Chapter 124: Pacification
Chapter 124: Pacification
Ding He's gaze was fixed on the distant battlefield, where Chen Mu stood alone on the desolate wilderness, at the forefront of the battle line. With a casual swing of his fine iron sword, he beheaded a ferocious demon that was charging towards him. The demon, a Black-Striped Demonic Leopard, was the same third-rank demon that had almost escaped during the previous siege, led by Chen Mu.
A third-rank demon,
Slain in a single blow! Ding He couldn't help but rub his eyes, doubting if he had seen correctly.
Hadn't Chen Mu just entered the Sinew Transformation Realm not long ago? Even with his cross-training physique, which granted him greater strength than others at the same rank, it was still too exaggerated to slay a third-rank demon with a single strike. Even Xu Hongyu, a master of the Sinew Transformation Realm, couldn't achieve such a feat. This was a display of overwhelming power!
Was it the Triple Sword Technique? Or the Quadruple Sword Technique?
No.
Although Ding He was too far to see clearly, he didn't sense the distinct sword techniques in that strike. Instead, it felt more like a seamless, natural movement, as if it were a manifestation of an intent! Could it be an intent?
Impossible! Ding He found it hard to believe.
The height of an intent was unimaginable. In the entire Yu Clan, from the first to the fourth generation, only about ten people had mastered an intent, with just three or four in each generation. Many of them only achieved this understanding after decades, in their forties or fifties.
Chen Mu was around the same age as Ding He, and it was already impressive that he had such a well-trained physique. But how could he possibly have the insight to reach such heights? At his age, he had grasped an intent, while Ding He, a master of the Sinew Transformation Realm, had only mastered one technique!
On the battlefield, Chen Mu's expression was calm as he held the fine iron sword. Wherever he went, blood splattered as he effortlessly cut down second and third-rank demons with a single strike.
In a short time, the pressure on the battlefield decreased drastically in all directions.
Black Robe Guards like Wu Pu watched in awe as Chen Mu's figure weaved through the battle line, leaving them stunned and incredulous.
Swish! Chen Mu struck again, slaying another third-rank demon. Feeling the sensation of the strike, he shook his head.
"Third-rank demons do have some strength after all."
On his way here, Chen Mu had received updates from the rear, informing him of the battlefield situation. Based on the timing, he knew that they could hold their ground and even gain the upper hand in the short term, but eventually, their numbers would be insufficient. So, he hurried to the battlefield, primarily because the process of handling the massive Flame Jade had taken too much time.
As expected, upon arriving, he found Xu Hongyu and her troops in a fierce battle. Chen Mu swiftly relieved the pressure on the entire battle line, and the third-rank demons were undoubtedly the most formidable foes.
Dealing with third-rank demons was challenging, even for masters of the Sinew Transformation Realm.
Only by entering the Bone Forging Realm could one swiftly defeat a third-rank demon in a couple of moves.
However, this time, Chen Mu didn't rely solely on brute force. Instead of showcasing a body tempered beyond the Sinew Transformation Realm, he demonstrated power akin to the Bone Forging Realm through his Whistling Wind Intent. Considering the vast number of demons on the battlefield, using pure strength would be more exhausting.
After this demon disturbance, Chen Mu was determined to obtain the Bone Forging Pill to enhance his strength further. Displaying the Whistling Wind Intent wasn't an issue, as it wasn't a technique he needed to conceal at this point.
Of course,
The Thunder Intent was not suitable for public display, at least not yet.
With Chen Mu's thunderous strikes, slaying third-rank demons became as easy as slaughtering chickens. The casualties on the battlefield were swiftly controlled, and those who had exhausted their vital energy and were on the verge of collapse finally had a chance to catch their breath and rest.
However, everyone was awe-struck by the figure darting through the demons, leaving none standing in his path. It was no wonder that Xu Hongyu had treated Chen Mu with respect from the beginning and allowed him to participate in the decision-making for this demon disturbance and the subsequent demon hunting.
In these turbulent times, strength was paramount! With such power, one naturally commanded respect!
Among the onlookers, Wu Pu felt his body stiffen as he witnessed this display. He had previously thought that Ding He wasn't much different from Chen Mu, but now he realized how ridiculous that notion was. What made him most uneasy was that... when he had seen Xu Hongyu and Chen Mu getting too close, he had secretly sent a report to Yu Jun, the Vice Commander, through the county office.
Now, he wanted to slap himself. Why had he said anything at all? Someone who could comprehend an intent was naturally qualified and worthy of Xu Hongyu. Although he was Yu Jun's informant, he had reported prematurely without understanding the full situation, and he feared he would face Yu Jun's reprimand afterward.
Swish! Swish! Swish!!
Chen Mu's sword danced along the battle line, leaving a trail of slain demons in his wake.
He didn't rush forward to engage in the battle, as it would be meaningless. After all, the demons were scattered across the mountains, and they kept appearing endlessly, actively converging towards the direction where Xu Hongyu and the others were.
