Accompanied by Mrs. Pei, Tao Qian, who had left an invitation, exited the Ghost Gate and left the No Food Country.
Before leaving, behind him, amidst the vast ghostly mist mixed with red umbrellas and flower lanterns, came many excuses from Xiao Hua Daoist, nothing more than "Darling, listen to my explanation," "Things aren't what you think," "I didn't send anyone to invite them," "It's just some past matters," and so on.
In response, there was Pei Niannu's snow-white sword light and delicate shout.
"Their little marital amusements, aren't they amusing to you, Daoist?"
"No worries, they will resolve it themselves."
"In three days, you'll surely be able to attend the Daoist's joyful wedding at Penglai Sea."
"Speaking of which, it's quite a pity. When I first heard that Daoist and Xiao Hua were good friends, I thought of introducing my other daughters to Daoist, thinking perhaps there would be some karma, completing a good match, but I didn't expect Daoist Taizhen of Jade Ring Mountain to snatch the chance. Having such a fine son-in-law is truly enviable."
It was the No Food Ghost Mother who spoke.
This lady indeed looked like a holy Bodhisattva from hell, her face full of regret.
If it were other cultivators, being treated like this, they could not help but be deeply moved.
Tao Qian had met the other daughters of the Ghost Mother in the hall, each indeed extremely beautiful and charming, admiring and liking him, Master Tao, but he still dared not speak much or move rashly.
"Xiao Hua Daoist's mother-in-law is truly extraordinary."
"Daoist, take care. After your emotional tribulation is resolved, I'll seek you out for some proper advice."
Tao Qian said these two sentences in his heart, and then managed proper courtesy on his face, bidding farewell to Mrs. Pei.
...
Having left the No Food Country, Tao Qian did not rush back to Penglai Sea.
Instead, he used a spell to conceal his presence, strolling leisurely, wandering around the domain of Demon City.
Though this territory is dominated by the likes of "Si Xixin," with the forbidden law barriers under his control, as long as Tao Qian doesn't use the Heavenly Track, the Ancestor God Forbidden Technique wouldn't be able to detect him.
About an hour later, Tao Qian stood at the outskirts of Demon City, his expression quite complex.
There was joy, but also doubt.
He was joyful, naturally for the millions of people in Demon City.
On his leisurely stroll, he traveled through prosperous territories and visited residential areas; all he saw and touched was real. Beneath the dazzling stars, the neon lights flashed, thousands of homes lit up, extraordinarily charming.
The filth and evil were very rare, even this original "slum" had turned into buildings of peculiar shapes, though the exterior seemed odd, as if crafted by the fusion of Heavenly Mechanism Building and foreign methods, but the interiors truly housed people, and the conditions were quite good.
His confusion naturally stemmed from the cost.
"Providing for millions of people, and leapfrogging toward the kind of [Cyber Cultivation] seen in his previous life... If Si Xixin truly found a way to eliminate the cost and spread it to the Seventy-two Provinces, benefiting billions, his Human Emperor position would indeed be secure."
"Let's keep watching, for now, there's still Yu Yanshi, Zhang Jinluan, Yin Yuehua, and other talents competing with him. Ancestor Spirit Daoist, Yuann Mingzhen, Zheng Yin, Shenxiu, and others are also keeping an eye, should be no problem."
"The most critical thing is the current scene of Human Dao, really is good."
Tao Qian, considering to this point, had a smile on his face.
He was after all special. The Ancestor God Forbidden Technique was reforged because of him, though he was unwilling to be the Human Emperor, causing the various treasures of the Forbidden Technique not to choose him, but this merit and cause were recognized, and the Human Dao Torrent born from the prayers of all people, up to now only recognized him alone.
Thus, he could also see the current state of Human Dao.
Unprecedented prosperity!
Unprecedented fervor!
Across the north and south, the Seventy-two Provinces, many great talents are being born.
Seeing the imposing momentum, Tao Qian and Ancestor Spirit both judged: this generation of talents, born in accordance with fate, is going to surpass any dynasty in the past two thousand years.
With these thoughts settled, Tao Qian felt much more at ease.
With nothing more to see, he intended to return to Ascending Immortal Island.
The other guests would have their invitations delivered by the Spirit Treasure Envoy, he as a groom with the wedding approaching, shouldn't be wandering outside.
Just as he was about to cast a spell, suddenly, a faint and indistinct cry for help was relayed through some medium.
"Rescue Suffering Master Suppressing Evil, please come save us, we are all going to die, Mountain Ghost Sister is also going to die."
"Why, why is it that we, so honest, so kind, end up worse off than those demons."
"Although we are Mountain Spirits and Ghosts, we have never harmed humans. If Master Suppressing Evil is truly efficacious, please send down the Magic Sword and slay this villain."
"Humph, stop struggling, this so-called True Monarch is also of the Human Clan. Humans only help humans, would they help us devils?"
...
"Hmm?"
This change came suddenly, causing Tao Qian to be slightly surprised.
But soon, he discerned the source.
The medium transmitting these voices was surprisingly the ritual incense.
And the sound source, evidently a place not far from Demon City, somewhere he went long ago.
Heavenly Mother Mountain!
This mountain, near Demon City, is considered a spiritual place, nurturing many Mountain Spirits and Ghosts, also attracting some honest and good devils to reside there, avoiding the chaotic mundane world and cultivation world.
Years ago, Tao Qian borrowed this mountain to kill the Evil Sect disciple Lian Yulou within it.
Their battle ruined the mountain, causing the spirit "Mountain Ghost" to cry. Tao Qian used a spell to compensate her with a more spiritual Heavenly Mother Mountain.
