High-level martial arts: Long spear with black flames to suppress demons.

"The Old Ghost of Ling Mountain,"

The woman in the red robe spoke first, her voice sounding like the woman who had spoken when they entered the city.

"What was that pure spiritual energy fluctuation outside the city just now? How could spiritual energy be generated in this forbidden area?"

"Du Qiongyu, your nose is even more sensitive than a dog's."

Ling Shan Daoist rolled his eyes at her, then looked at the middle-aged swordsman.

"Qin Xu, weren't you in seclusion, you sword fanatic? What are you doing here in my courtyard?"

The middle-aged swordsman known as Qin Xu spoke coldly: "A spiritual energy fluctuation of that scale should awaken even the dead. Spirit Mountain, make yourself clear."

Ling Shan Daoist curled his lip and pointed at Shen Chang'an behind him: "This little brat's flames are strange; they can directly burn and transform the abyssal demonic energy into the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The commotion outside the city just now was caused by him."

"What?!"

Du Qiongyu and Qin Xu's expressions changed drastically at the same time, their faces filled with disbelief. Having spent countless years in this abyss, they knew better than anyone that demonic energy and spiritual energy were absolutely mutually exclusive; how could they possibly transform into each other?

Seeing the two men's suspicious looks, the Taoist of Lingshan sneered and flicked his finger.

A wisp of pure spiritual energy flashed by in mid-air.

"Truly inspired!"

Feeling the pure, undeniable energy emanating from her, Du Qiongyu's foxy eyes instantly turned bloodshot, even revealing a hint of greed.

"Oh my, this is a priceless treasure bestowed by heaven!"

She let out a delicate cry, her figure instantly transforming into a red blur. Her five fingers formed claws, and with a sharp gust of wind, she grabbed directly at Shen Chang'an, intending to snatch him away!

Shen Chang'an didn't even see the other person's movements clearly.

"Bang!"

Just as Du Qiongyu's hand was about to touch Shen Chang'an, the Lingshan Taoist casually waved his wide Taoist robe.

A powerful, invisible shockwave exploded out, forcing Du Qiongyu back more than ten steps.

"What's the rush?"

Lingshan Daoist stood in front of Shen Chang'an, pointing at Du Qiongyu's nose and cursing loudly.

"I hate you bunch of idiots the most! Your impetuous nature is worse than even the monkeys in the mountains! This person was brought back by me; anyone who dares to touch him will be in trouble!"

Du Qiongyu steadied herself. Although she had been called a birdman, the fervor in her eyes had not diminished.

Qin Xu, standing to the side, remained somewhat rational. He took a deep breath: "This matter concerns the life and death of everyone in Zhenyuan City; it is not something you can handle alone."

Qin Xu said in a deep voice, "Wake up all the old folks still alive in the city. Call a meeting."

Ling Shan Daoist remained silent for a moment, glanced at Shen Chang'an behind him who looked completely bewildered, and finally nodded slowly:

"good."

Qin Xu didn't waste any words. He nodded slightly, and instantly transformed into a sharp sword light, soaring into the sky and disappearing into mid-air.

"Thump—! Thump—! Thump—!"

Immediately afterwards, a series of muffled bell tolls echoed through the deathly silent city.

"Come on, little one, the meeting is starting."

Lingshan Daoist grabbed Shen Chang'an's arm and, like carrying a chick, led him toward the most magnificent building in the very center of the city.

Du Qiongyu followed closely beside the two.

As she walked, her eyes, as clear as autumn water, kept glancing at the Taoist Lingshan. Her voice, sweet and seductive, carried a hint of flattery: "Old ghost Lingshan, could you share some of that spiritual energy you collected outside the city? I haven't tasted spiritual energy for almost four thousand years, and my inner essence is so dry it's unbearable."

"Get out! Get out! Get out!"

The Taoist of Lingshan, like a protective hen guarding its food, covered his sleeves, puffed out his beard, and glared, "This little bit of spiritual energy isn't even enough to fill a tooth gap for myself, let alone share it with you! Don't even think about it!"

Du Qiongyu was rebuffed and cursed her for being stingy. Then, her captivating eyes turned slightly and fixed on Shen Chang'an, who was being held by the old Taoist priest.

"Hey bro~"

Du Qiongyu moved closer, her voluptuous figure, barely concealed beneath her red robe, almost pressed against Shen Chang'an.

