Chapter 122: Returning In Glory To The Street Of Walking Corpses
The voices of the two Immortal Sect envoys rang in everyone’s ears, and the breathing of the candidates on site immediately became disordered.
Some people let out a long breath, their faces joyful and excited beyond measure. Others looked numb, involuntarily covering their faces and rubbing them hard.
Still others pounded the ground fiercely, either cursing themselves or muttering to themselves.
Fang Shu was among them. He too immediately opened his eyes, revealing joy in them.
Immediately after, everyone felt a chill sweep over them, and the Unmelted Bones they had painstakingly collected flew out with a whoosh, falling into the sleeves of the two Immortal Sect envoys.
The two envoys weighed the number of Unmelted Bones in their sleeves, their faces showing an amused expression:
“Not bad, not bad. Though these chicken ribs are tasteless, they still count as a bit more extra income.”
One of them even looked toward Qian Shan Mine and remarked:
“It seems your town squeezes quite a bit out of the mine slaves here. To think someone could nurture so many Unmelted Bones. This place can indeed be considered a good spot full of resentment.”
No sooner had he spoken than, before Fang Shu and the others could react, the envoy shrugged and muttered to himself, “But what does this have to do with me?”
Immediately after, the two Immortal Sect envoys exchanged a glance, seemingly discussing something in secret. Then they each pointed at people among the candidates present:
“You, step forward and report your name.” “You, report your name too.”
“Yes, Immortal Elder!”
Those whose names were called all hurriedly responded. Even the mysterious Rat Lord did so immediately and stepped forward quickly, not daring to delay.
Fang Shu stayed calm. As he expected, he was indeed among the eighteen spots, and in a forward position, the fifth to be called.
After bowing to the two envoys, he too stood honestly among the group that had responded.
One after another.
Soon, the eighteen people stood to the left and right of the Immortal Sect envoys like eighteen protectors.
When the last person stood in place, the last glimmer of hope in the eyes of the few remaining in the circle instantly dimmed, and they all hung their heads in dejection.
In the meantime, a small incident occurred. Someone pounded their chest fiercely, extremely agitated, muttering incoherently: “It should have been mine—it should have been mine!”
Fang Shu glanced over and saw that the one pounding his chest was the person who had earlier worried about not having enough Unmelted Bones in hand and wanted to leave them inside the circle first.
In stark contrast to this person was the candidate who had just been the last to join the ranks.
This person was beaming with joy, and upon recalling, Fang Shu realized that the Unmelted Bones in his hand had been picked up from the ground, giving him just a bit more.
In other words, if the one pounding his chest had done nothing, he would have passed. But he had fallen just short, and what was worse, he had handed it over to someone else, helping that person pass instead.
Not only did Fang Shu realize this, but the other candidates also looked at the one pounding his chest with pity.
Soon, a gentle voice suddenly rang in their ears, drawing their attention:
“We have noted all your names. Rest assured on that matter.”
These words stunned the eighteen candidates. Because the speaker was one of the Immortal Sect envoys who had been looking at them coldly all along.
The two even proactively cupped their hands toward the crowd and gave their names:
“Poor Daoist Hao Hexin.”
“Lao Youdiao. Fellow Daoists, we shall meet again at the Immortal Sect.”
Fang Shu and the others were stunned, feeling caught off guard.
They too hurriedly returned the courtesy: “Juniors greet Immortal Elder Hao and Immortal Elder Lao!”
The two Immortal Sect envoys smilingly acknowledged them one by one.
Their attitude was worlds apart from before—not to say night and day, but like two different people, as if they had grown two faces.
However, the candidates also realized that from this night on, their status was completely different from before. They were now genuine Immortal Seeds of the Immortal Sect.
Joining the Immortal Sect was now just a matter of lifting a hand for them!
The scene was quite restless for a while.
The failed candidates were full of envy, but none dared voice jealousy, merely hiding their envious and resentful thoughts in their hearts.
Although they said “meet again at the Immortal Sect,” the two Immortal Sect envoys did not leave directly.
Instead, they cupped their hands again, asking the passed candidates who had time to lend a hand.
Because soon, these two Immortal Sect envoys gathered all the remaining candidates from the mine field, dead or alive, and threw them into the crowd, asking everyone to help send those who could not walk back to town.
The exam was over, and everyone was now promising Immortal Seeds. With the two envoys being polite as well, they naturally agreed, and a few even competed to help.
Fang Shu was among them and casually picked up one person to help carry back to town.
Soon, the group set off toward Gu Ling Town.
………….
On the other side.
In Gu Ling Town, fires flared up in various parts of the marketplace, shouts of killing rang out incessantly, and plumes of blue smoke rose here and there. A considerable riot had evidently broken out.
But with the disciples of Ku Gu Guan blocked and the Dojo Masters returning, the riot of the miners and mine slaves was gradually suppressed.
When Fang Shu and the others returned to town in time from outside, they saw this scene and showed varied expressions.
But when they saw the Female Immortal of the Zong Family sitting cross-legged at the crossroads, everyone let out a big sigh of relief, knowing the town’s situation could not be too bad.
This woman wore white robes, which compared to before were now stained with quite a bit of blood. Around her lay a ground of white bones and skeletons, as well as corpses of miners and mine slaves, in a chaotic mess.
But this scene did not diminish her demeanor at all. Instead, it made her seem like a winter plum blossom in full, isolated bloom, captivating the heart.
Zheng!
When this woman opened her eyes, Fang Shu and the others’ hearts trembled, as if sword light had flashed by.
“Back?” The Woman of the Zong Family said softly. Then she stood up, and a long sword flew up like a flood dragon from somewhere, winding its way into her sleeve.
Hao Hexin and Lao Youdiao hurriedly stepped forward:
“Reporting to Fellow Daoist Zong, the assessment is complete. Here is the list of those who passed.”
“Good, thank you both.”
The Woman of the Zong Family glanced at it, nodded to the crowd, and instructed:
“Leave the cleanup here to you two as well. That thief earlier was severed an arm by me but fled outside the town.
I held back for the town’s sake and did not pursue. Go try now.”
As soon as she finished speaking, without waiting for their response.
This woman gracefully disappeared from everyone’s sight, truly like a divine being. Fang Shu and the others watched with hearts swaying.
Soon, the various Dojo Masters in town learned of Fang Shu and the others’ return and led their disciples hurrying toward the town entrance.
Amid the crowd’s escort, the passed candidates, adorned with red flowers, walked joyfully down the main street.
In stark contrast.
Were the corpses lying on both sides of the street, and the rioters who had been bound and captured. They were pressed to kneel like pigs and dogs by the roadside, being beheaded one by one.
The thudding sounds were incessant.
Fang Shu walked along slowly.
Suddenly, he heard someone shouting his name:
“Fang Shu! Fellow Daoist Fang!”
Turning his head, he saw a kneeling miner whose face was full of ecstatic joy, eyes gleaming as he stared at him. The man even twisted his body, struggling to pounce toward him.
“Save me…” But the man had only run half a step.
The next moment, a Dojo Disciple behind him swung a large blade fiercely.
Thud!
A simple and honest-looking head fell to the ground at once. The headless body swayed and collapsed, its gushing blood further staining the street red, forming a vivid red carpet for Fang Shu and the others to tread upon.
