Leaving the Mountain

The giant vertical mouth protruding from He Biao's chest was connected to his body by a large amount of rapidly growing flesh.

From a distance, it looked like a monster emerging from a person's body. The vertical mouth was much larger than He Biao himself.

After swallowing Ning Xiu in one gulp, the entire vertical mouth began to contract, intending to crush Ning Xiu inside into pulp.

He Biao smiled with great satisfaction. As long as his move, 'Corrupt Bone Miasma Mouth,' hit its target, even a Martial Dao Eighth Rank martial artist wouldn't be able to escape.

Within ten breaths, they would be reduced to a pile of white bones by the corrosive solution inside the miasma mouth.

However, before the smile on his face could linger, a patch of skin on the vertical mouth suddenly turned an intense crimson. Immediately, white smoke and the smell of cooked meat emanated from that spot.

Before He Biao could even react, a large hole ripped open on the surface of the vertical mouth, and Ning Xiu's dripping wet figure climbed out from within.

"How is this possible!" He Biao exclaimed in shock.

He had been cultivating the 'Corrupt Bone Miasma Mouth' for many years and had never failed. Everyone who was swallowed by the vertical mouth had never come out alive.

Ning Xiu's current performance truly shattered He Biao's understanding.

Seeing the other party dumbfounded, Ning Xiu leaped forward, rapidly closing in on He Biao. This demon's methods were numerous and bizarre, making him impossible to guard against.

He had only managed to barely resist the corrosive solution inside the vertical mouth by relying on the Blood Energy from his Pure Yang Extreme Fist and the eighth layer of his Golden Bell Shield. Although his body hadn't sustained much damage, his clothes were ruined once again.

To prevent He Biao from using any other tricks, Ning Xiu decided to end the fight quickly, giving the other party no chance to cast any more spells.

Bang!

Facing Ning Xiu's incoming punch, He Biao quickly raised his hand to block. When Ning Xiu's crimson fist struck his arm, He Biao felt as if he had hit a scorching hot iron brand. His arm instantly burned with pain, unable to withstand it.

"How can this guy's Blood Energy be so vigorous!" He Biao's eyes widened in disbelief, his gaze filled with astonishment.

But Ning Xiu gave him no time to think. He unleashed his Pure Yang Extreme Fist rapidly. He Biao was not a demon skilled in close-quarters combat, so how could he be Ning Xiu's match?

Within a few moves, He Biao was sent flying back by a single punch from Ning Xiu, crashing heavily against the wall of the corridor.

"Pfft!" He Biao felt a surge in his abdomen, unable to help but spit out a mouthful of blood.

Ning Xiu walked over, grabbed He Biao by the collar, and asked, "Tell me, who are you, and why have you taken on this person's appearance?"

"You've ruined all my good work," He Biao glared at Ning Xiu with extreme hatred. If it weren't for this guy meddling, he wouldn't have been exposed so quickly.

Blood foam continuously seeped from between his teeth, slowly trickling down the corners of his mouth.

He Biao's strength was naturally not limited to this, as he was imprisoned in the Xuan Zone. However, having recently changed bodies, his current strength was certainly incomparable to his original state. It was incredibly unlucky for him to have encountered Ning Xiu.

After taking several punches from Ning Xiu, his internal body had suffered severe damage. With his current condition, there was no hope of escaping the Demon Subduing Prison.

Soon, the commotion here attracted the attention of nearby prison guards. When they arrived, they witnessed a horrifying scene.

He Biao, who was connected to the vertical mouth, was clearly a demon. How had he escaped?

In the many years since the Demon Subduing Prison was built, there had been only a handful of times when malevolent spirits had broken free from their cells and escaped. Encountering even one such incident was considered extremely lucky.

"Arrest him! Immediately check which cell the escaped malevolent spirit came from," the prison guard captain who arrived at the scene quickly ordered.

This matter was neither too big nor too small, but if not handled properly, it could become troublesome.

After taking several punches from Ning Xiu, He Biao's injuries were no longer enough for him to resist. He was easily subdued by the prison guards.

The prison guard captain walked up to Ning Xiu and asked, "What happened here?"

Without any concealment, Ning Xiu told them everything he knew.

Soon, a prison guard ran over and said, "Sir, all cells are normal, no malevolent spirits have escaped. The only incident occurred in Xuan Zone Cell 97; the demon who was refining Black Origin Pills has died for some unknown reason."

