Chapter 1 The Silence of the Rain

The Rain family's grand mansion in Cheng'an Prefecture was utterly silent, devoid of any living presence.

"Esteemed Masters, be cautious. That demon is exceptionally powerful. My Rain family, including the servants, suffered nearly a hundred deaths at its hands. Even the warding talisman only managed to wound it," the Rain family patriarch said, watching the mansion nervously with a few clansmen.

"Rest assured, leave it to us."

"A newly spawned demon is easily dealt with."

The three Demon Subduers were quite confident.

They were members of the official Demon Subduing Bureau, primarily responsible for the surrounding area, and naturally arrived first upon receiving the news. The three included an experienced veteran and a relatively green rookie, cooperating with each other, confident in dealing with a newly born demon.

"I'll watch the field for you two. A new demon is perfect for practice," the burly Demon Subduer said.

"Thanks, Brother An."

"Brother An, just watch. We two will easily take care of this demon together."

The three walked deeper into the mansion. Whoosh!

Suddenly, a faint bloody mist filled the mansion.

"Something's not right, be careful," the burly Demon Subduer frowned slightly, his left hand already taking out a Demon Subduing artifact. The two younger Demon Subduers also became extremely solemn.

"Hahahaha..."

Suddenly, a woman's piercing laughter echoed throughout the mansion, reaching the ears of the Rain family patriarch and others waiting outside, making them tremble.

"Quick, see what's happening inside!" the Rain family patriarch urged.

A daring nephew of the family scurried up a tall tree beside the mansion, peering inside.

The nephew suddenly widened his eyes, seeing the corpses of the three Demon Subduing Bureau members, and exclaimed, "They're dead, all dead!"

"Who's dead?" the Rain family patriarch asked anxiously.

The nephew jumped down and said, "Run, run! The three Masters are dead, all drained of blood and flesh, leaving only three skins!"

The Rain family patriarch and the others turned pale and fled immediately.

The news that the three Demon Subduing Bureau members had acted together, only to perish in the Rain family mansion, quietly began to spread.

That night. Whoosh.

A watery mist descended from the sky, landing in the Rain family mansion and solidifying into an old man in green robes.

"This is my territory," a faint bloody mist spread, a vague, graceful shadow peering at the old man in green robes. "Get out!"

"Little girl," the old man in green robes said with a smile, "you, a newly born demon, dare to occupy this mansion? This is the core area of the prefecture city. Do you think the Demon Subduers in the city will tolerate you forever?"

"This is my territory. Anyone who enters must die," the graceful shadow stared at the old man in green robes, an invisible pressure making her wary, preventing her from attacking.

The old man in green robes looked at her, nodding slightly. "A demon who has just been born already has the strength of a peak Renmo (human demon). After one or two years of tempering in the human world, you will surely reach the Dimo (earth demon) realm."

"What Renmo Dimo?" the graceful shadow said, her anger growing stronger. "Leave now."

"I am a patrol envoy under the Dongming Mountain Lord," the old man in green robes said with a smile, "Seeing that you are a promising talent, I have come to invite you to join Dongming Mountain."

"What is Dongming Mountain?" the graceful shadow asked in a low voice.

The old man in green robes laughed. "This world belongs to us demons! Mortals are like cattle and sheep, at our mercy! And our Dongming Mountain... is the sky of Cheng'an Prefecture! We control the lives and deaths of the people of Cheng'an Prefecture."

"What about the Demon Subduers?" the graceful shadow said.

The old man in green robes paused slightly, then explained, "The Demon Subduers have fought with our Dongming Mountain for thousands of years, but they cannot shake our Dongming Mountain. Little girl, most of the powerful demons in Cheng'an Prefecture are in Dongming Mountain! Joining Dongming Mountain is the only way to have a future. Otherwise... you will surely be killed by the Demon Subduers."

"You fear the Demon Subduers, but I don't. Get out of here," the graceful shadow pressed again, the surrounding bloody mist beginning to thicken.

