Cultivation Starts from Killing Pigs

Zhang Kui was truly furious this time.

Though he found Emperor Li Shuo distasteful, he could mostly ignore him, out of sight, out of mind.

But to play tricks at such a moment of impending disaster, causing the death of a dear friend—that was seeking death!

Imperial Uncle Li Xuanji also looked displeased, but he dared not agree to Zhang Kui's words and forced a bitter smile, "Taoist Friend Zhang, please calm down. This matter... has other implications and is indeed difficult to handle."

Zhang Kui suddenly understood and snorted, "Are you referring to the thing beneath the Capital City?"

Imperial Uncle Li Xuanji was startled, "Taoist Friend Zhang, you know?"

Zhang Kui nodded, his expression turning grim, "This Emperor Qianyuan is truly ruthless!"

Then he remembered, a black-cloaked scholar from the Lanlan River Water Mansion had mentioned that Emperor Qianyuan suppressed a divine corpse, and emperors of successive generations would partake in its watch.

Firstly, to make the beings of the Forbidden Land hesitate more in their actions; secondly, even in the event of unfilial descendants, they could still enjoy imperial wealth, preventing the Li Dynasty from being easily overthrown.

Though a great merit to the human race, it also involved personal scheming, indeed killing multiple birds with one stone, exceedingly troublesome.

The river water roared, the atmosphere on the boat heavy.

The crowd caught some general idea, but the subsequent conversation between the two was like a riddle, leaving them puzzled.

Imperial Uncle Li Xuanji looked at everyone, a hesitant look flashing in his eyes, and then he gritted his teeth and said, "Since it's come to this, let's all step aside. This involves Qian's national fortune; I dare not decide alone."

Helian Boxiong nodded and then looked towards Yin Bai's Yin Soul, full of admiration, "What a pity for such an iron-willed hero."

Zhang Kui waved his hand, receiving Yin Bai's Yin Soul into the Divine Court Bell, "Rest assured, Old Zhang will not let Brother Yin suffer injustice."

...

Arriving at the Astronomical Bureau in Lai State, after dismissing unrelated personnel, only the National Guardian True Men and Gu Ziqing remained in the main hall.

Imperial Uncle Li Xuanji sighed deeply, "The few present here all know, years ago, I was supposed to inherit the throne, but discovered a secret of immense proportions."

"This throne seemed glorious, but I truly dared not take it, so much so that I single-mindedly pursued the Dao and didn't dare have descendants…"

Listening to Li Xuanji narrate slowly, apart from Zhang Kui, everyone felt a tingling scalp, having thought the State Preceptor and National Guardian Divine Artifact were the foundation, not expecting such a contingency plan.

Huo Yu with Double Pupils looked incredulous, "Is the divine corpse truly that formidable?"

Li Xuanji shook his head slightly, "I only know that the seven State Preceptors spend most of their energy on this; I've truly never seen it."

"But I know where it originated…"

Zhang Kui fell silent for a moment before saying, "It's a divine corpse stolen from the Underworld by the Great Qi Dynasty. After being transformed by the Square Immortal Road in the Great Zhou Dynasty, it led to a dark upheaval. The Yu Dynasty treated it as forbidden, and Emperor Qianyuan used it to stabilize the human realm…"

He hid nothing whatsoever, because it was an issue of tremendous significance, spanning nearly a millennium of human history, and if mishandled, its harm could rival a locust plague.

Elder Huayan's face turned pale:

"A thousand-year calamity, a thousand-year calamity… Could it be our human race will fall into darkness once more?"

Helian Boxiong's expression was as dark as water, "Now with dual calamities upon us, it's a moment of life and death crisis. We must act cautiously; suppressing the Locust Demon is imperative, and the other matter cannot delay either, to prevent disaster."

"In that case, I'll make a trip back…"

Imperial Uncle Li Xuanji rose, face set, "The State Preceptor left contingencies; we can awaken them early if necessary."

"You continue to host the Demon Suppression Ceremony. Fellow Daoist Hua Yan, may the Crane Immortal please True Man Puyang from Qingjiang State to complete the array; he likely won't refuse."

Everyone nodded, as it could only be handled this way.

Zhang Kui cupped his hands, "Imperial Uncle Li, take care. Once we suppress the Locust Demon, we'll head to the Capital City to see who's been causing trouble daily…"

Plans settled, the group immediately dispersed to act separately.

Imperial Uncle Li took a covert small boat, reaching the Capital City by the same day, while the others prepared, waiting for True Man Puyang's arrival.

Taking advantage of an Innate advantage, if speaking of fast travel, none surpassed the Crane Immortal, who brought True Man Puyang to Lai State by the next day.

That day, the skies were overcast, and fine rain drizzled.

