Chapter 236: Sacrificial Ceremony in Chaos
"You little girl, always spouting nonsense."
Chu Feng freed a hand to tug gently at Chen Qianqian's braid, his tone tinged with helplessness.
Hearing this, Bingyan's expression returned to her usual cold and aloof demeanor, as if nothing had happened at all.
Chen Qianqian looked at Chu Feng with a pitiful expression, unable to understand what she had said wrong.
But a child's grievances fade as quickly as they come—Chu Feng easily coaxed her back to joy with a single skewer of candied hawthorn.
Half an hour later.
The three of them arrived at the Dragon King Temple outside Linjiang City.
The area was already packed with people, bustling with excitement.
Most of the citizens and cultivators from Linjiang City had gathered here.
"Master, I can't see anything."
Chen Qianqian stood on tiptoe to look into the distance. Chu Feng simply picked her up and asked with a smile, "Can you see now?"
"Yes."
Chen Qianqian nodded, wrapping her arms around her master's neck. The intimacy between them was like that of a father and daughter.
With the arrival of Linjiang City's City Lord, the Dragon King Festival officially began. After a series of elaborate rituals, it finally came time for the offering of livestock.
Dozens of strong men carried the slaughtered bodies of bulls, sheep, and pigs—three kinds of beast livestock—and dumped them into the Lin River.
Splash!
The beasts hit the water, sending up waves.
Seeing this, the City Lord of Linjiang also poured fine wine from his hands into the river and declared, "The rite is complete. Strike up the music and begin the dance!"
As soon as he spoke, joyous music rang out. A grand troupe of dancers entered the square in front of the temple and began their performance.
The crowd burst into applause and cheers. Chen Qianqian, having never seen such a lively scene before, was practically jumping with excitement.
Just as the entire Dragon King Temple turned into a sea of celebration, the previously calm Lin River suddenly grew turbulent.
Splash—!
With a tremendous crash, a massive wave dozens of zhang high rose from the river and surged toward the Dragon King Temple.
The sudden upheaval startled everyone present.
The City Lord of Linjiang immediately drew the longsword at his waist and slashed toward the wave.
Clang!
A sword aura several dozen meters long sliced down toward the surge.
But before the sword aura even reached the water, a cold snort echoed from within the river: "Hmph!"
That simple, unremarkable snort instantly shattered the sword aura into nothing.
Everyone could only watch helplessly as the towering wave came crashing down.
At that critical moment, Bingyan, who was standing beside Chu Feng, casually pointed a finger—and the wave instantly froze into a massive ice sculpture, suspended mid-air above the Dragon King Temple.
Whoosh…
The crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief at the sight.
The City Lord of Linjiang quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply toward the river. "Esteemed Dragon King, may I ask what has caused your anger with this year's sacrificial ceremony? Please enlighten us, so that we may correct our offense."
"Hmph!"
The same cold snort rang out from the river again. "You dare ask Me? You offer such pitiful things to Me—do you take Me for a joke?"
As these words fell, every cultivator present was left dumbfounded.
People began murmuring among themselves, questioning what exactly had gone wrong with the offerings this year.
The City Lord of Linjiang frowned slightly. Something about the Dragon King's voice didn't feel right today. Still, the situation was beyond his control, so he continued, "May I ask what kind of tribute would satisfy the Dragon King? I'll have it prepared at once. We will ensure your full satisfaction."
That familiar voice responded again from within the river: "Since you are so sensible, I'll overlook the fact that one of your cultivators tried to stop Me just now. But this year, the offerings must be doubled."
"Of course."
The City Lord did not show the slightest discontent, nor did he blame the cultivator who had acted earlier. Had that person not stepped in, tens of thousands of people in Linjiang City might have perished today.
"Listen closely. This year, I want Linjiang City to offer up two hundred virgin boys and girls. From now on, each year, you will offer one hundred. I'm giving you three hours—prepare them quickly. If I don't see them by then, I'll flood all of Linjiang City!"
At those words, the faces of everyone present changed dramatically.
Offering virgin boys and girls—this was something most people could never accept.
The City Lord of Linjiang looked especially grim. He clenched his teeth and said, "Lord Dragon King, this is not what we agreed upon. Our previous deal was that Linjiang would offer incense and prayers, and you would bless our lands with favorable weather and peace."
The Dragon King replied, "That was then, this is now. My patience is limited. You'd best not test Me, or I'll use you as a side dish for wine and find a cultivator who actually knows how to serve Me as the new City Lord."
"I cannot comply. If you're dissatisfied with me, then act. But I believe the people of Linjiang would never commit such acts that violate human ethics!"
As he spoke, the City Lord released the aura of the Spirit Nurturing Realm. The longsword in his hand radiated with brilliance, and his stance made it clear he was prepared to die with honor.
"Good… very good. I haven't tasted human cultivator flesh in a while. You'll make for a fine appetizer."
As those words fell, demonic aura surged from within the Lin River, blanketing all of Linjiang City.
Feeling the terrifying pressure of that aura, the City Lord's face turned ashen. He cried out, "You're not the true Dragon King of Linjiang!"
"Jie jie jie…"
A piercing, eerie laugh echoed from the river. "Now you realize it? Too late!"
As the voice rang out, a waterspout shot up from the river and struck toward the City Lord.
This is the end…
That thought flashed through the City Lord's mind. He closed his eyes, preparing to meet death.
"Suppress!"
A voice like a great bell reverberated through the skies above Linjiang.
In an instant, all sound vanished. The waterspout disappeared, and the demonic aura dissipated completely.
The City Lord slowly opened his eyes and looked upon the once-again calm river, relief washing over his face. Surveying the crowd, he cupped his hands and called out, "I do not know which senior has descended, but I beg you to suppress this fiend on behalf of Linjiang City. We shall repay this great kindness!"
Before he finished speaking, a deafening roar erupted from the river.
ROAR!!!
A moment later, a colossal, single-horned flood dragon—hundreds of zhang long—rose from the river, hovering above. Looking down furiously at those gathered around the Dragon King Temple, it roared in rage:
"Who?!"
"Who dares ruin My plans? Show yourself and die!"
Silence. The entire crowd fell completely silent. No one dared utter a sound.
The City Lord of Linjiang, standing closest, was drenched in sweat, his body trembling uncontrollably. He had never imagined that the one occupying the Lin River was actually a Marquised Demon King. It was over. Everything was over.
Just then, a lazy voice rang out from the crowd:
"I thought it was some monstrous beast disrupting my little disciple's fun. Turns out, it's just a petty flood dragon. Well, tell me—how do you want to die?"
As those words dropped, every living being present turned their gaze toward the source of the voice…
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