With a collective rustle, the demon army in front retreated as if by instinct. The demons in the forest made similar instinctive movements – some retreated or jumped back, while others unconsciously climbed trees.
A single golden body had frightened the entire horde.
Princess Consort You Rong looked around in astonishment. She saw that the beasts who were eager and greedy just moments ago now appeared like frightened dogs, seemingly terrified.
Witnessing this scene, the Princess Consort’s heart gradually settled. Color returned to her pale face, feeling that by Xu Qi An’s side, she could gain endless security.
This wasn’t her imagination. Since they began traveling north, this man had consistently provided her with a sense of safety, slowly calming her fearful heart.
It’s just that he was equally detestable, enjoying teasing and targeting her, which unconsciously diluted that feeling of security.
Additionally, in the Princess Consort’s mind, she couldn’t help but think of two words: “Holy crap!”
As we all know, this is an expression used to convey shock.
“The Vajra Divine Skill? Which Buddhist sect are you from? Who is your master?” The giant python raised its head, the corners of its mouth stretching wide, its bloody maw opening to 180 degrees.
It appeared fierce, but in reality, it was putting on a brave front. The desire for food in its eyes had transformed into wariness and hatred.
The demon horde’s reaction mirrored its own. After the initial shock-induced response, they suddenly became enraged. They collectively surged forward a short distance, baring their teeth and glaring at Xu Qi An.
Their fierce eyes flickered with violence and hatred, as if Xu Qi An had killed their kin or stolen their mates.
Huh, the northern demons are afraid of Buddhism? Xu Qi An was somewhat surprised. His gaze swept sharply over the surrounding demons, like an angry Vajra, while inwardly he was shouting:
“Master Shenshu, quick, come out, it’s time to eat!”
“Ma-Master Shenshu?”
…Holy crap, Shenshu’s disconnected again? That shouldn’t be, I just recharged four VIP annual cards for him. Xu Qi An’s mind was full of complaints with no one to voice them to.
He suddenly became a bit anxious. With his small accomplishment in the Vajra Indestructible Body, he wasn’t afraid of being surrounded by these demons. He certainly couldn’t defeat them in a fight, but breaking through wouldn’t be a problem.
But what about the Princess Consort?
Protecting a physically fragile woman amidst tens of thousands of troops, ensuring she remained unharmed… A crude warrior only good at destruction didn’t have that ability.
Using the Confucian scroll might allow them to escape this group of demons, but Xu Qi An didn’t just want to leave. He wanted to capture the leaders of the demon soldiers and interrogate them for information.
Master Shenshu had chosen this moment to disconnect.
“Hiss…”
At this moment, the giant python let out a hiss and spoke in human tongue: “Eat him!”
In an instant, white beasts roared, and rat swarms emitted shrill “squeak squeak” sounds, revealing their powerful incisors. Fox packs bared their teeth, fangs sharp and menacing.
Black horses lowered their heads, snorting and pawing at the ground.
In the forest, the demon horde moved as one. Monkey troops leaped through the treetops, rock goats lowered their heads to charge, while larger beasts like tigers, cheetahs, and wildcats moved even faster, their bodies stretching and contracting as they burst out of the woods.
The Princess Consort closed her eyes in fear, tightly gripping Xu Qi An’s hand.
At the same time, Monk Shenshu’s voice echoed in Xu Qi An’s mind: “I was just thinking about some things.”
With a head so empty, how can the memories be so fierce? Xu Qi’an inwardly grumbled while breathing a sigh of relief. He relinquished control of his body and said in his heart:
“Don’t kill them yet. I need to interrogate them for information. This demon horde is likely from the north, and I want to know their objective.”
In the next moment, he lost control of his limbs.
“No killing or hunting allowed.”
A faint sigh echoed through the valley, sounding like spring thunder in the ears of the fiercely attacking demon horde. They simultaneously lost control of their bodies and collapsed.
Due to their momentum, they tumbled forward, rolling down slopes and falling from treetops. The scene instantly descended into chaos.
“What a disorganized rabble,” Xu Qi An said.
“…” Shenshu remained silent.
