I fabricated myths to guide the revival of spiritual energy.

[Linjiang Backwater Bay, River Surface]

[Time: 10 seconds after the mutated behemoth fell]

The river wind was biting, carrying a strong smell of blood.

The enormous snake head sank to the bottom of the river, creating a huge wave that finally crashed against the shore.

"You...you won?"

A SWAT officer, clutching a scorching hot assault rifle, stared blankly at the river.

There, Li Changgeng, dressed in pristine white, still stood atop that withered tree. The Purple Lightning Frost Sword in his hand pointed diagonally at the river, a drop of crimson beast blood slowly sliding from its tip into the water, instantly spreading out.

Immediately, Li Changgeng casually waved his hand, and the fiery red inner core slowly rose from the river surface, then obediently slipped into his sleeve.

This scene was like a painting.

"Quick! Move closer!"

Inside the command vehicle on the shore, Zhao Jianguo nearly roared into the walkie-talkie, "No guns! Put all your guns down! That's...that's our ally! A strategic resource! We must persuade him to stay!"

Several speedboats immediately started up, their engines roaring, and rushed towards the center of the river.

However, Li Changgeng ignored the approaching ships.

He tilted his head slightly, looking up at the black tribulation clouds overhead that were still churning and even pressed down lower due to the stimulation of blood energy.

"Kill the young one, and the old one comes."

Li Changgeng's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire area thanks to the surge of spiritual energy.

"Since this place is going to be filthy, let's sweep it clean."

"rise."

He raised his longsword again.

This time, there was no purple lightning, only a pure white light.

This light is not for killing, but only for... creating the world.

Swish-!

The beam of light surged upwards, piercing the sky.

The thick, thousand-meter-long dark clouds, like a piece of butter being sliced ​​open with a hot knife, instantly rolled and dispersed to both sides.

The torrential rain suddenly stopped.

The thunder stopped.

In just three seconds, the gloom over Linjiang City was swept away.

A bright, full moon hung abruptly and beautifully in the night sky, its light shining on Li Changgeng's white robes, giving him a sacred silver edge.

"One sword cleaves the gates of heaven..."

As Zhao Jianguo watched this scene, the walkie-talkie slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.

If slaying the serpent just now demonstrated power, then this sword cleaving through the clouds demonstrates... a higher level of skill.

The speedboat finally caught up.

"Immortal Master! Please wait!!"

An officer stood at the bow of the ship, shouting anxiously, "The nation..."

Li Changgeng slowly turned his head.

Those indifferent eyes swept over the crowd without the slightest emotional fluctuation.

"When conditions arise, people gather; when conditions cease, they disperse."

"I am but a wisp of cloud, detached from the mortal world."

Before he could finish speaking...

A thick fog suddenly rose from the river.

Their vision was obscured, and all they could see was a white blur. When the river wind dispersed the fog, the withered tree and the enormous snake carcass were still there.

But that figure in white, as pure as snow, vanished completely into the world like a bubble.

Only a faint poetic phrase remains, echoing across the river:

"Having accomplished his task, he dusted off his clothes and departed, concealing his identity and name."

……

[The Gu Family Old House, Study]

"call……"

Gu Qing suddenly opened her eyes and let out a long breath.

While the feeling of "soul leaving the body" is exhilarating, it also consumes a tremendous amount of mental energy.

At this moment, the once majestic "Li Changgeng" had transformed back into a thin black paper figure, which, along with the crimson dragon's inner core, floated lightly into Gu Qing's palm.

The edges of the paper figure were charred black—a backlash from bearing too much lightning spiritual power.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Gu Qing carefully tucked the paper figure into a copy of the "Classic of Mountains and Seas," then casually stuffed the inner elixir into his pocket.

[System Settlement:]

[Event: "Dragon Slaying at Huishui Bay" has been completed.]

[Current Status: The entire nation is in shock.]

[Credit score calculation in progress...]

[Gained Faith Points: +200,000. (Continuously increasing)]

Two hundred thousand.

