Chapter 18 A Glimmer of Hope

The white figure struggled with all its might, causing the vague black shadow to contort slightly. But no matter how hard it fought, it couldn't escape.

"Senior, spare me!" the white figure begged. "This junior comes from Lan Yu Tower. I beseech you, for the sake of Lan Yu Tower, spare me!"

"Lan Yu Tower? That makes it even more imperative that I don't spare you," the vague black shadow wriggled internally. The white figure was then pulverized, annihilated, and dissipated. "If your obsession can resist within my belly for three years, remaining undying and unextinguished, I'll let you leave."

After the white-robed woman was completely crushed and annihilated, only a wisp of obsession remained, lingering within the black shadow.

The hovering vague black shadow then looked towards the distant ruins of the residence, gazing at Xu Jingming and Mountain Lord Dongming.

Then it vanished into thin air.

Within the ruins of the residence.

When Mountain Lord Dongming cried out for help, his voice carrying for miles, Xu Jingming was indeed nervous.

If Mountain Lord Dongming's master was a Heavenly Demon, he truly wouldn't be able to defeat it. He wouldn't even have any confidence in escaping. He'd even considered... being killed by the Heavenly Demon and having to create a new account.

"Hm?" Xu Jingming was slightly stunned.

Mountain Lord Dongming, who had been previously filled with ferocity and confidence while being enveloped and bound by the golden net, now wore a stiff expression.

With his master, the Heavenly Demon's strength, he should have arrived in a step or two. His master was just on the nearby street and would arrive very quickly!

"Are you trying to deceive me?" Xu Jingming asked, looking at Mountain Lord Dongming.

It didn't seem like it.

Based on his ferocious appearance, confident gaze, and Xu Jingming's judgment... Mountain Lord Dongming was filled with confidence when he called for help; he was absolutely certain.

"Regardless of whether it's true or false, just attack," Xu Jingming didn't hold back at all. With a flash of his figure, his spear easily deflected an arm's obstruction and pierced into Mountain Lord Dongming's back. Five-colored lightning exploded within Mountain Lord Dongming's body once again, destroying the demonic body.

"Master!"

Mountain Lord Dongming's eight arms struggled desperately, enduring three more spear strikes before finally tearing open the golden net with difficulty. But Xu Jingming had long since dodged to a distance, casting down the Heavenly Net once more.

Another giant net descended.

Mountain Lord Dongming was frustrated and furious. He felt like prey trapped in a net. No matter how much strength he had, no matter how fierce his methods, he had nowhere to use them. Xu Jingming suppressed him with the net and lightning, constantly inflicting heavy damage with his spearmanship.

His injuries grew increasingly severe.

"Why hasn't Master appeared yet?" Mountain Lord Dongming was extremely anxious. Little did he know that his master had been destroyed even before him, with only a wisp of obsession remaining in the belly of another, even more powerful Heavenly Demon.

Mountain Lord Dongming only assumed that his master was unwilling to act.

"Could it be that Master wants to force me to break through by using 'Demon Refining'?" Mountain Lord Dongming suddenly thought of a possibility.

"Master said that even if the Demon Subduing Heart is used to refine demons,

Let me seek life from death?"

*Pfft!*

The increasingly weakened Mountain Lord Dongming was once again pierced through the chest by Xu Jingming's spear.

"Master, please act!" Mountain Lord Dongming pleaded loudly once again amidst his difficult resistance.

*Pfft! Pfft!*

Xu Jingming, however, didn't stop at all. The five-colored lightning exploded within Mountain Lord Dongming's body time and time again, causing Mountain Lord Dongming's body to resemble a torn sack, appearing with many holes. Moreover, apart from the skin layer, the inside of his body was almost empty.

"Master... you're truly heartless. Very well, then I'll engage in a life-and-death battle of the mind with the Demon Subduer Wu Ming!" With the final spear strike, Mountain Lord Dongming could no longer maintain his body and completely dispersed into demonic energy.

