Cultivation Starts from Killing Pigs

The nation's greatest affairs lie in rituals and warfare.

But in this world, they have taken on a completely different flavor.

First, speaking of the army, the greatest threat to humanity is no longer neighboring countries, but those terrifying lands of evil spirits.

While border skirmishes occasionally occur, the army's role remains primarily to maintain internal stability.

As for rituals, the Divine Path has crumbled, and the Divine Strange Pearl has instead become a source of calamity.

However, national sacrifices, originally the Emperor's prerogative, though now less important, seemed a bit untimely when proposed by Zhang Kui.

But both Imperial Uncle Li and Elder Huayan knew that Zhang Kui must have another purpose.

Indeed, after carefully reading through the secret letter, Imperial Uncle Li Xuanji suddenly understood, "A great disaster exorcism ceremony, with heavenly omens, he intends to use the Power of Incense Fire from the masses to expand the scope. First, to have more assurance against the Locust Demon, and second, to prevent any unforeseen changes over time."

"I agree!"

Helian Boxiong, clad in bronze armor, was the first to speak, and said solemnly, "This move suits me perfectly!"

"I also agree."

Huo Yu with Double Pupils lazily smiled, "A great calamity is imminent, one must act decisively."

Elder Huayan looked at Li Xuanji,

"I trust young friend Zhang Kui."

Li Xuanji leaned on the railing with both hands, the locust plague in Gushui County terrified him, and he couldn't help but think of a locust disaster out of control, with white bones scattered across Central State, a sudden rise of evil qi between his brows.

"Our Qian has no retreat, so let it be done this way!"

Several National Guardian True Men issued commands, more effective than a Holy Decree. Before anyone even arrived, the entire Lanzhou was already mobilized.

Atop the highest peak within Lanzhou, countless civilians either carried by horse or moved materials locally, built sacrificial platforms, leveled grounds, repaired stone steps, bustling with activity.

In every major city, county, township, whether official government officials, local gentry, elders, or scholars teaching at Mengxue, all instructed the people according to the drawn plans to forge Divine Statues.

Whether copper, wood, or mountain stone, though the materials varied, the sculptures were uniformly of a simple, ancient great bell.

Some people asked the village scholars, "What is this?"

The answer: "Divine Court!"

Asked again: "What is its wonder?"

The answer: "It is the Sacred Artifact for our tribe to exorcise disasters and cross tribulations!"

...

May, sultry and oppressive, the center of heaven, the month of rice planting, also the malicious month—when miasmatic and poisonous insects begin to emerge.

The Astronomical Bureau's fleet sailed grandly down the river, and what they saw along the way shocked several National Guardian True Men.

The green hills on both sides were covered with yellow mist; upon closer inspection, it was countless hopping locusts, ready to rise ferociously as their wings hardened and teeth sharpened, devouring everything.

Everyone's mood grew heavier.

Upon arriving at Tong City, the wharf was crowded, with local onlookers, officials arriving to welcome them, and even the Yang Family's National Guardian Yang Yuan hurriedly "emerged from seclusion."

Zhang Kui of course also came to greet them, seeing the complex emotions in everyone's eyes, he cupped his hands, "Seniors, thank you all!"

With demons rampaging, heaven-sent calamities, and uncertain human hearts, Zhang Kui expressed gratitude for the rare trust and support in these chaotic times.

"No need for words, let us discuss inside!"

Imperial Uncle Li Xuanji and others, with grim expressions, ignored everyone else, took to the sky with Zhang Kui, heading towards the Celestial Bureau.

They didn't even look at the Yang Family's National Guardian True Man.

Old Yang from the Yang Family didn't mind, smiled slightly, and whispered to Yang Chixuan, "Assist fully, but don't get too involved. If they succeed, it would naturally be good, but if they fail, a great disaster might occur; have the core Yang Family members move to the fortress for refuge..."

The Yang Family's plan, of course, Zhang Kui and the others didn't know, nor did they have time to care. Upon arriving at the Astronomical Bureau's back hall, they dismissed idlers.

"Everyone, this is Gu Ziqing, Princess of the Celestial Water Palace."

"Greetings, fellow Taoists."

"Greetings, Taoist Friend Gu..."

After a round of introductions, a "Divine Court Bell" suddenly appeared in Zhang Kui's hand, followed by the Three-Eyed Taoist Shen Xu who appeared and saluted everyone.

Zhang Kui glanced around, "You all are people I, Zhang, trust. With a great calamity upon us, the inside story must be shared in detail with you all."

He then recounted his predictions about the locust disaster, the role of his Disaster Exorcism Skill, and the connection between the Divine Strange Pearl and the lands of evil spirits.

Though some knew, the insider details left everyone feeling their scalps go numb.

Elder Huayan trembled, "I thought it was just this locust disaster, but I didn't expect it to be so perilous within. Our human race truly teeters on the edge of destruction."

Helian Boxiong's eyes burned with bloody light and evil brilliance,

"Taoist Friend Zhang, I, Helian, may lack talent, but in this great calamity, I am willing to serve you, even if it costs my life and soul!"

Everyone looked at Zhang Kui with solemn expressions and steadfast eyes.

Zhang Kui nodded, "My plan consists of two steps. First, I will use the Grand Array to activate the Karmic Fire Red Lotus, at which time the Spirit Light will encompass the entire Lanzhou, luring the Locust Demon to appear early."

"If it were a complete Disaster Beast, everyone would die, but being only a clone of one state, I have some confidence."

"You all have seen that when locusts pass through, not a single blade of grass is left alive. If left unchecked, the entire Central State may become a desert, and by then it will be too late to regret."

