Jiang Liuer was seeing a living "dragon" for the first time, but this creature differed from his imagination—its draconic head appeared far more grotesque and terrifying. Strangely, he observed no dragon scales whatsoever on its body.

    He recalled Senior Bajie's words: Dragons are inherently lustful. Could this "dragon" in the sky be a hybrid between a true dragon and some demon?

    Was this the great demon behind the traitor Liu? The very evil that had plunged Jiangzhou into chaos?

    Oddly, only Jiang Liuer, the River God, the Land God, and the Mountain God could perceive the "dragon." The citizens of Jiangzhou remained oblivious—vendors hawked wares, beggars pleaded, courtesans flirted...

    "What profound illusion magic! Such formidable cultivation, to blind an entire city's populace." Jiang Liuer's youthful face hardened with gravity. This demon was ten thousand times more dangerous than Lang Wuji.

    At that moment, the dragon's gaze shifted toward the prefectural office. Their eyes locked. Mere visual contact sent violent tremors through Jiang Liuer's soul. Had his cultivation not recently advanced, fortifying his spirit, that single glance might have shattered his soul from its vessel.

    Dark clouds churned, coalescing into a celestial staircase. The colossal dragon head vanished, replaced by a humanoid figure clutching an ornate parasol, descending leisurely. With each step, Jiangzhou's sky darkened further.

    Citizens glanced upward in confusion. "Why does night fall so swiftly today?" some murmured. The local deities stood petrified, staring at the approaching figure—eight feet tall, draconic-headed, draped in black furs, exuding oppressive malice.

    "This king imagined the meddler ruining my plans to be a heaven-defying youth, like Nezha of old—pardon, the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas nowadays." The demon's voice rumbled. "Yet seeing you tremble mute before me... Why silence now, when you sought the mastermind behind Jiangzhou's turmoil?"

    Ignoring the trembling deities—insignificant ants he could crush effortlessly—the demon continued descending. When his feet touched earth, night fell ink-black. Howling winds and lightning drove citizens indoors.

    Unbeknownst to the demon, Jiang Liuer's silence stemmed from frantic communication with his mentors through their group channel:

    [Jiang Liuer]: "The mastermind appears. [Image]. A hybrid dragon, resembling but distinct from true dragons. No Dharma Treasure Orb mentioned by the carp spirit, but he wields a parasol—likely another artifact."

    [Muscle Monk Tang]: "Mere pest. On the later Western Journey, this worm wouldn't qualify as a Demon King."

    Jiang Liuer shuddered. If the pilgrimage's perils were so extreme, might he perish halfway without even acquiring disciples like Senior Tang?

    [Yellow Brow Ancestor]: "Interesting parasol—seethes with resentment. This 'Myriad Grudge Umbrella' has consumed at least 100,000 souls' despair."

    Jiang Liuer paled. Human despair—born from corrupt officials, crushing taxes, disasters, plagues, injustice... All precisely what Jiangzhou endured under demon-human collusion.

    [Cleansing Altar Bodhisattva]: "Let Old Zhu handle this worm! Summon me, Little Master!"

    [Muscle Monk Tang]: "Patience. Let the boy taste battle. Recall my Golden Elixir? Consume it now. Win—I'll save you. Lose—I'll still save you."

    Reluctantly, Jiang Liuer retrieved the glowing elixir from his ring.

    [Muscle Monk Tang]: "Its potency fades daily. Use it or lose it."

    [Cleansing Altar Bodhisattva]: "No action for me? Pity—wanted to show off my Buddha-palm technique!"

    [Muscle Monk Tang]: "Save strength. This worm has celestial backers."

    As Jiang Liuer remained silent, Demon Ao Yi's irritation mounted. "A mute fool, yet you ruined my grand scheme?" His parasol twirled, intent on crushing the youth.

    Suddenly—

    Jiang Liuer swallowed the golden pill. Ao Yi laughed: "Resorting to desperate measures? Useless! This king's draconic blood and 1,990 years of cultivation surpass mortal realms. My magic rivals oceans!"

    Radiance erupted as Jiang Liuer drew the Vajra Demon-Subduing Pestle. Ao Yi's smile froze. The youth then summoned the Heaven-Shaking Sea-Quelling Sword, his aura exploding ten-thousandfold.

    "This sword—?!" Ao Yi gaped.

    Sword hovering, pestle gleaming, Jiang Liuer declared: "Since heaven and earth spare you, I shall mete justice. Today, I sever your mountain-high sins!"

    ...