Chapter 166: Danger in Beiguo County

"Kill? You tell me how you intend to kill."

Qingshi said calmly upon hearing this.

He did not like his third brother very much right now. White Strange Mist hovered over the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge; if not for the means provided by the Hanging Mountain, he reckoned they truly could not have resolved it.

In the end, they would only have been able to flee like stray dogs.

Yet even though this matter was temporarily resolved, the cost involved made his heart ache terribly. He had intended to use the Hanging Mountain's means for his subsequent plans, but he had not expected to use them now.

Another powerful trump card was gone!

Jinpeng naturally knew that his eldest and second brothers had grievances against him. So, in order to remedy the situation as quickly as possible, he did not beat around the bush and slowly explained his next plan.

"The current mutation was truly not my wish, but since it has already happened, I have no other way. The only plan now is to remedy it as quickly as possible and recoup the losses. As for where to recoup them, I believe you both already know."

"It is precisely the Present World!"

"Since the White Strange Mist is hovering over the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge and cannot be removed, we might as well cut off the part above and then go to the Present World to plunder the missing space."

"Wasn't our original plan to occupy the Present World anyway?"

After Jinpeng finished speaking, he stared at the two demons.

"That may be so, but the changes within the Present World are too slow. With the strength of the three of us, we cannot manifest there for the time being. Do you expect us to wait? Who knows how long the Hanging Mountain's means can seal this White Strange Mist?"

Baixiang, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up.

"I want a concrete method of implementation."

Qingshi said slowly.

Seeing the attitude of Qingshi and Baixiang, Jinpeng smiled.

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, we only need to do this..."

The next morning.

People came and went on the street. Li Heng strolled leisurely among them. The shouting and hawking of surrounding merchants and peddlers, and the fragrant aromas from roadside restaurants and small stalls, caused passing children to stop and drool.

He could not help but nod; this was the true smoke and fire of the human world.

"Shopkeeper, give me five steamed buns, pork and green onion."

"Coming right up, sir, here you go."

Paying a few large coins, the bun shop owner skillfully took five steaming hot buns from the bamboo steamer overflowing with steam, placed them on oil paper, and handed them to Li Heng.

Li Heng took them and turned to leave. He took a bite, his mouth full of oil, the fragrance of pork and green onion filling his mouth. The salty, savory meat filling combined with the soft bun skin—it was incredibly delicious.

He ate while strolling, finishing them off in a few quick bites. By now, he had arrived at his destination: the West City, which he frequented often and where many anomalies had appeared.

The White Strange Mist had been completely resolved by him, and as for that dense Yin energy, it had returned to the concentration it was at before the mutation.

Although Yin energy was still constantly leaking into the Present World, it would take a very long time for a mutation to occur, so there was no need to worry for now; he could take a breather.

Bei'an City had thus ended its lockdown state.

It was just that last night.

While he was thinking about his future goals, he suddenly sensed an unusual fluctuation in the West City, but this fluctuation was fleeting, and he almost thought it was an illusion.

This morning, he had planned to stroll around the West City to see if there were any discoveries, and by the way, come out to buy something to eat; after all, the food in the Demon Suppression Division's cafeteria was really not very good.

Suddenly, Li Heng stopped in his tracks, his brows lifting slightly.

He had just deployed his Earth Dharma Aspect Power to perceive the surrounding Void and detected a fluctuation that did not belong to the level of the Present World, and this fluctuation was still continuing.

Of course.

That was not a mutation occurring in the underground Yin energy ocean.

The Yin energy ocean and the souls involved in it seemed to be a very deep matter. When the Heaven and Earth Mutation occurred previously, when the Yin energy became dense and the White Strange Mist appeared, there had been no sign of any movement, let alone this somewhat weak fluctuation.

He expanded his consciousness, attempting to capture this fluctuation.

In an instant.

Li Heng felt his consciousness break through the level of the Present World and arrive at a Void. Looking down from a high vantage point, he discovered an army marching there, their momentum magnificent.

This is... an army of Yin soldiers?

The army had dense Yin energy, and their attire was not much different from the Yin soldiers he had encountered in the West City; the style was similar, as if they were cut from the same mold.

Was this army also heading somewhere?

Li Heng frowned slightly, feeling it was a pity.

The number of these Yin soldiers was at least ten thousand.

If it were not his consciousness Transformation Body here, but his true physical self, he might have made a huge profit. Even if one Yin soldier was only worth one Source Power, he could earn tens of thousands!

It was a pity that this Void was not even a Ghost Domain, and his true self had not comprehended the profound arts of the Void or spatial secret techniques. Even with the coordinates of this place, he could not break through the Void to enter here.

"Who goes there!"

Seemingly having detected Li Heng's prying, an angry shout erupted from within the army. Boundless killing intent and baleful aura rose up, directly shaking the Void and jolting Li Heng's consciousness back.

In the Present World, Li Heng frowned slightly.

There were still experts? Could it be a general of the army? Their strength was actually so powerful that their voice could shake the surrounding Void?

However, he also understood that the Void level was extremely far from the level of Reality, unlike the previous Weird, which were very close to the Present World and even faintly overlapped.

Even if this general were stronger, they could not come to the Present World.

If not for his overly keen perception.

He likely would not have even noticed this army passing by.

At this moment, at the Void level, in front of the Yin soldier army.

