"Protect Qingliu County?"

Qi Xiu had never imagined that the Opportunity Daoist Qingya spoke of would be this.

Qi Xiu emphatically waved his hands, shaking his head like a rattle-drum. "I can't defeat them."

Last time the Golden Flower Maternal Sect attacked Qingliu County, there were tens of thousands of them. Such a vast number. Even if it were tens of thousands of pigs, and he was allowed to slaughter them freely, he wouldn't be able to kill them all.

Not to mention the defeat they had experienced last time. This time, with the Golden Flower Maternal Sect returning with a vengeance, their strength would undoubtedly be more fearsome than before, and their tactics even more aggressive and fierce.

He, a young cultivator who had just entered the Initiate Realm less than a month ago, how could he talk about protecting Qingliu County?

"Who said you had to fight them?" Daoist Qingya asked with a hint of a mysterious smile, raising an eyebrow. "Let me ask you, do you know by what means the Golden Flower Maternal Sect has been able to expand so rapidly?"

"By bewitching people's hearts?" Qi Xiu guessed wildly, feeling uncertain.

"Not at all. What they rely on is actually a True Scripture."

"A True Scripture?"

"Indeed. This scripture is called the Ten Thousand Nurturing Origin Scripture! It originates from a Demonic Path sect of the All-Things Dao during the Middle Ancient Era. It is a supplementary volume of their sect's foundational scripture, the 'True Scripture of the Mother Qi of All Things.' This Ten Thousand Nurturing Origin Scripture can reverse yang into yin and swap male and female. It's quite bizarre."

"Reverse yang into yin, and swap male and female? You mean… this True Scripture can turn men into women?" Wide-eyed, Qi Xiu suddenly felt a shiver down his spine.

To turn men into women. Is there really such a perversely fascinating True Scripture?

"Exactly. And once gender is reversed, it's not just physical changes; the mind of the converted will also transform. The women reversed by the Ten Thousand Births Origin Sutra will psychologically develop a kind of 'banding together' sentiment. That's why the Golden Flower Maternal Sect became their best choice. Thus, in just a few short years, the sect has expanded so rapidly."

With an air of composure, Daoist Qingya revealed the Golden Flower Maternal Sect's history, then pulled out a wooden sword tied to his lower back and casually drew the characters for 'Ten Thousand Births Origin Sutra' in the air.

"But what does this have to do with me protecting Qingliu County?" Even knowing this vital secret, Qi Xiu still didn't believe this knowledge would be enough to drive away the Golden Flower Maternal Sect, which was staging a comeback.

"Of course, it's related. Now that we know the crux of the problem, we just need to find their weak spot, strike it down with one sword, and we can protect Qingliu County," Daoist Qingya hinted mysteriously, winking at Qi Xiu. "You first do this… then that… and finally this… do you think they'll have any energy left to attack the city?"

With eyes rounded like grapefruits, Qi Xiu turned his gaze to Daoist Qingya beside him. "These tactics… are they reliable?"

"Hey, hey, young brother! It's me, Daoist Qingya, one of the top ten outstanding youths of the Divine Marvel Sect, the Dashing Talisman Hero, a renowned exorcist and Daoist protector of Dianchuan Province! Are you joking with me?" With an expression of pride, Daoist Qingya stood with one hand behind his back, brimming with confidence. "You just follow my methods. I guarantee you'll become the great hero who saves Qingliu County."

"However, Daoist, there's one more thing I'd like to ask."

"Speak freely."

"What exactly does saving Qingliu County have to do with the great Opportunity you mentioned?" Qi Xiu asked, driven by curiosity.

"Your Realm is too low to touch upon this level; telling you would be pointless. Just remember, in these kinds of situations, you should follow your heart and do as much as you can. It will be greatly beneficial to you in the future," Daoist Qingya earnestly advised Qi Xiu.

Qi Xiu looked at this Daoist—with his ridiculous demeanor, devoid of any scruples, shamelessly clinging on, yet also exuding a sense of elder-like generosity. Qi Xiu found it hard to imagine all these qualities combined in one person. Yet despite Daoist Qingya's strange behavior, none of his movements carried even a hint of oppressiveness or arrogance. Otherwise, with his cultivation at the Blood-Stained Realm or even higher, why would he bother clinging to Qi Xiu's thigh, utterly shameless in seeking his help?

Although he still didn't know whether what the Daoist said was true, a feeling deep within made him want to believe him. This wasn't due to some spell or divine marvel. It was an aura of sincerity and truth emanating from the Daoist's very being that compelled genuine belief.

"Junior Qi Xiu, thank you, Daoist." Pursing his lips, Qi Xiu suddenly took a half step back, cupped his hands within his sleeves, and bowed respectfully to Daoist Qingya before him.

With a gentle smile, Daoist Qingya nodded slowly. "Since you also practice talismanic techniques, you're considered my junior. Helping you out can be seen as a welcome gift. So, how about this: give me a few tens of thousands of these new Talisman Scripts for my research."

"I don't have any."

"Hey, how can you treat your elder like this? I'm your senior!"

"I don't have any."

"AH!!! You're forcing my hand! The Shameless Seven-Day Lock!!!"

...

「Early in the morning.」

The thick, heavy morning fog was pierced by shrill screams. Each pitch higher than the last, causing the accumulated snow on countless rooftops across Qingliu County to shake loose and slide off. For a moment, the entire county was filled with terrified screams, the sounds of things being knocked over in panic, and the thuds of snow crashing to the ground, one after another.

