Chapter 327: Chapter 125: Tough Problem (Request for Monthly Votes)
Beastfiends!
This was the first time Dongfang Zhao had heard of them. However, the contents of Shen Changqing’s letter were much more detailed. It even made him mistakenly believe that Beastfiends had actually existed for a long time.
However, if Beastfiends had existed for a long time, the Demon-Subduing Division could not possibly have been completely unaware. Therefore, Dongfang Zhao actually leaned more towards the latter possibility.
It was similar to the Heavenly Realm; the Fierce Beasts within were also discovered one by one by members of the Demon-Subduing Division through various methods before being compiled into records.
Afterwards, he unfolded the white paper again and seriously examined its contents. A considerable amount was written on it, but Dongfang Zhao sharply identified an important piece of information among it.
That was—over three hundred years ago.
What exactly had happened over three hundred years ago? Whenever this period was mentioned, everyone would first think of the descent of Demon Evil. And in the letter, Shen Changqing’s conjecture also stated that the appearance of Beastfiends was very likely related to the descent of Demon Evil.
"Beastfiends, their Flesh capable of bizarre transformations, and they can speak human language. The one in Fengqiu Mountain cannot possibly be the only Beastfiend within Great Qin’s territory."
"But before this, the Demon-Subduing Division had not received any news of Beastfiends. There is only one explanation: these creatures are exceedingly adept at hiding, which is why there has been no leak of information."
"If it hadn’t been for their discovery in Fengqiu Mountain this time, I fear the Demon-Subduing Division would still be unaware of this matter."
Dongfang Zhao’s expression was grave. The emergence of an entirely new race involved many implications.
Furthermore, just like Demon Evil, Beastfiends were enemies of the Human Clan, subsisting by consuming flesh and blood.For a moment, he thought of many things.
Beastfiends deliberately hide themselves, never revealing any signs. Their purpose must be far from simple. In the past, when Demon Evil caused disturbances in various places and members of the Demon-Subduing Division went to investigate, they never detected any Yin Evil Aura.In those cases, it was hard to say whether the Demon Evil had retreated or if Beastfiends were the cause of the disaster.
Dongfang Zhao’s expression shifted slightly. Before he clearly understood the matter of Beastfiends, he hadn’t considered it so deeply. After all, incidents involving numerous human deaths without many clues were invariably attributed to Demon Evil. When such incidents were reported, members of the Demon-Subduing Division would be dispatched to slay demons and exorcise evil.
However, they could not always accurately locate the traces of Demon Evil. Sometimes, by the time members of the Demon-Subduing Division arrived, the traces of Demon Evil had completely vanished. Consequently, the Demon-Subduing Division would merely presume the Demon Evil had left.
After all, the Demon-Subduing Division’s standard method to determine the presence of Demon Evil was quite straightforward: the existence or absence of Yin Evil Aura. If there was no Yin Evil Aura, it was essentially determined that no Demon Evil was present. Conversely, if Yin Evil Aura lingered, Demon Evil was definitely present there.
Now, based on the information provided by Shen Changqing, it appeared that within the territory of Great Qin, besides Demon Evil, another force existed. Dongfang Zhao wasn’t sure if Beastfiends also existed in areas outside Great Qin, but that was of little concern to him. Currently, his only concern was the situation within Great Qin’s territory.
The turmoil caused by Demon Evil is troublesome enough, and now there’s the added problem of Beastfiends! If this matter isn’t resolved, the trouble will become even greater!
Dongfang Zhao channeled his power, turning the white paper to ash. This news must not be carelessly disseminated for the time being, as it could easily unsettle the public. After all, the current disturbances by Demon Evil were already causing widespread fear. If news of Beastfiends were to spread, public morale would surely be shaken. If some ill-intentioned individuals exploited this news, even greater trouble could arise.
However, Dongfang Zhao wasn’t too worried about the news spreading at the moment. The fact that Shen Changqing had secretly communicated this information to him indicated that the latter had not disseminated it. This meant that currently, only a very few individuals truly knew about the Beastfiends.
After destroying the white paper, he addressed the empty grand hall, saying, "Attendants!"
As his voice fell, someone walked in from outside.
"What instructions does Lord Defender have?"
"Have Yi Ning come here."
"Yes!"
「Two hours later.」
A grumbling voice drifted in from outside. "What do you want from me now? I had just gained some insights, and thanks to you, they’re all scrambled!"
As he finished speaking, Yi Ning walked in. The Internal Affairs Hall Master’s face was filled with displeasure.
Looking at him, Dongfang Zhao said with an indifferent expression, "What enlightenment could you possibly have? At your current Realm, without some fortuitous opportunity, I’m afraid there isn’t much room for advancement."
"Um..." Yi Ning choked for a moment, then said disdainfully, "Don’t compare me to others. With my talent, making any kind of discovery wouldn’t be strange. So, tell me, why did you suddenly send for me? Is there something you need?"
Hearing this, Dongfang Zhao said, "You often venture into various ruins. I want to ask if you have ever heard any rumors about Beastfiends."
"Beastfiends?" Yi Ning looked astonished. "What are those?"
