Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 30: The Emperor's Shock
As early as when the brothers Huo Lei and Huo Ting were transferred to hunt down the fake wheelchair, the City Lord's Mansion.

Shen Tang went around to the woodshed in the backyard, took out the fire-burning talisman he had gotten from An Nuo, and threw it directly inside.

Sheng Yuanyao's mouth twitched slightly. Shen Tang was even more straightforward than herself, who was known for being impetuous. But when she thought about it carefully, there was nothing to hesitate about. There was nothing wrong with him.

Before reaching a certain level, Daoist cultivators often required chanting spells, unable to cast spells instantly. Even at a high level, some powerful spells still required chanting, which was quite inconvenient. Therefore, the technique of talismans was born, where spells were pre-engraved on a talisman, allowing them to be cast instantly upon taking them out before battle.

Depending on the skill level of the person drawing the talisman and the grade of the tool used in the talisman, the effect of the spell can be improved. Therefore, even high-level Taoist practitioners carry a bunch of talismans with them and throw them around.

After all, magic weapons are rare, and most people can only carry a few types. As for talismans, as long as you have money and time to prepare them, you can have as many as you want.

Anuo's fire burning talisman is of the seventh grade, and it is a waste of talent to use it to burn a house.

But the problem is that martial artists generally can't activate it, as everyone's cultivation systems are different. Sheng Yuanyao glanced at Shen Tang. Isn't she a sword cultivator? Or is she more than just a sword cultivator?

Before Sheng Yuanyao could even think, a bang sounded as the incineration talisman fell, instantly igniting half of the City Lord's Mansion. The fire spread rapidly in other directions, and the mansion was immediately thrown into chaos, with countless people getting up at night to put out the fire.

It's conceivable that if they hadn't been involved, Lu Xingzhou would have asked An Nuo to set the fire and then use the Ten Thousand Souls Banner to simulate the demonic aura, achieving a similar effect and drawing away the official forces around Huo Yu. But with them here, there was no need for simulation.

"Now is the time." Shen Tang said to Sheng Yuanyao hurriedly, "Is your method of detecting traces of death row prisoners still usable?"

Sheng Yuanyao collected his thoughts and nodded, "Okay, follow me."

While all the forces of the City Lord's Mansion were concentrated on putting out the fire, the three of them rushed quickly towards the other corner, with Sheng Yuanyao being the first to jump over the courtyard wall.

Dugu Qingli glanced at Shen Tang and asked, "Will I carry you in?"

Shen Tang shook his head slightly: "I am physically exhausted, so I won't go in. I have my own uses outside. You and Sheng Yuanyao should be careful. This demon has no details, and this is a battle between an unknown enemy and an unknown opponent."

"Then you should be careful too." Dugu Qingli didn't waste any words and slipped into the yard.

Sheng Yuanyao was already waiting outside a secret room, next to the two corpses of the guards. Dugu Qingli looked at Sheng Yuanyao in surprise. He had never expected this captain to be so skilled, killing people so silently and so quickly.

The Sheng family has a profound family background in learning, and it is indeed not easy to learn from them.

Seeing Dugu Qingli coming in, Sheng Yuanyao carefully opened the door of the secret room a crack.

The evil spirit rushed towards him, and the pungent stench was accompanied by a terrifying energy pressure.

Fourth grade!

In this remote place, it is enough to be king!
But his aura was a little scattered, most likely he was injured, and he might not be able to display the strength of a fourth-grade.

A low growl came from inside: "What is Xu Bingkun doing? He's making a fuss everywhere. What if someone stumbles into this place..."

Sheng Yuanyao's mind raced as he activated the phonograph stone and spoke in a deliberately muffled voice, "The City Lord said that someone named Huo Yu is tracking you down everywhere, causing great trouble. If you can give me a third-grade demon cultivation technique now, the City Lord can reluctantly cover up a little and continue to help you heal."

The Sheng family has been working in the Demon Suppression Division for generations, so they understand this. Based on past experience, when humans collude with demons, there are generally a few reasons: one, they fall in love with a demon due to their appearance, or are bribed to become a spy or traitor; two, they secretly raise thugs to fulfill their own ambitions; three, they seek to obtain demon cultivation and bodybuilding methods from the demon.

