The Condor Heroes: The Quanzhen Sect has produced a vengeful master!

"This...can this really work?" Zhu Ziliu asked, his face full of doubt.

Wang Jiuling gestured towards the room: "If they don't cooperate, where do we even begin our investigation? Let's give it a try."

The two returned inside. The village chief wanted to continue persuading them to leave, but Zhu Ziliu smiled and said:

"Village chief, this time it's not me helping you, it's this Taoist priest."

As he spoke, he pulled Wang Jiuling over.

The village chief looked Wang Jiuling up and down. Although he felt that Wang Jiuling had an extraordinary demeanor, he still did not believe it.

Wang Jiuling cupped his hands and said, "Village Chief, I am a Taoist priest of the Quanzhen School of Zhongnan Mountain. I have come down the mountain this time to subdue demons and monsters."

"This humble Taoist priest has some knowledge of Taoist arts and knows a little about exorcising ghosts."

Zhu Ziliu chimed in, "My previous investigation yielded no results, and I know that the evil spirit is beyond my power to defeat, which is why I invited this Taoist priest."

After hesitating for a long time, the village chief finally agreed to let Wang Jiuling give it a try.

Soon, the news spread, and the villagers gathered under the big tree, eager to see the young Taoist's skills.

A table and chairs were set up under the tree, with water on the table. Wang Jiuling sat upright at the table, his Taoist robe fluttering, his expression calm and composed.

Zhu Ziliu stood aside, his heart pounding.

Seeing the disbelieving looks from the surrounding villagers, the village chief had no choice but to bite the bullet and ask if they could begin.

Wang Jiuling nodded, got up and walked to the center of the open space, where a piece of lightning-struck wood was placed, which he had found in the village.

Wang Jiuling drew his sword, pointed it at the lightning-struck wood, and said in a deep voice: "I have been traveling here and have seen black mist lingering over Li Family Village. There must be some evil spirits here!"

Look at this tree struck by lightning. Lightning is a warning from heaven. When this tree was struck by lightning, it was heaven's will reminding you! Did you take it seriously?

The village chief shook his head, and the villagers looked at each other in bewilderment.

Wang Jiuling then asked, "Is this place often plagued by drought?"

The villagers nodded in agreement, and someone shouted, "Yes! There was a drought last year!"

Wang Jiuling snorted coldly, pointing at the lightning-struck wood:

"A monstrous evil spirit is lurking, causing chaos and misfortune! Today, I, a humble Taoist priest, beseech a celestial being to descend to earth, possess Mr. Zhu, and exorcise this evil spirit!"

He looked at Zhu Ziliu, and the two exchanged a glance; this was something they had planned long ago.

Wang Jiuling stepped forward with his feet in a serpentine stance, pointed his sword at the heavens, and chanted incantations.

Zhu Ziliu closed his eyes and concentrated, his whole body trembled, and when he opened his eyes again, his gaze had become stern and unapproachable.

"I am Erlang Xiansheng Zhenjun," Zhu Ziliu said in a low voice, enunciating each word clearly.

He slowly walked towards the lightning-struck wood, raised his hand and touched his brow: "Heavenly Eye, open!"

Just as everyone's attention was drawn to Zhu Ziliu, Wang Jiuling twitched his fingertips, and several pebbles shot out silently, imbued with innate true energy, as fast as lightning.

Crack!

The lightning-struck wood cracked open, sending splinters flying and startling the surrounding villagers who retreated.

Wang Jiuling leaped into the air, unleashing his Golden Goose Skill, his figure soaring into the sky like a roc, his robes fluttering in the wind.

One villager looked up in astonishment and exclaimed, "They're truly divine beings!"

Taking advantage of everyone's attention being drawn, Zhu Ziliu flicked his sleeve, and the chicken blood hidden in his sleeve was sprinkled on the wood, the bloody red color was glaring.

At this moment, Wang Jiuling landed gracefully, his sword tip pointing to the ground, and proclaimed loudly, "The demon has been vanquished, the True Lord has returned to heaven!"

He then turned around, picked up a bowl of water, and sprinkled the water on Zhu Ziliu.

