"With this Blood Soul Pill, there truly is a possibility for me to break through. As long as I can break through successfully and leave South Nether Prefecture, I will stand on the same side as the Eternal Alliance."
Faced with the Blood Soul Pill, the Demon Evil was finally tempted. Such an elixir, condensed from the flesh and souls of at least one hundred thousand living beings, was a great supplement to the Demon Evil Clan. Any Demon Evil who consumed the Blood Soul Pill would experience a great increase in strength. Someone like him, who had already reached the peak of the Fiend Level, would have no major problem breaking through if he could obtain an elixir like the Blood Soul Pill to assist him.
"I hope you will keep your promise!" The black-robed man handed the Blood Soul Pill directly to the Demon Evil before him.
To be honest, he too was very tempted by the Blood Soul Pill. An elixir that could greatly increase the strength of a Demon Evil would be equally effective for him. However, not everyone could consume the Blood Soul Pill. Without powerful force to suppress it, the souls of the one hundred thousand living beings within the Blood Soul Pill alone could obliterate the spirit of a Grandmaster. Thus, as potent as the Blood Soul Pill might be, not everyone was capable of consuming it.
"Give me two days!" the Demon Evil said, then vanished with the Blood Soul Pill. The black-robed man did not stop him, allowing him to depart.
"Elder Shen!" Shen Changqing was walking along the road when someone suddenly appeared before him.
Seeing this, his expression remained placid. "Who are you?"
"I am Du’er of the Heavenly Inspection Guard. Greetings, Elder Shen!" The man was respectful and, as he spoke, promptly presented his Identity Token.
Shen Changqing took the Identity Token, examined it, and seeing nothing amiss, handed it back.
"What business do you have with me?"
"Elder Shen, you are planning to go to Luoyang City, correct?"
"Indeed," Shen Changqing nodded. Luoyang City was where the Fiend Level Strange Monster was located. It was not surprising that the Heavenly Inspection Guard knew he was heading in this direction.
Du’er clasped his fist and said, "Since yesterday, there has been a disturbance in the Yin Evil Aura in Luoyang City. We suspect the Strange Monster in the city is attempting a breakthrough. If Elder Shen is indeed going to Luoyang City, please be careful."
"A breakthrough?" Shen Changqing raised an eyebrow. This news was unexpected. "If I recall correctly, the Demon Evil in Luoyang City should be at the peak of the Fiend Level, correct?"
"Precisely, the peak of the Fiend Level!" Du’er nodded, his expression exceedingly grave. "With the current disturbance in the Yin Evil Aura, we suspect it is attempting to ascend to the Demon Evil level. If it truly succeeds in breaking through, the trouble will be considerable."
A Demon Evil, even one that had just successfully transformed, possessed a destructive power and influence that no Strange Monster could compare to.
Du’er paused briefly before continuing, "Normally, it is exceedingly difficult for a Strange Monster to transform into a Demon Evil. When it attacked Luoyang City, we swiftly organized the evacuation of the populace. The power it managed to plunder was minimal; logically, it shouldn’t have the opportunity to break through. However, the current disturbances in Luoyang City indicate that its breakthrough attempt is almost certain. If Elder Shen intends to eliminate this Demon Evil, it would be best to strike before it completes its transformation!"
Regardless of the reason for the Demon Evil’s breakthrough, one thing was certain: it absolutely could not be allowed to succeed.
Hearing this, Shen Changqing’s expression turned peculiar. "Are you certain this Demon Evil is truly attempting a breakthrough?"
"We are quite certain," Du’er replied. He then looked at the man before him, a hint of hesitation on his face. "Actually, the Demon-Subduing Division has been amassing forces around Luoyang City, waiting for the opportune moment to exterminate that Demon Evil. With Elder Shen’s arrival, we finally have a figurehead. With your command, Elder Shen, all Demon-Subduing Division forces around Luoyang City can be mobilized!"
Du’er was well aware of Elder Shen’s strength. According to reports, he was a Grandmaster Peak expert, and within the Heavenly Realm, he possessed power rivaling that of a Defender Envoy. However, even an expert at Grandmaster Peak could not be absolutely certain of defeating a Demon Evil. If the Demon Evil in Luoyang City truly completed its breakthrough, Elder Shen’s success in eliminating it would not be guaranteed. Especially considering Shen Changqing’s current change in expression. Perhaps he’s apprehensive, Du’er thought. If Elder Shen decided against proceeding due to wariness of the Demon Evil, then the forces they currently commanded would be utterly insufficient to contend with it. At best, the Demon Evil would escape. At worst, it could lead to a great loss of life among the Human Clan. Therefore, Du’er specifically mentioned that the Demon-Subduing Division still had forces to deploy, implying that Elder Shen would not have to fight alone.
After Du’er finished speaking, Shen Changqing appeared to be contemplating other matters. A few moments later, he refocused and said with a faint smile, "I have received your message. You may return and report that I will take full responsibility for the situation in Luoyang City. However, I must make one point clear: regardless of any developments in Luoyang City, no one is to enter within a fifty-mile radius of the city without my direct command."
