Spirit Invocation to Punish Demons!

"This reverend master cultivates at Xuanqing Temple?"

Song Chengan looked at the dark-skinned monk, who had recovered somewhat, and spoke.

The monk pressed his palms together. "This poor monk does indeed cultivate at Xuanqing Temple."

As he spoke, his eyes flickered, avoiding Song Chengan's gaze.

If Song Chengan pressed further, he could expose the man's true nature.

This was a street charlatan.

But Song Chengan thought it over and didn't pursue the matter.

Everyone was just trying to make a living.

No need to smash another's rice bowl and make an enemy for no reason.

Just a common swindler—ignoring him would suffice.

"Tell me about that monster."

Seeing that Song Chengan didn't press further, the monk breathed a sigh of relief and quickly spoke. "Today, I was entrusted by the Old Village Chief to eliminate that monster."

"I was lucky enough to find its lair."

"But I regret that my skills were lacking, and I ended up wounded by the beast."

Song Chengan was somewhat surprised.

This monk had actually managed to find the monster's lair.

Well, since he'd escaped alive, he must have some hidden tricks up his sleeve.

"Take me there."

"Immortal Master..."

Song Chengan waved a hand to stop the Old Village Chief and the others who had followed.

"You are all mortal flesh and blood; following would be useless. Wait at home."

With that, Song Chengan followed the monk out of the village.

"Immortal Master, it's in that river."

Song Chengan looked up.

It was a great river.

Named the Tong Sheng River.

This river was the largest in the Chen Kingdom, hailed as its mother river. It ran through the entire kingdom, and as for its source—no one knew.

Because the source lay beyond the Chen Kingdom's borders.

Song Chengan raised his gaze.

It was a place called Black Luo Bay.

The river water was pitch-black, its depth unknown.

Song Chengan found himself in a bind.

If it were a land monster, he could rely on the Summoning God Technique.

He could summon mountain spirits and wild beasts to possess him, borrowing the power of ghosts and gods to fight.

But a water monster...

That was a bit beyond him.

"Immortal Master, the monster is angry after I disturbed it today. It will surely come ashore tonight to kill and vent its fury in the village."

"We just need to ambush it along the way."

"Makes sense."

No time like the present.

Song Chengan and the monk found a spot in the grass to hide.

"Immortal Master, sprinkle this on."

"What is this?"

The monk handed over a pouch, and Song Chengan took it with some confusion.

"The monster has a keen sense of smell; it can easily detect the scent of strangers."

"This is Monster-Catching Incense."

"Rub it on your body, and it won't be able to smell you."

"Smells strange."

Song Chengan said as he sprinkled it on.

"It's made from cow dung and photinia pollen, mixed with other spices."

"?"

The rest of the time went without saying.

The two of them quietly hid in the grass.

When hungry, they'd take out dry rations and take a bite.

"The moon is really round tonight."

Song Chengan looked up at the sky.

The bright moon hung high.

"Immortal Master, here it comes!"

Just then, the monk whispered.

Song Chengan focused his gaze.

There, beneath the moonlight, a figure had appeared by the riverbank at some unknown moment.

After cultivating, Song Chengan's eyesight had sharpened, and under the moonlit night, he saw the monster clearly.

The creature had a green face and fangs.

A pair of gleaming green eyes, naked, its body covered in cyan scales.

The moment it appeared, a fishy stench wafted through the air.

Song Chengan made a shushing gesture.

Then he gently picked up the Iron Staff.

The monster was too close to the Tongsheng River; if he struck rashly, it would surely turn and flee into the water.

Song Chengan calmed his mind and steadied his breath.

This was a hundred taels of silver—he had to keep his composure.

"Monster, die!"

When the monster was far enough from the river, Song Chengan channeled the Heavenly Radiance Dao Qi within him at full force and swung the Iron Staff at the creature.

Bang!

The monster, caught off guard, took the Iron Staff square on its back.

It let out a wail and was sent flying.

"As expected, a pushover!"

Song Chengan looked closely and saw that where his blow had landed, the monster's scales were shattered, blood streaming freely.

Seeing the effect of that single strike, Song Chengan felt confident.

This monster must have just become a spirit—more than enough to handle ordinary people, but against a cultivator, it was a weakling.

He didn't even need the Summoning God Technique.

Now that he knew the monster's strength, Song Chengan grew bolder.

He attacked the monster relentlessly!

The monster blocked left and right, but before long, Song Chengan had beaten it severely.

