185|Thirty-Three Divine Officers Competing for the Blessed Land

Xie Ren asked, “Is this your grave? Is it your wine I’m drinking?”

He drank in confusion, and did not hear whether the ghostly fire had answered anything, thinking that the owner of the grave was displeased and was driving himself away, muttered, and said, “I know, I’ll leave now.”

Xie Ren climbed up with the wine jar in his arms and took a wobbly step. Who knows, did not walk a few steps, suddenly feet empty, “thud” sound – the whole person fell upside down.

It turned out that there was a big pit in the graveyard. It was dug for burying the dead, but before the dead were buried, Xie Ren had to lie in it first.

Xie Ren bumped his forehead on the edge of the pit, which made him more and more dizzy. He was dazed for a while before he struggled to get up, his hands covered in mud and blood, not knowing where he had broken them.

He held up his hands, looked blankly for a while, and tried to climb out of the pit. But he had just drunk a jar of wine, his hands and feet were weak, he could not use his strength, and he slipped down after climbing several times. Xie Ren was paralyzed back to the bottom of the pit, staring at the night sky with dark clouds covering the moon for a while, very angry:

The pit isn’t that deep. Why can’t you climb out?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, Xie Ren couldn’t help but mutter, “…… I fucked up.”

Xie Ren had never cursed before. This was the first time he had ever spat out such words from his mouth. Miraculously, after he finished cursing, his chest’s stagnant and stuffy feeling was instantly dispersed. Thus, like a child who had gotten a taste of sweetness, Xie Ren struggled to pick at the edge of the grave pit and raised his voice to curse again, “I’m so fucking fucked up!”

He slapped the ground and shouted, “Is there anyone out there? Is there anyone coming to give me a hand?!”

Of course there was no one. There was only a ghostly flame that danced and never went out. After Xie Ren fell, the ghostly fire rushed over seemingly trying to pull him, but it was never allowed to touch. Xie Ren didn’t care about it at all and said angrily, “Why don’t someone just come and bury me!”

Cursing is cursing, crawling is still crawling. Huffing and puffing, Xie Ren easily climbed up on his own, already in a mess, panting on the ground. It was only after a long time that he rolled over and curled up, hugging himself.

Xie Ren whispered, “It’s cold.”

He spoke very quietly, afraid of being heard. The ghostly fire, however, heard him and flew over to stick to his body, the flames suddenly much brighter, seeming to burn itself harder.

However, the ghost fire is cold.

Even if it got close enough to burn out, it wouldn’t give the living an ounce of warmth.

In a trance, Xie Ren seemed to hear a tiny voice.

The voice, seemingly near and far, also dreamy and real, said desperately, “God, please wait for me, wait for me …… Please give me a little more time …… Let me… . let me ……”

“……”

Xie Ren said, “God? Is it calling me?”

But even praying to him is useless.

Because, when he was God there was nothing he could do. Now, no longer a god, he is even more unable to do anything.

……

“…… Your Highness? Your Highness? Your Highness!”

Xie Ren was pushed awake by Feng Xin.

He barely opened his eyes and realized that he was lying in an alley. Feng Xin’s face hung above him, and once he saw him wake up, he was finally relieved, and then his face was colored with a few tints of anger as he said, ”Your Highness! What the hell is wrong with you? You didn’t say a word and ran out for more than two days! If you don’t come back, I won’t be able to hide it from His Majesty and the others!”

Xie Ren slowly sat up and said, “Two days?”

As soon as these two words were uttered, he realized that his throat was dry, his voice was hoarse, and his eyebrows were throbbing, and he had a splitting headache, as if he remembered something, and as if he didn’t remember anything at all. Feng Xin squatted beside him and said, “That’s it! Two days! Where the hell have you been? Why did you go crazy like that just now?”

Was he drunk for two days? Wasn’t he in a wild cemetery? How could he be lying here? And listening to Feng Xin’s tone, Xie Ren had an ominous feeling and said, “What happened to me?”

