69: Human World, Purgatory

Demonic creatures, and ones that could even make a Demon Suppression Envoy personally take action.

Their Realm must be at least Late Stage Qi Gathering.

If they were stronger, they might even be in the Gathering Yuan Realm.

"Can I come with you?"

"You?" Lin Zifeng was a bit surprised.

The idea of going together wasn't a whim for Jiang Lan; he was currently in dire need of Lifespan.

Powerful demonic creatures were the best sustenance for him.

Before Lin Zifeng could speak, Jiang Lan said to Bai Yu, "Marquis Dingyuan, please, when you return, help me give that Cultivation Technique back to the Director. It's on my desk."

Bai Yu didn't quite react for a moment.

By the time he did, Jiang Lan had already left with Lin Zifeng.

Leaving him and Chen Wang standing in the private room, looking at each other.

On the other side, Lin Zifeng also seemed a bit slow to react.

After Jiang Lan spoke, he was still thinking about Qinglin County, and for a moment, he didn't quite process it, so he just walked out of the private room.

The two passed by the counter.

"Bang!"

A gleaming gold ingot landed on the counter on the first floor, rolled twice, and stood upright.

"Give the change to whoever comes out next."

Behind the counter, the shopkeeper's eyes widened when he saw the gleaming gold ingot.

Although Yan Chun Pavilion was considered a respectable establishment, the shopkeeper had never seen such a scene in all his time working there.

What kind of decent person would go out to eat carrying a gold ingot?

By this time, the two had already walked out of Yan Chun Pavilion and onto the street.

Lin Zifeng stopped again, "Are you really coming with me?"

Yes, of course, he was.

Lifespan was right before his eyes; Jiang Lan couldn't find a reason not to go.

Having finally gotten such an opportunity, he couldn't let it go.

Jiang Lan nodded and said,

"Of course. I have nothing to do at the office anyway, so I might as well accompany you back, kill that demonic creature, and consider it finding something to do for myself. Besides, between the two of us, we can look out for each other."

Lin Zifeng was already anxious, thinking about the county's affairs. After hearing Jiang Lan's explanation, he didn't hesitate much longer and said,

"Then stick close to me."

As his voice fell, he suddenly accelerated.

Lin Zifeng's speed was extremely fast, almost turning into an afterimage on the street as he swiftly headed out of the city.

Jiang Lan didn't waste words, directly activating Flood Dragon Swim, and instantly caught up with Lin Zifeng's pace.

Jiang Lan walked with a leisurely stride, seemingly not moving fast, but each step he took propelled his body a significant distance, appearing three to five steps behind Lin Zifeng.

In just a few dozen breaths, the two had already arrived outside the city gate.

After leaving the city, free from the interference of pedestrians, Lin Zifeng initially wanted to speed up again, but he paused slightly and looked back at Jiang Lan.

Jiang Lan understood what he meant and smiled, "I can keep up."

Lin Zifeng didn't say much more, increasing his speed by a few points, directly turning into a blur and darting along the main road.

Jiang Lan still followed leisurely behind, showing no signs of effort.

According to his judgment, Lin Zifeng's Realm was likely between Essence Gathering Third Level and Qi Gathering Stage Level 4.

So, no matter how fast Lin Zifeng was, he was still far inferior to him.

The scenery beside the two rapidly receded.

A Gathering Yuan Martial Artist was already an existence beyond ordinary people's imagination.

At this speed, the two could cover about a hundred li in half an hour.

Lin Zifeng was in a hurry, remaining silent for two full quarters of an hour, just pressing forward.

Jiang Lan still followed behind him.

In Jiang Lan's memory, Jianchang Prefecture was a total of less than three hundred li from the capital.

At this speed, they would arrive in an hour and a half.

The two traveled for some more time when Lin Zifeng suddenly stopped.

Seeing this, Jiang Lan also stopped.

At this point, they were still on the main road, with dense forests on both sides.

"Chirp chirp—chirp chirp—"

A strange cry echoed from deep within the forest by the roadside, followed by a series of chaotic sounds.

Pairs of purple glowing eyes appeared.

Jiang Lan saw clearly that it was a group of creatures, about half a person tall, resembling monkeys.

They had green faces, fangs, and three-inch-long black fur all over their bodies, matted in clumps as if they hadn't been cleaned in a long time.

The group of monkeys, at least a dozen strong, burst out of the forest and charged at Jiang Lan and his companion one after another.

Jiang Lan and Lin Zifeng exchanged glances.

Then, the two of them simultaneously confronted the group of monkeys.

"Clang!"

With a clang, the long saber was drawn. Jiang Lan swung it, and a green-faced, fanged head flew into the air.

Without any surprises, the dozens of monkeys were instantly slaughtered by the two, like wheat waiting to be harvested.

[Killed one Skin Refinement Third Level Forest Imp, gained three years of Lifespan.]

[Remaining Lifespan: four years.]

[Killed one Skin Refinement Second Level Forest Imp, gained two years of Lifespan.]

[Remaining Lifespan: six years.]

[Killed one Skin Refinement Unranked Forest Imp, gained ten days of Lifespan.]

[Remaining Lifespan: six years.]

...After the lines of text flashed, Jiang Lan's Lifespan only increased by a total of thirteen years.

Jiang Lan felt a bit disappointed. If he had also snatched and killed the ones Lin Zifeng dealt with, he might have gained a few more years.

Putting down his folding fan, Lin Zifeng said,

"So, it was just a group of unintelligent beasts. I thought it was some bold demonic creature."

Jiang Lan looked at the corpses littering the ground.

"Even these unintelligent beasts have probably harmed the lives of many travelers."

For Jiang Lan and Lin Zifeng, a group of Skin Refinement or even unranked monkeys naturally counted for nothing.

But for passing travelers, encountering them usually meant certain death.

Upon hearing this, Lin Zifeng also silently shook his head.

After their brief cooperation, the earlier unfamiliarity between him and Jiang Lan had lessened.

"In recent years, the world has become increasingly chaotic. In a few more years, even this main road might not exist."

Jiang Lan knew what Lin Zifeng meant.

As the two traveled, they barely encountered any caravans or pedestrians on this main road.

The few scattered carriages they did see were all escorted by Martial Artists.

For ordinary people, trying to travel from one place to another via this main road was akin to seeking death.

"Tsk..." Jiang Lan clicked his tongue, then said, "Let's hurry back."

"Mm." Lin Zifeng's expression was serious, "There's less than half the journey left. Let's pick up the pace."

Earlier, at Yan Chun Pavilion, Lin Zifeng had seemed a bit effeminate, but now, while handling serious business, he had become much more masculine.

Jiang Lan also nodded, following behind Lin Zifeng as the two continued along the main road... After more than half an hour, Jiang Lan looked into the distance, his pupils slightly contracting.

The city walls were in ruins, flames shot into the sky, and dense black clouds rose, almost covering the entire horizon.

Countless faint screams and wails rushed into Jiang Lan's ears.

For a moment, he couldn't tell if this was the human world or purgatory.