Treading on a prodigy, rising like a blazing sun

Outside the Law Enforcement Hall.

Zhou Yang flew through the air like a kite with its string cut, smashed away on the spot.

His eyes bulged, blood spilled from his nose and mouth, and his breastbone had caved in beyond recognition. Clearly, only half a breath remained to keep him alive.

Every disciple present was utterly stunned.

Their eyes went wide.

A prodigy ranked among the top ten outer sect disciples had lost just like that?

With a single palm strike, without even using any spell, he had crushed a spirit artifact with nothing but the strength of his body and nearly killed a Half-Step Foundation Establishment outer sect standout.

Was that really possible?

Even the number one outer sect disciple probably could not have done such a thing.

Who was that man?

What kind of god was he?

They went through every renowned genius among the outer sect disciples, yet none seemed to match him.

For a moment.

All eyes focused on Jiang Li.

On the other side.

Zhou Yang lay sprawled on the ground, covered in blood. His ears rang and his mind was blank, as though he could not accept this reality.

Instinctively, he shot Jiang Li a venomous glare and raged impotently, "Impossible! I am Half-Step Foundation Establishment. I am invincible below Foundation Establishment, and I may not be unable to fight even those above it. How could an eighth-layer Qi Refining cultivator like you defeat me?"

Jiang Li said nothing.

One brow lifted slightly.

You are invincible below Foundation Establishment? Then what am I?

The entry-level Emperor's World-Shocking Art granted a mighty physique comparable to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. His flesh could shatter spirit artifacts, and its sheer display of power was even greater than that of a Body Cultivator. Where did a Half-Step Foundation Establishment nobody get the nerve to claim invincibility below Foundation Establishment?

Even he did not dare boast so shamelessly.

"Submit to execution. You thought you had hidden yourself well, but you could not fool me," Jiang Li said calmly.

His deep gaze fell upon Zhou Yang, and his emotionless words slowly rippled through the air.

What rotten luck for him. He happened to run right into the system's gun barrel. That counts as building up virtue, I suppose.

Otherwise, Jiang Li had been planning to report the Ten Thousand Demons Sect spy.

Ten Thousand Demons Sect spy: We should thank you, then?

Zhou Yang spat out blood, his expression fierce and twisted. "I do not know what you are talking about, but you attacked me without distinguishing black from white, seriously injuring me. I will definitely make the Law Enforcement Hall seek justice for me!"

Hearing their exchange, everyone present finally recalled that this had begun because Jiang Li had accused Zhou Yang of being a demonic cultivator.

Some disciples began casting the Aura Sight Technique, sweeping their eyes over Zhou Yang.

In the end, confusion appeared on their faces.

They had not detected any blood-baleful aura on Zhou Yang.

Was this a farce?

If so, then Jiang Li was in deep trouble.

He had attacked a fellow sect brother for no reason and severely injured him, right outside the Law Enforcement Hall. The nature of this matter was extremely serious.

Just then.

A crisp voice rang out.

"There is no need for so much trouble. We have already invited Elder Cui here."

It was Li Xi who spoke.

As her words fell.

Punishment Elder Cui Yan appeared at the scene, with Murong Qing and Li Xi behind him.

Seeing that the situation had not spiraled out of control, Li Xi lightly patted her chest and shot Jiang Li a subtle look.

"What happened here?"

Cui Yan frowned at the scene before him.

As time had been pressing, Murong Qing and Li Xi had not yet had a chance to explain things to him.

Now that he looked.

Was this a private fight between disciples?

Judging from the result, Jiang Li was clearly the victor—and it had been a complete crushing defeat.

His opponent, Zhou Yang, had only one breath left.

Cui Yan cast Jiang Li a look.

Jiang Li immediately understood and explained, "Elder Cui, you know about my special talent. I discovered that Zhou Yang is a demonic cultivator."

Cui Yan was startled.

A demonic cultivator?

And one like Zhou Yang, an outstanding outer sect disciple?

He recalled Jiang Li's Innocent Heart talent. Could such a talent also distinguish demonic cultivators?

He already believed eighty percent of Jiang Li's words.

There was no other reason.

Jiang Li's resolve and conviction to Slay Demons and Defend the Dao, coupled with his Innocent Heart—along with the fact that he was the next cultivator of the Ten Directions Thunderous Exorcism Scripture personally appointed by the sect leader, a future Holy Son Candidate—made him worthy of trust.

Zhou Yang, meanwhile, was beginning to panic.

He had not expected the two pearls of the Holy Land, Murong Qing and Li Xi, to stand on Jiang Li's side—and to have invited the Punishment Elder as well.

He had not intended to make such a huge scene.

"Elder Cui, he is slandering me with a mouthful of blood."

Cui Yan waved a hand. "Whether that is true or not, one look from the Heart Questioning Mirror will reveal it."

At those words.

Zhou Yang's heart turned cold.

