Chapter 62: One Man Surrounded by Demons
Chapter 62: One Man Surrounded by Demons
The Demon Suppression Bureau provided excellent meals. Apart from Li Hao, even Li Yuanzhao and others, who were used to gourmet delicacies, ate heartily and drank their fill.
As Cui Fan put it, we demon slayers always face life and death dangers; it wouldn't do to die with a half-empty stomach, would it?
That made perfect sense.
After a short rest, Cui Fan took out the places they were to patrol in the afternoon and showed them to Li Hao and the others. He then told them to get ready and gather outside.
The area they were to patrol had previously seen demon activity, but the demons had already been dealt with. This time, they were to check for any stragglers, making it a suitable mission for new recruits.
When they gathered, however, Cui Fan only saw Li Yuanzhao, Ren Qianqian, and two others. He couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Where's the other one?"
"Hao Ge said he was going to the restroom and told us not to wait for him. As for the task evaluation, he said Master Cui can decide."
Li Yuanzhao relayed Li Hao's words truthfully.
Cui Fan was speechless.
He then felt a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Sure enough, it was just a Young Master from a prominent family, here to see the world and have some fun. It was a good thing he hadn't taken it too seriously.
These days, the one who takes things seriously is the one who loses.
"Alright."
Cui Fan didn't say much more and led the four of them out. Along the way, he racked his brain, trying to think of a reason to give the Young Master a perfect score.
After all, it was impossible to give him a low score.
He'd rather take the blame himself than give a low score.
After all, the Young Master would only be affected in his studies, while he could lose his job.
...
...
Cangyu City was square, surrounded by mountains on all sides.
Thirty miles east of the city, a mountain range stretched across the main river leading to Cangyu City. The mountains extended for dozens of miles, with peaks and valleys covered in dense forests.
The sunlight struggled to penetrate the thick leaves, making the forest damp and misty even during the day, giving it a ghostly and eerie feel.
Scattered around the mountain range like dots of mud were several villages. Each village had a few hunter families who lived off the land, relying on hunting for their livelihood.
The saying "the duck knows the water is warm first" was true here. The hunters, who spent their lives in the mountains, knew better than anyone the dangers that lurked there.
Ever since the mutilated remains of a few brave but foolish hunters were found in the mountains, no one dared to venture up anymore. Even gathering firewood was done only at the base of the mountains.
At that moment, a figure was swiftly moving through the air above the mountains, flying rapidly forward.
Wearing the Demon Exterminator's Mystic Uniform, this person was none other than Li Hao.
Going to the restroom was just an excuse. Patrols like this didn't require his presence, and Master Cui wouldn't really take them to slay demons. If there were any, they would be mere practice for the new recruits.
As for credits, he didn't care about them. The Black and White Hall could offer items in exchange for credits, but the Li Family had everything he needed.
That top-tier secret technique couldn't be obtained with just a few credits.
He had only one goal in coming to the Blackwind Mountains: to find the trail of that demon.
Tiger Robe Immortal.
...
As he flew along, Li Hao noticed several demon figures moving in the forests below, along with Mountain Spirits and Ghosts lurking around.
But they were all minor demons, with faint demonic auras.
Reaching the Soul Succession Realm allowed one to sense demonic auras.
Through the Soul Image's vision, one could see the energy of the world, which was like snow falling and accumulating on the mountains and rivers. Over time, this energy would stick to everything.
Bamboo, stones, and animals were all covered in a faint, pure energy, like a thin, colorless mist.
However, for a Martial Artist who had embarked on the path of cultivation, the energy was like a blazing furnace, and the color of the energy could change depending on the cultivation technique used. The energy of those at the Divine Wanderer Realm or even the Fifteen Li Realm was as bright as starlight, visible from miles away unless deliberately concealed.
Even demons follow this principle.
However, most demons with cultivation tend to conceal their demonic aura, blending in among humans, making them hard to detect.
At this moment, in the Blackwind Mountains, various auras of different intensities were drifting about.
A golden light emerged above Li Hao's head as his Divine Soul ventured forward to scout the area.
...
Deep within the mountains, in front of a cave with jagged rocks.
On a massive boulder, a half-man, half-bear demon stood, towering about fifteen feet tall.
Scattered around its feet were piles of white bones, and beneath its buttocks, on a relatively flat rock, lay some tattered, wrinkled human skins, exuding a strong stench.
Nearby, other creatures of various forms could be seen: a long, sinuous snake with a seductive woman's upper body, a withered, skull-headed reptile, and a monstrous being with the lower body of a white infant's legs and the waist of a centipede.
"True God of Great Strength, we have gathered over twenty thousand minor demons, eight hundred spirits, and twenty-five who have taken human form in the Blackwind Mountains. We are ready to assist Red Eyebrow Daoist in devouring Cangyu City!"
A snake woman with a sinuous body and a seductive face swayed her head in the air, her eyes gleaming with desire, her tongue flicking out as if she couldn't wait.
"We'll evacuate once we've had our fill. The passage to Wangchuan Mountain is already open, and we can leave at any time", a withered old man with sparse hair said with a grin.
"We must wait for the right moment."
The bear's face was filled with a savage aura, but his voice was calm:
"Wait for Red Eyebrow Daoist to lead the northern forces into battle first. Then we'll strike. That guy surnamed Yue secretly sent a message to the Xia Clan half a month ago, but Red Eyebrow Daoist has a plan. The Xia Clan won't be able to come for now."
"It's been so long, finally, we can have a proper feast, how delightful!"
"The quality of the Meat Seeds that Yue sent has been getting worse. This time, I'm going to eat him."
"Hehe, it's not your turn. Lord Tiger Robe has already reserved him."
The bear glanced at the wolf demon who spoke, his voice cold: "Yue is Tiger Robe's brother. It's for him."
"I was just saying. How could I possibly compete with Lord Tiger Robe for food?" the wolf demon said with a nervous laugh.
As they conversed, the bear suddenly sensed something and looked up toward the forest.
There, a young man in a Mystic Uniform, a saber at his waist, parted the underbrush and slowly walked into the area where numerous Great Demons were gathered.
At that moment, the other demons also noticed the human approaching, and they were surprised. How could a human get so close without being detected?
"So many demons..."
Li Hao's gaze swept over the Great Demons.
Their auras were only slightly concealed, visible like flickering candles in the dark.
When he saw the hellish scene before him, his face changed. It was hard to imagine how many people had been cruelly slaughtered here.
"Exorcist?"
The demons, upon seeing Li Hao's attire, were taken aback.
The dragon pattern on his sleeve and the number of symbols on his Mystic Uniform indicated that he was just an Exorcist.
And yet, he dared to come so close to them?
"Hmm? Are you here to deliver Meat Seeds? But we just received some a few days ago, and... you don't have any with you."
A small, shriveled old man, his body like a dwarf, hopped toward Li Hao, his eyes cautious.
Li Hao knew what the demons meant by "Meat Seeds."
Delivering Meat Seeds?
He was momentarily stunned, realizing the incredible and terrifying implications of this.
His mind raced with thoughts as he scanned the demons, asking, "Who among you is Tiger Robe Immortal?"
"Looking for Tiger Robe?" the demons were surprised.
The withered old man grinned, "Kid, you've got some nerve. Aren't you afraid of us?"
"Afraid?"
Li Hao slowly drew his Demon Exterminating Saber from his waist: "You have some nerve too, being surrounded by me and not running."
(End of Chapter)
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