Qingyang

"Deputy Commander Liu, Ye Xiaofan and Tie Wuqing have arrived."

The logistics Demon Suppressing Guard had not spoken loudly, but every Demon Suppressing Guard waiting on the training ground was a powerhouse at Body Tempering Level Seven or above.

A full hundred people looked curiously at Ye Xiaofan and Tie Wuqing. Even the Fire Luan Horses beside them snorted and cocked their heads to look over.

Liu Qingyun slightly raised his gaze and nodded at Ye Xiaofan and Tie Wuqing, a glint flashing imperceptibly through his eyes.

"Commander Zuo and the City Lord have already rushed to Qingyang County overnight. Move out."

After speaking, Liu Qingyun took the lead in mounting his Fire Luan Horse and galloped toward the gates.

Just as Ye Xiaofan was wondering what he should do, the logistics Demon Suppressing Guard who had brought him here led over two Fire Luan Horses.

"Let's go!"

Ye Xiaofan glanced at Tie Wuqing, swung himself onto his horse, and chased after the main force.

"Alright!"

The corners of Tie Wuqing's eyes curved slightly. He took a fierce swig of wine, hung the Wine Gourd at his waist, and followed Ye Xiaofan.

Night fell.

More than a hundred Demon Suppressing Guards raced down the official road beneath the moonlight.

"Deputy Commander Liu, Blackwater Ravine lies ahead. Once we pass it, we'll enter Qingyang County. We can reach Qingyang City before dawn."

"Mm. Pass through Blackwater Ravine as quickly as possible. Send the order down."

Blackwater Ravine originated from Thorn Swamp and eventually flowed into the Jinyang River.

Only a rugged goat trail, carved through the cliffs, connected it to Qingyang County.

The narrow path allowed only one Fire Luan Horse through at a time, and the group's pace inevitably slowed.

"No wonder Qingyang County could be controlled by the evil creatures, while news found it so difficult to get out."

Looking at Blackwater Ravine's sheer cliffs, Ye Xiaofan could not help sighing.

"Qingyang County slowly developed after the Blood Copper Mine was discovered. It lies amid towering mountains and ridges: Blackwater Ravine to the east, the Scarlet Flame Desert to the south, Mountain Lord Mountain Range to the west, and Thorn Swamp to the north. Of those four directions, only the Mountain Lord Mountain Range in the west is relatively passable."

Hearing Ye Xiaofan's sigh, Tie Wuqing took a drink of wine and smiled as he picked up the thread of the conversation.

"Exactly. No wonder the evil creatures chose Qingyang County. So long as demons guarded those four locations, even ordinary Body Tempering Level Nine cultivators would be unable to pass."

As Ye Xiaofan and Tie Wuqing chatted, the miniature dragon crawled out and hung from Ye Xiaofan's ear like a violet-gold earring.

Holding a half-eaten Blood Qi Pill in its claws, it said in a voice only Ye Xiaofan could hear:

"Little Ye, there must have been many demons in Blackwater Ravine before."

"Oh? How did you know?"

Ye Xiaofan asked curiously.

"It stinks too much. According to my inherited memories, this smell that dragons hate is the smell of demons."

Little Purple wrinkled its nose and spoke with a look of disgust.

Ye Xiaofan's interest was immediately piqued.

"Little Purple, do you know what evil creatures are?"

"I don't know. But my inherited memories definitely contain it. My strength just isn't sufficient, so many memories haven't been unsealed."

Little Purple took another bite of the Blood Qi Pill, then continued:

"However, these hateful creatures called evil possess a kind of Soul Crystal that greatly helps those at the Qi Condensation stage and above. Refining and absorbing it can strengthen the soul."

"Oh, there's such a treasure?"

"Of course. The stronger the evil creature, the better its Soul Crystal. But refining this kind of Soul Crystal is also very dangerous. Usually, an alchemist has to turn it into pills before it can be consumed."

Little Purple spoke with a proud expression. Then, as if remembering something, it narrowed its eyes, and a thread of glistening dragon saliva flowed from the corner of its mouth.

"Hey, watch it. You're drooling."

Feeling something sticky against his ear, Ye Xiaofan reminded it helplessly.

"My inherited memories say that the Soul Crystals of evil creatures are delicious. Little Ye, let's catch an evil creature to try someday."

Little Purple casually grabbed a lock of Ye Xiaofan's hair to wipe its mouth, its eyes brimming with excitement.

Time passed as he chatted with the miniature dragon.

It took a full hour before they finally emerged from Blackwater Ravine and entered Qingyang County.

Everyone spurred their horses onward at full speed, racing madly toward Qingyang City.

