Chapter 132: Flying Star General Pang Tong!===GLOSSARY===

"Colluding with demons?"

In the lakeside pavilion, Shao Hanshang heard Chen Jin'an's speculation, his expression changed, and he spoke in a deep voice: "I have not colluded with demons!"

"Saying that to me is useless; you need to tell the Flying Star General."

Chen Jin'an waved his hand, indicating that Shao Hanshang need not compete with him.

"As for what kind of person the Flying Star General Pang Tong is, you and I both know."

"Just based on your intercepting and killing a Demon Suppression Division Captain, he dares to throw you into prison and then slowly investigate your evidence of colluding with demons."

"Regardless of whether they ultimately find anything, you will inevitably suffer."

"Moreover, this time, it is indeed your Wind Thunder Valley that is at fault first."

"Xue Chengkong's collusion with demons is likely already supported by solid evidence; otherwise, Fu Lingyuan would not have personally intervened."

"Now that the Flying Star General has come again, he probably just wants to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, making all who dare to obstruct the Demon Suppression Division's law enforcement know what the consequences are."

"And you are now that chicken!"

"So I advise you to pray that there is nothing related to demons that falls into Pang Tong's hands."

"Otherwise, you might truly face the execution of your nine clans."

Upon hearing this, Shao Hanshang's face instantly turned pale.

Chen Jin'an is indeed perceptive.

He originally only wanted to scare this long-time colleague, but he did not expect the other party to panic immediately.

"Do you truly have collusion with demons?"

Chen Jin'an could not sit still either; he jumped up as if his buttocks were on fire, staring at Shao Hanshang with a shocked expression.

The Zhenwu Hall monitors all sects across the world; this is their duty.

But since the Great Li governs the world through sects, for ordinary matters, the Zhenwu Hall does not intervene.

As long as the major sects do not commit any grave wrongdoing, the Zhenwu Hall generally turns a blind eye.

However, colluding with demons is different; it is equivalent to treason and rebellion, a major peril that shakes the foundations of the state.

Even though the Zhenwu Hall and Wind Thunder Valley have always had a good relationship, on such major issues of right and wrong, they dare not easily become involved.

This time, the reason they agreed to help intercept Xue Chengkong's accomplices is

because the Zhenwu Hall has already obtained sufficient information, basically confirming that this is Xue Chengkong's personal action, unrelated to Wind Thunder Valley.

And Wind Thunder Valley also wants to limit the impact to Black Water City, not wanting to make a big fuss, which is why they have done their utmost to prevent the Demon Suppression Division from escorting the prisoners to Yunzhou.

Because if the Black Water City Demon King's massacre case is tried in the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division, the matter of Wind Thunder Valley disciples colluding with demons will spread widely.

Even if the case is ultimately defined, this is merely Xue Chengkong's personal action.

The accusation of colluding with demons will also be splashed onto Wind Thunder Valley.

By then, the Demon Suppression Division will use the pretext of thoroughly investigating demons to thoroughly investigate the entire Wind Thunder Valley sect, which would be the true disaster.

As a pill-refining sect, raising spirit beasts and demon birds is almost a given.

If one insists on being strict, it could even be counted as colluding with demons.

And this is precisely what Wind Thunder Valley truly worries about.

Although those who know are aware that Wind Thunder Valley raises spirit birds and demon beasts merely to extract blood for pill refinement,

for others, the truth of the matter is not necessarily of concern; they only think about how to profit from it.

If Wind Thunder Valley falls because of this, the various major forces in Yunzhou will inevitably fight for control of the three prefectures left vacant.

This is what the Zhenwu Hall, responsible for stability, does not want to see.

Therefore, this time the Zhenwu Hall's intervention, besides wanting to obtain the Dragon Elephant Relic, may not lack the intention to help Wind Thunder Valley.

But this premise is that Wind Thunder Valley has not truly colluded with demons.

Otherwise, it would be beyond even immortals to save, and the Zhenwu Hall would follow suit, eliminating the malignant tumor harming humanity.

"How could that be?"

