Were the Demon-Hunting Team Being Sent Out of the City to Die?
"What? How could this happen? Xiong San, what are you doing on the government's paycheck? Why are you only reporting this now!"
Yu Qing was so angry that he cursed loudly, and was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
The Ghost Fog has sealed off the city; this is a major event. If the Ghost Fog enters the city, everyone will die!
"Sir, the Ghost Fog must have started last night. At first, the taxi guards on night watch thought it was just ordinary fog and didn't pay any attention to it. They only realized something was wrong after dawn."
Xiong San's expression was grave.
The Ghost Fog has sealed off the city for the first time in many years; in the past, the Ghost Fog would at most seal off villages and towns.
"Report this quickly! Have Wangjing Prefecture send Demon Hunters over. Are you planning to wait here to die, or are you going to send those useless Demon-Hunting Team?"
Yu Qing cursed loudly, clearly knowing that the Demon-Hunting Team supported by Qingyang County was a bunch of good-for-nothings, and it was impossible to rely on them.
"No, the Ghost Fog blocks all the roads. Messages can't get out, and carrier pigeons will have their life essence drained as soon as they enter the Ghost Fog." Xiong San shook his head.
"What should we do?" Yu Qing panicked completely; he didn't want to die.
"Master! Master!"
Yan Yue-Ren's sister rushed in, crying, "Master, I don't want to die! Take me away from here!"
"Shut up! Do you think I want to die just because you don't want to? Get out of my way!"
Enraged, Yu Qing roared, "Xiong San, immediately summon all the Bone Refining Realm experts in the city! I need to discuss our next move!"
Xiong San nodded.
Things have developed beyond his expectations. The Ghost Fog covers such a vast area that the Ghost Entity behind it must be extremely powerful. Only by consolidating all forces can he hope to escape alive.
"Laugh!"
In the courtyard, Qin Ming's Butcher's Knife moved with lightning speed, neatly slicing dozens of fallen leaves in half.
Not long ago, he visited all the slaughterhouses in the city and slaughtered countless livestock.
This includes pigs, cattle, sheep, and even chickens and ducks.
As long as it is a living being, dying under the Butcher's Knife will increase the Pig-Slaying Saber Technique points.
With the Ghost Fog looming overhead, Qin Ming is doing everything he can to improve his strength in order to survive.
Finally, the Pig-Slaying Saber Technique has advanced once again.
[Pig-Slaying Saber Technique (Second Stage): (300/20000) Minor Mastery]
After the breakthrough, the Butcher's Knife's Sha Qi increased significantly, with black Sha Qi energy visibly clinging to the entire Butcher's Knife.
"Pfft!"
With a gentle exertion, Qin Ming easily pierced the trunk of the tree with the Butcher's Knife. The Sha Qi spread out, and in just a few breaths, the tree withered away as if it had reached the end of its life.
"The Sha Qi is about twice as strong as before."
Qin Ming thought to himself.
With the Butcher's Knife in hand, Qin Ming finally felt more confident.
But that's not enough. To survive, he must do everything he can to improve his strength.
Qin Ming looked at the "Fire Poison Art" section.
He still needs over four thousand skill points to break through to the Flesh Refining Realm.
Improving your Fire Poison Art quickly is simple; all you need is enough Spirit Medicine, old herbs, and pills.
In addition, the "Fire Poison Art" can also be enhanced by consuming poison. If there is enough poison, the power of the "Fire Poison Art" can be greatly increased in a short period of time, but this is on the premise that the physical body can withstand it.
Qin Ming found Xiong San and explained his purpose.
You want that Ghost Entity?
Xiong San was slightly surprised and gave Qin Ming a deep look.
"That Ghost Entity's strength is comparable to the Bone Refining Realm. You can have it if you want, but whatever you do, don't let it escape, or there will be endless trouble."
Xiong San didn't ask for details; everyone has their own secrets.
After saying that, Xiong San hurriedly left. All the Bone Refining Realm experts in the city had already arrived at the County Yamen, and he had to get there.
After Xiong San left, Qin Ming opened the Human-Skin Bag, picked up the Butcher's Knife, and stabbed it directly inside. After a shrill ghostly howl, a large amount of cold energy surged into Qin Ming's body, Free Attribute Points quickly increased by 500.
"So much!"
Qin Ming's face lit up with joy; this was truly an unexpected delight.
With the 300 points from the Li Lineage's Ghost Entity, he now has a total of 800 Free Attribute Points!
Qin Ming added all his Free Attribute Points to Xingyi Fist, and countless experiences about Xingyi Fist and Tiger Fist instantly flooded into his mind. His Xingyi Fist cultivation level immediately crossed the threshold of the Greater Mastery stage.
