Asking the Gods

Li Qing Feng slowly regained consciousness.

Dim yellow light, dark surroundings.

A smell of old decay lingered.

A strong scent of alcohol mixed with the smell of fresh earth.

Taking a deep breath, it carried an indescribable, fermented fragrance.

"Where is this?"

Li Qing Feng climbed up from the wooden board, his eyes still filled with confusion and tension.

He remembered collapsing.

And it was during a battle.

Frantically, he didn't know what he was looking for, just grabbing everything around him.

Seeing the Venerable Soul Banner standing quietly beside him, Li Qing Feng finally let out a sigh of relief.

In a short time, he had lost a lot.

If he lost the Venerable Soul Banner as well, he would likely never have the chance for revenge in this life.

The Sword Hairpin was not lost, and the Storage Talisman was still securely tucked in the inner pocket of his clothes.

Pushing open the stone slab in front of him, Li Qing Feng realized that he was in the cellar of his own home.

However, it wasn't the shallow part, but sealed inside a half-human-high cavity.

The entrance to the cavity was blocked by a white stone slab.

Inside the cellar were compacted earth blocks and neatly arranged, flat granite stones.

Wealthy families generally had such places, either for storing gold and silver treasures or for aging wine.

In times of war, the stored grain could even save lives.

Or one could wait in the cellar until the marauding soldiers had passed before coming out.

Clearly, Li Qing Feng's family cellar wasn't large, only used for storing some wine.

Inside the cavity, traces of large claws could be seen.

He didn't need to think to know that Ghost Brother must have brought him back, dug out a place for him to hide, and concealed him within.

Tu Shan Jun had no other option.

At that time, Li Qing Feng's remaining Magic Power was insufficient to support their return to the Mountain God Temple.

They could only stop nearby.

The most dangerous place was the safest place.

The Li Family had been raided and destroyed, and the people from the Prefectural Manor hadn't discovered this small secret room. Those people would absolutely not imagine they would return to this place.

Regardless of how the Prefectural Manor discovered the Li Family, just looking at Zhang Wan Long's reaction at the time, he might not have recognized Li Qing Feng.

Just like the newly appointed Advisor also didn't recognize Li Qing Feng immediately.

In Tu Shan Jun's view, this matter was full of doubts.

Tears flowed like a spring, Li Qing Feng held the Venerable Soul Banner and cried silently.

Large teardrops fell onto the surface of the Soul Banner.

He didn't dare to make a sound.

Even in the dark cellar, he still couldn't make a sound.

The soldiers who had sealed the Prefecture City were like vultures and hunting dogs that could smell decaying flesh.

Any unusual movement would be detected by them.

These people rarely thought about what was right or wrong; executing orders had become an instinct.

High officials and generous salaries, tempting benefits, were the carrots that drove them forward.

They ran tirelessly.

Chasing.

Li Qing Feng knelt on the ground, his body trembling, holding the Venerable Soul Banner and wailing uncontrollably.

Even though his face was contorted and terrifying, there was not a single sound.

Snot and tears mixed with dirt stained his clothes and his once handsome face, which was now covered in bloodstains.

Tu Shan Jun, residing within the Venerable Soul Banner, touched his remaining single eye.

He wasn't good at comforting people.

Life had to go on.

Sometimes, you had to bear it yourself.

Li Qing Feng cried until he was exhausted, or perhaps he was already physically weak, and he fell unconscious again.

He clutched the Venerable Soul Banner tightly, as if grasping at his last straw of hope.

Wind and clouds swept through, the distant sun hanging high.

Li Qing Feng entered the dream world again.

At the peak of a high mountain.

He wore a scholar's robe of green, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably.

Still silent.

Seeing the Master Soul Evil Ghost within the Venerable Soul Banner again, Li Qing Feng dropped to his knees with a thud, his head hitting the ground.

"Ghost Brother, I want revenge."

"Help me."

"I beg you."

Li Qing Feng trembled, prostrating himself on the ground, his eyes tightly shut.

Tu Shan Jun was at a loss, his face filled with shock and surprise.

He hesitated slightly.

It wasn't hesitation about whether or not to help Li Qing Feng.

They were in the same boat, sharing the same fate.

He just hadn't expected Li Qing Feng to do this.

Scholar-officials had their pride; they believed a man's knees were worth gold.

