124: Both are very clever! (Two-in-one)

Qian Daoliu floated down and arrived before the Azure Dragon Temple.

At this time, Believers were busily painting the Azure Dragon Temple, working with great fervor.

Genuine joy was on everyone's faces, as if what they were doing right now was an incredibly sacred act.

Qian Daoliu looked at their faces and was slightly stunned.

He couldn't recall when the Spirit Masters of the Spirit Hall had possessed such faith.

Those Spirit Masters joined the Spirit Hall not because of faith in the God of Angels, but for other reasons.

The Spirit Hall long ago ceased to resemble a true temple.

Qian Daoliu sighed, feeling a touch of melancholy.

He stepped into the temple, drawing the attention of the Believers.

Although he was not wearing luxurious robes, it was clear at a glance that he was no ordinary person.

"Esteemed Sir, are you also a Believer of the Divine Lord?"

Someone asked boldly.

Qian Daoliu shook his head slightly and said, "No, but I am very curious... Who instructed you to build the Azure Dragon Temple here? You all seem very happy?"

The Believers spoke one after another:

"It was the divine edict of the Divine Lord, of course!"

"We are so honored that the Divine Lord entrusted this task to us! Of course, we are happy!"

"I was originally a villager outside Heaven Dou City. After three years of drought, I was at my wit's end and was about to hang myself, but the Divine Lord saved me!"

"..."

The crowd began to express their gratitude for the Azure Dragon Divine Lord's benevolence.

They were extremely enthusiastic, hoping to attract Qian Daoliu as a Believer as well.

Qian Daoliu listened and nodded slightly. From what these Believers said, there was no sign of any sinister intentions behind the Azure Dragon Temple.

And these people were not disguised agents of some faction; their faith was pure.

If Qian Daoliu were younger, and these Believers dared to build a temple next to the Spirit Hall, he would have surely started a massacre.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have earned the title of Executioner.

But now, he was old, and his heart was calmer.

"Then I must see what kind of charm this Azure Dragon Divine Lord possesses..."

Qian Daoliu smiled faintly and entered the temple. Inside, it was also constructed entirely of wood and stone, featuring only one statue: a statue of the Azure Dragon Divine Lord, depicted with a head and two feet.

With his perception, this was merely an ordinary statue.

Its most notable feature was that it was carved from a single piece of wood.

It certainly wouldn't last long... "Is this just the fantasy of a group of Mortals? Forget it, I actually took it seriously and prepared for a confrontation..."

Qian Daoliu chuckled, shook his head, feeling he had been overly nervous.

He turned around, just about to step over the threshold.

Suddenly, an energy fluctuation appeared behind him.

Simultaneously, a faint divinity emanated forth.

This aura made even him feel a jolt of fear.

He had only one feeling: God!

This must be a deity; it could not be Mortal power!

Qian Daoliu slowly turned his head and looked at the statue again. The previously rigid carving now possessed a divine majesty, exuding awe without anger. Especially the eyes, they seemed to be staring directly at him!

Such divinity far surpassed even the statue of the Angel God in the Hall of Worship!

"!!!" Qian Daoliu took a deep breath.

"You are the High Priest of the Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu?"

Yu Mengzhang suddenly appeared, looking at the tense Qian Daoliu, and asked calmly.

Qian Daoliu was nearly startled again, looking at Yu Mengzhang in shock.

He hadn't seen Yu Mengzhang appear just now; the man had materialized out of thin air.

This... could this be an ordinary person?

Especially since there was no Soul Power fluctuation... Emotions surged rapidly in Qian Daoliu's mind. He clasped his fists and replied, "That is correct. I am the High Priest of the Spirit Hall, the Clan Chief of the Angel Clan, Qian Daoliu..."

Yu Mengzhang nodded slightly; he held no hostility.

His purpose in coming here was not to destroy the Spirit Hall, but to ensure they didn't do anything 'foolish'.

"Is the Lion Douluo still here?"

As he spoke, Yu Mengzhang waved his hand.

Instantly, the entire Azure Dragon Temple was renewed, becoming completely integrated, as if connected to the earth, imbued with a touch more divinity.

The Believers noticed the change and rushed to the temple entrance, immediately kneeling in worship.

"Greetings, High Priest...!!!"

"Long live the Divine Lord! Long live the High Priest!"

"..."

They kowtowed with fervent devotion.

Actually, the blessings they shouted—'Long live ten thousand years'—sounded more like a 'curse' in reality.

If Yu Mengzhang truly lived for ten thousand years, it would be a massive loss.

He did not bother to correct them. "Rise. You have done well."

As he spoke, Gu Tiandu pointed at them, and a golden light of Karma flew out, distributing itself among these people.

From now on, it would be very difficult for them to suffer illness or disaster.

"Praise the Divine Lord! Praise the High Priest! Whatever we do for the temple is our duty!"

