This humble Taoist priest, Qianhe, begins his quest for immortality by slaying demons and monsters.

Chapter 192 The trivial matters of the capital are settled, and three years have passed.

"Alright, everyone, let's finish off the remaining remnants of the Manchu dynasty..."

After the Celestial Master Lingxiao finished speaking, all the sects nodded in agreement. Indeed, Emperor Kangxi's corpse was still alive!
"Amitabha, let this old monk send Emperor Qianlong's corpse on its way!"

After saying this, Abbot Tonghai flashed to the front of Emperor Qianlong's corpse. Looking at the pitiful state of Emperor Qianlong's corpse, Abbot Tonghai shook his head.

"Emperor Qianlong, do you recognize this old monk?"

Abbot Tonghai's gaze was indifferent, his eyes filled with icy coldness as he looked at Emperor Qianlong's corpse.

"You are...you!"

"Hahaha, I suppose an emperor like you couldn't possibly remember what happened back then. When you were in power, I was just a Qi Refining disciple. That year, my senior brother and I traveled to Jiangnan, but you ordered my senior brother to be beaten to death!"

"Forcibly taking women from the common people, the so-called 'playing in Jiangnan,' I only regret that by the time I achieved my cultivation, you would already be buried."

"Thank God, I am still given a chance to avenge my senior brother. May Buddha have mercy!"

Emperor Qianlong was completely bewildered. His remaining soul was incomplete to begin with, and he only had a smattering of his memories of his life, let alone such a trivial matter as Tonghai's presiding.
Before he could speak, his arm was stomped down by Abbot Tonghai. The already immobile Emperor Qianlong's body trembled violently, his gaze fixed on Abbot Tonghai with resentment and fear.

"It is true that Buddha is merciful, but a butcher like you will be condemned to the eighteenth level of hell forever!"
"With a fierce gaze, divine fire spontaneously arises!"

A fierce, wrathful gaze appeared before Abbot Tonghai's eyes, scorching flames that landed on the upper body of Emperor Qianlong's corpse. The excruciating pain returned, making Emperor Qianlong's corpse feel as if it were living a life worse than death.

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Thousands of meters apart.

As the Celestial Master Lingxiao strode in, Emperor Kangxi's corpse raised its head to look at him.

He exhaled a breath of deathly energy, realizing that he was beyond saving and had no will to resist.

"May the Heavenly Venerable grant you boundless blessings. You were an emperor in life, so why are you unable to find peace after death?"

Lingxiao Celestial Master was not in a hurry to kill Emperor Kangxi's corpse either. Upon hearing this, Emperor Kangxi's corpse immediately felt a surge of unease, as if it were asking, "Why don't they eat meat porridge?"

"May I ask what year you were born, Daoist Master?"

Upon hearing Kangxi's question, Lingxiao Tianshi smiled faintly and said, "The thirty-second year of Qianlong's reign."

"Hahaha, in the thirty-second year of Qianlong's reign, after my death, my spirit did not dissipate. Every year, descendants come to worship me. The Taoist priest has lived for almost two hundred years."

But does the Taoist priest know that I have only lived for a few decades?

You cultivators are all blessed with longevity. Only those who have truly possessed this world can understand the reluctance to part with it. I dream of achieving immortality, but Heaven will not allow it. Having dragon energy within me means I am destined never to cultivate true essence...

I want to live! I did nothing wrong!
My descendants are certainly not wrong; we, who possess this vast land, deserve to reign for eternity!

Lingxiao Celestial Master showed no anger, but merely shook his head with a hint of mockery, saying, "The invasion of the Central Plains by foreign tribes is nothing but a fleeting moment. You think you can continue to occupy the Central Plains after your mission is over..."

How ridiculous! Do you really think our Taoist sect is a pushover? If Liu Ji hadn't destroyed the dragon vein of the Central Plains back then, preventing the birth of a chosen one, how could our vast lands have fallen into the hands of you Manchu Tartars?
I'm not afraid to tell you, over the past few hundred years, the dragon veins of the Nine Provinces have been born, and the future of this vast land already has a master. And you, even your chance to be reincarnated will be taken away!

Upon hearing this, Emperor Kangxi trembled with anger, but in the end he could only sigh and admit defeat.

"Emperors have their own way of dying, so there's no need for you to do it, Taoist priest..."

After he finished speaking, the remaining lingering odor from Emperor Kangxi's body began to pour out.

"No, you don't deserve to leave with dignity..."

"Let this Celestial Master escort you on your way!"

After speaking, the Celestial Master Lingxiao placed a palm on the head of Emperor Kangxi's corpse, and countless bolts of lightning spread out and enveloped it.

In less than half an incense stick's time, Emperor Kangxi's body turned to ashes, and at the same time, Abbot Tonghai finished dealing with Emperor Qianlong's body.

At this moment, Zhong Bai, who was among the elders of Maoshan, slowly opened his eyes.

"The sect leader has awakened!"

Si Mu was somewhat excited. As Si Mu finished speaking, a group of Maoshan elders rushed over and surrounded Zhong Bai. They couldn't help but feel sorry for Zhong Bai when they saw his weak eyes.

"My disciple, you've finally woken up!"

Master Qian Yuan stepped forward and gently helped Zhong Bai up. Zhong Bai smiled, though his face was still somewhat pale.

"It's alright, Master. I only used the Kui Niu Drum because I was confident in its effectiveness. Besides, the effect was quite good, and it also relieved the pressure on the elders."

At this point, Zhong Bai's eyes lit up with excitement.

Under the divine power of his Kui Niu Drum, almost all the corpses within a radius of fifteen miles were wiped out, and Zhong Bai's demon-slaying points could be said to have accumulated to a terrifying level.

