Chapter 636: Listening to Lord Shen

Chapter 636: Listening to Lord Shen

The vast and boundless Jianyang Prefecture seemed less grand under the hooves of the Immortal Ride at the Earth God Temple.

A clean carriage, using the Dimensional Compression technique, soon entered a small path, heading towards the distant lush green mountains.

The White Cloud Cave, occupying the central position among the three prefectures, was a manifestation of its noble status.

And the one who granted them this status was the Patriarch who had achieved the rank of Seventh Rank Official in the Immortal Court.

The Seventh Rank may not sound impressive, but it is already at the level of being a parent to the land, fundamentally different from the Earth Immortals like the Earth God.

These Celestial Officials typically hold some real power or can command the forces of nature in an area, unlike the Earth God who can only assist Divine Kingdom officials in governing the local populace.

When they can play a significant role, networking with each other, their influence grows, and it becomes a natural thing.

In short, they are not to be trifled with.

If one truly offends the White Cloud Patriarch, the trouble would be no less than offending the Qingmei Patriarch, that leisurely Taiyi Immortal.

"... "

Before reaching White Cloud Mountain, the carriage slowly came to a stop.

This was because three figures suddenly appeared ahead on the small path.

"Oh, even the Earth God's Immortal Ride is being used. Lord Meng is getting better at this."

The leader was a robust woman with a large build, dressed in purple, and a waist sash that cinched her waist into a gourd shape. The most eye-catching feature was the scar that ran from her brow to her jaw.

Behind her were two middle-aged men, one in black and the other in white, who looked like the two grim reapers at first glance.

The woman was not polite; she climbed onto the front of the carriage with the two men, holding the reins and smiling slyly. "Let me give it a try."

"Lord Shen, this is the Demon Slayer from Taihang Prefecture, named Mei Jiyao."

Meng Xiuwen stretched his arms and leaned lazily against the carriage.

With just one sentence, the woman with the surname Mei looked at him with some surprise, first nodding at Ye Jing, then turning her gaze to the ink-clad figure.

The fair and handsome face looked like a novice who had just left the cottage.

"Tsk."

Mei Jiyao glanced at Shen Yi but did not speak to him. Instead, she chatted with Meng Xiuwen: "I heard you were demoted, and it turns out it's true. But it seems General Yanlan is treating you well."

Despite committing a grave mistake and being demoted, he allowed a young man to temporarily take his place. It was just a formality, and the one truly in charge was still the man with the surname Meng.

"I knew you'd come."

Mei Jiyao withdrew her gaze and leaned against the carriage: "But this time, you've come in vain. I just received news that the Celestial Official descending today is also a Seventh Rank Immortal, just like the White Cloud Patriarch. It's not easy to cause trouble under the noses of such prominent figures!"

If they really took action, neither of the Demon Slayers would fear the White Rhino Seal.

But the problem was that the person was officially listed in the Immortal Register, and they were just ordinary mortals.

Most of these Celestial Officials, except for those with connections, had cultivation bases comparable to Sixth Rank at the very least.

"But since we're here, we might as well investigate. A few people from Bishui Prefecture have already gone ahead, so we'll just wait for news."

"... "

Meng Xiuwen quietly listened and then glanced apologetically at Shen Yi.

From start to finish, Mei Jiyao had not looked at Shen Yi directly, completely treating him as a novice in the Demon Slayer Bureau, which was somewhat impolite to another Demon Slayer.

But he couldn't help explain anything.

The Demon Slayer Bureau was a powerful force, unafraid to stand against the Three Teachings, meaning that anyone who dared to join was a desperado.

To gain recognition from such people, words were useless.

Take the two middle-aged men in black and white robes, for example; their experience far surpassed Shen Yi's, yet they could only sit quietly with their arms crossed, unable to interject.

Shen Yi shook his head lightly, indicating it was fine.

He didn't quite understand these things; to put it bluntly, he had never even heard of the names of these two great prefectures next door.

On the contrary, the actions of these Demon Slayers somewhat surprised him.

Even the Earth God of Jianyang Prefecture had said that this matter was outside the three prefectures. If it were any other power, they would likely shift the blame onto others, wishing someone else would handle it.

But these Demon Slayers had taken the initiative to rush over at the first opportunity.

Jianyang Prefecture was even considered slow; the other prefectures had already infiltrated.

"Brother Ma, hurry up. Counting the days, the Celestial Official will descend into the mortal realm by the end of the day."

Mei Jiyao softly urged, but it only earned her a glare from the black horse.

Even the mount of the Earth God was half-immortal, not something mortals could scrutinize.

...

At the end of the day, the sun hung high in the sky.

Near White Cloud Mountain, local cultivators had already gathered, and ordinary people who received the news had rushed over on horseback days ago.

The people of Shenzhou could treat cultivators with a peaceful mindset, not only because they lived long but also because they had extensive knowledge, which was an important reason.

If lucky, not to mention cultivators, they could see many genuine Heavenly Court officials in their lifetime.

