Chapter 325: Chapter 123 Attack (Requesting Monthly Tickets)
After departing from the teahouse, Shen Changqing first paid a visit to the Heavenly Inspection Guard’s stronghold in the city. After understanding the situation, he then headed to the location of the Demon Evil.
According to the dossier, this time, the Demon Evil was in a village.
It is worth mentioning that Shen Changqing had now discovered some patterns regarding natural-born Demon Evils.
The pattern was that all naturally occurring Demon Evils do not appear in densely populated cities. They either emerge in deep forests and mountains or in villages that are neither too large nor too small. Cities are crowded with people; the so-called vitality and human presence are abundant, leaving no room for those Demon Evils to appear. Hence, only in those places where human energy is insufficient will Demon Evils be bred. The Demon Evils that appear in cities usually come from the Demon Evil Clan behind the Eternal Alliance, he mused.
This speculation had no substantial basis, but from his long-term dealings with Demon Evils, he was almost certain of it.
Just like this time, the location of the Demon Evil disaster was a remote village. After the Demon Evil appeared, some villagers died, and the rest were all relocated. Following that, the local governing Yamen reported up the hierarchy until the matter finally rested in the hands of the Demon-Subduing Division, which then dispatched someone to exterminate the Demon Evil here.
However, the Demon-Subduing Division couldn’t spare any hands right now. All their forces were focused on eliminating the more powerful Demon Evils. The weaker ones were temporarily put aside. According to the dossier, the Demon Evil that appeared here is at most Resentment Level, and it might not even reach that level. I would have been too lazy to come here before, but now it just so happens to be on the way, so I might as well take care of it, Shen Changqing recalled from the dossier, then shook his head.
The Slaughter Value gained from killing a Ghostly Level Fiend is trivial to me. But since it’s convenient, I might as well take care of it. After all, even a mosquito’s leg is still meat. Little by little, it adds up to a decent amount. The Slaughter Value on the panel has once again successfully broken through into triple digits. This achievement is all thanks to killing a few Demon Evils along the way. The Great Sun Golden Body has reached the thirtieth level. To enhance it to the thirty-first level, the consumption will no longer be a mere one hundred and fifty points. The Great Sun Golden Body cannot be further enhanced for now; the subsequent consumption increases significantly. It’s not very cost-effective to keep enhancing it. It’s better to find a new Outer Technique in the Demon-Subduing Division to fuse with, and then enhance it. As for the Great Sun Scripture, there’s no way to replace it for the time being.
The panel can fuse Outer Techniques but not Inner Strength. In my view, the Great Sun Scripture is almost the peak of Inner Strength at this stage. As for Inner Strength surpassing the Great Sun Scripture, it’s unlikely to exist. But then— he thought of Shimohe. If that person really is a Grandmaster who has broken through the limits, then they might possess Inner Strength beyond the Great Sun Scripture. I’ll have to visit the Myriad Buddhas Sect someday if given the chance. No, perhaps I won’t need to visit the Myriad Buddhas Sect. Once it is destroyed, all of their Martial Arts texts will be brought back to the Demon-Subduing Division. It shouldn’t be difficult to study them then.
Shen Changqing felt relieved. The actions of the Myriad Buddhas Sect are tantamount to a mantis trying to stop a chariot—overestimating their own capabilities. Under the suppression of the experts from the Demon-Subduing Division, the Myriad Buddhas Sect will inevitably be annihilated. At that time, the Martial Arts of the Myriad Buddhas Sect will all belong to the Demon-Subduing Division. Frankly, I had wanted to converse with Shimohe, to see how he broke through the limits, but now, it seems there’s no chance for that. Shimohe will die. The Myriad Buddhas Sect will also be destroyed. This was Shen Changqing’s confidence in the Demon-Subduing Division.
Withdrawing his thoughts, he looked at the scene before him: an abandoned village that appeared devoid of any signs of life. Standing at the entrance and looking inward, one could still see the surrounding disarray and miscellaneous items carelessly discarded on the ancient stone path. Clearly, the villagers had evacuated in utter panic, which explained the current scene.
The Yin Evil Aura is still here but not very strong; the Demon Evil hasn’t left yet, and its strength won’t be too formidable.
To others, the village didn’t reveal much. But in Shen Changqing’s eyes, there were many clues to be seen. Especially now, he was extremely sensitive to Yin Evil Aura. Even though the Yin Evil Aura in the village was very weak, he could still sense it.
The sun was high in the sky. Shen Changqing glanced at the sky and, not overly concerned, strode into the village.
With his arrival, the Yin Evil Aura in the village stirred slightly. Such changes, naturally, could not escape Shen Changqing’s perception.
It has noticed me! The Demon Evil dwelling in the village means the entire village is akin to its domain; any person stepping into this domain will be detected.
