Deserted house, dark night, the bonfire blazes.

A group of large and small yellow-skinned ones are scattered around, each either wearing tattered shorts or small vests, with small hands uneasy, eyes filled with awe and fear.

House demons, weak ones of the demon race depend on humans, either to warn of evil spirits or to steal chickens, opinions vary.

By the fire, Zhang Kui lifted his Taoist robe, pressed down the wine gourd, and laughed:

"Hundred-year-old sunken wine, mixed with heroic blood, taste it, beautiful enough to bubble!"

Old Yellow cautiously held a broken bowl, first sniffed it, then drank it all in one gulp, smacking his lips to savor:

"It goes down smoothly, the aftertaste is strong, so marvelous it makes you feel like an immortal, I, Old Yellow, have truly enjoyed a blessing today, no regrets in this life."

"Nonsense..."

Zhang Kui smiled, "You old demon acting like a patriarch on the mountain, why leave a life of leisure to roll in this quagmire?"

Old Yellow smiled awkwardly, took up his pipe for a couple of puffs, his eyes showing signs of age.

"It's all gone, all gone, the world is in chaos, and we couldn't escape it, the Astronomical Bureau couldn't protect us, were driven out of our mountain by wild demons, so we wander with the youngsters."

Zhang Kui frowned, "Why didn't you come to me?"

Old Yellow hesitated, cautiously smiled:

"Master Kui, you are now the famous True Man Zhang known throughout the world, concerned with the great affairs of the Human Path's rise and fall, we little demons dare not disturb."

"What the hell are you talking about!"

Zhang Kui snorted and glared: "You ghosts have too many worries, trouble yourselves, how would Old Zhang forget an old friend."

A trace of warmth flashed in Old Yellow's murky eyes,

"Master Kui, you're generous, but now your status is different, rumors among the people call you an Innate Divine Being, if you associate with us, you might be criticized."

Seeing Zhang Kui's face turn unpleasant, Old Yellow slightly shook his head,

"Master Kui, don't be angry, I, Old Yellow, have dealt with people all my life, how could I not know human nature, mortals are busy with their mundane lives, even if they are confused and muddle-headed, they still have an extra mouth to speak."

"I see you want to establish the Human Race Divine Path, and so many people will talk, you must be cautious..."

Zhang Kui was first stunned, then laughed heartily.

Old Yellow looked puzzled,

"Master Kui, could it be that what I said is wrong?"

"You're right!"

Zhang Kui laughed, took a sip of wine, then looked up at the clear breeze and bright moon, "But you misunderstood me."

"Old Zhang does things by my own heart, how would I be swayed by others' words, whether people praise me or destroy me, what does it have to do with me?"

"What nonsense about Innate Divine Being, even if Old Zhang rises to the Cyan Nether to slay immortals, descends to the Nine Netherworld to catch ghosts, I'm just a butcher mixed in the mundane world, what's so much fuss about."

"Pure rubbish, come, drink!"

Old Yellow trembled as he lifted the bowl, looking at the clear and beautiful wine, he was silent for a long time, then suddenly drank it all in one go, then performed a grand rite by bowing on the ground, kowtowing incessantly.

Zhang Kui was amused,

"Old Yellow, what are you doing, could it be that you are playing some tribute game, Old Zhang is not a forest chief."

Old Yellow raised his head, his murky old eyes full of determination,

"Master Kui intends to establish the Human Race Divine Path, I, Old Yellow, though unworthy, wish to seek a future for our younger generation!"

Zhang Kui's smile gradually receded, his eyes narrowed slightly,

"Personal ties are personal ties, doing things is doing things, this is the Human Race's matter, what are you joining for, get up, I'll help you take back your mountain."

Unexpectedly, Old Yellow still refused to get up, kneeling on the ground and tremblingly said: "Many in our clan have become spirits, few have achieved great success, most mix into human society, suffering from being slaughtered from both sides, it's unbearable."

"I know the Divine Path is precious, now willing to lead my entire clan to follow, gather intelligence, run errands and give warnings, willing to be driven, until we have established great merit for the Human Race and enter the Divine Path, just for a chance!"

Zhang Kui frowned slightly,

"Old Yellow, you're willing to pay such a price, do you know how many of your descendants will die?"

"We will not decline even if it means ten thousand deaths!"

The surrounding large and small yellow-skinned ones were also quite clever, already kneeling on the ground with small hands clasped, kowtowing like pounding garlic.

Zhang Kui thought for a moment,

"Alright, the world is in chaos now, ordinary Enlightenment Realm cultivators after all have mortal bodies, even with an Evil-breaking Talisman, there's quite some damage, you see the Yin Spirits and evil spirits, it's just right to rely on each other."

"But let me say the ugly words first, the road you choose, how you walk it, is up to you, I only act fairly, if you have second thoughts or act sneaky, it will just be water drawn with a bamboo basket, all in vain."

"We follow the True Man's teachings!"

After discussing business, Old Yellow's expression noticeably relaxed a lot, "The Capital City ruins have become an Asura Scene, Master Kui, you came, could it be to find the Treasure Toad too?"

"Just passing by..."

The man and demon had worked seamlessly in Qingzhou, Zhang Kui naturally didn't hide the gist of what happened.