Amidst a bustling crowd, a humble carriage quietly arrived, drawing little attention. As the appointed time arrived, a pleasant celestial sound emanated from behind the clouds, capturing the attention of everyone on the ground. The hanging sun in the sky suddenly dimmed, as a more dazzling golden light, like clouds and mist, unfurled beneath it.

A towering figure gradually emerged from the lofty clouds, surrounded by several Celestial Officials. This figure, over ten zhang tall, radiated with a golden glow, resembling a true divine being! As he gazed down upon the mortal world, all beings instinctively bowed in reverence.

Among them were the powerful cultivators atop White Cloud Mountain, including the old Sect Master who had reached the True Immortal Realm. At this moment, he was so excited that his face turned rosy. He lifted his robes and respectfully performed a grand bow.

"White Cloud Cave welcomes the arrival of the Celestial!"

This statement, amplified by the vast cultivation power, resonated like a bronze bell throughout the three prefectures.

Apart from expressing reverence for the Celestial, this was also an opportunity to intimidate other forces. White Cloud Cave still had direct access to the heavenly court and could receive rewards from the Celestial Court.

"This is a Holy Deity..."

The cultivators whispered among themselves, feeling it was quite rare.

It was said that the three major teachings jointly governed the Celestial Court, but in reality, there were distinctions among them.

Both the Triad Immortal Sect and the Bodhimanda Sect were composed of mortals who had gradually cultivated to higher levels. Although they were called divine beings, in the eyes of these cultivators, they were no different from themselves. The only difference was that their cultivation was stronger and their status was higher.

Seeing such Celestial Officials, they could barely muster some sense of heroism.

However, the Holy Deity Sect was different.

The beings within this sect were mostly primordial gods and demons born at the beginning of heaven and earth, with a few being created later. Consequently, the classification of immortals from the ninth to the first rank was based on them.

Even if their bodies were destroyed, as long as their true spirits remained, they could reassemble their divine bodies. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they were the embodiment of the heavenly laws and orders.

They were the epitome of fairness and justice.

The Holy Deity Sect was the most stable component of the Celestial Court.

T

However, there were rarely beings of the seventh rank in the Holy Deity Sect.

Witnessing a Holy Deity descending to the mortal realm was far more exciting than seeing several Celestial Officials.

As the Holy Deity took out the Imperial Edict and began to recite it, his deep voice reverberated around White Cloud Mountain, lingering for a long time.

Meanwhile, the carriage stopped by the roadside, its interior already empty.

In an inconspicuous corner of White Cloud Mountain.

"What's the matter? Are you envious?"

Mei Jiyao sighed and withdrew her gaze, smiling as she said, "You, Lord Meng, also want to go to heaven and plead?"

Meng Xiuwen silently stared at the figure above, pretending not to be envious. But from the moment he entered the Demon Slaying Bureau, he and his group were destined to be wandering ghosts in the dark, never to experience such a cool moment again.

He stared because this was a Holy Deity, immortal and indestructible. If the deity noticed any abnormalities, there was no way to conceal it.

This meant that their group had likely come in vain, and even if they discovered something, the only outcome would be anger, not any other result.

"..."

Although Mei Jiyao was teasing, she had been quietly observing the young man in black beside her.

Even Ye Jing, with her background, had a sister who was a genuine immortal who had obtained the Taiyi Dao Fruit. She had joined the Demon Slaying Bureau for other reasons.

When facing a Holy Deity, even she couldn't help but look again and again.

On the other hand, this young man remained remarkably calm, not once glancing up at the sky.

This temperament seemed to fit perfectly with the Demon Slaying Bureau.

The group waited for a moment.

Ripples appeared on the sect's Dharma Array.

A serene woman stepped forward, nodding at Mei Jiyao and Meng Xiuwen. "The head has roughly investigated the situation. Come and take a look, and we can discuss how to handle it."

After saying this, she took out a token, turned, and opened a path.

"Not bad! You've only been here a few days, and you've already obtained the Sect Array Token."

Meng Xiuwen clicked his tongue, looking at the young girl under her command, who was much stronger than the one he had brought.

Ye Jing clearly understood Meng Xiuwen's thoughts and pouted, feeling a little aggrieved as she glanced to the side.

"..."

Shen Yi followed, feeling that Meng Xiuwen should occasionally reflect on his own actions, especially after the Jade Dragon Sect incident.

His exaggerated acting was truly hard to evaluate.

The group followed the serene woman, effortlessly entering White Cloud Cave.

Perhaps everyone's attention was drawn to the majestic golden figure in the sky, as no one suspected that someone would dare to cause trouble under the watchful eyes of the Holy Deity. Even the defenses of White Cloud Cave seemed to relax.

After winding through several hills.

They finally reached a deep cliff deep within the inner gate of White Cloud Cave.

A man with a square face and short, stiff black beard sat on the cliff, his expression indifferent, overlooking a gigantic ancient tree with golden jade bark that resembled a monster, its branches and roots spreading like claws, gripping the mountain wall and occupying the entire abyss. The tree was enveloped in a thin layer of golden sand-like mud.

