319: Asking for a high price in compensation, looking for the ancestor of Tianji

In Yun Province City, northwest, inside a pavilion.

A figure appeared there.

“Is he gone?”

Chu Jiang frowned. When he made his move earlier, he sensed a powerful and familiar fluctuation here.

It was the aura of someone practicing the Azure Wood Emperor Skill.

In Yun Province, besides him, only Qi Dachun practiced the Azure Wood Emperor Skill.

He estimated that even if he hadn’t rushed back, Qi Dachun would have stepped in to help. He owed him two favors.

“I’ll go to Peach Blossom Village another day,” Chu Jiang murmured.

Then, he vanished from his original spot.

A few days later, Chu Jiang emerged from his seclusion.

He went to the Demon Suppression Prison and had an “amicable” conversation with Zhao Juetian and others. Following the principle of not letting wool go unplucked, he demanded an exorbitant compensation from the Zhao Family.

Compensation for the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division’s emotional distress. In any case, the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division and the Zhao Family were already sworn enemies.

Regardless of whether Chu Jiang released Zhao Juetian or not, the Zhao Family would remain hostile.

Might as well seize the opportunity to make a big fortune.

…

In the following days, a piece of news swept across the entire Western Seven Provinces like a whirlwind, even spreading to all other states in the world.

The Demon Slayer Old Man, single-handedly, killed seven Heaven and Earth Realm experts and annihilated the Lipu Family, making his name widely known.

This news, through various channels, appeared on the desks of major forces in Great Chu, astonishing everyone.

Especially the Eight Great Families, who were extremely furious. The Lipu Family was a rebellious force they supported in the west, yet they were brutally massacred and wiped out.

…

Qing Province.

Within an extremely luxurious complex of buildings, in a seven-story pavilion.

On the seventh floor, a middle-aged man in silver robes sat cross-legged. He had sword-like brows and starry eyes, and his aura was as deep as an abyss, seemingly merging with heaven and earth.

“Family Master!”

A personal guard walked into the pavilion and said, “The Lipu Family has been annihilated. Yuwen Lin and Yuwen Hua have fallen. In addition, the Saintess of Di Sha Palace, the Little Evil King, the Grand Elder Xuanming of the Taiping Holy Church, and two Heaven-Level Demons have all perished. According to intelligence, this was done by someone named the Demon Slayer Old Man.”

“The Demon Slayer Old Man is from the Divine Hall and only started his activities in the past month, as if he appeared out of thin air. Last time, the Divine Hall dispatched two people to clear out most of the demons in the west.”

“This is the intelligence we have gathered so far.”

With that, the personal guard handed over the intelligence.

Demon Slayer Old Man!

Divine Hall?

The silver-robed middle-aged man’s eyes narrowed, and the intelligence in the guard’s hand fell into his. He quickly scanned it.

This person was Yuwen Teng, the Family Master of the Yuwen Family, one of the Eight Great Families.

“Family Master, the second Young Master and third Uncle were killed. Shouldn’t we react?” the personal guard asked in a deep voice.

This was no longer a provocation but blatant humiliation, a disregard for the dignity of the Eight Great Families, and must be severely punished.

Although the Family Master appeared calm as water, he was likely seething with rage internally, for those were his own son and brother, blood of his blood.

“How could a Demon Slayer Old Man suddenly appear in this barren land of the west, and with such formidable strength!”

Yuwen Teng’s brows were tightly furrowed. Yuwen Hua, at Level 5, Qiankun, had self-detonated all his grotto-heavens, which should have at least threatened a Qiankun Nine expert, yet he still could not escape death.

This indicated that the Demon Slayer Old Man was at least Qiankun Nine, or even Qiankun Tenth Level.

Crucially, this was just one person’s power from the Divine Hall.

There was also an Azure Dragon.

And above them, there was a Hall Master. The strength of this force was immeasurable.

It was highly possible that they also possessed Heaven-Grade combat power.

“Investigate for me, going back five thousand years, to see if an reclusive super-force has emerged. Before we understand the Divine Hall’s true background, we cannot act rashly!” Yuwen Teng said indifferently.

These people, appearing suddenly and seemingly siding with the Demon Suppression Division, massacring demons on a large scale – what were their true intentions?

Or did they have some ulterior motive?

The Yuwen Family, as one of the top three among the Eight Great Families, had been passed down since the Great Qin Dynasty, with unfathomable foundations.

To have endured for so long, besides their foundation, the more important factor was their caution.

Against forces inferior to them, they were naturally arrogant, holding power over life and death, demanding an explanation.

Against forces whose strength they couldn't gauge, they had to be extremely cautious.

