Chapter 13: The Demon of the Third Year, So It Was You!

Luo Zhou strolled through the spirit shop.

Various medicinal pills, talismans, magical artifacts, and spiritual materials were neatly arranged, each accompanied by text describing the item's purpose.

Everything he saw was novel.

"Gold-Purple Iron, a spiritual material. Its luster is like green clouds, its quality like an abyss, concealing endless sharpness. Can be used for refining artifacts."

"White Sun Pill, an auxiliary pill for the Qi Refining stage. One pill is equivalent to ten Spirit Sun Pills."

"Spirit Gathering Talisman, an essential talisman for Qi Refining stage cultivation. After use, it can attract spiritual energy for twelve hours, increasing the cultivator's cultivation progress while practicing."

"Secret Manual: Black Fiend Qi. By practicing this manual, one can master the characteristic Black Fiend spiritual energy during the Qi Refining stage."

"Secret Manual: The unique River-Turning Steps and River-Turning Palm of the River-Turning Warrior. At the limit of cultivation, one can ascend to become a River-Turning Warrior."

"Green Wood Sword, a Qi Refining stage magical artifact. Can be controlled to break through enemies."

"Flame Talisman, can be used at the Body Tempering stage to control fire and attack enemies."

...

There were hundreds of various talismans, pills, and artifacts. Luo Zhou examined them carefully.

He specifically looked for storage-type artifacts, but there were none here at all.

The goods here were worth one spirit stone—the cheapest of talismans, pills, and artifacts. How could there possibly be storage artifacts?

Luo Zhou shook his head, carefully recalling the memories of the Five Great Moth Demons to find what he needed.

"Soul-Crossing Incense, specially crafted by an incense master and baptized by the chanting of high monks. A superior spiritual incense that can be used to ferry departed souls."

Having found one, Luo Zhou let out a long breath.

He took the incense; there were three sticks in total, worth one spirit stone.

He continued his search!

"Beimang Sacrificial Feast, refined by a Yin master. When opened, it forms a three-livestock Yin feast to increase the soul power of the departed and ferry them to the afterlife."

In the territory of the Heaven and Earth Dao Sect, besides cultivators, there were other professions.

For example, Curse Masters, Warriors, Incense Masters, Yin Masters, and Strategists were all auxiliary professions for immortal cultivation.

This was a Yin feast refined by a Yin master. Once opened, it would manifest a three-livestock sacrificial Yin meal used to pay respects to the dead.

Luo Zhou chose one of these as well.

Then he continued searching and found a talisman.

"Yin-Crossing Talisman, refined by the Taoists of the Yinshuo Temple. Activating this talisman can increase the Yin power of ghosts and departed souls, extending their Yin lifespan. It is most effective when used for ancestral spirit sacrifices at a family shrine."

This was it. Luo Zhou bought one of these too.

With these three items purchased, Luo Zhou let out a long breath. It was done.

He walked around again to check the other goods.

"Invisibility Talisman, use this to remain invisible for three hours while staying perfectly still."

"Azure Cloud Boots, Qi Refining stage magical boots. They fit well, wick sweat, and fear no traps or blades."

"Random Flight Talisman, activate this to teleport randomly within a hundred feet. Direction is unknown; it is entirely up to fate."

"Water-Evasion Talisman, activate in water to gain the ability to roam rivers, lakes, and seas for one hour."

...

There were truly many good things.

However, some talismans were of very poor quality, and their effects were not as good as written.

Like the *Black Fiend Qi* manual—basically, whoever used it was a fool; it was completely fake.

This was a bloody lesson learned by Jiang Ziyou; otherwise, he would have long since cultivated characteristic true energy.

But what could you expect for one spirit stone!

Suddenly, Luo Zhou saw a bundle of spiritual wood.

"Spirit Birch Wood, a spiritual material. The finest spiritual wood from the Great Xuan Mountain, one hundred pieces per bundle."

This was the best Spirit Birch Wood from the Great Xuan Mountain, collected by mountain folk. One piece was worth ten broken spirit stones—a hundred times more expensive than what Luo Zhou had used before.

Luo Zhou checked it; the quality was excellent. Refining Dragon-Slaying Spikes with this would basically guarantee no failures.

He thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and bought a bundle.

Luo Zhou arrived at the shop entrance to settle the bill. The shopkeeper took one look and said

"Four spirit stones!"

Luo Zhou took out the broken spirit stones. The other party suddenly said

"Paying with broken spirit stones: one thousand and eighty broken spirit stones equal one spirit stone."

Luo Zhou was speechless, but he paid anyway.

Four thousand three hundred and twenty broken spirit stones for four items.

With a large bundle of spiritual wood on his back, he could find a laborer to deliver it home later.

After settling the bill, Luo Zhou said, "Um, can I register a name so I can come back and buy goods myself later?"

The shopkeeper nodded and said, "The treasure bureau shines with immortal岫, jade chess covers the emperor's terrace."

Then, he made a strange gesture with his hand. Luo Zhou immediately memorized it and mimicked it.

This was the credential for entering this place.

"Honored guest, you are welcome to come at any time!"

"Many thanks, shopkeeper!"

Cheng Wanli had also finished his shopping and came over to pay.

Luo Zhou intentionally avoided looking at what he had bought.

It was the rule of the underworld.

After Cheng Wanli paid, the two left the place.

They parted ways. If Luo Zhou was needed to curse an enemy to death, Cheng Wanli would send someone to invite him.

