Super Divine Daoist Skill-Chapter 98 - 97 Shocking News (6th update, please subscribe and vote for the monthly ticket)

Chapter 98: Chapter 97 Shocking News (6th update, please subscribe and vote for the monthly ticket)

"Soul Energy +5284,..."

Bai Ziyue couldn’t help but show a trace of delight on his face.

More than five thousand points of Soul Energy was definitely the largest amount he had gained in a long time.

It also allowed his Soul Energy to soar.

"The only thing troubling me now is the Inner Cultivation Technique.

The combined contributions and silver I have now should be enough to exchange for that Golden Cicada Technique.

With the Inner Cultivation Technique, my Martial Arts could continue to improve, reaching the powerful level of my master and Elder Nie."

Bai Ziyue’s eyes shone with anticipation. freewebnoveℓ.com

The combat power displayed by his master and Elder Nie in the battle against the Snake Demon was immensely strong, naturally making him yearn for it.

Next, specific personnel would come to handle the Snake Demon.

Two Inner Sect Martial Artists proficient in Sword Technique, including Master Li who worked in the kitchen, were called over to start processing the giant serpent.

Pieces of snake scales were picked up and packed, and even the snake’s skin was peeled off by specialized handlers, along with the poison sac, fangs, and even the eyes akin to copper bells...

Soon, they extracted a fist-sized, wholly dark yellow bead from the snake demon’s head.

Demon Core!

Almost everyone breathed rapidly and sharply upon seeing the bead, coming to a conclusion in their minds.

Because although this bead’s exterior was unassuming, the unique spirituality of the Demon Core was too abundant.

Especially for someone like Bai Ziyue, whose Spiritual Sense was keen, he could sense it from afar.

Moreover, just with a slight comparison, Bai Ziyue judged that the spirituality of this Demon Core far exceeded that of the Locust Tree Spirit’s wood heart.

Elder Nie carefully placed the Demon Core into a wooden box lined with brocade cloth and left without any desire to continue watching.

For him, this trip’s purpose was largely achieved, and now, he only needed to select the outstanding disciples, and all would be well.

At this moment, he felt a bit impatient.

...

Early the next morning, Bai Ziyue set out.

Familiar and adept, he directly climbed Chongyan Mountain.

Half an hour later, the sun rose completely, and Bai Ziyue finished his daily cultivation.

However, this time, he did not immediately go down the mountain but waited at the peak.

Soon, he saw a figure leisurely walking up the mountain path.

"Yesterday, your Sunburst Gang went to Liugang Temple to slay the demon?"

Upon seeing Bai Ziyue, the Elder Scholar hurriedly asked.

Nodding, Bai Ziyue replied blandly, "A Snake Demon."

"Did you reveal the information?"

Recalling Bai Ziyue’s previous attempts to inquire indirectly, the Elder Scholar couldn’t help but ask.

"No." Bai Ziyue shook his head, without explaining.

"Well, it’s good this way, as it resolves one of my concerns."

The Elder Scholar murmured and his face showed a very complex emotion, saying, "This Elder Scholar was powerless, and now that the Snake Demon is dead by someone else’s hand, it counts as avenging my master."

"Your master? His predecessor, Hee Shoufang, the temple priest at Liugang Temple?"

Bai Ziyue asked curiously.

"That’s right. Initially, it was my master who first discovered the Snake Demon, but he was defeated in a battle with it and was swallowed in a single gulp by the serpent. Only afterward did the demon disaster get reported.

Coinciding with State Preceptor’s domination, the Celestial Master Pavilion was already suppressing my Incense Fire Dao heavily. Naturally, they took the chance to pin the demon disaster’s blame on my deceased master."

The Elder Scholar explained, revealing some anger, but mostly resignation on his face.

Bai Ziyue had no suitable response.

*The upper echelons’ struggle was too far out of his reach for him to qualify to comment.*

"Alright, enough chit-chat. Here’s the Jade Scroll Eye of the Thunderfall Skill. I’ve already prepared it for you.

Also, regarding the trade we discussed last time, I’ve brought some Dharma Incense. I wonder if you..."

The Elder Scholar seemed aware that certain topics were inappropriate to discuss openly and quickly changed the subject.

Swiftly, he flipped his hand, revealing a flat, round Jade Scroll Eye, which he handed directly to Bai Ziyue without hesitation.

This was part of the agreed compensation, and he didn’t intend to breach his promise.

"Of course, I’ve brought the talismans."

Likewise, Bai Ziyue spoke, pulling out a large stack of talismans from his chest.

Soon, bargaining voices echoed from the summit of Chongyan Mountain.

Minutes later, Bai Ziyue and the Elder Scholar separated, each satisfied as Bai Ziyue headed down the mountain.

A dozen roots of Dharma Incense were exchanged for fifty to sixty various talismans this time.

Among them were three sticks of Gathering Spirit Incense and one stick of Soul Calming Incense. As for the Soul-Attracting Incense, Bai Ziyue exchanged for a total of eight sticks.

The function of the Gathering Spirit Incense went without saying. It was used to recover the spirit, and with his current level of spiritual strength, even if exhausted, lighting one stick would be enough for a full recovery.

