Chapter 330

The ten figures in black standing on the platform collectively emanated a chilling aura. Their heads, wrapped in black cloth, had swelled and risen to varying degrees, making their bodies appear unsettlingly disproportionate at that moment.

Inside the main hall of the old Guanjiangshou temple, the yellow-bearded man's veins bulged, his eyes were bloodshot, and his fists clenched tightly, knuckles cracking.

The long-haired youth didn't seem particularly enraged, but his eyes had darkened, revealing a humiliation akin to new skin being peeled back to expose rotten flesh.

The Yu family had long since been overthrown by the demonic beasts they themselves had raised.

Back in Lijiang, the Yu family's eldest daughter, Yu Miaomiao, whom Li Zhuiyuan had encountered, was in essence a cat demon.

Later, in Dujiangyan, the Yu family had also sent people.

Li Zhuiyuan recalled the distinct appearance of that group; they were likely similar to the ten black-clad figures before him now—humans from the Yu family, yet completely controlled, with demonic beasts perched atop their heads.

Amusingly, even after the demonic beasts had risen to power and enslaved humans, they still viewed themselves as the Yu family, continuing to claim the mantle of the Dragon King's lineage.

Yet, deep down, they knew this martial world couldn't truly tolerate them. Thus, while operating under the Yu family's Dragon King banner, they still conducted themselves furtively.

Li Zhuiyuan's retort, delivered through Runsheng, effectively tore off this facade.

"You're asking for death!"

The ten black-clad figures charged at Runsheng, splitting mid-way: five focused on attacking Runsheng directly, while the other five circled around to target Li Zhuiyuan.

Runsheng thrust the Yellow River Spade forcefully forward, and the surging qi created a barrier that blocked the five black-clad figures attempting to flank them.

As for the five facing him, Runsheng wielded his fists and charged forward. Under his powerful intimidating aura, those five black-clad figures dared not engage directly and retreated en masse.

Runsheng did not pursue. He took a step back, pulled out the Yellow River Spade, and held it horizontally in front of him.

Individually, the ten opponents were not a match for Runsheng in his current state. However, their varied tactics and agile movements meant that a single misstep could allow them to break through his defense and harm Xiao Yuan.

Given this concern, Runsheng couldn't fight without restraint.

The opponents seemed to realize this, further spreading their formation, clearly aiming to specifically target the youth behind Runsheng.

The disadvantage of an incomplete team became apparent at this moment.

Previously, Tan Wenbin would stay at the back, observing changes around them while protecting Xiao Yuan, and Lin Shuyou could both attack and defend, allowing Runsheng to fight freely at the front.

But this problem was not insurmountable.

This time ascending the mountain, Li Zhuiyuan only had Runsheng by his side, but this did not mean he only had two people.

The youth gently waved his right hand, and all the beast statues among the surrounding stone figures came to life, pouncing on the ten black-clad figures.

However, these stone statues were originally meant for testing young spirit mediums, so they couldn't be too powerful. After just a few rounds, they were all shattered into rubble, scattering across the ground.

Nevertheless, they bought Li Zhuiyuan some time.

"Runsheng, the offering table."

Runsheng slapped his left hand against his backpack, and a simple small offering table popped out, unfolding its four legs as it rotated, landing steadily.

Pulling a thin string, the plastic seals over the grooves on the small offering table were torn open in quick succession, revealing all the offerings.

Even the caps on the two candles were pulled off, and the attached material spontaneously ignited upon contact with fresh air, causing the candle flames to rise.

Seeing Runsheng's recent habit of setting up offering tables and burning paper by the river when he had nothing else to do, Li Zhuiyuan took the opportunity to further improve the already simple small offering table, making its ceremonial aspects even more pronounced.

The youth pulled out a scroll painting, held it up, flicked his wrist downward, and the scroll unfurled.

The Bodhisattva in the painting appeared solemn and compassionate.

Currently, this version of the Bodhisattva image was already being promoted by Lin Shuyou.

Li Zhuiyuan circulated the *Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra* and then used the *Liu Clan's Qi-Sensing Art* to generate the aura of a Bodhisattva.

