Chapter 367 - 364: Demon Slaying Order
Chapter 367: Chapter 364: Demon Slaying Order
The eight of them exchanged glances, quietly waiting for him to continue.
Chen Wanjun continued:
"The Court has issued a Demon Slaying Order, commanding each of the 108 commanderies to hunt Demons."
"A Demon Slaying Order?"
Kuang Tu raised an eyebrow.
Chen Wanjun nodded.
"That’s right. The Governor’s Mansion sent an invitation to our Sect, hoping that the Qingxuan Sect will coordinate with their Demon Hunting operation to eliminate the Demons that have caused severe harm within the commandery in recent years."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the eight individuals.
"For this operation, every participant will be awarded one Small Merit."
One Small Merit.
As those words fell upon their ears, the expressions in all eight of their eyes shifted slightly.
’I’m just one Small Merit away from combining them into a Great Merit, which I can use to redeem a Grandmaster Level Technique,’ Fang Han’s heart stirred.
This opportunity had come at the perfect time.
"Vice Hall Master Chen, this disciple is willing to go."
Fang Han was the first to speak, his voice steady yet filled with an undeniable resolve.
Chen Wanjun glanced at him and gave a slight nod, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
"I’ll go too."
Kuang Tu grinned.
"One Small Merit. Opportunities like this don’t come around often."
Chen Wuhen said with a smile, lightly fanning himself.
"How could I miss out on such a good thing?"
Su Yuwei didn’t speak, merely giving a slight nod.
Liu Ruyan, Wang Miao, and Yang Zhe also expressed their willingness to go.
Finally, everyone’s gaze fell upon Luo Yuntian.
Luo Yuntian spoke slowly, his voice gentle yet clear.
"This disciple is also willing to go."
"Very good."
Chen Wanjun nodded in satisfaction.
He was very pleased that none of the eight had shrunk back when the Sect needed them.
"Vice Hall Master Chen, this disciple has a question."
Luo Yuntian’s voice was tinged with doubt.
"Speak."
Chen Wanjun said, in an excellent mood.
"Besides our Qingxuan Sect, which other powers have been invited to participate in this Demon Hunting operation?"
Luo Yuntian asked, his gaze serene.
Chen Wanjun answered unhurriedly.
"The Seven Sects, and indeed all the major powers within the commandery, have received invitations from the Governor’s Mansion."
He paused before continuing.
"Netherworld Pavilion, Vajra Temple, Baihua Valley, Overlord Blade Sect, Lingyun Sword Sect, Tingyu Building, and even major local powers like the Commandery City’s Zhang Family and the Iron Fist Sect will all be sending people to participate."
As soon as he said this, the atmosphere in the hall grew slightly tense. To think that so many powers would be involved.
Chen Wanjun’s gaze swept over them, and his tone turned solemn.
"You might be wondering why all these powers are willing to accept the Governor’s Mansion’s invitation and cooperate with the Court. After all, we are not subordinate to the Court."
He slowly stood up and walked to the window, clasping his hands behind his back.
"Because Demons... are the great enemy of the Human Race."
His voice was low, yet it carried a soul-shaking power.
"In ancient times, Demons ruled the land. The Human Race was reduced to nothing more than food, never knowing if they would survive to see the next day. It was the sages of generations past who blazed a trail through blood and battle, slaughtering Demons to carve out a place for humanity to survive."
He turned, his gaze burning as he looked at the eight of them.
"Today, the Demons may be weak, but if we do nothing and allow them to fester and grow, the day they stage a comeback will be the day the Human Race is once again plunged into blood and fire."
"We hunt Demons not for the Court, nor for the Governor’s Mansion, but for the Human Race—for all living beings."
The hall fell silent.
The eight disciples wore solemn expressions, a chill running through their hearts.
Luo Yuntian was silent for a moment before slowly rising and bowing respectfully with clasped hands.
"This disciple understands."
The others rose to their feet as well.
Chen Wanjun nodded slightly, a trace of relief appearing on his face.
"Tomorrow morning, gather at the sect gate. You will depart for the Commandery City with the Sect’s Elders and other disciples."
"Yes!"
The eight replied in unison.
...
「The next morning」
The sky was just beginning to lighten, and a thin mist had yet to disperse.
Over a hundred figures had already gathered in the square before the Qingxuan Sect’s main gate.
At the very front stood Chen Wanjun and five Elders of the Qingxuan Sect.
Behind them were a dozen or so Stewards with steady auras.