Meanwhile, at the County Yamen, a dozen or so experts at the Bone Refining Realm were bowing their heads, the atmosphere heavy with tension.
Faced with Yu Qing's invitation, only a portion of the Bone Refining Realm experts arrived. The rest were searching for a way to escape, while others rushed out of the city in groups, hoping to fight their way out during the day.
Now that the Ghost Fog has descended, people are filled with fear. They came here hoping to find a way out, hoping that the imperial court could contact Wangjing Prefecture. Wangjing Prefecture has many talented and extraordinary people. As long as Wangjing Prefecture takes action, they will surely be able to survive.
"Rest assured, everyone. Once Wangjing Prefecture discovers the situation here, they will definitely send people to provide support. Our priority now is to ensure our own safety."
Yu Qing forced a smile.
He knew that if he told everyone the truth, chaos would ensue, and the powerful figures would scatter. Who would protect him then?
"My lord, I think this is not a good idea. If the people from Wangjing Prefecture don't come, are we just going to sit here and wait to die? What if the Ghost Fog rushes in before the officials from Wangjing Prefecture arrive?"
Some suggested breaking out as soon as possible.
"No, there are countless Ghost Entity in the Ghost Fog. Going in rashly would be suicide!"
"Didn't a high-ranking official from Wangjing Prefecture come over a few days ago? Constable Xiong, where is that official now?"
"He's already gone." Xiong San shook his head.
The world is in chaos, and Ghost Entity are rampant. Although he reported the incident in Qingshan Town, it only attracted a little attention. Soon, the court's attention was drawn to other Ghost Entity- related events.
After some discussion, the group decided to send a Vanguard Team out of the city to scout out the situation of Ghost Fog.
But when the question of who should go was raised, everyone present fell silent.
Because they knew that once they went in, it meant a slim chance of survival.
"Isn't there Demon-Hunting Team in the city? Why don't we just let them go? What do you all think?"
Yu Qing sneered.
"What you say makes sense, sir. They do have the means to deal with Ghost Entity, so sending them is the most suitable option."
"The imperial court has been supporting them for so long; it's time they were put to good use."
"A bunch of parasites in the imperial court, when else are they going to step in?"
Those who spoke were all experts at the Bone Refining Realm, mostly gang leaders or local powerful figures.
They knew perfectly well that the Demon-Hunting Team was almost entirely made up of people with connections. Some people hesitated because the members of the Demon-Hunting Team were people they had placed there. But now, faced with a life-or-death situation, they decisively abandoned these expendable pawns.
"Since that's the case, then it's settled. Send the Demon-Hunting Team out of the city to scout the situation."
Yu Qing said calmly.
Xiong San clenched his fists secretly.
Yu Qing's mention of the Demon-Hunting Team was clearly a deliberate act of revenge against Qin Ming, settling a personal score while on official business. Unfortunately, Yu Qing held a higher official position, so Xiong San had no choice but to obey orders.
Not long after, Qin Ming learned the news from Xiong San.
Upon hearing the news, the rest of the Demon-Hunting Team members were all so frightened that they collapsed to the ground, because they knew very well what leaving the city at this critical juncture meant.
"Qin Ming, I never expected that my suggestion that you join the Demon-Hunting Team would actually harm you."
Xiong San sighed.
The Demon-Hunting Team was supposed to be a lucrative job, and they could even learn the Internal Cultivation Manual of Wangjing Prefecture. Who would have thought that things would change so quickly, and in the blink of an eye, everyone became a pawn.
"Martial Uncle, please don't say that. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to learn the 'Fire Poison Art'."
Qin Ming smiled.
"You... you've actually succeeded in your cultivation?"
"Um."
Qin Ming nodded.
Xiong San looked shocked.
This "Fire Poison Art" is a notorious poison technique in Wangjing Prefecture. More than a dozen geniuses have died because of it, and ordinary people don't dare to touch it at all.
"Good, good, good! I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"
Xiong San laughed loudly.
With this "Fire Poison Art," Qin Ming's chances of survival will be greatly increased.
"Martial Uncle, I need some items related to Ghost Entity, preferably those tainted with ghostly energy, like those Human-Skin Bags used to hold ghosts. Do you know where I can find them?"
Of course, if there's a potent venom like Fire Poison, that would also work.
Xiong San pondered for a moment, "Anything related to Ghost Entity is locked in the County Yamen warehouse. Come with me."
Xiong San led Qin Ming to the sealed warehouse of the County Yamen. Normally, no one was allowed to set foot here, and even Xiong San had to ask Yu Qing for permission to enter. However, in the current special circumstances, Xiong San was too lazy to care about these rules and just barged in.
"Constable Xiong, you can't go in. No one is allowed to enter without the magistrate's written order."
