Thinking of this, Li Xuanxiao suddenly felt that the matter was tricky.
As expected of the Demon Slaying Division, a task casually assigned to an Extreme Realm Martial Artist.
To think it would be of this level, truly impressive!
Only through one difficult task after another can Martial Artists become strong.
Li Xuanxiao sighed, then quickly sprinted through Jingtu Temple, searching for the county magistrate's figure.
Only now did he realize how useful that Heart Method of Undying Silence was!
Relying on the Heart Method of Undying Silence's control over Aura, he avoided several waves of Monk Soldiers' searches and successfully sneaked into the depths of Jingtu Temple.
The main hall here suddenly became solemn, and even simple items appeared to have an extraordinary Aura.
Even the Buddha statue in the center was much more exquisite!
Li Xuanxiao entered a main hall and searched around, but was attracted by a slight noise.
In a corner of the side hall, a "wuwuwu" sound kept ringing out.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he approached stealthily, pushing the Heart Method of Undying Silence to its limit.
As long as their Realm wasn't higher than his, it was basically impossible to discover his presence.
Getting closer, Li Xuanxiao tilted his head slightly, peering through a gap in his field of vision.
He saw a young monk tied up tightly to a pillar, with a wad of cotton stuffed in his mouth.
The "wuwuwu" sound was what he made while struggling.
What's going on with this guy?
Li Xuanxiao originally intended to leave, but after a moment's thought, he turned back.
Maybe he could get some information out of him?
It was better than running around aimlessly like a headless fly.
Thus, no longer hiding his movements, he walked straight up to the monk.
Seeing Li Xuanxiao, the young monk's face immediately showed excitement.
The "wuwuwu" sound became louder.
Li Xuanxiao made a shushing gesture: "I'll ask, you answer. Don't say anything extra, and don't shout."
"Otherwise, I'll make sure you can never make a sound again!"
"Do you understand?"
The young monk stared wide-eyed at Li Xuanxiao and nodded.
Good!
Li Xuanxiao removed the cotton from his mouth and asked softly, "Who are you, and why are you tied up here?"
After coughing a few times, the young monk gradually caught his breath: "This Humble Monk is Jing Shan, a common monk of Jingtu Temple."
"I'm tied up here because I refuse to participate in the Mortal Transformation Ritual."
Mortal Transformation Ritual?
Li Xuanxiao asked again, "What exactly happened to Jingtu Temple, and what is the Mortal Transformation Ritual?"
A flash of fear crossed Monk Jing Shan's eyes as he spoke tremulously.
"This Jingtu Temple has already strayed from the teachings of the Great Buddha."
"Everyone has abandoned their duties as monks and become obsessed with seeking immortality."
"The so-called Mortal Transformation Ritual is the method to achieve immortality."
Li Xuanxiao's expression shifted as he listened. What the hell?
Immortality is possible?
If immortality were truly possible, I'd want to try it too!
"So, can this Mortal Transformation Ritual really make people immortal?"
Jing Shan shook his head repeatedly: "Of course not! So-called immortality comes at a price!"
"Everyone who participates in the Mortal Transformation Ritual eventually turns into a monster that is neither human nor ghost!"
"Immortality will distort the way of living as a human!"
"Benefactor, This Humble Monk advises you to leave quickly."
"If you are captured, there's no telling what they will do to you."
Li Xuanxiao naturally couldn't leave just like that: "Do you know where the county magistrate of Faxuan City is?"
Jing Shan hesitated slightly: "That lord who came from the city?"
"He... he has probably already been forced to participate in the Mortal Transformation Ritual!"
Li Xuanxiao's eyes narrowed: "Tell me, where is the Mortal Transformation Ritual taking place?"
"In the Qingyan Treasure Hall on the back mountain of Jingtu Temple."
After hearing Jing Shan's words, Li Xuanxiao immediately swung his blade down!
Jing Shan turned pale with fright and instinctively closed his eyes.
But he felt his body loosen; opening his eyes, he found that the ropes binding him had been cut.
"Tha... Thank you."
Jing Shan thanked him somewhat fearfully; he had thought Li Xuanxiao was going to kill him.
"Can you escape from here on your own?"
"Ah?"
"If you can escape on your own, then go. I still have things to do!"
"If you can't escape, you can stay here and wait for me. Once I've finished everything, I'll come back to take you out!"
Jing Shan was stunned for a moment: "Ma... Many thanks, Benefactor. I will stay here and pray for your safety!"
Li Xuanxiao chuckled; this young monk was quite interesting. "I'm off!"
Now that he had a target, he didn't need to waste any more time.
Adjusting his direction, he headed straight for the Qingyan Treasure Hall on the back mountain!
As soon as he approached, alarm bells rang in Li Xuanxiao's heart!
This kind of Aura...
It's the Xuan Realm!
Li Xuanxiao was stunned. Damn it, wasn't the task marked in the manual an Extreme Realm level task?
How could it involve someone at the Xuan Realm level!
Is the Demon Slaying Division this hardcore?
A casual task requires challenging across Realms?
...
Pei Prefecture, Demon Slaying Division, Law Enforcement Hall.
Liu Gelin sat in the main hall, flipping through the register of Martial Artists who had recently committed offenses.
A subordinate suddenly came to report.
"My Lord, a letter has arrived from Flying Eagle Hall, said to have been overlooked previously."
"Please take a look, My Lord."
The subordinate presented a letter with both hands.
"Those guys from Flying Eagle Hall, why do they always have these problems?"
Complaining, Liu Gelin casually tore it open, not caring much.
However, upon seeing the first few words of the letter, he suddenly sat bolt upright!
"Jingtu Temple is in league with demons!"
"...Those monks have gone completely mad! They aren't human at all!"
"...Even if their heads are cut off, they can still stand up..."
"We must... we must send high-level Martial Artists!"
"At least Third Layer of the Xuan Realm or above!"
"As soon as possible! As soon as possible!"
After reading the letter, Liu Gelin's expression was grave.
He remembered this task had been assigned to the little fellow Si Miaoyin brought along.
What was his name, Li Xuanxiao?
According to Si Miaoyin, Li Xuanxiao's cultivation was only at the Late Stage of the Extreme Realm.
Liu Gelin thought to himself, "Oh no."
He had intended to do that girl a favor, but now it seemed he might have sent him to his death.
He summoned a subordinate: "Immediately change the task rating and, in the name of the Law Enforcement Hall, re-issue a..."
He thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"Forget it, I'll go there personally."
...
Li Xuanxiao thought for a moment but did not back down.
After all, he was also in the Xuan Realm; even if he couldn't win, he should still be able to run away.
So he restrained his Aura and approached cautiously.
Soon, he entered this magnificent and solemn main hall.
Inside the hall, the Buddha statue's appearance was solemn, and sandalwood incense curled up from the altar.
Beneath the Buddha statue, over a hundred monks were already sitting cross-legged in neat rows on the ground.
These monks had peaceful and intoxicated expressions, completely unaware of Li Xuanxiao's arrival.
Li Xuanxiao's brow furrowed, feeling that their expressions inexplicably revealed something morbid and eerie.
No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like a cult scene!
At the very front of the monks, a middle-aged man in official robes was also sitting cross-legged on the ground.
His gaze was hollow and his expression dull, just like a walking corpse.
Li Xuanxiao's eyes narrowed; that man should be the county magistrate.
Just then, a deep bell sound rang out!
Om—
The moment the monks heard the bell, they opened their eyes almost simultaneously.
Their faces showed a morbidly fanatical and pious expression.
The Mortal Transformation Ritual has begun!