I'll Hold the Main Road

Night fell quietly, black as ink.

Ye An led eleven Demon Hunters out of the Annan Prefecture Demon Suppressing Guard's base. With Bluebird leading the way, they hurried along the paths south of the prefectural city.

Most of the Demon Hunters assigned to Ye An's team were at the Qi Condensation Initial Stage, but each was a martial artist selected by the Demon Suppressing Guard for their particular strengths and formidable fighting ability.

They were all Qi Condensation Martial Artists with excellent stamina. Even without taking the broad, open road, they were nearing White Rock Slope within an hour.

The trees on either side grew dense, and the terrain ahead narrowed abruptly. The once fairly open dirt road shrank into a winding valley path through the mountains.

"White Rock Slope is just ahead." Bluebird stopped near the front of the group and turned to face them, sounding unconvinced.

"We're among the best in the Demon Suppressing Guard. It's bad enough they didn't put us on the front line, but they sent us to this godforsaken valley to catch a few fish that slip through the net."

"So what if there are plenty of fish? They'll be little Meridian Opening fish at most. There might not even be a handful at the Qi Condensation Realm!"

Bluebird had been unhappy since she was assigned to Ye An's team. After greeting the others, she had gone quiet.

Now her dissatisfaction with the Demon Suppressing Guard's assignment was plain in her voice.

Though Bluebird wore a jet-black mask, her displeasure seemed almost visible beneath it.

No one answered.

Ye An surveyed the valley path winding more than ten li ahead. Dense woods and steep cliffs lined both sides, leaving only one main road through.

If members of the Heaven Overturning Cult wanted to escape