American variety show world begins with subduing Jason

While his verbal responses were impeccably polite, the young man's true thoughts were quite different.

I don't really care about rural delicacies; I need to finish quickly so I can catch the next one!

……

……

Dark green algae swayed like strands of hair, and gray-blue man-made canals flowed slowly along the edge of the town, irrigating the emerald green fields.

Several old-fashioned textile workshops from the last century have been specially preserved and stand quietly by the canal. For a country with only two hundred years of history, these are already invaluable cultural relics.

The buildings are scattered in a staggered pattern, with shops, bars, schools, and even small squares, stadiums, cultural centers, and cinemas. Although they are all in the style of decades ago, they still reveal some of the former prosperity.

"Your town has pretty good conditions," Zhu Mingyao said with a hint of seriousness.

He had activated his Qi Observation Technique from the beginning, using it in conjunction with his Heavenly Eye to search for any suspicious traces.

Even though the feng shui was so-so, he could still vaguely see that the land was rich in energy and peaceful, making it a fertile place suitable for farming and animal husbandry.

Officer Kane, who was standing beside him, turned around and smiled dejectedly: "We're just living off our past achievements. Nowadays, the textile industry emphasizes large-scale production. All the small factories around here have gone bankrupt, and the ranches have been almost completely acquired."

His face was somber, and he said with a sigh, "Just like the mayor's son, all the young people with connections have gone to the big cities to make their way in the world, leaving only the middle-aged and elderly to hold on."

Zhu Mingyao raised an eyebrow and gave him a sympathetic look, but he didn't have anything to say.

Social development does not change according to people's will. Although the idyllic pastoral economy of small-scale farming is romantic, it will eventually be replaced by large-scale industrialization. The desolation of this place is just a side view of thousands of towns with the same fate.

A warm, pungent animal odor wafted over, disrupting the political thoughts of the ambitious young people of the Celestial Empire.

As twilight descended, a patch of pink, white, and black mottled the horizon, accompanied by the bleating of sheep. It was an elderly shepherd wearing a wide-brimmed hat, herding his flock back to the farm.

"Hey, old Gunter," Kane greeted lazily, waving his thick hand.

"Who is he? Is he another lobbyist sent by the livestock company?" His enthusiastic response was met with a cold reply.

Scratching his chapped, reddish-brown cheeks, the old man gruffly shouted:

"I've said it so many times, the ranch is not for sale!"

"You old codger, you're being paranoid again!" Kane snapped angrily. "They came to see the mayor. After you chased away those salesmen, they haven't come here for months."

He muttered angrily, "You're the only one left. I told you to sell it sooner rather than later, so we could save up some money for retirement..."

Before he could finish speaking, the other party cracked his whip, drove the flock of sheep away, and only faint, cold words drifted in the wind: "I have lovely sheep, raising them... I don't need... anyone else to worry about them."

"You stubborn old man with a terrible temper," the man muttered angrily. "No wife, no kids, sooner or later the villagers will have to send you to a nursing home! Do you expect those sheep to take care of you?"

As if it had heard his words, it kicked out with its worn-out leather boots in a fit of rage, scattering several pebbles with a clatter. Old Gunter stomped his foot hard and sped up.

...A bunch of ignorant, vulgar creatures. Humans only greedily take from nature, eating grass and offering milk and wool. Lambs are the most noble beings!

……

……

The little incident didn't take too long. A little over an hour later, the two stopped in front of a solitary building.

Although the house, designed in the style of the Greek Revival, is only one story, it occupies a large area. The snow-white exterior walls were probably painted recently, and there is still a faint smell of paint in the air.

"What's this place for?" Zhu Mingyao asked, his hands clasped together, his expression slightly serious.

In his spiritual vision, the faint, strange black mist resembled strands of silk, menacingly entrenched in the deepest part of the earth, even seeping into the ground to some extent. Although its level was not high, its attributes were rather peculiar. Clearing it from the outside would require completely leveling the ground and digging three feet deep, which was quite troublesome.

A nest-type monster? And perhaps it carries some kind of will... a bound spirit? But it doesn't quite seem like one...

"The museum will primarily display machinery and textile artifacts from that era." Seeing the change in his expression, Officer Kane alertly reached for his sidearm; Mayor Rockins had privately let slip some details before they arrived.

