From Paper Craftsman to World-Suppressing Immortal

Zhang Zhixuan used a talisman sword to slay the evil spirits of the East, quelling a disaster that nearly caused lives to be lost.

The evil spirit vanished into thin air, and Zhang Zhixuan also withdrew his Demon-Slaying Sword Intent. The golden sword vanished instantly, and the talisman lost its power, turning into ashes.

At this moment, the entire Zhao residence was deathly silent. Everyone stared at Zhang Zhixuan in disbelief, as if they were seeing him for the first time.

Master Zhao stared, mouth agape, before finally managing to squeeze out a sentence in disbelief: "Zhixuan, how did you acquire this skill...?"

"It's a long story. I recently met a master from the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain. He said I was born with a Daoist bone and had extraordinary talent, so he taught me a whole set of skills," Zhang Zhixuan said casually. Master Zhao was half-believing and half-doubting, but when he recalled the miraculous strike just now, he couldn't help but admire him repeatedly.

Zhang Zhixuan stepped forward, checked Shen Weiyong's breath, and turned to Zhao Erye, saying, "Uncle, he's fine. He just fainted because his yang energy was too depleted. We'll find a doctor to treat him later."

Master Zhao finally came to his senses and hurriedly told the terrified servants to quickly fetch a doctor. Then he carried Shen Weiyong to the bed.

In the courtyard, Zhao Qingzhi sat slumped on the ground, tears streaming down her face. She felt as if all her strength had been drained away. Shen Weiyong had gone to great lengths to obtain this amulet from the Asakusa Shrine, which he had always treasured. She herself had once considered asking for one, but ultimately failed to get it. In the end, however, every cloud has a silver lining.

Zhao Qingzhi was now filled with endless fear and relief. She looked up at Zhang Zhixuan's back. All her previous arrogance, prejudice, and self-righteousness shattered completely at this moment, leaving only overwhelming guilt and regret.

She staggered to her feet, walked step by step to Zhang Zhixuan, bowed deeply, her voice choked with sobs, yet each word was clear: "Cousin, I'm sorry, I was wrong. I apologize for what I said before."

Zhang Zhixuan glanced at her indifferently, his tone calm: "I accept your apology, but let me tell you, I didn't take action for you, much less for Shen Weiyong. I only did it for my uncle's sake, not wanting that idiot Shen Weiyong to die at the Zhao residence and get my uncle into legal trouble."

Zhao Qingzhi's pretty face instantly turned bright red. She lowered her head even further, her fingertips clenched until they turned white. After a long silence, she nodded heavily and said, "I understand, cousin."

Wang stepped forward to support her daughter, looked at Zhang Zhixuan with a complicated expression, and finally left with Zhao Qingzhi.

The people in the courtyard gradually dispersed, leaving only Lin Shuyao standing there like a wooden stake, her eyes wide open, staring unblinkingly at Zhang Zhixuan.

"Lin Shuyao, I've already slain that Japanese demon. There won't be any more problems. Aren't you going back to sleep?"

Before Zhang Zhixuan could finish speaking, Lin Shuyao ran a few steps towards him, then suddenly slid down to her knees in front of him, shouting in a loud voice, "Master! Please take me as your disciple! I've long seen that you have real skills! If you take me as your disciple, I'll do anything—chop wood, start a fire, serve tea and water, I'm willing to do anything!"

Zhang Zhixuan was completely taken aback by her sudden sliding kneeling and quickly reached out to pull her up: "I don't take disciples, you should get up now!"

"If you don't accept me as your disciple, I won't get up!" Lin Shuyao said stubbornly, her face resolute. Zhang Zhixuan's display of using paper puppets to destroy evil with a single strike had completely impressed her, and she had thrown all her pride to the winds.

Lin Shuyao shook her head and acted spoiled, repeatedly shouting, "I don't care, I want to learn this!"

Unable to resist her persistent pestering, Zhang Zhixuan had no choice but to relent: "We'll talk about becoming her apprentice later. Get up now."

Upon hearing that there was hope, Lin Shuyao's face lit up with a smile, and she quickly stood up: "Thank you, Master! When will you teach me your skills?"

"No, when did I agree to be your master?" Zhang Zhixuan was speechless.

"Alright, it's late, go back to sleep. I'm sleepy too, I need to rest." Zhang Zhixuan said, pretending to yawn as he walked towards his room. Seeing that Lin Shuyao wasn't following him like a shadow, he finally felt relieved.

In the dead of night, such an incident occurred at the Zhao residence, and almost everyone was wide awake, including Zhang Zhixuan. He was tossing and turning in bed, completely unable to fall asleep.

Zhang Zhixuan sat up, turned on the light, and planned to pour himself a glass of water.

Just then, Zhao Erye's voice rang out from outside the door: "Zhixuan, still not asleep?"

Zhang Zhixuan was startled by the sound, then looked outside: "Uncle, I'm not asleep yet."

Upon opening the door, Zhao Erye was standing outside, looking exhausted.

