Start practicing from Mr. Fox

Chapter 178 Little Underworld

The interrogation did not take long.

They were just some low-level henchmen who didn't know the final plan and were just following orders. It didn't take long for them to find out everything.

But after the questioning was finished, Chen Ji was in trouble again.

These blood demons are indeed guilty, but their crimes do not warrant death.

Killing him would be too hasty and would bring karmic consequences and infamy, so it's unnecessary.

But what if you're too reserved?
There was no place to imprison them inside the City God Temple.

While he was worrying, Miss Bai whispered a few words to him.

"Does it really work?"

"Naturally, this is a method used in fox studies to punish sinful foxes. It only restricts their movement. It can be lifted when the punishment period is over or when they repent."

"That's excellent, but I'm not a disciple of the Fox School. Will there be any problems if I start learning here rashly?"

"It's alright. This technique is also practiced in the human world, and many temples and monasteries use this technique to make their identity tokens."

"Then I'll take a look first."

Knowing that this technique was not taboo, Chen Ji became more interested.

"Sir please."

Miss Bai took out a jade slip and handed it over.

Chen Ji took the spell, sensed it briefly, and then imprinted a spell in his mind.

After careful consideration, I realized that it was indeed not difficult, and quite ingenious.

This technique is derived from the Taoist Qingfu technique. The practitioner leaves a mark on the target to be punished and then places corresponding marks in key locations. If the marks cannot be sensed, the punishment will be carried out.

The technique that Miss Bai gave was not simply a way to cast the spell, but a comprehensive explanation of its uses, including some important notes.

Chen Ji's mind raced, and he had already figured out how to leave these blood demons with punitive measures.

Of his current magical abilities, the number that can be left on talismans can be counted on one hand.

The Wall-Opening Technique was too abrupt, and the Fire Control Technique wasn't very powerful without its own guidance; besides, these demons and ghosts had ways to resist it.

After much thought, only the Netherfire spell seemed the most suitable.

Fortunately, Chen Ji had previously obtained a method to relieve misfortune from Yan Chixia and also knew how to draw talismans. Now, recalling the methods of casting the Netherfire Technique, he was able to achieve it using talismans.

So he carefully drew the talismans, and after about three incense sticks' worth of time, he had drawn several talismans.

It's a pity I don't have any Qingfu blood on hand, otherwise the talisman's effect would be much better.

Miss Bai looked at the talisman Chen Ji had drawn and shook her head with a smile.

"The Qingfu Blood Talisman is used to recall juniors who have strayed into the wrong place. It would be a waste to use it on them."

"Too."

Chen Ji nodded, deciding that he might give it a try if he could find Qingfu blood in the future.

At that moment, he summoned several blood demons by holding a talisman.

"Sir, spare your life!"

The blood demons weren't here earlier and didn't know what decision Chen Ji had made. Now that Chen Ji had summoned them, they immediately kowtowed and begged for mercy.

Chen Ji glanced at them and summoned flames to burn the talisman.

A beam of light shot out and landed inside the bodies of several demons.

The blood demons, who had initially believed it to be a talisman used by a Taoist priest to kill demons and exorcise evil spirits, had already dimmed their eyes and were preparing to die.

They found that there was no change after the talisman entered their bodies, and they all looked up at Chen Ji.

"Lord City God, is this talisman meant to kill us?"

Why would I kill you?

Chen Ji waved his hand.

"If the crime does not warrant death, then let him live to atone for his sins. If he dares to commit another crime during this period, then we will talk about death."

"Then this talisman?"

“It’s just a regular location marker. If you don’t escape from Fenshan Town, nothing will happen to you. But if you do escape… I won’t let you off the hook.”

Chen Ji said calmly.

"We dare not. Thank you for your mercy, Lord City God, for sparing our lives. We will certainly not let you down."

The blood demons hurriedly nodded and confessed their sins.

Chen Ji waved his hand, letting them leave on their own.

"Fellow Daoist, would you like to place a perception talisman?"

After the blood demons had all left, Bai asked Chen Ji a question.

“As the acting City God, I can sense their movements here, and this talisman…”

Chen Ji was halfway through his sentence when he looked into the distance with a sigh.

