The Hidden Immortal

Chapter 116 The Great God in the Small Temple (10,000-word chapter)

A year ago, I don't know who made the suggestion.

There are so many masters from various sects in the martial arts world, but none of them can truly be called the number one.

Why not do what the Taihe Sect did, set up a fighting arena, and invite martial arts practitioners from all over the world to come?

Whoever stands until the end will be the number one in the world and be honored as the leader of the martial arts alliance.

In a short time, all major sects responded, and experts from all walks of life flocked to the area.

Everyone set their sights on the top masters of various sects, with several innate grandmasters being the most sought-after.

Who would have thought that a martial artist known in the martial arts world as the Soul-Chasing Blade would wield a long sword?

They beat all the experts so badly they were completely disoriented.

Its sword energy is so powerful that it is hard to find anywhere else in the world.

Like a celestial being descending from heaven, transcending the mundane.

No one could understand why someone whose title was "Soul Chaser" used a sword.

All I know is that the sword is very powerful.

Its name is Yitian.

Liao Xingbang spoke eloquently, his spittle flying everywhere.

He practiced martial arts with Liao Licheng from a young age. Although his grandmother forbade him from joining the army, she allowed him to travel the martial arts world.

Although the world is dangerous, it is at least much safer than the battlefield.

However, Liao Xingbang was not suited for martial arts; his talent was not as high as Liao Licheng's.

Now nearing thirty, he hasn't made a name for himself, and his cultivation level is only at the sixth rank.

If nothing unexpected happens, I'll be incredibly lucky to reach the fourth rank in this lifetime.

But he was very interested in the affairs of the martial arts world, and knew all kinds of masters and heroes like the back of his hand.

Xie Ji, the leader of the martial arts alliance, is his idol.

Chu Xun found it amusing and casually gifted Xie Ji a sword, asking him to help escort the Fourteenth Prince to the government office.

Surprisingly, he actually made a name for himself with it.

However, Chu Xun was well aware that the golden essence longsword he had forged had a limited number of uses.

Xie Jineng was able to defeat many masters with this sword and ascend to the throne of the martial arts alliance leader, which was mostly due to his own abilities.

"Uncle Chen, Grandpa said that the weapons you forge are also very powerful. Could you forge a knife for me?" Liao Xingbang asked.

Liao Shouyi and Zhang Jingheng kept silent about the matter of the divine weapon and strictly forbade those around them from discussing it.

They knew that someone disliked being disturbed, and if they knew that such a divine weapon was forged by Chu Xun, it wouldn't be long before Songguo Village was so crowded with martial arts practitioners that there wasn't even room to stand.

Chu Xun asked curiously, "Why a knife?"

"Because the leader of the martial arts alliance is called Soul Chaser Blade, of course I have to use a blade too," Liao Xingbang said matter-of-factly.

"But what he was actually using was a sword."

"But his name is Soul-Chasing Blade."

Chu Xun fell silent. This child was indeed not cut out for martial arts.

Besides physical constitution, martial arts training also emphasizes comprehension.

With good physical constitution, reaching the fourth rank of martial arts master is a piece of cake.

However, without sufficiently high comprehension, it is absolutely impossible to advance to the second rank, the first rank, or even the innate grandmaster.

What is comprehension?

It's simply about learning by analogy and applying knowledge to new situations.

It is obvious that Liao Xingbang does not know how to be flexible.

"I can't make the knife for you now. We'll talk about it when you find a really good piece of material," Chu Xun said.

To put it bluntly, it's a polite way of saying no.

But someone who doesn't know how to be flexible wouldn't be able to tell.

Liao Xingbang exclaimed excitedly, "Then I'll go find it right now!"

"Your family probably doesn't have any good materials."

"Then I'll go look for them in the martial arts world!"

Chu Xun fell silent again.

Oh well, let him do whatever he wants.

In the autumn of that year, a rumor suddenly spread among the people on both sides of the Songliu River.

A dragon suddenly appeared in the river and subdued the two snake immortals and the turtle immortal under the command of the Pine Willow Water God.

Every time it swims in the water, it stirs up layers of waves.

Even the stone bridge built by the Duke of Ming back then will be submerged.

The courtyard of the Songliu Water God Temple has been flooded several times.

Some say that this evil dragon will surely bring floods in the future.

For a time, the incense at the Songliu Water God Temple flourished.

The people prayed that the water god would use his power to subdue the evil dragon and prevent it from causing further trouble.

Late at night, on the banks of the Songliu River.

Chu Xun stood there, a wisp of Ren water essence gathering in his hand.

