Chapter 23: Deterring the Specters, Words Weighing Heavy as a Besieging Army

"Please, Daoist."

Zhang Qingyun invited Jiang Sheng to take a seat with exceptional solemnity, personally serving him tea.

"To what do I owe this, Magistrate?" Jiang Sheng asked, lifting the teacup for a light sip.

Zhang Qingyun explained, "The Eight Wolves of Dongjun are notoriously wicked throughout Qingzhou. They are vicious rogue cultivators who have claimed countless lives. Even common evil cultivators tremble at the mere mention of their names."

"By slaying them today, Daoist, you have undoubtedly struck a great fear into the evil cultivators of Dongjun. I expect those lurking in Qingshan County will keep a low profile for quite some time."

"This gives me, my daughter, and Fairy Xu the space to calmly make our arrangements, giving us the opportunity to round them all up in one fell swoop."

"How could I not be grateful to you, Daoist?"

Jiang Sheng chuckled. "I recall that when Mayor Tian represented you to invite me down the mountain, I declined, and you were quite furious, were you not?"

"Before that, you even sat idly by while those rogue cultivators tested me."

"Why the sudden shift from arrogance to obsequiousness?"

Zhang Qingyun looked awkward.

Zhang Qing quickly interjected, "Daoist, you are a high-ranking master from Penglai with an extraordinary temperament; why lower yourself to bicker with a worldly person like my father?"

"My father was only driven by anxiety back then, forgetting that true scriptures are hard to come by and masters are difficult to invite."

Jiang Sheng smiled and nodded. He had no intention of holding a grudge against Zhang Qingyun; otherwise, he would not be sitting here.

After learning of Jiang Sheng's true strength from Xu Xiao, Zhang Qing shared her actual plan with him. Clearly, what she revealed now was the genuine strategy, while the previous planning in the secret chamber had been hampered by concerns that the demon's spies might have infiltrated their ranks.

With Wen Renjie, Young Master Kongxu, and Qiao Xuan absent, only Xu Xiao, her close friend from the Lan Yue Sect, and Jiang Sheng, the high-ranking master from Penglai, were present. Given their status, it was impossible for either of them to be in league with the demons of Taiping River.

Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao had already joined forces to set up a barrier, ensuring their conversation in the magistrate's office could not be overheard.

After listening to Zhang Qing’s account in silence, Jiang Sheng pondered for a moment before saying, "I trust your plan, Miss Zhang."

"The county is currently dangerous, and since you must coordinate everything from the center, I have been thinking, and I should leave you something for protection."

Zhang Qing’s eyes sparkled. "What protection do you intend to leave for me, Daoist?"

Jiang Sheng drew a talisman from his robes—a piece of cyan paper inscribed with mysterious dark cloud seals. Handing it to her, he explained, "This is a Profound Water Talisman I sketched in my spare time. It contains my spiritual power. Once activated, it will render you completely immune to any harm from an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator."

Zhang Qing carefully tucked the talisman away and bowed gracefully. "I thank you, Daoist."

Xu Xiao stared at the cyan talisman, her eyes full of surprise. "To be able to craft such profound talismans while still in the Foundation Establishment stage is truly astonishing."

It was common knowledge that whether a cultivator was crafting talismans or refining pills, it was difficult to produce items of an equivalent tier. For example, a Foundation Establishment cultivator would typically refine pills for the Qi Refining stage; the same applied to talisman crafting. This was because it yielded the highest success rate and was the most cost-effective. Trying to craft items of a higher grade than one's own cultivation level was like building a house on thin air, with almost no chance of success.

Jiang Sheng gave a light laugh, his expression unchanging. "Just a piece to practice with in my spare time; nothing profound."

Xu Xiao quickly replied, "Penglai is the orthodox school of the Profound Sect. Who in the entire Eastern Continent has not heard of the fame of Penglai's spiritual talismans?"

"Since I am fortunate enough to see one today, I have a presumptuous request: would you be willing to sell me a few?"

Jiang Sheng knew that Xu Xiao was under immense pressure holding down the county seat alone. He thought for a moment and said, "Tell me what kind of talismans you need first."

"I will craft them after I return to the mountain. You may come to Qingping Mountain to retrieve them in three days."

Xu Xiao was delighted and listed the talismans she required. Jiang Sheng nodded slightly. The talismans she wanted were primarily for tracking evil cultivators, dispelling curses, and guarding against black magic—tasks that were truly not difficult for him.

"I can certainly craft these," Jiang Sheng agreed. "And I will even lower the price by twenty percent. How does that sound, Fellow Daoist Xu?"

Xu Xiao nodded repeatedly. "Then many thanks, Daoist."

Without further small talk, Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao agreed on the transaction at Qingping Mountain in three days, and Jiang Sheng departed.

Only after Jiang Sheng flew away from the county seat did the evil cultivators hiding in the shadows finally exhale. The pressure Jiang Sheng had exerted on them was simply too great. The Eight Wolves of Dongjun—what kind of reputation did they hold?

