The west, midnight, the eerie night descends.
Dark energy enshrouded, and strange beings roamed within the dense fog.
A lost goat was sucked into the white mist, its bleating cut short. The bloodthirsty strange beings left not a drop, and in an instant, the goat was reduced to a mere skeleton.
Soon, this boneyard of a goat once again staggered to its feet.
This time, it too could freely traverse the darkness, but as a strange being.
Looking on from afar, Liangchen couldn't help but shiver.
"Father, we should leave quickly."
"The strange beings at night are endless. If that Tier 3 source of corruption fully erupts, who knows what kind of monsters will appear!"
Fear etched on Liangchen's face, he knew he was in grave danger after abandoning Xu Mu.
The source of corruption in Fengqing Village made it impossible to stay, and the eerie night was upon them. Countless strange beings roamed outside. Even as an ability user, he couldn't find a safe haven on his own.
So, wisely, Liangchen quickly used a communication artifact to contact his father, Liang Jue.
Liang Jue was a Rank 2 Upper tier ability user and an esteemed guest of the Gold and Silver Merchant House.
As the Demon Eradication Division advanced into Xishan, the entire domain of the eerie night fell into unease. Coincidentally, the Gold and Silver Merchant Association had a rather large supply depot near Fengqing Village, containing many rare and valuable treasures.
Fearing trouble, they specifically asked Liang Jue to guard it for the night.
The transfer station was less than twenty li from Fengqing Village. After Liangchen used the special artifact to transmit, Liang Jue rushed over.
"Chen'er, are you sure that was a Tier 3 source of corruption?"
In the wilderness, Liang Jue's expression was solemn, his beard bunched together, as if he couldn't believe a Tier 3 source of corruption would appear in such a place.
"Father, I'm sure. That oppressive power is definitely more than Tier 2!"
Liangchen said with a serious and fearful tone. His theoretical knowledge was excellent, and he had personally experienced the pressure of a Tier 3 ability user. The source of corruption felt exactly the same!
"No, if it were truly a Tier 3 source of corruption, we should be able to sense it by now, or at least see a clear area of corruption, even if it hasn't spread here yet."
The man's voice was rough as he gripped his axe and gestured towards Fengqing Village.
"Look carefully, there's nothing there now."
"Let alone the great demons spawned by the source of corruption, even the strange beings in that direction are fewer than elsewhere."
Liang Jue said, swinging his great axe and swiftly decapitating the encroaching horde of strange beings.
"This..."
Liangchen listened to his father and observed the direction of Fengqing Village, finding that it indeed seemed to be the case.
If it were a Tier 3 source of corruption, with the amplification of the eerie night, the contamination area should have instantly expanded to over ten li, and the momentum should have been overwhelming, not this quiet.
Could it be that the Tier 1 ability user from the Demon Eradication Division had actually cleared the source of corruption with his own abilities?
"No, impossible!" Liangchen shook his head instinctively at the thought.
It was too terrifying. A Tier 1 ability user single-handedly clearing a Tier 3 source of corruption would be a once-in-ten-thousand genius!
Moreover, he had the backing of a powerful figure from the Demon Eradication Division.
Liangchen's face was filled with dread. The worst part was that he had not only failed to befriend such a person but had severely offended him.
And earlier, he had deliberately left Xu Mu under the ancient tree and fled.
If Xu Mu truly survived, he would seek revenge. The wrath of the Demon Eradication Division's magnate would be something even the entire merchant association couldn't bear!
"Chen'er, is there something you're hiding from me?"
Liang Jue noticed his son's expression and his slightly trembling body, and frowned.
"You are the future hope of our Liang family, a genius who awakened his abilities at twenty. You cannot be scared away by trivial matters!"
The man slung his great axe over his shoulder, the scent of blood reaching Liangchen's nostrils.
"Tell me, what has made you so terrified? Father will help you resolve it!"
"I... I seem to have provoked an individual from the Demon Eradication Division."
Liangchen was extremely nervous, his voice trembling slightly.
"Mmm, and then."
"Provoking them isn't the issue. Unless it's a life-or-death feud, there's no problem that money can't solve. Our Liang family is powerful, and we hold a significant position in the merchant association. I believe the association will gladly help us resolve this."
The man had already prepared himself psychologically and comforted him.
Upon hearing the name of the merchant association, Liangchen's face turned ashen. He was afraid of the merchant association!
If Xu Mu truly sought revenge, the powerful figures behind him would first put pressure on the merchant association.
In that case, would they choose to offend the Demon Eradication Division, or would they sacrifice him, a newly awakened Tier 1 ability user? How would the Gold and Silver Merchant Association choose?
"It's a life-or-death feud..."
With that thought, Liangchen no longer hesitated and told Liang Jue everything, detail by detail.
...
...
"Father, that's how it happened. Should we now..."
After confessing everything, Liangchen's tension eased considerably. A trace of murderous intent flickered in his terrified eyes.
"If all this is true, then his abilities are at least at the third stage."
"To be at the third stage immediately after awakening, I've only encountered a few such individuals in the Imperial City. They are all considered peerless prodigies."
Liang Jue raised his axe, his eyes sharp.
"At this point, we must nip him in the bud. And we must act quickly, tonight!"
"Before dawn, anyone who witnessed your conflict with him must also die, otherwise the Demon Eradication Division will easily trace it back to you."
"Everyone must die?" Liangchen stammered, his hands awkwardly raised to his chest. "But... but at that time, it seemed like all the villagers in Fengqing Village were present."
"Then kill them all!"
The man, his face contorted, swung his great axe towards Fengqing Village.
"Father, among those people are my classmates from the merchant association..."
Liangchen stiffened. Although he was usually arrogant, he had never actually killed anyone.
The laws of Great Xia were very strict, especially for ability users. The imperial court had specifically enacted the Martial Prohibition Order, and the Demon Eradication Division had a Discipline Hall responsible for overseeing all ability users in the land.
Although he had repeatedly violated the Martial Prohibition Order, he had never killed anyone. Yet Liang Jue was asking him to kill hundreds of people in Fengqing Village in one night?
"The severity of this matter has exceeded your imagination. If the merchant association finds out, not only will you die, but our Liang family's standing in the domain of the eerie night will plummet. No faction will accept us anymore."
"Therefore, this Xu Mu, and everyone in Fengqing Village, must die, including your classmates!"
Liang Jue's eyes were sharp, murderous intent permeating the air.
"Just like Xiaokang Village!"
...