When Lord Qin saw the National Preceptor and the Third Prince arrive at the same time, he immediately felt supported.
His legs stopped shaking, and his heart stopped pounding. He quickly emerged from behind the soldiers. Seeing Xue Ling mercilessly scolding the National Preceptor, he immediately pointed at Xue Ling with his short, stubby finger.
"You heretic monk! Do you know who you're facing? How dare you spout such nonsense!"
"National Preceptor! Third Prince! Your servants were merely observing the execution as ordered by the Emperor, but this heretic monk kept interrupting us. His servant even attacked us. Please, National Preceptor and Third Prince, avenge us!"
After saying that, Lord Qin led the group of officials behind him to kneel on the ground. His face was full of anger and grievance, as if he had truly been badly bullied.
Li Xian gave Lord Qin a cold glare. Lord Qin shrank his neck, but seeing the National Preceptor and the Third Prince there, he straightened up again.
The Third Prince, wearing brocade boots, strolled leisurely to the National Preceptor's side. He opened his folding fan, looking suave and dashing.
He gave a light cough, lifted his fan, and said to Lord Qin, "Alright, Lord Qin. As the official overseeing the execution, you were interrupted by a heretic monk. This shows your incompetence. This prince may have to report you to Father Emperor."
"What!" Lord Qin thought the Third Prince would side with him, but he never expected the Third Prince to criticize his poor handling of the matter.
The flab on his face squished his facial features together. His small, beady eyes, squeezed by the flab, suddenly opened wide.
"Your Highness, Third Prince, your subordinate..."
"Enough! Stop your noise."
The Third Prince gave Lord Qin an impatient look, and his tone suddenly turned cold.
Lord Qin had no choice but to lower his head and dare not say another word. The other officials also remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to look up at all.
Shen Qing noticed that the National Preceptor's hand behind his back was making incantation gestures, seemingly trying to stop the rain. But this rain was brought down by the magical treasure given to them by Yu Xuzi. How could it be stopped so easily?
After trying several times without success, the National Preceptor had no choice but to give up.
However, Shen Qing found that the National Preceptor's incantation gestures seemed somewhat familiar.
Disciples of sects in the Nine Desolate Continent could tell which sect a person came from just by looking at their spell - casting gestures and moves. Seeing the National Preceptor cast spells in an orderly manner, Shen Qing was certain that the National Preceptor must have been a disciple of a sect before.
The Main God's Temple had once openly recruited disciples from various sects. The National Preceptor should have been one of the sect disciples recruited by the Main God's Temple at that time.
The Third Prince glanced at the National Preceptor, indicating that the next matter would be left to him.
The National Preceptor forced himself to maintain his aura. He didn't want the Third Prince to see that his cultivation was not up to par, so he had to bite the bullet and take a step forward.
Xue Ling smiled, looking down at the National Preceptor from a height.
One high and one low, the National Preceptor felt that Xue Ling's presence was extremely oppressive at this moment. But relying on his Golden Core stage cultivation, he still thought he could easily deal with Xue Ling.
"Heretic monk! This National Preceptor sees that your forehead is black and you're surrounded by demonic qi. You're probably a demon - transformed monster. Let this National Preceptor beat you back to your original form!"
After saying that, the National Preceptor took out a bunch of talismans from his sleeve. There was a faint trace of black qi hidden on the talismans, but the surrounding commoners couldn't sense it.
"The talismans of this National Preceptor were made by a Celestial Master. Once a demon - transformed monster touches these talismans, their body will be burned!"
Li Xian's eyes turned cold. He immediately realized that the National Preceptor wanted to transfer the demonic qi onto them. If a cultivator was contaminated with demonic qi, they would be burned.
After they were burned by the demonic qi, the National Preceptor would tell the commoners that they were demons, injured by his purification talismans. Once the commoners believed they were demons, it would be difficult for them to explain.
However, there was still a way to deal with it.
There was a look of pride in the National Preceptor's eyes. He was certain that Xue Ling and Li Xian would not be able to dodge this move.
He waved his hand forcefully, and all the talismans in his hand flew out, surrounding Xue Ling and Li Xian.
"So? If you two beg for mercy now, this National Preceptor can spare your lives and give you a chance to serve His Majesty."
These talismans were given to him by someone. One was used, and there would be one less. The National Preceptor really didn't want to waste so many talismans at once.
Saying that he was giving Xue Ling and Li Xian a chance was actually just a stop - gap measure. Once they admitted their identities, he wouldn't worry about not having a chance to deal with them.
Xue Ling and Li Xian glanced at each other. Apparently, they had already thought of a countermeasure.
They stood in the rain, their faces calm and serene. Their unyielding expressions really bluffed some of the commoners.
"These two don't look like villains. They're so calm in the face of the National Preceptor."
"Don't jump to conclusions so quickly. Let's wait and see. If these two aren't as the National Preceptor said under his attack, then they're somewhat believable."
"If these two remain unscathed, won't the National Preceptor lose a lot of face?"
"If so, it can only mean that the National Preceptor is inferior in skills. Maybe we should replace our National Preceptor."
The low - voiced discussions of the commoners reached the National Preceptor's ears. Originally, he had some confidence, but it dissipated in these discussions. There was a thin layer of sweat on his palms.
The Third Prince noticed the National Preceptor's uneasiness and said with a half - smile, "Is the National Preceptor getting stage - fright? Could the abilities of these two be above the National Preceptor's?"
The National Preceptor's mouth twitched. He quickly forced out a strained and self - confident smile. "Your Highness, Third Prince, you're joking."
Then he said to Xue Ling and Li Xian, "Since you two refuse to repent, don't blame this National Preceptor for not showing mercy!"
"Gather!!"
He flicked his whisk, and the circle formed by the talismans tightened continuously, pressing towards Xue Ling and Li Xian.
Wispy black demonic qi appeared and disappeared on the talismans.
Xue Ling raised his eyebrows, spread his hands, and put the Buddhist beads on his hands. He used his spiritual power to make a wound on his palm. The blood seeped out and stained the Buddhist beads.
"May the Buddha's light shine!"
Suddenly, the Buddhist beads emitted a strong and dazzling golden light. The approaching talismans were illuminated by this golden light and were all destroyed. The demonic qi on them was also purified by the golden light.
Xue Ling then strangely pointed his finger at the sky. The clouds separated, the rain that had been falling stopped, and a clear sky appeared.
A holy light shone straight down from the sky. Xue Ling and Li Xian were bathed in the holy light, looking just like divine beings descending from the sky.
At the same time, a faint chanting sound came from the sky. Along with the chanting, a rainbow light suddenly appeared, looking like an auspicious omen.
Li Xian originally didn't want to imitate Xue Ling's actions. He thought this action was too pretentious.
But unable to resist Xue Ling's repeated winks, Li Xian had no choice but to put his hands together, close his eyes, and pretend to listen to the Buddhist scriptures.
Xue Ling turned around satisfactorily, spread his hands, and his face was full of piety.
"The Buddha is merciful. He has sent down the holy light and auspicious omens to save the mortal world. Those who are bathed in the holy light will all be blessed by the Buddha."
"Amitabha. Good, good!"