Cultivation Starts from Killing Pigs

Zhang Kui was initially furious.

Of course, he recognized the Incense Fire God before him, the tool of the General's Tomb, a round-trip ticket to the Underworld.

After all, the Divine Void Temple is the exclusive territory of the General's Tomb. The Mahayana Realm Evil Spirit, General Hou and Counselor Zuo, would not hesitate to turn against each other for this thing.

Zhang Kui didn't want to implicate the citizens of Yingshui City and could only pretend not to see it.

He never expected this guy to dare to pull him into a dream!

Just as he was about to make a move, the Incense Fire God shouted "Greetings, Star Monarch," leaving him dumbfounded, unable to react for a moment.

Could it be a trap?

Zhang Kui glanced at the Three-Eyed Taoist beneath his feet, kneeling motionless on the ground, feeling that it didn't quite seem like one...

"Hmm..."

Zhang Kui stroked his chin, his face tensing up,

"Uh... you may rise."

He decided to test this Incense Fire God.

"Thank you, Star Monarch!"

The Incense Fire God's face was filled with joy as he quickly stood up, respectfully waiting, eyes full of anticipation, as if expecting him to speak.

Zhang Kui frowned, his eyes fierce,

"Tell me, how did you recognize me as the Star Monarch?"

The Incense Fire God was startled, falling to his knees again, trembling as he spoke:

"In my confusion, I attained the divine position, but unfortunately, the Heavenly Divine Path has been destroyed, with no way forward, barely surviving on some incense, and even being driven by demons, traveling back and forth to the Underworld."

"Months ago, the Star Monarch cast spells in the city, and I felt a majestic divine power radiating for miles. I wanted to offer my service but was forced by demons. Only today did I find the opportunity to come to meet."

So it was the Disaster Exorcism Skill...

Zhang Kui suddenly understood.

The Disaster Exorcism Skill is essentially a ritual to eliminate disaster by praying to the Divine Spirit, but the way he exerted it through his mental constellation evidently made this guy misunderstand something.

Zhang Kui squinted his eyes,

"Alright, so why have you sought out the Star Monarch?"

The Incense Fire God looked up, eyes full of sorrow, "Reporting to the Star Monarch, with the Heavenly Divine Path gone, I am like a floating duckweed in water, or willow fluff in the wind. Once the incense is cut off, my Divine Soul will disperse. I humbly ask the Star Monarch to take me in..."

Saying this, he bowed respectfully again.

This little god's humble and sincere kneeling made Zhang Kui somewhat embarrassed, and he chuckled softly,

"Alright, alright, stand up. Old Zhang, I really can't deceive people, I'm not a Star Monarch, nor can I help you. If you hold any grudges, you can spar with me a bit!"

The Incense Fire God's eyes were full of fear, knocking his head against the ground repeatedly, "How could the little god dare to be enemies with the Star Monarch? The Star Monarch's God-Exorcising Magic is undoubtedly real, and it's easy for you to help me."

"Oh..."

Zhang Kui frowned, "How so?"

The Incense Fire God's eyes gleamed with happiness, "Star Monarch just needs to find an Ancient Artifact and use the magic to summon a shred of my Divine Soul to dwell within it, so even if the incense burns out, I could still survive."

Saying this, the Incense Fire God's eyes showed a trace of resentment, "The demons always exploit me to the fullest, making it inevitable that I will eventually dissipate."

Zhang Kui nodded slightly, as the former observatory master of Divine Void Temple had also mentioned that every time after Mid-Autumn, the temple god would be in a state of exhaustion, as if on the verge of collapse, likely telling the truth.

Hmm...

Though this little god is weak, he is suitable for gathering information.

Thinking of this, Zhang Kui didn't hesitate any longer. With a wave of his hand, accompanied by billowing black mist, the phantom of an Underworld Stone Coffin appeared in the dream.

"Is this Ancient Artifact suitable?"

The Incense Fire God looked at it for a long time, then shook his head slightly,

"Star Monarch, this object is filled with heavy spirit charm and secrecy. If the little god enters it, I'm afraid I would fall into a long slumber."

Zhang Kui waved his hand again, causing "Longevity" to appear.

The Incense Fire God shivered in fright,

"Spare the little god, Star Monarch. This object is incredibly malevolent. If the little god enters it, I fear I would be consumed instantly."

Zhang Kui frowned, "You troublesome guy, this won't do, that won't do either, then I'm out of options."

The Incense Fire God's face instantly turned bitter.

At this time, Zhang Kui suddenly remembered that he might still have an Ancient Artifact in the Inner Treasury of the Astronomical Bureau.

"There's a broken bronze bell..."

"The little god is willing, the little god is willing!"

The Incense Fire God was overjoyed.

"Alright, come to find me after some time."

"Star Monarch, you are merciful. The little god bids farewell..."

