[{"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-7":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},2266952,4426,"Chapter 7: The Businessman, the Transformation of a Dream","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-7",7,"\u003Cp>When Meng Dashao returned to the main hall, one hand still clutched his abdomen, his face pale and slick with sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just sweat from squatting—the kind from fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d felt something was wrong the moment he squatted down; after finishing, he glanced back—and nearly vomited again on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those worms were as long as one or two chi; latrines always had worms, but never this long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d come out of his own body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of it, he felt utterly uneasy, his steps light and unsteady, wondering if more of those things still lurked inside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze at Chu Tianshu was no longer that of a somewhat likable stranger, but of a savior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Dashao had intended to rush over and grab Chu Tianshu’s hand, but by the table, his legs turned numb and aching, as if ants were biting—his prolonged squat had now caught up with him; he dared not move, so he reached for a wine cup instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you so much—I’m not well-educated, can’t say fancy words of gratitude, so I’ll just pour it all into this wine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He downed half a cup of strong liquor in one gulp, drinking fast, his face flushing slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu smiled. “Sit first. These worms have been inside you too long—even after removing them, you’ll still need more medicine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Dashao shuffled his feet and sat on the bench, still trembling with excitement. “You’re truly Hua Tuo reborn—amazing! Just a few gestures, and so many worms fell out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In legends about Hua Tuo, many tales involve him expelling worms from patients.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Dashao’s experience instantly brought that legendary physician to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only brought three silver dollars today—I don’t know how much more I owe for the consultation. Let me rest a bit, go home for the money, and bring it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Dashao pulled out three silver dollars and a pile of copper coins, piled them on the table, and pushed them toward Chu Tianshu, his voice growing more animated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, where do you live? I must give you a plaque…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu raised a hand to interrupt him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I travel everywhere—I have no residence here yet, but the scenery’s nice, and people speak so pleasantly, I’m considering staying awhile.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu looked around. “Just book me a room here at this tavern. No need for a plaque—curing you was fate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Dashao beamed. “Staying here? Perfect! I come here often.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to the old shopkeeper. “Master Ma, do you have the best room? Give it to my brother—charge it to my account.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old shopkeeper nodded with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Dashao suddenly remembered something. “I have some friends who get along well with me—they suffer the same ailment. Doctor, could you help them too…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Dashao made a talisman-drawing gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu’s expression grew serious. “Drawing this requires fate—not everyone can do it. Since you’ve received this blessing, don’t mention it lightly to others.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for your friends, bring them when you have time—I won’t use this method, but pulse diagnosis and herbal prescriptions will still work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Ghost Gate Witch Doctor’s Annotations” is divided into four parts: needles, talismans, incantations, and medicine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Needle techniques and medicinal poisons both have dual natures—they can heal, but also harm. Yet preparing medicinal poisons involves too many steps; Chu Tianshu rarely uses them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talismans and incantations make up a small portion, lack offensive power, and are almost exclusively used for healing and protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Cloud-Robe Protects Heart and Body” incantation Chu Tianshu often recites after nightmares only calms the mind and nourishes the spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The talisman he just drew for Meng Dashao was the specialized “Exterminate Internal Worms” talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But though drawing such a talisman takes only a moment, it consumes considerable mental energy—far more than throwing flying needles at wooden boards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rich people’s money must be earned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if every patient who came were treated with talismans, it would be exhausting—and too conspicuous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To kill their parasites, better to prepare herbal decoctions, pastes, and pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand. I understand completely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Dashao nodded vigorously, lowering his voice mysteriously. “This talisman given to me—it’s my fortune. To speak of it carelessly would drain my luck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu raised an eyebrow and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His grandfather said that in old society, many frauds used tricks to lure people in, then couldn’t show real ability, so they’d invoke claims of bad luck or shortened lifespan to mystify things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, some genuine spirit-mediums, when wanting to brush off others, simply adopted this excuse—it was very convenient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu borrowed paper and ink from the shopkeeper and wrote out the follow-up prescription for Meng Dashao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He often practiced drawing talismans and had control over the brush, but he wasn’t fluent in writing traditional characters, and the paper quality was poor—unsatisfactory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After writing, the ink seeped along impurities on the paper, spreading unevenly, becoming rough and blurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only someone deeply familiar with herbs could carefully decipher the medicine names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Meng Dashao, watching beside him, suddenly looked astonished. “Doctor, how did you write this secret formula so clearly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu was momentarily confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ink was blotchy, the strokes uneven and shallow—how was this “clear”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Dashao immediately added: “If you take this to a pharmacy, won’t they just copy your secret formula?