Chapter 96: Immediate Capture |
Leaving Pinecone Village, Chu Xun's pace was neither fast nor slow.
The Jing Kingdom was not the largest among the various countries, but thanks to the focus on the people's livelihood starting from the era of Emperor Taizu, the population had continuously increased over those decades.
Villages were distributed like scattered starlight.
Unless one ran to remote mountain forests, one would definitely see a village within a hundred miles.
Large and small, well-proportioned and orderly.
With a sword in hand, Chu Xun soon arrived at the Songliu Water God Temple.
There hadn't been a flood for many years, and the dozen or so flood discharge channels were piled up with silt, some already covered.
A small portion remained with less than half their height.
The commoners lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the number of people coming to the Water God Temple to offer sacrifices was actually more than before.
This incense fire was not the incense offered by the commoners, but the energy of sincere worship.
Through an incomprehensible method, it manifested an immortal god out of thin air.
Where there is incense fire, there is an immortal god.
The more incense fire, the stronger the immortal god.
Conversely, if the incense fire decreases or even disappears, this immortal god will also cease to exist.
Therefore, Chu Xun could understand why conferred orthodox gods did not allow evil cults to exist.
The number of commoners is limited, and the incense fire they offer is also limited.
If you have more, they will have less.
But understanding is one thing; it doesn't mean acceptance.
Under the god statue in the temple squatted a few refugees who had come to steal offerings.
The lives of the commoners in Zhangnan County were considered not bad, but it wasn't necessarily the same near Mingxiu Prefecture.
After the refugee army conquered Red Maple Pass, they charged and fought all the way.
They especially hated the local gentry and wealthy landlords.
Many refugees who fled here for asylum were previously local gentry who owned thousands of acres of fertile land and immense wealth.
As Chu Xun walked in, those refugees, who looked wretched but barely retained the appearance of having lived in luxury previously, all looked up.
Their eyes flickered, and some subconsciously wanted to find a place to hide.
Chu Xun said indifferently, "Leave after you finish eating."
Seeing that he was alone, although carrying a sword, but fair and clean, and very young, the few refugees emboldened themselves, "Why should we leave? This is the Water God Temple, not your home!"
Chu Xun casually flicked his finger. Water vapor condensed and struck at the feet of one refugee with lightning speed.
The ground shattered, startling the few people.
Only then did they realize they had encountered an expert they couldn't afford to provoke, and hurriedly ran out with their heads down.
Chu Xun didn't pay any more attention to them. Turning his head, he saw another person lying in the corner.
His face was bruised and purple, and there was still unswallowed food in his mouth. He had probably choked to death alive.
His fellow refugees only dragged him to the corner and didn't care anymore.
At this moment, a resentful soul had already drilled out of the physical body, staring at the few refugees who ran out with a ferocious expression.
But resentful souls didn't have much sentience to speak of. Although they had resentment, they only looked terrifying on the surface.
Chu Xun didn't interfere much, walking to the god statue and standing still.
A moment later, a dark figure carrying a black chain and hook lock entered from outside.
He didn't go to capture the resentful soul first, but instead came in front of Chu Xun and said respectfully, "Underworld Emissary of Zhangnan County, pays respects to the Immortal Elder."
Chu Xun looked at him and asked, "You know me?"
When he killed Song Jingmin, he had encountered an Underworld Emissary, but he was old and decrepit then, whereas now he was in the prime of his youth.
The Underworld Emissary explained, "I don't know you, but the Immortal Elder's cultivation is profound, one look and I can tell you are extraordinary."
Chu Xun glanced at the time; there was very little left.
He didn't urge the Underworld Emissary to capture the resentful soul and leave quickly, but instead asked, "Why don't you take away the accumulated incense fire here?"
The Underworld Emissary was somewhat puzzled and said, "Does the Immortal Elder not know that incense fire that does not belong to the Underworld cannot be taken?"
Incense fire seems light and airy, but in reality, it represents the beliefs of living beings.
