Demon Extermination Order

Three more days passed.

"Junior Brother, you're a new disciple too. Registration for the New Student Competition starts today."

"Aren't you going?"

Watching Chen Qinglin practice his sword, Ling Ling propped her chin on her hand and asked from the side.

"No." Without the slightest pause, the sword light remained swift, some kind of momentum lurking within, waiting to be unleashed.

As the sword moved like a dragon winding through serpents, it was as if one could see a storm rising from a faint whisper to one that connected heaven and earth...

For him, participating in such a martial arts competition was both a waste of his time and bullying.

The highest cultivation among the new disciples now was merely Inner Qi Realm Early Stage, and those who had just broken through at that.

He was already at the True Essence Condensation Realm. Even going by his surface-level display, he had Mid Inner Qi Realm.

Not to mention martial skills—among the new disciples, no one had even mastered a Mortal Grade Swordplay to perfection, and few had achieved anything in the Human Grade martial arts.

Even those disciples who had been taken in as Inner Disciples upon entry, if they hadn't broken through to the Inner Qi Realm, probably wouldn't even be a match for ordinary new disciples at the Inner Qi Realm.

Most importantly, for him, it held no meaning at all.

"Then, Junior Brother, don't you have any acquaintances among the new disciples? Don't you want to see them?"

When it came to acquaintances, the faces that surfaced in his mind were Qi Hanwen, Xin Shuming, and Zhong Qing.

But there wasn't really any closeness—they were just people from the same place. So far from home, one naturally felt a filter of familiarity toward fellow townsfolk, and thus a sense of warmth.

Counting the time they had known each other, it was only about half a month. It was impossible for there to be any deep bond.

Besides, after that incident happened, there was no longer any connection with Xin Shuming and Zhong Qing.

If he appeared by their side, they might even be terrified.

As for Qi Hanwen, over these past few months, he had heard that because of him, no one bothered Qi Hanwen anymore, allowing him to focus on martial arts training every day.

His talent wasn't bad either. A month ago, he had already broken through to Body Tempering Eighth Level.

If things continued this way, without considering the issue of raising Blood Qi control to the ninth level, breaking through to the Inner Qi Realm before twenty would be easy.

That was fine too. Everyone has their own life.

Maybe he was just cold-blooded by nature?

"Senior Sister, do you want to go watch the New Student Competition?" Chen Qinglin asked.

"Senior Sister has been staying on Qingyun Peak lately. I imagine you're getting a bit restless from too much stillness."

"If you think the New Student Competition sounds interesting, why not invite Senior Sister Su and the others to go along?"

Ling Ling actually didn't really want to go watch. This New Student Competition—she just felt that Junior Brother spent every day practicing martial arts in the small courtyard and was too cooped up.

That was why she asked him this question, hoping to take him out for some fresh air.

But that was Ling Ling's thought. Practicing the sword every day, he found his own joy in it and still felt he didn't have enough time.

After all, he had too many martial arts to cultivate.

Ever since he obtained the Rain Sword Emperor's inheritance, he no longer needed to do missions or anything like that.

The Merit Points he had earned from previous missions were all spent on exchanging for martial arts at the Hidden Martial Pavilion.

Now he couldn't even finish practicing them all. It had to be said, this was a kind of happy trouble!

"Since Junior Brother has no interest in going, then forget it." Ling Ling said very naturally. She had only asked on a whim anyway.

As for Yuexing and the others, they weren't interested either.

Unable to figure out Ling Ling's thoughts, he only felt that women's minds were truly hard to guess. Better to just practice the sword—that was far more satisfying!

Living a peaceful life like this wasn't bad either.

Unfortunately, life wouldn't stay calm forever.

The surface of a still lake would occasionally ripple from the movements of a large fish lurking in the deep.

Yanzhou, Yandu City...

Yandu City was the capital of Daxuan, a great city rebuilt amidst the chaos of war.

To this day, the city walls already stood forty to fifty zhang high, and they rose higher every year.

Inside the city, traffic flowed like a river, buildings stood in close array, colorful silks were carved with dragons, pearl curtains and jade ornaments gleamed with gold and splendor...

Words were insufficient to describe it, unable to fully capture the scene.

Yandu City's Imperial Palace, Shangxuan Hall...

The founding Emperor, Yan Xuan, was handling affairs here, reviewing memorials...

"Say whatever you have to say. What's with this hesitating manner? You're someone who followed me in establishing Daxuan."

Seeing the Attendant Official beside him wanting to speak but afraid to disturb him, Yan Xuan spoke.

"Your Majesty, recently it has been discovered that Beast Tides have occurred in many prefectures. Even some dynasties within the Eastern Ridge Domain have experienced such incidents. Defenses everywhere are insufficient. What do you think..."

Click to View

The Attendant Official presented the intelligence report that had been transmitted from below and spoke to report.

Upon hearing this, Yan Xuan paused his work of reviewing memorials, took the report, and opened it to read through.