When he released his fingers, the Bodhisattva scroll remained suspended in the air, not falling.

The Bodhisattva in the painting subtly shifted, as if truly manifesting.

Of course, the one manifesting here was not the real Bodhisattva, but Sun Baishen.

Li Zhuiyuan opened his right palm, from which a mist of blood emanated. The youth used his left index finger as a brush, dipping it into the blood from his right hand to draw sigils in front of him.

Each time a sigil was complete, he aligned his middle, ring, and pinky fingers on his left hand and pushed forward. The sigil would then fly out on its own, striking one of the stone human statues on the platform.

Li Zhuiyuan drew and launched them very quickly.

Everything was ready.

From the blood mist on the youth's right hand, a formation banner coalesced, entwined with a dragon spirit.

Raising the banner, Li Zhuiyuan gazed towards the distant old temple.

There was no request, no persuasion, not even a summons.

The youth simply stated in a deep voice:

"Those who hesitate will be left behind!"

This was a warning.

"Buzz. Buzz! Buzz! Buzz..."

Streams of light flew out from within the old temple, swiftly colliding into the marked stone human statues.

There were too many light streams and too few stone statues, often resulting in two streams vying to enter a single statue, with one being pushed out for being a beat too slow.

By the time all the stone statues had "come alive," many light streams that hadn't secured a spot were still anxiously circling above.

The Bodhisattva painting floated behind the youth, enveloping him in a faint golden halo, bestowing upon him an aura of legitimacy.

Li Zhuiyuan pointed the formation banner at the black-clad figures ahead:

"By the Bodhisattva's decree: 'Exterminate the invading evil spirits.'"

All the stone statues instantly stiffened, and from the unseen, a unified response echoed:

"We obey the decree!""We obey the decree!"

Then, they collectively surged towards the black-clad figures with a roar.

These statues, originally intended merely for testing young spirit mediums, saw their combat power greatly increase after the Yin gods inhabited them. The black-clad figures dared not show any complacency when facing them, and a fierce battle quickly ensued.

Many black-clad figures' clothes tore during the fight, revealing, as expected, an animal clinging to the top of each of their heads.

Even with Li Zhuiyuan's usually detached demeanor, this sight disgusted him every time he saw it.

"Runsheng, let's go."

Runsheng did not join the battle but instead cleared a path ahead, leading Li Zhuiyuan onward.

Along the path to the old temple's main hall, more black-clad figures continuously appeared from the front, attempting to intercept them.

However, there were several platforms here, and no shortage of stone statues. The youth only needed to continue imbuing the statues with his blood sigils, and Yin gods who hadn't made it in earlier would eagerly rush to enter.

All black-clad figures attempting to intercept them were blocked.

Runsheng only needed to maintain a slight vigilance around them, then, almost unimpeded, he protected Xiao Yuan as they arrived before the main hall.

Inside the main hall, the long-haired youth was roaring:

"Why? Why, why?!"

The long-haired youth had previously understood the Yin gods' resistance towards him, thinking it normal, a mere formality they had to go through. He believed that after a while, these Yin gods would naturally recognize the situation and lower their arrogant heads to him.

But as the youth made his way, Yin gods flew out from the statues one after another to assist him. This starkly preferential treatment caused the long-haired youth to completely lose control of his emotions.

He truly couldn't understand why these Yin gods, when faced with submission, would stand on ceremony before him, yet so eagerly kneel before the youth.

"Why, why?!"

When Li Zhuiyuan appeared outside the main hall and the long-haired youth saw his face, he first stared in disbelief, then grabbed his own hair with both hands, shouting hoarsely:

"How many Yin gods has he killed?! Half of the extinguished lamps and cracked statues here are his doing! How can you still go over to him? He's your enemy!"

The yellow-bearded man stepped over the threshold, his gaze fixed on Runsheng.

Compared to the emotionally distraught long-haired youth, he appeared much calmer. Though his eyes still burned with red fury, he managed a slight nod to Runsheng:

"Indeed, a very impressive physique."

Runsheng regarded him with cold eyes.

Back in Lijiang, an ape had once made a similar remark about him, but at that time, he was no match for the ape. Now, however, was different.

