“Kid, since you dare meddle, you shall die!”

  With a chilling roar, the skeletal figure lunged at Xu Fang. Yet, as he remained calm, flames erupted from the ground like a volcanic surge.

  The fierce fire enveloped the massive pink skeleton, consuming it entirely!

  “Shatter for me!” Xu Fang commanded with a low growl.

  The skeleton responded instantly, exploding into countless shards!

  “Ah—!” A piercing scream echoed as Xu Fang swiftly reached into the remnants of the pink skeleton, targeting the chains of Buddhist scripture that had bound it.

  His True Immortal cultivation surged forth like a dragon breaking free from the sea, causing the skeleton to tremble violently.

  Though it had been destroyed, it was not yet dead!

  However, Xu Fang’s grip imparted an overwhelming sense of despair—a feeling as if all life had been extinguished.

  “Stop him!”

  In a moment of panic, the White Bone Demon reformed from the shattered remains, her voice sharp and desperate as countless residents of the city emerged like puppets, converging around Xu Fang.

  “All these people are residents of the city. If you wish to kill me, you must first slay them. Are you willing to bear such a burden?” The White Bone Demon’s voice brimmed with arrogance, but Xu Fang, without hesitation, threw a punch!

  The few townsfolk blocking his path were instantly sent flying!

  “Do you think you can stop me with this? You are mistaken,” Xu Fang replied coldly. “I am not foolish enough to be swayed, especially when these people have long lost their vitality. To use them as a shield is a fool’s errand!”

  With a single punch, the ground shook!

  The gathering townsfolk were obliterated beneath his blow!

  “You!” The White Bone Demon fumed, her anger boiling over. “I did not provoke you. Why do you obstruct my path? Do not think I fear you just because you are a True Immortal…”

  “I want you to fear for your life!” Xu Fang’s eyes glinted with an unmistakable killing intent as he stepped forward, closing the distance to stand before the White Bone Demon.

  “How did you—?” Panic flickered in her eyes as she took in Xu Fang's proximity.

  Her knowledge was insufficient to comprehend the techniques of the Celestial Transformation, particularly the ability to traverse ground with such swiftness!

  She had planned to use the townsfolk to impede him, but now, confronted with his sudden appearance, she was struck with dread.

  “Stop him!” she shrieked, retreating hastily as the townspeople rushed to block Xu Fang's path.

  “Trying to escape? Not on my watch!”

  Seeing the White Bone Demon’s intention to flee, Xu Fang grew impatient with the townsfolk and unleashed his powers!

  Flames surged forward like serpents, wrapping around the fleeing White Bone Demon!

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “No—!”

  Trapped within the ferocious blaze, the White Bone Demon realized there was no escape. She had to gather all her remaining power.

  “Corpse Release Technique—”

  This was a desperate means to create a clone in order to flee, allowing her three lives to escape. If even one managed to survive, she could be reborn!

  “Corpse Release Technique?!” Xu Fang observed as a wisp of her soul escaped her body, a cold smile forming on his lips.

  “In my hands, even a thousand incarnations cannot escape. Die!”

  The flames, like divine chains, ensnared the White Bone Demon, the escaping soul unable to react before being ensnared by the omnipresent fire.

  “Annihilate!” Xu Fang commanded.

  With that word, the chains erupted with unmatched brilliance, the fire consuming all in its path, obliterating the White Bone Demon’s soul!

  Boom!

  With the soul’s demise, the pink skeleton fell to the ground with a thud.

  The so-called Corpse Release Technique barely managed to surface before being completely shattered!

  As the White Bone Demon perished, the controlled townsfolk collapsed one by one, lifeless and devoid of energy.

  They had long lost their vitality. With the death of their puppet master, they had no strength left to remain upright.

  Buzz—

  At that moment, a beam of golden light descended, entering Xu Fang’s body!

  A wave of satisfaction washed over him, as if his very essence was revitalized, his cultivation subtly shifting.

  “This must be the so-called merit power,” Xu Fang mused, feeling the golden energy coursing through him and nodding in approval.

  The merit gained from slaying the White Bone Demon was directly enhancing his cultivation, but he realized it wasn’t enough for a breakthrough just yet.

  “The city is filled with corpses. If left unattended, they will rot and breed disease. If I eliminate this hidden threat, will I gain more merit?”

  Xu Fang pondered for a moment, then waved his sleeve, gathering all the corpses into a single pile.

  With a snap of his fingers, he unleashed a blaze that engulfed the corpses, reducing them to ashes!

  Buzz—

  Indeed, as Xu Fang acted, the heavens once again bestowed merit upon him!

  His cultivation began to shift and strengthen!

  “True Immortal Mid-Stage, not bad!”

  Feeling the surge of power within, Xu Fang nodded in satisfaction.

  His journey had not been in vain. In just over a year at Mount Fangcun, he reached the True Immortal Early Stage, but compared to now, that was nothing.

  In the span of a single day, he surged from the True Immortal Early Stage to the Mid-Stage.

  “My master said to temper my powers to enhance my cultivation, and though I did not refine my powers as he instructed, I still advanced. I wonder if this is good or bad.”

  Xu Fang shook his head, not wishing to wait for the flames to extinguish fully. He intended to depart immediately.

  But in that instant, he noticed something peculiar.

  Amidst the burning flames, a faint glow of Buddhist light shimmered!

  Having trained for over a year at Mount Fangcun, he could easily distinguish between Taoism and Buddhism.

  “Earlier, I saw the chains of Buddhist scripture within the White Bone Demon. This glow must be the remnants left in her wake.”

  Xu Fang contemplated, a hint of clarity dawning in his eyes.

  The plan for Buddhism to spread its teachings in this world was a subtle endeavor.

  However, as a time traveler, he saw through it as if it were an open book.

  The White Bone Demon was undoubtedly a part of the journey to the West, and thus, Buddhism had a hand in her existence.

  “How interesting. I wonder how Buddhism will amend this situation after I’ve disposed of the White Bone Demon.”

  That thought flickered through Xu Fang’s mind before he dismissed it.

  The plans of Buddhism were of no concern to him!

  How they would rectify their situation was a problem for the monks to ponder.

  Three Years Later

  After slaying the White Bone Demon, Xu Fang continued on his path of cultivation.

  He traversed numerous cities and forests, encountering various demons that wreaked havoc on the human populace, much like the White Bone Demon. However, they were all of a lower cultivation level.

  In pursuit of merit, Xu Fang showed no mercy, swiftly suppressing them. By the time he left, townsfolk had even spontaneously erected shrines in his honor!

  This was an unexpected gain.

  As Xu Fang knew well, the greatest treasures in the Three Realms were merit and the power of belief.

  Beyond merit, there was also the power of incense from the faith of the common folk.

  Although Xu Fang had just recently descended from the mountain, he hadn’t gathered much power of incense, but every bit was valuable.

  One day, Xu Fang arrived at a new city.

  Three large characters adorned the city gate: Qingyang City!

  The city thrived with activity, yet ominous clouds loomed above.

  “Though the heavens have decreed that humanity shall prosper, the tribulations they face seem far too many,” Xu Fang remarked, unable to ignore the gloomy atmosphere.