Along the way,

every village and town they encountered had been reduced to ruins, with severed limbs scattered everywhere.

Under the influence of the lingering demonic aura, some small animals had turned into half-demon monsters, endlessly gnawing on the remaining flesh and blood.

"Faster."

Liu Qingyun's expression grew increasingly grim, and a trace of anger inevitably entered his voice.

"Demons truly deserve to die!"

The others also wore dark expressions. Seeing the tragic state of the villages and towns, they cursed madly through gritted teeth.

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They wished they could immediately encounter the demons and slaughter every last one of them.

Ye Xiaofan's group did not stop to deal with the residual demonic aura. Logistics Demon Suppressing Guards would arrive later to handle it.

As combat personnel, their task was to find the demons as quickly as possible and wipe them all out.

Before they knew it, a pale white glow rose in the east.

At the end of the official road, a massive city appeared before them.

From afar,

they could see flames reddening half the sky, while billowing smoke blotted out the sun and sky.

The thunderous booms of powerhouses clashing rang out like spring thunder exploding, reaching everyone's ears with perfect clarity.

"Brothers, charge into the city with me! Leave not a single demon alive! Kill!"

Liu Qingyun roared, slapped his Fire Luan Horse, and charged toward Qingyang City's eastern gate.

"Kill!"

The more than hundred Demon Suppressing Guards behind him shouted in unison and followed without the slightest hesitation.

"Gang Leader Tie, stay by my side."

Ye Xiaofan turned and called to Tie Wuqing before charging after them as well.

A flicker passed through Tie Wuqing's beautiful eyes. With a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips, he tucked back the hair at his temples, slapped his horse's rump, and followed.

The instant they entered the city,

Ye Xiaofan's pupils abruptly contracted, and he instinctively held his breath.

Wave after wave of overwhelmingly foul stench rushed into his nose and mouth.

The once-prosperous streets were now littered with broken walls and rubble, while demon corpses carpeted the ground.

They continued onward,

and upon reaching the central district, they saw a dense black mass of demons charging fearlessly toward the County Yamen. Even when the Demon Suppressing Guards attacked from behind, they did not turn back.

Puzzled, Ye Xiaofan leaped onto the tallest pavilion and looked ahead.

Although Tie Wuqing had not explicitly answered him earlier, he still followed Ye Xiaofan onto the rooftop.

There, a middle-aged man with a single eyebrow stood proudly amid layer upon layer of demons like a God or Devil.

With one hand, he wielded a blade and firmly suppressed the County Magistrate—the evil creature.

With the other, he continuously threw punches, smashing the fearless demons into bloody pulp.

The evil creature roared repeatedly. Ye Xiaofan could sense that it desperately wanted to escape from Commander Zuo's grasp.

But Commander Zuo was simply too powerful. No matter how hard the evil creature struggled, it could only barely hold on with the aid of the demons constantly sacrificing their lives.

It did not dare divide its attention in the slightest.

On the battlefield not far away,

a fair-faced middle-aged man, who looked like a scholar too weak to truss a chicken, wielded a mountain-splitting axe. With great sweeping strikes, he fiercely battled a white tiger six or seven zhang long.

Axe shadows overlapped, and tiger roars shook the heavens.

It was none other than Jinyang City's City Lord, Jiang Jingxing.

The man and tiger were evenly matched; neither could do anything to the other.

"Hahaha! Deputy Commander Liu, you've arrived at the right time! There's a demon den below. Lead your men in and kill your way through! Save those who can be saved, and kill all those who cannot!"

Sensing that Liu Qingyun had arrived with reinforcements, Commander Zuo's face lit up. He grew even more arrogant as he laughed and roared.

"Brothers, kill our way in with me!"

Liu Qingyun did not dare delay. With a shout, he took the lead and charged into the densely packed demon army.

Perhaps the evil creature did not dare divert demons to stop Liu Qingyun's group.

Liu Qingyun led over a hundred men, cutting through them like melons and vegetables as they easily charged into the County Yamen.

Seeing this, Ye Xiaofan hesitated no longer. He glanced at Tie Wuqing, leaped down from the rooftop, and followed.

The group cleared out demons as they advanced, and before long, they saw an underground entrance.

Without any hesitation, they all charged inside.

The instant everyone arrived at the underground demon den, they were stunned by the sight before them.

The next moment, all their eyes turned bloodshot.

Not even the words "hell on earth" could describe it.

"Brothers, split up and search!"

With bloodshot eyes, Liu Qingyun roared, then charged into one of the stone chambers.

Ye Xiaofan did not hesitate either. With one kick, he shattered a Stone Gate and rushed inside.

"Roar—"