The Hall Quaked Under His Aura, a Crane Among Chickens

The Hall Quaked Under His Aura, a Crane Among Chickens

Jiang Sheng stood before the hall with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression calm and composed.

"Qingping Mountain Qi Cultivator Jiang Sheng greets you all, fellow Daoists."

Seeing that Jiang Sheng had truly appeared, quite a few Rogue Cultivators immediately became wary.

Jiang Sheng's visit this time was likely anything but friendly!

Jiang Sheng casually swept his gaze over the Qing Province cultivators in the county office.

"Weren't you fellow Daoists looking for this poor Daoist? I am standing right here. Whoever thinks I am merely fishing for fame, feel free to come and test me."

As soon as those words left his mouth, many Rogue Cultivators silently shut their mouths.

With Jiang Sheng absent, they could naturally talk nonsense as they pleased. The law did not punish the masses—so many people were gathered here, could Jiang Sheng truly kill them all?

But now Jiang Sheng himself stood before them, his Foundation Establishment cultivation plain to see. Among these Qi Cultivators, none of whom had even reached Foundation Establishment, who still dared say another word?

Seeing that no one spoke, Jiang Sheng smiled. It was like a spring breeze brushing across one's face, melting ice and snow, making Zhang Qing and Xu Xiao both unable to stop themselves from looking at him a few more times.

Even Xu Xiao, who had seen countless talented youths in Qing Province, felt her heart pound several times. It was not that she lacked experience; Jiang Sheng was simply too outstanding.

A handsome youth of not yet twenty stood there in a robe of azure Daoist garb. His entire bearing was otherworldly, like fresh and elegant plum blossoms and orchids, yet also like towering green pines and verdant cypresses.

Especially when Jiang Sheng had flown in and landed gracefully in the hall, all the Rogue Cultivator heroes present seemed to become mere backdrop. A crane standing among chickens was no more than this.

And who was the immortal crane soaring through the nine heavens, and who were the mediocre flock of chickens? Did it even need saying?

Wang Tianfang stood there awkwardly. He suddenly realized that not one of the cultivators who had been echoing his words just moments ago dared speak now.

Just now, he had merely wanted to win more people over to build up his own momentum, while incidentally currying favor with Young Master Kongxu.

Yet the moment Jiang Sheng appeared, his aura alone had suppressed all the Qing Province heroes in the hall until they were as silent as cicadas in winter.

Seeing the atmosphere turn awkward, one Rogue Cultivator hurriedly said with a smile, "Daoist Jiang, regarding this matter—"

"This fellow Daoist had best not speak."

As he spoke, Jiang Sheng glanced at the Rogue Cultivator, who had not even reached the eighth level of Qi Refinement, before turning his gaze back to Wang Tianfang. "Your name is Wang Tianfang?"

Wang Tianfang felt his scalp tingle beneath Jiang Sheng's gaze, but he still forced himself to remain calm. "I am Wang Tianfang. What business does Daoist Jiang have with me?"

"Fellow Daoist Wang said earlier that this poor Daoist regarded the heroes of Qing Province as nothing?" Jiang Sheng asked softly.

Though his voice was soft, it sounded like thunder exploding beside Wang Tianfang and the others' ears, startling their minds.

Wang Tianfang stammered, "I... I..."

Jiang Sheng suddenly smiled. "No need to say more. This poor Daoist understands."

Wang Tianfang let out a breath of relief, thinking the matter had been let go.

After all, no matter what, he was still a Foundation Establishment cultivator—a fighting force that could not be ignored.

With that thought, Wang Tianfang straightened the waist that had unconsciously bent somewhat.

That was right. He was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Jiang Sheng might dare make trouble for those Qi Refinement Rogue Cultivators, but would he really dare make trouble for a Foundation Establishment cultivator like him?

But Jiang Sheng continued, "Looking at it now, Fellow Daoist Wang was not entirely wrong."

"If the heroes of Qing Province are the lot this poor Daoist sees before him, then there is no need for me to go slaying demons and exterminating devils. It would only save those demons in the river from gaining a few more portions of blood food."

