Chapter 108 Refining the Earth Demon

Blue Star, in Xu Jingming's home, evening.

The irrigation system in the courtyard sprayed mist, enveloping the lawn. Xu Jingming and Li Miaomiao were playing with their daughter, Xu Lixing. Although petite, Xu Lixing's physical fitness was extraordinary, as she hopped on the fountain steps in the courtyard.

She skipped two steps at a time, quickly reaching the top, and then leaped down in one go. Then, she slowly hopped back up. "Baby, aren't you tired?" Li Miaomiao asked helplessly.

"Not tired." Xu Lixing became more energetic as she hopped. It was late July, and even in the evening, the temperature exceeded 30 degrees Celsius. Xu Lixing was covered in sweat, but she continued to hop energetically.

"She's just showing off," Li Miaomiao said helplessly to Xu Jingming. "She's not usually this crazy. She's obviously much more excited today because you came out to play with her."

Xu Jingming looked at his daughter hopping and couldn't help but smile. He said softly, "I spend too little time with our daughter. In the future, I have to log off more often to spend time with you and our daughter."

"Your work is more important," Li Miaomiao said.

"It's okay. I'm not so busy recently," Xu Jingming said. "Moreover, the path of evolution requires proper rest. One can't always be so tense." Comprehending the *Light Ray Chapter* and cultivating hard to become a Source lifeform couldn't be achieved overnight; it would take a long time. And such a long time required appropriate rest.

Li Miaomiao's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she became much happier. "Great, spend more time with our daughter. She'll definitely be happy."

"Daddy, I jumped a hundred times in a row," Xu Lixing ran over excitedly. "Awesome, right?"

Looking at his daughter, whose hair was completely soaked with sweat, Xu Jingming picked her up directly. "Awesome, awesome. Our daughter will become a powerful evolutionary in the future."

"Yeah." Xu Lixing hummed happily.

After spending time with his family until night, Xu Jingming logged in again and entered the Demon Vanquishing World.

"Let's start refining the City Patrol Envoy earth demon." Xu Jingming was in excellent condition at the moment, full of fighting spirit. He took out the jade bottle from his bosom and uncorked it. "This is the first earth demon I've refined since entering the Demon Vanquishing World." Xu Jingming opened his mouth and inhaled.

Demon Vanquishing magic power wrapped the wisp of natal demonic aura in the jade bottle and entered Xu Jingming's mouth. As soon as it entered, this obsession immediately merged into Xu Jingming's mind, and memories appeared in Xu Jingming's consciousness.

Zhang Xiu was a local of Cheng'an Prefecture.

His father was a leader of the Three Rivers Gang in the prefecture capital. When Zhang Xiu was young, his parents doted on him quite a bit, and he had no worries about food and clothing. But from the age of six, Zhang Xiu had to learn martial arts!

Learning martial arts was very difficult.

At first, Zhang Xiu had some talent and progressed quickly. His father praised him, and his mother doted on him even more.

But gradually, his martial arts stagnated and he found it difficult to improve. No matter how hard he practiced, he made no progress, and Zhang Xiu was unwilling to continue practicing. His father berated him, his mother scolded him, and they forced Zhang Xiu to practice martial arts, but the forced effect was very poor.

He ignored the scolding and berating, even the whip lashes. Finally, his parents were completely disappointed and focused all their attention on their third son.

Zhang Xiu's father had a total of three sons and three daughters. All the children practiced martial arts, but only the third son had the talent and was able to endure hardship! His father and mother focused all their attention on nurturing their third son. They didn't care much about the other sons and daughters.

Zhang Xiu was somewhat disappointed. He envied his third brother for being loved by his parents, but on the other hand, he also felt relieved. No one cared about him anymore, and he was free. When he was sixteen, his father asked him to work for the Three Rivers Gang.

In the gang, he suffered a lot and witnessed the terrifying nature of people's hearts! Only then did he truly understand his father's good intentions! In this world, one would be successful in whatever they did if they had some martial arts foundation. Whether they entered the government or a gang, they would be valued.

But it was too difficult for an ordinary person in a gang.

After his father died in a gang conflict, Zhang Xiu's life in the gang became even more difficult! Before, others were still somewhat restrained because of his father's reputation. Now, they completely trampled him underfoot, into the latrine!

After experiencing all this, Zhang Xiu changed. He sharpened his head and climbed upwards! He wanted to be above others! He didn't want to be trampled underfoot again! He flattered and pleased others, and was good at coaxing people.

At the age of thirty-two, he also became a middle and high-level figure in the gang. Later, he lost his life while escorting goods.

"I haven't climbed to the top yet. I haven't become stronger than my third brother yet. I'm not reconciled. But who would have thought that I would become a demon after death." Zhang Xiu laughed heartily. "Becoming a demon is really great."

