Core-Formation Great Demon!

Back in the small courtyard of the Demon-Pacifying Ward, she set down her purchases one by one, first putting away the fabric and fitted clothes, then storing the polished rice in the jar.

Finally, she carried the few pounds of heavy meat to the well in the center of the yard.

Drawing water, washing—a series of fluid motions.

She wasn't unskilled in cooking.

In her past life, living alone, she'd cooked plenty; it was just that now, in a woman's body, it still felt a bit strange.

"If I really did marry someone, maybe I'd be a good wife and mother..."

She shook her head, dispelling the odd thoughts, and quickly got to work.

In the kitchen, firewood crackled in the stove, the iron pot set atop it soon steaming hot.

Jiang Yuechu poured the cut beast meat into the pot; with a sizzle, a rich aroma of meat instantly filled the air.

She added some ordinary seasonings, stir-fried over high heat, then simmered slowly.

The scent of meat gradually drifted out of the small yard, luring the dogs of several nearby households to crouch by the wall, sniffing and letting out low whines.

Jiang Yuechu took a deep breath. This familiar smell of cooking fire relaxed her taut nerves.

She scooped up a spoonful of the tender, braised meat and put it in her mouth.

The meat was soft and sticky, full of juice, savory and just right.

With that single bite, she immediately felt a thread of blood and qi grow within her body.

That warm current, wisp by wisp, gathered into her dantian.

Not as violent or immediate as devouring demon flesh, but it had the advantage of steady accumulation over time.

"Ah..."

Jiang Yuechu sighed.

Beast flesh, after all, wasn't demon flesh.

Demon flesh was formed when monsters devoured heaven and earth's spiritual energy or refined the essence of living beings, containing vast blood and qi and demonic aura.

Beasts, on the other hand, were merely strange creatures tainted with a trace of demonic bloodline.

Though their flesh was more spiritual than ordinary livestock, it was far from comparable to true demons.

But according to Great Tang law, privately selling demon flesh was a grave crime.

The Demon Suppression Bureau enforced this strictly; only the Capital Bureau Treasury had the authority to store and refine it.

And she couldn't encounter demons every day.

This beast meat was decent enough.

A pity it was a bit expensive.

Jiang Yuechu looked at the remaining meat in the pot and, for the first time, felt deep worry about her wallet.

It seemed she'd have to find ways to earn more money from now on.

The next morning.

The sky had just begun to pale when Jiang Yuechu rose.

She washed up simply, put on her uniform, a Horizontal Blade at her waist, back straight, and headed to the Demon Suppression Bureau.

After some thought, she decided to show her face to her subordinates.

After all, she was their superior; if she didn't appear often, it might be harder to keep them in line later.

She strode in, and as soon as she entered the Bureau, she saw a familiar figure.

"Miss Jiang, wait."

Liu Chen approached, a hint of urgency on his face.

Jiang Yuechu turned, raising an eyebrow slightly. "What's wrong?"

Liu Chen caught his breath and waved a hand. "Lord Xu has ordered that today, all Team Leaders and above of the Mysterious Battalion are to report to the main hall of the Capital Bureau. There's an important announcement."

Oh, a meeting.

Jiang Yuechu nodded and followed Liu Chen's steps.

They walked side by side.

"Miss Jiang... yesterday, when you went to see the team under you, did it go smoothly?"

Liu Chen hesitated, then couldn't help asking.

Jiang Yuechu shook her head.

"Nothing much. They're martial artists, all stubborn. I went over yesterday to talk some sense into them, and they softened up."

Liu Chen paused mid-step.

"Miss Jiang."

"Hmm?"

"That sounds... strange somehow."

"?"

The two passed through several long corridors and eventually arrived before a spacious main hall.

The hall's doors stood open, and inside it was already packed with people.

All wore the standard black uniforms of the Demon Suppression Bureau, trimmed with crimson patterns.

Jiang Yuechu's gaze swept across the crowd, and she quickly noticed something unusual.

