Bai Shanjun said, "Your task is completed, but do you really think there are people who want to see you complete your task smoothly?"

As if hinting at something, Bai Shanjun continued, "Therefore, the Third Leader specifically sent me to protect you and escort you back to the ruins."

Xiao Mu's heart stirred, and he expressed his thanks, "Thank you for the Third Leader's concern!"

With a smile, Bai Shanjun said, "The Third Leader has always been so caring toward his subordinates. Xiao Mu, have you decided whether to hand over the City God Order and Yama Seal to the Third Leader?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Mu fell into deep thought and after a moment clenched his teeth as if he had made a difficult decision, "The Third Leader has shown me so much care, if I don't acknowledge what's good for me, that would be inexcusable. Bai Shanjun, please take me to see the Third Leader."

"Haha!"

Bai Shanjun was overjoyed, patted Xiao Mu's shoulder, and exclaimed, "Xiao Mu, the Third Leader was not wrong about you, come with me!"

Saying this, he suddenly turned around, his voice carrying for miles, loudly declaring, "Those who skulk in shadows, listen well. Xiao Mu has aligned himself with the Third Leader, from today on, anyone who targets Xiao Mu is targeting the Third Leader."

"To anger the Third Leader, heh heh! Even if I don't spell it out, you should all know the consequences!"

Bai Shanjun's words carried a deep threat, and moments later, in the distance, dozens of miles away to the east and south, a streak of green light and a streak of white light suddenly shot up into the sky, fleeing into the distance.

"What's happening?"

Xiao Mu was startled.

"Just some cowardly people who won't show their faces; they're all here for the City God Order and Yama Seal. Fortunately, you have now aligned with the Third Leader, and with his protection, there's nothing to fear," Bai Shanjun reassured Xiao Mu, patting his shoulder once again.

"Let's go," he said.

He began to move, leading the way slowly in the direction of the ruins, considerate of Xiao Mu's speed, and did not use the Earth Escape Technique.

"Oh!"

Xiao Mu, filled with doubt and uncertainty, executed the Life-Death Step, following Bai Shanjun back to the Great Tang ruins.

There really were people lying in ambush on the way back.

I was too naive; treasures such as the City God Order and Yama Seal are beyond what I can possess at my current stage.

Before long, they entered the Great Tang ruins.

Bai Shanjun took Xiao Mu to the mansion of the Third Leader, Chen Fengshen.

The mansion of the Third Leader differed greatly from that of the Second Leader, Zhou Pudu.

The three great leaders of the Great Tang ruins – the First Leader Wu Jie favoring the Confucian School, the Second Leader Zhou Pudu favoring Buddhism, and the Third Leader Chen Fengshen favoring Taoism.

The Second Leader, Zhou Pudu's mansion, was a temple on the Sky-Reaching Solitary Peak, lofty and elevated.

In contrast, the mansion of the Third Leader, Chen Fengshen, was a simple Taoist temple on the ground.

Upon seeing the temple, Xiao Mu could hardly believe his eyes.

This was just an ordinary Taoist temple, with monks reciting scriptures and sweeping, all very common Taoist practitioners coming and going.

These ordinary Taoists, each performing their duties, took no more than polite courtesy when they saw Xiao Mu and Bai Shanjun entering the temple.

Bai Shanjun courteously returned their salutations, and Xiao Mu followed suit.

However, it was different once they entered the Grand Hall.

The hall was not grandiose; it was just an ordinary room, about three to four meters tall, and not very spacious.

In the center was a divine likeness with an altar table in front of it.

Almost identical to the scene Xiao Mu had witnessed at Zhou Pudu's place, the altar table held an incense burner which, although devoid of incense sticks, had smoke curling up from it.

Amidst the smoke, one could faintly hear recitations, sounds of worship, and prayers.

Clearly, the Third Leader, Chen Fengshen, like Zhou Pudu, had attained a Yin God divine position.

This position was likely at the same level as that of the Mountain God and the land spirits, far inferior to the City God's divine position.

Otherwise, Zhou Pudu and Chen Fengshen would not be demanding the City God Order from Xiao Mu.

In the Second Stage of the True Realm, the Divine Spirits realm, they were eligible to become Divine Spirits; however, obtaining a position at the level of a City God was not easy, and most of the strong in the Divine Spirits realm only had Yin God positions – and most of them didn't even have that.