How heavy is belief?
It can be lighter than a feather, or heavier than Mount Tai.
Even the Underworld cannot take it away.
They can only watch it exist helplessly, like a mountain of gold in front of them, but unable to do anything about it.
"If this temple is destroyed, will you still hunt down the so-called Songliu Water God?" Chu Xun asked again.
This was a question he had always wanted to ask, but it wasn't convenient to go directly to the Underworld to ask, lest it cause extra trouble.
Today was the perfect time!
The Underworld Emissary said, "If we can't find it, then so be it. If we find it, naturally we still have to obliterate it. Evil cults and wild gods are like a single spark that can start a prairie fire; they cannot be left unchecked."
Chu Xun's eyes turned slightly cold upon hearing this. It seemed that from the moment the flood discharge channels appeared back then, and the first commoner came to offer incense fire and chant the name of the Songliu Water God, all of this could no longer be changed.
"If the Immortal Elder has no other matters, I will capture that soul and return to the Underworld to report," the Underworld Emissary said.
Chu Xun didn't make a sound. Although the Underworld Emissary felt puzzled in his heart, he still bowed in salute, then carried the black chain and hook lock towards the resentful soul.
The hook lock easily hooked onto the resentful soul. Black qi emerged, causing excruciating pain.
The Underworld Emissary wasn't polite in the slightest, dragging and pulling forcefully.
Souls had no status to speak of in their eyes.
After all, after being brought back to the Underworld and checked against the Book of Good and Evil, they might be thrown into the animal path, or even thrown into the eighteen levels of hell to be tortured.
Chu Xun watched the Underworld Emissary float outwards, and glanced at the time again.
[Divine Office 8334/10000, Unconferred Loose God. Remaining time that can be hidden per year, 0 (After conferment, can obtain orthodox god divine abilities, can lodge soul to substitute death)]
The incense fire accumulated in the Songliu Water God Temple rapidly surged into Chu Xun's body like a stream.
In an instant, wisps of thoughts floating like silk ribbons appeared in his mind.
"Water God bless, let my child recover from illness."
"I want a good marriage, beautiful as a flower, immensely wealthy, and best if I don't have to marry into her family."
"Bless me to win money at the gambling table next year!"
Under each thought, the figures of those commoners making wishes appeared.
These were the believers of the Songliu Water God; they needed to kneel and worship sincerely for it to manifest.
If the heart is not sincere, it cannot be transmitted.
Most of the silk ribbons were white, and some silk ribbon-like thoughts appeared gray.
"It would be great if I could be Emperor."
"I want immortality."
Chu Xun instantly understood in his heart. The incense fire accumulated over decades had already brought him close to the level of an orthodox god.
But without being conferred, the incense fire value was still a bit short.
Some believers' thoughts could be helped to be fulfilled with a realm close to an orthodox god, while some were not qualified.
When believers get what they wish for, they will naturally offer sacrifices to the immortal god more sincerely. This is a mutually beneficial process.
Looking at those white silk ribbon thoughts, Chu Xun actually wanted to try it out.
However, the Underworld Emissary who had floated outside the door suddenly stopped.
He slowly turned his head. Originally, his face was blurry, and even his eyes couldn't be seen clearly.
But at this moment, his eyes suddenly became much clearer.
Faintly, they also carried a bit of blood color.
The black chain and hook lock was withdrawn from the resentful soul. The Underworld Emissary stared at Chu Xun, his voice no longer having the slightest bit of respect.
"The spirit of the Songliu Water God, so it was you!"
Without another word, the Underworld Emissary's black chain and hook lock silently hooked towards Chu Xun.
"Evil cult wild god, why don't you surrender without a fight and follow this Emissary to the Underworld to be punished!"
A second ago he was still very respectful, but now it was like enemies meeting, his arrogance towering to the sky.
As if with just an order, Chu Xun should rightfully be captured by him and brought back to the Underworld to die.
