Emperor's World-Shocking Art: Ruthless and Few of Words

'Bounty Mission: Demonic Cultivator'

'Mission Content: The Zhou Family of Qinghe County is suspected of having ties to the Demonic Path. Investigate the truth and determine whether the Zhou Family practices demonic cultivation.'

'Mission Reward: 10,000 contribution points.'

After accepting the bounty mission, Jiang Li immediately chose to set out.

Aboard a large Spirit Boat.

The three of them huddled together, reviewing the intelligence gathered by the Law Enforcement Hall.

What Jiang Li cared about was the Zhou Family's overall strength.

Because the requirement for Option Mission Three was to wipe out Zhou Yang's entire network of connections, rather than simply investigate the evidence. That meant he would have to face a cultivation clan head-on. If its roots ran too deep, he would have to consider fighting by indirect means.

"The Zhou Family patriarch broke through to Foundation Establishment five years ago. Even if he cultivates the demonic path, his cultivation won't exceed the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. I can take him."

Jiang Li thought to himself.

As long as there were no opponents above the Golden Core stage, he was confident.

What Li Xi cared about was the strength of the Cloudmist Dynasty.

"How strange. The Cloudmist Dynasty commands the lands of the Nine Provinces, and the Demon Suppression Division governs cultivators throughout the realm. Every county city has a Vanguard General at the Foundation Establishment Realm or above stationed there. Above the county cities, there are leading generals at the Golden Core stage and grand generals in the Nascent Soul Realm. Since this Zhou Family cultivates the demonic path, it shouldn't be possible that not even a single clue could be found."

Murong Qing took over. "Because the Cloudmist Dynasty's patriarch failed to break through to Spirit Transformation and perished. The other two dynasties then rose together to attack it, forcing every cultivator above the Golden Core stage to go provide support. The highest combat power left in the major county cities is only at the Foundation Establishment Realm."

Jiang Li fell into thought.

Although he was an undercover agent, he had only traveled between the Ten Thousand Demons Sect and the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land. He did not know much about the overall situation in the Cultivation World.

From Murong Qing and Li Xi's conversation, Jiang Li pieced together the Cloudmist Dynasty's overall territory.

The Cloudmist Dynasty commanded the lands of the Nine Provinces and controlled a total of sixty-four county cities. Qinghe County was one of the twelve county cities under Li Province.

The strongest combat power was only at Foundation Establishment.

Then won't I be mowing them down... Jiang Li felt much more at ease.

Though he was only at the Qi Refining stage, his body-refining arts made him comparable to a Body Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. He had also cultivated dazzling golden Mana, along with the Dragon Slaying Sword at the major mastery stage.

In terms of overall strength, he absolutely did not fear cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

And with a bug that could stack Mana without limit, as long as he was given enough time, he could deal with anyone below the Golden Core stage.

What Murong Qing cared about was Qinghe County's situation.

"The Zhou Family cultivates the demonic path and has also grasped a channel for Incense and Fire Prayer Power. This means the situation in Qinghe County is already out of control. The Demon Suppression Division can no longer suppress these cultivation clans. If we move against the Zhou Family, Qinghe County will likely react."

Just as Jiang Li was listening, his body-refining art sprang out again.

Ding. The cultivation art "Emperor's World-Shocking Art" furiously cursed this band of rebellious traitors. Wherever the sun and moon shine, all are My lands. No one is permitted to encroach upon them. The Incense and Fire Prayer Power is Mine as well.

The cultivation art "Emperor's World-Shocking Art" wants to smash the Zhou Family to pieces and gather the incense and fire anew. Entrust it?

Jiang Li: ...

No.

Why the hell were you so righteously indignant?

This seemed to be Cloudmist Dynasty territory, didn't it? Since when had it become yours?

You were a damned rebellious traitor too.

And an even more ruthless one.

Others merely occupied a single county, but you wanted to directly steal someone else's empire.

So who exactly was more excessive here?

Jiang Li could not help complaining inwardly.

But there was one thing the cultivation art "Emperor's World-Shocking Art" had not gotten wrong. Smashing the Zhou Family would allow him to collect the Incense and Fire Prayer Power of all Qinghe County, condense Imperial Dynasty Dragon Qi with it, and assist his body-refining cultivation.

This Zhou Family was really made up of good people.

It had triggered both the "Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art" and the "Emperor's World-Shocking Art."

One mission, double the resources.

"It doesn't matter. Compared to us, the Demon Suppression Division surely wants to see the Zhou Family destroyed even more."

Three days later.

Li Province—Qinghe County.

After landing, the three of them headed straight for the Demon Suppression Division's yamen.

Before they even drew close, they heard cries of grievance.

A young woman with disheveled hair knelt on the ground, holding a child less than three years old in her arms. With one hand, she beat the grievance drum outside the Demon Suppression Division's yamen.