"Is there a problem?"

After carefully inquiring about the interior layout, Zhu Mingyao had already guessed the approximate nature of "that thing." He tilted his head and thought for a moment, then pulled out a few utility knives from somewhere. His fingers moved rapidly in the air, as if writing some words, and the silvery light flashed by like a line.

He then broke the blade inch by inch along the diagonal lines, and dozens of diamond-shaped blades flew out one after another like birds flying into the forest, circling the memorial hall and inserting into the ground.

Having made preparations, he handed Kane a talisman, instructed the officer to keep a safe distance, and strode over, too lazy to even open the door. Amidst the ripples of the transparent waves, he simply walked straight in.

Having made up his mind, he gave the hidden evil creature no chance to react. He swiftly moved, shrinking the ground to an inch, and in just a few steps, he reached the innermost exhibition hall.

Gazing at the enormous shadow that resembled countless venomous snakes and worms coiled together, and smelling the well-hidden stench of rotting flesh, Zhu Mingyao sighed softly.

"Beasts grow old and become demons, things grow old and become spirits. You, who have embodied the hopes and desires of people for centuries, are the real culprit behind the silent disappearance of tourists!"

The crimson Demon-Refining True Fire was dazzling, like a blooming balsam flower, shimmering brilliantly at the fingertips. Its light reflected on the brass nameplate, giving it a cool, metallic sheen.

Four hundred and seventy-six female textile workers in Livingslantie worked together for three years in their spare time to weave the world's largest cashmere ball, winning a silver medal at the Commonwealth Exposition as a wish for the city's lasting prosperity and well-being.

——October 7, 1900.

Chapter 371 The Fallen Guardian Spirit

Undyed gray-white cashmere is spun into natural yarn with a rustic feel. The yarn is interwoven in circles, following a simple fishing net pattern, and carefully wound into a round, huge ball resembling a house, its size is astonishing.

Imagine the sheer amount of work involved in such hand-weaving, before the advent of sophisticated machinery. Beneath its rough and simple exterior, every inch was imbued with the sweat and toil of the workers.

The beautiful wishes accumulated over a century shine like scattered golden sand.

However, just like the decaying town beneath our feet, this artifact, a symbol of past prosperity, has also taken on a different appearance after being weathered by time.

That's depravity and filth!

Like ink drops on white paper, a purplish-brown stain, slowly and steadily seeping from the inside of the yarn ball, spread silently along every thread and every fiber.

The stain, like a sentient being, chooses its path, transforming itself into a malevolent and monstrous creature with every breath.

A strong, pungent smell of wool mixed with the acrid odor of rotting animal protein instantly filled the surroundings.

A biochemical attack that could paralyze a healthy adult and cause them to vomit uncontrollably is just the appetizer; an even more deadly threat is about to follow...

Suddenly, slender shadows launched an attack, emerging from the ground, protruding from the walls, and hanging from the ceiling, stabbing at the intruder from all directions, determined to riddle him with holes!

Then... the sharp, piercing sound abruptly stopped.

The crimson threads twisted and turned, depicting ancient foreign scripts that formed a three-legged divine bird symbolizing light and heat, causing all evil to tremble in fear.

The flames rose and leaped, as if the star hidden on the other side of the earth had returned, generously sharing its pure and intense yang energy.

But the being before them was clearly not worthy of this blessing. The pungent stench quickly rolled back and was compressed onto the surface of the giant sphere, forming a visible black barrier. The hundreds of shadows also shed their disguises, revealing their true forms of yarn with a chilling glint, like disgusting worms trembling unwillingly in the air.

"As expected... yarn, even if it becomes a monster or a demon, or even a local spirit, is still afraid of fire." Zhu Mingyao calmly revealed the enemy's true nature.

As described in Taoist texts, when an old creature transforms into a spirit, it will inevitably retain the characteristics of its original form. As long as it has not fully sublimated its life level, it will also inherit the corresponding weaknesses!

This confirmed his suspicions, but instead of joy, he said with regret:

"The hard work of thousands of simple laborers, their pure and beautiful aspirations, and the continuous veneration and respect of later generations have crystallized into the crystallization of faith... Such a rare stroke of luck created the prototype of the Earth God, but in the end, it degenerated into a demon that craved blood and food."

