Old Xu would never know just how mysterious the refined Dharma seal was.
Bai Yujun brushed the wood chips from her dress, narrowed her eyes, handed the knife to the Lynx Cat, and pointed with her chin toward where the Land God Temple had once stood.
"Where's the Land God here?"
At that, Old Daoist Xu gave up pondering the Dharma seal, his face full of helplessness.
"The nearby villages have all been like this these past few years. They've torn down the Mountain God and Land God temples, even demolished the Ancestral Halls, and put their faith in the New God."
"The one worshipped in the towns? It has even infiltrated the countryside?"
Bai Yujun had not expected the spread to be so severe. They even dared to demolish Ancestral Halls. This was no longer merely a fight for faith; they had begun openly competing with the imperial court for power. It was rebellion. If allowed to spread unchecked, turmoil would inevitably follow.
There was no helping it. Too many people were easily hoodwinked by words, while the few who remained clear-headed could not hold out for long and would eventually be forced to join them.
"You may not know this, Fairy, but wealthy households are funding them heavily behind the scenes, greasing palms above and below, eating both black and white."
Even Old Xu, who drifted about the countryside, knew of this. One could imagine just how deep the waters ran.
Bai Yujun picked up a twig and drew a circular phoenix emblem on the ground.
"Have you seen this?"
Old Xu tugged his beard and thought carefully before nodding.
"I have. It was on the carriages of great clans that went to the villages doing good deeds in the New God's name. Bright red."
That settled it.