The Sword of the Taoist Priest

In the backyard of Mayor Li's house, two human heads stealthily peeked out over the fence. They were incredibly hidden, nearly impossible to detect. Two pairs of eyes were focused on the events unfolding in the yard.

"Cuō, cousin, don't you think this might be a bad idea? If someone dies, and the Prison Execution Department finds out, we're sure to face punishment!" At the critical moment, Sun Lin grew a bit hesitant. "What else can we do? The medicinal powder made from the essence and marrow of the Fierce Mountain Tiger will be useful in the future. Besides, helping the ordinary become spirits is just the first step. To rank them up, eating people is the quickest way to gain power." "But..." "There's no 'but'. Once you draw a bow, you can't take back the arrow. This Purple Bamboo Town has no patrols, and the Prison Execution Department won't find out. Don't forget, we were invited to eliminate the evil spirits here by the people of Purple Bamboo Town. The Prison Execution Department in Pingchuan City knows about this. There are zombies here, so a few monsters and spirit creatures aren't anything special."

Sun Lin's expression stiffened. He was still having trouble accepting the sight of the chicken monster devouring a human. Especially since this very chicken monster was something he and his cousin had "bred." Sun Ju's eyes grew colder. "This Purple Bamboo Town is too peaceful. Too peaceful to the point where its people have forgotten to respect us. Don't forget how Mayor Li treated us during the day. If we don't show them some force, they'll think peace reigns forever." As they climbed over the wall, Sun Ju spoke quietly, "Let's go." "Go?" Sun Lin blinked. "The people of Purple Bamboo Town will definitely come to Pingchuan City to invite us again. We'll leave here and wait halfway. This should be enough time for the chicken monster to advance to the Yellow rank." Sun Ju said, disappearing into the night. Sun Lin glanced back three times before gritting his teeth and following. But when he turned his head, he thought he saw a shadow flash by. "Cousin, how many chickens did you feed?" Sun Lin asked. "Three. Two of them were eaten by the rooster. Why?" "Nothing..." Sun Lin thought he might have just been paranoid.

The backyard of Mayor Li's house was in chaos. The laborers from the town, armed with steel forks and hoes, stood frozen, watching the dozen or so people lying on the ground, groaning in pain. But none dared to take a step forward because of the enormous rooster that stood menacingly. The rooster strutted around the yard, its eyes bloodshot. Its terrifying crow echoed, sending chills down people's spines. The sharp beak could easily pierce through an iron hoe. Its claws were as sharp as knives, leaving deep gouges in the ground with each step. Like a victorious general, it spread its wings, displaying its magnificent feathers. Under the torchlight, it resembled bloodstained armor. The chicken monster kept rotating its head, staring at the distant crowd, seemingly unaware that humans could be food. The smell of blood made it eye the injured on the ground, the blood sparking a hunger inside it. Finally, it attacked.

Mayor Li looked on in despair at the enormous rooster in front of him. This was the chicken king of Purple Bamboo Town that he was so proud of. It crowed on time every day, its voice loud enough to be heard across several streets. But now, he was about to lose his life at the beak of this very chicken!

Just as everything seemed lost, a glimmer of cold light suddenly appeared in Mayor Li's eyes. Everyone barely had time to register the movement before a sharp sound of metal clashing rang out. "Cling!"

Chang Qing had arrived. He used his sword to strike the rooster's beak. The chicken monster's head shook, and it flapped its wings, stumbling backward. Chang Qing's hands felt a sharp numbness. "Chang Qing is here!" "Finally! We're saved!" "I knew it! Even if the chickens in our town become spirits, they'll still be killed by Chang Qing! He's the chicken slayer of our Purple Bamboo Town!"

The crowd erupted into cheers. Chang Qing wanted to comfort everyone, but he couldn't help but frown again. He often wondered, did these people really not know what "chicken slayer" meant? Looking down at his sword, Chang Qing was stunned. The sword forged with the hundred-year-old crafting techniques from his dream had developed a crack from the rooster's beak. Though the chicken's beak had been knocked off too. "Old Wang's furnace really is no good," Chang Qing muttered.

Chang Qing stood facing the chicken monster. Mayor Li scrambled backward, hands and feet moving in haste. Chang Qing twirled his sword. The chicken monster spread its wings. It stood half a meter tall, and its wingspan stretched over two meters! As the chicken monster prepared to charge, Chang Qing raised his left hand and formed a seal. Dongfang Lan arrived, admiring the speed of Chang Qing's Qingyun Steps. She was about to watch the battle but saw him casting a spell instead. "Is he casting the Old Lord's Divine Sword Spell?" Though Dongfang Lan had failed countless times, she still had hope. After all, this spell was too mysterious. But as she listened closely, she realized Chang Qing was chanting a different spell.

"天地玄宗,万气本根." "Body of gold light, covering my body." "Commanding thunder, the spirits are vanquished." "Inside me is the thunderclap, the Thunder God hides his name." "Golden light appears quickly, as ordered!"

This time, Chang Qing's chant was longer, but as his words rang out, his fingers began to shine with golden divine light! When the chant was finished, Chang Qing raised his sword in front of him, using his left hand to move his sword from the hilt toward the blade. The golden light spread to the sword's edge. The blade glowed brilliantly, accompanied by a deep, otherworldly sound. The chicken monster, terrified, retracted its wings and stumbled backward. Chang Qing stomped his foot hard, leaving a deep imprint in the ground. In the blink of an eye, Chang Qing appeared in front of the chicken monster. A streak of golden light shot through the air like lightning. Chang Qing maintained his stance as he swung his sword. Only after a few moments did the chicken monster's head separate from its body, its blood splattering as its half-meter frame collapsed to the ground.

Everyone was stunned. Even the injured Mayor Li and the others forgot the pain. This strike felt like a heavenly being descending! Dongfang Lan gasped, covering her mouth in awe. She had promised herself she wouldn't be surprised anymore, but this strike was simply too powerful! Dongfang Lan didn't even catch the trajectory of the sword! Though she was at the 9th level of the Qi Gathering stage, Chang Qing was only at the 1st level. In other words, Chang Qing could easily kill her! But what puzzled Dongfang Lan was why Chang Qing would use such a powerful divine spell on a newly formed chicken monster.

"I don't know how to retract my move now..." "If I had just sheathed the sword, it wouldn't be this awkward. The longer I drag it out, the more awkward it becomes..." Chang Qing stood there, still holding the sword. Fortunately, the crowd cheered again and again, and Chang Qing cleared his throat, spinning his sword and returning it to its scabbard.

"Chang Qing, if it weren't for you..." Mayor Li, holding his injuries, approached Chang Qing with tears in his eyes. Chang Qing smiled and said, "I told you, this chicken king would be butchered by me sooner or later!" Mayor Li was stunned. The more seriously injured bullies in the distance wore faces full of shame. Back when they had kicked Chang Qing's stall, he had said this. Now, hearing him say it again, it made the atmosphere much more relaxed, as if nothing had changed. It also helped everyone feel less afraid of Chang Qing's strength.