I only reached the Foundation Establishment stage at eighty years old, and then the system appeared.

"What exactly are these demonic beasts plotting?" Yang Hongbo frowned as he looked at the chaotic altar.

A junior officer stepped forward and said, "Commander, I found some neglected stones by the altar. They look quite strange; perhaps they're related to their plan."

Yang Hongbo took the stones and examined them carefully. Their smooth surfaces and faint, luminous surfaces indicated they were indeed unusual. A thought struck him; he remembered the system and mentally asked, "System, can these stones be exchanged for points?"

"Dear host, testing shows that each of these stones can be exchanged for one hundred points," the system replied.

Yang Hongbo was overjoyed; he hadn't expected these seemingly ordinary stones to be so valuable. He counted them—there were six stones in total—and said, "System, I want to exchange them for points."

"Congratulations, host, you have successfully redeemed 600 points," the system notification announced.

With the points, Yang Hongbo felt more confident. He browsed through various cultivation techniques and items in the system, and finally spent two hundred points to exchange for a cultivation technique that could be cultivated to the Furnace Realm—the Purple Cloud Technique.

In the days that followed, Yang Hongbo continued to cultivate the Purple Cloud Skill while carrying out his missions with the Demon Slayer Division. He used the powerful Purple Cloud Skill to slay many demonic beasts and protect the peace of the people.

Time flies, and two years have passed in the blink of an eye. In these two years, Yang Hongbo, relying on the Purple Cloud Skill and his own hard work, successfully cultivated to the Refining Realm. His strength has greatly improved, and he has become a master in the Demon Slaying Division of Langya County.

On this day, Yang Hongbo was handling affairs in the Demon Slaying Division when he suddenly received a transfer order. It turned out that because of his diligent work and meritorious service in slaying demons during his tenure, the prefectural city had decided to transfer him to the position of centurion.

"Commander, congratulations on your promotion!" a junior officer said with a smile.

Yang Hongbo smiled slightly and said, "This is all thanks to everyone. Without your support, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today."

"Commander, rest assured, wherever you go, we will always support you," the subordinates said one after another.

Yang Hongbo was deeply moved. Looking at his comrades who had fought alongside him, he said, "Don't worry, everyone. Even if I go to the prefectural city, I won't forget you all. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, feel free to come to me."

A few days later, Yang Hongbo, filled with longing for Langya County and anticipation for the future, embarked on his journey to Fucheng. He knew the challenges in Fucheng would be even greater, but he was confident that with his strength and wisdom, he could carve out his own niche there.

On his way to the prefectural city, Yang Hongbo reflected on his experiences over the past two years, his heart filled with emotion. He had grown from a junior officer in the Blood Refining Realm to a centurion in the Dirty Refining Realm, a journey filled with hardship and challenges. However, he had also gained a great deal, not only improving his strength but also making a group of like-minded friends.

"The road ahead is long, and I will continue to work hard to improve my strength and contribute my power to protect the people and slay monsters," Yang Hongbo vowed silently.

Soon, Yang Hongbo arrived in the prefectural city. He was assigned to a spacious mansion, which would become his new residence and office. Looking at this unfamiliar environment, Yang Hongbo was filled with anticipation and fighting spirit.

"From today onwards, I am the centurion of the prefectural city. I will lead my brothers to protect this land and ensure that the people live a peaceful life," Yang Hongbo said firmly.

During his time in the prefectural city, Yang Hongbo quickly adapted to his new environment and work. He earned the respect and trust of his subordinates through his leadership skills and combat techniques. At the same time, he did not forget to continue practicing the Zixia Skill to improve his strength.

As time went by, Yang Hongbo's reputation in the prefectural city grew. He led his demon-slaying warriors to kill many powerful demonic beasts, protecting the peace of the prefectural city. His deeds spread throughout the city, and he became a hero in the eyes of the people.

However, Yang Hongbo did not become complacent. He knew that even more powerful enemies awaited him in this strange world. He had to constantly improve his strength to meet the challenges of the future.

