Creek Stone Village Yao!

After hearing Patrolman Li's account of the demon's rampage in Creek Stone Village, which had already claimed over ten lives, Wang Lang quickly made an assessment.

A creature that secretly devoured people in a small village of just over a hundred inhabitants was likely not a powerful demon of any repute.

The risk was controllable, and the reward... perhaps he could gain some practical combat experience. It was worth taking the job.

So, he spoke, "Patrolman Li, I've trained with my grandfather for a few years since I was young and have some strength."

"If you don't mind, I'm willing to lend you a hand and eliminate this menace for the people."

Upon hearing this, Patrolman Li's face first showed genuine relief, but it was quickly replaced by a deeper hesitation.

He sighed and said sincerely, "Young Master Wang, your intentions are appreciated, but... alas, to be perfectly honest, if this were just moments ago, I would have simply thought you a young man full of hot-bloodedness, and your willingness alone would have been enough.

But now... I truly don't want you to get involved in this mess."

He thought to himself that Old Master Wang had been severely and irreversibly injured years ago while assisting the Demon Subduing Division in apprehending a Heretical Cultivator.

And Wang Lang was perhaps Old Wang's only blood relative left in this world. Although he didn't know that Wang Lang wasn't his biological grandson, it didn't stop him from not wanting Wang Lang to suffer any harm again for helping their Demon Subduing Division. Otherwise, he, Li, wouldn't be able to live with himself.

So, he pleaded earnestly, "Young Master Wang, this matter is truly dangerous. It would be more prudent for me to report it to the Prefect and await reinforcements from the Demon Subduing Division."

Wang Lang understood the meaning behind his words and couldn't help but gain a higher opinion of the rough-looking Patrolman Li.

This was someone who valued loyalty and had principles, not a utilitarian who would stop at nothing to complete a mission.

Since the other party meant well, it wouldn't hurt to reveal some of his strength.

Wang Lang said no more. With a slight movement of his mind, the vast, abyss-like Grand Righteous Qi within him released a trace of its aura.

Although it was controlled to fluctuate only around the sixth level of Qi Induction, to someone like Patrolman Li, who had already touched the threshold of Qi Refinement, it was as clear as a boulder dropped into a calm lake.

"This...!" Patrolman Li's eyes widened abruptly, his body involuntarily straightened, and his face was filled with disbelief.

"Young Master Wang, you, you are also a Qi Refinement cultivator?! May I ask... to what realm have you cultivated?"

"By chance, sixth level of Qi Induction," Wang Lang said, his expression unchanged.

He certainly wouldn't reveal his true cultivation of ninth level Qi Induction, nor his Body Tempering strength of the ninth level.

When traveling, the more trump cards you have, the more soundly you sleep.

"Sixth level of Qi Induction!" Patrolman Li gasped, the worry on his face instantly replaced by immense joy.

"As expected of Old Master Wang's grandson! With such strength, if you were to act, this demon scourge would surely be easily resolved!"

He was genuinely excited.

According to the procedures of the Demon Subduing Division, if he reported to the Prefect for reinforcements, the first wave sent would most likely be only advance members at the third or fourth level of Qi Induction.

Only if it was confirmed they couldn't handle it would stronger experts be dispatched.

The time cost was high, and the process was cumbersome.

A Qi Refinement cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Induction was already considered a rare expert in the region!

Amidst his excitement, Patrolman Li immediately made a concrete promise:

"Young Master Wang, if this demon extermination is successful, I will report all credit truthfully and record it for you in the Demon Subduing Division!"

Wang Lang nodded, not refusing. Such things were better obtained than not.

"You're too kind, Patrolman Li. Let's not delay; we should depart now. Please lead the way."

"Good, good!" Patrolman Li replied repeatedly. He then carefully took out two pale yellow talismans from his bosom, on which special patterns were drawn with cinnabar.

He handed one to Wang Lang, "Young Master Wang, this is a Swift Travel Talisman from our Demon Subduing Division. Infuse it with your internal energy to activate it. It can greatly reduce the burden of long-distance travel."

Wang Lang took it, and upon touching it, he felt the paper was exceptionally tough.

Patrolman Li also used one, and the two of them left Listening Waves Mountain Manor together.

With Patrolman Li leading the way, Wang Lang followed closely behind.

After Wang Lang activated the talisman, he felt a light force rise from beneath his feet, as if he were treading on clouds.

Each step he took was far beyond normal, the wind whistled past his ears, and the scenery on both sides blurred rapidly.

Wang Lang secretly praised, "This thing is much more useful than those shared bikes from my previous life!"

He couldn't help but feel the urge to learn how to draw talismans, but he suppressed it.

Setting aside the strictness of the art's inheritance, the cost of purchasing talisman paper, cinnabar, and spiritual brushes alone was something he couldn't afford right now.

"Well, I can only think about it for now."

Creek Stone Village was sixty li from Listening Waves Mountain Manor. With the aid of the Swift Travel Talisman, they arrived in less than half an hour.

Wang Lang estimated that if he unleashed his full Body Tempering strength of the ninth level, his speed could be several times faster.

But that would be too astonishing and would leave Patrolman Li far behind, which wouldn't fit the persona of someone at the sixth level of Qi Induction.

By the time they reached Creek Stone Village, the east was just beginning to show the pale white of dawn.

The village was small, the houses simple, and a faint aura of panic permeated the air.

Patrolman Li, familiar with the area, led Wang Lang directly to the only relatively neat blue brick house with tile roofing in the village, which belonged to the village chief.

In the Limitless Dynasty, villages and towns were not official administrative units and had no government offices.

Daily affairs were managed autonomously by the village elders, and for major issues, someone had to be sent to the nearest city to seek help from the City Lord's Mansion.

As for the so-called village chiefs and town heads, they were mostly local figures of high repute or elected representatives responsible for communicating with the government and relaying official decrees.

Upon entering the courtyard, a burly, dark-skinned man was already waiting.

He wore a coarse cloth tunic, his muscles bulging, clearly a martial artist.

Patrolman Li introduced, "Young Master Wang, this is Shi Meng, the village's strongman. He's already a Body Tempering first-layer martial artist and grew up in Creek Stone Village. For this demon disaster, we'll need his assistance in calming the villagers and gathering information."

He turned to Shi Meng and said, "Shi Meng, this is Young Master Wang Lang, a Qi Refinement expert from Listening Waves Mountain Manor who has come specifically to subdue demons for us."

Upon hearing this, Shi Meng immediately cupped his fists in a salute, a simple smile on his face:

"Young Master Wang, thank you for coming! I, Shi Meng, thank you on behalf of the village elders and children!"

Wang Lang returned the salute.

Shi Meng rubbed his hands and said, "Patrolman Li, Young Master Wang, perhaps... we should go see the bodies of those who were harmed first? They're all in the village's east-end mortuary. Also, a few villagers said they seemed to hear strange noises last night and were too scared to sleep."

The three arrived at the mortuary.

Calling it a mortuary was generous; it was actually a dilapidated adobe hut, cold and damp.

Several corpses covered with straw mats were laid out side by side, emitting a faint stench of decay.

Lifting the straw mats revealed a rather gruesome scene.

Most of the bodies were incomplete, covered in marks of sharp teeth, especially the internal organs, which were almost entirely hollowed out, leaving only empty chests and abdomens.