Chen Xu and Feng Yuanbai were conversing at the table, and although Feng Yuanbai's tone seemed casual, his words were shocking once he spoke.

The Daoist Sect advocates for the complete eradication of the Demon Race!

In Chen Xu's sleeve, Little Mouse Ah Shi, originally nestled against his left forearm, suddenly trembled, its tiny paws clutching Chen Xu's arm, its furry body slightly arching beneath the sleeve.

"Squeak!" The weak cry was almost pressed against Chen Xu's arm as it reached his ears.

The sound was anxious and angry.

Chen Xu could understand its emotions, so he extended his right hand, gently stroking its furry back through the sleeve.

Ah Shi was instantly soothed, its small body settling down but pressing even closer to Chen Xu.

Feng Yuanbai seemed to notice, giving Chen Xu a knowing smile.

Then he sighed lightly and said, "The Daoist Sect advocates for the extermination of demons because the calamity of demons and ghosts has been severe in recent years.

Especially since the beginning of this year... I have mentioned this to you before."

"Yes." Chen Xu continued to gently stroke the little mouse's back through the sleeve, recalling that Feng Yuanbai had previously mentioned the increasing demon calamities. This year's village exams even likely related to demon suppression.

However, at this moment, Feng Yuanbai's tone shifted slightly, and he said, "There are certain things I haven't fully disclosed before. Xu Zhi, you need to understand that sometimes ignorance is a blessing in this world.

If helpless regardless, is knowing nothing perhaps a kind of fortune?"

The implication was strong, and Chen Xu's hand paused slightly on the little mouse's back, covering the little creature through the sleeve, as he asked Feng Yuanbai,

"But those words, Brother Feng, are you willing to speak them now?"

Feng Yuanbai said with a tone full of emotion, "Rank thirty-one on the Profound List, single-handedly wiped out the ghosts of Pufeng Mountain, some things you are now ready to hear."

Then he suddenly drew a jade ruler about six inches long from his sleeve.

He tossed the jade ruler into the air, and it instantly drew a circle out of thin air around the two, with a radius of three feet.

As soon as the circle was drawn, Chen Xu keenly sensed an invisible barrier, like a wall of air, enclosing the area around him and Feng Yuanbai.

Was this... an isolation technique?

Used to prevent eavesdropping?

Chen Xu found it fascinating, his gaze flickering as he looked at the floating jade ruler.

Feng Yuanbai seemed to see Chen Xu's admiration and curiosity for the magic, and he chuckled, "Xu Zhi, this technique was passed down by the Imperial Court, and I cannot teach it to you without permission."

His tone was teasing, seemingly wanting to see Chen Xu's disappointed expression.

But Chen Xu instead showed a knowing look and had no intention to pursue the knowledge further.

Feng Yuanbai shook his head with a smile and continued:

"However, Xu Zhi, your 'Flowers Are Not Flowers' can be transformed in countless ways, like this isolation magic that prevents outside intrusion. You hadn't comprehended it only because you hadn't encountered it.

Now that you've seen it, with your talent, just give it a few days' thought and surely..."

Feng Yuanbai hadn't finished speaking when his mouth gaped open, full of astonishment.

Oh dear—

Alas!

What did he, he, he, and he just witness?

Feng Yuanbai, sitting at the table, watched as a faint mist suddenly emanated around Chen Xu.

The mist, ethereal and almost intangible, swiftly penetrated the air wall circled by the jade ruler.

It then clung to the outer air wall, encasing it like a ball and forming another layer of protection outside it.

Feng Yuanbai was almost at a loss for words; he had merely suggested Chen Xu might comprehend the isolation technique after several days, yet Chen Xu grasped it in an instant?

Is he human?

Not human indeed!

Perhaps his shock was too evident, for at some point, the little mouse Ah Shi peeked out from Chen Xu's sleeve, with its eyes slightly showing, and suddenly made a "squeak."

The little mouse squeaked, seemingly as if mocking.

Chen Xu quickly patted it gently, and Feng Yuanbai, shaking his head, said with a smile, "Xu Zhi, your little pet was timid, but with your support, it has become lively.

Yet you pretend to scold it, why? Do you think I, Feng, am so small-minded as to take offense at this little creature?"

Chen Xu gently stroked Ah Shi's little head again and said to Feng Yuanbai with a salute: "Brother, who are you? How could I not know?"

Feng Yuanbai laughed heartily, the atmosphere harmonious, and then spoke: "Since the beginning of spring, until early summer now, it hasn't rained for several months in the Sixteen States of Beijiang.

Recently, Qiongxu Daoist Palace's True Master Hongxiao personally went to the Northern Border, intending to summon rain, but instead, he suffered an attack and backlash from a mysterious fiery disaster.

With the rain uncalled, True Master Hongxiao was severely weakened and has returned to Qiongxu Daoist Palace to recuperate in seclusion.

Afterward, the Imperial Court dispatched the Astronomical Bureau for rain-seeking, but returned in failure as well.

This is not a simple drought. Various Cultivation Families went, all concluding that mischievous fiery spirits are at work. Yet such elusive creatures are notoriously hard to track down, ever-changing in form.

And coupled with unusual weather patterns, it further fuels this demon's aura.

Thus, even experts from various backgrounds ventured forth but couldn't even catch a glimpse of the fire spirit.

As to talking of slaying demons to eliminate the threat, it's even more impossible.

It hasn't rained for months now, and though the Northern Land can still hold on, if it remains dry by July or August, I'm afraid..."

Chen Xu listened to Feng Yuanbai as he narrated the unfolding disaster, horrified, and found himself engrossed unknowingly.

Upon hearing his tone of hesitation, he lowly interjected, "I fear... the people of the Sixteen States of Beijiang may find it hard to continue, and start fleeing from famine?"

Feng Yuanbai shook his head and sighed, "That's only the beginning. The real fear is that once the masses begin to flee, describing calamities and evils, the disaster will snowball.

When too much dead energy and resentment gather, that fire spirit could potentially advance into a Drought Demon.

If the Drought Demon follows the people south, it would be more than just parched lands for thousands of miles."

Feng Yuanbai only spoke this far before his tone abruptly stopped.

An indescribable thrilling sensation spread from within the words he left unsaid.

Even Chen Xu fell into silence.

He was by no means a man of few words, yet at this moment, with countless things he wished to say, not a single word could pass his lips.

Little Mouse Ah Shi, resting at his sleeve, suddenly let out a low, mournful sound.

"Squeak, squeak—"

The disaster was clearly happening far in the Northern Border, yet the Southern Border's Ah Shi seemed already touched by sorrow.

As Feng Yuanbai had said, some matters, when powerless against them, are truly better left unknown.

Chen Xu opened his mouth, his voice unexpectedly dry.

Even he was startled, only managing to hoarsely say, "Brother Feng, with so many experts in Great Li, and even the legendary Immortals, they cannot capture that fire spirit?"

Feng Yuanbai gave a bitter smile, "When the heavens move to kill, what can even an Immortal do? How was the fire spirit born? It was naturally formed!"

This sentence held a great deal of information; Chen Xu, hearing it, suddenly felt as if he caught onto something.

He immediately asked again, "Brother Feng, is the fire spirit a natural killing force? This, this innate murderous force, does it also count as a demon?"

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