Chapter 437: Chapter 437 Watch closely with your eyes wide! (Fifth update)
The consecration inscription of Master Zuo was drawn by his own hand, its quality far outstripping those drawn by other Taoists, by more times than one could tell.

This ray of golden light struck the magic artifact “Demon Viewing Mirror”, rippling out a semblance of fluctuations, but––

The “Demon Viewing Mirror” remains dull, absolutely devoid of any spiritual energy.

“This…” Master Zuo faltered, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes as he muttered. “It actually failed?”

This… is an ill omen for the start.

Master Zuo hardly ever fails. This one failure gave rise to an uncomfortable feeling in his heart, yet it was not enough to dishearten him.

“I refuse to believe it, a mere Demon Viewing Mirror, can’t even be consecrated! Let’s try that again!”

Master Zuo took out another consecration inscription, chanted the consecration spell, then burned the inscription. Gold light fell upon the Demon Viewing Mirror once again.

The Demon Viewing Mirror was like a stagnant pool!

The gold light vanished like a mud ox entering the sea, undetectable!

The second attempt at consecration was still a failure!

At this point, the spectators were taken by surprise.

After all, Master Zuo was renowned; no one expected him to stumble twice on the very first magic artifact!

The people from Sun Family, along with Ying Aoshan and Jin Mengqi, heaved sighs of relief as if weights had been lifted off their chests.

However, the suspense still lingered.

At the very least, there were 17 more magic artifacts waiting for Master Zuo to consecrate.

Master Qiao and Master Zhao did not panic, after all, the initiative was completely in Master Zuo’s hands.

Huang Xiaolong found a chair to sit on, crossed his legs, and started smoking with an air of nonchalance. He didn’t even bother to look over at Master Zuo. He muttered, “With this level of skill, you’re presuming to consecrate? You’re making a fool of yourself~~”

With renewed determination, Master Zuo put aside the Demon Viewing Mirror, and began to consecrate the second magic artifact.

He has given up on the Demon Viewing Mirror. Dammit, he couldn’t possibly die on this same hill, could he?

Much to his dismay, things didn’t go as he planned!

The second magic artifact’s consecration!

Failed!

The third magic artifact!

Failed!

The fourth magic artifact!

Failed!

…

Failed! Failed! Failed!

Tonight, Master Zuo was destined to have no relation to success!

In the end, Master Zuo had tried with all eighteen magic artifacts and they all ended in failure!

Moreover, this whole consecration process consumed an enormous amount of his Taoist energy, causing him to nearly faint. Sweat dripped copiously from his forehead.

The observing wealthy onlookers began to exchange surprised glances.

“What’s going on…what’s going on… Master Zuo…he….he didn’t manage to consecrate a single magic artifact successfully… It’s absurd! It’s impossible!” Master Qiao panicked!

“Master Qiao, don’t worry about it, this first round should be a draw.” Master Zhao hastily consoled. “Even Master Zuo was unable to do anything with these batch of magic artifacts, what can that immature kid do?”

Master Qiao thought about it and his mind was put at ease.

On the Sun Family’s side, a wave of cheers rang out.

“I told you before, there’s no need to worry at all.” Sun Wei laughed without a care in the world.

“Now, the initiative is in Young Master Huang’s hands. In this first round of magical duel, the worst outcome could be reconciling by a handshake.” Ying Aoshan gave a generous smile.

“No… the chances of winning are strong. The stinky Taoist before couldn’t even successful activate a single Magic Artifact. Now, all Huang Xiaolong has to do is succeed once, even just once, and he would claim the victory!” Jin Mengqi invigorated her spirit.

“Hmph! Do we even need to continue the first round? Let’s call it a draw. You’re pretty fortunate, lad.” Master Zuo glared at Huang Xiaolong resentfully; his humiliation knew no bounds.

“Huh? Why are we stopping? Why are we calling it a draw? Is your brain broken?” Huang Xiaolong stood up, flexed his muscles, and walked towards the sacrificial altar.

“Even I couldn’t activate these Magic Artifacts, only a handful of people in this world could… Unless my master himself makes the effort. Kid, don’t waste your time!” Master Zuo said impatiently.

