Chapter 124: Replacing Them in the Future

The Hidden Immortal

The single word “Die” made the Civil Judge’s entire body go rigid.

The judge’s brush could turn written words into a prison, but compared to words becoming law, it was worlds apart.

If he said you should die, then you had to die.

At that moment, a great seal arrived in an instant.

Black-red light descended from the seal and shone upon the Civil Judge.

A low voice sounded.

“The Civil Judge truly belongs to my underworld. Although Chancellor Zhang’s merit is complete, he is still within the heavenly order. Why must you act like this?”

The great seal was the manifestation of the City God’s authority, the peak of underworld deities in Jing Kingdom.

Under the black-red light, the power of words becoming law was weakened, and the Civil Judge was not killed immediately.

“You dare not show yourself, so what right do you have to prattle before this Chancellor? Hand it over!”

The City God’s great seal trembled violently. The golden merit light around Zhang Jingheng shone with blinding brilliance, directly suppressing the black-red light.

So what if this was the peak authority of the underworld deities?

As Chancellor, Zhang Jingheng had stood above all officials, and the countless common people of Jing Kingdom were grateful for his contributions.

A veteran of five reigns and the current dynasty’s Grand Tutor.

When he spoke, even the emperor had to consider it carefully.

No matter how powerful the capital City God was, he merely received incense from the capital.

Moreover, Zhang Jingheng’s merit was now complete and his golden body had formed on the spot. He was not much inferior to the capital City God.

Everyone under heaven thought Chancellor Zhang had been born a civil official and was not skilled at fighting.

But few remembered that he had once held Hulao Pass and resisted the refugee army.

When Mobei was attacked, the emperor personally led the army, but Zhang Jingheng had strategized from the capital.

He was not a military general, yet he surpassed one.

The City God’s great seal was caught in his hand. Waves of yin qi surged out, as if he intended to seize its authority on the spot.

No matter how the black-red light shone, the merit golden body remained completely unmoved.

“Even if you can ascend on the spot, you are still a member beneath the heavenly order. Forcibly seizing authority is defying heaven. Do you not fear heavenly law?”

The gloomy voice rolled across the sky above the capital like muffled thunder.

Xiao Shuying, who had already rushed to the Chancellor’s residence, looked up at the sky.

Her hidden imperial fate allowed her to vaguely sense that something existed there.

But in the end, she was not a true emperor. With a mortal body, she could not see the existence of immortals and gods.

Zhang Shaoheng and the others stopped her.

When she learned that Chu Xun had ordered no one to enter the Chancellor’s residence, Xiao Shuying did not insist.

She only looked at the sky above the Chancellor’s residence, her brows tightly furrowed.

“Who exactly is Senior fighting? Could some evil spirit have entered the capital?”

Facing the capital City God’s verbal intimidation, Zhang Jingheng showed no fear.

“This Chancellor has devoted himself wholeheartedly to the nation and the people, with a clear conscience. You cause chaos in the capital, yet dare speak falsely of heavenly law!”

“You!”

Seeing the City God’s great seal held in his grasp and nearly half covered by golden merit light—

A bolt of lightning suddenly struck down from the sky, making Zhang Jingheng’s body tremble.

Under the heavenly order, the authority of incense gods was not something just anyone could seize.

Zhang Jingheng had no divine office. Forcibly seizing authority was defying heaven, so naturally, heavenly punishment descended.

The great seal shook violently, shrank several times over, and took the chance to slip from his hand.

In the blink of an eye, it vanished.

Only the dull voice remained.

“Good, Zhang Jingheng. Good, Chancellor Zhang!”

Having lost the City God’s great seal’s protection, the Civil Judge screamed, and large amounts of black smoke exploded from his body.

In an instant, he dispersed into smoke and vanished.

Zhang Jingheng recovered from the lightning strike. Seeing the City God’s great seal fly away, he immediately shouted:

“It is impolite not to return what one receives.”

