Outside the demon domain, horses galloped swiftly, and the riders on their backs threw large flags into the ground. Each flag made a loud noise as it was planted, unfurling to reveal a dragon pattern. Strange characters, a mix of talisman and script, surrounded the design. Every hundred steps, a flag was planted. Once all the flags were in place, the riders turned their horses and headed back to the distant camp.
The camp was newly built near the provincial road. The three major offices of New Township Province, including the administrative, judicial, and military command offices, as well as the New Township Governor, were all in the camp, watching the demon domain.
With a command, the flags were activated. Golden dragons emerged from the flags, clawing their way onto a red curtain and climbing upwards. After a moment, the dragons fully emerged and lay on the curtain. The flags emitted intense golden light, which flowed into the dragons, keeping their shape intact.
"The Heavenly Dragon Demon-Sealing Array can last a hundred days. After that, with the True God's attention, the demon domain will be wiped out and won't threaten the people outside," sighed Zhao Tianbao, the New Township Governor. "My nephew Zhao Yanlong heard about the demon outbreak at Heavenly Yang Mountain and led four thousand elite troops from Dark Jade Manor, even bringing his children, into the demon domain to try and stop it. Such a child, really!"
He shook his head repeatedly, tears streaming down his face as he looked up and said, "Truly worthy of my Zhao family, not disgracing our ancestors!"
The officials from the administrative, judicial, and military offices were deeply moved, shedding tears. "The loyalty of Dark Jade Manor is a model for us all," one said. "Knowing they would die but still going forward, what a spirit! This should be recorded in history to inspire future generations, so they never forget today's righteous act of the Dark Jade Manor!"
Someone cried, "The whole family of Dark Jade Manor is loyal and brave—"
Zhao Tianbao also shed tears but managed to stop, advising everyone to mourn properly. "Yanlong is indeed a Zhao family man, brave and selfless, not disgracing our family. I propose that in a hundred days, we hold a memorial here for Yanlong and the Zhao family members of Dark Jade Manor. What do you think?"
"Governor, that's a great idea!"
"In my opinion, we should also report to the cabinet, explaining the Zhao family's sacrifice against the demons as an example for all officials. As a student of Elder Yan, I will write a memorial about this. The court will surely reward or honor them soon."
With their plans settled, everyone left with peace of mind.
On the third day of the demon outbreak, Chen Shi looked into the distance. Thunder rumbled from the mountains, and occasionally, flames burst forth. In the forest, a giant porcelain Bodhisattva with eight arms danced, suddenly wielding a Vajra Demon-Subduing Staff and slamming it into the ground, causing fierce demon fire to erupt from the mountaintop, burning everything.
The demon fire swirled with a terrifying force, the crackling explosions audible from afar, caused by the rapid expansion of air. That was the direction of the kiln factory.
It was unclear who was fighting the evil Bodhisattva, but that person had held on for three days.
Li Tianqing, worried, said to Chen Shi, "Our grandfathers might be there. They're both very old now; I don't know if they can hold on."
"Do you think the government will send help?" Chen Shi asked anxiously.
Li Tianqing, inexperienced with such matters, speculated, "The New Township Province will probably send help. After all, everyone within a hundred miles is a resident of New Township Province. If they don't help, the cabinet elders will surely punish them."
The two left the village to continue hunting. Passing through a village, they saw a convoy of about thirty or forty people, with cattle and horses, and elderly and children on the carts. They were trying to leave the demon domain, but after leaving the village, they hadn't gone far before turning into porcelain. The two moved them to the roadside to avoid damage. If the demons were defeated, they might return to normal.
Along the way, they saw a few scattered people, likely those who had hidden in the village under the protection of a godmother and hadn't turned to porcelain. But after three days of hunger, with only water to drink, they had to come out to find food.
Common wild animals like rabbits, wild boars, and pheasants had turned to porcelain. The New Township Rat was one of the few food sources they could find. These exotic beasts took longer to turn to porcelain and were affected, moving slowly and easier to catch. However, the people were also sluggish, and whether they could catch the rats was uncertain.
"If you're not sure you can survive, find a safe place to lie down. When the demons are defeated, you might live," Chen Shi advised them kindly. After all, these were the villagers he usually bullied. If they all died, who would he bully when he became an official?
Seeing this, Li Tianqing followed suit, advising people to find a safe place to lie down and wait.
When they returned from hunting, they had caught more New Township Rats than the day before. The villagers of Yellow Slope Village could eat for over ten days with these rats. As they dragged the rats by their tails, Li Tianqing noticed the lively Black Pot running ahead and whispered, "Little Shi, why hasn't Black Pot turned to porcelain like all the other animals, even the exotic New Township Rats?"
Chen Shi, suspicious, looked at the dog and whispered, "Do you suspect something too?" Li Tianqing nodded, "All exotic beasts are affected; a normal black dog shouldn't be immune. My grandfather and I suspect something too!"
Chen Shi whispered, "We just can't catch it doing anything wrong."
The dog suddenly slowed down, walking sluggishly like the New Township Rats that couldn't run. "It's pretending after hearing us!" Li Tianqing exclaimed, "It must have a problem!"
