The Situation

After the County Governor inexplicably said something to Ye Xiaofan, he fell silent. Just as Ye Xiaofan was unsure whether to leave or stay,

Xiao Qiaofeng's voice sounded by his ear.

"Find a seat and sit down."

Following the order, Ye Xiaofan went to an empty seat behind Luo Ming and sat down.

He did not know whether it was an illusion or whether the County Governor's lingering might had yet to fade, but Ye Xiaofan always felt the County Governor's gaze fixed on him.

It made him feel as though he were sitting on pins and needles, cold sweat continuously breaking out across his back.

Ye Xiaofan gathered his courage once more and secretly glanced at the County Governor seated high above.

This is bad!

Ye Xiaofan roared inwardly. The moment he raised his eyes, he saw the County Governor smiling and nodding at him.

However, this time it did not affect his mind. Ye Xiaofan let out a breath of relief and hurriedly lowered his head.

"Everyone, the demon and devil calamity in Qingyang County is now severe. After discussing it with the County Governor, I have decided to gather the strength of the entire county and take the initiative to eliminate the demons and devils."

Xiao Qiaofeng's voice slowly echoed through the great hall.

"Next, I will assign the specific tasks..."

A moment later, Xiao Qiaofeng assigned the demon-slaying mission to every person present.

Ye Xiaofan was also given the position of scout captain.

The moment Xiao Qiaofeng finished speaking, the County Governor's magnetic voice rang out again.

"Commander Xiao, Ye Xiaofan is the strongest peerless genius in the history of Qingyang County, and even Jinyang Prefecture.

I think we should not let him risk his life on this mission. Let him remain in the Demon Suppression Division and cultivate properly.

Once he grows up safely, he will become another Left Thousand Households Officer. That would be far more useful to Qingyang County and even Jinyang Prefecture."

Xiao Qiaofeng's expression changed slightly, but he concealed it well with a smile.

"Very well, as the County Governor wishes."

"Ye Xiaofan, you need not participate in this mission. Stay in the Demon Suppression Division and cultivate properly. Do not disappoint the County Governor's high regard for you."

Xiao Qiaofeng looked at Ye Xiaofan and spoke indifferently. When he said the words "Demon Suppression Division," he paused slightly and added a trace of emphasis. Without listening carefully, one would not hear the difference at all.

"Yes. Thank you, County Governor, and thank you, Commander Xiao."

Ye Xiaofan hurriedly rose and bowed.

Xiao Qiaofeng and the County Governor left together, and the great hall immediately became lively.

"Xiaofan, congratulations on receiving the Immortal Venerable's favor. The County Governor is an unrivaled expert of the Qi Condensation stage."

Luo Ming patted Ye Xiaofan's shoulder and spoke with a face full of envy.

The others acquainted with Ye Xiaofan also gathered around him, each adding a word or two as they struck up conversation.

Meanwhile,

Sun Wude glanced at Ye Xiaofan, who was surrounded by the crowd. His eyes were filled with pity and mockery.

Ye Xiaofan had understood the meaning behind Xiao Qiaofeng's words. After leaving the council hall, he did not return home, but stayed in the Demon Suppression Division.

He did not know Xiao Qiaofeng's purpose, but Xiao Qiaofeng likely would not harm him. If Xiao Qiaofeng wanted to act against him, there was no need to go to such trouble.

He only needed to wait.

Night descended,

Ye Xiaofan lay leisurely in the courtyard, drinking tea and admiring the stars filling the sky.

With every breath Ye Xiaofan took, countless insights into the Five Elements Marrow Cleansing Tendon Changing Art surfaced in his mind.

The qi and blood within his body flowed rhythmically with his blood through his limbs, organs, skin, flesh, tendons, and bones, tempering his physical body.

The night grew ever more enchanting,

Ye Xiaofan's five viscera gradually began to tremble, their frequency increasing faster and faster.

A moment later, his five viscera resounded together like a tiger's roar and a dragon's chant, driving every inch of skin, flesh, tendons, and bones throughout his body to quiver.

His physical body broke through its limits once again.

Strands of qi and blood, each as thick as nine hairs, were continuously refined from his blood.

As Ye Xiaofan lay on the reclining chair, a faint blood mist radiated from his body, shrouding him like a thin veil.

As time passed, the Qi and Blood Gauze grew denser and more solid, faintly seeming as though it would condense into a suit of armor.

After the time it took to burn one stick of incense,

Ye Xiaofan slowly opened his eyes. Faint rainbow light flowed through his pupils, and the Qi and Blood Gauze suddenly withdrew into his body.

Ye Xiaofan clenched his fist hard, and an explosive boom from rapidly compressed air rang out in his palm.

His qi and blood surged, and a dense layer of qi and blood instantly covered his fist, flickering with bewitching rainbow light beneath the night sky.

Name: Ye Xiaofan

Lifespan: 100 years

Realm: Body Refinement Sixth Layer (0/700)

Arts: Five Elements Marrow Cleansing Tendon Changing Art (Perfect), Sword Drawing Technique (Perfect), Wind Shadow Steps (Perfect)

Balance: 6,000 taels of silver

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"Body Refinement Sixth Layer, the strength of two elephants and two tigers. That is two tigers' strength greater than an ordinary Body Refinement Eighth Layer cultivator. Unfortunately, my qi and blood are insufficient, and the Qi and Blood Gauze could not transform into Qi and Blood Armor."

