God Worshipping Sect

On the main street, Jiang Ning's gaze suddenly sharpened as he looked ahead.

Ahead was a procession beating gongs and drums.

"Eldest Brother, what is this?" Doubt showed in Jiang Ning's eyes.

Jiang Li gave it a brief look. Upon spotting a familiar symbol, he said, "These should be the God Worshipping Sect's followers among the common folk. They're going to the City God Temple to worship deities and pray for blessings."

Jiang Ning's expression immediately turned startled. "The God Worshipping Sect? Isn't the God Worshipping Sect something the Yamen is suppressing and killing? How can they be going to the City God Temple to offer worship and pray for blessings?"

Jiang Li shook his head. "I'm not sure either. According to the orders from above, ordinary believers are to be left alone. The task is to suppress and kill the God Worshipping Sect's followers."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning could not help shaking his head inwardly.

How could the God Worshipping Sect possibly be kept down this way? Such indulgence would only make it grow ever more rampant.

He understood the immense power of churches better than anyone.

History from his previous life had already demonstrated the power of churches countless times.

Whether it was the Yellow Turban Rebellion that swept through the late Eastern Han Dynasty, or the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement at the end of the Qing Dynasty, both displayed the terrifying force of churches.

Even in that civilized, technologically advanced society, the distant West still had the world's largest religion, along with countless fanatics.

In this world, perhaps one where deities had once existed and extraordinary powers existed as well, every church would become even more terrifying. Their ability to gather hearts and strength would multiply.

Jiang Ning did not believe that the Three Great Families of Luoshui County and the County Magistrate were unaware of the dangers of indulging the God Worshipping Sect like this.

At this moment, he became even more certain of his previous judgment and the information revealed by Xu Yunfeng's words.

Luoshui County was clearly a struggle between a Dragon Crossing the River and a Local Snake.

Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law's family, as well as himself, had all been swept into this struggle.

He did not dare place the slightest hope in the County Magistrate's loyalty and righteousness. Thus, he understood that if he wanted to escape this vortex, he had to find a third party.

Wang Dutou, stationed outside Luoshui County, was that third party. Holding Military Power in his hands, he had the foundation to sit on the sidelines and watch the fight.

If he wanted to borrow his Momentum to escape this vortex while saving Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law's family, then he could only rely on Wang Jin's connections at Canglang Martial Hall.

Both men bore the surname Wang and were related by blood.

As long as he passed Canglang Martial Hall's test and became a true disciple of the Martial Arts Hall, he would be qualified to borrow that Momentum.

I only hope the Panel is miraculous enough! he muttered inwardly.

Soon afterward, the two brushed past the procession of God Worshipping Sect followers and headed straight along the broad avenue toward the Inner City.

Half an Hour later, thanks to Jiang Li's identity as a Constable, the two passed through the Enclosing Wall separating the Inner City and the Outer City without obstruction and entered Luoshui County's Inner City.

In Luoshui County, there was a distinction between the Inner City and the Outer City. The Outer City was generally inhabited by commoners such as Vendors and Pawns, and its public order was rather chaotic.

The Inner City was different. Its walls, five zhang high, divided the Inner and Outer Cities into two separate worlds.

Those living in the Inner City were either rich or noble, and its public order far surpassed that of the Outer City. Canglang Martial Hall was located there.

The moment he entered the Inner City, Jiang Ning felt as though he had arrived in a new world.

Towering, thick trees and flowerbeds blooming in brilliant profusion lined both sides of the roads that stretched in every direction.

Even the air carried a faint floral fragrance. The roads were clean and broad enough for five Carriages to travel abreast.

"To Canglang Martial Hall!"

The two got into a Carriage, and Jiang Li took out ten copper coins and spoke to the driver.

"Yes, sir!" The driver bowed and nodded.

The next moment, the Carriage sped through the Inner City with the two of them inside.

It was not until One Incense Stick later that the Carriage slowly came to a halt before a large compound.

Canglang Martial Hall.

One look at the four large characters overhead and the size of the buildings before them was enough to leave no doubt about this Martial Arts Hall's strength.

The Inner City was a place where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.

The fact that Jiang Li had struggled for so many years yet still failed to move his entire family into the Inner City showed just how outrageous the prices here were.

Yet Canglang Martial Hall occupied an enormous tract of land at a glance. The Enclosing Wall at its very front alone stretched fifty or sixty meters.

"Stop there!"

The moment the two approached, two burly men stationed on either side of the gate raised their hands to block them.

"Please report this. Jiang Li has come with his younger brother as agreed to pay a visit," Jiang Li said with cupped hands.

The two men at the entrance immediately gave Jiang Li a look. Even after seeing the constable's uniform he wore, their expressions remained indifferent, showing none of the fear ordinary commoners had upon seeing a government officer.

Then, one of them turned and headed into the Martial Arts Hall.

A moment later.

The man who had gone inside strode back out.

"Hall Master Wang said that only your younger brother may enter."

Hearing this, Jiang Li nodded. "Understood!"

Then he looked at Jiang Ning. "Little Brother, I've already paid your apprenticeship fee in advance. After you enter, Hall Master Wang will teach you martial arts. But whether you can pass the test and become a true disciple of Canglang Martial Hall will depend entirely on yourself!"

Jiang Ning nodded. "Rest assured, Eldest Brother! I will definitely become a true disciple of the Martial Arts Hall."

Their conversation fell clearly into the ears of the two men guarding the Martial Arts Hall gate.

Upon hearing this, both men showed faintly disdainful expressions.

Other than that, they said nothing.

After all, this was something they had long grown accustomed to.

During their time guarding the gates, they had seen who knew how many ambitious youths enter Canglang Martial Hall with hopes and dreams.

Before entering the Martial Arts Hall, who was not brimming with confidence?

Nearly all of them were children of wealthy families from the Inner City, and there was no shortage of direct descendants from great clans.

After all, the poor pursued scholarship, while the rich practiced martial arts. Martial arts were a pastime for the wealthy.

Who among them did not have abundant resources behind them? They had been nourished with precious medicinal herbs since childhood, possessed exceptional Bone Constitutions, and were naturally able to travel farther than ordinary people upon the Martial Path.

Yet even now, only so many had truly become disciples of Canglang Martial Hall.

It was difficult enough for the children of wealthy families and great clans to pass the test and become disciples of Canglang Martial Hall, much less this youth before them, who was plainly born into an ordinary household.

For an ordinary household, producing even the apprenticeship fee was exceedingly difficult.

After all, it was One Hundred Taels of silver—enough for a well-off family of three to five to live on.

And that was merely the registration fee. There would be even more expenses involved in martial arts training later on.

Not to mention anything else, daily meat was a basic household staple for martial artists. Without consuming meat, they would sooner or later train their bodies into ruin.

Thus, they did not think highly of this somewhat thin youth in the slightest.

"Come with me!" one of the burly men said to Jiang Ning.

Then.

After watching Jiang Ning disappear through the side entrance of Canglang Martial Hall, Jiang Li left with peace of mind.