CHAPTER 360: CHAPTER 355: DEMON HUNTING DISC

The imperial army gradually arrived, sealing Divine Wood Mountain Villa and dispatching the Demon Suppression Army to garrison and defend it.

For a time, the shadow of the Demon Suppression Army was everywhere in Qinghe County, as if the court had suddenly mobilized its entire army overnight, making the people of Qinghe County feel that the court was truly serious.

In addition, there was news in the city that Prince Qinghe intended to gather ambitious individuals in Qinghe County and lead the local army to sweep the wilderness of demons, to eliminate future troubles.

This made many cultivators somewhat suspicious. Prince Qinghe had always been a leisurely prince; why had he suddenly become so assertive? And it didn’t seem like empty rhetoric, but a genuine move.

For several days in a row, the winds and clouds surged in Qinghe County. The demons dared not continue invading, whether because they were gravely injured in the last battle or due to fear of the court.

The common people of Qinghe County felt much more at ease, and cultivators also seemed to perceive the court’s determination. Many began to liaise with the court, willing to join forces in traveling to the wilderness to exterminate demons.

Soon, there was more news in the city, stating that there might be demons lurking in Qinghe County, and the provincial government would dispatch cultivators to search the entire area.

Li Fan and his companions had been at Uncle Wang’s home these past days, quietly observing the news.

This storm would certainly not end here; there would definitely be follow-up.

At this moment, a figure appeared, cutting through the sky—it was Wang Yuyao.

"Young Hero Lu." As Wang Yuyao landed, she called out to Li Fan.

"Miss Wang." Li Fan asked, "How are things outside?"

"The battle that day left everyone severely injured. Many elite cultivators from Yu Kun Academy perished at Divine Wood Mountain Villa, as well as those from the Cui and Xie families. Now, both families are recuperating their vitality, while the court is acting frequently. It is said that a person skilled at searching for demons has been sent to hunt them throughout the region," Wang Yuyao said. "And after the search in Qinghe County is complete, they will head out to annihilate demons."

"Currently, many cultivators in the city have responded positively."

Li Fan showed a hint of surprise; what he had previously heard about Prince Qinghe was not like this.

People do not change suddenly, unless Prince Qinghe had been concealing his capabilities all along.

However, it makes sense, considering the current Emperor is not a simple person. If a prince is appointed here, how could Prince Qinghe truly be mediocre? He was likely just hiding his talents.

This time, he faintly sensed that this was the court attempting to seize the discourse power of Qinghe County from the aristocracy, aiming to fully control this region.

"This Prince Qinghe is probably a formidable character," Li Fan murmured.

Wang Yuyao seemed thoughtful.

Just then, the sound of something breaking the air came, and Li Fan and Wang Yuyao turned around to see a group of figures flying towards them in the sky.

"People from the Cui family." Wang Yuyao showed a hint of surprise. As they arrived, she slightly bowed and greeted them, "Wang Yuyao greets the seniors."

These arrivals were indeed from the aristocratic Cui Family of Qinghe County. The leader was an elderly man dressed in black, with deep and abyss-like eyes, his aura repressed but still radiating an intangible sense of pressure.

The Cui family elder did not look at Wang Yuyao; instead, his gaze fell on Li Fan. After scrutinizing Li Fan for a moment, he said, "The Cui family would like to invite you to come for a visit."

"What is this about?" Li Fan asked.

"I don’t know; it is the ancestor’s wish. I ask the young hero to cooperate," the elder continued. Li Fan had no acquaintance with the Cui family, nor had he ever met the Cui Family Ancestor, so he did not know why the other party sought him out.

"Alright." Yet Li Fan still nodded in agreement.

"Please, young hero," the elder said.

"I’ll go with you." Lu Yuan stepped forward.

"Alright." Li Fan nodded, looking at the others, "You wait for me here."

"Okay."

Everyone nodded and agreed. Li Fan and Lu Yuan traveled by sword, following the Cui family members as they flew away.

The Cui Family, with hundreds of years of history in Qinghe County, was not within the city but rather outside in the countryside, resembling a city in itself at first glance.

With the foundation of hundreds of years and generations of growth, the Cui family had a population of tens of thousands.

Li Fan, following the Cui family elder, proceeded all the way to the central area of the Cui family. Here, many practitioners from the Cui family were present. As they saw Li Fan and Lu Yuan arrive, their gazes curiously examined the two of them.

They thought to themselves that these two were indeed remarkably outstanding in appearance. Li Fan was dashing and elegant, while Lu Yuan was solitary and beautiful like the moon. When the two stood together, they seemed like an ideal pair.

Li Fan saw a familiar figure, the Cui family prodigy, Cui Shan.

"We’ve met," Cui Shan said to Li Fan and Lu Yuan.

Li Fan nodded; they had met twice—once at Uncle Wang’s house and once at Divine Wood Mountain Villa.

He had heard that Cui Shan was injured at Divine Wood Mountain Villa, but now he seemed to have recovered. With the profound heritage of a great family, unless the injuries are fatal, recovery is swift.

