Li Xuan stood in the courtyard. It was his first time coming to a bustling place, and he was filled with emotion. Since crossing into this world, today was the first time he had truly stepped into it.
Night fell.
The streets of Yunshan County gradually emptied, returning to silence.
At that moment, the county office of Yunshan County was crowded with the county magistrate, the county lieutenant, and the chief registrar. Even the beggar and the peddler were there.
The person seated in the principal seat was not the county magistrate, but an old man dressed in coarse hemp clothes.
"We've found out everything. The wealthy man who entered the city was Xu Junhe's foolish son and his master."
The beggar spoke with a strange expression.
"Xu Yan? That young man is his master? That's impossible!"
The county magistrate wore a look of astonishment.
"In the past, the Reclusive Masters Xu Junhe's foolish son sought out were all spry old men. This young man is only a few years older than him..."
He could not understand what method that young man had used to trick Xu Yan into becoming his disciple.
The hemp-clad old man seated in the principal seat spoke. "Xu Junhe is stubborn and benighted. He possesses immense wealth yet knows nothing of pity for the common people. Not only did he refuse to join my Tianmu Cult, he even arrested our followers and handed them over to the authorities.
"His son is here, which is just what our cult needs.
"Later, use the great righteousness of our cult to enlighten his master and have him join our cult wholeheartedly."
The county magistrate nodded. "The Protector speaks wisely!"
The hemp-clad old man rose and said, "Keep your eyes on Donghe Commandery. Our grand plan cannot afford any mistakes. Trouble is about to come knocking on Xu Junhe's door. If he yields, we can save him."
"Rest assured, Protector. With Military Advisor Kou presiding over the situation in Donghe Commandery, we will certainly succeed in taking it."
The beggar spoke with a look of reverence.
"Mm!"
The hemp-clad old man nodded. Military Advisor Kou was the Tianmu Cult's strategist. With him stationed there, success was assured.
"Come with me to enlighten that brat Xu Yan's master and bring him into our cult!"
"Yes!"
The county magistrate and the others followed the hemp-clad old man out of the county office.
In the courtyard, Xu Yan was cultivating while Li Xuan sat in a chair, holding a book and reading.
It was a popular storybook from Qi Kingdom that he had asked someone to buy.
He was very curious why his foolish disciple Xu Yan had become convinced that there were incomparably powerful martial arts in the world after reading storybooks.
He had gone everywhere searching for masters to become his teacher.
"The Heavenly Mother shows mercy, bringing salvation to all. Worship the Heavenly Mother and escape the sea of suffering; in your next life, you'll enjoy great wealth and honor..."
The voice rang out on the silent street. Accompanying the chant was the sound of bells, while footsteps approached from the end of the street.
"May the Heavenly Mother bless us!"
"May the Heavenly Mother bless us!"
All of a sudden, the neighbors on both sides, and countless commoners throughout the street, opened their doors and prayed devoutly.
Clink!
The sound of metal striking the ground rang out repeatedly.
Li Xuan heard it clearly and could confirm that it was the sound of copper coins being scattered across the ground.
"The Heavenly Mother goes on procession, delivering sinners from their guilt and aiding the virtuous. There is no evil beneath the heavens..."
The bells drew closer, their sound growing crisp and clear. Li Xuan wore a peculiar expression. Was the procession coming for him?
No!
It was coming for Xu Yan.
At that moment, Xu Yan had already stopped cultivating, an unhappy look appearing on his face.
"Disciple, what's going on?"
Li Xuan asked.
"Master, they're charlatans from the Tianmu Cult."
Xu Yan spoke angrily.
"The Tianmu Cult?"
Li Xuan was startled. Was it an evil cult within Qi Kingdom?
"Yes, Master. The Tianmu Cult was branded by the imperial court as a demonic heretical sect, a rebellious cult. It has been hunted down constantly, yet never destroyed.
"It has been hunted down in Wu Kingdom as well, not just Qi Kingdom.
"The Tianmu Cult has stirred up several rebellions, but none succeeded. The last rebellion was twenty years ago. After being crushed, the cult weakened, and there have hardly been any public efforts to spread its teachings..."
The Tianmu Cult was an ancient sect. Its origins stretched back to the previous dynasty, and since Qi Kingdom was founded, it had rebelled more than ten times.
