Xuan Yun Invites the Immortal

"Oh, isn't this the master of Fu Luan Temple?"

"In front of the County Lieutenant, why are you being so secretive and afraid to speak plainly?"

"I think this old ox-nose is bragging and got caught, and is now trying to cover it up!"

When the crowd saw it was Fu Luan's old Daoist priest, they were overjoyed, and quite a few people started to mock and tease him.

In their eyes, forget whether Magistrate Qin was killed by the Headless Ghost.

Even if there was a Headless Ghost, it wasn't something that Fu Luan Temple, a decaying temple as ephemeral as smoke, could subdue.

Among them were also those who were just going through the motions, not believing in ghosts and spirits at all.

In their opinion, Fu Luan Temple's statement was more like an unfalsifiable lie!

"My unworthy disciple spoke carelessly, I apologize for the amusement of everyone."

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest, who had been cautious his entire life, was extremely embarrassed. He quickly bowed to everyone, wishing he could kill his proud, troublesome disciple.

Whether others believed his words or not?

If they believed that the patriarch could subdue the Headless Ghost, then it was possible he could have used the Headless Ghost to kill Magistrate Qin.

This was like mud falling into one's pants; whether it was shit or not, it was still shit.

Now, Fu Luan's old Daoist priest just wanted to get past this incident as quickly as possible, even if he became a laughingstock.

Unexpectedly, just as he wanted to calm the situation, County Lieutenant Qiao's eyes suddenly lit up, and he said loudly:

"A child's words are innocent, Master Daoist, you don't need to mind! However, what the Daoist boy said, is it true?"

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest's expression froze, unsure how to answer.

If he denied it, it would be equivalent to betraying his ancestors!

If he admitted it, how would he prove it?

What if they couldn't find the murderer in Qingshui County and used his Fu Luan Temple to appease the public's anger?

Thinking of this, Fu Luan's old Daoist priest felt his vision darken, and he resolutely decided to feign unconsciousness to avoid answering.

Unexpectedly, Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy became even more spirited upon hearing this:

"Of course! I personally saw my patriarch descend from the nine heavens, clad in divine radiance and stepping on auspicious clouds, to appear and bestow upon me the Ghost Subduing Talisman! He personally told me that the Headless Ghost has already been subdued by him."

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest's heart stopped, and he almost fainted and died.

It's over, it's over, it's over!!!

As expected, as soon as Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy finished speaking, someone immediately jumped out.

"What a divine descent! Those who don't know would think the patriarch of Fu Luan Temple has achieved enlightenment and ascended!" A wandering martial artist from the jianghu sneered coldly.

"Heh heh, my grandfather also dreamed of me last night, saying he subdued the Headless Ghost!" A jianghu charlatan spoke without restraint.

"Words are useless. I've heard that Fu Luan Temple's spirit mediumship technique is unparalleled in the world. Why not invite the patriarch of Fu Luan here on the spot for a direct confrontation?"

These were the words of a Daoist priest from Tianling Temple, hitting the nail on the head and going straight to the core of the matter.

"Excellent! Excellent!"

Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy's words immediately drew all sorts of open mockery and sarcasm.

The reason was simple.

May I ask why County Lieutenant Qiao invited all the cultivators here?

—It was precisely to investigate the matter of Magistrate Qin's death by decapitation.

Now, the Daoist boy from Fu Luan Temple first claimed his patriarch descended from the heavens, and then claimed he subdued the Headless Ghost.

Was this trying to hog all the credit?

How could this not anger them? How could this not infuriate them?

"Master Daoist, I deeply agree with everyone's words. Why don't you demonstrate that spirit mediumship technique on the spot? It will not only prove Fu Luan's innocence, but also bring peace to Qingshui, and resolve everyone's doubts. It's killing three birds with one stone, isn't it beautiful?"

County Lieutenant Qiao stared at Fu Luan's old Daoist priest and said slowly.

To be honest, he was completely skeptical about these ghost and spirit theories.

Even though his youngest son had recently experienced a fox spirit's haunting, a sliver of doubt still lingered in his heart.

