Xie Lian asked: ...What is this?
Jun Wu seemed hesitant. After pondering for a while, he said, "What's wrong, Xianle? Why are you suddenly asking about your master? Did you encounter something in Tonglu Mountain? Is it related to him?"
Xie Lian regained his composure and was about to offer a brief explanation before asking further questions when he heard a commotion from the other side. Jun Wu said, "I saw those three mountain monsters you were talking about. They're truly bizarre! I'll deal with them first, and we'll discuss the details later. However, since you asked, Xianle, remember one thing: Your master is no simple figure. If you do encounter him, be extremely careful!"
After he finished speaking, silence fell over the other side. Xie Lian asked, “Emperor?”
Jun Wu didn't respond. The mountain monsters alone were difficult to deal with, and a three-man siege was even more formidable. Xie Lian, even with his boundless mana and the control of a giant, heaven-defying statue, couldn't handle them before. Now, Jun Wu alone would probably need some energy to deal with them. After briefly explaining the spiritual communication to Hua Cheng, the two of them stopped.
At this moment, they were on a wide and open street. Looking up at the sky, dark clouds covered the moon, and they could faintly see wisps of black smoke floating in front of the cold moon, like ink spreading in clear water.
Those were the vengeful spirits that Bai Wuxiang had conveyed from the Wuyong Temple. They hadn't yet entered because the imperial aura within the palace and the various temples and shrines of the gods and immortals within the imperial city combined to create a majestic aura. A natural barrier would keep these numerous evil creatures out of this aura, so they could only wander the high heavens.
Almost every city has a similar aura, as each place often produces some remarkable figures and great priests—the so-called "talented people and beautiful places." However, it's impossible to block it forever. Hua Cheng said, "Just reinforce this layer."
But the question was how to reinforce it? Xie Lian asked, "A spell? A magic weapon?" Then he said, "I'm afraid it won't work."
This is the vengeful spirit that covers the entire sky above the imperial city. Unless you also find thousands of talismans and magic weapons, you may not be able to withstand it. Walking back and forth, Xie Lian gritted his teeth and said, "Sanlang, I have a way that may be able to strengthen this layer, but... I need people."
Hua Cheng said, "How much?"
Xie Lian said, “A lot. The more the better, at least five hundred.”
Hua Chengdao: "Dead or alive?"
He listened intently, no joke. Xie Lian said, "A living person. Ghosts won't do. I need the yang energy and sharpness of a living person to repel those evil spirits."
Hua Cheng said: "If that's the case, then it has to be voluntary."
Xie Lian said, “Yes. It must be voluntary, and with the will to fight back and defend. If you are timid or lack strength, you may be taken advantage of.”
Hua Cheng nodded slightly and said, "Just like the soldiers fighting at the front on the battlefield, they are definitely the ones who want to win the most and have faith in themselves. If they are forced into a desperate situation or are determined to escape, they will never win and will inevitably be defeated in disarray."
Xie Lian said, “That’s exactly the point. Can Sanlang find it?”
After pondering for a moment, Hua Cheng slowly said, "Brother, if you want someone dead, I can find you as many as you want. It's also easy to live someone involuntarily. But it's not necessarily easy to live someone voluntarily."
After a pause, he continued, "It's true that many people in the mortal world worship the Ghost King, but I know that, firstly, they are afraid of me, and secondly, they have something to ask of me, so they're afraid of me submitting to them. I can use coercion and inducement, but I'm afraid this method won't be enough to find the kind of person you need, brother. I'm sorry."
Xie Lian listened intently and said, "You don't have to apologize. Let's find it together."
Hua Cheng said, "Yes. But, brother, I have good news. There is a group of living people around the corner fifty steps ahead."
Xie Lian also sensed it and rushed forward to take a look. Coincidentally, a group of people were also turning the corner on the other side. They were so frightened by his sudden appearance that they screamed, “Ghost!!!”
Xie Lian took a closer look, recognized the person, and said happily, "Everyone, it's not a ghost, it's me!"
That group of monks, Taoists, and laymen looked very familiar. Wasn't the Taoist monk in gorgeous robes at the head the one with the Sky Eye? And weren't the long line behind them the same group of mages who had been harassing them all the way and had been knocked unconscious by the roof of Qi Rong's shady shop in the Desolate Mountains?
Behind Xie Lian, Hua Cheng strolled up, his hands behind his back. He was no longer in his childish, nonchalant form. A sinister smile frightened Tian Yankai and the others so much that they immediately retreated three feet. "You still say it's not a ghost! If it's a ghost, it's a ghost! And a Ghost King!!!"
Hua Cheng's fake smile faded, and he tutted impatiently, not even bothering to offer a comment. Xie Lian, who was currently searching for someone, quickly raised his hand, "Everyone, you've arrived just in time. I have something to ask..."
Unexpectedly, when he raised his hand, the other party's reaction was several times more exaggerated than he imagined. They all fell to the ground, extremely alert, and shouted: "Be careful of hidden weapons!"
