Sword Qi to the Sky

Chapter 362 An Shicheng

Everyone looked up at the sky and saw that people from various noble families were arriving one after another from different directions.

In the middle direction, there were clearly the Cui and Xie families.

"The ancestors of the Cui and Xie families have both arrived."

Seeing the turmoil in the two elderly people's hearts, it seemed that something big was about to happen.

"This old man has come to pay his respects to the Prince." The old patriarch of the Cui family said loudly, his voice echoing throughout the entire Prince's mansion.

"Elder Xie has come to observe the ceremony." The Xie family patriarch's voice was full of vigor, but it also carried a cold aura. It is said that on the night that Shenmu Manor hunted down cultivators, both patriarchs also went.

The Cui family patriarch and the old demon of Shenmu Mountain Villa fought a fierce battle, both suffering heavy losses. The Xie family patriarch was intercepted by the great demon Lao Hou. The two fought a great battle in the wilderness. Lao Hou was injured and retreated, while the Xie family patriarch almost lost his life in the wilderness.

It seems that the Xie family patriarch has recovered quite a bit and has come here in person.

"It is an honor for our Prince's Mansion to have two seniors visit us." A hearty laugh rang out from the Prince's Mansion. The voice was not loud, but everyone could hear it clearly.

Deep within the Prince's mansion, a group of figures stepped into the void, walked forward, and arrived at the high pavilion behind the high platform.

The leader wore a wide, golden robe. He was obese, with a face full of fat, and wore a crown. When he smiled, his eyes narrowed into slits, as if they were about to be swallowed by flesh.

This man was none other than Anlu, the Prince of Qinghe. It is said that since he came to Qinghe County, he has been obsessed with pleasure, taking in dozens of beautiful concubines and drinking and making merry in the Prince's Mansion every day. Because of this life of pleasure, he has also gained a lot of fat.

The crowd looked at the prince, whose smiling face seemed somewhat comical.

Beside him stood the burly Taoist priest, none other than the Cold Crow Taoist.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Many people below bowed in greeting.

"A living deity." Some of the people who came to watch the ceremony even bowed down in worship. The Cold Crow Taoist was the 'deity' who came out of the Taiping Temple.

On the high platform, An Shicheng glanced at the Cui Xie family in the air. These aristocratic families were truly ungrateful, still standing in the air, showing no regard for their Prince's Mansion.

"I have long admired your names, seniors. Today, I invited you to witness this ceremony as I slay the demon. Please take a seat." An Lu said to the two people in the air, seemingly unconcerned.

However, the Cui and Xie families remained motionless. The Cui family patriarch replied, "We have come to observe the ceremony, so we will not sit."

"The Prince greeted you all with great courtesy and addressed you as seniors, but the two of you seem to be showing little respect to the Prince. Could it be that you have some dissatisfaction with the Prince or the court?" The Cold Crow Daoist looked up and asked, his shrewd eyes sweeping over the figures standing in the air.

"I wouldn't dare. The title of Prince was bestowed by the imperial court. We are but commoners. How could we dare to sit with His Highness? We will simply stand here," the patriarch of the Cui family replied calmly, though his tone lacked any real politeness.

The Cold Crow Daoist snorted coldly, but then heard An Lu laugh and say, "It's alright, it's alright, Senior, please feel free to do as you please."

As he spoke, he looked at the demons on the high platform and said, "A few days ago, demons wreaked havoc in my Qinghe County, causing many deaths and injuries among the people. Fortunately, the Cui and Xie families and other noble families, as well as the people of Qinghe County, stepped in to help, which reduced the losses. On behalf of the people of Qinghe County, I thank you all."

"However, I originally thought that the Shenmu Manor and the cultivators from all sides would be able to quell the chaos of demons, but I never expected that a tragedy would occur at Shenmu Manor, killing many cultivators in my Qinghe County. As the Prince of Qinghe County, this is my dereliction of duty."

"Therefore, I invited a Taoist priest to capture the demons and find all the demons in Qinghe County. I also found the location of the old demon of Shenmu Manor and captured him. Today, in front of everyone in Qinghe County, I will kill him to commemorate those who have died."

An Lu was no longer playful; his voice held a chilling intent as he fixed his gaze on the high platform below and coldly declared, "Slay!"

"cut!"

A response came from the high platform, where soldiers held broadswords and tightened chains around the kneeling demons' heads.

A cold glint flashed as the broadsword was raised, exuding a chilling aura.

"Kill kill kill."

The surrounding crowd roared, the blades flashed, blood splattered, heads fell to the ground, and the demon's head rolled on the high platform.

"Bring the old demon here."

Anlu spoke, and a moment later, several cultivators escorted a figure from behind. The figure was covered in wounds and had been crippled. The body, bound by chains, was shriveled up like a dead man, looking withered and emaciated.

The figure was escorted to the high platform, where the crowd was filled with rage and shouts of killing filled the air.

Li Fan looked at the old demon and saw that the other party had an extremely strange face. It had a human face but a tree demon form. The demon core on its body had been taken out, and a stench of corpses emanated from its body, which was extremely unpleasant.