The crowd expressed this unanimously, their expressions sincere, without a trace of falsehood.

They truly found inner satisfaction and peace by working for the temple.

Qian Daoliu watched this scene, his heart filled with even greater emotion.

Does the God of Angels still have Believers like this now?

Moreover, this person was the legendary High Priest?

The 'culprit' who, with a casual strike, forced Bibi Dong into a year of recovery and indirectly caused the annihilation of the Spirit Hall's elites?

Despite this, Qian Daoliu was very compliant at this moment, having no desire to conflict with the other party.

Having reached his cultivation level, he could easily distinguish between those weaker than him and those stronger than him... As for Yu Mengzhang, he was completely inscrutable, leaving only one conclusion: the two were fundamentally not on the same Realm.

And this was only the High Priest; one must not forget that the Azure Dragon Divine Lord also made frequent appearances.

Not long ago, he had directly swept through the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

The Spirit Hall certainly couldn't compete with such grand resolve.

Therefore, confrontation was impossible!

He absolutely could not make an enemy; instead, he needed to resolve past grievances.

"So it is the High Priest himself... The Lion did indeed return. Upon learning of the foolish act he committed, I severely punished him. Then, hearing that the Azure Dragon Temple was planning to build a branch hall here, I specifically came to wait.", Qian Daoliu said with a smile.

Yu Mengzhang hummed, "He doesn't resent me? Nor will he seek revenge against the Azure Dragon Temple?"

Qian Daoliu immediately shook his head: "How could that be? What the Azure Dragon Temple has done—we have heard of it. Three years of bringing rain and saving the populace from suffering... This aligns perfectly with the principles of our Spirit Hall."

"We are too busy supporting them to even think of revenge!"

Qian Daoliu widened his eyes, looking as if this were absolutely true.

The corner of Yu Mengzhang's mouth curved slightly; he could sense Qian Daoliu's rapidly beating heart.

However, since Qian Daoliu knew where he stood, Yu Mengzhang was disinclined to press the attack.

His reason for not personally joining the Insurgent Army to support them was partly to avoid causing too much bloodshed.

Of course, the main reason was limited Dragon Qi!

Qian Daoliu felt a wave of relief as Yu Mengzhang did not press the issue.

Fortunately, the relationship between the Spirit Hall and the Azure Dragon Temple had not reached an irreparable point!

On the contrary, because of the Insurgent Army as a link, the two sides could actually cooperate!

Qian Daoliu was about to speak to draw closer, when the voice of the Lion Douluo suddenly sounded from outside.

"Big Brother...!"

Qian Daoliu's expression instantly changed, and he rushed out the door.

Yu Mengzhang's figure flashed, and he also arrived at the doorway.

Among the kneeling Believers outside, five figures appeared. They were all imposing and extraordinary, clad in golden armor, clearly noble individuals. Especially their powerful auras made people hesitant to look directly at them.

These were the other Consecrated Elders of the Spirit Hall.

"Big Brother, this Azure Dragon Temple seems a bit off..."

The Lion Douluo said in a loud voice.

"Silence! This is the dwelling place of a deity; naturally, it is different. Do not speak nonsense!" Qian Daoliu hurriedly interrupted, coldly shouting as he stared at the Lion Douluo.

The Lion Douluo was startled and scratched his head, "Big Brother, what are you doing...?"

The other Consecrated Elders were also stunned.

They had never seen Qian Daoliu so flustered before.

At this moment, they also noticed Yu Mengzhang at the doorway.

Yu Mengzhang was only a little over nine years old, so he wasn't as tall as Qian Daoliu.

They then realized that upon seeing his eyes, a sense of oppression welled up in their hearts, making them afraid to look too long.

Only the Lion Douluo frowned and muttered, "I feel like I've seen him somewhere before..."

Seeing Yu Mengzhang follow him out, Qian Daoliu quickly moved next to the Lion Douluo.

With an anxious expression, he grabbed the Lion Douluo's shoulders.

This left the Lion Douluo completely bewildered.

"Big Brother, what are you doing?"

Qian Daoliu said seriously, "High Priest, this is my muddle-headed brother. He is not malicious, just overly foolish. I hope the High Priest can forgive him; the Spirit Hall is willing to pay any price."

"Lion, why aren't you apologizing to the High Priest? You actually offended the Azure Dragon Temple back then."

Qian Daoliu's tone towards the Lion Douluo was noticeably heavier.

The Lion Douluo grimaced; Qian Daoliu's hands on his shoulders were gripping hard, like an iron clamp, threatening to crush him.

"It hurts..."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw Qian Daoliu's tense expression.

It was a look of panic he had never witnessed before.

The Lion Douluo opened his mouth, lowered his head, and mumbled, "I am sorry, High Priest. It was my fault back then. I... I have a reckless temper. Whatever punishment you mete out, I deserve it..."

