Old Refining Spirit

The backyard of the county government office was deathly silent. The carnage in the front yard, a scene of carnage, seemed to be a world apart from this place.

In the earthen stove in the kitchen, the fire was burning brightly. Xiaoman carefully poured bucket after bucket of well water into the huge copper bath tub. Her hands trembled, and most of the water spilled out, but she gritted her teeth and dared not make a sound.

The blind Taoist priest who had swallowed the pig demon magistrate whole was now standing quietly to the side. He had taken off his faded Taoist robe, revealing his strong but pale upper body. What was chilling was that on his seemingly thin back, an extremely intricate "Pre-Heaven Bagua Diagram" was faintly visible.

"Taoist Master, the water is ready..." Xiaoman retreated to a corner, her voice barely audible.

Thank you for your trouble.

Li Xuangeng nodded gently and stepped into the scalding hot bath. He did not immediately wash away the invisible impurity clinging to his body, but instead used his slender fingers to dab a drop of water on his forehead.

Then, his lips moved slightly, and he began to recite the most orthodox Taoist purification mantra.

"Lingbao Heavenly Venerable, comfort my body. My soul, my five internal organs, are in profound darkness. Azure Dragon and White Tiger, in orderly ranks. Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise, guard my true self..."

As he chanted in a low, rhythmic voice, a chilling scene unfolded.

The well water, which was originally crystal clear and even steaming, turned black as quickly as ink the moment it came into contact with his body! Dark red bubbles rose to the surface of the water, emitting a nauseating smell of pigs and rotting corpses.

This is the "karmic hindrance" left in the air after Zhu Dachang's century-old pig demon was refined.

"The Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water are originally the righteous gods of Taoism who absolve sins and relieve calamities. Now, the Heavenly Dao of this Great Abyss Dynasty is sick, and even the well water underground is soaked with evil corpse poison."

Li Xuangeng sighed and lightly traced the shape of the ancient Chinese hexagram "Kan" on the surface of the black water with his finger.

"Kan represents water, which flows without overflowing, and navigates danger without losing its integrity. Since it's tainted, let's refine it."

The [Creation True Qi] within his body suddenly surged, and the pitch-black, foul-smelling sewage in the bathtub was instantly evaporated by an invisible high temperature, turning into a wisp of black smoke that he inhaled through his nostrils.

"Ding! Absorbed free karmic obstacles, the impurity removal rate of the [Creation Furnace] has increased by 1%."

After changing into a spotless blue robe he had found during the Xiaoman solar term, Li Xuangeng covered his eyes again with the three-finger-wide white silk ribbon. At this moment, he looked less dejected and more aloof and ethereal, inspiring awe and reverence.

Just then, Li Xuangeng's fingers, which were twirling the white bone prayer beads, suddenly paused slightly.

"A chilling wind rises from the southeast, carrying a nauseating stench of blood. It seems the rent collectors have arrived." Li Xuangeng's lips curled into a gentle smile, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

"Bang!"

The heavy solid wood gate in the backyard of the county government office was violently kicked open from the outside.

A strong wind rushed in, causing the old locust tree in the courtyard to shake violently, its leaves falling one by one. The newcomer did not conceal his footsteps; accompanied by a harsh metallic scraping sound, a gaunt old man dressed in a bright red Taoist robe and wearing a tall crown slowly walked in.

In the old man's hands, he held a dark gold feng shui compass. Most strangely, the compass needle was made from a human bone and was now pointing madly in Li Xuangeng's direction.

Behind the old man were four “Yellow Turban Warriors” who were over ten feet tall, with ashen faces and covered in yellow talismans (actually armored zombies made from living people).

"I am the 'Soul Collector' of the Demon Suppression Division of the Prefecture, here in Qingping County on the orders of the Imperial Preceptor to collect this month's 100,000 blood offerings!" The red-robed elder's voice was shrill, like a night owl's. "Where is that idiot Zhu Dachang? Tell him to get out here and see me! And who are you, you wild Taoist priest, daring to trespass on the important grounds of the county government?"

