I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night
Chapter 203 - 148 The Elder Bathed in Blood [Second Update!]

Chapter 203: Chapter 148 The Elder Bathed in Blood [Second Update!]

"Master, you’re back?"

Little White Ape called out from a distance.

It exclaimed in surprise, "How did you manage to acquire a horse? And why does this creature have scales? Is it also a hybrid?"

"Jiao Linma, quite rare within Qifeng Prefecture."

Lin Yan said indifferently, "It was prepared by the Shi Family for that young master Shi Xu, to be used for escaping in critical moments. Now it belongs to me."

He stroked the head of the Jiao Linma.

It seemed that, because of the several medicinal baths Mr. Lu had previously given, Spirit Talismans had been integrated into the scales of the Jiao Linma.

Although this was not the same horse, this Jiao Linma likewise showed considerable affection for him.

Legend has it that the earliest Jiao Linma were sired long ago, from the union of a Jiao dragon and a steed, inheriting part of the Jiao dragon’s Bloodline Divine Power.

To this day, though the bloodline has diluted and the divine powers have receded,

compared to ordinary horses, they are still faster, stronger, more enduring, and their scaly armor offers protection, remaining a rare divine steed.

Little White Ape appraised the horse for a few moments, its gaze then falling upon the still-bleeding bundle.

"Master has succeeded so swiftly. I thought an arduous battle would be unavoidable before escaping the city."

"Indeed, leaving the city was no easy task, and with no lack of strong individuals from the Human Clan within, I might not have truly been able to break out,"

Lin Yan said with a laugh, a hint of self-mockery in his tone, "But I was carrying an Amulet on my back, which is why no one dared to stop me in Feng City."

"Amulet?"

"The challenge letter from Li Shen Sect."

"That counts as an Amulet?"

"The battle is about to begin. Whoever holds me back in Feng City is seen as an intentional obstruction of this duel, tarnishing the face of Li Shen Sect."

"So the higher-ups of Feng City didn’t dare to obstruct you, Master?"

"Li Shen Sect was just an overt reason. What they really cared about was the backing of Observatory behind me, and the potential I showed at such a young age."

Lin Yan laughed again, then added, "However, without Li Shen Sect’s public justification, that Great City Guard might not have found a reason to help me escape!"

Glancing at the Night Treasure Sabre on his waist, he then heard Lin Yan say with a sigh of nostalgia, "Since joining the Observatory, I believed my contributions have been many, and that I had established quite the remarkable military exploits. Yet, what truly made Qifeng Prefecture recognize the name Wu Chang was a single challenge letter from Li Shen Sect!"

"The fame this letter has brought me surpasses that gained from fighting bloody battles and slaying demons."

"For three hundred years, the most talented in Qifeng Prefecture has been Li Shen Sect, carrying much more weight than I anticipated."

"Well, after dealing with Little Divine Sect, once the High Willow City matter is resolved, I’ll go find Li Shen Sect."

"It’s getting late. Let’s head to the Pure Land ahead and rest for a while."

----

Within Qifeng Prefecture, in various cities and Pure Lands, their sources of food mostly came from Feng City.

There were official forces from each city, as well as merchants from all sides.

There were also many commoners living in exile within the Pure Lands, exchanging food with Feng City using the fruits of their labor during the day.

Some people, although not natives of Feng City, had obtained jobs that allowed them the fortune to till the fields for Feng City’s landlords and return to the Pure Land after nightfall.

As a result, the Pure Land in the vicinity of Feng City rarely had vacancies.

Some Pure Lands even had people who had settled there for a long time.

"Master, it’s difficult to find a nearby Pure Land, but there is a medium-sized one ahead that’s not yet full."

"Let’s go there," Lin Yan said as he rode the Jiao Linma.

Little White Ape, mounted on another horse and leading a third, set off toward the Pure Land ahead.

Before long, they saw that upon approaching the Pure Land, someone with a saber blocked their path.

"This Pure Land is now the long-term residence of our merchant house by contract with Feng City. Outsiders are not allowed to enter. Please find another Pure Land!"

"Oh?"

Lin Yan’s eyebrows rose as he countered, "Pure Land is a place for the Human Clan to seek refuge. When did it become private property? To drive people away as night falls is to endanger their lives. This is an iron rule within Qifeng Prefecture!"

"What iron rule?"

The guard became irritated and was about to forcibly expel them.

It was then that a voice from behind called out, "How dare you! We are but temporary residents of the Pure Land. Since when have we become its masters?"

"Step aside. Will you not beckon this young master inside?"

"..."

The guard’s face changed slightly as he complied with a sound, making way for them.

Lin Yan remained composed as he rode forward.

Meanwhile, within the Pure Land, the elder who spoke earlier seemed to be in his seventies, his expression slightly grave.

"Shopkeeper, why allow outsiders in? Isn’t that just asking for unnecessary trouble?"

"Not letting them in would be an even bigger problem," lamented the septuagenarian, resignedly. "Have none of you short-sighted ones noticed the attire of those individuals?"

"What attire?" one of the managers looked outside and whispered, "Two people, three horses?"

"Those who can afford horses are no ordinary folks," the old man said with seriousness in his voice. "Especially that horse with the scales all over, it’s probably a Jiao Linma. Extremely rare in Qifeng Prefecture, those who can afford such a divine steed are not people we want to offend."