The demonic energy was unable to escape under the constraints of the Heavenly Net and the bombardment of the five-colored lightning. In the end, only a wisp of obsession remained.

"收 (Shōu, collect)."

Xu Jingming took out a jade bottle and collected the wisp of obsession, which had no ability to resist, into the jade bottle.

Upon successfully killing him, Xu Jingming also felt mentally exhausted. During the fight, he had cast the Heavenly Net six times and used the Five Thunder Technique a full fifty-one times with the aid of his spear, consuming a great deal of mental power.

"Killing this Mountain Lord Dongming was really not easy," Xu Jingming thought to himself. "In the Demon Subduing world, it's really difficult to achieve a kill against someone of a higher level." Xu Jingming looked around.

His residence had long since been reduced to ruins in the previous terrifying battle.

Xu Jingming didn't feel heartache; what he cared about were the several maids and servants in the residence. Liu Sanya, Gu Yu, Liu Fu, Cheng Daniu, and Zhang Dashen had all died. Xu Jingming even saw several miles outside the residence.

His eyes had the flow of magic power, and he could clearly see the residential buildings, all of which were filled with white bones.

Within a few miles, all living things had been wiped out.

And this was all because he was involved.

Xu Jingming fell silent.

"呼 (Hū, exhale)."

He saw Seventh Uncle in the distance rushing over quickly. As a top-tier expert, Seventh Uncle returned very quickly.

"Young Master," Wu Qi was very excited. After perfectly controlling his entire body, his eyesight was naturally extraordinary. When he saw that Mountain Lord Dongming had been killed, he was also filled with joy. The young master's strength was growing stronger and stronger.

He had watched the young master slowly grow up from a young age. The more outstanding and powerful the young master was, the happier Wu Qi became.

"Seventh Uncle," Xu Jingming nodded.

Wu Qi understood something from the young master's expression. He looked at the surrounding ruins and sighed softly, "It's a pity about Sanya and the others, Young Master. Don't blame yourself; you've already done your best."

Xu Jingming looked at the white bones in the surrounding countless residential buildings. Among those bones were young people, as well as the elderly and infants.

When the demonic energy descended, he only had time to protect Seventh Uncle, who was sitting next to him; there was no time to save anyone else.

"I should have thought of it," Xu Jingming said softly. "I continuously killed the demons of Dongming Mountain. It was entirely possible that Mountain Lord Dongming would come to take revenge. I guessed that Mountain Lord Dongming would come, but I didn't expect it would implicate so many people."

"No one can do everything perfectly," Wu Qi said. "Young Master, you didn't expect that Mountain Lord Dongming would involve innocent people either."

"No."

Xu Jingming shook his head. "It's just that I didn't think about these ordinary people at all."

He subconsciously believed that this was just a virtual world, and these ordinary people were just planetary lifeforms who had descended here after their memories were obscured. They would all wake up in reality after they died. Therefore, Xu Jingming subconsciously didn't pay too much attention to them.

In addition, since descending, Xu Jingming had been in control of everything. He continuously killed one demon after another, and previously, ordinary people hadn't been affected much.

"The stronger the demons are, the more terrifying the harm they cause," Xu Jingming said. "A peak Earth Demon already has such destructive power. Then what about a Heavenly Demon? Once a Heavenly Demon takes action, even I will find it difficult to resist."

"I want to refine demons, and I will face the hostility of more and more demons," Xu Jingming said. "Perhaps, I shouldn't have a fixed residence. A fixed residence... will only become a target."

Seeing this, Wu Qi felt that the young master was stimulated by the deaths of a large number of people within a few miles. He said, "Young Master, you don't need to worry about it. Where are demons not wreaking havoc? I became an orphan because of demons wreaking havoc. Later, Miss saved me and allowed me to enter the Wu family. Young Master, you've killed so many demons, and because you've killed so many demons, the suffering of the people of Cheng An Prefecture has been reduced a lot."

