Start slaying demons from the proficiency panel.

In this way, it can be definitively confirmed that Lu Changqing did not actually fall into depravity halfway, but was obeying someone's orders and carrying out a task that required enduring humiliation and was not understood by others.

[098] Heavenly Might Divine Spear

After asking a few more questions that concerned him, Ning Xiu finally made up his mind.

Lu Changqing did indeed have a mission to complete, and in order for the mission to proceed smoothly, he absolutely could not return to Chaotiandu at this time.

Firstly, no one knew Lu Changqing's predicament; everyone thought he was a heartless, cold-blooded demon who had fallen into depravity and murdered his entire clan. Once he was escorted to the Demon Subduing Division, his fate would undoubtedly be death.

No one will defend him, not even the important figure Lu Changqing refused to reveal his identity, because this matter is simply too shameful to be brought to light.

Secondly, if Lu Changqing is sentenced to death, all the humiliation, sacrifices, and heavy costs he has endured will be in vain.

“Mr. Lu, why did that person insist that you wipe out the entire Lu family? Your Lu family was once one of the four great families of the Shang Dynasty, and many of your family members served the Shang Dynasty. If they all die at your hands, it will surely be a great blow to the Shang Dynasty. Doing this is completely detrimental to the Shang Dynasty and makes no sense at all.” Ning Xiu asked, “Can you explain why that important person wanted you to do this?”

Lu Changqing looked up at the ceiling of the cell, his expression complicated, but he didn't say anything.

But this is clearly an answer to Ning Xiu's question through actions. As for whether he can understand it, that depends entirely on Ning Xiu's own comprehension ability.

"Rooftop, above, sky..." As Ning Xiu was thinking, a thought suddenly popped into his mind, and he stared at Lu Changqing with extreme shock.

"Mr. Lu, the important person who gave you those orders wouldn't be......"

Seeing that Ning Xiu seemed to have guessed it, Lu Changqing nodded silently.

In this way, Ning Xiu understood why he only gave hints through actions and did not reveal any words.

That person cultivated the Dao of Destiny, which is extremely rare and incredibly powerful and mysterious. The abilities of the Dao of Destiny are unimaginable to others. When someone mentions it, the person will feel something in their heart. It is truly a divine skill.

"Why would that person choose to use Lu Changqing to destroy the Lu family? There must be some reason behind this. Since Lu Changqing betrayed the Demon Subduing Division at his behest, I don't need to get involved in this matter. This is not a murky water for me," Ning Xiu thought to himself.

Now that the situation was clear, Ning Xiu stepped forward, untied Lu Changqing, and used his internal energy to heal Lu Changqing's injuries.

Lu Changqing suffered mostly internal injuries. Because he did not have a direct confrontation with Ning Xiu, he had relatively few external and bone injuries. Therefore, after Ning Xiu infused him with internal energy to heal him and remove the blood stasis in his body, Lu Changqing quickly regained his mobility.

"Thank you," Lu Changqing said, standing up.

“Currently, apart from me, no one else in Qiantang City knows your identity. Mr. Lu, you can just walk out through the main gate. I have already ordered the guards who are watching the dungeon to leave. You still have two of your swords that are still intact, which I have placed outside the dungeon door. You can take them yourself,” Ning Xiu nodded and said.

When Ning Xiu sent the four leaders of the Golden Snake Party and Lu Changqing to the dungeon, he did not let the other team leaders see what Lu Changqing looked like. So they just thought he was a demon that Ning Xiu had captured and did not pay any attention to him.

“I’ve been away from the Demon Extermination Bureau for many years, and now I’m neither human nor ghost. Sometimes I don’t even know what kind of identity I am.” As he was about to walk out of the prison cell, Lu Changqing turned back and looked at Ning Xiu with a complicated expression: “I forgot to ask how you are addressed.”

"My surname is Ning and my given name is Xiu."

"Lord Ning, is it? I don't know if we'll ever have the chance to meet again. I'm very grateful that you let me go today. I have nothing to repay you with, but I have a mnemonic here that should be useful to you. Please try your best to memorize it. How much you learn depends entirely on your own comprehension." Lu Changqing then spoke slowly, reciting a rather complex and obscure mnemonic.

Ning Xiu naturally couldn't understand the mystery on the first try, so he quickly concentrated and tried to memorize the incantation, the purpose of which he didn't know.

After Lu Changqing patiently repeated it three times, he finally stopped and said, "Farewell."

According to Lu Changqing, it was enough that Ning Xiu could memorize the mnemonic; he didn't expect him to understand its meaning in a short time.

But what Lu Changqing didn't know was that Ning Xiu was no ordinary person.

Upon summoning the proficiency panel, sure enough, a new entry had quietly appeared that Ning Xiu had never seen before. It must have been created after listening to Lu Changqing's incantation.

...

