CHAPTER 367: CHAPTER 362: AN SHICHENG

The crowd looked up towards the sky, and saw people from different influential families arriving one after another.

Among them, in the center direction, were none other than the Cui Family and the Xie Family.

"Both the Cui Family Ancestor and the Xie Family Ancestor have arrived."

The crowd felt a wave of emotion upon seeing the two elderly figures, realizing that something significant was about to happen.

"This old man comes to pay respects to the Commandery Prince," the Cui Family Ancestor’s loud voice echoed throughout the entire Prince Manor.

"The old man of the Xie Family has come to observe the ceremony," the voice of the Xie Family Ancestor was full of vitality, carrying a cold tone. It was rumored that on the night the Divine Wood Mountain Villa hunted cultivators, both ancestors were present.

The Cui Family Ancestor had a fierce battle with the Old Demon of the Divine Wood Mountain Villa, both being equally matched. Meanwhile, the Xie Family Ancestor was intercepted by the Great Demon Old Hound. They battled in the wilderness, with Old Hound retreating after being injured, but the Xie Family Ancestor almost lost his life.

Now it seems, the Xie Family Ancestor has recovered quite a bit and has personally come here.

"It is an honor for our Prince Manor to have the two ancestors visit," came a cheerful laugh from the Prince Manor, the voice not loud yet heard clearly by everyone.

From the depths of the Prince Manor, a group of figures stepped into the void, walking forward, until they reached the high pavilion behind the platform.

The leading figure was dressed in a broad golden robe, his body was fat, his face full of plump flesh, wearing a crown. When he laughed, his eyes squinted into slits as if about to be swallowed by the flesh.

This man was Prince Qinghe, An Lu. It’s said that ever since he arrived in Qinghe County, he indulged in pleasures, taking dozens of concubines, drinking and carousing at the Prince Manor every day, and hence acquiring such a plump body from this indulgent lifestyle.

The crowd looked towards the Prince, whose face, full of smiles, appeared somewhat comical.

Beside him was the burly Daoist, known as the Cold Crow Taoist.

"Paying respects to the Prince," many below bowed to pay their respects.

"Living immortal," some of the people who had come to observe even bowed deeply, as the Cold Crow Taoist was the ’immortal’ who had emerged from Taiping Temple.

On the high platform, An Shicheng glanced at the Cui and Xie Families in the air, thinking these influential families were really ungrateful, still remaining in the void and not giving proper respect to their Prince Manor.

"I’ve long admired the names of you two ancestors. Today, we are beheading demons and have invited you to observe the ceremony. Please take your seats," An Lu seemed indifferent, pointing to the seats beside him as he addressed the two in the air.

However, the members of the Cui and Xie Families remained unmoving. The Cui Family Ancestor replied, "We’ve come to observe the ceremony, we won’t take a seat."

"Everyone came to the Prince’s polite welcome, addressing you as elders, but it seems you don’t give the Prince much respect. Could it be that you have some dissatisfaction with the Prince or the court?" Cold Crow Taoist looked up, his sharp eyes scanning the figures standing in the air as he spoke.

"We dare not. The Prince is personally appointed by the court. We are mere common people, how could we dare to sit alongside the Prince? Standing here is just fine," the Cui Family Ancestor responded calmly, yet his tone was not overly courteous.

The Cold Crow Taoist snorted coldly, but An Lu laughed and said, "No problem, no problem, let the ancestors do as they please."

As he spoke, his gaze turned to the many demons on the high platform, and he said, "Recently, demons have wreaked havoc in Qinghe County, causing many casualties among the people. Fortunately, with the intervention of families like the Cui and Xie and other righteous individuals of Qinghe County, the losses were minimized. On behalf of the people of Qinghe County, I thank you all."

"However, I initially thought that with the Divine Wood Mountain Villa and various cultivators joining forces, it would be enough to quell the chaos caused by demons. Yet, I never imagined the tragic incident at the Divine Wood Mountain Villa, where many cultivators of Qinghe County were slaughtered. As the Prince of Qinghe County, I bear the blame for this."

"Therefore, I invited the Daoist to capture the demons, find out their whereabouts in Qinghe County, and locate the Old Demon of the Divine Wood Mountain Villa. Today, in full view of everyone in Qinghe County, we will execute them to honor those who died."

An Lu no longer showed his previous amusement. His voice carried a hint of murderous intent, as he stared down at the platform below, saying coldly, "Behead them!"

"Behead them!"

Resounding echoes came from the high platform, where soldiers wielding large blades held them against the kneeling demons, the chains tightly constricting the demons’ heads.

Cold gleams flashed, blades raised, radiating an intimidating chill.

"Kill, kill, kill."

The surrounding crowd roared, and as the blades fell, flashes of crimson erupted, one head after another hitting the ground, demon heads tumbling on the high platform.

"Bring the Old Demon forward."

An Lu commanded, and moments later, a group of cultivators behind him escorted a figure forward, this figure covered in wounds, already crippled, the chain-bound body withered like a dried corpse.

This figure was brought to the high platform, inciting fury among the crowd, cries for blood echoing to the heavens.

Li Fan looked at the Old Demon, seeing a peculiarly grotesque face, a human-like countenance with features resembling a Tree Demon, the Demon Core on its body had been extracted, a stench of decay emanating from it, extremely nauseating.

