The 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 rested her chin on her hand and asked from the side.

"I'm not going." Without the slightest pause, his sword flashed on, swift as ever, a certain force poised to erupt.

As his sword moved like a dragon winding through the clouds, he seemed to glimpse a storm growing from a faint breeze until it joined heaven and earth...

To him, entering a competition like this would be a waste of time—and nothing more than picking on people.

The strongest of the new disciples had only reached the Inner Qi Realm Early Stage, and had only just broken through.

He had already reached the True Essence Condensation Realm. Even judging by what he showed on the surface, he was at the Mid Inner Qi Realm.

And that was without even mentioning martial skills. Not one of the new disciples had fully mastered Mortal Grade Swordplay, and very few had made any real progress in Human Grade martial arts.

Even among those disciples accepted as Inner Disciples upon enrollment, those who had yet to break through to the Inner Qi Realm probably couldn't match an ordinary new disciple at that level.

Most importantly, the competition meant nothing to him.

"Then, Junior Brother, don't you know anyone among the new disciples? Don't you want to see them?"

When he thought of people he knew, Qi Hanwen, Xin Shuming, and Zhong Qing came to mind.

But they weren't exactly close. They had simply come from the same place. So far from home, he felt a fondness for fellow townsfolk and a sense of kinship with them.

They'd known one another for only about half a month. There was no way they'd formed any deep bonds.

Besides, after what had happened, he no longer felt anything for Xin Shuming and Zhong Qing.

If he showed up beside them, they might even be frightened of him.

As for Qi Hanwen, he'd heard that, over the past few months, no one had gone to bother him because of what he'd done, and Qi Hanwen had been able to focus on practicing martial arts every day.

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

If things continued like this, and he didn't count the challenge of raising his Blood Qi control to the ninth level, breaking through to the Inner Qi Realm before he turned twenty would be easy.

This was fine, too. Everyone had their own life to live.

Maybe I'm just cold-blooded?

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

"Senior Sister's been staying on Qingyun Peak lately. Maybe she's a little stir-crazy."

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

Ling Ling didn't really want to watch. She'd only asked because her junior brother spent every day practicing martial arts in the courtyard, and she thought he must be getting a little cooped up.

That was why she'd brought it up, hoping to take him out for some fresh air.

But that was just Ling Ling's idea. He enjoyed practicing his sword every day and only wished he had more time for it.

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

Ever since he'd received the Rain Sword Emperor's legacy, he no longer had to take on tasks or anything like that.

He'd spent all the Merit Points he'd earned from previous tasks exchanging for martial arts at the Hidden Martial Pavilion.

Now he couldn't even finish practicing what he already had. It had to be said, that was a happy problem to have!

"Since you don't feel like going, Junior Brother, then never mind," Ling Ling said casually. She'd only asked on a whim.

Yuexing and the others weren't interested, either.

Unable to figure out what Ling Ling was thinking, he could only conclude that women's thoughts were impossible to guess. Practicing the sword was far more satisfying!

There was nothing wrong with letting the peaceful days go on like this.

Unfortunately, life never stayed peaceful forever.

Even a still lake was sometimes stirred by a great fish lurking in its depths.

Yanzhou, Yandu City...

Yandu City was the capital of Great Xuan, a vast city rebuilt amid the chaos of war.

By now, its walls stood forty or fifty zhang tall, and they grew higher every year.

Inside the city, carriages streamed along the roads; buildings stood row upon row, adorned with dragon-carved silk and jade beads behind emerald curtains, glittering with gold and splendor...

Words could not do it justice; they could never fully capture the city's grandeur.

The imperial palace of Yandu City, the Shangxuan Hall...

The founding emperor, Yan Xuan, was working there, reviewing memorials...

"If you have something to say, then say it. What's with all the hesitation? You helped me build Great Xuan, after all."

Seeing the attendant beside him wanting to speak but afraid to interrupt, Yan Xuan spoke.

"Your Majesty, reports have come in of Beast Tides in several provinces. Similar incidents have even occurred in some of the dynasties in the Eastern Ridge Domain. Local defenses have been caught unprepared. What do you think...?"

The attendant presented the reports sent from below and gave his briefing.

After hearing him, Yan Xuan stopped reviewing memorials, took the reports, and opened them to read.