The yellow-bearded man opened his mouth and let out a lion's roar. Runsheng activated his vital energy gate, neutralizing the sound with a wave of qi.

This was the signal for their formal engagement. The yellow-bearded man stepped forward, moving like a lion leaping through the forest.

Li Zhuiyuan gently pushed Runsheng's back with his finger, indicating that Runsheng could fight without reservation.

Runsheng let out a low grunt and met the charge.

Upon impact, they quickly exchanged blows.

This was the yellow-bearded man's usual fighting style; as a demonic beast, he was most proud of his physique, confident that no ordinary person could match him in close combat.

But today, he was up against Runsheng, someone who was not quite human to begin with.

"Thud!"

Runsheng used his spade to break through the opponent's fist attack, then sideways-stepped, closed the distance, and raised his elbow.

"Crack!"

The sound of bone cracking echoed as the yellow-bearded man was struck in the jaw by Runsheng, sending him flying backward.

A hint of disappointment appeared in Runsheng's eyes.

Opponents encountered during the River Journey were, after all, different from those beneath the river.

In previous first encounters, Runsheng would assess how far he was knocked back, then strategize the accumulation of his aura, relying on the *Qin Clan's Dragon-Observing Art* to outlast and win.

Yet this opponent, despite his imposing stature and recent compliment, not only failed to push him back in their first exchange but was himself sent flying.

Is this all he's got?

Runsheng thrust the Yellow River Spade into a nearby floor tile, then clapped his fisted hands together a few times in front of his chest.

Against such an opponent, he disdained using a weapon.

He worried he might end the fight too quickly with a single blow of his spade, before he'd had enough fun.

It wasn't arrogance; it was because Xiao Yuan had just explicitly told him to fight without restraint, and he trusted Xiao Yuan's judgment.

The yellow-bearded man scrambled to his feet, raising a hand to push his dislocated jaw back into place.

His breathing grew heavy, and as the red in his eyes intensified to a bloody crimson, golden-yellow fur continuously grew on his body. His teeth became progressively longer, with several fangs protruding beyond his lips.

"Roar!"

With a roaring lion's cry, he charged at Runsheng once more.

Runsheng lowered his center of gravity, extending his hands forward.

"Boom!"

Such a ferocious charge was blocked by Runsheng with his bare hands.

Runsheng's feet slid across the ground; the force and momentum of both parties were truly terrifying. His hiking boots quickly ripped and burst open, and hot white smoke rose from the remaining fragments.

This made Runsheng frown.

He regretted it; he should have taken his shoes off beforehand.

These hiking boots were custom-made and expensive. He could say that all the shoes he had worn throughout his life before meeting Xiao Yuan wouldn't add up to the cost of just one of these.

It was just that in previous team battles, such purely stalemated close combat was rare, because people like Lin Shuyou would have directly intervened given the chance, never allowing Runsheng to be in a "tug-of-war" situation here.

The ruined shoes ignited a surge of anger in Runsheng's heart.

When he sensed the opponent's momentum weakening, Runsheng took a step forward, putting his weight into it. Their waists and legs clashed fiercely, and Runsheng gained the advantage. Immediately, he pressed down with both arms and grappled the opponent.

"Ah!"

With a loud shout, Runsheng lifted the yellow-bearded man off the ground.

The yellow-bearded man's eyes finally showed panic. In a contest of strength, being lifted like this meant one was simply not on the same level.

Runsheng raised his knee, intending to slam the opponent onto it.

Immediately, the fur on the yellow-bearded man's body turned hard and sharp, shooting out like golden-yellow steel needles.

Runsheng frowned, changed his strategy, threw the opponent into the air, and then delivered a punch.

"Thwack!"

The yellow-bearded man was sent flying, then bounced, landed, bounced again...

Several craters were formed on the plaza in front of the main hall where he landed, creating large cracks.

"Ugh..."

The yellow-bearded man, covered in blood, shakily got to his feet.

Runsheng first closed his vital energy gate, building up momentum as his muscles tensed. Then, all the thorns on his body shot out, leaving only small red dots on his skin.

