Chapter 67: Follow Me to Slain Demons
Chapter 67: Follow Me to Slain Demons
Rushing back to the sky above Cangyu City, Li Hao saw a massive cloud of demons rolling in from the north.
However, instead of heading north immediately, he first went to the City Lord's Mansion to gather information.
But as his Divine Soul searched, he saw this scene unfolding inside the mansion.
"Suppression Bureau?!"
At the same time, Yue Shuhong and the broad-faced giant also noticed Li Hao's Mystic Uniform and were taken aback.
Although it was the Suppression Bureau, Li Hao was clearly not an ordinary Demon Exterminator.
However, from the way Li Hao appeared, he was certainly not just an ordinary Demon Exterminator.
"Who are you...?"
Yue Shuhong frowned, not recalling any young, powerful youths in the city's Suppression Bureau.
Li Hao, however, ignored the City Governor and turned to face the broad-faced giant. "You're called Tiger Robe? Are you the Immortal Tiger Robe?"
The broad-faced giant grinned ferociously. "That's right, it's your Tiger Uncle. It seems I've gained a bit of fame outside Cangyu City, kid."
Li Hao's fingers tightened on his knife hilt, causing it to deform slightly.
He took a deep breath and said, "Seven years ago, you ambushed a Commander on the Qizhou National Road. Do you remember that?"
"Hmm?"
The broad-faced giant raised an eyebrow, a cold glint appearing in his eyes. "Are you talking about someone from the Yanbei army? What do you have to do with the Li Family?!"
Seeing the other party acknowledge it, the killing intent in Li Hao's eyes could no longer be contained.
"My surname is Li!"
Tiger Robe's pupils constricted, and his aura suddenly intensified. His gaze turned to Yue Shuhong, cold and menacing.
"Brother Yue, it seems this kid has overheard our conversation. What should we do now?"
"Your collaboration with our demon race has been exposed. Even if you manage to escape from me today, you will still be disgraced. According to the laws of Dayu, what crime is it to collude with demons?"
His eyes turned fierce. "Why don't you kill this kid, and I'll forgive your moment of madness."
Yue Shuhong's expression also grew serious as he stared at Li Hao's back.
But after a moment, he shook his head and sneered, "Tiger Robe, if I continue to listen to you, I'll truly be the one who's lost my mind. Today, either you die or I do. We once agreed to die in the same year and month!"
"Ha, fool!"
Tiger Robe spat out a foul-smelling saliva, his expression vicious. "You short-lived humans, you don't deserve to share the same fate as me!"
As he spoke, he suddenly lunged at Li Hao. The massive tiger Divine Soul behind him roared, a thunderous sound that could knock a Soul Succession Realm cultivator unconscious on the spot.
But this thunderous roar only slightly ruffled Li Hao's black hair.
His eyes were dark and deep, like a void without light.
As Tiger Robe's massive body rapidly approached, Li Hao suddenly raised his hand.
With a loud thud, he spread his fingers and pressed them against Tiger Robe's forehead, then pushed down hard, crashing the giant into the hard stone floor, shattering it.
This exchange happened in an instant, like a flash of lightning. Yue Shuhong, who had raised his foot to assist, froze mid-air, unable to react.
The Demon Slaying Blade, which had been torn and reversed in Li Hao's hand, was thrust viciously into the side of Tiger Robe's neck.
Tiger Robe was shocked and disbelieving, his eyes wide with disbelief. How could this be possible with such strength and skill?!
But what he met was a pair of eyes cold as ice.
"I won't let you die so easily."
Li Hao's voice was a low whisper.
As he spoke, he proved his words with action.
The blade cut through the flesh and skin on Tiger Robe's neck, tearing off his shoulder and the tiger fur on his back.
Cooking Dao, skinning and stewing!
This was the most common method for peeling ingredients, so proficient that it bordered on the Dao!
The sudden removal of the skin and flesh caused Tiger Robe to howl in agonizing pain.
His throat emitted a tiger's roar, and his skin split open, black and yellow fur growing wildly, revealing his true form.
As his true form emerged, the basement seemed to become cramped.
The massive tiger demon Divine Soul behind him roared at Li Hao, but behind Li Hao, his own Divine Soul appeared.
With a body similar to Li Hao's, it simply raised its hand and struck, shattering the tiger demon Divine Soul's head.
The fierce palm wind sent the Tiger Demon Divine Soul reeling backward. By the time its head reformed, the Divine Soul had become much thinner, its eyes filled with shock and fear.
Unmatched!
"Remember how you killed Uncle Lin? Today, I will make you pay slowly", Li Hao said, each word deliberate.