"Daoist Jiang! What do you mean by that?!" A Qi Refinement Rogue Cultivator rose to his feet and shouted angrily.

Another Foundation Establishment cultivator slammed his palm onto the table and stood up. "Daoist Jiang, do not think that being from Penglai allows you to look down upon heroes across the realm! Qing Province has countless heroes—how can we permit such contempt from you?!"

Yet Jiang Sheng remained utterly calm. "This poor Daoist has never looked down upon heroes across the realm. But neither do I think that people acting as you do can be called heroes."

Ignoring their accusations, Jiang Sheng looked toward Zhang Qingyun. "County Magistrate Zhang, when you invited heroes from throughout Qing Province, was this rabble what you invited?"

At these words, Young Master Kongxu could no longer sit still. Raising his teacup, he cast Jiang Sheng a sidelong glance, his voice somewhat effeminate. "This Daoist, could it be that you regard the heroes of Qing Province as nothing?"

"Indeed I do."

The moment Jiang Sheng said this, he completely enraged the Rogue Cultivators of Qing Province.

Though the Qi Refinement Rogue Cultivators still did not dare rise, every one of the Foundation Establishment Rogue Cultivators stood and demanded that Jiang Sheng give them an explanation.

After all that shouting, the county office looked even more like a gathering hall for sworn brothers of the martial world, noisy beyond measure.

Zhang Qingyun watched the Rogue Cultivators incessantly demanding an explanation from Jiang Sheng, then looked at the renowned cultivators beside him. He genuinely wanted to see just how capable Jiang Sheng truly was.

Jiang Sheng's attitude earlier had truly displeased Zhang Qingyun. If Jiang Sheng's abilities proved mediocre, then Zhang Qingyun would have to make other plans.

Zhang Qingyun said, "Daoist Jiang has long lived in seclusion in the mountains, but his abilities are extraordinary."

Wenren Jie laughed upon hearing that. "Extraordinary abilities? Then this is the perfect chance to see what this Daoist Jiang can do!"

Qiao Xuan leaned on a green bamboo cane with one hand and smoked a dry tobacco pipe with the other. "Indeed. It is not frightening to have ability; what is frightening is having none. This place is a mix of fish and dragons. If we can clear out those who merely make up the numbers, it will make the work afterward much easier."

Young Master Kongxu clearly shared the same sentiment.

These Rogue Cultivators, all famous throughout Qing Province, wanted to see exactly how much substance Jiang Sheng, who had been spoken of as though he possessed divine powers, truly had!

Only then did Zhang Qingyun understand that these few had already reached an unspoken agreement. As it happened, he had the same intention, so he quietly watched the show as well.

"No need for further words. All of you may come at me together. Let this poor Daoist see just how much the heroes of Qing Province truly weigh."

The moment Jiang Sheng spoke those words, reconciliation was no longer possible.

Rogue Cultivators did not easily come into conflict with one another, but Jiang Sheng had practically trampled upon everyone's faces.

Even clay figurines had three parts anger, let alone these Rogue Cultivators who had fought and clawed their way up the path?

Moreover, they had strength in numbers. A whole group against one man—no matter how they looked at it, there was no possibility of defeat.

Thus, these Rogue Cultivators did not hold back. Several Foundation Establishment cultivators attacked without hesitation, opening with their fiercest techniques!

For a time, wind blades, golden needles, and fireballs swept toward Jiang Sheng like a canopy covering the sky, as though the spells filling the air would drown him whole.

At the same time, the ground split apart, and vines surged beneath the earth, seeking to bind Jiang Sheng in place.

One could tell from their attacks alone that these people possessed considerable practical combat experience, and their coordination was especially seamless.

The vines beneath the ground were meant to restrain Jiang Sheng's movements, while the wind blades, fireballs, and golden needles filling the sky seemed like feints meant to draw his attention, yet each truly carried lethal force.

Above and below, before and behind, they sealed off Jiang Sheng's movements.