“Hiss hiss…”
The slithering giant python was pressed flat against the ground by an invisible force, unable to move. Only when fear occupied its mind and the thought of killing dissipated did it regain control of its body?
The weaker demons regained control faster, as they were more cowardly and abandoned their killing intent earlier, thus regaining control of their bodies sooner.
Just as the python, having regained control, was about to signal a retreat, the golden body eerily vanished from its vertical pupils. When it caught sight of him again, that powerful potential Buddhist expert was already close by.
Immense fear exploded in the python’s heart, not even allowing for thoughts of mutual destruction. When faced with someone possessing godlike, demonic power while you’re merely an insect, even fighting to the death becomes a luxury.
This Buddhist expert was both a warrior monk and practiced Chan methods, cultivating both paths of Buddhism…
Xu Qi An spoke slowly: “This seat has questions for you. Answer truthfully.”
Under the terrifying pressure, the python lowered its head and spoke tremblingly in human tongue: “Please ask, Great Master.”
By this time, Xu Qi An had already taken over from Shenshu, regaining control of his body. He asked, “Your northern demon race is invading Great Feng territory on a large scale. What are you here to do?”
He had already guessed the answer.
“We… we are not the northern demon race,” the python answered in a low voice.
A question mark flashed through Xu Qi An’s mind, and then he heard the python explain: “We are citizens of the Myriad Demon Nation.”
Remnants of the Myriad Demon Nation, the one ruled by the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox? Xu Qi An almost blurted out.
Information about the Myriad Demon Nation instantly surfaced in his mind.
The Myriad Demon Nation was once the dominant power in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains of the South, and also the southern branch of the demon races on the continent of the Nine Provinces.
Its ruler was the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox.
Supposedly a half-step Martial God, this information came from Lina, the fifth member of the Heaven and Earth Society. She had once said that during the Demon Purge sixty years ago, the half-step Martial God of the Myriad Demon Nation had required the Buddha himself to intervene and kill them.
Afterward, the Myriad Demon Nation collapsed, and the orphaned Nine-Tailed Princess led the remnants in an escape, embarking on a 500-year-long struggle.
How did the remnants of the Myriad Demon Nation appear here? It certainly wasn’t a coincidence. Did this mean that the demon princess also intended to get involved in the quagmire of Chu State… A third-rank martial artist advancing to the second rank had attracted so many big figures. Hmm, perhaps it was reasonable after all… Xu Qi An’s gaze turned cold as he said:
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
“We’re secretly infiltrating Chu State. Once the princess locates Blood Butcher of Three Thousand Li, the King of Northern Pacification, we will attack en masse,” the python hurriedly answered, lowering its head fearfully.
She also wants to seize the essence of blood. If we add the leader of the Qingyan tribe from the barbarians, the waters of Chu State are becoming quite murky.
The advantage is that I can fish in troubled waters; I’m no longer fighting alone.
The disadvantage is also obvious: none of these people are good. Whoever gets the essence blood, it won’t be a good thing.
Hmm, I really want to get the contact information of that Demon Nation princess, ask her if she has any clues… Xu Qi An, Xu Qi An, you’re conspiring with tigers; you won’t even know how you died.
Thoughts flashing, Xu Qi An frowned and said, “You haven’t found the location of Blood Butcher of Three Thousand Li, the King of Northern Pacification, either?”
The python shook its head.
Xu Qi An communicated inwardly with Master Shenshu, handing over control to him. Shenshu said calmly, “The snake demon speaks no lies.”
Xu Qi An asked again and received the same answer as before.
This… the Myriad Demon Nation is looking for Blood Butcher of Three Thousand Li’s location, and the northern barbarians are also looking… Xu Qi An was astounded. Whose civilians did the King of Northern Pacification kill?
Chu State spans eight thousand li, naturally a vast territory, but it couldn’t possibly be this well-hidden.
“Master, I’ve asked all I needed to. You can proceed,” Xu Qi An communicated inwardly with Monk Shenshu.
“Let them go!”
Unexpectedly, Monk Shenshu didn’t kill the demons or seize their essence blood.