Zhu Ziliu closed his eyes and swayed for a moment. When he opened them again, his gaze returned to normal, and he spoke with feigned confusion:

"What...what just happened?"

Wang Jiuling pointed to the mess of lightning-struck wood scattered all over the ground: "Erlang Zhenjun has already taken action to eliminate the evil spirits."

Look, everyone! There's blood on the wood; the demon is dead.

The villagers were completely bewildered by this whole thing, and then they looked at the lightning-struck wood again.

There really was blood!

At this point, the village chief took the lead in kneeling down, and the villagers all prostrated themselves on the ground.

"The Taoist priest is an immortal! He really is an immortal!!"

Please save our Li Family Village!

Wang Jiuling sheathed his sword, stood proudly, exuding an air of superiority, and looked at the village chief.

"Now, does the village chief trust me?"

The village chief was terrified by what he had just witnessed, so how could he possibly say no now?

"I believe! Of course I believe! The Taoist priest is truly a deity descended to earth!!"

Wang Jiuling nodded slightly.

"The evil spirits have been vanquished, but the malevolent ghosts remain!"

"Village chief, you should tell me about that evil spirit as soon as possible!"

The village chief nodded hastily. "Alright, alright! Even if it were a deity instructing us, we would obey!"

Now, the villagers' attitude towards Wang Jiuling was completely different. Everyone immediately went to prepare a banquet, and the village chief happily led the way.

On the way, Zhu Ziliu couldn't help but sigh and smile bitterly.

"I've visited several villages these past few days, and they're all very secretive about it because they're afraid of the evil spirits' revenge. I never expected them to cooperate so readily with your method..."

"They only believe in ghosts and gods. I just kept explaining, but they naturally wouldn't listen!"

The Taoist priest, however, uses the concept of ghosts and spirits to his advantage; I am no match for him!

Zhu Ziliu was filled with admiration after figuring out the key to Wang Jiuling's move.

At that moment, he actually bowed to Wang Jiuling with his hands clasped together.

"As the sage said, 'When three people walk together, one of them will be my teacher!' Master Wang is so wise, kind yet not pedantic! He can be my teacher!"

Wang Jiuling quickly helped him up. "Senior, there's no need for such formality! How could I possibly accept such an honor?"

At the same time, I admire that although Zhu Ziliu had the pride of a scholar, he was also broad-minded, humble and eager to learn.

The two were surrounded by villagers and had a meal before returning to the village chief's house.

After witnessing Wang Jiuling's ability to slay demons, the village chief finally stopped hiding the truth and told the two about the evil spirit.

"I don't know which deity they offended, but that evil spirit suddenly appeared and keeps snatching young women away!"

"First it was our village, then the neighboring Niujia Village, and after that, several other villages!"

Even the village chief shed tears.

"..."

"So we consulted the officials and paid respects to our ancestors, but we were truly at our wits' end!"

"Offering sacrifices to the river god today is our last resort!"

Zhu Ziliu frowned.

"Village chief, has anyone seen that evil spirit?"

Upon hearing this, the village chief immediately said in fear:

"Seen it! Of course someone has seen it! They have blue faces and fangs, and are completely black. They move like the wind; you can't catch them at all!"

"When will they all arrive?" Wang Jiuling asked.

The village chief thought for a moment. "They'll come every month! Sometimes it's not fixed, but they'll definitely come on the 15th of every month!"

Wang Jiuling and Zhu Ziliu exchanged a glance.

Isn't the day after tomorrow the fifteenth of this month?

Wang Jiuling narrowed his eyes, and began to make a plan in his mind.

Zhu Ziliu suggested, "So, the evil spirit will come the day after tomorrow? We can ambush it in advance."

Wang Jiuling shook his head, showing no expectation.

"But the village is so big, even if that evil spirit comes, we don't know where to ambush it."

At this moment, Wang Jiuling and Zhu Ziliu exchanged a glance, both seeing a solemn expression in each other's eyes.

This matter is not simple.

If this evil spirit is an outsider, how did it accurately locate the family with a young girl in the village?

Did they conduct a prior investigation?

Or is it...?