Demon Extermination Division

Zhang Tianyang led Han Zheng all the way to a barren mountain outside South City. A dilapidated shack stood there, probably a place where villagers who came up to gather firewood occasionally rested.

He then took out a thumb-sized bone flute and blew several strange notes, which echoed through the valley.

"I know what you're worried about. It's not just that you fear danger—you don't trust the yamen either, do you?"

Han Zheng said nothing, but he had effectively admitted it.

Great Zhou had stood for three thousand years and had already reached the twilight of its dynasty. The local yamen had become rotten and decayed, so frail they could scarcely withstand a single blow.

Black Stone County was a perfect example.

Only after Zhang Tianyang arrived did the county have an actual expert. Before he came, the County Yamen constables had been a pack of useless fools who only knew how to prey upon the common folk. Even the County Magistrate was a wine-sack and rice-bag who knew only drinking, composing poetry, and indulging himself.

The entire Black Stone County Yamen had only one Xiantian expert. It was said that the County Magistrate had invited an Attendant from the prefectural city specifically to protect his safety, and that man never involved himself in the county's affairs at all.

Thus, for all these years, those who truly ruled Black Stone County had never been the County Yamen, but jianghu forces such as the two families and three gangs.

Han Zheng did not dare trust a yamen of that sort, nor did he wish to get swept into such a storm.

"The yamen lot really are useless. Even I can't stand the sight of them. But I never said I was sent by the yamen."

An inscrutable smile touched Zhang Tianyang's lips. "Let me introduce myself again. I am Zhang Tianyang, unit commander of Mountain Camp, under Chen Baxian, Commanding Officer of the Demon Extermination Division in Shannan Dao.

"You may not trust the yamen, but surely you trust the Demon Extermination Division?"

A flash of surprise immediately crossed Han Zheng's eyes. He had never imagined that Zhang Tianyang was actually a member of the Demon Extermination Division.

Great Zhou had three divisions: the Dragon Martial Division, the Heavenly Supervision Division, and the Demon Extermination Division.

The Dragon Martial Division was controlled by the Great Zhou imperial family. Its members were all imperial clansmen, responsible for guarding the imperial house.

The Heavenly Supervision Division was the most low-key. Few of its members ever appeared in public. Most people had heard its name, yet did not know what it actually did.

The Demon Extermination Division was the most renowned of the three. It could be said that any martial artist had heard of its great name, though people from the Demon Extermination Division rarely appeared in a small county like Black Stone County.

Three thousand years ago, when Great Zhou was founded, the founding emperor had risen from humble beginnings. He led the heroes under his command to sweep across the realm and pacify an age of chaos.

Externally, he drove the powerful Demons into the northwestern wastelands and established Demon Suppressing Pass to resist them.

Internally, he had Yu Jiucang—the number one expert in the world at the time, known as the "Martial Saint" and praised as "unmatched for ten thousand miles, the Martial Saint reborn from Xuanyuan"—establish the Demon Extermination Division, sweeping away all Demons within Great Zhou and suppressing the sects of the age.

That year was a Jiazi year, so history called it the Jiazi Demon Extermination.

The thousand-odd years after the Jiazi Demon Extermination could be called Great Zhou's most peaceful and prosperous era.

It was said that Demons were almost nowhere to be seen within Great Zhou then. Even if one occasionally emerged, the Demon Extermination Division experts swarming in would tear it into pieces in an instant.

At the same time, jianghu sects all kept a low profile and acted with humility. Demonic sects and evil cults were rats in the gutter, daring only to hide in the shadows.

But for reasons unknown, natural disasters and human calamities followed one another, the people could barely survive, Demons grew more numerous, evil cults and demonic sects caused trouble everywhere, and jianghu sects fought without cease. Gradually, the world became what it was now.

In recent years, the Demon Extermination Division had also been run ragged. The local Demon Extermination Division offices only stationed themselves in prefectural cities; no one from the Demon Extermination Division would come to a small county like Black Stone County.

Still, although the Demon Extermination Division's power and prestige no longer matched that of Great Zhou's founding era, its fearsome name remained. It was not something those yamen fools could compare to.

At that moment, a sudden howl came from another mountaintop.

A black dot abruptly fell from the sky. Only when it neared did Han Zheng realize that it was actually a human figure!

The other mountaintop was extremely high, with a drop of several hundred meters between it and this place. Yet that figure had jumped straight down.

Bang.

With a soft sound, the figure landed before Han Zheng and the others, leaving only two shallow footprints in the ground.

Han Zheng's expression immediately changed.

From such a height, it would not have been strange to smash a crater into the ground.

Yet this man had made only a soft sound and left behind two shallow footprints. It proved that his control over his strength was terrifyingly precise.

Looking up, Han Zheng saw a tall, powerfully built man with a full beard. He wore Purple Gold Sky Wolf Armor, and his aura was vast and heavy, like a mountain peak.

That armor was not as thick and cumbersome as a military general's armor. It fit closer to the body and was more lightweight, with protection focused on the chest. The arm joints had no guards for the sake of mobility.

A Purple Gold Sky Wolf on his chest bared its fangs in fierce splendor, so lifelike it seemed ready to pounce.

"Did you call me here because there's already a result on Black Stone County's side?" the newcomer asked.

Zhang Tianyang shook his head. "Boss, I'm alone, fighting with a single spear and a single horse. How could I get results that quickly?

"I was planning to recruit an outer member to help stir up the waters in the county, but he's still somewhat hesitant, so I called you here to strengthen his confidence."

