Chapter 133

The next day, early morning.

Early in the morning, Qin Ruobing brought a large pile of Spiritual Creatures and placed them on the table in the center of the attic.

Your appointment will be issued soon, but starting now you can receive Spiritual Creatures according to the treatment of a FuduDianZhu.

As your strength and talent increase, your monthly stipend will also grow.

Qin Ruobing wore a smile, her voice clear and crisp like an oriole's.

Lu Zhangsheng's expression shifted slightly upon seeing this; he hadn't expected to receive cultivation resources so quickly.

It seems the court still places considerable importance on these core personnel.

According to what was said, a FuduDianZhu of the prefectural city likely can obtain even more resources.

With your talent, after the decisive battle your strength will likely increase again; by then even if it's exposed it won't matter, for the innate Dao is merely your starting point...

Qin Ruobing smiled and spoke.

As for Lu Zhangsheng's growth over these years, she has also seen it with her own eyes.

At this moment, it truly gave her a great surprise.

Thank you, Hall Master, for your care over the years.

Lu Zhangsheng clasped his hands together, wearing a benevolent expression.

After joining the DemonSubduingOffice, he has always enjoyed considerable freedom, which also stems from her protection, and their relationship has grown increasingly close.

I'm a few years older than you; from now on just call me Qin Sister.

Qin Ruobing gave a bewitching smile, then turned and walked out of the attic.

Not long after, she had left the attic.

A gentle breeze brushed over her white long skirt, and her heart grew ever more tranquil.

She had a premonition that Lu Zhangsheng would likely become one of her most important partners in the future; after the assessment, she no longer regarded him as a subordinate but rather as an old friend.

After Qin Ruobing left, Lu Zhangsheng picked up the Spiritual Creatures on the table and scanned them consecutively with the interface.

【Discovered Spiritual Creature: heavenly crystal stone, dragon saliva incense, hundred-year spiritual milk……】

【Absorb?】

Numerous panel prompts floated in the void.

【Source Energy Points +50.】

【Source Energy Points +50.】

【Source Energy Points +300.】

……

As the Spiritual Creatures on the table gradually disappeared, the resources in his hand also gradually increased.

Not long after, he had completely absorbed all the Spiritual Creatures.

The resources in his hand also increased by about a thousand.

What abundant cultivation resources; the position of FuduDianZhu is indeed extraordinary.

A thousand per month, over the years it becomes a tremendous fortune.

Lu Zhangsheng felt quite delighted in his heart.

This is merely the lowest rank of FuduDianZhu; as strength increases, the monthly stipend will likely grow even more—no wonder so many ZhenYaosi risk their lives to climb upward.

The threshold of FuduDianZhu is already a world apart from ordinary ZhenYaosi.

With his status as Patrol Envoy, he only gets 100 resource points per month.

After this assessment, it directly surged tenfold.

Once the formal appointment is issued, he will also have the qualification to independently command a sub-hall, and rewards for tasks completed by his subordinates will include his share.

Moreover, with the Spiritual Creatures from the depths of the Hundred-Thousand Great Mountains, a two-pronged approach ensures an endless stream of resource points, allowing his own cultivation to rise rapidly.

The next day, noon.

Qin Ruobing then led Lu Zhangsheng and the others onto the journey back to Changping County.

The group galloped on horseback along the official road, heading toward the county seat.

Along the way, Qin Ruobing was quite pleased; before setting out today, she had harshly humiliated Zhou Mei'er and won ten heavenly crystal stones, making her feel as if she had eaten honey.

Given everyone's strength, no bandit dared to intercept them.

The next evening, Lu Zhangsheng and the others returned to the county seat.

The following days.

Lu Zhangsheng stayed at home practicing martial arts, and at night he went to search for resources.

Sometimes he drank at a tavern, sitting for an entire day, and the days passed ever more peacefully.

The evil cult forces surrounding the entire county seemed to have vanished, rarely emerging to cause trouble.

This left many martial artists in the county quite unaccustomed.

However, Lu Zhangsheng knew this was merely the calm before the storm, and a great battle could erupt at any moment.

As expected.

One month later.

County Magistrate Du Wentao directly ordered that all the Xuanjia troops in the city assemble, standing by at all times.

The three major FuduDianZhu also began summoning the ZhenYaosi in the city, with even veteran experts appearing one after another.

The entire county seat immediately entered a state of full lockdown, with large numbers of Armored Soldiers patrolling the streets day and night.

