CHAPTER 473: CHAPTER 467: THE AUTHORITY OF THE GREAT HALL OFFICER

"SPLASH..."

In an instant, a fierce battle erupted. Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer’s horse was eerily sinister and unstoppable. With a swoop of the large knife in his hand, a torrent of flying sand and rolling stones cascaded forth, as if the entire forest around trembled in fear.

On the side of the Not Eating Beef Sect, there was a chorus of strange laughter as they utilized their skills, rushing forward to meet the onslaught.

And from this point on, it wasn’t just Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer’s side in action. From several other directions around Shima Town, small hall officers of the Shousui Path also received orders. They led their men towards the town, each surging with Divine Soul and a rolling murderous aura.

Each of these small hall officers was followed by three Knife Catching Stewards and about a dozen runners. In total, there were just over twenty people. However, as members of the Shousui, each had their own trump cards. They truly exuded a fierce aura, and even the dogs by the roadside were too scared to bark as they passed.

"Who dares to offend the Lantern Festival?"

Yet similarly, within Shima Town, various leaders rallied their men to meet the small hall officers, each performing Strange Techniques. In the blink of an eye, they were locked in combat.

"It’s time to act..."

Meanwhile, within Shima Town, Old Master Sun and Altar Master Tang looked at each other, their minds unsettled. The townspeople, and even the common followers of the One Coin Sect, didn’t know what had happened, but Old Master Sun and Altar Master Tang understood the situation clearly.

As thoughts raced, someone suddenly shouted, "The senior brothers have arrived. What use is there in us hiding in the town?"

"Let’s go out to meet them. If we earn the senior brothers’ recognition, who knows what fortune may come!"

...

Once the decision was made, they all got up and rushed out. Some carried weapons, others rounded up their subordinates. In an instant, there were one to two hundred people, all armed and imposing.

Before the appearance of Beef Avoidance Sect Disciples, they had merely huddled within Shima Town, thinking they couldn’t escape. But no one dared to directly charge out. Now it was different; no one would hide in the town anymore.

Old Master Sun, the powerful figure from Liu County, Great Shanbao old altar master, Shopkeeper Ma from Wanma Gang, Grandma Wu’s godson-in-law, and even the coffin shop owner in the town, all charged out of the town and set up a coffin formation around.

Like the crushing of a vigorous spirit, the entire area around Shima Town immediately became a bustling display of Strange Techniques, and various eccentric people crossed hands in lively combat.

Yet, as if with a tacit understanding, everyone aimed to showcase their skills. No one was truly risking their lives. Instead, they frequently glanced toward the direction where Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer charged, shouting battle cries but only concerned about the developments there.

"SPLASH..."

Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer wielded the large knife, riding the Tiger Skin Louse-Headed Horse, charging down the hillside towards the Beef-eating Demon People blocking the road. But as he drew nearer, the figures of those demon people vanished with a gust of sinister wind.

In front of the narrow path, some things suddenly appeared.

There was a solitary grave, old and weathered, yet positioned precisely to block their path. There were still traces of incense-burning offerings at the grave, eerily strange.

"The grave moving technique?"

Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer’s face darkened, recognizing it as one of the demon people’s evil skills.

This technique used chanting and incense-burning to move graves from elsewhere onto the road, rendering it neither yin nor yang. The path would block the living and invite the dead to stay as guests.

This kind of skill was considered a Secret Technique within the Haishou Path and was acknowledged as one of the most troublesome techniques within the Haishou Path.

The problem was that grave destruction was a major offense. Those who set up such spells were the most insidious: either the path was blocked, or they would be harmed by the sorcery within the grave, or they would have to withstand the loss of yin virtue from destroying the grave. All three options were dire.

"HA!"

However, Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer charged ahead without hesitation, instantly swinging his knife directly at this grave.

Amidst the sound of sand and stone being cut, astonishingly, he lifted the entire grave along with the ground beneath it into the air, and with a jolt of the knife’s power, it shattered instantly.

"Big Head Hall Officer, return my yin house..."

From the blasted grave soil, cries emerged, an innocent vindictive soul inside clawing towards Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer’s face, only to be blasted away by his snort.

The next moment, he tugged his reins, galloping forward again. At the end of the path, the lights from Shima Town seemed almost within reach. At this speed, it appeared that within a few breaths, he would arrive.

"WHOOSH!"

But just then, beside the path, someone knelt, burning paper money, a sinister smile flashing across their face. With a gentle wave, the burning paper money was sent fluttering aside.

Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer, galloping at high speed, suddenly saw the straight road before him become blurry. After rubbing his eyes and taking another look, a gust of wind had transformed the road into two winding paths, both seemingly leading to Shima Town.

