The game comes true, starting with the wandering spirits and gods.

Dao Ye was a shrewd man. Seeing Zhang Wenhao's behavior, he understood and knew he couldn't stop him.

"Is the local earth god going to establish his authority and spread the worship of the gods in this city?"

That's his guess.

For a land god, expanding their territory is of paramount importance.

The Taoist priest wasn't annoyed. He paced around the room for a couple of steps with his hands behind his back, then suddenly pulled a copper coin from his sleeve and handed it over.

"Since the Earth God insists on this, I will naturally not stop him. But you can keep this; you might find it useful."

Zhang Wenhao looked down.

It was a round copper coin with a square hole, larger than ordinary coins, and completely black in color, feeling cold to the touch.

The coins have no reign mark or decorations, only tiny characters as thin as mosquito legs.

"Life money?"

"This life-saving coin," the Taoist priest lowered his voice, "was extracted from the body of a dying man. If you carry it with you, it will conceal your unusual destiny and prevent evil spirits from noticing."

Zhang Wenhao reached out and took it.

[Ding! You have picked up a "special life-saving coin"]

[Quality: Spiritual Item]

[Effect: Conceals the holder's true destiny aura, transforming it into the original owner's destiny before death. This particular coin belonged to the "poor fisherman" type.]

[Introduction: This man was originally a fisherman who cast his nets to catch fish every day and exchange them for rice to support his family. His wife disliked his poverty and remarried, taking their daughter with her. He then stopped talking to people, fishing at sunrise and selling wine at sunset. When drunk, he would lie on the bow of his boat, gazing blankly at the starry river and the moon.]

Three years ago, in the winter, the Taoist priest took pity on him and converted him, refining this life-saving coin.

Zhang Wenhao put the life-saving money into his pocket and silently called the control panel in his mind.

In the section on one's destiny, the original "Land God of Fortune and Virtue" disappeared, replaced by four words: "Poor and Humble Fisherman".

After reading it, Zhang Wenhao nodded and looked up at the Taoist priest: "Thank you."

The Taoist priest waved his hand and then took out a tortoise shell from his sleeve.

"This journey is fraught with peril. Let me cast a divination for you."

Can you even tell fortunes?

Zhang Wenhao watched as he skillfully set up the formation, and the tortoise shell moved immediately, and he couldn't help but marvel inwardly.

I had to choose among the four deities, and finally I chose the Ancient God of the Green Lamp.

He was granted godhood right from the start, how impressive!

However, aside from its impressive stats, its methods are quite limited.

The Taoist priest in front of us has a variety of tricks up his sleeve: fortune telling, paper folding, and refining life-saving coins.

I'm a little envious; it would be great if I could choose more different life paths.

It is said that weasels bring wealth, and it seems they have the power to steal the lives of others.

Like the scholar who had his life fragments stolen.

If only we could obtain this Taoist priest's fate...

He felt a surge of excitement just from starting out.

Soon, some incomprehensible symbols appeared within the formation.

The Taoist priest looked down at the divination results, his brows furrowing slightly. "A fragrant brothel is auspicious, an evil dwelling is inauspicious."

Two floating lines appeared within the formation.

A single crimson streak indicates an inauspicious omen, while a single golden streak indicates an auspicious omen.

Zhang Wenhao focused his mind, opened his vertical pupils again, and looked in the direction of the golden line.

It landed on the busiest street in the East Market, a lively place with people coming and going and a constant stream of vehicles.

In this most bustling part of the East Market, red lanterns hung high, and a golden signboard above the door read "Xianglou".

Fragrant Pavilion?

Zhang Wenhao frowned. Through his vertical pupils, he saw countless red spots, like wildly growing moss, covering the once-prosperous brothel.

He turned his gaze away and looked at Wei Hongyao: "What kind of place is Xianglou?"

Of all the people here, she is the one most familiar with the provincial capital.

Wei Hongyao was taken aback, not expecting to be asked about herself.

She organized her thoughts before speaking hesitantly:

"Reporting to the Earth God... Xianglou is the most prosperous restaurant in the provincial capital."

"The powerful and wealthy go there to listen to music and drink... I heard from a maid in the Huo family mansion that the girls there were all forcibly taken away. Huo Changmao likes to go there with his cronies to have fun."

A place for listening to music in a brothel?

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wenhao understood somewhat.

"Singing and dancing, indulging in pleasure." The Taoist priest stood to the side, stroking his long beard. "It seems that Chi Xiang has already used this building to hold all the powerful and wealthy in the palm of his hand."

Zhang Wenhao didn't say anything, but he had already started making plans in his mind.

Those powerful and influential people, like their fathers, were likely infected with evil parasites.

If the divination performed by the Taoist priest is correct, then there shouldn't be any powerful individuals involved.

He can't touch that corrupt group in the provincial capital for the time being, but he might be able to take action against one or two powerful figures who are being parasitized.

Just go...

......

Xianglou, the eastern part of the provincial capital.

As dusk settled, the red lanterns began to glow.

The three-story building was brightly lit, and the sounds of string and wind instruments wafted out, mingling with the aromas of wine and cosmetics, permeating the entire street.

One carriage after another arrived in front of the gate, and most of the passengers were young men in fine clothes. Some were fanning themselves with folding fans, while others were with Fenfang in their arms, laughing and joking as they walked inside.

On the third floor, there is a private room.

Huo Changmao reclined on the soft couch, with the eight-immortal table in front of him laden with wine and dishes.

He picked up his wine glass, drank it all in one gulp, and then slammed it down, already somewhat drunk and agitated.

"Young Master... Master said that you are not allowed to go out without permission until that little girl is nowhere to be found."

The servant standing to the side was trembling with fear, beads of sweat on his forehead. "If we continue like this... we're afraid we'll inevitably be punished."

He had no choice, but if he were to be blamed, what punishment could this precious young master possibly suffer? At most, he would receive a verbal reprimand and be confined for two days.

But as an accomplice, I'm afraid I'll never have a good life again.

Huo Changmao glanced at him sideways and sneered:

"Look at you, so pathetic."

"Within this provincial capital, who doesn't know that Xianglou is under the name of the Crimson Fragrance Sect? Aren't all those masked freaks more powerful than that little girl?"

He paused, poured himself another glass of wine, and said with a hint of resentment, "I didn't manage to take this concubine, but my bad reputation has spread."

"Which of the other young masters doesn't secretly mock and ridicule me? What's wrong with me going out for a drink?"

The servant opened his mouth, but dared not offer any further advice.

The curtain was lifted, and a woman carrying a wine pot walked in.

Her face was lightly made up, and there was a hint of a smile in her eyes.

She walked to Huo Changmao's side, bent down to pour him wine, and gently comforted him, "Young Master Huo, don't be angry."

The voice was soft and sweet, as if it were coated with honey.

"Come to Xianglou for fun, who cares about the gossip outside? Just drink, we'll take care of the rest."

The woman's lips curled slightly upward as she took a step back and stood with her hands at her sides.

In the dim candlelight, a very faint dark red glint flashed in her eyes, and a clump-like substance quietly flowed into the wine glass.

Huo Changmao was very pleased and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.

"Young master, let me massage your body..."

Before the woman could finish speaking, the entire room suddenly fell silent.

Everyone's movements froze for a moment.