"Master, can we find the evil spirit's hiding place?"
"I observed the celestial phenomena last night and calculated that the demonic infant will return to Chenjia Town again tonight."
"You and Awei stay at the Yi Zhuang. I will go to the nearby mountains to search."
Before Mao Xiaofang and Awei could speak, Shi Jian, who was in front of them, vanished from Chenjia Town with instantaneous movement.
"Senior Brother, it's best we return to the Yi Zhuang and patiently await Master's good news."
After distributing the Thunder God Talismans, the two stayed inside the Yi Zhuang, waiting.
After the master and disciples left, the villagers promptly burned all twelve corpses on the spot to prevent any accidents.
Subsequently, Shi Jian used instantaneous movement to meticulously search several nearby mountain peaks.
Apart from finding the hiding spots of a few small zombies, he did not find the demonic infant.
With no other option, he returned to the Yi Zhuang, waiting for the demonic infant to walk into the trap that night.
Inside the Yi Zhuang, Mao Xiaofang and Awei looked at the spiritual infants before them with distressed expressions.
"Stop fighting over the tomatoes. I'll buy you more eggs later."
More than ten spiritual infants eyed the tomatoes clutched by the small zombie, wanting to have a taste.
However, the small zombie was no easy opponent, controlling talismans with its magic to block in front of itself.
Due to the strong yang energy and a sliver of light in the afternoon, the small zombie's movements were restricted.
Thus, it could only crouch in a corner, guarding its rations.
"Don't be afraid, we'll trade you these eggs for it."
A spiritual infant clad in a red bellyband, holding three eggs, slowly approached the small zombie, intending to exchange eggs for the tomatoes.
The small zombie glanced at the eggs and immediately shook its head in refusal.
Eggs were generally the favorite of minor ghosts, and zombies didn't eat eggs at all.
"If you don't speak, it means you agree."
As the spiritual infant was about to reach into the bamboo basket, the small zombie directly held the basket and floated upwards.
This scene infuriated the spiritual infant, who began to pace anxiously on the spot.
Given Mao Xiaofang's presence, the spiritual infant dared not use magic to snatch the tomatoes.
Furthermore, the spiritual infant had low cultivation and lacked offensive capabilities, and couldn't defeat the small zombie.
Despite having a numerical advantage, they were still no match for the small zombie.
"What are you all doing?"
Shi Jian, having returned to the Yi Zhuang, saw the spiritual infants vying for the small zombie's tomatoes.
"Master, the spiritual infants are fighting over something with the small zombie!"
Upon seeing Shi Jian, the spiritual infants reacted as if they had seen a ghost, dropping the eggs in their hands and standing neatly in a row.
"Don't discard the eggs in your hands. They are valuable. They shouldn't be wasted."
The spiritual infants used magic again to retrieve the eggs from the ground, not daring to disobey.
They knew that if they dared to offend the Shi Jian before them, their eggs would certainly be confiscated.
In the future, let alone eating tomatoes, they wouldn't even get an eggshell.
"Master is indeed capable, subduing these mischievous spirits in an instant."
Awei watched as all the spiritual infants behaved so obediently before Shi Jian, lavishing him with praise.
The spiritual infants from before, aside from fearing Mao Xiaofang, completely disregarded him.
Now seeing the spiritual infants frozen in fear, Awei was overjoyed, almost bursting into laughter.
"What are you still standing here for? Go offer three sticks of incense."
"Oh~"
Obeying Shi Jian's command, Awei went to the spiritual infant statue, lit the three sticks of incense in his hand, and inserted them into the small censer.
"Stop standing around and hurry back. You are not allowed to snatch things anymore."
"Also, do not come out if you hear any noise tonight."
Seeing that their eggs were not confiscated, the spiritual infants breathed a sigh of relief and transformed into blue light, returning to the spiritual infant statue.
"Wow, they're faster than rabbits."
"What are you still looking at? Hurry back and draw talismans."
"If you don't finish drawing them tonight, don't blame me for being merciless."
The mere thought of the feather duster sent a shiver down Awei's spine, and he quickly fled the room where the spiritual infants were venerated.
"Master, did you find the evil spirit's hiding place?"
"No, the demonic infant will come again tonight. You must guard the Yi Zhuang well."
Shi Jian looked at Mao Xiaofang behind him and handed him the Tai Qing Dust Whisk.
With the strength of a Earth Master, coupled with lightning techniques and the Tai Qing Dust Whisk, dealing with the demonic infant should not be a problem.
Even if the demonic infants were numerous, guarding the five demonic infant statues within the Yi Zhuang would at least be manageable.
Moreover, there was Awei and the small zombie as physical support.
Mao Xiaofang accepted the Tai Qing Dust Whisk and said with confidence, "Master, rest assured. With me here, the Yi Zhuang will be safe."
Currently, he was the strongest among the new generation of Maoshan disciples.
This was the perfect opportunity to showcase his own strength and lightning techniques.
"With you by my side, I feel much more at ease."
"By the way, how is your training of the Lightning Strike Fist coming along?"
Shi Jian recalled teaching him the Lightning Strike Fist and inquired whether Mao Xiaofang had mastered it.
Practicing the Shang Qing Great Cave True Scripture would allow him to quickly master the Lightning Strike Fist.
Once he learned the Lightning Strike Fist, his strength would advance another level, making him capable of dealing with Fù Jiāng (walking zombies) and ordinary Fēi Jiāng (flying zombies).
Below the Heavenly Master realm, he could essentially be considered unrivaled.
"Disciple has not yet mastered it, but I have learned the Divine Thunder in the Palm."
Seeing that Mao Xiaofang had learned the Divine Thunder in the Palm, Shi Jian nodded and praised him.
His progress in practicing lightning techniques was not as fast as his own, but overall, it was not bad.
At least being able to learn the Divine Thunder in the Palm in a short period was not a complete loss.
"Master the Lightning Strike Fist as soon as possible, don't disgrace me."
"Understood, Master!"
Shi Jian glanced at the small zombie again. "Stop flying around up there. They won't snatch your things."
Seeing that the spiritual infants had all disappeared, the small zombie stood on the spot holding its basket, gesturing towards the spiritual infants with its hands.
"Don't worry, no one will fight you for your things anymore."
"Guard the demonic infant statues tonight and don't let the evil spirits enter and take away the five demonic infant statues."
"After this is accomplished, I will buy you another basket of tomatoes."
Upon hearing "tomatoes," the small zombie nodded in agreement without hesitation.
For zombies that did not feed on blood, tomatoes had become a delicacy.
"All preparations are complete. We are just waiting for the big fish to arrive!"
Shi Jian walked out of the room where the spiritual infants were venerated, with Mao Xiaofang following closely.
A few hours later, the sunlight gradually faded, replaced by moonlight.
Within minutes of the moonlight's appearance, Chenjia Town was enveloped by a thick fog, making the entire village appear eerie and sinister.
The villagers within the town had pasted several Thunder God Talismans on their doors and windows, strictly adhering to Shi Jian's instructions from the morning not to venture out freely at night.
"Master, the resentment here is even heavier than in Xigang Town last time."
Shi Jian looked at the thick fog with a dismissive expression.
Such trivial tricks were commonly used by vengeful spirits, merely relying on the emanating resentment to intimidate less experienced Taoist priests.
"A mere trick. Let me break this thick fog."
Shi Jian employed the Tongtian Lu (Heaven-Connecting Scroll) and drew several Zhen Sha Talismans (Spirit Suppressing Talismans) within the Yi Zhuang.
With the appearance of the Zhen Sha Talismans, the surrounding thick fog dissipated slightly.