Chapter 11: The Hegemon King of Western Chu?

The essence of the peach wood, born at the Ghost Gate, can control hundreds of ghosts and is an excellent material for cutting down evil and controlling ghosts.

This Peach Wood Sword was made from a hundred-year-old peach tree.

Its attached effect of Exorcism +1 means that wherever this Peach Wood Sword is located, common malevolent beings must stay away, otherwise, it wouldn't be long before their souls dissipate.

Taoist Priest Bai Piao, carrying the Peach Wood Sword, set up altars all around to perform rituals. Although all of them were tricks to fool people, the exorcism effect of the Peach Wood Sword genuinely played its role. Thus, it was that Bai Piao managed to gain quite a bit of fame.

However, the ghostly shadow that Li Lao Er saw was actually not a real ghost.

A purple-green Sword Light shot towards a corner of the courtyard.

To Bai Piao, this corner looked perfectly normal, completely empty.

But at the very moment when Lu Qingshan's Sword Light flew towards it,

Waves of ripples appeared in the void, spreading rapidly, like ripples on a placid surface of water.

Then, a huge black rat appeared out of thin air in the courtyard.

Boom—

The Sword Light struck directly towards this huge black rat.

A loud booming sound erupted.

The black rat clearly had not expected this to happen.

Caught off guard, it was hard-hit by the Thunder Force of the Sword Light, standing petrified on the spot with its black fur sticking out, and a smell of scorched leather wafted through the air.

Yes, the so-called ghostly shadows in the village were not Yin Spirits, but rather this huge black rat causing mischief.

Lu Qingshan had sensed something was amiss quite early. He had never heard of a Yin Spirit that would steal chickens.

Likewise, after arriving in the village and learning that the so-called "Overlord of Western Chu" had appeared again in broad daylight, he was certain that the strange phenomena in the village were not caused by Yin Spirits.

So, right after he climbed over the courtyard wall, he paid special attention to any abnormalities in the yard and quickly discovered an Illusion Technique set up in the corner of the courtyard.

With the Heavenly Eye Technique deployed, Lu Qingshan could see a wealth of information before his eyes.

————————

Rat Demon (Demon Clan)

Rank: First Grade (lv1)

Attribute: Strength 1, Agility 2, Mana 1, Divine Soul 3, Charm 1, Stamina 1

Health Points: 15/20 (Injured)

Spiritual Power Value: 10/10

Skills: Soul Loss Technique lv1, Blinding Spell lv1

Gifts: [Sparse Illusion Rat Bloodline]: The Illusion Rat Clan naturally possesses the ability to cast illusions. Rat Demons with a sparse Illusion Rat Bloodline thereby have the ability to cast some low-grade illusions.

[Primary Level Strength]: The Demon Clan's physical body is exceptionally strong. Gain Stamina Value modification: 1 Stamina = 20 Health Points

—————————

That's right, the one stealing chickens and dogs in the village was a rat that had somehow become a spirit, or in other words, a Demon Beast.

If it had been evil spirits causing trouble, Bai Piao might have been unbeatable with the Peach Wood Sword. But against Demon Beasts, the Exorcism effect of the Peach Wood Sword would be of no use at all.

He was a scamming Taoist Priest, charging straight at a Demon Beast – wasn't that just asking for death?