Qian Daoliu breathed a sigh of relief. He had genuinely feared that the Lion Douluo, being stubborn, might actually confront the High Priest.

If the Spirit Hall were to face a true deity... that would likely be the moment of the Spirit Hall's annihilation.

Yu Mengzhang glanced at him faintly, "You said to have me come to Spirit City?"

"!!!" Qian Daoliu's mouth opened slightly, and his heart sank.

Having conceded this much, did the High Priest still not intend to spare the Spirit Hall?

"Pfft..."

The Lion Douluo gritted his teeth and knelt down directly, "I meant, if the High Priest were to arrive at Spirit City, then I would personally apologize to the High Priest!"

"Arrive, not dare to come..."

"It's a good thing the High Priest only came today, otherwise I would have been recovering from injuries elsewhere for the entire year. That Sacred Giant Dragon back then injured me quite severely..."

The Lion Douluo said cleverly.

"..." The other Consecrated Elders heard this and bowed in unison, pleading for the Lion Douluo.

Although they didn't know how powerful the High Priest was, seeing Qian Daoliu's current attitude, they understood what they needed to do.

"We beg the High Priest for forgiveness..."

Qian Daoliu cupped his hands in a salute.

Inside, his heart was tense; this moment would determine the future safety of the Spirit Hall.

Yu Mengzhang glanced at them and said faintly, "Then let it go."

"Thank you, High Priest, for your mercy!"

Qian Daoliu immediately expressed his gratitude.

The other Consecrated Elders also spoke their thanks one after another.

Just then, another streak of light descended. It was a "youth" with grayish-white, shoulder-length hair, exceptionally handsome, though actually housing a mischievous old man over a hundred years old.

"Big Brother, what's going on? Are you about to make a move?"

The Light Plume Douluo asked with a chuckle.

"!!!"

Qian Daoliu's face changed in fright.

The faces of the other Consecrated Elders also stiffened.

Why did this fellow return at such a moment?!

"Do not speak rashly!!!"

"That statement is too easily misunderstood... We were just about to help the Azure Dragon Temple tidy up the surroundings..."

Qian Daoliu also displayed quick thinking and found an excuse.

The Light Plume Douluo blinked, startled by the shout. Seeing that all the Consecrated Elders claimed they were going to help, he immediately understood and chuckled sheepishly.

"Alas! My fault, my fault! Big Brother, I was just trying to slack off, I didn't expect you all were starting..."

The Light Plume Douluo played along.

He quickly glanced at Yu Mengzhang, thinking that the spokesperson for the Azure Dragon Temple looked somewhat similar to him?

Did they both like pretending to be young?

Qian Daoliu asked respectfully, "High Priest, shall we begin helping then?"

"Whatever."

Yu Mengzhang shook his head slightly, unconcerned.

He naturally knew what Qian Daoliu was covering up.

But there was no need to pursue it; offending without knowledge was forgivable.

However, if they knew the Azure Dragon Divine Lord was present and still dared to commit sacrilege, that would be unforgivable... Thus, the seven top Mortal Spirit Masters of the Douluo Continent, the current highest authority of the Spirit Hall, led by Qian Daoliu, cleaned up the grassland within a ten-mile radius.

Not even a small, stubbing pebble was left behind.

They did not return to Spirit City until late into the night.

Upon arriving at Pope Mountain, everyone's gaze fell upon Qian Daoliu.

They had been made to labor for an entire day; they deserved an explanation, right?

Qian Daoliu breathed a sigh of relief. Without immediately replying to them, he first entered the Hall of Worship.

He knelt beneath the statue of the Angel God and prayed devoutly for a while.

The other Consecrated Elders followed suit.

However, they only caught a fleeting glimpse of the statue inside the Azure Dragon Temple.

When they looked at the statue of the Angel God again, they always felt something was missing.

In short... it couldn't compare!

"Do you all know that the High Priest is not a Mortal at all, but a True God..." Qian Daoliu suddenly spoke.

Instantly, all the Consecrated Elders showed expressions of disbelief.

"!!!"

A True God walking the Mortal world?

With such an existence, what faction could compare to them?

They might as well surrender early!

The Second Consecrated Elder, Gold Crocodile Douluo, said gravely, "Then doesn't that mean the Azure Dragon Temple likely has two deities?"

The hearts of the other Consecrated Elders sank. Now, they finally understood that Qian Daoliu's abnormal actions during the day were meant to save their lives!

If Qian Daoliu hadn't been quick-witted, they might all have died under divine punishment!

"Ancestor left behind some instructions regarding deities..."

"Logically, deities cannot remain in the Mortal world. Even if they linger in the Mortal Realm due to a Legacy, they cannot influence or interfere with Mortal affairs. This might also be the reason the Azure Dragon Temple hasn't actively intervened..."