Seeing this, Zhang Zhixuan wanted to invite Master Zhao into the house, but Master Zhao waved his hand and said, "Hey, I'm getting old, and I'm prone to insomnia when I have things to do at night. Also, Uncle has to thank you, I'm so grateful to you today."

"Oh, don't be so polite."

Master Zhao paused for a moment, then chuckled, "Since I can't sleep anyway, how about I take you to the ghost market tonight? Want to come?"

"Of course I'll go." Zhang Zhixuan's eyes lit up. He had been wanting to visit that ghost market to broaden his horizons, and he didn't expect to find a guide so soon.

"Me too! Me too!" As soon as the two finished speaking, Lin Shuyao suddenly jumped out from the flower bushes next to them, raising her hand with an excited look on her face, as if afraid that the two would not take her along.

Zhang Zhixuan was taken aback: "Lin Shuyao, didn't I tell you to go back to sleep? What are you doing hiding in the flower bushes and squatting at my door in the middle of the night?!"

Master Zhao looked equally surprised: "You little girl, go back to sleep. What kind of place is the Ghost Market? It's a gathering place for all sorts of people. It's not appropriate for a young girl like you to go there in the middle of the night."

"What's inappropriate about it!"

Lin Shuyao, her face full of defiance, retorted, "Anyway, you have to hide your face in the ghost market. If I dress up a little, who can tell I'm a woman!"

"Oh ho ho, I didn't realize that a young lady like you would know the rules of the Ghost Market?" Master Zhao said in surprise.

Lin Shuyao raised her chin, her face full of pride: "To be honest, my grandfather is a renowned antique master in Beijing. Our family has antique shops all over the country, some as a hobby. I've been going to all sorts of ghost markets with my grandfather since I was eight years old. What haven't I seen? Don't worry, I know the rules of the ghost market like the back of my hand, and I definitely won't cause you any trouble! Besides, with my master here, what kind of monsters and demons can get close to me?"

As she spoke, she moved closer to Zhang Zhixuan, tugged at his sleeve, and pleaded with her large eyes, "Master, please take me! I know antiques, I can help you appraise them, and I can even help you bargain. It'll definitely be useful!"

Unable to resist her persistent pestering, and seeing that she indeed seemed knowledgeable, Zhang Zhixuan said to Master Zhao, "Uncle, how about we take her along?"

Master Zhao sighed helplessly, "Alright, since Zhixuan has agreed, then let's take her along."

"However, I should warn you beforehand that the ghost market in Wuliu Town may be a little different from ghost markets in other places. You'd better be prepared and be sure to follow the rules when you get there."

After saying this, Master Zhao led the two to his study and took out the masks he had prepared in advance.

Master Zhao wore a Guan Gong mask, Zhang Zhixuan wore a Sun Wukong mask, and when it came to Lin Shuyao, all that was left was an ugly Pigsy mask and a fierce Zhong Kui mask.

Unfortunately, Lin Shuyao refused to wear the Pigsy and Zhong Kui masks, so Zhang Zhixuan had to give her his Monkey King mask and take the Zhong Kui mask for himself.

"The most important rule of the Ghost Market is that you must not reveal your true face or name. Everyone who enters the Ghost Market must wear a mask. The reason for this is simply that the goods in the Ghost Market come from all sorts of places, and you need to hide your identity to avoid trouble in the future. Also, it is an old rule of the Ghost Market that you only look at the goods, not the people. Everyone is equal." Master Zhao instructed the two.

Lin Shuyao put on the Sun Wukong mask, giggled a few times, and added, "There's one more rule: look at the goods but don't snatch them, bargain but don't back out, once you've bought it, there are no refunds, Uncle Zhao, right?"

Master Zhao laughed heartily: "You silly girl, there is such a thing..."

Zhang Zhixuan raised an eyebrow, looking at the girl with newfound respect.

The three of them changed into inconspicuous coarse cloth clothes, put on masks, and slipped out of the side gate of the Zhao residence before dawn.

The entrance to the ghost market in Wuliu Town was hidden in an inconspicuous old alley. When the three of them arrived at the alley entrance, it was exactly midnight.

Two ghastly red sheepskin lanterns hung at the entrance of the old alley. Upon arrival, one could see many people wearing various masks walking inside. No one spoke, only the sound of footsteps filled the air, creating an eerie, mysterious, and oppressive atmosphere.

At the entrance of the old alley, two burly men stood guard, one wearing a bull's head mask and the other a horse's head mask. Upon seeing the three, the bull-headed man stretched out his hand and made a gesture.

Old Master Zhao knew the way well. He took out twelve copper coins from his pocket and handed them over. The man nodded and stepped aside to make way for him.

The three of them walked into the narrow old alley and walked a little further before they finally saw rows of pale red lanterns floating in front of them, with a tall archway standing in the middle of the lanterns.

Zhang Zhixuan stopped and looked up from under the archway. He saw three large characters on the archway: "Gate of Hell".