"Like this time, you killed Mountain Lord Dongming again. You are the benefactor of countless people in Cheng An Prefecture," Wu Qi said. "If it weren't for you, if Mountain Lord Dongming went mad, the disaster would probably be ten or a hundred times greater. It wouldn't be impossible for him to destroy a city."

Xu Jingming looked at Wu Qi and comforted him, "Seventh Uncle, don't worry about me."

This time, Xu Jingming only realized that as his strength grew stronger, the demons he provoked would become more and more powerful, and he should act more cautiously.

"Hm?"

Xu Jingming raised his head and looked into the distance. Clan Leader Qi Chen and the tall black-clothed woman 'Qi Xiao' flew over together. Soon, they landed in these ruins.

"I worked so hard to have my sister come," Clan Leader Qi Chen glanced at Wu Qi, and his words became somewhat ambiguous. "I was afraid you would die in the hands of Mountain Lord Dongming, so I had my sister come to save you. Who would have thought that you would have solved Mountain Lord Dongming on your own?"

"Thank you, Brother Qi Chen, thank you, Sister Qi Xiao," Xu Jingming said gratefully.

He knew that Qi Xiao didn't come to the Demon Subduing world very often anymore. The fact that she was able to log on and rush over this time showed her goodwill.

"You are Junior Brother of Chi Tong, not an outsider," Qi Xiao smiled. Recently, she and Chi Tong were in the sweetest phase of their relationship. Naturally, Qi Xiao had a good impression of Xu Jingming, who had been the matchmaker.

Moreover, she also knew that Chi Tong and this 'Wu Ming' were both peerless geniuses of the Yuanchu Research Institute and would probably both become Source Lifeforms in the future.

Naturally, she respected such people.

"Brother Qi Chen, Sister Qi Xiao," Xu Jingming said, "After killing Mountain Lord Dongming, I plan to leave Cheng An Prefecture and travel around the world."

"Leave Cheng An Prefecture?" Clan Leader Qi Chen was stunned.

"Yes."

Xu Jingming nodded. "With Mountain Lord Dongming dead, none of the demons in Cheng An Prefecture are worth my attention. Naturally, I have to seek out more powerful demons to temper my heart."

Qi Xiao nodded in agreement. "Now is the time for your rapid advancement. Naturally, you must move forward courageously. Back then, I also met your Senior Brother when I was traveling around the world."

"Right."

Xu Jingming suddenly said solemnly, "Before Mountain Lord Dongming died, he was asking his master for help. I feel that he wasn't acting; he probably really has a master lurking nearby."

Clan Leader Qi Chen also nodded. "I was watching the entire battlefield from afar and also heard his cries for help. He cried for help many times, so it should be true."

"If it's true, and he's hiding in the dark and didn't take action," Xu Jingming said, "Brother Qi Chen, you've been living in Cheng An Prefecture, so you need to be more careful."

"Even if you leave Cheng An Prefecture, you need to be careful," Qi Chen said. "Mountain Lord Dongming's master is likely spying on you in the dark."

"Yes," Xu Jingming nodded.

He came to the Demon Subduing world seeking to temper his heart.

"Also, five maids and servants in my residence died this time," Xu Jingming said. "Please, Brother Qi Chen, comfort their families and take care of them."

"A small matter," Brother Qi Chen nodded.

Xu Jingming took out a piece of paper from his bosom. The magic power of demon subduing naturally left a contact method on the paper and handed it to Brother Qi Chen. "Brother Qi Chen, after this farewell, it'll probably be difficult for us to meet again in the world. This is my contact information."

Qi Chen's eyes lit up, and he happily accepted it.

This was the contact information for the virtual world network.

"Keep in touch in the future," Xu Jingming smiled slightly. He had stayed in the city for more than half a year, and Brother Qi Chen had taken care of him in all aspects. He still remembered this favor.

