The Monster Slaying Record documented every monster the Brocade-robed Man had killed in his life. Those were achievements worth boasting about.
But the strongest monster among them had only been Ao Yin.
If he could slay a monster stronger than Ao Yin, he might be able to climb another rung within Kutan's Qingxuan Bureau.
With his longsword angled toward the ground, the Brocade-robed Man lightly stroked his hair. His expression turned serious as his eyes fixed on Jiang Wang, poised to strike.
By the wall at the corner of Arch Moon Gate, Xiaoyu likewise gripped the sword in her hand tightly.
She stared at the Brocade-robed Man's profile, her little face slightly pale.
When calamity had befallen her Household and blood had flowed into rivers, she had seen the Brocade-robed Man while hiding in the shadows.
She desperately wanted to rush out, but feared causing trouble for the young master. She could only grit her teeth and stand rooted where she was.
Suddenly, a streak of sword light appeared within the Marquis Manor.
The Qi of heaven and earth gathered.
The Brocade-robed Man took a step forward, and an overwhelming sword intent surged toward Jiang Wang like a tide.
Jiang Wang casually swung his saber.
He directly shattered that sword intent.
The scattered aftermath of the sword intent struck the Green-robed Cultivator and White-robed Cultivator like thunderbolts, forcing them to stagger several steps back.
The Brocade-robed Man's sword was far stronger than Cai Tanggu's.
Having experienced it firsthand, they were even more horrified by Mr. Jiang's terrifying strength.
"Is that all you can do?"
Jiang Wang returned to the Brocade-robed Man the words he had said to the two Green-robed Cultivators.
The facts proved that Mirage's power had grown stronger. If Cai Tanggu appeared again, Jiang Wang was confident he could take his life in an instant.
The Brocade-robed Man's expression shifted slightly.
What a fierce and savage monster!
He pointed his sword at the heavens. The originally gentle white clouds instantly began to churn, purple arcs of lightning threading through them. Amid muffled thunder, a massive bolt crashed directly toward Jiang Wang!
The Green-robed Cultivator and White-robed Cultivator hurriedly leaped into the air and fled far away.
The banyan tree shook violently, its branches and leaves falling in a rustling shower.
The stone slabs in the courtyard cracked inch by inch, while deep fissures spread across the surrounding walls. Half the Marquis Manor looked ready to be destroyed in one blow.
Jiang Wang's eyes narrowed slightly. Looking up at the bolt, he raised his saber and slashed toward it.
Before the bolt could reach the ground, the Long Night Saber had already shattered it.
Wild gusts burst outward, overturning the entire courtyard. Roof tiles crashed down, the banyan tree was stripped bare, and the vine chair split into four pieces.
Looking at the scene before him, Jiang Wang grew a little angry.
Bang!
Jiang Wang vanished from where he stood.
A huge crater appeared in the ground.
When he reappeared, he was only three inches away from the Brocade-robed Man.
The Long Night Saber in his hand carried crushing force as it smashed viciously into the Brocade-robed Man's chest.
Pfft...!
Blood sprayed out.
The Brocade-robed Man's face twisted as he blasted through a wall and rolled onto Qixia Street.
His body beneath the rubble twitched faintly.
He decisively chose to play dead.
"Mr. Jiang, did you kill him?"
The White-robed Cultivator was utterly shocked.
It was understandable enough that Jiang Wang did not fear Kutan's Fish Abyss Academy. After all, Fish Abyss Academy merely taught the foundations of cultivation. Those who truly achieved success in cultivation rarely remained at the academy.
But the Qingxuan Bureau was different. It answered directly to His Majesty and was the most powerful authority in the Sui Kingdom's court. Killing a member of the Qingxuan Bureau at will was equivalent to punching a hole in the sky.
The White-robed Cultivator could not help being afraid.
Jiang Wang frowned.
The Brocade-robed Man was much stronger than Cai Tanggu.
Although that slash just now had indeed been powerful, it should not have been all of Mirage's strength. Could that power already be so strong that it had killed someone outright?
Looking at the stunned Akong, Jiang Wang asked, "Who told you I was a monster?"
Akong pulled a bun from her clothes, intending to calm her nerves.
Thinking that such a powerful monster might take revenge and harm others, she seriously ate her bun without saying a word.
Jiang Wang raised his brow. "Was it a young lady surnamed Shu?"
Akong instinctively shook her head.
Not Shu Ni?
Jiang Wang found it strange. Other than Miss Shu, who else could it have been?
Akong hesitantly looked at Jiang Wang, then pulled another bun from her clothes. As though making an extremely difficult decision, she held it out to him and whispered, "You can have this. Don't kill me."
Jiang Wang: "..."
He casually accepted the bun.
It was still piping hot.
Akong looked immensely relieved.
Then she turned and ran.
The Green-robed Cultivator immediately said, "Since we have already offended the Qingxuan Bureau, we might as well pull up the weeds by the roots."
He made as if to chase after Akong.
But the White-robed Cultivator stopped him. "There are clearly others who know about this. Unless we can ensure only we know, it is impossible to truly pull up the weeds by the roots. Killing one is one thing, but if we kill both, there will be no room left to turn back."
The Green-robed Cultivator said sullenly, "You are just too cautious."
Once Akong had run out of Qixia Street, there was no longer any chance to silence her.
Jiang Wang glanced at them and smiled. "There is no need to panic like this."
What he feared least was retaliation from enemies.
His only concern was that those coming for revenge might be too strong. Judging by Mirage's current display of power, crushing cultivators at the peak of the Cave Nether Realm would be as easy as turning over one's hand.