"So-called Beastfiends are wild beasts that have developed Spirit Intellect, enabling them to speak human language and possess great power. Moreover, they subsist on flesh and blood," Dongfang Zhao described their characteristics. The term ’Beastfiend’ was merely what Shen Changqing had called them. In other words, even if such beings had truly existed in the past, they might not necessarily have been named ’Beastfiends’.
Yi Ning’s eyebrows knitted tightly. "What nonsense is this? How could such things exist in the world? I’ve explored various ruins and have never heard of anything like it." At this point, his expression turned peculiar. "Speaking of which, did you receive some news from somewhere?"
"Correct!" Dongfang Zhao nodded and then shared the information about the Beastfiends.
After he finished speaking, Yi Ning’s face was filled with amazement. "To think such a race truly exists in this world! If you told those fellows in the Demon Sealing Hall and the Suppressing Evil Hall, they would definitely be very eager to study them." After saying this, his expression turned grave again. "If what you’re saying is true, then this matter is indeed very troublesome. Demon Evil still have Yin Evil Aura that can be detected, but Beastfiends reveal no aura at all. If they decide to hide in the shadows and strike, it would be very difficult for us to detect them. What are your thoughts on this matter?"
Upon hearing about the Beastfiends, the Internal Affairs Hall Master immediately sensed how thorny the issue was. Subsisting on flesh and blood put them on par with Demon Evil. Yet, they revealed no aura, making them even more troublesome to deal with than Demon Evil trying to conceal themselves.
Dongfang Zhao said calmly, "I also just received this news and currently have no countermeasures. I plan to send some people to various locations to capture a few Beastfiends and bring them back. We can hand them over to your Hidden Heart Pavilion to see if you can research anything from them. A race that has remained hidden for so long must be guarded against."
"Hmm." Yi Ning nodded in deep agreement. Then, his expression turned strange. "You didn’t call me here to ask me to help you capture a few Beastfiends, did you? Let me tell you, I’m preparing to enter those Ancient Ruins soon, and I still have some things to get ready. I don’t have that much time to spare."
"Rest assured, I don’t intend for you to take action. I just thought of asking you since you frequent ruins more often," Dongfang Zhao replied, shaking his head helplessly.
Hearing this, Yi Ning also breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Seeing this, Dongfang Zhao asked, "How much longer until you enter the Ancient Ruins?"
"One month at the shortest, possibly three to five months at the longest," Yi Ning estimated.
Dongfang Zhao nodded. "You’ve been staying within the Internal Affairs Hall lately, so there’s some news you might not be aware of yet."
"What news?"
"Some time ago, a formidable expert emerged from the Heavenly Realm in South Nether Prefecture’s Myriad Buddhas Sect. He is an expert from eight hundred years ago named Shimohe. He killed two Defender Envoys, took control of the Myriad Buddhas Sect, and is now rallying various sects to oppose our Demon-Subduing Division. According to reports, he is an expert who has broken through the limits." Dongfang Zhao spoke slowly.
As soon as his words fell, Yi Ning’s expression changed abruptly. "Are you serious? An expert from eight hundred years ago, and he has broken through the limits?"
"When have I ever joked with you?"
"Hiss!" Yi Ning couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath upon hearing this.
This news was, undeniably, explosive for him. What he had always pursued was a higher Realm of the Martial Dao. Now, Dongfang Zhao was telling him that someone had broken through the limits—and it was an expert from eight hundred years ago. Instantly, Yi Ning felt an itch in his heart.
"What’s your purpose in telling me this?"
"The South Nether Prefecture’s Demon-Subduing Division is preparing to attack the Myriad Buddhas Sect. All individuals and factions that provoke the Demon-Subduing Division have no need to exist. However, the South Nether Prefecture branch has lost two Defender Envoys, and Demon Evil are also causing chaos there. If we truly confront the Myriad Buddhas Sect, I’m concerned our forces might be insufficient. If you have time, you could make a trip to South Nether Prefecture. Even if for no other reason, lending a hand would be good." Dongfang Zhao stated his purpose plainly, with no intention of hiding anything.
Yi Ning immediately fell silent. If it were anything else, he would have refused outright. But this involved an expert who had broken through the limits. If he didn’t go see this person for himself, he would always feel a sense of regret.
After thinking for a long time, Yi Ning looked at the man before him with a resigned expression. "You’re really something, aren’t you? Dumping such a difficult problem on me. This practically forces me to go to South Nether Prefecture."
"I merely told you the news; I have no intention of forcing you. Whether you go or not is your own choice."
"Do you really think I have a choice?" Yi Ning looked at him with a rueful gaze.
An expert who has broken the limits has appeared. If I hadn’t known, it would be one thing, but now that I do, how could I possibly not go?
"That’s your own decision." Dongfang Zhao smiled, then his expression turned serious again. "But there’s one thing I must remind you: an expert who has broken the limits is likely no weaker than a King Rank Defender Envoy. Don’t be careless. If you die at their hands, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself. I don’t wish for the Internal Affairs Hall to need a new Pavilion Master anytime soon."