348: Chapter 295 348: Chapter 295 The Artifact Spirit of the Hell Palace was still busily occupied; there were too many rats in this city.
As it continued to suck away the rats, it also sprayed the qi of the Vitality Flower throughout the city.
The already crazed rats, with their incessant squeaking, had been making the city’s residents feel panic-stricken.
Ever since the incident with the rats, coupled with the dogs and cats hurting people in their frenzy, fear of rats had taken hold of the populace.
It wasn’t just going out on the streets that caused fear, but even in their own homes, people lived in dread.
The rats could dig and burrow anywhere, turning well-kept houses into tattered ruins.
Thanks to the efforts of the Hell Palace Artifact Spirit, the rats were helplessly sucked away, whisked up into the sky.
This massive removal of rats cleared out even those that were still active on the ground or hiding in drainage ditches, leaving none behind.
It seemed like the whole city was beginning to fall silent, as the frenetic squeaking of rats disappeared.
The dogs and cats that had gone mad now looked up at the sky with eyes filled with fear.
The vitality spreading from the sky quelled the madness of the agitated people, as even the frantic dogs and cats began to calm down.
The city was disinfected with the water of the Vitality Flower, and as quiet returned, people started to forget their panic.
It was as if in an instant the city had regained peace, with only the remaining rat holes as evidence that the past couple of days weren’t a dream.
Those terrorists hiding in the shadows, controlling the rats, were laughing crazily.
They had wanted to watch the entire city go mad from the attacks of the rats and the dogs and cats.
Their plan was to spread the disease to other cities and then control the people of Ancient Xia Country with medication, turning all of them into cannon fodder.
But their conspiracy had failed to come to fruition.
They looked up at the sky, horrified, as an unidentified object sucked away all the rats they had released.
The sudden turn of events left these individuals too terrified to move, realizing that a Great Power Holder must have appeared, perhaps even an Immortal Treasure from the legends, indicating that an exalted figure from the Cultivation World, or possibly Immortal Master Ye who had summoned help, was involved.
Having previously eradicated many of their accomplices, these individuals harbored a deep dread of Ye and his companions.
Their initial plan had been to distract and thus draw Ye to this place, unable to protect the Imperial City, and possibly even become one of the crazed victims in the city himself.
However, they hadn’t anticipated the appearance of a powerful Immortal Artifact that completely ruined their well-laid plan.
These people, like turtles withdrawing into their shells, were hiding in the dark, just like rats, afraid to venture above ground and observe.
Fearful of their presence being discovered by Ye or the formidable Immortal Master, they faced the prospect of total annihilation.
Ye hadn’t descended to the city, he too was in the skies and had come across Jiang Tang and his companions.
Now that tranquillity had returned to the city, it was understood that it was Jiang Tang’s doing.
Ye also spotted the Magical Treasure he and others had been chasing before, now seemingly in the hands of Jiang Tang.
When had Jiang Tang obtained this Magical Treasure?
And the devil that had caused so much harm, was he really dead?
A multitude of questions filled Ye’s mind as he flew over to Jiang Tang’s side.
Jiang Tang had been deploying the Hell Palace Magical Treasure, drawing away the rats and disinfecting the entire city; now, he retracted the Hell Palace Magical Treasure.
“Ye, it’s been a long time…!”
“Jiang Tang, you’re quite a busy man to summon.
Not bad, not bad at all; indeed, you have strength, resolving the troublesome issues I couldn’t handle.
Impressive!”
“Hehe, when Ye calls, how can I not come?
It’s a pity I didn’t bring Yan along from the start.
She’s been talking about you all the time in front of me.”
“How is Yan Weiwei doing?” Upon hearing the name Yan Weiwei, a serious expression broke into a smile on Ye’s face.
This was a smile from the bottom of his heart, and perhaps even Ye himself didn’t realize that his feelings for Yan Weiwei were more than just fraternal friendship.
“I saw her before I came here.
She wanted to come out with me, but she also feared that you, Ye, would be back at the Immortal Sect and she would miss you.
So, she’s waiting at North City Immortal Sect for your return.”
“Alas, I’m afraid I’ll disappoint her.
As you’ve seen, all of these are my responsibilities, and it’s unlikely I’ll be as free as before to simply be an Artifact Refiner at the Immortal Sect.”
“Hehe, a man’s ambition is boundless, and so are his responsibilities.
I understand, and I believe Yan will understand, too.”
Jiang Tang knew of only one of Ye’s identities, and was unaware of the extent of his privileges; this person radiated a sense of righteousness, inspiring Jiang Tang’s unconditioned support, even at the risk of exposing his Immortal Artifact.
From Ye’s vantage point a moment ago, he must have seen the Immortal Artifact in Jiang Tang’s possession.
Ye didn’t ask about it immediately, a testament to his gentlemanly nature of not coveting others’ possessions.
But from his puzzled look, it occurred to him that the Taoist in the Hell Palace was the devil Ye had been pursuing.
“Ye, what’s all this about?”
“I’m afraid it is someone’s deliberate doing.
For now, I can’t pinpoint who these people are or where they come from.
I only know that a group of unidentified individuals have arrived at the distant coast, taking control of our merchant ships and then entering Xia Country.”
“Oh, does Ye need my help?”
“If Jiang Tang is willing to help, that would be wonderful.
My own strength is quite limited and I still have the Imperial City to protect.
With Xia Country being so vast, if these people were to suddenly attack somewhere, it would be very difficult for me to defend.”