Deterrence

"Sizzle!"

As the video played on the audio-visual stone ended, the image projected on the celestial instrument also receded completely, revealing a series of numbers amidst a series of dramatic changes.

"Bite!"

62.95 billion and 240 million.

This number is exactly an integer.

"Good."

Upon seeing this number, Gu Jinlai nodded slightly.

It was much higher than he had expected.

He had thought the Holy Dynasty would drastically reduce the bounty on the Demon Emperor, but now it seems that the Demon Slayer Hall system has not been completely corrupt after all.

After all, when the Holy Dynasty was first established, the founders of the Six Great Grotto-Heavens were still willing to fight the Demonic Beasts to the death, and the Demon Slaying Hall system emerged at that time.

With a "ding" from the Celestial Observation Instrument, the several saints and martial saints who were in shock were finally awakened.

However, upon seeing the astonishing numbers displayed by the celestial instrument, everyone couldn't help but gasp again.

"Six hundred and twenty-nine billion!? How many demons did he... just how many Demonic Beasts did he slay!?"

"Four... four Demon Emperors!? Including one top-tier Demon Emperor!? Plus dozens of Demon Kings, Gu Jinlai... did they just conquer a Demonic Beasts territory!?"

"Four Demon Emperors and dozens of Demon Kings... Even a national sage would be in danger of being surrounded and killed if caught in their midst! How could they be so powerful Gu Jinlai!?"

The thoughts of the saints and martial saints surged.

Even the city lord Zhao Hua could not calm down for a long time.

As a national sage, he could kill even the most powerful demon emperors in no time thanks to the might of his divine weapon.

But if...

The top-tier Demon Emperor drew his attacks, while three other Demon Emperors assisted from the side, and dozens of Demon Kings relentlessly depleted his power. Over time, he too was exhausted.

Not to mention the countless demons and Demonic Beasts that can be considered cannon fodder all around.

But right now, something he couldn't do has been accomplished by Gu Jinlai!

In addition, there were images projected from the audio-visual stone, and bursts of intense white light that occasionally shot out...

It is a method that is absolutely comparable to top-tier Divine Ability.

His divine weapon, the Sky-Fixing Pearl, is a binding type of divine weapon, which is not good at defense or killing.

Once struck head-on by such a top-tier Divine Ability, Gu Jinlai...

His final fate won't be much better than that of the top-tier Demon Emperor.

"The contribution points have been generated."

Gu Jinlai exclaimed, "The Celestial Observation Instrument is indeed fair and impartial."

His gaze shifted to the others. "By the way, Lord Zhao, Commander Cao, and Master Wu, I wonder if you have come here for some business?"

Cao Wudao and Wu Tianya glanced at the enormous and terrifying number, then silently turned their gazes to Zhao Hua.

Zhao Hua, however, turned his gaze to Cao Wudao.

His eyes clearly held a questioning look.

After all, it was Heavenly Gang, the successor whom Cao Wudao had painstakingly cultivated, who was killed in Gu Jinlai.

However, Cao Wudao seemed unable to understand the meaning behind Zhao Hua's eyes, and adopted an attitude of following Zhao City Lord's lead from now on.

For a moment, Zhao Hua found himself in a dilemma.

One of them is equivalent to a sixth-level Saint in combat power...

Wrong!

It has probably exceeded the sixth-order limitation and reached a level comparable to the seventh order!

Even though he was the city lord of Fengyu City and had the advantage of terrain, such a terrifyingly powerful figure could not be harmed in the slightest before the city's protective formation was activated.

However, once such a powerful figure is completely offended and pushed into an adversary position...

All of them will never have peace.

Unless the higher-ups are willing to send a celestial being to provide reinforcements.

But if the illusory immortals above were to arrive, given their actions in Wind and Rain City over the years...

His reign as city lord is coming to an end; he might even lose the divine weapon he's held for so long that hasn't recognized a master.

At that time, his status will plummet, from the lofty Lord of Fengyu City and the Saint of the Nation to a top Saint who is no better than Cao Wudao.

This is assuming everything goes smoothly.

If that illusory immortal also fails to kill Gu Jinlai, and he has thoroughly offended such a powerful seventh-tier expert, and then returns to attack after a period of silence, he, now a top-tier fourth-tier saint...

That's a dead end.

With this thought in mind, Zhao Hua forced a smile, "We... we heard that the Ancient Martial Saint has once again made a glorious contribution by slaying Demonic Beasts, so we came here to witness it."

"Is that so?"

Gu Jinlai nodded and turned his gaze to Jin Fantian: "Since everyone and Palace Master Jin are here at the moment, I plan to exchange these contribution points for Cultivation Resources. I would like to trouble Palace Master Jin to help me with the process. I need three thousand portions of Thunder Magnetic Yuan Gold."

"Three thousand portions of Thunder Magnetic Yuan Gold..."

Jin Fantian thought of the Cultivation Method practiced Gu Jinlai.

If he really manages to exchange for three thousand portions of Thunder Magnetic Essence...

"Huh? What? Is it not allowed?"

Gu Jinlai, "The exchange system of the Demon Slaying Hall was established at the beginning of the Holy Dynasty. It is one of the most important cornerstones for the stable rule of the Holy Dynasty. As the Hall Master of the Demon Slaying Hall, you shouldn't be unable to carry out the relevant operations, right?"

Jin Fantian glanced at Zhao Hua, Cao Wudao, Wu Tianya and the others who remained silent.

Let him face Gu Jinlai alone!?

He naturally refused.

He nodded immediately. "Of course."

"Give me my Demon-Slaying Token."

Gu Jinlai turned to Jin Haifeng, who was standing aside, looking somewhat frightened.

