The divine manifestations began at the Gongwei Division.

"By the way, you've mastered the Immortal Technique Water Binding?"

Zhou Heng had already stepped into the room when Xue Zhiwei's voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Um."

Zhou Heng hummed in agreement, went inside and closed the door, leaving Xue Zhiwei standing alone in the moonlight in the courtyard, her little face full of shock.

Although immortal techniques are different from immortal methods, immortal methods are the cultivation of immortal power, while immortal techniques are merely the skills to utilize immortal power.

Theoretically speaking, cultivating immortal techniques is simpler than cultivating immortal magic.

But it can't be that simple, can it?

Although Xue Zhiwei had never practiced the immortal technique Water Binding, she had practiced a similar immortal technique called Wind Binding.

It took her a full six months to master the immortal technique Wind Binding.

This also broke the record for the fastest mastery of the immortal technique Wind Binding in the Arch Guard Division.

It took her half a year, but Zhou Heng only took a few days.

The Water Binding Technique was written by her own hand to Zhou Heng; this happened yesterday…

He mastered the immortal technique Water Binding in just one day. Is this the source of Zhou Heng's confidence in pursuing two paths simultaneously?

Recalling the scene of Zhou Heng using the Immortal Water Binding Technique to subdue Huang Tunan, Xue Zhiwei knew that Zhou Heng had not only barely mastered the Immortal Water Binding Technique, but had cultivated it to an extremely high level.

Huang Tunan is a seventh-rank martial artist. Even if she launches a sneak attack, she is not 100% confident that she can bind her opponent.

Zhou Heng, however, did it with ease.

To use the power of an eighth-rank celestial official to restrain a seventh-rank martial artist is something only legendary geniuses could accomplish.

"Xue Zhiwei, you can't keep slacking off."

Xue Zhiwei slapped her cheeks with both hands, "Get up!"

Seeing Zhou Heng's silhouette practicing his sword reflected in the window, she forcefully swung her fist.

…………

Lingyan Temple is only 30 li away from Wofo Temple as the crow flies.

But as the saying goes, "Looking at a mountain makes you want to run a horse to death."

It takes a whole day longer to get to Lingyan Temple from Dajin County than to Wofo Temple.

After dismounting outside Lingyan Temple, Zhou Heng stretched his stiff body.

Another day of envying those who can fly.

Unfortunately, martial artists only gain the ability to fly and escape when they reach the third-grade Grandmaster level, and he is still far from that level.

Looking at the crowd thronging the mountain path steps, Zhou Heng glanced at the danger countdown out of the corner of his eye.

The tiny, emerald-green characters floated silently, posing no danger.

A hint of regret flashed in his eyes.

For several days in a row, they checked several temples that received incense offerings from the Dajiang Gang, following the list provided by Gao Mengwei.

As a result, no monsters were found in those temples.

They even explained the purpose of the incense money clearly and explicitly, cooperating fully and appearing to have no connection with the demons.

There was no danger, so Zhou Heng naturally gained nothing.

He diligently practiced his cultivation every day, but the results were minimal.

This made him quite unhappy, as he was used to rapid advancements in his cultivation.

Especially after seeing that Chen Zhaowu had also broken through to the seventh-grade martial arts master realm, he felt even more that his cultivation was too slow.

"Those bastards are following us again."

As if on cue, Chen Zhaowu moved closer to him, bumped his shoulder, and gestured with his chin.

Zhou Heng looked in the direction he pointed and saw Huang Tunan and the others jumping off their horses.

Since the day Chen Yongcheng had his hair shaved off, Chen Yongcheng has never shown his face again.

On the contrary, Huang Tunan and his group followed them the whole time.

They would appear at any temple they went to.

Chen Zhaowu rushed up to question them, but their reasons were high-sounding: they were ordered by the Taishan Supervisor to inspect the temples and palaces on Mount Tai.

Meeting them was just a coincidence!

While it may seem like a coincidence, everyone knows they were monitoring Zhou Heng and his group of four.

"Should I go and teach them a lesson?"

