Grasping the Entire Long Night

A wind rose.

The tattered clothes of the monster Ao Yin swayed softly.

Its loose hair lifted, and its entire face came clearly into Jiang Wang's view.

It was a very, very pale face, with slightly darkened lips and green eyes. Its features were not much different from those of an ordinary person's; it could even be called somewhat handsome.

Jiang Wang vaguely remembered that some girls in brothels, to satisfy their customers' various peculiar tastes, smeared their faces with rouge until they looked bright and vivid. Sometimes, when they applied too much, the final effect looked much like this.

It was even less attractive than the monster's face.

But Jiang Wang did not think much of it. Though it was rather strange for a monster to be so good-looking, it still was not as good-looking as he was.

He sensed the changes in the surrounding aura.

Once more, he felt the gaze from the abyss.

Faced with the suspicious look in the Green-robed Cultivator's eyes—

Jiang Wang's voice suddenly rang out. "I'm standing right here. Go on, try killing one."

The monster Ao Yin lowered its head to look at him.

It seemed somewhat curious.

Why had this human, who had been terrified just moments ago, suddenly found courage?

Some monsters were creatures that could only rely on instinct.

Other monsters possessed intelligence no different from that of humans.

Naturally, they had all sorts of thoughts as well.

Some monsters could not speak. Some monsters loved to speak.

There were also monsters that could speak, yet did not like to.

Ao Yin could not sense even the slightest threat from Jiang Wang. It was certain that the other party was nothing more than an utterly ordinary human.

It remained where it was, wanting to see what this exceedingly ordinary human could possibly do.

Jiang Wang raised the saber in his hand, as though he were gripping the entire long night.

The pitch-black saber had already fully merged into the darkness.

Just like the name engraved in gold leaf upon its guard—Long Night.

He swung his saber at the monster's arm.

The scattering sparks proved that the monster's body was extremely tough.

This sight made the suspicion on the Green-robed Cultivator's face grow even deeper.

Su Lingyi sneered.

Yet Jiang Wang remained utterly calm.

He took up a stance as though he were about to charge forward.

The White-robed Cultivator was climbing out of the rubble.

The Old Butler had just arrived.

He threw all his strength into it and leaped directly into the air.

But in the next instant, Jiang Wang became like an arrow loosed from the string, tearing through the air with a piercing howl!

The saber in his hand struck head-on against the Flying Sword embedded in the monster Ao Yin's forehead, smashing into it with terrifying speed and force!

And at that moment, Ao Yin reached out and grabbed the Flying Sword.

Rumble!

Starting from the intersection at Qixia Street and running across Pinglan Street, a saber scar four feet deep and six inches wide appeared in full view.

Jiang Wang stood with his saber in hand.

The monster Ao Yin's body was tilted to one side. It was clear from its eyes that it was deeply confused.

Su Lingyi's eyes widened.

His expression was exactly the same as the monster's confusion.

What was going on?

The Old Butler landed back on the ground, his emotions equally unsettled.

He had guessed that the young master had been concealing his abilities, but it seemed he had concealed far more than just a little.

Only the Green-robed and White-robed Cultivators wore expressions of "just as expected."

The Green-robed Cultivator felt ashamed that he had actually doubted Mr. Jiang just now.

Compared to Wangliang, Ao Yin existed on an entirely different level.

Yet Mr. Jiang had faced two monsters with vastly different strengths in the same calm and composed manner, handling them with effortless ease. He was likely a great cultivator at the peak of the Cave Nether Realm!

They knew well that even the master of Moonlit West Tower was only at this realm.

The Green-robed and White-robed Cultivators exchanged a glance.

Mr. Jiang was truly terrifying.

Jiang Wang's face was very pale.

But since he already looked as though he were weak to the point of death, no one could see that anything was wrong with him.

Just then, the "Mirage" he had seen when facing the monster Luo Yong appeared again.

This time, only he could see it.

It was like some mysterious domain opening its gates to him.

Rather than a "Mirage," it was more like a complete world.

Standing in that world, he felt that he was a god—the only god.

He lowered his head and looked at the road belonging to Pinglan Street.

Scene after scene from what had just happened flashed through his mind.

When he had been on Qixia Street, that sensation had been strongest. But when he stepped onto Pinglan Street, though he had still successfully struck the monster Ao Yin, his power had clearly begun draining away at a rapid pace.

He vaguely understood something.

Only on Qixia Street could he display that power.

It was because the Mirage's range only covered Qixia Street. Once he stepped beyond that range, he became the good-for-nothing he had once been.

Since there was a range, he thought, there must be a way to expand it.

If one day he could make the Mirage cover the entire Sui Kingdom, or even the whole human world, then he would truly be invincible!

And he had also discovered that the Long Night Saber indeed seemed to have some connection with the Mirage.

Put in the plainest terms, the Long Night Saber was like the key to the Mirage.

Only while holding the Long Night Saber could he directly wield that power as he had in battle against Ao Yin. Otherwise, he would only be like when he had faced Su Lingyi before: the power existed, yet remained beyond his reach.

"Mr. Jiang..."

The Green-robed Cultivator supported the White-robed Cultivator as they came to Jiang Wang's side.

Jiang Wang returned to his senses and merely nodded at them.

Then he looked at the monster Ao Yin before him.

