Chapter 274: Let's be friends
Cheng Yu's fan base was terrifyingly formidable.
Moreover, after his discriminatory remarks were spread by the media, the impact was horrendously negative, leaving countless people feeling personally attacked.
In just one day,
He gained over three million 'anti-fans'.
These new followers were there specifically to berate him.
Even though Li Yao's profanity-laden defense diverted some of the heat from him, it didn't stop Du Ge's notoriety from skyrocketing to a terrifying degree.
The social influence of a celebrity is immense.
On the Alien Star Battlefield, it took Du Ge three to four months to create such a significant global impact.
At that time, he was capable of depleting the spiritual power of an entire medium-sized Sect in an instant; it made no sense for his progress to slow down while cultivating in the Simulation Field.
With a mental power of 120,000, Du Ge could maintain his focus even while multitasking, and in the first Simulation Field, he could analyze and discern information within a one-kilometer radius.Multitasking is the most basic skill for every Alien Star warrior.
Theoretically, Du Ge could look down on everyone in the cultivation world.
...
"Master, can I really leave the mountain?" Du Ge asked, "Don't I need a senior brother to accompany me? I'm still worried about the Heavenly Demon King."
"No need, I've explained everything clearly to you and given you many protective charms. With your current strength, the incorporeal Heavenly Demon King can't get close to you," Daoist Priest Suwen's mouth twitched as he said, "You can leave the mountain and do whatever you wish, just remember to continue your daily cultivation."
"Master, I can accompany junior brother down the mountain," a senior brother named Yunfeng said, "It's chaotic down there, and if junior brother really encounters the Heavenly Demon King..."
"No, a cultivator must face trials. The Heavenly Demon King is just a test of inaction; none of you may help him," Daoist Priest Suwen said sternly.
"..." Yunfeng was stunned, looking at Suwen as if his master had been possessed.
Daoist Priest Suwen glanced back at his disciple and sighed inwardly, I'm not letting you follow him for your own good. If you go down the mountain with him, you might lose the heart to cultivate!
Du Ge bowed respectfully to Suwen and said earnestly, "Master, you are a good person. Rest assured, I will make Qingxin Temple renowned throughout the world."
"Mhm," Suwen nodded and sighed again, "Wuwei, although you are talented, your time in cultivation is still short. In principle, I should not let you leave the mountain. But I really have nothing more to teach you. I've already reported your information to the officials; be careful after you leave the mountain..."
He paused, then continued, "If one day, your cultivation level surpasses mine, and you no longer recognize me as your master, I won't blame you. Just remember to stay true to your heart and not use your abilities to do evil. There are countless capable people in the world, and even the Golden Elixir is not invincible."
Surpass in cultivation level?
Golden Elixir?
Yunfeng's eyes bulged in shock, staring at Du Ge as if he had heard something incredible.
Du Ge looked at the old Daoist Priest Suwen and sighed inwardly, What a good person!
Du Ge always respected good people.
Looking at Daoist Priest Suwen, Du Ge bowed again, "Master, what are you talking about? Once a master, always a father. No matter what happens, you will always be my master. Don't worry, after I leave the mountain, I will unite the cultivators of the world to eradicate all demons and not tarnish Qingxin Temple's reputation."
After speaking,
Du Ge called Zhao Hongmei and began to descend the mountain.
Suwen watched Du Ge's retreating figure and sighed silently, then said to his disciple beside him, "Yunfeng, I will be in seclusion for some time. Qingxin Temple will close its doors to visitors. Unless there is a major event, do not disturb me."
...
"Xiao Yu, what does Daoist Priest Suwen mean?"
On the way down the mountain, Zhao Hongmei, who hadn't slept well the night before, asked with dark circles under her eyes, "Didn't he disagree with you leaving the mountain? How come in just one night, it seems like he couldn't wait to kick you out? Also, what's this demon eradication you mentioned? I'm telling you, just focus on making money honestly, we can't mess with supernatural stuff..."
"We have no choice but to deal with it now," Du Ge looked at Zhao Hongmei and said, "Don't you want to know why Li Yao suddenly started cursing and took some of the heat off me?"
"Why?" Zhao Hongmei asked.
"Because she was possessed by the Heavenly Demon," Du Ge said, "Yesterday, the reason I posted that message wasn't because someone was plotting against me in secret, but because a Heavenly Demon tried to possess me. It was blocked by Daoist Priest Suwen's jade charm. Otherwise, what happened to Li Yao yesterday would have happened to me today."
