Centurion Zhao!

The next morning, Listening Wave Villa.

Wang Lang had given himself a night off and was pondering how to focus his cultivation in the next round of AFK training when the manor gates were knocked.

The knocking was urgent, three short and one long.

Wang Lang went forward and pulled open the latch.

Two people stood outside the gate. Wang Lang recognized one of them as Patrolman Li from the Demon Subduing Division.

The other was dressed in dark blue close-fitting attire, with a black iron waist牌 hanging from his belt, and a hint of barely concealed fatigue between his brows.

"Young Master Wang!" Patrolman Li greeted Wang Lang, cupping his fist in salute, and introduced him sideways:

"This is Centurion Zhao Changyuan, from the Yuan Province Demon Subduing Division, my superior."

Wang Lang's gaze swept over Centurion Zhao.

This man was about forty years old, with a resolute face, and his internal energy fluctuations were around the sixth level of Qi Induction, but seemed somewhat weak.

Wang Lang led the two into the living room, poured tea, and then asked, "Do you two have important business here?"

Centurion Zhao said sincerely, "To be honest, this sudden visit today is indeed to ask for your help."

He looked at Patrolman Li, who understood and cleared his throat, saying, "Young Master Wang, something major... has happened in Qinglin City."

"Last night, the four Demon Revealing Mirrors on Qinglin City's city gates shattered simultaneously without warning."

"Immediately afterwards, the entire Liu Manor in the city, two hundred and seventeen people, were all killed overnight."

"The women in the manor were all violated before their deaths, and the men were... were minced into meat paste. The demon energy at the scene was intense, definitely not the work of humans."

Wang Lang frowned slightly.

This was the first time he had heard of such a terrible incident.

Even when he had traveled around with Old Wang and seen the world, he had never heard of a demon daring to directly break into a city and slaughter an entire family.

This was the first time in nearly twenty years that such a thing had happened in Yuan Province.

"What kind of demon is so bold?"

A crisp voice suddenly sounded.

Without anyone noticing, a snow-white little fox appeared at Wang Lang's feet.

Patrolman Li and Centurion Zhao were not surprised.

Patrolman Li had already reported the Creek Stone Village incident in detail, and Centurion Zhao naturally knew the origin of this Little White Fox.

Centurion Zhao also cupped his fist at the Little White Fox and said with a wry smile, "We haven't yet determined what kind of demon it is."

"This... is precisely why we have come to ask for help. The Qinglin City City Lord's Mansion has issued a reward, inviting several famous Qi Refiners within a hundred miles to assist, with a reward of five hundred taels of silver."

Wang Lang heard this, his expression unchanged.

The Little White Fox, Su Yao, on the side, perked up her ears.

She remembered her mother saying that human silver was a good thing, which could buy roast chicken, candied haws, osmanthus cake... so many delicious things!

"Langzi, Langzi!" The Little White Fox tugged at Wang Lang's trouser leg with her paw, saying:

"Five hundred taels! How many roast chickens can that buy?"

Wang Lang ignored her, pondered for a moment, and looked at Centurion Zhao: "Centurion Zhao, have you made any judgment on the strength of this demon?"

Centurion Zhao's expression was solemn: "To be able to enter the city ignoring the Demon Revealing Mirror, it is at least an Early Second-Order."

He sighed: "Second-Order Demons are equivalent to the Spirit Condensation Realm for humans."

"Don't mention that I, Zhao, am only at the sixth level of Qi Induction, even Qi Refiners at the ninth level of Qi Induction would not dare to easily take on this task."

"I have already requested assistance from the Yuan Province Demon Subduing Division headquarters, but recently the entire Yuan Province has been in chaos, with frequent demon disasters, and the headquarters is short of manpower, so they only told me to deal with it myself first."

After speaking, he looked at Wang Lang, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Wang Lang picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.

Second-Order Demon, equivalent to the Spirit Condensation Realm, he was not at a disadvantage in terms of cultivation.

In addition to his Body Refinement physical strength far exceeding that of his peers, as long as he didn't face a Third Rank demon, even a Late Second-Order would not be able to kill him instantly.

As long as he couldn't be killed instantly... he would have a way to take it down.

Wang Lang put down his teacup and said, "I, Wang, will take this matter."

Centurion Zhao and Patrolman Li exchanged glances, stood up together, and bowed deeply: "Thank you, Young Master Wang, for your righteous assistance!"

The two were filled with emotion. This morning, they had run to no less than three places. When the Qi Refiners they sought heard that it was a Second-Order Demon, they either suddenly needed to go into seclusion or their old injuries relapsed.

Only this grandson of the old Mr. Wang Xiaoyao readily agreed after asking about the situation, truly showing the style of his grandfather.

"When do we leave?" Wang Lang asked.

"The sooner the better!" Centurion Zhao said, "That demon may still be in the city. If it is not dealt with in time, I am afraid there will be another murder tonight."

Wang Lang nodded and was about to get up when the Little White Fox at his feet tugged at his clothes.