Now looking again, the mountain indeed showed signs of becoming a Cave Heaven Blessed Land.
In that mountain, there was once a dilapidated Wood Immortal Temple. But now, not only has the temple been restored, it has been renamed to Suppressing Evil Temple.
Within the temple, the deity worshiped is named... Rescue Suffering Master Suppressing Evil!
Tao Qian found it immensely familiar; it was clearly himself.
The statue depicted his appearance after he had slain Lian Yulou, a young Daoist with natural spiritual grace, cradling a kitten.
And before the temple, there was even a stone tablet; upon it were crooked and very endearing characters, detailing how the Suppressing Evil Master subdued a menace about to harm Heavenly Mother Mountain and all beings, also recounting how he summoned sweet rain and granted auspicious spiritual Qi, reconstructing Heavenly Mother Mountain.
"It's the work of the Mountain Ghost."
"However, this temple is really small, and the worshipers are merely some devils from the mountain. Previously, mixed within endless prayers, I simply couldn't hear them."
"Now that I'm near, sensing some changes, I could perceive it."
With a thought, Tao Qian, filled with curiosity, began casting.
He didn't even need to use an escape skill to rush over; the Scripture of Salvation contains a Divine Skill called Spirit Manifestation Seal, which is used for a deity to show saint-like manifestations.
Tao Qian formed a seal, and upon opening his eyes again, he was already attached to the statue of Suppressing Evil Master in the temple.
The clay statue opened its eyes, instantly seeing the scene inside the temple:
First, there was a gathering of mountain spirits and devils, including the long unseen "Mountain Ghost" riding a black panther, and tree spirits like willow and locust, tiger, deer, pig beasts, and some spirit ghosts and demons appearing in the illusion of beautiful women. Almost caught everything inside Heavenly Mother Mountain.
All these devils were held captive.
In addition, there was a human clan man.
The man was extremely handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, seeming like an elegant young gentleman of a chaotic world.
He wore a robe akin to a Daoist robe yet differed slightly as scholar attire, with four small characters embroidered on his chest and cuffs... Xixin Academy.
This man, his appearance so pleasing.
But this Suppressing Evil Master Temple, because of him, became even more terrifying than purgatory.
All devils were in lamentation.
One due to the pain for their kind, indescribably painful, another due to fear.
This man set up an elixir furnace in the temple center, engraved an Elixir Fire Array on the ground, burning the furnace crimson, inside the elixir liquid boiling, with countless spiritual objects' corpses visibly emerging and sinking. Among the bubbling sounds, one could hear the unfinished howls of life souls.
While on the temple's ground, blood traces, debris of bitten corpse flesh with tooth marks, bones sucked dry of marrow, skulls emptied of brains, scattered all around.
In the corner lay bodies of seven or eight half-human half-devil women, snake demons, fox demons, colorful sparrow spirits, banana spirits... none had clothes, lying naked, their eyes empty, bodies bruised with blue and purple marks.
Seeing these scenes, then looking at that young man, what elegant gentleman?
Clearly a beast with eerie evil Qi wearing human skin.
This beast let the mountain spirits curse, swaggering to the Mountain Ghost bound by talismanic rope, hanging in mid-air.
Staring at her naturally graceful body, eyes filled with lust and greed, sniffing her fragrance, he wickedly laughed:
"The best naturally is saved for last."
"Once I refine this batch of Hundred Spirits Immortal Pill, upon consuming it, I'll immediately step into the Transcend Mortality Realm."
"Then once my transformed body can withstand your backlash, unite with you, this Heavenly Mother Mountain, transforming into Cave Heaven Blessed Land, will forever belong to me, Fu Yupu."
"Hahaha..."
While the man named Fu Yupu laughed wildly.
In another corner, a series of enraged scoldings came:
"Fu Yupu, you shameless beast, you'll face heavenly punishment sooner or later."
"Bah, who was that blind examiner who admitted such a beast with human skin into Xixin Academy."
"Earlier, Brother Shi'en said your whereabouts were strange lately, overflowing with evil Qi, surely doing great evil. We followed tonight, only to realize Fu Yupu you beast, have gone mad to this extremity. Mountain spirits of Heavenly Mother Mountain have begun doing good for years, consistently helping mortals downhill, without harming human clans, yet you for refining elixirs and techniques, directly slaughtering this mountain's life, are you insane?"
"Shut up!"
Fu Yupu turned his gaze, tinged with crimson, staring at several collapsed people in the corner.
Three men and one woman, also wearing scholar robes like Fu Yupu, subjected to an evil curse, immobile.
Judging by the situation, they should be students from a place called Xixin Academy.
Fu Yupu looked at them, coldly chuckled and replied:
"Heavenly punishment?"
"Hahaha... Xu Shi'en, Hu Langui, Zhou Zhiru, Li Chun, aren't you four the top scholars of Xixin Academy, don't you understand that heavenly punishment also discriminates?"
"Previously, it was for torturing human clans."
"But since the great Tao Master reshaped the forbidden law, heavenly punishment's torment now targets spiritual objects apart from human clans."
"As long as I, Fu Yupu, don't harm humans, that dumb forbidden law won't designate me as an evil cultivator, naturally won't unleash a divine skill to destroy me."
"With the forbidden law backing, I, Fu Yupu, can do whatever I want."
"All this, one must thank Tao Qian Tao Master."
"How funny, these fools actually worship Tao Master, who causes them such downfall, even giving him a nickname, calling him Suppressing Evil Master."
"Irony, it's truly ironic."
ps: Two more chapters to come.