Chapter 524: Chapter 516: My Territory, I Rule
Xuan Qingzi felt that Qin Liuxi’s temperament was unpredictable and difficult to deal with, yet he was unaware that Qin Liuxi’s greatest concern was Master Chi Yuan’s cultivation.
The spiritual energy in Da Feng was scarce, and it was not an era of immortal cultivation; it was merely an era dominated by mortals. Those who cultivated the Dao could naturally extend their life expectancy if they succeeded in their cultivation. Like Master Tai Cheng, who extended his life to two hundred years with successful Foundation Establishment, but what about Master Chi Yuan?
He might not live past a hundred years.
Qin Liuxi was unwilling to see this happen; it was the first warmth she felt upon coming to this world.
Therefore, she couldn’t bear to hear words like failing the Foundation Establishment. Even if she came across as somewhat domineering, Qin Liuxi was still enraged.
Fine, her rage was a sign that her cultivation was not yet perfected. She would endure it.
But this was merely allowing him to look at a Magic Artifact, and that female Taoist acted as if she was going to snatch it right out of her hands. What was she implying?
There was no more tolerating it, enough was enough!
Qin Liuxi directly confronted them, regardless of whether it looked good or not. If she couldn’t even assert herself on her own territory, wouldn’t she be even more of a pushover outside?
Another point was that they came to her for help. Why should they act so high and mighty? Was it just because the golden roof of Jinhua Temple was flashy enough to blind people?
Or was it because they had bigger hearts than her, caring for all living things under the heavens?
Pah!
She was naturally rebellious. If she weren’t happy, why should she care about all living things? It was already merciful of her not to add fuel to the fire.
My territory, my rules!
Yao Feifei was continuously bombarded and completely stunned.
She had a natural talent for the Xuanmen Five Skills, hence at a young age, she had been taken under the wing of the Taoist Sect to practice the Mystical Techniques. With the highly reputable Jinhua Temple behind her, whenever she went out, people respectfully addressed her as Qingling Fairy. But now, she was being rebuked by Qin Liuxi until her face turned yellow. This was the first time she had suffered such humiliation since her Enlightenment.
She wanted to argue, but Xuan Qingzi scolded her with an iron face: "Junior Sister, be careful with your words."
Yao Feifei felt even more aggrieved, her eyes welling up with tears.
Xuan Qingzi took off the pouch from his waist, pulled out a Soul Chasing Bell engraved with complex runes, and handed it over with restraint: "Junior Temple Master has misunderstood. It’s just a Magic Artifact, Jinhua Temple wouldn’t be so vain, and even if it’s damaged, our Master can refine and nurture another one. Please, Junior Temple Master, let bygones be bygones, and if there’s any way, help us find this Evil Ghost as soon as possible."
"Brother, you can’t even use this Soul Chasing Bell now..." Yao Feifei couldn’t help but speak out, then shut up at his warning glance.
Qin Liuxi didn’t accept it; she had no interest in this matter to begin with. If she happened to encounter it, she would capture it, but she certainly wouldn’t actively seek it out, especially when the other party didn’t even have the attitude of asking for help. She wouldn’t indulge them.
Master Chi Yuan, on the other hand, accepted it and examined the Magic Artifact, noticing the intricate rune engravings and the layers of Array patterns with occasional flashes of spirit light. It was indeed a rare Magic Artifact.
"Take a look." Master Chi Yuan pushed the Soul Chasing Bell into Qin Liuxi’s hands, conveying with his eyes: stop being capricious, show your strength, and deliver a powerful counterstrike!
Qin Liuxi glared at him irritably, picked up the Soul Chasing Bell, and looked at the runes and hidden Array patterns, her gaze unchanged.
Xuan Qingzi had been watching her, and seeing that she had no reaction, he said, "This Soul Chasing Bell was refined by my Master. When it strikes a soul, the talisman will imprint on the soul body, and by activating the spell, no matter where that soul goes, it can be tracked."
