Immortal Master, Strengthen Our Demon Suppression Division

Demon Suppression Division headquarters.

The miserable state of the young nobleman Zhou Yi lay before everyone's eyes.

The scene fell utterly silent.

Countless gazes gathered on Jiang Li, filled with relief, excitement, hope, and worry.

The young captain stared blankly at Jiang Li, his mouth dry and tongue parched.

Then—

As though remembering something, his expression changed slightly as he began searching for the two family servants who had been beside Zhou Yi.

The Zhou Family's young master had died at the entrance to the Demon Suppression Division. The repercussions of this would be enormous. They had to keep those two servants here as well, to prevent the Zhou Family from receiving the news immediately and buy the Demon Suppression Division time to respond.

Bang.

Two more crisp impacts rang out.

The young captain looked over and saw a peerless beauty in a black-and-white robe patterned with flowing clouds standing tall and graceful. Her clear eyes resembled cold pools, a few loose strands of hair drifting before her forehead as though an immortal maiden had descended into the mortal world.

The immortal maiden held a sheathed sword. Her jade-white fingertips lightly tapped the hilt, and with a flash of cold light, she killed the two servants who had fled more than ten meters away on the spot.

She then returned to Jiang Li's side.

Her cool voice remained unchanged, though it carried a little more softness.

"Go do what you want to do. I'll clean up after you."

Li Xi puffed out her little cheeks, her willow brows rising in great waves. "This Zhou Family has gone too far! Jiang Li, go ahead and do it. I'll provide you with Mana support."

Jiang Li: They were really so cool and considerate. I'm crying.

The young captain watched, feeling as though a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

He finally understood.

The black-robed young man who had kicked the Zhou Family's young master to death, the clear-eyed immortal maiden, and the sweet female cultivator were all together.

Their bearing and appearance were utterly out of place in Qinghe County, and even their cultivation far surpassed his own.

These were peerless young cultivators that only famous orthodox sects could produce.

"Thank you, the three of you, for ensuring that our Demon Suppression Division does not lose even its last shred of dignity. However, this Zhou Family young master was one of the Zhou Family's twin stars. Now that you have killed him, the Zhou Family will certainly fly into a rage. Before they can react, you should leave quickly. The Demon Suppression Division can only hold them off for a while."

The young captain cupped his hands, bitterness written all over his face.

The side that rid the people of evil had to flee in panic. What a joke that was.

Yet in Qinghe County, it was an indisputable fact.

Listening to him, Jiang Li clicked his tongue inwardly.

What Murong Qing had said earlier had indeed been confirmed. The situation in Qinghe County had long since surpassed the Demon Suppression Division's control.

This county was nominally still ruled by the Demon Suppression Division, but in truth, it belonged to the Zhou Family.

Cultivation Technique "Emperor's World-Shocking Art" is enraged. Avoid his edge? Bring me my blade! Those damn rebellious traitors must be executed.

You have triggered dialogue. Please enter Kingly Way dialogue content—

Jiang Li found it somewhat strange.

This was the first time he had seen a cultivation technique designate the exact dialogue content.

Was it afraid he would say something that ruined its aura?

Damn.

If he casually threw out something like, "I am the Heavenly Emperor, and I shall suppress and kill all enemies beneath the heavens," this body-tempering cultivation technique would probably go insane.

Jiang Li grumbled inwardly.

After thinking for a moment—

He typed in his response, and his body, under Cultivation Technique Hosting, opened its mouth in sync. "Are you willing to accept this?"

The young captain raised his head, then quickly lowered it again.

"Qinghe County has long since fallen outside the Demon Suppression Division's jurisdiction. Vanguard General is still bedridden, the captains each have their own troubles, and I alone remain to hold the headquarters. The Zhou Family is no longer something we can suppress."

"Are you willing to accept this?"

Jiang Li repeated.

"Not willing."

The young captain gripped his saber hilt tightly, his eyes reddening.

"Over the past five years, the Zhou Family has committed a total of three thousand one hundred cases. Countless commoners have vanished, and lately, they have even begun abducting infants and children. How could the Demon Suppression Division be willing to accept this?"

"Then what are you waiting for?"

The young captain froze, and light gradually returned to his dim expression.

He seemed to understand Jiang Li's meaning: these three peerless disciples from great sects had come today precisely because of the Zhou Family.

The next moment—

He made a decision that defied his ancestors.

The young captain dropped to one knee.

A hint of madness and ferocity showed upon his weathered face. Like a man clutching at his final lifeline, he suddenly let out a low roar.

"Immortal Master, please strengthen our Demon Suppression Division!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Within the Demon Suppression Division headquarters, the young soldiers also fell to their knees in great swathes. They were only in their twenties or thirties, at the age when spirits should soar high, yet their gazes were exceptionally fierce at this moment.

"Immortal Master, please strengthen our Demon Suppression Division!"

Their orderly, low voices rang out, echoing through the skies above Qinghe County.

Jiang Li: ...

