Black Mist Wasteland Anomaly!

Dongfang Rongrong watched the heads continuously rolling off the execution platform and the wooden planks soaked in blood, her stomach churning violently.

She tightly clutched the hem of her clothes, a sourness rising in her throat, but she couldn't bring herself to vomit anything.

"Shi... Senior Brother..." she trembled, tugging at Song Yuanming's sleeve, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, "Let's... go back..."

Song Yuanming looked at her paper-white face and sighed, shaking his head. "The Jianghu is treacherous; there are scenes ten times more bloody than this."

He pointed to the tall figure in the center of the execution ground. "If you can't even handle this much, you might as well return to the mountain gate early."

Even though his own face was also pale.

But thinking of the current rampant demons and monsters, this chaotic world could not tolerate even a shred of weakness.

In a private room of a wine shop across the street, Qin Yang tapped his fingertips lightly on the window lattice, his gaze locked onto Wei Qing on the execution ground.

"Send a message to the sect to thoroughly investigate this person's background," he said in a low, somber voice. "He might be the biggest variable in our plan."

"Senior Brother, what does this plan of ours have to do with him? Could he possibly interfere?" Zhao Gao, standing beside him, frowned slightly.

"Whether the Imperial Court will intervene is unclear for now, but the disturbances in the Black Mist Wasteland will definitely not escape the Night Owl Guard's notice. As the current acting county magistrate of Qingcheng, he might get involved."

"It's better to be prepared in advance just in case; it won't hurt."

Qin Yang shook his head slightly and patiently explained.

The details of the battle at the City God Temple last night had already spread throughout Qingcheng via various informants.

The forces that had arrived in the past few days were all secretly wary of that young Warden.

It wasn't that there weren't individuals with higher cultivation than Wei Qing, but behind him stood the Heavenly Realm Division, and the entire Great Zhou Imperial Court.

No matter how arrogant the local sects and powers in Jizhou were, none dared to openly oppose the Imperial Court.

However—

There were always exceptions.

On the execution ground.

The members of the Fang family were successively beheaded.

Wei Qing sat on the supervising platform, silently watching it all.

Time trickled by.

As Fang Youting was beheaded amidst the sighs of the common folk, the Fang family's collusion with demons and monsters came to a complete end.

Fifty-nine headless corpses were piled up like a mountain, and the gurgling blood formed small streams of dark red on the execution platform.

"My Lord, the Fang family had a total of fifty-nine people, all of whom have been beheaded. I request your instructions," the county deputy reported the final results, bowing. Upon closer inspection, his face was pale, and his legs trembled uncontrollably.

Wei Qing nodded slightly, stood up, and looked at the pile of corpses beside the execution platform.

"The Fang family colluded with demons and monsters and betrayed the Human Race. According to the Great Zhou's laws, they have all been beheaded and displayed as a warning. Issue an order to bury all the Fang family's corpses in the mass grave east of the city, and forbid anyone from paying respects."

"Anyone found doing so will be punished as an accomplice."

"At the same time, I hope others will take this as a warning."

"Anyone who colludes with demons and monsters will have their entire clan exterminated, with no leniency."

Although Wei Qing's words were not loud, combined with the scene of mountains of corpses and seas of blood before them, they carried more deterrent power than any warning.

Afterward.

The bailiffs, who had been waiting nearby, began to move all the Fang family's corpses onto the corpse transport carts and sent them to the mass grave outside the city.

Zhu Huan, who was in charge of the command, saw Wei Qing linger for a moment over the bodies of Fang Youting and the three-year-old child, and understood Wei Qing's intention.

He then instructed those responsible for transporting the bodies to bury the two separately and with proper care!

On the other side.

Wei Qing returned to the yamen, changed out of his official robes, and went back to the inn.

As soon as he saw Zhang Zhidong, he spoke directly, "Brother Zhang, have you found out the reason for the large influx of sect forces into Qingcheng recently?"

The first time he met Song Yuanming, he had noticed many disciples from various sect forces had appeared in Qingcheng.

So, he had instructed Zhang Zhidong to pay close attention and investigate the reason for their gathering in Qingcheng.

"According to the Night Owl Guard's report, the disciples from various factions came because of the disturbances in the Black Mist Wasteland."

"Someone spread the news that a rare treasure had appeared in the Black Mist Wasteland, and then sects of all sizes within Jizhou Prefecture sent their disciples to Qingcheng."

"Currently, a total of nine sect forces have been identified, with the disciples from the Blood Robe Gate, Liuyun Villa, Qingshan Sect, and Tianhai Gate being the strongest."

Blood Robe Gate?

Liuyun Villa?

Wei Qing looked puzzled, having no impression of these four sects at all.

"They are merely second-rate forces," Zhang Zhidong explained, understanding his confusion. "The strongest in their sects are only Fifth Rank. The truly first-rate sects... have yet to show themselves."

"Perhaps when the rumored exotic treasure appears..."

Rumble...

The ground suddenly trembled violently. Wei Qing and Zhang Zhidong exchanged a look and rushed out of the inn simultaneously.

To the southeast, a crimson light pillar tore through the sky. Disciples from all the sects in Qingcheng leaped onto the rooftops, excitedly watching this celestial phenomenon.

"Towards the Black Mist Wasteland..." Zhang Zhidong gasped, "Could it be that there really is an exotic treasure?"

Wei Qing raised an eyebrow and teased, "Brother Zhang, has your mouth been blessed? You were just talking about rumors of exotic treasures, and now the sky shows a strange phenomenon."

Zhang Zhidong smiled bitterly and shook his head, "If I truly had such divine abilities, I would definitely wish for the eradication of all demons and monsters in the world!"

He paused, "The appearance of an exotic treasure will inevitably lead to conflict. The safety of Qingcheng will depend on you, Lord."

After the battle at the City God Temple.

He deeply understood the strength of this young Warden—capable of slaying Sixth Rank and repelling Fifth Rank cultivators.

Wei Qing was undoubtedly the strongest person in Qingcheng at the moment.

"As the acting county magistrate and the Warden of Qingcheng for the Heavenly Realm Division, this is my duty." Wei Qing nodded slightly and spoke to the sky, "I am the acting county magistrate of Qingcheng, and I know why you have come to Qingcheng."

"But if anyone dares to cause trouble within Qingcheng, don't blame this official for showing no mercy with his blade!"

This declaration, like rolling spring thunder, covered the entire Qingcheng, and everyone heard it clearly.

"It's the voice of the acting county magistrate. What does he mean by that?"

"Who cares what he means? With the county magistrate here, I'm not afraid even if demons and monsters come."

"That's right."

Wei Qing's decisive actions in Dragon Cave Village to eliminate demons, his investigation into the Fang Family's collusion with demons, and his swift actions during the battle at the City God Temple had already earned him immense prestige among the people of Qingcheng.

"Such profound internal energy for sound transmission!"

Song Yuanming, Liu Yang, and other sect disciples' expressions changed drastically, and they all looked towards Xingyun Tower.

They knew better than ordinary people—this "Thousand Mile Sound Transmission" not only required profound internal energy but also exquisite control over power.

This was clearly a naked warning!

"Senior Brother..." Dongfang Rongrong tugged at his sleeve uneasily, "If we encounter him during the treasure hunt..."

Song Yuanming's knuckles turned white. They had indeed come for the exotic treasure, but if they had to confront this Warden, who could slay Sixth Rank cultivators head-on...

Yield?

Or fight?

The disciples looked at each other, seeing the same struggle in each other's eyes.