It must be said that the incense and deities are indeed quite powerful; the authority of this generation's City God has truly made him somewhat obsessed.

After a long pause, as if making a decision, he withdrew his gaze and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. "Let's go release it."

Power may be desirable, but once one becomes addicted, it becomes detrimental to spiritual practice. He has the Record of Strange Tales, so there is no need for him to be so greedy for the power of the City God.

It should be understood that the duties of offering incense and worship are easily gained and easily lost.

Just like the former City God of the cemetery, although he had boundless magical power to deal with demons and ghosts in the town, he was powerless to resist the villagers who came to smash his statue because of their wickedness.

Chen Ji felt that since he was still alive, there was no need to think about such things too early.

"Then who should we look for..."

"No need to look for anyone, it's a small matter, I can handle it myself."

Chen Ji said slowly.

Anyway, since they can travel by wind, leaving talismans all over the town won't take much effort.

Other cultivators, out of respect, were not allowed to fly in the town, but since he was now the City God, he didn't need to worry about them.

So he bid farewell to everyone and went to set up the talismans.

To make it more concealed, they even used a wall-opening technique to hide it about ten feet underground, and left it with the authority of the City God to protect it, so as to prevent it from being destroyed by snakes, insects, rats and ants.

They quickly set up the talismans and returned to the City God Temple.

The little fox and the monks and Taoists had already dispersed, leaving only Miss Bai and Taoist Master Xiyun and a few others.

Master Xiyun cupped his hands in greeting.

"Fellow Daoist's move is brilliant. Anyway, keeping them around won't uncover anything, so it's better to send them back. We might be able to lure out the mastermind behind it all."

Chen Ji was about to reply when he suddenly stopped, and after a long while, he sighed.

"I'm afraid your idea will be in vain, fellow Daoist."

"Why?"

Chen Ji led them outside to look into the distance.

"You will know in a moment."

As soon as he finished speaking, a cluster of eerie green flames appeared in a spot almost at the edge of the town.

Almost simultaneously, similar flames lit up in several other locations as well.

The next moment, screams echoed through the night sky.

However, not a single new light was lit in the town; instead, most of the lights that were on just moments before had gone out.

If you want to survive here, you have to learn to mind your own business.

Netherfire?

The people around Chen Ji were all familiar with this, but how could there be Netherfire over there...? I understand.

It must have been those blood demons that triggered the talisman as they fled.

only……

"Didn't you promise them they would live? Why did they still run away?"

"I'm afraid the person behind it all doesn't want them to live."

Chen Ji spoke slowly, his thoughts gradually sinking down.

Judge Lu had warned earlier that many ghosts were eyeing the location of the City God.

When those demons and ghosts were giving their confessions, he guessed that there must be a hidden force behind it all.

Moreover, their methods are truly ruthless.

First, they defiled their own incense with incense imbued with evil power, then they instigated a conflict between the townspeople and demons, and finally they sought out the river god of Xidu to cause trouble...

Chaos broke out among humans and in the land of ghosts, with demons and ghosts even fighting and killing each other in the areas under their jurisdiction.

This matter will surely reach the underworld, and then Judge Lu will not be able to keep his position as City God.

Not discussing the consequences of this matter is indeed a good strategy.

Unfortunately, they didn't expect that Chen Ji didn't care about the position of City God.

I'm still here, entirely for that Ghost King.

The direction in which these blood demons fled at that moment pointed him right to the identity of the mastermind behind it all.

As expected, it's still the Ghost King!

Chen Ji shook his head, then paused, and opened his eyes wide to look again.

Two figures sped over in the night; they were none other than the Stone Mill Demon and Lady Hongci.

The two looked somewhat disheveled and hurried, their breathing even a little uneven, and they couldn't even steady themselves when they stopped next to Chen Ji.

"Why did you return in such a hurry after gathering information? And... why didn't you come from Haoli? Wouldn't it have been even slower to come here by rushing?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the stone mill demon spoke up urgently.

"Fellow Daoist, disaster is upon us! That Ghost King has established his own underworld in the mountains! He says the underworld is wicked, so why not build a small underworld in the human world? In the future, they won't need to be subservient to the underworld; they'll all be underworld officials themselves!"

(End of this chapter)