Core-Formation Great Demon!

Back in the small courtyard of the Demon-Calming Ward, she set down the things she had bought one by one. First, she put away the cloth and fitted clothes, then poured the refined rice into the rice jar.

Only then did she carry the several pounds of heavy meat over to the well in the courtyard.

Drawing water and washing it, her movements flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water.

It was not that she was bad at cooking.

In her previous life, she had lived alone and cooked often. But now that she had a female body, it still felt rather strange.

"If I really got married, I might even become a virtuous wife and loving mother..."

She shook her head, dispersing the strange thoughts in her mind, and hurriedly got to work.

In the kitchen, the firewood crackled fiercely beneath the iron wok, and steam soon began to rise.

Jiang Yuechu poured the cut demon beast meat into the wok. With a sizzle, a rich aroma of meat instantly filled the air.

She added some ordinary seasonings, stir-fried it over high heat, then let it simmer slowly over a low flame.

The fragrance gradually drifted out of the small courtyard, drawing the dogs of several nearby households to lie beneath the walls, twitching their noses and letting out low whines.

Jiang Yuechu took a deep breath. This familiar warmth of daily life relaxed her taut nerves considerably.

She scooped up a spoonful of meat stewed until tender with a wooden ladle and put it into her mouth.

The meat was soft and glutinous, brimming with juice, savory and perfectly salted.

With just one bite, she immediately felt her qi and blood increase by a trace.

That warm current, thread by thread, flowed into her dantian.

Though it was not as violent or instantly effective as devouring demon flesh and blood, it had the advantage of being a slow, steady stream that accumulated day by day.

"Ah..."

Jiang Yuechu sighed.

Demon beast flesh and blood were, after all, not demon flesh and blood.

Demon flesh and blood were formed when demons devoured the spiritual qi of heaven and earth, or refined the souls and vital essences of living beings. They contained vast amounts of qi, blood, and demonic qi.

Demon beasts, meanwhile, were merely exotic beasts tainted with a trace of demon bloodline.

Though their flesh and blood possessed more spirituality than ordinary livestock, they were still nowhere near comparable to true demons.

But according to Great Tang law, privately selling demon flesh and blood was a grave crime.

The Demon Suppression Office controlled such things with extreme strictness. Only the Commandery Office treasury was qualified to store and refine them.

And she could not possibly encounter demons every day.

This demon beast meat was still quite good.

What a pity—it was just a little expensive.

Looking at the meat remaining in the pot, Jiang Yuechu felt a deep worry about her wallet for the first time.

It seemed she would have to find ways to earn more money in the future.

Early the next morning.

The eastern sky had only just begun to pale like a fish belly when Jiang Yuechu rose.

After washing up simply, she put on her uniform, wore her saber at her waist, straightened her back, and headed to the Demon Suppression Office.

After thinking it over, she still decided to show her face before her subordinates.

After all, she was their superior. If she did not appear often, they would only become harder to control later.

She had only just entered the Commandery Office when she saw a familiar figure.

"Miss Jiang, wait."

Liu Chen hurried over, a hint of urgency on his face.

Jiang Yuechu turned back, one brow lifting slightly. "What is it?"

Liu Chen caught his breath and waved a hand. "Lord Xu has given orders. Today, every squad commander and above from Xuan Camp must head to the main hall of the Commandery Office. There is an important announcement."

Oh, a meeting.

Jiang Yuechu nodded and followed Liu Chen.

The two walked side by side.

"Miss Jiang, did you... meet the squad under your command yesterday? Did it go smoothly?"

Liu Chen hesitated, but could not help asking.

Jiang Yuechu shook her head.

"Nothing much. People of the martial world are all stubborn. I went over to persuade them yesterday, and they softened up."

Liu Chen halted mid-step.

"Miss Jiang."

"Hmm?"

"Why does that sound so strange..."

"?"

The two passed through several long corridors and eventually arrived before a broad main hall.

The hall doors stood open, and it was already packed with people.

All of them wore the Demon Suppression Office's standard black uniforms, patterned with crimson lines.