After years of being scorched by the flames of karma, he can now condense a wisp of something every two days, five times faster than before.

However, the effect of the karmic fire seems to have reached its limit and cannot be improved indefinitely as imagined.

Come to think of it, there's a limit to the amount of impurities the body can handle.

At least during the Foundation Establishment stage, that's the case.

Once I advance to the Golden Core stage, I might be able to improve even further.

Chu Xun, clutching the essence of Ren water, laughed and scolded, "You beast, why aren't you coming out? Do you want me to feed you in the water?"

Under the moonlight, a huge python head, several meters wide, slowly emerged from the river.

Having been nourished with the essence of Ren water for so many years, the blue-white python has grown to an astonishing fifty zhang in size.

Its body alone was two or three zhang thick.

Its enormous size already makes it appear somewhat "bulky" in a tributary like the Songliu River.

When it truly reaches a length of a hundred zhang, even the slightest movement would likely cause most of the river water to be squeezed out.

No wonder ancient books mostly have a negative view of pythons transforming into dragons.

Shallow waters rarely produce true dragons, because even a single dragon emerging can cause a major natural disaster.

The blue-white python didn't poke its head out to rub against it as usual; instead, it just poked its head out and didn't even flick its tongue.

It pitifully poked its head out, looking very wronged.

It didn't really do anything bad, but it occasionally chased fish and caught shrimp; it's been doing that kind of play since it was a kitten.

Moreover, after the stone bridge and the water temple were flooded several times, it deliberately avoided this section.

However, sometimes when people get carried away playing, the waves they create become too big, which makes the downstream current very rapid.

The disturbance made it impossible for fishermen to catch fish, and the mud on their feet when they came to worship the water god naturally aroused their resentment.

Chu Xun flicked away the essence of Ren water in his hand, and the blue-white python habitually opened its mouth and swallowed it.

This single action caused the river to churn violently.

Through the river water, Chu Xun could see it pressing its body against the riverbed, not daring to flick its tail.

I felt both amused and a little sorry for him.

Although it is a snake, it has liked to cling to him since it was a child. Except for not being able to speak, it is no different from his own child.

"You have to get used to it. If you really do transform into a dragon in the future, you must not cause floods at will."

Chu Xun spoke gently, without any intention of scolding.

The old turtle crawled out of the river; its shell had grown to about five feet long.

The soil it carries in the middle is thicker, and combined with its dark green shell, it looks very weathered.

However, its four claws, after years of honing, appear somewhat sharp.

He dug into the mud by the riverbank, leaving several large marks.

The old toad remained perched on the old tortoise's shell, completely at ease.

It only chirped twice when it came to Chu Xun's side.

This old toad is also surprisingly large, about the size of a millstone.

My body is covered in bumps, bulging and sometimes they bounce involuntarily, as if something is hidden inside.

The old tortoise shook its head and rubbed against Chu Xun's leg.

Chu Xun chuckled and had no choice but to summon a Heavenly One Divine Water Pearl, divide it into dozens of portions, and throw them onto the old tortoise and the old toad.

That's all for this year, no overeating allowed.

Both the turtle and the toad shook their heads, as if responding to his words.

Chu Xun didn't pay much attention and reached out to touch the head of the blue-white python that was reaching out.

A single scale can be the size of a palm, as hard as iron, and chillingly cold.

"After feeding you so much Ren water essence, can't you still control your water?" Chu Xun asked.

The blue-white python flicked its tongue, and a wisp of water rose from the river, but it only rose less than a meter before dissipating.

The essence of Ren water is used not only to accelerate the growth of the blue-white python, but also to enable it to gain the ability to control water ahead of time.

Only in this way can we better overcome the tribulation of transforming into a dragon.

Currently, the progress is not very fast, and is even much slower than expected.

However, the essence of Ren water is like collecting metal energy; one cannot be greedy for too much.

The more the blue-white python eats, the faster it grows.

However, if the ability to control water is insufficient, or if Chu Xun has not made preparations to help it overcome the tribulations of lightning and wind, then the losses will outweigh the gains.

Gently stroking the scales of the blue-white python, Chu Xun said softly, "No rush, take your time."

"Do not harbor resentment because of the people's criticism. They are just ordinary people, and after a mere few decades, they will return to dust."

"What they care about is what's in front of them, but you need to look at the long term."

The blue-white python looked at him as if it understood but not quite; Chu Xun didn't expect this big guy to understand immediately.

It's about gradual, subtle influence.

A few days later, Chu Xun collected the essence of gold in the courtyard and infused it into a piece of iron.

Then he casually tossed the iron billet aside.