This was destined to be an extraordinary morning.

「Qingliu County Yamen.」

A heavily armored soldier hastened to Li Jiufang and presented a report. "County Magistrate, these are the current statistics. The number of civilians who have suffered from the invasion of the Feminine Bone Demonic Insects is two thousand eight hundred seventy-nine. Of these, we have found two thousand five hundred thirty-one. Three hundred forty-eight people are still missing, presumably hiding somewhere. The Lv Shuais are leading their men to search house by house. However, the city is now in chaos. Tens of thousands of people are crowding the city gates, all clamoring to leave. Among them are even some from the Cultivation Realm..."

Li Jiufang quickly scanned the densely written report, his brows furrowing deeply. "Send orders to all the military Lv Shuais. All three hundred forty-eight missing people must be found. We must see them if they are alive, and their bodies if they are dead. We cannot determine whether they carry the mother of the Feminine Bone Demonic Insects inside them. If it is the mother insect, and it lays eggs inside their bodies, it will be a disaster of epic proportions! And the city gates—send in heavy troops immediately to suppress any resistance. Execute those who resist! Furthermore, immediately post a notice throughout the city: I am requisitioning the services of everyone in the Cultivation Realm and all merchants. This is an order, not a request!"

SLAP! He struck the sounding block.

In this critical moment, Li Jiufang abandoned his usual gentle and refined demeanor, speaking with resounding determination, decisive and ruthless. A man who could govern Qingliu County to such an extent was certainly no mere gentle and amiable figurehead.

The Golden Flower Maternal Sect had come with overwhelming force this time. He had to quell all internal factors and mobilize every possible resource to ensure they could hold out for two months. Once his injuries recovered, he would have a chance to stand against the Golden Flower Maternal Sect.

"Report! An insect disaster has broken out on Golden Hall Street, with hundreds infected! The Iron Peak Army has already sealed off Golden Hall Street. Lv Shuai Chu Zhao requests the County Magistrate to come and make a decision." Another soldier hurried in and, kneeling, brought even worse news.

There was another insect disaster in the city!

...

Riding his Escape Light, Li Jiufang arrived instantly at Golden Hall Street. As soon as he landed, he felt an intense unease enveloping him. "What happened?"

Chu Zhao, sword in hand, stood firm at the entrance of Golden Hall Street. Hearing the voice, he turned to see Li Jiufang approaching. "Last night, the Feminine Bone Demonic Insects were mixed with other demonic insects. We used boys' urine to kill off the Feminine Bone Demonic Insects, but it allowed the others to escape. I just led my men here for inspection when a man, upon seeing us, turned to flee. I sensed something was amiss. Just after I captured him, his face turned into this…"

He waved for a soldier to bring a head. It was a man's head; other than the face, everything else seemed normal. But its complexion was ashen, covered with black hair, its mouth full of sharp, slender teeth, and its two ghastly green eyes were wide open, even slowly rolling.

Gazing at the man's eerie head, Li Jiufang's eyes narrowed slightly. He suddenly raised his hand and tapped the man's brow. The next second, the man's mouth suddenly sprang open. A fist-sized, winged demonic insect, shaped like an infant, shot out with a WHIRR.

Flinging out a True Gang to trap the demonic insect, Li Jiufang observed it solemnly for a moment and then said, "The Evil Spirit Gu. It's a type of Gu insect prevalent in the Nanyang region. Once it invades a body, it gradually turns the person into a ghoul-like creature that bites anyone it sees. Unless the Gu insect within is exterminated, it can continue to move even if its head is pierced. However, after entering a human body, this kind of Gu insect needs a month to mature. Could it be that demonic insects had already invaded the city a month ago?"

"No, I asked this man's wife," Chu Zhao said grimly. "She said her husband mentioned last night that he felt like something bit him, but he didn't pay much attention at the time. The Evil Spirit Gu must have entered his body then."

"The Evil Spirit Gu matured overnight…" Frowning in thought for a moment, Li Jiufang and Chu Zhao suddenly looked up, met each other's eyes, and blurted out in unison, "The Ten Thousand Births Origin Sutra!"

"That's it!" Chu Zhao clenched his fists, his eyes dark with fury. "It must be those fiends from the Golden Flower Maternal Sect! They used the Ten Thousand Births Origin Sutra to shorten the Evil Spirit Gu's growth period, making it mature into an adult in just one night!"

These heretics truly deserve to be utterly exterminated!

"If that's the case, then the problem is severe," Li Jiufang mused, his lips turning down slightly, revealing a trace of solemnity and unease. "Demonic insects are already difficult to track and guard against. Now that the Golden Flower Maternal Sect has used a method to accelerate their maturation, insect disasters will erupt continuously. At this rate, the living in the city will soon perish."

Such a malicious plot must have been conceived by the Saintess of Chiling. This woman is incredibly vicious, even more so than any man! This time, they probably didn't come to conquer Qingliu County or recruit followers. They came purely for revenge for their previous defeat. The lives and deaths of the people within the city were not their concern at all. Or rather, their sole purpose this time was to annihilate everyone in Qingliu County!

"Magistrate Li, do you have any solutions?" Chu Zhao couldn't help but ask, seeing Li Jiufang's silence.

"Go to the Hundred Grass Hut," Li Jiufang said after a moment of thought. "For now, we can only hope they have some kind of insect-repelling medicine that can prevent these demonic insects."

With that, Li Jiufang headed towards the Hundred Grass Hut.

...

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