47: The Calamity of Biyou Palace

A mountain resembling green jade stood towering and majestic, and atop its peak was the location of the Biyou Palace mountain gate.

At this moment, the nine paths leading down the mountain were completely surrounded by the forces of the Qingzhou imperial court, so tightly that not even a fly could escape.

"An Ancient Demon Clan calamity; I never imagined Biyou Palace would be tainted by such terrifying demons. I wonder how many demons are entrenched inside?"

"Biyou Palace is a top-tier force in Qingzhou, and its Palace Master is a God Observation Realm Martial Artist."

"No wonder the three major forces—the Qingzhou Shen Family, the Demon Suppression Division, and the prefecture troops—have all acted simultaneously. It seems they truly intend to annihilate everyone in Biyou Palace in a single battle."

"Heh, the Ancient Demon Clan are ancient demons from the Suspended Mountain. In the ancient era, they were known as the Demon Calamity. Even if only one remains, it will parasitize and breed other Ancient Demon Clan descendants, leaving behind endless trouble."

"Once parasitized, it is difficult to distinguish using ordinary means. It is no wonder the three major forces are being so ruthless."

In just a few words, the situation was outlined.

'Ancient Demon Clan...' Li Jiangchen pondered inwardly. He quietly arrived behind a giant rock on the back mountain. He opened his palm, and his Demon Kingdom blossomed. A burst of black mist spread, transforming into a young girl wearing a black dress.

"Master." As soon as Ancient Spirit appeared, she immediately raised her eyebrows and looked toward the mountain peak.

"What is it? Are there truly members of your clan on that mountain peak?" Li Jiangchen asked.

"One, two, three... there are so many." Ancient Spirit exclaimed in surprise, greed appearing in her eyes: "I really want to... eat them all."

"Eat them?"

"Replying to Master, my Ancient Demon Clan parasitizes hosts to comprehend life and death and obtain the two Qi of life and death. However, the most direct method of advancement is naturally to devour one's own kind, which allows for the direct acquisition of massive amounts of life and Death Qi. Given this quantity, there must be a Demon Lord of the Ancient Demon Clan on the mountain. The others are all descendants it has birthed."

"I see." Li Jiangchen instructed: "Later, if any Biyou Palace Disciples come down the mountain to fight, you must use your Divine Soul fluctuations to tell me which ones are demons."

"Yes, Master."

After giving instructions, Li Jiangchen returned to the team.

Just then, a middle-aged man wearing mysterious armor walked over, took out a Deputy General waist token, and said coldly: "I am Deputy General Shen Dong. I order you Officers of the Demon Suppression Division to all go to the crossroads ahead and stand guard. If a single Biyou Palace Disciple escapes, I will hold you accountable."

The crossroads ahead was the first buffer zone for Biyou Palace Disciples coming down the mountain; if a fight broke out, it would be extremely dangerous.

Shen Dong did not send the prefecture troops to station there, but instead forced the Demon Suppression Division personnel to fill the spot; his intentions were malicious.

Many Officers saw this, but remained silent, looking angry but not daring to speak.

A superior rank crushes people; the person before them was a Deputy General of the Qingzhou prefecture troops, and with his background in the Shen Family and his cultivation at the Quenching Fiend Realm, ordinary Officers were only at the Innate or Aperture Opening stages; how could they dare to argue?

At this moment, a cold, clear voice sounded in everyone's ears.

"The Demon Suppression Division has always been independent of the Qingzhou prefecture troops, and we are certainly not retainers of your Shen Family, so it is not your place to command us," Li Jiangchen said indifferently.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's gaze turned toward him, and many secretly broke into a cold sweat for Li Jiangchen.

"This is trouble. Shen Dong is vindictive, holds an important position in the prefecture city, and has the support of the Shen Family; he cannot be easily offended."

"This young man is reckless."

"Sigh."

To the side, Shen Dong narrowed his eyes, staring at Li Jiangchen like a venomous snake: "Hmph, a mere Aperture Opening Realm Officer dares to spout nonsense? Kneel before me."

Whoosh— Shen Dong pinched his five fingers into an eagle claw, his True Qi erupting and transforming into a crimson eagle that flew toward him.

"Eagle Dominates the World."

The eagle claw was fierce; if the strike landed, it would tear tendons and dislocate bones. Even an Aperture Opening Realm Martial Artist would have to lie in bed for half a year to recover.

At this moment, a Sword Light slashed through like lightning, instantly cutting the eagle in two, causing the True Qi to dissipate.

Li Jiangchen's figure flickered beneath his feet, and he suddenly appeared beside Shen Dong. The demon slaying sword swept past, and a lock of hair slowly drifted down from Shen Dong's shoulder.

In an instant, Shen Dong's eyes widened, his body stiffened, beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead, and fear surged in his heart.

If that sword blade had shifted just a hair's breadth...

