Novelfun: I Asked You to Tell Me My Fortune, Not the Date of My Death!

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1: Chapter 1: Live Fortune Telling, Online Death Sentence

[Brain Storage]

[Crazy Dave is protecting your brain]

[Come in and claim your big sisters (and little sisters) in cheongsams, bodycon skirts, JK uniforms, black stockings, white stockings, and dresses! Claim them now!]

At the foot of Mount Longhu, Qingfeng Temple.

Today's sunset was as red as blood, carrying an indescribable desolation.

Zhang Xuanyao stuffed the last rotten wooden sign that read "Fortune-Telling and Character Analysis, Fair to Young and Old Alike" into the stove and struck a match.

The flames flared up, reflecting his face, which didn't look very serious at the moment.

He patted the dust off his hands and casually smoothed out his deep blue Daoist robe, which was faded from washing but still crisp.

"Grandmaster, it's not that I'm not trying."

Zhang Xuanyao bowed three times to the peeling clay statue in the shrine, but his tone wasn't very respectful; instead, it sounded like he was chatting with an old neighbor.

"These days, everyone believes in science, not metaphysics. Our temple doesn't even have the money to buy incense and candles anymore, we're three months behind on the electricity bill, and the lady at the power bureau looks at me like I'm a beggar. To regild your golden body, this Disciple has no choice but to sell my looks and try to make a living online."

The statue did not respond.

Zhang Xuanyao didn't mind. He turned around, pulled a second-hand smartphone out of his patched cloth bag, and set it up on the altar table, which was missing a leg and propped up entirely by bricks.

The phone screen lit up.

The livestreaming app launched.

Livestream Title: [Qingfeng Temple's Closing Sale, the Final Divination. If it's inaccurate, it's free. If it's accurate, it'll cost you your life... Ah, wait, it'll cost you a Rocket.]

Zhang Xuanyao sat cross-legged on the futon, adjusting his posture to make himself look like an accomplished master, though his peach blossom eyes looked somewhat cynical no matter what.

The livestream had just started, and it was as empty as a haunted house.

After five minutes, the number of online viewers: 3.

A bullet comment slowly drifted across the screen.

[Loves Braised Pork: Daoists are livestreaming these days? He's quite good-looking, but the title is a bit aggressive. Host, are you cosplaying?]

Zhang Xuanyao glanced at the screen and casually replied.

"This poor Daoist is Zhang Xuanyao, a legitimate external member of Mount Longhu, and the sole successor of the thirty-eighth generation of Qingfeng Temple. This isn't cosplay; you can't buy fabric this good on Taobao for 9.9 yuan with free shipping."

[Loves Braised Pork: Pfft, scammer.]

Just as Zhang Xuanyao was about to snap back, a crisp "ding" suddenly rang out in his mind.

Right after, a mechanical voice exploded in his head.

[Survival crisis detected for host. Host possesses excellent potential to be a charlatan. Heavenly Secret System successfully activated.]

[Binding Host: Zhang Xuanyao.]

[Distributing Newbie Gift Pack: Heavenly Eye (Elementary), Words Become Law (Upgraded Version).]

[Heavenly Eye: Insight into Karma, foreseeing life and death. One glance to judge the past, one glance to determine the future.]

[Words Become Law (Upgraded Version): In this world, your mouth is the rule. You can slightly modify the target's Luck, making bad Luck an art form.]

Zhang Xuanyao raised an eyebrow, his movements pausing.

System?

These days, even unemployed Daoists get re-employment subsidies?

Before he could study how to use the System, the livestream room suddenly became lively.

It wasn't because of a sudden surge in popularity, but because someone had sent a gift.

The special effect of a gleaming virtual sports car dominated the entire screen.

Right after, a connection request popped up.

User ID: [Heng City Racing King].

Without thinking much, Zhang Xuanyao tapped his finger and connected.

The screen split in two.

In the right half of the screen, the deafening roar of an engine instantly drowned out the chirping of insects and birds on Zhang Xuanyao's side.

The camera shook violently, with rapidly receding streetlights and a blurry night view in the background. The needle on the dashboard was pinned tightly at the 180 mark.

A young man with dyed yellow hair and sunglasses roared at the camera over the extreme wind noise.

"Hey! You ox-nose Daoist! See this? What is this? A ferrari! You get it? I just got it! Looking at your miserable state, you've probably never seen such a nice car in your life, have you?"

Due to the sports car and the connection, the number of viewers in the livestream instantly jumped to over fifty.

[Holy crap, it's Young Master Lin! That famous rich second-generation heir from Heng City!]

[This speed... is way too fast, isn't it? Does he want to die?]

[Young Master Lin is out tearing up the streets again? This Daoist is quite lucky to have hitched a ride with a big shot.]

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the yellow-haired youth on the screen and frowned slightly.

Not because of the other party's arrogance, but because the moment the connection went through, his eyes felt a wave of warmth.

His vision changed.

Above the yellow-haired rich kid's head, there were no golden auspicious clouds, but a thick, inseparable mass of black Qi.

Within the black Qi, a row of crimson numbers was rapidly ticking down like a death countdown.

[Death Countdown: 00:00:45]

[Cause of Death: Car accident. Multiple comminuted fractures, killed on the spot.]

Zhang Xuanyao blinked, but the words remained clearly visible.

It seemed this System wasn't a cheap knockoff; it was the real deal.

"Hey! Say something! Are you mute?"

The yellow-haired Young Master Lin shouted at his phone while weaving crazily through traffic with one hand on the steering wheel.

"I heard you can tell fortunes? Come on, tell this young master's fortune. Can I break the record for the Ring Road tonight? If you get it wrong, I'll have someone tear down your crappy temple!"

Zhang Xuanyao leaned back slightly against the leg of the altar table. The laziness on his face receded a bit, replaced by a calm gaze as if looking at a dead man.

"This poor Daoist advises you not to break any records."

Zhang Xuanyao's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly cut through the wind noise on the other side: "Stop the car. You're going to die."

The livestream room fell dead silent for a second, and then the bullet comments exploded.

[Holy crap, this host is so brave? He dares to curse Young Master Lin?]

[Is he risking his life just for clout? Young Master Lin has a terrible temper!]

[Is this a script? This has to be scripted!]

Young Master Lin obviously heard it too. He slammed his hand on the steering wheel, causing the car to swerve violently, almost scraping the guardrail next to him.

"Fuck! What did you say, you damn scammer? Cursing me to die? Believe it or not, I'll crawl through the internet cables and kill you!"

Young Master Lin cursed loudly, pressing the accelerator even deeper.

"My driving skills are number one in the world! Die? Would Yama even dare to claim me?"

Zhang Xuanyao sighed and shook his head.

[The crimson numbers had already ticked down to [00:00:30].]

"I'm not cursing you; I'm informing you."

Zhang Xuanyao held up three fingers, his tone as casual as if he were discussing what to have for dinner.

"Stop racing. Turn left at the intersection ahead, there is a muck truck fully loaded with waste running a red light. At your current speed, you won't be able to brake."

"You have thirty seconds of lifespan left."

"If you let go of the gas pedal right now and steer right into the green belt, you'll break two legs at most, but you'll still have an intact corpse... No, wait, you'll still have a breath of life left."

Hearing this, Young Master Lin laughed even more wildly, his facial muscles twitching.

"Turn left? A muck truck? You're fucking making things up with a straight face! I've driven this road eight hundred times, where would a muck truck come from at this hour! Fine, just you wait. Once I pass this intersection, I'll... Holy shit!"

Before he could finish his sentence, the road conditions ahead changed.

At the end of the originally straight and wide avenue, an intersection appeared in his field of vision.

Just as Zhang Xuanyao said, Young Master Lin was driving too fast and happened to hit the exact moment the green light turned red. But instead of slowing down, he wanted to beat the last second.

However.

Out of the darkness on the left, two blinding high beams pierced the night sky like two sharp swords.

A massive red heavy truck, fully loaded with construction waste, roared out like an out-of-control steel beast.

It was a muck truck.

It was indeed running a red light.

The viewers in the livestream room only saw a flash of blinding white light on the screen, followed by Young Master Lin's face, which instantly contorted in absolute terror.

"Ahhh—!!!"

Young Master Lin's scream was even more ear-piercing than the screeching of tires against the pavement.

[00:00:03]

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the countdown, tapped his finger lightly on the table, and activated [Words Become Law (Upgraded Version)].

"Don't let the phone break, don't let the signal cut out."

If the screen went black, the viewers would think it was just special effects.

Boom—!!!

A massive boom resounded, loud enough to shatter eardrums even through the screen.

It was the most tragic sound of clashing metal in this world.

Following that was the crisp sound of shattering glass, the heavy thuds of rolling objects, and finally, the screech of twisting steel.

2: Chapter 2: Words Become Law, the Policewoman's Deadly Countdown

Young Master Lin's phone was clearly of excellent quality. Under Zhang Xuanyao's "blessing," it was like a sturdy war correspondent, flying out along with the rolling car body, spinning 720 degrees in the air, and finally landing on the ground with a "pop."

The camera shook a few times before finally stabilizing.

The image was tilted.

By the dim light of the street lamps, everyone in the livestream clearly saw the tragic scene a dozen meters ahead.

The red ferrari could no longer be recognized in its original shape; it looked like a crumpled ball of waste paper, with half of it shoved under the chassis of a dump truck and the other half scattered on the ground.

The hood was still emitting white smoke, making a "hissing" sound.

A blood-covered hand hung down from the gap in the twisted car door, the dial of the priceless luxury watch on the wrist shattered, its hands no longer moving.

The entire scene was deathly silent.

The comments that had just been flooding the screen to scold the streamer were now completely absent.

Everyone holding a phone felt a chill shoot from the soles of their feet straight to their crowns.

It really... crashed?

There really was a dump truck?

It really was a left turn?

And even... the timing was exact to the second?

Inside Qingfeng Temple.

Zhang Xuanyao watched the tragic scene on the screen, his face showing no ripples; he felt neither schadenfreude nor compassion. He simply picked up the tea that had long since gone cold beside him and took a sip.

"Good words cannot persuade a damned ghost."

He said calmly.

This utterance seemed to break a certain Seal.

The livestream instantly exploded.

[Holy shit!!!!]

[He committed murder! No, he predicted it! It really crashed!]

[Is this the legendary Words Become Law?]

[Mom asked me why I'm kneeling while watching the livestream, would you believe me if I said I peed my pants?]

[Is this streamer a devil? He said you had thirty seconds, and he didn't give you even a second more!]

[Call the police! Call an ambulance!]

[Call the police? What's there to report? The streamer warned him through the screen, he just didn't listen!]

Accompanied by the frantically scrolling comments, the System notification sound rang in Zhang Xuanyao's mind like firecrackers.

[Ding! Intense emotional fluctuation detected, shock value + 1000!]

[shock value + 1000!]

...

In just a few seconds, the shock value had directly broken through the 100,000 mark.

The number of people in the livestream soared like a rocket, jumping from fifty to five thousand in an instant, and it was still skyrocketing at a rate of several hundred people per second.

Various gift effects began flying everywhere, obscuring the tragic car accident scene.

Zhang Xuanyao didn't pay attention to these gifts; he looked at the screen again.

Because the [Heavenly Eye] had not yet been closed.

Above that pile of scrap metal, he saw a translucent, dazed shadow slowly floating up; it was Young Master Lin's soul.

The soul looked bewildered, seemingly unaware that he had already died, and was still looking down at his own corpse in a daze.

At the same time, police sirens sounded in the distance.

Getting closer and closer.

Zhang Xuanyao adjusted his collar toward the camera, revealing his signature smile—slightly roguish yet unfathomable.

"Fellow lay practitioners, was this prediction of mine today accurate?"

The comments were all uniform: [Great Master, help!] [Great Master, you're awesome!] [Great Master, are you taking disciples?]

Suddenly, a bolded red comment floated by, very conspicuously.

[Heng City Police V: Hello streamer, I am from the Heng City Traffic Police Detachment. Please keep the livestream open; we need you to cooperate in the investigation of this traffic accident. Also, please send your location, we will arrive shortly.]

Zhang Xuanyao sighed.

Then he sent the address to the police.

...

When the door of Qingfeng Temple was pushed open, the wooden hinges made a harsh sound.

The beam of a flashlight swung around, hitting the peeling red-painted pillars.

Zhang Xuanyao sat on a cushion, unhurriedly closing the livestream assistant.

The second before the screen went black, the number of online viewers stopped at twelve thousand.

"Don't move! Police!"

The sound of footsteps was hurried, leather shoes stepping on the blue brick floor, echoes bouncing wildly in the main hall.

Zhang Xuanyao raised his hands, his movements perfunctory. He looked at the policewoman leading them, his eyes narrowing slightly.

She was wearing a crisp uniform, her ponytail tied very high, her features so exquisite she looked like she had stepped out of a painting, but the heroic spirit between her brows was even sharper than the service pistol in her hand.

The name tag on her chest read: Qin Bingruo.

"Zhang Xuanyao?"

Qin Bingruo turned off the high-beam flashlight and walked to the altar table.

She glanced at the secondhand phone propped up by a brick, then at the half-cup of cold overnight tea on the table.

"That is I."

Zhang Xuanyao lowered his hands and patted the dust off his Daoist robe.

"Officer Qin, it must have been hard climbing such a high mountain in the middle of the night."

Qin Bingruo kept a cold face and slapped a printed screenshot of the livestream onto the altar table. In the screenshot, the ferrari was about to collide with the dump truck, the countdown in the upper right corner a striking crimson.

"Lin Zihao died in a car accident; the time, location, and cause of death are exactly the same as what you said in your livestream." Qin Bingruo stared into Zhang Xuanyao's eyes. "Explain, how did you know in advance that a dump truck would run the red light?"

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the clay statue on the shrine.

"The Grandmaster appeared in my dream; do you believe it?"

"Stop playing god and playing the devil with me."

Qin Bingruo tapped on the table.

"Surveillance shows that the dump truck ran the red light because its brakes failed. For such an unexpected situation, unless you tampered with the car beforehand, it's impossible to predict it so accurately."

Zhang Xuanyao sighed, his eyes growing slightly warm as he activated [Heavenly Eye] again.

The Qin Bingruo in his field of vision changed.

There was no black Qi above her head; instead, there was a thin layer of golden light—that was Karma. But in the center of that golden light, a blood-red crack was rapidly expanding.

[Target: Qin Bingruo.]

[Identity: Deputy Captain of the Heng City Criminal Police Detachment.]

[Calamity: Gunshot wound.]

[Injury location: Fifth rib on the left side, bullet penetrating the lung lobe.]

[Trigger time: 22:15 tonight.]

[Countdown: 01:45:12.]

Zhang Xuanyao withdrew his gaze, his expression becoming more serious. He looked at Qin Bingruo's face, which was full of disdain, and spoke.

"Officer Qin, rather than bickering with me here about that car accident, you'd better worry about yourself."

Qin Bingruo knitted her brows. "Are you threatening a police officer?"

"No, it's a friendly reminder."

Zhang Xuanyao stood up and walked around Qin Bingruo.

"You have an operation tonight, right? An arrest, or an ambush?"

Qin Bingruo's eyes changed, and her hand instinctively pressed onto the holster at her waist. This was a classified mission; how did this Daoist know?

"Don't be nervous, I don't know mind-reading."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the position of her left chest.

"Take my advice: when you go on the mission tonight, you must wear a bulletproof vest. Furthermore, inside the bulletproof vest, at the position of your left rib, pad it with a steel plate. The thicker, the better."

Qin Bingruo sneered. "The public security in Heng City hasn't deteriorated to that point. Besides, a bulletproof vest is standard equipment; you don't need to teach me how to do my job."

"Standard equipment can't stop stray bullets, nor can it stop those modified black-market guns with extremely high penetrating power."

Zhang Xuanyao walked behind the altar table, rummaged through a drawer, found a piece of raw iron used for pressing pickles, and tossed it over.

"Take it, stuff it into your lining."

Qin Bingruo didn't catch it; the iron piece fell to the ground with a dull thud.

"Zhang Xuanyao, come back to the station with me to give a statement."

Qin Bingruo took out handcuffs.

"Don't force me to use coercive measures."

"I can give a statement, but it will have to wait until tomorrow."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the wall clock.

"It is now 8:30 PM. You have one hour and forty minutes of preparation time. If you take me away now, you will miss the mission, and your team members will fall into danger because of losing their commander."

He paused, his tone becoming extremely cold. "And you, you will die there."

The temperature in the main hall seemed to drop by several degrees.

The two young police officers behind Qin Bingruo looked at each other, and one of them leaned in and whispered.

"Captain Qin, this guy is very strange. That car accident just now... our Technical Division was dumbfounded; they really didn't find any time or motive for him to commit a crime."

Qin Bingruo stared at Zhang Xuanyao for a full thirty seconds.

In Zhang Xuanyao's peach-blossom eyes, there was no panic, only a kind of indifference that saw through life and death.

This kind of gaze, Qin Bingruo had only seen in the eyes of those elderly people who were on the verge of death.

"Retreat." Qin Bingruo turned around and walked out the door with long strides.

When she reached the door, she stopped and turned her head to look at the iron piece on the ground.

"If I'm still alive tomorrow, I'll bring people to tear down your dilapidated temple."

Zhang Xuanyao watched her back disappear into the night, bent down to pick up the piece of raw iron, and a faint light flashed at his fingertips.

[Words Become Law (Upgraded Version) activated: Target Qin Bingruo, additional attribute — 'Absolute Offset'.]

[Effect: Fatal injury probability converted to non-fatal injury, duration 3 hours.]

"Grandmaster, let this count as the first Karma I've earned by selling my looks." Zhang Xuanyao bowed to the statue, turned, and pulled a bucket of Old Altar Pickled Cabbage Beef Noodles from under the altar table. "The electricity bill hasn't been paid yet; this life is truly not fit for humans."

3: Chapter 3: This shot shattered materialism.

Heng City, the second-hand market in the north of the city.

It was a typical lawless zone where unauthorized shanties were crisscrossed like a maze, and the air was filled with the smell of rotting vegetables and engine oil.

Qin Bingruo crouched under a window sill on the second floor of an abandoned warehouse, receiving a report from her team members through her headset.

"Captain Qin, the targets have entered the encirclement. There are three of them in total, and they all have weapons. One of them is carrying a long black bag, suspected to be a high-powered modified firearm."

Qin Bingruo touched her left chest.

Before setting off, she had inexplicably returned to the office, rummaged through a drawer to find a heart-protecting steel plate that had been confiscated previously, and stuffed it into the interlayer of her bulletproof vest.

The position was exactly at her fifth left rib.

"Move!"

Qin Bingruo shouted in a low voice and jumped down.

The iron door on the first floor of the warehouse was violently kicked open, and the white smoke from the tear gas instantly filled the entire space.

"Police! Drop your weapons!"

The response to Qin Bingruo was a deafening roar.

Bang!

It was the sound of an illegally modified shotgun, and the pellets blasted a row of dense, deep craters into the wall.

Qin Bingruo nimbly hid behind a concrete pillar and raised her hand to return fire. Two of the criminals fell to the ground, but the third one was exceptionally fierce.

That was the main culprit of this arrest, nicknamed "Mad Dog."

He pulled an automatic rifle with a sawed-off barrel from his black bag and fired wildly in the direction of Qin Bingruo.

"Cover me!" Qin Bingruo shouted.

She tried to flank them, but the moment she darted across an open area, a cold sensation, like being stared at by a venomous snake, instantly spread throughout her body.

Behind a pile of messy waste, Mad Dog's gun barrel was pointed directly at her chest.

The distance between them was less than five meters.

Qin Bingruo could even see the hideous scar on his face.

Bang!

A bullet left the chamber.

Qin Bingruo had no time to dodge, and the flash of fire in her pupils rapidly enlarged.

At that instant, the face that flashed through her mind was surprisingly Zhang Xuanyao's cynical face.

"At the position of your left rib, pad it with another steel plate. The thicker, the better."

Clang!

A crisp metallic clanging sound echoed through the empty warehouse, even drowning out the subsequent gunfire.

Qin Bingruo felt an overwhelming force slam into her chest, and her entire body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the wooden crates behind her.

Excruciating pain.

It felt like being hit head-on by a heavy hammer; the air in her lungs was instantly squeezed out, and everything before her eyes went pitch black.

"Captain Qin!" The team members rushed up like crazy, and a dense net of gunfire instantly suppressed Mad Dog.

A dozen seconds later, Mad Dog was pinned to the ground, his hands cuffed behind his back.

"Captain Qin! Are you okay?" Deputy Captain Xiao Wang rushed to Qin Bingruo's side, his hands shaking.

Qin Bingruo lay on the ground, gasping for air. With trembling hands, she unzipped her jacket and tore open the outer layer of her bulletproof vest.

That piece of raw iron plate appeared in everyone's sight.

In the center of the steel plate, a deep dent was clearly visible. The bullet had deformed due to the violent impact and was embedded in the edge of the dent.

If not for this steel plate, the rifle bullet would have easily torn through the bulletproof vest and shredded her heart and lungs.

At the edge of the steel plate, a trace of blood slowly seeped out.

That was a rib fracture caused by the huge impact, but compared to losing her life, this was practically negligible.

The whole scene was deathly silent.

Xiao Wang looked at the steel plate, his eyes nearly popping out. "Captain Qin... when did you start stuffing this thing into your bulletproof vest? This... this saved your life!"

Qin Bingruo didn't speak; she stared fixedly at the deformed bullet.

The time was 22:15.

Not a second off.

She struggled to sit up, pushed away the hands of the team members helping her, and her eyes were extremely complex.

"Xiao Wang, get the car ready."

"Where to? Captain Qin, you need to go to the hospital to check your ribs!"

"Back to Mount Longhu."

Qin Bingruo gritted her teeth, her voice trembling slightly.

"To Qingfeng Temple."

Late at night, at the foot of Mount Longhu.

The door of Qingfeng Temple was pushed open again.

Zhang Xuanyao was squatting in the courtyard, washing his face by the moonlight. Hearing the commotion, he didn't even turn his head and said casually, "Officer Qin, did you come with handcuffs this time, or with a silk banner?"

Qin Bingruo stood at the door, her uniform covered in dust and blood, her face pale, but her eyes were brighter than ever before.

She walked step by step behind Zhang Xuanyao, her movements tugging at her wounds, causing her to gasp in pain.

"Who exactly are you?" Qin Bingruo's voice was a bit hoarse.

Zhang Xuanyao wrung out the towel, turned around, and looked at her somewhat disheveled appearance.

In the vision of the [Heavenly Eye], the blood-red crack above her head had disappeared, replaced by even richer golden light.

Surviving a great disaster is sure to bring good fortune.

"The master of Qingfeng Temple, Zhang Xuanyao."

He raised the towel in his hand.

"I also moonlight as an emotional consultant, character reader, fortune teller, feng shui master, and exorcist of evil spirits. Since we are acquaintances, I'll give you a 20% discount next time."

Qin Bingruo took the deformed steel plate out of her pocket and placed it on the stone table with a "bang."

"Predicting the car accident could be called a coincidence. But predicting that I would be shot, even the position and time were exactly right..."

Qin Bingruo stared at him.

"Zhang Xuanyao, this has already exceeded the scope of scientific explanation."

"The world is vast, and there are plenty of things that science cannot explain."

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the shrine and lit another stick of incense.

"For example, you have two broken ribs right now, and instead of rushing to the hospital, you ran here to find a charlatan like me; that's not scientific either."

Qin Bingruo was silent for a moment.

She was a firm materialist, but everything that happened tonight had completely shattered her worldview.

"I owe you my life." Qin Bingruo took out her wallet from her bosom and took out all the cash inside—a thick stack, about two or three thousand yuan.

She placed the money on the offering table. "This is for incense money. Also, regarding Young Master Lin's car accident, I will write a detailed report to clear you of suspicion."

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the stack of money, a glimmer of light appearing in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

"Ahem, Officer Qin is too polite. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda; I am also doing this to accumulate Karma."

He put the money into his sleeve with lightning speed.

Qin Bingruo left.

The courtyard of Qingfeng Temple returned to a deathly silence, with only the screen of that second-hand mobile phone flashing tirelessly. Zhang Xuanyao stuffed the stack of banknotes into the hidden pocket on the inside of his Daoist robe, patted it to ensure the thickness was impressive, and then contentedly squatted back onto his small stool.

He tore open the packaging of the Lao Tan pickled cabbage noodles, poured in boiling water, covered it, and casually placed the phone back on the brick.

The number of people in the live broadcast room not only didn't drop, but instead, because the screen recording of the car accident just now went viral online, a large number of new viewers poured in frantically.

"Ding ding ding—"

The dense notification sounds were like a death summons.

[Online viewers: 58000+]

[Followers: 120000+]

The barrage was moving too fast to read, like a white waterfall sweeping across the screen.

"Great Master, did that Young Master Lin really kick the bucket? The news is already out, a major traffic accident on the Heng City Ring Road!"

"Streamer, are you human or a ghost? The prediction was accurate to the second; is this f*cking scientific?"

"Don't mention science, upstairs; I just saw the police go up the mountain. Why hasn't the streamer been taken away yet?"

Zhang Xuanyao slurped a mouthful of instant noodles and raised an eyebrow at the camera.

"I am a law-abiding citizen. The police uncle... oh no, the police sister came to deliver warmth. As for science, I call this big data analysis, plus a little bit of ancestral intuition."

As soon as he finished speaking, a gorgeous golden light suddenly burst out in the center of the screen.

That was the most expensive gift effect on the live streaming platform—[Interstellar Rocket].

One, two, three...

A full ten rockets, with deafening sound effects, completely covered the entire screen.

The gift giver's ID was surprisingly: [Heng City Flower].

Immediately after, a bold, colorful barrage message spanned across the screen.

[Zhang Xuanyao, the grace of saving my life, I will never forget. This is money for the temple's renovation, there is more to come.]

The live broadcast room was completely boiling.

"Holy sh*t! Is that Captain Qin? No, wait, is that the policewoman from earlier?"

"Ten rockets! That's fifty thousand yuan! Great Master, what on earth did you do to that police beauty?"

"Grace of saving a life? Did something happen to the policewoman just now too?"

4: Chapter 4: The Heinous Crimes Beneath the Locust Tree, The Heavenly Eye Exposes the Hypocritical Beast Father

Zhang Xuanyao looked at those ten rockets, and the noodles in his mouth nearly sprayed out. He wiped his mouth, his tone remaining flippant.

"Officer Qin, telling you to put a steel plate in was to save your life. You turning around and throwing 50,000 at me, are you trying to buy my life? If the Grandmaster knew I earned this much, he would have to jump down from the altar tonight to split the loot with me."

Qin Bingruo did not reply again; she was likely at the hospital dealing with her wounds.

Thanks to the boost from this wave of rockets, the popularity of the livestream room surged to number one on the entire platform.

Zhang Xuanyao watched the soaring shock value, his heart blooming with joy.

[shock value: 250,000 / 1,000,000 (can exchange for a lucky draw)]

"Alright, don't just keep spamming the screen."

Zhang Xuanyao put down the cup of instant noodles, his expression turning solemn; that air of flippancy now revealed a hint of majesty.

"Our Qingfeng Temple does business based on fate. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll take one more divination. The old rules apply: connect for a face reading. If it's accurate, give a rocket; if it's not… if it's not, I'll swallow this instant noodle cup."

The requests to connect exploded instantly.

Zhang Xuanyao clicked randomly.

The screen split in two once again.

Appearing on the right side of the screen was a middle-aged man who looked to be about fifty years old.

He was wearing a faded, yellowish undershirt, his hair was messy, and his eye sockets were deeply sunken and bloodshot.

What was most eye-catching was that he was clutching a wooden sign tightly to his chest, upon which was pasted a yellowing photo of a little boy, with the words written: [Seeking son, heavy reward].

As soon as the man saw Zhang Xuanyao, tears streamed down his face, and his voice was as hoarse as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper. "Great Master… save me, save my child. I've been looking for him for five years, a full five years!"

The barrage in the livestream room changed direction instantly.

"Oh my god, it's a father looking for his child."

"Looking at this uncle, my heart is breaking."

"Great Master, hurry and help him; this kind of thing accumulates virtue!"

The middle-aged man kowtowed violently at the camera. "Great Master, my name is Old Shi. My son, Little Stone, got lost in the park five years ago. For these five years, I've traveled all over the country, sold my house, divorced my wife; I just want to know where he is, whether he's dead or alive…"

Zhang Xuanyao didn't speak.

His eyes grew slightly warm, and [Heavenly Eye] was quietly activated.

Above Old Shi's head, there was no sorrowful blue Qi that a seeker should have, but rather a mass of dark red blood light so thick it stank.

Inside that blood light, countless tiny wronged spirits were wailing, and the clearest one among them was a little boy covered in blood, who was tightly choking Old Shi's neck.

Zhang Xuanyao's expression turned icy cold in an instant.

"Great Master, why aren't you speaking?"

Old Shi wiped his tears, his tone humble to the bone.

"You can calculate it, right? You were able to calculate the car accident earlier, you must be able to help me find Little Stone."

The audience in the livestream room also grew anxious.

"Streamer, speak, don't drop the ball."

"Could it be that you can't calculate such a serious matter?"

Zhang Xuanyao sneered. He leaned back, his gaze piercing toward Old Shi on the other side of the screen like a blade.

"Looking for five years? Traveled the whole country? Old Shi, if you didn't go get a Best Actor award with this acting, it would really be a waste of your talents."

Old Shi was stunned, his expression freezing on his face. "Great Master, what do you mean by that? I don't understand…"

"You don't understand?"

Zhang Xuanyao slammed the altar table, causing the ash in the incense burner to fly everywhere.

"That wooden sign you're clutching, is there a 'Wronged' character carved on the back? That's a Soul-Suppressing Talisman you specifically had a black-hearted charlatan carve to suppress Little Stone's soul, right?"

The livestream room was deathly silent.

Old Shi's face turned deathly pale instantly, and he subconsciously pulled the wooden sign tighter into his chest. "You're spouting nonsense! This is my son's photo, I love him too much to even have time for anything else, how could I…"

"Love him?"

Zhang Xuanyao interrupted him, his tone chilling.

"Five years ago, you owed loan sharks from gambling and sold your own son to human traffickers. As it turned out, the traffickers thought the child was too troublesome and returned the 'goods' halfway. Fearing that the child would go home and report you, on a rainy day, you personally smashed his head with a hoe."

Old Shi's eyeballs trembled violently, his breathing becoming heavy. "You… you're full of crap! I didn't! That was an accident, he fell on his own!"

As soon as these words left his mouth, Old Shi suddenly realized he had let it slip. He quickly covered his mouth, his eyes filled with extreme terror.

The barrage exploded.

"Holy crap! A plot twist?"

"Killed his own son with his own hands? He's a beast!"

"Streamer, is what you're saying true? You can't just say things like that!"

Zhang Xuanyao stood up and walked step by step toward the phone camera, his handsome face appearing somewhat ferocious under the lights.

"An accident? When you buried him under that old locust tree in your old home's backyard, he hadn't stopped breathing yet, right? He grabbed your pant leg and called you 'Dad'. What did you do? You struck him with the hoe again!"

Old Shi completely broke down, roaring at the camera.

"He deserved it! If he hadn't cried, why would I have done it? Who told him to ruin my good thing! You damn Daoist, you're making up stories here, who believes you? Do you have evidence?"

"You want evidence?" Zhang Xuanyao snorted coldly. "Officer Qin, are you online?"

[Heng City's Flower]'s barrage popped up instantly: [Here. The Heng City police have locked onto his location in a small mountain village in the neighboring province, and the local police have already set out.]

Zhang Xuanyao pointed at Old Shi on the screen and said, enunciating every word.

"Old Shi, the reason you are livestreaming to find your child isn't to find the child, but because you keep dreaming of Little Stone coming to claim your life. That black-hearted charlatan told you that as long as you publicly 'search' for him in a place with many people, you can deceive the underworld emissaries, right?"

Old Shi collapsed to the ground, his phone falling to the side, the camera perfectly aimed at his profile.

He was trembling all over, muttering incessantly, "Impossible… how could you know… that locust tree, I clearly sealed it with cement…"

"Cement can seal a corpse, but it can't seal a wronged spirit." Zhang Xuanyao formed a finger seal, [Words Become Law] activated. "You want to run? Just try."

Old Shi jumped up suddenly, wanting to rush out the door.

As a result, just as he took one step, it was as if something tripped his foot, and he fell heavily to the ground in a spread-eagle shape, knocking out two of his front teeth.

He struggled to crawl up, but before he had run two steps, his rotten slipper broke on its own, and he slipped again, his back of the head hitting the edge of a water vat directly, and he fainted on the spot.

The audience in the livestream room watched this scene, feeling a chill run down their spines.

"This… this bad luck is too artistic, isn't it?"

"It's definitely Words Become Law, the Great Master has unleashed his power!"

"Beast, even falling to his death is getting off easy!"

...

Half an hour later.

Harsh police sirens rang out in the village where Old Shi was located.

The local police, using the precise coordinates provided by Qin Bingruo, rushed directly into the backyard of Old Shi's house.

Zhang Xuanyao didn't turn off the livestream. He faced the camera, his tone terrifyingly calm. "Everyone, since you want to see the truth, then watch until the end."

In the frame, because Old Shi's phone hadn't disconnected, the camera was aimed exactly at the direction of the backyard.

The beams of flashlights swung around chaotically.

Several police officers, holding shovels, began digging up the cement ground under the dead old locust tree.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

Every dull thud felt like it was striking the hearts of the audience.

The fifty thousand-plus people in the livestream room were, at this moment, not sending a single barrage; everyone was holding their breath, staring at the layers of soil being peeled away.

Two minutes later.

A police officer suddenly stopped his movements, his voice trembling. "Report… we found it."

Although the camera was a bit blurry, everyone could see that in that deep pit, a piece of rotten blue fabric was exposed, along with a small skeleton curled into a ball.

That was the school uniform Little Stone was wearing when he went missing five years ago.

"Beast!!!"

The barrage in the livestream room exploded after the silence; it was anger that had built up to the extreme.

"I'm crying, really, how can there be such a father?"

"Great Master, please accept my bow! You are acting on behalf of Heaven!"

"This is no longer fortune-telling, this is a trial!"

The System notification sound was frantically flooding Zhang Xuanyao's mind.

[Ding! Detected extreme anger, shock value + 5,000!]

[shock value + 5,000!]

[shock value + 10,000!]

...

[shock value has achieved a Breakthrough of 500,000! Obtained one Silver Lucky Draw chance!]

Zhang Xuanyao looked at that small skeleton on the screen, his eye sockets slightly heating up.

He turned his head to look at the clay statue in the altar, whispering.

"Grandmaster, is the incense money this time enough to buy you two of the thickest incense sticks?"

5: Chapter 5: Miraculous Medicines to Restore Bone, the Truth Hidden Under the Lamp

Early morning, the mist on Mount Longhu had not yet fully dispersed.

Zhang Xuanyao was squatting by the old well, a half-used toothbrush hanging from his mouth, humming a little tune vaguely.

That wave of shock value last night had sent him soaring, and the items in the System shop dazzled his eyes.

"Silver draw, let's go," he thought to himself.

In his mind, a silver-glowing roulette wheel spun rapidly, and finally, the pointer stopped on a green bottle icon.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Azure Emperor Rejuvenation Ointment (Elementary Version) * 1.]

[Effect: Promotes blood circulation, dispels blood stasis, knits bones and regrows flesh; has miraculous effects on bruises, injuries, and gunshot wounds.]

Zhang Xuanyao spat out the foam in his mouth, and a small white porcelain bottle appeared in his hand out of thin air. He opened the lid and sniffed; a cool, herbal fragrance drifted into his nostrils.

"Good stuff, just a bit small in quantity." He casually tucked the bottle into his pocket.

"Creak—"

The rickety wooden door of Qingfeng Temple was pushed open.

Qin Bingruo walked in. She wasn't wearing her uniform today, having changed into a simple gray tracksuit, her long hair tied into a ponytail, making her look fresh and capable.

But her face had a sickly pallor, and her right hand subconsciously protected her left ribs; every step she took made her brows twitch slightly.

Zhang Xuanyao turned his head and looked her up and down, his tone still as annoying as ever: "Officer Qin, it's early in the morning, shouldn't you be staying in the hospital instead of running to my shabby temple to inhale secondhand smog?"

Qin Bingruo stopped in the middle of the courtyard, staring at Zhang Xuanyao's face, which was plastered with a "don't care" expression.

"I was injured, and my superiors gave me time off to rest."

Qin Bingruo's voice was slightly hoarse.

"The reward from above hasn't come down yet, but I can't wait."

Zhang Xuanyao put down the water bucket and wiped his hands slowly and methodically, "Can't wait for what? Can't wait for me to tell your fortune again? Officer Qin, that fifty-thousand-yuan rocket last night was for renovation costs; fortune-telling today requires an additional fee."

Qin Bingruo ignored his teasing; she took a photo out of her pocket and pressed it onto the stone table.

"Zhang Xuanyao, I don't believe there are immortals in this world, nor do I believe that one can determine life and death by pinching their fingers."

Qin Bingruo looked directly into his eyes.

"I've replayed last night's events countless times. The car accident could be attributed to your sharp observation skills, inferring the speed of the dump truck through the live stream; my gunshot wound could be attributed to your understanding of psychology, predicting the criminal's firing position. These can all be forcibly explained using scientific logic."

Zhang Xuanyao chuckled, leaning against the well railing.

"So, you've come here now because you want me to explain quantum mechanics to you?"

"I want you to help me find someone."

Qin Bingruo pointed to the little girl in the photo.

The photo was quite old, with yellowed edges. The girl was about six or seven years old, wearing a red dress, smiling brightly.

"This is my sister, Qin Xiaoya. She went missing twelve years ago at the Heng City Central Hospital."

Qin Bingruo's tone was heavy.

"All these years, I became a police officer and joined the criminal investigation team just to find her. I've checked every surveillance backup and compared tens of thousands of DNA samples, but I've found nothing."

She took a deep breath, her gaze burning, "If you can calculate where she is, even if it's just a vague direction, I will admit that you are not a charlatan."

Zhang Xuanyao didn't take the photo. His eyes felt slightly warm; the [Heavenly Eye] activated instantly.

Above Qin Bingruo's head, within that rich golden light of Karma, a thin, faint cyan line of Karma extended outward.

The line was intermittent, leading towards the southeast, but its end was shrouded in a layer of gray Death Qi.

He was silent for a moment, withdrew his gaze, and his expression became somewhat strange.

"Officer Qin, this isn't a test; you're making things difficult for this Daoist."

Zhang Xuanyao stood up and brushed the dust off his Daoist robe.

"Twelve years; so much has changed. Your sister's line of Karma has faded until it's almost invisible."

Qin Bingruo's eyes dimmed, "So, you can't calculate it either?"

"I can calculate it." Zhang Xuanyao changed the subject, "But I have a condition."

"Name it, any amount of money is fine."

"Forget the money; this Daoist isn't short of those peanuts and dates right now."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to her left chest.

"First, get your injury treated. You have three broken ribs and blood accumulation in your lungs. If you keep pushing yourself like this, you'll be needing a reincarnation within three days."

Qin Bingruo was stunned for a moment, "That's none of your business."

"How is it not my business? If you die in my Qingfeng Temple, this place will become a haunted house, and how will I do business in the future?"

Zhang Xuanyao took the white porcelain bottle out of his pocket and threw it directly to her.

"Go to the back hall and apply this medicine to the wound. Remember, apply it directly to the skin and rub it until it feels hot."

Qin Bingruo took the medicine bottle and looked at him suspiciously, "What is this?"

"An ancestral secret recipe, a relative of the Strength-Boosting Pill." Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand, "Go quickly, don't delay my breakfast."

Qin Bingruo hesitated for a moment. She was indeed in so much pain she was about to collapse; the painkillers from the hospital had limited effect on this degree of bone fracture.

She clutched the bottle and turned to enter the back hall.

Half an hour later.

Qin Bingruo walked out of the back hall; the paleness on her face had faded, replaced by a healthy flush. She moved her shoulders, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"This medicine..."

"Don't ask; if you ask, it's a biological agent that science cannot explain."

Zhang Xuanyao was sitting by the stone table, with a bowl of white porridge and a dish of pickled vegetables in front of him.

"Sit down, tell me about your sister."

Qin Bingruo sat opposite him, her tone much softer.

"The day she went missing, I took her to the hospital to see a dentist. I just went to queue up to pay the fees, and she was gone. No surveillance footage captured how she left the scene, and there were no eyewitnesses."

Zhang Xuanyao took a sip of porridge, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

He was frantically deducing that cyan line of Karma in his mind.

The [Heavenly Eye] could not only see the future but also trace the past. However, tracing the truth from twelve years ago consumed a great deal of his current Mental Energy.

"System, activate the regression function, target: Qin Xiaoya."

[Ding! Activating regression requires 100,000 shock value. Confirm?]

"Confirm." Zhang Xuanyao gritted his teeth.

In an instant, the scene before his eyes changed.

The noisy hospital lobby, the smell of disinfectant was pungent.

A little girl with twin ponytails sat on a long bench, swinging her legs.

A man wearing a white coat and a mask walked over and handed her a piece of candy. The little girl took it with a smile and followed the man towards the stairwell.

The scene shifted to a black van, its license plate covered.

It shifted again to a remote brick factory with billowing smoke.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Zhang Xuanyao's forehead; he saw that man take off his white coat, revealing a sinister face with a prominent black mole on his left earlobe.

"Pfft—"

Zhang Xuanyao opened his eyes abruptly; his throat felt sweet, and a bloody taste surged up. He forced it down, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

"Zhang Xuanyao! What's wrong?" Qin Bingruo hurried to support him.

Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand, pushed her away, and panted, "Officer Qin... your sister isn't dead."

Qin Bingruo's hands began to tremble violently, "Where is she? Where is she?"

"Heng City, southern suburbs, abandoned brick factory."

Zhang Xuanyao stared at her intently.

"But the one who took her wasn't a human trafficker, but... someone from within your own police force."

Qin Bingruo felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and her whole body froze in place.

6: Chapter 6: Words Become Law, The Devil's Confession

"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!" she cried out, voice cracking. "The people in charge of the search were all my comrades!"

"Believe it or not, that's up to you."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the girl in the photo.

"The person who took her had a black mole on his left earlobe, was about 1.75 meters tall, and had a habit of keeping his left hand in his pocket. He didn't sell your sister; he hid her away."

Qin Bingruo's breathing became rapid as she frantically searched her mind for anyone who matched these characteristics.

Suddenly, her pupils contracted violently.

"Old Zhou..." she whispered a name.

Zhou Jianshe, a veteran of the Heng City Criminal Police Team, and the Master who had brought Qin Bingruo into the profession.

Back then, it was Zhou Jianshe who was the first to rush into the hospital to help her find her sister, and it was also Zhou Jianshe who had accompanied her in her investigations for the past twelve years.

"Why would he do this?" Qin Bingruo's voice was trembling.

"Because he wanted you to owe him."

Zhang Xuanyao sneered.

"Some people's desire for control is more terrifying than you can imagine. He trained you to be the best police officer, made you grateful to him, yet kept you living in the pain and guilt of searching for your sister your entire life. This twisted sense of satisfaction is his sustenance. Perhaps... he had his eyes on you two siblings long ago."

Qin Bingruo stood up abruptly, her sidearm knocking against the stone table with a crisp sound.

"I'm going to find him right now."

"Stay put." Zhang Xuanyao stopped her. "If you go now, you won't get anything except alerting the enemy. Since he dared to hide her for twelve years, he's confident that you will never find evidence."

"Then what should I do?" Qin Bingruo turned her head, her eyes rimmed with red.

Zhang Xuanyao leisurely took out his phone, propped it up on a brick, and skillfully started a livestream.

"Of course, make him jump out himself."

As soon as the livestream started, the number of online viewers climbed at a terrifying speed.

[1000... 5000... 20000!]

"Great Master is finally streaming!"

"Damn, who is that beautiful lady next to him? Why does she look so familiar?"

"That's the police officer from last night, right? Did the Great Master really bring her back to Qingfeng Temple?"

Zhang Xuanyao smiled at the camera, his smile carrying a trace of cold Killing Intent.

"Greetings, lay followers. No fortune-telling or character analysis today. Today, this Daoist will take you all to watch a large-scale, real-life 'Infernal Affairs'."

He turned his head to look at Qin Bingruo. "Officer Qin, call your Officer Zhou and tell him that you found clues about Qin Xiaoya's disappearance at Qingfeng Temple, and ask him to come over to assist with the investigation."

Qin Bingruo bit her lip hard. A moment later, she took out her phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, Master. I'm at Qingfeng Temple on Mount Longhu. There's a Daoist here... he says he knows where Xiaoya is."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line before a warm, thick male voice replied.

"Bingruo, don't be fooled by those charlatans. Wait there for me; I'll be there soon."

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the darkened screen, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"Words Become Law, target: Zhou Jianshe."

"Additional attribute: The Truth Revealed."

"Effect: For the next two hours, the target will be unable to control their desire to express themselves, and subconscious secrets will spill out."

[Ding! Words Become Law activated, consumed 50,000 shock value.]

Zhang Xuanyao sat back down at the stone table and picked up the bowl of white porridge that had already gone cold.

"Officer Qin, the stage is set. Now, let's see how this veteran actor bows out."

Half an hour later.

A black SUV rushed wildly up the mountain road and stopped at the temple gate with a sharp screech of brakes.

The car door opened, and a middle-aged man in plain clothes strode in. His hair was graying, his face was kind, and his eyes held the concern of an elder for a Junior.

It was indeed Zhou Jianshe.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he first glanced at Qin Bingruo to ensure she was fine, then turned to look at Zhang Xuanyao, his tone stern: "Are you the one spreading heresy here?"

Zhang Xuanyao didn't even raise his head. "Officer Zhou, don't be so hot-tempered. You shouldn't have forgotten the taste of that candy from twelve years ago, right?"

Zhou Jianshe's expression stiffened for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "I don't know what you're talking about. Bingruo, come back with me. Staying in a place like this for too long will affect your judgment."

Qin Bingruo didn't move; she stared fixedly at Zhou Jianshe's left earlobe.

There, indeed, was a black mole the size of a sesame seed.

"Master, where is Xiaoya?" Qin Bingruo's voice was as cold as ice.

Zhou Jianshe sighed and stepped forward to pat her shoulder. "Bingruo, you're too tired and are hallucinating. We've been investigating Xiaoya's case the whole time..."

"She's at the brick factory in the southern suburbs, isn't she?" Qin Bingruo stepped back, dodging his hand.

Zhou Jianshe's hand stopped in mid-air, a flash of extremely subtle panic deep in his eyes, but under the effect of [Words Become Law], his mouth seemed to have a mind of its own.

"How did you know that was a brick factory?"

Zhou Jianshe sneered, his tone suddenly becoming perverse.

"I reinforced the cellar there with three layers; she's staying there just fine, so you don't need to worry."

The whole place fell into dead silence.

Qin Bingruo was stunned.

The more than 20,000 viewers in the livestream were also stunned.

Zhou Jianshe himself was stunned; he abruptly covered his mouth, his eyes full of terror.

"No... I didn't mean that, I was saying..."

"You said you were the one who took her yourself."

Zhang Xuanyao put down the porridge bowl, stood up, and his gaze was like a knife.

"You said you locked her in the cellar and raised her like a pet for twelve years. Is that right, Officer Zhou?"

"Shut up!"

Zhou Jianshe roared, his hand already reaching for his waist.

"That's my daughter! Her name is Zhou Xiaoya, not Qin Xiaoya! I saved her; if it weren't for me, she would have been sold into the mountains by human traffickers long ago!"

As he spoke, he frantically blurted out words, unable to stop himself.

"I bring her food every day, I teach her to read, I am the person closest to her! Bingruo, you're just a sister, what do you know? You only put her in danger!"

Tears streamed down Qin Bingruo's face as she whipped out her sidearm and aimed it at Zhou Jianshe.

"Zhou Jianshe! You animal!"

"Don't shoot."

Zhang Xuanyao pressed down on her wrist, his tone calm.

"The livestream is still on, let him keep talking. It would be a pity to miss such a wonderful monologue."

The comments in the livestream had exploded to the point where they were unreadable.

"Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap!"

"Is this for real? A police officer kidnapped his own apprentice's sister?"

"Is the Great Master's mouth enchanted? Why is this old man spitting everything out?"

"Southern suburb brick factory! Call the police! No, wait, send people to save her!"

Zhou Jianshe had completely broken down by now; his eyes were bloodshot, and he had fallen into a state of madness.

"What do you know? I'm protecting her! This world is too dirty; only there is she clean! Bingruo, why did you have to investigate? Why did you have to come to this broken temple? I was planning to give her to you after you became the chief..."

"You won't have the chance."

Zhang Xuanyao glanced at the phone screen.

[Heng City Police V: All squads have been dispatched, the brick factory in the southern suburbs is surrounded. Captain Qin, please remain calm, evidence has been secured.]

Zhang Xuanyao walked up to Zhou Jianshe, looking at the man who had collapsed on the ground, still muttering to himself.

"Officer Zhou, you schemed your whole life, but you miscalculated one thing."

Zhang Xuanyao leaned down and whispered in his ear.

"In this world, there really is retribution."

He straightened up and waved at the camera.

"Today's livestream ends here. Greetings, lay followers, remember to follow so you don't get lost. As for the truth... tomorrow's news will tell you."

The moment the screen went black.

The System notification sounded like thunder in Zhang Xuanyao's mind.

[Ding! Exposed a shocking cold case, the whole internet is shocked! shock value + 50,000!]

[shock value + 100,000!]

[shock value + 200,000!]

...

[Current shock value: 850,000 / 1,000,000!]

[Obtained one Golden Draw opportunity!]

7: Chapter 7: Tearing Away Hypocrisy, Ending a Twelve-Year Nightmare

The moment the screen went black, the suffocating silence of Qingfeng Temple was shattered by a fierce roar.

"Zhou Jianshe!"

Qin Bingruo moved.

Without the slightest hesitation, without a shred of doubt, she launched herself from the stone table like an enraged leopard.

A grapple with her right hand, a sweep with her left leg.

"Bang!"

A dull thud.

Zhou Jianshe, who had just been raving in front of the camera, was slammed heavily onto the stone table by a tremendous force.

The large, coarse porcelain bowl used for incense money was knocked away, sending copper coins rolling across the ground with a clattering sound.

Qin Bingruo pressed her knee firmly against Zhou Jianshe's lower back. Her right hand, which had been corrected countless times by his own hands on how to hold a gun, was now trembling as she pressed the dark muzzle against the back of his head.

"Don't move! Move again and I'll blow your brains out!"

Qin Bingruo's voice had lost its pitch, carrying a hoarseness as if it were tearing her vocal cords.

Zhou Jianshe did not resist.

The effect of Words Become Law was gradually fading. The madness of being forced to speak the truth dissipated, replaced by a sense of extreme emptiness and gray despair.

His face pressed against the cold stone surface, his murky eyes rolling to look at the hand holding the gun above him.

"Bingruo... your hand is unsteady." Zhou Jianshe's voice was very soft, carrying a hint of eerie calm. "Your breathing is erratic. I taught you that when you fire a gun, you must cast aside all stray thoughts."

"Shut up! Just shut up!"

Qin Bingruo exerted force on her wrist, the barrel of the gun slamming hard against Zhou Jianshe's scalp, grazing the skin and drawing blood.

"Twelve years... twelve whole years!"

The corners of Qin Bingruo's eyes were nearly splitting, red blood vessels spreading like a spiderweb.

"I spent every day looking for her, wondering every day if she was hungry, if she was cold... and it was you? You were the one who locked her in the cellar?!"

"I was doing it for her own good."

Zhou Jianshe closed his eyes, the muscles at the corners of his mouth twitching.

"The outside world is too dirty... am I wrong? I raised her clean and pure; she only listens to me, she only knows me..."

"Click."

The sound of the safety being disengaged.

Crisp and jarring.

Qin Bingruo's finger was already curled around the trigger, that pale joint turning a sickly white from the excessive pressure.

Killing intent.

Pure killing intent permeated the small courtyard.

With just a light squeeze of her finger, the bullet would blow off the top of Zhou Jianshe's skull, ending this absurdity.

"Officer Qin."

A lazy voice cut in.

Zhang Xuanyao sat on that worn-out little stool, still holding the bowl of unfinished cold porridge.

He spoke in the tone of someone discussing the nice weather today.

"If this old thing's brains splatter out, I'll be the one who has to clean the floor. Qingfeng Temple doesn't have running water, so it's a pain to wash."

Qin Bingruo ignored him, her breathing rapid.

"Kill him... kill him..."

This thought was crashing violently in her mind.

"Besides, if you pull the trigger now, you'll have to take off that police uniform."

Zhang Xuanyao set down the bowl, stood up, and brushed the dust off his Daoist robe.

"Throwing yourself away for a piece of trash like this is a bad deal. I'm a businessman, and I can't stand bad deals."

"I don't care about this police uniform!" Qin Bingruo roared. "I want him dead!"

"Whether he dies or not is up to the law."

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the shrine, picked up three apples, and took a crunching bite.

"Besides, I've already called the police for you."

Before the words had even faded.

It wasn't the sound of sirens approaching from afar, but the chaotic and dense thud of footsteps erupting right at the entrance of the temple.

"Don't move! Police!"

"Drop your weapon!"

Over a dozen fully armed Special Police rushed in, their dark muzzles instantly locking down the entire courtyard. Following closely behind were several plainclothes criminal police officers, led by the deputy captain, Xiao Wang.

The moment Xiao Wang rushed in, he saw the scene before him and froze in place.

"Captain Qin... Zhou... Director Zhou?"

The gun in Xiao Wang's hand nearly dropped to the ground. The order he had received was to assist Captain Qin in arresting a suspect, but no one told him the suspect was their old leader, Zhou Jianshe, who had watched them grow up!

"What are you standing there for?"

Zhang Xuanyao leaned against a pillar and pointed at the stone table.

"The suspect, Zhou Jianshe, is suspected of kidnapping, illegal detention, and intentional injury. The chain of evidence is complete, and the victim's location has been locked. What, do I need to teach you how to use handcuffs?"

Xiao Wang shuddered, glancing at the blood-covered Zhou Jianshe, then at Qin Bingruo, who was on the verge of a breakdown.

"Lower... lower your weapons!" Xiao Wang gritted his teeth and waved his hand.

Two Special Police officers stepped forward, carefully gripping Qin Bingruo's wrists.

"Captain Qin, leave it to us." Xiao Wang's voice trembled. "Don't dirty your hands."

Qin Bingruo turned her head stiffly, looking at her familiar comrades-in-arms, seeing the disbelief and horror in their eyes.

The bloodlust in her eyes faded bit by bit, her fingers slowly loosening.

The gun hit the ground.

"Clang."

Qin Bingruo swayed, as if her spine had been ripped out.

Two criminal police officers quickly stepped forward, dragging Zhou Jianshe up from the stone table, the cold handcuffs locking shut with a "click" around his wrists.

Zhou Jianshe did not struggle.

As he was being escorted past Qin Bingruo, he stopped, his once-kind face looking exceptionally twisted now.

"Bingruo, you're still too young. You'll regret this... no one knows how to take care of Xiaoya better than I do..."

"Take him away!" Xiao Wang roared, pushing Zhou Jianshe forward, giving him no chance to continue speaking.

The courtyard instantly emptied by half.

Except for a few forensic investigators who stayed behind to collect evidence, most of the people left with the escort vehicles.

Qin Bingruo stood in place, the wind messing up her ponytail, her gray tracksuit looking empty and loose on her.

"Buzz—"

The phone in her pocket began to vibrate.

Qin Bingruo numbly pulled out her phone and pressed the answer button.

The excited voice of a strike team member came through the speakerphone, accompanied by the whistling wind and noisy background sounds.

"Captain Qin! We found her! In the cellar on the third underground level of the brick factory! She's alive! Although... although her mental state isn't great, and she's a bit afraid of the light, her body is fine! We are taking her to the First Municipal Hospital!"

On the other end of the line, a girl's faint scream could be heard, followed by the soothing voices of medical personnel.

The hand holding the phone began to tremble violently.

She was really alive.

The twelve-year nightmare shattered at this moment.

The strength that had supported her to stand, fight, and bleed without shedding tears completely drained away in that instant.

Qin Bingruo's legs went weak, and she fell backward.

She did not land on the hard bluestone floor.

A small stool slid precisely beneath her.

Qin Bingruo collapsed onto the stool, covering her face with both hands, her shoulders beginning to heave violently.

There was no wailing, only the sound of sobbing, suppressed to the extreme, leaking out from between her fingers.

Tears slid down the back of her hands, dripping onto the dusty ground, creating small, dark pits.

Zhang Xuanyao sighed.

He walked over to Qin Bingruo and squatted down.

"Alright, stop crying. If you keep crying, you'll dampen the Feng Shui of my temple."

Zhang Xuanyao reached out and patted Qin Bingruo on the shoulder.

"She's been found, that's a happy occasion. That old thing is in custody, that's a great occasion. You should be buying two strings of firecrackers to set off at the gate, not sitting here being a crybaby."

Qin Bingruo did not respond, only crying louder and louder, finally turning into a heart-wrenching release.

Twelve years of grievances, the pain of betrayal by someone she trusted, the ecstatic joy of recovering what was lost—all these emotions flooded over her, overwhelming her reason like a breached dam.

She was no longer that decisive and efficient police captain; she was just a sister who had found her younger sister.

Zhang Xuanyao was about to get up to get some tissues.

Suddenly, a pair of cold hands reached out and tightly grabbed his thigh.

Qin Bingruo buried her face in Zhang Xuanyao's Daoist robe, wiping her snot and tears onto the cheap fabric without reservation.

She gripped his leg tightly, as if clutching the only straw of hope she had had in these twelve years.

"Thank you... thank you..."

8: Chapter 8: Gold-Level Lottery, Five Thunderbolts of Righteousness!

The voice was muffled, mixed with sobs.

Zhang Xuanyao's body stiffened, and he looked down at the policewoman on his lap who was crying her eyes out.

"Hey, Officer Qin, although this Daoist robe was bought for nine yuan and nine cents with free shipping on Pinduoduo, it is still my work uniform. Your snot… is very hard to wash out."

Qin Bingruo ignored him completely, hugging him even tighter, her nails almost digging into Zhang Xuanyao's flesh.

Zhang Xuanyao rolled his eyes helplessly. His raised hand paused in mid-air for a moment before finally landing on her head, gently rubbing her messy hair.

"Cry all you want, you'll feel better once it's out."

"But you'll have to pay double for the laundry."

Half an hour later.

Xiao Wang drove that beat-up Jetta back and picked up Qin Bingruo, whose emotions had slightly calmed down.

Before leaving, Qin Bingruo stared fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao with eyes as red and swollen as peaches. Her lips moved, and finally, she only said three words: "Wait for me."

It was unclear whether she meant for him to wait for the renovation funds or for something else entirely.

The Daoist temple returned to peace and quiet.

Zhang Xuanyao closed the rickety gate, leaned against the door panel, and let out a long sigh.

"These days, it's not easy being a charlatan; I even have to moonlight as a counselor."

He looked down at the large, suspicious water stain on the hem of his Daoist robe and curled his lip in disgust.

"System, settle."

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the shrine, relit three sticks of incense, and respectfully inserted them into the incense burner.

As the wisp of blue smoke rose, that cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind like the sound of heaven.

[Ding! This livestream cracked a major cold case involving kidnapping and exposed a mole within the police force, creating a massive social impact!]

[Calculating shock value...]

[shock value + 300,000!]

[shock value + 500,000!]

[Current accumulated shock value: 1,650,000!]

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the number, his breathing almost stopping.

1.65 million!

He was rich!

This was solid, hard currency. In the System store, 100,000 shock value could exchange for a bottle of [Azure Emperor Rejuvenation Ointment], so this 1.65 million was truly a huge fortune.

[Ding! Detected that the host's shock value has surpassed one million. Would you like to initiate a Gold-Tier Draw?]

[Gold-Tier Draw cost: 1,000,000 shock value.]

Zhang Xuanyao's heart skipped a beat.

A draw that costs a million.

The ointment from the previous Silver-Tier Draw already had Heaven-Defying effects; this Gold-Tier reward…

"I'll bet on it!"

Zhang Xuanyao gritted his teeth. "Initiate Gold-Tier Draw!"

Hum!

The wheel in his mind appeared once again.

This time, the wheel was no longer ordinary silver, but flowed entirely with dazzling golden light.

The slots on it no longer contained those bottles and jars, but instead featured some blurry ancient seal characters and strange phantom images.

The pointer spun wildly.

Zhang Xuanyao held his breath, staring intently at the wheel.

"Stop… stop… stop!"

The pointer slowed down gradually, passing over a slot labeled [Wind Manipulation Technique], then over a slot depicting a [Thousand-Year Peach Wood Sword], and finally stopped on a purple slot wreathed in lightning.

Boom!

A purple bolt of lightning exploded in Zhang Xuanyao's Sea of Consciousness.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the supreme Daoist Divine Ability — Five Thunders Method (Elementary)!]

[Five Thunders Method: Gather the Qi of Heaven and Earth, condense the thunder of the five internal organs. Can break evil and falsehoods, suppress demons and monsters, and summon heavenly thunder!]

[Attached skill: Palm Lightning.]

Zhang Xuanyao suddenly opened his eyes.

Deep in his pupils, a trace of purple electric arc flashed and vanished.

He raised his right hand and moved his mind.

Zzzzt!

A fist-sized ball of blue-purple lightning appeared out of thin air in his palm, emitting a hair-raising electrical sound.

The surrounding air instantly became dry, and even the dust on the stone table was lifted by the static electricity.

"Holy crap…"

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the lightning ball in his hand and swallowed hard.

If this thing hit someone, it wouldn't just be a simple bone fracture; it would send them straight to meet their ancestors.

"With this thing, if I encounter those thugs with weapons in the future, I can finally 'reason' with them."

Zhang Xuanyao clenched his palm, and the lightning ball instantly annihilated, leaving only a faint smell of burning.

This is the true method of cultivation!

Compared to this, those previous tricks used to fool people were simply pathetic.

The purple lightning in his heart flickered twice, like a baby burping after a full meal, and then went out with a puff.

Zhang Xuanyao shook his hand; his palm felt slightly numb.

This [Five Thunders Method] is good, but it drains a lot of mana. Just now, it was only a fist-sized ball, yet he felt as if his vitality had been sucked out by a pump.

"Looks like I need to get some aged medicinal herbs to nourish my body, or else before I strike anyone with lightning, I'll drain myself dry first."

He rubbed his empty stomach and glanced at the incense bowl on the stone table that had been knocked away by Qin Bingruo.

It was completely empty.

The money from the livestream tips wouldn't be paid out until next month; right now, other than the few thousand in cash that Qin Bingruo gave him, he had nothing.

"Make money."

Zhang Xuanyao made up his mind and propped his phone back onto that smooth, polished brick.

Since he didn't have money to eat, he would just have to fleece some wool from these internet trolls.

He skillfully opened the livestreaming software, adjusted the camera angle, and ensured his handsome face was at the golden ratio point.

"Start broadcast."

With a tap of his finger.

Tens of thousands of viewers who had been waiting in the black-screen livestream room instantly swarmed out like a disturbed hornet's nest.

[First!]

[The missing person has returned!]

[Great Master! Has that Zhou Jianshe been sentenced? I saw the news saying this is the biggest police scandal since Heng City was established!]

[Forget about that old pervert, Great Master, quickly take a look for me; my right eyelid has been twitching lately, does that mean I'm going to get rich?]

[Get rich my ass. Left eye twitches for wealth, right eye twitches for disaster; you upstairs, you're about to have bad luck!]

The number of online viewers soared at an unscientific speed.

30,000… 50,000… 100,000!

In just two minutes, the livestream's popularity surged to the top of the entire site's hourly ranking.

Zhang Xuanyao leaned back in his chair, twirling two walnuts in his hand (actually rotten stones he'd picked up from the backyard just now), looking unfathomably mysterious.

"Greetings, laypeople. I just went to handle some private matters, sorry to keep you all waiting."

"Same old rules: fortune-telling and physiognomy start at one rocket. If you want to change your luck, that costs extra."

The chat screen was instantly flooded, filled with people cursing him for being greedy for money, but the gift effects never stopped.

[User "I want to get rich" sent a Rocket * 1!]

[User "Cure all kinds of defiance" sent a Sports Car * 1!]

Zhang Xuanyao didn't even lift his eyelids.

"The one called 'I want to get rich', stop sending gifts. Your forehead is dark, and there's a pimple on your nose; not only will you not get rich recently, but you're going to lose money. Hurry up and cut your losses on that stock that's hit the limit down; that's a trap set by the market makers."

The chat was filled with "Holy shit."

That user sent a string of crying faces: [Great Master, you're amazing! I just went all-in and got trapped!]

Zhang Xuanyao pointed at the screen again.

"That 'Cure all kinds of defiance', you stop sending gifts too. Your wife didn't cheat; that was a misunderstanding. She went to the hotel that day to attend the company's annual meeting. If you keep being so suspicious, she really will divorce you."

9: Chapter 9: The Cold-Hearted CEO's Provocation and the "Fat Sheep" Delivered to His Doorstep

The livestream room was full of joy and harmony.

Everyone loved watching scenes of people being publicly called out.

Just then.

A brilliant golden mushroom cloud suddenly exploded in the center of the screen.

The special effects took up the entire screen, blocking even Zhang Xuanyao's face.

[Site-wide Announcement: User "Su Qingge" has gifted 5 Super Rockets in "Qingfeng Temple Great Master Zhang's" livestream room!]

Ten Super Rockets in a row!

That was equivalent to 50,000 RMB!

The entire livestream room went quiet for a second, followed by an even crazier wave of barrage comments.

[Rich woman! Caught a wild rich woman!]

[This ID looks familiar, seems to be that one from the finance section next door...]

[Fifty thousand! What is she trying to calculate? National fortune?]

A pinned barrage comment with gold edges slowly floated across the top of the screen.

[Su Qingge: I heard you are very accurate at fortune-telling?]

[Su Qingge: I don't believe there is any fate in this world that cannot be divined, nor do I believe in any talk of gods or ghosts.]

[Su Qingge: Give me your address. I am in Heng City, and I am coming to find you now. If you can accurately divine my affairs, the fifty thousand just now is only a deposit. If you can't... I will let you know the consequences of fraud.]

Between the lines, there was a thick sense of dominance and arrogance.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at that barrage comment, his mouth curling up to reveal a mouthful of white teeth.

"This female lay practitioner, you have quite a temper."

"Although my Qingfeng Temple is dilapidated, I don't just host anyone. However, considering the fifty thousand... oh no, considering that you and I are fated, I will give you a chance."

His fingers tapped rapidly on the screen, sending the location of Qingfeng Temple directly through a private message in the backend.

"The road is hard to travel; don't drive a car with a low chassis up here, it's easy to scrape your bottom."

Zhang Xuanyao teased at the camera.

[Su Qingge: Five minutes.]

This was the other party's reply.

Concise and powerful.

The audience in the livestream room was even more excited.

[I have a premonition that something big is going to happen again!]

[Five minutes? It takes at least half an hour from Hengcheng City to Mount Longhu, right? Is this woman flying a plane?]

[You guys don't understand, the five minutes of the rich is five minutes on a physical level.]

Zhang Xuanyao didn't pay attention to the barrage anymore. He withdrew the 50,000 RMB gift, and looking at the numbers that suddenly increased in his bank card, he was in a great mood.

"System, does this count as a 'fat sheep' that delivered itself?"

[Ding! Detected a special character approaching.]

[Triggered side quest: Resolve Su Qingge's death tribulation.]

[Quest reward: 100,000 shock value, one random Intermediate Magical Artifact.]

"Death tribulation?"

Zhang Xuanyao raised his eyebrows.

This 50,000 RMB didn't seem easy to earn.

Time passed second by second.

The number of people in the livestream room was still rising; everyone wanted to see what kind of sacred person this rich woman was who spent 50,000 RMB just to come and expose a fraud.

Four minutes and fifty-eight seconds.

Boom—!

A low and violent engine roar suddenly exploded on the quiet mountain road.

The sound wasn't like an ordinary family car; it was more like the roar of some beast, shaking the old window paper of the temple until it hummed.

"She's here."

Zhang Xuanyao picked up his teacup and took a sip of plain water.

Screech—!

That priceless vehicle did an extremely arrogant drift and emergency brake at the temple entrance, kicking up dust that slapped directly onto the freshly cleaned gate.

The car door opened.

The first thing that came into view was a pair of exquisitely crafted black high heels with red soles. The heels were thin and long, making a crisp "clack" sound as they stepped on the moss-covered stone slab.

Immediately following were a pair of long, beautiful legs wrapped in black silk stockings, with tight and well-proportioned lines, without a trace of excess fat.

Looking further up.

It was a well-tailored black professional hip-hugging skirt, paired with a white silk shirt. The collar was slightly open, revealing delicate collarbones and a diamond necklace flashing with cold light.

The woman was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with cold and gorgeous facial features and skin so white it was dazzling.

She wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose. The eyes behind the lenses had no temperature at all, and she was coldly looking at this dilapidated small courtyard.

This was Su Qingge.

The famous "Iceberg Queen" of the Heng City business world, the current helmsman of the Su Group.

The livestream room completely exploded.

[Holy crap! It really is Su Qingge! That female CEO with a net worth of billions!]

[Isn't this too top-tier? These legs, this aura... Is this the smell of money?]

[Is this here for fortune-telling, or to acquire the temple?]

[Great Master, run! You can't handle this kind of woman, let me do it!]

Su Qingge ignored the dilapidated environment around her and walked straight to the stone table.

She took off her sunglasses and threw them on the table with a "slap."

Her hands, painted with wine-red nail polish, took a thick stack of cash out of her Hermès Platinum bag and slapped it directly in front of Zhang Xuanyao.

"I don't like nonsense."

Su Qingge's voice was very cold, carrying a sense of oppression from being in a high position for a long time.

"This is 100,000."

She pointed at Zhang Xuanyao, and then pointed at the mobile phone screen.

"In front of the hundreds of thousands of people in your livestream room, calculate for me."

"If you are accurate, you take this money, and I will add another million to renovate this broken temple."

"If you are not accurate..."

Su Qingge leaned down, resting her hands on the stone table. That beautiful face approached Zhang Xuanyao, the distance between them no more than ten centimeters.

Zhang Xuanyao could even smell that expensive cold perfume on her.

"If you are not accurate, I will report you for internet fraud, shut down your livestream room, and tear down your broken temple."

"I mean what I say."

Facing this oncoming money offensive and verbal threat, Zhang Xuanyao didn't even blink.

He stretched out a finger and gently pushed Su Qingge's exquisite face away.

"Lay practitioner Su, please respect yourself."

Zhang Xuanyao patted his sleeve with a look of disgust, as if it had been contaminated with some bacteria.

"My place is a place for quiet cultivation, not your conference room. Besides, this table is an artifact from the Ming Dynasty. If you had shattered it just now, this 100,000 wouldn't be enough to compensate."

Su Qingge was stunned by being pushed.

In Heng City, no man had ever dared to treat her like this.

"You..."

"Sit."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the small folding stool opposite.

"Since you gave the money, you are a customer. Although I don't provide on-site services, there's no reason to turn away business that delivers itself to my door."

Su Qingge took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in her heart.

She glanced at the small stool covered in mud, her brows furrowed so tightly she could crush a fly. In the end, she didn't sit down, but just stood there coldly with her arms crossed.

"Fine, I won't sit. Start calculating now."

Su Qingge sneered, "Don't tell me you need my birth date and time; I won't give it to you. A true Great Master can see the past and future with one look, right?"

Zhang Xuanyao sneered and said: "Lay practitioner, if you are here to trash the place or just to vent, I advise you to get out now."

She was being sarcastic.

Yesterday's case involving Zhou Jianshe was a huge sensation. She had watched part of the replay, although she found it amazing.

But as a materialist and a business elite, she was more inclined to believe this was a clever scam, or that Zhang Xuanyao had already grasped the evidence of Zhou Jianshe's crimes and was just acting.

She came today to expose this fraud's true face.

And by the way, to vent the stress accumulated recently because of that mess at the company.

10: Chapter 10: Death Countdown, More Money Required

Su Qingge's subsequent mocking words were choked back.

Zhang Xuanyao muttered, "If I weren't really short on money, would I bother with you?"

He picked up his teacup and gently blew away the floating tea leaves.

His eyelids lifted slightly, and deep within his eyes, a flash of golden light vanished in an instant.

"Heavenly Eye, activate."

In his vision, Su Qingge's face, originally cold and peerlessly beautiful, was now shrouded in a layer of thick, impenetrable black Qi.

That black Qi was like a maggot attached to bone, tightly coiled around her brow—a typical sign of an unnatural death.

And above her head, the timeline representing her fate was breaking at an alarming speed.

Time remaining: 00:14:32.

Time remaining: 00:14:31.

Fourteen minutes.

This female CEO worth billions was about to disappear from this world in fourteen minutes.

Zhang Xuanyao put down the teacup, the playfulness on his face receding slightly.

"President Su, you haven't been sleeping well lately, have you?"

Zhang Xuanyao's voice was flat, "You always dream that you are locked in a black box, bumping into walls everywhere, unable to catch your breath, and waking up in a cold sweat."

Su Qingge's eyes flickered, but she quickly hid it.

"What kind of skill is that? I watched your livestream and know you know a bit of psychology. This symptom is common among high-stress individuals; it's just a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse."

"Is that so?"

Zhang Xuanyao tapped his fingers gently on the table, "Then, do you also feel that the brakes have been a bit soft and the steering wheel a bit heavy lately? Is that also psychological?"

Su Qingge's expression finally changed.

"How did you know?"

This limited-edition sports car was one she had just picked up last week, and it hadn't even passed its break-in period. These subtle driving sensations were known only to her; even the mechanic hadn't mentioned them.

"I know more than just that."

Zhang Xuanyao stood up, walked around the stone table, and came to stand in front of Su Qingge.

He was a head taller than Su Qingge and was now looking down at her.

"I also know that you didn't come to Mount Longhu this time to expose a fraud, but to hide from someone."

"You are hiding from your fiancé, the Zhao Tianming of the Zhao Group, Zhao Tianming. Is that correct?"

Su Qingge's pupils constricted sharply, and she instinctively took a step back, her high heel catching in a crack in the stone, almost twisting her ankle.

"You investigated me?!"

"I don't have the spare time for that."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to her wrist.

She was wearing an expensive Patek Philippe there, but on the inside of the watch strap, a faint, dark red aura of blood-evil was seeping out.

"This watch, Zhao Tianming gave it to you, right?"

Zhang Xuanyao said something shocking, "Take it off and throw it away."

"Why? This is..."

"There is something hidden inside it." Zhang Xuanyao interrupted her.

"A type of Miao border spirit-attracting talisman. Wearing it for a long time will make a person mentally dazed and slow to react. When combined with certain man-made 'accidents,' it is simply the perfect murder weapon."

Su Qingge felt it was completely absurd.

"Murder? Zhao Tianming is my fiancé, we are getting engaged next month, and our two companies are in a critical period of merger. What good would it do him to kill me?"

"Good?"

Zhang Xuanyao sneered, "If you die, the Su Group will be leaderless, and the stock price will plummet. As your fiancé, he would rightfully take over your inheritance and the company. Is this kind of annexation tactic anything new in business warfare?"

"Isn't that just how you prey on an heirless estate?"

The livestream chat room had completely exploded.

[Holy crap! Wealthy family drama?!]

[Fiancé kills wife to seize assets? I know this script well!]

[Great Master, stop talking, or you'll get banned! This is the Su Group and the Zhao Group we're talking about!]

[Is there really something in that watch? I don't believe it!]

Su Qingge's face went pale, and her chest heaved violently.

Reason told her this was nonsense, but Zhang Xuanyao's determined gaze made her inexplicably panic.

"Where is the evidence?"

Su Qingge gritted her teeth, "You talk a big game, but where is the evidence?"

"You want evidence?"

Zhang Xuanyao glanced at the time on his phone.

Ten minutes left.

"Let's go."

Zhang Xuanyao grabbed Su Qingge's wrist and, ignoring her struggles, dragged her out of the temple.

"Let go! What are you doing!" Su Qingge tried desperately to shake him off, but Zhang Xuanyao's hand was like an iron clamp, completely immovable.

"We're going to look at your car."

Zhang Xuanyao dragged this female CEO worth billions like an unruly elementary school student, striding out of the mountain gate.

The red ferrari sat quietly by the roadside, shimmering with the luster of money under the sunlight.

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the front left tire.

"Squat down and look at the brake line."

Su Qingge panted, tidying up her messy hair.

"If there's nothing there, Zhang Xuanyao, you're dead today."

She didn't care that her skirt was too short, nor did she care about the dust on the ground; she knelt halfway on the ground, turned on her phone's flashlight, and shone it deep into the wheel hub.

At this sight, she froze completely.

Her phone fell to the ground with a "clatter."

That black brake line had been cut with a very thin Sharp Weapon.

The cut was very concealed, and the depth was perfectly controlled.

It wouldn't be noticeable during normal driving, but as soon as there was heavy braking or long-term downhill driving, the cut would burst completely under high pressure.

And the road from Mount Longhu back to the city happened to be a ten-kilometer-long winding downhill road.

If the brakes failed at that moment...

Su Qingge felt a chill shoot from the soles of her feet straight to her crown, instantly freezing the blood in her entire body.

"Do you see it clearly now?"

Zhang Xuanyao's voice came from above, devoid of any emotion.

"Based on your driving habits, it would take about five minutes to reach the first sharp turn after heading down the mountain from here."

"There, you would hit the brakes hard for the first time."

"Then the oil line would burst, and the brakes would fail."

"You would rush through the guardrail at 120 kilometers per hour and fall into a 300-meter-deep valley."

"The car would be destroyed, you would die, and there would be no bones left."

Zhang Xuanyao paused, then added another blow:

"I've even thought of tomorrow's news headline for you.

[Famous female entrepreneur Su Qingge dies in tragic cliff fall after speeding late at night. Fiancé Zhao Tianming weeps, vows to carry on her legacy and take over the Su Group.]"

Su Qingge slumped to the ground, her eyes, usually so arrogant, now filled with fear and despair.

She tremblingly picked up her phone, wanting to call the police, but found her fingers shaking so much that she couldn't even unlock it.

Just then.

Her phone screen lit up.

A WeChat message popped up.

Sender: Darling (Zhao Tianming).

[Qingge, have you reached the mountain? My eyelid has been twitching, and I'm a bit worried about you. Drive slowly on the way down, be safe, and I'll be waiting for you to come back for dinner.]

Looking at this message, which she usually found warm and considerate, Su Qingge now only felt like she was seeing a venomous snake flicking its tongue at her.

If Zhang Xuanyao hadn't stopped her, she might already be rushing toward Hell right now, accompanied by this "caring" text message.

"Save... save me..."

Su Qingge looked up, her arrogant face now filled with helplessness.

She reached out and grabbed the hem of Zhang Xuanyao's Daoist robe, as if grabbing the last straw of life.

"Great Master, save me!"

"I'll give you however much money you want! Please, save me!"

Zhang Xuanyao looked down at this female CEO, who had been so overbearing just moments ago, now huddled at his feet like a frightened kitten.

He sighed and crouched down.

"President Su, that 100,000 yuan from earlier only covers the divination, not saving your life."

Zhang Xuanyao held up two fingers and waved them in front of her.

"If you want me to step in and help you get through this tribulation..."

"You need to pay more."

11: Chapter 11: The Limited Edition Death Talisman

"Two million."

Zhang Xuanyao held up two fingers, leaving no room for negotiation.

Su Qingge didn't even hesitate for a second.

She snatched her phone from her platinum bag and tapped frantically on the screen.

She didn't care about money at all right now.

As long as she could survive, let alone two million, she would throw away twenty million without blinking an eye.

Zhang Xuanyao picked up the phone and glanced at the text message.

[Your bank card ending in 5664 has received a deposit of 2,000,000 Yuan.]

[Current balance: 2,000,003.5 Yuan.]

Zhang Xuanyao nodded in satisfaction.

The money for renovations was secured.

He could even buy some imported dog food for the stray dog in the backyard.

"The money has been transferred!" Su Qingge gripped Zhang Xuanyao's sleeve tightly, her knuckles turning white. "Save me! As long as you ensure I don't die, the Su family will become the biggest sponsor of Qingfeng Temple!"

"Let go, you're going to rip my sleeve."

Zhang Xuanyao brushed her hand away with disdain, his gaze landing on the exquisite watch on her left wrist.

Patek Philippe Ref. 7118.

Rose gold case, diamond-encrusted bezel.

Priceless.

But in Zhang Xuanyao's Heavenly Eye, the watch was continuously emitting a nauseating black-red Evil Qi, which was drilling into her veins along her pulse.

"Take it off."

Su Qingge paused, instinctively shielding her wrist. "This is an engagement gift from Zhao Tianming, a limited edition worldwide..."

"A limited edition death talisman."

Zhang Xuanyao didn't waste words and clamped onto her wrist.

With a slight application of force.

"Click."

A slight snapping sound came from the watch strap connection.

Zhang Xuanyao roughly ripped off the watch worth hundreds of thousands.

He pulled a thin wire he usually used for picking his teeth from his Daoist robe's sleeve and pried fiercely at the gap in the watch's back cover.

Pop!

The precision mechanical back cover popped off and landed in the dirt.

Su Qingge was about to scream, but the sound caught in her throat.

Inside the watch face, where there should have been precision gears and hairsprings, a dark yellow talisman paper folded into a triangle was stuffed inside.

The talisman was marked with twisted patterns in a dark red liquid, emitting a strong, fishy stench.

It was the smell of corpse oil.

"Ugh—"

Su Qingge couldn't help it and began to dry heave, clutching her chest.

The smell was too overpowering.

And she had been wearing this thing against her wrist for three whole months!

Although the viewers in the livestream couldn't smell it, the high-definition camera was pointed right at the talisman, and everyone could clearly see the eerie red spots on it.

[Holy crap! There really is something!]

[What is that thing? It looks so disgusting!]

[Is this the legendary Miao border Evil Qi-attracting talisman? The fiancé is really out for blood!]

[It's terrifying when you think about it! Wearing this every day, it's hard not to die!]

[Is this what a wealthy family is like? Using such methods just to fight for the family inheritance?]

Zhang Xuanyao picked up the talisman with two fingers.

"Sizzle!"

As soon as his fingertips touched the talisman, a faint purple electric arc flashed.

The talisman seemed to have met its nemesis; it instantly ignited, emitted a puff of black smoke, and turned to ash in the blink of an eye.

The heavy feeling that had been weighing on Su Qingge's heart miraculously eased significantly as the black smoke dissipated.

Su Qingge stared blankly at the ashes on the ground, then looked at her bare wrist.

Her last shred of hope was completely shattered.

Zhao Tianming really wanted to kill her.

The man who showered her with care every day, even testing the temperature of her water, was truly plotting to take her life.

"Believe it now?"

Zhang Xuanyao tossed the ruined luxury watch into the bushes nearby.

Su Qingge couldn't stop trembling, tears welling up in her eyes, but she bit her lip hard to keep from sobbing out loud.

"I... He was my first love. I trusted him so much, and he actually wanted to harm me."

"What kind of intelligence is that? A romantic fool can become a CEO? Unbelievable."

Zhang Xuanyao clicked his tongue.

Anger appeared on Su Qingge's face.

Fear.

And the bone-chilling coldness of being betrayed by someone she slept next to.

"Great Master..." Su Qingge raised her head, her eyes having changed.

No longer panicked, they now held a look of determination and hatred. "I want to make him pay the price."

"That's a matter for the police."

Zhang Xuanyao took the phone that was livestreaming off the brick. "I am only responsible for taking money to resolve disasters."

He walked over to the red ferrari and pulled open the driver's side door.

"Get in."

Su Qingge paused. "Where to? Isn't the car's brake broken?"

"It can be driven even if it's broken, as long as you don't step on the brake."

Zhang Xuanyao sat in the driver's seat, skillfully adjusted the seat, and fastened his seatbelt. "If you don't want to die, get in quickly. Your fiancé is probably staring at the GPS tracker to see if you're dead yet."

Su Qingge gritted her teeth, pulled open the passenger door, and got in.

"Hold on tight."

Zhang Xuanyao held the steering wheel with one hand and held the phone with the other, pointing it forward.

Boom!

The engine roared.

The ferrari, like a red beast, launched from a standstill on the narrow mountain road.

The viewers in the livestream instantly went wild.

[The Great Master can drive a ferrari?!]

[That technique! That cornering! Is this a Daoist or a car god?]

[There's a sharp turn ahead! How can he pass it without brakes?!]

[I want to sit in the Great Master's passenger seat too!]

Zhang Xuanyao didn't step on the brake at all.

A second before entering the turn, he downshifted violently, using engine braking to force a deceleration, then, with the help of the handbrake, the rear of the car traced a heart-stopping arc along the edge of the cliff.

Gravel tumbled into the abyss.

The wheels were even half-hanging in the air.

Su Qingge gripped the grab handle tightly, her face as pale as paper, having forgotten even to scream.

Two minutes later.

The car stopped at a bend in the mountain road with an open view.

Below was a canyon hundreds of meters deep, with only a low guardrail.

Zhang Xuanyao turned off the engine.

"Get out."

The two stood by the guardrail.

The mountain wind howled, blowing Su Qingge's hair into a mess.

Zhang Xuanyao pointed the phone camera at Su Qingge and then gestured to the phone in her hand.

"Call him."

"Now?" Su Qingge took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

"Yes, put it on speaker."

Zhang Xuanyao leaned against the hood of the ferrari with the expression of someone watching a show. "Tell him your brakes failed, the car is stuck on the edge of the cliff, you're afraid to move, and ask him to come and save you."

Su Qingge dialed the pinned number with trembling fingers.

"Beep... Beep..."

A long wait tone.

Every sound felt like it was drumming on Su Qingge's nerves.

Finally.

The call connected.

"Hello? Qingge?"

It was a warm, magnetic male voice, sounding even a bit doting. "What's wrong? Weren't you driving? Why are you calling me at this time?"

Su Qingge glanced at Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao made a "crying" gesture.

Su Qingge closed her eyes, and tears instantly welled up.

No acting was needed.

The fear and grievance of this moment were real.

"Zhao Tianming... Zhao Tianming, save me!"

Su Qingge said with a crying tone, her voice trembling uncontrollably. "The brakes... the brakes are broken! They don't work!"

There was a second of silence on the other end.

An extremely short second.

Immediately after, Zhao Tianming's voice rose sharply, full of "anxiety": "What?! How could it be broken? How are you now? Are you hurt? Has the car stopped?"

This series of questions sounded impeccable.

Just like a perfect fiancé worrying about his lover.

But the hundreds of thousands of viewers in the livestream sensed that something was wrong.

[This voice... why does it sound a bit excited?]

[So fake! A normal person's first reaction upon hearing the brakes are broken is to ask for the location. Why did he ask if the car stopped first?]

[He's confirming whether Su Qingge is dead or not!]

12: Chapter 12: Take off the mask, are you human or a ghost?

Su Qingge sniffled and continued to act according to Zhang Xuanyao's script: "I... I don't know... The car hit the guardrail, and there's a cliff below... I don't dare to move... The car is swaying... Zhao Tianming, I'm so scared..."

"Don't be afraid! Do not move at all!"

Zhao Tianming's voice became urgent. "Where are you? What is your specific location? I'm coming over right now! You must hold on!"

"I'm at... I'm at the big curve leading up to Mount Longhu... Please come save me..."

"Mount Longhu..."

Zhao Tianming repeated the name of the place.

A rustling sound came from the other end of the line, as if someone were putting on clothes or picking up car keys.

"I know that place! It's very close to me!"

In Zhao Tianming's voice, the repressed excitement finally leaked out a little. "Qingge, listen to me, take a deep breath, don't move around. I'll be there soon, in five minutes... No, three minutes!"

"You must wait for me!"

He said the last five words with extra force.

It even carried a hint of gritted-teeth viciousness.

Beep, beep, beep.

The call hung up.

Su Qingge held her phone, her whole person seeming as if her Soul had been extracted, and she slumped against the guardrail.

She was not a fool.

Having struggled and climbed in the business world for so many years, she was extremely sensitive to controlling human hearts.

Just now, when Zhao Tianming heard her say "the car is swaying" and "there's a cliff below," the lightness and anticipation in his tone were impossible to hide.

He wasn't coming to save anyone.

He was coming to finish her off.

"Did you hear it?"

Zhang Xuanyao had lit a cigarette at some point; although he wasn't smoking it, he was just playing with it in his hand.

"He is very happy."

Zhang Xuanyao spat out a sentence, every word piercing the heart: "He is happy that you are finally going to die."

Su Qingge didn't speak, only her tears flowed more fiercely.

"Stop crying, if your makeup is ruined, you won't look like a strong woman anymore."

Zhang Xuanyao turned the camera, aiming it at his own handsome face. "Fellow practitioners, the following scene might be inappropriate for children; it is recommended that those under eighteen watch with their parents."

[Inappropriate for children? Great Master, what are you going to do?]

[I have a premonition that Zhao Tianming is about to have terrible luck!]

[Is Great Master going to enforce justice on the spot?]

[Hurry, hurry! I can't wait to see the scumbag's expression when he sees Su Qingge is still alive!]

Zhang Xuanyao ignored the barrage.

He walked to the side of the ferrari and reached out to wipe the severed brake line.

His fingertips were stained with a little black oil.

Then, he drew an extremely complex Talismanic Incantation on the car body.

No one understood what he was drawing.

They only felt that as his fingers swept across, the originally bright and beautiful red sports car actually became somewhat gray, as if it had lost its luster.

"What is this?" Su Qingge wiped her tears and asked suspiciously.

"An illusion."

Zhang Xuanyao patted the dust off his hands. "In a moment, in his eyes, this car will have already fallen down."

"And you..."

Zhang Xuanyao looked Su Qingge up and down. "You need to cooperate."

"How do I cooperate?"

"Lie down."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the bushes by the side of the road. "Play dead."

Su Qingge: "..."

Before she could protest, a violent engine roar tore through the air from the foot of the mountain in the distance.

That was the unique sound of a high-displacement sports car.

That was Zhao Tianming's McLaren.

It came really fast.

Faster than Su Qingge had anticipated.

"He's here."

Zhang Xuanyao set up the phone on a nearby tree branch, adjusted the angle, and ensured it could capture the full view.

"President Su, it is time to test your acting skills."

Zhang Xuanyao pushed Su Qingge into the bushes and grabbed a handful of dirt to smear on her expensive white shirt.

"Don't move, don't make a sound."

Su Qingge lay in the bushes, her heart beating violently.

Rumble—

The sound approached.

A black McLaren drifted around the corner like a black bolt of lightning and finally, accompanied by the screech of brakes, stopped at the spot where the ferrari had just been parked.

The car door opened.

A man wearing a white suit with his hair slicked back rushed down.

It was exactly Zhao Tianming.

With an "anxious" face, he rushed to the guardrail and shouted at the bottomless canyon below: "Qingge! Qingge!"

He shouted twice.

No one responded.

Zhao Tianming stopped.

He leaned out and looked down into the valley.

Under Zhang Xuanyao's illusion, what Zhao Tianming saw was not the ferrari parked on the side of the road, but the guardrail having been smashed open with a large gap, and below, there was a vague red wreck burning.

"Dead?"

Zhao Tianming muttered to himself.

The anxiety on his face disappeared instantly.

Replacing it was a kind of ecstatic relief.

He turned around, leaned against the guardrail, took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and lit one with trembling hands.

He took a deep breath.

"Hoo—"

Zhao Tianming exhaled a smoke ring, the expression on his face gradually distorting, finally turning into a burst of crazed laughter.

"Hahahaha!"

"Finally... finally dead!"

"Su Qingge, oh Su Qingge, you have this day too!"

He laughed loudly on the empty mountain road, laughing until tears came out.

"I've played the grandson for you for three whole years! Drinking your foot-washing water every day! I've had enough!"

"Do you know how hard I've endured?"

"Now it's good, you're dead, the Su Group is mine! Your money is also mine!"

Zhao Tianming vented at the air while smoking, "I cut that brake line so deep that even if a god came, they couldn't save you!"

"Remember to open your eyes wide when you reincarnate in your next life... Oh no, that's not right, it's that you were too strong in this life, you deserved to die young!"

In the bushes.

Su Qingge listened to these words, and every word was like a knife, stabbing her heart full of holes.

So this was the truth.

So this was so-called true love.

Anger to the extreme, instead, made her calm down.

She slowly crawled up from the bushes.

She did not make a sound.

Zhang Xuanyao stood aside, arms crossed, not stopping her.

Zhao Tianming was still talking to himself there, immersed in the dream of inheriting billions in family assets.

"After I deal with those few old immortals of your uncles, I will take your money and go abroad..."

"What are you going to do abroad?"

A cold voice sounded abruptly behind him.

Like a Soul-reaping chant from Hell.

The smile on Zhao Tianming's face instantly froze.

The cigarette in his hand fell to the ground.

He turned his head in jerks, like a rusted machine.

In his line of sight.

Su Qingge was covered in mud, her hair messy, but those eyes were frighteningly bright, staring fixedly at him.

And behind Su Qingge stood a young man in a Daoist robe, holding a mobile phone, crazily filming his face in close-up.

"Ghost... Ghost!!!"

Zhao Tianming let out a scream that didn't sound human, his legs went soft, and he slumped directly to the ground.

Even in broad daylight, he felt a chill rushing from the soles of his feet to his crown.

"Are... are you human or a ghost?!"

Zhao Tianming crawled backward using his hands and feet until his back hit the ferrari, which was actually still intact.

"Touched it?"

Zhang Xuanyao's lazy voice rang out. "You touched a physical object; do you say it's human or a ghost?"

The illusion dissipated.

The red ferrari revealed its original outline in the sunlight.

Zhao Tianming's pupils contracted violently.

It didn't fall down?

The car is still here?

Then what did he just see...

"Zhao Tianming."

Su Qingge approached step by step, her high heels stepping on the asphalt road, making the sound of the Grim Reaper knocking at the door.

13: Chapter 13: Words Take Effect, Sending the Top Boss to the Law Net

"Those words you just said, they felt quite satisfying, didn't they?"

Zhao Tianming swallowed hard, his brain working at lightning speed.

He had to spin this back around!

As long as the car wasn't broken, as long as there was no direct evidence, he still had a chance!

He scrambled up from the ground, his face instantly shifting to an expression of ecstatic surprise, tears welling up on command.

"Qingge! You're not dead? That's great! That's truly great!"

Zhao Tianming opened his arms, intending to embrace Su Qingge. "I just... I was just scared out of my wits! I was talking nonsense! I was just so heartbroken that I lost my mind!"

"You know I have anxiety; I start talking nonsense whenever I get nervous..."

He rushed over, wanting to use that familiar embrace to soften this woman once again.

Slap!

A resounding slap.

Su Qingge used all her strength to strike Zhao Tianming across his hypocritical face.

This slap was brutal.

Half of Zhao Tianming's face instantly swelled up, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

"This slap is on behalf of the Su Qingge who was blind for three years."

Su Qingge's voice was icy.

Zhao Tianming covered his face, a flash of malice passing through his eyes, but he still forced a smile: "Qingge, you hit me well; it's good to wake me up. As long as you're okay, you can even beat me to death. Let's go home, okay?"

"Go home?"

Zhang Xuanyao walked up at this moment and shoved his phone screen right in front of Zhao Tianming.

On the screen, a dense barrage of comments was scrolling by.

[Bastard! Simply a bastard!]

[I've already recorded the screen! This scumbag is done for!]

[Everything he said about cutting the brake lines was recorded!]

[Why isn't this kind of scum being sentenced to death?]

Zhao Tianming looked at those comments, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.

Livestreaming?

Everything from just now... was livestreamed?

"Young Master, stop acting."

Zhang Xuanyao looked at him with a smile, "Hundreds of thousands of people are watching. Your acting is decent, but to me, it's full of flaws."

"And..."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed towards the direction of the foot of the mountain.

The sound of sirens approached from afar, wailing as they drew near.

"I conveniently called the police while in the car and reported you for attempted murder."

"This time, you're really going to eat prison food."

Hearing the sirens, Zhao Tianming completely broke down.

In that instant, his disguise was completely shredded, revealing a hideous and twisted face.

"You damn Daoist! You ruined my plans!"

Zhao Tianming roared like a mad dog, suddenly pulling a folding knife from his pocket and flipping the blade open.

Since soft tactics didn't work, he would use hard ones!

Kill them!

As long as he killed them and destroyed the phone, he would still have a chance!

"Go to hell!"

Zhao Tianming roared, but instead of charging at Zhang Xuanyao, he turned and lunged at the nearest person, Su Qingge.

The tip of the knife glinted with a cold light, stabbing directly toward Su Qingge's heart.

This was the evil of human nature.

If I can't have you, then I will destroy you!

Su Qingge couldn't react at all; watching the knife tip approach, fear left her entire body rigid.

"Slip."

A casual word escaped Zhang Xuanyao's lips.

Words Become Law.

Zhao Tianming's feet suddenly slipped.

It was a banana peel that someone had thrown on the road, though who knows who it was.

At this critical moment, Zhao Tianming just had to step on that banana peel.

He lost his balance completely and fell backward.

The knife in his hand flew out of his grip.

"Bang!"

The back of his head slammed heavily against the guardrail post.

Zhao Tianming didn't even moan; he rolled his eyes back and fainted.

The knife spun in the air before finally landing with a "squelch," piercing precisely into Zhao Tianming's thigh.

"Ahhh!"

Even though he had fainted, the excruciating pain woke him up instantly, and he let out a scream like a slaughtered pig.

Zhang Xuanyao shook his head, walked over, and kicked Zhao Tianming's blood-covered face.

"Committing a crime and still stepping on a banana peel—this luck, tsk tsk tsk."

"It seems even the heavens couldn't stand it anymore."

The livestream chat was filled with "666".

[This is karma!]

[Great Master is awesome! Has your mouth been blessed?]

[The banana peel is the MVP!]

The police car finally rushed up the mountain road.

It was still that familiar Officer Xiao Wang leading the team.

He jumped out of the car, saw Zhao Tianming lying on the ground covered in blood, and then looked at Zhang Xuanyao, who was standing calmly to the side, his mouth twitching.

"Daoist Zhang... why is it you again?"

"What is going on this time?"

Zhang Xuanyao shrugged and pointed to his phone.

"Nothing much, just sending the top donor to prison."

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the bewildered Officer Xiao Wang.

The siren became piercing once again.

Two ambulances followed and arrived, and several medical personnel in white coats rushed over with a stretcher.

The folding knife was still stuck in Zhao Tianming's thigh, and blood had dyed his expensive custom trousers a dark red. He was awake by now, letting out bursts of pig-like wailing.

"Don't move! The more you move, the faster the blood flows!"

A doctor held down Zhao Tianming's thrashing leg, skillfully cutting open the trouser leg to perform emergency hemostasis.

"Let me go! I want to sue him! I want to sue that Daoist!"

Zhao Tianming's face was twisted, his finger pointing at Zhang Xuanyao, who was leaning against the front of the ferrari, spittle flying everywhere, "He used sorcery! It really was sorcery! That banana peel was something he conjured! He harmed me!"

Officer Xiao Wang was directing his subordinates to take photos and collect evidence at the scene; hearing this, his brows furrowed deeply.

He walked over to the stretcher and looked down at Zhao Tianming.

"Mr. Zhao Tianming, we have already confiscated your dashcam. The entire process of you committing assault with a knife, as well as you slipping on the trash, has been clearly recorded."

Officer Xiao Wang brought his body camera closer, "Also, the tens of thousands of netizens on the scene are all witnesses. You say the banana peel was conjured by him? Should we arrange a mental health evaluation for you?"

"No... it really wasn't an accident! That Daoist is extremely sinister!"

Zhao Tianming tried to scream more, but the doctor injected a sedative into the base of his thigh.

"What are you howling for? Save some energy to howl at the station."

The doctor had seen many trauma cases and had no patience for such scum, waving for the orderlies, "Take him away. If this leg gets infected, he'll have to have it amputated."

The stretcher was loaded onto the ambulance.

With a "bang" as the ambulance door closed, the world was finally quiet.

Only then did Zhang Xuanyao take his gaze off the ambulance and wave at the phone camera.

"Fellow devotees, that's all for today's livestream. If you have any questions, follow the channel and send me a private message."

The livestream chat was densely packed, making the text impossible to read.

Gift effects flooded the screen crazily, as if they were free.

[Carnival x 10!] [Rocket x 50!]

[Great Master is so cool! Going to follow Qingfeng Temple right now!]

[That banana peel kick just now, I'd like to call it a miracle!]

[Great Master, I want to get a fortune read too! I have money!]

"Those who want to have their fortunes read, line up in the private messages; I will take orders based on my mood."

After saying this, Zhang Xuanyao tapped the screen, mercilessly cutting off the livestream.

The phone screen went black.

The Aura of controlling the entire situation instantly receded. Zhang Xuanyao rubbed his slightly sore wrist and turned to look at Su Qingge, who had been standing to the side without saying a word.

14: Chapter 14: What the Heavenly Eye Sees, Ten Thousand Bones Wither Together

Su Qingge was still trembling.

Even though the Zhao Tianming had been taken away, the fear of having survived a disaster still washed over her nerves like a tide.

Her expensive white shirt was covered in mud and grass clippings, and her knee was scraped, oozing a trace of blood.

The once decisive and arrogant female CEO looked utterly disheveled at this moment.

But her eyes were very bright.

She stared fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao, without blinking.

There was no longer any doubt or contempt in her gaze; instead, it was replaced by a near-fanatical worship. It was as if she were looking at a living deity.

"Can you still walk?" Zhang Xuanyao asked.

Su Qingge opened her mouth but made no sound; she just nodded mechanically, then shook her head.

Her legs were weak.

She really couldn't stand up.

Zhang Xuanyao sighed and walked over. Before he could reach out, Su Qingge, as if she had found a life-saving straw, lunged forward and grabbed his arm tightly.

Her nails dug into his flesh, causing him pain.

"Let go, you're going to tear off a piece of my flesh." Zhang Xuanyao frowned.

"I won't." Su Qingge's voice was hoarse, laced with tears, yet exceptionally firm. "I'm scared."

"The police are right here, what are you afraid of?"

"I only trust you."

Su Qingge lifted her head, her dust-covered face full of stubbornness. "Except for you, I don't trust anyone right now."

Officer Xiao Wang finished processing the scene and walked over with a transparent evidence bag. Inside the bag was the severed brake line.

The cut was smooth, clearly the work of a Sharp Weapon.

"Daoist Zhang, Young Miss Su."

Officer Xiao Wang glanced at their "conjoined twin" posture, twitched the corner of his mouth, and pretended not to see it.

"I need you both to come back to the station with us. Attempted murder, a massive amount involved, and the nature of the crime is egregious. We need detailed statements from both of you."

Zhang Xuanyao tried to pull his arm away, but after failing twice, he simply gave up.

"Let's go, CEO Su. The police station is safer than this cliff edge."

The police car was parked on the side of the road.

Zhang Xuanyao was shoved into the back seat, and Su Qingge followed him in. Even in the narrow cabin, she insisted on sitting next to Zhang Xuanyao, her body pressed tightly against his Daoist robe.

The car door closed, cutting off the wind from the mountaintop.

The cabin was filled with a faint smell of leather and the unique sandalwood scent on Zhang Xuanyao.

Smelling this, Su Qingge's tense body finally relaxed slowly.

The police car started, the siren wailed, and it sped down the mountain.

Officer Xiao Wang in the front seat glanced at the back seat through the rearview mirror.

The Su Qingge who was usually decisive in the business world was now leaning to one side, like a little fan girl chasing a star, her eyes fixed on Zhang Xuanyao's profile.

If eyes could spin silk, the car would be full of spider webs by now.

"Daoist Zhang."

Officer Xiao Wang turned the steering wheel to take a turn and broke the silence. "That banana peel just now... was it really a coincidence?"

As a materialist warrior, Officer Xiao Wang felt that everything that happened today was challenging his professional understanding.

How could it be that coincidental?

There just happened to be a banana peel?

The Zhao Tianming just happened to step on it?

And before that, he heard Zhang Xuanyao mutter "slip."

If that was a coincidence, the odds of winning the lottery jackpot would be higher than this.

Zhang Xuanyao leaned against the back of the seat, closing his eyes to rest. "Officer Wang, we must believe in science. That was just trash thrown by an uncivilized tourist, combined with the inevitable result of Newton's laws of motion."

"But..."

"There are no buts."

Zhang Xuanyao interrupted him.

"This Daoist is just a law-abiding citizen. That was just a concerned citizen assisting the police in capturing a criminal."

Officer Xiao Wang choked.

This Daoist's mouth was tighter than the police interrogation experts.

In the back seat, Su Qingge didn't hear what they were saying at all.

Her attention was entirely on Zhang Xuanyao.

Just now on the cliff edge, this man calculated that she had a life-threatening tribulation.

Then he calculated that the brakes had been tampered with.

Then he calculated that the Zhao Tianming wanted to kill her.

Finally, he even calculated exactly when the Zhao Tianming would fall.

This wasn't fortune-telling.

This was a deity descending to the mortal world.

The more Su Qingge thought about it, the faster her heart beat. Her business intuition of so many years told her that the man in front of her was the greatest opportunity she would ever encounter in her life.

She had to seize him.

At all costs.

"Master Zhang..." Su Qingge spoke cautiously, her voice so soft it was as if she were afraid of disturbing a deity.

Zhang Xuanyao opened his eyes and turned to look at her. "What is it?"

"Could you... help me calculate one more fortune?"

Su Qingge's eyes were full of hope, the look of a drowning person seeing a piece of driftwood.

Zhang Xuanyao raised an eyebrow. "CEO Su, you know my rules. That last fortune was to save your life, but this one..."

"I know! I'll pay more!"

Before he could finish, Su Qingge hurriedly took out her phone from her pocket.

The screen had a cracked corner, but it didn't affect the operation.

She opened the banking app and her fingers quickly entered a string of numbers.

"Ding."

The phone in Zhang Xuanyao's pocket vibrated.

He took it out and looked.

[Your bank card has received: 10,000.00 Yuan.]

"One thousand yuan per fortune." Zhang Xuanyao put his phone back in his pocket, his tone flat. "CEO Su gave too much."

"The rest is incense money."

Su Qingge didn't care about this ten thousand yuan at all. To her, any problem that could be solved with money was not a problem. And with Zhang Xuanyao, money was clearly the best stepping stone.

"I want to ask..."

Su Qingge took a deep breath and adjusted her sitting posture, making herself look more upright.

Her business empire was vast, involving real estate, finance, and technology. With the Zhao Tianming causing this trouble, even though she hadn't been killed, the subsequent turmoil for the Su Group was inevitable.

Especially that project.

That super project that had tied up almost half of the Su Group's liquid capital.

"That land in South City."

Su Qingge stared into Zhang Xuanyao's eyes, her speaking speed fast.

"The Su Group is preparing to bid for that plot of land in the old town of South City next month, planning to develop it into a high-end commercial residential area. I have been preparing this project for two full years, and the preliminary investment has already exceeded five hundred million."

"But I have been restless lately, always feeling like something is wrong."

"Great Master, can you help me take a look—can this land... be taken?"

Zhang Xuanyao didn't speak.

He turned his head and looked at the scenery flying backward outside the window.

Deep within his pupils, a golden light that ordinary people could not detect flowed quietly.

[Heavenly Eye], activate.

As Su Qingge mentioned the "South City land," Zhang Xuanyao's vision seemed to pierce through the constraints of time and space.

The scene before him changed.

It was no longer the winding road of Mount Longhu.

But a vast wasteland.

Overgrown with weeds, broken walls, and ruins.

It was an old factory area on the edge of the city, looking unremarkable.

But in Zhang Xuanyao's field of vision, the land was shrouded in a layer of suffocating, thick blood-red clouds.

That was not ordinary Evil Qi.

That was resentment.

Monstrous resentment.

His vision continued to sink, piercing through the surface.

One meter.

Five meters.

Ten meters.

One hundred meters.

Beneath that thick yellow soil, Zhang Xuanyao saw a scene that made his scalp tingle.

Bones.

Layers upon layers, densely packed bones.

It wasn't dozens, nor was it hundreds.

It was thousands upon thousands of corpses, piled together casually like trash, forming a massive underground corpse pit.

Each bone was wrapped in black Death Qi; they were wailing underground, struggling, cursing every living person who tried to disturb their slumber.

If one were to build on top of this...

That would be truly dancing on the gates of hell.

Whoever lives there dies.

Not only would the residents die, but the developer would also be finished.

The scene shifted.

Zhang Xuanyao saw the vision of the future.

Just as the high-rise buildings were topped off, accidents began to occur frequently on the construction site. Workers fell from the buildings, and tower cranes collapsed.

Immediately after, the project became an unfinished eyesore, and the property owners demanded their rights.

The Su Group's capital chain broke, Su Qingge shouldered a huge debt, and finally, on a rainy night, she jumped from the top of that unfinished building.

15: Chapter 15: Better to lose 500 million than to be buried alive in a mass grave.

That scene was too tragic.

Zhang Xuanyao blinked, withdrew his gaze, and the golden light dissipated.

He felt a layer of cold sweat break out on his back.

Is this really a commercial project?

This is clearly a mass grave.

"Lay Practitioner Su." Zhang Xuanyao turned his head, looking at the expectant Su Qingge, his expression becoming unprecedentedly serious.

"This plot of land..."

"What's wrong with this land?" Su Qingge's heart instantly jumped to her throat.

Zhang Xuanyao was just about to speak.

"Screech!" The police car slammed on the brakes.

Inertia sent the two in the back seat lurching forward, nearly hitting the front seats.

"Ahem!"

Officer Xiao Wang gripped the steering wheel, looking at the two of them sternly through the rearview mirror.

"Daoist Zhang, Young Miss Su."

Officer Xiao Wang tapped the police badge on the steering wheel. "This is a police car. It belongs to a national law enforcement agency."

"Is it not showing enough respect to us, the People's Police, to be discussing Feng Shui, fortune-telling, and ghosts and gods in here?"

"Mind your behavior!"

"If you want to engage in feudal superstition, wait until you get out of the car and go home; do whatever you want then. But in my car, it is absolutely forbidden!"

Officer Xiao Wang spoke righteously. He really couldn't listen to it anymore.

The banana peel earlier could barely be explained as a coincidence, but now these two were starting to trade fortune-telling right in front of him, and they were talking about the Feng Shui of a multi-billion dollar project.

If this got out, would he even be able to keep wearing this police uniform?

The atmosphere in the car instantly froze.

Su Qingge opened her mouth, then awkwardly pulled back. She had been too anxious just now and had completely forgotten about the current environment.

Zhang Xuanyao shrugged.

He swallowed the words "sign of great misfortune" that were just on the tip of his tongue.

"Officer Wang is right to reprimand us."

Zhang Xuanyao leaned back against the seat, resuming his lazy demeanor, "We must believe in science and break free from superstition."

He turned his head and winked at Su Qingge. His lips moved slightly without making a sound.

But Su Qingge understood his lip movements. "We'll talk later."

Half of Su Qingge's heart settled, but the other half remained suspended. Talk later? That meant there was a problem. And a big one at that.

If it were a good omen, Zhang Xuanyao would definitely have said it on the spot. This hesitant attitude often meant the result was extremely bad.

The car started up again. For the rest of the journey, the car was deathly silent.

Officer Xiao Wang focused on driving, Su Qingge frantically sent messages to her secretary on her phone to pause all progress on the South City project, while Zhang Xuanyao closed his eyes to rest, calculating what to eat for dinner.

Half an hour later, the police car drove into the city and stopped in the courtyard of the Criminal Police Brigade.

As soon as they got out of the car, that familiar atmosphere rushed towards them. Only this time, Zhang Xuanyao wasn't here to drink tea; he was here to give a statement.

"President Su!" "Qingge!" As soon as she entered the lobby, a group of people surrounded her.

There were executives from the Su Group, the legal team that had rushed over upon hearing the news, and several of Su Qingge's close friends.

The news of Zhao Tianming's attempted murder of his wife had already spread like wildfire in their circles.

"President Su, are you alright?!" "Heavens, how did it end up like this? Call an ambulance!" "Where is that beast, Zhao Tianming? I'm going to kill him!"

The crowd surrounded Su Qingge, offering care and concern.

Su Qingge frowned, and that aura of a powerful businesswoman instantly returned.

She pushed away the towel handed to her by her assistant, her gaze scanning the crowd, and finally locked onto Zhang Xuanyao, who was preparing to sneak off to the nearby vending machine to buy water.

"Step aside, everyone." Su Qingge pushed through the crowd and strode behind Zhang Xuanyao.

"Great Master."

Zhang Xuanyao had just inserted a coin into the machine; hearing the voice, he turned around helplessly: "President Su, what is it now? I'm thirsty; it's not against the law to buy a bottle of water, right?"

"I have one more question." Su Qingge completely ignored the dozens of surprised eyes around her.

Those lawyers and executives were stunned. Since when had their decisive President Su ever been so humble to a young Daoist?

"That plot of land in South City..." Su Qingge lowered her voice, "Just how serious is it?"

Zhang Xuanyao glanced at the crowd, who were all pricking up their ears. He bent down, took the bottle of iced cola from the dispenser, and with a "hiss," pulled the tab. He tilted his head back and took a gulp. Refreshing.

"President Su." Zhang Xuanyao wiped the water from the corner of his mouth and pointed a finger at the ground beneath his feet.

"If you don't want the Su Group to go bankrupt and be liquidated next year." "If you don't want to jump off the eighteenth floor yourself." "Don't even touch that project."

Zhang Xuanyao's voice was not loud, but everyone present heard it clearly. The entire room fell into deathly silence.

The lawyers' jaws practically hit the floor. Bankruptcy? Jumping off a building? Is this Daoist cursing President Su?

In normal times, Su Qingge would have had someone throw such a jinx out. But at this moment, Su Qingge's face turned deathly pale instantly, and her body swayed, nearly losing her footing.

She leaned on her assistant, staring fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao, her voice trembling: "Is it... really that serious?"

Zhang Xuanyao did not answer. He simply raised the cola can in his hand and shook it at Su Qingge.

"This ten-thousand-yuan divination fee is a discount I'm giving you."

"After all..." Zhang Xuanyao smiled, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "If President Su goes bankrupt, who will sponsor the renovation project of our Qingfeng Temple in the future?"

After saying this, he took the cola and swaggered toward the interrogation room, leaving a crowd of people in the lobby in a state of disarray.

"Xiao Li." Su Qingge took a deep breath, turned to look at her chief secretary behind her, her eyes terrifyingly cold.

"Notify the board of directors; the Su Group is withdrawing from tomorrow morning's South City bidding meeting."

"Huh?" The secretary was stunned, "But President Su, the initial investment of 500 million..."

"I said withdraw!" Su Qingge's voice rose by an octave, carrying unquestionable authority, "Even if all 500 million goes down the drain, it's better than losing our lives!"

She watched Zhang Xuanyao's back disappear at the end of the corridor. That back was not tall, and even a bit lazy. But in Su Qingge's eyes, it was the only guiding light that could lead her out of the abyss.

"Also..." Su Qingge took a backup phone from her assistant. "Look up the account for Qingfeng Temple on Mount Longhu. Transfer five million over first. Remark: Renovation fee."

Subsequently, Su Qingge was taken into an office, while Zhang Xuanyao was taken into an interrogation room. Both were giving statements, and the difference became apparent.

As the victim, Su Qingge recounted Zhao Tianming's actions in detail. On Zhang Xuanyao's side, he also explained the situation, but the people at the police station were skeptical.

Su Qingge finished her statement and came out of the office first.

16: Chapter 16: A Predicted Prophecy Come True

Municipal Police Bureau lobby.

Su Qingge sat on a row of plastic chairs.

She had changed into clean clothes delivered by her assistant, with a small black suit jacket draped over her shoulders, covering the mud-stained blouse.

She was surrounded by three women.

These three were dressed in expensive, luxurious attire, carrying limited-edition handbags worth hundreds of thousands.

"Qingge, have you been possessed by something evil?"

The woman speaking was named Zhou Ying, a college classmate of Su Qingge. Her family was in the import-export business, and she had always been sharp-tongued.

Zhou Ying reached out to touch Su Qingge's forehead, then pulled back, pursing her lips: "A five hundred million project stopped just like that, and you gave a Daoist five million? Did your money fall from the sky?"

"You don't understand." Su Qingge pushed away Zhou Ying's hand, her eyes fixed on the exit of the interrogation room corridor. "He is not an ordinary Daoist."

"What's so different about him? Isn't he just a bit handsome and quick-witted?"

Another close friend, Lin Manman, toyed with her freshly done manicure, her tone filled with mockery.

"Modern-day scammers specifically target female CEOs like you who have just suffered heartbreak. That animal Zhao Tianming is scum, but you can't just start believing in a charlatan because you were bitten by a dog."

"Manman, stop it."

Su Qingge frowned.

"There was a problem with that land; he knew there was something underground with just one look. And just now, when Zhao Tianming fell, that was Words Become Law."

Zhou Ying laughed out loud upon hearing this.

"Words Become Law? Qingge, you've read too many Wuxia novels."

Zhou Ying fished a compact mirror from her bag and applied lipstick while looking at the mirror: "That banana peel was definitely thrown by some passerby, or the Daoist set it up in advance. I've seen this kind of Jianghu trickery many times. First, they create panic, then save you from fire and water, and finally, they swindle you for money and sex."

"He didn't swindle me for sex." Su Qingge corrected her seriously.

"That's because he has a big appetite and wants to play the long game."

Zhou Ying snapped the compact mirror shut with a crisp sound: "When he comes out, I'll help you expose him. For someone like that, I can send him to the Municipal Police Bureau to sit in a cell with just one phone call, without even needing to take a statement."

Su Qingge didn't respond.

She recalled the scene at the edge of the cliff.

That kind of fear and reverence, as if her very Soul had been seen through, could not be explained in just a few words.

Footsteps echoed in the corridor.

Zhang Xuanyao walked out, swaying, with a half-drunk bottle of ice cola in his hand.

His washed-out Daoist robe looked completely out of place in such a serious setting as the Municipal Police Bureau. However, he walked without looking sideways, his expression lazy, like an old man who had just finished strolling through a park.

"Great Master!"

Su Qingge stood up abruptly and hurried to meet him.

Her eager expression made her look exactly like a little fan girl chasing a star.

The three close friends behind her looked at each other, their faces filled with undisguised disgust.

Zhang Xuanyao stopped, took a sip of cola, and looked at Su Qingge in front of him: "Layperson Su, you haven't left yet? Is your statement finished?"

"No rush."

Zhang Xuanyao's gaze passed over Su Qingge and landed on the three women behind her.

To be precise, it landed on the top of Zhou Ying's head.

[Heavenly Eye], activate.

A golden light, visible only to Zhang Xuanyao, flashed by.

Above Zhou Ying's head hovered a thick mass of green Qi. Intermingled within that green Qi were several strands of blood-colored threads, which were drilling into her crown chakra.

"President Su, is this your friend?" Zhang Xuanyao pointed at Zhou Ying.

Zhou Ying snorted coldly, walked forward in her high heels, arms crossed, her gaze sweeping back and forth over Zhang Xuanyao.

"So you are that Daoist Zhang? You certainly look good; no wonder you were able to make Qingge so infatuated."

Zhou Ying pulled a checkbook from her bag, scribbled a string of numbers, tore it off, and handed it to Zhang Xuanyao.

"I'll pay this five million on Qingge's behalf. Take the money and stay away from her. A place like Mount Longhu isn't suitable for an 'expert' like you; go find a place where no one is, buy a house, and it will be enough to last you a lifetime."

Zhang Xuanyao didn't take the check.

He took a sip of cola, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, making a "gulp" sound.

"This Layperson, your forehead is glowing green—so green it's turning black, so green it's practically dripping oil."

As soon as Zhang Xuanyao spoke, Zhou Ying's face instantly darkened.

"Who are you cursing?!"

"This Daoist never curses; I only speak the truth."

Zhang Xuanyao walked around Zhou Ying once, tutting twice: "Your husband is named Wu Jianguo, right? The one doing building materials business in the south of the city."

Zhou Ying was stunned for a moment, then sneered: "Did you investigate me? Did Qingge tell you?"

Su Qingge shook her head from the side: "I didn't say anything."

Zhang Xuanyao ignored their skepticism and continued: "Wu Jianguo is not at the company right now, nor is he on a business trip. He is in that apartment under your name at Xiangjiang Mingyuan, unit 802."

Zhou Ying's expression changed.

That was an apartment she bought for her parents to live in, and it was currently empty.

"What is he doing there?" Zhou Ying asked subconsciously.

"He is getting you a new brother-in-law."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the diamond-encrusted mobile phone in Zhou Ying's hand.

"If nothing unexpected happens, in three minutes, your own sister, Zhou Qian, will send you a photo. In the photo will be two plane tickets to the Maldives and an equity transfer agreement."

"Nonsense!"

Zhou Ying was trembling with anger: "My sister is studying abroad! My husband even bought me a Hermès yesterday!"

"The Hermès was hush money."

Zhang Xuanyao glanced at the time on his phone: "Two more minutes. By the way, a word of advice: don't stand under this chandelier."

Above the lobby hung a huge crystal chandelier, looking solemn and dignified.

Zhou Ying looked up at the chandelier, then back at Zhang Xuanyao, her eyes filled with mockery.

"What? Going to perform Words Become Law again? If this lamp falls, I'll eat this check on the spot!"

Lin Manman chimed in: "Exactly, this is the Municipal Police Bureau lobby; the renovation has passed inspection. Who do you think you are? Final Destination?"

Su Qingge tugged on Zhang Xuanyao's sleeve and whispered: "Great Master, let it be, let's go."

Zhang Xuanyao didn't move.

He stared at the blood-colored threads above Zhou Ying's head; the blood lines had completely wrapped around her neck.

It was a sign of great misfortune.

"Countdown: ten, nine, eight..."

Zhang Xuanyao began to count.

Zhou Ying looked at him as if he were a madman: "Count! Keep counting! Let's see what tricks you can pull!"

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

Ding.

The mobile phone in Zhou Ying's hand vibrated sharply.

A WeChat message popped up.

Zhou Ying subconsciously looked down.

It was from Zhou Qian.

The first image was two first-class plane tickets.

The second image was a signed contract, clearly stating that Wu Jianguo was transferring 30% of the shares of his trading company to Zhou Qian.

The third image was a selfie.

The background was the bedroom in Xiangjiang Mingyuan.

Wu Jianguo was shirtless, holding Zhou Qian's shoulders, and both of them were smiling extremely brightly.

The text read: [Sister, Jianguo says he's tired and doesn't want to live looking at your expression anymore. These shares are the 'care fee' for all the years you've taken care of him. We are going to settle in the Maldives, don't look for us.]

Clatter.

The phone fell to the ground, its screen shattering into pieces.

Zhou Ying looked as if she had been struck by lightning; her mind went blank, and her body swayed as she took a step back.

She stepped exactly right under the chandelier.

17: Chapter 17: The Grand Master Performs the Ritual, the Blood Well Devours People

Creeeak— The sound of metal grinding came from overhead.

One of the steel cables of that hundred-pound crystal chandelier snapped without warning, causing the entire fixture to tilt.

"Look out!" Su Qingge screamed.

Zhou Ying had not yet recovered from the shock of being betrayed; she looked up at the falling giant shadow, her legs turning to jelly, unable to move a single step.

Just as the chandelier was about to smash into the crown of her head.

Zhang Xuanyao reached out, grabbed Zhou Ying by the back of her collar, and yanked her backward.

Bang!! A massive roar echoed through the hall.

Crystal shards splattered everywhere, hitting the tiled floor with a crisp shattering sound.

The chandelier smashed heavily onto the spot where Zhou Ying had just been standing, gouging a pit into the floor.

A cloud of dust rose up. The entire room went deathly silent.

Lin Manman screamed in terror and crouched on the ground, covering her head. Su Qingge covered her mouth, her face deathly pale.

Zhou Ying slumped on the ground, less than ten centimeters from the pile of debris.

A flying shard of crystal sliced her cheek, and blood dripped down her chin onto her white silk skirt.

She stared blankly at the shattered chandelier, then looked up at Zhang Xuanyao, who was brushing dust off his cuffs.

"Help... help me..." Zhou Ying's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, trembling violently.

Zhang Xuanyao finished his last sip of cola and tossed the empty can into the trash bin nearby, landing it perfectly.

"There's no need to eat the check; it's too hard and bad for your stomach."

Zhang Xuanyao looked down at her, his tone indifferent: "Go back and check your company's accounts. Wu Jianguo might have taken more than just that 30% stake. If you move fast, you might still be able to intercept him at the airport."

Zhou Ying snapped back to reality. Ignoring the injury on her face, she scrambled to her feet and bowed deeply to Zhang Xuanyao.

"Great Master... I'm sorry! I was blind! I... I'll go right now!"

She picked up her broken phone and rushed out of the police station hall like a madwoman.

Lin Manman stood there, so embarrassed she wished she could crawl into a crack in the floor. She looked at Zhang Xuanyao with eyes full of terror and awe, not daring to say another word.

[Ding! Zhou Ying's destiny changed, major property loss averted.]

[Obtained shock value from those present: 5000.]

The crisp voice of the System rang in Zhang Xuanyao's mind. He felt smug inside, yet his face remained as inscrutable as ever.

"Layperson Su, let's go." Zhang Xuanyao turned and strode toward the door.

Su Qingge hurriedly followed, taking steps twice as fast as usual, afraid of being left behind.

A black Rolls-Royce Phantom was parked at the entrance of the police station. The driver opened the door, and Su Qingge invited Zhang Xuanyao to sit in the back seat, then sat down right next to him.

Inside the car, Su Qingge stared at Zhang Xuanyao's profile, her burning gaze almost setting him on fire.

"Great Master, you said earlier that the land south of the city... has something underground?" Su Qingge lowered her voice, her tone full of curiosity.

Zhang Xuanyao closed his eyes to rest, tapping his fingers lightly on his knee. "That is a Ten Thousand Corpse Pit." Zhang Xuanyao spat out the four words.

Su Qingge's breath hitched, and her body involuntarily shrank closer to Zhang Xuanyao. "A Ten Thousand Corpse Pit? Wasn't that place an old factory area before?"

"Beneath the factory area is an ancient battlefield from several hundred years ago. The resentment was sealed underground and was originally at peace. But if you start excavating and disturb what's beneath the earth, everything within a few miles will become a cursed land."

Zhang Xuanyao opened his eyes and looked at Su Qingge: "Although your five hundred million went down the drain, you preserved the Su Group's century-old foundation. This deal is not a loss."

Su Qingge nodded repeatedly: "Not a loss! Definitely not a loss! I already had my secretary transfer the five million over just now; you must accept it, Great Master."

"That is a repair fee; I will naturally accept it." Zhang Xuanyao turned his head and looked at the retreating street scenery outside the window.

"Layperson Su, just drop me off at the intersection ahead."

"Huh?" Su Qingge was stunned, "Are you not returning to Mount Longhu?"

"I am hungry; I need to go eat something good." Zhang Xuanyao pointed to a five-star hotel not far away. "And, by the way, meet an old friend."

Su Qingge followed his finger and saw an old man in a gray gown standing at the hotel entrance, holding a compass and looking around anxiously.

That was the titan of Heng City's Feng Shui world, Jiang Yuanshan, known as "Half-City Jiang."

Jiang Yuanshan started his apprenticeship late, but he had learned every bit of the Grandmaster's abilities.

Zhang Xuanyao started his apprenticeship early, but he was always fooling around and not doing his proper work, thinking about what to eat for lunch in the morning and what to eat for dinner at noon.

Zhang Xuanyao had only learned about seventy or eighty percent of the Grandmaster's teachings.

Su Qingge was shocked. Even Jiang Yuanshan was waiting for him here? What exactly is this Master Zhang's background?

The Rolls-Royce pulled up smoothly at the hotel entrance. The door opened, and Zhang Xuanyao stepped out.

Jiang Yuanshan, who had been pacing anxiously at the hotel entrance, saw Zhang Xuanyao and his eyes lit up instantly; he trotted over.

His speed didn't look like that of a man in his seventies at all.

"Junior Martial Uncle! You've finally arrived!"

Jiang Yuanshan ran up to Zhang Xuanyao and, without a word, bowed ninety degrees.

Su Qingge, who hadn't yet had the chance to get out of the back seat, froze in place.

Half-City Jiang. In Heng City, from the wealthiest tycoons to the common street folk, who didn't know the name of Jiang Yuanshan?

He was a Feng Shui Grandmaster whom many people couldn't even meet if they begged him on their knees.

Now, he was actually calling this young man in his early twenties... Junior Martial Uncle?

Zhang Xuanyao looked at Jiang Yuanshan in front of him and frowned slightly: "Old Jiang, didn't I tell you to wait in the hotel? Why are you wandering around on the main road?"

Jiang Yuanshan straightened his back, his old face full of bitterness.

"Junior Martial Uncle, something huge has happened. If I had waited any longer, I fear Heng City would have been turned upside down."

As he spoke, he looked at Su Qingge, who was getting out of the car. Jiang Yuanshan was stunned for a moment, then recognized the person in charge of the Su Group.

"President Su? How are you with..."

"Layperson Su dropped me off." Zhang Xuanyao explained casually, then turned to look at Jiang Yuanshan. "Tell me, what happened to that land?"

Zhang Xuanyao sneered. "Nine Dragons Guarding? That is Nine Ghosts Pulling a Coffin."

He glanced above the hotel. The originally clear sky had somehow been covered by a faint layer of gray. That was the Death Qi drifting over from the south of the city.

"When the first shovel went down, what happened?" Zhang Xuanyao asked.

Jiang Yuanshan shivered. "They dug up a well. A blood well."

"The water inside was red and smelled foul. The excavator driver went mad on the spot and drove the machine into the deep pit. President Qin Hu didn't believe in evil; he had people seal the well and continue digging, but as a result..."

Jiang Yuanshan swallowed hard: "As a result, those workers who filled the well all vanished."

"What do you mean by 'vanished'?" Su Qingge pressed.

"Exactly what it sounds like." Jiang Yuanshan's voice trembled: "Neither alive nor dead, no bodies found. They just disappeared right next to the wellhead in front of everyone's eyes."

Su Qingge gasped, her hands and feet turning cold. If she hadn't met Zhang Xuanyao today. If she hadn't followed his advice to withdraw from the bid. Then the missing workers would likely be employees of the Su Group. And she would be facing an abyss from which there is no return.

"Take me to see it." Zhang Xuanyao put away his carefree demeanor.

"Junior Martial Uncle, now?" Jiang Yuanshan hesitated.

"President Qin Hu has a violent temper. He is furious about this matter right now and has sealed off all news about the construction site. If we go over, I'm afraid he'll treat us as troublemakers."

18: Chapter 18: The Five Thunder Orthodox Method, A Single Finger of Thunder Breaks the Evil Scheme

"If he gets angry, what does that have to do with this Daoist?"

Zhang Xuanyao swept a cold glance at Jiang Yuanshan.

"Once the Ten Thousand Corpse Pit is opened, half of Heng City will turn into a ghost realm. By then, you, the 'Half-City Jiang', will likely become 'Half-Ghost Jiang'."

Jiang Yuanshan shuddered, not daring to spout any more nonsense.

"Yes! I will arrange the car right now!"

"Take my car." Su Qingge spoke up first, her eyes determined. "This matter started because of the Su Group, and I also want to see with my own eyes what exactly is going on with that land."

Zhang Xuanyao gave her a deep look.

"President Su, curiosity killed the cat. When we get there, don't run around, don't look at things indiscriminately, and definitely don't speak indiscriminately."

"Understood!" Su Qingge nodded heavily.

The black Rolls-Royce started up again, like a bolt of black lightning, speeding towards the southern suburbs of the city.

...

Southern part of the city, the construction site of the Qin Group.

It had already been sealed off by high hoardings, and dozens of bodyguards in black stood at the entrance, each with a serious expression.

The air at the construction site was permeated with a nauseating, rotten stench.

Even though it was midsummer, as soon as they entered this area, everyone felt a bone-chilling cold.

"Stop! What are you doing?" Before the Rolls-Royce could even get close to the gate, it was stopped by several bodyguards.

Jiang Yuanshan rolled down the window, revealing his old face. "I am Jiang Yuanshan, I'm looking for your President Qin."

The bodyguards clearly recognized Jiang Yuanshan, and their attitudes softened slightly, but they still did not move aside.

"Great Master Jiang, President Qin has given orders that he is not seeing anyone today. There was an accident at the construction site, and it is currently being handled, so please return."

Just as Jiang Yuanshan was about to speak, Zhang Xuanyao in the back seat suddenly spoke up.

"Tell President Qin Hu, if he doesn't want his three-year-old son to die at home, let this Daoist in immediately."

The voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every bodyguard.

The lead bodyguard's expression changed drastically.

President Qin Hu had a child in his old age whom he treasured like a precious jewel; this was no secret in the circle.

However, that child had suddenly developed a high fever that wouldn't subside this morning, and doctors couldn't find the cause—that was top secret!

"Who... who are you?" The lead bodyguard looked at Zhang Xuanyao with suspicion and uncertainty.

"A fortune teller." Zhang Xuanyao leaned lazily against the seat back. "One minute left. In one minute, your little young master's breathing will stop."

The lead bodyguard dared not delay and immediately picked up the walkie-talkie to report.

Less than thirty seconds later.

The construction site gate swung open with a bang.

A middle-aged man wearing a designer suit, but with a face full of stubble and bloodshot eyes, rushed out.

It was the chairman of the Qin Group, President Qin Hu.

"Who? Who said my son is not going to make it?!"

President Qin Hu rushed to the car window and roared with a ferocious expression.

Zhang Xuanyao pushed open the car door and got out, looking at the black mist above President Qin Hu's head that was almost solidifying into an entity.

"You carry the scent of that blood well on you." Zhang Xuanyao extended a finger and pointed at President Qin Hu's chest. "Did you touch something from inside that well with your own hands just now?"

President Qin Hu was stunned.

He had indeed touched it.

After the workers went missing, he had picked up a dark red jade pendant by the well, thinking it was a treasure, and stuffed it into his pocket.

"How did you know?"

"Throw the jade pendant away." Zhang Xuanyao's tone was cold. "That is a Soul-Suppressing Nail ground from human bone. By carrying it on you, you are equivalent to bringing the trigger of the Ten Thousand Corpse Pit into your home. Your son is blocking the disaster for you."

President Qin Hu subconsciously took the jade pendant out of his pocket.

Under the sunlight, the jade pendant had no luster at all; instead, it exuded a cold, chilling aura.

"This... is this really bone?"

President Qin Hu's hand shook, and the jade pendant fell to the ground.

"Enough nonsense, take me to the well." Zhang Xuanyao didn't look at the jade pendant and walked straight towards the depths of the construction site.

President Qin Hu was now completely intimidated by Zhang Xuanyao's aura. Although he was a rough man, he knew that someone who could see through these secrets at a glance was definitely not an ordinary person.

"Quick! Lead the Great Master!"

The group walked through the muddy construction site and arrived at the center.

There was a huge deep pit there.

In the center of the pit bottom, an ancient well about two meters in diameter stood quietly.

The soil around the wellhead presented a strange, dark purple color.

Before they even got close, a strong, bloody stench rushed towards them.

Su Qingge couldn't help but dry heave, while Jiang Yuanshan took out a few Talismanic Incantations, clutching them tightly in his hand.

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the edge of the pit, his eyes slightly closed.

[Heavenly Eye], fully activated!

In his vision, what kind of construction site was this?

Beneath the ground for thousands of miles, it was densely packed with overlapping corpses.

And this well was the exit for the resentment of all the corpses.

At this moment, the wellhead was continuously spewing out thick black fog. This black fog condensed in mid-air, vaguely forming twisted human faces, emitting silent wails.

And deep at the bottom of the well.

A pair of huge, blood-red eyes were coldly staring upwards.

"What a grand setup." Zhang Xuanyao snorted coldly.

"President Qin Hu, did that 'expert' you invited tell you that as long as you build a high-rise building over this well, it would allow your Qin family to have continuous wealth and prosperity for generations?"

President Qin Hu nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes! That is exactly what Master Ye said! He said it was called 'Blood Dragon Spitting the Pearl', and it was a sign of great fortune!"

"Great fortune?" Zhang Xuanyao turned his head abruptly, his eyes shooting towards President Qin Hu like sharp blades.

"He is intending to use your entire Qin family, as well as the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in this Heng City, to raise that thing in his well!"

"What?!" President Qin Hu was so scared that he collapsed onto the muddy ground.

Just at this moment.

A cold, eerie laughter came from a nearby construction shed.

"Hehehe..."

"Where did this wild Daoist come from, daring to ruin this old man's good deed?"

An old man wearing a black robe and as thin as a stick walked out slowly.

His eyes were sunken, revealing a faint green light.

It was indeed the "Master Ye" from President Qin Hu's mouth.

"Junior Martial Uncle, that's him!" Jiang Yuanshan exclaimed.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the black-robed old man, the corners of his mouth curling into a playful arc.

"An evil cultivator?"

"Using the resentment of ten thousand corpses to perform Alchemy, are you not afraid of incurring divine retribution?"

The black-robed old man laughed sinisterly: "Divine retribution? As long as this 'Dragon' succeeds, this old man will be the god of this Heng City! Who can punish me?"

He waved the bone staff in his hand and pointed it at Zhang Xuanyao.

"Go to hell!"

In an instant, the black mist at the wellhead seemed to have received an order, transforming into a huge black snake, opening its bloodthirsty maw, and lunging fiercely at Zhang Xuanyao.

Su Qingge screamed in terror, and President Qin Hu fainted directly.

The Talismanic Incantation in Jiang Yuanshan's hand was blown away by the cold wind before he could even throw it.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in place, motionless.

He looked at the black snake and sighed helplessly.

"Why do modern evil cultivators have absolutely no creativity?"

He raised his hand and grasped into the Void Realm.

"Thunder, come!"

Boom!!

From the originally gloomy sky, a golden-purple bolt of lightning as thick as a water bucket suddenly descended.

The lightning struck the black snake's head with precision.

The black snake didn't even have time to let out a scream before it instantly vanished into ashes.

The remaining power of the thunder didn't diminish, directly striking the ancient well.

Crack!

The stones on the surface of the ancient well shattered one after another.

"Pfft!"

The black-robed old man was struck as if by a heavy blow, spraying a mouthful of blood as he flew backward, crashing into the perimeter wall.

He looked at Zhang Xuanyao in terror.

"Five Thunders Method!?"

"You... who exactly are you?!"

19: Chapter 19: Merit Complete, President Su is Completely Fallen

Zhang Xuanyao walked towards him. With every step he took, tender green sprouts unexpectedly grew from the soil beneath his feet.

That was Life Qi forcibly suppressing the Death Qi.

"I am the Daoist Zhang Xuanyao."

"The last Temple Master of Qingfeng Temple."

Zhang Xuanyao walked up to the old man and looked down at him.

"I will take your pill."

"As for your life, Heaven will take it."

After saying this, Zhang Xuanyao stomped his foot violently.

"Seal!"

A bolt of heavenly lightning struck the blood well once again.

A roar of unwillingness came from deep beneath the ground.

Immediately after, the black mist that had been gushing out seemed to be absorbed by a black hole, frantically retracting back into the well.

The dark purple soil at the mouth of the well quickly returned to its normal color.

Sunlight shone down upon the construction site once again.

The chill dissipated.

Zhang Xuanyao turned his head, looked at Su Qingge and Jiang Yuanshan, who were stunned, and waved his hand.

"What are you looking at? Haven't you seen immortals fighting before?"

"Old Jiang, I'll leave the rest to you. Fill in this well, and build a martyrs' memorial or a temple on top to suppress the remaining resentment."

"President Su, we haven't settled our accounts yet."

Zhang Xuanyao walked up to Su Qingge and held out his hand.

"That lightning strike from just now took a lot of energy."

"You have to pay extra."

Su Qingge looked at the man before her, who was radiating a faint golden light, her heart beating so fast it felt like it was about to jump out of her throat.

She grabbed Zhang Xuanyao's hand.

"Great Master... even if you want half the shares of Su Group, I will give them to you!"

Zhang Xuanyao's mouth twitched.

"Forget the shares. Please just buy me a family bucket first."

"I'm so hungry I'm about to wither away."

...

Half an hour later.

In the most luxurious hotel suite in Heng City.

Zhang Xuanyao sat on the carpet without any regard for his image, with KFC fried chicken and cola spread all over the floor in front of him.

Su Qingge sat on the side, personally peeling shrimp shells for him. If the employees of Su Group saw her gentle appearance, they would surely resign en masse.

Jiang Yuanshan stood to the side, respectfully handing over tissues like an elementary school student.

"Junior Martial Uncle, I have already handed that evil cultivator over to the police."

"President Qin Hu has woken up. He said he wants to donate a golden statue to Qingfeng Temple and give you the usage rights to half of that land."

Zhang Xuanyao took a bite of a chicken leg and said vaguely, "I don't want the land. Have him convert the money into cash and transfer it to my temple's account."

"Alright, alright." Jiang Yuanshan nodded repeatedly.

Su Qingge brought the peeled shrimp to Zhang Xuanyao's mouth.

"Great Master, you saved all of Heng City. Is this Karma... very significant?"

Zhang Xuanyao stopped his movements and glanced at the System panel.

[Ding! Suppressed the Ten Thousand Corpse Pit, saved all the citizens of the city, obtained shock value: 100,000 points!]

[Congratulations Host, Heavenly Eye has upgraded to Level 2. Usage now consumes less Mental Energy, and it can observe the more distant future and past.]

[System shop has been opened.]

He turned his head and looked at the admiring Su Qingge, suddenly feeling that this woman was quite pleasing to the eye.

"President Su."

"Great Master, please speak." Su Qingge straightened her back.

"Starting tomorrow, don't call me Great Master."

Su Qingge was stunned, her eyes dimming slightly. "Then... what should I call you?"

Zhang Xuanyao took a sip of cola and let out a loud burp.

"Call me Temple Master Zhang."

"After all, Qingfeng Temple is going to become the number one Daoist temple in the world. As our 'Chief Sponsor,' your form of address needs to be professional."

Su Qingge's eyes lit up instantly.

"Yes! Temple Master Zhang!"

At this moment, this cold and aloof female CEO finally fell completely.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the presidential suite, the neon lights of Heng City began to flicker.

Inside the room, the scent of fried chicken and expensive aromatherapy weirdly mixed together.

Jiang Yuanshan was a sensible old man.

He glanced at Su Qingge, who was kneeling on the carpet handing cola to Zhang Xuanyao, and then at his Junior Martial Uncle, who was calmly gnawing on a chicken leg. His wrinkled old face instantly scrunched up like a chrysanthemum.

"Well, uh..."

Jiang Yuanshan rubbed his hands, tucked his compass into his chest, and shrank towards the door.

"I'm worried about the south side of the city; I still have to go supervise those brats filling in the well. That place is very ominous; if I don't go, they won't be able to hold down the fort."

Zhang Xuanyao didn't look up and spat out a chicken bone.

"Go ahead. Remember, before filling the well, sprinkle three catties of cinnabar and nine catties of quicklime inside. When sealing the soil, have people face away from the well mouth and absolutely do not turn back to look."

"Got it!"

Jiang Yuanshan responded quickly.

"Also."

Zhang Xuanyao took a tissue handed over by Su Qingge and wiped his hands.

"Remember to urge President Qin Hu about that money. The golden statue of the Grandmaster at Qingfeng Temple is peeling paint. If I don't fix it soon, the Grandmaster will scold me in my dreams tonight."

"Tomorrow! I'll have him transfer the money first thing tomorrow morning!"

Jiang Yuanshan patted his chest with a thud.

Afterward, he gave Su Qingge an extremely ambiguous look—the gaze of an elder looking at a granddaughter-in-law—which made Su Qingge's ears turn red.

"President Su, take good care of my Junior Martial Uncle. He... gets hungry easily."

Click.

The door closed.

In the spacious presidential suite, there were suddenly only two people left.

The air seemed to become thick at this moment.

Su Qingge didn't speak.

She still maintained her kneeling posture, holding the half-finished can of cola, her gaze like a fine net, tightly covering Zhang Xuanyao.

Even though this man still had oil stains on the corners of his mouth, and even though he was wearing that cheap, street-stall Daoist robe.

But in Su Qingge's eyes, he was more dazzling than anyone else in this world.

From the prophecy at the cliff's edge, to the life-saving pull in the police station lobby, and then to the lightning strike that destroyed the evil at the construction site in the south of the city just now.

Each and every one of these events was like a heavy hammer, smashing the materialist worldview Su Qingge had built over twenty-plus years into pieces, and then, upon these ruins, erecting a statue named "Zhang Xuanyao."

"President Su?"

Zhang Xuanyao felt a little creeped out by the way she was looking at him.

He reached out and waved his hand in front of Su Qingge.

"Stunned? Although I am handsome, I charge a fee. One hundred per look; for these ten minutes, you at least need to transfer me ten thousand."

Su Qingge came back to her senses.

She didn't take the bait about the money, but instead put down the cola, stood up, and walked to the wine cabinet.

She didn't turn on the lights.

Only the flowing city lights from outside the window spilled in, falling upon her rapidly rising and falling chest.

"Pop."

With a crisp sound, the red wine cork was pulled out.

Su Qingge poured two glasses of wine and carried them back.

She didn't sit back in her original spot, but instead sat directly on the sofa beside Zhang Xuanyao.

The distance was very close.

So close that Zhang Xuanyao could smell the faint scent of orchids on her, mixed with the tipsy aroma of red wine, drilling straight into his nose.

"Great Master."

Su Qingge handed the wine glass over, her voice slightly hoarse.

"Drink."

Zhang Xuanyao took the glass, swirled the crimson liquid, and looked at her with a half-smile.

"President Su, a man and a woman alone, drinking late at night. Are you trying to get me drunk so you can welch on that five million in repair fees?"

"That is what you deserve."

Su Qingge tilted her head back and drank the red wine in her glass in one gulp.

20: Chapter 20: Pure Yin Body, Yin and Yang in Harmony

The wine trickled down her slender neck, leaving a suggestive stain on her collarbone.

She set down her glass, leaned forward, and braced her hands on either side of Zhang Xuanyao's body, trapping him between the sofa and herself.

The aura of a powerful businesswoman completely transformed at this moment into an intensely aggressive display of female hormones.

"Anything but money."

Su Qingge stared into Zhang Xuanyao's eyes, her breathing beginning to quicken.

"My entire being, along with the Su Group, was saved by you."

"I'm thinking..."

She extended a finger, gently hooked the frog button on Zhang Xuanyao's Daoist robe, and traced circles on the rough fabric with her fingertip.

"How should I repay you?"

Zhang Xuanyao's Adam's apple bobbed.

Although he Cultivated the Dao, he did not follow the path of asceticism.

The lineage of Qingfeng Temple emphasized following one's heart and acting in accordance with the flow of events.

This woman before him.

Her appearance was peerless, her figure enchanting, and more importantly, within the vision of his Heavenly Eye, Su Qingge was radiating an alluring, pale pink aura.