With the addition of those silver-armored zombie kings and even flying zombie emperors, Zhong Bai was quite pleased with the eight million demon-slaying points lying on his demon-slaying panel. Such an opportunity was rare, and area-of-effect damage suited him very well.

“Nephew Zhong Bai, we should be cautious about using such a powerful weapon as the Kui Niu Drum.”

Xuanmingzi, who was standing nearby, came to Zhong Bai's side and saw Zhong Bai's condition.

"It's true that the hammer strike is incredibly powerful, but the temporary weakness is also real. If there weren't any fellow disciples present at this time, Junior Nephew Zhong Bai would be in danger. You can know a person's face but not their heart..." Zhong Bai naturally understood Xuan Mingzi's meaning and nodded emphatically.

"Uncle-Master, Zhong Bai will definitely be more cautious from now on!"

Zhong Bai was well aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the Kui Niu Drum, but the reason he dared to use it now was because Xuan Mingzi and his master were both present.

The key was that the opportunity was rare. If they hadn't gathered those imperial corpses together and severely injured them, it would have been very difficult for Zhong Bai and his group to stop them once they felt they were no match and tried to escape.

Time passed slowly, and the cleanup work at the Manchu imperial tombs went smoothly. Most of the corpses had been reduced to ashes under the divine power of Zhong Baikui's drum. After the cleanup was completed, it was time for the high-ranking Buddhist and Taoist figures to leave.

Zhong Bai and his group arrived at the imperial mausoleum at noon, and spent the evening in the capital with a group of elders and disciples from Maoshan.

They returned to Maoshan the next morning.

It can be said that he accomplished his task and left without a trace, concealing his identity and fame.

Of course, Zhong Bai and his group did not think that spreading their names would mean others would not spread them. Commander Zhang directly telegraphed the whole country to publicize what happened in the capital. The purpose of doing so was naturally to openly and legitimately loot all the burial objects in the Manchu imperial tombs.

A royal family that turned its entire clan into zombies is not worthy of the attention of the people. No one can say anything if the treasures in its tomb are taken.

However, for Zhong Bai, it became a true source of fame and fortune.

Twenty years ago, the fact that Zhong Bai killed thousands of Manchu soldiers in Wuchang Prefecture was only known to ordinary people, such as wealthy merchants who had access to such circles. But now, Zhong Bai's name is being sung by people all over the country, and some places have even erected shrines in his honor.

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Maoshan.

Zhong Bai was oblivious to the fervent adoration he received from the people at the foot of the mountain.

Since returning to Maoshan, Zhong Bai has begun his seclusion.

Using the Kui Niu Drum technique was already very taxing, and it took Zhong Bai a whole month to recover after returning to Maoshan.

Now, he can naturally start enjoying the eight million demon-slaying points he has.

"With eight million demon-slaying points, it's difficult to improve the physical body without essence blood. I should continue to refine my supernatural abilities and the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Technique."

With a plan in mind, Zhong Bai began his period of seclusion...

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Three years later.

Hell.

Inside the palace of the Wheel-Turning King, the Fourth Patriarch of Maoshan looked at the Tenth Patriarch before him and spoke slowly.

"How is Zhong Bai doing now?"

Upon hearing the Fourth Patriarch's question, the Tenth Patriarch pondered for a moment before replying, "Fourth Patriarch, this kid is about to break through to the late Golden Core stage, but he hasn't made much progress in his cultivation over the past few years. Instead, he's focused his energy on developing supernatural powers."

The memorial tablet of the Tenth Ancestor is still inside Zhong Bai's Qiankun Ring, so he is naturally aware of Zhong Bai's situation.

Upon hearing what the Tenth Patriarch said, the Fourth Patriarch smiled.

"This kid is very clever. The current environment isn't good, so focusing his energy on improving his cultivation is too inefficient. The fact that he reached the late Golden Core stage in just three years shows that his ability to absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth hasn't disappeared..."

"What the Fourth Patriarch said is absolutely right!"

Rolling his eyes, the Fourth Patriarch sighed.

"Sigh, actually, Zhong Bai's growth rate is a bit beyond expectations. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth is almost insufficient to support his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Dao Lord. I wonder how the preparations are going at Longhu Mountain. If it doesn't work out, we should send Zhong Bai and that kid from Longhu Mountain to the New World in a couple of years to find out!"

Upon hearing the Fourth Patriarch's words, the Tenth Patriarch frowned slightly. "Fourth Patriarch, aren't you getting a little impatient?"

"urgent?
This ancestor simply didn't want Zhong Bai to be suppressed by heaven and earth; that feeling was unpleasant.

Besides, the only remaining threat to the mortal realm is the spirits of those who perished at the ancient battlefield of Changping. Let's settle this then. Inform Longhu Mountain that Zhong Bai and the others will travel to the New World in five years!

"You understand perfectly!"

Longhu Mountain.

When the news from the local government arrived, Master Lingxiao felt somewhat helpless, but he quickly understood when he thought about Zhong Bai's rapid growth.

"Alas, Zhiwei is currently only at the peak of Foundation Establishment. It's impossible for him to achieve Golden Core within five years. However, with Zhong Bai by his side, he should be safe and sound."

Taking a deep breath, Lingxiao Celestial Master knew he needed to choose a successor for himself, even though he had foreseen this day long ago.

Meanwhile, in the main hall of Maoshan, Zhong Bai smiled slightly as he looked at the void before him.

"Late stage of Golden Core, it's time!"

As Zhong Bai finished speaking, the 500,000 Demon Extermination Points were consumed, and the surrounding spiritual energy surged in. For a moment, the entire hall was shrouded in mist. Several hours later, when Zhong Bai finished refining, a pill pattern began to slowly appear on the golden core in his body. At this moment, there were four pill patterns, but Zhong Bai did not stop.

(End of this chapter)