Although there were only a handful of forces in Great Chu that the Yuwen Family needed to fear, it was always better to be careful. As the saying goes: caution is the parent of safety.

This was also one of the Yuwen Family’s secrets to longevity.

“Yes!” The personal guard nodded.

…

Central Region, Tian Province.

In a dimly lit underground palace.

A woman with bare jade feet sat high on a Corpse Mountain throne.

Her features were picturesque, eclipsing the moon and shaming flowers, truly the best of the best.

Every movement was captivating.

Below.

Demons swarmed, yet no one dared to look at her more than once.

Earth Fiend Hall had five Saintesses, each guarding a region.

This woman was the Saintess of Tian Province for Earth Fiend Hall, and also the First Holy Maiden, now temporarily leading Earth Fiend Hall in all states across the world.

Before she took charge of Earth Fiend Hall, she also had a title, Sky Serpent Star, the fourth in sequence among the seventy-two stars of Earth Fiend Hall, known for her ruthless actions against both enemies and her own people.

“Demon Slayer Old Man, Divine Hall…”

“Killing my Saintess, obstructing my Earth Fiend Hall’s millennium-long plan, all of you must die!”

“Go quickly and find Celestial Mystery Old Ancestor. This Saintess wants to know the exact location of the Divine Hall members. I will personally act and crush these bothersome bugs!” Sky Serpent Star said coldly.

“Yes!” Everyone nodded. Celestial Mystery Old Ancestor’s divination skills were unparalleled, he would surely find the true identities of the Demon Slayer Old Man and other Divine Hall members.

…

Eastern Region, Feng Province.

One of the Eight Great Families, the Zhao Family.

Elder Hall.

Over a dozen figures sat cross-legged.

“Family Master, Juetian was captured by the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division and thrown into the Demon Suppression Prison, and they’ve demanded an exorbitant compensation!”

“They want Grade 6 Heaven And Earth Treasure, Grade 6 Medicinal Pills, and ten-thousand-year-old miraculous herbs. It’s practically robbery!”

“Our Zhao Family absolutely cannot agree, otherwise how can we hold our heads high in the future?”

As one of the Eight Great Families, they would lose all face.

Moreover, Chu Jiang’s appetite was simply too large. He actually demanded Grade 6 Heaven And Earth Treasure and Grade 6 Medicinal Pills. The Zhao Family didn't even have many of these in stock.

They were extremely rare.

“Family Master, how about I lead a few Elders to the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division and snatch him back!” an old man with crane hair and a childlike face said with a sinister look in his eyes.

“Second Elder, we cannot act rashly. The Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division has the Divine Hall backing them. Furthermore, Yun Province Pacification Envoy Chu Jiang has already been listed as one of the Lord Shao Si candidates by the Imperial Capital, his status is different from before,” Zhao Qingshan, the Zhao Family Master, said to the old man with crane hair and a childlike face.

Before the Demon King fully descends, the Eight Great Families cannot completely fall out with the Demon Suppression Division. The time is not yet ripe.

Moreover, the Divine Hall behind the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division is indeed a problem.

An ordinary Heaven and Earth Realm expert going there would only add new members to the Demon Suppression Prison. Besides causing the Zhao Family to be slapped in the face again, there would be no benefit.

“If this won’t do, and that won’t do, then what should be done about this matter!” an Elder said gloomily.

“Send a special envoy to secretly negotiate with the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division to lower the price. If they don’t agree, then we can only let them stay inside for a year.”

Zhao Qingshan said in a deep voice. Chu Jiang’s appetite was truly too great. He would rather Zhao Juetian die in the Yun Province Demon Suppression Prison than sacrifice the Family’s treasury.

Those treasures still had great uses.

How could he give them to him?

If a son died, he died. He could always have another one. His Zhao Family had already spent a large amount of resources on Zhao Juetian, yet there had been no improvement.

Only Family interests were eternal.

“This…” The Elders were unwilling.

Wasn't this indirectly bowing to the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division, bowing to Chu Jiang?

But it seemed there was no other choice.

“Also, quickly investigate the people behind the Divine Hall. I suspect that the sudden appearance of this force is not as simple as merely slaying demons!” Zhao Qingshan commanded.

“Yes!” Everyone nodded.

…

Eastern Region, one of the three great evil sects, Evil King Pavilion.

“Quickly find Celestial Mystery Old Ancestor! I want the exact location of the Demon Slayer Old Man to avenge my son!!!”

“I will slice him into a thousand pieces!!”

The Evil King was furious. Hearing that his personally cultivated successor had been killed, he was beside himself with rage.

“Immediately, go do it now!”

“Understood!” The Elders of the Evil King Pavilion were terrified and quickly left the main hall. They had never seen the Evil King so angry before.