Republic of China: From Street Performer to War God in a Chaotic Era

"Three hundred years of arduous cultivation in the deep mountains, worshipping the moon, swallowing essence and borrowing qi—"

Lu Guan stomped on the drum, and the "dong! qiang!" sound sent chills down people's spines.

Holding the shadow puppet of the Yellow Immortal in his hand, he slightly trembled his wrist.

The old weasel-like figure holding the mourning stick seemed to come alive in the dim light of the lantern.

"Waaah—"

Those wandering ghosts who were originally hiding behind broken tombstones and on withered tree branches were all "bewitched" by the demonic aura in "Huang Xian Asks for a Title".

Pairs of eyes, flickering in the wind and snow, surrounded the makeshift platform.

Zhao Linchuan, accompanied by several disciples from the Liuhe Martial Arts School, gripped the hilts of his knives, his teeth chattering.

They were all martial arts practitioners, full of yang energy, so they weren't afraid to walk at night in the past.

But the current situation is too bizarre!

The gaunt boy standing behind the curtain was no longer the actor who begged for food under the overpass.

"Those from all walks of life, engaging in superstitious practices, are ultimately minor paths."

Only Han Dong, leaning on his white waxwood spear, kept his eyes closed.

The sharp spear intent emanating from him forced the wandering ghosts and spirits that tried to approach to retreat three zhang away.

"When I was granted a title, I encountered a survivor; I asked him, 'Are you a ghost... or a god?!'"

Just as Lu Guan sang the last line of the opera, the word "仙" (xian, immortal) was drawn out with a long final note.

"Boom!"

The surrounding yellow earth, frozen like lumps of iron, trembled violently.

"They're here."

Lu Guan's eyes behind the curtain were able to see everything clearly, thanks to his minor supernatural ability of "night vision".

"Bang!"

A patch of snow less than ten feet from the stage suddenly exploded.

Amidst the swirling frozen earth and rotten coffin boards, a massive black shadow leaped out from the ground.

"hiss--"

The moment they saw the monster clearly, the disciples of Liuhe gasped and staggered back several steps.

That was a monster as tall as two people!

Its entire body was covered in a layer of green fur, and its limbs were incredibly thick.

The most terrifying thing is its face.

There was no flesh or skin, only a grotesque face covered in bone spurs!

A pair of blood-red eyes stared at the shadow puppet of Huang Xian on the screen, with foul-smelling saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth.

The abandoned tomb in the west of the city is fraught with misfortune, harboring a third-grade monster... the Ghost-Faced Ape!

This beast was forcibly lured out by the extreme yin energy of the "Yellow Immortal Seeking a Title," and it is now extremely ferocious.

"You beast, how dare you!"

Just as the demon-faced ape was about to pounce on the stage, Han Dong made his move!

"Whoosh."

The large, black-handled, wax-wood spear trembled violently in his hand.

The spear flashes like a dragon!

His fully developed internal energy, combined with his lofty spear intent of "unity of mind and heart," made this spear strike seem like a red lightning bolt that pierced the night.

"kill!"

Han Dong exerted force with his feet, his whole body and the spear became one, instantly crossing a distance of ten zhang, and went straight for the ghost-faced demon's face.

"roar!"

The demon suddenly turned around, swung its claws, and slammed them hard against the gun barrel.

"when--"

The sound of metal clashing against metal was so loud that it made the eardrums of everyone around them ache.

The white waxwood spear was bent into a crescent shape by the force of the blow, but Han Dong snorted and, using the rebound force of the spear shaft, twisted his wrist.

"Pfft."

The spear tip grazed the demon's claws and plunged directly into its shoulder blade, drawing a trail of dark green, bloody blood.

"Great job, Senior Brother Han!"

Upon seeing this, everyone shouted excitedly.

What kind of ancient demon is he? In front of Senior Brother Han's peerless spear technique of "intention and mind in harmony", he would have to obediently die.

These three hundred silver dollars were well spent!

Han Dong struck a successful blow and pressed his advantage relentlessly.

His marksmanship was like a raging storm, pouring down with every shot aimed at the Ghost-Faced Demon's vital points.

Although the Ghost-Faced Demon possessed immense strength, it was repeatedly defeated by Han Dong, a top-tier martial artist, and suffered five or six deep, bone-revealing wounds on its body.

"With such limited abilities, you dare call yourself a great calamity?"

Han Dong fought with increasing ferocity, his eyes filled with arrogance, the intent on the tip of his spear becoming more and more solid, and he coldly shouted.

"Tonight, I, Han, will use you, you beast, as a sacrifice for my gun!"

however.

Lu Guan, behind the curtain, watched the Ghost-Faced Demon retreating in defeat, his brows furrowed tightly.

Something's not right...

Lu Guan's keen senses detected it.

Although the demon-faced monster was bleeding, its malevolent aura not only did not weaken, but instead increased at an eerie speed!

He suddenly raised his head and looked up at the night sky.

Before anyone knew it, the leaden clouds that had been obscuring the night sky were blown away by the cold wind.