Feng Xin said without a trace of anger, “You’ve been possessed! Smashing stalls everywhere, hitting people everywhere, and stopping the Yongan soldiers patrolling the streets! What else you did before that, I don’t know!”

Hearing that he actually went to stop the Yongan soldiers, Xie Ren was shocked and said, “I stopped the soldiers? What about …… those soldiers?”

Feng Xin said: “Luckily you were pulled by me bumping into you, and you look like this, they thought you were a drunken madman, scolded a few words did not pay much attention, or else you would be dead. What’s wrong with you? How do I see you look like you’ve been drinking?”

Xie Ren looked down, he is now dirty all over the body full of sludge, scratching his hair, but also messy as if it is about to pull down the autumn after the beheading of the prisoners, really like those who sleep on the street all day drunken madman.

After a moment of silence, he climbed to his feet and said vaguely, “Well …… drank a little.”

Feng Xin didn’t react for a moment and said, “What? How can you drink? Just how much did you drink to get drunk for two days?”

Seeing Feng Xin’s unbelievable face, Xie Ren was a little upset for no reason and walked forward, saying, “I said I didn’t drink much. No what to do. Why can’t I drink.”

Feng Xin didn’t expect him to answer like this and froze for a moment, chasing after him, “What do you mean, what not to do? Why? Your Highness, have you forgotten, because drinking breaks the fast, you can’t break the fast, otherwise what about cultivation? You have to ascend again.”

“…… “As soon as she heard about cultivation and ascension, Xie Ren didn’t want to hear any more and quickened her pace. Feng Xin said, “Your Highness!”

He caught up again, hesitated for a moment, and said, “Is that what happened? Talk to me?”

Hearing Feng Xin inquire so carefully, Xie Ren opened her mouth to speak.

If he didn’t get someone to say it, he might have to break down. But then again, he wasn’t sure how Windsong would react when he said it.

He wouldn’t dare bet on it.

Seeing his stagnation, Feng Xin added, “Seriously, it’s not murder and arson and robbery, is there anything you can’t say to me, Your Highness?”

When she heard “it’s not murder and arson”, Xie Ren was suffocated.

If he had originally already given birth to a little bit of shaking, a little bit of fluke, then at this moment, it was all completely shattered. Xie Ren lowered his head, turned around and continued to walk, and said vaguely, “There is nothing …… just, I am really tired. You ……” He was trying to make up some excuses, and suddenly realized that there was something on the side of Feng Xin s cheek, stopped his footsteps, and said, “What s going on with your face?”

Windsong ran a hand down his cheek and seemed to feel pain, his muscles twitching. The things on his face were bruises. Also, one arm was bandaged, carefully wrapped in layers.

The bandage was definitely not wrapped by Feng Xin himself, however, what Xie Ren cared about was the injury under the bandage, he said, “How did you get hurt?”

With Feng Xin’s stance, a mortal could not easily make him injured, and the injury was to his arm. Feng Xin didn’t think it was a big deal and said, “Oh, it’s nothing, those scoundrels came to smash the stalls only.”

Xie Ren was startled and said, “Were those locals who were selling their art that day?”

Windsong said, “That’s them.”

Xie Ren said, “Why did they smash your stall?” Then she had an epiphany, “Is it because we conceded defeat that day, but you went back to selling your art later, so they came to kick you out?”

This is most likely the case. After figuring out the cause, a steep surge of anger rose in Xie Ren’s heart.

He said stiffly, “Don’t you go!”

However, Feng Xin was full of concern and said, “Whatever! I’m going to go. You’re the one who admitted defeat, not me. I didn’t admit defeat anyway, so it doesn’t count as reneging. I just want to sell my art there, so what can they do to me besides sneaking around and throwing things at the stalls? This time I was not prepared, next time I won’t be, I’m not afraid of them even in a fight!”