"Immortal Master, it's trying to escape!"

At that moment, the monk shouted urgently.

The monster turned into a wisp of green smoke, heading toward the river.

Song Chengan managed to strike the black smoke with his Iron Staff.

But it felt like hitting cotton—soft and without resistance.

By the time Song Chengan reacted, the monster was already in the river.

Half its body exposed above the water, it cursed loudly.

"Which two beasts are these, ambushing your king!"

"That old bastard must have hired some cultivators. Go back and tell him—once your king heals, I'll slaughter every last person in Zhao Family Village."

Song Chengan's face changed at the words.

He had come to eliminate the monster for the hundred taels of silver from Zhao Family Village. Even if he didn't get the silver, it didn't matter.

But if he failed to kill the monster and instead brought disaster to the village, that would be his fault.

"Summoning God Technique!"

With that thought, Song Chengan held nothing back.

The Summoning God Technique

could summon mountain spirits and wild fiends!

It could naturally also summon demons from the river.

As long as they were demonic spirits and ghosts cultivating the right path, Song Chengan could summon them!

Of course, the prerequisite was that they were willing to be summoned.

"Disciple Song Chengan, a rogue cultivator of Spirit Mound, respectfully invokes All Paths of Victory to slay demons and vanquish evil!"

A gust of wind blew past, but no deity or ghost appeared.

"Haha, dying of laughter!"

The demon heard Song Chengan using the Summoning God Technique and immediately rolled around laughing in the river.

"I was wondering where this meddlesome fool came from—turns out he's a rogue cultivator."

"The Summoning God Technique—others use it to summon deceased ancestors from their sect, to summon mountain and river spirits enshrined by imperial decree, to summon wild mountain fiends bound by contract, or to summon spirit creatures acknowledged as kin or master-disciple!"

"And you, a rogue cultivator."

"What, did your ancestors happen to produce a Mountain God, a River Goddess, or a City God?"

"You think you can summon gods?"

"You'd better wait for the monks and the Zhao Family Village folks to hold your funeral!"

"Disciple Song Chengan, a rogue cultivator of Spirit Mound, respectfully invokes All Paths of Sage to slay demons and vanquish evil!"

Song Chengan gritted his teeth!

That Daoist Book hadn't mentioned any of this.

He had thought that as long as he used the technique, some ghost or fiend would surely come to deliver salvation!

No response!

"Disciple Song Chengan, a rogue cultivator of Spirit Mound, respectfully invokes All Paths of Victory to slay demons and vanquish evil!"

Song Chengan summoned again.

If it didn't work, he would just stay here guarding Zhao Family Village.

Song Chengan swore to himself—he wouldn't let this demon harm anyone.

"Disciple Song Chengan, a rogue cultivator of Spirit Mound, respectfully invokes All Paths of Victory to slay demons and vanquish evil!"

He shouted again.

"Idiot."

"Three summons with no response—any more and you're just disturbing someone's cultivation!"

"You're as good as dead." The demon laughed smugly.

But then, unexpectedly, a strange wind suddenly stirred in the river.

And a surge of power flooded into Song Chengan's body.

In an instant, Song Chengan was as if possessed by a god!

He burst out laughing.

Then he took a step forward.

Walking on the river as if it were solid ground!

"Impossible!"

The Fish Demon's eyes went wide.

"There hasn't been a single cultivator ghost or fiend in this area for ages—how could someone have been summoned by you!"

He immediately realized that this killer had come for him.

"Spare me!"

He screamed, turning to dive deep into the riverbed.

But Song Chengan gave him no chance.

He chased straight down.

He had no idea what deity he had summoned, but its power was immense—not only had it boosted his strength explosively, it also let him walk on water as if on land and breathe freely underwater.

"Immortal Master!"

"Immortal Master!"

Yu Changfu stood on the bank, frantic with worry.

He hadn't expected the Immortal Master to be so bold, actually chasing into the Tongsheng River.

And it had been half an hour already.

The river churned violently, and he had no idea whether the Immortal Master was alive or dead.

Just as his anxiety peaked.

A figure emerged from the river.

One hand dragging an Iron Staff.

The other gripping the gills of a Big Fish.

"Immortal Master!"

Yu Changfu quickly jumped into the river and pulled Song Chengan up.

"You actually didn't run!" Song Chengan panted heavily.

"I underestimated that Monster in the water—on land and in the river, it's truly a different beast."

"Go..."

"Call the Old Village Chief over!"