Chapter 3, Spirit Official

Whom are you indirectly criticizing?

He is quite familiar with every blade of grass and every tree here; entering the forest is akin to stepping into his own realm. However, he does not know where to escape to

If one must speak of the extraordinary, it would be the age of this young man; he is merely fifteen or sixteen years old, and it is unclear where he acquired such skills, yet he is capable of slaying deities

In the "Records of Search for the Gods," it is stated: the Great Spirit Officer of the Heavenly Court enforces punishment, a fierce general of the Three Realms patrols!

Chen Jiu not only did not stop, but instead quickened his pace to move forward

The wolf demon also sighed softly and said, "You won't be able to escape by running around blindly. Why not come back home with me? My home is in the deep mountains hundreds of miles away, a place rarely visited by people, making it a good hiding spot.

Before long, the sound of hooves ceased, and a voice from outside urgently called out: "Report, my lord, an incident has occurred at Mount Ling.

Martial arts can also be categorized into different ranks, with many techniques having a maximum limit of the King level. The highest one can achieve through cultivation, even until death, is merely a Demon King or Ghost King. Some techniques have a maximum limit of the Immortal level, where the utmost one can reach, even until death, is only an Earth Immortal or Ghost Immortal

You all are quite something, each of you outwardly compliant yet secretly defiant, not only failing to rein in those feudal lords but also dominating your own territories like local emperors, causing the entire Ming Dynasty to fall into disarray

Your Majesty, please hold on

Alas, for over a thousand years, no one in the realms of Yin and Yang has achieved the cultivation to become a deity, nor has anyone attained enlightenment and ascended.

His experience extends only to the vicinity of Ling Mountain, covering a radius of several dozen miles; beyond that, he is unfamiliar.

Xu Gongfu, somewhat impatient, said: "Alright, a flat price of 250, be straightforward, no need for any more chatter!"

This kid is not even sixteen years old yet

The wolf demon said with a bitter smile, "All my siblings have passed away, my parents are also gone, and being alone is meaningless"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiuwen could not help but slightly furrow his brow

The village chief Wang Chengjiu once boasted that he was a distant relative of the Wang family from Langya. Now that he has killed someone from that family, it would be surprising if the Wang family from Langya were to let him off the hook

"Your Majesty, you must not go over there"

The wolf demon nervously chuckled and said, "Why did you strip my skin? Don't you already have a sheepskin coat?"

You still say that we are two-faced, as if you are very rule-abiding. Are you not aware of the rules of your Northern Underworld?

There is no way, this person truly has a problem with their mind

What am I doing following him

Mount Ling

This young man is very likely to have obtained an ancient divine technique that has been passed down through the ages by mere coincidence

"You still have the audacity to speak of virtue? They are merely stuffing your descendants with money, fervently providing you with offerings of three sacrificial animals, and secretly offering you young boys and girls. Do you think I am unaware of this?"

The City God, Xu Gongfu, could not help but be secretly astonished upon hearing these words

Chen Jiu inexplicably said, "What does it matter to me if you miss home?"

Having said that, he rose and quickly walked out.

Chen Jiu inexplicably said, "Isn't the Tiger Demon Divine Fist a family heirloom of yours? Why do you still want me to teach you? I have only practiced for one day, what is there to teach?"

"All deities of Jimo, urgently and according to the law, immediately exert all efforts to search for the hunter Chen Jiu of Ling Mountain. This fellow must be captured at all costs. If the Wang family dares to obstruct, they shall be dealt with ruthlessly"

If he had not killed the village chief, going to Yidu would not have been a problem

The village deity of Lingshan has indeed cultivated for over a hundred years, yet a boy of merely fifteen or sixteen years is able to slay it, which is truly extraordinary

Chen Jiuwen nodded decisively and said, "Alright, I will accompany you home, and I will go with you to hide in the deep mountains and forests."

What kind of virtue do you think the city god has been enshrined with for these few hundred years? Don't you have any idea in your own heart?

The wolf demon enviously said, "You are impressive; you have advanced to the fifth level after just one day of cultivation. I have been cultivating for over a hundred years and am still stuck at the third level. Can you tell me why this is?"

There are countless formidable demons and monsters in the mountains, and even the spiritual officials of the Langya Wang clan do not dare to enter easily

Every time rumors of divine-level martial arts emerge in the realms of Yin and Yang, it is always accompanied by a bloody storm.

Well then, I shall also inform you of the rules of the Northern Yin Division regarding the conferral of divinity; it is contingent upon one's moral character. Only those of high virtue and great reputation may be conferred divinity after their death

At this moment, Chen Jiu'er’s childhood dream has come true, but unfortunately, it is not a good dream; it is a nightmare of being pursued by someone

Chen Jiu came to a halt, feeling somewhat sympathetic and said, "So what do you plan to do?"

