Chapter 107: The Body that Stole Human Merit |
Tab 1
A few days later, Chu Xun arrived in the Capital City.
For an ordinary person, this was already a very fast speed.
After Zhang Jingheng obtained the title of Duke of Huguo, he was rewarded with a Duke's mansion.
It was very easy to find.
After seven or eight years, he came to the Capital City again.
This place had just recovered a bit from the chaos of war, and traces left by the fighting could still be seen everywhere.
Moreover, orphans, widows, refugees, and beggars could be seen everywhere.
It would take at least a few more years to improve.
Just as the physician came out from inside, the Huan'er of the past, now the Duke of Huguo Zhang Jingheng, hurriedly asked about the situation.
The physician shook his head in a difficult position; the disease had entered the vitals, and there was no way to save her.
Fighting the refugee army and worrying about state affairs these years, Zhang Jingheng had aged a lot.
Obviously only fifty years old, but he looked as weathered as if he were over sixty.
With a head full of white hair, he looked even older than Qi Ermao.
Chu Xun felt somewhat uncomfortable in his heart and quickly stepped forward.
Seeing him come, Zhang Jingheng's smile was forced, "I thought you would arrive in a few days."
"The situation is not very good?" Chu Xun asked.
"Not good." Zhang Jingheng sighed and said, "It might just be a matter of a day or two."
Liu Yuqing walked out of the room, her eye sockets red.
She could also be considered an old woman, leaning on a walking stick, looking heartbreaking.
"Little Chen." After greeting Chu Xun, Liu Yuqing wiped the corners of her eyes and said, "I want to go to the City God Temple to pray for mother, hoping she can get better."
Everyone knew there wasn't much hope, but Zhang Jingheng still nodded and said, "Okay."
Chu Xun then entered the room and saw Lin Qiaoxi lying on the bed.
He took out a small piece of old ginseng from his embrace and said, "This was left by grandfather, I hope it can be useful."
Zhang Jinghui naturally knew the value of old ginseng and hurriedly had someone slice it and boil tea.
After forcing herself to drink a few mouthfuls of ginseng tea, Lin Qiaoxi gained a little spirit, at least able to recognize people and speak.
She waved to Chu Xun, gesturing for him to sit by the bed.
Her voice was somewhat weak as she asked, "Is the village okay?"
Chu Xun nodded, "Everything is fine, everyone still wants to see you."
Lin Qiaoxi forced a smile, "I'm afraid they won't be able to see me."
"Mother!" Zhang Jingheng called out from the side.
Lin Qiaoxi looked up at him, "I know my own body's condition."
Zhang Jingheng didn't speak anymore. Lin Qiaoxi looked at Chu Xun again and asked, "Is that piece of divine iron still useful?"
Strictly speaking, Chu Xun was still in the preparation stage.
But he still nodded and said, "Very useful, much more useful than expected."
"That's good." A trace of a smile appeared on Lin Qiaoxi's wrinkled, aged face.
"When Jingheng's father brought this piece of divine iron back back then, everyone said he was a fool. Looking at it now, he was still very smart."
She fell into memories, talking about many things from when she was young.
Most of the things, Chu Xun knew.
Only a small part, he didn't know.
For example, every time it was the mother and son's birthday, Zhang Sanchun would hole up in the woodshed and personally make two cakes.
The cake was taught by Chu Xun, but Zhang Sanchun was clumsy and not very good at this kind of fine work.
But for some reason, every time he made a birthday cake, it was as if he had divine help and could make it very well.
Or for example, sister-in-law Zhang Anxiu heard people say that applying white wax on the body would make one whiter.
She secretly tried it many times in private, to no avail.
She talked, and Chu Xun listened.
It wasn't until a long time later that Lin Qiaoxi finally got tired of talking and fell into a deep sleep.
Chu Xun stayed at the Duke's mansion for a night. The next morning, before dawn, he heard crying.
His heart sank, and he let out a long sigh.
