Chapter 1025: Invoke the City God! Invoke the Celestial Official!

Although Tang Yuerong did not recognize Ruyi, she did see Mao'er standing on the girl's shoulder.

"Lihua!"

Tang Yuerong called out.

Years ago, Lihua had lived in the Tang Manor for a time, only to be coaxed away later on by Tang Zheng.

Lihua waved a paw and called out, "Okay, okay. Eh, what was your name again? Lihua forgot..."

In that brief moment, however, dozens of death-sworn assassins gathered outside the courtyard.

In the blink of an eye, Ruyi found herself trapped, surrounded from front and back.

Unexpectedly, another disturbance erupted.

Dong Chiyu charged in, wielding her Long Spear.

A chorus of miserable shrieks echoed from outside.

When Ruyi turned her head, she saw Dong Chiyu striding straight toward her, clothes stained with blood.

Dong Chiyu had taken a saber strike to the shoulder. Blood flowed freely from the wound, and her face was deathly pale, yet she uttered a single phrase: "Teach me."

Ruyi froze in surprise, and Mao'er on her shoulder blanked as well.

In that moment of distraction, the death-sworn assassins behind them suddenly attacked.

Catching the movement from the corner of her eye, Ruyi spun around and thrust back with her spear.

"Thud!"

The spear tip brushed right past the assassin's ear. In a split second, she pulled her strength back, adjusted her arm, and sent a tremor through the weapon.

The assassin's skull cracked open from the blunt impact. Blood immediately poured out as the man collapsed to the ground.

"Hmph!"

Ruyi let out a cold snort and lightly vaulted off her horse, throwing herself into close combat with the assassins.

Seeing this, Dong Chiyu hurried forward to assist.

Despite the wound on her shoulder, the momentum of her spear remained undiminished.

Wielding their Long Spears, the two women went on a slaughtering spree within the Chancellor's Manor.

Watching the scene unfold, Li Linheng raised an eyebrow. He had never imagined that his dozens of death-sworn assassins would be beaten back so thoroughly by two young women.

His expression remained unchanged as he waved a hand. "Take Second Young Master Tang away first! Then go invite Mister Wen!"

"Let go! Let me go!"

"Mmph, mmph..."

Tang Yuerong's mouth was stuffed with a rag once more. The two women who had been playing music and dancing earlier hauled her up and dragged her toward the back.

Realizing the situation was turning bad, Ruyi called out to Mao'er on her shoulder, "Lihua!"

"On it!"

Lihua answered and leaped into the air. The small feline darted over the crowd, chasing after Tang Yuerong.

Mao'er was agile, closing the distance in the blink of an eye and baring its claws to strike!

"How dare you!"

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice rang out.

The surrounding Spiritual Energy surged as a sword glare, manifested from Arts and Techniques, slashed forward.

Lihua paused, quickly retracting its paws and jumping back.

From behind the doors emerged a man dressed in scholar's robes, gripping a longsword.

"Wicked demon! How dare you cause trouble in Shangjing City!"

Li Linheng cupped his hands. "I must trouble you, Mister Wen."

Wen Chunjing gave a slight nod, his gaze falling upon the cat.

Lihua looked at the man and said, "No wonder, no wonder. Lihua was just wondering why this place felt a little uncomfortable."

"Cultivation is no easy path," Wen Chunjing said coldly. "Attaining a spirit and gaining sentience was difficult enough for you, yet you still dare to wreak havoc in the mortal world. You cat demon, you deserve death!"

He raised his Sword and pointed it straight at Lihua.

Lihua's tail twitched. "You're so mean..."

As the cat spoke, the sky above the Chancellor's Manor was suddenly shrouded by dark clouds. Four Seasons Spiritual Energy and the aura of wind and thunder swept in from all directions.

Rumble...

A muffled clap of thunder rolled through the clouds.

Wen Chunjing frowned slightly, looking at Mao'er in astonishment.

For this Mao'er to actually receive such divine favor?

A surge of resentment suddenly welled up in Wen Chunjing's heart. He had pursued Cultivation for many years but had never encountered such fortune. Yet this insignificant cat demon, hailing from who knew where, actually possessed such a profound providence.