"My lord of the Demon Suppression Division, please seek justice for this common woman! The Zhou Family has lost all conscience. They killed my husband, and now they even want to snatch away my child. They aren't human!"

The woman's shrill voice caused quite a commotion.

The surrounding townsfolk stopped to watch.

However...

The moment they heard the name "Zhou Family," the townsfolk scattered like startled birds.

Not a single one dared remain to watch the spectacle.

Even the boldest only dared hide far away, peeking over with half their heads turned.

The doors of the Demon Suppression Division's yamen opened.

A young lieutenant stepped out. A saber hung at his waist, and he wore a Fish-Dragon Uniform. Though he was only around thirty, his cultivation had already reached the late Qi Refining stage.

The young lieutenant helped the woman up and was about to speak when three figures emerged from the street.

The young nobleman leading them wore ornate brocade robes and held a folding fan before him. His Qi Refining Level 6 cultivation was plainly displayed. Two lackeys followed behind him, fawning at his heels, shouting and swaggering with great arrogance.

"You stinking bitch, you've come here to disgrace yourself? Come back with us now. If Young Master Zhou hadn't been merciful, how could you and your little bastard have lived until today?"

One of the shifty-eyed lackeys stepped forward and cursed.

He reached out to seize the child in the woman's arms.

Her face twisted savagely, and without a second thought, she opened her mouth and bit down.

"Bitch!"

The lackey flew into a rage and raised his hand to strike her.

The young lieutenant stopped him and rebuked him, "What do you think you're doing? You dare lay hands on someone in broad daylight, right in front of me, a lieutenant of the Demon Suppression Division?"

The young nobleman stepped forward with a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Lord Lieutenant, this is a private matter of the Zhou Family. That cheap maid is my lackey's newlywed wife, but there's something wrong with her mind. We'll take her away now and won't disturb the Demon Suppression Division in its duties."

"No, no! Lord Lieutenant, the Zhou Family eats people! Several households' children have already disappeared one after another around here. They were all taken to the Zhou Family. They're all dead!"

The young woman screamed.

She collapsed to her knees.

Clutching the child in her arms with all her strength.

"Take her away."

The young nobleman lost his patience, and a vicious expression surfaced on his face.

The two lackeys desperately hauled the woman up. No matter how she struggled, it was useless.

The young lieutenant's eyes reddened. "Zhou Yi, does your Zhou Family truly think there is no one left in the Demon Suppression Division?"

The young nobleman, Zhou Yi, darkened his face. "What is Lord Lieutenant talking about? This really is a private matter of my Zhou Family. Even the Demon Suppression Division has no right to interfere. If not for my Zhou Family, Qinghe County would have descended into chaos long ago. So don't meddle in affairs that aren't your business. Take her away."

"No, no!"

The woman screamed desperately.

The two lackeys laughed wildly.

The young nobleman paused to enjoy the sight, his expression cruel and unruly.

The young lieutenant's eyes nearly split open with rage. His hand gripped the saber hilt tightly, so tightly that half the silver-white blade had already slid from its sheath.

Farther away, the townsfolk were more grieved than dead in heart. One by one, they lowered their heads, unable to bear watching any longer.

Jiang Li watched quietly.

His eyes were as still as an ancient well.

In the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, he had seen things far worse than this.

He could still accept this much.

But...

The cultivation art could not stand it any longer.

Ding. The cultivation art "Emperor's World-Shocking Art" listened to the prayers of the myriad people. Those prayers ultimately converged into a single theme—kill every member of the Zhou Family. The Emperor's Heart has begun responding to this call. The Dragon Qi is condensing faster. Entrust it?

"Entrust it."

Jiang Li murmured inwardly.

This was not the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land. This was distant Qinghe County. No one here knew him, much less knew his Undercover Identity.

In other words...

No matter how great a commotion he made, it did not matter.

The next moment.

The cultivation art "Emperor's World-Shocking Art" took over his body.

He strode straight out.

He walked with the gait of a dragon and tiger, imperial majesty upon him, as though an emperor inspecting his own territory.

Zhou Yi noticed Jiang Li's arrival.

But he did not pay it much mind.

He had seen plenty of aspiring heroes.

Yet beneath the Zhou Family's mighty name, those aspiring heroes would be kneeling before the Zhou Family gates and begging for his forgiveness within half a day.

However...

Jiang Li did not say a word.

Without any unnecessary movement, he kicked out.

"Die!"

There was not the slightest warmth in his voice.

He held nothing back with that strike, lashing out in towering fury with a kick at the peak of his strength.

Bang!

A thunderous boom rang out.

Zhou Yi was kicked flying.

He crashed through more than a dozen shops.

His breastbone shattered into fragments. Blood seeped from his entire body, his limbs hanging limp, his head drooping to one side.

The light in his eyes was gone as well, completely dimmed.

Like a dead dog, he lay sprawled in the streets of Qinghe County.