Paper figures... paper figures... what are paper figures afraid of?

He thought quickly.

Paper fears fire, that's the easiest conclusion. But now he couldn't use his cultivation, and the last Burning Talisman had been used to incinerate the Umbrella Demon's external avatar.

What else do they fear?

Water! That's it! Once soaked in water, paper would dissolve.

Where to get water?

Fan Wubing suddenly opened his eyes, and in the terrifying darkness, he recalled the "Seven Luminaries Rain Control Skill" in his mind.

He chanted mentally,

"Heaven above, disciple Fan Wubing beseeches the Seven Luminaries True Monarch to bestow rain!"

What is heaven, what is the Seven Luminaries True Monarch, he knew nothing. But instinctively, he felt that this was the way to summon rain.

The "Seven Luminaries Rain Control Skill" was a non-attribute divine technique.

What's the benefit of having no attribute?

It meant that there was no need for so-called immortal energy; inner strength could operate directly!

Asking the heavens for rain, this is a Heavenly Dao Skill, how could that filthy "black qi" stop it?

There was no thunder in the sky, but dark clouds gathered in an instant, and a strong wind howled in.

From the initial drizzle to what seemed like a heavenly deluge. In less than two breaths, the rain turned from a drizzle to a torrential downpour.

The rain mist pervaded, shaking the streets.

Even larger than the rain encountered when they faced the Umbrella Demon last night.

[You thank the Seven Luminaries True Monarch for bringing wind and rain, "Seven Luminaries Rain Control Skill" cultivation progress +17%, current progress 24%]

At this moment, the rain felt very friendly to Fan Wubing.

With the heavy rain, he no longer felt cold and uncomfortable staying inside the coffin; instead, wrapped in the rain's aura, he felt warm and secure.

Outside, a wretched uproar began, and people from various classes shouted loudly,

"Water, it's water!"

Water?

When ordinary people encounter rain, they only say "It's raining," who would say "Water"?

Indeed, they are paper figures!

A group of paper figures was shocked and tried to escape hurriedly, attempting to avoid the rain.

As they fled, naturally, no one was left to carry the coffin, which fell down with a thud. Moreover, the coffin, once hard as iron, surprisingly began to soften bit by bit. Fan Wubing exerted force suddenly, and he easily tore the coffin apart.

He sat up from the soggy, paper-mud coffin, looked around, and saw the various people in the funeral procession all collapsed on the ground, flattened into paper sheets, unable to move as the heavy rain lashed against them, quickly tearing them apart and washing them into the nearby gutters.

Even so, they were still able to speak,

"Water, so much water..."

Fan Wubing quickly got up and ran towards the wedding procession. Upon reaching the large sedan-chair, he tore it open. Fu Manman lay inside, collapsed and pale, her eyes unfocused. He helped her out,

"Manman, are you alright?"

Fu Manman felt dizzy and nauseous,

"I'm a bit dizzy and feel like throwing up..."

"What's going on?"

"Just when those people grabbed me, I felt really nauseous. It seems like... 'Evil Qi'..."

"Evil Qi?"

Fu Manman began to regulate her breath, and after a moment, she recovered. Seeing herself leaning against Fan Wubing, she quickly stepped back,

"It should be Evil Qi. Such a mixed funeral procession probably encountered 'collision with evil spirits.'"

"Is it the Evil Qi of a Ghost Cultivator?"

"Yes."

A Ghost Cultivator is a "ghost" among demon spirits, cultivating by absorbing various Yin Soul Qi. The qi cultivated by a Cultivator is called immortal qi, while the qi of a Ghost Cultivator is termed Evil Qi, also known by some as ghost qi.

Describing a Ghost Cultivator typically involves "chilling ghostly qi."

Fu Manman felt much better, and her eyes cleared. She looked around and exhaled,

"They're all paper figures... luckily it rained; otherwise, we might have been devoured by the Evil Qi and become the cauldron for that Ghost Cultivator."

"Are you saying that there are actually ghost cultivators in Nanlai City?"

"Those whose souls linger are ghosts. Ghosts are usually not tolerated by Heaven and Earth and are considered even more malicious than demons. Yet, Heaven and Earth have Evil Qi, which ghost cultivators can use for cultivation," Fu Manman said. "Nanlai City is far more chaotic than we imagined."