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doctors who held truly effective prescriptions guarded them fiercely—secret formulas meant kept secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A good prescription could be a family treasure, sustaining generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was natural for ancestors to withhold such treasures—but rigidly preserving them without sharing or improving, risking total loss from any disruption, was also regrettable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let them copy it—it doesn’t matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu thought a moment. “This is for nourishing your lungs—the dosage is light. If others copy it for similar symptoms, even if not perfectly matched, it won’t harm them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll write another prescription for expelling worms, also with light dosage. Let anyone who wants to see or copy it—let them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are likely many here suffering parasitic diseases. More healers means no harm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Parasitic diseases often occur in clusters—eggs in a region don’t spread in isolation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this formula spreads, many may benefit in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu felt comforted at the thought that even small actions of his might lead to such a great good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not only is your medical skill extraordinary, your heart is as compassionate as a Bodhisattva’s.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Dashao grasped his meaning, his face filled with admiration. He paused. “If you truly wish to share these formulas, rather than let pharmacies learn them, why not sell them to me? We can negotiate a buyout—or profit-sharing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those pharmacies have little capital—the smaller the capital, the shorter the vision. They’ll inevitably chase quick profits. Once they get the formula, they’ll hoard it. Same herbs, same formula, they’ll charge ten times the price—only for the rich.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When speaking of business, Meng Dashao’s eyes widened. His earlier pallor and nervousness vanished; now he sat upright, radiating sharp, uncommon vitality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I manage this formula, with the Meng family’s capital, we can pursue low margins but high volume—grow the business bigger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then we’ll earn more, and Doctor, you’ll achieve your wish—more patients get this medicine. Perfect for both sides!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu was surprised, smiling. “I just said I don’t mind the formula being shared. Why not just quietly set up the business without telling me? Why pay me again to buy it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Dashao replied frankly: “If I did that, and damaged my friendship with Doctor, that wouldn’t be the act of a wise man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu, hearing this, truly took new notice of the fat man before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d chosen Meng Dashao in the hall not only because his illness was obvious, but because his appearance and demeanor carried a certain “wealthy yet clear” aura—he’d pay promptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he saw: appearances deceive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the random patient he picked was a sharp mind, quick to spot opportunity even while suffering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This sounds excellent—but no need to rush.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu smiled. “After you gather the herbs, let me inspect them first—check their properties, test the efficacy—then we can discuss business and scaling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, I’m Chu Tianshu. What’s your full name again, brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Dashao raised his cup and smiled. “I’m Meng Shuangjiang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, Meng Shuangjiang took his prescription and took his leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The waiter came to show Chu Tianshu to his room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu said he’d see it tonight, ordered two roasted chickens, wrapped them in oiled paper, tied with fine hemp rope, and carried them out of the tavern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was still morning—daylight must not be wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the token’s description, once his “fate points” reached a certain threshold, Chu Tianshu could return home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this “certain threshold” was the most frustrating—no concrete measure existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, though he knew this place was caught in a dangerous war-torn era, he had to consider staying here long-term.