The attitude before and after was worlds apart.
Looking at the menacing Underworld Emissary, Chu Xun didn't use his long sword.
Instead, he flipped his palm, revealing a round bead covered with holes.
Spiritual energy was injected into it, and only an ear-piercing howling wind sound was heard.
A fierce astral wind struck head-on towards the Underworld Emissary.
"Monster magical artifact!"
Amidst the Underworld Emissary's cry, the black chain and hook lock was knocked flying backwards, continuously dripping viscous black liquid.
In mid-air, the liquid turned into clusters of black fog and then scattered.
The Underworld Emissary caught the black chain and hook lock with both hands, but was shaken back continuously.
"So your strength is not even as good as that old bat."
The Underworld Emissary abruptly looked up, staring at the man under the god statue, the blood color in his eyes even richer.
"Evil cult wild god, how dare you be so arrogant!" He roared, charging forward unafraid of death.
His courage was commendable, but unfortunately, his strength was lacking.
At the same time, in the City God Temple of Zhangnan County, the City God's golden body vibrated.
A deep voice sounded, "The Songliu Water God has revealed its true body. Martial Judge, lead the Night Wandering God and Underworld Emissaries to immediately go and capture it!"
A middle-aged man wearing a black martial general's robe, with a slightly blurry face, faintly showed a bit of majesty.
Holding a black iron token in one hand and a black iron ruler in the other.
"Order received!"
Behind him, a Night Wandering God wearing a black robe and over a dozen Underworld Emissaries appeared.
Following him, they floated out of the City God Temple and hurried rapidly towards the direction of the Songliu Water God Temple.
Although Chu Xun was at the Foundation Establishment stage, the "Songliu Water God" was an unconferred loose god that hadn't even reached the rank of an orthodox god.
With the ability of a Martial Judge, he could already match it, not to mention having the Night Wandering God and Underworld Emissaries assisting.
The Civil Judge appeared, bowed to the City God's golden body, and said, "The Songliu Water God has hidden for decades, and now suddenly appears, I don't know what its intention is."
The deep voice sounded again, "Just a wild god that hasn't attained a high level of cultivation, no need to overthink it."
The Civil Judge didn't say anything more. After bowing, he concealed his figure.
It wasn't that the City God was arrogant, but over many years, similar wild gods had all been easily obliterated.
What rank they were, how much ability they had, these orthodox gods knew in their hearts.
It was just a pity that Chu Xun was an anomaly they couldn't understand.
In the Songliu Water God Temple, three consecutive astral winds almost beat the Underworld Emissary until his soul scattered.
His figure was blurry to the extreme, and the black chain and hook lock was completely shattered, turning into black fog and scattering.
"So Underworld Emissaries are nothing more than stronger resentful souls."
Chu Xun wasn't soft-hearted, lashing out with a water whip.
The Underworld Emissary, who was already close to dissipating, how could he withstand this force, and was immediately whipped until he dissipated into nothingness.
At the same time, Chu Xun only felt a faint warm current emerge in his body.
Information automatically appeared before his eyes.
Fire Starting Spell 11463/30000, Can produce a very small flame.
Chu Xun let out a soft sound of surprise. He clearly remembered that the Fire Starting Spell had only been cast 11163 times before, but now it had inexplicably increased by 300 points.
"Could it be related to killing the Underworld Emissary?"
Chu Xun's eyes flickered. If killing an Underworld Emissary could speed up spell progression, it was definitely an unexpected joy.
One Underworld Emissary gave three hundred points, ten would be three thousand points.
It might not seem like much, but don't forget, above the Underworld Emissaries were the Day and Night Wandering Gods, Judges, and even the City God.
At this time, Chu Xun seemed to sense something.
After a slight thought, he chose to hide his Foundation Establishment cultivation.
Over a dozen dark figures drifted over in front of the temple, and a majestic scolding voice entered his ears, "Audacious Songliu wild god, how dare you murder an Underworld Emissary, your crime is heinous! Take him down!"