When |—

With a loud thud, the iron billet, as if it had grown wings, landed precisely against the wall.

Metal Element Technique 58392/100000: Limited control over the metal of heaven and earth within a thousand feet. Over the years, Chu Xun's Metal Element Technique has been nearly perfected through continuous daily practice.

With a thought, one can freely control metal within a thousand feet.

Of course, this freedom has certain limits.

For example, the iron ingot that was just thrown out can fly however it wants within a thousand feet.

But if it's extraterrestrial meteorite iron, it's not that easy.

The farther the distance, the slower the speed.

After all, the iron ingot contained only a trace of golden essence, while the extraterrestrial meteorite iron contained more than a thousand.

If you actually throw this thing at the county god, he won't be able to catch it and will be directly killed by the golden essence energy.

The difference between the two is like the difference between heaven and earth.

There are already thousands of the same embryos along the wall.

If the ground hadn't been solidified using magic, it would have collapsed long ago.

These were naturally meant to be used to forge weapons, but he already had many longswords, more than six thousand.

In order to store those longswords, Chu Xun had to empty the side room of everything to make it a special storage space.

He took a deep breath, and with a thought, the pile of iron blanks by the wall lifted up about a meter.

It then circled the yard once before flying back and landing in the same spot.

Chu Xun's eyes flickered slightly: "Nine hundred and eight pieces. It's relatively easy to control over short distances, and it hasn't exceeded the limit."

"But if the distance is too far, it's still a bit beyond my capabilities."

I glanced at the progress of the Metal Element Technique. When it is perfected, it should be able to achieve a further improvement.

With a thought, the furnace door beside him opened automatically, and amidst the rising flames, the extraterrestrial meteorite iron was already ablaze with red.

The flames in the furnace seemed to be alive, enveloping the extraterrestrial meteorite iron without spreading it even slightly beyond its original size.

Fire Element: The ability to control the fire of heaven and earth to a great extent within a thousand feet is thanks to the benefits gained from killing the immortals and gods of the three counties of Yin. Among the three five elements techniques in the Foundation Establishment stage, the Fire Element was the first to reach the perfect state.

Next is the metal element technique, and lastly, the wood element technique.

Nowadays, almost no charcoal needs to be added to the furnace; magic alone is enough to sustain the firing process of extraterrestrial meteorite iron.

It's also faster and more convenient.

This flame, imbued with spiritual energy, is unlike any ordinary fire.

As long as Chu De's spiritual energy continues uninterrupted, the flames will not go out.

Besides the meteorite iron from outer space, there were also two pieces of the old bat's bone fragments in the furnace.

Even after being burned, they were still about the size of a thumb, with an incredibly smooth surface, and wisps of spiritual fire flickering in and out of the holes.

With the refinement of perfect fire-based magic, the old bat's character was further enhanced.

Chu Xun had tried it before; the wind and fire that Feng Gu blew out now could even shatter the golden essence.

Metal can overcome wind, but it is overcome by fire.

Based on this principle, the two should be of the same grade, but because their spirit also carries the power of wind and a trace of supernatural power.

This made these two magical artifacts far more powerful than when they were used to kill the city gods of the three counties.

Wood Spirit Technique 23846/30000: Greatly affects the growth rate of plants and slightly increases quality. In the village, the fields can easily achieve a good harvest simply by using water-based magic.

Wood-based spells are relatively useless, with a small coverage area and low efficiency.

Even though Chu Xun tried to use it as much as possible in his spare time, it was still much slower than the fire element which had the help of incense gods, and the metal element which mainly focused on hammering and forging every day.

But everything has its priorities.

Chu Xun would not neglect the most pressing matter at hand in order to maintain a superficial balance in the Five Elements magic.

The extraterrestrial meteorite, after being repeatedly hammered and refined dozens of times, is about 20% smaller in volume than it was originally.

But the weight remains the same, and the color has become even deeper.

It's hard to imagine how powerful a sword would be if such a piece of divine iron were actually forged into one.

The meteorite iron floated out of the furnace. Although he could control the hammer with magic, Chu Xun still preferred to do it himself.

He did not forget Cheng Shan's teachings: use a large hammer to shape and a small hammer to level.

Whether a weapon is good or bad has a great deal to do with the blacksmith's attitude.

The results of striking the same target with ten hammer blows, but by carefully feeling the point of each strike, versus by being lazy and taking shortcuts, can be vastly different.

Therefore, Chu Xun began to hold the hammer and chain as always.

boom-

boom-

Each sound was like muffled thunder, making Chu Xun feel a vague flash of inspiration in his mind, yet he couldn't truly grasp it.