"What happened to Li Yao?" Zhao Hongmei asked.
"Haven't you been following the news?" Du Ge snorted, "Because of tax evasion, Li Yao was taken away for investigation yesterday."
"..." Zhao Hongmei was stunned and quickly checked her phone, only to see a trending search about Li Yao being taken away.
There was also an explanation from Xinghai Entertainment stating that Li Yao had been under investigation for a while, and the reason she posted that Weibo message yesterday was purely out of anger when the incident occurred. The entertainment company would self-examine and prevent similar incidents from happening again.
Swallowing, Zhao Hongmei said, "So, she wasn't taken away for tax evasion, but because she was possessed by the Heavenly Demon."
"Right, if it wasn't for Daoist Priest Suwen proving my identity, I would have been taken away today," Du Ge sighed, "Zhao Jie, this world is much more complicated than what we see. Now with the Heavenly Demons rampant, even ordinary people may be affected in the future. I was saved by Daoist Priest Suwen's protective charm, and last night, I learned Daoist techniques from my master all night. I'm now bound to the cultivation world, and I can't just hide from it."
"But you've only learned Daoist techniques for one day," Zhao Hongmei said, "It's not your turn to exorcise demons, right?"
"I'm a genius," Du Ge said, "My master said that the Heavenly Demon King wanted to possess me because of my body with all meridians unblocked. So, exorcising demons is not only for the sake of the people but also for myself. Zhao Jie, I might do something unexpected at the press conference today, don't be shocked, I'll explain to President Wu afterward."
"What are you going to do?" Zhao Hongmei became nervous.
Du Ge glanced at her, took out a talisman from his pocket, and threw it out. A bolt of lightning appeared out of nowhere and struck a large tree thick enough to be hugged by one person at the waist of the mountain.
Crack!
The tree was split in half.
Looking at the split tree, Du Ge smiled and uttered two words: "Exorcism."
Zhao Hongmei was dumbfounded.
At that moment,
Du Ge's phone chimed with a notification. He took it out and saw that his application to join the "Tongshan City Official Exorcism Group" had been approved.
Daoist Priest Suwen was thorough, not only reporting Du Ge's information but also adding him to the official group, allowing him to interact more with the younger generation of the cultivation world and quickly learn the latest information.
Opening the group,
A series of messages popped up:
"Li Yao was taken away, it's said her supernatural power is called 'Foul Language', cursing at someone can corrupt their mind, quite disgusting."
"How disgusting?"
"Just a rumor, but when she curses out 'NMB' in front of you, the targeted person's mind involuntarily conjures up a certain human organ."
"What do you mean?"
"Damn!"
"So if she curses 'dog f***er', doesn't that mean..."
"Exactly, you really will imagine a scene of being entered by a dog."
"Damn, that's really disgusting!"
"It's said that when they caught her, several officials were utterly disgusted."
"Let's not talk about this, I'm thinking of so many curses right now, I really want to vomit, can we talk about something else?"
"Newcomer alert, coming down the mountain to experience life in the times of the Heavenly Demons, really not the best timing!"
"Post your measurements and a photo."
"Cheng Yu, this can't be the genius star that Daoist Priest Suwen boasted about, right?"
"What genius?"
"Super genius, blown up to the skies by Daoist Priest Suwen, supposedly after one day of cultivation, he can draw a Five Thunder Talisman."
"This guy went crazy yesterday too, to be honest, if it wasn't for Daoist Priest Suwen vouching for him with his reputation, I'd want to meet him and see if he was possessed by a Heavenly Demon."
"Daoist Priest Suwen is a senior in the cultivation world, anyone he has identified is probably fine."
"But I don't believe anyone can be so talented that they can draw a Five Thunder Talisman in one day."
Watching the conversation shift to him, Du Ge smiled and typed a message, sending it out:
"Daoist Priest Suwen's true disciple Cheng Yu greets all the senior cultivators. I've heard from my master about the Heavenly Demons, so how about I host a gathering today? Let's meet, make friends, and join forces to exorcise demons!"
Zhao Hongmei, recovering from the shock of the lightning-struck tree, leaned over to glance at Du Ge's phone and the group chat messages, then looked at Du Ge, rubbed her temples, and suddenly fell into a bewildering contemplation of life.