That was a sign of a Pure Yin Body.

He hadn't noticed before, but now that they were close, Zhang Xuanyao realized this woman was practically a walking "human spirit-gathering array."

For someone who Cultivated, this was undoubtedly a top-tier tonic.

"Um..."

Zhang Xuanyao leaned back, trying to hold his last line of defense.

"As for repayment, we can discuss it at length. For example, you could donate an air conditioning System to Qingfeng Temple, or renovate the steps on the back mountain..."

"Zhang Xuanyao."

Su Qingge interrupted him.

This was the first time she had called him by his full name.

Without the honorific, there was instead a sense of determination to devour him whole.

"I don't want to discuss it at length."

Su Qingge's cheeks were burning from the alcohol and shyness, but her movements did not falter in the slightest.

She sat directly astride Zhang Xuanyao's lap.

Her professional skirt was stretched to its limit, outlining a breathtaking curve.

"I want it now."

Before she finished speaking.

Su Qingge lowered her head and kissed those thin lips that always spoke such infuriating words.

Boom!

In that instant.

Zhang Xuanyao felt as if fireworks had exploded in his mind.

Soft.

Burning hot.

Carrying the mellow aroma of red wine, and a kind of madness that erupted after extreme repression.

Su Qingge kissed clumsily, without any technique, only the instinct of a wild beast. She gnawed on Zhang Xuanyao's lips, her hands frantically tearing at that obstructive Daoist robe.

"Hiss—"

Zhang Xuanyao gasped.

Is this woman a dog?

"Lay Practitioner Su, this is assaulting a police officer... No, wait, assaulting a Daoist!"

Zhang Xuanyao mumbled a protest.

But his hands were very honest.

He didn't push her away, but instead used the momentum to clasp Su Qingge's slender waist.

The sensation against his palms was astonishingly delicate.

Upon being touched, Su Qingge trembled as if she had been electrocuted.

She stopped her movements, straightened her waist slightly, and looked down at Zhang Xuanyao.

Those Phoenix eyes, usually so decisive and ruthless, were now blurred and almost dripping with desire.

"Aren't you able to calculate everything under heaven?"

Su Qingge panted, her fingers sliding down Zhang Xuanyao's chest, undoing the last frog button.

"Then did you calculate that tonight... you would be mine?"

Zhang Xuanyao laughed.

It was a laugh tinged with a touch of wickedness and a hint of helplessness.

"President Su, provoking a hot-blooded Daoist has very serious consequences."

He flipped over suddenly.

The world spun.

Their positions instantly swapped.

Su Qingge was pinned beneath him, her black hair scattered across the snow-white carpet like a blooming black lotus.

Zhang Xuanyao propped himself up with one hand beside her ear, while his other hand extremely naturally flicked open the collar of her shirt.

"This Daoist has never suffered a loss in his life."

"Since President Su is so passionate..."

Zhang Xuanyao lowered his head and gently bit Su Qingge's earlobe.

"Then this Daoist will have to... subdue demons and eliminate devils."

"Mmm..."

Su Qingge let out a broken moan, her arms instinctively wrapping around Zhang Xuanyao's neck.

At that moment.

Reason collapsed.

The lights in the presidential suite seemed to become suggestive, and the moon outside the window shyly hid behind the clouds.

...

"Wait!"

Just as they were at the point of no return, Zhang Xuanyao suddenly stopped his movements.

Su Qingge was lost in passion and opened her eyes in dissatisfaction, her eyes brimming with allure: "What's wrong? Do you want more money?"

"It's not about money."

Zhang Xuanyao stared at the center of Su Qingge's eyebrows.

There was a tiny vermilion cinnabar mole there, currently emitting a faint red light.

"Pure Yin Locking Yang?"

Zhang Xuanyao gasped.

No wonder this woman was still single at twenty-five, no wonder a scumbag like Zhao Tianming would do anything to marry her.

In the eyes of ordinary people, this Physique was considered a husband-killer, but in the eyes of those who Cultivated, it was a once-in-a-ten-thousand-year Cauldron!

If someone who didn't know the ropes touched her, they would have their Yang Qi instantly drained by that extremely cold Yin Qi; at best, they would fall ill, and at worst, they would drop dead on the spot.

But for Zhang Xuanyao...

This was practically a gift package delivered to his doorstep!

"Su Qingge."

Zhang Xuanyao's voice became a bit more serious, but his hands were even more audacious, reaching directly beneath that thin layer of fabric.

"The next part might be a little hot."

"It might even feel like being on fire."

"You'll have to endure it."

Su Qingge couldn't hear any of this.

She only felt a scorching large hand pressed against her skin; the temperature was so hot that even her Soul was trembling.

"I'm not afraid..."

Su Qingge arched her waist, actively meeting him.

"As long as it's you... I'm not afraid of fire..."

"Good!"

Zhang Xuanyao hesitated no longer.

Yang Qi like a Dragon, Yin Qi like a Phoenix.

The moment they made contact, a violent reaction erupted.

"Ah—!"

Su Qingge couldn't help but cry out.

It wasn't pain, but a pleasure she had never experienced before, soaring straight to the heavens.

She felt like a small boat drifting in a storm, tossed high into the sky by giant waves again and again.

And Zhang Xuanyao was the sea god controlling the winds and waves.

...

[Ding! Detected a top-grade Pure Yin Body!]

[Harmonizing Yin and Yang...]

[Congratulations to the host! Obtained Su Qingge's deep favorability: 100% (Unwavering until death)!]

In his mind, the System's notifications rang out one after another like thunderclaps.

But Zhang Xuanyao had no time to pay attention.

He was currently immersed in this extremely wonderful "Cultivation."

The Yin Qi within Su Qingge's body poured into his own endlessly, washing over his Meridians; his internal organs, which had been damaged from forcibly drawing lightning, were actually repairing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

And the Pure Yang Qi he returned to Su Qingge was also quietly transforming her body.

Her skin became fairer and more translucent, and the sub-health state caused by years of working overtime instantly vanished.

...

This night was destined to be long.

The large bed in the presidential suite endured the trials befitting its price.

From the carpet to the sofa, from the bathroom to the bedroom.

Su Qingge seemed to want to release all the passion she had accumulated over the past twenty-plus years.

She had cried, begged for mercy, and finally turned into an insatiable seeker.

Until the east turned pale with the morning light.

The wind and rain finally gradually subsided.

...

The next morning.

Sunlight spilled onto the large bed through the gaps in the curtains.

Zhang Xuanyao opened his eyes, feeling refreshed.

21: Chapter 21: A Hundred Coffins Block the Gate, the Show Begins

"Is this the pleasure of Dual Cultivation?"

"Sure enough, the Grandmaster never deceives me!"

He turned his head.

Su Qingge was curled up in his arms, sleeping like a lazy cat.

Her beautiful face still had a flush that hadn't faded, and her shoulders, exposed outside the quilt, were covered in the "masterpieces" he had left behind.

Zhang Xuanyao reached out and gently brushed away the stray hair on her forehead.

Su Qingge's eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Four eyes met.

There was no embarrassment, no regret.

Only tenderness that could not be melted away.

"Awake?" Zhang Xuanyao's voice was hoarse from the morning.

"Hmm."

Su Qingge responded, rubbed against his chest, and wrapped her arms tightly around Zhang Xuanyao's waist.

"What time is it?"

"Nine o'clock."

"Oh no!"

Su Qingge sat up abruptly, the quilt slipped, and spring scenery was revealed.

She let out a cry of surprise, quickly pulled up the quilt to cover her chest, her face as red as a ripe tomato.

"There's a board meeting this morning! Regarding the follow-up handling of that project!"

Su Qingge searched for her clothes in a panic.

But the clothes on the floor had long been torn into rags and couldn't be worn at all.

"Don't worry."

Zhang Xuanyao leaned against the headboard, admiring the beauty's embarrassment.

"I divined a hexagram last night; today's board meeting won't happen."

Su Qingge paused: "What do you mean?"

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the phone on the bedside table.

There, the red missed call indicator light was flashing frantically.

"Answer the phone."

Zhang Xuanyao yawned, got out of bed, openly displaying his strong physique, and picked up the Daoist robe from the floor to put it on.

"The good show has just begun."

Su Qingge picked up the phone in doubt.

It was a call from secretary Xiao Li.

There were over fifty missed calls.

Her heart skipped a beat, and a bad premonition surged in her heart.

As soon as she pressed the callback button, the call was answered instantly.

A scream with a crying tone came from the receiver from Xiao Li: "President Su! Something big has happened!"

"Hundreds of black coffins have been sent to the entrance of our group building!"

"They are blocking the main gate completely!"

"There is also a group of people in mourning clothes burning paper money, saying they want our Su Group to pay for the lives of those workers who died south of the city!"

Su Qingge's face changed drastically.

The workers south of the city were clearly President Qin Hu's people; what did that have to do with the Su Group?

This is framing!

"Don't panic."

A warm, large hand pressed on Su Qingge's trembling shoulder.

Zhang Xuanyao was standing behind her at some point, his eyes cold.

"It seems that behind that evil cultivator from last night, there is still someone."

He bent down, leaned against Su Qingge's ear, and chuckled: "Layperson Su, get up and wash up."

"I will accompany you to see which wandering ghost dares to run wild on your territory, Su Qingge."

Afterwards, Su Qingge called secretary Xiao Li and asked her to bring two sets of clothes, one for a man and one for a woman.

Ten minutes later.

The doorbell of the presidential suite rang.

Su Qingge, wrapped in a bathrobe, looked through the peephole and opened the door.

Standing outside the door was her personal secretary, Xiao Li.

Xiao Li was carrying two exquisite paper bags, one with men's casual wear and one with the high-end professional suit that Su Qingge often wore.

"President Su, this is what you asked for..."

Before Xiao Li finished speaking, her gaze crossed Su Qingge's shoulder and saw a man in the room.

Xiao Li's pupils instantly dilated.

As Su Qingge's personal secretary, she knew her boss too well.

Su Qingge was a notorious workaholic and a famous "opposite-sex repellent."

Let alone bringing a man back to the hotel for the night, she would usually frown and go wash her hands if she shook hands with a male client for more than three seconds.

But now...

The mess in the room, the subtle aura lingering in the air, and the obvious scratch marks on that man's body.

Xiao Li only felt a wave of hypoxia in her brain.

"Ahem."

Su Qingge took the paper bag, a trace of unnatural blush flashed on her face, but she quickly returned to her usual coldness.

"Wait outside."

The door slammed shut with a "bang."

Xiao Li stood in the corridor, facing the closed door, swallowing her saliva silently.

...

A moment later.

The door opened again.

Su Qingge had changed into a capable black professional suit, her hair was meticulously coiled behind her head, and she had returned to the appearance of that decisive female president.

It was just that those cold eyes in the past now had an extra layer of watery luster, and the whole person looked radiant, with skin as good as a shelled egg.

Zhang Xuanyao followed behind her, not wearing the casual clothes, but still wearing that shabby Daoist robe.

"Let's go."

Su Qingge stepped on high heels and strode towards the elevator.

Zhang Xuanyao followed lazily.

In the elevator, the atmosphere was weird to the extreme.

Xiao Li shrank in the corner, wishing she could turn into an invisible person.

Her gaze couldn't help but glance at Zhang Xuanyao's neck.

There was a clear red mark there.

"What are you looking at?"

Zhang Xuanyao turned his head suddenly and grinned at Xiao Li.

"No... nothing!" Xiao Li shivered with fright, quickly turned her head away, and faced the elevator wall to reflect on her mistakes.

"That was a mosquito bite."

Zhang Xuanyao explained seriously.

"The hygiene of this five-star hotel is not very good either; the mosquitoes are quite poisonous, and they only bite the neck."

Su Qingge's body stiffened, and her high heels stepped hard on Zhang Xuanyao's instep.

"Hiss—"

Zhang Xuanyao gasped and became honest.

At the entrance of the lobby.

The black Rolls-Royce was already parked on the side of the road.

The driver opened the door.

Su Qingge got in the car first, followed by Zhang Xuanyao.

Xiao Li sat in the passenger seat, not daring to look back the whole time.

The car started and sped towards the headquarters of the Su Group.

"Master Zhang," Su Qingge looked at the retreating street scene outside the window, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the leather seat, "the situation might be a bit chaotic later, stay close to me."

"Chaotic?"

Zhang Xuanyao leaned on the back of the chair and took out his phone to scroll through short videos.

"Chaotic is good."

"Only when the water is muddy can one fish."

He clicked on the local trending search.

The number one entry was #Su Group disregards human life, one hundred coffins block the door to seek justice#.

In the video, the entrance to the Su Group building was covered in mourning clothes, and the sound of crying was deafening.

The comment section was full of curses.

"Capitalists suck blood without spitting out bones!"

"The Su Group must be severely punished!"

"Boycott Su Group! Let Su Qingge get out of Heng City!"

Zhang Xuanyao looked at those vicious comments, the corners of his mouth hooked into a playful arc.

"It seems that this fire is burning quite brightly."

Half an hour later.

The Rolls-Royce turned the corner of the street, and from a distance, one could see the sixty-story building of the Su Group.

At this time, the square at the entrance of the building was already crowded with people.

Hundreds of pitch-black coffins were neatly placed under the steps, blocking the main gate tightly.

A group of people in mourning clothes knelt in front of the coffins, burning paper money and crying to heaven and earth.

Paper ash danced in the sky, like a black snow.

The surroundings were surrounded by citizens watching the excitement, as well as dozens of media outlets with long guns and short cannons, shooting madly at the entrance of the building.

"Su Qingge! Come out!"

"A life for a life! Pay back the debts!"

"We want justice! We want a way to live!"

The leader was a Bald Man with a fleshy face, holding a white wreath in his hand, his voice as loud as a broken gong.

As soon as he shouted, the hundreds of people behind him followed, the sound waves one after another, shaking the building's glass until it hummed.

The Rolls-Royce stopped on the outskirts of the crowd.

"President Su, the car can't get in." The driver wiped the cold sweat on his forehead.

"Get out of the car."

Su Qingge pushed open the car door.

As soon as she appeared, the sharp-eyed reporters immediately discovered her.

"Su Qingge is here!"

"Quick! Surround her!"

The crowd instantly boiled.

Countless microphones and cameras seemed to have grown eyes, rushing towards Su Qingge.

The "family members" kneeling on the ground also stopped crying, their eyes red, like hungry wolves seeing prey, about to rush over here.

"Move aside! Move aside!"

Dozens of security guards from the Su Group rushed out, holding hands to form a human wall, struggling to block the surging crowd.

22: Chapter 22: An Ironclad Judgment, All the Villains Revealed

Little Li rushed to the very front, desperately pushing aside the microphones thrust toward them.

"No comment! Please make way!"

Su Qingge remained expressionless, moving with difficulty toward the main entrance under the escort of security guards.

Rotten vegetable leaves, rotten eggs, and even stones flew out from the crowd.

"Splat!"

A rotten egg hit a security guard's shield, and egg liquid splattered everywhere.

Su Qingge didn't even frown, her steps firm.

Zhang Xuanyao followed half a step behind her, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone, looking around as if he had nothing to do with any of this.

"President Su! Is the accident at the South City construction site true?"

"We heard dozens of workers died and their bodies were sealed in the wells with cement. Is that true?"

"How does Su Group plan to compensate? Are you trying to cover it up with money?"

The reporters' questions were sharper than the last, wishing they could shove their microphones into Su Qingge's mouth.

The Bald Man even broke through the security line, rushing to within two meters of Su Qingge.

"Su Qingge! You poisonous woman!"

The Bald Man pointed at Su Qingge's nose and cursed: "My brother worked at your construction site, now he's missing, neither alive nor dead! If you don't give me an explanation today, I'll bash my head in right in front of you!"

After speaking, he made a move to slam himself into the stone pillar nearby.

The surrounding crowd let out a gasp.

Cameras flashed frantically, recording this "tragic" scene.

Su Qingge stopped and looked at him coldly.

"What is your brother's name? Which construction team was he in? Where is his employment contract?"

The Bald Man froze for a moment, then roared even louder: "People are dead and you're still asking about contracts? Do you have any conscience?!"

"Exactly! Heartless!"

"Down with the black-hearted capitalist!"

The crowd jeered again, and the scene was on the verge of spiraling out of control.

Just then, a hand was placed on the Bald Man's shoulder.

"Buddy, you're acting pretty hard."

Zhang Xuanyao walked out from behind Su Qingge, smiling at the Bald Man.

The Bald Man turned his head abruptly, glaring at Zhang Xuanyao: "Who are you? Is it your place to speak? Get lost!"

Zhang Xuanyao ignored him, instead raising his phone and taking a close-up of the Bald Man's face.

"Family, good morning."

"Today, this Daoist will take everyone to see a big scene."

"A hundred coffins blocking the door, filial sons mourning—this spectacle is livelier than the Spring Festival Gala."

On the phone screen, the livestream had already started.

The title was simple and crude: [At the entrance of Su Group, live fortune-telling, no charge if it's not accurate].

Because it carried the trending tag #Su Group#, the popularity of the livestream soared the moment it opened.

In just a few seconds, the number of online viewers exceeded one hundred thousand.

[Holy crap? Isn't this that prophetic Master Zhang?]

[Why is the Great Master on the scene? And with Su Qingge?]

[This Bald Man looks so familiar.]

The comments rolled by frantically.

The Bald Man looked at the phone in Zhang Xuanyao's hand, feeling inexplicably panicked.

"You... what are you doing? Don't film me!"

He reached out to grab the phone.

Zhang Xuanyao slid his feet, his figure flashing past like a ghost. The Bald Man lunged and missed, almost falling flat on his face.

"Don't be in such a rush."

Zhang Xuanyao stood on the steps, looking down at the hundreds of people dressed in mourning clothes below.

His eyes narrowed slightly. [Heavenly Eye], activate!

In an instant, the originally noisy crowd changed appearance in his field of vision.

Above everyone's head floated clusters of Qi of different colors.

Black represented bad luck, red represented bloodshed, and pink represented romance.

And these people in front of him—their heads were almost entirely covered in gray-black murky Qi.

These were the traces left by committing crimes and losing one's virtue.

Especially the Bald Man; the black Qi on his head was so thick it was almost dripping, with a trace of blood-red mixed in.

This was the ominous sign of someone carrying a murder case on their back.

"Heh." Zhang Xuanyao sneered.

"President Su." He turned to look at Su Qingge, "Tell the security guards to clear the way."

Su Qingge was stunned: "Clear the way? They will rush in."

"Don't worry, they won't be able to get in."

Zhang Xuanyao aimed the phone camera at the crowd.

"Dear viewers, in this society ruled by law, there are actually people who dare to gather to cause trouble, and even commit extortion."

"Today, this Daoist will act on behalf of Heaven and properly tell the fortunes of this gang of 'filial sons and grandsons'."

He extended a finger, pointing at the Bald Man.

"You, your name is Zhao Daqiang, nicknamed 'Qiangzi'."

The Bald Man's expression changed: "You... how do you know?"

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the phone screen, speaking as if reading a script, his speed very fast: "Three years ago, you collected protection money at the North City vegetable market, broke the leg of an old vegetable seller, and paid fifty thousand yuan to settle it privately."

"Two years ago, you were detained for fifteen days for gathering to gamble."

"Half a year ago, you drugged a drink at a bar and dragged away a female college student. This case wasn't filed due to insufficient evidence, but that girl is still seeing a psychiatrist to this day."

As Zhang Xuanyao's voice fell, the scene fell into dead silence.

Only the comments in the livestream were flooding the screen like crazy.

[Holy crap! Is this real or fake?]

[This Bald Man doesn't look like a good person!]

[Drugging a girl? Why doesn't this scum just die!]

The Bald Man's face instantly turned the color of a pig's liver, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

"You're farting! You're talking nonsense! I'll sue you for defamation!"

He waved his fists and was about to rush up to hit someone.

Zhang Xuanyao stood where he was without moving, simply spitting out a few words calmly: "Left foot trips over right foot."

[Words Become Law]!

Thump! The Bald Man had just rushed out two steps when his feet seemed to be tripped by an invisible rope. His whole body flew into the air and slammed heavily onto the concrete ground.

His front teeth happened to hit the edge of the steps. With a crack, two bloodied front teeth flew out.

"Ah—!" The Bald Man covered his mouth, letting out a scream like a slaughtered pig.

The whole scene was in an uproar. The reporters' camera flashes flickered frantically.

Zhang Xuanyao ignored the Bald Man on the ground and swept his gaze toward a middle-aged woman in the crowd who was kneeling the most fiercely.

That woman was wailing at the top of her lungs, tears and snot streaming down her face.

"You." Zhang Xuanyao pointed at her.

"You're crying quite sorrowfully. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was your own father lying in that coffin."

The woman stopped wailing and looked at Zhang Xuanyao with some guilt: "You... is it any of your business? I'm crying for my poor nephew..."

"Nephew?" Zhang Xuanyao sneered: "Your name is Wang Guihua, professional scammer."

"Last month on Jiefang Road, you crawled under a BMW and extorted thirty thousand yuan from them."

"Three days ago at the supermarket, you stuffed two jin of pork ribs into your crotch and were caught red-handed. You even threw a tantrum and scratched the face of the stock clerk."

"That so-called 'nephew' of yours is playing games at an internet cafe right now. Do you want to make a video call to him to confirm?"

The woman's face instantly turned pale, and she subconsciously covered the phone in her pocket.

The surrounding crowd began to stir. The originally sympathetic gazes turned into suspicion and disdain.

"What... what kind of people are these?"

"So it was all just acting?"

"I said it, right? Who doesn't go to the crematorium after someone dies, and instead carries the coffin to the company entrance first?"

Zhang Xuanyao held his phone and walked down the steps, one step at a time. Every step he took, the crowd retreated one step.

At this moment, in the eyes of these people, he was more terrifying than Yama.

"And you." Zhang Xuanyao pointed at a young man wearing sunglasses.

"A habitual electric scooter thief, just released three days ago."

"You." He pointed at a big man wearing mourning clothes.

"Attempted robbery, a fugitive, the arrest warrant is still posted online."

"And you..." Zhang Xuanyao was like taking attendance, pointing to them one by one.

Every time he pointed at someone, he exposed a shocking secret. Robbers, thieves, scammers, sellers of fake medicine...

How are these the families of the deceased? This is clearly a grand gathering of criminals in Heng City!

The hundreds of people who were just aggressive and threatening were now pale, wishing they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Some had even started sneaking out of the crowd.

"Don't leave." Zhang Xuanyao smiled at the camera.

"The police are already on their way. Since you're all here, none of you are leaving."

"It's perfect, you can make a contribution to Heng City's public security."

23: Chapter 23: Dismantling a Car with Bare Hands, Online Showdown with the Protective Umbrella

No sooner had the words fallen.

A piercing siren sounded from the distance.

A dozen police cars came roaring over, surrounding the entire plaza.

The previously arrogant and domineering "family member group" fell into complete chaos.

"Run!"

Someone shouted, and hundreds of people scrambled in every direction.

But with police surrounding the perimeter, where could they run?

This farce, under Zhang Xuanyao's "live fortune-telling," instantly turned into a large-scale arrest scene.

Su Qingge stood on the steps, watching the back of the figure who was still chatting and laughing while holding a phone amidst the chaotic crowd, the light in her eyes growing brighter.

She turned her head to look at Little Li, who had been stunned into speechlessness.

"Go, send a notice to the Public Relations Department."

Su Qingge's voice regained its calmness, yet carried a hint of pride that she could not hide.

"No need to explain."

"Edit today's livestream recording and post it to the official website."

"The title shall be—"

Su Qingge paused, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Su Group Special Consultant, Temple Master Zhang Educates You on the Law Online》."

On the plaza.

Zhang Xuanyao aimed his phone camera at the Bald Man who was being pressed to the ground by the police.

"Family, do you see this?"

"This is what they call 'good and evil will eventually be rewarded; the Heavenly Dao favors Reincarnation.'"

"Anyway... that's it for today's livestream."

"If you think this Daoist's fortune-telling is accurate, send some small gifts."

"Also, Qingfeng Temple is currently recruiting believers. The first one hundred applicants will receive a consecrated amulet. First come, first served."

In the livestream chat.

Rockets, yachts, and sports cars—special effects were flying everywhere.

[So cool! I'm going to sign up for Qingfeng Temple right now!]

[Master Zhang is awesome! He's practically a human lie detector!]

[I'm begging the Great Master to divine the color of the Bald Man's underwear!]

Looking at the skyrocketing shock value and Karma points in the backend, Zhang Xuanyao smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits.

This wave was a huge profit.

Just then.

A middle-aged man in a police uniform walked over.

It was Captain Zhao Gang, the deputy captain of the criminal police who had interrogated him at the police station yesterday.

Looking at the coffins scattered on the ground and the thugs being arrested, Captain Zhao Gang looked at Zhang Xuanyao with a complex expression.

"Master Zhang, you... this is quite the grand gesture again."

Zhang Xuanyao put away his phone and shrugged.

"Captain Zhao, no need to thank me."

"These people are gathering to cause trouble, disrupting public order, and are suspected of extortion."

"This Daoist is just a concerned citizen, helping you boost your performance stats while I'm at it."

Captain Zhao Gang gave a wry smile.

This wasn't just boosting performance; it was practically wiping out all the thugs and hooligans in the entire Heng City in one go.

"However..." Captain Zhao Gang lowered his voice, his expression turning serious, "These people are clearly organized."

"Has the Bald Man confessed yet?"

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the Bald Man, who was being escorted into a police car not far away.

"Not yet, but..."

A cold glint flashed in Zhang Xuanyao's eyes.

"I don't need to interrogate him to know who it is."

He turned around and looked at a black business van across from the building.

The windows of that car were covered with dark explosion-proof film, making it impossible to see the people inside.

But in Zhang Xuanyao's [Heavenly Eye].

The person sitting in that car was emitting a familiar Yin Qi.

It came from the same source as the evil cultivator from yesterday.

"President Su."

Zhang Xuanyao waved to Su Qingge on the steps.

"What is it?" Su Qingge walked down.

"The show is over; time to meet the real culprit."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed at the business van.

"If my calculations are correct, the person who wanted you to have no descendants last night is in that car."

Su Qingge's face turned cold, her Phoenix eyes filled with Killing Intent.

"Let's go!"

She waved her hand, and the security guards behind her immediately followed.

The business van seemed to sense something was wrong; its engine roared as it suddenly made a U-turn, attempting to escape.

"Want to run?"

"Blow out."

Bang!

A loud noise.

The business van lost its balance, spun on the road, and crashed heavily into a flower bed by the roadside.

White smoke rose from the front of the car.

Zhang Xuanyao clapped his hands and strode over.

"Let's go see which deity dares to stir up trouble on the head of Tai Sui."

The hood of the black business van was still emitting white smoke.

The left rear tire was completely ruined, the rim carving a deep white mark on the asphalt.

Zhang Xuanyao kept one hand in his pocket, held his phone up with the other, and walked steadily toward the business van, which looked like a trapped beast.

On the phone screen, the comments were scrolling frantically.

[Holy crap! He said blow out and it blew out? What kind of Divine Ability is this Daoist using?]

[There's definitely a big fish in that car! The group of troublemakers saw this car trying to run away—they were clearly feeling guilty!]

[Don't back down, Daoist! Go up and expose them! If anything happens, the brothers will crowdfund to bail you out!]

Su Qingge followed closely in her high heels, her expression cold and stern.

Dozens of security guards and the criminal police team led by Captain Zhao Gang also surrounded them, forming an ironclad perimeter.

"Get out!"

Captain Zhao Gang drew his service weapon, pointed it at the driver's side window, and shouted sternly.

There was no movement inside the car.

The dark explosion-proof film blocked their view; they could only vaguely see shadows moving inside.

"Not opening it?"

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the driver's side door and grinned at the camera.

"Family, let me perform a little trick for you: tearing apart a Gundam barehanded."

Before he even finished speaking.

He raised his leg and kicked hard at the door lock mechanism.

Boom!

The modified bulletproof car door, as if made of paper, emitted a screeching sound of twisting metal and was directly deformed and sprung open.

The airbags inside the car had deployed; a driver sat in the driver's seat, covered in blood and unconscious.

And in the back seat.

A middle-aged man in a dark blue suit with his hair combed meticulously was holding his phone in a panic, seemingly frantically deleting something.

Seeing the door violently broken open, the middle-aged man was so scared he nearly dropped his phone.

He looked up sharply, his well-maintained square face filled with panic and anger.

"What are you doing! What do you think you're doing!"

"I am..."

Catching the midday sun, Captain Zhao Gang saw that face clearly.

The hand holding his gun shook violently.

He froze in place, as if struck by lightning.

"Director... Director Liu?!"

Captain Zhao Gang's voice cracked, filled with deep disbelief.

The surrounding veteran police officers were also dumbfounded, their batons and handcuffs awkwardly frozen in mid-air, not knowing whether to put them down or keep holding them up.

Sitting in the car was none other than the head of the Hengcheng City Police Department, Director Liu Changqing!

Su Qingge stopped in her tracks, her pupils slightly constricting.

She had thought someone was backing this, but she hadn't expected this protector to be so big and so powerful.

Under normal circumstances, seeing his direct superior appear at such a sensitive crime scene, Captain Zhao Gang would definitely have withdrawn the team immediately, or even helped cover for the leader.

This was the rule of officialdom.

It was also the tacit understanding of adults.

Seeing Captain Zhao Gang, Director Liu Changqing's initially panicked eyes instantly calmed down.

He straightened his slightly messy tie, pushed open the car door, and stepped out with a dark face.

An aura of someone long accustomed to being in a high position instantly permeated the air.

"Captain Zhao Gang! What are you doing!"

Director Liu Changqing pointed at Captain Zhao Gang's nose, spitting as he spoke.

"Who told you to bring a team to the Su Group? Was this approved by the bureau? Put that gun away! What kind of behavior is this!"

Captain Zhao Gang stood at attention subconsciously, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"Director Liu, I... I received a report that people were gathering to cause trouble..."

"Causing trouble? I think it's you who are causing trouble here!"

Director Liu Changqing interrupted sharply, his eyes sweeping over the surrounding police officers with malice.

"These people are just here to express their demands! You arrest people without rhyme or reason—is there no law anymore? Withdraw, all of you! Immediately!"

A higher rank crushes those below.

Especially when it's several ranks higher.

The criminal police officers looked at each other, hesitating and beginning to retreat.

Captain Zhao Gang gritted his teeth, the veins in the hand holding the gun bulging, but he dared not pull the trigger.

This was the power of authority.

With just a few words, one could turn black into white.

Seeing that he had regained control of the scene, Director Liu Changqing snorted coldly, turned around, and went to pull the door of another police car, preparing to leave.

Just then.

A hand landed on his shoulder.

"Director Liu, quite the display of official authority."

Director Liu Changqing turned back.

He saw the young Daoist in tattered robes, who was holding his phone camera almost right up to his nose.

On the screen, millions of online viewers saw this scene clearly.

24: Chapter 24: Live Broadcast of the Bureau Chief's Trial, Trapping a Turtle in the Su Residence

"What are you doing! Put down your phone!"

Director Liu Changqing's face changed drastically, and he reached out to grab the phone.

Zhang Xuanyao dodged to the side and said to the camera: "Family, have you recognized him?"

"This is Director Liu Changqing of our Hengcheng City."

"Just now, when those hundreds of coffins were blocking the door and that group of thugs was smashing and burning things, Director Liu Changqing was watching from this car."

"Now, he wants to use his official power to let those criminals go."

"Tsk tsk tsk, this melon is ripe."

The livestream room completely exploded.

The bullet comments were moving too fast to read, densely packed with exclamation marks.

[Holy crap! It's really Director Liu Changqing! I've seen him on the TV news!]

[The police chief personally directing a medical disturbance? What kind of magical realism is this?]

[A protector! This is a blatant shield for evil forces!]

[Already recorded! Already reported! @Discipline Inspection Commission @Ministry of Public Security @People's Daily]

[Captain Zhao Gang was so miserable just now, being scolded like a grandson; sure enough, rank crushes people!]

[Daoist is awesome! Daring to livestream this! Watch out for being silenced!]

[Ding! Exposing the protector behind the evil cultivator! The whole internet is shocked! shock value + 100,000!]

[shock value + 200,000!]

[shock value + 600,000!]

[Current cumulative shock value: 2,200,000!]

[Current shock value 2,000,000/2,000,000]

[Obtained one Platinum Draw chance!]

Director Liu Changqing looked at the crazily scrolling bullet comments on the screen, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

He knew.

It was over.

If it were in private, he would have a hundred ways to kill this Young Daoist.

But now, it was a livestream.

It was under the eyes of millions of people!

"You... you are taking things out of context! I'm going to sue you for defamation!"

Director Liu Changqing roared with a fierce expression, but his hands were trembling.

"Defamation?"

Zhang Xuanyao put away his playful expression, and in those deep eyes, golden runes seemed to be flowing.

[Heavenly Eye], activate!

Director Liu Changqing's past, future, and all his secrets instantly turned into strings of data in his eyes.

"Director Liu Changqing, male, 48 years old."

"Appears upright, but is actually greedy and lustful."

"Three years ago, he accepted a bribe of five million in cash from President Qin Hu of Su Group to help cover up a construction site collapse accident."

"Two years ago, he secretly purchased property in the Blue Bay Villa area, hid a mistress, and kept a female college student who had just graduated, named Chen Lu."

"Oh, right."

Zhang Xuanyao took a step forward, forcing Director Liu Changqing to retreat repeatedly.

"The chat history you were desperately deleting in the car just now was sent to President Qin Hu, right?"

"The content is: Su Qingge has an expert here, the plan failed, hurry up and withdraw your people, don't implicate me."

Boom!

This series of revelations was like heavy bombs, blasting Director Liu Changqing until he was dizzy.

How did he know?!

These things were done extremely secretly, even his wife didn't know, how could this Young Daoist know so clearly?!

"You... you're talking nonsense! You're slandering me!"

Director Liu Changqing leaned against the police car, his legs soft, his face pale as paper.

"Whether it's slander or not, won't we know if we check?"

Zhang Xuanyao pointed at Captain Zhao Gang.

"Captain Zhao, what are you still standing there for?"

"Just now, Director Liu Changqing wanted to delete the records, but I did a divination, his hands were shaking, and he didn't delete them completely."

"Grab the phone now, and the data can still be recovered."

Captain Zhao Gang looked up abruptly.

He looked at the director who was usually high and mighty, but now looked like a stray dog.

He also looked at the expectant crowd around him, and the millions of eyes in the livestream room.

At that moment.

The sense of justice in his heart overwhelmed the fear of power.

"Pardon me!"

Captain Zhao Gang roared, rushed up, pressed down on Director Liu Changqing, and snatched the phone from his hand.

"Captain Zhao Gang! How dare you! I'm going to skin you alive!"

Director Liu Changqing struggled desperately, but in the hands of Captain Zhao Gang, who was a criminal police officer, he couldn't move at all.

"Technical Division! Recover the data immediately!"

Captain Zhao Gang threw the phone to the technician behind him and took out his handcuffs.

Click!

The silver handcuffs coldly locked Director Liu Changqing's wrists.

"Director Liu, save your words for the Discipline Inspection Commission."

The scene was dead silent.

Then, thunderous applause erupted.

"Good! Well arrested!"

"This kind of scum should be arrested!"

Su Qingge stood on the side, watching the back that was being escorted into the car by the police, and then looked at the Daoist who was making a V-sign at the camera.

Her heart was beating wildly, uncontrollably.

This man.

Not only can he catch ghosts and subdue demons.

He can also decide life and death with a word, directly sending a director with real power to prison.

Too strong.

So strong that it makes people... want to have his children.

"Alright family, that's all for today's legal education segment."

Zhang Xuanyao waved at the camera.

"Remember, evil deeds will eventually lead to self-destruction."

"In addition, Qingfeng Temple accepts various fortune-telling, Feng Shui, and exorcism services, honest and fair prices."

"The big brother who just sent the rocket, send me your birth date, and I will give you a divination."

After speaking, he turned off the livestream directly.

The world was quiet.

Zhang Xuanyao let out a long breath and rubbed his sore wrists.

"Captain Zhao, I've handed this person over to you."

Zhang Xuanyao patted Captain Zhao Gang's shoulder.

"If he runs away or the case is overturned, I will name and criticize you in the livestream room."

Captain Zhao Gang smiled bitterly and saluted.

"Master Zhang, don't worry."

"The evidence is solid, the whole internet is watching, even the heavens can't save him."

The police car sped away.

At the entrance of Su Group, those "family members" who were originally clamoring, seeing that their biggest backer had been arrested, were all scared to the point of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, throwing down wreaths and banners, and scattering like birds and beasts.

The security guards rushed up, caught a few leaders, and sent them directly to the police station.

A must-kill trap against Su Group.

Was just easily resolved by Zhang Xuanyao.

"Temple Master Zhang."

Su Qingge walked over, her eyes complex.

"Thank you."

"Verbal thanks won't do."

Zhang Xuanyao touched his stomach.

"The exercise was a bit much just now, I'm hungry."

"President Su, I see there's a good seafood buffet nearby, how about..."

Su Qingge couldn't help but laugh.

This smile was like ice and snow melting, and a hundred flowers blooming.

"Okay, my treat."

"Not only will I treat you to seafood, but the rewards from the livestream just now, Su Group will double them for you."

Zhang Xuanyao's eyes lit up.

"The boss is generous!"

...

Two hours later.

The most high-end seafood buffet in Hengcheng City.

In front of Zhang Xuanyao, there was a mountain of crab shells and shrimp peels.

The diners around were stunned.

Is this person a reincarnated hungry ghost?

Su Qingge sat opposite him, not eating much, just resting her chin on one hand, watching him gobble up the food quietly.

"Eat slowly, no one is snatching it from you."

Su Qingge handed him a tissue, her movements as natural as an old married couple who had been together for many years.

"President Su, don't look at me like that."

Zhang Xuanyao said vaguely while peeling a lobster.

"Although I, the poor Daoist, am handsome, I sell my skills, not my body."

"Last night was an accident, it was to save someone, it was a medical act, not involving personal feelings."

Su Qingge blushed and kicked him under the table.

"Who wants to buy your body!"

"I was thinking, although President Qin Hu and Director Liu Changqing have fallen, that 'Master Ye' hasn't been caught yet."

Mentioning "Master Ye", Su Qingge's eyes became serious.

"That person is too dangerous."

"If he isn't eliminated, I'm afraid..."

Zhang Xuanyao stopped his movements and wiped his mouth.

"Don't worry."

"After beating the small one, the old one will naturally come out."

"Since that evil cultivator dares to use a ten-thousand-corpse pit to raise evil, it shows he is very confident in his own strength."

"My Five Thunders Method broke his trap and destroyed his Dao foundation, he must hate me to the bone now."

Zhang Xuanyao sneered, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

"We don't need to find him."

"Tonight, he will deliver himself to our door."

Su Qingge shuddered.

"Tonight? Then we..."

"Don't be afraid."

Zhang Xuanyao picked up a king crab leg and snapped it with a crack.

"Tonight, I'm going to your house."

"I'll set up a Feng Shui trap for you, and we'll catch the turtle in the jar."

Su Qingge was stunned, then her cheeks burned.

Go to my house?

And at night?

Although she knew it was to catch ghosts, thinking of the craziness at the hotel last night, her body couldn't help but feel a little weak.

"Okay... I'll listen to you."

25: Chapter 25: Samadhi Fire, Thunderous Cleansing

Night fell.

The Su family Villa.

This mansion located halfway up the mountain was brightly lit at this moment.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in the center of the living room, holding several small apricot-yellow flags, directing Jiang Yuanshan to work.

"Old Jiang, place three copper coins in the Qian position."

"Place a basin of black dog blood in the Kun position."

"Light seven oil lamps in the Li position, with the wicks facing north."

Jiang Yuanshan scurried back and forth, sweating profusely, but looking full of excitement.

"Junior Martial Uncle, what kind of Formation is this?"

"It looks like a Bagua Formation, but not quite."

Zhang Xuanyao inserted the last flag and clapped his hands.

"This is called the 'Invite the Guest into the Urn Formation'."

"As long as that old thing dares to step into this courtyard, I will let him know what it means to cleanse the earth with Thunder Magic."

Su Qingge was wearing loungewear, walking over with a fruit platter.

"Is everything set up?"

"Just about."

Zhang Xuanyao picked up a piece of watermelon and took a bite.

"President Su, no matter what noises you hear later, do not come out."

"Just stay in the bedroom and hold tightly to the amulet I gave you."

Su Qingge nodded, her eyes revealing a hint of worry.

"Then what about you?"

"Me?"

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the pitch-black night outside.

In the sky, dark clouds gathered, obscuring the moon.

A cold wind was blowing up along the hillside, making the trees outside the Villa rustle.

"I have to go to the door to welcome the guest."

Zhang Xuanyao curled his lips into a bloodthirsty arc.

"After all, this is a 'distinguished guest'."

Suddenly.

The Villa's lights flickered once.

Immediately after, all the lights went out.

The entire Villa plunged into a deathly silence and darkness.

"They're here."

Zhang Xuanyao whispered.

Su Qingge instinctively grabbed his sleeve.

"Hehehe..."

A sinister and terrifying laughter came from all directions, as if echoing right beside their ears.

"Young Daoist, you ruined my good deeds and damaged my Dao foundation."

"Tonight, I will extract your Soul, refine your spirit, and turn you into a sky lantern!"

Boom!

The Villa's front door was blasted open by a massive force.

Countless black bats poured in like a tidal wave, carrying a strong, foul stench, covering the sky and earth.

Jiang Yuanshan was so scared he sat down on the floor with a thud.

"So many?!"

Zhang Xuanyao, however, remained motionless.

He looked at those bats as if he were looking at a swarm of flies.

"Is this all you've got?"

"Too disappointing."

He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers.

"Let there be light."

Snap!

The seven oil lamps that had been placed around the living room instantly ignited.

But what burned was not ordinary fire.

It was a ghostly blue—Samadhi True Fire!

"Squeak, squeak, squeak—!"

The bats rushing in the front, upon touching the blue fire, instantly turned into fly ash.

The bats behind wanted to brake, but were bumped into by those even further behind, like moths flying into a flame, all colliding into the net of fire.

The air was filled with a burnt stench.

"Ah—!"

A scream came from outside the door.

Immediately after, a figure wearing a black robe staggered out.

It was that "Master Ye".

At this moment, he was even more disheveled than yesterday, with half of his body looking as if it had been burned, charred black.

"Samadhi True Fire?!"

"You... who exactly are you?!"

Master Ye looked at Zhang Xuanyao in terror.

This level of flame could only be used by those old immortals at Mount Longhu; how could this kid in his early twenties possibly know it?!

Zhang Xuanyao walked out from the darkness, the peach wood sword in his hand emitting a faint golden light.

"I am Zhang Xuanyao."

"The last master of Qingfeng Temple."

"And the one who will send you on your way."

The ghostly blue flames danced on the seven oil lamps.

There was no temperature, yet it made one's Soul tremble.

Jiang Yuanshan huddled behind the sofa, staring wide-eyed at those seven flames.

That was Samadhi True Fire.

A supreme Divine Ability recorded in the Daoist classics.

Legend has it that the Grandmaster could evaporate the East Sea and refine Demon Kings with a single breath of True Fire.

This move of Zhang Xuanyao's, although only on the scale of seven lamps and not yet cultivated to the highest Realm of merging the three fires of "Essence, Qi, and Spirit", was still shocking enough.

How many secret skills had this kid been practicing behind his back?!

"Mere tricks!"

Master Ye roared, his voice hoarse and ear-piercing.

Although he feared the blue fire, there was no retreat now.

Once he turned around and exposed his back to the opponent, he would die even faster.

He reached into his robe and suddenly pulled out a small black flag.

On the flag was embroidered a hideous skull, dotted with dark red bloodstains.

"Ten Thousand Soul Banner! Devour him for me!"

Master Ye bit his tongue tip and sprayed a mouthful of essence blood onto the black flag.

Whoosh—!

A sinister wind blew fiercely.

The temperature inside the Villa instantly dropped to freezing point.

Countless black mists poured out from the flag, condensing in the air into a huge ghost head, opening its bloody maw, and biting towards Zhang Xuanyao.

The sound of ghosts crying and wolves howling echoed throughout the entire hall.

Even the crystal chandelier overhead was shaken until it was teetering.

Su Qingge only felt her eardrums stinging, and her vision went black for a moment.

She clutched the amulet Zhang Xuanyao had given her tightly.

That talisman paper was currently emitting a warm light, blocking those cold, sinister Auras three feet away.

Facing the evil ghost rushing towards him, Zhang Xuanyao stood in place, not moving at all.

He even had the leisure to pick his ear.

"Ten Thousand Soul Banner? Are you even worthy?"

"This is just some trashy thing refined with dead people's ashes and menstrual blood."

"Today, this Daoist will let you see what it means for the regular army to fight guerrillas."

Zhang Xuanyao formed a seal with one hand.

The peach wood sword in his hand thrust fiercely towards that mass of black mist.

"Heaven and Earth Mysterious Sect, the root of all Qi."

"Cultivating through countless eons, proving my Divine Ability."

As the incantation was chanted, the Aura around his body suddenly changed.

The original slacker-like temperament vanished completely.

Replacing it was a heavy pressure like a mountain.

Sizzle!

The peach wood sword pierced into the ghost head.

Golden light surged.

"Ah—!"

The huge ghost head let out a shrill scream, like snow encountering the scorching sun, rapidly melting away.

Master Ye's face turned deathly pale, and he violently spat out a mouthful of black blood.

His life-bound Magical Artifact was damaged, and he suffered a severe backlash.

"It's not over yet."

Zhang Xuanyao sneered.

He let go of the peach wood sword, letting it hover in the air.

His hands quickly formed seals, so fast that only afterimages could be seen.

"Nine Heavens Responding to the Origin, Thunder Sound Universal Transformation."

"Obey my command, slay demons and eliminate devils!"

Boom!

The sky outside the Villa suddenly brightened as if it were daylight.

A thick bolt of lightning tore through the dark clouds, precisely striking the roof of the Villa.

But this lightning did not destroy the building.

Instead, following some invisible guidance, it passed directly through the roof and gathered in Zhang Xuanyao's palm.

Blue-purple electric arcs danced at his fingertips, making a "zizi" sound.

Five Thunders Method!

The Daoist sect's strongest offensive technique!

The terror in Master Ye's eyes had turned into despair.

He turned and ran, not even wanting that Ten Thousand Soul Banner anymore.

"Running?"

"If I let you escape, I'll write my name backward!"

Zhang Xuanyao waved his right hand violently.

"Go!"

The thunder ball in his palm flew out of his hand.

Its speed was as fast as a startled swan.

It instantly caught up to Master Ye, who had escaped to the doorway.

Boom!

A loud noise.

The blinding thunder light engulfed Master Ye's figure.

The entire hall was illuminated in pure white.

Su Qingge instinctively closed her eyes and covered her ears with her hands.

The powerful blast of air overturned the surrounding furniture, and all the glass windows were shattered.

A few seconds later.

The light dissipated.

On the floor at the doorway, there was an extra charred human-shaped object.

It was still emitting black smoke.

The air was filled with the smell of burnt meat.

26: Chapter 26: Crushed to Ashes, President Su's Heart is in Turmoil

Jiang Yuanshan peeked out from behind the sofa and swallowed hard.

"Good heavens..."

"It's... cooked already?"

He walked over cautiously and nudged the "charcoal" with the tip of his shoe.

It was hard as a rock.

It couldn't be any deader.

"Junior Martial Uncle, that's awesome!"

Jiang Yuanshan gave a thumbs up, his face full of flattery.

"One-hit kill! And that was an evil cultivator, yet in your hands, it was like chopping vegetables."

"The revival of our Qingfeng Temple is in sight!"

Zhang Xuanyao stood where he was, his chest heaving violently.

His face was a bit pale.

His forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

That strike just now had drained most of the spiritual energy in his body.

The Five Thunders Method was powerful, but the consumption was terrifying.

It was like driving a ferrari to deliver takeout; the fuel consumption was unbearable.

He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the weakness in his body.

His gaze was fixed intently on the charred corpse on the ground.

His brows were tightly locked.

"Don't go over there." Zhang Xuanyao spoke suddenly, his voice cold and stern.

Jiang Yuanshan was startled and quickly retracted his foot.

"What's wrong? It's burnt to charcoal, can it still reanimate?"

Zhang Xuanyao ignored him.

Golden light swirled in his eyes.

Under the Heavenly Eye, he saw a faint wisp of black Qi wriggling at the Dantian of the charred corpse.

That was the evil cultivator's Primordial Spirit.

This guy wanted to shed his skin like a cicada!

"Want to play dead?" A cruel smile curled at the corners of Zhang Xuanyao's mouth.

"My Daoist practice has always been about cutting weeds and eliminating the roots."

"Since it's already cooked, let's process it a bit more."

"Direct cremation."

He raised his right hand again.

His Dantian, already somewhat depleted, was forced to squeeze out more power.

His Meridians throbbed with sharp pain.

But he didn't care.

To deal with such an inhumane evil cultivator, one must never leave any hidden dangers.

Even if it meant risking injury, he had to completely eradicate him.

"Once more!" Zhang Xuanyao shouted.

Lightning gathered at his fingertips again.

Although it was a circle smaller than before, it was more condensed, and the color was approaching deep purple.

The charred corpse on the ground seemed to sense the danger.

It shuddered violently.

A black shadow crawled out from the corpse and rushed madly towards the door.

It was Master Ye's Primordial Spirit!

"You little bastard! You will die a horrible death! Even as a ghost, I won't let you go!"

The venomous curse echoed in the air.

"As a ghost?" Zhang Xuanyao snorted coldly.

"You won't even have the chance to be a ghost."

"Come, Thunder!"

Boom! The second heavenly thunder descended.

It struck the black shadow with precision.

There was no suspense.

The shadow didn't even have time to scream.

Within the purple lightning, it disintegrated instantly, turning into countless specks of light that dissipated.

Immediately after, the residual power of the lightning struck the charred corpse on the ground again.

Crack!

The charred corpse instantly shattered, turning into a pile of black dust on the floor.

A draft blew through, and the dust scattered with the wind.

It was truly—ashes to ashes.

The hall was deathly silent.

Only the broken curtains rustled in the wind.

Jiang Yuanshan's mouth was wide open, his jaw nearly hitting the floor.

Too ruthless.

Too brutal.

Killing someone is just a nod to the ground, but his own Junior Martial Uncle had directly erased the person both physically and on the Soul level.

He didn't even give him a chance to complain to Yama.

"Whew..." Zhang Xuanyao exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

The golden light in his eyes faded rapidly.

His body swayed twice.

An unprecedented sense of exhaustion washed over him like a tide.

His brain felt like it had been stuffed with paste, buzzing loudly.

He had overdrafted the Five Thunders Method twice in a row.

Even an iron body couldn't hold up.

Last time he used it once, he nearly fainted.

"Done." Zhang Xuanyao turned around and looked at Su Qingge.

He squeezed out a forced smile on his face.

"President Su... remember to leave a good review..."

"Also... this counts as overtime... you have to pay extra..."

Before he could finish speaking, everything went black before his eyes.

He collapsed straight backward.

"Zhang Xuanyao!" Su Qingge exclaimed.

She didn't care about the glass shards on the floor, kicked off her high heels, and rushed over barefoot.

The second before Zhang Xuanyao hit the floor, she stretched out her arms and caught him steadily.

Heavy.

That was Su Qingge's first impression.

This man, who usually looked lean, felt like a mountain when he collapsed into her arms.

His body carried a faint smell of burnt material and sweat.

It wasn't unpleasant.

Instead, it made one feel an inexplicable sense of peace.

"Zhang Xuanyao! Wake up!" Su Qingge patted his face.

It felt ice-cold to the touch.

That face, which usually always wore a mischievous smile, was now pale as paper.

His lips had no color at all.

Su Qingge's heart contracted violently.

An unprecedented sense of panic gripped her breath.

"Jiang Yuanshan! Come over here quickly!" Su Qingge shouted back, her voice trembling.

"What's wrong with him? Is he injured?"

Jiang Yuanshan scrambled over.

He grabbed Zhang Xuanyao's wrist and placed two fingers on his pulse.

A moment later.

Jiang Yuanshan breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"It's fine, it's fine, don't panic, President Su."

"Junior Martial Uncle has run out of mana... oh no, he has overdrawn his spiritual energy and his Mental Energy is exhausted."

"He just needs to sleep, he won't die."

"However..."

Jiang Yuanshan looked at Zhang Xuanyao's pale face, then at the mess all over the floor.

"It's best to take him to the hospital for some glucose to replenish his body."

After hearing this, Su Qingge's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

But looking at the unconscious man in her arms, the chill in her eyes did not dissipate.

She looked up at the few bodyguards standing at the door in a daze.

They were the ones who had rushed in after hearing the commotion.

"What are you still standing there for!" Su Qingge reverted to her usual decisive and efficient female CEO persona.

"Get the car ready!"

"Go to the nearest Grade A hospital!"

"Notify the director and prepare the best ward!"

The bodyguards were intimidated by Su Qingge's aura and immediately took action.

"Yes! President Su!"

Su Qingge tried to pick up Zhang Xuanyao.

But she was a woman after all, and her strength was limited.

She tried twice but couldn't lift him.

The bodyguard next to her was about to reach out to help.

"Don't touch him." Su Qingge coldly barked a stop.

For some reason, she didn't want anyone else to touch this man.

Not even the bodyguards.

"Push the wheelchair over." Su Qingge ordered.

There were elderly people in the house, so they kept a wheelchair on hand.

Soon, the bodyguard pushed the wheelchair over.

Su Qingge and Jiang Yuanshan worked together to help Zhang Xuanyao into the wheelchair.

She pushed him herself, walking quickly outside.

Her bare feet stepped on the cold marble floor, even stepping on a few small pieces of broken glass.

Blood seeped out.

But she seemed completely unaware.

Hengcheng City First People's Hospital.

The emergency department was in chaos.

A dozen bodyguards in black blocked the corridor.

The hospital director, wearing a white coat, led the chief physicians of internal medicine, surgery, and neurology, jogging all the way to the VIP ward.

Those who didn't know would have thought some high-ranking leader had suddenly fallen ill.

Inside the ward.

Various instruments were beeping.

Zhang Xuanyao lay on the large hospital bed, with an IV drip in his hand.

Although his face was still a bit pale, his breathing had become much steadier.

"President Su." The director wiped his sweat, holding the medical report, standing cautiously in front of Su Qingge.

"The test results are out."

"The patient's various physical indicators... are all very normal."

"Even healthier than the average person."

"It's just..."

Su Qingge sat by the bed, holding a cotton swab, treating the wound on the sole of her foot.

Hearing this, she looked up, her eyes sharp.

"It's just what? Don't stutter."

The director swallowed hard.

"It's just a bit of kidney deficiency... ah no, it's extreme fatigue."

"It's like... like running ten marathons in a row, or staying up for seven days and seven nights without sleep."

"The body's energy reserves have been hollowed out."

"As long as he rests quietly and eats more high-protein food, he will recover soon."

Su Qingge frowned.

Kidney deficiency?

She subconsciously glanced at Zhang Xuanyao.

He's already kidney deficient?

Last night he didn't even...

A trace of unnatural blush flashed across her face, which she quickly concealed.

"Got it, you may leave."

"Remember, block the news."

"I don't want to see news about 'Su Group Consultant Hospitalized Late at Night' on the trending searches tomorrow."

The director nodded repeatedly.

"Understood, understood."

He led the group of doctors out as if they had been granted amnesty.

The ward quieted down.

Only the white mist sprayed by the humidifier drifted gently.

Jiang Yuanshan sat on the sofa in the corner, munching on an apple.

"President Su, you should rest for a while too."

"With Junior Martial Uncle's Physique, he'll be jumping around tomorrow after a sleep."

"Your foot injury..."

27: Chapter 27: Top-Tier Furnace - This Deal is a Sure Win

Su Qingge looked down at her foot wrapped in gauze.

It was aching faintly.

But compared to the panic she felt just moments ago, this bit of pain was nothing.

"I am fine."

She stood up and walked to the hospital bed.

She looked at Zhang Xuanyao's sleeping face.

Gone was his usual cheeky grin and that annoying expression.

Now that he was quiet, his facial features appeared exceptionally sharp.

His eyelashes were long.

His nose bridge was high and straight.

If not for that ragged Daoist robe, just looking at this face alone, he would have more than enough to debut as an idol star.

Su Qingge reached out.

Her fingertips gently touched the center of his brows.

His brow was tightly furrowed there, as if he were still fighting something in his dreams.

"Fool."

She whispered softly.

"You'd risk your life for a bit of money?"

Just at this moment.

Zhang Xuanyao's eyelashes fluttered twice.

He slowly opened his eyes.

There was still some confusion and bloodshot veins in those eyes.

His gaze focused.

He saw Su Qingge, who was within arm's reach.

And that finger pressing against the center of his brows.

The two locked eyes.

The air froze for a second.

Zhang Xuanyao suddenly grinned.

His voice was hoarse, yet it carried that familiar, infuriating tone.

"President Su, taking advantage of me while I'm asleep?"

"That will cost extra."

Su Qingge retracted her hand as if electrocuted.

Her cheeks instantly burned hot.

In the corner.

Jiang Yuanshan silently put down the apple in his hand.

He felt like a multi-thousand-watt lightbulb at this moment.

Blindingly bright.

He quietly stood up and tiptoed toward the door.

"Um... I have something to take care of outside..."

"You two continue, please continue..."

"Click."

The door lock clicked softly.

Jiang Yuanshan slipped out faster than a rabbit, taking the awkward atmosphere out with him.

The hospital room fell into a dead silence.

Only the rhythmic "beep, beep" of the ECG monitor remained.

Su Qingge's finger was still suspended in mid-air; just as she wanted to pull it back, her wrist was caught by a scorching hot hand.

Although Zhang Xuanyao's face was pale, his grip was surprisingly strong.

"President Su, why the rush to run?"

His voice was hoarse, carrying the lethargy of someone who had just woken up, along with a trace of imperceptible aggression.

Su Qingge's body stiffened.

She wanted to break free, but she was afraid of hurting this man who had just returned from the gates of hell.

"Let go."

Su Qingge kept a straight face, trying to maintain her crumbling presidential dignity.

"The doctor said you need to rest."

"Quack doctor."

Zhang Xuanyao scoffed, his fingers gently rubbing against the delicate skin on the inside of her wrist.

That was the pulse point.

It was also one of the most sensitive parts of the human body.

Su Qingge felt a current of electricity shoot up her spine from her wrist, making her whole side go numb.

"I am a Daoist; I know my own body."

Zhang Xuanyao applied a little force.

Su Qingge lost her balance and gasped as she fell forward.

She did not fall to the floor.

Instead, she fell into an embrace that smelled of disinfectant and a faint scent of sandalwood.

"Mmph..."

Su Qingge propped her hands against his chest, trying to get up in a panic.

"Don't move."

Zhang Xuanyao wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

Separated only by the thin hospital gown, their body heat began to exchange.

Su Qingge dared not move anymore.

She was afraid of hitting the needles in his body, and even more afraid of touching somewhere she shouldn't.

"Zhang Xuanyao, have you gone mad? This is a hospital!"

Su Qingge lowered her voice, her cheeks as red as a ripe tomato.

"So what if it's a hospital?"

Zhang Xuanyao didn't care at all, his gaze falling on her pretty face just inches away.

Because of the rushing around and anxiety earlier, her hair was a bit messy, with a few stray strands sticking to her sweat-dampened neck, looking exceptionally alluring.

"Su Qingge, there are some things we need to lay out and discuss."

Zhang Xuanyao put away his cheeky smile, his eyes becoming burning hot.

"That night at the hotel, did you think it was just because you drank too much?"

Su Qingge was stunned.

The memories of that night came flooding back like a tide.

That out-of-control heat, that desire to devour the man before her, could not be explained by alcohol at all.

"What are you trying to say?"

Zhang Xuanyao raised his other hand, his fingertips touching the center of her brows.

There was a very faint cinnabar mole there.

It was invisible on normal days, but it would appear when she was aroused or when the Yin Qi was extremely heavy.

"Pure Yin Body."

Zhang Xuanyao spat out the four words.

"What does that mean?" Su Qingge frowned.

"It means that in the eyes of those who practice the Dao, you are like Tang Monk meat, a thousand-year-old ginseng, a walking nuclear reactor."

Zhang Xuanyao's finger slid down from the center of her brows, passed her nose bridge, and landed on her full, red lips.

"Do you know why that old thing surnamed Ye wanted to mess with that land?"

"And going to such great lengths to set up an array to capture you, it wasn't for money, nor was it for lust."

"He wanted to refine you."

"To drain all the Pure Yin Qi from your body to help him achieve a Breakthrough."

Su Qingge felt a chill shoot from the soles of her feet straight up to her crown.

Refine her?

Like Alchemy?

"Then I..."

"You are lucky you met me."

Zhang Xuanyao's fingers probed into the gap of her lips, stirring gently.

Moist.

Warm.

"If I hadn't... if we hadn't harmonized Yin and Yang that night, the Yin Qi that had accumulated in your body for over twenty years would have exploded."

"At best, you would have fallen deathly ill; at worst, you would have died on the spot."

"So..."

Zhang Xuanyao leaned into her ear, his hot breath spraying onto her sensitive earlobe.

"I am your savior, and also... your medicine."

Su Qingge's breathing quickened.

This explanation was too Xuanhuan, but combined with the strange events of the past two days, she had to believe it.

"Then you now..."

Su Qingge looked at Zhang Xuanyao's still-pale face.

"You became like this because you saved me."

"Yes."

Zhang Xuanyao admitted it generously, never missing an opportunity to claim credit.

"The Five Thunders Method consumes too much spiritual energy; I am just an empty shell right now."

"Relying on this bottle of glucose?"

He glanced at the IV drip overhead with disdain.

"I won't recover even if I hang it until next year."

Zhang Xuanyao looked back at Su Qingge, two flames igniting in the depths of his eyes.

"But you are different."

"You are a Pure Yin Body, a top-tier Cauldron."

"As long as..."

He paused deliberately, observing Su Qingge's reaction.

Su Qingge swallowed hard.

She was no naive fool; she naturally understood the subtext.

"As long as what?"

Her voice trembled, yet she did not resist.

"Dual Cultivation."

Zhang Xuanyao spat out the two words.

"Complementary Yin and Yang, an auspicious union of Dragon and Phoenix."

"Not only can it instantly restore my spiritual energy, but it can also help comb through your Meridians, improve your beauty, and prolong your life."

"President Su, this deal is a win-win for you."

Su Qingge bit her lip.

Reason told her that this was a hospital room, and doctors or nurses could come in at any time.

And this bastard was speaking so sanctimoniously, but in reality, he just wanted to...

But her body was very honest.

Being close to him, that attraction stemming from the depths of her Soul made her completely unable to refuse.

"I..."

Su Qingge had just started to speak when she was interrupted by Zhang Xuanyao.

"If you don't speak, I will take that as your consent."

Before the words had even faded.

Zhang Xuanyao exerted force suddenly.

The world spun.

Before Su Qingge could react, she had already been pulled onto the narrow hospital bed.

28: Chapter 28: The Ultimate "Treatment" Brings Both Fame and Fortune

"Ah!" She let out a short gasp, but was immediately silenced by a large hand covering her mouth.

"Shh—" Zhang Xuanyao pressed down on her, his eyes filled with undisguised desire.

"CEO Su, the soundproofing isn't great."

"If we attract the doctor, we'll end up in the headlines."

Su Qingge widened her eyes, looking at the man above her.

The hospital bed was narrow.

The two could only press tightly against each other.

That sense of oppression was even more intense than that night in the presidential suite.

Zhang Xuanyao didn't waste any more words.

His hand nimbly slipped under the hem of Su Qingge's professional suit.

It was the outfit she had been wearing when she rushed over from the company.

A white shirt, a pencil skirt, and black stockings.

It was the standard attire of a powerful career woman.

At this moment, however, it had become the ultimate aphrodisiac.

"Riiip—" With a crisp sound of tearing fabric, two buttons from Su Qingge's expensive custom-made shirt flew off.

It revealed a large expanse of snowy white skin and the edge of black lace.

"Zhang Xuanyao! Be gentle!" Su Qingge protested incoherently, her hands braced against his shoulders.

"I can't be gentle."

Zhang Xuanyao buried his face in the crook of her neck, greedily inhaling the unique, cool fragrance on her body.

It was the scent emitted by her Pure Yin Body.

For him, currently drained of spiritual energy, it was like a traveler in a desert finding an oasis.

"I'm starving right now." He opened his mouth and bit down hard on Su Qingge's delicate collarbone.

"Mmh..." Su Qingge's body trembled, her legs instinctively clamping together.

That sensation of both pain and numbness instantly ignited the powder keg inside her.

Zhang Xuanyao's hand moved downward.

Without any obstruction.

His palm was scorching hot, and wherever it passed, Su Qingge's skin flushed with an alluring pink.

"These stockings..." Zhang Xuanyao raised his head, his fingers hooking the edge of the thin-as-a-cicada's-wing black silk.

"Are in the way."

"Don't tear..." Su Qingge hadn't finished her sentence.

"Riiip—!" Another crisp sound.

The expensive black stockings were as fragile as paper in Zhang Xuanyao's hands.

They were torn right from the base of her thighs, revealing her natural skin tone.

The strong visual contrast between black and white made Zhang Xuanyao's breathing grow heavier.

He tossed the scrap of fabric onto the floor.

Then, he grasped Su Qingge's slender ankle.

It was still wrapped in gauze.

It was the injury left from when she had stepped barefoot on glass shards earlier.

Zhang Xuanyao's movements suddenly softened.

He lowered his head and gently kissed the gauze that was seeping blood.

This gesture was as devout as if he were worshipping a deity.

Su Qingge's heart skipped a beat.

The original shame and nervousness transformed into a heart full of tenderness in that instant.

This man.

Just a moment ago, he was like a beast.

Now, he was so gentle it made her want to cry.

"Does it hurt?" Zhang Xuanyao raised his head, his voice low.

Su Qingge shook her head, the corners of her eyes slightly damp.

"It doesn't."

"Liar." Zhang Xuanyao chuckled.

"It will hurt more later."

"Because I'm about to start the 'treatment'."

He released her ankle, moved his body upward, and covered Su Qingge once more.

The hospital bed emitted an overwhelmed "creak."

Su Qingge proactively released her hands braced against his shoulders and instead wrapped them around his neck.

She closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling.

"Then... hurry up and treat me."

This urge completely snapped the string of reason in Zhang Xuanyao's mind.

He no longer held back.

He lowered his head and kissed those chattering lips.

At the same time, his hands were not idle.

The last line of defense was roughly torn away.

The most primal scenery was exposed to the air.

Su Qingge felt like a fish out of water, able only to cling tightly to the man above her, drawing oxygen from him.

"System, activate Dual Cultivation mode." Zhang Xuanyao issued the command in his mind.

[Ding! High-quality Cauldron detected!]

[Dual Cultivation mode activated!]

[Yin and Yang harmonization in progress...]

"Ah—!" Su Qingge couldn't help but arch her neck, her slender neck stretching into a beautiful arc.

The cold energy within her met the raging fire, instantly transforming into pure energy that fed back into Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao only felt his originally dried-up Dantian like a parched land receiving sweet rain.

His spiritual energy surged crazily.

Outside the window, the night was thick.

The hospital corridor was quiet.

...

An hour later, the movement in the hospital room finally ceased.

Su Qingge was like a puddle of mud, lying limp on the bed.

She was covered by the blanket that had been ravaged beyond recognition.

On her exposed shoulders, there were blue and purple hickeys.

They were the "medals" left by Zhang Xuanyao.

She didn't even have the strength to move a finger.

Her eyes were unfocused, and she was still in a daze.

The pleasure from just a moment ago had nearly killed her.

Meanwhile, the culprit, Zhang Xuanyao, was full of vigor.

He sat cross-legged by the bedside, the muscles on his bare upper body clearly defined.

His originally pale complexion had recovered its flush, looking even healthier than before.

Golden light swirled in his eyes.

His Mental Energy had not only fully recovered but had also improved significantly.

Zhang Xuanyao stretched, his bones cracking and popping.

He turned to look at Su Qingge beside him.

His eyes held a hint of tenderness.

Although he claimed it was for the sake of Cultivate, in that moment, he had truly been moved.

This woman.

Both her body and her Soul made him addicted.

"CEO Su?" Zhang Xuanyao reached out and poked Su Qingge's cheek.

"Are you still alive?"

Su Qingge struggled to open her eyes.

She glared at him fiercely.

That glance was full of charm.

"Get lost..." Her voice was hoarse, as if she were holding gravel in her mouth.

"Alright then." Zhang Xuanyao grinned and leaned over to kiss her forehead.

Afterward, Su Qingge got up to take a shower.

The sound of rushing water came from the bathroom.

A graceful curve was projected onto the frosted glass door; as the steam rose, the shadow appeared even more hazy and alluring.

Zhang Xuanyao sat cross-legged on the hospital bed, listening to the water, feeling as if there were twenty-five mice in his heart—clawing away at him.

However, he didn't dare to act rashly.

That "treatment" just now had restored some of his mana, but Su Qingge had a weaker constitution after all.

If he pushed her further, this female CEO would probably come at him with a knife tomorrow.

He picked up his phone from the bedside table and casually opened a news app.

It was overwhelming.

Eight out of the top ten trending searches were related to today's live stream.

#Major Earthquake in Heng City Police Force! Director Liu Changqing Taken Away on the Spot!#

#Daoist Live Streams Case Solving, Divine Calculator or Scripted?#

#Su Group Construction Site Reveals Pit of Ten Thousand Corpses, Who Is the Mastermind Behind It?#

#Does That Daoist Who Did the Peace Sign Have a Girlfriend?#

The comment section was exploding, with netizens acting as if it were the New Year, frantically tagging major official accounts and demanding a thorough investigation.

Looking at those comments, Zhang Xuanyao's mouth stretched from ear to ear.

These weren't just comments?

These were clearly piles of pure white shock value!

"System, how much shock value do I have left?"

[Ding! Detected that host's live stream caused a nationwide sensation, social order has been maintained, and justice has been upheld!]

[Calculating shock value...]

[shock value + 800,000!]

[shock value + 1,200,000!]

[Current cumulative shock value: 3,650,000!]

Looking at that long string of zeros, Zhang Xuanyao's mouth was twisted into a grin.

Zhang Xuanyao counted that long string of zeros, his hands shaking slightly.

3.65 million!

Getting rich overnight!

Previously, in order to draw for that [Five Thunders Method], he had emptied out his life savings, and his heart had ached for several days.

Now, not only had he recouped his losses, but he had more than doubled them.

"This is the benefit of latching onto a big shot."

Zhang Xuanyao glanced toward the bathroom, feeling even more satisfied with Su Qingge, this female goddess of wealth.

She was beautiful, rich, and could even serve as a mana potion.

Such a top-tier wealthy beauty was hard to find even with a lantern.

29: Chapter 29: A Legendary Artifact, A Policewoman's "Close Inspection"

"System, open the store."

Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand with a wealthy air.

The previous Golden-grade draw had given him the Five Thunders Method, a powerful weapon that gave him the confidence to go head-to-head with evil cultivators.

Now, holding over three million in funds, his gaze naturally skipped over the low-level draws and looked toward the higher tier.

[Platinum-grade Draw]

[Cost: 2,000,000 shock value/time]

Two million for one go.

It was practically robbery.

But as Zhang Xuanyao looked at that button radiating a noble platinum light, he felt as if a cat's claws were scratching at his heart.

The gambler's mentality was at work.

If a Golden-grade draw could produce the Five Thunders Method, what would a Platinum-grade draw produce?

Immortal Ascension?

Dao?

Eternal life?

"Gamble a bit, turn a bicycle into a motorcycle."

Zhang Xuanyao gritted his teeth and went all in.

"System, start the Platinum-grade draw!"

Hum!

In his Sea of Consciousness, that massive roulette wheel appeared once again.

This time, the wheel was no longer flashing with golden light; instead, it had a translucent, jade-like texture, engraved with intricate cloud patterns, exuding an ancient and vast aura.

The pointer began to spin.

It moved so fast it left an afterimage.

Zhang Xuanyao held his breath, staring intensely at the roulette wheel.

Two million!

If this drew a bottle of safflower oil or Yunnan Baiyao, he would definitely tear this broken System apart and flush it down the toilet on the spot.

"Stop! Stop! Stop for Daoist master!"

The pointer slowly decelerated.

It passed a grid depicting [Nine-Turn Golden Core].

It passed a grid inscribed with [Shrink the Earth into an Inch].

Zhang Xuanyao's heart was in his throat.

Finally, the pointer stopped on a grid glowing with a cyan light.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining an Ancient Magical Artifact — kongqing feather branch (Damaged)!]

[Quality: Legendary (Gold)]

[kongqing feather branch: Taken from the Undying Tree atop Kunlun Mountain, it does not sink in water, nor does it burn in fire.]

[Effect: Cleanses the Divine Soul, purifies filth, and breaks illusions. It can neutralize all poisons, break through bewilderment, and suppress the Heart Demon.]

[Note: This item is a broken branch; its effects are damaged and require Karma to nourish and repair.]

The light dissipated.

Zhang Xuanyao felt a weight in his hand.

He looked down.

There was a palm-length tree branch in his palm.

It was emerald green throughout, crystal clear, as if carved from the highest-quality Imperial Green Jade.

The branch had three leaves, shaped like feathers, with clearly visible veins, and faint flowing light coursing through them.

A cool sensation crept from his palm into his Meridians, instantly spreading throughout his body.

His mind, which had been somewhat agitated due to excitement, instantly calmed down under this coolness, becoming as still as an ancient well.

"Good stuff!"

Zhang Xuanyao's eyes lit up.

Although it was a damaged item, the effect was simply superb.

With this kongqing feather branch, it was equivalent to carrying an air purifier with him.

Whether it was corpse poison, Gu, or those messy illusions, they were all useless in front of this thing.

"Two million, worth it!"

Zhang Xuanyao played with it affectionately for a while, then carefully tucked it into the wide sleeve of his Daoist robe.

Although this robe was bought from Pinduoduo, he had sewn a hidden pocket in the sleeve specifically for hiding private money and Magical Artifacts.

The sound of water in the bathroom continued.

Su Qingge seemed to be enjoying this rare moment of relaxation.

Listening to the splashing water, Zhang Xuanyao couldn't help but let certain inappropriate images surface in his mind.

"Immeasurable Daoist Master, form is emptiness."

He hurriedly recited a Heart-Clearing Mantra and reached out to touch the kongqing feather branch in his sleeve.

A wave of coldness struck, and the heat in his heart instantly dissipated.

"Can this thing also be used as a sedative?"

Zhang Xuanyao smiled bitterly.

If he stayed any longer, he was afraid he would make a mistake again.

Although Su Qingge was a top-tier Cauldron, doing that kind of thing too often was harmful to one's health; one had to pace oneself.

"Go out for some air."

Zhang Xuanyao rolled off the bed.

He put on those disposable slippers and pushed open the hospital room door to walk out.

It was already late at night.

The hospital corridor was quiet, with only the buzzing sound of the pale fluorescent lights.

The air was filled with a faint smell of disinfectant.

The young nurse at the duty station was dozing off at her desk, her head bobbing up and down as if pecking at rice.

Zhang Xuanyao walked with his hands behind his back, taking wide strides like an old cadre inspecting his territory.

When passing a hospital room, a few suppressed coughs came from inside.

Zhang Xuanyao didn't stop.

He was a Daoist, not a doctor.

Life, aging, sickness, and death had their own natural order; he couldn't manage it, nor did he want to.

He only wanted to manage his own little plot of land, earn some money, and keep Qingfeng Temple.

He walked to the vending machine at the end of the corridor.

Zhang Xuanyao felt his pockets.

Empty.

He had come out in such a hurry that he forgot his phone and didn't take any cash.

"Tsk, a penny can stump a hero."

He stared at the can of iced cola in the glass cabinet and swallowed his saliva.

Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps came from the stairwell.

Zhang Xuanyao turned his head subconsciously.

He saw a tall figure walking over quickly.

She wasn't wearing her signature dark blue police uniform but a simple white T-shirt with tight jeans on her lower body.

Those legs.

Straight, slender.

The jeans tightly hugged the lines of her legs, outlining their stunning proportions to the fullest.

She wore white sneakers on her feet, walking with a breeze.

Her hair was tied in a casual ponytail that swung behind her head with her steps.

Without the restraint of the uniform, she lost some of her authority but gained a bit of youth and vitality.

Zhang Xuanyao was stunned.

Who is this?

Looks a bit familiar.

The other party clearly also saw Zhang Xuanyao standing in front of the vending machine in a daze.

Her steps stopped abruptly.

A trace of astonishment flashed across that face, which was bare-faced yet still breathtakingly beautiful.

Immediately after, the astonishment turned into ecstasy, and then instantly transformed into deep worry.

"Zhang Xuanyao?!"

An exclamation.

The person rushed over in a few steps, bringing a fragrant breeze.

It wasn't the scent of expensive perfume, but the fresh fragrance of mint laundry detergent.

Zhang Xuanyao finally recognized her.

Isn't this the captain of the Criminal Investigation Team, Qin Bingruo?

"Officer Qin?"

Zhang Xuanyao raised his eyebrows, his gaze sweeping over her body before finally resting on her cheeks, which were slightly flushed from running.

"In the middle of the night, dressed like this at the hospital, are you trying to do a uniform temptation... oh no, casual wear temptation?"

Qin Bingruo didn't pay any attention to his teasing.

She rushed in front of Zhang Xuanyao and grabbed his arms with both hands.

The strength was frighteningly large.

Zhang Xuanyao felt like his bones were about to be crushed by her.

"Why are you here?!"

Qin Bingruo's voice trembled slightly, and those usually cold eyes were filled with anxiety at this moment.

She looked Zhang Xuanyao up and down.

Hospital gown.

Slippers.

Although his complexion was ruddy, his eyes revealed a hint of fatigue.

"Are you injured? Where are you hurt? Is it serious?"

Qin Bingruo threw out a series of questions like a machine gun.

Her hands were fumbling all over him, seemingly wanting to check for wounds.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Zhang Xuanyao hurriedly took a step back, protecting his chest.

"Officer Qin, men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving."

"In public, if you touch me like this and my fans see it, this Daoist's innocence will be ruined."

Qin Bingruo's movements stiffened.

She only then realized how excessive her reaction had been just now.

Two clouds of red flew onto her cheeks instantly.

She abruptly pulled back her hands and awkwardly smoothed the stray hair by her ear.

"I... that's professional habit! Checking the wounded!"

Qin Bingruo explained forcibly, but her voice was clearly lacking confidence.

"Fine, fine, fine, professional habit."

Zhang Xuanyao leaned against the vending machine, looking at her with a half-smile.

"Then your professional habit is quite special, specializing in touching chest muscles?"

Qin Bingruo glared at him.

This glare didn't have much lethality; instead, it was filled with a coquettish charm.

"Quit the glib talk!"

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her heartbeat.

"I watched the live stream."

"That Director Liu Changqing... has been arrested."

Mentioning Director Liu Changqing, Qin Bingruo's expression became complex.

That was her direct superior and also a mountain that had always been pressing down on her.

If it weren't for Zhang Xuanyao, some accumulated cases might never have been solved, and those victims might never have been able to clear their names.

30: Chapter 30: Science Has No Solution, Heavenly Eyes Detect the Demon

"Thank you."

Qin Bingruo looked at Zhang Xuanyao and said earnestly.

"No need for thanks."

Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand, maintaining the demeanor of an expert.

"I did it for justice, and by the way, to earn some... ahem, by the way, to accumulate some Karma."

"Besides, President Su paid, and paid quite a lot."

Qin Bingruo bit her lip.

She knew Zhang Xuanyao was intentionally joking around, not wanting her to feel burdened.

This man.

He clearly looked like a slacker, greedy for money and lustful.

But at critical moments, he was more reliable than anyone else.

"Regardless, you saved everyone."

Qin Bingruo paused, her gaze falling on his hospital gown.

"Are you... really okay?"

"I heard you overexerted your body to catch that evil cultivator?"

When she heard the news in the hospital, her heart almost stopped.

"I'm fine, just a bit weak."

Zhang Xuanyao scratched his head and blinked.

"I just dealt with an evil cultivator; that guy had some skill, and it drained quite a lot of my mana... oh no, it drained quite a lot of my magic power."

"That's why I'm here in the hospital to recover since I'm physically exhausted."

He said it lightly.

But Qin Bingruo knew the danger involved was definitely not as simple as he described.

Even someone of Director Liu Changqing's level was just a pawn for that evil cultivator, which showed how terrifying the opponent was.

It was already a stroke of luck that Zhang Xuanyao was able to retreat unscathed.

"Right."

Zhang Xuanyao suddenly remembered something and put away his playful expression.

"How is your sister... Qin Xiaoya doing?"

Upon hearing the words "Qin Xiaoya," Qin Bingruo's eyes instantly dimmed.

The shyness and excitement from just a moment ago vanished completely.

In their place was deep helplessness and pain.

She lowered her head, looking at her toes.

Her hands gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"Xiao Wang said she was conscious when she was rescued, but she fell into a coma once she arrived at the hospital. I don't know why either."

Her voice was hoarse, carrying a trace of a sob.

"The doctors say her bodily functions are recovering, but her brain... hasn't shown any response."

"It's like... she lost her soul."

Zhang Xuanyao narrowed his eyes slightly.

Lost her soul?

If it were before, he might have considered it a superstitious claim.

But now.

He had the Heavenly Eye, the Five Thunders Method, and was holding the [kongqing feather branch] he had just drawn.

This matter might truly be a case that matched his expertise.

"Take me to see her."

Zhang Xuanyao straightened his body and adjusted his somewhat disheveled Daoist robes.

Qin Bingruo looked up abruptly.

A glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes, but it immediately turned into hesitation.

"But you are currently..."

"What about me?"

Zhang Xuanyao puffed out his chest, slapping it with a loud thud.

"I am currently strong enough to kill an ox."

"Besides."

He leaned closer to Qin Bingruo, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously.

"If she lost her soul, the doctors in this hospital won't be able to cure it."

"You need to find a professional."

Qin Bingruo looked at the face so close to her.

In those eyes flickered a light that inexplicably made her feel at ease.

Just like that day at Qingfeng Temple, when he said, "It will be better once you cry it out."

As if possessed.

Qin Bingruo nodded.

"Okay."

"She is in the intensive care unit; I will take you."

The two walked side by side toward the elevator.

As they walked, Zhang Xuanyao calculated in his mind.

If she really lost her soul, then this [kongqing feather branch] would come in handy.

If he could wake Qin Xiaoya up.

This Karma value would probably be another huge sum.

And...

He secretly glanced at Qin Bingruo beside him.

This police beauty's favor was something even more valuable than money.

"Um, Officer Qin."

"Hmm?"

"I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should say it."

"Go ahead."

"Your outfit... looks quite good."

Qin Bingruo's footsteps faltered, her earlobes instantly turning bright red.

The elevator door slid open with a "ding".

On the floor where the intensive care unit was located, the smell of disinfectant in the air was at least three times stronger than below.

At the end of the corridor, that heavy isolation door was tightly shut, like a mouth rejecting everyone from a thousand miles away.

Qin Bingruo walked in front, her footsteps somewhat unsteady.

"Captain Qin."

The two young criminal police officers guarding the entrance immediately stood at attention and saluted when they saw Qin Bingruo.

Their eyes were bloodshot, clearly having stayed up all night.

"How is the situation?"

Qin Bingruo's voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something.

"Same as before."

One of the criminal police officers shook his head, glanced at Zhang Xuanyao behind Qin Bingruo, and hesitated to speak.

Wearing a hospital gown, draped in a tattered Daoist robe, and wearing a pair of disposable hospital slippers on his feet.

This look made him look like someone who had escaped from the psychiatric ward no matter how you looked at it.

"Open the door."

Qin Bingruo didn't explain and directly gave the order.

The criminal police officer was stunned for a moment, swiped the card, and the heavy airtight door slowly opened.

It was very quiet in the ICU.

Only the electrocardiogram monitor made a monotonous and rhythmic "beep, beep" sound.

On that large hospital bed lay a thin, small figure.

Too thin.

Twelve years of imprisonment made Qin Xiaoya look nothing like an eighteen-year-old girl, but rather like an underdeveloped middle school student.

Her skin presented a ghastly pale color from years without seeing sunlight, and one could even clearly see the blue-purple veins beneath her skin.

Her body was covered in tubes.

A ventilator mask covered most of her face, revealing only a pair of tightly closed eyes.

Qin Bingruo walked to the bedside, her hand resting gently on the glass wall.

Her fingertips trembled.

That was her sister.

Her only relative in this world.

"What did the doctor say?"

Zhang Xuanyao walked to her side, hands in his hospital gown pockets, his gaze falling on Qin Xiaoya.

"All vital signs are recovering."

Qin Bingruo's voice was somewhat choked with sobs.

"Nutrient solution has been infused, dehydration symptoms have been alleviated, the brain CT shows no organic damage, and even the external injuries caused by that... that beast are healing."

"But she just won't wake up."

"The chief physician came by just now and said... it might be that her psychological defense mechanism has been activated, and she is subconsciously refusing to wake up."

Speaking of this, Qin Bingruo turned her head, her bloodshot eyes staring fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao.

"Daoist Zhang, you said she lost her soul."

"Can you really save her?"

This was her last straw.

For things that science could not explain, she could only turn to this seemingly unreliable Daoist in front of her.

Zhang Xuanyao did not answer immediately.

He took two steps forward, his entire face almost pressed against the ICU viewing glass.

Golden light swirled in his eyes.

[Heavenly Eye, open!]

His vision changed instantly.

The originally pale hospital room was veiled in a layer of grayish mist in Zhang Xuanyao's eyes.

The precise medical instruments were still running, but hovering above Qin Xiaoya's body was a mass of black energy.

That was not ordinary black energy.

It was a mass of resentment that had a physical form, as viscous as asphalt.

It looked like a giant toad, clinging tightly to Qin Xiaoya's chest.

Its limbs, like suction cups, clamped onto her limbs, and that face with indistinguishable features was facing Qin Xiaoya's mouth and nose, greedily sucking on the faint Life Qi within her body.

Every time the ventilator delivered air, this black shadow would expand a little.

And Qin Xiaoya's originally weak soul fire was teetering on the edge with every breath.

"Tsk."

Zhang Xuanyao clicked his tongue, his brow furrowing into the shape of the character " river".

"This is not a psychological defense mechanism."

"This is clearly a ghost pressing on the bed."

Qin Bingruo's body stiffened.

"Ghost... ghost pressing on the bed?"

"And not an ordinary ghost."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed at the black shadow inside the glass.

"This girl was imprisoned for twelve years. A place like that cellar has heavy Yin Qi and deep resentment. She was in extreme fear and despair for years; these negative emotions are simply the best feed for dirty things."

"Plus, that old pervert Zhou Jianshe probably didn't do fewer wicked deeds in that place."

"This thing is a 'Specter' raised in that cellar."

"It is now treating your sister as its host, wanting to use her body to return to life, or simply to suck her dry and become a spirit itself."

31: Chapter 31: Green Branches Cleanse Impurities – Is This Scientific Now?

Qin Bingruo did not understand these technical terms.

But she understood the two words "drained dry".

"Then what should we do?!"

Qin Bingruo grabbed Zhang Xuanyao's arm, using enough force to nearly rip the sleeve off his hospital gown.

"Go in."

Zhang Xuanyao brushed her hand away and straightened his collar.

"If we are half an hour later, even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal would have to shake their head."

The two of them were just about to rush inside.

A middle-aged doctor in a white coat, accompanied by two nurses, rushed over.

"What are you doing! What are you doing!"

The doctor's name tag read "Zhao Jianguo, Director of Neurology".

He kept a straight face and blocked the doorway.

"This is the Intensive Care Unit! Non-medical personnel are prohibited from entering! Family members can only visit from the outside!"

Zhao Jianguo looked Zhang Xuanyao up and down, his brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a fly.

"Where did this... loafer come from? Trying to rush into the ICU dressed like this? If you bring bacteria inside and infect the patient, who will be responsible?"

Qin Bingruo took a deep breath and pulled out her police badge.

"Director Zhao, I am Qin Bingruo from the Municipal Criminal Police Brigade. The person inside is a victim, and we need to go in to collect evidence."

"Collect evidence?"

Zhao Jianguo pointed at Zhang Xuanyao.

"Police bringing a Daoist to handle a case? Captain Qin, this is a place for healing and saving lives, not a venue for feudal superstition! The patient's condition is very unstable, and at any moment..."

"Move aside."

Zhang Xuanyao did not want to listen to his nonsense.

Time waits for no one.

That black shadow had already started drilling its tentacles into Qin Xiaoya's seven orifices.

"You..."

Zhao Jianguo was just about to lose his temper.

Qin Bingruo took a step forward and blocked Zhao Jianguo.

With her height of over 1.7 meters and the Evil Qi she had honed from years of working on the front lines, she instantly intimidated Zhao Jianguo.

"If something happens, I will take responsibility."

Qin Bingruo stared into Zhao Jianguo's eyes, enunciating every word.

"If I don't let him in and my sister dies, can you bear that responsibility?"

Zhao Jianguo opened his mouth, choked speechless.

Taking advantage of this gap.

Zhang Xuanyao kicked the switch of the airtight door open.

"Beep—"

The door opened.

He strode inside.

The temperature in the ICU was very low.

That kind of chill was not from the air conditioning, but a coldness that pierced straight to the bone marrow.

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the bedside.

The black shadow seemed to sense a threat.

It jerked its head up, and a slit tore open on its featureless face, unleashing a silent roar at Zhang Xuanyao.

The readings on the surrounding instruments began to jump wildly.

The heart rate monitor emitted a piercing "beep-beep-beep" sound.

"So noisy."

Zhang Xuanyao picked his ear.

He flipped his right hand.

A dripping-green branch appeared in his hand.

[kongqing feather branch].

This was a reward just given by the System.

It was entirely emerald green and crystal clear, with a faint cyan light flowing over it; that was extremely pure Wood-element Spiritual Qi, specifically meant to counter evil spirits.

"Normally, this Daoist does not hit women."

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the black shadow, a cold sneer curling the corners of his mouth.

"But you are too ugly to count as a woman."

Before the words had even faded.

He flicked his wrist.

The green feather branch carved an afterimage through the air.

"Snap!"

A sharp sound rang out.

This whip landed squarely on the black shadow's back.

"Screech—!!!"

A shrill, harrowing scream exploded in the hospital room.

This sound did not seem like something a human could produce; it was like fingernails scratching a chalkboard, or a rusty iron door being forced open.

Standing at the door, Qin Bingruo covered her ears in pain, feeling as if her eardrums were about to be pierced.

As for Director Zhao Jianguo, he was so frightened that he plopped onto the floor, his face deathly pale.

"Wha... what is that sound?"

He looked around in terror.

Clearly, there was only that Daoist and the patient in the room, so where did this sound come from?

Zhang Xuanyao did not stop at all.

Strike while the iron is hot.

"Screaming? You dare to scream?"

"Letting you suppress people!"

"Snap!"

Another whip.

The black shadow was whipped until its skin split and flesh tore, and its previously solid body instantly dissipated by half.

It wanted to run.

Turning into a wisp of black smoke, it tried to drill into the ventilation duct on the ceiling.

"Running?"

Zhang Xuanyao let out a cold snort.

He formed a hand seal with his left hand and roared.

"Freeze!"

Words Become Law.

The black smoke seemed to hit an invisible wall and stopped abruptly in mid-air.

Zhang Xuanyao raised the feather branch in his hand and struck hard at the black smoke.

"Dissipate!"

This strike carried the momentum of thunder and lightning.

The cyan light on the feather branch surged, instantly illuminating the entire hospital room.

"Bang!"

The black smoke popped like a punctured balloon, exploding instantly.

It turned into countless tiny black particles, which rapidly dissolved under the radiance of the cyan light until they vanished completely.

The temperature in the hospital room began to rise.

That suffocating sense of oppression vanished without a trace.

Even the erratic readings on the heart rate monitor instantly stabilized.

Zhang Xuanyao retracted the feather branch and blew on it lightly.

"Done and finished."

He turned around, looking at the stunned Qin Bingruo and Zhao Jianguo.

"That... Director Zhao, right?"

Zhang Xuanyao pointed at the ECG.

"Is it scientific now?"

Zhao Jianguo climbed up from the floor, adjusted his crooked glasses, and looked at the stable heart rate curve, his mouth open wide enough to fit an egg.

"This... this is unscientific..."

He muttered to himself.

Qin Bingruo ignored Zhao Jianguo and rushed to the bedside, looking at Qin Xiaoya, who still had her eyes tightly closed.

"She... why hasn't she woken up yet?"

"Don't be anxious."

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the head of the bed.

"That was pest removal; now is the time for watering."

Qin Xiaoya's Divine Soul had been suppressed by that thing for too long; she was like a blade of grass bent by a rock. Although the rock had been moved, the grass still needed to be propped up to straighten out.

Coupled with years of autism and confinement, her self-consciousness had already sealed itself off.

She needed a little external force.

A little external force that could awaken her will to live.

Zhang Xuanyao gripped the kongqing feather branch.

At this moment, the feather branch's original emerald green color had become somewhat dull; clearly, that fierce whipping just now had consumed a significant amount of Spiritual Qi.

But the remaining bit was enough.

He gently touched the tip of the feather branch to the center of Qin Xiaoya's forehead.

That was the place of the full celestial court, and also the dwelling place of the Divine Soul.

"Wake up."

Zhang Xuanyao's voice was very soft.

Unlike his roar from just a moment ago, it carried a strange rhythm.

It was like a spring breeze brushing over willow tips, like raindrops falling onto a lake surface.

A bit of soft cyan light flowed along the feather branch and slowly injected into the center of Qin Xiaoya's forehead.

That was a surge of vitality.

A surge of vitality sufficient to awaken withered wood.

Qin Bingruo held her breath, her hands gripping the edge of the bed so tightly her knuckles turned white.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

The hospital room was deathly silent.

Just as Zhao Jianguo was about to open his mouth to say, "I told you this was superstition."

The heart rate monitor suddenly emitted a sharp "beep".

Qin Xiaoya's finger.

That thin, bony index finger.

Moved.

Immediately after, her eyelashes.

Those two rows of thick eyelashes fluttered violently like the wings of a startled butterfly.

Qin Bingruo covered her mouth, tears instantly gushing out.

"Xiaoya..."

32: Chapter 32: The Soul Returns to Earth, the Ice and Snow Begin to Melt

She didn't dare to shout, afraid of scaring away this butterfly.

Slowly.

That pair of tightly closed eyes cracked open a sliver.

A bit confused.

A bit fearful.

The pupils lacked focus, as if covered by a layer of mist.

She looked at the pale white ceiling overhead, looked at the glaring shadowless lamp.

Her body instinctively recoiled.

This is not the cellar.

There is no such terrible man here.

Nor is there that bowl that always forced her to eat spoiled food.

Her gaze slowly shifted.

Finally.

It landed on the woman by the bedside, who was wearing a grey tracksuit, face covered in tears, looking utterly disheveled.

That face.

A bit unfamiliar.

Because there were more wrinkles, more vicissitudes, and twelve years of weathering.

But those eyes.

Those eyes, when looking at her, were filled with infinite tenderness and love.

Carved into the bones.

Branded deep within the Soul.

That was the light, the only thing that could sustain her through countless dark nights.

Qin Xiaoya's chapped lips parted slightly.

A rusty sound came from her throat.

That was the sign of vocal cords having atrophied from not speaking for too long.

She laboriously raised her hand.

Wanting to touch that face.

Qin Bingruo grabbed that thin hand and pressed it against her cheek.

Scalding tears slid down the back of Qin Xiaoya's cold hand.

"Sis... Sis..."

The voice was very small.

Like the buzzing of a mosquito.

But this call was like a heavy hammer, smashing through the last line of defense in Qin Bingruo's heart.

"Yes!"

Qin Bingruo nodded heavily, crying like a child.

"Sis is here... Sis is right here..."

"Sis is taking you home..."

"No one will ever be able to bully you again..."

She buried her face in her sister's palm and wailed.

At this moment.

She was not that iron-faced policewoman who made criminals tremble with fear.

She was just a sister who had retrieved a treasure she had lost for twelve years.

Zhao Jianguo stood at the door, his glasses lenses covered in fog.

He took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, turned around silently, and waved at the nurse behind him.

"Prepare warm water and liquid food."

"Record the vital signs monitoring data."

"This... is a miracle."

He glanced at the slacker Taoist priest standing at the foot of the bed, his eyes complex.

Zhang Xuanyao did not disturb the sisters.

He quietly put the withered kongqing feather branch back into his Taoist robe.

Although he felt pained by the loss of the item, looking at this scene before him, the feeling of weakness from overdrawing his Mental Energy seemed to lighten quite a bit.

"What immeasurable Karma."

Zhang Xuanyao muttered to himself.

At this moment, the cold mechanical voice in his mind sounded at the right time.

[Ding! Detected that the host has eliminated demons and saved the dying and healed the wounded!]

[Congratulations to the host, you have obtained shock value: 5000 points!]

[Congratulations to the host, you have obtained a special achievement: Sisters Reunited!]

Zhang Xuanyao curled his lip.

Only five thousand points?

That branch was a rare item!

System, you skinflint!

However, seeing the look of joy on Qin Bingruo's face at retrieving what was lost, Zhang Xuanyao sighed.

Forget it.

A loss is a loss.

Anyway, there is still a large final payment from President Su that hasn't been settled yet.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xuanyao felt his back was no longer sore and his legs were no longer aching.

He cleared his throat, breaking the touching atmosphere.

"Um... Officer Qin."

Qin Bingruo looked up, tears hanging on her face, but her eyes were full of gratitude.

"I know talking about money now is a bit insensitive."

Zhang Xuanyao rubbed his fingers, looking righteous.

"But this magic wand... I mean that branch from just now, it is an ancestral treasure of mine, one-time use."

"Look, about the reimbursement..."

Qin Bingruo burst into laughter through her tears.

This smile was like ice and snow melting, like pear blossoms in the rain.

"I'll reimburse it."

She held her sister's hand tightly, looked at Zhang Xuanyao, and said seriously.

"Whatever amount you want, I will reimburse it."

"Even if I have to be collateral for you, that's fine."

Zhang Xuanyao was stunned.

Then he tactically leaned back, shielding his chest with both hands.

"Don't!"

"I am a practitioner!"

"I sell my skills, not my body!"

He secretly glanced at Qin Bingruo's proud figure, which couldn't be hidden despite her disheveled state.

He swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

"Pfft."

The sadness that had originally solidified in the air, with this chuckle, rippled away instantly like a pool of spring water ruffled by the spring breeze.

Qin Bingruo looked at the man in front of her.

He had clearly just done a world-shaking deed sufficient to shock the medical world and even overturn scientific understanding, clearly just pulled a girl who had been lingering at the gates of Hell for twelve years back into the world of the living.

But what about him?

He didn't claim credit, wasn't arrogant, but instead, like a commoner, was haggling over a few hundred yuan in item fees here, and even at this critical moment, he was cracking jokes, afraid that someone would renege on the debt.

At this moment, the nerves that Qin Bingruo had kept tense for two whole days finally relaxed completely.

Pear blossoms in the rain, ice and snow beginning to melt.

That pretty face, usually as cold as frost and making countless criminals go weak in the knees with just one look, was currently blooming with a heart-stopping charm.

Tears still hung on her long eyelashes, but the corners of her mouth curled into an arc that could captivate the world.

This extreme contrast was like a red lotus blooming on an ice field, beautiful enough to make people unable to look away.

Zhang Xuanyao only felt his vision blur.

His heart missed two beats very uncompetitively.

"What a Prodigy..."

He muttered "Wuliang Tianzun" in his heart, but his mouth had no filter.

"Alright, with Officer Qin's smile, my few hundred yuan is considered paid back. If this were a live stream, just this one smile alone, the top fan would definitely gift ten Carnivals."

Qin Bingruo rolled her eyes at him.

This look had not a shred of Killing Intent, only charm.

"Smart aleck."

She sniffed, wiped the tear stains on her face, and turned to look at the hospital bed.

Zhang Xuanyao also put away his playful expression and said seriously.

"Laughing is fine, but we still need to talk about serious matters. Although your sister's Soul has returned, her body is severely depleted. That thing sucked away her Life Qi for twelve years; her foundation has long been hollowed out."

"Right now she is like a porcelain doll; she cannot be touched, and even less can she handle stimulation."

"Great joy and great sorrow are both not allowed; take it easy, don't let her faint from crying again right after I just saved her."

Upon hearing this, Qin Bingruo's expression became serious, she quickly adjusted her breathing, struggling to suppress the surging emotions in her heart.

She carefully sat back down by the bedside, her movements as gentle as if she were touching a rare treasure.

On the hospital bed.

Although Qin Xiaoya was so weak that she couldn't even lift a finger, her eyes never left Qin Bingruo for a moment.

That was the light she had looked up to for twelve years in Hell.

She laboriously moved her fingers, hooking onto a corner of Qin Bingruo's sleeve.

Tightly.

Refusing to let go even in death.

"Sis... don't go..."

A weak sound of airflow squeezed out from her throat.

Qin Bingruo's heart was about to melt; she backhanded and grasped that bony hand, placed it against her lips and kissed it gently, coaxing softly.

"I won't go, Sis isn't going anywhere, I'll stay here and watch over you. Sleep, just sleep and you'll be fine."

33: Chapter 33: Quantum Deception, Shocking Changes in the Cellar

A long-lost warmth flowed through the hospital room.

However.

This cozy atmosphere didn't even last three seconds before it was shattered by a roar filled with insatiable curiosity.

"This is impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"

Zhao Jianguo, the director of the Neurology Department who had been in a state of System crash, finally successfully rebooted.

He lunged forward and grabbed Zhang Xuanyao's wrist, his grip so tight it was as if he were clutching at a straw to save his life.

The eyes hidden behind his thick-rimmed glasses were now wider than a bull's, filled with a fanatical obsession for the unknown and the confusion of a worldview collapsing.

"Daoist! Great Master! Miracle Doctor!"

Zhao Jianguo stammered incoherently, spittle flying everywhere.

"What was that green light just now? Was it a laser? Or some kind of high-frequency ray?"

"That tree branch... where did that tree branch go? Why could it cure a brain-dead vegetative patient? This doesn't conform to medical common sense! It violates the basic laws of biology!"

He stared fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao, like a devout believer seeing a True God, or a mad scientist discovering an alien life form.

"Tell me quickly! What is the principle behind this?!"

Zhang Xuanyao was shaken dizzy by the old man and leaned his neck back in disgust.

"Director Zhao, calm down, calm down."

"This is a hospital; we need to be scientific, don't make it look like a cult scene."

"Science?!" Zhao Jianguo nearly jumped up, pointing at the stable curve on the ECG monitor, "You call this science? Waving a tree branch around a couple of times and blowing a breath of air to wake someone up—tell me, what kind of science is that?!"

Zhang Xuanyao broke free from Zhao Jianguo's grip and leisurely straightened the collar of his Daoist robe.

He glanced at Qin Bingruo, who was also listening with her ears pricked up, and then looked at the thirst-for-knowledge Zhao Jianguo.

Since you have asked with such sincerity.

This Daoist will graciously... bluff... oh no, popularize some science for you.

Zhang Xuanyao cleared his throat, put his hands behind his back, and struck the pose of an unfathomable master from the outside world.

"Director Zhao, you are being narrow-minded."

"So-called science is about discovering and utilizing laws. Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean it isn't scientific."

Zhao Jianguo froze, pushed up his glasses, and said, "I would like to hear the details."

Zhang Xuanyao spouted nonsense with a straight face: "This is actually... Quantum Biological Entanglement Resonance Therapy."

"What?" Zhao Jianguo was stunned.

"Quantum... Biological... Entanglement?"

"Yes." Zhang Xuanyao nodded, without blushing or skipping a beat, "You know quantum mechanics, right? When in doubt, quantum mechanics."

"Human consciousness is essentially a complex quantum wave. The reason your sister is in a coma is that her brain wave quantum state has collapsed, falling into a kind of infinite loop, also commonly known as 'losing one's soul'."

Zhang Xuanyao extended his right hand and drew a circle in the Void Realm.

"And the tree branch this Daoist just used is no ordinary object. It is an extremely rare biological magnetic field amplifier, produced from... um, a mutated plant in a specific magnetic field environment in the Kunlun Mountains."

"It can emit a specific frequency of biological waves."

"The incantation this Daoist chanted just now was actually a kind of sound wave password used to activate this 'biological antenna'."

Speaking of which, Zhang Xuanyao leaned close to Zhao Jianguo, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously.

"Through this high-frequency sound wave stimulation, it triggers a quantum leap in the pineal gland, thereby forcibly pulling the patient's collapsed consciousness wave back into an entangled state."

"It's just like... rebooting a computer."

"With a snap, the System is reinstalled, and the person naturally wakes up."

This theory, combining quantum mechanics, biology, and magnetic field studies, sounded high-end, but was actually complete nonsense.

But Zhao Jianguo took it in.

Not only did he take it in, but he was also completely enthralled.

"Pineal gland... quantum leap... sound wave password..."

Zhao Jianguo muttered to himself, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

He even took a small notebook out of his white coat pocket and recorded rapidly, nodding as he wrote: "It makes sense... it makes so much sense! I knew the meridians and Acupoints of Traditional Chinese Medicine must be related to quantum fields! So that's it! So that's it!"

"Great Master! This is simply a Nobel Prize-level discovery!"

Zhao Jianguo's hands were trembling with excitement, "Are there any more of these tree branches? Can you lend me one to slice up and study? Or perhaps we can collaborate on a research project..."

Zhang Xuanyao's mouth twitched.

Does this old man actually believe it?

"Ahem, well this..." Zhang Xuanyao was just about to find an excuse to brush him off.

Just at this moment.

A harsh cell phone ringtone sounded abruptly.

Breaking up the academic seminar on "Quantum Cultivation" in the hospital room.

The ringtone came from Qin Bingruo's pocket.

It was urgent and sharp.

Like a sharp blade cutting through the originally warm and harmonious atmosphere.

Qin Bingruo frowned slightly, gave Zhang Xuanyao and her sister an apologetic look, and took out her phone.

Caller ID: Criminal Police Team Xiao Wang.

Her expression changed slightly.

It was so late; if something major hadn't happened, no one from the team would ever call her.

"Hello? This is Qin Bingruo."

The moment she connected the call, Qin Bingruo's aura changed instantly.

From that gentle sister, she immediately switched back to the decisive Captain Qin.

However.

The voice coming from the other end of the phone made her pupils contract sharply.

"Captain Qin! Help! Something happened! Something big happened!"

Xiao Wang's voice carried a distinct sobbing tone, and there was even the chattering sound of teeth, a fear that could be felt deep in the marrow even through the receiver.

"Don't panic! Speak slowly!" Qin Bingruo shouted sternly, "What happened?"

"Crazy... everyone is crazy..."

Xiao Wang roared incoherently: "The brothers who went down to the cellar with us to collect evidence just now... they haven't been right since they came back!"

"Old Li... Old Li locked himself in the interrogation room and is gnawing frantically on his own fingers! His fingernails have been gnawed off, his mouth is full of blood, and he's still gnawing! We can't pull him away!"

"And Big Liu! Big Liu has a high fever, it's reached 41 degrees, and he keeps muttering things like 'Don't come over' and 'It's so dark', speaking entirely in a dialect we can't understand!"

"The worst is the Vice Captain... he... he suddenly collapsed on the ground just now, and we can't wake him up no matter how much we call him! The symptoms... the symptoms are exactly the same as when your sister was sent to the hospital!"

Boom!

Qin Bingruo felt as if a thunderbolt had exploded in her brain.

She almost lost her grip on the phone and dropped it to the floor.

Exactly the same?

In a coma?

Is this... demonic possession?!

She subconsciously turned on the speakerphone.

Xiao Wang's terrified description echoed in the quiet hospital room, turning Zhao Jianguo's face pale and causing the pen in his hand to drop to the floor with a "clatter".

Zhang Xuanyao's brows instantly knitted into a " river" shape.

His body, which had been lazily leaning against the wall, straightened up instantly. The playfulness in his eyes vanished completely, replaced by unprecedented gravity.

Sure enough.

Things were not that simple.

That cellar was not just a place to hide people.

34: Chapter 34: The Gatekeeper Dog, the Demon from the Underground

"Give me the phone."

Zhang Xuanyao reached out his hand, his voice low and unquestionable.

Qin Bingruo was flustered and subconsciously handed over the phone.

Zhang Xuanyao spoke into the receiver in a deep voice: "This is Zhang Xuanyao. Listen, think carefully: did everyone who had an incident touch anything at the scene?"

Xiao Wang on the other end of the line was stunned for a moment, then grabbed onto it like a straw: "Daoist Zhang?! Yes! I remember now!"

"At the very back of the cellar, there was a stone platform that looked like an altar. Because we needed to collect evidence, Old Li, Da Liu, and the deputy captain worked together to move the platform, wanting to see if there were any hidden corpses underneath..."

"You moved it?"

Zhang Xuanyao sneered, "You really have a death wish."

"What was under that platform?"

"Nothing... just soil, black soil, and a very foul, fishy stench, like the smell of rotten fish and shrimp."

Zhang Xuanyao took a deep breath and hung up the phone directly.

"What's going on?"

Qin Bingruo stared fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao, her face as pale as paper, "Hasn't that 'Specter' already been destroyed by you? Why is this still happening?"

Her mind was in chaos right now.

Her sister had just been saved, and now a whole group of her team members had collapsed.

This kind of unknown fear was ten thousand times more terrifying than facing armed criminals.

At this moment.

Zhang Xuanyao had become her only reliance.

"A 'Specter'?"

Zhang Xuanyao threw the phone back to Qin Bingruo, the corners of his mouth curling into a cold arc.

"That thing is at best a guard dog, or perhaps a flea parasitic on that place."

"The real trouble is the cellar itself."

He paced twice in the hospital room, speaking extremely fast.

"That old pervert Zhou Jianshe, although he doesn't have much Dao, surely has an expert guiding him behind the scenes. That cellar was never meant for holding people; it's a 'Corpse-Raising Ground', or an even fiercer 'Yin-Gathering Array'."

"That stone platform is the eye of the array, and also the Seal."

"Your people were reckless and moved the array eye, just like lifting the lid off a sewer. Ten years of accumulated resentment, Evil Qi, and Yin Qi all gushed out at once."

"An ordinary person would fall gravely ill just by getting a little on them, let alone them staying in such an extremely Yin place for so long, directly having their bodies struck by Evil Qi."

"Gnawing on fingers is a hallucination; the high fever is the Yang Qi fighting against the Yin Qi; as for the coma..."

Zhang Xuanyao paused, his eyes cold.

"That means their souls have been hooked away."

"If it's not handled as soon as possible, within three days, the police station will turn into a morgue."

Qin Bingruo trembled all over as she listened.

She grabbed her coat and turned to rush out.

"I have to go back! I have to go save them!"

Those were the brothers who had been through life and death with her.

She couldn't just watch them have an accident.

However.

Just as she took a step, her wrist was firmly gripped by a warm, strong hand.

"Let go!" Qin Bingruo's eyes were red with anxiety, and she turned back to glare at Zhang Xuanyao.

"Are you going to throw your life away?"

Zhang Xuanyao didn't let go, instead increasing his grip, pulling her back forcefully.

"What can you do if you go now? Give them physical cooling? Or join them in going crazy and gnawing on your fingers?"

His words were harsh.

Like a basin of ice water poured over Qin Bingruo's head.

"But..." Qin Bingruo's eyes were red, her voice choked with sobs, "I can't just ignore it! Xiao Wang said the comrades are almost done for..."

"Who said I'm ignoring it?"

Zhang Xuanyao sighed, released her hand, and pointed to Qin Bingruo's bloodshot eyes.

"Look in the mirror and look at yourself."

"You've also been up for two days and two nights; two of the three Yang fires on your body have been extinguished, and you're as weak as a ghost right now. If you go to that cellar now, not only will you not save anyone, you'll become the best snack for that thing."

"By then, I'll have to go fish you out, which will cost extra—it's very expensive."

Qin Bingruo bit her lip, tears swirling in her eyes.

She knew Zhang Xuanyao was right.

But...

"Besides." Zhang Xuanyao glanced at the pitch-black night outside the window, "It's the Zi hour right now, the time when Yin Qi is heaviest. If that thing is at the 'Brood' level, its combat power will double at night."

"I exhausted my magic power to save your sister earlier; I'm at the end of my rope right now."

"Going to fight head-on at this time is just asking to die."

Zhang Xuanyao turned around and pointed to Qin Xiaoya on the hospital bed.

"Tonight, your task is to stay here."

"Your sister just woke up, and her soul is still unstable. You are her only relative; your Yang Qi and companionship are the best soul-stabilizing needles for her."

"As for the police station..."

Zhang Xuanyao took a few crumpled yellow talismans from his sleeve and stuffed them into Qin Bingruo's hand.

"Call that Xiao Wang."

"Tell them to move everyone who has been affected into the police station courtyard, somewhere that can get sunlight. Although there's no sun right now, the Yang Qi is heavy there."

"Then go to a Chinese medicine shop to buy cinnabar, mix it with strong liquor, and wipe everyone's bodies, especially between the eyebrows, on the chest, and on the palms and soles of the feet."

"Have someone paste these talismans on the police station gate and the entrance to that cellar."

"It will last until dawn tomorrow."

Qin Bingruo tightly gripped the yellow talismans, as if clutching a life-saving antidote.

She looked at her sister on the bed, whose eyes were full of reliance, and then at the determined-looking Zhang Xuanyao.

Finally.

She took a deep breath and nodded heavily.

"Okay, I'll listen to you."

At this moment, her trust in this man reached its peak.

"That's right."

Zhang Xuanyao yawned, stretched widely, and his face returned to that lazy look.

"Alright, I need to go back and get some sleep, and draw a few decent talismans while I'm at it."

"This losing business tonight... tsk."

He waved his hand, turned around, and shuffled out of the hospital room in those disposable slippers.

"Tomorrow morning, I will accompany you to that cellar."

"And completely wipe out that rat's nest."

Watching Zhang Xuanyao's departing back, Qin Bingruo's heart inexplicably calmed down.

As long as he was there.

Even if the sky fell, it didn't seem so terrifying.

...

Walking out of the ICU doors.

The corridor was empty, with only the ghastly white lights lengthening Zhang Xuanyao's shadow.

The laziness on his face vanished without a trace in an instant.

Just now, when he came into contact with Qin Xiaoya's soul, he vaguely sensed an extremely terrifying aura.

That wasn't ordinary resentment.

It was an ancient, evil aura that carried a certain primal, barbaric flavor.

Whatever was buried under that cellar was definitely not just something created by that evil cultivator surnamed Ye.

It was even possible... that the evil cultivator was just using that thing.

"System."

Zhang Xuanyao recited in his heart.

"What exactly is under that cellar?"

The System's cold, mechanical voice rang in his mind, but it didn't answer his question.

[Ding! Hidden task triggered: The Ancient Whisper Underground.]

[Task Description: The remnant branch of the Undying Tree of Kunlun Mountain has sensed an aura that is of the same origin yet fallen. The host must delve deep into the cellar, uncover the truth, and purify the evil source.]

[Task Reward: ??? (Depends on completion rate)]

[Warning: Extremely dangerous! It is recommended that the host make full preparations!]

Zhang Xuanyao stopped, looking at the pitch-black night sky outside the window.

"Fortune favors the brave! Let's do it!"

35: Chapter 35: Since it's hit the daily limit, let's collect some "interest"!

Pushing open the door to the VIP ward, a scent of expensive aromatherapy wafted over.

Unlike the ICU downstairs, which was filled with the smell of disinfectant mixed with the anxiety of death, this place felt more like a suite in a five-star hotel. The temperature was a constant twenty-four degrees, a humidifier puffed out white mist, and the silence was so profound it made one want to commit a crime.

Su Qingge was not asleep.

She was leaning against the headboard, holding the phone that was worth its weight in gold at this moment. The light from the screen reflected on her face, making her already cold and gorgeous features appear even more like translucent jade.

She was checking the stock market.

On the K-line chart, a straight red line shot upwards, as steep as Zhang Xuanyao's heartbeat when he was drawing talismans earlier.

"Still not asleep? Is CEO Su counting money?"

Zhang Xuanyao closed the door behind him and locked it. The soft "click" sounded exceptionally suggestive in the quiet room.

Su Qingge was startled, and her phone nearly slipped from her hand.

She looked up and saw Zhang Xuanyao's slightly exhausted face, which still wore a wicked smirk. Subconsciously, she pulled the blanket up to cover the edge of her lace pajamas at her chest.

"You... you're back."

Her voice was a bit weak, carrying a hint of anticipation she hadn't even realized herself.

"Yeah, I'm back. Those quacks downstairs were too noisy; it's much quieter here with CEO Su."

As he spoke, Zhang Xuanyao kicked off his slippers with extreme naturalness. He didn't even glance at the spacious and comfortable companion bed nearby, but walked straight toward the hospital bed.

Su Qingge's pupils constricted slightly.

On her phone screen, a new trending topic notification popped up: # Su Group stock price surges 20% after hours, who exactly is this mysterious Daoist? #

She looked at the man named "Zhang Xuanyao," her feelings extremely complicated.

A few hours ago, she had thought this man was just a charlatan taking advantage of a crisis. Now, looking at the full screen of stocks hitting the limit up and the overwhelming praise online, she had to admit that Su Group had made a fortune on this deal.

But that didn't mean she was willing to throw herself into the bargain.

Seeing Zhang Xuanyao climbing onto the bed again, Su Qingge reached out a hand and pointed to the companion bed, her tone feigning calm: "There is a bed over there. This is a hospital, and this bed is too crowded; go sleep over there."

Zhang Xuanyao did not stop.

He knelt on the edge of the bed with one knee, causing the mattress to sink, which in turn made Su Qingge's body tilt toward him.

"CEO Su, are you burning bridges after crossing the river?"

Zhang Xuanyao leaned down, placing his hands on either side of Su Qingge, trapping her between himself and the headboard. The strong scent of masculine hormones instantly dispersed the aromatherapy in the room.

"Earlier, to save that little girl, I drained every bit of Mental Energy I had managed to scrape together."

He stared into Su Qingge's eyes, his gaze burning as if he wanted to see right through her.

"There's a big guy out there waiting for me to deal with, and if I don't recharge, we're both done for tomorrow. Do you want me to sleep in the companion bed so we can go queue up in the underworld together tomorrow?"

Su Qingge bit her lower lip, her eyes darting away: "Re... recharging doesn't necessarily have to be... like that."

"Like what?" Zhang Xuanyao asked, feigning ignorance, his nose almost touching hers.

Su Qingge's cheeks burned, and she turned her head away: "You are a Daoist, can't you just meditate? That's how it's played out in the TV shows I've seen."

"What's on TV is just to fool kids."

Zhang Xuanyao chuckled, then suddenly reached out, his fingertips gently brushing across Su Qingge's cheek.

The touch was smooth and creamy, even softer than the finest silk.

Su Qingge trembled all over, as if electrocuted, but she did not pull away.

"CEO Su, don't you feel it yourself?"

Zhang Xuanyao's voice lowered, carrying a hint of seduction.

"Don't you feel that your body is much lighter? Those old problems like cold hands and feet, period pain, and insomnia—aren't they all gone?"

Su Qingge was stunned.

She subconsciously raised her hand and touched her face.

It was true.

In the past, due to staying up late for the company, even though she used the most expensive skincare products, the exhaustion and dullness from within could not be hidden.

But just now, when she was taking a bath and looking in the mirror, she was surprised to find that her skin was glowing with a baby-like, translucent luster, and even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes had disappeared.

And...

That cold, dragging pain that had been lurking deep in her lower abdomen for years was truly gone. In its place was a warm, flowing heat.

"It seems... it is..." Su Qingge murmured, her defenses completely collapsing at this moment.

Was this man really... treating her illness?

"That's right."

Zhang Xuanyao's lips curled into a triumphant smile.

"This is the wonder of 'Yin and Yang' harmony. You have a Pure Yin Body, and I have a pure Yang body; the two of us are a match made in heaven, mutually beneficial."

"I am not only saving myself, but also helping you with beauty, skincare, and longevity. You couldn't buy this effect even if you spent millions on that sheep placenta stuff."

Before he finished speaking.

Zhang Xuanyao didn't give her another chance to think.

He lifted the blanket and slid inside.

That scorching body heat instantly enveloped Su Qingge. She felt like she had fallen into a furnace, but she didn't feel uncomfortable; instead, she felt a desire like a moth to a flame.

"Zhang Xuanyao... be gentle..."

Su Qingge's final protest was drowned in an extremely domineering kiss.

This time, there was no roughness of tearing clothes.

Only a lingering, intimate union.

Zhang Xuanyao's palm pressed against her smooth back, his palm emitting a stream of warm Qi. It was not just caressing; it was guiding.

Guiding the cold Qi that had originally accumulated in her body, making it travel along her Meridians and finally flow into his own body.

"Mmm..."

Su Qingge couldn't help but let out a sweet, nasal moan.

The feeling was too strange.

It was as if her Soul was being pulled away, floating on the clouds. Every inch of her skin was cheering, and every pore was opening up to breathe.

The warm current within her body, following Zhang Xuanyao's movements, struck her rationality wave after wave.

[Ding! Detected a top-grade Cauldron cooperating voluntarily!]

[Dual Cultivation efficiency increased by 200%!]

[Spiritual Power recovery speed: Extremely fast!]

The System notification sounds in Zhang Xuanyao's mind were spamming crazily, but he couldn't spare a glance at them right now.

He was like a greedy glutton, crazily devouring the extremely pure primordial Yin Qi within Su Qingge's body.

His previously dried-up Dantian filled up once again.

It was even more refined and more domineering than before.

Golden spiritual power surged through his Meridians, emitting a roaring sound like a rushing river.

Su Qingge felt like a small boat, rising and falling in the stormy waves. She could only hold tightly onto the man above her, her nails digging deep into his solid back muscles, leaving behind streaks of suggestive red marks.

"Zhang... Xuanyao..."

She called his name, lost in passion, her eyes unfocused, with physiological tears hanging at the corners of her eyes.

"I'm here."

Zhang Xuanyao lowered his head and kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

The night was deep.

The activity in the hospital room lasted for a long time.

Until even the moon was too shy and hid behind the clouds.

Su Qingge fell into a deep sleep, a blush of satisfaction on her face, her breathing long and steady.

Zhang Xuanyao sat cross-legged at the head of the bed, his naked upper body faintly glowing with a layer of golden light in the darkness.

He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.

This breath did not dissipate in the air, but turned into a white streak, striking the curtain three meters away with a crisp "pop" sound.

"Hoo—"

Zhang Xuanyao opened his eyes, and in his pupils, a golden light flashed and then vanished.

36: Chapter 36: Five-Star Review, Hundred Ghosts Scratching the Gate

The first rays of morning sunlight were like golden swords, piercing through the gaps in the heavy curtains of the VIP ward.

Su Qingge was still asleep.

She lay on her side on the pillow, her seaweed-like long hair spread out. Her typically cold and glamorous face, which usually seemed to say "keep away," was now flushed with a startling rosiness.

Her skin was like porcelain that had drunk its fill of water—so delicate that not a single pore could be seen, and even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes caused by long-term late nights had been completely smoothed away.

The blanket had slipped down a corner, revealing half of a jade-white shoulder, still marked with a few ambiguous red spots.

Zhang Xuanyao stood by the bedside, fastening the toggle buttons of his Daoist robe.

He took a deep breath, feeling completely refreshed.

"The Pure Yin Body is truly a great tonic."

The corner of Zhang Xuanyao's mouth curled into a satisfied arc. He stretched his neck, his joints popping with a crackling sound.

Not only was his mana bar fully restored, but even the splitting headache caused by the overexertion of his Mental Energy last night had vanished without a trace.

This was definitely worth it.

It could even be called a massive profit.

He glanced at the sleeping Su Qingge, but did not wake her.

This woman had been worn out last night; twice in a row, she had completely melted into a puddle, her voice even hoarse from calling out.

Zhang Xuanyao tore a sticky note from the nightstand, picked up a pen, and scribbled a line in a flamboyant script: "This Daoist is off to subdue demons and eliminate monsters; remember to leave a five-star review. P.S.: Last night's service was a complimentary extra, free of charge."

At the end, he even drew an extremely annoying ghost face.

Sticking the note onto Su Qingge's phone screen, Zhang Xuanyao adjusted his hair bun one last time and pushed open the door.

That loafer, money-grubbing Daoist had returned.

...

In the hallway outside the ICU ward.

Qin Bingruo sat on a bench, clutching that police badge tightly in her hand.

She had changed into clean casual clothes, but still could not hide her exhaustion. Her eyes were bloodshot, clearly having not slept all night.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up abruptly.

The moment she saw Zhang Xuanyao, Qin Bingruo was visibly stunned.

Where was there any sign of the man from last night who had been so weak he was about to faint?

His steps were brisk, his complexion ruddy, and his eyes strikingly bright. He radiated a vibrant vitality, as if he had just consumed some kind of Spirit Pill, or perhaps... had drained some kind of demon.

"You..." Qin Bingruo opened her mouth, stopping herself from speaking further.

"Let's go."

Zhang Xuanyao didn't waste words, cutting off her question directly.

He took the car keys from Qin Bingruo's hand, spun them around his finger, and his gaze instantly turned cold.

"Let's go see that place that scared your subordinates so badly they wet their pants."

Qin Bingruo took a deep breath, the confusion in her eyes dissipating, replaced by the capability and ruthlessness of a criminal police captain.

"Okay."

The two walked quickly out of the hospital building.

The black police SUV let out a low roar like a beast of steel, rushing out of the hospital gate and heading straight for the abandoned brick factory in the suburbs.

The car was moving fast.

The scenery outside the window flew backward, gradually changing from bustling high-rise buildings to low bungalows and withered yellow grass.

"How is the situation?" Zhang Xuanyao sat in the passenger seat, resting his chin on one hand and looking out the window.

Qin Bingruo's fingers, gripping the steering wheel, turned slightly white.

"Just as you said, I used cinnabar and strong liquor to wipe their bodies and moved them into the courtyard to bask in the sun. Although they haven't woken up yet, that self-harming behavior has stopped, and their high fevers have subsided a bit."

Speaking of this, her voice trembled slightly.

"But... the brothers left to guard the abandoned brick factory sent a message saying the situation is very wrong."

"In what way is it wrong?"

"They said... even in broad daylight, as long as they get close to the cellar entrance, they can hear sounds coming from inside."

Qin Bingruo swallowed, seemingly recalling the description that made her skin crawl.

"It's like... hundreds of people are frantically scratching the wooden boards with their fingernails. The 'scritch-scratch' sound makes one's scalp go numb. Plus, those few talisman papers stuck to the entrance turned completely black before midnight even passed."

"Heh."

Zhang Xuanyao chuckled, his tone devoid of any surprise.

"A hundred ghosts scratching at the door."

He stretched out his finger and drew a complex symbol on the fogged-up car window, then casually wiped it away.

"The thing inside is anxious. It has been hungry for over a decade and finally smelled the scent of a living person, only to be blocked by a few pieces of scrap paper. How could it not be anxious?"

Qin Bingruo felt a chill run down her back: "Then now..."

"It's fortunate you didn't force your way in last night."

Zhang Xuanyao turned his head, looking at Qin Bingruo's pale side profile.

"Otherwise, the police station would already be a morgue by now."

Qin Bingruo's hand on the steering wheel gave a violent jolt, and the car swayed.

She didn't dare to ask any more and floored the accelerator.

Twenty minutes later.

The vehicle drove onto a dirt road full of gravel.

Ahead was that abandoned brick factory.

Although it was ten in the morning, with the bright sun shining and not a cloud in the sky.

The closer they got to the brick factory, the darker the light became.

It was as if an invisible gray filter was covering the sky over this area. The sunlight shining on them held no warmth, instead carrying a cold, damp chill.

The temperature outside the car window was dropping at a rate visible to the naked eye.

It had been twenty degrees in the city, but here, the thermometer in the car showed only eight degrees.

"We're here."

Zhang Xuanyao pushed the door open and got out.

A cold wind mixed with a rotten, fishy stench rushed toward his face, blowing his Daoist robe until it snapped loudly.

Outside the police cordon, four young officers were huddled behind a police car, each with a deathly pale face, clutching their guns tightly, the barrels shaking.

Seeing Qin Bingruo and Zhang Xuanyao, they looked as if they had seen the merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva, and tears almost fell from their eyes.

"Captain Qin! Master Zhang! You've finally arrived!"

One young officer shouted with a crying tone: "The fog inside... is getting thicker and thicker! Just now, Old Wang wanted to go in and take a look, but as soon as he reached the entrance, his nose started bleeding, and it wouldn't stop no matter what!"

Qin Bingruo's expression changed, and she was about to step forward to check.

Zhang Xuanyao raised his hand to stop her.

He narrowed his eyes, staring at the pitch-black cellar entrance a few dozen meters away.

There, the few yellow talismans originally stuck to it had turned completely into charcoal, turning into fly ash with the wind.

And from the cracks in the broken wooden door of the cellar, black Evil Qi was continuously pouring out. Those black mists twisted and swirled in mid-air, vaguely morphing into faces of people wailing in pain.

"Such heavy Evil Qi."

Zhang Xuanyao sneered and pulled a handful of glutinous rice he had prepared from his robe.

"Back off!"

He gave a low shout and flung the glutinous rice violently toward the front.

Whoosh—

The white glutinous rice fell like raindrops onto the ground around the cellar entrance.

The next second.

Sizzle! Sizzle!

It was just like cold water splashed into boiling oil.

The originally snow-white glutinous rice, the moment it touched the ground, emitted thick black smoke, rapidly turning black and rotting, eventually turning into puddles of foul-smelling black water.

"Hiss—"

All the police officers present gasped in unison, their scalps tingling.

37: Chapter 37: At the End of Science, Thunder Shakes the Heavens

Is this something science can explain?

Is there strong acid in the ground?

Qin Bingruo's pupils constricted sharply; she instinctively drew the service pistol at her waist and racked the slide with a click.

"Don't waste your effort."

Zhang Xuanyao brushed the residue off his hands and said indifferently, "Physical transcendence is useless against this thing. Bullets hitting it are about as effective as scratching an itch."

"Then what should we do?" Qin Bingruo gritted her teeth. "We can't just leave it alone, right?"

"Did I say I wouldn't deal with it?"

Zhang Xuanyao fished a triangular-folded talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Qin Bingruo.

"Hold this in your mouth."

Qin Bingruo was stunned. "What?"

"Hold it." Zhang Xuanyao's expression was unprecedentedly serious. "This is the 'Zen of Silence.' Once we go in, no matter what you see or hear—even if you see your late great-grandmother waving at you—you are not allowed to spit it out or speak."

He pointed at Qin Bingruo's chest.

"People have three lamps, and the mouth is an exhaust vent. In there, if you leak even a breath of Yang Qi, not even the Great Immortal can save you."

Qin Bingruo looked at the yellow talisman, then at Zhang Xuanyao's eyes, which were as calm as water.

Without any hesitation.

She took the talisman, stuffed it into her mouth, and nodded vigorously.

"Let's go."

Zhang Xuanyao drew the peach wood sword from his back and strode toward the entrance that seemed to lead to Hell.

With every step, the surrounding air grew thicker.

The feeling of being watched by countless eyes made the hair on Qin Bingruo's body stand on end.

Arriving in front of the cellar door.

Zhang Xuanyao didn't pause; he raised his leg and kicked.

Bang!

The rotten wooden door shattered into pieces.

The cellar, which should have been pitch black, was now emitting a faint green light.

Looking at the pool of corpse-water and glutinous rice on the ground, still emitting black smoke and a foul stench, all the police officers present felt a chill shoot from the soles of their feet straight to their scalps.

A few of the timid ones had already started to dry-heave.

In this suffocating, terrifying atmosphere, Zhang Xuanyao did something that caught everyone off guard.

He unhurriedly took out his phone from his Daoist robe, skillfully unlocked the screen, and opened the livestreaming app called "Douyu."

His fingers tapped rapidly.

Beauty filter, on.

Filter, cool white skin.

Slim face, maxed out.

Qin Bingruo stared in dumbfounded shock; her nerves, already stretched to the limit, nearly snapped.

"Zhang Xuanyao! Are you crazy?" She roared in a low voice, not knowing where to point her gun. "What time do you think it is? You still have the mood to play on your phone?!"

"Captain Qin, your perspective is too narrow."

Zhang Xuanyao adjusted the camera angle while smoothing out the stray hairs at his temples, talking nonsense with a straight face: "This is a law enforcement bodycam. As an external personnel for the police station, I must preserve evidence for high-risk operations. If I get injured on the job later, this is my reimbursement voucher."

After speaking, he didn't give Qin Bingruo a chance to retort, flashing his white teeth and that signature mischievous grin at the camera.

"Family, good morning."

"Today, I'm taking everyone to explore the end of 'science'—the haunted brick factory. Click follow so you don't get lost; I'll take you on the fast lane."

As soon as the livestream started, the popularity exploded instantly.

After all, the buzz from yesterday's "hospital resurrection" hadn't faded, and tens of thousands of netizens flooded in instantly.

[Holy crap! The Daoist is streaming!]

[Where is this? Why is it so gloomy?]

[Is the filter set too high? Why is the sky all gray?]

[Is that a police Young Miss behind the Daoist? So cool! Are they filming a cop movie?]

Zhang Xuanyao ignored the banter in the comments.

He silently chanted in his heart: "Heavenly Eye, open!"

Hum!

A wave of heat surged through his eyes.

The world before his eyes changed instantly.

The dilapidated and desolate brick factory vanished, replaced by a living Hell.

Countless twisted, grayish-black currents of Qi, like huge octopus tentacles, gushed frantically from the cellar entrance.

They bared their fangs and brandished their claws, blotting out the sun and dyeing the sky above the entire brick factory a nauseating blood-red.

And within that thick black fog, one could vaguely see countless twisted human faces wailing and struggling, trying to break through that final invisible barrier.

Although the livestream footage wasn't as exaggerated as what Zhang Xuanyao saw, under the interference of the strong magnetic field, the image began to show eerie distortions and static.

The originally gray sky appeared as an oppressive dark red on camera.

Those real police officers trembling in the distance added a touch of genuine horror to the scene.

[Something's wrong... Why is the screen shaking?]

[Damn, why do I hear crying?]

[Special effects! Definitely special effects! Internet influencers nowadays really spend big to get famous!]

[To the guy above, I'm in the suburbs; the weather really changed over there just now, dark clouds are pressing down on the city!]

Zhang Xuanyao put away his playful expression.

He handed the phone to a young police officer nearby who had been scared silly, signaling him to hold it steady.

Then, he turned around and looked at Qin Bingruo.

At this moment, the frivolity in his eyes was gone, replaced by a majesty that made one dare not look directly at him.

"Qin Bingruo."

He addressed her by name in a low voice.

"If you want to follow me, you must stand within three steps behind me."

"No matter what sounds you hear or what things you see, you are not allowed to peek or run around."

"Otherwise, not even an immortal can save you."

Qin Bingruo looked at his serious profile, and her heart contracted sharply.

That tone was not a discussion; it was a command.

She instinctively wanted to retort and emphasize that she was the captain of the criminal police squad.

But when she met Zhang Xuanyao's eyes, which seemed to see through life and death, all her pride and stubbornness were forced back down.

"…Okay." She gritted her teeth and agreed, obediently retreating behind Zhang Xuanyao.

Just then.

Creak— Creak—

The sound of fingernails scratching wood suddenly grew louder, becoming sharp and grating, like hundreds of rats grinding their teeth at the same time.

Boom!

The few tattered wooden boards at the cellar entrance exploded violently.

A thick, ink-like black Qi shot into the sky!

In the black Qi, several blurry dark shadows bared their fangs and brandished their claws, shrieking shrilly as they lunged straight at Zhang Xuanyao, who was closest.

Those were fierce spirits nourished by Evil Qi for over a decade!

"Ah!!!"

The young police officer holding the phone shook in fear, and the phone nearly flew out of his hand.

In the livestream, millions of viewers clearly saw the terrifying scene of those black shadows lunging toward them.

[Barrage protect me! Barrage protect me!]

[Mommy save me! These are real ghosts!]

[Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap!]

Facing the lunging evil spirits, Zhang Xuanyao didn't budge an inch.

His Daoist robe flapped violently in the cold wind, and his hair danced wildly.

He let out a cold snort, the corners of his mouth curling into a look of extreme disdain.

"I gave you a chance, but you didn't want it."

"Since you don't want to be reincarnated, then it's time for Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!"

Before the words had even faded.

Zhang Xuanyao formed a hand seal with one hand and stamped his right foot heavily on the ground.

Bang!

With him at the center, the surrounding gravel actually trembled and jumped up.

He raised his right hand, palm facing the sky, fingers spread wide.

The sky, which had only been somewhat gloomy, instantly changed color.

Thick, heavy dark clouds, as if summoned by something, gathered frantically above the brick factory.

The cloud layer pressed lower and lower, as if it could be touched.

Rumbling—

Dull thunder rolled deep within the clouds; it was the prelude to the might of the Heavens.

The police officers on the periphery looked up in terror.

What is going on?

It was a sunny day just a moment ago; how did it turn into the apocalypse in the blink of an eye?

This completely defies common meteorological knowledge!

The firearms in their hands looked so ridiculous at this moment, as useless as firewood sticks.

The popularity of the livestream skyrocketed, directly hitting number one on the entire site.

Gift effects covered the screen, almost completely obscuring the view.

[How much did these special effects cost? Hollywood level!]

[If this is a special effect, I'll eat my phone! I'm near the scene, it's really thundering!]

[Is the Daoist cultivating immortality? Is he Undergoing Tribulation?]

[Is this the legendary Thunder Magic? I don't believe in science anymore; I want to believe in the Daoist!]

38: Chapter 38: Thunder Shakes Away Demonic Energy, Yet He Never Forgets to Ask for More Money Even in Death

Zhang Xuanyao had absolutely no time to look at the comments.

His eyes were wide open, and golden arcs of electricity seemed to be dancing in the depths of his pupils.

He muttered incantations; his voice was not loud, yet it resonated like a great bell, exploding against everyone's eardrums and drowning out the wailing of ghosts that filled the sky.

"Heaven and Earth Infinite, Universe Borrow the Law!"

"Five Thunders Method, heed my command!"

"Fall!"

As the last word was uttered.

Zhang Xuanyao's raised right hand swung down violently, his sword finger pointing straight at the cellar entrance.

Crack!

A blinding blue-white bolt of lightning instantly tore through the thick, dark clouds.

It was like an enraged Dragon of thunder, carrying the might to destroy heaven and earth, striking with pinpoint accuracy onto the mass of black Devilish Qi rushing out.

Boom—!!!

The loud noise was deafening.

The entire abandoned brick factory was illuminated as bright as day by this intense light.

Qin Bingruo subconsciously closed her eyes and covered her ears.

Even through her eyelids, she could feel the scorching wave of air rushing towards her.

That was the power of thunder, supremely rigid and Yang.

Before this power, all darkness, evil, and filth appeared so small and fragile.

Sizzle!

Those several black shadows that had been arrogant just moments ago couldn't even manage a scream before they instantly evaporated in the thunderous light, dissipating into wisps of green smoke.

The thunder struck the ground, transforming into countless tiny electric snakes that crazily slithered across the surface.

The Yin Qi and black mist that had originally coiled in the air melted and dissipated rapidly, like butter meeting a red-hot knife.

In just a few seconds.

That suffocating sense of oppression had mostly disappeared.

Qin Bingruo slowly opened her eyes.

Her pupils reflected the thunderous light that had not yet dispersed across the sky.

She stared blankly at the back standing in front of her.

It was still the same slightly worn Daoist robe, still the same slouching posture.

But at this moment.

Against the backdrop of this thunderous might.

That figure appeared incomparably tall, like a deity descending to the world.

She felt an unprecedented righteous Qi filling the space between heaven and earth, dispelling the chill that had accumulated in her bones throughout the night.

At this moment.

The materialistic beliefs she had held for over twenty years completely collapsed and shattered into dust amidst that deafening thunder.

So.

There really were powers in this world that science could not explain.

So.

This stinky Daoist who shouted about wanting more money all day could truly communicate with the divine!

Although the thunder technique was strong and had wiped out the small fry on the surface.

The real crisis had only just begun.

Deep in the cellar, the existence serving as the "formation eye" seemed to have been enraged by this heavenly thunder.

Glug... glug...

A sound like boiling liquid suddenly came from the cellar entrance.

A mass of black mud, thicker than before and carrying a strong, foul, bloody stench, surged out of the hole like a fountain.

This black mud did not scatter upon hitting the ground; instead, it seemed to have a life of its own, wriggling and spreading outwards. Everywhere it passed, vegetation instantly withered and turned black.

Zhang Xuanyao's face turned slightly pale.

That Five Thunders Method just now was cool, but the consumption was also enormous.

The "electricity" he had managed to recharge at Su Qingge's place last night had instantly dropped by half.

"Evil spawn! You dare to resist!"

Zhang Xuanyao gritted his teeth and reached his left hand into his sleeve.

Swish!

A lush, emerald-green branch appeared in his hand.

It was none other than the [kongqing feather branch].

As soon as the branch appeared, a vibrant green light suddenly illuminated the originally gray and deathly still world.

The light was soft yet resilient, propping up a pure land in this environment filled with Evil Qi.

"This is..."

Qin Bingruo looked at the branch, her eyes full of disbelief.

She remembered this branch; it was the same one that had saved her younger sister yesterday.

At this moment, it was actually glowing!

Zhang Xuanyao did not explain.

He held the branch, bracing against the nauseating stench, and walked step by step toward the cellar entrance.

With every step, the black mist underground transformed into hideous ghost faces that rushed toward him.

But as soon as they touched the green light emitted by the [kongqing feather branch], those ghost faces would make a "sizzling" burning sound and be repelled while screaming.

The audience in the livestream was already scared silly at this moment.

The comment section experienced a brief stagnation.

Millions of people held their breath, staring fixedly at the figure on the screen who looked like a deity.

This scene was more shocking than any special effects blockbuster.

One person, one branch.

Confronting the darkness from Hell.

He walked to the edge of the formation eye, which was right next to the hole constantly spewing black mud.

Zhang Xuanyao stopped.

His eyes turned fierce, and he suddenly bit the tip of his tongue.

Pfft!

A mouthful of vital blood containing Pure Yang Qi was sprayed onto a yellow talisman in his left hand.

That was the [Ghost-Slaying Talisman] he had drawn on the way to the brick factory.

"Supreme Venerable Sovereign, hurry like the law!"

He slapped the blood-stained talisman onto the [kongqing feather branch], then gripped the branch with both hands and thrust it violently into the hole where the black mud was churning!

"For this Daoist... Suppress!"

Pfft!

Sizzle—!!!

The moment the branch was inserted into the ground, it made a terrifying sound similar to a branding iron searing flesh.

"Roar—!!!"

A roar that didn't sound human at all came from deep within the cellar.

That was the resentment accumulated over a dozen years roaring.

Rumble!

The entire ground began to shake violently, as if some gargantuan creature underground was turning over, attempting to overturn this brick factory.

The black mist retaliated crazily, coiling up Zhang Xuanyao's arm along the branch, wanting to corrode his flesh.

"Hmph!"

Zhang Xuanyao let out a muffled groan, his face turning deathly pale at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Sweat instantly soaked through his Daoist robe.

But he did not retreat a single step.

Both hands held the branch tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands, his knuckles turning white from excessive force.

He was competing in willpower with the thing underground.

Whoever let up first would die.

"Want to get out? Dream on!"

Zhang Xuanyao's eyes were fierce as he poured his spiritual power into the branch as if it were free.

The [kongqing feather branch] shone brilliantly!

The emerald-green light traveled down the branch deep into the ground, like a huge net, locking the thing below tightly.

Time passed second by second.

These few short minutes felt as long as a century to everyone present.

Finally.

Under the purifying power of the [kongqing feather branch], which came from the Kunlun divine wood, the black mist began to gradually fade.

The nauseating, foul stench was slowly replaced by a faint, fresh scent of vegetation.

The roaring from underground turned into unwilling whimpers and finally disappeared completely.

The churning black mud also stopped wriggling, quickly dried up, and turned into ordinary gray soil.

Whew—

As the last wisp of black mist dissipated, the thick, dark clouds in the sky also split open to reveal a gap.

A beam of golden sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining precisely on Zhang Xuanyao.

Plating him with a layer of sacred golden light.

At this moment, although his hair bun was disheveled, his Daoist robe was soaked through, and he looked somewhat disheveled.

But set against the sunlight, he looked like a True Immortal descending to earth, making people unable to help but want to prostrate and worship.

The crisis was resolved.

Zhang Xuanyao's tense nerves instantly snapped.

A strong sense of dizziness washed over him like a tide.

The extreme dizziness surged up like a tide, and the world before his eyes began to spin.

His legs went soft, and he uncontrollably fell backward.

"Zhang Xuanyao!"

Qin Bingruo's pupils constricted sharply.

Her body reacted faster than her brain.

Like an agile cheetah, she rushed past the cordon line.

At the moment that figure was about to hit the ground, she slid to her knees and opened her arms.

Thump.

He did not hit the hard ground.

Zhang Xuanyao only felt the back of his head bump into something soft and cotton-like, carrying a faint body warmth.

So soft.

So fragrant.

Qin Bingruo didn't care about the pain of her scraped knees; looking at the man in her arms, whose face was deathly pale and eyes tightly closed, the usually calm police captain's voice was trembling.

"Zhang Xuanyao! Wake up! Zhang Xuanyao!"

She frantically reached out to pat his face, her fingertips touching a cold layer of sweat.

Just as her tears were about to fall.

The man in her arms suddenly frowned.

His eyelids struggled to open a sliver, and those eyes that were originally full of spirit were now dull and lifeless, yet they still stubbornly stared at Qin Bingruo's face.

His lips moved, his voice as weak as a mosquito's hum.

Qin Bingruo hurriedly leaned her ear close, asking with a sobbing tone: "What did you say? Where does it hurt? What do you want?"

Zhang Xuanyao's fingers tremblingly raised up and grabbed Qin Bingruo's collar.

Using the last ounce of strength in his entire body, he squeezed out a sentence: "This... this is a work-related injury..."

"Must... add money..."

After saying that, his head tilted to the side, and he completely passed out in that softness.

Qin Bingruo was stunned.

The teardrop hanging at the corner of her eye was neither falling nor retreating.

A few seconds later, looking at this money-grubbing bastard in her arms, she was both angry and amused; finally, she could only grit her teeth and curse: "Bastard! I'll add it! I'll add whatever you want!"

39: Chapter 39: Shocking the entire internet, I'm definitely going to be bedridden after this workplace injury.

He had only fainted.

After confirming this, Qin Bingruo let out a long sigh of relief, her whole body collapsing onto the ground as if she were completely drained.

Her eyes instantly turned red.

Looking at his face so close by, watching his brows still tightly knitted even in unconsciousness.