"The Five Elements Marrow Cleansing Tendon Changing Art, Sword Drawing Technique, and Wind Shadow Steps have all reached the Perfect level. My combat strength may be comparable to a cultivator who has just broken through to the Ninth Level Body Refinement and has yet to undergo blood replacement."

"Such a fine night calls for wine."

His cultivation had broken through, and his strength had soared.

Ye Xiaofan was in high spirits. He immediately rose and returned to his room to fetch wine.

When he came back out,

A burly figure stood in the courtyard with his back to him, hands clasped behind him as he gazed up at the starry sky.

"Uncle Xiao!"

The burly man turned around. It was Xiao Qiaofeng.

"What an unparalleled genius."

The instant he saw Ye Xiaofan, a glint flashed through Xiao Qiaofeng's eyes. He had clearly seen that Ye Xiaofan's cultivation had broken through again, and inwardly praised him.

Then, a smile appeared on his resolute face, usually as still as an ancient well.

The higher Ye Xiaofan's cultivation, the greater the chance of his plan succeeding.

"Oh, there's wine. Tonight, uncle and nephew shall drink to our hearts' content, haha."

"There are no dishes to go with the wine, Uncle Xiao. I hope you do not mind."

Ye Xiaofan led Xiao Qiaofeng into the pavilion and brought out two wine bowls.

When he opened the sealed wine jar, a rich fragrance of wine drifted out.

After the two drank three large bowls, the conversation began.

"Xiaofan, your situation is extremely dangerous. I plan to arrange for you to leave Qingyang County. What do you think?"

Xiao Qiaofeng put away his smile and spoke with a solemn expression.

"Uncle Xiao, is this related to the County Governor?"

Ye Xiaofan's heart trembled. Even Xiao Qiaofeng said his situation was dangerous. He was already standing at the edge of a cliff.

"That's right."

Xiao Qiaofeng poured himself a bowl of wine, raised his head, and drained it, then spoke words that shocked the world.

"The County Governor is the Evil hidden within Qingyang County!"

"What?"

Ye Xiaofan cried out. The wine jar he had just lifted fell from his hand.

The County Governor was the Evil, and the Evil had long since set its sights on him. Ye Xiaofan immediately understood his predicament.

Certain death, with not a sliver of life!

No wonder Xiao Qiaofeng had reminded him in such a concealed manner during the meeting not to leave the Demon Suppression Division.

If he remained in the Demon Suppression Division, there might still be a little room to maneuver.

Fortunately, Xiao Qiaofeng reacted quickly and caught the wine jar.

Only after a while did Ye Xiaofan recover from the terror of learning that the County Governor was the Evil.

His voice trembled slightly as he still asked in disbelief, "Uncle Xiao, how could the County Governor be the Evil?"

"I do not know. The County Governor was originally a genius of the Qian family, a few years older than the Left Thousand Households Officer. He returned to Qingyang County ten years ago and took up the post of County Governor. I suspect he had already become the Evil before returning to Qingyang County."

Xiao Qiaofeng shook his head. He did not know how the County Governor had become the Evil either.

"Uncle Xiao, then if the County Governor demands a campaign to surround and destroy the demons and devils this time, wouldn't everyone going be walking into death?"

Today, when the County Governor had barred him from joining the mission, Ye Xiaofan had truly thought the County Governor valued his talent. He had not expected that the County Governor merely coveted his body.

Xiao Qiaofeng did not answer Ye Xiaofan's question directly. Instead, he rose and walked to the edge of the pavilion, gazing at the endless starry sky as he let out a quiet sigh.

"I suspect the Evil has two goals. The first is you, and the second is to use this demon-slaying campaign to capture a large number of cultivators."

"Xiaofan, all four routes out of Qingyang County are guarded by great demons and devils no weaker than I am."

"To the west is the White Tiger, to the east the Eastern Black Water Python, to the south the Blood Crow, and to the north the Northern Thorn Crocodile Turtle. All of them are great demons and devils at the Ninth Level Body Refinement who have undergone blood replacement twice."

"The last time I killed the White Tiger's final son, the Golden Tiger Prince, I wanted to lure him out. Yet the White Tiger made no move at all."

Ye Xiaofan remained silent and listened quietly, but stormy waves were already surging in his heart.

He had not expected Qingyang County's situation to be even more severe than he had imagined. No wonder Xiao Qiaofeng had said at the mining area a few days ago that he could not send the intelligence out.

"Now we can only gamble. I will arrange for you to leave through the Northern Thorn Crocodile Turtle's territory. Take a detour to Jinyang Prefecture City and find the Left Thousand Households Officer."

"Xiaofan, your Wind God Steps should have already reached perfection, right?"

Ye Xiaofan nodded.

"The Thorn Crocodile Turtle is not skilled in speed and loves to sleep. Under him are two demons at the Ninth Level Body Refinement who have undergone blood replacement once, along with three ordinary Ninth Level Body Refinement demons. With Perfect Wind God Steps, your chance of escaping is as high as forty percent."

"Do you dare give it a try?"

Xiao Qiaofeng suddenly turned back and stared fixedly at Ye Xiaofan as he asked.

"I am willing to try!"

Ye Xiaofan agreed without the slightest hesitation.

The Evil had already set its sights on him. He had gained a preliminary understanding of the Evil's terror today.

If it acted against him, he had no hope at all. He might as well rely on Xiao Qiaofeng; perhaps he could still escape.

"Good. I will return and make arrangements. Tomorrow night, make sure as many people as possible see you come looking for me."