The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 418 - 253 Divine Hall Conceals a Demon_2

Chapter 418: Chapter 253 Divine Hall Conceals a Demon_2

"Oh?"

Li Yan listened but grew increasingly skeptical, "Did anyone actually see him steal the Magic Artifact and flee down the mountain?"

Feng Huazi turned around and said, "Feng Gangzi, you handled this matter. Fill in Scholar Li on the situation."

"Yes, Master."

The respondent was the older Daoist they had seen before. He bowed and said solemnly, "Not just one person saw it; Feng Lingzi even injured several disciples who tried to stop him."

"That’s right, we saw it with our own eyes!"

Several young Daoists stood up.

One of them said indignantly, "This Feng Lingzi was always tricky and bizarre, taking advantage of his superior martial skills to often tease us."

"When the battle in the Southwest began, our powerful senior brothers had just been transferred away; he took advantage of the night to act. When we discovered him, he immediately hurt people and fled."

Li Yan fell silent for a moment, pondered, and said, "Before Feng Lingzi left, was there anything unusual about him, or did he say something?"

One of the Daoists spat out hatefully, "Who knows, he has always been like that, tricky and bizarre, mysterious, not getting along with the brothers—it’s clear he harbored ill intentions all along."

The other Daoists chimed in:

"That’s right, it’s not surprising at all that he did this!"

"Maybe he had already turned to evil ways..."

Outside the hall, a frail young Daoist heard this and filled with rage, he could no longer hold back. Clenching his teeth, he rushed out and shouted, "Senior Brother Feng is not that kind of person!"

A Daoist immediately scolded, "Jing Kong, who gave you the right to speak here? Get out and sweep!"

"Shut up!"

Seeing the mockery in Li Yan’s eyes, Feng Huazi’s face couldn’t hold its composure, and after scolding, the Daoists silenced.

He glared fiercely at them and then sighed, "You’ve made a fool of us in front of Scholar Li."

After saying this, he turned to the little Daoist boy and gently said, "Your name is Jing Kong? Don’t worry, speak freely."

The boy had obviously been holding back for a long time. He started crying softly and then glaring at the Daoists said bitterly, "Senior Brother Feng was teasing you because he couldn’t stand the way you bullied others."

"You few, taking advantage of joining earlier, regularly bullied and commanded us, not teaching martial arts sincerely. If it weren’t for Senior Brother Feng, we wouldn’t even grasp the basics of boxing..."

Hearing the young Daoist’s complaints, the several young Daoists suddenly looked embarrassed, their gaze shifty.

Feng Huazi’s complexion grew even more livid.

He was engrossed in medical practice and Alchemy, often secluded for cultivation, entrusting the temple’s affairs to the disciples.

He didn’t expect that the atmosphere had degraded to this state.

Losing face in front of outsiders...

Thinking this, the old Daoist turned his head and glared fiercely at the few disciples behind him.

Li Yan didn’t care about these trifles and asked, "Jing Kong, was there anything unusual about Daoist Feng Lingzi before?"

"Yes."

The little Daoist boy nodded eagerly, "One month before Senior Brother Feng’s incident, he was distracted while teaching us boxing. But when we asked what was wrong, he wouldn’t say."

"Later, he even neglected teaching us boxing, often running to the Scripture Pavilion to peruse books, sometimes even delaying the morning and evening sessions."

"And once, I saw him speak to thin air, as if he was very scared..."

"Hmm?"

Now even Temple Master Feng Huazi sensed something was amiss and asked with a frown, "Did he mention discovering anything?"

"No."

The little Daoist boy shook his head, "Senior Brother Feng didn’t say, but, oh! He did say something strange one day."

"What did he say?"

"Senior Brother Feng said, ’Don’t go near the Xiao Xian Pavilion at night, and if you hear someone calling your name, just pretend you didn’t hear it.’"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan immediately said gravely, "Predecessor, I must take a look at the Xiao Xian Pavilion."

"Of course."

Feng Huazi’s face was also looking bad. He strode ahead to lead the way.

He was obsessed with Alchemy and medicine, but he was no fool; he too realized that something was off.

They hurried to the Taoist Temple’s rear courtyard.

There stood a great hall right in the center, its bricks and wooden beams under the hip-and-gable roof indicating great antiquity.

Because of the command Feng Huazi had issued moments ago, the main doors of the hall had already been thrown open, and inside, Ge Xianweng was enshrined resplendently.

Beside the altar where deities were worshiped stood three women and a man, likely Liu Gang and his wife, Mrs. Fan, along with the two daughters from the Qu Family.