Mingxiu Prefecture City God Temple.

The golden statue of the City God trembled.

"A high-ranking general is nearing the end of his life!"

"Where are the civil and military judges?"

The civil and military judges appeared, cupped their hands, and said, "Present."

"Such a meritorious military officer is beyond the jurisdiction of the county magistrate. You shall go there yourself and bring him back."

"Yes, sir!"

The civil judge and the military judge immediately led the Black and White Impermanence, along with several underworld officials, towards Songguo Village.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

Liao Xingbang pushed open the courtyard gate, knelt down in front of Chu Xun with a thud, and said with tears in his eyes, "Uncle Chen, my grandfather has suddenly passed away, and he asked me to call you over!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Chu Xun put down the hammer and waved his hand to send the extraterrestrial meteorite iron into the furnace.

He grabbed Liao Xingbang and said, "Let's go!"

Qiaohua passed away last year, and the Changning Imperial Capital specially sent people to pay their respects.

This unfortunate woman, seemingly blessed with glory and unparalleled success.

Only those close to her truly know how much suffering she endured throughout her life.

The only fortunate thing is that Liao Shouyi, despite his many years of fighting and holding a high position of power, never took a concubine.

So when Qiaohua left, she didn't have too many regrets.

Liao Shouyi held the title of Duke and was also a war god in the army.

The villagers, knowing that his health was failing, rushed over to visit him.

When Chu Xun arrived, the Liao family courtyard was already packed with people.

Liao Xingbang, leading Chu Xun, desperately pushed forward, shouting, "Make way! Make way, everyone!"

He didn't care about anything else; he just wanted his grandfather to see the person he wanted to see as soon as possible.

Chu Xun entered the room, where Liao Licheng, his ten-year-old grandson Liao Wenjie, his daughter-in-law, and others were standing by the bed.

Upon seeing him arrive, Liao Licheng hurriedly went to greet him: "I don't know what happened to Father. He was fine this morning, but suddenly he became unwell and insisted that I call you here."

Chu Xun knew perfectly well that Liao Shouyi's lifespan should have ended long ago, and it was only by defying fate twice that he had extended his life to this day.

What puzzled him was why he hadn't seen any of the underworld deities from Zhangnan County.

A weak voice came from the bed: "Has anyone arrived yet? —"

Liao Licheng quickly replied, "Coming, coming!"

Chu Xun walked over, took out a piece of old ginseng, and stuffed it into Liao Shouyi's mouth without saying a word.

Seeing that his complexion had improved slightly, he turned to Liao Licheng and said, "You all go out first."

Liao Licheng was unwilling to leave; his elderly father was on the verge of death, and he didn't want him to have anything to say.

It was Liao Shouyi who spoke first, saying, "You all go out first, I want to say a few words to him."

Liao Licheng and the others then reluctantly left the house.

I just don't understand why even one's own son and grandson can't listen to certain things.

After the door closed, with the help of the old ginseng providing some vital energy, Liao Shouyi's spirits improved somewhat.

But this is only temporary and cannot last.

Chu Xun sat on the edge of the bed and asked, "Is there anything you need me to do for you?"

Liao Shouyi didn't answer the question. Instead, he stared at him for a while, then asked, "Shouldn't I have died long ago?"

Chu Xun frowned: "Why do you say that?"

Liao Shouyi said, "That year, after I led my troops out of the southwest and drove away the refugee army, I rested for a while at the county government office."

"Two of my centurions conspired with Ma Huai'an to cut off my head."

"They were clearly drugged, but they woke up at the crucial moment, and they didn't move an inch as I chopped off their heads."

"When we were defending Liaoyuan City, I led two thousand remnant soldiers out of the city, intending to fight to the death."

"At the critical moment, divine soldiers descended from the heavens, and only then was Liaoyuan City saved."

"Time and time again, I know perfectly well that I should have been dead more than a decade ago."

"Xun-ge'er".

Liao Shouyi shouted again.

Unlike when he retired from the military, this time his tone was more resolute.

Chu Xun remained silent. In truth, he knew that doing certain things would naturally arouse suspicion.

But they are all close family members; how could we just stand by and watch them die?

He sighed softly and said, "Don't tell anyone about this."

Liao Shouyi's eyes lit up: "You really are Xun-ge'er! I knew I couldn't be mistaken!"

Chu Xun was taken aback. Liao Shouyi's wrinkled face revealed a smug look: "Warfare is based on deception, and all's fair in war, understand?"

Chu Xun was both amused and exasperated: "You brat!"

He clearly looked much younger than Liao Shouyi; one was middle-aged, and the other was about to die of old age.

