Chapter 269: Chapter 67: If it’s the enemy, they must die!
In the crimson pool water, a Blood Cocoon lay quietly. Every so often, it would throb. BOOM! BOOM!! The immense sound vibrated in all directions, appearing particularly eerie in the silent city.
"That Demon Evil seems to be breaking through!" Hearing the sound, Yin Xiu’s voice held a hint of surprise. A breakthrough! Even the weakest Demon Evil capable of laying down a Barrier and leaving behind a Defender Envoy was at the level of a low-order Demon Evil. If it were to break through further, it would be equivalent to a middle-order Demon Evil. Among the Demon Evil Clan, middle-order Demon Evils are considered quite powerful beings. Take himself, for example; he was actually just a low-order Demon Evil.
It’s not easy for Demon Evils to cross levels. Unless it had already reached a pinnacle realm upon birth, allowing it to make a further breakthrough after devouring the humans in the city. Otherwise, 200,000 humans would not be enough for a Demon Evil-level powerhouse to cross an entire major realm. Thoughts surged in Yin Xiu’s mind. What constitutes a complete major realm? Advancing from an early low-order Demon Evil to an early middle-order Demon Evil—that is a complete major realm. If one was at the peak of a low-order Demon Evil and then entered the early stage of a middle-order Demon Evil, it could only be considered breaking through a major realm, but not a complete one.
Su Wan’er’s charming face also revealed shock upon hearing this. "Does my lord mean that the Demon Evil in Luyang City is preparing to advance?" Advance! According to information from the Eternal Alliance, the Demon Evil here was just a low-order Demon Evil. If it was about to advance, then it would become a middle-order Demon Evil!
Yin Xiu’s expression was indifferent. "If I’m not mistaken, it is indeed on the verge of a breakthrough. The leap from a low-order Demon Evil to a middle-order Demon Evil is not simple. For it to use the Human Clan of Luyang City to break this shackle is indeed good fortune!" He felt a tinge of envy. He himself had not yet managed to break his current shackles. Yet, a Demon Evil born not long ago could surpass him and venture further. It was impossible not to be jealous.
If I devoured it, could I also break my current shackles? This thought suddenly flashed through Yin Xiu’s mind, but he quickly suppressed it. Devouring it might indeed lead to a successful advancement. However, with my own strength, I probably wouldn’t be able to handle that Demon Evil. Besides, my mission this time is to recruit it into our faction. If I took matters into my own hands and devoured it, there might be other troubles. Let’s wait and see for now. Yin Xiu mused.
Then, he headed towards the source of the sound. The two Eternal Alliance Elders behind him didn’t overthink it and followed closely.
「On the streets.」
Shen Changqing walked slowly. As his eyes stared straight ahead, his Divine Sense constantly spread out, ever vigilant for dangers that might appear from any direction.
Soon, the street came to an end. At the end of the street were two corners. The sound originated from the left, so Shen Changqing decisively turned left.
He chose to walk along the street rather than jumping onto rooftops for a wider view because, in an unfamiliar environment, acting independently could easily expose him completely to danger. He wouldn’t take such risks unless absolutely necessary. Walking methodically along the street, though somewhat restrictive, meant that if he was restricted, the unseen dangers would likely be restricted as well. Between the two, he naturally chose the safer approach.
Before long, as he was about to reach the next street corner, his steps faltered. In front of him, Yin Xiu and his two companions were leisurely approaching from the opposite direction. Both parties halted, eyeing each other, the atmosphere instantly growing tense.
"Human Clan!" Yin Xiu stared at the person before him, a chilling killing intent surfacing in his emerald eyes. But he didn’t attack immediately. A member of the Human Clan who could walk so freely in Luyang City couldn’t be ordinary. Instantly, this Demon Evil thought of a Defender Envoy.
"Demon Evil!" Shen Changqing’s eyes showed some surprise. In his view, the three beings before him were not three Demon Evils, but one Demon Evil and two Demonfolk. His gaze swept over the two Eternal Alliance Elders; even Su Wan’er’s charming face didn’t make his gaze linger for a moment. Finally, his eyes landed squarely on Yin Xiu. Among the three, only the Demon Evil before him posed the greatest threat. That soaring Yin Evil Aura was hardly weaker than the Yin Evil Aura permeating the Barrier. He hadn’t noticed it earlier, his senses having been muddled by the Barrier’s Yin Evil Aura. Only now, face to face, could Shen Changqing truly distinguish the difference between the two auras.
They faced each other for a moment before Yin Xiu’s sinister voice broke the silence, "I never expected to encounter the Defender Envoy of Mountain-Breaking City here. Should I say you’re lucky, or unlucky?"
The Defender Envoy of Mountain-Breaking City? Shen Changqing’s eyebrow twitched. Instantly, he understood: the other party had mistaken him for Xun Qu. Wait a minute! Well, well! The news of Xun Qu being trapped in Luyang City was supposed to have only circulated within the Mountain-Breaking City Demon-Subduing Division. Yet, judging by this Demon Evil’s words, it clearly knew. Indeed, traitors are everywhere! Shen Changqing was inwardly speechless.