The last relative of his generation had passed away.
Lin Qiaoxi's funeral naturally had an extremely high standard.
Even Emperor Chongming personally came to pay his respects.
This was the first time Chu Xun had seen the Emperor; previously, he had only heard people talk about him.
Seeing him in reality, he indeed had a bit of innate royal majesty.
But that was all, nothing too special.
Plus the matter of Tang Shijun, Chu Xun didn't have a good impression of Emperor Chongming, turning his face away after one glance.
After Lin Qiaoxi's funeral was over, Zhang Jingheng kept Chu Xun to stay in the Capital City for a few more days.
Living here for a long time, he rarely saw old acquaintances from the past.
Now that his parents had passed away, and the uncle he admired most was nowhere to be found, the only one in Zhangnan County who could still be considered a relative was "Chu Chen".
Chu Xun naturally wouldn't refuse. The more people passed away, the more he understood that time was what he lacked the least.
But it was also the most precious.
Moreover, coming to the Capital City this time, besides visiting Lin Qiaoxi and Zhang Jingheng, there was another important thing he hadn't done.
Learning that Chu Xun wanted to go to the Capital City God Temple, Liu Yuqing offered to guide him.
"With mother passing away, I happen to be going to the City God Temple to pray for her next life."
The carriage carried the few people towards the Capital City God Temple.
Not long after, the carriage stopped.
As the Duke's wife, Liu Yuqing naturally had a dedicated person come forward to guide her to pray to the immortal gods.
Chu Xun didn't follow, only saying he wanted to walk around freely.
Liu Yuqing didn't mind and let him go alone.
The scale of the Capital City God Temple was more than ten times larger than the Zhangnan County City God Temple.
More than a dozen rooms of different ranks housed multiple divine statues.
The Division of Good and Evil, the Division of Yin and Yang, the Division of Inspection.
Not only were there the City God, Civil Judge, Martial Judge, Day Wandering God, Night Wandering God, and Black and White Impermanence.
There were also the Shackles and Fetters Generals, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, etc., which the Prefecture-level City God lacked.
To be precise, this was the true City God Temple, having everything one should have.
Chu Xun carefully looked through room by room, but didn't find any unfamiliar divine statues.
To confirm some things, he came to the Civil Judge's room and revealed his cultivation.
"Where is the Civil Judge of the Capital City God Temple, please come out for a meeting."
Inside the room, the Civil Judge's golden body vibrated, and then he appeared.
Although they had met last time, now that Chu Xun had regained his youth, the Civil Judge couldn't recognize him either.
Slightly puzzled, he bowed and saluted, "This Immortal Elder, why have you called me?"
Chu Xun asked, "I heard that the Duke of Ming, Tang Shijun, saved the commoners of the world and possesses great merit. Why is there no divine statue of him here? Could it be that he has gone to reincarnate and is not serving in the Underworld?"
The Civil Judge said, "A person with such great merit naturally has to stay in the Underworld. It's just that Lord City God promised him the divine position of the Head of the Division of Rewarding Good, but in the mundane world, there is only the Division of Good and Evil, so a divine statue hasn't been erected yet."
"Without a divine statue, doesn't that mean he can't receive incense?" Chu Xun frowned and asked.
"Not so." The Civil Judge explained, "The incense of the Division of Good and Evil is divided into two. Although Head Tang has no divine statue, he can also receive incense. The Underworld does things fairly, naturally."
Chu Xun thought for a moment and asked, "I admire this Head Tang's character, may I meet with him?"
"Naturally, you can."
After the Civil Judge finished speaking, he led Chu Xun to the room of the Division of Good and Evil.
There was only one divine statue erected here, wearing a vermilion official robe, with a majestic face.
One hand held the Treasure Mirror of Good and Evil, the other hand held a square stone execution platform.
The Civil Judge called out softly, "Head Tang, an Immortal Elder is visiting, hurry and show yourself."
Hearing his words, Chu Xun glanced over but didn't make a sound.
