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

Zhong Bai's words were not an exaggeration. It would not be difficult for a half-step demon emperor like Pudu Cihang to find out about the demise of his descendants.

The only reason it's impossible for him to come is that there are other important matters to attend to during the Pudu Cihang ceremony.

However, the probability of that is too low...

"Ha, is Zhong Daojun afraid?"

Mo Ling, clutching her spirit sword, looked at Zhong Bai with resentment and anger. Zhong Bai, however, did not reply directly. He waved his hand, scattering the ashes of the demon kings before him like smoke, before speaking seriously: "Fairy Mo Ling is joking. I merely feel that now is not the time. This is the imperial city. Even if only one in ten people survives, there will still be survivors. If Pudu Cihang comes and war breaks out, do you think any of the people in this city will survive?"

Zhong Bai remained calm, while Mo Ling fell silent after hearing this righteous explanation.

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

The center of the imperial city.

Imperial Prefecture.

In a square, rows of seats held withered bodies, only skin and no flesh. The red official robes on these bodies clearly identified them as officials of the Great Qian Dynasty.

In the center of the square is a high platform.

On the high platform was a futon, and on the futon, a monk dressed in monastic robes was constantly chanting Buddhist scriptures. However, the Buddhist scriptures, which should have felt peaceful, came out of the monk's mouth with eerie and ghostly sounds.

Some of the gaunt monks had gloomy eyes. They stopped chanting Buddhist scriptures, raised their hands and grasped a still-living body in the distance.

"Imperial Advisor, Imperial Advisor, please spare me!"

The captured prince was from the Great Qian Dynasty, and at that moment, all he could think about was begging for mercy.

"Hehe, Eighth Prince, it was you who recommended me to the court back then. If it weren't for your influence, it wouldn't have been easy for me to become the Imperial Preceptor so quickly..."

Now, I will repay you properly by devouring your flesh and blood and fortune, turning them into nourishment for me. After devouring you, I will devour your brothers and uncles, and then your father, and then I will be able to transform into a dragon!
Haha, come on!

After saying this, Pudu Cihang did not hesitate at all. He lifted the Eighth Prince in front of him into the air, pierced him with his fingertips, and drank the blood in large gulps.

Then came the flesh and blood...

After devouring the prince, Pudu Cihang slowly looked up at the outside of the imperial city.

"Several demon kings have died... It seems someone doesn't want me to break through to the Nascent Soul Demon Emperor realm. Hah, to oppose the Myriad Demon Palace, they really have the audacity to do so!"

After speaking, Pudu Cihang looked around.

"My lads, come with me to greet our guests who have come from afar..."

In an instant, centipedes burst forth from the ground beneath the plaza, transforming into human forms. Some even ascended to the high platform, taking over the withered bodies. The mighty Imperial Preceptor, Pudu Cihang, embarked on his journey.

On a desolate field a dozen miles outside the imperial city, Zhong Bai and Mo Ling sat quietly cross-legged.

"Fairy Mo Ling, can the Compassionate Salvation Serpent really come to us on its own?"

Beside Zhong Bai, Zhang Zhiwei, who was also sitting cross-legged, asked with some uncertainty.

Mo Ling, however, remained calm and composed.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, there's no need to worry. Pudu Cihang certainly doesn't want us to have a major battle with him in the Imperial City, which is his territory."

The death of even a few officials is a loss; our presence here is a testament to our power. How can the Bodhisattva of Compassion tolerate this?

Zhang Zhiwei seemed to understand but not quite, but seeing that Mo Ling, a Nascent Soul Dao Lord, had such confidence, why should he worry?

Just wait.

Time passed slowly, and before the salvation of all beings had arrived, a body rapidly surged from the ground and broke through the soil near Zhong Bai and the others. It was Zhi Qiu Yi Ye.

"senior!"

Zhi Qiu Yi Ye was about to greet Zhong Bai and the others with some excitement when she saw Zhong Bai and Mo Ling, who had been calm, stand up at the same time.

His expression was solemn.

"The Compassionate Ferryman has arrived!"

Zhi Qiu Yi Ye was stunned for a moment. Just then, a melodious Buddhist chant came from the distant horizon.

"Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha immediately..."

Upon hearing the eerie Buddhist chant, Zhi Qiu Yi Ye's expression changed drastically, turning deathly pale.

"A deadly chant!"

As soon as Zhi Qiuyi finished speaking, before he could even cover his ears, he saw Zhong Bai, who had been looking serious, reveal a faint smile.

"The path of humanity is boundless, the path of immortals is vast and boundless. The path of ghosts is joyful. It is the gate of life. The path of immortals values ​​life, the path of ghosts values ​​death. The path of immortals is always auspicious, the path of ghosts is always ominous... Recite the scriptures to subdue demons and monsters, slay the six ghostly blades. The Qi of the heavens is vast and boundless. My path prospers day by day!"

Zhong Bai's vast Daoist voice and Pudu Cihang's life-snatching Sanskrit chant collided in the void, causing sand and stones to fly and countless plants to break within a radius of dozens of miles.

They started their magical duel before they even met.

Mo Ling's gaze towards Zhong Bai held a newfound brightness.

