Even though his whole body was wrapped in branches, as if clad in armor,
Steward Chu still couldn't withstand the tremendous force in Ning Xiu's arms. His neck was twisted in an instant.
With the battle settled, Ning Xiu immediately turned his gaze toward Qin Daorong.
The two Rank 3 experts fought with ever-increasing ferocity. Wu Huannian's Merit Body was both offensive and defensive.
It could envelop Wu Huannian's body, protecting him from harm.
It could also fight the ferocious beasts conjured by Qin Daorong's brush, without falling behind in the slightest.
Since Ning Xiu and Steward Chu had started fighting, at least twenty White Apes had died at Wu Huannian's hands.
Ink covered the ground, black water splashing everywhere.
Yet Qin Daorong looked utterly relaxed, not the least bit anxious. Clearly, he hadn't truly brought out all his strength.
He had seen everything that had happened on Ning Xiu's side, including the destruction of the formation.
By now, Wu Huannian had nowhere left to run. Even if he sprouted wings tonight, he couldn't escape Chaotian Capital.
Just then, a great commotion rose outside. Su Qianqian and the other Demon Subduing Captains had finally arrived.
"Qin Daorong, you and the Demon Subduing Bureau have ruined my great plan! I hate you!!!"
Unable to overcome his opponent, with the formation destroyed by Ning Xiu's hammer, and the Demon Subduing Captains arriving, Wu Huannian's composure shattered completely. His expression grew more and more twisted.
"I was just one step away from spending the rest of my life with Wan'er. Why did you have to stop me?!"
Violet light blazed from his Merit Body, and even the four-clawed violet dragon took on a more majestic appearance.
Seeing this, Qin Daorong immediately took a sheet of rice paper as tall as a man from his wooden case. He picked up his brush and began to paint.
At the same time, he said calmly, "Marquis Wuyi, have those Demon People bewitched you so much that they've addled your wits? The Demon Subduing Bureau is duty-bound to deal with Demon People and Evil Spirits. Why do you think I'm stopping you?"
As soon as his voice fell, a Cloth-Robed Old Daoist had already taken shape on the paper.
At that same moment, the enraged Wu Huannian controlled his Merit Body, riding the dragon as it soared toward Qin Daorong.
The attack came with an astonishing force. The ground sank and split apart, forming ravines several zhang deep. Cracks stretched a hundred feet, instantly enveloping the entire Marquis Wuyi estate and the surrounding area.
"Elder Bai, I'll have to ask you to lend me a hand again." Seeing Wu Huannian's move, Qin Daorong remained unfazed. He raised his brush and tapped the painted Daoist's eyes.
He gave the figure its eyes!
Deep within the Demon Subduing Prison.
The Cloth-Robed Old Daoist, who had been clutching a wine jar and drinking greedily, suddenly stopped. He scratched his head and said, "How come Qin Daorong drew me to help him again? I shouldn't have gone drinking with him last time. That brat managed to observe my essence and paint me into being. How infuriating. If he keeps drawing me whenever he sees someone, won't I end up as his go-to hired thug?"
Qin Daorong flicked the paper, and the Cloth-Robed Old Daoist stepped out of the painting, lifelike.
In an instant, a gale sprang up. Dark clouds blanketed the sky above the Marquis Wuyi estate, whirlwinds swirled, and peals of thunder exploded overhead.
Just one painting could stir the weather and make the heavens display strange omens.
Ning Xiu watched in secret alarm. This was only a painting—how powerful must the Cloth-Robed Old Daoist's true body be?
The violet dragon soared into the air, then plunged down like a falling star, its momentum astonishing.
The Cloth-Robed Old Daoist raised both hands and traced shapes in the air with his index fingers, conjuring one glowing cyan talisman after another.
As the talismans multiplied and floated through the air, the violet dragon's descent grew slower and slower.
When it was only five feet above Qin Daorong's head, the violet dragon came to a complete standstill, unable to advance another inch.
Glowing cyan talismans surrounded it on every side.
The scene resembled time itself coming to a halt, and it was a stunning sight. The Cloth-Robed Old Daoist clenched his right hand, and the violet dragon was sent flying back into Wu Huannian's Merit Body.
Wu Huannian's qi and blood surged in reverse. He spat out a great cloud of blood and collapsed face-first onto the ground.
Though the Cloth-Robed Old Daoist had only made one move, it had left Wu Huannian too injured to fight back.
After making his move, the Cloth-Robed Old Daoist's figure wavered and vanished on the spot, turning into a puddle of ink.
Qin Daorong shook his head helplessly. His cultivation was still insufficient; the Cloth-Robed Old Daoist he'd painted could barely manage a single move.
"A commoner in coarse robes, with talisman magic that reaches the heavens... This is... Immortal Path Rank 2, Bai Taicang!"
Wu Huannian stared at the Cloth-Robed Old Daoist, his mouth full of blood and his face filled with disbelief. "You're only Painting Path Rank 3. How could you paint Bai Taicang?"
"That needn't concern you, Marquis Wuyi. I have my own methods." Qin Daorong waved his brush and painted.
One Iron Stele after another flew out and landed around Wu Huannian, leaning against each other at intersecting angles. They pinned him firmly to the ground, leaving him unable to move.
With Steward Chu dead and Wu Huannian captured, the chaos of the night had finally come to an end.
The revived Han Wan'er was confused and muddled, her mind like that of a beast. She could do nothing but scratch and bite.
She was proof enough that the Marquis Wuyi had fallen into depravity and conspired with Demon People.
A Demon Subduing Captain brought iron shackles and locked her up, preparing to take her back to the Demon Subduing Prison as well.
The Demon Subduing Captains searched every corner of the Marquis Wuyi estate. Any information related to Demon People was to be brought back to the Demon Subduing Bureau.
