Starting from his vigorous old age, he began to conquer Liaozhai.

Cao Xiong suddenly remembered that before entering the abandoned temple today, he seemed to have seen a stone slab with the character "流" (liu, meaning flow) carved on it in the collapsed pile of stones.

Could it be that the deserted temple he's spending the night at is Liuguan Temple?

He has no way to go out now, so he can only keep calm and observe how things develop.

"Thus have I heard: At one time, the Buddha was staying at the Jetavana Monastery in Shravasti..."

Shortly after he stood outside the gate of Liuguan Temple, a sermon suddenly came from inside the temple.

Then, the temple gate was opened, and a young monk wearing a gray-blue robe poked half his body out.

"Benefactor, the sermon has begun. Since you have come to Liuguan Temple, why not come in, offer incense, and listen to the abbot's sermon? There are already quite a few benefactors inside."

Cao Xiong quietly looked at the young monk who was speaking to him. The monk was so lifelike and full of vitality that he seemed like a real person.

He did not answer, but followed the young monk into the temple.

Having inexplicably entered the mural, instead of blindly searching for a way out, it's better to see what the mural is trying to achieve.

The young monk led Cao Xiong through the temple courtyard and straight to the main hall located in the very center of the temple.

Inside the hall, one could vaguely see quite a few figures.

After the young monk led Cao Xiong into the main hall, he left. The surrounding area was filled with people dressed in various colors.

There was a portly old man, a scholar in a blue robe with his hair tied up, and a village woman carrying a bamboo basket.

"Furthermore, Subhuti, what do you think? Does the Tathagata have physical eyes?"

"So it is, World Honored One, the Tathagata has physical eyes."

"Subhuti, what do you think? Does the Tathagata possess the divine eye?"

"So it is, World Honored One, the Tathagata has the divine eye."

The sermon became clearer, as if someone were chanting softly in your ear.

Cao Xiong felt an immense sense of peace, and all his chaotic thoughts gradually disappeared. However, a sense of vigilance suddenly arose in his heart.

"Clang~"

Just then, the Evil-Sniffing Blade also emitted a trembling alarm, further confirming Cao Xiong's sense of crisis.

He was first teleported outside the temple, then a young monk appeared, brought him there, and then disappeared.

This is all too bizarre.

With a sense of caution in mind, the sounds of sermons being delivered inside the hall became increasingly faint.

Just as Cao Xiong was trying to squeeze into the crowd to see what the host looked like.

He suddenly felt someone tugging at his sleeve, and he turned around to look.

The first thing you see is a beautiful young woman, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with expressive eyes and a slender figure. She is lively and spirited.

"Don't speak, come with me."

The girl put her finger to her lips, signaling Cao Xiong to be quiet.

A faint fragrance wafted into his nose, and her graceful figure made Cao Xiong want to get closer.

Cao Xiong sneered inwardly. This mental attack was so familiar, just like the one used by Nie Xiaoqian.

A hint of admiration rose in Cao Xiong's eyes, and he followed the girl out.

He wanted to see what other tricks the mural had up its sleeve.

Seeing Cao Xiong's appearance, the girl couldn't help but smile slightly.

The young girl is vibrant and lively, completely different from Nie Xiaoqian in temperament and image, yet equally beautiful.

Cao Xiong made a comparison between the two women in his mind.

The girl led Cao Xiong out of the temple and to the side gate of a mansion with the words "Prince's Mansion" written on it.

"Young master, please come in with me."

Cao Xiong's gaze remained fixed on the girl, as if he were deeply infatuated with her.

The two entered the courtyard through a side gate, passed through a back garden, and entered a room that was clearly where a woman lived.

"Young master, I was immediately attracted to you the moment I saw you at Liuguan Temple today."

The girl closed the door and tightly grasped Cao Xiong's hand, creating an intimate atmosphere between them.

"and then?"

The girl was a little stunned when she heard Cao Xiong's reply. What, then?

Shouldn't he be infatuated with me at this moment?

Cao Xiong had thought that the girl's mysterious behavior might bring some refreshing and creative ideas.

After all that, it turns out I just wanted to absorb his yang energy.

"If there aren't any left, then it's my turn."

Under the girl's incredulous gaze, Cao Xiong drew his Evil-Sniffing Blade and slit her throat.

The girl lay on the ground, her blood staining the ground red.

Cao Xiong forcibly erased the guilt rising in his heart, "It really does affect one's mind anytime, anywhere."

At this moment, he realized that everything in this mural was an illusion, including the woman in front of him.

So how do we get out? Should we kill everyone we see?

"Hey~"

A majestic and powerful voice suddenly resounded between heaven and earth, shaking the houses.

"You audacious mortal, indiscriminately slaughtering the innocent, filled with demonic thoughts! Kneel down and submit to your fate!"

Cao Xiong looked up and saw the roof being ripped open by a giant hand.

A golden god general, whose body was half a head taller than a house, was glaring at him.

Cao Xiong felt like an ant looking up at a god.

A sense of dread gripped my mind.

"Clang~"

The Evil-Sniffing Blade trembled violently, and under the gaze of the Golden General, Cao Xiong didn't even dare to think of drawing the blade.

There was only one thought left: kneel down and beg for mercy, and only then could he live!

"He does have some tricks up his sleeve."

Cao Xiong gritted his teeth, his internal energy surging wildly.

His hand slowly fell onto the hilt of the knife.

"Sword Drawing Technique~"

The moment he gripped the knife, Cao Xiong had only the thought of drawing it in his mind. All fear vanished, and the phantom of a knife rose from his mind, annihilating all illusions.

He pushed off with all his might and jumped onto the roof beam, using it for leverage once more.

He drew the Evil-Sniffing Blade and slashed it into the chest of the Golden God General.

"Boom!"

The seemingly invincible golden god was reduced to fragments, scattering between heaven and earth.

[Defeat the late-stage Spirit Awakening Realm Soul in the Painting, Fragment +1]

As the Golden God General vanished, the entire mural world collapsed and turned into nothingness.

Cao Xiong's vision went black for a moment, and when he opened his eyes again, he was standing in front of the wall of the dilapidated main hall of a deserted temple.

He looked at the wall, where the once brightly colored murals had become blurred and indistinguishable from the surrounding peeling temple walls.

Only an old-fashioned scroll of drawing paper hangs on the wall. When the scroll is unrolled, the paper is blank and slightly yellowed.

Cao Xiong sensed something, raised his arm, and gently flicked his fingers. The scroll flew off the wall and landed in Cao Xiong's hand.

From this moment on, this scroll is at his disposal.

Through the faint connection established between the two, he could sense that this scroll was extraordinary, involving spatial abilities, but it had been severely damaged and needed to recover slowly.

The night passed, and the sudden rain subsided.

Cao Xiong mounted his horse and set off towards the county town again, encountering no further dangers along the way.

As evening fell, Cao Xiong arrived at the Thousand Household Camp in the county town.

The area occupied by the thousand households was extremely vast, and the camp had a continuous wall, making it like a city within a city.

The Linya Commandery's Thousand-Household Office was originally located outside the commandery city, but it was later incorporated into the commandery city during its expansion.

"Cao Xiong, the commander of the Hundred-Household Office in Guobei County, has important business to discuss and needs to meet with the commander of the Thousand-Household Office. Please inform him."

When Cao Xiong arrived at the city gate of the camp, he took out his token and handed it to the guards.

"Commander Cao, please wait a moment."