Chapter 598: I Became a Demon Daoist

"Greetings, Daoist."

Zhou Jin bowed respectfully to Li Yi: "The Prefect is deeply concerned about this trafficking of women. He ordered us to solve the case and net every person involved, showing no mercy. As for the victimized girls, he commanded us to register them, issue travel permits and travel expenses, and send them home."

"The ringleader won't live long—he'll be beheaded as a warning to others."

Li Yi glanced at him and said: "I am a cultivator. I can intervene for a moment, but not for a lifetime. When I encounter injustice, I lend a hand and rescue the innocent—that is enough to justify my cultivation. Since the case is settled, I have no objection. But why does the Prefect know I possess Dragon-Tiger Qi and suddenly harbor murderous intent?"

At these words, Zhou Jin's face turned pale, and he hurriedly said: "Daoist, this, this—"

Li Yi said nothing, only slightly lifted his gaze.

Roar!

The next instant, a silver-spotted tiger roared through heaven and earth, its claw descending. The white crane hovering above the government office let out a mournful cry, then its body exploded into streams of incense and belief-energy, rapidly dissipating. The residual force swept through the government office, and the ground beneath suddenly trembled.

Then the roof collapsed, walls shattered, beams and pillars tore apart.

Inside the study, Prefect Chen Nian was terrified. He was escorted by several colleagues and fled the building as if escaping death—but even so, he was struck by falling debris, his head bleeding, his appearance disheveled.

He barely managed to escape.

But before him, everything had turned to ruins. Only the government office's main gate remained intact, standing firm, as if protected by some unseen force.

"What... what happened?" Chen Nian trembled, eyes wide with confusion.

"Daoist, stop!"

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the scroll in Zhou Jin's hand—a middle-aged man in a long robe, urgently calling out to halt him.

Li Yi glanced at him, ignored him, and pointed at the government office runners: "Escort these women home safely. If you fail, you'll share the fate of this government office—reduced to ash."

As he spoke, he casually pulled several gems from his Five Elements Bracelet—gems he'd picked up in the secret realm where the World Dragon was imprisoned. They had no special use, but held some value.

He tossed them over.

"I won't shortchange you. All travel expenses are on me. Any surplus, divide among yourselves."

Seeing the crystal-clear gems, the runners' eyes widened—but then they glanced at the collapsed government office and shuddered.

This Daoist was truly ruthless—his words alone could topple a government office.

Still, ruthless as he was, he was rich beyond measure. Each gem was worth at least a thousand taels. Take them home, divide them, and you'll never worry about money again.

But—

The runners glanced at Zhou Jin again.

After all, Zhou Jin was their superior. Without his word, none dared accept the offer.

Li Yi said: "How many years of service would it take you to earn this much? Do you still want to return as government office runners, taking orders from others? Why not go home and become a wealthy landowner?"

At these words,

The runners exchanged glances, then instantly stripped off their black uniforms, snatched up the gems, and bowed solemnly to Li Yi: "Daoist, rest assured—we'll risk our lives to deliver these women safely. If we fail, we'll die by your hand."

"Zhang Tie, Liu Han—" Zhou Jin hesitated.

"Zhou Jin, we're not that close. Don't try to flatter me. I have matters to attend to." The man spoke firmly.

Saying this, the group immediately resigned their posts and escorted the women away.

On the road, they continued discussing.

"Idiots—we can hire a escort guild to deliver these women."

"Right. Buy carriages—one for each. We've got money, no problem."

"Buy them new clothes too, leave them some silver. Don't let the Daoist think we're stingy."

"How big were those gems? I thought they were as big as my fist. Show me again—I blinked and didn't catch a clear look."

"Get lost. Don't flaunt wealth. We'll split it later."

Zhou Jin watched his former subordinates flee, his mouth twitching violently. Knowing them as he did, he was certain they'd never return.

"Greed and fear of death—human nature. Daoist, your methods are impressive," said the figure in the scroll, Chu Pingzhi, softly.

Li Yi shook his head: "It's not greed or fear. It's avoiding disaster. Even government office runners understand this. Why don't you officials? Because disaster never falls on you? I came here to turn in criminals out of goodwill, yet you refuse to act and instead want to kill me because I bear Dragon-Tiger Qi. Aren't you forcing me to rebel?"

"The realm has known peace for ages. Even if you bear Dragon-Tiger Qi, rebelling is a fool's dream," Chu Pingzhi said.

"Rebellion isn't hard for me. If I wished to rise, I could do it in a month," Li Yi said calmly.

Chu Pingzhi grew intrigued. "Oh? Are you boasting? Even if the realm isn't perfectly peaceful, it's stable. Who would follow you? At best, you'd gather a few mountain spirits and declare yourself king of a hill."

Li Yi sneered: "How could a dead soul trapped in a painting know my power? I command wind and rain, subdue dragons and tigers, level cities with ease. I need only create a disaster to gather countless refugees—then raise my voice, rally the masses, plunder as I go, break through mountains and cities. Once momentum builds, I command all spirits, ghosts, and demons, appoint true gods, and share the incense offerings of the realm. If all goes well, in less than half a year, I'll enter the capital. Then you won't call me Daoist—you'll call me Your Majesty."

