[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h":3,"chapter-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-53":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Devouring Evil, Exterminating Demons Across All Heavens",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2266998,4426,"Chapter 53: Macau Region, the Secret Method of Four Longitudinal and Five Transverse Lines","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-53",53,"\u003Cp>“...You’re telling me you chased a spirit-world monster fish into the mountains and spent a full month without seeing another soul, never once thinking to borrow someone’s phone to let us know you were safe?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing Chu Tianshu’s explanation, Lin Baishui fell silent for a moment, then asked this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Chu Tianshu suddenly realized the flaw in his earlier story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was just Jiangning, not some remote mountain wilderness in Sichuan, Yunnan, or Guizhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if you were too busy catching the fish, didn’t you think to find a phone afterward to report your safety?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You only got caught out after you’d already returned home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like it really was a good fish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Chu Tianshu could answer, Lin Baishui laughed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After you ate it, you must’ve felt an instant improvement in your chronic illness—so delighted you forgot to call us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn, you’re making up excuses for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu smiled: “It really was a good fish. Thanks to it, I found several scrolls and a few magical artifacts in a hidden cave over there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The scrolls were said to have been created during the Ming Dynasty, then passed down to the Republican era, when someone brought them to that cave and left them behind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I get a chance, I’ll write them down on my phone and send them to you—see if any suit your cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Baishui said happily: “Great! I’ve been hoarding merit points to buy advanced transmissions from the Special Capture Corps’ arsenal. If you’ve got something suitable, I can save up for something else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, are you selling this? If so, as soon as you send it, I’ll encrypt it for you right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu said: “I’m letting you learn it—how could I sell it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course you can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Baishui said, “Even if I’ve read every word, as long as I don’t leak it publicly, I can still list it on the internal site for you to sell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu suddenly understood: “I was so angry earlier I went half-blind—I didn’t see such a simple point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Baishui asked, surprised: “Angry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu took a breath: “Someone broke into my house and stole the original scroll of ‘Ghost Gate Medical Commentary.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence suddenly filled the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, two deep breaths came through the line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who the hell...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Baishui paused, then took another deep breath: “Do you have any leads on the thief?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among all the things left by Grandpa Chu, this book was his most cherished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knowledge inside had already been learned; copies existed in multiples. Even as an antique, its value wouldn’t be staggering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the book’s meaning went beyond that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the scroll in that room was an unspoken way of preserving the state Grandpa Chu was still alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu wasn’t joking when he said he was stunned with anger—he fully understood Baishui’s fury now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His name is Kong Wenju—a sorcerer from our neighboring village who deals in antiques and curios. Besides stealing our scroll, he’s stolen from several collectors and fled out of town—the city police have opened a case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Him?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Baishui said, “I’ve met him a few times—that bastard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perfect—he’s a sorcerer too. Our Huaijiang Special Capture Corps has already coordinated with the Patrol Corps. I’ll apply to review the case files.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hung up first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu waited in the car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, Chief Lin got in, wiped sweat from his forehead with a tissue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This guy is truly insane—stole so many valuable things at once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chief Lin shook his head: “His house is great, he runs his own shop, and he’s not short on money—how can anyone understand this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tianshu, the thief’s already fled with the stolen goods—I can’t help you further. Sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu shook his head: “It’s fine. Since it’s been filed, I’m sure it’ll be solved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chief Lin laughed heartily and drove them home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Chu Tianshu got home, he plugged his phone in to charge and began transcribing the scrolls from memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Erye sat at the table waiting for the call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second Grandpa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu said, “The scrolls I acquired include one on sorcery—it’s deeper than your feng shui transmission.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Erye waved his hands frantically: “No no no—I already heard you mention it on the phone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For the past two years, I’d rather sit home listening to opera recordings and zoning out than practice. I barely even use my own feng shui skills anymore—don’t ask me to learn something else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu said: “Practicing martial arts can be interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean practicing martial arts—not cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Erye suddenly asked: “Did you successfully cultivate both fist arts and cultivation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahaha! Our Chu family has finally produced a genius.