Chen Ming left the village and walked on at an unhurried pace. He wasn't in a hurry to storm the Chayi Sect and seek his revenge.
Fairy Caiyi had cultivated to the Spirit Condensation Realm for several hundred years. Usually, people gave her some deference on account of Biyun Heavenly Palace's name.
They only knew that her Supernatural Ability had transformed into that Colorful Feather Luan Bird. Outsiders knew nothing else about her.
No one knew whether Fairy Caiyi had secretly cultivated some powerful techniques.
Before he knew it, Chen Ming had arrived beneath a city.
Looking up, he saw the words "Golden Sun City" hanging high above the city gate.
A thought stirred in Chen Ming's heart. He made a quick calculation and realized that he had once been connected to this city.
Golden Sun City had once worshiped Golden Light Divine Lord.
After Golden Light Divine Lord fell, Chen Ming had been the one to send the believers' souls, mixed in with the Incense and Fire, back to where they belonged. That was the only reason Golden Sun City had not become a city without souls.
Once inside, Chen Ming strolled around, taking in a little of the world's ordinary bustle. It had its own unique flavor.
Suddenly, four men dressed in black came slowly toward him, carrying a sedan chair.
The sedan chair was no ordinary one.
A pitch-black bell hung from each of its four corners. They swayed and rang despite the lack of wind.
The four black-clad bearers simply walked, paying no attention to where they were going.
A dozen or so armed mortals walked ahead, behind, and beside them, clearing the way.
One of the men with a saber pointed in Chen Ming's direction and barked, "Move aside!"
Chen Ming was standing on a narrow street lined with a few stalls.
At the man's shout, the crowd scattered in a noisy rush.
Only Chen Ming remained, carefully examining the trinkets at a stall.
"Move! The city lord has invited a Spirit God into the city. If you disturb the Spirit God, no one will be able to protect you!"
The saber-wielding man had spent years roaming Jing River and Lake, and carried a savage air about him. Seeing that Chen Ming didn't budge, he strode forward with his saber raised, ready to cut him down at the slightest provocation.
Chen Ming looked up. One glance was all it took for the man's saber to fall from his hand. He stood rooted in place, unable to move.
Chen Ming swept him with his Spiritual Sense and smiled. "I was wondering what Spirit God was entering the city with such a grand procession. Turns out it's you, old crow, blowing in the wind!"
As soon as Chen Ming finished speaking,
the four black-clad bearers carrying the sedan chair turned into a gust of Soul Hooking Wind and whirled into it.
"Caw!"
A crow cried out. The sedan chair landed, and a figure flew out of it, a White Bone Staff in his hand. He appeared before Chen Ming.
"So it really is Fellow Daoist Wuhun!" Chen Ming said with a smile.
When the spiritual energy of Vast Mountain fell into turmoil, Soul Hook Cave, where Wuhun lived, was affected too. He left the mountain to seek another path.
He eventually settled in a ruined temple outside Golden Sun City.
By chance, Wuhun had rescued mortals from danger several times at that ruined temple, and before long, it had begun to receive Incense and Fire.
Wuhun discovered that the Incense and Fire made his Ghost Cultivator cultivation progress by leaps and bounds. After that, he was all the more diligent about appearing to mortals.
As it happened, after Golden Light Divine Lord died, no other cultivator had claimed this area around Golden Sun City. Wuhun filled the void.
As his name gradually spread, the mortals of Golden Sun City came to worship him.
The city lord had even built an "Old Crow Temple" in the city to worship Wuhun. Today was the day he would be invited into the temple.
He hadn't expected to run into Chen Ming along the way.
When Wuhun saw Chen Ming, he assumed that Chen Ming, like him, had left Vast Mountain to seek another path.
Even so, he didn't dare presume too much. He glanced around and asked, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist. Why isn't Senior Situ here?"
Chen Ming smiled. "You old crow, you're still counting on her promise, aren't you?"
"Unfortunately, Fellow Daoist Situ went to the Sea Domain with the Myriad Laws Sect. She won't be back for a while."
