6: Huang Tian Shen Mu, storm is coming
Standing on the altar was a middle-aged man in a yellow Bagua robe, with a gaunt face and a mustache.
He held a copper coin sword in his right hand and a brass bell in his left.
His eyes were tightly shut, his mouth mumbled incantations, and his hands continuously made comical gestures, accompanied by the ringing of the copper bell.
On the offering table in front of the altar, an unknown deity statue was enshrined, also cast from brass, appearing to be a female figure.
Qin Jiang watched the yellow paper fluttering everywhere and the frenzied crowd, a chill rising from his tailbone, making his hair stand on end.
It was like being suddenly thrown into an ice cellar on a scorching summer day.
Woo~~~
A low bullhorn sound suddenly rang out, and the altar's forward speed quickened, directly pushing aside the kneeling crowd; no one cared if someone was knocked over.
The next moment, all the kneeling people suddenly stood up and surged towards the altar, but no one could stop the altar's advance. Those in front were knocked to the ground and then trampled by the surging crowd.
“Ah! Give it to me! Give it to me!”
“All of you, get out of my way! It's mine! It's mine!”
Amidst the curses and wails, Qin Jiang was also pushed and shoved towards the altar by the surging crowd from behind.
He exerted force with his hands, channeling his inner Qi into his arms, and with just a slight push, he created space around himself.
However, even so, there were simply too many people, and with the altar itself moving forward, his distance from the altar grew shorter and shorter.
In less than two breaths, he was carried by the human flow and squeezed to the front of the altar.
Seeing this, he quickly grabbed onto the altar's frame and pulled himself onto it.
Without him noticing, his palm touched the statue in front of the altar.
[Potential points absorbing... 0.1, 0.1]
The sudden notification made him instantly retract his hand, his gaze filled with surprise as he looked at the statue.
After only a moment of hesitation, he pressed his palm onto the statue again.
[Potential points absorbing... 0.1, 0.1, 0.2]
Soon, all the potential points were absorbed, totaling 1.2.
Woo~~~
The bullhorn sounded again, and the dozen strong men carrying the altar instantly stopped, Qin Jiang's body also lurching forward from inertia.
“Ding-a-ling!”
A crisp bell sound rang out, and Qin Jiang suddenly felt a sense of being spied upon at the back of his neck.
He jumped off the altar and looked back, only to see the yellow-robed master holding the brass bell high in his left hand, his right hand pointing the copper coin sword at him.
At this moment, he had opened his eyes, which were wide with anger, glaring at Qin Jiang.
Crossing his arms and raising his left leg, he made a strange gesture, uttering an odd tone, “Since you see~~~ the Shenmu! Why~~~ do you not~~~ bow!!!”
Qin Jiang stood still, his eyes scanning the surroundings, only to see everyone else kneeling on the ground, looking up at him, their eyes filled with intense fury, as if they wished to tear him to shreds!
The shadows cast by the buildings in the alley sent an inexplicable chill through his body.
Just as he was about to rush out, the master on the altar suddenly moved, spreading his arms, the bell in his hand shaking incessantly.
“Bow~! Shenmu~~~ bestow~~~ grace!”
As he shouted, the kneeling crowd suddenly raised their arms high and brought them down heavily, not caring even if their skin was scraped.
Qin Jiang retreated upon seeing this, quickly weaving through the gaps in the crowd and into a small alley.
He circulated his inner Qi, moving swiftly, and glanced back with lingering fear, the cold sweat on the back of his neck drying.
They're crazy, a bunch of lunatics, all brainwashed!
Besides rice and meat, that congee must have contained drugs that affect the mind!
This Master Li is definitely not a good person!
After walking quickly for a while, his pace gradually slowed. The main road where the ritual was held was no longer visible, and he slightly clenched his fists.
In this chaotic world, he could only rely on his own fists!
He looked at the potential points below the potential panel, recalling the first time he absorbed potential points.
