Day of Ascension

Following the giant god’s death, the incense qi he had condensed dissipated by itself. The arrows that had kept Yuanqi nailed to the ground also turned into incense qi, vanishing without a trace.

Xu Ying examined Yuanqi’s injuries and furrowed slightly.

The injuries were severe. He already had internal injuries from the previous night. Now, sword and arrow wounds from his battle with the giant god made it worse. Left untreated, he would not last long.

Yuanqi took it in stride, however.

“It’s probably over for me. After I die, wax and dry me, and you’ll be exempt from a year of taxes. Ah, right. If you go to the government office, you’ll be walking into a lion’s den! Hahahah—ack, cough, cough, cough!”

He coughed violently.

Xu Ying smiled. “You won’t die. Have you forgotten? I’m a snake catcher. I can catch snakes and treat them. Huangtianpu Town is just ahead. I’ll go there and pick up some herbs. Once I apply the medicine, you’ll be right as rain.”

Short of breath and languid in spirit, Yuanqi said, “Won’t you be delivering yourself to their doorstep if you go to Huangtianpu Town? Their god is likely no weaker than the one earlier. Your condition isn’t much better than mine. You won’t be a match for Him. I’m a snake demon, and you’re a snake catcher. We’re enemies. I won’t blame you if you leave me here.”

Xu Ying shook his head. “There are no gods in Huangtianpu Town. I came here a while back and learned that their god was promoted and transferred away. The city god still hasn’t arranged for a new god to come here. But you’re right. I should abandon you and leave.”

He left the snake demon behind and walked into the village.

Yuanqi panicked and hurriedly cried out, “I can still be saved! Don’t leave me behind! At least try!”

Xu Ying said impatiently, “Do you think I can carry you into town to buy herbs? I’m hungry. I’ll eat first. Don’t move.”

Only then did Yuanqi relax.

Xu Ying returned to where the giant god had been eating. The villagers had gone into hiding in terror. Only a girl of about ten remained, sitting on the ground with a half-eaten chicken leg in her hand and staring at him blankly.

He glanced at the table. There was still half a chicken left. He took out a piece of broken silver from his bosom and placed it on the table.

“This covers the big god’s meal.”

He devoured the food, leaving only bones.

Seeing how hungry he was, the little girl offered her half-eaten chicken leg.

Xu Ying really wanted to grab it and devour it on the spot, but he held back. He fished out another piece of broken silver and handed it to her.

“Girl, help me look after my brother. Bring him some water. Don’t let him die. Also, don’t get too close. He’s poisonous.”

The little girl nodded, licking the leftover shreds of meat off the bones like a cat.

Xu Ying strode out of the village and soon arrived at Huangtianpu Town.

The town was decorated for a celebration and buzzed with activity. People on the streets carried roasted suckling pigs, chickens, ducks, drove cattle, and escorted flower-adorned palanquins as trumpets and suonas blared.

Xu Ying blended into the crowd and scanned the street for a pharmacy. It’s so lively here. Is the landlord taking a wife?

A drum troupe approached, beating their drums. Behind them was a tall parade float, with an ox draped in red ribbons leading the way. Atop the float sat a lotus-shaped shrine, carrying a stone-carved statue of a god.

The statue had six arms. Bronze ribbons coiled between its arms and palms, winding around its front and back. It had two faces, one in front and one behind. The craftsmanship was so exquisite that it looked almost alive.

Two incense burners stood before and behind the shrine, each lit with arm-thick candles. Smoke curled upward, enveloping the statue.

Xu Ying thought, Their god was transferred away. Did a new one get assigned here?

The townspeople had set up a continuous street banquet, and the aroma filled the air. Xu Ying squeezed his way forward, grabbed some meat, and stuffed it into his mouth. Filling his belly came first.

Something still felt off. Ever since he encountered that great bell at Mount Jian, he has been constantly hungry. No matter how much he ate, he never felt full, and his vital energy seemed lacking.

He followed the parade float for half a li, and finally found a pharmacy in Huangputian Town.

Both the manager and the assistant were watching the procession. No one else was inside.

Xu Ying glanced around, then called for an assistant, “Help me pick some herbs.”

The assistant glanced outside and asked casually, “Do you need a prescription from a doctor?”

Xu Ying shook his head. “No. I’ll name the herbs, and you pick them. Be quick.”

He took out his last few taels of broken silver.

He had planned to flee to another region and save the money for marriage. But with Yuanqi injured, he couldn’t afford to have second thoughts. Buying the herbs came first.

The assistant’s eyes lit up at the silver. “Sir, what herbs do you need?”

Xu Ying listed the herbs and quantities. The assistant froze.

Is he treating an elephant? Why would he need so many herbs?