"My third brother trembled in front of me, never so respectful before. I devoured him in one bite."

"The esteemed gang leader knelt down in front of me, willing to be my servant, but I slapped him to death!"

Zhang Xiu looked at Xu Jingming. "I became an earth demon, and even took the initiative to become a City Patrol Envoy! In the entire prefecture capital, many large families and gangs have to watch my expression, have to fawn over me, and listen to my orders."

"In the entire Cheng'an Prefecture, the Green Lake Demon is my close friend. Even many demons are respectful to me."

"Hahaha, being high above, the feeling of watching those people kneel before me is so good, so good." Zhang Xiu said, "Mr. Wu Ming, isn't the feeling of power wonderful? Isn't the feeling of getting ahead great?"

Xu Jingming looked at him and said after a long time, "But you became a demon."

"So what if I became a demon?"

Zhang Xiu said excitedly, "As long as I'm high above, have great power, and make all living beings kneel before me... Become a demon? I'm happy instead."

"It's not wrong for a person to wield power," Xu Jingming looked at him. "But one can't be blinded by power."

"Blinded by power? No, I'm fine! The feeling of being a demon is very good," Zhang Xiu said.

Xu Jingming shook his head. "When you became a demon, the first thing you looked for was your third brother!"

"Yes, so what if he succeeded in martial arts? He still trembled in front of me. I devoured him in one bite." Zhang Xiu's eyes were filled with madness.

"You envy and are jealous of him. Don't deny it," Xu Jingming said. "I saw your memories. When your parents no longer cared about you and focused on nurturing your third brother, you were very disappointed and envious of your third brother."

Zhang Xiu was stunned.

"You entered the gang. Although you suffered, you still had your father to take care of you," Xu Jingming said. "You realized this yourself later! After your father died, you fell straight to the bottom in the gang."

Zhang Xiu fell silent.

"So after you made a name for yourself, you went to your father's grave and got drunk. In your heart, you really want your father to be alive and see the day you get ahead," Xu Jingming said. "You really want to prove yourself in front of your father."

Zhang Xiu nodded lightly. "I admit, I want him to see me get ahead, to see me much stronger than the third brother! I like the feeling of getting ahead! I like the feeling of being high above!"

"Don't let the mortal world blind your mind. Think carefully about what you really want in your heart?" Xu Jingming said.

"If you could exchange your life as a high-ranking demon with the carefree life of being praised by your father and doted on by your mother, would you be willing?" Xu Jingming asked. "Ask your heart, are you willing to exchange?"

Zhang Xiu was stunned.

A carefree life of being praised by his father and doted on by his mother? How distant was that memory? Those were the most beautiful days. His father sheltered him from the storms, and together with his mother, they cared for him.

"You should understand what you truly crave in your heart now," Xu Jingming said.

Zhang Xiu's obsession was shaking. He understood that what he craved most was not power, but his father's praise and his mother's doting, a happy and carefree life. When his heart negated his obsession, the obsession began to collapse.

Zhang Xiu murmured, "Since when did my heart only have getting ahead? Only have trampling on everyone else?"

"I, I even devoured my third brother. Yes, I was controlled by my obsession. I became a demon." At this moment, Zhang Xiu suddenly woke up. He seemed to wake up from a dream.

"Hold on to your heart," Xu Jingming looked at him. "Don't be controlled by desire and become its puppet."

"Thank you." Zhang Xiu said softly, "But I can't go back to the past." His obsession dissipated.

Xu Jingming, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, opened his eyes, his mood very complicated.

"Desire is the driving force behind human struggle, even the driving force behind human civilization," Xu Jingming said. "But if one doesn't control desire and is controlled by it instead… then that's too terrible."

"Cultivate the mind," Xu Jingming silently said. Those who control desire are human. Those who are controlled by desire are demons.

In terms of mental desire, Xu Jingming's understanding became clearer, and it was more deeply imprinted in his consciousness. His mental consciousness naturally became stronger.

*Squeak.*

Xu Jingming got up and opened the door. The sky was already slightly bright, and there was a hint of red in the eastern sky.

Eight hundred kilometers east of the prefecture capital was a towering mountain.

"Master, Master." An old woman turned into mist and flew into a pavilion. Inside the pavilion, a woman in red was leisurely painting.

"Master." The old woman landed and respectfully saluted.

"What's the matter that you're so flustered?" The woman in red looked at the old woman.

"City Patrol Envoy Zhang Xiu is dead," the old woman said, respectfully handing a roll of paper to the woman in red.

*Mm?*

The woman in red's expression changed slightly. She took the rolled-up paper, slowly unfolded it, and frowned slightly when she saw it. "Demon Vanquisher Wu Ming? Where did this newcomer come from, so ruthless?"

"Master, what should we do?" The old woman asked.

