From Paper Craftsman to World-Suppressing Immortal

"I'm so worried."

As Zhang Zhixuan walked, he ate the hot steamed buns he had just bought. The buns smelled good, but he couldn't taste anything in them.

At this moment, his mind was not on the delicious food in front of him at all; all he could think about were the problems of survival ahead.

Just as Zhang Zhixuan's thoughts were wandering, suddenly, a broad and strong hand landed on Zhang Zhixuan's shoulder.

"Who?"

Zhang Zhixuan jolted, instinctively shrinking back to free himself from the large hand on his shoulder, then hurriedly jumped aside.

"Don't panic, layman. I mean no harm." A deep, resonant voice rang out, like a pestle striking a bronze bell, making Zhang Zhixuan's head spin. He looked in the direction of the voice and saw a huge figure standing a few steps away.

The figure standing there was like a wall blocking out a large portion of the sunlight, and the shadow it cast covered Zhang Zhixuan.

"What is that thing so big!"

Zhang Zhixuan stared in disbelief, scrutinizing the figure. The owner of the figure was at least two meters tall, with dark skin and a robust and imposing build. He wore an oversized gray Taoist robe that had been washed until it was almost white, with several patches on the robe and frayed edges on the cuffs. He carried a satchel on his back and also had a coarse cloth roll about four feet long, tied tightly at both ends with cowhide ropes.

Looking at the Taoist priest's appearance, he had thick eyebrows, big eyes, a square nose, and a wide mouth. He was as handsome as Zhong Kui and could infuriate Zhang Fei. Even demons and monsters would shake their heads at him. In particular, his tiger-like eyes were so piercing that they made the villains dare not look him in the eye.

Seeing this Taoist priest, who suddenly appeared like a door god, Zhang Zhixuan felt uneasy. He suppressed his emotions and asked with a smile, "What brings you here, sir?"

The Taoist priest didn't speak, but stared at Zhang Zhixuan with his tiger-like eyes, and then walked around Zhang Zhixuan a few times.

"Master Dao, what's wrong...?"

Zhang Zhixuan felt uneasy under his gaze. After a moment, the Taoist finally stopped and faced Zhang Zhixuan.

"Layman, may I have a word to say?"

"Please speak."

"You're going to be in trouble!"

"..."

Zhang Zhixuan was speechless. How could this person talk like that? If you can't speak properly, then don't open your mouth.

"Master Dao, you're joking. Judging from my attire, I can tell I come from a poor background. If I hadn't been so unlucky, I would have been born into a wealthy and powerful family long ago. If you have nothing else to say, I'll be going now. It's getting late, and I have to get on my way." Zhang Zhixuan chuckled, not wanting to waste any more time on the Daoist, and turned to leave.

The Taoist priest didn't pursue the matter, but instead added, "You are surrounded by black energy, which means you have obviously encountered something unclean. That thing has left a mark on you. If you don't remove it, you will face a great calamity in a few days to half a month at the latest."

Zhang Zhixuan's heart skipped a beat. This Taoist priest was clearly a highly accomplished cultivator. He was just worrying about what to do about the paper wife, and now the solution had come to him.

Zhang Zhixuan no longer feigned indifference, and his expression became more sincere: "Daoist Master, your cultivation is profound, and your wisdom is as sharp as a torch. You were right; I have indeed been bewitched..."

The Taoist priest gave a faint hum, then bowed and said, "I am Pei Shouzhen, a disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain. If you do not mind, you may tell me about your encounter with evil spirits."

"Since it's actually a master from the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain in person, I won't hide anything anymore."

At that moment, Zhang Zhixuan recounted the story of the paper bride to the Taoist priest in detail.

"The thing attached to the paper figure claimed to be a spirit born of nature. Before leaving, it told me to go to the dry well at Panlong Mountain Villa at 3:45 AM fifteen days later to tear off three yellow paper talismans to save its true form..."

Pei Shouzhen grew angrier as he listened, and finally let out a heavy snort, saying, "Demons and evil spirits dare to call themselves spirits? Layman, you must not believe them."

Zhang Zhixuan nodded: "Although that thing promised me endless gold and silver treasures, I still need to be alive to spend them. I know my life is more important, so I won't fall for its tricks."

