He became the True Lord of Ten Thousand Laws starting from Liaozhai.

After listening, Xu Yi slowly sat up and nodded, saying:

"If you have been wronged, this humble Taoist priest will help you."

The kneeling woman trembled slightly; in this Taoist priest, she seemed to see a glimmer of hope to escape her suffering.

Using all her charm and witchcraft, Nie Xiaoqian truly pulled out all the stops.

The Taoist priest dispelled her spell effortlessly, without showing the slightest ripple in his expression. She thought to herself, "He must be a highly accomplished Taoist master, but masters are always unpredictable. If I add fuel to the fire and displease him, wouldn't that ruin things?"

Nie Xiaoqian bowed again, her tone sincere: "Young master, our urns of ashes are all controlled by an old tree that has become a spirit."

"That old tree forced me and my sisters to wander in the mountains, spending the night in dilapidated temples, specifically to seduce passersby, scholars, or traveling merchants."

"If someone takes the bait, secretly stab him with an awl during intimate moments, and after he falls unconscious, take his blood to give to the old tree for its cultivation."

"That gold is actually a transformation of the bones of a Rakshasa demon. If a person becomes greedy, the curse will take effect and cut off their heart and liver."

"And the yakshas under the old tree will come seeking the ghost bones before dawn and devour people."

"Young master, although I take people's essence and blood, I have never taken a life!"

Xu Yi nodded, then said meaningfully, "Do you know that there are other demons lying in ambush outside the temple?"

Upon hearing this, Nie Xiaoqian's shoulders trembled slightly, and she buried her head even deeper, choking back tears as she said, "Young master, I do not ask to live, but only wish for my soul to enter the cycle of reincarnation, so that I may be spared the suffering of this world!"

Xu Yi didn't answer her. He just got up, took out two paper figures from his sleeve, and tossed them into the air.

The paper figures possessed spirits; they drifted away with the wind, landing and transforming into weapons, stirring up a bloody storm in the night.

Nie Xiaoqian dared not get up. The Taoist's strength was unfathomable, and she regretted it.

Xu Yi stood with his hands behind his back in front of the door and said softly, "Your merits and demerits will be investigated by the underworld in the future."

As the Taoist priest spoke, he came to Nie Xiaoqian and said with a smile, "However, it is fate and karma that you were able to meet me today."

"Moreover, I have always been unable to bear seeing people suffer."

"These talismans are called 'Tracing a Thousand Miles Away.' Take the second talisman and go to the side hall in a moment. Wake up the scholar and have him draw a bowl of your essence blood so you can go back and report."

"I will arrive shortly."

Nie Xiaoqian hurriedly got up, took the talisman, and staggered across the threshold.

She felt a little lightheaded, and she wanted to laugh.

After sailing on the sea of ​​suffering for thirty years, I have finally seen the other shore today.

Thirty years ago, at the tender age of eighteen, she lay dead in the wilderness, her flesh and blood devoured by wild beasts.

Sadly, after her death, her remains were obtained by the demon tree. The demon tree manipulated wandering souls and commanded yakshas, ​​bringing them essence and flesh to nourish and enhance their cultivation.

Over the past thirty years, she has always wanted to save herself.

She begged the Taoist priests who traveled at night and the devout monks who knelt to offer incense, but without exception, they all became nourishment for the demon tree.

But the Taoist priest I saw today was unfathomable, folding paper into soldiers, and his every move exuded the air of a reclusive master. Perhaps the demonic tree's good days are truly coming to an end...

......

After Nie Xiaoqian left, Xu Yi was about to turn around when he sensed something and looked back to find someone standing at the door.

This man had thick eyebrows and big eyes, a thick beard, and his hair was loosely tied back. He wore a wide Taoist robe, a black belt around his waist, and a wine gourd and a sword hanging from his waist. He looked quite like Zhong Kui.

Upon closer inspection, Xu Yi realized that the person was holding his paper weapon, only it was stained with blood.