The old man in green robes frowned slightly, then smiled. "If you don't suffer a little, you won't know how powerful the Demon Subduers are. Fine, fine."

Whoosh.

The old man in green robes transformed into a watery mist, quietly flying into the sky and disappearing.

Only then did the graceful shadow solidify into a beautiful woman. The woman glanced coldly at the sky, then walked back into the depths of the mansion.

******

Early morning.

In the back garden, Xu Jingming sat in a pavilion, a golden bead floating above his left hand. Demon Subduing power permeated the bead, as he carved dense runes on its surface.

"Without any precious materials to collect, I can only refine Demon Subduing artifacts with gold," Xu Jingming thought. In the Demon Subduing world, he was indeed very leisurely, focusing almost all of his energy on the *Yuanchu Star Conjecture - Light Ray Chapter*. With more comprehension, his understanding of several spells would also deepen.

In addition to cultivation, he also began refining magical artifacts, so that it would be more convenient to deal with demons.

"It's been almost two months since I came to the prefecture city, and I haven't killed a single demon!" Xu Jingming shook his head slightly. "There's no way around it. In terms of timely information, the official Demon Subduers and some local snakes can get the news the fastest. By the time I get the news, it's too late."

"I can't get to the weak demons in time. The famous, powerful demons are all at the Dimo level, and none of them are easy to deal with."

"Well, in a few months, my strength will improve further. Then I'll directly deal with the Dimo," Xu Jingming was also very patient. Recently, he had been immersed in comprehending the *Light Ray Chapter*. This, one of the supreme inheritances of humanity in the universe, was indeed vast and endless. The feeling of constantly improving made Xu Jingming also very infatuated.

"Young master, young master," a joyful shout came from afar.

Xu Jingming turned his head and saw Wu Qi, who was full of joy.

"Uncle Qi, what's wrong?" Xu Jingming asked.

"A demon," Wu Qi said excitedly, "I found news of a demon."

Poor Uncle Qi had been in the prefecture city for nearly two months, often gathering in tea houses, theaters, and other crowded places, listening to news from all directions. But every time he heard news from the streets, the weak demons had already been dealt with.

Finally, today he had found out a valuable piece of news. Naturally, Uncle Qi was excited.

"Where?" Xu Jingming flashed to Wu Qi's side and asked, "Is it still alive?"

"In the south of the city, in the Rain family mansion. It is said that a concubine turned into a demon after her death!" Wu Qi immediately poured out the news he had gathered. "That demon is very powerful. Yesterday, the government got the news, and three Demon Subduers went, but they were drained of their blood and flesh not long after they went in, becoming three skins."

"Official Demon Subduers?" Xu Jingming was surprised. "I heard that the official Demon Subduers are usually in groups of three! Each county within Cheng'an Prefecture is generally assigned three Demon Subduers to guard it."

"Yes."

Wu Qi nodded. "The three official Demon Subduers acted together, cooperating with each other. Even if they couldn't defeat the demon, they could usually retreat safely. Who would have thought that they would encounter a tough opponent this time? The three Demon Subduers died silently in the Rain family mansion. This demon is powerful, and the Rain family has also released news that anyone who can kill the demon will be rewarded with 30,000 taels of silver."

"I'll go take a look," Xu Jingming said, walking towards the outside of the mansion.

"Young master, I'll go with you," Wu Qi immediately followed. The young master was still too young, and he was still worried. In this world, the young master was the person he cared about and cared for the most.

Xu Jingming nodded and smiled. "Uncle Qi, you stay outside the mansion. Don't go in."

"Rest assured, I'll listen to you," Wu Qi nodded repeatedly. The two then headed straight for the south of the city.

Both of them were extraordinarily strong and walked quickly, arriving outside the Rain family's mansion in the south of the city in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

"So many people," Xu Jingming saw that twenty or thirty people had gathered outside the mansion.

Getting closer, Xu Jingming judged that these twenty or thirty people included people from the Rain family, a small half of Demon Subduers, and some daring onlookers. When they noticed Xu Jingming and Wu Qi coming over, they just glanced at them and didn't pay much attention.