At this moment.

A strange emotion, never felt before, grew wildly within her heart that was usually as hard as iron.

Was it gratitude? Was it admiration?

Or... something else?

She did not know.

She only knew that she would never forget that silhouette from just a moment ago for the rest of her life.

Meanwhile, in the grass not far away.

The livestreaming phone that had fallen to the ground was not broken.

The camera lens was pointed exactly at this scene.

Under the sunlight.

Beside the ruins.

The heroic policewoman held the unconscious Daoist tightly, her eyes filled with concern and lingering fear.

The scene was beautiful and shocking.

The livestream chat room completely boiled over.

The comments instantly flooded the screen, lagging it until it almost crashed.

[Get together! Get together! I approve of this marriage!]

[Sob sob, it's so moving! This is truly a heavenly couple!]

[Daoist Zhang risked his life to save people, and the policewoman went all out to catch him. This is just too shippable!]

[Isn't this ten thousand times better than those idol dramas?]

[Screenshot taken! I'm going to use this picture as my wallpaper!]

The police officers nearby finally dared to approach.

Seeing this scene, everyone very tacitly stopped in their tracks, looking at each other, none daring to step forward to disturb them.

Only the jade branch stuck in the ground at the cellar entrance.

Emitted a mysterious halo under the sunlight.

Quietly telling that everything that just happened was not an illusion.

Just then, the livestreaming phone happened to go black.

In the livestream chat room, millions of viewers stared at the black screen, stunned for two seconds.

Immediately after, the comments, like a bursting flood, instantly submerged the entire screen.

The server let out a groan of being overwhelmed.

[WTF! Where are they? Where is Daoist Zhang!?]

[What was that last part? Did he spit blood?]

[I don't believe it! He was just summoning lightning and Undergoing Tribulation, how could he just collapse like that?]

[If this is a script, I'll admit it! But this definitely isn't a script! That lightning was real! That blood was real too!]

[Are there any brothers nearby? Go check on him! I'm dying of anxiety!]

Weibo, Douyin, Kuaishou... the trending lists of all major platforms completely fell at this moment.

#Daoist Zhang faints from exhaustion#

#Lightning Method subdues demons at the abandoned brick factory#

#Most beautiful policewoman's affectionate embrace#

The three entries parachuted into the top three at rocket-like speed, followed by the blood-red "Explosive" tag.

The programmers' hair was collectively sacrificed at this moment.

The Weibo server crashed directly, and clicking into it only showed a blank page.

In the real world, the clamor at the abandoned brick factory was just beginning.

Zhang Xuanyao felt like he was floating in a void.

His body felt like it had been run over by a large truck hundreds of times, every bone was protesting, and every inch of muscle was twitching.

But deep within his consciousness, a carnival was taking place.

[Ding! Detected that the host has caused a violent shock across the entire internet!]

[shock value + 10,000!]

[shock value + 50,000!]

[shock value + 88,888!]

The System notification sounds were as dense as a Gatling gun firing, making Zhang Xuanyao's head buzz.

The red numbers jumped wildly, making it impossible to see the exact figures.

In just a few minutes, the final number settled at a breathtaking length: [4,200,000].

Four million two hundred thousand!

Zhang Xuanyao's previously somewhat unfocused consciousness instantly became half-awake.

He was rich!

[Ding! Detected that the host possesses a huge amount of shock value!]

[Diamond-grade prize pool has been opened!]

[Prize pool includes: Max-level Golden Light Incantation, Inch-Shortening (Major Achievement), Five Thunders Method (Advanced Version), Longevity Pill...]

[Do you want to consume 4,000,000 shock value to draw immediately?]

A giant, golden, glittering wheel embedded with brilliant diamonds appeared in Zhang Xuanyao's Sea of Consciousness.

Its light was even more blinding than the heavenly lightning from just a moment ago.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the wheel and swallowed hard.

Max-level Golden Light Incantation... that was a life-saving divine skill; he could stand there and let people hit him without his defense being broken.

Inch-Shortening... he wouldn't need to ride a bike to deliver food in the future.

The temptation was huge.

But he resisted.

Zhang Xuanyao stared intently at the "Draw Immediately" button in his consciousness, gritted his teeth, and selected the [Store] option next to it.

Draw my ass!

If he drew now, what if he pulled some "Max-level Resurrection" and his body instantly recovered? How would he continue to lie flat?

He had really spat blood and really risked his life just now.

If he stood up now, lively and kicking, that female Devil Head Qin Bingruo would definitely think he was acting. She might even drag him back to the police station for a statement, or worse, make him go catch other ghosts.

No. Absolutely not.

This had to count as a work injury.

He had to lie in the ICU.

He had to make Su Qingge and the police station pay up for his medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress compensation, and nutritional fees!

Having made up his mind.

Zhang Xuanyao disconnected from the System with peace of mind, letting the tidal wave of exhaustion submerge him.

Since he was going to act, he would act the whole way through.

He completely relaxed his body, letting Qin Bingruo hold him, and even deliberately adjusted his breathing to be faint and intermittent.

...

Su Group, top-floor president's office.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows was the bustling scene of the entire city.

The air pressure inside the office was extremely low.

Su Qingge sat in a large leather executive chair, holding a valuable Montblanc fountain pen in her hand.

Today, she was wearing a well-tailored white suit, her hair put up, revealing her slender swan-like neck.

After last night's "treatment," her cold, beautiful face radiated a stunning glow, her skin fair with a rosy tint, beautiful beyond compare.

The secretary standing in front of the desk was reporting on work.

"President Su, influenced by last night's trending searches, our Su Group's stock price hit the daily limit at the opening, and currently, there are over five million sealed orders..."

The secretary's voice was filled with undisguised excitement.

Su Qingge only nodded indifferently, her gaze never leaving the tablet in front of her.

On the screen, the thrilling livestream from just now was being replayed.

In the video.

Zhang Xuanyao held the jade branch, summoning lightning like a god.

That Aura of looking down on the world made Su Qingge's heart skip a beat uncontrollably.

This man... he actually looked quite pleasing when he was serious.

However, the next second.

Zhang Xuanyao's expression in the video changed abruptly, a mouthful of blood sprayed out, and his whole body fell backward like a kite with a broken string.

Snap!

A crisp sound exploded in the quiet office.

The secretary was startled and looked up.

She saw that Su Qingge's hand holding the pen was clenched tightly.

The sturdy Montblanc pen had actually been snapped in two by her.

Black ink burst out, splattering all over her hands and even staining her expensive white suit with an eye-catching plum blossom pattern of ink.

"P-President Su?" The secretary's eyes widened in terror.

The icy female president, who usually remained calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before her, was now trembling slightly.

Su Qingge seemed not to hear the secretary's voice.

She stared intently at the falling figure on the screen, her breathing becoming rapid.

Dead?

That stinky Daoist who had tortured her to death last night, just died like this?

Impossible!

How could such a menace die so easily!

A panic she had never felt before, like an invisible hand, grabbed her heart tightly.

40: Chapter 40: Peak Showdown, Not an Inch Yielded

More panicked than when the company's stock price hit the limit down.

More chaotic than when a multi-billion project fell through.

Su Qingge stood up abruptly, her chair screeching harshly against the floor.

She didn't even have time to wipe the ink off her hands, and ink droplets fell from her fingertips onto the pristine floor.

"Prepare the car!"

Su Qingge's voice was as cold as shards of ice, yet it carried an unquestionable sense of anxiety.

"Go to the abandoned brick factory in the western suburbs! Now! Immediately!"

The office secretary was stunned for a moment: "President Su, there is still a multinational meeting this afternoon..."

"Cancel it!"

Su Qingge strode toward the door, her high heels tapping out a rapid rhythm on the floor.

"Notify the best medical team, bring the best equipment, and leave immediately!"

"Also, dispatch those off-road vehicles to clear the way!"

"Whoever dares to block the way, ram straight through!"

The office secretary was completely dumbfounded, watching the back of the woman who usually paid extreme attention to her appearance, now rushing out with ink-stained hands.

Was this still the President Su who was rational to the point of being cold-blooded?

That Daoist... who exactly is he?

Outside the abandoned brick factory.

The once silent wasteland was now bustling with noise.

The sounds of police sirens and ambulance wails intertwined, creating a chaotic mess.

Several medical staff carried a stretcher, jogging toward the cellar entrance.

Qin Bingruo followed closely by their side.

Her police uniform was covered in dust, the fabric at her knees torn and seeping with spots of blood, but she didn't care at all.

She gripped the peach wood sword tightly in her hand.

That was what Zhang Xuanyao had dropped from his hand before he lost consciousness.

His body temperature still lingered on the sword, along with the heart-palpitating remnant power of thunder.

"Faster! Even faster!"

Qin Bingruo roared at the medical staff, her voice hoarse.

The calm and capable captain of the criminal investigation team was gone; right now, she was like a lioness protecting her cub.

On the stretcher.

Zhang Xuanyao's eyes were tightly shut, his face as pale as paper.

An oxygen mask was already strapped to his face, and the ECG monitor emitted a "beep—beep—" sound, with a heart rate of only fifty-something.

It looked like he could stop breathing at any moment.

"Move! Everyone move!"

Qin Bingruo pushed away several media reporters trying to come up for an interview, her eyes fierce enough to eat someone.

"Whoever dares to block the way will be detained for obstructing official business!"

The reporters were scared back by her Aura.

The medical staff deftly lifted the stretcher onto the ambulance.

"Where is the family? Who is the family?" the on-board doctor shouted.

Qin Bingruo paused for a moment, then stepped onto the vehicle: "I am a police officer, I will accompany the patient."

The doctor didn't ask further and was just about to close the door and start the vehicle.

Just at this moment.

"Screech—!!!"

An extremely harsh screech of brakes drowned out all the noise at the scene.

Followed by the sound of heavy objects rubbing against the ground; that was the tires gripping the ground to their limit.

Everyone subconsciously turned their heads.

At the end of the dirt road, a black motorcade rushed over like a torrent of steel.

Leading the way was a Rolls-Royce Phantom with a "consecutive 88888" license plate.

Behind it followed three modified Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons, all-black paint, exuding an overbearing Aura.

This motorcade had no intention of slowing down, ignoring the outer cordon and even knocking over two traffic cones.

"Stop! Stop!"

The young police officer on the perimeter was terrified to the point of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, waving his stop sign.

But that Rolls-Royce was like an out-of-control giant beast, carrying an Aura that crushed everything, rushing straight toward the ambulance.

Finally, less than half a meter from the front of the ambulance.

It slammed to a halt.

The dust it kicked up hit the few young officers directly in the face.

"What are you doing! Are you rebelling!"

A young officer was furious, his hand pressing on the police baton at his waist as he prepared to rush over, "This is f***ing assaulting the police! Get out!"

However.

Before he could even get close.

Click.

The doors of the three Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons opened simultaneously.

Twelve burly bodyguards wearing black suits and sunglasses filed out.

Their movements were uniform, instantly forming a human wall around the Rolls-Royce.

That well-trained Killing Intent made the few young officers stop in their tracks.

Immediately after.

The back door of the Rolls-Royce slowly opened.

A foot wearing black red-bottomed high heels stepped onto the dusty ground.

Su Qingge stepped out.

She was not wearing sunglasses.

In her narrow Phoenix eyes was a sheet of cold frost.

Although her white suit was stained with a few ink spots, it did not diminish her Aura at all, instead adding a touch of sharp beauty.

She ignored the gazes of everyone around her, and ignored the cameras flashing wildly at her.

She walked straight toward the ambulance.

Her high heels clicked "da, da, da" on the gravel ground.

Every step felt like it was stepping on everyone's heart.

"Su... President Su?"

A sharp-eyed reporter recognized her and exclaimed: "It's Su Qingge of the Su Group! That Iceberg President!"

"Holy crap! What a grand entrance! What is she here for?"

"Could this brick factory be Su Group's land?"

Su Qingge turned a deaf ear.

She walked to the back door of the ambulance, her gaze passing over the bewildered medical staff and landing directly on the stretcher.

Seeing Zhang Xuanyao's bloodless face and his chest still rising and falling weakly.

Su Qingge felt as if her heart had been fiercely gripped by someone.

It hurt.

This pain came inexplicably, yet it was so intense.

Last night, this man had still been pressing her down like a rogue, forcing her to call him 'Good Brother'.

How did he become like this, half-dead, today?

"Carry him down."

Su Qingge pointed at the stretcher, her voice devoid of any warmth, yet carrying an unquestionable commanding tone.

"Take him to my car."

"The private hospital under the Su Group is already prepared, and the helicopter will arrive in five minutes."

The medical staff present were all stunned.

Who is this woman?

Such a big tone?

The public hospital doctor frowned: "Madam, the patient is in critical condition and must be sent to the nearest City First Hospital for emergency treatment immediately; he cannot be moved arbitrarily..."

"The equipment at the City First Hospital is too old."

Su Qingge coldly interrupted, "His injuries are beyond your ability to treat."

After speaking, she waved her hand.

The bodyguards behind her immediately stepped forward, ready to take over the stretcher.

"Let's see who dares to move!"

A violent shout came from inside the ambulance.

Qin Bingruo stood up abruptly, blocking the front of the stretcher.

She was still gripping the peach wood sword, its tip pointing directly at the bodyguards.

Although she was disheveled and her eyes were red, the dignity of the criminal investigation captain on her had not diminished in the slightest.

"This is a wounded person currently being handled by the police; he is an important witness!"

Qin Bingruo stared at Su Qingge, her eyes as sharp as knives.

"No matter who you are, no matter how much money you have."

"If you want to take a person from my hands, you'll have to step over my dead body!"

Two equally outstanding women.

One cold, glamorous, and noble, like a high-and-mighty queen.

One heroic and spirited, like a female war god guarding her territory.

At the narrow back door of the ambulance, they met on a narrow path.

It was as if there were sparks and lightning in the air, crackling and popping.

The surrounding temperature seemed to have dropped a few degrees lower than when the ghosts were haunting earlier.

41: Chapter 41: The Summit "Meeting"—This Peach Blossom is a Bit Hot to Handle

The atmosphere had frozen to the extreme.

The surrounding police officers and bodyguards held their breath, hands resting on their respective weapons, ready to explode at any moment.

Zhang Xuanyao, lying on the stretcher, had actually regained most of his consciousness.

That screech of brakes earlier had jolted him awake.

But he didn't dare to open his eyes.

Relying on his keen hearing, he had already mentally reconstructed the current scene.

On the left was the overbearing female CEO with whom he had just had relations last night.

On the right was the violent police beauty with whom he had just shared a life-and-death bond today.

What kind of Hell-level Shura field is this?

It's over.

If they start fighting, his "work-related injury" might turn into a "crime of passion."

Zhang Xuanyao felt so bitter inside.

This Daoist just wanted to make some money; how did he end up in this nest of trouble?

He made a prompt decision: continue playing dead.

Not only did he play dead, but he specifically controlled his breathing frequency, making his heartbeat slower, looking like a "I'm done for, do whatever you want" dead pig.

Outside the ambulance.

Su Qingge did not get angry because of Qin Bingruo's obstruction.

She stopped her steps, those cold-as-ice eyes falling upon Qin Bingruo.

Looking at her police uniform, covered in dust and bloodstains.

Looking at those eyes filled with bloodshot veins, yet still incomparably firm.

And looking at the peach wood sword she was tightly protecting in her hand.

The chill in Su Qingge's eyes miraculously dissipated a little.

She was a smart woman.

And even more so, a superior who knew how to judge people.

The policewoman before her was not vying for credit, nor was she putting on a show.

She was truly risking her life to protect that man.

Just now on the livestream, if not for that final pounce by this policewoman, that bastard Zhang Xuanyao would have likely cracked his head open on the rocks.

Su Qingge's tense lips relaxed slightly.

She raised her hand, signaling the bodyguards behind her to step back.

"I am Su Qingge."

She looked at Qin Bingruo; though her voice remained cold, it lacked some of the aggressive arrogance and had gained a hint of sincerity.

"He is my... private consultant."

When saying the four words "private consultant," her tone paused subtly.

"I watched the livestream earlier."

Su Qingge nodded slightly towards Qin Bingruo; for the usually haughty Young Miss of the Su family, this was already a great courtesy.

"Thank you, Officer Qin, for taking care of him."

"If you hadn't caught him, his condition might be even worse now."

Qin Bingruo was stunned.

She had originally prepared for a big argument, or even a fight.

After all, the rumored Su Qingge was an unfeeling, profit-driven capitalist.

But now...

The worry in this woman's eyes didn't look fake.

The defenses Qin Bingruo had erected crumbled by more than half at this moment.

She glanced at the unconscious Zhang Xuanyao behind her, tightened her grip on the sword, and her voice lowered: "It is I who should thank him."

"If it weren't for him dealing with this brick factory, my brothers and I would have all ended up in that cellar today."

"He collapsed because he was saving us."

The two women's gazes met in the air.

There was no expected clash of Mars against Earth.

Instead, a strange tacit understanding flowed between them.

It was a subtle resonance that occurs when two strong women face the same man they care about.

Su Qingge took a gold-stamped business card from her ink-stained suit pocket and handed it to Qin Bingruo.

"All medical expenses for the police this time will be covered by the Su Group."

"In addition, the Su Group will also be responsible for compensating for the losses caused by this operation."

Her tone returned to that habitual business negotiation style, but the content was paving the way for Zhang Xuanyao.

"The City First Hospital is crowded and messy; the media will definitely be swarming it."

"Go to the Su Group's private hospital. I have an exclusive medical team, the equipment is world-class, and the security is tight; no one will be able to disturb his rest."

Su Qingge looked at Qin Bingruo, her gaze frank: "Officer Qin, you were saving people, and so was I."

"Getting him the best treatment is what's most important right now, isn't it?"

Qin Bingruo was silent for two seconds.

She glanced at the gold-stamped business card in her hand, then at the man on the stretcher who looked like a dead pig.

The public hospital indeed lacked the resources of the Su Group.

Moreover, Zhang Xuanyao's identity was special, and that Five Thunders Method earlier was too shocking; if he went to a public hospital, he would likely be observed like a lab rat.

"Fine."

Qin Bingruo put away the business card and stepped aside.

"Then I will leave it to you, President Su."

"I am a police officer; I still have to stay here to handle the scene and seal off the news."

Speaking of this, she paused and looked at Su Qingge with complex eyes: "When I finish here, I will go see him."

Su Qingge nodded.

She even reached out and patted Qin Bingruo's dust-covered shoulder gently.

"Take care."

Qin Bingruo also rarely showed a tired smile: "You too, take good care of him."

Zhang Xuanyao, who was eavesdropping on the stretcher, was completely bewildered.

The script isn't right!

What happened to the promised wealthy family drama?

What happened to the promised fighting over a man?

Why did these two suddenly start acting like sisters?

This is unscientific!

Before he could figure it out, his body suddenly felt light.

Several bodyguards gently lifted him and quickly transferred him to the back seat of the spacious and luxurious Rolls-Royce.

The car door closed.

Isolating the hustle and bustle outside.

The car was filled with a faint, cold fragrance; it was the scent of Su Qingge.

Zhang Xuanyao felt a warm, cool hand gently brush against his forehead.

It was Su Qingge.

She was holding a wet towel in her hand, carefully wiping the blood and dust from his face.

Her movements were unbelievably gentle.

She didn't look at all like the decisive Devil Head in the business world.

"Bastard..."

Su Qingge cursed in a low voice, but her voice carried a hint of choking.

"It's fine if you want to scam money, but who told you to risk your life?"

"If you die, who am I supposed to give those tens of millions to?"

Zhang Xuanyao felt a strange sense of relief.

Thank goodness, thank goodness.

It seems as long as he keeps playing dead, he's cleared this hurdle.

But the next second.

He suddenly realized.

Wait, that's not right!

Why should I be relieved?

I'm a single dog!

Why should I worry about them fighting?

I'm not two-timing...

Wait.

Does that Dual Cultivation last night count?

Does that hug from Qin Bingruo just now count?

And what was up with that weird "first wife meeting the concubine" harmonious atmosphere just now?

Zhang Xuanyao fell into deep self-doubt and confusion about the future.

Is this peach blossom luck... a bit too strong?

It's a bit too hot to handle.

Just as he was letting his thoughts run wild in his mind, a true sense of exhaustion struck him again.

The aftereffects of forcing the large-scale Five Thunders Method finally erupted completely.

This time, there was no need to pretend.

Zhang Xuanyao's eyes went black, his head tilted, and he completely collapsed onto Su Qingge's million-dollar lap, falling into a dead sleep.

The motorcade started.

Like a black sharp sword, it split through the congested crowd and sped towards the city center.

Leaving behind the crowd of onlookers and police, watching the receding taillights, messy in the wind.

Daoists these days...

Are they all treated this well?

42: Chapter 42: Generous Settlement and a Battlefield on the Sickbed

Deep in his consciousness, a golden stream of data washed over Zhang Xuanyao's Soul like a waterfall.

The feeling of being hollowed out and weak was rapidly fading, replaced by an unprecedented sense of fullness.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the "West Suburb Brick Factory" S-Rank supernatural event!]

[Calculating rewards...]

[shock value calculation complete! Total shock value obtained: 5,800,000 points!]

[Ding! Detected that the host has triggered a phenomenon-level sensation across the entire network for the first time, awarding an extra special item: Celestial Master Seal Fragment (I)!]

[Item Description: Celestial Master Seal, a supreme treasure of the Dao sect. Collecting all fragments allows one to command all ghosts and gods in the world and suppress eternal evil spirits. Current fragment effect: Increases the wearer's spiritual power recovery speed by 200% and increases deterrence against evil and sinister entities by 50%.]

Five million eight hundred thousand!

And a Celestial Master Seal fragment!

Zhang Xuanyao felt as if his Soul was about to float away. This wasn't risking his life; this was practically robbing a bank.

He struggled to control the urge to laugh wildly and slowly opened his heavy eyelids.

What met his eyes wasn't peeling wall plaster, nor the ceiling of a police station, but a highly designed crystal chandelier, emitting a soft, non-glaring warm light.

The air didn't have that sickening smell of disinfectant; instead, it was filled with a faint lavender fragrance.

Where is this? Heaven?

Zhang Xuanyao rolled his eyes and looked to the left.

On a wide leather sofa, Su Qingge was sitting upright. She had changed into a clean, dark gray haute couture suit.

A silver laptop rested on her lap, and her slender fingers were tapping rapidly on the keyboard, making a rhythmic "da da" sound.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, seemingly dealing with some tricky official documents, and that cold, aloof temperament that kept people at a distance remained undiminished even in the hospital room.

Zhang Xuanyao swallowed, then stiffly turned his head to look to the right.

By the hospital bed.

Qin Bingruo was lying on the edge of the bed, fast asleep.

Her dirty police uniform had been changed into a simple casual sportswear outfit, and her hair was tied into a casual ponytail.

Even in her sleep, her hand was still tightly clutching something—it was the peace talisman that Zhang Xuanyao had given her earlier.

On one side was a wealthy female CEO with a net worth of hundreds of billions.

On the other side was a heroic and spirited female police officer.

The entire hospital room was eerily quiet, with only the sound of Su Qingge typing and Qin Bingruo's steady breathing.

Zhang Xuanyao felt a chill on his back.

Would you want this kind of "blessing" if it were given to you?

He subconsciously moved his finger, wanting to pull the corner of the quilt up a bit to cover his shivering body.

The slight sound of fabric rubbing was like a thunderclap in the silent room.

Swish!

Su Qingge's fingers typing on the keyboard stopped instantly.

Qin Bingruo jerked her head up as if electrocuted.

Two gazes, one cold and one hot, shot simultaneously toward the man on the hospital bed.

"Awake?"

"You're awake!"

The two spoke almost in unison.

The next second, Su Qingge closed her laptop and reached for the call button by the bedside, her movements elegant and swift: "Dr. Chen, the patient is awake. Bring your team over."

Meanwhile, Qin Bingruo grabbed the thermos cup on the bedside table, skillfully tested the water temperature, and then handed the straw to Zhang Xuanyao's mouth, her voice slightly hoarse: "Drink some water to moisten your throat."

Their movements were smooth and practiced, clearly not the first time they had done this.

Su Qingge's finger froze on the call button, and she coldly glanced at the thermos cup: "Officer Qin, the doctor said that a patient who has just woken up might not have fully recovered their swallowing function. Feeding water indiscriminately can easily cause choking."

Qin Bingruo's hand paused, and she looked back without showing any weakness: "I come from a Special Police background; emergency care is a required course. His lips are chapped, and rehydration is the top priority. President Su only knows how to press buttons—do you know how to take care of people?"

The air froze instantly.

Crackle, pop.

Zhang Xuanyao felt as if he could see two currents colliding fiercely in the air, sparks flying everywhere.

Caught in the middle, looking at the straw held to his mouth, he didn't know whether to drink or not.

This isn't water; this is clearly Meng Po Soup!

"Cough, cough..." Zhang Xuanyao decided to use a tactical cough to break the deadlock.

He clutched his chest, a pained expression on his face, his voice so weak that he sounded like he was about to stop breathing the next second: "This Daoist... this Daoist is dizzy... am I going to die..."

This trick was indeed effective.

Both women's expressions changed simultaneously, and the previous tension instantly dissipated.

"Where are you dizzy? Is it a sequela?" Qin Bingruo hurriedly put down the cup and reached out to touch his forehead.

"Don't touch him!" Su Qingge pushed away Qin Bingruo's hand and shouted sternly toward the door, "Where are the doctors! Why aren't they here yet! Is the Su Group paying you hundreds of millions in funding every year just to support idlers?!"

Bang!

The hospital room door was kicked open.

A group of experts and professors in white coats rushed in, sweating profusely, pushing various precision instruments, instantly surrounding the hospital bed tightly.

After half an hour of commotion.

The lead old professor wiped his sweat and respectfully reported to Su Qingge: "President Su, Mr. Zhang has an extremely strong physical constitution, and all his indicators have returned to normal. He was just overdrawn; he just needs to rest for two days."

Su Qingge nodded, and that queen-like aura returned once again.

She waved for the doctors to withdraw, then looked at Qin Bingruo, her tone calm but carrying an unquestionable domineering air.

"Officer Qin, since he is awake, you can go back. This is a private hospital under the Su Group, and the security level is the highest in the city. I will arrange for ten professional caregivers to take turns looking after him; no need to trouble the police."

This was a dismissal.

Qin Bingruo stood up straight, her tough attitude as a criminal police captain flaring up.

"Zhang Xuanyao is a special consultant for our police force and also an important witness in this case. Protecting witnesses is the police's duty. I will stay here until I confirm he is absolutely safe."

"President Su may be rich and can buy the hospital, but you cannot buy law enforcement power."

Su Qingge narrowed her eyes, the corners of her mouth curling into a dangerous arc: "Is Officer Qin trying to teach me how to do things?"

Qin Bingruo didn't yield an inch: "I am stating facts."

Zhang Xuanyao lay on the bed, pulling the quilt over his head, revealing only his eyes.

The taste of being a kept man in such a tough spot...

...is a bit hard to chew.

"Um..."

Zhang Xuanyao weakly raised a hand, interrupting the standoff between the two big shots, "Can this Daoist put in a word?"

Two gazes focused on him again.

"Officer Qin," Zhang Xuanyao looked at Qin Bingruo, his eyes softening a little, "How is your sister, Qin Xiaoya?"

At the mention of her sister, the sharp thorns on Qin Bingruo instantly softened.

Her eyes turned red.

"Xiaoya is fine."

Qin Bingruo took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly.

"The doctor said the toxins in her body have been cleared out very cleanly, and she just needs to recuperate. President Su... President Su arranged for her to be transferred to the special care ward next door, right next to you."

After speaking, she took a step back and bowed deeply to Zhang Xuanyao.

43: Chapter 43: As long as the money is right, life and death can be decided online.

She didn't get up for a long time.

"Zhang Xuanyao, thank you. Really, thank you."

This bow was worth more than a thousand words.

The tension in the hospital room quietly dissipated amidst this sincere expression of gratitude.

Su Qingge watched this scene, swallowing the sharp words that had been on the tip of her tongue. She let out a cold snort and turned her head away.

"Alright, stop acting like this is a funeral. Since you want to stay here and act as a door god, then go ahead and guard it. Su Group will continue to pay your salary."

Qin Bingruo straightened up, wiped the corners of her eyes, and for once, did not retort.

Zhang Xuanyao breathed a sigh of relief.

He had finally survived.

"My phone." Zhang Xuanyao reached out his hand. "Where is my phone?"

He turned it on.

It vibrated.

Buzz, buzz, buzz—!!!

The phone vibrated crazily for a full two minutes, almost numbing his palm.

999+ WeChat messages, 999+ text messages, 999+ missed calls.

He opened Weibo.

In the top ten trending searches, three were related to his name.

#Thunder God of the Western Suburbs#

#Daoist Special Effects#

#Believe in Science, Reject Superstition#

Opening the comment section was like witnessing a massive scene of mental instability.

[Holy crap! The Daoist is awesome! I was kneeling while watching that lightning strike!]

[Special effects! It's definitely special effects! With live streaming technology so advanced nowadays, is it that hard to set up a holographic projection?]

[That vomiting blood was too fake; was there a blood pack hidden in his mouth?]

[To the person above, that was someone personally picked up by Su Qingge of the Su Group! Would President Su cooperate in acting?]

[Do you understand capital operation? This is clearly a script created by the Su Group to promote a newcomer! That Daoist is so handsome; he must be planning to debut as an internet celebrity!]

Even a few popular science influencers with millions of followers posted long articles overnight analyzing the "glitches" in the video, confidently claiming it was the latest AR technology and citing a bunch of physics formulas to prove the impossibility of "summoning lightning."

Looking at the screen full of "scammer," "charlatan," and "best actor."

Su Qingge frowned and snatched the phone away: "Stop looking. The PR department is already handling it. I will send lawyer's letters to these accounts spreading rumors."

"Don't!"

Zhang Xuanyao, like a wolf whose meat had been snatched away, sat up abruptly and grabbed the phone back.

His eyes lit up, shining even brighter than when he was summoning lightning earlier.

"Why send lawyer's letters? This is all traffic! This is all money!"

Zhang Xuanyao pointed at the vicious insults on the screen, his mouth stretching almost to his ears.

"President Su, look at this one cursing my whole family. This single comment has thousands of likes! How much traffic can this convert into?"

Su Qingge: "..."

Qin Bingruo: "..."

Is this person's brain filled with mush?

"What are you going to do?" Su Qingge had an ominous feeling.

"Live stream!" Zhang Xuanyao said decisively, "Strike while the iron is hot. It would be a crime against nature not to capitalize on this wave of traffic!"

"No!" Su Qingge flatly refused. "You just woke up, and your body hasn't recovered yet."

"My life is up to me, not Heaven, but the money is not up to me, President Su!"

Zhang Xuanyao looked full of grief and indignation.

"This Daoist has elders above and children below... oh, no, that's not right. Above, there is a dilapidated Daoist temple that needs repairs; below, there is... there is myself to support. What is this little injury? As long as the money is right, I can even pull out my oxygen tube and perform chest-crushing boulders for them!"

Ten minutes later.

Su Qingge and Qin Bingruo helplessly retreated to the blind spot of the security camera in the corner of the hospital room.

Su Qingge crossed her arms, her face livid. She was already considering whether to just buy the live streaming platform and ban Zhang Xuanyao's account.

Qin Bingruo shook her head helplessly; this person would truly do anything for money.

Zhang Xuanyao leaned against the head of the bed, adjusted the collar of his hospital gown, and deliberately exposed a bit of his collarbone to look even more weak and fragile.

He entered the title: "Just Struck by Lightning, Didn't Die, Hardcore Confrontation Online."

Start streaming!

Boom!

As soon as the live stream started, the viewer count skyrocketed like a rocket.

100,000.

500,000.

1,000,000.

2,000,000!

The barrage of comments was dense and fast, impossible to read clearly.

[A zombie! The streamer is a zombie!]

[Yo, that face is so white, you must have applied a lot of foundation, right?]

[Scammer! Refund! Give me back the gifts from yesterday!]

[Where is Su Qingge? I want to see President Su!]

Zhang Xuanyao faced the camera, revealing a weak but polite smile: "Fellow lay practitioners, this Daoist is blessed and lucky. Yama found me too noisy and didn't take me. I just saw many people questioning this Daoist's lightning technique as special effects..."

He paused, his eyes becoming playful: "This Daoist can only say, you cannot talk about ice with summer insects. Believe it or not."

This sentence instantly ignited the powder keg.

The barrage was filled with insults.

Just then.

A gorgeous firework suddenly exploded on the screen.

Followed by a second, a third...

A total of ten "Carnivals"!

Worth 30,000 RMB!

The full-screen effects instantly drowned out all the insults.

A golden, glittering ID appeared in the center of the screen: [Wang Fa - Construction Material Tycoon].

Wang Fa: [Streamer, stop acting like a ghost here. Since you're so awesome, dare to do a live link-up? I'll offer 100,000. As long as you can calculate what I'm doing right now, this money is yours. If you can't calculate it correctly, you apologize across the entire internet and quit streaming on the spot!]

Naked monetary provocation.

Looking at the words "100,000," Zhang Xuanyao's eyes, which had been a bit cloudy, instantly became as clear as a pool of spring water.

He coughed twice, a signature punchable grin curling up at the corners of his mouth.

"This lay practitioner, although this Daoist is unwell and the doctor advised quiet rest..."

"But considering your sincere heart (money), this Daoist accepts this order."

The link-up request was accepted.

The screen split in two.

In the image on the right, an extremely luxuriously decorated office appeared. Behind him was an entire wall of mahogany bookshelves, filled with various "classics" with unreadable names and antique vases.

In front of the camera sat a middle-aged man with a fleshy face.

With a balding hairstyle, a gold chain as thick as a finger hanging around his neck, a cigar in his mouth, he was sitting with his legs crossed, looking at the camera with disdain.

It was none other than [Wang Fa].

"Great Master, take a good look." Wang Fa exhaled a smoke ring, the smoke swirling. "This is a real scene, no special effects. Don't pull any of that fake stuff. Calculate my recent fortune. If you can come up with something solid, this 100,000 will be transferred to you immediately."

As he spoke, he patted the thick stack of red banknotes on the table.

The live stream room instantly boiled over.

[President Wang is domineering! Use money to crush this charlatan to death!]

[This is a real tycoon! Does the streamer dare to accept?]

[Waiting for the streamer to crash and burn!]

In the corner, Qin Bingruo frowned: "This person is clearly here to pick a fight."

Su Qingge sneered: "Construction material Wang Fa? Just a Nouveau Riche. Daring to act wild on my turf, I think he's tired of living." She took out her phone, preparing to message her secretary to check this person's background.

On the hospital bed.

Zhang Xuanyao, however, was not the least bit flustered.

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

[Heavenly Eye], activate!

In an instant, Wang Fa's physiognomy changed in his eyes.

The face that was originally glowing with health was now shrouded in a layer of thick black Qi.

Especially at the positions of the forehead and the wealth palace, the black Qi was so thick it was almost dripping ink, and there even appeared a shocking, broken line.

This was an omen of great misfortune.

44: Chapter 44: This divination is worth three hundred million.

And it is a great omen of misfortune, enough to ruin a family and bankrupt them!

Zhang Xuanyao wiped the playful smirk off his face.

He looked at Wang Fa, his tone becoming unusually calm: "Layman, let us set aside your fortune for a moment. This Daoist has a sincere piece of advice."

Wang Fa flicked his cigarette ash with disdain: "What advice? To tell me to accumulate more virtue and do good deeds?"

Zhang Xuanyao shook his head: "This Daoist suggests you take out your quick-acting heart pills and keep them close at hand. Or, call 120 right now and have an ambulance wait downstairs."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience was in an uproar.

Wang Fa was stunned for a moment, then burst into loud laughter, his chubby face quivering as he laughed.

"Hahaha! You're killing me! Can't you divine the answer, so you've started resorting to intimidation? I'm in excellent health. I just had a physical last week, and all my indicators are better than those of a twenty-year-old! Are you cursing me?"

The comments section followed suit with ridicule.

[The streamer has run out of tricks.]

[Standard script for a Jianghu con artist: You have a calamity of blood, you need to pay extra to resolve it.]

[This script is too trashy, get a new screenwriter.]

Zhang Xuanyao ignored the mockery, sighed, and a trace of pity appeared in his eyes.

"Three months ago, did you misappropriate most of the company's working capital, and even mortgage two of your Villas and your factory behind the board of directors' backs?"

Wang Fa's laughter stopped abruptly.

The hand holding his cigar shook violently, and a spark almost fell onto his pants.

"You... how do you know?" Wang Fa's eyes widened, a flash of panic in his gaze, "That's a trade secret! Did you investigate me?"

Zhang Xuanyao ignored his questioning and continued: "You went all-in with all that money into a new energy project that claimed an annual return of 200%. The person in charge of that project is your childhood friend of twenty years, isn't that right?"

Wang Fa's expression changed completely.

Cold sweat streamed down his balding forehead.

This matter had been handled extremely secretly; apart from him and that childhood friend, absolutely no one knew!

"Who... who exactly are you?" Wang Fa's voice trembled, but he still tried to put up a front, "That... that was insider information! That was a state-supported project! My childhood friend wouldn't lie to me!"

"Insider information?"

Zhang Xuanyao chuckled, his laughter filled with mockery.

"That was indeed an inside job. But it was a scam tailored specifically for you."

"Just five minutes ago, right when you were gifting me that Carnival, your childhood friend had already taken your 300 million and boarded a private jet to South America."

"At this very moment, his phone is turned off, and his WeChat account is deleted. And your money..."

Zhang Xuanyao reached out and made an exploding gesture.

"Boom! It's all gone down the drain."

Dead silence.

The millions of people in the live stream were unexpectedly quiet at this moment.

Wang Fa stood up abruptly, knocking his chair over to the ground.

His face was flushed red, veins bulging, as he pointed at the screen and roared.

"Bullshit! You're talking bullshit! That is my brother who I've risked my life with! We were drinking together just yesterday! You quack, how dare you curse me with bankruptcy? Do you believe I'll come through the internet cable and kill you!"

"I don't believe it! I'm calling him right now! I'll make you die knowing the truth!"

Wang Fa's hands trembled as he grabbed the phone on the table and dialed that familiar number.

Furthermore, to slap Zhang Xuanyao in the face, he deliberately turned on the speakerphone.

"Sorry, the subscriber you dialed is powered off. Sorry..."

The cold, mechanical female voice echoed in the quiet live stream.

Wang Fa's face turned pale instantly.

"Out of battery... he must have boarded the plane... no, that's not it, his phone must be out of battery!" Wang Fa muttered to himself, his hands shaking like he had Parkinson's.

Just then.

Another backup phone on his table suddenly started vibrating like crazy.

The caller ID clearly displayed six large characters: [Company CFO].

He swallowed his saliva and stiffly swiped the answer button with his finger.

He turned on the speakerphone as well.

The next second.

A shrill, tearful scream clearly traveled through the microphone, spreading across the entire live stream and into the ears of millions of viewers.

"Mr. Wang! It's over! Everything is over!"

"Mr. Li has run away! The bank just called to say our mortgage loan is in default, and they are going to seal the factory!"

"The company's accounts are empty! There's not a single cent left!"

"And... and those creditors, I don't know where they got the news, but they've brought hundreds of people to block the downstairs of the company, saying they want your life to pay off the debt! You have to run! If you don't run now, it'll be too late!"

Boom!!!

These few sentences were even more shocking than the Five Thunders Method from just before.

The comments section exploded completely.

[Holy crap!!! Is this for real?!]

[Divine prediction! This is a fucking divine prediction!]

[300 million? Oh my god, this guy really went bankrupt?]

[Who said the streamer was a con artist just now? Come out and walk two steps?]

[Has this mouth been blessed? He says bankruptcy and it happens?]

On the screen.

Wang Fa looked as if his bones had been sucked out of his body.

The cigar in his hand fell onto his crotch, burning a large hole and emitting wisps of smoke, but he was completely oblivious.

His eyes were vacant, his lips trembling, and his complexion turned from pale to ashen.

"My money... my 300 million..."

"Pfft—!"

A mouthful of blood sprayed out of his mouth without warning, staining the camera in front of him red.

Immediately after, his eyes rolled back, his hands clutched his chest tightly, and he fell straight backward.

Bang!

The dull sound of a human body hitting the floor.

In the live stream, only an empty boss chair remained, along with the phone that was still emitting the CFO's wailing.

"Mr. Wang? Mr. Wang, speak to me! Mr. Wang!"

Zhang Xuanyao watched this scene and calmly pressed his palms together toward the camera.

"Immeasurable Daoist Venerable."

"This Daoist told you earlier to prepare your heart pills, but you wouldn't listen."

"Also..."

He pointed to the 100,000-yuan bet on the screen that hadn't been transferred yet.

"This divination fee of 100,000, remember to have your family burn it for me... oh no, if you are resuscitated, remember to wire it to me. No credit allowed."

[Ding! Detected that the host has predicted a death during the live stream, causing extreme shock across the entire internet!]

[shock value + 10000!]

Watching the numbers jumping wildly in the background again, Zhang Xuanyao lay back on his pillow with satisfaction.

The live stream screen had just cut off, and the phone screen hadn't even had time to turn off yet.

Knock, knock, knock.

The hospital room door was knocked, the rhythm urgent, revealing the anxiety of the person knocking.

Without waiting for a response from inside, the door was pushed open.

A woman wearing a professional suit and gold-rimmed glasses walked in quickly. She was Su Qingge's chief secretary, currently holding a tablet in her hand, with a red countdown flashing crazily on the screen.

"General Manager Su, if we don't connect now, the board of directors over there will force a vote."

The secretary's voice was very low, but her speech was extremely fast, "This is a critical node in the merger, involving 300 million in Early Stage capital, and the other party has only given a final five-minute window."

45: Chapter 45: Earning Ten Million Yuan Through Live Stream, Policewoman Locks Door Behind Her Back

Su Qingge was peeling an apple.

Those hands, which had signed countless billion-dollar contracts, were currently fumbling with a fruit knife; the apple peel came off in broken strips, and the flesh was pitted and uneven.

Hearing her secretary's words, the knife in her hand paused.

That long strip of apple peel snapped with a "pop" and fell to the floor.

Su Qingge tossed the knife back onto the plate and pulled out a tissue to wipe her hands. She didn't look at the secretary, her gaze remaining fixed on the man in the hospital bed who had just finished showing off and looked completely satisfied.

"Make them wait." Su Qingge's tone was indifferent.

"But CEO Su, that is..."

"I said, make them wait." Su Qingge turned around, and in that instant, the air pressure in the hospital room seemed to drop by a few degrees. She looked at the secretary with an expressionless face, "Do you not understand Chinese?"

The secretary's breath hitched, and she immediately lowered her head, "Yes, I will go arrange it right away."

The countdown on the tablet hit zero.

A business deal worth hundreds of millions was just left hanging.

Su Qingge took a deep breath, as if having made a decision. She walked to the bedside and leaned over.

At this moment, the queen who was decisive and ruthless in the business world disappeared.

She reached out, her fingertips gently hooking the corner of the quilt and pulling it up to cover Zhang Xuanyao's exposed collarbone. Her movements were very light, as if afraid of disturbing some fragile treasure.

"I have something to attend to and must leave for a while."

Su Qingge's voice was very low, carrying a hint of imperceptible annoyance, "Stay put, and don't cause any more trouble. If you do another livestream like that, I will pull the hospital's internet cable."

Zhang Xuanyao huddled in the quilt, just about to crack a joke, but met Su Qingge's eyes.

Those eyes, usually cold and arrogant, were now filled with warnings, and a trace of deeply hidden... lingering fear.

"Wait for me to return after the meeting."

Su Qingge straightened up and tapped him lightly on the forehead, "If I find out you've lost a single hair, or risked your life again for that bit of money..."

She didn't finish, but that meaningful pause was more effective than any threat.

Zhang Xuanyao shrank his neck and nodded obediently, "This Daoist understands. Safe travels, CEO Su, may you make a fortune."

Su Qingge was amused to the point of laughter, shook her head, and turned to walk toward the door.

When passing by Qin Bingruo, her footsteps paused.

Two equally outstanding women faced each other again.

This time, there was no gunpowder-like tension in the air.

Su Qingge slightly lifted her chin; it was the posture of a primary partner bestowing trust—haughty, yet magnanimous.

"Officer Qin."

Su Qingge glanced at the service weapon at Qin Bingruo's waist, then at her calloused hands, "I'm leaving him in your care."

This was not a request; it was an order. And a entrustment.

Qin Bingruo was not angered by the other woman's strong tone. She straightened her back, as if accepting an inspection from a superior.

"Rest assured, CEO Su."

Qin Bingruo's voice was crisp and forceful, her eyes as clear as a drawn blade, "With me here, no one can harm a hair on his head."

Even if Yama himself comes, he will have to answer to the gun in my hand first.

Su Qingge stared at Qin Bingruo for two seconds, seemingly assessing the weight of those words.

Finally, she nodded, clicked away in her eight-centimeter heels, and strode out of the hospital room with her secretary.

Click, click, click. The sound of high heels tapping on the floor gradually faded until it vanished at the end of the corridor.

Click. The hospital room door was closed. The world instantly quieted down.

That Advanced cold fragrance belonging to Su Qingge slowly dissipated with the flow of air. Replacing it was a faint scent mixed with sweat and cheap body wash.

That was the scent on Qin Bingruo. Not refined, but full of vitality.

Zhang Xuanyao did not notice that subtle change in the air. His attention was entirely on his phone.

That recent livestream of ending a life, plus the scene of Wang Fa vomiting blood and collapsing on the spot, directly pushed the livestream's popularity to its Peak.

The donation records in the background were still refreshing frantically.

[shock value settlement: +120,000]

[shock value settlement: +80,000]

[Current balance: 6,800,000 points]

"I'm rich, I'm rich..."

Zhang Xuanyao looked at that string of zeros, his mouth stretching almost to his ears, his fingers sliding rapidly across the screen, "Although this Karma is a bit heavy, for a piece of trash like Wang Fa, getting retribution is what he deserves. With this money, the Daoist temple's roof can be repaired, and I can even gild the Grandmaster's statue..."

He was immersed in the joy of sudden wealth, completely unaware that another breathing sound in the room was becoming heavier and heavier.

Qin Bingruo stood still. She watched the money-grubbing man on the hospital bed.

In her mind, two frames of images were flashing alternately.

One frame was in the cellar: Zhang Xuanyao, covered in blood, standing in front of her, the silhouette of him summoning heavenly lightning to shatter thousands of fierce ghosts.

One frame was just now: him, in order to save her sister Qin Xiaoya, sparing no effort to exhaust his last bit of spiritual energy to force out the toxins.

This man, who usually looked unserious, greedy for money and lustful, always spouting nonsense.

But when it really came to life-or-death moments, he was more reliable than anyone.

Qin Bingruo felt a fire burning in her chest. It was the relief of surviving a disaster, the admiration for a strong person, and even more so, a certain repressed... desire.

She took a step, walking toward the hospital bed step by step. Her military boots hit the floor, making dull thuds.

Zhang Xuanyao was still doing the math, "...plus the few million CEO Su gave me, I'm now a multi-millionaire. Should I consider buying a car? I can't afford to maintain a Rolls-Royce, but buying a Wuling Hongguang and converting it into an RV wouldn't be bad..."

Suddenly, he felt the light above his head dim. A scorching gaze seemed as if it would burn through his scalp.

Zhang Xuanyao looked up subconsciously.

"Officer Qin, why are you staring at this Daoist like that?"

He shielded his phone against his chest, looking vigilant, "Although this Daoist is indeed striking and handsome, a monk does not tell lies. I earned this money with my own skills, I can't share it with you..."

Before he could finish, he choked on his words. Because he realized, Qin Bingruo's eyes were not right.

That was not the look of a police officer eyeing a criminal.

That gaze was like a wolf that had been hungry for three days and three nights, finally seeing a piece of tender, juicy pork belly.

Carrying extreme suppression and undisguised aggression.

"Cap... Captain Qin?" Zhang Xuanyao swallowed a mouthful of saliva, his body instinctively shrinking back.

Qin Bingruo didn't speak.

She reached out, crossing over Zhang Xuanyao's body. That hand didn't touch him, but pressed a red button on the bedside table.

[Do Not Disturb] mode activated.

Immediately after, she turned her wrist.

Click.

The crisp sound of metal striking metal was exceptionally jarring in the silent room.

The door was locked.

Zhang Xuanyao's heart skipped a beat.

"Um... Captain Qin, let's talk this out." Zhang Xuanyao forced a laugh, trying to ease the bizarre atmosphere, "Why lock the door? It's broad daylight, a man and a woman alone, if word gets out, it won't be good for your reputation..."

"Reputation?" Qin Bingruo finally spoke. Her voice was somewhat hoarse.

46: Chapter 46: The debt of saving a life, settled on the spot

She approached step by step, bracing her hands on either side of the bed frame, leaning forward, and trapping Zhang Xuanyao in this small space from above.

The distance between them closed in an instant.

It was close enough for Zhang Xuanyao to see the fine fuzz on her face and smell the pleasant scent of soap on her.

"Zhang Xuanyao."

Qin Bingruo stared into his eyes, enunciating every word, "What was it you said on the livestream just now?"

Zhang Xuanyao blinked, his brain racing: "Believe in science?"

"The sentence before that."

"Wang Fa is going bankrupt?"

"The sentence before that."

Zhang Xuanyao thought for a moment, his expression changing: "A life-saving grace should be repaid by offering oneself?"

The corners of Qin Bingruo's mouth curled into an arc.

It was not a smile.

It was the triumph of a hunter closing the net.

"Good that you remember."

Qin Bingruo's fingers moved.

That index finger, which had spent years pulling triggers, slid inside Zhang Xuanyao's collar. The rough, thin calluses on her fingertips grazed his collarbone, sending a shiver like an electric current through him.

"That... that was for the show's effect!"

It sounded stiff.

"The doctor just said that your recovery ability is ten times that of a normal person. Not only are all your indicators normal, they are even off the charts."

Qin Bingruo's breath, scorching hot, sprayed against his neck, "You are stronger than an ox right now. Why are you pretending to be weak?"

Zhang Xuanyao wanted to cry but had no tears.

What kind of wild, aggressive talk is this?

"Qin Bingruo!" Zhang Xuanyao decided to muster some masculine dignity, "This is assaulting an officer... no, wait, this is assaulting a law-abiding citizen! I'm calling the police!"

"I am the police."

Qin Bingruo interrupted him.

Her eyes suddenly reddened.

The aggressive Aura from just a moment ago cracked, revealing the vulnerability hidden within.

"Do you know how scared I was in the cellar?"

Qin Bingruo's voice was trembling, and her hands were shaking too, "Watching you collapse, watching you stop breathing, watching you covered in blood... I thought you were going to die."

"I thought I would never hear your smart-alecky mouth spouting nonsense again."

That kind of fear was ten thousand times more intense than facing an armed criminal.

It was the panic of almost losing her entire world.

Now, this panic had transformed into a surging desire, like a breached dam, washing away all her reason and reserve.

She didn't want to hold back anymore.

To hell with reserve.

To hell with the process.

She needed to confirm right now that this man was alive and that he belonged to her.

"Mmph—!"

Before Zhang Xuanyao could offer a few words of comfort, his mouth was blocked.

Qin Bingruo lunged down and kissed him.

This kiss was not gentle at all.

It lacked the lingering tenderness found in romance novels, containing only the savage biting and catharsis of a beast.

Her teeth nicked Zhang Xuanyao's lip, and the metallic taste of blood spread between their lips.

It was as if she were plundering, demanding, and claiming him as her own.

Zhang Xuanyao's mind went blank.

Boom!

The string of reason snapped.

A man's instincts were instantly awakened.

Who the hell could endure this?

If he didn't react after being pinned and forcibly kissed by such a beautiful woman, then his twenty years of studying the Dao would have been in vain!

Zhang Xuanyao reached out to clasp the back of Qin Bingruo's head, turning passive into active, and kissed her back fiercely.

The IV stand was knocked, swaying and making a clattering sound.

The two of them rolled on the hospital bed.

At this moment, there were no Daoist and no police officer, only the collision of the most primitive instincts.

"Rip—!"

The sound of fabric tearing rang out.

Qin Bingruo tore open the buttons of Zhang Xuanyao's obstructive hospital gown.

Her calloused palms stroked Zhang Xuanyao's firm muscles without obstruction. That rough sensation was like a fire, igniting every cell in Zhang Xuanyao's body.

"Don't move."

Qin Bingruo pinned down Zhang Xuanyao, who was trying to turn over.

She knelt on the bed with one leg, straddling his waist.

Her neatly tied ponytail had come undone, and her long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, brushing against Zhang Xuanyao's chest, itching into his heart.

At this moment, Qin Bingruo's clothes were disheveled, and her eyes were hazy yet exceptionally determined.

That combination of violence and beauty was simply lethal.

"Let me."

Qin Bingruo panted heavily, her hands braced on his chest, "Tonight, you are mine."

This was the executive power of a Special Police captain.

When she said she would sleep with you, she absolutely wouldn't wait until tomorrow.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the woman above him, his Adam's apple bobbing violently.

Their two streams of Qi were like lovers reunited after a long separation, beginning to resonate strongly.

This was not just a catharsis of desire.

This was a Dual Cultivation of Yin and Yang harmony.

Outside the window, dark clouds covered the moon.

Inside the hospital room, the atmosphere was thick with passion.

The sounds of panting, the friction of fabric, and the faint rumbling of thunder intertwined, composing the most primitive symphony.

Zhang Xuanyao felt as if his Soul was about to fly out of his body.

This feeling was a hundred times more stimulating than summoning lightning to strike ghosts just moments ago!

Just when the two of them were completely lost in the moment.

In Zhang Xuanyao's mind, the System panel that had been playing dead suddenly flashed red frantically.

[Warning! Warning!]

[Detected that the host is engaging in high-intensity Yin and Yang mutual supplementation!]

[Detected contact with a special Physique: Punishment-Slaying White Tiger Body!]

Zhang Xuanyao had absolutely no time to look at those red characters.

There was only one thing he wanted to do right now.

And that was to completely lose himself in this storm.

Zhang Xuanyao felt his throat go dry, but his body reacted honestly, "That was just flirty talk! You can't take it seriously! Captain Qin, calm down, this is a hospital, and this Daoist is still a patient; I can't handle this kind of tossing..."

"A patient?"

Qin Bingruo acted as if she had heard a joke.

Her fingers continued downward, sliding across his chest, stopping at his abs, and pressing down lightly.

"Captain Qin, this is a single-occupancy room; the soundproofing might not be good..." Zhang Xuanyao tried to make a final struggle, but his hands honestly held onto Qin Bingruo's slim, taut waist.

The muscles were firm, without an ounce of excess fat.

Qin Bingruo ignored his nonsense. She leaned down, her hot, damp breath hitting his ear.

"Soundproofing not good?" She lightly bit Zhang Xuanyao's earlobe, her voice low and hoarse, "Then you'd better hold it in and not make too much noise."

Boom!

The string in Zhang Xuanyao's brain snapped completely.

Who the hell could hold back?

Qin Bingruo didn't give him any time to react. She straightened up, grabbed the edge of Zhang Xuanyao's hospital pants with both hands, and yanked hard.

The sound of fabric tearing seemed exceptionally piercing in the quiet hospital room.

There was no gentle foreplay, nor any gradual testing. Just like when she apprehended criminals in the criminal police squad, Qin Bingruo was swift and decisive, going straight to the point.

"Hiss—!"

Zhang Xuanyao gasped, his hands gripping the sheets beneath him tightly.

Qin Bingruo tilted her head back, her slender neck forming a beautiful arc. She bit her lower lip, her brows furrowed, and a layer of fine sweat instantly seeped onto her forehead.

Pain.

But there was also an extreme pleasure, like long-awaited rain after a drought.

The fear that had accumulated in the cellar, the lingering dread of almost losing him just now, and the affection that had been suppressed in the bottom of her heart were all released at this moment.

47: Chapter 47: The Supreme White Tiger, the Shura Field Outside the Door

It was a bit awkward at first, but soon, that super-strong adaptability and control belonging to a Special Police captain emerged.

The hospital bed let out an overwhelmed "creak."

Zhang Xuanyao felt like a small boat drifting in a storm.

But he wasn't the type to just take a beating passively.

Daoism emphasizes the harmony of Yin and Yang; without Yin, nothing is born, and without Yang, nothing grows.

Zhang Xuanyao only felt that there was an extremely overbearing cold Qi inside Qin Bingruo's body.

That was no ordinary cold Qi.

That was the Qi of Penal Evil!

[Warning! Warning!]

[High-purity Penal Evil Qi detected entering the body!]

[Special Physique detected: White Tiger Seat of Fate!]

The System panel frantically scrolled before his eyes, the red text so fast it almost formed a single line.

Zhang Xuanyao widened his eyes.

"White Tiger Seat of Fate?"

For ordinary people, the White Tiger Seat of Fate is a dire omen of husband-killing.

But for a cultivator, especially for Zhang Xuanyao who possessed a Pure Yang Cultivation Technique, this was simply a supreme cauldron sent from heaven!

After that Penal Evil Qi entered his body, it was rapidly converted into pure Mental Energy, washing over his limbs and bones.

His Dantian, which had been depleted from using the Five Thunders Method, was instantly filled, even beginning to overflow.

"Mm..."

Zhang Xuanyao let out a muffled groan, his eyes instantly turning crimson.

It was too nourishing!

So nourishing he felt like he was going to explode!

He was no longer passively enduring, but instead began to turn the tables.

Qin Bingruo's hair was soaked with sweat, sticking to her cheeks.

Her gaze was unfocused, and she made intermittent, broken syllables with her mouth; those hands that were originally as steady as Mount Tai when holding a gun— At this moment, could only weakly grip Zhang Xuanyao's shoulders, her nails sinking deep into his flesh, scratching out trails of blood.

But this pain only made Zhang Xuanyao more excited.

"Captain Qin, weren't you very wild just now?"

Zhang Xuanyao panted heavily.

"Where's that energy you use to catch criminals? Bring it out!"

Qin Bingruo could only tilt her head back, gasping for the thin air.

She felt like she was going to die.

Not the fear of facing death, but dying from the sheer pleasure of it.

Every cell in her body was cheering; the hidden injuries and fatigue accumulated over years of high-intensity work and Evil Qi erosion were actually being expelled from her body along with her sweat.

The dark clouds outside the window gathered thicker and thicker.

Although it wasn't raining, the air was stiflingly hot.

Inside the hospital room, the temperature was frighteningly high.

The IV stand fell over during the violent shaking, hitting the floor with a loud "clang," but neither of them paid it any mind.

They were like two wild beasts tearing at each other in the wilderness, possessing only the most primitive instincts.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for performing Dual Cultivation with a White Tiger Physique, obtaining an advancement in the Pure Yang Body!]

[Obtained special skill: Indestructible Golden Spear (Passive)!]

Zhang Xuanyao: "..."

What kind of messy skill is this broken System giving?

Still, it's certainly useful.

An hour passed.

The commotion in the hospital room showed no signs of weakening; on the contrary, it grew more intense.

Qin Bingruo had completely lost all strength.

Her throat was already hoarse from calling out, and she could only let out whimpers like a cat.

She didn't know where her police uniform shirt had been thrown; she was only wearing a torn undershirt, revealing large patches of snow-white skin covered in red marks.

"Zhang... Zhang Xuanyao..."

Qin Bingruo pleaded intermittently, "Stop... stop for a moment... I can't take it anymore..."

"A man cannot say he can't, and a woman cannot say she can't."

This position left Qin Bingruo hanging entirely on him, completely losing any leverage, and she could only clutch his neck tightly.

Another half hour passed.

That feeling was even more shocking than summoning heavenly thunder.

He felt as if his Soul had experienced a moment of Soul Emergence, floating on the ceiling, looking down at the two bodies entangled below.

Afterward, his Soul returned to its place.

Extreme pleasure!

Qin Bingruo went completely limp; if Zhang Xuanyao hadn't been holding her, she would have slid under the bed long ago.

Zhang Xuanyao let out a long breath, feeling completely comfortable all over; the previous sense of weakness was swept away, and he even felt that he could kill a cow with one punch right now.

He lowered his head to look at the woman in his arms.

Qin Bingruo had already fallen asleep.

That face, usually cold as frost, was now flushed with an unnatural crimson.

Zhang Xuanyao reached out to tidy her messy long hair, his movements uncharacteristically gentle.

This woman, she has flavor.

Just then.

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock on the door suddenly sounded.

It was very rhythmic, neither hurried nor slow, carrying a unique sense of oppression.

Zhang Xuanyao's movements stiffened.

Qin Bingruo in his arms was also startled awake by this sound, opening her eyes abruptly, her body instinctively tensing, subconsciously reaching for the gun at her waist.

She grabbed nothing.

Only then did she realize their current situation, and her face instantly turned red to the roots of her neck.

"Who is it?" Zhang Xuanyao cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound as normal as possible.

There was silence outside the door for two seconds.

Afterward, Su Qingge's signature voice, carrying a hint of coolness and laziness, came through.

"Open the door."

Only two words.

Yet it caused the temperature in the hospital room to instantly drop to freezing point.

Zhang Xuanyao and Qin Bingruo exchanged a look, both seeing the terror in the other's eyes.

Su Qingge was back!

And listening to that tone, why did it feel a bit off?

Zhang Xuanyao glanced at the mess all over the floor.

The toppled IV stand, the torn patient gown, the police shirt thrown in the corner.

Damn it, anyone who walked in would know what had just happened!

"Wait... wait a second!" Zhang Xuanyao panicked, "I'm changing my medicine!"

"Does changing medicine require locking the door?"

The voice outside the door added a hint of playfulness, "Or are you doing something shameful in there?"

Click.

The doorknob was turned once.

It didn't open.

"Officer Qin is also inside, right?" Su Qingge's voice came again, "I just went to the nurse's station to ask; no one saw her come out."

Qin Bingruo had already jumped off the bed at this point.

After all, she was professionally trained; although her legs were still a bit weak, her psychological resilience was extremely strong.

She quickly picked up the clothes on the floor, not caring about how many buttons were missing, and put them straight on, tucking the hem into her waistband to cover the torn parts.

Then she rushed into the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and splashed her face, trying to cool down the flush on her face.

Zhang Xuanyao, on the other hand, scrambled to lift the IV stand, pulled off the soiled sheets, balled them up, and stuffed them under the bed, then took out a new patient gown from the cabinet and put it on.

"Right away! Right away!"

Zhang Xuanyao shouted while putting on his pants, not forgetting to open the window to ventilate and clear the air.

Three minutes later.

Qin Bingruo walked out of the bathroom; her hair was tied back into a ponytail again, and except for a lingering flush on her face, she had basically recovered her cold and glamorous temperament.

She walked to the door, took a deep breath, and unlocked it.

The door opened.

Su Qingge stood at the doorway.

She had changed her clothes.

It was no longer the professional suit from before, but a black deep-V evening gown, with a small white suit jacket draped over it.

She wore a priceless diamond necklace around her neck, making her look noble and cold.

48: Chapter 48: Violent Resurrection, Number One Rich Female Fan Appears

Obviously, she had just rushed back after attending that important merger banquet.

Su Qingge's gaze swept over Qin Bingruo.

It lingered for two seconds, especially on her disheveled collar and hair tips that hadn't yet dried.

Then, she smiled.

The smile did not reach her eyes.

"Officer Qin, you've worked hard." Su Qingge said in a flat tone, "To protect my employee, you've even gotten your clothes 'soaked' through."

Qin Bingruo straightened her back, her expression unchanged: "A big rat got into the Patient Room 404 just now. It took some effort to catch it."

Zhang Xuanyao: "..."

What the hell kind of big rat!

Su Qingge raised an eyebrow, not exposing this clumsy lie.

She walked into the patient room in her high heels.

Every step felt like it was stepping on the tip of Zhang Xuanyao's heart.

She walked to the bedside and twitched her nose slightly.

Although the window was open, a trace of that peculiar scent still remained.

Su Qingge did not speak, just looked at Zhang Xuanyao with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

That look made Zhang Xuanyao's heart creep out.

"Su... President Su, listen to me explain..." Zhang Xuanyao shrank into the quilt, like a mistreated little wife.

"No need to explain."

Su Qingge took a black card out of her bag and tossed it onto the bedside table.

Clack.

A crisp sound.

"I watched the replay of the livestream just now. Well done. Wang Fa has already been admitted to the ICU, and the Su Group's merger is proceeding smoothly. This is your bonus."

She paused, reached out, and with her exquisitely manicured fingertips, gently grazed Zhang Xuanyao's cheek.

"However, next time you do manual labor like 'catching rats', remember to act within your limits."

Su Qingge leaned down and whispered in his ear, "After all, if my employee were drained dry, I would be very heartbroken."

After finishing, she straightened up and turned to look at Qin Bingruo.

"Officer Qin, since the rat has been caught, shouldn't we talk about serious matters now?"

The smile on Su Qingge's face vanished instantly, replaced by the dignity of someone long accustomed to being in a position of power, "Just now downstairs, I saw a group of people who shouldn't have been there."

Qin Bingruo's expression tightened: "Who?"

"Those creditors of Wang Fa." Su Qingge said coldly, "And a few martial artists carrying Evil Qi. They are currently asking around for Zhang Xuanyao's patient room number."

"It seems someone doesn't want him to live past tonight."

As soon as she finished speaking, a burst of noisy footsteps suddenly came from the end of the corridor, accompanied by the harsh scraping sound of metal clubs being dragged on the floor.

"It's right ahead! Patient Room 404!"

"The boss said that Daoist has a poisonous tongue, and we need to cut out his tongue to go with our drinks!"

"If that policewoman dares to stop us, we'll take care of her too!"

The jeers of dozens of people instantly shattered the hospital's tranquility.

Zhang Xuanyao's eyes turned cold.

He sat up from the bed, stretched his neck, and it made a cracking sound.

The earlier Dual Cultivation had not only repaired his injuries but also filled his spiritual power to the brim.

He was just worrying about having nowhere to vent this excess energy.

"Captain Qin, President Su." Zhang Xuanyao threw off the quilt, stepped barefoot onto the floor, and a cruel arc appeared at the corner of his mouth, "Could I trouble you two to close the door first?"

Qin Bingruo frowned: "What are you doing? I'll go call for backup."

"Too late." Zhang Xuanyao walked to the door, casually picked up the IV stand he had just stood up, and weighed it in his hand.

Although it was a bit light, it would barely suffice.

"I just divined a hexagram." Zhang Xuanyao turned back, winked at the two stunning beauties, and said, "Tonight is auspicious for killing, and taboo for showing mercy."

"Since this bunch wants to die so badly, I'll show some mercy and grant them salvation."

Bang!

He kicked the door open.

Outside the door, dozens of tattooed men holding machetes and clubs were rushing over aggressively.

Seeing Zhang Xuanyao come out voluntarily, the bald leader was stunned for a moment, then grinned hideously: "Yo, this fake Daoist dares to come out? Brothers, get him! Cripple him!"

Zhang Xuanyao didn't waste words.

Holding the IV stand in one hand, he didn't retreat but advanced, like a fierce tiger charging into a flock of sheep.

"Immeasurable Daoist Venerable, I shall send you laymen on your way now!"

Whoosh!

The IV stand whistled through the air and slammed hard into the bald man's face.

The battle erupted.

Inside the patient room.

Su Qingge and Qin Bingruo did not close the door.

They stood at the doorway, watching the back of the figure in the corridor who looked like a god of war.

Zhang Xuanyao's movements were without any flashiness, all of them were lethal moves.

Every time he swung the IV stand, it brought up a spray of blood and screams.

He was like dancing a dance of death, elegant, yet fatal.

"Is he always this good at fighting?" Su Qingge crossed her arms, a glimmer of brilliance flashing in her eyes.

Qin Bingruo touched her empty holster at her waist, the corners of her mouth slightly lifting: "I don't know, but I only just witnessed his ferocity."

She recalled the madness on the bed earlier.

This Young Daoist seems to have "borrowed" quite a bit of strength from her.

"It seems the salary I'm paying him is still too low." Su Qingge said thoughtfully, "Talent like this must be signed to a lifelong contract and locked into the Su Group."

Qin Bingruo glanced at her: "President Su, some things cannot be bought with money."

"Is that so?" Su Qingge turned her head, her gaze colliding with Qin Bingruo's in mid-air, sparks flying, "Then we shall see."

In the corridor.

Zhang Xuanyao kicked the last thug away and threw the IV stand, which was bent at a ninety-degree angle, onto the ground.

He stood in a pool of blood and looked back at the two women.

His white patient gown was stained with blood, but it only made him look more bewitchingly handsome.

"Done." Zhang Xuanyao clapped his hands, grinned, and revealed a mouthful of white teeth, "President Su, does this count as overtime? You'll have to pay extra."

[Ding! Detected that the host has violently granted salvation to evildoers, obtained shock value + 5000!]

[Detected that the host has successfully acted cool, obtained shock value + 20000!]

The IV stand in his hand, which was already bent at a ninety-degree angle, was still dripping blood.

That was the blood of the bald boss.

"Who's next?"

Zhang Xuanyao leaned on the deformed IV stand with one hand, his gaze lazily sweeping over the remaining few thugs who were still shivering.

No one dared to move.

How is this a Daoist? This is clearly a living Yama in Daoist robes!

The previously tightly closed patient room doors opened one after another at this moment.

The essence of humanity is to gawk at the excitement.

Even in a hospital, even though a brawl had just taken place in the corridor, nothing could stop those heads poking out one by one.

Click.

The door to the neighboring VIP Patient Room 405 opened.

A woman wearing silk pajamas with a cashmere shawl draped over her shoulders walked out.

The woman was about thirty years old, extremely well-maintained, with fair and translucent skin.

The slight crow's feet at the corners of her eyes didn't make her look old, but instead added a touch of charm characteristic of a mature woman.

She had originally been frowning, intending to complain about the noise outside disturbing her sleep.

Her gaze swept over the thugs on the ground and finally settled on Zhang Xuanyao's profile.

In that instant, the anger in the woman's eyes vanished into thin air.

Replacing it was a look of incredulous surprise, which immediately transformed into fanaticism.

"Poison-Tongued Daoist?!" Yan Jingshu covered her mouth, those peach blossom eyes instantly lighting up terrifyingly.

As a lonely wealthy woman who owned over a dozen school district properties and could only pass the time by collecting rent and watching livestreams every day, she was Zhang Xuanyao's number one hardcore fan!

She was still swooning over that line from the livestream earlier, "A life-saving grace should be repaid by offering one's body," while tucked in her blankets.

49: Chapter 49: A "Medical Miracle" After Strenuous Exercise

To think that her idol was right next door!

"He's alive! He's actually alive!"

Yan Jingshu didn't care about the dignity of a wealthy socialite; she rushed over in her fluffy slippers.

Her momentum was even fiercer than the gang of thugs with machetes from earlier.

Zhang Xuanyao was immersed in the atmosphere of playing the "hero holding the pass" when he suddenly felt a chill behind him.

Turning around, he saw a charming, mature wealthy woman lunging at him with glowing green eyes.

"Daoist! I'm your fan! I want to have your monkeys… no, wait, I want to tip you rockets!"

Zhang Xuanyao instinctively took half a step back, holding the IV stand horizontally in front of his chest.

"Female donor, please restrain yourself! This Daoist sells his skills, not his body!"

Just as Yan Jingshu's hand, with its exquisite manicure, was about to touch the hem of Zhang Xuanyao's clothes, a white figure silently blocked the space between them.

There were no unnecessary movements.

Just by standing there, an aura of "keep away" radiated out.

Ye Ran had her hands in the pockets of her white coat, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of her nose.

The eyes behind the lenses were as cold as a scalpel on an operating table.

"This is a hospital."

Ye Ran's voice wasn't loud, nor did it have any inflection, yet it forced Yan Jingshu to stop in her tracks.

"This is neither a fan meeting nor a vegetable market."

Ye Ran pushed up her glasses, her gaze sweeping over Yan Jingshu and coldly scanning the corridor.

Those patients and family members who had been craning their necks to watch the excitement felt their scalps tingle upon making contact with that gaze.

"What are you looking at?"

Ye Ran's tone was flat.

"Do you all want to add a bed in the ICU? Or do you think your lives are too long and want me to issue you death certificates?"

Whoosh.

In less than three seconds, all the heads retracted, and the sound of doors closing was uniform.

The corridor was instantly cleared.

That was Ye Ran.

The chief attending physician of this private hospital, and also the absolute keeper of order here.

Yan Jingshu was stunned by this aura.

She looked at the ID badge on Ye Ran's chest, then looked at Zhang Xuanyao, who was so close yet untouchable, and bit her red lip in frustration.

"What's with the ferocity…"

Yan Jingshu muttered, but her body was very honest as she backed away.

Before entering her room, she looked back, unwilling to give up, and winked at Zhang Xuanyao.

"Daoist, I'm in 405. Remember to come and help me calculate my marriage luck, okay~ I'll be waiting for you~"

That undulating tone gave Zhang Xuanyao goosebumps.

Bang.

The door to 405 closed.

The world was finally quiet.

Ye Ran turned around.

She didn't look at the wailing thugs on the ground but looked directly at Zhang Xuanyao.

Her gaze traveled from his face, which was still trying to maintain the image of an expert, down to his bare feet, and finally stopped at the ruined IV stand.

"Patient in Patient Room 404."

Ye Ran spoke, her tone carrying a trace of professional mockery.

"You have good stamina."

Zhang Xuanyao puffed out his chest: "Of course, this Daoist has been practicing martial arts since childhood, mere few…"

"Are you done fighting?"

Ye Ran interrupted him, pointing at the bloodstains on the ground.

"If you're done, get back to your room. Don't block the cleaning lady from mopping the floor."

"Also, this IV stand is medical equipment. The original price is five hundred, and the compensation for damage is triple. It's on your tab."

Zhang Xuanyao: "…"

Why is this doctor's mouth even more poisonous than his?

"No, this Daoist was acting in self-defense…"

Just as Zhang Xuanyao wanted to argue, two hands suddenly rested on his left and right shoulders respectively.

On the left was Su Qingge, with her faint, cold fragrance.

On the right was Qin Bingruo, still carrying a trace of sweat.

"Go back."

Su Qingge's voice was unquestionable.

Although Qin Bingruo didn't speak, the strength in her hand was firm as she led him directly back into the patient room.

"Hey, hey, hey! Easy! This Daoist is still a patient!"

Zhang Xuanyao was "held hostage" by the two women, one on each side, like a young bride being dragged back to the bridal chamber, and was forcibly dragged back into Patient Room 404.

Compared to the thugs with knives outside, he felt that these two women were the real source of danger.

The door to the patient room closed.

The noise outside was blocked out, but the air pressure inside was suffocating.

The originally spacious single patient room now felt exceptionally crowded.

Su Qingge walked to the single sofa by the window and sat down elegantly.

She crossed her legs, and the hem of her black evening dress slipped down, revealing half of her fair calf.

Her queenly aura was in full swing, as if she were not sitting on a hospital chair, but in the head seat of a corporate board meeting.

Qin Bingruo sat on the right side of the bed.

Her clothes were a bit messy, and the buttons weren't fastened, but that didn't affect her posture, which was like a door god at this moment.

Her back was straight, her hands were on her knees, and her eyes were vigilantly staring at the door, ready to deal with any sudden situation at any time.

As for Zhang Xuanyao, he huddled in the middle of the hospital bed, hugging the quilt, looking left, then right.

Left Azure Dragon, right White Tiger, and an idiot sandwiched in the middle.

"Um…" Zhang Xuanyao tried to break the eerie silence.

"How about, this Daoist tells you two a joke?"

No one paid him any attention.

Just then, the door opened.

Ye Ran walked in with two junior nurses.

Behind her followed a few hospital security guards, who were dragging the thugs with broken hands and feet outside.

Ye Ran held a thick medical record folder and walked to the foot of the bed.

Her gaze lingered on Su Qingge and Qin Bingruo for two seconds.

As a doctor, some things didn't need to be asked.

The messy bed sheets.

The overturned decorations on the floor.

And that unique scent in the air, a mixture of hormones and sweat.

Ye Ran pushed up her glasses, and a flash of white light glinted on the lenses.

"Zhang Xuanyao."

She opened the medical record, her tone business-like, showing no emotional fluctuation.

"You engaged in a…"

Ye Ran paused, her gaze sweeping over Qin Bingruo's slightly red face, and she emphasized her tone.

"High-intensity and strenuous exercise in bed."

Qin Bingruo lowered her head sharply, her earlobes turning red enough to drip blood.

"And then went out to single-handedly fight dozens of armed thugs."

Ye Ran closed the medical record folder, looking at Zhang Xuanyao as if looking at an alien creature.

"Your vitality is simply a medical miracle. I suggest you donate your body to our hospital for slicing research after you die."

Zhang Xuanyao gave two dry laughs: "Um, doctor, you flatter me, this Daoist has always had good physical fitness…"

"Good?"

Ye Ran sneered.

She pulled a freshly printed lab report from the folder.

"There are no major problems; all indicators are ridiculously normal. You can be discharged; don't occupy the bed and waste medical resources. There are many people waiting in line to be hospitalized."

Hearing that he was to be discharged, Zhang Xuanyao panicked.

What kind of joke was this?

The outside world was currently in chaos.

Although Wang Dafa had entered the ICU, his fox friends and dog buddies, creditors, and those millions of fans in the livestream room were probably searching for him all over the world.

Although this hospital was a bit of a shura field, at least it had Su Qingge and Qin Bingruo, these two great gods holding down the fort, so the safety level was maxed out!

"No!"

Zhang Xuanyao immediately covered his chest, collapsed onto the bed, and started performing.

"Ouch… dizziness! Blurred vision! Chest pain!"

"It must be that I exerted too much force earlier, and internal injuries have flared up! This Daoist feels like his internal organs are shifting; I must observe and observe more!"

"Tomorrow! No, wait, I'll be discharged the day after tomorrow!"

50: Chapter 50: A renowned doctor diagnoses "deficiency," stirring up a storm of jealousy.

Su Qingge watched his clumsy acting, a playful curve appearing at the corner of her mouth.

Ye Ran didn't buy this act at all.

She turned around and looked directly at the benefactor who seemed to have the most say.

"President Su."

Ye Ran waved the list in her hand, "Is this person your... friend?"

Su Qingge nodded, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest: "You could say that. The relationship between a creditor and a boss."

"Since you don't want to be discharged, then stay another night."

Ye Ran was writing something quickly on the medical order sheet, "However, President Su, as a doctor, there are some things I must remind you of."

She stopped writing.

That pair of calm, emotionless eyes scanned Zhang Xuanyao's waist sharply.

The whole room went quiet.

Zhang Xuanyao suddenly had an extremely ominous premonition.

He had just obtained the System's [Ever-Hard] skill, and now his kidneys felt burning hot. What did this quack want to say?

Ye Ran spoke expressionlessly.

"Although the patient looks lively and vigorous, the data from just now shows that he has some Qi and blood deficiency, and his kidney Qi is insufficient."

"To put it in layman's terms, he is 'deficient'."

Boom!

This word was like a bolt of lightning, striking directly onto the top of Zhang Xuanyao's head.

"Deficient?!"

Su Qingge raised her eyebrows, her gaze becoming extremely playful.

Her gaze swept up and down over Zhang Xuanyao, as if re-evaluating the value of this commodity.

Qin Bingruo suddenly looked up, opening her mouth to retort.

Just now on the bed, this guy was clearly as fierce as a bull, almost dismantling her bones; where was he deficient?

But she couldn't bring herself to say such things even if it killed her.

She could only hold her breath until her face turned bright red, like a ripe tomato.

Ye Ran added solemnly, dealing Zhang Xuanyao a critical blow.

"Yes, deficient. Young people don't know how to exercise restraint, and he just violently overexerted himself fighting. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, this is a manifestation of kidney essence depletion."

"President Su, since you are his boss, I suggest you help him replenish. For example, Liuwei Dihuang Pills, or drink more soft-shell turtle soup."

Ye Ran shook her head with an expression of pity.

"Otherwise, at such a young age, if he develops any underlying conditions later on, he won't be able to use it even if he wants to."

"Quack! You are slandering me!"

Zhang Xuanyao almost spat out a mouthful of old blood and bounced straight up from the bed.

"This Daoist is Ever-Hard! Seven times a night! Just now Captain Qin personally..."

"Mmph—!"

A large, red apple was accurately stuffed into his mouth.

It directly blocked the rest of those tiger-wolf words.

Su Qingge withdrew her hand and stood up.

She walked over to Ye Ran, took the test report, didn't even glance at it, and handed it directly to the secretary behind her.

"Thank you for the reminder, Dr. Ye."

Su Qingge turned her head and looked at Zhang Xuanyao, who was blushing, with an apple stuffed in his mouth, still wailing.

She smiled.

Her smile was mesmerizing, yet it made one's back feel cold.

"Rest assured, I will have someone buy the best supplements."

Su Qingge walked to the bedside, extended her finger, and tapped lightly on Zhang Xuanyao's forehead.

"After all, he is my cash cow."

"Even if it's 'squeezing', it needs to be sustainable, don't you agree? Deficient... Daoist?"

She said the word "squeezing" with many twists and turns, full of deep meaning.

Zhang Xuanyao bit into the apple, wanting to cry without tears.

The System has ruined me!

What kind of bullshit Golden Finger is this?

Not only did it not make people think he was fierce, but it instead confirmed the label of "kidney deficiency"!

...

After finishing the medical instructions, Ye Ran left with the nurse.

The air in the ward circulated a little more.

Zhang Xuanyao took the apple out, just wanting to explain that he really wasn't deficient.

Knock, knock, knock.

The knocking on the door sounded again.

This time, it was knocked very lightly, very gently.

"Please come in."

Su Qingge said indifferently.

The door opened.

A young nurse poked her head in.

She was holding a huge bouquet of red roses in her hands.

The roses were outrageously large, almost covering the young nurse's face, at least 999 of them.

The petals still had dew on them, delicate and dripping, glaringly red.

"Um... Mr. Zhang."

The young nurse looked timidly at the two women with powerful auras in the room, her voice trembling.

"This was sent by Ms. Yan from 405 next door."

"She said... wishing you a speedy recovery."

The young nurse put the bouquet with difficulty on the bedside table.

That was where the black card given by Su Qingge was originally placed.

Now, the black card was pressed underneath the roses.

"Also..."

The young nurse took out a gold-stamped business card from her pocket and placed it on top of the bouquet.

"Ms. Yan said, if you feel 'lonely' at night, or want to discuss the mysteries of Yin and Yang harmony, you can go find her to talk about life at any time."

"The door is unlocked."

After saying this, the young nurse ran away as if escaping.

As if there were some man-eating monster in this ward.

Click.

The door closed.

The temperature in the ward dropped to absolute zero in that instant.

The gazes of Su Qingge and Qin Bingruo locked onto that glaring bouquet of red roses simultaneously.

That bright red looked exceptionally glaring in the white ward.

Especially that business card.

It had a lip print printed on it.

Su Qingge narrowed her eyes.

She looked at the bouquet, then at Zhang Xuanyao, and the playful smile at the corner of her mouth disappeared.

Replacing it was a dangerous aura belonging to the main wife after being provoked.

"Talk about life?" Su Qingge repeated softly.

Qin Bingruo's hand subconsciously moved towards her waist.

Although her gun had already been taken away, that action was purely muscle memory.

"The door is unlocked?" Qin Bingruo spat out three words coldly.

Zhang Xuanyao shrank under the covers, feeling like a suckling pig being roasted over a fire.

Where the hell is this a stroke of romantic luck?

This is clearly a romantic calamity!

"Um... if this Daoist says I don't know her, do you believe me?"

Zhang Xuanyao raised his hand weakly.

Su Qingge didn't speak.

She reached out and picked up the business card.

Two slender fingers held the card, flicking it lightly.

The card flew out, landing precisely into the trash can.

"Zhang Xuanyao."

Su Qingge turned around, looking down at him from above, her voice so soft it was frightening.

"It seems you really are very popular."

"Just diagnosed with kidney deficiency, and someone already comes to your door to 'treat' you?"

Qin Bingruo stood up and walked to the huge bouquet of roses.

She reached out and grabbed the wrapping paper of the bouquet directly.

"There's too much pollen, it's bad for the patient's respiratory tract."

Qin Bingruo said expressionlessly, "I'll throw it away for you."

After saying this, she picked up the 999-rose bouquet with one hand, as if holding a bag of trash, and walked towards the door with big strides.

Zhang Xuanyao watched this scene, his heart dripping blood.

That was 999 roses!

How much would that be in cash!

Spendthrift woman!

But he didn't dare say it.

Because at this moment, Su Qingge had already leaned down, her hands resting on both sides of the bed, trapping him in the middle.

In those beautiful eyes, a dangerous light flickered.

"Since you have so much energy to attract bees and butterflies."

Su Qingge's fingers slid down along his chest.

"It seems Dr. Ye is right, it's time to properly 'replenish' you."

"Tonight, you are not allowed to go anywhere."

"Just stay right here and properly nurse your body back to health for me."

"After all, you still haven't paid off my debt."

51: Chapter 51: Phoenix Facing the Sun, White Tiger Seated in Destiny, the Ultimate Three Cultivations in the Hospital Ward

The air inside the hospital room was as thick as unmelting honey, and also like a powder keg about to explode.

Su Qingge's fingers were cool, and her fingertips traced across Zhang Xuanyao's scorching chest, causing a shiver.

She didn't pause for even a second, hooking her fingertips onto the edge of that oversized hospital gown and giving it a forceful tug.

The buttons popped off.

A few plastic buttons ricocheted off the wall, making a crisp pattering sound.

Zhang Xuanyao only felt a chill on his chest as a large expanse of lean, strong muscle was exposed to the air.

Although he had been diagnosed with "kidney deficiency" by that quack Ye Ran, the lines of his body were as perfect as an ancient Greek sculpture, with every muscle containing explosive power.

"President Su, Boss Su, let's talk this over properly."

Zhang Xuanyao covered his waistband with both hands, his face full of the panic of a "chaste and unyielding man," "This Daoist is currently a seriously injured patient and cannot withstand such tossing. Besides, the doctor said I am weak and need to recuperate!"

"Weak?"

Su Qingge parted her red lips slightly, spitting out an extremely insulting word.

She pressed her body against him, and that unique, cold, and elegant fragrance instantly enveloped Zhang Xuanyao.

"Since you are weak, you need even stronger medicine." Su Qingge's palm pressed against his abdominal muscles, moving all the way down, "I don't believe that female doctor's words; I only trust my own inspection standards."

Her movements were extremely aggressive, giving Zhang Xuanyao absolutely no chance to resist.

As the helmsman of Su Group, she was accustomed to controlling everything. Whether it was a multi-billion dollar merger case or this Daoist who spouted nonsense right before her eyes.

Rip.

The sound of fabric tearing rang out again.

Zhang Xuanyao completely gave up resistance. When this woman went crazy, she was even scarier than the gangsters outside.

Just as Su Qingge's hand was about to touch his critical area.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

A burst of violent coughing exploded nearby.

Qin Bingruo stood at the doorway, still holding the crushed trash can in her hand. She had originally intended to throw out that eyesore of a bouquet of roses, but as soon as she reached the door, she was frozen by this scene.

Extremely awkward.

Qin Bingruo's face turned bright red, and she didn't know where to look. At the ceiling? At the floor? Or at that man who was already half-naked?

"Um..."

Zhang Xuanyao took advantage of the moment Su Qingge paused her movements to poke his head out from the bed.

He looked at the overbearing female CEO pressing down on him, and then at the blushing, violent policewoman at the door.

A bold and suicidal thought surfaced in his mind.

"How about... together?"

Zhang Xuanyao blinked, his face full of sincerity, "The bed is quite big; we can squeeze in."

The air froze for three seconds.

Qin Bingruo was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristling.

"Pervert!"

She glared fiercely at Zhang Xuanyao and threw the trash can in her hand onto the floor, "Wasn't tossing around for an hour just now enough? My whole body is about to fall apart! For this kind of physical labor, let President Su accompany you!"

After speaking, she turned around to pull the doorknob.

Do it again? She was afraid she would really have to go to work in a wheelchair tomorrow.

Moreover, seeing Su Qingge's posture of wanting to swallow Zhang Xuanyao alive, she felt inexplicably sour in her heart.

"Stop."

Su Qingge's voice rang out coldly.

She didn't get up, one hand still pressed against Zhang Xuanyao's chest, while her other hand was as fast as lightning, directly grabbing Qin Bingruo's wrist.

Qin Bingruo had trained for years and her reaction was extremely fast; subconsciously, she wanted to perform a counter-grapple.

But although Su Qingge didn't know martial arts, her aura was outrageously strong.

"Officer Qin, are you going to be a deserter just like that?"

Su Qingge gave a forceful tug.

Qin Bingruo's foot slipped, and her whole body fell backward uncontrollably.

Su Qingge took the opportunity to pull, dragging this heroic policewoman onto the bed as well.

The soft mattress suddenly sank down a large chunk.

"Didn't you just say he was very fierce?"

Su Qingge turned to the side, her beautiful eyes flashing with a dangerous light, like a fox examining its prey, "Since he is fierce, how can I handle it alone?"

Qin Bingruo struggled to sit up, but was directly pinned down by one of Su Qingge's long legs over her knees.

"Su Qingge! Are you crazy?" Qin Bingruo gritted her teeth, "This is a hospital!"

"So what?"

Su Qingge reached out, her fingertips gently lifting Qin Bingruo's chin, forcing her to look at Zhang Xuanyao, "Since this is an inspection, of course, multiple verifications are required to be accurate. Just now, not only did you fail to tire him out alone, but you also left him with enough strength to go out and fight."

"What does this mean?"

Su Qingge leaned close to Qin Bingruo's ear, her warm breath spraying onto the hollow of her neck, "It means you are not good enough. Or rather, this kind of top-tier cauldron cannot be digested by just one person."

Qin Bingruo's face turned so red it was almost dripping blood.

She wanted to refute, but found she couldn't find any reason. Just now on the bed, she had indeed been completely defeated, and in the end, she had even been crying and begging for mercy.

"How about, the two of you try together?"

Su Qingge's voice was full of seduction, "It just so happens I also want to see, is your White Tiger Physique more powerful, or is my..."

She didn't continue, her eyes just becoming more hazy.

Zhang Xuanyao lay in the middle, feeling like he was caught between two volcanoes about to erupt.

On the left was the aloof and overbearing female CEO, on the right was the shame-filled and violent policewoman.

Is this a Shura field?

No, this is heaven!

[Warning! Warning! Detected gathering of extreme Yin Qi!]

[Detected special Physique resonance: White Tiger Destiny (Qin Bingruo) + Phoenix Rising (Su Qingge)!]

[Double extreme Yin, rare and hard to find! Suggest host immediately perform Dual Cultivation... no, Triple Cultivation!]

The System panel was crazily scrolling again, the red exclamation marks even more glaring than before.

Phoenix Rising?

Zhang Xuanyao was stunned for a moment. Su Qingge was actually also a special Physique?

No wonder this woman was invincible in the business world, her aura was strong enough to crush people. The Phoenix is the king of all birds, naturally possessing inherent pressure.

"Don't... don't mess around..." Qin Bingruo was still making a final struggle, but her voice was soft as water, "The door... the door isn't locked yet..."

"No one dares to come in."

Su Qingge directly kissed Zhang Xuanyao's lips, blocking all the words he wanted to say.

"Help." Su Qingge commanded.

Reason completely collapsed at this moment.

She bit her lip, her eyes changing from resistance to haziness.

Since she couldn't run away...

Then she would join.

Qin Bingruo stopped struggling.

Boom!

The temperature inside the hospital room soared instantly.

The thunder outside the window grew louder.

A bolt of lightning tore through the night sky, illuminating the three figures entangled together in the hospital room.

This was not ordinary pleasure.

This was war.

Su Qingge dominated the battlefield, her aura scorching and overbearing, like a prairie fire, wanting to completely ignite Zhang Xuanyao.

And Qin Bingruo was the sharpest spear. Although shy, that kind of penal evil Qi belonging to the White Tiger Physique turned into the most primitive impulse at this moment.

One cold and one hot.

One hard and one soft.

Two completely different extreme Yin Qi flows, along the contact points, crazily surged into Zhang Xuanyao's body.

"Mmph..."

Zhang Xuanyao let out a muffled groan, his eyes blood-red.

Too strong.

The immense energy was rampaging through his Meridians.

That feeling was both painful and pleasurable to the extreme.

He felt his Dantian was like a balloon being inflated, ready to explode at any moment.

Must guide it!

Must vent it!

Zhang Xuanyao was no longer passively enduring.

52: Chapter 52: With the Pure Yang Golden Body complete, who dares to say this poor Daoist is ineffective?

"Since both benefactors insist on verifying the Dao with these bodies, this Daoist shall cast aside his mortal shell and accompany you in this battle!"

Zhang Xuanyao let out a low shout, no longer suppressing the surging Pure Yang Qi within his body.

In an instant, the roles of offense and defense reversed.

Su Qingge's originally haughty queen-like demeanor instantly collapsed in the face of absolute power.

As for Qin Bingruo, this formidable police flower had long since been utterly defeated.

This was not a mundane entanglement, but a collision of Qi.

Three distinct auras crazily intertwined, swirled, and underwent Fusion within the cramped space.

The Great Dao is simple; all paths lead to the same destination.

In Zhang Xuanyao's mind, the System interface flickered crazily as if it were being spammed.

[Ding! High-level Qi interaction detected (Three Origins into One)!]

[Yin and Yang complement each other, the Dragon and Phoenix bring auspiciousness!]

[Bottleneck broken! Congratulations to the host, your Pure Yang Body has leveled up!]

[Current Realm: Pure Yang Golden Body (Initial Success)!]

"Shut... up..."

Su Qingge's voice was broken; the authority she usually wielded when issuing orders had vanished completely.

"Wealth is merely an external possession."

Zhang Xuanyao shook his arms, completely shrouding the two women within his aura, "Tonight, this Daoist is only collecting interest!"

That night, Patient Room 404 became a Forbidden Ground for the entire floor.

The sensor lights in the hallway flickered on and off, as if even the electricity was being interfered with by some sort of magnetic field.

Yan Jingshu, in the adjacent Room 405, pressed herself against the wall, tearing the petals of that bouquet of 999 roses until the floor was a mess. She muttered every vicious word she could think of before storming out and slamming the door.

Until the east turned white with dawn. The wind ceased, and the rain stopped.

Zhang Xuanyao sat cross-legged in the center of the collapsed bed. Far from being tired, he was radiant, with faint rays of light flickering when he opened and closed his eyes.

On the surface of his skin, a faint, jade-like luster appeared and disappeared.

The Pure Yang Golden Body is impervious to blades and guns, and resistant to water and fire.

"Is this the effect of Three Origins into One?"

Zhang Xuanyao lowered his head to examine his hands, then clenched his fingers tightly. Pop. A crisp sonic boom exploded in the air.

This feeling of power, so full it was about to overflow, made him feel as though he could shatter the load-bearing wall in front of him with a single punch.

Kidney deficiency? Blood and Qi deficiency? Those are the prejudices of quack doctors!

As he was now, he was terrifyingly strong!

Zhang Xuanyao's gaze swept over the two stunning women sleeping beside him, his eyes softening for a rare moment.

Although this night had been absurd, the gains were real. Not only had his cultivation broken through, but he had also completely handled these two strong-willed women of such different personalities.

He reached out to tuck in the hem of Su Qingge's clothes that had slipped, then carefully lifted Qin Bingruo's long leg.

He had to retreat. This was a strategic withdrawal.

If he waited for these two grand ladies to wake up—one a business empress, the other a violent police flower—even with his Golden Body, he would likely lose a layer of skin.

Zhang Xuanyao held his breath, pinching Qin Bingruo's ankle with two fingers, his movements as gentle as if he were defusing a tripwire landmine.

One inch, two inches. Qin Bingruo let out a soft moan and turned over.

Zhang Xuanyao's heart contracted violently, and he froze in place like a statue.

Fortunately, Qin Bingruo had only changed her position, incidentally rolling away with most of the quilt. He was in the clear.

Next was Su Qingge. Even in her sleep, this female CEO's hand was still clutching his collar tightly, as if she were holding a contract worth billions.

Zhang Xuanyao dared not pry her hand off by force. He employed the technique of bone-shrinking, his body becoming as slippery as a loach, slowly pulling himself away from her soft hand.

Three minutes later. Zhang Xuanyao stood barefoot on the floor, looking at the chaotic bed, and let out a long sigh of relief.

"The green mountains remain, the green waters flow. Farewell, two female benefactors, this Daoist takes his leave."

He picked up his Daoist robe from the floor and, like a cat that had stolen a fish, silently slipped into the bathroom.

The person in the mirror had a face like jade and eyes like bright stars.

That trace of sickly pallor had long since vanished, replaced by a gentle, precious radiance emanating from within.

Zhang Xuanyao raised an eyebrow at the mirror: "If that quack Ye Ran dares to spout nonsense again, this Daoist will throw the medical report in her face."

Not only was he not weak, but now his hearing was astonishingly sharp. Through the thick fireproof door, he could even hear the rustling sound of a ballpoint pen moving across paper at the nurses' station.

Dressed and ready. Zhang Xuanyao pushed open the bathroom door and, feeling guilty like a thief, looked back. Fortunately, they hadn't woken up.

He tiptoed, pulled open the room door, and slipped out.

Just as he turned, a white figure stood in the middle of the hallway like a ghost.

Ye Ran was holding a medical chart, the gold-rimmed glasses on her nose reflecting the cold light of the hallway ceiling lamp. She was preparing to enter Patient Room 404 for her rounds.

Their eyes met. The bustling morning hallway seemed to have been hit with a mute button.

Ye Ran pushed up her glasses, her gaze dissecting Zhang Xuanyao inch by inch like a scalpel.

As a top-tier doctor, she had an almost perverse intuition for the subtle changes in the human body.

Yesterday, this man had unsteady footsteps and dark circles under his eyes—typical signs of excessive indulgence and a deficiency of Qi and blood.

But now... the Zhang Xuanyao standing before her had Qi and blood like a Dragon, his breathing long and powerful, and his skin was so good that even she, a woman, had to be jealous.

This was unscientific. It defied her twenty years of medical knowledge.

"You..." Ye Ran frowned tightly, her voice laced with uncertain doubt for the first time.

53: Chapter 53: Courteous Car Moving? That's the Adulterer's Peace Sentinel

Ye Ran just opened her mouth, a flash of deep confusion in her eyes, "We need to run another check; your physiological indicators do not conform to medical common sense."

"Dr. Ye, morning!"

Zhang Xuanyao didn't give her any chance to catch him at all.

With wind at his heels, he swayed his body and brushed directly past Ye Ran.

The speed was so fast it kicked up a gust of wind, messing up the stray hairs on Ye Ran's forehead.

"This Daoist is going to harvest some Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi! See you later!"

The voice was still echoing in the hallway, but he had already disappeared at the elevator entrance.

Ye Ran stood stunned in place, the pen in her hand snapping with a "crack."

"Harvesting?"

She looked back at the tightly closed door of Room 404, deep in thought.

"It seems President Su really used strong medicine last night."

...

The small garden downstairs at the hospital.

The morning air was exceptionally fresh, carrying the fragrance of soil and grass.

Zhang Xuanyao found a quiet bench to sit on, breathing in the air of freedom in deep gulps.

It's good to be alive.

It's good to be single.

He took his phone out from his embrace and skillfully opened the live streaming app.

Since his body had recovered, it was time to get down to business.

Make money, earn Karma.

Inputting the title:

"The Daoist is discharged from the hospital, online hardcore fortune-telling. If it's not accurate, you don't pay; if it's accurate, I'll send you to the police station."

Click, start broadcast.

Almost the instant the broadcast started, the number of people in the stream began to jump wildly.

1,000 people.

10,000 people.

50,000 people.

In less than a minute, the number of online viewers directly broke the 100,000 mark.

The bullet comments were dense, moving too fast to see clearly.

"Holy crap! Did you come back from the dead?!"

"Daoist! You aren't dead?"

"Wuwuwu, Hubby, you're finally streaming, I've missed you to death!"

"Get lost, you above, the Daoist is mine! Daoist, I want to have your babies!"

"Is this that legendary sharp-tongued Daoist? He looks quite energetic, doesn't look like he's injured at all."

Zhang Xuanyao adjusted the camera, revealing a mouthful of big white teeth.

"Immeasurable Daoist Venerable, good morning, everyone."

"This Daoist is blessed with great fortune; a few measly bricks couldn't kill me."

"I'm in a good mood today, so let's stick to the old rules."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the screen, "Randomly connecting with one fated person. Reading faces and fortune-telling, seeking good fortune and avoiding disaster. Of course, if you want to turn yourself in, this Daoist can also call the police on your behalf and help you strive for leniency."

Before the words even faded.

A gorgeous firework exploded on the screen.

Immediately followed by a second, a third...

A full ten "Carnivals"!

Worth 30,000 RMB!

The full-screen special effect directly covered Zhang Xuanyao's face.

A user with the ID "Pure Love War God," wearing a glittering gold special effect frame, sent a request for a video connection.

"Yo, a big client."

Zhang Xuanyao's eyes lit up, "Immeasurable Daoist Venerable, it seems this layperson is not only financially powerful but also has a very profound name."

"Pure Love War God..."

Zhang Xuanyao rubbed his chin and smiled meaningfully, "Usually, those with this name have a 'vibrant' color on the top of their heads."

Click accept.

The screen split in two.

The image that appeared on the other end was not a luxury mansion or an office.

It was a dim, narrow space.

It looked like it was inside a car.

Leather seats, a starry sky roof, and that huge "B" logo on the steering wheel were exceptionally glaring.

A Bentley.

Sitting in the driver's seat was a young man.

Although he was wearing an expensive haute couture suit, he looked decadent to the extreme.

His eyes were dark, his stubble was messy, and his hair was as chaotic as a bird's nest.

He held a cigarette that had burned down to the butt, and his hand was still trembling slightly.

"Daoist..."

Wang Chun's voice was hoarse, carrying a trace of desperate trembling, "I don't seek wealth, nor do I seek official status. I just want to ask... has my wife cheated on me?"

The bullet comments instantly exploded.

"Good heavens! A royal flush to start with?"

"Pure Love War God falls to the ground upon hearing this?"

"Rich people wear green hats too? My psychological balance is restored."

"This guy looks so miserable, like he hasn't slept in three days."

Zhang Xuanyao put away the playful smile on his face.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, and a golden light flashed deep within his pupils.

[Heavenly Eye], activate!

In an instant.

The lines of Luck above Wang Chun's head appeared clearly in Zhang Xuanyao's eyes.

What should have been a fate of wealth and smoothness was now tightly entangled by a mass of thick black Qi.

Within that black Qi, it not only reeked of nauseating Peach Blossom Sha, but was also mixed with a trace of blood and... poison gas.

The images shifted.

Zhang Xuanyao saw Wang Chun's past and also saw the future a few minutes from now.

His brows furrowed.

This was not just as simple as cheating.

"Layperson."

Zhang Xuanyao spoke, his tone becoming serious, "You are currently in the underground garage of your residential complex, right?"

Wang Chun was stunned for a moment, then stubbed out his cigarette: "Yes, I just got back from a business trip and haven't gone upstairs yet. I wanted to give her a surprise, but I..."

He grabbed his hair in pain, "Recently, every time I come home, I always feel like the smell in the house is wrong. There's a smell of smoke, and also that... that strange fragrance. But I don't smoke, and neither does she."

"Also, her phone never leaves her side; she even takes it with her when she showers."

"Daoist, am I being too suspicious? She's usually very obedient; she doesn't even go to bars."

Zhang Xuanyao sneered.

"Obedient?"

"Layperson, this Daoist will ask you a question."

Zhang Xuanyao leaned forward, looking directly into the camera, "Every time you come home, is there always a strange car parked in your exclusive private parking space?"

Wang Chun suddenly looked up, his eyes wide: "Holy crap! Daoist, how did you know?!"

"And it's different every time!"

Wang Chun, as if grabbing a life-saving straw, spoke extremely fast, "Sometimes it's a BMW, sometimes an Audi, sometimes even a Wuling Hongguang! Every time my parking spot is taken!"

The bullet comments were full of question marks.

"What does this have to do with cheating?"

"Isn't it normal for parking spots to be taken? There are plenty of people with low standards out there."

Zhang Xuanyao shook his head and held up one finger.

"Did they all leave a phone number for moving the car on the vehicle?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Wang Chun nodded desperately, "They did! Their attitudes were all especially good!"

"When you called, did the other party answer immediately, and then apologize very politely, saying they would come down to move the car right away?"

"Yes!"

"Then you just sat there in the car like a fool and waited." Zhang Xuanyao continued, "After waiting about five or ten minutes, that person slowly came down to move the car. Then you parked your car and went upstairs home, right?"

Wang Chun was completely bewildered: "This... is there a problem with that? People who park haphazardly nowadays have quite high standards; they always come down quickly, and they've never argued with me."

"High standards?"

Zhang Xuanyao sighed, his eyes filled with pity.

"Layperson, you haven't encountered people with high standards."

"You are signaling the adulterer."

Boom!

This sentence was like a thunderbolt, directly striking Wang Chun's crown.

The millions of viewers in the stream were also stunned.

"Holy crap?! You can play it like this?"

"Think about it and it's terrifying!"

"This is a high-level game!"

54: Chapter 54: Tearing Off the Mask of a Virtuous Wife, Murderous Intent Descends from Behind

Zhang Xuanyao continued his onslaught, every word piercing the heart.

"That car occupying your parking spot is essentially a 'whistle'."

"When you call to ask them to move the car, as soon as the call connects, the 'guests' upstairs receive the signal to retreat."

"The five minutes you spend waiting are enough for them to get dressed, clean up the scene, spray air freshener, and even stroll out through the fire exit."

"By the time you park and go upstairs to push open the door."

"What you see is a virtuous wife who just 'finished bathing,' wearing pajamas, welcoming her husband home with a look of surprise."

Wang Chun's face instantly turned as pale as paper.

The phone in his hand nearly slipped.

He recalled his experiences over the past few months.

Every single time.

It really was every single time!

Whenever he returned from a business trip, the parking spot was guaranteed to be occupied!

Whenever he finished making the call, his wife was guaranteed to be in the shower!

"I... I'll kill that pair of adulterers!"

Wang Chun's eyes turned bloodshot, and he shoved the car door open, ready to rush out.

"Wait!"

Zhang Xuanyao suddenly shouted.

This shout contained a trace of spiritual power, causing Wang Chun's movements to pause.

"Don't be impulsive."

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the screen, his tone chilling, "If this were just simple infidelity, I would only advise you to divorce and split the assets."

"But your wife has Evil Qi swirling above her head, and her forehead is darkened; this is no longer just a moral issue."

"This is recklessly testing the limits of courting death."

Wang Chun panted heavily: "Daoist, what do you mean?"

"Listen to me."

Zhang Xuanyao spoke rapidly, leaving no room for doubt, "Right now, do not make that call to move the car."

"Take your Bentley and park it sideways right in the middle of the road, blocking the garage exit completely!"

"Then, call the police immediately."

"Remember, call the police! Just say there is an illegal gathering at your home, suspected of... harboring others for drug use."

Zhang Xuanyao lowered his voice for the last few words.

The livestream room went instantly silent.

Immediately after, the comments exploded.

"Drug use?!"

"Holy crap! This plot direction isn't right!"

"Escalated from catching an affair to a drug raid?"

"Daoist, don't scare me, this is a huge deal!"

Wang Chun was also stunned.

"Drugs... drugs?"

He swallowed hard, and although his hands were still shaking, out of trust in Zhang Xuanyao's divine divination, he gritted his teeth.

"Fine! I trust you!"

Wang Chun restarted the car.

Vroom!

The Bentley let out a roar and parked directly across the narrow lane.

Forget about cars; not even a fly could get out.

Afterwards, he took out another phone and dialed 110.

"Hello! I want to report a crime! Building 3, Room 1801, XX Residential Complex! People are gathering for drug use! And prostitution! Come quickly!"

He hung up the phone.

Wang Chun took his phone and rushed into the elevator.

The screen in the livestream room shook violently, showing only the constantly changing floor numbers.

1st floor... 5th floor... 10th floor...

Millions of people felt their hearts leap into their throats.

Ding.

Arrived at the 18th floor.

Wang Chun rushed out of the elevator and arrived in front of the familiar security door of his home.

He didn't use the fingerprint lock because it would make a sound.

With trembling hands, he took out a spare key from his pocket.

He gently inserted it into the keyhole.

Click.

The door opened.

A deafening sound of heavy metal music, mixed with the strong smell of smoke and alcohol, instantly rushed toward him.

Even through the phone, one could hear the wild roaring and strange laughter inside.

"Get high! Don't stop!"

"This stuff is pure! Give me some more!"

Wang Chun held up his phone and walked in, step by step.

In the living room, the curtains were drawn tight, and the lighting was dim.

Five or six men and women, disheveled, lay scattered across the sofa and carpet.

On the coffee table were various colored liquor bottles, as well as some white powder and aluminum foil.

And his wife, that "good girl" who didn't even dare to speak loudly in front of him.

This scene was more shocking than Hell.

Wang Chun's hand loosened.

The phone fell onto the carpet.

The camera happened to be facing the ceiling, but the audio was transmitted clearly.

"Wife..."

This call was filled with endless despair.

The music stopped abruptly.

The people in the living room were all stunned.

That woman turned her head, and the moment she saw Wang Chun, her pupils contracted violently, as if she had seen a ghost.

"Hus... husband? Why are you back? Why didn't you call downstairs..."

"Don't move! Police!"

"Everyone, hands on your heads! Squat down!"

Bang!

The door was violently kicked open.

A group of fully armed Special Police, like divine soldiers descending from heaven, rushed into the living room.

It turned out that when Wang Chun called the police, the patrolling Special Police nearby happened to be downstairs handling a dispute, so they arrived faster than imagined.

"Ah—!"

Screams, the sound of breaking bottles, tables and chairs overturning—it was chaotic.

Although the livestream could only see the ceiling, the intense commotion already explained everything.

"Behave!"

"Hands behind your back!"

"Is this what you called a girls' gathering? This is a damn den of depravity! And drugs?!"

Wang Chun's heart-wrenching roar drowned out all the noise.

It was the sound of a man's dignity shattering.

Five minutes later.

The scene was under control.

A hand picked up the phone from the floor.

It was Wang Chun.

His face was covered in tears, and he looked as if his Soul had been sucked away, slumping on the floor.

The camera shook, scanning the living room.

Those men and women had already been handcuffed and were squatting in a row.

His wife was disheveled, her makeup smeared across her face, crying and begging the police for mercy.

"Officer, it's my first time... It really is my first time..."

A young officer nearby saluted the camera and said sternly: "Thank you to this concerned citizen for the report. After preliminary verification, this is a den for gathering to use drugs and engage in depravity that has long been entrenched in this high-end residential complex. We will handle this according to the law."

The livestream room was in an uproar.

"Awesome! Daoist is awesome!"

"This is more exciting than a TV drama!"

"Although the 'Pure Love War God' is miserable, he did perform a meritorious service."

"That woman is finished; her life is ruined."

"Stay away from drugs, cherish life, brothers!"

[Ding! Detected host providing guidance, assisting the police in cracking a major case of group depravity and drug use, obtained shock value + 5000!]

[Detected explosive popularity across the entire network, obtained shock value + 10000!]

Zhang Xuanyao looked at this series of System notifications, the corners of his mouth curling into a satisfied arc.

Although the process was a bit unsuitable for children, the result was good.

"Immeasurable Daoist Venerable."

Zhang Xuanyao waved the whisk in his hand (though there wasn't one) at the camera, looking unfathomably profound.

"Lay Practitioner Wang, this is what they call 'better a short pain than a long one'."

"Divorcing with nothing is certain, and these few will have to go inside and tread sewing machines for a few years."

"With today's divination, I have truly helped you to the end."

"Viewers, that's all for today's livestream..."

Before he finished speaking.

Zhang Xuanyao suddenly felt a chill behind his back.

A familiar Killing Intent, carrying a faint, cold fragrance, spread from behind him.

A hand rested gently on his shoulder.

That hand was slender, fair, and had exquisite nail art.

But in Zhang Xuanyao's eyes, it was heavier than Mount Wuzhi.

"Zhang. Xuan. Yao."

A sinister female voice rang out eerily in his ear.

Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between gritted teeth.

"Who allowed you to get out of bed?"

"With so much energy, it seems I didn't 'feed' you enough last night, huh?"

The livestream room hadn't closed yet.

Millions of viewers watched helplessly as the Daoist, who had been so imposing just a moment ago, instantly turned into a frightened quail.

In the frame, a piece of black silk bathrobe appeared.

"Holy crap! A woman's voice?"

"This voice... so regal! So domineering!"

"Is the Daoist also a man of culture?"

"Who was that just now? It sounded like she wanted to eat someone alive!"

Snap.

The screen went black.

The livestream was interrupted.

55: Chapter 55: The Tacit Understanding Between the Two Stunning Beauties and the "Chamber Pot" Warning

Snap.

The phone screen went completely black.

The millions of viewers in the livestream, still frantically spamming the chat, saw only a void, and that final glimpse of a black silk robe that left so much to the imagination.

Zhang Xuanyao felt as if the hand on his shoulder weighed a thousand pounds.

He stiffly turned his neck to meet a pair of eyes that seemed to be smiling yet not.

Su Qingge had one hand on her hip, while the other held the phone she had just forcibly shut down, tapping it gently against her palm in rhythm.

How to describe that look?

It was like a Husky you'd raised for a long time that, while the owner was away, tore the leather sofa to shreds, and then sat in the ruins wagging its tail, looking for praise.

"Su... President Su." Zhang Xuanyao swallowed hard. The Great Master aura he had just projected while holding court in the livestream instantly collapsed, replaced by a temperament known as "yielding to one's heart." "Um, this poor Daoist is just promoting positive energy, and by the way, doing a bit of publicity for our hospital..."

"Publicity?" Su Qingge's red lips parted slightly, her tone so gentle it made one's scalp tingle. "Publicity that our hospital has a medical miracle who can get out of bed to catch an affair right after engaging in strenuous exercise?"

Zhang Xuanyao shrank his neck. "That was an accident... purely an accident."

"Back to the room." Su Qingge didn't waste words, turned around, and walked away.

Her back, swaying gracefully, exuded an irresistible queenly aura.

Zhang Xuanyao, like a mistreated young wife, hung his head and followed closely behind, step by step.

When passing the nurses' station, several young nurses saw this scene; wanting to laugh but not daring to, they could only hold their breath, their faces turning bright red.

Who could have imagined that Daoist Zhang, who just a moment ago was fooling millions of people online, would be as obedient as a quail in front of President Su.

Returning to Patient Room 404. As soon as the door closed, that sense of oppression diminished slightly.

The room had been simply tidied up. Although the collapsed hospital bed still spoke of last night's battle, the clothes and miscellaneous items on the floor had been neatly put away.

Qin Bingruo stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror. She had changed back into her crisp, dark blue police uniform.

The buttons were fastened to the very top, seamless and tight, hiding all the alluring scenery.

The belt was cinched tight, outlining a breathtaking curve of her waist and hips.

It was just that her pretty face, usually as cold as ice, was currently flushed with a lingering blush.

Especially around the corners of her eyes and brows, even the serious police uniform couldn't suppress it.

This strong sense of contrast made Zhang Xuanyao's throat dry. The ascetic type. This was the legendary ascetic-style temptation.

Through the mirror, Qin Bingruo saw Zhang Xuanyao's fixed gaze.

Su Qingge ignored Zhang Xuanyao's gaze. She walked over to the sofa and elegantly untied the sash at her waist.

The black silk robe slid down her smooth skin, revealing the white high-end professional suit she had already prepared underneath.

Right in front of Zhang Xuanyao, she leisurely put on the shirt, buttoned it up, and slipped on the suit jacket.

Every movement was precise and capable, exuding the composure of someone in a position of power.

In just a few minutes, that lazy, charming little woman was gone. In her place was the ice-cold female CEO who dominated the business world.

Su Qingge adjusted her cuffs, raised her head, and her gaze met Qin Bingruo's in the mirror.

There were no sparks flying in the air. On the contrary, their gazes met for a second, and then they each nodded slightly.

It was a kind of tacit understanding. A subtle balance achieved after last night's "fighting side by side."

Su Qingge was the main wife, in control of the overall situation. Qin Bingruo was the general charging into battle; although she had a private affair, she stuck to the rules.

This damned sense of harmony left Zhang Xuanyao dumbfounded.

Qin Bingruo put on her police cap and lowered the brim, hiding the touch of tenderness in her eyes. She turned and walked to Zhang Xuanyao.

She reached out and tidied the somewhat messy collar of his Daoist robe. Her movements were not practiced, even a bit awkward, and as her fingertips brushed against Zhang Xuanyao's neck, they brought a tingling sensation.

"There's still work at the bureau." Qin Bingruo's voice was low, with a hint of hoarseness. "The case reported by Wang Chun is not small; it involves the underlings of several major drug lords, and I need to go back immediately to lead the team to close the net."

As a criminal police captain, she had her own duties. Romantic entanglements, in the end, could only come second.

Zhang Xuanyao nodded and said solemnly, "Stay safe. If you encounter any crooked paths or evil spirits you can't handle, remember to call for help, and this poor Daoist will be there whenever called."

The corners of Qin Bingruo's mouth lifted slightly, revealing an extremely faint smile. This smile was fleeting, yet breathtakingly beautiful.

She hesitated for a moment, as if there was something difficult to say. Finally, she raised her head, a hint of pleading in her eyes.

"Um... my sister, Qin Xiaoya, is in Patient Room 302 downstairs." "If you have time... could you help me look after her? Don't let anyone bully her."

"Rest assured!" Zhang Xuanyao just wanted to pat his chest in guarantee, "This poor Daoist is best at taking care of female benefactors, especially..."

Before he could finish, a chill came from behind him. Su Qingge, wearing ten-centimeter high heels, walked over with a rhythmic tap, tap, tap.

She reached out and gently smoothed out a wrinkle on the corner of his robe. Her tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"I recognize Officer Qin's character. I won't stop you from taking care of a patient."

Zhang Xuanyao breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, President Su is understanding.

However, Su Qingge's tone shifted. That "but" was like a Sword of Damocles hanging over his head.

"But—" Su Qingge stepped forward. Those eyes, which always controlled the livelihoods of thousands, stared fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao.

Her long, fair fingers slid up along his collar, gently brushing across his neck, and finally stopped at his protruding Adam's apple. Her fingernail gave a light scratch, bringing a dangerous, stinging sensation.

"Aside from Officer Qin, if you dare to provoke any other wild flowers or weeds outside..."

Su Qingge leaned into Zhang Xuanyao's ear, her breath like orchids. "I will twist your head off and use it as a chamber pot in my office."

After saying this, she curled her lips into a stunning, cold smile, cold light flickering in her eyes. That was definitely not a joke. She really would dare to do it.

Zhang Xuanyao felt a chill on his neck, as if he had already been decapitated. He suddenly shrank his head, his desire to survive reaching its peak at this moment.

Swish! Three fingers went up, pointing straight at the ceiling. "This poor Daoist swears! My heart is set on the Dao, with absolutely no secondary intentions!"

Zhang Xuanyao looked righteous and awe-inspiring. "This poor Daoist's head is probably not up to the heavy responsibility of being a chamber pot! President Su, you'd better choose a vase instead!"

56: Chapter 56: Emerging from the tiger's den, only to fall into the wolf's lair

Pfft.

Qin Bingruo couldn't help it and was amused.

The originally heavy atmosphere instantly lightened significantly.

"Alright, stop joking around."

Su Qingge withdrew her hand, picked up that limited-edition Hermès handbag, and resumed her decisive, fast-paced demeanor.

"Let's go."

The two women exchanged a glance.

Su Qingge stepped in her high heels, her aura fully unleashed.

Qin Bingruo pressed against the holster at her waist, looking heroic and dashing.

The two walked side by side out of Patient Room 404, one on the left and one on the right.

That stance.

It didn't look like two women who had just experienced tender moments.

It looked more like a female warrior Alliance about to acquire a multinational corporation and wipe out a nest of terrorists along the way.

Watching their departing backs.

Zhang Xuanyao leaned against the doorframe, rubbing his still-chilly neck, yet a smug smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

Eating soft rice with swagger.

This feeling, actually, wasn't bad at all.

...

In the corridor.

The sounds of high heels and military boots drifted further and further away.

Until they completely disappeared at the elevator entrance.

The door to the neighboring 405 patient room quietly opened a crack.

Yan Jingshu had been sticking to the wall, not daring to even breathe loudly.

The aura of those two women just now was too strong.

One was a queen of the business world, the other a tough rose of the police force.

Either one, if singled out, could crush her, a wealthy woman who only knew how to spend money, into dust.

"Hmph, what's so great about them..."

Yan Jingshu looked at the empty corridor, jealousy and desire intertwined in her eyes.

She looked down at the bouquet of rose stems in her hand that had been completely stripped bare.

Red petals were scattered all over the floor, just like her restless, anxious heart at this moment.

"Vixens... they're all vixens!"

Yan Jingshu muttered through gritted teeth.

But in her mind, the sounds she heard last night kept echoing.

That was a vitality sufficient to drive any woman crazy.

And there was the "divine calculation" ability Zhang Xuanyao had just displayed in his livestream.

This man.

Not only was his body as strong as an ox, but his skills were also heaven-defying.

How could she let those two women monopolize such a top-tier specimen?

Yan Jingshu took a deep breath and adjusted the silk camisole nightgown she had specially put on.

This was her ace in the hole, her battle gear.

Any man would be unable to resist it.

"Since the main act has left..."

A green light named "hunger" flashed in the depths of Yan Jingshu's eyes, "Then it's my turn to pick up the scraps."

...

Inside Patient Room 404.

Confirming that the two "gods of pestilence" had completely left.

Zhang Xuanyao stretched long and hard, his joints popping with a series of crackling sounds.

"Refreshing!"

"Finally free!"

Although those two women were top-tier, the pressure of being with them was simply too great.

Being alone was still more comfortable.

Zhang Xuanyao hummed a little tune, walked to the window, pushed it open, and let the fresh air in.

"Just right, I'll go downstairs and check on that girl, Qin Xiaoya."

"Might as well find some peace and quiet; after all the tossing and turning last night, this old Daoist's bones need a rest."

He turned around, just about to take off his somewhat cumbersome Daoist robe and change into light casual wear.

His hand had just touched his belt.

Suddenly.

A series of hurried and chaotic footsteps came from the corridor.

Before Zhang Xuanyao could react.

A rich, fragrant breeze, mixed with the scent of some expensive perfume, rushed directly into Patient Room 404.

It was so fast, it was like a hundred-meter sprint.

Bang!

Click.

The first action the person took after entering the room was to backhand the patient room door shut heavily.

Immediately after.

That hand with exquisite manicures quickly twisted the lock's deadbolt knob.

This set of movements was smooth and fluid, as skilled as if it had been rehearsed countless times.

A secret room.

Being alone.

The air instantly filled with an ambiguous and tense atmosphere.

Zhang Xuanyao was still clutching his belt, maintaining the posture of half-undone, looking at the uninvited guest in front of him with a dumbfounded expression.

He saw a beautiful young woman, who looked to be in her thirties, leaning against the door panel.

She was wearing a black silk camisole nightgown with a very low neckline, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin that dazzled the eyes under the light.

She had a small shawl draped over her.

At this moment.

Her chest was heaving violently; she had clearly run very fast just now.

Those eyes stared straight at Zhang Xuanyao, with not a shred of shyness in them, only a spine-tingling fanaticism.

It was like a wolf that had been hungry for three days seeing a piece of freshly cooked braised pork.

Zhang Xuanyao looked her up and down.

He quickly searched his memory.

He didn't know her.

Absolutely didn't know her.

This style of overwhelming wealth didn't match his "poor Daoist" persona at all.

"This female lay Buddhist..."

Zhang Xuanyao subconsciously pulled his Daoist robe together, covering the exposed half of his collarbone, attempting to maintain his image as an expert.

"This is Patient Room 404, not the emergency room."

"If you are here for medical treatment, please go downstairs to register; if you are here for fortune-telling, this Daoist is off the clock; if you walked into the wrong room..."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the door, "The door is over there, please see yourself out."

A standard triple rejection from a straight man.

However.

Yan Jingshu didn't listen to a word of it.

Her mind was currently filled with Zhang Xuanyao's legendary "Pure Yang Body".

Especially seeing the jade-like luster faintly flowing beneath Zhang Xuanyao's skin up close, as well as those clear yet deep eyes.

She felt the blood all over her body boiling.

This was a real man!

Tap.

Yan Jingshu stepped in those slippers with fluffy balls, approaching Zhang Xuanyao step by step.

With every step, the curves under the silk nightgown swayed.

"Daoist~"

Yan Jingshu's voice suddenly changed.

It was cloyingly sweet, carrying a deliberate coquettishness that gave Zhang Xuanyao goosebumps.

"I am your number one fan, you know~"

Yan Jingshu walked to the bedside, her eyes like silk, "That 'Blooming Wealth' who gifted you rockets just now, that's me~"

"To gift you, I even emptied out my private stash."

"Don't you plan to... properly thank me?"

Blooming Wealth?

Zhang Xuanyao was stunned.

He remembered.

During the livestream just now, there was indeed a big spender with the ID "Blooming Wealth" who, without a word, gifted over a dozen rockets, stealing half the spotlight from that "Pure Love War God".

But he never expected.

Behind that big spender ID, was actually such a... wolf-like, tiger-like wealthy woman?

Zhang Xuanyao subconsciously took half a step back until his calves hit the edge of the bed.

He guarded his chest vigilantly, like a good man about to be forced into submission by a bully.

"Um... thanks are thanks."

"This Daoist sells his skills, not his body! Female lay Buddhist, your look isn't quite right, this Daoist feels like you're going to eat me!"

This was the truth.

Yan Jingshu's current look was even scarier than that group of thugs with machetes earlier.

It was a greed that wanted to swallow him skin and bone.

Hearing the words "eat me".

Yan Jingshu didn't get angry; instead, it was as if a trigger point for her excitement had been poked.

She giggled, swaying like a flower in the wind.

"Eat you?"

"Daoist, you really know how to joke, how could I have such a big appetite~"

As Yan Jingshu said this, she lunged toward the bed.

Slap!

A golden bank card was slammed heavily onto the already sagging hospital bed.

"There is one million in here, the password is six eights."

Yan Jingshu looked up, revealing her true intentions.

She stuck out her tongue, licked her red lips, and her eyes flashed with undisguised desire.

"Daoist, I don't ask for marriage luck, nor do I ask for wealth."

"I just want you to help me see..."

Yan Jingshu pushed the gold card toward Zhang Xuanyao, her fingers hooking onto Zhang Xuanyao's Daoist robe sash.

"Is my body also lacking 'Yang' in the Five Elements?"

"Does this Daoist need to... inject me with some positive energy?"

57: Chapter 57: After the Peach Blossom Calamity, Medical Common Sense Was Shattered All Over the Ground

The air was thick with the scent of Chanel No. 5, mixed with the restless heat radiating from Yan Jingshu, nearly burning up all the oxygen in Patient Room 404.

The gold card shimmered seductively under the lights, but more striking than the card was Yan Jingshu's face, close enough to touch, written over with greed.

Zhang Xuanyao could even see the thick layer of foundation on her face, and her false eyelashes trembling slightly from excitement.

"Daoist, don't be shy..."

Yan Jingshu's fingers, like a nimble snake, slid along the sash of his Daoist robe, trying to slip inside. Her fingertips were scorching hot, the sensation terrifying. "This is just an 'academic exchange,' exploring the Dao of Yin and Yang harmony..."

Zhang Xuanyao pressed his back against the cold wall, a fine layer of cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

Is this some kind of academic exchange? This is clearly her trying to swallow me, the poor Daoist, skin and bones!

Seeing that hand with its exquisite manicure about to touch his core restricted area, Zhang Xuanyao took a deep breath, preparing to use some extraordinary measures—like shouting for help directly, or using an immobilization talisman to freeze this female demon.

Knock, knock, knock! A rapid, rhythmic knocking sound, like the voice of heaven, exploded instantly.

Immediately after, the doorknob was turned. Click. The lock didn't open because it was bolted from the inside.

"Zhang Xuanyao!" Ye Ran's cold, serious, and emotionless voice came from outside the door. "Open the door. Routine check-up. Although your indicators have recovered, the brain CT hasn't been done yet. We must confirm there are no sequelae before you can be discharged."

To Zhang Xuanyao, this voice sounded even better than an imperial decree from the Jade Emperor. Saved!

Yan Jingshu's movements stiffened abruptly, the flirtatious look on her face instantly freezing, replaced by extreme annoyance at having her good time interrupted.

She turned her head, glared viciously at the closed door, and muttered a curse: "Damn it, who is it that has no eyes..."

Taking advantage of this gap, Zhang Xuanyao flashed, slipping out from under Yan Jingshu's arm like a loach.

With wind at his heels, he rushed to the door in two or three strides, twisted the deadbolt, and yanked the door open. Clatter. The door opened.

Ye Ran was standing at the door, wearing her white coat and holding a folder, frowning.

She saw Zhang Xuanyao, disheveled and looking shaken, then looked past his shoulder to see Yan Jingshu in the room, wearing a camisole nightdress and looking flushed.

Ye Ran pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose, her gaze sweeping back and forth between the two. That look was like she was examining a bacterial culture dish. It was full of inquiry, disdain, and a faint trace of mockery.

"It seems I've come at a bad time." Ye Ran's tone was flat, even carrying a touch of business-like indifference. "Did I interrupt your 'academic exchange'?"

Zhang Xuanyao hurriedly pulled his collar tight, frantically winking and gesturing at Ye Ran, his face almost twisting together. *Big sister! Help! Stop with the sarcasm!*

He pointed at Yan Jingshu behind him, then pointed at his own head, making an expression that said, "This woman is crazy."

Ye Ran understood immediately. She stepped past Zhang Xuanyao, walked straight into the ward, and her gaze fell on Yan Jingshu.

"Young Miss Yan." Ye Ran's voice raised a notch, carrying an unquestionable professional authority. "If I recall correctly, your heart bypass surgery was less than three months ago. This kind of intense emotional fluctuation, and... high-intensity 'aerobic exercise,' is very likely to cause your blood vessels to rupture again."

"Do you want to return to your room to rest now, or should I have you sent directly to the ICU?"

Yan Jingshu felt completely uncomfortable under Ye Ran's cold gaze. Although she was rich, in front of such a professional doctor, especially one holding her life in their hands, she instinctively felt a bit fearful.

"Oh, Dr. Ye, look at what you're saying..." Yan Jingshu changed her expression instantly, putting on a fake, hypocritical smile, and smoothed her messy hair. "I was just asking the Great Master to tell my fortune and see my luck. After all, I just had surgery, I wanted to pray for peace."

As she spoke, she swayed her hips and walked out. When passing by Zhang Xuanyao, Yan Jingshu suddenly stopped.

With her back to Ye Ran, she threw an extremely explicit wink at Zhang Xuanyao, and then—smack! A hand, with lightning speed, gave Zhang Xuanyao's butt a hard pinch. The force was so great it even carried a hint of punishment.

"Daoist, we have a long road ahead~" Yan Jingshu lowered her voice, blowing a puff of hot air into his ear, "Remember to check your private messages, my offer is valid long-term."

After saying this, she stepped into her fluffy slippers and, with the posture of a victor, swaggered out of the ward.

Zhang Xuanyao stiffened, his hair standing on end. A chill shot straight from his tailbone to his scalp. This woman... she must be a wolf! And a lecherous wolf that's been starving for hundreds of years!

"At thirty like a wolf, at forty like a tiger—the ancients did not deceive me." Zhang Xuanyao rubbed his somewhat numb buttocks, muttering with lingering fear, "How is this a peach blossom luck, it's clearly a peach blossom tribulation!"

Ye Ran watched Yan Jingshu disappear at the end of the corridor, then turned around and looked at Zhang Xuanyao expressionlessly.

"Alright, stop reminiscing." Ye Ran raised the folder in her hand, "Come with me, for check-ups."

"More check-ups?" Zhang Xuanyao looked pained. "I, the poor Daoist, am really better! Look, I can jump and hop, and even be harassed by a wealthy woman; this physical fitness is top-notch!"

"Less nonsense." Ye Ran ignored his protests completely, reached out to grab his sleeve, and dragged him directly out of the ward. "This is President Su's order. If you dare to run, I'll tell President Su that the wealthy woman just gave you a room key."

Zhang Xuanyao became obedient instantly. This move was too ruthless.

In the next hour, Zhang Xuanyao was dragged by Ye Ran, shuttling between various departments like a marionette. Blood tests, lab work, ultrasound, CT, MRI... basically every instrument the hospital had was used on him.

Ye Ran kept a dark face the whole time, staring at the output of every data point, her rigorous attitude as if she were studying some kind of alien creature.

Finally, the last check-up ended. Zhang Xuanyao slumped into a chair, feeling hollowed out.

"Dr. Ye, can I go now?" Zhang Xuanyao asked weakly. "If you keep checking, this poor Daoist is going to ascend to immortality."

Ye Ran took a thick stack of check-up reports and stood under the lights, reading through them carefully. Her expression changed from calm at the beginning to puzzled, and finally to shocked.

Especially when she turned to the kidney function test report. Her pupils contracted sharply.

On the report, several red data points looked particularly glaring. [Renal tubular reabsorption rate: Abnormally high] [Adrenaline secretion level: Exceeds normal peak by 500%] [Cell activity: 10 times that of a normal adult male]

What kind of concept was this? It meant that the seemingly thin and weak Young Daoist before her possessed endurance and explosive power that ten special forces soldiers combined couldn't match. One could even say that his two kidneys were basically two perpetual motion machines!

"How is this possible..." Ye Ran muttered to herself. As a medical doctor, her worldview had been severely impacted. "Human physiological structure simply cannot withstand this level of metabolism... unless..."

Unless he wasn't a normal human at all.

"Dr. Ye?" Seeing her dazed, Zhang Xuanyao leaned over, wanting to take a look at the report. "What's wrong? Did this poor Daoist get some terminal illness? Like terminal 'Handsome Cancer'?"

58: Chapter 58: Homecoming in Splendor with Major Renovations, Online PK to Cure the Unconvinced

Ye Ran's hand speed was incredibly fast; she instantly pulled out the medical report regarding the kidney, folded it quickly, and stuffed it into the pocket of her white coat.

Her movements were fluid, without the slightest hesitation.

"Nothing."

Ye Ran looked up, resuming her icy demeanor, and casually tossed the remaining stack of reports to Zhang Xuanyao. "All indicators are normal. Aside from being a bit malnourished and having a slightly abnormal brain, your body is as healthy as an ox."

Zhang Xuanyao took the reports, glancing suspiciously at Ye Ran's pocket.

He clearly saw her hide one just a moment ago.

However, since the doctor said everything was fine, he couldn't be bothered to dig deeper.

"That's good, that's good."

Zhang Xuanyao tossed the reports aside and straightened his Daoist robe. "Then this poor Daoist will take his leave! The Yin Qi in this place is too heavy; it's not suitable to stay long."

Having said that, he greased his feet and turned to slip away.

Watching Zhang Xuanyao's retreating figure.

Ye Ran reached out and touched the burning hot report in her pocket.

A complex glint flashed in her eyes behind her lenses.

"Ten times the activity..."

"This is just too..."

Having escaped Ye Ran's clutches, Zhang Xuanyao was not in a hurry to leave the hospital.

Following his memory, he arrived at Room 302 downstairs.

This was a task specifically entrusted to him by Qin Bingruo.

Take people's money, resolve their disasters. Besides, Officer Qin's uniform temptation was truly hard to refuse; he had to help with this small favor.

He pushed open the door to Room 302.

Sunlight was just spilling onto the hospital bed.

A little girl wearing a striped hospital gown was sitting on the bed, hugging her knees, blankly watching the sparrows flying outside the window.

Qin Xiaoya.

That little girl who had once been possessed by an evil spirit and nearly turned the entire police station upside down.

At this moment, although her face was still a bit pale, her eyes had regained their clarity. It was just that her frail body was curled into a ball, exuding a heartbreaking sense of loneliness and withdrawal.

Hearing the door open.

Qin Xiaoya turned her head sharply like a startled little rabbit.

When she saw clearly that the person who arrived was Zhang Xuanyao, her originally vigilant eyes instantly lit up.

Although her memory was a bit fuzzy, she remembered this face.

It was this person who pulled her out of that cold, dark abyss.

She would never forget that warm golden light for the rest of her life.

"Uncle!"

Qin Xiaoya called out crisply.

The voice wasn't loud, but it was like an invisible flying knife, accurately stabbing Zhang Xuanyao in the knee.

The smile on Zhang Xuanyao's face instantly stiffened.

Un... Uncle?

This poor Daoist is only twenty-three this year!

In the prime of my youth! Handsome and dashing!

How did I become an uncle?

"Ahem!"

Zhang Xuanyao cleared his throat, walked to the bedside, and tried hard to strike a kind and amiable big brother image. "Xiaoya, let's discuss something."

He pointed to his own face, which was full of collagen. "Look at this face, isn't it tender? Isn't it handsome? Where does it look like an uncle?"

"What kind of uncle is that!"

In his anxiety, Zhang Xuanyao let his catchphrase slip out.

The air suddenly quieted for a second.

Qin Xiaoya blinked her big eyes, seemingly struggling to digest this sentence.

Then.

She nodded solemnly and called out obediently, "Hello, Uncle Chicken Feather!"

Pfft—

Zhang Xuanyao almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

Is this girl doing it on purpose? It's definitely on purpose!

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Zhang Xuanyao helplessly held his forehead, feeling that his lifelong reputation was ruined in an instant. "I'm very young! I'm not even married yet! Call me brother! If that doesn't work, call me Daoist Brother!"

Watching Zhang Xuanyao's deflated appearance, Qin Xiaoya finally couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing two shallow dimples.

"Hello, brother."

This sound was soft and glutinous, with maximum sweetness.

Zhang Xuanyao was instantly healed.

"That's right."

He reached out with satisfaction and rubbed that fuzzy little head; the feeling was excellent. "Call me that from now on. If anyone tells you to call me uncle, you bite them."

The two sat in the hospital room and chatted for a while.

Although Qin Xiaoya didn't talk much, she was exceptionally relaxed in front of Zhang Xuanyao.

She asked many questions about Daoist arts and ghosts and gods. Zhang Xuanyao patiently told her stories in the most accessible (and made-up) way, making the little girl giggle.

Before leaving.

Zhang Xuanyao stood up and patted the dust off his Daoist robe.

"Brother has to go back to the mountain to handle some things."

Seeing the reluctance in Qin Xiaoya's eyes, Zhang Xuanyao's heart softened. "Don't worry, brother promises you that I will come to see you every day. I'll bring you delicious food and fun things."

Qin Xiaoya nodded vigorously and extended her little finger. "Pinky promise."

"How childish."

Zhang Xuanyao expressed disdain with his mouth, but his body was very honest as he reached out and hooked his finger with her thin little finger. "Pinky promise, a hundred years, no changing."

Walking to the door, Zhang Xuanyao suddenly remembered something.

He turned around and instructed with a serious face, "Oh right, in this hospital, if you want to eat or play with something, or if any nurse sister dares to bully you..."

"Just report Su Qingge's name directly."

"Just say you are her sister, or... hmm, her future husband's sister-in-law."

"Remember, use that arrogant tone of 'I have someone backing me up', understand?"

Qin Xiaoya nodded as if she understood. "Remembered. Su Qingge."

Although she didn't know who Su Qingge was, looking at "Uncle Chicken Feather's" fox-borrowing-tiger-might appearance, this name must be very powerful.

Leaving the hospital.

Zhang Xuanyao took a deep breath of air filled with car exhaust.

"The taste of freedom."

He hailed a taxi and headed straight for the foot of Mount Longhu.

Half an hour later.

The two rickety, broken wooden doors of Qingfeng Temple appeared in his line of sight.

Although he had only been gone for a few days, looking at the yard full of weeds, the peeling pillars, and the incense burner with a missing corner, a sense of intimacy called "home" actually rose in Zhang Xuanyao's heart.

However.

This sense of dilapidation is seriously inconsistent with this poor Daoist's current net worth!

Zhang Xuanyao took out his phone and glanced at his bank card balance.

That long string of zeros gave him plenty of confidence.

Livestream tips, the pocket money given by Su Qingge, and that rich woman from just now... ahem, although he didn't accept that card, the current funds were enough to squander.

"Hello? Is this Foreman Wang?"

Zhang Xuanyao dialed a number, his tone as arrogant as a coal boss. "Yes, it's me, Daoist Zhang from Qingfeng Temple."

"Bring your construction team and come over immediately."

"Renovation! Major renovation!"

"That leaking main hall, replace it with glazed tiles for me! I want golden ones! The kind that blinds people!"

"The floor tiles in the yard, pry them all up for me and replace them with white marble!"

"And that statue of the Grandmaster... gild it for me! Pure gold is too expensive, so just make the plating thick! Don't be stingy!"

"Money? Money is not an issue! As long as the work is good, this poor Daoist will pay on the spot!"

Hanging up the phone, Zhang Xuanyao looked at the dilapidated Daoist temple; images of a future golden, magnificent, and incense-flourishing scene were already appearing in his mind.

"Master, oh Master."

Zhang Xuanyao bowed to the clay statue of the Grandmaster in the main hall. "If you, old man, have any knowledge in the afterlife, please bless your disciple to earn more Karma. When I get rich, I will burn an iPhone 15 for you every day, and I will also burn a few paper-crafted foreign chicks to serve you."

The construction team arrived very quickly.

In less than an hour, all kinds of scaffolding, cement, and sand were piled up in the yard.

Zhang Xuanyao found it noisy, so he moved a Master chair and hid under an old locust tree in the backyard.

Since he was idle anyway.

The great cause of making money could not stop.

He skillfully set up his phone, adjusted the angle to let the dilapidated wall and the crooked-neck tree behind him enter the frame, creating a sense of desolation of a "high-level Master in the deep mountains."

Opened the livestreaming software.

Inputted the title: "Daoist Temple Renovation, Urgent Need for Donations, Online PK, Specialized in Curing All Kinds of Unconvinced People."

Clicked, started broadcasting.

The broadcast had just started.

Because of the previously accumulated popularity, plus the gimmick of "Daoist Temple Renovation," the number of online viewers instantly soared to fifty thousand.

"Daoist! You finally returned to the temple?"

"This background... it's so desolate. Daoist, did you really donate all the money?"

"Don't believe the person above, this guy just said he wanted to gild the Grandmaster's statue!"

"Daoist, who are you connecting with today? I want to see the victim!"

Zhang Xuanyao crossed his legs, holding a broken cattail leaf fan in his hand, fanning himself slowly.

"Immeasurable Life, good afternoon, lay Buddhists."

"This poor Daoist is not drawing lots today, but randomly PK-ing a fated person. If they win, this poor Daoist will give them a divination; if they lose, they will gift me a yacht as a renovation fund. That's not too much, right?"

After speaking, he directly clicked on random matching.

The screen spun for a while.

A few seconds later, the screen split into two.

What appeared on the opposite side was a pink and tenderly decorated livestream room.

In front of the camera sat a heavily made-up female streamer.

Pointy chin, big eyes (beauty filter turned up to level ten), wearing a low-cut sailor suit, talking into the microphone with a pinched voice.

ID: Sweetheart Baby Nana.

Seeing that she matched with a Daoist, Nana was stunned at first, and then an undisguised look of disgust appeared on her face.

"Oh my, what the hell is this?"

Nana rolled her eyes, her voice sharp and ear-piercing. "Where did this stinky Daoist come from? In this day and age, is cosplay so half-hearted?"

She pointed at the broken wall and the crooked-neck tree behind Zhang Xuanyao and scoffed, "Look at this background, it looks like a refugee camp. Hey, that Daoist, are you a beggar or a scammer?"

"If you want to ride on my popularity, get lost early. This is the beauty section, I don't accept trash."

59: Chapter 59: A Word of Trouble, and the Top Boss with a Knife

In Nana's livestream, her flock of simping fans joined in the clamor.

"Where did this wild Daoist come from? Get out!"

"Don't dirty our Nana's eyes!"

"There are so many scammers these days; they dare to livestream just by wearing some ragged clothes."

The barrage in Zhang Xuanyao's livestream exploded instantly.

"WTF? Who is this woman? Why is her mouth so filthy?"

"Is she trying to court death?"

"Brothers, can we tolerate this? Go and raid her!"

"Ignorance is fearless; does she not know the Daoist's track record?"

Zhang Xuanyao, however, felt no anger.

He just watched Nana on the screen quietly, his gaze as calm as if he were looking at a dead person.

The cattail fan in his hand swayed gently.

"This female benefactor."

Zhang Xuanyao spoke indifferently, "This poor Daoist sees that your forehead is dark and your lips are purple. This is a sign that your karma from speech is too heavy, and you are about to face retribution."

"Retribution?"

Nana seemed to have heard some huge joke, laughing until she swayed back and forth, the fabric on her chest trembling, "Hilarious! You stinky beggar, how dare you curse me?"

"Believe it or not, I can have my Number One Fan ban your account?"

"Let me tell you, I am..."

Before she could finish her sentence.

Nana suddenly realized that the direction of the barrage in her livestream had changed.

The barrage that originally praised her as "Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful" or "Wife is so pretty" was suddenly drowned out by a uniform chorus of insults.

"Get lost!"

"Apologize to the Daoist!"

"Do you really not know how to write the word 'death'?"

"Brothers, is this the female streamer who insulted the Daoist? Reported!"

Not only that.

She saw that although her online viewer count was soaring, they were all an "army" flooding over from that Daoist's livestream on the opposite side.

Someone even posted Zhang Xuanyao's "track record" from a few days ago directly onto the barrage.

[This Daoist just took down a drug den!]

[This Daoist made a wanted criminal surrender himself with one sentence!]

[This Daoist can even change Yama's Book of Life and Death!]

Looking at these dense barrages, the arrogance on Nana's face gradually solidified.

Cold sweat flowed down her thick foundation.

Drug dealer? Wanted criminal?

This... is this a tough nut to crack?

Although she was a brainless streamer, she knew the terror of cyberbullying, and she knew even better that some people must absolutely not be provoked.

Especially characters with a "metaphysical" flair.

"Um... Daoist..."

Nana's voice changed instantly. She no longer affected a cutesy tone, but spoke with a trembling, tearful voice, "I... I didn't recognize your greatness just now; I was just joking with you."

She stood up in a panic and bowed to the camera, her neckline opening even wider, trying to elicit sympathy in this way.

"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!"

"I didn't know you were a true Great Master! My mouth is foul! I'll slap myself!"

As she spoke, she actually raised her hand and slapped her own face lightly twice.

"Daoist, you are a magnanimous person; please don't hold a grudge against a small woman like me..."

"I beg you, tell your fans to stop scolding me; my account is going to be gone..."

Looking at the woman opposite who had been arrogant just a moment ago, but was now as humble as a dog.

The cattail fan in Zhang Xuanyao's hand stopped.

He leaned forward slightly, his deep eyes seeming to see through Nana's Soul through the screen.

