Cultivation Starts from Killing Pigs

The river water ripples gently, the waves crashing endlessly.

On both sides, peaks rise steeply, cranes sing, and apes howl.

"Crossing a thousand mountains, passing over ten thousand waters, unburdened in comings and goings, a tune in the setting sun..."

An old man on the canal wears a bamboo hat, propelling his boat forward, singing an ancient melody, with a sense of calm and contentment.

This area is already within the borders of Lanzhou, near Jiangzhou, where the waterways are more densely packed, and the local specialty "Rice Flower Whitefish" is sweet and tender without bones—unmatched anywhere in the world.

Similarly, this is also the location of the terrifying 'Lanjiang Water Mansion', where strange phenomena are frequent in the wild, though the canal remains relatively calm.

A slow-moving official ship appeared on the great river, steady and firm, with black figures standing on the deck and the large "National Guardian and Exorcism" flag flapping fiercely in the wind.

A black-clothed Profound Guard looked ahead and said in a low voice, "Captain, that old man seems a bit strange..."

At the head of the deck, a square-faced man in a black brocade robe squinted his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice, "Slow down the ship and raise the Demon-Breaking Crossbow."

Following his order, the speed of the official ship noticeably slowed, and on top of the ship's tower, a giant crossbow bed rose with creaks, the Rune Giant Arrow flashing red.

A mist dispersed, and the old man, along with his boat, vanished mysteriously in the distance.

The deputy of the black-clothed Profound Guard sighed in relief, "With True Man Yang's flag on our ship, whatever that was, it shouldn't be looking for trouble."

The square-faced man said nothing. In the eyes of ordinary people, the National Guardian True Man was unattainable, but he knew many inside stories.

Yet the more one knows, the more silent they become.

The deputy of the black-clothed Profound Guard took out a monocular and began searching around, "Isn't True Man Zhang from Jiangzhou supposed to enter from this side? We've been waiting for two days..."

Suddenly, he exclaimed, "Ah, here he comes!"

Everyone looked in the direction he pointed, seeing a tall figure riding a fierce tiger at the edge of a cliff on the right bank, holding a wine jug, drinking while looking down.

Immediately, the fierce tiger leaped, accompanied by rolling black smoke and a malevolent wind, gracefully crossing mountains and rivers, landing lightly on the deck.

The square-faced man hurriedly bent over and cupped his hands, "Yuantong of the Lanzhou Astronomical Bureau pays respects to True Man Zhang."

Zhang Kui put away the wine jug, wiped his mouth, "Yuantong, sounds like a monk's name."

The square-faced man, Yuantong, smiled, "To be honest, I was an orphan raised by a temple since childhood."

Saying this, he cupped his hands again, "True Man Yang is currently in seclusion and ordered us to welcome True Man Zhang."

Zhang Kui nodded indifferently.

Another family clan located next to an evil Forbidden Land, rock-solid National Guardianship, it's self-explanatory what that is all about. It's likely that other similar provinces' National Guardians would also retreat into seclusion if he were to visit.

But disaster relief is urgent now, not worth bothering about.

Suddenly, he frowned, looking at the river, "What just passed by?"

"It was an old man, gone in the blink of an eye."

Zhang Kui nodded, eyes pensive.

"Let's go, lead the way, starting from the nearest city!"

...

"Gone! Gone!"

A skinny, barefoot old farmer turned over the mud, seeing that the densely packed insect eggs had vanished, burst into tears of joy, dancing with delight.

On the terraced fields, countless people cheered, constantly bowing towards the county town at the foot of the mountain.

"Thank you, True Man Zhang!"

"Thank you, True Man Zhang!"

Common locusts usually lay eggs in dry, sunny places, but this locust demonic disaster qi turned into eggs spread everywhere.

The water village people had never seen such a sight, getting half scared to death on the spot. Here, unlike Jiangzhou with its regulations, merchants plunder freely, and this small field is their last hope.

In the ancient county town at the foot of the mountain.

Yuantong of the Lanzhou Astronomical Bureau looked at the tall figure on the city wall, eyes full of amazement.

After picking up Zhang Kui, they had rushed through three cities non-stop, watching the golden ripples spread a hundred miles each time.

He was not a person of shallow knowledge and had witnessed Celestial Tribulation Realm True Men combat, but he truly saw this level of spell for the first time.

No wonder he could destroy the Wang family,

No wonder he scared True Man Yang into shutting himself away...

On the city wall, Zhang Kui looked with satisfaction at the "Divine Court Bell" in hand, burst into laughter, and put it away.

