Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 419 - 416: City God Serial Assault Case

Chapter 419: Chapter 416: City God Serial Assault Case

Yizhou Prefecture, outskirts of Tanshan City in the Prefecture City.

In a dilapidated temple in the countryside with damaged tiles and leaks everywhere, even the clay statue of the deity had already collapsed by half.

"Don’t come any closer, I don’t know anything.

Don’t ask me, I really don’t know!"

A plaintive female voice grew increasingly desperate.

It seemed as if she was being relentlessly pursued, continuously retreating from the threshold to the divine hall, until her back hit the clay statue in the center of the temple.

Only the moonlight shining through the holes in the roof revealed the startling truth.

It was not some ordinary weak woman, helpless and begging against a strong adversary.

Instead, it was a terrifying hanging ghost wearing ragged red clothes and spitting out half a red tongue!

Moreover, the thick [Debt] above her head was as red as blood, clearly having harmed countless innocent lives already.

The enemy who was pressing her relentlessly ignored the female ghost’s pleas.

A thunderous shout suddenly exploded, making the entire dilapidated temple buzz:

"Eating Ghost, devour!"

"Help me! Spare me—!"

The hanging ghost managed only a final, tragic shriek.

She was then suddenly swept up by a biting cold Yin wind, pulled into the pitch-black night outside the temple.

The sound of "creak, creak" chewing quickly disappeared; the desolate temple in the countryside returned to silence.

Soon after, footsteps as light as dust echoed.

A large man, with a face as dark as lacquer and a beard covering his cheeks, his build similar to that of a bear, dressed in a black official robe, entered the temple with two subordinates.

Right under the collapsed deity statue, the three casually sat down in a circle on the ground.

"Master Nie, is there any news in the memory of this fierce ghost?"

As soon as he sat down, a subordinate with an iron face, albeit more frail in stature, eagerly inquired.

These three were none other than Nie Renxiong’s group, who had been given the task by Wang Yuan, who is [King Yanluo], to reorganize the City God System in all eight prefectures of Yu State.

The speaker, [Judge of Karma] Li Wenzhong, and another subordinate [Judge of Evil Ghosts and Poor Souls] Zhang Mingda.

Both were among the first batch of Black Law Judges that Wang Yuan had recruited during his time as the City God of Dengzhou Mansion.

They were also the core team after Nie Renxiong took over as the City God.

Apart from Dongchang and Wuding, this Yizhou Prefecture, closest to Dengzhou Prefecture, was their first stop on the judges’ mission.

Hearing this, Nie Renxiong shook his head with some disappointment:

"This hanging ghost is just a minor fierce ghost that has recently consumed enough human blood and Yang Energy to complete its [Refining Form], not even totaling a Red Seal.

Her mind is completely empty, wandering into Yizhou Prefecture purely by instinct.

There was no contact with outsiders, nor was she aware of the situation in the City God Temple of the Prefecture City."

Since assuming the divine position of [Punishment Department Judge], he had acquired new powers:

Eyes dark as lacquer, hair like coiled dragons, lips red as blood, beard like spears. See through the mortal realm’s empty promises, not feeding on ethereal mists but feasting on Ghost Uncle.

Punishment, able to precisely identify people and ghosts in the world who are disloyal, unfilial, unbrotherly, and unfaithful; with no manners, no righteousness, no integrity, and no shame.

When facing such adversaries, he could gain extra strength and also devour these eight types of ghosts to strengthen himself and acquire their memories.

Although it is aimed only at these unvirtuous beings, by such standards, 99 percent of his opponents in the cultivation world would qualify.

The hanging ghost just now was no exception and Nie Renxiong easily acquired her memory.

However, looking at the situation, it seemed their mission was not going smoothly.

Judges Li Wenzhong and Zhang Mingda also had solemn expressions, each saying:

"It’s still manageable since we belonged to Dongchang and Wuding Prefectures, which joined Master Yama’s jurisdiction early."

"But since stepping into this territory of Yizhou, we have discovered that the City God Temples in two counties have been completely destroyed, with the City God and all subordinates soul scattered."

"Even affected by the ’Dragon Qi Prohibition’ collapse, it shouldn’t have led to such total annihilation.

I feel there’s something fishy about this."

"Indeed, and the variety of ghosts we encountered along the way is also extraordinarily high.

Even in times of chaos when the Yin Yang order collapses, this is not normal.

If some unexpected change had not occurred, it would be difficult to explain this anomaly."

Listening to the analyses of his subordinates,

Nie Renxiong felt increasingly suspicious about this "City God Mass Murder Case," coupled with a profound anger from the growing realization of their plight.

"Who would target them, and what could their motive be?"

Normally,

with the collapse of the "Dragon Qi Prohibition," the onset of chaotic times would indeed affect the City God systems everywhere to some extent.

Only because the levels of County, State Mansion, and Prefecture City God Temples are the nodes of the "Dragon Qi Prohibition" formation.

Even the Dynasty’s Qi Fortune Golden Dragon collapsed in a single moment.

