The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 590 War Breaks Out, One Side Gains and Another Loses

Rumors detrimental to the Imperial Preceptor spread like a deadly poison. Although they did not cause great panic, they still had a certain impact on the Imperial Preceptor's reputation. The Taoist priests of Canglan Temple had clearly noticed that the temple where the Imperial Preceptor's life-size statue was enshrined had seen a significant decrease in incense offerings recently.

When did it begin? Was it when this body movement looked like it had been splashed with excrement, or when the corpse plague broke out? In any case, the temple, which used to be bustling with believers, is now much quieter, and the incense is often kept burning by the young Taoist priests in the temple.

Some Taoist priests believe that the temple was defiled and the lingering filth caused the incense offerings to be weak, and that a ritual should be performed to cleanse it.

When the abbot ascended to heaven, his eldest disciple, Daoist Shancun, took over as the new abbot. Since the Holy Maiden did not advocate performing any rituals, the temple was simply cleaned, a new life-size statue was erected, and a few purification incantations were performed before the matter was closed.

After that incident, the Taoist priests guarding the Canglan Palace stayed by her side day and night, and even added more people, just in case such disgusting things as being splashed with excrement happened again. It was too outrageous.

As night fell, the two Taoist priests, both in their early twenties, thoroughly checked the doors, windows, lamps, and candles inside and out to prevent the wind from blowing away the flames and causing a fire. Only then did they sit cross-legged in a corner of the hall, meditating and contemplating the Tao.

However, both of them were somewhat uneasy and couldn't help but glance at the life-size statue of the Imperial Preceptor. One of the round-faced Taoist priests sighed, "Since the abbot passed away, the incense offerings at Canglan Palace have been decreasing day by day."

The abbot's passing and the incident of being splashed with excrement occurred on the same day, so they dared not mention such an unlucky event and could only bring up the abbot's passing.

Another Taoist priest with a long face said, "Not to mention Canglan Temple, the entire Taoist temple has lost much of its popularity and incense offerings. In the past, at this time, countless baskets of incense ash would have been dumped. This year, the matter of the corpse poison plague has caused quite a stir, and people dare not wander around, so naturally fewer people come to temples and Taoist temples."

Some people seek divine protection in desperate situations, hoping for peace of mind. But others think, "People are about to die, and there are natural disasters and man-made calamities. Even God doesn't care. So why bother coming here?"
Or perhaps they simply didn't have the energy to come.

The round-faced Taoist priest whispered, "The people are somewhat resentful that the Imperial Preceptor didn't come forward to treat the plague this time."

"Shut up!" The long-faced Taoist priest glared at him and scolded, "Don't you know where you are? What nonsense are you spouting?"

The round-faced Taoist priest, feeling resentful, could only bow in the direction of the life-size statue, utter a Taoist salute, and say "Amitabha Buddha" before falling silent. However, he was unconvinced, as the statue had not been wrong.

The Grand Preceptor was not in charge of the situation at Canglan Temple during such a major disaster as the Corpse Plague. This was highly unusual.

Admittedly, their Canglan Temple also brews medicine to treat the plague, but if the National Protector were present, it would be a powerful reassurance, and the people would be grateful. Unfortunately, he was not there for the most serious and terrifying disaster since the founding of Da Dan.

Is it really as rumored, that these natural and man-made disasters were caused by the Imperial Advisor and the royal family angering Heaven, or that the Imperial Advisor created the national calamity by practicing evil arts?

As soon as this thought arose, the round-faced Taoist priest felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, as if his soul had been struck by something, and he collapsed to the ground.

Oh no, I've offended the Imperial Advisor and I'm going to get struck by lightning!

Unbeknownst to him, his senior brother beside him was also lying unconscious on the ground, just like him.

Lang Jiuchuan threw down a few small paper figures and watched them huff and puff as they dragged the person out before she walked up to the life-size statue of the Imperial Preceptor.

The corpse poison plague started appearing before the new year, but Canglan Temple was focused on giving the Grand Preceptor a brand new golden statue so that he could be worshipped by the world. Little did they know that this corpse poison was caused by this very person.

He wasn't afraid of being killed by the backlash of this vow!

"Since your disciple is filial, I will spare you the pain of the backlash from your vow." Lang Jiuchuan sneered. She produced a fire talisman in her hand, leaped onto the roof, and simultaneously unleashed the talisman at the life-size statue. A loud bang echoed in the silent night, startling many who were fast asleep. They lit lamps, put on their clothes, and went outside to investigate.

Lang Jiuchuan was already casting spells, muttering a thunder incantation: "Three days nurture the primordial energy, Jingxiao punishes the righteous punishment, issuing commands, responding to the stars above... Taiyi Emperor, I summon your true spirit, command the thunder soldiers, and issue this decree!"

She offered the talisman pen in her hand to the roof.

Pi La.

A beam of blazing white lightning struck down from the sky, hitting the talisman brush. The brush was thrown onto the roof with a deafening roar. The fire talisman, which was already on fire on the altar inside the hall, was instantly blasted into a huge fireball by the lightning. A large hole was blasted in the entire Canglan Hall, and flames shot into the sky.

Lang Jiuchuan recalled the talisman brush, hid in the shadows, and watched the flames engulf the image of that figure with a cold expression.

"Heavens! A thunderbolt has struck! The Canglan Palace is on fire!" A Taoist priest saw the flames and cried out, "Help! Put out the fire!"

The place was bustling with noise, and the entire Taoist temple became noisy.

Many people grabbed buckets and began to fight the fire. Some with higher cultivation levels used the Rain Transformation Technique, but the drizzling rain could not escape the raging power of the heavenly fire.

The fire was fierce.

Lang Jiuchuan looked at the life-size statue still standing firm in the firelight, his eyes turned cold, and he made a hand seal, which resulted in a loud bang.

The statue, made of copper and gilded metal, immediately exploded and collapsed to the ground.

As the statue collapsed, she clearly saw a wisp of the power of vows break off and be swallowed by the heavenly fire, and she curled her lips into a wicked smile.

At that moment, the Imperial Preceptor, who was meditating in the Cangshan Cave, felt a surge in his chest, coughed, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them, and began to rapidly calculate with his two fingers.

Another surge of his faith and willpower was interrupted, and it was the most important one.

After some calculation, he realized with a start what had happened.

Something has happened at Canglan Palace again.

A hint of annoyance rose between the brows of the Imperial Preceptor. The Corpse Demon had been killed by that little wolf cub Lang Jiuchuan, who had even injured him from a distance using his own power. He should have been quietly cultivating in seclusion.

However, lately, he has encountered more and more obstacles, which has caused his cultivation to be interrupted. He is unable to better repair the damage to his vital energy caused by the backlash. In particular, his body is becoming increasingly ill and is getting closer and closer to the day of death. In particular, with the interruption of his faith and willpower, it is difficult to repair his soul, so he is aging faster.

If this ebb and flow continues, it will not only be detrimental to his power but will also deviate from his plans.

The Imperial Advisor glanced up casually, and the old man's face appeared in the Bagua mirror not far away. He was so thin that he was just skin and bones. A hint of irritation flashed in his eyes, and he was filled with disgust. He muttered coldly, "This little wolf cub is quite good at causing me trouble!"

(End of this chapter)