CHAPTER 89: CHAPTER 87: QINGFENG TEMPLE (PART 1)

"Back then, to obtain the hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, they voluntarily joined the hunt, hoping to get a share of the spoils.

Running into the Bear Monster is just their bad luck, a result of their lack of power. How can they blame us?" complained a middle-aged female elder.

"Shameless, so shameless!" Another elder was so angry that he pulled out a few of his beard hairs.

"So despicable!" Even in the disciple team standing at the back, there were quite a few murmurs.

"Did you report it to the City Lord’s Mansion?" Zhou Bufeng asked.

"Reported several times already. The first time someone intervened to inquire about it, but the last two times they didn’t bother, suggesting we settle it ourselves." The elder in charge of the industry said with a troubled expression.

It’s clear that the City Lord’s Mansion doesn’t want to get involved in this mess between sects.

"Then let’s go take it back, why fear him?" Elder Zhou Yuanxing slammed the table.

His words made everyone awkward.

The elders were either looking at the table, picking their nails, or stroking their beards. Even the powerful Great Elder Zhou Bufeng inside the sect looked displeased.

Today’s situation isn’t what it once was, the strength gap between the Extreme Fist Sect and the Heavy Sword Sect is growing larger.

Being able to endure and protect the remaining industry is already difficult.

"Alright, let’s talk about the new entrants. Are there any good prospects?" Zhou Bufeng shifted the topic, "I remember the Huang Family and Zhan Family sent over some disciples?"

"Although their family powers are large, their Breathing Techniques are inferior to ours." The elder in purple, who had interviewed Lou Yi, replied, "But their talents are average, good prospects wouldn’t be sent to us."

"There is one junior brother whose perception is quite good." Li Yagui, a plump man standing at the forefront of the disciples, bowed and said, "He mastered the Breathing Technique in just a few days."

"Oh?"

"That’s indeed impressive."

The elders were amazed, someone even suggested allocating resources in his favor.

The Extreme Fist Sect’s Breathing Technique is extremely difficult to grasp, once mastered, the hope of breaking through as a Martial Artist is significant.

"I know him. His perception is indeed good, but he’s almost twenty years old!" Zhou Yang, standing behind Li Yagui, suddenly spoke up.

"At such an age, his physique is set, even if he luckily breaks through, his potential is small." Elder Zhou Yuanxing added sharply.

"Poor physique, no matter how good the perception, it’s useless." Someone nodded in agreement.

"Such a pity..."

Knowing Lou Yi’s age, based on past experience, it’s difficult to reach high places, and the elders lost interest in him.

...

Lou Yi did not know that he was mentioned in the inner meeting of the Extreme Fist Sect and was ignored by the elders because of his age.

Even if he knew, he probably wouldn’t care.

He was entirely captivated by the news Liu Yuan brought back.

"Qingfeng Temple, undertaking various rituals in the main city, is also the only Daoist Temple in the city." Liu Yuan said.

"Rituals?" Lou Yi’s eyes lit up.

Would someone who died normally spend a large amount on rituals?

There might be, but surely not many.

Which means, as long as he finds out the target customers of Qingfeng Temple, he would likely find those who died unnaturally.

With energy in short supply, Lou Yi immediately decided to head to Qingfeng Temple to gather information.

...

Qingfeng Temple is situated on a mountain in Tai City.

The mountain isn’t high, just over a hundred zhang, planted with camellia trees, currently in bloom, presenting a vast stretch of vibrant yellow.

The mountain path isn’t rugged, and places that are hard to climb have artificial stone steps built.

The pathway is crowded with people.

There are well-dressed merchants, commoners in simple clothes, and even quite a few young women, looking at the mountaintop with eyes full of expectation.

Lou Yi put on a human skin mask and turned into an unremarkable-looking man, blending into the crowd ascending the path.

The wind carried the voices of people’s discussions into Lou Yi’s ears.

"I wonder if the Observatory Master is here today; they say his fortune-telling is accurate, never misses."