The man clasped his hands in greeting and spoke in a bold voice: "Fellow Daoist, it's such a pity that such a treasure is used to kill two Yakshas! My name is Yan Chixia, may I ask your name?"

Yan Chixia was originally the leader of the Xuanxin Sect, which was as famous as Shushan and Kunlun in the Great Zhou Dynasty. They were the three most prestigious immortal sects in the Great Zhou cultivation world.

He was traveling on a cloud when he happened to glimpse a place where magical energy flowed but there was no sign of life. He initially thought it was some kind of spiritual object.

Upon arriving, they discovered it was just two paper soldiers.

Although origami is considered an unorthodox art, this person has mastered it with such exquisite skill that the paper figures transform into golden armored soldiers upon landing. Such a technique can be called supernatural.

For a moment, the thought of making friends arose, which led to the scene before us.

"This humble Taoist priest is Xu Yi."

"You are not from the Great Zhou, are you?"

As the leader of the three great immortal mountains, Yan Chixia was definitely one of the most famous people in the cultivation world of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

An ordinary person would be surprised upon first meeting him, but this person's demeanor was too ordinary; surely he couldn't have never even heard of him before.

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Yan Chixia's mind.

A name never heard of before, skills bordering on supernatural, magic power concealed, making it impossible to discern the depth of one's cultivation.

Cultivators often reside in celestial mountains rich in spiritual energy, pursuing the elusive path to immortality.

Unless there are unresolved karmic debts or great opportunities, cultivators generally do not leave the mountain.

Yan Chixia's trip was due to an unresolved karmic debt from his predecessors, which concerned the perfection of his Daoist heart, forcing him to leave the mountain.

Thinking of this, Yan Chixia couldn't help but wonder, "Could this person also have some karmic connection here? If it's related to that old tree, perhaps we could go together. But I don't know what kind of person he is; I should test him..."

Xu Yi was taken aback for a moment, and Yan Chixia also realized his rudeness, and hurriedly added:

"Fellow Daoist Xu, I apologize for my abruptness. I simply did not know when the Great Zhou Dynasty produced someone like you?"

Xu Yi nodded and said, "I am indeed not a person of the Great Zhou. It's just that after waking up from a dream, this place is the Great Zhou."

When Yan Chixia heard these words, their meaning instantly changed.

The Great Zhou Dynasty has existed for eight hundred years since its founding by Emperor Gaozu. What kind of sleep could allow someone to sleep for eight hundred years? It must be a tortoise!

Reaching the state of "Five Qi Converging to the Origin" can indeed grant a lifespan of a thousand years, but this is only possible if one has not suffered any serious injuries.

Ordinary cultivators who condense their Qi can call themselves the Chaoyuan Realm, and can also be considered high-level immortals.

Not to mention the Five Qi Gathering Origin, whose lifespan is a thousand years; such figures are few and far between in the entire Great Zhou cultivation world.

He knew everyone by name, and the vast majority of them were in seclusion, pursuing the elusive realm of true immortality.

Although Yan Chixia did not believe what Xu Yi said, he could not see through Xu Yi's cultivation level.

He has cultivated for three hundred years and has already achieved the perfection of the three energies. If he resolves this karmic debt and obtains the opportunity, he may be able to advance to the next stage.

Thinking of this, Yan Chixia laughed heartily: "Fellow Daoist Xu, please don't tease me. However, meeting is fate, how about we have a drink together?"

As he spoke, Yan Chixia shook the wine flask at his waist, and Xu Yi glanced at it with interest.

Yan Chixia understood immediately and smiled, "This wine is the Spring Breeze Intoxication from Wude Prefecture. Although it comes from the mortal world, it has a unique flavor!"

As he spoke, Yan Chixia took off his wine pot and gestured for him to sit down in front of the incense table.

Unexpectedly, Xu Yi sat down directly on the ground.

