Chapter 553: Came Down to the Mortal Realm to Work Overtime Today

Today in Yangzhou city, besides the Ten-Mile Spring Breeze Road and the long street where magic tricks were performed, the Dingfeng Temple was the most lively.

This was a temple in the city, dedicated to the Purple Emperor and many gods mainly from the southern divine system, as well as local earth gods, and even Buddhist gods. When the people in the city came out to enjoy the lanterns, they were all willing to come here to worship the gods in the temple and offer a stick of incense to make a wish.

A group of Daoists also came here.

They saw that the temple was crowded with people, and the incense air that rushed toward them was like a belief that could be seen.

"Great Emperor, bless me to make a fortune in the coming year..."

"True Lord, bless my child to pass the imperial examination..."

"Yuezhao Yuanjun, bless the whole family to be healthy..."

Some people even closed their eyes and prayed silently, without making a sound, and the voices in their hearts seemed to be heard by the Daoists along with the incense air that drifted up.

"So lively!"

"What are you doing here?" a fair-skinned female Daoist asked in confusion.

"Watching the fun," Lin Jue replied. "Also here to worship the gods! We cultivators, when we see Daoist temples, how can we not come to worship the gods?"

Just as he was speaking, it was their turn.

First Third Third Shixiong and Second Third Third Shixiong each took three sticks of incense. One went to the middle to worship the main god of the south, Emperor Yu Jian, and the other went to the courtyard to worship the local earth god in front of the one-meter-high small temple, and then they exchanged, both thanking Emperor Yu Jian for his care during their pill refining, and praying for the gods to protect the local

people to have favorable weather and not be disturbed by demons.

Xiao Xiao Shimei also took three sticks of incense and went to worship Yili Shenjun Yi Li.

Lin Jue also took three sticks of incense, first glanced at Yili Shenjun Ku Nian, then walked to the newly built Yili Shenjun Yue Zhao Yuezhao Yuanjun, respectfully, like a model, bowed and worshiped, and inserted the incense.

"Please, Yili Shenjun Yue Zhao Yuezhao Yuanjun, bless my Fuyao to pass the top scholar..."

Yili Shenjun Yue Jing Dong Zhao Yuezhao Yuanjun stood behind him, looking at him expressionlessly and listening to his prayer.

Looking down again, he saw the fox looking up, staring at her without blinking.

Just at this time, the Daoist who was worshiping the gods in front also turned his head:

"Eh? This fellow Daoist, why don't you worship?"

"..."

Daoist Jiang didn't want to pay attention to him.

It was also at this time that a commotion suddenly rose nearby.

"Oh! The gods are manifesting!"

"What?"

"The gods are blinking..."

Lin Jue thought it was something, but after listening carefully, he realized that the divine statues of Emperor Yu Jian and the earth god that First Third Third Shixiong and Second Third Third Shixiong had just worshiped, and the divine statue of Yili Shenjun Yi Li that Xiao Xiao Shimei had worshiped, had some changes—the divine statues of Emperor Yu Jian and Yili Shenjun Yi Li blinked, looked at the worshipers in front of them, and quickly closed their eyes. The Yili Shenjun of Fortune and Virtue worshiped by Second Third Third Shixiong simply bowed and performed a salute, and then returned to normal.

It is indeed possible for immortals to worship gods like this.

This can also be considered a reminder to them.

"Why doesn't the Yuezhao Yuanjun I worship blink?" Lin Jue looked down at the fox. "Don't you think so?"

The fox looked up at him, then turned to look at Daoist Jiang.

Urging sounds soon came from behind:

"Little Daoist! Hurry! The gods are manifesting over there. If you are done worshiping, hurry up and let this old woman come!"

Lin Jue turned his head and saw that it was an elderly woman.

"Please!"

He hurriedly stepped aside and stood by to watch.

With a thud, the old woman knelt down directly!

"Oh my, Yili Shenjun Mother, my younger brother's wife has been entangled by an evil ghost for half a month, and she is almost haggard to death. If you manifest, please show mercy and help my younger brother's wife..."

Lin Jue and Xiao Xiao Shimei looked down at her and then looked up at Daoist Jiang.

"Two fellow Daoists, play for a while," Daoist Jiang said to him. "I'll be back soon."

After speaking, she walked out indifferently.

Although it was lively outside, with a sea of people and bright lights, there were still many dark shadows. In just a blink of an eye, the female Daoist had disappeared.

Only then did Lin Jue lead the fox out.

Several disciples didn't dare to speak and hurriedly followed.

"Time passes leisurely, truly like flowing water." Lin Jue couldn't help but say.

"Yes."

Xiao Xiao Shimei also nodded.

The reason why they came to this Dingfeng Temple to worship gods today, besides happening to walk here and wanting to see the fun, was also because they had worshiped Yili Shenjun Yi Li in the temple during the lantern festival years ago, and finally spent the night in the temple of the Yili Shenjun. Now they just thought of the past and picked up some memories.

But that was many years ago.

After waiting for a while, they waited for First Third Third Shixiong, Second Third Third Shixiong, and their disciples, and the group walked down the temple steps.

Passing by the Ten-Mile Spring Breeze Road, with colored lanterns shining on their faces, the Daoists didn't stay long, but passing by the busy market where magic tricks were performed everywhere, they couldn't help but stop to watch.

There was a rough man sitting in front of a square table and stool. On the table was a rough bowl. The table was just a wooden board with four legs, and one could see the end at a glance. The rough bowl was also an ordinary rough bowl, and even the man's sleeves were rolled up, but the wine in his bowl was never finished.

He sometimes showed the wine in the bowl to everyone, and sometimes showed the empty bowl to everyone after drinking it in one gulp, but in a breath, there was wine in the bowl again.