Golden merit light followed the direction in which the great seal had fled, chasing it straight into the capital City God Temple.

The worshippers who had come to offer incense only felt the entire hall shaking violently and fled in panic.

Inside the hall, loud rumbling continued nonstop. Various divine statues crashed to the ground, frightening the worshippers until their hearts trembled.

“What happened?”

“It doesn’t seem like an earthquake!”

Even Chu Xun had not expected Zhang Jingheng to be so fierce.

He was actually chasing the capital City God and beating him, with the posture of wanting to uproot them completely.

The entire capital City God Temple seemed about to collapse. Whoever dared show themselves at this moment would immediately be crushed by golden merit light.

The statue of the Department of Rewarding Good trembled, and Tang Shijun’s figure manifested. He shouted, “Do not be rude.”

“Teacher!”

Zhang Jingheng was both shocked and delighted. He was about to step forward when Tang Shijun scolded him:

“As a subject of Jing Kingdom, how can you be so rude to Jing Kingdom’s orthodox god?”

Zhang Jingheng froze, and his gaze gradually darkened.

Chu Xun could judge from the details that this Tang Shijun was not the true Tang Shijun.

Although Zhang Jingheng did not know that ancient immortals and gods had stolen mortal merit, based on his understanding of his teacher, the real Tang Shijun would never speak like this.

Alive, he was Jing Kingdom’s subject. Dead, he was Jing Kingdom’s ghost.

So what if the City God had been canonized by the emperor? He was not truly the imperial court.

Tang Shijun could be respectful to the emperor, but he would not scold his own disciple for the sake of an underworld deity.

Only this teacher and student knew what kind of bond existed between them.

That was a responsibility entrusted with life itself to save all beneath heaven.

No matter how great the underworld was, could it be greater than this merit?

Furthermore, did Teacher truly know nothing of Chu Xun’s identity?

To rise from the child of a small farming family to become Chancellor, second only to one man and above ten thousand—

Aside from Tang Shijun’s promotion, Zhang Jingheng’s own ability was also extraordinary.

Reading expressions, listening in all directions.

Without such skill, how could he stand firmly in officialdom?

All these details caused great suspicion to arise in his heart.

The light of the merit golden body did not retreat but advanced.

Respecting teachers and honoring the Dao was a traditional principle Zhang Jingheng acknowledged, but Tang Shijun and Chu Xun had both taught him that if he encountered injustice and unfairness.

Even if Heaven itself stood before him, he could not yield.

“My teacher would not say such words at a time like this.”

Zhang Jingheng spoke in a low voice. Golden light pressed toward Tang Shijun, revealing his incense true spirit.

The body of merit manifested. It was indeed Tang Shijun without question.

“Presumptuous!” Tang Shijun shouted sharply.

Zhang Jingheng frowned. Although he had clearly seen that the body of merit was correct, he still felt something was wrong.

At that moment, a seven-colored auspicious cloud drifted through the sky.

Auspicious light shone upon Zhang Jingheng, making his golden light even more brilliant.

Behind the cloud, two vague figures could faintly be seen. A misty voice entered their ears.

“Zhang Jingheng, your merit in the mortal world is complete. We have come specially to receive you into immortality.”

A person whose merit was complete was not someone a tiny Jing Kingdom had the qualifications to canonize.

Without the City God’s great seal suppressing him, Chu Xun regained mobility and immediately shouted, “Do not ascend!”

Zhang Jingheng stood beneath the auspicious receiving light and looked deeply at Tang Shijun. He no longer paid attention to the capital City God Temple and instead looked toward Chu Xun.

His gaze was gentle, carrying traces of reminiscence as he asked, “Are you the person I wished to see?”

Chu Xun no longer denied it. He nodded.

“I am.”

Zhang Jingheng said, “Then it is no surprise that you can swing a sword and cut down evil spirits. In the past, I always thought you were a reclusive martial hero. I never imagined I had underestimated you so much.”

