"Who are you! How do you know how to restrain us!"
The old fire god Qian Guang was truly shocked. He had survived from the Tang Dynasty to the present, so it wasn't strange that he recognized his identity as the Kitchen God. But how could anyone know about the method of restraining him with mud plastered on the face? It was impossible!
Even among the common folk, this method was unheard of. Which household would smear mud on the Kitchen God's face? They would smear sugar, making their mouths as sweet as honey. Who would plaster mud on the Kitchen God's face!
Ji Xiang shouted, "Not only do I know how to restrain you, but I also know that you've been tied to the stove by a woman since the Tang Dynasty and bound until now!"
Qian Guang was greatly startled:
"Are you that woman's disciple!"
Qian Guang was utterly bewildered by Ji Xiang, this fierce Daoist, but the Scarlet Banner Child cried out, "It's him! He's the Daoist we need to kill!"
After all, the matter of killing the Daoists of Longde Hall previously was handled by Song Wuji and Scarlet Banner. Qian Guang only knew of Ji Xiang's existence but had never met him.
"Wh...!"
Qian Guang's heart trembled violently!
If a Daoist from Longde Hall appeared here...
It would mean that Song Wuji was already dead!
Qian Guang's face turned ashen, and he watched helplessly as his enemy opposite him regained his strength.
The lifespan and incense offerings accumulated through three years of hard work, the vast amount of fire energy he had shamelessly acquired, were all taken by the opponent in a single encounter!
This was like online fraud targeting an elder.
Qian Guang was furious. His savings had been swept away just like that!
Ji Xiang had drawn out all the fire energy the old fire god had accumulated in the past three years, draining him completely in an instant.
This immense fire energy instantly replenished Ji Xiang's body. Ji Xiang felt this vast fire energy, and the blank divine牌 (divine tablet) emitted a glow, beginning to devour this plundered fire energy endlessly.
And it all transformed into vital energy!
Ji Xiang immediately felt invigorated.
After drawing so much fire energy, it was all converted into vital energy.
It's back! All the vital energy I had consumed before is back! I'm back to my peak now!
And not only that, the blank divine牌 madly devoured the fire energy, converting it into vital energy. The massive amount of vital energy not only restored Ji Xiang's condition but also, in a short period, the total amount consumed far exceeded the energy exhaled and dissipated!
Thus, under these circumstances, with the vital energy locked within his body, breathing in and out naturally, neither entering nor exiting, like an infant in its mother's womb, absorbing internal vital energy, and holding onto unity.
A colossal amount of essence, qi, and spirit condensed into a phantom, round outline, enveloping the blank divine牌 within the inner landscape! A large amount of pure vital energy, from this circular outline, diffused into the physical body and the essence of the incense offerings!
The Fourth Realm, Fetal Respiration! Returning the medicine makes a true Daoist, and the elixir returning to the origin is the sacred fetus and immortal!
*Hoo...*
The sacred fetus had gathered!
"Thanks for the help!"
Ji Xiang stepped into the Fourth Realm, the Realm of Fetal Respiration, finally breaking free from the mortal realm!
Spit out some blood and continue fighting!
Qian Guang lay on the ground, completely devoid of strength. He had been confined in the stove fire by someone since the Tang Dynasty. Only in recent years had he been released by that Fire Lord. He had only just begun to gain followers and enjoy abundant incense offerings for a few years, and now it was all gone!
At this moment, he watched as Ji Xiang broke through in the midst of battle, charging forward with his great sword, shouting "Thank you!" while preparing to send him to his demise!
Qian Guang's body began to tremble, filled with immense fear. The tragic sight of Song Zhongzheng being killed with a single blow haunted him!
He roared, filled with uncontrollable rage:
"You monster! Give me back my lifespan and fire energy!"
Ji Xiang: "?"
This statement completely baffled Ji Xiang!
A righteous god calling a Daoist a monster? Old man, you're the one who looks more like a monster now, aren't you?