That was unnecessary.

He had only meant for the Demon Suppression Division to contribute as well.

After all—

The Zhou Family was powerful, while there were only three of them. Even if two fists could rival four hands, they could not possibly slaughter them all.

That was when the Demon Suppression Division could serve its purpose, mopping up the remaining stragglers.

Still...

Perhaps it was because his body under the hosting of the Emperor's World-Shocking Art possessed the bearing of an emperor, but this Demon Suppression Division captain had actually bowed his head and pledged himself at once.

Damn it, this body-tempering cultivation technique was not really going to rebel someday, was it?

Jiang Li thought to himself.

Outwardly, however, he remained calm and indifferent.

"Surround the Zhou Family. Do not let even a fly escape."

At those words—

Li Xi covered her little mouth, her bright eyes blinking wildly, as though stars were shining within them. "Jiang Li, he's so handsome."

Murong Qing said nothing. Her long lashes concealed her gaze... He really was rather handsome.

The young captain clenched the saber hilt at his waist, his hands trembling with excitement as the accumulated hostility of many years erupted completely at this moment.

"Yes!"

He took out his captain's command token.

Like a wounded beast organizing its counterattack, he growled, "Transmit my command. Aside from those stationed in the county seat, all remaining soldiers, Ten-Man Commanders, Hundred-Man Commanders, Thousand-Man Commanders, and captains—move at once and surround the Zhou Family!"

"Yes!"

All the soldiers moved.

They rushed off, competing to spread the order throughout Qinghe County.

For a time—

The entirety of Qinghe County was mobilized.

Soldiers dressed in Fish-Dragon Uniforms, long sabers hanging at their waists, moved through the streets and surged in from every direction. Their destination was only one place: the Zhou Family.

Those unaware of the situation asked in low voices, "What is the Demon Suppression Division doing?"

"By order of the Immortal Master, they are besieging the Zhou Family."

Ten-Man Commanders, Hundred-Man Commanders, Thousand-Man Commanders, and even captains were all responding to this order.

Fish-Dragon Uniforms on their backs, soul-reaping blades at their sides—this was the Demon Suppression Division at its most unyielding.

Wherever they passed, their shadows stretched long.

Like ghost officials coming to claim lives.

The pedestrians on the streets had all retreated into their homes. Every household had shut its doors tight, watching everything through the cracks.

Could the Demon Suppression Division truly still besiege the Zhou Family?

And who had given the Demon Suppression Division such confidence?

Just how efficient was an imperial institution operating at full capacity? Jiang Li witnessed it today.

By dusk—

Less than two hours had passed.

More than a thousand Demon Suppression Division soldiers had gathered.

They encircled the enormous Zhou residence so tightly that not even water could pass through.

The Zhou Family gates stood open.

Inside, it was utter chaos.

Members of the Zhou Family constantly emerged, their faces filled with shock and anger as they glared fiercely at the Demon Suppression Division soldiers outside.

From that moment onward, the Zhou Family had become a forbidden zone.

Entry was allowed. Exit was not.

No matter which corner someone poked their head out from, a grim-faced soldier was there keeping watch, a snow-white silver saber glinting with cold light beneath the dusk.

The air was thick with killing intent.

Very soon—

An esteemed elder of the Zhou Family emerged upon receiving the news.

His cane struck heavily against the ground.

The surging aura of peak Qi Refining swept outward in all directions.

"Has your Demon Suppression Division gone mad? We, the Zhou Family, are willing to give you some face, which is why you are the rulers of Qinghe County. Otherwise, you are nothing but hunting dogs draped in dogskins!"

The young captain stood at the very front.

He used the black saber in his hand as his reply.

"By order of the Immortal Master, we are besieging the Zhou Family."

As his words fell—

More than a thousand Demon Suppression Division soldiers drew the long sabers at their waists.

Their blades pointed at the Zhou residence.

Killing intent spread through the air.

"Fine. Very fine. Mere imperial hunting dogs without even a Foundation Establishment cultivator dare spout such wild words before my Zhou Family? I would like to see what back-alley Immortal Master gave you such confidence."

The elder flew into a rage.

A great number of Zhou Family members were likewise fully armed.

They streamed out in a file.

Every one of them possessed cultivation.

Even the weakest were at Qi Refining Layer 3, while the strongest had reached peak Qi Refining.

These Zhou Family members had twisted, savage gazes. A deep crimson gleam still lingered in a few of their eyes, as though they had not had time to conceal it, exposing the aura of the Demonic Path.

At that moment—

A corpse smashed into the Zhou Family gates.

The three-meter-thick wooden gates shattered with a bang, and the corpse fell before the entrance. Its face was mangled beyond recognition, a horrifying sight, but it could still vaguely be identified as Zhou Yi, the Zhou Family's young master.

"You were looking for us?"

As the voice rang out—

The Demon Suppression Division soldiers parted to either side, opening a path.

Jiang Li strode forward, his black robe swaying.