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

In such a world teeming with spiritual energy, there wasn't a single cultivator in the entire county. Along the way, Zhong Bai knew all too well just how terrifying the number of evil spirits and demons in the deep mountains and forests was.

"Chaotic times, chaotic times... still chaotic times!"

Zhong Bai took a deep breath and headed towards the city gate of Songjiang County.

Zhong Bai was walking slowly. Just as he was about to reach the city gate, a middle-aged man riding a fast horse suddenly reined in his horse.

"Shut up!"

Holding the rope, it stopped steadily in front of Zhong Bai. Zhong Bai was somewhat surprised. He had not even been to the city yet, but he did not expect that the only martial arts expert in Songjiang County would come to him like this.

Looking up, Zhong Bai saw a man sitting on a horse wearing soft armor, with nine long swords standing upright behind him, revealing a chilling glint.

He dismounted in one swift motion.

Before Zhong Bai could speak, the man in front of him quickly walked up to him, knelt down on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "May I ask if you are the one who killed the demon at Lanruo Temple in Guobei County half a year ago?"

Zhong Bai was taken aback, but did not hide anything.

"Indeed, the tree demon of Lanruo Temple was killed by me. However... I have a question: how did you know that it was me who did it?"

We've never met before!

Zhong Bai's calm gaze and unhurried words struck the man like a thunderbolt.

"To be honest, Master."

When you were in Guobei County, soldiers made copies of your portrait. It was these portraits that allowed me to recognize you.

After saying this, the man, fearing that Zhong Bai might not believe him, took out a slightly wrinkled piece of Xuan paper from his pocket. On the paper were Zhong Bai and Zhang Zhiwei's names.

Looking at the portrait, Zhong Bai never imagined it would spread, but he could tell that the man in front of him was not lying.

"In that case... please rise, layman!"

As soon as Zhong Bai finished speaking, the man in front of him stood up and looked at Zhong Bai with excitement in his eyes.

"Master, this is not the place to talk. Please follow me to my residence."

Zhong Bai did not refuse.

Qianhufu.

When Zhong Bai arrived at the gate of the mansion, he looked at the several gilded characters above and said with a smirk, "So you were originally a commander of a thousand men. However, the layman of this humble Taoist temple has an exceptionally strong body and blood."

He must be a martial artist. Putting aside everything else, his martial arts level alone is no less than that of those at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.

Hearing Zhong Bai's praise, the man blushed slightly, clearly embarrassed.

"Master, you flatter me. I only learned some rudimentary martial arts when I was young, and I am not worthy of such praise from you."

With that, the commander led Zhong Bai into the mansion.

In the back garden, inside the pavilion, Zhong Bai and the man sat facing each other.

"Master Daoist, my Zuo family has lived in Songjiang County for hundreds of years. Although I work for the imperial court, I still worry about things in Songjiang County. I believe you understand, Master Daoist. Therefore, I invite you to my residence..."

Zhong Bai nodded.

"I understand what you're thinking, but I didn't expect you to have the surname Zuo..."

Zhong Bai looked at Zuo Qianhu in front of him with a warm smile. He really didn't expect that he would be able to meet Zuo Qianhu like this. No wonder his martial arts were comparable to the Foundation Establishment stage. If it was this person, he could understand.

"Hmm? Daoist Master, do you know me?"

Zuo Qianhu was somewhat puzzled. This was the first time he had met Zhong Bai. The soldiers only came to report to him when Zhong Bai arrived at the gate of Songjiang County. Logically, there should have been no contact between them.

Zhong Bai did not continue the topic.

"Master Zuo, please speak your mind."

Seeing that Zhong Bai had brought up serious matters, Commander Zuo simply put his previous doubts aside.

After taking a deep breath, Zuo Qianhu began to speak in detail.

"Master, Songjiang County has enjoyed good weather and abundant harvests in recent years. Although some minor demons and monsters have been harassing the people from time to time, with me stationed in Songjiang, things are still manageable."

But three years ago...

A great demon, known as the Blue-Eyed Flood Dragon Emperor, has arrived in Songjiang County.

Originally, the Great Qian Dynasty had the national fortune to suppress it, so it was impossible for the Azure-Eyed Flood Dragon Emperor to cause any trouble. But for some reason, a few days ago, the Azure-Eyed Flood Dragon Emperor suddenly turned the rivers and seas upside down, swallowed the people along the river whole, and even made Songjiang County prepare a hundred pairs of boys and girls for sacrifice every year.

Although I am willing to eliminate the demon, that Azure-Eyed Flood Dragon King is too terrifying. It can even send me flying a hundred meters away with just a splash of water. Alas!
"To my shame, I have practiced martial arts for thirty years, yet I could only watch helplessly as the great demon wreaked havoc."

Zhong Bai listened without expressing any opinion.

"Master Zuo, do you mean... that I want you to rid Songjiang County of this great demon?"

Zhong Bai asked the question calmly, showing neither displeasure nor obvious refusal. Commander Zuo felt a sudden urgency.

"Master, I know this matter is quite difficult, but apart from you, I really don't know who else can kill this great demon."

Zhong Bai listened and shook his head.

“You are a commander of a thousand households in the Great Qian Dynasty, so you must understand that this kind of thing is not difficult for the current rulers to solve. If the Great Qian Dynasty did not even have the ability to deal with a dragon, it would have perished long ago.”