That general of the Yin soldier army looked up in all directions, revealing a look of suspicion. There was actually no one? Could it be that he had sensed incorrectly? But this was also fine; it was best if there was no one.

He did not want any accidents to occur during the march.

It was better to rush over to provide support as soon as possible.

Li Heng stayed where he was and continued to sense, discovering that this fluctuation was gradually moving away. It was clear that the army was gradually leaving; it was eight or nine parts likely that they were just passing through.

But what exactly happened?

How could there be such a quantity of Yin World soldiers on an expedition?

Li Heng could not help but shake his head; the Present World is not peaceful, and it seems the Yin World and those other messy planes are not peaceful either. There is no pure land anywhere, and there is no tranquility anywhere.

Only with great strength can one create a pure land!

"Everyone, from now on, West City belongs to our Money Gang."

"Do you understand?"

Up ahead, where a crowd had gathered, a young man dressed like a gang member climbed onto a high platform, looked at the discussing crowd below, and spoke in a loud voice.

"Some time ago, the Giant Wave Gang was wiped out, and due to various reasons, our Money Gang didn't manage to take over in time. But now we have cleared the space to take over this area, so everyone can rest easy; there is no need to worry about having no one to protect you."

"Of course, since the person in charge has changed, the fees must change as well."

"My Money Gang doesn't want much; just add one tael of silver on top of the Giant Wave Gang's base rate. This price is fair, right? Alright, everyone disperse and pass this news on to your friends and family."

After the young man finished speaking, he stepped straight off the high platform.

Li Heng, listening to these words from far away, could not help but frown. This Money Gang is announcing it publicly? If he didn't know the background of this gang, he would have thought it was the Government.

"Sigh, although it's an extra tael of silver, it can be considered a good thing."

"Exactly. Ever since the Giant Wave Gang was gone, some local ruffians were always harassing the shop I run; it was incredibly annoying. Now that things are back on track, it's good, it's good."

"It's just that I don't know why this Money Gang is being so high-profile?"

Some merchants nearby discussed it among themselves, mostly in agreement.

Li Heng, upon hearing this, could not help but be surprised again.

Why be so high-profile?

Could it be that they are taking advantage of the time since Ren Hai met with trouble to control Bei'an City? After all, the Demon Suppression Division does not get involved in such things, and with the mountains high and the Emperor far away, it has given these forces an opportunity.

By the time the imperial court sends a new County Magistrate to take office, I fear they will have long since been hollowed out by these gangs.

He pondered for a moment; when he goes back later, he still has to speak to Old Master Meng about this. He just feels that this matter is not that simple. A black-market gang, and not a deep-rooted, prestigious clan—how could they be so arrogant?

Money Gang Headquarters.

Gang Leader Ning Nantian sat on a grandmaster chair, eyes closed in thought.

At this moment, a shifty-eyed advisor walked in from outside the hall.

"Gang Leader, I have already followed your instructions and publicized this matter in the four city districts," the advisor said happily. However, his expression quickly turned to hesitation. "But is doing this too high-profile?"

He asked with some doubt.

This was clearly different from the Gang Leader's previous principle of being cautious.

"No matter, no matter. The lords above have given me an opportunity."

Ning Nantian smiled slightly, thinking of yesterday, when the message was sent by Lord Jin, who holds the position of Third Division Chief within the County Government Demon Suppression Division...

Beiguo County, the neighbor of Bei'an County.

In the center of the city, on a vast altar.

Beiguo County Magistrate Chen Jinhai.

He stood in the center of the altar, looking up at the sky, and looked at his subordinates beside him with a complex expression. The time has come; success or failure hinges on this one move.

He took out his Nine Grades County Magistrate Official Seal, his expression solemn, mobilized the Luck of the county as well as his own Official Luck, and stamped it directly toward the center of the altar, while shouting loudly.

"I, Chen Jinhai, Nine Grades County Magistrate, now mobilize the Luck of this county to sacrifice and report to the Heavens, to suppress the many Evil Demons and Weird within this county, and to disperse the Yin Qi!"

Suddenly, the Official Seal emitted a brilliant golden light, surging and expanding like a small Sun, enveloping the entire Beiguo City. The Luck of the county then transformed into golden ripples, rippling outward in all directions with the Official Seal as the center.

It seemed as if it would cover the entire county!

At this moment, the surrounding Yin Qi suddenly surged, and two figures manifested in the air, shouting angrily. "Chen Jinhai, you actually dare to do this? Do you want to perish together!"

Chen Jinhai looked at these two figures and sneered.

"Tree Demon, Black Mountain, you finally decided to come out?"

The two demons had gloomy expressions; of course they had to come out—this was the Luck of an entire county, and they could not block it. Chen Jinhai is simply a madman, actually using a method of perishing together!

"Even if the Luck is exhausted and my Official Luck runs dry, this official will still suppress and kill you lot! Don't think that just because this county has no Demon Suppression Division, you can act recklessly!" Chen Jinhai's eyes were filled with madness.

The two demons did not answer and charged toward Chen Jinhai, wanting to interrupt this process and swallow him alive.

At this moment, suddenly, the Void began to ripple.

A distorted, blurry shadow stepped out from the Void, directly freezing Chen Jinhai and the two demons; even the golden ripples formed by the Luck were frozen because of it.

"Hmm, I want this place."

Jinpeng hovered in the Void and said indifferently.