CHAPTER 366: CHAPTER 361: ATTENDING THE CEREMONY

The morning mist enveloped everything at dawn.

There is a Daoist temple called Taiping Temple in West City of Qinghe County, where incense offerings are prosperous, and citizens come to offer incense every day.

Although there are many cultivators within Qinghe County, there are also many ordinary citizens, including some with low cultivation realms, who are no different from ordinary people in such places.

Rumor has it that the real Taiping Temple is situated on an Immortal Mountain, and its master is a living immortal, so within the Da Li Dynasty, many people worship Taiping Temple, offering portraits of its master.

In the cultivation world, they know whether Taiping Temple actually has an immortal remains unknown, but Taiping Temple is indeed the foremost temple in Da Li, thriving for a thousand years, with rumors that its master has reached an unknowable realm of cultivation.

Even imperial power shows deference to Taiping Temple.

As for more detailed knowledge, it is beyond the grasp of ordinary cultivators, perhaps only known by great cultivators.

"A living immortal."

"The immortal has manifested."

At this moment, a commotion arose outside the main hall of the temple, with many citizens prostrating themselves before a Daoist.

"I am merely an ordinary Daoist, where comes an immortal from." A clear voice rang out, and people looked over to see someone walking out from the temple.

The Daoist, clad in a Daoist robe, had a remarkably towering stature, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, exuding a martial aura, completely different from the imagined immortal.

The Daoist walked with majestic strides, and when he passed by a beggar lying weak and dying on the ground, he halted, his robe sleeves fluttering, causing a refreshing breeze to brush through, the beggar looked up in astonishment, and the Daoist flicked his finger, sending a golden pill flying into the beggar’s mouth.

"Open your mouth."

The voice carried an irresistible power, and the beggar opened his mouth, swallowing the pill, with a flow of energy circulating within, his complexion turned rosy, feeling strength returning to his body.

He stood up, his face showing amazement, then kneeled down with a thud, kowtowing three times and nine times before the Daoist, calling out.

"A living immortal."

"Hahaha, I am but a man of the mortal world, not daring to compare with immortals." The Daoist laughed wildly and left, stepping forward with a large stride, his body soaring into the sky, surrounded immediately by colorful halos, bathed in auspicious light, as if a divine sign.

Behind him, many citizens rushed out from the temple, kneeling down like seeing a heavenly deity.

"Where is the Daoist going?" someone asked.

"To Prince Qinghe’s Manor, to witness the execution of demons, cleansing the world from filth, bringing peace to the land." A confident voice echoed, shaking the void, leaving everyone stunned then they immediately stood up, rushing toward Prince Qinghe’s Manor.

And the event that transpired here was quickly spread by word of mouth, rapidly circulating.

Taiping Temple in Qinghe County, a living immortal emerged, heading to witness the demon execution.

It seems Qinghe County is finally about to usher in an era of peace.

Li Fan was still having breakfast in the inn when he heard the rumors about Taiping Temple.

Sitting opposite Li Fan was none other than Cui Shan of the Cui Family.

Today was the day of the demon execution at Prince Qinghe’s Manor, and Cui Shan came early to find Li Fan, asking what his plans were. Not long into their conversation, they heard of the miraculous events at Taiping Temple in West City.

The citizens who went to the temple to make wishes, those suffering from illnesses or invaded by evil energies, were all cured in no time, even someone who couldn’t walk due to short legs was instantly healed, earning the title of a living immortal.

"Has the Cui Family ever had contact with Taiping Temple?" Li Fan asked.

Cui Shan shook his head: "Although the Cui Family is a notable family in Qinghe County, it hasn’t reached the level to contact Taiping Temple, the foremost temple, a force that even imperial power must treat with courtesy, and it’s said that the master of Taiping Temple’s cultivation is unfathomable. In the Great Li World, beyond imperial power, stand one mountain, one temple, one monastery, and one academy at the pinnacle. This one temple refers to Taiping Temple."

"Is the mountain, Li Mountain?" Li Fan asked.

Cui Shan nodded: "However, it seems Li Mountain is somewhat in decline now. In the past, Li Mountain was guarded by a Saint, capable of standing on equal footing with imperial power. You, as a Sword Cultivator, should know Li Mountain."

Li Fan thought to himself that he knew too little about the Great Li World before. Now, as his cultivation grows stronger, he sees higher, beginning to touch the true side of this world.

"So, that Daoist, is he truly from Taiping Temple?" Li Fan asked.

"There are such rumors, said to be a discarded disciple of Taiping Temple, but he never admitted it." Cui Shan said.

"Then by emerging from Taiping Temple in Qinghe County, pretending to be an immortal, is it to boost momentum for Prince Qinghe’s Manor’s demon execution on one hand, and to promote Taiping Temple’s fame on the other? In this light, if Cold Crow Taoist is truly a discarded disciple of Taiping Temple, he still harbors feelings for Taiping Temple?" Li Fan speculated.

"Who knows." Cui Shan shook his head: "Brother Lu, do you really plan to go?"

