Over the course of a month, Shen Mo traversed most of the Death Jaw Dungeon.

Tianshun Country, the secular kingdom of this region, was slightly smaller than Qing State, where the Riverside Sect resided.

However, Tianshun Country was anything but 'Heaven Obedient'!

Pervasive ghostly Qi filled the air, crops failed completely, and all living beings were as if cast into a furnace of venomous fire, suffering unbearable torment.

Mortals continually died from eating tree bark and earth. Some, in desperation, hanged themselves or drowned in rivers. Still more were murdered and turned into 'human livestock'.

Under the influence of the ghostly Qi and their own resentment, they transformed into Hungry Ghosts, Hanged Ghosts, Green-skinned Ghosts, and other such specters, emerging to wreak havoc and torment those still living.

What surprised Shen Mo was that about seventy to eighty percent of Tianshun Country's topography matched that of the Ghost Nation Ruins!

He even found the ruined Ghost Village where he and Chen Mengze had once rested. Villagers still lived there.

However, they had all become bloodthirsty from cannibalism, their bodies reeking heavily of gore and ghostly Qi.

Upon seeing Shen Mo, instead of retreating, they charged at him with various crude weapons.

They even clamored to taste an Immortal Master's flesh and drink his blood, wondering if it would be more fragrant and delicious than that of ordinary humans!

Shen Mo did not hold back, dispatching them with a single stream of sword Qi to grant them release.

It seems that this Tianshun Country is indeed the precursor to the Ghost Nation Ruins!

But why isn't there a single trace of a cultivator? Not to mention disciples from immortal sects, I haven't even seen a single rogue cultivator.

The commoners are not unfamiliar with cultivators. Seeing me, they even knew to address me as Immortal Master!

Furthermore, even if the world is in such a harsh state, there are still people who can survive. Why then, in later ages, did it completely degenerate into a Ghost Country?

The ancient records of the Riverside Sect contained no mention of Tianshun Country. It was unknown whether this was because it was geographically too distant from Red Flame Country, or because it existed in an extremely ancient era.

As Shen Mo passed by the Capital of Tianshun Country, he hadn't intended to stop. Unexpectedly, however, he saw a familiar figure on the city wall.

Ghost General?

Shen Mo descended from his flying sword.

The figure first performed a military salute, then removed his face mask, revealing a forthright countenance. "Greetings, Immortal Master! You may have mistaken me. This humble general's surname is Zhang."

This General Zhang wore armor that, while not as dilapidated as the Ghost General's, was unmistakably the same suit.

Even the broken plate on the left abdomen, down to the shape and pattern of the crack, was identical.

Moreover, Shen Mo had fought the Ghost General and remembered the appearance of its soul. He definitely wouldn't mistake him.

However, the Ghost General's crimson eyes had been filled with rage and madness.

In contrast, this General Zhang before him appeared forthright and kind.

Although his eyes were filled with weariness, one could still discern the determination and compassion hidden beneath the fatigue.

"Oh, General Zhang, you greatly resemble an acquaintance of mine. I must have been mistaken. Please don't take offense."

Shen Mo nodded and replied, "I've been traveling and have many questions. If you have the time, General, perhaps we could sit and chat for a while?"

Saying this, he took spiritual wine and preserved meat from his Universe Bag and laid them out on the city wall.

General Zhang didn't immediately agree. Instead, he called over the soldiers on duty, whispered a few instructions to them, then cupped his hands towards Shen Mo and sat down cross-legged.

Shen Mo heard him clearly. He was instructing the soldiers to keep a constant watch for any movement both inside and outside the city gates, and if any ghosts appeared, to report to him immediately.

GULP!

"AHHH... Good wine!" General Zhang drained the spiritual wine in his cup, exhaling the alcoholic aroma as he praised it.

"Immortal Master, you may not be aware, but in recent years, life has become increasingly harsh. The imperial court has already forbidden the brewing of wine from grain!"

"By the way, Immortal Master, are you planning to enter the Capital to seek an audience with His Majesty?"

