The middle-aged man received the sweet rain and the Jade Scroll, immediately descended from the Flowers Pavilion, and swiftly left the Imperial City on a Jade Chariot.

After traveling thirty miles outside the Imperial City, a flying boat hovered mid-air, waiting. Upon boarding, the flying boat set off at full speed.

It was only then that he found time to examine the jade bottle and the Jade Scroll.

With the ring transaction and the delivery by the Posthouse Official, he never suspected that in this situation the other party might swindle him over a mere Void Escape Scroll.

Opening the jade bottle and catching a whiff of its unique fragrance, he knew instantly that it was the real thing.

Its color resembled amber, slightly viscous like oil, devoid of any impurities.

The middle-aged man was somewhat surprised; it was unexpectedly top-tier sweet rain, undiluted.

Indeed, they had obtained some sweet rain before, but it was always diluted. Even then, he had shamelessly begged for it from the Crown Prince, who reluctantly granted him some sweet rain diluted with Spiritual Liquid.

A quick scan revealed there to be thirty-eight drops, making the middle-aged man overjoyed.

Another glance at the Jade Scroll showed the complete ceremony, necessary handprint, and the Almsgiving Spell. It even had a note at the end, "sincere heart brings true efficacy."

"It's actually the finest sweet rain, and they even gave an extra drop."

Coupled with the Jade Scroll that maximized the effect of almsgiving, the middle-aged man's affection for No. 7 soared rapidly.

No wonder No. 7 was adamant about the exact number, not giving an even integer, sounding somewhat unpleasant, as if they didn't care whether he wanted it or not.

It turned out they had offered the finest sweet rain.

In retrospect, for thirty-seven drops, he got thirty-eight. It was better and more than the hundred drops he originally sought.

No. 7 was truly honest, only asking for a Void Escape Scroll, which couldn't be seen as exorbitant.

Seeing his message on the public wall, they actively approached him for a deal.

Presumably, as a newcomer, they intended to build friendly ties.

Thinking about how he had secretly cursed No. 7 countless times in the past few days, the middle-aged man felt ashamed, realizing he had misunderstood them.

After all, not many knew about sweet rain, yet it was highly coveted; the higher one's cultivation, the more they needed it. Cultivators from the Lihuo Institute treated it as a life-saving necessity.

Unfortunately, it was scant and extremely rare, achieving it counted as greatly profiting.

The worry on the middle-aged man's face entirely faded away. The lessons of many years, hiding emotions, were thrown aside as he couldn't stop himself from smiling broadly.

Yu Ziqing, far away on Jinlan Mountain, couldn't possibly dream that in this world, there was always a higher level of cunning.

He already felt he was a merchant capable of such cunning that he should be hanged for it.

He couldn't imagine that what No. 5 considered a drop was a drop diluted by an even more cunning person.

His thirty-plus drops, after dilution with Spiritual Liquid, amounted to at least three hundred drops.

As a result, No. 5 sincerely believed that No. 7 was intentionally building goodwill, particularly decent, a model of honesty and sincerity, thus only requesting a Void Escape Scroll as a mere gesture.

The middle-aged man's flying boat, operating at maximum speed under overload, finally reached the vicinity of the Dali Northwest Border after a day's journey.

At a massive crack in the ground, three flying boats were already parked. It was the largest known gathering place of the starving ghosts within Dali's territory.

Beneath the crack, connecting to what was called the Abyss, it used to be a place requiring heavy military presence from Dali, packed with Devils and Alien Species, as numerous as stars and intimidatingly abundant.

Occasionally, Devils and other Alien Species would crawl out from the crack, clashing with the Western Desolation Army stationed there.

The Western Desolation Army guarded Dali's west. Though there were no external enemies, they were known for their ferocity and savage fighting power because each soldier had to be rotated here for combat training.

Now, the Western Desolation Army wasn't needed for guarding because those starving ghosts met a more numerous foe—the starving ghosts.

The Western Desolation General had always been wary of the Jinlan Mountain Forbidden Land, strictly forbidding his subordinates from stepping into the Wilderness boundary.

Largely because the General once witnessed the swarm-like starving ghosts rush in, tearing apart the seemingly innumerable Devils.

It took them a whole day to pour into the crack.

After that day, he knew he would never need to guard there again.

The countless Devils and ghosts once felt like unending cockroaches, but within the crack now, there wasn't a single one left.

He still didn't comprehend why the swarm of starving ghosts rushed in, but they didn't bother the Western Desolation Army, acting frenziedly.