As they watched the Demon Subduing Captains turn the place upside down, the servants' faces all wore the dead stillness of despair.
Everyone knew perfectly well that after tonight, Great Shang would likely be left with only thirty-five marquises.
"Tonight, the four of you did the most to stop the Marquis Wuyi from escaping in time. Tell me, what rewards do you want? As long as they're within reason, I can grant them."
In the banquet hall of the Marquis Wuyi estate, Qin Daorong sat in the seat of honor and laughed.
Beside him were Zuo Yuanhao, captain of Bronze Leopard Squad 1; Dian Tu, captain of Squad 10; and Song Tieshan, captain of Squad 13.
And Su Qianqian, captain of Squad 6.
They were the captains of the four squads that made up Ning Xiu's temporary patrol team.
The four had uncovered the secret of Spring Full Pavilion tonight and completely brought down the great fish that was the fallen Marquis Wuyi.
Qin Daorong was delighted, and went straight to settling the rewards for their contributions right there in the Marquis Wuyi estate.
At that, the four seated not far away from him exchanged glances, their eyes filled with delight and excitement.
The Demon Subduing Bureau didn't have that many rules or hidden agendas. When a superior told you that you could ask for a reward,
you simply said what you wanted. There was no need to put on a show of false modesty and politeness like those court officials, hoping to make their superiors think they were neither arrogant nor impatient, and knew how to keep their composure.
If you really did that, people in the Demon Subduing Bureau would instead wonder whether there was something wrong with your head.
The Demon Subduing Captains fought Evil Spirits for a living. It was dangerous work, and you could die in some distant land at any moment during a mission.
In such circumstances, there was no time to waste before strengthening your own abilities. Who would bother putting on airs?
"Lord Qin, I'd like to obtain the Hundred Battles Blood Refinement Strategy written by Silver Tiger Demon Subduing Captain Xiao Qin Hu."
After a moment's thought, Liu Yong, the temporary team captain, was the first to name what he wanted.
Ning Xiu had heard of the book. It was a body-tempering technique written by a Martial Path Rank 3 expert. It wasn't included in the Three Saints Hall, and was powerful once mastered.
But the technique wouldn't do much for him. He only needed to keep raising his Golden Bell Shield's level.
Once he reached perfection, he could even use the Proficiency Panel to evolve it. In the short term, he had no need for another body-tempering technique.
"Granted. I'll have Zuo Yuanhao bring it to you in a few days," Qin Daorong said, nodding without hesitation.
Zuo Yuanhao, the captain of Squad 1, looked at Liu Yong with approval and pride. He'd asked for the right reward.
"Lord Qin, may I request to become a disciple of Lord Nan Yuanxing?" After hesitating for a long time, Li Yueying finally couldn't help asking.
Nan Yuanxing was a Silver Tiger Demon Subduing Captain of the Demon Subduing Bureau. She governed the bureau alongside Qin Daorong and was one of the Three Demon Subduing Tigers.
Ning Xiu hadn't met her, but he'd heard she was a stunningly beautiful and shapely married woman. She was also Immortal Path Rank 3, making her a perfect match for Li Yueying.
"Well..." After hearing Li Yueying's request, Qin Daorong was the one who hesitated.
The matter was both simple and difficult, depending entirely on whether Nan Yuanxing agreed.
Though he was quite familiar with Nan Yuanxing, it would be hard for him to decide on her behalf. Taking on a disciple took considerable effort, after all.
Qin Daorong could only answer sincerely, "I can bring it up with her for you, but I can't say whether she'll agree."
"Thank you, Lord Qin," Li Yueying said with a happy smile.
Song Tieshan, captain of Squad 13, looked at Li Yueying with a helpless expression. If her request succeeded, it would be an exceptionally valuable reward.
After all, having an Immortal Path Rank 3 master would greatly improve her strength.
But if it failed, she'd be at a huge loss, having wasted the chance to obtain a precious technique or top-grade artifact.
Still, young people had their own ideas and ambitions. As their captain, he had no intention of judging them.
"Lord Qin, I'd like to form a Bronze Leopard Squad of my own. I can recruit people from any current Bronze Leopard Squad, as long as they agree."
After Li Yueying, Qin Ben—who'd been thinking for a long time—spoke in an unrestrained manner.
"Cough!" Dian Tu, captain of Squad 10, had been drinking tea. At those words, he choked and couldn't stop coughing.
He looked at Qin Ben, and the two stared at each other, their eyes flashing with countless unspoken words.
Your wings have grown, brat. Want to fly solo? Have I ever treated you badly?
It's just that the captain is too charming.
You don't just want the captain, do you?
The lord knows me so well.
Qin Daorong stroked his beard. "Any Demon Subduing Captain who reaches the Middle Three Ranks may apply to form a new Bronze Leopard Squad. As for the way you want to recruit, I approve."
"Wonderful! Thank you, Lord Qin!" Qin Ben hurriedly thanked him.
Qin Ben's requested reward was certainly a little hard to understand.
Aside from him, probably no one else truly understood his purpose.
Now, only one person remained who hadn't said what reward he wanted. Everyone present focused their attention on him.
Faced with everyone's gazes, Ning Xiu truly didn't know what to say. There wasn't anything in particular he wanted.
But he still had to name something, since all the higher-ups were waiting.
Ning Xiu said, "The pair of Startling Thunder Purple Lightning Hammers belonging to Purple Thunder True Man. I've already collected the Startling Thunder Hammer,
but I'm still missing the Purple Lightning Hammer. Only with both can I bring out the true power of the two weapons. I hope, my lord, you'll use the Demon Subduing Bureau's connections and resources to help me find the Purple Lightning Hammer."
Before you continue