand. The siblings took their leave, carrying the Demon Cult techniques and demonic implements bestowed upon them by Yang Haoran, their hearts brimming with excitement.
After the siblings departed, Yang Haoran lit a cigarette for himself, then chuckled softly to himself:
"Heh heh, I imagine. . . you two siblings shouldn't disappoint me."
The cultivation techniques and demonic implements Yang Haoran bestowed upon the siblings were almost all from Wan Wu Yi, and moreover, only a portion of what he possessed, not the entirety.
The reason he chose to have the siblings cultivate the Demon Cult's techniques, instead of becoming Night Watchers or Talisman Masters or other professions, was ultimately for the Demon Cult's supreme treasure in his possession: the Heart Demon Flute.
To use the Heart Demon Flute, one must be a member of the Demon Cult, as activating it requires the power of the Demon Cult. The powers of other professions cannot activate the Heart Demon Flute.
Furthermore, activating the Heart Demon Flute also requires corresponding cultivation techniques. It's not as simple as acquiring the Heart Demon Flute and blowing a few random notes to unleash its power; that's clearly impossible.
Yang Haoran was not a member of the Demon Cult, so he had no way to activate the Heart Demon Flute, as he hadn't even met the most basic requirement.
However, given his personality, he certainly wouldn't easily give up the Heart Demon Flute. After all, he greatly coveted its bizarre yet potent control, and naturally couldn't bear to abandon such a formidable weapon!
To resolve this issue, after some thought, he came up with two solutions.
Solution one: He would personally cultivate the Demon Cult's techniques, first developing a Demon Cult Spirit Power Seed within his body. This would complete the first step in activating the Heart Demon Flute.
Following that, he would cultivate the corresponding techniques for activating the Heart Demon Flute. Once these techniques were mastered, he could smoothly activate the Heart Demon Flute.
Doing this had both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage was that he could keep the Heart Demon Flute securely in his own hands. The disadvantage was that he would need to expend a significant amount of time and effort cultivating demonic arts, because without reaching a certain realm, he similarly wouldn't be able to activate the Heart Demon Flute.
Furthermore, if his internal power was insufficient and he forcefully attempted to activate the Heart Demon Flute, he would only suffer a backlash. In that scenario, he wouldn't conquer his enemy, but instead would be drained dry by the Heart Demon Flute, leaving this world before his adversary.
Beyond that, one more point was crucial to him: currently, he had not only cultivated Ghost Arts but also Spiritual Arts. Although he had only cultivated one Spiritual Art, he had still cultivated it.
Adding to that, he also had a Talisman Master Power Seed within him. With three types of power gathered in one body, if he were to add another Demon Cult Spirit Power Seed, who knew if the balance of power within him would be disrupted, causing him irreversible and significant consequences.
He wasn't at all worried about increasing his Spirit Power. As long as he had Soul Pills, he could continuously enhance the Spirit Power within his body, which wouldn't consume too much of his time.
However, strengthening the Talisman Order's power seed within him and drawing more powerful talismans would require a considerable amount of time. If he were to also cultivate demonic arts and become a member of the Demon Cult, his Talisman Master abilities would be greatly affected, as he simply wouldn't have the time to improve in that area.
"More skills don't weigh you down" — there's truth to that saying. But "biting off more than you can chew" — that's also perfectly valid.
If acquiring an extra skill doesn't hinder the improvement of other abilities, it's naturally a good thing. But if it does, and one insists on learning yet another skill, then it might not be a good thing at all, and there's a high chance it will all come to nothing.
Therefore, after careful consideration, Yang Haoran discarded Solution One.
As for Solution Two, Yang Haoran decided to cultivate an absolutely trustworthy confidant, having them cultivate demonic arts in his stead, and eventually entrusting the Heart Demon Flute to them for use.
This approach also had both advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage was that he wouldn't need to risk distracting himself with cultivating demonic arts. He would merely need to provide sufficient resources, allowing his chosen confidant to complete the task for him. Meanwhile, he could free up his time to attend to other matters he needed to handle, and in the future, he would gain a powerful enforcer by his side.
The disadvantage was that the chosen individual was, after all, a living person with their own thoughts. If such a powerful demonic artifact as the Heart Demon Flute were handed over to this person, it would be fine if they remained loyal, but if they developed ulterior motives, then he, as their master, would become very passive, and might even one day die by their hand.
After careful consideration, Yang Haoran ultimately chose Solution Two. However, to prevent himself from becoming passive, he implemented several measures to address the disadvantages of this plan.