Neither of them thought there was anything wrong with the term "brat".

Liao Shouyi chuckled; he was indeed more suspicious than anything else.

I never expected that a casual remark would actually elicit such a response.

Of course, Chu Xun never intended to hide it from him anymore, and would tell him the truth before his death, just like he did with Qi Ermao.

It's just a little earlier now.

"To act like your own grandson—" Liao Shouyi clicked his tongue twice, then asked, "You can even reverse aging, Aunt Anxiu—"

A piece of old ginseng made him look less like a dying man.

Chu Xun sighed: "Only I can."

Liao Shouyi remained silent for a few seconds, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

This represents the rejuvenation of life and longevity. Throughout history, countless emperors and generals have pursued this path, yet few have succeeded.

Liao Shouyi is old, but who wouldn't yearn to be young again?

Chu Xun's answer shattered his hope.

If he can't even get his closest wife, then he certainly can't get him.

"That's enough, I've already lived so many more years, that's enough."

Liao Shouyi then asked, "So you're an immortal now?"

Chu Xun thought for a moment before replying, "Probably not, at most he's a cultivator."

He hadn't interacted with other cultivators yet and didn't know what immortals in this world were like.

The old man selling fake medicine might also be a cultivator of immortality.

However, judging from his habit of selling counterfeit medicine in the secular world for pleasure, he may not be willing to reveal his identity.

Moreover, I haven't seen this person since our last meeting.

It seems that he only appears in the same place once every few decades, and after that time, he can no longer be found.

"That's good too." Liao Shouyi waved his hand and said, "When you become an immortal, don't forget to burn paper money at my grave and let me know."

Speaking of burning paper money, Chu Xun suddenly remembered the one that Liao Shouyi had once asked him to help burn.

Somewhat curiously, he asked, "What did you tell me to burn back then?"

Liao Shouyi smiled and said, "I had a dream that night, and I wanted to tell my mother about it, but I was too embarrassed, so I wrote it down on a piece of paper."

"After thinking about it, I decided to find an opportunity to tell you myself, so I didn't bother you."

Upon returning to his hometown for the first time, Liao Shouyi learned of his mother's passing and was deeply saddened.

He knelt before the grave all night, trying to fulfill his unfulfilled filial duties.

In a daze, he saw his mother lifting the pot lid in the woodshed, revealing steaming hot meat buns, which made his mouth water.

He quickly called out to his mother and ran over.

Unexpectedly, the door frame of the woodshed was too low, and he bumped his head and bruised it.

"My mother laughed and scolded me for being too stupid."

"I opened my eyes and realized that I had bumped into a tombstone."

As Liao Shouyi spoke, he reached up and touched his forehead.

The wrinkles of old age were deepened by his silly laughter.

He was once a child who loved to help his mother dry fish and thresh rice.

When it gets hot, I call out, "Mom, I want some water."

When it gets cold, I call out, "Mom, I want to warm myself by the fire."

"Fortunately, I've accomplished something in this life and haven't disgraced my parents, otherwise I wouldn't have the face to come back."

As he spoke, his face gradually turned pale.

At the same time, Chu Xun sensed something unusual.

Turning his head to look east, he saw an aura, similar to, but even more powerful than, that of the underworld deities, rapidly approaching.

Chu Xun frowned. Having gained control of the county's city god, he could distinguish the aura of the underworld deities here.

The people who have come now are not from Zhangnan County.

Chu Xun immediately understood why no one from the underworld of Zhangnan County had come when Liao Shouyi was about to die.

If I'm not mistaken, this matter should be handled by a higher-ranking underworld official.

When Liao Shouyi had reached the end of his life, he was transferred to the position of civil judge in Zhangnan County.

At that time, he was just a junior officer, and although he had experienced several wars, he was not considered a big shot.

Things are different now. He is the Duke of Wei, a war god in the Jing army.

It would be inappropriate for the county magistrate to handle this matter.

More precisely, those who have protected their homes and country and have accumulated certain merits should be "assigned" by the City God, who is of a higher rank.

Chu Xun took out another ginseng slice and stuffed it into Liao Shouyi's mouth, saying in a deep voice, "You can't die now!"

After taking the second ginseng slice, Liao Shouyi regained some of his energy, though he wasn't as energetic as before.

Still appearing somewhat weak, he asked, "Then when will I die?"

"What's the rush to die!" Chu Xun snapped. Outside, figures moved about, and inquiries came through.

Chu Xun didn't have time for further words and said directly, "Gather your guards, we're going to the City God Temple!"