Before entering the village, the sun was blazing overhead. After stepping into the village, it was as if the sunlight had been blocked, darkening the view considerably. Subtle, chilly streams of aura permeated the air.
Shen Changqing kept his composure and headed towards the eastern part of the village, where the Yin Evil Aura was thickest. Although the chilly aura was omnipresent now, it did not indicate that the Demon Evil was lurking nearby. At most, I am just within the Demon Evil’s line of sight for now.
The village wasn’t large. Shen Changqing’s pace was neither fast nor slow.
After about thirty to forty-five minutes, he stopped walking.
Before him was a place overgrown with weeds, where a lone, dry well stood. From above the well, a thick Yin Evil Aura spewed forth, as if this were the very source of such energy.
As Shen Changqing approached the dry well, the surroundings once again became dimmer. The thick Yin Evil Aura, like invisible threads, danced chaotically and intertwined in the air. Waves of Spiritual Power continuously assaulted him. Despite this, he felt no disturbance in his heart.
For a Ghostly Level Fiend, its strongest method is to attack living beings with an Illusory Realm. Only after reaching the Resentment Level can it perform Possession. This Demon Evil is using the well as a vessel, gradually emitting its Spiritual Power, attempting to create an Illusory Realm to confuse those who approach. However, such psychic assaults are mere child’s play for a Grandmaster who is nearly at the peak of the Spiritual System with a True Intent that is sixty percent realized.
"Come out!" Shen Changqing stood with his hands clasped behind him in front of the well. He looked down into the well, which was pitch-black, revealing nothing.
Suddenly, black hair surged up like dense threads from the bottom of the well. Then, the hair wrapped towards Shen Changqing as if trying to drag him into the well.
Looking at the black hair, Tiankui, who stood by his feet, cocked his head, somewhat puzzled by what the thing could be.
"Demon!" Shen Changqing’s expression turned cold. As he spoke these two words imbued with Great Sun True Essence, the air vibrated and seemed to burst. All the black hair that was about to reach his face was shattered by the sound.
"AH—" A piercing scream rose from within the well.
He remained motionless. In an instant, he struck out with his palm. His Chiyang Divine Palm, having advanced further, now possessed greatly enhanced fiery attributes, especially when combined with the power of the Great Sun True Essence. With one palm strike, a surging heatwave spread out. The originally dim surroundings instantly turned a glaring red. In the face of this power, all the black hair shattered and melted away.
After the Demon Evil in the well let out a piercing scream, it fell silent, as though it had sustained a heavy blow.
With the full force of the strike coming down, the exposed mouth of the well cracked and collapsed. The power of Chiyang blasted directly down into its depths. In that instant, it seemed as if a mournful howl echoed from the bottom of the well. But the sound came abruptly and vanished just as quickly.
A familiar sensation flowed up from his palm. Shen Changqing looked at his panel; a few more points of Slaughter Value had been added.
His Divine Sense swept out. All the Yin Evil Aura in his perception gradually dissipated. As the Yin Evil Aura weakened, the blazing sun immediately shone down. Suddenly, the remaining Yin Evil Aura retreated at an even faster rate.
"Done!" Shen Changqing remained internally calm. He recalled how he had nearly died killing a Ghostly Level Fiend in the past, but now, eliminating one was no more difficult than eating or drinking.
He took out the dossier and marked it with a drop of his own blood. These marks served as a reminder of how many Demon Evils he had slain and how many still remained.
After that, Shen Changqing left the village and returned to the city. Having slain the Demon Evil in this place, he also had to inform the Heavenly Inspection Guard. Otherwise, the Demon-Subduing Division might not realize the Demon Evil here had been dealt with and would send people over, which would be a waste of time.
Seeing Shen Changqing return, the head of the Heavenly Inspection Guard outpost regarded him with awe. "Elder Shen has returned. Has the Demon Evil been dealt with?"
Shen Changqing nodded. "Yes, the Demon Evil has been slain. Inform the Demon-Subduing Division there’s no need to send anyone else." After a brief statement, he turned to leave.
"Lord Shen, please wait a moment." Just as Shen Changqing was about to depart, the head of the outpost called out to stop him.
Hearing this, he paused. "What is it?"
"I’ve just received news. The Myriad Buddhas Sect has rallied several Sect Forces to oppose the Demon-Subduing Division. Moreover, many Demon Hunters have been attacked by these Sect Forces. Elder Shen, please be careful." The outpost head spoke with a grave expression. While the power of the Demon-Subduing Division certainly overshadowed the Jianghu Sect Forces, this was true only at the top levels. Apart from the top forces, ordinary Demon Hunters were not much stronger than Jianghu Martial Artists.
Upon hearing the news, Shen Changqing’s expression also cooled. "Many have been attacked?"
"According to the reports, even Earth Rank Demon Hunters have been attacked, resulting in the fall of one!"