Chapter 84: The Old General Zheng Yuan

A punch was delivered, as if the vast heavens were above.

Vaguely, it seemed one could hear the sound of a dragon's roar.

Li Xiang did not waste words; he directly surged his entire body's Qi and Blood and smashed it toward this fellow's vital point.

This thing called a Demon Spirit is a bit strange.

He had only been eating melon and watching the show for a short while on the side.

Yet so many changes had already occurred.

No more waiting.

Strike to kill first.

Lest it really split into a Demon Spirit in a moment, making the mess difficult to clean up.

Boom—

A punch smashed down.

Ya Ze only felt as if a scorching sun had risen from the flat ground before him.

The terrifying power smashed straight into his face.

The next moment, Ya Ze was sent flying by the shock.

Three consecutive tremors erupted in the air, and Ya Ze's body pierced directly through the Wenwu Building.

It even crushed some merchant buildings behind it.

As for the woman who had been abducted by him.

Li Xiang had already caught her in his hands, though it was unclear when.

With a gentle motion, he tossed her beside Shen Lian.

"This, this is it?"

"One punch and it's over?"

On the flat ground.

Li Xiang stood on the bluestone bricks, looking into the distance with some surprise.

Both were Seventh Grade, and Ya Ze had even been strengthened by the Demon Spirit, his entire body undergoing demonization, with his physical fitness greatly improved.

He could simply be horizontally compared to a Human Dao Martial Artist who had refined three hundred strands of Essence Blood.

But after such a punch, Ya Ze was actually gone just like that?

"Don't be like this!"

"I've always wanted to test what level my strength has reached; how can you be so unable to take a hit?"

"Weren't you very brave just a moment ago?"

Li Xiang muttered slightly.

This Ya Ze is a bit unable to take a hit.

Could it be that he is just bloated?

Li Xiang retracted his evaluation of Ya Ze; this fellow probably couldn't beat five of the same rank.

Three, perhaps.

Or maybe he has the strength to fight against a heaven-gifted talent of the Human Race.

It seems the degree of strengthening the Demon Spirit provided him was also limited.

"Sigh, truly too weak."

"Don't be so trash; if you're this trash, I'll become arrogant..."

Li Xiang talked to himself.

While looking toward the armored soldiers in the surroundings.

Dozens of soldiers wearing black armor all over were holding blades and swords, surrounding Li Xiang in the middle.

A faint layer of red light floated on all of their bodies.

These armored soldiers were all demon soldiers already completely controlled by the Demon Spirit.

They did not fall into madness like the ordinary people in the city; instead, they surrounded Li Xiang in an orderly fashion.

A rough sense passed over.

Everyone is Ninth Grade!

It is unknown if the Great Liang border army is formidable, or if the Demon Spirit transformed their bodies, but the strength of these ordinary armored soldiers was also very powerful.

The strength of every armored soldier could go head-to-head with an Official Runner of the Demon Slaying Division.

Even because of the Demon Spirit's blessing, the strength of these people was actually even stronger.

He glanced at the surrounding armored soldiers.

"Where did this bald donkey come from? Today, you must die here!"

These fellows had surrounded him at this moment, holding blades and weapons, seemingly prepared to encircle and annihilate him.

"Oh?"

Li Xiang revealed a smile of wanting more.

——

After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

Li Xiang stood on the ground wearing a red Kashaya, looking with some pity at the weeping Tong Er and Shen Lian on the ground.

Beside them, a battlefield with flesh and blood flying everywhere lay tragically on the ground.

All the demon soldiers had been put to death at this moment.

Flesh and blood flew, and armor shattered.

Li Xiang stood on the bluestone bricks and gently loosened his muscles and bones.

Only then did he feel he could stretch his limbs properly.

Not far away, dust was flying.

Another squad of soldiers wearing armor, led by an old general, rushed over.

The person in the lead, with a green beard and white temples, carried a Crescent Blade and led two hundred armored soldiers as he approached.

This was Zheng Yuan, a Lieutenant General of the east side of Chiyang County, under the command of the Chief General Wei Ziwu.

Strange events had been occurring in the city today, and Zheng Yuan felt something was wrong; after investigating, he discovered that Demons seemed to have entered the city.

Even more bizarre was that, apart from him, the other few Lieutenant Generals seemed to be acting exceptionally strange.

This morning, when Wei Ziwu summoned the generals, the way the three of them looked at him made Zheng Yuan feel extremely uncomfortable.

Now, having heard reports from the Demon Slaying Division that the ones causing chaos in the city were Demon Spirits, he needed to cooperate to eliminate the demons.

Zheng Yuan had guarded the frontier for decades, yet he had never had the opportunity to be promoted.

