Chapter 59: Dead End

In the end, I went, because not only the top forces of the Holy Village, but even the “red sea” that now stood above the dam could easily drown me, of course, on the premise that I tried to resist.

The village affairs were not moving fast, so I followed him slowly. My face looked calm, but in fact, the suffocating feeling in my heart made my hands and feet go cold.

After passing through the “Red Ocean,” I was taken to the bleachers, which were also densely packed with the so-called high-level officials of the Holy Village. However, no one paid any attention to me. Instead, everyone looked at the huge backwater bay. The eyes under the masks all felt a kind of fanaticism, but I didn’t know what it was for.

Once here, the arrogant attitude of the village official immediately changed. He looked cautious and did not dare to walk up, but instead waited respectfully under the middle steps.

After about two minutes, a man in a Taoist robe and a mask came down the stairs. He waved his hand at the village official like he was swatting a fly, and the village official immediately left, leaving me alone. I tried to maintain my composure, but my heart was beating so fast that it felt like it was going to jump out of my throat.

But the man in the robe was not in a hurry. Instead, he looked at me up and down with great interest, then said to me coldly, “Follow me.” Then he turned and walked up the stairs.

I followed him, somewhat numb. I thought he would take me to the top room of the stand, but instead, he took me straight to the top floor.

The top floor was a square, standard altar that I had seen before. The stand was originally built against a low slope next to the tidal flats, and the top was leveled to create such an altar.

There was no shelter on this altar, so the wind was a bit strong. I squinted my eyes and actually envied it in my heart. This altar was undoubtedly the best place for Taoist priests to cast spells. In ancient times, only great sorcerers could own it, because any spell basically had a process of reporting to the heavens. This aside, this special altar could also better communicate various energies.

I don’t understand why I still think about this. In such an environment and under such pressure, I understand that if I have one merit that I can praise myself for, it is that when faced with pressure, I often relax when I reach the limit. Although this time is different, the feeling of palpitations is still there, but it does not affect me starting to get back on my feet again.

In the middle of the altar, a sacrificial altar had already been set up. It was a sacrificial altar of the highest standard, with all the necessary sacrificial offerings. In the middle of the altar was a small incense burner, with three incense sticks burning. The light smoke rose up, and from the smell in the air, it was the best incense.

However, there were only two people on the altar, me and the masked man in the Taoist robe. The wind blew his robe, and he tilted his head, as if he wasn’t paying much attention to me. This made me a little restless. Maybe this was an opportunity?

But as soon as this thought had just appeared in my mind, the sound of noisy footsteps rang in my ears. I turned my head subconsciously and saw a group of people surrounding a person walking towards the altar.

The person being surrounded was the strange Taoist.

He was not wearing a mask, and he still had that same unremarkable look. When you looked at him closely, you couldn’t take your eyes off him. He still looked like a plain person, but he was not ordinary, nor was he flashy.

There were about ten people following him. Unlike when we first appeared in the holy village, the ten people he brought this time were not all Taoist priests. Among them were also large monks wearing monk robes, but one of them was obviously a disciple of Tibetan Buddhism. He walked next to the strange road, only slightly letting half of his body out, and it seemed that his status was quite low.

None of these people were wearing masks, and the aura they exuded made the wind in the sky seem to freeze. It was obvious that each of them was a powerful and peerless being. Without deliberately controlling their aura, I could feel my legs getting weak, not to mention ordinary people standing here.

Facing them, I felt so weak and insignificant, but I don’t know if it was the stubbornness and pride in my bones that was at work, but I actually gritted my teeth and forced myself to stare at them. I didn’t want to show weakness. I was a disciple of the Mountain Branch of the Old Li School, and I had to stand up straight.

It was this stubbornness that allowed me to sweep each of them with my eyes, and then I was shocked to discover that Xiao Chengqian was also among them, but only walking in the last position.

At this moment, he was also wearing a gorgeous Taoist robe, which, combined with his appearance, made him look quite dashing and dignified as a Taoist disciple. I looked at him and wanted to call out to him, but his gaze never fell on my face, and his eyes looked exceptionally cold.

