The Shenxiao Sect was located in the southeastern part of Dianchuan Province. Its Mountain Gate was not part of any prefecture of Dianchuan Province, but merely had an anchor coordinate on Wanyong Mountain in Changning Prefecture, a millennia-old majestic mountain. The true Shenxiao Sect had directly created a Cosmic Bi void space with the Middle Ancient Great Array. The entire sect resided within this Cosmic Bi void space. The anchor coordinate on Wanyong Mountain was merely a convenient entry and exit point for Shenxiao Sect Members to enter Dianchuan Province.

「Today, atop Wanyong Mountain.」

A sudden storm arose. Countless flashes of Lei Mang and lightning struck the flat, open summit.

Stepping out from the formation, Qi Xiu narrowed his eyes slightly; the blinding sunlight he had anticipated did not appear. Instead, the moment he stepped out of the formation, his expression suddenly changed slightly.

This is...

Standing atop the Wanyong Mountain peak, thousands of meters high, and gazing into the vastness, he saw a suffocating demonic aura, thick enough to be almost tangible, spreading across the sky. Dark clouds gathered densely, obscuring the sun's brilliance and dyeing the entire sky a somber hue. When the wind blew, it carried with it a sinister howling that chilled one's heart.

The forests and fields were filled with twisted creatures and bizarre plants. They sprouted sharp and contorted branches and fangs, emitting a strange and terrifying glow in the grim, dark environment. Occasionally, they exhaled puffs of foul-smelling mist—either a sickly green or a dark red—that could kill an ordinary person or animal on the spot. These mists drifted with the wind, slowly spreading and corroding the surrounding environment.

Could it be because of that... Scolding Sacred Heart?

Looking at the vast land transformed into a murky and dark den of demons, Qi Xiu recalled the Flood Dragon King's son, Long Tengzi, whom he had once slain. This demonic beast had once gathered a host of demons, intending to distribute the Scolding Sacred Heart it held. The plan was to let the horde of beasts and monsters spread this bizarre poison widely, contaminating the land and forming evil domains, thereby driving away the Human Race.

Now it seems that venomous scheme has still unfolded.

Shaking his head, Qi Xiu transformed into a completely invisible pale mist, undetectable without special Dharma Gates, and sped off into the distance at high speed.

Since he was not within the Shenxiao Sect, he did not choose the much faster, but loud and ostentatious, Thunder Escape skill. Instead, he employed the "Minor Five Elements Water Patrol Evasion Skill," which had reached the Fourth Realm. After this Escape Skill advanced to the Fourth Realm, a single thought could carry him three hundred li, three times its original speed. He became completely invisible, his body turning to mist. Without special Dharma Gates for detection and perception, one wouldn't be able to see him even if standing right in front. Moreover, within a hundred-li radius, he could move freely as long as there was water.

Traveling at high speeds through the sky, Qi Xiu gazed down at the scarred land below. Various slowly encroaching evil domains, like tumors, continually pressed against the healthy land. Those ugly formations resembling flesh and organs, known as "jade eggs," were rooted in the ground, writhing and swaying, disgustingly invasive.

With the advantage of terrain, Demonic Evil Cultivators also became more rampant. Just in Changning Prefecture alone, Qi Xiu saw at least several dozen mountain ranges that had become demonic kingdoms and monster lairs, with countless Demonic Evil Cultivators rampaging within them. This Dianchuan Province seemed to have already become their territory!

The situation has worsened a hundredfold compared to four years ago.

Qi Xiu frowned slightly, finding it hard to believe that in just four years, the situation in Dianchuan Province had deteriorated to such a degree.

At this rate, he feared that in less than a decade, eighty percent of Dianchuan Province would have fallen. Only those territories owned by large sects, powerful clans, and noble families might barely be able to hold out. But as a result, ordinary civilians would likely end up as blood meal for Demonic Evil Cultivators, their remains nothing but piles of bones littering the ground.

Could it be that the court has really given up on this place?

Looking at the fragmented and wounded landscape below, Qi Xiu couldn't help but entertain such a thought.

...

「In Dianchuan Province, Jiang'an Prefecture.」

As the secondary provincial capital, second only to the province's main capital, Jiang'an Prefecture covered a vast area. The city even encompassed two mountain ranges, five lakes, and fifteen large and small rivers. The permanent population had also reached a staggering sixty million. Surrounding Jiang'an Prefecture were six sect territories, the strongest of which was called the Huode Sect, ranked seventeenth among the Righteous Path forces of Dianchuan Province.

Yet such a vast prefecture with so many people had its prefect, who wielded power over the lives of tens of millions, replaced just half a month ago. Furthermore, this new prefect had only celebrated his twenty-second birthday in March of this year.

In Jiang'an Prefecture, at the Prefect's residence.

The hall was abuzz with clamor. Numerous stunningly beautiful women with graceful figures, scantily clad, danced on a stage. They emitted a faint fragrance that made everyone's ears redden and hearts race uncontrollably.

"'Brother Gan, you've achieved so much at such a young age, becoming the Prefect of Jiang'an Prefecture at just twenty-two! Your future is bound to be limitless, truly limitless!' Holding their wine cups, a group of guests repeatedly toasted the young man seated in the place of honor—a man with a ruddy complexion, heroic and imposing features, and brimming with youthful vigor.