Among these measures, the first was that the chosen person's personality had to meet his requirements. Even if there was a single unmet criterion, he wouldn't select them, as that single deficiency could very well be the main reason for their future betrayal.
Aside from personality, he also placed restrictions on the person's age. Adults were not within his consideration; he wanted minors, and the younger, the better.
The reason for this decision was that younger individuals' personalities aren't yet fully formed, making them more receptive to the ideas he would instill. As long as he consistently indoctrinated the chosen person with the same ideology over a long period, ensuring their sole loyalty to Yang Haoran, then the possibility of that person betraying him in the future, while not entirely eliminated, would at least be very small.
It was precisely for this reason that when Yang Haoran entrusted this task to Huang Sha, he stipulated so many strict requirements for the chosen individual, allowing for not a single compromise.
Yang Haoran was very satisfied with the siblings; both their personalities and ages met his standards. As for their fighting skills, that was an entirely unexpected bonus.
Although there was one more person than anticipated, Yang Haoran ultimately took both siblings under his wing. However, he didn't fully trust them yet, so naturally, he wouldn't hand over the Heart Demon Flute and the techniques required to activate it at this moment. He wasn't that naive.
Only when the siblings had passed his numerous trials, proving their absolute loyalty to Yang Haoran, and when they also possessed the ability to activate the Heart Demon Flute, would he consider entrusting it to them.
However, there were two siblings but only one Heart Demon Flute. He would only decide which of them would use it at the very end, as that day was still quite distant.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed. During this month, Yang Haoran accomplished many things, among which three major matters were the most important.
The first matter was that he had, in the middle of everything, taken time to make another trip to the Underworld, delivering the pills refined by Xiang Chuan to the Jingran Pharmacy.
The Jingran Pharmacy had run out of stock once before, which had somewhat impacted it. This could be seen from Yun Yao's complaints that day. Yang Haoran did not want such a situation to recur, bringing more negative effects to the Jingran Pharmacy, so he squeezed out time to visit the Underworld and conduct a simple resupply for the Jingran Pharmacy.
As he dared not leave Gu Mo City for too long, Yang Haoran did not rush back to Lecheng to retrieve the medicine refined by Feng Xiao for this resupply. After all, Gu Mo City and Lecheng were too far apart, and returning to Lecheng would consume a significant amount of his time. Therefore, he gave up on returning to Lecheng and instead directly opened the Ghost Gate in Gu Mo City to travel to the Underworld. As for the medicine in Feng Xiao's possession, he decided to retrieve it on his next trip to the Underworld.
The second matter was that, with his full support and assistance, the siblings Jing Qi and Jing Miao successfully cultivated the Demon Cult's power seed. They both successfully transformed from ordinary people into non-ordinary individuals, now possessing a strength that ordinary people lacked.
The moment power manifested within their bodies, both siblings were deeply stirred. Even Jing Miao's face retained its excitement for a long time, let alone Jing Qi's.
With power now coursing through them, the siblings' cultivation successfully entered the right track. During this period, Yang Haoran naturally imparted certain ideologies to them. Though the methods varied, the ultimate goal remained the same: to make them understand that their current standing was entirely due to him, Yang Haoran, and the only return he sought was absolute loyalty—one hundred percent loyalty to Yang Haoran.
Of course, Yang Haoran wasn't foolish enough to state such demands directly. His approach was merely to instill and guide, allowing the siblings to comprehend it themselves and willingly pledge their allegiance to him, Yang Haoran.
The third matter was that, over this past month, he successfully refined a large quantity of Soul Pills, achieving rapid progress in his strength. Compared to when he slew Wan Wu Yi that day, his power had advanced to an entirely new stage.
However, his strength had not yet reached the peak of the Earth Soul realm; in fact, there was still a considerable distance to go. After successfully opening the Earth Soul, every incremental increase in strength required vast amounts of Pure Yin Qi, a level incomparable to what was needed during the Heaven Soul realm.
Precisely for this reason, even after refining a large number of Soul Pills, Yang Haoran still hadn't elevated his strength to the peak of the Earth Soul. By his estimation, if he continued at his current pace, reaching the Earth Soul peak would still take a considerable amount of time.
Yet, he wasn't anxious about this in the slightest. After all, his physical body would not die a natural death; he had an abundance of time in this regard. As long as he didn't perish from external forces, his strength reaching the Earth Soul peak, or even opening his Life Soul, was merely a matter of time.
