Chen Shuangbai wasn't surprised by the old man's initial arrogance followed by obsequiousness.
The title of the number one immortal sect in the Jing Kingdom was not given by the Jade Spring Sect itself, but was recognized by all cultivators in the Jing Kingdom.
"Indeed, may I ask..."
Before Chen Shuangbai could finish speaking, the old man commanded the Gu worm to throw the three Compassionate Light Temple remnants, whose fate was unknown, over.
"For you."
" Feiguang."
At Chen Shuangbai's command, Feiguang stepped forward and grabbed the three of them, gripping them tightly in his grappling hook.
Seeing the magnificent white eagle seize the three of them, Hei Black Feather Immortal chuckled twice, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Fellow Daoist, I was unaware of your greatness before, and fortunately I didn't cause you any trouble... Now that you've entrusted this person to me, there's nothing more for me to do... This old Daoist will take my leave now."
The words "Farewell" were still lingering in his mind when the old man, riding the giant black mosquito, transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the lush forest without a trace.
Chen Shuangbai did not go forward to chase after them.
This is firstly because there is no irreconcilable conflict between the two sides, and the old man's cultivation level is two or three minor realms higher than his.
Even a small difference in skill level represents a gap.
Moreover, cultivators who can manipulate Gu worms are either from unorthodox sects or evil paths, and their actions are extremely ruthless and vicious.
I am not alone. If I fail to kill my opponent in one strike and allow him to escape, I will probably have no sleep at night from now on.
As for the second point... it's that Chen Shuangbai didn't realize that the other party never harbored any murderous intent from beginning to end.
After careful consideration, Chen Shuangbai decided to let the other party escape.
only...
Chen Shuangbai looked in the direction the other person had left, recalling the various cultivators, large and small, around Wind Howling County, but none of them matched this cultivator who was skilled at manipulating Gu worms and appeared quite old.
"Could he be a wandering Rogue Cultivator from another region who has drifted here to cultivate?"
Chen Shuangbai thought about it carefully for a while, but found that she had no clue, so she left with Feiguang.
After Chen Shuangbai left.
Inside a cave more than a hundred miles away from here.
The old man who called himself Black Feather Immortal turned into a wisp of black smoke. But as the smoke gradually dissipated, he turned out to be a fair-skinned, handsome young cultivator. However, the clothes that did not completely cover his body and the tattoos that were exposed showed that he was not a native cultivator of the Jing Kingdom.
"That was close! We almost gave ourselves away."
The young man patted his chest, recalling his encounter with Chen Shuangbai, and felt his heart still pounding.
He was not a cultivator from the Jing Kingdom, nor even from any of the surrounding kingdoms.
His name Gu Du, and he was Ancient People of the Great Li Mountain.
Great Li Mountain is called a mountain, it is actually a continuous mountain range that runs across the southwest of the Twelve Kingdoms.
That place is humid and warm all year round, with lush vegetation and a gathering place for all kinds of strange beasts and powerful Demon Beast. Even a Golden Core True Person would not dare to enter it easily.
The Ancient People are a group of mountain people who were born and raised in the Great Li Mountain and made a living in those mountains in the form of tribes.
Because these Ancient People mostly lived in a primitive and wild era, and even had evil deeds such as exchanging children to eat and preying on villagers who had wandered into the mountains, they were completely uncivilized and uneducated by the people of the twelve kingdoms. Therefore, for a long time, they were regarded as "savages", "barbarians", or even "demons" by the cultivators and officials of the twelve kingdoms, and were often hunted, driven away, and despised.
Over time, the Great Li Mountain and the twelve kingdoms became increasingly hostile.
However, the Ancient People in the Great Li Mountain also possessed a system for the inheritance of power.
They are said to have originated from a common ancestor of Ancient People and are divided into two types.
One was Barbarian Warrior, the other an Ancient Shaman.
Barbarian Warrior temper their physical bodies Qi and Blood, activating the power of their ancient ancestors' bloodline. They possess immense strength, capable of moving mountains and unleashing seas, and soaring through the air with ease. They are no different from body cultivators among cultivators, and their close combat is fierce and unparalleled.
Ancient Shaman were able to control the spirits of mountains, rivers, plants, trees, insects, birds, and beasts. They were known for their various strange and insidious witchcraft, poisonous insects, and incantations. Their methods were bizarre and difficult to defend against.
Gu Du was chosen by the tribe's Ancient Shaman in his childhood, and after growing up, he inherited the mantle and became an Ancient Shaman himself.
He was exceptionally intelligent, especially skilled in witchcraft and sorcery. At a young age, he was able to control powerful sorcerers like the Black Smoke Mystic Mosquito, making him a standout among his peers.
But in order to obtain a certain treasure here, he traveled alone, hiding his identity and disguise, and secretly came here to cultivate, hoping to take advantage of the situation and retrieve the treasure in the future.
Gu Du steadied himself, but couldn't resist taking out a frost-covered insect corpse from his Storage Bag.
"What appears to be water vapor actually contains the transformation of frost... Jade Spring Sect... these cultivators at the foot of the mountain... are truly extraordinary."
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the cave.
"We need to find an opportunity to infiltrate that area to search for any trace of that treasure."
The sounds of people in the cave gradually subsided, and the rustling of insects began to stir again.
Chen Shuangbai led the three remnants of Compassionate Light Temple back to the garrison headquarters in the county town.
It's unclear what methods the old man used to put them into a state of suspended animation, but Chen Shuangbai spent considerable effort to wake them up.
As for interrogation... that's a matter for his subordinates.
Not long after.
Bi Sheng walked in, wrote down the evidence of the three men's crimes on a piece of paper, and showed it to Chen Shuangbai.
Chen Shuangbai glanced at it a few times and knew that she had not killed innocent people indiscriminately.
Compassionate Light Temple not only engaged in usury and secretly seized surrounding land, but also tricked local people into donating large sums of money for incense and oil. Moreover, it had wolfish ambitions, building a secret cave under the temple to abduct women who came to pray for children and allowing them to rape them. This is how the temple came to be known as the Guanyin who grants children.
At this point, Bi Sheng also felt quite ashamed, his teeth clenching so hard they rang.
Chen Shuangbai was not from Wind Howling County, but Bi Sheng was.
Even though he was already a cultivator, he was still a member of Wind Howling County.
Compassionate Light Temple's actions have harmed the local people for so many years; now that it has been broken up, how can one not feel hatred?
How could I not resent it?
Chen Shuangbai glanced at him, then formed a Method Formula with her right hand, and a faint spiritual light appeared, like a blue lotus flower blooming.
The cyan lotus flower at his fingertips slowly rotated, and the pure Spiritual Qi it emitted gradually calmed the raging anger and resentment in Bi Sheng's heart.
Bi Sheng then realized that he might have lost his composure and hurriedly said, "Uncle-Master... I lost my composure."
Don't let anger dominate your mind.
The Pure Lotus Incantation (also known as the Water and Wood Pure Splendor Incantation Mantra).
This mantra draws inspiration from the lotus, which rises from the mud unsullied and remains pure and untainted, and is most effective at cleansing the mind and calming restlessness.
Bi Sheng took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, and bowed, saying, "I will remember your teachings, Martial Uncle."
Chen Shuangbai nodded, saying no more about it, and instead asked, "Among those three, was the one who poisoned you?"