Preface

  During the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, in the fourth year of Jiayou, on Mount Longhu in Xinzhou, Jiangxi Province, a group of Taoist priests surrounded a white-faced, beardless man who looked like an official and exhorted him: "Marshal Hong, you can't open it! Under this stone tablet are countless demons suppressed by generations of Heavenly Masters. If they are released, they will harm people and cause trouble!"

  Hong Taigong smiled and said, "This stone tablet clearly says 'Open when meeting Hong'. It's destined that you met me, all of you move aside, I'll have the soldiers dig open this stone turtle!"

  Many Taoist priests persuaded in vain, and had to watch as the group of soldiers dug up the stone turtle and opened the stone slab. Under the bluestone slab was a deep well of ten thousand feet, and a black air rolled out from the well, collapsing half of the temple corner. The black air rushed straight into the middle of the sky, dispersing into hundreds of golden lights that went in all directions!

  Hong Taizhen was so frightened that he sat on the ground with a thud, his eyes wide open and his mouth agape, his face as pale as earth. He cried out: "We're done for! We're done for! What kind of demon is this?"

  At this moment in the capital of the Great Song Dynasty, Dongjing, Zhang Tian Shi, who was performing a grand ritual to ward off plagues and natural disasters, suddenly lifted his head and gazed at the golden light dispersing into the air. The True Man's eyes flickered.

  "Not good! A total of 108 demons have been stirred up, and this Hong Xian is indeed a troublemaker." The Zhang Tian Shi, who looked like an eleven or twelve year old, with a body like that of a mischievous child, but was actually over fifty years old, thought to himself: "These 108 demons will likely cause great chaos in the world. If I were to personally go and subdue them, I fear it would again delay my cultivation of the Water and Fire techniques for who knows how many more years. Fortunately, their life-bound golden plaques are still in my possession."

  Zhang Tian Shi gazed at the purple energy swirling above the imperial city of Kaifeng, a sly smile spreading across his delicate face.

  "Hmm, I'll use the Dragon Vein Imperial Qi of Zhao Family's Heavenly Son to suppress the life-protecting golden plaques of these 108 demons and let them reincarnate as humans. Then, I can finally focus on my cultivation with a clear mind."

  Zhang Tian Shi chuckled and suddenly disappeared from the scene of the 3600th Luotian Grand Assembly, while the Taoist priests beside him seemed to have seen nothing.

  That Heavenly Master secretly entered the underground dragon vein of the Zhao family, using the Upper Clear Secret Method to lock the Benming Golden Plates of the 108 demon heads in the dragon vein. With the power of the dragon vein and the Ziwu star, he suppressed these escaped demons from the Fumo Temple. As long as the golden plates were still in the dragon vein, these demons would be restricted from using their divine powers, lose all memories, and involuntarily reincarnate into humans.

  One hundred and eight ordinary people, how much killing evil can they create?

  Zhang Tian Shi shook his head and smiled, quietly exiting the underground dragon vein to continue presiding over the 3,600-part Rosetta Heaven Grand Sacrifice. After completing the grand sacrifice and dispelling the plague of colorful miasma hovering above Tokyo, Zhang Tian Shi was about to leave when he suddenly had a premonition, heading to Dongda Street's Evil Warding Alley to find a family with the surname Chen. The household had no adults, only a 7-8 year old mischievous child wielding a treasured sword, his entire body radiating green light.

  Zhang Tian Shi gazed for a moment, then praised: "Good innate quality, just suitable for learning my Taoist methods." He walked in directly and said to the young man: "Are you willing to take me as your master?"

  The young man's surname was Chen, his name Xi Zhen. His ancestors followed the True Emperor to conquer all directions, leaving behind a bit of fame and a precious sword. By the time of Chen Xi Zhen, the family had declined, his parents died early, leaving only him. However, Chen Xi Zhen had met Zhang Tian Shi at the 3600th Luotian Grand Ceremony, it was also good fortune that came to his heart, he bowed to this twelve or thirteen year old Daoist boy: "Greetings, Master!"

  Zhang Tian Shi was overjoyed and had planned to take him to Mount Longhu to train him properly, but unfortunately the Dragon Vein of the Song Dynasty suppressed the 108 evil spirits' golden plaques, so he needed a disciple to guard them here. Therefore, he stayed at the Chen residence for three years, teaching Chen Xi the Taoist teachings of Mount Longhu.

  Three years later, Zhang Tian Shi left and said to the young man: "When the 108 demons are beheaded, it will be the time for you to return to the mountain. At that time, I will send someone to pick you up. Guarding the Benming Golden Token in the Dragon Vein is a great matter related to the lives of all living beings, and the merit is boundless. You must be careful. Remember, remember!"

  Chen Xizhen bid farewell. The two master and apprentice reluctantly parted ways, Zhang Tianyi returned to Mount Longhu alone to practice Taoism, without mentioning it again. Chen Xizhen also returned to the Beixie Alley, tempering his martial arts on one hand and cultivating Taoist techniques on the other. However, those 108 demons were suppressed by the Great Song Dragon Vein's Benming Golden Token, unable to display their divine powers, and had no choice but to reincarnate as humans. The memories and divine powers of their past lives were also sealed away.

  Chen Xizhen only firmly remembered one sentence from Zhang Tian Shi:

  "That demon has its own true form on its back, like a tattoo. If it's a lion spirit, there will be a lion pattern on its back; if it's a white tiger spirit, there will be a white tiger pattern on its back. If you have the chance to see that demon's head, you can take advantage of the opportunity to get rid of it and gain some merit for subduing demons and evil spirits, which will greatly benefit your cultivation."

  Chen Xizhen's eyes sparkled and a mouthful of true energy surged out from her chest.

  It is often said:

  Born in a humble abode and died with a noble title, a man's lifetime ambition has been fulfilled.

  Iron horse neighs at night under the mountain moon, black ape howls in autumn twilight amidst thick clouds.

  No need to seek true traces, but delighted in loyal and good words.

  The ancient lotus pond buries the jade land, and the fallen flowers and birds are all related to sorrow. A myth of Water Margin, but also unfolds from Chen Xiuzhen's thought.