Shao Hanshang, aware of his loss of composure, steadied his mind and spoke solemnly: "Chen brother, rest assured, although Shao is not a virtuous person, it is also impossible for me to do such a thing that would bring disaster to the sect."

"But..."

"But what?"

Chen Jin'an's eyes had already sharpened.

If Shao Hanshang before him truly colluded with demons, as the Chief Helm Master of Zhenwu Hall in Songyang Prefecture, both publicly and privately, he must first take action to apprehend him, so as to avoid being implicated himself.

"But just a few days ago, a friend gave me a Ghost Mother Primordial Pill, and the pill has not yet been harvested; it is still in the Mountain Ghost's belly..."

As he said this, Shao Hanshang's face grew even paler.

"Ghost Mother Primordial Pill?"

Chen Jin'an stared in shock, then slumped down in his seat, saying: "Old Shao, this time you have really ruined me."

"Do you not know that the Demon Suppression Division is making such a grand mobilization, using every means to pry open Wind Thunder Valley's gate, not just to find the Ghost Mother Sect's Innate Ghost Mother?"

"They have always suspected that the Innate Ghost Mother is hidden within your Wind Thunder Valley, so they have spared no effort, seeking opportunities to thoroughly investigate your sect."

"Now you have directly colluded with people from the Ghost Mother Sect."

"I have not colluded with people from the Ghost Mother Sect."

Shao Hanshang argued vehemently.

"That Mountain Ghost was unintentionally captured by my friend from White Prefecture in the mountains and forests. Its fetal ghost was naturally formed, not fed on living people, so it cannot be generalized!"

"Do you think the Flying Star General will believe that?"

Chen Jin'an glanced at this old friend of over ten years, finally sighed, and said: "For now, you have only one path to take."

"Please, Chen brother, teach me!"

Shao Hanshang bowed respectfully.

A person's name, a tree's shadow.

If the Demon Suppression Division were to say who else gives the major sects the most headache besides that madwoman, it would have to be this Flying Star General.

Once demonic matters are involved, this Flying Star General will transform into a blood-slaughtering asura, and when he takes action, he shows no mercy whatsoever.

"Learn from City Lord Xue, atone with death, and I will guarantee the safety of your wife and children!"

Upon hearing this, Shao Hanshang deflated like a punctured leather ball, slumping onto the stone bench in the pavilion with a vacant stare.

……

Songyang Prefecture, Inner City villa.

As soon as He Mingjing stepped through the door, he saw Qin Shuo sitting cross-legged on the roof, five hearts facing heaven, inhaling the morning glow and exhaling impurities.

His eyes were tightly shut, his body seeming to merge with heaven and earth, threads of rosy light entering through his mouth and nose, as if he were a mountain immortal who feasts on rosy clouds and drinks dew.

"You... have broken through to Condensing Truth?"

His mouth gaped wide, as if he had seen a ghost, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

When I first saw him, this youth was only at the Pulse Opening Minor Accomplishment stage.

In less than a month, he has already condensed the Heavenly Meridian and broken through to the Condensing Truth Realm!

This cultivation speed...

Is it too fast?!

"Have you already reached Pulse Opening Great Success? Is it not normal for me to break through to Condensing Truth?" Qin Shuo spoke in a tone of utter self-evidence.

"How could it be the same?"

He Mingjing retorted unhappily: "Opening the meridians relies first on blood and qi accumulation, second on condensing strength into qi.

As for the first, I have obtained numerous elixirs and precious materials from the City Lord's Mansion, so I naturally lack nothing; as for the second, I have the Blade Nurturing Technique to help refine blood and qi, condense strength into qi, so my speed is naturally not slow.

As for you, having opened all your meridians so quickly is already enough, but how can you condense the Heavenly Meridian so swiftly as well?"

He Mingjing poured out his doubts like beans spilling from a sack.

He was simply too curious!

The longer he interacted with Qin Shuo, the more he felt that the other party harbored many secrets.

And these secrets were precisely the key to his rapid rise, making people unable to resist wanting to investigate.

"Because of this!"

Qin Shuo flipped his palm, producing a porcelain bottle as if by magic, and poured out a crystal-clear, jade-like elixir.