A pale, perfectly round full moon hung high above the ruins of the former Qing Dynasty tombs.

Tonight... is the fifteenth of the lunar calendar, the night of the full moon.

Lu Guan knew inwardly that something was wrong.

For these demons and monsters that have been buried underground for years, the radiance of the moon on the night of the full moon is simply the most potent tonic.

"roar--"

Just as Han Dong was about to pierce the heart of the demon-faced demon with a single shot.

The demon-faced monster, which had been running away in fear and beating, suddenly roared.

He completely ignored the spear tip aimed at his chest and instead opened his gaping maw.

"call--"

A vortex of yin energy formed in its mouth.

The wandering ghosts who had been drawn to the shadow puppet show and were watching were sucked into the belly of the demon-faced ape before they could even scream.

"It devours wandering souls and transforms itself using the moonlight."

Lu Guan shouted sternly, "Han Dong, retreat!"

But Han Dong was caught up in the thrill of killing and couldn't possibly heed the warning of an actor.

"Retreat? The word 'retreat' never exists under my gun, Han's gun!"

"Die!"

Han Dong's blood was boiling, and his spear pierced the Ghost-Faced Demon's heart.

"when!"

Instead of the expected blood and flesh being pierced through, there was only a series of sparks exploding in this icy and snowy landscape.

Han Dong's white waxwood spear, powerful enough to pierce through bluestone, actually stopped abruptly at the chest of the Ghost-Faced Demon.

"What?!"

Han Dong's pupils suddenly contracted.

Under the moonlight, all that could be seen was...

The demon-faced monster's body swelled up like a balloon.

His muscles bulged high, and his black veins writhed under his skin like live earthworms.

This beast, taking advantage of the full moon and the nourishment of hundreds of wandering souls, actually managed to elevate his cultivation level even in dire straits!

"This beast has probably already touched the threshold of the Qi Integration Realm."

Lu Guan stood behind the curtain and gasped.

One way of martial arts, three internal combinations.

When the mind and intention are in harmony, that is the ultimate state of Ming Jin (a type of martial arts).

The union of intention and qi means to completely integrate one's will with the qi and blood flowing through the five internal organs, releasing internal energy outwards in an endless cycle.

This is the true martial arts master that the Tianjin martial arts community speaks of!

The demon-faced monster before us has devoured a hundred years of Yin energy and wandering souls. The demonic power it is displaying now is completely comparable to that of a "Great Warrior" who has crossed the stage of spiritual union!

This is a monster that these Ming Jin martial artists cannot deal with.

"Snap!"

Just as Han Dong was stunned into silence...

The demon-faced demon grabbed the tip of the white waxwood spear.

Han Dong felt a tremendous force coming from the gun barrel. His internal energy was like an ant trying to shake a tree in front of this force.

"Let go!"

The demon-faced goblin suddenly swung its sword.

With a "bang".

Han Dong, gun and all, was sent flying, crashing into a tombstone and shattering the granite structure.

"puff--"

Han Dong coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face turning deathly pale.

The web between his thumb and forefinger, where he was gripping the gun, was split open and bleeding profusely.

"Senior Brother Han!"

Zhao Linchuan and the others were terrified and rushed over to help Han Dong up.

However, the demon-faced monster gave them no chance to catch their breath.

"boom!"

This beast is not only incredibly strong, but also an expert in earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of magical escape technique).

With a stomp of its foot, it shattered the frozen ground beneath its feet, and its massive body burrowed directly into the earth, disappearing without a trace.

"Where is it?!"

"Watch your step!"

The disciples of Liuhe Martial Arts School panicked, standing back to back holding their swords.

"Pfft!"

Just as one of Zhao Linchuan's disciples on his left was looking around.

The soil beneath their feet suddenly exploded.

A pair of sharp claws covered in green fur emerged directly from the ground and grabbed the disciple's legs.

"Ah, help me! Senior Brother Zhao, help me!"

But before Zhao Linchuan could even draw his sword, the masked demon actually tore the living Ming Jin martial artist in two.

Blood mixed with entrails rained down on Zhao Linchuan.

"vomit……"

Zhao Linchuan was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he almost didn't have the strength to hold the knife.

What's the point of fighting now?

Even Senior Brother Han, who was at the Yihe Realm, was severely injured in one move. What difference is there between these ordinary Ming Jin Dacheng cultivators and paper in front of this great martial arts monster?

The demon-faced ape leaped out of the ground, licking the blood from its claws, and locked its gaze on Han Dong, who lay fallen beside the tombstone.

It wants to devour the most vigorous warrior present first!

"You beast..."

Han Dong gritted his teeth, trying to struggle to his feet, but his sternum was broken, and he didn't even have the strength to lift his gun. He could only watch helplessly as the ghost approached.

"Ah Da, remove your armor."

A cold, sharp voice suddenly rang out in the wind and snow.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

All that could be seen was behind the stage curtain.

Lu Guan walked out slowly.

Beside him, the giant man who had always been treated as a laborer and wore a large straw hat moved.

"Sizzle—"

The giant ripped off his black leather trench coat, lifted his straw hat, and tore apart the white gauze wrapped around his face.

