Zhang Taian picked up the Green-skinned Ghost's remain from the ground and stepped onto the city wall.

"This general greatly appreciates Master Shen's aid! The spiritual material left by this vicious ghost should rightfully belong to you."

In addition to the Green-skinned Ghost's remain, Zhang Taian also handed over an ancient Token.

"This Token is minted by our Defense Division of Tianshun Country. All Immortal Masters who have assisted in killing ghosts have received one."

"Master Shen, you can refine it. In the future, by presenting this Token, you can claim a commensurate bounty from the Defense Division."

"As for whether to act or not, it's entirely at your discretion. This Token does not have any coercive power."

"Master Shen, rest assured!"

Shen Mo put the Green-skinned Ghost's remain into his Universe Bag and casually accepted the Defense Division Token.

He quickly scanned it with his spiritual sense, confirming Zhang Taian wasn't hiding anything. Apart from registering identity information and recording the ghosts killed, this Token has no other functions.

In the Red Flame Country, where the Riverside Sect was based, a Defense Division also existed in the Divine Capital. After undergoing rigorous assessments, similar Identity Tokens were issued to cultivators willing to hunt down evil cultivators and collect bounties. Of course, the Red Flame Country is vast and resource-rich. With the Five Great Sects established within its borders, along with countless minor sects and rogue cultivators, the cultivation resources available far exceed those of Tianshun Country. Not to mention, Tianshun Country will eventually become a ghostly area, making it uncertain where any bounty could even be collected!

Shen Mo wasn't too picky. He pricked his fingertip, producing a drop of blood that he let fall onto the Token. Effortlessly, he refined it!

With this Token, he even considered entering the city to check out the Defense Division. Although all cultivators within Tianshun Country have supposedly left, and they would have undoubtedly gathered as many cultivation resources as possible before departing, perhaps some treasures remain untouched in the Defense Division's Treasure Hall.

Shen Mo's gaze shifted, landing on Zhang Taian.

This blood-soaked general, despite suffering many injuries in the fight with the Green-skinned Ghost, showed no sign of unbearable pain. Instead, upon seeing Shen Mo refine the Defense Division Token, his face broke into a sincere and bright smile.

Perhaps, in his heart, he believed that after Shen Mo accepted the Token, even if only for the bounty, he would kill more ghosts!

Shen Mo hesitated. He had flown to the city wall on his sword intending to eradicate the "source" of the Ghost General! But now, Zhang Taian not only showed no trace of the Ghost General, but compared to the "demons and monsters" Shen Mo had encountered, Zhang Taian was a rare individual who still retained the purest, most touching part of human nature. This made Shen Mo reluctant to harm him.

Forget it! Perhaps this Tianshun Country is just a projection of time. If that's truly the case, even killing Zhang Taian wouldn't change anything. Even if my actions could influence the future, who's to say Zhang Taian didn't become the Ghost General precisely because I killed him in this projection? However, perhaps I could leave a contingency plan on him.

Soon, under the pretext of helping Zhang Taian heal, Shen Mo applied some hidden techniques. He used the Soul Refining Spell of his Soul Refining Flag to take a part of Zhang Taian's soul.

Zhang Taian had reached the peak of the Body Tempering Realm through military martial arts, but he was not a Body Cultivation State Cultivator. He was more like Gu Ming from the Blood Robe Sect—a legend in the secular martial arts world.

Shen Mo had acted so carefully that Zhang Taian noticed nothing amiss. In fact, with the help of Shen Mo's Elixir and Mana, he only felt his injuries completely heal and his vitality become much stronger and steadier than before.

Taking part of a soul with the Soul Refining Spell would normally cause an ordinary person to fall gravely ill, perhaps not even surviving ten years. But Zhang Taian was different. His vitality was depleted and his lifespan measured in mere months, yet his soul power was exceptionally strong. Thanks to Shen Mo's meticulous work, not only would Zhang Taian suffer no negative effects, but he would actually live half a year longer.

"I... I truly don't know how to thank you, Immortal Master. If there is a next life, I will surely repay your immense kindness!"

Zhang Taian energetically performed a set of martial arts forms, then bowed deeply to Shen Mo in gratitude. Glancing at the new, incomplete imprint on his Soul Refining Flag, Shen Mo smiled faintly. "General Zhang, you are too kind. If that day ever comes, just don't hold it against me then."

"How could that be? This general would never..."

BUZZ!

Zhang Taian was cut off mid-sentence as Shen Mo raised a hand, silencing him.

In that instant, Shen Mo suddenly felt the nature's spiritual energy depleting rapidly. Originally, the Spiritual Qi density within Tianshun Country was about thirty percent of that in the Red Flame Country. Some areas, like the Riverside Sect's location, were slightly richer, but it was generally quite balanced. Now, however, the Spiritual Qi had fallen to less than ten percent of its usual strength.

As a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator, Shen Mo had a Qi Sea Dantian storing high-quality Purple Knack Spiritual Qi. His Universe Bag also contained Spirit Stones, Qi Coalescing Pills, and other Elixirs to restore his Mana. Thus, these changes didn't affect him much. For ordinary Body Tempering Realm cultivators, however, who absorbed and refined Spiritual Qi, storing Mana in their organs and Chakras, this was a significant setback. Their cultivation and recovery would become far more difficult. Without other means of replenishment, casting just a few basic magic arts would likely take them several days to recover to their peak state. Body Cultivation State Cultivators planning to enter the Ghost Nation Ruins always purchased Elixirs to restore their Mana beforehand, precisely to ensure rapid recovery in emergencies.

Besides the decrease in nature's spiritual energy, the Nether ghostly Qi also began surging violently. Previously, the ghostly Qi permeating Tianshun Country was about twenty percent of that within the Ghost Nation Ruins; now, it had instantly surged to fifty percent. Zhang Taian, being a mortal, might not perceive this change clearly. It would take him a few days to notice the various unusual signs. For Shen Mo, however, the shift was as distinct as falling from the sky directly into water—starkly obvious.

Simultaneously, a realization dawned on him. As long as he endured this round of drastic changes, he could leave this Dungeon and receive the rewards bestowed by the Death Jaw. The magnitude of these rewards would be directly linked to his performance during this upheaval. This strange yet distinct understanding was undoubtedly a hint from the Death Jaw itself!

"Report!"

"Report!"

"General, a large number of starving citizens in the Capital have turned into evil ghosts!"

"Reporting, General! Generals in command are slaying ghosts of all sizes approaching the city gates and nearby residences!"

"General, over a hundred Hungry Ghosts and Hanged Ghosts are gathering on the outskirts, heading towards the Capital!"

"Report! Report! General, evil ghosts are devouring people in the Grand Tutor's mansion! The King orders you to lead troops for a swift rescue!"

"..."

Just as Shen Mo had predicted, within moments of the abrupt change in the spiritual energy, a flood of ghost-related reports reached the city wall.

Zhang Taian gulped down his spiritual wine, then swiftly wiped down and readied his halberd and armor, a look of grim resolve in his eyes.

"Master Shen, the Capital has become a perilous Ghost Zone. If you intend to leave, do so quickly. Otherwise, once the ghosts gather in force, escape will be impossible!"

Shen Mo casually played with his Defense Division Token and said calmly, "Thank you for your concern, General Zhang. However, I've changed my mind. I want to slay more ghosts to acquire cultivation resources from the Defense Division."

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