Chen Feng nodded and said solemnly.
"That's right, humans!"
"The Pity Life Sect claims to save the world and relieve suffering, but the path they walk is that of demonic heretics!"
"They mix human blood with demon blood, then offer a Blood Sacrifice to the Holy Mother of Pity Life, causing their own blood to exchange with demon blood."
"With human bodies, they walk the path of demons."
Hearing this, Wang Xuan sucked in a cold breath.
Replacing human blood with demon blood?
What else could that be if not a crooked, demonic path?
"Then... wouldn't that make them demons?"
Chen Feng sighed and said helplessly, "Who says otherwise? Demons are bloodthirsty by nature and innately cruel. Replacing one's blood with demon blood is sheer betrayal of all orthodox principles!"
"Once one absorbs demon blood, their mind will be eroded by it!"
"Thus, the more Blood Sacrifices the people of the Pity Life Sect undergo, the less they differ from demons. We call them Demon-Humans!"
"And the situation you saw just now is called Demonization!"
"When the demon blood within their bodies is stimulated, their strength rises dramatically. However, once most people use demon blood, they become monsters that know nothing but slaughter!"
Chen Feng paused before continuing.
"And what the Pity Life Sect likes most for Blood Sacrifices is the blood of women and children."
"Especially the blood of virgins untouched by men and children less than a month old. According to them, such sacrifices yield the best results!"
"That fellow you encountered earlier had probably only just come into contact with the Pity Life Sect and had merely a small amount of demon blood implanted in him."
"If he had been a Pity Life Sect Demon-Human who had undergone one complete Blood Sacrifice, we would probably all have perished here today!"
"I passed through this place because women and children have recently been disappearing around the county town, and there have been rumors of Pity Life Sect members appearing here!"
"Therefore, the Centurion ordered us to investigate the surrounding areas."
"I never expected that as soon as I arrived, I would run into you and that beast!"
"It seems the Pity Life Sect has already reached White Water County!"
As Wang Xuan listened to Chen Feng's account, his heart tightened involuntarily.
He had originally thought demons were terrifying, but now it seemed humans were even more terrifying!
"Virgin's blood... women!"
"Could it be..."
Suddenly!
Wang Xuan seemed to recall something, and his expression changed sharply!
Seeing this, Chen Feng frowned. "Little Stone, what's wrong? Why do you look so terrible?"
Wang Xuan came back to himself and repeatedly shook his head.
"It's nothing."
Yet Wang Xuan felt immensely heavy-hearted.
According to Chen Feng, the Pity Life Sect favored virgin's blood for Blood Sacrifices. His sister-in-law, Lu Yao, had not yet married into the family and was also a virgin.
Furthermore, the Pity Life Sect's Hou Feng, whom he had just encountered, was a complete stranger to him. They had no grudge between them, yet Hou Feng had come straight for him!
Wang Xuan did not have many enemies. Shi Yong had already been killed by him, and the only enemy remaining was Zhou Bapi!
Thinking of the Blood Sacrifice, Wang Xuan had an uneasy premonition.
"This Zhou Bapi... couldn't he be a member of the Pity Life Sect?"
A chill ran through Wang Xuan's heart.
If Zhou Bapi was a member of the Pity Life Sect, then everything made sense!
"No!"
"If that bastard truly belongs to the Pity Life Sect, he definitely won't let me off so easily!"
Wang Xuan could not help clenching his fists.
If Hou Feng had been sent by Zhou Bapi, then Zhou Bapi was a member of the Pity Life Sect!
Just one Demon-Human had been so difficult to deal with. If a few more came, he would probably have died long ago!
"I'm still too weak!"
Wang Xuan clenched his fists again.
"Little Stone, you still haven't told me how you encountered that beast."
"Have you offended anyone recently?"
"And how did you become a martial artist?"
Chen Feng spoke then, voicing the doubts in his heart.
He had spent two years in the county town army and endured no small amount of hardship before becoming an Iron Skin martial artist!
Wang Xuan had been sickly since childhood. When Chen Feng returned a month ago, Wang Xuan had still been a frail invalid.
No resources, no martial arts manuals.
Yet after only one month apart, he had become a martial artist!
Wang Xuan explained, "Brother Feng should know that something happened to my father and elder brother a few months ago. With no other choice, I could only enter the mountains to hunt for a living."