“Why? With the great battle approaching, wouldn’t you want to replenish your arm?” Xu Qi An was stunned.
Monk Shenshu chuckled, “I remembered some past events. When my cultivation wasn’t yet complete, the Myriad Demon Nation dominated the south, incredibly powerful.
“That demon nation princess might know me, or have heard of me.”
That’s right, it was the remnants of the Myriad Demon Nation who destroyed Sangbo and stored Shenshu’s severed arm in my body… The demon princess knows Shenshu, and with Master Shenshu’s fragmented memories, meeting old acquaintances or contemporaries is the best way to recover his past… Xu Qi An suddenly realized.
“Master, I understand your reluctance to offend the demon princess, but if we let these beasts go unchecked, they’ll prey on civilians,” he still didn’t want to let these demons go.
“Civilians are life, demons are also life. What’s the difference?” Shenshu calmly retorted.
This… Are you trying to discuss philosophy with me? Xu Qi An was speechless, unable to answer.
From a philosophical standpoint, Shenshu’s words were correct. All beings are equal, and naturally, there’s no distinction between high and low, noble and base in life. Everyone has just one life.
From a personal perspective, Xu Qi An was human, so he unreservedly stood on the side of humanity, and he didn’t see any problem with that.
He respected other forms of life, not killing indiscriminately or cruelly, but in necessary situations, he wouldn’t be soft-hearted either. For instance, when demons slaughtered humans.
But Shenshu was a Buddhist, and his thinking was different from ordinary people. Xu Qi An didn’t believe his ideas could influence a powerhouse whose cultivation reached the heavens and penetrated the earth.
He regained control of his body and pondered, “I need a way to contact your princess.”
“This…”
The python looked troubled.
“Not possible?”
Xu Qi An’s gaze was sharp as a knife.
“The princess moves like a ghost, appearing and disappearing at will. Only she can contact us; we have no way to find the princess otherwise,” the four-tailed white fox spoke up voluntarily, explaining the reason.
Sounds just like the head of a secret service in the Nine Provinces… Xu Qi An saw that Monk Shenshu had no intention of speaking, so he coldly surveyed the demon horde, his face serious and voice authoritative:
“Heaven has mercy on all life, so I won’t kill you. But remember this: during your infiltration of Chu State, you are not to prey on human lives. Otherwise, I will ensure your complete annihilation.”
Who knows if such threats will be effective…
Joy sparked in the giant python’s cold vertical pupils as it bowed obsequiously, nodding repeatedly: “Rest assured, Great Master. We won’t linger long in Chu State. During our stay, we’ll only hunt wild beasts and absolutely won’t harm humans.”
The demon horde adopted submissive postures, eyes downcast.
Beside him, the Princess Consort’s eyes flickered as she gazed at Xu Qi An’s profile, a hint of admiration in her look.
Having received permission from the mysterious grand master, the demon army resumed their journey, circumventing Xu Qi An and the Princess Consort. They marched swiftly in silence, like a disorganized rabble that had just suffered defeat.
…
The people of Great Feng liked to call the northern barbarians “Northern Savages” and the southern barbarians “Southern Savages.” However, the northern demon race appeared far less frequently in the common speech of Great Feng civilians compared to the “Northern Savages.”
This was because most of the land bordering Chu State belonged to the northern barbarian tribes. The northern demon race’s territory largely bordered the northeastern Witch God Sect.
For this reason, the northeastern Witch God Sect and the northern demon race were mortal enemies, engaging in battles every so often.
Against this historical and geographical backdrop, the northern demon race and the “Northern Savages” became the closest allies, often intermarrying.
The northern barbarian tribes consisted of nine clans, each with at least three fourth-rank experts. Compared to the hundreds of millions of people in Great Feng, the barbarian population was pitifully small.
However, as descendants of demon gods, they possessed an absolute advantage in individual combat prowess over ordinary humans.
If a barbarian cavalry of a hundred men encountered a Great Feng cavalry of a thousand in the wild, it would inevitably be the Great Feng cavalry, without the support of cannons and crossbows, that would be annihilated.
Past the Chu State border, the northern landscape suddenly became rugged, with gray-white or deep black mountain ranges and barren land lacking green vegetation.