"Black Dragon Demon King, I will definitely find you, kill you, and complete my mission." Yang Hongbo gazed into the distance and secretly vowed in his heart.

Next, Yang Hongbo cultivated while searching for monsters, zombies, and ghosts around the city. He also accumulated points for his system, as he wanted to exchange them for a cultivation technique that could be practiced to the level of a Grandmaster or higher, which would require at least three to five thousand points.

That day, news came from a county under the jurisdiction of the prefectural city that an intractable problem had arisen in one of their villages.

People in the village would occasionally go out in the middle of the night and never return. This must be the work of ghosts. However, the county's Demon Slaying Division sent out two captains, but they accomplished nothing and lost most of their manpower.

"Just who are these ghosts?" Yang Hongbo frowned upon hearing the news from the county town, a hint of curiosity and seriousness flashing in his eyes. To be honest, in the past few years, he had slain countless demons and seen many monsters, but he had never truly encountered zombies and ghosts before. This unknown challenge only fueled his fighting spirit.

"Sir, this matter of ghosts is no small matter. Even the county's Demon Slaying Division is helpless. You should not take the risk yourself," a junior officer said worriedly.

Yang Hongbo shook his head and said firmly, "That's precisely why I must go and see for myself. If I can resolve this ghostly scourge, I can not only save the people from their suffering, but also enhance the reputation of our Demon Slaying Division. Moreover, I have already mastered the Purple Cloud Technique, so even if I encounter any danger, I will have the ability to protect myself."

"Your Excellency is wise! We are willing to go with you and protect you with our lives!" The subordinates knelt on one knee and said in unison.

Yang Hongbo smiled slightly, helped everyone up, and said, "Good! With your help, I have even more confidence. Let's set off immediately for that village and see what this ghost really is!"

The group rode at full speed and soon arrived at the village where the ghosts had appeared. The village was deathly silent; the roads were deserted, and every house had its doors and windows tightly shut, as if afraid of being disturbed by something terrible.

Yang Hongbo led his men to the village chief's house. The village chief was an elderly man over fifty years old. When he saw Yang Hongbo and his men arrive, he was as if he had seen a savior and hurriedly came to greet them.

"My lord, you've finally arrived! Our village has suffered a terrible calamity. People are disappearing every night. If this continues, our village will be finished!" The village elder said, tears streaming down his face, his voice trembling.

Yang Hongbo reassured him, "Village Chief, don't worry. Now that we're here, we'll definitely resolve this matter. Tell me the details first: when did this ghost appear? Who are the missing people? Are there any unusual signs?"

The village chief nodded, took a deep breath, and slowly said, "This ghost appeared about a month ago. At first, people only occasionally heard strange noises in the middle of the night, like someone crying or whispering. Nobody paid any attention, thinking it was just the wind or some animal. But a few days later, people went out in the middle of the night and never returned. We sent people to search, but we found nothing; it was as if they had vanished into thin air. Since then, people have been disappearing every few days, and they are all young and strong men. We were at our wits' end, so we asked the county's Demon Extermination Bureau for help, but even when they came, they couldn't solve the problem and lost quite a few men in the process."

After listening, Yang Hongbo pondered for a moment and asked, "Do these missing people have anything in common? For example, where did they go or what did they do before they disappeared?"

The village chief thought for a moment and said, "If we're talking about something in common, there really is one. Before they went missing, all the young men had been to that old forest west of the village. That forest is rarely visited because it's eerie and somewhat sinister. But those young men were hot-blooded and didn't believe in ghosts, so they often went hunting or exploring in the forest. Who would have thought that this would happen?"

Yang Hongbo nodded, having gained some insight. He said, "Village chief, don't worry, we'll go to that old forest tonight and find the ghost's trail to rescue the missing villagers."

The village chief was moved to tears and quickly said, "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir! I will have someone prepare some dry food and water for you to take with you."