In the vision of the [Heavenly Eye].

Above this woman's head, a bloody knife was hanging.

That was not ordinary bad luck.

That was a disaster of bloodshed.

Moreover, the source of this disaster was none other than her so-called "Number One Fan."

"There is no need for apologies."

Zhang Xuanyao withdrew his gaze, the corners of his mouth curling into a meaningful arc.

He shook his head, and his mouth uttered those two syllables that made countless people's hearts jump with fear.

"Tsk, tsk."

This light sigh was transmitted clearly to the ears of every viewer through the microphone.

It was like the countdown of the Grim Reaper.

Nana's body shuddered violently, and her face instantly turned as pale as paper.

"Dao... Daoist, what do you mean by that 'tsk tsk'?"

"Don't scare me... I'm timid..."

Zhang Xuanyao leaned back into his chair, picked up the teacup beside him, and slowly blew a puff of hot air.

"This poor Daoist is just feeling pity."

"It's a pity that this newly done nose is afraid it will be beaten crooked."

"It's a pity that this newly bought luxury house is afraid it will become a haunted house."

"Female benefactor, this poor Daoist offers you a piece of advice."

Zhang Xuanyao raised his eyelids, his tone chilling, "Now, immediately, right away."

"Lock that Number One Fan of yours who is knocking at the door outside."

"Otherwise..."

Knock, knock, knock!

Before the words had even finished.

In the background audio of Nana's livestream, a heavy and violent pounding on the door suddenly came through.

"Open the door! You stinking bitch! I know you're inside!"

A rough man's roar came through the door panel.

Nana's phone fell onto the table with a "clatter."

In the livestream, only a face that was pale to the point of distortion remained, along with a pair of eyes filled with despair and fear.

The entire network was dead silent.

In the background audio of Nana's livestream, the door-pounding sound became increasingly dull and violent.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The loud noises were accompanied by the trembling of the security door. The iron door frame shook visibly, and the wall plaster fell off with a rustle, covering Nana's head and face. The originally pink and cozy background wall of the livestream was now covered in dust.

"Open the door! Open the door for me!" the man outside roared, his voice rough and hoarse. He kicked with his feet and pounded with his fists, each strike making the door panel emit an unbearable groan.

Nana was trembling all over. She retreated using her hands and feet, her elbow knocking over the ring light on the table.

"Clatter."

The ring light smashed onto the floor, and the tube shattered. The phone fell onto the desktop, the screen flipped, and the camera lens was pointed exactly at her face.

Her exquisite makeup was completely ruined. Half of her false eyelashes fell off, hanging crookedly at the corner of her eye. Waterproof eyeliner smudged, blurring into two huge dark circles. The collar of the sailor suit she had specially changed into was also pulled askew, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin, but at this moment, no one in the livestream had the heart to admire it.

She scrambled to the front of the camera, her hands gripping the edge of the table tightly, her fingernails scratching a harsh sound against the wooden tabletop, even splitting her freshly done manicure.

"Daoist! Help me, Daoist!" Nana cried out to Zhang Xuanyao on the screen, tears and snot mixed together, "He is going to kill me! He will really kill me! Quickly, help me calculate, how long do I have left to live!"

The screen split into two.

On the left was Nana's distorted face, and on the right was Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao was sitting under the old locust tree in the backyard of Qingfeng Temple. Behind him, a construction team was swinging sledgehammers to smash a wall, and electric drills were emitting ear-piercing roars. Dust was flying everywhere, and several workers wearing yellow hard hats were shuttling back and forth carrying cement bags. A small mixer was rumbling nearby, spitting out gray-white cement slurry.

The environment was extremely noisy.

Zhang Xuanyao's expression was calm. He was crossing his legs, wearing a pair of old Beijing cloth shoes on his feet. He held a tattered cattail fan in his hand, waving it rhythmically to drive away the flying dust.

"What are you panicking about?" Zhang Xuanyao picked up the chipped enamel teacup, took a sip of coarse tea, and spat out tea leaves, "This poor Daoist has already called the police. In a society ruled by law, he cannot be rampant for long. Sit down, drink some water, and speak slowly."

"Far water cannot put out a near fire!" Nana wailed, her hands pounding the table desperately, "The security door is about to be kicked open! He has a knife in his hand! I saw him holding a knife through the crack in the door! The knife is this long!" She used both hands to gesture an exaggerated length.

60: Chapter 60: The Art of Tripping One's Left Foot When the Verdict is Given

Zhang Xuanyao set down his tea mug and placed his cattail fan on his thigh.

"What is the name of that number one leaderboard donor outside the door?" Zhang Xuanyao stared directly into the camera.

Nana stammered in reply, "Chen... Chen Jiao. His ID is 'Buying the Whole City for You'."

"How much money did you take from him?" Zhang Xuanyao pressed, his tone indifferent.

"I..." Nana's eyes darted away, and she lowered her head to look at the floor.

"Bang!" Another loud crash erupted outside the door, causing a large dent to cave inward on the security door. The screws from the lock flew off, striking the shoe cabinet in the entryway.

Nana screamed, her defenses completely shattered. "I'll tell you! I'll tell you! I scammed him out of three hundred thousand offline! That was his money for buying a house! I told him my elderly relative was sick and needed money urgently, so he transferred all the money into my account!"

She slapped herself while crying, the "slap-slap" sounds echoing. "I was wrong! I shouldn't have scammed him! Daoist, please save me, I'll return all the money to him! I'll transfer it to him right now!"

The livestream chat exploded, and the public opinion shifted completely.

"Three hundred thousand? This woman is truly ruthless! She emptied out someone's down payment!"

"Scamming someone out of their house-buying money? She deserves to be hacked! I hate scammers the most!"

"The number one donor did a great job! Delivering justice on behalf of heaven!"

"Daoist, don't help her! Let the scammer fend for herself! A gold digger like this deserves to die!"

"It's Karma! She acts pure in the livestream, but scams people out of three hundred thousand behind the scenes!"

"This counts as fraud, right? Even if she doesn't get hacked to death, she'll have to serve a few years inside!"

Zhang Xuanyao watched the dense wall of comments on the screen, picked up his cattail fan, and continued to fan himself without speaking.

The kicking at the door stopped. The air went silent for two seconds. Only Nana's heavy panting remained.

Immediately after, a harsh sound of grinding metal echoed. "Clack... clack..." That was the sound of a crowbar being inserted into the door gap, violently prying at the lock cylinder.

Nana collapsed onto the floor, covering her ears with both hands and burying her head between her knees.

"Pick up your phone," Zhang Xuanyao said. "Place the rear camera against the peephole of the security door."

Nana looked up, her face streaked with tears. She scrambled up, grabbed the phone on the table, and inched step by step toward the precarious security door.

She raised the phone and aimed the camera at the peephole on the door.

The livestream view switched. The gazes of tens of thousands of viewers were pulled to the front lines of the crime scene. A circular peephole view appeared in the center of the screen.

Outside the door. A burly, bald man with a fleshy face held a half-meter-long steel crowbar, pressing it firmly against the door gap.

His eyes were bloodshot, and the veins on his forehead bulged, throbbing with each exertion.

He wore a black tight-fitting tank top, and a Dragon was tattooed across his shoulder and down his thick arm. Sweat streamed down his bald head, dripping onto his tank top.

"You stinking bitch, once I get in, I'll skin you alive! You actually dared to swallow my money!" Chen Jiao pried at the lock, cursing, his spit spraying onto the door panel.

The viewers in the livestream felt a strong sense of oppression through the screen.

"This guy looks too fierce! He definitely has blood on his hands!"

"If he gets in, the streamer is definitely dead. With that build, he could kill a cow with one punch!"

"Why haven't the police arrived yet? I'm so anxious!"

Zhang Xuanyao stared at Chen Jiao on the screen. "Heavenly Eye," activate. Golden light swirled in his eyes.

Dense blood-red text appeared above Chen Jiao's head. [Name: Chen Jiao] [Identity: Peripheral core member of a Northern Myanmar fraud syndicate, lackey under the drug lord "Brother Kun"] [Crimes: Violent debt collection, internet fraud, trafficking of prohibited substances (causing three deaths)] [Recent Fortune: Today, he will encounter a great tribulation, face imprisonment, accompanied by bloodshed.]

Zhang Xuanyao saw the entries clearly and sneered.

Chen Jiao was not a pure-hearted number one donor at all. He gifted Nana and cultivated a "buying a house to get married" persona in order to lure the female streamer abroad for a "pig-butchering" scam.

Nana was one step ahead; she used an excuse to scam the three hundred thousand that Chen Jiao was using for money laundering. It was a case of thieves falling out, dog eat dog. The three hundred thousand was drug money, and Chen Jiao, furious, brought a crowbar to her door.

"Daoist... the door is opening..." Nana's voice was as thin as a thread.

The security door's latch made a metallic twisting sound. The screws on the edge of the door frame loosened and were about to fall out at any moment.

Zhang Xuanyao picked up his tea mug and drank the remaining tea leaves. He slammed the mug onto the stone table.

"This Daoist observes that this person's forehead is blackened, and his fate clashes with the Grand Duke Jupiter," Zhang Xuanyao said into the microphone, his voice possessing strong penetrating power, drowning out the sound of the electric drill in the backyard.

He activated "Words Become Law (Upgraded Version)." The power of the rules followed the network signal and descended precisely into the hallway where Chen Jiao was located.

"Today, there will inevitably be a bloody disaster."

"And it is easy for the left foot to trip over the right foot, resulting in broken bones and severed tendons."

Zhang Xuanyao's verdict slammed into the ears of the tens of thousands of viewers in the livestream. As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Jiao pulled out the crowbar outside the door.

He found the lock cylinder too tough, stepped back two paces to create distance, and prepared to shoulder-charge the door open. He pushed off the ground hard with his right foot.

His right shoe sole landed precisely on a piece of rotten banana peel. It was trash that a fourth-floor resident had tossed into the hallway. The banana peel slid along the concrete floor in a parabolic arc.

Chen Jiao's massive body lost its balance. His left foot moved to support him, and it happened to trip over the sliding right ankle. The left foot tripped over the right foot.

The two-hundred-plus-pound burly man flew into the air, as seen from the peephole view. His expression changed from ferocious to stunned, and finally settled on extreme terror.

"Ahhh—!" The scream echoed through the hallway, triggering all the sound-activated lights in the corridor.

Chen Jiao slammed heavily onto the hard concrete floor. He instinctively reached out his right hand to brace himself. The weight of over two hundred pounds, combined with the downward force, was all concentrated on his right hand...

"Snap!" The crisp sound of bone breaking passed through the peephole, transmitted into the microphone of Nana's phone, and was amplified in the headphones of every viewer in the livestream.

In the peephole view, Chen Jiao rolled on the ground in agony. His right arm was bent at an eerie ninety-degree angle, with white bone fragments piercing through the skin, exposed to the air, and fresh blood staining the floor red.

His facial features scrunched together, and he let out a pig-like howl. The steel crowbar flew to the corner of the stairs, hitting the iron railing with a clanging sound.

The livestream chat paused for a second. After that one second, Nana's livestream exploded like a volcano, with comments scrolling frantically at a speed impossible for the naked eye to capture.

"Left foot tripped over the right foot? Newton's coffin lid can't be kept down anymore!"

"Words Become Law! It really is Words Become Law! I recorded the screen!"

"The Daoist is a living immortal! Please accept this disciple's kowtow! Please accept my knees!"

"Has this mouth been blessed? He said broken bones, and bones broke; he said severed tendons, and tendons were severed! Too divine!"

"Even the police would have to salute the Daoist when they arrive! This is simply a dimensional reduction attack!"

"Who threw that banana peel earlier? That banana peel did a great job!"

Various gift effects flooded the screen. Rockets, yachts, carnivals, and sports cars exploded on the screen, causing a slight lag in the livestream. Multicolored light flickered across the screen.

[User "Pure Love War God" gifted Super Rocket × 10] [User "Mount Longhu's Number One Super Fan" gifted Carnival × 5] [User "My Fate is Determined by Me, Not Heaven" gifted Porsche × 20] [User "Specialist in Beating Scum Women" gifted Treasure Map × 1]

Zhang Xuanyao watched the screen full of gifts and nodded. He picked up his tattered cattail fan, waved it twice, and brushed off the cement dust that had fallen onto his Daoist robe.

"What are you spacing out for?" Zhang Xuanyao shouted to the dazed Nana in front of the screen. "Shout through the door and say the police have arrived downstairs."

Nana snapped back to reality. She looked at Chen Jiao rolling around outside the door, and then at the composed Zhang Xuanyao on the screen.

She pressed against the door panel, cupped her hands into a megaphone, and shouted at the top of her lungs: "I've called the police! The police are downstairs! Come up quickly! He's on the fourth floor! He has a weapon!"

61: Chapter 61: This humble Taoist finds it dirty; guard against thieves, wolves, and lay Buddhists.

Outside the door.

Chen Jiao, clutching his broken arm and wailing, shuddered violently upon hearing the word "Police."

Extreme panic welled up in his eyes.

As a lackey for a drug lord, he had murder cases on his back and drug money in his hands.

If the police came, his life would be over.

He could even imagine the scene of himself being pressed to the ground and handcuffed.

He couldn't care about the excruciating pain in his right arm.

Chen Jiao used his left hand to prop himself up and struggled to stand.

He clutched his right arm with his left hand, not even bothering to pick up the crowbar that had fallen far away.

He spat a mouthful of bloody saliva towards the door, the spittle flecked with blood spraying onto the peephole: "You stinking bitch! You just wait! Sooner or later, I will kill you!"

After delivering his threat, he turned around, stumbled toward the stairwell, and fled downstairs.

A trail of blood was left in the hallway.

The heavy footsteps grew fainter and fainter until they could no longer be heard.

The crisis was resolved.

Nana's legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the floor.

She gasped for air, her clothes soaked with sweat and clinging tightly to her body.

She placed her phone on the floor and adjusted the angle.

She knelt in front of the camera and kowtowed three times to Zhang Xuanyao on the screen.

Her forehead hit the floor with a dull thud.

"Thank you, Daoist! Thank you for saving my life! If it weren't for you, I would have died here today!"

Nana cried like a pear blossom in the rain, her hands pressed together in constant gratitude.

"Daoist, I swear, tomorrow I will donate all three hundred thousand I swindled! I don't want a single cent! I will never scam anyone again!"

She leaned closer to the camera, pressing her hands against the floor and accentuating her cleavage.

"Daoist, you are at Qingfeng Temple on Mount Longhu, right? After I finish dealing with things here, I will personally go up the mountain to thank you."

Nana lowered her voice, her tone becoming coquettish, "Daoist, it must be hard for you alone on the mountain. I can make your bed, fold your quilts, do your laundry, cook, pour tea, and serve water—I am willing to do anything. As long as you don't mind…"

The viewers in the livestream started jeering.

"Offering herself? I know this routine!"

"The Daoist is truly lucky! This is a huge win!"

"Getting a female streamer for free! Even though her character is bad, her figure is top-tier!"

"Daoist, take her in! Let her sweep the floors in the temple to atone for her sins!"

Zhang Xuanyao looked at Nana, who was posing seductively on the screen, with an expressionless face.

He picked up his cattail fan and blocked the camera, covering Nana's cleavage.

"There is no need for that." Zhang Xuanyao's tone was calm, without a ripple of emotion, "This poor Daoist dislikes filth."

Nana's expression froze on her face, turning red and then white.

Her mouth slightly agape, unable to utter a word for a long time.

"You swindled people out of their money and have accumulated heavy Karma through your speech. Escaping disaster today does not mean you will live peacefully in the future."

Zhang Xuanyao stared straight into the camera, "Return the money to the police and turn yourself in. Otherwise, the next thing knocking at your door won't be as simple as a broken hand or leg. Behave yourself."

After speaking.

Zhang Xuanyao tapped his finger and cut the connection.

The livestream screen returned to just Zhang Xuanyao.

The chat was boiling.

"The Daoist is a real man! A hardcore straight man!"

"This kind of gold digger should be treated like this! Well done, Daoist!"

"The Daoist is mighty! Unmoved by beauty! A role model for us all!"

"Dislikes filth! Hahaha! Those two words are too powerful!"

Zhang Xuanyao glanced at the backend data.

The number of online viewers exceeded one hundred thousand.

The cumulative amount of tips exceeded two hundred thousand.

On the System panel, the Karma value jumped.

[Ding! Punished an evildoer, resolved a bloody disaster, obtained Karma +5000]

[Ding! Exposed a scammer, indirectly assisted the police in solving a case, obtained Karma +8000]

[Current Karma: 25000/50000]

Zhang Xuanyao waved to the camera: "Today's livestream ends here. This poor Daoist is going to supervise the work. Farewell, lay practitioners, until we meet again."

He clicked to end the stream and closed the software.

At the same time.

Downstairs at Nana's apartment complex.

Several unmarked vans were parked next to the green belt.

Qin Bingruo was wearing plain clothes, a bulletproof vest, and her service weapon tucked at her waist.

She hid behind a large tree, staring at the door of Unit 3.

"Captain, all teams are in position," a voice came over the walkie-talkie, "The target, Chen Jiao, is on the fourth floor. Should we close the net?"

"Wait for him to come out," Qin Bingruo commanded, "The stairwell is narrow; we will execute the arrest in an open area. Maintain vigilance; the target may be carrying lethal weapons."

As soon as she finished speaking.

The security door of Unit 3 was pushed open heavily.

A sweaty, bald, burly man rushed out.

He clutched his right arm with his left hand; his right arm hung limply at his side in a twisted position, blood dripping through his fingers and hitting the concrete ground.

It was Chen Jiao.

He ran wildly, losing one shoe, and stepped onto the stone path with one bare foot.

Qin Bingruo recognized the target and made a tactical gesture.

Four plainclothes police officers rushed out from behind the green belt and trash cans, blocking Chen Jiao's retreat.

"Police! Don't move!"

Qin Bingruo drew her service weapon, held it with both hands, and pointed it at Chen Jiao.

Seeing the police, Chen Jiao turned to run.

The excruciating pain in his right arm made him stumble, his body tilting.

Qin Bingruo rushed forward.

She hooked her left hand onto Chen Jiao's left shoulder and kicked hard at the back of his knee with her right leg.

"Thump!"

Chen Jiao fell to his knees, slamming onto the stone floor.

Qin Bingruo followed up with a grappling move, twisting Chen Jiao's left arm behind his back and pressing her knee onto his back.

"Click!"

Metal handcuffs locked onto Chen Jiao's left wrist. The other end locked onto his belt.

"Ah—! Easy! My hand is broken! The police are beating people!"

Chen Jiao rolled on the ground, screaming loudly.

Qin Bingruo looked at Chen Jiao's right arm, which was broken at a ninety-degree angle, and showed a puzzled expression.

"How did this happen?" She turned to ask her team member.

The team member shook his head blankly: "Report, Captain, we didn't touch him. He was like this when he ran out. It seems like he fell on his own."

Qin Bingruo searched Chen Jiao's pockets, took out his wallet, and pulled out his ID card.

Confirmed his identity.

Chen Jiao, an important subordinate of the drug lord "Brother Kun" and a peripheral backbone of the Northern Myanmar scam syndicate.

Zhang Xuanyao's face flashed through Qin Bingruo's mind.

"If you encounter any crooked paths you can't handle, remember to call me; this poor Daoist is always on call."

Qin Bingruo shook her head, shaking off the thought.

Zhang Xuanyao was cultivating his temple on Mount Longhu and couldn't possibly influence an arrest hundreds of kilometers away. This was purely a coincidence.

"Call an ambulance! Take him away!" Qin Bingruo put away her gun.

The backyard of Qingfeng Temple.

Zhang Xuanyao directed the workers to unload the white marble floor tiles.

"Put them down gently! This is all money! If you chip one, I'll deduct it from your wages!" Zhang Xuanyao shouted.

His phone vibrated in his pocket.

He took out his phone and opened his backend private messages.

Unread messages popped up.

Sender: Sweetheart Nana.

"Daoist, the police took the man downstairs away. I heard the police say he is a wanted criminal!"

"Thank you, Daoist, for saving my life! I have handed over the money to the police as evidence. I have also gone to the police station to make a statement."

"I know you dislike me, Daoist. But I read the chat, and I know you are at Qingfeng Temple on Mount Longhu."

"I bought a plane ticket for tomorrow. Whether you see me or not, I will go up the mountain personally to kowtow and thank you."

"I am willing to sweep the floors and serve tea in the temple. I brought five hundred thousand in cash as incense money for the temple."

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the private messages, his mouth twitching.

He turned his head to look at the gold-painted statue of the Grandmaster in the main hall.

"Grandmaster," Zhang Xuanyao sighed, "Your temple is about to turn into the Cave of the Spider Demons."

He put away his phone and shouted to the foreman building the wall.

"Foreman Wang! Raise the backyard wall by two meters! Put barbed wire on top! And electrify it!"

"Guard against thieves! Guard against wolves! Guard against female lay practitioners!"

Zhang Xuanyao picked up his grandmaster chair and turned toward the main hall.

62: Chapter 62: The Taoist Temple Turns into a Golden House, and a Female Anchor Who Plays the Edge of the Scene Kneels at the Door

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

At the foot of Mount Longhu.

The once dilapidated Qingfeng Temple had now completely changed its appearance.

The midday sun poured down without reservation. The newly replaced golden glazed tiles on the roof of the main hall were like huge mirrors, reflecting an extremely dazzling golden light.

This golden light pierced through the woods, heading straight for the mountain road below.

"Screech—!"

On the road below, a large coal truck slammed on its brakes. The driver pushed open the door, stood by the roadside, pointed at the mountaintop, and cursed loudly.

"Which lunatic installed a searchlight on the mountain! Blinding me in broad daylight!" The driver rubbed his eyes and got back into the car, grumbling.

Inside the courtyard of Qingfeng Temple.

The dirt ground, once overgrown with weeds, had been completely dug up. Replacing it were neatly laid white marble floor tiles.

The floor tiles were polished so smooth they were like mirrors, with the clouds in the sky clearly reflected on them.

An oblivious sparrow flew down to look for food.

The moment its claws touched the white marble tiles, it slipped and fell flat on its back. The sparrow flapped its wings and flew away, dazed.

This Nouveau Riche style of decoration had absolutely nothing to do with a "place of ascetic cultivation."

Inside the main hall.

The clay statue of the Grandmaster, which had been peeling paint and missing limbs, was now reborn.

The entire statue was plated with a thick layer of gold foil. Sunlight shone in through the main entrance, making the Grandmaster glitter so brightly it was blinding.

Zhang Xuanyao stood before the prayer mat. He was wearing a brand-new Daoist robe, hands on his hips, looking at his masterpiece.

Foreman Wang stood to the side. He wore a yellow hard hat and held a thick stack of hundred-yuan bills in his hand.

He licked his fingers and counted them one by one, the wrinkles on his face bunching together in a smile, looking like a blooming chrysanthemum.

"Daoist Zhang, this work is top-notch, right?"

Foreman Wang stuffed the money into a black leather bag, zipped it up, and patted his belly.

"This white marble, this gold foil, it's all the best material! You can ask around for ten miles; my work, Old Wang, is definitely solid. Your temple looks more imposing now than the big hotels in the city!"

Zhang Xuanyao nodded.

"Alright, the final payment is settled." Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand to dismiss him. "Take your people down the mountain. Remember, don't go around talking about me striking it rich."

Foreman Wang nodded repeatedly, calling his workers to pack up the scaffolding, cement bags, and tools. The construction team drove their farm tricycle, "put-put-putting" down the mountain.

Qingfeng Temple became completely quiet.

Zhang Xuanyao turned and walked out of the main hall. He had just returned from the city hospital that morning.

Qin Xiaoya was recovering extremely quickly. The little girl had color in her face and her appetite had increased significantly. The aftereffects of the evil spirit's possession had completely disappeared.

When Zhang Xuanyao went to the hospital room, he almost didn't recognize it.

Room 302 had been transformed into a small indoor playground. The floor was covered with thick cartoon anti-fall mats, and the corners were piled high with Lego bricks, Barbie doll sets as tall as a person, and various limited-edition plush toys.

Qin Xiaoya was sitting in the pile of toys, holding an out-of-print Transformer in her hand.

"Daoist Brother!" Seeing Zhang Xuanyao, Qin Xiaoya threw down the toy and rushed over.

Zhang Xuanyao caught the little girl and rubbed her hair.

"Who bought all this?" Zhang Xuanyao asked, pointing at the room full of toys.

"Sister Su!"

Qin Xiaoya answered crisply.

"Sister has come every day for the past two days. She brought many uncles in black suits. That balding grandfather kept following behind her, bowing and scraping, even serving her tea and water. Sister said that whatever I want, she will buy, even if it means emptying out the shopping mall."

Zhang Xuanyao imagined the scene of the CEO Su Qingge acting like a lackey behind her.

This woman, Su Qingge, was indeed decisive and efficient. When she said she would take care of things, she really did.

Zhang Xuanyao pulled back his thoughts.

He walked to the backyard. Under the old locust tree sat a newly purchased yellow pear wood armchair. Beside it were a purple clay teapot and a set of Gongfu tea utensils.

The boring life of a rich Daoist had begun.

Zhang Xuanyao lay on the armchair. The yellow pear wood was warm and smooth, fitting his back perfectly. He picked up the purple clay teapot and took a sip of top-grade Dahongpao tea. Closing his eyes, he prepared to take a nap.

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

A pounding sound came from the front courtyard.

The newly replaced vermilion-lacquered gate was being banged on loudly. The copper rings hit the wooden door, emitting a muffled echo.

Zhang Xuanyao turned over and ignored it.

"Who is it? Not accepting guests today, come back tomorrow for incense!" Zhang Xuanyao shouted at the top of his lungs.

The pounding stopped for three seconds.

Immediately after, the knocking started again. "Dong-dong, dong-dong." This time the sound was softer, sounding hesitant and urgent.

Zhang Xuanyao opened his eyes. He sat up, put on his old Beijing cloth shoes, crossed the white marble courtyard, and walked toward the gate.

He pulled the bolt.

The two vermilion-lacquered doors opened inward.

Standing outside the door was a girl.

The girl was wearing a clean white dress, the hem just past her knees. On her feet were a pair of white canvas shoes. She wore no makeup, her face bare. Her long hair draped over her shoulders, the tips a bit messy.

Her face was pale, with dark circles under her eyes, and her lips were dry and chapped.

The girl held her arms across her chest, clutching a large black canvas bag tightly. The bag's zipper was shut tight, bulging, emitting an indescribable strange odor.

Zhang Xuanyao looked the girl up and down.

Pure and lovely. Like a recent college graduate.

Zhang Xuanyao searched his memory, but couldn't find a matching face. He was certain he didn't know this person.

"Female benefactor, are you here for matchmaking or fortune telling?" Zhang Xuanyao asked.

The girl looked up at Zhang Xuanyao. Her eyes lit up, and she took a step forward.

"Daoist! It's me!" The girl spoke, "Your exclusive sweeping maid!"

Her voice wasn't affected. Her original tone was a bit raspy.

Zhang Xuanyao got goosebumps. This line was too familiar.

He stepped back half a pace, creating distance. His gaze refocused on the girl's face.

The facial features overlapped.

Zhang Xuanyao widened his eyes, his face full of disgust.

"Holy crap? You're that foul-mouthed, risqué female streamer Nana?" Zhang Xuanyao pointed at the girl, "Didn't you go to turn yourself in? How come you weren't locked up?"

The contrast was too great.

Before, in the livestream, this woman had max-level filters on, wore heavy makeup, dressed in a low-cut sailor uniform, and used a fake, cutesy voice to call out to the number one donor. Now, she was the spitting image of a pure, innocent flower.

Nana scratched her head. Her cheeks flushed red, and she lowered her head to look at her toes.

"Daoist, my real name is Ji Xue," Ji Xue explained. "I went to the police station the day I ended the stream. I didn't touch a single cent of that three hundred thousand; I turned it all over to the police."

"The police checked my transaction records; the three hundred thousand was sent to me by Chen Jiao. Chen Jiao is a wanted criminal. The police said this counts as voluntarily returning stolen goods, and since Chen Jiao was caught, I count as having indirectly assisted in the arrest."

Ji Xue looked up at Zhang Xuanyao: "The police criticized and educated me, fined me, and then let me go. I didn't commit fraud, so I don't have to go to jail."

Zhang Xuanyao listened, sighed. He turned around and pointed at the newly built wall of Qingfeng Temple.

The wall had been raised by two meters by Foreman Wang. Three lines of barbed wire were strung along the top, with a yellow "High Voltage Danger" warning sign hanging on it. Under the sunlight, the barbed wire glinted coldly.

"Didn't I say I found it dirty?" Zhang Xuanyao pointed at the barbed wire, "I even raised the wall by two meters, how did you, this woman, still manage to find your way here?"

Zhang Xuanyao grabbed the edge of the gate, preparing to close it.

"Leave quickly, don't disturb my ascetic cultivation. The temple does not accept female Disciples."

The gate closed outward. Ji Xue's eyes turned red. Tears welled up in her eyes.

She suddenly threw down the canvas bag.

"Thump!"

Ji Xue fell to her knees. Her knees hit the bluestone steps with a dull thud.

She lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Zhang Xuanyao's right leg.

"Daoist, save me!" Ji Xue wailed, her tears and snot smearing onto Zhang Xuanyao's robe, "I really have nowhere left to go! If you don't take me in, I'll be dead on the street tonight!"

63: Chapter 63: Maybach Blocks Mountain Gate Late at Night

Zhang Xuanyao frowned.

He exerted force with his right leg, wanting to pull it back.

Ji Xue was hugging it very tightly. She was sprawled on the ground, her hands locked together, gripping Zhang Xuanyao's lower leg.

"Let go," Zhang Xuanyao scolded.

"No! I won't let go even if you kill me!" Ji Xue cried out, "I can't go back! They want to kill me!"

Zhang Xuanyao shook his leg vigorously.

Like a piece of taffy, Ji Xue was dragged half a meter, yet she still wouldn't let go. Her canvas shoes made a harsh, screeching sound against the stone slabs.

"If you don't let go, I, this Daoist, will report you for sexual harassment!" Zhang Xuanyao pointed at Ji Xue's head.

"Go ahead and call the police! It would be perfect if they came to arrest me; the detention center is safer than outside!" Ji Xue lifted her face, covered in tear tracks, having given up all pretense.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the hem of his newly bought Daoist robe, now dirtied by tears and snot, and felt a pang of heartache. This was a custom-made Shu brocade Daoist robe that cost three thousand yuan.

"Fine, fine, fine, get up first and then we'll talk." Zhang Xuanyao gave up struggling and stopped trying to pull his leg away.

Ji Xue didn't believe him and continued to hold on tightly.

"I'll count to three. If you don't get up, I'll close the door and release the dogs," Zhang Xuanyao threatened.

"One."

Ji Xue let go. She scrambled to her feet using her hands and knees, then brushed the dust off her knees.

She stood at the bottom of the steps, head lowered, like a student who had done something wrong.

Zhang Xuanyao patted the wet stains on the hem of his Daoist robe.

"Speak, who wants to kill you?" Zhang Xuanyao looked at Ji Xue, "Didn't you return that three hundred thousand? Chen Jiao is already behind bars. Why are you acting like you're going to end up a corpse on the street?"

Ji Xue turned and walked toward the large black canvas bag that had been thrown on the ground.

She grabbed the handle of the canvas bag with both hands and dragged it in front of Zhang Xuanyao.

The canvas bag was heavy, its bottom scraping against the stone steps.

Ji Xue crouched down, her hands trembling as she pinched the zipper head.

"Daoist Zhang, please take a look at this," Ji Xue's voice trembled, "You'll understand once you've seen it."

Ji Xue's hands trembled as she pinched the zipper head.

The zipper made a harsh, metallic grinding sound as it slowly pulled open.

A pungent smell of blood mixed with rot hit him instantly.

Zhang Xuanyao held his breath and scanned inside the bag.

Inside the bag was definitely not the five hundred thousand in incense money she had previously promised.

Lying inside was a dead cat.

The cat was black. Its belly had been sliced open by a Sharp Weapon, its internal organs spilling onto the bottom of the canvas bag, and the blood had already congealed and turned black. The cat's limbs had been forcibly broken, presenting a bizarre, twisted angle. The cat's head had been cut off and sewn onto its tail with a piece of rough red thread.

The dead cat's body was pressing down on a sheet of A4 white paper.

On the white paper, several large characters were written in fresh blood.

"Double-crossing? Pay with your life!"

The handwriting was sloppy and wild, with dripping blood at the ends of the strokes.

Zhang Xuanyao's eyes turned cold.

Ji Xue pointed at the dead cat, her teeth chattering and making a clicking sound.

"The night before last, someone knocked on my door," Ji Xue began, "I looked through the peephole, and there was no one outside. I opened the door, and this bag was sitting at the entrance."

"I opened it and took a look, and I fainted from fright right there. After I woke up, I immediately called the police. The police came to take a statement and took the bag away for testing. The police said the blood was chicken blood, not human blood."

Ji Xue covered her face with both hands, her shoulders shaking violently.

"Yesterday morning, my security door was splashed with red paint. The keyhole was blocked with 502 superglue," Ji Xue lowered her hands and looked up at Zhang Xuanyao, "The window glass was shattered by someone using a slingshot. Someone is always ringing the doorbell in the middle of the night. I looked down from the window, and there is always a black van without a license plate parked downstairs in the residential complex."

"The police sent people to patrol the complex. As soon as the patrol car leaves, that van comes back."

Ji Xue grabbed Zhang Xuanyao's pant leg again: "The police told me that although Chen Jiao is inside, behind him is a scam syndicate in Northern Myanmar. The leader of that syndicate is called 'Brother Kun', and he is a major drug lord. I swindled Chen Jiao out of three hundred thousand in drug money, and Brother Kun has put out a contract on my life."

"The police wanted me to go to a safe house. I won't go! The safe house is in the city, and they would always find an opportunity. Those people are desperate criminals who would do anything for money!"

Ji Xue looked up, her eyes filled with pleading and extreme fear.

"I've thought it over, and in the whole world, your place, Daoist Zhang, is the safest!" Ji Xue shouted, "You were able to break Chen Jiao's limbs from a distance; you can definitely handle them!"

"As long as you let me stay, I will do your laundry, cook for you, and clean the temple; I'll do anything! I don't want wages; I'll even pay to help you renovate the temple!"

Zhang Xuanyao stared at Ji Xue.

[Heavenly Eye], activate.

Golden light swirled in the depths of Zhang Xuanyao's eyes.

The world changed appearance in his eyes.

A thick mass of black Qi hovered above Ji Xue's head. The black Qi churned, forming twisted and painful human faces.

A blood-colored Karma thread as thick as a thumb extended from the top of Ji Xue's head.

The blood line pierced through the Void Realm, extending all the way to the south, pointing directly toward the direction outside the borders.

Around the blood line, dozens of tiny gray threads were entwined. Each gray thread represented a human life.

Zhang Xuanyao saw it clearly.

The three hundred thousand that Ji Xue swindled was just a catalyst. The Northern Myanmar syndicate behind Chen Jiao carried countless blood debts. This group of people had guns and drugs in their hands, and they regarded human life as worthless.

Although this woman Ji Xue was greedy and had a foul mouth, her crimes did not warrant death.

More importantly, this Karma thread was too thick.

The System notification sound rang out in Zhang Xuanyao's mind right on time.

[Ding! Detected chain of evil Karma: Cleanse the drug network.]

[Mission content: Take in Ji Xue, lure the snake out of its hole, resolve the crisis, and eradicate the domestic stronghold of the Northern Myanmar drug trafficking and scam network.]

[Mission reward: A massive amount of shock value!]

Zhang Xuanyao's gaze fell on the System panel.

The two characters "massive amount" were flashing with golden light.

Zhang Xuanyao rubbed his fingers together.

This deal was worth it.

He put away his look of disgust. He clenched his right hand into a fist and cleared his throat near his mouth.

"Ahem." Zhang Xuanyao put on an expression of compassion for the world.

He bent down, held Ji Xue's shoulders with both hands, and pulled her up from the ground.

"Heaven possesses the virtue of cherishing life," Zhang Xuanyao looked into Ji Xue's eyes, "Although you have heavy verbal Karma and are greedy for wealth, since you are sincerely repentant and have voluntarily returned the stolen money, I, as a practitioner of the Dao, cannot stand by and watch you die."

Ji Xue was stunned. She didn't expect Zhang Xuanyao's attitude to change so quickly.

"Daoist Zhang... you've agreed?" Ji Xue's voice trembled.

"I will reluctantly take you in for a few days," Zhang Xuanyao let go of her hands and put them behind his back, "However, Qingfeng Temple has its own rules."

Ji Xue nodded repeatedly: "I understand! I will follow every rule!"

Zhang Xuanyao turned around and pointed to the side room in the courtyard.

"There is a side room in the backyard with a bed. You can go tidy it up yourself," Zhang Xuanyao set the rules, "First, you are not allowed to wear revealing clothes in the temple. Second, no loud noises. Third, you are responsible for three meals a day, you will sweep the fallen leaves in the courtyard, and you will go to the back mountain to carry two buckets of spring water every morning."

"If you can do it, stay. If you can't, get lost."

Ji Xue grabbed the canvas bag from the ground and nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

"I can! I can do all of it!" Ji Xue wiped away her tears, "I'll go tidy up the room right now! I'll go make you dinner!"

Carrying the bag, Ji Xue bypassed Zhang Xuanyao, ran quickly into the courtyard, and headed straight for the side room in the backyard.

Zhang Xuanyao stood at the main gate, watching Ji Xue's retreating figure.

He turned around and looked at the road down the mountain.

Zhang Xuanyao spoke: "Northern Myanmar scam syndicate? Drug lord Brother Kun? Dare to come to Mount Longhu to run wild? I, this Daoist, will let you know what physical salvation means."

He raised his hand and closed the vermilion gate.

He slid the bolt into place.

The sky gradually darkened.

The sun set, and Mount Longhu was plunged into the night.

The lights turned on in the side room of the backyard of Qingfeng Temple.

Ji Xue sat at the wooden table in the side room. A mobile phone fill light was set up on the table.

She washed her face and changed into a loose, gray casual outfit. Her long hair was tied into a ponytail. Without any cosmetic enhancement, she appeared on camera without makeup.

She opened the live streaming software.

Started the stream.

No sailor suit, no affected cutesy voice, and no suggestive dancing.

Ji Xue waved at the camera.

"Good evening, everyone," Ji Xue greeted them in her normal voice, "I am Nana. No, my name is Ji Xue."

The live stream had just started, and tens of thousands of people flooded in instantly.

The chat exploded.

"What the f*ck? Who is this? Did I enter the wrong stream?"

"Is this Nana? She looks like this without makeup? This is too pure!"

"Refund! Give me back my royal sister! I want to see the sailor suit!"

"Why did the background change? Where is this? It looks like a wooden house."

Ji Xue looked at the chat and gave a bitter smile.

"I didn't enter the wrong stream. I won't be doing suggestive content anymore," Ji Xue explained, "I am currently at Qingfeng Temple on Mount Longhu. Daoist Zhang has taken me in. From now on, I will live stream sweeping and cooking every day."

The chat boiled over again.

"Did she really go to the temple to become a cleaning maid?"

"Daoist Zhang is awesome! He really recruited the female streamer!"

"A lone man and a lone woman, an ancient temple in the deep mountains, I'm familiar with this plot!"

Ji Xue ignored the teasing in the chat. She rested her chin on her hands and looked at the camera.

Suddenly.

A harsh screeching of brakes came from outside Qingfeng Temple.

"Screeech—!"

Not just one car.

Continuous sounds of braking rang out outside the mountain gate. Tires rubbed against the asphalt road.

The roar of engines shook the mountain forest.

The screen on Ji Xue's phone trembled along with it.

Through the window of the side room, Ji Xue saw dust rising outside the main gate of Qingfeng Temple.

Blinding car high beams pierced through the night, illuminating the vermilion gate.

Ji Xue's face instantly turned deathly pale. She stood up, her thigh knocking over the wooden chair.

The camera captured the scene outside the window.

One black maybach after another parked in perfect formation at the entrance of Qingfeng Temple. The motorcade formed a long line, blocking the road down the mountain.

The car doors were pushed open simultaneously.

64: Chapter 64: Five Million Dollar "Working from Home"

Inside the side room.

Ji Xue stared fixedly at her phone screen, her breathing almost stopped.

Outside the window, the originally pitch-black mountain road was torn apart by dozens of bright beams of light.

"It's over... They're here..."

Ji Xue murmured, the phone in her hand nearly slipping from her grasp.

Inside the livestream room, the chat was already going completely crazy.

"Holy crap! Is that a maybach? All of them are black maybachs!"

"I counted, there are twelve in total! With this kind of setup, are they here to silence us or to demolish the place?"

"Are those drug dealers that rich? Driving maybachs to commit murder?"

"Run, streamer! These are definitely Brother Kun's men!"

"Run? Run where? The road down the mountain is completely blocked!"

Ji Xue's legs went weak, and she stumbled, kicking over the wooden stool she was sitting on.

With a "bang."

She crawled under the table, covered her head with both hands, and trembled uncontrollably.

Her phone was propped up on the tabletop, the camera aimed perfectly at the despair-inducing motorcade outside the window.

Inside the main hall of Qingfeng Temple.

Zhang Xuanyao set down his tea mug, listening to the commotion outside, his face devoid of any ripples.

He slowly stood up and smoothed out the wrinkles in his Daoist robe.

The old Beijing cloth shoes on his feet made a faint friction sound as they stepped on the white marble floor tiles.

He was waving that tattered cattail leaf fan in his hand, swaying as he walked toward the main gate.

"Daoist Zhang! Don't open the door!"

Hiding under the table, Ji Xue screamed at the livestream, her voice piercing through the walls and reaching the front courtyard.

Zhang Xuanyao ignored her.

He walked to the vermilion-lacquered main gate and reached out to pull back the bolt.

"Creak—"

The heavy wooden doors pushed open to both sides.

The high beams outside the door were extremely blinding; Zhang Xuanyao squinted, shielding his eyes with the cattail fan.

In the middle of the motorcade, the door of the longest extended-version maybach opened first.

There were no expected machetes, nor were there any fierce-looking thugs.

A middle-aged man wearing a black tailcoat, a crisp white shirt, and hair combed meticulously stepped out of the car.

He wore pure white silk gloves, and his leather shoes reflected a mirror-like sheen under the lights.

The middle-aged man walked slowly to the bottom of the stone steps.

He stood still and brought his feet together.

Then, he bowed deeply to Zhang Xuanyao at a ninety-degree angle.

The movement was as standard as if he were welcoming a royal family member.

"Daoist Zhang, forgive the intrusion for visiting so late at night."

The middle-aged man's voice was mellow and steady, with no hint of Killing Intent.

Zhang Xuanyao lowered his fan and eyed him askance.

"Who are you? Not sleeping in the middle of the night, bringing so many cars to party at my mountain gate?"

The middle-aged man straightened up, a professional, polite smile on his face.

"I am Steward Shen Fu, the butler for the Shen Family. My employer heard of your divine skills, Daoist, and specifically requests that you come down the mountain for a discussion."

Ji Xue, under the table in the side room, was stunned.

The friends in the livestream room were also stunned.

"The Shen Family? Which Shen Family? Could it be the Shen Group that boasts of holding half the city's wealth?"

"This butler is dressed more formally than I was on my wedding day; this aura is incredible."

"So they aren't drug dealers, they're here to invite someone? Scared the hell out of me."

Zhang Xuanyao picked his ear.

"Come down the mountain? Not going. I'm busy supervising work these days; no time to go down. If he has something to say, tell him to come up the mountain, queue up, and register. Come back early tomorrow."

After saying this, Zhang Xuanyao made a move to close the door.

Steward Shen Fu's expression didn't change, his smile remaining the same.

He slowly extended his right hand and spread five fingers.

Zhang Xuanyao's action of closing the door stopped.

He raised an eyebrow, switched to "money-grubbing mode," and asked tentatively, "Five thousand?"

Steward Shen Fu smiled and shook his head.

"Fifty thousand?" Zhang Xuanyao asked again.

Steward Shen Fu maintained that same arc and shook his head again.

"Five hundred thousand?" Zhang Xuanyao's speaking speed increased, his eyes sweeping over the line of luxury cars behind Steward Shen Fu.

Steward Shen Fu still shook his head.

Zhang Xuanyao's face fell, and he slapped his fan against the door panel.

"No, are you old man playing with me? You don't mean five hundred, do you? You want to invite me down the mountain for five hundred? Do you take me for a fortune teller under a pedestrian bridge?"

Steward Shen Fu spoke softly, his tone as indifferent as if he were talking about the weather.

"It is five million. USD."

The livestream room fell into a three-second deathly silence.

Then.

"Holy crap!"

The screen was instantly flooded with "Holy crap."

"Five million USD? That's over thirty million RMB?"

"Daoist Zhang, let me go! I can go down the mountain for you! I'll glue on a fake beard overnight!"

"I want to go too! Is Qingfeng Temple still hiring? I'll bring my own food!"

Ji Xue's mouth hung open under the table, drool nearly dripping out.

Zhang Xuanyao was stunned for a second, then immediately steadied his mind.

Although he needed money, he hadn't reached the point of being dizzy from a money-smashing.

"Five million... to do what?"

Steward Shen Fu replied, "To be the chief metaphysics consultant for my Shen Family. For a period of four months."

Zhang Xuanyao rolled his eyes.

Five million USD for four months was indeed an astronomical price.

But his livestream popularity was currently booming; just fortune-telling a few times would bring in plenty of Karma and tips.

Besides, going down the mountain meant being under someone else's control; how could that be as comfortable as being a local emperor in the Daoist temple?

He waved his hand, looking impatient.

"Not going, not going. A one-time buyout is too much of a loss. I'm used to being free and easy; I don't like being a watchdog for wealthy families."

He prepared to close the main gate again.

"Daoist, please wait."

Steward Shen Fu stepped forward, his tone still respectful.

"My employer said that four months is just the upper limit. If you can solve the Shen Family's problem within a month, the five million USD will not be reduced by a single cent. Furthermore, we support working from home. Except for necessary rituals, you can stay at Qingfeng Temple the entire time."

Zhang Xuanyao's heart skipped a beat.

Work from home? Getting five million USD without leaving the house?

This condition was practically stuffing money into his pocket.

But he knew that the higher the price for a job, the more of a hot potato it was.

He put away his lazy demeanor, his gaze passing over Steward Shen Fu to look at the stretched maybach in the middle.

"Since it's your employer inviting me, there should be an attitude of invitation. Hiding in the car acting profound—does he think I'm not worthy of meeting him?"

Steward Shen Fu bowed slightly.

"You are right, Daoist. Boss, please."

Steward Shen Fu turned and walked quickly to the side of the maybach's rear seat, reaching out to open the car door.

A foot wearing a black high-end leather shoe stepped out first.

Immediately after, a young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old stepped out of the car.

The man was at least 1.85 meters tall, wearing a dark gray suit that was tailored to perfection.

He had an extremely aggressive face, his features three-dimensional as if carved by a knife, his eyes as cold as ice.

Standing there, the surrounding air seemed to drop several degrees.

President Shen Yanbai.

The current head of the Shen Group.

He looked up and swept a glance over Qingfeng Temple.

Looking at the glittering glazed tiles and the blinding white marble floor, President Shen Yanbai frowned slightly, his eyes revealing a hint of undisguised disdain.

"Is this the Daoist who can change the Book of Life and Death?"

President Shen Yanbai's voice was magnetic yet cold, carrying a sense of condescending scrutiny.

Zhang Xuanyao sneered inwardly.

Another materialist with a foul temper.

65: Chapter 65: Is it a tough life, or a stubborn mouth?

He secretly activated his [Heavenly Eye].

A golden light flashed across his eyes and vanished.

Within his sight, the scene above President Shen Yanbai's head made his pupils constrict sharply.

He saw that above President Shen Yanbai's head, purple Qi coiled like a Dragon; that was the overwhelming wealth of a top-tier powerhouse.

However.

Within that dense purple Qi, there were countless strands of Death Qi as thin as hair entangled.

Those strands of Death Qi were like venomous snakes, crazily gnawing away at the purple Qi.

What surprised Zhang Xuanyao even more was this.

A blood-colored Karma thread extended from the top of President Shen Yanbai's head.

This thread actually pierced through the Void Realm, creating an intersection point in mid-air with the "Myanmar-Northern Karma thread" on Ji Xue in the side room.

Zhang Xuanyao was amused.

This person was not only delivering money but also delivering progress on his mission.

Since it was such a big order, it would be a waste not to take it.

Zhang Xuanyao put away his cattail fan, turned his body to the side, and opened up the main entrance.

"Boss Shen, since you're here, come inside and have a cup of coarse tea."

President Shen Yanbai gave a cold snort and stepped into Qingfeng Temple.

Seeing the cold and aloof president enter, Ji Xue, who was in the side room, confirmed he wasn't a drug dealer coming to silence her, and she collapsed to the floor in exhaustion.

She wiped the cold sweat from her face, and suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her.

"The opportunity is here!"

Ji Xue quickly turned off her livestream and nimbly dug out a decent tracksuit to change into.

She smoothed her hair briefly in the mirror, picked up the jar of freshly brewed broken-leaf tea, and hurried toward the main hall.

Inside the main hall.

President Shen Yanbai stood before the golden statue of the Grandmaster, looking at the room full of "Nouveau Riche gold" decorations, and his mouth twitched.

"Nouveau Riche," he muttered.

He spat out the three words in a low voice.

Zhang Xuanyao sat on the grand master chair, crossing his legs.

"Boss Shen, aesthetics are a matter of opinion. This Daoist feels that this gold powder is quite effective at warding off evil."

At this moment, Ji Xue walked in with a submissive and obedient expression.

She held an enamel tea mug in both hands, her footsteps light, completely devoid of the flirtatious demeanor she had in the livestream.

"Daoist Zhang, Mr. Shen, please have some tea."

Ji Xue's voice was soft; after setting down the mug, she stood obediently behind Zhang Xuanyao, eyes fixed on her nose and heart fixed on her inner self.

President Shen Yanbai glanced at the tea mug.

The chipped rim, the yellow tea stains.

The disdain in his eyes deepened, and he didn't even have the desire to touch it.

He took a blank check from his pocket and pushed it casually in front of Zhang Xuanyao.

"Daoist Zhang, let's get straight to the point."

President Shen Yanbai leaned back against the chair, his slender fingers tapping on the tabletop.

"In my life, I hate people who play at being supernatural the most. This five million US dollars isn't to hire you to guard the house, but to hire you to put on a show."

Zhang Xuanyao picked up the tea mug and blew on the tea leaves floating on the surface.

"Oh? What kind of show?"

President Shen Yanbai said coldly, "My old man is getting on in years. Recently, I don't know whose livestream recording he watched, but he insists that the Shen Family is facing a bloody disaster and demands that I invite you back. You take this money, go in front of the old man, and walk around. Then, tell him that there are no ghosts or gods in this world, and it's all just his hallucinations. As long as you accomplish this, you can fill in whatever number you want on the check."

President Shen Yanbai's tone carried a confidence as if he controlled the entire situation.

In his view, there was no problem in this world that money couldn't solve.

If there was, it just meant the money wasn't enough.

Zhang Xuanyao took a sip of tea, the bitterness of the leaves spreading in his mouth.

He set down the mug and stared directly into President Shen Yanbai's indifferent eyes.

"Boss Shen, your calculations are quite clever."

"But have you ever thought that when your old man asked you to invite me, it might not be because he's gone crazy, but because he wants to save your life?"

President Shen Yanbai sneered, "Save my life? My, President Shen Yanbai's, fate is very hard; I don't need such illusory things to save me."

Zhang Xuanyao put down his crossed legs, leaned forward, and his tone became chillingly cold.

"Hard fate?"

"Boss Shen, in the last three months, you have encountered four car accidents, right?"

"Two of them were tire blowouts, one was brake failure, and the other was a truck overturning."

President Shen Yanbai's pupils contracted suddenly, and his fingers tapping on the table stopped abruptly.

Zhang Xuanyao didn't stop; he continued his output.

"And there were two incidents of falling objects from high altitude. Once it was steel bars from a construction site, and the other was a flower pot from the top floor of a shopping mall."

"Most importantly."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed at President Shen Yanbai's chest.

"Every day at the Hour of the Rat, which is between midnight and 1:00 AM, your chest feels as if thousands of steel needles are piercing into it simultaneously, causing agonizing pain that lasts for a full hour. Boss Shen, am I right?"

The main hall fell into a deathly silence.

Steward Shen Fu's breathing became heavy instantly, his eyes filled with shock and vigilance.

This information was the core secret of the Shen Family.

To prevent stock price fluctuations, President Shen Yanbai had strictly sealed off the news.

Except for Steward Shen Fu and President Shen Yanbai himself, not even the Shen Family's private doctor knew the specific details.

President Shen Yanbai stared at Zhang Xuanyao, his eyes like a startled beast, carrying intense killing intent and disbelief.

"You... investigated me?"

In the main hall, the atmosphere dropped to freezing point.

President Shen Yanbai's hands gripped the chair armrests tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

"Investigate you?"

Zhang Xuanyao scoffed and picked up the chipped enamel tea mug again.

"Boss Shen, you overestimate yourself too much. The signal here at my Qingfeng Temple is poor; investigating a big shot like you would require jumping over a firewall, which is too much effort."

He took a sip of tea, tea dregs sticking to his lips, and he wiped them off casually.

"The old man of the Shen Family is a smart person; he knows that your destiny has been tampered with. Do you think these were accidents?"

"That is a 'descending head spell' cast by an overseas evil cultivator, specifically targeting your birth date and time."

President Shen Yanbai took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart.

A mocking expression appeared on his cold, stern face.

"Descending head spell? Daoist Zhang, have you been watching too many horror movies?"

"In business competition, assassination methods are endless. Car accidents, falling objects—as long as the money is enough, there are plenty of desperate people in this world who can manufacture such 'accidents'."

"As for the chest pain..."

President Shen Yanbai straightened his tie, his tone recovering that condescending arrogance.

"I only sleep four hours a day and work at high intensity. The doctor says it's neuropathic pain that requires rest. This is just a physiological feedback, not some metaphysics."

Zhang Xuanyao looked at him as if he were looking at a hopeless contrarian.

"Materialism cannot save your life, Boss Shen."

Zhang Xuanyao set down the tea mug, his eyes becoming playful.

"Since you believe in science so much, let's play a game that science cannot explain."

President Shen Yanbai raised an eyebrow: "A game?"

Ji Xue, standing to the side, nervously twisted her fingers; she knew that Daoist Zhang was about to show his power.

Zhang Xuanyao pointed at the left pocket of President Shen Yanbai's suit.

Sticking out of it was a custom-made Montblanc fountain pen, the body inlaid with tiny sapphires, worth a fortune.

"This pen was custom-made by a German master, right? It boasts an aerospace-grade leak-proof design; even in a space station, it wouldn't leak a single drop of ink."

66: Chapter 66: Ink-stained White Robe, a Million for a Life

President Shen Yanbai said indifferently: "Correct. This was a coming-of-age gift from my father. I have used it for ten years, and it has never once gone wrong."

Zhang Xuanyao nodded, his tone flat as he uttered a verdict.

"There will be bloodshed today. Before the bloodshed arrives, the ink stain shall precede it."

"Boss Shen, this pen of yours is about to leak ink. It will stain your pure white, six-figure custom-made shirt black."

President Shen Yanbai let out a cold laugh.

"Absurd. Something with a probability of almost zero..."

Before he could finish his sentence.

"Click."

An extremely faint sound of metal snapping came from President Shen Yanbai's chest.

President Shen Yanbai's expression froze instantly.

He felt a wave of warmth and dampness spreading across his chest.

That sensation of dampness spread rapidly, carrying a faint scent of ink.

He slowly lowered his head.

He saw that on his snow-white, fine-textured silk shirt, a thick blob of black ink was spreading at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The originally exquisite suit pocket was instantly stained pitch black.

The ink trailed down along the shirt fibers, drawing out hideous marks, like a black hand gripping his heart tightly.

President Shen Yanbai stood up abruptly.

He pulled out the fountain pen.

The originally sturdy pen barrel had snapped cleanly at the joint, and the ink sac inside seemed to be under immense pressure, gushing outwards wildly.

"This... this is impossible!"

President Shen Yanbai held the broken pen, his hand trembling slightly.

Steward Shen Fu was so shocked he couldn't close his mouth.

He had watched with his own eyes as President Shen Yanbai placed the pen into his pocket, without any external force touching it.

It had exploded just like that, without any warning, under everyone's gaze.

"Science."

Zhang Xuanyao leaned back against the chair, leisurely fanning himself with a cattail leaf fan.

"Boss Shen, explain this to me. What kind of scientific principle is this? Is the pressure from your pectoral muscles too great, or did the pen suddenly decide it couldn't go on?"

President Shen Yanbai's complexion turned from white to green, and finally to a dejected, ghastly pale.

If the previous car accident could be forcibly explained as an "accident".

Then the self-destruction of this pen was simply a loud slap in the face.

This is the power of rules.

It is Words Become Law.

President Shen Yanbai stood in place, looking at the pitch-black ink stain on his chest, and fell into a long silence.

Inside the main hall, only Ji Xue's nervous breathing could be heard.

After a long while.

President Shen Yanbai took a deep breath and slowly put away the broken pen.

He looked at Zhang Xuanyao; the coldness and arrogance in his eyes had vanished, replaced by an unprecedented gravity and awe.

"Steward Shen Fu."

President Shen Yanbai spoke in a low voice.

Steward Shen Fu immediately stepped forward: "Boss, I am here."

"Transfer money to Daoist Zhang."

President Shen Yanbai stared at Zhang Xuanyao and said, word by word.

"Transfer ten million. In USD."

Steward Shen Fu was stunned for a moment: "Boss, the previous agreement was five million..."

"Five million is the consulting fee."

President Shen Yanbai slowly bent his proud spine towards Zhang Xuanyao, bowing at a ninety-degree angle.

"The other five million is an apology fee for my offensive words just now, and for failing to recognize an Immortal Master."

"Please, Daoist Zhang, save me."

Zhang Xuanyao watched President Shen Yanbai's lowered head, feeling a secret sense of satisfaction.

[Ding! Detected extreme shock from President Shen Yanbai, shock value +10000!]

[Ding! Detected extreme shock from Steward Shen Fu, shock value +5000!]

The Karma value on the System panel jumped frantically, just one step away from leveling up.

Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand, signaling Ji Xue to get the phone.

"Boss Shen is too kind. I am a very reasonable person; since I have accepted the money, I will naturally help you eliminate the disaster."

He pointed at the ink stain on President Shen Yanbai's chest.

"This ink is just a warning. The person who dealt the underhanded blow will realize the first attempt failed, and they will soon have more ruthless tricks."

"Tomorrow morning, send a car to pick me up."

President Shen Yanbai straightened up, his eyes firm.

"Very well. Tomorrow morning at six, I will come to pick up Daoist Zhang personally."

President Shen Yanbai, with Steward Shen Fu, walked out of the main hall with slightly unsteady steps.

The line of maybachs roared to life again, their red taillights forming a line on the mountain road as they gradually drove away.

Qingfeng Temple returned to tranquility.

Ji Xue stood behind Zhang Xuanyao, still in a state of bewilderment.

"Daoist Zhang... just like that... ten million USD is in the bag?"

She felt her values were collapsing.

After working hard at borderline livestreaming for a year, the money she earned didn't even amount to a fraction of this check.

Zhang Xuanyao stood up and stretched.

"Is ten million USD a lot? That is money to buy a life; the Shen Family isn't short of that."

He turned to look at Ji Xue.

"Go, wipe up the ink on the floor of the main hall. Also, I am going down the mountain tomorrow; you stay at the temple to watch the house."

"Remember, if someone knocks on the door, don't open it. Unless the person's surname is Qin or Su."

Ji Xue nodded repeatedly, then ran off to get a rag like a diligent little bee.

Zhang Xuanyao walked out of the main hall and stood in the white jade courtyard.

He looked up at the night sky.

In the deep firmament above, that blood-colored Karma line on President Shen Yanbai seemed to have become even clearer.

"Northern Myanmar, black magic, Shen Family."

Zhang Xuanyao muttered to himself.

"This game of chess is getting more and more interesting."

He looked down at his old Beijing cloth shoes; the soles were stained with a bit of ink.

He casually wiped it on the floor tiles.

"Ancestral Master, our Qingfeng Temple is likely about to become famous."

At the foot of the mountain.

President Shen Yanbai sat in the back seat of the maybach, watching the tree shadows retreating rapidly outside the window.

He loosened his tie, revealing his chest stained black by the ink.

On the skin there, a dark red pattern vaguely emerged, like a tiny centipede crawling upwards along his blood vessels.

"Go investigate."

President Shen Yanbai's voice was hoarse.

"Investigate all overseas companies that have been in competition with Shen Group over the past three months. Focus on the Southeast Asian region."

"Also."

He paused, a flash of complex emotions crossing his eyes.

"Donate a sum of money to Mount Longhu to build a road. Turn the road up the mountain into a two-way, four-lane asphalt road."

"I want Daoist Zhang's mountain gate to always be unobstructed."

Steward Shen Fu nodded in agreement.

The night grew darker.

The gates of Qingfeng Temple closed slowly.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Northern Myanmar, inside a dark stilt house.

An old man covered in strange Talismanic Incantations suddenly opened his eyes wide.

The life-bound oil lamp in front of him flickered violently, and then turned a strange, eerie black.

"Crack."

One of the beads on the bone prayer beads in the old man's hand snapped instantly.

"Someone... broke my curse?"

The old man's voice was shrill, like a night owl.

His withered fingers swiped across the table, and blood dripped into a water basin.

Reflected in the water basin was none other than the golden, glittering main hall of Qingfeng Temple.

And Zhang Xuanyao's face, wearing a faint, enigmatic smile.

67: Chapter 67: A Luxury Car Picks Him Up, the Grandmaster Kneels and Calls Him "Uncle-Master"

Early the next morning.

Twelve black maybachs parked on time outside the mountain gate of Qingfeng Temple.

The engine sounds were low, and the exhaust pipes puffed out faint white mist.

Zhang Xuanyao was wearing that washed-out white Daoist robe, with old Beijing cloth shoes on his feet, holding a tattered cattail fan in his hand as he stepped over the threshold.

Ji Xue clung to the door frame, staring straight at the row of luxury cars, her drool almost dripping out.

"Daoist Zhang, isn't this display a bit too grand? Are you going to be the State Preceptor?" Ji Xue lowered her voice, afraid of disturbing the black-clad bodyguards standing straight beside the cars.

"Watch the house." Zhang Xuanyao tapped Ji Xue's head with his fan. "If someone knocks, ignore them; if beggars come, don't give them anything. The temple doesn't have extra food. Especially those selling health supplements, just release the dogs. Although we don't have dogs in the temple, you can bark a couple of times."

Ji Xue covered her head and nodded repeatedly, watching Zhang Xuanyao get into the middle stretched maybach.

The car door closed.

The interior of the car was as spacious as a small conference room.

President Shen Yanbai sat on the leather seat, hands on his knees, his back straight, his attitude extremely respectful.

On the small bar counter next to him were bottles of Romanée-Conti and various top-tier cigars.

President Shen Yanbai took out a cigar, skillfully cut one end with a cigar cutter, and handed it to Zhang Xuanyao with both hands.

Zhang Xuanyao didn't even glance at it; he unscrewed his plastic thermos cup and took a sip of the bitter, steeped tea.

"Speak, what's the specific situation?" Zhang Xuanyao tightened the cup lid and leaned back against the seat.

President Shen Yanbai withdrew the cigar, bowed slightly, and said in a low voice, "Patriarch Shen Ting has been having nightmares every night since half a month ago."

"At first, he just dreamed of being bitten by insects, but later the dreams became increasingly real. Every morning when he wakes up, the bedsheets are covered in bloody scratches. Those bloodstains appear in a strange purplish-black color that cannot be washed away no matter how hard we try."

"Three days ago, Patriarch Shen Ting started coughing up blood. The coughed-up blood was black and carried an extremely heavy, fishy stench. The best experts in Heng City held a consultation, drew blood, performed CT scans, and MRIs, yet all indicators were completely normal; they couldn't find any cause. The doctors even suggested we transfer him to the psychiatric department."

Zhang Xuanyao rotated the thermos in his hand, the water sloshing inside.

"Half a month ago, what did you Shen Family do to offend people?"

President Shen Yanbai clasped his hands together, his knuckles pressing hard, veins bulging on the back of his hands.

"Last month, Shen Group participated in a bid for a rare earth mine in Southeast Asia. The competitor was a local consortium with warlord backing called 'Black Sand'."

"We hid our cards well and eventually won the mining rights with a slight advantage. The person in charge of Black Sand flipped the table on the spot, pulled out a gun, pointed it at my head, and threatened that the Shen Family would be ruined and destroyed, leaving no one alive."

"The day after the bidding ended, the three engineers we sent to inspect the site died mysteriously in their hotel rooms."

President Shen Yanbai's voice trembled as he said this, cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

"The forensic autopsy found no external injuries on the engineers, but their stomachs and intestines were full of live dung beetles. Those insects had eaten their internal organs completely clean."

Zhang Xuanyao waved his fan, his expression unchanged. "A Nanyang Sorcerer. Their methods are dirty enough."

"Daoist Zhang, as long as you can cure Patriarch Shen Ting, the Shen Family is willing to pay another twenty million US dollars." President Shen Yanbai threw out the bargaining chip, his eyes fixed firmly on Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand. "One thing at a time. Finish the previous job first. I do business with the principle of no deception to young or old."

The motorcade drove onto the mountain road in the southern suburbs of Heng City.

Half an hour later, a huge black carved iron gate slowly opened to both sides.

Shen Family Manor occupied a vast area, complete with a golf course, an artificial lake, and a helipad.

On both sides of the road stood fully armed security personnel, holding large Dobermans.

The main building was a five-story European-style Villa, with the outer walls covered in pure white marble.

The maybach stopped steadily on the fountain square in front of the main building.

Steward Shen Fu opened the car door, and Zhang Xuanyao stepped out.

The moment his feet touched the ground, golden light swirled in Zhang Xuanyao's eyes.

Heavenly Eye activated.

In his vision, the entire luxurious manor was shrouded in a layer of thick black mist above.

The black mist rolled and surged, emitting a nauseating, fishy stench.

In the center of the black mist, it condensed into a centipede dozens of meters long.

The centipede was completely crimson, with countless legs dancing wildly in the air, stirring up gusts of chilling wind.

The centipede opened its mouthparts full of fangs, greedily devouring a purple Luck Dragon circling above the main building.

The purple Dragon's body was shriveled, its scales peeling off, emitting bursts of mournful cries, and it looked like it was about to be completely devoured by the centipede.

"What a huge appetite." Zhang Xuanyao sneered and withdrew his gaze.

President Shen Yanbai walked in front to lead the way, and the group passed through the magnificent hall.

Famous paintings and calligraphy hung on the walls of the hall, and antique vases half a person high were placed in the corners.

The group took a private elevator directly to the top-floor master bedroom.

The double rosewood doors of the master bedroom were tightly closed.

Steward Shen Fu stepped forward and pushed the door open.

A strong smell of medicine mixed with a pungent, fishy stench rushed towards them.

The curtains in the room were drawn tightly, and not a single ray of sunlight could get in.

On the special hospital bed in the center lay a gaunt old man, who was none other than the helm of the Shen Family, Patriarch Shen Ting.

Beside the hospital bed were various advanced vital sign monitors, the lines on the screens fluctuating weakly and emitting beeping alarm sounds.

On the open space in front of the bed, an old man wearing a gray long gown was spinning around in anxiety.

The old man was holding a compass in his hand, the needle on the compass spinning crazily like it had gone mad, unable to stop.

In the old man's other hand, he held a pitch-black Ghost-Beating Rod, his head covered in sweat, his clothes soaked through.

It was none other than the Feng Shui titan of Heng City, Jiang Yuanshan.

Hearing the door open, Jiang Yuanshan turned his head impatiently. "President Shen, I told you not to let anyone in to disturb us. This Evil Qi is too heavy; living people will lose their lives if they get close..."

Halfway through his sentence, Jiang Yuanshan saw Zhang Xuanyao standing at the door clearly.

"Clatter."

The Ghost-Beating Rod in Jiang Yuanshan's hand dropped onto the carpet with a dull thud.

The old man took two steps forward, bent his knees, and knelt straight down in front of Zhang Xuanyao.

"Junior Martial Uncle! Help me!" Jiang Yuanshan wailed at the top of his lungs, his hands tightly hugging Zhang Xuanyao's thigh.

The room fell into a deathly silence.

President Shen Yanbai stood where he was, his mouth wide open, his brain having completely stopped functioning.

Steward Shen Fu's hand holding the medicine bowl shook, and brown medicine juice spilled onto the back of his hand, but he didn't notice.

Patriarch Shen Ting on the hospital bed seemed to be startled by this wail, his eyelids trembling.

Jiang "Half-City".

The Feng Shui Grandmaster whom all the dignitaries of Heng City treated as an honored guest.

Now, like a wronged little wife, he was hugging the thigh of a young man in his early twenties, crying for help.

The visual impact was too great; President Shen Yanbai felt his worldview had been severely damaged once again.

Zhang Xuanyao pulled his leg back with disgust and stepped to the side.

"Old Jiang, why aren't you at home holding your grandkids with your old bones instead of coming out here and embarrassing yourself?" Zhang Xuanyao tapped Jiang Yuanshan's shoulder with his fan.

Jiang Yuanshan scrambled up from the ground, not bothering to brush off the dust, and leaned into Zhang Xuanyao's ear, lowering his voice.

"Junior Martial Uncle, it's really not that my skills are lacking. This is not a Feng Shui formation at all."

"This is the extremely vicious 'Blood Centipede Curse' from Nanyang. The opponent placed the curse on the Shen Family's ancestral grave and the Feng Shui eye of this Villa."

"The methods are too sinister, completely exceeding the scope of Feng Shui geomancy. I just tried to suppress it with the Ghost-Beating Rod, but the Evil Qi crawled up the rod, almost causing me to suffer a backlash and vomit blood. This requires a head-on battle of magic; my old arms and legs can't handle it."

68: Chapter 68: Lightning Rod Attracts Thunder, Science Exorcises Evil Spirits

Zhang Xuanyao nodded, his gaze sweeping across the room.

The Heavenly Eye was activated once again.

His vision pierced through the ceiling, reaching straight to the top of the Villa.

The tail of the giant, bloody centipede was tightly connected to a metal pillar in the center of the Villa's dome.

The eye of the formation was right there.

The Sorcerer was using this metal pillar as a medium to continuously channel Evil Qi into the Villa.

Zhang Xuanyao withdrew his gaze, not asking for cinnabar, yellow paper, or an altar to be set up like Jiang Yuanshan had.

He turned his head to look at President Shen Yanbai, who was still stunned.

"Boss Shen." Zhang Xuanyao spoke, his tone abrupt.

President Shen Yanbai came back to his senses and quickly lowered his head: "Please give your instructions, Daoist Zhang."

"Does your Villa have a lightning rod installed on the roof?" Zhang Xuanyao pointed at the ceiling.

President Shen Yanbai was stunned, completely unable to keep up with Zhang Xuanyao's train of thought.

Fighting against a Sorcerer to break a curse, why ask about a lightning rod?

"It is installed." President Shen Yanbai answered truthfully, "It is a top-tier lightning protection System imported from Germany, with pure copper conductors leading directly to an underground grid, capable of withstanding the highest level of lightning strikes."

"How is its conductivity?" Zhang Xuanyao asked.

"Excellent. The resistance is almost zero." President Shen Yanbai replied.

Zhang Xuanyao clapped his hands in satisfaction.

"That is good. It saves me from having to pay for damages if the house collapses later."

Leaving those words behind, Zhang Xuanyao turned and strode out of the master bedroom, heading down the stairs toward the courtyard on the first floor.

President Shen Yanbai and Jiang Yuanshan looked at each other, then quickly hurried to follow.

Steward Shen Fu put down the medicine bowl and also trotted along behind them.

Zhang Xuanyao walked out of the main Villa entrance and arrived in the spacious courtyard.

The morning sunlight was blocked by the black mist above, making the entire Shen Family Manor appear gloomy and oppressive.

Zhang Xuanyao took his phone out of his Daoist robe pocket, skillfully opened the live streaming app, and clicked start.

In less than ten seconds, the number of viewers in the top right corner of the stream began to jump frantically.

Ten thousand, fifty thousand, one hundred thousand...

Hundreds of thousands of netizens who had gathered the previous night flooded in instantly.

The comments flashed across the screen like a waterfall.

"First! First! Daoist Zhang is live!"

"Where is this background? This lawn is flatter than my living room!"

"Blind student, you have discovered a key point. Look at the car next to Daoist Zhang, is that a ferrari LaFerrari? It costs half a small target!"

"Did Daoist Zhang really go to check Feng Shui for a wealthy family? Don't forget about us when you get rich!"

Zhang Xuanyao ignored the comments and casually placed his phone on the roof of the red ferrari nearby.

He adjusted the angle to precisely aim the camera at the main Shen Family Villa, which was shrouded in gloom.

"Brothers, today I will perform a science popularization program for everyone." Zhang Xuanyao waved at the camera.

In front of the giant floor-to-ceiling windows on the first floor of the Villa.

President Shen Yanbai, Steward Shen Fu, and Jiang Yuanshan stood side by side, holding their breath as they watched Zhang Xuanyao in the courtyard.

"Old Jiang, what is Daoist Zhang doing? No altar, no Magical Artifact, just holding a phone?" President Shen Yanbai's brows were tightly knitted together, his tone filled with doubt.

Jiang Yuanshan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and shook his head.

"I do not know either. My Junior Martial Uncle acts in ways that are always unfathomable. We should just watch."

There was no altar, no peach wood sword, no cinnabar or yellow paper.

Zhang Xuanyao stood on the lawn in his washed-out Daoist robe, empty-handed, as if he were taking a walk after a meal.

He looked up at the black mist centipede above the ceiling.

The centipede seemed to sense a threat, its countless legs waving more frantically as it emitted a piercing hiss.

Zhang Xuanyao sank his Qi into his Dantian, standing with his feet in a stable stance.

He raised his right hand and formed a hand seal with one hand.

Having recently formed a connection of Karma with Su Qingge and Qin Bingruo, two women with extremely noble fates, his Mental Energy was showing explosive growth.

His body, which would have been exhausted after using the lightning technique once before, was now filled with abundant power.

Zhang Xuanyao's gaze sharpened, and he unleashed the Five Thunders Method without reservation.

He chanted the incantation in a low voice.

"Jade Purity begins with Azure, the true talisman announces the alliance. Pushing and moving the two Qis, merging into one to become Truth."

"Five Thunders, Five Thunders, hurry and gather at Huangning!"

The moment the incantation fell.

The originally clear sky was suddenly swept by fierce winds without any warning.

The century-old podocarpus in the courtyard swayed violently in the gale, and leaves flew everywhere.

Several expensive orchids were overturned, and the pots shattered.

Dark clouds gathered over the Shen Family Manor at a terrifying speed.

Black clouds pressed down on the city, and the entire manor was instantly plunged into darkness.

Within the thick clouds, deep blue Dragon-like lightning rolled and roared, emitting muffled rumbles.

A strong smell of ozone permeated the air.

The comments in the live stream paused for three seconds.

Then, the screen was flooded with "Holy shit" and "Is this special effects?"

"Is this fucking special effects? Even Hollywood blockbusters aren't this realistic!"

"It was sunny just a second ago, and it turned into night in a second? Is Daoist Zhang cultivating immortality?"

"The lightning in those clouds is blue! Blue!"

"Run, Daoist Zhang, it's about to strike!"

In front of the floor-to-ceiling window, President Shen Yanbai's legs went weak, his hands pressed hard against the glass, his eyes wide open.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in the fierce wind, his Daoist robe flapping loudly.

He looked up at the firmament, his right hand's sword finger pointing directly at the lightning rod on top of the Villa.

Words Become Law was activated.

The power of rules descended.

"Fall!"

Zhang Xuanyao shouted, his voice piercing through the gale and resounding throughout the entire manor.

"Crack—Boom!!!"

A bucket-thick, deep blue heavenly lightning bolt tore through the firmament like an ancient Dragon.

The heavenly lightning, carrying the devastating and supreme Yang power, struck the lightning rod on top of the Villa with perfect precision!

The blinding light instantly illuminated the entire southern suburbs of Heng City.

The screen of the live stream turned completely white, and nothing could be seen.

The rumbling was deafening.

The floor of the entire manor vibrated violently, and the bulletproof glass of the floor-to-ceiling windows made a "creaking" sound, as if it would shatter in the next second.

Accompanied by the destructive aura of the heavenly lightning, the centipede-shaped black mist hovering over the Villa let out one last, extremely shrill scream.

The lightning poured down along the lightning rod, instantly blasting that blood-colored centipede into ashes.

Not even a trace of residue remained.

The lightning was conducted along the wires into the underground grid, and wisps of blue smoke rose from the ground.

The dark clouds dispersed rapidly, and the fierce winds stopped.

The sunlight broke through the clouds again, bathing the entire Shen Family Manor.

The air became unprecedentedly fresh, and that oppressive, fishy stench was gone.

In Zhang Xuanyao's mind, the System notification sound rang out like a torrential rain.

[Ding! Physical lightning induction has broken the top-tier Sorcery formation!]

[Obtained extreme shock from President Shen Yanbai, shock value +40000!]

[Obtained extreme shock from Patriarch Shen Ting, shock value +30000!]

[Obtained extreme shock from Jiang Yuanshan, shock value +30000!]

[One million people in the live stream witnessed a miracle, shock value exceeded three million!]

On the System panel, golden light shone brightly.

[Congratulations to the host for meeting the shock value requirement, unlocking 'Emerald-grade' lottery authorization!]

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the emerald light flashing on the panel, suppressing the urge to click the lottery immediately.

He walked to the ferrari, picked up his phone.

On the screen, the comments had frozen, and the entire screen was filled with dense exclamation marks.

69: Chapter 69: Scientific Exorcism, Ten Thousand Gu Knock on the Door

Zhang Xuanyao brushed off the non-existent dust from his cuffs and flashed a standard eight-toothed smile at the camera.

"Brothers, believe in science."

"This is called an artificial lightning induction experiment, combined with modern lightning rods to test lightning protection effectiveness."

"That is all for today's popular science lesson. Everyone remember to believe in science and break free from superstition."

After speaking, Zhang Xuanyao pressed his finger down and ended the stream at the speed of light.

Leaving the millions of netizens in the livestream room in a state of confusion amidst the black screen.

Zhang Xuanyao pocketed his phone and turned to walk toward the main building.

He pushed open the doors to the lobby.

President Shen Yanbai was still maintaining his posture with both hands pressed against the glass, like a statue.

Jiang Yuanshan was sitting on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Steward Shen Fu was kneeling directly on the floor, hands clasped together, muttering to himself.

"Alright, stop praying." Zhang Xuanyao walked over and kicked the side of Jiang Yuanshan's shoe.

"Go up and check on the old man."

President Shen Yanbai suddenly snapped out of it and scrambled toward the elevator.

Zhang Xuanyao followed slowly behind.

The elevator doors opened on the top floor.

President Shen Yanbai rushed out of the elevator first and shoved open the mahogany double doors of the master bedroom.

Zhang Xuanyao and Jiang Yuanshan followed closely behind.

Just as they rushed into the room, a fit of violent coughing came from the hospital bed.

"Cough, cough, cough—blegh!"

Patriarch Shen Ting, who had previously been unconscious, suddenly sat up from the bed and spat out a large mouthful of foul-smelling black blood.

The black blood landed on the white bed sheet, instantly corroding a large hole and emitting wisps of black smoke.

President Shen Yanbai was so frightened that his soul flew away and spirit scattered, and he lunged to the bedside: "Grandfather! What is wrong with you!"

"Do not touch him." Zhang Xuanyao stepped forward, grabbed President Shen Yanbai by the back of his collar, and pulled him away.

After spitting out that mouthful of black blood, Patriarch Shen Ting's body fell heavily back onto the pillow.

The vital signs monitor nearby emitted a long beep, and the various values on the screen began to climb rapidly.

Heart rate returned to normal.

Blood pressure recovered.

Blood oxygen saturation reached 98%.

Patriarch Shen Ting's complexion, which had previously been ashen and paper-like, became visibly rosy.

The old man's chest heaved violently a few times, and his breathing became steady and long.

Jiang Yuanshan stood at the foot of the bed, watching this scene, his eyes streaming with tears of excitement.

President Shen Yanbai turned around and looked at Zhang Xuanyao.

In his eyes, the arrogance of the past and the disdain for metaphysics were completely gone.

What remained was only pure fanaticism and awe.

If the leaking fountain pen earlier had only made him feel shocked, then the azure lightning that had split the heavens and earth just now had completely shattered his materialistic worldview.

A golden light flickered in Zhang Xuanyao's eyes as he glanced at President Shen Yanbai.

He saw that the purple Dragon of Luck above President Shen Yanbai's head, which had originally been entangled by Death Qi, had now completely revived.

The purple aura soared into the sky, and the Death Qi vanished without a trace.

The blood-red line of Karma connecting to Northern Myanmar had become much dimmer.

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the side table, picked up the kettle, and poured a cup of warm water.

After a series of spells, his throat was indeed a bit dry.

After drinking half a cup of water, he set the cup down, and Zhang Xuanyao spoke in a calm tone.

"The Formation is broken, and the Sorcerer's blood inside the old man has been spat out. After half a month of recovery, he will be able to get out of bed and practice Tai Chi."

President Shen Yanbai fell to his knees with a thud and kowtowed solidly.

"Daoist Zhang, the Shen Family will never forget your life-saving grace. I will have the finance department transfer that ten million USD to your account immediately!"

"Do not be in such a hurry to thank me." Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand, interrupting the other person.

"The Sorcerer Formation was forcibly shattered by heavenly lightning, so the Sorcerer who cast the curse on the other side must have suffered a backlash from the heavenly lightning. Even if he does not die, he will surely suffer greatly."

"People who play these underhanded tricks are the most vindictive. He knows the Formation has been broken, so he will definitely act out of desperation tonight and use his trump cards to counterattack."

Zhang Xuanyao pulled over a chair, sat down, and crossed his legs.

"I take people's money, so I solve their problems. I have to stay at your house for a few days to tie up some loose ends. I will cut this line off completely."

Upon hearing this, President Shen Yanbai scrambled up from the floor without a word.

"Steward Shen Fu!" President Shen Yanbai shouted.

"Young Master, I am here." Steward Shen Fu hurried forward.

"Immediately arrange for people to clear out this master bedroom, which has the highest security level and the largest area, and change the bedding to brand new ones. Starting tonight, Daoist Zhang will stay here."

"Transfer the old man to the sterile ward on the second floor. Add more guards to watch over him."

"Pass on my orders to mobilize all security personnel in the manor. Hundreds of black-clad bodyguards are to be fully armed with loaded weapons. Establish three lines of defense around the main building."

President Shen Yanbai turned his head to look at Zhang Xuanyao, his tone respectful to the extreme.

"From now on, the lives of everyone in the Shen Family are in your hands, Daoist Zhang. All actions will be under your command."

Zhang Xuanyao nodded, not refusing.

Night fell.

The Shen Family Manor in the southern suburbs of Heng City was brightly lit.

Guards were stationed every three steps, with sentries every five.

Fully armed black-clad bodyguards, leading Dobermans, patrolled the lawn constantly.

It was the hour of midnight. Twelve o'clock in the morning.

Inside the master bedroom.

Zhang Xuanyao took a shower, changed into a set of silk pajamas provided by the Shen Family, and lay comfortably on the two-meter-wide handmade bed.

The room was kept at a constant temperature with air conditioning, and it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Zhang Xuanyao summoned the System panel.

Looking at the green gemstone lottery button on the panel, which was flickering with an alluring light, Zhang Xuanyao rubbed his hands together.

"After accumulating so much shock value for so long, it is time to test my Luck."

He raised his finger, preparing to click.

Suddenly.

A faint sound came from outside the window.

"Rustle... rustle..."

The sound was very light, like countless dry leaves rubbing against the ground.

But in the quiet dead of night, this sound seemed exceptionally harsh.

Zhang Xuanyao's finger paused in mid-air.

He turned his head to look at the tightly closed floor-to-ceiling windows.

The sound became denser and louder.

"Rustle, rustle, rustle, rustle—"

The scalp-tingling friction sound came from all directions, as if the entire Villa had been surrounded by something.

A golden light flashed in Zhang Xuanyao's eyes, and his Heavenly Eye penetrated the walls.

Within his sight.

On the manor lawn under the night, a layer of black, dense things had unknowingly spread out.

They were beetles the size of thumbs.

The beetles were completely black, with a strange human face pattern on their backs, and their tails flickered with a ghostly green light.

Densely packed, numbering in the thousands.

The beetles, like a black tide, were rapidly climbing up the outer wall of the Villa.

Vents, sewers, and air conditioning units.

All the gaps that could lead into the Villa were filled with these glowing insects.

"Corpse Gu Insects."

Zhang Xuanyao recognized these things.

These were extremely yin objects raised on the rotting flesh of the dead, capable of killing instantly upon drawing blood.

The bodyguards outside could not stop this thing at all; if they were bitten once, they would turn into a puddle of blood within three seconds.

The Sorcerer's revenge came faster and more violently than expected.

The swarm of insects had already followed the ventilation ducts and was approaching the exhaust vent of the master bedroom.

Zhang Xuanyao withdrew his gaze and looked at the green gemstone lottery wheel on the System panel.

"Come on, System. Give me something big."

Zhang Xuanyao did not hesitate and pressed his finger heavily onto the green gemstone lottery button.

The lottery wheel began to spin crazily, erupting with a dazzling green light.

The louvers of the exhaust vent made a "click-clack" sound, and a few Corpse Gu Insects flickering with ghostly green light squeezed out of the gaps and fell onto the carpet.

Zhang Xuanyao stared at the lottery wheel and licked his lips.

"Let me see how I am going to send a funeral clock to that old friend from Nanyang tonight."

70: Chapter 70: The Three Pure Ones Bell Rings, Online Physical Salvation for "Southeast Asian Gutter Oil"

Zhang Xuanyao pressed his index finger heavily on the emerald draw button of the System panel.

The roulette wheel spun crazily, and the dazzling green light instantly illuminated the ceiling of the entire master bedroom.

The light gathered in mid-air, forming an ancient wooden box.

The lid of the wooden box popped open automatically, and the System prompt exploded in his mind.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the legendary Magical Artifact—sanqing bell!]

[Quality: Legendary (Gold)]

[Attribute: Suppress Souls and Exorcise Evil, Sound Breaks All Dharma.]

[Note: This object is the head of Daoist Magical Artifacts. It contains the Divine Power seal of the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Thunder Sound Puhua Tianzun, capable of leveling all Yin evil and filth in the world.]

Zhang Xuanyao stretched out his right hand and caught the Magical Artifact falling from mid-air.

It was extremely heavy in his hand.

This was a dark gold brass handbell. The handle was carved with complex Bagua Formation patterns, and the surface of the bell was covered with lightning-shaped engravings.

The moment his fingers touched the bell's body, a warm yet extremely domineering Qi surged from his palm into his Meridians.

The louvers of the air vent emitted a harsh cracking sound.

The plastic blades could not withstand the heavy pressure and crashed onto the expensive Persian rug in large chunks.

Densely packed Corpse Gu Insects, like a black waterfall, crazily poured into the master bedroom along the ventilation duct.

The rustling sound of the carapaces rubbing against each other made one's scalp tingle.

The eerie green light flickering at the tails of the insects merged into one, illuminating the room like the Hell of the Netherworld.

The first dozen or so Corpse Gu Insects that fell onto the rug opened their mouthparts full of barbs, crazily gnawing at the wool fibers.

The rug was corroded with large and small black holes, emitting pungent yellow smoke.

Zhang Xuanyao held the sanqing bell upside down in his left hand and fished his phone out of his pajama pocket with his right hand.

He opened the live streaming software.

His fingers tapped rapidly on the screen, modifying the live stream title.

[Late-night Immersive Experience of Nanyang Customs.]

He clicked to start the stream.

The moment the live stream started, the number of online viewers in the top right corner began to jump.

Ten thousand. One hundred thousand. Five hundred thousand.

The massive traffic accumulated from the previous night, combined with Zhang Xuanyao's highly controversial title, caused countless night-owl fans to flood in crazily.

The comments instantly filled the screen.

[First! First! The Daoist is actually streaming in the middle of the night!]

[Where is this? It looks like a presidential suite in a five-star hotel!]

[Holy crap! What is that disgusting thing on the floor? Have the cockroaches become sentient?]

[My trypophobia is acting up! Daoist, run! Those bugs are eating the rug!]

Zhang Xuanyao fixed his phone onto a selfie stick and held it in front of him.

"Brothers, welcome to the midnight science channel."

"Today, I'll show everyone some local Nanyang specialties."

Zhang Xuanyao fanned himself with a tattered cattail leaf fan, wearing old Beijing cloth shoes, and bypassed the Corpse Gu Insects crawling all over the floor to pull open the master bedroom door.

A shrill alarm sounded from downstairs, shaking the stair railing.

Zhang Xuanyao walked down the spiral staircase.

The first-floor lobby. Smoke was everywhere.

Dozens of fully armed bodyguards in black were retreating to the inside of the main entrance, holding clubs, machetes, and other weapons.

The bodyguards precisely slashed and smashed at the insects' carapaces, bursting out disgusting green fluid.

But the number of Corpse Gu Insects was simply too great.

The insects behind stepped on their companions' corpses and fluid, pushing forward against the bodyguards' weapons.

The bodyguards were overwhelmed, and a few insects crawled up their pant legs along their leather shoes.

The bodyguard let out a shrill scream, threw away the weapon in his hand, and frantically slapped his thigh.

The people nearby rushed over, used clubs to smash the insects, and dragged their injured companion backward.

The defense line was crumbling.

President Shen Yanbai stood behind the crowd, holding a long blade covered in the black blood of the Gu insects.

Jiang Yuanshan held a Feng Shui compass, its needle spinning crazily like an electrified fan, unable to stop.

"President Shen! We can't stop them! This insect tide carries extremely heavy corpse Qi; if it touches you even a little, it will fester down to the bone!" Jiang Yuanshan shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice full of despair.

President Shen Yanbai gritted his teeth and drew a tactical dagger from his waist with his other hand.

Zhang Xuanyao passed through the terrified crowd and walked to the main door.

He pushed open the two heavy pure copper doors with one hand.

The night wind, mixed with a strong smell of blood, blew into the lobby.

Heavenly Eye activated.

His gaze pierced through the thick night.

On the lawn ten meters outside the door sat a withered old man with his legs crossed.

The old man had disheveled hair, and his naked upper body was covered in eerie black runes.

A circle of fresh animal internal organs was placed around him.

Pig hearts, sheep intestines, and cow livers.

Fresh blood flowed along the blades of grass and seeped into the soil.

The foul stench shot straight into the sky.

Zhang Xuanyao held up his phone and aimed the camera at the old man on the lawn.

The comments in the live stream paused briefly, then exploded into even crazier scrolling.

[Ugh! I just threw up everything I ate for my midnight snack!]

[What is this old man doing? Is he performing a cult ritual?]

[That's all blood and organs on the ground! Call the police! Call the police!]

[Daoist, stop streaming. This looks too evil. Run!]

Zhang Xuanyao smiled at the camera, his tone calm.

"Brothers, don't be afraid."

"This is just some Nanyang gutter oil that gained sentience and came out to pollute the environment."

Zhang Xuanyao stepped over the threshold, stood on the steps, and looked down at the Sorcerer.

"Instead of hiding in your nest performing rituals, you actually dared to run in front of me to deliver takeout?"

The Sorcerer stopped his chanting.

He lifted his head.

It was a face as withered as tree bark, with sunken eye sockets and whites of the eyes that were a murky, earthy yellow.

He looked Zhang Xuanyao up and down.

A washed-out Daoist robe, old Beijing cloth shoes, and a phone held in his hand.

The Sorcerer grinned, revealing scorched yellow teeth.

The necklace made of polished bones collided on his chest, making a clattering sound.

"I thought the person who broke my Formation was some hidden master."

The Sorcerer spoke in extremely broken Chinese, his voice as harsh as fingernails scratching a chalkboard.

"Turns out it's just a wet-behind-the-ears Young Daoist."

The Sorcerer pointed at the Corpse Gu Insects crawling all over the floor and let out a laugh like a night owl.

"Your Huaxia mystical arts are nothing more than this!"

"In my eyes, you are all ants!"

"Tonight, I will hollow out all your internal organs to feed my treasures!"

The live stream comments instantly exploded.

[Holy crap! This old geezer is too arrogant!]

[How dare he insult Huaxia mystical arts on our turf? Daoist, beat him up!]

[This old man looks really creepy. Daoist, can you handle it? If not, let the bodyguards go up and physically exorcise him!]

Zhang Xuanyao put away the smile on his face.

He stuck the phone selfie stick into a crevice in the base of a nearby stone lion.

He raised his left hand, exposing the dark gold sanqing bell to the air.

"It's fine if you want to engage in a duel of magic."

Zhang Xuanyao looked directly at the Sorcerer, his voice spreading in the night wind.

"But you dare to insult the culture passed down by our ancestors."

"What kind of trash are you? How dare you clamor here?!"

Zhang Xuanyao channeled the abundant Mental Energy in his body, pouring it into his left hand without reservation.

The complex cloud patterns on the surface of the sanqing bell instantly lit up with dazzling golden light.

71: Chapter 71: The Bell Sounds Sweep Away the Demon, the Blood Nail Causes a Shocking Change

The Eight Trigrams array patterns on the handle spun rapidly.

Zhang Xuanyao flipped his wrist.

He shook it forcefully.

"Ding—"

An extremely crisp bell sound exploded over the Shen Family Manor.

The bell sound was not loud, but it carried a strange power that pierced through the Soul.

Golden sound waves centered on Zhang Xuanyao, turning into rings of visible, tangible light that rippled outwards.

The light rings swept across the ground.

They brushed over the marble steps.

They swept over the neatly trimmed lawn.

They penetrated the thick walls of the Villa.

The originally ferocious Corpse Gu Insects tide, which had been charging forward despite the bullets, all froze in place the moment they touched the golden sound waves.

Thousands of insects maintained their crawling posture, their legs stiff.

The eerie green light flickering on their tails extinguished instantly.

"Click, click, click."

A dense sound of shattering rang out.

Countless fine cracks appeared on the surface of the insects' hard carapaces.

Immediately after.

Just like weathered rock.

Thousands of Corpse Gu Insects collapsed in unison, turning into a pile of black powder on the ground.

A gust of night wind blew past.

The powder scattered with the wind.

The insect tide that had been despair-inducing a second ago vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving not even a trace behind.

Dozens of bodyguards, holding their weapons and maintaining their previous combat postures, stared at Zhang Xuanyao outside the door as if looking at a monster.

The tactical dagger in President Shen Yanbai's hand fell to the ground with a clatter.

Jiang Yuanshan pushed aside the bodyguards blocking his way and scrambled out of the front door.

The old man stared at the bell in Zhang Xuanyao's hand, his eyes almost popping out.

"Jun... Junior Martial Uncle!"

Jiang Yuanshan's hands trembled as he pointed at the brass handbell emitting golden light, his speech even stuttering.

"Th... This is the sanqing bell!"

"The thunder patterns and Heavenly Venerable Divine Seal on it are completely intact!"

"Isn't it just a bell..."

One of the bodyguards muttered.

Jiang Yuanshan turned his head abruptly to look at President Shen Yanbai and the bodyguards behind him, his voice cracking from extreme excitement.

"You don't know jack! This is the head of all Daoist Magical Artifacts!"

"Even the one enshrined in the Mount Longhu Celestial Master Mansion had its inner core damaged over a century ago, unable to unleash even ten or twenty percent of its power!"

"The one in Junior Martial Uncle's hand is a flawless, genuine article!"

"Where on earth did you get such a peerless divine object?!"

After a three-second pause, the live stream chat ushered in an unprecedented explosion.

The screen was completely covered by exclamation marks, obscuring everything.

The arrogance on the Sorcerer's face froze.

He looked at the empty lawn, at those Corpse Gu Insects that hadn't left even a residue behind, and extreme shock flashed in the depths of his eyes.

That was the Gu King insect swarm he had spent ten years of heart's blood cultivating, feeding it countless rotting human corpses.

It was just shaken away by a single bell sound?

The Sorcerer did not retreat.

He bit his right index finger hard.

He reached into his bosom with his left hand and pulled out a pitch-black bone tablet.

The surface of the bone tablet was covered in holes and emitted a nauseating stench of corpses.

The Sorcerer smeared the blood from his fingertip onto the holes of the bone tablet.

He exerted force with his five fingers.

"Crack."

The bone tablet was crushed forcefully.

A burst of extremely cold Yin Qi gushed out from the shattered bone tablet.

A layer of white frost instantly formed on the surrounding lawn.

The temperature plummeted.

Black Qi rolled and condensed in mid-air.

A fierce, evil little ghost, only half a meter tall with a green face and fangs, crawled out from the black Qi.

The little ghost was covered in green fur, and its ten fingers tipped with half-foot-long black claws.

Its eyes were like two burning scarlet ghost fires.

The little ghost let out a piercing shriek that could shatter eardrums.

It transformed into a bolt of black lightning, carrying freezing Yin Qi that could freeze the Soul, and lunged straight at Zhang Xuanyao's face.

The speed was so fast that the naked eye could not capture it at all.

Jiang Yuanshan was so scared he sat on the ground and scrambled back into the doorway.

The viewers in the live stream felt a chill even through the screen.

Zhang Xuanyao stood where he was, rooted to the spot, not moving an inch.

His right hand reached into the wide sleeve of his Daoist robe.

He pulled out that crystal-clear [kongqing feather branch].

The emerald green branch emitted a warm, gentle luster in the night.

Zhang Xuanyao flicked his wrist.

He held the kongqing feather branch horizontally in front of his chest.

He lightly uttered a one-word mantra.

"Retreat!"

The sound was not loud, but it was like a great bell tolling.

The kongqing feather branch erupted with an extremely dazzling cyan divine light.

This light was pure and vast, carrying a clear Qi that could cleanse the Divine Soul, and instantly transformed into a cyan beam of light, crashing head-on into the lunging evil little ghost.

The cyan light pierced through the little ghost's body.

The extremely cold Yin Qi, like snow meeting the scorching sun, made a sizzling sound of melting.

The evil little ghost opened its fang-filled mouth wide, but it didn't even have time to let out a scream.

Its body rapidly became transparent and disintegrated in mid-air.

Starting from its claws, it spread to its arms, torso, and head.

In just half a second.

This life-bound fierce creature, the Sorcerer's trump card, evaporated without a trace directly in the cyan divine light.

Jiang Yuanshan had just crawled up halfway, but seeing this scene, his legs went weak and he knelt back down on the steps.

The old man clutched his head, his brain completely shut down.

The life-bound little ghost was destroyed.

The Sorcerer, sitting cross-legged on the lawn, suffered an extremely terrifying backlash.

His chest suddenly caved inward, as if hit hard by an invisible sledgehammer.

"Wah!"

The Sorcerer opened his mouth and spat out a large mouthful of viscous black blood.

The blood landed on the lawn, mixed with dark red chunks of internal organs.

The black tattoos on the Sorcerer's body rapidly faded.

His whole person withered like a deflating ball, and his already shriveled skin became even more withered.

But he did not fall.

The Sorcerer used his hands to support himself on the ground, lifted his head, and stared fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao on the steps.

In those murky eyes, there was now full of resentment and madness.

He knew he wouldn't be able to leave today.

The Sorcerer quickly formed hand seals, his ten fingers twisting into a bizarre posture.

He rapidly chanted the vicious "Throat-Heart Nail Curse".

On the withered, yellowing lawn around him, the remaining Death Qi frantically converged toward his fingertips.

An invisible blood-colored long nail, emitting thick Death Qi and almost indistinguishable to the naked eye, condensed and formed at his fingertips.

The Sorcerer suddenly raised his arm, his fingertips pointing directly at Zhang Xuanyao's throat.

Zhang Xuanyao snorted coldly.

The [Five Thunders Method] within his body instantly activated.

Azure electric arcs danced on the palm of his right hand.

The sound of thunder exploded in his palm.

The electric light illuminated Zhang Xuanyao's expressionless face.

He prepared to directly unleash a Palm Thunder to blast this old geezer into a piece of charcoal.

Just at this critical moment.

An extremely piercing roar of an engine came from the winding mountain road outside the manor.

A red Porsche 911 sports car tore through the night, carrying blinding high beams, and with an emergency brake and drift, it stopped steadily outside the open iron gate of the manor.

The car door popped open upwards.

A young girl wearing a black backless evening gown and silver high heels stepped out of the car.

Shen Zhiyao had just finished attending a banquet for the Heng City socialite circle and rushed back to the manor overnight.

She still had one hand on the car door as she lifted her head.

Her gaze crossed the lawn.

She saw animal entrails all over the ground.

She saw the terrifying old man spitting black blood, covered in tattoos.

She saw Zhang Xuanyao on the steps, electricity crackling in his palm.

Shen Zhiyao's mind went blank, and she stood frozen beside the sports car, completely losing the ability to react.

President Shen Yanbai, standing inside the hall door, saw who it was, his eyes splitting in anger.

"Zhiyao! Run!"

President Shen Yanbai rushed out of the front door regardless of everything.

Hearing President Shen Yanbai's shout, the Sorcerer turned his head abruptly.

His gaze locked onto Shen Zhiyao's face.

The Sorcerer recognized the Bloodline characteristics of the Shen Family.

On his face, which was like withered tree bark, he pulled a extremely hideous smile.

The finger pointing at Zhang Xuanyao, his wrist turned sharply.

The deadly blood-colored "Throat-Heart Nail" condensed at his fingertips instantly changed its flight trajectory.

Carrying a piercing sound that tore through the air.

It shot straight at Shen Zhiyao's glabella!

72: Chapter 72: Physical Salvation, a Rare Natural Phenomenon

A blood-red long nail tore through the night sky, its shrill whistling piercing the eardrums. Shen Zhiyao stood frozen beside the Porsche door, her high heels sinking into the lawn, unable to move.

President Shen Yanbai's eyes were wide with rage, a desperate roar squeezing from his throat. He lunged toward his sister like a madman, but he couldn't catch up to that trail of blood-red light.

The blood nail was only three inches from the center of Shen Zhiyao's forehead, the Death Qi already ruffling the stray hairs on her brow.

Zhang Xuanyao stood on the marble steps, holding the sanqing bell in his right hand and forming a strange seal with his left.

The power of the Words Become Law rule within his body operated frantically, and the originally invisible luck twisted into a pretzel shape within his Heavenly Eye vision.

"This blood nail is way off target."

Zhang Xuanyao's voice was calm, yet it carried an irresistible air of dominance.

The moment his words fell, the blood nail, which was destined to hit, seemed to collide with an invisible slope.

It carved an exaggerated arc in front of Shen Zhiyao's nose, grazing her nose tip as it flew past.

"Bang!"

The blood nail slammed heavily into the white marble stone lion five meters to Shen Zhiyao's side.

The stone lion, taller than a person, shattered instantly. Countless stone fragments flew, kicking up a large cloud of white dust in the night.

Shen Zhiyao only felt a wave of heat rush toward her face, the strong smell of blood lingering on the tip of her nose.

Shen Zhiyao's legs went weak, and she slid down the car door to the ground.

Her black backless evening gown was covered in grass clippings and lime, and she gasped for air.

The look she directed at Zhang Xuanyao transformed from initial fear into near-deified worship in just a few seconds.

It was the fanaticism of surviving a disaster, the psychological collapse after witnessing a miracle.

President Shen Yanbai rushed to Shen Zhiyao's side, hugging his sister tightly, his hands trembling like a sieve.

After confirming there was no wound on Shen Zhiyao's forehead, President Shen Yanbai turned his head abruptly to look at Zhang Xuanyao on the steps.

This successor to the Shen Group had red eyes, and a suppressed sob escaped his throat.

The Sorcerer saw his fatal strike mysteriously turn, filled with both shock and fear.

His face, like withered tree bark, was full of disbelief, and sharp curses issued from his mouth.

He realized he had met his match, and his left hand suddenly raised, preparing to bite his tongue tip to spray a blood arrow, casting a Blood Escape technique from Nanyang dark arts to flee.

"Want to leave? Have you asked this poor Daoist?"

The lightning in the palm of Zhang Xuanyao's right hand had expanded to its limit.

Azure lightning leaped between his fingers, emitting a harsh sound like a thousand birds chirping. The surrounding air was ionized, giving off a strong smell of ozone.

The Sorcerer kicked the ground hard, his figure turning into a black shadow as he rushed toward the wall.

The air around him began to distort, and the red glow of the Blood Escape already emerged on his body surface.

"Since you like playing with shadows, then see some light."

Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand, and the Palm Thunder technique poured out.

The Five Thunders Method transformed into an azure electric Dragon as thick as a water bucket, carrying a destructive Aura of extreme Yang and rigidity, directly engulfing the Sorcerer in mid-air.

The lightning illuminated the entire manor, even outshining the lights of the Villa hall.

The Sorcerer's shrill scream came to an abrupt halt.

The thunder pierced his body, not only destroying his flesh but also completely purifying his sinister cultivation.

The electric Dragon landed, smashing out a charred pit three meters in diameter.

As the lightning dissipated, only a pile of charred ashes remained where the Sorcerer had been standing.

A night breeze blew, and the ashes scattered with the wind.

The bone plaques, Demonic Weapon, and even that string of human bone necklaces carried by the Sorcerer were all completely reduced to a molecular state under the high temperature of the thunder technique.

Physical transcendence, leaving no future trouble.

President Shen Yanbai helped Shen Zhiyao stand up. The siblings looked at each other and walked in unison toward Zhang Xuanyao.

President Shen Yanbai walked to the bottom of the steps, bowed deeply, his head buried very low.

"Many thanks, Daoist, for saving our lives!"

Seeing this, all the bodyguards of the Shen Family also put away their weapons in unison and bowed their heads in respect to Zhang Xuanyao.

The movements of the dozens of burly men were uniform, their Aura appearing extremely shocking in the silent night.

Jiang Yuanshan squatted beside the pile of ashes, his old face twitching constantly.

He pinched a bit of the remaining charred soil with his fingers, held it to his nose to smell it, and muttered to himself.

"Thunder technique cleansing the ground... this isn't a magic battle; this is a one-sided slaughter."

Zhang Xuanyao put away the sanqing bell and casually picked up the phone that was stuck in the crevice of the stone lion's base.

After a minute of silence, the live stream chat was completely boiling. The screen was flooded with Carnival and Rocket special effects, almost obscuring the entire view.

"Holy crap! Was that lightning just now? That was lightning, right!"

"The Daoist is really cultivating immortality! That old man was directly struck into ashes!"

"Where is the local police? Is this really not filming a sci-fi movie?"

"The Shen Family bodyguards are all kneeling, the Daoist is awesome!"

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the skyrocketing shock value, waved at the camera, and remained calm.

"Brothers, I've said to believe in science. That was ball lightning just now, belonging to a rare natural phenomenon. As for that old man, perhaps his electrical conductivity was relatively good."

Before Zhang Xuanyao finished speaking, the sound of dense police sirens came from the road outside the manor.

A dozen police cars with flashing red and blue lights roared into the Shen Family Manor.

Qin Bingruo was wearing a crisp police uniform, with a pistol at her waist, and rushed into the courtyard with a dozen fully armed police officers.

Qin Bingruo stepped out of the police car, her gaze sweeping over the animal viscera all over the ground, the shattered stone lion, and finally fixed on the charred ashes that were still emitting blue smoke.

She froze in place, her hand holding the gun tightening, her eyes full of astonishment.

Qin Bingruo walked quickly toward Zhang Xuanyao, the soles of her boots making harsh sounds on the rubble.

Her eyes were complex, containing both the joy of reunion and, more importantly, deep worry. She had been watching the live stream the whole way, and her heart rate hadn't returned to normal yet.

"Zhang Xuanyao, you've caused too much of a commotion this time."

Qin Bingruo stopped in front of Zhang Xuanyao, her tone carrying a hint of reproach.

She glanced at the trembling Shen Family bodyguards around her, and finally looked at the pile of ashes.

"How do you expect me to write the report? Should I write 'Suspect was struck into carbon fiber by lightning because he didn't believe in science'?"

Zhang Xuanyao shrugged and casually stuffed the sanqing bell into his pocket. He pointed at President Shen Yanbai, looking innocent.

"Officer Qin, you have to ask President Shen about this. I'm just a passing Daoist. I saw his lightning rod was broken and came over to help fix it."

President Shen Yanbai quickly stepped forward and nodded to Qin Bingruo.

Although the Shen Family had a transcendent status in Heng City, they still maintained sufficient courtesy in front of Qin Bingruo, this criminal investigation detachment captain.

"Captain Qin, this Daoist is indeed helping our Shen Family handle some... special circumstances."

Qin Bingruo rolled her eyes at Zhang Xuanyao, signaling the police officers behind her to take samples.

Several young officers held sample bags, frowning at the pile of ashes. In all their years in the profession, it was the first time they had seen a criminal suspect struck so cleanly.

Qin Bingruo pulled Zhang Xuanyao aside, her expression becoming grave. She took a stack of printed documents from her pocket and handed them to Zhang Xuanyao.

"The Sorcerer's identity has been verified. He belongs to the overseas 'Black Sand' organization. This organization is notorious in Southeast Asia, specializing in targeting domestic rare earth mineral companies operating abroad. Their methods are extremely brutal, and several company heads have died mysteriously on the eve of bidding."

73: Chapter 73: The Three-Day Countdown, Blood Clouds Press In

Officer Qin pointed to a gory photo in the file; it showed the corpse of a domestic businessman, whose cause of death was identical to the symptoms previously shown by the old master of the Shen Family.

"The Black Sand Organization not only has a background in Nanyang black magic but also has the backing of local warlords.

The mining rights the Shen Family secured this time are their Achilles' heel; they will never let this go."

Zhang Xuanyao took the file and flipped through it, his gaze gradually turning cold.

Looking at the compatriots who had died such tragic deaths in the photos, the playful and irreverent aura around him quietly dissipated.

It was replaced by a majestic and inviolable aura of a Grandmaster.

"The Black Sand Organization steals our Huaxia projects and kills our Huaxia compatriots. A pile of ashes is not enough to settle this debt."

Zhang Xuanyao let out a cold snort, his voice echoing through the silent night sky.

President Shen Yanbai and Shen Zhiyao were standing not far away, and upon hearing this, their hearts trembled violently.

Shen Zhiyao scrambled up from the ground, not bothering to wipe the dust from her face, and ran over to Zhang Xuanyao's side.

She grabbed onto the corner of Zhang Xuanyao's clothes tightly.

"Daoist, will they... will they come again?"

Shen Zhiyao's voice trembled; the image of that blood nail brushing past her nose would become a nightmare for the rest of her life.

Zhang Xuanyao activated his Heavenly Eye, his gaze piercing through the Void Realm.

In a plane invisible to ordinary people, three dark red lines of Karma were spreading crazily from the southeast.

The Karma lines were as thick as pythons, their ends pointing fixedly at the main building of the Shen Family Manor.

"Within three days, the Black Sand Organization will definitely have a stronger backup plan."

Zhang Xuanyao withdrew his gaze, his tone flat yet revealing a bone-chilling murderous intent. He turned his head to look at Officer Qin, his lips curling into a meaningful arc.

"Next time I will hold back my strength a little and leave a live one for Officer Qin to report."

Officer Qin was stunned for a moment, then sighed helplessly. She knew that no one could change anything that Zhang Xuanyao had decided.

"President Shen, strengthen security over the next few days. I will send a team to guard the perimeter of the manor."

Officer Qin instructed President Shen Yanbai, then turned to look at Zhang Xuanyao, her eyes revealing a trace of reliance that even she herself had not noticed.

"Be careful, don't push yourself."

Zhang Xuanyao didn't speak, just waved his hand and turned to walk toward the Villa.

Shen Zhiyao followed closely behind him like a tagalong, not daring to leave his side for even half a step.

Jiang Yuanshan watched Zhang Xuanyao's back, then looked at the pile of ashes, and let out a long breath of murky air.

He knew that the sky over Heng City was about to change completely because of this Junior Martial Uncle.

The police officers were still busy taking samples. A young officer walked up to Officer Qin with a bitter face.

"Boss, there is nothing left in this ash except carbon. DNA testing probably won't work. Are we really going to write 'Person struck by lightning' in the suspect name column?"

Officer Qin glared at him without saying a word, just looking at the lightning rod on the top floor of the Villa that was gleaming coldly in the night.

The night at the Shen Family Manor returned to tranquility, but underneath this tranquility, turbulent undercurrents were hidden.

Zhang Xuanyao returned to the top-tier guest room arranged by the Shen Family. Shen Zhiyao personally carried a basin of hot water and placed it carefully by the bedside.

This Young Miss of the Shen Family, who was usually surrounded by adoring attention, was now as docile as a little maid.

"Daoist, please wash your hands."

Shen Zhiyao lowered her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

She didn't dare to look up into Zhang Xuanyao's eyes, fearing that his deep gaze would see through the secrets in her heart.

Zhang Xuanyao didn't stand on ceremony and washed up simply. He sat on the mahogany chair in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze directed toward the southeast.

In the vision of his Heavenly Eye, the three blood-colored Karma lines became clearer and clearer.

"Young Miss Shen, go rest. Do not leave this building for these three days."

Zhang Xuanyao's tone was flat, yet it carried a power that made it impossible to refuse.

Shen Zhiyao nodded obediently and walked out of the room, looking back every few steps.

President Shen Yanbai walked into the room, holding a check and a document in his hands. He placed them respectfully on the coffee table.

"Daoist, this is a check for ten million US dollars. In addition, the Shen Group has a detached Villa by the river in Heng City, and the property rights have already been transferred to your name. These are the documents."

President Shen Yanbai's attitude was sincere; he knew that money could no longer measure Zhang Xuanyao's value. If the Shen Family wanted long-term peace and stability, they had to cling tightly to this powerful ally.

Zhang Xuanyao glanced at the check and stuffed it into his pocket.

"Boss Shen is thoughtful. As for the Villa, I don't want it; the Daoist temple is quite comfortable."

President Shen Yanbai felt relieved; as long as Zhang Xuanyao was willing to accept things, the Shen Family could still be saved.

"Daoist, regarding the 'Black Sand' Organization, I just received the latest news."

President Shen Yanbai lowered his voice, his expression grave.

"They have hired a group of top-tier desperadoes in Southeast Asia who have already infiltrated the country. Moreover, it is said that the boss behind Black Sand has hired a leading figure in the Nanyang black magic world, known as the 'Blood Descent King'."

Zhang Xuanyao turned the sanqing bell in his hand, producing a faint, crisp sound.

"Blood Descent King? That's quite a loud name."

Zhang Xuanyao smiled disdainfully. In his eyes, these so-called masters of black magic were nothing more than clowns playing with Yin Qi.

"Daoist, you must not be careless. The Blood Descent King has been famous for a long time; it is said that he can control a person's Bloodline, causing them to explode and die from thousands of miles away."

President Shen Yanbai's eyes revealed concern.

Zhang Xuanyao stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. He raised his right hand, his fingertips tracing a light movement in the Void Realm. Heavenly Eye fully activated.

His gaze pierced through the walls, through the night, crossing a distance of thousands of miles.

In a dark and humid rainforest, on an altar built of skulls, sat an old man whose entire body was crimson red.

The old man was surrounded by countless blood-colored mists, and in every wisp of mist, it seemed as if vengeful spirits were wailing.

Seemingly sensing Zhang Xuanyao's peeking, the old man opened his eyes abruptly. They were a pair of eyes without pupils, only blood-red.

"Huaxia Daoist... ruining my good deeds... Die!"

The old man let out a hoarse roar, and the blood mist around the altar instantly became violent.

Zhang Xuanyao withdrew his gaze, golden light flowing in the depths of his eyes. He let out a cold snort, and lightning flickered around his body.

"Within three days, if he dares to step half a step into Huaxia, I will let him know what it means that the might of Heaven cannot be violated."

President Shen Yanbai stood to the side, feeling an overwhelming pressure rushing toward him. His legs went soft, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

Meanwhile, Officer Qin was sitting in the police car, flipping through the files of the Black Sand Organization. Her brows were tightly locked, and her fingers kept tapping on the steering wheel.

"Black Sand... these lunatics."

Officer Qin gritted her teeth. She knew that this mission was not only to protect the Shen Family but also to safeguard national interests.

"Notify the Special Police team to be on standby around the clock. A three-kilometer radius around the Shen Family Manor is to be designated as a temporary restricted zone."

Officer Qin issued the order, then looked once more at the window of the room where Zhang Xuanyao was, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

Although the live stream had ended, the popularity remained high. Countless netizens were discussing that scene on forums and message boards.

"The Daoist's lightning technique is definitely real kung fu!"

"The Shen Family has hit the jackpot this time."

"What the hell is the Black Sand Organization? It sounds so evil."

...

The three-day deadline passed in the blink of an eye.

During these three days, the Shen Family Manor was calm on the surface, but turbulent undercurrents were surging underneath.

President Shen Yanbai mobilized all resources to build the manor into an impenetrable fortress.

Officer Qin also brought the police team to station nearby, waiting in full battle array.

Late at night on the third day.

The originally clear sky was suddenly blocked by thick red clouds. A strong, nauseating smell of blood permeated the air.

The trees around the Shen Family Manor withered rapidly, their leaves turning black and falling off.

Zhang Xuanyao, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them abruptly.

He stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked toward the direction of the manor gate.

The three blood-colored Karma lines were already close at hand.

"They are here."

Zhang Xuanyao spoke coldly.

74: Chapter 74: Since there is a Blood-Subdued King, is there a Blood-Subdued Queen?

Zhang Xuanyao stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze piercing through the glass. The three dark red threads of Karma in the sky were twisting frantically, their ends pointing directly at the main building of the Shen Family Manor.

"It's here." Zhang Xuanyao said coldly.

As soon as he finished speaking, the night wind outside the window suddenly changed direction. The originally cool breeze now carried a thick, fishy stench, forcing its way through the gaps in the window into the room.

Zhang Xuanyao turned around, flipped his wrist, and reached his fingertips into the wide sleeve of his Dao robe to pull out a smartphone with a few cracks along the edge of its screen.

He swiped his thumb up to unlock the screen and skillfully tapped on the live-streaming software icon.

His fingers tapped rapidly on the virtual keyboard, and a string of characters appeared in the title bar: [Midnight Popular Science: How to Scientifically Treat Nanyang Chuunibyou].

His fingertip pressed the "Start Stream" button.

The moment the live stream started, the online viewer count in the top right corner began to jump frantically: ten thousand, fifty thousand, two hundred thousand, five hundred thousand.

The hardcore "popular science" from the past two days, combined with the curiosity of night-owl netizens, made the popularity of the live stream skyrocket instantly.

Comments on the screen scrolled down like a waterfall.

[First! First! The Daoist is doing crazy things in the middle of the night again!]

[What the Hell is Nanyang Chuunibyou? Not striking lightning today?]

[The Daoist's titles are getting more and more outrageous. Selling melon seeds, peanuts, and mineral water in the front row.]

[Just got off the night shift, counting on the Daoist for my late-night meal. Hurry up and bring out the Nanyang local specialty!]

Zhang Xuanyao clipped the phone into the selfie stick's slot, adjusted the angle of the front camera, and waved his tattered palm-leaf fan at the screen.

"Brothers, good evening. Today I've encountered a severe case of cross-border Chuunibyou who insists on coming to Heng City to deliver food. This humble Daoist will show you all how to treat this illness."

At this moment, outside the Shen Family Manor, a strange change occurred.

A wild wind howled, kicking up dust all over the sky. The originally neatly trimmed and vibrant imported lawn began to change at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The edges of the grass blades curled and yellowed rapidly, the roots withered and lost moisture, and in just a few seconds, vast stretches of green turned into gray, decayed powder. As the night wind blew, the powder danced in the sky.

The blood-stained smell permeating the air became extremely thick, even carrying a nauseating metallic tang.

The SWAT Team Members guarding the perimeter of the manor bore the brunt of it. Qin Bingruo stood beside an anti-riot vehicle, her right hand gripping the handle of her sidearm.

The Blood Qi was pervasive, drilling into the lungs through the nasal cavity. Qin Bingruo felt as if a thousand-pound boulder were pressing on her chest, making breathing extremely difficult.

The surrounding Special Police were no better off. Several young members had trembling legs, their arms holding the assault rifles shaking uncontrollably, with the muzzles pointing straight down to the ground.

Inside the main hall of the Shen Family Manor, dozens of bodyguards in black retreated behind the doors.

President Shen Yanbai gripped a tactical long sword, his palm soaked with cold sweat.

The needle on the Feng Shui compass in Jiang Yuanshan's hand had completely lost control, spinning wildly and emitting a harsh, grinding sound.

"Creak—"

The heavy, solid copper door of the main building was pushed open from the inside.

The harsh sound of metal rubbing against metal seemed exceptionally abrupt in the silent and oppressive manor.

Everyone turned their heads in unison.

Zhang Xuanyao was wearing that washed-out Dao robe, his feet in old Beijing cloth shoes, his left hand waving a tattered palm-leaf fan, and his right hand holding a selfie stick high.

His pace was unhurried as he stepped over the threshold of the hall and walked down the white marble steps one by one.

The surrounding Special Police were on high alert, and the bodyguards gripped their weapons, not daring to even breathe hard.

Yet, Zhang Xuanyao looked like an old man taking a stroll in the park after dinner, walking leisurely through the crowd to the open space in the center of the manor.

The extreme visual contrast made Qin Bingruo's originally tense nerves relax inexplicably. Watching that slightly thin back, President Shen Yanbai's wildly beating heart also gradually calmed down.

The strange phenomenon in the sky became increasingly terrifying.

Thick red clouds gathered and collided frantically directly above the manor. As the clouds churned, dark red lightning was squeezed out.

Countless blood energy converged toward the center, condensing into a huge, hideous blood-colored human face in the night sky. The face's features were twisted, and scarlet mist churned within the hollow eye sockets.

The true form of the Blood Descent King descended slowly from the giant mouth of the human face.

His body, withered like tree bark, floated in mid-air, more than ten meters above the ground.

His bare upper body was covered in eerie runes, and he was surrounded by thick, blood-colored mist. Within the mist, countless human faces appeared and disappeared, opening their mouths to emit silent wails.

The scene was like an Asura Hell descending upon the human world.

The Blood Descent King looked down, his pupil-less, blood-red eyes locked onto Zhang Xuanyao on the ground.

"Little brat of Huaxia!"

The Blood Descent King spoke, his voice hoarse, with a built-in terrifying amplification effect.

The sound waves echoed over the manor, causing the glass of several floor-to-ceiling windows of the main building to clatter, and spiderweb-like cracks spread rapidly in all directions.

"Killing my disciples and destroying my curse formation! Today, I will peel your skin and cramp you, drain the blood of everyone in this garden, and refine it into my Blood Banner!"

The huge sound wave mixed with Blood Qi rushed toward him, blowing Zhang Xuanyao's Dao robe so that it fluttered loudly.

Zhang Xuanyao stopped, pushed the base of the selfie stick firmly into the soil of the lawn.

He raised his left hand and used his little finger to pick his ear.

He looked up at the Blood Descent King in mid-air and curled his lips.

"Your name is a bit too Chuunibyou, isn't it? 'Blood Descent King'? If I give you a 'Blood Descent Queen', wouldn't you two make a pair?"

Zhang Xuanyao's voice was not loud, but it clearly spread throughout the entire manor, even drowning out the wind in the air.

The atmosphere, which had been terrifying and oppressive to the extreme, was shattered by this sentence.

On the screen of the phone stuck in the mud, after a brief pause, the comments experienced an unprecedented explosion.

[Holy shit, Blood Descent Queen! Is the Daoist's mouth poisoned?]

[I was so scared I forgot to breathe, but one sentence from the Daoist broke my defense. I'm dying of laughter!]

[The old man opposite is green in the face—oh no, he's bright red! Just like a boiled crab!]

[Popular science time: Patients with late-stage Nanyang Chuunibyou have a clinical manifestation of liking to float in mid-air and make threats.]

[The Daoist is awesome! This mental quality—Mount Tai collapsing before him without changing his expression, and he can still casually mock him!]

In mid-air.

The Blood Descent King, who had lived for nearly a hundred years, had been worshipped as a god by countless warlords and wealthy businessmen in Nanyang, and was bowed to wherever he went. He had never suffered such a great humiliation.

The skin on his face, like withered tree bark, twitched violently, and the red runes on his face distorted and deformed due to extreme anger.

The Blood Descent King's knuckles cracked, and the blood mist around him boiled frantically due to the master's rage, expanding rapidly outward.

"You seek death!"

The Blood Descent King let out a roar that was shrill to the extreme, quickly formed seals with his hands in front of his chest, and then slammed them downward.

The blood clouds in the sky churned violently, and countless blood energy condensed within the clouds.

Tens of thousands of blood-colored blades protruded from the clouds. Each blood blade was half a meter long, with deadly, dark green poison flowing on its surface.

"Swish, swish, swish—"

The blood blades poured down like a torrential rain, tearing through the air with shrill whistling sounds, heading towards Zhang Xuanyao and the main building of the Shen Family.

Poisonous gas permeated the air, sealing off all paths of retreat.

75: Chapter 75: Using your own people to forge weapons, your crime is unforgivable.

Blood blades hung inverted across the sky, their piercing shrieks tearing through the eardrums.

Qin Bingruo's action of drawing her gun froze in mid-air, her vision filled by the sea of red light pouring down.

In the face of such overwhelming Xuanhuan attacks, modern firearms seemed as ridiculous as fire pokers.

President Shen Yanbai threw away his tactical long knife, turned around, spread his arms, and shielded his younger sister, Shen Zhiyao, beneath him.

Dozens of bodyguards closed their eyes in despair, waiting for the moment their bodies would be pierced by the venomous blades.

Zhang Xuanyao stood rooted to the spot. With a flip of his left hand, a dark golden sanqing bell appeared out of thin air in his palm.

The Bagua patterns on the handle shimmered with a gentle luster in the night.

Zhang Xuanyao flicked his wrist.

"Ding——"

An exceptionally clear and resonant chime exploded in the center of the manor.

The sound was not loud, but it carried the power to pierce the Soul, instantly drowning out the shrieking of the blood blades cutting through the air.

Golden sound waves centered on the sanqing bell transformed into tangible rings of light, rippling outwards.

The rings layered over one another, weaving into a massive, hemispherical golden shield in mid-air in the blink of an eye, tightly enveloping Zhang Xuanyao, the SWAT Team Members, and the entire main building of the Shen Family.

"Peng peng peng peng——"

A dense series of explosive sounds rang out like rain hitting banana leaves.

Tens of thousands of blood-colored blades slammed violently against the golden shield.

The moment they made contact, the dark green venom coating the blades hissed as it dissolved.

Golden light swirled on the surface of the shield, and the divine seal of the Nine Heavens Universal Thunder Puhua Heavenly Venerable flickered on the light curtain.

The blood blades shattered inch by inch, turning into puffs of foul-smelling green smoke.

Before the smoke could dissipate, it was completely purified by the pure Daoist Qi emitted by the shield, not even a speck of residue falling into the manor.

Qin Bingruo lowered her arms, looking at the golden, shimmering shield above her head, her breathing gradually steadying.

President Shen Yanbai climbed up from the ground, looked at his unharmed sister, then looked towards Zhang Xuanyao in the distance, his eyes filled with awe.

High in the air, the Blood Descent King saw his area-of-effect ultimate move easily neutralized by a mere bell, and a flash of horror crossed his eyes.

He changed his hand seals again, clamped his teeth together violently, and bit the tip of his tongue.

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of highly concentrated lifeblood essence sprayed out.

The lifeblood essence did not scatter, but instead moved and elongated eerily in mid-air.

Growing in the wind, it transformed within two seconds into a phantom blood-colored centipede over a dozen meters long.

The centipede was crimson all over, its carapace shimmering with a metallic luster.

Its hundred legs were like sharp sickles, hissing as they cut through the air. Two giant venomous fangs at its head dripped with Death Qi that corroded the Soul.

The blood-colored centipede circled in mid-air, let out a hair-raising hiss, and its massive body turned into a streak of red light, lunging straight at Zhang Xuanyao's face.

It was so fast that the naked eye could only capture a blurred afterimage.

Zhang Xuanyao flipped his wrist and put away the sanqing bell. Facing the terrifying Vicious Beast rushing towards him, he not only didn't dodge, but instead stuck his hands into the pockets of his Daoist robe.

His gaze pierced through the Void Realm, looking at the mass of twisted Death Qi atop the centipede's head.

Zhang Xuanyao's lips moved slightly.

"Jade Purity begins with Azure, the true talisman declares the covenant. Shift the two Qis, merge into one to form the Truth."

"Five Thunders, Five Thunders, gather quickly at Huangning!"

"Strike for me!"

In the night sky, previously obscured by blood clouds and impenetrable to even a sliver of starlight, a massive gap tore open without warning.

Blinding white light flashed at the edges of the gap.

"Boom!"

A thunderclap that shattered the clouds erupted from the ground.

A bucket-thick bolt of azure heavenly thunder struck down from the gap out of thin air, its speed exceeding physical limits, and hit the top of the blood-colored centipede with pinpoint accuracy.

There was no room for any resistance.

The blood-colored centipede didn't even have time to let out a scream; the moment its massive body made contact with the heavenly thunder, it disintegrated instantly.

Its hard carapace, sharp hundred legs, and venomous fangs—

—all turned into nothingness before the supreme yang and supreme rigid power of heaven and earth.

The dozen-meter-long body was struck into flying red specks that rained down in the air.

His life-bound evil art was forcibly broken.

The Blood Descent King, hovering in mid-air, was struck as if by a heavy hammer. His chest suddenly caved inward, emitting the crisp sound of breaking bones.

"Wah!"

The Blood Descent King spat out a large mouthful of black blood mixed with organ fragments. The blood turned into a rain of blood as it fell through the air.

The red runes on his body rapidly dimmed, and his already shriveled body became even more withered, as if a gust of wind could blow it away.

The blood mist surrounding him dissipated by more than half, and his aura instantly withered to the extreme.

The Blood Descent King clutched his chest with both hands, staring fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao below.

In those blood-red eyes, the arrogance finally faded, replaced by extreme disbelief and madness.

He had dominated the Nanyang region for decades and had never seen such bizarre methods. A single sentence could summon heavenly thunder?

"This is what you forced me to do!"

The Blood Descent King fell completely into madness, his reason entirely consumed by hatred. He abandoned his defense, reached into his robes, and sacrificed a tattered, small black flag.

The flagpole was polished from unknown white bones, and the black flag surface was covered with twisted human faces.

"Ten Thousand Bone Blood Soul Banner!"

The Blood Descent King sprayed all his remaining lifeblood essence onto the flag surface.

The small flag swelled in the wind, turning in the blink of an eye into a massive black banner that blotted out the sky. The banner fluttered in the night sky, completely obscuring the only remaining moonlight.

Tens of thousands of gray-white vengeful Souls swarmed out from within the banner.

These vengeful Souls had no facial features, only open, black-hole-like mouths. Their shrill wailing converged into a wave of sound that shot straight into the clouds.

The temperature in the southern suburbs of Heng City dropped to freezing at this moment.

Thick white frost formed on the lawn, and a layer of ice flowers covered the glass of the riot control vehicles. The breath exhaled by the SWAT Team Members instantly turned into white mist.

The vengeful Souls circled in mid-air, and amidst the wailing, familiar Huaxia local accents could be faintly heard.

"Help..."

"I want to go home..."

"It hurts so much..."

These were all Huaxia compatriots who had been brutally harmed overseas by the Black Sand Organization.

Their Souls had been forcibly extracted, imprisoned within this evil banner, tortured day and night, and refined into tools for attack.

The familiar Huaxia local accents drilled into his ears.

The playfulness on Zhang Xuanyao's face completely vanished. He slowly withdrew his hands from his pockets.

The golden light in his eyes erupted like a tangible substance, illuminating the three-foot radius around him.

A terrifying, heart-palpitating pressure erupted from his slightly slender body, like a sleeping ancient Vicious Beast suddenly awakening.

The surrounding air stopped flowing under this pressure.

Zhang Xuanyao looked up, his gaze piercing through the vengeful Souls dancing across the sky, locking onto the Blood Descent King's twisted face.

"Using the Souls of my Huaxia compatriots for Artifact Refining."

Zhang Xuanyao spoke, his voice devoid of any warmth, every word hitting the ground with resounding force.

"You are beyond forgiveness."

76: Chapter 76: Ten Thousand Thunders Cleanse Evil, Policewoman Intercepts the Spy

Zhang Xuanyao raised his right hand to his mouth. He bit the tip of his index finger, and a drop of crimson blood seeped out.

Using the Void Realm as Talisman paper, and blood as cinnabar.

Zhang Xuanyao's arm moved rapidly in mid-air.

His fingertips dragged out trails that flashed with blinding golden light. Complex lines intertwined and were outlined in the air.

In less than half a second, a golden Talisman radiating righteous energy took shape in the Void Realm.

Zhang Xuanyao formed a spell with his left hand and thrust his right hand forward violently.

The golden Talisman swelled in the wind, transforming into a pillar of light that shot straight into the sky, piercing the firmament.

"Nine Heavens Respond to Origin, Thunder Resounds to Universal Transformation."

Zhang Xuanyao's chanting sounded like a great bell, echoing over the entire southern suburbs of Heng City.

"Divine Thunder cleanses the earth, exterminating evil and banishing demons!"

"Strike again for me!"

As the last word was uttered.

Above the firmament, the night sky, originally obscured by the Blood Soul Banner, erupted in chaos.

Ten thousand bolts of wild thunder tore through the thick clouds, like the Milky Way pouring downwards, transforming into a dazzling ocean of thunder that cascaded down from the Nine Heavens.

The azure thunder light illuminated the entire night sky of Heng City, making the night as bright as day.

The ocean of thunder clashed head-on with the sky-covering Ten Thousand Bone Blood Soul Banner.

There was no stalemate at all.

In the face of such extremely Yang and rigid thunder techniques, the extremely Yin and evil blood banner was like paper.

"Crack—"

The white bone flagpole snapped in the middle. The black banner surface shattered inch by inch in the thunder light, turning into countless burning ashes.

The tens of thousands of wronged souls bound within the banner did not emit painful wails the moment they touched the thunder light. The thunder washed away the resentment and Death Qi from their bodies.

The grey-white remnant souls gradually became transparent, turning into countless pure points of light.

The points of light circled and danced in mid-air, as if bowing to thank Zhang Xuanyao, then transformed into a rain of light, rising into the high sky and dissipating completely between heaven and earth.

The Blood Descent King lost his last trump card and was completely swallowed by the ocean of thunder.

"Ah—"

The extremely shrill scream lasted only half a second.

The thunder penetrated his body, and the high temperature instantly carbonized his flesh and bones.

Half of the Blood Descent King's body was directly struck into charcoal, and his lifeless body fell heavily towards the ground like a meteorite from mid-air.

"Boom!"

The charred remains smashed onto the open ground outside the manor, creating a deep pit five meters in diameter. Soil flew, and the smell of burning mixed with the scent of ozone permeated the air.

The thunder light gradually dissipated, and the night sky returned to calm.

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the edge of the large pit.

At the bottom of the pit, the remaining half of the Blood Descent King's body was still twitching slightly.

That once arrogant face was now burnt beyond recognition. The only remaining eye was filled with the fear of death.

Officer Qin led several SWAT Team Members and walked forward quickly.

She took a look at the object at the bottom of the pit that could barely be recognized as human, and took out the handcuffs from her waist.

Two SWAT Team Members jumped into the pit, roughly twisted the Blood Descent King's remaining arm behind his back, and dragged him up.

"Zhang Xuanyao, you followed the rules this time and left a live one." Officer Qin fastened the handcuffs and turned to look at Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao shrugged.

"Officer Qin, this old thing's Meridians are all broken, and his cultivation is completely ruined. The rest is up to your interrogation methods."

Watching the police car escort the Blood Descent King away from the manor.

Zhang Xuanyao exhaled a long breath, and his tensed muscles finally relaxed completely.

He summoned the System panel.

In the top right corner of the screen, the number for shock value was jumping at a crazy speed.

One hundred thousand, five hundred thousand, eight hundred thousand... finally settling at one million two hundred thousand!

The millions of friends in the live broadcast room witnessed the spectacular scene of the thunder technique cleansing the ground with their own eyes, contributing a massive amount of shock value.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the green-glowing lottery button on the panel and rubbed his fingers.

Previous shock values had all been used for lotteries, but this time he decided to save them instead of drawing, and exchange them directly for Advanced goods in the System store.

Closing the panel, Zhang Xuanyao turned and walked towards the main building.

Before he had walked a few steps, a rapid clicking sound of high heels came from behind.

Shen Zhiyao lifted the hem of her slightly messy black evening gown and trotted over to Zhang Xuanyao's side.

This Young Miss of the Shen Family, who was usually high and mighty and pursued by countless rich second-generation heirs in Heng City, now had a face full of excited blushes.

The first time, that blood nail flew past her nose, and it was Zhang Xuanyao who saved her.

The second time, through her brother President Shen Yanbai's account, she learned that Zhang Xuanyao not only saved her grandfather Patriarch Shen Ting, but also protected the entire Shen Family.

The peerless posture of him using the thunder technique to cleanse the earth and standing proudly against the sky just now had already been deeply imprinted in her mind, completely shattering her proud heart.

Shen Zhiyao did not hesitate at all and wrapped her hands directly around Zhang Xuanyao's forearm.

Her chest pressed against the edge of his Daoist robe through the silk fabric.

She tilted her head up, resting her chin on Zhang Xuanyao's arm, looking at him with her big, blinking eyes.

"Daoist Zhang..."

Shen Zhiyao's voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of pleading.

"You saved Zhiyao twice, and Zhiyao has nothing to repay you. Tomorrow... can you accompany me to go shopping tomorrow? I want to pick out some clothes for you personally."

Feeling the soft sensation on his arm, Zhang Xuanyao looked down at the exquisite face before him and raised an eyebrow.

Zhang Xuanyao looked down at Shen Zhiyao, who was pressed against his arm.

The silk fabric rubbed against his Daoist robe.

"Young Miss Shen."

Zhang Xuanyao pulled his arm away.

"This Daoist practices purity and few desires; your fabric is too slippery, it easily makes one slide into the abyss."

"Forget about shopping, I am used to wearing this Daoist robe; other clothes feel uncomfortable."

Shen Zhiyao bit her lip, her hands clasped in front of her.

"Daoist Zhang, I..."

Before she could finish.

A rapid sound of tires screeching came from outside the manor gate.

A police SUV returned.

The car door opened.

Officer Qin, wearing a crisp police uniform, strode through the gate.

Her gaze swept across the steps.

She happened to see Shen Zhiyao's bashful appearance.

Officer Qin stopped.

Her hand pressed against the holster at her waist.

"Zhang Xuanyao, it seems I returned at a bad time."

Zhang Xuanyao turned his head.

"Officer Qin, don't always keep your hand on your gun; it might go off accidentally."

Officer Qin walked up the steps.

She grabbed Shen Zhiyao's wrist and pulled her away.

"Young Miss Shen, Daoist Zhang is an important consultant for our police."

"There is an urgent case now that requires his assistance."

"Private matters like shopping, put them aside."

77: Chapter 77: A Casual "Hint," the Shen Family's All-Out Gamble

At the entrance of Shen Family Manor.

Officer Qin curled her fingers, gripping Zhang Xuanyao's wrist.

The cuff of her police uniform rubbed against the coarse fabric of his Daoist robe.

Zhang Xuanyao stepped forward, following the pull as he walked down the white marble steps.

His old Beijing cloth shoes stepped onto the shattered stone slabs, creating a faint friction sound.

Shen Zhiyao stood at the very top of the steps.

The hem of her black evening gown was lifted by the night wind, clinging to her fair calves.

Her hands were folded in front of her, fingers tightly intertwined.

Her nails dug into the soft flesh of her hands, leaving several red marks.

Her gaze crossed over Officer Qin's shoulder, staring intently at that back clad in a worn-out Daoist robe.

Her lips pouted, her pearly teeth biting her lower lip.

A layer of mist welled up in her eyes.

The night wind tousled the stray hairs on her forehead, obscuring half of her gaze.

The facade of the aloof heiress shattered completely at this moment.

She looked exactly like a wronged young girl whose favorite toy had been snatched away.

President Shen Yanbai stood to the side, taking in his younger sister's reaction.

He raised his hand and patted Shen Zhiyao's shoulder.

A slight tremor came from her shoulder against his palm.

President Shen Yanbai sighed and turned to look toward the manor gate.

A police SUV was parked outside the wrought-iron gate.

Red and blue flashing lights alternated in the night, the light sweeping across the messy lawn.

Officer Qin opened the driver's side door and stepped in with her long legs.

Zhang Xuanyao walked around the front of the car, opened the passenger door, and sat in the seat.

The door closed with a dull metallic thud.

The engine roared, and the exhaust pipe puffed out a cloud of white smoke.

Zhang Xuanyao raised his hand and pressed the window control button.

The dark glass slowly rolled down.

Zhang Xuanyao turned his head, his gaze piercing through the night to land on President Shen Yanbai on the steps.

He extended his arm out the window.

His palm opened, his wrist rotated, and he waved casually twice.

He lifted his chin, gesturing toward the main building of the manor.

The meaning was that it was late, so they should hurry back inside to rest and stop standing out in the wind.

President Shen Yanbai stood where he was, his gaze catching Zhang Xuanyao's movement.

His eyes shifted, sweeping over his sister beside him, who looked aggrieved with red-rimmed eyes.

Innumerable thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

"What does Great Master Zhang mean by this?"

"Rolling down the window specifically, could it just be to say goodbye?"

"No!"

"For an Immortal figure like the Great Master, his actions must have deep meaning."

His gaze returned to Zhang Xuanyao's waving hand.

The direction of the hand wave happened to be tilted toward where Shen Zhiyao was standing.

President Shen Yanbai slapped his thigh.

"I understand!"

"This is an 'indication'!"

"The Great Master is indicating that he has a favorable impression of Zhiyao, but because Officer Qin is present, it's not convenient to say it outright!"

President Shen Yanbai's mouth widened, revealing two rows of white teeth.

The gloom on his face was swept away.

He rubbed his hands together twice, took a step, and walked forward two paces.

He bent his waist and nodded frantically toward the police car.

The movement was so large he almost twisted his neck.

His smile was filled with the ecstasy of "I've cracked the code" and "Rest assured, I'll handle it."

Zhang Xuanyao leaned back in the passenger seat.

Looking through the window, he watched President Shen Yanbai's nodding, which resembled someone pounding garlic.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Did this President Shen understand?"

"As long as he understood, it's fine. Standing outside in the middle of the night, doesn't he feel cold?"

Zhang Xuanyao also nodded back.

He pulled his arm back into the car.

The car window slowly rose, cutting off the view from outside.

The SUV's tires gripped the ground, crushed a few pebbles, and drove onto the outer ring road.

President Shen Yanbai watched the police car's taillights disappear into the end of the night.

He straightened his back and turned to look at Shen Zhiyao.

He raised his hand and ruffled his sister's hair.

"Stop looking, the Great Master knows what he's doing."

Shen Zhiyao looked up, her eyes filled with confusion.

"Brother, what are you talking about?"

President Shen Yanbai smiled without answering, clasped his hands behind his back, and turned to walk toward the main building.

Inside the manor, dozens of bodyguards in black began to clean up the aftermath.

Shovels scooped up the scorched earth and packed it into plastic woven bags.

Water hoses sprayed high-pressure jets, washing away the bloodstains on the white marble steps.

The stench in the air was gradually masked by the smell of damp earth.

The solid copper doors of the main building were pushed open from the inside.

The Shen Family elder, Patriarch Shen Ting, leaned on a red sandalwood cane and stepped over the threshold.

Two burly bodyguards supported his arms, one on each side.

Patriarch Shen Ting was wearing a dark red Tang suit, his silver hair combed meticulously.

Although he had just recovered from a serious illness and his complexion was still somewhat pale, his eyes revealed the shrewdness of someone who had navigated the business world for decades.

The red sandalwood cane tapped on the stone slab, making a dull thud.

Patriarch Shen Ting walked up to the siblings and stopped.

His gaze crossed over the wrought-iron gate, looking toward the direction where the police car had disappeared.

The night wind blew the hem of his Tang suit.

Patriarch Shen Ting folded his hands, pressing them onto the dragon carving at the top of his cane.

"Yanbai."

Patriarch Shen Ting spoke, his voice hoarse but carrying the authority of someone in a high position.

President Shen Yanbai quickly stepped forward, bowing his head to get closer.

"Grandfather, why have you come out? It's windy outside."

Patriarch Shen Ting waved his hand, pushing away the bodyguards' support.

He thumped his cane heavily on the ground.

"That little bit of wind isn't enough to knock me down."

Patriarch Shen Ting withdrew his gaze, letting it fall on President Shen Yanbai's face.

"Has Great Master Zhang left?"

President Shen Yanbai nodded.

"Officer Qin said there was an urgent case and took the Great Master away."

Patriarch Shen Ting snorted coldly.

"An urgent case? I think the police also realized the Great Master's value and want to poach him."

Patriarch Shen Ting turned around, facing the huge, scorched deep pit in the manor created by the lightning strike.

The soil at the edge of the pit was still emitting wisps of blue smoke.

"Yanbai, Zhiyao."

Patriarch Shen Ting emphasized his tone, his cane tapping the ground again.

"Remember this."

"This Daoist priest Zhang Xuanyao is absolutely not one of those charlatans in the Jianghu."

"Using lightning to cleanse the earth, words manifesting..."

"This is a true almighty expert who can reach the heavens and penetrate the earth!"

Patriarch Shen Ting turned his head, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the siblings.

"Although our Shen Family is large and prosperous in Heng City, in the eyes of such an almighty expert, we are nothing more than fleeting smoke."

"If we want to preserve the Shen Family's century-old foundation, or even advance further..."

"We must cling tightly to this powerful backer!"

President Shen Yanbai's expression turned solemn, and he nodded repeatedly.

"Rest assured, Grandfather, your grandson understands. I have already transferred the deed of that riverside Villa to the Great Master, and I also presented a check for ten million US dollars."

Patriarch Shen Ting nodded with satisfaction.

"That is not enough."

"The Great Master may not value worldly things like money."

"We must cultivate a relationship with sincerity and cater to his preferences."

Patriarch Shen Ting's gaze shifted, landing on Shen Zhiyao.

Shen Zhiyao clasped her hands in front of her chest.

In her mind, she kept replaying the peerless figure of Zhang Xuanyao standing beneath the sky full of blood blades, forming hand seals with one hand to summon heavenly lightning.

That deafening thunder, that dazzling blue light.

And that sentence: "Your name is a bit too edgy."

Every scene, every word, was deeply imprinted in her heart.