Xiazhou is remote but not on the border, so the first possibility is relatively small and does not match the attributes of the monster in front of him; and this monster is stronger than Xu Bingkun, and he cannot control such a thug, so the second possibility is also small.

The most likely scenario left was the third one: Xu Bingkun was a martial artist, but his aptitude was limited, so he only reached the level he had reached in the Tianxing Sword Sect. Therefore, he graduated early and made little progress. To advance further, he had to find another path, either acquiring top-tier secret manuals, elixirs, or rare treasures, or perhaps exploring the body-building methods of demons for reference. Thus, he took this risk. Such cases have been numerous throughout history.

As expected, after Sheng Yuanyao's trick, an angry roar immediately came from inside: "Humans are indeed cunning and untrustworthy! We agreed to provide elixirs and blood food for another three days, not even a day less!"

Sheng Yuanyao asked, "If you recover in three days, who will you ask for it?"

The demon was furious: "Then you will be my blood meal today!"

The stone door burst open, and an invisible devil's hand reached out. The terrifying suction force enveloped Sheng Yuanyao and Dugu Qingli at the same time.

"Clang!" The white hair fluttered slightly and the ice sword was unsheathed.

Dugu Qingli and his sword became one, shooting forward like lightning.

"Roar!" The terrifying sword energy invaded, and the demon could no longer hide in the secret room, and the house collapsed instantly.

Amidst the rubble and rocks, a figure over ten feet tall broke out of the house, and demonic energy rose into the sky.

The lancet above was like a ray of moonlight, spreading down and blocking the demon's escape route. The demon slapped the side of the lancet with one claw. Sheng Yuanyao's face turned pale, but he didn't retreat a single step.

The sword energy below was chasing closely, and the cold mist around was like a prison, blocking the night sky.

The three of them fought fiercely, and the guards of the City Lord's Mansion who were fighting the fire dropped the buckets in their hands and were stunned.

Demon?
How could a monster rush up to the sky from a corner of the City Lord's Mansion, while Commander Sheng of the Demon Suppression Division was trying to stop it?
Who is that white-haired guy? Is he also a demon? Why is he working with Commander Sheng?
Sheng Yuanyao's voice echoed throughout the room, "The demon is powerful, stay away! Those below rank eight, continue to put out the fire, and those above rank seven, form a formation to block the surrounding area from a distance. This will be considered a great achievement!" In reality, Sheng Yuanyao didn't dare let anyone from the City Lord's Mansion approach. Who knew who knew? If they got close, they could be caught in the act of a surprise attack. After publicly shouting "keep away," anyone who dared approach would be dealt a direct blow.

In the distance, there were also people from various forces in Xiazhou who had practiced very hard. They really spread out far away and formed formations to block the main roads.

This is the inevitable result once the demons are exposed to human society.

Sheng Yuanyao sighed, admiring Dugu Qingli's demeanor as he watched him, his sword piercing the air. This demon's casual wave sent tumbling sand and rocks whirling. He was definitely a fourth-grade cultivator, but his injuries kept him from displaying his full potential, making him a near-fourth-grade cultivator. He'd felt his blood surge through his body after receiving the blow, yet Dugu Qingli hadn't yielded an inch, bearing the vast majority of the pressure.

But with just the two of them, the best they can do is to entangle the demon, and they might even lose the upper hand after a long time.

Sheng Yuanyao fought with all her might, feeling a bit worried. When Xu Bingkun and the others arrived, there was no telling what tricks he would use, and how the situation would change... Was this strategy of charging straight into the City Lord's Mansion the right one?

…………

Xu Bingkun rushed to the City Lord's Mansion in a hurry. He used all his strength, not only leaving the people from the Demon Suppression Bureau far behind, but even his own guards could not keep up with him.

Once the news of raising demons gets out, let alone the position of city lord, you will not be able to survive in human society and you will be dead.

Now the demon is suddenly exposed in the mansion for some unknown reason. Xu Bingkun now has only two options: either find a way to rescue the demon, or kill it in the chaos and put an end to it once and for all.