The Devils blocking their path were like sworn enemies; viciously torn apart, they weren't satisfied until even the intact claws were shredded.

Was it the heavy yin qi from the Abyss, favorable for their existence?

Later, the Western Desolation General jokingly said something must have offended these fresh starving ghosts on the other side of the Abyss, making them rush for revenge.

This enigma, the true reason, they would probably never know.

The place had now become the largest spot to bestow to starving ghosts.

Jinlan Mountain Forbidden Land didn't count as no one dared venture there.

A small town had been built miles away from the cliff, with a statue-less temple at the cliff's edge, both designed for almsgiving to starving ghosts.

As a non-threatening creature who doesn't harm people and even benefits humans, there had long been strategies to deal with them.

Upon arrival, the middle-aged man immediately summoned someone, handing over the Jade Scroll.

"Follow the instructions and set it up quickly."

The middle-aged man entered another flying boat, where an elder, with one half of his body bound by black iron chains, resided.

The elder's left cheek was covered in grotesque Devil Patterns.

On his right cheek were red runes, filled with Daoist charm, countering the Devil Patterns on the left.

His expression was sinister on one side, eyes cold and dark, while the other side was calm, filled with determination.

The left side tried to move, but countless runes emerged from the chain, forcibly suppressing it.

"Father, I've obtained it, the best, top-tier sweet rain, a full thirty-eight drops. Plus, that person added the complete set of ceremonies, the Almsgiving Spell and Seal. This time, you will surely improve."

The elder's left face grew more sinister, eyes filled with murderous intent, yet the right side smiled and conveyed telepathically.

"Truly top-tier sweet rain? You've done well, make sure not to shortchange them."

"Don't worry, Father, I will." The middle-aged man relaxed slightly, then added, "Father, he specifically reminded me—a sincere heart brings true efficacy."

"No need for your words, our family hasn't known hardship in your generation. Your father, however, fought stray dogs for food, knowing firsthand why starving ghosts become starving ghosts."

Finishing his transmission, the left cheek twisted, the eye socket tearing open. Blinding light shone from the chain's runes.

Yet, no matter how much it struggled, the conscious awareness of the elder resisted, unable to escape the chains, barely moving a muscle.

Moments later, with the magic platform ready, the motionless elder was carried in front.

Just as the middle-aged man tried to assist, he suddenly noticed a half-foot-long black spike emerge from the elder's right hand.

"Still unrelenting?"

A ferocious expression flickered on the elder's right face as he used the spike to pierce his left foot, pinning it down.

His right hand moved again, grabbing another spike and piercing his left hand, nailing it to the ground.

In an instant, his left leg, thigh, arm, and waist were punctured by black spikes, their ends driven into the ground.

The spikes connected to the earth's qi, together with the chains, rendered the left side immobile.

The left face continued to struggle, wanting to shout and curse, but it was futile.

No longer cherishing his own body, he now feared the suppressed Devil's intent causing trouble, ruining everything.

"Father..."

The middle-aged man couldn't help but call out, rushing forward.

"Stay aside."

With a wave of his right sleeve, the elder sent the man flying backward.

Taking out the jade bottle, pouring all thirty-eight drops of sweet rain into the almsgiving food, he lit incense, placed it on top, and formed the Almsgiving Seal, chanting the Almsgiving Spell.

Rising from obscurity, he crawled his way out of piles of dead bodies, narrowly escaping starvation, built a vast family business, and was eventually granted the title, Duke Lin.

He understood better than these descendants why starving ghosts were starving ghosts, and for them, becoming starving ghosts was indeed the greatest fortune in their misfortune.

Without needing anyone to say a "sincere heart brings true efficacy," he knew what to do.

As the elder bestowed, masses of starving ghosts climbed from the depths of the abyss.

The ghosts covered every corner of the cliffs.

Looking at the drifting smoke, they seemed to see a silhouette watching them.

"Eat, this is my gift to you all; consume it without reservation."

Each ghost instinctively knew this was their king, granting them sustenance.

They respectfully bowed toward the nonexistent figure, then cradled the food manifesting in their hands.

The simplest yet most filling foods.

After the ghosts finished eating, wisps of black qi began to emanate from the elder's left side.

The black qi seemed reluctant, but an invisible force pulled at it. Upon an angered shout from the ghosts, the black qi immediately separated.

It didn't flee in fear; instead, it gathered, manifesting into a humanoid form, glaring coldly at the elder, still unwilling to concede.

Then...

The recently fed starving ghosts became disgruntled.

Where had this Devil come from? We just got full, and you show up to ruin the moment?