He started as a shepherd and took on countless jobs.

A large string of incense money disappeared into thin air.

A whisper came to Pei Si's ear: "Your path to survival is not in Qingcheng County. It's time to set off."

Upon hearing this, Pei Si took out a small string of incense money and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Lord Shan."

The old blind man told him to go to Qingcheng Mountain half a month after the incident to find a female Taoist priest named Huang Ting.

If we set off now and there are no obstacles along the way, we should be able to reach Qingcheng Mountain in four or five days.

Pei Si descended the mountain.

Rent a fine horse in the east market, buy a saddle and bridle in the west market, buy a bridle in the south market, and buy a long whip in the north market.

Save the money, spend it.

…………

Three days later.

It is located in the western suburbs of Qingcheng County, near Xingle County.

Along the way, with Bai Xiao scouting ahead, Pei Si was able to avoid danger in advance.

These days are becoming increasingly turbulent, and Pei Si encountered several groups of bandits who robbed and plundered.

After finishing his business, Pei Si casually looted the corpse, and before long, he had nearly a string of cash left for incense offerings.

Robbery is something others do, but Pei Si did it too, only with different targets.

Pei Si reined in his horse, dismounted, tied it to a tree, patted the horse's head, and said with a smile, "You wait here while I go get some good stuff."

A dark, gloomy cave.

Pei Si tiptoed around without a torch; his keen night vision was enough to make him move freely in the underground cave.

Bai Xiao lurked in the shadows, monitoring Huang Yao.

During the three or four days of continuous surveillance, Huang Yao muttered to himself, and Pei Si learned a great deal of information about him.

Huang Yao's real name is Huang Sanlang. He lives in Langdang Mountain and was ordered by his ancestor to guard the stalactite marrow here.

Huang Sanlang found amusement in his misery. With nothing else to do, he crafted a set of stone furniture. He lay on the stone chair, clutching his stomach, and held a raw lamb leg in his paws, tearing at it like a starving ghost.

"How boring! When will I ever be free?"

Huang Sanlang glared with his cross-eyed eyes, chewing on a bone stick and complaining.

"I am so intelligent and talented, yet the Grand Ancestor is unwilling to entrust me with important responsibilities. He truly has a poor eye for talent."

Huang Sanlang casually tossed the flying bone club aside, then picked up a yellowed scripture from the table. The cover was badly damaged, and it was impossible to tell which scripture or volume it contained.

Although Huang Sanlang is a demon, he still has some hobbies.

Reading books, making furniture, and studying Buddhist scriptures.

Influenced by books, he called himself "Sajia" (a self-deprecating term for a self-deprecating person), and sometimes he would fantasize about going to a human market, finding a restaurant, sitting down and ordering the waiter to bring wine, and then ordering "Sajia" three catties of beef.

But he could only be assigned by his clan and confined to this cave, guarding the stalactites and stalagmites.

According to the Second Patriarch, this stalactite marrow is a local treasure and one of the materials needed in the secret formula for improving one's aptitude.

Although Langdang Mountain is inhabited by demons, it places great importance on the aptitude of its descendants.

Guang Huang Sanlang knew that his ancestor had obtained a secret technique from a human, which required collecting human blood essence to cleanse the aptitude of his descendants.

Huang Sanlang suddenly put down the Buddhist scriptures, shook his head and sighed, pacing back and forth with a compassionate air. "Alas, those female Taoists at the Celestial Master Palace on Qingcheng Mountain are too bloodthirsty."

"We only destroyed seven or eight villages after coming down the mountain, is this endless pursuit necessary?"

"I've already chanted sutras for them to be saved, what more do you want?"

"Those stinking women are so ungrateful!"

"It's a pity that all my wisdom and strategy have no use. If the Great Ancestor were to invite me out of seclusion, I could wipe out those wretched women with a flick of my finger!"

Huang Sanlang pointed out the flaws in the landscape, his face growing redder with each word, as if he had drunk fake alcohol.

All of these scenes were transmitted to Pei Si's eyes through Bai Xiao.

Pei Si's lips curled up slightly. The more he looked at Huang Sanlang's energy, the more familiar it seemed to him.

During holidays, some family members, after having a few drinks, adopt this attitude: they talk about international affairs all the time, without ever looking at their own messy and chaotic lives.

"Qingcheng Mountain Celestial Master Palace," Pei Si murmured.