Squinting his eyes, he said, "The Eastern Ridge Domain has many high mountains and great marshes, and the Great Xuan Dynasty is surrounded by mountain ranges—such an abundance of peaks is rare even in the Eastern Ridge Domain."

"The Remnant Poison from a thousand years ago also lies hidden here in the Eastern Ridge Domain."

"This Lonely One is aware of it as well. For so many places to suffer Beast Tide disturbances at once, there must be remnants of the Demon Race controlling them from behind."

"Yan San!"

"Your subject is here!"

"Send word: every prefecture and region must actively prepare defenses. At the same time, contact the Three Sects and have them send people to assist in resistance, investigation, and resolution of this matter."

Having said this, Yan Xuan appeared above the imperial palace. A faint light flickered in his eyes as he gazed toward the various prefectures of Great Xuan.

In every direction of Great Xuan, demonic qi surged, winds stirred, and clouds churned.

"This is no longer a matter of one or two prefectures. To stir up such a great wave right under my nose!"

"How long has it been since peace? It seems some among my subjects grow restless!"

"Order the Patrol Division and the Xuan Yu Guard to sweep and investigate all of Great Xuan!"

"All prefectural offices, commandery city academies, coordinate in support..."

"Anyone colluding with demons or betraying the nation—put them all to death! Those who harbor demons and fail to report—share the same crime and be executed!"

"This Lonely One will see to it that throughout Great Xuan, from top to bottom, there is no place for demons to hide."

"Regardless of official rank, imperial kin, or common folk, whoever dares to violate this law may be executed first and reported afterward!"

"This decree also applies to the Three Great Sects..."

One decree after another issued from King Yan's mouth, spreading to all directions.

Soon, the Three Great Sects received the news and followed suit with a series of actions.

Within a few days, the Three Great Sects and the Great Xuan Dynasty jointly issued the Demon Extermination Order!

Whoever slew a demon could go to the Three Great Sects or the Great Xuan court to exchange for martial arts techniques, Divine Weapons and Sharp Tools, Spirit Pills and Miraculous Medicines, and so on.

When the news spread, it stirred up a thousand waves. Countless Wandering Heroes emerged and rushed across the four corners of Great Xuan.

"Brother White Wolf, why do you think the Heavenly Demon Majesty wants us to cause trouble on the True Spirit Continent at this time?"

"With just the beasts we have on the True Spirit Continent, with that person guarding it, I'm afraid we can't stir up much of a wave."

"And those Devil Race fellows have been even harder to find lately. I wonder what they're up to."

Deep within a certain mountain range, giant trees blotted out the sky and covered the valley below...

In the valley.

A blood-red crow was speaking to an enormous white wolf below.

The White Wolf lay leisurely in the valley. He opened one huge wolf eye to glance at it, his blood-fanged wolf mouth opening and closing as he said, "Blood Crow, the Heavenly Demon Majesty has his own plans. We only need to carry out orders—what's with all the 'whys'?"

"I'm just curious, Brother White Wolf. You're mighty and far-reaching, and your clan is one of the top great clans in our True Demon Realm. Won't you give your little brother some guidance?"

The Blood Crow flattered the White Wolf with a fawning expression.

The White Wolf opened his wolf eyes again, stood up, and said gravely, "You're clever. All I can tell you is this: you may stir up chaos on this world's continent, but you must not expose yourself."

"His Majesty wants the turmoil on the True Spirit Continent to last as long as possible. How you do it is up to you."

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother White Wolf! Your little brother understands!" The Blood Crow's crow face twisted into a terrifying grin.

"I won't disturb Brother White Wolf any longer." With that, a flash of blood light passed, and he vanished from the valley.

Watching the Blood Crow leave, the White Wolf lay back down and muttered to himself: Fool. With that person guarding the True Spirit Realm, anyone who stirs up trouble won't find it so easy to hide.

His Majesty's orders are clear—this is to treat all the demons lurking in the True Spirit Realm as expendable pawns!

A thousand years ago, in the battle for the True Spirit Realm, that person was favored by heaven. On the eve of the demon and devil realms breaking through the True Spirit World's defenses, he broke through to a realm comparable to the Heavenly Demon Majesty and the Devil Master Majesty.

With the support of the True Spirit World, he defeated the Heavenly Demon Majesty and the Devil Master Majesty, and the two realms retreated.

Those of us who didn't manage to escape had to stay in this world, hiding with utmost care.

This time, it seems he's determined to abandon us—this ragtag bunch of remnants...

I need to make plans early. On my own, I'm probably not worth the clan's effort to summon me back.

I'll have to find another way!

In the last few centuries, Talismans, advanced Formations, and some new Spirit Pills have appeared in the True Spirit Realm. It seems they've made contact with other worlds.

There might even be a method to cross realms...

Can't find the book by title? Try searching by author—maybe it's just been renamed!