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed to familiarize himself with the town’s layout during the day—and find a suitable place to practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meng Shuangjiang’s suggestion is good—if his business truly takes off, I can see how much progress my fate bar makes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Chu Tianshu walked, he pondered these thoughts, pausing at stalls, asking passersby about Meng Dashao’s usual behavior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their impressions of Meng Dashao were remarkably consistent: a gluttonous rich young master, but friendly enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some talkative vendors, after just a few words, shifted the topic to Meng Dashao’s father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His father was no ordinary man—rumor had it his family was poor; by age ten he entered a dye workshop as an apprentice, diligent and clever, and by his teens he married into the family and inherited the workshop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d been to Jingcheng, even to Jiaozhi, traveled south and north, seen foreign fabrics, and built his own factory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the town’s wealthy families, others were called “Master,” but his household was called “Proprietor” or “Factory Director.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumor said Old Meng loved the foreign-sounding title “Factory Director.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there were also strange rumors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once, Meng the Factory Director returned with a Jiaozhi woman. He already had two sons and three daughters; soon after she entered the household, four of them died in infancy, his wife passed away, leaving only Meng Dashao as the sole heir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locals whispered she brought misfortune to her husband’s family; some claimed she was a ghost-woman, a witch—not human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng the Factory Director himself fell ill, nearly died, until a powerful master from the provincial capital passed through, captured the witch, and restored peace to the Meng household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu, hearing of a possible fellow practitioner, asked more questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was a learned monk…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it was a Daoist priest—he looked just like an ancient immortal from a painting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I heard it was a powerful shamaness—she saved the Meng family, but extorted them terribly, so they haven’t mentioned her as their great benefactor these past years…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu, hearing such wildly conflicting accounts, knew he wouldn’t learn anything useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He carried the roasted chicken and continued walking down the main street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire town had only one east-west road, paved with lime and crushed stone, wide enough for two carts to pass side by side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years of foot traffic, cart wheels, and animal hooves had compacted the surface into something harder than stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the eastern end of the road lay vast fields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the west, the road led to the riverbank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The river wasn’t wide, but its current was swift; a green stone bridge spanned it, aged beyond counting, with railings cracked in places.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the bridge lay outside the town—on the other side stretched dense bamboo groves, with no proper path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said that only when bamboo shoots emerged or when large poles were needed for stilt houses did townsfolk ever venture that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After crossing the bridge, Chu Tianshu saw bamboo stalks as thick as a man’s thigh, and stumps of broken bamboo the size of a bowl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thick layers of bamboo leaves covered the ground; footsteps crushed them with a soft rustling sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When sunlight pierced through the bamboo canopy, it seemed to carry the grove’s fresh, clean scent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a perfect place to train!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu felt refreshed, reached out, and slapped a thick bamboo stalk beside him, then looked up to find a sturdy branch and hung the roasted chicken on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The branch bent under the weight, the oiled paper package swaying slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shadows among the bamboo began moving faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Family’s Old Back-Through Method originally contained multiple training forms—practicing fistwork in an open, unrestricted space was one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Restricting oneself to a small room, moving like a monkey, leaping over tables and landing on the ground, dodging furniture with flexing limbs—this was another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the fist manual had been refined and optimized, its content became far more detailed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu trained here, among the obstructive bamboo, using precisely this second method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His footwork shifted unpredictably, yet his limb strength, visual focus, and hand-foot coordination all followed the manual’s rhythm, striving for the precise state locked in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His figure darted and swayed, rising and falling, weaving left and right; when his right temple neared a bamboo stalk, he suddenly reversed and spun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His steps twisted to their utmost limit, yet his limb strength grew smoother with every strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the force flowed smoothly, his speed increased further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If, in such complex terrain, his movements could carry the momentum of a full-speed charge, then this fist art had truly reached mastery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grove was undisturbed; no phone or alarm clock was nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the aching muscles, constantly tempered by force, and the rising hunger churning in his belly, reminded Chu Tianshu of time’s passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At sunset, he chewed on crispy chicken bones, crumpled the empty oiled paper into a ball, and hurried across the stone bridge toward Old Ma’s Tavern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This fist art stimulated the digestive system too well—he ate an entire table of six dishes and one soup, made a trip to the latrine, then went to check his room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Ma’s