Dark clouds gathered ominously over the small town ahead. Dare Drake Tran and Zhu Bajie stood on a high hill, watching strange black smoke swirling between the rooftops below.
"Demonic energy…" Zhu Bajie narrowed his eyes. "But something's off. I've never seen demonic energy like this, even back in the Heavenly Realm."
[System Notification: New Mission - "Purify the Town"
• Difficulty: ★★★★
• Reward: 50% training speed boost for 24 hours
• Time Limit: 2 hours]
"The people are in danger." Dare clenched his fists. Although he had only reached Qi Refining Stage 6, his sense of duty as a former Celestial Sovereign remained strong.
"Going live, right?" Zhu Bajie asked, knowing the answer already.
"Of course." Dare smiled, activating the system. "But we'll need to be extra careful this time."
[Notification: Livestream "Rescue the Town" has started]
[Notification: "Demonic Energy Analysis" feature activated]
"Hello, everyone!" Dare greeted the virtual audience. "Today, we're purging demonic energy from a town. But first, Senior Brother Zhu Bajie will show me a special purification technique."
[CelestialPalace_001: Be cautious. This demonic energy originates from the Great Mercy Temple.]
[CelestialPalace_002: Pay attention to its color. This is no ordinary demonic energy.]
Zhu Bajie nodded. "Alright, I'll teach you the Celestial Purification Method. Back in the day, this was the Heavenly Realm's secret technique for banishing demonic energy."
The viewer count quickly soared as Zhu Bajie demonstrated the intricate movements of the technique. Gone was his usual humor—he moved with the poise of a Heavenly Marshal.
[Analysis in Progress: Unusual demonic energy. Suggested adjustment for specialized content, with a focus on demonic energy's effect on the townspeople.]
"Watch closely," Zhu Bajie said, moving in a precise octagonal pattern. "The Celestial Purification Method has eight core steps, each corresponding to a direction. The most crucial part is…"
Suddenly, a scream echoed from the town below. The demonic energy spiraled violently, and figures stumbled out from the black clouds.
[GIFT ALERT! 10,000 "Purification Talismans" sent!]
[Viewers exceeding 1 million! Record-breaking start!]
"SENIOR BROTHER!" Dare called out. "There's no time for practice!"
[CelestialPalace_001: Use the Heavenly Spirit Dance with the first step of the method.]
[CelestialPalace_002: The demonic energy is affecting the townspeople. Hurry!]
Zhu Bajie was already charging down into the town, his Ninefold Spirit Trident slicing through the demonic haze. Dare followed, trying to recall the movements he had just learned.
[System Analysis:
• Demonic Energy Purity: 80%
• Attribute: Can affect mental states
• Origin: Great Mercy Temple traces detected
• Warning: Rapidly spreading]
"Look up there!" a villager pointed. "The demonic energy… it's forming a symbol!"
Sure enough, the black smoke was twisting, gradually forming a symbol they recognized—the mark of the Great Mercy Temple, twisted and menacing.
"CELESTIAL PURIFICATION METHOD – FIRST FORM!"
Dare took a deep breath and began performing the first movement of the technique. The virtual gifts from viewers transformed into pure energy, enhancing each of his gestures.
[3 million viewers!]
[GIFT ALERT! Endless stream of gifts pouring in!]
[CelestialPalace_001: That's it… now combine it with the Heavenly Spirit Dance…]
The demonic energy roared in response. The Great Mercy Temple's symbol in the sky began to warp, as if it were fighting against Dare's purification efforts.
"Cough, cough!" Zhu Bajie spluttered, charging through the thick miasma. "Careful! This demonic energy can erode your spiritual power!"
But it was too late to stop. Dare had completed the first cycle of the Celestial Purification Method. A radiant circle of light expanded from his position, pushing the demonic energy back.
[System Alert: Demonic energy is evolving!]
[System Alert: Unusual reaction detected!]
"Junior Brother!" Zhu Bajie shouted. "The demonic energy… it's trying to reconstruct the Great Mercy Temple's formation!"