The broken blade in his hand, still sharp under the influence of the Divine Soul, revealed the original form of the Tiger Robe Immortal. Li Hao's foot was pressed firmly against its forehead, pinning it down as if it were nailed to the ground!
The Tiger Robe Immortal writhed and struggled desperately, trying to escape from under Li Hao's foot.
At this moment, Li Hao's eyes flashed with a golden light, and he suddenly unleashed the power of the Chess Manual embedded in the Flesh Dao—Tiger Pressure!
Tiger Pressure: A slight enhancement of physical strength, with a intimidating effect!
If embedded in Sword Techniques, it would increase the power and might of the techniques.
In Li Hao's release, he exuded the awe-inspiring presence of a thousand-year-old tiger, like a king of the forest, his eyes radiating a chilling light that commanded the submission of all beasts.
The Tiger Robe Immortal, pinned under Li Hao's foot, felt the terrifying aura emanating from Li Hao's body and trembled uncontrollably, its eyes vacant.
It felt as if it were being suppressed by a tiger king, unable to muster the slightest bit of resistance.
Its body shook like a sieve, and the intense pain made it lose all ferocity.
"Spare my life, spare me! I was wrong, I'll do anything, I'll be your Servant if you want..." the Tiger Robe Immortal trembled and wailed.
Li Hao said nothing, only the blade in his hand moved swiftly, peeling off the complete tiger skin from head to tail.
The Tiger Robe Immortal suffered excruciating pain, but it only lay on the ground, shivering and not daring to flee.
Beside them, Yue Shuhong watched with a stunned expression. Was this the same Tiger Robe Immortal who had been arrogant before him for over twenty years?
Flaying, bone removal, tendon cutting!
Blood flowed like a river from the Tiger Robe Immortal's massive body, drenching it in crimson. It pleaded for mercy countless times, but Li Hao remained unmoved.
The bloody and brutal scene deeply impacted Yue Shuhong's mind, making him feel a chill run through his body and a shiver of fear.
After nearly half an hour of torment, Li Hao decapitated the Tiger Robe Immortal, who was now nothing but a bloody, barely alive shell.
He plunged the broken blade into the Tiger Robe Immortal's back, lifted the tiger head with eyes full of fear and emptiness, and said coldly:
"Seven years ago, did you participate in the Tiger Demon's ambush on the Li Family?"
Yue Shuhong's body trembled. Though the young man did not turn around, he could feel the chilling aura that enveloped him.
At this point, he knew he could not escape death. He laughed bitterly and said, "Though I deserve death, I have never betrayed the loyal."
Li Hao said coldly, "Then, did you collude with the demons, secretly providing humans as food for them?"
Yue Shuhong's face twitched, and he nodded. "Yes, it was all me. I sent humans to these demons, harming my own kind, all of it was my doing."
He said with a self-deprecating laugh, "At first, I only sent them some death row prisoners, using them as waste. Later, when the number of death row prisoners was insufficient, and they pressed hard, I had to send them bandits, and even civilians."
"Why?"
Li Hao turned his head, staring at him.
"Why did you ally with the demons?"
Yue Shuhong smiled bitterly, a trace of resignation in his eyes. "When I was first appointed, I wanted to clear out the surrounding demons, to purify the realm. But later, I realized that human power has its limits. These demons cannot be eradicated; they reproduce too quickly, and their numbers are too great. The Dayu Dynasty is no longer the invincible empire it was hundreds of years ago. In recent years, it has gradually shown signs of decline..."
"I sought aid and troops from all directions, but all my requests fell on deaf ears."
"Who could save Cangyu City?"
He laughed bitterly and looked at Li Hao. "If I did not send them humans as sacrifices, more would die. I, Yue Shuhong, have limited abilities. Only by bearing the sins of the entire city could I save the people!"
"I know I cannot escape my fate today, and I do not ask for anything. I only hope... that I can be buried in Cangyu City, that would be enough. I hope... you will grant me this wish."
With that, he lifted his official robe, knelt on both knees, and removed his City Governor's hat, placing it to the side.
His disheveled hair fell across his face, tears already forming at the corners of his eyes.
Li Hao stood in the warm glow of the oil lamp, looking down at the middle-aged man's face, which the light did not reach, seeing the tears streaming down his cheeks.
He fell silent for a moment, then looked away and said indifferently:
"You do indeed deserve death, but your crimes will be judged by the court, not by me."
"Now that a Great Demon is approaching, since you still have strength, you will... come with me to slay the demons!"
With that, he lifted the massive tiger head, placed it on the nearby table, and walked away.
(End of Chapter)
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