Xuan Yun Invites the Immortal

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

"Before County Lieutenant Qiao, what is there to hide? Why not speak plainly?"

"I'd say this old ox-nose's bragging has been exposed, and he's scrambling to cover it up!"

When the crowd saw Fu Luan's old Daoist priest, they immediately burst into delighted laughter. Quite a few of them began needling and mocking him.

In their eyes, never mind whether Magistrate Qin had truly been killed by the Headless Ghost.

Even if there was a Headless Ghost, it was not something a Daoist temple as faded as dust and smoke as Fu Luan Temple could subdue.

Among them were even some who merely muddied the waters to make up the numbers, people who did not believe in ghosts and gods at all.

To them, Fu Luan Temple's claim sounded more like a lie that could never be disproven!

"My worthless disciple spoke without restraint and has made a laughingstock of us all."

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest, who had spent his entire life treading carefully, wore an embarrassed expression as he hurriedly cupped his hands toward the crowd. In his heart, he practically wanted to slap this troublesome disciple he had once been so proud of to death.

Never mind whether others would believe it.

If they did, then if the Patriarch could capture the Headless Ghost, he might also be able to command it to murder Magistrate Qin.

It was like mud falling into one's trousers—if it was not shit, it might as well have been shit.

Right now, Fu Luan's old Daoist priest only wanted to muddle through this matter as quickly as possible, even if he became a laughingstock.

Yet just as he wished to calm the situation, County Lieutenant Qiao's eyes suddenly lit up. He said loudly:

"Children speak without taboo, Daoist priest. There is no need to take offense! But is what the Daoist boy said true?"

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest's expression instantly stiffened. He did not know how to answer.

If he denied it, that would be tantamount to deceiving his master and destroying his ancestors!

If he admitted it, how was he supposed to prove it?

What if Qingshui County failed to find the culprit and used Fu Luan Temple to quell public outrage?

At that thought, Fu Luan's old Daoist priest's vision went dark. He steeled his heart, about to feign a fainting spell and refuse to answer.

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

"Of course! I saw the Patriarch with my own eyes, draped in rosy light and standing upon auspicious clouds. He descended from the clouds of the Ninth Heaven to reveal his divine presence, and he even bestowed the Ghost Subduing Talisman upon me! He personally told me that the Headless Ghost had already been subdued by him."

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest's heart nearly stopped. He was on the verge of fainting dead on the spot.

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

Sure enough, the moment Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy finished speaking, someone immediately stepped forward.

"What a divine descent! Anyone who did not know better would think the Patriarch of Fu Luan Temple had already attained fruition, achieved the Dao, and ascended!" a wandering Jianghu man sneered coldly.

"Hehe, my grandfather came to me in a dream last night too, saying he'd subdued the Headless Ghost!" a Jianghu sorcerer blurted out without restraint.

"Words are useless. I have long heard that Fu Luan Temple's Ghost Immortal Spirit Mediumship is unrivaled under heaven. Why not invite Patriarch Fu Luan here on the spot, so we may confront him face-to-face?"

These were the words of a Tianling Temple Daoist, piercing straight to the heart of the matter.

"Wonderful! Wonderful!"

Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy's words immediately drew all manner of open ridicule and veiled mockery.

The reason was simple.

Why had County Lieutenant Qiao summoned all these cultivators here?

—To investigate Magistrate Qin's death by having his head torn off.

Now, the Daoist boy of Fu Luan Temple first claimed that the Patriarch had descended to show his divine might, then claimed he had subdued the Headless Ghost.

Was he trying to swallow all the credit in one gulp?

How could that not anger everyone? How could they not be enraged?

"Daoist priest, I deeply agree with everyone's words. Why not demonstrate that Ghost Immortal Spirit Mediumship here? It would prove Fu Luan Temple's innocence, restore order to Qingshui, and resolve everyone's doubts—killing three birds with one stone. Would that not be splendid?"

County Lieutenant Qiao stared at Fu Luan's old Daoist priest and spoke unhurriedly.

To be honest, he was completely half-believing and half-doubting all this talk of ghosts and gods.

