Hegemon of Western Chu?

The essence of peachwood grew at the Gates of Ghosts. It could command a hundred ghosts and was superb material for warding off evil and subduing spirits.

This Peachwood Sword had been crafted from century-old peachwood.

Its Evil-Dispelling +1 effect meant that wherever this Peachwood Sword was, ordinary evil entities had to keep their distance. Otherwise, it would not be long before their souls scattered.

Daoist Bai Piao carried the Peachwood Sword around, setting up altars and performing rituals everywhere. Though they were all tricks meant to fool people, the sword's evil-dispelling effect was undeniably real. That was how Daoist Bai Piao had earned quite a reputation.

However, the ghostly figure Li the Second had seen was not a real ghost.

A violet-blue sword beam shot toward a corner of the courtyard.

In Daoist Bai Piao's eyes, there was nothing unusual about that corner. It was utterly empty.

Yet at the instant Lu Qingshan's sword beam flew over—

Ripples appeared in the air, spreading swiftly outward like rings stirred across a tranquil lake.

Then a huge black rat appeared out of thin air in the courtyard.

Boom—

The sword beam struck the huge black rat head-on.

A tremendous roar rang out.

The black rat had clearly not expected this.

Caught off guard, it took the Lightning Sword Beam full force. It stood frozen in place, every strand of black fur standing on end as the smell of scorched leather drifted through the air.

Yes, the so-called ghostly figure in the little village was not some Yin Soul at all. It was this huge black rat causing trouble.

Lu Qingshan had noticed long ago that something was off. He had never heard of a Yin Soul that stole chickens.

Then, after arriving in the village and learning that this Hegemon of Western Chu had appeared again in broad daylight, he became certain that the evil entity in this little village was no Yin Soul.

Thus, after vaulting over the courtyard wall, he had deliberately watched for anything unusual within the yard. Before long, he discovered an illusion array in the corner.

As the Heavenly Eye Technique unfolded, a flood of information appeared before Lu Qingshan's eyes.

Rat Demon (Demon Race)

Rank: First Rank (lv1)

Attributes: Strength 1, Agility 2, Mana 1, Soul 3, Charm 1, Endurance 1

Health: 15/20 (Injured)

Spirit Power: 10/10

Skills: Soul Loss Technique lv1, Illusion Technique lv1

Talents: Thin Phantom Rat Bloodline: The Phantom Rat Clan was born with the ability to cast illusions. Rat Demons with a Thin Phantom Rat Bloodline likewise possessed some ability to cast low-grade illusions.

Beginner's Strength: The Demon Race possessed exceptionally strong bodies. Endurance modifier gained: 1 Endurance = 20 Health

That was right. The creature stealing chickens and dogs in the village was a rat that had somehow become sentient—or rather, a demon beast.

If it had been an evil entity causing mischief, Daoist Bai Piao might have been able to rely on the Peachwood Sword to sweep all before him. But against a demon beast, the sword's evil-dispelling effect was completely useless.

He was a fake Daoist who had charged straight into a demon beast's face. Wasn't that courting death?

So Lu Qingshan accepted this Peachwood Sword with perfect peace of mind: I helped you solve a problem you couldn't solve yourself. In return, I'll take the Peachwood Sword as payment. Nothing wrong with that.

Having seized the initiative, Lu Qingshan did not wait for the Rat Demon to counterattack. He swung his sword again, slashing out another Lightning Sword Beam.

This sword beam contained 10 points of lightning power.

The Rat Demon had only just recovered its senses when another violet-flashing sword beam filled its vision.

Boom—

Another enormous blast rang out.

The villagers gathered outside Li the Second's home could not help clicking their tongues when they heard the commotion from within the courtyard. "The Daoist must be battling that ghost now. Good heavens, with such a racket, this Hegemon of Western Chu must be one formidable ghost."

Someone showed a worried expression. "I wonder if Daoist Bai Piao can defeat this Hegemon of Western Chu?"

