"Master, Master!"

Early in the morning, the small Taoist Child sweeping Xushou Temple came rushing in, "Many court officials have come down the mountain; I don't know where they're heading."

"Noisy..."

The Daoist, who was meditating, slightly raised his eyelids, "This is the outskirts of the Capital City; what's so strange about the court officials coming here? Don't panic over nothing."

But the small Taoist was still anxious, pointing outside the door, "No, they're carrying the National Guardian Stele!"

"What?!"

The Daoist couldn't hold back any longer and ran out of the temple in a few steps, looking down from the cloud platform.

He saw a procession in the valley with banners fluttering and strict honors, bright armored horsemen leading the way, palace attendants in splendid clothes riding spirited horses, proceeding majestically to the west.

The most eye-catching was a giant stele carried by over twenty tall, strong warriors, with a statue of an Evil Ghost suppressed beneath it and the words "National Guardian" inscribed on the stele.

"The National Guardian True Man Stele!"

The Daoist exclaimed enviously.

"Master, which family are they going to?"

The small Taoist Child asked, full of longing.

For cultivators scattered around the Capital City, the position of National Guardian True Man was undoubtedly the ultimate pursuit and recognition.

The Daoist looked towards the west thoughtfully, "It should be Iron Blood Manor if nothing unexpected happens."

"The Fierce Tiger Taoist?"

The small Taoist Child scratched his head, "Master, should we go over to congratulate them? After all, they're our neighbors."

The Daoist shook his head with difficulty, "No, that person has a daunting presence and a murderous air; fellow cultivators in the Capital City say he's hard to deal with; I'd rather not seek humiliation."

"Alas, what a pity..."

The small Taoist Child sighed while resting his cheek on his palm.

"What's there to pity? Go sweep the floor!"

The Daoist retorted impatiently.

It wasn't just Xushou Temple that was attracted; cultivators from temples and shrines along the way were all watching.

Some with envy, some with disdain, some indifferent, everyone with different thoughts, but everyone knew that the eccentric Fierce Tiger Taoist from that manor had now ascended to the clouds.

The enfeoffment procession arrived at Iron Blood Manor, and Old Liu and a few others, who had received advance notice, were waiting outside in new clothes, looking joyful.

"Is True Man Zhang here?"

The elderly eunuch holding the Holy Decree in his right hand spoke kindly.

If it were ordinary officials not welcoming the Holy Decree, he would've been furious long ago, but the position of National Guardian True Man was revered and had to be treated with care.

Old Liu smiled slightly, "Apologies, my Master Kui is at a crucial point in alchemy; this gentleman, please come inside and wait for a while."

"No rush, no rush, alchemy is important."

The elderly eunuch smiled, his face full of wrinkles; he had even seen a National Guardian True Man receive a decree in a brothel, just going through the motions.

In the backyard, Zhang Kui was intently watching the Eight Trigrams Furnace, carefully urging the Earth Fiend Yin Fire, preparing to gather the medicinal properties finally.

Since returning that day, he had been racing against time to refine pills, which had been going on for half a month now.

The Eight Trigrams Furnace was extraordinarily effective, but no matter how fast, it took seven days to complete the pills; he had already refined a batch of "Purple Mansion Spirit Nourishing Pill" earlier, and was now working on "Jinhua Powder."

Unlike "Purple Mansion Spirit Nourishing Pill" which is a herbal pill strong in increasing Spiritual Qi, "Jinhua Powder" comes from Stone Boiling Skill, a golden stone pill stronger in refining the body.

Sharpening the axe won't delay the work of chopping firewood; after consuming these two furnaces of pills, he should be able to upgrade the Grain Avoidance Skill to level three, saving twenty-five skill points.

While this was just slightly more than slaying a Celestial Tribulation Realm Old Demon, unless he encountered a situation like Ji Temple Secret Realm again, opportunities would be quite slim.

Henceforth, all his skill points would be used to enhance the Disaster Exorcism Skill, and he might have to roam around vigorously.

Buzz buzz buzz!

With a bout of vibration, the Eight Trigrams Furnace quieted down without the usual "pop pop" sounds of pill formation because "Jinhua Powder" is a powder requiring consumption with Jade Dew.

Sure enough, upon opening the furnace, there was half a furnace of gold and jade interspersed powder, with the fiery breath gradually dissipating, exuding an odd medicinal aroma.

"Hmm... the quality is not bad..."

Zhang Kui cheerfully put it into a gourd, then casually donned a Taoist Robe to go receive the Holy Decree.

"It is ordained that cultivator Zhang Kui, versed in profound skills, attains a state of peace and harmony, with noble Tao cultivation..."

The old eunuch spread open the holy decree and recited it in a splendid, yet obscure manner.

Zhang Kui rested his chin on his hand, sitting on the chair, half-stunned, wondering when he had become so "calm and composed," and where the "noble Tao cultivation" came from?

However, he knew that such things were mostly written by others, as the Emperor was still lying in bed, his life or death uncertain.

