Start practicing from Mr. Fox

Chapter 159 Slaying Demons and Questioning Gods
Chen Ji looked up at the sky and saw that the air was filled with gloomy energy, yet also with a dignified and upright spirit. He knew that this was the City God's entourage.

I couldn't help but mutter a sentence I had once read.

"It's actually the City God who's here to clean up the mess, that's really impressive."

"Ok?"

Miss Bai glanced sideways. Although she didn't understand what it meant, she could guess a thing or two from the sight of the City God's entourage above her head.

"Does the sir think the City God is taking too long to arrive?"

Chen Ji curled his lips.

“There are quite a few patrols in the town, both day and night. Even the goose demon knows about the pig demon, but the city god just pretends not to see it. He only comes after the wolf demon has already run into trouble.”

"Even if Miss Bai's magic is superb and these demons and ghosts didn't notice anything amiss, the City God didn't come to investigate. Can you really say that it's quick?"

"Then what does 'washing the ground' mean?"

"The ground is bleeding and the road is dirty, we need to wash it."

"Sir, you..."

Miss Bai shook her head, already understanding Chen Ji's meaning. It wasn't that she disliked the City God for arriving too slowly, but rather that she felt the City God was useless.

"That's true."

Chen Ji nodded.

"The City God is supposed to protect the people of this area. If humans, ghosts, and monsters live together in this place, and everyone is just looking for a peaceful life, then it's fine to treat them all the same."

“But nowadays, blood-eating demons live with mortals, like hungry tigers entering a flock of sheep. How can this be reasonable?”

"Besides, this place sells blood offerings, which we couldn't detect earlier. It's only because we're strong that we couldn't find out. If it were an ordinary person, what would their fate be now? Would they not know?"

"It's simply because the demons and ghosts have bribed enough people, so the City God turns a blind eye."

Miss Bai remained silent for a moment, then suddenly thought of something.

"Sir, are you referring to that goose demon?"

"really."

Chen Ji paused for a moment, then nodded slightly.

"He had previously misled me and hadn't thought things through regarding the relationship between humans and demons. As he said, humans eating geese and geese eating humans are both natural laws."

"But if it's an intelligent goose, and people haven't eaten it, that's still a fallacy."

"If what he said is true, the demons and ghosts in this town should have rebelled against the Purple Cloud Dragon King long ago. Why are they still suffering here? They are just bullies who prey on the weak."

"He disappeared long ago, yet he still managed to send word that a pig demon had died here. He's probably the most well-informed person in town."

"The City God must have been summoned by him as well."

Miss Bai's eyes flickered, and she nodded slightly.

"It's good that you can understand, sir. The conflict between humans and demons has never been fair for many years. We cultivate ourselves and only seek to have a clear conscience. We don't need to think about grand principles."

"Indeed, Miss Bai is much more insightful."

Chen Ji nodded his thanks.

The white girl waved her hand.

There's no such thing as true understanding; it's just a matter of getting used to things after experiencing them a lot.

After saying that, he looked up at the sky.

"Sir, you should think about how to face the City God. We wanted to find the Ghost King to test things out, but now we're in a bit of trouble."

"With the City God appearing, the Ghost King probably won't show his face."

Chen Ji understood what Miss Bai meant, shook his head and said it was a pity, and pondered how to deal with the City God.

As they were talking, the City God's entourage descended from the heavens.

Ordinary people cannot see ghosts and gods; they only feel the howling of the wind in the sky and the faint signs of wind and rain.

However, all the demons and ghosts that hadn't escaped from the restaurant sped up and ran wildly, not daring to stand still in the eerie wind.

When the imperial carriage landed, only Chen Ji and Miss Bai were standing in the entire restaurant, while the half-dead wolf-blood demon and the corpses of the cannibalistic Taoists lay on the ground.

Chen Ji looked up and realized that the City God of Fenshan Town was indeed different from that of Zhanshui Town.

The little ghosts leading the way carried ritual implements such as the Yin Gong, the Soul Banner, and the Impermanence Lamp, while Yin soldiers and officials followed and protected them.