In this situation, they only needed to wait in their current position and mow down the demons as they came, without expending too much energy.
The gap in strength and status was now fully evident. A Bone Forging Realm cultivator or someone who had comprehended a Concept could slaughter hundreds of second and third-rank demons as easily as killing chickens. If they were to defend a township, it would be as stable as Mount Tai.
However, the reality was that a Bone Forging Realm cultivator would rarely be assigned to defend just one township, let alone an entire county. The fact that Yu Jun, a Vice Commander, had been sent to Anyu County was already a significant show of importance.
After all, even a great family like the Yu Clan in the inner city would have no more than thirty Bone Forging Realm cultivators, including those over sixty years old whose Vital Energy had declined. In reality, only around twenty were at their peak.
Among them, those who had comprehended a Concept were even fewer.
Compared to Anyu County, which was almost entirely under the control of the Yu Clan, the other counties like Siyu and Qingyu, where the Yu Clan only had partial influence, required more manpower. On one hand, they had to deal with the demons, and on the other, they had to guard against other families, such as the He Clan. Not to mention the more important Yu Prefecture and its surrounding areas, as well as the vast estates and farmlands that were under direct control. Compared to the villages and towns below, these areas could not afford any mishaps.
Finally, as the sun set, the golden-red dusk gradually enveloped the mountains.
The countless demons on the mountains began to thin out, appearing less and less frequently. Some demons seemed to have regained their senses and stopped charging towards the battle line, instead turning to flee.
As the demons finally retreated, the wilderness was filled with corpses, numbering at least two to three hundred!
Among them, over a hundred had died at Chen Mu's hands, including third-rank demons.
Chen Mu looked at the scattered remnants of the demons, as well as the numerous Qingyi Guards from the Demon Slayer Bureau and Yu Clan members who had begun to counterattack and pursue. Finally, he relaxed his grip on his Fine Iron Sword slightly and turned to look at Xu Hongyu, who was not far away.
At this moment, Xu Hongyu's white robe of the Demon Slayer Bureau was stained with blood, like a blossoming plum flower. Her body was not unscathed; two claw marks were visible on her back, tearing through the outer white robe to reveal a layer of soft golden armor underneath.
Just as Chen Mu had guessed, Xu Hongyu was indeed wearing a soft armor worth a thousand gold. Compared to He Mingzhen, who had died at Chen Mu's hands and had nothing on him, the soft armor was useless against a Bone Forging Realm cultivator.
"Cough..."
Xu Hongyu stood with her sword, her face slightly pale. Even though she had cultivated the Sinew Transformation, a prolonged battle still exhausted her Vital Energy, and she couldn't help but cough lightly a few times, showing a hint of discomfort.
Chen Mu approached her, "How are you? Are you injured?"
Xu Hongyu shook her head, "I'm slightly shaken, but it's nothing serious. A couple of days of rest will be enough..."
"It's just a minor issue, we can talk about it later. The sky is about to darken, I'll send you back to the township first."
Chen Mu looked at Xu Hongyu's face and knew that she was fine, but he still spoke up.
"Mhm."
Xu Hongyu lightly acknowledged and sheathed her sword.
...
Anyu County.
Nan Gou Township, Western Prairie.
Demon corpses were scattered everywhere, numbering at least two to three hundred. Some Qingyi Guards and Hei Yi Guards were breathing lightly, and on the ground, there were not only demon corpses but also many bodies of Yu Clan members, and even one Qingyi Guard had fallen.
In front of them, Yu Jun stood with his sword, gazing into the distant horizon.
"This demon disturbance is unusual."
He spoke in a deep voice.
As a Vice Commander of the Demon Slayer Bureau and a significant figure in the Yu Clan, he was very familiar with demon behavior. He knew that among this group of rioting demons, many were not the type that would be affected by droughts.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible for them to gather in such large numbers, directly threatening a township and forcing him, a Vice Commander, to temporarily leave the county government to provide support.
"It's indeed unusual."
A Qingyi Guard covered in blood scars spoke up and then looked at Yu Jun, "Third Brother, do you think it's because of the unusual celestial phenomenon, or... is someone secretly stirring up trouble?"
"It's not clear yet, but my informant said that the He Clan seems to be acting strangely."
In a 6-9-1-9-1-book-1-look-1-no-mistake version!
Yu Jun scoffed.
If it was indeed related to the He Clan, it would be truly hateful. In order to deal with the Yu Clan, they were even willing to threaten hundreds of thousands of ordinary people in a township, which was truly insane. The worst part was that it would be difficult to find any evidence for such actions.
The Qingyi Guard beside him briefly contemplated and then said, "Since the He Clan wants to cause trouble, and the demon disturbance in Nan Gou Township has increased by nearly a hundred percent, then in Dong Hong Township, which borders Huayu County..."
"Yu Jun's expression changed upon hearing these words.
Indeed.
If Nan Gou Township was in trouble, Dong Hong Township would likely not be spared either.