Atop the highest Heaven Pillar Peak in Lai State, the cold wind howled, and the world was a blur.

Upon the altar, Zhang Kui clad in a purple robe, with the great bell above his head radiating divine light, his eyes burning with fierce, evil light.

"Suppress the demon!"

...

Li Xuanji arrived in Haojing City by deep night.

The sky was dark, the rain unending, the city walls pitch black like a giant beast, large lanterns emitting yellow light.

Li Xuanji's toes pressed lightly, and under the cover of night, he flew up, swiftly traversing the skies above the Capital City.

He did not go to the Imperial Palace. Emperor Li Shuo, to anyone, was a puppet, toyed with unbeknownst to himself.

He also didn't seek out the Yellow Eyebrow Monk; those people vanished after making their decision, not showing their faces even amidst such major matters, clearly having severed long-held bonds.

Nor did he think he could turn the world upside down alone, though he didn't know his opponent's backing; to act thus suggested strong reliance.

His only hope now lay with the seven State Preceptors.

Quickly, Li Xuanji arrived at the Grand Profound Lake.

The entrance remained heavily guarded, appearing unchanged from usual, but Imperial Uncle Li Xuanji frowned; the aura here seemed somewhat different from before…

They say the older, the wiser. Li Xuanji didn't boldly enter through the front entrance but chose a detour, crossing nearby desolate mountains towards the Sealed Demon Cave.

The Sealed Demon Cave was ancient, regarded as a Forbidden Land by the Astronomical Bureau, forbidding entry within several miles, and halfway up the barren mountain stood a hundred-meter ancient statue, its face grim like an Evil Ghost, green with moss amidst the rain.

Li Xuanji glanced up; the statue was erected during the Yu Dynasty, perhaps learning from the downfall of the Great Zhou, marking the area around Haojing City as a Forbidden Land. Rumor had it the grass grew wild back then, visited only by wild foxes.

But what they didn't foresee was that even without provoking this thing, the chaos by Demons led to their downfall, while it was Qian that stood established for a millennium by this.

Taking a deep breath, Li Xuanji dashed decisively into the Sealed Demon Cave.

Just after he left, a giant rock wobbled faintly in the distance, as a sinister head rose, eyes glowing with ghostly green fire…

The Sealed Demon Cave was deep and eerie, seemingly endless, with ominous Evil Qi ever-thickening, as though countless cries of woe echoed in his ears.

Li Xuanji's face was somewhat grim; he always disliked coming here, knowing those cries belonged to his bloodline ancestors.

And as he discovered more of the secrets, Li Xuanji's view of his ancestor, Emperor Qianyuan, grew more complex.

A hero… tyrant… rogue… or cold-blooded?

Li Xuanji sighed, putting aside such complex thoughts, now only wishing to protect Qian, to safeguard the human race.

Finally, a gigantic bronze door appeared before him.

Though appearing ordinary, covered in mottled verdigris, Li Xuanji knew it was connected to the divine corpse below by an array, touching it carelessly would lead to doom.

He took a deep breath, pulled out a bronze token, biting his finger to smear blood upon it.

This was why only he could come here.

To open the bronze door required not only a key but also royal bloodline, and only he met the criteria.

The bronze token, once smeared with blood, came alive, sprouting strange little claws, and leapt to the ground, wriggling like a gecko, climbing onto the bronze door.

Rumble...

The bronze door came to life, revealing a massive maw, and closed quickly after Li Xuanji jumped inside.

After about a two-hour period, the bronze door opened again, and Li Xuanji dashed out with a grim face, before his expression suddenly changed drastically.

"Demon God Puppet, who are you!"

In the cave now stood an Evil Demon clad in bronze armor, a Piggy Dragon adorned with bronze jewel-like eyes flickering ghostly green fire.

Li Xuanji certainly knew what this was, a legendary demon from the Divine Travel Realm in the Great Zhou Dynasty, transformed into a puppet by the Square Immortal Road.

Emperor Qianyuan accidentally obtained it, which played a crucial role in unifying the realm, even gaining spiritual wisdom, usually hiding in the Grand Profound Lake, guarding the Astronomical Bureau.

Now it seemed to be under someone's control.

"Hehehe…"

A male voice emitted from within the Demon God Puppet, a tone tinged in mocking amusement, "Imperial Uncle, you did not think I'm a fool, letting you enter here so easily, did you?"

"What is your intention?!"

Li Xuanji asked, his face dark.

He had, of course, sensed it was too easy, but pressed by time, couldn't think more.

"Simple…"

The voice from the Demon God Puppet laughed even more wildly, "I just wanted to confirm whether the State Preceptors are beyond awakening."

"It seems my arrangements have succeeded…"