"This elixir is called the Heaven Reaching Pill, which can help you quickly condense the Heavenly Meridian, and I relied on it to break through to the Condensing Truth Realm."

"How about it? Do you want it?"

"Yes!"

He Mingjing nodded without hesitation.

He truly desired to become stronger.

Especially after witnessing Qin Shuo's battle with the Xiaoyue Demon King, his desire to grow stronger intensified even further.

"I can give you the Heaven Reaching Pill, but you must do something with me."

"What?"

"Ransack a residence!"

"Ransack again? Whose residence?"

"The Prefecture Master of Songyang Prefecture, Shao Hanshang!"

"Huh? Why?"

"I suspect he is colluding with demons!"

"What evidence?"

"Does the Demon Suppression Division need evidence when handling cases?"

"No!"

"Then isn't that settled?"

"But he is a prefecture master; we have no grounds or evidence, so it would be improper to directly go to his door and cause trouble, wouldn't it?"

"He colluded with the Fang and Song families to set a trap to kill me—does that not count as evidence?"

"Of course it does!"

Bang— the courtyard gate was shoved open by someone.

A middle-aged man in black armor and red robes strode in with large steps.

The last sentence just spoken was his.

The visitor wore a straight sword at his waist, stood seven feet tall, had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and was extraordinarily imposing; every gesture exuded an air of arrogance and dominance!

"General Pang!"

He Mingjing was first startled, then overjoyed, and bowed respectfully: "This subordinate, He Mingjing, pays respects to the Flying Star General!"

Then he tugged at Qin Shuo's sleeve and whispered:

"This is the Flying Star General, one of the three great Demon Suppression Generals of our Demon Suppression Division, Pang Tong, General Pang, whom I told you about."

"Paying respects to General Pang!" Qin Shuo clasped his fists.

"Come on, no delay—we can talk along the way!"

Pang Tong waved his large hand, signaling the two to follow.

"General Pang, where are we going?" He Mingjing asked, puzzled.

"Ransack a residence!"

The black-armored man grinned, obviously also quite eager.

"Ah?"

He Mingjing's mind hadn't caught up yet, "Really going?"

"Nonsense! To dare design the killing of my Demon Suppression Division Cloud Dragon Captain—if not a demon, then a rebel!"

"Such calamities—if not confiscating property and exterminating the clan, then what, leave them over for the New Year?"

"This..."

He Mingjing stared, speechless.

Having long heard that the Flying Star General acts with overbearing manner, quite bearing the air of a Division Master, now seeing it, indeed, they are of one lineage!

"What the General said is absolutely correct! I also think so!"

Qin Shuo smiled brightly.

He now understood why Fu Lingyuan had him wait in the city for the Flying Star General Pang Tong to arrive.

It turns out this Fu Division Master never intended to let that Prefecture Master Shao off from the beginning.

Originally he had still been thinking, by dragging He Mingjing along with the tiger's skin, to make another profit before killing Shao Hanshang.

Who would have thought, instead came a even harsher one.

That day he was severely injured, plus being in a hurry to clear out the remnants of the Fang and Song families, so he temporarily let off Shao Hanshang, the mastermind behind the scenes.

Afterwards he was busy raising his strength, which is why he kept delaying until today.

But regarding this mastermind who orchestrated the Song family killing scheme, Qin Shuo has always been paying attention.

His villa in the Inner City was not randomly chosen.

But rather, it just so happens that the Heavenly Wolf Divine Sense can cover the entire City Lord's Mansion.

Once Shao Hanshang thinks of fleeing, he will boldly strike out and decisively kill him.

The reason he has kept him around is precisely for the purpose of confiscating property.

Since having tasted the sweetness of confiscating property at the City Lord's Mansion, he has been particularly fond of it.

Now having another opportunity, naturally he cannot miss it.

However, confiscating property is not like killing someone, especially confiscating the property of a City Lord.

To justifiably and reasonably take the opponent's property as one's own, without being viewed by the Divine Catcher Division as a bandit raiding homes, some procedures still need to be followed.

For example, giving the opponent a charge of colluding with demons.