This is ten times more than all the previous minor incidents combined.

But Gu Qing didn't rush to celebrate.

He knew that the real test had only just begun.

Just now in the command center, although the "profiling" scan targeting him was blocked by the system, it still served as a wake-up call for Gu Qing.

The government isn't stupid.

As long as he lives in this city, he will inevitably leave his mark.

"Since we can't completely erase the traces, let's make them... more plausible."

Gu Qing stood up and walked to the corner.

There lay the rusty iron sword he had bought at the antique market as a "prop prototype".

He picked up the iron sword, but instead of wiping it with a cloth, he took a bottle of vinegar and a packet of salt from the kitchen, mixed them into a solution, and applied it evenly to the sword.

Then, he picked up the expensive custom-made Hanfu, crumpled it into a ball, stuffed it into the bottom of the wardrobe, and deliberately sprinkled some red oil stains left by takeout food on it.

After doing all this, he looked at the pile of "junk" and smiled with satisfaction.

"If someone finds out later that I bought a sword and clothes..."

"When they arrived and saw a piece of scrap iron corroded and rusted by vinegar, and a wrinkled Hanfu stained with oil..."

"They'll just think of this as a failed cosplay enthusiast whose product photos are a far cry from the actual product."

"How could someone like this possibly be the sword immortal who could open the gates of heaven with a single sword strike?"

The so-called "great hermit lives in the city" does not mean actually hiding oneself.

Instead, I transformed myself into that most ordinary drop of water, merging into the vast sea of ​​humanity.

……

[07:00 the next morning]

The night in Linjiang City was anything but peaceful, with military vehicles patrolling the streets and construction vehicles clearing the scene.

But for ordinary citizens, life goes on.

Gu Qing, wearing a faded gray sweatshirt and flip-flops, walked out of the Gu family compound with sleepy eyes.

Long queues formed in front of the breakfast stalls.

People were excitedly discussing last night's "miracle."

"Hey, did you see that? That swordsman from last night! He was so cool! There really are immortals!"

"I saw it! I filmed a video, but I can't upload it; it keeps showing 'under review'."

"I saw it too, that purple light, amazing!"

Gu Qing stood in the middle of the line, listening to the two middle-aged women in front of her discussing animatedly.

"Boss, two fried dough sticks and a bowl of savory soy milk. Extra chili oil, please."

Gu Qing yawned and handed over a five-yuan bill.

"Alright! Xiao Gu, have you seen the news? We've hit the jackpot!" the boss said excitedly while frying dough sticks.

"I've looked at it."

Gu Qing rubbed her messy hair, looking envious. "That's amazing! I wonder if it's special effects or real. If it's real, I want to cultivate immortality too, even if it's just learning the art of walking through walls to peep... cough cough, to pick up takeout."

"Hahaha! You little rascal, you're never serious!"

The neighbors all laughed good-naturedly.

Just then.

A black Hongqi sedan slowly drove through the street.

The car window was half-rolled down, revealing Han Wenshan's tired and serious face. He was surveying the city, trying to find any trace of the figure from last night.

The car passed by Gu Qing, who was carrying a cup of soy milk.

The two were less than two meters apart.

Han Wenshan's gaze swept across the crowd, over the excited middle-aged women, and over Gu Qing, who was taking big bites of fried dough sticks with sesame seeds on the corners of her mouth.

His gaze lingered on Gu Qing for 0.5 seconds.

His eyes were unfocused and lifeless; he was a typical sleepy, nerdy guy.

He lacked the sharpness of a master and the aura of a strongman.

Han Wenshan looked away and rolled up the car window.

"Let's go to the next block," Han Wenshan said to the driver. "This place is full of ordinary people. That sword immortal... couldn't possibly be in this kind of backwater."

The wheels rolled away into the distance.

Gu Qing took a sip of hot, salty soy milk, looked at the taillights of the car, and a subtle smile appeared on her lips.

"The soy milk is good."

"It's another ordinary yet beautiful day."