"Divine Spirit..."

Zhang Kui sneered, "If there are divine spirits, then why do demons run rampant in the world? Is it not like clay Bodhisattvas crossing a river, unable to protect themselves?"

Manzudia rolled her eyes slightly,

"Don't speak nonsense. Are you aware that before the Yu and Zhou, there was a Qi Dynasty in the Central Plains?"

Zhang Kui nodded,

"I have heard storytellers mention it, but this dynasty is very mysterious, only occasionally mentioned in the 'Zhou History'. After all, before the Zhou, the Central Plains were in darkness and chaos for countless years."

Manzudia's eyes dimmed,

"The grasslands were even worse than yours, with lives as worthless as grass, only in the recent thousand years was Ghost Rong established."

"However, our Shamanism has a secret text called the 'Blood Sea Stone Book', which states that originally, the world had True Gods who ruled the mountains, rivers, sun, moon, and stars, keeping all living things in order."

"The grasslands were once governed by the Central Plains, and that powerful dynasty was the Qi Dynasty. They were protected by invoking a divine spirit from the Underworld for the human race."

Zhang Kui was stunned, "Could it be that you want to find the god?"

Manzudia was silent for a long time,

"The Central Plains have the National Guardian Divine Artifact, while the grasslands are barren. Do you know how Ghost Rong survived?"

As she spoke, her eyes showed a touch of desolation,

"By relying on evil demons for protection, holding three large blood rituals a year, even I, the Saintess, am prepared as a tool for reproduction by the outer demons."

"There is no resistance, no hope. Originally, the plan was to obtain the map at all costs, but I accidentally learned..."

Manzudia took a deep breath, gritting her teeth as she spoke:

"The true purpose of those old ghosts in the sect...is to find a divine spirit's body for the demons in the Blood Sea Forbidden Land!"

Zhang Kui was astonished,

"Are they out of their minds? It's simply insane!"

"Yes, they've gone mad, all of them..."

Manzudia's eyes showed determination,

"I must go to see what exactly is there. If there is not a shred of hope, I will remain in the Underworld with the map forever!"

Zhang Kui frowned slightly but said nothing.

He didn't know what Manzudia had been through, but it was clear that the woman before him had resolved to die, held back only by a glimmer of hope.

Exiting the courtyard, the snow in the sky fell heavier.

Two servants laughed heartily, driving three fat pigs to slaughter, the pigs snorting as they ate carrots, unaware that this delicious meal would be their last.

Old Liu shouted loudly:

"Three pounds for each family, make dumplings for your wives and children and have a good new year!"

A man chuckled,"Master Liu, what if I don't have a wife?"

Old Liu glared and said,

"Save up your wages and find one, if not, solve it at the brothel. Do you expect me to provide you a wife!"

The servants immediately burst into laughter, teasing each other, and the manor was filled with hopeful and joyful voices.

Zhang Kui watched from afar with a gentle smile.

Mortals are weak, surrounded by dust and concerns, yet happiness comes quickly. I'm but a common man, why think so much? Encounter injustice, just draw my sword and slay it!

With this thought, the gloom in his heart gradually dissipated, and he rolled up his sleeves and strode forward,

"Move aside, let Old Zhang have some fun!"

......

Slaughtered pig meals, making dumplings, washing it down with old wine, watching the brilliant fireworks illuminating the night sky of the Capital City from afar.

Although it was bitterly cold, with frost everywhere, the manor only had Zhang Kui, two others, and Fatty Tiger left, but they still celebrated a lively new year.

Just after the first day of the year, Zhang Kui donned a brand-new Taoist robe, carrying gifts he had prepared beforehand, riding Fatty Tiger towards the Jade Flower Temple.

Elder Huayan treated him as a junior, so naturally, he had to pay a visit for the new year.

Unexpectedly, he arrived in vain.

Elder Huayan's senior disciple, Bu Xu, had already become familiar with him and, after serving hot tea, said:

"Taoist Friend Zhang, you are a day late. Yesterday, my master received news from a friend and rushed off to Bozhou."

"Bozhou..."

Zhang Kui frowned, "So urgent, could something major have happened?"

Bu Xu smiled: "It's nothing major. The National Guardian True Man Qiu Canzi over there discovered an Ancient Secret Realm, and my master, unable to resist, couldn't wait anymore."

Elder Huayan, an outer pill master, was notoriously keen on exploring Ancient Secret Realms like a treasure hunter, a well-known fact.

Zhang Kui immediately laughed, "Alright, then I'll visit when he returns to the capital."