[Aura Observation and Fortune Telling Technique: Level 1 (1/2000)] (+)

【Burning Sun Taiyao Scripture: Twelve Levels (2/13000)】(+)

[Heavenly King Vajra Skill. Black Heavenly Pagoda Supreme Body: Twelfth Level (7/13000)] (+)

[Concealment Technique: Level 10 (0/7000)] (+)

[Seven Steps to Catch the Cicada: Eighth Floor (2897/6000)] (+)

[Heavenly Might Divine Spear: Beginner (0/1000)] (+)

General Proficiency: 1500

...

"Spear technique?" Upon seeing the name "Heavenly Might Divine Spear," Ning Xiu's first reaction was suspicion.

Although he was a martial artist, he did not know how to use a gun. Lu Changqing taught him a gun technique. Even though this gun technique required 1000 points of proficiency just to get started, which was enough to show its extraordinary nature, it was somewhat superfluous for Ning Xiu as an attack method.

With the idea that he had already learned it, Ning Xiu tried adding 1000 points of general proficiency to the Heavenly Might Divine Spear, intending to see the effect of this unknown spear technique.

The moment Ning Xiu mastered the Divine Spear technique, a flood of experiences and insights about it surged into his mind, as if he had been practicing it for a long time.

Only then did Ning Xiu realize that this was not a spear technique for martial artists, but a weapon control technique from the Art of Weapon Control. As long as Ning Xiu practiced it, he could control a spear to fight, just like Lu Changqing had previously controlled those bronze swords.

In this way, Ning Xiu could fight with his physical body while simultaneously using his spear to attack, and the two would not appear to be conflicting during the fight.

The Heavenly Might Divine Spear technique must have been created by Lu Changqing himself in the years after he left the Demon Subduing Division. This gentleman was a genius in the art of weapon control, and at least one-twentieth of the existing weapon control techniques were created by him, which shows his extraordinary talent in this field.

However, cultivating two paths simultaneously is an extremely time-consuming endeavor. Anyone who can cultivate two paths simultaneously and elevate both to the upper three ranks is a genius among geniuses.

There are no more than a hundred such people in the Demon Subduing Division. Ning Xiu had never thought about cultivating a second Great Dao before, but now that he has obtained the Heavenly Might Divine Spear, a weapon-controlling technique, he naturally cannot waste it.

With the proficiency panel at hand, it shouldn't be too difficult to cultivate two paths simultaneously.

The lower three ranks of the Art of Controlling Soldiers are symbolized by the ability to control soldiers to fly and kill enemies within ten feet. When one reaches the middle three ranks, one cultivates the spirit of the soldiers and begins to awaken the power of the soldiers' spirit, which greatly enhances their power.

Once you reach the third rank, a tangible weapon spirit will appear on Lu Changqing's bronze swords. The weapon will become spirited on its own, and even without the weapon owner's personal attention, it will attack the weapon owner's enemies with a certain level of intelligence.

The appearance of the Heavenly Might Divine Spear gave Ning Xiu another suitable means of combat.

Nodding in satisfaction, Ning Xiu then left the cell, preparing to go to another cell where the four leaders of the Golden Snake Party were being held for further interrogation.

The fact that the Golden Serpent Gang was able to cooperate with the Black Heaven Gate to capture the dragon suggests that they must have some understanding of the Black Heaven Gate. Useful intelligence is invaluable, and these four people are worth squeezing every last drop out of them.

……

Sixiang Prefecture is located in the northwest of the Great Shang territory, bordering the frontier. For many years, the Great Shang has harbored the ambition to attack and reclaim its territory.

However, due to the large number of powerful evil spirits in the Four Symbols Continent, as well as a large number of fierce and evil beings with strength comparable to the first rank, and because the Four Symbols Continent has been occupied by evil spirits for hundreds of years, a demon kingdom ruled by evil spirits has emerged. Even with the manpower sent to the front line by the Demon Subduing Division, it is not enough to occupy the Four Symbols Continent.

The only thing the Great Shang could do was to recuperate and upgrade, continuously accumulate strength, and then find a suitable opportunity to launch an attack on the Four Elephant States.

at night.

Sixiang Prefecture, Beimen Town.

A group of men, composed entirely of Bronze Leopard Demon-Subduing Guards, stood in a dark corner of the alley, occasionally peeking out as if waiting for something.

"Fang Jingzhou betrayed the Great Shang Dynasty and secretly took the precious treasure 'Vermilion Bird Blood' out of the Great Shang territory. Tonight, we must capture him and bring the Vermilion Bird Blood back to the Great Shang Dynasty. Everyone, according to intelligence, Fang Jingzhou will definitely pass through Beimen Town tonight. As soon as he appears, we will take action immediately. After confirming that he and the treasure are all there, we will immediately return to the front line to avoid running into the demon soldiers of the Demon Kingdom."

"understood."

At the end of the road outside Beimen Town, a convoy soon appeared, and the crisp sound of horses' hooves clattering on the stone pavement echoed in the quiet night.

