The Immortal Maiden Who Does Not Kill

The nine of them had cultivated demonic arts deeply; even with their Spirit Platforms shattered by the sword, they had not died.

"What a fine Immortal Maiden Who Does Not Kill, Jiang Youfei. You claim to be of a renowned righteous sect, yet how is what you have done any different from killing them?" The Old Man landed and examined Zhang Tongshi, then angrily said, "What a venomous woman of the Dao Sect. Shattering his Spirit Platform was not enough for you—you struck through his Middle Dantian and lower dantian with lightning, crippling him for life. Truly vicious!"

Jiang Youfei stood suspended in the air, her robes fluttering as though she had not heard him. "Gong Wu, surely you are not alone. Have the others come out. We will settle this all at once."

Gong Wu said angrily, "Zhang Tongshi is practically dead. This cannot be handled lightly. Come out, all of you."

One person emerged from each of the east, west, and north.

These three wore attire identical to that of the previous Old Man. All were Third Rank high officials.

"Poor Demon-Transforming Mountain. It finally produced a seedling with the potential to reach the Upper Three Ranks, only for it to be ruined like this. Old Gong, you should have acted sooner." The Third Rank Demon Sect cultivator from the east was fat-headed and broad-eared, over ten feet tall. His ears were as large as palms, with thin white bones dangling beneath them.

"When Sect Master Zhang and your elder brother ask about this, it will still be Demon-Transforming Mountain's own affair, unrelated to us." The Third Rank Demon Sect cultivator in the west was tall and skinny. The hair behind his head was tied into dozens of small braids, and shriveled heads at the ends of those braids slowly exhaled black vapor.

The Third Rank Demon Sect cultivator in the north said nothing. The green vortices that had become his eyes spun the fastest.

Gong Wu spread open his left hand, and a fist-sized ball of tricolored flame appeared—red on the outside, white within, and black at its core.

Behind Gong Wu, an enormous pitch-black shadow appeared, nearly a hundred feet tall, half man and half bird.

An invisible heatwave spread outward, filling everyone's hearts with restless heat that was difficult to suppress.

Jiang Youfei suddenly clenched both hands into fists and slowly lowered them.

The Sky Firmament Sect disciples and Night Guards stood dumbstruck, frozen motionless by the Outer Realm Devilfire.

Zhou Hen's voice transmission reached Li Qingxian's ear. "Two are current Assistant Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Justice, while the other two once held the same office. The four joining forces are enough to suppress Jiang Youfei even while she holds the Thunderlight Fire Seal, not to mention that Demon-Transforming Mountain has brought out the Outer Realm Devilfire. The Thunderlight Fire Seal is somewhat stronger than the Outer Realm Devilfire, but one is in the hands of a Fourth Rank cultivator and the other in the hands of a Third Rank cultivator, so their power is evenly matched. There is no need to think further. The Demon Sect has seen through it. They did not come for Lü Ren—they want to kill Jiang Youfei. Prepare yourself. I will take you away at any moment."

Li Qingxian sighed softly. He had long considered that possibility; it was also one of the reasons he had refused the first time.

If the Demon Sect had truly fallen so easily for Jiang Youfei's scheme, the Confucian and Dao Sects would have wiped them out long ago.

Gong Wu waved a hand, signaling his attendants to carry away the unconscious Fourth Rank Demon Sect cultivator.

"Zhang Tongshi has been crippled. No matter how this trip turns out, Sect Master Zhang will curse me until I am drenched in blood. I cannot be bothered pretending anymore. The one disguised as Lü Ren in the carriage is a Night Guard, correct? The man who secretly discussed matters with you and Zhou Chunfeng all day yesterday—his name was Ye Han, yes? Whether that is true or not does not matter. After all, our target is not Lü Ren. It is you!"

Gong Wu grinned. A black human head was carved into every one of his teeth.

Every black head was laughing, with strands of demonic qi spilling from between his teeth.

The four Third Rank Demon Sect cultivators slowly approached.

A mere four people had surrounded dozens.

What is going on? The Demon Sect has a spy among the Night Guards, and they mistakenly believe Ye Han is masquerading as the Holy Son Lü Ren? Hmm... well done, Demon Sect!

As he walked, Gong Wu said, "If Jiang Zhijian were at the Sky Firmament Sect, let alone us, even Sect Master Zhang would not dare touch you. But now? He must first get past the Demon Saint."

A Sixth Rank Sky Firmament Sect disciple shouted, "Sect Master Jiang is holding back the Demon Saint for the Human Race, his life and death unknown. You are all members of the Human Race—why are you slaughtering one another?"

"Little fellow, do you have some misunderstanding about our Demon Sect?"

The four Third Rank cultivators burst into laughter together.

