Li Zhou City territory.
Due to the chaos caused by the Ghost King, initially countless common people fell into despair.
In the east of the city, a dilapidated house.
As someone at the bottom of the social strata earning a living through manual labor, Old Yang's head had not worked for seven days, and the grain in his home had been exhausted.
Looking at the three crying children who had just finished crying and fallen asleep, and then looking at his wife, whose face was numb from hunger and sat motionless by the window, watching outside, Old Yang's heart was filled with a sense of sorrow.
Despite the clashing thunder and rain outside, and the earth-shattering cries of battle that came from the city's Baofeng Mountain, Old Yang's head remained unfazed, convinced that no one could tame the ghostly chieftain.
Finally, after much contemplation, he made a decision.
Old Yang took a deep breath and said to his wife, "Shufen, after I hang myself, you will cut off my meat, cure it well, and save it for a while. It should be enough for you and the child to get through this long winter."
After that, he turned around and found a sturdy rope to hang himself.
His wife, who had been numb and motionless until now, heard this and looked over immediately. But old Yang had already rushed out to the outside room. She quickly crawled out, only to see old Yang holding a rope and hanging it on the beam. She rushed over, screaming and crying, hugging his calf leg: "Master, if you die, what will we do after? Don't do foolish things! Don't do foolish things!"
Old Yang was usually very strict with his wife, but at this moment, there was warmth in his gaze. He reached out and gently touched her face, speaking softly but heavily, "If we run out of food again, you and the children will definitely starve to death. I'll die for the whole family to survive. It's worth it. Just let go."
His wife cried and refused to let go, "I, as a woman, should die first. Otherwise, who will take care of our child if you die?"
Perhaps because they heard the pain of their parents, the three children were all awakened.
They ran out to see their parents hugging and crying, although they didn't know what was going on, the instinctive nature of children made them run up and hug their parents and cry loudly.
In an instant, the entire family of five was reduced to tears.
Suddenly, someone outside suddenly shouted, "The darkness dispersed! Hahaha! The darkness dispersed!"
"A?"
"The darkness dispersed?"
Old Yang's and his wife's cries suddenly stopped, and they looked at each other in disbelief.
They hurriedly ran out to see that the black Qi that had enveloped the city above had disappeared! They were overjoyed and excited.
The sun shone brightly, creating a magnificent scene!
His wife first stunned for a moment, then shouted happily, "Master! Our family of five won't die! We won't die!"
Old Yang also took a moment to be stunned, then burst into a hearty laugh, "Wife, you stay at home with the kids. Just endure for one more day, and I'll go out to work. I'll bring food for you all in the evening!"
After saying this, Old Yang rushed into the house to find tools and hurriedly went to work.
Old Yang carried the tools outside, feeling happy in his heart but also confused. The ghost Qi had enveloped the city for seven days. How could it suddenly dissipate?
Similar scenes were being played out in every corner of Li Zhou City.
Suddenly, the tens of thousands of common people in the city saw the dispersal of the darkness and ghost Qi. After a short period of confusion, they all erupted into deafening cheers.
"Disappeared!"
"The darkness has dispersed!"
"Hahahaha, we can finally survive!"
The citizens of the city ran out onto the streets, jumping and dancing, and some even cried with joy and continued to cheer and celebrate.
While everyone was joyfully celebrating, they all had the same confusion as Old Yang. How could the ghost Qi suddenly dissipate after covering the city for so many days?
Suddenly, someone recalled the thunder and rain that had recently come from the direction of Baofeng Mountain, followed by cries of battle that shook the sky. This group immediately realized what was happening!
"Is it that some divine being descended to subdue the ghostly chieftain?"
"What else could it be if it wasn't a divine being who descended to subdue the ghostly chieftain, accompanied by lightning, thunder, and the deafening cries of battle just now?"
"That's right! Right! It must be some divine being who descended to save the tens of thousands of common people in our Li Zhou territory!"
"Which divine being descended to save us?"
"We don't know. Let's quickly find someone to ask. Since the cries of battle just stopped not long ago, the divine being must still be in our Li Zhou territory. Let's find him as soon as possible and thank him personally for saving our lives."