Xu Ying needed enough for both himself and Yuanqi. The latter was over three zhang long and weighed eight hundred jin. Not an elephant, but not small either. Treating him required a lot of herbs.

Hailing from a family of snake catchers, Xu Ying had spent his days in the mountains and forests, dealing with venomous snakes, insects, and demons. Naturally, he needed to learn some medical techniques.

He had learned medicine from his grandfather and adoptive father over the years and developed solid skills. Treating injuries was no problem for him.

However, he needed a large quantity of herbs. The assistant would need some time to finish packing them. So, Xu Ying exited the pharmacy and followed the parade float.

Let’s see how a god is ordained in towns.

He had seen village ordinations before. It was a very simple process. After a virtuous elder passed, villagers built a shrine, crafted a statue from wood or clay, placed the elder’s spirit tablet before it, and offered daily worship. Over time, the statue would develop supernatural properties.

The process of ordination in cities and towns was different. Their gods were registered with the Underworld Court and required official investiture from it. During the reign of Emperor Zhidao Dasheng Daming Xiao, there were also imperial investitures. The ceremonies were very solemn and grand.

Xu Ying hadn’t seen such ordination before, so he couldn’t help but feel curious.

Surrounded by the crowd, the parade float arrived at a temple in town. It was already packed with people, making it impossible to squeeze through. Xu Ying stopped outside and looked in. Offerings and sacrifices steadily flowed into the temple. A group of strong men carried the statue down and moved it onto the shrine inside the temple.

Amidst the incense smoke, a small earth god emerged from the ground. He unfurled a green scroll with a swish and swayed his head as he recited, “By the Mandate of Heaven and the Underworld Court decrees: Yin spirit Huang Sanduo of Huangtianpu Town was charitable and kind in his lifetime, accumulating great merit and virtuous deeds.

“His virtuous acts moved Heaven and Earth, and his righteousness brought gods and spirits to tears. Now, Xue Lingfu, the city god of Lingling County, by decree of the Underworld Court, hereby ordains Huang Sanduo as the god of Huangtianpu Town. He shall enjoy the incense of the mortal realm and receive eternal blessings of the dead! So it is decreeeeed!

The short earth god whipped the green scroll back together. In a high-pitched voice, he shrieked, “Strike up the ritual musiiiic. Let the Dragon God summon the clouds, and the Rain Master dispense rain! Bring forth Chief Huang’s spirit tablet!”

Drums played as soon as he finished speaking, and trumpets and suonas blared even louder.

Dark clouds suddenly gathered in the sky. Xu Ying looked up and saw an enormous creature resembling the divine dragon carved into the temple’s pillars, flying amid the clouds.

Then, rain fell. A god could be vaguely seen standing atop the clouds, controlling the rain. He must be the Rain Master mentioned by the earth god.

The Rain Master and the Dragon God were both officials of the Underworld Court. They only came to Huangtianpu Town for the formalities of ordaining a god. The rain stopped, and the clouds scattered when Landlord Huang Sanduo’s spirit tablet was brought in. The Rain Master and the Dragon God also vanished without a trace.

Inside the temple, the ordination ceremony continued.

Xu Ying asked the bystanders, “Is Chief Huang a man of great virtue? To be ordained as the town’s god right after his death, he must have done a lot of good deeds in his lifetime, huh?”

The people snorted coldly. Someone even spat two blobs of thick phlegm on the ground right in front of Xu Ying and ground it with his foot.

Xu Ying was puzzled. When he tried to probe further, the townspeople of Huangtianpu Town fell silent, not daring to speak.

An old voice chuckled. “You don’t know, young man. Chief Huang is a renowned ‘philanthropist’ from Lingling County. He owns fertile lands, heaps of treasure, and numerous beautiful concubines. He did plenty of good deeds during his lifetime. He was devoted to the city god, donating generously to the temple during festivals.

“He also did plenty for the townspeople. He opened brothels so girls could ‘earn a living.’ He consolidated land, forcing people to sell their fields and work for him instead so that he could pay them wages and ‘support’ them.”

As soon as he finished, the nearby crowd scattered in a hurry, distancing themselves.

Xu Ying looked over. The speaker was an elderly man with white hair and a beard, dressed in purplish-black silk. His hands were clasped behind his back, and a thin black cord tied his beard, giving him a sharp, austere look.

Xu Ying was bewildered and asked, “Chief Huang committed such atrocities. How could he still be ordained as god?”

The sharp elder smiled. “He bought the city god’s favor. Xue Lingfu used his money to bribe officials throughout the Underworld Court. Securing a divine post after death was nothing.”

Xu Ying blurted, “The Underworld Court is this corrupted?”

The sharp old man chuckled. “If it weren’t, would common people be bullied to this extent? In life, the people suffer abuse. In death, the people still endure it.”