The Qi Kingdom imperial court regarded it as a thorn in its eye and a stab in its flesh, yet despite repeated campaigns against it, they could never destroy it completely. After some time, it would return in force.
The same was true in Wu Kingdom.
The Tianmu Cult worshiped the so-called "Heavenly Mother" and widely preached that worshiping her could free one from the sea of suffering and bring great wealth and honor in the next life.
Whenever the Tianmu Cult caused unrest, a group of fearless followers would appear, shouting that their souls would return to the Heavenly Mother's embrace, escape the mortal world's sea of suffering, and enjoy great wealth and honor in their next lives!
They feared neither death nor danger, and had inflicted considerable casualties on the Qi Kingdom army several times.
The Tianmu Cult had never lacked followers. Even though the imperial court strictly prohibited it, it still could not be eradicated. This was especially true in places struck by famine and disaster, where the common people were even more inclined to worship the Tianmu Cult.
"The Tianmu Cult's people like to rob others' money, then give it as alms to some impoverished commoners and win their devotion.
"They've even looted county offices and opened the granaries to distribute grain.
"However, the Tianmu Cult has been dormant for nearly twenty years. At least, since I was born, I've never heard of the Tianmu Cult publicly touring anywhere and broadly spreading its teachings..."
Xu Yan spoke with some confusion.
Li Xuan was astonished. This Tianmu Cult had a hint of the White Lotus Sect about it. Moreover, since it was strictly forbidden by Qi Kingdom, it should have been an object of extermination.
Why was it publicly touring Yunshan County and preaching its teachings?
Yunshan County had probably already fallen under the Tianmu Cult's secret control.
The people in the county either believed in the cult or were members of it.
"Yunshan County has probably already been controlled by the Tianmu Cult."
Li Xuan said with a smile.
Xu Yan froze, then suddenly thought of something. "Doesn't that mean the shops my family owns in Yunshan have already been taken over by the Tianmu Cult? Have they already become followers of the Tianmu Cult?"
"Master, it seems they're coming this way."
Listening to the gradually approaching sounds, it was obvious they were headed straight here.
"How outrageous! They stole my family's shops, and now they're disturbing my cultivation late at night. This disciple will go drive them away."
Xu Yan spoke furiously.
"No hurry. Let them come. We might as well treat it as a bit of entertainment."
Li Xuan said with a chuckle.
He had only just emerged from his mountain nook, so he found all these matters of the outside world quite interesting.
"Yes, Master!"
Seeing this, Xu Yan replied respectfully.
He sighed inwardly. Master's state of mind is truly extraordinary. Is he playing with the world? This must be the mindset of a true master!
The footsteps stopped outside the courtyard gate. The bells swayed rhythmically, and a voice rang out.
"The Heavenly Mother shows mercy, bringing salvation to all. Virtuous sir, would you be willing to contribute your strength for the sake of all living beings?"
The voice was thunderous, yet gathered and unwavering.
Li Xuan raised an eyebrow. The person who spoke was no ordinary man. Could this be a First-rate Jianghu Expert?
Indeed, just as Xu Yan had said, they were too weak!
To him and Xu Yan, the speaker was very weak, but to ordinary people, he was a powerful expert.
Xu Yan frowned beside him and said, "A Peak Jianghu Expert? Why does the Tianmu Cult in Yunshan County have such a Jianghu expert? Could this place be the Tianmu Cult's headquarters?"
Li Xuan was utterly astonished. He had thought the person who spoke was a First-rate Jianghu Expert, but it turned out he was a Peak Jianghu Expert?
The martial strength of Qi Kingdom's Jianghu was far too low.
"This is a Peak Jianghu Expert? He's so weak!"
Li Xuan spoke with a speechless expression.
"Master, they only practice mundane martial arts, so their strength is limited. A Peak Jianghu Expert is someone who has cultivated Internal Energy. Judging from the sound of his voice, he's clearly stimulating it with Internal Energy..."
Xu Yan explained.
"Internal Energy?"
Li Xuan was somewhat curious.
What was this Internal Energy? Why was it so weak?
"It's just a kind of force that bursts forth. Its power isn't very strong, roughly equivalent to the initial Bone Refining stage? Perhaps the early Iron Bone stage?"
Xu Yan spoke with some uncertainty.
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