[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons":3,"chapter-immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-98":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Immortality Begins with Slaying Demons",{"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},2317986,4533,"Chapter 98: Buddha Monkey Subdues Demons","immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-98",98,"\u003Cp>Qingzhou City, Da Shun Zhai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dusk, crowds bustled back and forth, the streets glowing with lanterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Zhiwen stood at the entrance of the grand restaurant, smiling warmly as he greeted disciples from various sects and noble families: “Today I host—please, all of you, come in, no need for formalities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young master of Tianhai Tower, the top disciple of Baihe Hall, the young lord of the Huang family…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though all were from the younger generation and held little influence in Qingzhou, they were still prominent figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their gathering here, besides owing to Tian Zhiwen’s favor, also subtly revealed the intentions of these sects and noble houses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though General Chen had acted with restraint, the collapse of Qingfeng Gate still left them uneasy, instinctively seeking closer ties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Zhiwen suddenly spotted a familiar figure and hurried through the crowd to greet him, flattery dripping from his smile: “Young Master Zhao has arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he secretly wiped sweat from his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today he was hosting on behalf of Brother Li, who had instructed him to send out few invitations—only to second- and third-rate factions—so how had this man come?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Feeling restless, just wandering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Kangyun waved his fan as he stepped slowly into Da Shun Zhai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his slightly irritable expression, others bowed respectfully but felt a chill creep into their hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumor had it that a certain Zhao family scion had been humiliated on Qingfeng Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As one of the Four Surnames and Five Sects, he could only stroll to ease his sorrow—this Town Demon Office, backed by the imperial court and the Regional Commander, was growing ever more brazen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they didn’t unite now, they’d be devoured down to the last bone fragment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the Regional Commander was not in Qingzhou, and no Grand Demon-Suppressing General was present; the other deputy generals and captains could stir no real trouble, so for now they wouldn’t suffer Qingfeng Mountain’s fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why is he here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the second-floor balcony, Li Xinhan had changed into a green robe to conceal his injuries, but his movements were restricted, forcing him to lean against a redwood chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ignore him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mujin stood quietly to the side, dressed in a long gown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For people of their status, hosting guests was merely about eating and drinking; they’d simply invited the Golden Body Sect to prevent the other side from growing suspicious too soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for anything else—whether siding with the noble houses or the Town Demon Office—it was not for two younglings to consider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please enjoy your meal—I’ll go tell the cooks to prepare a new set of lighter dishes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After greeting Zhao Kangyun, Tian Zhiwen made an excuse to slip away and quietly ascended to the second floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stepping into the chamber, he glanced at the Li siblings, then fixed his gaze on the young man seated at the main seat, clad in a dark Confucian robe. His expression was unreadable; he gently scraped tea leaves with his cup lid, not drinking a single sip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he displeased with the tea?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Zhiwen instantly understood—the hierarchy was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the man looked unfamiliar; he didn’t recognize his origin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was the purpose of this gathering? Was he dissatisfied with the Town Demon Office’s brutality and aiming to become a leader?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li, shall we begin the banquet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xinhan gazed downward, then turned to the side: “He’s here—should we call him up and question him directly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Tian Zhiwen paused, then looked down as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could this person be, that the man in the dark robe had come here just to wait? Both the Li and Zhao families were present—could it be the remaining Sun or Qian? But no invitation had been sent to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he finally saw the figure at Da Shun Zhai’s entrance, his eyes filled with confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the noisy hall,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a slender young man entered with a smile, his head shaved to a thin layer of hair, draped in a wide white cloth that revealed half his oiled, muscular torso. One hand held a gleaming silver iron rod, the other gripped a heavy iron chain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone is here, even Young Master Zhao—this monk is late, truly at fault.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A brute in monk’s robes—what a farce.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Kangyun sneered, snapping his fan shut: “Your Golden Body Sect has only erected Buddha statues for a few decades—coincidentally, just three months before our beloved scripture-reciting Prefect took office. Before that, you couldn’t even properly turn prayer beads.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Zhao is right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Gang didn’t anger; he merely smiled: “Diligence makes up for lack of talent. Recite more scriptures, turn more beads—you’ll learn eventually.