Under the big tree by White Bird Lake, Chen Mu sat on a bamboo chair.

A long fishing rod was propped up beside the armrest of the bamboo chair.

On the lake's surface, the Five Ghosts Paper Dolls sat in rows on the tip of the fishing rod, giggling as they swayed up and down.

Chen Mu's mind was entirely focused on the secret acupoint between his eyebrows.

The Yin Mistaken Yang was spinning around, and a large amount of Yin Spirit Divine Power was being refined into Taiyin Qi, dispersing into the Nine Orifices. Simultaneously, the Nine Orifices hummed and vibrated, continuously sending gray Netherworld Qi into the secret acupoint between his eyebrows.

Previously, the Heavenly Demon Body had a fixed limit on absorbing Netherworld and Taiyin Qi. He would cultivate Qi every morning, usually finishing before noon.

Now, with Divine Power catalyzing, the Heavenly Demon Body was accelerating its transformation, absorbing ten times more Netherworld and Taiyin Qi, naturally taking more time.

Fortunately, with the assistance of Divine Power, the speed of refining the two Qis was also synchronously increasing.

By the time Chen Mu finished his cultivation, still wanting more, it was already an Hour later than his usual routine.

"If only I could get a bit more Divine Power."

Compared to the Dao Foundation Jade Seed, which had shown no changes for months, the vitality within the Yin Spirit Divine Fetus was almost changing daily. The visible progress made him thirst for Divine Power even more.

"Should I deduct a bit more from the Scripture Reciter's share?"

Chen Mu's heart began to race uncontrollably.

After holding back for a while, he eventually shook his head to dispel the thought.

"I can't keep squeezing the same source for wool."

Normally, forty percent of the Divine Power should be allocated to the Scripture Reciters. He had already deducted twenty percent, half a percent more than Old Lu Gong did.

The remaining twenty percent is the bare minimum necessity; it shouldn't be touched further.

The Scripture Reciters could indeed replace Divine Power by learning secret techniques through the Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed, but they also couldn't be given none at all.

Those who already had Divine Skills needed Divine Power to allow their Divine Skills to continue growing.

Those who had learned his Yin Spirit Secret Technique also needed Divine Power to enhance their essence, sustain higher intensity secret techniques, and increase endurance.

"Or maybe… snatch a bit from the Divine Soldier Barrier?"

Chen Mu glanced at the Divine Weapon lazily floating beside him, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

He had been in charge of White Bird City for over a month, and the Life and Death Seal was constantly operating within the Divine Weapon, equating to him observing the Divine Weapon internally day and night, giving him a clearer understanding of the Divine Soldier Barrier.

The barrier served two purposes: one was to open the Mist of Confusion, and the other was to resist the invasion of the Black Wind Demon.

Most of the time, achieving the first goal naturally accomplished the second as well.

Because the Black Wind Demon generally stayed in the Mist of Confusion, like fish in water, without the mist, the Black Wind Demon would naturally leave.

However, if a Black Wind Demon forcibly intruded, then the active defense feature of the barrier had to be used.

"This doesn't feel right," Chen Mu suddenly thought of something.

Previously in Qing'an Square, many people had indeed suffered attacks from the Black Wind Demon.

They said it was because the attacked abandoned the "Rootless Scripture" and switched to the "One Heart Scripture," failing to promptly attract the protection of Wuxiang City's Divine Power, allowing the Black Wind Demon to exploit the gap.

But logically speaking, as long as the Divine Soldier Barrier was fully deployed, Black Wind Demons wouldn't be able to enter.

Unless…

"Unless Old Lu Gong also deducted that portion of Divine Power back then!"

"The barrier's ability to actively resist the Black Wind was weakened, which is why Black Wind Demons managed to invade!"

Chen Mu's face was a picture of indescribable complexity.

Indeed, the young cannot outsmart the old.

He felt a bit ashamed for having deducted half a percent more of Divine Power.

But Old Lu Gong even dared to hog the wages of the Divine Soldier, a Divine Power generator.

It's simply… simply a model for us all!

Chen Mu almost burst into laughter.

"Where there's a precedent, there's a habit. The elders have already set an example, so following suit should be fine."

"A tribute, if you will, it's all a tribute!" he mused, with a strange smile.

As for the Black Wind Demon…

To be honest, Chen Mu was a bit worried about it, but not much.

Since arriving at Mist Ridge, he had heard many rumors of the Black Wind Demon, but had never seen one himself.

He couldn't understand why; it seemed all these ghosts were deliberately avoiding him.

During Lu Gong's time, a few Black Wind Demons might linger outside the barrier. But since he'd taken control of the Divine Weapon, not a single Black Wind Demon had appeared outside the barrier.

He didn't know the reason, but it was obviously a good thing.

"Without the Black Wind Demon, keeping the barrier up is just a waste."

"Waste is shameful!"

Thinking about the Divine Power wasted over the past month, Chen Mu felt deeply distressed.

"Better late than never."

"I'll take it!"

He turned and grabbed a large chunk of Divine Power from the Divine Weapon and gleefully continued to refine his Heavenly Demon Body.

But soon after he started, rumbling…

A series of muffled thunders boomed and surged forth.

Chen Mu snapped back to his senses, looking up.

Endless large clouds of black smoke appeared in the sky, like countless black fireworks blooming.

With shrill howls echoing, within just a few breaths, they filled the skies above White Bird City.

"Black… Black Wind Demons?"

"So many?!"

Chen Mu's face twitched, his whole body stiff.

I only drew an additional ten percent of Divine Power, how did so many Black Wind Demons show up?

Weren't they avoiding me before? Why are they all out now?

Were they just playing me before?!

Damn it!

This is dishonorable!

...

Forty miles outside White Bird City, on a small mountain, a dusty, gray-green triangular flag stood planted in the mountaintop soil.

Qin Yisheng, dressed in a black-silver floral suit, looked at the middle-aged man beside him, expressionless.

"General, my family…" the middle-aged man's face was pale, trembling as he asked.

"They have been escorted to Emperor Dragon City. Regardless of what happens to Three Paths City, they will be safe for the rest of their lives," Qin Yisheng responded indifferently.

"Thank you, General." The middle-aged man clasped his hands in a salutary gesture, shakily ascending the mountain peak.

Gripping the flagpole with both hands, he took a deep breath and swung it fiercely toward the direction of White Bird City.

With just one swing, his hair rapidly fell out and shriveled, and his skin visibly loosened and sagged, as if he aged decades in an instant.

With another swing, black mottled cracks appeared on his face, resembling shattered porcelain.

By the time he forced out a third swing, he disintegrated into thin pieces of dust, scattering into the air.

Wuuu…

With a low, eerie wail, countless black clouds suddenly appeared atop the mountain, streaking across the sky, dragging long trails of black smoke, and roaring like cannonballs towards distant White Bird City.

Qin Yisheng watched the swiftly departing Black Wind Demons, a sense of relief washing over him.

"The newly established Divine Soldier Holder lacks a stable foundation. When the Black Wind assaults the city, the citizens within will surely scatter."

"Without the support of the Scripture Reciters, even wielding the Divine Weapon, he's no more than an oversized Commander."

"Even with his formidable Divine Skills, the sheer number of Black Wind Demons and my Three Paths City's army will crush him!"

"Sadly, the men I've brought along, likely only a few will survive." Qin Yisheng glanced at the gray ash spread on the ground, his always cold and stern face finally twitching involuntarily.

"Qin Yue, oh Qin Yue, you are indeed more of a hindrance than a help!"

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he coldly waved his hand once more: "Next!"

This is all for Three Paths City!