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Erye quoted Lin Baishui: “Looks like it really was a good fish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But cultivation is for living well—I’m old now. My idea of a good life is walking, eating, chatting, watching TV.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re young—you haven’t trained enough. But when I was your age, I’d already trained enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu sighed: “I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Erye added: “Modern TV dramas are getting better and better. Watching on the computer means no waiting—pick any show you want. Truly wonderful—worth rewatching endlessly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu thought to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one day all TV dramas became trash...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Grandpa might just get bored enough to sit and meditate again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since the 21st century, these past few years’ TV dramas have indeed exploded like spring bamboo shoots—vibrant, thriving, flourishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least for the next decade or so, there’s no need to worry about a flood of trash shows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About two hours later, Lin Baishui called back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fortune in misfortune—the bastard didn’t leave the country—he went to the island. Macau.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Baishui said, “Since it’s a special case involving a sorcerer, we’ve notified the Macau Special Capture Corps—they’ll send personnel to assist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu mused: “Macau? That eastern gambling city?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard it’s small but packed with people. Your Special Capture Corps is always short-staffed, right? This isn’t even a murder case—how many people will they assign to watch?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Baishui said: “In Macau, manpower is relatively more plentiful. And once a thief starts stealing and isn’t caught, he rarely stops. He’ll likely strike again in Macau—they must keep watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu said bluntly: “I want to go see for myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Baishui hesitated: “Your illness is truly gone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu said: “I’m much stronger than before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright. Kong Wenju was never your match anyway. You must recover your master’s things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Baishui said, “As a clean-recorded spirit-sensitive, you could normally assist in investigations as a concerned citizen—Beijing’s got dozens who do exactly that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Macau’s different—some places are easier. I’ll arrange a temporary consultant title for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But how will you get there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu said: “Macau’s on the sea—take a car, then a boat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You... never thought of flying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Baishui sighed: “And going there requires documents like a Hong Kong-Macau pass.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget it—send me photos of your ID and everything. I’ll handle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the face of Chu Erye’s martial prowess, Chu Tianshu could only nod obediently and do whatever his older brother said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d never even ridden a high-speed train, let alone flown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood none of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu finally asked: “How long will it take to get all this sorted?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’ll be much faster than you trying to figure it out yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Baishui said: “I’ll move as fast as I can. Just wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Erye had listened to the entire conversation, several times opening his mouth but saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d once thought that when Big Brother was alive, he’d spoiled the eldest grandson too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A true man must forge his own path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they were his age, they hadn’t learned much spirit art yet—already had to fend for themselves and support a household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the old Chu Tianshu’s health had been a constant worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that his health has improved so much, he should respect the boy’s own wishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you having for lunch?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Erye stood up: “The electric scooter’s charged—I’ll go buy some. Today, Grandpa and I eat together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu thought for a moment: “Then get the roast duck and roast chicken from Fengying Delicacies...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Erye said: “One roast duck, one roast chicken—got it. I’ll add some peanuts and tofu skin for drinking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu quickly said: “I mean two roast ducks, one roast chicken, one box of salted duck, one box of beef, one box of braised pork balls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Across from Fengying’s, they sell snake and eggplant cakes—get three boxes of each.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Erye walked out with a skeptical expression, wondering if the kid was trying to fill the fridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hours later, he held a small glass wine cup, staring blankly at the completely empty plastic containers on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After eating that strange fish in the mountains, my appetite grew a lot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu rubbed his belly and happily stuffed the last piece of vegetable python into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The filling was made from leeks, broken vermicelli, sauce, and hot sesame oil, all mixed together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wrapped in a supple dough skin into long strips, stacked in steamer baskets and steamed, then sliced open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hot, it was fresh and fragrant—tastier than meat; cold, it gained a chewy texture, different but equally good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though mountain ingredients are fresh, after eating too much, I still miss these seasonings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Erye noticed his belly hadn’t bulged, shook his head, and went home with a small bottle of wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Macau.