"The human-faced fox is within this procession?" Lu Zheng asked.

"That's right." Daoist Jiu Zhen nodded, "However, the human-faced fox is extremely skilled at disguise, its aura is not apparent, and even my Guiding Incense can only determine a rough area. At this moment, it is hiding within this procession, obviously intending to use this family of foxes as a shield to deal with me."

Although the auras of Huangfu Jing and Liu Qingyan were not apparent, both Huangfu Ning and Huangfu Xu carried a faint demon aura on them. Such a state of Dao practice can be seen at a glance, let alone by a master such as Daoist Jiu Zhen.

If Daoist Jiu Zhen believed that the Huangfu Family was in collusion with the human-faced fox, and made a move, then the human-faced fox could benefit from the ensuing chaos.

"When did you arrive at Luonan County to exorcise demons, senior?" Lu Zheng frowned, his eyes flickering, looking suspiciously at the bridal sedan.

"The day before yesterday." Daoist Jiu Zhen replied.

"The day before yesterday..." Lu Zheng murmured, still uncertain in his heart.

Lu Zheng recognized the auras of Huangfu Ning and Huangfu Xu, Huangfu Jing's Dao practice was not weak, unlikely to be replaced without a sound. The only concern was...

"Lu Lang, what's going on?" Liu Qingyan stepped forward, worriedly asking.

"Daoist Jiu Zhen said a human-faced fox has mixed into our procession." Lu Zheng held Liu Qingyan's hand.

"Human-faced fox?" Liu Qingyan was startled by his words and quickly looked towards Huangfu Xu.

"I don't know!" Huangfu Xu hurriedly shook his head in defense, "Our family has never dealt with such foxes."

"The Daoist exorcised the demon the day before yesterday, we arrived last night. The human-faced fox likely mingled in last night or this morning during the wedding chaos." Lu Zheng looked at the procession, speaking solemnly.

Liu Qingyan also looked towards the procession with Lu Zheng and saw the people who had stopped were all looking over in confusion.

"Who is it?"

"I don't know; we won't know until we try." Lu Zheng's voice did not reveal any emotions, "Let's start with the performers and palanquin bearers. If it's none of them..."

Liu Qingyan's eyes flashed, she looked incredulously at the bridal sedan, "The Xu Family also has elders present. They wouldn't miss the human-faced fox, right?"

Huangfu Xu's expression turned ugly, surprised and uncertain upon hearing this.

"Don't worry, I might be overthinking." Lu Zheng patted Liu Qingyan's hand, taking a deep breath, his gaze hardened. He then turned to Daoist Jiu Zhen, politely asking, "Will you handle this, or shall I lend a hand?"

Though the human-faced fox shows no demon aura when disguised as a human, a demon is still a demon, able to fool aura sensing but not the law of heaven and earth.

If it had sneaked into a city of tens of thousands like a Painted Skin, perhaps it could be overlooked, but within a mere procession of over twenty, how could it possibly hide?

Thus, Lu Zheng was only worried that the human-faced fox had harmed the bride, turning this joyful occasion into mourning, but was not concerned about not finding the human-faced fox.

However, to Lu Zheng's surprise, Daoist Jiu Zhen blinked, dryly saying, "Well, I'm not very skilled in this area, best you take it up, fellow Daoist."

Lu Zheng: ???

No way? How is that possible?

To test whether it's human or demon, a single Exorcism Curse would reveal it, no?

Unless it's someone like Liu Qingyan who uses Merit Qi to conceal herself, normally, a demon aura should react to an Exorcism Talisman.

The human-faced fox has already awakened spiritually and subsequently harmed others; naturally, it carries no Merit, so it wouldn't withstand an Exorcism Talisman.

Could it be that this Daoist is just for show?

That can't be, he could exorcise demons, pursuing the human-faced fox until it escaped; he shouldn't be a silver spear candleholder, right?

Forget it, I'll do it myself.

Lu Zheng shook his head, not caring, he stepped forward and extended his hand to cast an Exorcism Curse towards the leading performer.

"Whoosh!"

A streak of green light entered the performer's chest, the performer jumped in fright, then patted his chest, feeling nothing amiss.

Lu Zheng nodded, this wasn't it.

...

