As Yellow Eyebrow Old Monk uttered a low shout, seven or eight figures either transformed into blood mist, were shrouded in black smoke, or turned into a flash of white light, dispersing towards the mountains surrounding the small city.

Only Yellow Eyebrow Old Monk and a scholar with a ghostly pale face, as if covered with a layer of powder, remained at the original spot.

"Taoist Friend Li, it's up to you now."

Yellow Eyebrow Old Monk nodded slightly.

The scholar surnamed Li gave a sinister smile, opening his palm, and a piece of tattered cloth flew out from his chest, seemingly torn from the corner of a flag.

A glint of pride flashed in the scholar's eyes,

"This Ancient Artifact of mine, though it neither harms people nor protects oneself, its concealing ability is unparalleled in the world."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the piece of tattered cloth immediately fluttered with the wind, ascending to the high sky, where instantly a gust of air scattered, transforming into rolling dark clouds, covering the entire valley...

...

At the foot of the mountain lay a small town named Ancient Creek.

The residents of Ancient Creek Town worked from sunrise to sunset, self-sufficient, living a life detached from worldly conflicts.

According to the elders of the town, the outside world was not peaceful, with demons and ghosts running rampant. Without the protection of the Mountain Ghost God, they wouldn't be able to live so peacefully.

It wasn't that no one wanted to venture outside, but all who left were found dead under mysterious circumstances on the mountain paths.

Gradually, leaving the mountain became a taboo word.

During this period, due to the severe locust plague, the townspeople were fearful, so they sought help from the Mountain Ghost God.

To their delight, the Mountain Ghost God sent a message, saying it would curse the locusts to devour each other and then transform into a swarm of locusts and leave, but before that, they needed to hold a grand festival.

The people of Ancient Creek Town had lived there for generations, with the Mountain Ghost God as their only reliance, so they naturally held the ritual as instructed, offering five boys and five girls.

In the town square, the old temple priest wore a mountain ghost mask painted with oil colors, holding a Magical Artifact, jumping around while reciting various incantations.

Ten children stared blankly at all of this, surrounded by burning incense, while the townspeople knelt on the ground, continuously kowtowing.

A disheveled woman ran over crying and shouting: "I beg you, please, release my treasure."

"Hurry and take her away!"

The mayor sternly said with a dark expression: "The drawing decided it, whoever it is, it's them. If we anger the Mountain Ghost God and it no longer protects us, the outside demons will come in and kill us."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sky suddenly rolled with dark clouds, so oppressive it seemed as if they would crush the entire valley.

A terrifying aura rose, black smoke and blood mist flew down from the mountain top, heading straight towards the small town.

"The demons are coming!"

The townspeople erupted in chaos, crying out for parents, hiding everywhere.

The mayor, full of terror, grabbed the temple priest and shouted:

"Quick, quickly ask the Mountain Ghost God!"

The trembling old temple priest was about to comply when they saw a shadow with a green face, tusks, and covered in hair soar up from the temple in the small town.

However, before they could see it clearly, the shadow was intercepted by a gust of blood mist and a flash of white light, instantly shattered.

Is the Mountain Ghost God dead?

The townspeople watched the sky in horror; they hadn't expected that the always omnipotent Mountain Ghost God could be easily killed by these demons.

Soon, a voice came from the sky.

"Yellow Eyebrow, what about these mortals?"

"We must not expose ourselves, or catastrophe will befall us. These people collude with evil spirits and must be executed!"

In an instant, a bloody storm arose in Ancient Creek Town.

Soon, the dark clouds in the sky dispersed, and within the town, houses collapsed, the place reduced to scorched earth, wooden beams smoldered with blue smoke, and a charred skeleton lay buried underground, its hollow eyes staring at the sky...

After a long period, black mist emerged from the ground again, the sky quickly dimmed, and a cold wind howled.

Roar!

From within the black mist came an angry howl, the airwaves suddenly scattered, the ground shook, and the surrounding mountains rumbled as huge rocks fell...

...

Quanzhou, Yunxia Mountain.

The Locust Demon had been eliminated, and this famous mountain on the border of Quanzhou restored to its former tranquility.

In the scorching summer, water vapor churned between the rugged rocks, cascading down with the waterfall, like flowing clouds and mist, gurgling continuously. This scene covered the entire mountainous terrain, earning it the praise of contemporary poets as a magnificent 'flow of clouds and waterfalls'.

At the summit, beneath the ancient pine, Zhang Kui sat cross-legged, while Fatty Tiger lay on a peculiar rock not far away, with the sea of clouds surging, exuding an otherworldly air.

During the demon elimination in Quanzhou, with evil spirits lurking around, Zhang Kui pretended to retreat, taking a roundabout path before stopping at the border again.

Opposite was Jiangzhou.

Unlike other places, he could leave at any time, his movements erratic, but upon returning to Jiangzhou, he would immediately have to face the General's Tomb.

He must enhance his power as much as possible.

Originally, in Dianzhou, he had already accumulated over 170 points. Plus, during the journey slaying the Locust Demons, he gained over 300 points, reaching a total of 495 points.

Quite a fortune indeed...