Having said that, Zhang Tianyang pointed to the newcomer. "This is my immediate superior, Yuan Longshan, Demon Extermination Captain of Mountain Camp under Chen Baxian, Commanding Officer of the Demon Extermination Division in Shannan Dao. He is a great expert of the Profound Gang Realm.

"You don't need to worry about the Incense Cult's threat. Even if the Incense Cult truly reaches Black Stone County in the end, Boss will take action.

"Black Stone County is the gateway to Jingzhou Prefecture. Though it is only a small county, those above will not sit by and watch it fall into the Incense Cult's hands."

Yuan Longshan glanced at Zhang Tianyang, then at Han Zheng, looking somewhat surprised.

Given Zhang Tianyang's abilities, he certainly would not think much of ordinary people. He did not even think highly of the newcomers within the Demon Extermination Division.

Yet now he intended to recruit an outer member to help him. That meant Han Zheng surely possessed some ability far beyond that of ordinary martial artists.

"Greetings, Lord Yuan."

Han Zheng hurriedly cupped his hands in salute.

Above the Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm was the Profound Gang Realm.

Once the body was perfected, internal force transformed into True Essence, allowing the externalization of Gang Qi. At great mastery, Gang Qi could extend several zhang, its might terrifying beyond measure.

The Profound Gang Realm also had another name: enemy of ten thousand men.

When Gang Qi spanning several zhang swept forth, ordinary soldiers could not withstand it at all. Even iron armor would be ripped apart.

Thus, in theory, a Profound Gang Realm martial artist could even slaughter more than ten thousand ordinary soldiers.

Of course, that was only theory. In a real battle, even ordinary soldiers who knew no martial arts could wear their opponent down with bows and powerful crossbows, resist with military formations, and ultimately exhaust all of the opponent's internal force.

After sizing Han Zheng up twice, Yuan Longshan nodded lightly. "Not bad. Your foundation is solid and deep, no weaker than disciples from the great sects.

"From the look of you, you should be close to entering Xiantian.

"The emperor does not send hungry soldiers to war. If you work for our Demon Extermination Division, you will not be treated poorly.

"Take this pill. It can help you enter Xiantian. Whether or not you manage to root out the mole in the end, it is yours."

As his words fell, Yuan Longshan tossed a small porcelain bottle to Han Zheng.

Han Zheng caught it instinctively. Without much hesitation, he immediately cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, my lord. It is this one's greatest honor to serve the Demon Extermination Division."

In truth, from the instant they revealed their Demon Extermination Division identities, Han Zheng had not had much room to refuse.

He could put on a false face and play along with Zhang Tianyang, chief constable of Black Stone County, but he could not do the same with Zhang Tianyang, unit commander of the Demon Extermination Division.

To the current Han Zheng, the Incense Cult was a colossal beast. The Demon Extermination Division was also a colossal beast—and an even greater one.

Moreover, Yuan Longshan had given him a pill.

To Yuan Longshan, this pill was a trivial thing, scarcely worth mentioning.

But to Han Zheng, who had just experienced the benefits of a medicinal bath, it was practically a priceless treasure, enough to let him enter Xiantian.

When others gave him face, he had to accept it. Han Zheng now knew Zhang Tianyang's identity in the Demon Extermination Division and knew Zhang Tianyang's mission. If he still refused now, he would be refusing the face he had been given.

Zhang Tianyang shook his head lightly. "You won't release the hawk until you see the rabbit. You really are a practical one, kid."

Han Zheng smiled. "Lord Zhang, please do not blame me. I'm merely a nobody from a county town. Getting involved in an event of this magnitude, I have no choice but to be cautious."

"Go back and wait for my news. I'll make some moves on Gao Kaiyuan's side and help block him for you for now."

Han Zheng nodded, took the pill, and immediately headed down the mountain.

Watching Han Zheng leave, Yuan Longshan said, "Can this man really do it? He has only just reached the Peak Acquired Stage. Even with the pill I gave him, he can at most barely reach the early Xiantian stage."

Zhang Tianyang sighed. "He should be able to. That kid is somewhat like me when I was young—ruthless and decisive in his actions, striking when it is time to strike.

"He made enemies with one of the gangs in Black Stone County. Once he learned they had investigated him, he turned around and silenced them. He was decisive to the extreme.

"Besides, even if he can't do it, he has to. I truly have no one left to use.

"I'm a unit commander, yet I don't have a single subordinate. I'm a commander without an army. Is there any unit commander more miserable than that?

"If you could give Su Wuming to me, would I need to go through all this trouble recruiting outer members to help?"

Yuan Longshan sneered. "Dream on. Even Commander Chen has taken note of Su Wuming. How could he possibly be given to you?

"Besides, that kid Su Wuming has something eerie about him. Even if he were given to you, would you really dare use him?"

Zhang Tianyang rubbed his nose. Seemingly recalling certain rumors, he gave an awkward laugh.

"True. Forget using him—even carrying out a mission with him, you'd have to be careful."

Yuan Longshan patted Zhang Tianyang on the shoulder. "These are troubled times. The people above are stretched too thin as well.

"Once something happened in Huainan Dao, if the lips perish, the teeth grow cold. Shannan Dao cannot stand by either. Commander Chen has taken nearly eighty percent of our forces to Huainan Dao.

"Black Stone County can only depend on you now. I also need to go to Huainan Dao and meet up with the other brothers."

Zhang Tianyang nodded. "Rest assured, Boss. Leave this place to me."

Yuan Longshan nodded, then leapt into the air and vanished into the mountain forest in an instant.