"No need to worry. Daoist Bai Piao is a renowned Daoist from Yuanshan City, with ample experience driving out ghosts. No matter how mighty this Hegemon of Western Chu is, once he encounters the Daoist, he can only meekly submit to execution."

Inside the courtyard.

Violet light flared once more from the Peachwood Sword in Lu Qingshan's hand.

"Stop hitting me, stop hitting me! Keep hitting me and there won't be any rat left! Spare my life, True Person!" Suddenly, the Rat Demon, already scorched black all over by the Lightning Sword Beams, let out a shrill plea for mercy.

Lu Qingshan raised a brow at this. He actually withdrew the lightning power from the Peachwood Sword and looked at the Rat Demon with interest. "You have yet to take human form, yet you can speak human language. It seems you have encountered quite an opportunity and refined your transverse bone ahead of time."

Seeing that Lu Qingshan had truly withdrawn the lightning from his sword, the Rat Demon rather humanly patted its chest with a little paw. Still shaken, it said, "True Person, your eyes are indeed keen as a torch. This little rat was originally just an ordinary rat, barely surviving by stealing the grain from this household's master.

Not long ago, by a twist of fate, I swallowed a red spirit pearl. Somehow, I suddenly gained intelligence and could even speak. A perfectly good rat turned into this—I was terrified too!

But this little rat swears that throughout these past days, I have never harmed the life of a single person in the village. This little rat is a good demon! True Person, please show mercy and spare my life!"

Lu Qingshan walked up to the Rat Demon and used the Peachwood Sword like a club, viciously smacking its head as he spoke. "A good demon? Would a good demon keep stealing chickens? Would a good demon pretend to be a ghost and frighten villagers? Would a good demon call itself the Hegemon of Western Chu? Look how full of yourself you are."

The Rat Demon covered its head and did not dare resist. It explained in a small voice, "Chicken tastes so good. I couldn't help myself.

Besides, I never meant to scare anyone. I just vaguely felt that I seemed to have some special ability—the Illusion Technique—and tried casting it.

Who knew the owner of this house would suddenly come out and happen to see me? As for the Hegemon of Western Chu—"

The Rat Demon looked utterly wronged. "I never said that. He asked me what kind of ghost I was, and you humans all have names, don't you?

I thought that since I had been born in a hole at the western corner of the house, I should give myself a name too. I called myself Great King West Rat. He was the one who somehow misheard it as Hegemon of Western Chu."

"This rat has been wronged too badly!"

Lu Qingshan: "..."

Daoist Bai Piao, watching this scene from the side, had long since been dumbstruck. Today, he had seen both the legendary cultivator True Person and a Rat Demon capable of human speech. His heart was a tumult of emotions—astonished and terrified.

"Where did you get the red spirit pearl you swallowed? What exactly did it look like? Tell me everything properly, and then I'll consider whether to spare you." Lu Qingshan's tone was calm, but another thread of violet light rose from the Peachwood Sword.

At the sight of the violet light on the blade, Great King West Rat could not help shuddering. Clearly, the two previous sword beams had left far too deep a psychological shadow on it.

Great King West Rat immediately threw itself at Lu Qingshan's leg, its two little paws clutching his trouser leg tightly as it wailed heartbreakingly, "Spare my life, True Person! As the saying goes, Heaven cherishes life. This little rat is a good demon—if True Person kills me, how could you bear it?"

Lu Qingshan kicked Great King West Rat away. The violet light on the Peachwood Sword intensified several degrees. "Stop playing dumb with me. If you don't want to answer my question, then don't blame me for being rude."

Great King West Rat glanced fearfully at Lu Qingshan before mumbling, "True Person, it isn't that this little rat doesn't wish to explain. It's just that this little rat truly doesn't know what happened."

"Hm?" Lu Qingshan frowned slightly.

"Ah, I don't know how to explain it either. I'll personally take True Person there to have a look, and then you'll understand what happened."