In the wooden hut, the three-foot figure on the offering table collapsed with a crash.

In that instant, the figure's gaze met the Daoist soldier's in the firelight.

From calm to collapse, from shock to extinction.

All in just a moment.

Eventually, all the light in those eyes vanished.

Then, with a cracking sound, the eerie blue flame shield shattered completely. On the spear, Heart Fire blazed fiercely.

In just an instant, it used the three-foot figure on the offering table as kindling, crackling as it burned—

No, that's not right.

Chen Xu sensed across the distance and suddenly realized that what was burning wasn't a flesh and blood body at all?

This was clearly just a paper doll!

So unexpected, yet so reasonable.

Chen Xu had actually suspected that the three-foot figure on the offering table might not be a flesh and blood body, but he only guessed that it might be some kind of puppet or an embodiment outside the body.

He didn't expect that it was actually a paper doll.

As the flames consumed, the paper skin was first burned to ash, followed by the violet-red bamboo frame, and then... clusters of dark shadows scurrying around.

Chen Xu could see that all the scurrying shadows were shaped like a cat, a dog, or a mouse...

Their auras were chaotic, dim, and restless.

They howled miserably, revealing ferocious claws and teeth in the flames, rolling and fleeing.

Occasionally, they uttered unclear human words: "Spare, spare me..."

"Kill, kill, kill..."

"Let me, live forever..."

"Ah! Squeal..."

The chaotic howls were eerie and twisted, yet they had nowhere to escape.

The Daoist soldier held the spear, guarding the place.

No matter how the shadows wailed in grief or struggled madly, in the end, they were all burned to nothingness by the flames.

[You hunted the sacrificial object, and with a unified heart and spirit, obtained three maces of Heart Fire Divine Lotus.]

Once again, the Heart Fire Divine Lotus!

Chen Xu retained a breath of heart energy, with waves rolling in the Sea of Literature.

In the Dantian, the Innate Qi surged more vigorously.

He could feel the rapid consumption of his strength when using Heart Fire extensively.

Not only did the Innate Qi consume rapidly, but his Heart Power was also being depleted quickly.

This was a quite vague sense, as the concept of "Heart Power" was too mystical, making it difficult to quantify specifically.

However, even though the mystical Heart Power was depleting rapidly, its regeneration was surprisingly fast.

As long as Chen Xu's heart remained steadfast and unwavering, the Heart Power would not easily run dry.

As the saying goes: as swift as the wind, as gentle as the forest, as fierce as fire, and as immovable as the mountain!

That's all there is to it.

Ten miles east of the city, the Daoist soldier waited for everything in the wooden hut to burn out.

Later, even the wooden hut was burned clean.

Chen Xu's resolve never wavered.

The sheer thrill of the massacre did not provoke excessive excitement in him, nor did the fact that the strange figure in the hut wasn't a flesh and blood real body cause him any discouragement—

It was too obvious that the enemy wasn't present in the flesh.

Moreover, how could an enemy capable of setting up Demon Puppets across the world easily reveal their true form?

If the true body was really here, that would have been a disaster.

With Chen Xu's current strength, even if there were ten or a hundred of him, they might not be enough to deal with the opponent.

When the flames were extinguished, they left behind a handful of dust and a rusty, charred bell in the location of the wooden hut.

The Daoist soldier picked up the soil, along with the dust on the ground, compressed them into a clump, and stored it in his hand, then picked up the bell.

Then the breeze blew, making the Daoist soldier's figure flicker in the sunlight as he sprinted away.

The breeze dispersed any traces left by the Daoist soldier coming and going, activating the Tribulation Mirror with the wind.

In the inn, Chen Xu reviewed the gains and losses of the encounter.

Firstly, he learned the entire process of making a Demon Puppet this time.

He could set down a strategy so that in the future, whenever he encountered a Demon Puppet, he could kill it.

Not only kill it, but make sure to destroy it completely, leaving no trace whatsoever, to prevent the creation of more Demon Puppets.

Secondly, if he encountered an offering table paper doll again, he should handle it the same way, killing if he could.