After saying that, Zhang Zhixuan's tone changed, and his face was filled with worry and helplessness again. He said, "However, as you can see, it has used some tricks on me. I'm just an ordinary person making a living by paper offerings. It's good enough that I'm alive. How can I deal with evil spirits? You are kind and compassionate, Taoist priest. You must help me!"

"Rest assured, layman. Since I have come across this matter, there is no reason for me to ignore it."

Pei Shouzhen took out a yellow talisman folded into a triangle from his bosom and handed it to Zhang Zhixuan: "I give this Golden Light Evil-Repelling Talisman to you, layman. Carry it with you day and night. If any evil spirits dare to come after you again, this Golden Light Evil-Repelling Talisman will protect you."

Zhang Zhixuan thought to himself: This Taoist priest is tall and strong, but his heart is pure and simple. He just played the victim and the priest gave him the money.

Zhang Zhixuan took the yellow talisman and examined it in his palm. The talisman looked ordinary, and he didn't know if it was really reliable, but he still carefully put it away.

"Thank you, Daoist Master," Zhang Zhixuan said.

"Layman, there's no need for such formalities."

"Recently, many strange and bizarre disappearances have occurred in Tianjin. I was commissioned by the Tianjin government to search and investigate everywhere. Many clues point to Panlong Mountain. Those missing persons may be the same evil spirit you encountered. If that evil spirit comes looking for you again, you can go to the Tianhou Temple in the southeast corner of Tianjin to find me."

"Another thing you should know is that this golden light talisman is only a temporary measure. If you want to solve the problem once and for all, you still need to solve the problem of the evil spirit."

Zhang Zhixuan nodded knowingly: "I understand. If that thing comes after me again, I will definitely inform the Chief immediately."

"Alright, take care, layman. I'll take my leave now."

Zhang Zhixuan bowed in thanks and watched Pei Shouzhen leave.

The enormous figure walked further and further away in a few breaths and soon disappeared.

After hearing Pei Shouzhen's warning, Zhang Zhixuan naturally knew that the situation here was not so easy to resolve.

"The Celestial Master's Mansion on Longhu Mountain is the orthodox lineage of the Xuanmen. If I could become a disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion, I could not only activate my position as a Taoist priest of all trades and learn skills, but I would also be provided with food and lodging. Most importantly, there must be many experts guarding the Celestial Master's Mansion, so I would be safe and sound. Not bad, not bad..." Zhang Zhixuan thought to himself and strode away.

Zhang Zhixuan boarded the mule cart driven by the driver, and after a bumpy ride of most of the day, they finally arrived at Wuliu Town as dusk approached.

Exhausted, Zhang Zhixuan returned to his dilapidated old house. As soon as he reached the gate of the courtyard, he realized something was wrong.

"Why was the courtyard gate kicked down? Was there a thief?"

Zhang Zhixuan frowned, his heart clenching. He didn't plan to go in now. The dilapidated old house didn't have anything valuable, so even if a thief broke in, he wasn't afraid of losing anything. But if he ran into the thief, given his current physical condition...

Just as Zhang Zhixuan was about to slip away quietly, a sleazy voice suddenly came from inside the courtyard: "Zhang Zhixuan, we're waiting for you, you think you can just run away?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a short, stocky man in his forties walked out of the courtyard.

At the same time, three thugs carrying sticks emerged from the dimly lit corner and surrounded Zhang Zhixuan with hostile expressions.

Upon seeing their faces clearly, Zhang Zhixuan inwardly felt a sense of foreboding. The sins committed by his predecessor were indeed not so easily forgiven.

"Well, the money I just got in my hands hasn't even warmed up yet, and the creditors are already at the door."

Zhang Zhixuan tried his best to keep his voice steady and smiled as he said, "Third Master Liu, what brings you here?"

"Stop talking nonsense, where's the money?" Liu San walked up to Zhang Zhixuan and poked his chest with his index finger.

"Thirty silver dollars, today with interest, not a penny less."

"Thirty...thirty yuan..." Zhang Zhixuan cursed his predecessor, that spendthrift wretch, in his mind.

"What, you can't come up with the money?"

A fierce look flashed across Liu San's face: "Break one of his legs first!"