Little stars of admiration twinkled in Shen Zhiyao's eyes.

Two blushes appeared on her cheeks.

Watching his granddaughter's reaction, Patriarch Shen Ting's mouth curved into a satisfied smile.

He tapped his cane on the ground.

"Zhiyao, go to the storeroom tomorrow and pack up that three-hundred-year-old wild ginseng."

"You will personally deliver it to Qingfeng Temple."

Shen Zhiyao snapped back to reality and nodded repeatedly.

"Understood, Grandfather."

President Shen Yanbai stood to the side, and the image of Zhang Xuanyao's waving hand appeared in his mind again.

His mouth widened again.

The Shen Family's great ship was now completely stable.

The bodyguards sped up the cleaning process.

The deep pit was filled with fresh soil.

The broken stone lions were hauled away by truck.

Shen Family Manor gradually returned to tranquility in the night, but everyone's state of mind had undergone an earth-shattering change.

78: Chapter 78: Officer, she's just a floor sweeper.

The outer ring elevated road of Heng City.

A police SUV sped along the empty lane.

Streetlights emitted a dim, yellow glow.

Light and shadow flickered alternately inside the cabin through the car windows.

Qin Bingruo gripped the steering wheel with both hands, her leather gloves rubbing against the leather cover, making a faint sound.

Her gaze was fixed on the road ahead.

Yet the corner of her eye uncontrollably drifted, sweeping over the passenger seat.

Zhang Xuanyao leaned against the seat back, his eyes slightly closed.

His chest rose and fell evenly with his breathing.

The collar of his faded Daoist robe was slightly open, revealing the clear lines of his collarbone.

In his hand, he still gripped that dark golden sanqing bell.

His thumb unconsciously stroked the edge of the bell.

Qin Bingruo looked at that sharp-featured side profile; the typically decisive criminal investigation team captain now had a hint of imperceptible tenderness in her eyes.

The image of Zhang Xuanyao standing in front of everyone, summoning thousands of wild thunderbolts, surfaced in her mind.

That Aura of looking down upon the world made it so that Qin Bingruo's heartbeat still hadn't fully returned to normal.

The pressure of her foot on the accelerator lightened unconsciously.

The car speed dropped.

The roar of the engine became gentle.

Qin Bingruo withdrew her gaze and focused on the road ahead.

Yet the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upwards.

Half an hour later.

The SUV drove off the elevated road and turned into a small asphalt path in the southern suburbs.

The trees on both sides of the road were dense.

The car headlights tore through the night, illuminating the bluestone path ahead.

The vehicle slowly stopped in front of a building.

Qin Bingruo pushed open the car door, stepped out with her long legs, and her leather boots landed on the bluestone.

She closed the door behind her.

She lifted her head and cast her gaze forward.

Her footsteps stopped abruptly.

Her eyes widened.

In her sight, the formerly dilapidated Qingfeng Temple, where even the courtyard wall had half-collapsed, had completely changed its appearance.

The two three-meter-high vermilion-painted gates were brand new and shiny.

The gate surface was studded with eighty-one brass door nails, shimmering with a metallic luster in the night.

On both sides of the gate stood two white marble stone lions, taller than a person.

The carving was exquisite and lifelike.

Above the lintel hung a plaque made of golden nanmu wood.

The three large characters "Qingfeng Temple" were written in a vigorous, sweeping calligraphy style, filled with red gold.

The towering courtyard walls were all rebuilt with blue bricks, and the top of the walls was paved with glazed tiles.

Qin Bingruo stood stunned in place.

Is this still that broken Daoist temple that couldn't even receive incense money?

This is simply more impressive than the most luxurious private club in Heng City.

Zhang Xuanyao pushed open the passenger door and got out of the car.

He stretched, his joints making cracking sounds.

He walked to the vermilion gate.

He reached his palm into his Daoist robe pocket and pulled out a brass key.

He inserted it into the keyhole.

He turned his wrist.

With a crisp "click" sound.

Zhang Xuanyao pressed his hands against the door panels and pushed hard.

The heavy vermilion gates opened to both sides.

The door hinges turned, emitting a low grinding sound.

The scene inside the courtyard was revealed before them.

The courtyard, paved with bluestone, was spotless.

The flower beds on both sides were filled with precious flowers and plants.

The main hall directly ahead was brightly lit.

A burst of light footsteps came from the depths of the courtyard.

"Daoist Zhang is back!"

The voice was sweet and crisp, filled with obvious surprise.

Qin Bingruo's footsteps, just having crossed the threshold, stopped again.

She looked past Zhang Xuanyao's shoulder toward the direction the voice came from.

A young girl ran out from the corridor on the side of the main hall.

The girl was wearing a pink rabbit pajama set.

On her head, she wore two long rabbit ear decorations.

On her feet, she wore a pair of fuzzy slippers.

In her hands, she held a bamboo broom.

The girl ran up to Zhang Xuanyao and stopped.

She tilted her head up, a bright smile on her face.

It was none other than Ji Xue (Nana), the streamer who had been rescued in the previous Myanmar drug dealer case.

Qin Bingruo's gaze swept up and down over Ji Xue.

Pink pajamas, fuzzy slippers, a sweet smile.

This is clearly treating this place as her own home!

Qin Bingruo's originally soft expression instantly darkened.

The temperature of the surrounding air seemed to drop a few degrees.

Her right hand subconsciously reached toward her waist.

Her fingers pressed against the buckle of her holster.

Her leather boots stepped heavily on the bluestone, making a harsh grinding sound.

Qin Bingruo took a step forward, standing beside Zhang Xuanyao.

She turned her head and stared fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao's side profile.

"Daoist Zhang."

Qin Bingruo spoke, her tone icy, carrying obvious questioning and thick jealousy.

"In the middle of the night, why is there still a woman in pajamas hiding in the temple?"

"Don't you plan to explain?"

Ji Xue was startled by this sudden icy tone.

She turned to look at Qin Bingruo.

She recognized this criminal investigation team captain.

Scared, she took two steps back, gripping the handle of the bamboo broom tightly with both hands.

Zhang Xuanyao sensed that the atmosphere was wrong.

He turned his head and glanced at Qin Bingruo's right hand pressed on the holster.

His eye twitched.

This woman can be jealous, but what kind of habit is reaching for her gun?

Zhang Xuanyao spoke immediately, his tone calm, without any panic.

"Officer Qin, your memory isn't very good."

"You've forgotten already?"

Zhang Xuanyao pointed at Ji Xue.

"This girl is named Ji Xue, her screen name is Nana."

"She's the victim from the previous Myanmar drug dealer case. She scammed the drug dealer's dirty money, then went to turn herself in. Then your police station said it was fine and let her go."

Qin Bingruo frowned.

Her gaze swept over Ji Xue again.

It clicked in her mind.

But her expression didn't soften much.

"Why isn't the victim staying home properly, and instead running to your temple?"

"And dressed like this?"

Zhang Xuanyao spread his hands, emphasizing his tone.

"You'll have to ask her that."

"This girl is timid; she says she's afraid of being retaliated against by the remnants of the drug dealers."

"She insisted that the police station doesn't provide meals, so she ran to my temple to seek refuge without permission."

Zhang Xuanyao specifically emphasized the words "without permission."

Showing an extremely strong survival instinct.

His straight-man logic began to run wildly.

In order to completely dispel Qin Bingruo's doubts.

Zhang Xuanyao stepped forward and tapped his finger on the bamboo broom in Ji Xue's hand.

"Look, Officer Qin."

"My temple just finished renovations, and it's dusty everywhere."

"I just happen to be missing a cleaner."

"Since this girl is here, she can't just eat and live for free."

"I'm just putting waste to use, letting her sweep the floors here—the kind that doesn't cost money."

Ji Xue stood to the side, hearing the four words "putting waste to use."

Her eyes instantly turned red.

She pouted aggrievedly.

Lowering her head, she looked at her toes.

Her hands twisted the broom handle, but she didn't dare to refute a word.

After Qin Bingruo heard this explanation.

Her gaze lingered on Zhang Xuanyao's open and honest face for a few seconds.

She then looked at the aggrieved Ji Xue holding the broom.

Her tense body gradually relaxed.

The right hand pressed on the holster loosened and hung by her side.

Her dark expression gradually softened.

A smile even curled at the corner of her mouth.

So it was just a free cleaning maid.

Qin Bingruo was in a great mood and turned to look at Ji Xue.

"Since you're here to seek refuge, then sweep the floors well."

"Don't go around wearing pajamas all day; it affects the tranquility of the temple."

Ji Xue bit her lip and nodded.

"I... I know, Officer."

79: Chapter 79: Mortal Laws Are Difficult to Judge, the Taoist Priest Takes Over

Seeing that the tense situation had been resolved, Zhang Xuanyao let out a long sigh of relief.

He raised his hand and pointed in the direction of the main hall.

"Alright, stop standing in the courtyard."

"Officer Qin, please come inside."

Zhang Xuanyao turned his head to look at Ji Xue and waved his hand.

"Don't just stand there, go brew a pot of tea."

"Use that tin of Dahongpao tea that President Su gave us last time."

As if granted amnesty, Ji Xue grabbed the broom, turned around, and ran toward the side room.

Zhang Xuanyao stepped forward, leading Qin Bingruo toward the main hall.

The main hall of Qingfeng Temple.

The renovated main hall was spacious and bright.

The floor was paved with gold bricks, polished to a mirror-like shine.

In the center, the statues of the Three Pure Ones were enshrined, their clay bodies gilded, looking solemn and majestic.

On the altar table in front of the statues sat a pure copper incense burner.

Three sticks of incense were burning, with thin wisps of smoke rising and curling among the pillars.

The air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood.

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the side of the altar table and pulled out a yellow pear wood armchair.

He leveled his palm and made a gesture of invitation.

"Officer Qin, please sit."

Qin Bingruo stepped forward and unbuttoned the top button of her police uniform collar.

She pulled out the chair and sat down.

With her leather boots together, she placed her hands on her knees.

Her gaze swept over the furnishings around her.

Zhang Xuanyao pulled out the opposite chair, lifted the hem of his Daoist robe, and sat down in a bold, sprawling posture.

Ji Xue walked quickly through the side door, carrying a purple clay tea tray.

On the tray sat a purple clay teapot and two small teacups.

She walked to the table.

Ji Xue set down the tea tray.

She lifted the copper kettle that was boiling on the small red clay stove nearby.

Boiling water was poured into the purple clay teapot.

The tea leaves swirled, and the rich aroma of the tea instantly overpowered the sandalwood scent.

Ji Xue skillfully rinsed and brewed the tea.

She poured the clear, yellow tea into the two cups.

She picked up one cup with both hands and placed it in front of Qin Bingruo.

"Captain Qin, please have some tea."

Qin Bingruo nodded.

Ji Xue picked up the other cup and placed it in front of Zhang Xuanyao.

Then she stepped back, clasped her hands together, and stood in the corner with her head lowered.

Zhang Xuanyao picked up his teacup and brought it to his lips.

He blew away the floating leaves on the surface.

He took a sip of the tea.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed.

He set down the teacup, the porcelain making a crisp sound as it hit the table.

"Captain Qin, you dragged me over here so late, it's not just to check up on me, right?"

Zhang Xuanyao leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping on the table.

Qin Bingruo picked up her teacup and took a sip.

She set down the cup.

The smile on her face faded.

Her expression returned to the seriousness and efficiency of a criminal investigation team captain.

She reached her hand into the inner pocket of her police uniform.

She pulled out a folded kraft paper folder.

She placed it on the table and pushed it toward Zhang Xuanyao.

"Checking up on you was just a side task; discussing business is the main priority."

Qin Bingruo opened the folder.

Inside were a dozen photos and several printed documents.

She pointed her finger at the first photo.

"The Black Sand Organization is even larger than we previously imagined."

Qin Bingruo said in a grave tone.

"This organization is entrenched in Southeast Asia, ostensibly running cross-border trade businesses."

"But behind the scenes, they are engaged in smuggling, assassinations, and the seizure of mineral resources."

Qin Bingruo flipped to another photo.

The photo showed a bombed-out mining area, littered with debris.

"They specifically target Chinese enterprises investing overseas."

"As long as it's a project they have their eyes on, they will use any means necessary to seize it."

"Intimidation, kidnapping, and even using Nanyang dark arts to directly assassinate company executives."

Qin Bingruo pointed sequentially to several photos of victims who had died in miserable states.

"Patriarch Shen Ting of the Shen Family is just one of many targets."

Zhang Xuanyao's gaze swept over those photos.

His eyes showed no fluctuation whatsoever.

His fingers continued to tap on the table, the rhythm unchanged.

"The police should have found all this out long ago, right?"

Qin Bingruo nodded.

"We found it, but we've struggled because we lack core evidence."

"The Black Sand Organization has a strict Rank system and operates with extreme secrecy."

"Our operations overseas are restricted at every turn, and the ones we catch are just low-level lackeys."

Qin Bingruo pointed to the last photo.

It was an image of the Blood Descent King, heavily injured after being struck by lightning, being escorted into a police car in handcuffs.

"But this time is different."

Qin Bingruo raised her head and looked at Zhang Xuanyao with burning eyes.

"The Blood Descent King is the leader of the Sorcerer lineage within the Black Sand Organization."

"He holds a very high position within the organization and possesses a vast amount of core secrets and information on capital flow."

"Currently, he is being held under tight security in a special interrogation room converted from an underground air-raid shelter at the Municipal Police Bureau."

"His limbs are secured with steel chains, and he is under 24-hour surveillance."

Qin Bingruo leaned forward, her hands crossed on the table.

"If we can just pry his mouth open."

"And obtain the personnel list and criminal evidence of the Black Sand Organization's upper management."

"The police can join forces with Interpol to launch a transnational crackdown and completely eradicate this cancer."

Zhang Xuanyao stopped tapping the table.

He picked up his teacup and toyed with the purple clay cup.

"Since you have the person in your hands, just interrogate him."

"Use all sorts of methods in rotation; are you afraid he won't talk?"

Qin Bingruo let out a sigh.

She leaned back into her chair.

"It's not that simple."

"A dark cultivator like the Blood Descent King, who has lived for nearly a hundred years, has an extremely tough backbone."

"Conventional interrogation methods—fatigue tactics, psychological warfare—are completely ineffective against him."

"Since he was captured, he hasn't said a single word."

"He hasn't even groaned once."

"When the forensic doctor treated his wounds, even with pain on the level of scraping bone to remove poison, he didn't even frown."

Qin Bingruo's gaze was locked tightly on Zhang Xuanyao.

"Zhang Xuanyao, I'll be frank with you."

"The interrogation experts at the bureau are already at their wits' end."

"If he refuses to talk, after 48 hours, due to pressure from all sides, things will become very difficult."

Qin Bingruo stood up.

She rested her hands on the table, looking down at Zhang Xuanyao.

"Therefore, I need you to step in."

"Use your methods to help us pry his mouth open."

Zhang Xuanyao set down his teacup.

He raised his head, meeting Qin Bingruo's gaze.

The corners of his mouth curled up, revealing a wild, arrogant smile.

His right hand reached into the pocket of his Daoist robe and pulled out that dark golden sanqing bell.

He slammed it onto the table with a "clack."

He stood up.

"Conventional methods are useless?"

Zhang Xuanyao grabbed the sanqing bell and tossed it in his hand.

"Then let him have a taste of the Daoist's methods."

80: Chapter 80: You Can't Afford to Pay for My Karma

The police SUV drove back into the night.

The tires rolled over the bluestone pavement, emitting a dull rumbling sound.

The exhaust pipe spewed out white fumes, dissipating into the cold air.

The atmosphere inside the car was subtle.

The dashboard emitted a faint, ghostly blue light, illuminating the driver and passenger seats.

Zhang Xuanyao leaned back against the passenger seat.

His left hand held the dark gold sanqing bell.

His right index finger and thumb pinched the ring at the top of the bell.

With a flick of his wrist, the bell swayed gently in mid-air.

The clapper struck the inner wall, but made no sound; only circles of golden ripples, barely visible to the naked eye, undulated through the car.

Zhang Xuanyao stopped his movements.

He turned his head.

His gaze crossed the center console to look at Qin Bingruo in the driver's seat.

"Captain Qin," Zhang Xuanyao began, asking directly.

"Since this is such an urgent case, why didn't you take me directly to the Municipal Police Bureau earlier?"

Zhang Xuanyao stuffed the sanqing bell back into his Daoist robe pocket.

He crossed his hands over his abdomen.

"Going out of your way to stop by Qingfeng Temple doesn't fit your usual swift and decisive style of handling cases."

Qin Bingruo slammed her right foot onto the brake pedal.

The brake calipers clamped tightly onto the brake discs.

The SUV's four tires dragged along the asphalt, leaving four pitch-black rubber marks.

A piercing screech cut through the night sky.

The vehicle lurched forward violently, the seatbelts locked instantly, tightening across their shoulders.

The vehicle came to a stop at the edge of an empty overpass.

Qin Bingruo gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands.

Her leather gloves rubbed against the steering wheel cover, making a creaking sound.

Her chest heaved violently as she inhaled a large gulp of cold air.

She turned her head, her gaze meeting Zhang Xuanyao's.

Her tone carried an unmistakable hint of jealousy.

"Some things are not convenient to say at the police station."

Qin Bingruo let go of the steering wheel.

Her right hand tugged at the collar of her police uniform.

"Besides, just now on the steps of the Shen Family Manor, that Shen Family Young Miss was practically trying to glue herself to you."

Qin Bingruo pointed her finger at the center console screen.

"The neckline of that evening gown was cut so low."

"She was pressed against your arm, practically hanging around your neck."

"It was an eyesore to me, and I can't accept it."

Zhang Xuanyao was taken aback for a moment.

Looking at Qin Bingruo's pouting appearance, he sighed helplessly.

There was no panic, and no rush to explain.

Instead, he put on the compassionate expression of a charlatan.

He sat up straight and began to use metaphysical logic to launch a dimensionality-reducing strike against this criminal investigation captain.

Zhang Xuanyao raised his hand and pointed to the faded, slightly worn-collared Daoist robe he was wearing.

"Officer Qin, what I practice is compliance with the Heavenly Dao; what I value is that the Dao follows the natural course of things."

Zhang Xuanyao counted on his fingers, starting to calculate one thing after another.

"That girl from the Shen Family admires me."

"That's because I saved her life twice from under the poisoned blade of the Blood Descent King."

"This is the Karma formed from the grace of saving her life."

Zhang Xuanyao lowered his first finger and raised his second.

"President Su Qingge is obedient to my every wish."

"That is because I helped her resolve the evil spirits on her and protected the Su Group's assets."

"She knows how to repay kindness and arranged the best medical resources for me."

Zhang Xuanyao spread his hands, palms facing upward.

"These are all logical cycles of Karma."

"You demand that I sever ties with the Mortal World as soon as you show up, and you can't stand other women being near me."

"Isn't that a bit too overbearing?"

Qin Bingruo was choked up.

Her lips parted slightly, just about to retort.

Zhang Xuanyao didn't give her a chance to speak.

He leaned forward abruptly, unbuckling his seatbelt, and leaned in close to Qin Bingruo.

The distance between them shrank to less than ten centimeters.

His gaze was locked onto Qin Bingruo's eyes as he continued his output.

"President Su arranged an entire private hospital for me and called in all the top experts to treat me."

"I eat all kinds of precious supplements like they're meals."

Zhang Xuanyao tapped his fingers on the center console.

"The Shen Family gave me a riverside detached Villa and stuffed a ten-million-dollar check directly into my hand."

"They dug out century-old wild ginseng from their warehouse overnight for me."

Zhang Xuanyao pulled back half an inch and looked up and down at Qin Bingruo's crisp police uniform.

"And you?"

Zhang Xuanyao's tone grew heavier.

"Besides dragging me out of a warm bed in the middle of the night to be free labor, you just threaten me with your holster at every turn."

Zhang Xuanyao extended his index finger and tapped the buckle of the holster on Qin Bingruo's waist.

"You want to monopolize me and can't stand others coming near me."

"You have to show some sincerity, don't you?"

"Just relying on this service pistol won't be able to keep my heart, which is set on the Dao."

This blatantly scummy yet logically rigorous direct emotional manipulation left Qin Bingruo completely stunned.

Qin Bingruo sat in the driver's seat, her brain racing as she tried to find loopholes in Zhang Xuanyao's words from the perspective of criminal investigation.

But she realized that every word he said was an objective fact.

Su Qingge did indeed spend a fortune, and the Shen Family did indeed give him a Villa.

She did indeed drag him out to work in the middle of the night and often touched her holster.

Her originally impatient personality softened instantly under this dimensionality-reducing strike from Zhang Xuanyao.

The jealousy that had rushed to her head was washed away completely by this set of metaphysical Karma theories.

She actually felt that what Zhang Xuanyao said made so much sense that she couldn't refute it at all.

Qin Bingruo lowered her head, her gaze avoiding Zhang Xuanyao's eyes, and looked at the police badge in the center of the steering wheel.

Her pearly teeth bit her lower lip as she gripped the steering wheel again with both hands.

"As long as you know what you're doing, that's fine."

Qin Bingruo muttered softly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's, completely devoid of the usual authority of a criminal investigation captain.

She had completely accepted the fact that besides Su Qingge, there could be other women around Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao knew when to stop while he was ahead, retreated back to the passenger seat, and buckled his seatbelt.

His lips curled up, revealing two rows of neat white teeth; the crisis of the backyard catching fire was successfully resolved.

Now he could focus on working.

"Alright, stop dwelling on it; the serious business is what matters."

Zhang Xuanyao raised his hand and patted the dashboard.

"Hurry up and drive; let's go meet that stubborn Blood Descent King."

Qin Bingruo nodded and pressed the accelerator with her right foot.

The SUV let out a low roar, like a black panther, and darted back into the night.

Following the outer ring overpass, it headed straight for the underground air-raid shelter of the Hengcheng Municipal Public Security Bureau.

The light and shadows from the streetlights outside the car window flashed rapidly through the cabin.

Zhang Xuanyao leaned against the seat back and closed his eyes to rest.

Qin Bingruo drove with concentration, but a faint, imperceptible blush appeared at the roots of her ears.

The atmosphere inside the car was no longer tense; instead, it had a trace of strange harmony.

81: Chapter 81: Late-Night Legal Education Livestream, Interrogating "Coke" in Front of a Million Viewers

Thirty meters beneath the Municipal Police Bureau lay an interrogation zone converted from a top-tier air raid shelter.

The atmosphere was chilling to the extreme. The walls on both sides of the corridor were cast from half-meter-thick reinforced concrete, and the cold-toned LED tubes on the ceiling emitted a ghastly white light.

There was a guard every ten steps and a sentry every five. Fully armed SWAT Team Members, holding riot shields and submachine guns, stood on both sides of the passage like statues.

Their eyes, beneath tactical helmets, vigilantly scanned every corner.

Municipal Police Bureau Chief Director Wang Chen was wearing a short-sleeved police uniform. His forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat.

He paced back and forth in the corridor, holding a half-smoked cigarette. His leather shoes clicked rapidly against the epoxy resin floor.

Ash fell to the ground, but he didn't even bother to flick it off.

The forty-eight-hour deadline hung over his head like a sword of Damocles. A transnational criminal group like the Black Sand Organization involved extremely complex forces.

If they couldn't obtain a core confession within the allotted time, all sorts of diplomatic pressures and procedural issues would follow one after another.

The elevator door gave a crisp ding, and the metal doors slid open to both sides.

Qin Bingruo stepped out of the elevator first, followed by Zhang Xuanyao, who walked leisurely with his hands in the pockets of his Daoist robe.

Hearing the commotion, Director Wang Chen turned his head. Upon seeing Zhang Xuanyao, his bloodshot eyes instantly lit up, like a drowning man grabbing a lifeline.

He strode forward to meet him and crushed the half-smoked cigarette on top of a nearby trash can.

"Great Master Zhang! You've finally arrived!"

Director Wang Chen gripped Zhang Xuanyao's right hand with both of his and shook it vigorously twice.

"Qin Bingruo should have updated you on the situation on the way here. This old monster is like a stone in a latrine—stinky and hard. We've cycled through three teams of interrogation experts from the bureau, and they've exhausted every method, but he hasn't let out a single peep."

Zhang Xuanyao pulled his hand away and walked to the one-way glass window at the end of the corridor.

Through the glass, his gaze fell into the top-tier interrogation room.

An interrogation chair made of alloy was fixed in the center of the room.

The Blood Descent King was shackled to the chair in a spread-eagled position by four steel chains as thick as an adult's wrist. The surface of the chains glinted with a cold metallic sheen.

The old monster's wretched state was nauseating. The right half of his body had been completely carbonized by lightning, turning a charred black color. Shriveled flesh clung tightly to his bones.

Although the left half of his body was intact, it was covered in burn blisters from the lightning strike.

Several forensic doctors had just finished treating his wounds, and gauze stained with black blood was scattered on the floor.

The Blood Descent King hung his head. Hearing the commotion outside, he slowly raised his neck.

His only remaining blood-red eye stared fixedly at the surveillance camera on the wall.

There was not a hint of fear in his gaze, only arrogance and mockery. A wheezing, hissing sound came from his throat, as if he were mocking the police's incompetence.

Zhang Xuanyao withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Director Wang Chen beside him.

"I can interrogate him."

Zhang Xuanyao held up a finger and waved it in the air.

"But I have one rule. Whenever I perform my craft, I must livestream it."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed at the Blood Descent King through the glass.

"This old fart's miserable state is the perfect cautionary tale for the viewers in my livestream. It's a bit of legal education to let everyone know the consequences of engaging in feudal superstitions and cult organizations."

Director Wang Chen's expression changed drastically. He waved his hands repeatedly, shaking his head like a rattle-drum.

"No, no! That is absolutely out of the question!"

Director Wang Chen lowered his voice, his tone urgent.

"Great Master Zhang, this violates confidentiality regulations! The Black Sand Organization case involves transnational secrets. How can we livestream an interrogation process? If this gets out, it will cause a huge sensation!"

Zhang Xuanyao didn't waste any words. He put his hands back into the pockets of his Daoist robe and turned to walk toward the elevator.

"Then you can waste your time with this piece of charcoal yourselves."

Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand, his back to Director Wang Chen.

"Forty-eight hours from now, when the international disputes come knocking, don't blame me. I still need to go back and catch up on sleep, so I won't be keeping you company."

Director Wang Chen watched Zhang Xuanyao's retreating figure. He then looked back at the stubborn, unyielding Blood Descent King inside the one-way glass. Beads of sweat rolled into his eyes, and the stinging sensation made him clench his teeth.

He stamped his foot heavily.

"Do it!"

Director Wang Chen shouted at Zhang Xuanyao's back. He had compromised.

Zhang Xuanyao stopped and turned around, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

Director Wang Chen walked quickly to Zhang Xuanyao and held up a finger.

"You can livestream. But the camera must only be aimed at the prisoner! You must not reveal any facial features of police personnel or any classified equipment in the interrogation room! That is the bottom line!"

Zhang Xuanyao snapped his fingers.

"Deal."

Zhang Xuanyao pulled a smartphone from his Daoist robe pocket. He skillfully unfolded a portable collapsible stand and fixed the phone onto it.

He pushed open the heavy iron door of the interrogation room.

Zhang Xuanyao walked into the room and placed the phone stand in the center of the interrogation table.

He adjusted the camera angle. The screen frame precisely captured the Blood Descent King tied to the chair, avoiding the surrounding police equipment and the one-way glass.

He tapped the livestreaming app with his finger and pressed the start button. He entered the title: Late-Night Legal Education: Witnessing the Wretched State of a Captured Overseas Cult Leader.

Less than ten seconds after going live, the number of viewers in the stream began to skyrocket.

Ten thousand, fifty thousand, one hundred thousand. Hundreds of thousands of night-owl viewers looking for some entertainment flooded the livestream instantly.

The screen lit up. When the viewers saw the Blood Descent King in the camera, his body half-carbonized and looking like a demon, the chat exploded, scrolling at a speed impossible for the naked eye to track.

"Holy crap! You scared the hell out of me in the middle of the night! What the hell is that thing?"

"So disgusting! Is that half of his body burnt to a crisp? I can smell the char through the screen!"

"Where did Great Master catch this alien? Is this even human?"

"High-energy content ahead! Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony!"

"Did this guy fall into a steel furnace? How can he still be breathing after being burnt into this ghostly state?"

Zhang Xuanyao pulled out the iron chair behind the interrogation table. He sat down brazenly, crossed his legs, and rested one on top of the other.

The Blood Descent King looked at Zhang Xuanyao, who was sitting opposite him. A flash of malice flickered in that blood-red eye.

He coughed up a mouthful of black blood mixed with bits of internal organs from his throat and spat it onto the alloy tabletop in front of him.

"Hiss... Hiss..."

The Blood Descent King let out a wheezing, mocking sound. His shriveled lips moved up and down as he spoke in a hoarse, grating Huaxia language.

"Kid... your lightning techniques are indeed powerful. But dreaming of extracting the organization's intelligence from my mouth... dream on! I've lived for over ninety years... what kind of storms haven't I seen? Even if you cut the flesh off my body piece by piece... I won't say a single word!"

The Blood Descent King lifted his chin, putting on a tough-guy act, ready to face the cruel torture that was to come.

Zhang Xuanyao watched the other party's determined, death-defying demeanor. He didn't even take out his sanqing bell.

He leaned back against the chair, crossed his hands on his knees, and locked eyes with the Blood Descent King. The System panel unfolded on his retina. The Golden Finger [Words Become Law (Upgraded Version)] was instantly activated.

82: Chapter 82: Words Become Law, a Shura Field in the Basement

Zhang Xuanyao sat on the iron chair. His gaze pierced through the air, stabbing directly into the Blood Descent King's spiteful eye.

His lips moved slightly. The voice was not loud, but it carried an overwhelming power of rules.

This power ignored physical defenses, ignored mental resistance, and acted directly on the level of Karma.

"I, this Daoist, say."

Zhang Xuanyao tapped his fingertips lightly on his knee.

"You are now a chatterbox with an explosive desire to confide, unable to hide even the slightest secret in your heart. If you don't say everything you know, you will feel extremely uncomfortable, wishing you were dead."

The rules of Words Become Law descended instantly. Invisible ripples centered on Zhang Xuanyao spread violently, slamming directly into the Blood Descent King's mind.

The Blood Descent King, who had been unyielding and putting on a tough guy act just a second ago, stiffened violently. The four steel chains rattled loudly as he was pulled.

His only remaining eye flashed with extreme terror. He found that his brain had completely lost control over his mouth. His vocal cord muscles began to vibrate on their own, and his tongue was spinning wildly in his mouth.

An intense, irrepressible desire to confide surged from the depths of his Soul. It was like a burst dam, impossible to stop.

"I'll talk! I'll say everything!"

The Blood Descent King's mouth opened like a machine gun. His hoarse voice echoed in the interrogation room.

"The Black Sand Organization headquarters is in an abandoned mine pit under the Golden Triangle! The coordinates are XX degrees North Latitude, XX degrees East Longitude! The entrance is under an abandoned pagoda!"

While the Blood Descent King was frantically spilling secrets, he despairingly shed tears of humiliation. Tears slid across his charred cheeks, leaving clear tear tracks.

"We have three large liaison points in China! Located in Heng City, Hai City, and Guang City respectively! The person in charge of Heng City is named Li Qiang, whose public identity is the boss of a Shipping Company!"

"The organization's funds are all laundered through three shell companies overseas! The account passwords are..."

The Blood Descent King spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube, even confessing his own private money hidden under his bed.

Outside the one-way glass, Director Wang Chen and several interrogation experts had their eyes wide open. Their jaws almost hit the floor.

Several policewomen responsible for recording held voice recorders and notebooks, their fingers typing rapidly on keyboards, but their recording speed couldn't keep up with the Blood Descent King's revelations.

The Blood Descent King gasped for air and continued to shout hoarsely.

"Our organization's leader is the 'Holy Master' who possesses an immortal body! He has lived for hundreds of years! He is planning to extract the Dragon veins from various places in China! The old master of the Shen Family has a fragment of the Dragon vein formation map in his hands, which is why we targeted him!"

His foundation was completely exposed. The Blood Descent King cried with snot and tears, completely broken.

The friends in the live broadcast room were stunned. The barrage paused for a moment, then erupted in an explosive amount.

"Holy shit! Wasn't this old man acting tough just now? How is he spilling everything so easily?"

"Is this the legendary truth serum? Or did the Great Master use some kind of sorcery?"

"Wait! What did I hear? Holy Master? Extracting Dragon veins? This script is way too Xuanhuan!"

Zhang Xuanyao sat on the chair. Hearing the words "Holy Master," he curled his lips at the phone camera with a look of disdain.

"Holy Master?"

Zhang Xuanyao raised his right hand and shook his index finger twice. Mockery fully charged.

"What about Old Daddy? Don't you know that Old Daddy specializes in dealing with Holy Masters? You must use magic to defeat magic! Monsters and ghosts, leave quickly!"

This classic anime meme, combined with the bizarre scene of the Blood Descent King breaking down and confessing, directly ignited the program effect of the live broadcast room.

The screen was instantly filled with "Old Daddy is awesome," "Monsters and ghosts, leave quickly," and "Use magic to defeat magic," completely covering the screen.

Expensive gifts like carnivals, rockets, and supercars emerged crazily like bamboo shoots after rain. The gift effects made the entire screen colorful.

The System panel on Zhang Xuanyao's retina began to jump wildly. The shock value number skyrocketed.

Five hundred thousand, eight hundred thousand, nine hundred thousand...

[Ding! Congratulations to the host, obtained one million shock value!]

The System's prompt sounded in his mind.

Outside the interrogation room, Director Wang Chen was trembling with excitement. He gripped the frame of the one-way glass with both hands, his knuckles turning white.

"Quick! Contact the international police immediately! Verify the coordinates of the Golden Triangle mine pit!" Director Wang Chen roared at his subordinates. "Also, immediately take control of Li Qiang, the person in charge of the Heng City liaison point!"

Several criminal police officers turned and ran out.

Director Wang Chen pressed the communicator, and his voice entered the interrogation room.

"Master Zhang! Let him continue talking! Dig deep into the specific identity and weaknesses of that 'Holy Master'!"

Zhang Xuanyao sat on the chair. He activated [Heavenly Eye].

A flash of golden light lit up in the depths of his pupils. His gaze swept over the Blood Descent King's body, reading the fragments of the other party's past memories.

A few seconds later, the golden light in Zhang Xuanyao's eyes dissipated.

He raised his hand and waved towards the one-way glass, stopping the police's questioning.

"Don't ask anymore."

Zhang Xuanyao stood up and unplugged the phone holder.

"This old guy's rank in the Black Sand Organization isn't high enough. He hasn't even seen the true face of the so-called Holy Master. Every time he met, he listened to the voice through a curtain. You won't squeeze out any more useful oil and water by asking."

Zhang Xuanyao touched his chin. His deep gaze looked at the sliver of night sky outside the high window of the interrogation room. His lips curled up, revealing an excited expression.

"However... I, this Daoist, really would like to meet this Holy Master who likes to extract Dragon veins. Let's see if his immortal body is harder, or if my Lightning Method is harder."

Zhang Xuanyao closed the live broadcast. He pushed open the iron door and walked out of the interrogation room.

Just as he walked into the corridor, the sound of rapid high heels hitting the floor came from the elevator direction.

Shen Zhiyao was wearing that black evening dress, with a man's suit jacket draped over the outside. She rushed out of the elevator, panting.

Several Special Police blocking the way were pushed aside by her. The temper of the Shen Family Young Miss was fully revealed at this moment.

Shen Zhiyao rushed to Zhang Xuanyao. She grabbed Zhang Xuanyao's arm directly with both hands. Her eye sockets were red.

"Daoist Zhang! I... I really couldn't stay any longer. If I don't see you for a minute, I feel panicked inside."

Shen Zhiyao's voice carried a crying tone, and her body was trembling slightly.

Qin Bingruo stood aside. Watching Shen Zhiyao's pitiful, clinging appearance to Zhang Xuanyao, the jealousy that had just been suppressed in the car instantly erupted like a volcano.

Qin Bingruo didn't get angry. Nor did she draw her gun.

Instead, she took out her phone. She flipped through her address book. Found a number and dialed it directly.

The call connected. Qin Bingruo turned on the speakerphone.

"Hello, President Su?"

Qin Bingruo's voice was cold, with a clear provocative tone.

"Daoist Zhang is currently in the Municipal Police Bureau's underground air-raid shelter. He just finished a big case and his body is weak. The Shen Family Young Miss is pestering him and won't let go. If you don't come again, Daoist Zhang will probably be taken away by the Shen Family to go shopping tonight."

On the other end of the phone, Su Qingge's cold and domineering voice came out.

"Give me ten minutes. I'll bring a medical team over immediately. Anyone who dares to move a finger on him, I will smash the Municipal Police Bureau's door."

Qin Bingruo hung up the phone. She crossed her arms. She looked at Shen Zhiyao coldly.

A Shuraba between three women officially began in the air-raid shelter thirty meters underground.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in the middle, raised his hand, and rubbed his swollen temples.

83: Chapter 83: The Landscape and Business Perspective of Top-Tier Capital

Thirty meters underground at the Municipal Police Bureau. A high-security interrogation zone converted from an air-raid shelter.

The air circulation System emitted a low, humming sound. Cool-toned LED tubes illuminated the off-white concrete walls.

At the end of the corridor, the indicator light above the metal elevator doors flickered. The red numbers dropped from one to negative three.

"Ding."

A crisp chime rang out. The heavy stainless steel elevator doors slid open to both sides.

The heels of high-heeled shoes tapped against the epoxy floor, making a crisp clack-clack sound.

Su Qingge was wearing a well-tailored beige high-fashion trench coat. Her long hair was coiled at the back of her head, secured with a jade hairpin.

Her cheekbones were sharp and cold. Her hands were tucked into the pockets of her trench coat. She stepped out of the elevator.

Following behind her were four middle-aged men in white lab coats. Each of them was carrying a silver aluminum medical case.

The surface of the cases bore the logo of a top private hospital in Heng City. The four experts walked in a hurry, sweat seeping from their foreheads, following closely behind Su Qingge.

Qin Bingruo was leaning against the corridor wall. She held her phone in her hand. The light from the screen illuminated her face.

Hearing the commotion, Qin Bingruo looked up. Her gaze swept over Su Qingge and the four experts carrying the medical cases.

Her lips curled upward. She put away her phone, stood up straight, and smoothed the hem of her police uniform with both hands. Her boots strode forward to meet them.

"President Su, you've come very quickly," Qin Bingruo said. She turned around, raised her right hand, and pointed toward the depths of the corridor. "He's over there."

Su Qingge ignored Qin Bingruo. Her gaze passed over Qin Bingruo's shoulder, looking straight ahead. Her high heels continued to tap against the floor, increasing in frequency.

Qin Bingruo walked in front to the side, leading the way. Her boots made dull sounds as they struck the ground.

Turning a ninety-degree corner, ahead was a straight passageway.

At the end of the passage, Shen Zhiyao was wearing a black evening gown with a man's suit jacket draped over it. Her hands were tightly clutching Zhang Xuanyao's left arm. Her entire body was pressed against Zhang Xuanyao's Daoist robe, her head resting on his shoulder.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in place. His left hand hung naturally, while his right hand was tucked into the pocket of his Daoist robe.

The sound of footsteps approached.

Zhang Xuanyao lifted his eyelids. His gaze traveled down the corridor, clearly seeing Su Qingge walking at the very front.

Zhang Xuanyao did not pull out his left arm that was being held. He did not retreat. He stood in place and blinked at Su Qingge. His eyes were clear and completely composed.

Shen Zhiyao noticed the change in Zhang Xuanyao's gaze. She turned her head to look in the direction he was staring.

Her gaze landed on Su Qingge's cold, stern face.

Shen Zhiyao's body stiffened. Her hands released Zhang Xuanyao's arm as if electrified. She took two steps back and straightened her spine.

"Su... President Su?!" Shen Zhiyao said, her voice trembling and her tongue tied.

In the Heng City business world, Su Qingge's name represented absolute capital dominance. Although the Shen Family had a deep foundation, in front of a behemoth like the Su Group, they still had to lower their heads.

Su Qingge stopped walking. She was still five meters away from Zhang Xuanyao and Shen Zhiyao.

The four medical experts stopped behind her. The aluminum cases were placed on the ground with a clattering sound.

Su Qingge's gaze landed on Shen Zhiyao. Her eyes swept from Shen Zhiyao's messy hair, across the draped man's suit jacket, and finally rested on the hem of the black evening gown.

The corridor was so quiet that only the humming of the ventilation System remained.

Qin Bingruo stood two meters away with her arms crossed, waiting to watch the upcoming brawl.

Su Qingge parted her lips. "The Shen Family's youngest daughter?"

Her voice echoed in the corridor.

Shen Zhiyao nodded repeatedly. She clasped her hands in front of her, fingers twisting together. "Yes... it's me. Hello, President Su."

The arrogant temper she had shown just moments ago when pushing away the Special Police was completely gone. She looked just like a primary school student caught by a dean after doing something wrong.

The cold, stern lines on Su Qingge's face relaxed, replaced by an expression of understanding.

She surveyed Shen Zhiyao once more.

The Shen Family controlled one-third of the logistics channels in Heng City. Recently, the Su Group happened to be expanding its overseas trade lines and urgently needed to connect port and inland transportation networks. The shipping routes held by Old Master Shen had always been promising targets for collaboration.

The appraising look in Su Qingge's eyes intensified, as if she were evaluating a high-value commercial asset.

Su Qingge shifted her gaze, looking past Shen Zhiyao to Zhang Xuanyao.

She lifted her chin slightly and nodded at Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao was stunned in place. He pulled his right hand out of his Daoist robe pocket and scratched the back of his head.

Qin Bingruo's arms, still crossed, froze. Her eyes widened, and her mouth slightly agape.

What is this?

What happened to the promised collision of Mars and Earth? What happened to the main wife tearing apart the mistress?

Qin Bingruo lowered her arms and stepped forward, looking at Su Qingge, then at Zhang Xuanyao.

"President Su, you brought so many people..." Qin Bingruo pointed at the medical cases on the ground, trying to steer the conversation back on track.

Su Qingge ignored Qin Bingruo. She strode forward with her long legs and walked up to Shen Zhiyao.

Su Qingge raised her right hand and made a gesture.

The four medical experts immediately picked up the aluminum cases and hurried to Zhang Xuanyao's side.

"Mr. Zhang, please cooperate with the examination," the lead expert with a receding hairline said.

The expert opened the case and took out a portable blood pressure monitor, ECG monitoring patches, and vacuum tubes for blood collection.

Zhang Xuanyao sighed and extended his right arm. "Check away, check away. My body is perfectly fine."

The expert pulled up the sleeve of Zhang Xuanyao's Daoist robe and strapped the blood pressure cuff onto his upper arm, pressing the inflation button.

The Velcro made a tearing sound as the cuff tightened.

Another expert held an alcohol swab, wiping the vein on the back of Zhang Xuanyao's hand, and unwrapped a disposable blood collection needle.

"President Su instructed that since Mr. Zhang just went through a high-intensity battle, a full suite of blood biochemical analysis is required." The expert took the needle and pierced the vein.

Dark red blood flowed into the vacuum tube.

Zhang Xuanyao watched the blood flow out without even blinking an eyelid.

Qin Bingruo stood to the side, watching the four experts busy around Zhang Xuanyao, unable to get a word in.

Su Qingge stood in front of Shen Zhiyao, the distance between them less than half a meter.

Shen Zhiyao lowered her head, looking at her own toes. Her breathing was a bit rapid.

Su Qingge carefully examined the contours of Shen Zhiyao's face.

From a business perspective, although this young lady of the Shen Family was young, under Old Master Shen's tutelage, she would certainly take over the core industries of the Family in the future. Establishing a relationship in advance would bring only benefits and no harm to the Su Group.

Qin Bingruo gritted her teeth, staring at Su Qingge's back. She completely failed to understand this female president's train of thought.

The scene of love rivals meeting and being extremely jealous of each other didn't happen; looking at the situation, she was even going to show concern.

This left all the lines Qin Bingruo had prepared to stir up trouble stuck in her throat, unable to be spat out or swallowed.

"Is Old Master Shen's health better?" Su Qingge asked. Her tone was gentle, completely devoid of the coldness she had on the phone earlier.

Shen Zhiyao looked up, stunned for two seconds, then immediately replied. "Much... much better. Thanks to Daoist Zhang's intervention. Grandfather is now able to get out of bed and walk around every day."

84: Chapter 84: A Mysterious Alliance, Everyone Missing

"That's good." Su Qingge nodded. "It's been a while since we last met at the Chamber of Commerce. I heard the Shen Family has been looking into shipping business in Nanyang recently?"

Shen Zhiyao seized the opportunity, forcing a smile onto her face. "You are truly well-informed, President Su. We are indeed looking into it. But the waters in Nanyang are deep, and my grandfather is still hesitant."

"Su Group recently acquired a large port in Hai City."

Su Qingge said in a calm tone.

"If the Shen Family is interested, we could sit down and discuss a deeper partnership. Connecting logistics with the port could save quite a lot of costs."

Shen Zhiyao's eyes lit up. "Really? President Su. If we can partner with Su Group, my grandfather would certainly be pleased. I will report this to him as soon as I get back."

The two stood in the corridor of the air-raid shelter, chatting about business cooperation.

Zhang Xuanyao sat on the bench in the corridor, a blood pressure cuff tied around his arm and a blood collection needle inserted into the back of his hand.

He turned his head to watch the two women chatting animatedly.

Zhang Xuanyao opened his mouth. "Wait. You two..."

Zhang Xuanyao couldn't get a word in.

Zhang Xuanyao closed his mouth, leaned back against the chair, and let the experts draw his blood.

Qin Bingruo leaned against the wall, watching the scene before her, feeling only absurdity.

Su Qingge's gaze fell upon the men's suit jacket draped over Shen Zhiyao's shoulders.

"This suit doesn't fit you well. At the last Paris Fashion Week, I saw that Chanel released some early autumn jackets that would really suit your style."

Shen Zhiyao reached out and touched the lapel of the suit. "Is that so? I rarely pay attention to those things. You have a good eye, President Su. Would you be able to help me pick some out next time you have a chance?"

"No problem." Su Qingge nodded.

The two chatted enthusiastically, moving from business partnerships to luxury brands, and from real estate in Heng City to Paris Fashion Week.

The solemn corridor of the special interrogation zone had turned into a social scene for a high-society afternoon tea.

Fully armed Special Police stood in the distance, their eyes beneath tactical helmets watching the scene, looking at each other in confusion.

The four experts finished drawing blood and packed away their instruments.

"President Su, Mr. Zhang's basic vital signs are all stable. We need to take the blood samples back to the lab for further testing," the balding expert reported.

Su Qingge waved her hand. "You may go back first. Send me the lab results as soon as they are ready."

The four experts carried their cases and turned toward the elevator.

The elevator doors opened and then closed. Four people remained in the corridor.

Su Qingge looked at Shen Zhiyao and took a small step forward.

She raised her hand and took hold of Shen Zhiyao's wrist.

Shen Zhiyao did not pull away, allowing Su Qingge to hold it.

"Zhiyao."

Su Qingge changed how she addressed her, her tone becoming more intimate.

"Since the Shen Family intends to cooperate with Su Group, we are all on the same side from now on. There is no need to be so formal."

Shen Zhiyao nodded repeatedly. "Okay, Sister Qingge."

Su Qingge held Shen Zhiyao's hand and turned around, facing away from Zhang Xuanyao and Qin Bingruo.

The two stood face-to-face.

Su Qingge leaned forward, moving close to Shen Zhiyao's ear.

Her lips moved slightly, and she lowered her voice.

The sound of the ventilation System in the corridor masked Su Qingge's words.

Zhang Xuanyao sat on the bench, stretching his neck and perking up his ears, but he couldn't hear anything.

Qin Bingruo straightened her body and walked forward two steps, trying to hear what the two were saying.

Su Qingge finished speaking and stepped back to her original position.

After hearing Su Qingge's words, a flush of red instantly appeared on Shen Zhiyao's fair cheeks, spreading all the way to her ears.

She covered her cheeks with her hands, her eyes sparkling with an unusual brilliance.

Shen Zhiyao turned her head, looking at Zhang Xuanyao with a complex expression.

Su Qingge also turned her head to look at Zhang Xuanyao.

The two women nodded in unison.

Zhang Xuanyao sat on the chair, feeling his skin crawl under the gaze of these two women.

A layer of cold sweat seeped out on his back.

Zhang Xuanyao pressed his hands against the armrests of the chair and stood up. "You two... what agreement have you reached?"

No one answered him.

After receiving Su Qingge's nod of approval, Shen Zhiyao grew bolder.

She took a step and trotted back to Zhang Xuanyao's side.

She wrapped her hands around Zhang Xuanyao's left arm again.

This time, her actions were even more daring.

Shen Zhiyao leaned forward, pressing the softness of her chest against Zhang Xuanyao's arm without any hesitation, rubbing it back and forth twice.

Zhang Xuanyao's arm stiffened, and he tried to pull it away.

Shen Zhiyao hugged it even tighter, looked up, and gave Zhang Xuanyao a sweet smile.

Su Qingge stood where she was, watching this scene.

She wasn't angry, nor was she losing her temper.

She crossed her arms, a tolerant smile hanging on the corners of her lips, much like someone watching pets getting along harmoniously in their backyard.

Qin Bingruo stood to the side, her worldview shattered into pieces.

She had gone to great lengths, making a phone call to summon Su Qingge, thinking she could use Su Qingge's hand to drive Shen Zhiyao away.

As it turned out, these two had actually formed an alliance!

Qin Bingruo looked at Su Qingge's posture, like that of a rightful first wife, and then at Shen Zhiyao's clingy demeanor.

The "Karma theory" that Zhang Xuanyao had spoken about in the off-road vehicle suddenly surfaced in her mind.

"The Karma of a life-saving grace... the Karma of repaying kindness..."

Qin Bingruo muttered to herself.

Looking at Zhang Xuanyao's sharp, angular face, she actually felt that there wasn't much to fault in what Zhang Xuanyao was doing.

On the surface, Zhang Xuanyao was as calm as an old dog, but inside, he was panicking.

What on earth had these two women talked about?

Zhang Xuanyao narrowed his eyes slightly, a flicker of golden light igniting deep within his pupils.

Golden Finger [Heavenly Eye] activated.

His gaze locked onto Su Qingge and Shen Zhiyao, attempting to read the memory images of the past few minutes.

Golden light swirled within his pupils.

His gaze pierced through the air, but the images were blurry. A vast, white mist obscured his vision.

When it involved his own Karma, Heavenly Eye could not see through it.

The golden light in Zhang Xuanyao's eyes dissipated.

He gave up on the investigation, flicked his sleeves, and decided not to dwell on this troublesome issue anymore.

Just as the atmosphere in the corridor reached a strange harmony,

"Bang!" A loud noise shattered the peace.

The heavy refined steel door of the special interrogation room was violently slammed open. The door panel hit the wall, emitting a deafening metallic clang.

Director Wang Chen rushed out of the interrogation room.

His short-sleeved police uniform was completely soaked with sweat, clinging to his back.

His face was as pale as paper.

His hands were gripping a black police walkie-talkie tightly, his knuckles turning white from the excessive force.

Director Wang Chen strode toward Zhang Xuanyao, his leather shoes making chaotic sounds on the floor.

"Master Zhang! Something has happened!" Director Wang Chen roared. His voice echoed in the corridor, carrying undisguised panic.

Zhang Xuanyao pulled his arm away from Shen Zhiyao's grasp.

He put away his look of helplessness, his expression turning serious.

"The Special Police team that went to the Shipping Company to arrest Li Qiang... they have all lost contact!"

Director Wang Chen rushed to the front of Zhang Xuanyao and held up the walkie-talkie in his hand.

"Traces of non-natural forces were discovered at the scene!"

Director Wang Chen panted heavily, his chest heaving violently.

He pressed the playback button on the side of the walkie-talkie.

A harsh static noise came from the walkie-talkie's speaker.

Immediately following it was a series of shrill screams, accompanied by the cracking sound of bones breaking, and a hair-raising, sharp friction sound like fingernails scraping against glass.

The temperature in the corridor seemed to drop by over ten degrees in an instant.

85: Chapter 85: Gathering Yin and Nourishing Corpses, You Have No Right to Run Wild on Chinese Territory!

From the speaker of the black police walkie-talkie in Director Wang Chen's hand, shrill screams mixed with the crunching sound of breaking bones echoed back and forth in the corridor of the underground air-raid shelter.

The sharp, screeching sound of fingernails scraping hard against bulletproof glass drilled into the eardrums of everyone present.

The temperature in the corridor plummeted.

The cold-toned LED tubes overhead seemed to be disturbed by some magnetic field, emitting a sizzling electrical sound as the light began to flicker at a high frequency.

Zhang Xuanyao sat on the bench.

The helplessness and playfulness that had originally hung on his face vanished instantly.

His sharp, sword-like eyebrows lowered.

His gaze was locked tightly onto the walkie-talkie in Director Wang Chen's hand.

The eerie harmony brought by the Shura Field was completely shattered by this sudden horror.

Zhang Xuanyao stood up.

He ground the toe of his right foot heavily into the epoxy floor.

"Pah!"

Zhang Xuanyao spat to the side.

With a wave of his Daoist robe's wide sleeve, a gust of wind was stirred up.

"Running to Chinese soil to pull these Evil Path stunts, do you really think our Chinese Xuanmen has no one left?"

Zhang Xuanyao gritted his back teeth, every word dripping with undisguised Killing Intent.

His finger joints cracked loudly.

"Let's go! To the scene! If this Daoist doesn't crush these bastards who are playing god, then I won't go by the name Zhang!"

Facing matters of great principle, the young Daoist, who usually spouted nonsense and relied on livestream fortune-telling to earn incense money, unleashed the dominating aura of defending the country and the Dao from the bottom of his bones without reservation.

Director Wang Chen stood where he was.

Hearing Zhang Xuanyao's resonant words, it was as if he had taken a dose of reassurance.

Cold sweat slid down his forehead, dripping onto the collar of his police uniform.

Director Wang Chen nodded heavily.

An indelible determination flashed in his eyes.

"I'm going too! The Shipping Company has already sounded the highest level of alarm."

Director Wang Chen hung the walkie-talkie back on his waist and clenched his fists.

"All Special Police squadrons and riot squads from the Municipal Police Bureau are already fully armed and on their way. Daoist Zhang, I leave the scene to you. Go all out; if anything goes beyond the rules, I, Director Wang Chen, will stake my police uniform on it!"

Zhang Xuanyao didn't reply and turned directly.

His gaze swept quickly over the three women standing on the other side of the corridor.

Qin Bingruo, Su Qingge, and Shen Zhiyao.

The three women were also stunned by the screams coming from the walkie-talkie. Their expressions were different, but all were heavy with gravity.

"You three."

Zhang Xuanyao raised his right hand, his index finger pointing to each of them in turn.

His tone was unprecedentedly serious, without any hint of a joke.

"From now on, protect yourselves. During this recent period, whether at the company, at home, or outside, if you see strangers acting strangely, try to avoid them. Absolutely do not go to secluded places alone."

The three women, who usually commanded the wind and rain in their respective fields and were accustomed to giving orders.

Hearing this nearly commanding exhortation, they instinctively felt a trace of resistance.

The three of them spoke in unison.

"We are not children."

Su Qingge lifted her chin, the tough posture of a female CEO fully displayed.

Shen Zhiyao bit her lower lip, a hint of stubbornness in her eyes.

Qin Bingruo even placed her hand directly on the holster at her waist.

The contrasting tacit understanding tore a small opening in the tense, horrific atmosphere of the corridor.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at these three strong-willed women and sighed helplessly.

"I am not treating you like children."

Zhang Xuanyao took a step forward and lowered his voice.

"The Black Sand Organization has a huge plot this time. You three all have a deep Karma connection with me."

In Zhang Xuanyao's mind, the lines of Karma on the System panel were clearly visible.

"This kind of transnational cult organization is best at following the vine to find the melon. If they can't handle me head-on, they are very likely to use the Karma lines to lock onto you and seek revenge."

Zhang Xuanyao's gaze swept over their eyes.

"If any stranger takes the initiative to talk to you or gives you items of unknown origin, absolutely do not pay attention to them, and definitely do not touch them. Do you understand?"

The information gap was broken.

The three women finally realized the seriousness of the situation.

Zhang Xuanyao was not fear-mongering, but warning them using professional knowledge in the field of metaphysics.

Their attitudes softened instantly.

Su Qingge didn't waste any words and pulled a specially encrypted mobile phone from her trench coat pocket.

Her fingers slid quickly across the screen.

"Security Department, raise the defense level of the Su Family Manor to the highest level. Mobilize all bodyguards with backgrounds as overseas retired mercenaries to be on duty in twenty-four-hour shifts."

Su Qingge issued orders over the phone, swift and decisive.

Shen Zhiyao nodded repeatedly.

"Daoist Zhang, don't worry. I will return to the Shen Family Manor immediately. Grandpa has the top-tier security team by his side, and I will absolutely not step out of the house during this time."

Qin Bingruo didn't make a call.

Her right thumb directly flicked open the metal clasp of her holster.

"There is a backup armory at the bureau. I'll go back and get two submachine guns to keep in the car. Whoever dares to come and make trouble, I'll empty the magazine on them first."

Details determine success or failure.

The different ways the three women responded vividly depicted their respective backgrounds and personalities.

Seeing that the three had listened to his words, Zhang Xuanyao didn't delay any longer.

He turned around and followed Director Wang Chen, rushing toward the elevator.

The elevator door opened, and the two stepped in with long strides.

The red numbers jumped rapidly, going straight to the ground level.

Inside the Municipal Police Bureau courtyard.

A heavy black police riot command vehicle had already started.

The exhaust pipe spewed thick fumes.

Eight wide, riot-proof tires gripped the ground tightly.

Director Wang Chen pulled open the car door, and Zhang Xuanyao jumped into the cabin right behind him.

"Drive! Target: East District of Heng City, Li Qiang's Shipping Company!"

Director Wang Chen roared at the Special Police in the driver's seat.

The driver slammed the accelerator to the floor.

The riot command vehicle let out a deafening roar, like a steel beast charging out of the Municipal Police Bureau gate.

The red and blue police lights on the roof flashed frantically.

The piercing siren tore through the silent night of Heng City.

Along the empty main road, it sped all the way, heading straight for the East District.

Inside the cabin, the electronic beeps of communication equipment rang incessantly.

The atmosphere was suppressed to the extreme.

The riot command vehicle sped at high speed on the asphalt road.

The cabin was filled with the roar of the engine and the electronic sounds of the siren.

Director Wang Chen stood in front of the tactical command console in the center of the cabin.

His hands operated quickly on the touch screen.

He pulled up the architectural floor plan of the Shipping Company in the East District of Heng City and the surrounding Skynet surveillance footage.

"Master Zhang, look."

Director Wang Chen pointed to the surveillance screen split into dozens of small blocks.

Zhang Xuanyao leaned forward.

His gaze fell on the screen.

The screen showed a twelve-story independent commercial building.

Just five minutes ago, two Special Police armored vehicles stopped in front of the building.

A fully armed Special Police squad formed a tactical Formation and charged into the glass front door with submachine guns.

Just at the moment the last team member's tactical boot stepped into the doorway.

All surveillance cameras inside and outside the entire building, as if the power had been cut, all turned into snowy static.

Immediately following, the street surveillance outside the building captured an extremely eerie scene.

A layer of black mist, thick as if it were solid, gushed out from the foundation of the building.

In just over a dozen seconds, it completely enveloped the entire twelve-story building.

The black mist rolled and surged, and one could even vaguely see the outlines of twisted human faces within the mist.

"After the Special Police squad entered, communication was immediately cut off."

Veins popped out on Director Wang Chen's forehead, and he slammed his fist onto the tactical console.

"The peripheral support troops tried to rush in to save them, but they couldn't get close at all!"

Zhang Xuanyao narrowed his eyes slightly.

A brilliant golden glow lit up deep within his pupils.

The Golden Finger [Heavenly Eye] was activated instantly.

His gaze pierced through the remaining video footage on the tactical tablet, capturing the cold, yin aura that could be felt even through the screen.

Zhang Xuanyao sneered.

A mocking arc pulled at the corner of his mouth.

"What a grand move."

Zhang Xuanyao tapped his finger on the black mist on the screen.

"Directly using the life fate of living people to fill the eye of the Formation, forcibly reversing a Yang residence built in a prosperous commercial district into a 'Gathering Yin to Raise Corpses' site."

Zhang Xuanyao turned to look at Director Wang Chen.

"If ordinary people go in, as many as go in will die. They are all just food delivery for the Formation."

Director Wang Chen gasped.

His back was soaked with cold sweat.

The riot command vehicle braked sharply.

The tires dragged long rubber marks on the ground.

The vehicle came to a stop.

"Director! We're here!" the driver shouted.

Director Wang Chen pushed open the car door.

Zhang Xuanyao jumped out of the car after him.

The scene before them made everyone's scalp tingle.

Around the perimeter of the Shipping Company building, three layers of red and white warning tape had been set up.

Dozens of police cars had completely blocked the street.

The alternating red and blue police lights flashed frantically in the heavy night.

The air was filled with a nauseating, fishy stench, mixed with a bone-chilling cold.

The dozens of police officers on the perimeter all looked terrified.

Many of them had their arms crossed over their chests, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

86: Chapter 86: Hardcore Legal Education: This Top-Tier Living Demon Can Generate a Lot of Merit Points

A field commander saw Director Wang Chen and immediately ran up.

"Director Wang! The situation is completely out of control!"

The commander's teeth were chattering, and he couldn't even speak clearly.

"Anyone who gets within ten meters of the building feels as if their blood is about to freeze solid. Several of our brothers have even experienced auditory and visual hallucinations, seeing dead people crawling out of the building. It's impossible to organize an assault!"

Director Wang Chen turned to look at Zhang Xuanyao, pinning all his hopes on this young Daoist priest.

Zhang Xuanyao ignored the terrified gazes around him.

His eyes locked onto the building ahead, which had been completely swallowed by black mist.

From within the black mist, the heart-wrenching wails of ghosts could be faintly heard.

Zhang Xuanyao reached into his Daoist robe pocket.

He pulled out his smartphone and a portable folding stand.

He skillfully unfolded the stand and fixed it to a fire hydrant next to the police cordon.

He adjusted the angle of the phone's camera.

He precisely framed himself and the eerie black-mist-covered building behind him in the shot.

"Director Wang, according to our rules."

Zhang Xuanyao turned his head and tilted his chin at Director Wang Chen.

"This is a typical piece of illegal construction based on feudal superstition. I have to start a livestream to educate my viewers on the law."

In this life-or-death moment, with the Special Police having lost contact, this Daoist actually wanted to livestream?

The officers at the scene were all dumbfounded.

Director Wang Chen, however, was unfazed and nodded vigorously.

"Turn it on! As long as you can save those people, you can even hold a concert in there if you want!"

Zhang Xuanyao tapped open the livestreaming app with his finger.

He changed the stream title.

[Late Night Spirit Exploration: Taking viewers to see an illegal construction site of an overseas cult, and saving a few people while I'm at it.]

He pressed the start button.

Less than three seconds into the broadcast, the hundreds of thousands of night-owl viewers who had been watching the Blood Descent King in the interrogation room and hadn't gone to sleep yet, flooded into the livestream.

The screen lit up.

Real red and blue police lights, the stretched-out police cordon, fully armed yet shivering police officers, and in the background, that building that seemed to connect to Hell.

The chat exploded instantly, densely covering the entire screen.

"Holy crap! The streamer is playing for real! This is quite the setup!"

"What the Hell is that black mist? Is it a special effect? It's too realistic!"

"What the Hell, an illegal construction site? What kind of illegal building looks like this from the underworld?"

"Are those Special Police in the front? Even the police can't get in, are you going to solo this, Great Master?"

Director Wang Chen glanced at the livestream, then turned and waved at the Special Police squad behind him.

"First Platoon! Pick ten of the bravest ones, put on the highest-level hazmat suits, bring heavy firepower, and follow Master Zhang inside!"

Director Wang Chen was preparing to organize a suicide squad.

Zhang Xuanyao simply raised his right hand and waved it.

"No need."

Zhang Xuanyao pulled the phone stand off the fire hydrant and held it in his hand.

"I said it before, ordinary people going in is just providing fodder. Having too many people will just get in the way."

Zhang Xuanyao held the selfie stick in one hand.

He strode forward, walking straight toward the rolling black mist.

His silhouette was stretched long under the glow of the police lights.

Alone, he faced the abyss.

Zhang Xuanyao held the phone stand with one hand.

His leather boots stepped onto the granite tiles in front of the Shipping Company.

He crossed the ten-meter line between life and death.

The moment he stepped into the black mist, the surrounding temperature plummeted to below freezing.

The thick black mist seemed to possess a life of its own, frantically pouring into Zhang Xuanyao's mouth, nose, and pores.

Countless sharp, wretched wails of ghosts bypassed his physical eardrums, turning into invisible steel needles that stabbed fiercely at Zhang Xuanyao's brain, attempting to tear through his mental defenses.

This level of mental attack would be enough to drive any strictly trained special forces soldier insane instantly.

Zhang Xuanyao didn't even pause his steps.

His left hand remained in his Daoist robe pocket.

His right hand held the phone steadily.

The camera was aimed at his own face and the rolling black mist around him.

"Viewers, look closely."

Zhang Xuanyao spoke to the camera, his tone as casual as if he were introducing a tourist attraction.

"This kind of black mist is the typical manifestation of Yin Qi. Inhale one breath and lose three years of your life; inhale two and you'll be heading straight to the underworld to report."

The viewers in the livestream looked at the darkness on the screen, which was so thick it couldn't be dispersed, and felt a chill down their backs even through the screen.

The chat was flooded with messages.

"Great Master, get out of there! This looks too evil!"

"Protect yourself! Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony!"

"Don't mess around, streamer, this isn't a joke!"

Zhang Xuanyao ignored the warnings in the chat.

He looked straight ahead.

In his mind, the System panel shone brightly.

His Golden Finger [Words Become Law (Upgraded Version)] was instantly activated.

At the same time, Zhang Xuanyao mobilized the special reward item he had obtained from a previous mission—the kongqing feather branch.

"I say."

Zhang Xuanyao's lips moved slightly; his voice was not loud, but it carried an overwhelming force of rules.

"All the Yin Qi here shall be purified by the kongqing feather branch and converted into nourishing Yang Qi."

The power of the Words Become Law rule didn't care about any physics or Formation logic; it was a direct dimensional strike.

As soon as he finished speaking, a flash of verdant, dripping light vanished from within the sleeve of Zhang Xuanyao's Daoist robe.

Immediately after, the black mist that had been raging wildly and trying to swallow everything seemed to encounter its natural predator.

With Zhang Xuanyao as the center, all the black mist, like a whale inhaling water, rolled back frantically.

The moment the black mist touched that invisible rule, it quickly shed its turbidity, turning into wisps of pure, warm white airflow.

The Yin Qi instantly turned into Yang Qi.

The temperature in the lobby on the first floor of the building, which had been bitingly cold, rose rapidly, becoming even warmer and more comfortable than the summer night outside.

His vision instantly cleared up.

The viewers in the livestream were all dumbfounded.

The image on the screen switched from a horror movie from the underworld to a high-definition, bright indoor lobby in a second.

After a brief pause, the chat erupted like a volcanic eruption.

"Holy crap! Daddy is awesome!"

"Words Become Law! This is the legendary Words Become Law!"

"Fighting magic with magic! This move is too slick!"

"The end of science is metaphysics, the ancients did not deceive me!"

Zhang Xuanyao held up his phone, his gaze sweeping across the first-floor lobby.

By the leather sofas in the lobby, under the marble load-bearing columns, and at the security gate passage, the twelve missing SWAT Team Members were lying on the ground in disarray.

Their micro-submachine guns were scattered nearby.

Zhang Xuanyao walked quickly to the nearest Special Police officer.

He squatted down and extended two fingers, placing them on the officer's carotid artery.

Although the pulse was weak, it was very steady.

"It's fine."

Zhang Xuanyao explained to the livestream camera.

"They just had some of their Yang Qi drained by the Formation earlier and fell into a deep coma. Now that the air is full of purified Yang Qi, they'll recover after breathing a few mouthfuls; there's no danger to their lives."

Just as Zhang Xuanyao was about to stand up, deep in the lobby, the door of the VIP-exclusive elevator leading to the basement emitted a dull sound of mechanical friction.

It slowly slid open to both sides.

Heavy footsteps emerged from the elevator car.

Li Qiang, the person in charge of the Heng City liaison point, walked out of the elevator wearing a well-tailored, high-end, expensive suit.

But his state had completely departed from the scope of humanity.

Li Qiang's complexion was as pale as paper, without a hint of blood.

The whites of his eyes had completely disappeared, and his eyes had turned a pure, pitch-black color, like two bottomless black holes.

His neck was tilted to the right at an eerie angle.

The joints of his limbs made teeth-grinding clicking sounds as he walked.

Clearly, his bones had been forcibly twisted by some power.

Li Qiang stopped ten meters away from Zhang Xuanyao.

His pitch-black eyes stared fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao.

He opened his mouth.

The sound emitted from his throat was like several people speaking at the same time, overlapping, harsh, and non-human.

"Zhang Xuanyao..."

Li Qiang's voice echoed in the lobby.

"The Holy Master is very interested in your thunder magic. I was originally planning to go to some trouble to find you."

Li Qiang twisted his stiff neck.

"Since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, today, I will use your pure Daoist Qi and blood to complete the deficiencies in the Dragon pulse Formation map!"

Facing this Black Sand Organization leader, who was visually striking and like a monster, Zhang Xuanyao was not only not afraid in the slightest, but his eyes lit up.

He was like a gaming-addicted teenager who had suddenly encountered a rare elite monster glowing with golden light in a beginner's village.

Zhang Xuanyao straightened his body.

He held up his phone, aiming the camera at Li Qiang.

He stuck out his tongue and licked his dry lips.

"Viewers, watch closely."

Zhang Xuanyao's tone was excited, even carrying a hint of impatience.

"This thing is called a Top-tier Living Malevolent Entity. It's a once-in-a-century encounter! This is a great monster for farming Karma and dropping gold coins!"

Zhang Xuanyao stuck the phone stand back into the soil of a high-end potted plant nearby.

He violently tore open the hem of his Daoist robe with both hands.

He strode toward Li Qiang with long, purposeful steps.

87: Chapter 87: Words Become Law, Giving a Top-Tier Evil Entire a Physiological Shock

Zhang Xuanyao strode toward Li Qiang, who had transformed into a Top-tier Living Malevolent Entity, his eyes shining.

He rubbed his hands together vigorously, the friction producing a rough, rustling sound.

Facing this terrifying evil entity that ordinary people would avoid at all costs, Zhang Xuanyao didn't retreat a single step; instead, he looked as if he had just seen a walking mountain of gold.

This was, after all, a Top-tier Living Malevolent Entity. An evil entity created by refining the living souls of humans mixed with the Evil Qi from a place of extreme Yin, over forty-nine days.

Within the Daoist circles, this would be a thorny problem that would give even old Daoist priests a massive headache.

But in Zhang Xuanyao's eyes, this was nothing but shining Karma.

Li Qiang's face, pale as paper, had its features twisted out of shape. His pitch-black eyeballs locked onto Zhang Xuanyao.

His neck emitted the creaking sound of dislocated bones, and an overlapping roar rolled out from his throat, the sound piercing.

"Arrogant Daoist! Use your life to fill the array!"

Before the words fell, Li Qiang's massive body, carrying bone-chilling Yin Qi, shot forward like a heavy artillery shell fired from a chamber, breaking through air resistance.

The marble floor couldn't withstand this terrifying explosive force. The moment his feet landed, the hard stone shattered inch by inch.

Spiderweb-like cracks spread wildly in all directions. Gravel splashed everywhere, hitting the walls with a crisp clatter.

The ten-meter distance was covered in an instant. The Yin wind, carrying a pungent, fishy stench, rushed directly at Zhang Xuanyao's face, blowing his Daoist robe high back.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in place, his feet rooted as if immovable. A playful smile tugged at the corner of his lips. His lips moved slightly, his voice not loud, but carrying a power of rules that transcended all things.

"This Daoist says, you old brat didn't check the almanac before going out today, so you will inevitably trip over your own feet and fall face-first into the mud."

Words Become Law (Upgraded Version) activated.

An invisible power of rules descended instantly. Ignoring all physical laws, it directly forcibly tampered with the threads of Karma.

Li Qiang, who had been menacing and was less than two meters away from Zhang Xuanyao, suddenly had his legs strangely knotted together. The toe of his left leather shoe hooked precisely onto his right ankle.

The massive inertia of his forward charge lost its chassis support.

"Bang!"

A deafening thud echoed through the hall.

Li Qiang's massive body lost its balance, face-down, and smashed hard onto the hard marble floor. The huge impact caused the entire building's floor to tremble.

It wasn't over yet. The inertia of the charge carried Li Qiang's body sliding wildly across the floor. His chin struck the edge of the shattered marble, sparking a blinding flash.

He slid a full three or four meters. Li Qiang's head slammed heavily into a nearby load-bearing pillar, and that was when he stopped.

Two bloody front teeth flew out of Li Qiang's mouth, tracing a parabola in mid-air, and fell with a "clatter" beside Zhang Xuanyao's feet.

The originally hair-raising, eerie atmosphere instantly shattered into a pile of glass shards in the face of this extremely grounded "flat-ground fall."

On the screen of the phone stuck in the flowerpot, the live stream chat exploded with an unprecedented burst.

["Holy crap! What the hell is a flat-ground fall! Did Old Dad's mouth get blessed?"]

["Hahaha! I'm dying of laughter! This boss definitely didn't check the almanac before going out!"]

["One second cool and stylish, the next second face-planting! This contrast is amazing!"]

["Physical exorcism! This is the real physical exorcism!"]

Various gift effects bloomed wildly on the screen. The animations of sports cars, rockets, and carnivals almost filled the entire screen.

Li Qiang supported the ground with his hands and climbed up in a sorry state. That pale face was covered in dust and blood. His chin was bloodied and mangled. His mouth, missing two front teeth, whistled as he breathed.

Humiliation. Extreme humiliation.

The evil spirit possessing Li Qiang's body had never suffered such a great insult. It was a dignified Top-tier Living Malevolent Entity, capable of slaughtering an entire street block if let loose. Now, it was being rubbed into the ground by a young Daoist in this almost mocking manner.

A roar came from Li Qiang's whistling mouth. The black Qi around his body rolled violently like boiling water. The concentration of Yin Qi climbed again. The temperature of the surrounding air dropped to freezing.

Li Qiang turned his hands into claws, his nails growing five centimeters long, pitch black and shiny, flashing with a metallic luster. He prepared to forcibly trigger his trump card evil arts to tear this hateful Daoist into pieces.

Zhang Xuanyao raised his right hand unhurriedly and picked his ear with his little finger. He flicked the dust off his fingernail. He spoke again.

"This Daoist says again, you now have a sudden onset of acute gastroenteritis, urgent need to go, and you can't muster any strength at all."

The power of rules of Words Become Law struck with dimensional reduction again.

The System's ability was overbearingly powerful. It didn't care if the opponent was human or ghost; as long as there was a Physical Body, the power of rules could act directly on the Physical Body.

As soon as the words fell.

Li Qiang, the Top-tier Living Malevolent Entity whose Aura had climbed to the peak, suddenly froze.

He gasped. His hands retracted like he had been electrocuted, clutching his stomach tightly.

That pale face instantly turned beet red. His legs uncontrollably clamped inward, his knees knocking together.

The originally terrifying Aura, enough to make ordinary people's livers and gallbladders split, completely collapsed at this moment. His tall, burly body hunched into a comical, cooked shrimp.

Sweat beads the size of beans seeped out on his forehead. Li Qiang trembled all over; even standing still became a luxury.

"Pfft—"

An extremely long, dull sound came from behind Li Qiang. It was exceptionally clear in this silent hall.

In addition to the fishy stench of Evil Qi, there was now an indescribable smell in the air.

The friends in the live stream room couldn't hold it anymore.

["Holy crap! A smelly live stream!"]

["The Great Master is too ruthless! Killing and punishing the heart!"]

["This boss must want to die right now!"]

["Gastroenteritis attack! Learned it, learned it!"]

["Physical and mental double torture, Old Dad's dimensional reduction strike is too cruel!"]

The lights in the hall flickered. The Yang Qi purified by the kongqing feather branch collided with the residual Yin Qi on Li Qiang's body, making a slight sizzling sound.

Li Qiang hunched his body, his hands pressing tightly against his abdomen. It felt like a blender was running wildly in his stomach. Every cramp was accompanied by an uncontrollable feeling of sinking.

This kind of pure physiological torture was a dimensional reduction strike for an evil entity that relied on Yin Qi to operate. Evil arts simply could not resolve this kind of physiological disease originating from the level of rules.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in place, arms crossed. Looking at Li Qiang's comical appearance, he raised one eyebrow.

"Yo, you can hold it in pretty well."

Zhang Xuanyao's tone was relaxed, as if watching a farce.

"Do you want this Daoist to add a sphincter control loss buff for you?"

Hearing this, Li Qiang shuddered all over in fear. Although the evil spirit possessing his body had no physical form, it was deeply fused with this Physical Body. All the pain and physiological reactions suffered by the Physical Body would be experienced 100% by the evil spirit.

88: Chapter 88: The Majestic Power of Heaven, Please Believe in Science

If it really lost control in public, then the reputation of this Top-tier Living Malevolent Entity would be completely ruined. How would it ever survive in the Underworld after that?

Li Qiang shook his head desperately. He clamped his legs even tighter, a whimpering sound of begging for mercy escaping his throat.

Zhang Xuanyao took slow, leisurely steps. His leather boots stepped onto the shattered marble, making a clicking sound.

He walked up to Li Qiang, who was trembling all over and feeling extremely aggrieved.

He raised his right foot and unceremoniously stepped on Li Qiang's chest.

He pressed down with force.

Li Qiang's massive body was knocked flat onto the ground by the stomp. His legs remained tightly clamped, and his hands clutched his stomach as he writhed in pain on the floor.

Zhang Xuanyao looked down at the monster beneath his feet from his superior position.

"Stop holding it in," Zhang Xuanyao said in a flat tone. "Hurry up and speak. What exactly is that 'Holy Lord' of yours who likes to extract the Dragon veins?"

Li Qiang was pinned to the ground. His hands tried to push away Zhang Xuanyao's foot, but under the suppression of the Words Become Law rule, he couldn't even muster a shred of strength.

The cramping pain of acute gastroenteritis and the overwhelming urge to relieve himself caused this Top-tier Living Malevolent Entity to completely lose its combat effectiveness.

Zhang Xuanyao applied slight pressure with his foot. The sole of his leather boot ground against Li Qiang's sternum, producing a teeth-grinding friction sound.

"Not talking?" Zhang Xuanyao's gaze turned cold. "This Daoist has plenty of time to play with you. Do you want me to add a hemorrhoid rupture package for you?"

Li Qiang trembled violently. This method, which was even more torturous than the ten great tortures of the Qing Dynasty, completely shattered the evil spirit's psychological defenses.

"I... I don't know!"

Li Qiang opened his mouth in humiliation. His voice was hoarse and carried a distinct tremor.

"The Holy Lord is a mysterious person; no one has ever seen his true face! Every time he appears, he wears a bronze mask!"

Zhang Xuanyao increased the force under his foot once again.

"Crack!"

A clear sound of ribs breaking echoed through the hall.

"You don't know?"

Zhang Xuanyao let out a cold snort.

"Then tell me something you do know. Where is the real lair of the Black Sand Organization? Don't try to fool this Daoist with those shell companies."

The excruciating pain from the broken ribs mixed with the abdominal cramps caused Li Qiang to convulse all over. His black eyeballs bulged outward.

"In Nanyang! In the lawless zone of the Golden Triangle!"

Li Qiang roared out, terrified that if he was a second too slow, he would face even crueler treatment.

"There is an underground military fortress there, which is the organization's true core base!"

Zhang Xuanyao obtained the information he wanted and nodded with satisfaction.

He moved his foot away from Li Qiang's chest and wiped his leather boot on the floor.

His eyes changed completely in that instant. The original playfulness and casualness were swept away, replaced by a cold, murderous intent capable of freezing the air.

"Alright," Zhang Xuanyao brushed off the hem of his Daoist robe. "Your remaining value has been squeezed dry; you can go report to the Underworld now."

The evil spirit inside Li Qiang sensed this fatal murderous intent. It knew that this Physical Body could not be saved regardless.

It let out a shrill, miserable scream.

A stream of extremely dense black Qi gushed out from Li Qiang's seven orifices, directly abandoning this Top-tier Living Malevolent Entity body that had been painstakingly refined.

The black Qi gathered in mid-air into a twisted, giant ghostly face. Filled with endless malice, it soared into the sky, attempting to smash through the glass dome above the hall and escape.

"Want to run?" Zhang Xuanyao sneered.

His hands quickly formed seals in front of his chest. His fingers flew, turning into a series of afterimages.

Blinding blue lightning instantly surged around his body. The violent power of thunder exploded in the air, and his Daoist robe snapped loudly in the wind whipped up by the thunder.

The air in the hall instantly became scorched. The destructive aura of lightning filled every corner.

Zhang Xuanyao's seal-forming speed was extremely fast. He pressed his index and middle fingers together to form a sword seal and chanted under his breath. With every syllable he uttered, the surrounding air vibrated.

The blue lightning initially only danced at his fingertips like small, swimming snakes. As he chanted the incantation, the snakes rapidly grew, transforming into a violent electric Dragon that circled and danced around Zhang Xuanyao's arms.

The temperature in the hall rose sharply. The frost that had originally formed due to the gathering of Yin Qi instantly evaporated under the high heat of the thunder, turning into white steam.

The power of the thunder gathered more and more. Zhang Xuanyao's Daoist robe was puffed up by the strong wind, and his hair moved without wind. His entire being resembled an ancient deity controlling lightning.

The ghostly face formed from black Qi in mid-air sensed this power capable of destroying the heavens and earth. It let out a terrified shriek and fled desperately upward.

But how could its speed compare to that of the thunder?

"Heaven and Earth are infinite, I borrow the power of the Universe!"

Zhang Xuanyao roared. His voice was like a great bell, shattering the surrounding residual Yin Qi.

"Five Thunders Method, strike!"

He pointed his right hand upward violently, his sword finger pointing straight at the black Qi attempting to flee in mid-air.

A blue bolt of lightning, as thick as a water bucket, gushed out from Zhang Xuanyao's palm.

Carrying the majestic Heavenly Might to destroy everything, it tore through the air, emitting a deafening thunderclap.

The moment that bucket-thick blue lightning struck, the entire hall was illuminated as bright as day. The blinding light made it impossible to look directly at it.

The instant the lightning struck the ghostly face, there was no violent explosion, only pure purification.

"Ah—"

A scream of absolute despair rang out amidst the lightning. That arrogant evil spirit didn't even last a second before the fierce and unparalleled orthodox Daoist lightning technique.

The black Qi, like residual snow meeting a scorching sun, dissolved at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The ghostly face twisted and struggled, finally turning into nothingness amidst the screams. Not even a speck of residue was left.

The remaining power of the thunder struck the glass dome above the hall.

The special explosion-proof glass instantly melted under the high temperature, breaking open a huge hole. The night wind poured into the hall through the hole, blowing away the last bit of scorched smell.

Li Qiang's Physical Body, having lost the support of the evil spirit, had by now turned into a dehydrated corpse. During its fall, it was swept by the aftershock of the thunder and directly carbonized.

It slammed heavily onto the marble floor, shattering into a dozen pieces of black charcoal that scattered all over the ground.

Zhang Xuanyao maintained the posture of his sword finger pointing to the sky. A full three seconds passed before he slowly lowered his arm.

He exhaled a long breath of turbid air. The blue electric arcs lingering around his body gradually burrowed back into his body and disappeared.

The smell of ozone permeating the air proved that the destructive strike just now was not an illusion.

He turned around, took steps to the flowerpot, and pulled out the phone stand stuck in the soil.

Zhang Xuanyao held the phone stand with one hand, aiming the camera at his own face.

The barrage on the screen was already completely crazy. The entire screen was filled with words like "Daddy is mighty," "Lightning technique descends upon the world," and "An immortal descends to the mortal realm." The special effects of the gifts caused the screen to lag a bit.

Zhang Xuanyao's expression was calm, without any hint of smugness.

"Friends, that's it for today's legal education livestream," Zhang Xuanyao waved at the camera. "Believe in science, refuse superstition. See you next time."

89: Chapter 89: Like a God Descending to Earth, His Sword Points at the Golden Triangle

After speaking, he tapped his finger on the screen, decisively ending the live stream, completely ignoring the fans begging him to stay in the comments section.

Inside the hall, the purification effect of the kongqing feather branch reached its peak.

The originally dense, impenetrable Yin evil energy had been completely transformed into gentle Yang Qi. This pure Yang Qi circulated within the hall, faintly forming a layer of faint golden light.

The golden light swirled around Zhang Xuanyao, making his slightly worn Daoist robe shine brilliantly.

Zhang Xuanyao held the phone stand in one hand, stepping on this layer of tangible golden light, walking unhurriedly toward the door of the Shipping Company.

His steps were steady, his rhythm even. His leather boots clicked crisply against the floor.

Outside the door, red and blue police lights flashed wildly. Their light pierced the night, illuminating Zhang Xuanyao's calm yet highly oppressive face.

Outside the police cordon, Director Wang Chen and dozens of fully armed SWAT Team Members remained in a posture of aiming their guns in alert.

Watching Zhang Xuanyao walk out as if a god had descended, everyone was dumbfounded.

Not a single person spoke. The entire street was so quiet that only the static of the police radios could be heard.

The blinding flash of lightning that had just erupted inside the hall, as well as the deafening thunderclap, had been clearly seen and heard by everyone outside.

That power, which transcended human cognition, completely shattered the worldview of these elite SWAT Team Members.

Several SWAT Team Members subconsciously swallowed, their Adam's apples bobbing up and down. Their fingers gripping their submachine guns trembled slightly.

Director Wang Chen's mouth hung open. The walkie-talkie in his hand almost fell to the ground.

Just at this moment, a series of frantic System notifications rang out in Zhang Xuanyao's mind.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for shocking the entire audience. You have obtained six million shock value in a single instance!"

"Ding! Total shock value has exceeded fifteen million! The System store has been upgraded!"

"Ding! System store upgrade complete! Added Advanced Talisman exchange area, Magical Artifact forging blueprint area, and Heaven and Earth spiritual item exchange area."

"Ding! Words Become Law has been upgraded to the Advanced version! The coverage of the power of rules has expanded to a radius of one hundred meters! It can now have a certain effect on non-corporeal targets!"

"Ding! Unlocked Great Master-level lucky draw wheel! Each draw consumes six million shock value, with a 100% chance to obtain a Golden Legendary quality item!"

The System's electronic voice echoed continuously in his mind. The series of generous rewards left Zhang Xuanyao very satisfied.

The gains this time were undeniably rich. Six million shock value directly brought the System a qualitative leap.

The upgrade to Words Become Law was particularly critical. The expansion of the coverage area to a radius of one hundred meters meant that he could perform large-scale rule suppression during group battles.

Furthermore, being able to affect non-corporeal targets meant that in the future, when encountering those pure evil entities without a Physical Body, he could directly use Words Become Law to perform dimensionality reduction strikes.

As for the Great Master-level lucky draw wheel, it cost six million shock value per draw. Although expensive, it was 100% guaranteed to produce a Golden Legendary item. It was definitely worth more than the price.

Zhang Xuanyao opened the System panel. Looking at the balance of over seven million shock value, a feeling of being wealthy and bold arose spontaneously.

Closing the System panel, Zhang Xuanyao turned his attention back to reality. He stopped walking.

His gaze crossed the police cordon, pierced through the deep night sky of Heng City, and looked toward the distant direction of Nanyang. The Golden Triangle. The underground military fortress.

A curve of anticipation tugged at the corners of Zhang Xuanyao's mouth. "It seems I have to take a trip to Nanyang," Zhang Xuanyao whispered to himself.

Director Wang Chen finally snapped back to reality. He ran forward with large strides, crossing the police cordon.

"Master Zhang! Inside... how is the situation inside?" Director Wang Chen's voice trembled.

"The evil entity has been eliminated." Zhang Xuanyao withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Director Wang Chen. "The missing SWAT Team Members are all in the first-floor hall. They have only had a portion of their Yang Qi drained, leaving them unconscious. The interior is now filled with purified Yang Qi; go in, carry them out, and let them bask in the sun for a few days, and they will be fine."

Hearing that his team members were okay, Director Wang Chen let out a long sigh of relief. The heart that had been hanging in his throat finally settled back into his chest.

Director Wang Chen turned around and roared at the SWAT Team Members standing dazed on the spot. "Medical team! Stretchers! Go in and save them quickly!"

The SWAT Team Members awoke as if from a dream. They put away their weapons and rushed into the building with the medical personnel.

Zhang Xuanyao stood to the side, watching the busy rescue scene. The medical team had already successively carried the twelve missing SWAT Team Members out on stretchers.

Just as Zhang Xuanyao had said, although these members were pale and in a deep coma, their breathing was steady and their heartbeats were strong. They were not in any life-threatening danger.

Director Wang Chen stood beside the stretchers, checking the condition of each member one by one. After confirming they were fine, he turned and walked in front of Zhang Xuanyao.

He brought his legs together and stood straight. He raised his right hand and gave Zhang Xuanyao an extremely standard police salute. "Master Zhang! Thank you!"

Director Wang Chen's tone was solemn. There were no superfluous polite words; these two words contained all his gratitude and respect.

Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand. "I take money to eliminate disasters for others. Besides, since this bunch of scum ran to our territory to run wild, as a member of the Huaxia Daoist sect, I naturally cannot sit idly by."

"You should have watched the live stream just now. Li Qiang confessed the location of their Black Sand Organization lair. Remember to call me when you go to Nanyang to handle the case."

Zhang Xuanyao thought for a moment and continued, "That Holy Master... most likely also has some tricks up his sleeve, and you might find it troublesome to deal with him. When the time comes, I will draw some Talismans for you to use."

Director Wang Chen gripped Zhang Xuanyao's hand with both of his, nodding solemnly, while constantly saying thank you. "For the greater good, it is only right."

Zhang Xuanyao withdrew his hand and then yawned. "I will go back to catch up on some sleep first. Contact me anytime if there is any situation."

After speaking, Zhang Xuanyao turned and walked toward the black heavy-duty police anti-riot command vehicle. He opened the door and sat inside.

The driver immediately started the engine. The anti-riot command vehicle let out a low roar and slowly drove away from the scene.

Director Wang Chen watched the anti-riot vehicle leave. He turned his head to look at the building, which had returned to calm.

The glass doors on the first floor of the building were wide open. Inside, it was still emitting a faint, warm golden light.

Director Wang Chen took out his walkie-talkie. "Attention all units. Seal off the scene. Contact the Municipal Police Bureau Technical Division immediately to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the building's interior."

Director Wang Chen issued the command. "In addition, contact the National Security Department. This case involves foreign forces and must be handed over to higher authorities for processing."

The night grew deeper. This turmoil in the East District of Heng City had temporarily subsided. But everyone knew that this was just the beginning.

That underground military fortress in the Golden Triangle of Nanyang is the true dragon's den and tiger's lair.

90: Chapter 90: A Million-Dollar Ginseng Treated as a Radish

A black, heavy-duty police anti-riot command vehicle sped down the silent street.

The tires rolled over the asphalt, emitting a low sound of rubber friction.

The night breeze poured into the cabin through the half-open window, fluttering the hem of Zhang Xuanyao's slightly tattered Daoist robe.

The anti-riot vehicle slowed down. The tires left a short skid mark on the bluestone pavement in front of Qingfeng Temple.

The door popped open, and Zhang Xuanyao braced himself against the doorframe with one hand, stepping down from the high cabin.

His leather boots hit the ground. He turned around, raised his right hand, and waved at the SWAT Team Members in the driver's cabin.

The courtyard of the temple, which had been kept perfectly spotless by Ji Xue, was now stuffed full of various items.

Dozens of large crates, exuding the scent of golden nanmu wood, sat with their lids open. Moonlight spilled into the courtyard, illuminating the contents within.

The dozen or so crates on the left were piled high with bundles of century-old premium wild ginseng, wild lingzhi the size of washbasins, and premium cordyceps the size of fists.

In the crates on the right, rolls of antique calligraphy and paintings, complete sets of Ru ware porcelain, and premium mutton-fat jade carvings emitting a warm luster were neatly arranged.

Zhang Xuanyao lifted his foot, crossed the high threshold, and walked into the courtyard.

In the open space in the center of the courtyard, Patriarch Shen Ting and President Shen Yanbai of the Shen Family stood straight, no longer looking sickly like they had been when they were afflicted by the Gu.

Both were wearing extremely formal custom-made Tang suits. Seeing Zhang Xuanyao enter the courtyard, Patriarch Shen Ting immediately took two steps forward, cupped his hands, and bowed ninety degrees.

President Shen Yanbai followed closely behind, bowing in greeting as well.

"Daoist Master."

Patriarch Shen Ting raised his head, his tone extremely respectful. "This old man has been waiting for a long time."

Zhang Xuanyao stopped. His gaze swept over the golden nanmu crates before finally landing on Patriarch Shen Ting's face. He raised his right hand and picked his ear with his little finger.

"Why aren't you sleeping in the middle of the night? What are you running to my dilapidated temple for?"

Zhang Xuanyao flicked the dust off his fingernail. "Bringing so many junk crates, are you planning to open a second-hand recycling center here?"

President Shen Yanbai straightened up. Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead. He raised his sleeve to wipe it. "Daoist Master, you jest."

President Shen Yanbai held a thick red gift list with both hands and extended it forward.

"These worldly goods are just a small token of our Shen Family's appreciation. You saved the lives of my father and Shen Zhiyao, and single-handedly wiped out that group of foreign evil spirits. The Shen Family has no way to repay you, so we could only scrounge up some medicinal herbs and antiques to add to your household belongings."

Patriarch Shen Ting nodded along, his hands folded in front of him. "Daoist Master, please do not look down on these. These things aren't worth much, we only ask that you accept them. The Shen Family would never dare to have any extravagant demands, nor would we dare to ask for any return from you."

Zhang Xuanyao did not take the red gift list. He strode over to the crate on the left, which was filled with medicinal herbs.

He bent down, rummaged through the pile of premium herbs, and reached out to grab a century-old premium wild ginseng that was as thick as a baby's arm.

This wild ginseng had a long, slender rhizome and dense root hairs. If taken to an auction house, the starting bid would definitely be in the tens of millions; it was a priceless treasure that money couldn't buy.

Zhang Xuanyao took the wild ginseng and walked over to the water vat nearby. He picked up a ladle, scooped up some clean water, casually rinsed the wild ginseng twice, and shook off the water droplets.

Turning around, Zhang Xuanyao held up the wild ginseng, opened his mouth, and took a bite right into the thickest part of it.

"Crunch."

A crisp crunching sound echoed in the silent courtyard. Zhang Xuanyao was chewing on this ten-million-dollar premium wild ginseng as if it were a radish.

A rich medicinal fragrance instantly diffused into the air, and juice flowed down the corner of Zhang Xuanyao's mouth.

Patriarch Shen Ting stood rooted to the spot, his eyes wide and mouth half-open, watching Zhang Xuanyao's bold way of eating, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

President Shen Yanbai held the gift list with both hands, his ten fingers trembling uncontrollably. That was a century-old premium wild ginseng capable of keeping a dying person alive for one more breath.

He just chewed it like a radish? This way of eating it was something even a top-tier wealthy family like the Shen Family absolutely could not afford.

This wasn't eating medicinal herbs; it was practically eating a mountain of gold.

Zhang Xuanyao chewed the ginseng flesh in his mouth, swallowed it, and wiped the juice from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Not bad. Quite juicy." Zhang Xuanyao commented, then took another bite.

"Alright. I'll accept these items. You can go back now."

Shen Zhiyao emerged from behind President Shen Yanbai. She was wearing a very form-fitting white tracksuit.

Outlining her youthful and energetic curves, Shen Zhiyao ran quickly to Zhang Xuanyao's side, holding a clean white cotton towel in her hand.

"Daoist Master, wipe your mouth."

Shen Zhiyao handed over the towel with both hands, her large eyes filled with stars. Her gaze was glued to Zhang Xuanyao's face, her lips slightly parted, and she let out a doting giggle.

Zhang Xuanyao took the towel, wiped his face haphazardly, and threw the towel back to Shen Zhiyao.

Shen Zhiyao caught the towel and held it to her chest. Her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue.

In the courtyard of Qingfeng Temple, the night breeze blew, swirling up a few fallen leaves.

Zhang Xuanyao finished the last bite of the wild ginseng, tossed the root hairs onto the ground, patted the residue off his hands, opened his mouth, and let out a long yawn.

"Alright. I've accepted the items. You guys get going."

Zhang Xuanyao waved his right hand as if shooing away flies. "This Daoist is going into seclusion for three days. Don't bother me during these three days."

Patriarch Shen Ting nodded instantly like a pounding pestle. He turned around, grabbed President Shen Yanbai's arm, and pulled him hard towards the courtyard gate.

"Rest well, Daoist Master. We definitely won't disturb you."

Patriarch Shen Ting said as he retreated. Once he reached outside the courtyard gate, Patriarch Shen Ting stopped, turned his head to look at Shen Zhiyao, who was still standing next to Zhang Xuanyao, and Ji Xue, who was standing in the corner wearing loungewear.

"Zhiyao. You stay here."

Patriarch Shen Ting raised his voice and winked at Shen Zhiyao, considering Ji Xue a competitor, intending for Shen Zhiyao to put in some effort to win over the Daoist Master.

"For these three days, you are responsible for serving the Daoist Master's daily needs. Whatever the Daoist Master asks for, you must satisfy unconditionally."

After saying this, Patriarch Shen Ting didn't give Zhang Xuanyao any chance to refuse. He pulled President Shen Yanbai along and quickly hopped into the black maybach parked by the side of the road.

The doors slammed shut. The engine started. The maybach sped away from Qingfeng Temple like an arrow leaving the bowstring.

Zhang Xuanyao watched the receding taillights, turned his head, and his gaze landed on Shen Zhiyao.

Shen Zhiyao had her hands behind her back. She swayed her body from side to side. An uncontrollable smile hung on her face.

"Do whatever you want. Just don't enter my room."

Zhang Xuanyao dropped this sentence and turned to walk toward the living quarters behind the main hall.

He pushed open the wooden door, walked inside, and closed the door behind him.

For the next three days, a scene of extreme contrast played out within Qingfeng Temple.

Shen Zhiyao completely let herself go. This Shen Family heiress, who had never lifted a finger in her life, took over all the chores in the temple.

Ji Xue didn't know what to do for a moment and could only compete with Shen Zhiyao to do them.

91: Chapter 91: The Dao Heart Finally Shatters, and He Stumbles into a Battlefield While Supporting His Back.

On the morning of the first day, Zhang Xuanyao just pushed open the door to see Shen Zhiyao squatting in front of a basin in the courtyard.

She was vigorously scrubbing his old Taoist robe, soap bubbles splattered all over her face.

Ji Xue stood to the side, wanting to help several times, but was sternly refused by Shen Zhiyao.

At noon, Shen Zhiyao fussed in the kitchen of Qingfeng Temple for two hours.

She served a plate of blackened scrambled eggs and a bowl of undercooked rice.

Zhang Xuanyao took one look, picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, spat it directly into the trash can, and turned back to his room to gnaw on the wild ginseng sent by the Shen Family.

By evening, Shen Zhiyao's offensive became more direct.

She changed into an extremely form-fitting pink nurse outfit, holding a thermometer in her hand.

She wandered outside Zhang Xuanyao's room for half an hour, attempting to enter under the guise of "a physical check-up."

She was rebuffed by Zhang Xuanyao's retort: "My body temperature is normal. If you keep wandering around, I'll make your body temperature hit zero."

The second day, Shen Zhiyao's phone rang every hour.

They were all text messages from President Shen Yanbai. The content was extremely explicit.

He kept hinting for her to "seize the opportunity," "make it official," and "the future of the Shen Family depends on you."

Looking at the messages, Shen Zhiyao's cheeks turned bright red, and she became even more motivated.

Late into the third night, Qingfeng Temple was so quiet that only the chirping of insects in the distance could be heard.

Zhang Xuanyao sat cross-legged on the hard wooden bed in the living room, eyes closed, breathing steady.

In his mind, the System panel emitted a faint blue light.

Zhang Xuanyao was browsing the items in the System shop, dazzled by the various Talismans and Heaven And Earth Treasure.

Just then, "Creak—"

The wooden door of the living room made a very slight friction sound as it was pushed open a crack from the outside.

Zhang Xuanyao did not open his eyes; his hearing keenly captured the movement outside.

A pair of light footsteps entered the room, barefoot on the wooden floor.

Zhang Xuanyao opened his eyes and cast his gaze toward the door.

Shen Zhiyao stood by the door, closing the wooden door behind her.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the scene before him, his pupils dilated instantly. His body instinctively leaned backward, his back hitting the wall hard.

Shen Zhiyao was barefoot, her white, delicate feet sporting bright red nail polish.

She was draped in a nearly transparent black veil. Beneath the veil was a daring set of black lace lingerie with pitifully little fabric.

Large swaths of snow-white skin were visible under the moonlight, the strong contrast between black and white having a powerful visual impact.

Zhang Xuanyao took a deep breath and raised his right hand, pointing at Shen Zhiyao.

"Not sleeping in the middle of the night."

Zhang Xuanyao's venomous tongue attribute erupted instantly.

"Are you running into my room dressed like this to kill mosquitoes? There's so little fabric that mosquitoes don't even need to look for a place to bite!"

Shen Zhiyao's cheeks flushed crimson, the blush spreading to the roots of her neck, but she didn't retreat at all. Instead, she puffed out her chest, took a step, and walked toward the hard wooden bed.

"Daoist~" Shen Zhiyao's voice was so sweet it could drip water, the tail of her voice drawn out extremely long. "I know you're interested in me. You haven't kicked me away for these three days. I'm right here, won't you come over?"

Shen Zhiyao walked to the side of the bed and leaned forward, her hands pressing on the edge of the bed, the view at her neckline becoming even deeper.

Zhang Xuanyao felt a surge of evil fire rushing up from his lower abdomen. This woman was truly a succubus.

Zhang Xuanyao gritted his teeth, suppressing his body's instinctive reaction, and quickly sat cross-legged upright.

He quickly formed a seal with his hands in front of his chest, middle and index fingers together, pointing at the tip of Shen Zhiyao's nose.

"You Prodigy!"

Zhang Xuanyao shouted solemnly.

"Stop trying to disturb my Dao Heart! I command you to reveal your true form!"

Zhang Xuanyao almost shouted "Great Vajra Dragon" as well.

In his mind, the rule power of Words Become Law (Upgraded Version) had already begun to operate.

He had intended to speak directly, commanding Shen Zhiyao to trip over her own left foot and tumble out of the room.

But looking at Shen Zhiyao's delicate face, seeing her shoulders trembling slightly from nervousness, and seeing her pitiful expression.

Zhang Xuanyao's lips moved, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to speak those Words Become Law.

The rule power dissipated in mid-air.

In that half-second of hesitation by Zhang Xuanyao, Shen Zhiyao keenly sensed his hesitation. A glint of cunning flashed in her eyes.

Shen Zhiyao's legs exerted sudden force, bursting with astonishing power completely inconsistent with her petite frame.

She leapt onto the hard wooden bed like a hungry tiger pouncing on prey.

Zhang Xuanyao was completely unprepared for this sudden attack.

He was hit squarely in the chest by Shen Zhiyao, the huge impact causing Zhang Xuanyao to fall backward.

Zhang Xuanyao's back slammed hard onto the soft bed.

Shen Zhiyao took the opportunity to straddle Zhang Xuanyao's waist, pinning his wrists tightly with both hands, pressing his hands to the sides of his body.

Outside the window, a full moon hung high, the cold moonlight spilling into the room through the window lattice, shining on Shen Zhiyao's crimson face.

The temperature in the room rose sharply, and the air was filled with a cloying perfume scent.

Zhang Xuanyao lay on the bed, looking at Shen Zhiyao who was straddling him, struggling symbolically twice and twisting his wrists.

"Let go."

Zhang Xuanyao's tone was stiff, but clearly lacking conviction.

"I am a Taoist. You are forcibly abducting a common man."

"Daoist is not a monk. The Zhengyi sect allows marriage."

Shen Zhiyao leaned down, the edge of her black lace rubbing against Zhang Xuanyao's chest, her warm breath hitting Zhang Xuanyao's chin.

"Grandpa said. I must make the raw rice cooked tonight."

Zhang Xuanyao stopped struggling. He relaxed his hands, letting Shen Zhiyao press them down.

"You brought this on yourself."

Zhang Xuanyao flipped his wrists, taking the initiative, grabbed Shen Zhiyao's wrists, used his waist strength, and directly pinned Shen Zhiyao beneath him.

He completely gave up resistance, sinking into the soft embrace.

"Creak... creak..."

The dilapidated wooden bed made a protest of unbearable weight, appearing particularly harsh in the silent night, the rhythm getting faster and faster.

Meanwhile, outside the door, separated by a single door, Ji Xue was wearing loungewear, standing outside the door, hearing the sound, and stood frozen in place.

Ji Xue listened to the creaking of the wooden bed from inside the room, as well as the irrepressible sounds from Shen Zhiyao.

She clenched her hands into fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms, her face flushed red, and the temperature on her face was frighteningly high.

Her breathing became extremely rapid, her chest heaving violently, and her legs involuntarily clamped inward, her knees pressed together.

In her mind, the scene from three days ago surfaced uncontrollably. Zhang Xuanyao inside the Shipping Company building, surrounded by blue thunder.

His heroic posture as he shattered the evil spirits like a god descending to the world. That image was deeply carved into her mind. It would not go away.

Ji Xue bit her lower lip, feeling as if countless cat claws were scratching in her heart, making her itch uncomfortably.

She turned around, covered her ears with both hands, trying to block out the sounds from the room, but the creaking sound seemed to have penetrating power, drilling straight into her brain.

This night, for Ji Xue, was like a year.

The next morning, the sun rose from the east. Golden sunlight spilled over the courtyard of Qingfeng Temple.

Zhang Xuanyao pushed open the wooden door of the living room. His right hand was supporting his lower back as he stepped out of the room.

Just as he crossed the threshold, Zhang Xuanyao ran into Ji Xue standing outside the door.

Ji Xue still maintained the standing posture from last night, only her eyes were covered with red bloodshot veins, staring at Zhang Xuanyao with an extremely resentful gaze. In that gaze, mixed with fatigue, shame, and a hint of indescribable longing.

Zhang Xuanyao was stunned for a moment. He lowered the hand supporting his lower back.

"You stood here all night?" Zhang Xuanyao raised his eyebrows.

Ji Xue gritted her teeth and said nothing, her gaze crossing Zhang Xuanyao's shoulder, looking at the messy wooden bed inside the room.

Before Zhang Xuanyao could open his mouth to tease, outside the temple, a burst of extremely harsh tire friction sound suddenly came, followed by the sound of multiple car engines shutting off.

Zhang Xuanyao turned his head and looked toward the courtyard gate.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Several muffled door-closing sounds rang out in succession.

Outside the open gate of Qingfeng Temple, a line of extremely eye-catching motorcades was parked.

At the very front was a police car flashing red and blue lights.

Behind it, five black Rolls Royce Phantoms were parked neatly.

The driver's door of the police car was pushed open. Qin Bingruo was wearing a crisp police uniform, stepped out of the car, and slammed the door shut.

At the same time, the back seat door of the leading Rolls Royce opened, and Su Qingge was wearing a white high-end trench coat, stepping on high heels, and walked quickly out of the car.

92: Chapter 92: The CEO Gathers with Policewomen Again, the Taoist Priest Demands Compensation After Closing the Door.

The morning sun sprinkled onto the mottled walls of Qingfeng Temple.

Outside the open gates of the Daoist temple.

Su Qingge strode forward with her long legs, the hem of her white high-end trench coat fluttering in the morning breeze. The heels of her high heels tapped against the bluestone, creating a crisp and rhythmic sound.

Eight bodyguards in black suits and sunglasses followed closely behind her.

Each of them carried two black gift boxes, half the height of a person. The surfaces of the boxes were stamped with the gold-leaf logo of an old, established brand, emitting a rich fragrance of medicinal herbs.

The bodyguards walked in perfect unison, their leather shoes making dull thuds on the ground.

Qin Bingruo followed slightly behind and to the side. Her police uniform was crisp, and a tactical belt was fastened around her waist.

She clutched a kraft paper file bag stamped with a top-secret red seal. The paper emitted a faint friction sound under the force of her fingers.

The two women stepped over the high threshold one after the other. An intense sense of oppression instantly swept across the entire courtyard.

In the center of the courtyard.

Zhang Xuanyao stood outside the living room door, his right hand still supporting his lower back. The collar of his Daoist robe was slightly open, revealing faint red marks on his collarbone.

His face carried a touch of sleepy laziness, as well as the unique satisfaction that comes after a night of debauchery.

Ji Xue stood less than two meters away from Zhang Xuanyao. She twisted the hem of her loungewear tightly with both hands, her knuckles tense. Her eyes were red and swollen, bloodshot at the corners.

Inside the half-open wooden door of the living room.

Shen Zhiyao leaned one hand against the doorframe, most of her body hidden in the shadows.

Over that incredibly daring black lace lingerie, she had haphazardly wrapped one of Zhang Xuanyao's oversized Daoist robes. The hem of the robe barely covered the tops of her thighs.

The air froze completely in that second. Even the wind seemed to have stopped flowing.

Ji Xue held her breath nervously, her chest heaving violently. Her gaze shifted back and forth between Su Qingge, Qin Bingruo, and Shen Zhiyao. A world war akin to Mars colliding with Earth was already playing out in her mind.

Su Qingge stopped. The sound of her high heels ceased abruptly.

Her gaze crossed Zhang Xuanyao's shoulder, locking accurately onto Shen Zhiyao, who was hiding behind the door. Her eyes swept over Shen Zhiyao's oversized Daoist robe, her trembling legs, and the dense red marks on her neck.

No anger. No questioning. No hysteria.

Su Qingge's red lips parted slightly, and she let out a very light laugh. She raised her delicate chin and nodded slightly at Shen Zhiyao.

Her eyes held a condescending scrutiny, as well as the affirmation and satisfaction of a primary wife seeing a sensible concubine.

So what if she is a daughter of the Shen Family? In this Qingfeng Temple, she still had to follow the rules.

Receiving Su Qingge's look, Shen Zhiyao not only didn't dodge, but instead straightened her back. Her fingers, which were gripping the doorframe, tightened slightly as she returned a brilliant smile.

The silent confrontation between the two women sparked invisible flames in mid-air.

Watching this scene, the corners of Qin Bingruo's mouth twitched uncontrollably. Her gaze fell on the hand Zhang Xuanyao was using to support his lower back, and a flush quickly climbed up her cheeks.

"He really is full of energy," Qin Bingruo muttered in a low voice, a hint of jealousy in her tone. "And here we were, worried that you had damaged your Origin Qi by exorcising spirits, so we rushed over to bring you supplements."

She took a step forward and walked quickly to Zhang Xuanyao. Qin Bingruo pushed the top-secret file bag in her hand forward. The edge of the file bag poked Zhang Xuanyao in the chest.

"The procedures for the cross-border case in Nanyang have been approved. The task force is leaving today. Are you going?"

Qin Bingruo raised her chin, forcing her tone to sound strictly professional.

Zhang Xuanyao let go of his lower back. He reached out and took the kraft paper file bag.

His long fingers flicked open the white string sealing the envelope, and he pulled out the documents inside. His gaze swept quickly over the pages stamped with the red seal.

"I'm going."

Zhang Xuanyao casually stuffed the documents back into the bag, flipped his wrist, and twirled the file bag around his fingertips. "I've been in seclusion for the past three days and happened to draw quite a few high-level Five Thunder Talisman. You can take them for self-protection."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Xuanyao took half a step forward, closing the distance between him and Qin Bingruo. He moved his gaze from her tense face, looked past her shoulder, and landed on Su Qingge not far away.

His gaze was extremely aggressive.

"However..."

Zhang Xuanyao drew out the end of the sentence, his tone carrying undisguised arrogance.

"CEO Su came all this way early in the morning to bring supplements, not realizing that you are the best supplement for me. As for Captain Qin..."

Zhang Xuanyao turned his head and looked directly into Qin Bingruo's eyes.

"Since you're going on a long trip, and who knows how many days you'll be gone, shouldn't you compensate me... in advance?"

A direct strike. No beating around the bush.

Upon hearing this, the breathing of both Su Qingge and Qin Bingruo stalled simultaneously. One was a business empress who controlled a multi-billion dollar conglomerate, and the other was a swift and decisive queen of the police force.

They had seen all kinds of storms and waves, yet when faced with Zhang Xuanyao's completely unconventional and brazen tactics, both of them were defeated.

Su Qingge's fair cheeks instantly flushed, and the strong, domineering aura she usually possessed vanished completely. Qin Bingruo's ears even turned bright red, and her beautiful eyes widened in shock.

"In... in here?"

Both women asked back, stuttering in unison.

Zhang Xuanyao didn't give them any chance to think or refuse. His hands shot out like lightning.

His left hand clamped onto Su Qingge's slender wrist, and he pulled hard. Su Qingge let out a cry of alarm as she lost her balance and lunged forward.

His right hand took the opportunity to wrap around Qin Bingruo's slender waist, and with the strength in his arm, he lifted her up.

The strength of his Pure Yang Golden Body after reaching Major Achievement was incredibly domineering. The two women had no power to resist in Zhang Xuanyao's hands.

Holding both women, Zhang Xuanyao turned and strode toward a vacant side room on the right side of the courtyard.

He raised his right foot and kicked open the wooden door of the side room, which had been left ajar. He dragged and pulled both women into the room.

With a backhand motion, he slammed it shut.

"Bang!"

The heavy wooden door closed tightly, causing the dust on the doorframe to fall in a flurry.

In the courtyard.

The eight bodyguards in black looked at their noses and hearts, set down the gift boxes of supplements in their hands, turned in perfect unison, exited the temple gates, and stood in a row outside.

Only Shen Zhiyao and Ji Xue were left, staring at each other.

Shen Zhiyao leaned against the doorframe of the living room; although her legs were still weak, her face was beaming with an extremely proud smile.

"Hehe," Shen Zhiyao laughed out loud, revealing two cute little fangs. "As expected of the man I chose, he's amazing!"

Ji Xue stood where she was. Listening to the commotion coming from the direction of the side room, and looking at Shen Zhiyao's triumphant expression, her original resentment instantly transformed into intense unwillingness.

Ji Xue bit her lower lip hard until she tasted a hint of blood. She clenched her hands into fists, her nails almost piercing her palms. A strange sense of competitiveness grew wildly in the bottom of her heart.

Why?

She was clearly the first one to live in this Qingfeng Temple. Why could Shen Zhiyao do it, Su Qingge could do it, and even Qin Bingruo could do it? Why was she the only one who couldn't?

A sound of extremely suppressed exclamations came from the side room, followed by a 'creak, creak' sound.

It sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet Daoist temple in the early morning.

Ji Xue turned her head and stared fixedly at the tightly closed door of the side room. Her breathing became increasingly heavy. Her legs involuntarily pressed together, and the temperature on her face climbed again.

The cross-border operation in the Nanyang Golden Triangle was imminent, and who knew how long Zhang Xuanyao would be gone this time.

Ji Xue looked at the side room door, her eyes gradually becoming firm. She took a step forward, paused for a moment, and then took another step. She was getting closer and closer to that door.

93: Chapter 93: A Leap in Strength, the Holy Lord? Father's Here!

Inside the right side room of Qingfeng Temple.

Wind and clouds were surging.

This room hadn't been lived in for a long time; there was only a large hardwood Arhat bed. At this moment, this Arhat bed was enduring pressure it shouldn't have to bear at its age.

Zhang Xuanyao was going all out.

The Qi and blood within his Pure Yang Golden Body flowed like a rushing river, emitting a low roar. A golden luster circulated on the surface of his skin.

Every movement was accompanied by extreme muscle stretching and explosive power.

A strange fragrance permeated the air.

Yin and Yang were in harmony; the Great Dao is simple.

It was nearing noon.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the window lattice, casting mottled light and shadows on the blue brick floor.

In Zhang Xuanyao's mind, the System's electronic voice began to scroll frantically.

"Ding! High-intensity Yin and Yang intersection detected!"

"Pure Yang Qi and extreme Yin Qi have achieved perfect Fusion!"

"Congratulations to the host, Mental Energy has been significantly purified!"

"Ding! Heavenly Eye proficiency increased! You can now see through the target's detailed trajectory for the next three days and their hidden destiny!"

"Ding! Words Become Law (Upgraded Version) rule power is more stable! Casting cooldown time reduced by 20%!"

The series of System prompt tones were as pleasant as celestial music.

Zhang Xuanyao sat cross-legged on the Arhat bed.

With his eyes closed, he felt the surging power within his body.

After the purification of his Mental Energy, his perception range had expanded geometrically. He could even clearly hear the steady breathing of those bodyguards outside the temple.

The upgrade of the Heavenly Eye was an unexpected joy. Being able to see through the detailed trajectory of the next three days meant that in the upcoming trip to Nanyang, he could avoid countless unknown risks in advance.

Zhang Xuanyao opened his eyes.

A golden stream of light flashed in his pitch-black eyes.

He felt refreshed and invigorated.

He was stronger than ever before.

Zhang Xuanyao rolled off the bed, grabbed the Daoist robe scattered on the floor, and put it on unhurriedly. He tied the belt at his waist and smoothed out the wrinkles on his cuffs.

He looked back at the Arhat bed.

Su Qingge was lying lazily on it.

She was covered by one of Zhang Xuanyao's old jackets. Her long hair was messily scattered over her fair shoulders. Her eyes were slightly closed, and her breathing was long and steady.

This business empress didn't even have the strength to lift a finger right now. She had completely collapsed into a pool of spring water.

Qin Bingruo's situation wasn't much better.

She was sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands trembling as she buttoned her police uniform. Because her fingers wouldn't listen to her, she even buttoned one wrong, causing her collar to be crooked.

Her legs felt as soft as noodles, and several times she tried to stand up, only to fall back down helplessly.

"Are you two satisfied with this tonic of mine?" Zhang Xuanyao raised his eyebrows, his tone carrying a hint of mockery.

"Cut the crap."

Qin Bingruo's voice was hoarse, carrying a sense of powerlessness.

"The special task force is still waiting at the base. Let's go quickly."

Su Qingge didn't even lift her eyelids.

"I'll go back to the company in the afternoon." Su Qingge's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum. "This bed is too hard. I'll have someone send a Simmons mattress over tomorrow."

Zhang Xuanyao chuckled.

He turned and walked to the door.

He reached out and opened the wooden door of the room.

Blinding sunlight flooded into the room instantly. Zhang Xuanyao stepped over the threshold, stood in the courtyard full of energy, and stretched out a big stretch.

Qin Bingruo was buttoning her clothes.

Her face was as red as blood, and she kept her head down, not daring to look at anyone else in the courtyard at all.

Zhang Xuanyao slowed his pace, matching Qin Bingruo's snail-like moving speed. The two walked one after the other toward the gate of the temple.

Before leaving the door.

Zhang Xuanyao stopped, looked back at the courtyard.

The scene before him made him raise his eyebrows.

He saw that Su Qingge had already walked out of the room wearing the old jacket at some point. She was sitting on a grandmaster chair.

Shen Zhiyao and Ji Xue were following Su Qingge's instructions, classifying the top-tier tonics and medicinal herbs scattered in the courtyard and putting them into the storage room.

Shen Zhiyao was holding two boxes of century-old ginseng, and Ji Xue was carrying several bags of premium deer antler.

These three women, who originally had no intersection and completely different personalities.

At this moment, it seemed that in this morning's time, they had reached some kind of unspeakable "united front."

Su Qingge picked up a cup of herbal tea from the stone table and took a gentle sip. Noticing Zhang Xuanyao's gaze, Su Qingge turned her head and smiled slightly at Zhang Xuanyao.

That smile revealed the confidence of someone in control of everything.

"A bit interesting." Zhang Xuanyao withdrew his gaze.

He turned and stepped out of the Qingfeng Temple gate.

Qin Bingruo sat in the car and started the engine.

The police car let out a roar, its tires rubbed white smoke on the bluestone slab, and it rushed out like an arrow off a bowstring.

The police car sped all the way along the streets of Heng City.

The red and blue flashing police lights flickered on the roof of the car.

Half an hour later.

The police car braked sharply and stopped steadily on the playground of the Heng City Special Police base.

In the center of the playground.

Twenty fully armed elite Special Police had already lined up. All dressed in uniform black combat uniforms, with bulletproof vests, tactical helmets, and night vision goggles all equipped. They were holding the latest silenced submachine guns.

Their tactical boots stepped on the plastic track, standing as straight as pines.

Director Wang Chen was wearing plain clothes, with his hands behind his back, standing in front of the team himself.

Seeing the police car stop, Director Wang Chen immediately stepped forward two steps.

Zhang Xuanyao pushed open the car door and stepped out of the police car.

His leather boots stepped on the ground.

"Swish!"

The twenty Special Police moved in unison, instantly standing at attention. Their leather boots collided, making a crisp sound.

Twenty pairs of eyes stared straight at Zhang Xuanyao.

There was no longer the suspicion and scrutiny from before in their eyes; instead, it was replaced by fanatical awe.

These twenty people were all witnesses to that battle at the Shipping Company.

They witnessed with their own eyes Zhang Xuanyao's god-like posture of summoning thunder with one hand, shattering evil spirits, and purifying Yin evil.

That night, Zhang Xuanyao's strength completely conquered this group of arrogant Special Police elites.

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the front of the team.

His gaze swept across the faces of the SWAT Team Members.

He flipped his wrist.

He took out a stack of yellow paper Talismans glowing with a faint golden light from the cuffs of his large Daoist robe.

The Talisman runes drawn in cinnabar circulated mysterious colors in the sunlight, with thunder light faintly jumping between the runes.

Zhang Xuanyao handed the stack of Talismans to Qin Bingruo, who had just stepped out of the passenger seat.

"Pass them out." Zhang Xuanyao's tone was calm. "Everyone keep one on them."

Qin Bingruo stepped forward to take them, then passed them out to everyone.

"That kind of godforsaken place in Nanyang is damp and full of evil spirits."

Zhang Xuanyao crossed his arms in front of his chest, watching the team members carefully tuck the Talismans inside their bulletproof vests.

"These high-grade Five Thunder Talisman can save your lives at critical moments. When you encounter evil things, just take the Talisman and stick it on them."

The SWAT Team Members took the Talismans with both hands, as if they had found a treasure.

Director Wang Chen stepped forward.

He reached out both hands and held Zhang Xuanyao's right hand tightly.

"Master Zhang."

Director Wang Chen's tone was extremely solemn, his brows furrowed into a 'chuan' character.

"This cross-border operation is extremely dangerous. The desperadoes of the Black Sand Organization have fierce firepower, plus that eerie 'Holy Lord' is manipulating things in the dark."

Director Wang Chen took a deep breath and emphasized his tone.

"Everything depends on you! You must bring the team members back safely!"

Zhang Xuanyao pulled his right hand away.

He patted Director Wang Chen's shoulder.

"Don't worry."

Zhang Xuanyao's voice was not loud, but it had great penetrating power.

"I just happen to want to see if this so-called Holy Lord is enough to fill the gaps between my teeth."

...

The Golden Triangle of Nanyang.

Inside a massive military fortress buried deep underground.

In a dark and damp stone room, several torches burning with eerie green flames were inserted into the walls.

In the center of the stone room, a figure shrouded in a large black robe sat cross-legged on a complex blood-colored Formation.

On the stone platform in front of the black-robed figure, a fist-sized blood-colored crystal ball was enshrined. Inside the crystal ball, scarlet liquid kept churning, as if countless painful human faces were struggling and roaring within it.

Suddenly.

The black-robed figure opened his eyes abruptly.

Under the hood, a pair of pupils without whites, completely pitch-black, were revealed.

"Crack!"

A crisp cracking sound rang out in the silent stone room.

On the surface of the blood-colored crystal ball on the stone platform, a fine crack appeared without warning.

The crack spread rapidly.

"Bang!"

The crystal ball exploded with a bang.

Scarlet liquid splashed everywhere, falling on the stone floor, emitting a harsh corrosive sound, and rising in bursts of white smoke.

The black-robed figure stood up abruptly.

The black robe rolled violently in the Yin wind.

The fingers, as withered as tree branches, grabbed the edge of the stone platform tightly, and the fingernails dug deep claw marks into the hard stone.

"Huaxia... Daoist..."

A hoarse and harsh voice came from under the hood, like two rusted iron plates rubbing violently against each other.

In the night sky of Nanyang, there was faint thunder rolling by.

A bloody storm sweeping across the border was officially beginning.

94: Chapter 94: Since we can't sneak in, let's walk in face to face.

The Golden Triangle in Nanyang. The edge of the tropical rainforest.

The temperature was extremely high. The air humidity was immense.

The surfaces of the leaves were covered in water droplets. The droplets gathered and dripped, crashing onto the muddy ground.

Twenty SWAT Team Members were dispersed around the temporary camp.

Fully armed. Their black tactical suits were completely soaked, clinging tightly to their skin.

Their bulletproof vests were heavy. The insides of their tactical helmets were filled with sweat.

Sweat slid down the members' cheeks, flowing into their eyes, causing a stinging pain.

A member raised his arm, wiping his eyes with the back of his tactical glove.

His breathing was heavy. His chest heaved violently.

The extremely hot and humid environment tested everyone's physical stamina.

In the center of the camp, Zhang Xuanyao sat on a folding army cot.

He was wearing that signature long-sleeved Daoist robe. The surface of the robe was dry, without a trace of sweat.

With his Pure Yang Golden Body at Major Achievement, he was immune to both cold and heat.

Zhang Xuanyao held a can of iced cola in his right hand.

The surface of the can was covered with dense water droplets. He hooked his index finger into the ring pull and pulled back hard.

"Click."

A crisp metallic snapping sound rang out. White foam surged from the opening of the can.

Zhang Xuanyao tilted his head back, aiming the can at his lips. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he gulped down the cold carbonated drink.

After finishing half the can, Zhang Xuanyao lowered his arm and let out a loud burp.

The contrast was extreme. Several SWAT Team Members swallowed their saliva and looked away.

Inside a tactical tent not far away, Qin Bingruo stood in front of a simple folding table.

A large-scale tactical map was spread out on the table. The map was covered in circles and arrows drawn with red and blue markers.

Qin Bingruo leaned forward, her hands supporting her on the table. Three SWAT Team squad leaders gathered around the table.

"The Black Sand Organization's lair is in the depths of the deep mountains ahead." Qin Bingruo pointed her index finger at a red circle in the center of the map.

"The perimeter is a minefield."

Team Leader 1 pointed to the dashed line around the red circle. "Anti-personnel mines and Claymore mines are mixed together. The density is extremely high."

"There are bunkers everywhere." Team Leader 2 added. "According to drone reconnaissance, there are at least twelve crossfire points equipped with Browning heavy machine guns."

Team Leader 3 pointed to several high points on the map. "There are also individual rocket launcher positions. The view is wide, covering all routes into the mountains."

The tactical discussion hit a dead end.

"A direct assault is absolutely impossible," Team Leader 1 shook his head. "Twenty-two people against hundreds of heavily armed enemies. Rushing in would just make us sitting ducks. The casualties would be heavy."

"What about infiltrating?" Qin Bingruo asked.

"It can't be done," Team Leader 2 sighed. "There are large stretches of open ground along the way with no cover. The enemy has deployed thermal imagers on the high ground, as well as infrared alarms."

"Even a mouse running past would be detected," Team Leader 3 clenched his fist and slammed it onto the table.

The atmosphere in the camp was oppressive. The SWAT Team Members lowered their heads and reached out to touch the high-level Five Thunder Talisman tucked inside their bulletproof vests.

The Talisman transmitted a warm touch. While metaphysical protection was good, it was still tricky to face the torrent of steel and heavy weapons in reality.

Flesh and blood bodies could not withstand large-caliber bullets.

Director Wang Chen's instructions before they left echoed in everyone's hearts. "You must bring the members back safely."

This sentence became a mountain, pressing down on the shoulders of Qin Bingruo and the three squad leaders.

Zhang Xuanyao sat on the army cot, listening to the argument in the tent, and raised his right hand. He tossed the empty cola can in his hand into the air twice.

With a flick of his wrist, he threw it forward. The can traced a parabola in the air. "Clang." It landed precisely in the tactical trash can ten meters away.

Zhang Xuanyao stood up, brushed off the hem of his Daoist robe, and walked into the tactical tent. His leather boots stepped on the muddy ground, making a slight rustling sound.

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the folding table. He raised his right hand and waved it, signaling everyone to stop the meaningless argument.

"Alright," Zhang Xuanyao said. "Stop arguing."

Everyone turned their heads to look at Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao closed his eyes. His consciousness sank directly into the System panel in his mind. A blue light screen unfolded deep in his consciousness.

Zhang Xuanyao skillfully controlled his consciousness and opened the System store. His gaze swept rapidly across the dazzling array of goods.

He entered the high-level Talisman section. Rows of Talisman icons emitting various lights appeared.

Zhang Xuanyao's gaze locked onto a silver Talisman in the corner. Water-like patterns flowed on the surface of the Talisman.

Item name: Heavenly Concealment Talisman. Function: Masks physical form, aura, thermal imaging, and even Karma perception. Duration: two hours. Unit price: 100,000 shock value.

Zhang Xuanyao shifted his gaze upward and glanced at the balance in the top right corner of the System interface. Over 7 million shock value.

Zhang Xuanyao sneered in his consciousness. Rich and imposing.

Without any hesitation, his consciousness turned into a finger, directly inputting the number for the purchase quantity. He clicked confirm.

The System prompt sounded. 2.2 million shock value deducted. Purchase successful. Twenty-two Heavenly Concealment Talismans were stored in the System space.

Spending money like water.

Zhang Xuanyao opened his eyes. With a flip of his right wrist, a stack of Talismans with strange silver ripples appeared out of thin air in his palm.

The material of the Talisman was neither paper nor silk. The touch was ice-cold.

Zhang Xuanyao raised his arm and slammed the stack of Talismans heavily onto the map on the tactical table. "Clap!" The sound was crisp.

"Stick this on," Zhang Xuanyao pointed at the Talismans. "Just walk right in, bold and unhindered."

Qin Bingruo was stunned. The three squad leaders looked at each other.

"What kind of tactics are those?" Zhang Xuanyao's sharp-tongued trait erupted. "It's a complete waste of brain cells. Save that limited brain capacity of yours for dealing with criminals."

A direct strike, breaking conventional wisdom.

Qin Bingruo was half-skeptical. She reached out her right hand and pinched the top Heavenly Concealment Talisman with two fingers. The Talisman was light and airy.

Qin Bingruo stuck the Talisman onto the tactical suit on her left shoulder. The next second, silver ripples spread outward from the center of the Talisman, instantly covering Qin Bingruo's entire body.

The edges of Qin Bingruo's body began to turn transparent. In less than a second, Qin Bingruo disappeared into thin air before everyone's eyes, along with her equipment and weapons. All of it was gone.

"Holy shit!" Team Leader 1 cursed. He rubbed his eyes.

Beside them, a technician in charge of reconnaissance was sitting on an instrument case. The technician typed rapidly on the keyboard, bringing up the highest-precision thermal imager screen.

On the screen, the red outline representing the life form had completely disappeared. "The Captain is gone!" The technician pointed at the screen and shouted. "There is absolutely no trace on the thermal imager! Even the temperature feedback has zeroed out!"

Everyone was terrified. From the Void Realm, Qin Bingruo's panicked voice came.

"Where are my hands? Where are my feet? Why can't I see myself?" The voice was right next to the table, but they couldn't see anyone.

Zhang Xuanyao folded his arms across his chest. "Stop screaming," Zhang Xuanyao said. "This is a Heavenly Concealment Talisman. It masks all perception."

"How do I deactivate it?" Qin Bingruo's voice came from the air.

"Communicate with the Talisman using True Qi or Mental Energy," Zhang Xuanyao explained. "You don't have Mental Energy. Focus your attention. Use your intent to think about becoming visible, and you will be able to control your visibility."

95: Chapter 95: The Ghost Enters the Game: Walking Under the Enemy's Nose

The air was silent for two seconds.

Qin Bingruo's figure reappeared in place, as if ripples in water.

The silver Talisman on her shoulder was still stuck there.

Qin Bingruo looked down at her hands, then looked up at Zhang Xuanyao.

Her eyes were full of shock.

The three squad leaders reacted.

Their eyes became fanatical.

A dimensionality reduction strike of metaphysics against modern technology.

"This is simply a Divine Artifact!" the second squad leader roared.

Everyone reached out, snatching the Heavenly Concealment Talisman from the table as if they had found a treasure.

They carefully stuck it onto their shoulders.

All twenty-one SWAT Team Members had obtained a Heavenly Concealment Talisman.

Zhang Xuanyao kept one for himself, sticking it to the inside of his Dao robe.

"Alright." Zhang Xuanyao turned and walked out of the tent. "Get ready to work."

Zhang Xuanyao walked out of the tent.

The rain in the rainforest gradually grew heavier.

Raindrops pelted the broad leaves, making a dense pattering sound.

The SWAT Team Members followed him out of the tent.

Everyone was repeatedly testing the effect of the Heavenly Concealment Talisman.

Disappearing one moment, reappearing the next.

The camp was putting on a show of people vanishing into thin air.

"Stop playing around." Qin Bingruo put on a stern face, bringing out her authority as captain. "Check your gear. Confirm weapons and ammunition."

"Yes!" the team members replied in unison.

The sound of pulling back gun bolts rose and fell.

They ejected magazines and checked the gleaming yellow bullets.

They reinserted the magazines and slapped the base, creating a dull thud.

They checked the plates in their bulletproof vests and adjusted the straps of their tactical helmets.

Everything was orderly.

Qin Bingruo walked over to Zhang Xuanyao's side.

"How long can this Talisman last?" Qin Bingruo asked.

"Two hours," Zhang Xuanyao replied. "Enough for us to turn that underground fortress upside down."

"Good." Qin Bingruo nodded.

She turned and walked toward the communications equipment box.

Opening the lid, inside was a specially made encrypted satellite communicator.

Qin Bingruo put on the communication headset and pressed the talk button.

She adjusted the channel frequency.

After a burst of slight static, the communication connected.

"This is the China Special Task Force," Qin Bingruo said into the microphone. "Calling the Nanyang Joint Anti-Drug Command."

A noisy sound came from the other end of the communicator.

A male voice speaking stiff Chinese rang out.

"Received, China Special Task Force. This is Command."

"We have arrived at the target perimeter," Qin Bingruo reported. "Preparing to launch a strike on the Black Sand Organization's lair."

"You?" the male voice asked, carrying obvious suspicion. "How many people did you China send?"

"Twenty-two," Qin Bingruo replied.

The communication channel was silent for a few seconds.

Then, a burst of ear-piercing laughter erupted.

It traveled through the headset into Qin Bingruo's ears.

"Twenty-two people?" another voice with a heavy accent cut in. "Are you joking? The Black Sand Organization has over three hundred armed militants there. And heavy weapons."

"You're just going there to die," the first male voice said in a contemptuous tone. "Does the Chinese police only have this much courage? Sending so few people just to go through the motions?"

Qin Bingruo's face sank.

Her fingers gripping the microphone tightened.

"We need you to provide fire cover on the perimeter," Qin Bingruo said, suppressing her anger. "Block the mountain exit routes and prevent the targets from escaping."

"Fire cover?" the male voice sneered. "We don't want to die with you. Our troops will wait ten kilometers away. Once you're all dead, we'll come to collect the bodies."

Qin Bingruo's eyes turned completely cold.

Zhang Xuanyao stood to the side, hearing it clearly.

He gave a cold snort.

Qin Bingruo pressed the talk button and replied firmly.

"We don't need your cover," Qin Bingruo's voice was icy. "Once you hear chaos inside, just come in and clean up the mess and take live prisoners."

After speaking, Qin Bingruo cut off the communication directly.

She took off the headset and slammed it into the equipment box.

"A bunch of trash," Qin Bingruo cursed.

Zhang Xuanyao patted Qin Bingruo's shoulder.

"Why get angry with dead people?" Zhang Xuanyao said in a calm tone. "Let's go. Let's go meet this bunch of desperadoes."

Night had completely fallen.

The night in the tropical rainforest was pitch black.

You couldn't even see your own fingers.

The rain had stopped. The air was filled with a rich scent of damp earth and rotting leaves.

Zhang Xuanyao took the lead.

All twenty-two people activated the Heavenly Concealment Talisman.

They were in a state of complete invisibility.

The team formed a single-file line and marched toward the heart of the deep mountains.

Their feet stepped on the muddy ground, without even leaving footprints.

The Heavenly Concealment Talisman shielded their Karma and even erased most of their physical traces.

Ahead, an open area appeared.

There were no trees, only waist-high weeds.

This was the minefield.

Zhang Xuanyao activated his Heavenly Eye.

Golden light shimmered in his eyes.

In his vision, the landmines buried underground were clearly visible.

Red tripwires were interwoven into a net.

Zhang Xuanyao walked into the minefield as if strolling in a courtyard.

Turning left, winding right.

Avoiding every trigger point.

The twenty-one SWAT Team Members followed closely behind.

Stepping on the path Zhang Xuanyao had walked.

They passed through the minefield smoothly.

Ahead, a bunker built of sandbags appeared.

A heavy machine gun was mounted in the bunker's firing port.

Two mercenaries sat behind the sandbags.

Holding cigarettes in their hands, the embers flickered in the darkness.

Zhang Xuanyao led the team directly to the front of the bunker.

Less than half a meter away from the two mercenaries.

The mercenary blew out a smoke ring.

"This damn weather. It's fucking hot," one mercenary complained.

"Less talk. Keep your eyes peeled," the other mercenary wiped the gun barrel.

Zhang Xuanyao stood right in front of them.

He could even smell the scent of cheap tobacco.

The mercenaries were completely unaware.

Zhang Xuanyao lifted his foot and stepped over the sandbags.

Continuing to walk forward.

Treating the den of dragons and tigers like his own backyard.

The strong light of the searchlight swept back and forth in the night sky.

The beam of light cut through the darkness, illuminating a large area.

Zhang Xuanyao walked at the very front.

The twenty-two-person invisible team wove between the beams of light.

The light passed directly through their bodies, leaving no shadows behind.

A towering watchtower appeared ahead.

The sniper at the top of the tower lay behind sandbags, his eyes pressed against the night-vision scope.

His finger was curled outside the trigger guard.

Zhang Xuanyao looked up at the watchtower.

Ignoring it, he walked straight toward a large concrete building in the back.

The building's outer wall was covered with moss.

A heavy iron door was tightly shut, with a keypad lock and a retinal scanner installed beside it.

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the side of the iron door.

His gaze fell on a huge ventilation louver at the base of the wall.

The louver was welded from thick steel bars.

Zhang Xuanyao reached out his hands and grabbed two steel bars.

The power of his Pure Yang Golden Body erupted.

His muscles bulged.

"Creak—"

A harsh sound of metal twisting rang out.

The thick steel bars were forcibly bent to the sides by Zhang Xuanyao.

Revealing a gap large enough for an adult to pass through.

Zhang Xuanyao bent down and crawled into the ventilation duct.

Qin Bingruo and the SWAT Team Members followed closely behind.

The ventilation duct was filled with dust and the stench of dead rats.

Everyone used their hands and feet, crawling in the narrow duct.

96: Chapter 96: The Evil Echoes from the Deepest Parts of Purgatory

At the end of the pipe was an iron grate.

Zhang Xuanyao smashed the grate with a single punch.

He jumped down.

His feet landed with a faint sound.

This was the first level of the underground fortress.

The incandescent lights on the ceiling of the corridor emitted a pale, ghastly glow, and the air was filled with an extremely pungent odor.

The smell of blood, disinfectant, and mold were mixed together.

It was nauseating.

The group deactivated their Heavenly Concealment Talisman, and their figures appeared in the shadows of the corridor.

Qin Bingruo raised her suppressed submachine gun, the muzzle pointing downward.

She made a tactical hand signal.

The SWAT Team Members quickly dispersed and advanced along the walls.

Zhang Xuanyao walked in the middle of the team.

They rounded a corner.

The scene before them made everyone stop in their tracks.

Rows of rusty iron cages were placed against the walls, and inside the cages were dozens of ragged people.

There were men and women, old and young.

All of them were emaciated, their eyes hollow and numb.

They were huddled in excrement and dried blood like livestock.

Seeing someone appear, they didn't even have the strength to look up and ask for help.

"Beasts," a young Special Police officer gritted his teeth, squeezing the word out between his teeth.

Qin Bingruo's eyes instantly turned red, her breathing became extremely heavy, and her chest heaved violently.

They continued to move forward.

A glass door nearby was half-open, with a sign hanging on it that read "Sterile Room."

The blinding light of shadowless lamps shone from within.

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the door and looked inside.

On the operating table lay a young girl stripped of her clothes.

Her chest had already been cut open, and two butchers wearing white coats and masks were performing a brutal live organ harvesting.

Blood flowed down the drainage groove of the operating table, dripping into a plastic bucket below.

It made a pattering sound.

A medical refrigerator nearby was open.

Inside were several organ preservation bags filled with transparent liquid.

"Cut out the liver. Hurry up. The buyer is still waiting," one butcher urged in the local language.

Another butcher held a scalpel, skillfully cutting the blood vessels.

On the other side of the corridor.

Behind an open iron door was a huge warehouse.

Mountains of white drug bricks were stacked neatly.

Next to them were crates of ammunition. Various models of assault rifles, grenades, and rocket launchers.

It was shocking.

Extreme anguish and anger exploded in the hearts of the SWAT Team Members, their emotions suppressed to the breaking point.

Several young SWAT Team Members completely lost control of their emotions, their eyes bloodshot and red.

They raised their suppressed submachine guns and flicked off the safety with their thumbs.

They pulled the charging handles.

The sound of bullets chambering was exceptionally clear in the corridor.

They wanted to reveal themselves and mow down these animals.

Zhang Xuanyao's Mental Energy exploded instantly, transforming into a solid barrier.

It directly suppressed the movements of all the SWAT Team Members.

The members found their bodies restrained by an invisible force, unable to even bend their fingers to pull the triggers.

Zhang Xuanyao's voice resonated directly in the minds of the twenty-one people.

Like a great bell tolling.

"Everyone, stay calm!"

The voice carried immense penetrating power.

"Taking action now will alert the enemy. There are bigger fish below."

Zhang Xuanyao's Mental Energy locked onto every single person.

"Hold back. Soon, I won't even let them become ghosts."

Absolute calmness and control.

The SWAT Team Members gasped heavily, forcibly suppressing the anger in their hearts.

Reason took over once again.

Zhang Xuanyao withdrew his Mental Energy.

The members lowered their muzzles and reactivated their Heavenly Concealment Talisman.

Their figures disappeared into the air once more.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in place and activated his Heavenly Eye.

Brilliant golden light emerged in his dark pupils, his gaze instantly piercing through the thick reinforced concrete floor.

The full picture of the underground fortress unfolded before Zhang Xuanyao's eyes.

Countless thick, scarlet Karma lines wove through the fortress, mixed with towering black resentment.

The resentment was so thick it was almost tangible, all converging toward the lowest level of the fortress.

There, even greater evil was hidden.

"Follow me," Zhang Xuanyao transmitted in their minds.

The group followed Zhang Xuanyao through the corridor.

They came to the heavy freight elevator leading to the deeper levels.

The elevator door was tightly shut, and the floor indicator light above showed that the elevator was ascending.

The group stood on both sides of the elevator door, holding their breath.

"Ding."

A crisp sound.

The elevator door slowly opened to both sides.

A thick smell of blood rushed towards them.

Four heavily armed Black Sand Organization members pushed two flatbed carts out of the elevator.

On the flatbed carts were several shriveled corpses drained of blood.

The skin of the corpses clung tightly to their bones, showing an eerie grayish-white color.

Their eyes were bulging, and their manner of death was extremely miserable.

"Damn it. This batch of goods is ruined again," one armed man complained.

"The Holy Lord's appetite is getting bigger and bigger. He needs this much blood every day," another replied.

The four men pushed the carts past the invisible SWAT Team Members.

Zhang Xuanyao made a gesture.

The twenty-two people moved in batches, sticking close to the backs of the armed men.

They slipped into the spacious heavy freight elevator.

The interior space of the elevator was huge, enough to accommodate a truck.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in front of the control panel.

He pressed the button for the lowest level.

The elevator door closed again.

The sound of mechanical gears engaging rang out.

The elevator began to descend all the way.

The speed was fast. A feeling of weightlessness arrived.

It descended for nearly a hundred meters.

The surrounding temperature dropped sharply.

Yin Sha Qi seeped in through the gaps in the elevator.

It was thick and inseparable.

Although the SWAT Team Members were protected by the Five Thunder Talisman, they still felt a chill.

Fine white frost formed on their eyebrows.

The breath they exhaled turned into white mist.

Zhang Xuanyao crossed his arms in front of his chest, his expression calm.

The Pure Yang Qi in his body circulated automatically, resisting the erosion of the Yin Sha.

"Ding."

The elevator reached the bottom.

The indicator light turned red.

The elevator door opened slowly.

A cold wind mixed with a thick stench of blood and rot rushed towards them.

The twenty-two invisible SWAT Team Members stood behind Zhang Xuanyao.

All of them were stunned by the scene before them.

The scale of the natural karst cave was beyond imagination.

It was the size of a football field.

Torches burning with eerie green flames were inserted into the surrounding rock walls.

The firelight flickered, stretching the shadows in the cave extremely long.

Countless huge stalactites hung upside down from the top of the cave.

Water droplets dripped down the stalactites, hitting the puddles below.

Making an ethereal echo.

In the center of the cave.

A huge altar built from piles of bones stood there.

Human skulls, leg bones, and ribs were intertwined.

Emitting an eerie green glow.

Around the altar, an extremely complex blood-colored Formation was carved.

Within the lines of the Formation, scarlet blood was flowing slowly.

Above the altar.

A huge, incomparable flesh embryo was suspended, its surface covered with thick blood vessels.

The blood vessels contracted and expanded as the embryo beat.

"Thump. Thump."

A powerful heartbeat echoed in the cave.

Each beat was accompanied by an extremely evil aura spreading out.

And below the embryo.

A figure completely shrouded in a wide black robe was kneeling on the ground.

Their hands were raised high.

With their head tilted back, they were fanatically chanting an obscure and difficult-to-understand incantation.

The sound of the incantation was hoarse and grating, like fingernails scratching glass.

The robed figure was the so-called Holy Lord.

Zhang Xuanyao stood at the elevator entrance.

His gaze crossed the bone altar and landed on the beating flesh embryo.