As night fell, Yang Hongbo led his men quietly to the old woods west of the village. The woods were pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

"Everyone be careful, this forest is probably not simple," Yang Hongbo said softly, while simultaneously activating his Purple Cloud Technique, emitting a faint purple light that illuminated a small area around him.

His men nodded, gripping their weapons tightly, and followed Yang Hongbo cautiously.

They walked along a rugged path deep into the forest for about half an hour when suddenly, a low, mournful weeping sound came from ahead. The sound was so pitiful and desolate that it sent chills down their spines.

"Sir, listen, isn't that the sound of a ghost crying?" a junior officer asked nervously.

Yang Hongbo nodded and said, "Don't panic, everyone. Stay close to me, let's go take a look."

They followed the sound and soon saw a blurry figure drifting ahead. The figure was tall and thin, wearing a tattered white robe, and long hair obscured its face, making it impossible to see its features.

"A ghost! It's a ghost!" the men exclaimed, gripping their weapons tightly, ready to fight.

Yang Hongbo waved his hand, signaling everyone not to act rashly. He said loudly, "Friends ghosts ahead, we mean no harm. We just heard that some villagers have gone missing in this forest, so we came to check. If you know anything, we hope you can tell us."

Upon hearing Yang Hongbo's words, the ghost suddenly stopped crying and slowly raised its head. When everyone saw its face clearly, they couldn't help but gasp. The ghost's face was as pale as paper, its eyes were empty and lifeless, and a strange smile hung on the corner of its mouth, sending chills down their spines.

"Are you... here to die?" the ghost asked, his voice hoarse and low, as if it came from hell.

Yang Hongbo frowned and said, "We're not here to die, but to solve a problem. If you've arrested the villagers, release them immediately, or don't blame us for being impolite!"

The ghost sneered and said, "You're too kind? What can you mortals do to me? Those villagers have already become my sacrifices; you can't save them!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Hongbo was enraged and said, "What an arrogant ghost! Today, I'll show you the power of us mortals!"

As he spoke, Yang Hongbo activated his Purple Cloud Skill, his body radiating a brilliant purple light. With a shout, he flashed forward and charged towards the ghost. Seeing this, the ghost was not to be outdone. It moved swiftly, transforming into a black shadow, and engaged Yang Hongbo in fierce combat.

In an instant, the forest was filled with flashes of light and flying fists as Yang Hongbo and Ghost fought fiercely, locked in a close battle. Seeing this, his men also joined the fight, engaging Ghost in a fierce exchange.

However, the ghost's strength exceeded their expectations. Not only was its form elusive and unpredictable, but it was also incredibly powerful, with each attack delivering a tremendous impact to everyone.

"Sir, this ghost is too powerful, we are no match for it!" a junior officer said anxiously.

Yang Hongbo was also finding it difficult; he knew that things couldn't continue like this. He had to come up with a strategy to defeat this ghost.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, and he remembered some talismans and magical artifacts he had redeemed from the system. He immediately asked in his mind, "System, do I have any talismans or magical artifacts that can deal with ghosts?"

"Dear host, according to the analysis, the items you redeemed include a 'Soul-Suppressing Talisman' and a 'Exorcising Mirror,' which can cause some damage to ghosts," the system replied.

Yang Hongbo was overjoyed and quickly said, "System, I want to exchange for the 'Soul-Suppressing Talisman' and the 'Exorcising Mirror'!"

"Congratulations, host. You have successfully redeemed one 'Soul-Suppressing Talisman' and one 'Exorcising Mirror,' consuming a total of two hundred points," the system notification stated.

Yang Hongbo accepted the items he had redeemed from the system, feeling more confident. He shouted, "Everyone, step back! Let me deal with this ghost!"

Upon hearing this, his subordinates all stepped aside, watching Yang Hongbo nervously.

Yang Hongbo activated his Zixia Gong, concentrating his power in his right hand, and then hurled the "Soul-Suppressing Talisman" towards the ghost. At the same time, he raised the "Exorcism Mirror" in his left hand, aiming its light at the ghost.

