Dao Cheng Gui Xian

Chapter 67 Inviting the Hundred Infants

Crossing the dense forest
Cuijiazhai is situated in a river bend surrounded by water on three sides.

The entire area is much higher than the riverbank, resembling a low hill, with a hundred or so wooden houses scattered about. Fishing nets hang in front of every house, seeking protection from the river god, and under the eaves of a few houses hangs smoked dried fish.

The once peaceful riverside village was now tense and on the verge of conflict.

A dark-skinned middle-aged man with two feathers stuck to his collar stared at a somewhat dazed young man holding a knife and reprimanded him:

"Cui Hu, what did you do? You didn't kill him?"

The boy's eyes were also filled with confusion, and blood was still dripping from the sharp knife he held.

"Uncle Zheng, I clearly stabbed him."

After speaking, he still looked somewhat unconvinced at the twenty-four figures in yellow robes in front of him.

Lin You's face was gloomy as he turned to look at Feng Sishui, who was clutching his chest. Feng Sishui's face was ashen, but blood was still seeping from his chest.

Chu Feng, standing to the side, took down a yellow talisman, silently chanted an incantation, and then carefully placed the talisman on the other person's wound, which barely stopped the bleeding.

Feng Sishui was still shaken; he had almost died.

He had just seen a few children playing at the door, and thinking about the potential killings that might occur after the village was surrounded, he wanted to drive the children away.

Unexpectedly, one of the children took advantage of his proximity, pulled out a sharp knife, and stabbed him in the heart.

If he hadn't suddenly remembered the Yin energy talisman on his chest, which activated and partially blocked the dagger, this strike would have been fatal.

"Didn't you learn your lesson from the Cherry Blossom Bridge incident last time?"

Lin You looked at the still-frightened Feng Sishui and scolded him. Feng Sishui's lips twitched, but he didn't dare to reply. He actually wanted to say that if it weren't for his experience at the Cherry Blossom Bridge last time, he would definitely be dead this time.

After reprimanding Feng Sishui, Lin You turned to the villagers of Cuijiazhai, who were on high alert, and said in a cold voice:
"The Cui family village has colluded with evil spirits, secretly practiced demonic arts, and openly rebelled against the City God. By order of the High Priest Li Wushou, we are besieging the village and destroying the shrine today. You have no remorse and dare to assassinate the High Priest."

"If you don't hand over the ringleader and surrender, don't blame us for being ruthless and committing genocide."

Lin You's words were chilling, and the Cui family village in front of them immediately erupted in commotion. They knew about the practice of cultivating evil spirits, but why would it involve the rebellion of the City God?

Wasn't it said that he was only in charge of the city government?
Upon hearing the news of the extermination of their clan, many people felt their limbs go weak and almost couldn't stand up.

Cui Zheng snorted coldly and stepped out of the crowd, showing no concern despite Lin You's pressing approach.

He was one of the few people in the village who knew about his grandfather's plans; he knew how much preparation his grandfather and the river god had made for this day.

Furthermore, he was younger than his grandfather and more eager to find a way out through rebellion.

"Why are you panicking?"

Cui Zheng frowned, reprimanded the villagers behind him, then raised his head and addressed the priests in front of him:
"Haha. High Priest, the culprit isn't in Cui Family Village. You'll have to look for him in the city. As for rebelling against the City God? Cui Family Village doesn't do such things. We've always believed in the City God, but we don't know how many more days the current City God can remain in office?"

Lin You flew into a rage and roared, "How dare you! Stubborn fool! Seize him! Kill any who resist!"

The junior priests behind him drew their long swords in unison, a chilling killing intent emanating from them. Having refined the Yin energy seed, their movements were perfectly synchronized and extremely coordinated.

Even Feng Sishui, who was seriously injured, was no exception.

Overwhelmed by the priests' imposing manner, the people of Cui Family Village erupted in uproar once again. They found it difficult to accept Cui Zheng's treasonous words.

Cui Zheng glanced at the retreating villagers, a hint of disdain in his eyes. The path to wealth was right before their eyes; why hesitate? Were they destined to be exploited fishermen for the rest of their lives?
Fortunately, I never intended to rely on these useless people anyway.

"Uncle Zheng, I'll go with you!" Cui Hu, who had just stabbed Feng Sishui, led a dozen or so young men behind him, but they all stepped forward and stood behind Cui Zheng.

Cui Zheng glanced at Cui Hu, a slight smile appearing at the corner of his eye.

"Haha. Good, that's the kind of fine young man from my Cui Family Village. Watch Grandpa's magic take down these high and mighty gods."

After saying that, Cui Zheng took out a dark green leaf from his pocket, spat blood from his tongue onto the leaf, and suddenly the veins on the leaf seemed to come alive, greedily swallowing the blood.

Cui Zheng held the leaf in both hands, bowed respectfully, raised the leaf high above his head, and suddenly shouted:
"Please invite Baiying."

Lin You's expression hardened. Cui Zheng had been acting recklessly from the very beginning; it turned out he really had something to prepare.

The high priest was nowhere to be seen, and neither were the other party's grandfather or the river god. Perhaps the high priest had also fallen into the other party's scheme? This made Lin You somewhat anxious.

And what is a hundred babies?
"Form ranks and finish this quickly."

Eleven junior priests, each possessing a Yin body, swiftly stepped forward from behind and dispersed in an orderly fashion according to their designated positions. The remaining twelve stepped back, their expressions solemn as they prepared to assist.

As darkness fell, though it was a clear, bright day, the young priests felt as if the sky were ablaze with starlight.

As the starlight gathered around him, Lin You felt a surge of pride.

Just as he was about to move forward and kill Cui Zheng on the spot, he suddenly saw the leaf in the other's hand float into the air. In a daze, the veins in the leaf extended out, and the surrounding trees rustled, connecting with the wood spirit energy and veins.

Suddenly, the void trembled, and Cui Zheng, who was bowing, took a step back with a cold smile on his lips. Then, Lin You and the others were enveloped by countless veins and trapped in the barrier.

Lin You and the others' expressions changed, because just now they discovered that their alignment with the stars in the sky had suddenly weakened, as if they had been isolated.

The barrier formed by the veins of the leaf could actually isolate and weaken the priests' alliance. The other side was indeed prepared. Lin You's heart sank.

"Hehe~"

Suddenly, the sound of a baby's laughter echoed in my ears, and the soil around me rustled as dark green baby hands emerged from the ground.

“Cut off these hands.”

Lin You shouted loudly, stepped onto the star position, and took the lead, slashing off a hand in front of him with a single stroke. The others hurriedly followed.

“Ah~ wow~”

A series of mournful cries erupted, but the severed hand mysteriously re-emerged into the ground.

But then more rustling dirt appeared, and more and more hands emerged from the ground.

Lin You felt a chill in his heart and shouted again, "Defense!"

The remaining twelve people who had just retreated also drew their swords and formed a battle formation with solemn expressions, but these twelve people were not as surrounded by yin energy as Lin You and the others.

Lin You shifted his position again, holding his knife and looking around.

The hand that had just emerged from the ground had somehow transformed into a pair, dark green hands that were constantly digging at the soil.

A moment later, the priests were surrounded by dark green children, all around six or seven years old, their bodies covered with blood-red fascia, like mysterious runes, while their hair was dry, like withered tree roots.

The children stared blankly at the priest surrounded in the center, then suddenly grinned.

"whee."

(End of this chapter)