The Divine Spirit's Taoist robes on the altar table were lifelike, as if alive, yet its form was clearly that of a clay effigy.

The Divine Spirit had a tall and robust physique, an ordinary appearance, and a beard over three inches long beneath the chin. He didn't seem very old, appearing to be in his forties by his looks.

Divine light spilled from within the clay effigy, possessing a responsive aura as if it could truly preside over a territory.

"Greetings, Third Leader! Xiao Mu has arrived!"

Bai Shanjun gave his respects to the clay effigy on the altar table.

"Xiao Mu greets the Third Leader!"

Xiao Mu imitated Bai Shanjun and also gave his respects to the Taoist effigy on the altar table.

"It's really boring to play the part of a Divine Spirit and perform these ghosts and gods' acts every day, it's more comfortable to be a normal person."

A magnetic voice suddenly rang out from behind the grand hall, followed by a middle-aged man who looked exactly like the clay statue on the altar table walking out.

Behind this man was a faint white divine light, the force of the Five Elements swirling around his feet, and his entire body radiated divine power. Without deliberately exerting his majesty, he still imposed a tremendous pressure, making one feel an irresistible urge to worship at first glance.

This was the might of a Divine Spirit, that even without doing anything, could make mortals think of worshiping.

This middle-aged man was undoubtedly the Third Leader of the Great Tang Ruins, Chen Fengshen.

"Greetings, Third Leader!"

Bai Shanjun bowed respectfully to Chen Fengshen.

"We're among our own, no need for such courtesy!"

Chen Fengshen raised his hand for Bai Shanjun to dispense with the formalities.

"Leader, this is Xiao Mu."

Bai Shanjun stepped aside and introduced him, "Xiao Mu, this is Leader Chen, quickly pay your respects!"

"Greetings, Leader Chen!"

Xiao Mu bowed deeply to Chen Fengshen.

"Good, very good. Xiao Mu, I've heard that in a few months, you've gone from the early stage of the Fifth Realm to the Peak Fifth Realm, a speed of cultivation that is rare even across the entire Alliance."

"In the field of cultivation, you are a genius, and I think very highly of you," Chen Fengshen said to Xiao Mu, nodding without hiding his approval.

Xiao Mu humbly replied, "Leader Chen flatters me. The reason I could cultivate so quickly is just due to ample resources and fortuitous encounters!"

Chen Fengshen shook his head, "Ample resources and fortuitous encounters are also a form of strength."

"Otherwise, why wouldn't others have ample resources, but you do, and why wouldn't others have fortuitous encounters, but only you, Xiao Mu, do?"

"I've investigated; you, Xiao Mu, have neither a backer nor someone providing resources. It's a very difficult thing to obtain resources and improve one's cultivation on one's own strength."

Xiao Mu again demurred, "Leader, you praise me too much!"

Chen Fengshen observed Xiao Mu, then suddenly spoke in a serious tone, "I heard that Thunderbolt, before his death, entrusted you with the City God Order and the Yama Seal, is there any truth to this?"

Having already decided to hand over the City God Order and the Yama Seal, Xiao Mu didn't hesitate, "What Leader Chen said is true. Before his death, Thunderbolt Leader indeed entrusted me with the City God Order and the Yama Seal, and asked me to bring them to the Great Tang Ruins, but I haven't brought them out because I hadn't yet met someone I could trust."

Chen Fengshen's face broke into a smile, "Haha, do you think I am someone you can trust?"

Xiao Mu said, "Even if we put aside the fact that Leader Chen asked Bai Shanjun to remind and meet me, just based on the fact that Leader Chen didn't overly expand his Mansion and treats common people equally, these alone prove that Leader Chen is trustworthy."

"Haha!"

Chen Fengshen laughed loudly, replying, "Xiao Mu, you certainly have a way with words, but, the reason I didn't expand the Mansion is simple—I just don't like showing off too much."

"The dislike of showing off is itself a character trait," Xiao Mu said, bowing to Chen Fengshen, taking the opportunity to present the City God Order and Yama Seal with both hands, "Leader Chen, these are the City God Order and Yama Seal entrusted to me by Thunderbolt Leader, please accept them."

"Hmm! Good, good, very good, Xiao Mu, you've done well! You haven't disappointed me!" Chen Fengshen was overjoyed.

Even though he was already a strong figure at the True God Level with a position among the Yin Gods, at the sight of the City God Order and Yama Seal, he couldn't help but become somewhat incoherent.

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