Transcendent Dawn

Chapter 719: Chapter 0719: Cattle and Sheep (Please Subscribe)

“You… have changed a lot.”

Li Shitou remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

From Xu Changqing, he felt a terrifying threat, which could not help reminding him of his encounter with the Corpse Dissecting Fairy back in the day.

Even though he is now at the fourth level —— [Luofeng] on the path to divinity, he is still far from the fifth level, [Yanluo Taizi].

For many common people, ascending to godhood is beyond their reach. Even the leap from the fourth to the fifth level is extremely difficult.

‘Sure enough…. In that moment of thought back then, I lost my grandfather… and I lost a lot…’

...

Li Shitou felt some regret in his heart, as well as a touch of envy.

It’s impossible not to feel a sense of jealousy, watching a childhood friend, who once was too weak to stand up to him, now surpassing him by leaps and bounds.

However, he has now become a Yin God, growing a lot and capable of controlling his emotions quite well.

“How is the…. village?”

Xu Changqing looked at his childhood friend. For a moment, he did not know what to say and asked casually.

“Everyone is doing well… and so am I.”

Li Shitou thought for a moment, candidly saying, “I’ve discovered the remains of the former [Luofeng] in the underworld, and now I have reached the fourth level…”

“That’s good…”

Xu Changqing knew well, for ordinary cultivators, as long as they have the Dao method and strive hard, ascending to the fourth level is somewhat possible.

But the leap from the fourth to the fifth level is like crossing the gate of hell, confusing countless cultivators,

Even with the Dao method, the success rate is pitifully low.

For instance, the former owner of the remains where Li Shitou found benefits was also a [Luofeng]. Yet he failed in his attempt to ascend to [Yanluo Taizi], failing till death.

“I have here… a method for ascending to the fifth level [Yanluo Taizi]…”

Xu Changqing fell silent again, and finally opened his mouth.

“[Yanluo Taizi]?”

Li Shitou’s eyes lit up.

If you consider [Luofeng] as just a bigger fish in a small pond, then [Yanluo Taizi] is a literal giant among lords!

Moreover, there lies a possibility of becoming a [Yin Emperor], presiding over the underworld of this world. This can be inferred just from the title itself.

The so-called ‘crown prince’, is the heir apparent to the ’emperor’, possessing the legal lineage to inherit!

“What do you want in return? Some weird creatures? I have accumulated a lot…”

Li Shitou asked.

“No…” Xu Changqing shook his head: “I just need you to swear an oath, with the underworld as witness.”

For a Yin God like him, such an oath would have a strong binding effect.

“What kind of oath, to acknowledge you as my master?” Li Shitou’s voice was somewhat stiff.

“No! I want you to protect the village in this life and in every life hereafter!” @@novelbin@@

Xu Changqing said coldly: “This request… is not too much, is it?”

“Indeed, it’s not too much, but even without an oath, I would still… never mind!” Li Shitou hesitated, then raised his right hand, holding up three fingers: “I, Li Shitou, invoke the underworld as witness…”

‘People… certainly do change, especially for a Yin God without a flesh body…’

Xu Changqing watched the scene unfold, silently musing in his heart.

He sensed a change in Li Shitou’s character, although not changing would be the real anomaly.

After Li Shitou finished his oath, he handed over all the information about [Yanluo Taizi] he had received from his grandfather.

Watching Li Shitou disappear beneath the ground, he sighed to himself: “Things remain the same, but people don’t…”

“Hehe….”

Su Lu laughed without saying a word.

“Indeed… I was being overly sentimental.” Xu Changqing laughed wryly: “Even I have changed, who am I to talk about others? It’s no use staying here any longer, let’s go…”

…

Outside the city of the State of Ling.

The rain had ceased and the air was clear.

Between the State of Ling and other major cities, official roads were established with regular patrol by the Demon Bureau.

Although still plagued by demons and goblins, it’s safer than the countryside trails.

Around the official road, there was a tea stall.

The proprietor here was from the city. Every day at dawn, he’d drive the oxcart to open the stall, providing tea, snacks, even wine, and meat for the passing guests. Before nightfall, he’d load all his belongings onto the oxcart and return to the city to live.

The teahouse owner was surnamed Wang, known as old man Wang. Relying on his son and entertaining guests from all walks of life helped them make ends meet.

At this moment, a young scholar carrying a bamboo basket and an oiled paper umbrella arrived outside the shop.

“Sir.”

Old man Wang’s son, Little Wang, promptly greeted him with a smile on his face: “Would you like to rest for a while? Our rehydrating tea is well-known…”

He stopped halfway through, looking puzzled.

This young scholar had a plain face, his blue shirt had been washed so many times it was turning white, but his temperament was extraordinary. His eyes couldn’t quite read him.

“Just a bowl of tea and some snacks, please.”

The scholar gave a smile, set down his basket, and took a seat in a corner.

Old man Wang, a clever businessman, offered a free bowl of brown sugar and ginger tea: “The weather is cold after the rain; have a bowl to warm up… Are you here for the examination?”

“Indeed…”

The scholar nodded, but didn’t say much.

Wang knew instinctively that he must have come from a small house, otherwise there wouldn’t be a single guard accompanying him on his travels.

Being able to travel alone to the outskirts of the city safely meant he was either lucky or possessed some sort of technique. Either way, Wang didn’t dare to underestimate him.

“Selling cattle and sheep here!”

A moment later, a shout rang out.

A middle-aged shepherdess appeared, herding a cow and three sheep near the tea stall, loudly promoting her merchandise.

“These sheep look nice… how much are they?”

Little Wang asked, the words still lingering in his mouth.

They also served meat at the tea stall, and needed sheep meat.

“Not expensive at all…” The woman giggled and quoted a ridiculously low price that immediately tempted Little Wang, his eyes darting to his father for approval.

Old man Wang, however, hesitated.

Although the price was very low, he wondered if it might be stolen or sickly livestock?

After a careful look, he didn’t think they were sick, and started to consider the idea.

Just then, the scholar finished his tea, looked at the middle-aged woman, sneered, turned to Little Wang and said, “I have nothing valuable with me, so I’ll give you a charm for safety.”

Without waiting for Little Wang’s surprise reaction, the scholar took out a yellow paper, picked up a brush, and started to draw a talisman.

His brush flickered as if it were a snake; an odd symbol quickly appeared.

It looked somewhat like the character ‘cower’, but the strokes above it seemed to be constantly twisting and changing.

As soon as the spell was finished, the shepherdess screamed, and curling black smoke began to emerge from her body.

The cattle and sheep started to panic; the sounds from their mouths resembling a plea for help!

“What kind of… demon is this?”

Old man Wang asked in a trembling voice.

“It’s not a demon…”

The young scholar shook his head, retrieved a small black knife from the spot where the shepherdess had melted into a pool of pus and sliced a few times on the bodies of cattle and sheep, peeling off the cow and sheep skins.

Soon, there were a few people from inside the bodies of the animals, living people!

On seeing this, old man Wang and his son were chilled to their bones, unable to utter a word.