This John Foster had already disappeared without a trace more than a decade ago. Some say he has already achieved rainbow body in this very life, becoming a Buddha in the flesh. William Carter never expected to meet such a legendary master. However, thinking of the current Mongol-Yuan rule and the chaos plaguing the Central Plains, William Carter felt a surge of hostility in his heart.

However, compared to such a master, he, a mere junior Daoist, was like a firefly before the bright moon, or firewood before the sun—utterly insignificant. William Carter forcibly suppressed his inner impulses, but his face had already grown rather unsightly.

After a while, William Carter finally came to his senses, hurriedly stood up, bowed deeply to John Foster, and said, “Since you are here, senior, may I ask what kind of demon is so formidable that you still require the help of a humble Daoist like me?” At this point, William Carter’s tone had become quite cold.

John Foster paid no mind to William Carter’s resentment. His eyes widened, shooting out a dazzling brilliance. Suddenly, his aura expanded greatly, and his previously shabby monk’s robe now accentuated his dignified presence. He said, “This demon is none other than Edward Parker, one of the Ten Great Demons of the world. Originally, I could have dealt with him myself. However, the secret incantation of Doumu Xuanling that this demon cultivates is extremely sinister, able to refine the hundreds of thousands of wandering souls he has gathered into Dutian Ghost Generals. Although I can disperse these evil entities formed from countless souls, doing so would unleash these fierce spirits and vengeful ghosts upon the common people, causing more harm than good.”

William Carter was greatly shocked upon hearing this and asked in surprise, “It is said that this Edward Parker possesses unfathomable magical power. How could a humble Daoist like me possibly help you subdue these vengeful spirits?”

Monstrous beings of cruel nature, once they attain spiritual power, often wreak havoc upon the world. Some among them, with profound cultivation, are far beyond the abilities of ordinary Daoists or monks to handle. These monsters are not human, their violent temperaments impossible to predict. The most ferocious among them are the Ten Great Demons of the world.

Edward Parker was originally a Daoist cultivator, but after practicing some evil art, he suffered a qi deviation and his body exploded into ashes. Yet, years later, his soul lingered on, and by collecting the bones of wild animals from the mountains, he pieced together a skeleton and was thus reborn as a demon. This rumor alone shows just how bizarre and unfathomable this demonic Daoist’s cultivation is—truly extraordinary and unmatched in ferocity. No wonder even John Foster is so wary of him.

A confident smile bloomed on John Foster’s once grimy face as he said to William Carter, “I have already fought this demon here several times, with victories and defeats on both sides—neither of us able to overcome the other. At best, I can only ensure the safety of the local villagers, but I cannot destroy this demon. With you, young Daoist, the situation is entirely different.”

With this, William Carter finally understood why, despite the presence of such evil in Qingshan Village, so few people had suffered. It turned out that John Foster had been secretly protecting them. At that time, with the Yuan-Mongol invasion of the Central Plains lasting decades, the distinction between Mongol and Han among the people had already faded. Although the world was in chaos and countless rebel armies claimed to restore the Central Plains and drive out the Mongols, most were motivated by the corruption of the court and the suffering of the people, with only a few truly seeking to restore Han orthodoxy. Although William Carter was Han, he greatly admired the magnanimity of someone like John Foster, and his initial hostility dissipated.

John Foster said, “I can use my own power to seal the not-yet-fully-formed Dutian Ghost General within your body, young Daoist. Then I will collect these hundreds of thousands of ghost soldiers. Without this evil magic, I will no longer fear Edward Parker. Once I have eliminated Edward Parker, I will find a way to release these vengeful souls. Although this method is dangerous, there is no other choice.”

Though young, William Carter had been a monk since childhood. Having been steeped in the teachings of the Wuji Palace, he was not without experience. He had some knowledge of the method John Foster described. To use one’s own body to lure ghosts was extremely perilous; the slightest misstep would not only destroy William Carter’s body, but also annihilate his very soul. William Carter was about to refuse, but then thought of how he had no real attachments in life, and let it go. He said to John Foster, “Since you have such a method, senior, I am willing to give it a try. After all, a hundred years of life does not guarantee one will escape death.”

John Foster smiled faintly, his old face creased like a hundred ravines, and said, “You are quite open-minded for a young Daoist—rare indeed! Rare indeed!”

Hearing John Foster’s praise, William Carter replied proudly, “Even if I am afraid of death, I would never show it before others. Master, your praise is undeserved.”

The old monk and the young Daoist exchanged a glance, and found each other much more agreeable. They each sat quietly, saying nothing more.

After sitting for a while, John Foster secretly marveled at William Carter. This young Daoist, knowing the danger, still agreed without hesitation to help him break the ghost formation. Moreover, he did not even ask about the plan or when to act. Either he was bold and reckless, ignorant of the dangers of the world, or he simply did not care, having already put life and death aside. Such a strange youth—though John Foster was nearly a hundred years old, he had rarely seen the like.

After a moment’s thought, John Foster said to William Carter, “I see that although you are skilled in talismans and incantations, you probably have little knowledge of the Daoist arts for subduing demons. We must wait until nightfall for the Dutian Ghost General to appear. Why not use this half day for me to teach you two spells? That way, you’ll have a better chance of success. What do you think, young Daoist?”

William Carter was slightly taken aback, his heart pounding. Although Wuji Palace was a reputable Daoist sect, its martial arts and techniques were not first-rate. Though he was proficient in talismans, he only had a superficial understanding of advanced Daoist arts, unable to truly grasp them. If he could receive guidance from one of the world’s top masters, it would be worth more than ten years of hard training.