[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h":3,"chapter-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-108":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Devouring Evil, Exterminating Demons Across All Heavens",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2267053,4426,"Chapter 108: The Far-Coming One, the Kunlun Slave","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-108",108,"\u003Cp>From Sichuan all the way into Nanzhao, it was truly a thousand mountains and ten thousand cliffs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Towering peaks and jagged ridges stretched endlessly, their blade-like spines chilling the soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On land, travel meant either climbing over mountains or taking detours—no matter how fine the steed or how steady the driver, speed was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if one mastered the waterways, travel time could be greatly reduced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lüyu River south of Wang Cheng, once called a stream, became this wide river after some long-forgotten flood and torrential rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Nanzhao’s founding, passenger boats, fishing vessels, and cargo ships have plied its waters year-round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially as the March Festival approached, fishermen and boatmen would decorate their boats—tying at least a few bundles of wildflowers to their canopies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more affluent would adorn their vessels with large flowers made of bright fabric.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The March Festival commemorated Guanyin Bodhisattva.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Legend says that during Emperor Gaozong’s reign, Guanyin Bodhisattva manifested, subduing the demons that plagued Nanzhao, bringing calm winds, timely rains, and freedom from floods and locusts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the days from March 15 to 21, Nanzhao’s people would choose one day to visit the nearest small temple or earthen shrine dedicated to Guanyin, offering incense and prayers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, passenger boats on the river would light lanterns, while monks and nuns chanted sutras praising Guanyin, scattering flowers upon the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night markets were permitted both inside and outside Wang Cheng, allowing common folk to roam all night and enjoy rare nocturnal merriment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But such public festivity always clustered in towns—or at least near the city walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elsewhere, little preparation was made for the March Festival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently, many people had taken boats to land at a spot twenty miles south of the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From there, they walked across grasslands for two or three miles until they reached Cuiyan Slope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surrounding hills were mostly forested or turned into farmland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this slope, dense with massive stones whose hard rock plunged deep underground, could not be cultivated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slope spanned several li, its soil thin and incapable of supporting large trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet because the slope faced north and the region received frequent rain, thick moss grew on the rocks, earning it the name “Cuiyan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stretching before the eye, the entire slope was a jumble of gray stone, uneven and dotted with a few small trees and sparse wild grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, this very place had become the battleground where the Tang Imperial Guard Commander and the Nanzhao Righteous King had agreed to duel!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few nights ago, the challenge’s proclamation rang so loudly that the news had spread far and wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those arriving recently were mostly renowned swordsmen and martial artists, as well as officers from the Nanzhao army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With two days left until March 15, neither duelist had appeared—but some had already set up camp, choosing to stay around the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sudden influx benefited nearby fishermen and boatmen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the truly destitute who relied solely on their own dried rations and wild water, others gladly bought freshly cooked river fish from the boatmen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some even hired boatmen to shuttle between this spot and the city, carrying messages and daily deliveries of wine and food, paying handsomely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, this once-desolate stretch of river showed signs of bustling prosperity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a stinking mess—how do these people even cook? So foul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bearded old man in a jade crown and blue robe stood at the bow, scowling at nearby boats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clay pots simmered fish, tossed raw into the water without proper seasonings to mask the odor—when first boiled, the stench was unavoidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after skimming off all the foam and simmering for a long while would the fishy smell fade, revealing the fish’s true freshness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the old man had no patience for such subtleties; already, he had pulled out several golden pellets, each the size of a thumb’s tip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qing Shu, come back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep voice rang from inside the cabin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man turned and returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the cabin lay a flat, wide wooden chest. Seated atop it was a middle-aged man with sharp eyebrows and a short beard, staring intently at the elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve told you many times—our family’s trade harms our virtue. When carrying out duties, killing or causing deaths is unavoidable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But beyond that, we must still be kind to others.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qing Shu tucked away the pellets: “Master, I’ve observed Nanzhao’s fierce customs. Smashing a few clay pots is ordinary for martial artists—no one will suspect our identity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was none other than the head of the Yuwen family, Yuwen Chiming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this Yuwen Qing was one of the clan elders, long retired from fieldwork, accustomed to comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No doubt this long journey had stirred his temper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Chiming shook his head. “This mission should have been straightforward, yet Tongxin died here in Nanzhao. Could it not be because his own cruelty earned him too many enemies, inviting trouble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Qing clenched his fist; it cracked loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wasn’t Tongxin killed by Haidonglai? Those damned Imperial Guards!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When Tongxin died, Haidonglai hadn’t even arrived. There shouldn’t have been any Imperial Guards in Wang Cheng capable of killing him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Chiming said, “We need not confront Haidonglai ourselves—but figures like Zheng Hui and others must be eliminated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We must not alert them prematurely to the weapons we use.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Qing nodded. “But if Duan Zhong faces Haidonglai alone, how much chance does he really have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Chiming answered without hesitation: “Fifty percent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fifty percent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Qing mused, “Duan Zhong once wielded a finger ring as his weapon—he was already a top-tier figure. Though he hasn’t fought in public for years, he trained intensely in Tibet and is rumored to have achieved astonishing feats.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haidonglai is terrifying, but he’s wounded—and we’ll intervene with our own schemes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Qing glanced at the flat wooden chest, a flicker of wary dread crossing his face, yet also unmistakable excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve mastered this treasure these past two years as if its former master had returned. Even alone, I believe you’d have a fifty percent chance against Haidonglai.