In contrast, the yellow-bearded man's earlier release of his fur was a desperate measure, harming himself more than his opponent, a tactic that cost him a thousand to harm his enemy by eight hundred. And it looked like his opponent might only have been harmed by eighty.

With numerous bloody holes, his body was riddled with wounds. The yellow-bearded man simply dropped to all fours, looking up like a severely wounded lion. As he moved sideways, he reassessed the terrifying opponent before him.

Runsheng had no intention of wasting time. He first clenched his fists, then lunged forward and swung his fist to strike.

The yellow-bearded man dodged.

Runsheng lunged again, striking once more.

The yellow-bearded man dodged again.

Even knowing he wouldn't hit, Runsheng didn't change his strategy and continued to strike.

The yellow-bearded man, initially wary of Runsheng's terrifying physique, dared not clash directly anymore. When he saw Runsheng's attacks becoming monotonous, he thought he'd found a new opportunity.

He planned to first rely on dodging to wear down Runsheng's qi, then wait for an opportunity to ambush when Runsheng's strength waned and he needed to catch his breath.

But the yellow-bearded man was quickly astonished to discover something: while Runsheng's movements hadn't changed, his speed increased with each strike, and the sonic booms generated by his punches grew increasingly terrifying.

Initially, the yellow-bearded man could easily dodge, and even barely withstand a punch. Now, not only was it increasingly difficult to evade, but he dared not even attempt to endure the force of these blows.

One could only say that the Yu family was no longer the true Yu family.

The River Travelers of each Dragon King lineage, having fought for generations, were naturally intimately familiar with the methods and characteristics of other lineages.

Had true Yu family members been here, they would never have been naive enough to avoid the Qin family's sharp edge and try to find opportunities in a prolonged battle.

Runsheng was fighting comfortably now. Although every punch missed, his aura was successfully stacking layer by layer. He had never had such a leisurely opportunity to build up his momentum during previous fights.

Finally, the critical point was reached.

Runsheng's speed increased to a level the yellow-bearded man could no longer evade, and a punch struck fiercely into his chest.

"Boom!"

Blood mixed with fragments of flesh splattered as the yellow-bearded man was violently struck, a large hole tearing open in his chest, a direct penetration.

A lion's tail emerged from his crotch, and the whiskers on his face slowly pulled back to the sides. His mouth was full of blood; he tried to make a sound but couldn't. He couldn't even stand up anymore, only his mangled body twitched senselessly on the floor tiles.

Runsheng walked up to the man, staring intently at him, his nose constantly twitching.

The man's eyes revealed despair and terror, not just because he was utterly defeated. As a lion, he had always regarded food with such a gaze; now, it was his turn to be assessed in the same manner.

"Gurgle gurgle..."

Spitting out blood, the man used his remaining strength to make his voice as clear as possible:

"I am... a Yu family member... you can't... can't eat me..."

Runsheng glanced at him, then his gaze continued to slide over the man's body, searching for suitable parts to cook.

"I am... the Dragon King... from the Dragon King's family... you can't..."

"Splat!"

Runsheng's bare foot crushed the man's head.

Lions aren't monkeys; there's no need to preserve their brains.

As for the man's dying "threat," it had absolutely no effect on Runsheng.

The Dragon King lineage could awe people elsewhere in the martial world, but here, it had no such impact.

However, after stomping, Runsheng felt a slight regret. He had to keep rubbing the sole of his foot against the floor tiles to remove the dirty red and white stains.

While Runsheng was wrestling and fighting the yellow-bearded man, Li Zhuiyuan was not idle either.

The long-haired youth's voice was almost a sob. He questioned the statues, but they gave him no answer. Finally, he even questioned Li Zhuiyuan:

"Tell me, why? Why?!"

Li Zhuiyuan knew why, but it wasn't appropriate to explain it here.

Since the banner of "righteousness" had already been raised, providing both sides an honorable way out, there was no need to deliberately humiliate these Yin gods further by trampling their dignity.

Besides dirtying his shoe soles... there would be no other benefit.