"The Shopkeeper certainly has keen eyes," the manager remarked, suddenly enlightened and relieved.

"In the future, be more observant," the old man advised. "Notice the unmounted horse with a bundle at its side, soaked through with blood?"

"You mean, these two are dangerous individuals?" asked the manager, startled.

"So don’t offend them. As long as they are not too unreasonable, let them be for now, and send over a bag of rice in the evening," the septuagenarian advised.

"You’re being too cautious, sir. They only have two people, while we have more than thirty," the steward said, unable to help himself, "Besides, within the Pure Land, shedding blood is not allowed, and they probably wouldn’t dare to start a fight..."

"When you’re out and about, it’s not a bad thing to be a bit more thoughtful," the old man continued, simply waving his hand, indicating that he didn’t want to say any more on the matter.

Meanwhile, Lin Yan and the Little White Ape, riding horses, entered this medium-sized Pure Land, not intending to interact with these merchants.

The Little White Ape tied up the three horses inside.

While Lin Yan sat in a corner, his eyes slightly closed.

Throughout the journey, his heart had felt somewhat heavy.

When he explored the Netherworld Stone Gate, he had picked up that token.

The Nirvana Divine Egg in his palm had devoured the token that came from the "Netherworld."

Originally, the Nirvana Divine Egg had eighteen patterns, nine Yin and nine Yang, relatively balanced, but after devouring that token, the Yin energy overwhelmed the Yang energy.

This time, it suddenly consumed that "ear of rice," achieving a Yin and Yang balance.

This was good news in itself.

But it made Lin Yan feel uneasy.

"Is it the Feng City Temple? Or that Heavenly God King?"

Looking at the Nirvana Divine Egg in his hand, Lin Yan thought to himself: "I have already reached the Qi Refining Realm, but in a fleeting moment, I was dazed and thrown off my horse, falling into the rice field."

"Such methods are indefensible, unknown, and mysterious."

"I am still not powerful enough!"

He exhaled, thinking: "That strange ear of rice, could it be like a ’gift’ from ’Feng City’?"

It seemed like a fortunate gift at the moment.

However, it just perfectly balanced the "imbalance of Yin and Yang" of the Nirvana Divine Egg.

He didn’t think this was a coincidence.

That meant that after he entered Feng City, without his notice, the existence of the Nirvana Divine Egg had been "monitored."

Lin Yan’s gaze was filled with solemnity.

Having entered the Qi Refinement Realm, he was undoubtedly considered a top-tier strong member of the Human Clan in any city!

But upon arriving in Feng City, he was completely unaware of any "abnormalities"?

"Fortunately, it seems to be of no harm to me for now," he contemplated.

Clenching his hand into a fist, Lin Yan thought to himself: "Speculating further at this moment is pointless. Upon returning to High Willow City... Mr. Lu, who used to be a temple priest at the Wutong Temple, should be able to give me an accurate answer!"

"This young master..."

At that moment, a steward from the trading company approached, holding a small cloth bag, and performed a greeting: "The Shopkeeper noticed it’s getting late and has sent over some food for you."

"There’s no need," Lin Yan said, raising his hand, "We are all merely resting here in this Pure Land for the night by coincidence. We were strangers before and likely won’t have any connection in the future. I would feel guilty accepting your things and not being able to repay the favor..."

He waved the steward away.

Seeing his manner, the merchants from the company did not insist.

After all, in this world, food is extremely important and could be considered a generous gift.

If he wouldn’t accept it, they could save it for their use.

But then, the Little White Ape took out a snake, chuckling: "Master, we’ve been eating nothing but vegetarian cakes recently. Let’s have some meat today..."

This was a snake the Little White Ape had caught while loitering in the forest since Lin Yan entered Feng City.

Soon after, the Little White Ape started to prepare the snake, then shouted to the people from the trading company: "Don’t worry, I know the rules. It’s already been killed."

No living creatures could be killed within the Pure Land.

This was a rule strictly adhered to by everyone in the human world.

Anyone who violated the rule, without exception, met with ominous signs.

And Lin Yan, experiencing an ominous sign on his first stay in a Pure Land, faintly understood the transformation.

"This snake is already dead and can be processed within the Pure Land," Lin Yan thought to himself. "But if it was alive, it could not be killed within the Pure Land..."

Perhaps it was a freshly dead creature, whose flesh and soul could awaken the town objects within the Pure Land!

However, each Pure Land’s town object was different.

The ominous signs that ensued might not be the same, either.

As flames arose, the Little White Ape began roasting the snake, salivating at the sight of the sizzling, oily meat.

"Master, this snake smells delicious even when roasting," the Little White Ape muttered, "I don’t even dare to imagine what that Jiao dragon from the Dayin River would taste like if we roasted it."

"That Jiao dragon, now under the Dayin River’s dragon-pinning column, will be in charge of managing the Dayin River in the future, so stop thinking about eating it," Lin Yan said slowly. "Of course, if one day it stirs up trouble again, you might consider trying roasted Jiao dragon."

No sooner had his words fallen when they heard shouting from outside.

"Who’s there? Get out of here!"

There was a loud thump!

The speaking guard of the trading company was thrown against the wall.

Then an old man, covered in blood, stumbled into the Pure Land, collapsing to the ground.