Chapter 23: Deterring the Wraiths, A Single Word That Presses Upon the City

"Daoist, please."

Zhang Qingyun invited Jiang Sheng to take a seat with exceptional solemnity, personally serving him tea.

"Why is the County Magistrate acting this way?" Jiang Sheng picked up the teacup and took a light sip.

Zhang Qingyun explained, "The Eight Wolves of East County are notorious throughout Qingzhou; they are heinous bandit cultivators who have claimed countless lives. Even ordinary evil cultivators fear them deeply."

"By slaying the Eight Wolves today, you have undoubtedly dealt a massive blow to the evil cultivators in this county. I expect the evil cultivators lurking in Qingshan County will remain quiet for a while."

"This will allow me, my daughter, and Fairy Xu to arrange things calmly, giving us enough time to wipe out these evil cultivators in one fell swoop."

"How could Qingyun not be grateful to the Daoist?"

Jiang Sheng, however, smiled and said, "I recall that when Town Head Tian represented the Magistrate to invite me down the mountain, I declined, and the Magistrate flew into quite a rage."

"Furthermore, you previously sat idly by while those rogue cultivators tested me."

"Why the sudden shift from arrogance to respect?"

Zhang Qingyun looked somewhat embarrassed.

Zhang Qing immediately interjected, "The Daoist is a High Cultivator from Penglai with an extraordinary temperament. Why bother holding a grudge against a mortal like my father?"

"My father was merely acting out of desperation back then; he forgot the truth that true scriptures are hard to find and true masters are hard to invite."

Jiang Sheng nodded with a smile. He had no intention of holding a grudge against Zhang Qingyun; otherwise, why would he be sitting here?

After learning of Jiang Sheng's strength from Xu Xiao, Zhang Qing shared her actual plan with him.

Clearly, what Zhang Qing was saying now was the true plan, whereas the scheme discussed in the secret chamber that night was actually a precaution against the possibility of demon spies infiltrating them.

Currently, Wenren Jie, Young Master Kongxu, and Qiao Xuan were all absent. Only Xu Xiao, a close friend from the Moon-Grabbing Sect, and Jiang Sheng, a High Cultivator from Penglai, were present.

In terms of identity, neither of them would ever collude with the demons of the Taiping River.

Jiang Sheng had already joined forces with Xu Xiao to set up a barrier, ensuring that the conversation within the magistrate's office could not be overheard by outsiders.

After listening silently to Zhang Qing's explanation, Jiang Sheng pondered for a moment before speaking, "I do believe in Miss Zhang's plan."

"The county is currently dangerous, yet Miss Zhang must remain in the center to coordinate. After much thought, I shall leave Miss Zhang with something for self-defense."

Zhang Qing's eyes sparkled. "What kind of self-defense item will the Daoist leave for me?"

Jiang Sheng took a talisman from his robe. It was a cyan paper talisman inscribed with profound black cloud patterns.

Handing the talisman to Zhang Qing, Jiang Sheng explained, "This is a Profound Water Talisman I drew in my spare time. It contains my spiritual energy; once activated, ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators will not be able to harm you in the slightest."

Zhang Qing carefully tucked the talisman away and bowed gracefully. "This girl thanks the Daoist."

Looking at the cyan talisman, Xu Xiao's eyes were filled with pleasant surprise. "To think the Daoist could successfully draw such a profound talisman while only at the Foundation Establishment stage—it is truly astonishing."

It was common knowledge that for cultivators, whether drawing talismans or refining pills, it was difficult to produce items of the same rank.

For example, a Foundation Establishment cultivator refining pills would mostly produce Qi Refinement stage pills, and a Foundation Establishment cultivator drawing talismans would mostly draw Qi Refinement stage talismans.

This was because such a method yielded the highest success rate and was most cost-effective. Using Foundation Establishment cultivation to refine Qi Refinement items was considered "high-level mastery," whereas doing the opposite would almost certainly result in failure.

Jiang Sheng gave a light chuckle, his expression unchanged. "It was merely a practice piece made in my leisure; there is nothing profound about it."

Xu Xiao said hurriedly, "Penglai is an orthodox sect of the Mysterious Gate. Who in the entire Eastern Region does not know the name of the Penglai Spirit Talismans?"

"Having the honor to see a Penglai Spirit Talisman today, I have an impudent request: I would like to ask the Daoist to sell me a few."

Knowing that Xu Xiao was under immense pressure managing the county alone, Jiang Sheng thought for a moment and said, "Tell me what kind of spirit talismans you need, Fellow Daoist Xu."

"I will draw them after I return to the mountain. You may come to Qingshan Mountain to collect them in three days."

Delighted, Xu Xiao listed the types of talismans she required.

Jiang Sheng nodded slightly. What Xu Xiao needed were essentially talismans for detecting the traces of evil cultivators, breaking curses, and defending against malicious hexes. For Jiang Sheng, these were not difficult tasks at all.

Thus, Jiang Sheng agreed, "I can draw these talismans, and I can lower the price by another twenty percent. Is that acceptable, Fellow Daoist Xu?"

Xu Xiao nodded repeatedly. "Then I thank the Daoist profusely."

Without further idle chatter, Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao agreed to meet at Qingshan Mountain in three days for the transaction, after which Jiang Sheng began his return journey.

It was only after Jiang Sheng soared into the sky and left the county that the evil cultivators hiding throughout the city breathed a secret sigh of relief.

