Chapter 1 An Erupting Battle

"Rumble..."

A fierce battle was instantly ignited. Iron Steed Great Hall Official's horse was sinister and strange, with unmatched momentum. The great saber in his hand fell, instantly stirring up rolling sand and gravel, as if the entire forest was trembling.

The Bu Shi Niu (Those Who Do Not Eat Beef) side guffawed, each using their skills to meet the onslaught.

From here, not only Iron Steed Great Hall Official, but also the other small hall officials from Stone Horse Town received their orders and led their men toward the town, each with surging spirits and murderous auras.

Each of these small hall officials had three Catch-Blade Attendants and a dozen errand runners. In total, they were only twenty-odd people, but as Shousui (Year Guardians), they each had unique skills, truly exuding a fierce aura, scaring the roadside dogs into silence.

"The Lantern Fire Blessing Gathering, who dares to offend?"

But similarly, people from Stone Horse Town led their forces out to meet these small hall officials, each displaying strange arts, and in the blink of an eye, they were engaged in a fierce battle.

"It's time to make a move..."

At this moment, even Master Sun and Altar Master Tang of Stone Horse Town looked at each other, their minds uncertain. The town's people, even the ordinary followers of the Yi Qian (One Coin) Sect, did not know what was happening, but they knew it clearly.

Thoughts flashed through their minds, and they suddenly shouted, "Our Shixiong (Senior Brothers) have arrived! What's the use of us still hiding in the town?"

"Go out and greet them! If we can gain the appreciation of our Shixiong (Senior Brothers), who knows what kind of good fortune awaits us!"

"..."

Once the decision was made, they stood up and rushed out. Some carried weapons, while others gathered their underlings. In an instant, a hundred or two people, each with their own weapons, looked imposing.

Before the Bu Shi Niu (Those Who Do Not Eat Beef) disciples appeared, they were just hiding in Stone Horse Town. Although they thought they couldn't escape, no one was so headstrong as to rush out directly. But now it was different, no one would hide in the town anymore.

The local tyrant of Willow County, Master Sun, the Great Benevolence Treasure Altar Master, the Horse Palm Shopkeeper of the Ten Thousand Horse Gang, the adopted son-in-law of Granny Wu, and even the owner of the coffin shop in the town rushed out, setting up a coffin formation all around.

Like the crushing of qi, strange arts were displayed around Stone Horse Town, making it lively and extraordinary. All kinds of strange people were fighting each other, making it very lively.

However, as if they had a tacit understanding, everyone aimed to compete in their skills, but no one truly risked their lives. Instead, they were constantly paying attention to the direction from which Iron Steed Great Hall Official was charging, shouting and killing loudly, but only concerned about the movements there.

"Whoosh..."

Iron Steed Great Hall Official held a great saber, riding a tiger-skin toad-headed horse, charging down the hillside and slashing toward the Bu Shi Niu (Those Who Do Not Eat Beef)妖ren (demon-cultivators) blocking the way. But as he approached, the figures of those妖ren (demon-cultivators) disappeared with a gust of yin wind.

Only a few things suddenly appeared on the small road ahead.

It was a lonely grave, which looked ancient, but was located in the middle of the road, blocking their path. There were still traces of burning incense and offerings in front of the grave, which was strangely unusual.

"Grave Shifting Art?"

Iron Steed Great Hall Official's face sank, recognizing this as a邪术 (heretical art) of the妖ren (demon-cultivators).

They could move graves from other places to the road by chanting spells and burning incense. This road became neither yin nor yang, living people would be blocked, and dead people would be invited in as guests.

This kind of art was a secret method of the Hai Shou (Harm the Head) branch, and it was also recognized as one of the most difficult arts in the Hai Shou (Harm the Head) branch.

The reason was that desecrating a grave was a serious crime. The person who set up the术 (art) was the most insidious. Either they would be blocked, or they would be harmed by the things in the grave, or they would have to endure the loss of陰德 (Yin Virtue) from breaking the grave. All three paths were blocked, and no one was a good person inside or out.

"Ha!"

But Iron Steed Great Hall Official came riding his horse, without the slightest hesitation, he instantly swung his saber and slashed straight at the grave.

Only the sound of sand and stone being cut could be heard, and he was seen directly picking up the grave, including the ground below, lifting the entire grave mound into the air. Then, with a shake of his saber force, he instantly shattered it.

"Big-Headed Hall Official, return my Yin Dwelling..."

From the flying, exploding grave soil, a wailing voice appeared. Innocent wronged souls cried out and grabbed at Iron Steed Great Hall Official's face, but he snorted through his nose, scattering them directly.

In the next moment, he had already pulled up the reins and charged forward again. At the end of the small road, the lights of Stone Horse Town were as if close at hand. Not to mention three incense sticks' time, at this speed, it seemed as if he would arrive in a few breaths.

"Huff!"

But at this moment, someone was kneeling on the side of the small road, burning paper money, a sinister sneer flashing across his face. The paper money burning in his hand suddenly waved gently to the side.

Iron Steed Great Hall Official, while galloping, only felt a blur before his eyes. When he rubbed them and looked again, the straight road ahead had suddenly been blown by a gust of wind and turned into two winding forked roads, faintly seeming to point to Stone Horse Town.

And at the intersection of the two forked roads, there were all dark figures, riding paper horses, with four pennant flags inserted into their bodies, their eyes cold, and the weapons in their hands raised high, looking straight at Iron Steed Great Hall Official.