What do the tombstone and the statue have in common?
As he pondered, a ray of sunlight entered his eyes, and he looked up, having already reached the checkpoint in front of the city gate.
“Little Qin, going to collect herbs again?” Wang Dali's voice entered his ears.
Qin Jiang nodded slightly, “Yes, the patients have increased, and the medicinal herbs are a bit insufficient.”
Wang Dali clicked his tongue, “Indeed, things have been getting more and more chaotic recently.”
After speaking, he looked around and leaned slightly closer to Qin Jiang, “Let me tell you, don't go to the South City recently; it's not peaceful there.”
Qin Jiang's eyes brightened slightly, “Not peaceful? Didn't they say that Master Li in the South City opened his granaries to distribute food?”
“You know about that too?”
Wang Dali was a bit surprised, then he mysteriously covered his mouth with his hand and leaned in slightly, “He did distribute food, but I heard that several people who went to eat the congee died!
If you ask me, this Master Li is fat and wealthy. I never saw him do good deeds before, and he certainly wouldn't do so for no reason now!
I heard from the brothers over there that this old fellow seems to have invited some kind of Shenmu or Fomu, I think it was called Huangtian!
Yes! It's called Huangtian, Yellow Sky Divine Mother! Yes, yes, yes! That's it!”
“Yellow Sky Divine Mother?”
Qin Jiang frowned slightly. Huangtian, this name is not simple.
This Yellow Sky Divine Mother, a single master would not be qualified to enshrine her alone; it is highly likely that she is the source of faith for a certain sect.
Shenmu.
This world is truly becoming more and more chaotic; all sorts of demons and monsters are appearing.
“Right! You must be careful; don't run around the city recently.” Wang Dali patted his shoulder.
Qin Jiang nodded, “I understand. Thank you, Brother Wang, for the reminder.”
“Oh, don't be so polite, we're brothers! Alright then, I'm busy with duties, so I won't keep you. Go early and come back early; don't come back as late as yesterday, it's dangerous.” Wang Dali warned.
After Qin Jiang left, a person next to Wang Dali walked over, “Brother Li, is it really necessary? He's just an herb collector, isn't he?”
Wang Dali glanced at him, frowning slightly, “What kind of talk is that! Little Jiang is my brother! Do you understand what a brother is?!”
What nonsense! How could I tell you that I just got news last night that Qin Jiang's sister is competing for the Red Tiger Gang's hall master position?
If you also come to curry favor then, what if you push me out?
“Ah, yes, yes, yes, Brother Li, you are famously righteous!” The man, seeing Wang Dali a bit angry, quickly bowed slightly and smiled apologetically.
Wang Dali impatiently waved his hand, “Alright, alright, do your own work! Mind your own business!”
After the man retreated, he looked in the direction Qin Jiang had left, his thoughts becoming active.
That woman Qin Hong has actually mastered Red Tiger Fist, I never would have thought!
If I can build a good relationship with Qin Jiang, maybe this minor leader position can go up a bit?
Not to mention the steward, that has strict requirements for strength; one must be a second-rate master to hold that position.
But between major leader and minor leader, there is no such thing; it mainly depends on seniority.
If Qin Hong really becomes the hall master, and then has a hall master to speak for her, wouldn't the major leader position be easily within reach?
These days, there's truly more and more to look forward to!
Dahei Mountain, the dense black locust tree forest had sparse leaves, like strange claws.
Qin Jiang walked along the mountain path, stopping after reaching a corner.
He looked at the dense forest beyond the corner, which was in the direction of the grave mound. After a moment of hesitation, he plunged into the dense forest.
Following the route from his memory, he soon reached a small clearing, and a tall black locust tree appeared in his sight.
Upon getting closer, his pupils suddenly constricted!
The grave mound under the large locust tree was gone, and the tombstone was broken!
Someone else had been here after he crawled out of the grave mound!
This also meant that his survival had been discovered!