Ji Yuan moved forward with difficulty at the bottom of the river, carrying a sacred artifact on his head. Even with his current cultivation at the third realm, he still felt a mountain-like pressure.
Too many resentments erupted from the depths of the riverbed, like thick ink. Even after sealing his hearing, mournful and desperate screams echoed in his mind.
Fortunately, chanting could be heard from both banks of the river. The solemn Buddhist chants seemed to penetrate the deep, turbulent water and reach the very bottom.
This significantly eased Ji Yuan's pressure. As the Buddhist chants echoed at the riverbed, resentments slowly dissipated, and some weak resentful spirits were even transcended on the spot.
As he pressed onward, the sounds from the banks were no longer just chanting. Confucian scholars recited their masters' words with righteous fervor, purifying the resentments at the riverbed while also strengthening the power of the sacred artifact above Ji Yuan's head.
Furthermore, Taoist scriptures echoed. When he looked up, his divine eyes could see on both banks, Taoist priests registered in the Great Yu Dynasty, sitting cross-legged and reciting Taoist scriptures.
Along the river, stretching for dozens of miles, over two hundred people displayed their unique abilities. Taoist methods were the most prevalent, through chanting, talismans, rituals, or borrowing ethereal power.
Among them, a Taoist sect in the middle section of the Lin Fu River drew the most attention. They had set up multiple formations, with their sect's inherited artifact as the core. Their various techniques interlocked, greatly suppressing the resentments at the riverbed.
In the blink of an eye, this grand ritual had lasted for several days. Even in the dead of night, one could see the flickering fires on both banks, and the sound of chanting could still be heard in the usually silent night.
The people on the banks took turns resting every few hours, but Ji Yuan at the riverbed could not stop for a moment, constantly enduring immense pressure.
In just one day, the divine power within him was almost depleted. If not for the support of over three hundred years of incense offered to the River God, it was hard to imagine how much divine power he would have consumed over these past few days.
However, the results achieved were also very significant. Nearly half of the Lin Fu River had been purified, the water returning to its original clarity, free from lingering Yin energy and resentment.
While purifying the resentments, Ji Yuan also listened to the Buddhist scriptures, sage texts, and Taoist scriptures emanating from the banks. These texts came from eminent Buddhist monks, Confucian sages, and great Taoist masters.
They not only contained profound knowledge but also embodied the principles of heaven and earth and understanding of all living beings.
Listening for a long time, Ji Yuan's heart surprisingly gained many insights. His cultivation in both the divine and immortal paths had subtly progressed, leading to a considerable improvement in his realm.
As the sun rose, the divine light on his body became even stronger, brilliant and dazzling yet gentle, filling the entire riverbed with a sacred aura.
Feeling the increasing pressure, the divine light in his eyes sparkled, and his aura grew even more powerful.
A large amount of merit converged within him, causing his soul light to be entwined with pure qi, giving him a sense of invincibility against all evil and harm.
Suddenly, Ji Yuan's brow twitched, and he looked up towards the river surface. His gaze then penetrated the layers of river water, falling upon a point more than ten feet away.
Figures emerged there, each radiating a powerful aura, with cultivation levels at least at the early to middle stages of the Spirit Nurturing realm.
Upon closer inspection, there were over fifteen figures treading on the water, each emanating a fierce aura.
Ji Yuan sensed a familiar aura from these individuals. If his guess was correct, they were all cultivators who practiced demonic arts.
As expected, the mastermind would not sit idly by and watch the resentments in the Lin Fu River be completely purified!
Ji Yuan's gaze sharpened, a hint of coldness in his eyes. The opponent's choice to act at this moment clearly indicated their confidence that he, bearing immense pressure and struggling for survival, would be unable to defend against their attack.
"Block them!"
A shout came from the riverbank. The deployed soldiers formed a formation and charged towards the assassins who suddenly appeared from the woods.
Black-clad figures, carrying a strong killing intent, swarmed out from the woods along the bank. Each of them possessed no weak martial arts skills, and many had already reached the Flesh and Bone realm.
The number of these assassins was more than several times that of the guarding soldiers, numbering at least seventy to eighty. They advanced towards the altars on both banks.
Among them were many cultivators who, under the protection of the assassins beside them, unleashed powerful spells from afar.
"Brothers! Follow me and kill!"
"Hahaha, I never thought we martial artists could contribute our strength at this moment!"
"Kill all these evildoers!"
However, those gathered for the ritual were not just Taoist priests, monks, and scholars filled with righteous spirit.
There were also martial artists from all directions, those who drew their swords at any sign of injustice, and warriors filled with passionate courage!
In less than a dozen breaths, the banks erupted with shouts and the clang of metal, and soon a pungent smell of blood filled the air.
At this very moment, the cultivators on the river surface were also approaching. Ji Yuan, at the riverbed, could even clearly feel the strange, heretical demonic energy within these individuals.
"Hmph, we've been waiting for a long time!"
A cold snort suddenly sounded, followed by a surge of fiery light rising from the river's surface.
Li Buwei, with a crimson furnace hovering above his head, rapidly approached on the river's surface. To his left and right, Zhu Tao and Liu Qi led several mountain and marsh wild cultivators.
At the same time, Mo Yiyan, with the people below him, appeared behind the approaching enemies, encircling these obvious practitioners of demonic arts.
A total of fifteen mountain and marsh wild cultivators, exactly matching the number of their opponents. However, Li Buwei and the others had undergone a drastic transformation from their past selves.
In just a moment, the river surface surged with demonic energy, and a torrent of power swept outwards in all directions, with continuous roaring sounds.
As soon as the two sides clashed, the attackers' faces showed shock. Who could have imagined that their opponents would all be wielding magical artifacts!
Although they were only low-grade artifacts containing one or two restrictions, they still possessed considerable power, which was no match for these cultivators wielding only ordinary iron.
In less than half an hour, several had met their end under the artifacts, their lifeless bodies falling into the river.
Ji Yuan slowly withdrew his gaze and continued to move forward under the pressure, completely unconcerned with these attackers. In fact, there was no need for him to be concerned.
He was no longer the minor Taoist priest from Qianyu City. A group of people had already gathered by his side. This group of mountain and marsh wild cultivators alone was a formidable force.
Each of them possessed cultivation at the second realm, which was enough to attack and conquer a well-established sect.