"If I can’t ask for a son this time, I’ll have to take a concubine, don’t blame me, my wife..."

"Last year wasn’t smooth, need to ask Daoist Liu for a Protective Talisman to ward off misfortune!"

As the only Daoist Temple in Tai City Main City, Qingfeng Temple naturally doesn’t just conduct rituals; they simultaneously offer services for love, fortune-telling, child-seeking, and blessing.

At the mountaintop, an impressive Daoist Temple came into view.

Tall, wide black gates, vermilion walls, and blue glazed tiles shining in the sunlight.

A huge plaque hung over the gate, with the bold golden characters ’Qingfeng Temple’ attracting attention.

Entering the temple, there was a circular pool about a foot deep.

At the bottom of the pool, piles of copper coins were clearly visible, and people continued to toss coins inside.

Passing the pool, three large halls stood ahead, with flying eaves and blue tiles, dragon-carved stone pillars, and golden incense burners fragrant with incense smoke at the entrance.

The left hall had the plaque ’Bo Yuan Hall,’ and the banner ’Fortune Telling’ stood in front. A young Daoist was carefully examining a woman’s palm.

The right hall had the plaque ’Yanqing Hall,’ and in front of the statue of the child-bestowing Taoist nun, a row of women knelt, and the divine niche was piled with pouches.

In the middle was Xuanshu Hall, where chanting echoed from the back of the hall, and in front, a Daoist wielding a Peach Wood Sword stepped on energy symbols, vermillion talisman papers fluttering in the candlelight.

The neighboring two halls weren’t large; one could see the end at a glance.

Lou Yi entered the middle hall, observed for a while, and found that the majority of worshippers were there for blessings; those conducting rituals weren’t present.

He tried to enter the inner hall, but a good-natured middle-aged Daoist with a yellow Merit Book in hand approached him with a smile.

"What brings you here, are you seeking blessing or conducting a ritual?"

"Nothing much, just wandering around."

"I see you are extraordinary, a person with great luck, would you be interested in accumulating merits to enhance your fortune and wealth?"

Seeing Lou Yi shake his head in refusal, the Daoist wasn’t angered, just walked away to inquire others.

But when Lou Yi tried to enter the inner hall, a Daoist approached to block him from entering.

"Oh well." Lou Yi didn’t force the issue, left the gate, and decided to explore other areas.

Suddenly, his eyes moved, focusing on a path overgrown with weeds beside the side hall.

There, two men, one fat and one skinny, wearing gray hats and blue casual clothes, conspicuously sneaking into the path.

’Why are the Heavy Sword Sect guys here?’

Although their outfits had changed, and they weren’t carrying the conspicuous wide sword.

But Lou Yi had seen them not long ago, wouldn’t mistake them, especially the chubby guy who beat Huang Longgang; his face was memorable.

He lifted his feet and followed down the path, keeping a suitable distance.

Following the two, after weaving left and right, he found a Daoist guarding a gated entrance.

But this wasn’t a difficulty for Lou Yi.

He approached the closest position to avoid being noticed, took out a stone, and accurately hit the Daoist’s head.

"Who is that? Damn it!"

The angry Daoist moved several steps forward, wanting to see who attacked him.

Lou Yi then utilized Light Body Technique, swiftly passed behind the Daoist, easily traversing the gate.

Now his physique far exceeded ordinary people, and with the cultivation technique’s aid, during action, only a black shadow could be seen.

The Daoist rubbed his eyes, thinking he must have been mistaken, and leisurely returned to guard the entrance.

Behind the gate remained a path paved with stones.

At the end of the path was a walled garden, one and a half zhang high.

The two men, fat and skinny, looking back to ensure no one was tracking them, then dexterously used their feet to push against the wall’s strength, flipping over it skillfully.

Inside was a garden, blooming vividly, fragrances swirling.

A middle-aged horse-faced Daoist met the two men, surprisingly accompanied by several strikingly beautiful female Daoists.

...