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before leaving, Chu Erye remembered something and gave serious advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard gambling isn’t banned there—absolutely don’t touch any of that stuff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu smiled: “I have no interest in that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Erye repeated his warnings several times before finally leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu stacked the plastic containers on the table and threw them into the trash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing truly suitable for his senior brother to practice was that set of occult scripture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sending that file, Chu Tianshu paused, walked to the bamboo grove behind the back door, and began practicing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bamboo here in Hailing was thin—not suitable for striking with fists or feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu practiced palm thunder only on the open ground between the back door and the bamboo grove, training for four straight hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His steps appeared slow, but with each footfall and push of his hands, his chest and abdomen emitted sounds, and the soil sank like dry sand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the ground, he had stamped out a Taiji diagram, growing deeper with each round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he walked for exactly four hours, every footprint overlapped and connected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the edges of the Taiji diagram, deep grooves over a foot wide had formed, their bottoms as hard as rock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The yin and yang eyes were equally deep, perfectly round and sunken, showing no sign of being shaped by human feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More like something massive and iron had smashed into them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind stirred through the grove; his sleeves seemed to ripple as if pushed by another wind blowing from his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his arms moved, the cuffs flapped wildly, like night lotuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of it was the manifestation of immortal force vibrating outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the fist form, he practiced the occult art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The occult scripture couldn’t be deduced—you still had to learn it yourself to enjoy its benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu stood in the center of the Taiji diagram, left hand hovering forward, right hand forming a seal: thumb and ring finger tips touching, palm empty, index and middle fingers held straight together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The core concept of the *Zongheng Secret Chant* was the so-called Nine Character Mantra.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally compiled by Ge Hong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and recorded in texts, it was recited when entering mountains to ward off evil spirits, repel poisonous insects and rodents, as if guarded by the divine power of the Six Jia—hence also called the “Six Jia Secret Chant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Buddhist and Daoist traditions borrowed from each other, this chant was absorbed into a Buddhist esoteric text; monks selected nine mudras and nine heart mantras to pair with these nine syllables, expanding its influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially in overseas island nations, for a time, this chant was as famous as “Namo Amitabha Buddha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In China, though the Nine Character Mantra never became widespread, generations of sages had developed new variations, each school—military strategists, Confucians, and I Ching scholars—gaining their own insights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coincidentally, just like *Breaking into Shaolin*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This *Zongheng Secret Chant* was also written by a Ming Dynasty person from Cai Shanjun’s world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the renowned master who unified Confucianism, military strategy, and Chan Buddhism, and founded the School of Mind: Wang Yangming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to records from the Yizhou Martial Hall, this Wang Yangming was also someone who cultivated both occult arts and fist techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although his *Zongheng Secret Chant* belonged to occult art, it finely harmonized the body’s qi and blood, greatly beneficial for health preservation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even pure occultists who mastered this method deeply could remain youthful, looking vigorous even past seventy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When practicing this method, the hand gestures resembled lotuses or swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first character, the hand sweeps horizontally; for the second, vertically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Repeating this, the nine characters formed four verticals and five horizontals, like drawing a corner of a chessboard in midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gestures were simple, but with each syllable spoken, one had to visualize a series of scenes and sense strange phenomena within the body—extremely difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using the mind as the source, one comprehended the true nature without forcibly suppressing emotions; natural methods existed to resolve and release them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Chu Tianshu practiced this method, his face lost all trace of the smile he wore with Erye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a fierce anger remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin! Bing! Dou! Zhe!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You broke into my home—why steal anything else, but my grandfather’s relics?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jie! Zhen! Lie!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You steal, do you? You run ahead, do you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I will follow you, and catch you myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qian! Xing!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2326,"2026-06-19T20:45:51.976Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0536598809aea9386e883df8e1effd5ec3479c527def9901b29c92b83f6f3460","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-54","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-52",155,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdevouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-cover.jpg"]