His sigh was genuine; the other person's fate was lamentable. He had just taken advantage of the rising elemental tide and by chance stepped onto the threshold, seemingly about to become the town's guardian spirit, yet he fell in the darkness before dawn.

His killing intent was genuine. As the words were spoken, the Golden Crow shook its wings, soaring into the sky with the Demon-Subduing Flame. It circled in the air and shook, its gilded feathers transforming into streaks of flame that easily pierced through the foul miasma, attaching to the giant sphere and then exploding into bursts of sparks.

Countless strands of yarn twisted and trembled wildly, the huge sphere rose and fell violently like waves, and billowing black smoke, carrying the strong stench of burning hair, raged everywhere.

A body made of oil-rich textiles may not be afraid of ordinary high temperatures, but it is undoubtedly an excellent fuel for the highly targeted Xuanmen Pure Flame.

Knowing that this would not harm the core of the demonized guardian spirit, Zhu Mingyao seized the opportunity to exert all his true qi and activated the pre-arranged plan with a flick of his sword.

"Zha!"

Around the building, where blades were embedded, specks of silvery light emerged, and neat square characters floated up: Chop, Slice, Cut, Slice, Trim...

The symbolic meaning of the words evolved into illusory iron scissors and steel blades, severing the black roots that penetrated deep into the ground.

What is yarn afraid of? Aside from flames, it's scissors!

The two forces, gold and fire, pressed forward relentlessly. Despite the giant sphere's constant struggle, it continued to carbonize layer by layer and shatter into pieces, its defeat imminent.

Just when things were looking up, suddenly a series of soft whispers echoed through the void:

Peace, prosperity...

The farmland yielded a bountiful harvest, and the livestock thrived...

Amidst the meaningless whispers, strange auras emanated from all directions of the town, instantly dimming the seemingly magnificent flames.

At the same time, Zhu Mingyao felt as if an indescribable, invisible net was descending upon him.

The air seemed to suddenly become dozens or even hundreds of times thicker. From every brick and tile in the memorial hall to every blade of grass and tree outside the window, this small world was suppressing him. Even with his current strength, he actually felt that his magical power was somewhat sluggish.

Although such beings are not particularly strong in combat, they are still quite troublesome. No wonder that from ancient times to the present, destroying mountains and temples has always been a difficult and technically demanding task!

His mind raced, and his peachwood staff, like a sword, pointed high into the sky.

"Looking eastward towards Fusang Palace, I bow my head to pay homage to Yuyi."

The sun shines brightly, but what thoughts remain?

I bow to the golden light, and await the heavens to see its heroic figure.

"A jade maiden descends from the imperial palace, arriving at this moment!"

The crimson flames summoned by the Sun God's incantation poured down, transforming the staff into a broadsword with a lotus bud as its head, a sun wheel as its guard, and a divine rune as its spine, which slashed straight down fiercely!

"hiss--!"

Like a red-hot knife slicing through butter, the giant ball burst open, the tough yarn split in two, and lay limply on the ground, motionless.

The faint, mournful cries slowly dissipated, followed by a muffled clap of thunder from the ground, and all the prayers, auras, and strange phenomena vanished without a trace.

Several round, dark red and pale clumps rolled out of the ball of yarn, dangled around Zhu Mingyao's feet, and stared upwards with their empty eye sockets at their belated savior.

……

……

Several black body bags were laid out on the open ground, and the police officers, by the light of the moon and flashlights, did their best to piece together the few remaining remains of the victim.

"How are we supposed to explain this?"

Upon hearing the news, Roggins arrived swaying precariously, his old face contorted with anguish.

After clasping his hands together and clenching his teeth several times, Zhu Mingyao recited the Rebirth Mantra for the deceased to expel resentment, then exhaled indifferently.

"Whatever. If you can't think of anything, you can ask the higher authorities. They're always good at making up lies. Since this is over, and I have other things to do, I won't bother you any longer."

"How can that be? At least allow us to treat you properly. Our special lamb chop feast is ready, please be sure to try it." The old mayor, a man of great social skills, forced himself to stay and try his best to keep the guests.

"Let's talk about it another time." Zhu Mingyao fanned his nose in disgust. "I've had enough of this muttony smell today."