Even though his youngest son had just suffered from a fox spirit's mischief, a trace of doubt still lurked in his heart.

After all, with mountain rain coming in swift and fierce and thunder rolling overhead, it was hardly strange for people to see things in their panic!

For one fleeting moment, he had even suspected that his unfilial son had raped and murdered his cousin, then used the tale of a spirit creature to wipe his hands clean of it all.

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

That was also why he had treated Old Daoist Priest Yanzhen with such courtesy—he had not been above taking the chance to provide himself some cover.

It was not that his thoughts were filthy. He had simply seen too much darkness.

"County Lieutenant, you may not know this, but humans and ghosts walk different paths, divided by yin and yang. Even if this poor Daoist invited the Patriarch to descend through the medium, mortal eyes would find it exceedingly difficult to see him..."

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

"No matter. Daoist priest, simply perform it."

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest closed his mouth awkwardly, a flicker of panic passing through his eyes.

He had never successfully performed Ghost Immortal Spirit Mediumship. It was practically lost to the ages. How could he possibly demonstrate it?

But he could not say that.

Would that not be contradicting himself?

First he claimed the Patriarch had appeared, then he could not invite the Patriarch to come. What was that supposed to mean?

That his lineage was illegitimate?

Or that Fu Luan's old Daoist priest was some wildland bandit who had stolen Fu Luan Temple?

"County Lieutenant, this poor Daoist is old and frail, with insufficient strength. I ask that you permit my worthless disciple to act in his master's stead and invite the immortal to descend through the medium!"

With a sigh in his heart, Fu Luan's old Daoist priest made his request.

Rather than using Xuan Yun to shield himself from disaster, it was more accurate to call this the only option left to him.

He could not fail, but Xuan Yun could.

When the time came, he could seize upon some mishap, let anger strike his heart, cough up a mouthful of blood, and make a miserable retreat.

His reputation would be ruined, but that was still far better than exposing his weakness.

"Granted."

County Lieutenant Qiao nodded.

Under the gaze of everyone present, Fu Luan's old Daoist priest could not secretly instruct him. He could only say solemnly, "Xuan Yun, do not panic. Just follow what I have taught you in the past."

Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy looked at his master strangely.

He could sense that his master was very unhappy, even furious.

But he did not understand where the problem lay.

Wasn't the Patriarch revealing his divine presence something glorious?

It would have been one thing not to publicize it far and wide, but why was he not even allowed to speak of it?

He could not understand it.

He even felt rather wronged.

Still, he nodded. "I understand, Master."

With that, he stepped out from the crowd and walked to the center of the hall.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, he felt his blood surge. The youthful vigor unique to a boy, along with that adolescent flair for grandeur, sent his heart churning and filled him with heroic spirit.

He took a deep breath, composed himself, and began to chant an incantation.

"Deep and heavy rises the incense, answering Heaven and Earth; burning pure incense pierces Heaven's gate... In Ziwei Palace, the sacred hall opens; Peach Blossom Jade Maiden invites the immortals. Across a thousand miles, the incense extends its invitation; flying through clouds and racing on horseback, descend and arrive..."

The boy's voice, still in that distinctive cracking stage, rose and fell through the great hall, yet it somehow gave off an eerie sense of peace.

Mo Chuan, who had been serving as little more than a backdrop all this while, listened to those familiar words. In his daze, he felt as though he had returned to the first time he had used incense offerings as a mirror and witnessed Fu Luan's old Daoist priest teaching his disciple.

He knew why Fu Luan's old Daoist priest's words had been so twisted and awkward!

He also knew why he was so terrified.

It was because he had no confidence in his heart, no sword in his hand, and no power behind his back!

In that hazy instant, an indescribable thread of the incense-offering Dao was born within Xuan Yun's soul. It led straight to the Ninth Heaven, then burrowed into Mo Chuan's mouth and nose.

"Support the medium and let him speak, guiding the disciple to slay ghosts and gods!"

Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy closed his eyes and delivered the oracle with a voice that struck the ground like a hammer.