The Eternal Alliance’s infiltration capabilities are truly formidable. Then again, it wasn’t that surprising. The Hidden Heart Pavilion had been infiltrated by Demon Evils, and a considerable number of Demon Hunters from the Capital Demon Suppression Division had rebelled. If even the headquarters of the Demon-Subduing Division was like this, then it seemed quite natural for the Eternal Alliance to have infiltrated its various branches.
He didn’t bother to clarify his identity, instead offering a cold chuckle. "I also didn’t expect to encounter other Demon Evils in Luyang City." As he spoke, the atmosphere grew heavy.
Su Wan’er and the other Eternal Alliance Elder both wore solemn expressions. Looking at Shen Changqing’s youthful face, it seemed somewhat unreal. A Defender Envoy!? Could the Defender Envoy of Mountain-Breaking City be this young? No, that’s not right... He seems somehow familiar. A spark of realization suddenly flashed in Su Wan’er’s mind, as if she had remembered something. A look of shock then appeared on her charming face. "He’s not the Defender Envoy of Mountain-Breaking City—he’s Shen Changqing!"
"Shen Changqing!" The other Eternal Alliance Elder finally remembered. There was indeed a bounty on him within the Eternal Alliance. But because there were so many bounties, he couldn’t immediately recall who was who. Only after Su Wan’er’s reminder did he truly register it.
Hearing this, Shen Changqing gave Su Wan’er a deep look. It was indeed a bit surprising that she recognized him. However, he hadn’t planned on completely hiding his identity anyway. There wasn’t much point in concealing it; exposure didn’t make a significant difference.
Meanwhile, Yin Xiu’s brow furrowed. "Shen Changqing? Who is he?" Scanning his memories, he couldn’t recall a prominent Human Clan expert named Shen Changqing.
Su Wan’er explained, "Reporting to my lord, Shen Changqing is a Demon Hunter from the Great Qin’s Capital Demon Suppression Division. Despite joining the Demon-Subduing Division less than three years ago, he is already a late-stage Grandmaster with terrifying talent. Moreover, this man has destroyed several of our Eternal Alliance strongholds and has long been on our wanted list. Unfortunately, he always stayed within the Demon-Subduing Division, so we never had a chance to eliminate him. We never expected to encounter him in Luyang City."
Su Wan’er felt a surge of excitement. Those on the wanted list were all powerful individuals. Not just anyone qualified for the Eternal Alliance’s list, and the rewards for those on it were extremely generous. If she could kill Shen Changqing here and take him back to the Eternal Alliance, the benefits would surely be immense. The other Eternal Alliance Elder’s eyes also gleamed with anticipation.
"Late-stage Grandmaster?" Yin Xiu’s expression turned peculiar, a cold glint in his emerald eyes. "Are you sure you haven’t mistaken him? The person before us is no late-stage Grandmaster. If I’m not mistaken, he has reached what you call the Great Sun Furnace Realm."
Great Sun Furnace! Both Elders were greatly shocked. When they looked at Shen Changqing, they couldn’t discern any clues. However, Yin Xiu’s words were unlikely to be wrong. Could it be—that he had truly broken through again, advancing from the late-stage Grandmaster to the Grandmaster Peak! If that was truly the case, it was terrifying.
"Good eyesight!" Shen Changqing laughed heartily, no longer bothering to hide anything. The Qi and Blood Force in his body, as radiant as the Great Sun, erupted in an instant. A Great Sun blazed forth, his Qi and Blood Force at its absolute peak. All surrounding Yin Evil Aura receded before this power.
Then, the smile on his face vanished, replaced by a severe expression. "I originally intended to deal with the Demon Evil in Luyang City. I didn’t expect to run into you all. But it doesn’t matter. All Demon Evils are enemies of the Human Clan." His voice turned cold. "And enemies must die!"
As his words fell, he stepped forward. The long blade at his waist unsheathed instantly, the blood-red lotus in his Sea of Consciousness swaying. As he executed the Blade Slash, the clang of weapons and armored horses echoed in mid-air; the Bloody Iron Cavalry charged through the void, set to obliterate all obstacles.
Yin Xiu had anticipated Shen Changqing’s sudden attack. Sensing the power of this Blade Slash, he didn’t dare to be careless. His Yin Evil Aura erupted violently as his true Demon Evil form was fully revealed.
Su Wan’er and the other Elder standing behind him were uncontrollably blasted back by the eruption of Yin Evil Aura. When the two looked at Yin Xiu again, they saw him enveloped in dense Yin Evil Aura. As he thrust out a palm, a monstrous wave of Yin Evil Aura howled forth, like countless tormented souls shrieking.
Shen Changqing remained undaunted. He brought his long blade down. Infused with Great Sun True Essence and fueled by his surging Qi and Blood Force, the blade seemed like a red-hot poker, instantly vaporizing any Yin Evil Aura it touched.