Chapter 141 The real culprit now seems to have finally found a accomplice...
Anyone with farming experience knows that crops are most vulnerable to weeds and wildflowers stealing nutrients, so there are absolutely no flowers or plants among the offerings to the god of agriculture, let alone temple decorations.
However, in the Gongxin Temple here, although the beams, pillars and lintels have been neglected for many years and the traces of the paintings have faded and peeled off, the patterns of flowers can still be vaguely discerned in those inconspicuous corners.
"This looks like...purple pigment."
Prime Minister Shen was skilled in calligraphy and painting, and Shen Qiongzhi, as the Prime Minister's daughter, had received some training in calligraphy and painting. She picked at the paint that was no longer visible, then brought it to her nose and smelled it. "It's made of amethyst."
Purple flowers... Which god likes purple flowers?
At this moment, everyone thought of the same person at the same time—the Divine Lord Mo Bei!
The most beloved flower of the God of Ink Sorrow is the purple iris, and looking at the flower pattern now, it is indeed an iris!
"So... the god that Elder Xiyuan worships behind the scenes, the one who taught him the evil art of absorbing people's cultivation, is the God of Ink Sorrow?" Shen Qiongzhi looked at Gong Xin with disbelief and suspicion, "Could it be that you're behind this?"
To everyone's surprise, Gong Xin nodded. "That's possible. I deliberately created this pattern to frame God Mo Bei and clear myself of suspicion."
Shen Qiongzhi was taken aback, somewhat confused by Gong Xin's actions. "Hey, so you're admitting it?"
Gong Xin calmly said, "Miss Chen, I'm just saying that from your perspective, I do have that suspicion. But some iris patterns don't really prove anything."
Yun Tianjiao sensed a hidden meaning in Gong Xin's words and asked, "Gong Xin, have you perhaps come up with some new way to prove your innocence?"
Gong Xin nodded, "I have come up with an idea, but it depends on whether you are willing to send someone to try it out."
Yun Tianjiao asked, "How do we test it?"
"This is also what I just thought of. Since you suspect that the god worshipped by Xiyuan is the same person as the murderer who killed the god Kenian, then if this murderer is me, I have not only absorbed the cultivation of a god, but also the cultivation of many cultivators and rogue immortals over the years. My cultivation should be far higher than what a god should be at."
At this point, the Divine Venerable Gongxin stretched out a hand.
"If any of you simply test the depth of my cultivation, the answer will be revealed. If my cultivation is normal, it will prove my innocence. This is the only way I can think of to prove myself."
This is indeed a feasible method, but similarly, if Gongxin really has a problem, then this is undoubtedly a trap.
"I'll do it." Zhiwei spoke up at this moment, walking straight forward, actually preparing to probe Gong's new cultivation level.
"Zhiwei!" Yun Tianjiao grabbed him. "No!"
Zhiwei's expression was solemn. "Your Highness, if a demon god capable of absorbing the cultivation of others truly arises in this world, then every moment we delay will make that demon god's power grow stronger."
Yun Tianjiao was stunned. "An evil god? Could that be more terrifying than a demonic fiend?"
Zhiwei nodded. "An evil god is still a god. He has a clear mind and can plot without making a sound. He can hide among the gods and by the time he is discovered, it is often too late for anyone to stop him."
Zhu Jing was most sensitive to spiritual energy, and at this moment he looked out the window at the sky again.
"Look."
Following her gaze, everyone saw that the black mist above the barrier was even thicker than before.
Zhiwei said to Yun Tianjiao, "Your Highness, if we can eliminate the suspicion of Gongxin God here, we can join forces to break the barrier and leave as soon as possible. However, if Gongxin God is the god worshipped by Xiyuan and the murderer who killed Kenian, then it will be meaningless whether we try or not, because this barrier was set up by the one worshipped by Xiyuan. The real one is here, and we can't break through it no matter what."
As Zhiwei said, it's not a matter of whether they want to choose, but rather that they have no choice.
"Alright, let's give it a try." Yun Tianjiao summoned the Vajra Pestle, which transformed into countless golden rays, connecting her and Zhiwei together.
Zhiwei was taken aback. "Your Highness... what do you mean by this?"
Yun Tianjiao raised an eyebrow slightly. "If Gong Xin really is something else and wants to devour you, you still have me behind you. I doubt he can swallow two people at once. At that time, I will fight to the death to carve a piece of flesh from him for you."
“Your Highness…” Zhiwei wanted to retort, but was interrupted by Yun Tianjiao without any politeness.
"If you don't agree, then I'll go instead."
Zhiwei knew that once Yun Tianjiao made up his mind to do something, no one could stop him. He opened his palm, looked down, and saw that the thousands of golden threads were shimmering and connected his life with the prince's.
"I told you, I won't let you die again," Yun Tianjiao mouthed silently.
Zhi smiled and, carrying with her countless ties, walked towards the new God.
"I'll also support my sister!" Zhu Jing made a hand seal, and the green spiritual power containing infinite vitality connected her with Yun Tianjiao.
"Me too!" Shen Qiongzhi formed a hand seal, and black ghostly energy wrapped around Zhu Jing.
The four people were closely linked, becoming a whole.
Gong Xin was somewhat stunned. He had been a god for many years, and most of the gods were outwardly friendly and respectful, but in reality, they were all independent and rarely had deep friendships. He had never seen anyone so willing to give their life for another's support.