So, Lu Qingshan felt entirely justified in taking this Peach Wood Sword: I'm solving a problem for you that you couldn't solve yourself. As compensation, I take the Peach Wood Sword as my reward, nothing wrong with that.

```

Having gained the upper hand, Lu Qingshan didn't wait for the rat demon to counterattack and swung his sword again, unleashing a bolt of Thunder Force infused Sword Light.

This Sword Light contained 10 points of Thunder Force.

The rat demon had just regained its senses when another streak of purple-glowing Sword Light flashed before its eyes.

Boom————

Another loud boom resounded.

...

The villagers gathered outside Li Lao Er's home couldn't help but click their tongues when they heard the noise from the courtyard, "That must be the Taoist Priest fighting the ghost, good heavens, with all this commotion, that Western Chu Overlord must be one formidable ghost."

Some showed concern, "I just wonder, can Taoist Priest Bai Piao overtake this Western Chu Overlord?"

"No need to worry, Taoist Priest Bai Piao is a renowned figure in Yuanshan City with extensive experience in exorcism. No matter how fierce the Western Chu Overlord might be, he can only meekly submit before the Taoist Priest."

....

Inside the courtyard.

Purple light once again flared upon the Peach Wood Sword in Lu Qingshan's hand.

"Stop, stop, if you hit me again, the rat here is done for, real person, please spare my life!" Suddenly, the rat demon, already charred black by the Thunder Force Sword Light, let out a wretched plea for mercy.

Lu Qingshan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and indeed retracted the Thunder Force from his Peach Wood Sword, looking curiously at the rat demon, "You have not transformed, yet you can speak human language. It seems you've had quite the opportunity to have refined your marrow ahead of time."

Seeing that Lu Qingshan had truly retracted the Thunder Force from his sword, the rat demon rather humanly patted its chest with its small paw, still shaken as it began, "Real person, you indeed have an insightful eye. I was just an ordinary rat, barely surviving on the food I stole from this family's storage.

Not long ago, by chance, I swallowed a red Spiritual Pearl and somehow gained consciousness and the ability to speak. I, too, was scared witless by the transformation from an ordinary rat into this!

But I swear, I have never harmed a soul in the village during this period. I am a good demon, please show mercy, real person, and spare my life!"

Lu Qingshan walked up to the rat demon, using the Peach Wood Sword like a mallet, harshly knocking on the rat demon's head, as he spoke, "A good demon? A good demon that steals chickens, scares villagers while pretending to be a ghost, and even calls itself the Western Chu Overlord, look at how capable you are."

The rat demon, while clutching its head and not daring to resist, softly explained, "Who can resist the deliciousness of chicken, I just couldn't help myself.

Moreover, I didn't intend to scare people; it was just a vague feeling that I might have some special ability (Blinding Spell), and I attempted to use it.

Who knew that the homeowner would suddenly come out and just happened to see me? As for the Western Chu Overlord..."

The rat demon, feeling wronged, said, "I didn't say that. When he asked me what ghost I was, don't all you humans have names?

I was born in the hole at the west wall, so I just named myself West Rat King. He somehow misheard it as Western Chu Overlord."

"It's so unfair to me!"

Lu Qingshan: "..."

Taoist Priest Bai Piao, witnessing this scene from the side, was already flabbergasted. Today, he had seen both a real Cultivator and a rat demon capable of human speech. He was filled with myriad emotions, both amazed and fearful.

...

"Where did you get the red Spiritual Pearl you swallowed? What exactly does it look like? Tell me in detail, and then I'll consider whether or not to let you off," Lu Qingshan asked calmly, but a wisp of purple light flared up again on the Peach Wood Sword.

The West Rat King, upon seeing the Sword Light, shivered involuntarily, the psychological shadow of the previous two Sword Lights obviously having left a deep imprint.

The West Rat King immediately pounced on Lu Qingshan's legs, clutching his pant legs tightly with its small paws, its voice inconsolable, "Real person, spare me, as the saying goes, 'Heaven values all life,' I am a good demon. If you, real person, strike me down, how could you bear it in your heart?"

Lu Qingshan kicked the West Rat King away, the purple light on the Peach Wood Sword growing even stronger, "Stop that nonsense with me. If you're not willing to answer my question, then I won't be polite."

The West Rat King, somewhat fearing Lu Qingshan's gaze, hesitated before saying, "Real person, it's not that I don't want to tell you, it's just that I really don't know what happened."

"Hmm?" Lu Qingshan frowned slightly.

"Alas, I don't even know how to explain it. If I take the real person to see it, you'll understand," said the rat demon.

```