No matter which one, you must never be seen to have done it, and you cannot bring your own guards with you, otherwise others will know what happened at a glance.

Xu Bingkun turned into the alley behind the City Lord's Mansion, quickly took off his outer robe and changed into a set of warrior clothes that could be seen everywhere, and then took out a mask with spiritual energy flowing in it and covered his face.

Before he could even put on the mask, his hands suddenly trembled.

The sound of wheels rolling on stone slabs could be heard as a wheelchair slowly approached from the side of the alley. Shen Tang's figure gradually became clear from the darkness. "City Lord Xu, Uncle Master Xu, what are you doing?"

Xu Bingkun suddenly realized: "Did you release the demon?"

Shen Tang laughed: "I thought City Lord Xu was going to pretend with me."

Since you released the demon, you know everything. What else can you pretend to be? Xu Bingkun sneered in his heart and slowly drew his sword: "Although I don't know how you know about the demon...Since Sect Master Shen is here, why don't you go and attack the demon?"

Shen Tang said calmly, "I'm not feeling well. Even if I join the fight, I won't be able to defeat the demon in a short time. On the contrary, if a strong man like City Lord Xu suddenly attacks during the fierce battle, the situation will easily collapse... Therefore, I deliberately waited outside to wait for you, Your Excellency."

"I" became "this lord" and the city lord became Your Excellency.

The aura at that moment made Xu Bingkun a little dazed, as if he saw his master in the Sword Sect back then, rather than a mere twenty-one or twenty-two-year-old female sect leader.

Shen Tang continued, "As the city lord, what else can you be dissatisfied with? Why would you do such a heartless thing as feeding blood to the demons?"

Xu Bingkun snorted coldly: "I'm feeding a death row inmate. It doesn't matter if he dies sooner or later, he's going to die anyway."

"If the death row prisoners aren't enough, what will happen if it continues to demand other things? What will you do when it fully recovers and wreaks havoc on Xiazhou?" Shen Tang said coldly, "If you act so perversely and are so foolish as to be unaware of your own mistakes, don't blame me for clearing out your sect."

"Don't talk like a sect leader to me!" Xu Bingkun sneered. "Since you know you're not in good health and don't even dare to join the siege of the demons, yet you still come to lecture me... Aren't you too confident?"

The long sword was unsheathed, and the light flashed. Before he could finish his words, the sword light was already in Shen Tang's face.

Shen Tang stretched out two fingers.

With a slight "ding" sound, the tip of the sword was easily clamped in the hand by two fingers.

The sword light faded, revealing Xu Bingkun's shocked expression: "You...how could you..."

Shen Tang raised the corner of his mouth slightly, as if mocking: "Using the swordsmanship of the Tianxing Sword Sect to deal with the Sect Master of the Tianxing Sword Sect... City Lord Xu, you have a lot of ideas."

Xu Bingkun drew his sword angrily, but Shen Tang loosened his grip. Xu Bingkun used the wrong amount of force and almost stumbled. He felt ashamed and angry: "The Tianxing Sword Sect keeps its secrets to itself and leaves all the secrets to you, the direct descendants. What's wrong with me finding another way to break through?"

As he spoke, the sword energy surrounding him began to change subtly. The clear sword energy turned yellowish, just like the flying sand and rocks and demonic energy in the center of the fierce battle at this moment.

His eyes also turned red, and he was filled with murderous intent: "Let me show you what I have gained outside. How does it compare to the Tianxing Sword Sect!"

"Swoosh!" The sword light rose again, the wind howled, and the murderous aura and pressure seemed to be doubled than the previous sword.

"I've been waiting for you to show your evil side." Shen Tang smiled slightly, and suddenly his long hair moved, and purple light shone in his eyes.

"Bang!" A huge amount of energy rushed over, so fierce and domineering that it was completely unreasonable.

Xu Bingkun felt as if he had hit a wall, his sword shattered and he flew away, spitting out a mouthful of blood in mid-air: "Emperor Extreme Shocking World Sutra! You are..."

Please give me a monthly ticket, I'm sticking my butt out~
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(End of this chapter)