"Langzi, I'm not going with you on this one. My legs still feel weak when I think about the Ten Thousand Souls Tomb incident last time."

"I'll help you take good care of the house. When you come back, buy me ten roast chickens and twenty candied hawthorns, okay?"

Wang Lang flicked her forehead upon hearing this, "You want to eat without working?"

"I can buy roast chicken and candied hawthorns, but in the days I'm gone, you have to clean the manor inside and out, or you won't get any."

"Deal!" The Little White Fox nodded instantly like a chicken pecking at rice.

Wang Lang shook his head and got up to walk towards the backyard.

A moment later, he came out carrying a dark golden Tin Staff, which was Grandmaster Tianhai's magical artifact, Zhenyue.

Patrolman Li and Centurion Zhao were both a little surprised to see this. How could this Young Master Wang have a Buddhist artifact?

But both of them were smart enough not to ask too much.

The three of them walked out of the manor, and Patrolman Li took out a Swift Travel Talisman and handed it to Wang Lang.

Wang Lang took the Swift Travel Talisman, but didn't use it, only saying, "Let's go."

Centurion Zhao and Patrolman Li exchanged a glance. Although a little surprised, they each slapped the Swift Travel Talisman on their legs, and their bodies immediately felt much lighter.

The two of them started walking quickly, but when they looked back, they saw Wang Lang following behind them unhurriedly. He seemed to be striding casually, but he always maintained a distance of three feet from them, his breath steady as usual.

Two incense sticks later, the outline of Qinglin City appeared in their field of vision.

In front of the east gate, the bronze Demon Revealing Mirror that was originally hanging high was now covered with spiderweb-like cracks on its surface.

Under the rule of the Limitless Dynasty, cities are shelters for ordinary people.

The city walls are mixed with soul-suppressing sand, making it difficult for ordinary ghosts to penetrate. The city gates are hung with Demon Revealing Mirrors, making it impossible for demons below the mid-First Order to enter.

Because of this, the house prices in the city are ridiculously high. A street-front shop can be exchanged for hundreds of acres of good farmland in the countryside.

People in the city also feel superior. Even a night soil collector feels more dignified than a wealthy man in town.

Now, the Demon Revealing Mirror is broken, and this sense of security has vanished.

Wang Lang and the other two walked into Qinglin City.

The scene inside the city was very different from the past.

It was already past noon, but the pedestrians on the street were sparse, and everyone was in a hurry, with fearful expressions on their faces.

Although the shops on both sides were open, there were few customers. The shopkeepers and assistants were gathered at the door, discussing something in low voices.

Patrolman Li explained in a low voice, "The Liu Manor incident has already spread. Now everyone in the city is panicking. Those with money are trying to find ways to go to other cities to avoid disaster, and those without money can only stay at home."

Wang Lang nodded, and then the three of them walked towards the City Lord's Mansion in the center of the city.

The City Lord's Mansion had vermilion gates and high walls, with two majestic stone lions in front of the gate.

At this moment, a middle-aged man in official uniform was pacing back and forth in front of the gate, looking up from time to time.

Seeing Centurion Zhao and the other two, his eyes lit up and he trotted up to greet them.

This person was Zhou Wenhuan, the City Lord of Qinglin City, about fifty years old, with a fair and slightly fat face, wearing a neat brocade official uniform.

"Centurion Zhao! Patrolman Li!" City Lord Zhou greeted them warmly, his gaze then falling on Wang Lang.

"This must be Young Master Wang from Listening Waves Mountain Manor, right? I've heard so much about you!"

"I've long heard of Old Mr. Wang Xiaoyao's reputation. Seeing his grandson today, he is indeed a talented and extraordinary person!"

His series of compliments poured out like beans, completely unaware of the indifference on Wang Lang's face.

Wang Lang didn't have any good feelings for this City Lord.

The Changle Gang in Qinglin City had been causing trouble for many years, but this City Lord turned a blind eye.

If he hadn't destroyed the Changle Gang, those bastards would still be wreaking havoc in the city.

"City Lord Zhou." Wang Lang nodded lightly, considering it a greeting.

City Lord Zhou didn't care about his indifference at all, and hurriedly took out a silver note from his sleeve, offering it with both hands:

"Young Master Wang, this is a deposit of one hundred taels! After the demon is subdued, another four hundred taels will be offered with both hands!"

Wang Lang took it.

The silver note had a deep cyan background with golden cloud patterns on the edges, and the vermilion seal of the Ministry of Revenue of the Limitless Dynasty was stamped in the center.

This was an officially issued high-denomination silver note with unique anti-counterfeiting measures.

Seeing Wang Lang accept the silver note, City Lord Zhou immediately smiled and said, "It's embarrassing to say, Centurion Zhao has been running around seeking help since early morning, and this official has not been idle either. I have also invited three highly respected experts from the vicinity to come and help."

"The experts are currently discussing in the backyard. Young Master Wang, this way please."