In the Great Jin Dynasty, major life events like marriages, moving house, or starting construction all required the selection of an auspicious day.

Choosing a date for a wedding was quite complicated, often involving the zodiac signs of those getting married. Moving house was less troublesome, with specific, fixed days being preferred; for instance, during the twelfth lunar month, days like the eighth, eleventh, twentieth, twenty-fourth, twenty-sixth, and twenty-ninth were considered excellent for moving.

Correspondingly, dispatching a demon-slaying party was also a major affair. For such a significant undertaking, the day for the expedition naturally needed to be chosen with the utmost care.

This time, a demon had appeared in Guangye Mountain, blocking the official road and constantly killing people. The entire county was in an uproar; one could say that everyone, from the top to the bottom of the county, feared the demon might charge into the county seat for a great slaughter and a grand feast—rumor had it that demons consumed human flesh. Magistrate Huang had aged prematurely from worry, but finally managed to invite three esteemed Immortals.

Of course, selecting the date was no small matter either. Magistrate Huang had consulted nearly every renowned 'iron-mouth' diviner and 'half-immortal' in the county before finally settling on the ninth day of the fifth lunar month as the day to set out and eliminate the demon.

The ninth of the fifth month, according to the diviners and half-immortals, was a day auspicious for good spirits to approach: Bujiang, Mucang, Sanhe, Tian Gui, Tian Xi, Xian Xing. The day warned against the inauspicious influences of: Daozhen, Hengtian, Leigong, Linri, Longhu, Shenhao, Siqiong, Tūjìn, Xuanwu, Zhuquezhong. It was, precisely, an excellent day for demon slaying.

Firecrackers popped and cracked merrily, and the hired opera troupe performed several acts on the temporary stage; actors playing the huadan and xiaodan roles took turns. They also brought in Wang Banxian, reputed to be the most spiritually acute in the entire county. High up on the stage, he brandished a peach-wood sword, murmuring incantations. It was rumored he had consulted the celestial deities, who promised divine favor for this demon-slaying mission, ensuring its success.

The gathered crowd below periodically erupted in cheers of "Good!"

Because eliminating this demon was such a major event, quite a few people had come to witness the pre-expedition ceremony.

Lu Yuan was currently standing on the eaves of the county yamen, a wine gourd in one hand and a roasted chicken leg in the other, ready to watch the show. However, he was rather dumbfounded by the sheer spectacle of the preparations before the demon hunt—this was how they did it?

To think there were so many preliminary steps before going out to slay a demon. Firecrackers, a stage, and a half-immortal.

Tears welled up—none of his martial uncles or senior brothers had ever gone through such elaborate rituals before tackling a demon. But, well, folk culture should be respected. Fine, he'd continue sipping his yellow wine and watch this grand performance.

Next, Magistrate Huang ascended the stage and addressed the crowd, which was packed shoulder-to-shoulder: "This county, under the decree of the Son of Heaven, governs this territory and serves as the parent official to the people. Since assuming local authority, the populace has enjoyed peace and prosperity. However, a demon has appeared in Guangye Mountain. As the magistrate appointed by the Emperor, how can I permit a demon to run rampant? I have invited Immortal Masters to subdue this evil creature and restore clarity and order to Dongye County."

"Immortal Master, Immortal Master, Immortal Master..." Chants rose up to greet Daoist Pichen and Daoist Biyi.

The people recognized Immortal Masters who looked suitably transcendent and ethereal. Someone young and entirely boyish, like Lu Yuan, wouldn't be convincing. Thus, Lu Yuan had hidden himself on the yamen eaves long ago, casually drinking wine and observing the spectacle below.

The time was nearly right; they were finally about to depart.

...

Guangye Mountain. This mountain was named Guangye (Broad Leaf) because it possessed an abundance of broad-leafed trees.

The mountain itself was only about a hundred zhang high, not considered particularly tall.

The mountain was not famous; even many locals in Dongye County barely knew its name. It was the official road running alongside Guangye Mountain that was well-known, frequented by merchants transporting goods.

