Inside the heretical temple, seven temple keepers surrounded Zhao Yuansong, brandishing sharp blades with ill intentions.
Yet, even in a seven-on-one situation, they dared not advance rashly, their eyes filled with apprehension.
Though facing but a single individual, the subtle aura emanating from him instilled in them an insurmountable sense of pressure.
Furthermore, after the previous probing, their combined efforts had not only failed to inflict any harm, but they couldn't even force him to retaliate. He had appeared completely at ease throughout.
Upon witnessing the demise of their companions disguised as pilgrims, someone shouted, and the seven then advanced in unison.
As they attacked from all sides, Zhao Yuansong remained unhurried. He tapped his foot, and the seven figures before him suddenly swayed.
Their concerted assault dissolved silently, as if the very ground beneath them had shifted, making even maintaining their balance difficult.
At this moment, Zhao Yuansong surged forward.
With his hands, he struck the vital points of two individuals with his sword fingers. Without employing his internal energy, he caused them to collapse, eyes rolling back, instantly rendered unconscious.
After incapacitating two with a single strike each, he charged forward like a wild steed, each step kicking up a cloud of dust.
Simultaneously, he swung his arms, his sword fingers striking the enemies' vital points with swift, heavy blows. Each impact was enough to bring an opponent down on the spot.
In mere blinks of an eye, all seven temple keepers lay unconscious, unlikely to awaken on their own for at least a couple of hours.
Witnessing this, Ji Yuan sighed inwardly. This was the strength of the late-stage Qi Enlightenment realm. Even when assailed by seven early-stage Flesh and Blood realm martial artists, he remained composed, dispatching all his opponents at a single encounter.
Of course, this was also attributable to his belonging to a renowned sect. Had his combat techniques been even slightly inferior, the outcome might have been the same, but the process would undoubtedly not have been so effortless.
Across the various cultivation systems, practitioners in the first realm, despite their different methods, generally exhibited similar levels of power.
The disparity between each minor realm, aside from the thickness of one's internal energy, was largely similar in terms of physical prowess. At this stage, the key to victory lay in one's learned techniques.
Consequently, it was not uncommon for late-stage masters from remote or minor sects to be defeated by early-stage disciples of prestigious ones.
"Thank you for your assistance!"
A constable clasped his hands in a gesture of sincere gratitude towards the group.
Had these individuals not intervened, by the time their comrades outside the heretical temple entered, they would likely have suffered heavy casualties.
Ji Yuan shifted his body, not accepting the bow. In his heart, he felt that if his own inability had allowed that fiend to escape, these constables and soldiers would not be in danger now.
He then turned his gaze towards the nearby temple, his eyes settling on the plaque inscribed with 'River God Washing Jade'. His expression grew solemn.
If he had only been guessing before, then after personally witnessing the skills of these temple keepers, he was now certain that someone was plotting behind the scenes.
Moreover, that individual's cultivation and status were undoubtedly extraordinary, otherwise, they could not have orchestrated a scheme spanning a century.
"Since it has come to this, we shall take it one step at a time."
Zhao Yuansong approached, clearly sharing the same sentiment. After a moment of thought, he said, "If necessary, I will bring my sect into this."
Ji Yuan offered a wry smile. A sect located many counties away was, after all, a distant help. Even if, for the sake of argument, the mastermind feared the Nine Xuan Sect, who could guarantee that they wouldn't return to cause trouble once things calmed down?
"Enough, we are eliminating a fiend for the people. Let's do it!"
He gritted his teeth, muttering to himself. He then added in his heart, "At worst, we can pack our bags and move into the county seat with Master and our fellow disciples!"
Within a county seat, even a powerful cultivator would not dare to act with impunity.
After a good half-incense stick's worth of time, the head constable Liu Hongsheng, leading his men, finally entered the temple. The commoners who had come to offer incense had been kept outside at the end of the street.
"I request that you all accompany me into the main hall."
Liu Hongsheng clasped his hands towards the group.
Everyone, including Ji Yuan, naturally agreed. Their purpose was to destroy the heretical temple, and they would not back down at the critical moment.
Thus, a group of them entered the main hall where the statue of the fiend was enshrined.
Upon stepping into the main hall, they saw a statue, over three meters tall, depicting a burly human man. Though his features were somewhat indistinct, one could discern a middle-aged face.
This statue wore a long robe embroidered with a swimming dragon, and was enveloped in a faint golden light of incense, lending it an air of sacred authority.
On either side of it, rows of divine officials with fish heads and human bodies were enshrined, holding various implements.
"Good heavens, the scale and grandeur of this almost rival a side hall of a City God temple!"
Liu Hongsheng snorted, his expression quite displeased.
He was angered not only by the fiend's audacity in overstepping its bounds and disregarding imperial law but also by the city's populace, who, as if bewitched, concealed such heretical temples from the authorities.
It was important to note that the laws of the Great Yu Dynasty stipulated that failing to report the existence of heretical temples could result in a prison sentence of three to eight years!
However, Liu Hongsheng also understood that the common folk were often ignorant, and with such a large number involved, it was impossible to arrest and punish them all according to the law.
"Do the esteemed immortal masters have any specific intentions? If not, I shall proceed to smash this fiend's golden effigy!"
His face was full of anger, but he still turned to ask.