Despite his curses, Qian Guang's priority was escape. Smoke and fire immediately spewed from the bowl-sized hole in his back. He got up to move, but Ji Xiang produced the Sanqing Bell again!
With a *splat*, he cast another "Flying Mud" technique!
Qian Guang was terrified. He grabbed the Scarlet Banner Child beside him. The mud *splatted* onto the brat's face, and then Qian Guang forcefully got up and fled towards the fire in Erchang Street to the west. The Scarlet Banner Child, with his face smeared with mud, was then struck by Ji Xiang, who rushed forward, with another slap!
"Brat, don't get in the way!"
This slap sent the Scarlet Banner Child tumbling seven or eight somersaults on the ground. Ji Xiang, seeing Qian Guang about to escape into the fire, refused to let him go. He immediately waved his sleeve, and a gust of wind arose!
A talisman flew out like lightning!
With a *splat*, it stuck into the fiery hole in Qian Guang's back!
*Bang!*
At this moment, Qian Guang suddenly felt dizzy and disoriented. His remaining strength vanished, and he fell straight to the ground, his old face making intimate contact with the earth!
The talisman Ji Xiang had thrown was a You Sheng Charm written with four hundred portions of incense offerings!
The power contained in this single talisman was comparable to the pile of talismans that had buried Song Wuji. This was the benefit of Song Wuji's substantial incense inheritance.
"A mere banner to be sold, where do you think you're running!"
Ji Xiang sneered. Killing a fifth-realm cultivator with a third-realm power was as easy as picking something from his pocket. He observed that this Tang Dynasty county magistrate was nothing more than a banner to be sold!
Moreover, this talisman was directly attached to the old man's back. If you could reach the center of your back while showering... then you'd be considered incompletely evolved!
Suppressing Qian Guang's failed escape attempt, it was naturally time to deal with the brat. Ji Xiang turned around and saw the brat struggling to get up. He strode over and delivered a kick!
After a thorough beating, the remaining few Yue Bo Charms on the Taiyi Sanyuan Sword also burned their incense. Ji Xiang raised his great sword and began hacking wildly at the brat. The scene was too bloody!
Ji Xiang then produced the Zhen Tan Mu (Altar Suppressing Wood) and smashed it onto the child's forehead repeatedly. Afterward, he placed the wood on the Scarlet Banner Child's body and chanted the You Sheng Charm!
The purpose of talismans was to shorten casting time. After all, in actual combat, most cultivators would recite lengthy incantations, and the opponent wouldn't stand foolishly in front of them to listen.
But now that the situation was completely under control, there was time for casting.
This also saved a You Sheng Charm. That talisman was originally intended for Song Zhongzheng, but it remained unused.
As his vital energy circulated, Ji Xiang chanted the You Sheng Charm. The Scarlet Banner Child immediately felt intense pain, his body contorted, writhing on the ground. Soon, he was forced back into his original form, leaving only a brocade child's robe on a scorched infant's corpse.
Subsequently, the national prestige possessed by the Scarlet Banner Child was taken by Ji Xiang. Apart from this, the child had nothing else. Like Song Wuji, he only dropped some national prestige.
The small red flag was preserved, embroidered with a fire dragon. The divine牌 displayed a description:
[Fire Flag: Dragon Banner with Nine Streams, Symbolizing the Great Fire!]
[Wielding this flag can guide one's own magic power, transforming it into flames for arson. It can only be released, not retracted; when subjected to pháp (magic) restriction, the flames will dissipate.]
As for the brocade clothing, it seemed to be the attire of a certain prince. The divine牌 showed no reaction.
After killing the Scarlet Banner Child, Ji Xiang immediately grabbed his great sword and rushed towards Qian Guang, who was still rolling on the ground not far ahead, trying to tear off the talisman on his back. The You Sheng Charm had already neutralized most of Qian Guang's residual fire energy. Seeing Ji Xiang charging at him, Qian Guang was terrified and crawled frantically on the ground!
He crawled towards the fire, hoping to use the power of the great fire to regain some of his strength!
How could Ji Xiang let him succeed!
He took a large stride and thrust his sword forward!