Eight powerful ghosts carried the City God's palanquin with great speed, followed by the civil and military judges of the City God's office.

The army was much larger than the procession of Lu Pan.

However, Chen Ji also understood the reason.

Judge Lu is in the underworld, above whom are the Lords of the Underworld, and judges are not allowed to overstep their bounds.

But the City God is like a local emperor here. As long as nothing major happens, no one can say anything about a little ceremonial procession.

"Who are you now, and why do you not kneel before the City God?"

Chen Ji watched as the City God's procession remained motionless, and then some underworld officials began to lash out with their whips.

The aura had a sinister feel to it.

Chen Ji knew that this was the Soul-Striking Whip, which would strike the soul directly when it hit the body; it was a torture instrument belonging to the underworld.

Simply dodging would be disrespectful to the City God, which wouldn't be good, but it's also impossible to stand there and take a beating.

So Chen Ji didn't dodge, but instead flicked his toe, kicking the wolf-blood demon to receive the whip.

"Awooo!"

The wolf-blood demon's howl was even more miserable than when it had been scorched by the Netherfire.

It's not that the whip really hurts too much.

Instead, his soul had been burned by the Netherfire for half a day, and then ground by the stone mill demon hundreds of times. He had finally caught his breath and recovered a little.

Now, with this lash, the old wounds haven't healed and new ones have been added, so it hurts even more.

However, at least he was whipped, so the underworld messenger didn't lash out in vain.

Chen Ji abandoned the wolf-blood demon before looking at the City God.

"The Taoist priest from Sendai Mountain has met with the City God."

"Isn't Mount Sendai known for its many demons? When did a Taoist priest appear there?"

"I just left not long ago."

"If you don't mention your sect, do you have a lineage of teachers?"

"A rogue cultivator."

"Ah!"

The underworld official snorted coldly, his tone unpleasant.

"Then he should have been ordained and understand the rules between gods and ghosts. As a Taoist priest, how dare he cause trouble here? He destroyed the town's restaurants and beat up the townspeople and demons without first meeting the City God. What crime should he be punished for!"

The underworld messengers under the City God glared at Chen Ji, their voices sharp and menacing.

Chen Ji raised an eyebrow, as if he understood something.

The title of City God is usually bestowed posthumously upon people who have cultivated virtue and performed good deeds.

Although he is different from humans after becoming a local deity, and demons, ghosts and humans do coexist under his rule, ordinary city gods tend to take care of people because of his past as a human.

The city god of this cemetery speaks frankly, seemingly fair, but in reality, he has lost the hearts of the people.

Then I remembered something Master Xiyun had said when we were in Zhanshui Town.

Before a Taoist priest descends from the mountains to exorcise demons and capture ghosts, he must first visit the City God Temple to pay respects and offer incense before he can proceed.

However, since he and Miss Bai had come in a hurry and acted in secrecy, they had not thought of informing the City God.

Now it seems the City God intends to use this as a pretext to punish someone?
Chen Ji looked on coldly.

Behind the underworld official, the City God sat upright in his sedan chair, the curtains of which remained completely still, as if he had not heard a thing.

But the abilities of a deity, and the five senses, cannot be concealed by a mere curtain.

They then knew that this was at the behest of the City God, which was why the underworld officials dared to speak in this manner.

But he had already made plans.

Although this matter is the millstone demon's affair, there is another matter that is also inextricably linked to the City God of the burial mountain.

He then looked directly into the eyes of the underworld official.

"I have read three thousand volumes of the Daoist Canon, how could I not know that a Taoist priest needs to consult the City God beforehand to exorcise demons and capture ghosts?"

"Moreover, this blood demon acts violently and harms its blood food. It doesn't just target humans; even kind-hearted demons have fallen victim to its poison. Since the incident happened so quickly, it might be too late to report it now."

"You don't ask for permission when there's no time? What kind of Taoist priest are you!"

The underworld official roared fiercely.