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So then, Duan Zhong only has a fifty percent chance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Chiming said nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his youth, he set goals and broke them into steps—each step prepared meant one more percent of certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, when elders asked about his prospects, he’d often say he had six, seven, even nine-tenths certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that he was the elder, the family head, he’d grown fond of another way of speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any endeavor has only two outcomes: success or failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when asked if something can be done, saying “fifty percent” is always correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Duan Zhong’s current strength is unknowable to outsiders, but Haidonglai is a monster. If I faced him alone—even with this treasure—I’d have little confidence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Chiming touched the wooden chest, smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fortunately, besides Duan Zhong and us, there will be more allies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Qing frowned. “Are the Tibetans still willing to send elite warriors?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Their top fighters must guard against the Tang Army, and Wang Cheng needs defenders. After losing a Grand Priest this time, they likely can’t spare anyone significant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Qing guessed, “Is it your mysterious ally in Chang’an?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several in the Yuwen family knew their head had an ally in the Chang’an court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world wasn’t just Chang’an and Huaixi; amid chaos, they exchanged intelligence and mutual favors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Court officials rose in rank, Yuwen family influence grew, and many of their kin held key civil and military posts in the Fanzhen—why not?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that man’s identity remained secret; only the family head knew his true face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for years now, the Yuwen family had received no more secret intelligence or favors—it seemed the man had taken all he wanted, and their contact had ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Chiming sighed as he spoke of the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I once thought him a true man—someone who, if he couldn’t feast from five tripods in life, would demand them at death—a fellow with grand ambition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But only this year did I realize—he’s mentally warped. His true goal isn’t glory; he merely happened to aid our cause.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Chiming smiled. “That’s fine. He’s already obsessed—he’ll spare no cost for this endeavor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green water rippled as the small boat turned and drifted away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After landing, Yuwen Chiming and Yuwen Qing soon slipped into the Righteous King’s mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yuwen family members they’d dispatched had already gathered there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Zhong had reserved a garden for their meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, here Yuwen Chiming saw his ally’s true investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of men in tight-fitting attire and conical hats stood motionless, their breaths unnaturally long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Yuwen Chiming’s acute senses, he detected a metallic, mineral-like stench clinging to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Zhong was also studying them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One of the Three Imperial Guard Commanders—he’s here under the official guise of accompanying the second Tang envoy delegation, investigating the previous envoy’s incident.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Zhong said, “So he didn’t come to my mansion himself—but his trusted agent just brought these men here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Chiming, would your sons like to test these men’s skills?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Chiming merely smiled: “This is the Righteous King’s mansion—we dare not overstep. Let the King’s men test them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Zhong’s gaze shifted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two Duan family guards stepped forward, drawing their broad long knives and crossing them before Duan Zhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CLANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Zhong flicked his right middle finger—a blade struck the other, shattering instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rain of steel shards flew toward the conical-hatted men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thick cloth garments tore like illusory mist; hats shattered, revealing faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All these people had dark brown skin, curly hair, thick lips, and bone structures vastly different from those of the southern tribes of Zhongyuan and Nanzhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were Kunlun slaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shard of iron shot toward the Kunlun slave’s eye; he simply closed his eyelid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The iron shard bounced off his eyelid, leaving only a brief indentation and a white mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Kunlun slave seemed slightly provoked; suddenly he turned his head and saw a bird’s nest on a tree over four zhang away, nearly two zhang tall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body moved instantly, his tattered rags hanging midair as he took two strides and reached out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the Duan family guards could blink, he stood beneath the tree, his right hand clutching a bird, which he bit in half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So fast!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Duan family guard who had lost his knife tensed, glancing at the other Kunlun slaves—only to find them all expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steel shards as potent as small crossbow bolts had left not a single wound on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that every one of these Kunlun slaves possessed such skill?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I always knew his poisoncraft was among the finest in the world, even surpassing his martial skill—but I never imagined he could brew poison-men.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Chiming’s eyes gleamed sharply as he instantly identified the origin of these Kunlun slaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was long rumored that beneath Chang’an lay another city entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, it was called the Ghost Market, the Dark River, the Gold and Silver Caverns—tens of thousands came and went daily, conducting every kind of illicit trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Commander of the Neiwei would need to seek opportunity in such a place to brew poison-men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, the powerful Sui minister Yang Su also favored brewing poison-men, once concluding that Kunlun slaves had superior resistance to poison, though they commanded a high price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew how many lives the Neiwei Commander had consumed to produce this batch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Zhong stared at the Kunlun slave devouring his prey raw and grinned: “Good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Chiming could barely suppress his smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We chase glory and achievement, while those people have sunk into madness—the Righteous Prince is furious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even Bodhisattvas cannot break greed, anger, and delusion—they need the Buddha’s salvation. If we unite fully now, how could Nanzhao alone, even with Haidong added, possibly stand against us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone asked him now about his chances of victory, he would say nothing aloud—but in his heart, there was only one thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Will we win? We will win!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2003,"2026-06-19T20:45:51.976Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","45221fd3ecc2d21a793f514ad420c1a3638dce2d235b7185ee956695d49b69b5","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-109","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-107",155,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdevouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-cover.jpg"]