Yellow Court Daoist-Chapter 50 River God Festival

Two months passed in a flash.

The three siblings controlled seven Destroying Truth Type 1 arrows. Under continuous attacks, a total of nine hundred sixteen individuals from the Returning to Truth Sect's outer sect forces and Fetal Breathing Realm disciples met their demise under these arrows!

This was only because the Returning to Truth Sect, unable to bear the harassment, had proactively abandoned Shouwang County and Huaihu County half a month earlier, fortifying themselves in Jiuzhai County.

Otherwise, this number could have multiplied several times!

Even so, the Returning to Truth Sect could be described as thoroughly shaken to its core.

Under the Returning to Truth Sect's jurisdiction, the three counties had a total population of just over four hundred thousand. Among them, the external martial force, primarily controlled by Killing Body Hall and Killing Power Hall, composed of three thousand soldiers, all well-trained.

Among the official disciples of Returning to Truth Sect— which included Inner Chamber Disciples of the Fourth Level of Fetal Breathing Realm and above, elite disciples of the Seventh Level of Fetal Breathing Realm and above, Deacon Leaders, True Disciples of the True Qi Realm, Hall Masters, Elders, and others—there were a total of only three hundred forty-nine!

Most of the casualties inflicted by Destroying Truth Type 1 arrows were among the six thousand external martial force, and yet it inflicted tremendous damage on the Returning to Truth Sect.

Facing successive abandonment of the territories of two counties, the Green Jade Sect and various factions from Guangyuan County city descended like ravenous wolves, each devouring a county, cornering the Returning to Truth Sect into the 'corner' of Jiuzhai County.

Following this trend, in at most half a year, the Returning to Truth Sect would become a part of history.

However, within Jiuzhai County, filled with mountains, hills, ravines, and dense forests, it was easy to defend but hard to attack!

The Returning to Truth Sect entrenched itself in Jiuzhai County, and neither the Green Jade Sect nor the gangs from Guangyuan County city could advance easily.

After a fierce assault lasting half a month resulting in heavy losses and scant results, the Green Jade Sect and Guangyuan County city each turned to consolidate and manage their newly-acquired territories, imposing a blockade on the Returning to Truth Sect rather than continuing their fierce attacks.

Yet the retaliation of the Destroying Truth Type 1 had not yet ended.

Five Destroying Truth Type 1 arrows roamed throughout Jiuzhai County, ruthlessly killing any who belonged to the Returning to Truth Sect!

Many of these Returning to Truth Sect disciples, much like Lu Qingfeng, had risen from servant disciples through life-threatening challenges. Their families suffered under the extortion of the Returning to Truth Sect, originally standing on the opposing side.

However, as they emerged from the servant disciples and ascended as official disciples, possessing power beyond ordinary people, they became the very beneficiaries they once despised and hated, now upholding the rule of Returning to Truth Sect to maintain their superior status and vested interests.

This nearly parasitic cultivation method was the foundation behind the Returning to Truth Sect's two-hundred-year reign over the three counties.

These people, having obliterated their conscience and nature, while not utterly evil, were certainly not benign. Lu Qingfeng did not hesitate in his slaughter, remembering how these pursuers of the Returning to Truth Sect had once chased him and his siblings through the forests, nearly leading them to a desperate end in the wilderness.

Lu Qingfeng had once told Lu Qingshan that in just three to five years, they could take revenge and obliterate the Returning to Truth Sect.

Now, not even two years since their escape, they had already pushed the Returning to Truth Sect to the brink of destruction.

...

In Jiuzhai County.

The once-in-a-decade 'River God Festival' commenced.

Legend has it that over two hundred years ago, a malevolent River God resided in the Chengyang River, who would stir up storms and slaughter humans, creating devastating waves. The Founding Master of the Returning to Truth Sect descended and battled the River God, ultimately signing a pact—

Every ten years, newborn infants would be sacrificed to the River God along the Chengyang River banks, and in return, the River God would ensure favorable weather for the region.

Whether the weather remained favorable was debatable, but the decade ritual of the 'River God Festival' continued.

On this day.

The River God Festival began anew.

In the river segment by Black Wood Village, several male and female infants were placed in wooden basins, feet in the air, bearing confused expressions towards this strange world, set adrift in the mighty Chengyang River!

