Calamity

The area in front of the county government office was deathly silent.

Among the county government officials, apart from the county magistrate, the military officer, and the instructor, the rest were all minor officials from local gentry and chieftain families.

Although they had long been registered in the Qing Dynasty's official register, they still considered themselves descendants of the Nanzhao Kingdom at heart. When the Taizu established Nanzhao, he left behind the name of the country, the position of the king, and also left them with their last bit of pride.

This pride prevented them from ever truly bowing their heads before Qixia Temple.

The lineage of Nanzhao is more ancient than that of Qixia, being a descendant of the Orthodox God and the first ancestors of humanity; although Qixia is a direct descendant of Jade Pure One and a successor of the Heavenly Venerable, it is not an insult to be subordinate to it.

But what about Great Qing? This dynasty has been destroyed and its lifeline severed. If it weren't for the edict of the former emperor, many of their ancestors would have already perished for their homeland.

Asking them to take sides on the side of a dynasty that destroyed their country, in response to the imperial decree, is now an impossible task.

Although Qixia Temple has declined in popularity, it is still far more powerful than these small clans. Moreover, since its founder, Qixia Temple has continuously produced two Heavenly Venerable, Dao Lord, Immortals, and True Lord.

No one spoke.

No one dared to speak.

Zheng Qingci as if he hadn't heard anything, simply standing at the very front with his eyes closed, as if he were in a meditative state, or perhaps waiting for one of these people to give in first.

The sun sets in the west, and the bright moon rises.

The shadow in front of the county government office moved inch by inch from the ground to the east wall, and then disappeared into the night from the east wall.

The entire courtyard stood there, and not a single person uttered a sound.

As the moon rose high in the sky, the afterglow of the sunset faded on Golden Ao Mountain in the distance, and the Dharma banquet finally came to an end.

The guests gradually dispersed.

Just then, three streams of light descended from the Great Void, landing not far from the group, revealing the figures of two men and one woman.

Zheng Qingci suddenly opened her eyes.

He recognized the three men: Luo Pingzong Xuanping Zhenren, Songhe Songjia Heyin Zhenren, and Yangjian Mujian Zhenren.

Upon seeing the newcomers, his heart tightened: the supervisor hadn't come, but they had, and they were only now appearing, after the banquet had ended.

Could it be that the imperial court has already sent reinforcements to suppress Qixia Temple at Golden Ao Mountain?

Thinking of this, he perked up, straightened his clothes, and quickly stepped forward, bowing and saying:

"These three True Person are acting on the orders of the supervising school..."

"County Magistrate Zheng has misunderstood." Xuanping, dressed in white, interrupted him with a smile before he could finish speaking. "The three of us are here today to help Golden Ao, who has disobeyed the imperial court's orders. We are angered by his disrespect and have nothing to do with the supervisor of education or the imperial court."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zheng Qingci's smile froze on her face.

"Private... identity?" His voice was somewhat hoarse. "That supervisor of education... the imperial court..."

Xuanping glanced at him, his tone as calm as still water. "The Inspector of Education stayed behind closed doors at the academy today, not venturing out even a step. As for the court... probably no one cares how many colorful flags are hung on Golden Ao Mountain, after all, this is a joyous occasion for Qixia Temple... and it's being held in the name of Qixia Temple, only the venue is Golden Ao Mountain." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the officials who had been standing in the courtyard all day, a faint smile appearing on his lips, "County Magistrate Zheng has been waiting here all day, but surely he wasn't waiting for us?"

Zheng Qingci was shocked upon hearing this.

He was waiting for reinforcements from the imperial court, a backup plan from the supervisor of education, impeachment memorials from Confucian School officials, the court's wrath, and the imminent arrival of a large army. But after waiting all day, all he got were these three Purple Mansion True Person who came in "private capacities," and a dismissive remark that "the court probably doesn't care."

Then, he gave a wry smile.

He was scammed.

The inspectors treated them like pebbles used to pave the way, discarding them after they were used.

But things had come to this point. All the officials in the county government were looking at him, the three Purple Mansion True Person were looking at him, and the people from the two minor chieftains he had gathered here were also looking at him.

If he backs down, all the prestige he has established today will become the biggest joke in the entire Nanzhao.

Besides, there's no going back now; we have no choice but to grit our teeth and move forward.

He gritted his teeth and said sharply:

"Even if the imperial court doesn't intervene, as the magistrate of Langqiong Zhao, I have a duty to defend this territory and cannot stand idly by Qixia Temple defies imperial orders! Guards..."

"Sir, please wait!"

A clear shout came from afar, interrupting his words.

Immediately afterwards, a beam of yellow light pierced through the Great Void and landed in the middle of the crowd, revealing a figure dressed in white with white hair.

The visitor was none other than Xue Min, the Mountain God of Cang Mountain.

He was not as dashing as usual; his face was weary and sorrowful.

Without even glancing at Zheng Qingci, he swept his gaze over the local gentry and minor officials from chieftain backgrounds in the courtyard and slowly spoke:

"You've been standing all day, isn't that enough?"

All the minor officials in the courtyard lowered their heads, some with reddened eyes, almost shedding tears.

Xue Min then turned to Zheng Qingci, her words sharp as knives:

"County Magistrate Zheng wants to impeach Qixia Temple, then so be it. But these local gentry and sons of chieftains have only had a cup of wine on Golden Ao Mountain and basked in some of its glow. If the magistrate wants to arrest and punish them all, then our court cannot stand idly by."

Zheng Qingci ashen.

"Is the mountain god protecting those who defy the imperial decree?"

"Protecting?" Xue Min suddenly smiled, a smile full of sarcasm. "I am protecting the people born and raised at the foot of Cang Mountain. If the magistrate thinks that drinking a cup of wine is disobeying an imperial decree, then how many people are you planning to arrest today, since there were no fewer than a thousand who drank this cup of wine on Golden Ao Mountain?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Qingci opened his mouth, but couldn't answer for a moment.

Just then, a wisp of five-colored smoke seeped out from the Great Void without warning.

The smoke was extremely faint, yet it carried a heavy, oppressive aura that instilled a profound sense of unease.

All the lights in the courtyard went out at once, and even the official swords that the two captains behind Zheng Qingci never parted with at their waists let out a very low groan.

A profound voice emanated from the depths of the smoke, unhurried yet causing the Spirit Platform of everyone present to resonate.

"Anyone who dares to disturb my joyous occasion in Qixia shall die!"

Before he finished speaking, the two captains behind Zheng Qingci trembled violently.

Their mouths gaped open, but they didn't even have time to let out a scream before the Wu Earth Calamity exploded within their bodies.

Before everyone's eyes, the two bodies disintegrated inch by inch from the inside out, their flesh, bones, and clothes all turning into a clump of extremely fine and light yellow earth, which fell to the ground and piled up into a small mound.

The courtyard was deathly silent.

Some people's teeth were chattering, some people's legs went weak and they collapsed to the ground, Xuanping and the other two also took a step back, their expressions changing drastically.

They initially thought their visit was just a formality, but unexpectedly...

The profound sound rose again, still calm and even:

"Today is a joyous occasion for my Qixia, and I will not hold this against you. If there is a next time, these two will serve as a warning."

The mysterious sound dissipated, and the five-colored smoke slowly gathered, disappearing into the Great Void like the receding tide, as if it had never existed.

The people left behind, bowing in reverence, were filled with fear.

Zheng Qingci filled with regret. He should have listened to the man who impersonated an instructor last night; at worst, he would have lost his position. But now, he feared...