Both start in hell: but their talents are multiplied a hundredfold.

Yan Chixia stood on the ruins, still holding the broadsword in his hand.

Seeing the fate of the tree demon, he felt an indescribable sense of pleasure, yet also a faint sense of fear.

After all, not every cultivator can accept the actions of Shen Jue and his subordinates.

Yan Chixia was willing to risk his life to accompany them in slaying demons and monsters, but he would only do so in a manner similar to the four Arhats.

Yan Chixia could never do that.

Despite his full beard and robust physique, Yan Chixia did not have the same homosexual tendencies as Jin Tou Si.

Yan Chixia had long seen through the illusions of the world and was naturally indifferent to romantic love between men and women.

Ning Caichen's reaction was even more direct. His legs went weak, and he sat down on the ground with a thud, his face as white as a sheet of paper.

He raised his finger tremblingly, pointing to the pile of ashes, then to the four shirtless, honest-looking Arhats. His lips trembled for a long time before he finally managed to utter a sentence.

"Why did it have to come to this..."

"Did those masters really use that method?"

The four golden-headed Arhats turned their heads and smiled in agreement.

"Of course," the monks said, "we will obey the abbot's orders."

Ning Caichen remained silent, unsure of what to say for a moment.

Instead, he recalled the beautiful female ghost he had once seen, whom Shen Jue had taken into his sleeve.

"Hahaha!"

Shen Jue then burst into laughter three times.

He was overjoyed to see that the tree demon had died without a burial place.

After laughing, he suddenly flicked his sleeve.

The cuffs, which were originally no wider than those of an ordinary monk's robe, suddenly billowed out with a wave, creating a whirlwind like a whale sucking in water.

Yan Chixia and Ning Caichen felt their feet lighten and a golden light flash before their eyes. When they came to their senses, they were already sitting steadily on the wide, almost extravagant Buddhist palanquin.

Ning Caichen slumped onto the prayer mat, first looking around blankly, then suddenly remembering everything that had just happened.

The enormous demon tree, the golden cocoon of light, the four shirtless, honest-looking Arhats—just thinking about his own handsome face made his face turn pale again.

"M-Master, where are we going?" Ning Caichen asked, forcing himself to speak.

Shen Jue leaned against the center of the Buddhist carriage, crossed his legs, and propped his cheek with his hand. When he heard Ning Caichen's question, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"The world is in chaos now, corrupt officials are everywhere, demons and evil spirits run rampant, the human world is almost a hell, and the gods of the underworld no longer exist."

"The so-called underworld is just a paradise for ghosts and demons."

Shen Jue paused, gazing at the dark horizon in the distance.

"I wish to cleanse the world of evil spirits and demons, and restore a bright and clear world to the world."

"Please, both of you," Shen Jue turned his head, his gaze sweeping from Yan Chixia to Ning Caichen, his smile now showing a touch of sincerity.

"Give me a hand."

Yan Chixia remained silent for a moment.

He was a man who had long since seen through the vanities of the world; human love, fame, fortune, and power were all like fleeting clouds in his eyes.

He spent half his life slaying demons and monsters, relying on his righteous spirit and the Xuanyuan Divine Sword in his hand.

He doesn't belong to any sect or rely on any power; he's used to being a loner.

But now, sitting in this Buddhist palanquin, looking at the young abbot in front of him, he suddenly felt that perhaps this was the variable he had been waiting for.

"I, Yan, cultivate both Buddhism and Taoism, and have dedicated my life to slaying demons and monsters." Yan Chixia placed the Xuanyuan Divine Sword across his lap, his voice hoarse yet resolute.

"He neither worships gods nor enters the imperial court."

Shen Jue smiled slightly, but did not answer. He just looked at him and the Xuanyuan Divine Sword on his lap, waiting for him to continue.

"But you monk." Yan Chixia grinned, revealing a rough and bold smile hidden in his thick beard.

"Although the method of slaying demons is a bit unorthodox, at least it's slaying demons and eliminating evil."

"I, Yan, will go with you."

Shen Jue nodded, not surprised by the answer, and then turned to look at Ning Caichen.

Ning Caichen had recovered somewhat from the shock he had just experienced.

He took a deep breath, sat up straight, and although his face was still a little pale, his eyes had regained the clarity that a scholar should have.

"I am but a mere scholar, utterly powerless," Ning Caichen said with a wry smile.

"Even fierce ghosts are afraid, let alone demons and monsters."

"Abbot Shen wants to cleanse the world of evil spirits, but I'm afraid I can't be of much help."

"Scholars have their uses," Shen Jue said dismissively, waving his hand.

"Besides, the martial arts skills I've given you are enough for you to stand on your own." He gave Ning Caichen a meaningful look.

"If you join us, how about I make those female ghosts your playthings?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Caichen involuntarily pictured a delicate and beautiful face.

He opened his mouth, wanting to ask a question, but didn't know where to begin, and then nodded as if possessed.

Shen Jue saw through his thoughts but didn't point them out. She just smiled and turned her gaze back to the outside of the Buddha carriage.

"Let's set off," he said calmly, "back to Jinshan Temple."

As soon as he finished speaking, golden light suddenly shone around the Buddha's carriage.

The eighteen Arhats shouted in unison, their inner strength surging.

They simultaneously lifted the Buddha's palanquin, took a step in the air, and their entire bodies, along with the palanquin, rose slowly into the air.

Ning Caichen subconsciously gripped the edge of the prayer mat.

He had never ridden any flying magical artifact, let alone been carried by eighteen monks into the sky.

However, to his surprise, the process of the chariot ascending into the air was extremely smooth, without even the slightest jolt.

If it weren't for the ground outside the window shrinking rapidly, he would hardly feel himself rising.

Yan Chixia was amazed by the unknown energy within the eighteen monks.

That thing wasn't true qi, but it far surpassed the true qi of a martial artist.

If he were to fight these great monks solely as a martial arts practitioner, he would likely be crushed into dust in an instant.

Of course, his magical powers and supernatural abilities, cultivated through practice, are another matter entirely.

Looking up from the ground, one can see a magnificent golden light slowly moving from the northwest to the southeast.

The golden light moved extremely fast, yet it gave people a solemn, dignified, and unhurried feeling.

"Master," Yan Chixia suddenly spoke.

"The tree demon kept calling out the name of the Black Mountain Demon before it died."

"That Black Mountain Demon is the lord of the City of the Wrongfully Dead, one of the oldest and most powerful ghost kings in the underworld."

"Now that you have severed its ally in the human world, it will probably not let this go."

Upon hearing this, Shen Jue tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest twice, a cryptic smile appearing on his face.

"Black Mountain Demon." He murmured the name, as if savoring a dish yet to be served.

"I originally thought that making such a big commotion would at least elicit some kind of reaction from it."

His tone betrayed an undisguised disappointment.

"What a pity," Shen Jue shook his head, "that old monster has probably lost his mind."

That's how it survived.

Yan Chixia frowned: "That Black Mountain Ghost King is one of the most powerful ghost kings in the human world and the underworld."

"The reason why I didn't kill that thousand-year-old tree demon before was firstly because the tree demon's vitality was too strong. Its roots spread for hundreds of miles, and it was impossible to grasp its soul, making it extremely difficult to kill."

"Secondly, I am naturally worried about the Black Mountain Demon King behind this tree demon."

"It doesn't matter." Shen Jue chuckled, his laughter carrying a composure that Yan Chixia couldn't decipher.

"I will take action."