But just as Lu Zheng was casting, one of the palanquin bearers released the sedan, shrunk back, and dashed frantically towards the back.

At this moment, the human-faced fox was in despair.

Originally, it had planned well, leading the old Daoist into the fox den for the two sides to battle, and the aura it left with the old Daoist would be used up, enabling it to walk away without concern for the outcome.

However, the old Daoist appeared an hour earlier than expected; more importantly, there was another Daoist hiding among this group of foxes!

As a result, not only did the two sides not fight, but it got trapped within this mere dozen-member wedding procession.

Not only trapped within the procession, but this newly appearing Daoist actually had the ability to fish it out?

...

"Can you escape?"

Seeing the palanquin bearer flee, Lu Zheng let out a sigh of relief, but his gaze turned cold.

For murder and shapeshifting, the crime deserves death!

The human-faced fox revealed a faint demon aura as it fled, and Lu Zheng took a stance to pursue it.

Heh, with all my skills, let's see where you think you can run!

"Celestial Venerable Decree, Nine Heavens Responding Thunder, break!"

"Boom!"

A golden light flashed, thunder erupted on flat ground, a full display of purple light as a thunderbolt descended from the sky, striking the human-faced fox.

"Ah!!!"

With a miserable scream, the human-faced fox's body convulsed, instantly transforming into a brown fox, collapsing onto the ground.

Lu Zheng: !!!∑(°Д°ノ)ノ

...

This thunderbolt not only gravely injured the human-faced fox, rendering it immobile, but the Huangfu brothers also shook like chaff, almost collapsing to their knees. Moreover, the bridal sedan, tilted to one side from the human-faced fox's departure, emitted a burst of demon aura. A bright yellow water stream flowed from the edge, carrying a potent scent.

No choice, the human-faced fox fled near the bridal sedan; the thunderbolt almost grazed the sedan's edge to hit the human-faced fox.

Lu Zheng's eyes flashed, nodded to Liu Qingyan, who understood, hastily approaching the bridal sedan to lift the curtain, seeing the bridal dress turned into a heap, with a red fox curled inside, trembling.

Miss Xu was just a harmless little fox, unable to handle such fright. The thunderbolt carried a strong power of breaking evil and exorcising demons, forcing her to reveal her original form inside the sedan, sparing her public exposure.

Liu Qingyan quickly lowered the curtain, nonchalantly nodded, gestured to Old Huang to drive the carriage over, sending the remaining three palanquin bearers aside, "Stay back; the bride is frightened and needs to reorganize on the carriage."

...

Ignoring Liu Qingyan and Huangfu Jing covering for the bride.

Lu Zheng stepped up to the human-faced fox to find it charred, trembling yet attempting to rise.

"Spare...spare me..."

"Don't ask me, this is something you need to discuss with Daoist Jiu Zhen."

Lu Zheng looked at Daoist Jiu Zhen and his disciple approaching, smacked his lips, then said, "Turns out Daoist excels in the Thunder Technique."

No wonder Daoist Jiu Zhen said he wasn't good at sensing auras, using the Guiding Incense to track the human-faced fox. So he's a combat specialist...

"Infinite Celestial Venerable!" Daoist Jiu Zhen nodded apologetically to Lu Zheng, "I know only a few Thunder Techniques; apologies for alarming the group and fellow friends, please kindly forgive."

"No harm, no harm." Lu Zheng waved rapidly, for he dared not bear grudges.

The power of that Thunder Technique, it was the strongest single-target strike Lu Zheng had seen this era. This human-faced fox had at least a hundred years of Dao practice, yet was gravely injured by one hit, dissipating all its demon power, unable to move.

Lu Zheng realized Jiu Zhen Daoist truly was not skilled at distinguishing auras, for his Thunder Technique struck indiscriminately.

"What do you plan to do with this human-faced fox, Daoist?" Lu Zheng asked.

"This human-faced fox, desiring to experience different lives, committed indiscriminate murders, thus deserves execution." Daoist Jiu Zhen spoke solemnly and, without acknowledging the fox's pleas, flipped his hand, sending a Palm Thunder down.

"Crack!"

A thunderous roar sounded; the human-faced fox perished.

Lu Zheng swallowed hard; this Daoist was indeed ruthless and silent, someone not to be trifled with.