Sure enough, the black smoke began swirling into a familiar pattern—one that matched the formation they had encountered in the forest.
[CelestialPalace_002: STOP! It's a trap!]
But the warning came too late. The demonic energy abruptly coalesced into thick black cords that ensnared both Dare and Zhu Bajie.
"Ugh…" Zhu Bajie struggled, trying to swing his Ninefold Spirit Trident. "This demonic energy… it feels alive!"
[5 million viewers! New record!]
[GIFT ALERT! Millions of "Purification Talismans" being sent!]
[CelestialPalace_001: Use the viewers' energy! NOW!]
In that desperate moment, Dare recalled a feature he had unlocked. He quickly activated "Energy Conversion," transforming all virtual gifts into real power.
"Senior Brother!" Dare shouted. "First and eighth forms, together!"
Zhu Bajie understood instantly. Despite being bound, they synchronized their movements. The Ninefold Spirit Trident in Zhu Bajie's hands began to blaze brilliantly.
[System Notification: Energy Resonance Detected!]
[System Notification: Activating "Dual Purification"!]
"CELESTIAL PURIFICATION METHOD – DUAL PURIFICATION!"
A massive column of light erupted from the two of them, tearing through the darkened sky. The demonic energy shrieked as the Great Mercy Temple's symbol in the sky began to dissolve.
"Look!" a villager pointed. "Something's falling!"
From the dissipating black cloud, a small object tumbled downward. Zhu Bajie swiftly caught it.
"A… jade shard?" He examined it with a frown. "Hold on, this is…"
[CelestialPalace_001: Keep it. That's a fragment of a Buddhist Relic.]
[CelestialPalace_002: But why would it be used to generate demonic energy?]
The sky gradually returned to a clear blue. The townspeople erupted into cheers, but Dare and Zhu Bajie had little time to celebrate.
"Senior Brother," Dare said, scrutinizing the jade shard. "I think I've seen this somewhere before…"
"Yes." Zhu Bajie's expression was grave. "A Buddhist Relic—an artifact of the Great Mercy Temple. But how was it turned into a demonic tool?"
[System Analysis Complete:
• Object: Verified as Buddhist Relic
• Condition: Infiltrated by demonic interference
• Notable: Traces of an ancient formation
• Alert: Similar relic fragments detected nearby]
[Livestream ended with 10 million viewers!]
[Notification: Earned Title "Demonic Purifier"]
[Notification: Received 1 million virtual gifts]
The townsfolk gathered around to express their gratitude. An elderly man approached, his voice trembling.
"Thank you, honored guests… This demonic energy appeared over a month ago. We called on the Great Mercy Temple for help, but they said… they were occupied with internal matters."
Dare and Zhu Bajie exchanged glances. A month ago—the same time when the first signs of disturbance had emerged.
[CelestialPalace_001: The Great Mercy Temple is hiding something.]
[CelestialPalace_002: Find the other relic fragments. They'll lead you to the truth.]
"Aha!" Zhu Bajie suddenly exclaimed. "I know what we should make!"
"Senior Brother…" Dare sighed. "Now's not the time for—"
"No, no! Listen—Purification Porridge! I'll combine pure spiritual energy with…" Zhu Bajie's enthusiasm took over, entirely forgetting the seriousness of the situation.
[System Notification: New Mission Unlocked!
• "Secrets of the Relics"
• Difficulty: ★★★★★
• Reward: Unknown
• Duration: Until reaching the Great Mercy Temple]
Dare looked at the relic fragment in his hand, then turned toward the horizon. The Great Mercy Temple… Every step closer only raised more questions than it answered.
"Let's go, Senior Brother," he said. "We need to find the other relic fragments."
"Yes!" Zhu Bajie nodded. "But first… porridge!"
The sun was sinking low, casting a blood-red glow across the sky. The two brothers left the town behind, with the grateful townsfolk cheering them on and a journey of mysteries awaiting them ahead.