A Fall into a Cliffside Cave, a Failed Possession

Name: Chu He

Position: Company Commander, Demon Suppression Bureau

Cultivation: Middle Third Grade

Soul: Third Rank Peak Stage

Martial arts: Dragon Elephant Prison Suppression Art, third layer, middle stage (upgradeable), Yin-Yang Nine Imperial Controls (great perfection), Thunder Saber (great perfection)

Skills: Pupil of Illusion Breaking, Soul Drill

Weapons: Demon-Suppressing Saber, one copper coin

Demon Points: 400

"Middle Third Grade strength and Third Rank Peak Stage soul power. Combined, the two should let me fight even an ordinary Fourth Rank."

A trace of satisfaction appeared on Chu He's face.

In just one day.

His cultivation had broken through from subordinate second rank early stage to Middle Third Grade. That speed could no longer be called fast. It could only be called monstrous.

So!

That was also why he had deliberately jumped off the cliff just now.

That was right.

When the tiger-headed demon's tail struck at him, he could have dodged, but he had not chosen to evade it. Instead, he had used the force to fall off the cliff.

Because only this way could he evade Zhou Cang's scrutiny. Otherwise, he would have no way to explain his injuries suddenly healing. Instead, he could easily be treated as a monster, locked up, and interrogated.

And now!

After falling off the cliff, he only needed to find somewhere to hide for two days, then come up with any excuse-a fortuitous encounter, rescue by an old grandpa, and so on-to explain both his recovery and his explosive increase in strength.

"This time, I really did seek riches and honor amid danger. After that battle, not only did my strength soar through a breakthrough, but I also earned great merit for the Demon Suppression Bureau. That will surely draw the higher-ups' attention and bring a flood of resources my way."

And that.

Was precisely what Chu He had planned beforehand.

One could say that everything, from his desperate fight against the tiger-headed demon at the start to his leap off the cliff, had been part of his plan.

"Time to go!"

Chu He looked up. Before long, a large number of Demon Suppression Guards would surely come down to search. He had to leave before then.

"Huh..."

Just as he was about to leave, Chu He suddenly noticed a dark opening directly ahead, with pulses of red light glowing inside.

Step!

He stepped forward into the dark opening.

The cave was small, only around ten square meters, overgrown with weeds and showing no signs of any living creatures inhabiting it.

Ahead of him!

A black mirror floated in the air, giving off pulses of red light. Thin streams of blood flowed toward it from the rock overhead.

A treasure!

Had jumping off a cliff brought him an unparalleled opportunity?

A glint flashed through Chu He's eyes as he looked at the rock wall. Such a heavy stench of blood could only have come from an enormous quantity of it.

Only the battle with the demons above could have produced so much blood. In other words, this was certainly no righteous treasure.

A secret treasure of the evil path!

And it was still devouring blood!

So this was what the White Lotus Cult had been plotting for. Chu He immediately identified the crux of the matter. "This black mirror is the heart of the White Lotus Cult's plan."

However.

It seemed that even the White Lotus Cult's people did not know this secret treasure's exact location. Otherwise, they could not possibly have left it without demons guarding it.

But since this black mirror had driven the White Lotus Cult to ignite the battle in Nine Nether Town regardless of the cost, it was clearly extraordinary.

Chu He extended a hand.

Hum...

Thin strands of soul power spread toward the black mirror.

Boom...

The black mirror began trembling violently.

Whoosh!

A streak of black light shot out!

It moved so fast that it entered Chu He's body before he could react. At the same time, an aged voice rang out.

"Gahaha... this venerable one has emerged once more! This body is quite good, and its soul power is plentiful. From now on, it shall belong to this venerable one... fuck... what the hell is this thing? Let this venerable one out... aaah..."

With a shriek, the aged voice vanished.

"System, is it dealt with?"

"Of course. Not even a speck was left. The inside of your body is my territory! A lowly ant like that thought it could take over? It can dream on..."

The system's proud voice rang out in Chu He's mind.

That was right.

From the very start, Chu He had sensed a consciousness inside the black mirror through his powerful soul power. Combining that with the old clichés of countless fantasy novels, he had guessed that this was a [possession] setup.

But.

For Chu He, this was the easiest thing to break!

With the system present, no soul, however powerful, could possess Chu He.

Swish!

Chu He put away the black mirror.

Now!

Was not the time to examine it. His immediate priority was to leave this place so the Demon Suppression Guards could not find him.

Whoosh!

He stepped forward and leaped out of the cave!

Smack!

Grabbing the Demon-Suppressing Saber hanging from the cliff face, he plunged downward with force!

Screech...

Sparks flew once more!

Ten breaths later!

Thud!

When he was several dozen meters above the ground, Chu He jumped straight down, throwing up a vast cloud of dust and frightening the surrounding birds and beasts into flight.

He surveyed his surroundings. A river lay not far away; everywhere else was flat, with the rocks all plainly visible.

Without hesitation!

Chu He immediately erased his tracks on the ground, then tossed his two bloodstained shoes beside the river. Finally, he jumped into the river himself and swiftly swam away.

Half an incense stick later!

Step! Step! Step...

Over a hundred Demon Suppression Guards appeared at the foot of the cliff. Leading them was Zhang Wei, who said gravely:

"Search! Even if you have to turn this entire valley floor upside down, find Chu He for me!"

"Yes!"

The Demon Suppression Guards nodded in response.

They quickly scattered and began searching the ground and the marshes. Some even climbed up the cliff face.

"Sir, there's something here!"

A Demon Suppression Guard shouted.

The other Demon Suppression Guards immediately ran over. The guard who had called out stood beside the river, holding a pair of bloody shoes. Their design was unmistakable: the standard brocade shoes of a Demon Suppression Guard company commander.

Swish!

The Demon Suppression Guards all turned their gazes toward the river. Since the shoes were beside it, Chu He must have been swept into the water. By now, there was no telling where he had been carried. He might even have been devoured by fish and shrimp.

At that moment.

Grief appeared on every Demon Suppression Guard's face.

Chu He had already been like a lamp with its oil exhausted. After falling into such a turbulent river, his chances of survival were even slimmer.

Zhang Wei took the bloody shoes handed to him by the Demon Suppression Guard. A trace of despair welled up in his eyes as he murmured:

"Heaven truly envies talent. Your era had not even begun, yet you fell here. You were too reckless. But your death cannot pass so quietly. I will see you buried with honor."

As he spoke.

Zhang Wei turned his gaze toward the river and said firmly:

"Search! If there aren't enough men, transfer Heavenly Martial Guards from the surrounding commandery cities. I don't care what methods you use. Even if you have to drain this river dry, find Chu He's body!"

"Understood!"

The Demon Suppression Guards immediately answered.

At this.

None of them had any complaints. The sight of Chu He fighting to the death still lingered in their minds, refusing to fade.

Without Chu He's disregard for his own life, more of them might have fallen. Even total annihilation might not have been impossible.

Of course.

Those under Chu He's command had the most complicated feelings!

Lu Feng and the others not only looked downcast, but their eyes also held disbelief. They did not believe their company commander would fall so easily. Yet the facts lay before them, leaving them no choice but to believe.

Meanwhile.

Although Zhao Yuan and the others looked downcast, their eyes were strangely calm!

Because.

When Chu He had fallen off the cliff, they had seen him make a special hand gesture. It was their exclusive secret signal.

Which proved that Chu He was not dead!

(PS: This book will not have an aggravating plot where the protagonist fakes his death and then hides away. The protagonist will reappear very soon.)