Further back were the eight top-ten True Disciples from the general rankings, including Fang Han and Luo Yuntian.
And behind those eight were over a hundred young disciples clad in the Disciple’s Robes of the Qingxuan Sect.
These disciples had all been selected from the top 200 of the general rankings who were not currently on a mission.
Fang Han’s gaze swept over the crowd, then suddenly paused.
He saw two familiar figures.
One was clad in a light cyan martial arts uniform, her figure slender and graceful. Her face was veiled in purple gauze, and she exuded a cold aura.
It was Yun Qianyue.
The other was cradling a long saber, his face stern and his gaze as sharp as a hawk’s.
It was Li Feng.
The two of them seemed to sense Fang Han’s gaze and looked over at the same time.
Yun Qianyue’s bright eyes, visible above her purple veil, glinted slightly as she gave him a small nod.
Li Feng, for his part, clasped his fist in a brief salute by way of greeting.
Fang Han nodded back, feeling no surprise.
After more than a year of cultivation, Yun Qianyue and Li Feng’s strength had long since secured them a firm place in the top 200 of the general rankings. It was only natural they would be chosen for this Demon Hunting operation.
"Depart."
Chen Wanjun’s voice rang out.
At the edge of the square, rows of carriages were neatly arranged.
Pulling the carriages were not ordinary horses, but a species of peculiar, large-bodied deer with bluish-gray fur—the Cyan-hoofed Deer.
These deer had cyan markings on their hooves, ran like the wind, possessed incredible stamina, and had a docile temperament that made them easy to domesticate. They were the Sect’s preferred beast of burden for long journeys.
Everyone boarded the carriages in an orderly fashion.
Fang Han, Luo Yuntian, and the others boarded the same carriage.
The carriage was spacious and luxuriously furnished, making it quite comfortable.
With a shout from the driver, the Cyan-hoofed Deer set off, pulling the carriage smoothly away from the sect gate and galloping down the main road toward the Commandery City.
The wheels rumbled as the scenery outside flew by.
Fang Han leaned against the carriage wall, closing his eyes to rest.
’I’m heading to the Commandery City to meet disciples from various sects for a joint Demon Hunting operation.’
’This trip will be anything but peaceful.’
...
「Three days later, at the Commandery City.」
The Cyan-hoofed Deer carriages were far faster than ordinary ones. A journey that would normally take seven or eight days had been completed in just three.
From a distance, the imposing silhouette of the Commandery City’s walls came into view.
On the horizon, the outline of an incomparably magnificent city gradually sharpened.
The city walls were as high as mountains, stretching for countless miles. They were built from massive bluish-gray stones, rising over a hundred feet tall and gleaming with a heavy luster in the afternoon sun.
The gatehouses were majestic, with banners fluttering in the wind. Even from a great distance, one could feel a vast and weighty aura washing over them.
At the city gate, a constant stream of carriages, horses, and people flowed in and out, their clamor audible even from far away.
The Qingxuan Sect’s convoy entered the city and stopped before a sprawling, imposing complex in the western district.
Above the main gate hung a plaque with two large words inscribed upon it—
"Qingxuan Villa."
This was the Qingxuan Sect’s residence within the Commandery City.
Everyone disembarked, and arrangements were made for their food and lodging.
Fang Han was assigned a quiet, private courtyard. It wasn’t large, but it was quite elegant and perfectly suited for secluded cultivation.
After settling in briefly, he left his courtyard.
He went to Yun Qianyue and Li Feng’s residence, finding that they had also just settled in.
"Senior Brother Fang."
Yun Qianyue’s purple veil fluttered. Her cold voice held a rare touch of gentleness.
Li Feng clasped his fist, a hint of a smile on his face as well.
Fang Han nodded slightly and smiled.
"It’s not often we get to visit the Commandery City. Care to go for a walk?"
Yun Qianyue and Li Feng exchanged a glance and both nodded.
The three of them left the Qingxuan Villa and stepped out onto the streets of the Commandery City.
The prosperity of the Commandery City was far beyond what Liangshui City could compare to.
The wide streets were lined with shops, their signs and banners fluttering.
Restaurants, teahouses, textile shops, blacksmiths, Elixir shops... All sorts of establishments stood shoulder to shoulder. The cries of vendors, the chatter of pedestrians, and the clatter of carts and horses mingled together, forming a boisterous urban symphony.
The streets were packed shoulder to shoulder with pedestrians: richly dressed merchants, Martial Artists with weapons at their waists, peddlers hawking their wares from shoulder poles, and groups of young men and women strolling about.