Hearing these words, the sudden hostility in Xie Ren’s heart instantly dispersed and was replaced by a pang of guilt.

The wind letter is like this, but he is still here by himself, how can he face the loyal servants who have not left him at this point?

Thinking of this, Xie Ren sighed and said, “I’m sorry, Feng Xin.”

Feng Xin froze, vigorously waved his hand, and said, “Why is Your Highness saying sorry to me, isn’t this nonsense.”

Xie Ren said, “You’re the one earning money these days, it’s been hard on you.”

Feng Xin said, “As long as you cultivate well and ascend again soon, it’s better than anything!”

Hearing the word “ascension” again, Xie Ren nodded heavily.

The State Lord and Queen were concealed by the wind letter and only thought that Xie Ren had been out cultivating for the past few days. Seeing him return, the Queen was still happy to cook another meal. Xie Ren couldn’t bear to do so and took Feng Xin’s bowl over and ate it instead. The night was sleepless.

On the second day, Feng Xin woke up early and went out, while Xie Ren stayed behind to cultivate.

However, even though he had put up a good fight, he was still unable to concentrate.

This is just like everyone knows that the only way to get ahead is to study hard. However, out of ten thousand people, how many of them can really do the four words “study hard and practice hard”? Similarly, even if he tells himself ten thousand times in his heart that his mind is free of distractions, how is it possible to do it just by saying it?

For more than a dozen days in a row, the progress of cultivation was stagnant, with nothing to show for it, so Xie Ren was inevitably anxious in his heart. Especially when Feng Xin dragged his tired body back late at night every day and asked him along with the Queen if he had made any progress today, Xie Ren felt a burst of unspeakably great pressure.

But he didn’t dare to tell the truth, he could only answer vaguely that there was progress, so Feng Xin and the Queen were very happy. Going on for a long time was not a solution. Two months later, Xie Ren finally couldn’t let this status quo continue any longer.

One day, Feng Xin returned late at night, and the two of them ate the leftovers left over from yesterday at the table. As they ate, Xie Ren suddenly said to him, “I’m afraid I have to leave for a while.”

Feng Xin froze while picking up his food, “Huh? Leaving? Where are you leaving to?”

Xie Ren slowly said, “I’m going to look for a secluded place with plenty of spiritual qi to retreat and cultivate.”

If the place of cultivation was full of aura, it would definitely be beneficial to the cultivator. Previously, Xie Ren had been unable to pull himself away because he couldn’t make up his mind to leave his parents and two retainers. Right now, he had changed his mind. Without much thought, Feng Xin said, ”Excellent! Your Highness, you should have done this a long time ago! Purification is the most effective.”

Xie Ren nodded, and after a pause, added, “While I’m away, I’ll trouble you to watch over Father and the others.”

Feng Xin was about to reply, but suddenly hesitated for a moment. Although it was fleeting, Xie Ren knew him extremely well, how could she not see his momentary hesitation?

At that moment, the Lord of the Kingdom said, “You can go. The lone king does not need to be watched over.”

Feng Xin and Xie Ren put down their bowls and chopsticks and looked toward the house. The State Lord was actually still not resting and heard their conversation and interjected out loud. Xie Ren shook his head and whispered, “Showing off again.” Feng Xin then laughed a bit, then = said, “Your Highness don’t worry. That’s for sure.”

Now he was answering quickly, but Xie Ren didn’t forget that just now, before Feng Xin answered, he seemed to have hesitated slightly for a moment, as if he had other concerns.

However, thinking about it, he felt that maybe he was really mistaken. Apart from them, Feng Xin didn’t know anyone else and didn’t have any other attachments, so what other concerns could he have? Slightly forgetting about it, he turned to consider tomorrow’s trip.

The next day, Xie Ren carried a simple traveling bag and temporarily bid farewell to her parents and Feng Xin.