For a moment, the entire city was stirred.
The countless common people were all asking around, wondering which divine being descended to subdue the ghostly chieftain and the tens of thousands of ghost soldiers.
At first, no useful information was found by anyone.
It wasn't until the official government issued a notice that the city's common people learned which divine being had mercifully saved them all.
The Master of Zongnan Mountain Ningyang Cave, Zhengyang True Person, disciples Chen Pu!
Most importantly, many common people heard that the benevolent and omnipotent God Chen, who could command the laws of nature and bless the world, is now at the offices of the prefecture. He has not yet left Li Zhou City.
So, countless common people organized spontaneously. Some carried vegetables and eggs, while some wealthy merchants prepared carts loaded with silks and brocades, all heading to the gates of the prefecture's office, clamoring to meet the divine being to express their gratitude.
...
Prefecture office.
Chen Yun was warmly received by officials such as Yang Shili, Wang Jian, Tian Hui, and Luo Yuangao upon his return with Gong Juji.
Of course, there were also many cultivators such as Fa Hai, Fa Zhen, and Peng Xia.
Chen Yun first introduced himself to the cultivators and was surprised to find that among them was Fa Hai, the renowned monk.
He couldn't help but establish closer connections with Fa Hai.
"Fa Hai Dao Friend, your single-handed battle against the four ghost generals, your Buddhist philosophy is truly profound and admirable."
"Chen Dao Friend, you overpraise me. If it weren't for you and your disciples, as well as your soldiers, the poor monk might have suffered a calamity. Speaking of which, your Taoism is even more profound than mine. Fa Hai is truly grateful to you."
"It is indeed so. My Dao friend, Fa Zhen and others were imprisoned in the cave by the ghost chieftain and were desperate. Who would have thought that Chen Dao friend's profound laws are astonishing, and within a short time, he killed the ghost chieftain, which truly made the poor monk envious."
"Peng Dao friend, don't say that you are envious of me. We all together can't compare to Chen Dao friend?"
A group of cultivators were crazy about Chen Yun and Gong Juji.
Chen Yun was so embarrassed by the praise that he couldn't help but blush.
"Speaking of which, although he managed to destroy the ghost chieftain and four major ghost generals and tens of thousands of ghost soldiers in a short time, the actual effort he put in was not much. All he did was set up a Green Dragon, Red Blood Array and used a divine artifact to subdue the ghost chieftain."
Although the Green Dragon, Red Blood Array indeed destroyed many ghost soldiers, greatly reducing the burden on the disciples and soldiers, and trapping the ghosts so they couldn't escape.
However, the biggest credit for the swift and decisive victory should go to Gong Juji and Cui Ming.
Gong Juji fought alone against five ghosts, not only holding the ghost chieftain but also directly killing the four major ghost generals in the midst of the battle, demonstrating the powerful strength of high-level cultivators to the fullest.
Cui Ming, a ghost general of upper-level mage level, exploited the distraction of the ghost chieftain and the four major ghost generals. He led the evil spirits into the ranks of the ghost soldiers like a killing god without borders, killing almost everywhere he went. No ghosts could withstand him in battle.
As for Qin Liang, Ji Xin, and the three hundred divine soldiers and generals, they were third in terms of merit, followed by the remaining evil spirits.
Of course, although Chen Yun himself didn't contribute much, the disciples under his command, such as Gong Juji, Cui Ming, Qin Liang, and Ji Xin, were all his own disciples and could be considered another form of power demonstration.
Of course, he deserved the praise from cultivators like Fa Hai, Peng Xia and Fa Zhen.
After a brief exchange with the many cultivators, Chen Yun was also subjected to various flatteries from the officials.
Especially this Wang Jian, who later became the founding emperor of Later Shu, was even more eager, as if he was about to kneel and lick the feet of Chen Yun.
At this moment, Tian Lingzhi walked up with a face full of flattery and respectfully said, "Mr. Chen."
As Chen Yun was being praised by Wang Jian, he glanced over and nodded, saying, "Sir Tian."