After all, with the sudden heavy rain and rolling thunder, in the midst of unease, it was not surprising to have some illusions!

In a moment of daze, he even suspected if his unfilial son, who had killed his cousin, was using the excuse of a spirit monster to completely absolve himself.

After all, he had personally seen the fox spirit's corpse, which looked no different from an ordinary fox.

Speaking of which, his courteous treatment of Old Daoist Priest Yanzhen was not without the intention of covering up for him.

No wonder his thoughts were so sordid; it was because he had seen too much darkness.

"County Lieutenant, you may not know, but humans and ghosts have different paths, yin and yang are separated. Even if I invite the patriarch to perform spirit mediumship, ordinary mortals like us will find it extremely difficult to see..."

Before Fu Luan's old Daoist priest could finish his tactful refusal, County Lieutenant Qiao interrupted him:

"It's alright, Master Daoist, please proceed."

The Fu Luan old Daoist priest shut his mouth mutely, a flicker of panic flashing in his eyes.

He hadn't succeeded in the Ghost Immortal spirit mediumship technique yet; it was practically lost to time. How could he possibly perform it?

But he couldn't say that.

Wouldn't that be a contradiction?

He'd said their ancestor had appeared, but then he couldn't summon their ancestor? What kind of message would that send?

That their lineage was impure?

Or that he, the Fu Luan old Daoist priest, was a wilderness bandit who had stolen the Fu Luan Temple?

"County Lieutenant, this humble priest is old and frail, lacking strength. I beg the County Lieutenant to permit my unworthy disciple to act on my behalf and summon the immortal for spirit mediumship!"

The Fu Luan old Daoist priest sighed inwardly as he requested this.

This was less about using Xuan Yun to take the blame and more about a desperate measure.

He couldn't fail, but Xuan Yun could.

When the time came, he could feign anger, clutch his chest, spit up a mouthful of blood, and make a hasty retreat.

Though his reputation would be ruined, it was still better than being exposed.

"Very well!"

County Lieutenant Qiao nodded.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the Fu Luan old Daoist priest couldn't give any secret instructions. He could only say with a solemn expression, "Xuan Yun, do not panic. Just do as I have taught you!"

The Daoist Boy Xuan Yun looked at his master with a strange gaze.

He could feel that his master was very unhappy, even angry.

But he didn't understand what the problem was.

Wasn't the ancestor's manifestation supposed to be a glorious event?

If they weren't going to publicize it, why couldn't they even mention it?

He couldn't figure it out.

He even felt a bit wronged.

But he still nodded and said, "I understand, Master."

After speaking, he stepped out from the crowd and walked to the center of the hall.

Under the gaze of everyone, he felt a surge of blood rush to his head. The youthful impetuosity and a touch of adolescent drama stirred his heart, filling him with a sense of heroic spirit.

He took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and then began chanting the incantation.

"Fragrance deep and steady, responding to heaven and earth, ignite the pure incense to pierce the heavenly gate... In the Ziwei Palace, open the sacred hall, Peach Blossom Jade Maiden, please invite the immortal; a thousand-mile journey, the incense extends its invitation, flying clouds and galloping horses, descend and arrive..."

The boy's unique cracking voice echoed in the hall with a rhythmic cadence, yet it gave off a strange sense of peace and harmony.

Mo Chuan, who had been a mere background figure, listened to these familiar words and, in a daze, felt as though he had returned to the first time he had used the incense offerings as a mirror and witnessed the Fu Luan old Daoist priest teaching his disciple.

He knew why the Fu Luan old Daoist priest's words were so twisted!

He also knew why he was so terrified.

It was because he lacked confidence, had no weapon in hand, and no backing!

In a trance, a strand of indescribable incense offering dao sprouted within Xuan Yun's soul, reaching straight into the heavens and entering Mo Chuan's nostrils.

"Let the spirit medium speak, guiding the disciple to slay ghosts and gods!"

The Daoist Boy Xuan Yun closed his eyes and uttered the final judgment with a resounding voice.

Mo Chuan's lips curved slightly. As if aged and weary, he closed his eyes.

