A blazing red light shot into the sky with a piercing shriek.
Even through the thick fog, it was clearly visible, exploding high above into a striking crimson lotus!
"An emergency signal?!"
The Pig Demon's eyes turned bloodshot. Even three human Qi Induction Realm Qi Refiners had given it trouble;
if more came, would it not return empty-handed tonight?
With that thought, it suddenly pounded its chest with both fists, letting out a dull, drumlike roar.
Even denser demonic energy erupted from its body, vaguely condensing behind it into the phantom manifestation of a colossal wild boar!
The manifestation stood over a zhang tall, its tusks like halberds and its eyes glowing red.
It even held a massive blunt blade condensed from demonic energy!
As the manifestation solidified, its pressure multiplied!
"A demon soul manifestation! It truly is a Second-Order Demon that has condensed a demon soul!" Song Yunzi cried out.
Master Huineng's blade struck the demonic energy spilling from the manifestation, only to be rebounded away, numbing his arm.
With the Pig Demon's manifestation formed, its might was unrivaled. Its greedy gaze locked onto Jiang Wan again, drool streaming from its pig snout.
"Hehehe... beauty, stop running. Let Pig Lord properly cherish you first..."
As it spoke, it took heavy steps forward, advancing on Jiang Wan one step at a time with its blunt-bladed manifestation in hand.
Jiang Wan felt her movement technique slow, as if she had sunk into a swamp.
The enormous shadow and terrifying demonic pressure made all three of them catch their breath.
Almost the instant the signal blossomed in the northwestern night sky, Wang Lang in the southeast abruptly raised his head, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes.
"Something happened in the northwest."
Without another word, Wang Lang stepped forward. The bluestone beneath his feet cracked with a soft crunch,
and he had already shot toward the direction from which the signal had risen.
He was so fast that a faint afterimage trailed behind him.
Centurion Zhao reacted half a beat slower and cursed under his breath. "So it really came!"
He then used a Light Body movement technique and gritted his teeth as he gave chase.
His speed was considered decent among mid-stage Qi Induction Realm cultivators, but compared with Wang Lang, he was immediately eclipsed and soon fell far behind.
Patrolman Li had it the worst.
The moment the signal rose, his heart trembled. He watched Wang Lang and his own centurion shoot off one after the other.
In an instant, they had vanished dozens of zhang away, frightening him half to death.
At a time like this, with darkness all around and demons causing havoc, being left alone?
How was that any different from carrying a lantern to the King of Hell's palace to register his name?!
"My ancestors, wait for me!"
Patrolman Li wore a miserable expression as he fumbled a Swift Travel Talisman out of the inner pocket against his chest,
then slapped it onto his thigh.
The talisman took effect. Patrolman Li immediately felt his body lighten, his speed surging enough for him to barely trail not far behind Centurion Zhao instead of being left so far behind he could not even see his shadow.
As he chased with all his might, he mourned inwardly.
What rotten luck. How had a job involving a suspected Second-Order Demon fallen onto him?
With his meager first-level Qi Induction Realm cultivation, he normally only dealt with minor demons in the mountains and wilderness.
And now he actually had to face a Second-Order Demon head-on...
Yet he had no choice. Recently, the Demon Subduing Division throughout Yuan Province had seemed to have poked a demon nest—trouble was breaking out everywhere, and manpower had been stretched thin.
The fact that he could accompany his own centurion on this operation already counted as his superiors looking after him.
"Hmph! Is that all you can do?"
The zhang-tall Pig Demon manifestation was savage and terrifying. Every swing of the blunt blade condensed from demonic energy in its hand
came with the sound of tearing wind, splitting the ground into deep furrows.
Jiang Wan and the other two formed horns around one another, fighting as they retreated.
But the next moment!
A cruel smile appeared on the twisted pig face of the Pig Demon manifestation, and the blunt blade abruptly changed direction, smashing toward Master Huineng.
Before the blade even arrived, the force of the wind made the master's monk robes snap violently.
Master Huineng gave a deep shout and raised his Monk's Blade to meet it, golden light flaring brilliantly.
However, crack!
The Monk's Blade shattered at once, fragments scattering in every direction.
The blunt blade did not lose momentum, chopping straight for Master Huineng's head!