He hiked for dozens of miles and slept and ate for several days, and finally found a secluded and deep mountain suitable for a place of purification. After a quick survey, Xie Ren was first stunned, and then, in his heart, he was ecstatic:

“Too lucky …… This place has excellent feng shui, it’s actually a rare cave blessed land!”

Unlucky so far, actually suddenly turn the tide, Xie Ren is still a bit unbelievable, repeated confirmation, which is undoubtedly. This is really a treasure land with abundant aura. If you can practise here for a few months, you will get twice the result with half the effort and make rapid progress!

As if Xie Ren had seen hope, his mood that had been bleak for days brightened up, his heart leaping with joy, “Father, Mother, Feng Xin, wait for me. I’ll be back soon!”

After climbing along the steep and rugged mountain path for three to four hours, Xie Ren finally entered the depths of this spiritual mountain before sunset.

Passing through the heavy woods, one could clearly feel that they were getting closer to the place where the aura originated. Xie Ren’s footsteps were also getting lighter and lighter. Who knew that just as he was picking out a place for his purification, a sudden murmur of footsteps came from behind him.

In such a secluded mountainous place, there were actually so many footsteps, Xie Ren subconsciously looked back. Unexpectedly, this look froze the smile on his lips.

Behind him, many people actually appeared, about three dozen of them, varying in height, fat and thin, with different looks and clothing, but without exception, they were all Divine Magi. A few were the last Divine Magi of the Upper Heavenly Court, and most were the same Divine Magi of the Lower Heavenly Court.

Among them, there were clearly still standing the same minor magi from the last time they had crashed into a roadblock!

When they saw Xie Ren, their complexion changed slightly, tugging at this and poking at that, whispering without knowing what to say. And seeing them, Xie Ren’s hands shook slightly all of a sudden.

Both sides looked at each other face to face. It was only after a long time that a magus there coughed and said, “Such a coincidence that I actually met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince here.”

“Yes, why is His Highness the Crown Prince here as well?”

“……”

Xie Ren nodded slightly and replied as calmly and calmly as he could without being overbearing, “I’m here to cultivate.”

Although he, nowadays, was not what he used to be, Xie Ren still tried his best to speak in the same tone as in the past when he wasn’t depreciated, not allowing himself to be lowly and not allowing himself to be weak and short of breath.

The opposite Magus laughed, “Even more coincidentally, we’re here to practice as well.”

“Yeah, yeah, I didn’t expect to hit a spot. Heh heh heh ……”

It turned out that this cavernous paradise was not only discovered by him. These dozens of Divine Magi, too, had their eyes on it.

Faced with such a situation, Xie Ren hesitated in her heart. Was it possible to cultivate with so many Magi?

To be honest, he resisted cultivating with other Magi from the bottom of his heart. Firstly, he was here for closed-door purification, so if he couldn’t be alone but had to be with so many people, he would inevitably be disturbed. Some people liked to cultivate in groups “so that they could look out for each other”, but Xie Ren had never meditated alone.

Secondly, after the last roadblock robbery, he was now anxious when he saw the Divine Magistrates that he had dealt with in the past, and always felt that the other party’s gaze was like a needle sticking into him, for example, at this moment, he had the illusion that all of them were scrutinizing him with their subtle gazes, and in this way, he had no intention to cultivate at all.

Although, in the matter of occupying the blessed land, there was a rule that it was first come, first served, and as long as one was tough enough, Xie Ren could say that I was here first, and you guys please find another place to cultivate, but those few minor Divine Officers who crashed through his robbery were right across the street, so it wasn’t good to be too tough. Moreover, he alone occupied the blessed land and drove away so many Divine Officials, which was overbearing to say the least. Even though Xie Ren resisted practicing with the other Magi in his heart, there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t find another place of purification with such abundant spiritual qi for a while, so he could only nod his head and say, “Yes, it’s too coincidental. Then I’ll go in first, and all of you please make yourselves at home as well.”

