Demonic Assault

The Mountain Lord Mountain Range rose in peak after peak, stretching for hundreds of li. Rich in resources, it had earned its name because a tiger clan had once made its home here.

It had once been a fertile land most favored by cultivators from Qingyang County and the surrounding county towns for exploration. Now, birds and beasts had vanished without a trace, while demonic shadows loomed everywhere.

As one ventured deeper into the Mountain Lord Mountain Range, scattered dry bones and human skins casually hanging from tree branches could be seen from time to time.

The stench of rot rose up, forming a dense miasma of death.

The blazing sun lost its warmth here, while the demons reveled in carnival.

The Horned Demon staggered through the mountain forest. The dark-green scales covering his body had dimmed, and patches of pink flesh and black veins could vaguely be seen beneath them.

The reveling demons around him whimpered and lowered their heads, not daring to meet the Horned Demon's gaze.

Before long, a palace complex built entirely from massive boulders appeared in the Horned Demon's sight.

"I have urgent business with His Highness the Crown Prince."

The demons guarding the stone palace gates did not dare delay. They immediately turned and entered the palace to report.

Before long,

"Lord Horned Demon, His Highness the Crown Prince summons you."

Upon entering the palace, he found the ground covered in white bones. Every step produced a teeth-grinding, ear-piercing crunch.

A huge piece of blood-colored warm jade lay before the stone hall.

A colossal ferocious tiger sprawled atop the blood-colored warm jade. Its fur was golden with black-striped markings, and a blood-red character for "King" was imprinted upon its forehead. It slowly raised its enormous, savage head.

Its blood-red tiger eyes, utterly devoid of emotion, looked toward the Horned Demon.

"You failed."

The indifferent words came from the tiger's mouth.

As the Crown Prince, one demon beneath and ten thousand demons above within the Mountain Lord Mountain Range, the Golden Tiger gave off no aura at all. Yet the invisible pressure emanating from it still filled all demons with dread.

"This subordinate was incompetent. I beg His Highness the Crown Prince to punish me."

The Horned Demon dropped to one knee and lowered his proud head.

"Tell me."

The Horned Demon immediately gave a detailed account of how he had encountered Tie Wuqing while attacking the Demon Suppressing Guards capturing Ye Xiaofan.

"A mask, a woman... It seems it was Tie Wuqing, the leader of Qingyang County's Iron Hand Gang, who has been hunting our kind all this time."

"For Ye Xiaofan to escape from your hands, he is worthy of being presented to the Venerable One."

"Enough. This matter is not your fault. Go tend to your wounds."

"Many thanks, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

The Horned Demon rose, respectfully bowed, then carefully backed away three steps before turning to leave.

After the Horned Demon departed, the Golden Tiger's indifferent voice rang out in the stone hall once more.

"Summon all demon hands at the Body Refinement Seventh Layer and above to gather in the main hall."

His father, Mountain Lord, was in seclusion attempting to break through to the Qi Condensation stage, while Ye Xiaofan's talent was worth his personal intervention.

If nothing unexpected happened, once Ye Xiaofan was presented to the Venerable One, the demon clan of Qingyang County would gain another terrifying humanoid demon.

At the Blood Copper Mine Area, Demon Suppression Division squads had been arriving continuously to provide support ever since dawn.

Two Chief Banner-level squads had arrived among them.

Ye Xiaofan found Luo Ming, who was arranging accommodations for the newly arrived Demon Suppressing Guards.

He had already cultivated to the Body Refinement Fourth Layer. The Hundred-Forged Treasure Sword in his hand had not been infused with blood copper and could not withstand many infusions of his vitality and blood power.

He planned to ask Luo Ming whether he could get him a longsword suitable for his use.

After Ye Xiaofan explained his purpose, Luo Ming's eyes lit up. He began circling him, clicking his tongue incessantly.

"Xiaofan, your cultivation speed is truly unprecedented. Even Left Thousand Households Officer, in his younger days, would have been a hundred and eight thousand li behind you."

"How is the poison in your body?"

"With Gang Leader Tie's medicinal-grade pill assisting me, it was completely cleared away during this breakthrough."

Luo Ming nodded at those words. "Wait here. I do not have one, but Old Bai should. I'll go get one from him."

"Thank you, Uncle Luo!"

"Why are you being polite with me?"

Luo Ming smiled, patted Ye Xiaofan on the shoulder, and turned to leave.

Not long afterward, Luo Ming returned carrying a treasured sword.

"Take a look. Does it suit you?"

Ye Xiaofan caught the sword Luo Ming tossed over.

Clang!

The treasured sword let out a clear, pleasant cry as it left its sheath.

The sword was three fingers wide and three chi one cun long. Its snow-white blade reflected a face with sword-like brows and starry eyes—somewhat ordinary in appearance, yet resolute.

"Good sword!"

Ye Xiaofan flicked his wrist, circulating his vitality and blood. Blood-red vitality and blood power erupted from the snow-white blade.