He narrowed his eyes and said,

"The Eastern Ridge Domain is full of towering mountains and vast marshes. The Great Xuan Dynasty is surrounded by mountains, too; there are few places in the Eastern Ridge Domain with as many mountain ranges."

"Remnant Poison from a thousand years ago is still lurking here in the Eastern Ridge Domain."

"I know a little about it. With Beast Tides causing chaos in so many places this time, I'm afraid remnants of the Demon Race are controlling them from behind the scenes."

"Yan San!"

"Here!"

"Pass down the order. Every province and locality must make active preparations. At the same time, contact the Three Sects and have them send people to help resist, investigate, and resolve the matter."

After speaking, Yan Xuan appeared above the imperial palace. A faint light gleamed in his eyes as he looked toward the provinces of Great Xuan.

Demonic aura rose in every direction across Great Xuan, and the winds gathered as clouds churned.

"This is no longer a matter of one or two provinces. They've stirred up such a huge disturbance right under my nose!"

"How long has it been peaceful? It seems some of my subjects can't bear the quiet!"

"Send word to the Patrol Division and the Xuan Yu Guard: search every corner of Great Xuan!"

"Have the academies in every provincial seat and commandery city coordinate with them..."

"Anyone who conspires with demons or betrays the nation must be put to death! Anyone who hides demons and fails to report them shall suffer the same fate!"

"I want to see no place in all of Great Xuan where demons can hide."

"No matter their official rank, whether they're imperial relatives or commoners, anyone who dares break this law may be executed first and reported afterward!"

"This law applies to the Three Great Sects as well..."

One decree after another left King Yan's lips and spread in every direction.

Before long, the Three Great Sects received the news and began taking a series of measures of their own.

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

Anyone who slew demons could go to the Three Great Sects or the Great Xuan court to exchange their kills for martial arts manuals, divine weapons, Spirit Pills and Miraculous Medicine, and more.

The news sent waves surging across the land. Countless wandering heroes emerged and hurried to every corner of Great Xuan.

"Brother White Wolf, why do you think the Heavenly Demon Majesty has ordered us to stir up trouble on the True Spirit Continent now?"

"With the few beasts we have on the True Spirit Continent, and that person holding down the fort, we won't be able to make much of a splash."

"And the Devil Race lot have been even harder to find lately. No idea what they're up to."

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

In the valley,

A blood-red crow was speaking to the enormous White Wolf beneath him.

White Wolf lay at ease in the valley. One massive wolf's eye opened to glance at him. Then his jaws, crowded with bloodstained fangs, opened and closed as he spoke.

"Blood Crow, the Heavenly Demon Majesty has his own plans. We only need to follow orders. Why ask so many questions?"

"I'm only curious, Brother White Wolf. You're mighty, and your clan is one of the top great clans in the True Demon Realm. Could you give your little brother a pointer or two?"

Blood Crow fawned over White Wolf with a flattering grin.

White Wolf opened his eyes again, rose to his feet, and spoke sternly.

"You're a clever one. I can only tell you this: you can stir up chaos across this world, but you mustn't expose yourself."

"His Majesty wants the True Spirit Continent plunged into chaos for as long as possible. How you do it is up to you."

"Thank you for the warning, Brother White Wolf. I understand!" Blood Crow said, his beak twisting into a horrifying grin.

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

White Wolf watched Blood Crow leave, then lay back down and thought: Fool. With that person guarding the True Spirit World, how could anyone stirring up chaos hide so easily?

His Majesty's order means he intends to treat all the demons hidden in the True Spirit Realm as expendable pawns!

In the battle a thousand years ago in the True Spirit Realm, that person was blessed beyond measure. Just before the Demon and Devil Realms broke through the defenses and entered the True Spirit World, he broke through to a realm on par with the Heavenly Demon Majesty and the Devil Lord.

With the True Spirit World's power behind him, he defeated the Heavenly Demon Majesty and the Devil Lord, and both realms withdrew.

Those of us who didn't make it out in time could only remain in this world, hiding carefully.

This time, it seems they're willing to abandon us remnants without a second thought...

I'd better make plans early. I doubt my clan would think it worth sending someone across the realms to retrieve me alone.

I'll have to find another way!

In the past few hundred years, Talismans, advanced Formations, and various new Spirit Pills have appeared in the True Spirit Realm. It looks like they've made contact with other worlds.

Maybe they have a way to cross between worlds...