He also constantly invited people to go up and drink with him.

There were countless onlookers, countless cheers, and countless people who didn't understand, and he pleased countless drunkards. Most of those drunkards who loved wine were also very particular. As long as they were invited by him to drink, those with money would definitely sprinkle a few copper coins, and those without money and shameless would also praise it as good wine and praise his profound and wonderful magic.

The people on the scene watched with even more relish.

There were also elders who took their apprentices to look up and spit fire. They didn't use fire oil, fire pills, or any fire-inducing objects. They often breathed for a moment, looked up and spat, and it was a ball of raging flames.

It was New Year's Eve, and the lights were bright. Coupled with the flames exploding in the sky, the atmosphere was even more enthusiastic.

There were also people who summoned butterflies from nowhere, which flew and circled under his guidance, quite strange; some summoned a group of insects, which also lined up and arranged in formation on the table according to his instructions, neat and uniform; some exchanged copper coins with the onlookers around. After a moment of casting spells in the middle, the copper coins in the arms of the onlookers all flew up and flew back into his hands, causing everyone to grab money in the air, hold the copper coins in their hands tightly, and feel their hands itch, which was very interesting.

What the Daoists watched was not only the magic skills of these Jianghu performers, but also the cheers of the onlookers, and the lively atmosphere of the mortal world at this moment.

Therefore, not only these wonderful magic tricks, but also the skills practiced hard, such as martial artists breaking bricks with one hand, kicking bowls, or performing throat-piercing with a golden spear, made them feel interesting.

In the clamor of the crowd, Lin Jue also saw many demons and ghosts mixed in the mortal world. Most of them became very similar to people, and also saw some gods who descended to the mortal realm, also like people, standing in the crowd, feeling the golden age and prosperity of this dynasty, and this lively scene that only happens once a year.

If it were them at the lantern festival in Yi County many years ago, they would probably not be able to distinguish them, but now, they could find them at a glance.

However, whether it was demons, ghosts, or gods, most of them didn't pay attention.

I don't know when, Daoist Jiang reappeared by their side.

As a god in the south, she could be considered half a host. On such a grand festival, with old friends here to visit the lantern festival, she naturally wanted to accompany them.

After a long time, the people gradually dispersed, and the lights in the city slowly became cold, and the group of Daoists walked back.

The younger disciples hadn't experienced such a golden age and hadn't seen such a lively scene with bright lights, so they all felt unfinished and didn't want to return. The older generation sighed with emotion.

However, under such liveliness, it was actually mixed with fish and dragons.

There were thieves and pickpockets taking the opportunity to steal, people with ulterior motives causing trouble under the pretext of magic, and small demons and ghosts taking advantage of everyone going out to enjoy the lanterns to steal silver or offerings and food from people's homes. There were demons taking the opportunity to let their believers come out to expand their faith. Although there were many gods in the mortal realm, there were also many common people, and risks and benefits coexisted.

At the same time, in the Gathering Ju Ju Xian Fu of Yangzhou.

Dharma Master Yun Chan was already very old and twilight. On the table in front of him was a very common pastry, which the poor boy who had not yet become a monk wanted to eat but couldn't. He picked up the pastry while worrying, and put it into his mouth to taste it carefully.

In front of him were several other monks, Daoists, and strange people, all of whom were people with high status in the Gathering Ju Ju Xian Fu, and all of whom were strangers in Yangzhou. They were gathering here today, but they were also worried.

Someone said:

"Junior Minister, now that the north is mainly based on the capital and Qinzhou, and is searching for demons and ghosts on a large scale, many demons and ghosts dare not stay in the capital and Qinzhou, and have fled to the south. There is no lack of those who commit crimes and harm the mortal world. We really don't have enough manpower."

Someone else said:

"The number of demons and ghosts is not the main thing. The main thing is that whether it is the Xuan Tian Temple of Qiyun Mountain or the southern gods, they are relatively tolerant of demons, although they can't be said to treat demons and ghosts equally, and usually don't eliminate those demons and ghosts who haven't harmed people for no reason. Those evil demons and ghosts from the north are mixed with the good demons and ghosts from the north, as well as the original demons of the south, which is really difficult to distinguish."

Immediately, someone echoed:

"Yes. The Purple Firmament Palace and the northern gods are overbearing. In Qinzhou, especially in the capital, they catch demons and ghosts whenever they see them, regardless of good or evil, and regardless of merit, which is naturally convenient. We have few people here, and we have to distinguish and investigate carefully, so it's really not enough."

"Sigh, let's talk about it after today," Dharma Master Yun Chan said. "After all, today is New Year's Eve. After today, this poor monk will request the capital to dispatch more manpower."

Everyone agreed and didn't say anything more.

But they didn't know that not far from the government office, a Daoist was walking through a small alley.

The Daoists walked through the small alley and slowly walked back to the courtyard.

This place was relatively remote and quiet. After walking through two alleys, it was almost isolated from the clamor and lights of the busy market. Whether looking back or recalling just now, it was like two different worlds.

Suddenly looking carefully, there were several figures flickering ahead, which didn't seem to be people.

Faintly, a voice drifted over:

"Today in the city, whether people or gods, they have all gone to the liveliest place to join in the fun. These remote places are just the gathering places for us..."

"It's a pity there's no food."

"Is there a lack of food today? Isn't it everywhere? Just find a bigger courtyard and go in, isn't it all big fish and meat?"

"..."

Lin Jue revealed a smile, Xiao Xiao Shimei had a serious face, and the Third Third Shixiong and Xiao Shimei turned their heads at the same time.

In the middle was the expressionless Daoist Jiang. ===== CHAPTER 554 =====

In the middle was none other than the expressionless Daoist Jiang.