Chapter 319: Chapter 117: Spirits and Monsters (Seeking Monthly Votes)
"Speak!" Shen Changqing’s expression was indifferent.
The fox lying on the ground still wanted to plead, but when it met that indifferent gaze, it forcibly swallowed its words.
Afterward, it began to answer Shen Changqing’s questions.
"It seems to have started over three hundred years ago. For some unknown reason, I began to develop Spirit Intellect. Then, after hiding and cultivating for a while, I finally refined my bones and gained the ability to speak human language. But from start to finish, I have always stayed in Fengqiu Mountain, never once entertaining the thought of harming humans."
"However—my kin have lived in Fengqiu Mountain for generations, but the surrounding hunters often enter the mountain to hunt. Countless members of my kind have died tragically at their hands. Frustrated, I finally lashed out and injured people. I hope the Supreme One will consider that there were reasons behind my actions and spare my life. I can vow that I will immediately lead my clan away from here, never to harm another human!"
Having said this, the fox, just like a human, knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Shen Changqing. It spoke earnestly, its emotions clearly visible.
Shen Changqing looked at it, his voice calm, "What you’ve said sounds good, but unfortunately, I do not believe you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he struck out with a palm.
BANG—
The fox’s head instantly burst open. The headless corpse twitched on the ground for a moment, and then there were no other movements.
The surrounding foxes, after the death of the giant fox, all screamed once and fled in all directions.
The Tiankui, who was originally fighting the foxes, paused for a moment upon seeing them flee, its round eyes looking around, uncertain whether to give chase.
"Come back!" A familiar voice rang in its ears.
Tiankui abandoned the idea of pursuing the foxes and quickly returned to its master’s side.
Pointing at the fox carcass before him, Shen Changqing said indifferently, "It’s yours now. Consume as much as you can."
"YIPS!" Tiankui let out an excited sound, then looked at the fox in front of it that was many times its size, its small eyes gleaming, and then pounced fiercely.
Watching Tiankui suck the blood, Shen Changqing’s expression still showed little change. From what the fox had said, he could vaguely guess some things.
More than three hundred years ago, it suddenly developed Spirit Intellect. This made him involuntarily associate it with the descent of Demon Evil over three hundred years ago. These two events were likely connected. But as to how exactly, Shen Changqing currently lacked enough evidence to be certain.
As for the creature slaughtering the Human Clan, that itself warranted the death penalty. Whether by sentiment or reason, he had no intention of showing mercy.
Perhaps initially, what the creature said was true; injuring people was indeed for its clan’s sake. But what about later? The Yamen sent people in, so many of them, and all perished at its hands. That was no longer merely for the clan. Clearly, this fox had killed too many and had become addicted to it. Even if spared, it would undoubtedly slaughter the Human Clan again one day.
Being of the Human Clan himself, Shen Changqing naturally sided with his own kin when considering these matters. Thus, from the moment it killed its first commoner, its fate was sealed.
Glancing at Tiankui, who was still consuming, he walked toward the interior of the dilapidated temple.
「Meanwhile.」
Luo Yuan, seeing this, hurriedly followed. Although it seemed the danger had subsided, he couldn’t be sure there weren’t other hazards around. At this moment, staying by Shen Changqing’s side was the safest option.
Entering the temple, the view inside grew much dimmer. The altar space above was empty. Beside it, however, lay pieces of a shattered Mountain God stone statue, discarded there. Clearly, this place was originally a Mountain God’s temple. It had been deserted for some reason. Later, it was usurped by the spirit creature they had just encountered, which attempted to become the new Mountain God. He was so certain because he could sense the unique aura of that spirit creature on the altar.
Spirit Creature! That was the term he ascribed to it. It had refined its bones to speak human language and possessed formidable strength. Such a being could no longer be considered an ordinary beast. Calling it a Fierce Beast wasn’t quite right either, as there were significant differences. At the very least, even a Grandmaster Peak Fierce Beast could not refine its bones to speak human words. Moreover, Shen Changqing suspected that in terms of intelligence, Fierce Beasts were inferior to spirit creatures.
Having developed Spirit Intellect for some reason, then refined its bones, and now consuming human Essence Blood while deceiving others into worshipping it... Could it be attempting to become one of the Divine Spirits mentioned in legends through these means?
Self-proclaimed deity! He had never heard of such a thing in this world. But in his original world, such records were not uncommon. Before encountering the spirit creature, Shen Changqing hadn’t given it much thought. But now, he couldn’t help but consider it.
