"Having a great demon as a backer doesn't matter," Jiang Liu'er said earnestly. "I also have seniors assisting me who taught me skills far superior to any demon under heaven."

    Yin Wenjiao composed herself and asked, "How confident are you in killing Liu Hong, my son?"

    Jiang Liu'er replied, "If he has demons under four centuries of cultivation accompanying him, I'm absolutely certain to kill the traitor. Against demons over four centuries, my odds drop to fifty percent. For millennial demons, I'd need to use my trump card."

    Yin Wenjiao marveled, "You've acquired such formidable skills!"

    She then suggested, "But if I'm rescued today, Liu Hong's suspicious nature might make him flee. Shouldn't we wait for his return?"

    Jiang Liu'er suddenly understood, "Mother's foresight is wise indeed!"

    The young monk decided to stay in Jiangzhou City until Liu Hong returned from touring mountains with his betrothed concubine.

    His mother temporarily departed, changing out of servant clothes and secretly returning them before scaling the compound walls.

    Shou Qing waited outside, asking curiously, "Did you meet your mother, fellow cultivator?"

    "I did!"

    Jiang Liu'er's spirits lifted after confirming his mother's survival and plotting against Liu Hong, though rage resurged when recalling her years of captivity.

    Taking deep breaths, he channeled recent transgressions' restlessness into spiritual power through reciting The Great Vehicle Scripture of Karmic Transgression.

    "Let's find an inn," he proposed. "When Liu returns, we'll kill him, rescue Mother, and eliminate any demons if possible."

    Shou Qing started, "Demons?"

    Jiang Liu'er revealed Liu's demonic connections, prompting Shou Qing's realization: "No wonder the city reeks of evil! No wonder those poorly disguised demons pass through gates freely!"

    "The greater demon's presence attracts wickedness," Jiang Liu'er observed, gazing at oppressive storm clouds overhead. "Half of Tang's evil spirits might gather here. Even street vendors could be demons."

    His voice hardened. "Liu defiles my father Chen Guangrui's name, making people think him the empire's most corrupt official! That traitor and his demon patron bear mountain-high sins!"

    As they sought lodging, canine performances drew crowds. A lanky dog-trainer commanded performing hounds - somersaulting, hoop-jumping, even bipedal coin-collecting with a bowl.

    Shou Qing chuckled while tossing coins, delighted by a dog's grateful circling. Hu Yuyu suddenly warned, "Master, those dogs carry human scent."

    Jiang Liu'er activated Underworld Insight Technique. His eyes glowed as he saw human souls within performing dogs... and canine essence within the trainer.

    "The bowl's cursed!" he realized. "Coins drain vitality - more coins, more stolen essence. That dog-demon's cultivation is profound!"

    Hu Yuyu cautioned against confrontation, but when three spectators collapsed after donating, Jiang Liu'er could no longer restrain himself.

    "ABOMINATION!!!"

    The Ocean-Calming Sword materialized, its blade splitting into ten watery projectiles. With sword-finger guidance, the blades shot past spectators directly at the dog-trainer...