"On that day at Divine Wood Mountain Villa, I saw you leave first and take Wang Yuyao with you. Why is that?" Cui Shan asked.

"Because of my unique cultivation, I sensed something was amiss. I informed Wang Yuyao and asked him to relay the message to Chen Zhen and the others. Unfortunately, they didn’t believe there was anything wrong with Divine Wood Mountain Villa, so I had to leave on my own," Li Fan replied.

"Why didn’t you inform others?" Someone nearby asked with a scolding tone, coldly staring at Li Fan. The battle at Divine Wood Mountain Villa cost the Cui Family heavily, with many lives, including several Great Cultivators of the Sixth Realm, lost.

Li Fan glanced coldly at the person speaking.

At this moment, an old man emerged from the courtyard, his aura unfathomable. It was the Cui Family Ancestor.

"That day, when I rushed to Divine Wood Mountain Villa, I saw you were escaping. I didn’t expect the Tree Demon couldn’t keep you," Elder Cui gazed at Li Fan and said.

"It was a fluke," Li Fan bowed and said, "The incident happened so suddenly that day, and I was somewhat acquainted with Chen Zhen. Even if I had told others, I’m afraid no one would have believed me. Instead, it would have startled the snake, and I feared I wouldn’t have escaped myself."

"Indeed," Elder Cui nodded, "If you hadn’t left the villa early, you would have hardly escaped death."

"However, you don’t seem to be from Qinghe County, right?" the Cui Family Ancestor asked.

"Junior hails from Jiangzhou, wandering the world to slay demons and undergo trials," Li Fan replied.

"Jiangzhou, it seems there isn’t a top-tier Sword Dao force?" The Cui Family Ancestor laughed, looking at Li Fan, "However, Bai Lu Academy does have some fame."

Li Fan remained silent, feeling no need to explain further.

Then, a voice came from outside.

"Ancestor, someone from the Xie Family seeks an audience."

"Please," the Cui Family Ancestor replied, looking outside. A moment later, another group arrived, among them was Xie Lingxuan.

"It’s you." Xie Lingxuan, with an inspiring presence, cast strands of aura onto Li Fan. She had noticed him leaving first that night at Divine Wood Mountain Villa.

Li Fan frowned, exuding a piercing force.

Several elders from the Xie Family advanced simultaneously, pressuring Li Fan.

"Be patient," the Cui Family Ancestor waved and said, "The young man has explained himself, and as for now, I believe him."

Hearing this, the Xie Family withdrew their aura; since the Cui Family Ancestor said so, Xie Lingxuan naturally didn’t press on.

"How is Elder Xie now?" the Cui Family Ancestor asked.

"No major issues," Xie Lingxuan replied, "Thank you, Elder Cui, for your concern."

The Cui Family Ancestor didn’t pursue. The Xie Family Ancestor’s injuries were more severe, making swift recovery unlikely.

"How does your Xie Family view this event?" the Cui Family Ancestor asked.

"That Old Demon Wood was once revered and shouldn’t have colluded with demons unless he was injured back then, causing his end to be near, leading him to take risks and align with the Tree Demon. Now, it’s unclear whether he’s human or demon," an elder from the Xie Family said angrily.

"Having crossed swords with him, Elder Xie can no longer be called human," the Cui Family Ancestor stated, "He lured Qinghe County cultivators, likely practicing demonic evil techniques, supplementing himself by devouring them. I suspect that old monster is as good as dead."

"If Elder Xie killed cultivators to survive, why would Old Hound appear? Did Elder Xie, after turning demon, conspire with Old Hound? What does Old Hound want?"

"Moreover, what role did the Commandery Prince in the city play in this?" the Cui Family Ancestor wondered.

"Not long ago, I encountered people from the court. They are hunting demons in Qinghe County, having already captured many inhabiting humans," Xie Lingxuan said, "Looking at it this way, it seems unrelated to them."

"Oh, how does the court conduct the hunt?" the Cui Family Ancestor asked.

"The court invited a master, who possesses a tracking magic artifact that can trace demons with no escape," Xie Lingxuan replied.

Upon hearing this, Li Fan frowned and said, "If seniors have nothing else, I shall take my leave."

The Cui Family Ancestor and Xie Family members all looked towards Li Fan.

After a moment of silence, the Cui Family Ancestor nodded, "You may go."

Li Fan slightly bowed, then turned to leave with Lu Yuan. Upon exiting the Cui Family, they immediately took flight with Sword Control and hastily returned.

The Cui Family Ancestor looked into the distance with deep-set eyes and said, "Follow and see."

"Alright," several figures broke through the sky, heading in the direction Li Fan and Lu Yuan had gone.

At the same time, not far from Old Man Wang’s house, a group of cultivators were on the move, led by a man in a Daoist robe with a magic artifact wheel in his palm.

At this moment, the wheel spun, pointing in a direction.

"That way," the man gazed at where the wheel pointed, moving forward, and the group immediately followed, heading precisely towards Old Man Wang’s house.