I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 125: Chapter 125: City God Temple

City God Temple in Xianggu County is said to have a history of over a thousand years, having been renovated several times...

The temple seems to be as ancient as the history of this remote county town...

In Xianggu County, there have always been some bizarre legends passed down through generations, involving the stories of the City God from the City God Temple...

When the escort team arrived at the City God Temple, Ruan Fengshan was already waiting there!

The ritual of worshiping the City God is something Ruan Fengshan will never miss as long as he is in Xianggu County, unless he is absent, in which case the Chief Leader Luan Jingfu will preside in his stead!

Ruan Fengshan understands well that such occasions will enhance his authority and mystery among the escort masters in the escort agency, reminding everyone that he is the true master of this agency!

Ruan Fengshan arrived at the City God Temple early, having already asked Zhou An to arrange the offerings and given the temple priest some silver coins as compensation!

The escort team dismounted in front of the temple and followed Ruan Fengshan inside, leaving Zhou An with several others to guard the outside!

”Blessings from the City God!”

In front of the incense table at the City God Statue is a roasted suckling pig and two braised chickens!

Ruan Fengshan stood at the forefront of the group, holding incense to bow and worship!

All the escort masters and porters echoed loudly, ”Blessings from the City God!”

Then, they all uniformly held incense to bow and worship!

Afterward, people queued orderly to insert incense into the incense burner and then circled to the City God Statue, placing their hands on its feet and silently making wishes!

This is also an age-old tradition passed down in Xianggu County, with the two feet of the City God already polished bright and black...

Soon, it was Duan Rong’s turn; he inserted incense into the burner, bowed, and then circled past the incense table to stand beneath the City God Statue!

Duan Rong looked up, only to see the stone statue of the City God, with a somber color, even with several noticeable crack repairs, indicating it’s quite aged.

Duan Rong, mimicking the escort masters, placed his hand on the foot of the City God, muttering, ”Blessings from the City God, safe travels! All demons and ghosts retreat! All disasters and dangers bypass us!”

As Duan Rong recited, a thought suddenly struck him, and he inwardly commanded, ”Read Artifact Spirit!”

Duan Rong lowered his head, observing the array of data appearing before him, his breath catching as his mind was shaken!

Artifact: City God Stone Statue

Artifact Spirit Tier: Twenty-One

Devouring Requirements: Host’s Spiritual Power at Level 21 (not met)

Devouring Effect: Thousand-Year Incense (initial comprehension of the Power of Law of time)

”Twenty-One Tier? Power of Law?”

The tier of the City God’s Artifact Spirit surpassed Duan Rong’s previous highest record of reading Artifact Spirit Tier, where the highest tier was the thousand-year mulberry tree at the temple entrance with a tier of fifteen!

The City God is mighty! Duan Rong inwardly noted.

A twenty-one-tier Artifact Spirit has little to do with him currently! As for the Power of Law, Duan Rong further has no clue what it is!

Admiration suffices; pondering is pointless!

Duan Rong prayed to the City God once more, this time more devoutly!

Once Duan Rong finished praying, he left the statue and walked to the side near the temple hall entrance, standing there.

Some people were already standing there, with Ruan Fengshan also standing at the entrance chatting with the temple priest.

Ruan Fengshan looked at Duan Rong, saying, ”Duan Rong, seek advice from your master and Leader Sun if you encounter issues along the way, don’t act on your own!”

”Yes! Thank you, Shopkeeper, for the guidance!” Duan Rong responded obediently.

Ruan Fengshan nodded, saying, ”We are getting old! The escort agency will rely on you youngsters to support it in the future! Work hard, and your world will be awaiting you!”

Duan Rong’s expression remained unchanged, but he thought inwardly: Isn’t this too quick for empty promises? His father is leading the escort for the first time!

Even though Duan Rong thought so internally, his face reflected sincerity as he said, ”Thank you, Shopkeeper, for the teachings!”

Ruan Fengshan looked at Duan Rong, nodding his head.

After the escort team paid respects to the City God, they bid farewell to Ruan Fengshan at the temple entrance and rode out of the East City Gate!

Ruan Fengshan watched the escort team leave the city, then exchanged pleasantries with the temple priest before climbing into a small sedan at the temple entrance, carried by porters back to the escort agency.

Seeing Ruan Fengshan leave, the temple priest inserted the duster into the back of his waist, humming a little tune as he turned into the temple, catching a glimpse of the offerings on the incense table and swallowing the saliva that welled up.

By nighttime, this roasted suckling pig and braised chicken will be removed from the incense table and enter his belly...

Once the escort team exited the East City Gate, they slightly increased their pace, stirring up a cloud of dust at the city gate!

However, the escort team’s progress remained slow, appearing leisurely to Duan Rong’s perspective...

After all, their journey to Ruyang Prefecture for the escort run spans a month round-trip, where the emphasis lies not in starting off fast but in maintaining a stable speed throughout the journey, akin to running a marathon.

The escort team had only proceeded a while when Duan Rong’s gaze suddenly fixated tightly on one individual.

This person is robust and strong with broad shoulders, seated on a black steed like a small mountain.

Duan Rong focused on him not because of his exceptional physique, but due to the coin-sized black mole central on his back neck!

This mole reminded him of the Cow Tail Saber’s Artifact Spirit he devoured in the courtyard used to stack firewood, over ten days ago!

The Artifact Spirit was at the Minor Success Realm of the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber, and as he absorbed it in dreams, he vaguely glimpsed this mighty silhouette and the black mole!

”Isn’t this somewhat coincidental?” Duan Rong pondered.

”That’s Escort Master Liu Ao!” Noticing Duan Rong’s gaze, Xiao Yu beside him introduced: ”Escort Master Liu Ao has escorted for over ten years, selected from servant disciples like you! He’s now at the Third Level of Inner Breath in the Minor Success Realm!”

Xiao Yu spoke, her gaze bright as she looked at Duan Rong, her words carrying encouragement.

”Third Level of Inner Breath?” Duan Rong’s heart skipped a beat, sensing overlapping information, and he thought to himself: The Cow Tail Saber I devoured was probably eliminated by this person!

”In the escort team, he has the nickname Nine-fingered Death Warrior!” Xiao Yu continued.

”Nine-fingered Death Warrior?” Duan Rong found the nickname rather intriguing.

Xiao Yu caught Duan Rong’s expression, smiling: ”Once encountering robbers, their strength was formidable, and several escort masters died! Escort Master Liu Ao protected the goods, losing the little finger of his right hand while fiercely fighting and never retreating, hence the nickname!”

Xiao Yu’s expression subtly changed, seemingly recalling the bloody battle scene flashing before her eyes again.

Duan Rong’s gaze shifted, recalling the Cow Tail Saber he devoured, where the damaged saber handle was one-third sheared off, likely from that battle along with the little finger!

At the front of the group, Liu Ao seemed to hear Xiao Yu speaking about him, glancing back, his gaze sweeping across Xiao Yu and Duan Rong!

Liu Ao’s jawline was firm, nose high, and eyes sharp like a fierce beast surveying its territory.

Duan Rong’s complexion involuntarily tensed, inwardly saying: The fortune book says a mole in the middle of the back neck, commonly known as Monkey Riding Neck, signifies terrible omen! Moreover, this person’s appearance is so fierce, it’s likely reflecting the fortune book’s prophecy...