Immediately after, he took a step back.

Until he had retreated into Qixia Street.

The two Green-robed Cultivators were utterly baffled.

They could only follow Jiang Wang back.

Jiang Wang gave a light cough, raised the Long Night Saber, and gently pointed it forward.

With a thud, the monster Ao Yin dropped to its knees.

"Have you ever been to East Market and killed a cultivator?"

Jiang Wang asked very seriously.

The monster Ao Yin stared intently at Jiang Wang's face.

Then it slowly shook its head.

The White-robed Cultivator immediately snapped, "Who else could it have been but you, you demon? You dare deny it!"

The Green-robed Cultivator said grimly, "The monster Ao Yin loves wandering everywhere and often attacks passersby. Perhaps when you attacked the people of Hun City, my brother encountered you. Unfortunately, he was no match for you and was cruelly killed."

Ao Yin parted its lips slightly and spoke for the first time. "I have attacked humans, but I have never seen the cultivator you speak of, nor have I ever been to any East Market. Even if I am a monster, you cannot casually pin crimes on me."

"Demon words meant to deceive the masses!" The White-robed Cultivator raised his sword and prepared to charge forward. "I will not believe a monster's words!"

Jiang Wang gestured for the Green-robed Cultivator to stop the White-robed Cultivator. Looking at Ao Yin, he said softly, "So you admit that the people of Hun City were killed by you?"

Ao Yin said indifferently, "What I have done, I will naturally admit."

Jiang Wang fell silent.

If the monster spoke the truth, then only one person remained suspicious.

But who could guarantee that the monster was not lying?

Jiang Wang smiled faintly. "Come to think of it, this is my first time killing a monster. It is a little exciting just thinking about it."

No matter how that Purple-robed Cultivator from Moonlit West Tower had died—

The fact that the monster Ao Yin had attacked civilians was undeniable.

He directly flung the saber in his hand.

It instantly pierced through the monster's head.

Ao Yin's green eyes remained wide open, and a sinister smile appeared on its deathly pale face. "There is something in Hun City that is drawing us here. Though you are strong, when a monster more powerful than me appears, your entire Hun City will cease to exist!"

Looking at the monster Ao Yin, now completely devoid of life, Jiang Wang furrowed his brows tightly.

The Green-robed Cultivator said, "What it spoke of should be related to Immortals Descend. With Mr. Jiang in Hun City, more cultivators will surely come in the future. Hun City will certainly be impregnable, so do not listen to its demon words meant to deceive the masses."

Jiang Wang asked curiously, "Are there really immortals in Hun City?"

The Green-robed Cultivator nodded. "Though we have not seen one ourselves, there are far too many tales of immortals in this world. The Mirage that hung high above Qixia Street several days ago is proof enough. It was very likely an omen of immortals descending."

Jiang Wang's heart clenched.

A Mirage?

An omen of immortals descending?

His expression gradually became very strange.

The Green-robed Cultivator did not notice Jiang Wang's abnormality. Seemingly recalling something, he looked around and discovered that Su Lingyi had long since vanished. He said resentfully, "Do not let me see him again. He nearly made me doubt Mr. Jiang and commit a grave mistake."

Jiang Wang remained speechless.

After hesitating for a moment, he still said, "Whether that monster spoke truth or lies aside, I have indeed found that it is not the only one capable of killing your companion. There is also a martial artist named Feng Linghuai. If you wish, you may investigate him."

The Green-robed and White-robed Cultivators bowed to Jiang Wang. "From this day on, we shall follow Mr. Jiang's lead in all things."

Jiang Wang waved a hand and turned to leave. "Do as you please."

They privately sighed, "Mr. Jiang truly has the bearing of an eminent master."

The Garrison Headquarters prison.

Du Zicheng was released.

Though he had only been imprisoned for one day, he seemed to have lost an entire round of weight.

He looked utterly dejected.

"The Garrison Commander is already preparing to commend the Young Marquis throughout the city. If not for the Young Marquis's help, we would not have been able to touch a single one of those suspects."

"The sight of the Black Flame Army from the Marquis Manor searching the whole city was truly shocking. They nearly turned the Du Family upside down. If Su Lingyi and Du Yanruo from Fish Abyss Academy had not been proven innocent, the Du Family would probably have disappeared from Hun City altogether."

"Du Heng relied on having a daughter at Fish Abyss Academy and was already close to treating our Garrison Office with contempt. He even dared to challenge the Black Flame Army and was beaten half to death by Commander Dan. I was there too—the scene was truly spectacular."

"If you ask me, we should have kept that Du Zicheng locked up for a few more days and made the Du Family bleed properly."

Du Zicheng stared at the jailers chatting and laughing, fire surging in his eyes.

Why was he suffering in prison while Jiang Wang gained fame?

He had even humiliated the Du Family so thoroughly.

Though Du Zicheng did not like his own father, he could not simply watch his father get beaten half to death.

Because of his sister, he had wanted revenge against Jiang Wang for a long time.

Now, overcome by emotion, he even blamed Jiang Wang for his own imprisonment.

New hatred piled atop old grievances, and he began to lose his reason.

Under the strange looks and mocking laughter of the jailers, Du Zicheng walked out of the Garrison Headquarters prison with heavy steps.

A trace of ruthless ferocity flickered in his eyes.