Yan Chixia, being a man of strong character, simply sat down with Xu Yi.

Just as the two were about to start a conversation, a weak voice came from outside the door: "Gentlemen, please don't forget me, Ning!"

After Ning Chen had a bowl of blood drawn by Nie Xiaoqian, his steps became unsteady and his lips turned pale. Without any hesitation, he stepped in front of the two of them and sat down cross-legged.

"My name is Yan Chixia!"

"My name is Ning Chen!"

The two exchanged a smile and bowed to each other with clasped hands.

Moonlight streamed through the broken window into the hall, bathing the three people in a silvery glow.

Yan Chixia stretched out his sleeves and waved them in front of him. As if by magic, a wooden table appeared out of thin air in front of the three of them, with three brown-rimmed white porcelain bowls on it.

Ning Chen had seen some of the world and had some understanding of immortal techniques, so he didn't react much to this magic trick.

After Yan Chixia filled each porcelain bowl, he raised his own and declared boldly, "Let's drink together!"

Xu Yi brought the sip to his lips and tasted it. First, his tongue touched a slightly sweet taste, which was mixed with fruity acidity and then melted away in an instant.

When it enters the throat again, the wine is as warm and soft as spring water bathed in the warm sun, neither scalding nor harsh, but only carrying the mellowness of fermented glutinous rice, sliding down the throat and warming the heart all the way.

After finishing the bowl, Xu Yi couldn't help but exclaim, "Excellent wine!"

Even Ning Chen, who doesn't usually drink, unconsciously indulged in a few cups. However, this didn't seem to taste like the Spring Breeze Intoxication he remembered. With doubts in his heart, he asked Yan Chixia:

"Brother Yan, I've drunk this Spring Breeze Intoxication before, but why does it taste even sweeter today?"

Although it was Yan Chixia's first meeting with Ning Chen, he felt an instant connection with him, and therefore spoke freely about everything he knew.

"You don't know this, but my gourd grows in the extremely cold lands of the Tianshan Mountains. When it matures, it absorbs the full essence of heaven and earth. Anything put into my gourd will naturally acquire a sweetness!"

Ning Chen listened with admiration: "I wonder how many liters of water this gourd can hold?"

Yan Chixia replied, "If we really wanted to fill it up, the Yangchun River outside Wude Prefecture would probably be able to hold it all!"

Upon hearing this, Ning Chen's eyes widened in astonishment, his face filled with disbelief.

He knew all too well what the Yangchun River meant to the people of Wude Prefecture.

Fishing, drinking water, daily necessities, shipping and trade—it has sustained countless generations of people.

But in the hands of the immortal, it couldn't even fill the wine pot.

Immortals truly possess the power to seize the heavens and move mountains and fill seas!

For Ning Chen, what he had seen in the past few days was enough to fill half a lifetime, and to be able to drink with an immortal was an honor beyond measure.

Ning Chen sighed, "Only today do I realize how narrow-minded ordinary people truly are—like a frog in a well!"

He drank another cup, and then fell silent for a moment.

Yan Chixia smiled without saying a word. He observed that Ning Chen was a man of great talent and ambition, and that he would definitely achieve great things in his official career in the future.

Yan Chixia also became interested and started chatting with Ning Chen, the mortal scholar.

Whether it was because the two were getting along well or because of the vast difference in their social status, they started talking without any reservations.

Xu Yi listened from the side, occasionally asking Yan Chixia about his experiences in the cultivation world or the application of some techniques. Although he had been here for a long time, he still didn't know much about this world. He had finally met a cultivator, so he almost poured out all the questions he had been holding back.

From the north to the south, from the ghost realm to the immortal palace, Yan Chixia has cultivated for three hundred years, traversing the entire land of the Nine Provinces. Dynasties rise and fall, old friends die, elders pass away. As his cultivation level increases and time passes, there are fewer and fewer people around him to talk to. Today, he met Ning Chen and they actually had a lot of heart-to-heart talks.