Tavern was sizable: a front building housed the dining hall, while a courtyard behind contained kitchens and storage rooms; beside the storage was a side gate leading outside to the latrine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the courtyard stood another building, divided into multiple rooms for lodging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rooms weren’t large, but their layout was sensible: opening the door revealed a window on the north wall, a bed on the right—east side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside the bed stood a wooden rack shaped like a tall, backless chair; the top held clothes, the wooden slats of the “back” held towels, and the “seat” held a washbasin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the western side stood a square table and two square stools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bedding was fresh; the attendant had brought a bucket of hot water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After washing up, Chu Tianshu locked his door, blew out the lamp, and got into bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he lay there for a long while without closing his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t taken his special medicine all day—tonight, he would surely have nightmares, and the dreams would likely be worse than ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though robust qi and blood could mitigate nightmares’ ill effects, one day’s effort clearly wouldn’t bring such progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Chu Tianshu felt reluctant to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if I start staying awake on purpose, that’ll only make things worse!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and massaged several sleep-inducing acupoints from head to chest; his arms gradually relaxed and lay flat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gray sky sprinkled light rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu, in a thin shirt, walked through the damp wasteland, alert to his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of dark yellow darted from the grass—a weasel leapt out, screeching as it bit at his leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu’s heart jolted; his upper body tilted sideways, hips twisting, toes lifting naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His entire leg snapped out like a taut bamboo stalk, striking the weasel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zha!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weasel flew through the air with a shriek and landed far off in the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu stared at the water splashing from the river, his expression startled; he pressed his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew this was a dream; with his spirit-medium cultivation deepening, he’d turned chaotic dreams into increasingly logical sequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, his dreams had been illogical: first bitten by wolves, then trampled by oxen, suddenly falling into a cave with no pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once dreams gained logic, he could at least avoid obvious holes and pits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But facing wild beasts, monstrous serpents, or venomous creatures in dreams, he still couldn’t suppress his panic—only prolonging his escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, he wasn’t afraid of those things—but the panic in dreams was utterly uncontrollable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, however, felt different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d been startled, but not overwhelmed by endless, frantic fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be… that stepping into the realm of a martial cultivator’s awakening grants at least the will to resist in dreams?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu’s eyes brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, the innkeeper’s room still glowed with light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He poured himself a cup of medicinal wine, read a book slowly, then faintly heard laughter from a nearby room—dream-muttering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it that young man who’d just arrived today?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Youth is wonderful—even dreams can make you laugh like an idiot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The innkeeper shook his head, closed his book, and extinguished the lamp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, they met in the corridor; the innkeeper asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must’ve had a good dream last night—I heard you laughing from my room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? I laughed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu’s water had run out; he carried an empty pitcher out to find more. After a moment’s thought, he said, “No good dream—I fought countless beasts and got strangled to death by a python.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The innkeeper stared at his smile—couldn’t believe it: “You laughed at that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahaha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu offered no further explanation, shook his head, and walked laughing toward the kitchen for water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his nightmares still swarmed with monsters, he’d sweated through the night and woke with lingering phantom pain—he could now resist clearly and calmly, unlike before, when panic paralyzed him completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two states were worlds apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the past few days, I’ve been posting ten thousand characters daily, but since this is still a new book, I’ll slightly reduce output going forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ll increase again after the book goes live!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reader retention is crucial during the new book phase—don’t forget to click “follow”!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you so much!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3051,"2026-06-19T20:45:51.976Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a3ed7beb4142197022e49cbb45104be1bff7ce60e9878afe066f23609652f9f7","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-8","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-6",155,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdevouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-cover.jpg"]