Chapter 409
“He arrived here years ago and moved a mountain from San Shan Town, driving away the priests of my sect.”
“It’s strange, though. He made all the townsfolk mine the stones from the other two mountains as offerings to him.”
“Not only that, but after collecting the stones, he regularly distributes various grains and tools to the townspeople.”
Tan Zhu Yin’s expression grew increasingly peculiar as he spoke.
The members of the demonic sect, including Yu Wen Cuo Jin, frowned. Trading food and tools for stones was clearly a losing deal, wasn’t it?
Yu Wen, the deputy leader, snorted and said, “This person clearly knows nothing about managing his followers.”
“If the common folk have no worries about food and clothing, what do they need a deity for?”
He couldn’t help but lecture those present: “To maintain a long-term and stable source of power from the masses, you must keep a tight leash on those ignorant fools. If they get too comfortable, tighten the noose; if they’re about to choke, loosen it a bit.”
“If you let it slack too much, they’ll lose their reverence. If you pull it too tight, they’ll fight back, like an ant trying to shake a tree. It’s best if they’re just barely hanging on.”
The members of the demonic sect nodded in agreement. As expected of the deputy leader, he had a point.
“Birth...”
“Hmm?”
Yu Wen Cuo Jin turned, casting a dark look at Luo Ye Xian.
Luo Ye Xian’s expression turned serious as he said, “I listened to the deputy leader and found it quite similar to managing livestock.”
“Hmph, how’s your investigation going? Have you found out why the power of the beings here is so abundant?”
Yu Wen Cuo Jin felt that with such a preaching method, the power of the beings in this place should be weakening. But the reality was the opposite; there must be other means at play.
“I obtained this from a townsman,” Luo Ye Xian said, pulling out a clay jar.
“This item is quite common; many townsfolk know the flavor inside. I suspect that your esteemed brother is using this to spread his teachings.”
“Oh?”
Yu Wen Cuo Jin cautiously opened the jar.
A fragrant aroma wafted out. The members of the demonic sect, who had been traveling for days and sleeping rough, were instantly captivated, gasping in delight.
What... could smell this good?
It was intoxicating.
“Why does this smell so familiar...?”
“Barbecue? No... it seems even better than that!”
“Where can we get some?”
Hearing someone ask, Luo Ye Xian replied, “I’ve asked the locals. The temple is currently holding a feast for the whole town. If you go, you can get some and enjoy free braised beef noodles.”
“What kind of behavior is this!”
Yu Wen Cuo Jin swallowed hard, but as he scolded, he couldn’t help but drool:
“Hmph, I predicted correctly. That so-called esteemed brother is controlling the townsfolk with this method. There must be some illegal substances involved!”
“The temple, huh? Follow me; I want to see what kind of trickery he’s up to!”
A group of demonic sect members marched toward the temple with great momentum.
What greeted them was a bustling scene, both in description and reality.
Many people had brought their bowls from home and were already slurping down noodles on the ground, while more townsfolk formed a long line.
At the end of the line stood a figure by the stove, flames roaring as they stirred the pot.
“Esteemed brother?”
Luo Ye Xian’s eyes widened.
“This is the so-called esteemed brother?”
Yu Wen Cuo Jin stepped forward, ready to unleash his aura.
At that moment, a woman assisting at the stove seemed to sense something and looked up.
“Zhang Xuan?!”
As a fellow Zhang Xuan, Yu Wen Cuo Jin instantly felt the presence of someone on the same level.
He had no reason to fear someone of the same realm. The problem was, how could a powerful Zhang Xuan be content chopping scallions like a kitchen apprentice?
And what kind of being was this chef, the Black Earth Immortal?
“Holy Son, let’s get in line,” Luo Ye Xian said, wiping his mouth.
“Get in line? What status do I have? What level does the deputy leader hold!”
Yu Wen Cuo Jin hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, “Get in line!”
“?”
Thus, the esteemed deputy leader of the demonic sect and his followers obediently moved to the end of the line.
It wasn’t just the Holy Son of the demonic sect who was puzzled; the Black Earth Immortal, Chef Li, was equally baffled.
“What’s going on with these people?”
Just moments ago, Qin Yu Zhi had secretly informed him that a Zhang Xuan was present.
Now, as he was cooking braised beef noodles, he looked up to see Luo Ye Xian and Tan Zhu Yin dutifully standing at the end of the line.