Qiao Xuan, Wenren Jie, and Young Master Kongxu all looked toward the courtyard.

Even they would have needed to proceed carefully against the combined assault of so many Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement cultivators, yet Jiang Sheng had acted so arrogantly.

Now, with these Foundation Establishment cultivators joining forces, Jiang Sheng's room to maneuver had already been sealed shut.

Speaking honestly, even they could only avoid the sharp edge first and seek another method afterward. Did Jiang Sheng have any other choice?

But if Jiang Sheng truly could deal with it, would that not mean that they Rogue Cultivators of Qing Province truly were nothing but mediocre people?

For a moment, even these renowned Foundation Establishment Rogue Cultivators of Qing Province felt conflicted.

Compared with these Rogue Cultivators, Xu Xiao and Zhang Qing were somewhat more worried for Jiang Sheng.

They truly did not want to watch such a handsome young cultivator die here for nothing.

Yet Jiang Sheng had humiliated the Rogue Cultivators of Qing Province from beginning to end in the most placid tone. This man's tongue was truly venomous.

And by looking down on Qing Province cultivators so openly, he was clearly not placing their Moon-Embracing Sect in his eyes either.

Could Jiang Sheng, this Daoist from Penglai, truly possess some means of dealing with this?

Unlike the complicated emotions of the onlookers, the cultivators who had attacked were already overjoyed.

Their sudden offensive was difficult even for late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators to withstand. How could Jiang Sheng possibly block it?

The ground trembled. The blue bricks paving the county office courtyard were sent flying by vines bursting from the earth. The green vines were incomparably tough, binding Jiang Sheng layer upon layer.

The wind blades were sharp, the fireballs explosive, the golden needles pointed—every spell was deadly.

The instant the green vines bound Jiang Sheng, those spells came whistling in, swallowing him in the blink of an eye.

For a moment, all manner of techniques erupted where Jiang Sheng stood. Firelight scattered in every direction, and smoke swirled through the air.

Seeing the Foundation Establishment cultivators place Jiang Sheng in mortal danger with a single exchange, some Qi Refinement Rogue Cultivators were overjoyed.

"The heroes of Qing Province truly are extraordinary! Look—once those Foundation Establishment seniors attacked, Jiang Sheng already gave up struggling!"

"Exactly! Where did he get the confidence to look down on us Qing Province cultivators like this? This time, he is likely to fall right here!"

"To witness a Foundation Establishment cultivator fall before our very eyes is an opportunity for us as well."

They chattered all at once, and even the Foundation Establishment cultivators who had launched the assault felt that they had already successfully killed Jiang Sheng.

Yet from within the smoke and firelight came Jiang Sheng's clear voice once more. "My fellow Daoists of Qing Province do indeed have some skill."

"Unfortunately, if you wish to harm this poor Daoist, you are still lacking a little heat."

The moment those words were spoken, everyone's expressions changed. What?!

Could Jiang Sheng be completely unharmed?!

The wind rose!

For no apparent reason, a wind suddenly came from the west before the county office hall.

At first it was a mild, gentle breeze. Then it grew increasingly fierce, and within a few breaths, a wild gale was howling!

When the wind blew away every spark and wisp of smoke before the hall, everyone saw Jiang Sheng standing exactly where he had been, completely unharmed. He had not even moved a single step!

Neither the jade crown atop his head nor the azure robe upon his body bore the slightest trace of smoke or fire.

Yet the blue bricks around him had shattered beyond recognition.

Smooth, even fragments left by the cutting wind blades, scorch marks from exploding fireballs, dense holes pierced by golden needles—countless marks from all kinds of spells crisscrossed one another, yet all of them stopped three inches from Jiang Sheng.

Jiang Sheng stood with his hands behind his back and cast a calm glance around him. His bearing was like an abyss still as deep waters and mountains standing firm, chilling the hearts of the Rogue Cultivators who had attacked by half.

They had already joined forces in perfect coordination and attacked by surprise, believing they could take Jiang Sheng down. Yet Jiang Sheng had emerged completely unscathed!