Li Xuangeng did not answer his question, but instead tilted his head slightly and "looked" at the compass in the old man's hand, his tone carrying a scholarly, inquisitive tone.

"A compass has three plates: the Earth Plate (the true needle) indicates the orientation, the Human Plate (the middle needle) indicates the elimination of negative influences, and the Heaven Plate (the seam needle) indicates the intake of water." Li Xuangeng's voice was gentle. "But your compass has 'Five Ghosts Transporting Wealth' engraved on the Earth Plate and 'Deathly Breaking Army' on the Heaven Plate. The magnetic needle of this compass is made from the finger bone of a three-year-old child who died a violent death. What you are cultivating is not the Tao, but the path of an animal."

"presumptuous!"

The red-robed elder flew into a rage, two green beams shooting from his eyes: "I cultivate the 'Great Abyss Immortal Technique,' personally taught by the Imperial Preceptor! Since you, blind fool, refuse to listen to reason and instead drink the forfeit, today I'll use your cultivation to fill the gap in my blood offerings!"

The old man suddenly bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of black blood onto the white bone compass in his hand.

He made a hand seal with one hand and stepped in a strange, twisting manner, like a giant spider crawling on the ground.

"Qimen Dunjia, Heaven and Earth Reversed! Death Gate, Open! Wound Gate, Open! Shock Gate, Open!"

With the old man's shrill cry, the four armored zombies behind him suddenly tore off the yellow talismans on their bodies, letting out earth-shattering roars, and took up positions in the four directions of east, west, south, and north, tightly surrounding Li Xuangeng in the very center.

In an instant, the entire backyard changed dramatically.

The original sunlight was obscured by thick blood clouds, and the surrounding walls turned into writhing flesh and blood. This was the extremely vicious **"Three Gates Annihilation Formation"** from the Qimen Dunjia! Once trapped in the formation, not only would one's senses be stripped away, but the blood in one's body would also uncontrollably burst out of one's body.

Xiaoman, who was hiding in the corner, was so frightened that her eyes rolled back and she almost fainted.

However, Li Xuangeng, who was in the very center of the killing formation, did not even flinch.

He stood there, his hands still elegantly clasped behind his back, a hint of disappointment even showing on his face beneath the white silk.

"this one?"

Li Xuangeng shook his head, his voice sounding exceptionally clear and jarring amidst the writhing flesh and blood of the killing formation.

"Qimen Dunjia is about following the right timing and location. Today is Jiaxu day, and the day is empty in Shen and You. The Death Gate should be located in the Dui Palace (due west), but you forcibly used evil methods to move the Death Gate to the Li Palace (due south)."

As Li Xuangeng spoke, he began to walk. Each step he took seemed casual, yet he precisely landed on the life-giving gate of the Qimen Nine Palaces.

"The Li trigram belongs to fire, and the Death Gate belongs to earth. Fire generates earth, do you think this will enhance the power of the killing formation? Foolish."

Li Xuangeng's gentle tone carried a condescending sarcasm: "You don't even understand the most basic principles of 'yin and yang being interdependent, and things reaching their extremes reversing.' With the fire raging and the earth parched, the 'qi eyes' of the formation are already incredibly fragile. Your so-called 'immortal arts,' mutated by absorbing human blood, are simply an insult to Taoist numerology!"

The red-robed elder's expression changed drastically. He discovered that no matter how he activated the compass, the bloodthirsty aura within the killing formation couldn't even touch a single hem of Li Xuangeng's clothes! His opponent was like a ghost strolling in his own backyard, perfectly avoiding all the killing intent!

"Tear him apart!" the old man roared in exasperation.

Upon receiving the order, four incredibly strong armored zombies, wielding their green-furred claws and accompanied by terrifying howls, simultaneously charged towards Li Xuangeng!

Facing four monsters capable of tearing tigers and leopards apart, Li Xuangeng did not back down. He finally drew his right hand from behind his back.