If Fengqiu Mountain harbored a spirit creature, could other places be hiding more? Were the previous disturbances by Demon Evil truly just that, without the involvement of spirit creatures? And finally, was the Demon-Subduing Division aware of the existence of spirit creatures? If they were, why had he, within the Demon-Subduing Division, received no information at all? But if they were unaware, then it was highly likely that the occurrence of spirit creatures was truly an isolated incident.
At this time, even though the spirit creature was dead, those trapped in the illusion had still not awakened.
"Wake up!" Shen Changqing gave a low shout.
Instantly, everyone snapped out of the illusion, abruptly awake. Looking at the dilapidated temple before them, everyone first showed a stunned expression, then quickly became frantic.
"What place is this!"
"I was clearly in the mountains, why did I appear here?"
"Where is this—"
Most of the people in the temple were ordinary civilians, and they were extremely panicked about the abrupt situation they found themselves in.
Among the crowd, Lv Anxin and Huo Qian also had obvious alarm on their faces. However, being Jianghu Martial Artists, their composure was much stronger than the others’. Once they clearly assessed the situation, they immediately approached Shen Changqing, their words filled with shame.
"Greetings, Lord Shen!"
Seeing Shen Changqing, and then Luo Yuan behind him, the two of them basically guessed much of what had happened. Clearly, they had been bewitched by Demon Evil. Later, Shen Changqing himself had taken action, dealt with the Demon Evil, and rescued them. From start to finish, neither of them had detected the Demon Evil’s presence. In other words, if he hadn’t rescued them, they would likely have already died at the hands of the Demon Evil.
"Are you all right?" Looking at the two, Shen Changqing didn’t show much expression.
Upon hearing this, Huo Qian shook her head, "This humble one is unharmed, thank you for your concern, Lord Shen. May I ask if that Demon Evil has already been eliminated by you?"
"Yes," Shen Changqing nodded. Then he gestured with his hand, and Luo Yuan, understanding immediately, stepped forward. As he spoke, his demeanor had grown much more respectful.
"Lord Shen, here is your jade box!"
Accepting the jade box, Shen Changqing said, "You and these two, calm the others and escort them out of here. Be mindful of what should and shouldn’t be said."
Regarding the spirit creature, he didn’t want the news to spread too widely until it was fully confirmed.
Hearing this, Luo Yuan pondered for a moment and understood.
"Rest assured, Lord Shen, this old man knows what to do."
"That would be best." After Shen Changqing finished speaking, he turned and left the dilapidated temple.
In the clearing, the desiccated corpses were still there. Additionally, there were many fox corpses on the ground, including that of the enormous fox.
With a grasping motion of his palm in the void, Tiankui, which had been lying there sucking blood, was caught off guard and seized by a broad hand. After struggling for a moment, it gave up resisting.
"If you continue eating, you will burst. That’s enough!" Shen Changqing said, then placed it on the ground.
Stepping forward, he struck the empty ground before him with several palm strikes from the air.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The powerful vibrations were like an Earth Dragon’s Turnover. In an instant, two large pits appeared in the ground.
His sleeve fluttered. True Yuan surged out, transforming into a sweeping gale. All the fox corpses, big and small, were thrown into one of the pits. At the same time, the remaining desiccated corpses were swept into the other pit by the gale. Another surge of True Yuan, and mud buried everything. All traces vanished.
"Dust to dust, earth to earth. All is past now." Shen Changqing spoke to the air, then picked up Tiankui and tossed it onto his shoulder.
Feeling a slight weight, he turned to look at Tiankui, sizing it up.
This little thing seems to have grown a bit bigger. My shoulder can barely accommodate it anymore.
"I will wait for you outside Fengqiu Mountain!"
Leaving these words, which reached the ears of everyone in the dilapidated temple, Shen Changqing drifted away.
By the time Luo Yuan came out, there was no longer any trace of Shen Changqing. Not only that, but all the numerous desiccated corpses and fox bodies that had been there had also vanished, as if they had never existed. Regarding this, he understood.
Shortly after, Luo Yuan turned to the people emerging from the dilapidated temple and said in a deep voice, "The Demon Evil here has already been slain by the Lord from the Demon-Subduing Division. You need not worry anymore. If you are capable, you may return on your own now. Otherwise, you can follow this old man and the others to leave this place together."
As his words fell, a burly man stepped forward, bowing deeply to Luo Yuan and the others.
"Thank you, milords, for the rescue. This commoner can manage on his own."
"Alright," Luo Yuan nodded slightly.
Then a few more people came out, all stating they could return on their own. The majority of the remaining people stayed where they were, not moving.
Seeing this, he said nothing more, exchanged glances with the other two, and then led the crowd away from Fengqiu Mountain.