The next day.
He Xiuyuan opened his eyes and went to the window to look outside. The sky was just dawning, and a faint mist lingered in the stone steps and alleys, giving off a feeling of a misty, rainy Jiangnan.
It was still early, so Zhong Xiuyun and the others certainly hadn't woken up yet.
However, He Xiuyuan couldn't sleep anymore.
After thinking for a moment, He Xiuyuan got up and left his room.
Last night, when he faced the Black Fish Demon, he really had no way to deal with it. It would be great if he had some Demon Subduing Method.
And logically speaking, the City God of the City God Temple should understand such a Demon Subduing Method.
Thinking of this, He Xiuyuan immediately prepared to visit the City God of this place.
A moment later, after inquiring, He Xiuyuan successfully found his way to the City God Temple in Lin'an Prefecture.
It was probably still early, and a few sticks of incense were burning in the City God Temple.
He Xiuyuan walked around the incense burner and then entered the City God Temple.
“May I ask if the Lord City God of Lin'an Prefecture would appear for a meeting?”
He Xiuyuan came before the City God's statue, cupped his hands, and asked aloud.
But after He Xiuyuan finished speaking, silence reigned all around.
Seeing this, He Xiuyuan felt a little awkward. What method should he use to invite the City God to appear?
He didn't seem to know...
The last time he saw the City God, it was the City God who had invited him.
Thinking of this, He Xiuyuan pondered for a moment, his gaze falling on his wine gourd.
There was no other way; it seemed he could only try with this peach blossom wine.
Thinking of this, He Xiuyuan opened his wine gourd, pointed a sword-finger at his gourd, and then extracted a small ball of peach blossom wine from it.
Then, the peach blossom wine naturally fell into the wine cup in front of him.
As the rich aroma of the peach blossom wine gradually spread, a phantom figure suddenly appeared before He Xiuyuan.
Seeing the Lord City God appear, He Xiuyuan also breathed a sigh of relief.
“He Xiuyuan greets Your Excellency, Lord City God.”
The Lord City God, who had just appeared, was still completely drawn to the contents of the cup. Upon hearing the voice beside him, he quickly turned around.
After seeing He Xiuyuan cupping his hands to him, he looked at the wine cup behind him, then at He Xiuyuan in front of him, and immediately understood that He Xiuyuan's identity was extraordinary.
Seeing this, the Lord City God also softened his expression a bit.
“Your Excellency, do you have important business with me?”
He had actually vaguely heard He Xiuyuan's call earlier, but at first, he hadn't taken it seriously.
It wasn't until the rich aroma spread, directly awakening his cravings, that he appeared impatiently.
He Xiuyuan listened to the Lord City God's words, pondered for a moment, and then said, “Does Your Excellency know of Lord Jiang in this river? I heard that Lord Jiang in this river has received offerings from the common people, but over the years, many boats have still sunk in the river.”
“With Your Excellency's power, can you not capture this Lord Jiang?”
He Xiuyuan hadn't killed the Black Fish Demon before, but this Lord City God should have the ability to capture it, right?
But for some reason, the other party seemed not to have acted.
The Lord City God's previously softened expression changed slightly upon hearing He Xiuyuan's words.
Being summoned so early in the morning, and seeing that He Xiuyuan had some abilities, he hadn't gotten angry.
But now, listening to He Xiuyuan's words, was he implying that he wasn't doing his job?
Thinking this, a hint of irritation crept into his heart.
“That Black Fish Demon has gained Dao cultivation, and the river is its territory. How can it be so easily caught?”
His words were not an excuse; the situation was indeed like that.
The river area was too vast, and the Black Fish Demon's Dao cultivation was not low, making it not so easy to catch.
He Xiuyuan actually had no intention of blaming the other party; he was just curious.
Now, hearing the other party's explanation, he didn't think much of it and nodded, saying, “So that's how it is. Then, does Your Excellency have a Demon Subduing Method?”
“Yesterday, I already spoke with that Black Fish Demon and made an agreement that it would not commit evil in the future. However, to prevent it from committing evil in the future and being unable to capture it, I wish to request a Demon Subduing Method.”
“If I hear of it committing evil in the future, I will then have the ability to capture it in one fell swoop.”
He Xiuyuan cupped his hands to the Lord City God, wanting a Demon Subduing Method.
And the Lord City God, upon hearing this, immediately found it preposterous.
The Black Fish Demon was in the river, and He Xiuyuan actually said he had talked with it? How did he talk to it?
If He Xiuyuan truly had the ability to talk with the Black Fish Demon, then how could he not have the ability to kill it?
Although this person had some abilities, his words were so absurd.
“You want a Demon Subduing Method so that if this Black Fish Demon commits evil again, you can go and kill it?”
The Lord City God looked at He Xiuyuan, reconfirming.
If He Xiuyuan were to rein in his wild talk now, everything would still be fine.
However, He Xiuyuan nodded heavily, indicating that it was indeed so.
Seeing this, the Lord City God smiled in anger. This person truly had a big mouth. In that case, he might as well fulfill He Xiuyuan's wish.
Thinking of this, he flicked his hand, and two talismans appeared.
One was a talisman, and the other was a Demon Subduing Method spell.
“This is the superior Demon Subduing Method of Lin'an Prefecture. Whether you can learn it depends on your fortune.”
The Lord City God said, handing over the two talismans.
He Xiuyuan's face immediately lit up with joy, and he quickly took them.
This Lord City God was truly generous; he just gave away a Demon Subduing Method. What a great person!
“Thank you, Lord City God!”
He Xiuyuan took the talismans, his face beaming with joy as he thanked the Lord City God. Seeing that it was getting late, he planned to go back and study them slowly on the way.
Therefore, after thanking him, He Xiuyuan bid farewell to the Lord City God of Lin'an Prefecture.
After He Xiuyuan's figure disappeared, a solemn-faced middle-aged man appeared beside him.
“Lord City God, what you just gave him... was a decree, wasn't it?”
The middle-aged man looked at the Lord City God beside him, asking cautiously.
That was a decree, not a request.
The two characters looked very similar, but their meanings were completely opposite.
A request was a plea, while a decree was a command.
The former was civil, the latter was military.
And usually, one would use a request. As for a decree, if used indiscriminately, it could lead to disaster and divine punishment.
Simply put, if a mere Cultivator dared to command the world, they would naturally be punished by the Heavenly Dao.
Even the Lord City God of this place had always dared not use a decree, nor could he learn it.
And now, the Lord City God had given this decree to He Xiuyuan...
The Lord City God of Lin'an Prefecture, hearing this, smiled and said, “So what? Isn't this person very formidable? Then I'll give him a decree.”
“Moreover, this decree is much more powerful than a request.”
“If he wants to subdue demons, using this decree would be even better.”
The middle-aged man beside him was stunned upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but glance in the direction He Xiuyuan had left.