"Master!" Jiang Wan cried out, thrusting her longsword forward, only for the other arm of the Pig Demon manifestation to sweep her away.
Song Yunzi hurriedly flung out several more lightning talismans, but the demon's hide was thick and its flesh tough.
The lightning talismans struck its body and raised only a few weak sparks before falling silent.
Seeing the blade about to descend, Master Huineng knew there was no avoiding it.
He could only close his eyes, chant a Buddhist invocation, and calmly await death.
A shriek tore through the air from afar. A streak of dark golden light ripped through the demonic fog and smashed into the blunt blade like a falling meteor!
Boom!!
The blunt blade formed of demonic energy shattered inch by inch. The streak of light continued onward, slamming heavily into the Pig Demon manifestation's chest,
sending both it and the Pig Demon's true body flying several zhang backward.
Everyone was stunned.
Jiang Wan looked up to see a burly figure emerging from the southeastern street.
"Young Master Wang!"
Wang Lang gave them a slight nod, his gaze settling on the Pig Demon struggling to rise.
Cracks had already appeared in the manifestation's chest, and demonic energy was constantly leaking from them.
"Hmph... who are you?!" Blood spilled from the corner of the Pig Demon's mouth, its pig eyes filled with shock and fury.
Wang Lang did not answer. He merely tapped off the ground.
The next instant, he appeared above the Pig Demon manifestation's head and stomped down!
Boom!
The zhang-tall manifestation shattered at once, demonic energy exploding and scattering in all directions.
The Pig Demon's true body let out a miserable howl. Wang Lang firmly pinned its head beneath his foot, smashing its entire face into the blue bricks, leaving it able to make only wheezing pig snorts.
Wang Lang looked down at the struggling Pig Demon beneath his foot, but a trace of doubt arose in his heart.
This Second-Order Demon was... far too weak.
He could not help comparing it with the female ghost he had encountered at the Ten Thousand Souls Tomb.
A strange light flashed through Jiang Wan's cold eyes. Her longsword lowered as she fixed her gaze on Wang Lang, studying him closely.
City Lord Zhou had said that Young Master Wang was at the ninth level of the Qi Induction Realm, but the force of that throw and the power of that stomp just now—how could they belong to the Qi Induction Realm?
Could it be... that his Body Refinement had entered the Bedrock Realm?
If that were true, ninth-level Qi Induction paired with Bedrock Realm Body Refinement could indeed explain such combat strength.
Yet Wang Lang looked only a little over twenty. With such talent, even in Central Province, he could be called a heavenly prodigy.
Centurion Zhao arrived behind Wang Lang at this time. He quickly stepped forward, already holding Demon Binding Cuffs made specifically to restrain demons.
The shackles were specially crafted and possessed an extremely strong suppressive effect on demons.
Just then, the Pig Demon beneath Wang Lang's foot suddenly burst into laughter, its voice crazed.
"Hmph, hmph... hahahaha! Do you really think you're the only ones with reinforcements?!"
It gathered its remaining demonic energy and let out a shrill pig squeal.
Aoo!!!
The sound waves pierced through Qinglin City, startling countless sleepless people.
Then another surge of demonic energy shot into the sky!
"This is bad!" Song Yunzi's expression changed. "It has an accomplice!"
Master Huineng picked up the fragments of his Monk's Blade and smiled bitterly. "If another Second-Order Demon comes, then we fear..."
Before he could finish, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows of a nearby street.
It stood eight chi tall, with a pig's head and a human body. Most eye-catching of all were the two kitchen knives in its hands.
The newly arrived Pig Demon tilted its head, looked at its companion beneath Wang Lang's foot, and split its pig snout in a grin.
"Hmph hmph, Zhu Dazhuang, you useless good-for-nothing. A few human minor cultivators beat you into such a sorry state?"
Zhu Dazhuang struggled beneath Wang Lang's foot and shouted, "Zhu Erdao! Stop gloating and help me, you bastard! This kid is strange!"
"Oh?" Only then did Zhu Erdao turn its gaze toward Wang Lang, wariness flashing through its pig eyes.
"To beat you into this state... he does have some skill."
It did not rashly step forward. Instead, it retreated a step as demonic energy violently erupted around its body!
"Manifestation, appear!"
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