"Esteemed Masters, the demon inside this mansion is very powerful," the Rain family patriarch said solemnly again. "Three Demon Subduers died yesterday. Before that, two Demon Subduers went in with sufficient preparation but also escaped with serious injuries. In my opinion... it would be safer for all of you to join forces."

"Join forces?"

Many Demon Subduers present muttered to themselves.

If they joined forces and killed the demon, who would refine it then?

'Heart Refining Demons' was the goal pursued by Demon Subduers.

"Why don't I give it a try?" Xu Jingming said. He didn't want to delay.

"We arrived long ago, big brother. Let's go in and try," two thin Demon Subduers, almost identical in appearance, looked like twins. The two looked at each other and rushed into the mansion.

"That's the second group that went in this morning."

"Young people, so brave."

"Yesterday's official Demon Subduers were a group of three, and the two Dharma Protectors of Chu this morning were all well-prepared, but none of them had a good end. This demon... is extraordinary."

"I'm afraid only a fourth realm Demon Subduer can deal with that demon."

The Demon Subduers said in low voices.

"Hmm?"

A gray-robed old man standing in the corner changed his expression. With a tap of his foot, he silently burrowed into the ground and entered the depths of the mansion.

"Rumble~~~" Huge branches and vines stretched out and entangled in the mansion, accompanied by explosions.

Xu Jingming's pupils had golden runes in them. He clearly saw a bloody, ferocious figure inside, nodding slightly and thinking, "Although it's a bit difficult to deal with, it's still only at the Renmo level."

In just a few breaths. Whoosh.

The gray-robed old man, one in each hand, grabbed two Demon Subduers and emerged from the ground outside the mansion.

Both Demon Subduers were in a miserable state. One had a left arm that was shriveled, its flesh having been drained. The other had a huge wound torn in his chest. Both of them looked at the old man with shame, "Teacher."

"It's good that you saved your lives," the gray-robed old man shook his head slightly, looking at the other Demon Subduers. "This demon must be dealt with by a fourth realm expert."

"Fourth realm Demon Subduer?"

The other Demon Subduers present were a little troubled. In reality, one had to be an eighth-order cosmic lifeform to reach the fourth realm in the Demon Subduing world!

In the prefecture city, whether it was the government, the various families, or some sect branches, there were similar experts. However, these experts rarely took action, and when they did, it was to deal with Dimos.

There were many more seventh-order cosmic lifeforms like them, and they were more eager to refine demons with their hearts, but obviously, this time the demon was too strong.

"Uncle Qi, you wait here. I'll go in and try," Xu Jingming said to Wu Qi, seeing the fearful look on the faces of the Demon Subduers.

"Esteemed Master, may I ask your honorable name?" the Rain family patriarch asked immediately. Daring to go in at this time meant one was either reckless or had real strength!

"Wu Ming," Xu Jingming nodded. He was willing to make a name for himself.

There was no way around it. Without a big reputation, it was difficult to find demons.

"So, it's Master Wu," suddenly two Demon Subduers politely saluted.

"You are?" Xu Jingming looked at the two with puzzled eyes.

"Master Wu's name is known to everyone in our Demon Subduing Bureau," the two Demon Subduers were very polite. "Because our three brothers died in the mansion yesterday, we are here today to investigate the situation again."

"The Demon Subduing Bureau knows my name?" Xu Jingming was surprised. He had only dealt with one demon on the way to the prefecture city, and had not taken any action since then.

The Demon Subduing Bureau got his information and spread it internally so that everyone knew about it?

Xu Jingming nodded slightly and walked toward the mansion.

"Who is this Wu Ming? Is he very powerful?" Most of the Demon Subduers in the prefecture city knew each other.

"He should be a fourth realm Demon Subduer," an official Demon Subduer said.

"Fourth realm Demon Subduer?"

Everyone looked at Xu Jingming's figure as he entered the mansion.

"You demon, will you surrender, or do I have to take action?" a voice echoed throughout the mansion.