The prison guard captain nodded. "First, lock up the captured demon. I'll go invite someone from the Demon Subduing Bureau to examine his condition. Currently, it's suspected that an Executioner in the Demon Subduing Prison was killed by a demon. You all search around and see if you can find any remains."

Ning Xiu's expression was serious. With the vertical mouth's abilities, if that demon had truly killed He Yunlang, its body would likely have been corroded into dregs, leaving no trace.

Thinking that his friend of over a year had met such a fate at the hands of a demon, he had originally planned to find an opportunity to recommend him to Su Qianqian to join the Demon Subduing Bureau. But before any of that could happen, He Yunlang had met with misfortune.

Ning Xiu couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness and regret. This world was indeed chaotic; only by strengthening oneself was the greatest guarantee.

He Yunlang's death had inadvertently stimulated Ning Xiu's sense of crisis. He immediately bid farewell to the prison guard captain and quickly headed to his assigned cell to begin today's execution mission.

An hour later, 11,000 points of Universal Proficiency were successfully obtained. Ning Xiu immediately set about improving his cultivation techniques.

[Pure Yang Extreme Fist: Ninth Layer (31/5000)](+)

[Golden Bell Shield: Eighth Layer (12/4000)](+)

[Spiritual Eye Qi Observation Technique: First Layer (21/200)](+)

[Great Sun Profound Scripture: Fifth Layer (310/2000)](+)

Universal Proficiency: 11510

After yesterday's improvements, the Pure Yang Extreme Fist and Golden Bell Shield had become quite formidable. Compared to these two cultivation techniques, the Spiritual Eye Qi Observation Technique and the Great Sun Profound Scripture seemed somewhat lacking.

Since acquiring the Spiritual Eye Qi Observation Technique, this cultivation method had brought Ning Xiu considerable help. Uncovering the secrets of the Spring Full Pavilion and seeing through He Biao's disguise were all thanks to the Spiritual Eye Qi Observation Technique.

Looking at the Spiritual Eye Qi Observation Technique, which was only at the first layer, and with his abundant Universal Proficiency, Ning Xiu decided to upgrade it by a few levels first.

In the future, as a Demon Subduing Captain, he would often have to deal with malevolent spirits, and the Spiritual Eye Qi Observation Technique would undoubtedly play a very important role.

I spent 3,000 points of Universal Proficiency in one go, raising the Spiritual Eye Qi Observation Technique to the fifth level.

Ning Xiu suddenly felt his eyes become clearer, undergoing significant changes. However, he currently had no target to test it on, so he wasn't sure how much the Spiritual Eye Qi Observation Technique's effectiveness had improved.

Compared to the Pure Yang Extreme Fist and Golden Bell Shield, the realm of the Great Sun Profound Scripture seemed much lower.

As Internal Energy was the most direct way to enhance one's strength, it naturally couldn't be neglected. Seeing that he had 8,510 points of Universal Proficiency remaining, Ning Xiu directly poured them all into the Great Sun Profound Scripture.

Sixth level...

Seventh level...

Eighth level...

[Great Sun Profound Scripture: Eighth Level (0/4000)]

Breaking through three realms in a row, the Internal Energy in Ning Xiu's dantian instantly became deep and vast, growing at least three times stronger than before.

If this Internal Energy were combined with the Pure Yang Extreme Fist, Ning Xiu couldn't even imagine the power it would unleash.

"Although I can only stay in the Demon Subduing Prison for two days, with my current strength, I can barely venture out of the mountains," Ning Xiu thought to himself.

After the improvements over these two days, Ning Xiu felt much more confident about undertaking the mission Su Qianqian had given him in her letter.

Bidding farewell to the prison warden, Ning Xiu left the Demon Subduing Prison.

The surrounding of Marquis Wuyi's mansion by the Demon Subduing Bureau was the most shocking event for the Great Shang royal family.

The thirty-six Marquises of Great Shang all held hereditary titles, tracing back to the clans who were with the Great Ancestor when he founded the empire; every one of them was of royal blood.

Though Marquis Wuyi's temperament changed drastically after the death of his wife, Madam Han, causing many of his royal relatives to disapprove and refuse further contact, the royal family was still the royal family. They shared a common face, and there was no reason for a noble Marquis's mansion to be surrounded in broad daylight.

Even though the Demon Subduing Bureau was Great Shang's foremost sharp sword, they couldn't act in such a manner.