Fan Wubing said,

"What we aren't sure of now is whether we inadvertently attracted trouble, or if the ghost cultivator hiding in the dark is deliberately targeting us."

"If we link this to yesterday's Umbrella Demon, it might be the latter. We killed the Umbrella Demon, perhaps that's why we've been targeted."

"Let's leave here first. We need to investigate what exactly is happening in this shelter district."

"Alright!"

The two of them did not linger for another moment and quickly left.

The rain stopped immediately afterwards.

They had not gone far when the dead silence of the shelter houses lit up with lamps, and people began emerging. The previously empty street soon became bustling. Once out, these people hurriedly collected the pieces of paper figures scattered on the street.

At a certain street corner, a shadow appeared and slowly elongated, followed by a voice,

"Why did it suddenly start raining? I observed the stars last night, and it didn't look like rain was coming. Oh well, after this, they probably won't dare to make plans for this shelter district again."

"Dao... Daoist, what if they come again?"

Someone laughed and said,

"If they come again, you can have them as a meal. I bet you're starving."

The sound of a stomach growling mixed with a sinister laugh echoed,

"Thank you, Daoist!"

...

The southern district, being the most bustling area of Nanlai City, is also the most densely populated with the most diverse businesses.

White Jade Manor is the largest tavern in the south of the city, receiving a constant stream of guests from all over the world every day.

In such a place, it's easy to feel that Nanlai City isn't in some isolated Peach Blossom Spring, but just an ordinary city. Cultivators like Fan Wubing, who come from the outside seeking fortune, all understand this is merely an illusion.

As for what sustains this illusion, with their abilities, they can't fathom.

After all, the Peach Blossom Spring is transformed from a wisp of violet Qi by the Dao Ancestor. What realm is the Dao Ancestor in? It's beyond even dreams, let alone actual conjecture.

With many guests at White Jade Manor, there are naturally streetwise characters like those who "know everything."

"The western shelter district? You're trying to find out about this?" Old Li looked at Fan Wubing and Fu Manman, seeing that their clothing didn't seem local, and their demeanor was extraordinary, he hesitated for a moment.

Fan Wubing called out,

"Waiter, bring this gentleman a pot of your tavern's best wine, and prepare some good side dishes."

"Alright."

The wine and food were quickly brought over.

Fan Wubing personally poured wine for Old Li,

"Everyone says, sir, that you know everything about Nanlai City, even the private affairs of the officials, and are truly a 'Nanlaitong.'"

With good wine and food, along with pleasant words, Old Li's ragged white beard curled up, his eyebrows lifting constantly,

"You aren't locals, so why ask about the shelter district? Even we locals rarely go there."

Fan Wubing said,

"My sister and I are traveling around, interested in the unusual stories and curiosities of various places. Coming to this Nanlai City, we want to understand why the shelter district differs so much from the main city."

Sister?

Fu Manman cast a sneaky glance at Fan Wubing, then sat obediently, not moving at all.

After a few cups of wine, Old Li's face flushed, his mind warmed up and he began to talk,

"The shelter district, huh, it's a historical leftover problem of this Nanlai City. Many years ago, it was no different from the main city. Around a hundred years ago, an epidemic spread in Nanlai City. The afflicted were numb-tongued, with stiff limbs, muddle-headed, prone to attacking others like rabid dogs... that epidemic started from the area now known as the shelter district. To control the epidemic and prevent its spread, the county magistrate at the time decided to quarantine all the afflicted. It's said that eventually, all the afflicted died. That area has been declining ever since."

Old Li took a sip of wine, smacked his lips,

"Because so many died back then, ordinary people are unwilling to live there. Over time, it became a place for the destitute."

"Didn't Nanlai City think of renovating and governing it?" Fan Wubing asked.

"Of course, they thought about it. But every time a county magistrate tries to govern it, they encounter all sorts of strange events. At first, the workers fell ill or had accidents. Later, even the magistrate's family faced issues like premature deaths of children, miscarriages of wives, house fires, and so on, endlessly. Anyone who had plans for the shelter district never met a good end. People say, too many died there, the resentment lingers, everywhere is filled with evil Qi."

"Did they invite a Daoist to take a look?"

"They did invite a Daoist. But after the Daoist performed his rituals, he said the best solution is to leave it alone and let time wear it down."

"I see..."

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