Even the knowledgeable Zhang Xuanyao, seeing this scene that defied common sense.

The muscles at the corner of his eyes couldn't help but twitch twice.

Countless hollow skull eye sockets were facing the direction of the elevator entrance.

As if silently accusing the torture they suffered before death.

The flesh embryo was over three meters in diameter.

Its surface was covered with a layer of translucent mucous membrane.

Under the membrane, a huge curled-up body was vaguely visible.

It was absorbing the blood transported up by the Formation below.

Qin Bingruo gripped the submachine gun in her hand tightly.

Her nails dug deep into her palms.

Forcibly holding back the churning in her stomach.

"What the hell is that thing?" Qin Bingruo asked Zhang Xuanyao through Mental Energy in her mind.

Zhang Xuanyao did not answer immediately.

The golden light in his eyes became even more brilliant.

His Heavenly Eye operated at full power.

His gaze pierced through the mucous membrane of the flesh embryo.

He saw the structure inside clearly.

It was a monster that had undergone a Fusion of various biological characteristics.

It had limbs similar to humans, but huge fleshy wings grew on its back.

Its head was huge, covered with sharp bone spurs.

Its whole body radiated pure Yin Sha and resentment.

"A man-made evil god," Zhang Xuanyao replied to everyone in their minds.

His voice was cold.

"They are using the blood and resentment of living people to try and hatch this monster."

When the SWAT Team Members heard this answer.

The anger in their hearts could no longer be suppressed.

These animals, not only trafficking humans and harvesting organs.

But even conducting such insane, evil sacrifices.

The Black-robed Holy Lord stopped chanting.

He slowly stood up.

The hem of his black robe fluttered in the cold wind.

He turned around, facing the direction of the elevator entrance.

Under the hood, it was still pitch black. No face could be seen.

Only a pair of pitch-black pupils without any whites.

Emitting an eerie glow.

"I smell the scent of the living."

A hoarse and grating voice rang out in the cave.

The Black-robed Holy Lord raised his fingers, which were as dry as tree branches.

Pointing at the elevator entrance.

"Come out, little mice."

97: Chapter 97: The Laws of Physics Fail, Full Signal Bars Underground

The air in the underground cavern was extremely oppressive.

The Black-robed Holy Lord's hoarse and grating voice reverberated throughout the empty space. The sound of fingernails scraping hard against rusty iron echoed in their ears.

The SWAT Team Members were already on the verge of extreme rage. Having witnessed the horrific organ harvesting and human experimentation above, everyone was seething with fury.

After their location was exposed, the tactical instincts formed from long-term training instantly took over their bodies.

"Fire!"

Team Leader 1 roared. The sound exploded within the empty cavern.

Twenty-two fully armed SWAT Team Members moved in perfect unison, without a hint of hesitation.

They rapidly deactivated their stealth mode, their figures appearing beside the rock pillars.

They pressed their shoulders firmly against the stocks of their suppressed submachine guns, spread their feet, and lowered their center of gravity.

Their muzzles were aimed in unison at the Black-robed Holy Lord in front of the altar.

Their index fingers pulled the triggers without hesitation, pressing them all the way down.

"Da-da-da-da-da!"

The deafening sound of gunfire echoed wildly within the enclosed cavern. The sound waves reflected back and forth, making their eardrums ache.

The muzzles of over twenty submachine guns simultaneously spat out tongues of orange flame, appearing exceptionally glaring in the dim cavern. The firelight illuminated the murderous expressions on the SWAT Team Members' faces.

Gleaming yellow special shell casings ejected from the ejection ports like a flowing stream, tracing parabolas in the air.

They struck the hard rocky ground, creating a dense "clinking" sound. The shell casings bounced and rolled on the ground, covering the floor beneath their feet.

The dense rain of special bullets instantly wove into a terrifying metal storm.

Accompanied by the whistling sound of tearing through the air, it poured toward the Black-robed Holy Lord.

This was the first head-on collision between modern firepower and evil metaphysics. The kinetic energy of gunpowder attempted to shred the unknown power.

However, a despairing scene unfolded.

The bullets struck the wide black robe. There was no scene of flesh and blood flying, nor the dull thud of them penetrating a body.

"Clink, clank!"

Crisp metallic clashing sounds erupted on the surface of the black robe. The sound was as dense as rain hitting banana leaves.

Sparks flew everywhere, dazzling as if from welding work, illuminating a small area around the black robe.

Eerie black ripples emanated across the surface of the black robe. As the ripples flowed, they completely dissipated the massive kinetic energy.

The special armor-piercing rounds—those lethal weapons capable of easily penetrating even ten-millimeter-thick bulletproof steel plates, with their hard alloy cores— upon contact with the black robe, the bullet heads underwent severe physical deformation immediately.

They turned into irregular, flattened lumps of copper; some bullet heads even shattered directly into metal fragments.

Having lost their kinetic energy, they fell one after another onto the ground covered in blood and bone fragments, making dull thudding sounds.

They hadn't even managed to tear a shred of the opponent's hem. Not even a white mark was left on the black robe.

It hadn't even made the Black-robed Holy Lord step back half an inch.

The SWAT Team Members were terrified, their pupils dilating rapidly.

Their palms, gripping the gun handles, instantly broke out in a cold sweat, making their tactical gloves slippery.

Team Leader 1 gritted his teeth, his facial muscles twitching. He slammed his thumb down on the magazine release button.

The empty magazine fell to the ground.

With lightning speed, his left hand drew a spare magazine from his tactical vest and slammed it into the magazine well, producing a crisp click.

He pulled the charging handle, chambering a new round.

"Keep firing! Aim for the head! Hit the head!"

The team leader shouted, pulling the trigger again as he tilted his muzzle slightly upward.

The other members also reloaded, concentrating their fire on the Black-robed Holy Lord's hood, attempting to find a weak point in the defense.

The result was still despairing.

Just centimeters away from the hood, the bullets were blocked by an invisible barrier, falling powerlessly after bursting into sparks.

The feeling of helplessness from the failure of firearms became a massive mountain pressing down on every SWAT Team Member's heart, making it difficult to breathe.

Everyone turned their heads in unison, casting their gazes toward Zhang Xuanyao, the core of the team, their eyes filled with desperation and shock.

Facing this hair-raising evil entity, Zhang Xuanyao stood where he was.

He was completely unperturbed, standing tall and upright.

He hadn't even deactivated the Heavenly Concealment Talisman attached to the inside of his Daoist robe; he remained in a state of complete invisibility.

Zhang Xuanyao slowly and deliberately reached his right hand into the wide pocket of his Daoist robe. His movements were unhurried, completely out of place with the tense atmosphere of the firefight.

After fumbling with his fingers for a moment, he pulled out the latest model of smartphone.

He pressed his thumb onto the fingerprint recognition area at the bottom of the screen with a light tap.

The screen lit up, and the soft glow illuminated the outline of Zhang Xuanyao's invisible face.

His fingers slid skillfully across the screen, browsing through apps until he tapped on the icon for the live-streaming software.

The interface jumped, showing the settings options for starting the broadcast.

Zhang Xuanyao glanced at the signal bar in the top right corner of the screen. All five bars of signal were full.

"The Black Sand Organization's infrastructure is actually pretty good,"

Zhang Xuanyao said, playfully grumbling into the phone's microphone, his tone as relaxed as if he were strolling through a vegetable market.

"Hundreds of meters underground, and the 5G signal is still full. This Daoist must give them a good review. I'll ask them later which carrier they use."

He tapped the [Start Live Stream] button with his finger.

Instantly, the broadcast notification was sent via the internet to the phones of hundreds of thousands of eager online followers.

Live Stream Title: [Nanyang Golden Triangle. Taking you guys to see something exciting. Minors please watch with parental guidance.]

Just as the live stream opened, the number of online viewers in the top right corner began to jump frantically.

One thousand. Five thousand. Thirty thousand. One hundred thousand.

Hundreds of thousands of followers flooded into the live stream like a tide. The chat section instantly became active.

Due to the shielding effect of the Heavenly Concealment Talisman, the phone's camera could not capture Zhang Xuanyao himself.

The live stream feed presented a first-person perspective directly, as if the viewers were standing in the cavern themselves.

The viewers couldn't see Zhang Xuanyao, but through the high-definition lens, they could clearly see the full view of the cavern.

The camera panned slowly, the image extremely stable.

Eerie green torches burned on the rock walls, their flames flickering and casting extremely twisted shadows inside the cavern, like demons from Hell baring their fangs and brandishing their claws.

In front, that massive altar built from piles of white bones was displayed in its entirety on the screen.

Human skulls, leg bones, and ribs were interwoven together, the surface of the bones gleaming with a ghastly white luster.

The hollow eye sockets of the skulls stared directly at the lens, emitting a chilling, eerie green light.

The camera continued to move upward.

In mid-air, that massive flesh embryo, over three meters in diameter, floated there without any support.

The surface of the embryo was covered in a translucent mucous membrane. Underneath the membrane, thick blood vessels bulged out like twisted earthworms, with black-red liquid flowing inside.

"Thump. Thump."

The dull, powerful sound of a heartbeat was clearly transmitted through the phone's microphone into the ears of every viewer in the live stream.

With every beat, the blood vessels on the surface of the embryo would violently contract and expand, causing slight vibrations in the surrounding air.

The extremely grotesque and eerie scene instantly assaulted the visual nerves of all the viewers.

The live stream's chat paused for a full three seconds.

Then, it exploded completely.

The entire screen was thickly covered with chat messages, scrolling so fast that it was impossible for anyone to read the text.

98: Chapter 98: You think it's too dark? I'll provide you with some light!

[ "Holy crap! Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap!" ]

[ "Ugh, blech! I just threw up my late-night snack all over my keyboard! What kind of hellish place is this?!" ]

[ "What the Hell is this, a Resident Evil set? A Tyrant incubation base? Or an Alien nest?" ]

[ "Daoist, did you transmigrate to Hell behind our backs? What are these underworld monstrosities?!" ]

[ "Call the police! Hurry, call the police! This footage is too illegal! These are definitely real human bones!" ]

[ "Use your brain, upstairs. The Daoist is hanging out with the criminal police captain right now. Who are you going to report to? This is literally on-site law enforcement!" ]

[ "These special effects are amazing. Did the Daoist switch careers to filmmaking? These props are way too realistic!" ]

Zhang Xuanyao watched the comments scrolling wildly on the screen, his tone relaxed as he spoke into the microphone, completely ignoring the SWAT Team Members still firing ahead.

"Family, don't panic. Let me show you a big treasure."

Zhang Xuanyao moved the camera, aiming it at the Black-robed Holy Lord standing in front of the altar.

"That Black-robed monster playing god up ahead is the so-called 'Holy Lord' here in Nanyang, the big BOSS of the Black Sand Organization. Today, I'll take you all on a cross-border dungeon raid."

The sentiment in the comments shifted instantly.

"This BOSS is dressed like a crow. I can't see what he looks like at all."

"The lighting in the cave is too dim. Bad review! Can the streamer be more professional?"

"Daoist, can you get a closer shot? I want to see if this Holy Lord has three heads or eight legs."

"It's too dark. I can't see any details. This streaming experience is terrible. Refund!"

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the screen, his lips curling upward, revealing arrogance.

"Think it's too dark, huh?" Zhang Xuanyao spoke into the microphone, his tone filled with absolute confidence and arrogance. "Fine. Watch closely. I'll shine a light for you. I guarantee it'll be brighter than a searchlight."

Zhang Xuanyao tucked his phone into the chest pocket of his Daoist robe, exposing the rear camera to ensure the stream wouldn't be interrupted.

He raised his left hand, pinching the Heavenly Concealment Talisman attached to the inside of his robe with two fingers.

True Qi surged, flowing from his fingertips into the Talisman, directly severing the connection to the Heavenly Concealment Talisman.

Silver ripples began to dissipate from the center of the Talisman, turning into specks of silver light that vanished into the air.

Zhang Xuanyao's figure appeared out of thin air in the cave, his slender frame standing tall like a pine, his green Daoist robe flapping violently in the cold wind.

Facing the eerie Black-robed Holy Lord and the massive flesh embryo alone, his silhouette appeared incomparably imposing.

"Watch closely. This is real technique." Zhang Xuanyao whispered to the phone in his pocket.

Zhang Xuanyao's figure fully manifested in the air.

Under the enhancement of his Major Achievement in the Pure Yang Golden Body, the blood and Qi within his body began to surge crazily.

A dull, roaring sound like a rushing river emanated from his blood vessels. The powerful beating of his heart even drowned out the heartbeat of the flesh embryo above.

A brilliant golden luster seeped out from the pores of Zhang Xuanyao's skin, circulating rapidly over his body to form a visible layer of golden Qi waves. The waves churned, blowing the hem of his Daoist robe high into the air.

An extremely Yang and extremely rigid aura exploded instantly, filling the entire space.

The thick, impenetrable, cold Evil Qi surrounding them encountered this Pure Yang Qi like ice and snow meeting a raging fire, instantly melting away with a "hissing" sound, turning into white steam that rose up.

Zhang Xuanyao stomped his right foot forward heavily, his leather boot pressing into the hard rock, cracking it with fine fissures as gravel sprayed out.

He raised his right hand above his head, quickly forming a seal with one hand.

His five fingers danced, moving so fast that only afterimages remained, his finger joints popping with crisp sounds.

In an instant, he formed an extremely complex Thunder Dharma Seal, with silver electric arcs faintly leaping at his fingertips.

Zhang Xuanyao opened his mouth, his tongue blooming like spring thunder, his voice resounding like a great bell.

He shouted the incantation to summon lightning from the Five Thunders Method.

"Nine Heavens respond to the origin, thunder sounds transform universally, obey this command immediately!"

The incantation exploded within the cave, the sound waves surging with an awe-inspiring righteousness that terrified evil spirits, shaking the stalactites overhead so that dust rained down into the puddles below.

The Black-robed Holy Lord sensed this Pure Yang aura capable of destroying it.

Its pitch-black pupils locked onto Zhang Xuanyao, flickering with brutality and fury.

It let out a shrill, miserable roar that sounded entirely inhuman. The sound was sharp and piercing, almost rupturing human eardrums and causing extreme physiological discomfort.

Hands as withered as tree branches reached out from under the black robe, ten fingers spread open, raised directly above its head and waving frantically, its fingernails carving black trajectories in the air.

A hoarse, grating, evil incantation spilled rapidly from under the hood, speaking at an incredible speed, reeking of a nauseating evil aura. The sound of the incantation collided with Zhang Xuanyao's thunderous voice in the air, creating piercing sonic booms.

As the incantation was chanted,

the blood-colored Formation around the bone altar below lit up instantly, erupting with blinding red light, illuminating the surrounding rock walls as if they were a sea of blood.

The scarlet blood flowing within the lines of the Formation churned violently, bubbling up with large patches of bloody foam.

The bubbles burst one after another, emitting a thick, nauseating stench of blood and rot.

Dozens of sharp, foul-smelling blood arrows soared from the blood pool. Each blood arrow contained immense corrosiveness and sinister Evil Qi.

The blood arrows converged in mid-air into a dense net of fire, blotting out the sky, whistling with sharp piercing sounds as they shot toward Zhang Xuanyao, cutting off all paths of retreat.

Zhang Xuanyao snorted coldly, his face devoid of any fear.

He stepped out in the Seven-Star Footwork, his figure turning into a bolt of golden lightning.

He wove and dodged through the dense net of blood arrows with extreme precision, his movements flowing like clouds and water, without a single wasted motion.

Every movement perfectly avoided the lethal attacks, leaving only golden afterimages in his wake.

A thick blood arrow grazed the wide sleeve of Zhang Xuanyao's Daoist robe, stirring up a gust of cold wind.

It struck a thick stalactite behind Zhang Xuanyao.

"Hiss—"

A piercing corrosive sound rang out suddenly.

The hard stalactite was like it had been splashed with high-concentration sulfuric acid, instantly corroded into a large hole, its edges turning a charred black color.

Thick white smoke rose, turning into a puddle of foul-smelling toxic water that dripped into the puddle on the ground, making a sizzling sound. The water in the puddle instantly became turbid and filthy.

While dodging with serpentine movements, Zhang Xuanyao turned his head and roared toward the back.

"Captain Qin, take your people and find cover!"

Zhang Xuanyao's voice was loud and possessed immense penetrating power, drowning out the whistling wind and gunfire.

"The Karma of this thing is too heavy. It's not something you can get involved in! Don't get in the way here!"

Qin Bingruo reacted extremely quickly, knowing that modern firepower was useless here. Staying would only make them a burden.

She decisively gave a tactical hand signal and issued an order.

"All units, cease fire! Fall back! Find cover!"

The twenty-one SWAT Team Members did not hesitate at all. Quickly holding their guns, they retreated under covering fire to behind several huge rock pillars at the edge of the cave.

The rock pillars were over two meters in diameter, enough to block large-caliber weapon fire and barely withstand the splatter of the blood arrows.

Qin Bingruo leaned against the hard rock, gasping for air, calming her violently beating heart, her chest heaving rapidly.

She reached out, tore open the Velcro on her tactical vest, and pulled out the specially made encrypted satellite communicator.

She pressed the call button, quickly adjusted the frequency, and cut directly into the public channel of the Nanyang United Anti-Narcotics Command.

Her tone was icy, filled with uncontrollable anger and mockery.

"This is the China Special Task Force."

Qin Bingruo spoke into the microphone, her voice transmitted back to the command center via satellite signal.

"We have already wiped out the core of the Black Sand Organization. We are starting to clean up now. Are you not going to get in here and catch the survivors? Are you waiting for us to spoon-feed you?"

On the other end of the communicator,

inside the Nanyang United Anti-Narcotics Command, the lights were bright.

Three high-ranking police officers in charge were sitting on leather sofas, drinking freshly ground coffee with their legs crossed, preparing to watch the Chinese police make a fool of themselves.

Hearing the voice coming from the public channel, the three of them froze, their hands holding coffee cups stopping in mid-air.

Immediately after, the background audio of the communicator carried the sound of extremely intense gunfire from the underground cave. The roar of submachine guns was clearly audible.

Faint, incredibly dull sounds of thunder.

That thunder carried a certain aura of heaven and earth, transmitted through the radio waves, making the three commanders' hearts beat wildly and their eardrums ache.

Cold sweat instantly soaked their backs, wetting their crisp police uniforms.

The China Special Task Force, twenty-two people, had truly killed their way through the Black Sand Organization's allegedly impregnable defense line single-handedly.

99: Chapter 99: Baptism of Thunder, A Bizarre Rebirth in the Coke

It had struck directly into the core area. It even sounded like they were gaining the upper hand.

A Bearded Commander suddenly stood up, his knee knocking over the coffee table in front of him.

The coffee cup in his hand fell to the ground and shattered. Brown liquid spilled onto the tactical map, staining the target area marked with a red circle.

Not daring to delay for even a second, he grabbed the walkie-talkie on the table and roared his orders.

"First Armored Battalion! Second Special Police Team! All mobilize!"

The Bearded Commander's voice cracked, spittle flying everywhere, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

"Head straight for the outer defenses of the Black Sand Organization! Don't let a single fly escape! Move out immediately!"

A piercing alarm sounded in the camp on the outskirts of the rainforest, and red warning lights flashed continuously.

Large numbers of fully armed Nanyang military police rushed onto armored vehicles. Engines roared, exhaust pipes spewed black smoke, and tracks crushed the muddy road as they Advanced into the heart of the deep mountains, kicking up huge amounts of mud.

The scene cuts back to the underground cavern.

Zhang Xuanyao did not stop his pace, his figure leaving a trail of afterimages amidst the blood arrows, while golden light flickered continuously in the darkness.

He swiftly finished chanting the final line of the thunder-summoning incantation.

The Pure Yang Qi inside his body was compressed to the extreme, then erupted skyward like a volcanic explosion.

A golden pillar of Qi shot straight to the top of the cavern, illuminating the dense stalactites above.

Before the Pure Yang Qi, the thick rock strata became as fragile as tofu, directly penetrated by an invisible, mighty force, reaching all the way to the surface.

Above the surface, the originally clear Nanyang night sky was instantly covered with dark clouds, the heavy black clouds pressing down as if to crush the city.

The thunderclouds churned violently, with silver snakes of electricity weaving through the clouds, emitting deafening roars.

The muffled rumbling of thunder was forced from the surface down into the natural cavern hundreds of meters underground.

The entire underground fortress trembled in response, gravel falling from the ceiling with a rustling sound, and fine cracks appearing on the ground.

The ultimate move was fully charged. An intense sense of oppression enveloped the entire space, and the air became scorching.

Zhang Xuanyao's gaze locked onto the Black-robed Holy Lord in front of him, his eyes filled with absolute control.

"Prodigy, today this Daoist will teach you what 'physical transcendence' means."

"Shenxiao Yuqing, Ten Directions Heavenly Thunder, strike for me!"

Zhang Xuanyao stood firm, his legs rooted into the ground like they were growing there. With his right hand forming a sword finger, he pointed forcefully at the Black-robed Holy Lord ahead with an unstoppable Aura.

"Boom!"

A deafening explosion echoed through the cavern. The immense volume caused the SWAT Team Members hiding behind the rock pillars to experience temporary tinnitus, forcing them to open their mouths wide to balance their ear pressure.

A bucket-thick silver bolt of heavenly thunder ignored the physical Law and the obstruction of hundreds of meters of rock strata.

It directly shattered the stone wall at the top of the cavern.

Large chunks of rock fell along with the lightning, crashing into the puddles and splashing high sprays of water, mud, and water flying everywhere.

The silver heavenly thunder, carrying the magnificent might of heaven and the violent power to destroy everything, struck the Black-robed Holy Lord with pinpoint accuracy.

The blinding lightning instantly illuminated the entire massive natural cavern.

It turned the originally dark and damp space as bright as day, even the moss in the corners of the rock walls could be seen clearly.

The phone camera in Zhang Xuanyao's chest pocket was blinded by the intense light, the screen turning completely white. Nothing could be seen, leaving only a screen full of dazzling white light.

The lightning dimmed slightly, and the view gradually recovered.

The strange black robe on the Black-robed Holy Lord that could block armor-piercing bullets instantly burned to nothing under the extreme temperature of the heavenly thunder, turning into black ash that flew everywhere and scattered with the gloomy wind.

The true appearance of the Holy Lord, hidden under the hood, was completely exposed to the air and to the high-definition camera of the phone.

It was a nauseating, terrifying stitched monster.

On a human torso, the thick limbs of various beasts were forcibly stitched on. The stitches were incredibly rough, and one could still see the upturned flesh and rusty wire.

The left arm was a gorilla's arm covered in black hair, with knotted muscles, while the right arm was a thick lizard claw covered in hard scales, its nails as sharp as knives.

The legs were as thick as elephant legs, supporting the massive body, but the feet had sharp eagle claws that were dug deep into the rocky ground.

The skin was a corpse-like grayish-white, covered in dense, constantly wriggling black incantations. The incantations seemed alive, burrowing back and forth under the skin.

The head was huge, with no nose or ears, only a bloody mouth full of jagged fangs and a pair of all-black pupils with no whites.

The live stream screen became clear again.

Hundreds of thousands of viewers saw the full picture of this monster clearly through their screens.

The barrage of comments paused for a full three seconds.

Everyone had been hit with a pause button by this terrifying image. Breathing stopped.

Subsequently, the live stream erupted with unprecedented shock, fear, and hair-raising exclamations.

The number of comments directly crashed the server's display limit, with dense text overlapping.

"Holy f*ck! What kind of monster is this?! My eyes are going blind!"

"A stitched monster! This is a real-life Frankenstein! Are these people from the Black Sand Organization all crazy?!"

"It's so disgusting! My scalp is tingling! This thing is a hundred times more terrifying than the zombies in Resident Evil!"

"Daoist, run! This thing looks like trouble! It didn't even die from being struck by lightning!"

"Daoist is awesome! This thunder technique is just cool as hell! But this monster's health bar is way too thick!"

Zhang Xuanyao knew the Law that villains die from talking too much, so he didn't give this stitched monster any chance to react or catch its breath.

"Strike while you're down!"

Zhang Xuanyao gave his wrist a sharp flick, his movements crisp and decisive.

From the wide sleeves of his Daoist robe, he flung out the remaining ten Advanced Heavenly Thunder Talisman.

The ten Talisman turned into ten streaks of brilliant golden light in mid-air.

Moving at extreme speed, they trailed long tails.

They stuck firmly onto the stitched monster's chest, huge head, and four thick limbs. The cinnabar patterns on the Talisman erupted with dazzling light.

"Explode!"

Zhang Xuanyao curled his right hand's five fingers tightly, clenching it into a fist.

The ten Heavenly Thunder Talisman were detonated simultaneously.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A deafening series of roars sounded. The entire underground fortress shook violently, comparable to an magnitude-8 earthquake.

Large stalactites at the top of the cavern broke off one after another, crashing down with a whistling sound, smashing onto the bone altar and shattering the skull, bone fragments flying everywhere.

Under the terrifying thunderous slaughter, the stitched monster let out an extremely shrill scream, its voice filled with pain and despair.

Its thick limbs twisted crazily in the lightning, attempting to break free from the shackles of the electricity.

Flesh and skin turned outward, and black blood splashed everywhere, evaporating into black smoke from the high temperature of the lightning before it could hit the ground, emitting a pungent, burnt stench.

In the end, the stitched monster was charred inside and out by the ten heavenly thunderbolts.

There wasn't a single piece of good flesh on its entire body, turning into a piece of charcoal emitting pungent black smoke.

It fell straight backward, crashing heavily onto the edge of the blood pool, splashing up a wave of crimson blood that landed on the dilapidated altar.

Zhang Xuanyao stopped his steps.

His legs slightly bent, hands resting on his knees, he panted heavily with zero demeanor of an expert.

His chest heaved violently, his breathing rapid.

He raised his right hand and wiped the fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead with his wide sleeve.

Facing the phone camera in his chest pocket, he complained frantically.

"Oh my gosh, I'm exhausted," Zhang Xuanyao said, his tone revealing a hint of weakness as he rolled his eyes. "My stamina is still too poor. My body can't handle using ultimate moves consecutively. Once I return to Heng City, I'll definitely get a gym membership and find a personal trainer for cardio."

A strong contrast of cuteness appeared instantly after the extremely tense battle.

The tense nerves of the viewers in the live stream suddenly relaxed.

"Hahahaha, Daoist, your style shift is way too fast!"

"One second a thunder god descending to the world, the next second signing up for a gym membership. That's so you!"

The SWAT Team Members hiding behind the rock pillars also let out a long sigh of relief, lowering their submachine guns and wiping the cold sweat from their foreheads.

In the live stream, various expensive gift effects began to flood the screen crazily.

Sports cars, yachts, and rockets flew all over the screen, completely covering up the terrifying scene from just a moment ago.

Just when everyone thought the dust had settled and were preparing to celebrate.

A strange, extremely muffled sound suddenly came from the completely carbonized corpse of the Holy Lord lying on the edge of the blood pool.

"Thump..."

The sound wasn't loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet cavern.

It sounded exactly like a huge heart starting to beat again.

"Thump-thump..."

The rhythm grew faster and faster, the sound louder and louder, comparable to the beating of war drums.

The surface of the charred corpse suddenly cracked with dense fissures, opening and closing to the rhythm of the heartbeat.

A blinding crimson blood light shone through the fissures, illuminating the surrounding puddles into a blood-red color.

An evil Aura, ten times more terrifying than before and extremely dense, erupted from inside the corpse.

The surrounding temperature instantly dropped to freezing point, and a thin layer of ice formed on the surface of the puddles.

The death of this shell was just to welcome some kind of more terrible rebirth!

Zhang Xuanyao straightened his body, the ease on his face instantly vanishing.

His gaze locked onto the mutating corpse, his right hand forming a hand seal again.

He quickly called up the System interface in his mind, his eyes sweeping over the remaining shock value.

Preparing to exchange for more Advanced items at any moment.

"So the final BOSS of this dungeon has a second phase," Zhang Xuanyao muttered to himself, his tone revealing excitement.

The flesh embryo above was drawn by this evil Aura, its heartbeat gradually synchronizing with the corpse below.

"Thump-thump. Thump-thump."

The two heartbeats overlapped, forming a terrifying resonance in the cavern, shaking people's chests and making their blood surge.

Zhang Xuanyao stepped out the Seven-Star Step again, and golden light circulated on his body surface once more.

100: Chapter 100: The Evil God's Second Transformation, Online Physical Exorcism

Inside the cave.

The Holy Lord's corpse, which had been charred to a crisp by the heavenly lightning, lay at the edge of the blood pool.

Its surface suddenly expanded weirdly like an inflating leather ball.

Riiip—

The sound of tearing flesh rang out in the empty space.

From the charred cracks, countless thick, dark-red fleshy tendrils spewed out.

The surface of the tendrils was covered in a layer of extremely viscous, transparent slime, emitting a sickening, foul stench.

Like living creatures with their own independent consciousness, they writhed frantically in the air.

The bases of the tendrils exerted force, suddenly shooting upward.

They swept backward, directly wrapping around the massive flesh-and-blood embryo hovering above.

Squelch! Squelch!

The tentacles stabbed into various parts of the cave.

In mid-air,

the flesh-and-blood embryo and the tendrils surging from below instantly completed a physical stitching.

Blinding blood-red light burst from the stitched seams, illuminating the entire underground cave like a Shura Hell.

In just a few seconds,

a massive Flesh Mountain, so huge it occupied more than half of the cave's space, boomed into existence.

The surface of the Flesh Mountain was extremely uneven, with fat, muscle, and blood vessels chaotically interwoven.

Accompanied by the hair-raising sound of grinding bones,

a massive, distorted 'human face' slowly emerged on the front of the Flesh Mountain.

Its facial features were not of a normal human structure at all.

They were forcibly pieced together from countless human bone fragments, large intestines, and livers.

The nose consisted of two broken ribs, and the mouth was a row of jagged skulls.

In the hollow eye sockets, there were no eyeballs at all.

Whoosh—

Two clumps of eerie green ghost fire suddenly ignited deep within the eye sockets, flickering and dancing.

They stared fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao below.

In the livestream room,

the gift special effects like sports cars and yachts that originally flew across the screen instantly froze.

It was as if even the server was frightened into lagging for a second by the terrifying scene.

Then, the bullet screen exploded frantically at several times its previous speed.

Hundreds of thousands of viewers clearly saw this behemoth that defied the common sense of carbon-based lifeforms through their phone screens.

An intense wave of physical discomfort rushed straight to their heads.

["Urgh! I can't take it! I'm actually throwing up! What the Hell is this thing?!"]

["High-energy shield! Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony! Swiftly execute this command!"]

["Did Cthulhu freaking descend upon Nanyang? This art style is all wrong!"]

["My SAN points are plummeting! Run, Daoist Master! This monster is definitely overpowered!"]

Zhang Xuanyao stood where he was.

Looking at the massive Flesh Mountain dripping with foul-smelling slime in front of him, the muscles at the corners of his eyes twitched uncontrollably twice.

The Pure Yang Qi ran rapidly through his body, resisting the extreme stench hitting him in the face.

Zhang Xuanyao tilted his head slightly and complained frantically to the phone camera in his chest pocket.

"Guys, who can relate?"

Zhang Xuanyao's tone was relaxed, carrying a hint of helpless roguishness.

"This Nanyang evil god is playing dirty."

"He can't win, so he pulls out a second-stage transformation. The style just went straight from a Xuanhuan channel to Resident Evil!"

"This poor Daoist has truly had his eyes opened today. When I return to China, I must ask the director for an extra's bento box."

His relaxed complaining was transmitted through the microphone, forcibly tearing open a rift in the extremely oppressive, terrifying atmosphere.

The tense nerves of the viewers in the livestream room relaxed slightly.

Just as the terrifying mutation occurred in the underground cave, outside the thick rock layer above the cave,

muffled explosions could be heard faintly.

"Boom! Boom!"

Immediately after, extremely dense automatic rifle fire erupted, weaving together.

The joint police forces of the three nations on the ground, upon hearing the thunder that had just penetrated the earth, finally made a full assault into the Black Sand Organization camp.

Armored vehicles crushed the barbed wire surrounding the camp.

Large numbers of fully armed military and police flooded in like a tide, completely tearing apart the outer defensive line.

The entire ground base fell into a sea of fire and chaos.

Qin Bingruo hid behind a huge rock pillar.

From the encrypted tactical earpiece in her ear came the breathless voice of the Nanyang commander.

"China Special Task Force! This is the Joint Command!"

"The Bearded Commander's voice carried an eagerness to take credit.

"The outer positions are fully under control! We are currently looking for the underground entrance!"

"Hold on! We are sending people down to support you immediately!"

Qin Bingruo leaned against the cold rock.

Listening to the voice in her earpiece, she let out an extremely arrogant sneer.

Her right hand gripped her silenced submachine gun tightly, her index finger resting outside the trigger guard.

"The entrance is directly beneath the altar."

Qin Bingruo spoke into the microphone, her tone freezing cold and showing absolute dominance.

"But you'd better come down later."

"Lest you get splashed with blood all over."

"The China Special Task Force is executing the final sweep!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she cut off the communication directly, giving the other party no chance to object.

The focus shifted back to the center of the cave.

The massive Flesh Mountain let out a deafening roar.

The sound waves echoed back and forth in the enclosed space, shaking the dust from the cave ceiling so that it fell in flurries.

The fat layer at the base of the Flesh Mountain rolled violently.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Countless thick, dark-red tentacles burst out from inside the Flesh Mountain.

They danced wildly in mid-air like whips, creating piercing air-splitting sounds.

A tentacle over half a meter in diameter lashed violently against the side rock wall.

"Bang!"

In the face of absolute strength, the hard rock shattered like fragile tofu.

Large chunks of rock, along with soil, rained down.

The entire underground space shook violently, tottering as if it would collapse completely at any moment.

Zhang Xuanyao exerted force through his feet.

His figure navigated nimbly through the falling boulders.

Golden afterimages constantly flashed in the dim cave.

Zhang Xuanyao narrowed his eyes slightly, and a brilliant golden light burst from his pupils once again.

The Heavenly Eye was operating at full capacity, and his vision instantly penetrated the fat and slime on the surface of the Flesh Mountain, reaching straight to its internal core.

Countless threads representing Karma appeared in his line of sight.

The Karma threads, which were originally clear, had now completely turned into a tangled mess.

Crimson resentment and pitch-black Death Qi entangled and stitched together, forming an extremely thick, indestructible energy shield.

Zhang Xuanyao's brows knitted together.

"This thing's magic resistance is too high."

Zhang Xuanyao quickly analyzed in his mind.

"Mere lightning technique bombardment can only blast away the outer, constantly regenerating epidermis, and cannot harm the internal core at all.

"I need to add some physical penetration!"

Zhang Xuanyao tapped his toes on the ground and did a backflip to avoid a thick tentacle sweeping toward him.

While in mid-air, he turned his head and shouted at the SWAT Team Members behind the rock pillar.

His voice, laced with True Qi, penetrated the deafening roar of the monster.

"Captain Qin!"

"Switch to armor-piercing incendiary rounds!"

"Blast its ugly face and the bases of its tentacles mercilessly for this poor Daoist!"

"I'll draw the aggro!"

Qin Bingruo didn't waste any words.

The tactical literacy formed by long-term high-intensity training allowed her to react in an instant.

Her left hand made an extremely brief tactical hand sign.

"Listen up, everyone!"

"Switch to special ammunition! Three seconds to prepare!"

The twenty SWAT Team Members moved in perfect unison.

Their thumbs pressed the magazine release buttons, and the standard magazines fell to the ground.

Their left hands pulled out spare magazines with red markings from the innermost pockets of their tactical vests.

101: Chapter 101: Soul Ignites in Desperation, One Finger Decree Settles the Fate

"Click!" The bolt was pulled, and the bullet was chambered.

Twenty SWAT Team Members popped half their bodies out from behind the rock pillar cover.

Shoulders pressed firmly against the gun stocks, their scope crosshairs locked onto the twisted, gigantic "human face" of the Flesh Mountain.

"Open fire!" Qin Bingruo roared.

More than twenty suppressed submachine guns spat out deadly orange tongues of fire once again.

Dense armor-piercing incendiary bullets streaked through the dark cave like meteors.

This time, without the energy defense of that eerie black robe, the special warheads carried terrifying kinetic energy and drilled fiercely into the bloated body of the Flesh Mountain.

"Puff! Puff! Puff!" The incendiary agent inside the warheads reacted violently the moment it touched flesh.

Clusters of dazzling fire exploded on the surface of the Flesh Mountain.

High-temperature flames burned the fat and mucus frantically, emitting a harsh "sizzling" sound.

Foul-smelling black blood sprayed like a fountain from the bullet holes, splashing into the puddles below.

The air was filled with an extremely pungent smell of charred meat.

The Flesh Mountain felt the pain.

Its huge "human face" twisted and deformed violently, and the bone fragments that made up its facial features fell off one by one.

It let out an extremely shrill scream, the sound so sharp it pierced the eardrums.

Zhang Xuanyao seized the moment when the monster was suppressed by modern firepower.

He stomped out the Seven-Star Steps under his feet.

His leather boots left deep pits in the ground as gravel flew.

His figure turned into a golden bolt of lightning, skimming the ground and charging straight beneath the Flesh Mountain.

He raised his hands above his head, his fingers flying like afterimages.

His knuckles cracked like popping beans. The sound of thunder rose again.

"Boom!" The first bucket-thick Five Thunders Method struck down from the top of the cave without warning, carrying majestic heavenly might, and accurately hit the left side of the Flesh Mountain's body.

"Bang!" The high temperature and violent destructive power of the lightning directly blasted a charred blood hole several meters in diameter on the Flesh Mountain.

Broken blood vessels and charred rotten meat splattered everywhere.

But a despairing scene followed immediately.

The massive body of the Flesh Mountain squirmed violently.

At the edge of the blood hole, countless dark red flesh buds grew and intertwined crazily, like countless tiny poisonous snakes winding around each other.

In just a few seconds, that terrifying wound, large enough to fit a small car, was forcibly healed, leaving only a shallow scar.

"Damn, its health bar is really thick," Zhang Xuanyao cursed under his breath, his teeth chattering.

His figure wove through the barrage of over a dozen tentacles at the limit, brushing past death again and again.

Ignoring the waves of throbbing pain coming from the Meridians in his body, Zhang Xuanyao forcibly mobilized the remaining Pure Yang Qi in his Dantian.

He formed hand seals with both hands and summoned two more Five Thunders Methods back-to-back.

"Boom! Boom!" Two even thicker silver thunderbolts descended from the sky, carrying an Aura of destroying everything, and slammed into the right side and top of the Flesh Mountain respectively.

The lightning flashed, illuminating the hideous face of the Flesh Mountain.

Three consecutive high-intensity spells and the massive output of True Qi caused a significant depletion of Zhang Xuanyao's Mental Energy.

As Zhang Xuanyao landed, his body swayed slightly.

His face turned visibly pale, losing its previous ruddiness.

The veins on both sides of his forehead bulged like knotted tree roots.

His chest heaved violently, and his breathing became extremely heavy.

Sweat slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the hard rock.

In the live stream, hundreds of thousands of viewers saw Zhang Xuanyao's current state clearly through the high-definition lens.

Everyone's heart was in their throat, so nervous they forgot to breathe.

[ "Daoist, hold on! Your mana is bottoming out!" ]

[ "This monster is too disgusting! It can't be killed and it even regenerates health!" ]

[ "Send the Daoist some gifts to restore mana! Family, charge!" ]

On the screen, various extremely expensive gift effects were flooding the screen again.

Rockets soared, and carnivals bloomed, forcefully paving a golden road over the terrifying scene with special effects.

The giant Flesh Mountain, having suffered continuous heavy damage, fell into a state of irrational rage.

That huge "human face" pieced together from bone fragments suddenly opened its abyss-like mouth.

Its lower jaw dislocated, stretching to an extremely exaggerated extent.

The bloated abdomen of the Flesh Mountain began to contract and expand violently.

"Gurgle... Gurgle..."

A creepy, dull sound, like a giant water pump running at full power, echoed in the cave.

The Death Qi and the smell of blood in the surrounding air converged frantically into its giant mouth.

"Not good!" Zhang Xuanyao's pupils constricted sharply.

His Heavenly Eye warned him frantically. In his line of sight, a black airflow, extremely dense and representing absolute death, had completely enveloped the area where he was.

"This beast is about to release a full-screen ultimate move!" Zhang Xuanyao roared, his voice hoarse.

The next second, the sky full of dark red blood erupted from the Flesh Mountain's giant mouth like a high-pressure water gun.

The blood scattered in mid-air, turning into a terrifying "acid rain" that covered most of the cave.

"Whoosh!" Dense blood drops slammed onto the hard rock ground.

"Sss sss sss!" An extremely strong chemical corrosion reaction occurred instantly.

The hard rock was like butter meeting fire, corroded into countless pitted deep holes.

Extremely pungent yellow toxic smoke rose from the ground, instantly filling the entire space.

Qin Bingruo and the others were pinned behind the rock pillars by this terrifying AOE attack.

A few drops of splashing dark red blood crossed the cover and landed on the tactical bulletproof vest of a front-line SWAT Team Member.

The high-molecular Kevlar Materials, capable of withstanding close-range fire from large-caliber rifles, were burned through instantly upon contact with the blood, emitting pungent white smoke.

"Retreat! Keep retreating!" Qin Bingruo grabbed the tactical strap of that member and dragged him backward with force.

Frightened, everyone retreated again and again, pressing tightly against the rock wall at the very edge of the cave.

They couldn't even poke their heads out to provide any fire support.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xuanyao, who was in the center of the cave, was completely exposed to the indiscriminate coverage of this terrifying acid rain.

The escape routes around him were tightly sealed by dozens of thick, dark red tentacles.

The tentacles intertwined into a net, cutting off all space for evasion.

He was truly trapped in a life-and-death desperate situation with nowhere to hide.

At this critical moment, Zhang Xuanyao took a deep breath and stopped his futile dodging.

He spread his feet and planted them firmly on the ground full of toxic water.

Instead, he straightened his upright body, facing the corrosive acid rain falling from the sky.

There was no trace of fear in his eyes, only extreme madness and focus.

With a thought, he pulled up the System panel in his mind.

His gaze locked onto the skill icon of [Words Become Law (Upgraded Version)].

The remaining shock value burned crazily, transforming into invisible rules of power.

Zhang Xuanyao raised the corners of his lips, pulling out an extremely arrogant and crazy smile.

He raised his right hand, his index finger pointing precisely at the giant Flesh Mountain that was spraying acid rain.

He slowly opened his mouth toward the behemoth in front of him.

102: Chapter 102: Reversing Fate, the Belated "Corpse Collector"

Dark red acid rain filled the sky, carrying the wailing of death as it gushed from the Flesh Mountain's massive mouth, which was pieced together from shattered bones.

Every drop of blood contained a highly toxic, corrosive power capable of melting steel, burning the air and releasing acrid yellow smoke.

Zhang Xuanyao stood at the center of the storm, his Daoist robe snapping in the airflow. His handsome face appeared exceptionally calm in the red light, even carrying a hint of cynical madness.

An invisible and grand fluctuation of Law, centered on Zhang Xuanyao, instantly swept through the entire underground cavern.

The once stagnant and heavy Death Qi seemed to encounter its natural enemy at this moment, scattering in retreat.

Zhang Xuanyao raised his right hand, his index finger piercing through the gaps in the dense acid rain, pointing steadily at the twisted Flesh Mountain, a roguish smirk hanging from the corner of his mouth.

"Your spit, still yours!"

The low voice echoed within the cavern, drowning out the monster's roar.

The next second, the Laws of physics completely collapsed.

The dark red acid rain that had been diving downward, about to touch the tips of Zhang Xuanyao's hair, stagnated eerily in mid-air.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment, with every round blood droplet suspended in the Void Realm, refracting the ghostly green firelight.

Immediately after, these blood droplets, as if receiving a charge signal, suddenly turned around and returned along their original path at a speed even more ferocious and violent than when they were sprayed.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft!"

The dense, muffled sounds merged into one. The Flesh Mountain could not comprehend what had happened; its huge face made of shattered bones still maintained its spraying posture, yet it was instantly covered by the highly concentrated corrosive venom it had spat out.

"Awooo——!!!"

A scream of extreme agony pierced the eardrums. The Flesh Mountain's thick layer of fat, which it took pride in and which could withstand armor-piercing shells...

...emitted a "hissing" sound the moment it came into contact with the acid rain.

Billowing yellow smoke gushed from its massive Physical Body, and the viscous fat quickly liquefied, flowing down its bloated folds.

The tentacles that had been dancing wildly were like bones being pulled out, hanging limply to the ground, and quickly festering and breaking under the corrosion of the venom.

That giant mouth pieced together from human shattered bones now became the best heat-receiving point; the acid rain poured back into its throat, turning the delicate internal tissues into a pool of foul-smelling black water.

Zhang Xuanyao watched all this coldly. Waves of tearing pain came from his Meridians; that was the price of forcibly driving the power of Law. But he did not retreat a single step, his eyes filled with ruthlessness.

Strike while they are down.

The last of his Mental Energy was squeezed out, surging wildly along the Meridians of his arms toward his fingertips. Zhang Xuanyao quickly formed hand Seals, his knuckles making crisp cracking sounds from the excessive exertion.

"Nine Heavens Respond to the Origin, Thunder Sound Universal Transformation, for this Daoist—die!"

Outside the hole that had been pierced through the ceiling of the cavern, the thunderclouds sensed this imperial decree.

"Boom!"

A silver heavenly thunder with a diameter of several meters, carrying the great power to destroy everything, instantly pierced through hundreds of meters of rock layer. The thunder light, like a sword of judgment, precisely struck the decaying core of the Flesh Mountain.

The extreme high temperature collided with the strong acid venom, instantly producing a violent chemical reaction. White light filled the entire cavern, completely dispelling all shadows.

Inside the livestream room, the screens of hundreds of thousands of viewers were instantly occupied by this holy and violent flash of thunder.

["Holy sh*t! Holy sh*t! Holy sh*t! I just witnessed a miracle!"]

["Is this f*cking special effects? If this is special effects, Hollywood can close down!"]

["Daoist is awesome! That finger was simply badass! Words Become Law, physical reversal?"]

["Look at the gift leaderboard! The big spenders have gone crazy!"]

On the screen, the carnival effects piled up crazily as if they were free; rockets, yachts, and sports cars turned into stars filling the sky, completely drowning out the live broadcast image.

Due to the overwhelming amount of donation data flooding in instantly, the live streaming platform's server in Nanyang let out an unbearable wail, and the image froze for three seconds.

But this three-second blank space, instead, left the audience with endless room for imagination.

The thunder light gradually subsided. The originally massive Physical Body, like a mountain, had completely lost its vitality under the dual strangulation of the thunder and acid rain.

Its bloated Physical Body was like residual snow in a raging fire, quickly melting and collapsing, finally turning into foul-smelling black smoke that scattered through the crevices of the cavern.

In the air, apart from the smell of burning and rot, there was no longer any aura of the evil god.

Zhang Xuanyao swayed, his face as pale as a sheet of paper. He casually wiped away a trace of blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes remained bright.

The black smoke dispersed. In the center of the ruins where the Flesh Mountain had occupied, the ground had been burned into a glass-like state by the high temperature. In a pile of ashes, a bone pendant emitting an eerie red light lay quietly there.

The pendant was diamond-shaped, its surface engraved with dense black incantations, seemingly wriggling as if it had life.

Zhang Xuanyao dragged his heavy footsteps forward; with every step, his leather boots made a crisp sound as they stepped on the scorched ground.

He bent down to pick up the pendant, and the moment it touched his hand, an extremely cold aura shot straight into his brain through his fingertips.

The Heavenly Eye opened subconsciously.

In Zhang Xuanyao's vision, thousands of scarlet Karma lines were entangled around this pendant, each line connecting to the souls of countless tragic victims. The Death Qi was so thick it had almost liquefied, forming a tiny vortex.

This thing was the true core of the Black Sand Organization, and also the source of that "Holy Master's" power.

Zhang Xuanyao snorted coldly, quietly tucking the pendant into his Daoist robe pocket, and took the opportunity to temporarily Seal it with the Pure Yang Qi remaining on his fingertips.

"Thud!"

Just at this moment, the heavy isolation door at the edge of the cavern collapsed with a huge explosion.

Three commanders wearing Advanced Nanyang police uniforms, leading a large number of heavily armed Special Police wearing gas masks, rushed in like startled birds.

They held the most Advanced automatic rifles in their hands, their eyes filled with apprehension and terror.

However, the scene before them left them completely stunned.

There was no intense exchange of fire as imagined, and no massive evil god that had given them nightmares.

There were only pits of rock melted by high temperatures covering the ground, a dilapidated altar, and a large "skylight" at the top of the cavern that led directly to the surface, casting down bright moonlight.

The Bearded Commander took off his gas mask, looking at the cyan-robed Daoist standing under the moonlight with a slightly thin figure, his throat moving with difficulty as he swallowed.

This cavern had been cleared by this Chinese person, all by himself.

The cavern was eerily quiet, with only the "hissing" sound of water droplets seeping from rock crevices hitting the scorching rocks.

The soldiers of the Nanyang special forces maintained their combat formation, but their gun barrels were subconsciously lowered.

They looked at the mess covering the ground, looking at the mutated tissues charred by the thunder; everyone's eyes were filled with the confusion of having their worldview collapsed.

Could this kind of destructive power really be caused by a human?

The three Advanced commanders walked quickly across the ruins, their designer leather shoes stepping on the charred rotten flesh, making a nauseating squelching sound.

They couldn't be bothered to wipe the cold sweat from their foreheads, their eyes fixed tightly on the large hole at the top of the cavern.

The moonlight fell vertically from hundreds of meters high, shining on Zhang Xuanyao, draping a layer of silver gauze over his damaged Daoist robe.

"This... how is this possible..."

The Bearded Commander muttered to himself, his voice trembling violently. He bent down and reached out to touch the crystal-clear glass-like substance on the ground.

That was the product of rock instantly enduring temperatures of thousands of degrees.

He recalled the thunderclap he had heard on the surface just now. At the time, he thought it was some kind of heavy ground-penetrating bomb explosion, but now it seemed that was real heavenly thunder.

"A... Chinese deity?" Another commander swallowed hard, his previous arrogance having long vanished without a trace, replaced by a reverence that was almost subservient.

Qin Bingruo walked out from behind a rock pillar with the SWAT Team Members. Each of them was covered in smoke and blood, but their backs were straight, and the looks they gave the Nanyang military and police were filled with undisguised mockery.

"Yo, you officers are quite quick."

Qin Bingruo held a submachine gun in one hand, while the other hand casually wiped the dust off her face, her tone cold and chilling.

"What, are you preparing to come in and help us collect the corpses, or are you preparing to take over the battle results directly?"

The Bearded Commander's face flushed, and he awkwardly piled up the fat on his face, revealing a smile that was uglier than crying.

"Captain Qin, you've misunderstood, misunderstood! We have been closely monitoring the movements below; see, as soon as we heard the explosion, we rushed in to support!"

"Support?"

Qin Bingruo sneered and pointed at the location of the Flesh Mountain, which had already turned into ashes.

"The monster is already defeated; are you coming in to loot the gear?"

103: Chapter 103: Want to get something for free? First, ask this humble Taoist about physical salvation.

The three commanders were rendered speechless by the retort, able only to offer dry laughs as they shifted their gaze toward Zhang Xuanyao in the center of the field.

At this moment, Zhang Xuanyao had his back to everyone, looking down at his sleeve which had been scorched away, his face full of heartache.

"What a sin. This Daoist robe was pure cotton; it shrinks every time I wash it, and now it's torn." Zhang Xuanyao muttered, his voice not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

The Bearded Commander's eyes lit up; this was a perfect opportunity to get on good terms with him. He hurriedly trotted over to Zhang Xuanyao, extending both hands to shake his, his tone sickeningly sycophantic.

"You must be Daoist Zhang from China! I have long heard of your esteemed name. Seeing you today, it's truly like a Divine Being descending to the world! I am Lieutenant General Aka of the Joint Command. Daoist, for eliminating such a great evil in Nanyang this time, our Nanyang government will surely reward you handsomely! Money, beautiful women, a Villa—as long as you ask, Daoist, we will not haggle!"

Zhang Xuanyao raised his head, his eyes calmly watching Lieutenant General Aka's hands extended in mid-air.

He did not reach out, nor did his gaze linger on the other party for more than a second.

Lieutenant General Aka's hands remained frozen in mid-air, neither retracting nor advancing, the fat on his face twitching slightly, yet he dared not even make a sound.

"Daoist Zhang, we have already prepared a victory banquet at a five-star hotel..." another commander also approached, speaking cautiously.

Zhang Xuanyao walked straight past them, brushing against their shoulders and bringing with him a gust of scorched wind.

"Forget the victory banquet."

Zhang Xuanyao yawned. Due to exhaustion, his steps appeared somewhat unsteady.

"I only want to return to my country now. The Feng Shui in Nanyang is too yin; staying here too long will shorten my lifespan."

He walked over to Qin Bingruo and naturally leaned half his body weight onto the shoulder of this police beauty.

Qin Bingruo's body stiffened slightly, then her eyes became exceptionally gentle.

She reached out, steadily supporting Zhang Xuanyao's waist, and turned to look at the three commanders, her tone reverting to that coldness that kept people at a distance.

"Leave the cleanup of the scene to you. Regarding the subsequent interrogation and asset liquidation of the Black Sand Organization, the Chinese side will dispatch a specialized audit team to coordinate."

Qin Bingruo paused, her eyes sharp as knives.

"As for the credit... if anyone dares to write a single word incorrectly in the report, I don't mind letting this Daoist go to your command headquarters again to clear the place out."

The three commanders shivered all over, nodding repeatedly in a rush.

"That goes without saying! That goes without saying! First credit goes to the China Special Task Force! Daoist Zhang's Divine Might is invincible!"

Hearing the sycophantic sounds from behind, Zhang Xuanyao rolled his eyes and whispered into Qin Bingruo's ear: "Bingruo, after we return to the country, first take me to get a plate of stir-fried meat strips; the old-fashioned kind, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Then find me a place where no one will disturb me. I need to sleep for three days and three nights; don't wake me even if the King of Heaven himself comes."

The corners of Qin Bingruo's mouth curled up, and she nodded gently.

"Alright, whatever you say."

The Special Police formed a tactical formation to escort the two toward the exit. The Nanyang special forces soldiers consciously lined up on both sides, each standing tall with their chests out, executing a standard military salute.

This was a tribute to the strong.

A few hours later, at the edge of the tropical rainforest, a chartered plane bearing the Chinese emblem let out a tremendous roar at the temporary airport.

Zhang Xuanyao sat in the spacious first-class seat, toying with that bone pendant in his hand, his eyes deep and profound.

The black incantations on the pendant flickered in and out of view under the cabin lights, as if recounting some ancient secret.

"This thing involves quite a lot."

He muttered to himself, then tucked it into the innermost pocket of his Daoist robe and closed his eyes, falling into a deep sleep.

The plane broke through the heavy night of Nanyang and sped toward the north.

Heng City International Airport, 2:00 AM.

The tarmac was not as busy as usual; instead, it exuded an air of grim solemnity. Dozens of police cars with flashing red and blue lights surrounded the exit completely. Director Wang Chen of the Municipal Police Bureau was pacing anxiously, looking toward the distant sky from time to time.

When the private plane landed steadily on the runway, Director Wang Chen let out a heavy sigh of relief and hurriedly led his men to meet it.

The cabin door opened.

Zhang Xuanyao walked down the ramp with Qin Bingruo's support. He still looked somewhat weak; his originally neat Daoist robe had several holes, and his hair was a bit disheveled, but that aura of detachment had become even deeper.

"Daoist Zhang! Captain Qin! You've worked hard!"

Director Wang Chen stepped forward quickly, gripping Qin Bingruo's hand tightly, his eyes full of excitement.

"I've seen the briefing from Nanyang. Well done! This is nothing short of a miracle!"

Qin Bingruo returned a standard military salute: "Director Wang, I have fulfilled the mission."

Just as Director Wang Chen wanted to offer more praise, his expression suddenly stiffened, and his eyes subconsciously glanced at several people not far behind him.

Zhang Xuanyao keenly sensed the change in atmosphere.

Behind Director Wang Chen stood four men wearing black Zhongshan suits.

They were expressionless with sharp eyes; even in this sweltering late night, their collars were buttoned up tightly.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a crew cut, his presence deep and reserved; one could tell at a glance that he was a martial artist who had long held a high position.

These four people seemed out of place among the surrounding police, as if they were the true masters of this place.

The middle-aged man took a step forward, his leather shoes making a dull sound on the concrete floor. He did not look at Director Wang Chen, nor did he look at Qin Bingruo, but instead locked his gaze onto Zhang Xuanyao.

"Daoist Zhang Xuanyao?" The middle-aged man's voice was steady, carrying an unquestionable arrogance.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at him sideways and yawned: "I'm not deaf. Spit it out if you have something to say."

The middle-aged man's expression darkened slightly. He took out a dark gold ID card from his embrace and flashed it in front of Zhang Xuanyao.

"Special Affairs Investigation Bureau, Heng City Branch Chief, Team Leader Lin Cang. Regarding the supernatural powers you displayed during the Nanyang live stream, as well as the mysterious items involved with the Black Sand Organization, we require your cooperation in the investigation."

Qin Bingruo frowned, stepping sideways to block in front of Zhang Xuanyao, her tone unkind: "Team Leader Lin Cang, Daoist Zhang has just experienced a life-and-death battle and needs to rest now. If you have any business, talk at the Municipal Police Bureau."

Team Leader Lin Cang looked at Qin Bingruo coldly: "Captain Qin, please recognize your status. You have completed the Nanyang mission. The subsequent matters belong to top-secret state intelligence and are not under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Police Bureau."

He looked at Zhang Xuanyao again, extending one hand with the palm facing upward, his tone cold as if issuing an order.

"Daoist Zhang, let's not beat around the bush. That bone pendant you picked up in the cave belongs to an extremely dangerous prohibited containment object. According to the 'Special Affairs Management Regulations,' such items must be handed over immediately for unified custody and research by our bureau. Please, don't make things difficult for us."

The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point.

Director Wang Chen stood to the side, opened his mouth, but eventually it turned into a helpless sigh.

The Special Affairs Investigation Bureau is an entity that stands above ordinary law enforcement departments; they handle all those bizarre incidents that science cannot explain, and their power is astonishingly great.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the hand extended in front of him and suddenly started laughing.

The laughter was full of mockery and defiance.

He reached into his pocket, slowly took out the pendant that was faintly flashing with red light, and spun it nimbly between his fingertips.

Team Leader Lin Cang's eyes instantly became heated, and he even subconsciously leaned forward.

"Want this?" Zhang Xuanyao raised an eyebrow, his tone full of sass, "Team Leader Lin Cang, is it? Your abacus beads are clicking so loudly I could hear them all the way in Nanyang. I risked my life to fight the monster, and the dropped gear hasn't even warmed up in my hands yet, and you want to get it for free?"

Team Leader Lin Cang's tone was grim: "This is for national security. Such a thing in your hands will only invite disaster. Zhang Xuanyao, although you have some ability, you are not qualified to possess it."

Zhang Xuanyao put away his smile, a brilliant golden light flashing in his eyes.

He stared at Team Leader Lin Cang, his tone becoming extremely venomous and direct.

"Team Leader Lin Cang, I see your forehead is darkened and your Life Palace is collapsing. Lately, do you often feel soreness in your waist and knees, and feel a chill down your back when you dream at midnight? That is because your desire for fame and fortune is too heavy, and your Karma can no longer suppress it. If I give this pendant to you, I guarantee you won't live past six o'clock tomorrow morning."

He stuffed the pendant back into his pocket, tucked both hands into his sleeves, and shook his shoulders like a spineless thug.

"Want the pendant? Sure. Have that coward of a bureau chief at your headquarters come to Heng City to find me in person. As for you..."

Zhang Xuanyao leaned close to Team Leader Lin Cang, lowering his voice, his tone permeated with a chilling madness.

"Dare to reach out again, and I don't mind letting you try what 'physical transcendence' is."

Team Leader Lin Cang's face instantly turned the color of a pig's liver. The three men in black behind him stepped forward in unison, their presence erupting instantly, and the temperature of the entire tarmac seemed to drop by several degrees.

Qin Bingruo did not show any weakness, her hand gripping the gun handle, cold light radiating from her beautiful eyes.

A battle was on the verge of breaking out.

104: Chapter 104: Treating the powerful and wealthy as worthless, the imperial edict and seal of supreme authority.

Golden light flickered at his fingertips.

Zhang Xuanyao pointed at the center of Team Leader Lin Cang's forehead, with the sound of thunder leaping between his fingernails.

As long as this finger pressed down, this arrogant Team Leader Lin Cang would likely have to spend the rest of his life researching "supernatural powers" from a wheelchair.

The three men in black behind Team Leader Lin Cang sensed the killing intent and simultaneously pressed their right hands to their waists, the air solidifying until it was suffocating.

Screech—!

A piercing sound of braking tore through the dead silence.

Tires ground thick smoke into the concrete.

Before a black Hongqi sedan with special license plates had even come to a complete stop, the car door was violently pushed open.

"Daoist Zhang! Please show mercy! Spare him from the lightning!"

A middle-aged man with a plump figure and a wrinkled shirt scrambled out of the car.

He was drenched in sweat, his tie was crooked to one side, and he nearly lost one of his leather shoes while running.

"Bureau Chief?" Team Leader Lin Cang saw who it was, his expression changed, but his hand on his waist did not let go.

"Why did you come here personally? This Zhang Xuanyao is openly defying the 'Management Regulations' and even attempting to attack a public official. I was just about to..."

"About to do what, you idiot!"

The person who arrived was none other than the Bureau Chief of the Special Investigation Bureau's Heng City branch, Bureau Chief Huang Sheng.

He rushed over, and without a second thought, backhanded him with a loud slap.

Slap!

Team Leader Lin Cang was sent staggering, covering his face, completely dumbfounded.

"Bureau Chief, you hit me?"

"I'm hitting you, you brainless pig!"

Bureau Chief Huang Sheng was trembling with rage, pointing at Team Leader Lin Cang's nose and cursing.

"Who gave you the authority to come here and boss people around? Who gave you the guts to speak to Daoist Zhang like that? Get back! Get your ass back to the bureau and write a self-criticism immediately!"

Team Leader Lin Cang gritted his teeth, his eyes full of defiance, but ultimately did not dare to talk back while Bureau Chief Huang Sheng was exploding.

He glared resentfully at Zhang Xuanyao, took the three men in black, and climbed into the car. The engine let out a stifled roar, and they sped away.

Bureau Chief Huang Sheng turned around, his previously ferocious expression instantly switching to a face full of almost sycophantic smiles.

A master of Sichuan opera would have to offer him a cigarette after seeing that speed of facial expression changing.

"Daoist Zhang, it's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!"

Director Huang pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and frantically wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Team Leader Lin Cang was just transferred here and doesn't know the rules; he offended a Great Master. Please, a person of your stature shouldn't hold a grudge against a small person like him. Please don't take it to heart."

The golden light at Zhang Xuanyao's fingertips slowly faded. He tucked his hands into his sleeves, his eyes full of amusement.

"Director Huang, about this pendant... should I still hand it over?"

"Hand it over? What are you talking about! That is your spoils of war!" Director Huang waved his hands like a rattle-drum.

"According to the Special Contribution Act, keeping such a dangerous item in the hands of a Great Master like you is the safest option. Those good-for-nothings in our bureau, how would they have the ability to suppress this thing?"

Director Wang Chen stood to the side, watching this usually arrogant Director Huang nodding and bowing like a pug, feeling a secret thrill inside.

Qin Bingruo also retracted her pistol, the hostility in her eyes mostly dissipating, though she still gave a cold snort.

Director Huang acted as if he hadn't heard it, leaning in close to Zhang Xuanyao, lowering his voice, his tone filled with a desperate eagerness.

"Daoist Zhang, actually, I came this time to represent the headquarters in extending a formal invitation to you."

"As long as you are willing to join the Special Investigation Bureau, your official position will be directly attached to the headquarters, with a rank equivalent to a Deputy Bureau Chief. Your annual salary will start at ten million, you can choose any Villa in Heng City, and you can mobilize the resources of the Special Investigation Bureau across the country as you please. What do you think... could you consider it?"

When these conditions were laid out, even Director Wang Chen was shocked.

Deputy Bureau Chief rank?

That was the true privileged class.

Zhang Xuanyao let out a long yawn, a tear of physiological reaction squeezing out from the corner of his eye.

"An official position?"

"Not interested."

Zhang Xuanyao glanced at Director Huang sideways, his tone lazy.

"I am used to being carefree and can't stand that 'holier-than-thou' bureaucratic attitude of yours. Besides, if there are more people like Team Leader Lin Cang in your bureau, I'm afraid I won't be able to help myself from 'physically enlightening' my colleagues every day."

The smile on Director Huang's face froze.

He had considered that Zhang Xuanyao would make demands or raise the price on the spot, but he never expected the other party to refuse so decisively.

"Daoist Zhang, could you reconsider? We can still negotiate the benefits..."

"Negotiate my ass." Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand dismissively and walked straight toward the police car door that Qin Bingruo had opened.

"I just want to go back to the temple and sleep now. Whatever big thing it is, wait until I wake up to talk about it—oh wait, don't talk about it even after I wake up."

Bang!

The police car door slammed shut.

With the roar of engines, dozens of police cars escorted the black sedan in the center, speeding out of the airport exit.

Only Director Huang was left standing on the empty tarmac, swallowing a mouthful of exhaust fumes.

"Bureau Chief, are we just going to let him go like this?" Team Leader Lin Cang's car had circled back at some point. He lowered the car window, his eyes full of malice.

"This kid is too arrogant. If we don't show him some color, how will our Special Investigation Bureau carry out its work in the future?"

Bureau Chief Huang Sheng turned his head abruptly, his eyes becoming extremely cold.

"Color?"

"Do you have any idea what he did alone in Nanyang?"

Bureau Chief Huang Sheng threw a newly declassified satellite image into Team Leader Lin Cang's face.

"With one finger, he summoned heavenly lightning and smashed the Physical Body of the evil god that the Black Sand Organization had worshipped for decades into glazed glass! Can you do that? Or do you think your head is harder than that evil god's?"

Team Leader Lin Cang looked at the terrifying crater in the image, his pupils shrinking to the size of needle points, yet he still stiffened his neck.

"That could also be some kind of technological method... In a place like Nanyang, news is always exaggerated when it gets back. Without him, can't we solve those recent 'Bloody Clothes Cases' in Heng City?"

Bureau Chief Huang Sheng sighed deeply, watching the distant car lights, his eyes complex.

"We can't solve them."

"Those things can no longer be filled with guns, cannons, and human lives."

He turned around, his back appearing somewhat dejected in the moonlight. "Team Leader Lin Cang, you had better pray that the day doesn't come when we have to beg him. Otherwise, the way you kneel will have to be even more standard than mine was just now."

The police car drove smoothly on the late-night ring expressway. Zhang Xuanyao leaned back in the rear seat, his eyes closed, looking as if he had fallen asleep.

Deep in his consciousness, the System panel was in a state of nearly frantic flashing.

[Ding! Nanyang live broadcast event settlement complete!]

[Detected that the host demonstrated "Words Become Law", "Lightning Method World Destruction", and other miracles during the live broadcast, causing a strong shock across the entire internet!]

[Data statistics in progress...]

[Current peak online viewership: 82 million!]

[Related topic heat across the network: Exploded!]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining user shock value: 6,000,000 points!]

Six million!

Zhang Xuanyao's originally steady breathing nearly lost its rhythm.

He shouted frantically in his heart; this trip to Nanyang had practically earned him a lifetime's worth of shock value.

Before, when it rose by thousands or tens of thousands, he thought it was a huge sum. Now, this long string of zeros made him dizzy.

"Director Wang, what exactly is the origin of this Special Investigation Bureau?" Zhang Xuanyao didn't open his eyes, asking casually, trying to calm down his feelings of sudden wealth.

Director Wang Chen in the passenger seat turned his head, lowering his voice, his tone tinged with a bit of helplessness.

"Them? They are a secret department established over a decade ago, specifically to deal with those dirty things that science cannot explain. They were indeed powerful before, holding many strange people and talented scholars in their hands, with boundless power."

Director Wang Chen paused, his tone becoming somewhat gleeful.

"But in recent years, I heard their internal losses have been extremely severe. The older generation of experts either retired or died in missions. The remaining batch is mostly second-generation rich kids like Team Leader Lin Cang who got in through connections; they don't have much ability, but their tempers are huge. Now, it's just a hollow shell that looks strong but is actually weak inside; when they encounter a tough nut to crack, they can't solve it at all."

Zhang Xuanyao raised an eyebrow thoughtfully.

A hollow shell?

No wonder that Director Huang knelt so smoothly.

It seems Heng City hasn't been very peaceful lately; even the Special Investigation Bureau has started frantically drafting people.

"Whatever, as long as they don't come to bother me." Zhang Xuanyao muttered to himself, then looked back at the System.

Six million shock value.

If I don't spend it, am I saving it for the New Year?

"System, activate the Great Master-level lottery wheel!"

[Ding! Deducted 6,000,000 shock value, Great Master-level lottery activated!]

In his mind, a huge golden wheel spun wildly. Various divine lights intertwined, making Zhang Xuanyao's consciousness go white.

[Ding! Great Fortune! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Supreme-level Magic Treasure: north pole exorcism seal!]

105: Chapter 105: Top-Tier Magic Seal Arrives, Rich Woman Brings a "Ghost" to the Door

Zhang Xuanyao sat up straight abruptly.

The movement was too sudden, causing Qin Bingruo beside him to glance over.

"What's wrong? Does your wound hurt?"

"It's nothing, I just had a dream about getting rich."

Zhang Xuanyao brushed her off casually and pulled out the jade seal.

It was a Magic Treasure that was purple-black all over; it felt ice-cold to the touch, as if he were holding a piece of black ice that had remained frozen for ten thousand years.

The body of the seal was covered in dense thunder patterns, with purple electric arcs faintly circulating within the grooves.

On the face of the seal, four vigorous and ancient large seal script characters shimmered with a terrifying pressure: North Pole Exorcism!

[Magic Treasure Introduction: north pole exorcism seal. One of the supreme Daoist magic seals, it is the symbol of the authority of the North Pole Ziwei Great Emperor.]

[Function One: Control. When the seal appears, it is as if the Emperor himself has arrived; it controls the netherworld of Fengdu, making ten thousand ghosts hide away, none daring to disobey!]

[Function Two: Edict. By stamping with this seal, one can issue edicts to ghosts and gods within a radius of a hundred miles, suppressing all evil spirits!]

[Function Three: Thunder Punishment. It comes with top-quality Ziwei Thunder, dealing 1000% armor-piercing damage to yin-evil entities!]

Zhang Xuanyao clicked his tongue inwardly.

If this thing were brought out, let alone ordinary fierce ghosts, even if a Ghost King from the underworld came, they would have to kneel on the spot and sing of submission.

It was simply the ultimate enhanced version of physical transcendence.

But he couldn't help but complain in his heart.

"It's a good item, but this function... System, are you implying that this Daoist is about to poke a ghost nest?"

"Everything is for exorcising and suppressing ghosts; is Heng City about to become a Resident Evil scene?"

The System did not respond.

Five in the morning.

The horizon had just begun to turn a fish-belly white.

The police car slowly stopped at the foot of Mount Longhu.

The two dilapidated gates of Qingfeng Temple looked somewhat desolate in the morning mist.

"Finally back."

Zhang Xuanyao got out of the car and stretched, his joints popping with crackling sounds.

The journey had been exhausting, and now he just wanted to dive into his bed and have a good chat with the God of Dreams.

"Chief Wang, Bingruo, thanks."

Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand and walked up the mountain without looking back.

"This Daoist is going into seclusion... no, going to sleep. Even if the Heavenly King himself comes, don't knock on the door, otherwise this Daoist will let him see what 'waking-up anger' is."

Qin Bingruo looked at that slightly thin back, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes.

"Sleep, I'll keep an eye on the rest."

Humming an off-key tune, Zhang Xuanyao pushed open the creaking wooden door of Qingfeng Temple.

The courtyard was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and the smell of dew dampening the soil.

"It's still most comfortable at home."

Zhang Xuanyao sighed and was about to return to his room.

Suddenly.

He stopped in his tracks.

His eyes fell on the stone table in the center of the courtyard.

Two women were sitting by the stone table.

One was Ji Xue, who was standing there looking very uneasy, holding a teapot like a frightened little quail.

And the woman sitting on the stone stool, with her back to the door, was wearing an extremely form-fitting dark red silk qipao.

The slit of the qipao was very high, revealing a section of snow-white, rounded thigh.

Her long, wavy hair draped over her shoulders, exuding an air of mature allure.

"Ahem, Ji Xue, do we have guests?"

Zhang Xuanyao coughed lightly.

The woman in the qipao turned her head abruptly.

The moment he saw that face, the smile on Zhang Xuanyao's face froze instantly.

He even subconsciously took a step back.

Yan Jingshu!

That top-tier big sister from the hospital who slapped down a one-million-dollar gold card and threatened to have him inject "positive energy"!

At this moment, was there any trace of noble-lady dignity in Yan Jingshu's eyes?

The moment she saw Zhang Xuanyao, two green lights burst from her eyes.

That look was like a wolf that had been hungry for half a month suddenly seeing a tender little lamb.

"Yo, Daoist is back?"

Yan Jingshu stood up, the curves wrapped in the qipao trembling with a heart-stopping wave due to the sudden movement.

She stepped in her thin high heels, click-clack-click-clack, walking up to Zhang Xuanyao.

A rich and expensive perfume scent instantly enveloped Zhang Xuanyao.

"Daoist, this trip of yours to Nanyang has made this humble one wait so long~"

Yan Jingshu's voice was seductive to the bone, with hooks in the tail, making the back of Zhang Xuanyao's head tingle.

"That... Lay Practitioner Yan, this is a place for pure cultivation; we do not receive female guests."

Zhang Xuanyao solemnly pulled his tattered Daoist robe together, trying to maintain the image of a Master, "If it is to draw lots or ask for divination, please go to the front hall to drop coins. If you are looking for someone, you have found the wrong place."

"Looking for someone? I'm not looking for someone, I'm looking for you~"

Yan Jingshu didn't buy this at all; she stretched out her onion-white, jade-like fingers and gently hooked onto a hole in Zhang Xuanyao's robe.

"Daoist was killing it in Nanyang, and now your clothes are torn like this; it makes my heart ache to see it."

She leaned close to Zhang Xuanyao's ear, breathing like an orchid, her voice low enough that only the two of them could hear.

"What I said that day still stands, oh."

"One million is just the deposit."

"As long as Daoist is willing to help me 'replenish my body,' I can have people renovate this Qingfeng Temple into the largest Daoist temple in Heng City by tomorrow."

Zhang Xuanyao swallowed his saliva.

He felt his lower back aching faintly.

This woman's combat power was probably even more terrifying than that evil god from Nanyang.

"Ji Xue! Where the hell did Ji Xue go!"

Zhang Xuanyao shouted back, "Quickly take this benefactor to the front hall... no, see her out!"

Ji Xue shrank behind the stone table, crying, "Master, this big sister gave me ten thousand yuan, saying it was for tea. I... I couldn't help it and let her in."

"Traitor!"

Zhang Xuanyao cursed inwardly.

Just escaped the tiger's den, only to enter the Spider Cave.

He could use thunder to strike the evil god of Nanyang, but surely he couldn't use thunder to strike the rich lady in front of him, right?

Yan Jingshu looked at Zhang Xuanyao's embarrassed appearance and giggled, laughing until her body trembled.

She took a step forward, almost pressing into Zhang Xuanyao's embrace.

"Daoist, why are you running?"

"It's not like I'm going to eat you~"

Yan Jingshu's hand slid along the edge of the robe, moving upwards restlessly.

"I heard that people in Nanyang call you an immortal. So, immortal... does your Five Elements lack 'Water'?"

Zhang Xuanyao looked at that face, so close and excessively beautiful.

The Heavenly Eye was triggered subconsciously.

In his vision, there was no Death Qi above Yan Jingshu's head; instead, her face was glowing red, and her wealth luck was soaring.

But hidden within that wealth luck was a trace of an extremely faint, black Karma line.

That line was pointing straight at the back mountain of Qingfeng Temple.

Zhang Xuanyao's expression suddenly became serious.

He grabbed Yan Jingshu's restless hand, his eyes becoming deep.

"Benefactor Yan, have you... been to any place you shouldn't have gone recently?"

Yan Jingshu was stunned for a moment, her flirtatiousness diminishing slightly, and she asked in confusion, "A place I shouldn't have gone? Besides shopping and beauty treatments every day, or watching your live stream at home, where could I go?"

Zhang Xuanyao shook his head, his gaze passing over Yan Jingshu and looking toward the back mountain.

Deep in the dense forest there.

A breath that had originally been dormant seemed to start becoming restless because of Yan Jingshu's arrival.

"It seems this one million really wasn't that easy to take."

Zhang Xuanyao let go of her hand, his mouth curling into a helpless arc.

He looked at Yan Jingshu, his tone returning to his usual sharp-tongued style.

"Big Sister Yan, let's put the 'positive energy' matter aside for now. If this 'tail' you brought back isn't handled well, I'm afraid you won't live long enough to gift me the next rocket."

Yan Jingshu's face finally changed.

Looking at Zhang Xuanyao's serious expression, she shivered for no reason.

At this moment.

A gust of chilling wind, without warning, blew through the courtyard gate, making the old locust tree in the courtyard rustle.

Zhang Xuanyao reached into his robe and pulled out the purple-black north pole exorcism seal.

The moment the Magic Treasure was in his hand.

An invisible ripple spread out.

The chill in the courtyard was instantly swept away.

Zhang Xuanyao held the Magic Treasure, squinting at the back mountain, and snorted coldly.

"Since you're here, don't hide and sneak around."

"It just so happens that this Daoist just got a new toy and was worrying about where to test it."

Yan Jingshu screamed, clutching Zhang Xuanyao's arm tightly, hanging onto him entirely.

"Daoist, help! There's a ghost!"

Zhang Xuanyao feeling the astonishing sensation from his arm, looked up at the sky.

These days.

Are impossible to live.

106: Chapter 106: The Supreme Purple Star Thunder, and the Unstoppable Power of Money

"Ah—!"

Yan Jingshu was scared out of her wits, clutching Zhang Xuanyao's arm tightly.

The shocking curve of her chest pressed unreservedly against his Daoist robe, bringing a thrilling sensation.

In the direction of the back mountain, a sudden change occurred.

The black Qi was mixed with shrill ghostly cries, as if countless wronged souls were wailing.

The temperature inside Qingfeng Temple plummeted, the dew on the ground instantly turned into white frost, and even their breathing produced puffs of white mist.

The black Qi twisted violently in mid-air, rapidly condensing into shape.

It was an extremely ferocious Blood Fiend ghost. It was nearly three meters tall, covered in pale, stiff hair, and its eyes were like two burning red lanterns.

A scarlet tongue hung from its mouth, and viscous saliva dripped onto the bluestone slabs, corroding them and emitting wisps of green smoke.

The ghost stared fixedly at Yan Jingshu.

The Yang Qi of a living person, especially a woman with such vigorous vitality and a wealthy fate, was a panacea for it.

It let out a greedy hiss from its throat, opened its bloody mouth full of fangs, and pounced directly into the courtyard, bringing with it a sky full of foul wind.

Zhang Xuanyao did not retreat but advanced instead.

A cold snort escaped from his nose. He held up one hand, and that purple-black "north pole exorcism seal" rested steadily in his palm.

There was no setting up an altar for rituals.

There were no long incantations.

He didn't even take out the Talisman he usually used to pose as a high-level expert.

The spiritual power in his Dantian surged like a bursting river, frantically pouring into the magic seal in his palm.

Hum!

At the bottom of the magic seal, the four ancient seal characters "North Pole Exorcism" suddenly burst into a dazzling purple-gold light.

This light shot into the sky, forcibly tearing a passage through the black Qi filling the air.

Zhang Xuanyao flipped his wrist and aimed the bottom of the magic seal directly at the Blood Fiend ghost pouncing from mid-air.

A thunderous sound exploded on the tip of his tongue.

"Command the netherworld, let all ghosts hide!"

"Suppress for me!"

Boom!

A clap of thunder in a clear sky. A bucket-thick, supreme Purple Micro Thunder erupted directly from the magic seal.

The purple electric light carried the majestic might of heaven, illuminating the entire Qingfeng Temple, and struck the Blood Fiend ghost in mid-air with pinpoint accuracy.

There was no scream.

There was no struggle.

Facing 1000% armor-piercing damage, this Blood Fiend ghost that had been lurking in the back mountain for many years didn't even last a second.

Its massive body vaporized the instant it touched the Purple Micro Thunder.

Not even a wisp of white hair remained.

The ghostly wind in the courtyard stopped abruptly.

The old locust tree, which had been blown askew, straightened its branches again.

The morning sunlight pierced through the thin mist, just happening to spill into the courtyard, shining on the Daoist robe Zhang Xuanyao was wearing, which had a few holes in it.

Everything happened too fast.

The ghost, which had been fiercely arrogant just a second ago, had become nothing but air without even ashes left the next second.

Yan Jingshu stood blankly on the spot.

She didn't collapse to the ground in fear like an ordinary woman, nor did she wail.

Her eyes, painted with exquisite eyeliner, were astonishingly bright, staring fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao's side profile bathed in sunlight.

The worship and fanaticism in her eyes were almost ready to overflow into reality.

Too strong.

Also too handsome.

For a mature woman like her, who was used to the deceit of the business world and tired of the oily, pretty-boy idols, this kind of man who could control thunder with a wave of his hand had a fatal attraction.

Zhang Xuanyao put away the magic seal and casually patted the dust off his sleeves.

He turned to look at the woman still hanging on his arm.

"Alright, the tail has been cleaned up," Zhang Xuanyao pulled his arm away, his tone flat. "One million, remember to deposit it into my card. Now, you can go down the mountain. I need to catch up on sleep, I won't see you out."

Yan Jingshu not only didn't move, but instead, like a piece of chewing gum that couldn't be shaken off, she stuck to him again.

"Daoist Zhang~"

The voice was so coquettish it could wring out water.

Yan Jingshu stretched out her hands, wrapped them directly around Zhang Xuanyao's waist, tilted her head, and parted her red lips slightly.

"You are so amazing, how could I bear to leave? You saved my life, I want to stay and repay your life-saving grace properly."

Zhang Xuanyao's eyebrows twitched.

This woman didn't play by the rules.

"Benefactor Yan, isn't your chain of flower shops operating anymore? A big boss running to my dilapidated temple every day, aren't you afraid of going bankrupt?" Zhang Xuanyao tried to use practical problems to repel the other party.

Yan Jingshu waved her hand carelessly, and her body rubbed against Zhang Xuanyao's chest again.

"Those are small matters. I have already hired a professional manager for the flower shops; I am just a hands-off boss now."

Yan Jingshu's eyes were fixed on Zhang Xuanyao's Adam's apple.

"I've made enough money, now I just want to serve you well here~"

Serve.

Hearing these two words, combined with that look that seemed ready to eat someone, Zhang Xuanyao shivered all over.

Who could withstand this?

"There are no extra guest rooms in the temple!" Zhang Xuanyao decisively found an excuse. "Those broken houses have roofs that leak wind, they can't be lived in. Benefactor, please return."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Jingshu took out her latest folding-screen phone on the spot and dialed a number.

"Hello? Old Li, bring the best construction team in Heng City under your command to Qingfeng Temple on Mount Longhu."

"Yes, now, immediately, right away."

"Money is not an issue, expand this temple for me! I want the highest standard of imitation ancient architecture, guest rooms, side rooms, floor heating, central air conditioning, arrange it all for me. Before dark today, you must get me a fully furnished suite that can be lived in!"

Hanging up the phone, Yan Jingshu blinked at Zhang Xuanyao with a charming smile.

"Daoist Zhang, is there a place to live now?"

Zhang Xuanyao opened his mouth, unable to speak for a long time.

Money power.

This is true money power.

Can't afford to offend, absolutely can't afford to offend.

Zhang Xuanyao turned and walked away, his steps fast, rushing to his room as if fleeing.

"I'm going to sleep! When the construction team arrives, tell them to keep it down!"

Bang!

The door was slammed shut.

In the courtyard, only Yan Jingshu's triumphant laughter remained.

Behind the stone table.

Ji Xue was still clutching a rag in her hand, taking in everything.

She looked at Yan Jingshu's mature, hot, curvaceous figure, and then looked at the other party's profligate style of throwing a construction team at the place just like that.

Looking down at her own plain sportswear.

A feeling of extreme imbalance rolled violently in her chest. A thick sense of crisis emerged spontaneously.

Ji Xue gritted her teeth, her hands twisting the rag in her hand tightly, her knuckles turning pale.

"This old woman is clearly here to snatch food!" Ji Xue lowered her voice, squeezing a few words through her teeth. "I am Master's personal little cotton-padded jacket! I serve tea and water every day, why should I let her get there first?"

Ji Xue slammed the rag onto the stone table.

"No way!"

"Tonight, I must! Absolutely must! Take down Daoist Zhang!"

Ji Xue turned and rushed to her room, starting to rummage through cabinets looking for her "battle robe."

A war without gunpowder smoke had quietly begun in this dilapidated courtyard of Qingfeng Temple.

107: Chapter 107: A Crimson-Black Attack, the "Path to Immortality" Locked in the Dead of Night

Daytime.

Inside Qingfeng Temple, machines roared.

The construction team summoned by Yan Jingshu was absurdly efficient. Dozens of workers wearing safety helmets, driving excavators and material trucks that looked like armored cash transport vehicles, fenced off the wasteland in the back courtyard of the temple. Laying foundations, building frames, transporting high-end timber—it was a scene of bustling activity.

Zhang Xuanyao lay on his hard wooden bed, stuffing his ears with two cotton balls and pulling the quilt over his head.

Unmoved as a mountain.

The energy and Qi he had overdrawn in Nanyang needed a long sleep to replenish. Regardless of the chaotic noise outside, he slept soundly through it all.

Time passed.

The sun set and the moon rose.

Midnight, 11:00 PM.

The construction team finally stopped work. The workers took their double pay and happily left the site. Qingfeng Temple returned to deathly silence.

In the room.

Zhang Xuanyao rolled over, pulled the cotton out of his ears, and opened his eyes.

Fully rested.

His spirit and vitality had returned to their Peak state. The Qi in his body flowed smoothly, with faint signs of a Breakthrough.

He sat up and stretched, his bones cracking like popping beans.

He reached out and grabbed the phone by the bedside.

As soon as he turned it on, countless push notifications flooded the screen like a waterfall. The phone vibrated frantically, nearly crashing from memory overload.

Zhang Xuanyao clicked on a few common social media apps and short video platforms.

The top ten trending topics were all dominated by him.

#True God Appearing in Nanyang Livestream#

#Daoist Zhang's Words Become Law Confirmed#

#Nine Heavens Mysterious Thunder Shatters Evil God's Physical Body#

#Heng City Qingfeng Temple Address Exposed#

#How to Join Daoist Zhang's Sect#

Zhang Xuanyao opened the video with the highest heat. It was a high-definition clip released by the Nanyang authorities.

In the footage, he stood in the center of the karst cave, pointing one finger at the sky.

Speaking the truth.

Then, that sky-destroying pillar of thunder pierced through the strata, shattering the arrogant Black Sand Organization's True God into countless glass-like fragments.

The comment section had completely exploded.

The number of comments had surpassed ten million and was still refreshing frantically at a rate of several hundred per second.

"Mom asked me why I'm kneeling to watch my phone! Is this f***ing special effects? The Nanyang authorities have endorsed it; this is definitely real cultivation!"

"I used to think Daoist Zhang was just an internet celebrity who was good at fortune-telling. I was wrong. I kowtow to Daoist Zhang!"

"Words Become Law! He says he'll strike you, and he strikes you; even the heavens have to listen to his command. This is the backbone of Huaxia!"

"Brothers, I've already bought a standing ticket to Heng City. Even if I have to beg at the gates of Qingfeng Temple, I want to soak up some Immortal Qi!"

"Forget it, those above. I just got out of the Heng City airport, and the road to Mount Longhu is already blocked; everyone is there to become an apprentice!"

Zhang Xuanyao looked at these comments, his mouth curling upward wildly.

This wave of traffic was incredibly satisfying.

Six million shock value was just the beginning. As the video continued to ferment, the shock value was still growing at a steady pace.

With the System, the shock value, and max-level Magic Treasure, he could go anywhere in this world in the future.

Just as Zhang Xuanyao was calculating how to deal with the fanatical fans who might show up tomorrow, click.

A faint metallic sound rang out in the silent night.

The door was pushed open a crack from the outside.

Zhang Xuanyao paused, lifted his head, and scanned the doorway.

The dim light from the hallway slipped through the gap, casting a long, narrow beam of light on the wooden floor.

A figure squeezed into the room on tiptoe.

It was Ji Xue.

Zhang Xuanyao was about to ask her what she was doing running over in the middle of the night, but the moment his gaze fell on her, he swallowed the words back.

At this moment, Ji Xue had completely overturned her usual image of a pure, cute streamer with a hint of "green tea" energy.

She had taken off her usual tracksuit and changed into a set of extremely provocative black lace lingerie.

Large patches of snow-white skin were visible through the edges of the black lace. Her slender waist was tiny, and the fabric over her chest was scarce, barely covering the essentials.

Most deadly were her legs.

Her already straight and long legs were now tightly wrapped in a pair of shiny black silk stockings. The tops of the stockings were pulled tight at the base of her thighs, creating a mark that made one's blood boil.

Ji Xue was barefoot, stepping on the wooden floor without making a sound.

She closed the door behind her.

Leaning against the door panel, she struck an extremely enchanting pose. Her hands slid slowly up her thighs, her eyes alluring, her teeth biting her lower lip, staring straight at Zhang Xuanyao sitting on the bed.

The visual stimulation was maxed out.

Zhang Xuanyao felt his throat go dry.

Did this girl take the wrong medicine?

Even though she liked to take verbal advantage of him, she had never played this big. Was she planning to make it official right now?

"Master~"

Ji Xue lowered her voice, her tone filled with a sweet, nasal whine.

She swayed her waist, walking toward the bedside step by step. Her toes, wrapped in black silk, curled and relaxed on the floor, each step hitting the man's aesthetic sweet spot.

"Are you cold sleeping alone?"

"Shall your disciple warm the bed for you?"

Zhang Xuanyao shrank toward the head of the bed, pulling the quilt to cover his chest, looking vigilant.

"Stop right there."

"This Daoist has plenty of internal heat; I don't need the bed warmed. Put your clothes on immediately. What kind of behavior is this in the middle of the night!"

Ji Xue didn't listen at all.

She had already reached the bedside, kneeling on the edge of the bed with one knee. The black silk stockings rubbed against the sheets, making a faint rustling sound.

She leaned down, her cleavage fully visible.

"Master, I've been preparing for this for a long time..."

Before she could finish, a crisp sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside the corridor.

Tap, tap, tap.

It was the sound of high heels hitting the wooden floor, with a strong, steady rhythm.

The footsteps stopped outside Zhang Xuanyao's door.

Immediately after, without knocking, the door was pushed open again.

The wooden door swung wide open.

The hallway light poured in without reservation.

Yan Jingshu stood at the door.

She had changed out of the form-fitting cheongsam from the day and was wearing a dark red lingerie nightgown. The fabric of this nightgown was even more sparse than what Ji Xue was wearing.

The neckline was cut extremely low, showcasing the mature woman's exaggerated assets to the fullest. The hem of the nightgown barely covered the base of her thighs, and the side slit went straight up to her waist.

As she walked, her snow-white, rounded thighs were visible through the dark red silk fabric.

Mature. Hot. Carrying an overbearing aura of someone who had been in a high position for a long time and must get what she wanted.

The air in the room instantly froze.

Ji Xue, maintaining her kneeling position on the bed edge, turned her head sharply and stared at Yan Jingshu at the door.

Yan Jingshu also stopped.

Two women, one in black, one in red. One youthful and enchanting, one mature and voluptuous.

Their gazes collided in mid-air, as if sparks were flying.

Yan Jingshu's gaze swept over Ji Xue's black lace and black silk stockings.

Her eyebrows raised slightly.

A playful arc curled at the corner of her mouth.

She didn't retreat, nor was she embarrassed. Instead, she gave Ji Xue an ambiguous "you know" look.

"Oh, so little sister Ji Xue is here too." Yan Jingshu's voice was seductive, with a hint of teasing. "It seems the nightlife in Daoist's Qingfeng Temple is quite rich."

Ji Xue's face turned bright red instantly.

If this had happened at any other time, she would have been so ashamed she'd want to crawl into a hole.

But at this moment, seeing Yan Jingshu's confident demeanor, as if she had already claimed Zhang Xuanyao, jealousy and a sense of crisis completely overwhelmed her shame.

"Old woman, what do you want!" Ji Xue squeezed the words through her teeth.

Yan Jingshu giggled, her long fingers toying with a lock of curly hair hanging over her chest.

"What do I want? Naturally, I'm here to repay Daoist's life-saving grace."

Yan Jingshu stepped into the room in her high heels.

"Little sister Ji Xue, this outfit of yours is indeed not bad. However, men prefer those who understand charm." She deliberately pushed out her chest, and the dark red silk fabric rippled. "You are still young and can't handle it. Why don't you let your elder sister teach you?"

Ji Xue's eyes turned red with anxiety.

This old woman was clearly trying to snatch him!

She absolutely could not let her get the upper hand!

"In your dreams!"

Ji Xue let out a scream, abandoning her original seduction plan.

She kicked off the edge of the bed with both legs, and like a wild cat gone mad, she pounced directly at Zhang Xuanyao on the bed.

Zhang Xuanyao was still in a daze.

These two women had run into his room dressed like this in the middle of the night and started fighting right in front of him. He had never seen such a scene even when he was striking the True God in Nanyang.

Before he could react, a mass of softness crashed into his arms.

"Damn it!"

Zhang Xuanyao let out a muffled grunt, completely waking up.

Ji Xue held Zhang Xuanyao's face with both hands, closed her eyes, and bit down.

"Master! You are mine! No one is allowed to take you away!"

Ji Xue shouted while her hands groped chaotically over Zhang Xuanyao's body. Through the quilt, Zhang Xuanyao could feel the astonishing heat from those small hands.

"Ji Xue! Are you crazy! Get off me!"

Zhang Xuanyao leaned back desperately, grabbing Ji Xue's shoulders, trying to push her away.

But Ji Xue, in her berserk state, was surprisingly strong and clung to him tightly.

The situation instantly spiraled out of control.

At the door, Yan Jingshu watched the two of them wrestling on the bed.

Far from leaving to avoid suspicion, the smile on her face grew even wider.

She gripped the doorknob behind her.

Click.

The door was completely locked.

Yan Jingshu turned around, stepped in her high heels, and walked toward the large bed step by step.

The dark red skirt swayed gently as she walked, exuding a deadly temptation.

"Little sister Ji Xue, since you are so proactive, then this sister won't be polite."

Yan Jingshu walked to the bedside and looked down at Zhang Xuanyao, who was pinned under Ji Xue.

She extended a scallion-white finger and gently hooked the collar of Zhang Xuanyao's Daoist robe.

With a hard pull, rip.

The already tattered robe was torn open, revealing Zhang Xuanyao's sturdy chest.

"Daoist~"

Yan Jingshu leaned down, her warm breath hitting Zhang Xuanyao's ear.

"Don't even think about escaping."

Zhang Xuanyao widened his eyes.

Looking at Ji Xue, then looking at Yan Jingshu at the door.

What a sin!

108: Chapter 108: Yin and Yang in Harmony, Withered Trees Come Back to Life

Ji Xue wrapped tightly around Zhang Xuanyao's waist.

Her legs were twisted extremely tightly.

Her hands were groping haphazardly across Zhang Xuanyao's chest.

Her nails accidentally scraped across his firm abdominal muscles, leaving shallow red marks.

Yan Jingshu stood by the bed.

She did not speak up to stop her.

Her red lips parted slightly, emitting a series of charming laughs.

Her long, fair fingers reached straight inside through Zhang Xuanyao's torn Daoist robe.

Her cool fingertips touched his scorching skin.

One on the left, one on the right.

One black, one red.

They completely formed a pincer attack.

Zhang Xuanyao frowned.

His hands respectively gripped Ji Xue's shoulders and Yan Jingshu's wrists.

He prepared to mobilize the Spiritual Qi within his Dantian.

He intended to use a gentle, skillful force to push these two crazy women away.

Just as the Spiritual Qi surged through his Meridians, a sudden change occurred.

An extremely violent and overbearing force suddenly surged out from the depths of his Dantian.

During the day, he had used the "north pole exorcism seal" to summon the supreme Ziwei Thunder.

The power of the seal was too great.

Zhang Xuanyao's current Realm made it impossible to fully control it.

A large amount of extreme Yang lightning power inevitably remained in his body.

Originally, these lightning powers were dormant in his Qi Sea, on the verge of extreme agitation.

If he could just sleep quietly, he could slowly digest and calm them down.

Now, there was big trouble.

Ji Xue was young and full of vitality.

Her Physique tended towards Pure Yin.

As their skin touched, she emitted a clean, faint scent unique to a young girl.

Yan Jingshu had worn various supreme jade stones all year round and was nourished by various precious tonics.

She had cultivated a rare, wealthy, and Yin-moistened Physique.

The body scent of a mature woman permeated the small room intensely.

These two completely different Yin-soft Qi were like two huge magnets with extremely strong gravitational pull for the manic extreme Yang lightning.

They instantly ignited the Ziwei Thunder that had nowhere to vent inside Zhang Xuanyao's body.

Zhang Xuanyao's body temperature soared rapidly.

The surface of his skin became as hot as burning charcoal.

Fine purple lightning patterns quickly spread from his neck, climbing all the way down his chest.

He opened his eyes abruptly.

Terrifying purple light welled up in his pupils.

His breathing became as heavy as an ox.

A painful grunt escaped his throat.

The hands gripping the two women tightened suddenly.

The string of his rationality was completely burned away at this moment.

Yan Jingshu's wrist was pinched until it hurt, but she did not retreat.

Feeling the fatal attraction full of destruction and vitality emanating from Zhang Xuanyao, a trace of fanaticism flashed in her eyes.

Her dark red silk nightgown slipped off her shoulders, piling up at her ankles.

Shedding the last line of defense, she used the tolerance unique to a mature woman to tightly embrace Zhang Xuanyao's scorching body, actively guiding him to vent that violent Spiritual Qi.

Seeing this, Ji Xue's competitive spirit was completely ignited.

She met his advances, refusing to be outdone.

Her movements were inexperienced but extremely passionate.

The temperature in the room rose sharply.

The wooden floor made faint cracking sounds.

Zhang Xuanyao completely gave up resistance, complying with the most primitive instincts of his body.

The Ziwei Thunder inside Zhang Xuanyao's body was like a wild horse off its leash, constantly weaving through Ji Xue's Pure Yin Qi and Yan Jingshu's wealthy Yin Qi.

The violent lightning was constantly neutralized, tempered, and purified by the two women's Yin-soft Qi, forming a perfect, endless cycle.

The scene shifts outside the temple.

In the sky above Qingfeng Temple in the middle of the night, the originally thin clouds began to roll violently, faintly forming a huge Spiritual Qi vortex invisible to the naked eye.

The starlight in the sky and the purple Qi wandering between heaven and earth, influenced by some strong attraction, turned into beams of light invisible to the naked eye, pouring down and converging toward the room where Zhang Xuanyao was.

In the courtyard, that old locust tree, which had been eroded by the bloody evil ghost's Yin Qi during the day and affected by the Ziwei Thunder's power, leaving it mostly dead, was nourished by this vast vitality.

The cracked bark on the trunk began to fall off.

In the middle of the night, at a speed visible to the naked eye, it sprouted tender green buds.

The withered wood met spring, full of vitality.

Inside the room, the cycle of Yin and Yang intersection continued.

The lightning power surged through the Meridians.

Every time it completed a major circulation, it took away a bit of mania and left behind a bit of purity.

Zhang Xuanyao's breathing gradually became steady.

The purple lightning patterns on his body slowly faded under his skin.

The purple light in his eyes became introverted, replaced by a deeper divine light.

A layer of fine gray Impurities seeped out from the surface of his skin.

These were the toxins in his body forced out by the lightning power's cleansing of his marrow.

The night wind passed through the cracks in the window, dispersing the thick heat in the room.

Moonlight spilled onto the floor, illuminating the black lace, black silk stockings, and dark red silk nightgown scattered all over the ground.

The Spiritual Qi vortex slowly dissipated.

Qingfeng Temple returned to tranquility once again.

Only the steady breathing sounds of the three people in the room remained, intertwined together.

This night was a true rebirth.

Under the cleansing of the supreme Ziwei Thunder, they not only experienced extreme pleasure, but their life levels also underwent earth-shaking transformations in a subtle way.

For Zhang Xuanyao, this was also a great fortune.

The manic lightning power was completely tamed, turning into pure cultivation to nourish himself.

His extraordinary Meridians, under the repeated flushing of Yin and Yang Qi, became tougher and wider.

His Mental Energy reserves doubled.

The next morning, the first ray of sunlight shone through the window lattice onto the messy big bed.

Zhang Xuanyao opened his eyes abruptly, feeling the surging Mental Energy like an abyss and sea within his body.

At the same time, the System's cold notification sound rang in his mind.

[ Ding! Yin and Yang intersect, host's Mental Energy limit increased. ]

[ Heavenly Eye usage time extended. ]

[ Words Become Law backlash probability reduced. ]

Zhang Xuanyao exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

He turned his head to look.

On his left and right, Ji Xue and Yan Jingshu were wrapped around him like octopuses, sleeping soundly.

Large patches of snow-white skin made one's eyes dizzy.

Zhang Xuanyao reached out and rubbed his slightly sore lower back.

The corners of his mouth twitched wildly.

"This Daoist has really lost out this time."

"We agreed on rest, so how did it turn into physical transcendence?"

He carefully pulled out his arm, his movements extremely gentle, fearing to wake up these two troublemakers.

Ji Xue's eyelashes fluttered twice, and she was the first to wake up.

She rubbed her eyes and sat up.

The quilt slipped down.

She looked down at her hands and opened her eyes wide in surprise.

Her originally fair skin was now white with a rosy tint.

It faintly emitted a faint Spiritual Qi.

Her whole person had shed the previous greenness, and there was a touch of heart-stopping charm between her brows.

"Master..." Ji Xue's voice was delicate and soft, carrying the laziness of having just woken up.

Yan Jingshu was woken up by this voice and opened her eyes.

She habitually touched her face.

The moment her fingers touched her skin, she was stunned.

The chronic illnesses left by years of staying up late to handle company affairs and being tainted by Yin Qi were swept away.

109: Chapter 109: Just Received My Hard-Earning Pay, Then I Stumbled Upon a Case of a Hundred Corpses

The few fine lines at the corners of her eyes had completely disappeared.

Her skin was supple, lustrous, and full of elasticity.

Her entire being seemed to be aging in reverse.

She had returned directly to the Peak state of being twenty years old.

Yan Jingshu sat up straight abruptly.

She grabbed the makeup mirror from the bedside table.

She examined herself for a long time.

She put down the mirror.

She turned her head to look at Ji Xue.

Ji Xue was also looking at her.

The two women exchanged a glance.

The hostility that had been so intense last night, After jointly experiencing that "storm,"

had miraculously dissipated.

Transforming into some sort of unspoken, tacit alliance.

After all, Daoist Zhang's firepower was simply too intense.

Fighting alone,

one simply couldn't handle it.

Yan Jingshu casually grabbed a tattered Daoist robe.

And draped it over herself,

covering her exposed skin.

Boldly, she picked up the latest folding-screen mobile phone.

Her fingers tapped rapidly on the screen.

After performing some operations,

Zhang Xuanyao's phone, which was placed on the bedside table, immediately vibrated.

The screen lit up.

A text message popped up.

" [XX Bank] Your account ending in XXXX has received a transfer of 5,000,000.00 RMB."

Zhang Xuanyao stared at the long string of zeros on the screen.

He swallowed hard.

Yan Jingshu leaned over to Zhang Xuanyao's ear, breathing like an orchid.

She cast a devastatingly charming wink.

"Daoist Zhang."

"This is last night's 'hardship fee'."

"From now on, I am the lifelong Grand Protector of Qingfeng Temple."

"I've claimed your body."

It was domineering,

allowing no room for rebuttal.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the mobile phone balance, he felt the supreme joy of living off a woman's wealth with confidence.

"Lay Practitioner Yan."

"This Daoist is a person of principle."

"You need to add more money."

Yan Jingshu giggled daintily,

her fingers traced circles on Zhang Xuanyao's chest.

"No problem."

"As long as Daoist Zhang serves me well, I will buy the entire Mount Longhu for you."

Ji Xue, who was on the side, became unhappy, she leaned over and hugged Zhang Xuanyao's arm.

"Master is mine!"

"So what if you have money!"

Yan Jingshu glanced at Ji Xue,

"Little Sister Ji Xue, having money is indeed amazing."

"But don't worry, I won't hog it all to myself."

Zhang Xuanyao listened to the two women's conversation, his head was buzzing.

This life was truly unbearable.

He threw off the quilt,

and jumped out of bed.

"Hurry up and get dressed!"

"Incense pilgrims will be here soon!"

Zhang Xuanyao bent down to pick up his pants from the floor, and quickly put them on.

Just as the three were preparing to get dressed and wash up, outside the temple,

a sudden, extremely urgent sound of tires screeching against the ground was heard.

The sound of police car brakes,

it was extremely piercing.

The police siren echoed at the foot of Mount Longhu.

The tires left a pungent smell of rubber from friction on the bluestone path.

The car door was shoved open forcefully.

Bang!

It slammed shut heavily.

Immediately after,

a series of extremely hurried footsteps, wearing standard leather shoes,

treading on the dilapidated bluestone of Qingfeng Temple, da da da da,

rushing straight to the backyard.

Zhang Xuanyao had just put on his pants, he hadn't even had time to fasten his belt, he was still holding the Daoist robe that Yan Jingshu had torn.

Ji Xue was bent over,

searching for her black stockings on the floor.

Yan Jingshu was draped in another one of Zhang Xuanyao's Daoist robes, fixing her hair in front of the mirror.

"Zhang Xuanyao!"

"Something big has happened!"

Qin Bingruo's anxious voice rang out from outside the door, her voice betrayed uncontrollable panic.

Without waiting for a response from inside, Qin Bingruo grabbed the doorknob directly, twisted it hard,

and pushed the door open.

The wooden door hit the wall,

making a dull thud.

The morning sunlight followed the open door, pouring into the room without reservation, illuminating every corner of the room.

Qin Bingruo rushed over the threshold, still tightly gripping a document stamped with a red confidential seal.

Upon entering,

the floor was a mess.

Torn fragments of black lace,

a crumpled ball of black stockings, a tattered Daoist robe,

a dark red silk nightgown,

scattered chaotically on the wooden floor.

Her gaze moved upward,

on the large bed,

the sheets were wrinkled beyond recognition.

Zhang Xuanyao was shirtless,

his belt was hanging loosely around his waist.

Ji Xue was holding a black stocking in her hand, staring blankly at the door.

Yan Jingshu was disheveled,

revealing large patches of snow-white skin, her face was flushed,

with lingering desire still visible in her eyes.

Qin Bingruo's feet were frozen in place, her lips parted slightly.

The words she had intended to blurt out were stuck in her throat, she couldn't utter a single word.

Her beautiful eyes widened further and further, her gaze swept back and forth between Zhang Xuanyao, Ji Xue, and Yan Jingshu.

Her expression froze instantly,

her fingers lost their strength.

Clatter.

The confidential document in her hand fell onto the wooden floor, several photos stamped with "Top Secret" scattered out.

The air fell into a deathly silence, only the chirping of birds outside the window seemed exceptionally piercing.

Zhang Xuanyao swallowed hard,

his fingers gripping the Daoist robe went stiff.

His brain worked at high speed,

trying to find a reasonable explanation.

"Bingruo..."

"Listen to my sophistry… No, listen to my explanation."

"We were discussing the Dao."

"The kind involving physical salvation."

Qin Bingruo said nothing,

her gaze fell on the row of clear red hickey marks on Zhang Xuanyao's neck, and then looked at Yan Jingshu's lazy posture, as if asserting ownership.

Her chest heaved violently,

her breathing became extremely heavy, the curves under her police uniform trembled with her breathing.

Ji Xue hid the black stockings behind her back, muttering softly,

"Officer sister, why didn't you knock before entering..."

Yan Jingshu, on the other hand, was extremely calm.

She gathered the Daoist robe around herself, and walked barefoot to Zhang Xuanyao's side.

Reaching out,

she very naturally helped Zhang Xuanyao fix his messy hair.

She turned her head to look at Qin Bingruo, her tone was calm,

"Officer Qin, right?"

"Do you have business with our Daoist?"

Qin Bingruo snorted coldly after hearing this, "You two are only number four now, why are you being so possessive?"

"What?! I'm actually number four? Shouldn't I be number three?"

Yan Jingshu lost her previous calm, blinking her large eyes at Qin Bingruo and then glancing at Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao coughed violently a few times, "Number three isn't you."

Qin Bingruo said nonchalantly.

Yan Jingshu pouted at Zhang Xuanyao, looking as aggrieved as could be.

Zhang Xuanyao asked Yan Jingshu: "Do you like me?"

Yan Jingshu nodded without hesitation.

"That's right, does liking me really need a ranking?"

Yan Jingshu nodded vigorously and said, "Daoist, you are right! Why should liking someone be ranked?"

Seeing that he had successfully manipulated Yan Jingshu, Zhang Xuanyao turned to Qin Bingruo and said, "Captain Qin, what do you need me for?"

Qin Bingruo shot a provocative look at Yan Jingshu and Ji Xue and said: "Let's talk outside."

Zhang Xuanyao nodded and followed Qin Bingruo out, nodding at Yan Jingshu before leaving.

Yan Jingshu instantly understood what he meant.

After the two went out,

Qin Bingruo put away her previous playful demeanor, her tone became extremely serious,

"Heng City's western suburbs."

"A major homicide case occurred last night."

"One hundred and thirty-four people died."

"There were no traces of any survivors at the scene."

Qin Bingruo handed Zhang Xuanyao the photos.

In the photos,

inside an abandoned unfinished building, densely packed with shriveled corpses.

All the corpses died in the exact same way, their blood had been completely drained, they were skin and bones.

And on the walls of the unfinished building, a huge, twisted rune was drawn in blood.

Zhang Xuanyao said with a grave expression: "Let's go, take me to see it."

110: Chapter 110: The Withered Corpse Suppresses the Soul, Blood Threads Lock the Golden Cauldron

The police car braked sharply, its tires leaving long black rubber marks on the asphalt road.

The car door pushed open. Qin Bingruo stepped out with her long legs, her leather boots treading onto the muddy construction site.

Zhang Xuanyao followed closely behind, his tattered Daoist robe flapping loudly in the wind.

Ahead lay a cluster of unfinished buildings in the western suburbs of Heng City. Gray concrete frames pierced the sky, surrounded by three layers of yellow and black caution tape.

Dozens of heavily armed Special Police stood guard with guns. Forensic examiners, carrying silver aluminum investigation cases, moved in and out.

As they approached the main building, the thick smell of blood slapped against their faces, drilling straight into their nasal cavities.

Qin Bingruo handed over two pairs of blue plastic shoe covers. The two put them on and stepped into the dimly lit lobby on the first floor.

The scene was extremely tragic.

One hundred and thirty-four corpses, densely packed, carpeted the entire concrete floor.

Every corpse appeared in an eerie, withered state. Their skin had turned grayish-brown, clinging tightly to their skeletons. Their eye sockets were deeply sunken, cheekbones protruded high, and every rib was clearly defined.

There were no signs of any struggle. Everyone sat cross-legged on the ground in an orderly fashion, hands resting flat on their knees, heads bowed.

Their blood had drained away, following the textures of the concrete floor and gathering in the very center of the lobby.

On the load-bearing wall in the center, a huge, twisted rune was painted in dark red, semi-coagulated blood.

The strokes of the rune were complex, exuding a nauseating evil aura.

Qin Bingruo covered her mouth and nose, her stomach churning. She forced down the urge to vomit and turned to look at Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao's gaze swept over the dried corpses on the floor, his vision finally locking onto the blood-colored rune on the wall. His expression was cold and stern.

"This is absorbing blood to replenish Yin-killing Qi," Zhang Xuanyao said, his voice echoing in the spacious lobby. "It's an evil art used to seek immortality."

He raised his hand and pointed at the rune on the wall. "The Extreme Evil Soul-Suppressing Rune. It was painted with the heart blood of one hundred and thirty-four living people. It suppresses these dead souls here for eternity, cutting off their path to reincarnation, and provides a constant source of resentment for the one who set up the formation."

The police officers nearby, who were taking photos for evidence, stopped what they were doing and collectively gasped in cold air.

Qin Bingruo clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. "Who did this? The scene didn't leave any fingerprints or footprints of the murderer. The surveillance was also destroyed beforehand."

Zhang Xuanyao did not reply. He let his hands hang naturally and secretly mobilized the spiritual power in his Dantian.

The spiritual power surged straight into his eyes.

Heavenly Eye activated.

A touch of purple light welled up deep within his pupils. His vision pierced through the dried corpses before him, tracing back through the river of time.

The surrounding scene began to twist, fade, and reorganize.

The scene returned to late last night.

The unfinished building was lit with eerie green candlelight.

One hundred and thirty-four people, men, women, young, and old, were all wearing uniform black robes. On the back of the robes was embroidered an enchanting spider lily.

These people had not been kidnapped, nor had they been coerced.

Everyone stood in neat lines, their faces wearing expressions of extreme fanaticism.

At the very front of the line stood a dark shadow completely shrouded in a large hood. Its face could not be seen; only a pair of hands wearing black leather gloves were visible.

The dark shadow held a bronze dagger with an ancient design in its hand.

It walked in front of the first believer. The believer voluntarily extended their wrist.

The bronze dagger slashed across. Blood gushed out and fell into the grooves on the ground.

The believer did not scream, but instead revealed an extremely blissful expression. They turned and walked to the side, sat cross-legged, and waited for their blood to drain away.

The next believer stepped forward and repeated the same action.

One hundred and thirty-four people sacrificed their lives in an orderly manner.

Before dying, everyone knelt on the ground in unison, hands raised high above their heads, issuing hoarse roars from their throats.

"Eastern Ghost Emperor, Shentu, grant me immortality!"

The fanatical shouts echoed in the unfinished building, deafening.

The scene shattered.

Zhang Xuanyao exited the Heavenly Eye state. The purple light faded.

He turned his head and spat on the ground.

"Pah! How shameless!" Zhang Xuanyao cursed. "Daring to impersonate the subordinates of the Emperor of Fengdu to run a pyramid scheme in the mortal world. These evil cultivators are really tired of living."

Qin Bingruo knew nothing about matters in the metaphysical world. Hearing the unfamiliar name, she frowned.

"Who is Shentu?" Qin Bingruo asked, taking out the voice recorder from her pocket and pressing the record button.

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the dried corpses on the ground and began to enlighten her. "One of the five Ghost Emperors of the underworld. He guards the Eastern Taozhi Mountain and is in charge of all the ghosts in the world. A legitimate big shot in the underworld."

After a pause, Zhang Xuanyao continued, "These people are using Shentu's banner to conduct the business of draining blood and stealing souls. It's purely using a powerful name to intimidate others. I saw the murderer in the vision. Wearing a hood, face obscured. Their methods were extremely skilled, and their anti-reconnaissance awareness was very strong. This is a tightly organized cult. It is definitely not just some scattered Jianghu scammers."

Qin Bingruo put away the voice recorder, her expression grave.

"Can you find where the murderer went?" Qin Bingruo stared at Zhang Xuanyao, pinning all her hopes on the young man in the tattered Daoist robe before her.

Zhang Xuanyao snorted coldly. "As long as they've done evil deeds, there will definitely be Karma. They can't run away."

He mobilized his spiritual power again.

Heavenly Eye, activate.

In his field of vision, extremely thin, blood-red threads floated above the one hundred and thirty-four dried corpses.

These were the red threads of Karma, connecting the perpetrators to the victims.

Zhang Xuanyao looked along the direction in which the red threads spread.

One hundred and thirty-four red threads of Karma intertwined in mid-air, twisting into a thick, blood-colored rope that pierced through the walls of the unfinished building and headed straight for the center of Heng City.

Its final destination stopped at the most prosperous CBD business district.

Target locked.

Zhang Xuanyao withdrew his gaze and pointed in the direction of the city center.

"The murderer is playing the 'darkness under the lamp' trick," Zhang Xuanyao said with a determined tone. "They aren't hiding in the deep mountains and old forests, nor are they hiding in abandoned factories. They have gone straight into the most prosperous CBD of Heng City."

Qin Bingruo did not hesitate at all. She turned to face the police officers who were investigating the scene.

"Leave one team to protect the scene. Forensic examiners, continue collecting evidence. All Special Police, get in the cars. Follow me!" Qin Bingruo ordered sternly.

The police officers acted quickly, packing up the equipment outside the caution tape and boarding the vehicles in formation.

Zhang Xuanyao followed Qin Bingruo into the lead police car.

Engines roared. Seven or eight police cars started simultaneously, forming a long line, and drove out of the muddy construction site.

Police sirens pierced the sky. The red and blue flashing lights were still blinding in the daylight.

The motorcade drove into the city's main thoroughfare, speeding all the way.

They ran through a dozen red lights in a row, and passing vehicles swerved to avoid them.

Half an hour later, the motorcade stormed into the CBD of Hengcheng City.

Skyscrapers stood in great numbers, their glass curtain walls reflecting the blinding sunlight. The streets were filled with traffic, and white-collar workers in suits and leather shoes hurried along.

The police cars braked violently in front of a sixty-plus-story office building.

The tires rubbed against the ground, emitting a puff of white smoke.

Above the entrance of the building hung four gold-plated characters: Chen Corporation.

Qin Bingruo pushed open the car door, drew the Type 92 service pistol from her waist, and pulled the slide to chamber a round.

"Team One, seal off all exits! Team Two, follow me!" Qin Bingruo gestured.

The heavily armed Special Police held their submachine guns, trod with tactical steps, and filed into the lobby on the first floor of the building.

111: Chapter 111: A Refined Exterior, a Hellish Soul

The security guard was so scared that he hid behind the reception desk, not daring to make a sound.

Qin Bingruo led her team straight to the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor.

The elevator ascended rapidly, the numbers flickering continuously.

Ding.

The elevator doors slid open to both sides.

Qin Bingruo took the lead, holding her gun with both hands, and rushed out of the elevator.

In front of her was a huge frosted glass door, with the Chen Corporation logo printed on it.

Two Special Police officers stepped forward, one on the left and one on the right, and kicked hard with their feet.

Bang!

The glass door was kicked open by force, and shattered glass scattered all over the floor.

"Police! Don't move! Everyone put your hands on your heads!" Qin Bingruo roared, her gun barrel sweeping quickly across the room.

A dozen Special Police officers flooded into the office area, the beams of their tactical flashlights cutting across the space.

The cult altar they had expected did not appear.

The scene of blood covering the floor also did not appear.

What met their eyes was an extremely standard, modern office environment.

In the open space of several hundred square meters, white desks were neatly arranged.

Computer screens were lit up, displaying various reports and PPTs.

A coffee machine was dripping dark brown liquid, emitting a rich aroma of coffee.

Printers were buzzing, spitting out A4 paper still warm to the touch.

The hundreds of employees in the office area all remained in their original positions, stunned like wooden chickens.

A female office worker held a mug, coffee spilling onto her tight skirt, completely unaware.

A male supervisor in a tie held a signature pen, his mouth wide open as he stared at the rushing Special Police.

There was no sign of any cultists, and no abnormal items.

It was just a perfectly normal, legitimate company.

The officers leading the raid looked at each other, their gun barrels lowering unconsciously.

The atmosphere instantly became extremely awkward.

Qin Bingruo stood there holding her gun, not knowing whether to advance or retreat. She turned back to look at Zhang Xuanyao, who was walking at the very back.

Zhang Xuanyao slowly stepped over the shattered glass on the floor and walked into the office area.

The tattered Daoist robe on his body was completely out of place with the high-end, modern office environment.

Standing in the center of the office area, Zhang Xuanyao narrowed his eyes slightly.

He ignored the strange looks from the people around him.

The spiritual energy in his Dantian circulated automatically, feeding back the aura of the surrounding environment.

On the surface, this place was full of sunlight and vibrant human energy.

But in Zhang Xuanyao's perception, underneath the polished marble floor beneath his feet, an extremely dense Evil Qi was seeping up continuously.

It was cold, bone-chilling, and carried a thick smell of blood.

This level of Evil Qi absolutely could not have been formed by just a few deaths.

It would require at least hundreds or thousands of human lives to feed it to cultivate such a fierce Evil Qi.

Zhang Xuanyao raised his right foot and stomped heavily on the floor.

Bang.

A dull thud echoed through the office area.

"No need to search anymore." Zhang Xuanyao looked at Qin Bingruo and pointed at his feet. "The thing is underneath."

Just as he finished speaking,

a pair of mahogany double doors in the depths of the office area were pushed open from the inside.

A man walked out with an unhurried pace.

The man was in his early thirties, dressed in a suit and leather shoes that were polished to a shine. He wore gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, and his hair was combed meticulously.

On his wrist, he wore an expensive Patek Philippe watch.

The secretary to the president of Chen Corporation.

Facing dozens of dark gun muzzles, the secretary did not show the slightest panic.

He walked up to Qin Bingruo, stopped, and maintained a perfectly appropriate social distance.

He bowed slightly, his attitude extremely cooperative and respectful.

"Officers, I am the secretary to the president of Chen Corporation. My surname is Li, not that it matters." Secretary Li pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, the lenses reflecting the incandescent light from overhead. "I wonder what law our company has broken to cause so many officers to go to the trouble of breaking in?"

Qin Bingruo put away her service weapon and holstered it.

"Police investigation. We received a tip-off that your company is suspected of being involved in a major homicide case." Qin Bingruo spoke in an official capacity, her tone stern. "We now need to conduct a comprehensive search of your company."

Secretary Li straightened his body, the corners of his mouth lifting into a flawless professional smile.

"Cooperating with police investigations is every citizen's duty." Secretary Li's voice was steady. "However, according to procedure, please present a search warrant, Captain Qin. As long as there is a search warrant, everyone at Chen Corporation will definitely cooperate fully."

Qin Bingruo was speechless.

The case happened suddenly. She had raced all the way here following Zhang Xuanyao and simply hadn't had time to apply for a search warrant.

Secretary Li keenly captured Qin Bingruo's hesitation.

His gaze moved past Qin Bingruo's shoulder and landed on Zhang Xuanyao, who was standing behind her.

Looking at the torn, tattered Daoist robe on Zhang Xuanyao's body that had been ripped this morning, as well as the cloth shoes on his feet covered in mud from the unfinished building.

A flash of undisguised disgust and contempt crossed Secretary Li's eyes.

He raised his hand and pointed at Zhang Xuanyao.

"Captain Qin." Secretary Li's tone changed, becoming sarcastic. "Police investigations rely on hard evidence. It's one thing that you broke into a private residence without a search warrant, but to actually bring a disheveled Jianghu charlatan to cause trouble at our legitimate, tax-paying company? If this gets out, I'm afraid it won't be very good for the reputation of the Heng City police, right?"

The employees in the office area heard this and began whispering to each other, their gazes toward Zhang Xuanyao filled with mockery.

Zhang Xuanyao, mindful of the Face of Qin Bingruo leading the case, crossed his arms and watched coldly, not acting out for the moment.

Seeing that Zhang Xuanyao remained silent, Secretary Li thought the other party was guilty and became even more arrogant.

While fending off Qin Bingruo's questioning flawlessly, he kept making insinuations against Zhang Xuanyao.

"In this day and age, there are too many scammers." Secretary Li adjusted his suit cuffs. "Just by wearing a tattered Daoist robe, they dare to pose as an expert and run in front of the police to swindle and bluff. Captain Qin, you must not be deceived by such idle social drifters."

He turned to Face the employees in the office area and raised his voice.

"Everyone, don't panic. Continue working. I have already notified the company's legal department to immediately contact the best legal team in Heng City. Regarding today's behavior of the police enforcing the law without a search warrant and condoning a charlatan to disrupt the company's normal operations, we at Chen Corporation will reserve the right to sue!"

The employees erupted into a low cheer, their eyes no longer fearful as they looked at the police.

Qin Bingruo's Face turned livid. She clenched her hands into fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

Her temper was already explosive, and being pointed at and scolded by a secretary in front of everyone, while also implicating Zhang Xuanyao, was too much.

Qin Bingruo suddenly took a step forward, her right hand reaching for the holster at her waist again, preparing to act.

A hand reached out from behind and pressed down on Qin Bingruo's shoulder.

Zhang Xuanyao walked in front of Qin Bingruo, blocking Secretary Li's line of sight.

The corners of his mouth curled into an extremely dangerous cold smile.

"Sue the police?" Zhang Xuanyao stared into Secretary Li's eyes. "You should worry about whether you can keep your own head first."

Mental Energy churned.

A flash of purple light appeared in his eyes. The Heavenly Eye locked directly onto Secretary Li in front of him.

His gaze pierced through the layer of dapper suit, seeing through the skin, reaching deep into the Soul.

Images flooded into his mind.

Late at night. A basement.

This suited and booted Secretary Li, shirtless, held a sharp boning knife in his hand.

He pressed a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl onto an altar, alive, and dug out her heart, placing it into a bronze basin covered in runes.

His Face was ferocious, chanting that familiar slogan.

"Eastern Ghost Emperor, Shentu, grant me eternal life!"

The sinful images flashed quickly before Zhang Xuanyao's eyes.

Exiting the Heavenly Eye state, the killing intent in the depths of Zhang Xuanyao's eyes almost solidified into substance.

His tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth.

The spiritual energy of Words Become Law gathered crazily in his mouth.

He raised his right hand, his index finger pointing straight at the tip of Secretary Li's nose.

His lips parted slightly, preparing to utter the true words.

112: Chapter 112: Words Become Law: The Devil's Confession Under the Public Eyes

Facing Secretary Li's arrogant provocation, Zhang Xuanyao's mouth twitched twice, and a low laugh escaped him.

He reached one hand into the pocket of his mostly torn Daoist robe and pulled out a smartphone with a cracked screen.

With his thumb, he swiped open the screen, tapped on a short-video livestreaming app, and skillfully pressed the button to start the stream.

He flipped the camera to point at himself and Secretary Li standing opposite him.

In the tense atmosphere of the crime scene, with dozens of submachine guns pointed at their heads,

Zhang Xuanyao held up his phone and waved at the screen. "Family. Good afternoon."

His behavior was highly unconventional, and the livestream notification was instantly pushed to the phone screens of his fans across the entire network.

Thanks to the immense popularity Zhang Xuanyao had accumulated from previously solving serial murder cases and exorcising evil ghosts, combined with the platform's aggressive algorithmic pushing, a massive pool of traffic flooded in instantly.

The number of online viewers in the livestream room jumped wildly. One hundred thousand. Three hundred thousand. Eight hundred thousand. In just over ten seconds, it broke through the one-million mark.

The comments flooded the entire screen like a blizzard, layer upon layer.

"Holy sh*t! The missing person returns! The Daoist priest is finally streaming!"

"What's going on with this background? Fully armed Special Police? Are you filming a movie?"

"Did the Daoist priest get into trouble again? Surrounded by Special Police?"

"Who is that four-eyed guy in the suit opposite him? He looks so punchable!"

"Selling sunflower seeds and bottled water in the front row! Sitting and waiting for the Daoist priest to put on a show!"

Zhang Xuanyao held up his phone and took a step forward. The camera zoomed in, framing Secretary Li's oily, gold-rimmed-glasses-wearing face completely within the shot.

"Everyone," Zhang Xuanyao said into the microphone, his tone relaxed. "Last night, a major murder case occurred at an unfinished building in the western suburbs of Heng City."

"One hundred and thirty-four people were drained of their blood and arranged into an evil cult altar."

"I followed Captain Qin as we tracked the murderer all the way here to Chen Corporation."

He turned his finger to point at Secretary Li's nose. "This Secretary Li not only obstructed the police investigation but also turned around and blamed us."

"He claimed that the police were using violent law enforcement without a search warrant and called me a charlatan from the Jianghu."

"Everyone, judge for yourselves. Does this count as obstructing official business?"

The livestream comments exploded instantly, scrolling so fast that the text was unreadable.

"One hundred and thirty-four lives? A massive case!"

"This guy in the suit looks decent, but he's actually shielding a murderer?"

"Support the police! Kill these capitalists!"

"Daoist priest, go get him! Strip this bastard down to his underwear!"

Secretary Li looked at the phone camera shoved in his face, his expression grim. He pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, the lenses reflecting the harsh glare of the fluorescent lights.

Far from backing down, he straightened his back, his arrogance growing even more intense.

"Livestreaming?" Secretary Li sneered, his voice echoing through the open-plan office. "Do you think inciting public opinion online is useful? This is a society ruled by law! We care about evidence!"

He raised his hand and pointed at Zhang Xuanyao's nose, his finger nearly poking Zhang Xuanyao's eye.

"You are filming without permission, which is a serious violation of my portrait rights and reputation rights!"

"The legal team at Chen Corporation is the best in Heng City. I will make you pay until you are bankrupt!"

"I will make you spend the rest of your life in prison!"

He turned to look at the stunned employees around him and waved his hand. "Everyone, take out your phones and record this! Preserve the evidence!"

"This is ironclad proof that the police are colluding with social miscreants to engage in violent law enforcement!"

The employees in the office area, swayed by his manipulation, pulled out their phones and pointed them at Qin Bingruo and the Special Police.

Jeers and cursing erupted from the crowd.

"Get out! This is a legitimate company!"

"Call the police and arrest these fake cops!"

"Where is security?! Throw them out!"

The situation was nearly out of control. Sweat seeped from the palms of the Special Police holding their guns. Qin Bingruo gritted her teeth, the veins on the back of her hands bulging.

Zhang Xuanyao put away his playful demeanor. His face became as cold as ice, his gaze turned frigid, and killing intent permeated the air.

He pressed his tongue firmly against the roof of his mouth. Within his Dantian, massive spiritual power churned wildly, rushing up through his Meridians directly to his throat.

The power of the rule of Words Become Law condensed in the air.

Zhang Xuanyao raised his right hand, his index finger thrusting out like a sharp sword, pointing directly at the center of Secretary Li's forehead.

"You will confess to what you have done yourself, as well as what you have done for your boss."

His voice was not loud, but it carried an absolute rule-based suppression that drowned out all the noise in the office area.

The power of the rule transformed into invisible ripples, precisely striking the center of Secretary Li's forehead.

Secretary Li's arrogant expression froze on his face. His knees went weak, losing all support. Thump!

He fell heavily onto the hard marble floor, his kneecaps making a dull, crisp sound as they hit.

Secretary Li's eyes widened, his eyeballs bulging and filled with red bloodshot veins. He clutched his mouth tightly with both hands, shaking his head desperately.

A beast-like growl came from his throat. The power of the rule forcibly pried open his clenched teeth. His voice surged out through the gaps between his fingers, resounding throughout the entire office area.

"I'll talk! I'll confess everything!"

"Late last night, the company basement, the third level underground!"

"I was shirtless, holding a boning knife, and I pinned that twelve-year-old girl onto the altar!"

Secretary Li's voice changed due to extreme terror, becoming sharp and piercing. His hands tried to cover his mouth, but they were forcibly pulled away by an invisible force and hung at his sides.

"The little girl was crying! She was begging for mercy! Calling for her mother to save her! I didn't stop!"

"I cut open her chest cavity! Blood sprayed everywhere! It splashed on my face! It was hot!"

"I reached my hand inside! I grabbed that heart that was still beating!"

"I pulled hard! I tore it out along with the blood vessels!"

"The heart was still beating in my hand! I put it into a copper basin engraved with runes!"

"I kowtowed to the idol! I shouted for the Eastern Ghost Emperor Shentu to grant me eternal life!"

Bloody, cruel, and heinous details poured out from Secretary Li's mouth without reservation.

Every word was like a sharp knife, ruthlessly stabbing into the eardrums of everyone present.

Secretary Li knelt on the ground, his body trembling violently, his face smeared with tears and snot. Yet his mouth, like an out-of-control machine, desperately spat out those sordid, hidden sins.

"That little girl's eyes kept staring at me! She died with her eyes wide open in resentment!"

"I threw the body into the incinerator! Burned it to ashes! Dumped it into the sewer!"

"This is already the seventh child I've killed! Every one of them was dissected alive!"

"Only the heart blood of a living person has the heaviest resentment! Only then can it satisfy the master's requirements!"

The office area fell into a deathly silence. The employees who had just been jeering and recording with their phones were now all frozen in place.

Their phones dropped to the ground, screens shattered, but no one paid any attention. Their faces were deathly pale, completely devoid of color.

Some had weak legs and collapsed to the floor, yellow liquid seeping from their crotches. Others covered their mouths, their stomachs churning, vomiting directly onto their desks.

The way they looked at Secretary Li was no longer as if looking at an executive, but as if looking at an evil ghost that had crawled out of Hell.

Qin Bingruo gripped her pistol tightly, the muzzle aimed fixedly at Secretary Li's head.

The Special Police pulled their bolts, the sound of bullets chambering echoing one after another in the open office area.

Dozens of dark gun barrels were all locked onto the man in the suit kneeling on the ground. If there was any unusual movement, he would be turned into a beehive in an instant.

Zhang Xuanyao held up his phone, the camera steadily aimed at Secretary Li, not missing a single change in expression.

113: Chapter 113: Using Blood to Extend Life, an Inhuman and Shocking Change on the Sickbed

Secretary Li's self-exposure continued, unable to stop at all.

The suppression from Words Become Law made it impossible even to bite his tongue and commit suicide.

"It wasn't just me! President Chen was involved too!"

Secretary Li shrieked at the top of his lungs, his voice hoarse, blood seeping from his throat.

"Chen Wan! The president of Chen Corporation!"

"Three months ago, he was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer. The cancer cells had spread throughout his body."

"Experts at the City Center Hospital said he could only live for four or five months at most."

"Chen Wan didn't want to die! He hadn't finished spending his tens of billions in assets!"

"He secretly found a mage, wearing a black robe and a bronze mask."

"The mage told Chen Wan that as long as he used the heart blood voluntarily offered by living people, combined with the Evil Qi of an extremely yin location, he could set up a Formation to perform a Heaven-Defying life extension."

"Chen Wan believed it! He went crazy!"

"At first, we spent huge sums of money on the black market to buy blood—buying the lives of those poor people."

"Later, the mage said the blood bought that way lacked resentment and wasn't effective. The sacrificers had to be willing to die."

"Chen Wan simply had me use the company's resources to establish an internal mutual aid society."

"We used the banner of the Eastern Ghost Emperor Shentu to recruit people everywhere who were dissatisfied with their lives, suffering from terminal illnesses, or burdened with heavy debt."

"We gave them money, brainwashed them, and used various PUA tactics on them."

"We told them that as long as they offered their lives, they would receive divine protection in the underworld and be wealthy and prosperous in their next life."

Secretary Li knelt on the ground, his hands tearing a dozen holes into his suit trousers.

His fingernails broke, and blood seeped out.

"In just two months! We developed over three hundred fanatic believers!"

"Those one hundred and thirty-four mummified corpses in the unfinished building in the western suburbs were all fools who had been thoroughly brainwashed!"

"They lined up! Slit their own wrists! And drained their blood!"

"Before they died, they were still shouting, 'Shentu, grant me immortality!'"

"They were all just stepping stones for Chen Wan!"

The truth was revealed.

The shocking case involving one hundred and thirty-four human lives had a motive that was simply to extend the life of a dying Master.

It was maniacal and hair-raising.

Secretary Li's throat had been screamed raw, and white foam overflowed from the corners of his mouth.

His eyes were bloodshot, the corners of his eyes split, and two lines of bloody tears flowed down.

"The building's basement! The third floor underground!"

"The mage set up a Yin-Gathering Formation there! He raised a top-grade Nine-Child Ghost Mother!"

"This Ghost Mother specifically devours the resentment of those mummified corpses and converts it into pure vitality."

"Following the Formation, it is continuously transmitted to Chen Wan!"

"Chen Wan isn't even in the company right now!"

"He's hiding in the top-floor VIP ward of City Center Hospital!"

"Every day he lies in the hospital bed, enjoying the lifespan exchanged for those living sacrifices!"

"The cancer cells have stopped spreading! He really is performing a Heaven-Defying life extension!"

After roaring the last sentence, Secretary Li seemed to have exhausted all his strength.

He collapsed on the ground, gasping for air.

Like a dehydrated dead fish.

In the office area, only heavy breathing remained.

The employees looked at the polished marble floor beneath their feet, their eyes filled with fear.

Right under their feet where they clocked in, drank coffee, and typed on keyboards every day.

There was actually hidden an altar that devoured wronged souls, raising a top-grade Ghost Mother.

This intense contrast and sense of horror caused several female employees to faint on the spot.

In the livestream, the number of comments had already exceeded the server's capacity limit.

The video feed experienced noticeable lag.

Millions of netizens were completely enraged.

[ "A real-life version of Qin Shi Huang seeking immortality? This Chen Wan is simply a top-tier old animal!" ]

[ "Trading over a hundred human lives for his own survival? This kind of person wouldn't suffer enough even in the eighteenth level of Hell!" ]

[ "Must be the death penalty! Death by a thousand cuts!" ]

[ "Investigate Chen Corporation thoroughly! Seize all their assets!" ]

[ "Get justice for those deceased little girls and victims!" ]

[ "Daoist! Kill him! Act on behalf of Heaven!" ]

The flames of anger spread wildly across the internet.

Chen Corporation's stock hit the daily limit down within just a few minutes.

Countless netizens swarmed into Chen Corporation's official account, leaving overwhelming abuse.

Gift effects began to flash wildly on the screen.

Carnivals, rockets, sports cars.

Netizens used the method of sending gifts to vent their extreme inner anger.

In Zhang Xuanyao's mind, the System's cold, mechanical voice rang out frantically.

[ Ding! Exposed a shocking tragedy. Gained shock value + 50,000. ]

[ Ding! Triggered nationwide anger. Gained shock value + 80,000. ]

[ Ding! Punished evil and promoted good. Gained Karma + 30,000. ]

The notification sounds merged into one.

Qin Bingruo was trembling with rage after hearing these horrific crimes.

Her chest beneath her police uniform heaved violently.

Having worked on cases for many years, she had seen countless vicious criminals.

But this was the first time she had encountered a cult organization like Chen Corporation, which wore a legal facade while engaging in anti-human activities.

Qin Bingruo immediately took out the walkie-talkie hanging on her shoulder and pressed the talk button.

She switched to the police force's highest-level encrypted channel.

"Headquarters, calling! This is Captain Qin of the Criminal Police Brigade!"

"Chen Corporation is suspected of a major homicide case and organizing a cult! Send reinforcements immediately! Seal off all office areas of Chen Corporation!"

"Block all entrances and exits of the building! No one is allowed in or out!"

"Order the Special Police team closest to City Center Hospital!"

"Immediately head to the hospital's top-floor VIP ward! Target person: Chen Wan!"

"Extremely dangerous! Lethal force is authorized! Control him at all costs!"

The reply from headquarters came through the walkie-talkie.

"Received! The Third Special Police Team is two kilometers from the City Hospital! Expected arrival in three minutes!"

Qin Bingruo released the talk button and let out a long, heavy breath.

Her eyes were fixed tightly on Secretary Li on the ground, wishing she could empty her magazine into him immediately.

Zhang Xuanyao watched the scrolling comments on the screen.

Feeling the constantly rising shock value in his mind.

His eyes, however, held no joy, only bone-chilling coldness.

He put away his phone and tucked it back into the pocket of his tattered Daoist robe.

Zhang Xuanyao took a step and walked in front of the collapsed Secretary Li.

He looked down condescendingly at this demon in human skin.

He raised his right foot and stepped on Secretary Li's chest.

He pressed down with force.

Secretary Li let out a shrill scream, the sound of breaking ribs clearly audible.

"Where is the mage who taught you the evil arts?"

Zhang Xuanyao spoke, his voice like a cold wind from the nine nether Hells.

Secretary Li, his face covered in snot and tears, grabbed Zhang Xuanyao's ankle tightly, trying to alleviate the pressure on his chest.

He shook his head in despair.

"I don't know! I really don't know!"

"The mage always wore a bronze mask when he appeared! He wore a black robe! Even his voice was disguised!"

"Only President Chen can contact him! There isn't even a phone number!"

"I only know he is a complete lunatic! The way he looked at us was like looking at a group of pigs ready to be slaughtered at any time!"

Zhang Xuanyao applied force with his foot again.

Crack.

Two more ribs broke.

Secretary Li rolled his eyes in pain, nearly fainting.

"Keep that dog life of yours and slowly repent in court."

Zhang Xuanyao moved his right foot away and turned to face Captain Qin.

Zhang Xuanyao took out his phone again and reopened the live streaming app.

He pointed the camera at his own face.

His expression was solemn, his eyes sharp as knives.

"Fellow viewers, today's matter is not over."

"Using the name of underworld gods to harm the innocent and setting up Formations to extend life."

"This kind of evil cultivator is intolerable to Heaven."

Zhang Xuanyao raised his right hand, brought his two fingers together, and pointed to the sky to swear an oath.

"I, this Daoist, will say this here today."

"If I let this masked mage live until tomorrow,"

"I will smash the signboard of Qingfeng Temple on the spot and burn it for firewood!"

The domineering declaration spread across the country via network signals.

A frenzy of gifts surged in the livestream once again.

[ "Daoist is mighty!" ]

[ "Waiting for the Daoist to tear the evil cultivator apart!" ]

[ "Followed! I'm staying in the livestream today!" ]

Qin Bingruo waved her hand and issued an order.

"Cuff him!"

Two burly Special Police officers lunged forward like wolves and tigers.

They pressed the limp Secretary Li firmly onto the marble floor.

They twisted his arms behind his back.

Click.

The cold handcuffs locked onto Secretary Li's wrists.

Qin Bingruo turned to look at the other Special Police.

"Team One, stay and guard the scene! Control all suspects involved!"

"Team Two, come with me! Contact the bomb disposal unit and the heavy assault team!"

"Bring heavy firepower! Go to the third underground floor and clear out that altar!"

Orders were issued one by one, clear and decisive.

The Special Police acted swiftly, gathering all executives and suspects in the office area for detention.

Just as the situation at the scene had been brought under control and Qin Bingruo breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The walkie-talkie at her waist suddenly emitted a piercing static sound.

Zzzzt.

The harsh static noise seemed particularly abrupt in the quiet office area.

Immediately after, the extremely terrified scream of the captain of the Third Special Police Team, who had gone to the City Hospital to execute the arrest, came through the walkie-talkie.

"Captain Qin! It's bad! Help!!"

"Chen Wan... Chen Wan is convulsing!"

"Black scales are growing on his body! It... it seems like he's mutating!"

"Bullets can't pierce him! Submachine guns are completely useless!"

"Retreat! Retreat quickly! Ah—"

Accompanied by a bone-chilling sound of bones breaking.

And the loud noise of heavy objects smashing through glass.

The walkie-talkie signal was completely cut off, leaving only dead silence and static.

Qin Bingruo's face changed drastically, and she grabbed the walkie-talkie violently.

"Third Team! Respond! Third Team!"

There was no response.

114: Chapter 114: A murderous aura soars to the heavens, crashing into a living hell.

A spine-chilling sound of bones breaking came from the walkie-talkie, accompanied by the scream of the Third Special Police squad leader. The sound stopped abruptly, leaving only the faint static of electricity echoing in the empty office area.

Zhang Xuanyao's expression changed drastically. Without a word of nonsense, he turned, strode out with his long legs, and rushed directly out of the Chen Corporation main gate, the hem of his tattered Daoist robe leaving an afterimage in the air.

Qin Bingruo followed closely behind. Her tactical leather boots crunched crisply on the broken glass. Just before stepping out of the main gate, she stopped and turned to look at the remaining Special Police.

"Watch everyone in the Chen Corporation!" Qin Bingruo ordered sternly, her finger sweeping across the executives and employees crouching on the ground. "Don't let a single fly out! If there is any suspicious movement, open fire immediately! Report by phone at any time!"

"Yes!" the Special Police answered in unison. Their gun barrels lowered in unison, all safeties were clicked off, and the sound of metal colliding rang out in a continuous stream.

The two rushed out of the building and jumped into the police car parked at the entrance. Qin Bingruo slid into the driver's seat, started the engine with her left hand, shifted gears with her right, and floored the accelerator.

The engine roared like a beast. The police car's tires screeched violently against the asphalt, emitting thick white smoke and leaving two charred rubber marks.

The vehicle catapulted forward, its red and blue strobe lights fully engaged. The blinding light cut across the surrounding building curtain walls, and the high-decibel siren wailed, tearing through the noise of the CBD commercial district.

Turning the steering wheel hard to the left, the police car completed an extremely thrilling drift at the intersection. The rear of the car swung across the crosswalk, whistling past the front of a bus.

Her right foot left the accelerator, tapped the brake, shifted down, and gave it gas again. Qin Bingruo's eyes were locked on the traffic ahead, her hands alternating rapidly on the steering wheel. The police car turned into a nimble fish, weaving through the dense traffic at the limit.

The journey, which would normally take nearly half an hour during the morning rush hour, was forcefully shortened. They ran through more than a dozen red lights, causing passing vehicles to brake sharply and swerve, resulting in a cacophony of horns.

In the passenger seat, Zhang Xuanyao's expression was grave. His left hand gripped the safety handle above the car door tightly, his knuckles protruding, while his right hand held the smartphone with the cracked screen edge.

The livestream feed shook violently, and the number of online viewers had already achieved a Breakthrough of two million. The screams from the walkie-talkie had already spread across the entire internet via the microphone, and the comment section exploded, scrolling crazily.

[ "What was that sound just now? Bones breaking?" ]

[ "The Special Police squad was attacked! Did Chen Wan mutate?" ]

[ "Is this seriously filming Resident Evil? What kind of monster did that old beast turn into?" ]

[ "Daoist Priest, stay steady! Don't crash!" ]

[ "A citizen from Hengcheng City sending congratulations! A police car just flew past me! The speed was at least 140!" ]

Zhang Xuanyao stared at the screen and spoke coldly to the camera.

"Family,"

The voice traveled through the howling wind into the microphone.

"That old beast used over a hundred lives to extend his own, and now he is suffering retribution and mutating."

Zhang Xuanyao freed his left hand and pointed at the outline of the tall building ahead.

"Today, this Daoist priest will definitely peel the skin off this old beast!"

The comment section reached another climax, gift effects covering the entire screen; carnivals, rockets, sports cars, and light effects flickered.