Although Liao Shouyi didn't understand what he wanted to do, he had spent most of his life on the battlefield and was not the type to be sentimental.

Chu Xun immediately carried him out, startling Liao Licheng and the others: "Chu Chen, what are you doing! Put my father down right now!"

"Listen to what he says and do not interfere." After saying this, Liao Shouyi looked at the twenty-odd men with gray hair, dressed in plain clothes, but whose eyes still retained a bit of fierceness.

"You will all come with me."

Those twenty-odd men were his bodyguards.

Except for a few who were truly reluctant to leave their hometowns, wives, children, and elderly relatives, the rest were allocated a piece of land by the county government for military households and settled in Songguo Village.

Upon hearing Liao Shouyi's instructions, they followed without hesitation.

Liao Licheng and the others were in a panic and wanted to go, but Chu Xun strictly forbade them.

"No one is allowed to leave this area!"

He was not the most senior in Songguo Village, but he was the most prestigious.

Who would dare say "no" to someone who could be recommended by Chancellor Zhang Jingheng as the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince?

Furthermore, Liao Shouyi also chimed in, so even his own son, Liao Licheng, could only stand there and watch helplessly as Chu Xun carried Liao Shouyi away.

"Dad, what is Uncle Chen doing?!" Liao Xingbang asked, puzzled.

Liao Licheng was at a loss for words, feeling both angry and anxious.

Back in the courtyard, Chu Xun ordered the guards behind him, "There are swords in the side rooms. Carry as many as you can, quickly!"

Without saying a word, this group of men, all at least in their forties or fifties, rushed into the courtyard and opened the door to the side room.

They were stunned by what they saw; thousands of longswords were neatly arranged inside.

Each one gives off an incomparably sharp feeling; even before entering the room, you can feel the piercing sensation of needles.

When they were guarding Liaoyuan City, they had seen plenty of good things.

The Wu Kingdom, renowned for its weaponry, left behind many weapons on the battlefield. After being salvaged, these weapons were found to be at least 50% better than those made by the Jing Kingdom.

But the most powerful weapon, of course, was the divine weapon delivered by the crow.

Dozens of divine weapons created Liao Shouyi's undefeated legend.

But now, they saw thousands of them!

The group of men exchanged glances and saw the shock on their companion's face.

Chu Xun's stern voice rang in my ears: "What are you dawdling about!"

The men snapped out of their daze and hurriedly went inside, each carrying a stack of longswords.

They were already used to life-or-death battles, and wouldn't even blink an eye if swords and blades were to strike them.

But now, just holding the sword makes him feel an unbearable stinging pain all over his body.

Fortunately, they were determined and persevered.

The look in his eyes as he gazed at Chu Xun was filled with shock and intense curiosity.

What kind of person is he?

The men didn't know where they were going; they just followed behind.

But as I ran, I started to feel something was wrong.

The grass and trees on both sides seemed to be rushing past too quickly.

A quick comparison revealed that each step I took covered more than a hundred meters!

It wasn't just me; everyone else was the same.

They understood what had happened, and their gazes toward Chu Xun were now filled with reverence and awe.

The legendary ability to shrink the earth to an inch is a technique of immortals!

A glimmer of hope welled up in his heart: with this man around, could the Duke of Wei perhaps live a little longer?

People who occasionally encountered the procession on the road or working in the fields were so surprised to see it rush by like a gust of wind and disappear in the blink of an eye that they couldn't help but rub their eyes.

I'm quite skeptical; maybe I'm seeing things.

How can someone run so fast? It's like they're flying.

The journey from Songguo Village to Zhangnan County is several dozen miles.

It didn't take long before we arrived.

As they approached the county town, Chu Xun slowed down, but he was still several times faster than the average person.

Arriving at the City God Temple in such a flurry, he immediately ordered, "Have everyone leave! Guard the entrances and exits; no one is allowed to enter!"

The guards responded and went over to drive all the worshippers out.

Some people complained, but seeing the stacks of longswords the guards carried and their fierce eyes, they dared not say anything more.

Even the constables who came to inquire about when the incident occurred were unceremoniously carried away by the guards.

They don't care who you are.

No matter how high an official's rank, can it be higher than that of the Duke of Wei?

Moreover, there is a divine being among them, a figure rarely found in heaven or on earth.

Chu Xun entered the City God Temple and immediately shouted, "City God, why aren't you coming out!"

Liao Shouyi, who was lying on his back, couldn't help but open his eyes when he heard this.

The golden statue trembled, and the underworld deities of Zhangnan County quickly appeared.

The aura that Chu Xun sensed had already entered the territory of Zhangnan County.