While such methods might exist in the Feathered Immortal Mansion, it is extremely rare to find someone like Zhong Bai, who is at the mid-Nascent Soul stage and is completely unafraid of a half-step Demon Emperor like Pudu Cihang!

As Zhong Bai's chanting resounded through the void, the life-threatening chanting of the Universal Salvation Ceremony had no effect on Zhi Qiu Yi Ye and the others.

After about half an incense stick's time, Pudu Cihang probably realized that his show of force was no use to Zhong Bai and the others, so he simply stopped chanting and sat on the sedan chair carried by four people. The four maids with centipedes in their bodies were dressed in plain clothes, which looked quite intimidating at first glance.

The raised mounds on the ground are the descendants of those who have saved us from suffering...

They are separated by a hundred meters, gazing at each other across the distance.

"Why don't you bow to the Imperial Preceptor when you see him!"

A maidservant was the first to angrily rebuke Zhong Bai and the others, while Pudu Cihang remained seated, slowly opening his eyes to reveal a cryptic smile that appeared benevolent and compassionate, yet was actually filled with a heavy killing intent. "Grand Preceptor of the Great Qian Dynasty, Pudu Cihang, I never expected such a scene upon our first meeting. A mere Foundation Establishment demon has such a foul mouth and temperament! Pudu Cihang, this humble Daoist will discipline you!"

The moment Zhong Bai finished speaking, the spirit sword was drawn and slashed through the void with a whoosh. Pudu Cihang didn't even try to stop it. In front of her, the little demon disguised as a maid was instantly pierced through the body and turned into a three-meter centipede that twisted and turned.

"Amitabha Buddha, my maidservant deserves to die. I wonder if you have calmed down yet?"

As he spoke, Pudu Cihang stared into Zhong Bai's eyes, hoping that Zhong Bai would give up.

Originally, when Pudu Cihang arrived, he intended to kill Zhong Bai and the others. However, upon meeting them, especially after the sonic battle, Pudu Cihang realized that Zhong Bai and the others were not so easy to deal with. It was not easy to make enemies, so if possible, Pudu Cihang wanted to keep to himself and avoid conflict.

Her immediate priority was to absorb the dragon energy of the Great Qian Dynasty, not to fight to the death with Zhong Bai and the others in front of her.

Zhong Bai smiled faintly, already understanding Pudu Cihang's desire to settle things peacefully. Unfortunately, their purpose in coming here was to kill the great demon Pudu Cihang, so a peaceful resolution was impossible.

"You think that's enough? Sorry, I came here to kill you!"

After Zhong Bai finished speaking, his aura was revealed. He did not hold back at all. The true essence fluctuations of the mid-Nascent Soul stage and the physical strength of his body, which was comparable to that of a Nascent Soul Dao Lord, suddenly blasted towards Pudu Cihang!

"Hmph! Do you really think I'm afraid?"

After realizing there was no way to turn back, Pudu Cihang radiated golden light from his body. It was a dazzling Buddhist light that shone in all directions. Ordinary people might be intimidated by this light, but for Zhong Bai, even if Pudu Cihang was a real Buddhist, let alone a demon pretending to be a ghost, Zhong Bai would kill him without hesitation!

"Come on fire!"

A long rainbow of blood energy shot out from his hand, transforming into Samadhi True Fire. In that instant, Zhong Bai had already arrived above Pudu Cihang's head. With a palm strike, endless Samadhi True Fire descended upon the earth. It might not have been a threat to Pudu Cihang, but it was a different story for her descendants. Centipedes were burned to death by the Samadhi True Fire, rolling around on the ground in agony, but all in vain. After Zhong Bai reached the Nascent Soul Dao Lord level, the quality of his blood energy was even better than when he was a Golden Core True Lord, so the Samadhi True Fire he transformed into was naturally even more powerful.

In an instant, screams erupted, and Pudu Cihang's usual composure completely crumbled.

"Be bold!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Pudu Cihang's entire body exploded, and beams of Buddhist light condensed into a golden Buddha statue tens of meters tall.

"I am Shakyamuni Buddha! Why don't you all come forward and kneel down to pay your respects!"

Such methods might work against Golden Core True Monarchs like Zhang Zhiwei and Zhi Qiu Yiye, but they're a bit too simplistic for Zhong Bai and Mo Ling.

"Hahaha, what a joke! This princess really doesn't believe in the existence of Buddha!"

"Go and slay the demon!"

In an instant, the Demon-Slaying Sword in Mo Ling's hand arrived with boundless sword energy. Although the golden Buddha statue of Pudu Cihang struck out with a palm, how terrifying was the Demon-Slaying Sword? In just a moment, it pierced through the Buddha's palm and touched the Buddha statue, and cracks immediately appeared.

"Pudu Cihang, you still resort to such methods when we are fighting? You truly do not take us seriously. Quickly reveal your true form, or you will have no chance!"

"Five thunders, five thunders, with the divine celestial body as the intermediary, reaching the heavens above and the yin light below, Zhong Bai, a disciple of Maoshan, requests the righteous god of the Thunder Department to descend with divine thunder to slay the demon!"