Wuhun smacked his lips. "It's all right, it's all right. As long as Senior Situ remembers, that's enough!"
Though he said this, Wuhun felt bitter inside. Situ Yuelan had gone off with the Myriad Laws Sect, and now he wouldn't get the treasure. He was afraid he'd lose the favor he'd been promised, too.
Wuhun's spirits sank a little, but he still remembered the important matter at hand. "Today is the day I enter the temple and become a god. If you're free, Fellow Daoist, come and watch the ceremony!"
"The hour is near. Once I've established my foundation, we can catch up!"
With that, Wuhun cupped his hands toward Chen Ming, then turned into a gust of Soul Hooking Wind. He swept up the sedan chair and all the men who had been clearing the way, and vanished without a trace.
The newly built Old Crow Temple stood right in the center of Golden Sun City.
"That old crow is also from Vast Mountain. Now he's setting down roots in the city. Since I've run into him and he's invited me, I may as well go see the spectacle!"
Chen Ming paused, about to head to Old Crow Temple, when he suddenly sensed a familiar presence outside Golden Sun City.
Outside Golden Sun City, Master Heyuan of Lotus Temple stood with several disciples, gazing toward the city from afar.
"A demonic Ghost Cultivator dares to enter a temple and cultivate in broad daylight!"
"The world has truly gone to ruin!"
Master Heyuan spoke indignantly. He, too, had cultivation in the Contemplation Realm, yet he had been pushed aside and barred from cultivating at the temple. He could only leave and seek another place, his heart full of resentment.
"Master, why don't we expose the old crow's true form while he's entering the temple? Let the people of the city see for themselves, then use Buddhist teachings to convert him. We can turn the temple into a Buddhist monastery and take all the city's Incense and Fire for ourselves!"
One of his quick-witted disciples spoke up, voicing exactly what Master Heyuan wanted.
Master Heyuan was sorely tempted, but shook his head. "After your Ancestor Jieding passed away in Vast Mountain, our branch was marginalized at Lotus Temple.
"Now that we've had a chance to leave and establish a branch temple here, we owe it all to Blue Lotus Divine Monk.
"Without Blue Lotus Divine Monk's instructions, we absolutely must not act rashly!"
Although Master Heyuan was tempted, he still kept his composure and pushed the thought aside.
Master Heyuan and his disciples concealed themselves outside the city, waiting for Blue Lotus Divine Monk's orders.
Suddenly, Buddha Light flashed in Master Heyuan's eyes, and he saw a Daoist slowly approaching from the city.
A faint haze floated above the Daoist's hand. Within it, a gleaming white pot seemed to take shape.
A flicker of red light shone within, though it was hard to make out. Behind him flowed a faint Five-Colored Radiance, and his bearing was extraordinary.
Seeing the Daoist walk toward them, Master Heyuan pressed his palms together and recited a Buddhist invocation. "May I ask where this True Person comes from?"
Chen Ming didn't even look at Master Heyuan. He said blandly, "These Buddhist disciples have impure thoughts and tainted Buddha Light. They'd be better off coming under my banner and turning from Buddhas into demons!"
Master Heyuan and his disciples were shocked. They hastily activated their Supernatural Abilities and readied themselves.
The White Bone Demon Pot in Chen Ming's hand suddenly spewed out a cloud of smoke, filled with densely packed venomous insects.
"Fall back! He's in the Spirit Condensation Realm!"
Sensing the aura emanating from Chen Ming, Master Heyuan shouted as he and his disciples hastily retreated.
A scent of sandalwood suddenly filled the air, and bright yellow Buddha Light followed, blocking the venomous insects.
Blue Lotus Monk appeared and said, "Fellow Daoist, why have you attacked the disciples of Lotus Temple without cause?"
Fellow Daoists, please take a moment each day to cast your recommendation and monthly votes in support. Our new xianxia novel is currently ranked twenty-second on the charts. I want to break into the top ten, the top five, the top three, and even the overall rankings. I humbly ask you to lend me your support. With all you Fellow Daoists lending me your strength, may I walk the demonic path and ascend all the way to immortality!
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