182: Clean up the city

Lu Ming nodded slightly, just about to say something, when he heard Wu Mingjian continue.

"Catch!"

As soon as the words fell, he saw the other party throw something over.

Lu Ming subconsciously raised his hand to catch it, and when he looked down, he found that it was the Red Scale Snake Matriarch's demon core.

Although the Red Scale Snake Matriarch had feigned death to escape, the demon core, which contained over two thousand years of her Cultivation, was still within her snake body. Upon feeling the dense Evil Qi contained within it, a look of surprise appeared in Lu Ming's eyes.

"Sir, how can I accept this? After all, I only helped a little from the side; you were the main force against that Demon King," Lu Ming said, declining.

Even if he wasn't clear about the value of a Dao Realm demon core, the destruction caused by the Red Scale Snake Matriarch made it clear that a demon core nurtured by a Demon King of this Realm was extremely precious.

Not to mention for himself, even for the other party, a Dao Realm Martial Artist, if he refined it, he would surely be able to advance further on his Cultivation path.

Yet, he hadn't expected the other party to gift this demon core to him.

"If I tell you to take it, then take it. Don't decline anymore," Wu Mingjian said, waving his hand. He always treated his subordinates this way, and Lu Ming had been a great help tonight. If it weren't for him providing support, even with the Golden Rainbow Longsword in hand, the outcome of this battle would have been truly uncertain.

Even if the Red Scale Snake Matriarch was ultimately killed at a certain cost, there was a high probability that she would have feigned death and escaped, leaving a hidden danger, which would always be undesirable.

"You have now reached the Perfected Extreme Realm, and I presume you are only one step away from the Dao Realm. Keep this demon core for now. When we return to the Silver Feather City Demon Suppression Division, I will personally request an order from the Pacification Commissioner for you to obtain an Earth Rank Cultivation method. At that time, this demon core will help you Breakthrough faster," Wu Mingjian said.

After witnessing Lu Ming's astonishing combat power, he had already determined that the other party was undoubtedly the rising new star of the Demon Suppression Division's next generation.

Although countless Genius joined the Yun Province Demon Suppression Division every year, Prodigy like Lu Ming were ultimately few. The last Martial Artist who Cultivated to the Perfected Extreme Realm at Lu Ming's age was more than thirty years ago, and that person had already become a Great General of the same rank as himself.

This might be a bit rushed; after all, given Lu Ming's age, even if he spent another ten years honing himself before attempting a Breakthrough, it wouldn't be urgent. However, it should be known that the Demon Suppression Division isn't the only one who values this kid. This fellow has an inseparable connection with the Qingyang Royal Mansion, so to prevent him from running off, he naturally had to keep a close eye on him.

Lu Ming was not aware of Wu Mingjian's thoughts, but even if he were, he would probably just laugh it off.

Without further refusal, he silently put away the demon core.

With over two thousand years of demon life stored, plus the Earth Rank Cultivation method he was about to receive, he would likely be able to Breakthrough to the Dao Realm in no time.

"Oh, right, I saw you came from the south. The Wangtian Tower there was breached, did that fellow Zhao Shouyuan die in battle?" Wu Mingjian suddenly remembered something and asked.

Before this battle, he had envisioned all sorts of scenarios, even predicting the complete loss of all four Wangtian Towers and the total destruction of the Tiangang Exorcism Formation.

Don't look at how relaxed he was at this moment; in reality, Wu Mingjian was truly prepared to fight to the death.

If he truly couldn't stop it, even if it meant sacrificing himself and taking the entire city's population with him, it would still be better than having another Dan Realm demon in Yun Province.

After all, if the Red Scale Snake Matriarch truly broke through, the balance within Yun Province would likely be shattered, and another demon rebellion would be incited.

The last major demon rebellion in Yun Province was eighty years ago, led by several Dan Realm old demons. A vast horde of demons attacked various cities in Yun Province, and countless villages and towns were massacred. Although that war was eventually quelled by military intervention, Yun Province's population was reduced by half.

Now, after so many years, Yun Province had only just begun to recover.

Wu Mingjian had survived that demon rebellion. At that time, he was just a small Demon Slayer Guard newly entered into the Demon Suppression Division. After witnessing the scene of corpses strewn across the fields and countless dead being devoured by demons, he secretly swore that he would never let such events happen again.

Lu Ming remained silent for a moment, not answering immediately.

Wu Mingjian paused; he seemed to realize something, and his expression turned grim.

"Zhao Shouyuan ran away. When I arrived, the Demon Suppression Division forces guarding South Street were almost completely wiped out, with corpses everywhere on the road," Lu Ming said softly.

"I understand. First, stabilize the situation in Tianshi City, and then we'll settle accounts with the Zhao family," Wu Mingjian said coldly, suppressing his anger.

Everyone was fighting desperately to stabilize the situation in Tianshi City, but Zhao Shouyuan, as a Thousand Household, actually deserted in battle. Although he had anticipated that the other party wouldn't fight with all his might, he hadn't expected him to be so incompetent.

The Red Scale Snake Matriarch was dead. Although many demons were still lurking in the city, those minor demons could no longer affect the overall situation.

Looking towards the distant sky, the morning sun was rising, and the pale light dispelled the darkness that enveloped the land, illuminating Tianshi City with a hazy white glow.

Overnight, with the Demon Suppression Division as the center, everything was in ruins. The streets were filled with many bewildered pedestrians, who stared at the corpses strewn across the road, recalling everything that had happened yesterday, still feeling a chill.

Many people didn't even know what the disturbance yesterday was all about. Early in the morning, they saw various Demon Suppression Division forces dispatched, beginning to clear out government offices in the city and city forces deeply involved with the Golden Lotus Sect.

Although after a bloody battle, Wu Mingjian's force of over three thousand men was reduced to less than two thousand, and countless among them were injured, the Demon Suppression Division was still the Demon Suppression Division. With several Thousand Households and a Demon Suppression General in charge, this purge proceeded without any unexpected incidents.

As the only unharmed Thousand Household from last night's bloody battle, Lu Ming was naturally entrusted with a heavy responsibility by Wu Mingjian, beginning to purge various forces in the city.

In this regard, Wu Mingjian granted Lu Ming great authority, and Lu Ming did not disappoint Wu Mingjian.

Anyone deeply involved with demons was executed. Even those with unclear connections were imprisoned, awaiting disposition after everything was sorted out.

Leading his men, Lu Ming traveled for most of the day, almost covering the entirety of Tianshi City, leaving countless heads rolling.

Even those not involved with demons felt a chill down their spines upon seeing Lu Ming's stern face.

In the afternoon, Lu Ming rode back to the Demon Suppression Division, with a team of over a hundred people escorted behind him. Once the events of Tianshi City were made public, it would undoubtedly cause a sensation throughout Yun Province.

Therefore, Lu Ming did not kill everyone, but rather captured a portion, intending to escort them back to Silver Feather City to give an explanation to his superiors.