From the Carp that Brings Children to the Celestial Officials

Chapter 177 A small punishment but a big warning
After a short stay in Changning County to rest, the group of scholars either rented vehicles or took passenger boats, sailing down the Feng River straight to Yuanling Mountain.

These days, they hear this name all the time.

Legend has it that not long ago, Yuanling Mountain was just an ordinary small mountain, but because it enshrined Bixia Yuanjun, and its incense was so abundant, the goddess specially ordered the gods to raise the mountain several times higher, transforming it into a sacred mountain.

Although the incident was bizarre and most outsiders didn't believe it, for the people of Changning County, it was a genuine miracle.

After all, they had witnessed the mountain rise higher and higher with their own eyes.

Some local scholars also spoke with great conviction, almost to the point of swearing oaths.

Many students from other places didn't believe it at first, but when they saw Yuanling Mountain, they began to believe it to some extent.

At this very moment, it is midday, and whether one is traveling by boat or carriage, one can clearly see Yuanling Mountain in the distance.

The mountain appeared between the mist and the sunlight.

Although not as majestic as the peaks of the southwest, nor as dangerous as sheer cliffs, its gentle shape resembles a reclining dragon just awakening, meandering softly across the horizon.

Standing between heaven and earth, it possesses a gentle, radiant, and ethereal beauty. The entire mountain appears and disappears in the mist and water vapor, the trees tinged with a jade-green hue, and in the hazy distance, one can vaguely see the shadowy silhouettes of palaces and pavilions, as if it truly were the abode of immortals.

One glance is enough to immerse you in its beauty.

Logically speaking, how could such a sacred mountain be unknown and obscure? Could it really have only recently risen to prominence?

"What a beautiful and blessed place!"

Yan Yuanbai stood on the passenger ship, its hull cutting through the waves. He looked up at the distant, pristine Yuanling Mountain and was mesmerized.

After all, this mountain is not only magnificent in itself, but its spirit also has a beauty score of 8. What does that mean?
If 5 points is considered stunningly beautiful, then 8 points can only be described as succubus-like.

If a human possessed such beauty, they would be universally appealing to men, women, young and old. But if a mountain possessed such beauty, every conscious being would instinctively love it.

If one day its appearance score exceeds 10, it will probably attract even some unconscious spiritual energy, immortal energy, and other substances.

Looking at the distant mountains, Yan Yuanbai felt a surge of poetic inspiration and wanted to recite a poem.

What he didn't notice was that in the void he couldn't see, there floated an old woman. Her hair was like withered vines, and she was draped in a long green velvet cloak. Although she possessed a divine status, she looked sinister and ghostly.

And in the sky, a white egret with a long neck was flying.

"You mere mortal, daring to speak ill of the gods, though I won't kill you, I'll still give you a small punishment as a warning!"

A cold smile flashed across Granny Green Bell's face. Then, she muttered incantations, and in an instant, an invisible wisp of smoke enveloped Yan Yuanbai.

He possessed an air of refinement, but lacked the protection of officialdom; his refinement was dimmed by the erosion of the smoke.

In fact, it is very difficult for ordinary ghosts and evil spirits to successfully cast spells on scholars who have passed the imperial examinations, since they are learned, have academic titles, and are considered important figures.

However, Granny Green Bell is a deity with pure power and will not trigger the defense of Wen Hua Qi.

Just as Yan Yuanbai was about to speak, he suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded, and was about to fall into the water.

Suddenly, a jade pendant at his waist shattered, transforming into a cool aura that directly dispelled the dizziness in his head. He instinctively grabbed the side of the boat, thus preventing himself from falling.

"Mr. Yan!"

Those around him then realized what was happening and helped him up.

"It's alright, I haven't been on a boat in a long time, I'm a little out of practice."

Yan Yuanbai shook his hand, but there was a hint of horror in his eyes. He lowered his head and picked up the jade pendant fragment.

This jade pendant was a gift from his former classmate Wu Mo. Wu Mo died in a fire ten years ago, but by chance, he was deified and appeared to him in a dream a few days ago.

He initially found the whole thing rather absurd, but the jade pendant the other person had given him in his dream appeared in his hand upon waking. He had no choice but to believe it.

His trip to Yuanling Mountain to hold the literary gathering was also to confirm whether this matter was true or false.

"Hmm? You actually have a protective treasure? Let's see if you can withstand a second blow!"

Granny Green Bell also noticed the jade pendant fragment of Yan Yuanbai. It had a faint divine aura on it, but it was only at the ninth rank, slightly lower than her own, so it was nothing to worry about.

She immediately continued chanting the incantation, determined to teach this arrogant scholar a lesson.

But the next moment, a dazzling water blade appeared out of nowhere and instantly swept past the old woman's body.

The water blade was sharp, and contained an indomitable will. In an instant, the old woman's countless thoughts shattered, and her figure disappeared from the void.

The next moment, her figure appeared in the [Zhaoyun Siyuan Lady Temple].

However, her reappearing figure was incredibly ethereal, appearing as if a gust of wind could blow it away.

At this moment, the old woman's eyes were glazed over, and her mouth was slightly open, clearly still unable to recover from the nightmare of being killed with a single blow.

"Pong."

But the woman in the temple slammed her hand on the table, suddenly stood up, and had a fierce look on her face.

"How dare he... how dare he! This is slaying a god!"

Lady Zhaoyun naturally knew what had happened. Granny Green Bell had been killed by You Ming. However, as long as a deity's divine position was not broken, a trace of true spirit would remain, so it would not necessarily die.

However, when You Ming made his move, he not only shattered Granny Green Bell's divine body, but also instantly destroyed countless of her thoughts. Even if she could recover, it would take a very long time.

"what……"

The next moment, the body of the Cloud-Necked Immortal Child also appeared in disarray, clearly indicating that he too had been killed.

"He's gone mad...he's really gone mad."

The woman clenched her fists. This was harming a colleague. Did You Ming want to die?
"Qiang."

But the next moment, she seemed to feel an incredibly cold force locking onto her across the endless void. She didn't dare to move, fearing that the force would strike like lightning.

"Yan Yuanbai is my guest whom I invited. You have a lot of nerve."

"Want to die?"

You Ming was still sitting cross-legged on Yuanling Mountain, but his voice had already reached Changning County.

Above Changning County, in a place unseen by ordinary people, a water blade that reaches the heavens and the earth appears, ready to cleave down at any moment.

Nearby cultivators stared in shock at that strike, judging by its sheer power, it was probably already at the Dharma Aspect level.

Has this carp god truly ascended to the Dharma form?
"You Ming, don't be impulsive."

The commotion naturally alerted the City God, who manifested his four-faced divine form and looked up at You Ming.

"Give the City God some face and punish him lightly as a warning."

The sound of the water murmur faded away, but the condensed water blade suddenly fell.

The City God tried to activate the Dharma Realm to resist, but the sword suddenly vanished and appeared in the Yin World Temple of Lady Zhaoyun Siyuan in the next moment.

The woman felt a cold, sharp blade sweep across her head, and her hair was shaved off close to her scalp.

(End of this chapter)