Apart from the ordinary black uniforms with red patterns, a few individuals bore embroidered images of unknown ferocious beasts on their attire, so lifelike they seemed ready to leap out and devour someone.

"Those men are Commanders of the Demon Suppression Bureau."

Liu Chen, noticing her confusion, lowered his voice to explain. "The embroidery on their clothes is the Longyou Golden Lion. The Golden Lion is a divine beast that suppresses demons and wards off evil."

He paused, then added, "Each circuit's Demon Suppression Bureau has different insignias. By the insignia, you can tell which circuit's headquarters they belong to. Of course, only those at the rank of Commander or above are qualified to wear such attire."

Jiang Yuechu nodded in understanding.

Above Team Leader was Captain.

And above Captain was Commander.

Her gaze unconsciously fell on the strikingly handsome young man standing at the front of the hall, dressed in ordinary black robes yet radiating an extraordinary presence.

He wore plain black clothes, devoid of any additional embroidery.

Yet even so, standing there, he was like a crane among chickens, occupying his own realm.

Seeing her reaction, Liu Chen patiently explained further, "Of course, for someone like Lord Xu, unless there's an important occasion, he naturally dresses however he pleases."

Jiang Yuechu understood.

In short, it was a leader's privilege.

If she ever reached that rank, she could probably even show up in a skirt.

She entertained this mischievous thought inwardly, but her face betrayed nothing.

The people in the hall had already noticed their arrival.

A woman appearing in the main hall of the Demon Suppression Bureau was far too conspicuous.

Yet perhaps out of fear of someone, no one whispered among themselves.

Jiang Yuechu, however, paid it no mind. She simply stood expressionless at the end of the line.

After another moment of waiting.

Xu Changfeng slowly closed the scroll in his hand and set it aside on the desk.

"Since everyone is here, let's get straight to the point."

"I have summoned you all for one matter alone."

The breaths of everyone in the hall unconsciously grew lighter.

"At Yumen Pass, a new Core-Formation great demon is suspected to have appeared."

The moment these words were spoken, a wave of sharp intakes of breath rippled through the hall.

Such an existence was a calamity walking among men.

It could summon wind and rain, and with a wave of its hand, annihilate a small city!

Xu Changfeng, however, paid no heed to the crowd's shock and continued, "The Heaven Battalion has personally gone to investigate. In a few days, we will have definite news."

"If the news is confirmed, the Mysterious Battalion is expected to dispatch over half its personnel, accompanying General Wei himself to Yumen Pass to suppress the demon."

Jiang Yuechu's heart tightened.

Over half the personnel—that was nearly the entire Mysterious Battalion mobilizing.

General Wei He leading the operation personally showed just how serious this was.

It also meant that she, as a newly promoted eighth-rank Team Leader, would very likely be drawn into this great battle.

"Therefore, I am having you all prepare in advance."

"In the coming days, make sure to resolve all known demon troubles within the Longyou Circuit."

He paused, his voice growing heavier. "Once battle begins at Yumen Pass, the Longyou Circuit's armies will mobilize. Demons of all kinds will catch wind of it and take advantage of the chaos to strike. If the rear falls into disorder, the front line will surely collapse. This is a war for the safety of the Great Tang and the survival of its people. Not a single oversight can be tolerated."

Everyone in the hall wore grave expressions and answered in unison, "Yes!"

Their voices thundered, shaking the hall.

Jiang Yuechu also clasped her fists and bowed, but in her mind, she had already begun calculating.

The stronger the demon, the more Dao Cultivation there was.

If she could participate in this battle and slay even stronger demons, her strength would surely soar once more.

But...

That was a Core-Formation great demon!

Though he didn't know exactly how it compared to the Bone Resonance Realm.

With his mere early Bone-Resonating cultivation, such strength would absolutely be suicide to go against.

Xu Changfeng saw the crowd accept their orders and waved his hand: "Dismissed. Team Leaders, take your tasks and carry them out. The rest of you stay."

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