"It’s that Old Demon," Li Fan frowned.

"This person was originally the old Manor Master of the Divine Wood Mountain Villa. With his natural lifespan nearing its end, he should have died, but he lusted after vigor, allowing the Tree Demon to corrupt him, merging into one. He then devoured the blood and flesh essence of human cultivators to sustain and grow his vigor, which led to the upheaval at the Divine Wood Mountain Villa, slaughtering the cultivators of Qinghe County."

An Lu’s plump face was now filled with a murderous aura, saying coldly, "Today, we will execute this demon to exact revenge for the fallen cultivators of Qinghe County."

"Kill!"

As his words fell, spears pierced into the Old Demon’s body, hastening the loss of its life force. It showed signs of struggle and panic, with blood continuously pouring out, and its body becoming increasingly emaciated.

Cold Crow Taoist waved his hand, and a talisman flew out, landing on the demon’s body. Instantly, flames erupted, turning the Old Demon into ashes within the fire, its soul dispersing and perishing.

The cheers from below were deafening.

"Though the Old Demon is dead, the crisis remains. That Old Hound still lurks in the wilderness, ready to invade our Qinghe County at any moment with slaughter. To completely quell the demon disaster, we must eradicate the demons," Cold Crow Taoist declared loudly.

"Whatever the Commandery Prince needs us to do, we will respond, and together eliminate the demons," the people below responded one after another.

"To clear out the demons, we are willing to follow the Prince Manor and slay the demons."

The responses came one after another, with the masses excited. Li Fan glanced back, thinking that in this world, order is ultimately established by a minority, while most people are merely pawns.

An Lu raised his hands, signaling for silence. The shouts gradually subsided as eyes turned towards An Lu, who had already collected the smile on his face. His small eyes were now bright and sharp as he loudly stated, "Slaying demons and pacifying chaos is the duty of our Prince Manor. When demons invade our Qinghe County, I, who oversee the order in Qinghe, cannot sit idly by."

"Earlier, I led people to cleanse the demons within Qinghe County, eradicating internal threats, and killed the Old Demon of Divine Wood Mountain Villa. But next, a greater challenge awaits. I shall mobilize the entire force of Qinghe County to march into the wilderness, seeking and slaying demons to eliminate future threats."

An Lu’s voice was resounding and firm, instantly rousing the crowd, with shouts of killing echoing through the Prince Manor.

Once the crowd quieted down again, An Lu continued, "This operation will also require cooperation from all parties. In the name of Prince Qinghe, I will command all forces in Qinghe County. I urge the assistance of major families and sects in this operation, to follow orders and pacify the demons across a thousand miles."

In the sky above, the people of the Cui and Xie families heard An Lu’s words with indifferent expressions.

Finally, the true purpose was revealed.

This is what An Lu wanted to do — to completely control Qinghe County, to make the major families and sects his vassals, to follow his commands, and have Qinghe County fully under his grasp.

In the past, it would have been impossible for An Lu to achieve this.

But now, with the families experiencing setbacks, the Divine Wood Mountain Villa tragedy resulting in numerous casualties, and the Prince Manor slaying demons and capturing the Old Demon, with Cold Crow Taoist’s support, his prestige in Qinghe County has reached its peak.

If the families disagree, they might...

"Father, there’s one thing you said that is incorrect." At this moment, on the high platform, An Shicheng looked at An Lu.

"What is it?" An Lu asked.

"The demons in Qinghe County have not been completely eradicated. Right now among the crowd, there are demons mixed in," An Shicheng remarked with a smile, his eyes squinting as he scanned towards where Li Fan was located.

The crowd erupted into a commotion upon hearing this, glancing around at their surroundings.

An Lu also squinted his eyes, looking towards the direction where Li Fan was.

"Vile creature."

Beside him, Cold Crow Taoist glanced at Yue Qingqiu and Liu Ji, and coldly snorted.

In an instant, those around Li Fan seemed to realize something, quickly moving aside, leaving an open space with only Li Fan and his companions standing in that area.

"I didn’t expect you to be so bold, daring to bring demons into the Prince Manor." An Shicheng stated loudly as he gazed intently at Li Fan.

"Prince Manor?"

Li Fan looked at An Shicheng, his voice tinged with contempt: "Is this the same Prince Manor that was nowhere to be found when demons invaded and slaughtered, but later captured some innocent demons in the city?"

As Li Fan’s words fell, silence enveloped the surroundings, with countless eyes fixed on him. An Shicheng squinted, with killing intent leaking out.

"When demons invaded Qinghe County, where were you when I was killing demons? When the cultivators dying to slay demons perished, where were you? Yet afterwards, you expect all cultivators to heed your command?"

Li Fan continued to question, staring directly at An Shicheng: "What kind of person are you?"

"What kind of person am I?"

An Shicheng chuckled upon hearing Li Fan’s words, laughing somewhat unrestrainedly, as he walked forward, a hint of wicked charm in his eyes.

"Boom..." In an instant, a murderous aura swept out. An Shicheng’s body transformed into a bolt of lightning, laughing wildly as he said, "You’re asking what kind of person I am."

"I, of course, am An Shicheng of Qinghe County."

With that said, the flash of a blade appeared.