He looked up at the seven-colored auspicious cloud, then lowered his head and asked, “Why do you not want me to ascend?”

Chu Xun found it difficult to explain. Unless one cultivated and attained the Dao by oneself, such ascension only made wedding clothes for others.

The greater one’s merit, the more those ancient immortals and gods, old but undying, dead but unrotted would use him as a stepping stone.

Especially complete merit, which was rarely seen. How could the ancient immortals and gods possibly let such a golden body go?

Once he ascended, the moment he became immortal would be the day Zhang Jingheng’s mortal merit was stolen.

Zhang Jingheng’s merit golden body could suppress the capital City God within Jing Kingdom.

But looking at the entire rotten pavilion, the City God was only at the lowest level.

No matter how well Zhang Jingheng could fight, how could he be a match for the immortals and gods living on the higher floors?

Seeing Chu Xun hesitate, Zhang Jingheng said, “Ever since childhood, what you said has never been wrong. Since you do not want me to ascend, then I will not go.”

After saying this, he waved a hand and scattered the auspicious receiving light around him.

It was not only because of Chu Xun’s words, but also because he had seen something suspicious in Tang Shijun.

Having served as an official for so many years, he trusted his intuition very much.

If there was suspicion, there must be a problem.

The two figures behind the auspicious cloud trembled, and a gloomy voice sounded.

“How bold! Why did you scatter the auspicious receiving light? Do you not wish to become immortal?”

After saying this, the auspicious receiving light descended once more from the cloud.

Zhang Jingheng’s entire body was enveloped in auspicious light, and he actually began involuntarily moving toward the sky.

Without thinking, Chu Xun directed the little metal essence qi remaining to strike out. But before it could touch the auspicious light, it exploded in midair and shattered.

Zhang Jingheng’s expression darkened. His merit golden body trembled continuously as he tried to break free.

However, the auspicious receiving light was not an attack, but the restraint of the heavenly order.

Even if one did not want to ascend, it would still forcibly receive them.

Countless tens of thousands of li away, the old Daoist carrying a wooden cabinet stopped walking and grinned.

“Even minor officials in the mortal world know that forcibly stealing women is wrong. Yet you two petty receiving heavenly officials want to seize complete merit?”

A voice sounded beside Chu Xun’s ear.

“Boy, lend me your hand.”

Chu Xun felt blessed in his heart and raised his hand toward the sky.

Silently, the qi of the Five Elements gathered and transformed into a great hand that covered the sky and blotted out the sun.

This hand was formed from mountain peaks. Each finger was a mountain.

The mountains were covered with ancient weathered trees, flowing streams ran across them, and yet they carried a hint of metallic luster.

Raging flames burned among the mountains.

So vast. So mighty.

When the palm swept out, it seemed as if it would cover even the sun.

At this moment, Chu Xun clearly sensed the flow of the Five Elements power in the world.

It was like a surging ocean, one wave after another.

Layer upon layer, endless and unceasing.

All things beneath heaven were contained within it.

Whether it was the auspicious cloud or the two receiving heavenly officials behind it, all traces of them were erased in an instant.

The Five Elements power dispersed immediately, and the sky returned to tranquility.

The entire capital fell silent.

The power of that palm was countless times stronger than the merit golden body.

Inside the capital City God Temple, everything was as quiet as a haunted house.

The voice entered Chu Xun’s ear again.

“How much of that palm did you learn?”

Chu Xun smiled bitterly.

“Not even ten percent.”

His cultivation and spells all came from external forces.

On the positive side, he could use them without needing to learn.

On the negative side, he could not improve through comprehension in a short time.

“Idiot.”

“Hm? No, you’ve already comprehended the foundation of Dao arts?”

“Strange.”

“Interesting.”

After those few intermittent sentences ended, Chu Xun knew that the old Daoist was already gone.