Saying that, he wanted to hastily leave first, looking for the quietest cave to hide in. Who knows, just as he turned around, a divine official behind him said, “Wait?”

Xie Ren stopped in his tracks and turned around, wondering, “What is it?”

Some of those thirty or so Divine Magi exchanged eye contact, while others spoke in low voices. In a moment, one person stood out and smiled, “Your Highness the Crown Prince has occupied quite a few caverns in the past, so why don’t you let us have this one?”

Xie Ren froze for a while before reacting.

What did they mean, that they were going to let him leave alone?

Inexplicable and deceptive!

A wave of qi and blood rushed to his head on the spot. Xie Ren thought to himself, “I was the one who came here first, I didn’t ask you guys to leave, so why are you still asking me to leave instead?”

But he was not in a good position to snap out of it. Silent for a while, the fingers gripping the traveling bag’s binding strap slowly tightened, Xie Ren spoke stiffly, “Gentlemen, what is the meaning of this?”

One of the magi said, “This …… wasn’t already said just now Well …… His Highness the Crown Prince has occupied quite a few cavernous blessed lands in the past …… “

Xie Ren interrupted him, “But what does that have to do with this? Could it be that just because I’ve occupied more spiritual lands in the past, I’m not allowed to come back to spiritual lands to cultivate in the future?”

That Magus was blocked by him and snapped, not saying anything. Xie Ren again tried to be as calm as possible, ”Furthermore, I don’t quite understand, it’s not like I’m cultivating here and you all can’t cultivate here. Isn’t it common for people to share spiritual lands for cultivation? What’s wrong with everyone cultivating in their own way? Why must I be allowed to leave?”

At this time, only to hear someone mutter, “…… Don’t play dumb. There were already more than three dozen people, you’re practicing here, what else can others practice ……”

Although the man was quickly pressed down by the others, Xie Ren still understood instantly.

So it is!

The aura of a blessed land was limited. When cultivating, if one person took up half of it, the person who came after them would only be able to take up the other half. And if one of them took up 80%, the other could only take up 20%. The stronger one’s ability to absorb the aura and turn it into one’s own use, the more aura one could occupy.

These Divine Magi were worried that if he cultivated here as well, he would take up most of the aura. And if the rest of the aura was then divided among the thirty or so of them, there wouldn’t be more than a few threads left for each of them at all!

Having figured this out, the blood rushed even harder in Xie Ren’s brain. He clenched his fist and said in a cold voice, “…… I’m going to cultivate here.”

A divine official on the opposite side said, “Your Highness, it is only because we honor you that we are still willing to call you Your Highness at this point in time. You are in a mortal body at the moment, so why do you have to grab the spiritual land with us?”

Xie Ren said, “Since I’m in a mortal body and you’re all Magi, what are you all afraid of if I cultivate here? If I don’t leave, could it be that you will still force me out?”

That is certainly not allowed. If a mortal had no great faults, but the magi had trespassed and used force on him, he was to be punished. The Divine Magi really couldn’t do anything about him. However, Xie Ren had forgotten one thing.

Just as he obstinately confronted these thirty or so Divine Officers, a voice suddenly said, “His Highness the Crown Prince has been relegated to the mortal world, his bones have gotten harder and harder, not only will he rob mortals, but he will also charge the Divine Officers, hahaha!”

Upon hearing this, Xie Ren instantly fell into an ice cave!

He jerked his head up, only to see that the speaker was an unassuming lower-ranking cleric, but not any of the clerics who had crashed that event that day!

Sure enough, they had spoken out long ago! It wasn’t at all an illusion on Xie Ren’s part, everyone was indeed looking at him with that subtle gaze. Everyone knew, these Magi, all of them!!!!

In an instant, it was as if Xie Ren was suddenly drained of his bones, and all of his anger subsided, his eyes almost filled with blood, and he stiffly turned his head, looked at the several minor magi, and said in a mute voice, “…… You said that you would not tell anyone else.”