"Since you like the 'Gate of Death' so much, then this humble Taoist will teach you what true 'death' really means."

Li Xuangeng's right hand was held together like a sword, without any magical light or shadow, it was just the pure physical power of his body wrapped in [Creation True Qi]!

"Sizzle!"

He moved with lightning speed, instantly appearing before the zombie directly to the south. His right hand, like a peerless divine weapon, was casually thrust forward.

A sharp, teeth-grinding "snap" sound!

The armored zombie, which was said to be impervious to swords and spears and immune to water and fire, had its hard, iron-like skull pierced directly by Li Xuangeng's two slender fingers!

"It's too crumbly; even the bone marrow has been boiled dry. How dare they put out such garbage and embarrass themselves?"

Li Xuangeng snorted coldly and flicked his wrist. The violent true energy instantly exploded inside the zombie's skull, and the huge headless corpse crashed to the ground with a "boom".

Then came the second, the third, and the fourth!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

In the blink of an eye, without even pausing, Li Xuangeng dismantled the three armored zombies into pieces of scrap metal and mangled flesh with his bare hands, as if they were made of paper.

"This...this is impossible! What kind of monster are you?!"

The red-robed elder trembled with fear at the sight of the shattered zombies scattered on the ground, dropping his prized bone compass. His monstrous immortal technique, so proud of him, hadn't even lasted a single breath against this blind Taoist!

"monster?"

Li Xuangeng took out that ever-pure white silk handkerchief, slowly and meticulously wiping his fingers, and the charming, almost sickly smile returned to the corners of his mouth.

"I am merely a wandering Taoist priest who knows a little about feng shui and numerology and enjoys tasting delicious food."

He walked step by step toward the old man in the red robe who had collapsed to the ground.

The old man screamed in terror as his body suddenly swelled violently, tearing his bright red Taoist robe. Two enormous, slimy wings sprouted from his back, and his facial features melted away, transforming into a round sucker full of fangs!

"I'm going to drain you dry!!!"

The mutated Soul-Binding Envoy emitted piercing sound waves in a final, desperate struggle.

"The Flying Stars of the Nine Palaces, the Five Yellow Star of Lianzhen signifies great misfortune." Facing this utterly disgusting mutant, Li Xuangeng felt no nausea; instead, his Adam's apple bobbed with excitement. "The dense, bloodthirsty yin energy emanating from you perfectly matches the 'Five Yellow Star' in terms of destiny. It's the perfect ingredient for refining the 'Breakthrough Pill'."

He suddenly opened his right hand, his five fingers forming a claw, and with an unparalleled and absolute suppressive force, he grabbed the monster's sticky neck!

"boom!"

The dark golden phantom of the [Creation Furnace], carrying immense pressure, crashed down in the backyard of the county government office!

"No—!! The Imperial Advisor will not let you get away with this—!!"

Accompanied by the monster's desperate screams, its enormous, grotesque body, along with its filthy soul, was instantly devoured by the eerie blue flames of the Creation Furnace!

"Ding! The mutated Soul Collector of the State Capital has been defeated! The Creation Furnace has completed its purification process!"

"Obtained a top-grade elixir: [Five Yellow Barrier-Breaking Pill] x1! (Consuming this pill will allow you to ignore all illusions and array obstacles.)"

"Special item obtained: [State Capital Pass Blood Token] x1! (A token imbued with the aura of the Imperial Preceptor, granting unimpeded access to the state capital)"

Li Xuangeng swallowed the golden pill that emitted a rich medicinal fragrance, felt his cultivation level surge again, and breathed a satisfied sigh of relief.

He bent down, picked up the token stained with black blood from the ground, and used the white silk to "look" towards the direction of the prefectural government.

"The ingredients in Qingping County have been cleared out."

Li Xuangeng turned around and extended a clean, slender hand to Xiaoman, who was trembling in the corner, his tone as gentle as a spring breeze.

"Xiaoman, go pack your luggage. We're going to the prefectural capital for a nice meal."