But as he was speaking, he suddenly stopped.

It was as if a ghostly messenger was whispering in his ear, pointing at the demons and ghosts on the ground and explaining something.

After a while.

The underworld official's eyes flickered as he stared intently at the wolf-blood demon, then looked at Chen Ji and hesitated for a long time.

"To desecrate the City God, disrupt the city, and harm the people... is a grave crime."

"But the Taoist priest possesses profound magical powers, slaying demons and eliminating evil spirits, including these scoundrels who eat people. His merits outweigh his faults. Considering the circumstances, he will not be severely punished. He will only be fined one hundred sticks of incense as an apology, and the matter will be dropped."

"Don't punish too severely, how about offering a hundred sticks of incense?"

Chen Ji couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Qingfeng Temple is considered a popular place of worship, but even Daoist Xiyun can only spare one stick of incense per month to support the ghost messengers. As a daily patrolman of the underworld, his monthly salary is only enough for ten sticks of incense.

The City God demanded that he personally pay for a hundred sticks of incense; I don't know where he got the courage from.

After pausing for a few moments, he kicked the wolf-blood demon on the ground again.

"Should the hundred incense sticks be donated to the City God Temple, or to this wolf-blood demon?"

"Naturally, it's the City God Temple."

The underworld official blurted out, only to see the wolf-blood demon still half-dead on the ground, and added another sentence.

"And this demon, hand it over to us as well."

"As for those cannibalistic Taoist priests, they're dead, so be it. Just drag them out of town and bury them in the mass grave."

After giving his instructions in a few words, the underworld messenger reached out to grab the wolf-blood demon.

"Wait a minute."

Chen Ji raised his hand to stop him.

"What if I don't have a hundred sticks of incense, and I don't want to hand over this wolf-blood demon?"

"You ungrateful bastard!"

The underworld messenger shouted sternly.

"If there's no incense offering, then go to the minor underworld office in the City God Temple and say something!"

"And this wolf-blood demon, too..."

"Your Excellency, please understand! I have offerings! I have offerings!"

The wolf-blood demon roared and pulled out dozens of incense sticks from his body. Without counting them, he raised his hand and offered them in front of him.

Seeing so much incense, even the gloomy-faced ghost showed joy.

“Indeed, you are a reasonable demon. Explain clearly what is going on with these blood offerings.”

The wolf-blood demon instantly understood the underworld official's meaning, its eyes darting around as it cried out repeatedly.

"Your Excellency, it was...it was...this pig demon and these Taoist priests who brought them!"

"I just run a small eatery and do some processing. I don't dare to go against the customers' wishes. This pig demon came in and wanted me to serve pork. How could I dare to do that? I was afraid that the pig demon would get angry and tear down the shop."

"Unexpectedly, while we were still dealing with this, these Taoist priests came in and said they wanted to eat pork. This pig demon was not going to agree to that, and immediately pulled out human flesh and started shouting..."

"After a while, these Taoist priests confronted the pig demon. It was at this time that the Taoist priest arrived and simply killed them all. He even wanted to capture the little demons to play with for his ghost messengers."

The wolf demon could turn black into white and reverse the universe with a single word.

Chen Ji was so angry he laughed.

Who would have thought that a wolf demon could be so eloquent?

"Taoist, is what this wolf demon said true?"

The underworld official looked at Chen Ji, but waved his hand before he could answer.

"Enough. This Taoist priest is powerful and probably doesn't tell the truth. He's also in league with demons and ghosts, causing chaos in the town. Take him back to the Lesser Underworld!"

"A mediocre god!"

Chen Ji shook his head and roared, but instead of using the Fire Dragon Technique, he summoned a gust of wind.

The wind carried anger, colder and fiercer than before. The ghostly messengers in the air could not stand upright, and even the City God's chariot swayed in the wind, making a teeth-grinding sound.

"You dare!"

"He deserves to die for ramming the City God's carriage!"

