Muscle-Bound Little Giant

The Gray Mist Evil was not impossible to kill. Its true body was dense gray mist, which gathered together and took the shape of ghostly figures.

Because of this.

Although Xu Qing was powerful enough to easily shatter the ghostly figures formed from the gray mist, once he destroyed them, the mist itself did not suffer much damage.

Therefore.

The gray mist could gather again.

This created the illusion that it could not be killed.

After Xu Qing summoned the Shaman Evil Ghost, it did not shatter the ghostly figures. Instead, it tore apart the figures gathered from the gray mist and devoured them.

Once the gray mist had been devoured by the Shaman Evil Ghost, it naturally suffered grievous damage. After all the ghostly figures had been eaten, the Gray Mist Evil was naturally destroyed.

All around him.

Xu Qing clearly saw the gray mist disperse completely, and his vision returned to normal. More and more Ghastly Corpses were gathering and rapidly closing in.

"Thirteenth Sword! Sky-Covering Sword Shadows!"

Clang!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!!

Xu Qing swept his sword through the air, slashing out streak after streak of sword light that transformed into sky-covering sword shadows, cutting down every Ghastly Corpse gathering around him.

Splurt! Splurt!!!

Foul-smelling blood sprayed through the air.

Bodies collapsed one after another onto the ground.

Crunch! Crunch!

All around.

Numerous Ghastly Corpses pounced upon the ground and gnawed the corpses there clean. Some of them, after consuming enough corpses, actually underwent even more powerful and bizarre evolutions.

Among them.

Some Ghastly Corpses grew two heads. Some had arms that became thick and powerful, while others sprouted black bone spikes all over their bodies.

"Aaaah!!!"

Xu Qing heard shrill screams. When he looked back, he saw members of Patrol Squad No. 13 being thrown down by numerous Ghastly Corpses, then gnawed to death by those corpses.

"Serpent Evasion Technique."

Xu Qing withdrew his gaze. He had no intention of saving them. This time was different from the last; the previous danger had been something Xu Qing could handle, so he had been willing to show some kindness and save people.

But this danger was different.

Just moments ago, Xu Qing had encountered a Gray Mist Evil. If not for the aid of the Shaman Evil Ghost, then even with his Dan Force cultivation, he might have been worn to death by the Gray Mist Evil.

No one knew what other dangers might be lurking.

Therefore.

Xu Qing could no longer save anyone.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Xu Qing accelerated, unleashing the Serpent Evasion Technique. With the LV10 Iron Sword in hand, his sword light flashed in every direction as he slaughtered Ghastly Corpses one after another.

At this moment.

Xu Qing was about to rush out of the area where the refugees and disaster victims had gathered.

Roar!!!

Boom!

A thunderous crash rang out.

A burly figure descended from the sky before Xu Qing, smashing straight down and blocking his path. As the dust dispersed, the figure barring the way came into view.

"This is..."

Xu Qing's pupils contracted slightly.

He could see.

It was a monster standing a full three meters tall, huge and burly, its entire body a purplish-blue. Chunks of muscle covered it from head to toe like blocks of iron.

It brimmed with explosive power.

"Huff..."

Xu Qing drew a deep breath.

Clearly.

This three-meter-tall humanoid monster, like a little giant, had mutated from a Ghastly Corpse. After consuming enough flesh and blood, it had undergone further grotesque transformation, becoming this muscle-bound little giant. It contained explosive power and possessed tremendous strength.

Roar!!!

The next moment.

The muscle-bound little giant roared, opening its gaping, blood-filled maw as it charged forward like a cannonball fired from its barrel.

The force bearing down on him carried an overwhelming pressure.

Clang!

A sword rang out.

Xu Qing's gaze deepened. He exhaled a breath of stale air, gripped the LV10 Iron Sword with both hands, and slowly raised the sword in his hands.

Buzz! Buzz!

At the same time.

The Dan Force within his body condensed.

Faintly.

Xu Qing's clothes stirred despite the absence of wind.

"Fourteenth Sword! Sword of Death!"

Clang!

Another sword cry rang out.

Xu Qing gave a low shout and suddenly raised his head. There seemed to be a sword stance and sword intent within his eyes, while an aura of deathly decay radiated around him.

Whoosh!

Xu Qing swung his sword. Sword light blazed, scattering countless rays of brilliance, carrying a faint aura of deathly withering that transformed into an invisible sword light.

"Slash!"

Splurt!!!

In an instant.

Xu Qing's sword had already struck out, while the muscle-bound little giant charged toward him. The two crossed paths in midair, colliding and exchanging blows.

Then.

Countless streams of blood sprayed out. In the instant they clashed, Xu Qing had unleashed a full one hundred and eight sword strikes—one hundred and eight moves—each one delivered in that fleeting moment.

Thud!

The muscle-bound little giant fell straight to the ground. Xu Qing had used only one sword strike, yet it was also the strongest strike he could currently unleash.

One sword strike to kill!

"Huff..."

Xu Qing drew a deep breath, his face slightly pale. That sword strike had consumed a considerable amount of his stamina, as well as much of the Dan Force within him.

"Go!"

Xu Qing left without looking back.

At this moment.

