White Bird Square, White Bird City, Fan Building Headquarters, top floor of Yihong Pavilion.

Xu Gui reeked of alcohol, his face flushed red.

Four or five scantily clad older sisters were pressed next to him, occasionally serving dishes and pouring wine.

"You don't know how dangerous it was that day!" Xu Gui sighed.

"I walked out of Fan Building and ran into a Black Wind Demon."

"That Black Wind Demon was huge and extremely fierce."

"If you all met it, the Black Wind Demon could easily swallow you whole!" He looked genuinely concerned.

"But, too bad it ran into me."

"Who am I? Brother Gui from Qing'an Square, Deputy City Lord of White Bird City."

"I went up and with a couple of punches, knocked it down." Xu Gui gestured animatedly with his hands and feet.

"That big guy tried to get up and run, but could it escape? It didn't have the strength, you know."

"I took a step forward and in an instant, it was covered in bumps!" Xu Gui said disdainfully.

"Then what happened..."

"You managed to kill the Black Wind Demon with your bare hands?" asked the well-endowed older sister on the left, full of admiration.

"Such a pity." Xu Gui took a sip of wine, his tone filled with regret.

"I was in a hurry and didn't have time to deliver the finishing blow. By the time I returned, the coward had already run away."

"I can't ignore the safety of White Bird City, given my role as Deputy City Lord, right?" He looked genuinely regretful.

"Lord Xu, what righteousness!"

"Brother Gui, how powerful!" The older sisters praised generously.

"It's all for everyone. It's not worth mentioning, haha..." Xu Gui waved his hand, laughing heartily, his face filled with pride.

"Brother Gui, if the Black Wind Demon escaped near Fan Building, could it come back?"

"What if it hides in some dark place and seeks revenge on you, what then?" The older sister on the right looked at Xu Gui worriedly with her watery peach blossom eyes.

Upon hearing this, Xu Gui slapped the table and wobbled to his feet.

"Hey! It better stay hidden."

"If it dares appear before me again."

"Heh heh!"

"I'll crush it with one punch!" He shouted drunkenly.

Having said that, he squinted his eyes, revealing a smug smile, waiting for the older sisters' praises.

But he waited a while, and no praise came.

Xu Gui fluttered his eyes open and then... then he saw a giant tiger head up close. The pair of human-sized eyes were now staring at him mockingly.

Black with golden patterns, a big black cat with wings?!

Xu Gui: "..."

I was just joking around. Why did you really come?!

"Help me, ah ah ah..."

...

Outside the door.

Listening to the screams inside, Chen Mu smiled with satisfaction.

While men like us toil tirelessly to purify Demon Seeds and subdue Black Wind Demons to protect White Bird City,

You, fatso, are indulging in the company of others?

Hey!

Well, don't blame me for spicing up your life a little.

Through the crack in the door, seeing Xu Gui being swatted around like a ball by the big black cat, Chen Mu couldn't help but laugh.

Serves you right for boasting.

Well, now you've blown up your exaggerations.

Haha...

...

At the same time, similar scenes were happening all over White Bird City.

Numerous Black Wind Demons suddenly leapt from beams, from under beds, from shadowy corners, and from roadside bushes,

Some scared people before darting off, others chased them across three streets, simply to tear their clothes into strips, just to cause a commotion.

The entire White Bird City seemed like a large haunted house, constantly refreshed by Black Wind Demons, causing chaos everywhere.

Beside White Bird Lake, in front of a straw hut.

The gray Divine Soldier Stone floated before Chen Mu.

In the Seven Emotions Curse perception, desires and emotions several times denser than usual surged from all corners of White Bird City, rushing into the Divine Soldier.

On the gray stone, silver stars twinkled, like a cat that had eaten cat treats, purring contentedly.

Soon, divine power surged massively around the Divine Soldier.

"This giant haunted house was well-made."

"Everyone has fun, and I can gain more divine power."

"What's this called? It's called a win-win!"

Chen Mu grinned widely.

As he was enjoying himself, a realization suddenly surfaced in his mind.

