Chapter 121: Mountain Lord's Aura

Dozens of demon hunters had been running through the city all night, being toyed with like headless flies.

Jiang Chengyun would not question the abilities of these colleagues.

The only possibility was that the gap in strength between them and the demons had grown too vast to be bridged by experience.

This was also why Jiang Chengyun, upon learning that Shen Yi had gone out to hunt demons, had suddenly lost his composure.

Among the three tiger demons, at least one was a Demon Lord.

And although Yong'an City now looked rather unsettled, the actual damage was not that great — it didn't look at all like a city that had been ravaged by a Demon Lord all night.

Coupled with the Mountain Lord's mournful cry as it left, all of this had to have a reason.

"I thought I had already overestimated you enough."

Even though Jiang Chengyun was reluctant to believe it, he could only sigh now: "You can still surprise me even more."

At such a young age, personally killing a Nascent Core Realm Demon Lord in combat.

That was a luxury he wouldn't even dare dream of.

"That bitter-melon face of yours doesn't really look like surprise." Xiao Qiangwei's brow lifted slightly.

"Nonsense! I prepared for so long, and didn't get so much as a bite of meat." Jiang Chengyun laughed self-deprecatingly, his tone suddenly relaxing considerably, no longer deliberately putting on the manner of a senior.

At least until he himself reached Nascent Core Perfection, Shen Yi was already fully qualified to be treated as an equal.

He looked at the young man across from him: "Tell me, can you stop being so cold? If it were me, I'd be bursting with pride right now and unable to contain it. I refuse to believe you're really this calm — say something, let me feel a little better."

Hearing this, Shen Yi raised his eyes.

Under the full exertion of the Heavenly Yama External Elixir, there was a strange drain on his spirit; he was indeed somewhat weary.

But if the other party insisted he speak, there really was one thing he wanted to ask.

"I want the Mountain Lord's aura — what would it take to trade for it?"

His luck wasn't great this time; he hadn't been able to obtain bloodline power from the tiger core, so he couldn't track the other party through bloodline aura like he could with the flood dragon.

At these words, the smile that had just appeared on Jiang Chengyun's face was suddenly replaced by a hint of bewilderment.

Earlier he had marveled at the other party single-handedly slaying the abbot of the Vajra Gate, and now the kid had turned around and butchered a newly broken-through Nascent Core tiger demon. The words of praise had barely left his mouth, and now the other party actually wanted to ask him for the Mountain Lord's aura?

"Have you lost your mind? Do you even know what Nascent Core Perfection represents? That Elixir Formation Realm old flood dragon you saw at Qingfeng Mountain couldn't last a hundred exchanges against this Mountain Lord."

"And what's more…"

The name "Bai Lu" stuck in Jiang Chengyun's throat, and he didn't utter it for a long time.

That one was the nightmare of countless demon hunters — silently killing a Town-Demon General right under their most confident intelligence.

"You keep making me ask, and then you won't say."

Shen Yi pursed his lips and leaned back against the chair again. He hadn't planned to go now, but since a grudge had been formed, if he couldn't cut the grass and dig up the roots, his heart would never quite be at ease.

Seeing this, a hint of awkwardness rose in Jiang Chengyun's eyes. He clenched his fist, and only after a long while managed to suppress that feeling of being wronged: "I didn't get its aura — what do you want me to say?"

Just then, Xiao Qiangwei suddenly cut off his words: "Who says I didn't get it."

She opened her palm, and a wisp of golden aura drifted quietly out from the silver bell.

Staring at that wisp of aura, the corner of Jiang Chengyun's eye twitched twice — he had clearly seen her pinch it off with her own hands.

"No need to be so surprised, just a little treasure that deceives the eye and ear."

On Xiao Qiangwei's somewhat pale face, her crimson lips curved slightly as she looked toward Shen Yi across from her: "Not only can I give you this aura, but if you can obtain accurate and reliable information, I can also call in a Town-Demon General to back you up."