The police car turned into the street where City Center Hospital is located. Traffic congestion appeared ahead. Qin Bingruo gritted her teeth, turned the steering wheel hard to the right, and the police car rushed onto the sidewalk, crushing floor tiles and speeding past the street trees.

Ahead was the gate of City Center Hospital. Qin Bingruo slammed on the brakes, holding the steering wheel tightly with both hands. The police car skidded sideways, tires dragging long black marks on the ground, and came to a steady stop below the steps of the outpatient hall.

The car door pushed open, and Zhang Xuanyao dashed out of the cabin. His feet hit the ground, and he ran directly toward the outpatient hall, his right hand still steadily holding the phone, maintaining the livestream.

Heavenly Eye, open.

A rich purple light welled up deep within his pupils. His field of vision changed instantly; the colors of the real world faded away, replaced by the flow of energy.

His gaze shifted upward, penetrating the glass curtain wall of the outpatient hall, reaching straight to the top floor of the entire hospital building.

A terrifying scene appeared in his vision.

On the top floor of the hospital, thick black-red Evil Qi was rolling wildly outward. The Evil Qi was so dense it was about to drip blood, forming a huge vortex that blocked the sky and sun, completely shrouding the top of the entire building.

Ordinary people could not see this Evil Qi with the naked eye, but in Zhang Xuanyao's Heavenly Eye, those black-red air currents were mixed with countless twisted human faces, opening their mouths and emitting silent wails.

These were the 134 souls drained of their blood, their resentment condensed into the purest Yin Evil, nourishing that old beast who was Heaven-Defying.

Zhang Xuanyao gritted his back teeth, quickened his pace, stepped up the stairs, and rushed into the outpatient hall.

Inside the outpatient hall, it was in chaos. The huge commotion coming from the top floor had triggered total panic.

The chandeliers on the ceiling swayed violently, dust fell in rustles, and the sound of shattering glass came from high up, smashing onto the plaza outside the hospital.

Doctors, nurses, patients, family members—everyone was screaming and fleeing outward. Stretchers were overturned, IV bottles shattered all over the floor, and medicine mixed with muddy water flowed across the clean tiles.

A white nurse's shoe lay in the center of the crowd, trampled by countless feet, leaving black footprints.

A wheelchair was overturned, and a patient with a cast on his leg was lying on the ground, crawling forward desperately.

Qin Bingruo pulled the pistol from her waist, held her police badge high, and shouted loudly against the flow of people rushing out frantically.

"Police! Everyone maintain order! Evacuate to both sides of the main gate! Do not crowd!"

Qin Bingruo's voice seemed thin in the noisy hall. She could only use her body to force open a path, pulling fallen patients up from the ground and pushing them toward the safe area.

Zhang Xuanyao ignored the chaos around him, his gaze locked on the elevator area.

Rushing to the elevator entrance, the indicator lights of all six elevators were off, and the screens were flashing red error codes; they were out of service.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhang Xuanyao turned around, his gaze scanning the safety exit sign on the wall, and locked onto the fire escape.

He rushed over quickly, pressed his hands on the heavy fire door, and pushed with force.

The fire door made a dull metallic friction sound and opened inward. A cold, chilling draft rushed toward him, mixed with a strong smell of blood.

Zhang Xuanyao plunged into the stairwell and ran wildly up the concrete steps toward the top floor.

The City Center Hospital building had twenty-four floors in total. The top floor was a VIP ward area prepared exclusively for the rich and powerful.

Zhang Xuanyao exerted force with his legs, covering three steps in one stride, his Daoist robe flapping loudly in the narrow stairwell.

His breathing remained extremely steady, the spiritual power in his Dantian circulating throughout his body, offsetting the fatigue brought on by the intense exercise.

One floor, two floors, five floors, ten floors.

Heavy footsteps echoed in the stairwell. The higher he went, the stronger the smell of blood in the air, and the temperature became lower and lower.

Frost began to appear on the walls, the white paint peeling off to reveal the gray concrete layer.

Fifteenth floor, twentieth floor, twenty-third floor.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Zhang Xuanyao's forehead. The phone lens held in his right hand was aimed at the stairs ahead, and the million netizens in the livestream followed Zhang Xuanyao to experience this suffocating climbing process.

[ "Twenty-fourth floor! Ran up in one breath! The Daoist Priest's stamina is incredible!" ]

[ "I can feel the Killing Intent through the screen!" ]

[ "The smell of blood! I can smell the blood even through the screen!" ]

Finally, the fire door marked "24F" appeared ahead.

From the crack in the door, viscous blood was seeping out continuously, flowing down the concrete steps.

Zhang Xuanyao stopped, adjusted his breathing, raised his right foot, aimed at the fire door, and kicked out fiercely.

Bang!

The heavy fire door was kicked open by the immense force, slamming hard against the wall and rebounding.

The scene before his eyes was extremely tragic, like a living hell.

115: Chapter 115: Blood Forged for Immortality, Nothing More Than a Lump of Scaly Rotten Flesh

The corridor walls, originally covered in expensive imported wallpaper, were now covered in splatters of dark red blood that reached all the way to the ceiling.

Several heavy riot shields had been torn clean in half, their metallic edges twisted into extreme shapes and scattered across the blood-soaked wool carpet.

Three fully armed Special Police officers lay in a pool of blood, their fates unknown. Their tactical helmets were shattered, their bulletproof vests were covered in claw marks deep enough to expose bone, their submachine guns were broken into several pieces, and bullets were scattered all over the floor.

The lights on the top floor flickered wildly, emitting a buzzing electrical sound.

Zhang Xuanyao stepped over the debris of the riot shields on the floor and, treading on the blood-soaked carpet, walked step by step toward the end of the corridor.

There lay the most luxurious VIP ward.

The double solid wood doors of the ward, along with their frame, had been completely smashed, leaving wood chips and shattered glass covering the floor.

Dense, blackish-red Evil Qi was pouring continuously out of the shattered doorway.

Zhang Xuanyao raised his phone, aiming the camera inside the ward.

A massive dark shadow stood in the center of the ward, its back to the door.

It was over two meters tall, with a massive build like a bipedal brown bear.

It was covered from head to toe in hard black scales, the edges of which gleamed with a metallic luster, clicking as they rubbed against each other.

With its back to the door, the monster was frantically tearing apart the hospital bed and medical equipment.

The solid steel bed frame was snapped as easily as noodles in the monster's hands, making a screeching sound of twisting metal.

The imported life-support machine, worth millions, was smashed to pieces with a single slap, sending electrical sparks flying and embedding screen fragments into the wall.

IV tubes, oxygen tubes, and ECG leads were wrapped around the monster's thick arms, snapping as it moved.

Hearing the footsteps coming from the corridor, the monster stopped its destructive rampage.

Its massive body slowly turned around.

It was an extremely distorted face, its features displaced and its skin covered in black scales, yet one could still vaguely recognize him as the chairman of the Chen Group, Chen Wan.

His face, which had been gaunt and hollowed out from late-stage pancreatic cancer, was now filled with a bizarre vitality. His muscles bulged high, tearing through his hospital gown to reveal a torso covered in black, bulging veins.

His eyes were crimson, devoid of pupils, containing only two burning, blood-colored flames.

Chen Wan split his mouth open, revealing a mouth full of sharp fangs, with thick saliva dripping from the corners of his mouth, corroding charred holes into the carpet.

A heavy, hoarse sound came from his throat, like two rusty iron plates rubbing against each other.

"I... am filled with power now!"

Chen Wan raised his scale-covered hands and clenched his fists. His fingernails shot out, turning into ten pitch-black, sharp claws.

"I am no longer a weakling! The blood of those poor ghosts is truly useful!"

Staring at Zhang Xuanyao with his crimson eyes, Chen Wan threw his head back and let out an arrogant laugh.

"I can finally achieve longevity! Hahaha! No one can kill me!"

The laughter vibrated through the air, causing the glass windows in the corridor to shatter one after another, raining down like shards of glass.

Looking at the monster before him, Zhang Xuanyao's eyes were filled with utter disgust, and his stomach churned.

"Damn it!" Zhang Xuanyao cursed out loud, his voice drowning out Chen Wan's wild laughter.

"The Yin Qi on your body would make even a fierce ghost bow in defeat! And you're still fucking dreaming of longevity?"

Zhang Xuanyao pointed at Chen Wan's nose, spitting as he yelled.

"A monster built on the lives of over a hundred people dares to call itself 'longevity'? You aren't even human anymore! You're just a breathing pile of rotting meat!"

Chen Wan's laughter stopped abruptly. His crimson eyes locked onto Zhang Xuanyao as his killing intent exploded.

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from the stairwell.

Qin Bingruo rushed up to the twenty-fourth floor, panting heavily. Her police uniform was soaked with sweat, and strands of hair clung to her cheeks.

Seeing her Special Police comrades lying in pools of blood in the corridor, Qin Bingruo's eyes instantly turned red, burning with rage.

Her gaze swept past Zhang Xuanyao's shoulder and fell upon the two-meter-tall scaled monster.

Without any hesitation, Qin Bingruo drew her Type 92 pistol from her waist, gripped it with both hands, aimed the muzzle at Chen Wan's head, flicked off the safety with her thumb, and placed her index finger on the trigger.

Just as she was about to pull the trigger—

Zhang Xuanyao swept his right hand out, grabbing Qin Bingruo's wrist and forcing the muzzle down toward the ground.

"Don't shoot!" Zhang Xuanyao said rapidly, his voice cold and sharp. "Ordinary bullets can't pierce the Yin-Evil scales on his body! It will only enrage him!"

Zhang Xuanyao reached out with his left hand, smoothly pulling two spare magazines from Qin Bingruo's tactical belt, and then snatched the Type 92 pistol from her hand.

The movement was as smooth as flowing water, completed in one seamless motion.

"You have to use magic to defeat magic!"

Zhang Xuanyao stuffed the magazines into his Daoist robe pocket, holding the gun with one hand while using his thumb to check the ejection port.

"Go downstairs and evacuate the crowd! Seal off the entire building! We absolutely cannot let this monster escape!"

Zhang Xuanyao stepped sideways, shielding Qin Bingruo as he directly faced Chen Wan inside the ward.

"Leave the gun to me. I'll deal with him!"

Qin Bingruo looked at Zhang Xuanyao's serious profile, his jawline tense with determination.

Her years of experience as an investigator told Qin Bingruo that the monster before them had already exceeded the capabilities of human firearms.

Staying on the twenty-fourth floor would not only fail to help, but would also make her a burden to Zhang Xuanyao, distracting him.

Qin Bingruo clenched her teeth and swept her gaze over her comrades lying on the floor, their fates unknown, forcing down the urge to shoot.

She gave Zhang Xuanyao's back a solemn look.

"Come out alive!" Qin Bingruo said in a low, heavy voice.

Turning around, she resolutely rushed toward the stairwell. Her tactical leather boots clattered against the steps, and she quickly disappeared around the corner to carry out the mission of sealing off the building.

She acted without the slightest hesitation, demonstrating an extremely high level of professionalism.

In the corridor, only Zhang Xuanyao and the mutated Chen Wan remained.

Zhang Xuanyao held up his phone, steadily aiming the camera at the monster inside the ward.

In the livestream room, over two million viewers clearly saw Chen Wan's terrifying mutated form.

The bullet screen went completely wild, scrolling at a speed far too fast for the naked eye to capture.

["Holy shit! Holy shit! What on earth is that creature?"]

["Black scales! Crimson eyes! This old bastard really cast aside his humanity!"]

["Over a hundred human lives were traded just for this half-human, half-ghost look?"]

["Watch out, Daoist Master! That monster looks like it could smash a load-bearing wall with one slap!"]

["Daoist Master, use your ultimate! Instakill this old beast!"]

In his mind, the System's cold, mechanical voice spammed notifications like a waterfall.

[Ding! Exposed a mutated evil cultivator, gaining shock value +100,000.]

[Ding! Caused extreme panic and anger across the entire internet, gaining shock value +150,000.]

[Ding! Confronted the ultimate evil Yin-fiend, triggering a demon-slaying mission.]

Feeling the steadily rising shock value in his mind, Zhang Xuanyao let out a cold sneer.

Noticing Zhang Xuanyao's action of grabbing the gun, Chen Wan let out an inhuman roar.

His crimson eyes reflected the figure of Zhang Xuanyao wearing his tattered Daoist robe.

"Smelly Daoist! Mind your own business!"

Broken syllables squeezed out from Chen Wan's throat.

"Since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, I'll use your blood to celebrate my rebirth!"

116: Chapter 116: Dual Weapons to Suppress Evil, A Bloody Deadly Situation

Chen Wan took wide strides with his thick legs, charging out of the ward's door like a derailed heavy locomotive.

His heavy footsteps trod on the corridor carpet, shattering the marble tiles beneath and producing a dull rumble.

An extremely dense, blackish-red Evil Qi rushed forward like a tsunami with Chen Wan's charge, bringing a suffocating pressure.

Instead of retreating, Zhang Xuanyao advanced, taking a step forward to meet the charging monster.

Stuffed into the inner pocket of his Daoist robe, his phone left half its camera exposed, continuing to broadcast the live stream.

He reached his hands into the wide pockets on both sides of his Daoist robe.

In an instant, he summoned two top-tier Magical Artifacts.

In his left hand, he held a dripping-green branch, the kongqing feather branch.

A pure power of purification flowed along the branch, emitting a soft yet extremely resilient green glow. The surrounding bloody stench and dark Evil Qi melted like ice and snow the moment they touched the green light.

In his right hand, he held up a square jade seal, the north pole exorcism seal.

The entire jade seal had the luster of mutton-fat jade, with intricate lightning patterns and exorcism Talismans carved on its base. As Mental Energy poured in, the jade seal erupted with a blinding, dark-golden light.

Holding a Magical Artifact in each hand, Zhang Xuanyao poured out his Mental Energy frantically without reservation.

"Supreme Star of the Platform, adapt without ceasing; expel evil and bind demons, protect life and safeguard the body!"

As he chanted the mantra, the north pole exorcism seal flared with brilliant golden light, transforming into a golden beam of light that shot straight out.

The lightning patterns on the north pole exorcism seal came alive, turning into tiny golden lightning Dragons that wrapped around the surface of the light beam.

The kongqing feather branch traced a profound trajectory in the air, and the green purification power rippled outward, attaching itself to the golden light.

The two Divine Artifacts complemented each other, erupting with earth-shattering power that blasted directly into Chen Wan's broad chest.

Sizzle!

An extremely ear-piercing screech erupted in the corridor, sounding like a red-hot branding iron being thrown into ice water.

The purification power, acting like a highly concentrated acid, frantically corroded the black scales on Chen Wan's body.

The indestructible defense of dark Evil Qi was instantly pierced under the combined strike of the two top-tier Magical Artifacts.

Billowing smoke rose from the black scales as they peeled off piece by piece, revealing the bright red putrid flesh and black bones beneath.

"Ah—!"

Chen Wan let out an incredibly shrill scream. His massive body was forced to a halt by the immense impact, and he stumbled back two steps.

A basin-sized charred hole was blasted into his chest. The rotten flesh at the edges kept writhing in an attempt to heal the wound, but it was firmly suppressed by the residual green light.

Black blood gushed out like a fountain, but before it could hit the ground, it was vaporized into nothingness by the golden light.

The intense pain did not make Chen Wan shrink back; instead, it thoroughly triggered the most primitive ferocity deep within the monster's heart.

His crimson eyes instantly filled with blood, the corners tearing and leaking black blood. His facial muscles were completely contorted, and his fangs bit through his lips.

"I want you dead! I will tear you to pieces!"

Enduring the searing pain of the golden light burning his chest, Chen Wan let out a deafening roar.

His originally massive and clumsy body, stimulated by the intense pain, erupted with a terrifying speed that far exceeded common sense.

The muscle fibers in his thick legs snapped one by one, only to instantly reorganize under the nourishment of the Evil Qi, gaining an extremely terrifying explosive power.

With a violent kick of his legs, the corridor floor directly collapsed into a large pit, exposing the steel rebars.

Turning into a blackish-red afterimage, Chen Wan instantly crossed a distance of over ten meters and appeared right in front of Zhang Xuanyao.

His speed was unbelievably fast. The air was forcibly compressed, producing a sharp sonic boom, and the wooden ward doors on both sides were swept up by the gale, slamming into the distant walls.

Zhang Xuanyao's face paled in shock.

He had absolutely no time to raise the Type 92 pistol in his hand, nor did he have time to form a lightning hand seal to counterattack.

He could only rely on instinct to execute an extremely awkward tactical roll in the narrow corridor.

Throwing his body to the right, he tried to dodge the fatal attack. His Daoist robe was torn by the fierce wind whipped up by Chen Wan's sharp claws, leaving a bloody gash on his shoulder.

Bang!

An incredibly dull sound of impact rang out.

Unable to dodge in time, Zhang Xuanyao was struck hard on the left side of his chest by Chen Wan's massive hand, which was covered in black scales and was twice the size of a cattail leaf fan.

The immense impact felt like being hit head-on by a speeding heavy truck.

Zhang Xuanyao felt three or four of his left ribs instantly snap. His internal organs churned violently, and the sound of cracking bones reached his eardrums with crystal clarity.

Like a kite with a severed string, his body was sent flying, tracing a parabola in the air.

He crashed heavily into the hard load-bearing wall on the right side of the corridor.

Boom!

Unable to withstand this terrifying force, the wall instantly cracked into a massive spiderweb of fissures. Dust and cement fragments rained down as his spine creaked under the unbearable strain.

Zhang Xuanyao slid down the wall, crashing heavily onto the blood-stained carpet.

A sweet taste filled his throat, and he violently spat out a mouthful of fresh blood mixed with fragments of his internal organs, staining his tattered Daoist robe red.

Under the violent impact, the phone stuffed inside his Daoist robe's inner pocket flew out.

Clatter.

The phone dropped onto the floor, its screen completely shattered into a spiderweb pattern.

The camera was tilted, freezing on the edge of the scene.

In the frame, Chen Wan's massive body was stepping closer, his thick, black-scaled legs stepping over the wreckage of a riot shield on the floor.

His hideous claws dripped with black blood, casting a huge shadow over the cracked phone screen.

In the live stream room, two million viewers watched this extremely terrifying scene, causing the bullet comments to pause briefly.

Immediately after, the screen flickered frantically twice.

Sizzle.

Accompanied by a sharp static sound, the live stream screen instantly went black and froze.

Leaving only a screen full of static, along with the viewers' frantic spamming of question marks and gasps.

In the corridor, only Chen Wan's heavy panting and the grating sound of claws scraping against the floor remained. Chen Wan raised his claws, aiming directly at Zhang Xuanyao's head, and slashed down fiercely.

117: Chapter 117: Ballistic Failure, Physical Resurrection

Zhang Xuanyao slammed heavily against the base of the load-bearing wall on the right side of the corridor. His spine crashed violently into the hard concrete, making a harsh scraping sound.

The immense impact traveled through his bones to his entire body, making his internal organs feel as if they had been thrown into a meat grinder and violently blended.

A thick, metallic sweetness welled up from the depths of his throat. Zhang Xuanyao opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of dark red blood mixed with fragments of his internal organs, completely drenching the already tattered Daoist robe on his chest.

The blood quickly spread along the texture of the fabric, dripping onto the pure wool carpet beneath him and blooming into a large, striking patch of dark red.

Raising his dust-covered right hand, Zhang Xuanyao haphazardly wiped away the bloody foam from the corner of his mouth.

His chest heaved violently, and every breath he took pulled at his broken ribs, bringing a tearing, excruciating pain.

In his line of sight, Chen Wan's massive body was closing in step by step.

The biochemical monster, standing over two meters tall, was like a heavy armored vehicle that had lost control.

Its thick legs, covered in black scales, ruthlessly stepped over the wreckage of the riot shields on the ground.

Under the monster's feet, the metal shields groaned in agony, crushed into a pile of scrap metal.

Its hideous claws hung loose, thick black blood dripping from the fingertips. The blood hissed as it hit the carpet, corroding it and sending up plumes of pungent white smoke.

"Cough, cough..." Zhang Xuanyao coughed violently a few times, agitating the wound on his chest. He grimaced in pain, sucking in a sharp breath.

Forcing out a cold sneer, Zhang Xuanyao stared at the half-human, half-ghost monster before him.

"The poor rely on mutations, and the rich rely on technology. But you, you old geezer, went ahead and mutated straight into a Resident Evil biohazard."

His voice was hoarse, but it carried an undisguised mockery.

A low roar rumbled from Chen Wan's throat. His crimson eyes locked onto Zhang Xuanyao, utterly infuriated by the mockery.

His massive body suddenly lunged forward, whipping up a nauseating, metallic wind.

His giant right claw was raised high, five pitch-black nails like sharp military bayonets tearing through the air with a sharp whistle, slamming down hard toward Zhang Xuanyao's head.

If this blow landed, it would be enough to smash an adult's head to pieces like a watermelon.

Zhang Xuanyao's eyes widened, his pupils instantly shrinking to the size of pinpricks. Adrenaline surged wildly through his body, forcing out every last ounce of muscle strength.

Exerting force from his waist, he slammed his hands against the ground.

He twisted his body to the left as far as it would go.

In an extremely clumsy tactical roll, he slid across the carpet covered in shattered glass and blood, rolling two meters to the left.

Boom!

Chen Wan's claws slammed violently into the base of the wall where Zhang Xuanyao had just been leaning.

A devastating force erupted.

The marble floor and the concrete slab beneath it were smashed to pieces by this terrifying power.

A deep crater over half a meter in diameter appeared, exposing the twisted rebar inside.

Debris, dust, and concrete fragments splattered everywhere, pelting the opposite wall with a dense, crackling sound like a shotgun blast.

The moment he rolled to his feet, Zhang Xuanyao did not pause for a second.

His right hand reached naturally into the wide pocket of his Daoist robe.

His fingertips precisely brushed against the cold metal grip of a gun.

With a swift motion, he pulled out Qin Bingruo's Type 92 service pistol.

Spreading his legs slightly to steady his stance, he gripped the gun tightly with both hands and flicked off the safety with his thumb.

His eyes were as sharp and fierce as knives. Without any formal aiming, relying entirely on muscle memory and combat instinct,

he aimed the muzzle at Chen Wan's massive, bear-like body and squeezed the trigger.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The deafening gunshots erupted in the narrow, enclosed corridor, the massive echoes rattling the eardrums.

The muzzle frantically spat half-meter-long orange-red tongues of fire, illuminating Zhang Xuanyao's blood-stained face.

Fifteen bullets were discharged in one breath in less than three seconds.

The immense recoil traveled up the grip into his arms. Zhang Xuanyao gritted his teeth, his arm muscles tensing as he firmly suppressed the jumping muzzle to maintain his line of fire.

Brass casings ejected one after another from the ejection port, tumbling through the air at high speed and tracing golden arcs.

Clink, clank.

The scalding casings fell onto the blood-stained carpet, leaving scorched marks and sending up wisps of dark smoke.

The high-speed spinning metal warheads tore through the air, carrying terrifying kinetic energy as they rained down with absolute precision on Chen Wan's broad chest and abdomen.

At the moment of impact,

blinding sparks erupted.

The 9mm Parabellum rounds, which were enough to penetrate standard body armor, struck the layer of black Evil Qi scales covering Chen Wan's body, yet they only left faint white marks.

The bullets instantly lost their kinetic energy, severely deforming under the immense counterforce into flat pieces of scrap metal.

They clattered onto the floor.

However, the powerful kinetic energy of the Type 92 pistol firing continuously at close range still accumulated to produce a highly substantial force.

The continuous impact of the fifteen bullets was entirely delivered onto Chen Wan.

His massive body was jolted to a sudden halt, his forward momentum forcefully cut short.

Chen Wan let out a muffled groan, his legs plowing two deep furrows into the floor as he was forced back three or four steps.

With every step back, his heavy feet stamped deep depressions into the carpet, making the entire floor seem to shudder.

Chen Wan stabilized his posture and looked down at his chest.

Extending a thick finger, he casually pinched a deformed bullet lodged in the gap between his scales.

With a hard tug,

the brass bullet was pulled out and held between his fingertips.

Applying a bit of force, he crushed the bullet directly into a lump of scrap metal and tossed it aside, where it hit the ground with a sharp clink.

His crimson eyes stared at Zhang Xuanyao, and a screeching, owl-like laugh erupted from his throat.

"Hahaha!"

The laughter shook the corridor, causing dust to shower down from the walls, and the few remaining window panes shattered completely.

"Even bullets are useless against me!"

Chen Wan spread his arms, displaying the indestructible layer of black scales covering his body.

His muscles bulged high, and dark red Evil Qi flowed through the gaps between his scales.

"I have an immortal body now! No one in this world can stand against me!"

His arrogant voice was filled with an extreme obsession with power, as if he had already become the Dominator of the entire world.

Zhang Xuanyao spat a mouthful of bloody saliva, landing it precisely in the pile of rubble at Chen Wan's feet.

He loosened his fingers.

The empty Type 92 service pistol dropped to the ground, sliding half a meter away.

Placing his hands on his knees, he forced himself to stand up.

From the massive blood loss and agonizing pain, his legs trembled uncontrollably.

Zhang Xuanyao took a deep breath, forcing his body to stabilize.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced out the window at the end of the corridor and down at the square below.

The purple light of the Heavenly Eye swirled wildly deep within his pupils, penetrating the barriers of steel and concrete.

He sensed the life force of the entire building.

The first-floor lobby was completely empty.

The emergency room, inpatient department, operating rooms... all patients, family members, and medical staff had been fully evacuated from the building under the urgent coordination of Qin Bingruo and the Special Police squad.

In the entire twenty-four-story City Center Hospital building, aside from the mutilated corpses scattered everywhere, only Zhang Xuanyao and Chen Wan remained.

The evacuation was complete.

There were no longer any misgivings.

"Since ballistics can't cure you," Zhang Xuanyao took a deep breath, forcing down the churning blood in his chest, his voice cold and harsh,

"then today, this Daoist priest will cure you with physics!"

He suddenly raised his hands, his ten fingers flying so fast they turned into a blur of afterimages.

He rapidly formed hand seals.

His knuckles turned white from the extreme exertion, and his bones popped sharply.

Although his body had suffered severe trauma and his internal organs were displaced, deep within his Dantian, an incredibly pure power was circulating wildly.

This power originated from his previous "deep exchanges" with his two confidantes, Yan Jingshu and Ji Xue.

Although their Physiques could not compare to Su Qingge's Extreme Yin Physique or Qin Bingruo's Black Tortoise Body, the successive Yin and Yang unions and perfect blending had still provided a trace of extremely precious nourishment to Zhang Xuanyao's Pure Yang Body.

This trace of nourishment had transformed into the purest Mental Energy, stored deep within his Sea of Consciousness.

At this moment, it was just barely enough to accumulate the foundation needed to unleash a major ultimate move.

Zhang Xuanyao's eyes flew wide, the purple light in his pupils flaring brilliantly, almost piercing through the Void Realm.

Disregarding the immense pain of his Meridians being forcibly widened and torn, the veins on his forehead bulged like coiled Dragons.

He roared out the incantation of the Five Thunders Method.

His voice, like a great bronze bell, pierced through the corridor and soared straight into the sky.

"Yuqing Shiqing!"

"Zhenfu Gaomeng!"

"Tuiqian Erqi!"

"Hunyi Chengzhen!"

Forming a Thunder Seal with both hands, he pointed straight toward the heavens.

"Five Thunders Method, descend!"

118: Chapter 118: The Majestic Power of Heaven, the Revival of Deathly Aura

As the final word, "Fall," exploded from Zhang Xuanyao's mouth.

The sky above the city center, previously clear and cloudless, was instantly whipped into a frenzy by a gale.

The atmospheric pressure between heaven and earth plummeted suddenly, and the air became stiflingly heavy, making it difficult to breathe.

Dark clouds gathered frantically above the top floor of the hospital building at a completely unscientific speed.

The ink-black clouds churned and twisted, blocking out the sunlight and shrouding the entire business district in a suffocating gloom.

The gale howled, sweeping up trash and leaves from the streets, sending them dancing through the sky.

Deep within the clouds, traces of purple lightning darted about like swimming Dragons.

Blinding flashes of lightning tore through the darkness, illuminating the terrified crowd below.

Then, a deafening thunderclap exploded from the Nine Heavens.

Rumble—

The thunder rolled, as if ancient deities were beating war drums, and the entire city trembled under this display of heaven and earth's might.

The glass curtain wall of the hospital building hummed in resonance with the thunderous vibrations.

Chen Wan stood in the center of the hallway, his massive body suddenly stiffening.

The destructive pressure from above pierced through the twenty-fourth-floor ceiling, locking directly onto this bio-monster.

For the first time, the arrogance and bloodlust faded from his scarlet eyes, replaced by a flash of intense fear.

It was the instinctive trembling of an evil entity facing the ultimate masculine, righteous power of heaven and earth.

"Roar—!"

Chen Wan let out a roar filled with fear and rage.

He stomped his thick legs against the floor, trying to charge at Zhang Xuanyao to interrupt that lethal spellcasting in the most brutal way possible.

He had only taken half a step.

His massive frame was pinned down by the aura locked onto him by the thunder.

The surrounding air seemed to have turned into solidified cement; every movement required an immense amount of strength.

Chen Wan's muscles bulged, and his black scales rubbed against each other with a harsh, grating sound.

His legs trembled violently, and the carpet beneath his feet was torn apart.

Every step was an arduous struggle.

Though he was less than ten meters away from Zhang Xuanyao, it felt like an impassable chasm lay between them.

"No! I won't die! I have an immortal body!"

Chen Wan roared frantically, waving his arms in a desperate attempt to tear through this invisible pressure of thunder.

Boom!

A terrifying sound that could burst eardrums rang out.

A purple heavenly thunderbolt, as thick as a water bucket and carrying majestic heavenly might, crashed down from the ink-black clouds.

The pillar of purple lightning pierced through heaven and earth, illuminating the entire city.

With an unstoppable force, the heavenly thunder smashed through the ceiling of the hospital's twenty-fourth floor.

The reinforced concrete instantly melted under the intense heat of the thunder, turning into molten iron and magma that splattered everywhere.

There was no suspense.

The purple heavenly thunder struck Chen Wan's crown with pinpoint accuracy.

The blinding lightning instantly engulfed the entire hallway.

The light was so intense it caused instant blindness, leaving the world only in a pure violet-white hue.

Before Chen Wan could even let out a scream, his massive body was completely submerged by the thunder.

A dense series of crackling explosions rang out.

The black Evil Qi scales covering Chen Wan's body, which even bullets couldn't penetrate, shattered inch by inch under the baptism of the ultimate masculine, righteous thunder.

Shards flew everywhere, striking the walls and leaving behind charred holes.

Beneath the scales, the black-red Evil Qi, condensed from the grievances of one hundred and thirty-four lives, encountered its absolute nemesis.

Like ice meeting boiling water, the Evil Qi was instantly evaporated.

The air was filled with a pungent, charred stench, mixed with the smell of rotten eggs and burnt flesh, which was nauseating.

The lingering power of the thunder spread along the hallway; the wooden doors of the patient rooms on both sides instantly turned to ash, and the wallpaper on the walls ignited into a raging fire, only to be instantly extinguished by the ensuing shockwave.

It lasted for a full ten seconds.

Before the lightning finally dissipated slowly.

The hallway was filled with acrid black smoke, and visibility was extremely low.

A huge hole had been blown in the ceiling, allowing sunlight to spill back in, illuminating the devastated ruins.

The once arrogant Chen Wan was now lying in a deep crater in the center of the hallway.

His massive body had shrunk significantly, returning to a size close to that of a normal human, though still slightly bloated.

He was charred black all over, with not a single patch of intact skin to be found.

His skin was torn open, revealing the roasted dark red muscle tissue and charred bones beneath.

Black blood mixed with yellow tissue fluid, gathering into a disgusting puddle beneath him.

Black smoke constantly poured from Chen Wan's mouth.

His jawbone was shattered, and the skin and flesh on half of his cheek had been stripped away by the thunder, revealing his ghastly white gums.

His body twitched violently and uncontrollably.

A faint, slurred murmur came from his throat.

"No... impossible..."

"My immortality... my immortality..."

His charred fingers scratched weakly at the ground, trying to grasp that elusive dream of immortality, but only scooping up a handful of ash mixed with blood.

The arrogance and haughtiness from just moments ago were gone, leaving only extreme misery and despair.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in place, maintaining his hand seal posture.

As the Five Thunders Method concluded.

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, the trace of Mental Energy he had painstakingly accumulated was completely drained.

Not a drop remained.

A stabbing pain instantly shot through his mind, as if countless steel saws were cutting into his nerves.

His vision went black, and stars danced before his eyes.

Zhang Xuanyao's legs went weak, unable to support his body's weight any longer.

He fell heavily onto one knee.

His knee struck the hard rubble, tearing the skin and causing blood to seep out.

His hands hung limply at his sides, his fingertips trembling slightly.

He gasped for air, his chest heaving violently.

Sweat mixed with blood streamed down his cheeks, dripping onto the carpet.

He didn't even have the strength to lift a finger.

His bodily functions had reached their absolute limit after the successive severe injuries and the extreme spellcasting.

"If I had known, I would have cultivated with Su Qingge and Qin Bingruo first before coming here; this is truly unbearable."

Zhang Xuanyao gritted his teeth, forcing himself to maintain the last shred of consciousness.

Looking at the dying Chen Wan lying in the ruins, a weak, cold sneer tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Immortality? Go have your pipe dreams in the underworld."

His voice was extremely faint, audible only to himself.

Just as Zhang Xuanyao thought the dust had settled and prepared to close his eyes and recover.

An unexpected change occurred.

Chen Wan, who was lying in the charred crater, suddenly experienced a bizarre change in his life force, which had previously been at its lowest ebb.

A dense, concentrated surge of Death Qi gushed frantically from Chen Wan's broken body.

The Death Qi appeared gray and decayed, carrying a bone-chilling coldness.

Like tentacles with a life of their own, it wove frantically through Chen Wan's charred wounds.

Forcibly stitching together the flesh that had been scorched by the thunder.

Wrapped in the Death Qi, the broken bones clicked and snapped back together.

The burnt skin fell away, revealing the grayish-white new tissue beneath.

Chen Wan's scarlet eyes, which had previously dimmed, lit up once again, but this time, the depths of his eyes were filled with pure death and madness.

In Zhang Xuanyao's eyes, which were filled with extreme shock.

Chen Wan pushed his hands against the ground.

Trembling, he stood up once again.

119: Chapter 119: Dare to touch my men? Firepower in!

Chen Wan stood up shakily.

Although his aura was extremely withered and his body had shrunk significantly, that nauseating Death Qi was even purer and more dangerous than the previous Yin Sha Qi.

Grayish-white new tissue covered his charred bones, forming a strange membrane of flesh.

Half of his cheek was still missing, revealing white gums and a wriggling tongue.

Those scarlet eyes stared fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao, who was kneeling on one knee and had no power to resist.

Chen Wan dragged his broken body, approaching step by step.

The bones in his right leg didn't seem to have set properly; every step produced an ear-piercing grinding sound, and his body tilted strangely.

A wheezing roar came from his throat, a sound like fingernails scraping across a blackboard.

"I want to eat you..."

"Eat you... and I can recover..."

Viscous gray liquid dripped from the corners of his mouth, corroding deep holes into the carpet.

Chen Wan raised his right hand. His claws, once covered in scales, were now reduced to half a white bone, the tip of which glinted with a deadly cold light.

Zhang Xuanyao knelt on one knee on the ground, gasping for air.

Watching the biochemical monster approach step by step, he pulled a helpless, bitter smile to the corner of his mouth.

Right now, he didn't even have the strength to move an inch.

His Mental Energy was completely exhausted, his Meridians were in extreme pain, and his Pure Yang Body had fallen into a self-protective dormant state due to extreme overdraft.

He could only watch helplessly as Chen Wan raised that claw, which was now just half a bone.

The claw grew larger in his vision, carrying bone-chilling Death Qi, heading straight for his face.

"Damn it, am I really going to crash and burn here today?"

Zhang Xuanyao gritted his teeth and stared fixedly at Chen Wan, with no intention of closing his eyes and waiting for death.

Even if he had to die, he would die with backbone.

At the critical moment.

Bang!

A deafening bang came from the end of the corridor.

That heavy fire safety door was kicked open directly from the outside by an extremely violent force.

The heavy metal door panel tumbled through the air and slammed hard against the wall, creating a large crater.

Accompanied by the sound of dense and rapid tactical boots.

A heroic figure took the lead and rushed into the devastated corridor.

Qin Bingruo.

Her police uniform was covered in dust, and her ponytail swung behind her head.

Her eyes were as cold as knives.

She held an exaggeratedly large, heavy-duty riot shotgun in both hands.

The gun body emitted a cold metallic luster, and the thick barrel pointed straight at Chen Wan ahead.

Without the slightest hesitation.

Qin Bingruo spread her legs slightly to steady her stance, pressing the stock firmly against her shoulder.

Her index finger decisively pulled the trigger.

Boom!

The deafening gunshot drowned out the lingering sound of thunder.

The muzzle spat out a massive flame.

Countless small lead pellets whistled out in a fan shape, forming an impenetrable web of metal that slammed onto Chen Wan's broken body.

The immense impact knocked Chen Wan back repeatedly; the grayish-white membrane was torn apart by the lead pellets, bursting into clouds of gray blood mist.

Qin Bingruo's movements were extremely skilled; her left hand jerked the pump-action grip backward.

Click-clack!

A red shell casing emitting blue smoke ejected out.

She pushed the grip forward, chambering the next round.

Boom!

A second shotgun shell poured out.

Following closely behind Qin Bingruo.

Was a dense sound of footsteps.

Su Qingge, wearing a well-tailored high-end professional suit and black high heels, strode into the corridor.

Her face was as cold as frost, and her stunningly beautiful face was filled with extreme coldness.

The usually high-and-mighty female CEO now radiated a suffocating sense of oppression.

Behind Su Qingge followed dozens of fully armed personnel.

Half were elite bodyguards from the Su Group, wearing black suits and holding mountain-cleaving machetes and high-voltage stun batons.

The other half were a Special Police team who had received Qin Bingruo's orders and arrived with heavy firepower for support.

The pitch-black barrels of submachine guns.

Assault rifles equipped with tactical flashlights.

Instantly formed a dense web of fire, locking firmly onto the weakened Chen Wan, who was being suppressed by the shotgun.

Red laser targeting dots fell densely onto Chen Wan's grayish-white body.

Su Qingge's gaze crossed the line of fire and landed in the center of the corridor.

When she saw Zhang Xuanyao, kneeling on one knee, covered in blood, with his Daoist robe in tatters.

Su Qingge's usual calmness, the kind that remained unchanged even if Mount Tai collapsed before her, instantly crumbled.

Her heart felt as if it were being fiercely squeezed by an invisible hand, and intense pain spread throughout her body.

Deep in her eyes, a trace of extreme violence and madness flashed.

Stepping in her high heels, Su Qingge ignored the shrapnel flying in front and walked straight forward two steps.

She extended her slender, fair finger, pointing at Chen Wan, who was suppressed by the firepower and unable to move.

Her voice was so cold it seemed to freeze the air, filled with extreme killing intent.

"Dare to touch my people?"

Su Qingge parted her red lips slightly and spat out a chilling command.

"Blast him into pulp for me!"

The moment her voice fell.

The heavy firepower in the corridor erupted completely.

The Special Police team's submachine guns and assault rifles opened fire simultaneously.

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!

The dense gunfire was like a rainstorm, deafening.

Countless tongues of fire intertwined, forming a deadly metal storm.

Golden shell casings poured onto the floor like a waterfall, emitting crisp clinking sounds.

Bullets frantically tore at Chen Wan's broken body.

The grayish-white membrane was instantly riddled with holes, and the black bones fractured inch by inch under the dense rain of bullets.

Chen Wan let out a shrill scream, his body retreating and twisting under the impact of the firepower.

The bodyguards of the Su Group were not idle either.

Several burly bodyguards pressed the switches on their high-voltage stun batons.

Blue electric arcs crackled in the air.

Stepping with tactical precision, they flanked from both sides, preparing to deliver the most lethal physical blow to this monster the moment the firepower ceased.

The entire twenty-fourth-floor corridor had completely transformed into a Shura field of gunfire.

The smell of gunpowder, blood, and burnt stench mixed together, stimulating everyone's nerves.

Zhang Xuanyao knelt on one knee, watching this shocking scene before him.

Watching Qin Bingruo, who stood in front of him, firing wildly with her shotgun.

Watching Su Qingge, who stood behind the web of fire, her eyes as cold as knives.

Zhang Xuanyao saw Chen Wan gradually being blown to pieces, and a relaxed arc appeared on the corner of his mouth.

His body could no longer hold up, and he collapsed backward.

120: Chapter 120: The Unprecedented Wealth Bought in Exchange for Two Ribs

Consciousness drifted away from the mire of darkness. His sense of smell recovered before his vision; there was no pungent odor of formalin or disinfectant, replaced instead by an extremely complex, lingering fragrance.

The steady scent of sandalwood, the intensity of roses, the freshness of citrus, and a unique, cold cedar fragrance—five distinct aromas intertwined in the air, drilling into his nostrils and stimulating his newly awakened nerve endings.

His eyelashes trembled slightly, and his eyelids felt heavy as if they weighed a thousand pounds. His eyeballs rolled in their sockets twice before he forced them open a crack. Blinding incandescent light leaked into his pupils, and his vision gradually shifted from blurry to clear.

Five heads were gathered around the bedside.

Su Qingge was wearing an exquisitely tailored black high-fashion suit, the jacket covered in creases, with the collar slightly open to reveal her fair collarbone.

Qin Bingruo's police uniform jacket was draped over a chair in the distance; her upper body was clad only in a tight black tactical vest, outlining her explosive muscular lines.

Yan Jingshu was wearing a moon-white cheongsam, with some dust clinging to the slit, and a few strands of her pinned-up long hair had come loose, hanging by her ears.

Shen Zhiyao's Chanel skirt hem was a bit messy, her high heels were kicked off to the side, and she was standing barefoot on the carpet.

Ji Xue's black-rimmed glasses were crooked on the bridge of her nose, and she was still clutching a wet tissue in her hand.

Five pairs of eyes stared fixedly at the hospital bed without blinking, their eyeballs bloodshot and their under-eye bags swollen.

The young man on the hospital bed felt his chest heave once, and his eyelids opened completely.

The five women straightened up in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized, their tense nerves snapping all at once.

"Doctor!"

Five female voices shouted in unison, at an extremely high decibel level.

The highly piercing sound waves echoed throughout the spacious VIP ward. The crystal chandelier on the ceiling swayed, emitting a crisp clinking sound. The thickened soundproof door couldn't block this wave of sound, and all the voice-activated lights in the hallway turned on.

Zhang Xuanyao's Adam's apple bobbed; his throat was so dry it felt like it was smoking. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, which felt like swallowing a handful of broken glass.

He pressed his right hand against the latex mattress beneath him and braced his left hand against the stainless steel bed frame, his waist muscles contracting as he prepared to sit up.

Click.

A faint, muffled sound came from his left chest cavity.

Excruciating pain assaulted him like a landslide. The jagged edges of the broken ribs rubbed against the surrounding flesh, like a steel blade frantically churning in his lungs. His alveolar contraction was obstructed, and his breathing stalled instantly.

He bit his lower lip and drew in a sharp breath of cold air.

Cold sweat covered his forehead, gathering into bean-sized droplets that dripped down his jawline, hitting the pristine white leather pillow and spreading into a small water stain.

Bang.

The double wooden doors of the ward were pushed open, the door panels hitting the rubber pads on the wall with a dull thud.

Ye Ran, wearing a well-fitted white lab coat and flat soft-soled shoes, walked quickly to the bedside. Her cold, clear gaze swept over the young man on the bed.

She extended her right hand, pressed down on Zhang Xuanyao's shoulder, and pushed down firmly.

"Lie down, don't move around," she said in a stern tone, carrying a professional sense of pressure.

Ye Ran withdrew her hand and pulled a miniature flashlight from her lab coat pocket. Using her left thumb and index finger, she pried open Zhang Xuanyao's eyelids, pressed the flashlight switch with her right hand, and shone the strong light into his pupils to observe their constriction.

She turned off the flashlight and put it back in her pocket.

She picked up the metal medical chart hanging at the foot of the bed, flipped through the pages, and her gaze fell upon the various data points.

"You broke two ribs, and you were only three millimeters away from puncturing your lung. If you had been brought in half an hour later, we could have gone straight to your Daoist temple for the funeral feast."

Her voice had no inflection; her sharp-tongued nature was in full effect.

Zhang Xuanyao lay flat again and raised his right hand, his fingertips touching the thick gauze on his chest. Beneath the gauze, there were fixation straps. His breathing rhythm became extremely slow, and every inhalation was accompanied by a tugging pain.

That old bastard Chen Wan really played dirty.

"Don't worry, I have a tough life; Yama won't take me," Zhang Xuanyao grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth.

Ye Ran closed the medical chart and hung it back at the foot of the bed.

"Even a tough life can't withstand you abusing yourself like this. For the next few days, you can only eat liquid food. You are strictly forbidden from getting out of bed, and you must use a urinal for defecation."

After giving the medical instructions, Ye Ran turned and walked toward the door, leaving everyone with a white silhouette.

The VIP ward was over a hundred square meters, with wool carpet on the floor and soundproof padding on the walls. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows were covered with double-layered blackout curtains, and sunlight spilled onto the floor through the gaps.

Various Advanced medical instruments were placed on the bedside table. The screen of the ECG monitor pulsed with green wavy lines, emitting a rhythmic beeping sound.

Three bottles of differently colored medicine hung on the IV stand. Transparent tubes were connected to the intravenous catheter on the back of Zhang Xuanyao's hand, and the medicine dripped down one drop at a time.

Su Qingge walked to the water dispenser, took out a disposable paper cup, pressed the warm water button, and water flowed into the cup.

Qin Bingruo pulled over a chair, sat by the bedside, crossed her arms, and looked at Zhang Xuanyao's pale face.

Yan Jingshu brought a hot towel from the bathroom, walked to the head of the bed, bent down, and gently wiped the cold sweat from Zhang Xuanyao's forehead, her movements extremely soft, fearing she might hurt his wounds.

Shen Zhiyao leaned in to the bedside, resting her chin on her hands, her big eyes blinking.

Ji Xue stood to the side, pushed up her glasses, and watched the data on the various instruments.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at these five women, his scalp tingling.

That battle just now had exhausted all his trump cards. The Five Thunders Method had drained his Mental Energy, the Type 92 pistol had emptied its magazine, and his top-tier Magical Artifact had reached its limit of use.

Chen Wan's eerie resurrection at the end, with Death Qi filling the air.

If it weren't for Qin Bingruo arriving with heavy firepower and Su Qingge bringing bodyguards to clean up the scene, he really would have died in the hospital corridor today.

It's good to be alive.

Zhang Xuanyao took a deep breath, which tugged at the broken bones in his chest, causing him to grimace in pain again.

A notification sound from the System rang in his mind.

"[Ding! Detected that the host has completed a high-difficulty cross-level kill and successfully saved everyone at City Center Hospital. Beginning calculation of shock value for this event...]"

The mechanical synthesized voice echoed in his mind, devoid of any emotional color.

"[Congratulations to the host, you have gained extreme shock from the live stream audience, the medical staff present, and the patients. Total shock value: 8 million!]"

Zhang Xuanyao froze, his breathing stalling for a second.

Eight million.

The golden numbers kept enlarging on his retina, flickering with dazzling light.

His lips couldn't help but curl upward, tugging at the muscles of his cheeks and consequently affecting the injuries on his chest.

The pain was diluted by the immense joy. Two broken ribs in exchange for 8 million in shock value—this deal was extremely worthwhile.

If Chen Wan were to come back to life now, Zhang Xuanyao would absolutely piece the monster's ashes back together and strike it with lightning again.

Added to his previous balance, the shock value in his account had broken through the ten-million mark.

It was enough for one Great Master-level draw, and he would still have two million left over for backup.

He could exchange for more Advanced Talismans, upgrade the detection range of his Heavenly Eye, and strengthen the recovery speed of his Pure Yang Body.

He suppressed the urge to summon the lottery wheel immediately. His physical condition was extremely poor, his Meridians were damaged, and his Mental Energy was exhausted. He would save it and wait until his body recovered.

121: Chapter 121: A Gentle Battlefield, A Mysterious Uninvited Guest

Shen Zhiyao carried a cup of warm water to the bedside, a pink silicone straw inserted into the cup.

She bent down, her neckline revealing a large expanse of snowy white skin that shimmered under the lights.

"Brother Daoist Zhang, you scared me to death. Hurry, drink some water to moisten your throat~"

Her voice was drawn out, cloyingly sweet, and carried an obvious tone of coquetry.

With the cup in her right hand and holding the top of the straw with her left, she brought it to Zhang Xuanyao's lips.

The temperature in the hospital room plummeted.

Su Qingge stood at the foot of the bed and let out a cold snort. She walked to the head of the bed in her high heels, the heels clicking crisply against the floor.

She stretched out her hands, grabbed the edge of the quilt, pulled it up to cover Zhang Xuanyao's neck, and tucked in the corners. Her movements were crisp and decisive, clearly asserting her dominance.

"He just finished surgery and cannot drink too much water. Just moistening his lips is enough," Su Qingge said, looking at Shen Zhiyao with a firm tone.

Qin Bingruo sat on the sofa by the window, picked up a Red Fuji apple from the fruit basket, and held a sharp fruit knife in her right hand.

With the blade against the skin, she rotated her wrist, and the peel fell in a continuous strip into the trash can at her feet.

Her gaze passed over the apple and glanced coldly at Shen Zhiyao by the bed, the blade flashing under the light.

"Some water can easily cause an upset stomach if you drink it," Qin Bingruo remarked, her voice devoid of inflection.

Yan Jingshu walked to the right side of the bed, pulled over Zhang Xuanyao's uninjured right arm, and pressed her thumbs against the Acupoints on his arm, kneading the stiff muscles with moderate pressure.

"Daoist Zhang is suffering from a deficiency of Qi and blood and needs to be nursed back to health slowly. If outsiders don't understand, they shouldn't feed him random things," Yan Jingshu said without looking up, focusing on massaging the Quchi Acupoint.

Ji Xue stood beside Yan Jingshu, holding a stainless steel thermos. She unscrewed the lid, and the aroma of red dates, goji berries, and angelica root drifted out, filling the hospital room.

"Daoist Zhang, this is a blood-nourishing liquid diet I specially brewed. The temperature is just right. Would you like to have some?" Ji Xue pushed up her glasses and took out a small bowl and spoon.

Five people, four directions.

Zhang Xuanyao lay in the very center, wrapped tightly in the quilt. On his left was a straw, on his right was a massage, at his head was the tucking of the quilt, and at his feet was the glint of a knife peeling an apple.

Stuck in the middle, he was in pain yet happy.

His breathing became even more difficult, and the stinging pain in his chest intensified.

Shen Zhiyao refused to be outdone and pushed the straw forward, pressing it against Zhang Xuanyao's lips.

"Brother Daoist Zhang, please drink."

Su Qingge reached out to block the cup. "I said, he cannot drink water right now."

"Su, you are being a bit too controlling," Shen Zhiyao retorted.

Qin Bingruo sliced a piece of apple, picked it up with the tip of the knife, and walked to the bedside. "Eat the apple."

Yan Jingshu increased the pressure in her hands. "Daoist Zhang, is this pressure appropriate?"

Ji Xue scooped up a spoonful of red date porridge and blew on it. "Daoist Zhang, open your mouth."

Five voices and five sets of actions intertwined around the hospital bed.

Zhang Xuanyao closed his eyes and played dead.

The hospital room door was pushed open again.

Ye Ran returned, holding a few lab reports in her hand. She pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose, the lenses reflecting light.

Her gaze swept over the five women huddled around the bed.

"The patient has just finished chest surgery and his lung function is impaired. He needs absolute rest. There isn't even enough oxygen here for all of you to breathe."

Her tone was strictly professional, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Only one family member can stay. Everyone else, get out."

The hospital room fell into a brief silence.

Su Qingge crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin slightly. "I am the chairwoman of this hospital and his closest person. I am staying."

Qin Bingruo put down the fruit knife. "I am a police officer. This case requires his cooperation with the investigation. Both professionally and personally, I should stay."

Yan Jingshu continued to press on the Acupoints. "I understand traditional Chinese massage and can help Daoist Zhang soothe his meridians and promote blood circulation. Which one of you can do that?"

Shen Zhiyao shook the cup in her hand. "Brother Daoist Zhang likes it best when I feed him water, right?"

Ji Xue held the thermos. "The porridge I brewed is the best for the stomach. He can only eat liquid food right now."

Neither side would give in, and the smell of gunpowder permeated the air.

Zhang Xuanyao balled his fist and placed it by his mouth.

"Cough, cough."

He coughed dryly twice, interrupting the impending quarrel, and felt another wave of tearing pain in his chest.

"What is the situation outside right now?" Zhang Xuanyao asked, looking at Su Qingge to change the subject.

Su Qingge turned around, picked up a tablet from the bedside table, swiped her finger across the screen to unlock it, and opened a news app.

She turned the screen toward Zhang Xuanyao.

In the image, outside the Su Group private hospital building, there was a sea of people.

Countless reporters carrying cameras and media personnel holding microphones were there. Broadcast vans filled the entire street, and long and short lenses were aimed at the hospital gate. Security personnel had pulled up warning lines and formed a human wall to block the reporters who were crazily pushing forward.

A large headline occupied one-third of the screen in bold, black font.

"Thunder Descends! Mysterious Daoist Battles Biochemical Monster to Blood, Saving Thousands of Lives!"

Below was a blurry screen recording video. The image quality was very poor; it was clearly a live broadcast screen re-recorded with a mobile phone.

In the video, Zhang Xuanyao was kneeling on one knee, his hands forming a seal. Purple heavenly thunder pierced through the building and struck the monster. Then, there was dense gunfire and flashes of fire; the scene of heavy firepower washing the ground was extremely shocking.

The comments were dense, covering the entire video.

"Daoist is awesome!"

"This is the real True God!"

"Physical transcendence is the most lethal!"

It was number one on the trending list, followed by a deep red "Explosive" tag.

Qin Bingruo stood up and walked to the bedside.

"To suppress panic, the authorities have classified Chen Wan's actions as a biochemical experiment conducted by overseas terrorists and have announced to the public that the Special Police force killed the perpetrator."

"However, your identity has already been noted by the higher-ups. The Provincial Department has issued a statement preparing to secretly award you special honors. Relevant confidentiality agreements and bonuses will be delivered by someone specifically in a few days."

Official endorsement, gaining both fame and fortune.

Zhang Xuanyao leaned back against the pillows. This time he had completely gone viral. Although he couldn't be publicly commended, the hidden benefits would definitely be substantial.

Outside the corridor.

A burst of extremely noisy footsteps approached, leather shoes clicking on the marble floor tiles, chaotic and numerous.

Immediately after.

Bang! Bang!

Two muffled thuds, heavy objects hitting the floor.

Accompanied by the screams of men.

The defensive line of the Su Group's elite bodyguards was forcibly torn open.

Heavy footsteps stopped outside the hospital room door.

The doorknob was roughly twisted, emitting a harsh sound of metal friction.

The person outside did not knock but pushed the door open directly.

The thickened soundproof door was pushed open with immense force, slamming against the wall.

A burly man stood at the door, wearing a grey Man in Zhongshan Suit, with a buzz cut, a square face, and thick eyebrows.

Behind him followed four bodyguards in black suits, wearing sunglasses and communication headsets in their ears.

On the corridor floor lay two Su Group bodyguards, clutching their stomachs and curling up in pain.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit ignored the five women in the room and locked his gaze directly on Zhang Xuanyao on the hospital bed.

He took long strides into the room, his leather shoes stepping on the carpet, his aura extremely powerful.

Su Qingge's expression darkened. She stepped forward, blocking the front of the bed.

"Who are you? Who allowed you to come in?" Su Qingge said in a stern voice.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit stopped and looked at Su Qingge.

"Move aside." His voice was loud and full of vigor.

Qin Bingruo reached for her lower back with her right hand, gripped the handle of her gun, and looked on guard.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the newcomer and activated the Heavenly Eye.

Purple light swirled deep within his pupils.

Lines of information appeared above the man's head.

Zhang Xuanyao narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on the sheets with his left hand.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit bypassed Su Qingge, walked to the bedside, and looked down at Zhang Xuanyao.

He reached out his right hand and probed into the inner pocket of his Man in Zhongshan Suit.

The movement was extremely fast.

Qin Bingruo drew her service weapon and aimed it at the man.

"Don't move!"

The man did not stop his movement, pulled a black card from his inner pocket, held it between two fingers, and handed it to Zhang Xuanyao.

The surface of the card was printed with a dark golden totem.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the totem, his pupils dilating.

The man turned his wrist and threw the card onto the quilt.

He turned around and strode out of the hospital room.

The four bodyguards in black followed closely behind.

The hospital room door remained open, and the corridor returned to deathly silence.

Zhang Xuanyao picked up the black card on the quilt, his fingertips rubbing against the dark golden totem on it.

He pressed his fingers hard, and the edge of the card embedded into his palm.

It cut through his skin, seeping out a trace of blood.

Zhang Xuanyao looked up and gazed out the window.

The wind had picked up.

122: Chapter 122: Bloodstained Black Card, Different Paths for Daoist Sects

The hospital room was deathly silent. The sound of breathing was clearly audible.

Zhang Xuanyao leaned against the propped-up pillow, holding the black card between two fingers of his right hand. The card's material was neither metal nor wood; it felt extremely cold to the touch, and its edges were polished to a razor-sharp finish.

He pressed his fingertip hard, and the sharp edge sliced through the skin of his index finger. A small cut opened, and red blood seeped out. Beads of blood gathered, slid down his fingertip, and dripped onto the dark gold totem on the card's surface.

The blood did not spread out randomly but instead rapidly followed the lines of the totem, filling every groove.

The incandescent light poured down from the ceiling onto the card. The blood-stained dark gold totem refracted an eerie glimmer, a dark red light that flowed across the card's surface.

The five women stopped what they were doing, their petty bickering coming to an abrupt halt. They gathered around the hospital bed in unison, their gazes fixed on the black card glowing with red light.

Su Qingge was the first to break the silence. Her stunning face was covered in frost, and her brows were furrowed. Exuding the full aura of a female CEO, she walked to the head of the bed in her high heels and looked down at the card in Zhang Xuanyao's hand.

"Who was that arrogant man just now?"

Su Qingge's voice was stern, her tone carrying an intense sense of oppression as she turned to look at the door.

"Do you want me to have my bodyguards detain him immediately? To dare to injure my people in my hospital—does he really think the Su Group is a pushover!"

As she finished speaking, Su Qingge took out her phone. Her fingers swiped rapidly across the screen to bring up the security department manager's number, her thumb hovering over the dial button, ready to press it at any moment.

Zhang Xuanyao shook his head, a helpless, bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. His gaze never left the totem on the card's surface as his fingers gently stroked its edge.

"I don't know the one wearing the Zhongshan suit."

Zhang Xuanyao spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse; his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed.

"But this totem... is the exclusive mark of my Senior Martial Uncle."

"Senior Martial Uncle?" everyone exclaimed in shock, speaking in unison.

Qin Bingruo tucked the folded fruit knife into the pocket of her tactical vest and walked quickly to the foot of the bed. Resting her hands on the stainless steel bed rail and leaning forward, she asked immediately, driven by her professional instincts as a police officer.

"You just caused such a massive commotion. The biochemical monster incident at City Center Hospital is still brewing. The entire internet is discussing that Daoist who summoned heavenly lightning. Why would your Senior Martial Uncle send someone to find you at a time like this?"

Qin Bingruo spoke rapidly and clearly, hitting the core of the issue.

Zhang Xuanyao took a deep breath. As his chest expanded, the fractured ribs rubbed against the surrounding flesh, and a sharp pain washed over him. He gasped, his features twisting, and beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

Yan Jingshu hurriedly walked to the bedside, extended her hands, and placed her palms over the gauze on Zhang Xuanyao's chest. Following the rhythm of his breathing, she gently massaged downward, smoothing out his chaotic Qi. Her movements were extremely skillful, and her pressure was perfectly measured.

Zhang Xuanyao caught his breath, his breathing steadying once more. He looked at Qin Bingruo with a grave tone.

"I don't know, but my Senior Martial Uncle never visits without a reason; I doubt it's anything good."

Su Qingge keenly caught the words "doubt it's anything good." She put down her phone, pulled over a chair, sat by the bed, and rested her folded hands on her knees.

"What kind of person is your Senior Martial Uncle, exactly? Do you have a history with him?" Su Qingge pressed.

Zhang Xuanyao fell into recollection. His gaze passed over the others and landed on the pristine white ceiling as he slowly revealed a little-known secret of the Daoist sect.

"Master—that is, my Master—and my Senior Martial Uncle have been at odds since childhood," Zhang Xuanyao said in a low voice.

"The Daoist school has five arts: Mountain, Medicine, Destiny, Physiognomy, and Divination." Zhang Xuanyao raised his left hand, extended five fingers, and pressed them down one by one.

"Mountain is for cultivating immortality: meditation, breathing exercises, drawing talismans, and chanting incantations. It trains the self. Medicine is for healing: acupuncture, herbal decoctions, and incantation healing. Destiny is for fortune-telling: Eight Characters and Purple Star Astrology. Physiognomy is for reading appearances: facial reading, palmistry, and Feng Shui. Divination is for predicting: Qi Men Dun Jia, Six Lines, and Plum Blossom Numerology."

Zhang Xuanyao lowered his left hand and looked at Su Qingge.

"Master was an extremely rigid person. He spent his whole life guarding that dilapidated Qingfeng Temple. He was proficient in Divination, Destiny, and Physiognomy. He believed in conforming to the Heavenly Dao—if it's in your fate, you will have it; if not, don't force it. When encountering a fatal situation, he never tried to forcefully change fate against the Heaven-Defying, only advising people to let go."

Zhang Xuanyao paused for a moment, his fingers stroking the black card again.

"But my Senior Martial Uncle is the complete opposite."

"My Senior Martial Uncle is extremely ambitious and was never content to rot in the deep mountains and forests living in poverty. He specialized in 'Mountain' and 'Medicine,' cultivating the foundation internally through drawing talismans and chanting, and practicing medicine externally to exorcise evil and heal illnesses."

Zhang Xuanyao gripped the black card tightly, his knuckles protruding.

"My Senior Martial Uncle acts without any taboos, believing that man can conquer nature. To achieve his goals, he stops at nothing. To earn money from the wealthy, he would forcefully extract the Luck of ordinary people to extend the lives of the powerful and influential. Master couldn't stand his behavior, and after a huge argument, my Senior Martial Uncle betrayed and left the Daoist temple, disappearing without a trace from then on."

In the hospital room, there was only the beeping of medical equipment. The five women listened quietly, digesting the massive amount of information.

"The rules of the Daoist sect state that one cannot practice all five arts simultaneously; greed leads to failure. Master followed the rules and lived a life of poverty, while my Senior Martial Uncle broke them. Who knows what kind of big shot he has become out there." Zhang Xuanyao gave a cold laugh and placed the black card on the bedside table.

Ji Xue stood to the side, pushed up her crooked black-rimmed glasses, and spoke cautiously, the lenses reflecting light.

"Daoist Zhang, since your Senior Martial Uncle has left, where is your Master now? With such a big thing happening, shouldn't we notify your Master?"

As soon as this question was asked, the atmosphere in the hospital room instantly dropped to freezing point, and the air seemed to stop flowing.

Zhang Xuanyao's eyes dimmed for a moment, a self-deprecating curve tugging at the corner of his mouth as he shook his head.

"Master calculated the fortunes and misfortunes of everyone in the world, sitting at the entrance of the temple every day to read faces and bones for people, yet he failed to calculate that he would contract a terminal illness."

Zhang Xuanyao's voice was extremely soft. "He has already passed away."

Shen Zhiyao's eyes reddened. She walked quickly to the bedside, extended both hands, and tightly grasped Zhang Xuanyao's left hand, which was not connected to the IV drip, her warm palms transmitting temperature to him.

Zhang Xuanyao patted the back of Shen Zhiyao's hand, signaling that he was fine, and continued to recount that past.

"The day Master passed away, it was raining heavily. Qingfeng Temple was leaking, and I couldn't even scrape together enough money to buy a coffin. It was on that very day that my Senior Martial Uncle returned."

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the sunlight outside the window. The scenes from that year surfaced before his eyes.

"My Senior Martial Uncle was dressed in a suit and leather shoes, followed by eight bodyguards in black. They drove four black Rolls-Royces and parked at the foot of the mountain where the temple was located. He walked up the muddy mountain path, his leather shoes covered in mud, but he didn't care in the slightest."

"He stood before Master's body, smoking a cigar, exhaling a puff of smoke. He didn't offer incense, nor did he kowtow; he just looked down at me from a position of superiority."

123: Chapter 123: Compass Positioning, Thousand-Mile Killing Intent

Zhang Xuanyao imitated the tone his Senior Martial Uncle had used at the time, his voice low.

"He asked me if I wanted to abandon this dilapidated Daoist temple and follow him to the big city to live in luxury. He said that as long as I nodded, he would immediately wire ten million into my account."

"How did you answer?"

Qin Bingruo pressed, her hand gripping the bed rail tightly.

"I refused."

Zhang Xuanyao replied crisply.

"I only wanted to guard that dilapidated home for my Master. It was his life's work, and I couldn't let the Legacy end there."

"My Senior Martial Uncle sneered at the time and turned to leave. When he reached the entrance of the temple, he stopped and looked back at me."

Zhang Xuanyao narrowed his eyes, repeating that incredibly arrogant remark.

"Sooner or later, you will be like a dog, kneeling and begging me to take you in."

Zhang Xuanyao reached out, picked up the black card again, held it between his fingertips, and muttered to himself.

"Master, if you were still alive, how would you face the current situation?"

No one answered; the hospital room was silent.

Qin Bingruo made a prompt decision. She pulled out her phone, dialed a colleague at the Municipal Police Bureau, walked to the window, and turned her back to the others.

"Hello, Old Liu, immediately pull the Sky Net surveillance around City Center Hospital. Yes, right now. Check for a car; the license plate is unknown. Target characteristics: male, height around 1.85 meters, crew cut, square face, wearing a gray Zhongshan suit, accompanied by four bodyguards in black suits."

Qin Bingruo spoke rapidly, issuing orders.

"Find out the whereabouts and background of this group. No matter where they went, you must find their landing spot! Move fast!"

After hanging up, Qin Bingruo turned around and looked at Zhang Xuanyao.

Su Qingge, unwilling to be outdone, picked up her phone. In front of everyone, she dialed the head of the group's security department, her voice cold.

"Old Zhao, immediately use all of the group's social resources to investigate the group that caused a scene in the corridor of the 24th-floor VIP ward at the hospital just now."

Su Qingge walked to the hospital bed, looking down at the black card.

"Daring to run wild on my turf and injure my people—I want all his background information within half an hour! If you can't find it, don't bother coming to work tomorrow!"

After hanging up, Qingge threw the phone onto the sofa.

The two women each made their calls to summon help, and the atmosphere in the hospital room became extremely tense.

Zhang Xuanyao lay on the bed, his mind suddenly recalling the image of the Man in Zhongshan Suit he had seen earlier using the Heavenly Eye. A layer of cold sweat seeped from his back, soaking his hospital gown.

Just now in the corridor, the moment the Man in Zhongshan Suit pushed the door open, Zhang Xuanyao had activated the Heavenly Eye.

Purple light swirled deep within his pupils as his gaze pierced through the man's flesh, seeing something truly terrifying.

Above the head of the Man in Zhongshan Suit floated an incredibly dense blood-red light. The blood-red light roiled, appearing dark red, forming twisted human faces struggling and roaring within it—this was the manifestation of the resentment generated only by carrying countless lives on one's conscience.

Even more terrifying was the man's thread of fate.

That thread of fate, representing Luck and background, was as thick as an infant's arm, appearing purple-gold. It shot into the sky, spanning thousands of miles, firmly connected to some behemoth in the capital.

Zhang Xuanyao swallowed hard. The circle his Senior Martial Uncle now moved in was terrifyingly deep; it was certainly not something the Su Group or the local police could easily contend with.

Bang.

The hospital room door was pushed open, and Ye Ran walked in with a cold face, holding a syringe filled with transparent liquid.

Ye Ran walked to the bedside, snatched the black card from Zhang Xuanyao's hand, and roughly threw it onto the nightstand with a sharp snap.

"Extend the back of your hand," Ye Ran ordered.

Zhang Xuanyao obediently extended his left hand, which wasn't connected to an IV drip.

Ye Ran removed the plastic cap from the needle, aimed the tip at the vein on the back of his hand, and inserted it without hesitation, pushing the syringe plunger to inject the transparent liquid into his veins.

"Sedative."

Ye Ran pulled out the needle and pressed a cotton swab against the puncture site.

"Your task now is to sleep. Even if the sky falls, it will have to wait until your ribs heal."

After delivering her sharp-tongued warning, Ye Ran turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Under the effect of the sedative, Zhang Xuanyao's eyelids grew heavier and heavier. His vision blurred, the faces of the five women swayed before his eyes, and he finally sank into darkness.

In his sleep, Zhang Xuanyao vaguely felt that the black card on the nightstand was emitting an extremely faint fluctuation. The fluctuation penetrated the wall, sending some kind of positioning signal to the outside world, with a very regular frequency.

...

The scene shifted to a thousand miles away.

In the capital, inside an extremely luxurious courtyard house.

The courtyard covered a vast area, with the ground paved in bluestone. In the center of the courtyard sat a huge bronze water vat, in which top-quality water lilies were planted. Several koi swam in the water, flicking their tails and creating ripples.

The surrounding corridors were built with high-quality golden nanmu wood, featuring carved beams and painted pillars, emitting a faint woody fragrance.

Inside the main room, the light was dim; no lights were on. Only a few thick red candles were burning. The candlelight flickered, casting shadows on the walls that constantly twisted and deformed.

In the center of the room sat a sandalwood offering table. There was no deity statue on the table, only a bronze-colored compass.

The compass was huge, over half a meter in diameter, its surface covered with dense runes and the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Its material was ancient, exuding a sense of the vicissitudes of time.

An old man sat cross-legged on a prayer mat in front of the offering table.

The old man wore an extremely magnificent purple-gold Daoist robe, embroidered with gold thread in the pattern of a Yin and Yang Taiji diagram, with the Eight Trigrams arranged around it.

His full head of white hair was pulled up high with a jade hairpin. His face was thin, his cheekbones were high, and he wore a goatee on his chin.

The old man's eyes were closed. His hands rested on his knees, palms facing up, holding an extremely strange hand seal. His breathing was long and steady, his chest rising and falling only slightly, as if he had merged with the surrounding environment.

The room was deathly silent, with only the crackling sound of the burning red candles.

Suddenly.

The bronze-colored compass on the offering table emitted a low hum.

The magnetic needle in the center of the compass began to tremble violently, spinning wildly and creating a faint current of air that stirred the old man's white hair.

The runes on the surface of the compass lit up one by one, emitting a dark golden light. The light intertwined to form an illusory map.

A light spot on the map was flickering constantly, its frequency matching the fluctuations of the black card in Zhang Xuanyao's hospital room exactly.

The old man suddenly opened his eyes.

There was no muddiness in the depths of his eyes as one would expect from an old man; instead, they flashed with extremely sharp brilliance, mixed with a hint of extremely cold, sinister laughter.

The old man lowered his hands, braced himself against his knees, and slowly stood up. His movements were extremely stiff, and his bones made a crack-crack grinding sound.

He walked to the offering table, looked down at the wildly spinning compass, and locked his gaze onto the flickering light spot.

The old man extended his right hand, his withered, twig-like fingers stroking the edge of the compass. His fingernails were long, appearing an eerie, dark cyan-black.

"Dear Martial Nephew, oh dear Martial Nephew."

The old man spoke, his voice hoarse and grating, echoing in the empty room.

"If I hadn't watched that live stream from City Center Hospital, how long would you have kept it from your Senior Martial Uncle that the Grandmaster passed the Five Thunders Method to you..."

The old man flipped his wrist and grabbed the compass from the offering table. The compass stopped spinning, and the light faded.

The old man turned around and strode toward the room's door, the hem of his purple-gold Daoist robe dragging on the ground, making a swishing sound.

He pushed open the wooden door, stepped over the threshold, stood on the steps, and looked up at the crescent moon in the night sky of the capital.

The night wind blew, swirling the fallen leaves in the courtyard.

The old man raised the compass, aiming it toward the moon, and pulled his lips back to reveal his stark white teeth.

"Five Thunders Method, Pure Yang Body—truly, Heaven is helping me."

The old man tucked the compass under his arm, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked down the steps. His leather shoes clicked crisply against the bluestone pavement.

"Come," the old man barked low.

Four men in black martial attire flashed out from the shadows, kneeling on one knee with uniform movements, their heads bowed, not daring to look directly at the old man.

"Prepare the car; we go to Heng City," the old man commanded.

The four men answered in unison, stood up, and vanished into the darkness.

The old man stood in the center of the courtyard, watching the koi in the water vat. He extended his cyan-black finger and tapped the water surface lightly.

The water surface froze, and cold air spread. The koi were instantly frozen into ice sculptures, maintaining their swimming postures, completely losing their vitality.

The old man withdrew his finger, turned, and walked toward the gate, his figure merging into the night.

124: Chapter 124: Beauties Suffer Illness, Storm Fills the Tower

Time passed; it was the fourth day of hospitalization.

Heng City, Su Group private hospital.

24th floor, VIP ward.

Sunlight pierced the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, passed through the gap in the double blackout curtains, and sprinkled onto the pure white wool carpet.

In the beam of light, tiny dust particles floated up and down.

Inside the ward, the air was filled with an incredibly complex scent.

The bitterness of traditional Chinese medicine, the faint fragrance of perfume, the sweetness of fruit, and the pungent smell of medical alcohol—four scents mixed together, drilling into his nasal cavity.

The hospital bed was located in the center of the room, the bed frame made of medical stainless steel, the surface coated with white baking paint.

On the bedside table, various advanced medical instruments were placed.

On the ECG monitor screen, green wavy lines jumped regularly, making beeping sounds.

On the IV pole, two bottles of transparent medicine hung.

A hose connected to the indwelling needle on the back of Zhang Xuanyao's hand, the medicine dripping down one drop at a time.

Around the bed, four women occupied four positions.

Su Qingge wore a wine-red high-end professional suit, the jacket tailored perfectly, outlining her perfect curves.

She sat on the leather sofa at the end of the bed, legs crossed, flesh-colored silk stockings wrapping her slender calves, feet stepping on a pair of black high heels.

She held a thick stack of medical bills, the paper edges sharp.

Her right hand held a Montblanc fountain pen, the tip sliding quickly across the paper, signing her name.

The nib rubbed against the paper, making a rustling sound.

"For this batch of imported special muscle-regenerating agents, add another ten courses of treatment."

Su Qingge didn't even raise her head, giving instructions to the assistant beside her, her voice cold, carrying the oppression of a superior.

"Charge everything to the Su Group's private account. Also, contact the foreign orthopedic expert team and have them fly over for a consultation tomorrow."

The assistant wore a black suit, standing to the side, nodding quickly, taking the bill, turning, and walking toward the ward door.

Leather shoes stepped on the carpet without making a sound.

He opened the thickened soundproof door, walked out of the ward, and closed the door.

Shen Zhiyao sat on the round stool on the left side of the head of the bed, wearing a pink dress, the hem reaching her knees.

She held a white porcelain bowl, the walls painted with blue and white patterns.

The bowl contained crystal-clear bird's nest, emitting a faint heat.

Her right hand pinched a small silver spoon, the handle carved with patterns.

She scooped up a spoonful of bird's nest, brought it to her red lips, pursed her lips, and blew.

The airflow blew away the heat on the bird's nest.

"Daoist Zhang, ah—" Shen Zhiyao elongated the tail of her voice, her tone sweet and greasy, carrying an obvious hint of coquetry.

Her wrist reached forward, the spoon delivered to Zhang Xuanyao's mouth.

Zhang Xuanyao leaned against the upright latex pillow, a cushion behind his back.

He opened his mouth and swallowed the bird's nest.

His Adam's apple rolled up and down as he swallowed.

The warm liquid slid down his esophagus into his stomach.

On the right side of the head of the bed, Yan Jingshu wore a moon-white qipao, the slit of the qipao revealing her fair thighs.

She stood by the bed, her body leaning forward slightly.

Her hands had fingers together, palms pressed against Zhang Xuanyao's right arm.

Following the direction of the meridians, from the shoulder all the way down, she massaged.

The strength was moderate, her fingertips pressing accurately on the Quchi point, Shousanli, and Hegu point.

"Daoist Zhang, the flow of Qi and blood is already much smoother." Yan Jingshu spoke, her voice gentle, like a breeze in the Jiangnan water towns.

"The stagnant blood at the fracture is dissipating. With acupuncture, the recovery speed will be even faster."

On the right side of the foot of the bed, Ji Xue wore a plaid shirt, washed until it was pale, and paired with a pair of jeans.

A pair of black-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of her nose, the lenses extremely thick.

She held a stainless steel thermal bucket in her hands, holding it with both hands.

She unscrewed the plastic lid, and the rich aroma of medicinal cuisine drifted out, overpowering the other smells in the ward.

"Daoist Zhang, this is the nourishing soup I've been stewing for four hours." Ji Xue pushed her glasses, the lenses reflecting light.

"Inside, I added century-old wild mountain ginseng, velvet antler, and angelica. It is extremely beneficial for recovering Origin Qi, and the temperature is just right."

Zhang Xuanyao lay on the hospital bed, a mouthful of bird's nest on the left, a massage on the right.

His nasal cavity was full of the smell of medicinal cuisine, his ears full of women's voices.

The broken ribs in his chest still ached faintly; two ribs were broken, extremely close to his lung lobes.

He didn't dare to breathe hard; every time he inhaled, his chest cavity expanded, pulling at the wound.

The four women refused to give way to each other, fighting openly and covertly, the smell of gunpowder permeating the air.

The ward door handle turned, making a crisp click.

The thickened soundproof door was pushed open.

Ye Ran wore a well-tailored white coat, the hem swaying as she walked.

She stepped on flat soft leather shoes, walking into the ward.

She held a metal medical record folder in her hand, clipping several A4 papers.

A stethoscope hung around her neck, the black rubber tube hanging in front of her chest.

Her gaze swept over the four women around the bed.

Her gaze lingered on Su Qingge for two seconds.

The chairman of the Su Group, the ice queen of the Heng City business world, usually cold and domineering, decisive in killing and cutting.

At this moment, she was guarding the hospital bed of a young Daoist, covering all medical expenses.

Intense curiosity surfaced in the depths of Ye Ran's eyes.

Her gaze turned to Zhang Xuanyao on the hospital bed.

Stepping in flat shoes, she walked to the bed.

She opened the metal medical record folder, the metal clip making a crisp collision sound.

"Rounds." Ye Ran's voice was cold, businesslike, without any emotional color.

Shen Zhiyao retracted the small silver spoon, placed the white porcelain bowl on the bedside table, and took a step back, giving up the position.

Yan Jingshu stopped the massage, straightened up, and placed her hands together on her lower abdomen, stepping to the side.

Ji Xue covered the lid of the thermal bucket, hugged it in her arms, and stood by the wall.

Ye Ran walked to the left side of the head of the bed, reached out her right hand, and took off the stethoscope around her neck.

She stuffed the two earplugs into her ears.

She held the stethoscope in her left hand and pressed it against Zhang Xuanyao's chest.

Avoiding the wound wrapped in thick gauze, she pressed on the surrounding skin.

Her fingers exerted force, pressing down.

Click.

A faint friction sound came from the broken bone, bone shards stimulating the surrounding flesh and blood.

Severe pain rushed over like a mountain and sea.

Zhang Xuanyao took a cold breath, his features wrinkled together, his teeth biting his lower lip tightly.

A layer of fine cold sweat broke out on his forehead, gathering into water beads, sliding down his cheeks.

Ye Ran looked at Zhang Xuanyao's painful expression, the corners of her mouth turning up, drawing a tiny arc.

She retracted the stethoscope and hung it back around her neck.

"Heart rate is on the high side, breath sounds are slightly rough, no signs of infection in the lungs." Ye Ran reported the data, her voice steady.

She picked up the ballpoint pen clipped to her chest pocket and recorded quickly on the medical record folder.

Zhang Xuanyao recovered, slowing his breathing rhythm, looking at Ye Ran.

Retaliating under the guise of rounds.

Zhang Xuanyao suddenly realized something and activated the Heavenly Eye.

"They are here."

"Who?" Su Qingge asked.

"My Senior Martial Uncle."

Zhang Xuanyao closed his eyes and let out a breath.

"That man in the Zhongshan suit is just an errand boy."

The atmosphere in the ward dropped to freezing point.

Shen Zhiyao, Yan Jingshu, and Ji Xue looked at each other and took a step back.

Ye Ran closed the medical record folder and looked at Zhang Xuanyao.

"Your heart rate has soared to 120, and your blood pressure is rising. If this continues, the wound will rupture." Ye Ran reminded.

Zhang Xuanyao opened his eyes, ignoring Ye Ran.

He turned to look at Su Qingge, "Immediately mobilize all your security forces. Guard the gate. No matter who comes, they cannot be let in."

Su Qingge nodded, took out her phone, and dialed the security department manager.

"Old Zhao, take all the bodyguards on standby on the first floor, move them all to the lobby, level one alert." Su Qingge gave the instruction, her voice icy.

Hanging up the phone, Su Qingge walked to the window and pulled open the double blackout curtains.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, she overlooked the street below the hospital building.

The street was bustling with traffic and pedestrians.

Zhang Xuanyao turned his head and looked at the sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The originally clear sky had been covered by large dark clouds at some unknown time.

The dark clouds rolled, blocking the sunlight.

The light in the ward dimmed.

125: Chapter 125: An Unwelcome Guest Arrives, the True Colors Are Revealed

At the same time, outside the lobby of the Su Group private hospital in Heng City.

Four black SUVs with Beijing license plates arrived in a single file, speeding along the street.

The engines emitted a dull roar, and the tires screeched against the asphalt.

A shrill sound of braking rang out.

The four SUVs came to a steady halt in the plaza directly in front of the hospital entrance.

The car doors opened simultaneously.

Four bodyguards in black suits stepped out first, wearing sunglasses and communication earpieces.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized as they quickly spread out, occupying four positions and scanning their surroundings.

The front passenger door of the second SUV was pushed open.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit stepped out, sporting a flat-top haircut and a square face.

His leather shoes made a dull thud as they struck the plaza's tiles.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit walked to the rear door, bent down, and extended his right hand to grasp the door handle.

He pulled open the heavy door, his left hand shielding the top of the frame.

A foot clad in a black cloth shoe emerged from the car and stepped onto the ground.

Immediately after, an old man wearing purple-gold Daoist robes stepped slowly out of the car.

The old man had a full head of white hair, held up high by a jade hairpin. His face was thin, his cheekbones were prominent, and he sported a small goat beard on his chin.

The Yin and Yang Taiji diagram was embroidered on his Daoist robe in gold thread, shimmering with a dim light against the backdrop of dark clouds.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi stood up straight, his hands clasped behind his back.

His sharp gaze passed over the hospital entrance and locked directly onto the twenty-fourth floor of the building.

The corners of his mouth pulled back, revealing teeth as white as bone.

"Found you." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's voice was hoarse, like the cry of a night owl.

He began to walk toward the hospital entrance.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit followed closely behind, with the four black-clad bodyguards flanking them.

The hospital's security System was triggered.

Alarm lights in the lobby lit up, flashing red.

Over a dozen elite bodyguards from the Su Group, dressed in black uniforms, rushed out from various corners of the lobby.

They quickly assembled in front of the main entrance, forming a line to create a human wall.

Holding black rubber batons, they stared at the six people approaching.

"Stop! This is a private hospital, no visitors allowed!" the Bodyguard Captain shouted, raising his baton.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi did not stop walking; he didn't even glance at the bodyguards, his gaze remaining locked on the twenty-fourth floor.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit stopped and let out a cold snort.

The four black-clad men behind him darted out like ghosts.

Their speed was extreme; they transformed into four black shadows and rushed into the crowd of bodyguards.

The battle erupted.

There were no fancy Moves, only ruthless attacks.

A black-clad man threw a punch, smashing it into the Bodyguard Captain's face.

His nasal bone shattered, and blood splattered.

He lifted his knee and drove it into another bodyguard's abdomen.

The bodyguard curled up like a shrimp and collapsed to the ground.

He snatched away a rubber baton and backhanded it across the shin of a third bodyguard.

"Crack"—the sound of the bone breaking was sharp and piercing.

Less than ten seconds.

Over a dozen elite bodyguards from the Su Group were all lying on the ground.

They clutched their wounds and wailed.

The sounds of breaking bones and screams echoed through the spacious lobby.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi stepped over the blood and the fallen crowd, crossing the lobby toward the elevator bank.

His leather shoes trod on the bloodstains, leaving dark red footprints behind.

The elevator doors opened, and Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi stepped inside.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit followed him in and pressed the button for the twenty-fourth floor.

The elevator doors closed, cutting off the screams in the lobby.

The numbers on the digital display flickered and rose.

Twenty-fourth floor, VIP ward corridor.

Four Su Group bodyguards were guarding the door to the patient's room, their hands gripping their walkie-talkies tightly, veins bulging on the backs of their hands.

"Ding."

The sound indicating the elevator had arrived rang out.

The elevator doors slid open to both sides.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi stepped out of the elevator, his hands still clasped behind his back.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit strode out in front to clear the way.

The four bodyguards stepped forward to intercept them.

"Who are you!" the bodyguards shouted.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit didn't waste any words; he extended his hands and grabbed the collars of the two leading bodyguards.

The muscles in his arms bulged, exploding with terrifying strength.

He lifted the two sturdy men, who each weighed over 180 pounds, into the air.

He threw them forcefully to either side.

"Bang, bang."

The two bodyguards slammed into the walls on either side of the corridor, slid down, and lost consciousness.

The remaining two bodyguards' eyes widened, and they swung their batons at the Man in Zhongshan Suit.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit raised his arms, taking the brunt of the baton attacks.

He kicked out with both feet, slamming into the chests of the two men.

The two flew backward, crashing into the thick, soundproof door of the patient's room.

"Bang!" A loud noise erupted.

The thick, soundproof door of the patient's room was forced open by an invisible wave of Qi.

The metal parts inside the door lock shattered and scattered across the floor.

The two door panels slammed against the rubber pads on the walls, rebounded, and swayed slightly.

The air inside the patient's room froze.

All sound ceased abruptly; the beeping of the medical equipment sounded piercing.

Su Qingge and Shen Zhiyao reacted extremely quickly, rising from their chairs.

The two women stood side by side, blocking the front of the hospital bed and shielding Zhang Xuanyao behind them.

Yan Jingshu and Ji Xue retreated to the window.

Ye Ran stood at the head of the bed, the medical chart in her hand falling to the floor with a crisp sound.

The light from the corridor shone into the room.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi stepped over the threshold and entered the room.

The hem of his purple-gold Daoist robe dragged on the carpet, making a rustling sound.

Zhang Xuanyao lay on the hospital bed, his gaze passing over Su Qingge's shoulder to clearly see the face of the person who had arrived.

His pupils dilated, and his heart contracted.

That gaunt face, that goat beard, that purple-gold Daoist robe.

He would recognize him even if he were turned to ashes.

Zhang Xuanyao gritted his teeth, supporting himself on the edge of the bed with his hands, exerting force from his waist.

Enduring the excruciating pain of his broken ribs rubbing against his flesh, he propped himself up and performed the Daoist salute.

"Senior Martial Uncle Zheng Yunqi." Zhang Xuanyao spoke, his voice hoarse and trembling.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi wore a fake, kindly smile on his face, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes bunching together.

His pace was extremely fast.

In two steps, he crossed the room, bypassed Su Qingge and Shen Zhiyao, and arrived at the bedside.

He extended his right hand, his fingers as withered as dry wood, the nails a strange, greenish-black color.

He pressed down on Zhang Xuanyao's left shoulder.

A heavy force pressed down along his shoulder.

Zhang Xuanyao felt as if a great mountain had been placed on his shoulder, and the body he had just propped up was forced back onto the hospital bed.

His back slammed into the latex mattress, the vibration aggravating his injuries.

He let out a muffled groan, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Junior Martial Nephew Zhang Xuanyao, I trust you have been well." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi withdrew his hand and stood up straight.

His gaze swept unscrupulously over Zhang Xuanyao's body, his eyes filled with greed.

It was as if he were looking at a rare treasure.

"Ever since your Master passed away, I haven't returned to Qingfeng Temple." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi sighed.

"No wonder you wouldn't accept my charity back then, preferring to guard that broken Daoist temple."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi leaned forward, bringing his face close to Zhang Xuanyao's, and lowered his voice.

"So the Grandmaster's Five Thunders Method was passed down to you; you learned your Master's techniques quite well."

The voice echoed in the room.

Every word struck at his heart.

It exposed Zhang Xuanyao's greatest trump card.

126: Chapter 126: The Secret of Pure Yang, Gunfire Standoff

Zhang Xuanyao lay on the hospital bed, his chest heaving violently.

The pain from his broken bones irritated his nerves.

The hospital gown clung to his skin, and his back was completely soaked with cold sweat.

Looking at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's face, which was inches away, he forced a helpless, bitter smile.

"Senior Martial Uncle is joking."

Zhang Xuanyao's voice was extremely low.

"I have only learned a little fur, just a blind cat bumping into a dead mouse; how can I compare to Senior Martial Uncle's heaven-reaching methods?"

Feigning weakness, enduring.

In his current physical condition, he could not even draw the most ordinary Talisman; a head-on collision would only lead to death.

Su Qingge keenly sensed Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's malicious intent.

Zhang Xuanyao's reaction just now, and that phrase "blind cat bumping into a dead mouse," all hinted at the extreme danger of this old Daoist.

The female CEO's aura was fully unleashed.

Su Qingge took a step forward, blocking the space between Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi and the hospital bed.

She lifted her chin, looking at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi with a gaze like a blade.

"Senior Martial Uncle Zheng, since you have already visited Zhang Xuanyao, if there is nothing else, please leave." Su Qingge issued an eviction order, her voice stern.

"The patient has just finished surgery and needs absolute rest; it is not convenient for him to receive guests for a long time."

Shen Zhiyao also stepped forward, standing beside Su Qingge, glaring at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

"Exactly! How can you just barge into someone else's hospital room! Get out!" Shen Zhiyao loudly chimed in.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi remained in his smiling tiger persona, hands behind his back.

He did not even glance at Su Qingge and Shen Zhiyao, completely ignoring the existence of the two women.

"This Daoist is merely catching up with his own junior nephew; the two laywomen need not be nervous." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi spoke lightly, his tone carrying undisguised contempt.

"Although the Su Group has some weight in Heng City and can be considered a local tyrant." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi sneered.

"But in the eyes of the capital, it is nothing more than a slightly larger ant that can be crushed with a flick of the finger."

Extremely arrogant, extremely conceited.

Su Qingge was so angry she laughed, a cold sneer tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"What big talk, I would like to see how someone from the capital crushes me in Heng City."

Su Qingge put her right hand behind her back, clutching her phone.

Relying on muscle memory, her thumb blindly typed on the screen, unlocking it and opening the messaging app.

She found Qin Bingruo's chat box and quickly sent the hospital's location, along with three words: Help, come quickly.

After sending, Su Qingge stuffed the phone into her skirt pocket.

The movement was covert and did not attract Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's attention.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi ignored the two women, his gaze passing over their shoulders to lock back onto Zhang Xuanyao.

He dropped a bombshell.

"Back then, someone abandoned you at the entrance of Qingfeng Temple, and your Master picked you up and named you Zhang Xuanyao." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi said.

"'Profound and mysterious, the gateway to all wonders'; 'Yao', the foundation of the Eight Trigrams; it seems your name has great significance."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi narrowed his eyes, his gaze like a blade.

"A cultivation genius encountered once in a century; your Master hid it from me so well."

The words "Pure Yang Body" were spoken.

Zhang Xuanyao's heart contracted, his breathing stalled.

His biggest secret had been exposed.

Zhang Xuanyao remained silent, staring fixedly at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

Deep in his pupils, purple light lit up once again.

He activated the Heavenly Eye, attempting to see through Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's fate and weaknesses.

His line of sight penetrated Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's skin.

However, the moment his sight made contact.

Zhang Xuanyao felt a violent stinging pain in both eyes, as if staring directly at the noon sun.

His eyeballs were covered in bloodshot veins, and tears flowed uncontrollably.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi was shrouded in a layer of thick, purple-black Evil Qi.

The Evil Qi churned, forming an impenetrable barrier that completely blocked the Heavenly Eye's prying.

He could see nothing, only endless darkness.

The Heavenly Eye had failed for the first time.

Zhang Xuanyao closed his eyes, tears sliding down the corners of his eyes.

Seizing the Five Thunders Method, extracting the Origin of the Pure Yang Body.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi revealed his true colors, putting away the fake smile on his face.

His tone carried a condescending sense of charity.

"Your Master was rigid, guarding rules for a lifetime; as a young person, you shouldn't be like that." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi extended his right hand.

"I invite you to the capital; we, uncle and nephew, will join forces, and I will guarantee you endless wealth and glory. How about it?"

The hospital room was deathly silent.

The beeping of medical equipment seemed intrusive.

Everyone's gaze was focused on Zhang Xuanyao, waiting for his answer.

Zhang Xuanyao opened his eyes, the bloodshot veins at the bottom of his eyes fading.

He exhaled a breath of turbid Qi, his chest heaving.

His gaze was like a blade, looking directly at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

He did not retreat in the slightest.

"No thank you, Senior Martial Uncle." Zhang Xuanyao's voice was calm and resonant.

"I am like my Master, just an unappreciative old antique; I cannot enjoy the prosperity of the capital."

A decisive refusal, never compromising.

The expression on Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's face froze.

The fake smile vanished without a trace, replaced by extreme coldness and menace.

The temperature of the surrounding air plummeted, as if he were in an ice cellar.

On the screen of the ECG monitor, the green wave lines fluctuated violently, emitting a harsh alarm sound.

Beep — beep — beep —

"Junior Nephew Xuanyao, I gave you a chance, don't be ungrateful!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's voice was hoarse, filled with intense murderous intent.

He raised his right hand, his five fingers curled into a claw.

Strange cyan-black light emerged from his fingertips, with black Qi faintly swirling within the light.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit standing to the side immediately stepped forward, reaching out to push away Su Qingge and Shen Zhiyao who were blocking the front.

He prepared to move in and take the person.

At that critical moment.

Outside the corridor, heavy footsteps could be heard.

Tactical boots stepping on the floor tiles made a dull sound.

Accompanied by the crisp metallic sound of bullets being chambered: click, click.

"Police! Nobody move! Hands on your heads!"

A sharp female shout exploded in the corridor.

Qin Bingruo was wearing full black tactical gear, a bulletproof vest, and a tactical helmet.

Her hands were tightly gripping a Type 92 pistol, the muzzle leveled.

Leading a team of fully armed Special Police, she rushed into the hospital room.

The SWAT Team Members dispersed quickly, occupying advantageous positions.

The pitch-black muzzles were all aimed at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi and the Man in Zhongshan Suit standing in front of the hospital bed.

Red laser targeting dots landed on Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's chest and forehead.

The atmosphere in the hospital room was tense to the extreme.

Qin Bingruo's gaze was sharp, her finger on the trigger, ready to fire at any moment.

Facing the pointing of a dozen automatic rifles.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi did not raise his hands, nor did he show an expression of panic.

The corners of his mouth pulled open, revealing an extremely strange, cold sneer.

127: Chapter 127: The Power of Dimensional Reduction

In the corridor outside the hospital room, the sound of tactical boots stepping on the floor tiles was as dense as rain.

Click! Click!

More than a dozen Type 95 automatic rifles were chambered simultaneously, the crisp sound of metal clashing echoing through the narrow space.

Red laser aiming lines pierced the air, weaving into a net, with over a dozen red dots firmly pinned to the chest, glabella, and throat of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

The SWAT Team Members dispersed into a tactical formation, the strong light from their tactical flashlights tearing through the dimness of the hospital room, the beams of light aimed directly at the face of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

Qin Bingruo held the Type 92 pistol with both hands, her arms taut, the muzzle raised level.

Beneath her bulletproof vest, her breathing was rapid, her chest heaving violently.

Facing over a dozen thermal weapons ready to spit fire at any moment, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi not only did not raise his hands, but instead let out an extremely harsh cold laugh.

The laughter was like the cry of a night owl, scraping against everyone's eardrums.

His withered fingers slowly and methodically reached into the lining of his purple-gold Daoist robe.

"Don't move! Take your hands out!" Qin Bingruo shouted sternly, her thumb flicking off the safety, her index finger resting on the trigger, gradually applying pressure.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi did not stop his movements; with two fingers whose nails were a cyan-black color, he clamped onto a specially made black satellite phone and slowly pulled it out.

The satellite phone's shell was made of high-strength military-grade plastic, with no brand logo on the surface, only a thick, short antenna.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit stepped forward, using his broad back to block in front of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, his muscles bulging, forcefully withstanding several infrared aiming beams.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi pushed aside the shoulder of the Man in Zhongshan Suit and stood brazenly under the muzzles of the guns.

His thumb pressed the power button of the satellite phone.

The screen lit up with a ghostly green backlight, illuminating that face covered in age spots.

His fingers quickly pressed a few numbers, dialing a number in the capital.

In the hospital room, only the monotonous beeping of medical instruments remained, along with the beeping sound coming from the speaker of the satellite phone.

"Hello." The call connected, and a deep male voice came through, the background noise extremely quiet.

"Give me the private number of the head of the Heng City police bureau." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's tone was arrogant, entirely the posture of a superior giving an order.

There was no superfluous nonsense, no pleasantries.

"Understood." The other end of the line only replied with two words, then hung up immediately.

Less than ten seconds later.

The satellite phone screen lit up, receiving an encrypted text message.

The content of the text message was just an eleven-digit mobile phone number.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the fully armed Qin Bingruo, his eyes full of mockery.

In front of everyone, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi dialed again, following the number from the text message.

His index finger pressed heavily on the speakerphone button.

Beep — Beep —

The speaker amplified the waiting tone, striking at the nerves of everyone in the hospital room.

Su Qingge stood at the end of the bed, her right hand gripping the phone in her skirt pocket tightly, her knuckles turning white from excessive force.

Shen Zhiyao hid behind Su Qingge, covering her mouth with both hands, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Zhang Xuanyao lay on the hospital bed, the broken ribs in his chest aching faintly, his gaze crossing over the SWAT Team Members' bulletproof helmets, staring fixedly at that satellite phone.

Click.

The call connected.

"Hello, who is this?" The voice of Director Wang Chen of the Hengcheng Municipal Public Security Bureau came from the speaker.

There was a hint of fatigue from being disturbed in his voice, but he still maintained vigilance.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi did not rush to answer, but deliberately cleared his throat and drew out his tone.

"Director Wang, trust you have been well since we last met."

The breathing on the other end of the line paused for half a second.

"May I ask which superior is this?" Director Wang Chen's voice changed pitch immediately, his tone revealing extremely obvious awe, and even a hint of cautious probing.

Those who could get through to this encrypted private number were few and far between in the entire Handong Province.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi pulled up the corners of his mouth, revealing his stark white teeth, and identified himself.

"The capital, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi."

Hiss —

The sound of Director Wang Chen drawing a sharp breath could be clearly heard from the speaker.

"So it is Deputy Director Zheng!" Director Wang Chen's voice instantly rose by an octave, his tone becoming extremely respectful; one could feel through the phone that he must have straightened his body at this moment.

"Why didn't you notify me in advance when you came to Heng City? I could have arranged for comrades from the Municipal Police Bureau to pick you up at the airport and hold a welcome banquet for you!"

Deputy Department Level.

Official identity from the capital.

These five words slammed onto the floor of the hospital room, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

Zhang Xuanyao gritted his teeth, his molars grinding and making a creaking sound.

This was Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's true trump card.

Not only did he Master bizarre and unpredictable evil arts, but he also wore an official skin that allowed him to deal with both the underworld and the establishment.

Under this absolute suppression of secular power, the financial resources of the Su Group and the guns of the Special Police all became a joke.

Su Qingge's face became extremely ugly, and under her wine-red professional jacket, a layer of cold sweat seeped from her back.

Qin Bingruo's hands holding the gun trembled slightly, and the muzzle showed a slight, imperceptible deviation.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi was very satisfied with the reaction of the people around him.

He took a step forward, his feet in black cloth shoes, facing the muzzles of more than a dozen rifles.

Approaching Qin Bingruo.

His gaze swept coldly over the numbers on Qin Bingruo's bulletproof vest.

He spoke directly into the microphone of the satellite phone.

"Director Wang, the Special Police in your Heng City are quite imposing."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's voice was hoarse as he read out that string of numbers, one word at a time.

"Police badge number 085231."

"You brought a whole team of fully armed Special Police, more than a dozen submachine guns, and infrared aiming devices pointed right at the forehead of this Master."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi suddenly raised his volume, questioning sternly.

"Are you trying to rebel!"

This roar exploded in the hospital room.

Director Wang Chen on the other end of the line panicked instantly.

"Deputy Director Zheng, please calm your anger! It's a misunderstanding! It is absolutely a misunderstanding!" Director Wang Chen apologized repeatedly, his voice even trembling.

"I will verify the situation immediately! I will handle it right away! I will definitely give you a satisfactory explanation!"

"Hmph." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi gave a cold snort and pressed the hang-up button with his thumb.

The beeping of the dial tone sounded.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi slowly and methodically stuffed the satellite phone back into the lining of his Daoist robe and clasped his hands behind his back again.

He lifted his chin slightly, looking at Qin Bingruo with the gaze of someone looking at a dead person.

The hospital room was deathly silent.

The air solidified into a solid, pressing down on everyone's shoulders.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi did not speak, nor did he make a move.

He just stood there, waiting.

Waiting for Director Wang Chen to issue an order to retreat or even suspend duty.

This posture of a cat playing with a mouse pushed the sense of oppression to the extreme.

Qin Bingruo bit her lower lip tightly, her teeth sinking into the flesh, seeping out traces of blood.

The muzzle was still pointed at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, but her finger was too stiff to pull the trigger.

The deathly silence in the hospital room lasted for a full minute.

Beep — Beep — Beep —

The sound of the ECG monitor became the only living thing.

Buzz, buzz, buzz!

The military phone in the chest pocket of Qin Bingruo's tactical vest suddenly began to vibrate violently.

The vibration sound was infinitely magnified in the quiet hospital room, like a chainsaw cutting through everyone's nerves.

The corner of Qin Bingruo's eye twitched.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi let out a sneer.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi extended his cyan-black finger and pointed at Qin Bingruo's chest.

"Answer it, Captain Qin." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi said in a contemptuous tone, "Listen to your director's instructions."

It was the posture of someone who had everyone present in the palm of his hand.

Qin Bingruo took a deep breath, her chest expanding, the bulletproof vest making a rubbing sound.

Her left hand left the pistol grip, holding the gun with one hand, while her right hand pulled open the Velcro of the tactical vest.

She took out the military phone.

On the screen, the four characters "Director Wang Chen" were flashing prominently.

Qin Bingruo closed her eyes, prepared to be suspended on the spot, or even stripped of this police uniform.

Her thumb swiped across the screen, pressed the answer button, and turned on the speakerphone directly.

"Hello, Director Wang." Qin Bingruo's voice was dry.

128: Chapter 128: Forbidden Technique Defies Heaven, Beauty Sacrifices Herself to Replenish Her Soul

There was no immediate reprimand from the other end of the phone.

There was only heavy breathing, like a bull suppressing its rage.

A full three seconds passed.

Director Wang Chen's extremely suppressed yet forceful roar exploded inside the hospital room through the speaker!

"Qin Bingruo! Listen to me clearly!"

"I don't care if that old bastard on the other side is a Deputy Department Head or a Department Head!"

"As long as he dares to break the Law in Heng City, and as long as he dares to touch a single hair on Daoist Zhang, handcuff him immediately!"

Director Wang Chen's voice tore through the speaker, carrying a gravelly, distorted edge.

"If something massive happens, I'll take off this police uniform and take the fall for you!"

"You absolutely cannot let Daoist Zhang suffer even the slightest grievance! Do you understand?!"

These few sentences were like high-explosive grenades detonating right in the center of the hospital room, leaving everyone dizzy.

Everyone had expected the director to compromise obsequiously and sacrifice his subordinate to save his own position.

No one expected that Director Wang Chen would choose to meet force with force!

Unyielding! Fiercely protective of his own!

Qin Bingruo suddenly opened her eyes, her eye sockets instantly turning red and bloodshot.

Her waist straightened instantly, and her back, which had been slightly hunched due to the pressure, was now as straight as a javelin.

"Yes! Director!" Qin Bingruo yelled at the top of her lungs.

Her voice was resonant and had strong penetrating power.

With a snap, she hung up the phone and stuffed it back into her pocket.

Qin Bingruo gripped the Type 92 pistol with both hands again.

Click.

Her thumb confirmed the safety status once more.

The muzzle was firmly locked onto Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's glabella, without even a hint of tremor.

There was no longer any hesitation in her eyes; filled with Killing Intent, she stared fixedly at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

"Team, listen up!" Qin Bingruo shouted.

"Ready!" The dozen or so SWAT Team Members roared in unison.

"If the target makes any suspicious moves, execute on the spot!"

"Yes!"

The muzzles of a dozen submachine guns moved forward half an inch in unison.

Red laser targeting dots flickered wildly on Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's face.

The smugness on Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's face froze instantly.

That high-and-mighty fake smile solidified at the corners of his mouth, and his facial muscles twitched violently.

His face turned livid, and his eyes became extremely terrifying.

He never expected that a Municipal Police Bureau director from such a small place would dare to defy the will of a Deputy Department Head like him.

He actually dared to gamble his future and life for a young Daoist!

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi stared gloomily at Qin Bingruo, gritting his teeth.

"Good, a very unyielding Director Wang Chen." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi squeezed the words out through his teeth, "Very good!"

The Man in Zhongshan Suit stepped forward, fists clenched tight, his knuckles cracking, preparing to force a Breakthrough.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi raised his hand, stopping the Man in Zhongshan Suit.

The SWAT Team Members' fingers were already on the triggers, ready to fire at any moment.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi weighed the pros and cons.

Although he Cultivates, he is still mortal; trying to withstand the spray of a dozen automatic rifles would definitely get him riddled with holes.

A head-on clash now would not gain him any advantage.

Furthermore, his official status was useless in front of these Special Police, who had gone bloodthirsty.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi snorted coldly and flicked the wide sleeves of his purple-gold Daoist robe.

He turned and walked toward the hospital room door.

When he reached the door, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi stopped, not turning back.

With his back to Zhang Xuanyao, he left a harsh parting remark.

"Nephew Xuanyao, your friends are quite loyal." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's gravelly voice echoed in the hallway.

"Senior Martial Uncle will come see you later."

"I hope that by then, you will still have so many people protecting you."

After saying this, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi strode away, taking the Man in Zhongshan Suit with him.

Their backs disappeared into the elevator area at the end of the corridor.

The elevator's downward indicator light lit up.

The roar of car engines starting echoed in the corridor, and four black off-road vehicles drove away from the hospital plaza.

The crisis was temporarily resolved.

Qin Bingruo let out a long breath, her tense shoulders slumping.

She flipped the safety on with her thumb and holstered the Type 92 pistol back into her tactical holster.

She raised her right hand and made a tactical gesture.

"Stand down. Leave two people to guard the door, and the rest go downstairs to stand by," Qin Bingruo ordered.

The SWAT Team Members quickly holstered their weapons and exited the hospital room with clean and efficient movements.

The hospital room door was pulled shut, cutting off the light from the corridor.

Zhang Xuanyao slumped onto the hospital bed as if drained of all strength.

The hospital gown on his back was completely soaked with cold sweat, sticking tightly to his skin.

His chest heaved violently as he gasped for air.

His forehead was covered in beads of sweat that rolled down his cheeks and dripped onto the pure white latex pillow.

"This old bastard is now wearing an official skin, suppressing us by a wide margin." Zhang Xuanyao's voice was weak, filled with heavy exhaustion.

"Overt methods simply cannot touch him."

Qin Bingruo walked to the bedside, took off her heavy tactical helmet, and tucked it under her arm.

Her short hair was dampened by sweat and stuck to her forehead.

She gritted her teeth, a flash of ruthlessness appearing in her eyes.

"If he dares to come again next time, even if I have to throw away this police uniform, I will shoot him dead," Qin Bingruo said, enunciating every word.

Su Qingge walked over from the foot of the bed; her high heels made no sound on the carpet.

Her expression returned to coldness, regaining the composure of a female CEO.

"I have already contacted an orthopedic expert team from abroad. They have chartered a private plane and can arrive in Heng City by tomorrow morning at the earliest." Su Qingge arranged calmly.

"As long as your injuries are treated, we can discuss our next moves. The security forces of the Su Group will guard here twenty-four hours a day."

Zhang Xuanyao shook his head. The movement was small, but it tugged at his broken ribs.

He groaned and frowned tightly.

"It's too late." Zhang Xuanyao's eyes became extremely resolute.

"Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi will never give me a chance to breathe; he only came today to test our strength."

"At the latest, he will make his move tonight."

Zhang Xuanyao braced his hands against the mattress, attempting to sit up.

"I cannot just lie here like a cripple anymore."

"I must do something that violates the Heavenly Dao."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Xuanyao endured the severe pain, suddenly raised his hands, and quickly formed seals in front of his chest.

His fingers crossed and flipped; his movements were so fast they left afterimages.

Deep in his eyes, a purple light flared, instantly occupying his entire pupils.

He directly used the upgraded version of Words Become Law.

Zhang Xuanyao clenched his teeth and bit his tongue hard.

A fishy, sweet taste permeated his mouth.

Pfft!

Zhang Xuanyao opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of crimson vital blood.

The vital blood did not fall to the ground but instead hovered in mid-air, turning into a mist of blood.

"I declare!" Zhang Xuanyao roared low, his voice drowning out the alarm of the ECG monitor.

"Broken bones reconnect! Qi and blood return to origin!"

As the eight words were spoken, a breeze blew up out of nowhere in the hospital room.

The double-layered blackout curtains fluttered noisily in the wind.

A mysterious and profound power of Law pierced through the ceiling and descended upon Zhang Xuanyao with a boom, right before the shocked gazes of the women present.

A very faint sound of bone friction came from Zhang Xuanyao's chest.

Click, click, click.

The broken rib fragments, under the forced guidance of the power of Law, reconnected and healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The surrounding damaged muscle tissue and blood vessels grew wildly and reconnected.

On the ECG monitor screen, the previously chaotic data instantly returned to normal.

The green wavy line pulsed steadily.

However, forcibly modifying Karma and violating the Laws of physics brought about a massive backlash.

The moment the power of Law dissipated.

Zhang Xuanyao's face was as pale as paper, without a hint of blood color.

A needle-like, severe pain came from deep within his brain.

His Mental Energy was almost dried up, and his vision became blurred.

His body slumped limply onto the bed; he didn't even have the strength to lift his eyelids.

He gasped weakly, every breath appearing extremely difficult.

His gaze swept over the women at the bedside.

"My Mental Energy is too severely overdrawn..." Zhang Xuanyao's voice was hoarse to the extreme, intermittent.

"Need... immediate replenishment..."

"CEO Su... Captain Qin..."

He threw out the hint.

Su Qingge and Qin Bingruo were both extremely intelligent women.

They instantly understood the meaning of "replenishing Mental Energy."

The two, usually high-and-mighty female CEO and female police flower, had cheeks that were red enough to drip blood at this moment.

The blush spread all the way to their earlobes.

But in order to let Zhang Xuanyao recover his strength as soon as possible to face Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, the two did not hesitate at all.

Su Qingge coughed twice to hide her embarrassment.

She turned and walked toward the hospital room door.

Click.

She pressed the lock button on the door handle.

Turning around, she walked back to the bedside in her high heels.

She extended her slender fingers and placed them on the buttons of her wine-red professional jacket.

She undid the first button.

Shen Zhiyao, who was on the side, was initially a bit confused, staring wide-eyed at Su Qingge's actions.

A few seconds later, she immediately realized what was happening.

This pampered socialite gave a coquettish snort, refusing to be outdone.

"Daoist Brother is biased! How could you leave me out of this kind of thing!"

Shen Zhiyao, blushing, put her hands behind her back.

She grabbed the zipper of her pink dress.

Zip.

The sound of the zipper opening rang out in the hospital room.

Inside the hospital room, the spring scenery was revealed.

A feast of Yin and Yang harmony officially began.

Zhang Xuanyao closed his eyes, feeling the change in temperature around him.

His fingers curled slightly, gripping the bedsheet tightly.

129: Chapter 129: Yin and Yang in Harmony, Golden Body Broken and Established

Inside the hospital room, a scene of intimacy unfolded. Zhang Xuanyao kept his eyes tightly closed, sensing the changes in the surrounding temperature. His fingers curled slightly, gripping the pure white latex bedsheet beneath him.

Su Qingge removed her wine-red professional jacket and tossed it casually onto the carpet at the foot of the bed.

Her fair, slender fingers continued downward, undoing the buttons of her silk shirt. The friction of the fabric made a rustling sound.

The cold, aloof aura that the female CEO usually exuded was gone, replaced by a touch of determination and tenderness.

The moment her skin touched Zhang Xuanyao's chest, a surge of extreme, icy cold energy flowed along their touching skin, frantically pouring into Zhang Xuanyao's parched Meridians.

Pure Yin Physique. This extreme cold energy was not ordinary cold, but carried a pure power derived from the very Origin of heaven and earth.

The ice-blue current rampaged within Zhang Xuanyao's body, surging upward along the Ren and Du Meridians, heading straight for his brain.

On the other side, Qin Bingruo's movements were even wilder.

The Velcro on her tactical vest was ripped open roughly and tossed onto a chair. Her heavy military boots were kicked off onto the floor, making a dull thud.

The tight lines sculpted by years of training were fully revealed.

Punishing Evil White Tiger Physique. The intense Evil Qi accumulated from years of walking on the edge of life and death, bathed in a hail of bullets, erupted completely at this moment.

The dark red, violent current flowed along Zhang Xuanyao's spine, surging in like a burst dam.

This power was filled with an aura of destruction and slaughter, carrying the clanging sound of weapons clashing. Under the ignition of this violent fire, his parched Mental Energy was revitalized.

One ice, one fire. Two completely different, top-tier Physique Origins converged within Zhang Xuanyao's body.

The extreme ice continuously widened the boundaries of his Sea of Consciousness, while the violent fire frantically replenished his depleted Mental Energy.

The two forces crushed and collided with each other. Zhang Xuanyao's Meridians bulged, and strange red and blue intertwined patterns appeared on his skin.

He bit his lower lip hard until a trace of blood seeped out. Pain and pleasure intertwined, stimulating every nerve.

Shen Zhiyao stood by the bed, watching the incredible scene before her. The socialite Young Miss gritted her teeth and pulled the zipper of her pink dress all the way down.

The fabric slid down her smooth shoulders and piled up at her ankles. Her sweet, naive voice rang out in the hospital room.

"Daoist Brother, I'm here to help you too!"

Shen Zhiyao threw herself onto the hospital bed without hesitation.

Although she did not have the one-in-a-million special Physique like Su Qingge and Qin Bingruo, her body contained the purest Yin-soft energy.

This gentle power, like a lubricant, silently merged into Zhang Xuanyao's Meridians.

The Pure Yin Qi and the White Tiger Evil Qi, which were originally like water and fire, gradually ceased their violent collisions under the harmonization of Shen Zhiyao's gentle power.

The red and blue currents began to intertwine and wrap around each other, forming a perfect cycle.

Under Zhang Xuanyao's tightly closed eyelids, his eyeballs moved rapidly, guiding these three forces to converge in his Dantian and Qi Sea.

Pure Yang Body, completely awakened.

The Pure Yang Origin hidden in the deepest part of his Bloodline was completely stimulated by these three massive external forces.

Deep inside, a point of golden light lit up. Immediately after, the golden light expanded like a nuclear explosion, turning into a dazzling golden beam of light that shot straight up his spine to the crown of his head!

Boom!

An invisible sound wave exploded inside the hospital room. Blinding golden light erupted from Zhang Xuanyao's body, illuminating the entire dim room as bright as day.

The golden light penetrated his skin, revealing the intricate Meridians and bones inside his body.

Broken and then rebuilt.

The Sea of Consciousness, which was on the verge of collapse, had its cracks instantly healed under the illumination of the golden light.

Not only that, the area of his Sea of Consciousness was expanding outward at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Doubled! It had expanded by a full one hundred percent! His Mental Energy rolled and roared in the Sea of Consciousness like a vast ocean, kicking up huge waves.

From his broken ribs in his chest came the dense sound of bones rubbing against each other. Crack, crack, crack.

Nourished by the Pure Yang golden light and the massive Mental Energy, the broken ends grew rapidly and reconnected. The damaged muscle fibers were rewoven, and the blood vessels reconnected.

Several hours later.

The corridor outside the hospital room remained quiet, with SWAT Team Members guarding the door, and no one dared to approach even half a step.

Inside the room, the wind had stopped and the rain had ceased.

On the large VIP hospital bed, the three women lay in a jumble.

Su Qingge's long hair was scattered on the pillow, her smooth forehead covered in fine sweat, and her usually cold cheeks were now flushed with satisfaction and exhaustion, her breathing even and long.

Qin Bingruo was half-lying on the edge of the bed, her arms hanging down limply, her muscles completely relaxed.

Shen Zhiyao was curled up in the crook of Zhang Xuanyao's arm, a sweet smile hanging on the corner of her mouth, sleeping extremely soundly.

Zhang Xuanyao opened his eyes. Deep in his pupils, a flash of purple-gold light flickered and vanished.

He let out a long breath of stale air; the breath was like a sharp sword, carving a visible ripple in the air. Zhang Xuanyao carefully withdrew his arm, moving extremely lightly, for fear of waking the three sleeping women.

He turned and got out of bed. His feet stepped onto the soft carpet, steady as a mountain.

He raised his arms and moved his shoulders. His joints made crisp cracking sounds like popping beans.

He reached out and pressed on his chest; the ribs that had previously been shattered were now as good as new.

Not only was there no pain, he could even feel a faint layer of golden light flowing over the surface of the newly grown bones, making them tougher than before, with their defensive power increased manifold.

Spiritual Qi surged endlessly within his body, and his Mental Energy was at its Peak. He had returned to his Peak state, and had even advanced further than before he was injured.

The previous feeling of weakness was swept away, replaced by a powerful self-confidence of having everything under control.

His gaze swept over the messy hospital bed. Looking at the three sleeping women on the bed, a rare tenderness appeared in the depths of Zhang Xuanyao's eyes.

He turned and walked toward the wardrobe.

Zhang Xuanyao took out his spare Daoist robe from the wardrobe. He unfolded the robe with both hands and draped it over his body.

His fingers nimbly fastened the toggles and tightened his belt. He adjusted the wide cuffs and used a jade hairpin to tie up his scattered white hair again.

His movements were clean and efficient, without a hint of hesitation.

He had originally intended to take this opportunity to rest in the hospital for a few more days.

But reason told him that that old fox, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, would absolutely not give him any time to catch his breath.

Today's concession was merely a temporary avoidance of the sharp edge after weighing the pros and cons.

Once that old thing caught his breath, what would greet him would surely be a thunderous, lethal blow.

He walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.

The sky over Hengcheng City was terrifyingly gloomy. Dark clouds, like heavy lead blocks, pressed down on the city's high-rise buildings.

A violent wind howled, whipping up fallen leaves and trash on the streets.

Raindrops as big as beans pelted against the blast-proof glass, making a dense pattering sound, and water flowed windingly down the glass, blurring his vision.

Zhang Xuanyao stood with his hands behind his back, gazing through the glass at the vehicles below, which looked as small as ants.

"Senior Martial Uncle, oh Senior Martial Uncle."

Zhang Xuanyao's lips moved slightly, his voice extremely low, audible only to himself.

"If you were just a wicked Daoist who knew evil arts, I would have a hundred ways to kill you. Digging pits, casting curses, summoning heavenly thunder—any one of them would be enough to make you vanish into ashes."

His fingers tapped lightly on the marble surface of the windowsill.

"But you just had to go and wear that official skin..."

130: Chapter 130: Dimensional Reduction Attack: The Power of Life and Death Under the Rules

To gain the initiative, he had to figure out the enemy's background.

Zhang Xuanyao pulled his mobile phone from the inner pocket of his Daoist robe. The screen lit up, showing full signal strength. With a swipe of his thumb, he opened his contacts.

He found the private number of Director Wang Chen of the Hengcheng Municipal Public Security Bureau and decisively pressed the call button.

Beep—beep—beep—

The ringing tone sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet hospital room.

It rang for a full dozen times before the call was finally answered.

"Hello, Daoist Zhang."

Director Wang Chen's voice came through the receiver. It was tinged with deep exhaustion, as if he hadn't closed his eyes for days and nights.

In the background, one could faintly hear the sound of a lighter's flint wheel rubbing, followed immediately by the sound of exhaling smoke.

"Director Wang, let's get straight to the point."

Zhang Xuanyao's tone was calm as he went straight to the topic.

"Can you help me find out Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's current whereabouts? Where did he go after leaving the hospital?"

The other end of the line fell into a brief silence. There was only the hissing of the current and Director Wang Chen's heavy breathing.

"Daoist Zhang."

Director Wang Chen gave a bitter laugh, his voice raspy.

"I have already mobilized the Municipal Police Bureau's System to investigate. After his motorcade left the hospital, it went straight onto the highway, and its destination is unknown. However..."

Director Wang Chen paused, his tone becoming extremely grave.

"Do you know Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's true identity in the capital?"

Zhang Xuanyao's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze still fixed on the rainstorm outside the window.

"I only heard him say on the phone that he is at the Advanced level. As for which government office he holds a high position in, I am not clear. Why, is this office very powerful?"

Director Wang Chen took a deep drag of his cigarette and coughed twice.

"It's more than just powerful."

Director Wang Chen lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard.

"He is the Deputy Director of the General Headquarters of the Special Affairs Investigation Bureau."

Special Affairs Investigation Bureau.

Once these seven words were spoken, the fingers Zhang Xuanyao was using to tap the windowsill stopped in mid-air.

Director Wang Chen continued to explain, speaking extremely fast and dropping one bombshell after another.

"Ordinary people don't even know this department exists. It is directly under the highest level of authority, possesses immense power, and is completely independent of the conventional public security, procuratorate, and legal Systems. It specializes in handling supernatural events that science cannot explain, Feng Shui anomalies, and extraordinary people like you."

"They possess extremely high security clearance and authority. It can be said that they have influence in both the underworld and the legitimate world. When handling special cases, they even have the special privilege to act first and report later. Local police forces must unconditionally cooperate with their operations."

Director Wang Chen sighed heavily.

"This is why he didn't even blink when facing a dozen submachine guns. Because in his eyes, our Municipal Police Bureau is nothing more than a subordinate unit assisting him in his case."

Zhang Xuanyao understood. He finally understood why Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi was so arrogant and despotic, regarding human life as nothing but grass.

"More power than your Municipal Police Bureau?" Zhang Xuanyao sneered. "No wonder he is so fearless. It turns out he is the superior's superior. This skin is indeed tough enough."

Changing the subject, Zhang Xuanyao held the phone, his tone carrying a hint of respect.

"Since you knew his background was so strong, Director Wang, why did you still stand up to him on the phone for me yesterday? Weren't you afraid that with one word, he could take away your official position?"

On the other end of the line, Director Wang Chen forcefully stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, making a sizzling sound.

"Daoist Zhang."

Director Wang Chen's voice became extremely firm, coming through the airwaves with resounding clarity.

"You have helped our Municipal Police Bureau a great deal, solved the serial case, and saved the lives of my subordinates. Although I, Wang Chen, am just a director in a small place, I know how to write the four words for repaying gratitude!"

Director Wang Chen slapped the table, making a dull thud.

"In that situation yesterday, that old bastard was clearly out to kill you. If I hadn't been tough and issued a strict order at that time, you and Qin Bingruo would have been finished! No matter how awesome his Special Investigation Bureau is, he cannot trample on human life on my turf!"

"At worst, I won't wear this uniform anymore! I'll go back to my hometown to farm!"

Every word was resonant, revealing a spirit that would rather break than bend.

Zhang Xuanyao felt a warmth in his heart. In this society where interests come first, it is truly rare to meet such a man of loyalty and righteousness.

"Director Wang, I, Zhang Xuanyao, will remember this favor."

Zhang Xuanyao's voice slowed down, his tone solemn.

"You help me keep an eye on his movements first. As long as his motorcade appears in Heng City, notify me immediately. As for how to deal with him, I have a plan in mind."

"Alright, I will contact you as soon as there is news." Director Wang Chen agreed.

He ended the call.

Zhang Xuanyao stuffed the phone back into his Daoist robe pocket. He turned away from the window and paced back and forth in the spacious hospital room. His black cloth shoes made no sound as they stepped on the carpet.

He quickly reviewed the current situation in his mind.

That old thing, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, was simply a flawless, all-around villain.

In terms of Jianghu methods, he was proficient in Cultivate and had practiced mysterious and unpredictable evil arts, with unfathomable strength. In terms of worldly power, he held the high position of Deputy Director of the Special Investigation Bureau, held the power of life and death to act first and report later, and had influence in both the underworld and the legitimate world.

He held an absolute advantage in both the open and the dark.

In a direct confrontation, although he had recovered his strength and even Advanced further, in the face of the state apparatus, individual power was ultimately insignificant.

Once the Special Investigation Bureau mobilized a large number of troops and used heavy firepower to blockade, he would have no way to escape.

He had to think of a foolproof plan.

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the coffee table in the hospital room and opened the drawer. He took out the yellow paper, cinnabar, and a premium wolf-hair brush that Su Qingge had prepared long ago.

He laid the yellow paper flat on the coffee table and unscrewed the cinnabar bottle cap.

He lifted the brush and dipped it in the ink.

His wrist flicked, and the brush moved like a Dragon and a snake. The cinnabar left complex Talisman traces on the yellow paper. Every stroke he made carried a faint fluctuation of Mental Energy. The process of drawing the Talisman was also a process of calming his mind to think.

In less than half an hour.

Buzz, buzz, buzz!

The phone placed on the edge of the coffee table suddenly vibrated violently. The screen lit up, and it was still Director Wang Chen's number.

Zhang Xuanyao frowned slightly. News already?

He put down the brush, picked up the phone, and pressed the answer button.

"Director Wang, any news?"

"Daoist Zhang! Something big has happened!" Director Wang Chen's voice came through the speaker, becoming extremely anxious, speaking as fast as a machine gun, even carrying an uncontrollable tremor.

The background sound of the call was extremely noisy. Piercing sirens wailed in the distance. There were dense sounds of leather shoes running in the corridor, the static of walkie-talkies rising and falling, and the loud shouting of commands.

The entire Hengcheng Municipal Public Security Bureau seemed to have descended into chaos.

"What's going on? Speak slowly." Zhang Xuanyao gripped the phone and asked in a deep voice.

"Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi... he didn't leave Heng City at all!" Director Wang Chen swallowed, his voice extremely low, as if he were hiding in a corner to make the call. "He brought people and air-dropped directly into our Municipal Police Bureau!"

Zhang Xuanyao's eyes hardened. What a move, a counter-attack.

"And he didn't come alone." Director Wang Chen's voice carried a hint of despair. "He also brought a big shot from the capital. Three military helicopters landed directly on the helipad on the top floor of the Municipal Police Bureau building."

Director Wang Chen described the scene.

"Dozens of fully armed Special Investigation Bureau operation members in black combat uniforms rushed directly into the building, taking over all entrances, exits, and monitoring rooms. That big shot took the highest-level transfer order issued by the General Headquarters and forcibly took over all command authority of the Hengcheng Municipal Public Security Bureau!"

"They are in my office right now. They specifically named all the SWAT Team Members who were at the hospital scene yesterday, including Qin Bingruo!"

The crisis escalated.

The villain didn't play by the rules at all. He didn't choose to fight in the dark, but instead directly used his authority to carry out a dimensional reduction strike. He directly undercut Zhang Xuanyao's biggest official umbrella in Heng City.

"They want to interrogate Qin Bingruo?" Zhang Xuanyao's voice turned cold suddenly, and the temperature of the surrounding air dropped instantly.

"Yes! They accused Qin Bingruo of leading a team to violently resist the law and attempting to murder a high-ranking state official!"

Director Wang Chen gritted his teeth, his tone full of frustration.

"The people from the Special Investigation Bureau have already gone to disarm the SWAT Team! Daoist Zhang, they are using this as an excuse to eliminate everyone who has helped you and cut off all your support!"

Zhang Xuanyao gripped the edge of his phone tightly. The high-strength military-grade plastic casing made a creaking sound under the strain, almost about to be crushed.

"Director Wang, protect yourself, and don't fight them head-on. I will settle this account myself."

"Daoist Zhang, please don't be impulsive! They are now acting legitimately. If you force your way into the Municipal Police Bureau, that would be openly confronting the state apparatus, and the charges would be set in stone!" Director Wang Chen anxiously tried to dissuade him.

"I have my own sense of proportion."

Click. Zhang Xuanyao hung up the phone directly.

He threw the phone onto the sofa. Zhang Xuanyao turned his head and looked at the raging rainstorm outside the window. His brows were tightly knitted together, forming the character ' river'.

"Senior Martial Uncle, oh Senior Martial Uncle."

Zhang Xuanyao muttered to himself, purple-gold light flashing wildly in his eyes.

"If you were just a Jianghu Daoist, I could still use profound school methods to fight you. But you insist on using your status as a high-ranking official in the capital to suppress people and use the rules to kill..."

His fingers brushed over the several Talismans he had just drawn on the coffee table. The cinnabar on the yellow paper was bright and vivid.

"How should this game be broken?"

131: Chapter 131: The boat that carries you can also capsize it; invite all people into battle.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the Talisman on the coffee table, his eyes gradually clearing. Since Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi used the rules of the System to suppress people, then he would use even greater rules to break the situation.

Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it; the public opinion of the masses is the greatest bottom line of this country.

His fingers brushed over the cinnabar on the yellow paper, folding the drawn Talisman and stuffing it into the sleeve of his Daoist robe.

He turned and walked towards the nightstand, picking up his phone.

His thumb swiped across the screen, tapping on the live streaming app.

His slender fingers tapped rapidly on the screen, inputting a simple and crude title: "Let's talk about the mysterious department in the real world."

He clicked the broadcast button.

The screen lit up, the camera aimed at Zhang Xuanyao's face.

Less than a minute after the live stream started, the number of online viewers in the top right corner began to skyrocket geometrically. One thousand, ten thousand, fifty thousand, one hundred thousand!

Hundreds of thousands of viewers flooded into the live stream instantly.

Zhang Xuanyao changed his usual flirtatious and sharp-tongued image. He deliberately restrained the pure Yang Qi on his body, making his complexion look pale and haggard.

His shoulders dropped slightly, and he let out a long sigh at the camera.

The barrage instantly flooded the screen, densely covering everything.

"Damn! The missing person has returned! Daoist Zhang, what have you been doing these past few days?"

"Daoist Zhang's complexion doesn't look right. Why does it feel like his Yang Qi has been drained?"

"What does the title mean? Mysterious department? Could it be the legendary Dragon Group?"

"Selling sunflower seeds, peanuts, and mineral water in the front row, waiting for Daoist Zhang to do something crazy!"

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the scrolling barrage on the screen, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.

"Fellow viewers, no jokes today."

Zhang Xuanyao's voice was hoarse, carrying a heavy sense of exhaustion.

"Today, this Daoist will popularize a department that truly exists: the Special Affairs Investigation Bureau."

The speed of the barrage refreshed again.

"Special Investigation Bureau? Just the name sounds awesome!"

"You've read too many novels, Daoist. How could such a department exist in reality?"

"Don't talk nonsense, the person above. Didn't you watch Daoist Zhang's last live stream where he used lightning to strike evil spirits? This world is deeper than you think!"

"Pulling up a small stool to listen, Daoist Zhang, please explain in detail!"

Zhang Xuanyao picked up the bottled water on the table, unscrewed the cap, took a sip, and moistened his throat.

"This department is directly under the highest level, completely independent from the conventional public security, procuratorate, and court System. It specializes in handling supernatural events and Feng Shui anomalies that science cannot explain." Zhang Xuanyao lowered his voice and leaned closer to the microphone. "They possess extremely high confidentiality levels and authority. When handling special events, they even have the privilege of acting first and reporting later. Local police must unconditionally cooperate with their actions."

The atmosphere in the live stream was completely stirred up. The barrage was filled with curiosity and amazement.

"Does such a department really exist? I've learned something new!"

"Acting first and reporting later? That power is too great, right? Doesn't that mean they can do whatever they want?"

"Why is Daoist Zhang suddenly talking about this? Has Daoist Zhang been recruited?"

Zhang Xuanyao shook his head and gave a bitter laugh.

"Recruited? This Daoist doesn't have that kind of luck." Zhang Xuanyao spread his hands towards the camera, his tone filled with helplessness. "Unfortunately, this Daoist hit a snag today. This Deputy Director from the Special Investigation Bureau who came from the capital has such high official authority that even this Daoist had to surrender."

As soon as these words were spoken, the live stream exploded.

"What's going on? Someone dares to mess with Daoist Zhang?"

"Deputy Director of the Special Investigation Bureau? What great authority! Daoist Zhang, what did you do?"

"Don't be afraid, Daoist Zhang, we support you! What exactly happened? Tell us!"

Zhang Xuanyao sighed and began to recount the process.

"A few days ago, this Daoist was in Heng City handling a case of evil spirits harming people. That evil spirit had cruel methods and had harmed many lives." Zhang Xuanyao spoke slowly, recounting the events. "This Daoist risked half his life and finally managed to severely injure that evil spirit. But guess what happened?"

Zhang Xuanyao paused and looked at the screen.

"What happened? Did that Deputy Director save the evil spirit?"

"No way? Public officials protecting evil spirits?"

Zhang Xuanyao nodded and tapped on the table.

"This Deputy Director of the Special Investigation Bureau not only stepped in to protect that evil spirit but also condoned its escape."

Zhang Xuanyao raised his voice, carrying suppressed anger.

"Today, this Deputy Director even brought people to air-drop into the Hengcheng Municipal Public Security Bureau."

The barrage scrolled crazily.

"Air-drop into the Municipal Police Bureau? What is he trying to do?"

"This is too arrogant!"

Zhang Xuanyao gritted his teeth and continued: "Yesterday at the hospital, the Hengcheng Special Police, in order to protect this Daoist, drew their guns and stood off against this Deputy Director. Today, this Deputy Director brought the highest-level order and forcibly took over all command of the Hengcheng Municipal Public Security Bureau. He wants to frame the Special Police who protected the people with the crime of 'murdering a high-level national public official'!"

The emotional point completely exploded.

Hundreds of thousands of viewers were filled with righteous indignation. The netizens' sense of justice was completely ignited.

"Damn! Is there any justice left!"

"Police who protect the common people are going to be arrested? Corrupt officials who protect evil spirits are running wild above?"

"Screw him! This is bullying people too much!"

"Daoist Zhang, expose him! Let's go petition!"

Zhang Xuanyao pretended to be helpless and leaned back in his chair.

"He is a big official from the capital, holding the power of life and death. This Daoist is just a commoner; besides complaining here, what can I do?"

Zhang Xuanyao sighed.

"Those Special Police brothers are afraid their lives are going to be ruined."

The viewers in the live stream were completely enraged.

"So what if you're a commoner! Commoners can also knock off his official hat!"

"Daoist Zhang, what is that dog official's name! I'll go check him right now!"

"My cousin is in the Discipline Inspection Commission in the capital, give us the name!"

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the barrage, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. "Inadvertently," he muttered to the camera: "It seems his name is Zheng Yunqi."

Once these three words were spoken, the "hidden dragons and crouching tigers" in the live stream began to appear.

In less than three minutes, the barrage began to crazily spam Zheng Yunqi's public information.

"Found it! Zheng Yunqi, from the capital, superficially holds a leisure post in some quiet office, but in reality, his file is top secret!"

"Damn, this old guy has such a deep background!"

"Deep my ass! Can he be deeper than the people?"

A hardcore viewer with the ID "Capital Insider" sent a striking red barrage.

"Brothers! The Special Investigation Bureau has a top-level supervision and reporting hotline! Specifically for handling such high-level officials who abuse their power! The number is 010-XXXXXXX! Everyone call together! Blow it up!"

Once this barrage appeared, it was immediately copied and pasted by countless viewers, instantly filling the entire screen.

A bottom-up internet storm was completely formed.

"Reported! The operator over there is confused!"

"I called too! They said it has been recorded!"

"Brothers, keep it up! Drag this dog official off his horse!"

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the screen full of "Reported" and "Blow up his phone," outwardly still full of worry, but inwardly blooming with joy.

Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. The anger of these hundreds of thousands of viewers is enough to drown Zheng Yunqi.

"Many thanks to you all for speaking up for justice."

Zhang Xuanyao cupped his hands to the camera.

"This Daoist is going to the Municipal Police Bureau to see the situation; I cannot let those Special Police brothers suffer grievances in vain. Ending the broadcast now."

He decisively clicked to close the live stream.

The screen went black.

Zhang Xuanyao stood up and tidied his Daoist robe.

He pushed open the hospital room door.

In the corridor, two remaining SWAT Team Members immediately stood straight.

"Daoist Zhang, are you going out?" One of the Special Police asked.

"To the Municipal Police Bureau." Zhang Xuanyao walked with long strides towards the elevator.

The elevator door opened, Zhang Xuanyao stepped in and pressed the button for the first floor.

The elevator descended rapidly, and a feeling of weightlessness came.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at himself reflected in the elevator door, the corners of his mouth curling up.

Zheng Yunqi, if you like to play with rules, then I will play a big game with you.

Let's see if your deputy-department-level official hat can withstand this monstrous public opinion.

Ding.

The elevator door opened on the first floor.

Zhang Xuanyao walked out of the elevator, crossed the hospital lobby, and walked towards the taxi parked at the entrance.

He opened the car door and sat in the back seat.

"Driver, go to the Hengcheng Municipal Public Security Bureau." Zhang Xuanyao gave the address.

The taxi driver stepped on the gas, and the vehicle drove into the rain curtain.

132: Chapter 132: Overwhelming Public Opinion, Let's See Who Dares to Cover Up the Sky with One Hand

The scene cuts to the Hengcheng Municipal Public Security Bureau.

Inside the office of the Director, the atmosphere was oppressive to the extreme. The air seemed to have solidified into a tangible entity, pressing heavily on everyone's shoulders.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi sat nonchalantly on Director Wang Chen's large leather sofa. The hem of his purple-gold Daoist robe draped casually over the sofa cushion.

He held a blue and white porcelain teacup in his hand, slowly blowing on the tea leaves on the surface of the water.

Steam curled upwards, blurring his face, which was covered in age spots.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi looked down at Director Wang Chen, who was standing across from the desk, with a playful expression.

Director Wang Chen stood straight, the buttons on his police uniform fastened tightly. His fists were clenched so hard that his fingernails were almost digging into his flesh. The veins on his forehead bulged, and his breathing was heavy, like a beast trapped in a cage.

Standing nearby was an important figure from the capital, dressed in a well-tailored Zhongshan suit.

This man was around fifty years old, with his hair combed back meticulously, and he wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. He held a document stamped with a bright red seal.

"Director Wang Chen, I will repeat this one last time."

The Man in Zhongshan Suit scolded sharply, slamming the document in his hand heavily onto the desk. A crisp "slap" echoed through the office.

"This is the highest-level transfer order issued by the General Headquarters of the Special Investigation Bureau! From this moment on, we are taking over all command of the Hengcheng Municipal Public Security Bureau!"

Director Wang Chen gritted his teeth and said nothing.

"Order the immediate disarmament of Qin Bingruo and all the Special Police who participated in yesterday's hospital operation!"

The Man in Zhongshan Suit pressed forward, his finger almost poking Director Wang Chen's nose.

"Hand them all over to the Special Investigation Bureau for interrogation! They are suspected of violent resistance to law enforcement and attempted murder of an Advanced national public official!"

Director Wang Chen raised his head and looked directly into the eyes of the Man in Zhongshan Suit.

"My people did not break the law."

Director Wang Chen's voice was hoarse, enunciating every word.

"They were carrying out a mission to protect the lives and safety of citizens. No one has the power to slaughter people in Heng City!"

"Presumptuous!"

The Man in Zhongshan Suit was furious and slammed his hand on the table.

"Director Wang Chen, you are openly opposing the organization! Opposing the state apparatus! Do you even know what you are doing!"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi put down the teacup in his hand and let out a soft laugh.

"Director Wang, why be so stubborn?"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's voice was hoarse, carrying a thick sense of mockery.

"Is it worth sacrificing your future, and even the future of your subordinates, for a Jianghu charlatan?"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi stood up and walked in front of Director Wang Chen.

"Do you think you can protect them by stubbornly refusing to give in?"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi patted Director Wang Chen's shoulder.

"The Special Investigation Bureau's action team has already gone to disarm them. Your persistence now is merely a futile struggle."

Director Wang Chen forcefully shook off Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's hand.

"Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, don't be too rampant!"

Director Wang Chen glared at him.

"Men do, and Heaven watches. You condone evil spirits to harm people, and now you are abusing your power for personal vendettas; you will face retribution sooner or later!"

"Retribution?"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi tilted his head back and let out a harsh, loud laugh.

"On this land, the rules are set by me! If I let you live, you live; if I let you die, you must die!"

Extremely arrogant.

Extremely overbearing.

Pushing the oppression of power to the limit.

Director Wang Chen bit his back molars so hard he tasted blood in his mouth.

He held his ground against the pressure, absolutely refusing to yield. As long as he didn't sign, the Special Investigation Bureau couldn't take the people away legitimately.

Just as the two sides were deadlocked, and Director Wang Chen was about to collapse under the immense pressure: Buzz, buzz, buzz!

A sharp vibration broke the deathly silence in the office.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit frowned and reached into his pocket. He took out a black encrypted mobile phone.

Seeing the caller ID on the screen, the expression of the Man in Zhongshan Suit changed.

He immediately stood straight and walked quickly to the window.

He pressed the answer button and held the phone to his ear.

"Hello, Director..." The Man in Zhongshan Suit's tone was respectful.

Before he could finish speaking.

On the other end of the line, the thunderous roar of the head of the General Headquarters of the Special Investigation Bureau pierced through the receiver and exploded in the quiet office.

"What kind of stupid thing have you done in Heng City!"

This roar was so loud that even Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, sitting on the sofa, and Director Wang Chen, standing behind the desk, could hear it clearly.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit shivered, almost dropping the phone.

"Director, we are currently taking over the Hengcheng Municipal Public Security Bureau, interrogating..."

"Taking over my ass!" The roar of the head of the General Headquarters was deafening. "You two idiots! Do you know what's going on on the internet right now!"

The Man in Zhongshan Suit looked dazed and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

"The... the internet?"

"The General Headquarters' supervision and reporting hotline has been blown up since ten minutes ago! Dozens of lines are completely full, and the operators are about to vomit blood from exhaustion!"

The voice on the other end of the phone was filled with frantic panic.

"They are all real-name reports of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi abusing power, shielding evil spirits, and persecuting local Special Police!"

The Man in Zhongshan Suit widened his eyes.

"Not only that! Even the highest petition office's phones have been blown up! The big leaders have personally called to inquire about the situation!"

The roar of the head of the General Headquarters continued to come through.

"Right now, millions of netizens across the entire internet are frantically digging up Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's background! They are about to dig up his ancestors from eighteen generations ago!"

The Man in Zhongshan Suit gasped.

"Stop all your actions in Heng City immediately! Pull the people back!"

The head of the General Headquarters issued a death order.

"As for that old thing, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, tell him to roll back to the capital immediately to accept an investigation! If this fire burns to the General Headquarters, I will skin you alive!"

Slap!

The phone was hung up heavily.

The dial tone echoed in the ear of the Man in Zhongshan Suit.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit stood dazed at the window, the hand holding the phone trembling violently.

Cold sweat instantly soaked through the shirt on his back, sticking stickily to his skin.

The entire internet digging up his background.

The highest petition office alarmed.

Big leaders inquiring.

These words were like mountains, smashing heavily onto his head.

Although the Special Investigation Bureau had immense power, in the face of overwhelming public opinion and under the gaze of the highest levels, it was completely vulnerable.

Things had blown up.

And it was a matter that had pierced the sky.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit turned around and looked at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi sitting on the sofa.

There was no longer any of the previous respect in his eyes, replaced by deep fear and panic.

Director Wang Chen stood behind the desk, hearing the content on the phone clearly.

Although he didn't know exactly what had happened, he keenly sensed that the situation had undergone a heaven-shaking reversal.

Hundreds of thousands of people reporting?

The whole internet digging up background?

Director Wang Chen felt secretly delighted, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise. He knew this must be Daoist Zhang's doing.

Daoist Zhang not only had god-like methods in the mysterious arts, but his ability to mobilize the masses was also unparalleled!

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi looked at the expression of the Man in Zhongshan Suit, and his brows furrowed.

"What's wrong? What did the General Headquarters say?" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi picked up his teacup, his tone unhappy.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit took stiff steps and walked to Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's side.

His legs went weak, and he could barely stand.

He bent down and leaned into Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's ear.

His voice trembling, he repeated the situation on the internet and the order from the head of the General Headquarters word for word.

133: Chapter 133: Falling from the Clouds, Death Approaches

The voice of the Man in Zhongshan Suit was extremely low, carrying an unconcealable tremor. He transmitted the news of the nationwide reporting and the fury of the higher-ups, word for word, into the ears of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

The hand holding the teacup by Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi paused in mid-air.

The muscles in his fingers began to twitch uncontrollably.

Splash.

Boiling tea spilled from the tilted cup, splashing directly onto the back of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's withered hand.

The high temperature instantly scalded his skin red, raising a layer of blisters.

But Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi seemed to have lost his sense of pain, completely ignoring the scald on the back of his hand.

That face, covered in age spots, was completely twisted in extreme shock. His features were scrunched together, looking extremely ferocious.

Emotions of astonishment, shock, and disbelief intertwined, shattering his original posture of having everything under control and being high and mighty.

"What?!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi shouted out, his voice sharp and distorted.

He sprang up from the sofa quickly.

The blue and white porcelain teacup in his hand fell onto the carpet with a dull thud, tea splashing everywhere.

"Hundreds of thousands of people are reporting me?!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi grabbed the collar of the Man in Zhongshan Suit tightly, his eyes wide, his eyeballs almost popping out of their sockets.

The Man in Zhongshan Suit was choked to the point of being unable to breathe and could only nod desperately.

"General Headquarters... General Headquarters wants you to return to the capital immediately... to accept an investigation..." the Man in Zhongshan Suit stammered.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi let go and stumbled back two steps.

He collapsed onto the sofa.

How is this possible!

How could the official status he had managed for decades, the privileges he was so proud of, be completely overturned in just half an hour?

