Chapter 50

Stroking the wooden sword at his waist, Xun Yi looked at Wenshan and Bai Fu, who were investigating the underground cave nearby, with a complex expression.

After more than ten days of effort, Xun Yi finally cleared the pile of documents in the city hall. At this moment, a few demons from Chulu came to report that they had found the headless ghost's corpse in Chulu.

Liu Xun, Xun Yi had known since childhood. Even the sword at Xun Yi's waist was said to be a birthday gift from Liu Xun when they visited a temple fair.

"If Brother Xun leaves, Aunt Liu and his wife will be in trouble." Thinking of Liu Xun's wife who had just become pregnant, Xun Yi wondered whether to have someone send some money to take care of them.

"Master, do you think this young man really died here?" Qiongshen came with Xun Yi and others to collect the body. Seeing the deep pit nearby, he asked in doubt, "The birth of a headless ghost implies the involvement of an extraordinary person. However, although this pit has demonic aura, it is clearly different from the force marks on the young man's body."

Xun Yi couldn't bear to look at Liu Xun's decaying body and asked Wenshan to go down and investigate. Soon, Wenshan came back up: "Liu Xun died of poisoning. A poisoned arrow was found on the body, which seems to be from the northern barbarians. Moreover, Liu Xun was wearing armor, and there was a secret letter hidden inside. According to the route, it was supposed to be reported to Longcheng?"

"Secret letter?" Xun Yi reached out to take the letter, which had the seal of Ruijun's mansion, and the handwriting on the envelope was from his cousin.

"Also, although Liu Xun died of poisoning, his head was cut off just before his soul was about to leave his body. Although the power used was weak, the wound on his neck and spine suggests it was done by an earth deity."

"Earth deity?"

"I'm not sure if it's a deity from the Heavenly Court, but it's definitely a deity of the earth. However, there's no trace of divine power in this pit. Is this really the first scene where you found him?" Wenshan looked at the few small demons nearby.

The leader was a fox demon who had saved Xun Yi's life. She looked at the two deer demons beside her. After hesitating, the deer demon nodded, "Yes, it's here."

The fox demon's heart stirred as she carefully observed the two demons' expressions and the deep pit below. Could the force that created this pit have come from these two companions?

Wenshan and Bai Fu stared at the two, seemingly doubting their answer.

"Ah, right, Master, aren't you going to record the names of the Chulu demons on the demon-summoning banner? We should go do that now." Qiongshen, sensing something amiss, hurriedly pushed Xun Yi to record the names of the Chulu demons.

"These two demons aren't telling the truth, but Master, now isn't the time to question them. If we offend the Chulu demons, it will be detrimental to your control over Chulu." Qiongshen whispered, "We can investigate the truth later. The important thing is to handle the current matter."

Qiongshen had been confined in the city hall for several days, and the gods hadn't yet decided on his future. So he eagerly followed Xun Yi, hoping to build a good relationship to continue following Bai Shan.

They arrived at a large willow tree deep in Chulu.

This willow tree was several people wide, and it was at least ten zhang tall. The tree canopy was lush, and the green willow branches hung down, with fine willow fluff fluttering in the wind.

This willow tree was a willow spirit who had practiced for hundreds of years. After obtaining Chulu, Xun Yi planned to grant it a divine seal, making it the new lord of Chulu.

Under the willow tree stood an old man with green hair, leaning on a cane and bowing to Xun Yi along with the mountain deity.

Xun Yi put on the airs of a city deity, hung the demon-summoning banner on the tree, and stomped his foot hard, causing the entire mountain to shake: "Local spirits, heed my command and quickly come to the willow tree to record your names."

The divine power stirred, and the spirits and demons of Chulu arrived in a black cloud of yin wind.

Most of the Chulu spirits had simple minds and had been persuaded by the fox demon and the willow spirit. They obediently recorded their names on the demon-summoning banner.

A name carries power. Although Xun Yi didn't ask for their true names, the names they used daily were enough for the demon-summoning banner to summon them.