He was not worried about the old Daoist seeing through his background. If the old Daoist could have seen through it, he should have done so back at Chen Guizhou’s house.

As for being called an idiot by the old Daoist, Chu Xun did not care much.

What he needed was time. As long as he had enough time, sooner or later he would become as powerful as the old Daoist, or even surpass him.

The world did not lack one genius like him.

But those who could walk beside him until the end likely did not exist at all.

Whether the receiving heavenly officials had been struck back or directly killed, he did not know.

Zhang Jingheng possessed a merit golden body. Even without reincarnation, he could exist for a long time.

But in the end, a golden body was still a kind of soul, and in the end, it had to walk the path of incense godhood.

If Zhang Jingheng became a new incense god, either he had to be canonized by the court, or he would belong to evil sacrifice and wild gods.

The former was unlikely. Jing Kingdom could canonize only one type of orthodox god, unless Zhang Jingheng was willing to join the underworld.

As for the latter…

If Chu Xun could seize the underworld authority of Jing Kingdom, then having Zhang Jingheng enter the underworld and replace the capital City God might not be impossible.

Otherwise, for a man of complete merit to become some wild god would truly invite ridicule.

As for reincarnation, with this merit protecting him, his next ten lives would certainly go well.

Of the three paths, aside from the first, the other two were decent.

Zhang Jingheng looked toward the capital City God Temple, hesitating to speak.

Chu Xun came over and said, “Do not ask. Follow me back to Pinecone Village first.”

Zhang Jingheng saw the clue in his expression and gaze and said nothing more.

After nodding, he looked at his anxious children and grandchildren outside the Chancellor’s residence.

Chu Xun said quietly, “If you have anything to say to them, I can use divine ability in the future to help you send them a dream.”

Zhang Jingheng gave a sound of acknowledgment, and Chu Xun did not delay any longer.

With a sway, he directly burrowed underground and silently left the Chancellor’s residence.

Xiao Shuying seemed to sense something and turned to look toward the city outskirts, but she could only see the bustling crowd on the street.

After a long time, there was still no movement inside the Chancellor’s residence.

The steward sent someone inside to check. A moment later, they came out and reported that only the old Chancellor’s body remained.

The relative who had been responsible for handling the funeral affairs had vanished.

Zhang Shaoheng and the others looked stunned. The man was gone. Who should they listen to regarding the funeral?

But this matter was not especially difficult. With the old Chancellor passing away, the imperial family would naturally involve themselves.

Only Xiao Shuying sighed inwardly.

Senior was truly like a divine dragon that showed its head but not its tail. He had left so freely that she had not even gotten to say farewell.

She also felt confused. Who exactly had fought with Senior inside the Chancellor’s residence?

Although she did not know the answer, in Xiao Shuying’s view, no matter the other party’s identity or background, they were certainly not good!

Because Senior was a good person who swung his sword to cut down evil spirits!

After Chu Xun and Zhang Jingheng left, neither the capital City God nor the heads of the various departments, judges, or impermanence officials dared make a sound.

Incense gods had always hated evil sacrifice and wild gods with extreme intensity, but they treated immortal cultivators with courtesy.

If not for Chu Xun insisting today on protecting Zhang Jingheng’s merit golden body, the Civil Judge would never have attacked him.

And that slap just now had been delivered through Chu Xun’s hand.

With the capital City God’s ability, he could not determine the details behind it, so how could he dare stop them again?

To put it plainly, these incense gods merely bullied the weak and feared the strong.

Outside the capital, Chu Xun found Wei Youyou, who had been waiting for a long time.

When she saw Zhang Jingheng, Wei Youyou cried out in wonder.

“Yo! A glowing person!”

Chu Xun laughed and patted her head.

“Let’s go. Back home!”

To avoid more trouble, they raced back to Zhangnan County as fast as the wind.