The hall was cleaned spotlessly; the bluestone tiles on the floor were sleek, and the surrounding walls were covered with murals depicting the deeds of Ge Xianweng.

Streaks of sunlight filtered through the carved windows at an angle, the dust dancing slowly in the columns of light. The offering table was filled with sacrificial items, the air fragrant and curling gently.

Above, there were also wooden boxes and jade vases of various sizes, clearly relying on Ge Xianweng’s Divine Power to preserve and bless the medicines.

This grand hall had its prohibitions too; Divine Skills could not be unleashed here.

At least at first glance, there seemed to be no issues.

Li Yan wasted no words and turned directly to say, "Senior, may I ask you to lift the prohibition?"

Feng Huazi, naturally understanding what he wished to do, hesitated for a moment but then gave the order, "Go, lift the prohibition."

Such an act was clearly a sign of disrespect, but in light of such a grave incident, a thorough investigation was a must.

"Yes, Master."

Several disciples immediately left, first returning to the Zhenwu Hall to redirect several copper mirrors on a large beam, then running to other areas of the Taoist Temple to pull out the inserted Five-Colored Flags.

In an instant, the rich Power of Incense, mixed with the scent of medicines, hit them squarely in the face, and the Innate Gang Sha Qi, even more so, pressed down on everyone like a mountain, making it difficult to breathe.

This kind of prohibition served not only to repel enemies but also as a safeguard; otherwise, disciples who were just starting out could hardly endure being in such an environment at all times.

Li Yan performed the Yang Jue seal with his hands and took a deep breath, his face immediately changing.

"Evil creature, how audacious!"

Feng Huazi beside him bellowed furiously, even appearing somewhat enraged as he charged into the grand hall. With a flick of his hand, four archaic bamboo talismans whistled out, hanging in the four corners of the hall.

He was clearly setting up some sort of Array.

It wasn’t just him; several Daoists’ faces also turned pale with shock.

Even Li Yan found it somewhat ridiculous.

Any Divine Statue from the Mystical Sect, during its construction, would inevitably be made hollow to contain various Magic Artifacts, only thereby revealing their divine wonders.

Yet within the Divine Statues of the Qu Family’s two daughters, there were two foul smells, which seemed to have been brought there by two Rat Demons that had burrowed inside.

"This... no wonder the offerings kept disappearing."

A young Daoist with a sullen face muttered, "I thought it was some greedy fellow disciple stealing and eating them, so I didn’t pay it any mind. Turns out it was these two beasts."

The others were equally furious.

The Rat Demons hiding within the Divine Statues weren’t just pilfering offerings; they were also receiving their daily Power of Incense, which was far better than cultivating alone in the mountains.

The contamination of the Divine Statues obviously meant they could no longer be used.

Feng Huazi’s eyes flickered with killing intent. With a clanking sound, he drew his precious sword and with a mere gentle swipe, the two Divine Statues split in half down the middle.

The Taoist Temple was renowned for its Martial Arts, and although this elderly Daoist was more infatuated with the art of Alchemy, he had also reached the level of Force Transformation. Furthermore, with the assistance of martial techniques, he could exert a force similar to sword Astral Bane.

Crack!

As the Divine Statues fractured, two sleek and glossy rats scurried out, trembling and prostrating repeatedly on the ground, clearly having gained spirituality.

They were obviously terrified, squeaking frantically.

"Evil creatures, meet your demise!"

Feng Gangzi, the senior Daoist from before, eyes filled with rage, channeled his Hidden Energy beneath his feet, and in a flash, leaped above the others. Mid-air, he had already drawn his long sword, ready to slay the two Rat Demons.

However, at that moment, Li Yan suddenly stepped to the side, with a flick of his long arm, he passed beneath the man’s arm, executing a sword-leg technique, and threw him directly out of the way.

Li Yan did not aim to kill, and Feng Gangzi managed to twist his body mid-air, landing steadily on the ground, shouting angrily, "What are you doing?"

"What’s the rush?"

Li Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly, "These two Rat Demons may have committed grave transgressions by hiding within the temple, but they must have seen or known something. Let’s ask them first before taking any action."

"Question the demons?"

Feng Gangzi laughed, "Are you joking, sir?"

Li Yan ignored him and turned to Lv San beside him, "Brother Lv San, trouble you."

Lv San nodded and stepped forward, making a series of guttural sounds, initiating a conversation with the two rats.

"Upper Realm language?"

Several Daoists immediately revealed looks of surprise.

And Feng Gangzi’s eyes began to flicker with astonishment and uncertainty...