Within a day, many members of the royal family went to the Demon Subduing Bureau to inquire about the situation, simultaneously trying to see if they could persuade the Bureau to lift the siege on Marquis Wuyi's mansion.

However, when they learned the truth behind the siege from the Demon Subduing Captains, they were all too shocked to speak.

Everyone knew that Spring Full Pavilion was a brothel founded by Marquis Wuyi after Madam Han's death, and now that it was discovered to be harboring a large number of malevolent spirits, who could believe Marquis Wuyi was not involved?

The Great Shang Emperor who established the Demon Subduing Bureau had granted it the highest authority to combat malevolent spirits. As long as it concerned malevolent spirits, the Demon Subduing Bureau's authority could override everything, even imperial power.

If the Emperor colluded with malevolent spirits, or if his mind was bewitched by a demon, and he committed acts that harmed the populace or the nation, the Demon Subduing Bureau had the right to slay the evil emperor and establish a new one.

Merely surrounding the mansion and not immediately apprehending Marquis Wuyi for interrogation at the Demon Subduing Bureau was already the Bureau showing great consideration for the Great Shang royal family's reputation.

Under these circumstances, Marquis Wushan, Wu Gai, one of the thirty-six Marquises, took the initiative to invite Qin Daorong, and the two went together to Marquis Wuyi's mansion to question Wu Huannian.

If the other party had truly fallen astray, then even as a Marquis, he would be executed without mercy or sentiment.

Marquis Wuyi's mansion.

Wu Huannian sat expressionlessly in the main seat. Upon seeing Qin Daorong and Wu Gai enter from the doorway, he immediately put on a nonchalant, grinning demeanor and went to greet them: "Brother, Lord Qin, the Demon Subduing Bureau surrounded my mansion yesterday. Why are you only arriving today? You've made me anxious to death. Those people won't let me out, nor will they let my servants out. What do you call this?"

Qin Daorong glanced at Wu Huannian. There was no trace of panic on the man's face, making it unclear whether he was truly innocent or deliberately feigning it.

If it was the latter, then this Marquis Wuyi's acting skills were truly extraordinary.

"Your Highness, I'm not here to waste words with you. I'll ask just one question: Do you know about the matter of Spring Full Pavilion harboring malevolent spirits?" Qin Daorong asked directly.

Wu Gai looked at Wu Huannian solemnly. The world had been plagued by malevolent spirits for hundreds of years, and ever since Great Shang established the Demon Subduing Bureau, eradicating them had been the nation's objective.

If one of the thirty-six Marquises had fallen astray, it would truly be a disgrace to the royal family.

"What? Lord Qin, you're not trying to scare me, are you? Spring Full Pavilion harboring malevolent spirits?! I... I had no idea about this at all," Wu Huannian exclaimed, appearing somewhat dumbfounded.

"Huannian, Spring Full Pavilion is your property. You, as the proprietor, must have overseen its affairs," Wu Gai said.

"No, no, no, Brother, you don't understand. Although Spring Full Pavilion is my property, as a Marquis of Wuyi, why would I bother managing a brothel? Wouldn't that be embarrassing? I handed over all the affairs of Spring Full Pavilion to Steward Chu below long ago. Aside from collecting money, I know nothing about Spring Full Pavilion's business."

Wu Huannian explained very earnestly. Qin Daorong had been observing his expression but detected nothing unusual.

Furthermore, he hadn't detected any evil aura on Wu Huannian, making it difficult to determine if the man had truly fallen astray.

Wu Gai asked, "Huannian, are you telling the absolute truth? You're not hiding anything."

"Brother, do you think I'd have the guts to harbor malevolent spirits in Chaotian Capital? That would be seeking my own death."

Qin Daorong spoke, "Marquis Wuyi, I will temporarily believe you are innocent. However, you must remain within your mansion during this period and are not permitted to leave. Only after we have thoroughly investigated the true culprit behind the harboring of malevolent spirits in Spring Full Pavilion can your suspicion be cleared."

"Alright, alright, then you must hurry with your investigation. I can't stand staying in the mansion all the time."

"Farewell." Qin Daorong cupped his fists, and he and Wu Gai departed together.

After the two had walked away, Wu Huannian's expression changed drastically, becoming a completely different person from before.

"One thousand people, just wait for one thousand people, and Wan'er can be resurrected. Then I can take Wan'er and leave this Chaotian Capital. No one, no one can stop me at this moment," Wu Huannian said, sitting back in his chair, his face filled with a sinister coldness.