At the junction of the two paths were dark figures, mounted on Paper Horses, each adorned with four banners, their eyes cold, weapons held high, staring at Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer.

"Hey short-legged Hall Officer, the path of life and death is open. How will you choose?"

...

"Trickery and deception!"

Ignoring their sinister words, Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer maintained his speed, charging towards the junction. His surging blood aura shook as he urged the Tiger Skin Louse-Headed Horse to leap high, transforming into a shadowy mist, rushing forward.

He didn’t even glance at the two paths, his eyes fixed straight ahead on Shima Town.

"SWISH..."

In response, the Ghost Generals on Paper Horses, incensed, swooped up to intercept Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer from the air, only to be shattered by his angry shout. The paper men burst apart, burning as they fell to the ground, while the two paths merged into one.

As Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer landed, he remained on that single path, unmatched in ferocity, making a rapid dash forward, seemingly only a step away from Shima Town.

At the same time, a little girl carrying her grandfather emerged, clenching her small fists tightly, suddenly striking at his face with relentless moves.

The people in the woods on both sides also stirred, laughing and cursing mockingly. "This big-headed old man truly lives up to his reputation outside the Zhou Family, being the first in the Shousui Path. Look at how fiercely he charges, as if he has lost his mind..."

"Such a big head, yet no brain. What use is that?"

"Heh, a high-ranking Shousui still willing to be a pawn, what do you think is inside his brain?"

...

Countless ghostly figures surged forward, accompanied by numerous, clear, and sinister voices that drilled into his ears. Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer charged on ferociously, paying no heed to these evil spirits, focusing only on his forward charge.

"Jin Chenzi, your words aren’t working. It seems he’s ignoring us..."

Someone whispered curiously, only to hear the opera troupe leader chuckle, "Rest assured, it definitely works. This big-headed Shousui Hall Officer is the most petty. You insult him once, and he sulks for half a day internally.

"But he feigns Qi Cultivation Skills, pretending not to care. The more you insult him, the more he bottles it up inside, and it will eventually burst..."

...

Hence, more strange voices joined in, as enigmatic specters and Beef-eating Demon People emerged in front of Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer. From the sky, the ground, or without showing their faces, each move was deadly, all targeting him.

...

...

"These Beef-eating Demon People do have some skills, managing to entangle that Shousui Hall Officer?"

On the outskirts of Shima Town, Hu Ma watched the surrounding stormy battle and sighed softly. Truthfully, I should go have a look. Seeing that Hall Officer’s skills, how beneficial would it be to me?

Alas, priorities must be weighed...

Meng family, Meng family...

Initially, the thought of only scaring the Meng family away felt like a small gain, but a big loss emotionally. Now, it’s just right. Somebody’s kept that Hall Officer busy, guarding the town’s Lantern Festival.

This way, I can spare my hands for the main task...

With a light grit of teeth, the plan was set. He slowly moved backward, gradually pulling a piece of green incense from his bosom and lighting it. Before long, Little Hongtang, with a fire brazier on his head and running in small steps, appeared within his view.

He gestured to Little Hongtang, calming the frustrated and impatient Master Ma, then quietly slipped to the other end of the woods without alerting anyone.

"Where’s the Sect Hierarch?"

In the main house of the headquarters, Immortal Miaoshan was excited, "I should invite the Sect Hierarch to meet the Big Senior Brother."

"That’s not right, it’s against protocol. The Big Senior Brother should meet the Sect Hierarch first."

...

Looking quite eager to flaunt something to the Big Senior Brother, she rose and glanced around, somewhat surprised, "Hey, where did the Sect Hierarch go?"

"He’s the Sect Hierarch, why would he report to us where he’s gone?"

However, that Big Senior Brother, who looked like a humble farmer, sighed lowly, gaze distant, "This time the notice was too short. Even with the news, only a few could make it within two days.

"With the Gold Skin marked, and the main disciples of the Plain Group and Wu Alley, only Jin Chen and I made it here. Although others are my Beef Avoidance Sect Disciples, their skills are lacking. Facing a Hall Officer, plus that Meng family member from the Ten Surnames, would indeed be difficult.

"Just don’t know, since God showed mercy in returning our Sect Hierarch, will He also give us a surprise?"

...

...

While Beef Avoidance Sect Disciples were in motion and many were concerned with the situation, Hu Ma had already left the town and sighed lowly, saying to Little Hongtang, "Go give a signal!"

"Who says you must stay here to wait when facing the Meng family and the Hall Officer?"

"We will charge forth!"