"You Demon Subduer, get out of my place! If you leave now, I won't hurt you. Otherwise... Humph, you can prepare to die," the woman's voice also echoed in the mansion.

The Demon Subduers outside the mansion breathed a sigh of relief when they heard this.

"This demon is afraid."

"Before, it would attack without a word. This time, it should sense Master Wu Ming's strength."

These Demon Subduers were all experienced. Hearing the woman's demon voice, they could feel her bluster.

Xu Jingming's eyes had golden runes in them. The demon's aura inside the mansion was completely unmasked in front of him. He clearly saw the bloody figure.

An invisible mental wave erupted from his eyes, directly crushing the bloody figure.

*Fayan Shu* (Dharma Eye Art)!

After all, Xu Jingming had been in the prefecture city for so long. On the basis of the original three spells, he had also cultivated two more spells.

One was *Fayan Shu*, and the other was *Feisha Shu* (Flying Sand Art), also to make up for some of his shortcomings.

*Fayan Shu* could more clearly observe the demon's aura.

If before, infusing his eyes with mana could also allow him to see, the clarity was far inferior compared to *Fayan Shu*.

In particular, Xu Jingming's *Fayan Shu* had reached the 'Grand Completion' stage. Under the Dharma Eye, the demonic aura had nowhere to hide, and the Dharma Eye could directly erupt with a mental power impact.

It was because of this mental impact that the demon was afraid.

"You Demon Subduer, since you won't leave, then don't leave!" the bloody figure went crazy. "Die!"

The bloody mist in the entire mansion became thick. Strands of bloody light spread everywhere. Under Xu Jingming's Dharma Eye, these mists could not hide at all. Xu Jingming was always locked onto the demon's true form.

"Go." Xu Jingming stretched out his left hand, nineteen golden beads floating above his palm. Each bead had dense, intricate runes on it.

*Shua shua shua shua shua shua!!!!!!*

The nineteen golden beads immediately turned into nineteen golden rays, all shooting toward the bloody figure.

*Feisha Shu* recorded in the *Myriad Stars Demon Refining Scroll*! Previously, Xu Jingming only had one thunder technique for killing enemies. Although it was extremely powerful and had also evolved into the divine ability 'Five Thunder Technique,' it also had a shortcoming... it was not good at dealing with group attacks!

After all, even the divine ability 'Five Thunder Technique,' with two intertwined thunderbolts, was only aimed at one enemy.

This *Feisha Shu*, however, was quite good at group attacks.

Moreover, there was also the method of refining the magical artifact 'Golden Sand Beads.' In cooperation with the magical artifact, the power could be increased even further.

"Puff puff puff!!!" The bloody figure was extremely fast, but it could not compare to the speed of *Feisha Shu*, which was based on the *Light Ray Chapter*. The nineteen golden rays were so fast that the bloody figure could hardly dodge, repeatedly piercing her body.

Under the Dharma Eye, this demon could not hide, and her speed was suppressed, so she could only let the nineteen golden rays repeatedly pierce her body.

"Ah ah ah." She let out a painful roar, condensing into her true form. Every time she wanted to rush towards Xu Jingming, she was pierced by a large number of holes by the nineteen golden rays.

Xu Jingming looked at her from afar, also testing the power of *Feisha Shu*.

"Who?" Xu Jingming suddenly shouted, looking at a distant corner. His Dharma Eye had already discovered a wisp of demonic aura quietly entering the mansion.

"We, Dongming Mountain, protect this little girl," a voice echoed throughout the mansion, obviously full of confidence and arrogance. That watery aura went straight for the demon woman.

"Just you?"

A cold light flashed in Xu Jingming's eyes, and his right hand formed a hand seal.

Divine Ability, Five Thunder Technique!

"Boom!"

In broad daylight, thunder suddenly appeared in the clear sky!

One dazzlingly white, one darkly restrained, two thunderbolts intertwined and struck down from the sky, directly striking that watery demonic aura.

(Written late because I had a lot to do on Sunday.)