King Ma

"Halt!!"

A Yan Man's Roar echoed, turning his liver and gall to wind and thunder.

Realizing he'd been discovered, Zhou Sheng felt no fear, only surprise, and instinctively thrust out his Snake Lance.

He hadn't had time to change into the Marquis Huan Face Paint yet, but for a Ghost Opera Performer, years of rigorous training from childhood, honing his body and refining his Blood Essence, had forged his Martial Arts Skill into a deadly art.

Strong bridges and hard horses, dragon and tiger bones, real swords and real guns, true skill.

Thus, this spear thrust was both fast and fierce, employing Yaksha Probes the Sea from Marquis Huan's Eight Spears.

The secret to this move lay in speed and precision.

Legend had it that Zhang Fei used this very move to target the gaps in shield formations, capable of piercing three throats with a single thrust!

Even formations as impenetrable as a bronze wall and iron rampart could be broken by his spear, allowing him to move freely on the battlefield as if no one were there.

Although Zhou Sheng was far from reaching that level, his spear thrust at this moment was like a thunderclap, instantly piercing the wooden door and accurately striking the opponent's chest.

This spear thrust alone marked him as a rare talent in the army.

However, the anticipated scene of his Snake Lance piercing the enemy's chest and lifting them by one arm did not occur, because the Snake Lance, capable of splitting stone, seemed to have struck a piece of refined steel.

Clang!!

The spear tip vibrated like a snake's tail, and the spear shaft, squeezed and bent by Zhou Sheng's thunderous force, was held fast, unable to advance another inch.

What kind of monster!

With just one thrust, Zhou Sheng knew the opponent's strength was astonishing, possessing a body of steel and immense divine power.

He raised his sleeve, preparing to change his face and employ Ghost Opera techniques, but just then, a familiar voice sounded from behind the door.

"Brat, your spear technique has improved."

Zhou Sheng immediately lowered his sleeve but didn't completely let down his guard. He retracted his spear while simultaneously stepping back and crouching down.

This allowed him to both escape and set himself up to perform Mountain Collapse and Horse Turn from Marquis Huan's Eight Spears.

He had read in some ancient texts of strange occurrences that some demons, after devouring a person's throat, could imitate their voice.

However, as the wooden door was pushed open, the familiar figure finally made Zhou Sheng breathe a sigh of relief.

An old man in plain clothes and hemp shoes emerged from the room. His beard was neatly trimmed, but his temples were already streaked with white. His complexion was ruddy, and his build was slender, giving him an appearance of sternness.

Even though his face was etched with the marks of time, his elegance and unique demeanor remained undiminished.

This was his master, Yu Zhensheng, who had taught him Ghost Opera for sixteen years.

All the people in Qinggu County called him Doctor Yu, praising his kindness and gentle nature, making him a renowned physician in the area.

But only Zhou Sheng knew how sharp his master's tongue could be in private, and how terrifyingly meticulous and serious he was when teaching.

To receive a compliment of improvement from him was truly no easy feat.

"Master, what were you just doing...?"

"Making medicine."

"A patient was invaded by Yin energy. I was just making pills with ingredients like rooster blood, cinnabar, and realgar. You've returned at the perfect time. Help me kill a rooster for its blood later."

Zhou Sheng nodded, but his mind flashed back to the pair of scarlet pupils and the sensation of his spear hitting solid metal just moments ago.

Master was definitely lying, but...

Remembering how his master had used his own life as collateral to gain him an extra three years, Zhou Sheng decided not to press further.

"Danshan, don't forget the old rules."

"Your disciple remembers."

Zhou Sheng put down his Snake Lance, took out a brazier, and lit a fire, placing it by the doorway. When the flames were at their fiercest, he stepped over them.

As he crossed the fire, the surging flames instantly shrank considerably.

Yu Zhensheng let out a cold laugh and said, "Such heavy Yin energy. It seems this time, the unclean thing you've provoked is no simple matter."

Zhou Sheng was about to explain when Yu Zhensheng interrupted him.