Real-name reports from hundreds of thousands of people—this force was enough to drag any high-ranking official down.

Director Wang Chen stood behind the desk, watching Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's dejected appearance, feeling an unprecedented sense of satisfaction in his heart.

The frustration that had been suppressed for an entire day was swept away at this moment.

This is what happens when one commits too many injustices!

Just at this moment.

Knock, knock, knock.

The solid wood door of the director's office was knocked upon.

The sound was not loud, but the rhythm was unusually steady.

The three people in the office turned their heads to look at the door simultaneously.

Director Wang Chen was just about to ask who it was.

Creak.

The door was pushed open directly from the outside.

Zhang Xuanyao walked in, dressed in purple and gold Daoist robes, his posture upright.

His long white hair was tied up with a jade hairpin, with a few strands hanging down on both sides of his cheeks.

His steps were steady, and his black cloth shoes made a slight friction sound as they stepped on the floor.

Zhang Xuanyao closed the office door behind him.

His gaze swept over the three people in the room, finally landing on Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, who was slumped on the sofa.

The moment Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi turned his head, his eyes widened instantly.

Shock.

Extreme shock.

He was shocked not only that Zhang Xuanyao dared to barge into the Municipal Police Bureau, which had been taken over by the Special Investigation Bureau, all by himself.

He was even more shocked by Zhang Xuanyao's current state!

Yesterday at the hospital, he had seen with his own eyes that Zhang Xuanyao had been backlashed, his sternum shattered, his Meridians withered, and he was so weak that he did not even have the strength to sit up.

With that level of severe injury, even for a great master of the mystic arts, it would be absolutely impossible to recover without three to five years of recuperation.

But now.

The Zhang Xuanyao standing in front of him had a rosy complexion and long, steady breathing.

The Daoist robe on his chest was flat, rising and falling with his breath; where was there any sign of a fracture!

Not only had his shattered ribs completely healed.

What was even more terrifying was the aura emanating from Zhang Xuanyao.

That Pure Yang Qi was several times more powerful than it had been at his peak yesterday!

A faint layer of golden halo circulated on Zhang Xuanyao's body, full of oppressive pressure.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi Cultivated evil arts and was extremely sensitive to aura.

He could clearly feel that the power within Zhang Xuanyao was as unfathomable as a vast ocean.

How is this possible!

Overnight, not only had his injuries fully recovered, but his cultivation had also greatly increased!

Intense Killing Intent and wariness erupted completely in the depths of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's eyes.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi pressed his hands onto the sofa armrests, his nails digging deeply into the leather.

"Junior Martial Nephew, you really make your Senior Martial Uncle look at you with new eyes."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi gritted his teeth, his voice squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Not only are your injuries healed, but you've also learned to mobilize internet mobs to deal with me. Good tactics!"

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the coffee table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

His movements were casual, completely disregarding Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

"Senior Martial Uncle is too kind."

Zhang Xuanyao crossed his legs and smoothed the hem of his Daoist robe.

Zhang Xuanyao looked up, his gaze piercing directly at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

The two men's gazes collided fiercely in the air, as if sparks were flying everywhere.

"Didn't you like using rules to suppress people?"

Zhang Xuanyao sneered.

"How does it feel now?"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's face was livid, and the muscles on his cheeks twitched violently.

"Don't get cocky too early!"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi stood up directly.

"Even if I am suspended for investigation, the foundation of the Special Investigation Bureau is not something a wild Daoist like you can contend with! Once I return to the capital, I have plenty of ways to kill you!"

Zhang Xuanyao let out a scoff.

"Return to the capital?"

Zhang Xuanyao shook his head and waved a finger a few times.

"Senior Martial Uncle, have you misunderstood something?"

Zhang Xuanyao stood up and walked towards Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, step by step.

The Pure Yang Qi emanating from his body was released without reservation.

The powerful pressure forced the Man in Zhongshan Suit nearby to retreat repeatedly, landing on the floor.

Director Wang Chen also felt a surge of blood and Qi, and could only hold onto the desk to barely stand.

Zhang Xuanyao walked in front of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, looking down at him.

"I didn't come here today just to watch you slink back to the capital."

Zhang Xuanyao's voice was extremely cold and chilling, carrying intense Killing Intent.

134: Chapter 134: A Million-Dollar Trial, Tearing Apart the Hypocritical "Compassion"

Zhang Xuanyao pressed forward step by step. The pure Yang pressure filled the entire office as if it were tangible.

The air became extremely thick, and every breath carried a scorching temperature.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi sat on the leather sofa, his hands gripping the armrests tightly. His nails dug in with too much force, gouging several deep cracks into the expensive leather.

His face was livid. The muscles on his cheeks twitched uncontrollably.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi exerted force with both hands and stood up from the sofa. The wide sleeves of his purple-gold Daoist robe whipped through the air in a sharp arc, stirring up a gust of wind.

"Just you?" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi raised his right hand, his index finger pointing straight at the tip of Zhang Xuanyao's nose.

His voice was hoarse, revealing a forced arrogance and madness.

"A wild Daoist who hasn't even grown his hair out yet wants to topple me?"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi took a step forward, attempting to use his height and the aura of a superior who had held power for decades to suppress the young man before him.

"I am the Deputy Director of the Special Investigation Bureau General Headquarters! I hold the power of life and death in my hands! What kind of thing do you think you are!"

Spittle sprayed from Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's withered lips, landing on the polished wooden floor.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in place, neither dodging nor avoiding. He let Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi roar.

His right hand reached unhurriedly into the wide sleeve of his Daoist robe.

The friction of the fabric made a faint rustling sound.

His fingers touched the cold phone casing.

He pulled out the phone.

He flipped his wrist.

The black screen traced a semicircle in the air, stopping steadily before Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's eyes.

The screen lit up.

The blinding light shone onto Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's face, which was covered in age spots.

The livestream interface appeared abruptly in the center of the screen.

The red numbers in the top right corner were jumping crazily, at a speed so fast it was dazzling.

Nine hundred and eighty thousand.

Nine hundred and ninety thousand.

One million!

The number of online viewers officially broke the one-million mark!

In the comment section below the screen, white text scrolled crazily like a snowstorm. The speed was so fast that complete sentences couldn't be read at all, only a blur of white.

Looking closely, the entire screen was filled with angry denunciations.

["You corrupt official! You finally showed your face!"]

["Investigate to the end! No mercy!"]

["Well done, Daoist! Shove the phone in his face!"]

["Is this the Deputy Director who harbors evil spirits? He looks like a hypocritical villain!"]

["One million people are watching you, old man, keep yelling! Where did your official authority go?"]

Zhang Xuanyao held the phone with one hand, the screen aimed steadily at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's face. The camera transmitted Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's ugly state at this moment to millions of netizens across the country without reservation.

The corners of his mouth turned up.

"Senior Martial Uncle, you are mistaken."

Zhang Xuanyao's voice was relaxed, but every word was as sharp as a blade, piercing straight to the vital point.

"It is not just me."

Zhang Xuanyao extended the index finger of his free left hand and tapped lightly on the edge of the phone screen twice, emitting a crisp click-click sound.

"There are also the hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic viewers in this livestream room, all staring at your official position."

The office instantly fell into a deathly silence.

There was only the faint static from the phone's speaker and the notification sound when the comments refreshed.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi saw the image on the screen clearly.

He saw the number of online viewers that had broken one million.

He saw the screen full of comments denouncing him.

His arrogant aura was completely extinguished at this moment.

The blood drained from his face instantly, turning it deathly pale. He looked nothing like a human, resembling a corpse.

His legs went soft, and his knees made a crisp cracking sound.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi staggered backward, his lower back slamming heavily into the edge of the coffee table.

The blue and white porcelain teacup on the coffee table was knocked over, and the leftover tea dripped down the table onto the expensive carpet, staining a large dark patch.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi braced his hands behind him against the table, barely steadying his tottering frame.

His breathing became extremely rapid, and his chest heaved violently.

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and he swallowed hard.

A million netizens watching online.

A frenzy of real-name reports.

The fury of the highest levels.

These things added together formed an unstoppable torrent, enough to crush him completely.

He absolutely could not tear off his mask completely in front of the camera.

Once he gave them an excuse, he would lose even his last chance to turn the tables.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi closed his eyes.

The heaving of his chest gradually lessened.

When he opened his eyes again, the ferocity and madness on his face had vanished without a trace.

Replacing it was an extremely hypocritical, kind face.

The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes bunched together, forcing out a smile that was uglier than crying.

"Junior Martial Nephew Xuanyao."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi lowered his voice, adopting the gentle tone of an elder lecturing a Junior.

"Look at you, your temper is still so hot."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi extended both hands, pressing them down in the air, attempting to ease the tense atmosphere.

"When I asked you to come with me at the hospital earlier, didn't you disagree?"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi pointed at the phone in Zhang Xuanyao's hand, forcing a smile.

"Why are you acting like this now, making such a big scene? What is this for?"

His tone was full of helplessness and tolerance. It was as if he were truly an elder watching a mischievous Junior, indulging the Junior's antics.

Zhang Xuanyao let out a cold laugh.

The laughter sounded exceptionally jarring in the quiet office.

"Senior Martial Uncle, stop acting."

Zhang Xuanyao put away his smile, his gaze locked tightly onto Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's eyes.

"With acting skills like yours, it would be a waste not to go win an Oscar."

Zhang Xuanyao stepped forward, his leather shoes making a dull sound on the floor.

"Didn't you already show your cards at the hospital?"

Zhang Xuanyao's voice suddenly rose, every word resonant and powerful.

"You brought over a dozen submachine guns and demanded answers from me by name!"

"Demanding to know if the Grandmaster's 'Five Thunders Method' had been passed down to me!"

The lie was ruthlessly exposed in public.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's eye twitched violently. His skin trembled uncontrollably.

He clenched his hands into fists inside his sleeves, his nails digging into his palms again.

But under the gaze of the phone camera, he could only continue to tough it out.

"You child!"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi raised his voice, attempting to use the authority of an elder to suppress Zhang Xuanyao's questioning.

"Wasn't that me, your Senior Martial Uncle, caring about your progress in your Cultivation Technique!"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi slapped his thigh hard, looking heartbroken.

"Your Master passed away early, so as your Senior Martial Uncle, what is wrong with me asking how your Cultivation Technique training is going?"

"Why are you so ungrateful! Must you take an elder's good intentions and treat them like donkey lungs!"

Full of empty talk about benevolence and morality.

Mouth full of camaraderie among fellow sect members.

The refresh rate of the comments in the livestream room soared again, almost causing the server to crash.

["Holy crap, this old guy's skin is so thick!"]

["Caring about Cultivation Technique progress with submachine guns? That's a pretty unique way of caring!"]

["Moral kidnapping played so smoothly, I'm gonna puke!"]

["It's a loss for the acting industry that the old guy isn't acting!"]

Zhang Xuanyao looked at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's face.

Just as he was about to speak up and continue the mockery.

The big shot in the Zhongshan suit, who had been sticking to the wall and trembling, suddenly moved.

135: Chapter 135: Betrayed by all, words become law

The big shot in the Zhongshan suit moved with extreme exaggeration.

He was like a wild cat whose tail had been stepped on, jumping straight out from the corner.

This leap left everyone in the office stunned. Even Zhang Xuanyao's hand holding the phone paused for half a second.

The big shot in the Zhongshan suit quickly straightened his messy collar with both hands and adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses.

He strode to the center of the office and stood between Zhang Xuanyao and Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

He extended his right hand, his index finger pointing straight at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's nose.

His back was straight, the fear on his face had been swept away, replaced by an expression of righteous indignation and integrity.

"Deputy Director Zheng!"

The big shot in the Zhongshan suit scolded sharply, his loud voice echoing in the office.

"Your character is in need of investigation!"

This sudden turn of events left Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi stunned on the spot, staring blankly at his colleague who, a second ago, had been fawning and submissive.

The big shot in the Zhongshan suit didn't give Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi any time to react and continued to loudly proclaim.

"Since you have been reported by the public under a real name, just wait to be suspended for investigation!"

The big shot in the Zhongshan suit turned his head and waved vigorously at the phone lens in Zhang Xuanyao's hand.

"The Special Investigation Bureau will never shield a black sheep like you! We will definitely give the vast number of netizens an explanation!"

Every word was clear and sonorous.

He was filled with righteous spirit.

After finishing this high-sounding declaration of dissociation, the big shot in the Zhongshan suit didn't linger for a second.

He turned around immediately.

He bent down, picked up the black briefcase placed next to the sofa.

His footsteps became extremely short and rapid. Hugging the wall, he moved toward the office door at high speed in an extremely comical yet highly efficient posture.

He pulled open the door.

Slipped out sideways.

Closed the door behind him.

The whole process was smooth and fluid, done in one go. In less than five seconds, he had disappeared without a trace.

The speed of this betrayal and dissociation could be called light speed.

Even Zhang Xuanyao was stunned for a moment.

He put down the phone, looked at the tightly closed door, and sighed inwardly that the survival instinct of high-ranking officials was indeed extraordinary.

Abandoned on the spot by his colleague, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi had completely become a lone wolf.

His anger reached its peak.

His cheeks were flushed red, the veins on his forehead bulging one by one like coiled earthworms.

His hands were tightly gripping the corner of his clothes, his knuckles turning white. But he still hadn't completely broken down.

He still had one last trump card. The trump card of the system.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi gritted his teeth, staring fixedly at Zhang Xuanyao.

"Nephew Zhang Xuanyao, you can't possibly make a move now, right?"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi puffed out his chest, forcibly propping up his last bit of confidence.

"The people from the capital are about to take me back for investigation."

"I am now an official under investigation who is under key national surveillance."

"Do you dare to use extrajudicial punishment?"

He let out a cold laugh, filled with intense provocation.

"If you dare to touch a single hair on my head today, you are openly opposing the state apparatus! You are committing a crime!"

"Not only you, but even this Director Wang Chen who is shielding you, and that female Special Police who led the team to resist the law, will all be buried with you!"

Every word was heart-piercing. He was utilizing the rules of the system to the extreme.

Zhang Xuanyao's brows furrowed. He fell into a brief dilemma.

Indeed. If he slapped Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi to death now, it would certainly be satisfying. With his current cultivation, killing him would be as easy as flipping his hand.

But the consequences would be unimaginable. This is the Municipal Police Bureau Chief's office. Director Wang Chen is watching right beside him.

Once he makes a move and Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi dies here, Director Wang Chen, as the Municipal Police Bureau Chief, will inevitably be unable to wash his hands of it.

Qin Bingruo is also still under the control of the Special Investigation Bureau. Pinning the capital crime of shielding a murderer on them and then just walking away—this is definitely not Zhang Xuanyao's style.

Zhang Xuanyao shifted his gaze, sweeping over Director Wang Chen standing behind the desk.

Director Wang Chen's fists were tightly clenched, his police uniform stretched taut. His eyes were bloodshot, staring fixedly at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, wishing he could swallow this old bastard alive.

But when Director Wang Chen met Zhang Xuanyao's gaze, Director Wang Chen immediately shook his head vigorously.

His eyes flashed frantically, desperately hinting to Zhang Xuanyao not to be impulsive. He couldn't give others a handle against them in the Municipal Police Bureau building.

Zhang Xuanyao read Director Wang Chen's look. After weighing the pros and cons.

Zhang Xuanyao took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. He reined in the pure Yang Qi radiating from his body.

The purple-gold halo circulating on his body surface gradually dimmed, eventually fading beneath his skin. The suffocating pressure in the office dissipated along with it.

Since letting him go would have future troubles, and not letting him go would implicate the innocent, then he would use the methods of the Daoist sect to solve the troubles of the system.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi. Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi sensed that Zhang Xuanyao had withdrawn his Qi and thought that Zhang Xuanyao was afraid to act due to fear of collateral damage. Arrogance appeared on his face once again.

"Consider yourself sensible."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi straightened his messy Daoist robe.

"We'll see. Once I return to the capital, I'll have plenty of time to play with you."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi turned around, preparing to leave. Zhang Xuanyao stood where he was, watching Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's back as he prepared to leave. A dangerous arc curled at the corner of his mouth.

He quietly activated his Golden Finger. "Words Become Law (Upgraded Version)."

In an instant, a trace of extremely eerie purple-gold light gathered and flickered in the depths of Zhang Xuanyao's pupils. The surrounding air seemed to freeze for a moment.

An invisible force of rules, inexplicable by science, spread outward with Zhang Xuanyao as the center.

Zhang Xuanyao's lips moved slightly. His voice drifted out, not loud, but clearly falling into the ears of everyone in the office.

"Senior Martial Uncle Zheng Yunqi."

"Your journey back to the capital is destined to be full of accidents."

Zhang Xuanyao paused for half a second and said, "A smooth journey, falling into a pit halfway, kicking your legs, and sacrificing yourself on the spot."

As his voice fell, that invisible force of rules instantly attached itself to Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, hiding within his destiny.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi stopped. He turned his head. He let out a cold laugh, his face full of disdain.

"I am your Senior Martial Uncle!"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi raised his chin, his demeanor extremely arrogant. "Whether there are accidents or not, it's not up to a wet-behind-the-ears kid like you to decide!"

"Pretending to be mysterious!"

After speaking, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi turned back abruptly. He strode toward the office door.

He reached out and grasped the brass door handle. He pressed down hard. With a click, the door lock popped open.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi pushed open the door, lifted his right foot high, and stepped out of the office.

Just as his leather shoe was about to land, on the originally smooth and non-slip solid wood floor, nobody knew when or from where, a pool of extremely slippery water suddenly appeared.

The sole of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's right shoe stepped precisely into the center of that pool of water.

Sliiiide. An extremely sharp friction sound rang out.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's right foot instantly lost all friction, sliding forward violently. His body's center of gravity completely lost balance within 0.1 seconds.

"Ah!"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi let out a short, terrified scream. His hands flailed wildly in mid-air, trying to grab anything for leverage. But there was only air around him.

His whole body fell straight forward. In an extremely standard "face-plant" posture, he slammed heavily onto the ground.

Bang! A dull thud. Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's face hit the ground first. His chin slammed hard against the edge of the hard door frame.

Crack. The sound of bone fracturing was clearly audible. Accompanied by a shrill scream.

Two half-broken front teeth stained with blood flew straight out of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's mouth.

They traced a parabola in the air, clattered onto the corridor tiles, and bounced twice.

Fresh blood instantly gushed out of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's mouth, staining his chin and the purple-gold Daoist robe on his chest red.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi lay on the ground, his whole body twitching violently. He covered his bleeding mouth with both hands, making painful whimpering sounds.

His expression was terrified to the extreme, staring fixedly at the pool of water that had appeared inexplicably on the ground. He couldn't figure out where the water came from at all.

Fear completely broke his psychological defenses. He didn't dare to stay for another half-second. He didn't even dare to look back.

Using his hands and feet, he struggled to get up from the ground, rolling and crawling. He didn't bother to pick up his teeth from the ground. Clutching his mouth, he stumbled and ran toward the elevator at the end of the corridor. His back was extremely wretched, looking just like a stray dog.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in the office and took the opportunity to point the phone lens outside the door. The lens precisely captured the whole process of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi falling, knocking out his front teeth, and fleeing in a panic.

After a half-second of silence, the live stream's barrage of comments instantly ushered in an unprecedented super explosion. The entire screen was completely covered by dense text.

[ "Hahahahahaha!" ] [ "Holy shit! That face-plant posture is too standard!" ] [ "He even knocked out his front teeth! Retribution!" ] [ "Daoist Master is awesome! Is that mouth blessed?" ] [ "This old thing runs faster than a rabbit!" ]

Director Wang Chen stood behind the desk, looking at the miserable state outside the door. His tense nerves finally relaxed. Watching Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's wretched back, Director Wang Chen couldn't hold it back anymore.

Pfft. Director Wang Chen clutched his stomach and let out a hearty, unrestrained laugh. The laughter echoed in the office, dispelling all the gloom.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the boiling barrage on the screen, tapped his finger lightly, and closed the live stream. He tucked the phone back into his Daoist robe sleeve.

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the door and looked at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, who was frantically pressing the elevator button at the end of the corridor. His gaze was calm but revealed a composure that controlled everything.

Breaking his front teeth. This was just an appetizer for Words Become Law. The force of rules had already been planted. On the way back to the capital, the good show had only just begun.

136: Chapter 136: A Series of Misfortunes, A Refusing-to-Fate Stray Dog

Below the Hengcheng Municipal Public Security Bureau.

The midday sun slammed down onto the asphalt road. The air was scorched, twisting slightly.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi stumbled out of the Municipal Police Bureau's revolving glass doors.

His right hand was pressed tightly over his mouth.

Fresh blood gushed out between his fingers. Drip. Drip. Dark red droplets of blood hit the steps, instantly evaporated by the high heat, leaving behind dark brown spots.

The hem of his purple-gold Dao robe was torn. A large, shocking patch of blood stained his chest.

His hair bun was disheveled. Strands of graying hair were stuck to his forehead by sweat and blood.

There was no trace left of the aloofness of a Deputy Director of the Special Investigation Bureau General Headquarters.

He looked just like a stray dog whose spine had been broken.

At the bottom of the steps, a black Hongqi official car with Beijing license plates was parked.

The driver, wearing a black suit and white gloves, was leaning against the car door smoking.

Hearing the commotion, the driver turned his head.

The cigarette dropped to the ground with a thud.

The driver stared with wide eyes, looking at the sprinting Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi in complete shock.

"Deputy Director Zheng? What happened to you..." The driver hurried forward, reaching out with both hands to help him.

"Get lost!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi roared indistinctly.

The missing front teeth caused a lisp, making his pronunciation sound extremely ridiculous and shrill.

He shoved the driver aside.

He pulled open the back door and dove into the car.

Bang. The car door was slammed shut, causing the windows to vibrate with a buzzing sound.

"Drive! Back to Beijing! Now! Immediately!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi pounded frantically on the leather seat in the back row.

His voice was hoarse, filled with endless fear and impatience.

The driver didn't dare to ask any questions. He quickly pulled open the driver's side door and sat in.

He pulled the seatbelt over and buckled it. He pressed the brake and pushed the engine start button with his index finger.

Vroom—click.

The engine let out a dull roar, then stalled in an extremely eerie fashion.

The indicator lights on the dashboard went completely dark.

The car interior fell into dead silence.

"What are you doing! Drive!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi was so anxious he was jumping up and down in his seat, kicking the back of the front seat with all his might.

The driver was covered in sweat. He rubbed his hands hard against the leather steering wheel.

"Deputy Director Zheng, this car just had maintenance yesterday, I don't know what's going on..."

The driver swallowed hard and pressed the start button again.

Vroom, vroom, vroom!

This time, the engine started smoothly. The tachometer needle spiked instantly.

The driver let out a sigh of relief. He shifted into D gear and slammed his right foot on the accelerator.

The black Hongqi official car lunged forward like a black beast. The tires left two black rubber marks on the asphalt.

Just as the front of the car was about to pass the Municipal Police Bureau's gate railing.

The steering wheel suddenly let out a teeth-grinding mechanical scraping sound.

Without any warning, the steering wheel jerked sharply to the right, locking out of the driver's control.

"Hey? Hey!" The driver screamed in terror. He grabbed the steering wheel tightly, trying desperately to pull it back.

It didn't budge. The steering wheel felt as if it had been welded shut.

The car veered off course, heading straight for a half-meter-tall stainless steel trash can on the side of the road.

Clang!

A loud crash.

The metal trash can was sent flying. It tumbled twice in mid-air before crashing into a flower bed, scattering trash everywhere.

Screech.

The right side of the Hongqi official car scraped tightly against the metal railing on the edge of the flower bed.

Sparks flew everywhere.

A piercing sound of metal cutting echoed in the air, assaulting the eardrums.

The expensive black paint was scraped off, leaving a two-meter-long, ghastly white scratch. The car door was severely dented.

"How are you driving!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi was thrown side to side by the massive inertia in the back seat. His head slammed against the car window with a bang.

"Deputy Director Zheng... the steering wheel got stuck just now!" The driver's face was pale. His hands were still trembling.

"Enough talk! Get on the highway! Go, quickly!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi couldn't listen to any excuses. His mind was filled with only one thought: escape from Heng City.

The official car drove onto the main road, speeding all the way.

Half an hour later, the Hongqi official car rushed through the toll station and officially entered the Beijing-Heng Highway.

The speed kept climbing. Eighty. One hundred. One hundred and twenty.

The trees outside the window turned into green blurs as they receded backward.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi leaned back against the seat. His breathing calmed down slightly. He took out a tissue and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth haphazardly.

Just then.

A bizarre situation occurred again.

The Hongqi official car, which had been driving steadily in the fast lane, suddenly veered to the left.

It crossed the solid white line, and most of the car surged into the adjacent passing lane.

Beep, beep, beep!

A black Audi behind them that was in the middle of overtaking honked its horn frantically. The piercing sound echoed across the highway.

The Audi driver slammed on the brakes. White smoke rose from the tires. He narrowly avoided a rear-end collision.

"Steady! Why are you steering randomly!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi broke out in a cold sweat. He shouted sternly.

"Deputy Director Zheng! I didn't touch it! The car moved on its own!" The driver cried out with a sob. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, sweat dripping from his forehead.

As soon as he finished speaking.

The steering wheel jerked violently to the right again without warning.

The Hongqi official car, like a drunkard, drew a massive S-shape. It crossed two lanes directly from the passing lane, rushing toward the slow lane on the far right.

In the slow lane, a heavy truck fully loaded with cargo was driving along slowly.

It was about to crash into the rear of the truck.

The driver used every ounce of his strength, slamming both feet onto the brake pedal. He yanked the steering wheel to the left with both hands.

Screech.

The tires screeched against the asphalt, emitting a bone-chilling wail.

The Hongqi official car grazed past the edge of the heavy truck's carriage.

Bang!

The right side mirror was sheared off by the truck's carriage. It tumbled through the air for tens of meters before slamming into the guardrail and shattering into pieces.

Inside the car, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi was choked tightly by his seatbelt. He almost threw up the breakfast he had just eaten.

"Useless trash! You can't even drive a car properly!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi cursed loudly.

"Deputy Director Zheng, this car is truly haunted! The steering wheel is out of control!" The driver was completely panicked.

Just as the driver was preparing to slow down and pull over.

The accelerator pedal suddenly depressed on its own.

The engine let out a deafening roar. The tachometer needle hit the red line instantly.

The Hongqi official car shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, its speed instantly soaring to 160 kilometers per hour.

"Brake! Hit the brakes!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi roared in terror as he watched the vehicles ahead drawing closer.

"The brakes have failed! I can't press them!" The driver screamed in despair. His right foot kicked the brake pedal desperately, but the pedal was as hard as a rock.

Ahead was a curve.

A white box truck was driving in the middle lane.

The Hongqi official car headed straight for the rear of the truck.

The distance was less than fifty meters.

The driver yanked the steering wheel, trying to overtake from the left.

Just as the front of the car poked out past the tail of the truck.

The steering wheel made a click. It locked completely.

The front of the car, remaining angled to the left, charged diagonally toward the metal guardrail in the center of the highway at 160 kilometers per hour.

"Ah!!"

Both men in the car let out shrill screams simultaneously.

Bang!!!

A heaven-shaking, earth-shattering crash.

The front of the Hongqi official car slammed hard into the thick corrugated guardrail.

The massive impact caused the guardrail to deform and dent severely. The hood of the car popped up instantly, folding into an inverted V-shape.

The headlight glass shattered everywhere. The radiator burst, and white steam hissed outward.

Inside the car.

Bang! Bang!

The airbags for the driver, passenger, and rear seat all deployed at the moment of impact.

The white airbags, with tremendous ejection force, slammed hard into the people in the seats.

In the back row, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi had no time to react at all.

That massive airbag slammed accurately and precisely into his face.

Especially on his chin.

Crack.

His chin, which had already been fractured from hitting the door frame in the Municipal Police Bureau office.

Under this heavy blow, it shattered completely.

"Ooh—"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's eyes rolled back. He saw stars. The intense pain instantly broke through his neural defenses.

Fresh blood spurted from his mouth again, staining a large patch of the white airbag red.

His head lolled to the side. He almost passed out on the spot.

After scraping along the guardrail for over ten meters, the car finally came to a stop.

Thick smoke billowed. Everything was in ruins.

The driver was slumped over the steering wheel, covered in blood. Although protected by the airbag, the massive impact still left him dazed and confused.

In the back row, it took a full half-minute before Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi gasped sharply and came to his senses.

He covered his completely dislocated chin with both hands, trembling all over from the pain.

Rage. An unprecedented rage burned in his chest.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi kicked open the deformed rear door. He scrambled and tumbled out of the car.

He strode to the outside of the driver's side door and yanked the door open.

He reached out and grabbed the driver by the collar, dragging him forcibly from the seat.

"Useless trash! You can't do anything right!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi kicked the driver in the stomach.

The driver let out a scream, clutching his stomach and rolling on the ground.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi completely ignored whether the driver lived or died.

He spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva.

He dove straight into the driver's seat.

He gripped the steering wheel with both hands.

"I'll drive it myself! Let's see what kind of trouble this piece of junk can stir up!"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi slammed the car door shut. He shifted gears and stepped on the accelerator.

137: Chapter 137: The Battle-Damaged Red Flag Enters Beijing, See You at the Beijing Discipline Inspection Commission!

The engine of the Hongqi special car roared.

The front was severely deformed, the bumper dragging on the ground, friction sparks flying.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi gripped the steering wheel tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands. His eyes were bloodshot, staring fixedly at the road ahead.

He forcibly mobilized the remaining True Qi within his body, channeling it through his arms into the steering wheel, trying to suppress this bizarre power with his cultivation.

He slammed on the gas.

The car darted into the lane again.

However, he had underestimated the terror of the power of the rules.

The car had not even traveled two kilometers before a powerful resistance suddenly came from the steering wheel. It was as if it had developed self-awareness, desperately trying to break free from Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's hands.

"Steady, hold on!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi gritted his teeth, the muscles in his arms bulging high.

But that power was impossible to resist.

The steering wheel swerved fifteen degrees to the right violently.

The Hongqi special car crossed the dashed line directly.

On the right lane, a brand new maybach S680 was driving steadily.

Screech!

The battered front of the Hongqi special car scraped ruthlessly against the shiny black body of the maybach.

It left a deep dent from the left front fender all the way to the rear door.

The owner of the maybach was so scared that he slammed on the brakes and pulled over to the side of the road.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi didn't dare to stop. He stepped on the gas and continued rushing forward.

"Damn it! Damn it!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi roared madly in the driver's cabin.

Before he could finish cursing, the front of the car suddenly swerved to the left without warning.

In the left lane, a Steyr heavy truck loaded with dozens of tons of steel bars was roaring.

Bang!

The left door of the Hongqi special car slammed into the massive tire of the heavy truck.

The huge rebound force bounced the special car back into the middle lane. The left door was completely deformed, and the window glass shattered everywhere.

Strong winds mixed with glass shards poured into the cabin, hitting Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's face and leaving several bloody cuts.

The next one hundred kilometers became the most terrifying nightmare Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi had ever experienced in his life.

The car specifically chose expensive ones to hit and large ones to scrape.

A Porsche Cayenne had its rearview mirror scraped off. A Range Rover was rear-ended on the bumper. A large truck had its hub grazed.

Every collision was accompanied by piercing honks and the angry curses of the car owners.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi held the steering wheel tightly, his whole body soaked in cold sweat. His Daoist robe stuck to his back, feeling sticky and extremely uncomfortable.

His physical strength was severely overdrawn, and his True Qi was exhausted.

He finally realized.

This wasn't a problem with the car! Nor was it a problem with the driver!

This was the power of the rules!

The words Zhang Xuanyao said when he left the Municipal Police Bureau office flashed through his mind.

"Have a smooth journey, fall into a pit halfway, kick your legs, and sacrifice yourself on the spot."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's eyes widened, his bloodshot eyeballs almost popping out of their sockets.

He slammed his hands onto the steering wheel.

"Zhang Xuanyao! You little beast!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi looked up and let out a hysterical roar. "Your Words Become Law, you!"

His mental defenses were shattered. Completely shattered.

The sound of his impotent rage echoed in the drafty cabin, instantly torn apart by the wind on the highway.

He slammed on the brakes.

The Hongqi special car stopped crookedly on the emergency lane.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi unbuckled his seatbelt. His hands trembled as he frantically rummaged through the glove box in the passenger seat.

He pulled out a yellow cloth bag and tore it open. Inside was a box of cinnabar, a wolf-hair brush, and a stack of yellow talisman paper.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi spread the yellow talisman paper on the passenger seat. He gripped the brush with his right hand and dipped it full of cinnabar.

His hand was shaking violently. He drew three sheets, all of which were failed talismans.

"Steady... steady..." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi bit his tongue, forcing himself to calm down with the sharp pain.

He took a deep breath. The pen moved like a Dragon and snake.

He drew five "Hundred Solutions Disaster Relief Talismans" in one go.

A faint red light flashed on the talisman paper.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi stuffed four of them into the four pockets of his Daoist robe. He picked up the last one and slapped it hard in the center of the windshield.

After doing all this, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi collapsed into the driver's seat, gasping for air.

He started the car again.

After sticking on the talisman, the crazy out-of-control feeling of the steering wheel finally lessened a lot.

But the power of the rules had not completely dissipated. Although there were no more serious car accidents, small scrapes and bumps continued.

Along the way, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi was forced to stop more than a dozen times.

Facing those angry car owners, he didn't dare to reveal his identity. He could only be humble and scan the code to pay for damages.

Five thousand. Ten thousand. Thirty thousand.

By the time the Hongqi special car finally reached the Capital toll station, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi had paid out over three hundred thousand in compensation alone from his mobile account.

And that originally luxurious and imposing Special Investigation Bureau special car had now lost even its car cover.

The front and rear bumpers were gone. The four doors were dented and uneven. Three window glasses were broken. One headlight was blind.

Covered in scratches all over, it had completely turned into an "Iraq battle-damaged version" of a scrapped car.

The staff at the toll station looked at this broken car, their eyes almost popping out, and they retreated repeatedly, afraid that the car would explode at any moment.

The scene cut back to the office of the director of the Hengcheng Municipal Public Security Bureau.

The sun was still bright. Zhang Xuanyao stood in front of the large floor-to-ceiling window. He watched the direction the Hongqi special car fled after knocking over a trash can downstairs.

A cold sneer curled the corners of his mouth.

He turned around and walked to the sofa to sit down.

He took out his mobile phone again from the wide sleeve of his Daoist robe. He skillfully opened the live streaming software and clicked to start the stream.

As soon as the live broadcast room opened, the number of online viewers in the top right corner of the screen skyrocketed like a rocket.

One hundred thousand. Three hundred thousand. Five hundred thousand. One million!

In just over ten seconds, a million viewers flooded into the live broadcast room again.

The barrage was as dense as snowflakes, and the screen was completely covered by white text. One couldn't even see the face.

Zhang Xuanyao reached out his finger and tapped the screen twice. He cleared his throat.

"Dear enthusiastic netizens," Zhang Xuanyao said to the camera, his tone relaxed and calm.

"The arrogant Deputy Director Zheng just now has already tucked his tail and fled back to the Capital."

Zhang Xuanyao paused, looking straight into the camera.

"However, this matter is not over yet."

"I am now going to set off for the Capital as well."

Zhang Xuanyao's voice suddenly rose, resonant and forceful.

"I am going to the Capital Discipline Inspection Commission to continue reporting him for his illegal activities such as accepting bribes and shielding evil spirits!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the live broadcast room felt as if a depth charge had been thrown into it.

Before the audience could react, Zhang Xuanyao threw out an even bigger bomb.

"If friends in the Capital want to witness this anti-corruption drama together," Zhang Xuanyao pointed at the camera.

"Then wait for me at the entrance of the Capital Discipline Inspection Commission."

"As a benefit," Zhang Xuanyao held up a finger.

"If any fans run into me at the entrance of the Discipline Inspection Commission, I will give you a free fortune-telling on the spot!"

138: Chapter 138: Police lights clear the way, a parting message revealing the deadlock.

"Free fortune-telling!"

These five words sent the livestream comments into a frenzy.

Zhang Xuanyao's ability to tell fortunes was known across the entire network. It was a god-like skill that could determine life and death and change one's destiny. A fortune that usually cost tens or hundreds of thousands to beg for was now being given away for free!

The scrolling speed of the comments made the phone screen lag noticeably.

["Holy crap! Free fortune-telling! Did I hear that right?!"]

["I'm going! I'm going! Nobody stop me!"]

["Boss, my period is here, I'm taking three days off! Yes, I'm a man, but I'm taking leave anyway! See you at the Discipline Inspection Commission!"]

["Daoist Zhang, wait for me! I'm going to buy a standing ticket right now! There are no seats left on the high-speed rail!"]

["Capital native here, ecstatic! I've already hailed a cab and am on the way! I'm grabbing the front row at the Discipline Inspection Commission!"]

["Organizing a group to the capital! Anyone chartering a bus? Count me in!"]

The screen was filled with revelry and anticipation.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the frantic text jumping on the screen and nodded with satisfaction.

"Then it's settled," Zhang Xuanyao said with a smile, waving his hand.

"See you all at the entrance of the capital's Discipline Inspection Commission."

After saying this, he pressed the end livestream button with his thumb.

He closed the stream cleanly and efficiently.

The screen went black.

The office returned to silence.

Director Wang Chen stood behind his desk, having watched Zhang Xuanyao's entire operation.

His jaw dropped slightly, and he was dumbfounded.

He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, looking at Zhang Xuanyao with a strange expression.

"Daoist Zhang..." Director Wang Chen pointed at the phone in Zhang Xuanyao's hand, his tone hesitant. "Are you... are you inciting a crowd to gather?"

"Thousands of people gathering at the Discipline Inspection Commission entrance is going to cause a huge mess." Director Wang Chen's brows furrowed into a frown.

Zhang Xuanyao spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders.

He looked at Director Wang Chen with an innocent expression.

"Director Wang, you can eat food indiscriminately, but you cannot speak indiscriminately," Zhang Xuanyao said as he pulled out a chair and sat down.

"How can this be called incitement?" Zhang Xuanyao spread his hands. "Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi did indeed commit crimes, and you witnessed him shielding evil spirits with your own eyes."

"I am responding to the state's call, appealing to the masses to actively participate in social supervision," Zhang Xuanyao said solemnly. "The eyes of the masses are sharp; fighting corruption is everyone's responsibility."

Director Wang Chen was choked up and couldn't speak for a long time.

"But..." Director Wang Chen scratched his head. "How do you know he is taking bribes? Shielding evil spirits counts as one thing, but corruption requires evidence. You have no proof..."

He stopped halfway through his sentence.

Director Wang Chen suddenly slapped his forehead.

It dawned on him.

"Oh, right... Sorry, Daoist Zhang, my brain didn't turn the corner for a second." Director Wang Chen waved his hands repeatedly.

"I forgot about your abilities. With those eyes of yours, you see people more accurately than an X-ray."

Director Wang Chen walked around the desk to stand in front of Zhang Xuanyao.

His expression became extremely serious.

"Since you are going to the capital to report this, this matter is of great importance. Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi has deep-rooted connections in the capital; it is too dangerous for you to go alone."

Director Wang Chen turned and walked to the desk, grabbing the landline receiver.

"I will send a police car to escort you to the capital! With police lights on the whole way! Let's see who dares to touch you on the road!"

He dialed the internal line.

"Tell Deputy Captain Li Ming to come to my office immediately! Fully armed!"

He hung up the phone and turned to look at Zhang Xuanyao. "Deputy Captain Li Ming is the sharpest young man in our bureau and an excellent driver. I feel at ease letting him take you."

Less than three minutes later.

Knock, knock, knock.

The office door was knocked.

"Come in!" shouted Director Wang Chen.

The door pushed open. A young police officer in a brand-new uniform with a sidearm at his waist strode in.

The young officer was in his early twenties, with a spirited buzz cut. His skin was tanned slightly dark. His eyes were clear and bright.

He walked to the desk and put his feet together.

Slap. He stood at attention and saluted.

"Director! Criminal Police Squad Deputy Captain Li Ming reporting! Please instruct!" His voice was loud and full of energy.

Director Wang Chen nodded and pointed to Zhang Xuanyao, who was sitting on the sofa.

"Deputy Captain Li Ming, this is Daoist Zhang. Your current mission is to drive the police car and safely and quickly escort Daoist Zhang to the Discipline Inspection Commission Compound in the capital."

"This is an extremely important mission; there must be no mistakes!" Director Wang Chen's tone was stern.

"Guaranteeing completion of the mission!" Deputy Captain Li Ming answered loudly.

He then turned to face Zhang Xuanyao.

He walked up to Zhang Xuanyao and extended his right hand.

"Daoist Zhang, hello. My name is Deputy Captain Li Ming. I will be responsible for your safety on the journey ahead." The young officer showed a simple and honest smile.

Zhang Xuanyao stood up and extended his right hand to shake Deputy Captain Li Ming's hand.

The moment their palms touched.

A trace of an extremely faint purple-gold light flashed deep in Zhang Xuanyao's pupils.

The Golden Finger "Heavenly Eye" triggered automatically.

The surrounding scene instantly faded in color.

Countless images flashed rapidly through Zhang Xuanyao's mind.

The images finally settled on two days later.

Night fell. Torrential rain poured down.

Inside an abandoned chemical plant, gunfire erupted. Flames soared into the sky.

Deputy Captain Li Ming was wearing a bulletproof vest, rushing to the front.

Bang!

A sniper rifle bullet pierced the rain curtain and accurately hit Deputy Captain Li Ming's chest. The bulletproof vest was instantly torn apart.

Blood gushed out. Deputy Captain Li Ming fell into a muddy puddle, his eyes wide open, having lost his vital signs.

The image shattered.

Zhang Xuanyao snapped back to reality.

He gripped Deputy Captain Li Ming's hand, his strength unconsciously increasing.

The smile on his face instantly faded. His expression became extremely serious.

Deputy Captain Li Ming felt a bit spooked by Zhang Xuanyao's stare and wanted to pull his hand back, but found that Zhang Xuanyao's hand was as powerful as iron pliers.

"Daoist... Daoist Zhang? What's wrong?" Deputy Captain Li Ming asked with a stammer.

Zhang Xuanyao let go of his hand.

He stepped back half a step, his gaze fixed firmly on Deputy Captain Li Ming's eyes.

"Young man." Zhang Xuanyao's voice was low, carrying an undeniable penetrating power.

"When you go out on duty in two days, if you encounter a mission to an abandoned factory."

Zhang Xuanyao raised his right hand and patted Deputy Captain Li Ming's shoulder.

"You must stay close to your Master. Do not rush to the front. If there are other tasks, push them off if you can."

Zhang Xuanyao emphasized his tone. "Remember my words; this is a life-saving instruction."

Deputy Captain Li Ming was confused and nodded blankly.

"Oh... okay, I'll remember it."

Director Wang Chen was watching from the side, his heart skipping a beat. He knew Zhang Xuanyao must have seen something again.

But now was not the time to ask for details.

"Alright, time is tight, let's go!" Director Wang Chen waved his hand.

Zhang Xuanyao straightened his Daoist robe and walked out of the office.

Deputy Captain Li Ming followed closely behind.

Five minutes later.

Inside the Municipal Police Bureau compound.

A Special Police anti-riot vehicle with eye-catching paint started up.

Deputy Captain Li Ming sat in the driver's seat. Zhang Xuanyao sat in the passenger seat.

Woo-woo, woo-woo.

The piercing siren pierced the sky. The red and blue police lights flashed frantically as it rushed out of the Municipal Police Bureau gate.

The wheels rolled.

Speeding towards the capital, the center of the storm.

139: Chapter 139: A stray dog, seeking revenge across a thousand miles

The courtyard of the Special Investigation Bureau General Headquarters in the capital.

The midday sun shone directly onto the smooth asphalt road.

Two five-meter-tall pure copper gates were tightly shut. Inside the guardroom, two fully armed security personnel were on duty.

Boom.

An extremely violent engine roar came from the street corner. The sound grew louder and louder.

A black sedan, billowing thick black smoke, rushed towards the gate.

The front of the car was severely deformed. The front bumper had completely fallen off, half of it dragging on the ground, creating long sparks as it scraped against the asphalt.

All four windows were shattered. The car body was covered in ghastly white scratches. The right passenger door was dented inward, forming a huge pit.

The security personnel immediately rushed out of the guardroom. They drew their sidearms, gripped them with both hands, and aimed at the oncoming black sedan.

"Stop! Turn off the engine! Submit to inspection!" the security personnel shouted loudly.

Screech.

The driver slammed on the brakes. The tires dragged two black rubber marks on the ground. The air was filled with a pungent, burnt smell.

The sedan stopped less than half a meter from the gate. The engine gave one last gasp and completely died.

Bang.

The crumpled left door was kicked open. The door hinges groaned under the strain.

A figure rolled out of the driver's seat and slammed heavily onto the asphalt road.

The security personnel approached with their guns raised. They lowered the barrels, fingers still on the triggers.

After clearly seeing the figure on the ground, the security personnel gasped and shifted their aim away.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi pushed himself up with his hands. His palms were scraped, oozing fresh blood.

His originally magnificent purple-gold Daoist robe was shredded into rags. A large patch of dark red bloodstains on his chest had already dried and scabbed over.

His hair was disheveled, with a few weeds tangled in it. Three fist-sized, purplish-blue lumps bulged on his forehead.

His lips were swollen high and turned outward. Two of his front teeth were missing.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi raised his head and looked at the armed security personnel.

"Open the gate," Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi said, his voice whistling through the gap in his teeth.

The security personnel recognized the Deputy Director and hurriedly pressed the remote control.

The copper gates slowly opened.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi scrambled to his feet, using both hands and feet. He stumbled and staggered toward the office building.

Along the way, the officers of the Special Investigation Bureau stopped in their tracks. Everyone watched this usually high-and-mighty Deputy Director, but no one dared to step forward to speak to him.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi rushed into the lobby and pressed the elevator button.

Ding.

The elevator doors opened.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi dashed out of the elevator and headed straight for the Director's office at the end of the hallway.

The solid wood double doors were tightly shut.

Bang.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi raised his right foot and kicked the door open.

Behind a wide mahogany desk, Director Huang of the Special Investigation Bureau was sitting in his executive chair.

Director Huang was holding a tablet computer. The screen was playing a recording of Zhang Xuanyao's livestream.

Hearing the sound of the door crashing open, Director Huang looked up.

He slammed the tablet face down onto the desk with a loud slap.

Director Huang stood up and pointed his finger at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

"Look at yourself now!" Director Huang's voice was thunderous, making the window glass buzz.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi took two steps forward, gripping the edge of the desk with both hands.

"Director Huang, that little beast Zhang Xuanyao..." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's whistling voice echoed in the office.

Slap!

Director Huang slammed his palm onto the desk, cutting off Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

"Shut up!" Director Huang walked around the desk and stood in front of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

"Millions of people across the entire internet watched you shielding an evil entity!" Director Huang jabbed his finger at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's chest.

"You've completely disgraced the Special Investigation Bureau!"

"The internet is now flooded with posts reporting you by name! The Discipline Inspection Commission has even called me directly!"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi took a step back.

"Director Huang, that's all Zhang Xuanyao's doing. He knows black magic! He has Words Become Law!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi argued anxiously, waving his hands wildly in the air.

"I don't care what he knows!" Director Huang clasped his hands behind his back. "The higher-ups have already taken notice of this matter."

Director Huang turned around, facing away from Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

"From this moment on, you are suspended pending investigation."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's legs went weak. He gripped the edge of the desk so tightly that his knuckles turned white, just barely keeping himself from collapsing to his knees.

"Director Huang! You can't abandon me! I did this for the General Headquarters!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi reached out to grab Director Huang's sleeve.

Director Huang turned and brushed Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's hand away.

"I can't protect you. You caused this trouble; you bear the consequences." Director Huang pointed to the door. "You'd better pray the Discipline Inspection Commission doesn't dig up any other issues."

"Get out."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi gritted his back teeth. Fresh blood seeped from his gums again, dripping down his chin onto the carpet.

He turned and walked out of the office with heavy steps.

Half an hour later.

The Second Ring Road of the capital. A secluded, luxurious courtyard house.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi pushed open the vermilion gate and stepped over the threshold.

Standing in the courtyard was a young man wearing a grey Daoist robe. This was Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's trusted disciple, Zhao Ming.

Seeing Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's miserable state, Zhao Ming hurriedly stepped forward.

"Master! What happened to you? Who hurt you like this?" Zhao Ming reached out to help him.

"Get lost!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi pushed Zhao Ming away. "Go to the underground secret room! Prepare the altar!"

Zhao Ming nodded repeatedly and turned to run towards the backyard.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi walked into the main room, took off his tattered purple-gold Daoist robe, and threw it on the floor.

He changed into a set of pure black ritual robes.

He walked over to a washbasin, cupped cold water in his hands, and splashed it on his face, washing away the bloodstains. The water in the basin turned pale red.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi wiped his face dry with a towel and looked at himself in the mirror. His mouth, missing front teeth, looked ridiculous.

He turned and walked toward the backyard, pushed open a heavy iron door behind the rockery, and walked down the stone steps into the basement.

There were no windows in the secret room. The surrounding walls were draped with black curtains.

In the center stood a rectangular altar table.

The altar was covered with a yellow cloth and held an incense burner, candlestick, cinnabar, yellow paper Talismans, and a Bagua bronze mirror.

Zhao Ming stood beside the altar, holding a three-foot-long century-old peach wood sword.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi walked to the altar and took the peach wood sword.

"Flying Mao Secret Technique," Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi spat out the four words.

Zhao Ming shivered and took half a step back.

"Master, this Spell has a huge backlash, and given your current physical condition..." Zhao Ming tried to dissuade him.

"Less nonsense!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi glared at Zhao Ming. "If Zhang Xuanyao doesn't die, I will! He must be dealt with today!"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi picked up the wolf-hair brush on the table, dipped it fully in cinnabar, and quickly drew a complex Talisman on the yellow paper. His strokes were swift and fluid like a dragon and snake.

"Five Thunders Heart-Piercing Sword, Flying Without a Shadow for a Thousand Miles!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi chanted the incantation.

He held the Talisman in his left hand and the sword in his right. He hooked the Talisman with the tip of the sword.

Whoosh.

The Talisman ignited without fire, turning into a ball of eerie green flame.

The temperature in the secret room plummeted. Gusts of cold wind blew, making the black curtains on the walls rustle loudly.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, with his hair disheveled, performed the Tiangang Steps, pacing in front of the altar.

The peach wood sword in his hand pointed directly at a straw effigy in front of him. Pasted on the straw effigy was a slip of paper with Zhang Xuanyao's birth date and time written on it.

The green fireball spread along the sword, engulfing the entire peach wood sword.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi raised the peach wood sword high, aiming at the heart of the straw effigy, ready to strike.

Just at this critical moment,

Ring-a-ling-a-ling.

An extremely harsh mobile phone ringtone exploded in the secret room.

The phone in Zhao Ming's pocket began to vibrate.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's movements paused.

140: Chapter 140: Sword Broken, Law Shattered, Retribution Under the Public Eye

The green flames on the peach wood sword flickered violently.

"Pick it up!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi gritted his teeth.

Zhao Ming took out his phone and glanced at the screen.

"Master... it's Director Huang..." Zhao Ming's voice trembled.

"Pick it up!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi maintained his stance, holding the sword aloft. True Qi rampaged through his body.

Zhao Ming pressed the answer button and turned on the speakerphone.

"Where is Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi?!" Director Huang's roar erupted from the speaker.

"Master is here..." Zhao Ming glanced at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

"Put him on the phone!" Director Huang yelled.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi said nothing, staring fixedly at the scarecrow.

"Zhang Xuanyao is not dead!" Director Huang's voice echoed in the secret chamber. "He has brought tens of thousands of people to block the entrance of the Discipline Inspection Commission Compound in the capital!"

"The entire internet is livestreaming this right now!"

"This matter has completely spiraled out of control!"

"I can no longer manage this. You are on your own!"

Beep, beep, beep, beep.

The call disconnected. The dial tone sounded exceptionally jarring in the secret chamber.

The arm with which Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi held the peach wood sword began to tremble violently.

The True Qi within him completely lost control. It flowed in reverse, violently colliding against his Meridians.

Pfft!

A large mouthful of blood sprayed from Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's mouth, splashing onto the offering table. The yellow cloth was stained red.

The green flames on the peach wood sword instantly extinguished.

Crack.

The century-old peach wood sword snapped in two from the middle and fell to the ground.

The secret technique of the Flying Mao suffered a total backlash.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the cold stone floor.

Zhao Ming hurriedly stepped forward to support him. "Master!"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi shoved Zhao Ming away. He grabbed the edge of the offering table with both hands and flipped it over with force.

Crash.

The offering table overturned. The incense burner, candle holder, and cinnabar scattered everywhere. Incense ash rose into the air.

"Zhang Xuanyao!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi roared, looking up. He slammed both hands onto the stone floor, his knuckles splitting open.

Zhang Xuanyao was now at the entrance of the Discipline Inspection Commission. Tens of thousands were watching. The entire internet was livestreaming.

If Zhang Xuanyao were to die at the entrance of the Discipline Inspection Commission now, or if any accident were to happen to him...

The state apparatus would immediately activate and grind Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi into dust.

Not even Director Huang would be able to protect him.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi gasped for air, filled with impotent rage.

The scene cut to the entrance of the Discipline Inspection Commission Compound in the capital.

The wide street was completely occupied by the crowd, packed so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through.

Tens of thousands of citizens and fans had gathered here spontaneously, holding various banners in their hands.

"Severely punish the scumbags of the Special Investigation Bureau!"

"Thoroughly investigate Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi!"

"Down with corrupt officials!"

The waves of shouting grew louder and louder, shaking the nerves of the capital's political circles.

At the end of the street, a Special Police anti-riot vehicle with striking paintwork and flashing red and blue police lights slowly drove forward.

Deputy Captain Li Ming sat in the driver's seat, gripping the steering wheel with both hands, and sounded the siren.

Woo-wah, woo-wah.

Upon hearing the siren, the crowd turned their heads one after another.

Seeing the Special Police anti-riot vehicle, the crowd automatically parted to both sides, clearing a path.

The anti-riot vehicle drove slowly along the path until it reached the main entrance of the Discipline Inspection Commission Compound. It stopped.

The engine was cut.

Click.

The passenger side door opened.

Zhang Xuanyao, wearing a neat Daoist robe, stepped out of the vehicle.

Sunlight spilled onto Zhang Xuanyao, his Daoist robe fluttering in the wind.

Zhang Xuanyao stood still, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding crowd.

Deafening cheers erupted instantly.

"Daoist Zhang is here!"

"Daoist Zhang is awesome!"

"We support Daoist Zhang's real-name reporting!"

Hundreds of phone cameras were aimed at Zhang Xuanyao. The flashes merged into a single sea of light.

Millions of viewers across the entire internet watched this scene through the livestream.

Zhang Xuanyao raised his right hand and pressed it downward.

The crowd's cheers gradually died down.

Zhang Xuanyao turned around, facing the tightly closed retractable gate of the Discipline Inspection Commission Compound.

Inside the compound.

Director He Boan of the Discipline Inspection Commission was covered in sweat, wearing a white shirt with his tie loosened halfway.

Director He Boan, accompanied by a dozen officers, walked quickly out of the office building.

He walked to the retractable gate.

Looking at the massive crowd outside the gate, Director He Boan swallowed hard.

He took the megaphone handed to him by an officer nearby.

Director He Boan pressed the switch and tapped the microphone.

Bang, bang.

"Everyone, quiet down! Listen to me!" Director He Boan shouted. His voice carried across the scene through the megaphone.

The crowd quieted down, their gazes focused on Director He Boan.

"I am Director He Boan of the Discipline Inspection Commission in the capital!" Director He Boan raised the megaphone. "I understand how everyone feels!"

"We will never tolerate any corrupt elements!"

"Regarding the issue of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi from the Special Investigation Bureau, we have already established a special investigation team!"

"We will definitely investigate this to the end! We will give everyone an explanation!"

"Please remain rational and do not gather! Please disperse!"

Director He Boan put down the megaphone and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Zhang Xuanyao walked out from the front of the crowd and stepped up to the retractable gate.

Separated by the retractable gate, Zhang Xuanyao looked Director He Boan straight in the eye.

Zhang Xuanyao raised the phone in his hand, facing the screen toward Director He Boan. The screen displayed the ongoing livestream.

"Director He," Zhang Xuanyao said. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached Director He Boan's ears.

"I have already broadcasted what you just said to the millions of netizens in the livestream."

Zhang Xuanyao shook the phone.

"The video has also been screen-recorded and backed up."

"The eyes of the masses are sharp. I hope you will not go back on your word."

Director He Boan looked at Zhang Xuanyao, his gaze shifting back and forth between Zhang Xuanyao and the phone screen.

Director He Boan had been climbing the ranks in the officialdom for decades. He could tell at a glance that Zhang Xuanyao was the core figure of this group.

As long as he stabilized Zhang Xuanyao, the crowd would naturally disperse.

Director He Boan bit the bullet and raised the megaphone.

"Rest assured, comrade!" Director He Boan shouted at Zhang Xuanyao. "When our Discipline Inspection Commission handles a case, we rely on evidence! We will not let any clues slip by!"

"As long as Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi has engaged in illegal and disciplinary violations, we will never show leniency!"

Zhang Xuanyao looked at Director He Boan and nodded.

"Good. With these words from Director He, we are relieved."

Zhang Xuanyao put away his phone and tucked it into the sleeve of his Daoist robe.

He turned around and faced the crowd.

141: Chapter 141: Judging Fortune and Misfortune in Full Observation, A Trapped Beast's Struggle Draws In from the Underworld

Director He Boan breathed a sigh of relief, assuming Zhang Xuanyao was going to call for the crowd to disperse.

As it turned out, he was wrong.

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the curb opposite the Discipline Inspection Commission Compound.

He lifted the hem of his Daoist robe and sat down cross-legged.

Zhang Xuanyao patted the empty space beside him.

"Everyone!" Zhang Xuanyao shouted.

The crowd immediately went quiet.

"The welfare I promised everyone during the live stream will be honored now!"

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to a young girl standing at the very front.

"Line up! Don't push! Everyone gets a turn to have their fortune told!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole place was in an uproar.

The previously serious and tense scene of political pressure suddenly underwent a complete change in style.

It instantly turned into a metaphysical fan meeting.

"Holy crap! He's actually doing it!"

"Hurry up and line up! Don't push me!"

"I was here first! Daoist, read my fortune!"

The crowd erupted in laughter and noise.

They very consciously formed a long line in front of Zhang Xuanyao, extending all the way to the end of the street.

Director He Boan stood inside the retractable gate, holding a megaphone, staring at this scene in a daze.

"What... what is going on here?" Director He Boan pointed at Zhang Xuanyao across the street and turned to ask the police officer beside him.

The police officer scratched his head. "Director, does this count as an illegal gathering?"

"Gathering my ass!" Director He Boan glared at the officer. "He's reading fortunes! Do you dare to arrest him? There are tens of thousands of people watching!"

Director He Boan sighed and waved his hand.

"Send people to maintain order. Just make sure there are no stampede accidents. As long as they don't storm the gate, let him be."

Director He Boan turned and walked back to the office building.

Across the street.

Zhang Xuanyao activated the "Heavenly Eye".

A flash of purple-gold light swirled deep within his pupils.

The young girl sat on the folding stool in front of Zhang Xuanyao, her face full of excitement.

"Daoist! My name is Wang Fang! Please help me check my marriage!" Wang Fang put her hands together.

Zhang Xuanyao glanced at Wang Fang.

"Your boyfriend said he was working overtime last night, but he actually went to a bar." Zhang Xuanyao said in a flat tone.

"Huh?" Wang Fang froze.

"Also, that account in his WeChat named 'File Transfer Assistant' is actually his ex-girlfriend's alt account." Zhang Xuanyao continued.

Wang Fang's face instantly turned deathly pale.

"If you don't believe me, call him now and ask." Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the phone in Wang Fang's hand.

Wang Fang immediately dialed the number. After a few questions, mumbling sounds came from the other end of the line.

Wang Fang hung up, her eyes red. She bowed to Zhang Xuanyao.

"Thank you, Daoist! I'm going back to break up with him right now!"

Wang Fang turned and left.

"Next." Zhang Xuanyao called out.

A middle-aged man sat down.

"Daoist, check my wealth."

"That P2P investment you made is going to collapse tomorrow. If you withdraw your money now, you can still recover half the loss." Zhang Xuanyao said quickly.

The middle-aged man was shocked and immediately operated his phone to make a withdrawal.

"Next."

Zhang Xuanyao read faces extremely quickly. He could determine everything with a single glance.

In the live stream, gift special effects flooded the screen.

Rockets. Yachts. Carnivals.

The screen was filled with light and shadow effects.

Zhang Xuanyao's Karma value rose crazily with every accurate fortune-telling.

A purple-gold halo faintly swirled beneath his skin. His cultivation base climbed continuously.

The scene cut back to Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's private underground secret room.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi was slumped on the ground, looking at the mess everywhere.

The sharp pain in his chest made it difficult for him to breathe.

Zhao Ming stood aside, not daring to let out a breath.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi reached into his pocket and took out his phone. The screen was cracked, but it could still be used.

He flipped through his contacts and found a number with no name attached.

This was Director He Boan's private number.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi pressed the dial button and held it to his ear.

Beep... beep... beep...

The phone rang for a long time.

Just when Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi thought the other party wouldn't answer, the call went through.

"Hello." Director He Boan's deep voice came through.

"Old He..." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's voice trembled. "You can't just ignore me..."

"Old Zheng." Director He Boan sighed.

"I'm being roasted on a fire right now." Director He Boan's voice was filled with exhaustion.

"Zhang Xuanyao has brought tens of thousands of people to block the gate of the Discipline Inspection Commission. It's being live-streamed across the entire internet."

"If I don't investigate you, I won't be able to keep my position as Director!"

"Old He! I am..." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi wanted to desperately throw out his trump card.

"Shut up!" Director He Boan barked sharply. "I don't know what you're talking about. The special investigation team has already set off to audit your accounts. Take care of yourself."

Beep, beep, beep.

The call was hung up decisively.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi watched the phone screen go black.

Having lost his last umbrella, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi was completely trapped in a desperate situation.

He knew better than anyone how ruthless the methods of the Discipline Inspection Commission were. As long as they investigated, those shady accounts would definitely not remain hidden.

Harboring evil spirits, corruption, and bribery—that was enough to eat prison food for a lifetime. He might even face a firing squad.

"Master..." Zhao Ming whispered. "Let's run. Let's go abroad."

"Run?" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi let out a shrill, cold laugh. "Where to? The airports and high-speed rail stations are all filled with people watching me."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi braced his hands on the ground and slowly stood up.

His gaze swept over the overturned altar and looked toward the deepest part of the secret room.

There was a rusty iron door there, covered in yellowed Talismans.

Wisps of black Qi constantly seeped out from the gaps in the iron door.

Faint, hair-raising hisses could be heard, along with the harsh, grating sound of claws scratching against the iron door.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi stared at the iron door, madness flashing in his eyes.

Since the rules of the system could not accommodate him, Then he would use the means of the Daoist world to completely muddy the waters.

He would create a disaster large enough, and then step forward to quell it.

He would restore his image in the hearts of the public and make amends for his crimes.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi took a step toward the iron door.

Zhao Ming saw Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's actions and was scared into a Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering state.

"Master! You can't!" Zhao Ming lunged forward and hugged Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's leg. "That thing locked inside is a century-old ghost! Once it's released, the entire capital will be plunged into misery!"

"Get lost!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi kicked Zhao Ming in the chest.

Zhao Ming screamed, flew backward, hit the wall, and passed out.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi walked up to the iron door.

He reached out both hands and grabbed the Talismans stuck to the iron door.

With a forceful tug,

Rip.

The Talismans shattered.

The black Qi instantly became ten times denser, pouring out wildly through the cracks in the door.

The temperature in the secret room dropped to freezing point. White frost formed on the walls.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi gripped the handle of the iron door with both hands.

He pulled outward with force.

Creak.

The rusty iron door slowly opened.

A huge, twisted black shadow squeezed out from behind the door.

It let out a deafening roar.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi looked up at the monster before him.

He laughed wildly.

"Go. Go to the gate of the Discipline Inspection Commission. Go find Zhang Xuanyao."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi pointed at the exit of the secret room.

The monster let out a hiss and transformed into a gust of black wind, rushing out of the secret room.

The sky over the capital, who knows when, had gathered large patches of dark clouds.

They obscured the sunlight.

On the curb opposite the Discipline Inspection Commission.

Zhang Xuanyao was reading a fortune for an auntie.

Zhang Xuanyao stopped his movements. He looked up at the dark clouds rolling over the capital.

Purple-gold light flashed violently in his pupils.

Zhang Xuanyao stood up and dusted off his Daoist robe.

"Everyone." Zhang Xuanyao looked at the long line.

"Fortune-telling ends here for today."

Zhang Xuanyao turned around and faced the direction of the dark clouds.

His right hand reached into the cuff of his Daoist robe and gripped a purple Talisman.

A strong wind whipped up the fallen leaves on the ground, making the leaves rustle. A pungent, fishy smell filled the air.

Deputy Captain Li Ming jumped out of the anti-riot vehicle, his hand on his holster, and walked quickly to Zhang Xuanyao's side.

"Evacuate the crowd." Zhang Xuanyao issued the order.

Deputy Captain Li Ming immediately turned around, took out his walkie-talkie, and began calling for reinforcements.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in place, his Daoist robe flapping in the strong wind.

His gaze pierced through the dark clouds, locking onto the massive mass of black Qi that was rapidly approaching.

142: Chapter 142: Playing with fire leads to self-destruction; an out-of-control script.

The gale whipped up sand and stones from the ground, lashing against the retractable gate of the Discipline Inspection Commission Compound with a crisp, rattling sound.

A foul, fishy stench poured into the crowd with the wind.

The once clear sky was now completely obscured by thick, heavy dark clouds.

Sunlight was entirely blocked out, and the entire street plunged into gloom.

High in the air.

That massive cluster of black energy churned violently, resembling an ancient beast ready to devour anyone in its path.

Wisps of mist constantly separated from the edges of the black energy, and upon touching the nearby lampposts, a layer of ghastly white frost instantly formed on the metal surfaces.

Zhang Xuanyao stood on the curb, head tilted upward.

His gaze locked firmly onto the massive, rapidly approaching black energy.

His expression was tense.

"This aura... I fear this is a powerful ghost," Zhang Xuanyao muttered.

He stepped out, feet shoulder-width apart.

His hands moved rapidly before his chest, fingers interlacing to form an extremely complex Dharma Seal.

A faint layer of starlight shimmered around his body.

His Daoist True Qi surged wildly through his Meridians, like a rushing river, pouring entirely into his palms.

The starting stance of the Five Thunders Method was set.

Just at this moment.

A chaotic sound of footsteps came from the street corner.

A tattered black shadow broke through the wind curtain, stumbling into everyone's line of sight.

The black shadow moved with extreme speed, vaulting over the anti-riot vehicle and planting itself directly in front of Zhang Xuanyao and the crowd.

Everyone looked closely.

The person who arrived was none other than the Special Investigation Bureau's Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi, who had just fled in disgrace on the livestream.

At this moment, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi possessed not a shred of the prestige expected of a high-ranking official.

His pure black Dharma robe was shredded into countless strips, hanging off him and dancing in the wind.

His entire body was stained with dark red blood, and there was a large, dried blood scab on his chest.

Three purplish-blue bumps swelled high on his forehead, and thick strands of blood were still oozing from the corner of his mouth.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi turned around, his back to the black energy in mid-air, facing the dense crowd.

He spread his arms wide.

Like a tattered wall of flesh, he stood firmly in the middle of the street.

"Citizens, run quickly!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi let out a hysterical roar, his voice raspy and leaking air.

"I will hold off this ghost!"

His voice was slightly distorted by the gale, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone in the front row.

The crowd fell into a momentary, deathly silence.

This was immediately followed by a burst of exclamations.

No one expected that this corrupt official, who had been reported by name across the entire internet and cursed like a dog, would actually step forward at this moment to block the most dangerous front line.

Zhang Xuanyao's hand Seal gesture paused.

The blue starlight at his fingertips flickered twice before fading into his palms.

He narrowed his eyes.

His gaze passed over the crowd and landed on the righteous-looking Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi ahead.

His brows furrowed slightly.

"Could I have misunderstood him? Does he actually care about the common people?" Zhang Xuanyao muttered to himself.

Before he could finish speaking.

Zhang Xuanyao pressed two fingers together and swiped them rapidly across his eyes.

"Heavenly Eye, open."

A purple-gold light swirled frantically in the depths of his pupils.

The surrounding scenery instantly lost its color, turning into black and white.

Only that churning black energy in mid-air displayed an extremely piercing hue.

His gaze, like a tangible blade, cut directly through the outer appearance of the black energy.

Reaching the core.

In the deepest part of the black energy, a blurry ghost silhouette was condensed.

The ghost was surrounded by an extremely dense purple-black Evil Qi.

This Evil Qi was like a living thing, constantly writhing and expanding, emitting a nauseating, evil aura.

Zhang Xuanyao's eyelids twitched.

A scene from the Hengcheng City hospital flashed through his mind.

At that time, Zhang Xuanyao had tried to see through Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's fate, but was forcibly blocked by a bizarre power.

That power was exactly this kind of purple-black Evil Qi!

Both were of the same origin, even the frequency of their fluctuations was exactly the same.

The purple-gold light in Zhang Xuanyao's eyes gradually faded.

His vision returned to normal color.

The corners of his mouth curled up into a cold sneer.

"So it was all staged?" Zhang Xuanyao muttered in a low voice.

"Trying to use this act of exorcising demons to redeem your image in the eyes of the public and make up for your past mistakes?"

What a clever calculation.

Unfortunately, he ran into Zhang Xuanyao, who possessed the Heavenly Eye.

Before Zhang Xuanyao could speak to expose him.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi in front had already moved.

He reached his hands into his robes.

He pulled out three golden Talismans covered in cinnabar.

These golden Talismans were an extremely precious heritage of the Maoshan Sect; the Materials used to draw them were all cinnabar aged over a hundred years and top-quality yellow paper.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi bit his tongue and sprayed a mouthful of fresh blood onto the golden Talismans.

The surfaces of the golden Talismans instantly erupted with piercing red light.

His feet stomped rapidly on the asphalt road.

He stepped out the Tiangang Seven-Star steps.

With every step, the soles of his shoes rubbed against the ground, emitting a dull, thunderous sound.

He gripped the golden Talismans with both hands and raised them high above his head.

He shouted loudly.

"Supreme Jade Clarity King, ruling the thirty-six heavens.

In the Nine Heavens Puhua, manifesting in the ten directions of the world."

"Hair unbound, riding a Qilin, barefoot stepping on layers of ice.

Holding the Nine Heavens Qi in hand, whistling the wind and whipping the thunder!"

His voice grew louder and louder, drowning out the howling gale around him.

Maoshan secret arts, the Shangqing Sect's orthodox method, the Thunder Essence Formula.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in the back, watching Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's casting stance clearly.

A look of sudden realization flashed in his eyes.

"Thunder Talismans... Thunder Essence Formula..." Zhang Xuanyao murmured.

"Senior Martial Uncle, no wonder you insisted on snatching my Five Thunders Method before; it turns out your method is incomplete."

Maoshan Thunder Magic emphasizes internal cultivation of True Qi and external invocation of heavenly thunder.

But Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's current spellcasting relied entirely on external objects.

Relying on the power of the golden Talismans, he was forcibly communicating with the thunder Qi of heaven and earth.

This incomplete thunder magic not only had its power greatly diminished, but the backlash on the caster was also extremely terrifying.

Once control was lost, the one invoking the thunder would inevitably suffer divine retribution.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi could no longer worry about the backlash at this moment.

He threw his hands upward with force.

The three golden Talismans turned into three beams of golden light, shooting straight into the clouds.

Vanishing into the thick, dark clouds.

Boom!

The sky let out a dull roar.

Several thin streaks of blue heavenly thunder poked their heads out from the clouds.

Like several electrical snakes as thin as strands of hair.

Following the trajectory guided by the golden Talismans, they struck straight at the churning black energy in mid-air.

Crackle!

The moment the heavenly thunder struck the black energy.

It erupted with extremely dazzling electric light.

The black energy let out a shrill scream, like snow splashed with boiling oil.

It instantly collapsed and scattered.

Turning into wisps of black smoke, dissipating into the air.

The oppressive feeling in the air suddenly lightened.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi was covered in sweat, his chest heaving violently.

Looking at the scattered black energy, his face showed wild joy.

Success!

As long as he could Seal the remaining Yin Qi, this play would come to a perfect conclusion.

He reached his right hand into his robes again.

Pulling out a black Suppression Talisman.

He held the Talisman paper between two fingers, preparing for the final wrap-up.

The surrounding crowd, who had been fleeing in panic, saw this scene and stopped in their tracks.

The crisis was resolved.

Someone took the lead in applauding.

Immediately after, thunderous applause erupted at the gate of the Discipline Inspection Commission Compound.

"Well done!"

"Deputy Director Zheng is awesome!"

"Turns out he really is a good official!"

The cheers came in waves, one higher than the last.

Some people took out their phones and started filming Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi frantically.

Listening to the cheers behind him, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's mouth stretched almost to his ears.

His missing front teeth were exposed to the air, looking both comical and hideous.

Just at the moment when the Suppression Talisman was about to be unleashed.

A sudden change occurred.

The black smoke that had already dissipated suddenly stalled in mid-air.

Immediately after, it gathered toward the center at a terrifying speed.

Its speed was so fast that it even formed a small black vortex in the air.

The gale howled again.

The temperature dropped even lower than before.

A thick layer of white frost instantly formed on the leaves of the roadside greenery.

The black energy compressed and condensed frantically.

In the blink of an eye.

A hundred-year-old great ghost, three meters tall, with a green face and fangs, appeared abruptly in mid-air.

The great ghost was covered in long black hair.

Its eyes, like two blood-red lanterns, stared fixedly at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi below.

It opened its bloody mouth wide.

Emitting a deafening roar.

The roar turned into a tangible sound wave, making the eardrums of the people around ache.

Several young people in the front row who were filming with their phones dropped them directly, and they smashed onto the ground, their screens shattering.

The wild joy on Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's face instantly froze.

Turning into extreme terror.

His face turned as pale as paper.

The right hand holding the Suppression Talisman trembled violently, unable to hold the Dharma Seal at all.

How could this happen!

This ghost had completely broken free from his control.

The backlash had begun.

The great ghost hovered in mid-air.

Its blood-red eyes locked onto Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

Its thick, black arm swung violently.

A foul-smelling Yin wind turned into a tangible wind blade, rushing straight toward Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's face.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's legs went weak; he didn't even have the strength to dodge.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in the back, taking all of this in.

He turned his head to look at Deputy Captain Li Ming beside him.

He ordered sternly: "Stop watching! Get people to retreat! Continue evacuating the crowd!"

Deputy Captain Li Ming woke up as if from a dream.

He grabbed the walkie-talkie from his waist.

Pressed the call button.

"Attention everyone! Attention everyone! Evacuate the crowd immediately! Retreat to both ends of the street! Hurry!"

Deputy Captain Li Ming roared at the top of his lungs.

He turned and rushed toward the crowd, waving his arms.

"Run! Run back! Don't look back!"

The crowd finally reacted.

The cheers from just a moment ago instantly turned into terrified screams.

Tens of thousands of people, like a breached flood, rushed frantically toward both ends of the street.

The scene was extremely chaotic.

Shoes were trampled off, and placards were crushed.

Shouts, cries, and police sirens were intertwined.

143: Chapter 143: A Thunderous Resounding Echo, A Bloodstained Will

In the torrent of terrified retreat, Zhang Xuanyao moved against the current.

He grabbed the collar of his Daoist robe and pulled hard.

Rip.

The wide outer robe fell off, landing in a puddle by the roadside, revealing the white inner garment beneath.

Zhang Xuanyao took big strides.

Facing the gale, facing the three-meter-tall century-old ghost, he was the only one moving against the flow.

His steps were steady, each one landing on the asphalt with an Aura that brooked no retreat.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi sat paralyzed on the ground, hands propping him up, scrambling backward with all his might.

The Yin wind grazed his scalp, shaving off a patch of hair and drawing blood.

In his despair, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi saw Zhang Xuanyao walking toward him—a young man in a white inner garment, standing tall.

Zhang Xuanyao walked while lifting his right hand, index and middle fingers pressed together, pointing straight to the heavens.

He chanted the True Qi formula for the Five Thunders Method rapidly.

"Heavenly thunder hidden, divine thunder booms."

"Dragon thunder roars, water thunder rolls."

"Five Thunders, Five Thunders, gather at Huangning!"

As the incantation was spoken, the blue starlight on Zhang Xuanyao's body surged, turning into a tangible halo that enveloped him.

The dark clouds above seemed pulled by some terrifying force, beginning to churn wildly.

The dim sky turned into a boiling pool of thunder.

Purple-blue lightning flashed through the clouds like thick, giant Dragon thunder in the sea of clouds.

Boom!

Deafening thunder exploded over the capital.

The sound waves hit the surrounding buildings like solid hammers.

The windows of the Discipline Inspection Commission office building groaned under the pressure.

Crack! Crack!

Countless panes shattered instantly.

Shards of glass rained down like a storm onto the concrete courtyard.

Car alarms on both sides of the street shrieked in unison.

The world was filled with terrifying thunderous pressure.

The oxygen in the air seemed to be sucked away instantly, making it hard to breathe.

The great ghost felt the fatal threat from above.

It stopped attacking Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi and looked up at the sky, letting out an uneasy roar.

Its massive body began to tremble violently.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi sat paralyzed on the cold asphalt, looking up, staring blankly at the scene like divine punishment.

The purple-blue lightning illuminated his pale, despair-filled face.

At this moment, he finally recognized the insurmountable chasm between himself and this Junior Martial Uncle.

This was the true Five Thunders Method!

No Talisman needed.

No external objects needed.

Relying solely on his own cultivation, he could summon the thunder of heaven and earth.

Zhang Xuanyao stopped, standing less than ten meters from the great ghost.

His right hand, pointing like a sword at the heavens, slashed downward abruptly.

He roared, "Strike!"

Boom!

A bolt of celestial thunder, as thick as a water vat, descended from the thunder pool with the momentum to destroy the world.

The blinding white light illuminated the entire street instantly.

Everyone was forced to close their eyes.

The celestial thunder hit the newly formed great ghost with pinpoint accuracy.

There was no explosion.

No shockwave.

Only pure, intense heat and destruction.

The great ghost didn't even have time to scream.

The moment it touched the celestial thunder, its massive body vaporized instantly, turning into a wisp of smoke, completely reduced to nothingness.

Not even a trace of residue remained.

The white light faded.

The thunder gradually subsided.

The dark clouds in the sky began to dissipate, and a ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, spilling onto the street.

The air was filled with the pungent smell of ozone.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi looked at the empty street ahead.

The once arrogant century-old ghost had completely vanished.

His hands hung limply at his sides, and he laughed blankly a few times.

The laughter sounded worse than crying.

"Grandmaster..." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi muttered, his voice dry.

"This kid's Five Thunders Method is even more powerful than yours."

Zhang Xuanyao put away his sword fingers, and the blue halo on his body receded into him.

He clapped the dust off his hands and walked to Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

He looked down at this once high-and-mighty Deputy Director of the Special Investigation Bureau.

"Senior Martial Uncle," Zhang Xuanyao said in a calm tone.

"It's time to settle our accounts."

Zhang Xuanyao's voice was not loud, but it struck Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's eardrums clearly.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi shuddered violently at these words.

He stopped his vacant laughter, his hands digging hard into the asphalt and gravel.

His nails broke, and blood seeped out.

He gritted his teeth, forced his legs to exert strength, and struggled to stand up.

Swaying twice, he managed to stabilize himself.

He raised his head and looked straight at Zhang Xuanyao.

A wildly insane smile suddenly bloomed on his blood-stained face.

"Hahahaha!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi laughed up at the sky.

The laughter was filled with the desperation of a cornered beast.

"Junior Martial Uncle, then come!" Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi roared.

"Let me see exactly how much ability you have!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi bit his tongue without hesitation.

This time, he bit down extremely hard.

A mouthful of blood sprayed out.

His hands fumbled rapidly across his chest, pulling out the last five golden Talismans from the inside of his tattered Dharma robe.

The Talismans were stained with his tongue blood and instantly erupted with blinding red light.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi exhausted the last of the True Qi in his body.

He swung his arm violently, throwing all five Talismans into the air simultaneously.

"Nine Heavens, respond to the origin, thunder gods, lend me your power! Kill!"

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi let out a shrill roar.

The five Talismans exploded in mid-air, turning into five red lightning bolts as thick as wrists, striking directly at Zhang Xuanyao's head.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in place, expressionless.

Looking at the falling red lightning, he didn't even bother to dodge.

His hands formed seals again.

The movement was more than twice as fast as before.

"Five Thunders Method, rise."

Zhang Xuanyao whispered, blue light surging from his fingertips.

A purple celestial thunder, slightly thinner than before but deeper in color, erupted from Zhang Xuanyao's palm, rushing up to meet the five red lightning bolts above his head.

Boom!

The two thunder techniques collided violently in mid-air, erupting with blindingly intense light.

Immediately after, a terrifying explosion shockwave spread in all directions.

A gale rose from the ground.

The asphalt road was flipped over by the massive shockwave.

Gravel mixed with mud flew everywhere.

Thick dust instantly enveloped the center point of their battle.

Deputy Captain Li Ming and the crowd hiding behind cover in the distance covered their ears, watching the center of the explosion in terror.

Time seemed to stop at this moment.

Ten seconds later, a breeze blew by, and the dust began to slowly dissipate.

The first thing that caught the eye was the hem of Zhang Xuanyao's white inner garment fluttering in the wind.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in place.

He hadn't even stepped back half a step.

There wasn't even a speck of dust on his clothes.

Unharmed.

Looking past Zhang Xuanyao, a charred pit with a diameter of three meters and a depth of half a meter appeared on the ground ahead, with wisps of white smoke still rising from the edges.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi lay in a pool of blood.

The skin all over his body had been scorched black and carbonized by the lightning.

His tattered Dharma robe had completely turned to ash.

His chest rose and fell weakly, with only one last breath remaining, and a wheezing sound constantly came from his throat, mixed with the sound of blood bubbles bursting.

Zhang Xuanyao walked over to Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

He looked down at the broken body on the ground.

"Senior Martial Uncle," Zhang Xuanyao said faintly.

"Your Talisman skills are still lacking."

This sentence was like a sharp blade, precisely slicing through Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's last shred of dignity.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's body twitched violently, coughing up a large mouthful of blood mixed with visceral fragments.

On his charred face, the muscles struggled to pull into a miserable smile that looked worse than crying.

"Cough, cough..."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi said in an extremely weak voice.

"I... I missed on purpose..."

Zhang Xuanyao raised an eyebrow but didn't speak.

"I have already been backlashed by the Maoshan secret arts... I won't live long..." Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's voice was intermittent, as if he would stop breathing at any moment.

"The system cannot accommodate me... the Daoist sect cannot accommodate me either..."

A drop of turbid tear slid from the corner of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's eye, washing a white trace onto his charred cheek.

"I have no children, no family... I am all alone..."

"My assets... they all belong to you..."

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi gasped for air, his chest rising and falling weaker and weaker.

"After all... you are the disciple my Junior Brother liked the most... and you are also the... Senior Martial Uncle I miss the most... Remember... bury me with your Master... I don't want to leave him all... alone."

Zhang Xuanyao listened quietly.

He didn't interrupt.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi raised his right hand with difficulty.

His charred fingers trembled as he reached into the area of his chest that was the only part untouched by the lightning.

After fumbling for a long time, he pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper.

The surface of the paper was well-protected by a layer of transparent waterproof Talisman, not stained with a speck of blood or dust.

Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi handed the paper to Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao reached out and took the paper.

The moment his fingers touched it, the Talisman dissipated into golden light.

Zhang Xuanyao unfolded the paper, his gaze sweeping over the text on it.

This was a will that had been drawn up long ago.

It clearly stated that all real estate, savings, and antique calligraphy and paintings under Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's name were to be inherited by his Junior Martial Uncle, Zhang Xuanyao.

At the bottom, it was stamped with Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's personal seal, and a red fingerprint was pressed there as well.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the will in his hand in shock.

Then he looked down at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi on the ground.

At this moment, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi had no strength left.

The arm he held in mid-air slid down limply.

Slap.

It hit the charred mud heavily.

He stared at the sky with dull eyes, his life completely cut off.

Zhang Xuanyao gripped the will in his hand tightly, the paper making a faint rubbing sound between his fingertips.

Looking at Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's charred corpse, his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

A gale blew across the street again.

Zhang Xuanyao let out a long sigh.

"Senior Martial Uncle..."

Zhang Xuanyao folded the will and tucked it into his clothes.

"Why did you have to do this..."

144: Chapter 144: All the scheming and intrigue ultimately amounted to nothing.

The violent wind stopped howling.

Thick dark clouds in the sky dispersed, and sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the street in front of the Discipline Inspection Commission Compound in the capital once again.

The air was filled with a pungent smell of ozone, mixed with the burnt scent of asphalt scorched by high heat.

Zhang Xuanyao stood in the middle of the road.

His fingers pinched the blood-stained will, folding it into a square.

He pulled open the lapel of his white inner garment and tucked the will into a pocket close to his body.

He lowered his gaze, which fell onto the ground three meters in front of him.

There was a huge, charred crater there.

The rubble at the edge of the crater had turned into glass-like crystals.

At the bottom of the crater lay a completely carbonized corpse.

The surface of the body was covered in cracked patterns, and wisps of white smoke rose from the fissures.

On both sides of the street, tens of thousands of people remained frozen in their fleeing postures.

The police officers inside the gate of the Discipline Inspection Commission Compound gripped their batons, their mouths agape.

The entire scene was deathly silent.

Not a single person spoke.

No noise could be heard.

Thousands of gazes crossed the debris-strewn ground and converged on the young man wearing the thin white inner garment.

At the very front of the crowd, a young man with dyed yellow hair felt his legs go weak.

His fingers lost their strength.

"Clatter."

The mobile phone slipped from his hand and hit the asphalt road.

The screen glass shattered, and fragments scattered everywhere.

This crisp sound was infinitely amplified in the deathly silent street.

Like an electric shock, the crowd collectively took a big step back.

The rustling sound of shoe soles rubbing against the ground merged into one.

The gazes directed at Zhang Xuanyao were filled with undisguised awe and fear.

That purple heavenly thunder that had just torn through the sky.

That century-old great ghost that had instantly vanished into ashes.

This power, which only existed in myths and legends, was vividly displayed before everyone's eyes.

Rapid footsteps came from within the Discipline Inspection Commission Compound.

Director He Boan, the head of the Discipline Inspection Commission, held a white handkerchief, continuously wiping the cold sweat from his forehead and neck.

The back of his white shirt was completely soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to his skin.

Director He Boan, leading a dozen fully armed police officers, hurried out of the retractable gate.

They walked to the front of the charred crater.

Director He Boan stopped.

His legs trembled violently, and his knees were almost knocking together.

He leaned over to glance at the charred corpse at the bottom of the crater, whose facial features were unrecognizable.

Director He Boan swallowed a large mouthful of saliva, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. He turned to look at Zhang Xuanyao, his lips trembling, unable to say a word for a long time.

Deputy Captain Li Ming strode out from behind the riot control vehicle.

He stepped over the shattered glass on the ground, blocking the space between Director He Boan and Zhang Xuanyao.

He reached his right hand into the inner pocket of his jacket and took out the black identification card of the Special Investigation Bureau.

He opened it and held it up before Director He Boan's eyes.

"Director He."

Deputy Captain Li Ming's voice was crisp and decisive.

"The police are handling a case. This matter involves internal Daoist sects' conflicts and special classified events. We are taking full control of the scene."

Director He Boan stared at the national emblem on the identification card and nodded repeatedly.

"Good, you take over. We will cooperate fully."

Director He Boan turned his head and waved forcefully at the police officers behind him.

"Set up the cordon! Evacuate the crowd! Seal off this road completely!"

The police officers acted immediately.

They untied the caution tape from their waists and pulled out a long defensive line.

Zhang Xuanyao ignored Director He Boan and turned to look at Deputy Captain Li Ming.

"Get a more discreet car and take me away from here," Zhang Xuanyao instructed.

Deputy Captain Li Ming nodded, took the walkie-talkie off his shoulder, and pressed the talk button.

"Calling headquarters, send an unmarked vehicle to the back gate of the Discipline Inspection Commission Compound."

A few minutes later.

Zhang Xuanyao followed Deputy Captain Li Ming through the Discipline Inspection Commission Compound and arrived at the back street.

A black off-road vehicle with ordinary civilian license plates was parked on the side of the road.

Zhang Xuanyao pulled open the passenger door and sat inside.

Deputy Captain Li Ming sat in the driver's seat, shifted gears, and stepped on the gas pedal.

The off-road vehicle merged into the traffic and drove away from the scene.

The car was very quiet, with only the low roar of the engine. Zhang Xuanyao leaned back against the leather seat and closed his eyes.

In his mind, the System notification sounds exploded like a string of firecrackers.

[Ding! The host has publicly performed the Five Thunders Method, causing a massive shock across the entire network!]

[The live stream signal has been restored, and the number of comments has exceeded the server's maximum threshold!]

[Obtained shock value: 8,000,000 points!]

[Ding! The Heavenly Eye meets the upgrade conditions and has automatically upgraded to: Heavenly Eye (Tier 3)!]

[Effect improved: Can see through deeper levels of Karma and Karmic Obstruction lines, predict death countdowns with second-level precision, and see through most Daoist illusions and concealment Formations.]

[Ding! The System shop upgrade is complete, unlocking more high-tier Magic Treasure and Talisman exchange permissions!]

Zhang Xuanyao felt the surging True Qi within his body.

Eight million shock value; this was an extremely huge number.

With a thought.

The System shop panel unfolded in his mind.

The goods on the shelves were brand new, emitting various colors of light.

On the first row, there was a wooden sword that was purple-black all over.

[Century-Old Lightning-Struck Jujube Wood Sword: Contains the supreme Yang Qi of heavenly thunder, has a great restraining effect on evil spirits. Price: 1,000,000 shock value.]

On the second row, there was a bronze mirror.

[Purple Gold bagua mirror: Can rebound high-tier spells and suppress Feng Shui energy fields. Price: 2,000,000 shock value.]

On the third row, there was a stack of yellow Talisman paper.

[Earth-Shrinking Talisman: After use, can instantly teleport to ten miles away. Price: 500,000 shock value/piece.]

Zhang Xuanyao browsed the items in the shop and closed the panel.

The increase in strength gave him more confidence for what was to come.

The off-road vehicle wove through the streets of the capital.

An hour later.

The vehicle drove out of the city and entered a remote valley on the outskirts of the capital.

There was a factory here with an ordinary appearance, and there were no signs hanging outside the gate.

Deputy Captain Li Ming showed his identification, and the gate opened slowly.

The off-road vehicle drove into the factory area and stopped in front of a gray concrete building.

This was a secret crematorium within the Special Investigation Bureau.

It was specifically used to handle corpses involved in Daoist supernatural events, or those carrying Evil Qi or resentment.

Zhang Xuanyao pushed open the car door and got out.

Deputy Captain Li Ming walked to the trunk and pulled out a black body bag.

It contained the remains of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

The two walked inside the building.

In the center of the hall, there was a huge industrial incinerator.

Two staff members wearing protective suits walked up, took the body bag, and pushed it into the furnace.

They pressed the start button.

Boom.

Blue high-temperature flames erupted inside the furnace.

The roaring flames instantly engulfed the body bag.

The firelight shone through the heat-resistant glass onto Zhang Xuanyao's calm face.

Deputy Captain Li Ming stood to the side and took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.

He pulled one out and handed it to Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand, his gaze remaining fixed on the flames inside the furnace.

Watching the remains in the flames gradually carbonize, shatter, and finally turn into ashes.

Sparks swirled and danced in the furnace, and Zhang Xuanyao let out a long, heavy sigh.

"Senior Martial Uncle."

Zhang Xuanyao spoke to the firelight, his voice echoing in the empty hall.

"You calculated too much in this life. For the sake of power, you even abandoned the bottom line of the Daoist sects. In the end, you only managed to calculate your own demise."

Zhang Xuanyao paused for a moment.

"Go down there and kowtow to my Master to admit your mistakes."

145: Chapter 145: The Dust Settles, Shocking News in the Capital

Half an hour later.

The flames died down, and the staff opened the furnace door to clear out the ashes.

They were placed into an ordinary black wooden urn, covered, and handed to Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao took the urn with both hands; the wooden surface still held a trace of residual warmth.

He turned and walked out the door, with Deputy Captain Li Ming following behind.

The two got back into the SUV.

Zhang Xuanyao placed the urn on his lap and pressed both hands onto it.

"Where to?" Deputy Captain Li Ming started the car and turned his head to ask.

Zhang Xuanyao took the will out of his pocket and glanced at the address on it.

"Go to Dongcheng Hutong, Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's private residence."

The SUV drove out of the remote valley and merged back into the traffic of Beijing.

Zhang Xuanyao sat in the passenger seat.

With both hands pressing on the black wooden urn on his lap, his fingers gently stroked the wood grain.

The atmosphere inside the car was stifling, with only the faint sound of wind coming from the air conditioner vents.

Zhang Xuanyao watched the streetscape receding outside the window, while the expression on his Master's face when mentioning Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi during his lifetime flashed through his mind.

It was a complex expression mixed with regret, anger, and helplessness.

The two fellow disciples—one living in seclusion in a small Daoist temple, the other climbing to a high position in the Special Investigation Bureau.

In the end, this was the outcome.

The vehicle drove into the Dongcheng District and turned into a narrow, old hutong.

With blue bricks and gray tiles, the locust trees on both sides were lush, blocking the sunlight.

The SUV stopped in front of a courtyard house; the red lacquered gate was ajar, and the threshold was covered in traces of time.

Zhang Xuanyao pushed the car door open, got out, held the urn, and walked up the steps.

Deputy Captain Li Ming followed at his side, his hand habitually resting on the holster at his waist.

Zhang Xuanyao raised his right foot and kicked open the ajar gate.

With a "creak," the gate swung open.

The scene in the courtyard came into view.

It was a mess.

Various Magical Artifacts were scattered on the ground paved with bluestone slabs.

Broken peach wood swords, overturned incense burners, and cinnabar and yellow paper scattered everywhere.

The door to the main room was wide open, and it was pitch black inside.

In the center of the courtyard, a figure was crouching on the ground.

It was Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's disciple, Zhao Ming.

Zhao Ming was clutching his chest, his face as pale as paper.

He was struggling to pick up the scattered Magical Artifacts one by one and put them into the wooden box beside him.

Hearing the sound of the gate being kicked open, Zhao Ming turned his head sharply, his eyes bloodshot, filled with the vigilance and panic of a frightened bird.

Seeing Zhang Xuanyao and Deputy Captain Li Ming in police uniform, Zhao Ming's pupils dilated, and he subconsciously took a step back.

His right hand instinctively reached for his waist, pulling out a half-foot-long peach wood short sword.

The tip of the sword pointed directly at Zhang Xuanyao.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Zhao Ming demanded sharply, his voice trembling from extreme tension.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at Zhao Ming.

He did not draw his sword, nor did he adopt a defensive posture.

He took a step, stepping on the broken yellow paper on the ground, and walked straight toward Zhao Ming.

He stopped when he was only two steps away from Zhao Ming.

Zhang Xuanyao extended both hands and handed over the black wooden urn.

Zhao Ming was stunned.

His gaze followed Zhang Xuanyao's arms and fixed intently on the urn.

His gaze moved upward, and he saw Zhang Xuanyao's face clearly.

The Daoist temperament on that face, the expression between his brows, bore some resemblance to Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

Zhao Ming seemed to realize something; his eye sockets instantly became bloodshot and turned red.

The hand holding the peach wood short sword began to tremble violently.

"You are his disciple, right?"

Zhang Xuanyao's tone was flat.

"By seniority, I should call you Junior Brother."

Hearing this, the peach wood short sword in Zhao Ming's hand fell onto the bluestone slabs with a "clatter."

He reached out with trembling hands and took the urn.

The moment his fingertips touched the wooden box, Zhao Ming's legs went weak, and his knees hit the bluestone slabs heavily.

"Master..."

Zhao Ming let out an extremely suppressed roar.

Tears burst from his eyes, rolling down his pale cheeks in large drops. He hugged the urn and buried his head on it.

The sound of suppressed sobbing echoed in the empty courtyard.

Zhang Xuanyao stood where he was, quietly watching Zhao Ming kneeling on the ground.

He did not speak to comfort him.

Those in the Daoist world were accustomed to life and death; some emotions had to be vented.

Deputy Captain Li Ming stood at the gate, vigilantly observing the surroundings, ensuring no unauthorized persons approached.

More than ten minutes later, Zhao Ming's crying gradually stopped, leaving only intermittent sobs.

He raised his head and wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve.

Zhang Xuanyao took the blood-stained will out of his inner pocket.

He unfolded it and handed it to Zhao Ming.

"Senior Martial Uncle Zheng left all his inheritance to me." Zhang Xuanyao pointed at the handwriting and seal on it.

Zhao Ming looked at the will but did not speak.

"But I am not developing in Beijing."

Zhang Xuanyao took back the will.

"You continue to look after this courtyard and his other properties in Beijing."

Zhao Ming raised his head and looked at Zhang Xuanyao.

"His dying wish was to be buried with my Master."

Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the urn in Zhao Ming's arms.

"I will take the ashes back to Heng City. You keep the rest and build a cenotaph for him in Beijing."

Zhao Ming looked at the handwriting on the will and recognized Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's personal seal.

He wiped away his tears.

Supporting himself with one hand on the ground, he struggled to stand up.

He did not show any greed for the property, nor did he raise any objections to Zhang Xuanyao's arrangements.

Instead, he stared fixedly into Zhang Xuanyao's eyes, his voice hoarse, with a trace of stubbornness.

"Senior Brother..."

Zhao Ming asked, word by word.

"How did my Master die? Was it that big ghost..."

Zhao Ming had been kicked unconscious by Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi in the underground secret room and had not seen what happened at the entrance of the Discipline Inspection Commission.

Zhang Xuanyao met Zhao Ming's gaze.

He did not dodge in the slightest.

He turned around, with his back to Zhao Ming.

"I killed him."

Zhang Xuanyao spat out the four words flatly, and the air instantly solidified.

The wind in the courtyard seemed to stop.

Upon hearing this, Deputy Captain Li Ming's expression changed drastically. His right hand instantly drew the pistol from his waist, disengaged the safety, and pointed it at Zhao Ming.

He watched Zhao Ming's every move nervously, fearing he might attack.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Ming did not go to pick up the peach wood short sword on the ground.

He did not rush at Zhang Xuanyao to fight for his life either.

He stood there, hugging the urn.

His mouth twitched, and he let out a miserable laugh.

He nodded.

His shoulders slumped, as if he had unloaded some heavy burden.

"I understand."

Zhao Ming's voice was low.

"Master suffered from Qi Deviation and was backlashed by the ghost he raised; perhaps this is his best release."

Zhao Ming looked at Zhang Xuanyao's back.

"Senior Brother, I will guard the estate Master left behind."

Zhang Xuanyao turned his head and looked at Zhao Ming with some surprise.

To be able to maintain his reason under such circumstances and recognize the Karma, this cheap Junior Brother's Heart-Nature was not bad.

Zhang Xuanyao nodded.

He strode forward, preparing to leave the courtyard.

Just as he stepped off the steps of the main room and was about to reach the gate, Zhao Ming's urgent voice came from behind.

"Senior Brother, wait!"

Zhang Xuanyao stopped and looked back.

"What is it?" Zhang Xuanyao frowned.

Zhao Ming walked up quickly and placed the urn on the stone table beside him.

He walked up to Zhang Xuanyao and lowered his voice.

"Master instructed me on one thing before he passed away." Zhao Ming's expression was grave.

"Now that he is gone, I must tell you."

Zhang Xuanyao looked at him, waiting for the rest.

"You must be careful of the Luo Family of Beijing!" Zhao Ming said through gritted teeth.

146: Chapter 146: Karmic Obstacles from Bone Beads, Evil Hidden Before the Buddha

"Luo Family?" Zhang Xuanyao raised his eyebrows slightly, repeating the name.

Zhao Ming looked left and right, ensuring there was no one else in the courtyard.

He leaned closer to Zhang Xuanyao, lowering his voice even further.

"The Luo Family is one of the top three elite families in the capital. They are incredibly well-connected, with deep roots in both political and business circles."

Zhao Ming said quickly.

"Their head of the family is also a practitioner of the mystical arts, but they don't cultivate Daoist methods; instead, they practice a bizarre form of 'Esoteric Buddhist Dharma'."

Zhang Xuanyao narrowed his eyes.

Esoteric Buddhist Dharma has always been a rather unique existence within the mystical arts community.

Their methods are secretive and highly aggressive.

"Back then, Master competed with the head of the Luo Family for the position of Deputy Director of the Special Investigation Bureau."

Zhao Ming continued to reveal the inside story.

"The Luo Family lost by a narrow margin. But for all these years, they have been secretly sabotaging us."

Zhao Ming clenched his fists.

"Master's secret of raising ghosts in private was extremely well-hidden. How could the Discipline Inspection Commission suddenly receive such detailed Materials of the report?"

Zhao Ming gritted his teeth.

"It's highly likely that the Luo Family deliberately leaked it to the Discipline Inspection Commission! They have been waiting for Master to fall!"

Zhang Xuanyao listened and connected the cause and effect.

So, the Discipline Inspection Commission's sudden attack was fueled by this force behind the scenes.

"Now that Master is dead."

Zhao Ming's tone was anxious and full of worry.

"The Luo Family will definitely seize the opportunity to take power and completely control the Special Investigation Bureau. Moreover, they are ruthless and will never let Master's trusted aides go."

Zhao Ming looked at Zhang Xuanyao.

"More importantly, they will definitely thoroughly investigate who killed Master at the entrance of the Discipline Inspection Commission to establish their authority. Senior Martial Brother, you are currently too prominent with the live stream across the entire internet; they will definitely target you!"

A sense of crisis rushed towards him.

Upon hearing these words, Zhang Xuanyao was not panicked at all.

Instead, the corners of his mouth curled up, and he let out a cold laugh.

In his eyes, a purple-gold light flashed past.

"Esoteric Buddhist Dharma? Interesting." Zhang Xuanyao's tone was relaxed, as if he were discussing a trivial matter.

Zhang Xuanyao reached into his pocket, took out his phone, and recited a string of numbers.

"Write down my number."

Zhang Xuanyao looked at Zhao Ming.

"I'm returning to Heng City first to bury my Senior Martial Uncle. If the Luo Family dares to come and cause you trouble, contact me at any time."

Zhao Ming quickly took out his phone and saved the number.

Zhang Xuanyao turned around, walked to the stone table, picked up the urn, and walked out of the courtyard gate without looking back.

Deputy Captain Li Ming put away his pistol and followed him out.

The off-road vehicle was parked at the entrance of the alley.

The two got into the car, and Deputy Captain Li Ming started the engine, driving onto the highway back to Heng City.

On the highway, vehicles sped by.

Inside the car.

Zhang Xuanyao sat in the passenger seat, closing his eyes to rest.

Deputy Captain Li Ming gripped the steering wheel with both hands and glanced at the rearview mirror.

"Daoist Zhang, the Luo Family is indeed not to be trifled with in the capital."

Deputy Captain Li Ming spoke up, breaking the silence.

"I heard that there are quite a few people planted by the Luo Family in the Special Investigation Bureau in Heng City. Since you killed Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi this time, the Luo Family will definitely use this as an excuse to make trouble."

Zhang Xuanyao leaned against the back of the seat, watching the scenery receding outside the window.

"Whether they can afford to provoke me depends on if they have the life to do so." Zhang Xuanyao's tone was indifferent.

His consciousness sank into the System.

The moment Zhao Ming mentioned the words "Luo Family".

The upgraded Heavenly Eye automatically triggered.

In Zhang Xuanyao's field of vision, purple-gold light swirled crazily deep within his pupils.

The surrounding scene lost its color, turning black and white.

An extremely thick, black line of Karmic Obstruction extended from the Void Realm.

It was coiled with countless wailing phantoms of wronged souls.

This line penetrated the car, pointing directly towards the center of the capital.

Zhang Xuanyao looked in the direction of the Karmic Obstruction line.

His gaze pierced through the barriers of space.

It locked onto a vast and extremely luxurious manor within the Second Ring Road of the capital.

The black line of Karmic Obstruction was continuously radiating from that manor, carrying a strong stench of blood and Yin malevolence.

The scene switched.

Second Ring Road of the capital, Luo Family Manor.

The tall iron gates were tightly closed, and dozens of bodyguards in black suits were patrolling back and forth in the courtyard.

Deep underground in the manor.

There was an extremely secretive Buddhist hall.

There were no lights on in the Buddhist hall, only a few thick red candles were lit.

The air was filled with the rich scent of sandalwood, but it could not cover up that faint trace of blood.

In the very center of the Buddhist hall, a ferocious-looking, dark gold joyous buddha was enshrined.

The buddha statue was carved vividly, and one could even see the raised blood vessels on it.

The head of the Luo Family, Patriarch Luo Puti, was wearing loose lay Buddhist robes, sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat in front of the buddha statue.

He was bald, with six ordination scars burned onto the top of his head.

His face was gaunt, and his cheekbones were high and prominent.

In his hands, he was fiddling with a string of pale white prayer beads.

Looking closely, that string of prayer beads was actually polished from small human bones.

Patriarch Luo Puti closed his eyes, his mouth quickly chanting scriptures that could not be understood.

A subordinate in a black suit walked through the long corridor, verified his fingerprint, and pushed open the heavy metal door.

He walked quickly into the Buddhist hall.

He knelt on one knee.

"Patriarch." The subordinate reported in a low voice, "We just received confirmed news that Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi was struck to death by heavenly lightning at the entrance of the Discipline Inspection Commission. His soul flew away and his spirit scattered, not even leaving a trace of ash behind."

Patriarch Luo Puti's fingers, which were fiddling with the prayer beads, paused.

He opened his eyes.

A trace of sinister light flashed in his eyes.

He let out a cold laugh.

"The old thing is finally dead." Patriarch Luo Puti's voice was hoarse.

His fingers exerted force suddenly.

With a crisp "crack" sound.

A hard human bone prayer bead instantly turned into powder between Patriarch Luo Puti's two fingers.

White bone powder spilled through his fingers.

"Have you found out clearly about that young man who summoned the heavenly lightning?" Patriarch Luo Puti asked.

"We have found out clearly." The subordinate replied, "His name is Zhang Xuanyao, a Daoist from a dilapidated Daoist temple in Heng City, and also the disciple of Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's Junior Brother."

Patriarch Luo Puti stood up.

He brushed the bone powder off his hands.

He walked to the dark gold joyous buddha, looking up at the ferocious face of the buddha statue.

"From now on, the Special Investigation Bureau is mine."

Patriarch Luo Puti turned around, looking at the subordinate kneeling on the ground.

"That kid's life is also mine. Send people to Heng City and find out everything about him."

"Yes!" The subordinate received the order and withdrew.

The Buddhist hall returned to deathly silence once again.

Only the red candle flames flickered in the wind, stretching Patriarch Luo Puti's shadow extremely long, like a beast lurking in the darkness.

147: Chapter 147: One Stele, One Tomb, Cause and Effect Cleared

On the highway, the black SUV quickly weaved through the lanes, its engine letting out a low rumble.

Inside the car, cold air blew from the air conditioner vent. Zhang Xuanyao leaned back against the passenger seat, turning his head to watch the green belt trees rapidly receding outside the window.

With his hands resting on his thighs, his fingers gently rubbed the edge of the black wooden urn. The wooden surface was rough, carrying a trace of warmth that had not yet completely dissipated.

"Senior Martial Uncle, oh Senior Martial Uncle."

Zhang Xuanyao sighed softly, breaking the silence in the car.

"With your death, you not only left all your family property to me, but you also transferred all your Karma and the Luo family's mess onto me."

Deputy Captain Li Ming held the steering wheel with both hands, his eyes fixed on the road ahead as he stepped on the gas to overtake a heavy truck.

"Daoist Zhang," Deputy Captain Li Ming spoke, his voice rising above the road noise. "The Luo family is deeply rooted in the capital. This inheritance won't be easy to take, and those people from the Special Investigation Bureau won't let it go easily either."

Zhang Xuanyao withdrew his gaze and tapped his fingers on the wooden lid of the urn, making a dull 'thud-thud' sound.

"Whether I can hold onto it depends on my ability," Zhang Xuanyao said flatly. "There is no reason to reject money that has been handed to me. As for the Karma, since I accepted the will, I must finish what needs to be done."

The SUV drove off the highway toll station and entered the territory of Heng City.

Over an hour later, the vehicle drove into the suburbs of Heng City, climbing up the winding asphalt mountain road.

The entrance to the Azure Dragon Mountain Cemetery appeared at the end of their vision. A massive white marble archway stood halfway up the mountain, with tall evergreen cypress trees planted on both sides.

Deputy Captain Li Ming stepped on the brakes, and the SUV stopped in the open-air parking lot outside the cemetery gates.

Zhang Xuanyao pushed open the car door and got out, holding the black wooden urn in both hands, his feet stepping onto the concrete ground.

He raised his head and looked around the entire Qinglong Mountain.

The mountain range stretched from north to south, with a towering main peak. The ridges on both sides were like open arms, embracing the entire cemetery. In front was a man-made stream with a gentle current, winding around the foot of the mountain and flowing eastward.

Back when Master passed away, the Daoist temple was so poor that they couldn't even make ends meet, unable to even scrape together enough money to buy a cheap, thin-plank coffin.

This treasure land of feng shui, which shielded from the wind and gathered Qi with the mountain at its back and water at its front, was bought with money secretly sent by Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi.

Zhang Xuanyao took a step forward, walking through the white marble archway and up the bluestone steps. Deputy Captain Li Ming followed behind, maintaining a distance of two steps.

They arrived at the management office halfway up the mountain, a gray, single-story building.

Zhang Xuanyao pushed open the glass door, walked to the front desk, and placed the urn on the marble countertop.

A cemetery administrator dressed in a black suit stood up and came forward to greet them.

"Sir, what service would you like to arrange?" the administrator asked.

"To buy a grave plot," Zhang Xuanyao recited a string of numbers. "Area A, Row Seven, Number Nine. I want the empty plot next to this one."

The administrator walked over to the computer, tapped on the keyboard, and pulled up the records.

"Sir,"

The administrator looked at the screen.

"Area A, Row Seven, Number Nine is an already sold plot. The adjacent Number Ten is indeed vacant, but that is the 'Acupoint' of our cemetery, which has the best location and excellent feng shui, so the price is very high."

"How much?" Zhang Xuanyao asked.

"Including the land and basic construction, it's eight hundred and eighty thousand yuan," the administrator quoted the price.

Zhang Xuanyao reached into his coat, pulled out his wallet, and drew a black bank card. This card was one of the assets included in Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's will, and its registered name had already been changed through the Special Investigation Bureau's internal channels.

"Swipe it." Zhang Xuanyao slapped the bank card onto the table.

The administrator took the bank card with both hands, swiped it on the POS machine, and entered the amount.

With a beep, the notification sound for a successful transaction rang out, and the POS machine spat out a white receipt.

Zhang Xuanyao looked at the deduction SMS that popped up on his phone screen; the balance displayed still had a long string of zeros.

The corner of his mouth twitched, letting out a self-deprecating chuckle.

"Back then, you paid to bury my Master."

Zhang Xuanyao tapped his finger on the urn.

"Now that I have money, I'm buying a grave plot for you. Fate really plays tricks on people."

The administrator printed out the contract, stamped it with the official seal, and handed it to Zhang Xuanyao.

"Sir, plot Number Ten is still a raw dirt pit and has not undergone hardening treatment," the administrator explained. "High-end tombstones need to be hand-carved, so it will take a couple of days before it can be delivered and installed."

"No matter," Zhang Xuanyao put away the contract. "Lend me a shovel."

Ten minutes later.

Zhang Xuanyao arrived at Row Seven of Area A and walked to Tombstone Number Nine.

His Master's name was carved on the tombstone. The old Daoist in the photo had a genial smile, and a few bouquets of dried chrysanthemums lay before the monument.

Zhang Xuanyao placed the black wooden urn on the ground, took off his outer Daoist robe, and draped it over a nearby cypress branch, revealing his close-fitting white inner shirt.

He walked to the empty space of plot Number Ten and gripped the wooden handle of the shovel with both hands.

He raised his right foot, stepped on the back of the shovel blade, exerted force with his legs, and stomped down hard.

The sharp shovel sliced through the surface turf and severed the underground roots with a crisp snap.

Zhang Xuanyao pressed the wooden handle back with both hands, turning up a chunk of loess mixed with gravel. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the dirt aside.

He didn't stop, digging shovel after shovel.

The shovel collided with stones underground, kicking up sparks and making a harsh, scraping sound.

The earthy smell of soil permeated the air.

Half an hour later, a square pit measuring one meter by one meter and half a meter deep took shape, its walls patted smooth and firm with the shovel.

Zhang Xuanyao threw down the shovel. His chest heaved slightly, and a fine layer of sweat beaded on his forehead.

Bending down, he lifted the black wooden urn with both hands and walked to the edge of the pit.

Bending his knees, he squatted on the ground and placed the urn steadily in the center of the bottom of the pit, adjusting the angle to ensure the front of the urn faced due south.

Standing up, he picked up the shovel again.

He shoveled up the neighboring loess and scattered it evenly over the urn.

The dirt fell onto the wooden lid, making dull, thudding sounds.

As shovel after shovel of loess was filled in, the urn was gradually buried, and the pit was filled to the level.

Using the back of the shovel, Zhang Xuanyao patted the loose soil firm, piling it into a circular grave mound.

Putting down the shovel, Zhang Xuanyao walked to the nearby cypress tree, picked up his outer Daoist robe, put it on, and tied the sash.

Turning around, he quietly looked at the two graves standing side by side—one with a tombstone, and one without.

A gust of mountain wind blew past, swirling the fallen leaves on the ground around the graves.

Zhang Xuanyao did not speak, nor did he bow.

He turned around and took large strides down the bluestone steps, his figure disappearing into the layers of the cypress forest without the slightest hesitation.

The compound of the Hengcheng City Public Security Bureau.

The SUV drove through the gates and parked in a marked parking space in front of the office building.

Zhang Xuanyao pushed open the door and got out. Straightening the collar of his Daoist robe, he walked into the lobby of the office building, with Deputy Captain Li Ming quickly following by his side.

The two walked through the corridor, went up the stairs, and arrived in front of the Director's office on the third floor.

Zhang Xuanyao raised his right hand, gripped the metal doorknob, pressed it down, and pushed open the solid wood door.

Inside the office, Director Wang Chen was sitting behind his large desk, looking down at a thick document with his brows knitted tightly together.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Director Wang Chen raised his head.

Seeing Zhang Xuanyao standing at the door, Director Wang Chen's eyes widened. Placing both hands on the desk, he stood up abruptly.

His gaze quickly swept over Zhang Xuanyao—his Daoist robe was neat, with no bloodstains or wounds, completely unharmed.

"Daoist Zhang!" Director Wang Chen quickly walked around the desk to the sofa in the reception area. "It's good that you've returned safely! Please, have a seat!"

Director Wang Chen picked up the purple clay teapot on the coffee table, lifted the thermos, and poured boiling water into it.

The tea leaves tumbled in the boiling water, unfurling their leaves as a rich tea aroma filled the air.

Director Wang Chen poured two cups of tea and pushed one of them onto the glass coffee table in front of Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao walked to the single sofa and sat down, leaning his back against the soft cushion.

Without touching the cup of tea, his gaze looked directly at Director Wang Chen.

"Director Wang," Zhang Xuanyao got straight to the point, his voice echoing in the office. "I have fully settled Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's affairs. His ashes have just been buried on Qinglong Mountain."

Director Wang Chen's hand, which was lifting his teacup, froze in mid-air. The tea sloshed in the cup, splashing a few drops of hot water onto the back of his hand.

He put the teacup back on the coffee table and pulled out a tissue to wipe the back of his hand.

148: Chapter 148: A Prediction of Life and Death, Even Jesus Could Not Stay

"Cleaned up..." Director Wang Chen repeated the words, swallowing hard. "Good, good. As long as you're safe."

"But."

Zhang Xuanyao tapped his fingers on the armrest of the sofa.

"Now that Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi is dead, the Luo Family of Beijing will likely start making moves. Heng City might not be peaceful. How much do you know about the Luo family?"

Hearing the words "Luo family," Director Wang Chen's face instantly turned extremely grim.

He walked over to sit on the opposite sofa, crossing his hands over his knees.

"The Luo Family of Beijing."

Director Wang Chen lowered his voice.

"I only caught a glimpse of them in an internal confidential document from the Provincial Department. I heard they have immense influence in both politics and business, with an unfathomable background and industries spanning the entire country. But at our Municipal Police Bureau level, we can't even touch that stratum. We only know they act with extreme dominance."

Zhang Xuanyao nodded thoughtfully, his fingertips stopping their tapping.

"Understood," Zhang Xuanyao said in a relaxed tone. "Since this is the Karma of the Xuanmen, I won't trouble you, Director Wang. I will handle the rest myself."

Director Wang Chen looked at Zhang Xuanyao, his lips twitching as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. With an embarrassed expression, he picked up his teacup, brought it to his lips, and then set it back down.

Zhang Xuanyao keenly noticed Director Wang Chen's unusual behavior and locked eyes with him.

"Director Wang, speak your mind. What's wrong?" Zhang Xuanyao asked directly.

Director Wang Chen sighed and leaned back against the sofa.

"During the few days you were away from Heng City..."

Director Wang Chen explained the situation.

"Team Leader Lin Cang of the Special Investigation Bureau's Heng City branch came to our bureau several times, wanting to temporarily borrow personnel from our Special Police squad."

"I found an excuse to turn him down."

Director Wang Chen let out a cold snort.

"They are usually so arrogant and look down on our Municipal Police Bureau, but now they can't even scrape together enough field agents. It's obvious they've reached the end of their rope."

Zhang Xuanyao raised his eyebrows slightly.

"The last time they tried to block you at the airport..."

Director Wang Chen continued to explain. He opened his desk drawer, pulled out a thin internal briefing document, and tossed it onto the coffee table.

"They actually just wanted to drag you in to clean up their mess."

Zhang Xuanyao's gaze swept over the cover of the document, which was stamped with the word "Top Secret."

"An extremely fierce female ghost has appeared in an abandoned village on the outskirts of the city."

Director Wang Chen pointed at the document.

"The matter has been suppressed for nearly half a month. The Special Investigation Bureau has lost several people to it. The deputy leader who led the team had his Yang Qi completely drained and is still lying in the ICU. Two field agents have lost their minds and bite anyone they see. They simply can't handle it."

Zhang Xuanyao didn't reach for the document, his expression completely unfazed.

"Has that female ghost harmed any ordinary citizens?" Zhang Xuanyao asked the core question.

Director Wang Chen shook his head and answered decisively, "Not at all. According to intelligence, the female ghost seems to be trapped in an area near the village's ancestral hall and cannot get out. She has only injured a few Special Investigation Bureau agents who forced their way into the lockdown zone. Currently, there are no reports of civilian casualties."

Zhang Xuanyao spread his hands and let out a cold laugh.

"That's good then."

Zhang Xuanyao stood up and tidied his robe.

"Since no civilians died, it's none of my business. The Special Investigation Bureau brought this upon themselves by seeking death and running straight into trouble. Let them suffer. I have no obligation to save a bunch of useless fools."

Director Wang Chen looked up at Zhang Xuanyao. "Then what does Daoist Zhang plan to do next?"

"Book a plane ticket for tomorrow."

Zhang Xuanyao turned and walked toward the office door.

"I'll make another trip to Beijing to actively test the waters of this Luo family. Being on the receiving end of attacks is not my style."

Just as Zhang Xuanyao's fingers touched the metal handle of the office door...

The phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated frantically, the rapid ringtone sounding exceptionally jarring in the quiet office.

Zhang Xuanyao stopped, released the door handle, and reached into his pocket to pull out his phone.

On the screen, the caller ID flashed: Ji Xue.

Zhang Xuanyao pressed the answer button and held the phone to his ear.

From the other end of the line, Ji Xue's extremely anxious and panicked voice immediately came through, with muffled banging on the door and coarse shouting mixed in the background.

"Daoist Zhang! Something's wrong! Hurry back!"

Ji Xue's voice carried a hint of crying, and her speaking speed was extremely fast.

"There's a group of bald men in black suits blocking the entrance of Qingfeng Temple! They look fierce and are holding strange bone beads in their hands. They said they must see you today, or they'll smash the temple gates and set fire to the mountain!"

Zhang Xuanyao's eyes suddenly turned cold, and deep within them, a purple-gold light instantly flashed.

The upgraded Heavenly Eye (Rank 3) was automatically triggered.

His vision instantly penetrated the reinforced concrete walls of the Municipal Police Bureau's office building, pierced through the traffic on the streets, and spanned half the distance across Heng City.

The scene zoomed in rapidly in Zhang Xuanyao's field of vision.

The dilapidated vermilion gates of Qingfeng Temple appeared before his eyes.

Outside the gates stood five burly, bald men, all wearing black suits with loosely pulled ties.

Each of the five was rolling a string of ghastly white bone beads in their hands.

In the vision of the Heavenly Eye, these five men were wrapped in extremely dense, black lines of Karmic Obstruction. These lines wriggled like living creatures, emitting a Tantric blood-red Evil Qi identical to that of the Luo Family Manor in Beijing.

His gaze shifted upward.

Half a meter above the head of the leading burly man, a translucent phantom floated.

It was an extremely hideous joyous buddha, with three heads and six arms, its entire body a dark gold. Its six arms held a human skin drum, a bone flute, and a demon-subduing pestle respectively. The phantom emitted a sickening, bloody odor.

"Don't be afraid," Zhang Xuanyao spoke into the phone receiver, his voice steady. "Stay in the courtyard, bolt the door tight, and don't open it. I'll be there in ten minutes."

Hanging up the phone, Zhang Xuanyao stuffed it back into his pocket.

He turned to look at Deputy Captain Li Ming standing nearby.

"Deputy Captain Li Ming, please take me back to the temple," Zhang Xuanyao strode toward the door. "Drive fast."

He then turned back to look at Director Wang Chen behind the desk.

"Director Wang, the police department should stay out of this," Zhang Xuanyao instructed. "Lest you get contaminated by unclean things."

With that, Zhang Xuanyao rushed out of the office, with Deputy Captain Li Ming following closely behind.

The two rushed down the stairs and climbed into the off-road vehicle.

Deputy Captain Li Ming shifted into drive and slammed the accelerator to the floor.

The off-road vehicle roared, its tires screeching and leaving two black marks on the concrete ground as a puff of blue smoke rose, rushing straight out of the Municipal Police Bureau's compound.

On the streets, the off-road vehicle turned on its siren, weaving frantically through the traffic and running three red lights in a row.

Ten minutes later.

With an extremely wild screech of brakes, the off-road vehicle stopped at the foot of Qinglong Mountain, right in front of the blue stone steps leading up to Qingfeng Temple.

Before the vehicle had even come to a complete stop, Zhang Xuanyao pushed open the door and jumped out.

Alone, he strode up the blue stone steps at a rapid pace, the hem of his Daoist robe fluttering in the wind.

He arrived at the open space outside the temple gates.

Hearing the footsteps, the five bald, burly men turned their heads at the same time, stopping their banging on the door.

The leading burly man cracked his neck with a series of pops and sized up Zhang Xuanyao as he walked up.

"Are you that Daoist named Zhang?" The leading burly man tightened his grip on the bone beads and took a step forward.

Zhang Xuanyao stopped, standing ten meters away from the five men.

His gaze swept over their bald heads and the bone beads in their hands, the corners of his mouth curling up into an extremely brutal sneer.

"Running to a place of quiet Daoist cultivation to run wild?"

Zhang Xuanyao's sharp tongue flared up, his voice booming across the open space.

"Does the Luo Family of Beijing not leash their dogs? Or does your bullshit Tantric Sect specialize in taking in bald cripples?"

Hearing this, the faces of the five burly men instantly turned livid, veins bulging on their foreheads.

"You're asking for death!" the leading burly man roared, raising the bone beads in his hand, preparing to strike.

Zhang Xuanyao raised his right hand, pointing his index finger at the leading burly man's nose.

Purple-gold light swirled in his pupils as his Heavenly Eye saw through the line of Karma representing the other party's lifespan above his head; the line was rapidly turning black and snapping.

"Don't be in such a hurry to make a move,"

Zhang Xuanyao's voice suddenly rose, his tone carrying the coldness of a death sentence.

"I've cast a divination for you."

Zhang Xuanyao lowered his right hand and looked at the burly man.

"The space between your eyebrows is pitch black, a bloody aura pierces the heavens, and your Life Palace has been completely pierced through by Evil Qi." Zhang Xuanyao threw out his prediction. "Within three minutes, you will surely die a violent death, your bones broken, your tendons snapped, and your blood splattered on the spot. Even if Jesus comes, he can't save you. Mark my words."

The five bald, burly men froze for a second, then burst into a fit of arrogant laughter.

"Jesus? I don't believe in that crap!"

The leading burly man spat on the ground.

"I'll chop you into eight pieces first today, and we'll see who dies a violent death!"

The burly man strode forward and lunged fiercely at Zhang Xuanyao, the bone beads in his hand emitting a strange red light.

149: Chapter 149: A Master's Infallible Prediction – His Mouth Is Blessed

Zhang Xuanyao stood in front of the vermillion-painted gates of Qingfeng Temple. The bluestone steps were covered in moss.

The burly man who rushed out first was nearly two meters tall and weighed at least two hundred jin.

His black suit jacket was stretched tight by his exaggerated muscles, and his tie was crooked.

The glaring sunlight reflected off his bald head.

The string of pale bone beads he was playing with in his hand spun rapidly between his fingers, making a clicking friction sound.

The burly man took wide strides with his thick legs, stepping on the bluestone steps and making heavy, dull thuds.

He was less than five meters away from Zhang Xuanyao.

Zhang Xuanyao stood with his hands behind his back, his spine perfectly straight, and the hem of his Daoist robe fluttering gently in the mountain breeze.

His lips parted slightly as he uttered a few words.

"Rushing so fast, be careful not to trip and fall flat on your face."

The Words Become Law skill activated.

An invisible force of rules rippled through the air.

The burly man's right foot stepped heavily on the edge of a step. On the originally smooth bluestone slab, a smooth, thumb-sized pebble had appeared out of nowhere.

The sole of his leather shoe stepped right on the pebble.

His foot slipped.

The burly man's massive body instantly lost its balance. His upper body pitched forward, and his arms flailed wildly in the air, trying to grab onto something to steady his center of gravity.

It was completely useless.

Like a toppled stone monument, he fell face-down, slamming straight onto the hard bluestone slab.

Thud!

A dull thud echoed.

The burly man's chin and mouth slammed hard against the edge of the step.

Two bloody front teeth flew right out of his mouth, drawing an arc in the air before landing in the dust at Zhang Xuanyao's feet.

The burly man clutched his mouth with both hands, rolling on the ground in agony.

Blood gushed continuously through the gaps of his fingers, staining his white shirt collar red.

Muffled wails came from his throat, but because of the gaps in his teeth, he couldn't form a single coherent syllable.

Standing at the back, the leading burly man's face turned livid upon seeing this.

He grit his teeth and let out a cold snort.

"Useless trash! Can't even walk straight. You've completely disgraced the Luo family!"

The leading burly man didn't think much of it, assuming his subordinate just had bad luck and tripped on a stone.

He raised his right hand and waved it forward forcefully.

"You two, go together! Break this kid's legs for me!"

Receiving the order, the other two bald, burly men standing behind him immediately got into a fighting stance.

The two flanked him from the left and right, their nimble footwork showing they were clearly trained martial artists.

They clenched the bone beads tightly in their fists, their knuckles cracking like popping beans.

Zhang Xuanyao watched the two approach.

The corner of his mouth twitched as he spoke again.

"Running so fast, don't choke to death on the air."

The force of rules descended once more.

The two bald men had only taken a few steps when their bodies suddenly froze.

It was as if they had slammed into an invisible wall.

Both of them dropped the bone beads in their hands at the same time and clawed desperately at their own necks.

Their mouths opened incredibly wide, their jaws nearly dislocating as they desperately tried to gulp down air.

Yet, they couldn't inhale even a single shred of it.

Within seconds, their faces turned a deep purplish-red, veins bulging on their foreheads and throbbing violently.

They writhed frantically on the spot, scratching bloody claw marks onto their necks with their hands, their eyes bulging out and bloodshot.

It was a completely bizarre, objectless performance of asphyxiation.

Seeing his two subordinates fooling around instead of attacking Zhang Xuanyao, the leading burly man was furious.

He strode forward and roared at them.

"What are you two doing? Stop acting! Hurry up and kill that Daoist!"

Hearing the roar, the two suffocating men rolled their eyes back as they struggled to turn their heads.

Their fingers trembled as they pointed at their own throats, pleading for help.

The next second.

Their knees buckled, and they collapsed limply onto the bluestone slab.

Their upper bodies lay flat on the ground, their chests no longer rising, barely breathing.

The leading burly man finally realized something was wrong.

This was absolutely not an act.

He took two steps back in terror, his finger trembling as he pointed at Zhang Xuanyao.

"You... what Demonic Technique did you use? This is murder!"

Zhang Xuanyao widened his eyes and spread his hands, putting on an extremely innocent expression.

"Hey, baldhead, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't just say whatever you want. I'm standing right here and haven't even touched a single finger of yours. How is this murder?"

Zhang Xuanyao took a step forward, his tone turning sharp.

"You clearly choked because you ran too fast. What does that have to do with me? This is slander! I'm going to sue you for slander!"

The leading burly man looked at his three incapacitated subordinates on the ground, and then at Zhang Xuanyao's half-smiling face.

His psychological defense completely crumbled.

This Daoist was way too bizarre.

Without even seeing him lift a finger, three of his men had already been taken out.

The leading burly man yanked up the man who had lost his front teeth and shouted at the last remaining subordinate.

"Retreat! Quick, retreat!"

Supporting each other, the four of them scrambled and crawled down the bluestone steps to escape down the mountain.

Zhang Xuanyao stood where he was, making no move to pursue them.

Watching their pathetic retreating figures, he tucked his hands into the sleeves of his Daoist robe, sank his Qi into his Dantian, and shouted loudly.

"Except for your leader, make sure none of you die in a car crash! Have a safe trip!"

His voice echoed through the mountain forest, ringing clearly in their ears.

Hearing this, the leading burly man stumbled and almost fell, running even faster.

The five of them ran all the way to the open-air parking lot at the foot of the mountain in one breath.

They piled into the black Mercedes-Benz sedan.

The leading burly man sat in the passenger seat, panting heavily as he slapped the dashboard and roared at the driver.

"Drive! Hurry up and drive! Get us out of Heng City!"

The driver flusteredly started the car and shifted into gear.

The tires screeched against the asphalt, kicking up a cloud of blue smoke.

The black Mercedes sped out of the parking lot and onto the mountain ring road.

It was traveling extremely fast, continuously overtaking other vehicles on the winding mountain road.

Just as they rounded a sharp bend with a blind spot,

in the oncoming lane,

a heavy Dayun truck fully loaded with sand and gravel suddenly lost control.

The truck driver slammed on the brakes, the tires dragging long black skid marks on the road and emitting a massive cloud of white smoke.

The immense inertia made it impossible for the truck to stop.

It crossed the double yellow lines and crashed head-on into the black Mercedes.

Crash!

A deafening crash echoed through the valley.

The heavy truck's rigid bumper smashed violently into the front of the Mercedes.

The sedan's body instantly crumpled severely, the hood was blown off, and the windshield shattered completely into a spiderweb pattern.

The entire car was sent flying over a dozen meters by the massive impact.

It flipped several times in mid-air before crashing heavily into the roadside ditch, landing upside down.

Gasoline dripped from the ruptured fuel tank onto the dry asphalt road.

The leading burly man's face was covered in blood, and his right arm was broken from the impact, twisted at an extremely bizarre angle.

Using his only remaining left hand, he desperately pushed open the deformed car door.

He crawled out of the vehicle inch by inch through the narrow gap.

Clawing at the dirt on the ground with his hands, he crawled away frantically.

He had barely crawled five or six meters away

when the Mercedes behind him sparked with fire.

Boom!

A massive fireball soared into the sky.

150: Chapter 150: Words Become Law, All Women Gather

The shockwave from the explosion sent the leading burly man flying, crashing heavily into the grass by the roadside.

The four subordinates inside the car didn't even have time to scream before they were instantly consumed by the sea of fire.

The string of human bone prayer beads hanging around the leading burly man's neck shattered inch by inch in the shockwave of the explosion.

They turned into a pile of white powder, scattering in the grass.

The leading burly man lay prone on the ground, gasping for air as he stared at the blazing car wreckage not far away.

His mind had completely broken down.

He muttered frantically.

"There's something wrong with this Daoist... He knows sorcery... He's not human..."

Zhang Xuanyao stood in front of the gates of Qingfeng Temple, his gaze penetrating the dense layers of the forest to look at the thick smoke rising from the foot of the mountain.

A purple-gold light flickered in his pupils.

Within the vision of his Heavenly Eye, of the several lines of Karma representing lifespan, only the leader's line was still barely hanging on, while the other four had completely snapped and dissipated.

"It seems Dayun trucks have a pretty busy business." Zhang Xuanyao brushed the dust off his hands, his tone flat.

He turned and walked to the temple doors.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door knocker.

"Ji Xue, open the door, it's safe now."

The sound of the door bolt being slid open rang out.

Ji Xue poked half her head out, clutching a broom tightly in her hands, with tears still glistening in the corners of eyes.

"Daoist Zhang, where are those bad guys?" Ji Xue's voice was still trembling.

"They were in too much of a hurry when going down the mountain and got into a bit of a car accident." Zhang Xuanyao stepped into the courtyard, casually took the broom from Ji Xue's hand, and placed it in the corner.

"Shut the door tight, and don't run around these next couple of days. I've set up a Formation in the temple, so it's very safe."

Ji Xue nodded repeatedly, shut the main gates with force, slid the bolt back in, and even moved a large rock to prop behind the door.

The scene shifts to the Second Ring Road in the Capital.

Deep underground beneath the Luo Family Manor lay a secret Buddhist hall.

There were no windows, and the air was thick with the heavy scent of sandalwood, yet it still couldn't completely mask the faint trace of blood in the air.

A dark-golden statue of the joyous buddha stood right in the center, sporting three heads and six arms, with a ferocious expression.

Several thick red candles were lit on the altar table, their flames flickering eerily in the windless basement.

Patriarch Luo Puti, dressed in loose lay Buddhist robes, sat cross-legged on a futon in front of the statue.

On his bald head, six Buddhist ordination scars were highly prominent.

He was chanting obscure, difficult scriptures rapidly under his breath as his fingers fiddled with the pale string of human bone prayer beads.

The heavy metal door was pushed open, making a dull grinding sound from its bearings.

Two bodyguards in black suits walked in, supporting a man between them.

The man was wrapped in bandages from head to toe, with large patches of blood seeping through the white gauze. His right arm was in a plaster cast, hanging from his neck at an extremely twisted angle.

It was none other than the leading burly man who had luckily escaped with his life in Heng City.

The bodyguards let go.

The leading burly man's legs went weak, and he fell to his knees with a thud behind the futon.

He pressed his forehead tightly against the cold marble floor, his body shaking uncontrollably from extreme fear and pain.

"Patriarch..." the leading burly man said in a raspy, tearful voice.

Patriarch Luo Puti did not turn around.

His fingers continued to fiddle with the prayer beads, making a clicking sound.

"Five went, and only one returned." Patriarch Luo Puti's voice was raspy and heavy with pressure. "Is Deputy Director Zheng Yunqi's little martial nephew really that hard to deal with?"

The leading burly man kowtowed frantically, his forehead thudding loudly against the floor.

"Patriarch, there's something wrong with that Daoist! He didn't even lift a finger, he just said a few words. When he said we'd trip, we tripped. When he said the air would choke us to death, two of my brothers choked to death on the spot!"

The leading burly man looked up, his face filled with terror, tears and snot streaming down.

"He also said we'd get into a car accident, and as a result, right after we drove down the mountain, we were sent flying by a Dayun truck! The car leaked fuel and exploded. All four of them died, and even their bodies were burned to ashes! Patriarch, that Daoist knows Words Become Law!"

Patriarch Luo Puti's fingers stopped moving the prayer beads.

He opened his eyes.

He turned his head and stared down at the kneeling man.

"A monk does not lie."

Patriarch Luo Puti scoffed coldly, his tone dripping with disdain.

"To cover up your failed mission, you actually made up something from myths and legends like Words Become Law?"

The leading burly man trembled with anxiety.

He kowtowed heavily once more, breaking his forehead. Blood seeped out, staining the floor red.

"Patriarch, I swear! I swear on my entire family's lives that I am absolutely not lying! That Daoist is truly bizarre, he's not human!"

Patriarch Luo Puti waved his hand impatiently, cutting him off.

"Enough. You failed to do your job, at least find a decent excuse."

Patriarch Luo Puti stood up and straightened the hem of his lay Buddhist robes.

He walked over to the dark-golden joyous buddha.

He tilted his head up, looking at the ferocious face of the statue.

"Once I finish consecrating this string of Buddhist beads..."

Patriarch Luo Puti let out a cold laugh.

"I will personally make a trip to Heng City to meet this Zhang Xuanyao. I'll see just how capable he is to dare kill people from my Luo family. I will skin him alive, pull out his tendons, and light him up like a sky lantern!"

The scene cuts back to Heng City.

Qingfeng Temple.

Zhang Xuanyao walked down to the foot of the mountain and looked at the off-road vehicle parked by the roadside.

Deputy Captain Li Ming was sitting in the driver's seat. Seeing Zhang Xuanyao come down the mountain, he quickly pushed open the door and got out.

"Daoist Zhang, what's the situation up there?" Deputy Captain Li Ming asked.

"Just a few blind small fry. I've already dealt with them."

Zhang Xuanyao waved his hand.

"Li Ming, head back to the bureau first. Heng City might not be very peaceful these next few days. Tell Chief Wang to pay more attention to outsiders."

Deputy Captain Li Ming nodded, got into the car, started the engine, and drove off.

Zhang Xuanyao turned around, walked back up the blue stone steps, and returned to the temple.

Entering the main hall, he sat cross-legged on a futon and rested for a brief moment.

Then, he pulled his phone out of his Daoist robe pocket.

He opened his contacts list.

He dialed four numbers in succession.

He said only a single, simple sentence: "Come to Qingfeng Temple, there's an emergency."

Half an hour later.

In the open-air parking lot at the foot of Qingfeng Temple's mountain, the roar of engines shattered the silence of the mountain forest.

Several luxury cars drove into the parking lot one after another.

Su Qingge's black Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon came to a halt, and the car door pushed open.

Su Qingge was dressed in a well-tailored black business suit. Stepping down from the car in high heels, her powerful aura was on full display.

Qin Bingruo's low-key Audi A6 followed closely behind.

Qin Bingruo was dressed in smart casual clothes. As she pushed open the car door, her waist was bulging, clearly carrying a service pistol.

Shen Zhiyao's pink Porsche 718 roared.

The car door opened, and Shen Zhiyao, wearing a JK uniform with her skirt fluttering, jumped down from the car.

Finally, there was the taxi that Yan Jingshu had taken.

Yan Jingshu, wearing an elegant white long dress and carrying a thermos, paid her fare and stepped out of the taxi.

The four women met in front of the steps.

Su Qingge raised her chin and glanced at Qin Bingruo.

Qin Bingruo nodded, acknowledging the greeting.

Shen Zhiyao sweetly called out "Sister" and ran over to link arms with Yan Jingshu.

Yan Jingshu responded with a smile and patted the back of Shen Zhiyao's hand.

The four of them walked up the blue stone steps toward the mountain in tacit understanding. High heels, sneakers, and leather shoes clicked and clattered against the blue stone slabs, creating a chaotic rhythm of footsteps.

They walked into the courtyard of Qingfeng Temple.

Zhang Xuanyao was sitting by a stone table in the courtyard.

Seeing the four women walk in, Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the stone stools next to him.

"You're all here. Have a seat."

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I Asked You to Tell Me My Fortune, Not the Date of My Death!

1: Chapter 1: Live Fortune Telling, Online Death Sentence

2: Chapter 2: Words Become Law, the Policewoman's Deadly Countdown

3: Chapter 3: This shot shattered materialism.

4: Chapter 4: The Heinous Crimes Beneath the Locust Tree, The Heavenly Eye Exposes the Hypocritical Beast Father

5: Chapter 5: Miraculous Medicines to Restore Bone, the Truth Hidden Under the Lamp

6: Chapter 6: Words Become Law, The Devil's Confession

7: Chapter 7: Tearing Away Hypocrisy, Ending a Twelve-Year Nightmare

8: Chapter 8: Gold-Level Lottery, Five Thunderbolts of Righteousness!

9: Chapter 9: The Cold-Hearted CEO's Provocation and the "Fat Sheep" Delivered to His Doorstep

10: Chapter 10: Death Countdown, More Money Required

11: Chapter 11: The Limited Edition Death Talisman

12: Chapter 12: Take off the mask, are you human or a ghost?

13: Chapter 13: Words Take Effect, Sending the Top Boss to the Law Net

14: Chapter 14: What the Heavenly Eye Sees, Ten Thousand Bones Wither Together

15: Chapter 15: Better to lose 500 million than to be buried alive in a mass grave.

16: Chapter 16: A Predicted Prophecy Come True

17: Chapter 17: The Grand Master Performs the Ritual, the Blood Well Devours People

18: Chapter 18: The Five Thunder Orthodox Method, A Single Finger of Thunder Breaks the Evil Scheme

19: Chapter 19: Merit Complete, President Su is Completely Fallen

20: Chapter 20: Pure Yin Body, Yin and Yang in Harmony

21: Chapter 21: A Hundred Coffins Block the Gate, the Show Begins

22: Chapter 22: An Ironclad Judgment, All the Villains Revealed

23: Chapter 23: Dismantling a Car with Bare Hands, Online Showdown with the Protective Umbrella

24: Chapter 24: Live Broadcast of the Bureau Chief's Trial, Trapping a Turtle in the Su Residence

25: Chapter 25: Samadhi Fire, Thunderous Cleansing

26: Chapter 26: Crushed to Ashes, President Su's Heart is in Turmoil

27: Chapter 27: Top-Tier Furnace - This Deal is a Sure Win

28: Chapter 28: The Ultimate "Treatment" Brings Both Fame and Fortune

29: Chapter 29: A Legendary Artifact, A Policewoman's "Close Inspection"

30: Chapter 30: Science Has No Solution, Heavenly Eyes Detect the Demon

31: Chapter 31: Green Branches Cleanse Impurities – Is This Scientific Now?

32: Chapter 32: The Soul Returns to Earth, the Ice and Snow Begin to Melt

33: Chapter 33: Quantum Deception, Shocking Changes in the Cellar

34: Chapter 34: The Gatekeeper Dog, the Demon from the Underground

35: Chapter 35: Since it's hit the daily limit, let's collect some "interest"!

36: Chapter 36: Five-Star Review, Hundred Ghosts Scratching the Gate

37: Chapter 37: At the End of Science, Thunder Shakes the Heavens

38: Chapter 38: Thunder Shakes Away Demonic Energy, Yet He Never Forgets to Ask for More Money Even in Death

39: Chapter 39: Shocking the entire internet, I'm definitely going to be bedridden after this workplace injury.

40: Chapter 40: Peak Showdown, Not an Inch Yielded

41: Chapter 41: The Summit "Meeting"—This Peach Blossom is a Bit Hot to Handle

42: Chapter 42: Generous Settlement and a Battlefield on the Sickbed

43: Chapter 43: As long as the money is right, life and death can be decided online.

44: Chapter 44: This divination is worth three hundred million.

45: Chapter 45: Earning Ten Million Yuan Through Live Stream, Policewoman Locks Door Behind Her Back

46: Chapter 46: The debt of saving a life, settled on the spot

47: Chapter 47: The Supreme White Tiger, the Shura Field Outside the Door

48: Chapter 48: Violent Resurrection, Number One Rich Female Fan Appears

49: Chapter 49: A "Medical Miracle" After Strenuous Exercise

50: Chapter 50: A renowned doctor diagnoses "deficiency," stirring up a storm of jealousy.

51: Chapter 51: Phoenix Facing the Sun, White Tiger Seated in Destiny, the Ultimate Three Cultivations in the Hospital Ward

52: Chapter 52: With the Pure Yang Golden Body complete, who dares to say this poor Daoist is ineffective?

53: Chapter 53: Courteous Car Moving? That's the Adulterer's Peace Sentinel

54: Chapter 54: Tearing Off the Mask of a Virtuous Wife, Murderous Intent Descends from Behind

55: Chapter 55: The Tacit Understanding Between the Two Stunning Beauties and the "Chamber Pot" Warning

56: Chapter 56: Emerging from the tiger's den, only to fall into the wolf's lair

57: Chapter 57: After the Peach Blossom Calamity, Medical Common Sense Was Shattered All Over the Ground

58: Chapter 58: Homecoming in Splendor with Major Renovations, Online PK to Cure the Unconvinced

59: Chapter 59: A Word of Trouble, and the Top Boss with a Knife

60: Chapter 60: The Art of Tripping One's Left Foot When the Verdict is Given

61: Chapter 61: This humble Taoist finds it dirty; guard against thieves, wolves, and lay Buddhists.

62: Chapter 62: The Taoist Temple Turns into a Golden House, and a Female Anchor Who Plays the Edge of the Scene Kneels at the Door

63: Chapter 63: Maybach Blocks Mountain Gate Late at Night

64: Chapter 64: Five Million Dollar "Working from Home"

65: Chapter 65: Is it a tough life, or a stubborn mouth?

66: Chapter 66: Ink-stained White Robe, a Million for a Life

67: Chapter 67: A Luxury Car Picks Him Up, the Grandmaster Kneels and Calls Him "Uncle-Master"

68: Chapter 68: Lightning Rod Attracts Thunder, Science Exorcises Evil Spirits

69: Chapter 69: Scientific Exorcism, Ten Thousand Gu Knock on the Door

70: Chapter 70: The Three Pure Ones Bell Rings, Online Physical Salvation for "Southeast Asian Gutter Oil"

71: Chapter 71: The Bell Sounds Sweep Away the Demon, the Blood Nail Causes a Shocking Change

72: Chapter 72: Physical Salvation, a Rare Natural Phenomenon

73: Chapter 73: The Three-Day Countdown, Blood Clouds Press In

74: Chapter 74: Since there is a Blood-Subdued King, is there a Blood-Subdued Queen?

75: Chapter 75: Using your own people to forge weapons, your crime is unforgivable.

76: Chapter 76: Ten Thousand Thunders Cleanse Evil, Policewoman Intercepts the Spy

77: Chapter 77: A Casual "Hint," the Shen Family's All-Out Gamble