The "Soul-Suppressing Talisman" transformed into a golden light in the air, instantly striking the ghost. The ghost let out a scream, its body pausing, clearly having suffered considerable injury. Immediately afterward, the light from the "Exorcism Mirror" shone on the ghost, instantly dissipating much of the black aura around it, making it appear even weaker.

"A perfect opportunity!" Yang Hongbo shouted, his figure flashing as he charged towards the ghost once more. He channeled his Purple Cloud Skill, striking the ghost in the chest with a punch. The ghost let out a piercing scream, its figure transforming into a black shadow and disappearing into the forest.

"The lord has won! The lord has won!" the men cheered.

Yang Hongbo, however, remained vigilant. He knew that the ghost had only been temporarily repelled, not truly eliminated. He said, "Don't be too happy yet. This ghost has only been repelled; it will definitely come back. We must find its lair and completely destroy it before we can rescue the missing villagers."

With that, Yang Hongbo led his men deeper into the forest to search for the ghost's lair. After a search, they finally found a hidden cave deep within the woods. The cave was eerie and reeked of a pungent, putrid stench.

"Everyone be careful, this cave is probably the lair of the ghosts," Yang Hongbo said softly, while simultaneously circulating his Purple Cloud Skill to prepare for any potential dangers.

They cautiously entered the cave, venturing deeper into its winding passages. They hadn't gone far when they came upon a group of villagers possessed by ghosts. The villagers had vacant eyes and expressionless faces, as if they had lost their souls.

"Villagers!" Yang Hongbo shouted, "We've come to save you! Wake up!"

However, the villagers remained unresponsive, standing there blankly. Yang Hongbo knew that they had been completely controlled by the ghost, and that the ghost must be eliminated before they could be rescued.

Just then, the ghost reappeared. Its form flickered erratically, appearing deep within the cave. It coldly stared at Yang Hongbo and the others, saying, "I'm truly surprised you managed to find this place. But do you think you can save these villagers like this? How naive!"

As he spoke, Ghost waved his hand, and a dark shadow attacked Yang Hongbo and the others. Yang Hongbo quickly activated the Purple Cloud Technique, gathering his power in front of him to form a purple barrier that blocked the shadow's attack.

"Everyone, charge! Destroy this ghost!" Yang Hongbo shouted, charging towards the ghost first. His men followed suit, engaging the ghost in a fierce battle.

Under the combined attack of Yang Hongbo and the others, the ghost finally couldn't hold on any longer. It let out a shrill scream, its body transforming into a black shadow as it tried to escape. However, Yang Hongbo was prepared. He quickly took out the "Exorcism Mirror" and aimed its light at the ghost. Under the mirror's light, the black aura on the ghost instantly dissipated. It let out a final scream, then turned into a wisp of green smoke and vanished into the air.

"The ghost has been destroyed! The ghost has been destroyed!" the men cheered.

Yang Hongbo breathed a sigh of relief. He walked over to the villagers who had been controlled, circulated his Zixia Gong, and infused a warm energy into their bodies. Gradually, the villagers' eyes regained their clarity, and they all woke up.

"Where...where are we?" a villager asked, bewildered.

"You were possessed by ghosts, and we saved you," Yang Hongbo said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the villagers were moved to tears. They knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Yang Hongbo and the others to express their gratitude.

"Thank you so much, sir, for saving my life! Thank you so much, sir, for saving my life!"

Yang Hongbo helped everyone up and said, "Don't be so polite, everyone. This is our duty as the Demon Slayer Division. You're all safe now, you can go home."

After expressing their gratitude once more, the villagers left the cave and returned to their village. Yang Hongbo also led his men out of the forest and back to the prefectural city.

This incident further enhanced Yang Hongbo's reputation in the prefectural city. He not only successfully resolved the ghost problem but also rescued the missing villagers, earning the respect and love of the people.