Tian Lingzhi smiled with a full face and said, "I have consulted with other officials such as Zhongshan Gong and Luo Ji. We have specially prepared a banquet to thank you for saving the tens of thousands of people in Li Zhou City with your boundless great Dao. After you are free tomorrow or whenever, we will accompany you back to Qingcheng Mountain to read the imperial edict."
At this point, he seemed to have remembered something and quickly explained, "In the imperial edict of appointment that the emperor bestowed, there is a reward to be presented. I need to first hand over the records of the Qingcheng County official residence with me before it can be announced. Therefore, we can only read out the imperial edict at Qingcheng Mountain."
Chen Yun's main purpose for coming out of retirement was to obtain the qualification to become a god. Therefore, after subduing the ghost chieftain, he did not leave immediately, but turned back to the prefecture's office.
Now, hearing Tian Lingzhi say this, although Chen Yun didn't know what reward he had to hand over to the Qingcheng County official residence, he didn't show any impatience. Instead, he said with an air of superiority: "I am just an ordinary country bumpkin. Whether I am appointed or not is of no importance to me. As for the banquet invitation, it is unnecessary. If the official residence has any extra money, it would be better to help the poor people instead. Well, since the ghost chieftain has been eliminated, Chen Yun will return to Qingcheng Mountain with his disciples to concentrate on cultivation. Farewell, everyone. We may meet again some day."
After speaking, he didn't give anyone a chance to reply and left with Gong Juji.
Although the officials wanted to curry favor with Chen Yun such a divine figure, they knew that great sages have their own style and dared not stop him. They could only let Chen Yun leave.
Perhaps seeing Chen Yun leave, Fa Hai, Peng Xia, and Fa Zhen also all said farewell and left together.
After the cultivators dispersed, Tian Lingzhi, Yang Shili, Wang Jian, and other officials in their hearts marveled that Chen Yun lived up to his reputation as a great Daoist. He had accomplished such a grand feat of subduing the ghost king. Not only did he decline their banquet invitation, but he even considered the imperial edict of appointment insignificant.
Truly a model of integrity and righteousness!
Of course, although Chen Yun said he didn't care, Tian Lingzhi wouldn't really not go to Qingcheng Mountain to read the imperial edict.
...
At the gate of the Prefecture Mansion.
"Let us see Chen Pu Xianzhi!"
"Let us meet Master Chen Pu!"
"All the common people shouted in unison."
If it hadn't been for the unified slogans, the soldiers guarding the prefecture's office almost thought that a rebellion had broken out.
Reluctantly, the soldiers had no choice but to inform Wang Jian and the others about the situation outside.
In the end, Wang Jian personally stepped forward to calm the people and inform them of the news.
"Ah?"
"Master Chen has left?"
"The master truly has noble character and virtue. After subduing the ghost king, he returned to the mountain without any desire for fame and fortune."
The common people were all moved by this, but still appeared disappointed and unwilling to leave the gate of the Prefecture Office.
Wang Jian, strong and healthy, thought for a moment and deliberately said, "If everyone truly appreciates Master Chen, why not build a temple in his honor?"
"Yes!"
"Build a temple in honor of Master Chen!"
"Then what are we all still standing here for? Let's find people to gather funds and build a temple for Master Chen!"
The crowd dispersed immediately.
Yes, without the approval of the imperial court, no deity is allowed to have a temple.
In fact, even the approval of the imperial court is not enough; the gods in heaven also have to agree.
Logically speaking, since Chen Yun has not yet achieved sainthood and has no approval from the celestial court, he does not deserve to have a temple.
But in ancient times, the principle was "the people did not raise the officials did not pursue," if the temple could be established, as long as the local government did not pursue it, there would be basically nothing wrong.
Especially now, the control of the imperial court over the local areas is almost negligible. As long as Wang Jian, the local prefect, does not voice his opposition, no one would be able to dismantle a temple that has been set up.
So, as long as Wang Jian said for the people to build a temple for Chen Yun, it's like something that has been set in stone!
Perhaps with Wang Jian's support, a group of wealthy merchants in the city acted quickly, immediately found a good location within the city and then hired workers to start building the temple.
Chen Yun could never have imagined that by coming out to subdue the ghost king, he would actually have his own temple.
(Chapter Complete)
