Delay May Cause Changes

"Young Master, I must also remind you that the entire town's airspace has been sealed by Jia Song and that ghostly creature. If you activate the Azure Blood Talisman within the town, its effect might be significantly reduced."

"It would be best if you could find a way to get outside the town before activating this talisman. Then, the golden light will shoot up into the sky, and the County Magistrate's office in the county city will be able to see it..."

Zhou Gang reminded him, rubbing the golden talisman in his hand, a hint of hesitation still lingering deep in his eyes.

"Mm, just infuse this talisman. As for when and where to activate it, I will handle that myself!"

Li Qingyun was slightly startled and nodded, acknowledging the information.

"Good, I hope Young Master keeps his word and protects my family!"

"Especially my eldest son, Zhou Heng. He has Dao Bone. If the situation truly becomes critical, Young Master, just take Heng'er with you..."

Zhou Gang's expression turned stern, regaining some of the commanding presence of a Commander.

He suddenly raised his hand and drew a line vertically across his forehead. As blood splattered, snap, he pressed the golden Azure Blood Talisman onto his brow.

Buzz!

Golden light flickered, and the talisman seemed to take root on Zhou Gang's forehead, frantically drawing on his blood, Mana, and everything else.

The power and effect of the golden talisman were astonishing, but for someone in the Qi Refining Realm to activate it would undoubtedly come at a great sacrifice!

"Although Zhou Gang failed to defend the town, he finally showed some of the spirit of a Commander in the end..."

Li Qingyun felt a pang of pity.

As he watched, Zhou Gang's body rapidly withered and dried up, his soul fire dimming, on the verge of extinguishing.

The so-called Azure Blood Talisman burns the Azure Blood of a local Dao official, a shepherd, transforming it into a golden light that shoots into the sky, capable of alerting those a thousand miles away!

The appearance of this talisman signifies extreme urgency, and potentially the death of a Dao official with "Dao Son potential," which would certainly attract high levels of attention.

No one would use it unless the situation was dire.

A quarter of an hour later, Zhou Gang's life force was extinguished, completing the Azure Blood Talisman.

He lay on the bed, skin and bones, his eyes wide with anger, his left hand pointing outside the room, filled with regret, unwillingness, and reluctance.

His final gesture was to remind Li Qingyun to protect his family.

Putting away the Azure Blood Talisman, Li Qingyun stood before Zhou Gang's corpse, silently paying his respects, and finally bowed deeply.

He walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.

"Zhou Gang's situation is special. Without Deputy Commander Jia's orders, no one is allowed in for the next few days, including his family!"

"Qin Qing," who was Li Qingyun, yelled at the two armored soldiers guarding the entrance.

The soldiers quickly acknowledged his command.

Under the cover of night, a lamp was still lit in a side room of the Zhou residence. Li Qingyun glanced over and saw Madam Zhou standing by the window, looking in his direction, appearing sorrowful and helpless.

"In this world, it's hard enough for ordinary people to survive..."

Li Qingyun sighed inwardly, his robes fluttering in the night breeze as he strode out of the Zhou residence.

Then, still in the guise of Qin Qing, he returned to the gloomy and dark Dao Division.

On the chilling corridor, his figure suddenly flickered, and he concealed himself in the shadows of a nearby rockery.

He heard the sound of air being broken ahead, and a familiar Daoist figure descended from the sky. His face was like old tree bark, his limbs stiff, and his aura was cold, yet tinged with the scent of blood. It was none other than that old scoundrel, Jia Song.

After landing, Jia Song wiped a smear of crimson from the corner of his mouth. His dim eyes seemed to gain a hint of brightness, and then he ambled unsteadily towards his residence, soon disappearing from Li Qingyun's sight.

"Qin Qing..."

From a distance, the old Daoist's voice calling for Qin Qing echoed.

Li Qingyun was secretly alarmed and quickly ran back to the side courtyard.

Back in his room, he dispelled his Illusionary Mana and resumed his original appearance.

The Big Black Cat, Yuanbao, who was lounging on the roof beam, lazily meowed.

It seemed to be greeting him: Master, you're finally back!