"Today, while hunting in the mountains, I happened upon that fellow. He tried to attack me without a word. After I wounded him with an arrow, he turned into that."
"As for how I became a martial artist, Brother Feng, you also know that my family has lived by hunting for generations. We often venture deep into the forests."
"Some time ago, I entered the mountains and happened to find a red wild fruit. After eating it, I felt my strength gradually increase by quite a bit."
"Then, somehow or other, I became a martial artist."
Wang Xuan did not mention either the Zhou family or the martial arts matter. Better to avoid trouble whenever possible.
If Zhou Bapi had no connection to the Pity Life Sect, that would be fine. But if he did, Zhou Bapi would likely want even more desperately to eliminate Wang Xuan at all costs!
Before he had the ability to protect himself, he could not reveal that he was a martial artist!
Upon hearing this, Chen Feng could not help frowning.
"A red fruit?"
"You really are lucky. If I'm not mistaken, it should have been some kind of heavenly treasure. That's an exceedingly rare good thing."
"Even after joining the army, I had only heard of such things."
Chen Feng was somewhat envious.
Heavenly treasures were of tremendous benefit to martial artists' cultivation. Obtaining one could save months, or even years, of bitter training.
"Oh, right, Little Stone."
"I saw just now that your archery is extraordinary. Have you never thought about leaving this place?"
Chen Feng asked this then.
"Leave this place?"
Wang Xuan's heart stirred, and he said, "Brother Feng, do you mean going to the county town?"
Chen Feng nodded. "That's right."
"Demon calamities are now frequent along the frontier, while demonic heretics like the Pity Life Sect run rampant within. Staying in this village is not a long-term plan!"
"I returned this time first because I was ordered to investigate the Pity Life Sect, and second, to bring my father to the county town."
"Your archery can be called divine!"
"If you can enter the county town, you will have great prospects!"
Wang Xuan felt somewhat tempted upon hearing this.
He now had the Martial Path to rely on, and sooner or later he would possess the strength to protect himself.
But...
From Chen Feng's words, the world was growing increasingly unsettled. With the Pity Life Sect appearing here and people already beginning to vanish...
If he continued to stay, his sister-in-law Lu Yao would be in grave danger!
"Brother Feng, in your opinion, where could I go if I entered the county town?"
Chen Feng said, "There are four places."
"First, naturally, the army."
"Ordinary people who enter the army must begin in the recruit camp, practicing cultivation and learning martial arts. Those who pass the assessment within seven days become Martial Soldiers. Those who fail can only become Cannon Fodder—in plain terms, expendable meat shields."
"But you are different. You are already a martial artist, and with your Triple Star Shot archery, you are more than worthy of being called a divine archer. Anywhere you go, people would fight to recruit you!"
"Rest assured, if you want to join the army, I'll immediately recommend you to the Centurion. With your abilities, you can at the very least become a Banner Officer in the future."
"Second, a martial arts hall."
"The martial arts hall in our town barely deserves the name. At most, its master is only somewhat stronger than I am!"
"But the great martial arts halls in the county town are all overseen by top-tier Martial Path experts."
"If you can become the disciple of a Martial Path expert, your future will be boundless!"
"Third, the aristocratic clans and wealthy families."
"You can become a guard for one of those clans. With your archery, you can definitely get in, but once you do, you'll lose your personal freedom."
"Fourth, the sects!"
"This is the best destination, but also the hardest."
"The sects of our Great Yuan Dynasty have been passed down for thousands of years. Their foundations are unimaginably deep, and there are countless Martial Path experts within them. If you enter one, even as the most ordinary disciple, your future will be limitless."
"It's just that sects have extremely stringent requirements for accepting disciples. They look at bone structure, talent, and all sorts of things. Ordinary people cannot get in, so it would not be easy for me to recommend you."
Wang Xuan nodded slightly upon hearing this.
For him, the best destinations were actually the army or a martial arts hall.
If he joined an aristocratic clan or wealthy family, he could only guard their gates and watch their homes. He would have little freedom, and it would instead become a restriction.
As for sects...
They were too difficult.
Without connections, he feared he would not be able to enter.
Seeing Wang Xuan deep in thought, Chen Feng suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, right, there's one more place!
"The Demon Slayer Division!"
Before you continue