Judging by the light from the lanterns hanging on the carriage, the several Copper Leopard Demon-Subduing Guards quickly identified their target. With a nod from their leader, they all sprang into action, rushing down the alley towards the convoy.

"Who goes there!"

The guards walking alongside the caravan drew their swords and shouted, charging directly at the Bronze Leopard Demon-Subduing Guards. But how could they possibly be a match for the Demon-Subduing Guards? After only a few moves, they were all killed. In the end, the coachman was so frightened that he abandoned the carriage and fled, leaving only three motionless carriages on the spot.

"Fang Jingzhou, should I go and fetch you out?" a Bronze Leopard Demon-Subduing Officer shouted.

The curtain of the carriage in the middle of the three carriages was lifted from the inside, and a tall, slender young man dressed in fine clothes slowly stepped out of the carriage.

This person has extremely fair skin, squinty eyes, and a curved mouth. Even when he doesn't make any expression, his face always looks like he's smiling.

But this danger doesn't make people feel friendly; instead, it's like being around a cunning fox full of bad intentions.

At this moment, he was holding a square box wrapped in red silk in both hands. Even in the darkness, the box was emitting a faint red light, and it was unknown what was inside.

"You guys have chased me all the way to Sixiang Prefecture, huh? You've worked hard." Fang Jingzhou said with a calm smile, his already narrow eyes looking even more like two lines.

"He's holding the Vermilion Bird's Blood. Just do it, don't delay."

After confirming that everyone and everything were there, all the Bronze Leopard Demon-Subduing Guards instantly took action, leaping out in unison and rushing towards Fang Jingzhou.

We must both arrest the people and seize the property.

Just then, a symphony of the moon lute, the jinghu, and the banggu suddenly arose from all around, as if a theatrical troupe had opened somewhere.

"Waaaaaah!"

Accompanied by a dramatic tune, a man with a large, painted face and wearing fish-scale armor emerged from the shadows with small, quick steps.

The man was shouting in a particular tone, his face covered in white paint, and he held a red-tasseled spear in each hand. In the night, accompanied by the sound of musical instruments that seemed to come from nowhere, he appeared particularly sinister and strange.

"Hey!" She stopped abruptly, raised a red-tasseled spear, and shouted at the group of Fumowei, "You gang up on the few, which is not the behavior of a great hero. If you don't want to lose your lives today, leave quickly, and I might spare your lives!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the man suddenly wiped his face, and his white painted face instantly turned red. At the same time, his voice became loud and rough, creating a stark contrast to his gentle and tender voice just moments before.

"Those who gang up on the few are definitely not good people! Thieves, don't run away! Waaaaah!"

As he spoke, the man raised his two guns and charged at the group of Bronze Leopard Demon Slayers. Seeing this, half of the Demon Slayers had no choice but to abandon their attack on Jingzhou and turn around to face the strange guy who had suddenly appeared.

Just as the two were about to approach each other, a new blue painted face appeared on the left side of the painted-face man's head, and at the same time, a brand new arm grew out from behind him.

With a flick of his wrist, a red-tasseled spear appeared in his hand. As he thrust the spear forward, a demon-subduing officer was caught off guard and had his throat pierced by the spearhead before he could even react.

"Chen Ding!"

The painted-face man charged into the crowd as if he were in an empty place. He wielded his three red-tasseled spears with fluid movements, thrusting and slashing, displaying both incredible speed and extraordinary power.

Bronze Leopard Demon-Subduing Commander was no match for him at all; he couldn't even last a single round before being stabbed to death by the red-tasseled spear.

"Top three ranks!" Seeing this, the remaining Bronze Leopard Demon-Subduing Commanders immediately understood what was going on.

There are actually people of the highest rank here!

"Retreat! Fang Jingzhou came here to meet up with the demons!" someone shouted.

The surviving Demon Slayers turned tail and ran, each choosing a different direction. They all knew that they had no power to resist a demon of the third rank. They chose to run in one direction and leave it to fate. This would buy time for their colleagues to escape, and if they were lucky, they might get a chance to escape themselves.

In short, someone has to survive and tell the Demon Slayers what happened.

After killing nearly half of the Demon-Subduing Guards, and watching the bronze leopard Demon-Subduing Guards flee, the painted-face man did not choose to chase after them, but stood still in place.

Then, another blue-faced, flowery face grew out from the left side of his head. The moment this flowery face appeared, another arm grew out from his back. He stuck the red-tasseled spear in his hand into the ground, and a huge, armored skeleton general appeared behind him.

As the man made a gesture of gripping a bow and drawing the string, the skeleton general moved in sync, and a huge bone bow suddenly appeared in his hands.

call out!

The painted-face man released his grip, and the bone bow suddenly shot out three bone arrows, killing three Copper Leopard Demon-Subduing Officers who had escaped several feet away in the blink of an eye.