“Are the members of the demonic sect... this polite?”
“It shows I manage them well!” Qin Yu Zhi lifted her chin, almost striking a pose.
“...Let’s think about how to respond first,” Li Mo said, surprised by the arrival of a Zhang Xuan.
In the demonic sect, a Fa Ti realm practitioner was already at the level of a high-ranking law king, while a Zhang Xuan was likely on par with the sect leader.
If they weren’t here to seek justice, why would they send such a powerful figure?
But if they were here to seek justice, why were they being so polite...?
Li Mo activated his Tian Ming Divine Eye to take a glance, deciding to face whatever came his way.
He couldn’t help but admire Chef Li’s efficiency. The massive pot he was stirring flipped and tossed, a skill honed from his time at Shen Bing Peak. In no time, over a thousand bowls were ready.
Soon, the townsfolk happily returned home.
The temple fell silent.
Both sides sat across from each other at the stove, the atmosphere growing serious in the quiet.
“Slurp...”
“Hmm?”
Yu Wen Cuo Jin turned to see Luo Ye Xian finishing one bowl and going for a second, slurping loudly.
What a worthless thing! Doesn’t he understand the situation?
“What brings you here?”
The Black Earth Immortal, Li, greeted Luo Ye Xian, then casually turned to Yu Wen Cuo Jin.
“Before we talk, I’d like to set a precaution.”
Yu Wen Cuo Jin pulled out an item from his sleeve.
It was a section of green bamboo, resembling jade and radiating spiritual energy.
“This is called Junzi Chengxin Zhu (Gentleman’s Sincere Bamboo). If it detects a lie, it will grow rapidly, allowing us to speak honestly. What do you think?”
“.....”
Li Mo thought to himself, could Pinocchio’s nose be made from this?
Qin Yu Zhi angrily said, “You ungrateful descendant, how dare you!”
It seemed Qin Jiao Zhu was deeply invested in the role.
“?”
Yu Wen Cuo Jin was momentarily taken aback but maintained his composure, looking at Li Mo.
Li Mo nodded and smiled, “I, the Black Earth, have always acted with a clear conscience. I am a gentleman; what do I have to fear from a gentleman’s inquiry?”
“Good. Then regarding the Yunmeng Underground Palace, do you have an explanation for us?”
Yu Wen Cuo Jin fixed his gaze on Li Mo’s eyes, subtly releasing a terrifying aura of a Zhang Xuan.
As his deep voice resonated, the pressure bore down!
With his words, he activated the Junzi Chengxin Zhu.
As soon as it detected a lie, it would grow immediately.
---
Chapter 454: Put Away the Bamboo, Put Away the Bamboo!
Before Li Mo could speak, he was contemplating what to say.
Qin Yu Zhi’s face was frosty as she spoke with authority, “Esteemed Immortal, you are far too kind, far too indulgent with these ungrateful descendants, to allow them to be so brazen in front of their ancestors!”
“??”
Ungrateful... descendants?
That was quite the insult, even worse than my own father, directly adding generations to the mix.
Yu Wen Cuo Jin, already a notorious villain, couldn’t help but feel anger rising within him, but suddenly, he was struck by a realization.
The Junzi Chengxin Zhu stood quietly, not moving an inch.
This meant it had not detected any lies.
Even foul language could be considered a lie, yet what this woman had just said... was not a lie?
Cold sweat broke out on Yu Wen Cuo Jin’s back.
The Black Earth Immortal waved his hand, saying lightly, “Enough. We have long transcended the mundane; there’s no need to concern ourselves with the trivialities of this world.”
“I opened the Yunmeng Underground Palace, but I never promised to take you to retrieve anything from beneath it.”
“Besides, you haven’t left empty-handed, have you?”
“A mere broken stone, what use is that!”
At the mention of this, Tan Zhu Yin couldn’t hold back his anger.
“This is no mere broken stone, haha...”
The Black Earth Immortal seemed to look at a wayward descendant squandering resources with a sense of helplessness: “But this item is indeed not something you can use, and... it is not the greatest gain of the Huàn Mó Sect in the underground palace.”
Hmm?
Yu Wen Cuo Jin furrowed his brow, glancing at the Junzi Chengxin Zhu, realizing the other party was not lying.
This meant that Tan Zhu Yin had gained something even greater in the underground palace?
Why was he unaware of this?
Table of Contents
