I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Chapter 83: Chapter 72: (Restored) Wuwei Temple

At noon, Ningyuan City.

Calls of vendors echoed repeatedly, and the bustling flow was endless.

Yun Shang changed into a cloud brocade skirt, looking like a clear sky with charming clouds, captivating.

She stood at the corner of the street holding a little monkey, staring at the sugar figurines made by the vendor across, pursing her lips.

”Right? You also think those sugar figurines are delicious? Fine, fine, I’ll take the plunge and buy you one.”

”Zhi zhi~”

Gathering her courage, Yun Shang went over to buy a sugar figurine, then turned and ran, her face flushed, panting.

”Zhi zhi~”

”What? I mustered so much courage to buy you a sugar figurine, and now you say you don’t want it? You fickle bad monkey, I’ll make you grind the millstones when we get back!”

”If you won’t eat it, I will. Wasting food is not good.”

Yun Shang ate the sugar figurine in small bites, her face full of happy smiles, reluctant to take too big a bite.

”Tasty?”

A voice suddenly came from beside her, causing Yun Shang to tremble all over and instinctively step back two steps, only then looking up.

Jiang Yuebai had also changed into black clothes, wearing a conical hat exuding a strong martial air, and was staring directly at her.

Yun Shang blushed and hastily explained, ”No, I wasn’t the one who wanted to eat it, it, it wanted to eat... and then it said it’s not tasty...”

The more she spoke, the softer her voice became.

”Zhi zhi!”

Jiang Yuebai looked intently, ”I see there is none of your aura on this monkey; you likely didn’t form a contract with it. Can you understand what it’s saying?”

Yun Shang mumbled softly, ”Of course, I don’t understand...”

Jiang Yuebai chuckled, not understanding Yun Shang’s fearful disposition, as he’d never seen her in the sect before. She seemed like a disciple from the Spiritual Beast Valley.

No matter her high cultivation, she never wanted to manage anything, always indifferent, saying ”Anything’s fine, no objections,” so Jiang Yuebai had to temporarily take the lead.

Zhao Wude came back after finishing his shopping, and Jiang Yuebai explained the situation to the two.

”I’ve got some trouble. The trackers earlier have been shaken off. Over the next few days, you two go together. I’ll follow nearby, handling issues myself to avoid implicating you.”

Yun Shang nodded, and Zhao Wude had no objections, so the three of them set out again.

In the following days, Jiang Yuebai didn’t encounter any more of Jia Xiuchun’s trackers. The previous two were loose cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, appearing to be seasoned robbers and killers, tough to deal with.

Fearing a delay in her task, Jiang Yuebai used the methods Hong Tao taught her to shake them off.

The group encountered no further incidents and arrived safely in Qingzhou of Yun Country.

Zhao Wude, knowing the way, directly led the two up Leyou Mountain, finding Wuwei Temple halfway up.

”The incense is thriving here, with many mortals around. I hope you two senior sisters can conceal your aura to avoid being discovered as Immortal Sect disciples, or there will be endless trouble.”

Zhao Wude repeatedly reminded them, and Yun Shang nodded repeatedly, retrieving the little monkey into the Spiritual Beast Bag.

Jiang Yuebai surveyed the surroundings; towering ancient trees surrounded the temple, with pine trees standing tall and imposing. A broad mountain path spiraled downward, connecting to the official road.

The Daoist temple recently underwent renovations, still preserving its ancient charm. Though worshippers streamed in and out, it remained tranquil, solemn, and dignified.

Several carriages were parked outside the temple, mostly belonging to local noble families or government households, surrounded by maids and servants accompanying their elegantly dressed mistresses and ladies, traversing the temple.

The ebb and flow of people made Yun Shang nervous and restless. She took out a Stealth Talisman and slapped it onto herself, vanishing from mortal sight, exhaling a sigh of relief.

Zhao Wude’s immortal demeanor drew many curious glances. As soon as he stepped into Wuwei Temple, the middle-aged host approached him warmly.

The host of Wuwei Temple was appointed by the Yun Country court, yet persuading or even replacing him wasn’t a challenge for someone like Zhao Wude with cultivation and spells.