Numerous ZhenYaosi also received orders, waiting at home for the operation to begin.

An atmosphere of extreme tension enveloped the entire county seat.

Inside a certain courtyard.

Lu Zhangsheng and Fang Qing, brother and sister, sat upright on the stone chair.

"Brother Changsheng, is a great battle about to break out?"

Fang Tao's expression was extremely solemn.

He also sensed the changes within the city; with this battle looming, the city itself might not be safe.

Fang Qing's eyes also showed worry.

She had already entered the path of martial arts and had received some information from the martial community.

In this final showdown, masters who have reached the Transcendent Perfection stage will give their all.

Such a scene would surely be terrifying.

Even blood‑changing warriors cannot be absolutely sure they will survive.

The two were quite worried about Lu Zhangsheng.

They had always thought that Lu Zhangsheng could at most reach the blood‑changing Perfection realm.

"Changsheng, could anything go wrong with this mission?"

Fang Qing's tone was somewhat hesitant.

She knew she couldn't stop Lu Zhangsheng; in her view, the three of them hiding together in the cellar would be safest.

"Don't worry, seal the cellar's iron door and don't come out lightly; the food inside will last for half a year."

Lu Zhangsheng gave a faint smile.

Half a year ago, he had already ordered the two to build a shelter.

Even if Zhao Yuanjing's follow‑up erupts within the city, the two could still survive.

……

Inside the County Office.

Du Wentao and Qin Ruobing, the three FuduDianZhu, sat upright in the main hall.

"Lord Du, when can we launch the final offensive?"

Xiao Tiansi's eyes flashed like electricity.

They had been waiting for years for this day.

"In three days, the equipment from the prefectural city has arrived; we will dispatch experts to directly push through Black Mountain."

Du Wentao's face was full of authority.

Black Mountain, that malignant tumor, has occupied the area around the county city for over a hundred years and is finally about to be eradicated.

The grudges between us and them can finally be settled.

"Won't the county city send people to stay behind? If the enemy launches a surprise attack..."

A trace of worry flickered deep in Qin Ruobing's gaze.

Those cultists are deeply entrenched and not easy to eradicate.

If the enemy, taking advantage of the county's empty guard, uses a reverse‑charge spear, they will suffer.

"Qin Hall Master, rest assured; I will leave thirty percent of the Xuan Armor troops to defend the city, and with Master Taishi, that group of demons cannot breach the county city."

Du Wentao stroked his beard, his face brimming with confidence.

He had long anticipated this layer; this sortie was thoroughly prepared.

Qin Ruobing and the others, upon hearing this, all nodded.

The Master Taishi they mentioned is indeed a top expert who protects the County Lord, and his strength is not weak.

With him on their side, plus a portion of the Xuan Armor troops, they are not afraid of that group of demons attacking.

Even if circumstances change, they can rush in to support quickly.

Afterwards, the few exchanged details of the final offensive and then each left the main hall.

After Qin Ruobing and the other two left the County Office, they arrived inside the DemonSubduingOffice.

The three, after taking their seats, wore rather solemn expressions.

"Qin Hall Master, have the cults planted hidden agents inside our DemonSubduingOffice? Is this information accurate?"

HeChunlin's eyes flashed with a cold glint.

When he received Qin Ruobing's message, he was also somewhat incredulous.

Given the opponent's status, the hidden agents mentioned must be at least Transcendent level.

Some low‑tier warriors would never qualify to be singled out by Qin Ruobing.

"We have an eighty‑percent certainty; we must be cautious in this battle."

Qin Ruobing's tone was rather solemn.

Since learning of Lu Zhangsheng's identity and strength, she has placed increasing importance on this information.

The intelligence obtained from Lu Zhangsheng's massacre of numerous cultists is certainly highly accurate.

Upon her immediate return to the county city, she conveyed it to the two colleagues.

"No problem; even if an elder ZhenYaosi secretly defects, I will personally act to eliminate them."

Xiao Tiansi wore a grim expression.

……

Black Mountain.

An underground cavern.

In the center of the space stood a massive blood pool, waves of blood‑killing aura rising, emitting a nauseating stench.

Zhao Yuanjing sat upright on the steps, her gaze icy as she scanned the entire scene.

The numerous figures below lowered their heads one after another, daring not even to breathe.

Du Wentao that old fox has already taken action, immediately summoning half of the followers to ambush the enemy in Black Mountain.

The remaining people will act according to the original plan; I will seize the entire county city completely.