Jiang Chengyun's expression turned odd.

He had always looked down on those who relied on the old-timers, since every Town-Demon General or Gold-Bell demon hunter had pressing matters of their own, and once they acted for private affairs, it was easy to lose the greater for the lesser.

But Xiao Qiangwei was different — first, what she relied on was not elders but juniors; second, slaying Bai Lu was absolutely one of the most pressing matters in Outside Qingzhou.

And finally… she was clearly taking advantage of Shen Yi's ignorance. What did "accurate and reliable information" even mean? If one truly had that ability, would one still need You Longtao?

"And the condition?"

Shen Yi didn't get too worked up — there was no such thing as a free lunch under heaven.

"Escort me to Black Stone Pool. I have General You's secret orders to deliver to the personal aide-de-camp stationed there."

As Xiao Qiangwei spoke, she covered her lips again, and a trace of fresh red seeped through her fingers.

She had only been passing through, happened to see many demon hunters, figured the letter wasn't that urgent, and came over to join the fun — she hadn't expected it to turn out like this.

Jiang Chengyun would definitely return to Outside Qingzhou to report the matter to Aunt Aqian and recuperate, but she herself didn't have that convenience.

Compared to the pile of Jade Liquid Realm demon hunters in the city, this young man called Shen Yi was clearly far stronger.

"Personal aide-de-camp?"

Shen Yi suddenly thought of something — it was said that this group of people stationed themselves in one place year-round, watching over some infamous great demon to keep it in check.

Going to take a look wasn't out of the question.

Thinking this, he fished the silver bell from his belt and casually held it between his fingers: "Deal."

Seeing the bell, Lin Rou, who had been standing quietly to the side, idly playing with her fingers, suddenly widened her eyes and tightly gripped her sleeve!

If she remembered correctly, just a few days ago Boss Jiang had been teaching him the most basic rules?

Even Xiao Qiangwei was taken aback for a moment, staring at that pretty silver bell, then turning a suspicious gaze toward Jiang Chengyun beside her.

"Why are you looking at me? You think it's not worthy of him?"

Jiang Chengyun shot her an annoyed glance. With Shen Yi's level of strength, as long as he didn't die, he was bound to stand among the Gold-Bell demon hunters in the future just like himself — a mere silver bell, what was there to put on that uncouth look?

"That's not it."

Xiao Qiangwei withdrew her gaze, flicked the golden Mountain Lord aura into Shen Yi's silver bell: "If there's nothing else to do, it's best to set out as soon as possible."

Having said that, she rose and walked toward the hall's entrance.

It wasn't quite fair to say she had been deceiving him — although she did carry a teasing intention, the merit earned in exchange for this aura alone was enough to offset the payment for this escort.

"…"

Shen Yi closed his eyes and savored the Mountain Lord's scent, and ripples gradually rose in his heart.

He had never yet tasted what a complete demon core was like.

It was still that his strength was too weak, insufficient to step into that demon clan's territory.

He put the silver bell back into his waist pouch.

Shen Yi rose and took a step, but was quietly stopped by that wretched-looking old man.

Deng Jianyuan stared at him with a touch of emotion.

Demon hunters cared more about what realm of demon the other party had slain, and how formidable their strength was.

But what the old man and the Deng family members behind him saw was Yong'an City barely managing to maintain its stable appearance; so many people within the city, though panicked, could still cower at home trembling, rather than being torn apart, corpses and heads separated.

All of this came from the young man choosing to step out that door last night.

"Many thanks, young hero, for protecting our Deng family, for protecting our Yong'an City."

Deng Jianyuan bowed with an exceedingly humble posture, and everyone behind him followed Shenxu Laozu in making the same gesture.

"You're welcome, it's within my duty."

Shen Yi waved his hand casually and walked out of the main hall.

Besides being a demon hunter, he also carried the waist token of Zhen Mo Si; wanting to profit from both sides, doing double the work was only right and proper.

(End of this chapter)