Zhong Bai did not immediately agree to this matter. Although Zhong Bai needed demon-slaying points now, it was still necessary to find out the specific situation of Da Qian.

Upon hearing this, Zuo Qianhu's eyes dimmed.

A long sigh.

"Ugh!

"Master, if the imperial court were willing to resolve this matter, I wouldn't need to make such a request. To be honest, before this, I sent a memorial every day, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea; the imperial court seems to have forgotten about Songjiang Prefecture."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Bai finally smiled and said, "Master Zuo, is it possible that the court you speak of no longer exists? Since that dragon knows that the Great Qian Dynasty has the ability to kill it, yet it still acts so recklessly, isn't the meaning obvious? Or is it that Master Zuo is unwilling to believe that the court you speak of has been destroyed?"

Zuo Qianhu struggled even more upon hearing Zhong Bai's words. He took a deep breath and, with a final bit of stubbornness, raised his head and said, "But just a few days ago, I received an imperial edict ordering me to escort the former Minister of War, Fu Tianchou, to the capital..."

Zhong Bai could understand Zuo Qianhu's stubbornness at this moment, after all, the other party did not have God's perspective.

"Master Zuo, do you believe what I have to say?"

Zuo Qianhu looked up at Zhong Bai, nodded, and said, "Please speak, Daoist Master!"

"As far as I know, all the officials of the Great Qian Dynasty have been devoured by a great demon. A centipede has become a spirit, attempting to devour the last of the Great Qian Dynasty's national fortune and transform into a dragon. Do you believe me, Master Zuo? By the way, that centipede spirit has also transformed into human form and mingled in the court, offering salvation to the Great Qian National Preceptor!"

Upon hearing Zhong Bai's words, Commander Zuo immediately stood up, his eyes filled with shock. He stared intently at Zhong Bai, but saw no change in his expression whatsoever. Clearly, Zhong Bai was telling the truth.

"How could this happen... How could this be!"

Zuo Qianhu appeared somewhat unsteady, his mind blank, and a murderous intent began to spread within him, his eyes turning bloodshot.

"Master, I believe what you say is true. Universal Salvation, Imperial Preceptor... I will go to the capital immediately and make sure that centipede is exposed in its true form!"

Zhong Bai shook his head and gently tapped Zuo Qianhu's shoulder with his fingertips. All of the other party's killing intent vanished without a trace.

"Why is the layperson in such a hurry?"
Even I, a humble Taoist, am not confident that I can kill Pudu Cihang. If you go there, you will only be throwing your life away. The people of Songjiang County will depend on you for the future.

Right now, the best course of action is to kill that Azure-Eyed Flood Dragon King and put the people of Songjiang County at ease.

In an instant, Commander Zuo was overjoyed.

"Master, are you saying that you are willing to kill that dragon for the people of Songjiang County?"

"Good and evil are two separate things. Now that I have encountered them, I am naturally willing to take action..."

Of course, that's what Zhong Bai said, but Commander Zuo wasn't really foolish enough to believe him and then take advantage of the situation to ask Zhong Bai to go to the capital with him.

"Daoist Master, on behalf of the people of Songjiang, I thank you for your great kindness!"

With a thud, Commander Zuo truly knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Zhong Bai. Regardless of whether Zhong Bai was willing to kill Pudu Cihang for the Great Qian Dynasty in the future, Songjiang County was saved at this moment.

...................................................

After agreeing to kill the dragon, Zhong Bai did not delay, but instead led Zuo Qianhu towards Songjiang.

The Songjiang River encircles the entire Songjiang County, and it can be said that half of Songjiang County's wealth comes from the irrigation provided by the Songjiang River.

When Zhong Bai and Zuo Qianhu arrived, it was noon. The sun was scorching, and there wasn't even a breeze in the air. Zhong Bai was unaffected, but Zuo Qianhu was drenched in sweat.

"Master, you may not know this, but Songjiang is not usually this hot. However, ever since the Azure-Eyed Flood Dragon King turned the rivers and seas upside down, Songjiang County has not received any rain for a month."

Zhong Bai listened and explained, "That's normal. Flood dragons can usually awaken the power to control rain. If the flood dragon doesn't want it to rain in Songjiang County, there's no chance of rain falling within a radius of dozens of miles."

As they were talking, Zhong Bai's previously calm eyes suddenly changed, becoming sharp and surprised.

Seeing Zhong Bai become serious, Zuo Qianhu couldn't help but ask him a question.

"Master, what's wrong with you...?"

Zhong Bai smiled brightly.

"I truly did not expect that someone would get there first. The dragon in the Songjiang River is being dealt with right now. Let's go and see who has the ability and courage to do this!"

Zhong Bai was clearly intrigued, while Zuo Qianhu, who was somewhat puzzled, only knew that someone had tried to kill the dragon in advance, and he would only find out the rest after he received the information.

On the banks of the Songjiang River.

When Zhong Bai and Zuo Qianhu arrived, they saw a blue dragon several hundred meters long fleeing in the void. Sword lights were falling all around it. A thousand meters away from the blue dragon, a woman in a purple dress was looking at the blue dragon with some disdain.

"You little dragon dares to deceive this princess and even covet my Demon-Slaying Sword! I really don't know where you got the guts. You're just a mid-stage Demon Emperor, die!"

(End of this chapter)