“…”
Xie Lian pondered for a long moment before finally remembering what the so-called "hidden weapon" was. Speechless for a moment, he said, "Don't be afraid. I don't have any hidden weapons on me." The Pure Ice Jade Pills weren't easy to make; the meticulous carving alone took a good half-day. He added, "Besides, last time you pushed us so hard, we didn't do anything to you. There's even less need for that now."
Hearing this, everyone realized that this made sense and quickly got up from the ground, dusting themselves off and straightening their clothes. They still kept their distance and didn't put down their staffs, swords, or other magical instruments. Tianyan opened his eyes and said, "Master, I've not seen you for a long time, and the evil spirit in you has become even stronger. I think it would be best if you could turn over a new leaf soon. By the way, why is it so strong? I'm not kidding, I can hardly see your face."
"..." Xie Lian felt like blushing after hearing this. He didn't dare look at Hua Cheng and interrupted, "We'll talk about this later. Everyone, I observed the celestial phenomena at night and saw something ominous. Did you see it?"
"Of course I saw it! Observing the night sky is a daily routine for us. I was wondering if some demon or monster was causing trouble. Could it be the Lord of Huacheng again?"
Xie Lian said, “Of course not, otherwise I wouldn’t have warned you. We’re here for those things too, and we’re trying to figure out how to strengthen the Imperial City’s aura.”
Tianyan asked suspiciously, "You guys? Think of a way?"
"Would the Ghost King be so kind?"
Hua Cheng smiled and said, "It's not that I'm kind, but if I want to do something in the Imperial City, this aura won't be able to stop me."
The mages' expressions shifted unpredictably. Xie Lian knew their guard wouldn't be easily dispelled, so he didn't force it. "I've dealt with those things in the sky before; they're incredibly formidable. If they were allowed to break through the Imperial City's protective barrier and get in, chaos would be unavoidable. So, we're looking for help setting up a defensive formation. We need five hundred men."
Tianyan opened his mouth in astonishment: "Five hundred people?! What kind of formation is this that requires so many people! I've never heard of it before?"
Xie Lian didn't even dare to mention that five hundred was the minimum requirement. In reality, if he'd been more forthcoming, it would probably have taken eight hundred. The mages all chimed in, "I haven't heard of that either. Has anyone seen it mentioned in any book?" "Are those things really that powerful?" "I've only heard of goblins devouring five hundred people in one sitting, but I've never heard of a formation requiring so many." "Is it dangerous?"
After careful consideration, Xie Lian said truthfully, "It's hard to say. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. I'm only about 70% to 80% sure. Because, I've never tried this formation before."
It was impossible to find any previous records, because Xie Lian didn't learn this formation from a book or anyone else. Instead, he had pondered it over the past eight hundred years while traveling, wondering what he would do if the human-faced plague broke out again. Would he just sit there and wait for death? At the time, he hadn't seriously thought he'd face such a crisis again, but he never expected it to come in handy.
The group over there discussed for a long time. Finally, Tianyankai turned around and said cautiously: "We can't gather so many people. And..."
Moreover, they did not trust Xie Lian and Hua Cheng.
There was nothing that could be done about it. After all, they had no idea what the Human Face Plague was or how powerful it was. Furthermore, Hua Cheng must have had plenty of grudges against them in the past, treating them like mere insects. Xie Lian had originally thought that these people were all mages, likely with their own sects and disciples. Perhaps they could gather a motley crew of three or four hundred, and then figure out how to deal with the rest. But it seemed his hopes were dashed.
Hua Cheng said, "Brother, there's no need to waste time talking to them. Let's go."
Xie Lian nodded, undeterred, and walked with him. However, Tianyankai and the others didn't leave. Instead, they followed them stealthily, thinking they were hiding well. Xie Lian was speechless, but then he thought that these mages were probably following them out of fear that they would cause trouble in the imperial city, and that they had good intentions, so he thought it was funny and let it go. At this time, Huacheng suggested, "Why not go to where the poor gather? There are many desperate criminals and daring people there. Perhaps we can get something."
So, the two of them turned and headed towards the darker corners of the imperial city. They reached a dilapidated, demolished temple and took a quick look. Inside, a chaotic mess of people lay scattered across the ground, extending all the way outside. They seemed to be a group of homeless people, or perhaps beggars. It was freezing cold, and nearly all of them were dressed in rags, men, women, young and old, and they didn't shy away from each other. Some occupied tattered straw mats, some clung to straw for warmth, and some simply slept on the ground. Those who were awake were either groaning in pain from ulcers or scratching at themselves for lice. There was even a man, limping, walking around the temple, seemingly carrying bowls of water to a patient. The stench of sweat and a strange smell wafted out before even entering, making the air suffocating.
The most prosperous area and the most filthy and dilapidated slum were so close together, barely across the street. The contrast was truly heartbreaking, but Xie Lian certainly didn't have time to lament at the moment. He stepped through the threshold and said, "Can anyone help me?"
Before anyone could answer, someone started yelling, "Help your mother! I need help! Can't you let me sleep? Get out of here!"
Xie Lian remained unmoved, saying, “This is a very important matter. If you are willing to lend a hand, it will definitely… definitely benefit all of humanity!”