Furthermore, if it was so difficult for him to raise his strength to the Earth Soul peak even with a large supply of Soul Pills, then it would naturally be even harder for other Underworld Officials of the same realm to achieve the Earth Soul peak. Not every Underworld Official possessed a Soul-Refining Cauldron, nor did every Underworld Official own a profitable shop in the Underworld.
Underworld Officials of the same realm were never Yang Haoran's ultimate aspiration. His true goal was one that other Underworld Officials wouldn't dare to pursue, or even conceive of. For his ultimate aim was not to become a Guardian of the Underworld Office, much less an Emperor of the Underworld Office, but to become a true deity with his own Dharma Body!
However, for now, this dream remained far too distant for him, and the hardships involved would undoubtedly exceed his imagination.
Yet, no matter how distant or how arduous, he would not give up. Even if he had to crawl, he would ascend that path to godhood step by step.
Aside from Yang Haoran's personal affairs, Gu Mo City had undergone significant changes over the past month. More accurately, the territory managed by the Gu Mo City Underworld Office had transformed greatly.
Under Yao Guozhi's leadership, the territory governed by the Gu Mo City Underworld Office had undergone tremendous changes in this mere month.
Numerous dilapidated buildings were repaired, and damaged roads were repaved. Essential infrastructure for daily life was also brought online. Although only a small portion of the Underworld Office's territory had been transformed, achieving this change in even that small area was no simple feat, nor was it something just anyone could accomplish.
Everything is difficult at the start. Since a successful beginning had been made, with these small regional changes, then, barring any unforeseen circumstances, even greater transformations would undoubtedly not be far off.
The changes to the architectural facilities were merely secondary. The truly significant transformations were those affecting the ordinary people within the Underworld Office's territory.
Previously, most of these ordinary people were not believers of the Death God. They hailed from various major factions, but while following those factions, their lives were exceedingly difficult. Not only was their basic sustenance not guaranteed, some even became playthings for non-ordinary individuals, constantly facing the threat of death, never knowing when they might lose their lives.
Now, they had become believers of the Death God, managed by the Gu Mo City Underworld Office. Yao Guozhi was not a cruel or tyrannical man, so his governance was quite humane. He never treated these ordinary people as slaves or tools. In a short period, he not only solved their problems of food and clothing but also ensured they had their own housing. Here, as long as they were willing to work and contribute, they would receive appropriate rewards.
It was precisely because of this that these ordinary people were highly motivated. Having originally lost hope in life, they once again experienced its beauty. This made them feel fortunate and deeply grateful to Yao Guozhi, to Yang Haoran, and to the Gu Mo City Underworld Office.
Without the Gu Mo City Underworld Office, these ordinary people didn't know if they would even be alive today; they might have long since become frozen corpses in some street corner.
Yao Guozhi used his achievements to prove his capabilities to Yang Haoran. While Yang Haoran was deeply satisfied with Yao Guozhi, he naturally didn't hesitate to bestow significant rewards upon him, for Yang Haoran believed Yao Guozhi had rightfully earned them.
In truth, Yao Guozhi cared little about the value of the rewards. What truly mattered to him was receiving Yang Haoran's affirmation; the rewards were the best validation of his work. Thus, even though he wasn't concerned with what the rewards were, he was still exceptionally happy after receiving them, and his drive grew even stronger.
At the Gu Mo City Underworld Office, everything was progressing in a positive direction, both for individuals and for the entire team. For Yang Haoran, the supreme leader, this was indeed a good thing, a cause for joy.
And indeed it was so; Yang Haoran was genuinely pleased about this. However, one matter had kept him perpetually vigilant: when would the people from the various major factions arrive in Gu Mo City to stir up trouble for him?
Up until now, no experts from the major factions had come to Gu Mo City. Gu Mo City still only had three dominant forces: the Underworld Office, which held the largest territory and strongest power; followed by the Holy Mother Cult, which had the most believers but a smaller territory and weaker power compared to the Underworld Office; and finally, the Talisman Order, with only a few Yellow Talisman Masters guarding its temple.
In Yang Haoran's view, given the tremendous changes in Gu Mo City, even the most poorly informed headquarters of the major factions must have learned of this. Logically, they should have taken action in response, yet until now, not a single person had come to Gu Mo City to demand an explanation from him.
It wasn't that Yang Haoran was masochistic, wishing for someone to come and cause him trouble. On the contrary, he wished no one would bother him. It was just that this situation struck him as somewhat illogical, so his vigilance regarding the matter persisted, unrelaxed by the current lack of trouble.