Indeed, in Fengdu Ghost Street, it was he who orchestrated the obstruction that led to the demise of almost half of the Guanjiangshou Yin gods.

But that conflict did not involve personal vendettas.

To put it crudely, it was a battle between the top figures of both sides, with their respective subordinates serving their masters.

Li Zhuiyuan had indeed caused many Yin gods to perish. Had it not been for Lin Shuyou and the White Crane Boy deliberately holding back, engaging in a tacit battle with Generals Zeng and Sun, even more Yin gods would have fallen that night.

But what did that matter to the surviving Yin gods?

Fallen gods, like deceased humans, would no longer speak.

Naturally, there would be no noise.

The surviving Yin gods might even have to thank Li Zhuiyuan for not being single-mindedly intent on annihilation back then.

Moreover, with even the Bodhisattva having descended into Fengdu, and their top leader no longer present, who would have the inclination to seek justice or revenge for fallen comrades?

Currently, the most important thing was naturally to find a new path.

The long-haired youth's true identity was Ditian.

On the night of Ghost Street, it was severely wounded by Li Zhuiyuan but did not die; instead, it escaped.

The place it fled to was quite interesting, and also easily understandable: it fled to the Yu family.

Perhaps only there could Ditian find a new sense of belonging.

Furthermore, it successfully obtained the Yu family's help there, coming to integrate and subdue the precarious Guanjiangshou.

However, his work was too crude.

The Yu family members he brought with him not only failed to exert the Dragon King lineage's appealing effect here but actually had a negative impact.

There was no helping it. You could say these Yin gods were indifferent to spirit mediums, held themselves in high regard, or were even stingy and greedy. But it couldn't be denied that since their establishment, they had consistently fought against evil, officially representing the side of righteousness.

Moreover, these Yin gods were mostly Ghost Kings before being subdued by the Bodhisattva, and before being Ghost Kings... they were human.

They were reluctant to dwell on their identity as "ghosts," acknowledging only their status as "gods" and formerly "humans."

Now, you want them to submit to you, a demonic beast?

Ditian, believing itself to be a demonic beast under the Bodhisattva, second only to the Bodhisattva in status, naturally assumed that after the Bodhisattva's absence, it should sit on the lotus platform and issue commands.

However, the atmosphere within the Guanjiangshou yamen was never truly harmonious, rife with struggles and ostracism, a fact evident from the former spirit mediums.

It's like in every company, there always seems to be someone who, by virtue of their good relationship with the boss, throws their weight around among colleagues. When colleagues don't bother to challenge them, they mistakenly think it's out of fear, when in reality, it's just tolerance for the boss's sake. Once the boss is gone, such a person... is nothing.

Li Zhuiyuan hadn't rushed to Ayou's hometown at first; he was waiting for the opportune moment, and what he got was a delightful surprise.

The enemy was too foolish. Given enough time, such a idiotic foe could even build up your advantages for you by hand.

Generals Zeng and Sun, the "imperfect" statues previously placed on his small offering table in his cultivation ground, suddenly trembled violently one night.

The White Crane Boy himself was unaware of this, as he resided within Lin Shuyou's body, unlike in the past when he enjoyed possessing his own carvings to playfully torment the carvings of Generals Zeng and Sun.

But that was Li Zhuiyuan's cultivation ground. The youth, sensing something during the night, woke up, got out of bed, and went to the rice fields behind the house.

By the time the youth stood before the offering table, the wooden carvings of Generals Zeng and Sun dropped with a "thud," prostrating themselves directly before him.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't perform a trance, nor did he summon them; he did absolutely nothing.

As a result, Generals Zeng and Sun voluntarily descended through the offering table.

There was no other choice; the intended recipient of their surrender on the other side was truly "inhuman," and the Yu family's Dragon King lineage behind him was even more so!

When the Bodhisattva was still present, few matters in the martial world escaped his discerning eye. For example, the Bodhisattva had also made arrangements for Jiujiang Zhao, but after his hasty descent into hell, his contingency plans were picked up by others from the Buddhist sect.

As the two highest-ranking figures at the forefront of Guanjiangshou, Generals Zeng and Sun naturally received some information from the Bodhisattva.