"You're all too kind," Gan Xingba replied, raising his own cup. "That I, Gan, could become the Prefect of Jiang'an is entirely thanks to my wife, who advised me and helped me secure this position.

"However, now that I, Gan, have become the Prefect,

"I will certainly do my utmost to bring prosperity to the people of Jiang'an!"

"Well said, Mr. Gan!"

"Come, come, let's toast Mr. Gan once more!"

"Everyone, let's toast, let's toast!"

The drinking lasted from the crack of dawn to the sunset's final glow. The specially brewed spirit was so potent that even Initiate Realm cultivators could hardly resist its intoxicating effects, all the more so for Gan Xingba, who was quite content and wanted to let himself get thoroughly drunk.

Staggering into the backyard, Gan Xingba belched, reached out, and pushed open a door.

BANG!

The door swung wide open, and a graceful figure hurriedly came forward to catch Gan Xingba, who nearly fell flat on the ground.

"You oaf, how could you drink yourself into such a state again?"

The figure supported Gan Xingba to the bed, the candlelight illuminating her visage. The woman's face was as delicate as a fine painting, her complexion flawless as though she were a fairy that had stepped out of a porcelain figure. Her eyebrows were like new moons, her eyes like autumn waters, and her long, straight nose was slightly upturned, catching the candlelight with a seductive glint.

"Lie down quietly, and I'll pour you a glass of water."

The woman got up and walked towards the table, her slender waist twisting gracefully like a willow in the wind, exuding an intensely captivating allure. Reaching the table, she began to pour water.

However, unbeknownst to the thoroughly drunk Gan Xingba, she bit her tongue and dripped a few drops of blood that seemed alive into the water. This strange blood dissolved instantly without a trace, though a few sinister, smiling faces seemed to flicker and vanish within the liquid.

"Here, drink some water."

She helped Gan Xingba sit up and slowly brought the cup of water to his lips.

GLUG! GLUG!

As the water infused with the eerie droplets of blood entered his mouth, a thunderous light flickered in Gan Xingba's eyes, and his face contorted with struggle. It seemed that the Imperial Lightning Zhen Gang within him sensed something amiss. But just then, the woman exhaled a pink mist from her mouth, which transformed into numerous writhing, seductive shadows that drilled into his seven orifices.

The previously struggling Gan Xingba immediately calmed down and drained the cup of water.

After laying the now deeply unconscious Gan Xingba flat, the woman rose and went to a wooden chest secured with a golden lock. From it, she retrieved a porcelain jar carved with countless eerie and grim patterns, resembling the visages of numerous demons.

She lifted the lid. Inside, it was filled to the brim with a white, fissured substance that constantly throbbed, much like a brain.

Holding the porcelain jar, the woman quietly sat beside Gan Xingba. She scooped out the contents with a spoon and swallowed it down, spoonful by spoonful...

...

「Once we cross this mountain, we'll reach Jiang'an Prefecture.」

Standing atop a summit shrouded in billowing black smoke that nearly obscured the entire sky, Qi Xiu looked out with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the sprawling city of Jiang'an Prefecture several hundred li away.

I wonder if my sixth Senior Brother, whom I've never met, is tough to beat.

With a flip of his palm, a Spirit Pill bag floating in mid-air suddenly erupted with an infinite suction force, drawing all the demonic beings from the black smoke-covered mountain—those already blasted by his Thunder Magic—into the bag.

After three years of closed-door cultivation in the Shenxiao Sect, today's Qi Xiu was no longer the hapless Loose Cultivator who had to resort to anesthetics for surprise attacks and constantly be on guard against ambushes by Demonic Evil Cultivators. With thirty-six Hunyuan pearls on his person, his True Gang cultivation was tremendous, especially when paired with the overwhelmingly domineering Shenxiao Thunder Skill. Below the Blood-Stained Realm, it was one hit to the soul! If one shot wasn't enough, then two, three… even ten shots would follow.

That's why on his way to Jiang'an Prefecture, Qi Xiu had fully exhibited the excellent conduct of a Righteous Path cultivator. In just two days, he had attacked more than twenty lairs of Demonic Evil Cultivators. These demonic beings, plotting mischief and the slaughter of humans and livestock, would usually just hear the Thunder sound when, in the next second, a terrifying barrage of Lei Mang rained down like a storm. The unrivaled power of Thunder Magic was demonstrated to its fullest.

After so many operations, Qi Xiu still maintained a perfect record of zero survivors. His actions led to rumors spreading like wildfire among the demonic circles of Dianchuan Province: a mad thunder cultivator had arrived, one who struck down monsters on sight and blasted any demon he encountered into oblivion. This made all the demons jittery like spooked birds, scattering in terror at the slightest disturbance.

Packing away the Spirit Pill bag, Qi Xiu opened it and glanced inside.

Not bad, I'm almost at a hundred Spirit Pills now.

Turning back to look at the peak, now washed by Thunder Magic several times over, Qi Xiu rubbed his temples. With a twist of his body, he morphed into an ordinary-looking, short-haired cultivator whose aura indicated a cultivation barely at the Initiate Realm.

After inspecting himself to ensure that nothing was amiss, Qi Xiu rode his Escape Light towards Jiang'an Prefecture.

Sixth Senior Brother, your junior brother is coming.

...

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