Perhaps those City Gods had learned about the events in the capital, or perhaps they knew they were no match for him. Not a single one appeared to stop them.

After entering Zhangnan County, Zhang Jingheng first went to pay respects to his parents.

With his current merit, even a simple visit to the grave would bring good fortune to Zhang Sanchun and his wife, who had already reincarnated many years ago. They might even reincarnate directly as humans in their next lives.

Afterward, he went to look at Liao Shouyi’s Duke Shrine.

Zhang Jingheng asked, “Has he reincarnated?”

“He reincarnated many years ago,” Chu Xun said.

Zhang Jingheng nodded. That was not too bad.

Chu Xun accompanied him all the way until they returned to Pinecone Village.

The people in the village he knew had all passed away.

Among the current younger generation, few were familiar.

Entering the courtyard, the crows reacted first, flying down from the eaves one after another and surrounding Zhang Jingheng.

They were not afraid of the merit golden body. Instead, they felt very close to it.

The weasels, rabbits, and field mice gathered around as well.

They wanted to approach, but seemed somewhat uneasy.

Wei Youyou took the chance to run to the vegetable patch and picked several radish leaves.

By the time the field mice noticed, she was almost full.

Zhang Jingheng smiled broadly. After being affectionate with the crows for a while, he looked around the courtyard and said, “This place still hasn’t changed much.”

“It changed a little, but not too much,” Chu Xun said.

The extinguished furnace was lit once more.

Inside the furnace, the meteorite iron’s temperature continued rising.

Zhang Jingheng saw the divine iron in the furnace, and the reminiscence in his eyes grew even deeper.

This had been his parents’ token of affection, carrying decades of family feeling.

After nearly a hundred rounds of tempering, it was already very different from its original appearance.

“The things remain, but the people are gone…” Zhang Jingheng sighed.

Then he looked toward Chu Xun and asked again, “What exactly happened in the capital? Why did Teacher feel wrong to me?”

Chu Xun hesitated slightly, but still chose to tell him the truth.

Zhang Jingheng listened in silence for a long time.

Canonizing orthodox gods was something everyone regarded as natural and proper.

Only with the protection of immortals and gods could chaos from ghosts and spirits be avoided in the mortal world.

But who could have imagined that great merit from the living world would be stolen by these so-called orthodox gods?

“So Teacher is not his true body, but an ancient immortal or god impersonating him? Where is he now? Why didn’t you say this in the capital?”

Chu Xun looked at him and asked, “Do you think we are the only ones from ancient times until now to know about this?”

Zhang Jingheng shook his head, then immediately understood.

Across countless years of history, there must have been others who discovered this.

But why had this not spread, and why had no one changed everything?

The only answer was that those who knew had all failed.

Failure meant erasure.

It was like the struggle for supremacy when dynasties changed. No matter what one had done during the process… whether merciful or tyrannical… it was unimportant.

Because the one who finally sat upon that throne would write history according to their own will.

History had always been written by the victors. There were no exceptions.

And victors would not record things unfavorable to themselves.

Although Zhang Jingheng’s merit golden body could suppress the capital City God, he could not seize authority under the restraint of the heavenly order.

Even if he endured the heavenly punishment, stronger immortals and gods would certainly appear.

Beat the younger one, and the older ones would come.

At that time, forget recovering Tang Shijun’s true body. Even protecting themselves would become a problem.

Most importantly, when the old Daoist acted, he had not helped Chu Xun seize authority, but had struck down the two receiving heavenly officials instead.

What did that mean?

Even someone so powerful had not completely broken the rules. This was enough to show that even at the old Daoist’s level, he still had reservations.

Considering all these details, Chu Xun had chosen to return to Pinecone Village before speaking.

Zhang Jingheng understood this point, and his golden body trembled.

“How dare they do such a thing! They speak of heavenly law at every turn. Is this what heavenly law is?”

