19: Chapter 19 Dust and Mud Lead to Lofty Ambitions

"Father! What's wrong! Father!"

In front of the City Lord's Manor, Cen Zhiyuan staggered backward, his expression one of terror.

The father and son had brought the goods as instructed by the customer, delivering them to the front of the City Lord's Manor, waiting at the appointed time for someone to take over, but no one came the entire day.

After enduring the cold wind for half the night, Cen Zhihong grew angrier the longer he waited. He quickly unloaded the goods, placing them on the ground and preparing to leave.

But the moment his hands touched the goods, a sizzling black mist erupted from them, instantly flooding Cen Zhihong's body.

By the time his son Cen Zhiyuan reacted, he saw Cen Zhihong's eyes glowing with black mist, his face as pale as a corpse.

Then, this black mist spread out, directly enveloping the entire City Lord's Manor, choking the recently returned City Lord, causing him to cough violently.

Watching his once-familiar father transform into this half-human, half-ghost state, Cen Zhiyuan was now filled with nothing but intense fear.

"There's another immature brat here?"

An icy voice sounded beside Cen Zhiyuan's ear.

Ni Gaoyuan walked slowly past the youth, his hand leaving an afterimage.

In the next moment, red flowers splattered across the bluestone bricks, with pus and fragments piled messily on the ground.

The Demon Seed has a flaw: those with immature minds or no inner demons are minimally affected.

"As expected of an ancient Sect. This 'Heavenly Demon Transformation Art' is truly extraordinary." A hint of scarlet flashed in Ni Gaoyuan's eyes as he gazed with interest at the man beneath him.

City Lord Chu Sheng, the former favored Disciple of a True Monarch, who once held sway over the entire city, was now writhing on the ground in agony.

And his enemy was merely a small Qi Gathering seventh-layer Cultivator.

"Stop struggling, City Lord Chu. This Demon Seed was transformed from the remains of a Guizang Realm True Monarch. Even a Purple Mansion True Master would need considerable effort."

Ni Gaoyuan raised his hand towards him, red light flickering in his eyes as he activated the Heavenly Demon Transformation Art, accelerating the Demon Seed's invasion.

"Your dharma body is broken. Just obediently become my demon slave. That way, you'll suffer less spiritual agony."

"Well done... Ni Gaoyuan. That... Inspector surnamed Jiang... was... called by you? That... bird demon... was also summoned to assist..." City Lord Chu Sheng lay on the ground, black mist seeping from his seven apertures, his expression twisted as he glared at the man before him.

"Followed... me... for sixty years!... How could I have trusted you so much!"

City Lord Chu Sheng crawled distortedly on the ground, gnashing his teeth.

"Hmph, how naive. All dealings in this world are driven by profit. You drove us destitute Loose Cultivators to work in your nursery, year after year."

"Most of the soul essence from the Spirit Refining Array was devoured by you alone for cultivation."

"When did you ever care about the interests of us beasts of burden? We Loose Cultivators couldn't even get scraps without your permission."

"Times have changed."

Ni Gaoyuan sneered, looking down at his former boss who once demanded utmost respect.

"Enough talk... Today... even if I have to shatter my own Dao foundation... I'll kill you!" City Lord Chu Sheng, clinging to a shred of reason, burned all his remaining mana and lunged at Ni Gaoyuan.

Ni Gaoyuan merely watched him indifferently, his face expressionless.

Because City Lord Chu Sheng could no longer advance even half a step. His movement to cast a spell froze in place as a long blade pierced his lower Dantian.

Swish!—

A six-zhang Blade Aura split City Lord Chu Sheng in two.

"Well done, Fellow Daoist He."

Without even looking at her, Ni Gaoyuan took out a Blood Gourd from his storage ring and sucked City Lord Chu Sheng's Physical Body and soul into it.

"In this world, Loose Cultivators like us are all on the same boat, merely seeking a sliver of survival." He Qiaoer, her face pale, slowly sheathed her blade and began regulating her breathing.

That single Blade Aura, sharp enough to kill a Mortal Transformation Realm Cultivator, had cost her three years of refinement.

As the two conversed, the main gate of the City Lord's Manor was smashed open by brute force, revealing the figure of a fat man amidst the dust.

