https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-224-The-Fury-of-the-Princess-Consort-the-Desolation-of-Songzhou-4000-/12554356/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-226-Suppressing-Demons-and-Subduing-Monsters/12554358/
Chapter 225: Slaying Demons in Song State
Chapter 225: Slaying Demons in Song State
Within the desolate city, the streets presented an eerie muddiness. Trampled remains of rotten flesh and entrails were scattered everywhere, filling the air with a nauseating stench.
The sparse pedestrians seemed oblivious to the sight and smell, their expressions numb as they walked through the mud, their footsteps squelching with each step.
They were the abandoned ones.
Nanyue City, once the main city of a prefecture, no longer belonged to the Great Qian Dynasty nor was it protected by the Demon Suppression Bureau.
The Flower Leopard General, under the command of the Red-Eyed Divine Lord, had smashed the plaque of the Demon Suppression General's mansion and beheaded the old man clad in tattered dark armor. Now, his enraged head, eyes wide open, was hung by a spear at the mansion's entrance.
Thus, Nanyue City gained a new ruler—the Demon Lord.
Reciting the Red-Eyed Divine Lord's name day and night and worshipping at the temple every three days was the only way to preserve one's life. Of course, while reciting, one also prayed that they would not be chosen for the feast.
The Demon Lord enjoyed hosting grand banquets.
The guests had changed from the once high and mighty sect masters and clan heirs to ordinary people like them.
To protect the common folk under his rule, one could indulge in all manner of culinary delights.
This was the Divine Lord's reward for the Demon Lord's diligence, and being chosen for the feast, becoming a delicacy on the table, was the honor of those who were protected.
"..."
A skinny man in patched robes walked with his head down when he was suddenly blocked by two people.
He looked up and saw them nodding at him.
The man slowly opened his palm, letting the incense candle he was holding fall to the ground. He did not struggle or beg; he simply went limp, and the two men beside him supported him.
One could only blame bad luck or insufficient sincerity when praying to the Divine Lord for being picked in the draw.
He was half-dragged and half-walked to the most prominent compound in the city.
The Demon Suppression General's Mansion.
The man slid to his knees on the ground and looked at the head on the spear, now only wrapped in a layer of dried, shriveled skin. He then glanced at the others who had been chosen, and even as he was led into the kitchen, he couldn't help but look up at the sky.
"The Divine Lord is a demon."
If there truly were gods, why wouldn't they send down punishment?
The sky was clear and bright, yet empty.
The roof of the mansion had been torn off, and the meeting hall had been transformed into a dining hall.
An eight-foot-tall figure sat in the main seat, its back straight and tall, clad in smooth and silky satin robes. Even the specially tailored loose robe could not hide its muscular frame, making the fabric look like it would burst at any moment.
The Flower Leopard placed his palms on the table. He would not move his chopsticks until all the dishes were served.
Now that he was a general under the Divine Lord, he naturally had to be more disciplined than the demons.
Large wooden platters that required several people to carry were placed on the wide table, filled with stewed, roasted, and fried dishes—a total of thirty-six dishes for this small feast.
"Where's the main course?"
The Flower Leopard waited for a moment, looking at the empty space in front of him, then glanced to the side.
Mere mortals could not satisfy his appetite.
Even for a small feast like this, there had to be a dish made from a martial artist of the Jade Liquid Realm or above.
"The other cities won't be able to deliver their offerings today, so it should be me. I'll go and prepare."
The middle-aged man standing beside him, once a famous sect master, untied his outer robe, leaving him in clean plain clothes, as if he had been prepared for this moment. He turned and walked towards the kitchen.
"Hurry up."
The Flower Leopard nodded and gently urged him on.
"..."
The middle-aged master's steps faltered, and he lowered his hands, wanting to clench his fists, but he found that he had forgotten how to execute the once familiar and proud martial arts techniques.
On the day the city fell, those with integrity and honor had already perished.
Like a frog in gradually heated water, they would eventually stop jumping.
The middle-aged martial artist steadied himself and continued walking out of the dining hall.
He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but he suddenly noticed a long sword quietly hanging in the sky within his line of sight.
A sleek and slender blade with tooth-like scales running along its length, glowing faintly as black mist rose from it.
"...!"
The middle-aged man suddenly felt his strength drain away, his body swaying as if he was about to kneel.
He struggled to keep his body upright, not wanting to reveal any signs of weakness to Flower Leopard.
A sword doesn't just appear in the sky for no reason; someone must be holding it...
The Commander has arrived!
Powerless to protect the remaining four counties of the Demon Suppression Bureau, he had finally returned.
But there was not a trace of spiritual energy left in this place.
"Chi!"
Flower Leopard looked up, his luxurious long robe torn by his bulging muscles as he reached for a nearby weapon.
Logically, a Martial Immortal should have the overwhelming power to crush a Demon King in the Nascent Soul Realm. But having lost four counties, and without the aid of spirit energy, he was still confident he could block a single sword strike.
"Old fool, so you've given up on your Songzhou, have you?"
With a roar, Flower Leopard leaped to his feet.
In that instant, the sword in the air plunged straight down.
There was no overwhelming aura.
Before Flower Leopard could raise his weapon, the sword pierced through his head, exiting from his chin, and pinning his massive head to the only empty spot on the table.
The robust spiritual energy of the incense offerings permeated his skull.
Flower Leopard's throat made a gurgling sound as blood gushed from his eyes, nose, and ears, like a fat fish nailed to a chopping board, his body twitching involuntarily.
Among the severed limbs and remains of the feast, the main course had finally arrived.
...
Outside the city gates, Zhang Xuan watched as Official Shen closed his eyes. He saw the long sword at his waist unsheathe itself and fly into the air.
It took him a moment to realize that Official Shen had actually unleashed his Yin Spirit.
Was he that confident in his abilities?
Zhang Xuan swallowed hard and immediately jumped off his horse, tensing his body as he stood protectively beside Official Shen.
Before he could steady himself, a streak of light flashed across the sky, followed by a massive figure descending from the air.
The light returned to its sheath with a clang.
Even before the massive figure landed, Shen Yi opened his eyes, waved his hand, and recalled the sword into the pocket at his waist.
"Let's go."
Shen Yi tugged on the reins and urged his horse into the city.
He had only wanted to test something—although the Yin Spirit was his, could he, with Qinghua controlling it, still reap the lifespan of a demon?
[Slaying the Flower Leopard in the Embryo-Dan Realm. Total lifespan of 8,700 years. Remaining lifespan of 2,900 years. Absorption complete.]
"...!"
Zhang Xuan looked at the demonic horse, and the horse looked back at him, then snorted.
With his Yin Spirit leaving his body, he was undeniably a Martial Immortal.
It fit with his identity as a disciple of the Martial Temple.
The question was, he had seen Martial Immortals before, but without the aid of spiritual energy, how could he be so decisive and efficient?
From the moment Official Shen closed his eyes to the sword returning, no more than sixty breaths had passed.
Discounting the time it took to travel that distance, it meant that the leopard demon didn't even last a single move?!
"Official Shen, wait for your subordinate!"
After a brief hesitation, Zhang Xuan realized that Official Shen had already disappeared, so he quickly climbed back onto his horse and hurried after him.
(End of Chapter)
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