They were originally heading towards Songguo Village, but now they've turned back and are coming this way.

"What are your orders, Immortal?" the City God asked, bowing.

Chu Xun demanded, "The Duke of Wei is nearing the end of his life, why are you all ignoring him?!"

The City God glanced at Liao Shouyi and quickly explained, "Replying to the Immortal, it's not that we don't care, but the Duke has accumulated immense merit, so at the very least, the City God of the Prefecture should be responsible."

"A small temple cannot accommodate a great deity."

Even ordinary generals, despite having some merit, can serve as military judges, day-roaming deities, or night-roaming deities under the jurisdiction of the county city god.

But someone of Liao Shouyi's caliber must at least be a deity from the underworld of the prefectural city.

In other words, he is currently in Songguo Village. If he were in the capital city, the city god would naturally be in charge of this matter.

"What if I insist that he reincarnate here? Is that not allowed?" Chu asked.

"If it's just about reincarnation, that's fine." The City God hesitated for a moment, then said, "However, the seven souls—Corpse Dog, Hidden Arrow, Sparrow Yin, Devouring Thief, Non-Poison, Purifying Filth, and Stinky Lung—disperse one each day. Only after they are all dispersed in seven days can one be reincarnated."

Chu Xun frowned. He only knew that the Underworld was in charge of reincarnation, but he did not know that it was necessary to scatter the seven souls.

He wasn't sure he could hold out for seven days.

"Is there a way to reincarnate faster?" Chu Xun asked.

The City God said, "There is such a method. It requires burning the Soul-Dispersing Talisman, performing the Soul-Refining Ritual, and summoning the Supreme God Taiyi and Tao Kang to protect your life. In this way, it will dissipate completely in seven hours."

As he spoke, the City God conjured a thin book from the jade tablet in his hand and presented it to him.

The cover bears the large characters: 【Nine Nether Jade Cabinet Bright True Examination】

Chu Xun took a look and saw that it contained a Soul-Dispersing Talisman and detailed instructions on the specific ritual.

The City God added, "None of us are skilled in the art of talismans; it will require the Immortal's personal intervention. Furthermore, the Human Realm opens at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM); if you miss it, you will have to wait another day."

"The City God's men are coming soon. Is there any way to delay them?"

The City God said, "If the Duke of Wei hadn't died, they naturally wouldn't have barged into this place so easily."

Chu Xun put Liao Shouyi down and said solemnly, "I want you to hold on for one more day, just one more day! You must not die before then!"

Liao Shouyi did not see the City God, nor could he see the [Nine Nether Jade Box True Teaching] in Chu Xun's hand, but he had heard some of it and could vaguely guess some things.

He must be reincarnated in the City God Temple in Zhangnan County, not somewhere else.

As for why, Chu Xun didn't say, nor was there any need to ask; in any case, it wouldn't harm him.

Liao Shouyi took a slow breath and stretched out his hand.

Chu Xun seemed to understand his meaning and immediately took out a ginseng slice from his pocket.

Liao Shouyi took it and put it in his mouth.

His eyes suddenly brightened considerably: "Back then, everyone said I couldn't even hold out for ten days in Liaoyuan City, but even without divine weapons, I held out for over a month!"

"The rebel army attacked the city, and I defended Fenggu City for several months."

"What's wrong with living one more day?"

As he spoke, a blood-red color and murderous aura, invisible to ordinary people, surged from his body.

That was the culmination of a lifetime of battles.

Within each piece of blood-red aura, the figures of countless dead souls could be faintly seen.

At this moment, as Liao Shouyi spoke, the bloodthirsty aura flared up like a wildfire.

His body, which was originally withered like an autumn leaf, was forced to stand tall and straight like a pine tree by the blood-red aura that ignited around him.

The City God and other underworld deities hastily retreated, exclaiming in alarm, "Burning evil to restore life! Merit to suppress the soul!"

This is an act of defiance against Heaven by mortals, and it damages one's virtue.

Although it is not karmic fire, it is not much different from karmic fire in some respects.

Even the gods and immortals of the underworld dared not approach, for fear of being implicated and burned as well.

But Liao Shouyi didn't care at all.

Chu Xun allowed him to live one more day, so he would live one more day no matter what.

If the dignified Duke of Wei can't even do this much, does he deserve to be depicted in a New Year's picture?

The flames burned him, causing him great pain, but they also made Liao Shouyi even more lucid.

A burst of golden light flashed on the Book of Good and Evil in the written judgment.

Liao Shouyi's lifespan, which should have been nearing its end, has slowly increased slightly.