"I, Wen, will certainly strike you down here today!"

With that, he raised his Sword.

A Talisman floated out from his sleeve and landed on the blade.

"Burn!"

Wen Chunjing wiped his fingertips across the blade, his gaze sharp and imposing.

Watching this scene, Lihua tilted its head, rather curious to see what kind of tricks this man could pull off.

In the end, Mao'er's playful nature was just a bit too strong.

"I, the scholar-cultivator Chunjing, invoke the City God to subdue this demon!"

As his words fell, a sinister wind began to stir.

A rhyme of the way of incense rose within the courtyard.

The City God of Shangjing City manifested on the spot. Raising an eyebrow slightly, he glanced at Wen Chunjing.

Wen Chunjing cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, City God Lord."

The City God waved a hand, his gaze shifting onto Mao'er.

He stared blankly for a moment, then shook his head.

In the blink of an eye, his figure dissipated, departing from the courtyard.

Wen Chunjing was dumbfounded.

Lihua blinked and asked, "Why did he leave after only being here for a second?"

Mao'er was puzzled.

It had assumed there would be a massive spectacle.

Wen Chunjing had not grasped the situation either, but as his eyes landed on Mao'er, he finally sensed that something was amiss.

Could this cat demon have a formidable background?

Lihua said, "Do you have any other tricks? If not, Lihua is going to strike you with lightning."

Hearing this, Wen Chunjing grew even more furious and snapped, "Utter nonsense!"

He immediately turned his head to look at Li Linheng. "I must ask the Chancellor to retreat to the central hall for now."

Li Linheng gave a slight nod and departed, taking Tang Yuerong away with him.

In the courtyard, the assassins continued their endless skirmish against the two women.

Meanwhile, in front of the folding screen, Wen Chunjing raised his Sword and drew blood from the center of his palm.

Another Talisman appeared from his sleeve.

Literary Qi surged from his abdomen and clung to the Sword.

Wen Chunjing chanted, "Sword as incense, blood as fire, Talisman as the guide, straight up to the azure heavens!"

"Invoke the celestial official to descend upon the mortal realm!"

Following his words, the energy of incense swept upward, intermingled with a trace of demonic qi.

A phantom silhouette suddenly manifested in the courtyard.

An intense, oppressive aura instantly blanketed the area.

Even the battling assassins and Ruyi came to a dead halt.

Tap...

The backyard of the Chancellor's Manor abruptly fell dead silent.

The silence was so absolute that it made it hard to breathe.

The figure wore a pristine white dress. Her features were exceptionally beautiful, like a heavenly maiden. She possessed a graceful, slender figure, and behind her, eight fox tails swayed gently. It was a beauty that left onlookers utterly intoxicated, yet simultaneously filled with dread.

The moment Lihua saw this person, it immediately cried out in surprise, "Ah! You, you, you! Lihua has seen you before! You're... you're..."

Hu Shilan blanked for a moment and looked down at Mao'er.

After a moment of thought, she remembered.

"It's you..." Hu Shilan murmured.

This Mao'er seemed to have been following Chen Changsheng back then; she had also seen it at the Investiture of Immortals Assembly.

Hearing this exchange, Wen Chunjing's chest suddenly felt tight.

He vaguely realized that things were about to spiral completely out of his expectations.

Ruyi stepped forward, arriving at Lihua's side. "You know her?"

Lihua shook its head. "I don't know her, but I've seen her."

Hu Shilan looked back at the young woman and asked, "What is your relationship with Mister Chen?"

Ruyi paused before answering, "He is my uncle."

Understanding dawned in Hu Shilan's heart. She stepped forward and, perhaps finding Mao'er endearing, reached out to pet the cat's head.

Lihua dodged out of the way, shaking its head. "No touching."

Hu Shilan chuckled at that. She simply said, "Try to cause less trouble."

With that, her figure slowly faded away, disappearing from the courtyard just like the City God before her.

Wen Chunjing stared blankly at this scene.

It wasn't until the gazes of Ruyi and Lihua landed upon him that he finally snapped out of his daze.