As the three of them moved through the crowd, they didn’t particularly stand out.
However, before they had walked for long, Fang Han noticed gazes landing on him from time to time.
These gazes held curiosity, scrutiny, and a certain indescribable complexity.
"It’s Fang Han!"
"The Fang Han from the Qingxuan Sect? The one ranked thirty-sixth on the Celestial Pride List?"
"That’s right, it’s him! I’ve seen his portrait!"
"So young? He looks like he’s just in his early twenties."
"That’s right! I heard he just turned twenty this year!"
Whispers reached their ears from time to time.
Fang Han’s expression remained unchanged, his pace still unhurried.
The bright eyes above Yun Qianyue’s purple veil curved slightly, as if she were smiling.
Li Feng, however, remained expressionless, though a hint of wistfulness could be seen in his eyes.
’The last time they were in the Commandery City,’ he thought, ’Fang Han was unknown, while he and Yun Qianyue were the ones with a bit of a reputation.’
Returning to the Commandery City over a year later, Fang Han was now a celebrated genius whose name shook the city.
The change was so fast it felt like a lifetime had passed.
The three of them continued their stroll.
On the street, besides ordinary pedestrians, they could also see many young disciples dressed in the attire of various sects.
The black robes of Netherworld Pavilion, the gray monastic robes of Vajra Temple, the multicolored dresses of Baihua Valley, the silver-white sword robes of Lingyun Sword Sect, the bright yellow disciple uniforms of the Overlord Blade Sect...
The intermingling of the various uniforms made for a rather lively scene.
But beneath this liveliness, an undercurrent of agitation was stirring.
"Get out of the way!"
An angry shout came from not far ahead.
It was immediately followed by the CLANG of weapons being drawn and several screams.
Fang Han and his companions looked over.
In the middle of the street, two groups of people were facing off.
One group wore silver-white sword robes—they were disciples of the Lingyun Sword Sect.
The other group was dressed in bright yellow martial uniforms—disciples of the Overlord Blade Sect.
The situation between them was tense, like swords drawn and bows bent. The surrounding pedestrians quickly moved to the side but were unwilling to leave, forming a distant circle to watch the spectacle.
"You trash from the Lingyun Sword Sect dare to block the path of my Overlord Blade Sect?"
The leading disciple from the Overlord Blade Sect sneered.
"Bullshit! You’re the ones who bumped into us!"
A disciple from the Lingyun Sword Sect cursed angrily.
"Bump into you? Bumping into you is doing you a favor."
The Overlord Blade Sect disciple scoffed.
"You’re courting death!"
The Lingyun Sword Sect disciple roared and was about to attack.
But he was stopped by a fellow disciple beside him.
"Senior Brother Liang, don’t be rash. Private duels are forbidden within the Commandery City. If you attack, you’ll be playing right into his hands."
The Lingyun Sword Sect disciple took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed his anger, and shot a vicious glare at the Overlord Blade Sect disciple.
"Consider yourself lucky."
With that, he turned and left with the other Lingyun Sword Sect members.
The Overlord Blade Sect disciples smiled smugly and swaggered off with their group.
Seeing that no fight was going to break out, the crowd of onlookers dispersed.
The three of them retracted their gazes and continued walking.
"It seems quite a few powers have come this time."
Li Feng said in a low voice.
Unlike top-ten disciples like Fang Han, disciples like him who were in the top 200 of the general rankings had only been summoned for the Demon Hunt without being told the full details.
"Mm," Fang Han nodded. "With the Seven Sects gathered, plus all the major powers of the commandery, I’m afraid this Commandery City is going to be lively for a while."
"Lively, yes, but that also means trouble is more likely to brew."
Yun Qianyue’s cool voice chimed in.
Fang Han nodded slightly.
There were already plenty of grudges between the various sects.
Now that they were all gathered in one city, seeing each other everywhere they went, friction and conflict were inevitable.
The trio walked a little further, and another clamor arose from ahead.
This time, the commotion was even bigger than before.
"A fight’s broken out! A fight’s broken out!"
Someone exclaimed in alarm.
The three of them exchanged a look and quickened their pace.
Before they even got close, they could hear snippets of conversation from the crowd.
"That person is Yin Huang, a True Inheritor of Netherworld Pavilion! The one who’s eighty-second on the Celestial Pride List!"
"Who’s he fighting? Looks like a disciple from the Qingxuan Sect?"
"You’re right, it is a Qingxuan Sect disciple!"