"Allow me to announce your presence! It has been more than a year since an Immortal Master last graced the Capital. His Majesty will surely be delighted to see you."

Shen Mo shook his head.

With a flick of his finger, the spiritual wine in the jug flowed into Zhang's cup, filling it. Shen Mo replied calmly, "I have no plans to enter the city. After a small drink with you, General, I shall depart."

The situation within the Capital of Tianshun Country was no better than in the smaller cities and towns; indeed, it was arguably worse.

With a sweep of his spiritual sense, Shen Mo discovered countless horrific scenes.

Among the common populace, exchanging children for food, cannibalism, human flesh stalls, murder, and dismemberment... such horrific scenes were commonplace in this supposed 'paragon of virtue'.

As for the high officials and dignitaries, they regarded the city's inhabitants as mere livestock, to be slaughtered and consumed.

By doing so, they continued to live lives of utter extravagance and unrestrained debauchery.

Conversely, General Zhang, who was drinking with him, bore no trace of the stench of human flesh, clearly still striving to uphold his principles in this mire.

However, Shen Mo clearly perceived that General Zhang cultivated military martial arts. Although he possessed strength at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm, his body's Qi and blood were severely depleted and failing.

His condition was even worse than that of Gu Ming and Gu Zhao, who had depleted their vital foundation by practicing demonic arts.

Evidently, lacking sufficient food, he had been constantly overdrawing his own Qi, blood, and essence to maintain his peak strength.

This jug of spiritual wine from Shen Mo could only offer minor nourishment, barely enough to sustain his life for another half-month.

Upon hearing Shen Mo had no intention to enter the city, a trace of disappointment flashed across General Zhang's face, but he quickly recovered.

After a few cups of spiritual wine, his spirits rose, and he grew more talkative.

From his words, Shen Mo learned his full name was Zhang Taian.

His name, Taian, was taken from the saying 'May the country be prosperous and the people live in peace'!

Unfortunately, since he had enlisted in the army, the state of the world had only worsened.

Crop yields decreased annually, while the numbers of various ghosts surged.

Zhang Taian and the other soldiers' primary duty was to battle the ghosts. Yet, the ghosts were inexhaustible, no matter how many they killed!

As for peasant uprisings, a major concern for other secular dynasties, such incidents were rare in Tianshun Country.

After all, the populace lacked even the strength to rebel.

And even if they did manage to take a city, there was no surplus grain to plunder.

In previous years, Tianshun Country had many Immortal Masters who exterminated ghosts. But now, they had all left Tianshun Country, one after another, their whereabouts unknown.

Shen Mo was the only Immortal Master to have appeared in the Capital in over a year.

"General, there's a ghost causing trouble in the residences in Gengwu Alley by the city gate!" a soldier rushed over to report.

"Master Shen, please wait here for a moment. This humble general will return shortly."

Zhang Taian grabbed his halberd from the weapon rack and leaped down from the city wall.

BANG!

BANG!

Ghostly figures shrieked as the great halberd whirled.

Numerous houses collapsed and burst apart.

The ghost that had appeared in the city was not one of the common Hungry Ghosts or Hanged Ghosts, but a Green-skinned Fierce Ghost.

Its strength was at the early-stage of Class II, not comparable to the Green-skinned Ghost Shen Mo and his companions had besieged and killed.

Although Zhang Taian possessed peak Body Tempering Realm strength, he was clearly no match for it.

CRACK!

The great halberd was shattered by the blow.

Drenched in blood, Zhang Taian was forced back again and again.

Even so, he did not call out to Shen Mo, who was watching the battle from the city wall, for aid.

As for the other soldiers, they were of no real help; they could only fire arrows from afar, which couldn't even penetrate the Green-skinned Fierce Ghost's hide.

"Shangqing Swordplay, slay!"

With a wave of Shen Mo's sleeve, the Dragon Sparrow Sword hummed unceasingly as a brilliant stream of sword Qi slashed towards the vicious ghost.

THUD!

The Green-skinned Ghost's massive head rolled across the ground.

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