He was rather looking forward to seeing whether he could remain just as dominant against a great cultivator above the Cave Nether Realm.
"With Mr. Jiang here, of course we are not worried in the slightest."
Seeing Jiang Wang's confidence, the Green-robed Cultivator felt greatly invigorated.
He had never imagined that he could stand against the Qingxuan Bureau. Thinking of it now, he even felt a little excited.
But the White-robed Cultivator remained deeply anxious. Having studied at Fish Abyss Academy before, he understood the Qingxuan Bureau's terror better than the Green-robed Cultivator did.
His heart was full of conflict.
He looked beyond the pierced wall. There was only a pile of rubble there; the Brocade-robed Man had long since vanished.
His eyes instantly widened.
"That man isn't dead?!"
The Green-robed Cultivator looked over at the sound and said angrily, "He actually pretended to be dead and escaped. Is this how the Qingxuan Bureau conducts itself?"
Instead, the White-robed Cultivator breathed a sigh of relief. "It is good that he is not dead. At least things have not reached the worst possible point, and we will not draw the Qingxuan Bureau's great figures here over this."
Jiang Wang said, "Go investigate who brought people from the Qingxuan Bureau here."
Their purpose was obvious.
They wanted him dead.
Although this had made him more adept at controlling Mirage's power, the Qingxuan Bureau was a colossal force, just as the White-robed Cultivator feared. If they decided he was a monster, it truly would not be a small matter.
Though Jiang Wang looked forward to more powerful enemies appearing, he had no intention of courting death.
If he could defeat them, then he really ought to thank the other party. Otherwise, it would become a great enmity.
Akong ran all the way out of Qixia Street. Just as she caught her breath, someone patted her shoulder.
Her body stiffened slightly.
The instant a great sickle appeared in her hand, a familiar voice sounded. "Akong, I can't hold on anymore. Hurry and take me away..."
"Old Six?" Akong turned back to look at the utterly bedraggled Brocade-robed Man. "You're not dead?"
The Brocade-robed Man said weakly, "How rude. How can you call me by my full name? Stop talking and get us out of here."
Tan Lao Liu prided himself on his extensive experience in slaying monsters and eliminating demons. The Monster Slaying Record filled dozens of pages, yet after hunting geese all day, he had been pecked blind by one. He felt thoroughly ashamed.
Akong supported Tan Lao Liu and headed straight for the Du Family.
She cautiously watched their surroundings, terrified that someone might be following them.
Only after spending some time did they arrive at the Du Family residence in South City Alley.
Du Heng paced circles through the main hall.
Cold sweat streamed down uncontrollably.
He recalled how he had waited in exactly this way when Cai Tanggu had gone to the Marquis Manor.
A bad feeling immediately rose in his heart.
Du Yanruo sat in the main hall and said blandly, "Father, do not panic. If Cai Tanggu's strength placed him among the top hundred Cave Nether Realm cultivators, then Mr. Tan could rank among the top fifty. The two cannot be mentioned in the same breath. Jiang Wang will certainly die."
Du Heng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, "Even so, how can I not panic? You have been far too bold. If anything goes wrong, we will have no way out at all."
As they spoke, a servant came to report, "Mr. Tan has returned!"
Du Heng was overjoyed. Since he had returned, did that mean the matter was settled?
Du Yanruo smiled faintly, rose, and walked outside.
But the father and daughter's joy froze the instant they saw Tan Lao Liu.
"Mr. Tan... what happened to you?"
Du Heng panicked.
This was not the sight he had wanted to see.
With torn clothes and disheveled hair, Tan Lao Liu lowered his brows and drooped his eyes as he said, "The monster was too fierce. I merely ended up looking a little worse for wear."
Du Heng hurriedly asked, "Then was the monster eliminated?"
They had only told Tan Lao Liu that the Xunyang Marquis Manor was harboring a monster.
Du Yanruo had even secretly buried the painting that the Green-robed Cultivator and the others had shredded in the broken alley next to the Marquis Manor at the corner of the wall outside the manor.
Though the Wangliang in the painting had already been slain, traces of demonic aura still remained.
They had thought that as long as Tan Lao Liu could sense the demonic aura, their lie would not be easily exposed.
Then Tan Lao Liu would surely come into conflict with Jiang Wang.
Harboring a monster and still refusing to admit it—in the face of "irrefutable evidence," the Qingxuan Bureau had every right to execute him on the spot.
They had never expected there to really be a monster inside the Xunyang Marquis Manor.
Had they known this, they would surely have marveled that even heaven was watching over them.
Supported by Akong, Tan Lao Liu sat on the steps before the main hall. Forcing out a smile, he said, "I wrecked the entire Marquis Manor into a complete mess. You did not see that sight."
Du Heng said delightedly, "Mr. Tan has worked hard. You have removed a scourge for the people of Hun City."
Tan Lao Liu gave a dry cough and said, "The Marquis Manor was indeed severely damaged, but that monster... was truly fierce and savage. I was slightly outmatched, but do not worry. Tan has always regarded slaying monsters and eliminating demons as his duty. If one attempt fails, I will make another. But before slaying that monster, I must recuperate first."
Du Heng and Du Yanruo exchanged a glance.
Their joy was extinguished once again.
This Tan fellow really knew how to leave them hanging.
Their emotions rose and fell, and a surge of anger could not help welling up within them.
But knowing Tan Lao Liu's identity, they could only swallow their fury.
Du Heng staggered, his face turning pale.
The plan had failed. If Jiang Wang traced the matter back to the Du Family, what was he supposed to do?
Du Yanruo was also dazed.
She had already deceived a great figure of the Qingxuan Bureau into acting. Why was Jiang Wang still not dead?
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