Chu Xun said, “Heavenly law is also set according to individual will. Whoever has the bigger fist makes the rules. It’s the same everywhere.”

Zhang Jingheng looked over and asked in a low voice, “What do you think we should do next?”

Chu Xun told him the three paths he had considered earlier. The first was naturally abandoned without hesitation.

After learning of the filthy dealings behind incense godhood, how could Zhang Jingheng be willing to repeat Tang Shijun’s mistake?

Reincarnation was indeed not bad, but he was unwilling in his heart.

Knowing his teacher had suffered disaster, yet remaining unmoved?

He could not do that.

Chu Xun said, “If you can replace the capital City God and control the underworld authority, we may be able to recover Tang Shijun’s true body. But how long it takes is uncertain. Perhaps once my cultivation advances, we can act according to this plan. Perhaps my strength will still be insufficient, and we will need to wait longer.”

Zhang Jingheng said without hesitation, “Even if we must wait a thousand years, ten thousand years, I will not regret it!”

Chu Xun seizing authority did not allow him to replace an immortal or god himself, unless the court canonized him.

For him, whether or not he obtained the title of orthodox god was not important.

He already had the status, and he already had the divine abilities. At worst, his title was unpleasant in name.

If Zhang Jingheng replaced the capital City God and exercised the functions of the underworld, many matters would become much more convenient.

“It’s only a pity about your merit golden body. If incense godhood didn’t have so many problems, you should have ascended and become a proper great immortal,” Chu Xun said.

Zhang Jingheng shook his head.

“Before I became Chancellor, I was only selling roasted snacks at temple fairs. Does Uncle think that since I could once rise step by step from county magistrate to Chancellor, I cannot now rise from City God to the higher floors of the pavilion?”

Chu Xun froze, then laughed.

“That’s true.”

The old pavilion was already rotten. Once it was dismantled and rebuilt, wouldn’t they be able to decide where they wanted to stand?

Eat one mouthful at a time. Walk the road one step at a time.

“Take it slowly. No hurry.”

Afterward, Zhang Jingheng’s funeral was held in the capital.

Although the Zhang family had already submitted a memorial, hoping to follow Zhang Jingheng’s wishes and keep things simple.

Emperor Yongxiang still granted extremely high honors, almost equal to national mourning.

Two months later, the Mobei army was ordered by the Ministry of War to withdraw.

On the surface, the reason was that the emperor wished to reward the three armies.

Those soldiers who had fought on the battlefield over the past several years would receive the rewards they deserved.

But anyone with clear eyes knew that once this withdrawal happened, there was a high chance they would not send troops again.

Xiao Shuying felt helpless and disappointed over this, and simply took her maid Qin Shuang, left the imperial palace, and reentered the martial world.

A few months later, Liao Xingbang returned dejectedly.

He said the Martial Alliance Leader was indeed powerful. He had originally wanted to challenge him with the Dragon-Slaying Saber, but in the end, he could not even defeat his disciple.

The famous sword Flying Stream suddenly rose to fame, becoming another rare divine weapon beneath heaven after the Heaven-Reliant Sword and Dragon-Slaying Saber.

Before long, Xiao Shuying came searching for Pinecone Village.

Liao Xingbang was very surprised to see her arrive.

Especially after learning that the Flying Stream Sword in Xiao Shuying’s hand had been “improved” by Chu Xun, his eyes widened even more.

“Uncle Chen, how can you turn your elbow outward? Could it be because she’s pretty?”

The maid Qin Shuang scolded sharply when she heard this.

“Do not speak nonsense! My young lady and Senior are not as filthy as you imagine!”

Liao Xingbang did not know these two were princess and maid. He muttered a few words and did not bring it up again.

Chu Xun was not surprised by Xiao Shuying’s arrival.

But Xiao Shuying was full of admiration for the birds and beasts in the courtyard. As expected of an extraordinary person… even the things he raised were different.

After coming, she had no intention of leaving and chose to stay for some time.