They probably... knew the Yu family's impending fate better than the current Yu family members themselves.

If it were simply about not being human and acknowledging a group of beasts as leaders, that might be acceptable. But surely sacrificing dignity should at least yield some tangible benefits?

If they lost their dignity, gained no benefits, and were even dragged down to be buried with these beasts, then why would they kneel?

Thus, even before Li Zhuiyuan went to Ayou's hometown and began to integrate Guanjiangshou... Guanjiangshou, under the leadership of Generals Zeng and Sun, had already integrated itself and pledged allegiance to Li Zhuiyuan.

One could say that before arriving, Li Zhuiyuan already knew the situation here and who his opponent would be this time.

All of the long-haired youth's questions were ignored by the boy. His long hair billowed, and flames danced in his eyes as he lunged at Li Zhuiyuan.

"I will kill, kill, kill you!"

Li Zhuiyuan drew out three stacked square talismans, flicked his wrist, and the talisman armor naturally layered into formation, standing as three humanoid figures.

But these talisman armors currently had no effect; they were just three empty shells.

Li Zhuiyuan's gaze fell on the two figures ranked highest in the main hall, and he spoke:

"Generals Zeng and Sun."

"Buzz!" "Buzz!"

Two beams of light flew from the two statues: General Sun occupied one figure alone, while General Zeng split into two, immediately animating the three talisman armors.

They stood before the youth, blocking the enraged Ditian.

"You, why? You, why exactly?!"

More than his failure, Ditian found it unbearable whom he had lost to.

Generals Zeng and Sun remained silent, simply attacking Ditian. Rather than answering Ditian's pointless questions, they were more astonished by the profound mystery of these possessed talisman armors.

This perfect inheritance of their respective powers truly surpassed all spirit mediums since the establishment of Guanjiangshou.

After the two of them jointly repelled Ditian, they exchanged a look, both understanding the meaning in the other's eyes:

Oh no, we knelt too soon!

The youth had gone to great lengths to custom-make talisman armors for them in advance, indicating his original intention to take over the Guanjiangshou system.

Even if they hadn't invited him, the youth would have come.

It was like a business transaction; whoever appeared more eager would lose out.

However, after exchanging glances, they both stole a look at the youth standing behind them, and their previous thoughts were immediately swept away.

This principle applied to dealing with ordinary people, but clearly not to the youth behind them.

Their early surrender had already secured them the best deal. Although the Bodhisattva statue wasn't the real Bodhisattva, Guanjiangshou was nominally reintegrated under the Bodhisattva's seat, granting these Yin gods ample dignity.

Furthermore... following this youth was no loss!

Li Zhuiyuan had always had a good reputation; he was consistently very generous to his subordinates.

The White Crane Boy had served as an excellent "golden horse bone" example, and of course, part of this credit also went to his past habit of showing off to his old colleagues.

When discussing terms at the cultivation ground initially, Li Zhuiyuan didn't hide anything, directly stating his plan for integrating Guanjiangshou.

Upon hearing that Yin gods would later have to share merit and wounds equally with spirit mediums, Generals Zeng and Sun found it somewhat difficult to accept, agreeing only out of necessity due to circumstances.

But upon hearing the youth say he would take no share of the merit from Guanjiangshou's demon-slaying deeds, Generals Zeng and Sun could hardly believe their ears, thinking the ears of their descended wooden carvings had broken, causing them to hallucinate.

At this point, the previous concerns about sharing with spirit mediums were entirely moot. Even sharing wounds with the spirit mediums was no longer an issue.

Because, once Li Zhuiyuan occupied the Bodhisattva's ecological niche and took no cut, the merit obtained by the Yin gods upon descending, even if split with the spirit mediums, would be far greater than what they had received previously.

One could only say that the Bodhisattva's previous cut was truly exorbitant.

Thus, the "suppressive policy" proposed by the youth actually turned into an increase in benefits.

"You rebels! You traitors who betray your own!"

Ditian was forced back into the hall by Generals Zeng and Sun.

