Lin Feng rushed out of the house, used his movement technique, and headed straight for the Demon Purging Division.
The streets were already deserted because of the demons.
Only a few figures, like Lin Feng, hurried toward the Demon Purging Division.
For a signal of this level, failing to report to the Demon Purging Division in time was a grave crime.
It would be treated as desertion in the face of battle, punishable under military law.
Before long, Lin Feng arrived at the Demon Purging Division. The duty personnel, along with many older students of considerable cultivation, had already assembled on the drill ground.
Wu Peng and Bai Sheng, the two Chief Banner Officers, stood atop the platform.
Lin Feng quickly joined his own unit. Including him, there were only a dozen or so people.
Compared with the other four units, they seemed pitifully few.
Whenever something like this happened, Banner Officers from other units would lead them into battle.
They could easily be thrown to the front as cannon fodder!
Running into a Chief Banner Officer who simply lay flat and did nothing was truly terrifying!
However, seeing that only two Chief Banner Officers had been deployed, Lin Feng knew the Demon Purging Division had not mobilized in full. That meant the situation was still under control.
That eased Lin Feng's heart somewhat.
"This time, there are quite a few demons and specters, but this is also a fine chance for you to earn military merit!
I won't waste words. Kill demons and specters, earn military merit!
Move out!"
Seeing that nearly everyone who should have arrived was present and the combatants had been counted, Wu Peng spoke.
"Kill demons and specters, earn military merit!"
"Kill demons and specters, earn military merit!"
"Kill demons and specters, earn military merit!"
The three cries of command rang through the heavens.
Then, under the leadership of eight Banner Officers, more than a hundred new and old students of the Demon Purging Division split into four groups.
They headed toward the east, south, west, and north of Kaiyang County.
The two Chief Banner Officers moved first, already heading toward two separate directions.
Lin Feng had poor luck and was selected as well, while You Lin and Mu Yu remained behind.
Before long, he followed the Banner Officer ahead and rushed into the Shantytown south of the city.
It was precisely the area where they had lived before.
The Shantytown had now turned into a sea of flames!
Cries and wails echoed everywhere.
Aristocratic Clans, gangs, the army, and constables from the yamen were all arriving one after another.
For those mid-tier Aristocratic Clans and gangs seeking a path to advancement, hunting Demonic Beasts and trading them to the yamen for precious resources was also a fine choice.
The higher-grade the pills, the more tightly the Imperial Court controlled them.
They were difficult to obtain among the common folk.
Thus, though demons and specters were incomparably dangerous, quite a few martial artists still formed groups and came voluntarily to resist and hunt them.
Once outside the city, the two Banner Officers each led their people away separately.
They headed in two different directions.
Lin Feng's squad of a dozen or so people soon encountered a rat demon!
The rat demon was enormous. Upon seeing the group of martial artists arrive, it stuffed a five- or six-year-old child into its mouth.
And began chewing!
"Children are still the best—tender skin and soft flesh!"
The rat demon ate as it commented, seemingly not regarding this group of Demon Purging Division members as a threat at all.
The Banner Officer at the front saw the rat demon's arrogant manner, and his expression hardened!
"A mere lesser demon dares act so wildly!"
"Get him! Cut it down together!"
Lin Feng now understood the division of demonic realms.
They were divided into lesser demons, commanders, and demon generals. Each major realm was further divided into five levels.
They corresponded to the martial artists' Outer Refinement Realm, Inner Strength Realm, and Essence Refining Realm.
Rumor had it that above demon generals were realms such as demon kings.
That was not something he could come into contact with now!
The classification of Specters was even more mysterious. Under normal circumstances, Specters would not appear, but if one did, it meant a county town faced a crisis of life and death!
Specters were far too unfathomable!
By Lin Feng's senses, that rat demon should have been a Lesser Demon of the Fourth Realm, equivalent to the Blood Change Realm.
If he encountered it alone, he would definitely die.
But among their dozen or so people, aside from the Banner Officer, who was at the Marrow Cleansing Realm—
Several older students also possessed cultivation at the Blood Change Realm and Marrow Cleansing Realm. They had no fear at all!
