The sun hung high in the sky, and the sky was a clear and blue expanse, as if it were a huge blue jade.
The sky was clear with no clouds, and the sunlight was just right.
The long procession of pilgrims had reached the end of the three thousand steps, guided by the Taoist servant, and entered the grand hall to worship the immortals of the Xuantian Sect.
Qiao Mu was among the crowd of pilgrims, still searching for the figure of the Great Yan Emperor.
He didn’t recognize what the Great Yan Emperor looked like, but he had heard the Star Xuan Envoy of the Wuji Association speculate that a cultivator might have used an illusion.
So finding the presence of the Great Yan Emperor couldn’t be done with just the naked eye.
In other words, he could only rely on his intuition.
Qiao Mu had not yet reached the third rank of the Spiritual Refining Method, but through practicing the "Martial Saint Spiritual Technique," he had developed an unreliable intuition.
However, martial artists who had truly achieved the third rank in the Spiritual Refining Method had honed their intuition to the point of being able to "anticipate the enemy’s moves."
According to the speculation of the Star Xuan Envoys of the Wuji Association in the Nan Province, if the Great Yan Emperor were to travel, they would surely be accompanied by Spirit Refining martial artists of at least the third rank.Even though the Great Yan dynasty is currently in decline, it is still the same.
The existence of Spirit Refining martial artists allows them to keenly sense the fluctuations in an assassin’s intent to kill, thereby preventing it in advance. That is why it is difficult to successfully assassinate the emperor.
A martial artist who practices martial skills can only reach the 4th rank at most. To progress further, they can only rely on accumulating internal strength over a long period of time, without any qualitative breakthrough.
The reason why Spirit Refining martial artists can reach the 3rd rank is naturally because of this so-called spiritual refining martial art, which is more powerful than simply stacking internal strength.
Once martial skills reach their peak at the 4th rank, apart from a few exceptionally talented individuals, the accumulation of qi and internal strength has basically reached the human body’s limit.
The internal strength and qi of Spirit Refining martial artists may not necessarily be deeper than those of martial artists who have accumulated for many years at the 4th rank, but when it comes to actual combat, it’s a different story.
Essentially, the Spiritual Refining Method is already the fourth path for martial artists, apart from Power, Strength, and Skill. Although it may not have a major advantage in terms of quantity, it achieves a qualitative breakthrough.
"So there is only one method," Qiao Mu pondered:
"To provoke the instincts of the spiritual refining guards around the emperor by creating an intent to kill."
"Finding the protector of the emperor is almost like finding the Great Yan Emperor."
Qiao Mu looked at the many tourists in front of him, closed his eyes slightly, and placed his hand on the sword hilt at his waist.
With a burst of internal strength and a hidden aura, he imagined himself slaughtering all these faithful followers in his mind, picturing the scene where the Great Yan Emperor was killed among the crowd.
Not far away.
Guard Chu seemed to sense something and discreetly glanced at Qiao Mu from the corner of his eye.
Because Qiao Mu didn’t have the face of "Qiao Pifu" at the moment, he didn’t recognize the person in front of him. His lips curved slightly, as if smiling but not really.
"Without real killing intent, are you intentionally trying to provoke my instincts with this stance? Perhaps you’re an assassin, just a bit inexperienced."
Wanting to deceive the instincts of a Spirit Refining martial artist, relying on imaginary thoughts in the mind is not enough.
Unless Qiao Mu truly harbors the thought of exterminating the surrounding followers in the next moment, he cannot deceive Guard Chu’s intuition.
And this time, Guard Chu was able to notice Qiao Mu’s presence, completely unrelated to intuition.
Mainly because the distance between the two was already not far, and combined with his extensive experience, he detected Qiao Mu’s subtle movements.
Chu Xing had no intention to attack the enemy.
Qingyun Temple is the main venue of Immortal Gate Xuantian Sect, so it would be inappropriate for him to handle this matter.
As for Immortal Gate…
"It seems that there is a mortal behaving differently?" Taoist Chiyang said calmly.
"Carrying a sword, could it be a martial artist among mortals?"
"If he is a member of Wuji Association, that would be even better. We could achieve something later." Taoist Qingyang smiled.
Wuji Association and Martial Saint, although they have been insignificant in recent years and not considered by Immortal Gate, they are still a hidden danger.
"So, let’s wait and watch, and make sure we don’t disturb anything." Qingyang said calmly.
"I wonder if the Martial Saint will come today? If he does, that would be great…"
Ding ding ding.
The melodious sound of the bell rang three times, startling countless birds, and even the clouds and mist in the mountains seemed to disperse.
Emperor Yonghe, among the crowd of pilgrims, had already reached the top of the three thousand steps and stood in front of the main gate of the Taoist temple.
At the square in front of the main entrance of the Taoist temple, there was a giant tripod that could fit ten people hugging it. Inside the tripod, there were thick incense sticks, and the fragrance drifted up to the sky, slowly disappearing into the blue clouds.
Inside the main hall of the Qingyun Temple, there were numerous plaques of the Xuantian Sect immortals, easily numbering hundreds.
Occupying the central position was the current sect leader of the Xuantian Sect, with the plaque reading "Great Virtue, Great Power, Immortal Xuantian."
The Taoists who had been guarding him these days, Chiyang and Qingyang, also had plaques, but they were placed in a inconspicuous corner of the hall.