Jin Haifeng glanced at Jin Fantian and, seeing that even this powerful figure dared not utter a single word of nonsense, left the main hall and quickly took out a well-made Demon-Slaying Token.

Gu Jinlai, those who have received the Demon-Slaying Order have effortlessly imprinted a spiritual essence upon it.

Then place it on the astronomical instrument.

Instantly, the 62.9 billion contribution points calculated by the Celestial Observation Instrument were all injected into this token.

The token's color changed from white to green, then to blue, and finally to purple, forming three purple stripes.

This means that, Gu Jinlai on contribution points, one has already transcended the three stages of Demon Slayer, Advanced Demon Slayer, and Special Demon Slayer, and directly obtained the title of Demon Slayer.

The prestige and honor associated with this position are no less than that of the deputy city lord of any city or the deputy hall master of the Demon Slayer Hall.

"Lord Jin, let's go exchange it."

This Gu Jinlai.

"Good."

Jin Fantian nodded.

At this moment, Zong Yan suddenly said, "Ancient Martial Saint, you've just swept through a Demonic Beasts territory!?"

Is there a problem?

This Gu Jinlai.

"There's a problem? It's a big problem."

Zong Yan took a deep breath and stared at Gu Jinlai, saying in a deep voice, "Do you know that the reason why our Fengyu City and even the surrounding cities have been able to maintain such peace over the years is because we have maintained a tacit understanding with the Demonic Beasts? The Demonic Beasts will not lead their people to stir up a demon tide to attack our Holy Dynasty's cities, and our human race's strongmen cannot go deep into the Demonic Beasts- controlled areas to hunt down Spirit Venerables. And more than half of those who can transform into Demon Emperors are Spirit Venerables. You killed four Demon Emperors in one go, so there must have been Spirit Venerables among them."

"Oh, and then?"

The Way of Peace Gu Jinlai.

"Then?"

Zong Yan said angrily, "By doing this, you've essentially broken the tacit agreement between us. Next, the Demonic Beasts will inevitably use this as an excuse to launch a massive counterattack. There might even be a Demon Emperor who unleashes a demonic tide. At that time, countless Demonic Beasts will attack Wind and Rain City, and even the surrounding Flowing Fire City and Purple Thunder City. When that happens, these cities will inevitably be devastated, and countless families will be destroyed..."

Do you all think what Master Zongwu said is reasonable?

Gu Jinlai eyes were on Zhao Hua, Jin Fantian, Cao Wudao, Wu Tianya, and others.

After a moment of silence, Zhao Hua finally had no choice but to speak, "This matter... is indeed no small thing. If the Ancient Martial Saint's pacification of a Demonic Beasts territory breaks the tacit agreement between the two sides and invites the Demon Emperor to attack, it could easily cause widespread devastation. Therefore, we must act with utmost caution..."

"Once the Demon Emperor arrives and countless people die in battle, you will be the sinner of Wind and Rain City, Flowing Fire City, and Purple Thunder City Gu Jinlai!"

Zong Yan shouted sternly.

"The Holy Dynasty was founded with the intention of uniting everyone to fight against Demonic Beasts. The Holy Dynasty's initial laws included two things: guaranteeing the most basic right to survival for humanity and exterminating Demonic Beasts! Right now, I have conquered a Demonic Beasts territory, but in the eyes of Martial Saint Zong Yan, it is not only a failure but also a mistake! When did killing Demonic Beasts become a wrong thing?"

"Gu Jinlai!"

Zong Yan frowned and said, "Don't tell me you don't know about these unspoken rules..."

"What unspoken rules?! I don't know!"

Gu Jinlai declared loudly, "All I know is that I traveled thousands of miles and endured countless hardships to come to the Holy Dynasty because I regard it as the only sacred land for our human race to fight against Demonic Beasts! But now, you're telling me that there's a tacit agreement between the Holy Dynasty and the Demonic Beasts that we can't attack the Demonic Beasts!?"

"You..."

Zong Yan's expression turned urgent. " From Gu Jinlai, you know what I mean! Don't try to confuse me with your arguments!"

"No, I made myself very clear, and the laws of the Holy Dynasty are equally clear! The purpose of the Holy Dynasty is to unite all human forces to fight against Demonic Beasts! But now, you are telling me that killing Demonic Beasts is wrong, that we cannot kill Demonic Beasts!"

Gu Jinlai, his aura began to rise steadily, and he declared righteously, "I have reason to suspect that you, Zong Yan, have secretly colluded with Demonic Beasts! You have even become a member of the demonic cult. Everything you are doing now is aimed at misleading the public, splitting the Holy Dynasty, and undermining its foundation! According to the Holy Dynasty's regulations, such crimes against the Holy Dynasty and against humanity..."

As he spoke, a violent burst of lightning erupted from his body.

The lightning field was in full operation, spreading wildly towards Zong Yan.

Zong Yan's words were actually Zhao Hua's hint, trying to force Gu Jinlai to take responsibility for the possible retaliation from the Demon Emperor.

Therefore, he, Jin Fantian, Cao Wudao, and others had already made preparations. Now, seeing that Gu Jinlai actually dared to make a direct move, their expressions changed simultaneously.

Zhao Hua roared, "Stop!"

In an instant, a force that seemed capable of sealing off the void spread out from him.

"Boom!"

Thunder roared.

The power belonging to the Lightning Domain instantly formed six lightning dragons that rushed towards the six powerful figures in the arena.

However, Gu Jinlai himself simply made a grasping motion, and a ball of lightning instantly took shape in his hand, transforming into Thunder Sword.

The sword's edge pointed directly at Zong Yan...

"According to the law, he should be executed!"