"Demon Insects? These young women have quite the ruthless hearts."

Sitting in Qi Xiu's rocking chair, upon hearing that many streets and alleys within the city were sealed off and under martial law, Daoist Qingya rubbed his belly and muttered, "The Gang Qi cultivated from the Ten Thousand Births Origin Sutra possesses a Divine Marvel that accelerates maturity. It can greatly shorten the development time of Demon Insects, allowing them to mature in a short period. Although the Life Force of these hastened Demon Insects will be significantly reduced, it's enough to deal with ordinary people. It seems these young women didn't come to preach, but to slaughter the city."

Insect plagues are hard to prevent, and their contagion is high. While they pose a low threat to those in the Cultivation Realm and hardly have any impact, for commoners with no supernatural powers, it is a disaster that can lead to annihilation.

"Indeed, in just a few days, thousands have perished within the city. Almost every household is draped in white crepe, and paper money can be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys. And we just celebrated the New Year."

Qi Xiu's expression was grave. Today, he had gone out early in the morning and seen coffins halted everywhere on the street. Now, with the city gates under martial law, the dead could not be transported out. The county government had already issued orders: those who died from the insect plague were to be taken to the western districts and cremated on the spot. The bodies of thousands of people. Towering flames raged day and night. The acrid, burning smell pervaded the entirety of Qingliu County.

"But isn't this a good thing for you?" His plump, round body swayed slightly as he tried to rock the chair, but it didn't budge at all. Daoist Qingya beckoned to Qi Xiu, "I can't rock it myself, give me a push."

"A good thing? How so, Daoist?" Approaching the rocking chair, Qi Xiu asked with curiosity as he began pushing it.

"Don't you have the Food Demon Sect's Spirit Elixir Bag? Don't you know how to use it?" Daoist Qingya gave Qi Xiu a surprised glance and extended a short, stubby finger, much like a carrot, pointing towards his chest.

Food Demon Sect? Spirit Elixir Bag?

Taken aback, Qi Xiu fished out the Gathering Yuan Treasure Bag from his bosom, "Are you referring to this Gathering Yuan Treasure Bag, Daoist?"

"Gathering Yuan Treasure Bag? Isn't this the Food Demon Sect's Spirit Elixir Bag? Hmm, this scent, there's no mistake." After examining the Gathering Yuan Treasure Bag in his hands for a few moments, Daoist Qingya said, "It seems too much time has passed, and many things from the Middle Ancient Era have been forgotten. This Magic Artifact isn't called a Gathering Yuan Treasure Bag. It originated from a great Demonic Path sect of the Middle Ancient Era, the Food Demon Sect. The Food Demon Sect, listed among the Ten Great Ancient Demonic Sects, proclaimed to devour everything under the heavens to strengthen their Demonic Path. After their disciples were initiated, two Magic Artifacts were bestowed upon them. One is the Spirit Elixir Bag, and the other is called the Wonderful Medicine Pot. The one in your hands is the Spirit Elixir Bag. This thing is notoriously vicious; it can drain the Spirit Essence from anything that possesses it. Whether it be living humans, Demons, birds, beasts, flowers, insects, or even mountains and rivers, once drawn into the bag, all its Spirit Essence is extracted to the last drop. However, it was precisely because the Food Demon Sect's cultivation method was so domineering—using everything under the heavens to nourish their own bodies—that they were eradicated overnight. The entire sect's residence vanished into thin air. Because of its sudden disappearance, very few of the Food Demon Sect's inheritances and Magic Artifacts remain. To find such a complete Spirit Elixir Bag is truly fortunate."

After toying with it for a while, Daoist Qingya handed the Spirit Elixir Bag back to Qi Xiu.

"You mean... you want me to use this Spirit Elixir Bag to collect those rampaging Demon Insects in the city?" Not expecting the Gathering Yuan Treasure Bag in his hand to originate from a grand Demonic Path sect of the Middle Ancient Era, Qi Xiu gave the jade-green, lush, gold-threaded Spirit Elixir Bag a couple more astonished looks.

"Exactly. Demon Insects possess no intelligence and their individual strength is weak. They cannot escape the suction of the Spirit Elixir Bag. Though draining a single Demon Insect won't yield much Spiritual Power, even the smallest mosquito is still flesh. One isn't much, but what about ten, a hundred, ten thousand? These are Spirit Elixirs delivered straight to your door. Why wouldn't you want them? Moreover, these Demon Insects have been matured with Myriad Nurturing Prime Force. A remnant of this extremely high-grade Myriad Nurturing Prime Force still lingers within them. The Spirit Pills refined from this force are of even higher quality. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Those little maidens probably never would have guessed that a Spirit Elixir Bag, so rare in existence, would be present here in Qingliu County. All their hard work cultivating the Demon Insects will ultimately benefit you."

Chortling, Daoist Qingya seemed to revel in others' misfortune. As a great cultivator, he was unable to directly intervene in worldly strife, yet guiding from the side wasn't against the rules. Furthermore, the Golden Flower Maternal Sect's act of catalyzing Demon Insects with the intent to slaughter the entire civilian population of Qingliu County was a serious violation of the Human Dao. If this had happened years ago, he would have sent them into reincarnation with a single talisman without hesitation. His actions today were comparatively gentler.

"Alright then, I shall try tonight." After hearing Daoist Qingya's suggestion, Qi Xiu's eyes shone with a sharp glint, eagerness stirring within him.

He was now settled in Qingliu County. There were no Demons available for him to use in creating Spirit Pills. Every day, Qi Xiu relied on [Spirit Elixir Talismans] to advance his Cultivation, but progress was slow. At the current pace, it would take at least a year to condense the first True Gang Mark. If those Demon Insects could truly be refined into Spirit Pills, then that would be a fortunate turn of events.