Xu Qing had already rushed out of the area where the refugees and disaster victims had gathered. Only after sprinting some distance farther did he have time to turn back for a glance.

"This..."

Xu Qing saw a scene with an immense visual impact.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!!!

Under the night sky.

Strands of mist drifted through the air. The mist was filled with yin energy, Killing Intent, death energy, ghostly energy, and more. It swirled overhead, shrouding the entire area where the refugees and disaster victims had gathered.

Moreover.

It was as though this mist were bound by some invisible force. It did not spread outward, but remained entirely concentrated within a fixed area.

Such a scene.

Looked remarkably like a formation.

At that moment.

Xu Qing saw figures leaping down from the walls of Qingbei Town. They were Demon Slayers from the Yamen's Demon Extermination Agency, as well as experts from the three great martial arts schools of Qingbei Town's outer city.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several figures rushed over and blocked Xu Qing's path.

"Who are you? You escaped from inside?"

"What is the situation inside?"

"..."

The gazes of three Gold-ranked Demon Slayers fell upon Xu Qing. After scrutinizing him for several moments, they wore grave expressions and questioned him in deep voices.

"I am Lü Dongbin."

Xu Qing said.

"Lü Dongbin."

"It's you."

"That mysterious swordsmanship expert who became rather famous about half a year ago?"

"Why are you here?"

The three Gold-ranked Demon Slayers questioned him again.

"Rather than wasting time questioning me here, you should hurry over. That way, you may still be able to save more people."

Xu Qing's expression remained calm.

One had to know.

The sudden calamity tonight had caused every Patrol Team to be besieged by those Ghastly Corpses. On top of that, they had fallen into such a formation; they were surely in dire straits, with little hope of survival.

"You..."

The expressions of the three Gold-ranked Demon Slayers darkened.

However.

Xu Qing ignored them and left directly. The three Gold-ranked Demon Slayers did not stop him. After watching his retreating back, they swiftly hurried toward the gathering place of the refugees and disaster victims.

"Huff..."

Xu Qing took a deep breath and quickened his pace. He no longer concerned himself with events outside the town. He swiftly returned to the town, and with his strength, he leaped directly onto the city wall.

"Stop!"

"..."

All around.

Quite a few people rushed over, intending to stop Xu Qing.

However.

Xu Qing was extremely fast. Moreover, none of Qingbei Town's top experts had appeared, so no one could stop him. Using the Serpent Evasion Technique, Xu Qing moved nimbly through the town and soon shook everyone off.

In the blink of an eye.

Half an hour later.

Xu Qing had returned to his residence.

"I'm back."

Xu Qing let out a sigh of relief. He removed the Ghost Mask, his expression easing slightly, then entered his bedroom and fell into deep thought.

At this moment.

Xu Qing was still recalling the changes outside the town.

I hope Qingbei Town's top experts can hold on.

Xu Qing thought to himself.

Clearly.

Xu Qing did not intend to involve himself any further. He had already escaped from the very center of the storm, so naturally, he would not return to its heart.

As the saying went.

When the sky collapsed, the tall ones held it up. Xu Qing was not one of the tall ones yet. Even if Qingbei Town's sky fell, it was not his turn to shoulder it.

The scene shifted.

Outside the town.

At the gathering place of the refugees and disaster victims.

At this moment.

The formation had completely taken shape.

All around.

This time, Qingbei Town's Yamen had mobilized most of the forces from both the Demon Extermination Agency and the Yamen Agency. The three great martial arts schools of Qingbei Town's outer city had also all deployed their forces.

In addition.

The three great Lineages of the inner city had dispatched powerful experts as well.

Finally.

Led by Bu Wuyun, Chief Commander of the Demon Extermination Agency, and Wei Wohe, Chief Commander of the Yamen Agency, everyone charged into the grand formation, and a great battle erupted.

This battle lasted until dawn the next day, ending before the sun rose. Qingbei Town emerged victorious, exterminating every Ghastly Corpse within the grand formation.

One had to know.

Xu Qing had previously encountered both the Gray Mist Evil and the muscle-bound little giant. As the battle erupted, those Ghastly Corpses devoured more and more corpses and flesh, giving birth to even more terrifying beings.

Fortunately.

Bu Wuyun and Wei Wohe paid a considerable price, with many killed and wounded, yet they ultimately claimed victory. They destroyed every monster and shattered the grand formation.

Outside the city.

On the battlefield.

"It was over..."

Bu Wuyun was covered in blood. Standing atop a nine-meter-tall corpse, he looked back and saw that fewer than half of them were still alive.

"Cough, cough..."

Wei Wohe coughed up blood. He was injured, his left arm shattered, and he slumped on the ground. "Don't let me find out who did this. I'll skin the bastard behind it alive and pull out his tendons."

"Let's go."

Half an hour later.

Bu Wuyun, Wei Wohe, and the others began their return journey, leaving some people behind to clear the battlefield and deal with the corpses. They all had to be burned.

Very soon.

News of their victory in the great battle spread back. The city's civilians all breathed a sigh of relief, and Xu Qing learned of it after waking up the next morning.

"As long as we won."

Xu Qing shrugged, secretly relieved as well. Yet he felt that things could not be so simple. Though I don't know who the mastermind is, they made such a huge commotion. There's no way this will end so easily.