The next second!

He suddenly opened his eyes.

His gaze fell upon the painting "Deer Presenting Lingzhi" hanging in the main hall, where County Lieutenant Qiao was staring intently at him.

"Master of Fu Luan Temple, do you know your crime?"

The Daoist Boy Xuan Yun opened his eyes and immediately questioned him, his voice sharp and unlike that of a child.

The Fu Luan old Daoist priest was stunned, his body trembling. He quickly prostrated himself, saying, "This disciple does not know. I beg the Ancestor to clarify."

The Daoist Boy Xuan Yun slightly raised his head, not even looking at the Fu Luan old Daoist priest behind him. "The art of spirit mediumship is a technique to save the world and deliver people, not street acrobatics! To dispatch your disciple in such a manner, do you know your crime?"

The Fu Luan old Daoist priest's body trembled again. He placed his forehead on the back of his hand and said in a deep voice, "This disciple knows his crime. This disciple accepts his punishment!"

"Heh heh, they're putting on quite a show."

"It must have been difficult to train the little brat to speak like that, wasn't it?"

Just then, a few inappropriate voices rang out from the crowd.

Upon closer inspection, they were all cultivators of low standing.

No, calling them cultivators was giving them too much credit.

Simply put, they were a few bold and wicked individuals just going through the motions.

Seeing the Daoist Boy Xuan Yun's appearance, he smugly believed he'd figured out the trick and blurted it out!

The Daoist Boy Xuan Yun remained still, as if he hadn't heard, but his gaze fell upon County Lieutenant Qiao:

"Once the spirit mediumship is invoked, ghosts and gods will be slain. Today, this Daoist priest shall slay you, you mere clay idol and wooden fool!"

"Jingle bells..."

A faint ringing sound suddenly came from the Daoist Boy Xuan Yun.

Everyone's eyes widened abruptly, their mouths agape, their expressions terrified, frozen like statues.

The Daoist Boy Xuan Yun reached out and grabbed the void, as if grasping a bronze sword hilt. From the opening, green smoke coiled, like celestial mist and rosy clouds, steaming and rolling.

A cold glint emerged from the swirling green smoke, as if borrowing a sword from the heavens, slowly being drawn.

Intending to sever the foolish and ignorant with his sword!

This scene, let alone the charlatans who couldn't comprehend the supernatural, Even cultivators with Daoist heritage watched, dumbfounded, and even more terrified!

Because knowing made them even more awestruck by its profound and divine power.

This was an immortal technique!

It could be said: The immortal sword is drawn, the wicked are subdued, calamities are warned, and the masses scatter like ants and mice!

"Immortal, spare my life—"

County Lieutenant Qiao, seeing the dazzling sword, was so terrified his liver and gall shattered. By the time he reacted, the immortal sword had already been drawn and was slashing through the air!

There was a distance of five paces between them.

Yet, County Lieutenant Qiao's body trembled, his eyes rolled back, and he clutched his neck, wailing in terror:

"My head... where is my head!"

Clang!

Instantly, the grand hall, filled with people, plunged into a chilling silence.

Everyone stared with disbelief, eyes wide, at the suddenly frantic County Lieutenant Qiao, each feeling as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, a chill crawling up their spines.

Some, unable to bear it, soiled themselves.

If the change in the Daoist Boy Xuan Yun's accent could still be considered acting;

Was the void-drawn sword, and the County Lieutenant clutching his head and wailing, also acting?

"Crash!" "Crash..."

At this moment, the sounds of shattering teacups and porcelain echoed, exploding throughout the hall.

The officials and officers of all sizes in the hall finally snapped back to reality.

Each of them was as panicked as a mouse, their legs trembling.

Some crawled under tables, covering their ears to deceive themselves; others bolted, abandoning their superiors without a second thought.

Their panicked movements caused countless porcelain items on the tables to fall, clattering noisily.

The various individuals invited by the County Lieutenant fared no better; many collapsed on the ground.

A significant number also screamed hysterically.

Just as the situation was about to escalate further, A sudden new change occurred in the hall.