"Let them leave, and I will contend with the four of you!" Jiang Youfei gripped the Qinglei Ancient Sword.

Gong Wu laughed. "It seems the Immortal Maiden Who Does Not Kill has many misunderstandings about the Demon Sect as well. As the future sect master personally taught by Jiang Zhijian, you are worth more than that Lü Ren by far. The Demon Sect sent four Third Rank cultivators for one reason only: to ensure your death, a death without the slightest possibility of failure. These people are also weapons to kill you."

The Outer Realm Devilfire resting in Gong Wu's left palm stirred. With his right hand, he pointed at the Sixth Rank Sky Firmament Sect Daoist who had spoken earlier. "As your people die one by one, slowly, will your Dao heart remain clear and pure?"

The Sixth Rank Daoist froze for a moment, then suddenly widened his eyes. One hand clamped over his throat while the other clawed at his chest. In the blink of an eye, his face had turned mottled purple and green. He collapsed to the ground and died.

His entire body twisted grotesquely, his limbs seeming as if they had been snapped.

The Demon Sect's strange poisons were unmatched beneath heaven.

Zhou Hen sighed. The Elephant-Head Bright-Copper Breastplate on his chest flashed and dimmed. He cupped his fist toward Gong Wu and said, "Zhou Hen of the Divine Capital Office's Night Guard greets the four lords. Since this matter has already been decided, please permit the Night Guards to withdraw."

Jiang Youfei actually let out a light breath of relief.

Black demonic qi surged around Gong Wu, sending his white beard and hair flying as he smiled. "Madman Zhou? Zhang Tongshi has been crippled, and we must give Sect Master Zhang an explanation. Times have changed. Your Night Guards will stay as well."

"Then we can only risk our lives." Zhou Hen shrugged, drawing a curved saber and a spike sword with his two hands. He swept his gaze over the four men, then finally walked toward the smiling Third Rank Demon Sect cultivator in the west. "Smiling-Faced Venerable, I have come to collect the debt from last time."

"Very well. I will repay you with my life." Smiling-Faced Venerable's eyes abruptly turned inky green, his nose thrusting out and sharpening like a sickle. A pair of fleshy bat wings burst from his back. As they flapped, dense demonic qi and one demonic head after another poured forth.

A bronze statue flew out of the demonic qi and landed on the ground, transforming into a hollow suit of full-body armor.

With a crack, the bronze armor split apart from the center to both sides. From head to chest and abdomen, from arms to legs, its interior was packed with dense spikes, every one of them covered in runes.

"I wonder whether my 'Return with You' can return with you." Smiling-Faced Venerable beamed.

The Sky Firmament Sect disciples and Night Guards all changed color.

The Night Guards were merely harsh in their interrogations, while Divine Prison tormented the mind. But when it came to perverse and cruel punishments, the Demon Sect reigned supreme beneath heaven.

At the same time, Zhou Hen sent a voice transmission. "We will certainly lose this battle. I will find an opportunity to feign defeat and take you away."

Li Qingxian looked through the carriage curtain at the battlefield, a small red cloth bundle clenched in his right hand.

After thinking it over, he decided that since they had already seen through the ruse, there was no need to keep hiding in the carriage. He stepped out, seeking an opportunity to release the purple crystal.

Jiang Youfei's furious yet concerned voice transmission rang in his ear. "Who told you to come out? Go back!"

Li Qingxian said nothing. He began observing the battlefield, searching for the right moment.

Too late would not do. He could not wait until everyone was dead before releasing it.

Too early would not do either. The enemy was highly vigilant at present; if they escaped, the consequences would be difficult to predict.

"You..."

Jiang Youfei sighed softly and began reciting the Seal-Invocation Spell.

"Within the Fire Bell Palace, brilliance connects without end. Five directions, five thunders, descend in light and move in wind. Heaven's might shakes four quarters, and ten thousand evils vanish without trace. Swiftly, swiftly, by decree!"

A pillar of intertwined lightning and fire rose and exploded. A red great seal carved with dragons flew forth, lightning coiling around its surface and flame patterns covering its entire body.

A vast aura spread out. The Demon Sect's filthy mud on the ground disintegrated and vanished, nine-tenths of the demonic clouds in the sky dispersed, and thin cracks split through the white fog in the distance.

The four Third Rank Demon Sect cultivators were like ordinary people standing within a typhoon, unable to catch their breath. Only Gong Wu, holding the Outer Realm Devilfire, fared somewhat better.

"By the Heavenly Venerable's command, slay evil and extinguish ferocity. When the divine seal descends, wind and fire rush forth. Swiftly, as by the Heavenly Emperor's decree!" After Jiang Youfei finished reciting the seal command, her figure swayed.

The next instant, lightning, fire, baleful wind, red, and white radiance descended from the heavens.