The crowd grew fearful at his words, retreating even farther from Xu Ying and the elder.

A booming voice rang out with a sneer. “Chief Huang did indeed buy the favor of the city god, but the government office isn’t any better. Did they not benefit from Chief Huang?”

Xu Ying looked toward the source of the voice. The crowd parted to the sides. A giant, twice as tall as an ordinary person, approached. He wore black boots trimmed with gold, designed like a qilin devouring the heavens, red robes embroidered with dragon and python, and a black-and-red official’s hat. His face was gaunt yet vigorous, and his wide sleeves fluttered in the wind, exuding authority.

Wherever the god passed, the crowd parted as if pushed aside by an invisible force.

Xu Ying’s heart skipped a beat as he cursed inwardly, The city god’s statue!

That giant was Lingling County’s city god, Xue Lingfu. He had been in office for five hundred years, receiving offerings since the reign of Emperor Zhidao Dasheng Daming Xiao.

Xue Lingfu walked up to Xu Ying and the sharp elder, sneering coldly. “In Chief Huang’s lifetime, he didn’t hesitate to line the pockets of government officials. He also forced honest women into prostitution. When they could no longer endure it and hanged themselves, the officials accepted his bribes and ruled him innocent.

“He seized land, coercing people to sell against their will. When commoners were driven to jump into wells or rivers, it was the government office that cleaned up their mess. You government officials can do these things, but the Underworld Court cannot?”

Xu Ying was shaken. He quickly stepped away from the elder. He is an official? Is the city god referring to him? Who is he? He seemed so upright just a moment ago, like a good person. It turns out they’re birds of a feather. None of them is a good person!”

The sharp elder burst into laughter, showing no fear in the face of the city god. With both hands behind his back, he said leisurely, “You’re right, City God. I did accept quite a bit of Chief Huang’s money and treasures. While alive, one should enjoy life to the fullest. If those above aren’t clean, how can those below remain so?”

The reply surprised Xue Lingfu. He smiled. “I thought you living people would be shameless enough to deny it. I didn’t expect Master Zhou Yihang to readily admit to it. You officials have skin as thick as steel, even thicker than I imagined.”

The sharp elder, Zhou Yihang, paid no heed to his mockery. He smiled. “My son is the magistrate of Lingling County. Why wouldn’t I dare to admit what he’s done? Can the Emperor hold our Zhou clan accountable? Or does the Underworld Court have the right to judge us?”

Xu Ying took another step back. This elder is Magistrate Zhou’s father! This is a disaster...

He could deal with ordinary Exorcists like Ding Quan or Wei Chu, but not someone from the Zhou clan, much less Zhou Yihang, the father of Magistrate Zhou. His strength would be even more unfathomable!

Xue Lingfu’s expression darkened at Zhou Yihang’s mention of the Zhou Clan. Now that the Emperor’s authority had waned, the Zhou clan had become a force even the imperial court could not restrain.

Zhou Yihang remained composed, a faint smile on his face. “Criminal Xu Ying, you killed Chief Jiang and violated the law. I must take you with me.”

Xu Ying suddenly sank heavily, as if seized by an invisible force. His limbs locked in place. Zhou Yihang’s aura had locked him in place!

The pressure of his aura made Xu Ying’s vital energy stagnate. He couldn’t channel it, let alone break free from the aura’s grip.

Xue Lingfu laughed out loud, his voice thunderous. “The imperial authority has waned. Noble clans wield power and carve the empire into pieces, but the Underworld Court’s divine authority remains!

“The Zhou clan faces no opposition in the mortal realm and acts with unchecked arrogance, but before the Underworld Court, even your ancestor would show respect! Xu Ying has violated the law of heaven. He should be taken to the Underworld Court to stand trial!”

Xu Ying abruptly sank deeper. Another extremely powerful aura had locked onto him. It belonged to Xue Lingfu.

On one side stood a city god who had held his post for five hundred years. On the other stood a terrifying Exorcist of the Zhou clan. Either one alone far surpassed Xu Ying.

A wisp of their aura was enough to pin Xu Yin in place firmly.

In Xu Ying’s mind, the mysterious voice rang out. “Those two old geezers aren’t that strong, but they’re very arrogant.”

Xu Ying was both surprised and delighted. He hurriedly asked, “Senior, could you lend a hand and kill those two old geezers?”

The great bell refused flatly. “I can’t! I am severely wounded and can barely defend myself. I can’t deal with them.”

Naturally, Xue Lingfu and Zhou Yihang couldn’t hear the great bell, but they did hear Xu Ying mutter “those two old geezers.” They immediately turned their heads simultaneously, their fierce gazes falling on him.

Xu Ying groaned. He blinked innocently and said sheepishly, “My lords... I wasn’t referring to you when I said ‘old geezers.’”