Thump thump!

Thump thump!

In the crimson light, everyone seemed to hear their own heartbeat.

Du Ru She was drenched in cold sweat, watching several of his subordinates fall and turn into dry corpses.

It was as if... some invisible monster had siphoned off their vitality!

'Oh no, this surely isn't a cultivator but a... demon!'

Du Ru She's teeth chattered as he tightly gripped his fan, his knuckles turning pale.

He understood well that, with the mediocre magic artifact in his hand, it was fine for dealing with ordinary people but facing a demon was just a dream!

"Hehe... you are free to dispose of this woman as you wish, but my master has said that the items on her must be considered as compensation for these days of shelter!"

A soft and charming voice sounded.

Lv Luo's expression became extremely complicated; she recognized it as Qin Weiyin's voice!

"Miss Qin, where is Mr. Fang? Help me, save me, please!"

Regardless of previous grudges, she hurriedly called out for help.

Unfortunately, that voice did not appear again.

Suddenly, Lv Luo felt a lightness in her chest, as if something was missing, and the red glow around her vanished.

"Left?"

Du Ru She wiped away a cold sweat and glared at Lv Luo: "You woman, once you go out, you play around..."

Even as he cursed, seeing Lv Luo actually seemed to have a connection with a Great Cultivator.

Even if that person did not care much, Du Ru She dared not make any moves against Lv Luo and could only wave his hand: "First, take her back to the hall, let the Hall Master decide everything..."

Within his heart, he had an inexplicable premonition.

This time, afraid that even the Hall Master couldn't handle this matter; at least a Flag Commander must be summoned!

...

"Master!"

Atop a tavern, Qin Weiyin bowed and handed a silk book still carrying some warmth to Zhong Shenxiu.

Zhong Shenxiu took it without minding the faint fragrance on the silk book, smiling: "This book barely covers the rent from before..."

"Hmm, when those Tai Sui Society thugs came looking, they openly declared that the woman had stolen something from them, seems this is the item..."

He opened the silk book and saw a strange picture depicted with fierce and hurried strokes.

In this piece, looking like ink, yet resembling embroidery art, was an orchid, with a dying cicada beside it.

Touching it brought a strange sensation.

When staring at the pattern for a long time, it felt as if the scene came alive, with orchid petals wilting and falling, and the old cicada barely clinging to life, about to die...

If an ordinary person viewed it, likely they would see nothing, even becoming somewhat neurotic over time.

Even a cultivator without the proper approach would find it quite hazardous.

But for Zhong Shenxiu, these were nothing.

His palm gently swept over the silk book, crushing the old cicada and brushing off the orchids.

Countless lines suddenly twisted into writhing black threads, reorganizing into enigmatic pieces of arcane text.

"'Lanruo Cicada Metamorphosis'?!"

Zhong Shenxiu murmured the name of this scripture and continued reading: "Tsk tsk... this secret book is quite decent, actually a dao journey manual! Far superior to any daoist cultivation method..."

"'Lanruo Cicada Metamorphosis,' during cultivation, one must first grasp the essence of an orchid fully shedding, withering to death, then refine oneself into a state neither living nor dead, and thereafter mimic a cicada, buried in soil, awaiting emergence after seven years, transforming into a cicada and singing a thunderous song across the nine heavens... cultivation progresses at an astonishing speed!"

"It emphasizes accumulating profound potential, though during the burial process, one might truly die, but with patience, buried for forty-nine years or even eighty-one, upon breaking free as one's lifespan ends, ascension is extraordinary, yielding greater benefits!"

"Moreover, this 'Lanruo Cicada Metamorphosis' clearly belongs to the earth lineage, quite fitting with the Tai Sui Society; once mastered, future prospects are boundless..."

He flipped through, discovering that 'Lanruo Cicada Metamorphosis' could reach up to the 'Tongyou' realm, connecting with an unseen entity in the void, known as the 'Cicada King,' bestowing immense power, prompting a smile."

'I wonder if this 'Cicada King' is a Great Evil Demon or a Great Saint; anyway, upon reaching this level, responding to prayers is no problem...but as I see, once communicating with the 'Cicada King,' the outcome might be grim, likely it's fishing in troubled waters…'

This world's texts are just so treacherous!

Even the True Inheritance of Xuanmen Orthodox might lead one astray.

As for other paths, half are pitfalls at least, just varying in danger levels!

No wonder Xuanmen Orthodox disciples look down on Loose Cultivators.

Were Zhong Shenxiu a true Daoist, he would be disdainful too.

'The cultivation paths in this world are even more crooked than Yan Han Immortal Technique…'

He sighed softly, his ears catching Qin Weiyin's query: "Master... where do we go next?"

"Qinhuai River has been visited; next, let's see the foreign enclave in Ten Miles of Foreign Market..."

Zhong Shenxiu stretched lazily.

...

The Ten Miles of Foreign Market is hailed as the most bustling and lively spot in Jinling City.

In the southern district of Jinling City, crossing a stone bridge leads to the enclave area initially designated for foreigners by the Emperor of Great Zhou.

At the bridgehead, guards resembling Kunlun slaves stand watch, yet there is no prohibition on entry for Great Zhou citizens, and their attitude is reasonably friendly.

After all, Great Zhou of this world doesn't possess a history of humiliating defeats and diplomacy; foreigners were simply foreigners, not foreign masters.

Even these ten miles granted for an enclave resulted from constant begging by foreign envoys, which the old emperor, softheartedly, had approved.

Entering the enclave area, the scenery changed abruptly.

Concrete structures of two and three-story foreign houses were everywhere, various foreign shops lined up one after another, but the enormous church adorned with stained glass windows and realistic holy murals attracted the most attention...

The ethereal voices of a children's choir drifted from the church, drawing believers.

"This Taixi Land was originally occupied by several small countries but later formed a Holy Alliance..."

The ability to create such an alliance was naturally due to formidable external pressure.

This world has no history of world wars primarily because there is a common enemy—the Heavenly Demon!

Apart from the Heavenly Demon Battlefield, which opens periodically every few decades, across every corner of this world, various Great Evil Demons are active and dormant.

Dealing with them requires all human races to unite!

"Chief, shall we just let this go?"

Next to Zhong Shenxiu, several constables from the Patrol Office passed by, led by a figure of cultivation.

At this moment, a constable behind complained.

"Father Smith has already stated that he assisted us in expelling demons, and once the matter is clarified, the case can be closed... although the foreigners have been overreaching lately, combating demons is a great cause!"

The arrest officer glared at him and said righteously: "During official duties, do not mix personal grievances, otherwise, if I forgive you, the Xiezhi Mirror will not!"

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