At the Banner Officer's command—
Three older students at the Blood Change Realm drew their blades.
And charged toward the rat demon.
The rest spread out, keeping watch over the surroundings to prevent the rat demon from escaping!
In an instant, cold light flashed as three blades collided with the rat demon's tough claws.
Countless sparks flew.
Before long, the three older students coordinated well. Relying on their numbers, they opened quite a few wounds on the rat demon's body.
Only then did the rat demon realize their strength. It swept a claw across, forcing the three back, then fled into the distance.
Suddenly, a blade pierced out through the rat demon's back.
The rat demon stared blankly at the Banner Officer, who had somehow appeared in front of it.
Then its body collapsed.
"Hahaha, Lieutenant Wang is truly formidable!"
"Congratulations, Lieutenant Wang, on hunting a Lesser Demon of the Fourth Realm!"
Lieutenant Wang pulled out his blade and was about to lead everyone onward.
But his eyes suddenly widened!
Another rat demon had appeared behind Lieutenant Wang, and its claws pierced straight through him!
Its other claw swept across, severing his head!
A Banner Officer of the Marrow Cleansing Realm had fallen just like that!
To everyone's surprise, the rat demon that had collapsed transformed into a cloud of black mist and vanished!
"That is a Lesser Demon of the Fifth Realm! No wonder it could use demon arts! Lieutenant Wang was careless!"
An older student at the Marrow Cleansing Realm cried out in alarm.
Lin Feng felt a chill run down his back at the sight. What had seemed like a sure victory had claimed the Banner Officer's life in a moment of carelessness!
This taught him a harsh lesson!
One could never let down one's guard before an enemy!
"Everyone, attack together! Even if a Lesser Demon of the Fifth Realm can use sorcery, it cannot cast it again in a short time!
Kill it and avenge Lieutenant Wang!"
Then, three older students at the Marrow Cleansing Realm leaped forward.
They surrounded and attacked the rat demon.
After unleashing its demon art, the rat demon seemed somewhat drained.
It did not dare withstand the siege of the three head-on.
After a shrill squeal, several smaller rat demons suddenly darted out from both sides of the group!
"Watch the flanks! It's an ambush!"
Some of the older students reacted quickly.
They slashed at the charging rat demons!
But some new students had already been frightened stiff. Most of the rat demons were blocked by the older students.
And cut heavily wounded with a single stroke!
Yet some broke through the defense and tore the hearts from the new students' chests with one claw!
A rat demon of the Second Realm lunged at Lin Feng with a claw! Its dark claws gleamed with cold light. If it struck him, death was certain!
"Watch out!"
Chen Fei had come along this time as well.
He had just raised his blade to help Lin Feng block it!
But at some point, Lin Feng had already struck the Second Realm rat demon's head with a single slash!
He directly severed the rat demon's head!
That strike was swift, precise, and ruthless!
His movement technique and blade technique worked together flawlessly, a sight pleasing to the eye!
The rat demon's formidable body was like tofu before Lin Feng—so fragile it seemed a puff of air could break it!
"This...!"
Chen Fei was so shocked by that strike that he could not speak!
Under normal circumstances, martial artists of the same realm found it difficult to sever a demon's head in one stroke, unless they possessed Divine Weapons and Sharp Tools!
The rat demon's body was simply too tough!
Yet Lin Feng had cut it off just like that.
And when had this kid advanced to the Bone Forging Realm?!
With the situation urgent, Chen Fei suppressed his shock and continued fighting the demons.
After the sneak attack by these low-level rat demons, two more new students died.
The three Marrow Cleansing Realm fighters surrounding it had hacked the Lesser Demon of the Fifth Realm into a heavily wounded state.
But in a moment of carelessness, the rat demon seized Lieutenant Wang's corpse and was about to flee!
At that moment, a figure appeared. A flash of blade light swept out from his hand, directly cleaving the Lesser Demon of the Fifth Realm in two!
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