Chu Pingzhi was stunned and terrified. Stunned because this Daoist wasn't joking—he'd already outlined a rebellion strategy. Though crude, the direction was correct: to rise, one must do exactly this. And he knew of appointing true gods and sharing incense. Terrified because if this Daoist truly did it, he wouldn't care how many died—he'd leave corpses piled high.

"You're a demon Daoist. You deserve death."

At that moment, Prefect Chen Nian, supported by his colleagues, limped forward, his head bleeding. He'd heard Li Yi's words and now flew into a rage.

Li Yi coldly glanced at him: "I haven't done it—not because I lack the will or courage, but because I pity the people's hardship. I rose from obscurity myself. I know how hard life is. Peaceful survival is best. So I carry benevolence: I rescue the suffering, never take innocent lives."

"I still hold such virtue. Yet you officials decide life and death with a word. You have no benevolence—only profit and loss. You call me a demon Daoist? I call you a dog official."

"How dare you!" Chen Nian roared. "You demon Daoist dare insult me! Zhou Jin, seize him!"

Zhou Jin gripped his waist saber, hesitating. His eyes flickered, but he dared not move—he knew he was no match for this Daoist. If he struck, he'd die instantly.

At this moment, life mattered more than ambition.

So he merely put on a show, taking a few steps back—no intention to act.

Li Yi flicked his finger. A silver lightning bolt shot out—blazing fast.

Before Chen Nian even understood what happened, he saw his own arm vanish—gone without a trace. He felt no pain.

One mistake—one strike—one detail—one look!

"You can't argue with me. You can't fight me. So where did you get the courage to shout at me? You've held power so long you've forgotten how to be human—like a land god: a dead soul inhabiting a clay statue, sipping incense for years, and now truly believes it's a deity." Li Yi's bright eyes swept over him, revealing killing intent.

In that instant, Chen Nian felt the chasm between their very levels of existence. Every hair on his body stood on end. Fear engulfed him. All courage vanished. He collapsed to the ground, eyes filled only with terror.

"Daoist, you are a master. Why waste your wrath on an ordinary man? Please cease your magic and spare his life," Chu Pingzhi pleaded urgently.

He feared Li Yi would slaughter everyone here.

"Only adults ignore children. Let him call me 'my lord,' and I'll spare his life," Li Yi said. "Killing an ordinary man means nothing to me. But insolence deserves a lesson."

"Chen brother—"

Chu Pingzhi urgently called out, urging him to yield.

Survive this crisis first. Don't throw away your life.

Chen Nian's face was deathly pale, torn between fear and resistance. He trembled—but his mind instinctively clung to his status as Prefect, ruler of ten thousand people. To bow to a mountain Daoist, to call him 'my lord'—how could this be proper?

Yet his survival instinct overpowered pride. He stammered: "M-my lord."

"Your voice sounds reluctant. If even you can't bring yourself to call someone 'my lord,' why should anyone willingly call you one? You only bow because power forces you to," Li Yi smiled, then slowly rose.

"Enough. My business is done. I won't disturb you further."

With a flick of his Daoist robe, he strode away.

Chu Pingzhi remained silent, watching him go. This Daoist was formidable—beyond the reach of a mere yin Prefect. Fortunately, he'd only destroyed the government office out of rage, not killed anyone. He clearly possessed some benevolence. But—

He turned back to look at Chen Nian.

Only now did Chen Nian feel the pain of his severed arm. Blood streamed from the stump. He screamed in agony, yet, humiliated, he gritted his teeth: "Chu brother, quickly—send the yin bureau decree! Summon the City God and all ghostly deities! Tonight, exterminate this demon Daoist. He must not live!"

"That would invite great disaster. Better to wait for imperial orders. You've seen his power—he's formidable. If we make a mistake, we might drive him to kill officials and rebel. Then we'd both be guilty," Chu Pingzhi said, troubled.

"This demon Daoist bears the Emperor's aura—he holds the court in contempt. He will rebel sooner or later. For the state, for the people, for ourselves—we must eliminate him now. Otherwise, how can we rest? If he retaliates, I'll bear full responsibility," Chen Nian growled low.

Chu Pingzhi hesitated long, then finally nodded.

Soon after,

He wrote a yin bureau decree, stamped it with his official seal as yin Prefect, then handed it to Prefect Chen Nian.

Chen Nian, despite his pain, rewrote it again and stamped it with his own seal.

Two decrees—one yin, one yang—were completed, ensuring absolute certainty before they could take effect.

Then he ordered Zhou Jin to bring a brazier and burn both decrees.

The next instant,

A plume of green smoke rose straight into the sky, then scattered into streams of incense-energy, flying in all directions.

Every appointed true god within Xinzhou's territory would receive the decree within moments.

Once night fell,

Countless ghosts and deities would gather in Xinzhou City to jointly exterminate the demon Daoist.

Yet Li Yi had seen that incense-energy too. He didn't understand its meaning—but he guessed enough: the Prefect had summoned help to deal with him. After such humiliation, how could he ignore it? Especially with such power—he could summon ghostly deities with a single decree.

"Good. Let me see what kind of power these world's ghosts and deities truly possess." Li Yi's expression remained calm as he walked through Xinzhou City.

(End of Chapter)