The Qian Dynasty indeed treated the National Guardian True Man with favor. Aside from the "National Guardian Stele," Seven Treasures Taoist Robe, and the magic sword, which were all superficial, there were also one hundred thousand taels of gold, a bronze tablet symbolizing status, and a blank land deed.

If he wished to establish a sect now, he only needed to find a suitable piece of land, and immediately, the Court would send people to build it for him for free.

Of course, besides these, he also had obligations to fulfill, such as defending a state mansion or serving as the Capital City Guardian.

After putting away the holy decree, the old eunuch smiled and said, "True Man Zhang, according to tradition, please visit the Grand Profound Lake Heart Island, where someone should be waiting."

Zhang Kui laughed heartily, "Alright, Old Zhang understands."

Elder Huayan had long instructed that after becoming a National Guardian True Man, the first thing was not to hold a banquet to celebrate and make friends, but to establish authority, to fiercely establish authority.

The National Guardian True Man essentially spoke with their fists. Initially, this was to prevent impostors, but it gradually became a tradition that required a showdown with challengers on this day.

Winning or losing would determine his future status and voice within the group of National Guardian True Men.

He was admitted to the ranks of National Guardian True Men with a Grain Avoidance Realm cultivation, and there would surely be a lot of dissent...

Thinking of this, Zhang Kui laughed heartily, stood up tall, and said, "Fatty Tiger, let's go to Grand Profound Lake. Haven't they always gossiped about me behind my back?"

"Today, Old Zhang will oblige them by being a big villain!"

With that, he rode the tiger straight toward the Capital City...

...

North of Haojing City, at General Heyang's Mansion.

Blood Wolf Army leader, General Heyang, Xiahou Ba, had defended the Northern Border for thirty years. His military achievements were illustrious, his reputation echoed far and wide, and with his identity as a Celestial Tribulation Realm Military Cultivator, he was quite a figure in the Capital City.

But ever since his only son, Xiahou Jie, was implicated in the "Gu Plague" case and associated with the Demon Star Pavilion remnants, not only was his military power stripped, he was also ordered to reflect behind closed doors. Even the National Guardian True Man position that was firmly in hand came to nothing.

At this moment, the courtyard was overgrown with weeds, already showing neglect. A tall, burly, one-eyed man stood with his hands behind his back, staring blankly at the old locust tree in the courtyard.

A shadowy voice came from the darkness of the hall behind him, "General Xiahou, by now that Zhang Kui should have already been conferred. That position, that honor, was originally yours. Aren't you at all angry?"

Xiahou Ba didn't turn around, but faintly mocked, "The title of National Guardian True Man is but vanity; what you lost was the throne. Why mock me, Fourth Prince..."

A figure slowly emerged from the darkness, revealing the scruffy-bearded, haggard but intensely bright-eyed Fourth Prince, Li Fu.

"The Qian Dynasty is riddled with crises, and demons are rampant. Those old men chose Li Shuo for the throne; it was merely because they saw him as weak and easy to manipulate. Now that the great tribulation is approaching, the world will inevitably fall into chaos. Could the General assist me?"

Xiahou Ba still didn't turn his head, his expression indifferent,

"Fourth Prince, please leave. Xiahou pretends you never came."

The Fourth Prince's face was immediately filled with anger. He gritted his teeth and, saying nothing, turned and left.

After the Fourth Prince left, Xiahou Ba shook his head slightly, "He's a fool too, not knowing his death is near."

With a sigh, he said, "Li Wuji... Xiahou truly admires you, tough on enemies, tougher on oneself, and even tougher on descendants."

"Without such toughness, how could this world of Qian exist..."

A figure slowly revealed himself; it was the National Guardian True Man Yellow Eyebrow Monk, spinning prayer beads, with downcast eyes.

"Is the information accurate?"

Xiahou Ba turned around, his eyes bright with excitement.

Yellow Eyebrow Monk nodded, "Last night someone secretly reported. The old monk raided a Demon Nest and indeed found this."

Saying this, he took out a bizarre piece of tile, densely engraved with lines.

Xiahou Ba's breathing became rapid immediately,

"Is this really the map of the Underworld?"

Yellow Eyebrow Monk's eyes also turned eager, "That's right. According to the confession from the Demon Star Pavilion remnants, the other half is with the Shaman Saintess. I've already persuaded most of the National Guardian True Men. Would Xiahou be willing to join?"

"Hahaha..."

Xiahou Ba laughed, "Yellow Eyebrow Brother, you're truly joking. With hope for longevity, of course, Xiahou counts in. However, there are still some days until Mid-Autumn, and the locust plague is fierce. There will certainly be chaos by then. You must take care of yourselves."

Yellow Eyebrow Monk sighed slightly,

"To be honest, Xiahou, the more you understand some things, the more despair you feel. We've already lost heart and grow weary. If this world is to perish, let it perish. Longevity is what we seek."

"Well said."

Xiahou Ba's eyes were full of longing, "Longevity, the Immortal Path, even a fool knows which to choose..."

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