"Zhang Xiu did his job diligently," the woman in red shook her head. "But Demon Vanquisher Wu Ming and the Qi Clan Leader, Qi Chen, seem to have an unusual relationship. Zhang Xiu was killed after Qi Chen arrived."

"Mm." The old woman nodded. "They call each other brothers, and their relationship is unusual."

"The prefecture capital is the territory of Demon Vanquishers," the woman in red said leisurely. "It's not worth risking for a dead Zhang Xiu."

"Just let it go?" The old woman asked.

"Doesn't Zhang Xiu have many friends? Pass the news to the other demon gods, to all the envoys," the woman in red said.

The old woman asked, "Should we report to the Mountain Lord?"

"The Mountain Lord is too lazy to manage trivial matters anyway, and has thrown all the affairs within the prefecture to me," the woman in red said. "How would he care about the life or death of a City Patrol Envoy?"

The old woman nodded slightly. "I understand."

Her master was the Bloodclad Demon God, one of the five great demon gods, and also the true manager of Dongming Mountain!

The news quickly spread to many earth demons, but since Demon Vanquisher Wu Ming was able to suppress Zhang Xiu and had an unusual relationship with the Qi Clan Leader, and was still residing in the prefecture capital, these earth demons were unwilling to take the risk.

After fighting for so many years, demons had only occupied half the world! In the prefecture capital, where Demon Vanquishers gathered, earth demons had to act cautiously.

*Hua la la.* The lake water of Green Lake in Cheng'an Prefecture rippled.

Green Lake was over a hundred kilometers wide, and hundreds of thousands of people around Green Lake made a living from it. In this area, the most prestigious was not the government, not the Demon Vanquishers, but the master of Green Lake, the Green Lake Demon God!

"My brother Zhang Xiu died?" The Green Lake Demon God's eyes were cold, and he had a birthmark on his face. He looked at the letter in his hand with some anger.

"Demon God, what is it?" The subordinate who delivered the letter was puzzled.

"You can leave," the Green Lake Demon God waved his hand. He sat alone in the hall, staring at the letter.

"Brother Zhang Xiu is my close friend. To dare kill him is to slap my face," the Green Lake Demon God's eyes were filled with killing intent. "This Demon Vanquisher Wu Ming, he must die!"

The Green Lake Demon God's ferocity was overwhelming, but he was still very calm. "These Demon Vanquishers are very cunning. Maybe they've set a trap, waiting for me to fall into it." Years of fighting with Demon Vanquishers had made the Green Lake Demon God much more cautious.

"Moreover, he has an unusual relationship with the Qi Clan Leader. It's entirely possible that they'll mobilize experts to ambush me," the Green Lake Demon God pondered. "But… if I don't kill this Demon Vanquisher Wu Ming, I won't be happy!" The Green Lake Demon God's killing intent was intense.

"If they're ambushing, they'll be patient at first, but as time goes on, those experts can't keep guarding all the time," the Green Lake Demon God thought. "Mm, I'll wait more than three months before taking action."

"I don't believe that the Demon Vanquishers will still be ambushing after more than three months!"

The more the Green Lake Demon thought about it, the more he felt that he was clever. "After more than three months, I can't enter Wu Ming's residence! I have to wait for him to come out, wait for him to be outside, and let me choose the location and timing to strike."

Once he struck, he would eliminate the Demon Vanquisher Wu Ming within ten breaths.

"Then, I'll use water-based techniques to quietly leave the prefecture capital," the Green Lake Demon God was very satisfied. "My plan is very good. There shouldn't be any flaws."

"It's settled then!" The Green Lake Demon God made a decision.

Time passed day by day.

"City Patrol Envoy Zhang Xiu claimed to have many friends, and that the Green Lake Demon God was his close friend. Unfortunately, these earth demons don't seem willing to avenge him." The Qi Clan Leader, Qi Chen, who had been waiting for an opportunity to strike, sat bored in a recliner, reading a book. "It seems I've waited in vain."

The Qi Clan Leader was also very helpless. He couldn't force the earth demons to come.

Inside Xu Jingming's mansion.

*Chi chi chi.*

Strands of sunlight gathered from all directions, making the roof tiles glow with golden light. These solar powers penetrated the bricks and tiles and entered the house, falling on Xu Jingming, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed.

An endless stream of solar power was absorbed into his body, constantly transforming the Demon Vanquishing magic power within his body. Wu Qi silently guarded outside the house, not allowing anyone to approach and disturb his young master.

After half an hour.

*Squeak.*

Xu Jingming pushed the door open and walked out.

"Young Master," Wu Qi said joyfully, "Your Demon Vanquishing secret technique seems to have improved?"

"Mm, it's improved a bit," Xu Jingming nodded.

He had finally reached the fourth realm.