Wandering Gods of Day and Night

The painter recognized Zhou Xuan's voice, stood up, cupped his hands toward the officials from Mingjiang Prefecture, and said, "Apologies for the trouble, but could all of you please wait outside the hall for now?"

The highest authority in Mingjiang Prefecture was the Bone Elder Association.

Though the God connected to the Bone Elder Association had fallen, and the Divine Status of the Heavenly Official was now held by "Gong Zheng," the painter and the Music Master, who both had eight incense flames, still made Mingjiang Prefecture's first Tangkou subordinate to the Bone Elder Association.

Since the painter had spoken, the officials from the prefectural government could only leave first.

After the officials left, Zhou Xuan revealed his Divine Soul to the painter and said, "Old Hua, regarding the Kongming Mirror, do not disclose it to the disciples of Tangkou for now. Let this secret remain confined to just a few of you for the time being."

As soon as Zhou Xuan said this, Lady Hong Guan became displeased and immediately retorted, "Why not? If Old Hua and the others know about the Kongming Mirror, why can't I?"

The Kongming Mirror meant incense and elevated status. Even if it didn't guarantee reaching eight incense flames, attaining the level of Shang Wenjun or Hua Qingying—hovering between seven and eight incense flames—could save years of painstaking efforts in accumulating incense.

With the incense opportunity right before her, but out of reach, how could Lady Hong Guan not be distressed?

"I must learn the Kongming Mirror. Mingjiang Prefecture cannot treat people unfairly. Take my Tangkou's boatman disciples, for example; we've exerted so much effort for Mingjiang Prefecture. In rescue missions and disaster relief, we're always the first ones on the frontline. But when it's time for rewards, we get left behind—there's no justification for that!"

Although Lady Hong Guan usually spoke to Zhou Xuan warmly and softly, when it came to incense, and suspecting Zhou Xuan of hiding things for personal gain, her fiery temperament flared up immediately.

The painter knew Zhou Xuan well and was aware that the Young Master was not someone who kept things for himself. He therefore said to Lady Hong Guan, "Guan Niang, don't rush to conclusions. The Young Master naturally has his reasons for what he says. Take a moment to calm down and let him finish."

Only then did Lady Hong Guan fall silent, crossing her arms as she waited for Zhou Xuan's explanation.

"Given the current situation, while the Kongming Mirror indeed offers a shortcut to raising incense levels, it is also a disaster—an immense calamity that none of you will be able to withstand."

Zhou Xuan then recounted in detail the tale of Yun Ziliang and the disaster at Hidden Dragon Mountain, speaking so vividly that worry crept across the faces of every You Shen present.

They hadn't anticipated that the Kongming Mirror, which aided in their advancement today, had brought about the annihilation of Hidden Dragon Mountain.

Especially considering that Hidden Dragon Mountain was presided over by someone in the human world with nine incense flames.

"Mr. Yun—could it really be a human-world cultivator with nine incense flames?"

The painter inquired, for he had heard of Yun Ziliang's great name. He knew of this genius who had once "swept through the Taoist sects with four incense flames," but he had never heard of Yun Ziliang achieving nine incense flames.

"That Old Yun, odd as he is, wouldn't stoop to lying. Besides, when he claimed to have reached nine incense flames, Peng Sheng didn't object. Peng Sheng knows Old Yun well; his lack of objection implies that he believes Old Yun could indeed reach nine incense flames."

With Zhou Xuan's affirmative answer, the You Shen were taken aback, their discussions erupting into buzz and fervor.

However, their deliberations revolved solely around how to face such an unwarranted calamity, not on whether they regretted learning the Kongming Mirror.

In Jing Country's incense cultivation world, anything that could raise incense levels was irresistible, like a piece of succulent meat everyone desired a bite of.

The You Shen, accustomed to gnawing on the metaphorical meat from a young age, now that they'd sunk their teeth into the Kongming Mirror, were not about to let go so easily.

The attacks from the black-clad assassins? Mere threats of death.

But to have incense within reach and not seize it? That was a fate worse than death.

After their debate, the Music Master addressed Zhou Xuan,

"Young Master, we've already chosen to learn the Kongming Mirror, so there's no regretting it. However, these black-clad assassins who kill anyone knowledgeable about the Kongming Mirror—if they're so bloodthirsty, then we should counter them boldly. Let's disseminate the Kongming Mirror technique through the God Traveling Department's lanterns across the nine prefectures of Jing Country. I don't believe they'd be able to eradicate every single Tangkou disciple throughout Jing Country."

Truth be told, the Music Master's words were born out of frustration. The lanterns of the God Traveling Department could only be used within Mingjiang Prefecture. Spreading the Kongming Mirror technique to Jing Country's nine prefectures through the lanterns was simply an impractical notion.

But what lanterns couldn't achieve, other means perhaps could. Zhou Xuan had a sudden realization and said, "Ah, you've just reminded me—

I initially thought there was no way to counter the black-clad assassins, but now I'm closer to finding a solution. Painter, as I said, do not let the Kongming Mirror become widely known for now. Wait for my response.

Guan Niang, I also ask you to hold off for just two days. I'll personally teach you the Mirror Awakening Technique. Mingjiang Prefecture will not fail you."

With Zhou Xuan's reassurance and the cautionary precedent of Hidden Dragon Mountain, Guan Niang calmed down considerably and nodded, saying, "Very well, I'll wait."

"Everyone, regarding the Kongming Mirror, await further word from me." Zhou Xuan concluded, then turned to the painter and said, "By the way, Old Hua, I have something else to discuss with you."

"Young Master, please speak."

"Today, during the Netherworld Stone Gathering, I heard Peng Hou mention that someone severed his Divine Power. He suspects it was an incense-fire Taoist, but such a Taoist could never have accomplished such a feat in the human world. I suspect there's an exceptional individual hidden within Mingjiang Prefecture."

"That reminds me—the fog over Mingjiang Prefecture has never been this thick before," the Music Master said, his memory jogged by Zhou Xuan's words.

"You should all ponder the source of this fog. I'll return to the inn for now."

Zhou Xuan cared only to present the problem, leaving the God Traveling Department to deliberate on the answer themselves. For now, his priority was to devise a strategy to suppress the black-clad assassins. And the means to suppress them was currently... in Yun Ziliang's hands.

PS: Brothers, I've had a lot going on at home these past two days. Give me some time, and I'll get caught up with the chapters I owe you, okay?