Who let him join the Sword Sect?!

This was an escape technique he crafted out of boredom in the Spirit Realm.

Not difficult, just an enhancement of Dragon Tiger Mountain's Five Elements Escape Technique.

When casting, it included a Mental Tranquility Technique and Turtle Breath Technique without impacting speed.

It could lower one's presence when escaping and emit a psychological suggestion of "although I ran, I am truly a good person."

...

After fleeing, Zhang Ze found it was still early, so he decided to find a target to practice on.

The three-year period had passed, and Dragon King Zhang was ready to come out of the mountain.

This Jing State was exceptionally good, and the Demon Sect's branch that intended a comeback was wiped out again.

For a moment, Zhang Ze couldn't find a suitable strong target.

After some thought, he decided to try his luck at the Sword Hall.

After showing his token and locating the local Sword Hall, Zhang Ze went straight to the task distribution area.

But he found no simple and straightforward tasks after a lot of searching.

Where to cut, whom to cut type of tasks.

After looking for a long time, he found only three similar tasks.

[It's rumored that demon beasts have been causing trouble recently on Bǎndàng Mountain, blocking the road and questioning people. No one is hurt, but it has frightened passersby.

According to cultivators who have encountered the demon beast, its cultivation is at Golden Core level, affiliation unknown. It looks like a wolf, but only has one head visible, as big as a cart boat.

Disciples are required to investigate, if it is harmless, then it's to be packaged and sent to the Beast Taming Sect.]

[An unknown demon beast has appeared around Spirit Jade Tower, trampling the forest. No one has been injured, and it has already fled into the mountains.

Villagers say this demon is two beasts in one, appearing as twin pillars, headless and tailless, and runs with a terrifying momentum.

Disciples are required to investigate,... Beast Taming Sect.]

[There's been an infighting among evil cultivators at Wind Dragon Slope, several are dead. But according to Sword Sect disciples on the scene, there are remnants, and a headless giant python emerged from that base, cultivation at Golden Core level, fled into the wilds, suspected to be transformed by an evil technique.

Disciples are required to investigate,... Beast Taming Sect.]

Looking at these three tasks, Zhang Ze decided to check out Bǎndàng Mountain.

The other two locations were too far away, particularly Wind Dragon Slope, which was near the Cang Mountain border.

It would be cutting it close to go back and forth.

The demon beast on Bǎndàng Mountain hadn't escaped invisibly like the other two, it was still hidden in the mountain, occasionally coming out to block the road and question people.

Conveniently, Zhang Ze also had a few newly developed capture Dharma methods.

Whether it's a good beast or a bad beast, capture it first, and if nothing is found, going back by night would still be manageable.

With the decision made, Zhang Ze accepted the task as a Sword Sect disciple, left a note for Wei Zhuang at that inn, and headed to Bǎndàng Mountain.

...

Bǎndàng Mountain.

The weather in the mountain constantly changed, alternating between clear and overcast. One moment it was clear skies, and the next moment, the sky was overcast with clouds gathering thickly, distant thunder could be heard.

A group of foreign merchants, noticing the unusual weather, immediately stopped, opened a canopy by the roadside, and sheltered by the horse carriages to avoid the rain.

Judging by the attire and carriage insignia, they seemed to come from the direction of Cang Mountain, without a unified trading name, suggesting they were just traveling together.

Leading the group, a martial artist glanced at the increasingly ominous sky, furrowing his brows, seemingly concerned.

Soon, a heavy downpour commenced.

The martial artist turned to the guide, asking, "With this strange weather, could it drive the monsters from the deep mountains and forests over here? We don't have any cultivators here."

The guide shook his head.

"Absolutely not, this mountain road has been swept repeatedly by the Sword Sect immortals, even if there were monsters, they would have fled long ago."

"You've traveled with us from Zhu County, knowing only the news from Jing State a month ago, how can you make such a declaration? What ulterior motives are behind your certainty?"

The martial artist continued relentlessly, having felt watched by something all along. Furthermore, he didn't quite get along with the guide during the journey.

"What do you mean by this? Are you doubting Jing State or doubting Meng San?"

The guide was equally disgruntled.

Just as the two were about to argue, a shopkeeper stepped forward to separate them, "The mountain weather is unpredictable, which is common. Both of you are worried about the caravan, don't harm harmony over trivial matters, do me a favor..."

Before the words were finished, the sky suddenly darkened, and a massive creature emerged from the dense forest ahead. Its torso and tail were hard to see, but its two eyes glimmered with golden light, as large as lanterns.

"Look at me, do I look like a dragon?"

The creature asked.