Cultivation Starts from Killing Pigs

The surroundings were shrouded in darkness.

Rich underground waterways, resembling vast rivers, hung suspended in the void, where schools of sightless fish swam back and forth, dreamy and illusory.

Ancient giant creature skeletons, remnants of colossal bronze statues from unknown eras, arm-thick earth dragons and centipedes, two-story-high ant nests...

Those who have never seen it would find it hard to imagine that the underground, often thought of as desolate and lifeless, is actually teeming with vitality.

Zhang Kui had always possessed a daring, adventurous nature. When he was a child, there was a complex and secretive network of tunnels dating back to the Anti-Japanese War in the city, and he had the courage to venture into them alone, with a flashlight and a backpack of provisions.

Although he got lost and was trapped inside for three days before he managed to find his way out, and subsequently received a reprimand from the school and a beating at home, he never felt any regret.

However, now he had no time to care about these things, because the reborn Drought Fiend was right ahead.

There are actually many kinds of Drought Fiends, as documented in the Astronomical Bureau's archives, but it also depends on what the creature was before it became a fiend.

A general who kills and drinks blood, cultivators, demons... each form of Drought Fiend is different.

After the collapse of the Ji Temple Secret Realm, Elder Huayan had returned and consulted with the foreign monk from the Peacock Buddha Country.

In their myths and legends, these three-headed, six-armed, pitch-black creatures belonged to an ancient race called Jialuo, known for their bloodthirsty and brutal nature, which were exterminated by the ancient Buddha Country.

As for how such a creature appeared in Central State, it might forever remain a mystery, but Zhang Kui only knew that he must eliminate it.

Sensing he was only a hundred meters away, Zhang Kui hesitated no more. The Nether Soil Stone Coffin opened a small crack, and the Lu Li Sword shot out with a burst of golden light.

Since they were underground, despite being surrounded by loose soil and rocks, the flying sword's speed was inevitably affected, causing the Drought Fiend to dodge quickly.

Zhang Kui's gaze was icy as he pointed a finger straight ahead,

"Stabilize! Stabilize! Stabilize!"

Though the Drought Fiend was formidable, it was undoubtedly weakened by its rebirth using the flesh of cultivators, and soon it was struck, causing its body to freeze instantly.

Although it was only for a brief moment, the Lu Li Sword had already arrived, shrouded in a terrifying Evil Light, piercing straight down through its crown.

"Ah!"

A piercing scream suddenly echoed in Zhang Kui's mind as the Drought Fiend transformed into a cloud of blood mist and vanished, reappearing hundreds of meters away, continuing its escape.

"What kind of Escape Skill is this?"

Zhang Kui frowned, continuing his pursuit.

Yet, after a few breaths, he halted.

Before him was an expanse of mountainous abyss filled with water, the surface covered with an endless mass of rotting corpse water ghosts.

The dense Yin Qi was astonishing, affecting even the small underground creatures nearby, where the earth dragons grew lotus-like sharp teeth, and centipedes as thick as bowls glistened ominously in black.

The black mist of Yin Qi swirled like ominous clouds, vaguely revealing towering stone structures in the water.

Lanjiang Water Mansion...

Zhang Kui's eyes glinted eerily as he grit his teeth and continued the pursuit.

He didn't understand why the mutated Drought Fiend headed here, and he couldn't rest without discovering the reasons.

In this short time, Zhang Kui had encountered more demon forces than perhaps any National Guardian True Man.

The General's Tomb was a matter of life and death, no need to elaborate.

Although he had only seen the Stone Man Tomb in action, Fatty Tiger benefited from it, and Zhang Kui had used their hands to make a strike against the General's Tomb.

Among the "Four Caves," he had seen two already.

The remaining Colorful Cloud Cave in Chai Kingdom lies hidden in the wild mountains of Dianzhou, known for its mystique and fearsomeness, haunted by venomous creatures and cursed with Gu Poison imbued sacrificial refining skills.

The Ten Thousand Demons Cave of the Spiritual Sect resides in Quanzhou, suspended on an isolated island with formidable influence along the coastal regions.

Among the "Five Water Mansions," he had interacted mostly with the Jingjiang Water Mansion located at the border of Bozhou, being the culprits behind the locust plague, with Immortal Wu at the forefront.

The Celestial River Water Mansion lay in mysterious isolation amid the snowy mountains of the Northern Border; it was there in Qingzhou that Zhang Kui had met the Peripheral Half-Demon girl, Fu Yu.

Besides, there was the Black River Water Mansion, also situated in the Northern Border, and the Yunmeng Water Mansion in the southwest.

