Hide in the world of gods and demons

Chapter 27 The first drop of blood
“Fellow Daoist Qiao is right, Fellow Daoist Lin did invite a few too few people,” Wen Yuquan said first.

“I also think it’s feasible,” Fang Jiutang said with a smile.

"Fellow Daoists, now that the Artifact Sect has left, and we don't know when the Longevity Sect will return, we can only rely on ourselves for the time being. As long as we unite and help each other, no one will dare to provoke us." Qiao Guanyuan said loudly, "After the people who went to the market return, I will go to each household to make contact."

The atmosphere was lively.

Before anyone knew it, Qiao Guanyuan had taken control of the neighborhood mutual aid association initiated by Lin Gui with just a few words and became the de facto leader.

……

After the party ended.

As Qiao Guanyuan walked, he chatted enthusiastically with everyone.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, we haven't interacted much before, but I know you. You're the best talisman drawer around here!"

"Not at all, not at all, Fellow Daoist Qiao is too kind. I can only draw some low-level talismans," Chen Li quickly replied.

"Making a living by drawing talismans is not easy. I can also draw talismans, but nine out of ten are ruined. I can't even make back my investment. I don't have the talent!"

Chen Li had no choice but to remain modest once again.

Wen Yuquan, standing to the side, smiled and said, "No matter how well you draw the talisman, it's just a minor skill. Cultivation is the foundation for us cultivators. Fellow Daoist Qiao has already reached the late stage of Qi Refining, hasn't he?"

"I only managed to break through last year by sheer luck!"

"This means you have a good chance of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage! Congratulations!"

"Alas, it's too early to say. Foundation Establishment is no easy feat. Countless rogue cultivators are stuck at this stage, unable to break through until their death, destined only to turn to dust!" Qiao Guanyuan said with a smile.

"Just by looking at Fellow Daoist Qiao's face, I know he is a person of great fortune, and his foundation building will be smooth sailing without any obstacles."

"Then let me lend you some good words."

Amidst laughter and chatter, the crowd quickly dispersed.

Watching Zhou Hong smile and say goodbye to Qiao Guanyuan, Chen Li felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

He walked all the way to the door, stopped, and couldn't help but ask Zhou Hong, who was walking ahead of him, "Are you and Fellow Daoist Qiao very familiar with each other?"

Zhou Hong glared at him: "Who I'm close to is none of your business. What, do you want to live with me?"

Zhou Hong's boldness and outspokenness made Chen Li's heart skip a beat: "I...I was just curious and asked!"

"There's something wrong!"

Zhou Hong turned around, went inside, and slammed the door shut.

Chen Li couldn't help but lightly slap himself.

"Sigh, being single for too long has made me lonely in this world. I get all restless when I see a pretty woman. What am I thinking? She's a widow. Am I really going to find a widow?"

But then he thought about how he was already forty-one years old and sighed helplessly.

"Forget it, I should focus on my career first... Cultivation is more important. Once I'm strong enough, everything will be fine. Wouldn't it be great to find a young and beautiful female cultivator then?"

……

In the afternoon, groups of two or three cultivators returned from the market, carrying large and small bags full of goods, and the streets were filled with laughter and joy.

But Chen Li knew that this was the last vestige of inertia in the order.

At night, this habitual order will completely disappear, and everything will be different from the daytime; it will be a mob's carnival.

Especially tonight!
Chen Li did not cultivate for the entire afternoon, but instead closed his eyes to rest.

Before it got dark, he ate dinner early and went outside. The street was already quite lively, with a large number of people flocking to a wide open space not far from Chen Li's house.

Qiao Guanyuan's work was clearly very effective; he organized a large group of people in just one afternoon.

Before leaving home, Lin Gui took a pill to enhance his immortality, which made him feel energetic and excited.

"Fellow Daoist Qiao is truly a capable person. With so many fellow Daoists around, what is there to fear from those thugs?" He was completely unconcerned about Qiao Guanyuan's power grab, only concerned with his own safety: "By the way, should I send you a few Ascension Pills to take tonight?"

Chen Li said helplessly, "Keep it!"

"Fellow Daoists, fellow neighbors, you should all know me by now. I am Qiao Guanyuan..." Qiao Guanyuan stood on a tree stump half a meter high and said loudly, "Green River Lane is about to fall into chaos. The bloody night last time is not long ago... We must not let it happen again this time."

The scattered cultivators were invigorated.

Next, Qiao Guanyuan began to organize the patrol team for the night, calling out names one by one to confirm their identities. Those whose names were called had no objections, indicating that there had been prior communication.

It was finally decided that there would be a total of ten people on patrol tonight, including Qiao Guanyuan himself, divided into two groups, patrolling back and forth on a street.

Zhou Hong was among them. "They're all cultivators at the mid-stage of Qi Refining," someone in the crowd whispered.

Upon hearing this, Chen Li had only one thought in his mind.

The power has been established!

Circumstances create heroes.

Nine cultivators at the mid-stage of Qi Refining constitute a formidable force.

If Qiao Guanyuan can manage this, these people will form the initial core of the team.

As the party ended, the crowd gradually dispersed, chatting and laughing.

……

That night.

The living room was completely dark.

Listening to the occasional shrill screams around him, Chen Li closed his eyes and felt the subtle exertion of force in various parts of his body. He didn't dare to expend too much energy, just warmed up, keeping his body in the best fighting condition at all times.

Fortunately, the street where Chen Li lived remained quite peaceful, with only the occasional sound of footsteps and voices from night patrols.

Time passed by, and soon it was late at night.

A sudden burst of voices broke the tranquility of the street.

"Fellow Daoists, please leave. This street does not welcome outsiders."

Hearing the voices, he realized they were nearby and stopped what he was doing.

"Hehehe, there are even people patrolling here. They're really well prepared. Alright, let's head to other places." A sharp voice said.

Just as Chen Lisong was about to breathe a sigh of relief, a sudden and dramatic change occurred.

The next moment, he heard several screams.

"You despicable scoundrel, you actually launched a sneak attack!"

"Quickly, call for help!"

Chen Li's heart pounded, and he felt a strange sense of anticipation. After struggling for a while, he gritted his teeth, quietly opened the door, and found that several cultivators were already peeking out from the street.

He immediately felt relieved.

It seems there is still justice in this world.

"Fellow Daoists, why don't we go together?" Chen Li said.

"That's how it should be!"

"We outnumber you and have nothing to be afraid of!"

The group encouraged each other and soon saw a group of people fighting fiercely in the night dozens of meters away.

Magical artifacts flew through the air, and everyone was enveloped in the glow of magical power, while two corpses lay on the ground nearby.

Before the other cultivators could react or distinguish friend from foe, Chen Li had already unleashed a series of spiritual energy attacks with a flick of his finger.

"boom!"

"boom!"

"boom!"

"boom!"

The first strike caused a violent tremor in the protective aura of the masked monk at the front.

The second strike caused the protective aura to suddenly dissipate. By this time, the cultivator had reacted, his eyes filled with panic.

The third blow blasted a large hole in the cultivator's chest, running from front to back.

The monk stared blankly down at his chest, before he could say anything.

The next moment, his head exploded again.

Tense, exciting, and exhilarating, Chen Li's adrenaline surged, and he had long forgotten all his fears. He quickly locked onto his second target.

(End of this chapter)