Ever since a wisp of Divine Soul from the Incense Fire God of the Divine Void Temple lodged inside, using this bell to release the Disaster Exorcism Skill, the range hadn't changed, but it saved a lot of mana.

Below the city wall, beside Yuantong the Captain, the County Magistrate had a fawning expression, cupped his hands, and said, "True Man Zhang, dusk is here. I've prepared a banquet; why not rest in our county?"

Zhang Kui looked at the sunset filling the sky,

"Skip the banquet, find me a quiet place."

...

The old courtyard and residence, the stars sparse in the sky.

The local people weren't very knowledgeable, and Zhang Kui didn't want to disturb them, so he stayed in an old mansion outside the city belonging to a wealthy merchant.

At midnight, Zhang Kui sat cross-legged in meditation, suddenly exhaled a mouthful of purple smoke, and slowly opened his eyes, the golden flame in his pupils gradually extinguishing.

During this time, he had focused on disaster relief, not slaying demons or exorcising them. Last time, he accumulated more than ninety points, upgraded the Disaster Exorcism Skill to the highest level, leaving forty points untouched.

He now had a deeper understanding of his Skill Panel and knew how to act wisely.

For instance, the Grain Avoidance Skill, although each level-up increased mana slightly, in the current situation, unless upgraded directly to the highest level to learn Pill Manipulation Skill, there would be no qualitative change.

This world was full of dangers, the Seventy-Two Demons Technique had many seemingly useless skills that could turn the tide at crucial moments.

If not for leaving skill points for emergencies each time, he would have perished long ago.

Now he sat in meditation daily and refined pills, unknowingly upgrading the Grain Avoidance Skill to level three, saving thirteen points.

Looking at the bright moon outside the window, Zhang Kui's eyes shifted suddenly, taking out the "Divine Court Bell" and gently tapping it with his finger.

The shadow of the Three-Eyed Taoist appeared immediately, bowing respectfully, "Divine Xu pays respects to Star Monarch."

Zhang Kui nodded, "Is there anything unusual on Yingshui City's side?"

Divine Xu quickly shook his head, "Everything is calm. As Mid-Autumn approaches, that Demon Taoist fears the wrath of the General's Tomb and dares not act out."

Indeed, ever since a wisp of Divine Soul from the Incense Fire God lodged inside, he could simultaneously perceive both places, with any movement at the Divine Void Temple being instantly known here, it was very convenient.

Although the Divine Path of Heaven and Earth was destroyed, and this Incense Fire God was confused about many things, Zhang Kui, through daily questioning and conversation, gradually figured out some Divine Path patterns.

Though his heart had guesses, further verification was required.

Zhang Kui frowned and said:

"During the day, I sensed a wisp of aura, neither demon nor ghost, yet somewhat akin to you..."

Indeed, Zhang Kui referred to the strange old man from the day. If it were an evil spirit, he would have tracked and slain it, but the aura made him hesitate.

Divine Xu's eyes brightened,

"Another fellow practitioner, why doesn't Star Monarch go and recruit him? The more fellows in the 'Divine Court Bell,' the greater its power. It's too troublesome with only me using Incense Fire Divine Power for repairs."

"You're repairing this bell?"

Zhang Kui looked surprised and took a look, indeed finding a few small cracks that had vanished, with faint yellow light flickering.

"Isn't it unwise..."

Zhang Kui furrowed his brow slightly, "What if the General's Tomb needs to descend into the Underworld, and your Incense Fire Divine Power isn't enough?"

Divine Xu chuckled,

"The little god now has a way out. If the main soul perishes, it perishes. Besides, if I die, the one in trouble is that Demon Taoist."

Zhang Kui chuckled, shaking his head, then his expression gradually turned serious, "I haven't asked until now, since you travel to the Underworld repeatedly, what's it really like there?"

Divine Xu was taken aback, eyes wide in fear,

"What Path of Longevity, it's a place of ten deaths and no life. Star Monarch must never go there!"

"Oh?"

Zhang Kui furrowed his brow, about to inquire further when he suddenly felt hair standing on end, and swiftly gazed outside the window.

"Who's there!"

With that, he had already stowed away the "Divine Court Bell," shattering the window as he flew out, standing below the courtyard wall.

The bright moon hanging above, his eyes gleamed as he scanned the surroundings, the Lu Li Flying Sword slowly circling.

"Taoist, what's wrong!"

Fatty Tiger leaped over the courtyard wall, growling as he surveyed the surroundings, eyes burning with blue flames.

"Something is watching..."

Zhang Kui snorted coldly,

"And it's holding a grudge!"

That eerie feeling was familiar to him,

the Drought Fiend Divine Statue!