Although Ning Chen was a scholar, he came from a family of scholars and was well-read. He could explain things about astronomy, geography, mountains and rivers.

As they chatted, Ning Chen, unable to hold his liquor, passed out.

This prompted Yan Chixia to burst into laughter: "Brother Xu, you don't know this, but my wine is infused with the spiritual energy of Tianshan Mountain, and it already possesses healing and restorative properties. When Brother Ning wakes up tomorrow, he will surely feel incredibly refreshed!"

"It's just that Brother Ning's destiny lies within the Great Zhou Dynasty, and he has no affinity for immortality. However, Brother Ning is an open-minded person and should be able to accept it."

Yan Chixia also felt a pang of regret. He had indeed made friends with mortals in the past, but the allure of immortality ultimately made him lose his mind. From then on, Yan Chixia warned himself that even if he had a pleasant conversation with a mortal, he would never seek them out again.

Most importantly, Yan Chixia gained a better understanding of Xu Yi. Although Xu Yi's magical power was unfathomable, he knew nothing about the current cultivation world. For a moment, he even began to believe what Xu Yi had said before.

......

After a few bowls of wine, Xu Yi felt a warmth in his stomach.

However, it was time to get down to business. The mother talisman that had been tracking him for miles in his sleeve reacted. After Xu Yi took it out, a green light flashed on the mother talisman.

Xu Yi smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Yan, do you know why that female ghost came looking for me just now?"

"I did see her once when I came, but I noticed that she had a pure aura about her, so she must have stayed in the mortal world for some reason."

Yan Chixia had no intention of meddling in other people's business. Unless he accidentally encountered the female ghost doing evil, he couldn't possibly manage all the injustices in the world.

"That's true, but there's more to the story."

Xu Yi then recounted Nie Xiaoqian's story to Yan Chixia.

Yan Chixia listened, his expression unreadable, but a hint of joy in his heart. The tree demon that had become a spirit was committing evil deeds, and it was near Wude Prefecture, so it must be a little demon under that old tree.

During his conversation with Xu Yi, Yan Chixia was convinced that although Xu Yi seemed indifferent to everything, he was actually very upright, always ready to help those in need, and truly had a chivalrous heart.

That old tree has a thousand years of cultivation, and it's quite troublesome for him to deal with it alone. If he could get Xu Yi to help him, things would definitely be much easier.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, we people value clear-headedness. Since we've encountered this matter, it means there's cause and effect involved. How about I accompany you on this journey?"

Xu Yi replied with a smile, "Of course, but if we leave without saying goodbye today, Brother Ning will inevitably gossip about us when he wakes up tomorrow. Since that's the case, we should leave something behind."

He had a pleasant conversation with Ning Chen earlier and admired his character, so Xu Yi considered him a friend.

As Xu Yi spoke, he took out a brush, ink, paper, inkstone, and two inkstone paperweights from his sleeve.

Xu Yi spread out the Xuan paper and placed the paperweights on the left and right corners, while Yan Chixia ground the ink and waited quietly by the side.

Once the Xuan paper was completely flat and without a single wrinkle, Xu Yi held a wolf-hair brush, dipped it in ink, and wielded the brush with the speed and grace of a flowing rainbow.

Before long, two lines of elegant poetry appeared on the paper.

Yan Chixia, standing to the side, was mesmerized, murmuring, "A floating duckweed returns to the vast sea; where can we not meet again..."

After reciting these two lines of poetry, Yan Chixia felt his mind become much clearer. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Fellow Daoist Xu, your literary talent is outstanding, and your writing is elegant and unrestrained. Even among cultivators, few possess such a state of mind!"

Xu Yi smiled without answering. After putting away his brush and ink, he led out the blue ox, leaped up, sat cross-legged with his back to the road, and called out to Yan Chixia:

"Fellow Daoist Yan, it's time to set off."