Daoist Master, I'm really not an evil cultivator.

Chapter 70 The Power of the Fourth Realm, One Palm Stops the Chaos

Meanwhile, news of Minghai's defeat had already spread throughout the city and towns.

"Have you heard? Minghai County... has fallen!"

"Who did this? How dare they? They even dare to touch a county seat under the imperial court?"

"An incredible opportunity! A truly extraordinary opportunity!"

"Let's go! To Minghai! Maybe we can get some benefits!"

Whispers, exclamations, and curses spread rapidly.

Whispers, gasps, and curses coalesced into an undercurrent that spread rapidly. The once relatively orderly market suddenly became restless and uneasy.

Greed, fear, and violence began to appear on the faces of the demons...

Some figures had already taken to the air, and some even had a fierce glint in their eyes, seemingly intending to replenish their travel expenses on the spot.

The human cultivators were also in an uproar.

"Damn demon."

"These lawless beasts, that's tens of thousands of lives lost."

"This is outrageous!"

The humans roared in anger, their shock, grief, and killing intent surging like boiling magma within them.

It looked like the two sides were about to clash in a bloody battle.

Just then, a deep humming sound rang out without warning.

A vast and oppressive force, as heavy as a mountain, suddenly descended upon the entire market town.

A gigantic handprint, formed entirely from azure water light, covered a large portion of the market town. The lines on its palm were clearly visible, as if it contained the rage and power of the sea. It slowly pressed down with overwhelming majesty.

All the clamor, shouting, and commotion abruptly ceased. Those who had been eager to act froze in place; those with weaker cultivation turned pale, staggered backward, and almost knelt on the ground. Those who had been restless, whether human or demon, were all ashen-faced and trembling with fear.

"Private fights are strictly prohibited within the market area; violators will be executed."

A flat, emotionless voice resounded clearly in everyone's hearts.

As soon as he finished speaking, the giant hand transformed into specks of azure light and dissipated into the air.

The terrifying pressure receded like a tide.

But the market was already eerily quiet.

All the cultivators and demons lowered their heads, not daring to look at the blurry figure in the sky, and even less daring to make the slightest move.

"Is this the power of a fourth-realm Nascent Soul cultivator? Turning one's hand to create clouds, turning it back to create rain, one thought to determine the fate of the world. It's far beyond what I can currently contend with." Xu Changqing felt the pressure above his head, his Qi Sea churning within his body.

Xu Changqing withdrew his gaze, and a blood lotus appeared beneath his feet. His speed increased again, transforming into a faint streak of blood-red light as he sped off towards the southeast.

......

As the blood lotus dissipated, Xu Changqing's figure appeared in front of a dilapidated mountain god temple.

This temple is located halfway up Linjiang Mountain. Its tiles are covered with moss, its walls are dilapidated, and its doors are half-rotten, clearly indicating that it has been abandoned for a long time.

With only the mountain wind blowing through the forest and the intermittent chirping of insects, it was a secluded place.

He raised his hand and pushed open the creaking temple door.

Dust fell in rustling sounds, the temple was dimly lit, and cobwebs stretched across its walls. There was an altar inside, but no statues of gods were visible. The murals on the altar had long since lost their paint, and the incense table was covered in dust, with no offerings.

"This place should be undisturbed." Xu Changqing muttered to himself, sweeping a clearing with his sleeve, sitting cross-legged, calming his mind, and following the connection with Su'e, transmitting his thoughts to her.

"Su'e".

A moment later, a response came from within his mind, cool yet tinged with concern: "Master?"

"Would you be so kind as to guide me into the underworld?" Xu Changqing asked succinctly.

"Please wait a moment, Master," Su'e replied.

Before long, Xu Changqing felt a slight coolness between his brows, and a sliver of moonlight seeped out from the void. The scene before him rippled like water and suddenly changed.

A sense of coldness, deathly silence, and emptiness returned. Under the gray sky, a giant, pale moon hung high, and the desolate land stretched to the horizon. In the distance, a gray river flowed silently, as if it had never changed since time immemorial.

"Master," Su'e called softly, her eyes shimmering with moonlight.

Her aura was more solid and aloof than before, and the crescent moon mark between her brows shone brightly, clearly indicating that she had made considerable progress in her cultivation of the "Taiyin Xuntian Yuanjun Scripture".