"Hey, short-legged Hall Official, the Road of Life and Death is open, let's see how you choose?"

"..."

"Playing tricks!"

Iron Steed Great Hall Official's speed did not decrease. He turned a deaf ear to their阴损 (insidious) words, shouted sharply, and charged straight at the intersection. The rolling blood energy on his body surged, and the tiger-skin toad-headed horse under him leaped high, turning into a cloud of yin mist, and charged straight ahead.

He didn't even look at the two roads, but kept his eyes on Stone Horse Town ahead, charging straight ahead.

"Swish..."

Seeing this, the ghost generals riding paper horses were also furious, and they rushed into the air, flanking Iron Steed Great Hall Official. But with an angry shout from him, the paper figures shattered and fell from the air, burning. The two roads also merged into one.

And when Iron Steed Great Hall Official landed, he was still on that road, fierce and unmatched, rushing forward, as if only a step away from Stone Horse Town.

But at the same time, the girl carrying the old grandpa on her back had also darted out, her two small fists clenched tightly, and suddenly struck down on his face, rolling and tumbling, passing several moves in succession.

In the forests on both sides, countless heads surged, and countless people laughed strangely, scolding, "This big-headed old man is worthy of being the number one among the Shousui (Year Guardians) outside the Zhou family. Look how fierce he is, he doesn't even have a brain..."

"What's the use of such a big head if there's no brain inside?"

"Hehe, a dignified Shang Qiao (Upper Bridge) Shousui (Year Guardian), and he's willing to be a running dog. What do you think is in his brain?"

"..."

Countless ghost shadows rushed over, and even those dense but clear阴森 (ghastly) words drilled into his ears. Iron Steed Great Hall Official tightened his expression and charged fiercely, turning a blind eye to these demons and monsters, and just charged forward.

"Shixiong (Senior Brother) Jin Chenzi, it's no use saying such things to scold him. It seems like he doesn't even care about us..."

Someone asked curiously in a low voice, but heard the opera troupe leader chuckle, "Don't worry, it's definitely useful. This big-headed Shousui (Year Guardian) Hall Official is actually the most petty. If you scold him, he'll be angry in his heart for a long time."

"But he also says something about cultivating qi, pretending that he doesn't care. So, the more you scold him, the more he hides it in his heart, and sooner or later he'll explode..."

"..."

As a result, more strange sounds poured out. Before the Shousui (Year Guardian) Great Hall Official Iron Steed, there were hazy ghost shadows, Bu Shi Niu (Those Who Do Not Eat Beef)妖ren (demon-cultivators), appearing from the air, the ground, or not even showing their faces, but with fierce moves, all pointing at him.

...

...

"The妖ren (demon-cultivators) of the Bu Shi Niu (Those Who Do Not Eat Beef) do have some skills. They can actually entangle that Shousui (Year Guardian) Great Hall Official?"

On the head of Stone Horse Town, Hu Ma looked at the bloody storm and the fierce fighting all around, and sighed softly. In fact, he should also go and take a look. That was a Great Hall Official of the Shousui (Year Guardian) branch. How much would it help him to see his skills?

It's just a pity that things always have to be prioritized...

The Meng family, the Meng family...

He had felt earlier that if he only scared away this Meng family, although he would make a small profit, he would feel a great loss in his heart. Now it was just right, someone had taken on that Great Hall Official and was protecting the Lantern Fire Blessing Gathering in this town.

Then he had to free up his hands to do serious business...

Grit his teeth slightly, the plan was set, and he slowly retreated, and slowly took out a stick of green incense from his arms and lit it. Before long, he saw Little Red Begonia with a brazier on her head, trotting into his field of vision.

He gestured to Little Red Begonia, reassured Master Ma, who was irritable and impatient, and quietly touched the other end of the forest without alarming anyone.

"Where is the Cult Leader?"

Inside the main mansion of the main altar, Immortal Maiden Miao Shan was also excited, "I'll go and ask the Cult Leader to meet Senior Apprentice Brother."

"No, it's against the rules. Senior Apprentice Brother should go to see the Cult Leader."

"..."

Looking at this appearance, she had a bit of a look of wanting to show off something to Senior Apprentice Brother, but after getting up and glancing a few times, she was a little surprised: "Hey, where did the Cult Leader go?"

"He is the Cult Leader, why should he report to us where he has gone?"

But that Senior Apprentice Brother, who looked like an old farmer in the fields, sighed lowly, his eyes distant, and said, "After all, this time is too short. Even if they received the message, there are still too few people who can come in just two days."

"The disciples of the Jin Pi Gua Cai (Golden Skin, Painted Colors) and Ping Tuan Diao Liu (Level Groups, Harmonious Willows) eight lines, only my younger brother Jin Chen'er and I have come. Although the others are my Bu Shi Niu (Those Who Do Not Eat Beef) disciples, their skills are not enough. If we are to deal with a Great Hall Official, plus that Meng family member from the Ten Surnames, it will still be a bit difficult."

"I just don't know, since God has shown grace and sent our Cult Leader back, will he also give us a surprise?"

"..."

"..."

When the Bu Shi Niu (Those Who Do Not Eat Beef) disciples were dispatched and countless people were concerned about the situation, Hu Ma had also left the town, sighed lowly, and said to Little Red Begonia, "Go send a signal!"

"Who says that when facing the Meng family and the Great Hall Official, we must stay here and wait?"

"We, kill them!"

(End of this chapter)