"The Xuantian Sect, with a number of over one hundred immortal beings…" Emperor Yonghe felt an immense heaviness in his heart.
"How can the Great Yan Imperial Court oppose these Xuantian Sect immortal beings?"
Emperor Yonghe, of course, knew that cooperating with the Xuantian Sect was as dangerous as walking on a tightrope over a cliff.
However, he still made a decision.
Making a decision was one thing, but when it came to the point of Emperor Yonghe, as the Great Yan Emperor, bowing to the Xuantian Sect immortal beings, he still felt a difficult-to-express sense of powerlessness.
Even though Emperor Yonghe, at this moment, was only a regular pilgrim rather than the Great Yan Emperor, openly and respectfully worshipping the gods.
With this in mind, he slightly slowed down his steps.
"Emperor Yonghe, now that you have seen the immortal beings, why not bow?"
Suddenly, a faint voice sounded.
Emperor Yonghe was slightly startled, then turned around in fear.
Behind him, a crippled old man was staring at him with eyes that seemed detached, as if looking down upon the world from above the clouds.
Guard Chu’s eyes widened in an instant.
He knew very well that this crippled old man was just an ordinary pilgrim from beginning to end, nothing special about him, just an average person, so why…
He didn’t know when.
The once bustling Great Hall suddenly became quiet.
Even though there were thousands of pilgrims all around, it was suddenly as silent as a graveyard.
"Why not bow?"
On Emperor Yonghe’s left, a middle-aged woman also suddenly turned her head, her expression equally detached.
"Why not bow?"
"Why not bow?"
"Why not bow?"
More and more incense worshippers turned their heads to look, and their indifferent gazes fell on Emperor Yonghe like needles.
All these countless incense worshippers wore the same expression at this moment, as if different faces belonged to the same person. Each person had a unique face, all looking down on the world.
At this moment, Emperor Yonghe, who was clearly surrounded by the crowded crowd, suddenly became alone. His entire body involuntarily shivered, and his body hair stood on end.
Within this trembling, there was not only fear of unknown means, but also overflowing anger.
The methods of cultivators are ever-changing. If they encounter means that ordinary people cannot understand, it is likely that cultivators are behind it.
And this time…
"On the surface, I deceived everyone and traveled from the Zhong Province Imperial Capital to the Qingyun Temple in Nan Province."
"Once I enter the territory of the Xuantian Sect, will I have no control anymore?"
Emperor Yonghe felt a sense of sadness in his heart.
His collaboration with the Immortal Gate Xuantian Sect was actually just him visiting as an ordinary pilgrim to pay respects to the Xuantian Sect immortals.
Emperor Yonghe pondered that the Xuantian Sect probably saw this as an opportunity to slowly expand, as cultivators have plenty of time.
However, the cultivators of the Xuantian Sect clearly weren’t satisfied and used the mouths of these ordinary people to expose his true identity as the Great Yan Emperor.
As this thought arose in his mind, his clenched fist within his sleeve tightened unconsciously.
"Please, Your Majesty, bow to the gods!"
"Please, Your Majesty, bow to the gods!"
At first, only one or two people spoke up, and then more and more people joined in, becoming more and more united.
The voices of thousands of people gradually came together and formed a steady and unified wave of sound that shook the heavens.
Emperor Yonghe’s face also started to turn slightly pale, caught between going forward and going back.
The so-called pointing fingers of a thousand people come to nothing.
The gazes and words of these thousands of visitors no longer belonged to these ordinary visitors themselves, but represented the will of the Xuantian Sect cultivators.
The thousands of gazes and the thousands of voices naturally formed a tremendous pressure, intending to make Emperor Yonghe bend his spine and knees, kneeling and kowtowing before the Xuantian Sect immortals!
Far away.
Taoist Chiyang and Taoist Qingyang smiled as they watched this scene.
"How can a mortal emperor know the countless methods of our Immortal Gate?"
"The situation is set."
Today, there are thousands of devout worshipers who came to worship the gods, and almost all of them are faithful believers nurtured by Xuantian Sect at the foot of the mountain. There are very few outsiders.
These believers go up the mountain to worship the gods almost every day, and they have already been implanted with a seed by the Immortal Gate cultivators in their souls.
When the time is right, the seed will sprout.
Therefore, every believer in Qingming Town is a valuable resource and cannot be lost.
And at this moment.
With the unanimous shouts of thousands of worshipers, the few worshipers who didn’t make a sound in the crowd became even more noticeable.
Taoist Chiyang and others don’t care whether people from Wuji Association will mix in and affect today’s events.
Because these worshipers have long been their people, what difference does it make if a drop of oil from Wuji Association mixes into the clear water?
When the time comes, no matter what disguise the assassins of Wuji Association may have, they will be completely exposed!
"Please bow to the gods, Your Majesty!"
Amidst the thunderous cheer of the worshippers.
Emperor Yonghe’s back and knees trembled slightly.
And at that moment, among the crowd, an unremarkable worshipper suddenly stretched his muscles, making a sound like popping beans throughout his body.
His figure gradually enlarged, and then he cleared his throat.
"Ah… Ahem!"
This ‘ahem’ was not loud, but it faintly overshadowed the synchronized cheer of a thousand worshippers, interrupting the unified rhythm of a thousand voices.
A thick phlegm sprayed out of the worshipper’s mouth like a released arrow, directly aiming at Emperor Yonghe in the crowded crowd.
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