He had originally intended to offer a generous reward, so of course he would, but if he went there for the "generous reward" from the beginning, it would be considered impure. The beggars in the temple cursed even more fiercely: "I don't care about benefiting the people!" Someone asked, "Is there any reward?"
Xie Lian looked back and saw Hua Cheng's eyes flashing with displeasure, as if he was about to resort to some ruthless tactics. He quickly pulled him back and whispered, "Don't do that yet. Sanlang, as you said, coercion and bribery won't work. Let me talk it over. With seventy or eighty people here, I can definitely find a few who can be used."
The strange light in Hua Cheng's eyes finally faded. At this moment, a husky voice said, "Hey, hey, hey! Everyone, listen to me! Listen to me! Stop arguing! Let him tell you what's going on first!"
Xie Lian turned around upon hearing this and saw that the person who had spoken was the lame beggar. He was also dressed in rags, with unkempt hair and a thin face. He couldn't make out his appearance, but from his voice he seemed quite young. He waved to the people in the temple, but strangely, he only waved one hand, so the gesture was a little awkward. The beggars seemed to listen to him, and their cursing became less loud. Xie Lian said, "Thank you!" Without further ado, he backhanded a palm flame that soared high into the air, frightening the beggars so much that they screamed and shrieked. Those who were still asleep woke up and asked, "What kind of sorcery is this?!"
Xie Lian said seriously, "It's not sorcery, it's immortal magic. It simply proves what I said is true. To be honest, a large group of demons and monsters have surrounded the Imperial City and are about to attack. We need five hundred people to volunteer to join the magic formation and defend the Imperial City. Who is willing to come? I won't hide it. There may be danger, but I won't force anyone. I only ask for volunteers!"
“…”
A moment of silence fell within the dilapidated temple. The beggars looked at each other, but no one stepped forward and offered to volunteer. After a moment, one of them said, "Protecting the Imperial City? Forget it."
Xie Lian turned to look. The man had collapsed, muttering to himself, “The Imperial City won’t protect me, so why should I? It’s none of my business whatsoever!”
His tone was indifferent, tinged with indignation. Xie Lian understood, but this was a difficult situation. Clearly, the temple was filled with impoverished people in similar circumstances to this man, with similar ideas. He hadn't mentioned any compensation, and their lives in the Imperial City weren't exactly good, so why would he go out and help out now? It was freezing cold inside the temple in the middle of winter, so who would want to go out?
Xie Lian tried to make a final effort, saying, “If those things invade the Imperial City, a terrible plague will break out, and everyone will be affected.”
An old beggar lying on the ground said, "What plague could be more frightening than this old sore on my body?"
"If there really is a plague, then the worst that can happen is we can just leave. We don't have to stay here, and it's not a good place. It doesn't matter where we go."
"Then let those prestigious lords and ladies from the Imperial City go. Someone else will go, so why must we go?"
"This..." Xie Lian couldn't articulate it. Those well-off and respectable lords and daughters would also think this way: If I don't go, someone else will. Furthermore, because they have family and foundations in the Imperial City, facing danger, they have more things to be reluctant to give up, making this thought even stronger. It's not that thinking this way is wrong or bad, but if everyone thinks this way, things won't work.
After waiting for a while, and seeing no one coming out, Xie Lian said decisively, "Alright. Sorry to bother you."
He turned and left the ruined temple. Hua Cheng said, "Don't worry, brother. I have people on my side taking action. If we spread the word, we'll find enough people."
Xie Lian nodded. He wasn't worried about not finding five hundred men in the end, but he was worried about running out of time. Capturing people to make up the numbers would be counterproductive. He looked up at the sky. The dark clouds still obscured the sky, making it difficult to discern.
At this moment, a voice suddenly rang out from behind: "Wait! Wait, wait! - I'm going!"
Hearing this, Xie Lian was startled and turned around abruptly. He saw the lame beggar, dragging one leg, leap out of the temple gate and said, "Are you looking for someone who's alive or something? Is it okay if his limbs are broken?"
It turned out that the man's movements looked awkward because not only did he have a lame leg, but he also had a broken arm, which hung limply.
Seeing someone finally step forward, Xie Lian's heart warmed, and he immediately said, "Absolutely no problem!"
The man was also quite straightforward and said, "That's great! Take me with you!"
The beggars in the temple were shocked: "What are you doing??? Didn't you listen to him? It might be dangerous!"
"Yeah! And they didn't even pay me. They talked for so long without mentioning any reward!"
"Don't get involved in this mess, Lao Feng, come back soon!"
“…”
Since then, Xie Lian had been feeling that this person was familiar. However, because his appearance was so different from the one he remembered, and his voice was also slightly hoarse and different, he hadn't recognized him. But when he heard someone blurt out the word "wind," he finally realized what was going on.
Xie Lian stared at him intently, saying in disbelief, “…Master Fengshi???”
The beggar laughed heartily, stretched out his hand to brush away the dark hair from his face, and said, "You have recognized me, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
Under the dirty black hair, a pair of extremely bright eyes are as clear as before.
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