"roar!"

Ah Da revealed its true form.

Dark bronze skin and flesh, with black hair about an inch long.

And the "Zhu You Bi Yang Fu" (a type of talisman for warding off evil spirits) that was densely covered all over his body and written with black dog blood and cinnabar.

"Corpse Fiend, a hundred-year-old Corpse Fiend?!"

Zhao Linchuan, who was lying on the ground, had his eyes almost popping out of their sockets. He was so scared that he scrambled backward.

This little actor, not only performing a ghost story in the middle of the night, but he also carries around a century-old zombie in half-in-armor as his bodyguard?!

Who the hell is the evil cultivator here?!

"Go, play with it."

Lu Guan coldly pointed at the demon-faced monster.

"roar!"

As a half-step Ironclad Demon, Ah Da may lack consciousness, but he possesses an innate ferocity towards evil spirits.

Driven by the contract of Lu Guan's "Remnant Scroll of Invoking Corpses", A Da kicked off with both legs and crashed into the Ghost-Faced Demon, which was of the level of a great warrior.

"Bang!"

Two terrifying monsters, each two meters tall, collided violently on the snowy ground of the mass grave.

The shockwave rippled and shattered the surrounding tombstones.

Although the Ghost-Faced Demon broke through to the level of "unity of intention and qi" with the help of the moonlight, and its power surged, Ah Da was a top-quality creature that had been nurtured with yin qi in the water prison of the Armed Forces Department for a hundred years.

That body of dark bronze skin was so hard it was outrageous!

The demon's claws slashed fiercely at Ah Da's chest, leaving only a few shallow white marks.

Ah Da's fists slammed mercilessly into the face of the Ghost-Faced Demon, causing the ferocious beast to roar in anger.

The two monsters were tearing and fighting wildly in the snow, and for a time they were evenly matched.

"Such a tough corpse demon..."

Han Dong leaned against the rubble, watching this scene with a look of utter shock in his eyes.

He finally understood why Lu Guan dared to take on such a dangerous unsolved case.

With such a powerful weapon in his hand, who in Tianjin, apart from a master of internal strength, could possibly harm him?

"Stop looking, Ah Da can't beat it."

Lu Guan had already walked up to Han Dong's side without anyone noticing.

He stared at the battle situation, his expression grave.

Although Ah Da's defense was astonishing, he was, after all, an inanimate object and did not understand the changes in a martial artist's strength.

The demon-faced monster is a powerful demon that has grown in strength. In time, Ah Da's skin, covered with talismans, will be torn apart by this beast sooner or later.

"It tried to use earth magic to pull it away."

Lu Guan noticed that after exchanging dozens of blows, a cunning glint flashed in the Ghost-Faced Demon's eyes.

It suddenly forced Ah Da back with a claw, then lowered its body, about to burrow back into the ground again.

If they allow such a powerful and monstrous figure to hide in the shadows and wage a war of attrition, they will all die tonight.

"Trying to run away?!"

Just as half of the demon's body had sunk into the yellow earth...

Lu Guan suddenly twitched his sleeve.

The ancient mirror, covered in verdigris, slid into my palm. I poured my Da Cheng Ming Jin (a type of internal energy) into the mirror.

"Buzz—"

The two characters "照心" (meaning "reflecting the heart") on the back of the mirror were covered in blood.

A beam of golden light pierced through the wind and snow, striking the back of the demon-faced monster.

"Squeak—"

When it was illuminated by the golden light of this magical artifact that was specifically designed to subdue evil spirits...

The demon-faced monster seemed to be frozen in place, its body stiff and unable to move even a finger.

Settled!

Although it was only for a brief moment!

But for a master martial artist, that's enough!

"Han Dong, aren't you going to draw your gun?"

Lu Guan roared,

Han Dong, who was originally seriously injured and lying on the ground, suddenly realized what was happening and bit his tongue hard.

"kill!"

Despite the excruciating pain of his shattered sternum, Han Dong squeezed out all the remaining vital energy and blood in his body, along with his lofty spear intent, into this final strike.

"Whoosh!"

The jet-black white wax spear transformed into a shooting star and flew out of my hand.

"Pfft."

The spear pierced its chest, pinning its body to the frozen ground.

"roar!"

The demon-faced monster struggled frantically, its green demonic blood gushing out, and the golden light began to shatter as it was about to break free of its restraints.

"boom!"

Lu Guan unleashed the "Thirteen Shadow Steps" from beneath his feet, appearing above the Ghost-Faced Ape's head.

"A tiger stubbornly climbs the mountain!"

His right fist transformed into a blazing sun, descending from the sky and smashing into the demon's mask.

"Bang!"

Half of the demon's head exploded into a cloud of blood mist.

The massive body stiffened abruptly, then collapsed limply into the snow, utterly lifeless.

Snowstorm, silence.

Zhao Linchuan and the others stared wide-eyed at the thin boy standing on the corpse of the demon-faced demon, his body emitting white steam, their minds completely blank.

One punch killed a century-old ferocious beast at the level of a great martial artist?!