“Well, you, just shove off. Enough with the idle chatter.” Huang Xiaolong waved a dismissive hand.

“You!” Master Zuo’s eyes bulged with rage, but he couldn’t go so far as to forcefully deprive Huang Xiaolong of his chance to activate this batch of Magic Artifacts. He retreated to the side pulling a long face and huffed, “If you even succeed in one, I’ll eat all these Magic Artifacts!”

“Idiot.” Huang Xiaolong laughed scornfully.

“There are two ways to activate Magic Artifacts. One is ‘single activation’, activating one Magic Artifact at a time. Another is ‘group activation’, as the name suggests, activating a batch of Magic Artifacts at one time…” Huang Xiaolong explained at his own pace. “So, for those of you present today, if you’re lucky, I’ll show you what ‘group activation’ looks like.”

The entire crowd was sent into an uproar at these words!

Holy smokes, did Huang Xiaolong mean to activate all eighteen Magic Artifacts at the same time?

“Isn’t this chap bragging a bit too much? Full eighteen Magic Artifacts, activating them all at once? No one has ever seen or even heard of such a thing!”

“This guy’s way too arrogant. Master Zuo just exhausted himself to the point of sweating and turned pale, unable to activate even a single Magic Artifact. And this guy wants it all… I think he’s seriously sick.”

“Impossible. Nothing but bragging, is more like it.”

…

With Huang Xiaolong’s proclamation, Masters Qiao, Zuo, and Zhao all finally relaxed.

If Huang Xiaolong were to activate them one by one, he’d have 18 chances to succeed. If he lucked out just once, he’d have won the first round.

But now he wants to do a “group activation”, which is obviously delusional.

Even if the masters of these three masters were to personally come, they wouldn’t be able to activate all eighteen Magic Artifacts in a group.

“Ah ha ha ha~~~~” Huang Xiaolong suddenly burst into laughter, “The so-called master from before was simply absurd. These eighteen Magic Artifacts were stolen from tombs, tainted with a considerable amount of foul corpse Qi and filth. He wanted to directly activate them, which is completely amateurish. I don’t know where this fake Taoist who swindles the world and steals people’s names came from. First of all… you need to cleanse these Magic Artifacts from the accumulated yin spirits.”

Huang Xiaolong took out a “Purifying Water Talisman” from his canvas bag.

With the talisman in his hand, there was a relaxed aura radiating from Huang Xiaolong.

He recited an incantation, “Primordial Pure Water, cleanses the spiritual platform, one drop purifies the dust, mundane world transforms into Penglai, washes away filth and disasters, opens the Dharma realm of Fragrant woods, repents and expels demons, great heavenly honour cleansing the filth, three praises as incense burns in the sacred tripod… Cleanse!”

The Purifying Water Talisman self-ignites, turning into a boundless soothing breeze!

Water vapors swirled forming a visible water dragon!

This water dragon circled around the eighteen Magic Artifacts on the sacrificial altar for a few rounds before bursting into a sky full of water droplets.

In an instant, everyone on this mountaintop felt a refreshing sensation, as if bathed in a spring breeze, their spirits uplifted!

The aura of rot, corpse Qi, foulness, and yin spirit on the eighteen Magic Artifacts on the sacrificial altar were all cleansed away, leaving a faint shine on them.

Huang Xiaolong laughed; he took out another talisman.

Upon a closer look, this talisman was filled with abundant Dao energy, radiant and clearly not a common item.

Masters Zuo, Qiao, and Zhao couldn’t help but fix their eyes on that talisman in Huang Xiaolong’s hand, their hearts filled with ill forebodings!

“Well, this is the activation talisman I personally drew. One talisman, group activation. Keep your eyes wide open and watch!”

Huang Xiaolong had a carefree smile. With a flick of a wrist, the activation talisman self-ignited!

Boom~~~~~~~!!

A pillar of dazzling golden light burst out, sweeping over the eighteen neatly arranged Magic Artifacts on the sacrificial altar!

In an instant, an entire sacrificial altar was enveloped in a golden light, so sacred and magnificent it was indescribable!

…