"I will conduct this Divine Sacrifice, along with the Five Elements Profound Array. Each of you Taoist friends will oversee an array. When the Spirit God appears, it will inevitably trigger celestial phenomena, perhaps drawing evil demons to disrupt us. I must focus on dealing with the Locust Demon, and will rely entirely on you Taoist friends as guardians..."

Night fell, increasingly dark, as the Astronomical Bureau was brightly lit.

Ancestor of the Yang Family stood atop a tall building, hands behind his back, gazing in the direction of the Astronomical Bureau, a hint of sarcasm on his lips...

Inside the riverside Divine Temple, the Lanjiang River God gazed in the direction of the Astronomical Bureau, his expression shifting from bright to dark, finally turning into a long sigh…

In common households, some had already begun worshipping before the Divine Court Bell, while others were full of doubt, utterly disbelieving.

The night grew quieter, the wilderness full of the rustling sound, the locust nymphs gnawing on green leaves.

An old farmer awoke in the middle of the night, tears streaming down his face,

"Heavens, do you truly leave no path for my human race to survive!"

......

Two days later, there was no wind, the sky was clear with not a cloud in sight.

Jun Mountain, the tallest mountain within Lanzhou territory, on normal days when there is no heavy fog, the snow accumulated at the summit is visible, with white clouds swirling around the mountain.

At the mountain summit, the broad stone sacrificial altar was already constructed, Zhang Kui bathed and cleansed himself, unusually dressed in a luxurious and solemn purple Taoist robe, embroidered with sun, moon, and stars.

He was alone on the sacrificial altar, before him was an incense table and magic altar, above him was the clear blue sky.

Around him, arrays were set up with the Five Elements, inscribed with blood-red talismans.

Imperial Uncle Li Xuanji stood at the Earth position, wearing a bright yellow royal robe, holding a longsword, eyes closed and silent.

Elder Huayan stood at the Wood position, flicking the floating dust, his eyes weathered and vast.

Helian Boxiong, armored and wielding a spear, stood at the Metal position, a blood-red evil qi enveloping him.

Gu Ziqing stood at the Water position, her Ancient Artifact Water Cloud Gauze drifting behind her as if a fairy descended to the mortal realm.

Huo Yu with Double Pupils stood in a red robe at the Fire position, his double pupils emitting a mesmerizing light.

Besides this, each led five Grain Avoidance Realm cultivators, clad in black cloth and mysterious armor, holding specially made Demon Slaying Crossbows.

The Crane Immortal was at the outermost circle, usually talkative, but today it was particularly silent, its eyes filled with blood-red color.

Suddenly, Zhang Kui's eyes opened wide, his hands forming a spell, and atop the altar and array, a Karmic Fire Red Lotus slowly bloomed, cold air surged around, even fine snow rose from thin air.

Afterward, faint red light continued to spread, crossing great rivers, traversing mountains, brushing over the wilderness full of locust nymphs...

This array had little attack power; its sole function was to spread the Karmic Fire Red Lotus aura over a vast area. Coupled with the outer Five Elements Spirit Array, Zhang Kui did not hesitate to upgrade his Array Formation Skill to level four for this ceremony.

Within Lanzhou, millions of people had long been prepared, households erected incense tables, villages set up offering tables, and in major cities, cultivators organized altars.

This scene, in Qian's thousand-year founding, was unprecedented, leaving the Lanjiang River God dumbfounded and his eyes filled with fanaticism.

Nonetheless, although grand in scale, most of the populace remained skeptical, as the Divine Path had become legend, and resolving such calamity seemed like a fool's dream.

As time slowly passed, many people began to lose focus, muttering and glancing around, some hoping to finish quickly to share the offerings.

But celestial phenomena soon occurred.

In the wild, countless locust nymphs, forming an endless sea in sight, started displaying blood-red eyes, frantically devouring their companions.

Several nymphs became a locust, inflating instantly, developing transparent thin wings and blood-red abdomens, vigorously surging into the sky.

The locust outbreak in Gushui County was already terrifying; now with Lanzhou entire locust swarm taking flight, it was akin to apocalypse descending.

The sky dimmed as countless swarms of locusts, forming dark clouds, completely blocked out the sun, filling the world with a roaring wing flap sound, like a storm rising abruptly.

"Oh heavens!"

One city after another, villages one by one, countless people looked at the sky in terror, some in a daze, others pale-faced, with more so frightened as to collapse onto the ground.

Fortunately, some managed to stay clear-headed.

In the countryside, elders and masters, with ferocious expressions, shouted loudly: "Quick, quick, sincerely worship, this is the moment of our human race's crisis!"

In the cities, officials and cultivators knelt first, faces stained with tears, "Divine Court above, protect our human race!"

The Divine Path indeed had its mystical aspects, almost simultaneously, the Divine Strange Pearl embedded in the "Divine Court Bell" emitted dazzling golden light, making the entire bell turn golden yellow.

Cracks disappeared rapidly, patina vanished, and soon the bell appeared ancient and verdant, sacred with spirit light.

The Divine Strange Pearl, with sufficient Incense Fire Wish Power, needed only slight guidance to birth a Divine Spirit, while evil spirits in forbidden lands typically transform from Yin Spirits to gods, yet Zhang Kui intended to use Disaster Exorcism Skill from his mind to summon stars.

Bong!

A bell rang.

Yellow divine light spread instantly, surrounding locusts falling down like sand.

Inside the Divine Court Bell, the Three-Eyed Taoist Shen Xu's eyes widened, looking at the dense golden light already showing a human figure, he quickly shouted loudly:

"Quick, new god emerging, Star Lord, please bestow the name!"

Zhang Kui raised his head, seeing the world dim, witnessing the apocalyptic locust swarms, and solemnly said: "Since the Heavenly Dao is chaotic, the stars in disarray, let's begin anew..."

"Divine Name: Tai Shi!"