That was just his personality.

He would naturally repay the favors he received from others.

"Keep in touch," Qi Chen nodded.

Qi Xiao looked at this scene with a smile.

That heartless fellow only had her junior brother come to her and give her his contact information after his heart was injured.

Look at how beautifully his junior brother does things.

"Let's go," Xu Jingming also noticed from afar that many Demon Subduers were rushing here. After all, many people were watching the battle remotely with secret methods. Only after seeing Mountain Lord Dongming die did they dare to rush over. They were a little slower than the Qi family siblings.

But Xu Jingming didn't want to deal with these people anymore.

After all, he might not even return to Cheng An Prefecture in the future.

"Seventh Uncle, let's go," Xu Jingming said.

"Alright," Wu Qi nodded.

As far as Wu Qi was concerned, after Miss died, he would follow the young master wholeheartedly! Wherever the young master went, he would go.

The two of them walked, surrounded by starlight. Each step was hundreds of meters away, and they quickly disappeared into the distance.

"Big Brother," Qi Xiao smiled, "Impressive. In half a year, you were able to get Wu Ming to be willing to give you his contact information."

"It's alright, it's alright," Qi Chen said in a low voice, "Little Sister, who exactly is this Wu Ming in reality?"

"In the future, you will know," Qi Xiao also glanced at the Demon Subduers rushing over from afar. "I'll log off first."

*Buzz.*

Qi Xiao directly遁入大地 (dùnrù dàdì,遁入- escape into, 大地- earth) and then logged off directly.

As far as she was concerned, she wouldn't come to the Demon Subduing world unless there was something important.

…

Outside Cheng An Prefecture City.

Xu Jingming and Wu Qi, master and servant, were heading south.

"Young Master, where are we going?" Wu Qi asked.

"The world is vast. Let's walk around more and see more," Xu Jingming said. This world was cruel and dangerous, but he needed to temper his heart with the obsessions of more powerful demons so that he could become a Source Lifeform at a faster speed.

Demons were the resources for his growth.

******

Bai County.

The Chen family, which was originally one of the top families in Bai County, had long since split into three branches. The old Clan Leader and some others who were unwilling to continue wandering were one branch and remained in Bai County. The other two branches had left Bai County.

With the shadow of the Demon Subduer 'Wu Ming', the Chen family was destined to decline. Splitting up and leaving for other places had a chance of rising again.

"Master, the merchants outside are all talking about news," an old servant came to report.

The Chen family's old Clan Leader was getting older and older, and his spirit was gone. His drooping triangular eyes glanced at the old servant. "What is it?"

"The merchants are all saying that a little over a month ago, because the Demon Subduer Mr. Wu Ming killed too many demons, Mountain Lord Dongming was furious and directly killed his way to Mr. Wu Ming's residence. A world-shaking battle broke out, and that battle affected an area of several miles, with countless deaths and injuries," the old servant said in amazement.

"Mountain Lord Dongming and Wu Ming?" A gleam of light flashed in the old Clan Leader's triangular eyes. "What was the result? Is Wu Ming still alive?"

"After a battle, the Demon Subduer Wu Ming killed Mountain Lord Dongming!" the old servant said.

The old Clan Leader was stunned.

"Now, all the demons in Cheng An Prefecture are terrified and afraid of Mr. Wu Ming. He is also recognized as the most powerful Demon Subduer in all of Cheng An Prefecture," the old servant said.

The old Clan Leader waved his hand, and the old servant, who was in high spirits, had no choice but to stop and obediently retreat.

"He even killed Mountain Lord Dongming?"

The old Clan Leader murmured in a low voice, "This little bastard is getting stronger and stronger. Why didn't he show it at all when he was in the clan? Now he's getting stronger and stronger. I want to live and see how powerful you can become."

The old Clan Leader's lifelong efforts and the family's decline and ruin were filled with hatred for Chen Qi.