The pressure Jiang Sheng had exerted on them was simply too great. The Eight Wolves of East County—what legendary prestige they held!

Slaying a true disciple of the Qingyun Sect and standing toe-to-toe with a Purple Mansion Elder—who in Qingzhou did not know the name of the Eight Wolves of East County?

How many Qi Refinement cultivation families had been destroyed by them? How many Foundation Establishment cultivators had been hunted and slaughtered like prey?

Now, the illustrious Eight Wolves had encountered a true dragon while hunting, only to be slaughtered one by one, their corpses hung brazenly at the entrance of the magistrate's office.

When the evil cultivators took a secret peek, they were nearly scared to death!

The Eight Wolves, whose mere reputation used to terrify Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment families into fleeing overnight, were now hanging at the magistrate's office, their bodies withered and dry like pieces of cured meat. One look was enough to know what they had endured.

The evil cultivators could even imagine the scene: the Eight Wolves, unable to match Jiang Sheng, had desperately sacrificed their entire essence and blood, only to be slaughtered one by one.

That sense of helplessness made the evil cultivators feel suffocated just thinking about it.

And just as Zhang Qingyun had said, after Jiang Sheng's display of power, the evil cultivators in Qingshan County indeed settled down.

They weren't fools; they wouldn't seek a direct confrontation with a powerhouse like Jiang Sheng.

Moreover, Daoist Jiang had said he would reside in Qingshan Mountain for cultivation. As long as they didn't disturb him there, they would likely be safe.

Even so, the evil cultivators couldn't be sure if Jiang Sheng would drop by Qingshan County every few days, so they all hid their tracks, deciding to lie low and wait for the situation to stabilize.

Some even took the opportunity to inform their employers, demanding a price hike—showing absolutely no professional ethics.

With just a single sentence, Jiang Sheng had suppressed the entire city of evil cultivators, leaving these killers trembling in fear, none daring to show their faces!

Returning to Qingshan Mountain, Jiang Sheng finally began the tranquil life of cultivation he desired.

Gathering the morning glow by day and the moonlight by night, as droplets of spiritual liquid continuously accumulated within his body, Jiang Sheng felt that if he could continue like this forever, he would be perfectly content.

Three days later, Xu Xiao arrived at Qingshan Mountain to collect her talismans. Jiang Sheng handed them over.

Among them were five talismans for defending against hexes, five for breaking curses, and ten for tracking the aura of evil cultivators.

In total, there were twenty talismans, for which Xu Xiao paid two thousand eight hundred spirit stones.

The price was not high; it was actually more than thirty percent lower than the market price.

Furthermore, those were ordinary talismans; these were drawn by a Foundation Establishment cultivator from Penglai, which logically should have been much more expensive.

Xu Xiao naturally knew that Jiang Sheng was giving her a massive discount. In her gratitude, she expressed that she would inform her fellow disciples, helping to bring more business to Jiang Sheng.

Jiang Sheng nodded and accepted with a smile.

After seeing Xu Xiao off, Jiang Sheng's life returned to its peaceful state.

This lasted until four days later, at the hour of the Rabbit during sunrise, when Tian Ming'an arrived at the Taoist temple. He knelt outside the hall, begging Jiang Sheng to accept him.

Jiang Sheng sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, his eyelids lowered, ignoring Tian Ming'an kneeling outside.

Tian Ming'an remained kneeling in silence until the hour of the Rooster, when he finally rose and descended the mountain.

The next morning, Tian Ming'an arrived early again and knelt outside the hall. Jiang Sheng did not speak, and Tian Ming'an continued to kneel until evening before leaving.

Then came the third day, the fourth, and the fifth.

After kneeling continuously for six days, even though Tian Ming'an still wanted to climb the mountain, Tian Guofu could no longer bear it. "Ming'an, if you truly wish to cultivate and learn the Dao, it is not impossible for the family to give up this vast wealth to send you to a sect in East County."

"Besides, the Imperial Dao Palace sends officials to inspect every county every year. As long as you are twelve years old and possess the right aptitude, you could potentially join the Dao Palace. Why must you beg Daoist Jiang so bitterly?"

Tian Ming'an pursed his lips, his expression stubborn. "I have seen little and met few cultivators, but I know that cultivators like the Daoist are extremely rare."

"To encounter him now is my destiny. If I fail to grasp this opportunity, it will be something I regret for the rest of my life."

With that, ignoring his family's persuasion, Tian Ming'an climbed the mountain early again, kneeling before the temple hall, prostrate and silent.

Jiang Sheng glanced silently at Tian Ming'an and lowered his eyes to continue his cultivation.

Another day passed in silence. Having knelt for an entire day again, Tian Ming'an's body was stiff, cold, and hungry.

At twelve years old, to endure the cold by kneeling for a whole day without food or water—most could barely last two or three days, let alone seven?

But what Tian Ming'an thought was: he had already endured seven days. As long as he kept going, every day he knelt would show Jiang Sheng one more measure of his sincerity.

Thus, on the morning of the eighth day, even though he felt his body was on the verge of collapse, Tian Ming'an forced himself up the mountain. He struggled halfway up and knelt before Jiang Sheng.

From the hour of the Rabbit until the hour of the Horse, Tian Ming'an was in a daze.

Jiang Sheng looked at Tian Ming'an and suddenly spoke, "You have knelt for seven consecutive days; including today, it is the eighth."

"If I still refuse to take you, what will you do?"