This was the annual offering to the Divine Kingdom at White Cloud Cave, and it was also an opportunity to gain favors from the Immortal Court in exchange for this treasure.

This item, when used in pill concoction, was an excellent ingredient for refining immortal pills, and it could also be used in treasure refinement, yielding decent results.

However, the yield wasn't particularly high.

"What's going on here?"

Mei Ji Yao quickly walked forward, and the black-bearded man turned around silently, glancing at the crowd before standing up and heading straight down the cliff.

Understanding the man's character, the rest of the group also took action, swiftly following him.

Only when they reached the bottom of the cliff did they discover that the enormous Golden Jade Ancient Tree had been transformed into something akin to a shrine hall, with lustrous jade bricks forming a luxurious path.

Perhaps the Celestial Official's visit had prompted them to temporarily close the doors, making it seem a bit deserted.

"What are you showing us?"

Meng Xiuwen casually looked around, not finding it unusual.

This matter, aside from the Demon Slayers, was common knowledge among cultivators of some caliber in the three prefectures.

White Cloud Cave would invite commoners born with the Yang Fire Constitution to come and pay respects to the Tree Deity. In addition to receiving favors, if they were lucky, they might even have the chance to join the sect.

The main purpose was to utilize the Yang Fire Constitution to help the Golden Jade Ancient Tree Immortal Treasure produce more sand.

How should one describe this situation?

It was a voluntary exchange where the commoners might sacrifice some of their lifespans but would receive tangible benefits in return. If they joined the sect, the loss of lifespan from sacrificing the Immortal Treasure could be easily regained.

Even if the Divine Kingdom tried to intervene, those commoners wouldn't agree.

Moreover, individuals with this constitution were already scarce.

In the local area, it was considered a fascinating topic.

"In recent years, the White Cloud Sect has developed a method to temporarily grant mortals a pseudo Yang Fire Constitution using Heaven's Materials. It can achieve the same effect as the real one."

The black-bearded man had clearly investigated this matter and calmly said, "The drawback is that this constitution will become ineffective within three to five months."

He slowly strolled forward and pushed open the majestic Tree Palace door.

After hearing these words, the crowd's expressions changed subtly. To make more effective use of this method, which required a hefty price but provided temporary benefits, there was only one path left to take.

It was a one-time, all-or-nothing deal.

The black-bearded man lightly moved his ten fingers and looked ahead.

Inside the vast and dim Tree Palace, the walls were covered with dense tree vines, and each vine had a skinny mummy hanging from it.

Every mummy wore an expression of reverence and ecstatic joy. Countless mummies stared fixedly downward with this bizarre expression, giving off a chilling sensation that sent shivers down one's spine.

In the past, only those with great fortune could obtain this constitution and then exchange it for favors and future prospects from the White Cloud Cave's Immortal Masters.

Now, they could acquire it themselves.

What a delightful surprise!

"Recently, the White Cloud Sect has been researching a method to temporarily grant mortals a pseudo Yang Fire Constitution using Heaven's Materials. It can achieve the same effect as the real one."

The black-bearded man had obviously done his research and calmly stated, "The drawback is that this constitution will become ineffective within three to five months."

He slowly strolled forward and pushed open the majestic Tree Palace door.

After hearing these words, the crowd's expressions changed subtly. To make more effective use of this method, which required a hefty price but provided temporary benefits, there was only one path left to take.

It was a one-time, all-or-nothing deal.

The black-bearded man lightly moved his ten fingers and looked ahead.

Inside the vast and dim Tree Palace, the walls were covered with dense tree vines, and each vine had a skinny mummy hanging from it.

Every mummy wore an expression of reverence and ecstatic joy. Countless mummies stared fixatedly downward with this bizarre expression, giving off a chilling sensation that sent shivers down one's spine.

In the past, only those with great fortune could obtain this constitution and then exchange it for favors and future prospects from the White Cloud Cave's Immortal Masters.

Now, they could acquire it themselves.

What a delightful surprise!

Meng Xiuwen opened his eyes, his expression dark as he suppressed his anger, then turned to look at Shen Yi beside him.

Upon hearing this, Mei Ji Yao and the other Demon Slayers, as well as the black-bearded man, all showed surprise.

If it was a dismissal in name but just a formality in practice.

Then these words didn't quite fit.

So...

Mei Ji Yao's expression turned peculiar as he looked at the young man before him again. Was this young man the actual Demon Slayer Official of Jianyang Prefecture?

Under everyone's gaze, Shen Yi glanced outside the hall.

A young disciple entered, trembling all over, his eyes fixed on the group. Instinctively, he turned to leave and wanted to shout.

Pfft!

However, just as he took a step forward, an invisible hand seemed to crush him from head to toe, and before he could even take a step, his entire body, from head to toe, turned into a pile of meat pulp in the blink of an eye! The group's expressions changed as they looked at the young man in the ink-colored robe with added surprise.

Shen Yi slowly retracted his palm, his fair face revealing no emotion.

He responded to Meng Xiuwen's question with a crisp and decisive action.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end