Hunting time: begin

What?

Hearing Chu He's words, the elder beside him flared with anger. "Chief Banner Officer Chu, you're only at the second rank early stage yourself. What right do you have to call their fighting child's play?"

"Some of them will certainly break through to the third rank in the future, perhaps even the fourth rank or higher. What gives you the right to look down on them?"

"The fact that I am Chu He!"

Chu He picked up his teacup and took a sip, saying coldly, "They're just a bunch of greenhouse flowers who've barely dealt with demons."

"Any random demon at their own level would give them more than they could handle. The sects of Yun Province have completely the wrong way of training disciples. Fighting to the death is the fastest path to cultivating the strong."

"It's just like raising gu. Whoever survives is strong!"

"You... brute!"

For a moment, the elder had no idea how to refute him. He could only snap back angrily before lowering his head and falling silent.

Because!

He knew Chu He had a point!

But!

Sects and great clans were different from the Demon Suppression Guard!

Sect disciples shared deep bonds with their masters, and great clans had the ties of blood to consider. How could they use such a method?

Basically, whenever core disciples slew demons, elders stood guard beside them. How could that temper their true character?

By contrast!

The Demon Suppression Bureau largely followed the path of raising gu, relying entirely on the Demon Suppression Guards below to fight demons themselves and exchange their kills for merit points, thereby advancing in rank and position!

Thus, everyone who managed to make something of themselves in the Demon Suppression Bureau was extraordinary. Fighting above their rank was as commonplace as eating a meal.

Ten hours later!

The competition finally came to a pause. The top three were Dao Feng of the Small Saber Sect, Liu Ju of the Heavenly Origin Sect, and Wu Kai of the Great Earth Sect.

The duel for first place would take place tomorrow!

Thud!

Tian Zuo stepped onto the platform and said:

"Since the selection of the top three has ended, today's competition will also come to a pause. However,

"With experts like Brother Dao and Brother Di of Yun Province so rarely gathered here today, would everyone care to exchange a few moves and broaden the horizons of those below?"

As he spoke.

He turned his gaze toward the elder beside Chu He.

Sure enough.

Hearing Tian Yun's words, the elder did not hesitate at all. He slapped his chair, shot straight onto the platform, and bellowed:

"Di Wu of the Great Earth Sect! Who will give me some pointers?"

"Today, let's show certain government lackeys the true strength of sect and great clan disciples!"

"Good!"

A burly man rose from his chair, stamped his large foot, and appeared on the platform. "Brother Di, let's have a bout here."

Then!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Earthshaking booms resounded through the air. Whether deliberately or not, the two fought with exceptional ferocity, every blow delivered with full force. From time to time, they even glanced at Chu He, their faces filled with pride!

As though saying:

Look, sect and great clan disciples are plenty strong!

However!

Chu He ignored them entirely. Instead, he looked toward Tian Yuan, a faint sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth as he thought, Interesting.

He could tell that Tian Yuan had deliberately goaded several third-rank experts into fighting. As for the purpose? Their preparations were probably about to begin, and they wanted to exhaust the third-rank experts.

An hour later!

Except for Chu He and Dao Buer beside him, all the other third-rank experts had stepped forward for a bout, expending considerable strength.

In fact!

Even the platform below, built from solid steel and inscribed with runes, had developed cracks and looked ready to collapse.

At this moment, Chu He casually rested his right hand on the Demon-Suppressing Saber, his index finger tapping seemingly without intent, his expression utterly calm.

Below!

Zhao Yuan and the others all narrowed their eyes.

Then!

They appeared to chat among themselves, yet swiftly formed a military formation that could advance to attack or retreat to defend.

Boom...

The final two third-rank experts exchanged a head-on blow!

Each retreated several steps, and they smiled at one another, marking the complete end of these bouts.

"Brother Zhang, Brother Wang, you truly live up to your reputations as former favored sons of heaven. Your strength is absolutely among the best at your level in Yun Province. I'm truly envious."

Tian Yun walked onto the platform and gave the two a sinister smile. "So, to put my heart at ease, you two can die."

With those words!

He attacked them without the slightest warning!

Bam! Bam!

Both were sent flying hundreds of meters on the spot and crashed to the ground, their faces flushed crimson and blood pouring incessantly from their mouths. Clearly, they were badly injured.

At the same time!

A silver dagger appeared in Dao Buer's hand as he sat above. He flung it straight at Chu He with inconceivable speed.

However!

Fast as he was, Chu He was faster!

More precisely, before he had even attacked, Chu He had already dodged aside while swinging out his left hand.

Hum...

A streak of dark light shot straight toward Dao Buer's eyes.

"Not good!"

Dao Buer's expression changed, and he instinctively dodged backward.

Swish!

The dark light grazed his eyelid, leaving a thin bloody cut.

By the time he opened his eyes and regained his vision, Chu He was already hundreds of meters away, a copper coin flipping up and down in his left hand.

"What a shrewd brat. He probably noticed something was wrong long ago."

Dao Buer said with an intrigued expression, "Unfortunately, every living being in Nine Nether Town must die today! All of you, come out and kill!"

As his words fell!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Dark figures leaped down from the buildings surrounding the platform, densely packed and numbering no fewer than several hundred.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

Hundreds of dark figures charged toward the platform. Every living being in their path was easily torn to pieces!

At the same time!

Several third-rank dark figures rushed toward the top of the platform!

"Not good, they're demons!"

"How could Nine Nether Town have so many demons, and how could they evade the Heavenly Origin Sect's detection? No, the Heavenly Origin Sect is involved too!"

"No wonder they had us fight just now. It was to exhaust our strength! Damn it, Tian Yuan, you've actually colluded with demons! Aren't you afraid of being crushed by the Demon Suppression Bureau?"

The third-rank experts roared furiously as they fended off the demons.

"Hahaha... so what if we've colluded with them!"

Tian Yuan threw back his head and laughed twice, then declared loudly:

"You'd better think about how to survive first. As for the Demon Suppression Bureau, it'll suffer right along with you."

At this moment!

All of Nine Nether Town descended into chaos!

Demons were everywhere, constantly hunting the town's living beings. The martial artists who had come to participate in the competition received particular attention. Caught off guard as well, they suffered devastating casualties in mere moments!

In fact!

Even the other Demon Suppression Banner openly stationed in town suffered heavy losses, with no fewer than ten Demon Suppression Guards dying in the very first encounter!

Only the Demon Suppression Banner led by Chu He fared better. Warned by Chu He, they had made preparations beforehand. Coupled with the demons mainly targeting sect and great clan disciples, they had suffered virtually no losses.

"Zhao Yuan!"

Chu He stomped a second rank middle stage demon to death and shouted, "Lead the Demon Suppression Guards to the east of town. Our base is there. Once you arrive, follow Hundred Household Commander Zhang's orders."

"Understood!"

Zhao Yuan did not hesitate, shouting, "Form the killing formation! Break out to the east with everything you've got!"

Thud!

Chu He planted a foot on a second-rank demon, bursting its head with a kick, and used the recoil to leap onto a rooftop!

Watching the fighting everywhere throughout the town, a trace of excitement appeared in his eyes. Yes, excitement.

Demons!

So many demons!

And demons that were fighting his enemies at that. This was absolutely the perfect opportunity to win the chicken dinner and pick up easy gains!

Then!

A faint, sinister smile appeared on Chu He's face:

His hunting time had begun!