Although Ditian had narrowly escaped during the Ghost Street battle, it was severely damaged and had even lost its physical body, forced to borrow a Yu family member's body. Otherwise, it would have come to take over Guanjiangshou itself, without needing the Yu family's assistance.

Nevertheless, Ditian's various methods were still not to be underestimated.

Logically, Generals Zeng and Sun, currently severely weakened, even with the talisman armor as support, should not have been his match; otherwise, they could have resisted him themselves.

However, with Li Zhuiyuan standing behind them, every spell Ditian used was directly countered by Li Zhuiyuan. Generals Zeng and Sun only needed to hold the front line and prevent Ditian from approaching the youth, and Ditian would remain suppressed by the youth.

This was precisely Li Zhuiyuan's purpose in creating the talisman armor: to compensate for his own close-combat deficiencies from not practicing martial arts.

Seeing his situation become increasingly disadvantageous, Ditian hardened his resolve, turned, and lunged directly at the lamps.

"I will extinguish the flames of your divinity! I will drag you rebels down to die with me!"

Li Zhuiyuan raised his right hand, and the formation banner lowered.

"Rumble!"

The hall's formation activated, and Ditian was slammed down before it could even touch the lamps.

"Bodhisattva!"

Ditian rushed to the Bodhisattva statue within the main hall and began to weep:

"Bodhisattva, look at them! You've only been gone for a short while, and they've already colluded with outsiders to break in!"

"Drip..."

A drop of golden liquid fell, making a crisp sound.

Ditian froze, then its face lit up with wild joy: "Bodhisattva, you've emerged from hell, you've emerged?"

Immediately after, Ditian turned to face Generals Zeng and Sun:

"Hahahaha, you're finished! You're finished! The Bodhisattva has left hell and is about to return! You rebels, you all deserve to die, to die!"

However, after several continuous drops, the golden liquid stopped.

The face on the Bodhisattva's golden statue was melting, then reshaping. Once it solidified again, its features entirely bore Sun Baishen's likeness.

The golden liquid that had dropped earlier was merely excess material, large and redundant, that had been removed from the original golden statue's face.

"This... this... this..."

Ditian watched this scene, too shocked to speak.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Suppress!"

The hall's formation fully activated upon Ditian, pinning the long-haired youth firmly to the ground.

Generals Zeng and Sun moved forward, intending to slay the creature.

"Stop!"

The two generals halted their steps.

Li Zhuiyuan walked over to Ditian, looked down, and observed him.

"You'll die a terrible death! You'll die a terrible death!"

Now, all Ditian could do was curse.

But for the youth, such curses weren't even an itch, as he already knew that even the Heavenly Dao wouldn't allow him to reach adulthood.

Li Zhuiyuan wasn't in a hurry to kill Ditian because the youth wanted to verify something.

He pulled out a small compass, his gaze slightly narrowed. The compass needle spun rapidly. The youth squatted down and pressed the face of the compass against Ditian's face.

"Aaaahhhhhh!!!"

Screams rang out.

Wisps of white smoke rose from the long-haired youth's body, indicating the scorching of his soul.

Li Zhuiyuan watched intently.

Soon, the youth noticed this white mist beginning to drift outside the main hall, then abruptly severing. Immediately, the mist reversed course, circling back around the long-haired youth, rising and then dissipating.

As expected, this wasn't all of Ditian.

Truly, it was worthy of admiration for its life-saving abilities, having managed to escape Ghost Street alive.

Inside the youth's small compass was embedded a copper coin, which carried a curse. The curse should have extended all the way, but it was cut off.

The long-haired youth stopped screaming, and Ditian's voice also vanished.

Li Zhuiyuan pressed his right fingertip into ink, swiftly applied it to the long-haired youth's brow, initiating soul-travel, while simultaneously causing the surrounding Feng Shui phenomena to revert.

A blurred image appeared in the youth's vision.

The image showed a majestic hall, with dragon and phoenix carvings on either side, but on its steps lay countless corpses. Some had been dead so long they were mummified, others had clearly died recently, and severely wounded individuals were crawling, seeking help.

Above the corpses, at the top of the steps, a phantom white puppy was drawing vital essence from these bodies to solidify itself again.

This was the real Ditian!