"General's Tomb... Mahayana Realm!"

Old Yellow suddenly shivered, "Luckily we met Master Kui, otherwise we would have been in trouble."

Zhang Kui nodded slightly, "You all leave in a moment and wait for me at the foot of the mountain. Also, what strange occurrences have appeared in the ruins of the Capital City?"

Old Huang quickly replied:

"To speak of it is indeed strange. Though many died in the great calamity of the Capital City, which would typically only lead to the emergence of Fierce Ghosts, in just six months, strange phenomena are rampant."

"The Treasure Toad needs no mention; though it doesn't harm people, it comes and goes without a trace, and even if encountered, blades and swords cannot wound it."

"Besides, there are wandering Fire Ghosts everywhere, Spider Monsters lurking in the shadows, and people even claim to have seen a Demon Charm riding a White Wolf admiring the moon."

Fire Ghosts, Spider Monsters, White Wolf...

Zhang Kui felt something in his heart, what strange births, nothing more than the lingering dreams of the past yet unbroken.

"Alright, you all leave first, I will handle this matter."

...

The ruins of the Imperial Palace, broken walls and crumbling structures.

Accompanied by heavy footsteps, a fully armored Stone Man wandered back and forth, its stone skin cracked all over its face, black smoke spouting from its mouth, with blue flames occasionally igniting on its body.

The Stone Man's eyes were filled with confusion and anxiety,

"Escaped, escaped... what should I do?"

In the ghostly realm-like ruins of the Imperial Palace, the confused and ancient figure continuously echoed.

Suddenly, a rough voice sounded in the darkness.

"Red Flame General Gong Changtian, brave enough to shake the Demon Nest, with military exploits that shook the Central State, loyalty and righteousness unparalleled, witnessed by the heavens..."

The black smoke dispersed, Zhang Kui strode forward and cupped his hands, "General Gong Changtian, from listening to stories in small teahouses, among Emperor Qianyuan's eighteen generals, Old Zhang admires you the most."

Indeed, sealing the Divine Corpse wasn't just the sacrifice of Emperor Qianyuan alone, this "Fire Ghost" was none other than the Founding General Gong Changtian, transformed into a stone statue by secret skill, guarding the grand array of the Yin Fire Cave.

"You... are..."

Gong Changtian's eyes at first showed confusion, then seemed to regain a trace of clarity, before becoming agitated once more.

"The Divine Corpse escaped... the Divine Corpse escaped, the Qian Dynasty is in danger..."

As he spoke, his eyes gradually turned frenzied,

"Gone, gone, all gone... roar!"

The aura of despair spread everywhere, Gong Changtian completely transformed into a Fierce Ghost, flames blazed fiercely, eyes filled with ferocity, rushing straight towards Zhang Kui.

Clang!

A magnificent golden Sword Light shot out, the flaming stone statue instantly shattered into pieces, clattering to the ground, the burning flames slowly extinguishing.

Zhang Kui cupped his hands,

"Rest in peace, General!"

With that, he shook his head slightly.

Neither Gong Changtian nor Imperial Uncle Li, both had the qualifications to enter the Divine Path, but one's Divine Soul had worn down over a thousand years and turned into a Fierce Ghost, while the other was disheartened to the point of willing soul dispersion. Unlike Yin Bai, who is persistent and resilient.

A swirl of black smoke rose, Zhang Kui disappeared without a trace, leaving only the crumbled ruins of the Qian Imperial Palace, the cold wind weeping softly beneath the bright moon...

...

In the dark crevice, muddy water dripped repeatedly, and the sound of chewing continuously came from within the darkness.

The black smoke dispersed, Zhang Kui appeared with a cold expression.

Swoosh!

Several strands of white silk shot out, but before they could get close, they were shattered by the protective Sword Light.

Roar!

Accompanied by the rustling sound, a gigantic black spider five meters tall charged out of the darkness, its head that of a woman, eyes blood-red, spreading its fanged mouth, hissing at him.

Zhang Kui snorted,

"Imperial Uncle Li mentioned before his death that a Spider Lady named Hua Niang of the Demon Star Pavilion was secretly plotting much, I thought she fled, but didn't expect she had fully demonized."

"Hehehe... hahaha..."

The Spider Lady laughed wildly with her fangs bared, eyes full of madness, "The Qian Dynasty perished by my hand, it was Hua Niang who ended it, haha..."

Clang!

Another flash of golden light passed by, and the dark crevice fell completely silent.

"Hmph, what nonsense!"

Zhang Kui snorted coldly, then looked to his right, a wisp of black smoke dissipated, a Nether Soil stone coffin rapidly traversing.

For others, the ruins of the Capital City were an Asura treasure ground, but for him, it was merely a haunting old dream of the previous dynasty.

Since the Qian Dynasty was already extinct, thoroughly cleaning up was necessary to prevent it from becoming a scourge like the Demon Star Pavilion and Square Immortal Road.

Just now, he sensed a peculiar aura, and moments later, a scene appeared before his eyes.

Under the moonlight, the Inner Treasury's iron toad's rear nudged deeper into the earth, while a huge White Wolf incessantly dug the soil, biting the toad's hind leg retreating furiously...

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