In this bizarre world, I can extract supernatural powers.

Upon hearing this, Constable Zhao's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly said, "I have served as a spy for the Heavenly Heart Sect for so many years. Even if I haven't made any great contributions, I have certainly worked hard. How can the Sect Leader treat me like this?"

The paper figure shook its head slightly: "You talking about fairness with the Heavenly Heart Sect is the funniest joke in the world. I'll give you one last chance."

Officer Zhao took a deep breath: "What opportunity?"

"You and your trusted men will intercept and kill Xu Bai."

The paper figure sneered, "After this is done, I will erase all the dirt on you in the Heavenly Heart Sect right in front of you. From then on, you will be a constable of the yamen, not some spy."

Officer Zhao fell silent.

The paper figure seemed to know the outcome and was not in a hurry. Instead, it found a place to sit down and played with the teacup on the table.

After a long while, Constable Zhao came to his senses.

His fists were clenched tightly, clearly indicating that he was struggling.

After another incense stick had burned, Constable Zhao loosened his fists.

"I'll help you," Officer Zhao said coldly. "After it's done, if you don't destroy all the evidence, I'll fight you to the death."

The paper figure laughed heartily, patted Constable Zhao on the shoulder, and said, "Don't worry, from now on, we have nothing to do with each other."

A gentle breeze swept by.

The paper figure turned into a wisp of green smoke and disappeared.

Officer Zhao stared at the spot where the paper figure had disappeared, gritting his teeth.

The room fell into a deathly silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

……

The next day.

A rooster's crow shattered the dawn.

The sun, like a fiery red disc, slowly rose from the east.

The sun shines brightly on the earth, awakening the sleeping Feng County.

The noise gradually emerged.

Ordinary people set up stalls or gathered in twos and threes, chatting about the rumors circulating in the area.

Several women passed by the coffin shop, looked at the young and handsome owner, sighed a few times in regret, and then left chattering away.

After tidying up quickly, Xu Bai turned around and said, "Erniu, watch the house. I'm going out for a bit."

Zhao Erniu, munching on a steamed bun, took a big gulp of water upon hearing this and nodded, saying, "Don't worry, shopkeeper, with me, Erniu, here, everything is fine."

Ever since Master Liu's accident, the shopkeeper has been very busy.

He didn't know what the shopkeeper was doing, but Zhao Erniu knew that the shopkeeper was no ordinary person and must be up to something important.

He was just a nobody, how could he dare to interfere?

"Being able to manage this shop for the manager is already quite good."

Zhao Erniu watched Xu Bai's departing figure, thinking to himself.

……

Qianyun Village is not far from Feng County, but the journey involves traversing a difficult mountain road.

After getting off the carriage at the nearest official road, Xu Bai continued along the mountain road.

In the past, Xu Bai would have faced many difficulties when traveling this mountain path.

However, ever since he entered the realm and reached the perfection of the third stage of the Transcendent Realm, Xu Bai felt that the mountain road was as flat as walking on flat ground.

"Once we cross this mountain, we'll reach Qianyun Village."

Xu Bai looked up at the mountain peak and thought to himself.

Nothing unusual happened along the way, so he quickened his pace.

Halfway up the mountain, there is a dilapidated Taoist temple.

This place is now deserted and uninhabited.

When Xu Bai arrived at the mountainside, the originally bright weather suddenly turned into a downpour.

This is the rainy season, so the sudden downpour was not unexpected for Xu Bai.

The mountain road is already difficult to walk, and braving the downpour will only make you get covered in mud.

After a moment's thought, Xu Bai decided to seek shelter from the rain at the dilapidated Taoist temple.

He would go to Qianyun Village after the rains subsided.

Only half of the gate remained, hanging askew, creaking and swaying in the wind.

The words on the lintel were blurred by the rain.

One of the stone lions on the gate is missing, and the remaining one is missing half of its face, with last night's rainwater accumulating in its empty eye socket.

A corner of the roof of the main hall had collapsed, revealing several blackened rafters.

The altar was covered with a thick layer of ash, the incense burner was overturned on the ground, and the ash and withered leaves were mixed together and hardened by the rainwater that had seeped in.

Two fingers of the enshrined deity were broken off, revealing the grayish-white clay at the break.

The spiderwebs in the corner were layered and trembled slightly in the draft.

The prayer flags hanging from the beams had long since faded to a pale white, their edges torn and tattered like rotten cotton.

Several tattered scrolls of scriptures lay scattered on the ground, their pages riddled with holes from insects.

Xu Bai frowned slightly after entering.

Although it looked dilapidated, there was still a campfire burning inside the house.

"This place is deserted year-round, how come anyone would come here?"

Xu Bai frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings.

At that moment, he noticed something was amiss.

Behind the broken statue, several figures flashed by.

"who!"

Xu Bai narrowed his eyes slightly, activated the Yin Wood Thunder Sword Technique, and lightning erupted from his fingertips.

"what!"

Screams came from behind the statue.

Then, several men and women dressed in plain clothes rushed out from behind the statue and knelt on the ground, kowtowing.

"Please spare me, divine being!"

"We are villagers from Qianyun Village. We were just thinking of leaving the village, but the rain got heavier, so we are taking shelter here temporarily."

"Spare us! We had no intention of offending the gods!"

A divine being?

Xu Bai looked at the lightning at his fingertips and realized that his extraordinary abilities had been misunderstood by the other party.

Looking at the villagers kowtowing on the ground, he suddenly felt a mix of emotions.

If he hadn't awakened the Ghostly Longevity Talisman, he might have ended up like these villagers when he encountered cultivators in the future.

"Stand up and speak."

Xu Bai slowly asked, "Why do you want to leave Qianyun Village?"

Leaving the village in such heavy rain must have been for a very serious reason.

Xu Bai guessed that it might be related to the strange things happening in the village.

The villagers exchanged glances, hesitating to speak.

Xu Bai pointed to the older villagers and said, "You speak."

The villager being pointed at trembled and said timidly, "Reporting to the lord, there is a ghost in the village. It is a woman who died a long time ago and has come back to take revenge on the village."

Xu Bai stroked his chin and said, "Explain in more detail."

The villager looked down at the ground and said haltingly, "A long time ago, a woman came to the village. She was a refugee and married one of the villagers."

"But not long after, the woman fell seriously ill and suddenly died."

"From then on, the men in the village would fall into a dream, in which they would marry women and consummate their marriage."

"Every time I woke up, I was exhausted. Until recently, several villagers never woke up again."

"The doctor said it's because of a lack of energy."

At this point, the villagers lowered their heads in fear and dared not speak.

Xu Bai nodded and said, "So you were scared and ran away?"

The villagers nodded hastily: "That's right, we're afraid of dying."

"But I never expected... I never expected..."

"What didn't you expect?" Xu Bai asked, frowning.

The villagers didn't dare to agree.

Just then, footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

"Unexpectedly, even after you left the village, you still couldn't escape the bizarre pursuit."

Xu Bai squinted and looked in the direction of the sound.

A tall, thin man wearing a straw raincoat slowly stepped into the house.