As for the Soul Calming Incense, it was a type of Dharma Incense that could stabilize a person’s heart and spirit, making it very powerful for those whose hearts and spirits had been disturbed.

Of course, he could also light it while training in magic or martial arts for an increase in focus and efficiency, although the effect varied from person to person.

Bai Ziyue felt that he was quite focused during training and wasn’t easily distracted, so he exchanged just one stick to test its effects.

However, the Soul-Attracting Incense had the effect of attracting ghosts and spirits, which shook his heart and spirit.

*He was already troubled by the lack of Soul Energy and the difficulty in obtaining it. If he could use this Soul-Attracting Incense to draw in ghosts and then destroy them, it could naturally increase his Soul Energy rapidly.*

*To him, it was a stable method to enhance his Soul Energy, much more effective than slaughtering livestock every day.*

Soon, Bai Ziyue descended from the mountain and arrived on the street.

However, he quickly noticed that the atmosphere on the street was somewhat off. People’s conversations were noticeably hushed, followed soon by exclamations of surprise.

He rubbed his nose. For a Martial Artist like him, their whispered conversations couldn’t escape his ears.

Soon, he heard the main points.

First, naturally, was the Sunburst Gang’s demon-slaying event.

This time, the Sunburst Gang almost went all out. The commotion was big, and they even relocated some residents from Liugang Temple, which drew attention and curiosity.

Within the gang, there was no shortage of those who liked to brag and boast, creating a stir out of nothing, let alone this real demon-slaying, causing them to spill the details thoroughly.

In just one morning, almost everyone in Qinghe Town knew about the Sunburst Gang’s demon-slaying, which further boosted the gang’s reputation.

Even when he passed by his aunt’s stall, Bai Erniu pulled him aside and kept asking him mysteriously.

However, that was just the first event that happened yesterday.

The second event shocked even Bai Ziyue himself.

A family massacre!

Last night, another family massacre occurred.

Not only were everyone from the shopkeeper to the clerks of Ancient Rhymes Pavilion killed, but even the accompanying merchant convoy was slaughtered. All sixty-plus people were wiped out, with no survivors.

At first hearing this news, he was truly taken aback.

But then he awoke with a start, recalling the Li Family massacre three years ago.

The same method, the same swift and decisive kills.

*Especially since before this massacre happened, he had seen Wu Yong, the Vajra Body of the Third Village Chief from Ghost Head Stronghold.*

*So immediately, he determined that this time, Ghost Head Stronghold was responsible.*

*He had witnessed their viciousness and ruthlessness firsthand three years ago.*

And soon, he confirmed this from others’ conversations.

"These days, life truly is unbearable. Initially, only the merchant convoy of Ancient Rhymes Pavilion could enter the county town without being extorted on the official roads.

Previously, I had considered currying favor to travel with the Ancient Rhymes Pavilion’s convoy. But in just one night, the Pavilion is gone.

Ghost Head Stronghold truly is ruthless."

"What could they do? Ancient Rhymes Pavilion was ignorant. Doing legitimate business wasn’t enough for them; they had to clash with Ghost Head Stronghold. They’re bandits; you’re just traders—how do you fight against them?"

"That’s true. Ghost Head Stronghold relies on the roads for their livelihood. If you don’t pay the toll and resist, they’ll naturally take action when provoked.

But with Ghost Head Stronghold acting so crazily, aren’t they really not afraid of the government’s crackdown?"

"Afraid? If they were afraid, they wouldn’t have acted."

...

Listening to these discussions, Bai Ziyue couldn’t help but show a hint of confusion on his face.

*The feud between Ancient Rhymes Pavilion and Ghost Head Stronghold was something he already understood.*

*He knew that behind Ancient Rhymes Pavilion was the Li Family, who had been exterminated back then. It was perfectly normal for them to go up against Ghost Head Stronghold.*

*However, since Ghost Head Stronghold had started to endure and had even permitted Ancient Rhymes Pavilion’s convoys to pass through their controlled roads without obstruction on several occasions, why would they suddenly act so recklessly?*

*It didn’t seem like a decision born from desperation, but rather... as if some unforeseen event prompted them to make such a decision.*

"Wait, could it be Li Xun..."

Bai Ziyue suddenly recalled the conversation between two traveling merchants that he had heard before. From their conversation, he learned that Li Family’s eldest, Li Qing, managed the business, but the third, Li Xun, had already become a Scholar and now had prospects of becoming a Chief Clerk of the county.

"Evidently, it must be that the matter of Li Xun becoming a Chief Clerk has become a certainty, or there may be some other unforeseen event, which prompted Ghost Head Stronghold to execute such a frenzied act of retaliation." *

Thinking in his heart, Bai Ziyue shook his head and decided not to dwell on it further.

*He had his own matters to handle, and as long as external disputes didn’t involve him, he didn’t want to concern himself excessively.*

*Even if he wanted to do something, with his current strength, he was powerless.*

On the street, it was evident that numerous government officials were conducting searches. They even stopped to interrogate suspicious individuals.

Even if the effect was minimal, as it seemed like those arresting officers were mostly going through the motions, it still showed the government’s attention to this matter.

Moreover, he quickly noticed that even people from his own gang were participating in the search.

Just as he was about to step forward and ask, a low howl resounded from not far away.