That was the strange phenomenon caused by the surging blood and qi within his body. As the county magistrate, whose origin was unknown, became enraged, a bloodthirsty aura that could only be honed on the battlefield spread out. The mixed and surging blood and qi rose from his strong and robust physique like billowing smoke, as if a raging flame was burning.
"Do you really think I wouldn't dare to kill someone?"
A pair of fierce tiger eyes surveyed the restless mountain forest, where an old Taoist priest mingled in the secular world, a heretical cultivator searching for a way forward, and some fellows trying to take advantage of the chaos.
The county constable knew that most of the people present had been sent here by someone else, and many of them were probably people he couldn't afford to offend. But so what? As long as they didn't admit it, he could just kill them as rogue cultivators.
"My lord, I only wish to find a way forward."
The unorthodox cultivator holding the withered bone staff let out a lament, but since his life force was almost extinguished, the sound he made was very strange and eerie.
"The Demon Slayer Division's arsenal contains the methods you desire. If you wish to continue on this path, you should go to the Demon Slayer Division to accept missions, instead of appearing here and having inappropriate thoughts."
The county constable's expression was very cold. Even though he was the only one in the mountains and forests, and who knew how many demons and monsters were lurking in the darkness, he was not afraid at all.
If he were to die here today, all suspected participants within a radius of eight hundred miles would be wiped out, regardless of their background—the majesty and laws of the imperial court cannot be challenged.
Therefore, even though he was all alone, he dared to express his strong opposition to the imperial court.
Rogue cultivators from all walks of life can cultivate if they want, as long as they serve the government and earn enough merit points, they can exchange them for the cultivation techniques they desire.
However, ancient traditions like these, which are highly likely to lead people astray, must either be destroyed on the spot or taken in by the government; they must never be allowed to languish among the common people.
In the vast region, all cultivation methods, even those that end up in the ghost market, have been screened, and very few escape. The government attaches great importance to the control of cultivation methods.
The orthodox teachings of Taoism, Buddhism, and Zen are generally left to their own devices. In any case, it's unlikely that any particularly profound secrets will be passed down. If someone is fortunate enough to obtain them and practices them, it won't cause any harm.
However, unorthodox practices, even demonic cultivation methods, severely test a practitioner's self-control. Once they succumb to depravity, they will become demons, wreaking havoc on the land. And human self-control is the most unreliable thing.
"I can no longer accept missions. Do you still remember what I looked like when you first found me and led me into the Demon Slayer Division? I'm almost completely drained of my life essence, neither human nor ghost. But I haven't earned enough merit to exchange for the Spirit Gathering Realm cultivation method."
The barbarian Taoist's tone was somewhat desolate, even tinged with resentment. For a rogue cultivator like him, without a master or proper lineage, every step forward required an unimaginable price of trial and error.
"If you can't earn enough merit, it just means you don't have the aptitude for cultivation. So don't be so arrogant. Go back and rest. With your abilities, it won't be difficult for you to become a wealthy man back in your hometown."
"Hahaha! Does Your Excellency know the saying, 'If one hears the Way in the morning, one may die content in the evening'?"
Upon hearing this, the Barbarian Bone Taoist laughed loudly. The beast skull in his hand ignited with eerie ghostly flames, and his withered body swelled up at this moment, becoming strong and robust, not inferior to the county magistrate.
"Then you should just die!"
The county constable was ruthless. He swung his fists, which were covered in iron armor, and a surge of powerful martial arts energy swept out, directly dispersing a sinister force that was about to fall on him.
"Such vigorous vitality! It's making this old man's mouth water!"
As the martial artist and the wicked man began to fight, a sinister voice rang out. A handsome, almost feminine, and strangely beautiful man, with a forked tongue sticking out, stared at the county magistrate who was beating the barbarian Taoist, his eyes revealing greed. He seemed to think that this martial arts barbarian had no time to deal with him.
"You dare to crawl out of the snake hole without even transforming into a human form?"
The armored giant, enveloped in fiery martial arts energy, turned his head abruptly following the malice and saw the eerie man with snake scales on his cheeks. Without a word, he took a short spear from his waist and threw it.
ah!
With a pitiful howl, the snake demon, who had just threatened to eat people, dodged in a sorry state, spurting blood and leaving behind a section of its tail stuck in the ground by a short spear.
"waste!"
The merciless mockery enraged the snake demon, who immediately transformed into a massive, several-zhang-long demonic body. But before he could make a move, a large, hairy hand landed on it. Amidst desperate screams, the tailless snake was torn into several pieces, and a fragrant snake gall bladder was pulled out and swallowed whole by a white ape.
"It tastes good, but it's a pity it's not aged very long!"
A white ape, about ten feet tall and also clad in iron armor, stood in the center of the arena. At its feet were several sections of large snake carcasses that were still wriggling slightly. This ape king, who also exuded an aura of iron-blooded killing, looked around, his mouth splitting open to reveal his fangs, his expression ferocious and full of provocation.