The wolf demon paused for a moment, then suddenly said with a face full of sorrow: "I miss home"

City God Xu did not blush in the slightest; instead, he mocked coldly, saying: "Is it wrong for Liu Yuanwai to be diligent in his offerings? Did you not confiscate his money?

Chen Jiu stopped in his tracks, turned his head, and said helplessly, "Are you sick? What do you mean by not being able to go over there?"

He is guilty of forcibly seizing women, coercing them into prostitution, usurping land, terrorizing the countryside, committing murder and arson, and has committed every conceivable crime, indeed!

Just name your price. Our family can provide money, offerings, and even young boys and girls, but do not take us for fools and ask for an exorbitant amount.

As a man and a wolf vanished into the forest, the land deity of Ling Mountain transformed into a wisp of blue smoke and fled towards Jimo County.

Chen Jiu said in silence, "If you want to go home, then go home. I am not stopping you."

"You treacherous and unfaithful individuals still wish to attain divinity after death?"

County magistrate Wang Xiangchun, upon hearing this, also sneered and said: "Am I pretending to be confused? Do not act like a good person in front of me; do you think you will heed the Emperor's summons?"

Xu Gongfu, feeling quite pleased, said: "Wealth and offerings are nothing compared to this; as for the young boys and girls, each will be conferred divinity, three hundred young boys and girls in total"

Upon thinking of this, the City God Xu Gongfu, unable to contain his impatience, raised his hand and said, "Cinnabar, talisman records, and spiritual brush, I will personally convey the orders"

Chen Jiu sighed softly and said, "If I had the time, perhaps I could help you take a look at the problem. However, I am currently fleeing for my life, so how could I have the time?"

The City God Xu Gong silently scanned with his divine sense and then asked, "Who exactly is Chen Jiu, and what is so extraordinary about him?"

Both groups of people wore a stern expression on their faces, as if they were engaged in a heated debate over something

Alas, just like me

Soon, the page featuring the Lingshan Hunter Chen Jiu appeared before him

Wang Xiangchun straightened his face and coldly said: "Enough, stop talking nonsense. The more you say, the more it seems you want to raise the price!"

In fact, he did not intend to go to Yidu; rather, the northern mountains and forests were the ones he was most familiar with. On ordinary days, he would venture the farthest while hunting, and he instinctively ran northward.

As he was engrossed in contemplating the yellow book, a sudden sound of hurried hoofbeats came from outside

Who in this world does not wish to cultivate into a deity, who does not aspire to attain enlightenment and ascend, and who does not desire immortality

The county magistrate Wang Xiangchun shamelessly remarked, "What does this have to do with you? Our Wang family of Langya is merely going with the flow. Are you suggesting that we should ignore other prominent families and truly confront the vassal kings? If that were the case, wouldn't our Wang family of Langya become the target of all the vassal kings and prominent families?"

We accepted his money and offerings and granted him a divine title, but we did not assist in his tyranny. What about you?

Something is not right

The Wang family of Langya has been a lineage of spiritual officials for over a thousand years; are you not seeking death by going over there

On the day of Jingzhe, many people were also worshipping the deities at the Chenghuang Temple in Jimo County

It is evident that County Magistrate Wang Xiangchun has discovered something unusual, which is why he wants to compete with him for the person Chen Jiu

My father warned me that I must not approach within a hundred miles of Yidu. Didn't your father tell you that?

How do I know why

Wang Xiangchun continued to sneer, saying: "What virtue is there to speak of? What kind of virtue do the deities you have conferred possess?

He must escape to a farther place

Two individuals are bargaining when a sudden puff of green smoke emerges from the bluestone ground between them

Xu Gongfu retorted, "The bestowal of titles is based on virtue; are you not aware of the character of your own Wang family?"

This Chen Jiu definitely has issues

They hurriedly presented it.

The wolf demon slowly nodded and said, "Yes, I would like to ask you to teach me the Tiger Demon Divine Fist."

The ancestors cultivated there for several hundred years without any issues, but it was only after they transformed and ventured into the territory of the human race that they were captured by the Spirit Officials

Chen Jiu suddenly said, "Do you want me to teach you the Tiger Magic Communication Divine Fist?"

This is the secret technique of the Wang family of Langya, "Divine Concealment of the Earth Mechanism, Eternal Life in Abundant Soil". These individuals are actually willing to expend spiritual energy to evade capture!