They had slain direct disciples of the Qingyun Sect and withstood the attacks of Purple Mansion elders. Who in Qingzhou did not know the name of the Eight Wolves? How many Qi Refining cultivation families had been destroyed by their hands? How many Foundation Establishment cultivators had been hunted and slaughtered by them like prey?

Yet, the formidable Eight Wolves had met a true dragon during their hunt and were slaughtered one by one, their corpses hung for all to see at the gates of the magistrate's office. When the evil cultivators sneaked a look, they were drenched in a cold sweat.

The Eight Wolves, whose mere reputation used to send entire families fleeing in the night, were now withered and dry, like strips of wind-dried meat. One could easily imagine what they had endured. The evil cultivators could practically envision the scene: the Eight Wolves, failing to defeat Jiang Sheng, had desperately sacrificed their own lifeblood, yet still ended up slaughtered one by one. The sheer sense of helplessness was suffocating.

Just as Zhang Qingyun had predicted, after Jiang Sheng's display of power, the evil cultivators in Qingshan County truly quieted down. They were not fools; why would they collide head-on with a fierce dragon like Jiang Sheng? Moreover, the Daoist had stated he would be living in seclusion on Qingping Mountain; as long as no one bothered him there, they would likely be fine.

Even so, they dared not gamble on whether Jiang Sheng might pay a visit to the county seat from time to time. They hid their tracks, deciding to lie low and wait for the storm to pass. Some even used this as an excuse to demand a raise from their employers, showing absolutely no professional ethics.

With just a few actions, Jiang Sheng had suppressed the entire city of evil cultivators, leaving them trembling and afraid to show their faces.

Back on Qingping Mountain, Jiang Sheng finally returned to the life of quiet cultivation he desired. Gathering the morning mist by day and moonlight by night, he felt the spiritual liquid within him accumulating drop by drop. He felt that if he could continue like this forever, he would be completely content.

Three days later, Xu Xiao arrived at Qingping Mountain to collect the talismans. Jiang Sheng handed over the twenty completed talismans: five for guarding against black magic, five for dispelling curses, and ten for tracking the scent of evil cultivators.

Xu Xiao paid two thousand eight hundred spirit stones. The price was not high—it was even thirty percent lower than the market rate. And these were not ordinary talismans; they were crafted by a Foundation Establishment master from Penglai, which by all rights should have commanded a higher price.

Xu Xiao knew Jiang Sheng had given her a significant discount. In addition to her gratitude, she promised to tell her fellow sect members and help him secure more business. Jiang Sheng nodded and accepted with a smile.

After seeing Xu Xiao off, Jiang Sheng’s life returned to peace.

Four days later, at the hour of the Rabbit (5:00-7:00 AM) as the sun rose, Tian Ming’an arrived at the Daoist temple. He knelt outside the gate and implored Jiang Sheng to take him as a disciple.

Jiang Sheng sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, his eyelids lowered, ignoring the boy kneeling outside. Tian Ming’an remained kneeling without a word until the hour of the Rooster (5:00-7:00 PM), when he finally rose and descended the mountain.

The next morning, Tian Ming’an arrived early again, kneeling outside the hall. Jiang Sheng remained silent, and the boy knelt until dusk before leaving. The third day, the fourth day, the fifth day—the routine continued.

After six consecutive days of kneeling, even if Tian Ming’an wanted to continue, his grandfather, Tian Guofu, could no longer bear it. "Ming’an, if you truly wish to cultivate the Dao, it wouldn't be impossible for the family to spend our fortune to send you to a sect in Dongjun."

"Besides, the Imperial Dao Palace sends officials to inspect every county annually. Anyone over twelve with the right roots and aptitude has a chance to be inducted. Why suffer by begging Daoist Jiang?"

Tian Ming’an pursed his lips, his expression stubborn. "I have little experience and haven't seen many cultivators, but I know that a cultivator like the Daoist is truly one in a million."

"To encounter him now is my destiny. If I fail to seize this opportunity, I will regret it for the rest of my life."

Ignoring his family's persuasion, Tian Ming’an went up the mountain early the next day, kneeling once more before the temple, prostrate and silent.

Jiang Sheng glanced at him briefly, then lowered his eyes to continue his practice.

Another day passed. Having knelt for a full day, Tian Ming’an was stiff, cold, and hungry. At twelve years old, enduring the biting cold without food or water for a single day was difficult; to persist for seven days was extraordinary.

But Tian Ming’an thought only of his resolve. Each day he knelt, he hoped to show Jiang Sheng one more ounce of his sincerity. On the morning of the eighth day, though his body felt ready to collapse, he forced himself up the mountain, struggling to the halfway point before kneeling before Jiang Sheng.

By the hour of the Horse (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM), Tian Ming’an was in a daze.

Jiang Sheng looked at him and suddenly spoke. "You have knelt for seven days, and today makes the eighth."

"If I still refuse to accept you, what will you do then?"