"One month... three thousand people to serve as our food... we provide ten jin... of essence blood... for cultivation, are you... thinking of going back on your word?"
The devil spoke in fits and starts.
Their physiological structure meant they struggled to use language as fluently as humans, but Gu Jinlai still understood.
"We give you three thousand people each month? You give us ten jin of essence blood for cultivation materials?"
Gu Jinlai’s gaze immediately turned toward Zhao Fan.
Zhao Fan was taken aback, panic-stricken, he said, "Sir, I was unaware of this, it may just be the devil trying to sow discord."
Gu Jinlai turned his gaze to the other Meteor Star Guards, "Is it really just sowing discord?"
Zhao Fan gritted his teeth, "Sir, I... I only know about Wang Dongyu and the Red Blood Demon Sect making deals, trading criminals, refugees, and displaced people to the Red Blood Demon Sect for profits, but I know nothing of any deals with devils, sir."
"Red Blood Demon Sect."
It was a significant force active within Star State, with many demon martial artists.
The Star State Four Fierce hailed from the Red Blood Demon Sect.
Considering the characteristics of this power, coupled with what Zhao Fan and the devils said...
The truth was about to reveal itself.
"Let’s say you know nothing; even so, the best scenario would be the Red Blood Demon Sect making deals with the devils, you handing people to the Red Blood Demon Sect, the Red Blood Demon Sect handing them over to the devils..."
An entire industry chain, huh!?
No wonder he had always felt there was something off about Lingxiao City.
It indeed could be called peaceful!
But it seemed too lifeless for comfort.
Besides, Starlight City and Changjun City nearby were plagued by devils, yet Lingxiao City, weaker than Changjun City, had the closest devil appearing three hundred miles away?
Now it seemed not that Lingxiao City had better public order, but that Lingxiao City, the Red Blood Demon Sect, and the devils, were all in cahoots, maintaining an apparent peace and harmony in Lingxiao City by trading "people" for their mutual benefit.
"Truly, a case of mutual benefit."
At this time, the devil too seemed to realize that this group of people was not of the same ilk as those with whom it had been trading; struggling, it tried to get up and break out.
But before it could pull away and take flight, Gu Jinlai had already pounced forward, forming seals with one hand, and with a force far surpassing that of the devil, he struck it, instantly shattering the devil’s head into pieces.
After he killed the devil, he shook the fresh blood from his hand and uttered one word, "Refine!"
Zhao Fan’s face turned somewhat pale.
He quickly gathered the Meteor Star Guards and left of his own accord.
For over a month, even though Gu Jinlai always had Gu Chaoyang keep the Meteor Star Guards out, the changes in the size and Qi of Gu Chifeng, Gu Qingmei, Gu Luochen, and thirty others still let these guards guess what Gu Jinlai was doing.
Cultivating Demon Martial Artists!
Sure enough, a scourge of the Demon Path.
Even with such knowledge, they could only pretend to be ignorant, otherwise, given the ferocity of the Ancient Demon, killing them all in the wilderness would be an easy task.
Two more of the thirty had developed a demon body.
Now, there were eight true Demon Martial Artists.
Each of these eight possessed combat strength not inferior to those at the peak of Qi Refinement. If not for Gu Chaoyang, Nian Buwang, and a few others who had assimilated some elixirs and broken through to the Gang Condensation Realm, they would likely be outmatched by the group of eight led by Gu Chifeng in a one-on-one fight.
It was precisely because the Demon Martial Artists showed rapid effectiveness, that even though there were side effects like loss of control, Devouring Spirit, and even sudden death, people still continued to walk the path of the Demon Martial Artists.
He had to get to the bottom of this matter.
The Meteor Star Guards, Lingxiao City’s Three Great Families, the Red Blood Demon Sect, and the devils, what roles were each of them really playing here.
There was no noble reason.
"Hand over a ’person’ to the devils in exchange for peace in Lingxiao City?"
He disliked such behavior!
It still looked somewhat desolate amid its tranquility.
Even on the main street, there were few pedestrians coming and going.
Occasionally, carriages passed by, belonging to the large clans’ retinues, parading through the city with a dozen or even scores of followers.
When Gu Jinlai returned, the western branch of the city hadn’t changed much.
He didn’t bother with anyone else, immediately gathering the scrolls related to the Red Blood Demon Sect.
The Red Blood Sect was one of the newly emerged forces, first appearing twelve years ago, founded by Elder Xue Lian.
Not long after its establishment, due to its excessively ruthless actions, it provoked the City Lord of Changjun City to suppress it. Three thousand iron cavalry flattened the Red Blood Sect, with Elder Xue Lian of the Refining God Realm dying in that extermination battle.
Since then, the Red Blood Sect shifted from the open to the shadows, operating in cities like Chang County, Lingxiao, and Sunset in recent years, and recently taking the path of Demon Martial Artists, gradually growing in strength.
Its Sect Leader is said to be Elder Xue Lian’s junior brother, self-titled Red Saber Ancestor, whose body is now strong enough to rival that of a Great Demon.
Because of his strength, and since he rarely approached large cities like Changjun City or Baihe City, despite frequently committing evil, he has remained at large over the years.
"My lord, Zhao Fan seeks an audience."
At this moment, a voice came from outside.
Gu Jinlai called out.
Soon, Zhao Fan pushed the door and entered.
He looked at Gu Jinlai and said, "Does my lord wish to take action against the Red Blood Sect?"
"If my lord truly wants to deal with the Red Blood Sect..."
Zhao Fan took out a document: "The matter of the Red Blood Sect could shake the whole forest with but a single stroke; please consider it carefully, my lord."
Gu Jinlai browsed through it briefly.
This document actually involved the Red Blood Sect and the various major powers in Lingxiao City.
"This matter... is not so simple."
Zhao Fan said, his tone heavy: "The dealings with the Red Blood Sect involve not just the Meteor Star Guard, but also the Wang Family, Fang Family, and Zhao Family; none are exceptions."
"So you’re saying the whole of Lingxiao City is entangled in this?"
Zhao Fan nodded emphatically: "Even the City Lord Mansion is no exception."
As he spoke, he seemed to lay it all on the line: "I’ve heard a rumor that the resurgence of the Red Blood Sect and its cooperation with the Three Great Families is related to the Second Young Master."
"The Second Young Master? Which Second Young Master?"
"Within the bounds of Star State, who else could be referred to as the Second Young Master other than Qi Zhongsheng’s second son, Qi Fenglei?"
"In today’s world, with great chaos under the heavens, holding sway over a state and commanding tens of millions of people is akin to being a king without a crown. How could the Second Young Master be content to cede such tremendous power to the First Young Master? He urgently needs to muster a great force in order to seize a voice in some imminent upheaval."
And when it comes to rapid growth...
What system surpasses that of the Demon Martial Artists?
"Therefore, if my lord truly wishes to investigate further, be prepared to not only offend the Meteor Star Guard but also the Wang Family, Fang Family, Zhao Family, and even... perhaps the Second Young Master."
Zhao Fan’s tone became even more grave.
Gu Jinlai roughly understood Zhao Fan’s purpose in coming.
He leaned back slightly: "So, what exactly are you trying to say?"
"My lord, please heed a piece of advice from your subordinate."
Zhao Fan looked at Gu Jinlai and slowly said: "The waters of Lingxiao City run deep, you won’t be able to control them."