They went to the Quiet Room to talk, while Jiang Yuebai wandered around. In the main hall, she saw a statue that matched the depiction in Lii Jiuchuan’s painting: a figure with a long spear and armor, unmatched in elegance, resembling Lin Jingyue.

The plaque outside the temple bore the inscription ’Wuwei Temple’, while the main hall bore the inscription ’General Temple’.

The Everlasting Lamp never went out, and blue smoke curled up from the incense burner. Within moments, a dozen people came to offer incense. As described by Lii Jiuchuan, the incense fire was flourishing.

Jiang Yuebai wasn’t particularly clear on what the power of incense fire was.

Standing there at the moment, she could vaguely sense an extraordinary force from the whispered prayers of the people, dispelling coldness and filling the entire temple with a balanced, warm aura, akin to the morning glow.

Before long, Zhao Wude, with a proud expression, was respectfully escorted out by the temple’s host, who was beaming with satisfaction. Zhao Wude must have promised him some benefit.

Yun Shang, standing in a deserted corner, felt braver because no one could see her. Holding a peach blossom branch, she boldly scrutinized the outfits and jewelry of passing ladies.

The three gathered in the corner, and Zhao Wude told Jiang Yuebai, ”Everything went smoothly, and now we just need to wait for the craftsmen to arrive and sculpt a Daoist Ancestor statue in the side hall. I’ll excavate a space underground at the temple for establishing the Heavenly Interence Sect’s Communication Array.”

”Then... is the task over? Can we go back?” Yun Shang asked in a low voice.

Zhao Wude looked troubled, ”I’m afraid both senior sisters will need to stay a few more days. According to the temple’s host, over the past half-year, a Tiger Demon in the mountains has been controlling Chang Ghosts to frequently attack travelers around Leyou Mountain and Qingxi Town at night, capturing their souls. Before our arrival, the sect had already dispatched disciples to eradicate the threat, but the Tiger Demon is cunning and elusive.”

”What level is the Tiger Demon?” Jiang Yuebai asked.

Zhao Wude shook his head, ”How could mortals discern the cultivation level of a Tiger Demon? I heard from the host that although the Tiger Demon hasn’t committed mass slaughter, it can control over a dozen Chang Ghosts, so it is at least Eighth-Level. Setting up the Communication Array will surely stir spiritual energy, and if the Tiger Demon attacks Wuwei Temple with fury, both senior sisters might need to join forces to handle it.”

Jiang Yuebai pondered for a moment and asked, ”How far is Qingxi Town from here?”

”It’s down the mountain, two hours by mortal carriage, or about half an hour by sword flying.”

”Here’s the plan. I’ll set up a Talisman Array around Wuwei Temple; for an Eighth-Level Tiger Demon, the array could hold for an hour. Rather than waiting passively, it’s better to take the initiative. I’ll head to the vicinity of Qingxi Town to search for the Tiger Demon. Besides, I have a personal matter to attend to. Leave a Message Paper Crane with you; contact me if anything arises.”

Zhao Wude glanced at Yun Shang; she was the highest in cultivation among the three.

Yun Shang nodded cautiously, ”I brought plenty of helpers, so I’m not afraid.”

She sneaked a glance at Jiang Yuebai, pulling a Spiritual Beast Bag off her waist and timidly handing it over.

”Borrowing my Little Thunder Fire, its temper isn’t great, so don’t let it out unless there’s a fight.”

Jiang Yuebai accepted the Spiritual Beast Bag, using the Heavenly Eye Technique to examine the spiritual energy distribution around the temple, determining the core of the array, and laid out a Sparks of Fire Array using thirty-six Ninth-Grade Mid-Level Fire Cloud Talismans.

Although it was an ordinary Ninth-Grade Fire Array, Jiang Yuebai utilized the principle of Wood Generates Fire, adding a Wood Element Gathering Spirit Array at the core.

This allowed her to draw on the abundant wood element aura from the mountain to enhance the fire array’s power, and with Ninth-Grade Mid-Level Talismans, its strength was doubled.

After arranging everything, Jiang Yuebai donned black clothes, a conical hat, and held a long knife, resembling a martial chivalrous lady, leaving Wuwei Temple alone.

As soon as she stepped out of the temple gate, Jiang Yuebai halted and immediately recognized a familiar face.