Zhao Yuanjing's face was extremely grim.

For this day, she has prepared for decades, leaving sufficient reserves both inside and outside the city.

As long as she obtains that item from the county treasury, it will be the time she reaches the Innate realm; any vice hall master and mysterious expert will be pulverized by it.

She thought to herself.

We obey your command.

The crowd below repeatedly clasped their fists, faces full of awe.

The ringing voice echoed in the hall.

……

Late at night, all was silent.

In the County Lord's manor, inside a luxurious inner residence.

The room was pitch black, seeming rather eerie.

Du Ling sat upright at the head of the bed, still holding a black kitten in her arms.

The kitten's eyes emitted a faint blood-colored glow, making one feel a bit creepy.

"Hehe... The show has finally begun."

Du Ling gently stroked the black cat's back with her right hand, her eyes revealing traces of evil intent.

"Creak..."

At that moment, the black cat suddenly leapt from Du Ling's arms, opened the door and rushed out, quickly disappearing into the night.

……

Three days later.

At noon, dark clouds blanketed the sky, and the gloomy wind howled.

A terrible storm seemed about to sweep in.

It made the hearts of everyone in the county city feel somewhat heavy.

In the center of the county city, on a huge square.

At this moment, the crowd surged, many experts gathered together, a powerful aura shot straight to the heavens, as if it wanted to scatter the high-altitude clouds.

On the high platform ahead, four figures stood, their aura extremely astonishing.

They were exactly Qin Ruobing's three vice hall masters and Wei Shaoxuan, the Xuanjia Army Commander.

On the square, the experts of the Demon Subduing Office and the Xuanjia Army were clearly distinct.

A large crowd stood packed together, oppressive to the extreme.

Lu Zhangsheng also gathered among the Demon Subduing Office crowd, in a relatively forward position.

Not far behind stood Yue Shulan, Xiao Chao, and several former teammates.

Their faces were all quite worried.

Lu Zhangsheng's gaze swept over the experts on the field; there were about ten or so experts who had shed their mortal womb, and even more who had undergone blood exchange.

The Xuanjia Army had a total of two thousand present, each at the Refining Meat stage or above, belonging to the army's elite.

Furthermore, these people wore heavy armor, were well-equipped, and when formed into a military array, even experts who had shed their mortal womb would have to retreat three li.

Adding the four top experts on the platform, this force was also quite formidable.

"It seems the county city has made up its mind to wipe out that gang of cult bandits in one fell swoop."

Lu Zhangsheng thought to himself.

However, according to the information he had gathered over the years, the enemy was not so easy to exterminate.

Just the three leaders of the Black Mountain bandits had already reached perfection in the shed mortal womb stage ten years ago, and adding this demoness Zhao Yuanjing, their strength was completely equal to the county city's officials.

No one knows what hidden tricks this demoness still has.

This battle will definitely not be easy.

"Ladies and gentlemen, after our discussion, we have decided to leave the city immediately today and exterminate that gang of cult bandits."

Qin Ruobing spoke lightly, her face full of majesty.

A purple long dress perfectly displayed her slender figure, her whole person exuding a different kind of allure.

We obey your command.

The crowd below repeatedly clasped their fists, faces full of respect.

Under the suppression of Qin Ruobing's powerful aura, nobody dared to act rashly.

Lu Zhangsheng raised his head and exchanged a glance with Qin Ruobing; their eyes flickered slightly, as if they had made some decision.

Tong Yuhua's hair showed some abnormality, she turned her head and glanced at Lu Zhangsheng.

Yet in her heart she was extremely surprised; her own Qin Hall Master was usually aloof, but she never expected to show such "deep affection" toward Lu Zhangsheng.

Since the two returned to the county city, their relationship seemed to have changed somewhat, leaving her completely bewildered.

"Set out."

Qin Ruobing waved her hand and led the way toward the platform below.

Personnel on both sides scattered apart.

Afterward, Qin Ruobing and the four experts took the lead, heading outward from the city.

"Thud thud thud..."

Behind them, a large number of Demon Subduing Office experts and the Xuanjia Army closely followed.

A crowd marched mightily toward the outside of the city.

Powerful auras interwove, stirring up fierce, raging winds.

…

The next day, at dusk.

The setting sun was blood‑red, and cold gusts brushed by.

At the edge of a dense forest at the foot of Black Mountain, numerous figures stood.

They were the large group of government elites led by Qin Ruobing.