Then, a figure stepped down from the divine statue.
Also wearing a vermilion official robe, holding the Treasure Mirror of Good and Evil, with a clear face, it was exactly Tang Shijun.
Tang Shijun stepped forward, first saluted the Civil Judge, and then looked at Chu Xun.
Sensing his cultivation, his face carried a bit of respect, "Little God greets the Immortal Elder, I wonder why you seek me?"
Chu Xun rubbed his fingers, chuckled, and said, "Nothing else, just heard of Lord Tang's deeds of saving the country, and specially came to visit."
"Just some trivial merit, not worth mentioning," Tang Shijun said modestly.
Chu Xun smiled and chatted with the two incense gods for a while. Liu Yuqing had finished worshipping the City God at some point.
When she came out to look for Chu Xun, she happened to see him talking to someone in the room of the Division of Good and Evil.
It was just that there was no one in front of him, yet he was talking and laughing cheerfully.
The middle-aged maid supporting Liu Yuqing couldn't help but say, "This Little Mister Chu is really strange, who is he talking to?"
Liu Yuqing was also somewhat puzzled and walked towards that side.
From the corner of his eye, Chu Xun saw the two coming over, so he said to the Civil Judge and Tang Shijun, "The matter here is finished, I still have mundane affairs to attend to, I will take my leave first."
The Civil Judge and Tang Shijun bowed and saluted, each returning to their golden bodies.
Chu Xun glanced at the tall divine statue of the Division of Good and Evil again, and then walked out of the room.
Liu Yuqing had already come close and asked curiously, "Who were you talking to just now?"
"Just talking to myself. Used to living alone, developed some quirks," Chu Xun said.
Liu Yuqing oh-ed. Although still somewhat puzzled, she didn't think too much about it.
She knew that living alone for too long indeed made one like to talk to oneself, which wasn't surprising.
"You are so young, why not find a good woman to start a family? There are all kinds of women in the Capital City, do you want me to help you find a few good matches?" Liu Yuqing asked with concern.
She also regarded Chu Xun as a junior of her own family and cared very much.
Chu Xun shook his head and said, "I have no interest in the love between men and women."
Liu Yuqing and the maid looked at each other, their expressions somewhat strange, mostly disbelief.
How could there be anyone who doesn't like the love between men and women, you're not a monk.
Moreover, even if you were really a monk, there are examples of breaking vows and returning to secular life.
Liu Yuqing only thought Chu Xun was thin-skinned and didn't persuade him much.
Getting on the carriage and returning to the Duke's mansion.
Chu Xun then went to find Zhang Jingheng to say goodbye and go home.
"There's still a bunch of livestock at home with no one to take care of them, and the fields are about to be harvested."
Zhang Jingheng knew the village was busy with farming, so he didn't say much, only saying with full concern, "When you're done, come visit often, this place can also be your home."
Chu Xun nodded, said goodbye, and left.
Seeing him walk fast, Liu Yuqing came over, pulled Zhang Jingheng, and said, "Why did you just let him go like this? I even said I would find a woman for him."
Zhang Jingheng shook his head and said, "His temper is similar to Uncle's, seemingly indifferent, but actually stubborn. Things he doesn't want to do cannot be forced."
Leaving the Capital City, Chu Xun's pace obviously sped up a lot.
With one step, he was already over a hundred and fifty meters away.
The karmic fire had been burning for nearly five years, and the improvement it brought to his spells was gradually becoming clearer.
It wasn't until he was hundreds of miles away from the Capital City that Chu Xun's gaze and face rapidly darkened.
The Head of the Division of Rewarding Good in the Capital City was definitely not Tang Shijun!
No one knew better than Chu Xun how proud a person Tang Shijun was.
Saving millions of commoners in the world, unparalleled in the world, a great merit that would leave a name in history, he didn't even want it.
Generously going to his death, just to pave the way for his disciple.
This person had only bowed his waist once in his life.