"After returning from performing, you must first cross the brazier, then pay respects to the Patriarch. These are the rules. You can speak after you've paid your respects."

"Yes, Master."

Zhou Sheng entered the inner room and, as if he had done it countless times, went to the shrine in the main hall. He respectfully offered three sticks of incense.

"Disciple Zhou Sheng of the Ghost Opera lineage pays his respects to Patriarch Huaguang!"

He inserted the three incense sticks into the censer and, through the rising wisps of incense smoke, gazed at the statue of Great Emperor Huaguang.

Most opera troupes in the folk worship Old God Lang as their Patriarch, who was said to be Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji. Li Longji enjoyed opera and even played the clown role, which gave the clown's position special significance.

For example, besides the drummer, only the clown was allowed to sit at the Nine Dragon Gate.

However, the primary Patriarch worshipped by the Ghost Opera lineage was Great Emperor Huaguang, also known as Marshal Ma, the Spirit Official, Three-Eyed Spirit Light, and King Huaguang.

He had a very famous name among the people—King Ma!

The statue Zhou Sheng was now worshipping was about a foot tall, clad in golden armor and a red robe, looking majestic and imposing. A vertical mark was present between his brows, representing his closed celestial eye.

The most eye-catching feature was the golden spear in his hand, entwined with dragons and snakes. It seemed to be forged from pure gold, shimmering with its unique luster.

According to Master, this statue of the Patriarch had a history of nearly a thousand years. It was incredibly divine and effective, a treasure of their Ghost Opera lineage.

From the age of six, Zhou Sheng visited this Patriarch every morning and evening until he turned eighteen, after which he changed to visiting once a month.

According to Master, children who learned Ghost Opera were more prone to dying young. His ability to grow up safely was undoubtedly due to the Patriarch's protection.

Before, he had been skeptical of such claims because, from childhood to adulthood, this statue had never shown him any divine signs. However, after his Dao cultivation advanced, he had discovered something.

In his spiritual sense, he felt as if he were facing not an idol of clay and stone, but… a living person?

This strange feeling was just a fleeting glimpse, but Zhou Sheng knew it was no illusion.

After respectfully kowtowing, Zhou Sheng was about to get up. But as he looked up, his heart trembled. He saw that the vertical mark between the eyebrows of Emperor Huaguang had opened.

In an instant, he saw a sun wreathed in blazing golden flames!

Zhou Sheng's mind reeled. He seemed to hear a muffled groan in his ears, followed by a terrifying surge of Yin energy dissipating, as if burned to ashes by the fierce flames.

When he came to his senses again, everything around him had returned to normal. The heavenly eye between the statue's eyebrows closed again, leaving only a shallow vertical mark.

But Zhou Sheng touched his face. The small scar, inflicted by the fierce god on the Yin-Yang Road, had disappeared.

Completely clean, not even a trace of a scar.

"You brat, you don't even know when you've been ambushed. I noticed something was off the moment you returned. The Yin energy was too heavy. Anyone else would think you were possessed by a female ghost."

"Hmph, for the Patriarch to open his dharma eye, it seems this 'filthy thing' has considerable Dao cultivation!"

"Tell me, what exactly happened?"

Zhou Sheng took a deep breath and recounted the events in Yangcheng, including the one-year pact with Lu Bingyuan and his encounter on the Yin-Yang Road.

He had actually considered hiding some things because he didn't want his Master, who had already retired, to get involved again.

But this matter was too deep. Based on his current experiences, it had far exceeded his capabilities.

If he continued to hide it, it wouldn't be filial piety, but foolishness.

"Not bad. You know to be upfront with your family. You're not entirely beyond saving."

After listening, a hint of relief flashed in Yu Zhensheng's eyes, but he let out a cold laugh.

He took a letter from his embrace and handed it to Zhou Sheng.

"Take a look. You acted as someone's pawn, and they sold you out completely in return."

"What, you want to be like Yang Qilang, pierced by a thousand arrows by that Pan Renmei?"