For those cultivating in the mortal realm, their realms can be divided into three gates and nine levels.
The personal gate involves self-cultivation, which includes body forging, condensing qi, and spiritual intent; the earthly gate involves external cultivation, focusing on golden elixir, the five elements, and physical laws; the heavenly gate involves the cultivation of the great Dao, focusing on seeking the Dao, heavenly origins, and profound insight.
With multiple sects, martial practitioners, demons, and other factions, the systems vary, but ultimately they are mostly similar.
The Shu Mountain Sect requires the exchange of resources for labor. While it may seem harsh, it is also a way to train disciples. In reality, it is for the disciples' protection. For disciples in the first and second levels, they are not allowed to take on tasks outside the mountain and are only permitted to perform miscellaneous tasks within the gates, such as nurturing spiritual plants, caring for spiritual birds, and performing various other duties.
As for one who has achieved spiritual intent, they may already be considered skilled when travelling the rivers and lakes, but within the Shu Mountain Sect, they have only just reached the threshold to descend the mountain to eliminate demons.
Even when it comes to demon elimination, there are significant differences. The most sought-after tasks revolve around the mysterious cases in large households.
Within the city, there are generally fewer powerful demons compared to the wilderness, resulting in lower levels of danger. Additionally, the bustling atmosphere allows for leisure activities in addition to demon elimination. Furthermore, the wealthy households are generous and besides the payment offered to the sect, the rewards after completing the task are often substantial, which are given directly to the demon hunter, presenting an opportunity for personal profit.
Shen Lao arranged this task for Chu Liang.
"Chu Young Master, greetings!"
"Prefect Ming, greetings."
"You must be tired, Chu Young Master!"
"I serve the people."
"..."
Chu Liang arrived at the outskirts of Xingzhou City and then made his way to the residence of Prefect Ming. Upon revealing his identity, he was warmly welcomed.
Prefect Ming was a slender middle-aged man with a refined demeanor, sporting a short beard under the chin, leaving a good impression. However, his eye sockets appeared dark and his countenance looked weary, indicating that he had suffered a great deal.
"With a young master from the Shu Mountain Sect here, our home can finally be at peace," remarked Prefect Ming as he led Chu Liang to sit in the hall before instructing the servants to pour tea and water.
"First, please explain the specific situation," Chu Liang smiled.
"Sigh..." Prefect Ming sighed and said, "My ancestors of the Ming family were known for their benevolence, and yet, for some reason, we have encountered such strange occurrences..."
"Three days ago, eerie cat cries began outside the mansion, haunting and bone-chilling. Two days ago, the cries appeared in our front courtyard, witnessed by our household servants. The demon creature was engulfed in a torrent of bloodlust! Then, yesterday, the cries reached our back courtyard. Even my wife was disturbed..."
"Young Master..." he looked at Chu Liang earnestly, "If we don't stop it soon, I fear it will come tonight to kill someone in my household!"
Prefect Ming acted quickly and sought help from a temple outside the city on the second day.
Typically, these flourishing temples and monasteries either have practitioners stationed within or have a strong connection with a certain immortal sect; otherwise, they cannot flourish. The temple outside Xingzhou City has close ties with the Shu Mountain Sect, so the request for assistance promptly reached the Sword Exchange Pavilion of Shu Mountain.
"Hmm..." Chu Liang contemplated after hearing this.
This kind only appears at night, step by step forward probing... It doesn't seem to be a demon, it's more like a spirit, that is, the so-called "ghost."
After all, if the monster has achieved cultivation, its intelligence is no different from that of humans, and its actions will not be so elusive. Only ghostly creatures with low cultivation, due to the loss of intelligence after death, have the possibility of being driven by resentment from their previous lives to make some strange moves.
Like this cat monster...
It is possible to be a dead cat spirit.
Thinking of this, Chu Liang asked, "Has there been any cats killed at the mansion in the past few days?"
"Of course not..." Mr. Ming shook his head and said, "My wife is very compassionate and has always been kind to animals. Stray cats and dogs around here have always been carefully fed by our family members."
...
When Chu Liang arrived, it was already afternoon. After inquiring about the specific situation and inspecting the surroundings, it was almost dark.
The mansion hurriedly set up a feast.
After all, a little later, the cat monster would come online.
Obviously, the sumptuous feast at the table did not need to be mentioned. Mr. Ming and Chu Liang sat there, each with a maid serving behind, which was definitely an enjoyment not available on Silver Sword Peak.
Just as they waited for a while and not everyone had arrived, another maid came to report, "Master, the mistress said she is feeling unwell and it has worsened, and she cannot come to the feast, please forgive her, Young Hero Chu, and Master."
"Oh..." Mr. Ming immediately looked anxious, stood up, glanced at Chu Liang, and apologized, "Young Hero Chu, please don't be offended, I'll go see my wife first, I'll be right there."
With that, he left Chu Liang here and hurried back to the backyard.
Chu Liang didn't mind at all, just smiled and said, "Mr. Ming and his wife really care for each other."
"Yeah," the maid nearby said with some envy, "My master and mistress have been married for ten years, still as close as ever. A few years ago, due to illness, the lady couldn't bear children, and suggested that the master take a concubine to have a child, but the master refused to take a concubine to this day."
Another maid sighed, "Only my lady, who is so beautiful and kind, is worthy of the master's deep affection."
After a while, Mr. Ming rushed back.
"Is the mistress alright?" Chu Liang asked.
"No worries, it's just that these days, evil spirits have been causing trouble, disturbing the mistress, and making her unwell. As long as this monster is removed, everything will be fine," Mr. Ming said.
"I will do my utmost." Chu Liang said.
The banquet was not over when a gust of wind was heard outside.
The eerie wind, accompanied by a demonic aura, roared and blew open the hall door, causing the tableware on the banquet to clatter and clang.
"It's that cat monster, it's here again!" Mr. Ming exclaimed.
Chu Liang immediately dashed to the door and carefully sensed this breath.
The atmosphere was heavy with Yin energy, and there were evil spirits. But mixed with a strong demon wind, could it be...
"Something's not right. You all should hide first..." Chu Liang turned around, wanting to advise the non-combatants of the Ming family to take cover.
But as soon as he turned around, he found the entire banquet hall completely empty, with no one else in sight. From afar, he heard the voice left by the Ming family, "Young Hero Chu, we're counting on you..."
Alright then.
He is really fast.
Just earlier, he was worried about the safety of the Ming family, but now he felt that his concerns were completely unnecessary. At this escape speed, the entire Xingzhou City was probably taken over by demons, and they would be fine.
"Meow—"
There was no time for further thought as a sharp, piercing cry rang out, truly chilling and terrifying.
"Stop!" Chu Liang shouted, his flying sword bracelet raised, transforming into a long sword in his hand as he stepped out of the hall.
At a glance, he saw the overwhelming bloodthirsty aura outside!
Crouched on the courtyard wall of the mansion was a cat-faced monster with a pair of eerie eyes emitting a dead stillness. Its face was covered in black fur and blood, looking very young. What’s even stranger was that this monster, though having a cat head, had a body that resembled a human infant, covered in blood but without any fur.
Monstrous and terrifying!
Upon seeing it, Chu Liang couldn't help but feel a tightening in his chest.
This creature...
It's a vengeful spirit, a haunting born from overwhelming resentment! It's also an infant spirit, a baby who died before being born, with ten times more resentment than ordinary ghosts! It's also a demon spirit, a demon turned ghost after death!
No wonder it's so sinister, vengeful spirits, infant spirits, demon spirits... Each one is considered a particularly unique entity among the spirits.
And what was in front of him was fundamentally...
Overflowing!