“It’s that old demon.” Li Fan frowned.

"This person was originally the old master of Shenmu Manor. He should have died because his time was up, but he coveted the life force and allowed the tree demon to erode him. He became one with the tree demon and then devoured the blood and flesh essence of human cultivators to maintain and strengthen his life force. It was for this reason that he launched the Shenmu Manor Incident and massacred the cultivators of Qinghe County."

An Lu's fat face now exuded a murderous aura as he coldly declared, "Today, I will slay this demon to avenge the cultivators who died in Qinghe County."

"Kill!" As soon as he finished speaking, spears pierced into the old demon's body, causing his life force to drain away even faster. He struggled and panicked, blood flowing out continuously, and his body became increasingly emaciated.

The Cold Crow Taoist waved his hand, and a talisman flew out, landing on the opponent. Instantly, flames ignited, and the old demon's body turned to ashes in the fire, his soul scattered and he died.

The cheers from below were deafening.

"Although the old demon is dead, the crisis remains. That old Hou is still in the wilderness and may invade my Qinghe County at any time to kill. To completely quell the scourge of demons, we still need to eliminate the evil spirits," said the Cold Crow Taoist in a loud voice.

"Whatever the Prince needs us to do, we will certainly respond and work together to wipe out the demons," the people below said one after another.

"To eliminate demons, we are willing to follow the Prince's Mansion to slay demons."

People responded in droves, and the crowd was in high spirits. Li Fan glanced back and thought to himself that the order of the world is ultimately determined by a few people, and for most people, they are just pawns.

An Lu raised his hands, signaling everyone to be quiet. The shouts gradually subsided, and people looked at An Lu. They saw that the smile on his face had disappeared, but his small eyes were now bright and piercing. He said in a loud voice, "It is the duty of my Prince's Mansion to slay demons and quell the chaos. Demons are bullying my Qinghe County. I am in charge of the order of Qinghe County. How can I sit idly by?"

"Previously, I led my men to quell the demons in Qinghe County, eliminate internal troubles, and kill the old demon of Shenmu Manor. But there is an even greater challenge ahead. I will mobilize the strength of Qinghe County to march into the wilderness, seek out and kill demons, and eliminate future troubles."

An Lu's voice was powerful and resonant, and the crowd below erupted in cheers and shouts of battle echoed throughout the Prince's mansion.

Once everyone quieted down again, An Lu continued, "This operation requires the cooperation of all parties. In the name of the Prince of Qinghe, I command all forces in Qinghe County. I need the assistance of all the major families and sects to support this operation, obey orders, and wipe out the demons across the vast territory."

Above, the Cui and Xie families listened to An Lu's words with cold expressions.

Finally, he revealed his true purpose.

This is exactly what Anlu wants to do: completely control Qinghe County, make all the major families and sects his vassals, obey his orders, and completely take control of Qinghe County.

In the past, it would have been impossible for Anlu to do this.

But now, the aristocratic families have suffered setbacks, with many dead and injured in the Shenmu Manor massacre, while the Prince's Mansion has vanquished the demon, captured and killed the old demon, and with the help of the Cold Crow Taoist, its prestige in Qinghe County has reached its peak.

If the powerful families disagree, I'm afraid...

“Father, there’s something you’re saying wrong.” At this moment, An Shicheng, standing on the high platform, looked at An Ludao.

"What is it?" Anlu asked.

"The demons in Qinghe County have not been completely eradicated yet. Right now, there are demons mixed in with the crowd," An Shicheng said with a smile, his eyes narrowing as he swept his gaze toward Li Fan's location.

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in an uproar, all turning to look around.

An Lu squinted and looked in the direction where Li Fan was.

"Evil beast."

The Cold Crow Daoist beside him glanced at Yue Qingqiu and Liu Ji, and sneered.

In an instant, those around Li Fan seemed to realize something and quickly moved aside.

This created an open space at that location, where only Li Fan and the others stood.

“I never expected you to be so bold as to bring a demon into the Prince’s mansion,” An Shicheng said loudly, staring at Li Fan.

"The Prince's Mansion?"

Li Fan looked at An Shicheng, his voice tinged with contempt: "Is this the Prince's Mansion, where the demons were hiding when they invaded and slaughtered, and who later captured some innocent demons in the city?"

As soon as Li Fan finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent. Countless eyes were fixed on him, and An Shicheng narrowed his eyes, revealing his murderous intent.

"Where were you when the demons invaded Qinghe County and I was slaying them? Where were you when the cultivators who died slaying the demons perished in battle? And yet you expect cultivators from all sides to obey your orders afterward?"

Li Fan continued his questioning, staring directly at An Shicheng: "What are you?"

"What am I?"

An Shicheng laughed when he heard Li Fan's words. His laughter was somewhat unrestrained. He walked forward, his eyes revealing a hint of evil.

"Boom..." A murderous aura swept out in an instant, and An Shicheng's body turned into lightning. He laughed wildly and said, "You ask me what I am?"

"Of course I am, An Shicheng of Qinghe County."

As soon as he finished speaking, a flash of light appeared on the blade.

(End of this chapter)