Yinshan Record

Chapter 222 Entering the Demonic Path and Seeking the Demon
The streets outside the City God Temple were quiet, and the empty square was bathed in the bright but unwarm autumn sunlight, devoid of its former bustle.

The elite guards brought by Shi Chibao had already cleared the surrounding area. Dressed in official robes and wearing black gauze hats, the guards each gripped a straight sword, their eyes cold and murderous.

Su Che stood at the entrance of the City God Temple, straightened his clothes slightly, and stepped into the temple.

The general layout of this place is almost identical to that of the one in Shanyin County.

The only difference is that a faint trace of magical power can be sensed here.

The City God of Shanyin County was killed by the Xuanshan Old Monster a long time ago. Although the temple still exists, it is just an empty shell without an owner.

The City God of Tian'an County was still in office. As soon as Su Che entered the City God Temple, he felt the place's rejection of him.

Whether it's the soul or the intuition, it's like being stuck in a quagmire, making everything unpleasant.

Indeed, it possesses awe-inspiring divine power.

Su Che understood that this was not because the City God was intentionally targeting him, but simply because the path of divine cultivation was so exclusive.

Within this City God Temple, it is as if it were the City God's own "divine kingdom," or "territory," where any force that forcibly enters will provoke a counterattack.

The last time Su Che passed by this City God Temple, he didn't go in to take a look. Only after walking in did he discover that there was a huge peach tree inside the temple that required three or four people to encircle it. Its leaves were like a canopy, and even in the autumn, they were lush and green.

Under the peach tree stood a man dressed in official robes. He looked to be in his forties, holding a scepter, as if he were on his way to court.

"Su Lixing".

This person's eyes were filled with golden light, and he exuded an aura of authority that commanded respect without anger.

"Have we met?"

"I could say I've met him. I saw Li Xing once on the way to kill some corpse demons that day."

Sure enough it was him.

"Then it is because my eyesight is poor that I did not see Your Excellency."

"Su Lixing has a keen sense of spiritual awareness, which is quite impressive among those of the sixth rank."

The City God of Tian'an County had a smile on his lips.

"When a cultivator in the Xuanmen sect reaches the fourth rank, in addition to being able to ride the wind and enter the outer void beyond the Heavenly Gang, they can also form a unique law domain based on the laws they have mastered, replacing the laws that distort heaven and earth with their own laws. This is what is meant by the struggle between heaven and man."

The City God continued, "When one first enters the path of divinity, one must rely on the inherent laws of heaven and earth to maneuver and move. As the City God of Tian'an County, Tian'an County is my domain, and I am this world. It is normal that Su Lixing cannot perceive me."

“What a magnificent statement, ‘I am this world,’” Su Che sincerely praised, “The City God has such a magnanimous spirit.”

“Tian’an County connects Jiankang and Cizhou, and among the outstanding people who travel there, there are few who can compare with Su Lixing.”

Su Che looked at the City God before him. He spoke with refined manners and had a dignified air. If Shi Chibao hadn't explained that this man was deeply afflicted by demonic possession, Su Che would never have believed that he had become a demon.

"This is not the place to talk. Would you please move to another location, Mr. Su?"

As he spoke, the City God pointed to the peach tree behind him.

He activated his magic, and bursts of light emanated from in front of the peach tree, faintly revealing a gate.

"That would be too abrupt."

Su Che strode forward, entering the radiant light.

Beneath the glow of neon lights stood a magnificent mansion. At the entrance, two ferocious stone lions held not embroidered balls, but lifelike demons.

Above the mansion hangs a plaque with the four characters "Tianan Fangbo".

This is the "divine kingdom" of the county's city god. Of course, with his cultivation level, he is not yet able to support the so-called divine kingdom, or it would be more accurate to describe it as a "shrine".

This area is the territory controlled by the City God of Tian'an County.

Between reality and illusion.

Su Che's first impression upon stepping into this place was that it bore a striking resemblance to the divine forbidden area within the Azure Emperor's Treasure Garden.

But there is one difference, though I can't quite figure it out right now.

"Greetings, Fang Bo."

Upon entering the mansion, six ghost messengers lined up and stepped forward to pay their respects.

"Su Lixing, these are the six ghost messengers under my command."

The City God of Tianan smiled slightly. "My magical power is weak, please excuse my poor appearance."

Su Che raised his hand and bowed to these people.

