As evening drew near, the believers inside Wish-Fulfillment Abbey had long since dispersed, leaving only wisps of incense smoke curling endlessly around the rafters.
Li Yao still stood in the main hall, her gaze fixed on the altar, deep numbness showing in her eyes.
She had noticed that although the provincial examination had only begun a few days ago, eleven small statues had already turned to dust, meaning an equal number of cultivators had died and their Dao had vanished.
And the small statue connected to her was also covered in cracks.
"There has to be a thread of life somewhere. Where exactly is the immortal?"
Li Yao had heard plenty of rumors from outside, all calling the central statue Three Incense Lady's true disciple. But she could faintly sense that this so-called true disciple was very likely the unknown immortal revealed by the thangka.
"I want to live. Father has already nearly bankrupted the family for my sake. I can't die for nothing in a foreign land."
Li Yao tried to find the immortal's traces through the central statue, but unfortunately, it had been useless all along.
On the altar of the central statue, there were now three additional disciple statues: one frog, one fish, one rat, along with a large number of barely formed Dao child statues kneeling at their feet.
"I've searched the entire market once over, yet there's simply no trail to trace."
Li Yao let out a long sigh.
While she was pondering, a young Daoist walked into the hall. Seeing that she still had not left, he came forward to advise her.
"Female benefactor, the abbey is about to close its doors. You should go back earlier."
Li Yao lifted her eyes, the corner of her vision looking toward the brightly lit brothel facing