Chen Mu instinctively summoned the gray panel, looking at a familiar entry.

Seven Emotions Curse: 2/10000/Fifth Rank;

"Seven Emotions Curse?"

"Didn't it just level up recently? How come there's another?"

With Rootless Scripture reaching Perfection recently, the Seven Emotions Curse upgraded alongside. It hadn't been more than three months, yet it upgraded again.

If he diligently practiced every day, the upgrade would be logical.

But Chen Mu hadn't been practicing much lately. He mostly observed the Divine Soldier absorbing desires and emotions, nowhere near enough for a level-up.

"Previously, the Life and Death Seal in Thousand Lanterns City slowly helped the Seven Emotions Curse gain experience."

"But now, the Life and Death Seal is within the Divine Soldier..."

"Hmm, Divine Soldier?!"

"Can the Divine Soldier assist in boosting Seven Emotions Curse experience too?"

Chen Mu suddenly realized.

Since 'Rootless Scripture' can upgrade the Seven Emotions Curse, indicating a connection, and its true intent lies within the Divine Soldier. Actively controlling the Divine Soldier with the Life and Death Seal, observing its operation, along with insight from the gray stone gate...

"The Divine Soldier could logically assist in gaining Seven Emotions Curse experience then."

Chen Mu marveled at the gray stone.

Busy purifying Demon Seeds earlier, he hardly noticed. Unexpectedly, silently, the Divine Soldier increased the Seven Emotions Curse experience by over 5,000.

"This White Bird City is truly my treasure!"

Chen Mu's smile grew brighter.

...

The night grew darker, and the sky dimmed further.

Screams sounded not far from White Bird Lake.

As if déjà vu, Chen Mu looked up and saw Xu Gui, dressed in rags like a beggar, chased by the winged big cat towards White Bird Lake.

Running while screaming, it looked so miserable.

Serves you right for indulging with others and not inviting me.

Deserved!

Chen Mu watched the bouncing ball-like Xu Gui with a delighted smile.

But as he laughed, he noticed Xu Gui's form was pulling away. The more he exerted himself to bounce towards him, the further the distance grew. It made Chen Mu feel as if he was rapidly retreating.

Moreover, he discovered that even the mountains encircling White Bird Lake began to recede swiftly.

Originally a mere ten miles away, Little Ring Mountain quickly ran to several tens of miles afar, with no signs of slowing down.

Before he could comprehend, the Jade Cicada Protective Qi Mechanism exploded, and the Heavenly Demon Armor layered on.

Truth Listening Divine Power instantly unfolded, Chen Mu narrowed his eyes in chills.

Unknown when, a long bone sword appeared behind his neck.

As the somewhat round blade effortlessly bypassed the Protective Qi Mechanism and Heavenly Demon Armor, before touching his skin, the neck hairs cut by invisible forces. Even his skin silently sliced open a fine sliver, soon cutting into his neck!

Chen Mu almost instinctively activated the Vertical Earth Rainbow Light Shrinking Ground into Inches, instantly darting hundreds of meters away.

Looking back, he found, unknown when, a young man in a purple suit holding a long bone sword, standing where he was.

Qin Yisheng?

General of Three Paths City?

Didn't he leave already, why return sneakily?!

Moreover, that sword...

"Able to dodge my Seven Kills Bone Sword, you have some skill, no wonder you picked up the position of White Bird City's City Lord." Qin Yisheng nodded slightly, his tone somewhat condescending.

Hearing this, Chen Mu couldn't help narrowing his eyes.

"Ah, it's General Qin." He said, face calmly.

Qin Yisheng raised an eyebrow: "You recognize me?"

He didn't recall meeting this person.

"I'm only familiar with those Secret Agents from Three Paths City." Chen Mu said calmly, his tone full of mockery.

Qin Yisheng's mouth twisted.

Recalling his Secret Spy Bureau silently captured, half-fallen barracks, his expression grew chilling.

Fang Zong's blunder!

A spoil-sport rat ruin my pot of porridge, I must deal with it on return!