Chu Xun looked up and saw that the Martial Judge had already arrived with the Night Wandering God and numerous Underworld Emissaries.
Facing the Underworld head-on, Chu Xun didn't have his previous apprehension and nervousness.
He only stared at the Martial Judge, his eyes showing great interest.
An Underworld Emissary gave three hundred points, how much would a Martial Judge give?
The Martial Judge felt uncomfortable all over being stared at by him. Although the other party was indeed an unconferred wild god, he always felt something was wrong.
The tall Night Wandering God, like a hemp stalk, fiercely attacked with the Underworld Emissaries.
Over a dozen black chains and hook locks hooked towards Chu Xun.
The howling wind sounded again, and the astral wind blew, hitting the black chains and hook locks until they clanked.
Streams of black qi emerged.
But the old bat was not a true monster after all, falling one step short.
The bone had blown four astral winds in a row and had reached its limit, with some cracks already appearing on the surface.
If he didn't give it time to recover and continued to use it, it would directly explode.
This thing was one of the few magical artifacts in Chu Xun's hands, so naturally he was reluctant to waste it just like this.
Fortunately, although the last astral wind failed to destroy all the black chains and hook locks, it also made the Underworld Emissaries return without success.
Seeing this, the Night Wandering God let out an ear-piercing sound like tree bark rubbing, "No wonder you dared to appear tonight, so you obtained a monster magical artifact!"
The Underworld Emissaries used black chains and hook locks, but the Night Wandering God held a black lantern in his hand.
A sinister yin fire burned green inside the lantern.
The Night Wandering God floated forward, and a streak of yin fire was drawn out from the lantern.
"Burn!"
The yin fire turned into a net of fire, covering towards Chu Xun's head.
The Underworld Emissaries also attacked, with over a dozen black chains and hook locks following closely behind.
This was absolutely not to capture him back, but with the intention of obliterating him on the spot.
Chu Xun didn't hesitate, swinging the long sword in his hand and slashing forward.
The sword body collided with the green fire net, and after supporting for a few breaths, it was shattered.
But immediately following was a white sword shadow, slashing open the fire net with lightning speed, and also completely shattering the black chains and hook locks behind it.
Along the way, several Underworld Emissaries were slashed into black fog.
"Metal Essence magical artifact!"
The Night Wandering God let out a shrill scream and was heavily cleaved in half by the white sword shadow.
Metal essence enters the vessel, wield it to cut down evil spirits.
Although the Underworld was under the command of the orthodox gods conferred by the Emperor, the Emperor's decree could not control metal essence.
Whether you are an Underworld Emissary, a Night Wandering God, or whatever demons and ghosts.
In front of metal essence, you are all evil spirits!
This sword strike heavily injured the Night Wandering God.
The two halves of his body fell to the ground, wriggling weakly like a severed snake.
Although he didn't die immediately, he wasn't far from death.
The remaining momentum of the white sword shadow had not dissipated. The Martial Judge snorted and threw out the black iron token in his hand.
The token was engraved with the word [Detain]. It grew against the wind, turning into a shield shape and blocking the front.
The white sword shadow crashed fiercely onto it. The token made a loud noise, and black sparks flew everywhere.
Although it blocked the white sword shadow, a huge crack also appeared on the token, looking as if it would split open at any time.
A trace of heartache flashed in the Martial Judge's eyes. The commoners worshipped the City God, and subordinates of the Underworld like them could only occasionally get a share of some incense fire.
With the token damaged, who knew how long it would take to repair it.
But having blocked the white sword shadow, the Martial Judge breathed a slight sigh of relief.
He took a step forward and said in a deep voice, "Holding two magical artifacts, you dare to act wildly here."
"A wild god is just a wild god, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth!"
As he spoke, the Martial Judge swung the iron ruler in his hand, striking towards Chu Xun's head.
This strike must make the unappreciative wild god's soul scatter!
[End of Chapter]
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