Xu Changqing nodded, his gaze sweeping over her back. Not far away stood two people, Awei and Aling. The two women's auras were weak, clearly indicating that they had just entered the underworld and still needed Su'e's protection with the power of the Taiyin.

"How are the two of them?" Xu Changqing asked.

"Sister Awei and Sister Aling can now stay with me for short periods, but their cultivation is still shallow and their souls are unstable, so they need my constant care," Su'e replied. "As instructed by my master, I have recently tried to use the yin energy of the underworld to help them stabilize their souls and nourish their spirits, and the effect is much faster than in the mortal world. However, this place is ultimately dangerous, so I dare not let them go too far."

Awei swayed gently, her timid thoughts conveying: "Master, it's so cold and quiet here."

Ah Ling stood close to her sister, trembling slightly.

Xu Changqing said gently, "The laws of the underworld are like this; those who are new here will inevitably feel uncomfortable. You two should stay close to Su'e and not wander off. The yin energy here is pure and beneficial to the cultivation of the soul. Endure for a while, and once your soul is strong, you will not find it unbearable."

"Yes, Abbot." The two women's souls responded obediently.

Xu Changqing turned to Su'e and got down to business: "I've come here today to tell you something."

Su'e's expression turned solemn: "Master, please speak."

"I am about to head to Minghai County." Xu Changqing briefly told Mei Qianqian what she had said. "This matter is quite complicated and the dangers are unknown. Once I set off, I may not have time to attend to anything else. You should return to Qingyang Temple later."

Su'e nodded earnestly: "This disciple understands."

"Hmm." Xu Changqing pondered for a moment, then asked, "Furthermore, what was the situation like in the underworld today?"

Su'e's gaze narrowed slightly, and she said softly, "This disciple has kept Master's instructions in mind and dared not stray far, only conducting a rough investigation within a few miles. Just as Master predicted, the Underworld is vast and desolate, yet it is also scattered with many rare items from the mortal world. Comparing them with the 'Spiritual Materials Compendium' given to me by Master, I found Yin Soul Moss, which can nourish the soul, and Nether Iron Stone, which can be used to forge weapons. As for danger..."

She paused, lowering her voice slightly, "Previously, this disciple sensed a massive mass of Yin energy moving in the far distance. Its aura was violent and chaotic, seemingly mixed with countless howls. It was likely a swarm of wandering Yin spirits or a powerful ghost. This disciple immediately concealed their presence and dared not approach."

Xu Changqing's expression hardened slightly: "The underworld is treacherous and teeming with ghosts. Remember to prioritize your own safety. Exploration should be undertaken within your capabilities. It is better to gain nothing than to take unnecessary risks. If you sense any insurmountable danger approaching, return to the mortal world immediately without hesitation."

"Your disciple understands," Su'e replied solemnly.

Xu Changqing's expression softened slightly, and he smiled, "I've already sold those items from the underworld in the market, and the haul was decent." As he spoke, he distributed the spirit jade, saying, "This is what you all deserve."

"So many spirit jades!" Awei exclaimed in surprise. "This is the first time I've ever seen spirit jades. I heard that one spirit jade can be exchanged for a lot of silver in the county town and can buy a lot of things..."

Ah Ling also showed a joyful mood, and even Su'e's cool eyes revealed a hint of happiness as she softly said, "Thank you, Master."

Xu Changqing inquired about the details of cultivation and offered some guidance. Seeing that Su'e was grasping the concepts quickly and that Awei and Aling were also adapting steadily, he felt relieved.

He then took out several bottles of pills suitable for their current stage and handed them to Su'e, asking her to distribute them later.

He cautioned again, "My return date is uncertain. You must be careful while cultivating in the underworld. If you encounter any insurmountable danger, return to the mortal world immediately; preserving your life is the most important thing."

"Master, please be careful in everything you do." Su'e's eyes showed worry.

Xu Changqing smiled slightly and said no more.

Su'e understood, her eyes shone brightly with moonlight, she made hand seals and chanted mysterious syllables.

A halo of light swirled around her, and illusory images of palaces and celestial maps appeared on her surface.

The next moment, the pulling force came, and the moon-white halo slid rapidly into the dark void along the invisible light thread connecting the anchor point of the present world, and the scene receded.

Xu Changqing felt a lightness all over his body, and the cold, deathly silence of the underworld receded like the tide.

He suddenly opened his eyes.

Before me, the mountain god temple remained dilapidated, covered in cobwebs and dust, with decaying doors.