Great Jin Nation. This was a truly immense land, vast and stretching across potentially billions of li. Upon this soil stood five colossal mountains, home to five great Immortal Sects. Furthermore, numerous other mountain ranges hosted cultivators and smaller cultivation sects, though none possessed the might of the five great powers.

Beneath the surface lay a deep, seemingly boundless world. Within this subterranean realm roamed countless fiends and demons, creatures of surprising power. The deeper one ventured underground, the greater the likelihood of encountering stronger evils. Although these monstrous beings resided beneath the earth, occasionally fissures would open, allowing them to breach the surface.

It was precisely because of this perennial threat that the various Immortal Sects required their disciples to engage in the arduous task of slaying demons and vanquishing evil—Zhan Yao Chu Mo.

To subdue the fiends of the depths, to eradicate the devils of the underground. This, in essence, was the meaning of Zhan Yao Chu Mo.

In the Great Jin Nation, skirmishes between cultivators and subterranean evils were a common occurrence.

The ruling court of the Great Jin Nation itself possessed a certain measure of strength. While it could not compare to the five great Immortal Sects, it had managed to recruit a number of cultivators into its ranks.

Great Jin Nation. Dongping Province. Dongdao Prefecture. Dongye County.

Dongye County had recently fallen into disquiet.

Dongye County had always been a place of relative peace. However, two moons prior, reports surfaced concerning a demon manifesting in the area of Guangye Mountain, east of the county. This creature was said to be attacking people. Initially, the casualties were few, but soon, anyone traveling the official road near Guangye Mountain was ambushed and slain by the fiend.

This new reality plunged Dongye County into immediate panic. A demon was loose!

Demons were a terrifying prospect for mortals in the secular world. The Magistrate of Dongye County had been plagued by worry of late. Dongye was a remote county with few vital roads. The stretch near Guangye Mountain, however, was crucial; if that road became impassable, Dongye County would soon be virtually cut off from the outside world.

The Magistrate fretted ceaselessly. His purpose in office was hardly some grand aspiration; the saying went, "Three years as a Prefect yields ten thousand taels of silver." His goal was the gleam of that pure silver. Now, with a demon lurking nearby, his own life might be in jeopardy, and all thoughts of silver had to be shelved indefinitely.

The Magistrate knew well that these demons were far beyond his capacity to handle. During his tenure in Dongzhou, he had witnessed the devastating power of demons—a force capable of annihilating everything. Only cultivators could manage such threats. Having served in a major locale like Dongzhou, the Magistrate understood that those mortals called Xianzhang were what the common folk referred to as cultivators.

Naturally, summoning cultivators was not a simple matter.

With great effort, a few had finally been persuaded to come.

Just then, word reached him that Lu Fang, a shop owner in the county, had a fourth younger brother who was, surprisingly, also a cultivator, having recently descended from the mountains. The Magistrate was overjoyed and immediately summoned Lu Fang to invite his fourth brother. Although rumors suggested this younger brother had only been cultivating with the immortals for seven years—hardly enough time to achieve much mastery—he was still a cultivator, and every additional one meant increased strength.

Thus, they might stand a chance against the demon of Guangye Mountain.

—————— Donglin Town.

“A demon has appeared on Guangye Mountain?” Lu Yuan frowned upon hearing the news.

The demon must have burrowed up from the depths.

Lu Yuan’s original intent was simply to visit his family; he had no desire to confront any demons. Upon leaving the mountain, his Master, Li Yuanbai, had explicitly warned him: subterranean demons were not to be trifled with; their power rivaled that of the Five Great Immortal Sects. He was absolutely forbidden from descending underground. Lu Yuan had never been one to meddle in others’ affairs.

However, the current situation was dire. If the demon on Guangye Mountain was not dealt with, his elder brother Lu Fang, the Head Constable, and his second brother Lu Ye, a Constable, would inevitably clash with the creature in their official duties. As mortals facing a demon, such an encounter would spell certain doom. As a cultivator himself, Lu Yuan understood the true menace of these beings—a power utterly beyond the scope of mortal flesh and blood.

He had no choice; it seemed he had to confront the demon after all.

Of course, he wasn't exactly violating his Master Li Yuanbai’s directive.

His Master had warned him not to descend into the earth. He would only be fighting a demon that had already emerged onto the surface.

To test his skills against a demon sounded rather promising.

After all, truth be told, his hands were itching for a fight. He had cultivated for seven years, constantly hearing his sect elders speak of Zhan Yao Chu Mo, yet he had never slain a fiend or dispelled an evil. Today, he would see firsthand just how formidable a demon or a devil truly was. He wouldn't push himself to the breaking point; if he couldn't win, escaping was always an option.

“Very well, I will accompany you both to the County Yamen,” Lu Yuan said. He would first go to the Yamen; word had it the Dongye County Magistrate had already invited several cultivators to assist in eliminating the evil.

Hearing this, Doctor Lu and Madam Lu grew profoundly anxious. “Yuan’er, you have only cultivated for seven years. How can you stand against a demon? You must not go.”

Lu Yuan shook his head. “Father, Mother, please rest assured. I am only going to observe. If I truly cannot best the demon, I will flee. You need not worry.”

Subsequently, led by his elder brother Lu Fang and second brother Lu Ye, the three mounted their horses and headed directly for the Dongye County Yamen.

Dongye County was indeed far more prosperous than Donglin Town. Lu Fang, at this point, spoke with considerable pride: “The county seat of Dongye is quite thriving. I plan to move here permanently in the future.” As Head Constable, his annual income was substantial; purchasing a large residence in the city would not be difficult.

The streets were lined with shops—grain stores, pawnshops, and more—a scene of bustling commerce, leagues beyond Donglin Town. However, the flow of pedestrians was noticeably thinner. Since the news of the demon on the nearby Guangye Mountain, the county seat had grown somewhat deserted. Yet, Lu Yuan was already accustomed to grand sights; having witnessed the sky-scraping palaces within the Immortal Sect, the current view held little surprise for him. He observed it calmly.

Finally, they arrived at the Dongye County Yamen. It was an expansive compound. In front of the Yamen stood a large drum—a drum for appealing justice. Anyone with a grievance could sound it here. The entrance stairs numbered nine, imposing and steep, granting anyone standing atop them an imposing vantage point over those below. Guarding the steps were two stone lions, taller than a man, fiercely carved yet radiating majesty. A pair of great vermillion doors were fitted with shining, golden brass rings.

What an imposing Dongye County Yamen it was!

“Head Constable, good morning.” “Head Constable, greetings.” Lu Fang held a high position here, and many people offered him salutations. Yet, as these constables greeted Lu Fang, their eyes invariably drifted to Lu Yuan. They had clearly heard that the Head Constable’s fourth brother was an immortal. They were used to seeing aged immortals; meeting one so young was a rarity.

After a moment, the plump and portly Magistrate of Dongye, Huang Guang, emerged personally to greet them. Cultivators were esteemed far above a mere county magistrate like himself. His enthusiasm made the fat on his face ripple. “Head Constable Lu, is this your fourth brother? Truly possessing the aura of an immortal, a young hero indeed!”

While showering Lu Yuan with praise, Magistrate Huang muttered inwardly, assessing the young cultivator. He had never seen an immortal so young.

They say a smooth mouth speaks poorly of actions.

Can such a young immortal truly handle this?

The demon of Guangye Mountain was no easy foe; who knew how many people it had already consumed. (The second update arrives.)