The illusion dream shattered, and Zhang Kui opened his eyes again, only to see the moon hanging outside the window, with Fatty Tiger smacking his lips and snoring.

Zhang Kui nodded slightly,

"The Divine Path indeed has its own mysteries..."

The tool god controlled by the General's Tomb wants to rebel?

Zhang Kui was certainly welcome to that as it was key for traveling between the Underworld and might even offer a chance to teach those dead folks a lesson.

The regulations for taking Ancient Artifacts from the Inner Treasury of the Astronomical Bureau were strict, requiring the exchange of two items for one, but with Zhang Kui's current status, there were naturally ways around it.

Next day, he wrote a letter to Elder Huayan.

Elder Huayan had been digging around everywhere, sending many Ancient Artifacts to the Inner Treasury, so there might still be a chance to take some out.

After sending the letter with a Shadow-Releasing Crow, Zhang Kui began to leave early and return late every day, continuing to be busy...

...

Each time he performed the Disaster Exorcism Skill, it couldn't escape the notice of the cultivators, and his reputation quickly spread throughout all of Jiangnan.

Even ordinary people knew that as long as Jiangzhou's National Guardian True Man Zhang took a tour, all locust eggs in the field and even the locusts on the ground would disappear instantly.

Requests for help came like snowflakes.

The National Guardian True Men of the surrounding state mansions couldn't bear the shame, so they used official documents from the Astronomical Bureau to invite him.

With a great calamity approaching, Zhang Kui couldn't attend to all this triviality, and he agreed to every request. After dealing with the main cities of Jiangzhou, he planned to start from the surrounding state mansions.

The day before his planned departure, a Crane Immortal carried a broken bronze bell from the northern skies.

Zhang Kui laughed heartily and bowed, saying:

"It's such a small matter, no need to trouble you, elder."

The Crane Immortal cackled, its tone still filled with mockery and sarcasm, "How dare anyone call themselves an elder? You, who can kill a National Guardian True Man at will, make even I want to curry favor."

Zhang Kui raised an eyebrow, "That fellow deserved it. It's not like I wanted trouble."

"Alright, alright..."

The Crane Immortal laughed eerily, "Kill a few more, and I can't do anything about it. After all, Li Xuanji and Old Fluff now treat you like their treasure."

"This broken bell, I wouldn't have bothered to bring it, but here, this is a pill from Old Fluff to supplement you. And here's a Purifying Incense from Li Xuanji for your meditation at night..."

Zhang Kui felt a touch of warmth in his heart and didn't say anything extra but bowed towards the north.

"Alright, I'm off."

The Crane Immortal flapped its wings and started to fly off, "Oh, right, Old Fluff wanted me to pass a message to you."

"Young friend, sincerity leads to enlightenment, I am not as sincere as you, my heart is gratified!"

The lingering sound echoed, and the crane silhouette drifted away.

...

During the day, the arrival of the Immortal Crane with the bell at the city did not go unnoticed by the Incense Fire God at the Divine Void Temple, who excitedly appeared at the Astronomical Bureau that night.

Zhang Kui had already claimed ownership of the bronze bell.

The bell, about a foot high, was weathered with verdigris, full of cracks, and as he expected, it only had the effect of shocking the Divine Soul. Zhang Kui held it with a face of disdain.

"This bell… you're probably not satisfied either, right…"

"Satisfied, satisfied!"

The Incense Fire God beamed, nodding repeatedly, "I only ask for a retreat route to avoid the dissipation of the Divine Soul."

"Alright then."

Zhang Kui didn't waste words, and according to the method explained by the Incense Fire God, held the bell in hand, performed Disaster Exorcism Skill, and lightly tapped it with his middle finger.

Clang!

The melodious chime resonated, accompanied by the golden spirit light of the Disaster Exorcism Skill, quickly spreading out into the night.

With the Disaster Exorcism Skill, the Soul-Loss Bell lost its effect of dispersing souls and instead exuded tranquility and serenity, even making Fatty Tiger yawn repeatedly, lazily wagging its tail.

"Scoundrel, again!"

In the Divine Void Temple, the Lingxiao Demon Path's face contorted as he covered his ears and spat angrily.

What he didn't notice was a flash of yellow ghostly light flickering through the divine statue of the Three-Eyed Taoist in the main hall.

After the bell tone, Zhang Kui felt the bronze bell in his hand grow heavier, inexplicably gaining a tinge of brass hue. Soon after, the face of the Three-Eyed Taoist appeared on the bell, full of gratitude.

"The little god thanks the Star Monarch for taking me in; this bell has new spirit charm and is a dwelling for us incense fire gods. Please grant it a name, Star Monarch."

"Divine Temple... hmm, doesn't sound too good."

"Let's call it 'Divine Court' then…"