21: They returned laden with spoils, shaking Qingyang to its core!

Outside the Ten Thousand Monster Cave, there was a dead silence.

Half of Blood Sword Elder's head was still embedded in the ground, and the Storage Ring on his hand had already been stripped off by Gu Yang.

The surrounding elite Disciples of the Blood God Cult were all pale-faced, their legs shaking, lacking even the courage to flee. Even a flying Grandmaster had been slapped down; where could these small fry, who only knew how to run, possibly escape to?

"L-Lord... the money has been given to you. Can you let us go now?"

A slightly bolder Disciple asked tremblingly.

Gu Yang weighed the Storage Ring in his hand, then looked at the thick stack of Banknotes he had searched from Blood Sword Elder's bosom, nodding with satisfaction.

"The money has indeed been given."

He tucked the Banknotes into his bosom and then shouldered the 13,500-jin coiling dragon pillar once again.

"But that was life-buying money; it bought you the privilege of not being tortured to death by me."

"As for whether you can live..."

A cruel arc curled at the corner of Gu Yang's mouth, revealing a set of pearly white teeth:

"That depends on whether you can run faster than my club."

"Run!!!"

That Disciple let out a scream of despair and turned to run. The others also instantly scattered like startled birds and beasts, wishing their parents had given them two more legs.

"Too late."

Gu Yang gripped the end of the coiling dragon pillar with one hand, his muscles instantly tensing as a Dragon-Elephant Phantom roared behind him.

Extreme Dao Burst Step—Great Windmill!

Whoosh—Boom!!!

Gu Yang turned into a black whirlwind, wielding that terrifying iron pillar, and instantly charged into the crowd.

There were no fancy Moves.

It was a simple crushing of speed and power!

Wherever the coiling dragon pillar passed, whether it was weapons, protective True Qi, or flesh and blood, everything was turned to powder!

"Ah—!!!"

Screams rose and fell, but these screams were extremely brief, often cut short halfway through.

In just ten breaths.

The entrance to the Ten Thousand Monster Cave fell silent.

Only a ground of bloody muck remained, along with Gu Yang's figure standing tall like a demon god.

[Killed Blood God Cult Grandmaster, gained energy points: 80!]

[Killed elite cultist... gained energy points: 5...]

Another two hundred-plus energy points credited!

...Two hours later, Qingyang City.

The sun was setting in the west, the dying light as red as blood.

The guards at the city gate were about to close the gates when they suddenly felt the ground vibrating.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

On the distant horizon, a massive black shadow approached.

As the figure drew near, the guards on the city wall and the commoners at the gate all sucked in a breath of cold air.

Gu Yang was seen with his lean, muscular upper body bare, still stained with wet dragon blood and emitting a suffocating Evil Qi. On his left shoulder, he carried the massive coiling dragon pillar; on his right, a bundle larger than himself (containing Dragon Bones and hide); and around his waist was wrapped a translucent, red-glowing dragon tendon.

This appearance looked more like a demon than the fiercest demons outside the city!

"C-Close... close the gates! Quick, close the gates! A Great Yao is attacking the city!"

The new guard's legs went weak with fear, and he roared as he tried to push the city gates shut.

"Open your damn eyes!"

Gu Yang stopped, looked up at the city wall, and his voice boomed like thunder: "I am Gu Yang."

"L-Lord Gu?"

The guard looked closely and finally recognized that familiar "kindly" face. Terrified, he scrambled to open the gate. "This lowly one was blind! Lord Gu, please come in! Please, come in!"

Gu Yang strode through the city gate with a swagger.

Wherever he passed, the crowd automatically parted to form a ten-meter-wide path. Whether it was the usually arrogant children of noble families or the overbearing Gang members, they all lowered their heads, not even daring to breathe loudly for fear of attracting the attention of this god of slaughter.

Returning to the Demon Suppression Division.

Gu Yang threw the pile of loot directly into the center of the hall.

Clatter!

The bundle burst open, revealing the pearly white Dragon Bones and a large, complete piece of crimson dragon hide inside. A dragon's pressure belonging to a top-tier Yao Beast instantly filled the air, turning the faces of the Demon Suppression Guards in the hall pale.

"Chief, come divide the loot... oh no, the trophies."

Gu Yang sat boldly on a chair, picked up the teapot on the table, and drank directly from the spout.

Zhao Wuji rushed over upon hearing the news, and when he saw the items on the floor, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

With trembling hands, he touched the dragon hide and tapped the thick Dragon Bone, his voice changing pitch:

"Th-This is the Crimson Flame Flood Dragon?! The overlord of the Ten Thousand Monster Cave that was about to transform into a dragon?!"

"Y-You killed it?!"

"Yeah."

Gu Yang wiped his mouth. "That beast had no martial ethics. It wouldn't let me pick the fruit and even wanted to eat me. So, I skinned it."

"By the way, I finished the dragon meat on the way back. It was a bit tough, but quite filling."

Zhao Wuji: "..."

That's dragon meat! You're eating it like beef jerky?!

But he quickly snapped out of it and said in ecstasy, "Good! Great! These Dragon Bones are priceless treasures! Stewed into soup, they can raise the physical constitutions of our Demon Suppression Division brothers by a massive level!"

"Gu Yang, you have performed an unprecedented feat this time!"

"Merit or no merit, it doesn't matter."

Gu Yang waved his hand. "Use that dragon hide to make me some clothes. Take the remaining Dragon Bones to make soup, just remember to save a large bowl for me."

Having said that, he pulled out the map he had searched from Blood Sword Elder, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

"Chief, help me check this place."

He pointed to a red skull marked on the map.

"Blood God Cult Headquarters—Blood Pond."

Zhao Wuji took a look, his expression changing slightly. "What are you going to do?"

Gu Yang grinned, revealing his signature pearly white teeth:

"I heard that Blood Pond is a great tonic."

"It just so happens my appetite has been quite large lately; I want to go have a buffet."