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the others burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as Yuan Gang’s gaze swept over them, most fell silent quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Golden Body Sect was showing signs of resurgence, thanks to half a scroll of the Nidan Cuoti Method—its abbot had risen dramatically in cultivation in just decades, reportedly now capable of clashing with Golden Core cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Bodhi Tree withered, this sect somehow struck lucky again—showing signs of the old rapid-body-cultivation method, even more terrifying than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group of body cultivators rivaling Jade Liquid peak, versus a group barely matching Golden Core—these are two entirely different things. If true, in a few centuries, the Golden Body Sect might fill the gap left by Qingfeng Gate and rise to first-tier status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if recalling this, Zhao Kangyun sneered, but stopped his mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t come late on purpose—I’ve been traveling across the land to spread teachings and cultivate good fortune. These past days, I’ve visited seven or eight counties and only just returned to Qingzhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Gang scanned the crowd carefully, as if searching for someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not seeing the figure he expected, he forced another smile and tugged the iron chain: “After we’ve eaten and drunk, I’ll perform a grand spectacle—Buddha Monkey Subdues Demons—to liven the mood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a clatter of chains,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a tall, obese figure was dragged into Da Shun Zhai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was mountain-like in build, wearing a short blue tunic, his enormous belly glaringly prominent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the belly, the man’s face, covered in thick beard, was painted like a demon, with hairy pig ears dangling from his temples and a raw pig snout hanging from his nose and mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes were vacant, as if his soul had fled, utterly devoid of vitality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as laughter surged like a wave around him, the giant merely stared blankly at his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Zhao Kangyun was amused: “Where did you find such a perfect prop? He’s a flawless pig demon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s an old acquaintance—he loves dressing as a pig.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Gang grinned, turning back: “Right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant didn’t react until the shaved-head youth yanked the chain hard—then he nodded dully, voice hoarse and dry: “Yes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This idiot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Zhiwen frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were old acquaintances, what grudge was so deep they couldn’t just fight to the death and end it? Why drag him out to humiliate him like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished speaking, he felt a chill behind him—the atmosphere in the room had turned strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xinhan’s body stiffened; Li Mujin bit her lip hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the man in the dark robe quietly set down his teacup, his expression calm, then stepped out of the chamber and descended the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid laughter and merriment, an out-of-place figure quickly drew many eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Kangyun looked up, his face instantly cooling—he himself had descended to mingle with the commoners, yet someone still sat upstairs. What did Tian Zhiwen mean by this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, he took in the face of the man in the dark Confucian robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A frown creased his brow, along with a faint sense of familiarity…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi stopped before the young man who called himself a monk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared silently at the giant behind him—as if questioning everyone in the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was utterly flat: “Funny?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the familiar voice, the giant instinctively lifted his head. When he saw the face before him, he trembled violently, stepping back two paces, raising his broad arms to cover his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once boasted to this man about Qingzhou, about his own deeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His life had achieved nothing—only a few acts of righteousness worth mentioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the butcher who never feared anyone when he lost his temper—not someone chained up as a pig demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi had just arrived in Qingzhou—he shouldn’t have to offend others over a foolish man dressed as a pig.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Gang froze slightly. Though unfamiliar, this man had descended from the second floor—and Tian Zhiwen wasn’t stupid. So… this man was at least Zhao Kangyun’s level, perhaps even higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing this, he shrugged and smiled: “If you dislike it, I won’t perform—it’s just a pity for everyone’s mood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, others exchanged glances. Zhao Kangyun reopened his fan—he saw clearly that Yuan Gang was trying to provoke a conflict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was—he himself had laughed too, and had roughly guessed this man’s identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Kangyun slowly rose, about to speak, when a cold voice cut through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did I ask you that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with the words came Shen Yi’s casually raised hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, Yuan Gang dropped the chain, gripped the silver rod with both hands, light surging across his skin—he threw all his strength into a horizontal block!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he looked young, he was nearly a generation older than everyone in the room—even older than Butcher Zhang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jade Liquid early stage cultivation, yet a body rivaling Jade Liquid late stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple begs your pardon—this is your own doing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gritted his teeth, face twisted in rage—then the next moment, a hand with clear, bony fingers landed on his tightly gripped rod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A terrifying force shattered the hundred-forged rod, then slammed into Yuan Gang’s chest. His body, hardened by decades of cultivation, collapsed in a single breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1655,"2026-06-20T15:00:36.117Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2280fac4de8c960a435b5a2a5deecffd73361cdd45985a3ecf4dfa447a86eee2","immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-99","immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-97",840,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-cover.jpg"]