This look stopped me from calling out to him, but I didn’t suspect him of anything. I didn’t believe that a partner who had once lived and died together would betray me. I just guessed that he had reservations. I didn’t need to make trouble for him at this time. Even if I was also puzzled about one thing, why did he have such a high status in this holy village? He would follow these obviously top-level figures to the altar.

“Village Chief, the time is almost up.” The Taoist who had been guarding me saw the eleven people walk up to the altar and quickly trotted two steps, bent down, took their hands, and said in an extremely respectful manner.

“Well, I’m from the province,” replied the strange Taoist, still speaking in a concise and meaningful manner, quite in the ancient style. I never imagined that such a character would have a title called village chief.

I couldn’t help but smile at the corner of my mouth. It seems that I have a lot of luck with village chiefs. The first time I went on a mission with my master, I got to see the world and met the old village chief. This time, in a place where I seemed completely unable to resist, I met another village chief.

Faced with the answer of the strange Taoist, the Taoist naturally dared not say much, and slowly backed away, bending his waist, like a great respect for the ancient emperors. He only turned and walked down the altar after backing away to a certain extent.

Whether there is one more or one less person, it doesn’t mean anything to me. Just by the aura, I know that I am no match for any of these people. Jenny once roughly told me about the division of the strength of cultivators. These people should already be close to the top of existence, and that strange Taoist…

I dare not guess, my mouth turns bitter, but a thought still cannot be suppressed. The strange Taoist is probably already a top-level being, and I’m afraid I can’t measure what level he is at.

“Give it to him.” The strange Taoist looked at me, neither indifferent nor with any emotional coloration, as if he should look at me that way.

As he said this, one of the ten people behind him, dressed in very ordinary clothes and unable to tell what type of cultivator he was, immediately stepped forward and threw a bundle in front of me.

At this moment, the smile that had appeared on my face because of the village chief’s words had not yet faded, and I was also calm when I looked at the package.

“You should be very happy that you bothered to ask me to personally deliver that set of clothes to you.” The person who threw the bundle to me seemed very proud. He gave off an image of someone who cares a lot about his appearance. His hair, sideburns, and beard were all groomed to perfection, like an elegant middle-aged successful person.

I didn’t respond to his words. He could be proud of himself, but that pride didn’t extend to me, because it had nothing to do with me.

I just walked up to him and picked up the package. Before I could open it, the man said, “Well, it’s a reward for you for daring to laugh. There aren’t many young people like you.”

“Nonsense.” The strange man seemed a bit dissatisfied and spat out two more words.

The middle-aged man, however, looked shocked and quickly retreated. It seems that this strange man has absolute authority in this village.

I didn’t bother to pay attention to what they were singing, but quickly opened the bundle. Inside, neatly folded was a black silk suit, a red belt, and a large red flower that should have been worn on the chest.

I laughed. It turns out that I was chosen as the so-called new bride without any notice!

“Change,” the strange Taoist said lightly.

I looked up at him and smiled, then said, “Don’t you think it’s a little cold?”

“Change,” the strange man said, still speaking in a calm tone. But I, who always had a keen sense of intuition, sensed a hint of anger in his emotions.

Why was he angry? If he had reached the level of cultivation he had, his state of mind would naturally be extremely high. Even if he was a crooked and evil person, it would definitely not affect his composure. Why was he angry at me for a harmless joke?

“Village Chief, have you already made a decision?” The lama next to him spoke, his words were strange, with a strong Tibetan flavor, obviously he was not used to speaking Chinese.

But the strange Taoist, who always spoke concisely, looked at him with concern and explained slowly, “His spiritual talent will naturally be extracted, but his body should not be wasted. Send it over.”

I had already taken off the red shirt and put on the black Tang suit, but when I suddenly heard the strange Taoist say that, my hands suddenly became cold again.

Extract, my spiritual talent? Why is it so scary? Because I was helpless, my eyes unconsciously fell on the face of Xiao Chengqian, the only partner I trusted here. He still looked indifferent, but a hint of apology was revealed in his eyes.

Why apologize?