"This Li's sword does not like to be stained with the blood of the Human Race. This is a small punishment as a warning. If there is a next time, I will borrow your head." Li Jiangchen sheathed his sword and silently walked to the side.

The previously arrogant Shen Dong glared hatefully a few times, then took his men and retreated to the side.

The crowd immediately erupted into a clamor.

"Brother Li has great skill."

"I heard Brother Li was first in the Officer assessment and only recently broke through to the Aperture Opening Realm, yet his strength is no less than a Quenching Fiend Realm Martial Artist."

"Haha, with Brother Li guarding this place, those Biyou Palace demon scoundrels definitely won't be able to escape."

Li Jiangchen listened to the flattery in his ears, but his gaze was fixed on the mountain peak. That was where the real main event was.

At the mountain peak, Biyou Palace. Three God Observation Realm Martial Artists slowly stepped into the main hall of Biyou Palace.

"Demon Suppression Division Chief Yue Tuyao, the Shen Family Ancestor, and General Yan from the prefecture city... You all truly think highly of this old man." In the center of the hall, the Biyou Palace Master, dressed in green robes, held a horsetail whisk and was brewing tea. The aroma of tea curled up, covering the surroundings in a layer of mist.

"Senior Lan's Four Heavenly Absolutes of Chaos have shaken Qingzhou; over the past two hundred years, I do not know how many demons you have killed. However..." Yue Tuyao found a rosewood chair and sat down, saying with a sigh: "Are you still the Lan Tianyou we know?"

After speaking, the Shen Family Ancestor and General Yan surrounded him from the left and right, faintly forming a pincer formation.

Seeing this, Lan Tianyou smiled bitterly: "It seems the three of you truly do not intend to let everyone in my Biyou Palace go today."

"We only slay demons. If you, Senior, have not been parasitized by the Ancient Demon Clan, the crisis will resolve itself." As he spoke, Yue Tuyao took out a three-foot bronze mirror. The edges of the frame were carved with bronze patterns, exuding an ancient aura.

"This is the Spiritual Artifact, the Three Lives Mirror, which can reflect the Origin of the soul. If everyone in Biyou Palace is truly unrelated to the Ancient Demon Clan, walking before the mirror will naturally allow you to live."

"The Three Lives Mirror... Heh, is that the Spiritual Artifact rumored to cause severe damage to the Divine Soul if shone upon for three quarters of an hour? I am a God Observation Realm Martial Artist, so I can naturally withstand it. But for the Disciples and grandchildren under my seat, once they are shone upon, their Divine Souls will be heavily injured, and their path in the Dao will likely be hopeless. You... are cutting off the lineage of my Biyou Palace."

As soon as he finished speaking, the aura around Lan Tianyou erupted. The floorboards all around broke inch by inch. He flicked his horsetail whisk, and a Taiji Yin and Yang fish pattern expanded. The interior of the hall transformed into a black and white watery expanse, from which strange Yin and Yang fish darted out.

"I have long heard that Senior Lan's Yin and Yang Spirit Control Method can command life and death; today, I shall ask for your guidance."

Three God Observation Realm auras erupted, crashing through the hall and turning into three beams of light that shot straight into the firmament.

This scene naturally fell into the eyes of everyone at the foot of the mountain.

"Four Divine Ability auras... have they finally made their move?" Li Jiangchen looked toward the four beams of light in the sky.

At this moment, in the secret passage of the Biyou Palace underground palace. Two Biyou Palace Personal Disciples sat cross-legged, their bodies exuding a grayish Death Qi.

"It is hard to believe that you actually convinced that old man Lan to take the initiative to cover our retreat and seek a chance of survival." Among them, a woman in green and blue robes parted her cherry lips slightly and said indifferently.

Hearing this, the First Direct Disciple opposite, who had red lips and white teeth with a delicate appearance, opened his eyes. A trace of complexity flashed through his eyes, and past memories flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern...

Many years ago, he escaped the Suspended Mountain and struggled to possess a child who was about to die of illness. An old Daoist pulled him out of a pile of dead bodies. He applied needles, treated the illness, and taught martial arts...

Now, this fate has reached the moment of severance.

The First Direct Disciple said: "The Biyou Palace lineage is now entirely with me. If I am lucky enough to escape today, I will surely make Biyou Palace flourish in the future to repay Senior Lan's years of kindness."

Hearing this, the woman in green robes looked at the First Direct Disciple strangely: "After so many years, it seems that your first Reincarnation of parasitism has caused you to become confused about the host's memories. It is hard to believe that you were the King who first broke the Seal and escaped all those years ago. A reminder: do not forget... we are the Ancient Demon Clan."

"Shut up, and use those hidden pieces as quickly as possible to buy some time for you and me," the First Direct Disciple said coldly.

"Rest assured, everything has already been in the plan."

The woman in green robes tapped the wall, transmitting fluctuations with a special rhythm. In the darkness, the Biyou Palace Disciples who had originally been sitting cross-legged silently opened their eyes.