Chen Jiu feigned great anger, drew out a bullhorn knife, and turned to threaten, "Are you feeling itchy? If not, shall I skin you?"

Surely your royal family must have inquired long ago; if it were not for the influence of our Xu family in the underworld, would you have come to seek me out

The City God Xu looked at the back of the county magistrate Wang Xiangchun, slightly furrowing his brow

Well, let me tell you, your Da Dao Si Ren Wan Shou Di Jun has long since made contact with our Northern Yin Division, and it has been decreed that no person from noble families or wealthy households shall be granted divinity after death

Are you done or not

This young man, no matter how exceptional his talent may be, cannot possibly be this formidable; the only possibility is that the cultivation method he practices possesses some unique qualities.

All forces share a common thought: it is better to kill the wrong person than to let the right one go free

Langya is the ancient name of Qingzhou, and now the entire Qingzhou Prefecture is under the dominion of the Wang family of Langya

Because the divine-level cultivation techniques that can lead to becoming a deity have inexplicably been lost, the techniques that have been passed down can at most cultivate to the level of an Earth Immortal

The wolf demon urgently calls out

He is indeed running aimlessly, not knowing where he is going

Wang Xiangchun continued to shake his head and said, "No, we can offer at most eighty."

If one does not possess divine-level cultivation techniques, achieving divinity and ascending to immortality is simply a dream

The wolf demon murmured, "I originally came out to take a stroll, hoping to see if I could break through to the third level of the Tiger Demon’s Divine Fist."

Some individuals are resorting to despicable means, hastily trying to make room for their own people even before the matter has even begun

The county magistrate Wang Xiangchun immediately asked, "What is the matter?"

Wang Xiangchun shook his head repeatedly and said, "Do you think of people as livestock? You open your mouth and it's three hundred! How many people are there in Jimo? I can give you at most fifty per person, no more than that."

It is certain that he cannot stay near Lingshan, as both the underworld and the imperial court will send people to capture him; remaining in the vicinity is tantamount to seeking death

County magistrate Wang Xiangchun expressed some displeasure and said, "Xu Chenghuang, why can't our Wang family be conferred as deities after death?"

I am not a monster or a demon

It would have been better to recognize the situation earlier

He has certainly heard of the rumors regarding the Spirit Officer

This guy has a really thick skin

I remind you that regardless of who it is, everyone must report to our underworld after death. We are fully aware of the many immoral deeds your Wang family has committed

The wolf demon sorrowfully said, "I want to go home"

The east and south are both the sea; he does not wish to jump into the sea, so he can only run westward

The noble families supported by the Zhu Ming royal family all have a legacy of spiritual officials, and the Wang family of Langya is famously known as a family of spiritual officials

How can I teach you

Chen Jiu furrowed his brows in contemplation for a moment, then lifted his foot and hurried westward with Tu Shu

It is rumored that the Spirit Official wields ancient secret arts, causing chaos and confusion, more terrifying than demons and monsters

In many places within the city of Jimo County, a wave of exclamations arose, as numerous spiritual officials suddenly walked along, only to abruptly form hand seals and vanish into the ground without a trace

Moreover, there are mountains stretching for hundreds to thousands of miles, including Yishan, Mengshan, Lushan, Taishan, and so on, with countless mountains.

For the sake of divine-level martial arts, they truly can cause rivers of blood to flow!

Xu Gongfu, with a stern expression, said: "Are you still pretending? Isn't it true that your Wang family raises people like livestock?"

Have you intervened? You accepted his money, and not only did you neglect these matters, but you also aided him in oppressing the common people who have reported him. Do you think I am unaware of this?

This wolf demon is out of its mind

Chen Jiu helplessly said, "Why do you always follow me?"

The City God Xu Gong, upon hearing this, straightened his face and angrily said: "How can this be? How dare a rogue citizen kill my underworld deities!"

Divine-level martial arts, sufficient to drive one to madness

County magistrate Wang Xiangchun hurriedly walked outside and immediately conveyed through his divine sense: "All spirit officials, heed my command, swiftly proceed to Spirit Mountain to capture the hunter Chen Jiu"

The Spirit Officials are specifically tasked with dealing with demons and monsters. Not only you and I, but even the most powerful demon kings cannot match those Spirit Officials!

The wolf demon exclaimed in surprise, "My lord, do you not know? To the north lies Yidu, which is the stronghold of the Langya Wang clan!

My father asked me why I am doing this

Now that he has killed the village chief, the situation is different; the Wang family of Langya is indeed the local emperor of Qingzhou, and most of the officials are their people

He hurriedly finished writing, picked up the talisman, and with a single breath, sprayed it out. The talisman immediately transformed into a burst of fireworks and vanished without a trace

He was secretly anxious when a sudden cry came from behind.