Chu Xun still wanted to use her to find the flood dragon bones, so naturally, he did not refuse.

Over the course of several months, Fenggu City, Linyuan City, and Luzhou City were all seized by Chu Xun.

Only Mingxiu Prefecture remained, isolated and surrounded by three cities and ten counties.

The Mingxiu Prefecture City God was greatly puzzled by this. The City Gods of the three cities had all received his instructions: if they encountered the evil sacrifice wild god, they absolutely must not engage him directly.

Why had they been destroyed one after another, without even a chance to flee?

Only when Chu Xun brought Zhang Jingheng to Mingxiu Prefecture did this prefectural City God see the merit golden body shining with brilliant golden light and finally understand.

It was not that his side was too weak, but that the enemy was too strong.

A soul of complete merit capable of contending against the capital City God… how could they fight?

What could they use to fight?

Even if he wanted to invite the capital City God’s golden body to descend, there was no way.

The capital City God, weakened to half strength, would still be beaten if he came.

In the second year of Yongxiang, all underworld deities of Mingxiu Prefecture were destroyed.

The authority of an entire prefecture fell into Chu Xun’s hands.

This time, one corner of the City God seal in the capital City God’s hand turned gray.

One month later—

In the mountain forests near the Wu Kingdom border.

This place had originally been under the control of the barbarians. A single great fire had nearly burned the barbarians to extinction.

Many people said the Wu Kingdom emperor’s sudden death was related to this.

The act had been too sinister and had shortened his lifespan.

Now, the mountain forest had been completely incorporated into Jing Kingdom’s territory, and several fortresses had been built there.

Within the forest, there were a few places even the barbarians had been unwilling to set foot in easily.

Some were full of wild beasts, while others were filled with miasma and swamps.

The most terrifying place was called Dragon Pool.

It was shrouded in miasma all year round. Legend said that in ancient times, a python had failed to transform into a flood dragon there and was struck down by heavenly lightning, falling into that place.

Even a first-rank martial artist who entered would find it difficult to come back alive.

A Innate Grandmaster might be able to preserve their life, but who would be willing to come?

Flood dragon bones were useless to people. Even if one risked their life to take them, they would only serve as decorations.

Xiao Shuying had likely been able to retrieve a piece of flood dragon bone from this place only with the help of someone named Huangshi Gong.

Neither miasma nor yin qi posed much threat to Chu Xun and Zhang Jingheng.

At this moment, Chu Xun walked side by side with Xiao Shuying and Qin Shuang, while Zhang Jingheng followed behind.

Wei Youyou had not come. She was instinctively afraid of python-type creatures, let alone flood dragons.

Xiao Shuying led the way ahead. Before long, both she and Qin Shuang were trembling from the cold.

The last time they came, they had Huangshi Gong’s yellow paper talisman protecting them. This time, they had no such thing.

Seeing this, Chu Xun lightly blew out a breath and dispersed the yin qi around them.

He used fire essence power to protect the two.

Feeling their bodies become much warmer, Xiao Shuying turned and said, “Thank you, Senior.”

Before long, the group saw the “Dragon Pool” ahead.

The so-called Dragon Pool was actually formed from extremely concentrated yin qi.

Countless resentful souls gathered around it, numbering in the tens of thousands, far more than what Chu Xun had seen at the ruined temple.

These resentful souls wore ragged clothing. Most were wrapped in animal hides to cover their private areas.

Their hair was messy, and their faces were ferocious.

Many more were charred black all over, and some vengeful ghosts even had flames burning on their bodies.

They were probably barbarians who had been driven as slaves by Jing Kingdom for many years and then burned to death by the mountain fire.

After becoming resentful souls, they were attracted by the yin qi and came here to cultivate and grow.

There were hundreds of fierce fiends alone.

There were also dozens of fierce wraiths even stronger than fierce fiends.