After learning the cause and effect, he decided to lead his men to first behead the Demon soldiers within his jurisdiction, and then invite Master Qi to use Haoran Righteous Qi to exorcise evil from everyone.

Upon learning that Ya Ze had actually come to his jurisdiction alone without bringing many men,

Zheng Yuan did not indulge him; carrying his Crescent Blade, he set out to behead him.

Although they were colleagues, if one defected to the Demon Spirits, then they were a Demon.

Zheng Yuan had guarded the frontier for decades and had seen all kinds of storms; he was decisive in killing.

He immediately ordered his men to clear out the Demon soldiers in his jurisdiction, and anyone with blood-red eyes was to be bound with ropes.

He himself took a group of men to personally suppress Ya Ze.

"Building merit and establishing a career starts today!"

"Brothers, kill!"

Before the people arrived, the sound came first.

A shout like thunder rang out, and Li Xiang saw an old general charging out.

Seemingly mistaking him for a Demon servant, he carried his Crescent Blade and slashed toward him.

His Qi and Blood surged throughout his body, and a white-bearded green dragon was attached behind him, looking like a god or a demon!

"Hmm?"

Li Xiang was surprised for a moment.

Hum~

The next moment, the Crescent Blade was directly gripped in Li Xiang's hand.

No matter how hard Zheng Yuan tried, he could not move it at all.

"Old General, did you, perhaps, misunderstand something?"

Seeing that Li Xiang could converse normally, and looking at the pile of dead Demon soldiers on the ground, Zheng Yuan stopped his movements.

The two talked briefly and exchanged information.

Upon learning that Ya Ze had already been suppressed and killed by Li Xiang, and that these Demon soldiers were also killed by Li Xiang, Zheng Yuan was slightly astonished.

Seeing Li Xiang in a Kashaya, although he felt it was strange, he did not say much.

Thus, Li Xiang was officially allied with Zheng Yuan.

The old general Zheng Yuan had formidable strength.

Having guarded the frontier for decades, Li Xiang felt that if this person were given a chance, he would likely break through the Sixth Grade and enter the stage of Intent Clarity, where his essence, energy, and spirit would condense into a protective aura to suppress all enemies.

Regarding his identity, Li Xiang only said he was a lay disciple from a place called Jinshan Temple, currently down the mountain for training, and happened to see the Demon in the city, so he came to help.

While the two were talking, Li Xiang suddenly felt someone tugging at his Kashaya.

Looking back, it was indeed the woman named Miaotong, kneeling on the ground and begging him.

"Master! Master, I beg you to save him!"

"Master, your martial arts are profound, I beg you, I beg you to save him!"

"I will give you whatever you want, I beg you..."

Tong Er knelt on the ground, begging Li Xiang as if she had gone mad.

Li Xiang looked up and saw Shen Lian lying on the ground, with only breaths going out and none coming in.

He was clearly on the verge of death.

If it weren't for his own Martial Dao cultivation supporting him, he would probably be dead by now.

Li Xiang sighed.

You say you want to be a hero saving a beauty, but you have to know your own limits.

Even without the Demon enhancement, this Ya Ze was a solid Martial Dao Seventh Grade.

You, an Eighth Grade, dared to come and assassinate him.

You could have at least greeted your big brother Lu Jianxing and let him come to solve this matter.

If you had called two people, you wouldn't have been beaten so miserably.

While speaking, Li Xiang stepped forward to set Shen Lian's bones straight.

A faint bit of Immortal Light fell from his hand, attempting to reconnect the meridians throughout his body.

A Martial Artist's Qi and Blood are vigorous, so it is difficult to die just like that.

Upon reaching the peak, one can even achieve rebirth from a drop of blood.

Don't look at how miserable Shen Lian is now, but if he could reconnect his meridians and let his Qi and Blood nourish his flesh again,

he should be able to save his life.

It's just that he will probably have to lie in a sickbed for a while.

Maybe a year, maybe three years.

But being alive is better than being dead, isn't it?

Who told him to stick his neck out, only to end up beaten into this sorry state.

"Miss Tong Er, do not worry, do not worry!"

"I have a Replenishing Qi Pill here; it should be able to help a little."

Zheng Yuan dragged his blade over, took a small jade bottle from his bosom, poured out a medicinal pill, and fed it into Shen Lian's mouth.

He had also heard a little about the affair between Miaotong and Shen Lian.

He knew they were a pair of star-crossed lovers in the County.

It was just that Shen Lian could never scrape together enough silver to redeem Miaotong.

Seeing him end up like this today, he couldn't bear to watch.

Although the medicinal pill was precious, how could it be more important than a human life?

At worst, he would just go to the Demon Slaying Division later and beg his big brother for a pot of good wine!

Making a living in a border town is not easy; one should help where one can.