Returning to the manor from the Jade Flower Temple, someone had already arrived bearing gifts, it was Eunuch Yin, Yin Bai.

Zhang Kui laughed: "Brother Yin, there's no need for such formality between us. Come, let's not leave until we're drunk today."

Interacting with people is indeed an interesting thing.

Originally, he was familiar with Wu Siyuan, but as the family gradually ceased contact, the once-dismissed Eunuch Yin was now realized to be an efficient man, increasingly getting along well.

Yin Bai shook his head quickly, his expression serious,

"Taoist Zhang, we can drink anytime, but I came to discuss two urgent matters."

"Firstly, General Heyang Xiahou Ba, due to his son Xiahou Jie's collusion with the Demon Star Pavilion, had his military power of the Blood Wolf Army stripped by the Emperor and has returned home to ponder over his mistakes during the new year."

"Xiahou Ba, a fiery person, although True Man Yuhua personally mediated, Taoist Zhang, you should avoid confrontation to prevent unnecessary anger."

Zhang Kui snorted, sneering: "His son colluded with demons, seeking his own death, what does it have to do with me? The top beam not straight, the bottom beam crooked, seems like he's no good either."

"However, Elder Huayan mediated knowing I wouldn't back down, and Old Zhang isn't unreasonable, I won't run into that guy."

Eunuch Yin nodded,

"There is another matter I wish for your help with."

"As you know, in the Astronomical Bureau's Gu Lin, there are several caves, often with strange insect beasts roaming. Though not a great threat, they are used as training grounds for Black-clothed Profound Guards."

"Lately, however, there have been frequent appearances of formidable demon beasts, causing many injuries to the Black-clothed Profound Guards, though they flee upon the arrival of a National Guardian True Man."

"The True Man on guard is Xiao Qianchou, you know his temper, after several attempts he's become impatient and vents on me almost daily."

"Him?"

Zhang Kui looked sympathetic, "Brother Yin, you're quite unlucky."

Xiao Qianchou, a sword cultivator, once had a promising future, but after undergoing life and death trials, he reluctantly occupied a Corpse Child's body to survive, unable to weather the Celestial Tribulation any further, becoming erratic and devious, disliked by all at the Astronomical Bureau.

Elder Huayan had specifically cautioned him not to provoke this person, thus Zhang Kui remembered vividly.

"Indeed."

Eunuch Yin looked frustrated, "I'm tormented daily, worse than death, so I conferred with Eunuch Wang, to ask for assistance from various guest ministers and Taoist Zhang, offering merit silver as a reward. What do you think?"

Zhang Kui laughed,

"Brother Yin, this isn't asking for help, plainly you're offering me benefits. I get to slay demon beasts and earn merit silver, why not take it up? Let's set out immediately."

After giving quick instructions, he followed Eunuch Yin to the Capital City.

The cave was located beside the Astronomical Bureau's woodland path in a dense forest, covered deeply in snow with ancient relics all around.

Yin Bai introduced as they walked:

"This cave reportedly appeared a thousand years ago. When Emperor Qianyuan established the Astronomical Bureau, he issued an order prohibiting entry beyond five hundred meters."

"Three hundred years ago, a National Guardian True Man, out of disbelief, secretly ventured deeper to investigate, never to return. Fortunately, the demon beasts never leave the cave, and people gradually became accustomed."

Emperor Qianyuan, it's him again...

Zhang Kui suddenly recalled the ominous Sealed Demon Cave, the eerie Yin Fire Cave outside the city, and this Insect Cave.

What kind of arrangements did Emperor Qianyuan make?

He suddenly developed an interest in the emperor who founded and expanded the nation, ending the chaos after Yu's fall...

Just then, several Black-clothed Profound Guards hurriedly carried someone over from afar.

Upon seeing this, Eunuch Yin was taken aback,

"Even Guest Zhou was injured!"

Zhang Kui looked down, seeing the person on the stretcher dressed as a scholar, his aura at the Grain Avoidance Realm.

The Astronomical Bureau frequently recruited civilian cultivators, granting the title of Guest Minister upon reaching the Grain Avoidance Realm, as a reserve for National Guardian True Men.

Elder Huayan wanted him to become a Guest Minister, but Zhang Kui had always declined, citing insufficient cultivation.

At this moment, the Grain Avoidance Realm cultivator lay unconscious with a deathly pale face, his chest riddled with countless tiny broken flesh tendrils, boring through bloody holes continually drilling inward...

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