Scholars were even more unyielding.

Li Qing Feng, being a Cultivated Talent, was undoubtedly proud as well.

He also had reason to be arrogant, because being able to become a Cultivated Talent at his age definitely put him among the outstanding.

In the future, he would become a Provincial Graduate, an Imperial Scholar, or even a Palace Graduate.

Becoming a General or Prime Minister, governing the country and securing the state, leaving a name in history.

Finally, bringing a perfect conclusion to his life.

Today, however, he knelt before ghosts and gods.

Begging ghosts and gods to help him get revenge.

Not asking the common people, but asking ghosts and gods.

Perhaps this was the last resort after being utterly helpless.

Tu Shan Jun helped Li Qing Feng up.

His crimson ghost eyes had long since hidden all emotions.

He said nothing, simply placed a hand on Li Qing Feng's shoulder.

He patted it.

It was as if a dam had broken.

Li Qing Feng began to laugh, his eyes narrowing into crescents, yet the tears streaming down wouldn't stop.

It seemed no matter how much he wiped, they kept flowing.

To get revenge, he would need to advance at least one more layer, perhaps even two.

After absorbing the Sha Qi-heavy Living Soul Yin Ghosts of fifty-two Black-Armored Soldiers, as well as the Living Soul of the new Advisor, the Venerable Soul Banner now contained one hundred and five Yin Soul Ghost Creatures.

Although the quality varied, they had managed to gather roughly a Hundred Ghosts.

Tu Shan Jun's strength had also advanced further.

Of course, he was still far from breaking through to the Sixth Layer of strength; these unranked Yin Soul Ghost Creatures were far from enough to allow him to improve again.

After this battle, he was severely injured and urgently needed Sha Qi Living Souls to Repair his Ghost Body.

That Young Immortal Master was still stationed at the Prefectural Manor.

The Black-Armored Soldiers in the Prefectural Manor were not to be trifled with; once Li Qing Feng appeared, he would attract a Military Formation siege.

Ordinary Yin Soul Ghost Creatures wouldn't dare approach a Military Formation.

They would be instantly shattered by the dense Sha Qi; the only one who could be of use was Zhao Shi Xian's Living Soul.

But if that Qi Condensation Third Layer Yin Soul were released again, the burden on Li Qing Feng would be immense.

He wouldn't be able to last long at all.

Even at his peak, Li Qing Feng could only support Tu Shan Jun in battle for twenty to thirty breaths.

Trying to bypass that Young Immortal Master's defense in such a short time.

It wasn't completely impossible, but it was very difficult, unless the opportunity was seized exceptionally well.

But looking at that person's response, it was clear that person wouldn't allow Li Qing Feng to kill Zhang Wan Long.

The young Immortal Master protected Eight Directions Prefecture City and slew demons and ghosts, but he couldn't slay the Prefect himself, nor would he allow others to do so.

That's why that person was willing to exchange injuries just to wound Tu Shan Jun and defeat Li Qing Feng.

Li Qing Feng was also severely injured and needed time to recover.

In short, it all came down to strength.

After sleeping for an unknown amount of time, Li Qing Feng woke up again.

He was no longer crying.

He took out wound medicine from his Storage Talisman, using it internally and externally, and bandaged his wounds tightly.

He ate some dry rations and drank water.

Li Qing Feng's pale complexion regained some vitality.

Just as old wounds were healing, new ones appeared.

The wounds were complex, resulting in excessive blood loss.

He needed time to recover.

Drawing upon his Magic Power, he took out a Yin Soul Pill. Li Qing Feng looked at the egg-sized Soul Pill in his hand, his expression resolute, and swallowed it.

The pure spiritual energy transformed into roaring Magic Power, which he absorbed completely.

The ability evolved from the High-Grade Magic Tool, the Venerable Soul Banner, was evident.

Just as Tu Shan Jun had thought, the most dangerous place was the safest. Few soldiers or military personnel set foot in the sealed-off Li Family residence.

The supplies in the Storage Talisman could last for some time, so Li Qing Feng didn't need to move.

Being within the Prefecture City, he could also gather information.

As long as Li Qing Feng wasn't seen by the Guardian Immortal Master, he wouldn't be detected as a Qi Cultivator.

Another five days passed.

Qi Condensation Second Layer.

However, Li Qing Feng's injuries showed no sign of recovering.