However, the little white dog was completely oblivious to Li Zhuiyuan's "gaze."

This meant that it wasn't the little white dog itself that had just severed the curse's extension.

Furthermore, it was too clean; it genuinely seemed like a carefree white puppy, eating without a worry in the world.

Li Zhuiyuan suddenly thought of a possibility: back in the underground limestone cave in Dujiangyan, the evil entity he and his true form had jointly suppressed had the ability to strip and bestow memories.

This little white dog before him seemed to have had its memories stripped away, while the long-haired youth had been imbued with Ditian's memories.

Theoretically, the long-haired youth was indeed Ditian, but he himself didn't know that he was merely a continuation of memory's inertia.

Yet, his copper coin curse was able to trace all the way, implying that the one who performed the memory stripping couldn't do it as perfectly as that evil entity. A clear connection still remained between the original memory and its bearer.

Therefore, someone had extracted Ditian's memories and transferred them into a Yu family member, allowing Ditian to come here and seize the Guanjiangshou inheritance without its knowledge.

At the same time, this person had made the little white dog extremely pure and clean, genuinely raising Ditian's true form like a puppy, healing its wounds, and allowing it to grow back.

A hand suddenly reached into the image.

"Hiss..."

The youth quickly ceased soul-travel and dispersed the surrounding Feng Shui phenomena, yet he still couldn't avoid the stinging pain in his eyes.

Generals Zeng and Sun stood still, unsure what the youth was doing.

Li Zhuiyuan clutched his eyes, and as the pain gradually subsided, the youth began to recall his own memories.

Inside the limestone cave was a mural that Li Zhuiyuan and Zhao Yi had "entered" together, witnessing the last moments of Yu Tiannan, the Dragon King of the Yu family, before his death.

The youth froze the memory image, meticulously observing Yu Tiannan's hands.

They were old and weathered hands, having endured countless battles from traversing rivers to becoming the Dragon King who suppressed the martial world, leaving behind numerous easily recognizable marks.

Li Zhuiyuan then recalled from his memory the hand that had appeared in the previous vision and caused tearing pain in his eyes.

This hand matched Yu Tiannan's left hand.

In truth, it was an answer that could likely have been guessed, but Li Zhuiyuan still wanted to confirm it absolutely.

Now, it was clear.

The one who erased Ditian's memories and raised Ditian's true form as a puppy was none other than that old dog that had usurped the Dragon King's body!

The Bodhisattva's former mount was actually being kept as a pet.

Li Zhuiyuan opened his eyes, readjusting to the light in the hall.

"You two may return. Later, one of my disciples will come to implement the new regulations with you."

"Understood.""Understood."

Generals Zeng and Sun assented first, but did not leave. Instead, they looked up at the three dim statues huddled in the corner.

These three had betrayed Guanjiangshou early on, defecting to Ditian for benefits.

Evidently, while Generals Zeng and Sun were secretly contacting Li Zhuiyuan to pledge allegiance and networking internally, they deliberately excluded these three.

Otherwise, they might not have betrayed so early, and even if they had, they would surely have reported it.

This was... Guanjiangshou's workplace bullying.

They deliberately excluded them, setting a trap for them to jump into, and then, seizing the opportunity, eliminated them.

But this was an internal conflict within Guanjiangshou, and Li Zhuiyuan had no interest in urging them towards harmony and friendship. Moreover, as the new de facto controller, he still needed to rely on Generals Zeng and Sun to lead the Yin god contingent for him.

He also had to grant them this opportunity to establish their authority.

The youth nodded.

Generals Zeng and Sun leaped up; one shattered the three statues, while the other extinguished their corresponding three lamps.

Breaking their divine cores, these three Yin gods were purged from the Yin god hierarchy, henceforth becoming wandering spirits.

After completing these actions, Generals Zeng and Sun once again bowed respectfully to the youth in unison, then departed to their positions.

The three sets of talisman armor reverted into cards, falling back into the youth's palm.

The battle outside had also concluded, and all the Yin gods that had possessed the stone statues had returned.

This was thanks to the "long-haired youth," who considered this place so much his own territory that