Before leaving, Luo Zhou asked for the corpse-dissolving powder Cheng Wanli had.

It was very convenient for dissolving corpses.

Actually, a fire spell at the Qi Refining stage could solve the problem; only those at the Body Tempering stage who couldn't use fire spells needed such powder.

Returning home, Luo Zhou waited silently.

Today was the ninth, the seventh day after Wang Xiaoya's death—the "soul-returning night." He would go to pay his respects that evening.

He fiddled with the Spirit Birch Wood in his hands; this was the best wood carefully collected by the mountain folk.

Using this to refine Dragon-Slaying Spikes would ensure no failure, and the power would increase by thirty percent.

This spirit stone was well spent!

When night fell, Luo Zhou carried two eyebrow-height staves on his back, held a solid copper staff in his hand, brought the three magical items, and headed to Old Wang's house.

The sky was pitch black as he snuck along the way.

Entering Old Wang's house, they were still digging inside.

They had been at this for days, and they still hadn't found it?

Liu Jinpeng was also from the Sanjiang Gang. The other party had attacked the Dragon Tooth Group, and Luo Zhou suspected it might be related to him.

Luo Zhou quietly approached and saw that the Wang house was full of large pits; they had truly dug three feet deep.

Liu Jinpeng had stripped off his clothes and was digging frantically. What treasure was he looking for?

Luo Zhou watched from the side. Liu Jinpeng was working so intently that he didn't notice Luo Zhou's appearance at all.

After watching for a while, Luo Zhou suddenly said

"Hey, friend, what are you doing?"

The sudden voice in the room startled Liu Jinpeng, making him jump up.

He looked at Luo Zhou, his face full of terror.

Then, realizing it was only Luo Zhou, his terror turned into vicious malice, filled with murderous intent.

"You little brat from the Dragon Tooth Group, what are you doing here..."

That mention of the Dragon Tooth Group exposed him. The other party knew he was from the Dragon Tooth Group; the attack was likely related to him.

"You little bastard, I'll kill you..."

Luo Zhou didn't waste words. He swung the copper staff down. Liu Jinpeng didn't care at all, blocking with his shovel.

With a *crack*, the shovel snapped. The copper staff continued downward, smashing Liu Jinpeng's brains out and killing him instantly.

"Sanjiang Gang, nothing good about you. Die!"

Luo Zhou's heart was as hard as iron. Thinking of the crippled Zhang Chuan and Cheng Yunbo, who had lost an eye, killing a member of the Sanjiang Gang was nothing.

After killing Liu Jinpeng, Luo Zhou took out the corpse-dissolving powder and sprinkled a little on the blood. The corpse immediately began to melt.

Destroying the body and erasing the evidence—the effect was top-notch!

Luo Zhou came to Wang Xiaoya's death-spirit.

Wang Xiaoya was still in the same state, maintaining the posture of trying to jump out the window to escape.

"Seven days, the soul-returning night. I hope this works."

After speaking, Luo Zhou opened the Beimang Sacrificial Feast in front of Wang Xiaoya.

Suddenly, a feast appeared, including a pig's head, sheep's head, ox head, pastries, fresh flowers, and fruits...

But none of it was real; it was all paper-crafted, shimmering brightly.

Moreover, they seemed to burn slowly, turning into green smoke that rose gradually.

Luo Zhou then took out the Soul-Crossing Incense in front of the feast and lit it slowly.

He took out the Yin-Crossing Talisman and activated it again.

With all three methods combined, Luo Zhou shouted

"Wang Xiaoya, seven days have passed, the soul returns! If not now, when!"

"Right, you aren't called Wang Xiaoya anymore. You have a name; you are called Wang Xiaoya!"

"Wang Xiaoya, Wang Xiaoya, Wang Xiaoya, return, return!"

Luo Zhou shouted loudly, hoping to lure back Wang Xiaoya's soul.

However, a death-spirit was a death-spirit; there was no change.

He didn't know what method the Third-Day Demon had used to cut off the possibility of soul-tracking.

Luo Zhou sighed deeply; there was no other way.

The Soul-Crossing Incense was down to its last bit, and the Beimang Sacrificial Feast was slowly dissipating...

Suddenly, a voice came from Wang Xiaoya

"Big brother..."

Luo Zhou was overjoyed and immediately checked.

In just an instant, Wang Xiaoya seemed to regain consciousness, desperately transmitting a single image.

Then she returned to her deathly silence, with no further reaction.

But this one image was enough.

Luo Zhou saw a man looking at Wang Xiaoya with a smile, about to take her life.

The man's features were only vaguely visible: a square face with distinct lines, prominent angles, solid and steady, with a rock-like toughness.

But Luo Zhou knew exactly who he was!

The Constable, Li Haitian!

In an instant, Luo Zhou understood why the constables had arrived so quickly when Old Wang reported the case that day!

Why was he here when this wasn't Li Haitian's patrol area!

It turned out that he had already been eyeing the Wang family back then!

He was the Third-Day Demon!

And Luo Zhou even realized his "Red Dust Murder Ritual"!

It was the same as Gu Shanhe's ritual: early morning, stone bridge, youth, pain, begging for death.

The second day: residence, whole family, body explosion, deception!

Time, location, person, method of killing, ritual characteristics—everything was clear!

Dear readers, please continue reading. Your continued reading is the greatest support for Xiaoshan. With your support, there will be good recommendations, and I can write good stories, good books, and long books. Thank you all!

(End of chapter)