As Zhong Bai chanted and made hand seals, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck down from the void. Zhong Bai was overjoyed to see this, proving that he could use this supernatural power, which proved that it was also possible to invite gods to possess one's body in this world!
However, Zhong Bai quickly focused his attention on the falling lightning.

As the purple-gold divine lightning struck, Zhong Bai acted as a guide in the void, his entire body absorbing the falling lightning. Then, a bolt of divine lightning blasted out, and with a crack, the golden Buddha statue of Pudu Cihang exploded instantly. The earth trembled, and Pudu Cihang was finally forced to reveal its true form.

"You all have a death wish!"

Golden light flashed across Pudu Cihang's hundreds-of-meters-long body as it flew into the sky at lightning speed, heading straight for Zhong Bai.

Seeing this, Mo Ling hurriedly mobilized the Demon-Slaying Sword to try to intercept Pudu Cihang. Unfortunately, although the sword energy of the Demon-Slaying Sword left bloody marks on Pudu Cihang's body, it failed to pierce through his body and cause serious injury.

"Damn it, I'm still a bit short. Becoming a half-step Demon Emperor is really difficult..."

Mo Ling sighed. If her cultivation level were higher, she could unleash the Demon-Slaying Sword with enough power to pierce through Pudu Cihang's body.

"Zhong Daojun, watch out!"

Not wanting the Pudu Cihang to stop, Mo Ling could only loudly remind Zhong Bai to be careful.

In response, Zhong Bai calmly smiled as he floated in the void, and then used the lightning he had just received to smash down one bolt after another towards the oncoming body of Pudu Cihang.

The bolts of lightning brought a touch of pain to Pudu Cihang's bloodshot eyes.

But it never stopped...

"You really are persistent and relentless, unwilling to give up. Then let me see how many hits of the Kui Niu Drum you can withstand. Even the Black Mountain Demon could only withstand two. I refuse to believe you won't die today!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhong Bai took out the Kui Niu Drum from his Qiankun Ring. With a slap of the drumstick, a terrifying thunderbolt exploded. In the incredulous gaze of Pudu Cihang, a sea of ​​thunder descended, filling the area within a radius of several miles.

Mo Ling below was seeing Zhong Bai take out the Kui Niu Drum for the first time. However, Mo Ling, who also possessed a Nascent Soul Spirit Treasure, knew the terror of such a treasure. The moment Zhong Bai took out the Kui Niu Drum, she transformed his Demon-Slaying Sword into sword energy in front of herself and Zhang Zhiwei to protect their bodies.

Sure enough, the moment the sea of ​​lightning spread, streaks of sword energy managed to block it.

However, Zhong Bai's Kui Niu drum sound eventually disturbed Mo Chen's soul within the Demon-Slaying Sword.

Mo Chen's divine soul emerged from the Demon-Slaying Sword and landed in front of Mo Ling. Looking at the ocean of lightning in the distant void, he couldn't help but marvel.

"Tsk tsk, little sister, this Maoshan disciple is really quite terrifying. The Kui Niu drum in his hand is made from the hide of a Kui Niu at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage."

Although both are Nascent Soul level spiritual treasures, the Demon-Slaying Sword you use is probably much weaker than this Kui Niu Drum.

No, this person's physical body is comparable to the mid-to-late stage of the Nascent Soul realm. No wonder he can use the Kui Niu Drum so easily; he could probably even ring it a few times!

Mo Chen's insight was beyond doubt. Even though it was just a wisp of his divine soul, the vision of the Primordial Spirit Demon Saint Saint Monarch left Zhong Bai with no privacy whatsoever. Apart from the Demon Extermination Panel, which couldn't detect anything, he had even detected the Ten Ancestor Tablets in Zhong Bai's Qiankun Ring.

"Hmm? The memorial tablets of the Ten Patriarchs of Maoshan?"

Wang Yuanzhi? I've never heard of that name before, but there's still a remnant of a divine soul inside the memorial tablet, though it's rather strange, seemingly in a dormant state..."

Mo Chen pondered, but ultimately he didn't become curious enough to use his divine sense to investigate why the divine soul within the Ten Ancestors' tablets was asleep.

Just kidding. Offending a Maoshan Primordial Spirit Ancestor for no reason? He's not crazy. Besides, just a sleeping soul is enough to make Mo Chen feel like he's about to explode. Clearly, if the true body of this Tenth Ancestor were to descend, it would definitely not be an ordinary Primordial Spirit powerhouse!

Mo Ling listened from the side, along with Zhang Zhiwei and Zhi Qiu Yiye, who looked at Mo Ling with disbelief in their eyes.

Clearly, Mo Ling's identity is about to be revealed. Zhang Zhiwei may only be able to guess that she is not simple, but Qiu Yiye has heard about the situation of the Feathered Immortal Mansion. The fairy Mo Ling in front of him is, without a doubt, the Princess of Ten Thousand Spirits of the Feathered Immortal Mansion. And the divine soul phantom that came out of the Demon Slaying Sword is most likely the Lord of the Feathered Immortal Mansion, the Holy Lord Mo Chen!
(End of this chapter)