However, recently, a demon had manifested in Guangye Mountain, killing several people, causing the official road to become deserted, with few daring to travel it.

The sun climbed higher and higher, beating down on the earth. The ground seemed almost slick with heat. The weather in the fifth month was already intensely hot.

At this time, a procession appeared on the official road, which had long been devoid of travelers.

Leading this procession were two Immortals with truly celestial bearing. Following them was a middle-aged man with a beard, carrying a sign proclaiming 'Divine Calculator.' Behind them marched a large contingent of men dressed in constable uniforms, among whom was one youth with a habitually lazy expression.

Indeed, this was the very party setting out to slay the demon in Guangye Mountain.

The two leaders were Daoist Pichen and Daoist Biyi. The man carrying the sign for the 'Iron-Mouth Divine Calculator' was none other than Wang Banxian. He hadn't wanted to come; hearing of a demon hunt filled him with dread. Yet, Magistrate Huang insisted he attend, and he dared not refuse. While not a demon, Magistrate Huang possessed the easy means to ruin any subject under his jurisdiction. The large group of constables were from Dongye County; even they were forced to participate in demon slaying, which was tragic. As for the languid youth, who else could it be but Lu Yuan? Magistrate Huang himself did not come; despite ordering the constables and Wang Banxian to attend, he was extremely cowardly and would never risk his own life.

As they proceeded toward Guangye Mountain, the constables grew timid, not to mention Wang Banxian, whose legs were now trembling. Daoist Pichen let out a sharp cry: "Everyone, fear not! We two Daoists have eliminated countless demons in our lifetimes." His shout instantly bolstered everyone's courage.

Right, with two ethereal Immortal Masters present, what was there to be afraid of?

Lu Yuan noticed that even Big Brother Lu Fang and Second Brother Lu Ye were subtly moving closer to where Daoists Pichen and Biyi stood. In the mortal world, slaying demons still depended on outward appearance, Lu Yuan grumbled internally, then his brow suddenly furrowed slightly, sensing the demon's imminent arrival.

At that moment, a foul wind suddenly whipped up. Leaves rustled, all beasts fell silent, and a chilling, eerie laughter echoed: "Two humans dare speak of eliminating me? Truly laughable." As the foul wind appeared, a monster materialized before the group.

This creature was entirely black, its skin appearing encased in a hard shell covered in scales. Two sharp horns jutted from its head. Its form was fundamentally similar to a human but significantly larger, perhaps one and a half times the size of a man. Sharp points protruded from its joints, resembling blades, radiating a chilling coldness that suggested they were far sharper than ordinary swords, perhaps approaching the quality of flying swords.

"Asura," Daoists Pichen and Biyi said in unison.

"Asura," Lu Yuan was also startled.

Asura. To think the demon of Guangye Mountain was an Asura.

The subterranean world held countless demons, the deeper one descended, the more ferocious, cruel, strong, and terrifying they became. Moreover, there were numerous types of subterranean demons, and the Asura was one of the most formidable among them. Asuras were a naturally combative race with intensely powerful battle instincts.

They were born for battle and died for it—they were terrifying. Even many cultivators would find dealing with an Asura a headache. When Lu Yuan was at the Huashan Immortal Sect, his master, Li Yuanbai, had specifically mentioned the Asura race, explaining that Asuras had multiple tiers: those equivalent to the Qi Refining stage were called Asuras; those above that, equivalent to the Foundation Establishment stage, were called Ashura; then came Asura Generals, Asura Kings, and so forth. However, even the lowest-ranked Asura could not be underestimated.

Keeping this maxim firmly in mind, Lu Yuan’s hand moved to rest on the hilt of his Yangwu Sword. If the situation turned sour, he would strike immediately.

When had something like an Asura crawled up to the surface? Normally, shouldn't Asuras stay quietly in the subterranean world?

Pichen, Biyi, and Lu Yuan all recognized the monster as an Asura, the warlike race from below. The others were mortals and naturally did not recognize it, but the mere savage appearance of the Asura was enough to render all the mortals weak-kneed; the constables could barely hold onto their bows and arrows.