Additionally, although the offering table paper doll was completely destroyed, its existence itself seemed to reveal quite a bit of information.

For instance: why was the creation of Demon Puppets managed by a puppet-like offering table paper doll and not by a member of some cultivating organization as Chen Xu had initially thought?

Is it because living people are harder to control than paper dolls, or is the opposing force not as large as Chen Xu imagined?

Also, although the offering table paper doll was killed by Chen Xu without much trouble, the opponent's ability was actually truly bizarre.

Chen Xu's ability to destroy this paper doll stronghold so thoroughly this time was thanks in large part to the Tribulation Mirror.

He mustn't underestimate the opponent because of this.

Finally, the paper doll had live beings hidden within its belly, resembling vengeful ghosts.

Clad in a Daoist robe, head shaved, appearing both monk-like and Daoist, its origins likely need to be traced from these aspects.

This world is quite peculiar, with various strange abilities that are hard to predict.

Even though Chen Xu now possessed some skills, to truly handle all grievances with ease, he needed to intensify his cultivation, never becoming complacent or negligent.

He finished reviewing and then spurred himself on once more.

As the sunset inclined, the Daoist soldier shook off the breeze, leaping onto the second floor, returning from the inn's window to Chen Xu's room.

Compared to the Poetry Spirit being composed for the Knight's Journey, the Mud Ball Daoist Soldier at this moment indeed had a touch of running a hundred miles, disappearing at a whim.

After controlling it through multiple battles, Chen Xu felt that his connection with the Daoist soldier had grown a bit closer.

Retrieving the Daoist soldier into the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, Chen Xu simultaneously consumed 100 Fireworks Value, entering the Fire and Smoke Kitchen.

First, he examined the two items the Daoist soldier brought.

The ash and the bell, both could unexpectedly enter the Fire and Smoke Kitchen.

[Daoist Demon Tribulation Ash: A handful of complex-component tribulation ash, containing extremely faint chaotic Demonic Qi, repeatedly smelted by Heart Fire.]

Consume one ounce mixed with three ounces of Spirit Wine, it can open the heart and relieve karmic burdens for a period of time.]

This handful of Tribulation Ash is indeed an excellent thing!

Now looking at the bell.

It's quite peculiar, Chen Xu recalled that every time he killed a Demon Puppet, he would remember to collect the remains, yet somehow he always ended up forgetting the bell.

The Demon Puppet in the alley behind the inn before was exactly like this.

Fortunately, the Daoist Soldier followed his orders to collect all the spoils and would bring back the Demon Puppet remains and the bell to the Fire and Smoke Kitchen together.

Now, there are actually three Demon Puppet Bells in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen!

Another one was obtained from the Society God's Ruins.

In the battle with the paper man on the offering table, Chen Xu endured several mental assaults, yet he remained steadfast and unwavering in his will.

After the battle, though his Divine Soul had no substantial attribute increase, he felt as if his mental will had been tempered.

Now he remembers the Demon Puppet's bell, perhaps precisely because of this.

[Meat Ganoderma Bell, when stewed, can bewitch spirits, making them obey for two hours.]

Another interesting and peculiar item.

No, it's three peculiar items.

In the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, Chen Xu surveyed up to this point, unable to help but let out a light breath.

The tension that's been tight for so long finally could relax a bit, wonderful, able to advance and retreat, the road ahead holds promise.

In the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, time is relatively abundant.

Chen Xu checked his current Fireworks Value balance, after previous expenses and the day's new income, his current balance is [1325].

Not too little, and not too much, yet it seems once again to be a bit tight.

The use of the Daoist Demon Tribulation Ash doesn't require unlocking recipes, but the Meat Ganoderma Bell's recipe requires spending 300 Fireworks Value to unlock.

Somewhat expensive, yet Chen Xu still chose to unlock it immediately.

Additionally spent 300 Fireworks Value to unlock the specific preparation method for [Puppet Mask].

Chen Xu found that the more complex the production method and the more peculiar the effects of the Spiritual Food Recipes, the more Fireworks Value required to unlock them.

While simple basics like adding Qi Blood Divine Soul enhancing Spiritual Food are relatively cheap to unlock.