However, the Golden Core Path is extraordinary. Each level not only requires more than twenty points but also necessitates maxing out the corresponding skills.

Next is Pill Manipulation Skill level three, Golden Core Third Transformation.

It is said:

Three Transformations of Yang into the Left Palace, the color of the Mysterious Pearl gradually freshens to red. Simply put, it's about nurturing Yang Qi.

However, there is an issue here. Ordinary cultivators, with outstanding aptitude, still require decades to cultivate swiftly.

But Zhang Kui achieved it in one fell swoop.

The terrifying Yang Qi birthed Pill Fire, even if he practiced the Swallowing Knife Skill, he would probably be burned from within, leading to demonic deviation.

Therefore, a prerequisite for the Golden Core Third Transformation is the Sitting Fire Skill of the Five Elements Skill, it must be mastered to the fullest.

Originally in Qingzhou, to help Gu Ziqing overcome the Fire Tribulation, he had elevated the Sitting Fire Skill to level two.

Later, he used it once in the Yin Fire Cave of Haojing City and again during the battle with the Green Hat Old Turtle at the canal, then he paid it no mind.

This time, however, it must be improved.

Thinking of this, Zhang Kui hesitated no more, spending 52 points to max out the Sitting Fire Skill, a bright star gradually rose from the depths of the darkness in his mind.

Sitting Fire Skill: Fire Seed Golden Lotus, entering fire without burning, Fire Escape Skill for avoiding disaster and Tribulation Fire, can evade Mortal Fire, Qi Yin Fire.

Next, he spent another 23 points to raise the Pill Manipulation Skill to level three.

Boom!

In an instant, it was like a fire was ignited in the Dantian.

Seated cross-legged, a scorching white flame suddenly ignited on Zhang Kui's body, the old pine beside him instantly turned to ash, and even the surrounding ground quickly reddened from the heat.

Howl!

Fatty Tiger let out a miserable howl, quickly jumping back with lingering fear as he looked at Zhang Kui.

Fortunately, the Sitting Fire Skill had long been activated, Zhang Kui felt nothing within the white flame, while inside his Dantian, a massive amount of Yang Qi gathered, the originally gaseous Golden Core was gradually turning crimson.

Zhang Kui opened his eyes, the thread of flame in his gaze gradually dissipated, and looking at himself, he smiled wryly, his Taoist robe had long turned to ash, leaving him naked against the mountain breeze, feeling quite cool below.

Oh well, there's no one around anyway.

Zhang Kui ignored it and closed his eyes once more.

Next is the Golden Core Fourth Transformation.

It is said:

Four Transformations of Yin into the Right Pass, Divine Fetus's spiritual movement gives red cheeks. Divine fire nurtures appearance, while the melody of the heavens urges the work of creation.

If last time was Yang nurturing, this time is Yin nurturing.

Similarly, Snow Lying Skill must be mastered.

Snow Lying Skill: Cold Avoidance Skill, residing in extreme cold without the flesh and Divine Soul perishing.

Spending 55 points to max out Snow Lying Skill, after the star rose in his mind, another 24 points were spent on the Golden Core Fourth Transformation.

At the mountain peak, originally half-burned by Pill Fire, the flowers, grass, and trees smoked blackly, but instantly, a layer of ice formed, and the surrounding moisture condensed, causing fine snow to fall even in midsummer.

From the gaps between the jagged strange rocks at the mountain's foot, a plume of black smoke suddenly emerged, vaguely revealing a wolverine's head.

First, it looked curiously at the mountain top, its pupils immediately shrinking, then quickly wrapped in rolling black smoke as it retreated into the distance.

At the mountain top, Zhang Kui again slowly opened his eyes, a jolt of True Qi scattered the ice and snow around.

Just now, observing the mutual aid of water and fire, Yin and Yang, Zhang Kui, during internal introspection, noted that his solidified Golden Core paid no mind to the activity below.

He felt a slight lament.

The Golden Core Great Path is indeed formidable, although it's a different path, he now basically possesses the cultivation level of the late Celestial Tribulation Realm.

He spent over 150 points just then, leaving him with more than 340 points—of course, he will continue to advance.

Next, is the Golden Core Fifth Transformation.

So-called Five Transformations of Yin and Yang bring about creation, an infant one foot long plays with Yang's essence. Simply put, it means birthing Divine Intent within the Golden Core.

At this stage, the Divine Movement Skill within the Seventy-Two Demons Technique must be perfected. This Divine Movement is not about running faster but rather the emergence of the Primordial Spirit.

Once mastered, it equates to formally stepping into the Divine Travel Realm.

Zhang Kui closed his eyes once more, expending 55 points to max out the Divine Movement Skill. At this moment, nine stars had risen in the dark depths of his mind, namely Guiding Skill, Grain Avoidance Skill, Demon Slaying Skill, Swallowing Knife Skill, Rock Jumping Skill, Sitting Fire Skill, Snow Lying Skill, and Divine Movement Skill.

After a 25-point expenditure on Golden Core Fifth Transformation, Zhang Kui's mind gradually immersed into his Dantian.

Unbeknownst to him, a large mass of dark clouds gathered overhead, with rolling thunder.

And in the distance, a black mist wrapped in green fire was spreading fast...

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