Desolation was the only dominant theme of the north.
Of course, there were also lakes and grasslands here, thriving oases and green mountains. Most of these places were occupied by barbarian tribes and their offshoots, where they multiplied and prospered.
The Qingyan tribe was located in the northwest, at the foot of a mountain range called Tuotian. Legend had it that the Tuotian Mountains were formed from the fallen body of the Qingyan tribe’s ancestors.
The mountains were rich in resources – fruits, herbs, birds, and beasts were countless. It was the sacred mountain of the Qingyan tribe.
The architectural style of the Qingyan tribe blended northern and Great Feng characteristics. Amidst the sprawling tents were clusters of yellow earthen houses, wooden cabins, and even palaces.
The latter were built by slaves captured from Great Feng.
At dusk.
“Huff, huff…”
Thunderous snoring echoed throughout the Qingyan tribe. The blue-skinned tribespeople, accustomed to this, went about their business – herding cattle and sheep, hunting in the mountains, drinking, and making merry.
The snoring alone could be heard for dozens of li. What kind of monster could make such a sound?
The snoring came from the leader of the Qingyan tribe – Jili Zhigu.
A peak third-rank expert and the strongest warrior of the northern barbarian tribes, he had once engaged in a fierce battle with the King of Northern Pacification. The outcome was unknown, but when scouts from both sides later searched for the battleground, they found the battlefield stretched for hundreds of li, and within those hundreds of li, everything was in ruins, devoid of life.
A Qingyan tribesman carrying twin swords on his back rode swiftly on horseback, passing tents and houses along the main road that led straight to the foot of the mountain.
At the end of the road stood a palace complex with strong Great Feng architectural influences.
The sword-bearing barbarian produced a token, passed through the checkpoint, and entered the building complex, heading straight for the tallest and most magnificent palace.
“Chief, Chief…”
The barbarian didn’t enter the palace but stood in the courtyard outside, shouting in the barbarian tongue.
“Huff, huff…”
The snoring abruptly ceased, and the twenty-foot-tall palace doors opened automatically.
The dual-sword barbarian stepped inside. The interior decor could only be described as rugged, with sixteen massive stone pillars supporting a hundred-foot-high dome.
A crimson carpet extended from the depths of the hall to the entrance. On either side of the carpet stood man-high torches, burning fiercely.
At the far end of the hall stood an enormous stone chair. Seated on it was a blue giant, two zhang tall.
His enormous body was hairless, covered in layers of thick blue keratin armor. A single curved horn protruded from his forehead, pointing skyward.
He hadn’t concealed his aura, nor was he deliberately projecting it, but even so, the dual-sword barbarian was trembling, his legs shaking uncontrollably.
Barbarian experts never deliberately suppressed their auras. They didn’t hide their strength, which was why only Jili Zhigu was present in the hall, with no guards or attendants.
Leaning against the stone chair was a giant sword wider than a door panel. The sword’s color was dull, a mottled deep red – the blood of powerful warriors Jili Zhigu had slain.
The giant on the stone chair had his eyes half-closed. His voice, like thunder, echoed through the hall: “Why do you disturb my slumber?”
The dual-sword barbarian prostrated himself, his forehead touching the ground, and respectfully said in the barbarian tongue: “Chief, we’ve captured a prisoner. He claims to know the location where the King of Northern Pacification slaughtered people and refined their essence blood.”
The blue giant’s half-closed eyes suddenly snapped open. A terrifyingly majestic aura spread out, enveloping every corner of the hall.
…
On the official road outside a city in North Mountain County, not far from the border, a convoy slowly approached.
At the head was a woman wearing light armor, her hair in a high ponytail, carrying a silver spear.
Her features were picturesque, but she lacked the gentleness of ordinary women. Her eyes were bright and clear, her features handsome. Rather than calling her beautiful, it would be more fitting to describe her as dashing.
In this era, it was extremely rare to see such a dashing woman, exuding such heroic spirit.
Li Miaozhen, the White Horse Silver Spear, had returned to her old profession. The Flying Swallow Heroine had reappeared in the martial world.