Wandering Gods of Day and Night

He had seen this type of silk thread three times before,

The first time was in Qiye Temple, when Divine Silk descended from the Heavenly Dome to drag Monk Zhu Jiu up to the heavens, intending to make him a Daoist.

The second time was today,

The Green Robed Buddha used Divine Silk to pull down a Daoist, aiming to retrieve Zhou Xuan's Wash Away Injustice Talisman.

The third time is now.

Zhou Xuan traversed the Peak Flood, reaching out to grab the Divine Silk, but an extraordinarily dangerous feeling forced him to retreat.

This feeling was as if deep inside the Peak Flood, there was a grand tattoo map. Within the map, sandstorms and flying rocks swirled, and if Zhou Xuan were careless enough to be swept into the storm created by the sand and rocks, his body would be crushed into dust.

Zhou Xuan had encountered this tattoo map before and naturally understood its methods.

"Peng Hou?"

Zhou Xuan's sharp perception led him to day-travel to the painter's side, saying, "Old Hua, the trouble in Mingjiang Prefecture this time is immense. Hidden within the Peak Flood is Peng Hou."

Three hundred years ago in Peng Town, Taohua Witch Peng Sheng, the Peach Blossom Ancestor Tree, and the Tree Clan fought the Heavenly Ghost using twenty-four divine pictures.

Peng Sheng died in battle, and Peng Hou's realm was struck down. Since then, he has vanished from sight.

"Unexpected. You're hiding within the Peak Flood… Is it merely to assist Buddha Country, or is there another agenda?"

Zhou Xuan turned back to look at the painter, saying, "Miss Qiang predicted that amidst today's ground tremors, there are at least three distinct forces. This might mean that Peng Hou isn't the only God lurking in the Peak Flood…"

"No wonder Gods can borrow the power of mountains and rivers to manipulate water and move mountains. They can aid Buddha Country's Yunwu Venerable in orchestrating this catastrophic disaster."

The painter stared at the murky floodwaters, puzzled as to why the Gods of Mingjiang Prefecture would descend into the human world of Mingjiang Prefecture and would even hide within the Peak Flood to help the Buddha Country people destroy Mingjiang.

"This land and water of Mingjiang Prefecture nurtured you Gods. Have you stayed in the heavens so long that even the last shred of humanity has been worn away?"

The painter sighed deeply.

"I heard from Lord Jian that Heavenly Gods who want to descend into the human world, apart from relying on rituals like those used by Peng Hou, have little other means. One of these means is Gods descending through Daoists, but even then, they cannot display their peak combat abilities after descending.

If I were to find them in this murky flood, Old Hua, would you dare to draw your blade against the Gods?"

The painter was momentarily dumbfounded, unable to not be stupefied.

Since the day he was born, he had revered the Gods above the Heavenly Dome as the highest faith.

"Gods gaze upon the human world from the Heavenly Dome. If there are any transgressors in the human world, Gods descend to eliminate them."

"It's because of the Gods that Jing Country enjoys a peaceful life."

These words had always echoed in his ears ever since he joined the Bone Elder Association.

But now, the Gods were descending through Daoists, intending to destroy Mingjiang Prefecture—a revelation that shattered his worldview and faith.

Yet faith has inertia, dragging him through indecision created by the weight of belief.

"Will you dare? If not, I'll take my Fifth Senior Brother and Lao Yun and return to Ping Shui Prefecture."

Zhou Xuan needed the painter to decide.

The Bone Elder Association was the largest Tangkou in Mingjiang Prefecture, and the painter was its highest-ranking Divine Office-holder.

With the Saint Heir and Saintess absent, he wielded the greatest authority in Mingjiang Prefecture.

If he refused to take a stand, Zhou Xuan would turn away at once, relying on the Ancestor Tree's link to take Lao Yun, his Fifth Senior Brother, Ya Zi, Fuzi, Sister Cui, and Hua Zi back to Ping Shui Prefecture.

The Gods could focus their power on annihilating Mingjiang with the overwhelming flood—they wouldn't have the time to concern themselves with them. And if they did, the Ancestor Tree, through its link, could call upon Zhou Xuan's master, elder sister, and Lord Jiu to deal with the Gods who couldn't unleash their peak power.

The painter looked at the flood peak towering over 150 meters, an imposing height resembling a small mountain, and finally made his decision.

"Dare."

"Truly dare."

"Absolutely dare," the painter said resolutely.

All the townsfolk, the members of his Bone Elder Association, and the students and teachers of Hui Feng Medical College were people he wanted to protect.

At this critical moment, the painter had no choice but to draw the line between himself and the Gods.

"Then I'll find them. I truly want to see whether these Gods who descended through Daoists are invincible in the human world."

Zhou Xuan first used his day-travel ability to reach Guan Niang and said, "Guan Niang, plans have changed. You and your disciples should stop heading against the current toward the Peak Flood. Inside the flood is the Mingjiang God."

"What?"

Guan Niang could hardly believe her ears.

The Gods hiding within the Peak Flood—what could they possibly be planning?

"It's unclear for now, but they seem to be colluding with the people of Buddha Country," Zhou Xuan said plainly. "The Gods are concealed within the floodwaters, and if you go, the outcome will likely be grim."

The Gods even aim to destroy Mingjiang Prefecture—how could they possibly be lenient toward Guan Niang and the Bitter Ghosts, who are trying to control the waters and offer disaster relief?

"Just head straight to the villages flooded by the backflow and rescue people there. Don't approach the flood's center."

"Young Master, if there are Gods stirring up the tides, I'm afraid Mingjiang Prefecture can't be saved," Guan Niang said, intimidated by the mere mention of the Gods.

"Gods or not, they've descended through Daoists. I will find them. With so many You Shen in Mingjiang Prefecture, why should we fear them?"

Zhou Xuan added, "Guan Niang, there's no need for fear. They are not true Gods; they are mere high-level bandit leaders posing as Gods."

At critical moments, an unyielding attitude can stabilize people's hearts.

Guan Niang looked at Zhou Xuan, whose determined and fearless expression gave her a sense of assurance, as if she had taken a calming pill. Her panic eased significantly, and she began coordinating the Bitter Ghost disciples' boat routes.

Meanwhile, Zhou Xuan day-traveled to the Peak Flood, extending his Perception, thin as silk threads, into the murky floodwaters to seek traces of the Gods.