「On a cold and desolate night, the moonlight was faint.」

A somber darkness enveloped the ancient Qingliu County seat. Tree shadows swayed, and the gentle breeze carried a biting chill. Suddenly, from the distant Forest Sea, a massive cloud of darkness rose, buzzing ominously. The clamorous noise spread from all directions, overwhelming the slumbering city.

Moonlight poured down, revealing the nature of the dark clouds.

Insects!

Countless Demon Insects!

The moonlight, diffused through the thin clouds above, cast sinister silhouettes on the Demon Insects that fluttered in the air like messengers of death descending upon the mortal world. At this moment, Qingliu County seemed immersed in a nightmare, becoming even more mysterious and terrifying under the cover of the insect horde. The usually crowded and noisy shops on both sides of the streets were now eerily empty; the candles in the windows were extinguished, leaving nothing but darkness.

「Inside the Qingliu County yamen.」

The lights were bright. Li Jiufang sat in the seat of honor, with a group of Lv Shuai, their expressions solemn, seated below him.

"Does the Hundred Grass Hut's insect repellent medicine really work?" After a moment of silence, the quiet mumble from a Lv Shuai heightened the already tense atmosphere.

Not long after, a number of grotesque flying Demon Insects entered the yamen hall through the open-air courtyard. The insect-repellent incense specially made by the Hundred Grass Hut had already been lit, and its curling smoke filled the entire hall. For a moment, a dozen pairs of eyes stared fixedly at the Demon Insects that entered.

BUZZING—

Amid the eerie and grating sound, the Demon Insects, which were about to swarm the people in the hall, suddenly began to fly erratically, swaying from side to side. They looked as if they were about to crash to the ground.

"It's working!" A glimmer of joy appeared in Li Jiufang's eyes as he clutched the chair arms tightly, his knuckles whitening before slightly relaxing.

But before the smiles on everyone's faces could fully form, the teetering Demon Insects suddenly revitalized. Apart from flying a bit slower, they showed no signs of dying.

Casually swatting a Demon Insect heading his way, Chu Zhao turned to Li Jiufang. "County Magistrate, what do you think should be done about this?"

...

"They're here."

Sitting cross-legged in the courtyard and meditating, Qi Xiu slowly opened his eyes. Above him, vast dark clouds churned tumultuously, teeming with an innumerable swarm of insects, their buzzing and screeching incessant. The swarm of Demon Insects attacking this time was larger than any before, and their types also seemed different. The terrifying swarm of Demon Insects threatened to envelop all of Qingliu County. Curled up and hiding in their rooms, the commoners shivered, staring at their doors and windows with dread.

Forming a hand seal, Qi Xiu's figure gradually distorted and became ethereal. A layer of faint, ethereal mist enveloped him, and he suddenly transformed into a streak of Escape Light, silently flying into the distance.

The speed of the Small Five Elements Water Patrol Escape Light was extremely fast. Although Qi Xiu had not yet fully mastered this Escape Skill to the Perfect Realm of traveling a hundred miles in a thought, his current speed was already approaching supersonic levels.

In the vast and empty night, a very faint mist streaked across nearly half of Qingliu County in an instant. Within the misty Escape Light, Qi Xiu chanted spells, holding the Spirit Elixir Bag in one hand. Waves of powerful suction force erupted continuously from it, drawing all the Demon Insects he passed into the bag.

Rushing headlong through the swarm, Qi Xiu, wielding the Spirit Elixir Bag, was like an eraser, wiping away vast swathes of Demon Insects. A tremendous number of Demon Insects were collected into the Spirit Elixir Bag. Qi Xiu then activated the Dharma Seal within the bag to Refine and Assimilate the Demon Insects, extracting their Spirit Essence to create Spirit Pills.

Just as Daoist Qingya had said, although the Demon Insects were small, their sheer quantity added up. Eventually, several Spirit Pills with a pale red hue, emitting a faint, milky aroma, were created. He took one out and swallowed it. Qi Xiu immediately felt a vast wave of vital energy and Spiritual Power spread throughout his body. This vital energy and Spiritual Power also contained a trace of a special Divine Marvel, which seemed to slightly enhance the vital energy within him.

If this insect plague comes a few more times, the Spirit Pills refined will be enough for me to form the first True Gang Mark.

Nodding, Qi Xiu then redoubled his efforts, sweeping the swarming Demon Insects from the sky into the Spirit Elixir Bag.

...

"Report! Reporting to the County Magistrate! A mysterious cultivator has appeared in the city! He has collected all the invading Demon Insects!"

The sudden good news stirred up a wave of surprise and confusion in the yamen hall.

"Collected them all?" Standing up, Li Jiufang's gaze grew serious.

"Yes, only a few scattered remnants remain, nearly all of which have been killed by the commoners themselves," the reporting soldier answered solemnly.

"What do you all think, my Lv Shuai?" After a brief silence, Li Jiufang looked at the many Lv Shuai in the hall.

"Perhaps it's a hermit cultivator who couldn't stand the Golden Flower Maternal Sect's cruel actions and decided to intervene righteously."

"I don't see it that way. If they couldn't stand it, why didn't they act sooner? It seems to me there's more to this than meets the eye."

"What's with all the suspicion? Someone solved the insect disaster, and instead of thanking them, we're here doubting them left and right. Have you all got nothing better to do after a full meal?"

"Indeed, no matter what, this outbreak has been dealt with. Otherwise, given the scale of this insect disaster, I fear nearly ten thousand people would have been infested, losing their lives."

Listening to the varied discussions below, Li Jiufang sat back down, slowly stroking the chair arms, his expression somber.

A mysterious cultivator?

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