'Let's go to Dong Hong!'
Without much thought, Yu Jun immediately turned and headed towards Dong Hong Township.
If the He Clan was causing trouble, Dong Hong Township would definitely be affected. Now, they could only hope to arrive early enough to salvage the situation and prevent it from becoming a complete mess.
Speaking of which...
Earlier, an informant reported that Xu Hongyu and Qingyi Guard Chen Mu seemed unusually close, and their actions were inappropriate. He frowned slightly at this news because he knew Chen Mu well. He understood that Xu Hongyu had personally cultivated and promoted Chen Mu, and indeed, Chen Mu possessed some natural talent. He had trained his body to a cross-training state and entered the Sinew Transformation Realm.
However, reaching the Sinew Transformation Realm at the age of 25 would make it very challenging to advance to the Bone Forging Realm in the future. Xu Hongyu, on the other hand, had already achieved Sinew Transformation Perfection. After some experience, it was highly likely that she would enter the Bone Forging Realm. Although Chen Mu, upon reaching Sinew Transformation Perfection, would not be far behind an average Bone Forging Realm cultivator due to his cross-training body, the Bone Forging and Sinew Transformation Realms were still two different stages.
Moreover, Xu Hongyu was from the main branch of the Yu Clan.
With Chen Mu's natural talent, if he were to arrange a marriage, a side branch's woman would be more than enough. Even a woman from the main branch, like Yu Ru, would be a suitable match. But for Xu Hongyu... it still didn't feel right.
These thoughts flashed through Yu Jun's mind, and he quickened his pace. Nan Gou and Dong Hong Townships were neighboring areas, separated by a mountain range. But for a Bone Forging Realm cultivator like him, crossing it would be swift.
However, just as Yu Jun and his group were approaching Dong Hong Township's boundary...
In the distance, a figure was rushing towards them, wearing the Yu Clan's attire—a bodyguard swordsman of the Yu Clan.
The bodyguard swordsman spotted Yu Jun's group and seemed surprised, but he quickly approached and greeted Yu Jun with a bow, "Sir Yu."
"How is the situation in Dong Hong? What about Hongyu?" Yu Jun asked gravely.
The bodyguard swordsman quickly reported, "Hundreds of demons have gathered in the south of Dong Hong Township. We sent out a three-whistle signal earlier, but the messenger dispatched to the County Office lost contact on the way, possibly due to encountering demons..."
Yu Jun frowned and interrupted, "Get to the point! What's the situation in Dong Hong?"
The bodyguard swordsman was startled and carefully replied, "Miss Xu gathered her forces and headed south to engage the demons. They encountered the demons at a hilltop south of Liu Jia Village and concentrated their forces in a small area to fight against the overwhelming numbers. Over a hundred demons were slain, but more kept appearing. Later, Sir Chen arrived and killed another hundred demons, stabilizing the situation. The demons have now been defeated."
Upon hearing this, Yu Jun nodded to himself. It was the right decision to gather their forces and not disperse them. Xu Hongyu's command and deployment skills were indeed impressive, and it was not in vain that he had brought Xu Hongyu by his side for guidance.
However, when he heard that the demons kept appearing endlessly, his expression turned gloomy, and he wasn't even surprised. After all, Nan Gou Township was facing the same situation, and it seemed Dong Hong Township had issues as well. If the other counties like Huaiyu and Jingyu were functioning normally, then it was highly likely that the He Clan was secretly causing trouble.
But...
Yu Jun was startled by the last part.
"Sir Chen?"
He looked at the bodyguard swordsman with a slight frown.
To be able to slay over a hundred demons, stabilize the situation, and defeat the demon disturbance, this person's strength must be close to his own. But he couldn't recall any Chen with such capabilities... Hmm?
Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him, and his expression revealed a hint of surprise.
The bodyguard swordsman continued his report in a low voice, "It's Sir Chen Mu. Sir Chen has comprehended the Whistling Wind Intent, and even third-rank demons are no match for him in a single strike. That's why, after Sir Chen arrived, the demons couldn't break through the defense line."
Yu Jun's body froze upon hearing this.
The White Guard by his side and the other Yu Clan members also stood stunned.
The entire atmosphere became silent, as if everyone could hear each other's breathing.
The Whistling Wind Intent?
After a moment of silence, Yu Jun turned to the Yu Clan swordsman, "Are you telling the truth?"
The bodyguard swordsman replied, "Everything I said is what I witnessed personally."
As he spoke, a hint of reverence appeared in his eyes. As a swordsman of the Yu Clan, he was one of their elite, having achieved Body Transformation Perfection and developed a unique sword technique. Therefore, he understood the incredible height of reaching the Intent Realm in swordplay.
"So that's how it is. It makes sense now."
Yu Jun muttered, gazing towards Dong Hong Township.
He retracted his earlier judgment.
If Chen Mu had feelings for Xu Hongyu, they would indeed be a suitable match. He would also mention this to Yu Zuyi later.
(End of Chapter)
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