Starting from Black Wood Village, infants born on the third of March that year in Dianshui Village, Yellow Stone Stockade, Pingyan Village, and Ningkou Village were all placed in wooden basins to float downstream.

The parents of these infants appeared numb, timid, or violently struggling, some were even beaten to death.

In the end.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

Dozens of infants, either deep in sleep or crying loudly, drifted towards the downstream of the Chengyang River.

Along the northern banks, disciples of the Returning to Truth Sect stood guard, preventing anyone from kidnapping the infants midway.

In the past, there were daring villagers who tried to secretly rescue their children, only to be drowned in the river by followers of the Returning to Truth Sect.

This time, however, a change occurred right at the start of the 'River God Festival'!

Across five river segments, five figures clad in black robes appeared almost simultaneously. Each draped entirely in black, appeared as if riding the wind, seizing the infants from the river surface and immediately soaring far off into the distance!

"Black Robed Man!"

Luo Junxia, tasked with guarding the Ningkou Village section of the river, suddenly saw the Black Robed Man appear and was immediately alarmed.

Ever since that night two months ago when he witnessed the Black Robed Man's archery skills, the constant harassment by the Black Robed Man in the past two months had made everyone from the Returning to Truth Sect jittery as a frightened bird!

As soon as the Black Robed Man appeared, it immediately caused a stir among Luo Junxia and the disciples of the Returning to Truth Sect behind him.

The disciples showed hesitation, and some even quietly retreated.

The Black Robed Man, displaying superior archery during this time, was like a god of archers with countless souls falling beneath his arrows.

Who wouldn't be afraid? Who would dare to intercept?!

"A dog trying to catch mice!"

"Shoot the arrows!"

Luo Junxia never expected the Black Robed Man to also take interest in the River God Festival; his face turned extremely grim, but he dared not retreat. With a grand wave of his hand, he commanded the thirty disciples behind him to shoot their crossbows in unison!

Though the technique of shooting arrows sounds simple, achieving proficiency and accuracy is not easy.

To combat the Black Robed Man, the disciples of the Returning to Truth Sect had rigorously practiced their archery, intending to counteract it.

Yet, after two months, the progress had been minimal.

As they shot this time, more than half of the arrows strayed off target by tens of meters, ridiculously off mark. Only a few arrows landed close to the Black Robed Man and the infant, but he casually waved them aside with a flick of his hand.

Completely ineffective.

"Useless!"

Luo Junxia drew his bow and shot an arrow, aiming straight for one of the wooden basins. Being an expert in the True Qi Realm, his shot was above standard. Had it hit, it would have surely pierced through the wooden basin, impaling the infant inside.

Yet, the Black Robed Man, holding a crescent moon scimitar, casually swung it, sending eight blade petals flying out, stopping all the arrows behind him.

Then, he quickly disappeared into the deep forests on the opposite bank with the infant.

"Again with this move!"

Luo Junxia gritted his teeth.

That very night, when Zhao Zhou died, slain by a sharp blade, it was under this very move. The Black Robed Man was fierce, and Luo Junxia, filled with silent rage, dared not pursue.

Not just at the Ningkou Village river section.

Upstream, forty-two infants were simultaneously rescued!

...

"Black Robed Man!"

Atop Yellow Ganoderma Mountain, Zhuge Chongyang's face was severely grim. During these days, he had commanded the Returning to Truth Sect to clear the wilderness and had readily handed over two county towns, sparing no expense.

All for today's River God Festival!

Unexpectedly, the 'Black Robed Man', who had previously roamed the North Shore Forest, had stealthily moved to the South Shore and even rescued the infants who were significant to him.

Even Zhuge Chongyang could not help but be furiously enraged.

"Sect Master, there are a total of five Black Robed Men. They can't get far with the infants, should we send people to pursue them?" Xia Zhengyang, one of the elders of the Returning to Truth Sect, asked tentatively, his white beard quivering.

"No need!"

"Since they want to act benevolently, let them save enough!"

Zhuge Chongyang laughed in extreme anger and said gravely, "Send orders to Jiuzhai, all infants not yet one year old must be brought to Yellow Ganoderma Mountain!"

"Yes!"

Xia Zhengyang bowed and went to deliver the order.

The demonically cruel actions of the Returning to Truth Sect were truly heartbreaking. With extraordinary martial power in hand and total control over the villages, they had neither the power nor the will to resist.

One by one, infants under one year old were taken to Yellow Ganoderma Mountain.

...