Hearing this, Ye Xuzhang's heart trembled slightly. He asked, "Just how many experts does the Demon Cult have?"
"Oh, there are many. Don't be fooled by the fact that the Four Ghosts, though formidable, rank only below the Ghost Emperor of Fengdu. The other three barely make it into the top ten within the cult."
"The Netherworld Ghost King rarely shows himself. But when he does, it's always a harbinger of major events!"
"Let's follow him and see what's happening."
Ye Xuzhang waved dismissively. "Forget it, I'm not interested."
He wanted nothing to do with such dangerous individuals.
"Well, I'll go on my own. Maybe I'll find a chance to infiltrate the Demon Cult!"
Ye Xuzhang ignored her, got the precise time and location of the Heavenly Mechanism Grand Assembly, paid his bill, and left the inn.
As soon as he stepped outside, he was startled to see the Netherworld Ghost King following behind him.
This made his heart skip a beat. Could the Ghost King possibly be after him?
Clang, clang, clang…
Before Ye Xuzhang could dwell on it, the rhythmic sound of a gong echoed from the street.
Looking up, he saw a group of soldiers escorting a prisoner down the road.
The prisoner was a burly, blue-eyed Hureg tribesman with a beard. Ye Xuzhang didn't know who he was, but his foreign features were unmistakable.
Among the soldiers, a tall, commanding white-robed general caught Ye Xuzhang's attention.
The man radiated an imposing aura, exuding strength and dignity. Most notably, he wasn't concealing his energy, allowing Ye Xuzhang to sense his cultivation level: Seventh Rank, Sun-Moon Realm!
As the procession passed, townsfolk on both sides of the street hurled rocks, rotten eggs, and vegetable leaves at the Hureg man.
"Scum! How dare you infiltrate Great Xia!"
"You killed so many of our people. You deserve to die!"
"Barbarian dog! Justice is finally served!"
The crowd's jeers and projectiles intensified.
The white-robed general led the procession past Ye Xuzhang, heading toward the city's west gate.
Following them, the Netherworld Ghost King melted into the crowd, trailing the prison wagon. Unsurprisingly, Zhang Xiaoyu followed as well.
Their path coincided with Ye Xuzhang's intended route to Qilin State, so after some thought, he decided to follow.
Before long, the prison wagon reached the execution ground outside the city, surrounded by a throng of angry citizens.
The Hureg prisoner was dragged off the wagon and tied to an iron post in the center of the field.
The white-robed general stepped forward and proclaimed loudly, "Harudas, a general of the Hureg tribe, has repeatedly led invasions into Great Xia, massacring countless of our people and enslaving our citizens!"
"Recently, he dared to infiltrate Great Xia to gather intelligence with malicious intent. Thankfully, I captured him!"
"Today, I, General Chen, sentence Harudas to death by dismemberment…"
"Amitabha!"
Before General Chen could finish, a deep voice chanting Buddha's name resonated across the field, filling the air with an ethereal Buddhist hymn.
The chant carried a sacred weight, making hearts feel light and empty, as though free from all burdens.
In the distance, golden light radiated like a divine aura, illuminating the heavens and earth.
A group of monks, shrouded in this golden glow, marched slowly toward the field, their voices harmonizing in sacred Sanskrit chants.
Leading the procession was a young monk, around twenty years old, dressed in a resplendent golden cassock. His serene face radiated compassion.
With every step he took, a golden lotus bloomed beneath his feet, formed entirely of condensed spiritual energy.
This monk's very presence exerted an unprecedented pressure on Ye Xuzhang, evoking an inexplicable urge to kneel and bow.
Ye Xuzhang frowned deeply, quickly circulating his internal energy to dispel the sensation. The oppressive compulsion vanished instantly, but his mood soured.
"What the hell is this monk?"
The surrounding crowd, unlike Ye Xuzhang, lacked the internal strength to resist. They fell to their knees en masse, overwhelmed by the divine presence.
Even the soldiers, faces pale, struggled to stay upright, gripping their spears to resist kneeling.
"Greetings, Protector," intoned a group of elderly monks, bowing deeply before the young monk.
The young monk nodded gently and chanted, "Amitabha…"
In the next instant, he appeared before General Chen, hands pressed together in a gesture of peace. "This humble monk is Duxin. Greetings, General Chen."
General Chen frowned. "Master Duxin, I am about to carry out justice. The scene will be bloody. Perhaps you should step away."
Duxin shook his head with a faint smile. "I am here precisely to plead for mercy on behalf of Harudas."
"General Chen, please show compassion and release him, allowing him to return to his homeland."
Hearing this, General Chen's already sour expression darkened further. "What did you just say?"
"You are aware that this man is a Hureg general, right? He has repeatedly led troops to invade our lands, slaughter our people, and enslave our citizens!"
"Harudas alone is responsible for the deaths of thousands—no, tens of thousands—of innocent souls. The Hureg people treat us like livestock, calling us 'two-legged sheep.' Harudas is one of their worst offenders!"
"Those he captured—regardless of age or gender—were boiled alive!"
"And you dare ask me to spare such a demon?"
Duxin nodded calmly. "An eye for an eye leaves the world blind. General Chen, what you speak of happened ten years ago. Currently, there is no war between Great Xia and the Hureg tribe."
"Killing Harudas now risks reigniting the flames of war."
"War will bring suffering to the people, leaving countless lives in ruin."
"Amitabha. To prevent such tragedy, I implore you to spare his life. Show mercy to one, and you save countless lives. Surely you can see the greater good."
"If you fear repercussions from the court, the Buddhist Order will bear all responsibility."
"Nonsense!"
General Chen bellowed in fury.
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