Apart from Dongchang Mansion and Wuding Prefecture, which had earlier sought out a new stronghold, the other City God Temples, and the City Gods and Yin Officials stationed within, naturally had no good fate to expect.

Indeed, many of the figures venerated in these temples were loyal officials and good generals from the previous dynasty.

Although most had long since turned into mechanically acting clay and wooden statues, they did not favor any side even amidst chaos.

But under the pressure of tribulation energy, it was also very likely that they would face artificially executed purges.

Prior to taking action, Nie Renxiong had already prepared himself mentally.

Strangely, this time the exteriors of the two raided City God Temples were entirely undamaged, yet all of the Yin Officials had their souls shattered.

This assured them that a Cultivator must have stealthily inflicted harm upon them.

After a brief respite in the ruined temple, Nie Renxiong, looking gravely at the two Judges, said:

"We are graced with Master Yama’s great favor, bestowed with the ’Black Law Judge Method,’ saved from being eroded by the Dragon Qi and turning into selfless clay and wooden statues.

Now that our lord has broken through to the Earth Essence Realm and exchanged our Yin Morality for the ’Heavenly Dao’s Favor’ to aid in our Taoist Skill cultivation,

who else in this world is fortunate enough to serve under such a generous master?

Were it not for our lord’s pity, this is a blessing we wouldn’t be able to cultivate in several lifetimes."

"Given the unclear circumstances, even County City Gods who can wield the ultimate combat power of the Red Decree in their own Dharma Domain are dying inexplicably one after another.

This hidden enemy likely possesses Dao Industry beyond that of the Yellow Seal.

Tonight, our expedition to the City God Temple will surely be fraught with peril.

But soldiers are nurtured over a thousand days and used in the span of one; today is the day for us to lay down our lives."

Li Wenzhong and Zhang Mingda, deeply agreeing with what Nie Renxiong had said, solemnly bowed and said:

"How could we dare not obey and lay down our lives?"

Previously, the distribution of Yin Morality among these Judges would adhere to the regulations set by the Yin Officials in the Yin Department, with a twenty-eight split with Wang Yuan.

This limitation is due to the ’Small Book of Life and Death,’ which even Wang Yuan, the "Book Master," could not alter.

However, once Wang Yuan ascended to the Earth Essence Realm and transformed the ’Small Book of Life and Death’ into his ’Lifebound Magic Treasure’,

he immediately gained stronger control over it.

Although the ratio of twenty-eight remained the same,

he allowed the ’Small Book of Life and Death’ to automatically convert the Yin Officials’ contributed eighty percent of Yin Morality into ’Heavenly Dao’s Favor’ and return it to them.

By continuously accumulating Yin Morality through punishing evil and promoting good, the Yin Officials’ cultivation speed could rapidly advance.

It even gave a slight sensation of battling monsters.

This was a privilege only available to Old Master Wang, who could directly report to the mighty deities of the Heavenly Dao like a "pawn crossing the river."

Apart from the Corpse Dissection Immortals, not even the assembly of Nine Soldiers Immortal Officers had this luxury.

Despite all being subordinates of Old Master Wang, there were clear distinctions between individuals.

This was precisely his systemic Dao.

To cultivate the ’Heavenly Department Dao Skill: Earth Que Golden Book’ meant to become an "Earth Que," commanding countless Yin Officials, Ghosts, and Gods, and enshrining one’s Primordial Spirit as a divine and sacred Immortal.

Seated at the Golden Que, they worship me!

Hence, cultivating this Dao skill necessitates gathering countless Yin Soldiers, Yin Officials, and Yin Generals to heavily guard by one’s side, elevating oneself to the highest position.

Every member within this vast system is essentially a part of Wang Yuan’s strength.

The Magician stage requires ’Earth Spirit Qi: Official Energy,’ the Mage stage of cultivation needs ’General Qi,’ and the Sage stage of cultivation requires ’Prince Qi.’

These components of the system, the Yin Officials and Ghost Generals, are not only crucial for acquiring ’Earth Spirit Qi.’

They also play a vital role in helping Wang Yuan cross the boundaries of Yellow and Green Seals to achieve ’Inner Scene,’ creating his own Heaven and Earth.

There are minimum requirements for both quantity and realm.

He had started preparing in advance from the moment of Enlightenment.

Otherwise, waiting to scramble at the last minute after achieving the ’Divine Transformation’ Realm would be far too late.

Of course, one significant reason why Old Master Wang became so generous was that he now had many more new "crowdfunding" targets.

After rallying before the battle, the three Judges were about to head into Tanshan City nearby.

Suddenly, sounds of a large troop pursuing someone outside the temple reached them.

Someone cried out in despair:

"You, who dine in luxury every day, dressed in official robes and boots, enjoying endless honor and riches,

naturally can unabashedly claim your loyalty to the Court and your unswerving devotion to the Emperor.

That’s because you’ve never gone hungry, suffered from the cold, or been trampled into the mud!

If I were you, with an official hat placed upon my head and dressed in official garb, my loyalty would surpass yours!"