After everyone was done, Xun Yi raised the city deity's seal: "By the command of the city deity, the willow spirit shall educate the local spirits and promote virtue. I hereby appoint it as the lord of the forest and grasslands, to manage Chulu with the local mountain deity, nurture the vitality of the forest, and foster the local deities."

The golden city deity's seal inscribed the divine decree, and the wood spirit's aura of the forest and grasslands spread around Xun Yi.

A green glow flickered, and the green dragon tattoo on Xun Yi's body appeared, transforming into a small dragon that sucked in most of the spiritual energy. However, it finally understood what Xun Yi was doing.

The dragon exhaled, helping Xun Yi form the divine decree.

"A mere tree deity, why use so much spiritual energy?" The green dragon returned to Xun Yi's body, proud and satisfied. The decree slowly merged into the willow spirit's body.

A divine light flashed, and the willow spirit became a deity of Longchuan County.

"Second level of divine power, five hundred years of cultivation, original form is a green willow, divine name..." Just as Xun Yi was about to peek at the willow spirit's true name in the divine registry, he was blocked by a green aura.

The true name of a deity represents its essence, and even as a proxy city deity, Xun Yi couldn't easily know a deity's name.

"Well, anyway, I'll be returning the divine seal in a few days. It's better not to know such things." Xun Yi didn't think much about it, helped the willow spirit up, and was invited to stay in Chulu.

The Chulu spirits set up a feast to entertain Xun Yi and the other deities.

Xun Yi watched various spirits toast him, and soon he was a bit tipsy, sitting in the main seat and leisurely watching others enjoy themselves.

The Chulu spirits had simple hearts and fewer complicated thoughts than humans. Most of them were born and raised locally and had attained enlightenment under the guidance of the willow spirit and other old demons. Therefore, they respected the willow spirit, and Xun Yi took the opportunity to grant him a divine seal, officially making him a deity.

Seeing Xun Yi's gentle attitude towards the willow spirit, the spirits gradually put down their guard and came to toast him.

Xun Yi, skilled in socializing, quickly became brothers with these spirits.

"Speaking of which, Master is from the Xun family, so you must practice the Maolin Sword Technique?" The willow spirit, sitting beside him, suddenly remembered something.

Xun Yi nodded, slightly drunk: "Yes, it's the Maolin Sword Technique."

"I vaguely remember a man who came to Chulu fifty years ago to challenge the demons and hone his sword skills. He seemed to use the Maolin Sword Technique. One of his moves was called 'Clear Wind Brushing the Willow,' right?"

This was the third move of the Maolin Spring Sword Technique.

Xun Yi perked up: "You know it too?"

"I wouldn't dare call myself a master in front of you." The willow spirit shook his head and smiled: "That man spent three days under my original form, and the sword intent of 'Clear Wind Brushing the Willow' is still with me." Saying this, the willow spirit handed a willow branch to Xun Yi: "This branch contains the sword intent he comprehended, which might be helpful to you."

Xun Yi took it, and the wood spirit's aura flowed through the branch, along with the graceful sword intent of 'Clear Wind Brushing the Willow.'

"Did he say his name?"

"He didn't ask." The willow spirit thought for a moment and called over a small demon with wings: "Fifty years ago, a swordsman came to our Chulu. Do you remember his name?"

"This... I've forgotten... Who remembers something from fifty years ago? But I heard he was from the Xun family of Baishan."

"Baishan." Xun Yi's face showed a strange expression. Baishan was the mountain behind his family's ancestral home, where his ancestors were buried.

"It seems it really is someone from our family." Xun Yi thought to himself and took the willow branch.

He then toasted the willow spirit in gratitude. Suddenly, a messenger from Wushan came to urge them. The guard and Wenshan had a brief conversation, and Wenshan found an excuse to take Xun Yi and the others back to Qinglong City.

Bai Fu, who was drinking with a few spirits, was quite unhappy about being dragged away: "Brother, why the rush? Drinking in Chulu also helps us win over these wild spirits."

Wenshan glanced at Xun Yi and said softly, "The new city deity has arrived."

Immediately, everyone sobered up.

Xun Yi's expression changed slightly, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

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