Steam-powered martial arts: My virginity cultivation technique has been broken.

Ku Ning changed his fist into a palm, already harboring murderous intent.

Among the many martial arts techniques he mastered, he frequently used the Vajra Palm Technique, which combined internal and external strength, making it fierce, powerful, clean, and efficient.

The power of the Vajra Palm, enveloped in black true energy, flickered like lightning in his palm. With a single strike, everything in its path could be reduced to ashes, its domineering force unmatched. Back then, to enhance his palm power, he shattered twenty-one large blue stones in three months. He felt that if he didn't use it more often, he would be wasting his hard work.

Faced with the murderous Ku Ning, the Li family guards felt their bodies stiffen and dared not move a finger.

"The red lantern hangs high atop Kunlun Mountain, its radiance shining as brightly as the sun and moon. Fellow countrymen who join my Red Lantern Religion will find a carefree and joyful land."

A series of loud slogans rang out, and a group of Red Lantern cultists dressed in dark red robes carried an eight-bearer sedan chair to the front of the crowd. They walked in a strange way, their heels not touching the ground, and they wore heavy makeup with lips as red as blood.

"May the Master of Transmission of Skills enjoy both happiness and longevity, and may his descendants reign for a thousand generations, unifying the land."

After those ghostly Red Lantern cultists stopped, they knelt beside the sedan chair, still numbly chanting slogans.

The Red Lantern Cult has a simple yet complex organizational structure. The leaders are collectively called "Masters," but the difference lies in the fact that if someone can unify the resources of one or several provinces, they are called the "Grand Master," and there are only three such individuals in the south.

Those who control the resources of one or several states are designated as branch leaders, with subordinate leaders such as Commanders, Enforcement Leaders, and Transmission Leaders, responsible for specific affairs. Commanders, usually numbering two to three, are the branch leader's right-hand men and spokespeople, responsible for resource allocation. Enforcement Leaders are responsible for intelligence and punishment. Transmission Leaders wield military power, ranging from tens of thousands to several thousand or even hundreds.

Ordinary believers have only two levels: protectors and inductees.

The leaders of the main altar and branch altars are God's representatives and generally do not interfere in military and political affairs.

This relatively flat management model was intentional, intended to demonstrate that all beings are equal under the divine authority. However, with a large number of people, efficiency decreased, there was no hierarchy, no one listened to anyone else, and it was difficult to coordinate with each other during battles, resulting in a swarm tactic.

"Why did this hero harm my people and disrupt the order of my religion within the city of my religion?"

A voice, neither warm nor cold, came from inside the sedan chair. The people present, including the Li family guards, all turned ashen-faced. Even though the leader of the Transmission of Skills was speaking for them, they reacted as if they had received a verdict, each one looking as if they had seen a monstrous flood.

"A eunuch?"

Ku Ning sensed something was wrong, not only because of his shrill voice, but also because of the faint smell of urine in the sedan chair.

As everyone knows, castrated men can't urinate properly and have to squat down. No matter how careful they are, they will inevitably get some urine on their pants.

Yanzhou is rich in mineral resources, and a mining tax eunuch is stationed in the prefectural city. But encountering a castrated man in the remote city of Bitter People, especially one who is the leader of the Red Lantern Cult, is a bit unbelievable. Could he be someone who practices some kind of evil martial art? Like the famous Sunflower Manual and Evil-Repelling Sword Technique from a previous life.

Ku Ning decided to use his third spiritual vision to investigate. As soon as he activated it, he saw a gray-black aura rushing towards him.

"Seventh-grade ghostly aura!"

Ku Ning unleashed his Vajra Palm, which he had been preparing to strike. The sedan chair was instantly crushed into dust as if it had been run over by a road roller. The master of the Transmission Sect inside revealed his true appearance: white hair and a youthful face, with a fair complexion and no beard. He was dressed in a red robe and floated up lightly. He then launched into a barrage of verbal attacks at Ku Ning, spewing out ghostly energy like it was free saliva.

"What a disgusting way to attack!"

This was Ku Ning's first time fighting against the Ghost Clan. He had only seen them in books before, and had experienced firsthand the eeriness of ghostly energy. If he hadn't activated his Third Spiritual Vision in time, he probably would have been unknowingly affected. Although he wouldn't have been injured, it was disgusting enough, and there was also the hallucinatory effect.

No wonder the ghost race is the most feared among all the strange beings. The energy level of a seventh-grade ghost aura is at least as strong as that of a sixth-grade true qi. Coupled with its imperceptibility and hallucinogenic properties, it is extremely difficult to deal with. However, their weaknesses are also obvious. As spirits, they are fragile in this world where true qi, demonic qi, and magical power exist. Once hit, they are as fragile as paper, easily broken.

This eunuch is half-human, half-ghost, infected and enslaved by the ghost race. It seems Ku Ning underestimated this Black Pillar Celestial Venerable; capable of creating seventh-rank ghost servants, his own strength is probably around third-rank. Such a pseudo-god is rare even in coastal areas that frequently interact with the ghost race.

He had no intention of interfering in the affairs of the Red Lantern Cult, but now he had developed a strong interest in the false god. After all, he was a monk by birth, and even after facing the Buddha statue for so many years, he couldn't prove whether the old man was truly divine. Besides, if he didn't thoroughly punish these hot-headed lunatics, they would pester him like gadflies.

The existence of immortals and Buddhas cannot be proven, just as immortality is impossible.

Strangely, while false gods can be created, there is no evidence of the existence of any truly venerated immortals or Buddhas who receive countless offerings and have numerous followers. Unless they have fallen into depravity, the temples and monasteries dedicated to these immortals and Buddhas are abandoned and dilapidated, inhabited by ghosts and spirits. There is also the phenomenon of "sealing off" or "sealing off" rituals, where some ghosts and spirits, through imperial decrees and popular worship, become guardian deities.

The lack of proof is the biggest problem; where has that massive faith gone? Energy is conserved, after all.

The rise and fall of dynasties in this world are invariably intertwined with religious sects. It's inaccurate to say that good and evil are entirely subjective. While orthodox religions may not be entirely righteous, evil sects are undeniably evil.

Ku Ning used his true energy as leverage to pounce on the eunuch, slamming him to the ground with a palm strike and stepping on him: "Take me to your temple."

The eunuch's ghostly aura returned to his body, and he grumbled, "You dare to offend this leader? The Red Lantern Sect and the Heavenly Venerable will not forgive you."

Ku Ning said arrogantly, "I don't need its mercy, I'll go find it right now. I'm very curious, for a martial arts incident to alarm you, the leader of a sect that controls an entire city, to personally intervene, is it because of that Black Pillar Celestial Venerable behind it?"

The eunuch, feeling guilty, said, "This leader has no idea what you're talking about!"

Ku Ning narrowed his eyes, a glint of light shining through them. He had indeed guessed correctly. From the moment he entered the city, he had sensed something was wrong. The Red Lantern Cult here was vastly different from the ones he had encountered before; it employed methods bordering on witchcraft, using people as sustenance to support a false god.

The Red Lantern Cult is a rebellious force, or, from another perspective, an uprising army. Their goal is to overthrow the imperial court. A few years ago, it was a mixed bag, with bandits running rampant. The surviving members now have their own code of conduct, such as frequently opening granaries to distribute food and winning the hearts of the local people, rather than cruelly oppressing them. Otherwise, they would have no place to survive long ago.

Now a eunuch has appeared. Excluding those who practice evil arts, he may be a eunuch!

These imperial envoys, who commit all sorts of evil and lawlessness in the local area, are capable of doing anything unexpected and utterly depraved!