Cradled by the great mountains of Southeastern Guizhou lay a stretch of flat ground, conspicuously empty. The surrounding mountains were riddled with demon caves, inhabited by demons and fiends whose foul stench rose to the heavens.
Suddenly, a rift opened in the void, and a Scarlet Gourd appeared out of thin air. Its stopper opened, and golden yang fire surged out, transforming into a hundred or so golden chickens that flew into the demon caves among the mountains.
The golden chickens entered the caves and returned in the blink of an eye. Not so much as a scream emerged from any of the caves, nor had the vegetation on the mountains suffered any harm, but the demonic stench and fiendish aura had been swept clean away, leaving nothing to smell.
"Paltry ghouls and goblins, daring to besiege the Azure Dragon? You truly court death."
A cold voice rang out from the void, echoing among the mountains.
Then a young Daoist rode out of the void on a Green-Mane Snow Lion as large as a white elephant. He took hold of the gourd and recalled the yang fire.
The Daoist looked toward the center of the flat ground, nodded, formed a hand seal, and offered a salute. Then he declared in a ringing voice,
"Fellow Daoists of Azure Dragon Cave, the spiritual climate outside has changed. Demons wane while the Dao waxes, and the sects of the Righteous Path are sharpening their blades to sweep away evil. This is a turning point in the wider struggle, an opportunity that comes once in a thousand years, and the very moment for your sect to leave the mountains and subdue demons. I have already burned those evil vermin to death and cleared the obstacles from your doorstep. I have come expressly to welcome