"Quickly form a battle formation and capture him!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the civil and military judges behind him took out their magical weapons and stepped forward, while the accompanying ghost messengers and the day and night patrols also appeared to prepare to capture him.

They simply couldn't stand firm in the strong wind.

"Whoosh!"

A voice sounded.

It was very light in the wind, but quite noticeable to Chen Ji.

Looking to the side, one could see that the Blood Wolf had shrunk its body, tucked its tail between its legs, and was rushing toward the weakest point of the wind formation.

"You're quite clever!"

Chen Ji sighed, but didn't find it strange.

Wolves are also known as howlers of the wind, and since they follow the wind, it's not surprising that they can sense the wind's weaknesses.

But it's not a good time to pursue it now.

He decided to take out the talisman sword and talisman left behind by Yan Chixia, just in time to test Yan Chixia's current Taoist magic.

With a thought, he activated the talisman and threw it out.

A golden light flashed, and the talisman transformed into a golden sword light that flew away.

Just like the small sword that Yan Chixia had shown him before.

The wolf-blood demon was extremely fast, but the talisman sword was even faster.

It moved through the wind as if unimpeded, catching up with the wolf demon in an instant and circling its neck.

"Tom!"

The wolf-blood demon paused for a moment, and then its wolf head fell to the ground.

The wolf then darted a few more steps before finally stopping, collapsing to the ground with a mournful howl.

The talisman sword disappeared, transforming back into a talisman that landed on the ground, but the sword intent within it was gone.

"It's really good."

Chen Ji nodded with emotion, then silently used his seal to capture the soul of the wolf-blood demon, leaving the City God of the Grave Mountain no chance whatsoever.

Looking across, they saw that the underworld officials under the City God's seat all had their eyes wide open and dared not make the slightest move.

Several people in the back row even subconsciously touched their necks.

They knew about the Wolf Blood Demon.

This Taoist priest is too fierce.

If he could even deal with the Blood Wolf Demon, then dealing with them would probably be even easier. At this moment, he had only one thought in his mind.

I can't be the first one to go!

Even though I'm already dead, I finally managed to get a position as a deity in the City God Temple. Although I'm not a proper local deity, I still have protection and share in the incense offerings.

It's impossible to deal with a Taoist who kills demons and people without blinking an eye.

They all looked toward the underworld official who had spoken earlier.

"You were the one who said you wanted to invite this Taoist priest to the Lesser Underworld, so now you should go and make things clear..."

"I... what can I say? Please ask the City God!"

The ghost messengers were at a loss, so they staggered against the wind and approached the sedan chair, whispering something to each other.

A moment later, a sound came.

"Useless! You have to deal with such a trivial matter personally. What use are you all!"

The words fell.

An aura wafted from the sedan chair.

It is the unique Yin energy and the overwhelming righteous energy of the City God.

The surrounding gale suddenly stopped, and the demons were finally able to steady themselves and look at Chen Ji again.

The sedan curtain was lifted, revealing a solemn and serene face.

Under the influence of incense smoke, a few wisps of divine light flickered, and even a glance was enough to tell that this City God was different from the one in Zhanshui Town.

The magic power was significantly greater.

only……

Miss Bai leaned closer and whispered in my ear.

"The aura is impure."

"Yes."

Chen Ji nodded, also recognizing the problem with the cemetery and city god statue.

Although his body was imbued with powerful magic and incense, there was always a musty smell that couldn't be completely removed from his swirling aura.

A closer look at his robes revealed some clues.

Mold spots had appeared on the priest's robes, clearly visible as his magical power surged.

"How could the god of incense possess such an aura?"

Chen Ji looked at Miss Bai.

They exchanged a glance, and the answer was already clear in their hearts.

The city god greedily accepted incense offerings he shouldn't have.

Although it was a small amount, it had already affected his original cultivation level, which is why he exhibited such a behavior.

Seeing that the City God still possessed some integrity, they looked at him again and asked in a loud voice.

"I see the City God's aura is one of righteousness and strength. Could it be that we should also listen to the slander of demons and ghosts?"

(End of this chapter)