After casually swinging it a few times, Ye Xiaofan was extremely satisfied.

"Thank you, Uncle Luo."

"As long as you like it."

After bidding Luo Ming farewell, Ye Xiaofan had nothing else to do and planned to return to his stone house to rest.

Along the way, whenever he encountered members of the Iron Hand Gang, every one of them took the initiative to greet him.

"Brother Ye, if you have nothing to do, come have a drink with the brothers. We still have not had the chance to thank you for saving our lives last night."

Ye Xiaofan did not stand on ceremony and was ushered into a stone house by the crowd.

"Where did you get wine?"

Looking at the fragrant wine jars, Ye Xiaofan asked curiously. Drinking was forbidden in the mine area.

Of course, that excluded high-ranking people stationed at the mine area, such as Bai Tianhei and Jia Yun.

"Haha, our gang leader loves his drink, so we always bring enough wine whenever we head out."

Ye Xiaofan understood. No wonder Tie Wuqing's Wine Gourd always seemed to contain an endless supply of liquor.

Time flowed on, and joy was always fleeting.

Night descended silently, and a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.

"It's raining. I hope nothing happens tonight. We can return to Qingyang County tomorrow."

Ye Xiaofan stretched out one hand, letting raindrops fall into his palm.

Not far away, the miners remained busy, while the Demon Suppressing Guards patrolled without pause in groups of five, staying alert.

Ye Xiaofan swayed slightly as he headed toward his stone house.

"You are Ye Xiaofan, Ye Tianhe's son? Hmph. Drinking in the mine area—you truly have no regard for the rules."

Ye Xiaofan's brows furrowed slightly. What idiot had come up and immediately tried to pin such a huge accusation on him?

He turned to look and saw a middle-aged man with a round face, a thick beard, and small eyes staring coldly at him.

Three Demon Suppressing Guards with mocking looks in their eyes stood behind him.

He did not know them.

Ye Xiaofan could not be bothered with them and turned to leave.

Yet the man would not let the matter rest. He flashed forward and blocked his path.

"Why do you not salute when you see me? Did Ye Tianhe not teach you?"

Sun Zhixiang shook out his Minor Banner Officer uniform.

Ye Xiaofan's gaze turned cold, and killing intent rose in his heart.

If others respected him by a foot, he would respect them by a yard.

But if they wanted to ride roughshod over him, then sorry.

"A good dog does not block the road."

Without another word, Ye Xiaofan continued forward.

"Boy, you are courting death! Today, I will teach you on Ye Tianhe's behalf what the rules—"

A flash of cold light swept past. Sun Zhixiang stiffened all over and froze in place like a wooden puppet.

"Tell me, what are the rules?"

Sun Zhixiang's face reddened, cold sweat pouring from his forehead. His lips opened and closed, yet not a single sound emerged.

"Ye Xiaofan, what are you doing? Put down your sword at once!"

The three Demon Suppressing Guards who had come with Sun Zhixiang were struck dumb with fright. They hurriedly rushed over and surrounded Ye Xiaofan.

"What is going on?"

A furious shout suddenly came from behind them. Turning back, they saw Luo Ming striding over with rage written across his face.

"Xiaofan, put down your sword at once."

Ye Xiaofan hesitated slightly before withdrawing his sword. He shot Sun Zhixiang a glare filled with killing intent, then turned and called, "Uncle Luo!"

"Mm."

Luo Ming nodded, his gaze unfriendly as he looked at Sun Zhixiang.

"Sun Zhixiang, you are becoming more and more capable. Do you think you can act lawlessly just because you have attached yourself to the Sun Family? Qingyang County's Demon Suppression Division is not surnamed Sun."

"Hmph!"

Sun Zhixiang's face reddened. With a cold snort, he hurried away, endless venom surfacing in his eyes.

"Uncle Luo, who is that?"

Ye Xiaofan found the whole matter baffling.

"Sun Zhigao's elder brother. He is at the Body Refinement Fifth Layer, and his strength is mediocre. He belongs to Vice Commander Sun's faction. In the future, you..."

Luo Ming was in the middle of explaining when a piercing alarm suddenly rang out above the mine area.

"Not good, the demons are attacking."

Luo Ming had no time to say anything further to Ye Xiaofan. His body flashed as he charged toward the mine area gates.

Ye Xiaofan followed closely behind, only one position behind Luo Ming.

At that moment, cries and shouts echoed throughout the entire mine area.

Apart from the miners, everyone rushed toward the gates.

When Ye Xiaofan and Luo Ming arrived at the gates, Bai Tianhei, Tie Wuqing, and the four Chief Banners who had come as reinforcements were already standing there, their expressions grim as they stared ahead.

Ye Xiaofan looked into the distance and saw blurry beastly shadows charging toward them.

There were more than a hundred of them.

Every face was solemn.

"Everyone, prepare for a bloody battle."

Bai Tianhei's voice resounded through the skies above the entire mine area.