Although the primary target of Prince Qinghe was the Cui and Xie families, Li Fan also had conflicts with them. Going there might seem like walking into a trap.

"Have you forgotten what the Princely Heir of Qinghe County said the other day? This Qinghe County city is not a place I can easily walk out of," Li Fan said with a smile.

"If that’s the case, be careful, Lu." Cui Shan rose to leave; their Cui Family also had matters to attend to.

After Cui Shan left, Li Fan gazed out the window. The streets were crowded with people heading toward the Prince Manor. The common people wanted to see a living immortal while cultivators wished to bow to the Prince, such was the way of the world. A few days ago, Qinghe County seemed to be under the control of aristocratic families like the Cui and Xie families, but with the change at the Divine Wood Mountain Villa and a demon beheading, the Cui and Xie families were severely damaged, their ancestors injured, while the Prince Manor captured the Old Demon alive. The Princely Heir also displayed unmatched brilliance, defeating the Cui Family’s prodigy, Cui Shan.

Therefore, it was only natural for the skies over Qinghe County to change.

It was not the fickleness of the world, but the deceitfulness of human hearts.

The skies over Qinghe County were indeed about to change.

"Let’s go."

Li Fan stood up and walked outside, followed by Lu Yuan on his sides, with Luo Qingyan and others accompanying them.

Outside the Prince Manor in Qinghe County, a sea of people had gathered, as both cultivators and the commoners flocked there to witness the event.

Today, the doors of the Prince Manor were wide open, allowing cultivators and commoners to enter at will.

Within the Prince Manor, a spacious area had been set up with a high platform. On this massive platform stood many Demon Suppression Soldiers exuding an air of severity. They held chains, which bound numerous demons, all of whom were in half-human, half-demon form, kneeling on the platform with chains wrapped around their necks.

Behind the platform was a high pavilion, likely the viewing place for the Prince of Qinghe County.

"These demons mingled among us humans, living freely within the city."

"It’s fortunate that the Prince Manor captured them all for execution, or who knows how many humans would have perished at their hands."

"What about the Old Demon of the Divine Wood Mountain Villa?"

"It seems yet to be brought over."

"The Princely Heir has arrived."

The crowd looked up to see a group approaching the platform, led by none other than the Princely Heir of Qinghe County, An Shicheng. At this moment, the way the crowd looked at him changed.

In the past, people saw An Shicheng as a dandy. Now, however, he appeared carefree and rebellious.

Beside An Shicheng was the Daoist holding the Demon Catching Wheel.

"That Daoist is a Demon Hunter, it was he who, holding the wheel, assisted the Princely Heir in ferreting out the demons within Qinghe County," someone pointed to that Daoist.

"It’s said his master is extraordinarily talented, a top-tier Great Cultivator with incredible abilities, it was he who assisted the Prince in capturing the Old Demon."

Suddenly, a burst of demon energy surged, as a demon on the platform tried to break free from the chains. Yet, it was severely injured, and two Demon Suppression Soldiers tightened the chains. The demon had the face of a sheep and the body of a human, its eyes glowing with a crimson light, staring at An Shicheng with a low growl: "My master has long reported to the court, recorded as a registered demon. Now that my master is in trouble, you want to kill me."

"Pssst..."

A flash of blade light flickered, and blood gushed from the Sheep Demon’s neck. An Shicheng wiped the blood off his blade, giving a contemptuous glance at the trembling Sheep Demon bound by chains and unable to fall. Knowing you have no master, you still dare to bark wildly?

"Roar..." Low growls came from behind.

"Kill them," An Shicheng said indifferently. Behind him, Demon Suppression Soldiers thrust their long spears into the throats of those growling demons, pinning them dead on the platform.

This bloody scene, however, excited the onlookers who cheered aloud.

An Shicheng wore a smile, his eyes scanning the crowd, and said loudly, "Demons deserve to die."

"Kill, kill, kill," the crowd roared in excitement. An Shicheng looked somewhat satisfied with their reaction. In the human world, who doesn’t hold a grudge against demons?

Especially since not long ago, demons had caused heavy casualties in Qinghe County, plunging the people into panic.

In the crowd, Li Fan had arrived. He looked at the somewhat manic An Shicheng on the platform, his eyes carrying a hint of coldness. When hunting demons in the wild, An Shicheng was nowhere to be seen.

Behind him, Liu Ji was long accustomed to such scenes, having experienced them in the past. However, Yue Qingqiu felt a bit uncomfortable. As she ventured deeper into the human world, she began to understand the hatred between humans and demons, this innate hostility etched into many humans’ bones.

If she were to survive independently in the human world, would she end up like the demons on the platform?

At this moment, the crowd behind surged, as a path was involuntarily made. A grand procession of cultivators came forward through the crowd, none other than the people from the Cui and Xie families.

"The Cui Family of Qinghe County is here to witness the ceremony," an elder at the forefront spoke loudly.

"The Xie Family of Qinghe County is here to witness the ceremony," the Xie Family members also declared.

From a distant direction, several powerful auras approached, the winds and clouds stirred, as if a Great Cultivator had already arrived.