"Are there any more fools who don't know their own mortality?"
"It's the Golden-browed Ape King!"
From the darkness, a rather apprehensive voice rang out, recognizing the origin of this great demon—a spirit demon recognized by the Daqian government.
It is said that this great demon has a close relationship with a high-ranking official in the Daqian court. Before he rose to power, the official accidentally wandered into the deep mountains and was rescued by this white ape. After he rose to power, the white ape naturally acquired an official position, was able to cooperate with the Daqian government, and even had the possibility of being appointed as a mountain god.
"Damn it, how come this Ape King is here too? Jiang Yang is just a rogue cultivator who hasn't even condensed his Qi and opened his meridians yet. What makes him so special?"
"Who cares about his cultivation level? This is the person that was specifically requested. If you wait a little longer, there will probably be an even more ruthless big shot than this Ape King!"
"Hiss! This can't be!"
Nothing is impossible.
The surrounding mountains and forests were now bustling with people, no longer as tranquil as before. It was much more lively than before. Previously, only a county magistrate was not enough to keep the situation in check, and some people wanted to take action. However, when a powerful demon with ties to the government came out to take charge, the situation immediately quieted down. But the quiet lasted only a moment before someone else made a strong move.
"How dare you!"
The white ape with golden sword-like eyebrows on its forehead attacked in anger, but the person who dared to attack at this moment was naturally no ordinary person. It threw out a prayer wheel, and accompanied by the sound of Buddhist chanting, the white ape was suppressed for a moment.
In that instant, Jiang Yang, who was already dumbfounded by the scene before him, was scooped up by a golden hand.
But just as the hand reached out, a sword beam that illuminated the night sky fell and severed it without drawing blood.
"White Rainbow Sword, Xu Ziwei!"
Someone cried out in surprise, and then a female sword cultivator with an unremarkable appearance walked through the air at the boundary between heaven and earth.
"Damn, this kind of cultivator has actually appeared?"
"Run! We can't watch this commotion anymore!"
"Let's go, or it'll be too late!"
"Damn it, are they all out of their minds? That big shot only said he wanted people, he didn't specify what he wanted them for, so why are they all rushing here? What if it's just a passing fancy?"
One cultivator, feeling inadequate in strength, couldn't help but complain as he ran away. He had only wanted to gain some benefits, but given the current situation, he was not only unlikely to gain any benefits, but he would also lose his life if he stayed any longer.
"What nonsense are you talking about? That's a reincarnated sage, how could he just speak like that?"
Some people heard such foolish words and couldn't help but refute them.
Some things cannot be hidden. For example, a reincarnated sage has emerged in Daqian. Ordinary people are naturally unaware of this, but in the cultivation world, it has already spread like wildfire. Although no one has spoken out about who it is, everyone knows it; it is an open secret.
"You think you can steal a girl from the Tongtian Sword Sect from me?"
The old ape, who had already broken free from the prayer wheel and smashed it to pieces, spoke.
"My sect has given me an order, and I have no choice but to obey. One of my elders wishes to visit a sage, and I am looking for a pretext!"
In mid-air, the girl walking on the night wind spoke calmly.
"You've never even met that person, aren't you afraid it's just a rumor?"
The great white ape was also surprised. He thought that he could easily suppress the whole scene after he came out, but people kept jumping out one after another.
"The auspicious beast Qilin has appeared before!"
"Well, it seems there's nothing more to say!"
Demonic energy soared to the sky, and sword energy raged as a powerful demon and a female sword cultivator of extraordinary origin engaged in fierce combat.
After they ascended into the sky to fight, the area below immediately became restless. Originally, only the county magistrate was fighting against two or three opponents, but now others couldn't hold back and made their move. In a short while, the mountain forest was ravaged beyond recognition, with the ground littered with debris.
Countless cultivators and demons participated in this incredibly chaotic battle. Some were after Jiang Yang, who had been named by the sage, while others wanted to take advantage of the chaos to make a profit.
Those who were slightly weaker or more cautious had already retreated. Those who lacked self-awareness were already lying on the ground, their life essence and flesh nourishing this devastated land.
The young man who was the trigger for this chaotic battle was lying on the ground with broken bones and torn tendons. No one wanted to kill him, but the force of the grab alone was enough to seriously injure him.
The jet-black copper bell that he managed to obtain by chance during a flash flood became the focus of contention among many parties, but there were simply too many people vying for it, so no one managed to get their hands on it.
Snap!
After another futile struggle, the bronze bell fell into a muddy pool of blood, the stench of which completely submerged it.
As a bone claw reached out to retrieve the bronze bell, a surge of violent, malevolent energy erupted from it, instantly reducing the bone claw to dust...
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