A shadow of gloom flashed in Chu Xun's eyes. If it weren't for the intervention of the City God, Liao Shouyi wouldn't have had to suffer like this!

This debt must be settled!

Without wasting any more time, Chu Xun opened the "Nine Nether Jade Box Bright True Manual".

The judge handed over the judge's pen and the Book of Good and Evil, which were instruments of the underworld law, but were also very suitable for drawing talismans.

Chu Xun took it and, following the annotations in the [Nine Nether Jade Chest Bright True Technique], attempted to draw the Soul-Scattering Talisman.

The Soul-Scattering Talisman is not complicated, but although it looks easy, it is actually very difficult to make.

Spiritual energy flowed into the cold judge's pen, its tip falling upon the thin, blank page of good and evil.

The first stroke was off-target; the drawn rune was crooked, and the spiritual energy that landed on the Book of Good and Evil dissipated as soon as it formed, the faint trace fading away on the page.

Wenpan said, "The talisman is the embodiment of the Dao of Heaven and Earth. The more anxious you are, the harder it is for you to grasp it."

That makes a lot of sense.

Chu Xun looked up: "Thank you."

The judge bowed respectfully and stepped aside, no longer wishing to disturb him.

Chu Xun took a deep breath and focused his mind, no longer considering anything else.

Only after his mind was completely calmed did he gather his spiritual energy and continue trying with the Judge's Pen.

The strokes were fairly regular this time, but the brushstrokes were a bit too heavy, causing the spiritual energy to shatter instantly and break into scattered starlight.

Two consecutive failures only calmed Chu down further.

"Don't rush it, take your time!"

Outside the City God Temple, guards stood watch at the entrances and exits, preventing anyone from approaching.

Unbeknownst to them, a dozen or so dark figures who had come from afar had already silently descended.

The civil and military judges who came from Mingxiu Prefecture only glanced at the men of the guards and did not pay much attention to them.

The essence of gold is hidden within the sword. When not in use, even though it has an extremely sharp edge, it is just ordinary to these underworld deities.

They rushed to Songguo Village, only to discover that the Duke of Wei's presence had moved at an extremely fast speed to Zhangnan County.

Upon arriving here, one immediately senses the raging, bloodthirsty aura emanating from within.

"Burning the evil spirits to sustain life, accumulating merit to pacify the soul." The judge's gaze held a hint of doubt: "With such blood evil spirits protecting him, whether he is reincarnated or enters my underworld to receive offerings, it will be of great help. Why would he take such a heaven-defying act?"

Wu Pan frowned and said, "I'm afraid someone has taught this method to prolong life."

Judge Wen exclaimed in astonishment, "This method, at most, will only prolong life by a few more hours, yet it will cost us protection for thousands upon thousands of years to come. How foolish!"

Wu Pan shook his head; he didn't know why the other party wanted to forcibly prolong their life.

But it doesn't matter; no matter how long it continues, it's only for a short time.

At this moment, the blood demon is burning. If these underworld immortals and gods were to enter and even a tiny bit of it were to come into contact with them, it would be a great loss.

"Just wait one more day. What the City God wants is a body of merit, so it doesn't matter if the blood evil is gone," said Judge Wu.

Just like Tang Shijun, who was not a soldier and had no blood demon protection, he was still valued by the underworld.

A dozen or so underworld deities from Mingxiu Mansion waited outside the temple.

Thanks to the incense and underworld atmosphere in the City God Temple, Chu Xun's practice of drawing talismans was conveniently concealed.

Time passed second by second, from day to night.

The guards, holding longswords, stood exhausted.

But they persevered through gritted teeth.

During wartime, sometimes you can't sleep for days and nights, and you can't even eat. You have to fight to the death.

They have endured immense suffering and hardship.

What's the big deal about this?

I just don't understand why that divine being told to carry the sword, but then didn't use it. What was he trying to do?

The next morning.

The dew soaked the men's entire bodies; they had been standing for a day and a night, and were trembling and their legs were weak.

His lips and face were pale and bloodless.

Only an extremely strong will persists.

The civil and military judges and other underworld deities seemed to sense something and opened their eyes.

They sensed that the burning of the bloodthirsty energy inside was almost gone, and it was time to end it.

At that moment, a sound entered my ears.

It was one of the guards holding a sword, staring ahead with a slightly bewildered expression, muttering to himself.

"like----"

"It's getting foggy?"

Just moments ago the sun was shining brightly, but suddenly, wisps of mist appeared from all directions.

Within a thousand feet, the area was gradually enveloped by mist.

Vision was blurred, and a chill seeped into my bones.