The guard tried to stop him, but even at his Flesh Refining Realm, he couldn't stop Xiong San.
"The city is shrouded in Ghost Fog; those Ghost Entity might storm in any minute. What rules are you talking about now? Get out of my way!"
Xiong San pushed the guard aside and cleaved open the rusty lock on the warehouse with a single stroke.
Stepping into the warehouse, a strong musty smell hit me; it was pitch black inside.
As Xiong San lit the kerosene lamps on the wall one by one, the warehouse finally became a little brighter.
The room was cluttered, with empty boxes, ironware, and armor piled up haphazardly, and a thick layer of dust covering the floor.
The good news was that Qin Ming sensed a trace of Yin Qi as soon as he entered.
Following his instincts, Qin Ming found a small, palm-sized, jet-black tortoise shell under the rubble.
Yin Qi circulated on the tortoise shell.
The moment Qin Ming's fingers touched it, Yin Qi energy surged into his body.
Free Attribute Points immediately increase by fifty.
"Although the current Demon-Hunting Team is a bunch of good-for-nothings, they have produced some truly capable individuals in the past. Many of these items were obtained from Supernatural Land. When they were first brought back, they were filled with Yin Qi energy and were considered unlucky, which is why this warehouse was sealed off."
As Xiong San spoke, Qin Ming pulled out another handkerchief.
A huge black skull was embroidered on the white handkerchief, with faint green flames flickering in its eye sockets, giving it an extremely eerie feel in the dim light.
"Laugh!"
The moment Qin Ming's Butcher's Knife pierced straight through the skull, a gust of cold wind rose out of nowhere, circled Qin Ming more than a dozen times before slowly disappearing.
[Add 500 Free Attribute Points]
Qin Ming was suddenly startled.
Such a small handkerchief has been worth so much; the Master of this handkerchief must be extremely powerful!
After searching for a while, Qin Ming found a total of six Ghost Entity, which Qin Ming collectively referred to as "Ghost Artifacts."
It refers to objects that Ghost Entity come into contact with.
These things were imbued with a lingering, condensed ghostly energy, which is why they were able to provide Qin Ming with Free Attribute Points.
The six Ghost Artifacts offered a maximum of 500 points and a minimum of 50 points, so Qin Ming received a total of 1,300 points. Adding this to his original 800 points, he now had a total of 2,100 points.
Qin Ming maxed out both "Wandering Dragon Step" and "Xingyi Fist".
"Wandering Dragon Steps " -- Perfection Realm.
Xingyi Fist – The Perfection Realm.
Qin Ming stood still, his martial arts insights and experiences from the two different martial arts styles constantly intertwining.
A brief moment felt like decades had passed.
To this day, among the many martial arts techniques Qin Ming has mastered, Fire Sand Palm, Savage Bull Strength, Iron Body Shirt, Wandering Dragon Step, and Xingyi Fist Perfect Mastery.
Among them, the Fire Sand Palm was incorporated into the Fire Poison Art, and Xingyi Fist was also integrated with the Tiger Fist, making it even more powerful.
"Here's all the venom you wanted. Go back and cultivate it carefully; the 'Fire Poison Art' can easily backfire on you."
Xiong San walked over, carrying more than a dozen semi-transparent jade bottles, inside which amber-colored liquid could be vaguely seen.
These venoms are specially prepared and can kill even experts at the Flesh Refining Realm; they are very difficult to buy outside.
"The 'Fire Poison Art' involves refining poison into the body. If you could find an Active Volcano and absorb the Fire Poison into your body, your cultivation speed would definitely increase significantly."
Qin Ming nodded and made a mental note of it.
However, there are no volcanoes near Qingyang County, so the plan has to be put on hold for the time being.
That night, Qin Ming opened the bottle and poured some of the venom into his palm.
"Hiss!"
White smoke rose from his palm.
Unexpectedly, the venom was extremely powerful, even exceeding Qin Ming's expectations. Even with Qin Ming's Perfection Realm Iron Body Shirt technique, he couldn't withstand it, and his palm quickly turned black.
Qin Ming circulated the "Fire Poison Art" to gradually absorb the poison in his palm, and it took several weeks of circulation to completely refine it.
With the city's departure imminent, Qin Ming poured over a dozen bottles of venom into the bathtub, then stripped off his clothes and submerged himself inside.
One night passed.
The next morning at dawn, Qin Ming, dressed neatly, stepped out of his house.
Outside the courtyard, members of the Demon-Hunting Team were already waiting.
Perhaps knowing what was about to happen, their faces turned deathly pale, filled with despair. Even Yang Zhi, who had been so arrogant before, now looked bewildered, his eyes filled with the fear of impending death.
"Come on, follow me out of the city!"