Just as everyone was discussing whether the Bamboo Hat Immortal would intervene, something suddenly fell from the sky with a thud, crashing heavily onto the open ground outside the yamen and startling the people nearby.
Everyone hurriedly looked over and saw a gigantic octopus lying motionless on the ground.
The octopus was earthy yellow all over. Its round head was more than ten feet across, with a pair of eyes as large as bushel measures, though their luster was gone. Its eight tentacles reached thirty to forty feet in length and were covered in suckers.
Another chorus of startled cries rose from the crowd as everyone backed away.
Yet even after a long while, the octopus still showed no sign of moving.
Two yamen runners summoned their courage and carefully approached one of its tentacles. They prodded it with their blades, but the octopus remained completely motionless.
One runner steeled himself, raised his blade, and brought it slashing down with a swish.
The octopus's long tentacle was severed at the stroke, yet it still gave no reaction.
"Village head, sir, it's already dead!"
The village head seemed to come to his senses. He hurriedly turned and knelt before the incense table, saying, "Thank you, Bamboo Hat Immortal, for manifesting your power, ridding the people of this scourge, and saving everyone in our town!"
At his words, the townspeople understood as well. So the Bamboo Hat Immortal had manifested his power!
With a rustle, everyone dropped to their knees, once again bowing in gratitude for the Bamboo Hat Immortal's great kindness!
Xu Qingtong returned to the thatched hut and sat cross-legged, his face expressionless. The Divine Thought Body he had left in Zhang Xiaobao's Niwang Palace had completely disappeared. He could no longer sense even a trace of it.
However, the