Chen Zhaowu rubbed his hands together eagerly. He had lost to Huang Tunan by half a move last time, but he was spurred on by his defeat and has now broken through to the seventh rank.

There will be an opportunity.

Zhou Heng said calmly, then took a step and walked towards Lingyan Temple.

Huang Tunan and the others stood a few feet away, arms crossed, watching the four with cold smiles.

The four men, dressed in casual clothes, mingled with the worshippers and entered Lingyan Temple.

Inside Lingyan Temple, incense smoke curled gently as worshippers burned incense and prayed to Buddha, while others toured the scenic spots, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

"I'm afraid we won't find anything here."

Xue Zhiwei looked around, a faint glint of purity flashing in her bright eyes.

She subtly used her aura-gazing technique, but in a fleeting glance, she detected no demonic aura.

This was actually expected.

The other party reacted much faster than they had expected.

After the incident at the Reclining Buddha Temple, they cleaned up all the clues in other temples in just a few days.

Without even needing to investigate further, Xue Zhiwei was certain that Lingyan Temple, like the other temples they had investigated before, was absolutely free of any demons lurking there.

Moreover, because Huang Tunan was always with them, they couldn't use any forceful methods to question the monks.

Once Huang Tunan has a handle on them, it is conceivable that these people will attack the Imperial Guard in the court.

Even the most meticulous plans can have flaws. Let's all look around; perhaps they've overlooked something.

Zhou Heng said.

The three nodded and went their separate ways in different directions within the temple.

Huang Tunan gave a wink to the people around him, and they split into four groups, each following Zhou Heng and the others.

Huang Tunan followed closely behind Zhou Heng, always keeping a distance of about ten feet, his face full of vigilance.

Zhou Heng didn't bother with this guy who posed no danger to him and strolled leisurely into the depths of Lingyan Temple.

As Zhou Heng walked, he came to a patch of ground.

Dozens of pilgrims were seen praying around a large tree, throwing wooden plaques with their wishes written on them onto the tree branches with red ropes.

The trunk of that tree was almost ten feet thick; it would take several adults to encircle it.

The branches are dense, and the emerald green leaves rustle softly in the wind, as if someone is whispering.

Zhou Heng hung his hands naturally at his sides, looking up as he observed the tree trunk.

"You can write any wish on this wooden plaque and throw it onto the tree trunk like they do. As long as it stays on, your wish will surely come true."

Seeing Zhou Heng's extraordinary demeanor, a young monk stepped forward and replied, "A wooden plaque costs only eight taels of silver, and a red string is included as a gift."

Do I look like a sucker to you?

Zhou Heng glanced at the solemn-looking monk and said irritably.

He has not received his salary yet, and even if you search his entire body, you won't find eight taels of silver.

No wonder Mount Tai generates so much tax revenue; the money from pilgrims is indeed the easiest to earn.

A broken wooden plaque costs eight taels of silver!

Looking at the dense array of wooden signs hanging on the tree canopy, Zhou Heng silently calculated how lucrative this business could be.

"Don't underestimate this wooden plaque, benefactor. This wooden plaque of mine is carved from the branches of a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree, and it is different from the wooden plaques used by ordinary worshippers."

The young monk said solemnly, "Eight taels of silver is absolutely worth more than its price."

"If it weren't for your distinguished appearance, I wouldn't have been willing to give you this wooden plaque."

"What if I buy your brand, but in the end I don't get what I want?"

Zhou Heng said.

"Well—sincerity is key."

The young monk spoke earnestly.

The wind rustled through the leaves, and the monk clasped his hands together, looking like a highly enlightened monk.

Zhou Heng's heart stirred, and he reached out and took the wooden plaque from the monk's hand.

"How many of these wooden plaques do you have? I have three companions with me; we'll calculate the silver together later."

The wooden plaque felt slightly heavy and cool to the touch. Zhou Heng touched the back of the plaque and said, seemingly unintentionally.

From his perspective, which is unique to him.

The red light flashed, and time ticked.

【00:30:00】

【00:29:59】

【00:29:58】

…………