The blind old man Lin sent him up Qingcheng Mountain to find the Celestial Master Palace.

According to Huang Sanlang, the Celestial Master Palace is extremely hostile towards demons.

This is a good thing.

He was vehemently opposed to demons and evil spirits, which is why he was entangled with a powerful evil spirit like the Red Lantern Goddess.

When the time comes, please ask the Taoist priest to take action. With a flying sword, travel a thousand miles and take the head off that red-lantern. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Of course, although the master had written a letter as a raft, the Taoist priest was not obligated to help him, and Pei Si was already prepared to pay.

"The most urgent task is to seize the stalactite marrow and open up the Ren and Du meridians. Killing Huang Sanlang is not difficult, but we must be wary of the Langdang Mountain behind him and the demons in his clan."

Pei Si disguised himself using tools, and put on a white sheep mask and a bamboo hat.

"Huang Sanlang, the Great Ancestor has ordered me to deliver this message." Pei Si slowly stepped forward, his sword sheath hanging backward, and said in a deep voice.

Huang Sanlang froze, his face flushed, and he silently prayed that what he had just said had not reached the messenger's ears.

Seeing that the messenger had actually taken human form, Huang Sanlang felt a sense of respect.

Transformation senior!

Huang Sanlang knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Huang Sanlang of Iron Bamboo Peak greets the envoy and awaits the Great Ancestor's decree!"

Pei Si nodded and cleared his throat: "By imperial decree, effective immediately, Huang Sanlang is relieved of all duties and transferred back to the mountains to await further orders!"

Huang Sanlang suddenly looked up, a look of fear flashing across his face.

To be relieved of all his duties? That won't do! Although he complained that heroes have no place to use their talents, he was even more unwilling to be prevented from continuing his work.

"Envoy, ever since I received the Grand Ancestor's order to guard this stalactite marrow, I have never dared to leave my post without permission and have not made any mistakes. Why have you relieved me of my duties?"

"If going out to eat people is considered a mistake, then I have nothing to say."

Huang Sanlang was very emotional, spitting as he spoke.

In the worldview of demons, eating people is a matter of course and is not a crime.

If the Grand Ancestor were to reprimand him for this matter, it would be unreasonable.

Pei Si smiled as he walked up to Huang Sanlang, placing one hand on the hilt of his sword. "Huang Sanlang, you've misunderstood. The Grand Ancestor has heard that you enjoy writing and reading Buddhist scriptures. A prodigy like you is one the Grand Ancestor intends to give an important position to!"

"Brother Sanlang, please rise quickly!"

Pei Si spoke while supporting Huang Sanlang.

Upon hearing Pei Si's version, Huang Sanlang's anger turned to joy, and he said with a grin, "I knew it! The Great Ancestor has a good eye for talent!"

"Brother messenger, do you have the Great Ancestor's token? Are you perhaps trying to trick me?"

Huang Sanlang, with his shifty eyes, reached out to ask for the token.

"Of course I have a token as proof; it's right here in my pocket."

"But I recently injured both arms and can't move them easily, so please come and get them yourself," Pei Si said, raising his head.

"Excellent, excellent." Huang Sanlang moved even closer.

Just as Huang Sanlang's claws were about to touch Pei Si's chest.

The blade flashed, like thunder rolling through the dark clouds.

The sliver of moonlight seeped inch by inch into Huang Sanlang's heart, making a soft, thumping sound.

Huang Sanlang's smile froze, and his mind went blank.

Pei Si's lips curled into a mocking smile: "A beast is a beast." He gripped the hilt of his knife with his right hand and suddenly swung it upwards.

Cut off the flow!

The knife moved upwards from the heart, severing Huang Sanlang's head in two.

Huang Sanlang's massive body crashed to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

"Puff puff".

Pei Si delivered four or five more blows, cutting Huang Sanlang into five pieces. Once Huang Sanlang was completely dead, Pei Si was finally at ease.

"The stalactite is mine."

Pei Si took out a small, crystal-clear purple jade bottle, inverted it into the stalactite marrow liquid, made a hand seal with one hand, and chanted, "Hurry!"

Secret methods for leading sheep!

All that could be seen was the stalactite marrow fluid being absorbed into the small purple jade bottle.

[Promotion Requirements: Increased materials required for advancing to the Shepherd (Green) rank, acquisition of Stalactite Marrow Fluid, and Superior Treasure/Spiritual Essence (1/1)]