The moonlight is hazy, and the jungle is dim.

Everyone is aware of the situation, and I am too tired to elaborate further with you

What should I do

The wolf demon is not wrong; if one escapes to the deep mountains hundreds of miles away, it should be possible to evade the pursuit of the Langya Wang clan and the Jimo Yin Division

I am currently fleeing for my life, where would I have the time to chat with you

What great king

It is also said that Jimo does not have this many, you will not go to other states and counties to gather them

You treacherous and rebellious subjects, we of the Northern Yin Division cannot afford to be sealed by you. The realm of the living has already been thrown into chaos by your actions, and now you wish to bring disorder to the realm of the dead as well

Without going too far back, let's talk about last year's Fengshen, that Liu Yuanwai from Wago Village, what kind of character does he have

No wonder County Magistrate Wang Xiangchun chose to set aside the matter of the Wang family's ancestral deification after the death of his elders, and instead directly confronted a mere hunter, tearing their relationship apart and engaging in conflict.

The land deity pondered for a moment and then cautiously said, "City God, Chen Jiu is the hunter from Ling Mountain. Aside from being a bit stronger, he doesn't seem to have any remarkable qualities.

On the northern side of Mount Ling, amidst the towering mountains, Chen Jiu was striving to rush deep into the jungle and the library

At this moment, in the old temples of Longquan, Beian, Yifengdian, Duanbofeng, and other towns near Lingshan, the talismans affixed to the altars spontaneously ignited without wind, and all the deities seemed to have been awakened, rising tall and hurriedly making their way outside

Alright, I will give your family a favor, two hundred and eighty, it cannot be any less

The wolf demon followed closely behind, chattering incessantly, "My lord, don't be in such a hurry to leave, let's have a chat."

County magistrate Wang Xiangchun lifted his eyelids and turned to ask, "Chen Jiu, who is he?"

Moreover, am I not taking on any risks? Go ask in other counties of Qingzhou Prefecture, who would dare to take on this job

County magistrate Wang Xiangchun feigned fury and said: "How dare you! You actually dare to kill officials and rebel! Some people are truly despicable, to frame and slander others right to their face. I want to see who is behind this, who is the mastermind."

Thus, Wang Xiangchun and Xu Gongfu are ready to take significant action upon discovering a hint of evidence.

A voice outside the door proclaimed: "There is a report to the authorities from Ling Mountain, that the hunter Chen Jiu has killed the village chief Wang Cheng of Ling Mountain."

The city god, Xu Gongfu, picked up the spiritual brush, dipped it in cinnabar, and swiftly began to draw a series of ghostly symbols.

The City God, Xu Gong, sits in a high seat above the altar, flanked on both sides by the Black and White Impermanence, the Day and Night Wandering Deities, General Gan Liu, General Fan Xie, General Niu Ma, General Jia Suo, and others.

Both the officials on the left and right shook their heads in confusion, but only the clerk from the Household Department quickly pulled out a yellow register from somewhere and began to flip through it rapidly

County Magistrate Wang Xiangchun sat upright on a large armchair in the hall, flanked by the county deputy, clerks, and various officials, exuding an imposing presence that was in no way inferior to the deities across from him

Livestock should not be raised in this manner

Only fifteen or sixteen years old

What has he not done? He has forcibly taken women, coerced them into prostitution, seized land, terrorized the countryside, and committed murder and arson

Why is it not possible to go?

Get lost

I was just worried about not having an excuse

He leaped over the rocky ravines and dense thickets with the swiftness of a cheetah, moving so quickly that it was somewhat difficult for the naked eye to catch his speed

Xu Gongfu coldly laughed and said, "What does this have to do with me? Are you still pretending to be confused here?"

City God Xu Gong said with a stern face: "You ask me? Don't you know in your own heart? What do you think the Great Way of Compassion and Longevity Emperor is raising you for? They want you to deal with those feudal lords!"

For thousands of years, countless forces have tirelessly searched between the realms of Yin and Yang, yet they have still achieved nothing.

Send my orders: all the deities in Jimo shall exert their full strength to hunt down the hunter Chen Jiu. First, slay him, and then capture his soul for thorough interrogation. I want to see who is behind this.

A short old man with a white beard suddenly emerged from underground, cupping his hands and bowing as he said: "Report, Lord City God, the deity of Lingshan Village has been killed by the hunter Chen Jiu from the village"

After the sacrificial rites were completed, the common people exited, leaving only County Magistrate Wang Xiangchun and City God Xu Gongfu in the main hall of the City God Temple to discuss important matters