Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 359 - 344: Second Update

Chapter 359: Chapter 344: Second Update

On the square, the prayers slowly converged into waves, like the undulating waves borne by the wind over the boundless ocean.

Everyone knelt devoutly around the altar, only Gu Dao and Xi Feng standing upright before the altar steps, their gaze piercing through—their devotion shone upon the fervent believers of Qiandao Temple, as well as their devotion to the Princely Heir.

Gu Dao and Xi Feng’s expressions grew even calmer, yet inside they swelled with immense pride, for their Princely Heir would one day become a Great Mage as revered as Master Huo Yi.

The townsfolk mutely prayed along with Zong Yunqian on the altar, their voices gently undulating.

"Bow down—" As the figure on the altar knelt, all the people on the square devoutly followed suit, and instantly the waves surged.

Upon lifting their heads, the townsfolk saw a golden light slowly rising behind Zong Yunqian on the altar, a light that at once ignited everyone’s passion, engraving the devotion and faith onto the faces of all present.

When Elder Can opened the crack in the window, he caught sight of the faint, yet distinct golden light behind Zong Yunqian and his complexion changed immediately. Before he could act, he heard the Black Jars on Gui San and Gui Si tremble wildly, as if something within desperately sought to break the lid open.

Gui San and Gui Si were frantically pressing down on their respective Black Jars, casting panicked glances toward Elder Can.

"Elder Can, that boy is deceiving us—" Gui San managed to say with difficulty, his face contorted as if it were about to detach from his skull, while Gui Si’s arms, pushing down on his Black Jar, seemed to be pulled by some force—the skin could not bear such power and began to tear like cloth, splitting open at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Steady—" Elder Can quickly said,

waving his hand to create a barrier. Gui San and Gui Si, who had almost deformed, shrank back slightly. They dared not speak further, concentrating all their attention on combating the Ghost Shadows desperate to break free. Even with Elder Can’s help, the two were in great panic, especially with their own Ghost Shadows struggling violently, on the brink of escaping their control.

The figure of Zong Yunqian remained steadfast on the altar, with the gold light intermittently appearing, clearly visible to everyone. The faces of the townsfolk displayed their devotion and joy unabashedly; their bowing gestures grew more respectful.

Wisps of black smoke danced unseen by the naked eye, drifting slowly out of a window of an inn on the edge of the square.

Elder Can immediately used both hands to firmly restrain the Ghost Shadows that almost broke free from their cage, his face not as confident as before. He never expected that, after so many dealings with the boy Zong Yunqian, he would have held back a trick.

In this moment, Elder Can no longer concealed his strength, and simultaneously tackled two Ghost Shadows, along with the half Ghost Shadow inside Zong Yunqian belonging to Gui Wu. If these were linked back to Ghoul Ravine, it would inevitably lead to a great battle between Qiandao Temple and Ghoul Ravine.

Elder Can dared not underestimate the situation, well aware that if the Ghost Shadows escaped from his grasp, Zong Yunqian would become the great hero who dealt with the Ghost Shadows under everyone’s watchful eyes, his planning would amount to nothing, and a great conflict between Ghoul Ravine and Qiandao Temple would be unavoidable.

Therefore, it was imperative that the half Ghost Shadow within Zong Yunqian be the first to emerge, allowing all to witness the Ghost Shadow inside him and thereby casting doubt upon the identity of the Princely Heir from Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family.

"Pfft—" Gui San spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his eyeballs bulging as if a colossal pressure was sucking them out of their sockets, and not just the eyeballs—every inch of his skin seemed to be pulled taut, the flesh stretched to the point of detaching from his bones.

Zong Yunqian’s mouth revealed a faint cold smile, his fingers twitching slightly, and the golden light behind him intensified a tad. Instantly, he could feel the Ghost Shadow’s presence more clearly. Moreover, with the support of the beliefs of so many common Qiandao Temple devotees—not decisive on their own but undoubtedly indispensable factors.

"Pu—" Gui Si’s body suddenly slammed against the wall, as if he intended to crush himself to death. An arm was instantly contorted out of shape, but Gui Si still clung desperately to the black jar in his hand, spitting a mouthful of sacrificial blood onto it. Immediately, the jar hissed, and a plume of acrid, blood-scented smoke rose from it.

Gui San was in even worse condition. Due to his previous injuries that had not yet healed, his state was slightly worse than Gui Si’s, and his consciousness began to drift into haziness. The black smoke had already crept silently up his arm and began to scale upwards.

Zong Yunqian slowly felt that it was almost time. He suddenly looked up, staring straight ahead with a piercing cold light shooting from his eyes. The long incense on the altar in front of him flickered and then flared brightly.

It was time to make a move. He wanted to see who was so divine as to have made him lose the advantage. Nevertheless, it did not matter. From this moment on, he, Zong Yunqian, was the one in control.

Zong Yunqian suddenly stood up, grasping a handful of incense ash from the altar and scattering it into the air. The incense ash burst forth with a golden light, illuminating the entire altar as if sending a powerful signal to the Ghost Shadow.

Elder Can’s expression changed wildly as he darted toward Gui San and Gui Si, sensing the bad omen and selflessly trying to stop the Ghost Shadows that were about to burst forth. But at that moment, all of Elder Can’s actions were futile as a praying mantis stopping a chariot, as the Ghost Shadow burst through the barrier Elder Can had set up and shot towards the window.

Elder Can’s face drained of color. In that moment, he could nearly see the dire consequences for Ghoul Ravine, where almost all living beings would be wiped out. He had underestimated Zong Yunqian’s abilities, not expecting the young man to harbor such strong Spells and skillfully bait them into his trap.

Gui San and Gui Si, with a resolve to die, charged at their own Ghost Shadows, blood gushing from their mouths and noses, hoping to use their own fresh blood to momentarily bind the Ghost Shadows. But all efforts seemed pale and helpless.

In this critical moment, just as Ghost Shadow was about to burst through the window and become the target for all, a sudden, muffled thud echoed. The Ghost Shadow crashed against the window, the sound like an object flying at high speed and hitting a solid iron wall.

The next moment, a familiar voice, like a savior, appeared in front of the window.

Seeing the figure, Elder Can finally breathed a sigh of relief, his gaze toward his Young Master choked with emotion, filled with a complexity beyond words.

"Young Master—" Elder Can trembled as he scrambled to his feet, kneeling on the ground. In that moment, he saw hope for Ghoul Ravine.

Gui San and Gui Si looked at their Young Master with even greater admiration and excitement than Elder Can.

Ghost Shadow dejectedly returned to the Black Jar, completely devoid of its prior arrogance and fury, suppressed into submissiveness like a defeated, skulking stray dog.

"What are you standing around for? Continue," the youth said coldly.

Elder Can immediately snapped out of his excitement, stood up, and instantly began directing Gui San and Gui Si.

"Quick, hurry up."