Black Pot turned around, wagging its big tail, and affectionately rubbed its head against Li Tianqing's leg, making the two boys laugh. Just then, Chen Shi had a thought, "I haven't seen Grandpa for days. He's been missing, and I'm worried. He's old, and if something happened—" Just then, he heard his grandfather's voice calling, "Little Shi."
"Grandpa!" Chen Shi turned around in surprise and joy, only to feel an invisible hand gripping his neck.
It was the Neck-Snapping Demon, which targets those who turn their heads. Chen Shi was caught off guard, not expecting an evil spirit to follow them. These spirits follow specific rules. As long as you follow the rules, you can even walk right past them or slap them without harm. But if you break the rules, you'll die horribly!
Realizing the danger, Chen Shi quickly circulated his blood and energy. He had a Sacred Fetus Body, with incredible vitality, even stronger than a Golden Core expert! His energy focused on his neck, making it as thick as his head. It kept swelling until it was several times thicker than his head!
The evil spirit tried to twist his neck, but it couldn't grip it anymore. Li Tianqing and Black Pot noticed something was wrong, seeing Chen Shi's neck swell like it was being inflated, then lifted him into the air by something invisible!
"Don't look back! There's an evil spirit following us; looking back will kill you!" Chen Shi shouted.
Li Tianqing was terrified, quickly activating his Divine Altar and Divine Fetus, sending the Six Yin Jade Wheels to cut behind Chen Shi. But the spirit was invisible, like it didn't exist, and the wheels passed through it as if cutting air. The wheels spun around Chen Shi but couldn't touch the spirit.
Li Tianqing grew more anxious, and Chen Shi felt the Neck-Snapping Demon pulling hard, trying to stretch his neck like dough!
"Dream on if you want my life! I have no neck!" Chen Shi focused all his energy on his neck. The Neck-Snapping Demon pulled for a while but couldn't stretch his neck and let him go, turning into a gust of wind and leaving.
In the wind, something seemed to curse in an unintelligible language. Chen Shi gasped for air, touching his neck with lingering fear. Li Tianqing was shocked, "The Neck-Snapping Demon couldn't break your neck! I heard my grandpa call my name!" he suddenly said.
Chen Shi quickly replied, "Don't look back; it's the evil spirit again! If you turn, your head will be snapped off! It can sense your thoughts and create the voice of someone close to you in your mind! Let's go!"
The two boys and the dog, dragging the rats, quickly walked forward, soon disappearing over a hill, out of Li Jindou's sight.
Li Jindou coughed blood, using his arms to crawl forward, his voice hoarse as he called out to Li Tianqing again, "You brat."
Exhausted, he rolled into a ditch, lying on his back, unable to move. He thought weakly, "Defeated."
After three days of fierce fighting, Granny Sha, Prince Xiao, Jin Hongying, and he were defeated. They had attacked the evil Bodhisattva, killing two kiln workers, but the Bodhisattva noticed their intent and swallowed the last worker into its hollow belly. The worker crawled inside, repairing its cracks. Despite breaking the Bodhisattva's body many times, they couldn't defeat it because of the worker.
The Bodhisattva had eight arms, each holding a weapon: sun and moon pearls, a gold brick, a soul-shaking bell, a staff, a banana leaf fan, a bow, and arrows. Though porcelain, they were powerful weapons covered in talismanic spells.
Fortunately, Granny Sha wielded the Ram-Horn Heaven Spirit Lamp, countering the bell and staff, suppressing the demon soul, allowing them to hold on. But three of them were injured, and Li Jindou's legs were still porcelain, causing their formation to collapse on the third day as old injuries resurfaced.
The Bodhisattva severely injured them, leaving them nearly drained. Granny Sha and Prince Xiao covered the retreat, while Li Jindou and Jin Hongying left first. Li Jindou escaped to this spot, seeing his grandson and Chen Shi ahead, joyfully calling out, but they ran faster.
"The evil Bodhisattva is too fierce; even without injuries, I'm no match," Li Jindou coughed blood, lying in the ditch, his eyes dimming. "Heavenly Yang Hermit, where are you? If you don't act, everyone in the demon domain will die..."
Just then, the sound of hooves approached. Four exotic horses pulled a carriage swiftly toward him. The carriage stopped, and Prince Xiao lifted the bead curtain, glancing at the ditch, calmly saying, "Still breathing? Get up here."
Li Jindou's eyes regained a spark of life. With his arms battered and bruised, he crawled up, pulling on grass to help. After a while, he reached the road and struggled into the carriage.
The carriage moved on. Li Jindou looked at Prince Xiao, whose tattered battle clothes were gone, replaced by a neat new outfit, likely changed before coming to pick him up. "You're not hurt?" Li Jindou asked, dissatisfied.
Prince Xiao, calm and composed, replied, "I am injured." Li Jindou was even more dissatisfied, "Why aren't you as battered as me? Your injuries must not be as severe!"
Prince Xiao, as elegant as ever, took out a white handkerchief to cover his mouth, lightly coughing, "I was trained in etiquette from a young age. Even when injured, I don't show it. Even in death, I would remain dignified, unlike you. Don't speak, rest. I'll take you to see Master Chen."
Thank you for the support from the leader of the Divine Dynasty era!