Jiang Yuechu swept her gaze over the crowd and quickly noticed something unusual.

Aside from the ordinary black robes with crimson patterns, several people had unknown ferocious beasts embroidered on their clothes, lifelike as though they might choose someone to devour.

"These people are the Demon Suppression Office's Middle Commanders."

Seeing her confusion, Liu Chen lowered his voice in explanation. "The creature embroidered on their clothes is the Longyou Golden Lion. The Golden Lion is a divine golden lion that suppresses demons and wards off evil."

After a pause, he added, "The seals of the Demon Suppression Offices in each circuit differ. One can tell which circuit's Commandery Office they belong to by the seal. Of course, only those ranked Middle Commander and above are qualified to wear such attire."

Jiang Yuechu nodded in understanding.

Above squad commander was captain.

And only above captain came Middle Commander.

Her gaze unconsciously landed on the handsome youth standing at the front of the hall. Though he wore ordinary black clothes, his bearing was outstanding.

He wore only plain black, without any additional patterns.

Yet even so, he stood there like a crane among chickens, forming a world of his own.

Seeing this, Liu Chen patiently explained further, "Of course, for someone like Lord Xu, unless there is an important occasion, he naturally wears whatever feels comfortable."

Jiang Yuechu understood.

Put plainly, it was leadership privilege.

If she reached that position someday, she could probably even come wearing a skirt.

She entertained the mischievous thought inwardly, but her face revealed nothing.

Everyone in the hall had already noticed their arrival.

A woman appearing in the Demon Suppression Office's main hall was simply too eye-catching.

Yet perhaps because they feared someone, no one whispered among themselves.

Jiang Yuechu did not care about any of it. She merely stood expressionlessly at the end of the line.

After waiting a little longer.

Xu Changfeng slowly closed the book in his hand and placed it to one side of the desk.

"Since everyone is here, let us get straight to the point."

"I gathered you here for one matter only."

Everyone in the hall unconsciously softened their breathing.

"A new Core-Formation Great Demon has allegedly appeared at Jade Gate Pass."

The moment those words fell, the hall erupted with the sound of people sucking in cold breaths.

A Core-Formation Great Demon!

Such an existence was already a calamity walking the human world.

It could summon wind and rain, and with a raised hand, wipe out a small city!

Xu Changfeng ignored everyone's astonishment and continued, "Heaven Division has personally gone to investigate. In a few days, there will be definite news."

"If the news is true, more than half of Xuan Camp's manpower is expected to be dispatched to Jade Gate Pass alongside General Wei He, to personally suppress the demons."

Jiang Yuechu's heart tightened.

More than half their manpower—this was practically Xuan Camp mobilizing in full force.

General Wei He would personally lead the troops, showing just how serious the matter was.

This also meant that she, a newly promoted Eighth-Rank Squad Commander, would very likely be swept into this great battle.

"Therefore, I am having you make preparations in advance."

"Over these next days, you must resolve every known demon infestation within Longyou Circuit."

He paused, his voice growing increasingly grave. "Once war begins at Jade Gate Pass and the armies of Longyou Circuit are mobilized, demons of every kind will surely stir at the scent of wind and exploit the opening. If the rear falls into chaos, the front line will inevitably collapse. This is a battle for the safety of Great Tang and the survival of its people. There can be no room for the slightest negligence."

Everyone in the hall looked solemn as they answered in unison, "Yes!"

Their voices were like thunder, shaking the great hall.

Jiang Yuechu also clasped her fists and bowed, though she had already begun calculating inwardly.

The stronger the demons, the more Dao Cultivation they possessed.

If she could take part in this battle and kill stronger demons, her strength would surely advance by leaps and bounds once more.

Only...

That was a Core-Formation Great Demon!

Though she did not know exactly how great the gap was between it and the Bone-Resonance Realm.

With her mere Initial Bone-Chiming Realm cultivation, going there would absolutely be delivering herself on a platter.

Seeing that everyone had accepted their orders, Xu Changfeng waved a hand. "Dismissed. Squad commanders, collect your assignments and carry them out. Everyone else, remain."