CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: THE DEMON BEAST REVEALS ITSELF!

Two days later.

A group of dozens of knights in disguise galloped in from afar, producing a thunderous sound as they swiftly approached the outskirts of Caisan Town.

However, upon seeing the state of Caisan Town, everyone’s expressions changed slightly.

The leader’s face darkened further, and he tightened the reins of his horse, sweeping his gaze around as he coldly said, "It seems we’ve arrived too late; Caisan Town was destroyed a long time ago."

Lu Chengtian beside him was shocked, and he immediately spurred his warhorse, leading a group of men quickly into the town to start searching.

After a round of searching, Lu Chengtian’s face turned extremely grim.

Judging by the looks of it, the town was destroyed at least ten days ago.

"The town is destroyed, so that knight must have left long ago."

Lu Chengtian sighed upwards, deeply regretting it.

"Hmph, the Fengzhou Army is a bunch of good-for-nothings. They have no skills in dealing with bandits but are certainly adept at dealing with their own. Such a town rich in medicinal herbs was actually wiped out by bandits!"

Lu Zhongshan snorted coldly, his eyes turning terrifying, as he said, "If this town were under my control, it would continuously produce powerful individuals for me and would become an important base for my Yi Ming Army!"

"Marshal, the town is destroyed, and that person is nowhere to be found. It’s best for us to leave quickly. If we were discovered by the Fengzhou Army, it would be troublesome."

A middle-aged man in a white robe beside him spoke up.

Even if they looked down on the Fengzhou Army, they had come in disguise with not many people. If the Fengzhou Army targeted them, it would be nothing but trouble.

Lu Zhongshan urged his warhorse and circled around the town, casting his gaze towards the mountain range on the right side, saying, "Once I deal with the Green Forest Army, I will definitely make Fengzhou completely my territory!"

"You are a man of unparalleled talent, Marshal, unifying Fengzhou is only a matter of time."

The man in the white robe smiled and said.

Lu Zhongshan suddenly frowned and said, "Is there any other town or village nearby besides this one that also sells medicinal herbs?"

Everyone immediately looked puzzled, exchanging glances.

"Pass the order to search all the villages within an eighty-mile radius," Lu Zhongshan commanded.

"Yes, Marshal!"

The people around him cupped their fists.

Lu Chengtian immediately understood his father’s strategy.

If that knight urgently needed medicinal herbs, he’d definitely head to other nearby places when seeing Caisan Town destroyed.

Because with a large-scale search, they could surely find him.

"Let’s go, head back first!"

Lu Zhongshan turned his horse around and immediately galloped into the distance.

···

In another direction.

In two days, Jiang Shi completely used up the medicinal herbs sent by the village chief.

As expected, his Red Sun Body Refining Technique smoothly progressed to the second stage, though it still needed some refinement to reach perfection in the second stage.

"Looks like I’ll need a few more days of medicinal baths to completely achieve perfection in the second stage."

Once he attains perfection in the second stage, his physical power will increase by forty percent on the original basis.

Currently, his body has reached 9,300 jin, and once it increases by forty percent, it will be 13,020 jin.

A power of over ten thousand jin – just the thought of it is frightening.

Even a fully-grown African elephant doesn’t weigh that much.

It’s equivalent to saying he could entirely lift an African elephant with his physical body.

"Right, I can also take this chance to cultivate the martial arts I’ve obtained previously."

Jiang Shi recalled, immediately stepping into the room to retrieve the package he got earlier.

Five martial arts books in total.

Bursting Flower Rain!

Gale Sword Technique!

Iron Stone Body!

Shadow-Following Body Technique!

Primordial Divine Palm!

···

Except for the last one, which is a legendary super-grade martial art, the other four are common martial arts.

"Besides, within the Red Sun Body Refining Technique, there is a complementary palm technique called the Great Red Sun Divine Palm, which can also be cultivated. It is a fierce palm technique focusing on the physical body. It’s said that once mastered, a single palm strike is like a fusion with the red sun, incredibly scalding, capable of melting someone from the inside out. When perfected, it can even brand a hole in steel."

Jiang Shi contemplated.

However, upon further thought, he decided to first learn hidden weapons and the Iron Stone Body.

Having made up his mind, he quickly put away other martial arts and carried the Bursting Flower Rain and Iron Stone Body with him, heading out again to find the village chief.

However, when he found the village chief again, he was puzzled to see the village chief looking grave, gathered with a group of villagers at the easternmost household.

Endless murmurs came from there.

Every villager’s face was filled with fear and trepidation.

"Brother Er Hu, what happened here?"

Jiang Shi stepped forward and asked the short-clad man from a few days back.

The man, upon seeing Jiang Shi, changed his expression instantly and said, "Brother Jiang, something happened. It seems a demon beast entered the village. Liu the Second’s entire family has disappeared. There’s a large hole broken into the wall, with blood and guts everywhere. It’s horrific."

Even this burly man, standing over five feet, turned pale and his stomach churned upon seeing it.

"What? A demon beast?"

Jiang Shi’s face tensed.

Another demon beast!

The former village head he belonged to was slaughtered by demon beasts, with all villagers brutally killed in one night. He survived because he wasn’t there at the time, narrowly escaping death.

Unexpectedly, he encountered demon beasts again.

He hesitated but decided to go take a look anyway.

What he saw was truly shocking, making him feel quite nauseated.

The entire courtyard was covered in blood, with several enormous paw prints on the ground, each as large as an iron pot.

On the wall, there was a breach as large as a water vat.

Just by looking at the breach and paw prints, one could infer that this beast was not small.

"Brother Jiang, you’re here."

The village chief’s expression changed, and upon seeing Jiang Shi, he hurried over.

Jiang Shi frowned tightly.

This village has been targeted by such a large demon beast.

He’d better not stay here for long.

A wise man doesn’t stand beside a collapsing wall!

"Brother Jiang, may I have a word?"

The village chief instantly guessed Jiang Shi’s thoughts from his expression and quickly spoke.

Jiang Shi hesitated slightly but nodded lightly.

Not long after, the two walked out and went to the village chief’s house.

"Brother Jiang, I know you are a martial artist and a knight. Now the village is targeted by a demon beast, and the lives of over a hundred villagers are at risk. I know I can’t ask you to help for nothing, but how about this: I’ll supply you with ten more sets of the medicinal herbs you needed before in exchange for you eliminating the demon beast for us?"

The village chief said complexly.

Jiang Shi was surprised.

The old village chief really had hidden a considerable amount of medicinal herbs!

He could still acquire ten more sets?

But after careful consideration, Jiang Shi shook his head lightly.

"Village Chief, you overestimate me. That demon beast is massive and obviously not to be trifled with. With my strength, I likely wouldn’t stand a chance against it."

Jiang Shi said, "Currently, I suggest that the village chief organize the villagers to leave the village promptly."

That demon beast’s paw alone is as big as an iron pot.

The hole it drilled in the wall is as huge as a water vat.

Imagining its strength, it is undoubtedly formidable.

"Leave the village?"

The village chief’s expression changed slightly, replying bitterly:

"If we could leave the village, who wouldn’t want to? But now with soldiers wreaking havoc and bandits and refugees everywhere, Brother Jiang, you are someone who drifts across the Jianghu. You must have seen how painful it is for people who are displaced? If we leave the village without land and shelter, we’re bound to perish miserably!"