The strongest among them was an eerie abomination whose aura was comparable to a prefectural City God.

No one knew how much yin qi this eerie abomination had swallowed. Its body was several zhang tall and had nearly become solid.

Sensing Chu Xun and Zhang Jingheng’s arrival, tens of thousands of resentful souls looked over.

That terrifying eerie abomination’s eyes were even filled with fierce light.

At this level, it was no longer muddled. It retained part of its memories from life, but had become even more violent and cruel.

“Get lost!” it let out a vicious roar.

The yin wind blew in waves, sharp as blades and weapons.

If ordinary people came even slightly close, their bones would be shredded.

Zhang Jingheng did not take it seriously. He glanced around and said, “I heard this mountain forest once had a mountain god canonized over it. I wonder whether no one worships him, or whether he does not dare come, to allow so many resentful souls to grow here.

If left alone, they will surely become a disaster for Jing Kingdom in time.”

Chu Xun said, “If you want to know why, I can summon him.”

“It would be good to ask clearly,” Zhang Jingheng said.

Xiao Shuying asked curiously, “Senior, what are you summoning?”

Although she could not see Zhang Jingheng, nor the resentful souls and fierce ghosts, she knew there was always an invisible, untouchable, but truly existing “person” by Chu Xun’s side.

Chu Xun answered, “There are many resentful souls here. I will summon the mountain god and ask why he is not managing them.”

Xiao Shuying froze when she heard this. Although she knew Chu Xun could cut down evil spirits, was a mountain god something he could summon just because he wanted to?

After hesitating for a moment, she still could not resist asking, “Senior, is there a way for me to see as well?”

“Are you not afraid?” Chu Xun asked.

“I am not afraid,” Xiao Shuying said. “Senior once said that with a clear conscience, even ghosts and gods can do nothing.”

Zhang Jingheng sighed from the side.

“Princess Yunshu has a fine temperament. Unfortunately, she was born female. Otherwise, having her as emperor would have been better.”

Chu Xun did not respond. Who became emperor had little to do with him and would not affect anything.

He flicked a finger, and a trace of spiritual light entered Xiao Shuying’s eyes, temporarily opening her “heavenly eye.”

Xiao Shuying only felt her eyes suddenly grow hot. She blinked several times, then looked ahead and could not help feeling shocked.

Tens of thousands of ferocious resentful souls raged with monstrous momentum.

She also saw a figure shining with golden light standing behind them and immediately cried out in surprise, “Chancellor Zhang?”

Zhang Jingheng cupped his hands and smiled.

“Princess Yunshu.”

He was no longer a subject of Jing Kingdom, so there was no need to refer to himself as this subject.

Xiao Shuying’s face was full of shock. So this was the world of immortals and gods?

At that moment, under the lead of the fierce wraiths, the many resentful souls rushed toward them.

Overwhelming yin qi stirred, transforming into venomous snakes, fierce beasts, and various chaotic ghostly and divine images.

Xiao Shuying immediately felt stinging pain in her eyes and could no longer continue looking.

She was only a mortal body. By overstepping the boundary between immortal and mortal and looking at things she should not see, she immediately suffered some damage.

Seeing this, Chu Xun was about to withdraw the spiritual light, but Xiao Shuying gritted her teeth and said, “Senior, wait a moment. I still want to see the mountain god!”

Chu Xun said nothing, but he felt some admiration for this princess.

Her will was strong, rarely seen.

He immediately stopped wasting words. Using the summoning and examination chapter from Daoist Methods Unified Origin, he formed hand seals and chanted:

“Heaven and earth become the prison, earth veins become the rope.

I hold the primal astral force and command the true god to be summoned.

No incense, no fire; with qi, I bind the body.

Let the true body come swiftly and stand before my gate!

Those who dare resist shall have the earth split and their souls burned!”

The spiritual light of the spell seal fell into the mountain forest.

In an instant, the forest trembled.

[End of Chapter]