Thus he cultivates while preparing Spiritual Food.

Chen Xu controlled fire and summoned wind, smelting the Demon Puppet Bone into powder, and stewing the Meat Ganoderma Bell into a broth.

He also marinated and fried the Puppet Mask into a strange Painted Skin—

This Painted Skin is quite interesting, though marinated and fried, it turned out smooth, light as silk.

Chen Xu properly stored it, intending to use it when needed.

He gained many insights from this battle, seizing the moment while the insights still linger, Chen Xu prepared Spiritual Food while cultivating, repeatedly entering the Fire and Smoke Kitchen three times.

[Cultivation Level: Meridian Passage Realm Mid-stage 55%]

The qi flowed through his veins, and Chen Xu only felt that the power within his body had become more abundant.

He, full of divine energy, left the Fire and Smoke Kitchen.

Looking at the sky again, it was nearly dusk.

The world outside was still as noisy as ever, with various voices coming in through the window.

His thoughts turned to Master Wu's earlier displeasure; he had learned the Tide Watching Method but was forcibly driven out by the Master.

Now was a perfect opportunity to personally prepare some food in Chef Hong's small kitchen, adding in Spiritual Materials to repay the Master.

Although there are some Spiritual Foods stored in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, it's best to officially present things intended for others.

Chen Xu went to the inn's back kitchen, finding Chef Hong.

Chef Hong was somewhat moved upon hearing that he intended to personally prepare delicacies to offer to the Master:

"You suddenly came to learn cooking from me yesterday, and it turns out it's to honor the Master. Such filial piety, my own rascal at home has never shown me."

This...

Chen Xu didn't expect such an interpretation and was momentarily speechless.

This seemed to have added a seamless reason for him to learn cooking, right, does the Master even have a fondness for gourmet food?

In the inn room, Wu Zhengze was actually entertaining Feng Yuanbai.

County Magistrate Feng came with the intention of visiting Chen Xu.

But Chen Xu happened to be absent from the room, upon hearing the commotion, Wu Zhengze opened the door and invited Feng Yuanbai inside for a chat.

The two sat opposite each other, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

Truth be told, they were not familiar with each other.

During this time, Feng Yuanbai often visited to teach Chen Xu, usually arriving late at night, never interacting with others.

Eventually, Wu Zhengze broke the silence, pouring tea personally, thanking Feng Yuanbai for his recent help to Chen Xu as a mentor.

Feng Yuanbai gave a faint smile and said, "Brothers with Xu, a friendship spanning generations, all done out of camaraderie. Why would Instructor Wu need to thank me thus?"

Wu Zhengze said, "Your friendship with Xu is one thing, but it doesn't stop me, as his Master, from being grateful."

Both held the teacups, looking at each other.

Feng Yuanbai said, "Instructor Wu, it's not just for expressing thanks, is it? I see you seem to have something else to say, feel free to speak directly."

Wu Zhengze, following the lead, suddenly asked, "Will Yunjiang Prefecture be thrown into chaos?"

This question was thrown out so suddenly, truly with a chaotic punch.

"There won't be major chaos for the time being," Feng Yuanbai calmly replied, "but some families might fall."

Wu Zhengze asked further, "After the academy exam, does Officer Feng suggest Xu pursue studies at the Prefecture City Academy?"

"I personally recommend it, depending on whether Xu intends to participate in this year's autumn provincial exam.

He is still young and can afford to wait for two more years. But..."

Feng Yuanbai paused slightly, then continued, "But the times are changing rapidly, and we may not be able to afford to wait.

The situation is not the same as before, if one can advance courageously, perhaps it's best not to delay.

Instructor Wu, a shallow pond can't raise a true dragon, being too cautious might not be a good thing.

Haven't you heard, excessive love could harm?"

Wu Zhengze was slightly taken aback, his face showing a trace of melancholy as if thinking of something.

He didn't say anything more, resigned to silence in agreement.

When the room's atmosphere was sinking back into tension, there was a gentle knock on the door.

Chen Xu's voice sounded from outside: "Master, I have prepared some evening food, please have a taste."

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