He had heard that the City God of the Capital, namely the City God of Jiankang, had nearly a hundred ghost ministers under his command, almost like a living, breathing monarch.

It is evident that the number of subordinates is somewhat related to the level of cultivation of the deities.

"The City God's blessings extend to all people, and his virtues cannot be judged by the level of his cultivation."

"I've heard that Su Lixing used to be a spoiled brat, but seeing him today, he seems to have the air of a chivalrous hero." The City God of Tian'an looked at Su Che and said, "Lixing, you really have guts."

it is more than words.

"Why does the City God say such a thing?"

"My possession of demonic possession is probably already known to others. Even so, Li Xing dared to enter my shrine, which shows his extraordinary courage."

He seemed to approve of Su Che in his words: "Of course, without the means, these are just reckless actions, but I believe in the means of reason and punishment."

"Oh?"

"A sixth-rank expert capable of annihilating a hungry ghost cultivator is no ordinary person."

He also knew about what had happened in front of Tongdelou that day.

It is said that true gods possess the ability to hear and see the heavens and the earth within their own territories, which is indeed awe-inspiring.

"Rest assured, Li Xing, though I have fallen into demonic possession, I am still a righteous god of the state. It is a good thing that you, Li Xing, have taken action to intercept and kill those vile and ugly creatures." The City God of Tian'an County laughed heartily: "I have prepared some wine at my humble abode. As the saying goes, it is better to meet by chance than to invite someone. Please."

"please."

Sure enough, a feast was laid out in the main hall of the shrine, with all kinds of delicacies and dishes.

“Cultivators believe in consuming qi for longevity. These are all spiritual seeds that I have cultivated myself, and their taste is slightly different from that of people in the human world.”

The City God sat down with an air of authority, and Su Che, without any hesitation, followed suit and sat down at the table.

"If I may be so bold as to ask, this banquet is probably not prepared for me, is it?"

Even if this City God had the ability to hear and see the heavens and the earth, he probably couldn't have predicted that he would come to his door. This meal seemed to be a kind of last meal before his execution.

"People say that Young Master Su is a playboy from Jiankang. If all playboys in Jiankang are like this, then the unification of the world by our Great Liang might truly be just around the corner. Indeed, this banquet is for myself."

The City God poured himself a cup of wine, his eyes flashing like lightning as he looked at Su Che.

"Young Master Su, do you know when I became the local City God?"

"I really don't know that."

Su Che knew about this person's background, but felt it was unnecessary to bring it up now.

Because this person does indeed have a special identity.

“Back then, the previous dynasty was tyrannical, and Emperor Taizu of Liang raised an army with distant relatives of the imperial clan. I joined the army and fought in dozens of battles, large and small. In field battles, I charged into the fray, and in sieges, I was the first to scale the walls. I dare not say that I was invincible, but I still risked my life.”

This was a true loyal minister who died in battle. When the Great Liang attacked Cizhou, this City God was one of the vanguard.

"Back then, I was brave and courageous, but not good at socializing. I was betrayed by a villain and led three thousand soldiers eastward to Cizhou. We were surrounded by the enemy. My death cannot be called heroic, but I did my best for the country."

Su Che had seen the relevant records. Back then, due to factional issues, this man was resented by the commander-in-chief, who intentionally wanted him killed. He was surrounded outside Tian'an County, but in the end, the commander-in-chief still managed to break through the encirclement and allow the remaining troops to return to the main camp.

After the body was collected, not counting knife wounds and external injuries, the arrowheads alone weighed three pounds.

The phrase "devoted to the country" is simply insufficient to describe the heroism of this man.

"Back then, Emperor Taizu was grateful for my contributions and appointed me as the City God of this county after the founding of the country. I have done my best in my post. In the hundreds of years since the founding of the country, I dare not say that I have worked hard day and night, but I have never shied away from hard work."

The city god took another sip of wine from his cup.

As he said, this City God of Tianan was indeed of impeccable lineage, and there was no record of any misconduct in the records of the Imperial Guards over the past few hundred years.

"Alas, sometimes I am still lost in a dream, and I can almost hear the drums and horns of yesteryear." The City God spoke with a hint of magnanimity: "Is Su Lixing very curious as to why I fell into demonic possession?"

“I don’t think the term ‘possessing demonic power’ is quite appropriate,” Su Che said, looking at the god before him. “Perhaps ‘seeking demonic power’ would be more suitable for the City God.”

(End of this chapter)