A faint smile rose at the corners of Mo Chuan's mouth. With the weary look of an old man, he closed his eyes.

The next second!

He abruptly opened them.

Before his eyes, beneath the hanging painting of "Deer Offering Forest Reishi" in the main hall, County Lieutenant Qiao was staring at him with bright, piercing eyes.

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

Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy opened his eyes, and the first thing he uttered was an accusation. The sharpness of his voice was nothing like that of a child.

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest froze, his whole body shaking. He hurriedly kowtowed to the ground. "This disciple does not know. I ask the Patriarch to speak plainly."

Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy raised his chin slightly and did not even look at Fu Luan's old Daoist priest behind him. "Spirit mediumship is an art for saving the world and delivering people. How can it be street-corner entertainment? You casually order your disciples about in this manner. Do you know your crime?"

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest shuddered violently, pressing his forehead against the backs of his hands. "This disciple knows his crime. This disciple accepts punishment!"

"Hehe, the act looks rather convincing."

"It couldn't have been easy training a little brat into that kind of voice, right?"

At that moment, several ill-timed voices rose from the crowd.

Looking closely, they all belonged to lowly cultivators.

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

To put it plainly, they were just a few bold, black-hearted frauds padding out the numbers.

Seeing Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy's appearance, they fancied themselves to have seen through the trick and smugly exposed it!

Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy did not move, as though he had not heard them. Yet his gaze fell upon County Lieutenant Qiao.

"Once spirit mediumship emerges, ghosts and gods must be slain. Today, this poor Daoist shall slay you, this clay-bodied wooden fool!"

"Ding-a-ling..."

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

The crowd's eyes abruptly widened, their mouths falling open as horror froze their faces. They stood dumbstruck like wooden chickens.

They saw Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy reach into empty air and grasp a bronze sword hilt out of nowhere. At its guard, green smoke curled and coiled, surging like clouds and rosy mists in an immortal realm.

A glint of cold light slowly emerged from the swirling green smoke, as though borrowing a sword from the heavens.

Ready to cleave foolish men in two!

This sight left not only those frauds who knew nothing of ghosts and gods speechless with shock;

Even cultivators who possessed Daoist inheritances stared in stunned disbelief, their terror running even deeper!

For the more they knew, the more they were horrified by its mysterious divine power.

This was an immortal art!

It could be said: the immortal sword left its sheath, sweeping away the stubborn and ignorant; its decree led calamity and threat, leaving ants scattered and rats fleeing in terror!

"Spare my life, Immortal—"

County Lieutenant Qiao looked upon that blazing, brilliant sword and was so terrified that his liver and gallbladder seemed to split apart. By the time he reacted, the immortal sword had already left its sheath and slashed through the air toward him!

There were five full paces between them.

Yet County Lieutenant Qiao's entire body jolted. His eyes rolled white, and he grabbed his own neck as he began to wail in terror.

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

Crack!

In an instant, the packed hall plunged into a deathly silence that chilled people to the bone.

Everyone stared wide-eyed in disbelief at County Lieutenant Qiao, who had suddenly gone mad. One by one, they felt as if they had fallen into an ice pit, coldness crawling up their spines.

Those with weaker stomachs even sprayed out foul-smelling fluids.

If Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy's altered voice could still be dismissed as acting;

Then was drawing a sword from thin air, and the County Lieutenant clutching his head and howling before them, acting too?

"Clang!" "Clang, clang..."

At that moment, the sound of teacups and porcelain shattering erupted throughout the hall.

The officials of every rank in the hall had finally come back to their senses.

Each was as panicked as a rat, their legs trembling. Some crawled beneath tables, burying their ears while stealing bells; others turned to flee, abandoning their superior without a second thought.

In their frantic movements, they knocked over who knew how much porcelain from the tables, creating a clattering uproar.

The motley crowd County Lieutenant Qiao had summoned fared no better. Those who collapsed limply to the floor were everywhere.

There were also no shortage of shrill screams.

Just as the situation was about to worsen further.

Another startling change suddenly arose in the hall.