He ascended to godhood as a rat demon. The reason he has lived a peaceful life for so many years without getting involved in any disputes is all thanks to his consistent practice of self-preservation.
But at this moment, looking at Zhiwei walking towards him, Gong Xin felt a little envious. It wasn't until Zhiwei's hand touched his that he came back to his senses and began to concentrate on receiving the spiritual power that Zhiwei was channeling into his divine meridians.
For a moment, the abandoned temple was eerily quiet. Everyone held their breath until Zhiwei reopened her eyes and withdrew her hand from searching for Gongxin's spiritual power.
Yun Tianjiao and the other two also opened their eyes. Seeing that everything was as before and nothing unusual had happened, they breathed a sigh of relief.
“Gongxin Divine Venerable’s cultivation level is indeed normal; he is not the murderer,” Zhiwei said.
Since it wasn't Gong Xin, the only remaining individuals capable of altering Zhu Jing's memories are Mo Bei and Yu Li.
"It is Mo Bei." Gong Xin straightened his sleeves, picked up the pottery jar with both hands, and stated the conclusion decisively in a calm tone, "The supreme god worshipped by Xi Yuan is the God of Mo Bei."
"How do you know? It could also be the Goddess Yu Li!" Shen Qiongzhi said, dissatisfied. "Just because the Goddess Yu Li is a woman, does that mean you look down on her?"
Zhu Jing gently tugged at Shen Qiongzhi's sleeve and coughed softly, reminding her that the focus had shifted a bit.
Gong Xin was not annoyed and calmly said, "Because in Immortal Lord Zhu Jing's memory, I clearly saw that the statue that Elder Xi Yuan worshipped every day was the statue of Mo Bei."
At this moment, Yun Tianjiao remembered something. They didn't seem to have seen Gong Xin, the God of Gods, in Zhu Jing's memories, nor had they had the chance to ask him who he had possessed. So he asked, "After Gong Xin entered Zhu Jing's memories, who did he become?"
A rare hint of embarrassment appeared on Gong Xin's face as he glanced at the center of the temple.
Yun Tianjiao followed his gaze and saw nothing there except an altar that was almost smashed by rats and a faded, tattered prayer mat.
"Tell me, who have you become?" Shen Qiongzhi asked impatiently when Gong Xin didn't speak for a long time.
Gong Xin glanced over there again.
Zhiwei was the first to react, "Could it be that the Divine Venerable Gongxin has turned into that futon?"
Gong Xin blushed, too embarrassed to look at them, and simply nodded with a straight face and downcast eyes.
Shen Qiongzhi burst out laughing, "Oh my, it's turned into a prayer mat, no wonder you can see so clearly."
Zhiwei felt a deep empathy for him, after all, he had also become the Demon-Slaying Blade. The feeling of not being human inside was truly unbearable. However, he was at least a little stronger than Gongxin. The Demon-Slaying Blade had a spirit, so it could still express some of its own will and move freely within a certain range.
Gong Xin was in a terrible situation; he was just an object that couldn't speak or move from beginning to end.
"Since you already knew it was Mo Bei, why didn't you tell us?" Shen Qiongzhi finally realized what was going on after she had finished laughing.
Gong Xin said, "I have already cleared myself of all suspicions. How can my actions and words gain your trust?"
Yun Tianjiao thought that Mo Bei Shenzun's role in Zhu Jing's memory was Yu Lanshan, but after Yu Lanshan died, he did not return to reality immediately like others, which now seemed very suspicious.
Zhiwei said, "The Divine Venerable Mobei claimed that after the death of Sect Leader Yu, he turned into a remnant soul and has been guarding Yu Siran's side ever since. He continues to linger in her memories by borrowing the power of Sect Leader Yu's remnant soul, perhaps just because he wants to find the Divine Venerable Gongxin."
Gong Xin nodded. "That's right. He always needs to verify everyone's identity to ensure that his secrets are not exposed. He hasn't been able to find me, which makes him extremely uneasy."
Shen Qiongzhi said, "He would never have imagined that you would turn into a prayer mat."
"Perhaps it was because of this that he deliberately made the gods summoned by Zhu Jing look like me, and changed the original Mo Bei Temple into my temple."
Yun Tianjiao still finds it hard to believe. She has doubted many people, but she has never doubted Mo Bei, the God of Joy. All the joy in the world is entrusted to him.
How could such a celestial being become an evil god who drains people's cultivation and harms his colleagues?
“The Joyful God has a large following and flourishing incense offerings. He is already one of the stronger deities. If he has also absorbed the divine essence of the Mind-Breaking God, what kind of strength would he have now?” Zhu Jing said worriedly.
Thinking of her brother's death, Shen Qiongzhi said angrily, "No matter how strong he is, even if it's like an ant trying to shake a tree, I will fight him to the death and avenge my brother!"
"The most urgent task is to leave here and break through the barrier," Gong Xin said.
Yun Tianjiao smiled at Gong Xin, "Gong Xin is a friend, not an enemy. If we work together, I believe we can leave smoothly and stop the barrier here from becoming demonic."
Zhu Jingdao said, "I have already calculated the location of the array's core. Everyone, follow me."
Watching the four people walk quickly out of the temple, Gong Xin hesitated for a moment before taking a step.
For so many years he has walked alone, but now it seems he has finally found companions.
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