That was to ask Chu Xun to allow him to go to his death.
If he really served in the Underworld, even if a true immortal descended to earth, Tang Shijun would absolutely not be so respectful.
With the Civil Judge's commanding tone, if it were the real Tang Shijun, it would be good if he didn't give him two slaps.
Especially when talking about that great merit, he actually modestly said it was trivial merit, not worth mentioning?
Absolute bullshit!
One is one, two is two.
The real Tang Shijun might not claim this credit, but he would absolutely not say such pretentious words.
Chu Xun didn't believe that after a person became an incense god, they would change from their bones.
Therefore, the "Tang Shijun" in the Capital City must be fake.
Where was the real Tang Shijun now?
"Stealing human merit, being an imposter."
"What a conferred orthodox god!"
Chu Xun took a deep breath, his pace speeding up again.
Previously, he only had to conflict with the Underworld to protect himself.
But now it was different.
Some ancient immortal gods who should have disappeared long ago, but were unwilling to perish, were dead but not stiff.
Stealing human merit, borrowing a shell to be reborn.
If this happened to someone else, it would be fine, but happening to someone close to Chu Xun, absolutely not.
Tang Shijun had already been replaced, but there was still Zhang Jingheng behind him.
Huan'er implementing the national policy, his merit was absolutely not below Tang Shijun's.
No matter what, Chu Xun would definitely not let Huan'er follow in his footsteps.
You steal authority!
Then I will seize authority!
Anyway, because of the existence of the Songliu Water God's spirit, it was already a situation of fighting to the death, so why have so many scruples.
After returning to Pinecone Village.
Chu Xun gathered Qi of Metal Essence day and night, forged the extraterrestrial meteorite iron, and condensed Essence of Ren Water.
When slightly free, he used divine abilities to help people and obtain incense value.
Thus, year after year passed. Liao Shouyi led troops to fight for the Southwest.
Zhang Jingheng pursued the remnant troops of the refugee army. The Ma tribe in the North Desert invaded again, and the Ministry of War had to divide its forces to go on a punitive expedition.
The world seemed to be falling into chaos again, but Chu Xun had no time to care.
Winter arrived. Although heavy snow was falling outside, the room was as hot as a furnace.
In front of Chu Xun, the old bat's wind bone was wrapped in a ball of flame, burning fiercely.
Spiritual Fire Spell 21932/30000, Can cover dozens of zhang with fierce flames, has extremely high control over the flame's temperature, the smaller the range, the higher the temperature.
The Fire Element spell, which had advanced again, had reached a very astonishing level.
Relying on his fire control ability, Chu Xun concentrated a large amount of flame in the square inch before his eyes.
Such a temperature, even steel would be melted.
A moment later, the fierce flames dissipated.
The wind bone was caught in Chu Xun's hand, already burning red-hot.
Urged by spiritual energy, a slight sound of howling wind came out, and immediately a blast of wind and fire shot out from the hole.
Fortunately, the wall was reinforced with the Earth Element spell. The wind and fire hit it, crashing into a ball of brilliant sparks.
Waving his hand to disperse the flames on the ground, looking at the wind bone in front of him that was gradually cooling down but still carried a trace of fiery red.
Chu Xun frowned slightly. The old bat's wind bone had been burned an unknown number of times. With each condensation, the bone quality was twice as dense as before.
The astral wind mixed with firepower also had its power increased by at least double.
But in Chu Xun's view, it was still not enough.
After ordinary iron swords were infused with Qi of Metal Essence, they could slash evil and monsters.
Underworld magical artifacts couldn't last a few hits in front of them either.
If the old bat's wind bone could be mixed with the Qi of the Five Elements, presumably its power would be even greater.
It was just that Chu Xun had asked Zhang Jingheng to help find ancient texts related to the methods of the Five Elements, but they hadn't been found yet.
"If I could gather Fire Essence, with just this one magical artifact, dealing with a County-level City God would be a piece of cake."
[End of Chapter]
Comments 1