As for the Lanjiang Water Mansion now, Zhang Kui had witnessed the Old Demon on patrol once.

Reaching here, besides the usual water ghosts, water demons, and yakshas, there were some demons specializing in bloodline enhancement, like room-sized crabs, and mutated, deformed giant shrimps clad in armor.

At the riverbed, there lingered large clams, with female figures, pale and somber in complexion, meditating inside when observed under the Tongyou Skill.

Of course, these were merely outer demons, at most reaching the Grain Avoidance Realm, albeit numerous in count.

Upon reaching here, the three-headed, six-armed Drought Fiend seemed momentarily bewildered before it began to probe backward, its eyes gleaming with blood.

Unfortunately, cloaked under the Nether Soil Stone Coffin, it couldn't sense Zhang Kui without the use of the flying sword.

After a little while, this Drought Fiend started to slow down, cautiously maneuvering along the lakebed.

Zhang Kui followed closely behind, deep in thought.

He initially thought the Drought Fiend came seeking the Lanjiang Water Mansion's demons, but now it seemed otherwise.

Indeed, this Drought Fiend was a fiend from an unknowable age; during its time, the Divine Path still thrived, and perhaps these demon forbidden lands hadn't even been born.

There must be something here that draws her attention...

Not wanting to alarm the countless demons, and out of a tinge of curiosity, Zhang Kui refrained from acting, trailing behind the Drought Fiend from a hundred meters away.

The two continued onward underground, the evil around the water surface growing increasingly horrific, and the underground creatures multiplying in number.

Half-submerged in algae-covered soil was a stone Buddha, a shattered giant bronze bell, a glazed pagoda riddled with cracks...

Zhang Kui frowned, wondering if there had been a temple here in the past.

Before he could ponder further, pushing past a thick mist of Yin Qi unveiled a vast architectural complex.

Zhang Kui's pupils narrowed, his actions became more cautious.

Towering towers rose from the water, their material unknown, enveloped in black mist, exuding chilling cold, even forming thick frost.

The towers resembled those in a temple's Talin...

Though the air was stagnant, Zhang Kui could roughly discern the Stone Towers housing celestial tribulation realm demons slumbering in a peculiar state in the outermost peripheries.

Some tower entrances had tentacle-like appendages stretching languidly, thick as barrels.

Zhang Kui couldn't help but recall Immortal Wu. Cultivators enhancing their bloodlines found it hard to traverse the celestial tribulation realm, yet it seemed that the forbidden lands possessed some method.

Looks like I need to gather information; after all, Fatty Tiger also cultivates bloodlines, lest he turns to ash upon reaching the celestial tribulation realm.

Continuing forward, the towers grew ever larger, fewer in number, yet exuded even more terrifying auras.

Zhang Kui was awestruck; indeed, even Mahayana beings were present, indicating that the strength of every forbidden land far surpassed humanity.

Amid the stone forest, many Yaksha and water demons bustled about, seemingly constructing new stone towers.

Underground wasn't safe either; many house-sized shells lay in wait, from which harpoon-tipped tentacles extended.

Every day, Zhang Kui traversed the General's Tomb without being detected, so he avoided notice here too.

Yet what puzzled him was that this Drought Fiend seemed capable of obscuring its Qi mechanism, carefully avoiding those shells.

Through multiple interactions, Zhang Kui gradually noticed a pattern; while the Drought Fiend wielded many secret skills, they were all related to its three heads.

When the lust-faced head turned forward, it would release powerful illusions; the smiling face excelled in curses and stealth, and during combat, it would switch to the angry face.

If this was indeed a race, it was extraordinarily gifted, prompting Zhang Kui to recall the Three-eyed Giant Corpse—could that be an ancient race too?

After covering some distance, Zhang Kui halted, as they approached giant towers hiding Mahayana demons.

Too close, and he risked discovery.

The Drought Fiend seemed to delve into insanity, recklessly hastening its pace.

Buzz!

Suddenly, one of the stone towers began vibrating, unleashing a surge of intense Yin Qi. Even within the Nether Soil Stone Coffin, Zhang Kui felt utter oppression.

The watery depths became turbid, the overwhelming Yin Qi transformed into black mist, barely allowing a glimpse of a massive shadow breaking the ground.

Retreat!

Without hesitation, Zhang Kui turned to leave. Despite the ancient demonic blaze of this Drought Fiend, it was even weaker than himself, with no hope of survival.

Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming chill, turning to find a pair of eyes within the black mist, staring at him intently.

This demon could see through the Nether Soil Stone Coffin...

Yet, as Zhang Kui's head tingled, preparing for a desperate battle, a voice suddenly echoed beside his ear: "How is that coffin lid serving you?"