His concealment methods could fool simple spells such as the Aura Sight Technique, but they could not fool the Heart Questioning Mirror.

"I... I..."

Zhou Yang began to stammer.

His eyes darted away.

Blood mixed with cold sweat dripped from his face, leaving him in utter panic.

Seeing his reaction, Cui Yan could basically confirm that there was indeed something wrong with Zhou Yang.

By his usual hardline methods, he would have simply taken Zhou Yang away for interrogation at this point. But considering that Jiang Li, a Holy Son Candidate, should not be left with the image of acting arbitrarily and alone, he still took out the Heart Questioning Mirror, poured Mana into it, and shone it upon Zhou Yang.

The moment it shone upon him, Zhou Yang was immediately exposed.

Surging blood qi emerged from his body.

Yet a layer of golden light shrouded that blood qi.

It was precisely this layer of golden light that had suppressed the blood-baleful aura, preventing the Aura Sight Technique from seeing through it.

"Incense and Fire Prayer Power. So that is how it is. No wonder you were not discovered."

Cui Yan understood.

With a cold snort, he said, "Take him down and bring him back to the Law Enforcement Hall for interrogation."

At that moment.

Zhou Yang completely collapsed.

His limbs went limp as he was carried away.

Watching this scene.

The hearts of the many disciples shook violently.

An unrivaled top-ten outer sect standout had been finished just like that.

And the one responsible was named Jiang Li.

A rising talent whose cultivation was only at the eighth layer of Qi Refining, yet who could snap a spirit artifact barehanded and defeat a Half-Step Foundation Establishment cultivator with one palm.

Zhou Yang was finished, but a blazing sun was slowly rising.

Meanwhile.

Li Xi's cheeks puffed out slightly, as if she had just blown on a dandelion, before she let out a long breath. "Whew—at last, it is over. I never expected Senior Brother Zhou Yang, who looked so gentle, to secretly be a demonic cultivator. I wonder how many people like him are still in the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land."

Jiang Li: ...She was hinting at me.

"It is not over yet."

Jiang Li spoke.

The third option's mission required uprooting every protective umbrella behind the demonic cultivator and eliminating all future trouble. Capturing Zhou Yang alone was not enough; the force behind him was the real problem.

Li Xi tilted her head, but Murong Qing understood. Her voice was cool as she said, "It is indeed not over. Incense and Fire Prayer Power exists only in mortal dynasties. One must put down roots in a place and benefit its people to have a chance of obtaining it. Zhou Yang clearly does not fit that condition, yet he has abundant Incense and Fire Prayer Power concealing his blood-baleful aura. This means there is a force behind him aiding and abetting evil. His family is the most suspicious."

Li Xi understood. Her eyelashes fluttered in rapid blinks. "The Zhou Family is cultivating the Demonic Path too, and they are using the people's incense and fire in a mortal prefectural city to conceal themselves. How... how dare they?"

Murong Qing lowered her eyes, her final tone sinking. "Strength."

Jiang Li raised a brow.

That was true enough.

What was the greatest trait of demonic cultivators? Rapid advancement.

Once one had experienced the thrill of cultivation rising at breakneck speed, one could no longer endure slow, plodding cultivation.

Falling into the Demonic Path was only a matter of time.

On the other hand.

Cultivation families had operated in mortal dynasties for many years. They had long become local emperors, controlling every affair in the prefectural cities. Even if there was a problem, no word could get out.

And now he was about to confront just such a cultivation family and uproot it completely.

Damn, wasn't the system taking steps that were too big?

Jiang Li thought to himself.

At that moment.

Murong Qing seemed to sense something. Her clear eyes fixed on Jiang Li as she asked, "You want to continue investigating?"

Jiang Li: Damn, was this woman a roundworm in my stomach? How were we this in sync?

"Yes."

Jiang Li admitted it.

"I am going too."

Murong Qing immediately responded, then paused before adding, "I need merit."

"Eh? You are both going, so how could I be left out? Jiang Li, I want to go too. I am very capable as well."

Li Xi hurriedly raised her hand too.

Afraid of being left behind.

Ding, the cultivation art "Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art" was deeply gratified. Having cultivated astonishing skills, we shall descend the mountain together to slay demons and eliminate monsters. With such fellow Daoists, my path is not lonely; the conviction of justice begins to grow stronger.

Jiang Li said, "Do as you wish."

After finalizing the action plan, Jiang Li's group returned to the inner hall.

They explained the situation.

Punishment Elder Cui Yan nodded. "If you wish to go, then go. As it happens, the Law Enforcement Hall has interrogated some information from Zhou Yang. The one who gave him the Incense and Fire Prayer Power was indeed the Zhou Family. The Zhou Family Head also broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm five years ago. It can basically be determined that they have mastered some Demonic Path methods."

"I have already issued the investigation of the Zhou Family as a bounty mission. I will leave this matter to you."

Ding, the cultivation art "Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art" accepted the duty without hesitation. The second wave of demon elimination—operation begins...