"The premise is that the ghost’s ghost power is relatively weak, right? Facing a Big Ghost, once the ghost power overshadows it, it becomes ineffective. Therefore, this Magic Artifact still needs to be further empowered with Mana," Qin Liuxi said.
Xuan Qingzi was somewhat embarrassed, but had to admit, saying: "Yes. Therefore, I believe that the Evil Ghost has devoured other Wandering Ghosts or has harmed people to enhance its ghost power. If it is allowed to drift around, I fear more people will suffer."
Qin Liuxi caught a piece of information from that, looking up at him: "From what you are saying, this so-called Evil Ghost wasn’t that difficult to deal with at the beginning, right? You were able to mark it with the Soul Chasing Bell and track it."
Xuan Qingzi stiffened.
Yao Feifei also had a flicker in her eyes.
Seeing this expression, Qin Liuxi’s clear eyes narrowed slightly—there seemed to be more to the story.
"What’s the matter, could there be some other story here? Could it be that the Evil Ghost became ferocious because of your provocation?" Qin Liuxi looked at Yao Feifei, guessing that her temperament was in all likelihood the cause of troubles.
Yao Feifei was greatly annoyed: "What do you mean by that? Would we refine ghosts? That ghost was able to kill a family of five; how could it be a good ghost? Our intention was to subdue it and slay evil for the Righteous Path."
Qin Liuxi sneered, looking at Xuan Qingzi: "Daoist Xuanqing, do you have nothing to say? If there is something hidden, forgive me for being unable to assist you."
Xuan Qingzi was silent for a moment, then said: "We passed by the Liu Mansion and saw the ghost energy reaching the sky. It was only after we entered that we discovered that male ghost harming people. The ghost claimed that the Liu Family destroyed his home and killed his family first, and he was merely seeking revenge, not willing to harm the innocent."
"Senior brother, this is but one side of the Evil Ghost’s story, making excuses for its own killing spree. They are the best at bewitching people. Killing is killing; such a ferocious ghost should be exterminated by our kind." Yao Feifei did not think that they were in the wrong.
Qin Liuxi understood and said: "So you didn’t believe the ghost, sought to kill it instead, which only deepened its resentful energy, turning it into an Evil Ghost."
Xuan Qingzi remained silent. Naturally, they didn’t believe the ghost. When they tried to eliminate the male ghost, it was filled with massive resentful energy, taking advantage of the situation, devouring the confused souls of the recently deceased Liu Family members within the mansion to strengthen its ghost power and escaping.
"He killed a family of five before our eyes, there is no misunderstanding." said Xuan Qingzi.
Qin Liuxi lowered his eyes and said: "If it was as you said, and he was only seeking revenge, perhaps he would have left after accomplishing his goal, likely not devouring those souls or even escaping, and certainly not devouring more souls or harming living beings. If he was forced onto the path of an Evil Ghost, then this karma..."
Xuan Qingzi’s face changed several times.
If so, they were more or less tied to the karma of the consumed souls or the deaths that followed.
Yao Feifei was very indignant: "Are you saying that we were wrong in trying to carry out our duty and slay evil for the Righteous Path?"
"The guilty has a debt and the debtor has a head." Qin Liuxi said cooly.
Both Xuan Qingzi and Yao Feifei felt a chill in their hearts. This person was too cold and too cruel.
Qin Liuxi looked at the Soul Chasing Bell and asked: "How is this Magic Artifact used? What about the spell?"
Xuan Qingzi came back to his senses, shaking his head: "It’s useless. I can no longer track its location."
"Just tell me how it is done."
Yao Feifei showed skepticism, cautiously saying: "You wouldn’t be planning to take the opportunity to learn the Soul Chasing Mantra, would you?"
"What, afraid that I’ll learn it and then backstab you to steal this treasure?" Qin Liuxi glanced at her with a smirk that was not quite a smile.
Yao Feifei, having her thoughts exposed, retorted: "You’re talking nonsense."
"Junior sister!" Xuan Qingzi scolded lightly with discontent, wondering how she had lost her composure today, repeatedly provoked into speaking out of turn, truly losing face.