"Fellow Daoist Meng, have you finished looting everything inside the manor?" Ni Gaoyuan asked.

"Mhm, that bastard Chu's backup plans didn't even activate. Impressive. Using the Demon Seed to interfere with his will and cause mental stagnation—you thought of that?" Meng Chen nodded, caressing the storage ring on his finger like a treasure, but then his expression turned grave.

"Ni Gaoyuan, the soul-controlling talisman is weakening more and more. If we stay much longer, it might not withstand the absorption of the Spirit Refining Grand Array."

To move freely within Dongshan City, registered Xian Dao Cultivators needed the City Lord's permission and would receive a soul-controlling talisman to protect them from the city's array siphoning their Lifespan.

But now, under the hands of those two Jade Sword Sect Disciples, the All Beings Spirit Refining Grand Array of Dongshan City was operating at full capacity. The Mortals in the city were all dying, and even Cultivators with soul-controlling talismans were beginning to be affected.

He looked towards the west of the city, where the sky had drastically changed, with birds crying in alarm and sword light radiating awe-inspiring power.

"So this is a Disciple of an Immortal Lineage? Having witnessed it today, they truly are extraordinary." Meng Chen's face showed envy.

If one were to compare City Lord City Lord Chu Sheng with those two Sword Sect Disciples, one was a vulture that could only hide and feed on carrion, while the others were fierce eagles, domineering and sharp.

"Now is not the time for admiration. With City Lord Chu Sheng's death, the True Monarch outside the prefecture will immediately sense something amiss."

"The All Beings Spirit Refining Array can block perception, but shielding from a True Monarch's Divine Thought is still too weak."

"Let's go, to the southern exit. We'll clean up properly and leave this scene for the Jade Sword Sect people, letting them take the blame for us small fries."

Ni Gaoyuan patted Meng Chen's shoulder.

"Sigh, the path to longevity is truly difficult." He Qiaoer frowned, following the two men.

In this world, if one does not wish to be bound by the Holy Court or Sects, Loose Cultivators have no choice but to band together for warmth.

In the distance, Shen Moyan listened intently to their conversation using his Earth Hearing Ear.

So that's how it was. A group of oppressed Loose Cultivators plotted for years, drawing the Immortal Lineage, Holy Court, and Yao Race into the game, all to kill and plunder, then obscure the Karma and escape unharmed, avoiding the True Monarch's revenge.

From beginning to end, it was just a bunch of small fries resisting.

"Guizang Realm... That's above the Purple Mansion, right?" Shen Moyan understood.

"Wait, earlier Ni Gaoyuan said the Demon Seed was transformed from the remains of a Guizang Realm True Monarch?"

"How could a mere Loose Cultivator like him obtain the remains of a Guizang Realm True Monarch!?"

"This man has a great secret!"

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Ni, how did you establish contact with the Yao Race?"

He Qiaoer couldn't figure it out.

"To be honest with you, I have Yao Race blood. I'm a half-yao."

"When I reported to the Langya Prefecture Inspector, I also used my essence blood to send a letter deep into the Hundred Thousand Mountains."

"When Dongshan City was first established, this area was once a tribe of the Mythical Bird Yao Race. I used a Bloodline treasure as bait to lure the Mythical Bird Yao Race into sending a yao."

"Moreover, with the Holy Court at its zenith, outside its jurisdiction, a feast of human flesh from an entire city is an irresistible temptation for the human-meat-loving Mythical Bird Yao Race."

Ni Gaoyuan spoke these shocking words with utter nonchalance.

"Hah, old Ni, you're a real cold-blooded bastard." Meng Chen mocked sarcastically.

"The Great Dao is impartial. Thank you for the compliment." Ni Gaoyuan remained expressionless.

Moments later, the three of them activated their escape techniques and quickly arrived at the southern part of the city.

He Qiaoer raised her delicate hand slightly, peeling open a gap in the transparent barrier.

"Let's go."

As the three left the city, they didn't notice that someone was calmly following them.

Shen Moyan pushed the Turtle Breathing Great Technique and Concealment Art to their limits, his heavenly demon sword poised to strike.