In ordinary times, Wei Ziwu would also keep a tight rein on that lecher Ya Ze.

Yet he hadn't expected that now that the city was in chaos, this fellow would become even more unscrupulous.

Li Xiang did not notice Zheng Yuan's thoughts, but continued to mend Shen Lian's meridians.

Although it was his first time and his technique was a bit clumsy, after adapting slightly, his movements became very fast.

It took only the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

The half-dead Shen Lian lying on the ground actually had his complexion turn slightly ruddy.

"Done."

"Thank you, Master, for your great kindness and virtue; thank you, General Zheng, for your great kindness and virtue!"

"Thank you..."

Miaotong was grateful and was about to kneel down to thank them, but was stopped by Li Xiang.

"It's fine, find a few people to take him away and take good care of him."

"If there are still problems, have a doctor take another look; he practices martial arts, so it shouldn't be a big issue."

Seeing Li Xiang say this, Zheng Yuan pointed to a few armored soldiers.

He had people take Shen Lian and Miaotong to the city gate to rest.

This was his territory, so he could still manage to keep the two of them safe.

Compared to Miaotong and Shen Lian, he was actually more curious about Li Xiang.

This man was highly skilled in martial arts and even proficient in medicine; he wondered which temple Jinshan Temple was to be able to raise such talent.

As he spoke, Li Xiang walked over and called Zheng Yuan over.

He prepared to talk to him.

About where to start to break the stalemate in Chiyang.

Suddenly, Li Xiang let out an "eh."

He looked toward the nearby Wenwu Building with some surprise.

He suddenly discovered a strange thing.

After he had sent Ya Ze flying with one punch, Ya Ze's icon on the map was actually still lit up.

It was just much dimmer.

It seemed that with that one punch, he hadn't killed this guy.

This guy was entrenched in the Wenwu Building, seemingly plotting something.

Strange.

With Blood Qi swirling around his body, Li Xiang gently pushed open the doors of the Wenwu Building.

In an instant, a rotten, fishy, and surging Blood Qi scent wafted out from within.

Raising his eyes to look, dense piles of corpses were stacked in the center.

Good heavens, no wonder the Wenwu Building had been in chaos for so long and Li Xiang hadn't seen a single person come out to watch the show.

The procuress, the young women—all were quiet.

Only Ya Ze and his personal guards were there.

So it turned out they had all died here.

On the floor, a strange array was currently emitting a faint red light, seemingly absorbing the power of this flesh and blood.

Ya Ze's entire body was more than half shattered.

His broken body, hanging by only skin and flesh with half a head, lay in the pile of dead bodies, seemingly absorbing some kind of power and attempting to recover himself.

"Interesting."

"So this is the great array the system mentioned."

"So the array the Demon Spirit prepared to blood-sacrifice the entire city and summon a higher-level demon is right here."

"I actually misunderstood the Demon Spirit; I thought you were just preparing to create a new Demon Spirit."

Li Xiang didn't waste any more breath; he raised his hand and threw a punch.

Surging Blood Qi billowed, and a red dragon shot out from his hand.

It shocked Zheng Yuan, who was beside him, and his expression changed drastically.

Such dense Blood Qi.

Which great temple's Buddha-son is this?

"Hmm?"

Li Xiang frowned.

The effect did not seem obvious.

When he smashed down with a punch, a bloody light actually rippled across the great array, neutralizing his attack.

Although it was strained, it still barely managed to block it.

Inside the great array, Ya Ze's body trembled, seemingly mocking his overestimation of his own capabilities.

"Interesting."

"Is this power exchanged through the sacrifice of living beings?"

Li Xiang looked at the great array in the center of the Wenwu Building; he could not be bothered to calculate its weaknesses, so he simply looked toward Zheng Yuan.

Hanging at Zheng Yuan's waist was a sword; it was not very good, incomparable to the Crescent Blade in his hand, just a standard-issue weapon.

"Old General, may I borrow your sword?"

Zheng Yuan did not waste words; he raised his hand and threw it over, scabbard and all.

He was just a little curious.

"Do disciples of Fo Men also use swords?"

Li Xiang smiled.

Hum~

The long sword hissed.

An extremely terrifying aura surged from Li Xiang's body.

In a blur, Zheng Yuan seemed to see a green lotus bloom.

An indescribable aura emerged from Li Xiang's body.

As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should unremittingly practice self-improvement.

Great rivers churned, mountains and rivers shifted.

This sword is unyielding, capable of changing the heavens and the earth.

Let the world change and the seas turn into mulberry fields, my Dao remains the only one.

As the sword was slashed out, Zheng Yuan only felt a flash of paleness before his eyes, and everything blurred in his vision.

Only Li Xiang's faint voice reached his ears.

"I know a little, just a little."

(End of this chapter)