"What...what do you want to do?"

"Spit out some spiritual energy, let your older sister have a taste, okay?"

Du Qiongyu's breath was as fragrant as orchids, and her smile as beautiful as a flower.

With a pained expression, he silently mobilized about one-tenth of the spiritual energy in his body and forced it out through his fingertips.

"Oh, so good."

Du Qiongyu's eyes lit up, and she leaned forward, her cherry lips slightly parted, to absorb all the pure spiritual energy into her body.

"uh-huh......"

After absorbing the spiritual energy, two intoxicating blushes instantly appeared on her fair cheeks. Her eyes were slightly closed, and her expression was so intoxicated that she seemed to be melting, radiating an astonishing heat from her entire body.

......

The three of them soon arrived at the magnificent palace in the center of the city.

The interior of the main hall was very spacious, with seventeen huge bronze chairs placed in the center.

The main seat is in the very center. On either side, eight chairs are neatly arranged.

Lingshan Daoist walked to the third seat on the left and sat down.

Du Qiongyu then walked to the sixth seat on the right and leaned back lazily.

Qin Xu, the sword cultivator who had left earlier, was now sitting upright in the fourth position on the right, his eyes slightly closed.

"Little one, stand over there for a while."

Lingshan Daoist beckoned to Shen Chang'an.

Not long after, a series of whooshing sounds rang out.

On the once empty dozen or so bronze armchairs, blurry phantoms appeared one after another; these were all spiritual avatars condensed from divine consciousness.

In the blink of an eye, all sixteen chairs except for the main seat in the middle were filled!

"Mount Ling, why are you ringing the Spirit-Awakening Bell, disturbing our slumber?"

The spirit sitting in the first position on the left slowly spoke.

Lingshan Daoist cleared his throat, pointed to Shen Chang'an beside him, and recounted in detail how Shen Chang'an could use black flames to burn demonic energy and produce spiritual energy.

As soon as he finished speaking, the dozen or so originally somewhat illusory spiritual clones instantly erupted with violent fluctuations, all locking onto Shen Chang'an!

The spirit sitting in the first seat on the right leaned forward abruptly: "Junior, can your True Fire truly generate an endless supply of spiritual energy in this abyss?"

Shen Chang'an felt his scalp tingle under the gaze of these powerful figures, and forced himself to answer, "As long as my physical strength and mental fortitude are sufficient, and I have enough demonic energy, I should be able to produce indefinitely."

The numerous spirits inside the hall could no longer remain seated.

"Then what are we waiting for?! Lingshan, detain this kid! Keep him in the city and make him generate spiritual energy for us day and night!"

"Yes! As long as we have a continuous supply of spiritual energy, we can restore our original state, and one day we might even be able to fight our way out of this hellish place!"

Lock him up and make him work! Make him work like crazy!

Shen Chang'an broke out in a cold sweat. These old monsters wanted to use him as a perpetual motion machine battery!

"Hey, hey, hey, tone it down!"

Ling Shan Daoist patted the armrest and said irritably, "This little brat is, after all, a descendant of our human race. If you're going to discuss how to exploit him, at least do it behind his back! Saying it to his face is so hurtful!"

As he spoke, the old Taoist turned to look at Shen Chang'an, coughed twice, and solemnly comforted him, "Don't worry, little kid, we are all reasonable seniors who are understanding and will never keep you here to work for the rest of your life."

"So you're still going to deduct money from my account, huh?!"

After a period of commotion, Shen Chang'an took a deep breath and, under immense pressure, said, "Seniors, I cannot stay here indefinitely. I need to return to Donghuang as soon as possible!"

"Donghuang?"

Upon hearing this long-unheard name, all the spirits in the hall fell into a brief silence.

"What year is Donghuang in today's era?"

"The year 2026," Shen Chang'an replied.

"2026......"

All the spirits let out a sigh in unison.

"So much time has passed, things have really changed..."

"Is the 'Night Guard' of the Eastern Empire still intact?"

The spirit on the far right seems to be very interested in the power shifts in the outside world.

"Yes, I am a member of the Night Guard."

Shen Chang'an nodded.

"Oh?"

He suddenly became interested.

"Then tell me, which families are currently in power within the Night Guard? Are there still people guarding Chengtian Mountain? Are there still people guarding the Sword Tomb? And the Tuoba family...?"