After a day's trek, they finally arrived here.

Lu Zhangsheng looked up, scanning the mountain ranges ahead, and saw dense forest stretching from the summit to the foothills.

There were also many small forts built from piled boulders, and massive trees and rolling stones were clearly visible.

Black Mountain is a minor spur of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, and is itself extremely steep.

Moreover, the bandits have fortified it for a hundred years, turning it into a steel‑capped stronghold.

Furthermore, for today's battle the enemy has erected many forts starting from the foothills, forcing the government elites to push forward level by level.

"This tough fight won't be easy."

HeChunlin's gaze was icy as he scanned the mountains ahead.

He hadn't expected the bandits to turn the entire Black Mountain into a steel‑capped fortress.

"Hmph… No matter how they build it, against absolute strength there is only a dead end."

XiaoTiansi's eyes flashed with murderous intent.

"Indeed, the County Lord had already made preparations."

Wei Shaoxuan's face was cold; he waved his hand.

"Push the bed crossbows forward."

At the command, a multitude of Mysterious Armor Troops behind them sprang into action.

Boom— Boom— Boom—…

One strange cart after another was pushed to the front line.

Each cart resembled a pair of wooden horses side by side, with a massive crossbow mounted on top, emitting faint black glows.

"Is this the renovated bed crossbow of the prefectural city?"

Looking at the dozen or so bed crossbows before him, Lu Zhangsheng was rather surprised.

The bowstrings of these bolts were clearly made from exotic beasts, and with special bolts, their power was terrifying; even a transcendent cultivator would not dare to meet them head‑on.

Clack— Clack— Clack—…

At that moment, a group of Mysterious Armor Troops from behind carried massive crossbow bolts forward.

Each bolt was as thick as an arm, its tip shimmering with metallic cold light.

They mounted the bolts on the strange carts ahead, set the bowstrings, ready to fire at any moment.

Boom— Boom— Boom—…

Then the group moved forward again, beginning a slow advance.

Wooo—…

Deep horn blasts echoed from Black Mountain, clearly indicating the enemy had detected their presence.

A large contingent of men in black sprang into action, forming strict lines at every checkpoint.

At the summit of Black Mountain, inside a magnificent hall.

Zhao Yuanjing sat upright with three men, their expressions solemn.

The three men were the three heads of the Black Mountain bandits.

The chief, nicknamed "Tyrant Dragon" Su Qilong; the third chief, nicknamed "Poison Snake" Liu Shiqi; and the most mysterious second chief, who has long used an alias while roaming the county town, his real name known to few.

Now he is simply called "Shou".

The three have roamed the county for decades, their notorious reputations renowned.

"The enemy has already launched an attack; are you sure you can crush these people? Those four are no weaker than us."

Su Qilong's gaze was fierce, with murderous aura swirling around him.

"Don't worry, chief; I, the young lady, have already prepared. After breaking the county town, I want nothing else but a single item."

Zhao Yuanjing gave a bright smile, swaying her waist, exuding astonishing charm.

"Then it will depend on the Wenxiang Sect's methods."

Su Qilong stared at Zhao Yuanjing with blazing eyes, as if he could swallow her whole.

"Hehe… Brother Su, just wait calmly."

Zhao Yuanjing twisted her body and gracefully walked toward the hall's exit.

After leaving the hall, Zhao Yuanjing's gaze hardened; Su Qilong's stare filled her with intense disgust, her murderous intent soaring, and once she obtained that item, the opponent would surely die.

Seeing him depart, Liu Shiqi's eyes turned cold.

"Brother, that enchantress cannot be trusted."

"No problem; it's merely mutual use. After breaking the county town, I'll see what that item is, since it's worth decades of scheming."

Su Qilong gave a cold smile.

"Immediately issue the order: fully strike the county forces. I'll wait for them atop the mountain."

…

At the foot of Black Mountain.

Numerous government warriors gathered in great numbers, brandishing various weapons, their killing intent soaring.

At the forward checkpoint, a large force of cult bandits also stood in strict formation, a tension so extreme pervading the entire battlefield.

All mountain‑splitting crossbows fire immediately.

Wei Shaoxuan directly issued the attack order, and the battle erupted instantly.

Whoosh—whoosh…

As the shrill sound of cutting through the air rang out, a massive number of secret‑crafted crossbow bolts suddenly shot toward the first barrier.

It seemed as if a colossal dragon roared in the void, its momentum truly astonishing.

(End of chapter)