In response, Ji Yuan and the others shook their heads in unison. Though they were cultivators, they had not yet cultivated divine power, making many profound techniques unusable. Thus, they were willing but unable.
Otherwise, Ji Yuan alone knew of over ten different methods to deal with this golden effigy.
"If we simply smash it, will that lure out the fiend?"
Huixin asked, a hint of doubt in his voice.
Upon hearing this, Liu Hongsheng, who was about to act, stumbled. The vital energy and blood he had just circulated nearly dissipated within his body.
Even Ji Yuan and Zhao Yuansong couldn't help but cover their faces with their palms, and several constables behind them shook their heads repeatedly.
Since discovering the temple keepers and the disguised martial artists, the mission had silently shifted from luring out and slaying the fiend to simply smashing the golden effigy and this heretical temple.
After all, it was obvious to anyone that someone was plotting behind the scenes. If they went too far, wouldn't that force the hidden individual to reveal themselves?
If they had the capability, it would have been fine to capture and imprison the mastermind along with their organization. However, a county yamen in a third-tier county lacked such confidence.
A person who could scheme for a century was undoubtedly at least at the Spirit Awakening realm, and possibly in its mid to late stages. If it were an organization rather than a lone individual, it would be even more troublesome.
At this juncture, the best course of action was to smash this heretical temple and inform the mastermind that the imperial court was aware of the situation. If they were to lie low or leave directly, that would be ideal.
Then, whether imperial experts arrived to follow the clues, or a warrant was issued, summoning various forces within the territory to pursue, it would no longer be their concern.
Otherwise, with their limited strength, they simply couldn't withstand the wrathful retaliation of a cultivator in the second realm who had cultivated divine power.
If such a situation truly occurred, it wouldn't be a matter of a few deaths. Not only might the county yamen be massacred, but no one present would escape.
The intricacies of this were not overly complex, nor were they too simple. The most crucial point was to keep it secret.
Yet, no one had expected that the most unspeakable matter would be plainly stated by Huixin, exposing all the convoluted details in broad daylight.
"All of you, keep your mouths shut. Your lives depend on this; don't let a slip of the tongue reveal anything!"
Liu Hongsheng turned, first glancing at the guards outside, then admonishing the constables within the shrine.
Fortunately, there were few people present, and they were all his trusted subordinates. The immortal masters, too, understood the importance of the matter and likely wouldn't speak carelessly. The only concern was the monk Huixin.
He looked at the young monk before him, intending to speak several times, but ultimately let out a sigh.
"What happened today must not be spread. Not even to your master. If you have any questions, you can discuss them with me later at my Xuan Tian Temple."
Ji Yuan, sensing Liu Hongsheng's concern, said to Huixin beside him.
Huixin nodded, clasped his hands together, chanted a Buddhist mantra, and then entered a vow of silence, daring not to speak casually again, lest he inadvertently cause further trouble.
The young Daoist sighed inwardly upon seeing this but knew he couldn't blame Huixin. After all, the monk had studied Buddhist teachings in a temple since childhood and had only begun to venture out in the past two years after becoming a cultivator.
Consequently, it was understandable that he lacked knowledge of many worldly affairs.
With this matter temporarily set aside, Liu Hongsheng took a deep breath and strode towards the golden effigy enshrined on the high platform.
It was most appropriate for him, the head constable of the county yamen, to carry out the destruction. This would represent the official decree and spare Ji Yuan and the others some trouble.
Liu Hongsheng reached the statue, let out a low, resonant roar, and then leaped onto the platform. His fist, imbued with vital energy, struck the statue's chest with immense force.
A sound of shattering stone echoed, and the clay statue crumbled into a pile of debris. Only a golden fragment, preserved by a century of incense and wish power, remained intact.
This fragment was picked up by Liu Hongsheng, wrapped in cloth, and placed in his pocket. Upon returning to the yamen, it was to be handed over to the county magistrate, Yuan Yongcheng.
Only after the fragment was collected did Ji Yuan shift his gaze, feeling a slight sense of regret.
That golden fragment was the condensed golden body formed by a century of incense and wish power. Though only the size of a copper coin, it possessed immeasurable uses and was often priceless in the world.
As the group emerged from the heretical temple, the soldiers and constables, after a thorough search, proceeded to smash everything within the premises and then set it ablaze, reducing it to ruins.
"I must return to the yamen to report. I shall not trouble the esteemed immortal masters further. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will invite you for a drink. I hope you will not mind if the wine is too bland."
Liu Hongsheng clasped his hands, and after a few words, he departed with his constables. The soldiers also returned to their barracks in formation.
Originally, the group was supposed to return to the yamen together to provide sworn testimony for the imperial court. However, before they departed, Yuan Yongcheng had privately instructed them that this step could be omitted.
"Let's return to Xuan Tian Temple together. It is not advisable for us to split up at this time."
After watching Liu Hongsheng and his men leave, Zhao Yuansong turned and said to the young Daoist beside him.
Ji Yuan nodded. They had just participated in the destruction of this heretical temple and should indeed remain together, ready to assist each other should any unforeseen events occur.
He glanced at Huixin, who seemed to have something to say but hesitated, and sighed inwardly. Then he spoke, "Let's go. We can discuss whatever you have to say back at the temple."