HLnovel Chapter 524 He actually ascended to heaven on the spot!
Chapter 524 He actually ascended to heaven on the spot!
Prefect Ling did not utter a word, but bowed deeply with his hands clasped.
How fortunate he was to encounter an enlightened ruler and like-minded people on this path of life, to be able to look up and see the four words "a bright mirror hanging high," and to be able to be upright, honest, and open-minded.
What a blessing!
Therefore, he was willing to be that drop of water.
He was also willing to hold up an umbrella for ordinary people like himself.
Pursue the truth and give them justice.
……
Early on New Year's Eve, outside the largest temple in Yuzhou City, the Immortal Temple, was already densely packed with convicts kneeling.
The officers and soldiers, armed with long knives, surrounded them all to maintain order.
Behind them, the once-thriving Xianren Temple has now been sealed off.
Countless people rushed to the scene upon hearing the news, completely blocking the two long streets outside the Immortal Temple.
In the center of the open space where the prisoners were kneeling, a platform ten feet high was erected, and the most crucial figure in the case, Master Shangqing, was forced to kneel on the platform.
Kneeling beside him was Commander Wei, the guard commander of the Celestial Palace.
The two were no longer the same as before; they were disheveled and looked dejected.
Master Shangqing had been swindling people for half his life. He had originally thought that when the Crown Prince became emperor, he might be able to become the Imperial Preceptor. But he never expected that even that prince could be killed.
Although he never knew the prince's true identity, the Crown Prince had once told him that as long as the current emperor was alive, no one in the world would dare to kill this prince. He believed it to be true and lived a life of luxury in Yuzhou, which could be described as that of a local tyrant.
He never dreamed that his plans would be ruined by some brat who appeared out of nowhere!
Even now, on the execution platform, he remains in a daze.
He had faced dire straits before because of his fraudulent activities, but none of them were like this time, where he was almost completely powerless to struggle in front of everyone.
The Commander Wei kneeling next to him was also very unwilling. He was originally a criminal who was exiled to Yuzhou because of his family. While many criminals were chosen to become pirates, he became the commander of the Immortal Palace's guards. From having only a few dozen people at the beginning, he later commanded more than a thousand people in the Immortal Palace, which made him almost extremely arrogant.
He always believed that as long as he stayed in the Celestial Palace, he would eventually be able to follow the true master behind the Celestial Palace, His Highness, and make a name for himself. At that time, he would no longer be the commander of this insignificant Celestial Palace; he would be the commander of the guards of the entire imperial palace. No, if he could achieve military merits, he might even be granted a title and appointed as a general.
In recent years, they have all been enjoying the extravagance of the Immortal Palace. They have endless money and can have whatever they want. The girls sent over, apart from those that Master Shangqing wanted, are all chosen by these commanders. When they get tired of them, they change them. If they feel that they are not pretty enough, they send people to buy them from merchant ships. There are many beautiful women transported from all over the world, and even some foreign women with white skin and blue eyes. They can do whatever they want with them.
He lived like this for so long that he forgot whose world it was!
damn it!
Even at this moment, Commander Wei was still unwilling to accept defeat, unwilling to accept how he had lost so completely and silently overnight!
Where exactly is the problem?
That old Taoist priest must be incredibly stupid!
The two cursed inwardly, but the executioner with a long sword was already standing beside them. The chilling glint of the sword was particularly dazzling in the sunlight.
Master Shangqing became increasingly frightened.
He looked down at the crowd of onlookers who were discussing the matter, and suddenly lunged forward. A guard behind him stepped on his back, causing half of his head to hang over the edge of the platform.
He stretched his neck as far as he could and shouted to the people.
"I am an immortal born by divine decree. Do not be deceived by these foolish and corrupt officials. Only by believing in me can you attain immortality!"
"Those who believe in me will surely be guided to become immortals!"
Lu Yangyang, who was watching the commotion from the crowd, twitched at the corner of her mouth: "What the hell?"
Wen Qingqing was dumbfounded: "My God, this is the first time I've ever seen such a shameless liar! Even at this point, he still dares to claim he's a god! He might as well ascend to heaven on the spot!"
Lu Yangyang chuckled, "He's probably too old to ascend. Anyone who believes him is a fool."
However, some people actually believed it.
As the Taoist priest Shangqing shouted, some people actually knelt down.
"May the Immortal Master enjoy boundless blessings!"
"How can you treat the Immortal Master like this! What if the Immortal Master blames you and punishes you with divine decree!"
She burst into tears.
Wen Qingqing was dumbfounded, "This, this, this..."
Lu Yangyang laughed out loud, "No rush, just wait."
One or two commoners knelt down and shouted, and then more would follow. Before long, the shouts echoed throughout the entire street, demanding that Prefect Ling release the Taoist priest Shangqing.
Master Shangqing was only making a last-ditch effort, but he didn't expect these people to be so easily fooled. He became even more excited and shouted that he would send down divine punishment to punish those who were not sincere.
Just then, someone stepped forward.
It was the same Qingtan Daoist who had said he came from Sanqing Mountain that day.
Master Qingtan shouted to the crowd, "Everyone, please listen to what I have to say. I am a disciple of the Celestial Master of Sanqing Mountain. I have come down the mountain today on my master's orders to eliminate the swindlers who are using the name of our Taoist sect to deceive people. Everyone, open your eyes and see clearly. This Master Shangqing on the execution platform is definitely not a member of our Taoist sect. His so-called elixir is a poison pill mixed with ingredients that can poison people!"
"You're talking nonsense!" someone immediately retorted. "The immortal master bestowed upon us elixirs that cured all our ailments. Only those who are not sincere will suffer divine punishment! Where did you come from, you wild Taoist priest, to join the government in slandering the immortal master!"
"In my opinion, he's probably a shill hired by the new prefect. When the previous prefect was in office, he also believed in the immortals. The moment he arrived, he shut down the Immortal Temple, clearly to deliberately slander the immortals!"
The crowd immediately became indignant.
Prefect Ling immediately ordered several gongs to be brought over and started banging them.
In just a moment, everyone quieted down.
Prefect Ling, clutching a thick stack of confessions, climbed directly onto the execution platform, facing all the people.
"People of Yuzhou, listen up! I, Ling Pinzhang, am the newly appointed Prefect of Yuzhou. I have investigated and found that this Daoist Shangqing is a swindler who roams the martial arts world. He manufactures poison pills and manipulates criminals to disguise themselves as pirates, plundering merchant ships and causing serious banditry in the ports near Yuzhou in recent years! He has built a large-scale temple, exchanging incense offerings for elixirs to cure diseases, and vandalized clinics, leaving Yuzhou without doctors! He has bribed officials to force countless people to mine under the guise of conscription, resulting in numerous deaths! He has lured people with the promise of elixirs in exchange for labor quotas, tricking them into marrying their daughters to the celestial palace, where he cruelly murdered them and used their blood to make elixirs! His crimes are numerous and countless! This is a confession he personally signed, which serves as evidence!"
He waved his hand forcefully, scattering the offering books in his hand like snowflakes.