Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

He raised his head, looked at Li Yuan, and his eyes revealed a mocking expression.

"Do you think the imperial court is unaware of these matters? Moreover, given the capabilities of the Demon Suppression Bureau, how could they possibly be completely ignorant of what is happening in Hexi? You underestimate them."

He smiled knowingly, "It's just a matter of each getting what they want, and turning a blind eye to it."

"Oh? Is that so? I don't think so."

Li Yuan remained unmoved.

"In today's world, you have to learn to be flexible if you want to survive."

"What kind of world is this?"

Li Yuan snorted coldly.

Lu Ming adopted an elder's demeanor: "The world is in chaos right now. The Demon Emperor is in seclusion, demons are rising up everywhere, and regional military governors are holding onto their troops and acting independently. The imperial court's control is already beyond its reach."

"At times like these, only fools care about rules and morality; in chaotic times, only the strong are fit to survive."

He looked at Li Yuan and said, "Li Yuan, let me put it more clearly. The situation in Hexi is more complicated than you think. What Wu Yong has done involves interests from all sides."

Seeing that Li Yuan remained silent, Lü Ming assumed he was somewhat tempted and tried even harder to persuade him.

After all, Li Yuan was too famous and was someone the emperor valued. Killing him would cause a lot of trouble later.

The best outcome would be to get him to defect and join their side.

"Think about it, if you really report these things, you'll offend not only Hexi, but half of the court. At that time, let alone a mere inspector like you, even if Ye Hongyu came in person, he might not be able to handle it."

Li Yuan listened quietly, his eyes calm, without interrupting him.

Lu Ming pressed his advantage: "Lord Li, you are the youngest Condensation Realm cultivator in our Great Tang Dynasty, a prodigy with limitless potential. Why be defeated by this small Hexi region?"

"I admire your abilities. If you're willing, you'll also have a share of the business in Hexi. I guarantee that the cultivation resources you receive each year will be more than you'd earn as an inspector for your entire life. What do you say?"

Having said all that, Lü Ming had truly been trying to persuade him.

Li Yuan raised his head, looked at Lü Ming's smiling face, and asked, word by word, "Lord Lü, aren't you afraid of being punished by the imperial court?"

"Hahaha……"

Lu Ming was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter: "The court is going to settle scores? Lord Li is still too young. What can the court do to settle scores? That esteemed emperor in Chang'an can't even control the military power in the capital region, let alone Hexi!"

He arrogantly declared, "In this world, only strength reigns supreme. Whoever has the biggest fist gets to call the shots. As for the imperial court... it has long since lost absolute control over the border regions."

Li Yuan looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Lord Lü, what you say makes a lot of sense."

Upon hearing this, Lü Ming's expression relaxed. It seemed that this kid had finally compromised. But then Li Yuan continued, "Your reasoning is the way of most people, but unfortunately, it's not my way."

Lu Ming's smile finally faded: "Your path?"

"My path is to protect, to protect the innocent, to protect those people whom you regard as ants. The despicable things you do behind the scenes are intolerable to Heaven."

He took a step forward, looking directly at Lü Ming: "Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together!"

This time, the smile on Lü Ming's face completely disappeared.

"Okay, very good."

His gaze was icy, and he nodded at Li Yuan with a half-smile. Suddenly, his aura surged, instantly engulfing the entire tent.

The intense killing intent permeated the air, forcing even the battle-hardened soldiers to retreat repeatedly, their faces turning pale.

Enter the Taoist realm.

Lü Ming was actually a powerful expert at the Dao Realm.

Li Yuan's pupils contracted sharply. It seemed that this old fox had been hiding his strength all along. He was one of the few people in the entire Tang Dynasty who had entered the Dao realm. No wonder he could sit in the Hexi Road and do business with the demon race without any restraint.

Because he has the ability.

His aura continued to rise, his robes fluttered without wind, his long hair flew wildly, and his eyes turned bloodshot, making him look like a demon god who had emerged from hell.

"Li Yuan, since you're determined to die, don't blame me for being impolite."

"Slap! Slap!"

He clapped his hands.

Two enormous figures slowly walked in from outside the tent.

They are two demon kings.

One was shaped like a giant ape, exuding a strong aura of menace; the other was a giant, snow-white python with a scarlet tongue flicking out of its mouth, its vertical pupils fixed menacingly on him.

Both demons were at the mid-stage of the Demon King realm, possessing powerful and violent auras.

Behind Lü Ming, four figures silently appeared, each exuding the aura of the Condensation Realm, with one of them even reaching the late stage of the Condensation Realm.

The crowd following Li Yuan all changed color.

With two demon kings, four cultivators at the Condensation Realm, and Lu Ming at the Dao Entry Realm, this force was enough to crush the entire Hexi region.

Lu Ming stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Li Yuan with pride and a hint of regret in his eyes.

"Li Yuan, I'm giving you one last chance. Kneel down, submit to me, and I might spare your life."

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow and smiled, slowly tightening his grip on the nameless sword in his hand.

He did not answer.

But his knife has already provided the answer.

The great battle broke out in an instant.

"Good! Young man, you have backbone!"

Lu Ming spread his five fingers wide, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth seemed to be summoned, frantically converging towards him, instantly condensing into a jet-black longsword in his palm.

Black mist swirled around the sword, emanating a chilling killing intent; this was his Dao, the Dao of Slaughter.

"Li Yuan, today I will show you what true entry into the Dao realm really means!"

Lu Ming unleashed a sword strike.

The sword moves were unremarkable, but Li Yuan's expression instantly turned serious.

He clearly sensed that the power contained in this sword strike had transcended the realm of elemental energy and had drawn upon the power of heaven and earth.

What he unleashed was not just sword energy, but a killing intent, as if all things in heaven and earth were cooperating with this sword to put Li Yuan to death.

Is this the power of rules?

Li Yuan felt a chill in his heart, yet a strong fighting spirit was also stirred within him. Everyone said that there was an insurmountable gap between Condensing Essence and Entering the Dao, but he simply refused to believe it.

He dared not be negligent. Starlight shone brightly on the blade, and at the same time, he activated the power of the five elements, condensing a five-colored shield in front of him, its light flowing.

"boom--!"

The sword energy struck the light shield, unleashing a deafening roar. The light shield trembled violently, and countless cracks appeared on its surface.

But in the end, it still managed to block the sword.

The enormous impact sent Li Yuan sliding backward several meters, even sending the central command tent flying.

Li Yuan steadied himself, secretly shocked. The cultivators in the Dao Realm were indeed completely different from those in the Condensation Realm.

Although the Condensation Realm is already among the top three realms, the way of fighting still cannot escape the support of Yuan Power. However, cultivators in the Dao Realm have already touched the edge of the rules of heaven and earth, and can draw upon the power of heaven and earth with every move.

The gap between them is like a chasm.

Before he could even stand up straight, the two demon kings pounced on him.

"Awooo!"

The King Kong Ape roared and swung its fist, smashing it down on Li Yuan's head. The force of the punch was so strong that it fell heavily like a mountain.

Li Yuan dodged the fatal punch by sidestepping, and the Vajra Ape King's fist slammed into the ground.

With a loud "boom," it smashed open a crater several meters wide, sending debris flying and dust billowing everywhere.

The moment he dodged, the Ice Soul Python King opened its blood-red maw and spewed a white blast of cold air at him. Wherever it passed, everything was frozen into tiny ice crystals, and a layer of white frost quickly formed on the ground.