His return immediately drew the attention of Zhao Yifan, Chi Hui, and the two Daoists from Purple Gold Temple, who were also staying in the side courtyard. They all sent telepathic messages to inquire.

Zhao Yifan, who lived next door: "Junior Brother, how is it? I was worried sick just now!"

Chi Hui was even more impatient: "Fellow Daoist Li, did you see Commander Zhou? Can he still come out to take charge of the situation?"

Old Daoist Wang from Purple Gold Temple: "Fellow Daoist Li is young, but he possesses great skill. Your illusion techniques are almost god-like..."

Li Qingyun, who naturally sat down to meditate upon his return, still felt a heavy heart. "I saw him. Zhou Gang was ambushed by Jia Song and is under house arrest. We can no longer count on him. All the town's defense forces are in Jia Song's hands. But Zhou Gang gave me an item, and in doing so, he sacrificed himself! With this item, we can send out a message about this desperate situation and attract the attention of the Daoist Association in the surrounding counties and the prefecture!"

"That's wonderful!"

"Then let's report it quickly!"

"The various chivalrous Daoists trapped in the town are saved!"

The others were overjoyed, but they didn't ask much about Zhou Gang's sacrifice, nor did they seem to care much.

Li Qingyun pondered for a moment, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, and began to make arrangements without delay.

"Now that the arrow is on the string, any delay might lead to complications. By dawn, Zhou Gang will be dead, and my visit to the Zhou residence last night has likely been exposed. Jia Song and Tu Xiong will be alerted and will inevitably attack us and the townspeople preemptively!"

Later, I will awaken the Daoists and martial artists in the other courtyards. Daoist Chi, Daoist Wang, and Senior Brother Zhao, you will lead them. Keep an eye on the signal outside the town. Once you see a golden talisman light shoot up into the sky, immediately break out from the Daoist association together, then scatter and flee...

Chi Hui, Zhao Yifan, and Old Daoist Wang responded with solemn expressions.

Since the decision was made, each person went to prepare.

Li Qingyun once again transformed himself. His Illusionary Mana covered his body, making him appear old and sinister, his features resembling Jia Song's by about seventy to eighty percent.

But that was enough!

Jia Song was ruthless and cunning. Now that he controlled the town's military might, no one dared to stop or question him.

Since he had started, Li Qingyun decided to go all out!

Hesitation and indecision were the greatest taboos for cultivators!

"Yuanbao, follow behind me..."

Li Qingyun wasn't worried about the Big Black Cat at all.

Since it could come and go freely in the back mountains of Lingbao Temple, "attracting wealth and treasures," how could a mere town-level Daoist Association possibly pose a challenge to it!

Having transformed into Jia Song, Li Qingyun no longer needed to hide his actions.

His Mana flowed, his wide-sleeved Daoist robe billowed in the wind, and with a gentle leap, he brazenly flew into the air.

Just now, Jia Song had returned from outside and flown around the Dao Division so casually.

Among the swaying tree shadows, some soldiers were startled and immediately raised their crossbows to aim.

But in the dim night, upon vaguely seeing that it was Deputy Commander Jia, they were so terrified that they lowered their crossbows, thinking how fortunate they were not to have acted rashly, or they would have lost their lives!

Previously, several night-watch soldiers had seen Deputy Commander Jia flying through the town's residential area at night. Mistaking him for a demon, they had shot at him with their crossbows. Afterward, the Deputy Commander had called them over for a chat.

Then, a few days later, those men disappeared without a trace, their bones never found.

"Huh? Doesn't it feel like the Deputy Commander's flight isn't as graceful, and his posture is a bit strange?"

"Don't talk nonsense. Is he someone you can critique? Blind Zhang, don't get us killed..."

Some soldiers quietly voiced their doubts, only to be cursed by their companions.

These armored soldiers monitoring Li Qingyun and the others only practiced some heretical path techniques at most. How could they see through the difference between the real and fake Jia Song!

Their strength and speed were somewhat greater than ordinary people, and their blood energy was more vigorous, capable of startling wandering spirits.

Stronger soldiers wore thick armor, affixed talismans, and wielded powerful crossbows. Equipped and fighting in formation, they could battle demons and even threaten ordinary Qi Refining cultivators.