Events proved his vigilance correct. On this day, the Gu Mo City Death God Temple welcomed two uninvited guests.
With the appearance of a spatial rift, two figures stepped out. However, they did not descend directly into the Death God Temple, but rather, like Xia Xinger once did, opened the spatial rift in the air above the temple's entrance.
The appearance of the two figures naturally caught the attention of the Death God Temple's Night Watchers. Yang Haoran, who was currently drawing talismans in his own courtyard, also sensed their arrival.
Nevertheless, Yang Haoran did not halt his talisman brush. He continued to draw the unfinished talisman, for if he stopped, the Black Talisman he was currently creating would fail.
With Yang Haoran's current financial resources, he naturally wouldn't care about a single Black Talisman. However, as a Talisman Master, if he could avoid a failed drawing, he naturally wished to. This was much like a driver: if something suddenly darted in front of their car, the vast majority of drivers would instinctively swerve the steering wheel, never directly colliding. It was a subconscious reaction, and Yang Haoran was no different at that moment.
Yang Haoran's continued drawing did not mean the Death God Temple was empty. On the contrary, there were quite a few Night Watchers inside. The moment they sensed the two figures at the entrance, several Night Watchers immediately put down their tasks and rushed towards the temple gates, disappearing without a trace in a few leaps.
The ordinary believers within the Death God Temple had long grown accustomed to the Night Watchers' ability to scale walls and leap through the air. Not just them, but ordinary people throughout this world had witnessed the powerful abilities of non-ordinary individuals countless times. So these believers weren't surprised by the Night Watchers' prowess; rather, they were curious as to what matter warranted the dispatch of several Night Watchers. The reason several Night Watchers were dispatched was that the power fluctuations emanating from the Death God Temple's entrance were Talisman Spirit Power, a unique energy possessed only by Talisman Masters. In other words, the two individuals at the Death God Temple's entrance were Talisman Masters. As for whether they belonged to the Talisman Order and what their purpose was in coming to the Death God Temple, the Night Watchers had no idea.
However, not knowing was one thing; knowing how to act in such a situation was another. These Night Watchers had undergone extensive specialized training, so they naturally knew how to handle such encounters.
At the entrance of the Death God Temple, neither of the two stepped inside. Instead, they descended from high above, coming to a stop directly at the temple's threshold.
Although neither of them entered the Death God Temple directly, they positioned themselves right in the center of its main entrance.
Both were dressed in the distinctive attire of Talisman Masters from the Talisman Order: one a Black Talisman Master, the other a Yellow Talisman Master.
Though all the believers entering and exiting the Death God Temple were ordinary people, having lived in Gu Mo City for so long, they were no strangers to the Talisman Order's Talisman Masters and naturally recognized their unique attire.
Seeing the two Talisman Masters blocking the temple's main entrance, the entering and exiting believers dared not approach. The strangers were Talisman Masters, while they were merely ordinary folk. Moreover, blocking the temple's entrance like that hardly looked like a simple visit; it seemed much more like they were there to stir up trouble, making the believers even more hesitant to get close.
With a rush of air, several black-robed Night Watchers appeared before the two figures. Seeing them blocking the temple's entrance, coupled with their identities as Talisman Masters, the Night Watchers knew that these two Talisman Masters had likely come to their Death God Temple to cause trouble today.
"Two Talisman Masters, may I ask the purpose of your visit to our Death God Temple today?"
The leading Night Watcher cupped his hands and bowed to the two, his tone neither humble nor arrogant. Without adopting a superior stance, he calmly posed his question.
"What are we here at the Death God Temple for? Don't you already know? Have you forgotten the despicable deeds your Underworld Office has committed so quickly?"
The speaker was the Yellow Talisman Master among the two. His expression was unpleasant, and his tone clearly carried ill will.
At his words, all the other Night Watchers immediately adopted a combat stance, ready to strike at any moment, while the leading Night Watcher remained motionless.
"You needn't be nervous. We have come to the Death God Temple this time on behalf of the Talisman Order to discuss matters with your Envoy Yang, not to cause trouble. If I truly intended to cause trouble at your Death God Temple, the spatial rift would not have appeared outside but directly within the temple!"
The two Talisman Masters observed the Night Watchers' reactions closely. The Yellow Talisman Master, seeing how his single sentence had provoked such a strong response from these Night Watchers, dared not speak further, uncertain what extreme reactions his next words might elicit.
Thus, it was the Black Talisman Master who spoke at this moment.
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