"Ah... Understood. But Elder Shen, are you confident going alone?" Du’er was momentarily stunned before he processed this. Looking at Shen Changqing, he asked with some hesitation. If Elder Shen were to be trapped in Luoyang City, we would bear some responsibility.
Shen Changqing glanced at him, his voice neutral. "You need not concern yourself with how I conduct my affairs. Whether it has successfully broken through or not, even if it truly did, it wouldn’t be able to cause significant trouble."
"I misspoke. I hope Elder Shen will not take offense!" From that single glance, Du’er felt a chill run down his spine and quickly lowered his head.
Shen Changqing waved his hand dismissively. "Go about your business. There’s no need for further involvement in the Luoyang City affair."
"Yes." Du’er nodded. Before leaving, he glanced at Tiankui standing by Shen Changqing’s feet, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. So that’s the Fierce Beast, Tiankui! It’s quite different from the ferocious and brutal creature described in rumors.
Just as he was about to leave, a voice suddenly called out.
"Does Elder Shen have further instructions?"
"What is the current situation in South Nether Prefecture? Have there been any significant changes?" Shen Changqing asked. The last time he had inquired about the situation in South Nether Prefecture with the Heavenly Inspection Guard was several days prior. Anything could have happened in the intervening days. Although he had no intention of intervening at present, it did not prevent him from wanting to understand the current state of affairs.
Du’er said, "Is Elder Shen asking about the Myriad Buddhas Sect?"
"Essentially," Shen Changqing conceded with a nod. Currently, that is indeed the most significant matter in South Nether Prefecture.
Hearing this, Du’er spoke gravely, "Five days ago, the Myriad Buddhas Sect rallied numerous sects to form an alliance. They publicly declared the Demon-Subduing Division cruel and inhumane, aiming to unite and overthrow it. They also called upon sects from the other nine prefectures of Great Qin to join their cause. However, to date, apart from those in South Nether Prefecture, not a single Jianghu power from the other prefectures has responded."
Hearing this, Shen Changqing nodded silently. So, the Myriad Buddhas Sect has now completely broken ties with the Demon-Subduing Division. That top expert from eight hundred years ago must also lack the confidence to confront the Demon-Subduing Division alone, hence his desire to rally all the Jianghu sects. Although these Jianghu forces are individually insignificant against the Demon-Subduing Division, if all the sects were to truly unite, they would become an incredibly formidable power. At that point, even the Demon-Subduing Division would have to pay a steep price to suppress them. However, not every sect would answer the Myriad Buddhas Sect’s call. From Du’er’s information, it seems most sects are adopting a wait-and-see attitude.
Shen Changqing shook his head slightly. "The Myriad Buddhas Sect commands considerable prestige in South Nether Prefecture, enabling them to rally some sects. Shimohe’s killing of two Defender Envoys has also, in a way, given them hope of overthrowing the Demon-Subduing Division. In other prefectures, however, the Myriad Buddhas Sect’s influence is far less significant. Without seeing tangible benefits, they are unlikely to act."
Overthrowing the Demon-Subduing Division would require substantial benefits. Without them, rashly opposing the Division could lead to a sect’s annihilation and complete loss. These ’benefits,’ in essence, equate to hope—a genuine hope that allows the Jianghu to envision the possibility of overthrowing the Demon-Subduing Division. For the Jianghu sects in South Nether Prefecture, Shimohe killing two Defender Envoys already represents such hope. This hope is further bolstered by the Myriad Buddhas Sect’s established reputation. In contrast, from the perspective of sects in other prefectures, Shimohe’s actions are far from sufficient. To overthrow the Demon-Subduing Division, merely killing two Defender Envoys is nowhere near enough. Considering the overall strength of the Demon-Subduing Division, while Defender Envoys may not be numerous, their impact is substantial. The loss of two Defender Envoys has not crippled the Demon-Subduing Division or left it critically vulnerable. Only when the Myriad Buddhas Sect genuinely shakes the foundations of the Demon-Subduing Division will the other observing sects consider joining. After all, if such a decision is made incorrectly, there will be no turning back. Content orıginally comes from 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✦𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✦𝕟𝕖𝕥
Then, Shen Changqing asked, "Has the Demon-Subduing Division reacted at all? Or are they simply allowing the Myriad Buddhas Sect to act so brazenly?"
"The Demon-Subduing Division will certainly not allow those Jianghu sects to run rampant," Du’er explained. "To thoroughly annihilate the Myriad Buddhas Sect and its allied sects, and also to serve as a deterrent to other sects, not only have numerous experts taken action, but the Imperial Court’s army has also been dispatched to accompany them."
Experts from the Demon-Subduing Division taking action, and the Imperial Court’s army being mobilized as well... This was slightly beyond Shen Changqing’s expectations, yet upon further reflection, it made sense. Although he was part of the Demon-Subduing Division, he had to admit that its methods were indeed quite domineering. Now that a force like the Myriad Buddhas Sect had emerged, daring to challenge its authority, the Demon-Subduing Division was even less likely to tolerate it. Their annihilation was inevitable.